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orbemnews · 4 years ago

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Here’s How Bored Rich People Are Spending Their Extra Cash Rich people who shopped too much used to be called collectors. Now they — and those belonging merely to the aspirational class — are all investors. It’s not just that they’ve spent the last year splurging on stakes in untested, newly formed public companies that have yet to produce products, much less profits. It’s that during the pandemic, seemingly every luxury acquisition has become a so-called alternative asset class. Rather than elbowing past each other for reservations at the latest restaurants from Marcus Samuelsson and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, or getting into bidding wars for apartments at 740 Park Avenue, they are one-upping each other in online auctions for jewelry, watches, furniture, sports cards, vintage cars, limited-edition Nikes and crypto art. Bread lines grew longer, Birkin bags got hotter. A number of retailers were reticent to speak about the trend, stating that they did not wish to be on the record talking about nearly sold out $90,000 earrings during a time of growing wealth inequality. John Demsey, the executive group president of the Estée Lauder Companies, voiced that concern even as he admitted a primary quarantine pastime. “All I do is go through watch porn,” he said. “I’m selling watches, I’m buying watches. It’s crazy. I have no reason right now to buy a watch. I’m at home all day at a computer. Time is staring me right in the face. What reason do I have to look at my wrist? But I want a tangible sign of something, so I’m looking at watches.” And many other people are too. Rolex Day-Dates that sold on the secondary market in 2020 for $30,000 are now going for upward of $50,000 on some resale sites. The Nautilus 5980, a rose gold chronograph sports watch from Patek Philippe that has a retail price of $85,000, can seldom be found on 47th Street for much less than $200,000. One reason for surging prices, according to Benjamin Clymer, the editor of the watch site Hodinkee, is that “Switzerland shut down, so demand was there while the supply was dramatically reduced.” But also, he said, “the wealthy that used to spend money on travel aren’t using it, so everything collectible is skyrocketing in value.” Coffee Tables and Porsches That includes cars, a hobby that began for Mr. Clymer in 2011 and took off in 2015, when a multimillion-dollar strategic investment in Hodinkee helped transform him from blogger to mogul. In the summer of 2020, Mr. Clymer went searching for a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS. One had sold shortly before the pandemic through the auction site Bring a Trailer (or BaT, as it’s known) for $560,000 but Mr. Clymer figured it might be a buyer’s market. Perhaps he could get it for less. He found a beauty from a dealership that hadn’t listed the price on its website. It was in mint condition. Mr. Clymer asked for a quote and nearly fainted upon hearing the answer: $1.2 million. “I said, ‘You’re crazy.’ Less than a month later it was sold.” By Thanksgiving, auction houses were sending out news releases almost daily touting their record-breaking sales. A pair of Conoid lounge chairs from the famed woodworker George Nakashima, which in 2019 commanded around $10,000, sold in October 2020 for $23,750 through the Chicago auction house Wright. A Mesa coffee table by T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings, a British architect whose name is barely known outside of the furniture world, brought in $237,500 in December; the overall result of the sale was $2.5 million, roughly double what the house did at the same sale a year before. In February, a digital artwork of Donald Trump facedown in the grass, covered in words like “loser,” sold for $6.6 million, a record for a nonfungible token, or NFT, so called because there’s no physical piece for the buyer to take possession of. Fittingly, the image was paid for in Ethereum, a form of cryptocurrency that, among millennials, is almost as well known as bitcoin. Two weeks later, Christie’s sold another NFT by Beeple, this time for $69 million. The prices for the best vintage sports cards reached Warhol levels. In January, a 1952 Mickey Mantle was sold through PWCC Marketplace for $5.2 million. In March, Goldin Auctions, a sports collectible site, held its annual winter auction. “We grossed $45 million,” said Ken Goldin, the founder and C.E.O. “Last year, it was $4.7 million.” One of Mr. Goldin’s repeat customers is Clement Kwan, the former president of Yoox Net-a-Porter and a founder of Beboe, an upscale line of cannabis vaporizers and edible pastilles that The New York Times has called “the Hermès of Marijuana.” “Since the pandemic started, my financial portfolio has gone up 50 percent,” Mr. Kwan said from Miami last week. “My collectibles went up by 200.” Mr. Kwan’s windfall came after learning in 2019 that a documentary about Michael Jordan was going to be released the following summer on Netflix. That led him to buy up sets of Mr. Jordan’s rookie cards at around $30,000 each. He also took a stake in Bleecker Trading, a bespoke sports memorabilia store in the West Village. In May of 2020, Mr. Kwan sold a Jordan rookie card for nearly $100,000. By January, a particularly in-demand Jordan rookie card sold through Goldin for $738,000. The renewed interest in Mr. Jordan extends to sneakers. Last May, Ariana Peters — who, along with her sisters Dakota and Dresden Peters, owns what some believe is the most valuable sneaker collection in the world — had her biggest sale in five years of being in business: a pair of autographed 1985 Air Jordans that fetched $275,000. In 2019, the sisters sold 572 pairs of sneakers, at prices that began at $500, Ariana Peters said in an interview. In 2020, they sold 879. Ms. Peters actually sounded somewhat surprised talking about all this, perhaps because she and her sisters only got into the business because their father, a retired real estate developer named Douglas Roy Peters, bought so many pairs of sneakers they were running out of places to put them. Ms. Peters, who lives in South Florida, now houses the collection in a storage facility that’s been customized to look like the Miami Heat’s basketball court. Leveraging Nostalgia, From Nintendo to Pokémon Those unprepared to shell out high sums for vintage collectibles are getting in on the action through recently established mutual funds. Rally, an Android and iPhone app that sells fractional shares in everything from Rolex GMTs to dinosaur remains, had 100,000 users at the start of the pandemic and oversaw $12 million in inventory. Rob Petrozzo, its chief product officer and co-founder, said in an interview that the company now oversees $30 million of merchandise and has over 200,000 users. According to the company, the average age of a Rally user is 28, and most are male. The way the app works, investors buy, sell or trade their shares as if they were stocks. New product launches are actually called I.P.O.s. “The equities space and the cryptocurrency space over the last couple years created really savvy investors who understand the dynamics of the market, so it’s a complement to their Coinbase accounts and their Robinhood accounts,” Mr. Petrozzo said. One of Mr. Petrozzo’s “investors” is Nicholas Abouzeid, the 24-year-old head of marketing at MainStreet, a 50-person firm that helps start-ups find and claim tax credits and incentives from the government. On a recent afternoon, Mr. Abouzeid was talking over Zoom from the bedroom of his home in Woodbury, Conn. In his long-sleeved white T-shirt and wood framed glasses, he looked like any number of young white men who might work for Mark Zuckerberg or Josh Kushner. Behind him were shelves of memorabilia — super plastic toys, sealed Nintendo games from the ’90s and collectible Nike Sacai Waffle sneakers. In the actual stock market, Mr. Abouzeid made last year what he described as “more than what somebody should make in a year,” buying and selling positions in high-growth technology companies such as Slack, Stitch Fix, Shopify and Fastly. “I’m in and out all the time,” he said. He extracted much of his profits and put them into Pokémon collectibles. On one level, it’s born of his nostalgia for the game, which he began playing in sixth grade. On another, it’s “an alternative asset class and a way to diversify,” as he put it. His holy grail item is a first-edition “Booster Box” of Pokémon cards. Upon its 1999 release, the set cost $110. In January, Heritage Auctions in Dallas sold one for $408,000. Mr. Abouzeid doesn’t have that kind of money, but in a June 2020 “I.P.O.” from Valley Road, he purchased 125 “shares” of one at a price of $25 each. They’re now worth $120 each, giving him a profit of around $13,500 (which is at least 300 percent more than he earned from his Slack holdings). Jackson Moses, a colleague of Mr. Abouzeid’s at MainStreet, invests in biotech stocks and vintage whiskey. But Johnson & Johnson and Jack Daniel’s don’t interest him. His Merrill Lynch account contains shares of companies like Sarepta Therapeutics, a maker of precision genetic medicines that treat rare neuromuscular and central nervous system diseases. His fridge is filled with rare, vintage Kacho Fugetsu. “When my parents saw them in my apartment, they got really worried,” he said. “They said, ‘Is there something we need to talk about?’ But I don’t even open them.” Earlier this month, when rising interest rates sent high-flying tech stocks into a tailspin, Kacho Fugetsu provided what Mr. Moses called “the perfect hedge.” Of course, he’s aware that the ascent of his whiskey collection also could come to an end, but that at least has an upside. “Then I’ll finally have an excuse to drink it,” he said. Source link Orbem News #Bored #cash #Extra #Heres #People #rich #Spending

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wjwilliams29 · 4 years ago

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How to Create a Profitable eCommerce Store from Scratch

Over the last few years or so, digital marketing has grown by massive amounts. It has led to the creation of brands from scratch, with plenty of well-known names establishing themselves purely because of their work on digital media.

One of the primary sources of that growth has been eCommerce. The availability for people to go online and purchase any item of their choice and have it delivered has made an eCommerce boom. Thanks to its growing popularity, brands like Amazon have seen their businesses touch multiple billions, making them one of the world’s biggest brands.

If you’re someone who wants to make money online, you need to know the tricks to create a strong eCommerce store.

What is an eCommerce Store?

In the world of digital marketing, eCommerce reigns supreme. It provides companies and brands with the platform to reach a wider audience without needing a physical store. Through digital means, brands will be able to sell their products, creating a strong connection with their audiences. eCommerce stores are present all over the world, and they see incredible growth.

The overall income from eCommerce in the U.S. in 2021 is set to touch a staggering $1 trillion. That’s because more people understand the importance of opening one, and with time can cut costs that generally come with owning a brick-and-mortar store.

Over the past decade or so, there has been a proliferation of eCommerce platforms worldwide. Choosing the right one can help brands create a long-term relationship and grow by leaps and bounds. It’s important that brands choose one that suits their needs the best. Different platforms come with their own set of advantages, and this decision can be one of the most important ones made by a company.

What are the Different eCommerce Platforms Available?

There is a whole host of eCommerce platforms available online. Here are the most prominent ones:

1. Shopify

Shopify consistently features on the list of most popular eCommerce management sites. This is because it pioneered the process and is seen as the market leader for eCommerce. Many advantages come with using Shopify and its multiple features. The primary of those is its inventory system that’s super smooth and doesn’t require much control. Once you decide what products you’re selling on shopify and the audience you’re targeting, Shopify allows you to update information at your will.

Further, it allows you to sell products across a multitude of channels, including Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, and even eBay. This consistency across platforms is one of the main reasons top brands opt for Shopify, and they provide a consistent approach.

Shopify also received some of the highest scores with regards to customer satisfaction across multiple businesses.

2. Woocommerce

When it comes to user-friendliness and adaptability, few do it better than Woocommerce. There are multiple reasons to love Woocommerce, and the first one is that it allows you to start for free. Once you get a taste of its services and begin to get used to it, you can think about paying and creating a strong online presence with its services.

Another reason for its popularity is the fact that Woocommerce is easy to implement and use. With its super-smooth customization ability, it allows businesses to flourish over time. Its longevity is another factor to stick to Woocommerce, with the platform being around since 2011. It has grown from scratch and only improved with time. Also, the developers are known for being professional and reliable with their offerings for support and products.

3. BigCommerce

Another one of the popular services for eCommerce is BigCommerce. Perfect for fast-growing and large businesses, they provide services that can be easily accessed and understood.

Another significant advantage for BigCommerce is that it comes with a super range of built-in features and tools. These are perfect for supporting the growth of the store. With the powerful tools available, it becomes all the easier to keep track of the various things happening around the store, and will help in improving the overall scope of the store. Further, you can also sell via multiple channels while also managing everything from a single space.

BigCommerce allows you to sell digital, physical, and also service-based products automatically. You don’t have to install any app to allow for the same as it already comes included in the builder itself.

The platform also offers some excellent features for eCommerce management across industries.

4. Magento

One of the most popular eCommerce platforms worldwide, Magento comes with open-source technology. It also provides merchants with an opportunity to use a flexible cart system and gain access to an online store’s functionality and content. The site also offers search engine optimization, powerful marketing, and tools for catalog management.

Not only is it flexible, but it is also secure. The wide array of services for support, features, and security are fully scalable and easy to implement. Magento currently has over 260,000 merchants on board and is one of the most popular store-building platforms online.

The complete customizability adds to its benefits, and overall, it is an excellent platform for merchants who wish to implement the best in advanced technology.

5. Volusion

One of the leaders in eCommerce software solutions, Volusion provides businesses with a software platform that caters to industry needs. The eCommerce solution can be used to handle essential features such as payment processing and order management.

Volusion can help companies collect payments from customers based on sales products. With these eCommerce website stores’ creation, retailers online can easily receive instant payments and carry on their business.

6. 3DCart

3DCart has a host of benefits and comes with a 15-day free trial so that you can get used to the program and platform. It also enables you to get the store up and running before deciding to go forth and invest in the pricing plans. There are a bunch of rich SEO features and integrations for social media. This makes it easier to get your store discovered and drive traffic.

With the customized and simple mobile theme and templates, you’ll also be able to enjoy shopping across devices like phones are tablets. The software also updates the platform with the best in functionality and technology innovations so that you can maintain a competitive edge.

7. Prestashop

Prestashop is another popular eCommerce store management software that comes with a host of benefits for users. It’s super easy to install and requires you to download the necessary file from their store. Post this; you can create a functioning and responsive online store. The file size is 6 MB, so it works fast, without taking too long to download.

Prestashop is also budget-friendly and free of cost. Merchants looking for minimum investments can depend on it because there’s no need for a license to set up the store online.

The custom design is simple and convenient, without the need for technical knowledge. The user-friendly interface and simple design can be easily handled, along with the thousands of plugins available. Prestashop also comes with simple customization with which you can add and delete features.

The shop also supports multiple languages and currencies, making it easier for localization. The assistance helps them run stores around the globe. The software has stores in India, the USA, Canada, China, Germany, and Japan. The website is also capable of translating up to 45 languages.

Why Should You Use Shopify Over other eCommerce Platforms?

Shopify is great for stores that sell products or services which require minimal configuration. You can sell products with the advanced Shopify homepage section as required by your business.

Shopify also offers a simple way to quickly launch a store without worrying about development costs or worry over servers common with platforms such as Magento.

There are also no tech worries when it comes to Shopify, as it can help make the hosting faster and accommodate any spikes that come in traffic. The platform is super reliable and has 24/7 customer support for any merchant.

The app is also mobile-ready, and they’ve adapted their site to accommodate the larger number of traffic coming in. The optimized site allows merchants to create and customize the store online and help customers work with a mobile responsive cart.

Shopify is also customizable and comes with over 160 themes. Most of them are mobile responsive, and creating this unique online shop becomes simpler.

The app store has a treasure trove of functionality where you can add loyalty programs, reviews, wishlists, and receive in-depth analytics, packing slips, print labels, and shipping programs.

It’s good when you have your online store, but Shopify takes it to another level by providing a powerful SEO engine. You also gain access to advanced analytics so you can understand where your customers are coming from.

There is also a wide range of marketing tools that include product reviews, social media integration, and email marketing. You can also create gift vouchers, discount codes, and take the next level up. Shopify also provides a seamless, abandoned cart recovery experience by automatically tracking and reminding potential customers.

Finally, Shopify also comes with its payment gateway, for which you won’t have to incur transaction fees.

How to Set Up the Shopify store?

Now that you’ve understood the advantages of Shopify, you can go forth and set it up. Here’s how

Start your free trial on Shopify

With Shopify, you can start a free trial and begin to understand the initial steps that go into creating your shopify store. Once you do so, you’ll be able to understand what’s needed to integrate into the store. There are plenty of features, so you can take your time exploring it.

The free trial allows you to fully set up the store and try it before you decide to go ahead and purchase apps.

Pick a theme and customize the Shopify store

The next step is to pick yourself a theme and customize the store according to what works best for you. There are plenty of themes available, and they’re also segregated according to industry, color, and so much more. These brilliant themes can help make your store look visually stunning and offer the best functionality, so you don’t have to compromise on either.

Add the products you’d like to sell

After you’ve set up the theme, it’s time to add the products you’d like to sell in your store. Find the column and begin adding the products for customers to view. You can add extra parameters and segregate them next.

Group and categorize your products

After you’ve added the products in the store, you can go ahead and group or segregate them. Based on the parameters you’d like to add, the software allows you to categorize the products carefully. Hence, it becomes easier to create a fully-functional and optimized store that customers can visit and easily navigate.

Create necessary pages for the store

Once you’re done with the product creation, it’s time to complete the website’s look and feels. You can do that by creating the necessary pages, including the About Us, Contact page, and so much more. Shopify allows you to integrate the themes accordingly, so it becomes easier for you to manage the store right from one point.

Change your shipping settings as per your preferences

Based on how you’d like to ship your products around the world, you can set the necessary shipping settings. There are plenty of parameters available on the Shopify store, so you can accordingly do it in a way that suits your preferences.

Set up your tax settings

Shopify allows you to create tax settings with which you’ll be able to download statements and upload them for tax returns when needed. These tax settings also apply for customers shopping online, and you can adjust it based on the bracket you fall under.

Set up your payment getaway

This step is crucial because you need to know how money is coming into your system and how you’ll analyze and monitor it. You can choose from a host of payment gateways available in the store and make it easier for customers to go forth and purchase from your shop.

Test your order system

You can test the order system to know if the platform is working smoothly with your store. Once that happens, you know that you’re one step closer to going live.

Setup the domain with Shopify

Shopify then allows you to set up a domain and create a website on the internet, right from their app. You’ll be able to go live then.

Do the basic on-page SEO optimization

Optimize URL structure - Ensure the URL structure is correct, and there are no dead ends when people try to search for your site.

Optimize the Metadata - You can click on the SEO suite available with Shopify and optimize your Metadata. This can help in better visibility and get your store more traction online.

Optimize your headings - Headings give customers a taste of what’s in store (no pun intended), and you need to optimize them from time to time on the Shopify backend.

Optimize your body text with primary and secondary keywords - Help customers easily discover your store and optimize the primary and secondary keywords as needed.

Optimize your image alt tags - Image alt tags make it easier to provide more information about the product when a customer hovers over it.

Remove password protection and launch your store

You can finally remove password protection and launch your online store.

Keep tabs on all the various activities occurring and ensure that you’re constantly checking the web traffic and quality. Shopify’s features allow you to manage your store end-to-end, and with time, you’ll begin seeing the value of the investment you’ve made.

Conclusion

Keep optimizing the store and ensure that customer queries are taken care of in the right manner. After you’ve mastered Shopify, you can begin adding custom apps that simplify tasks and can be run on an automated basis, allowing you to take a backseat and focus on growth. Good luck!

Guest Post by AdNabu

AdNabu helps improve sales in Google Ads for eCommerce companies. If you are running the search, google shopping, or display campaigns in Google Ads, This software will be able to increase your sales.

Schedule a free consultation

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davidrsmithlove · 4 years ago

Text

How to Create a Profitable eCommerce Store from Scratch

If you’re someone who wants to make money online, you need to know the tricks to create a strong eCommerce store.

What is an eCommerce Store?

What are the Different eCommerce Platforms Available?

There is a whole host of eCommerce platforms available online. Here are the most prominent ones:

1. Shopify

Shopify also received some of the highest scores with regards to customer satisfaction across multiple businesses.

2. Woocommerce

3. BigCommerce

Another one of the popular services for eCommerce is BigCommerce. Perfect for fast-growing and large businesses, they provide services that can be easily accessed and understood.

The platform also offers some excellent features for eCommerce management across industries.

4. Magento

The complete customizability adds to its benefits, and overall, it is an excellent platform for merchants who wish to implement the best in advanced technology.

5. Volusion

6. 3DCart

7. Prestashop

Prestashop is also budget-friendly and free of cost. Merchants looking for minimum investments can depend on it because there’s no need for a license to set up the store online.

Why Should You Use Shopify Over other eCommerce Platforms?

Shopify is great for stores that sell products or services which require minimal configuration. You can sell products with the advanced Shopify homepage section as required by your business.

Shopify also offers a simple way to quickly launch a store without worrying about development costs or worry over servers common with platforms such as Magento.

Shopify is also customizable and comes with over 160 themes. Most of them are mobile responsive, and creating this unique online shop becomes simpler.

The app store has a treasure trove of functionality where you can add loyalty programs, reviews, wishlists, and receive in-depth analytics, packing slips, print labels, and shipping programs.

Finally, Shopify also comes with its payment gateway, for which you won’t have to incur transaction fees.

How to Set Up the Shopify store?

Now that you’ve understood the advantages of Shopify, you can go forth and set it up. Here’s how

Start your free trial on Shopify

The free trial allows you to fully set up the store and try it before you decide to go ahead and purchase apps.

Pick a theme and customize the Shopify store

Add the products you’d like to sell

Group and categorize your products

Create necessary pages for the store

Change your shipping settings as per your preferences

Set up your tax settings

Set up your payment getaway

Test your order system

You can test the order system to know if the platform is working smoothly with your store. Once that happens, you know that you’re one step closer to going live.

Setup the domain with Shopify

Shopify then allows you to set up a domain and create a website on the internet, right from their app. You’ll be able to go live then.

Do the basic on-page SEO optimization

Optimize URL structure – Ensure the URL structure is correct, and there are no dead ends when people try to search for your site.

Optimize the Metadata – You can click on the SEO suite available with Shopify and optimize your Metadata. This can help in better visibility and get your store more traction online.

Optimize your headings – Headings give customers a taste of what’s in store (no pun intended), and you need to optimize them from time to time on the Shopify backend.

Optimize your body text with primary and secondary keywords – Help customers easily discover your store and optimize the primary and secondary keywords as needed.

Optimize your image alt tags – Image alt tags make it easier to provide more information about the product when a customer hovers over it.

Remove password protection and launch your store

You can finally remove password protection and launch your online store.

Conclusion

Guest Post by AdNabu

Schedule a free consultation

0 notes

magnificentmktg · 4 years ago

Text

How to Create a Profitable eCommerce Store from Scratch

If you’re someone who wants to make money online, you need to know the tricks to create a strong eCommerce store.

What is an eCommerce Store?

What are the Different eCommerce Platforms Available?

There is a whole host of eCommerce platforms available online. Here are the most prominent ones:

1. Shopify

Shopify also received some of the highest scores with regards to customer satisfaction across multiple businesses.

2. Woocommerce

3. BigCommerce

Another one of the popular services for eCommerce is BigCommerce. Perfect for fast-growing and large businesses, they provide services that can be easily accessed and understood.

The platform also offers some excellent features for eCommerce management across industries.

4. Magento

The complete customizability adds to its benefits, and overall, it is an excellent platform for merchants who wish to implement the best in advanced technology.

5. Volusion

6. 3DCart

7. Prestashop

Prestashop is also budget-friendly and free of cost. Merchants looking for minimum investments can depend on it because there’s no need for a license to set up the store online.

Why Should You Use Shopify Over other eCommerce Platforms?

Shopify is great for stores that sell products or services which require minimal configuration. You can sell products with the advanced Shopify homepage section as required by your business.

Shopify also offers a simple way to quickly launch a store without worrying about development costs or worry over servers common with platforms such as Magento.

Shopify is also customizable and comes with over 160 themes. Most of them are mobile responsive, and creating this unique online shop becomes simpler.

The app store has a treasure trove of functionality where you can add loyalty programs, reviews, wishlists, and receive in-depth analytics, packing slips, print labels, and shipping programs.

Finally, Shopify also comes with its payment gateway, for which you won’t have to incur transaction fees.

How to Set Up the Shopify store?

Now that you’ve understood the advantages of Shopify, you can go forth and set it up. Here’s how

Start your free trial on Shopify

The free trial allows you to fully set up the store and try it before you decide to go ahead and purchase apps.

Pick a theme and customize the Shopify store

Add the products you’d like to sell

Group and categorize your products

Create necessary pages for the store

Change your shipping settings as per your preferences

Set up your tax settings

Set up your payment getaway

Test your order system

You can test the order system to know if the platform is working smoothly with your store. Once that happens, you know that you’re one step closer to going live.

Setup the domain with Shopify

Shopify then allows you to set up a domain and create a website on the internet, right from their app. You’ll be able to go live then.

Do the basic on-page SEO optimization

Optimize URL structure - Ensure the URL structure is correct, and there are no dead ends when people try to search for your site.

Optimize the Metadata - You can click on the SEO suite available with Shopify and optimize your Metadata. This can help in better visibility and get your store more traction online.

Optimize your headings - Headings give customers a taste of what’s in store (no pun intended), and you need to optimize them from time to time on the Shopify backend.

Optimize your body text with primary and secondary keywords - Help customers easily discover your store and optimize the primary and secondary keywords as needed.

Optimize your image alt tags - Image alt tags make it easier to provide more information about the product when a customer hovers over it.

Remove password protection and launch your store

You can finally remove password protection and launch your online store.

Conclusion

Guest Post by AdNabu

Schedule a free consultation

0 notes

beauty-andtheblonde-blog · 7 years ago

Text

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Subscription boxes have always been a hit or miss for me, and while sample sized products are great to make sure you like a product before committing to a full size, can you really tell if you like something if you only get three uses out of the sample? I can just picture being disappointed with a subscription box that provides a lower amount of product. With Fab Fit Fun, you get at least $200 worth of product, and not $200 worth if tiny samples that will get lost or get used once.

Skin care and makeup do come often, but I’ve received home decor, jewelry, scarves, blankets, candles, exercise balls, and even gift cards to Hello Fresh and Wine subscriptions. Fab Fit Fun makes sure that they cater to everyone, not just the makeup lover or skin care junkie. They promote a well rounded and healthy lifestyle, and who wouldn’t want that?

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You can find these Lip Masks here for $24.99 for 5, or $39.99 for 10

ISH- Lip Statement Palette

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Ettika- Day Dreamer Tasseled Earrings

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Ettika sells their jewelry on their own website, and the earrings can be found here for $58

Free People X Understated Leather- Starry Eyed Travel Eye Mask

Of course I got this item after my trip to Ireland, but better late than never! Free People is one of my all-time favorite brands, even though my wallet begs to differ. I think it’s great to see Free People partner up with other companies to provide new merchandise that isn’t what we’ve seen from them before! The best thing about this mask is that it comes with a removable cooling pouch that you can put in the fridge and de-puff your eyes with!

The mask is currently sold out on Free People’s website, but they are on Understated Leather for $40

Murad- Skin Perfecting Lotion

As a dry girl, I can never have enough lotion or moisturizer. If I could lather my entire body in Vaseline on a daily basis, I would. Since I did just do a ton of traveling, my skin has not been the happiest. Between filtered airplane air, the cold in Ireland, and the humidity in Myrtle Beach, my skin doesn’t know what to do with itself. So naturally, I’m a little textured and a lot dry right now. Low and behold the skin Gods were listening and blessed me with this gem in my box. This moisturizer is oil free, and contains Glycerin and Retinol to smooth and refine skin

This moisturizer sells for $40, and you can buy it at Sephora, Ulta, or Macy’s.

Anderson Lilley- Super Bloom Candle

I’m a firm believer that you can never have too many candles, and I almost always stick to the Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles. Even though the packaging might not match everyone’s door aesthetic, they smell amazing and burn forever. And now I’m happy to have a candle that does all that, and comes in super cute copper container. This candle smells earthy and floral with a hint of lavender- like walking through a garden on a spring day (too cliché?). The candle itself is poured from coconut wax and has a lead-free wick!

A perk that goes unnoticed- once your candle is done burning, you can use the vessel as a makeup brush holder or planter!

This goes for $45 and can be found on the Anderson Lilley Website (Keep an eye on Amazon, Ebay, and Poshmark, you may be able to find one at a lower price!)

Rachel Pally- Reversible Clutch

The only thing better than one clutch is two! This clutch is made out of Vegan leather, and comes in three different prints. I’ve definitely noticed that my purse game has been slacking, and am totally in search of a new purse and statement pieces to wear out, and this clutch totally gave me a head start on that mission. While I have a feeling I’ll be throwing makeup in this to travel on at least one occasion, it has so much room for whatever you may need for a night out!

This is another item you can probably find on Mercari or Postmark, but the safest option is to buy from Rachel Pally directly for $60.

Physique 57- Massage Roller

This was BY FAR the product that caught my attention the most. As a dancer, I am too well aware of how many massage rollers exist, and they all look identical. My massage roller has been my best friend through every dance practice I’ve ever had, and I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to roll out your muscles weather you’re a highly competitive athlete, or an avid gym goer. The entire design of this roller is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and I am obsessed. It’s always nice to see a new twist on an old product, and this will now forever hold a special place in my gym bag.

Physique 57 is a barre studio that also has online barre classes available for purchase. Find out more about their brand here, and find this roller here

Dermelect Cosmecuticals- Makeover Concealing Ridge Filler

Tis product can be used as a base coat for nails or as a cuticle treatment for weak or damaged nails. I haven’t done my own nails since I was about 16, but I do have a new job that requires “natural looking” nails, which means I might be kissing the long acrylic tips goodbye and saying hello to my natural (and probably insanely damaged) nails.

This product retails for $18 and can be found on the Dermelect website with tons of other nail products.

See you Next Season!

I honestly wish Fab Fit Fun offered a monthly version of their boxes because they’re really that good. But, It does give me something to look forward to! New season, new wardrobe, new beauty trends, and a whole box of new things to play with. Fab Fit Fun also offers exercise classes, recipes, and customization of products online for their members!

You can sign up here, and refer your friends to get even more goodies! This link is not an affiliate link and I am in no way sponsored by Fab Fit Fun (I wish). But I do think they’re a company worth talking about! I’ve had nothing but amazing boxes and positive experiences with them,

Love and Lashes!

Katy

Fab Fit Fun! Spring 2018 Unboxing Fab Fit Fun is the gift that keeps on giving, and the only subscription box that I genuinely look forward to every season.

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expatsecuador · 4 years ago

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The True Cost of Living in Cuenca, Ecuador

The cost of living in Cuenca, or Ecuador in general, is often cited as one of the core reasons why expats move here.

It was a consideration for Michelle and me too. In particular, the cost of schools in Cuenca is approx half of that in Quito. So, we decided to move from Quito to Cuenca when the youngest was entering school partly to help cut down on living costs. We both work remotely, so the lower wages in Cuenca were not an issue for us.

I’ve tried to be as transparent as possible with our costs of living to give you an idea of total living costs in Cuenca, Ecuador.

These costs are itemized into our monthly budget below:

Category Item Cost (Monthly) Home Rent $800 Home Internet (25Mb Up/Down) $30 Home Water

$10 Home Electricity $20 Home Security $22 Home Home phone $6 Home Gas $3 Home Maid (4 x monthly) $80 Home Gardener (1 x monthly) $30 Home Mobile Phone (x2) $20 Food Fruit & Vegetables (Mercados) $85 Food Groceries (SuperMaxi) $220 Health Heatlh Insurance $170 Car Gasoline (Small Car) $30 Car Car Maintanence $100 Kids School Fees (2 kids) $500 Kids Horse riding (2 kids) $100 Discretionary Cafes & Restaurants $150 Discretionary Yoga (2 adults) $60 Discretionary Clothes $100 Discretionary Streaming (Netflix & Spotify) $15 Total Monthly $2,552

We live a simple, middle-class life in Ecuador. We are fortunate to always have enough food on our table, a small car, rent a large house and have some help from a maid and gardener.

You can find some reports of expats living on less than $1,000 per month and this is certainly possible if you live a simple, frugal lifestyle away from the major cities of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca.

You can also get a good basic feel for cost of living in Cuenca from sites like Numbeo where you can compare your current city with Cuenca (or other Ecuadorian cities). I like the granularity of Numbeo as it allows you to pry directly into the cost of basics like milk, bread and beer. Given Ecuador also uses the USD, if you’re comparing costs from the US, then it’s a very straight forward exercise.

Cuenca Home Costs

These form the most substantial component of our budget. We also have a considerable amount of discretionary spending here, so you can certainly cut down on a few of these things to cut costs.

Rent – $800/month

We rent a large house on the outskirts of Cuenca in the Challuabumba neighborhood. It’s a 15 min drive to Cuenca on the Autopista (main highway). We chose here because it’s a little warmer than Cuenca itself, close to our school of choice, and we can get a much bigger house (and yard) than we could get in Cuenca. We like the privacy available to us and there are enough local shops, including a supermarket, that we really don’t need to visit Cuenca if we don’t want to.

The biggest downside of living 15 mins away from Cuenca is that we found it necessary to purchase a car (and get an Ecuadorian driver’s licence). There are buses and taxis, but we found them too time-consuming and limiting. We also like to explore close by towns, villages and mountains on the weekends which is easier with a car.

Our house is a 2 level, 4 bedroom house with a large rear yard and good sized front yard. The previous tenant was an expat that clearly poured a lot of love into the garden, attracting many hummingbirds. We were the first to see the house as it was coming onto the rental market and we immediately said, “yes, we’ll take it!”

Our current landlords are amazing – which has really made a big difference to the overall enjoyment of the space. Everything gets fixed, even some improvements made. Our previous landlord was an absolute nightmare who never fixed anything, so we’re super grateful to have wonderful landords now.

A similar house in Cuenca itself would rent for $1K+, so we’re happy with the price we’re paying for the location.

You can find 4 bedroom homes for less than $800 per month, but you probably won’t get your entire wish list. A properly maintained and welcoming garden was important to us, so we were willing to pay a bit extra for this.

Some expats do purchase homes instead of renting. If you’re on the fence, check out our article on renting vs buying in Ecuador.

Internet – $31/month

You’ll likely have different internet options depending on where you live in Cuenca. Our experience is the speed you can get will largely depend on the port availability at the distribution hub. Ie There may not be any more fibre optic ports available at the closest hub, so you’ll need to choose a different plan, provider, wait until a port becomes available, or beg your internet technician to find an available port.

We pay $30.90 each month for a 25Mb down/ 5MB up plan from Etapa. Etapa is basically the default option as they are government-controlled and are also responsible for the infrastructure.

Other popular options in Cuenca include Puntonet (Celerity – fibre optic) and Netlife.

Take note of the contract terms. Many plans are 2-3 years, with penalties for leaving early. Our plan from Etapa allows us to take the connection with us if we move (within their Cuenca service region). But if not, then we’ll need to pay for the installation costs ($55) that we waived at the start of the contract. Some companies have higher termination costs such as paying out the rest of the plan + exit fee.

Water – $10/month

Water is cheap in Ecuador. The water in Cuenca is noted as having some of the best water quality in the world due, so you shouldn’t feel the need to get in bottled water or pay anything extra.

With 2 adults and 2 kids, we’re constantly using the shower and washing clothes. We consider $10/month for water to be a very good deal.

Electricity – $20/month

Our house has a lot of lights and we generally have at least 1 (normally 2) screens on during the day. We weren’t given a choice with the electricity provider.

The biggest issue I’ve found with electricity providers in Ecuador is they are ruthless when it comes to turning the power off for non-payment. If you are a day late, someone may come to your house & ask what is going on and request payment. Or, they may just cut off your power without warning.

Our power has been cut off in Cuenca and we’ve needed to go to the Electricity company to have it switched back on (the following working day).

Security – $22/month

This is largely for peace of mind. This covers the cost of the electric fence, alarm and monitoring from the security company. The company is generally very quick to respond to any alarm.

It pays to shop around for a security company. I’d definitely recommend asking your neighbors for their experience with their providers as a starting point.

The other form of security comes from our neighbors. We live in a welcoming community where every house belongs to the WhatsApp group created for discussing any practical issues like security.

As an example, last night our next-door neighbors’ alarm went off. They were out of town, so I got up to check it out and their security company was already there and talking to another neighbor. Our next-door neighbor was thankful to have all of their neighbors and the security company watching their back whilst they weren’t there. Other neighbors have done the exact same for us.

Home phone – $6/month

I’ll be honest, I don’t know why we have a home phone as we always use our mobile phones for calling locally or Skype for international calls.

Okay, I’ve just asked Michelle and we have the home phone only for the security system as it uses our landline to communicate with the alarm company.

Gas (Propane) – $3/month

Gas is ridiculously cheap in Ecuador. The price varies a little by city, but expect to pay around $3 per bottle delivered to your home. And, expect to be annoyed by the constant passing of gas trucks through your neighborhood, complete with speakers blaring a ‘gas truck’ song so you don’t miss them.

We generally only go through 1 (maybe 2) gas tanks each month. This powers our hot water, oven and even our clothes dryer. We don’t use a space heater.

You’ll need to pay for at least one, we recommend an additional as a spare, propane tank for about $45. The condition isn’t super important, just make sure it isn’t too rusty… Then you can participate in the home deliveries where they just swap tanks. Quick, easy and cheap. You should be able to sell the tank for a similar price ($45) upon leaving.

Maid (4 x monthly) – $80/month

Depending on how busy we are, we alternate between having a full-time maid/nanny and just having her come in 1 day per week for the ‘deeper’ cleans.

We’ve found it hard to find a quality, affordable nanny that is still happy to do a fair amount of cleaning. You may need to trial a few until you get a feel for their enthusiasm for the work offered.

If you’re providing any sort of on-going work, you may also be required to register this with IESS and also be aware of the full range of pay entitlements. This includes paying into the IESS system and the two additional monthly salaries each year (ie 13th & 14th months).

We also provide lunches and coffee for any worker in our house. I believe this is a fairly standard custom. Even if the worker has their lunch, the gesture has always been appreciated and it’s a nice way to get to know the workers a little more.

Gardener (1 x monthly) – $30/month

Whilst we enjoy doing a lot of gardening ourselves, we also pay for a gardener to come once a month to do the stuff we aren’t equipped for. In particular, we don’t have a lawn mower, edge trimmer or a decent hedge trimmer.

The amount we pay is for 2 gardeners for the entire day. They are very efficient and knowledgable. Their knowledge of how to grow certain things or control bugs has also been very valuable to us.

Again, on top of their payment, we also provide lunch and coffee.

Mobile Phone (x2) – $20/month

Michelle and I both use mobile phones.

I’ve just switched to Tuenti (a challenger low-cost brand) and pay $5 for 2GB data, 30 mins of calls & free Whatsapp. This plan lasts for 30 days. The biggest downside for me is that they use the Movistar network, which isn’t so great where we live (Claro has much better service).

I use a cheap Android phone which is not included in the pre-paid plan from Tuenti.

Michelle is on a $15 pre-paid plan from Claro that provides 15GB data, 200mins of calls & free Whatsapp. This also lasts one month. Michelle needs a better, more reliable plan than me as she uses her mobile a lot for work.

Michelle has also purchased her phone outright. Electronics like phones and computers can be expensive in Ecuador, so we recommend bringing these electronics with you.

The two main networks in Ecuador are Movistar and Claro. My experience is that Claro generally provides better coverage, but they are also difficult to deal with. Ie You can no longer just turn up at their service center to receive help, but need to make an appointment using their not-so-great app.

Getting out of post-paid plans without a significant exit fee has proven to be difficult for us. So, we’ve vowed to stick to pre-paid as we’re a little sick of being the games played by telco companies in Ecuador.

Home Subtotal – $1022/month

We find this a very reasonable cost for our lifestyle. However, there are some discretionary costs that can be minimized if we needed to. Take out the maid, gardener, security and home phone and you’ve cut down expenses by $138. Rent a slightly cheaper home or apartment at $600/month and you’ve saved another $200.

Combine both savings and we’d take our monthly home costs down to $684.

Cuenca monthly food costs

The main food choice you’re going to make in Cuenca is how much food you’ll buy at the local markets (mercados) vs the supermarkets such as Supermaxi. The more you can shift your purchases towards the mercados, the cheaper it will be.

Fruit and vegetables (mercados) – $85/month

Ecuador has cheap and plentiful fruit and vegetables. Our family of 4 finds it difficult to spend more than $20 on fruits and vegetables each week. And we mostly eat a plant-based diet. Check out this article for the types and costs of fruits and vegetables in Ecuador.

We are always sure to have a steady supply of starchy staples such as potatoes, green plantains (for bolones de verde) and choclos (corn). These form the basis of 3-4 meals each week.

We’ve included our coffee costs in the fruit and vegetable section as we generally buy these at the same time. We pay $4 per pound of quality roasted coffee beans. You can have them ground for the same price.

If you’re not aware, Ecuador has some very good quality coffee. But, coffee culture as we know it with fancy coffee roasters, cafes and hipster baristas are still in their infancy.

Groceries (Supermaxi) – $220/month

Supermaxi is the biggest and most renowned supermarket chain in Ecuador. They have 4 locations in Cuenca that are well scattered throughout.

The big advantages Supermaxi have over the mercados are quality control and variety. If you’re after some creature comfort foods from back home, your best bet is going to be Supermaxi. Note – these comfort foods will also increase your food bill. A lot.

We generally buy all of our cleaning, toiletries, dairy, bread and meat from Supermaxi. We’re making a conscious effort to ween ourselves away from Supermaxi by baking our own bread and making our own yoghurt etc, but the convenience of Supermaxi can be hard to break free from!

Supermaxi tip: Flash your cedula to a store assistant and ask where you can apply for a loyalty card. Most locations allow you to sign up on the spot and issue you with a loyalty card. This will open up more specials and shave a few dollars off your grocery bill.

You can certainly decrease your grocery bill by buying meat and dairy from the mercados, and many do. But we don’t really eat much of either, so it would probably cut down our bill to $180 or so.

Food Subtotal – $305/month

Ecuador has an in-built price incentive to purchase fresh, unprocessed food. This is opposite to many developed countries where the balance is skewed more towards processed food.

If you’re aware of this and able to take advantage by switching your diet and cooking towards fresh, unprocessed food, then Ecuador is perfect for you.

If your diet consists of processed food, high-quality meat, or you just need to eat certain brands, then your food bill is going to be considerably higher.

Your meat requirements are also worthwhile considering as Ecuador does not have a good reputation for producing high quality, cheap meat. You can find different meats, but there is no government assistance for farmers, so meat prices might be higher (and of lower quality) than you’re used to.

Vegan basics are covered with plentiful fruits, vegetables and grains. There’s some organic markets in Cuenca too and the prices are not much more than the regular markets. Supermaxi stocks some vegan-friendly food such as tofu, cheese and fake meats. But, if you need to take it up a notch and buy specialty items like nutritional yeast, then you’ll need to find a store like Nectar, bring it with you, or have it muled in.

Cuenca Health Insurance Costs

You have the option of private or public health insurance in Ecuador. But, many temporary residency visas require private health insurance. We also think you’re better off with private health insurance until you’ve properly explored the public health system.

The public health system is a lot cheaper, but the level of care is not as high as the private system.

Health Insurance (2 x adults) – $170/month

Our private health insurance with Salud allows us to visit our preferred hospital in-network. The main health insurance variables are yearly plan limits, deductibles, co-pays and network coverage.

We haven’t done a lot of research into other health insurance providers, so it’s quite possible that we’ll change providers over the next 6 months.

It’s worth pointing out the cost of medical treatment is considerably lower than many expats are used to (especially if you’re US based). The cost to see a doctor or even a specialist in Cuenca is generally less than $50. So, some expats choose to self-insure for these smaller costs, but still have public IESS insurance to cover any major surgeries, etc.

Car Costs in Cuenca

The decision to buy a car in Cuenca is not one that should be taken lightly. It involves a commitment and they are expensive. But, getting an Ecuadorian driver’s licence is relatively easy once you know how.

Gasoline (small car) – $30/month

Gasoline in Cuenca, and Ecuador, is super cheap. But, gasoline prices in Ecuador are a hot topic as the strike in 2019 that resulted in nation-wide chaos was partly caused by the President removing a long-held subsidy on gas and diesel prices.

The President eventually backed down, but was able to slide in a decree in 2020 that removes the subsidy, but limits the effect of any price movement to 5%.

The current price for gasoline is approx $1.75 for regular gasoline (ie Ecopais) and is $1.00 for diesel.

We have a 1.8L manual hatchback car and generally go through 1.5 tanks per month. It costs us $20 each time we fill up.

Car maintanence – $100/month

Maintaining a car in Ecuador is relatively cheap given that labor costs are so cheap. But, if you need to rely on imported parts than it will cost you considerably more. For this reason, Ecuadorian’s tend to like commonly available cars like Chevrolets.

Whilst I consider the roads in Ecuador to be good compared to other Latin American countries, they are not as good you’ll find in many developed nations. Potholes, speed bumps and other unexpected surprises caused by the weather (ie landslides and fog) can make driving difficult and cause a fair bit of wear and tear on the car. And, given Cuenca is in the Andes, you’re bound to be going up and down mountains a lot which also puts pressure on the engine.

Given the expected wear and tear on cars here, you’ll need to find a good, honest mechanic in Cuenca.

We’ve included the following in our $100/month car maintenance costs:

General repairs (ie suspension, brakes etc)

Tire replacement

Oil & other minor servicing

Car washing twice per month ($5 each time).

Car Subtotal – $130/month

This is an easy cost to remove if you decide to live in the city of Cuenca as many expats get by without a car. Taxis, buses and trams are cheap and you’d be doing well to spend more than $30-40 per month.

If we didn’t have a car, then I’d expect us to spend around $150/month on transport. The majority of this would be on taxis as it costs us about $8 each way to get into Cuenca.

Child Related Costs in Cuenca

I’ve already mentioned that the cheaper cost of schools in Cuenca was one of the reasons we moved here from Quito. On top of that, general activities like horse-riding and other after-school activities are cheaper here.

School Fees (2 kids) – $500

You can choose the private or public school system in Ecuador. We’ve noticed a very substantial difference in the quality of teaching offered through each system, with private schools generally outperforming public schools in every metric except for cost.

School fees for our school of choice in Cuenca are $250/month. Transport costs extra, but we don’t need it as we drive or walk the kids to school.

There are also yearly costs such as uniforms, books and in what is a weird custom to me, you’ll also need to buy (and label with your child’s name) a whole host of other materials that they’ll use throughout the year. I’m talking about stuff like educational toys down to colored paper. Basically, anything your child will use throughout the year, you are expected to buy at the start of the year.

These one-off costs are why the government mandates workers receive an extra payment in August – to help pay for these educational costs.

School fees vary a lot. You can find schools in Cuenca that cost $800/month down the $100 or so. Homeschooling is another option that is popular amongst expats.

Horse Riding (2 kids) – $100

This covers tuition and riding twice per week for each child. I realize horse riding is very specific, but most after-school activities are in a similar range, costing $30-50 per month.

Other activities include football (of course), bike riding, dancing, swimming and hiking.

Child Costs Subtotal – $600/month (2 kids)

If you’re looking to put your kids through private school, you will be looking to pay a similar amount for education in Cuenca. You’ll pay considerably more in Quito or Guayaquil.

Obviously you can save yourself some money if you removed the after-school activities and decided to go to a cheaper school. But, I would suggest you check out the various schools you’re considering before making any decision because the teaching methods and environments can vary a lot.

Discretionary Costs

Alright, time to spend some cash on the fun stuff!

Cafes & Restaurants – $150/month

We generally eat out 4 times per month for lunch and another 4-5 times for cafe style coffee and snacks. For 2 adults and 2 kids, lunch generally costs $20-$30 and the coffee/snacks around $10.

Michelle and I will also go for the occasional date night approx once per month where it’s just the two of us having dinner and drinks. This might cost $20 or $50 depending on how romantic we’re feeling lol.

Yoga (2 adults) – $60/month

There’s a decent selection of yoga studios in Cuenca, most of which offer drop-in classes for around $5. Better value are the monthly passes which we currently pay $30/month for. This gives us more than enough yoga every month.

Yoga not for you? No problem. Gyms and other activities also have monthly passes in a similar $30-$50/month bracket.

Clothes – $100/month

Whilst we generally wait until we holiday in another country to buy clothes, we still purchase some basics in Cuenca like shoes, jumpers etc. You are better off bringing clothes with you if possible – especially if you’re a larger ‘gringo’ size as your options here might be limited.

Streaming (Netflix & Spotify) – $15/month

Streaming costs are likely to be cheaper in Ecuador than in your home country. The combined cost of Netflix and Spotify for individual plans is $15.

I know numerous extended families in Ecuador that pay much less than this because they take advantage of the family plans which work out to be much cheaper.

With IPTV and a Firestick, you may find you have access to enough channels that you no longer need a Netflix subscription.

Discretionary Subtotal – $325/month

If strapped for cash, you can basically remove these discretionary costs.

An easy substitution if you like eating out, but prefer to be a little more frugal, is to stick to the lunch menu of the day or almuerzo. These are generally $3-$5 and consist of a soup, main, drink, and sometimes a dessert. The quality varies, but you should be able to find several staple restaurants in Cuenca that you’re happy with the price and quality.

You could also bring your yoga/gym costs down by working out at home. Michelle and I occasionally practice guided yoga with instructors on Youtube or Gaia. We value the community that comes from practicing in person at yoga studios, but we still enjoy practicing at home.

Total Costs – $2,552/month

Our total monthly costs come in at around $2.5K for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids). This total includes many items that I would consider luxuries that we could certainly go without if we wanted to save a little more.

I believe we could get our monthly costs down to $1,500 if we needed to. But, this would require a lifestyle change and moving to a cheaper house.

Lastly, to get money into Ecuador, we generally use a low-fee online service, as traditional bank transfers normally cost more and are more effort.

Do you live in Cuenca and happy to share your monthly costs? Feel free to let us know if the comments below. Or, perhaps you’re still deciding about Cuenca and are busily comparing prices between here and your home country. If this is you, let us know if the cost of living in Cuenca is high, low, or similar to what you’re paying now.

from Expats Ecuador https://expatsecuador.com/cost-of-living-cuenca/

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imissmymarcjacobs · 4 years ago

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Olive & June The Studio Box Review

Olive & June’s “The Studio Box” Contents: What’s Inside the Box?

Screenshotted from the official Olive & June website, here is a list of everything included with your purchase of The Studio Box, which currently retails for $50 USD:

Since the screenshotted list above contains kind of a lot of additional, unnecessary “fluff,” I thought I’d make my own, simpler, cut-to-the-chase list in case that makes it easier for anyone:

More Simple List of What’s Included in the Olive & June - The Studio Box:

The actual box, which is only really worth mentioning because it’s supposed to be able to be used to assist with “nail selfies,” i.e. you’re able to put your phone in a lil slot at the top of the box and use the box itself as a nice, convenient lil backdrop for photos of your mani.

A cute lil mess-resistant pouch, which fits all of the remaining products inside it except for the nail polish remover. You can also, obviously, empty the products out of the pouch and use the pouch for anything else you feel like using it for, and I feel like it would be easy to find a use for this pouch since it’s made of a nice slick, mess-proof type of material.

A teeny-tiny nail brush that you can use to help easily clean up nail polish accidents or mess-ups without getting nail polish everywhere or messing up another nail, because that just always freaking seems to happen, right?!

Nail File, which is super cute and definitely embodies the whole Olive & June aesthetic, I mean as much as you can really expect from a nail file tbh. The actual, physical nail file has the Olive & June logo printed on one side, and “#OLIVEYOURMANI” printed on the other side. The whole file has a cute baby pink allover background color, and the printed logo and text are white.

Nail Buffer Block, which - like the nail file - is about as cute as you can really ask for in something like a nail buffer block. The actual buffer block is completely white except for a printed, baby pink Olive & June logo on one of the sides.

Flat-Edge Nail Clipper, which looks pretty much exactly like any other traditional pair of nail clippers except that it has a flat-edge instead of a curved one, and it also has “Olive & June” printed on the top in cute pink text.

Cuticle Serum that happens to be one of the things (iirc) that Olive & June have really become known for, and a quick look at the ingredients will tell you why! I’ll show a screenshot of the Cuticle Serum’s ingredient list as we delve a lil deeper into this review.

“The Top Coat” is, of course, a nail polish top coat. It’s clear, the bottle and cap are silver, and that’s about all there is to say at this point!

“7-Free” Nail Polish (color of your choice) - I chose the color CHM, which is described like so on the Olive & June official website: “A sheer tan that flatters everyone, can be worn anywhere, and looks good every single time.”

Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover Pot - yes, the kind you actually stick your finger into, not the kind where you dump the liquid out onto a cotton ball or something like that. This nail polish remover appears to be quite small, and the amount of product included is 70mL or 2 fl oz.

“The Poppy” - Olive & June’s Universal Polish Bottle Handle that I was honestly very confused by at first, lol. Basically, it’s a big ol’ rubbery, kinda circular… handle, I guess is the best way to describe it haha, but it’s essentially, to my understanding, supposed to make painting your nails much more ergonomically-friendly, since holding this big soft rubbery thing is - I guess? - better than painting your nails the normal way where you just hold the not-so-uncomfortable-to-me-personally-at-least actual top of the nail polish bottle.

And that’s everything that comes in Olive & June’s “The Studio Box!” I know that was sort of a long-winded start, and we’ve only just gotten through the freaking “included products” list, lol, but I’ll try to keep the rest brief, concise, and to-the-point.

My Thoughts on the Actual Olive & June Nail Polish in the shade CHM, as well as Olive & June’s “The Top Coat”

As for the shade of the nail polish, and just the shade itself, I absolutely adore it and am so glad I chose it out of all the shades available, cause I admit it was quite overwhelming having to choose a shade off of the internet without being able to see anything in person, and with so many available options to choose from! The shade CHM is basically, for me, the epitome of a “My Nails But Better” shade. So, don’t opt for this color if you’re wanting something bold or basically something that’s even visible at all on the nails haha. I actually had someone ask me if I was just wearing a clear coat while I was wearing this! It was a clueless-to-all-things-beauty boy tho, so take that with a grain of salt haha, because you can definitely (imo) tell that it’s slightly more than just a clear coat; for example, you can’t really see the whites of your nails with this color on, but you can see through it a tiiiiiiny bit if you’re really looking closely, so it’s not quite opaque.

Now let’s talk about the actual formula of the Olive & June Nail Polish. During the first few seconds of trying this out for the first time, I remember thinking that I was so glad I had gotten the entire box of Olive & June stuff, because if I had just gotten this nail polish and it ended up being a fail, I’d have been so disappointed! However, as I applied the second coat, things started to come together and I was willing to abandon my negative first impression, lol. With one coat only, at least with this particular shade (CHM), it seems to go on extremely streaky and uneven, goopy in some spots and barely there in others. Two coats, though, works wonders to even everything out and makes it look like someone who actually knows what they’re doing was the person that did your nails hahaha. I painted one hand with two coats of CHM only, and left that to dry, and the other hand with two coats of CHM and then one layer of “The Top Coat” before letting that side dry.

Let me just say that, in the same way the second coat of CHM worked absolute wonders, so did the act of letting my nails completely dry! Both hands, so with and without the top coat, dried super fast compared to how fast I’ve experienced with other nail polishes. This is SUPER important to me because this is essentially the main reason I completely stopped painting my nails for a while: I’d carefully take my time painting them to be as perfect as I could muster, and then when it came time to let them dry, I’d stay as still as I possibly could for a could 45 mins - 1 hr, but every damn time I went to “check” on my nails after that amount of time, they seemingly hadn’t gotten one bit more dry than they were the second I stopped painting, and I’d end up completely ruining my labored-over nail polish work every time, without fail. This Olive & June stuff, though… it’s good, it’s different. It actually dries down quickly and dries down HARD. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had nail polish that feels like it’s completely dry, but as soon as I accidentally squish it on something in just the right way, which I always inevitably do, everything goes to shit and once again, my nails end up ruined. So, yeah, I will totally start painting my nails a lot more often now that I have some polish that is actually, you know, not shitty! Lollllll

Unfortunately, I can’t say too much about Olive & June’s “The Top Coat” yet because I’ve only tried it once and, like, it’s a top coat, so I can’t tell much on the first try. What I can tell you is that it definitely didn’t ruin anything or make anything worse or prolong dry time by any significant amount. So, things are looking promising when it comes to this top coat, but I’ll be sure to update you either here on the blog or on my Instagram when I have more concrete thoughts to share!

The Rest of the Items Included in “The Studio Box” by Olive & June

As I mentioned when talking about the top coat, I don’t have too much to say about the rest of the products in the box except that I really like and am enjoying everything so far and have not had a single problem with anything as of yet. The quality of literally everything (including the box itself lol, which I was honestly not expecting!) is SO good tbh, and I can see why this box is priced how it is. If you have any specific questions on any of the products that I mentioned in this post, or want to see a future post with updates on how I feel on these products in the future, please let me know!!! I will be sure to get back to everyone with any sort of question or comment! 😋

Overall, the price of the box (at the time of writing this post, $50 USD) does seem quite high for a lil assortment of nail care and nail polish-related items, but honestly, the quality of each and everything included with the purchase goes way above and beyond my expectations and I will absolutely be placing more Olive & June orders in the future to try out more of their colors since I adored the one I tried, CHM, so very much! In my opinion, The Studio Box by Olive & June is completely worth how much they are charging for it because the quality of everything is absolutely superb, not to mention how adorable and sooo freaking cute everything is! The lil details are always the most important, and Olive & June really did a great job on this. I can’t wait to try even more of their stuff!

Thank you so much for reading, and, like I said above, be sure to comment or msg me letting me know if you’d like to see any sort of follow-up post related to these products I talked about here! If you enjoyed this comprehensive review on The Studio Box by Olive & June, please please please leave a comment letting me know! It means so much to me when I know someone, somewhere is enjoying something I put time and effort into creating. I love you guys so very much!!!

#Olive & June #nails #nail polish #nail care #self-care

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whimsically-ominously-auspice · 5 years ago

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For yoh 300+ in group chat..

You seek Alex to learn more

0% of yoh ask him to seek me for knowledge when he says he doesn't know nor care.

Why? Why have you done this to yourself and the world?

Why? I pay you millions of dollars and you don't have the ability to foresee if you ask him to seek me i would post here and help the entire world -- Zillions of people.

Why is this so? Why do you not have the ability to help?

Is it fear of the Alex? Fear of me?

Or you just trust me So much that you know it will work?

Remember others do not. And i do not know the questions you seek answers to until i asked.

So help me help them, if you don't understand they (the world) don't either.

Only 49% have made the correlation to human traffic Victims comfort and the Quarantine and Social Distancing.

I make it graphic, i make it so visibly disturbing that they remember and understand on a Depth level that the heart forces the mind to comply.

So seek me So i can help the world to understand. I need questions worded a certain way. Without complaints.

Oh and also all illegal aliens and evil people -- the 45% of the known population -- will now have access to their DNA4U immediately disconnected. And all money that was available will go to a charity introducing childhood chastity and for more gifts for our living and survivors.

In places where access to DNA4U is used to gain access to food and other commodities you will br jailed indefinitely.

Simple swab will reallow you into the system. So allow the officer to swab you.

.... ....

Amazon employees got credits of $300 each because i had a public fit degrading their characters. I degraded the character of each employee. For that i apologize whole heartedly with tears because i was in a panic. It was hours until my precious people were kidnapped. So please enjoy your credits to shop on smile.Amazon.com -- remember world shopping at smile.Amazon.com allows Amazon to donate money based off a percentage of your shopping price to the charity of your choice.

Using the app donates to: Thorn (9 years), Cancer Society of America which prevents cancer treatments with chemo and radiation and uses only necessary surgeries, Shoes for Kids Across America, Turtle Evaluation to keep record of my endangered sea turtles i love so much, Food Distributions for low income families and homeless.

They get 1% each of each sale made in the Amazon app. We take 5% of all sales then we put it in a pot. At the end of the month we take it and divide it by 5 then pay it out.

But at smile.Amazon.com you get to pick where your 5% goes directly to.

Amazon employees must use smile they are not allowed to purchase from the app. They must independently choose where their donations go.

When using credits up to 15% of their purchase prices will be donated. At least 7%

Susan Coleman gets 4% normally cause they send 1% to another charity so we also send another 1% to the Muscle Dystrophy of America. So they get 8% and Muscle Dystrophy of America ends up with 4%

Money does not heal all wounds so remember social distancing. Remember wealth is in your heart and not in your hands unless it is a good human body that you touch.

Susan Coleman is Susan B. Anthony so that is an exciting home school project! She made the United States of America's 13 colonies flag. And much more.

So she also designed your colonies flags when you rejoin the Union. Up to 6 choices. For some she made 10. Queen Elizabeth II don't worry about a seamstress for your honors. We in the Americas remembered to honor and love home.

So we will gift you a wall template of all 6 flags per home. Also the voted pick in multiple sizes. And your personal 2nd and 3rd votes in smaller sizes. 3x5 and then a hand waver for each pick. 2 of each for the most voted

You are colonies. May your flag wave proud from the privacy of your bedroom where you've named it a sovereign country as you are allowed to.

Your vote choices you are allowed 3 for your colony's flag. You will receive a velvet embroidered cloth flag -- velvet on both sides. The size of a Queen size bed.

Then you will receive a printed microfiber blanket that mimics velvet of the United States of America Flag and then your current local state you reside in.

for all other countries. Like Italy. Italy is broken into Provinces. You will receive 2 embroidered velvet blankets of your Flag of Italy, your Province reasoning explained On the verse side. Then you will gain long 84" sheer curtains with the Constitution of the United States legible printed on them and the Declaration of Independence.

The curtains are see through. It allows light and sight to expand in the explained mind.

Futhermore the print is dark dark the darkest of black that looks almost like you can put your hands through the curtains lettering.

The words live. They float in the breeze of the air. They enter your heart, your mind, your tummy filled with guts.

There is nothing hidden behind or in the words. You can clearly see that. The words are honest and good and what we live by via government standards.

Worldwide are curtains. Blankets also.

Alex and i love the dark in a bedroom so the blankets include a black linen fabric to protect the flags and the blankets have loops. They are discreet and blend in with the blanket in an acceptable style and fashion.

So you may like to hang them. Also you can hang on walls. And curtain hooks and so on are provided as well.

Picnics. We will have better land. So the grass will be super soft and kind to us like velvet. But if you like to claim your own space and have s more valid sense of cleanliness they would be great especially for movie in the park nights.

Keep in your car for emergencies where you don't have a coat and you end up stranded. Or you want to stay over to sleep impromptu. Because drinking or late night film watching.

Don't worry we put yours and the world favorite names on them and your soulmates too

Aleins Favorite is Cleopatra. So i have allowed that as well it will help us realize our miskates. How we were used and manipulated.

Alex's favorite is Jesus.

World Favorite... Bonnie and Clyde.

Human favorite is Echinacea.

My favorite is Sabrina Leigh Jennings-Telles... Oh and you know all the rest i do just love me to death.

Tree favorite is Super Echinacea Archive. The Sea. And Tree original names. And since we knew all the same things they called me that too. It is i crested them when we went to live underwater as mermaids. I had to leave wisdom and guidance behind. So that is their Official Name. And if you have something very serious or dear to you all trees will turn in and completely 100% focus on you and will not multi task. As they usually do. They will treat you different. Very very formal as if you rule the world. And you do. I often think each mind is it's own world.

So on either side of the blanket one side lists who the other what.

Favorite of:

Humans

Animals

Etc

The other side of the same verse of the blanket flag has a column of names that is the favorite. The "what" because you will ask "what made it their favorite?"

So animals also get flag blankets of their preferred material.

So for the names you fold the blanket length wise them open one colum side and you can easier see the matches there will be instructions included.

You will not have a family crest. You will have half a crest at the center bottom or top of some of each flag blanket. It will match to the soulmate you have. Fold one and lay it atop the other.

Also you'll have s shield for your bedroom or if family wants to design living room or hallway is the absolute best with the crest upon it.

Then in the school store you'll have it uploaded and you can buy crested gear.

So we sre bringing the Pride of the Medieval as we have survived all wars.

So surf the wars upon your couched and sofas and favorite comfy chairs... Remember ice cream time.

Savor the cow milk flavours in the future you MUST make it at home with human breast milk.

Enjoy it. Cheese should be expected also.

Next week we add Cheese to your Whine. Both are ordered to ring up cheaper world wide and kids may sip or drink sparkling cider. The white grape is alcohol free but taste JIST like wine.

Countries worldwide are in competition for lowest prices and will receive prizes. There is a minimum of $1 per item. Or one Euro. Wherever you live that translates into about $1 for some countries it's 25 cents and that is fine.

South America you'll have the same fine free. Complying to be happy is your competition.

We have happiness meters on our cruise ships believe it or not. We have big Care Bear meter in all dining halls. Because the sky is scary to some so. We can turn it off if necessary.

The sky btw is recorded live with a 3 second feed lag time. So you will actually see what is outside your ship. The Windows also. So you won't miss a thing. Even when you're laying in bed. Rooms tho are a projection t.v. not all screens. So it's not crystal clear perfect like the dining halls. Unless your room is absolutely dark aside from the projector.

So many features come with that also. Like the bed can pretend to be a kayak and you pretend to row and it actually takes you to,real life where you row in real time.

It will automatically record and save to the DBR if you are in contact with sea life. Its a pretty amazing feature. It puts you and your boat outside and so it merges the reality of what occurred. You can talk to the sea life with esp. And even pet them with your soul metaphysical and they will see you in,their mind the reality of where you are. Its amazing.

So you will,get saved what they saw and what you saw and then a merge so it's like you was out on the water for reals.

They can even take you under water to see their homes.

Its one of the most blessed contraptions I've ever made. So,much love and amazement was poured into it.

There's rules and you could get banned. But I don't think anyone would really except a wild child and they would have a therapy conscious meeting with tree to see if the ban was necessary

Like some whales will say "hit me and we will go" but when you hit its a soft gentle pat. Even if you try to wham them. So if you're whacking every sea creature you see that is not correct behavior and you must listen to each animal to see how they went to be treated.

Dolphins and some whales will jist throw you on their back and take control of your whole day.

Turtles will ask you "now would you like to go see...." "Do you want to go with me now to..."

And you must ask to pet them. "May i touch you?"

Turtles hide their soft skin in their shell. They act afraid like an abused victim.

So ships with abused victims from violence will spend a lot of time in turtle areas. Because they will feel most comfortable. They will have the understanding.

Hyper activate children that aren't gentle will also be there.

First with the shark bait undertool swamp mate. Very similar to the blue whale. He will say to touch him.

Then the transfer information to the turtle well,the turtle Didjt say? What do i do?

Hopeful the child then thinks for itself and thinks oh i should ask!

If a turtle offers a shell,ride he will give rules about touching his body.

So this is per room. It will be real animals and you mind teleport there. Using technology to help clear it in your minds.

Because of the Zulululu and Orbits we have severe damage. To,what we can see, this will heal us

I have extreme damage. Alex has none. 92% of all world population. 32% of outdoor land has damage.

My total damage is 34% but it feels like 100 sometimes

Alex says it looks like it

But when he's being good with me he will say "you're seeing the visual wrong but yoh understand"

It's good enough to rule the world.

Again i have to experience so i can heal others. Or see.

In the future i will only have to window look like I used to.

But too much damage was occurring and how ?

So for the last 58 years Alex and I have gone through every social disorder imaginable that aliens created and gave to my precious humans.

So when i say i will kill on your behalf its Because i have experienced the Hell you have. Not licked it. Ate it and died from it. I have.

Survive and Fight for my own dignity i will. I stand for you my loved ones. My humans whom have no ideas they are special.

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bonniejstarks · 5 years ago

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DIY Christmas Cone Trees | The Urban Umbrella

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Love festive decor but hate the cost? Today, I am sharing an easy and affordable Christmas Tree Cone DIY project so you can enjoy festive decor without breaking the bank!

DIY Christmas Cone Trees

Since moving to our new home, I have become pretty obsessed with home decor.

It’s been a year since we moved in, and I feel like our place is really beginning to look like I had hoped. Decorating takes time, but it sure is fun!

We began by focusing on the dining and living room area. It’s an open concept style space and it felt quite empty when we first moved in. It was exciting to build the space from the ground up with items that really reflect our style.

Since we lived in a small apartment, we also didn’t have any holiday decor.

So, that’s been another thing we’ve really enjoyed about our new space. It’s been fun having a Christmas tree (our very first tree!) this year, and decorating the house with festive pieces.

One item I’ve always loved the look of though has been Christmas tree cones. I often see them at Homesense, Bed Bath and Beyond, or Walmart – and this year I decided it was time to grab one or two for our house.

However, this idea was crushed when I went to Homesense and saw that most of these holiday tree cones cost a minimum of $30 each.

Now, I don’t know if I am being cheap right now. But, I just cannot justify spending that much on decor that’ll only be out for a month or two. It just doesn’t seem worth it.

When I was looking at all the tree cones though I got inspired – they looked so easy to recreate. So, I headed to the Dollarstore and picked up a few items for my own Christmas Tree Cone DIY.

What You’ll Need

1 Posterboard paper

Scissors

Hot glue gun

Decorations (little floral bulbs, etc. I got little fake flower stems that are covered in golden glitter)

Rope (I purchased mine for $2.50 at the Dollastore)

How long does it take to make these DIY Christmas Cones?

The number 1 question I got on Instagram when I posted these trees was: They’re super cute – how long did they take to make though?!

And you guys… I won’t sugarcoat this – they take a while to make.

I suggest you settle in with a good movie or TV show to watch while you coil the rope around the paper cones.

The other reason I decided to make my own Christmas Cone Trees was because I couldn’t really find one that had the rustic look that I was looking for.

While I love the sparkly tree cones, they don’t really match the style of our home. Our house has a pretty modern-farmhouse vibe to it, and I wanted our little tree cones to match.

Our Christmas tree is particularly rustic looking with its burlap and lace ribbon, pine cone and wooden ball ornaments.

I absolutely love how this tree cone diy worked out. It was easy enough to make, and it really didn’t cost much at all. In-fact here’s a break down of the costs:

Jute Rope – $4.00

Decorations: $1.50

Poster Board Paper: $1.50

Ribbon (for tree topper bow): $3.00

Yield: 2 Tree Cones

Love the look of Christmas Cone Trees but hate the prices of them? Me too! Thankfully, they are super easy and super cheap to make at home.

All you need are a few simple materials and tools, and a little bit of time, to create your own rustic farmhouse-style Christmas Cone Trees.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Active Time 45 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Materials

1 Posterboard paper

Scissors

Hot glue gun

Decorations (little floral bulbs, etc. I got little fake flower stems that are covered in golden glitter)

Jute Cord Rope (I purchased mine for $2.50 at the Dollastore)

Instructions

Plugin your hot glue gun. By plugging it in before starting the rest of your craft, you’ll give it time to warm up. That way it’ll be ready to use when it is time to start gluing.

Begin by cutting your poster board in half for your two Christmas tree cones.

Create the cone shape with your paper and then tape the sides down. Use a few pieces of tape so that your paper doesn’t pop open.

Now begin gluing your jute cord rope to your poster board paper. This is the most time-consuming part of the craft. To wrap the cord and glue it down so that it covers the full poster board will take approximately 40-50 minutes. Only apply the glue here and there when you’re wrapping the cord around. If you use glue along the full width of the poster board, you’ll find that this project burns through glue and also takes even longer. Instead, only apply the glue every 1.5-2 inches.

Once your poster board is fully covered in the jute cord rope, begin decorating it. Simply glue your decorations where you’d like.

Burlap Bow Tree Topper

Cut off a a 5-6″ piece of burlap ribbon.

Glue the sides together to create a loop.

Then use a small string to cinch in the middle of the loop – this will begin to give it a bow-like look.

Cut another small piece of burlap ribbon to cover the string used to cinch the loop. Glue it over the string.

Then, cut two thinner pieces of your ribbon (ie. cut the ribbon in half length-wise) and glue it to the back of your bow.

Lastly, glue your bow to the top of your tree.

Like this post? Check these out next!

DIY Coffee Body Scrub

DIY Matcha Face Mask for Clear Glowy Skin

Ikea Shelf Makeover | Easy DIY Project

And, stop by my Youtube Channel for more videos!

Source link

The post DIY Christmas Cone Trees | The Urban Umbrella appeared first on Trends Dress.

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angelicpoc · 5 years ago

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10 Most Useful CBD OIL VAPE PEN STARTER KITS - All You Want TO KNOW!

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Yet another exceptionally potent product that has everything you may want within an CBD vape experience. Firstly, it includes a pencil battery, which means that you never need to think about getting 1 separately. Secondlyit contains terpenes from actual weed plants, so available in Various High-quality breed tastes such as:

Bubble Gum Sour Diesel Tangerine Haze Tremendous Lemon Haze Here is just a fairly great list of all products to pick from. Sour Diesel and also Super Lemon Haze are particularly Wonderful. The Pure Spectrum CBD Isolate Oil 450mg 56 percent CBD Vape package Place contains all natural, solvent-free, terpene flavoured CBD petroleum jelly.

Typical troubles with other similar goods on the market are glass fractures and also leakages. Actual Spectrum steps it up one of additional competitors by designing their cartridges to be leak free of charge and manufactured using glass. In addition you get a wonderful potent high per strike, with all the typical cartridge lasting close to 530 puffs or 5 9 pulls. These capsules feature additional cannabinoids (although not THC) and their CBD are GMP certified and organic in the seed available. Additionally, Pure Spectrum's focuses include no PG or even VG, which can be a big benefit of their services and products. The cost is also pretty good, sitting down at only $60. You receive a pencil included in the price tag, making this starter kit a really excellent bang for your dollar.

Affordable CBD VAPE OIL STARTER SET

7. 101CBD VAPE KIT at under #Forty

Perhaps not everyone would like to spend large sums of money on a CBD starter kit. This is especially valid when you haven't ever even tried CBD. One thing worth mentioning is the more economical you move using CBD, the lower the quality. Even though this seems clear to state, it is not like the gap between inexpensive and expensive booze, which an average of just boils to taste. Terrible, very low CBD depend vape oil doesn't work in addition to good quality oil. And so, in the event that you're attempting to deal with a significant ailment with low-quality CBD oil also it doesn't get the job done for youpersonally, then you need to up the ante and purchase an even costlier 1. But to merely try it out, there's no harm in getting a cheap CBD starter-kit for less than 40. That is precisely that which we have right here. This CBD vape pencil will give you a quick reach of CBD with immediate results and can be still good grade. It also is without any solvents and has been hauled with a super critical practice. It is very important to see, nevertheless , that the cannabidiol hit may not be as large as several others with this particular checklist. In the event you find that this CBD vape oil doesn't help along with your own symptoms, I then suggest trying one of those additional kits among the. Now you ought to find some idea in case CBD can treat you though, as this pen doesn't comprise CBD.

DISPOSABLE CBD

8. IPUFF CBD Box-set - DISPOSABLE CBD VAPE PEN

The beauty of semi automatic CBD cartridges is you really don't need something different. You can just continue buying the disposable capsules and after they will have finished, you merely buy a bit additional. This makes for a easier encounter and means that you do not have to be concerned about charging your battery or about your own battery dividing up. You are able to purchase iPuffs for fairly cheap, since they only cost around $3 2. You don't even have to press a button with those disposable vaporizers. Only toke on it as a cigarette or a joint, and you will be sent anything between 20-30% full plant spectrum hemp oil CBD. CBD relief has never been really simple and simple. The only other components of iPuff are important fatty acids, including lipids, terpenes, and chlorophyll. This can be an excellent means to relish your CBD, particularly if you are attempting to conserve income as iPuff CBD BoxSets are really low-cost. In the event you would like to try CBD nevertheless, you're unsure about spending plenty of cash to get a set, this would decidedly be an option you think. A couple of drawbacks for the minimal price is these disposable pencils usually do not last for long plus so they are also able to break easily.

CBD Starter-kit WITH OTHER FLAVOURS 9. THE HEALTHSMART CBD VAPE PEN STARTER KIT

Perhaps not everyone enjoys the style of either cannabis or terpenes. As such, some businesses such as HealthSmart Labs give you a completely different encounter. Rather than offering conventional bud breeds, they have seperated that their CBD Cartridges to three tastes:

Relaxed - Hybrid with herbal, citrus tastes Curl up - Indica Account with lavender, grape flavors Awake - Sativa profile using fruity, strawberry tastes. The HealthSmart CBD Vape Pen starter-kit comes with 0.5ml of 200mg complete spectrum CBD oil, a 510 threaded rechargeable battery, plus a charger. This combination creates the HealthSmart CBD vape kit an excellent selection to get a midst of the range CBD vape oil beginner apparel. It's also 100% organic and natural hemp extracts and does not use PG/PEG/VG/MCT, a gigantic advantage in the CBD concentration market. The pens themselves are in 3 distinct moods, serene, relax, or awake. This is a familiar theme which you find from the cannabis industry and allows one to truly feel calm, peaceful, or awake, with no untoward negative outcomes.

10. STORM VAPORIZER

In addition, it is likely to merely purchase CBD blossom from online or out of a shop. You are able to locate CBD blossom in lots of countries, as people are gradually warming to the idea of all cannabis. When I had been touring in Italy recently I found many pubs offered CBD blossom, even though bud being illegal in the country. This really wasn't illegal, as it was industrial hemp, or was sold as industrial hemp. When you have obtained your CBD flower you're able to merely buy yourself a vaporizer (I highly recommend the Storm Vaporiser) and then vape your blossom inside there. You need to grind up your herbs first, since it permits for the complete taste encounter. Often CBD flower tastes fairly horrible, however an increasing number of strains have been expanded that actually have a wonderful taste, and isn't really industrial hemp. But it can be offered as industrial hemp as it has under a certain % of THC (0.3percent in the US and 0.2% at britain ). The Storm Vaporizer also includes an insert which gives you the ability to smoke cannabis oil. Therefore, should you happen across CBD shatter, CBD isolate, or CBD cannabis oil, then you definitely can even vaporize them inside your own crossover.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CBD OR VAPE PENS IN GENERAL: HOW LONG DOES A 500MG VAPE PEN LAST? A 500mg vape pen will last close to 200 puffs, and it may be excellent for 2-3 weeks based how many times you smoke. It also is based upon the effectiveness of their CBD vape. Some CBD vapes may only not have a large cannabinoid count. That is especially true of those which are made from hemp, as the cannabinoid depend of hemp-based CBD medicine is much lower compared to count of CBD vapes created from the cannabis plant. The challenge isthat, in some states like the united kingdom, non-hemp-based CBD oils are not valid, and for that reason several companies make purely hemp vape pens.

WHAT IS CBD AND HOW CAN IT HELP ME?

This problem was answered often in many diverse places, but to set it temporarily, CBD is cannabidiol and it's (now ) among the key substances in cannabis. Its medical consequences include anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, assist together with nausea and other ailments from chemotherapy, reduces pain and migraines, together with many more. The results still have to be fully tested in labs, however, there surely seems to be lots of positive first consequences which point to CBD's achievement as a medication. What I always say is that in the event that you are in possession of a bad illness, then you may as well decide to try this because CBD is non invasive and extremely rarely makes conditions much worse. CBD starter vape kits are CBD oil with what else you want to smoke . This definition consists of disposable CBD vape pens, because they can be vaped with no buying any more products. Hopefully this report can assist you to make a determination in regards to the ideal CBD starter vape kits to be found on the current market at this time. This Post contains:

What is CBD and can it aid me

What is a CBD oil vape starter kit?

What are different types of CBD vape oil starter kits

What are the best CBD vape petroleum starter kits?

CBD vape juice and also in which to Purchase It

How long does one 500-mg vape pen last?

Ideal CBD petroleum vape pencil starter kits

What exactly are vaping oil ingredients

Best vape combos

Plus much more!

#CBD #CBD vape

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smoothshift · 5 years ago

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1k Mile review of the 2017 C43 AMG. Worthy of the AMG brand name? How does it compare to competition? via /r/cars

1k Mile review of the 2017 C43 AMG. Worthy of the AMG brand name? How does it compare to competition?

Hello everybody, I have seen quite a few reviews of the C43 but very little from an owners perspective. There's apparently a ton of controversy surrounding the car as it's one of AMG's first lower spec non hand built cars so I wanted to let you guys know my opinion. I also checked out quite a few competitors so I can maybe help you guys find which one you're looking for!

I had been looking for a Golf R wagon as it ticked all the right boxes. Fast, decent handling, big and it needed to be automatic as it is a daily for my wife who sits in traffic 90% of the time.

Competition: Golf R: Stupid fast and a great interior. The backseat is surprisingly cramped which means rear facing child seats are awful to fit. Trunk feels significantly larger but in terms of driving it's a bit on the boring side. Extremely capable but just felt like it was missing something. Better MPG, more trunk space and excellent resale meant cheaper to buy new but not a great used option. New prices are insane for what you're getting honestly. I couldn't bring myself to spend 40K euro for something that didn't "move" me.

Seat Leon CupraST: Basically a cheaper Golf R but crippling resale and abysmal interior made it a meh option

BMW 340M: EXCELLENT CAR! Super fast and feels like a bit of a hooligan but shockingly expensive and couldn't swing it as used models haven't depreciated into my financial field just yet! I would choose this over the C43 for a more sport oriented and felt like the more capable vehicle in the twisties. Another issue is the back seat felt a bit more cramped as well. The same reason I liked it (Handling) made it far less comfortable than the C43. Decent used models started at about 50K Euro so, again, just too much money.

C63 AMG: Absolutely insane. I have driven older models and they are loony fast and just obscene. Beyond 80 MPH the C63 will monster the C43 like it's standing still but below 80 there's less of a difference than I expected. There was a nearly identical C63 on the same lot for 3K euro less than my C43 but depreciation, MPG, and tires would very quickly cover that gap. Had it not been a shared car with my wife I would easily have been swayed but 4wd and comfort alone were enough to put me in the C43.

I found a used (20K mile) C43 AMG Wagon basically fully loaded in brilliantblau Metallic with a Kristallgrau/Schwarz (blue with very light grey interior) for 47K euro. The car has essentially every option besides keyless entry. I got it for 46K euro but the dealer wouldn't budge any further on price. It's a very popular car and I'm sure he could have sold it within a week. 2 C43's had been purchased that day already!

Suspension: 3 different modes comfort, sport and sport +. In comfort it's a bit floaty. It feels as though the shock rebound isn't dialed in as it feels like you bounce around a bit more than expected. This is OK on glass smooth roads but not ideal on anything but. Sport is the sweet spot as the damping is far better controlled. Sport + feels excellent on the twisties but pretty jarring over bumps.

Engine/transmission: Eco, comfort, sport, sport+. In sport+ It launches like a caged animal from a standstill until about 80 MPH. Gear shifts are quite quick (for a non dual clutch) and the exhaust makes one hell of a noise. Sport+ means it'll hold gears all day and MPG suffers immensely. The insane gunfire burble that comes from rolling off the throttle on the highway is just icing on the cake. With the sport exhausts valves open it just screams. I love the v8 burble of the 63 but the 43 is more of a violent high pitched shriek at WOT. I have timed 0-62 launches at 4.9 seconds but I had about 80 lbs. worth of shopping in the back and a full tank of gas. Switch to comfort mode and it's just a very quick C-class. Gear shifts are a bit slower and quicker to upshift but very nice. Eco mode isn't great, it's very slow to upshift and hesitates too much around town for me to be comfortable. Sport is again the sweet spot as it'll hold gears and is always ready but far more tame and MPG conscience than sport+. Past 80-90 MPH the power seems to trail off significantly though. It's still fast up to 150 MPH but it feels like it's tuned far more for 0-62 times and lower speed highway passing than for absolute top speed runs. It will comfortably sit at 140 MPH all day though so it is more than enough for all but the Midnight Club guys. This is where a C63 is a better bet. The C63 just never stops pulling until 155. I get about 25 avg. MPG but if I'm paying attention it will do 30 MPG but not easily. The worst I got was the drive home. Sustained 130 MPH+ on Sport+ over 45 minutes meant 13 MPG! They told me it is limited to 155 but I measured 162 MPH before the electronic nannies kicked in and slowed me back down comfortably (No brick wall feeling). Past 145 (Approx.) the steering goes a little light and minor imperfections upset the car quite a bit. The C63 doesn't have this and feels level and safe well beyond 145.

Interior: It's a standard C-Class really. Very comfortable for a long haul and tons of room in the back. The 360 camera is amazing and makes my awkward driveway a cinch. I am 6'1 and I can sit behind myself with adequate head room even with the optional double sunroof. The grey interior is a bit meh as it's constantly dirty but when it's clean it looks amazing. Rear facing child seats are easy to get in as the doors open basically 90 degrees and headroom is excellent in the wagon. The trunk is big for the size of car and very well laid out with little cubbies in the back for small loose items. The Burmeister sound system IS worth it with certain caveats. If you're a bass junkie you'll be let down immensely as bass is pretty weak and sub bass is non existent. Clarity is very good and as a minor audiophile I am more than satisfied with it. The base system is horrendous though. There's just nothing it does well and you also get less sound insulation so highway driving can get loud. I have the optional seat coolers which I had never even seen on a C class before and they work decently well at keeping me cool on hotter days. The interior is extremely well screwed together (This isn't the case on US C-classes for what I've seen). Not a single rattle or loose thing to be felt anywhere. We also chose one that did not have that god awful black plastic center piece. Do not get that one whatever you do as it's ugly and cheap looking. We have the white Carbon fiber looking one and it's pretty nice. It looks metallic on first glance but on closer inspection has a subtle (fake) CF weave to it. Pretty OK looking for me.

Exterior: I really like how subtle it is. It's totally debadged except for the front fenders (biturbo 4matic) logos and I'm debating removing those as well. You would have to have a very keen eye to notice the exhaust or brakes as a giveaway this isn't just a ho hum C200. I really like having a bit of a "sleeper" as I have gotten quite a few confused looks when I pull away. The C63 is wild in comparison. I usually wouldn't give a second look to a C43 or think it is anything special. If you're after a head turner spring for the 63! Everyone loves the color too as it's quite rare and I always find myself stopping to take a look at it as I walk away!

Overall the car is perfect for us. My wife loves how comfortable it is and I love how stupid it can be. People love hating on the 43 for not being a "real AMG" and I have to admit that before I bought one I agreed with the naysayers but after about 20 minutes I will absolutely say it's more AMG than sporty Mercedes. If you're thinking of one test drive it back to back with the C63 and I think you'll realize the 63 really only shows its advantages well beyond legal speeds in most countries. The C43 is just more sensible all around and if you don't mind not having the baddest mofo on the block it's an amazing car.

If you guys have questions I'd be more than happy to answer.

#reddit #autonews #auto #cars

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memorytile0-blog · 5 years ago

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Oui Fresh Beauty Box May ’19 Unboxing

Hey cuties—I cannot believe it’s time to introduce the MAY Beauty Box. Where has the time gone?! This month’s box has been in the making for a loooong time, so it feels especially exciting to share it with you today! May’s theme is “The Eyes Have It,” and you guessed it, everything in this box is a treat for your eyes.

We have makeup, we have skincare, we have LASHES—this box is an insane value at $100 (subscriptions start at $26.98 with shipping included in that price), and there are FOUR full-sized items and one amazing eye mask. This might just be my favorite Beauty Box yet! This one is sure to sell out, so click here to subscribe if you know you want a box!

Battington Beauty “Kennedy” Lashes — (value $26)

Battington Beauty Lash Glue — (value $10)

Yep, that’s right—these lashes cost as much as an entire Beauty Box, and for good reason. From a self-professed false lash enthusiast, these have made their way to the top of my list and are the best I’ve ever worn. This style, Kennedy, is the perfect length and volume for a false lash beginner, and luxe enough for a seasoned pro. These beauties are amazing quality, and you can wear them up to 25 times with proper care. Not only that, they’re incredibly comfortable—I forget I’m wearing them!

What I love most about this glue is you need very little to have your lashes stay all day. It comes in a brush applicator which really helps to not apply too much. Trust and believe, it really does stay put!

Our Favorite Application: After eyeliner and mascara, line up the shorter end of the lashes with the beginning of your lash line in the inner corner. Next, cut off the outer corner end until it matches up with your eye shape/the end of your lashes on the outer corner. Brush on some glue (you don’t need much, and this application method prevents you from using more than you need), wait about 30-45 seconds, then apply just above your lashes. Gently hold the lashes in place for a few moments just to set them in place. When you’re done, gently take any glue residue off the lashes and put them back in their case for next time! If you need a video tutorial on lashes, click here for an IGTV I did a while back.

Special Offer: Get 20% off your next purchase with code BEAUTYBOX

La Bloom Lash & Brow Serum — (value $25)

After you’ve taken your false lashes off, treat them with this gorgeous serum. Made with some of our favorite oils like lavender and sweet almond, this will pamper your eyelashes and help them bounce back from wearing a lot of mascara or false lashes. Eyelashes are so delicate and can tend to be neglected when it comes to skincare. We know you’re going to love this serum!

Our Favorite Application: Apply to your eyelashes and eyebrows nightly, after cleansing your face, and/or as a clear mascara. Do not apply directly into your eye. You can use during the day only if you have no eye makeup on, and on eyebrows for a dewy, glossy look!

Special Offer: Get 15% off your next order with code OUI15

Amaterasu Eye Pencil in Black — (value $28)

This waterproof, budge-proof eye pencil is a seriously amazing staple to have in your makeup bag. The pencil is a little softer, so it glides across your lid, making application super easy. We love this for a clean, everyday look, or you can smoke it out for some drama.

Our Favorite Application: Apply to your upper lash line. Smudge with an eyeliner brush for a smokey look.

Special Offer: Get 15% off all individual products (excluding sets and trial size foundation) on your next purchase with code OUI

Juice Beauty Instant Eyelift Stem Cellular Eye Mask — (value $10)

This eye mask is absolutely incredible and reminds us of a science fair project—basically the best science fair project ever! You get to be a bit of a chemist as you use the activator fluid in the bottle to activate the freeze-dried algae pads. This mask will instantly revive, brighten and lift eyes in just 10 MINUTES—you won’t believe your eyes *wink wink*!

Our Favorite Application: To use, soak the algae pads with the liquid in the bottle, apply to your under eye area, then wait for 10 minutes.

Special Offer: Get 20% off your next purchase with code OUIFRESH20

Don’t let this box get away—it’s such an incredible value and the products are SO GOOD. Click here to subscribe! (P.S. We have an incredible few months lined up for you this summer!)

xo Keely

Credits // Author: Keely Rust Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with the ACS for Desktop actions.

Source: https://abeautifulmess.com/2019/05/oui-fresh-beauty-box-may-19-unboxing.html

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boxyladies · 6 years ago

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This may or may not be my last post for a few weeks because on the day this blog goes live, I’ll be having back surgery. I decided that I’m not going to stress out about posting blogs for a few weeks so I can focus on relaxing and healing. I have a lot of fun ideas for 2019, so stay tuned for that! However, in the meantime, I decided to subscribe to FabFitFun and I reallllly loved my first box and knew I had to share it with y’all ASAP. I know Jill had subscribed years ago but I feel like FFF has really stepped up their game since then. I had seen spoilers about what would be in the box so it wasn’t a total surprise, and I definitely thought it was a great value.

FabFitFun

Price: $39.99/first box (with my link!), then $49.99 quarterly

Box Type: Beauty, skincare, lifestyle, etc.! This box has it all. Full-size, premium products delivered 4x per year.

Why you’ll love it: Become a member and for just $49.99 each season, you’ll get the box filled with 8-10 full-sized, premium products valued at over $200. Each season choose products & add-ons you want in your box. Or keep it a surprise. You’ll love it either way! Indulge in the best in beauty, fitness, wellness, home, and everything in between. With your membership, work out anywhere with FabFitFunTV, shop exclusive member sales, and join the amazing FabFitFun community.

How to Subscribe: Click here!

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Instead of a regular insert, FabFitFun includes their own magazine, pictured up above. They have a few pages which show all of the different ways you could customize your box and descriptions of all of the products. The rest of the magazine contains an interview with Brooke Burke and various articles that describe different ways you can incorporate the products in the box into your life. It’s definitely well-thought out, and a really nice touch.

Mark & Graham Colorblock Throw in Gray/Ivory ($49): I think this is potentially my favorite item in the box. This throw is actually color-blocked stripes: white and grey, and is incredibly lightweight. I don’t have any blankets that are this soft and this lightweight. It’s the perfect blanket for when you want a blanket but you don’t want to be TOO warm? Sometimes I’ll use a blanket and then get too hot. I don’t think that will happen with this particular blanket. Though I am worried about how delicate it looks/feels. I think my cats will walk across it once and their claws will pull at the little threads. But I am enjoying my current pristine blanket. It’s really lovely.

Here’s a bit more detail with the fringe. But I didn’t get the color-blocking in the picture because I did not know it existed til later. But they are big grey and white stripes.

Bearpaw Combo Set: Headband and Pop-Top Glove Duo ($45): This is such a cute little duo. I think i am going to definitely use the gloves more than the headband. Texas just doesn’t usually get cold enough for hat-type options but those gloves look really cute AND handy. This is a true story: one time I got a $2 set of black gloves at target and then cut the fingers of them off so I had my own (albeit, hobo-esque) fingerless gloves. (My desk at work was really cold but I wanted to be able to still type!) These gloves from Bearpaw are definitely a step up.

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H Halston Jewelry Portfolio ($48): This particular product was the very reason I subscribed to this box. I struggle with traveling with necklaces and this will make it so easy! The portfolio itself seems really sturdy, so I think it will be really good for travel, AND my necklaces should arrive to my destination tangle-free. (I later learned that there are a bunch of similar products on Amazon, but I had no idea prior to getting this box and writing this blog.)

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Richer Poorer Reina Over-the-Knee Textured Sock ($24): I love knee socks and was so excited these were an option for me to choose in this box! I actually have a pair that looks very similar to this that I love and now I’m wondering if they are the same brand? Maybe I got the other pair in a previous box of some kind and now I’m getting them again? No complaints here, they are great. My aesthetic when I am at home is the following: Giant T-shirt, pajama shorts and knee socks. That’s how I roll, and these fit right in.

Anthropologie x Mer-Sea & Co Sea Whip Body Cream in Coconut Sugar ($24): I didn’t really know Anthropologie made body cream but this is nice. I’m not super picky about body creams and products so I’m sure I will use this. Coconut isn’t my favorite thing to eat but I like how it smells. So this is work-able. I also really like the holo packaging. Let’s be honest, I probably like the holo packaging more than the product itself, but I’ll still use it.

Ahava Hydration Cream Mask ($33): I have gotten a lot of Ahava products in the past and I am very ho-hum about them. I have plenty of masks in my collection so I think I’ll donate this or give it to a friend. Their products aren’t bad by any means, but they don’t necessarily excite me. Maybe it’s the branding? I’m not totally sure. But I will find this product a good home– outside of my home.

Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener in Stella ($24): You know what? I already have this product and weirdly, I had found it again a few days before I got this box. This is a great easy inner corner highlight. It’s sort of a solid cream product that dries to a powder. I really want to try more products from Thrive cosmetics so I sort of wish this had been a different product for me to try. Since I already have this one, I might give the new one to a friend for Christmas. (You’re welcome, Melissa. You start getting more presents the longer I hold off sending your package to you.)

Blaq Hydrogel Eye Mask with Hyaluronic Acid ($29): These are those undereye gel patches that are supposed to help de-puff and moisturize. Sometimes people say you should use them prior to makeup but I haven’t had the best luck with that. But who knows, maybe I’ll try again with THESE. Fool me once? Shame on me. Fool me twice? Well, I guess I’m just gonna keep getting fooled. Because I’ll probably try it a third time.

Skinesque Brightening Mask ($35): I think I had originally selected to get some coasters? However, there was some sort of quality issue with them so FabFitFun said they were including “a product with a higher value” instead and included these masks. I’m a bit underwhelmed since I already have this (wait… do I own… all of the products?) and I only like it OK. I tried it again last night. These masks include a three-part system: a gentle face wash, an essence, and then a sheet mask to use on top of the essence. I do feel like my skin looked brighter afterwards but like, was it just shiny? Hahaha. I don’t know. I’m not sure how these masks would really effect my skin over time, but for now, I think they are just… OK. I kind of wish I had those wooden coasters tho.

[line]

Final Grade: A+

I have to say, I am incredibly impressed with my first box from FabFitFun! I would have paid the $40 price tag for that jewelry portfolio alone, but the blanket is so incredibly nice and soft, and I love the knee socks and my new fingerless gloves! The other products outside of those are just a bonus for me, but I’ll use most of them except for the AHAVA, which I’ll donate.

You should totally subscribe with me because this box is fun and we should do it together. Click here for my referral link!

Purchased; all opinions are my own Post contains affiliate and referral links

FabFitFun: Winter 2018 | Boxy-Ladies.com This may or may not be my last post for a few weeks because on the day this blog goes live, I'll be having back surgery.

#Ahava #Anthropologie #Bearpaw #FabFitFun #H Halston #Mark & Graham #Mer-Sea & Co #richer poorer #thrive cosmetics #Winter 2018 FabFitFun #Winter FabFitFun

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brattonblogs · 7 years ago

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LAS VEGAS BEAUTY HAUL: 2017

On the 28th of August, my boyfriend Scott and I took a trip Las Vegas, Nevada for the first time for our summer holiday. It was both our first times visiting the States and it was everything I always imagined and more. The shopping, the food, the sights, the people- but I will post a separate blog post of our trip over all, in this post we will focus on the lovely beauty items I bought while away.

I was going to make this blog post a beauty and fashion haul, but I feel as if the post would never end as I purchased more clothes that I first anticipated, so we will focus on the beauty then a fashion haul maybe in the future.

Okay, let’s get into it-

SEPHORA

Every make up lover’s heaven. Sadly, the UK does not have any Sephora stores so when there was one across the road from our Vegas hotel, you could imagine the excitement. Sephora typically is a high-end make up department store, carrying brands like YSL, Tarte, Benefit, Two Face etc, as well as there own label of make up items.

As it is considered high end, some of the products can be a litttttle pricey, so approach with caution and try and not get carried away. In typical Vegas fashion we would take a trip down to the casino and play the slot machines and when we were confident enough, we moved onto the roulette table. Beginners luck was on my side when my numbers came up and I won $110- my first thought was what can I buy from Sephora!?!?! when in reality it only bought me two things.

Using the money I had won from the roulette table and my own spending money my 6 items came to around of $170 including tax, which works out roughly about £130. The staff in Sephora are super friendly and very approachable, obviously they want you to feel comfortable and buy as many products as you can. I was told with every Sephora purchase you can get a complementary make up session/lesson. There was a few make up stations dotted about the store for this and I’m sure if you asked to colour match or try a product they would take you over to those stations too.

What I got: all prices will be US dollar since that is the currency I paid with!

Urban Decay All Nighter setting stray (30ml/1.0 fl oz) - $15

Sephora Radiant luminzing highligher drops (15ml/.50 fl oz) - $14

Tarte Tarteist Lip paint in the shade ‘Namaste’ (6ml/.20 fl oz) - on sale for $11

Sephora Clear Loose Translucent power- on sale for $7

Sol De Janerio Bum Bum Cream (250ml/8.1 fl oz) - $45

Huda Beauty Rose Gold Texture eyeshadow palette- $65

I had my eye on the Rose Gold palette for a while and had only ever seen it online or in YouTube videos, but when I seen it in person and swatched it for myself I loved it- so had to have it. A few of my favourites so far are Dubai, Angelic, Flamingo and Henna.

At one point I had in my basket concealers, foundation, eye and clay masks and then I realised, 1: this stuff will be expensive, 2: I had limited luggage space/weight in my suitcase coming home and 3: even though we don’t have a Sephora back home, we can still get a lot of the range carried within Sephora in stores back home so realised I could buy majority of the same stuff when I was home and when I would actually need it all.

I then went to Bath and Body Works- another store we’re lacking in the UK. The store is basically a candle and soap shop, with body gels, hand sanitisers, creams, lotions etc. We had went during Labour Day weekend, so got my goodies discounted, which is always a bonus.

I picked myself up a watermelon foam hand soap, a sugar scrub shower gel and a travel size hand sanitiser- my items came to around $13 including tax, which i’d say was reasonable as the soap should have been $7 full price. My only regret is not stocking up on they mini hand sanitisers, as I love the smell and know I will run out quite soon as I use it often.

I am one of those people who grudge using pricey perfume as an everyday scent. I like the idea of only using my expensive perfumes for a special occasion, so typically everyday I will wear body sprays or mists. They smell good, they’re cheap and way easier to travel about with, so I picked myself up the Razz-Berry mist while in Abercrombie for only $5.

It’s fruity, which is one of my favourite scents to wear, easy to through in my bag when I am on the go and as its so cheap, you can spray all day and not feel guilty that you’re wasting pricey perfume, and you smell just as nice!

As Sephora is a high end store, while I was in Walgreens, a pharmacy type store- similar to a UK Boots, I picked myself up a NYX concealer and a Wet N Wild highlight stick. They both came to under $10, and I will most likely use them as back up make up items or forget I have them as they are nothing special; and now the more I realise, more like impulse buys rather than desired ones as the concealer is slightly too light for my skin tone and the stick is kinda sheer, oh well.

So that was my short little make up/beauty haul from my time in Vegas. I did buy way more clothes rather than make up, so I may do a fashion haul later or an updated blog post on how well these make up items preform and hold up- so many blog post ideas! I do plan on posting more often, it’s just trying to get into the swing of writing and making content, so I will see what happens.

Shannon. xo

#vegas #haul #make up #beauty #sephora #travel

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beauty-andtheblonde-blog · 7 years ago

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KNC Beauty – All Natural Collagen Infused Lip Mask

You can find these Lip Masks here for $24.99 for 5, or $39.99 for 10

ISH- Lip Statement Palette

Ettika- Day Dreamer Tasseled Earrings

Ettika sells their jewelry on their own website, and the earrings can be found here for $58

Free People X Understated Leather- Starry Eyed Travel Eye Mask

The mask is currently sold out on Free People’s website, but they are on Understated Leather for $40

Murad- Skin Perfecting Lotion

This moisturizer sells for $40, and you can buy it at Sephora, Ulta, or Macy’s.

Anderson Lilley- Super Bloom Candle

A perk that goes unnoticed- once your candle is done burning, you can use the vessel as a makeup brush holder or planter!

This goes for $45 and can be found on the Anderson Lilley Website (Keep an eye on Amazon, Ebay, and Poshmark, you may be able to find one at a lower price!)

Rachel Pally- Reversible Clutch

This is another item you can probably find on Mercari or Postmark, but the safest option is to buy from Rachel Pally directly for $60.

Physique 57- Massage Roller

Physique 57 is a barre studio that also has online barre classes available for purchase. Find out more about their brand here, and find this roller here

Dermelect Cosmecuticals- Makeover Concealing Ridge Filler

This product retails for $18 and can be found on the Dermelect website with tons of other nail products.

See you Next Season!

Love and Lashes!

Katy

Fab Fit Fun! Spring 2018 Unboxing Fab Fit Fun is the gift that keeps on giving, and the only subscription box that I genuinely look forward to every season.

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