Wedding season is upon us! From not through Fall you'll likely attend a couple weddings for some of your closest friends.  Sure it's great to dance, eat, and drink but there are a few things you should ensure you bring along in that adorable evening clutch so you have a great time without any fashion mishaps. 



Tissues
Of course you will get teary eyed when your friend is at the altar but what's worse than messing up your make up is sniffling the entire time they read their vows.  ALWAYS have a few tissues whether it's in your clutch or stashed in your bra.  Blow your nose (quietly) so you can stop sniffling and then blot your eyes as the tears roll, being careful not to mess up your makeup.

Eyeliner/Mascara for Touch Ups
Even if you have waterproof makeup on, stuff can still get messy.  There's nothing worse than realizing your eyeliner is fading on one eye or having more mascara on one eye.  I always bring extra eye makeup for cases like this. And since eyeliner and mascara comes in thing tubes it doesn't take up much space in your bag.

Barrettes and Hair Ties
So even if you have the CUTEST hairstyle when you're wearing it down, things happen.  Dancing makes you sweaty, wind can mess up your style at an outdoor wedding, and sometimes you just want it out of your face.  Always stash an extra ponytail holder or two as well as some hair pins so you can style a quick up do on your next trip to the bathroom.


Cash for Bar Tip and Cab Fare
Even if your bride and groom are covering the costs of everything for the guests, you should ALWAYS tip the bartenders.  It's just proper etiquette.  Always bring a few bills with you and remember that it helps if you need cab fare.

Blister Blocker
Blisters can happen and when they do they happen fast and derail your night.  Aside from properly breaking in shoes beforehand, you can also try a product like Blister Blocker from Solemates.  It's so tiny that it's easy and convenient to keep it in your evening bag and then you just rub it on where you need it.

Heel Protectors
You probably already have experienced this before but in case you haven't, let me explain.  You're arriving to the outdoor wedding and walking through the grass and suddenly your heels are stabbing into the ground and you have to yank your leg up with each step.  Then your stiletto heels are covered with mud and grass.  It's not only embarrassing but it can ruin your shoes.  That's where Solemates Heel Protectors come into play.  They easily slip over the pointy heel and it's so much easier (and safer) to walk.  I never attend a wedding without these in my bag.


Which of these items have you desperately needed before? If you have any entertaining mishaps, please share below!

Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | Pinterest | Instagram

5 Ways To Cope With Your House Selling Stress

Source

Selling your home is honestly one of the most stressful things people put themselves through. I’m sorry, but it’s true, and it’s something you probably have already figured out for yourself by now. What you may not have figured out, however, is how to deal with this stress, and keep yourself from being overwhelmed by the constant worry and pressure you’re under. Thankfully, you don’t have to. Here are five things that you can do to cope with your house selling stress.


1. Make Some Decisions

When most homeowners decide to sell their home, they’re suddenly flung into a world of doubt and uncertainty, which results in a lot of stress. To combat this, it’s vital that you take control and start making some important decisions right away. For example, you should decide right away whether any of your furniture is included in the asking price. This way, you won’t be put on the spot and asked this question later on.


2. Keep Things Clean

You never know when a potential buyer might want to come over and view your home. Sure, some will make appointments, but others will unexpectedly give you a call when they’re in the area and want to pop in. To avoid you rushing around your house in a mad panic, trying to get everything in a presentable condition, you should keep your home as tidy as you can. This way, you only need to have a quick tidy up before the viewers get there.

Source

3. Consider Selling Online

Of course, some people hate viewings full-stop and would much rather sell their home without all this hassle. Luckily, these days, you can. There are companies online, such as NeedToSellMyHouse.com, that will buy your home quickly and easily, saving you any of the bother that comes with selling your home the traditional way. This is perfect if you need to relocate as soon as possible, such as for a new job.


4. Curb Your Expectations

You may have some idea of how much your home is going to sell for or how long it’s going to take, but it’s best not to expect too much and assume things will go to plan. If you, and they don’t, then your stress is only going to grow. There are so many factors that affect how the sale is going to go, so it’s much better to curb your expectations and be ready for whatever comes to pass.

Source

5. Look After Yourself

The process of selling your home can really take its toll, so it’s important that you take proper care of yourself. Do what you can to ensure you get quality sleep each night, eat three balanced meals a day, and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. You should also make sure that you do things that you enjoy, such as going out with friends, so that you can take your mind off the sale for a little while.


Selling your home can result in a lot of stress, which can be dangerous if ignored. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, then make sure you follow the tips above to help you cope.

Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | Pinterest | Instagram

The 4 Ways That LunchSkins Save

This site has affiliate links and sponsored content. Read my Disclosure Policy.

I am so stoked about a new product I learned about called LunchSkins.  They make reusable and recyclable sandwich and snack bags and they are beneficial to you and your life in so many ways.  

So without further ado, please meet LunchSkins! LunchSkins is a line of food storage bags that are eco-conscious in that some of them can be recycled after a single use, and some of them can be reused by being washed in your dishwasher! The recyclable bags are made from paper and are the only sealable paper bags in the market and the reusable bags come in either a zip or Velcro closure.   So today I wanted to list all the ways in which LunchSkins save whether it's the planet, your monthly budget, or your free time. 

Money
Imagine all the money you spend on plastic baggies for your lunch, your children's lunch, leftovers, and whatever else you store in them.  It all adds up.  So if you really want to save money, you need to do what I did and embrace products like LunchSkins Reusable bags.   Since they are reusable and can be washed in the dishwasher when you turn them inside out, you can simply keep using them again and again. 

And as an added bonus, they are so much prettier than regular bags.  There are so many cute colors and patterns to choose from!!

Your Health and The Environment
Like I said earlier, LunchSkins Reusable bags are dishwasher-safe and comply with FDA standards for food safety.  They contain no BPA, Phthalates, and are lead free.  They dry quickly and are very durable.  You can use them for snacks, travel, home organization and more.  They come in a variety of colors shapes and sizes.  In it's lifetime, one of these bags can replace 500 plastic bags! That is so much better for the environment than simply using a bag one time and throwing it away!

The other thing I always tell people is that trash in general is just a mess.  Even when you think your trash bags are secure, things happen and they can tear even when they are going into the garbage truck.  That means that items from your bags can blow away in the wind only to add to the trash and pollution that this poor planet has to deal with.  The less you have to throw away the better and the less waste your produce in general the better. 

Your Time
If you think about it, you'll save time at the grocery store avoiding the plastic bag section and you'll never have to sit there and scrub and wash your reusable LunchSkins by hand because you can simply rinse in the sink and then turn it inside out before sitting it in the dishwasher.  And rather than grabbing your items in a rush in the morning as you head out the door, you can pack your lunch ahead of time in one of LunchSkins Reusable Tote Bags and have it all ready to go.


Your Energy
I have so many mom friends that complain about having to label their child's baggies in the morning so that the kids don't grab the wrong food items or that mommy doesn't give the wrong bag to the wrong kid.  With LunchSkins you can identify whose item it is by the design on the bag.  It's also a great system for teaching kids responsibility if you have them take their specific bags and pack them in a lunch tote every morning. 


There are so many ways that LunchSkins can benefit your life everyday so check them out! Kids love them and adults love the benefits!

Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | Pinterest | Instagram

Top Tips Before Buying A Car

Flickr

You know when you decide to treat yourself to a new dress, so you browse through all the online stores to find the perfect robe for you, bookmarking pages and opening multiple tabs as you go? And then you do all that only to decide that you didn't want to spend money on a dress when you need a decent pair of shoes a lot more. So then you result in being annoyed with yourself because you've ended up wasting so many hours with no outcome. Well, that's all thanks to the internet being so available to find what we need, and that includes cars. - There are so many different options you have when looking for a new car that you may feel a little overwhelmed at times. This is totally normal, and that's why you need to make sure that you know as much as you possibly can before you dive into a purchase that seems too good to be true, only to find out that it is.


So here are all the things that you need to know in terms of researching to find your perfect vehicle.



Knowledge

So, in the past when someone needed to buy a car, they would head straight down to the dealership and see what was on offer, and while a lot of people may try and encourage you to still do this - don't. You should only go to a dealership for a test drive. But before you're ready for that, do all the research that you can online. This is because salespeople are trained to sell, and this means that they will do all that they possibly can in order to make that happen and meet their monthly targets for that oh so special bonus. They don't care about your needs, they care about their own, and because of that you can't always trust them to give you an unbiased answer - but that's something that you need in order to make the right kind of decision for you.


There are many ways to find out about vehicles for sale, whether your mission is finding a used car, or a brand new one. The amount of information out there is mindblowing. You can literally find out anything you want about a vehicle, including its best features, its worst features, its various prices depending on where you shop, and also price comparisons. So take as much in as you can, and if that means making notes or even a spreadsheet - so be it. That way, if and when you are ready to visit a dealership, you know that you are confident in asking for exactly what you want.


You should also make sure to check the quality ratings. While you always want to choose something with a high rating, sometimes paying that bit extra on a car just because one person said it was worth it, doesn't mean that it is necessarily the correct thing to do. Sometimes, there are some really good deals on cars that are a little cheaper just because they're slightly older - this doesn't mean they're not worth it, they may run just as smoothly as something of a newer model, so don't write off vehicles just because they have an average rating. Bear in mind that most vehicles have a life of around six years before they are re-engineered and upgraded with the next best thing. This information is very good to know when it's happening because it will drastically change the prices if a new model is expected to come up, meaning the costs you are looking at now may go down subsequently in due course.



Negotiation

Be direct and upfront with your salesperson about what it is exactly that you want, along with how much you are willing to spend. For example, if you have already test driven the car you had your eyes on, everything went perfectly, and you're now ready to talk numbers, then it's time to start the game. Before you sit down and get into it, make sure you shop around at other dealerships to compare prices so that you have some possible leverage that you can use later on. If you know what you want, as well as it's worth, then you don't need to be forced to waste time going around in circles while the salespersons attempts to sell you a car with various packages that you don't need.


If you're trading in your old car, then mention this first so that you can see what the best offer you can get is. It can be very convenient trading in your old car when buying a new one, but it's also important that you understand that that doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be gaining a huge return in terms of price. - It doesn't always work to your advantage. So if you want to know your options, bring it up first rather than last minute once a deal has already been made, as this will just complicate things. The knowledge of you having a car to trade in will be enough of a benefit for the salesperson to give you the best offer possible so that they can secure your business. But if you want to get the maximum value out of your old car - you are better off just selling it yourself.



Deal

Now it's all just about making that final deal that you're happy enough to shake hands and sign the paper. You will most likely have to take out a loan in order to pay for your car, but one important thing to consider is that the dealerships can often get you the appropriate financing you need just as good as any bank, if not better, so it's worth looking into while you're there. Just make sure you read all of the small print like the terms and conditions to know exactly how it works, as well as the interest rates. If you aren't sure, you can always take some time to compare these with other companies to see what works better in your favour.  

Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | Pinterest | Instagram

Key Tips for Success as a Dental Assistants

According to the United States Department of Labor, the growth forecast for dental assistant employment from 2016 to 2026 is 19%. The growth is higher compared to other professions and is attributed to expected increase in demand for preventive dental services. However, while it might be easy to find a job as an assistant in a dental office, your job satisfaction and long-term success will depend on a number of factors. This article highlights some of the key tips that can help you in becoming a super assistant.

Consider Training 

While in some states formal education is not mandatory for dental assistants, taking a course from an accredited program equips one with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle office work and patients’ needs well. Additionally, training will give you a better chance of securing a job in top rated dentist offices. Best-Dentalassistantschools.Com offers comprehensive information on training and licensing for dental assistants.

Follow Instructions Keenly

A dental assistant should pay keen attention to every detail to avoid making mistakes. This can be achieved by following the guidelines given by the dentist. Keenness should apply both when assisting the dentist as well as in office work. Any small errors can lead to mistakes in the dental procedures or incorrect billing and record entry. While it is impossible to be perfect, following instructions closely can lessen the number of mistakes in the dental office. If there is a new procedure in the office, you should take your time to learn what it entails and ask for clarifications where you do not understand.

As an assistant, strive to be a good listener when talking to the patients, doctors and other workmates. It’s usually a bad experience when the dentist has to pause a session with a client because the assistant didn’t listen to the instructions carefully. So, listen carefully and note key points to avoid confusion.

Practice Professionalism

As an assistant, you should learn to treat the patients, dentists and your other co-workers with professionalism. All the patients should be treated with respect and this means not handling them poorly regardless of the situation. Also, watch your words and actions when interacting with your bosses and other team members. Finally, respect the workplace by coming to work on time, adhering to the dress code and not using time in the office to addresses personal issues.
Remember that you are one of the representatives of the practice. There are many people that have some form of dental anxiety and being kind and respectful to patients is one way to keep them coming back. There are websites such as RankMyDentist.com where the best dental professionals are often listed. You want to make sure that you do not do anything that may potentially harm the rankings of early practice that you are working with.

Be a Good Team Player

As an assistant, you will be working closely with dentists and other staff members in the dental office. Thus, you require great interpersonal skills, communicating effectively with others and playing your role well. When you are cooperative and easy to get along with, you will make work easier for the dentist and maintain a good work environment. Being a great team player also means putting your ego aside especially when you have differences with others to ensure that the dental clinic’s end goals are met.

Show Empathy to the Patients

As a dental assistant, you may be called to play different roles requiring direct contact with the client. When playing such a role, strive to show empathy to the patients who are nervous and in pain. 

By striving to be an excellent dental assistant, you offer value to the dental office by contributing to effective dental treatments. Dentists will love having you around and your good services may entice them to give you a better package.

Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | Pinterest | Instagram

Uniquely Amazing Mother's Day Gift Ideas

This site has affiliate links and sponsored content. Read my Disclosure Policy.

Ahh, Mother's Day. It comes around EVERY year but yet somehow every year we are unprepared and struggle to find a decent gift.  I like to go for unique gifts instead of just flowers or a manicure gift certificate so I wanted to give you guys some inspiration too.  Here are a few unique but AMAZING gift ideas for Mother's Day.

Wine Subscription Club
Give your mom the gift of trying a new wine each month with a subscription to a Wine of the Month club.  There are all kinds of companies out there offering this type of service so shop around.  It doesn't have to be for an entire year but if you can afford it, 2-3 months would be just fine.

Pioneer Woman Magazine
I'm telling you that you CAN NOT go wrong with a subscription for your mom when it comes to Ree Drummond! I get this magazine and it's packed with so much different stuff. Décor inspiration, recipe ideas, and even fashion stuff!  Purchase a gift subscription here.

DNA Kit
So one of the really great things about a DNA Kit is that it's a gift that lasts forever.  The knowledge you gain from knowing your REAL roots is invaluable.  What's really cool is if you and your mother both do a DNA kit.  I recently got my DNA results from MyHeritage. You can order here and use the code ELLENROSS for free shipping ($12).  Your total for one DNA kit would be $69.

Flowers To Plant 
If your mom loves gardening and planting flowers each year, consider getting her several trays of annuals (or even perennial bulbs) so she can plant them and enjoy them for the next few months.  And bonus idea - help her plant them! You spend time with her and she gets to enjoy her favorite activity.  Flowers can be pricey so it's always nice to do the purchasing as a favor to your momma.

Macarons
Who can go wrong with a gift of baked goods especially Macarons! Dana's Bakery has a HUGE selection so you can order whatever flavor and color you think your mom would like best.  And enjoy some wine and cheese along with those macarons as you visit with your mom on Mother's Day!








Which of these do you think YOUR mother would love most?

Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | Pinterest | Instagram