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Nicole

20 Things You Should Do For Yourself In 2020

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2020 is almost upon us and what better excuse to do some things for yourself. Try a list of 20 things and see what difference it makes to your life. Here are some ideas to get your mind buzzing:

Do a 30-Day Challenge

30-day challenges are an excellent idea because they don’t require too much sacrifice. You get the opportunity to try a new habit just for a month, and then you can decide whether you want to continue doing it. 

Keep A Journal

It doesn’t have to be full of your thoughts and feelings necessarily, but a record of what you’ve done and how you felt. 

Do a Social Media Friend Purge

Go through your social media accounts and remove friends, groups, and pages if they no longer serve you a positive purpose.

Try something You’ve Never Done

What have you never done before? Have you ever been horse riding? Have you ever been on a boat? Whatever it is, do it! 

Go To A Restaurant You’ve Never Been to Before

Do you always go to the same places over and over again? Switch it up a bit; you may find a new favorite. 

Improve Your Health

Focus on your health this year and make sure it’s a priority.

Drink More Water

As part of improving your health, make it a point to drink more water. Buy yourself one of those trendy reusable bottles and set yourself a challenge to drink as much as you can each day.

Go over to the Leafy Side

Also, add more vegetables to every meal you have. 

Go to the Dentist

Go to the dentist, stop putting it off. 

Get Your Eyes and Ears Checked

It’s also good to know where you’re at with your eyes and ears; hearing loss can happen very slowly, so make sure you go and get checked.

Do More Exercise

Make an effort to do some more exercise, this doesn’t mean you have to join the gym, but you could make one of the 30-day challenges or try doing something like the Couch 2 5K.

Walk More

 Try using the car less, if you can walk it, then why not? It’s good exercise, and the fresh air will make you feel good.

Pamper Yourself

Make it a point to treat yourself, whether it’s to a massage, a manicure, or getting your hair done. Whatever it is, make sure you give yourself a bit of pampering now and again.

Start Volunteering

There’s plenty of things you can do to volunteer and that will not only make you feel good about yourself but will help people too.

Go Away On Your Own

Have you ever been for a weekend away on your own or a holiday? If not then give it a try.

Save Spare Change

If you can’t commit to saving a big chunk of your salary each month then start small and save your spare change, you could end up with a nice little spot at the end of the year.

Start A Side Hustle

Everyone’s got a side hustle these days, so why don’t you give it a try? It could be babysitting, starting a blog or online business or selling things on eBay.

Travel

Make a list of where you’d like to go and make an effort to do it.

Practice Gratitude

At the end of the beginning of each day, write down three things that you are grateful for. Even if it has been a horrible day, but you had a nice bath at the end of it or a glass of wine, write that down. 

Be Positive

Be more aware of your thoughts and feelings, and if you notice yourself being negative, or excessively complaining, spin it around and see the positive. You’ll notice your life becoming much happier if you do this.

Have You Seen the All-New Bosch Counter-Depth Fridges?

Please note, this post is sponsored by Best Buy. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

A smart connected refrigerator can tell you when its door has been left open or if you’re running out of milk, but are these conveniences worth the premium?

In my opinion, yes. Imagine if your refrigerator could tell you if its door has been left open, or it’s running out of ice? What if you could ask it, while you’re at the grocery store if you need to get more eggs or milk? Those are some of the features available with “smart” refrigerators that are connected to your smartphone via the internet. 

What Is a Smart Refrigerator

A smart refrigerator is a major appliance, a refrigerator, that’s connected to the cloud. Depending on the features built into each fridge, you’ll be enabled to do things such as using your smartphone to see what’s inside, send and recipe notes, add dinner entries to online digital organizers all on your fridge’s front panel door screen.

Who Makes Smart Refrigerators

Currently, several manufacturers make smart refrigerators. My suggested model? The All-New Bosch Counter-Depth refrigerators. Their state-of-the-line features, including the revolutionary FarmFresh System™ that combines four innovative technologies to keep your food fresh up to 3x longer, for less food wasted,* make this unit a must-have for any new seasonal kitchen upgrades.

Other features include:

  • VitaFreshPro™ offers preset settings that automatically balance BOTH temperature and humidity
  • FreshProtect™absorbs naturally occurring ethylene to slow ripening, so produce stays fresher, longer.
  • MultiAirFlow™ evenly circulates cool, fresh air to maintain consistent temperatures throughout the entire fridge cavity, from the door bins to back corners.
  • AirFresh® Filter absorbs even the toughest food odors, keeping your refrigerator and freezer air fresh.

*As compared to a Bosch refrigerator without FarmFresh System™. Results may vary among different foods.

Busy families will quickly appreciate the FreshProtect™ features. As they can reduce the number of groceries runs you need to make each week in order to stock up on fruit and necessary produce. Especially organics. As we all know how quickly they expire if left unprocessed or attended when ripening. For larger families, you’ll have the added benefit of 21 cubic foot capacity and a three-tier layered freezer drawer system and three wide gallon door bins. Perfect for fall freezer prep sessions at home!

Other necessary upgrades include the FlexBar™, removable shelves, and door bins, and sleek, internal stainless steel back wall, that provide the All-New Bosch Counter-Depth refrigerators eye-catching, lasting durability. These units, built-to-last with three wide gallon door bins easily accommodate two large side-by-side gallon containers, ingenious three-tier layered freezer drawer system creates extra storage for frozen items, from pizza boxes to frozen waffles, and full-width chiller drawers. Perfect for storing oversized platters with ease until you’re ready to serve them, or store snacks for quick access and easy visibility game day all season long. 

In terms of aesthetics, this Bosch Counter-Depth refrigerator is simple, classy, with a minimalist design. Perfect for slower living homes and modern eclectic homes, too. Its as pleasing to the eye as it is tech-savvy. With it’s with the touch-sensitive controls and the Home Connect™ featuring The Home Connect™ app, that allows you to remotely monitor and control your Bosch refrigerator from your smartphone or tablet. To control the temperature, adjust lighting, run diagnostics—wherever you are,** for ultimate convenience. Connected refrigerators from Bosch are designed to provide modern homeowners and home chefs alike with the peace of mind, customization, and simplification you’ve come to expect from Bosch.

Connectivity and speed varies based on network and Wi-Fi levels.

Another not-to-be-missed feature of the Bosch Counter-Depth refrigerators is the Bosch UltraClarityPro™ water filter that reduces >99.9% of sediments that may be found in your water. (Including harsh elements like chlorine and chloramine.) 

Should I Get a Smart Refrigerator

Refrigerators have been around for 100 years, units like the Bosch Counter-Depth refrigerators, are in my mind, a necessary kitchen splurge for your next kitchen update. So, for more details and pricing visit your local Best Buy store or BestBuy.com. Friends, have you invested or upgraded to a smart fridge recently? Share your opinions on your purchase below. 

The Reviews Are In: BISSELL Cordless Max Is A Must-Buy For Pet Owners

If you are online looking for BISSELL CrossWave reviews, you’ve come to the right site. As a pet owner of three, I’m always on the hunt for the right tools to keep my home cleaner and safer for my pets too! This is why I’ve been doing my research and found that the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max is not just the right multi-surface vacuum but the better option for multi-pet homes as well. 

I do my due diligence to give my pets all the love and attention they rightly deserve for all that they freely reciprocate to me with all their hearts, giving me their all each day. With a little, or lot of pet hair. As in Great Pyrenees level tufts of hair. Or as I like to call it, little tumbleweeds of love. So it goes without saying that sometimes our homes may not always look their best when you fill it with tons of fuzzy love.  As a dog, cat, and small mammal mom for over two decades, I understand what tools and cleaners it takes to keep a sprawling home clean. And let me tell you, not every cleaner work the same for multi-pet homes. This is why I’ve been seeking out the best multi-surface vacuum cleaner, with our pet needs in mind.

That’s why I’ve been reading BISSELL CrossWave reviews. To make sure that this product can stand up to my home’s four-legged cleaning stress test. And I’m proud to say, it makes the cut.  As the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max can go from the carpet to the kitchen tiles to your hardwood floors and not skip a beat. Or leave residue behind on flooring strips and dividers alike.

Other great features include:

  • Multi-surface cleaning.
  • Safe and effective for use on tile, sealed wood floors, laminate, linoleum, rubber floor mats, and more.
  • With improved edge cleaning, you can easily pick-up pet hair that gathers along baseboards and in corners.
  • A self-cleaning cycle that maintains the machine’s cleaning performance by cleaning the brush roll and inside of the CrossWave.
  • A two-tank design system that keeps clean and dirty water separate, so you never clean with dirty water.
  • Filling and disposing of water can be done easily. 
  • Bagless technology saves users time and energy.
  • There aren’t any bags to buy or replace.
  • A cord-free design that produces up to 30 minutes of cordless cleaning power with a 36V lithium-ion battery.
  • BISSELL Connect app provides helpful alerts, maintenance tracking and usage tips using a Wi-Fi connection.

The BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max, now at Best Buy, vacuums and washes your floors at the SAME time! Talk about multi-tasking. And with its cord-free design, you can freely move from room-to-room or surface-to-surface. Saving you time, energy, and hassle along the way. And thanks to a 36V lithium-ion battery, you will enjoy up to 30 minutes of cordless cleaning. Which may vary based on model and usage. Making the BISSELL CrossWave the most effective way to clean tile, sealed wood floors, laminate, linoleum, rubber floor mats, pressed wood floors, and refresh area rugs.

The Self Cleaning Cycle

This unit self-cleaning cycle provides the user with extra cleaning performance thanks to a Two-Tank Technology that keeps clean water and formula separate from dirty water and dry debris. If your home is anything like mine, you are digitally connected to the max, and as the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max, with Wi-Fi connectivity, will provide users the ability to receive notifications from the BISSELL Connect app. Including helpful alerts, maintenance tracking, and usage tips to keep your machine always working at full capacity. Which I love. 

And don’t just take my word for it. Other users on Best Buy love the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max too:

I love the CrossWave Cordless Max Multi Surface Wet Dry Vacuum! I am able to vacuum and wash everything I need without having to worry about plugging in a cord or running out of battery! It works on carpet, tile, wood floors, laminate, linoleum, and area rugs! It displays the battery level so I know how much is remaining! My favorite feature is the Two Tank Technology! This keeps clean water and formula separate from dirty water! The Bissell app alerts me when the filter needs to be cleaned! It has a self-cleaning cycle that cleans the brush and tank! It also keeps track of the cleaning history and the formula! I am incredibly impressed!

Social Good Campaign

What’s better than this machine’s performance power? Currently, if you purchase this product, BISSELL will donate $10 to BISSELL Pet Foundation®. That is for each CrossWave® Cordless Max purchase upon activation. Just visit BISSELL.com/pets to register your device. For more information, visit Best Buy.

Friends, will you be checking out the new BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max for yourself at home? Which features are your favorites? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

Please note: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Best Buy. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

How To Look After Yourself After Being In Hospital

We’re all human, and we often forget that our bodies can really only take so much. They’re not invincible, and because we’re naive of this, we’re brought crashing down to earth when we get injured. Here are a few tips to look after yourself after being in the hospital.

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Take It Easy

You’ve just come out of the hospital, and even though that stage of the recovery process is over, you’re not completely out of the woods yet. You may have simply been discharged from the hospital due to being able to function from home and them wanting to free up a bed. The demand for a lot of hospitals tends to be constant, and there’s always a need for patients to be discharged as soon as they are able to. So when you get home, don’t just try and bounce back up. Getting back into your daily routine is not going to happen straight away, and so you, therefore, want to be easy on yourself. Communicate with your workplace so that you can give them an update on how you’re doing and don’t try and rush back into work and to normal life. The reason is that you don’t want to aggravate anything that’s currently healing by doing things that your body is not yet ready to do. Also, when it comes to going back to work, no job is ever that important that it should risk your own health.

Get Plenty Of Fluids

Fluids are everything from soup to water, to plenty of delicious hot chocolates. When your body has been through the wars, it’s a good idea to replenish it with all those nutrients and essential minerals that your body needs in order to function. Solid foods may not always be an option, so always rely on soups and stock-based meals to ensure you’re getting all the food you need. Try to keep a big bottle of water on you at all times and aim to get through it all in a day. That way, you’re getting a good amount in, and you can see that in how many bottles you manage to get through.

Follow The Doctor’s Orders

Whether it’s a car accident handled by The Derrick Law Firm or a broken arm that needs a cast, doing damage to your body can be terrifying. However, it’s nice to know that you are in the hands of experts and who are all qualified to help as best they can. With that being said, their advice is most likely going to be better and more accurate than your own. So if your doctor is saying you can’t exercise for six weeks, there’s a reason why they’ve said that. Don’t ignore doctor’s orders, but instead follow them to the letter. We’re often stubborn, thinking we will be just fine by cutting corners and maybe stopping medication a week or so earlier than what the doctor suggested. If you have doubts, drop them a line to see if things can change, but don’t just do whatever you feel like doing. You could only be doing yourself further harm.

Alternate Where You Rest

Rest is one thing that’s pretty much common amongst all injuries. It’s what helps you get better, and more importantly, it helps your body recover from the exhaustion of each day as your body fights what it’s been through. So rest when and as much as you can but alternate where you rest. The bed, all day every day, can be pretty soul-destroying, so use the sofa too. That way, you can put your feet up and watch all your favorite television shows and movies. At least that’ll keep you from going stir crazy. And if you can’t get out of bed, then bring the television into where you are. Anything will be better than having to stare at the ceiling all day.

Maintain Some Of Your Daily Routine

Even though you may not be able to get fully back into your old lifestyle yet. Some semblance of a daily routine should be done. Whether that’s getting up to brush your teeth or eat some breakfast to getting changed or checking your emails. Be careful what you do, but try to maintain some of your daily routines so that you can slowly build yourself up to normality. 

A hospital stint is not something anyone wants, but once it’s over, it will take a little time to readjust and to recover from the process. Take your time and take it easy on yourself.

Holiday Gift Ideas: The JLab #1 True Wireless Air Family From Best Buy

Please note, I have been compensated for this post by Best Buy Bloggers. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

 

If you’re anything like me then you are someone who loves working out while listening to their playlist du jour.  Someone who loves an awesome sound experience or travels often and requires a high-quality sound experience for your on-the-go tech lineup. If so, then you owe it to yourself to try out the JLab #1 True Wireless Air Family of products this season at home. A lineup featuring three new models giving you true wireless earbuds that deliver on sound, quality, and comfort. Meet your tech new squad, perfect fit for on-the-go, active lifestyles.

Moreover, with the holidays right around the corner, I am also on the hunt now for the perfect gifts for all of my family and friends so to help me quickly wrap up my shopping early and actually enjoy the holidays for a change. So for my fellow techies on my list, #1 True Wireless Earbuds from JLab Audio. They are the #1 True Wireless Headphones, affordably priced under $100.00. Making them a  great option for them this season. So, of course, I will be purchasing a pair this set for those who lobe to workout, or while working and listen to music in the new year. 

A few great points about the JLab #1 True Wireless Air Family of products:

  • They offer several affordable models.
  • Great playtime – battery life starting at 24 hours.
  • Great for every lifestyle.
  • Features sport fit, dual microphones for talking, etc.
  • Truly-wireless headphones that let you listen to your favorite tracks without being held back by wires.
  • Rechargeable battery that offers up to 6 hours of use on a single charge.
  • Sweat-resistant protection from sweat that can easily be worn while working out.
  • Bluetooth interface and simplified wireless pairing with your Bluetooth-enabled device.
  • In-ear design that fits securely and directs music into your ears for full, uninterrupted audio.
  • The stereo design delivers crisp tones.
  • Dual connect (Air Icon Only) ~ Use either earbud independently or use both and experience a seamless connection.

JLab Audio also now features three fabulous new models of truly wireless earbuds that deliver on sound, quality, and comfort. Including the JBuds Air Sport, business-inspired JBuds Air Executive, and the JBuds Air Icon which is an upgraded everyday option.

The new squad from JLab Audio is amazingly priced for the high-quality sound that you receive and I am definitely picking up the JBuds Air Icon Wireless Earbuds at Best Buy as they will make the perfect gift for my husband this holiday season. Allen is music obsessed and these will for sure be one of his favorite gifts as they will allow him to enjoy his music collection all day long, no matter what he is doing.

The JLab JBuds Air Family is not only convenient and affordable, but all models provide amazing playtime, a battery life starting at 24 hours, features for every lifestyle, in addition to an integrated cable for charging. These new sport-inspired JBuds Air Sport, business-inspired JBuds Air Executive, and the JBuds Air Icon, an upgraded everyday option. Making them perfect for everyone to #FINDYOURGO this holiday season. Find out more about this line online at Best Buy. 

Friends, I’ve mentioned a lot of perfectly priced features about these wireless earbuds from JLab Audio. How they would make the perfect gift this holiday season for all your active tech-savvy friends and family, so now I want to ask, what are your favorite features about the new squad from JLab Audio? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

Why You Should Shop at BestBeautyFinds.com

Please note, this post is sponsored by BestBeautyFinds.com. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

 

Each of us is beautiful in our own way. But that doesn’t mean we still don’t desire to enhance the looks that nature gave us. From finding the perfect facial serum to balance your morning and evening skincare needs to find your new go-to shampoo and conditioner brands, there are infinite ways for us to look our best each day. But when you live in a super small town like myself, the selection of beauty, skin, and cosmetic products may not always be readily available to you, nor the most affordable. Which is why when it comes to buying beauty products, I shop at Best Beauty Finds.

Best Beauty Finds

What is BestBeautyFinds.com?

BestBeautyFinds.com is an online one-stop-shop for all your hair, skin, cosmetic, and holistic beauty needs. Featuring a carefully curated selection of thousands of the nets best products, there’s something available to every skin type and budget this season and beyond. With such a fast variety of products and excellent customer service team in place to help with any ordering issues that may arise, why sift through hundreds of products at a massive online retailer when someone has done the job and readily offers them? This site is already one of my favorite online sites for cosmetics, and will likely be yours as well.

Affordability

One of my favorite features of the site is how simple it is to navigate. With easy-to-use searchable filters, visitors to the site can readily narrow down the search to something they need and find it with ease. With easy-to-find search bar features that allow customers to quickly find products in their desired price points, shopping online for your favorite beauty finds has never been easier. Filters that allow you to also find new deals and products at specific pricing.

Including cruelty-free cosmetics and cosmetic brushes, ranging from finds under $20, $50, $100, and $200, depending on the size, exclusivity, functionality, and demand of seasonally featured products showcased online. Customers are also encouraged to check back on the site often as deals and promotions can often be found too!

Best Beauty Finds

Skin Care, Bath, And Body Products

When it comes to how we perceive our own sense of beauty, we all have problem areas we seek to better at home. Everything from finding the right products to moisturize dry, treat wrinkles, minimize the aging signs, dark circles, and even lessen the appearance of cellulite during the warmer months of the year. When it comes to bettering my complexion, by way of my daily skincare routine at home, acne-fighting products are a must. Best Beauty Finds carries a large variety of acne treatment facial products as well as the best serum for acne I’ve been able to find online to date. Knowing that products to help keep my hormone-induced adult acne in check is only a few clicks away, is a godsend to my personal beauty arsenal at home.

They also carry a wide selection of facial masks, pedicure treatments, essential oils, bath bombs, hair accessories, and at-home spa tools. Perfect to include in my weekend self-care beauty routine at home. Products that would also make great gifts and stocking stuffers, not to mention digital gift cards, perfect for the upcoming holiday season too!

Hair Care Essentials

Don’t forget your mane, as the site offers a wide variety of products for every hair type. Including sulfate-free products for curly girls and volumizing blends for thinner hair texture types at home. The site also carries a variety of hair care tools from stylers to diffusers, there’s something for every style imaginable. As a curly girl myself, I love that the site hosts a variety of hair wraps, wands, plopping towels, and leave-in treatments.

Friends, if you are looking for your next one-stop-shop for you and your family’s skincare, haircare, and body product needs, be sure to check out Best beauty Finds. And if you’re already a shopper to the site, please be sure to leave a comment below and let me know what your typical order from the site consists of. I’m always on the lookout for my next favorite beauty find!

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How to Make More Money From Your Online Store this Holiday Season

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The festive season is approaching fast, which means that the busiest shopping time of the year is almost here. As every e-commerce business owner knows, the approach to Christmas can mean a significant increase in sales. The holiday season is the perfect time to take some action to maximize your sales opportunities. Putting in a little extra work now can help you make the most of the present buying market. 

The holidays are a time when retailers focus on attracting shoppers in search of gifts, so your efforts mustn’t get lost in the crowd. A great starting point is to assess what worked well for your store last year, and where you felt you missed chances for further success. Setting yourself targets against the previous year can be helpful. Try to learn everything you can from the past year’s experience so that you can drive your festive efforts even further this year.

Increase Your Website Visitors

Attracting the largest number of visitors possible to your website is a goal to aim for throughout the year. However, once the holiday season is here, it becomes all the more important. To stand out from other e-retailers, you will need to focus your efforts. Search engine optimization is a vital piece in your festive toolkit. Your SEO is now more important than ever to get your e-commerce site noticed in a hugely competitive area. Of course, SEO takes time, and getting it right can be incredibly tricky. Therefore, it is useful to enlist the help of the professionals to handle this for you. Using a company such as Ignite Digital means you can leave your SEO to the experts while you focus your efforts on getting the rest of the business holiday-ready.

Create a Gift Guide

Buying gifts can be a tricky business, not having a clue what to buy for someone can be pretty stressful. Luckily, this is where you can step in and solve your customer’s gift-giving dilemmas. Try creating gift guides and suggesting products from your range to inspire your customers to make gift purchases from your site. Sometimes, people get all shopped out, so a bit of inspiration can be very welcome.

To help solve all of your customer’s present buying problems, you could group your products and create special gift bundles. Pop these gift bundles in lovely packaging and make them available in a range of prices to suit all budgets, and you could have a winner on your hands.

Up Your Social Media Activity

October, November, and December are busy months, but you must take the time to pay special attention to your social media pages. If you know you are going to be rushed off your feet, make sure that you schedule in your posts in advance so that you don’t miss out on doing them. Use your posts to shout about your festive offerings and drive more traffic to your website. Don’t miss your chance to make this holiday your business’ most successful one yet.