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30 Beauty Products To Try

Eye makeup remover
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30 Beauty Products To Try

I have never been a staunch user of cosmetics and beauty products. In fact, growing up I was probably more known for being the one that never wore any makeup. Even now as an adult I still don’t use anything that you would find at the beauty counter.

That being said, I have always wanted to try a lot of the products that you see in commercials or magazines that the beautiful, famous people say that they use. I mean who doesn’t want to look ageless and wrinkle free like a movie star?

Ranging from a basic lipstick or eyeliner to face masks and wrinkle cream, here are the top 30 beauty products that I would like to try.

**Note: Descriptions provided are taken directly from the product website or from the link provided

Victoria Beckham Bitten Lip Tint

Description: Bitten Lip Tint plumps and smooths lips with a subtle wash of transfer-proof semi-matte colour. Neither stain nor gloss, this ultra-comfortable weightless gelée hydrates and nourishes lips and stays in place, even under a mask, without feeling dry, sticky, or tight.
The lightweight, non-sticky formula is infused with Hyaluronic Acid and Squalane to deeply hydrate, while Mustard Sprout Extract gently plumps. One thin coat is all you need for the perfect bitten lip – a little goes a long way.

Dark Star Volumizing Mascara

Description: A gravity-defying mascara that delivers instant volume, multidimensional length, and weightless lift in a single stroke.
This gel-hybrid formula glides on evenly and effortlessly, with pitch-black micro-fine crème pigments that transform for luxurious volume and exaggerated effect. The powerful contoured brush sculpts lashes and loads them with texture to extend and curl. 

Pore Detox Black Charcoal Clay Stick Mask

Description: Our Clay Face Mask Sticks are formulated with premium Kaolin clay that micro-exfoliates to remove skin-dulling congestion. Black Charcoal draws out impurities, reducing the appearance of pores and leaving skin soft, refined and revived. And since black charcoal is known to be tough on oil, this Pore Detox stick is perfect for your T-zone or for an allover deep clean.

ModernMatte Powder Lipstick

Description: This non-drying formula delivers matte, full-coverage color that feels utterly weightless and provides a powder-soft, airbrushed finish on lips. A unique blend of waxes and oils melts and transforms into an ultra-thin, featherweight powder, while spherical pigments float across lips to blur imperfections. Available in 24 shades inspired by Tokyo’s vibrant nightlife, this statement-making lipstick provides up to eight hours of rich, velvety color.

Dyson Airwrap Styler

Description: Dyson Airwrap Complete styler is engineered for multiple hair types and styles. This set comes with 1.2-inch and 1.6-inch barrels to curl and wave hair, and brushes to smooth and volumize, allowing you to dry and style simultaneously. The Dyson Airwrap Complete styler has Coanda air technology which allows you to curl, wave, smooth and dry hair without extreme heat.

Clean Skin Gel – Cleanse + Tone

Description: Formulated with 99 percent natural ingredients (this percentage includes water), this daily gel cleanser effectively cleanses while maintaining skin hydration. The clean-rinse formula doesn’t leave skin feeling tight or dry. Its clinically proven skin tolerance makes it suitable even for sensitive skin.

Flash Cat Eye Eyeliner

Description: L’Oreal Paris introduces Flash Cat Eye Waterproof All Day Liquid Eyeliner. This brush tip eyeliner has a removal wing stencil to help achieve precise wings in a flash. Liquid liner look can be achieved with or without a stencil.

First Aid Beauty Sculpting
Body Lotion

Description: A hydrating and firming body lotion that helps visibly tone and improve the appearance of skin’s texture, so it looks firm, smooth, and lifted. Get an added boost of body confidence with this blend of firming peptides, puffiness-reducing caffeine, and hydrating glycerin. Plus ceramides and colloidal oatmeal lock in moisture for skin that feels as good as it looks.

Hourglass Curator Refillable Palette

Description: A luxe, refillable, reusable eyeshadow palette that is designed to be used interchangeably with the full collection of Curator™ shades. This palette is crafted from tin and PCR plastic and allows for endless customization with the collection of 40 Curator™ refill shades. The palette is also available in one-pan, three-pan, and five-pan palettes.

Biossance Squalane and Caffeine Toning Body Cream

Description: This clean body moisturizer extends the benefits of the best skincare ingredients caffeine and niacinamide to the entire body, enhanced by vegan sugarcane-derived squalane to enhance penetration. The rich yet weightless formula absorbs instantly to nourish, and helps to restore elasticity and a sculpted, toned look. Available in a fragrance-free formula or in a Soft Citrus scent with uplifting aromatherapeutic essential oils.

Current Body Miss Arrivo
The Vegas II

Description: The brand’s patented MFIP technology is a massaging technology that sends electrical pulses to the skin while mimicking the tapping and acupressure of an in-salon esthetician. It’s a combination of EMS, Ultra Pulse and Medium/High Frequency technology that tones and tightens the complexion, while enhancing the absorption of your skincare products. It’s smaller head is perfect for treating the delicate area around the eyes, mouth and focusing on smaller lines on the forehead.

Color Wow Xtra Large
Bombshell Volumizer

Description: Achieve the illusion of bigger, more volumised-looking hair with the Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer. Ideal for people prone to the appearance of flat, tired locks, as a weightless polymer works to promote bounce and gloss. Bamboo extract drenches your tresses in hydration, without leaving any heavy, sticky build-up behind. Crafted without alcohol and salt, the volumising hair spray avoids drying the outer cuticle of your tresses, reducing the risk of frizz and split ends.

Surface Deep Anti-Odorant Spray

Description: Sweaty feet come summer? Try Surface Deep’s odor-preventing glycolic acid spray. It works to stop any stink and keep the skin balanced. You can use it on your underarms, too! An innovation in odor prevention, this skin microbiome-friendly blend of fruit acids and botanical extracts provides a new and effective way to spray-away and prevent odor all day on underarms and feet. Packaged in 100% recyclable glass.

Park Perfection Instant Eye Lift

Description: From puffy under eyes to fine lines, this dermatologist-developed eye cream has you covered. (Pro tip: a little goes a long way!). An anti-aging eye-treatment that works both instantly and in the long-term to smooth, lift, & tighten.

Smoothwrap InfinitiPRO by Conair

Description: If your hair is large and in charge in summer humidity, give this blow dryer a go. It smooths out frizz while also amping up body and volume. Dual Ion Therapy is a revolutionary treatment to help restore the natural balance of your hair. Powerful and lightweight high-torque motor along with 1875 watts gives you professional styling and drying performance. Ceramic Technology provides even heat to promote fast drying, not over drying.

Drunk Elephant Sugared Koffie Almond Milk Body Scrub

Description: A moisturizing body scrub that nourishes the skin while buffing dry spots, gently sweeping away dead skin cells without disrupting your skin barrier. Sugared Koffie™ Almond Milk Scrub smells exactly like it sounds, which is all due to the blend of almond milk, coffee bean extract, and coffee seed oil that it contains. It’s sweet and rich, but it doesn’t contain fragrance or essential oils.

ROMWE General Banner

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Refreshing Dry Shampoo

Description: Welcome to the Sol de Janeiro way of water-less cleansing with this dry shampoo. Sol de Janeiro has unlocked the secret of achieving that coveted, freshly washed feeling without all of the hard work, so you’ll enjoy weightless volume and effortless movement without stiffness, excess oil, product buildup, or unwanted residue.

Nécessaire The Shampoo

Description: The Shampoo is a treatment cleanse for the scalp. It is a liquid gel with a deep clean after-feel. Massage into wet scalp and hair. Rinse well. Use with The Conditioner for best results. No Sulfates. No Silicones. No Parabens. No PEGs.

Glytone Acne Treatment
Spray – Back and Chest

Description: Glytone Acne Treatment Spray – Back and Chest (formerly Back Acne Spray) is a potent formulation featuring 2% salicylic acid for keeping the back and shoulders acne-free. It sloughs away dead skin cells and deeply cleanses the pores for healing and preventing acne blemishes. The 360 spray-on design allows for quick and simple application at any angle.

Chantecaille Anti-Pollution Mattifying Cream

Description: A lightweight moisturizer that harnesses the power of White Horehound Stem Cell and Lentil extract that work to visibly refine skin, shrinking the appearance of pores and blackheads induced by urban and screen light pollution. A powerful blend of antioxidants and metal binding complex provides skin with immediate protection against heavy metals and particulate matter while novel botanicals rebalance it from the harmful effects of chemical pollutants for a more radiant, rosy-looking complexion.

Goodhabit Skin Shielding Serum Catch Flights, Not Feelings

Description: This barrier-building formula guards your skin against the irritants that cause inflammation and oxidative stress — a root cause of collagen breakdown, cellular damage, and premature aging.

Colourpop x Hello Kitty
Tinted Lip Balm

Description: This yummy smoothie blend is too good to pass! Our nourishing Glowing Lip Balm is so comfy to apply and adds the perfect glossy pop of colour to any look! This trio includes Hello Fruity, a fruit punch flavored warm fuchsia balm, Tropic Cute, a pineapple mango warm pinky coral balm, and Fun in the Sun, a banana coconut flavored warm peachy nude balm.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Hyaluronic Clay Pore-Tight Facial Mask

Description: A non-drying clay mask with hyaluronic-infused clay, BHA, PHA, and watermelon enzymes to unclog pores, smooth, and hydrate for softer, clearer-looking skin.

Glossier Cloud Paint

Description: A seamless, buildable gel-cream blush that’s enjoyable to apply and easy to wear. Just sheer enough upon initial application to make it easy to work with and layer without going overboard—simply dab it on cheeks and tap into skin for a natural, flushed-from-within glow. Special Blurring Pigments give a soft-focus effect that doesn’t accentuate texture or pores—as if you just happen to be in golden hour lighting all the time.

Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection
Night Mask

Description: Targets blemishes and excess oil while you’re busy counting sheep. Our Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Night Mask is a hard-working formula that pulls an all-nighter for clearer looking skin. Our face mask is formulated for blemish prone skin to help skin feel purified. It’s our sleepy secret to waking up to clearer-looking skin. And since it’s enriched with Community Fair Trade tea tree oil, it’s the vegan face mask you can feel good about using.

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

Promising review: “This is the best mask! Used it back in the day for my acne and now that I’m almost 30 I’m using it for age prevention! I have a lot of dry skin issues including psoriasis and this works wonders! Tip: a little goes a long way. Don’t over pour or you’ll end up with a lot of face mask left over!” —Rachel Jones

Chamomile Makeup Eraser Pen

Description: A pen that instantly perfects makeup mistakes, is strong enough to remove waterproof formulas, and is infused with chamomile and vitamin E to soothe sensitive skin. Simply pull out the tip and flip it over to reveal a clean and newly refreshed point so you can easily go to different areas of the face. To keep your pen fresh for the next use, gently wipe off any excess product on a clean tissue before reusing/flipping over.

Peach Slices Acne Spot Dots

Description: Effectively removes pimples and surfaces them to the skin (or vanishes them completely). Place them on before bed and wake up to clearer skin…literally.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas
Primer – Blurring

Description: A water-based, blurring primer that absorbs excess oil for a mattifying, soft-focus effect while extending wear of makeup. The breathable formula seals in skincare and creates a protective barrier that extends makeup wear. It is formulated with skin-loving ingredients, so it not only protects skin, but it is also good for skin.

CeraVe Hydrating
Cream-to-Foam Cleanser

Description: Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Facial Cleanser is a one-step face wash. This cleanser effectively removes dirt, oil, daily sunscreen and even long-wear facial makeup without stripping the skins natural moisture or leaving it feeling tight and dry. that gently cleanses, thoroughly removes oil and makeup. This gentle, fragrance-free formula features three essential ceramides, amino acids and hyaluronic acid.

Well there you have it. These are just some of the beauty products that I found that are worth a try. I’m hoping to slowly get through them all one at a time. When I do, I’ll make a new post with my reviews of each item.

Have you tried any of the products that I’ve listed above? If so, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

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Supernatural Season 1 Episode 8 – Bugs

swarm of bugs

Supernatural Season 1 Episode 8 – Bugs

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, with no cost to you

Oasis Plains, Oklahoma

On a construction site, two men, Dustin and Travis, are working in a new development and talking about the prices of the new homes. After feeling the ground shake, Dustin looks around for damage and falls into a sinkhole. His ankle is broken so his co-worker, Travis, goes to find a rope. Noises surround Dustin and he starts to see that bugs are crawling all over him. He screams for Travis but by the time Travis returns with a rope Dustin is dead.

At a bar somewhere, after Dean hustled some money playing pool, Sam shows him the newspaper article about the death of the construction worker. The news report said that he died of mad cow disease. If that were true, he would have shown symptoms long before his death. Sam thinks that there is more to the story, so the Winchester brothers drive to Oklahoma.

Examination

Upon arrival, Dean and Sam first go to the gas company that Dustin worked for. They speak to his co-worker Travis and ask what happened to Dusty, saying that he was their uncle. After a brief conversation they ask if he could show them where it happened.

They arrive at the scene where caution tape marks off the hole that Dustin fell into. Sam and Dean ignore the tape and examine the hole. Dean manages to taunt Sam to go into the hole. Once inside he could only find a few beetles, but nothing else to give any clue as to what happened.

Sam and Dean Winchester looking down a hole.

Needing more information, they decide to attend an open house barbeque at one of the houses already finished.

House Guests

Inside the house they are greeted by the developer, Larry Pike, who assumed that the brothers were a couple. They quickly corrected him and said that there are looking for a place for their father. Larry tells them that the neighborhood is clean and safe.

On a tour of the house Dean sees a jar filled with bugs, which we find out belongs to Larry’s son, Matt. Outside, Sam is talking to the sales rep, Linda, who is talking about how all the homes have a steam shower. Sam notices a tarantula is crawling towards her on a counter. He picks it up and returns it to who he thinks is the owner of the arachnid, who is Larry’s son, Matt. They bond over a conversation about father son relationships.

Sam returning a tarantula to Matt who collects them and bugs

Family Issues

Larry comes to take Matt back into the house, probably to yell at him. The boys have a quick discussion about their own father, of which they both have very different memories. Sam thinks that their dad thought of Dean as the good son, because it was the wrong choice to play soccer instead of learning how to bow hunt. Dean changes the subject back to the job and says that he found out about a man in the area died about a year ago by an attack of bees. That means that two deaths are connected to bugs.

Later that night as they drive through the neighbourhood, they decide that there were no signs of paranormal activity but are curious about the bug connection. They also discuss Larry’s son since he seems to have a liking for bugs. They pull into the garage of one of the empty houses and “squat” for the night.

Next we see the sales rep, Linda, inside her house, turning on her tv. A bug falls on her so she decides to wash off in the steam shower that she was telling Sam about. In the shower, tons of spiders come crawling out of the faucet and Linda becomes the next victim of the curious phenomenon.

Spiders and bugs coming out of a shower faucet.

The brothers find out about the death the next morning and head over to the house. It is surrounded by police and paramedics but they spot Larry and stop to ask some questions. He tells them that Linda died but they don’t know how. After the police leave, they sneak into the house and in the bathroom they find some spiders in the shower area. Now it is time to question Matt.

Help From The Experts

They wait for Matt at the school bus stop and when he gets off the bus, he walks into the woods instead of going home. After first asking if they were serial killers, Matt defends himself saying that he isn’t involved in what is happening but he knows that something is going on with the insects in the area. While walking to see what Matt is talking about, they talk about family again. Sam tells Matt that in 2 years, when he goes to college, it will be better.

They arrive at a place where Matt tells them that all of the insects have been gathering in this one spot. There is a big pile of dirt and as Dean digs through it he finds a skull. They uncover more skeletal remains and decide to take them to the Department of Anthropology to have them examined.

They learn from a professor that the bones are from the time when the area was inhabited by Native Americans and that there was a tribe called the Yuche about 60 miles away. Sam and Dean think that is where they would get the best information about what might be going on.

When they arrive to speak with one of the tribe members, he could tell that Dean was a liar. But he was willing to answer any questions that Sam had. He tells them about a Yuchi tribe village that was wiped out, over 6 days, by an American Calvary when they refused to relocate. The village leader then placed a curse on the land. Nature would protect the land for 6 days each year. And judging by the recent events, Sam and Dean figure out that this was the 6th day of the curse, and rush back to the development.

The Fallout

Next we see Matt outside of his house looking at bugs when all of a sudden there are more bugs than there should be coming out of the ground. After failing to speak to Larry on the phone, Sam calls Matt and explains what they just learned. Dean tells Matt to lie to his family to get them out of the house.

Matt actually tried telling the truth to his dad but of course Larry didn’t believe him. As they argue, the brothers arrive and so do the bugs. They all run into the house. There is no power and the phone lines are dead. They all try to seal off any openings but forget the fireplace. The bugs fly in as Dean finds some flammable bug spray for protection.

All of them hunker down in the attic but termites start eating through the wood which allows even more bugs to get in. The sun comes up just in time and all of the bugs go away.

Swarm of bugs flying through a hole.

As the day begins, we see Larry and his family packing up and moving out of the house. Construction is stopped on the rest of the neighborhood because of the bones that were found. Larry is just happy to have his family safe and doesn’t care too much about the development. Matt throws away his bug collection.

In this episode we learn a little more about Sam and Dean’s upbringing and how each of them had two completely different experiences. They try to focus on the bigger picture of finding their father. Sam wants to apologize for words that were said.

To see more recaps on earlier episodes click here. And click here to subscribe to Amazon Prime Video to be able to access all seasons of Supernatural and many, many more titles.

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It’s Summer

summer

It’s summer.

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, with no cost to you.

More specifically, the school year is over. And what a year it was. I’m going to try not using the cliché catch phrases like unprecedented, in these uncertain times, we’re all in this together, or whatever else people have said about this school year. Which in my own words, was a complete shit show.

Our experience with online schooling did not go as well as we thought it would. My daughter, I will refer to her as SL, use to ask if she could be home schooled when she was younger. Some time around 4th or 5th grade. She hadn’t mentioned it since then. However, she got her chance at the end of her grade 8 year.

Geometry home school

It wasn’t just the pandemic

Even before this pandemic started, the school board teachers were on rotating strikes. All of the extra curricular activities were cancelled around the beginning of November which included all sports. For a “Sports and Wellness Academy” that was a big deal. Then to top it all off, during their March Break, we got the news that the schools would be closed for an undetermined length of time. She missed all the important experiences of her grade 8 year.

All of the dances, the senior trip, and even graduation. The sports was a tough one to handle. Her school wins banners and medals every year in a number of categories. The senior girls volleyball team normally goes very far in the competitions. The senior co-ed volleyball team had won the Division 1, city championship two years in a row. It would have been a threepeat for the school. She was one of only two grade 7 students to compete with the grade 8’s the previous year, so at least she achieved that city championship.

Five girls was all they needed

The school’s track and field team was incredible, considering the size of the school. There were only 42 kids in her grade, and they were competing against schools that had over 100 kids per grade. During her grade 7 year, there were about 40 kids, boys and girls that attended the qualifiers and around 23 made it to the conference finals. Out of those 23, quite a few went on to the city finals. And yes, SL was one of them. But the amazing achievement was already done. They had won the west conference banner for the grade 7 girls. They had also won the same banner the year before. The girls track team of her year was amazing.

The grade seven banner was the result of getting 57 points. The second place team had 32. They blew them out of the water. And the most amazing thing about this team is that the points were all made by just five girls. Yes, five girls beat out schools that had hundreds of students to pick from. Considering that each athlete was limited on the number of events they could compete in, I think they could have done even better if allowed. I won’t say what place they all came in, but I will say that they finished high in the 100m sprint, 200m sprint, 80m hurdles, the 4×100 relay, and long jump. Those were the sports that added up to 57 points. It was amazing.

It wasn’t just school

Enough of my bragging. The point I was trying to make was that the pandemic caused her to miss it all. And now that it’s summer and she has all this time on her hands, I’ve realized that it has cost her even more than experiences.

SL has always been an anxious kid. She has a hard time in new situations, new places and with new people. It makes socializing and making friends very difficult. And it is because of this that she has a very small friend circle. And by small, I mean two. She has two girls that are her “best friends”. And the pandemic has cost her those relationships as well.

She sees pictures of them out with new friends, having so much fun. And she’s at home, watching their lives on a screen. They message once in a while, saying “oh I miss you” or “we should get together soon”. But that never happens. She is left out of new friend groups. Not invited. And sometimes the things that she sees on SnapChat or Instagram seem to me, to be directed at her in a subtle way. She says that it doesn’t bother her that much. It bothers me…a lot. There are many times I have drafted a message to send to her friends but then quickly delete it. I know that getting involved in her social situations will just make things worse. So much worse. It happened once to me when I was a teenager, and I was never friends with those people after my mom called them out.

Our last summer?

Her dad says that I should just plan a lot of things to do with her over the summer, but it’s not the same. She needs friends her own age, not her mom. Keep in mind that her and I have a great relationship, in which she doesn’t mind hanging out with me. But she needs friends. I’m hoping that when school starts up again she will find it easier to join in. In the meantime I guess I should enjoy this summer for myself because being 15, I’m pretty sure this will be the last summer that we will actually hang out together.

What plans do you have for summer of 2021? Are COVID restrictions changing your plans? Let me know in the comments.

Where to get help.

If you or your child are suffering from depression or any mental health matters, please find a local organization that can help you with ways to manage. Here are just a few that might be able to help or refer you to one that can.

Canada – Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
USA – National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

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8 Simple Ways To Save Money

save money

8 Simple Ways To Save Money

Sometimes the toughest issue regarding saving money is simply getting started. It may be tough to work out easy ways to save lots of money and the way to use your savings to pursue your monetary goals. This bit-by-bit guide to money-saving habits will assist you develop a practical savings set up.

1. Record Your Expenses

The first step to saving money is to work out how much you spend. Keep track of all of your expenses; each coffee, newspaper and snack you purchase. Ideally, you’ll be able to account for each penny. Once you have your information, organize the numbers by categories, like gas, groceries and mortgage, and total every amount. think about using your credit card or bank statements to assist you with this. If you bank on-line, you’ll be able to filter your statements to simply break down your spending.

2. Create A Budget

Once you’ve got a plan of what you spend during a month, you’ll be able to begin to prepare your recorded expenses into a possible budget. Your budget should outline how your expenses relate to your income, so you’ll be able to set up your spending and limit overspending. In addition to your monthly expenses, make sure to consider expenses that occur frequently but not monthly, like car maintenance.

3. Plan on Saving Money

Now that you’ve created a budget, create a savings category inside it. Attempt to put away 10-15 % of your income as savings. If your expenses are so high that you simply can’t save that much, it might be time to re-evaluate your expenses. To do so, determine non-essentials that you simply will spend less on, like amusement and eating out.

Tip: Considering your savings a daily expense, like groceries, could be a good way to strengthen good savings habits.

4. Choose Something to Save For.

One of the simplest ways to save lots of money is to set a goal. Begin by thinking of what it is that you want to save for. It could be anything from a deposit for a house or for a vacation. Then find out how long it would take you to save for it.
If you would like help determining a timeframe, try the savings goal calculator on NerdWallet.

Here are some examples of short- and long-term goals:

Short-term (1-3 years)

– Emergency fund (3-9 months of living expenses, just in case)
– Vacation
– Down payment for a car

Long-term (4+ years)

– Retirement*
– Your child’s education*
– Down payment on a home or a remodeling project

*If you’re saving for retirement or your child’s education, think about putting that money into an investment account. While investments go along with risks and may lose money, they also produce the chance for compounded returns if you intend for an event far earlier.

5. Decide on your Priorities

After your expenses and income, your goals are probably the most important impact on how you save money. Make sure to prioritize your long-term goals as it’s suggested that planning for retirement doesn’t take a back seat to shorter-term needs. Prioritizing goals will provide you with a transparent idea of wherever to begin saving. For instance, if you recognize you’re planning to replace your car in the near future, you may begin putting money away for one.

6. Pick the Right Tools

If you’re saving for short-term goals
– Regular savings account
– High-yield savings account, which normally features a higher interest rate than a regular savings account
– Money market savings account, that features a variable interest rate that would increase as your savings grow

For long-term goals
– Securities like stocks or mutual funds. These investment products are accessible through investment accounts with a dealer. keep in mind that securities, like stocks and mutual funds, aren’t insured by the corporation, aren’t deposits or alternative obligations of a bank and aren’t bonded by a bank, and are subject to investment risks, together with the possible loss of principal investment.

7. Making Saving Automatic

Almost all banks provide automatic transfers between your checking and savings accounts. you’ll be able to select when, how much and where to transfer cash to, or maybe split your direct deposit between your checking and savings accounts. Automatic transfers are an excellent way to save cash since you don’t need to think about it and it usually reduces the temptation to spend the money instead.

8. Watch Your Savings Grow

Check your progress each month. Not only will this assist you to keep going with your personal savings plan. it also helps you determine and fix issues quickly. These simple ways to save lots of money may even inspire you to save more and hit your goals quicker

Article Source: Mark B. Entz (March 2019) https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Marc_B._Entz/163959

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Supernatural Season 1, Episode 7 “Hook Man”

Hook man

Supernatural Season 1, Episode 7 “Hook Man”

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, with no cost to you.

The legend of a “hook man” can date back to roughly the mid 1950’s. It became a little more popular when it was mentioned in the “Dear Abby” advice column in the 1960’s. In fact, I’m sure almost everyone has heard some version of the story. It usually involves a young couple in a car, at night, and a hooded man with, of course, a hook. This episode takes us into another adaptation of the urban legend.

The opening scene is set in Iowa and shows a young couple parked in a secluded, wooded area. The story of Hook Man comes to life when the young man ends up hanging dead, upside down above the car and the young woman screaming.

hook man silhouette

Winchesters Are On The Job

The newspaper article about the attack by an “invisible man” is what brings the Winchester brothers to town. They pose as fraternity members and question one of the brothers who tells them that the young woman, Lori, was the daughter of a minister. So off to church they go.

After the sermon, they approach Lori to give their condolences and to ask her a few questions. listening to her story, Sam is sure that she is telling the truth. They do some research and discover that a preacher named Jacob Carnes was arrested for murder in 1862. He was so upset about the red light district in town that one night he killed 13 prostitutes. Some were found in their beds while others were found hanging upside down from tree limbs as a warning against sins of the flesh. The preacher had lost his hand in an accident and it was replaced by a silver hook. It all took place on Nine Mile Road, which is by chance the same location that the attack recently happened.

Meanwhile, Lori gets into an argument with her dad when he drops her off back at the sorority house about who she hangs out with. She storms out of the car and up to her room where her roommate is sleeping.

In Trouble Again

Switch to the Winchesters who are now exploring the area where the attack happened. They are arrested after being found by a police officer.

Lori settles in to sleep and the screen focuses on the open door of their room. Morning comes and the door is closed. Lori wakes to find her roommate dead with blood everywhere. On the wall, written in blood is “aren’t you glad you didn’t turn on the light”

Lori settles in to sleep and the screen focuses on the open door of their room. Morning comes and the door is closed. Lori wakes to find her roommate dead with blood everywhere. On the wall, written in blood is “aren’t you glad you didn’t turn on the light”

The brothers are able to get off with a simple fine for Sam due to Dean’s negotiation skills. As they leave the police station they see all of the cops run to their cars. And of course they follow and find themselves driving by the crime scene at the sorority. The chief of police tells her preacher father that they need to question Lori since she was present at both murders.

Figuring It All Out

Sam and Dean sneak their way into the sorority house. It is odd that the ghost of Hook Man would change locations. They typically haunt a specific area. They notice a certain symbol that was painted on the wall under the words. It is the same symbol that was on the silver hook of Jacob Carnes.

Sam and Dean sneak their way into the sorority house. It is odd that the ghost of Hook Man would change locations. They typically haunt a specific area. A certain symbol was also painted on the wall. It is the same symbol that was on the silver hook of Jacob Carnes.

After doing some “homework” as Dean calls it, Sam was able to find a pattern in the attacks. Two previous incidents involved a preacher that was arrested for the crimes. They were men of religion who openly preached against immorality. They think that this time, the ghost is trying to save one person instead of a whole town, and that the poltergeist is haunting a person instead of a place. Lori’s dad.

Exercise The Spirit

Dean goes to the cemetery. He is looking for an unmarked grave so that he can dig up the bones, salt them and burn them to get rid of the spirit. He finds a gravestone with the same mysterious symbol. Dean digs up the grave and does his ritual.

Sam goes to keep an eye on Lori at her fathers house. When she spots him, she comes out to talk to him. She says that Sam should run away from her because she feels like she is cursed. Her father had just told her that he is seeing a married woman from their church and Lori can’t understand how he can tell her what is moral when he is doing something so wrong. She hugs Sam and then they kiss. He pulls away just before her dad comes to the door to ask her to come inside.

When they both turn to look at him, a black shadow appears behind him and drags him back into the house. Sam grabs his weapon and rushing inside. He finds the spirit attacking the man and shoots it with his gun filled with rock salt, and then it disappears out a window.

Why Didn’t It Work

Next we are at the hospital where the sherriff is asking Sam some questions. That it is suspicious that he and his brother were always around the crime scenes.

Sam and Dean now think that the spirit of Jacob Carnes is somehow using Lori’s emotions to do the killings. First the boy came on too strong, next her roommate tries to turn her into a party girl, and then she finds out that her father is having an affair with a married woman. But since Dean salted and burned the remains how is it still around?

The hook. If they can find the hook they can stop the hook man. Back to the library.

The Final Stand

After some record digging, they find out that the church had reforged the hook turned it into something else. Then off they go to the church to find anything made of silver so that they can burn it.

As they are searching Sam finds Lori in the church praying. She thinks all of the attacks are her fault. Suddenly all of the candles are burned out and the hook man appears. Sam gets thrown around and injured while trying to protect Lori. They can’t understand why the burning didn’t work. It’s at that moment that he notices Lori’s necklace. A silver chain with a silver cross attached. Dean brings it to the basement and burns it with the rest of the silver. First the silver melts away, and then the hook man . He slowly disappears into dust.

Getting ready to leave town Sam says goodbye to Lori and she thanks him for saving her and her father. No kiss goodbye. He gets in the car and they drive away.

For recaps on previous episodes check here.
To watch all seasons of Supernatural, sign up to Amazon Prime here.

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Swim, Surf or Sail. Are You Ready For Summer?

Beach with birds summer swim

Swim, Surf or Sail. Are You Ready For Summer?

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, with no cost to you.

Can you feel it? Time to break out the summer swim gear!

This week is the first time I’ve felt the hint of summer weather approaching. It’s an estimate high of 19°C (66°F) and sunshine all day. Compared to the temperatures just last week, this is almost tanning weather. And I have to say, when I got home from walking our dog Jax, the first thing I did was check out bathing suits online.

Now because of the current pandemic which is still keeping our city and province under a “stay at home” order, shopping will have to be done online. The guidelines for our lockdown is that only essential items will be sold, even at the big box stores, and I’m pretty sure bathing suits are not essential.

The Season Looks Good

This summer swim season looks to have some great trends in prints, shapes and accessories. The options are endless and so are the places where you can purchase the perfect swimwear. I’ll admit that I am not a fan of online shopping when it comes to clothes, and especially intimates and bathing suits. However, since shopping from home is the new normal I have learned to embrace the change and have essentially fallen down the rabbit hole.

I have compiled a small list of my favourite websites to shop for your perfect summer swim suit and also added a few links to my personal favourites.

Sizing

One more thing before we begin. Sizes. Before you put items in your checkout cart and click on that pay button, make sure you have the right size. While most companies have decent exchange and return policies, avoid the hassle by taking your own measurements. Most sites will have a size guide to help you find the perfect fit. Use them. That’s what they’re there for.

If you’re not sure of how to measure for a bathing suit, check out these instructions (courtesy of Venus)

Now that you know what size you need, let’s check out some websites and the swimwear.

Beachsissi

Beachsissi is an online store focusing on the latest women beach wears like summer swim suits, cover-ups, casual dresses, etc. In the past 3 years, beachsissi has shipped over 2 million orders to customers worldwide, and are constantly improving their product quality and customer services. Their commitment is to provide customers high quality, trendy fashion summer swim wears at affordable prices.

Beachsissi twist front drawstring side high waisted bikini set

Twist Front Drawstring Side High
Waisted Bikini Set
Details:

  • Solid color
  • Cross back&front
  • High waist
  • With padded
  • Shell Fabric: chinlon, spandex
  • Lining Fabric: polyester, elastane
  • Size: S, M, L, XL.
  • Reference: model try on SIZE S, height 5’4″, weight 125 lbs, bust 34”, waist 26”, hip 37″
Beachsissi Leaf Print Low Waist Bikini Set

Leaf Print Low Waist Bikini Set
Details:

  • Leaf print
  • Low waist
  • Padded
  • Skin friendly
  • Shell Fabric: chinlon, spandex
  • Lining Fabric: polyester, elastane
  • Size: S, M, L, XL.
  • Reference: model : SIZE S, height 5’4″, weight 125 lbs, bust 33”,
    waist 24”,bottom 34”.
Beachsissi Halter Neck Retro Stripe Cute One Piece Swimsuit

Halter Neck Retro Stripe Cute
One Piece Swimsuit
Details:

  • Halter design
  • Open back
  • with padded bra
  • High leg cut
  • Shell Fabric: chinlon, spandex
  • Lining Fabric: polyester, elastane
  • Size: S, M, L, XL.
  • Reference: model : SIZE S, height 5’4″, weight 125 lbs, bust 34”,
    waist 26”, hip 37″ 

Swim Suits For All

From the “About Us” page – We celebrate all bodies big and small. We believe women should be
proud of their bodies and should be comfortable in their skin. We offer swimwear for all women between sizes 4-40. When it comes to style, we’ve got options— and a promise that
you will find your perfect fit. You deserve to feel great!

Swim Suits For All HOLLYWOOD COLORBLOCK WRAP BIKINI SET

HOLLYWOOD COLORBLOCK
WRAP BIKINI SET

Wrap front with mesh detail. Soft, wire-free removable bra cups. Fully self lined top. Keyhole back with G-hook closure, 3 adjustments. Fully lined wrap bottom, with Power Mesh tummy-control front panel

Suit your size! Are you one size on top and another on bottom? Mix and match your top and bottom sizes for your perfect fit.

High waist. Moderate bottom coverage
Swim Solution: Tummy Control
Bottom: side seam measures 6″ on size 20

Swim Suits For All ASHLEY GRAHAM CEO LACE UP ONE PIECE SWIMSUIT

ASHLEY GRAHAM CEO LACE UP
ONE PIECE SWIMSUIT

Plunging V-neckline. Soft, wire-free removable bra cups. Self-tie cross back strap. Fully lined swimsuit with Power Mesh tummy-control front lining. Lace-up detail with gold grommets. High-cut leg opening.

Hand wash with mild soap. Roll suit in towel & squeeze out excess water. Dry flat; avoid washers & dryers.
Imported
Moderate bottom coverage
Swim Solutions: Tummy Control

Swim Suits For All DIVA HALTER BIKINI SET WITH FOLDOVER BRIEF

DIVA HALTER BIKINI SET WITH FOLDOVER BRIEF

Sewn in, soft wire-free cups with Power Mesh bra frame. Side bra boning. Self-tie halter straps. Double G-hook closure with 2 adjustments. Fully lined, fold-over brief.

Suit your size! Are you one size on top and another on bottom? Mix and match your top and bottom sizes for your perfect fit.

Customize your rise with adjustable, foldover brief. Full bottom coverage.
Bottom: 4.5″ side seam + 5 inch foldover waistband

Hand wash with mild soap. Roll suit in towel & squeeze out excess water. Dry flat; avoid washers & dryers.

Speedo

The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo is passionate about life in and around the water. The brand’s heritage of innovation derives from its leadership in competitive swimming, where more Olympic Gold Medals have been won in Speedo than any other brand.

Speedo PEBBLE TEXTURE ONE PIECE

PEBBLE TEXTURE ONE PIECE

A pebbled texture takes this swimsuit from basic to statement status so you can feel confident when you step onto the deck. Cut from a shape-retaining fabric to make it last longer, this suit is designed with a high neckline and contoured wide straps at the back for support.
Style #  7723146-001

Speedo STRIPE LOGO SWIM TOP

STRIPE LOGO SWIM TOP

Dive into any activity wearing this swim top. The ribbed style boasts a sports bra design with its contrasting logo band and racerback featuring a cutout detail. Chlorine- and pilling-resistant fabric ensures durability and sun protection with Block the Burn UPF 50+ built in.
Style #  7734235

Matching bottoms can be found here.

Speedo RACER BACK BIKINI TOP

RACER BACK BIKINI TOP

Go for a sporty look with this swim top. The racerback design features removable cups and is made from pill-resistant fabric with UPF 50+ protection for safe fun in the sun.
Style #  7734291

ROMWE General Banner

Bellelily

Bellelily Mandala Floral Halter Bikini Set - Purple

Mandala Floral Halter Bikini Set – Purple

Package : 2 pieces
Material : Polyester
Pattern Type : Print
Season : Summer
Sleeve Length : Sleeveless
Strap Type : Adjustable
Style : Bohemian
Support Type : Wire Free
Waist : Low Waist
With Pad : Yes
Swimwear Type : Bikini Set
Push Up : No
Pad Removed : Yes
Collar : Halter
Item Weight : 120.00 gram

Bellelily Color Block Halter Bikini Set

Color Block Halter Bikini Set

Package : 2 pieces
Material : Polyester
Strap Type : Halter
Support Type : Wire Free
Waist : Low Waist
With Pad : Yes
Swimwear Type : Bikini Set
Push Up : No
Pad Removed : No
Pattern Type : Color Block
Item Weight : 145.00 gram

Bellelily Floral Splicing Swimsuit without Necklace

Floral Splicing Swimsuit without Necklace

Package : 1 piece
Material : Polyester
Pattern Type : Floral
Strap Type : Adjusted-straps
Support Type : Wire Free
With Pad : Yes
Swimwear Type : One Piece
Push Up : No
Pad Removed : No
Item Weight : 155.00 gram

All of these summer swim suits are beautiful. My person favourite would be the ones from Bellelily, both because of the design as well as the price point.

Men’s Summer Swim Wear

But we can’t leave out the men. Here are a few swim trunks for the guys.

Lululemon - Current State Board Short 9"

Lululemon – Current State Board Short 9″

These board shorts are a vacation essential, complete with ample storage options and a flat waistband stays put when you’re in the waves.
Water-repellent.
Streamlined fit that gives glutes and thighs breathing room.
Front pockets to store essentials.
No seam on the inner thigh to help reduce chafe

American Eagle - AE 10" Topical Color-Block Classic Board Short

American Eagle – AE 10″ Topical Color-Block Classic Board Short

These shorts are Real Good: made in a factory that meets our standards for water recycling and reduction.
Ne(x)t Level Flex moves with you
Durable fabrication made to dry fast
Fly closure and drawstring waist for a smooth feel
Back pocket with water-draining grommets
Style: 0133-7105 | Color: 487

92% Recycled Polyester, 8% Spandex
Machine wash
Imported

Old Navy - Color-Blocked Built-In Flex Board Shorts for Men -- 10-inch inseam

Old Navy – Color-Blocked Built-In Flex Board Shorts for Men — 10-inch inseam

  • Contoured waistband, with lace-up panel at center front.
  • Adhesive, secure-close fly.
  • Patch pocket at back right, with adhesive secure-close tab, interior bungee-cord loop and grommet drain.
  • Smooth, quick-drying twill, with pieced color blocks.
  • Engineered with innovative Built-In Flex stretch technology. Equal parts comfort & movement. Flexin’ on ’em.
  • Built-in UPF 40 sun protection; excellent UV protection

Well, that is just a small selection of the websites and the products that they offer. What site or suit was your favourite? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for visiting, and happy summer!

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Supernatural Season 1, Episode 6 “Skin”

shapeshifter skinwalker wolf

Supernatural Season 1, Episode 6 “Skin”

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, with no cost to you.

This episode starts out by showing a woman strapped to a chair, gagged and bloodied. A person approaches and pulls out a knife with a wavy blade. A S.W.A.T enters the building and finds the woman in the chair. She motions in the direction that her assailant went and the police enter the next room and find a man trying to leave through a balcony door. With his hands up, he turns around and lit up by the flashlight we see that it is Dean Winchester. The we flash back to one week earlier.

Sam gets an email from his friend Becky from College. Her brother Zach has been arrested for murdering his girlfriend. Becky insists that he is innocent considering he was with her when the girlfriend was killed, in spite of a security video showing Zack arriving home just before the murder.

The Investigation Begins

Becky takes Sam and Dean to the crime scene under the impression that Dean is a detective. They find out that the house was robbed about a week earlier and that the neighbors dog has become vicious since the murder. Once they view the security video, they see Zach’s eyes shine white when he looks at the camera, and know that there is something more to this story.

shapeshifter white eyes

We watch a man kiss his wife goodbye as he leaves for a business trip. The trip is cancelled and he returns home a few hours later to find his wife tied up and bloody. As he tries to untie her, she begs him not to hurt her anymore. Confused, the husband searches the other rooms for an intruder and finds a man that looks exactly like him, who then knocks him out with a bat.

On their second day of investigating, Sam realizes that the security footage shows “Zach” coming home, but doesn’t show him leaving. They go to the alley to look for any clues that he may have left through the back door. Sam finds a bloody handprint just before an ambulance, with it’s sirens blaring drives past them. And of course, they have to follow to find out what happened.

The ambulance ends up at the home of the business man as he is being put into a police cruiser. Dean asks some questions and discover that the story is eerily similar to that of Zach’s story. They come to the conclusion that they are dealing with a shapeshifter. Something that can make itself look like anyone. They find another blood trail in the alley behind the crime scene that seems to disappear, until they notice the sewer grate below them.

Down Below

When they explore the sewer system they find some skin and blood that is possibly shed from the shapeshifter, just like a snake. Just as they are about to investigate further, Sam gets a call from Becky. She has found out that Dean is not a detective, and she is not happy. She tells Sam that she doesn’t want his help anymore. But that doesn’t stop them.

manhole cover sewer system

Further into the sewer they find what they think is the shapeshifter’s lair when suddenly they are attacked by the creature still in the shape of the business man. It manages to escape them onto the city streets. They split up to look for it and then meet up on a city block corner, neither one finding the suspected shapeshifter. They cross the road to head back to the car and as a car passes in front of Dean, the beam of the headlight show his eyes are that of the shapeshifter. It doesn’t take long for Sam to realize that it is not his brother and confronts it. But just as quickly, the creature knocks him out with a tire iron.

Sam wakes up tied to a beam in the sewer. The shapeshifter tells Sam that Dean is jealous. It can somehow access Dean’s thoughts and memories and shares them with Sam. He resents Sam for having opportunities like going to college when he had to stay with their dad. He also says that he’s going to pay a visit to Sam’s friend Becky.

Shapeshifter Who’s Who

Becky and the Dean imposter are talking and having a drink while Sam is trying to get free of his ropes. As he tries, he hears Dean waking up. Dean gets out of his ropes and helps Sam with his and is listening to Sam’s theory that the shapeshifter needs to keep the person that he turns into alive in order to create a psychic connection. Meanwhile at Becky’s house, the shapeshifter tries to come on to her and she shuts him down quickly. She gets scared and tries to call the police but it knocks her down and ties her up.

We are then faced with the opening scene of the woman strapped to a chair, tied and bloodied. The S.W.A.T. team finds the shapeshifter trying to escape through the balcony door but it throws the knife and one and karate kicks another. It jumps off the balcony, does a barrel roll on the grass, and runs away dodging bullets. It returns to its lair in the sewer and sheds it’s Dean skin.

We are then faced with the opening scene of the woman strapped to a chair, tied and bloodied. The S.W.A.T. team finds the shapeshifter trying to escape through the balcony door but it throws the knife and one and karate kicks another. It jumps off the balcony, does a barrel roll on the grass, and runs away dodging bullets. It returns to its lair in the sewer and sheds it’s Dean skin.

After Sam and Dean escape the sewer they walk past tv’s that are broadcasting a bulletin about the attack on Becky. The bulletin shows a police sketch of Dean saying that he is wanted and may be armed and dangerous. They return to Becky’s house to get the car and the weapons inside so that they can hunt down the creature. But once there, the police notice them. Sam distracts the police while Dean gets away and eventually gets to the Impala.

Dean, not listening to Sam’s warning, goes into the sewer alone while Sam is at Becky’s house trying to explain everything. Dean gets to the lair and finds Becky tied up and covered in a tarp. She tells him that the creature turned into her before it left. And meanwhile at Becky’s house the imposter Becky knocks out Sam with an empty bottle of beer. It then turns back into Dean and has Sam tied up and is planning on killing him.

Sam fights back, gets out of his bindings and he and the creature fight. Just as the shapeshifter is strangling Sam the real Dean enters. He shoots the creature in the heart with a silver bullet and it lies dead, still looking like Dean.

The Heat Is Off, Where To Next?

The police think that the deceased “Dean Winchester” is the person responsible for Becky’s attack. They also pin the death of her brother’s girlfriend on him. Because of this, they release Zach from custody and the police think that the video footage was tampered with. As the brothers drive along the highway, Dean jokes and says “How many chances am I gonna have to see my own funeral?”

Check out recaps of previous episodes or watch all seasons on Amazon Prime.

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Moving From Redbubble to My Own Storefront

beige and tie dye split

Should I move from Redbubble to my own storefront?

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, with no cost to you.

Just over a month ago I wrote a blog post about using Redbubble as a way to earn passive income. I have since abandoned my Redbubble account and shifted to selling through my website.

There are pros and cons to both options and I will explain my reasoning to make the switch.

Redbubble

Pros:

  • Simple user interface that makes uploading your own designs very easy
  • Set it and forget it. Once your design is uploaded Redbubble does the rest
  • Redbubble does it’s own marketing and ranks high on google searches
  • Large number of products to choose from
  • You only have to upload your design once and it is available to customers on all available products
  • Ability to set your own price or markup for each item
  • Have access to thousands of shoppers

Cons:

  • Limited self branding opportunities on things like product labels and packaging
  • Payout dates are once per month and Redbubble has a payment threshold of $20
  • While you do have access to thousands of shoppers, those shoppers also have access to hundreds of thousands of artists and designs
  • Certain designs may be removed at the discretion of the Redbubble team
  • No options to choose the specific supplier of products, no choice in quality of products

Overall, I would say that Redbubble is a great option if you don’t have a lot of time to tend to your own shop. It’s also a good option if you don’t want to deal with the technical aspects of your own online store.

Redbubble vs Your Own Store

My Own Store

Pros:

  • Full control over products, pricing and shipping options
  • When the customer pays, you get paid. No waiting for payout dates or thresholds
  • Your customers are there for you, not for a provider. They are your customers
  • You appear as a more reliable “company” rather than just a random artist
  • More chances to experiment with other products and services like dropshipping

Cons:

  • The initial set up takes longer than the simple sign up form from Redbubble
  • There are startup fees for starting your own store. Things like a domain name and hosting site for a website (I use SiteGround for my hosting and I highly recommend it for yours if you are looking for affordable, user friendly hosting with great customer service), or a standalone online store with Shopify
  • Depending on what and how you are selling, it takes more time than a Redbubble account. You have to make sure that the store/website is working properly and answer customer questions and other sorts of customer service issues.

My choice

I initially started with Redbubble in February when I was first looking into t-shirt design as a form of passive income. I was intrigued by the number of products Redbubble had and the ease of starting an account with them.

I quickly realized that the odds of my products being seen in a specific search were very small considering the number of artists and designs that are on that site. At least with my own store, I am in charge of marketing my own products. So if nobody sees it, it’s on me. I can’t blame a website for not featuring my art above someone elses.

Scarlet Witch
Marilyn Monroe sticker
Agatha notebook

I am a bit of a control freak which comes naturally with my OCD. So the idea of having everything on my own lap was more appealing to me. That and the fact that the overall profit margins are better with my own store than on Redbubble.

Don’t get me wrong. I still love Redbubble. I will still buy items from their site since they have such a huge variety of designs to choose from. And if you don’t find anything you like in my store then I would recommend checking it out. In fact, my daughter has her own Redbubble account where she sell some of her favourite designs. But ultimately I would love it if you found something in my store that you just couldn’t live without.

What would you do?

So that is my short journey from Redbubble to opening my own online store. I did get one sale in the month and a half that I was with them and made a profit of approximately $1.15 (woo hoo). And so far I have no sales and probably no traffic in my own store which I have only had operating for less than a week. I am still importing items to the store pages and trying to choose the best layout design for what I need.

I hope that this helped answer your questions about whether you should go with your own online store or make your sales on a site like Redbubble. There are benefits and downfalls to both so it really is just a personal choice.

Thanks for reading. And you can find my store here and my daughters Redbubble store here.

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The Real Top 10 Sexiest Bald Men

Bald men

The Real Top 10 Sexiest Bald Men

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, with no cost to you.

I feel that it is my duty as a woman to write this blog post with my own top 10 list sexiest bald men.

About 3 weeks ago the website Longevita posted an article naming the top 10 sexiest bald men. They compiled a list of bald male celebrities from around the world, and did a google search for the keywords “name of celebrity” + “sexy”.

Their results are definitely not what was expected. While there are some men on that list that I agree belong there, they certainly did not place high enough in my opinion.

The top 10 from their list are:

10. Vin Diesel
9. Dwayne Johnson
8. Bruce Willis
7. John Travolta
6. Floyd Mayweather
5. Michael Jordan
4. Pitbull
3. Jason Statham
2. Mike Tyson
1. Prince William

Ummmmm….. No

This compelled me to try to make a list of my own. Now keep in mind that there is absolutely no science or methodology behind this list. It is simply my personal opinion, with a few google searches to help gather some names.

My list may include men who are naturally bald, are balding or those who have a shaved head the majority of the time; not those who shaved their head for a role. And just a note here, I did take into account their personalities; or lack there of.

So without further ado, here is my list of the real top 10 sexiest bald men.

10 – Vin Diesel

Born Mark Sinclair, Vin Diesel has been the sexy, somewhat tortured man in a number of hit movies. From playing Richard B. Riddick, his first lead role, in the film Pitch Black, to XXX, and of course the fast driving Dominic Toretto in the Fast and Furious franchise.

sexy bald men - Vin Diesel
sexy bald men - Stanley Tucci

9. Stanley Tucci

Who didn’t fall in love with Stanley Tucci as Nigel in the Oscar nominated film The Devil Wears Prada. While he is in fact a heterosexual who is currently married to his second wife, he is extremely secure in playing gay roles. For a younger generation he would best be known for playing Ceasar Flickerman in the Hunger Games trilogy.
His signature black rimmed glasses make him instantly recognizable. But personally I think that his when wearing his glasses he is like Clark Kent’s; he’s a completely different person when the come off.

8. Common

Common started as a rapper, releasing his first LP in 1992. I first noticed him in the 2010 film Just Wright starring alongside Queen Latifa.
While it received mixed reviews from critics, I thought it was a sweet movie. And you couldn’t help but fall for the stubborn turned loveable character Scott McKnight played by Common.

sexy bald men - Common
Fredrik Ljungberg

7. Fredrik Ljungberg

I’ll admit it. I know nothing about this man. I happened to find him while doing my Google research for this post.
I know that he was born in Sweden and played soccer; sorry, football in the Premier League for Arsenal. He played for a few other leagues after leaving Arsenal. And no surprise, he was an underwear model for Calvin Klein. Fredrik made it on this list solely from his pictures on the internet.

6. Bruce Willis

I’ve been a fan of Bruce Willis since 1985. My parents would watch the TV show Moonlighting on a regular basis and his character, David, was my favorite. The chemistry between him and Maddie Hayes, played by Cybill Shepherd is probably what grabbed my interest in watching along with my parents.
Since then he has been well known for playing rough and tough characters with a sense of humor. Characters like Jimmy Tudeski in The Whole Nine Yards, Butch Coolidge in Pulp Fiction and of course John McClane in the Die Hard franchise.
But one of my favorite roles is when he played Paul Stevens for a few episodes in Friends. He was a “neat guy”.

sexy men with no hair - Bruce Willis

sexy bald men - Jason Statham

5. Jason Statham

I think for this entry, the gravelly voice and the English accent bumped him up a few spots.
I first discovered Jason Statham in the movie Crank. It was not the best movie but the concept was good and I’ve actually watched it more than once, so it can’t be that bad.
Other films include The Transporter, Death Race and The Expendables. But most recently he has been able to fit himself into the Fast and Furious franchise as Deckard Shaw. He even landed a spinoff film co starring Dwayne Johnson called Hobbs and Shaw.
Well done.

4. Kelly Slater

Kelly Slater is another bald man that I knew nothing about until Google found him for me. Thank you Google.
Kelly Slater is an American surfer who some say is the greatest of all time. I would ramble on about all of his records and accolades but that is not why he is on this list. If you want to know more about him read this. He’s here because he is bald and fabulous. I’m sure that if I read more and watched videos of him he would move up a spot but for now he sits at my number 4.

Kelly Slater
sexy bald men - Shemar Moore

3. Shemar Moore

I’m sure that there are a lot of people who know Shemar Moore from his long stint on The Young and the Restless. I know him as Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds. Either way he has been a pleasure to watch on television for over 25 years. Wow that makes me feel old.
It’s hard to find a bad picture of Shemar. But I will admit, I enjoyed the search to find the right one for this post. What do you think? Did I pick a good one?

2. Chris Meloni

I’m excited for this one. And I’m so excited that he is back where he belongs. Chris Meloni makes it to number 2 on my list and it is well earned. His portrayal of Elliot Stabler on Law and Order SVU is by far one of my all time favourite characters. And I am so glad that Elliot is back in the game with the new Law and Order: Organized Crime.
Some might say that it is the shows writers that make the character, but after following him on both Twitter and Instagram; on which he has two very different presences (is that even a word?); I know that he is the one that made the character great. I haven’t had the chance to watch him in Oz or Happy but from what I’ve heard they are well worth the watch.
And come on…. who else could pull of the shirtless kilt look?

sexy - Chris Meloni
sexy balding men - Chris Meloni
sexy - Dwayne Johnson
sexy men with no hair - Dwayne Johnson

1. Dwayne Johnson

Finally made it to number 1.
When I first got the idea to write this post I thought that I’d be able to whip it out in no time. Man was I wrong. Not only did I spend an absurd amount of time scrolling through pics of sexy bald men, but trying to rank them took a lot longer than I expected.
So here he is.
Dwayne Johnson, formerly known; and I supposed to some, still known as The Rock has been a part of the entertainment world for 25 years. Following his family legacy he joined the wrestling world as Rocky Maivia paying homage to both his father and grandfather who were also wrestlers.
His first film role in 2001’s The Mummy Returns started his transition from wrestler to actor. And what a great move that was. He has since starred in numerous blockbusters, created his own production company with his manager/ex-wife Dany Garcia, is partnered with Under Armor for a line of fitness apparel and even has his own tequila brand, Teremana.
This is a man that not only has good looks on his side. but is one of the most charismatic people I’ve seen. I’m positive that he can and will be President one day. The People’s President.

Honorable Mentions (more sexy bald men)

There are a few more that I would like to list that didn’t quite make it into my top 10 but deserve to be included in this post. Sir Patrick Stewart, an incredible actor known for playing Captain Picard in Star Trek TNG and Professor X in the X-Men franchise of movies. Tyrese Gibson from the Fast and Furious franchise and soon to be in the upcoming Morbius movie. Sean Connery, you know; James Bond. The accent gives him some good points as well. And finally, Larry David. It’s not really one that I would have added myself, but when Dwayne Johnson read the original list he was flabbergasted that Larry David didn’t make the top ten. So I will put him in my honorable mentions just to make The Rock happy.

Let me know in the comments if you agree or disagree with my list or if you can think of anyone else that should have been considered.

Thanks for reading.

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7 Ways To Make Money With An iPad

ipad computer and camera

7 Ways To Make Money With An iPad

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, with no cost to you.

Everyone want to find different ways to make money. I finally made the plunge and invested in an iPad. I purchased the new iPad Air that was released in October 2020. The main reason I chose this tablet was for the size and the fact that I could draw with the Apple Pencil and pro Create. The screen is a little smaller than the pro version but it’s price was a few hundred dollars cheaper. I just couldn’t say no.

I told myself that I would try to get as much use out of it as I could so that it’s not just another gadget that you buy, but never use. So far I’ve only had it for about a week, but I haven’t put it down. I love it.

Now the goal for me is to figure out a way to use the iPad to make money. At least to make back the money that I put into it. As stated in another post, I started an account on Redbubble to try and make some extra passive income. It’s been fun trying to come up with some cute designs to sell as stickers or t-shirts. I was using Adobe Photoshop on my laptop to make the images.

I’ve been using Photoshop for a number of years and am self taught, thanks to Google and Youtube. For most photo edits an text images, it’s an I really need. But for me, trying to draw an image with a mouse is very difficult. Enter, the iPad. Just going through a few online tutorials and playing around with it, I think this machine is the greatest invention, ever! And for any creative person who may not have the best art skills, this is a must have.

Now on to the good part. Making money.

I am a list maker. I think it is part of my OCD which I talk about often. So when trying to think of ways to make extra income using my new toy, I thought it is of course the perfect reason to make a list. So here it is. My list of _ ideas to make money using your iPad.

Start a Blog

The first, and I think the most obvious since you are reading my blog, is to start a blog. While it has been a slow and struggling start for me, balancing between my family, my mental health and trying to figure out what to actually write about. If you are someone who has a lot of ideas and a way with words, then this will be an ideal option for you. Now I know that you can also do this on a laptop or desktop, but the convenience of doing it on an iPad is that you can save your ideas where ever you are. The iPad is much more portable than a CPU.

Income can be made by using affiliate marketing, advertising revenue and even selling your own products like courses or an ebook, all of which I will get to next. You can start your own blog for as little as $10.49 per month with Siteground. There are other less expensive host providers out there, but I have found that Siteground is perfect for a beginner like me. Their platform is easy to navigate, they have an amazing number of tools, themes and help aids. And if you still have questions their customer service is fantastic.

Affiliate Marketing

One of the best ways to make money, potentially a whole lot of money, is affiliate marketing. This is the process of promoting products for companies on your website, blog or social media platform. For example, in my first recommendation above, I mention Siteground as my preferred web hosting platform. I included a link to the site as well as a banner advertisement that will direct you to their website. Those clickable items are my personal referral links that the company can track back to me. So if someone (like you for instance) were to follow that link and purchase webhosting from Siteground, I would make a commission from that sale at no extra cost to you.

There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of companies that offer affiliate marketing. You could apply to become an affiliate with almost any company you can think of. But to make things even easier, there are sites out there that have the companies all lined up and ready for you. Sites like MagicLinks, ShareASale, and Clickbank have partnered with many, many companies that you can promote products for. Companies like Target, Urban Outfitters, Nike and so many more.

Sell Your Own Products

This is the one that I am focusing on right now. With my new iPad, I was finally able to download the ProCreate app, which in my opinion is the greatest program out there. I am in love with it. If you would rather try a free design tool you can sign up to Canva.com and open a free account. Canva is easy to use and has loads of pre made templates that you can use as a starting point.

The number of items that you can create is endless. Things like journal pages, calendars, posters, even your own eBook. Whether it is to use your wealth of knowledge to teach something, or a bestselling story idea that you want to finally complete and possibly publish.

Many web hosting platforms also offer an e-commerce plug in that would allow you to sell products on your own site. If you don’t have a big following on your website, then getting enough traffic to make sales could be a challenge. If that is the case, there are sites such as Etsy, or Creative Market that will host your items as listing and they do all the marketing to get people to their site. I would still suggest sharing your products as much as possible so that people can find them.

Testing Websites

This is another one that can also be done on a laptop or smartphone as well as the iPad. But my reason for including it in this list is because with the larger screen (as big as 12.9 inches) navigating through websites is much easier that using a tiny phone. I take transit on a regular basis and find that the time goes by faster when I have something to do. So why not test out new websites and get paid for doing it.

Websites like Enroll or TestingTime let you test websites on an iPad, desktop/laptop, or smartphone and you can earn cash, or rewards that convert to cash.

Review Music

I listen to music every day. It plays in the background while I do almost everything. The only time I don’t have music playing is when I’m sleeping or watching tv. If you love music as much as I do, then this side gig should be fun.

Join sites such as Slice the Pie or Music Xray to review and rate new songs, bands, commercials and more. Each review earns different rewards at different values depending on the site and what it is you are reviewing. The payouts may not be huge but I feel like if you get paid to do things you would be doing anyway, then why not make the extra cash.

ways to make money with ipod and headphones

Share Your Knowledge

What are you good at? Can you create incredible spreadsheets in Excel, or perhaps you are an amazing cook and want to let the world know your secret. No matter what it is that you do, someone else will want to learn. For this you can create your own online course to teach others and share your knowledge.

There are tons of websites that allow you to upload a video course, like Teachable and Udemy. Whether it is a single video or a series that has different parts to it, you decide. You simply create your video, upload it to one of these sites and set a price point. Promote your course on your own website, with your email list, and even on social media. Get it out there for people to find and enjoy the payouts that come from teaching what you love.

3,100+ Portrait Photography Poses Cards Bundle

Sell Your Photos

Do you love taking pictures? You don’t have to be a professional to make money on your photos. The quality of cameras on smartphones and tablets has come a long way. With minimal equipment and a good eye you can make money by selling your photos to online stores like ShutterStock*, iStockPhoto and Dreamstime just to name a few. You basically make a percentage of the sale or a fixed rate depending on which site you choose. *If you sign up to ShutterStock using this link you will receive a $30 Visa prepaid card when you sign up for an annual image or footage subscription.

different ways to earn money

So that’s it. Those are my top 7 ways to make money with an iPad. Keep in mind that I’ve only owned one for less than a month so I will more than likely do a follow up post in a few months to add more or elaborate on what I have here.

Let me know what you think of this article, and if you can think of any other ways to make money using an iPad (or home computer) let me know in the comments section. I look forward to researching them.

Thanks for reading.