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Friday, April 22, 2016

Gift Guide | Teacher Appreciation

Gift Guide | Teacher Appreciation


With Teacher Appreciation Week quickly approaching, I thought I would give ya'll the inside scoop of what types of gifts teachers are sure to appreciate and remember your kiddos by. These gifts are nothing fancy and most are quick and easy plus they are inexpensive.

Click the pictures to be taken to the original posts.


Tumblers

These are so cute and easy to put together. You can also get really creative to make it more fitting for your favorite teacher. Stuff the cup with candy, pens, post-its, a gift card to the teacher's favorite store, the possibilities are really endless. To make it even more unique, get the tumbler monogrammed with the teachers name or initials and maybe get it in their favorite color!


Fresh Flowers

There is nothing more beautiful than fresh flowers especially fresh flowers in a cute and creative vase. I have received flowers in a vintage milk jug, a ladybug vase, a mason jar with a jute bow; just be creative and remember it doesn't have to be extravagant!

Tip: Add a small picture of your child to the tag.


Clip Boards

I have received three personalized clip boards and they never get old! I love the thought and care each clip board has. Whether you DIY one or order one off Etsy, the teacher is sure to love it!

Tip: If you decide on the DIY route, be sure to put a finishing/protective coat after you are finished. One of the clipboards I received didn't have a protective layer so it got a little messed up.




EOS Lip Balm

I never knew what was so special about these lip balms and probably would have never owned one if I wasn't gifted with it. I loved the cute little printable that I received with the lip balm. It really made the gift so cute and much more special than just receiving the balm itself.

Tip: Have your child sign their name to make it more personal.



If you are/were a teacher, what is/was your favorite gift to receive? What made it memorable?


Steals & Deals




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stormieariel
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Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Wardrobe Remixing | Nursing Mom Edition Vol. 1

Wardrobe Remixing | Nursing Mom Edition Vol. 1


If you have been sticking around than you know how I talked about trying to find my new mom style in this post and how I'm resisting the urge to shop in this post. Well I am sticking to my guns (who even came up with that phrase? And what does guns have to do with making a decision?).

I decided to continue remixing my current wardrobe and making it work for me with my new role as a nursing momma. I talked about buying nursing camis and button ups to make nursing easier and they certainly do BUT you can still wear regular clothes and nurse your baby just fine! 


I wanted something that was simple yet pulled together and this shirt makes it so easy to do just that and by pairing it with a nursing cami underneath I was able to nurse Little Love without showing any belly. 



I am still wearing my maternity jeans because this momma still has extra fluff. #noshameinmygame #reallifemom







I hope you were able to gain inspiration and realizing you don't have to purchase a whole new wardrobe after baby even if you are a nursing momma. I would recommend only investing in a few nursing camis and nursing bras (I have two camis, one bra and two night time bras) but other than that use what is in your closet and make it work for you! And don't feel you have to fit into your regular jeans or shirts right away. It's not realistic and it will take time to get your pre-pregnancy body back (don't forget it took 10 months to put it on). 

Another tip: If you are really tight on budget like we are, use some of those gift cards from your babyshower to purchase nursing bras or camis. I felt guilty at first but realized it benefits the baby as well so go head girl!

Side Note: Ignore my horrible posing, I might get it one day but for right now forgive me and give me pointers if you have any! It's no secret I am in need of it. And to think I use to want to be America's Next Top Model as a teenager. Psh.


Shop the Look

My Outfit
Shirt | Charming Charlie (similar)
Nursing Cami | H&M
Maternity Jeans | Motherhood Maternity
Sandals | gift (similar)

Little Love's Outfit
Headband | gift
Sun Dress w/ bloomers | Target

*some affiliate links used
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stormieariel
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Monday, April 18, 2016

Tips & Tricks for Making Money on eBay

Tips & Tricks for Making Money on eBay


A few months ago, I shared some ways to bring in a little extra money. One of those ways was selling items on eBay and since that is where I bring in most of our extra income I decided to expand on what type of items I sell and what my monthly profit has been looking like to give y'all a general idea.

1. Clothes - this is the biggest category of items I try to sell. They range from brand new never worn items with or without tags and used clothing that is name brand and in good condition. The reason why I only sell name brand on eBay is because buyers are looking for a good deal on brands they love and typically you can't get much for clothing items that are not of a popular brand. For example, I have sold an H&M shirt, Under Armour clothing items, Nike, Kenneth Cole, etc.

2. Shoes - the shipping cost on shoes is high because they weigh so much and most times require you to do Priority shipping. I charge the buyers for shipping but you must know the exact weight of the item to determine what you should charge for shipping. I don't have a postage scale so it's kind of a hassle but I do plan on getting one so I can get better at charging the correct amount. I have cut into my profit numerous times by undercharging for shipping. This is one of the highest profit items though so it's worth trying to sell shoes as long as they are in good or better condition.

3. Hats - I really thought this item would be the fastest selling item yet I only sold 2 hat out of the 7 I had listed for the past two months. Hoping they sell soon though as I made some adjustments to their listing!

4. Watches/Activity Trackers - these items are the quickest and highest bidding items I have sold. People go into bidding wars for these items, I guess because of the fitness trend right now. 


Extra Tips & Tricks

Before listing an item, if I do not know their worth I try to find the exact item on the stores website. If the item is new with a tag, I try to get the actual value amount. If the item is new without a tag, I try to get at least half the value or more (this is where setting the item as an auction item comes in handy). If the item is used than I typically go with eBay's suggested starting bid price and hope I get numerous bids. Sometimes I do research the eBay site for similar items that others have sold to get an idea of what buyers are willing to pay.

If an item doesn't sell I relist it, sometimes at a reduced price depending on how desperate I am to get rid of the item. For example, I have a pair a KSwiss shoes I'm trying to sell and I have the bid starting at $30; I noticed I get watchers and a lot of views but no one has placed a bid so after relisting it numerous times I now dropped the starting bid to $20. We will see what happens. Sometimes you just have to be patient for the right buyer to come along.

My Monthly Profit

So how much profit have I made these last few months? Well I have had good months and I have had really slow months. I can't make a living off eBay but it helps having extra cash here and there. 

November - $43.54
December - $80.25
January - $284.69
February - $159.45
March - $8.01
April - $56.40 and counting

I determine my profit by subtracting shipping cost, shipping materials (I buy these in a bundle as needed), eBay fees and PayPal fees from my sell price. I have created a spreadsheet in Excel to help keep me organized and calculate my profit for me.

I hope these tips and tricks helped you out and you were able to get a realistic view into how much profit a regular person makes selling stuff around the house.

What do you do to make extra cash? Do you keep account of your profit? If so, do you have an excel spreadsheet or do you do it by hand?
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stormieariel
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