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Everyone knows that luxury fashion brands charge far more than they have to for their products. This enables designers to keep their work desirable, putting it slightly out of reach of normal people and leaving it for the richest of the rich to enjoy. Of course, though, these prices will usually also reflect the quality of an item. It’s entirely possible to get your hands on luxury fashion items without having to spend a fortune on them. To help you out with this, we’re going to be exploring some of the best ways to get your hands on the work of luxury designers without having to put everything you have into it.

Shop Secondhand

There is a huge secondhand market emerging for luxury goods. As social media takes off, more and more people want access to products like this, increasing demand and opening new sources for those selling used goods. Websites like www.thewatchbox.com are great examples of this, offering luxury watches at rates that normal people can afford. Third-party apps like Depop also give you the chance to find private sellers when you’re trying to find garments that you like. It’s never been easier to get a great deal on something secondhand.

Look For Deals & Outlets

Most fashion brands have outlet stores that enable them to sell their old and damaged stock at reduced prices. You can find stores for this online, though the best deals tend to come from in-store. It’s always worth checking over items like this. Those with damage will usually be very subtle, but it makes sense to check this to ensure that you’re not buying something that you will dislike because of it. Deals like this aren’t always because of damage, with out of season items also getting this sort of treatment. There are loads of websites dedicated to sales like this; you just have to find them.

Use Shopping Plugins

Finally, as the last idea to consider, it’s time to think about the shopping tools you use. Web browsers like Chrome make it possible to install plugins that give you extra features are you browse around the web. Honey is a good example of this, providing users with discount codes for each of the websites they visit. This can make it much easier to get good value clothing and luxury brands without having to do any real work. It’s well worth doing some research here, as each country has access to its own options, and this means that you could be sitting on something great.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to get started on enjoying luxury fashion without having to pay the price. A lot of people struggle with this, finding it hard to know what they need to do when they want brands that they can’t afford. Thankfully, though, this is only getting easier as time goes by.

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Books I Recommend You Read [October]

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Fall is a great time to cozy up with a few good books.  Here's what I've been reading.

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica
This book was a thriller till the end. Told by multiple characters, you learn that a crime has been committed in a seemingly peaceful town and as the main character tries to unravel the mystery behind it, NOTHING makes sense. An ending I certainly did NOT see coming.

 

The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine
Talk about a book with twists. It appears Piper is a husband stealer living a double life. As Joanna tries to fight for what she wants she tries to make the truth she believes come out. But things are soooo not what they seem. What a read!


A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler
An amazing story of family drama, neighborhood feuds, and dark pasts. I couldn’t put this book down until I finished it because I had no idea which way it could end!



Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany Jackson
This book is POWERFUL about how racism and the system fails children and families in America. Claudia is concerned because her best friend is missing and no one seems to be as concerned as she is. She tries to track down her missing friend all while dealing with school bullies, first love, and new friendships. The story is written so beautifully and takes place before and after the events.

The Art of Losing It by Rosemary Keevil
What an amazing story of how the author made her way through life after some unbearable tragedies.  First she loses her husband quite quickly from Cancer while at the same time losing her brother to AIDS.  She also has to raise two girls and handle a job.  The way she tells her story made me feel like I was experiencing it first hand.  And then of course she begins to struggle with addiction and she tells the story of how she navigates recovery while still dealing with past trauma, grief, and raising her two girls.  I'm so proud of the author for sharing her story and inspiring others to not give up because there is a way through life after addiction and tragedy. 

 

 

Gone by Linda Olson

Wow, this memoir was powerful.  After a life altering vehicle accident, Linda lost all but 1 limb.   Linda had to go through so much to learn how to use her prosthetic body parts and to go about her daily life.  It's simply amazing what all she went through.  I always enjoy stories about people that have been through something insanely tragic yet turn around and thrive in life.  Of course there are struggles but it's very inspiring to read Linda's story about her and her husband Dave navigated life and found a way to live life to the fullest.   This is a very inspiring must read!

 

 

What have you read lately?

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Keep Your Health In Check This Winter

 

Winter brings a lot of change. Darker nights, colder weather - it’s a far cry from the long hot days of summer. But winter also brings cold and flu season, and with COVID-19 already having a huge impact on our health this year, it’s more important than ever to make health a priority this winter.

Make sure you stay fit and well this winter with these suggestions for keeping your health in check this winter.

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Maintain a healthy diet

A good diet is essential for a healthy immune system, as well as making sure your body gets the energy it needs. But doesn’t it always seem easier to eat healthier in the summer than the winter? While it’s easy to dive into a typical winter routine of eating a lot of comfort food, it doesn’t have to be that way.

If you haven’t got one already, invest in a slow cooker and start making some healthy slow cooker recipes that are perfect for the winter.
 

Stay active

When it’s freezing outside, it’s understandable that you don’t want to go for a run or head to the gym. But it is important that you keep fit through the winter, and avoid the ‘hibernation mode’ that can leave you feeling sluggish and lacking energy. There are all kinds of ways you can stay active in the winter - including working out in your own home! As a way to beat the winter blues, exercise will benefit your mental health and your physical health too.

Even if you don’t feel like intense exercise in the cold, a nice walk can help you get out of the house, get some fresh air and get your blood pumping to contribute to your daily activity.
 

Don’t forget your check-ups

It’s important that you stay up to date on all of your health checks. From going to the dentist to your regular eye exam, don’t let winter be the reason you neglect your health. Get your appointments booked in and stick to them - your health is never worth putting off!

Take care of your personal hygiene

With coronavirus and other viruses posing threats this winter, you need to do what you can to keep yourself healthy, and personal hygiene will be very important in achieving this. Some tips for keeping viruses at bay include:

Washing your hands regularly

Using hand sanitizer, especially when you’re out

Keep your kitchen and bathroom surfaces disinfected and clear

Make sure your desk is kept clean by wiping down surfaces, phones, keyboards, etc.

Use a face mask to help prevent the spread to others

Taking steps to maintain personal hygiene at home, work and anywhere else is important, helping to stop you from getting sick this winter and helping you develop some better habits overall.

Winter may be coming, but by adapting your routine and taking active steps to take care of your wellbeing, you can look forward to a better winter.

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5 Simple Ways You Can Pamper Yourself At Home

 

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Things may have been out of your control this year, stopping you from doing all that you enjoy, like spending time with family and friends, traveling to new places, and even practicing self-care. However, as everyone has started to adjust to being at home a lot more, you may have found new ways to still do the things you love. Whether that’s chatting to loved ones through video calls, discovering and learning about new places via the internet, or taking care of your beauty treatments at home.

You must look after yourself during these uncertain times, as they can be extremely stressful. We’re going to look at five ways you can pamper yourself at home as a way to relieve stress and make yourself feel good. 

Take a bubble bath

One of the easiest ways to relax and unwind is to run yourself a bubble bath and have a long soak in the tub. The more bubbles the better! You can put relaxing music on and light some candles to create the perfect ambiance. Maybe take a book in there with you and a glass of wine (or any other drink of your choice) and you’ll soon feel de-stressed. 

 

Condition your hair with a mask

If you’re unable to get to a salon to receive your usual hair treatments and you are looking for ways to keep your hair in tip top condition, use a hair mask. As you age your hair can go through many changes and can sometimes feel dry or brittle. A good hair mask will sort that right out for you, leaving your hair feeling hydrated and smooth.
 

Whiten your teeth

When your teeth are looking nice and white, you feel great about yourself and that’s what we’re aiming for here. Things such as coffee and red wine can leave your teeth looking slightly discolored. You can get a teeth whitening kit so you can brighten up your smile all from the comfort of your own home.
 

Give yourself a manicure

If you’re someone who gets their nails done regularly at the salon and haven’t been able to get them done for a while, we understand entirely. No pamper night is complete without giving your nails some TLC. Simply shape your nails with a file, smooth the tops and side with a buffer, soak your nails in warm water, choose your color, and paint your nails. Remember to moisturize your hands once the nails are dry to leave them feeling soft and nourished.
 

Give yourself a facial

If you’ve been at home a lot more than usual you may have started to slack a little with your skincare routine so give your face some extra love. Start by massaging your face with a cleansing oil and pat dry. Apply a cleanser to your face and neck then rinse with warm water. Gently exfoliate your face all over before applying a hydrating face mask for around 10 minutes then remove this with a warm damp cloth. Finish off with a moisturizer to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.

Hopefully, these pampering tips will leave you feeling good about yourself and help relieve any stress.

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The Hidden Health Hazards We Face Every Day

 

If you are keen to ensure you are taking good care of your health, you have to think about so much more than what you are eating and how much exercise you are getting. The fact is that there are so many things we encounter in our daily lives which could be harming us, and the more aware of those things you are the more you are going to be able to stay healthy for good. In this post, we’ll look at a few of the hidden health hazards that we face every day - and what you can do about them.

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Carbon Monoxide

This one is truly terrifying, for in high enough quantities carbon monoxide is a killer. The thing about carbon monoxide is that it is entirely odourless and colourless, meaning you could be breathing it in every day without knowing it. Soon after a fatal dose of it would come hallucinations and delusions, followed by vomiting and ultimately death. That’s pretty grim, but you can easily avoid such a fate by keeping air flowing in your home and ensuring you have a carbon monoxide detector - with working batteries.

Asbestos

Although it is no longer legal to build anything with asbestos, it used to be used freely in many places, and for that reason it is still hiding in the walls of many homes and offices throughout the world. If it is discovered, you have a legal duty to have it safely and professionally removed. Asbestos can lead to a type of cancer known as mesothelioma, and the best mesothelioma lawyers deal with hundreds of cases of mesothelioma-related death every year. It’s a serious health hazard, and one to be aware of in your home and workplace.

Text Neck

It might sound strange, but there is a condition known as text neck, which is caused by constantly looking down at your phone all day. If you are guilty of this, there is a chance that you are causing your spine severe and lifelong damage, and that’s no joke. You can cause spinal degeneration, herniated discs, early arthritis, and many related problems, if you are not careful. Be sure not to overuse your phone too much, and to have a correct posture at all times, even when texting.

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Slips, Trips & Falls

You never know when you might slip up next, but when you do it could cause you serious damage. We tend not to think of slips, trips and falls as all that bad, but they really can be fatal in many cases, and they are not the kind of thing we should take lightly. The main point here is to be sure not to make it more likely by having a cluttered home or office, and to take great care at all times as you move around. Do that, and you should be able to avoid tripping or slipping at all, and that is going to help keep your physical wellbeing in shape for considerably longer than otherwise.

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Common Roadblocks to Getting Your Home Organized

 Often times I hear people say that they would just love to get their home organized and tidied up but they are overwhelmed and can never get through it.  So I started asking those people what they specifically struggle with.  And they told me.  Today I'm sharing some of the reasons and some suggestions on how to get through the roadblocks.   Title Image Above and delete this line.

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