Have a swimming pool?

 If you have a swimming pool at your home; I am going to let you in on a cool app/website I discovered. You can actually earn extra income by renting out your swimming pool. 

That is pretty neat for parents wanting birthday pool parties for their children; I thought immediately! Whether you choose to rent a pool or make money renting your own pool...this is pretty neat! Perfect for this upcoming Summer season.

If you are a photographer; this is a great option for photo sessions if you are going for a pool or swim wear look. I will totally be using this website and app for dinner and brunch parties with my girl friends since so many of do not have a pool...nor want to expenses and maintenance of one.

Learn more or sign up here

Book Review: Can I Say by Travis Barker with Gavin Edwards

Listen here    I wish I would have read this boom earlier! It is great! I finished it in no time because it was quite “juicy” as I’ll say...

     The other day; a youtube video was suggested to me. It was ‘Meet The Barkers’ epsiodes. I never seen the show; I really missed out. I stayed up past four a.m. the other night watching the entire two seasons in a binge. 

     I can now say I am a huge Travis fan. He even mentions the whole Kim rumor in the book. I wonder if his book sales are boosting since dating Kourtney. She really got a good one I think with this guy. I seen how he treat Shanna and it was cute on the show. 

    Of course they're dunzo for over a decade now. By the way; their children...Atiana also...are gorgeous. Alabama is so freaking stunning! I  seen her on youtube today actually. As far as Travis; I love his passion and worth ethic. I would have never known him  to be so romantic! 

...Now let's get to the book review!

     The cover photo is probably one of the best I have seen on a celebrity book. The art is incredible on his body too from the cover pic. Those eyes of his...OMG. Okay; I will get off how hot he is. I purchased the audiobook version of the book. 

     This book is written in an interesting way because he has excerpts from people in his life and past giving their opinion in the book. I found that unique. Even Shanna makes an appearance... 

    

There was so many interesting things in this book. The place crash and recovery from addiction he deals with is quite miraculous! 

I love a book that is all about overcoming obstacles and changing life for the better. I enjoy anything inspirations and motivating. This book is all of the above. 

This book describes some raw and real moments so I can appreciate the brutal honesty. Especially when he describes some celebrity flings and parties. After all; he is a rockstar and all. 

Listen to the book 

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I was in dire need of new eye glasses. The ones I have now are a little...out of style. I’ll admit; I love them so much I hadn’t replaced them this year. Or last. Don’t ask. 

I think the very first time I heard of Warby Parker was several years back on an episode of Shark Tank. I was impressed with the companies’ charity work after learning more about them later on. 

When I ordered my home kit; it was so fun and easy! I got to even select the frames I felt would be best to try on.  My package arrived fast and I was not charged a dime. 

This company offers trendy and affordable eye glasses and sunglasses. I am a busy mom so this was a convenient service. 

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Book Review: Give Them LaLa

     

    This book made me laugh, think hard, cry...and it's my new favorite celeb book. Seriously; I have tried so many since Brandi Glanville's. Hate her or love her; I thought her first book was entertaining. I also recommend it to any of my girlfriends going through break ups or divorce. 

     Okay; back to LaLa's book. I won't lie; I expected it to be good. It is LaLa.She always brings the mouthy version of herself on the show. Now she is a mom!  Maybe it is me and I just get bored easily. Needless to say; I love a good celebrity book. I am really into pop culture I guess.

     Besides LaLa being my favorite Vanderpump Rules cast member, I am allowed to have a guilty pleasure...or a few. This book did not disappoint. I love how she flat out says naughty words everyone may be thinking. I love how she shocks us with her words; I can totally relate. 

    To be honest; I was really checking my amazon wish list to see when this book would finally come out. I knew it would be in May so I was super excited to get it. Totally worth the purchase. I give it five stars! 

      LaLa does discuss all things with pretty hardcore topics so of course this is a book I only recommend for adults. It gets interesting...

   I would say this is not for the faint of heart; but I was not bored. I am pretty brutally honest...and say what I think so the book did not offend me. If you watch Vanderpump Rules; you can handle its awesomeness. 

   There were times I would be listening to the audiobook version of this book; and  cover my mouth gasping at stuff she says in this book. The shock value of the words she uses...sounds like someone I know. 

   I really cannot remember a book that gave me all these feels and emotions. I purchase books often and hardly find any that keep my interest. I want entertainment and education...even if its from others stories when I am reading. I felt this book delivered both. 

Check out the audiobook version and more here

    

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Laura Mercier foundation review

This foundation is on the pricier side in my eye but worth the price. Sure; I love drugstore brands and prices but this foundation is a great choice if you’re needing a medium to full coverage. 

I tried it a few times before writing this blog post. I have zero complaints and I am super picky when it comes to foundations. It has been hard to find one that works well for me. 

Usually they leave my face feeling heavy or shiny. Even with powder or translucent powder. I tried cheaper and pricier brands because in many cases; you do get what you pay for. 

With this product; it held up all during my busy days. It also did not feel heavy; I forgot I was even wearing foundation many times. It didn’t make my face look greasy or have too much shine either. 

This foundation was around forty US dollars at my local Ulta store. I highly recommend. 

Want to start a blog?

    Have you been considering starting your very own blog? Do you love writing, journaling or creating content? If so...then blogging may be a great fit for you! I am often asked if people really make money by blogging...and some really do. Some professional bloggers earn thousands per week!

    Although it is common; I did not earn much starting off blogging starting out. However; do not let that discourage you because many people can create a full-time income in just under twelve months or less blogging. Everyone's earnings will vary; here are my my tips to how to start and monetize a successful blog below.

If you want to make a full-time income blogging then you have to look at it is an actual business. Some bloggers have actual employees and average about $10K a month. You will need to pick a blog name, niche and be consistent. 

Eventually I started earning with my blog; one week I made $700 alone with one affiliate program. I will get into more of that later in the blog post...I hope this helps some of you out there wanting to start a blog that makes money.

  

 Since I was a little girl; writing had been therapeutic to me. I was bored often since I was not in those fancy dance classes or had siblings. Therefore; writing was my outlet. As an adult I learned you can actually make a lot of money blogging. Many moms, dads and college students have made thousands per month blogging. You can too.

   That brings me to the next part...and the fun part. And that's money, honey. "Wait; can you make money blogging?" I get that question quite frequently. The short answer is yes. But it is not easy always. And it's quite rare until you gain a following and learn about what you are doing. It can all be time-consuming for sure.

   You do not need a large following to start earning. Besides; everyone has to start somewhere. Some smaller bloggers still get interaction on their posts and can do well blogging. I was in fact earning from my blog with a very small following. I did not spend money on marketing either. Some bloggers earn thousands or millions each year. It is up to you to get out and market your blog. 

   I did not start off earning a lot but it still some...and I loved it so much...it did not feel like work whatsoever. Besides; blogging to me was so much easier than doing the other work at home options where I had to buy inventories and ask people to join a team or host parties.

  There are plenty of perks besides me enjoying blogging personally. I did not have to buy some large starter kit for one...and I can control my own schedule. 

    You do not have to be a "perfect writer."  In fact; many bloggers write as if they are speaking to their friends in their blog posts. This can even make their blog so much more personable for their specific audience. Every blogger is unique so some blogs even just have photography or podcast episodes. 

  After years of doing various types of "practice" and "just for fun" blogs; I wanted to finally make a post to hopefully help someone interested in the world of blogging. 

   In case you find yourself over-thinking starting your blog; realize you can write your blog just as you speak. It does not have to be some super perfect art-piece. Everyone is unique and blogs are not books in a library. I make mine fun and let my personality shine through.

   Many people think blogging is easy or you will suddenly get all of these free products sent to you...and it does not necessarily work that way. You do not need a large following or blog to gain sponsorships or earn money blogging...but you do need some consistency.

   Pick a blog niche. What do you want your blog to be about? What is a topic you could literally talk about on and on...and not need to study or prepare for? What is something you find yourself "passionate" about or talking to your friends about excessively? 

    I love talking all things family, fun, food....so I did a lifestyle blog. Many bloggers do not feel lifestyle blogs are or can be as "successful," however not all agree and I blog for fun; not just to earn extra income. 

   That brings me to my next point. I suggest only blogging if it is something you genuinely love and enjoy. Do not expect to have a million hits on your blog overnight. For many bloggers; it takes years of hard work and dedication. 

   That would include posting on a schedule so your followers know when to expect to hear from you. Ever find a podcast you enjoy and after a few episodes...the hosts just vanish? Yeah. Awkward. 

    Sure; you may get burnt out but maybe post once a week if you want to by a hobbyist blogger or five days a week if you want to be a full-time blogger.     

   You are going to want to blog legally so talk to a tax professional and accountant to figure out things you can even possibly write off. Be sure to save a portion of earnings for taxes if you are generating income blogging.    

   Anyone can just set up a blog but to generate traffic in order to monetize your blog is a whole other “ballgame.” 

   Be sure to read the entire blog post before getting started since skipping all the steps can be quite overwhelming. I did things a little backwards getting started; when I was forgetting all these useful tools to help me along the way. 

   For creating content I love using the free version of the app Canva; although the have a paid version as well that is great. I use this handy app to create images useful to the content I am writing about.    

    Purchase your domains once you decide on a blog name. I suggest using the same name for instagram, twitter, etc. to make it easier for your followers to find and search. Popular Domains for just 99 Cents at Namecheap!

     I also create images for content such as my podcast to help promote the episodes that go live. I suggest creating about 3-5 images to go along with each blog post; then add those on Pinterest using a very descriptive description along with hashtags. 

    Before you get started doing all of that; you’re going to want to launch and create your blog. 

    Choose your host for your blog. Some people opt for Bluehost. I get the traffic from my blog using the Tailwind app; which schedules my Pinterest posts...which in return saves me so much time. Not into the above options or already tried? No fear! Other option: Launch Your Site Today For Free with Alpha Hosting!

   

Interact on social media with your followers, reply to blog comments and I suggest spending most of your time on pinterest as it is a search engine. That is again; where Tailwind will come in. See; I got you covered. 

   Another program to schedule posts to automatically post for you; while you’re offline, on vacation or doing other tasks is Crowdfire.   

    You do not need both tailwind and Crowdfire but I feel Crowdfire has more social media places to also schedule posts for you; even with their free option.    If you want to be a more serious blogger; I highly recommend the programs listed above. Not only can it save you lots of hard work; many bloggers swear by the programs.  

    Get a newsletter to generate more traffic and keep the traffic you are getting coming back for more updates from your blog. This is super important to do as a professional blogger. I suggest mailerlite.

     For years I did not use programs to help me with blogging and I spent countless amounts of time online doing it all myself. Sure; you can or you can enjoy my family time and time for yourself with helpful programs made for professionals such as bloggers.

Need help with a basic logo to get started? I suggested investing in a better one with a graphic designer later if you become more serious. You want to brand yourself.

LogoMaker

This blog post contains affiliate links

e.l.f. skincare review

   

 I tried a few e.l.f. skincare products; I am here to report back with my review. I visited my local Ulta store but had zero intentions on purchasing anything from the e.l.f. brand. 

    Nothing against them; I just thought I was going to find more bang from my buck and had already heard of the brand. I searched the shelves but kept noticing the e.l.f. products standing out due to size, price point and packaging.

    I remember hearing about e.l.f. products for the first time years back when I was a little girl watching the Tyra Banks talk show. Now they have so much more than $1 makeup brushes and eye shadows. 

     I went ahead and purchased a toner and moisturizer for starters. I was needing a toner since I had previously ran out of the one I had been using for years. The one I had been using is only available through consultants; and I was wanting a product cheaper as well. 

    Cheaper does not always mean better so to be honest; I was expecting to dislike the product so I would be "forced" to report back to Ulta and try another item. To my surprise; I loved the products more than I thought I would! 

    The toner has such a light yet refreshing and clean fragrance. The gel moisturizer is so worth the price; a little goes such a long way. My face did not feel dry at all after applying it; so it was not too lightweight.

 

   I have had the problem in the past with purchasing light-weight moisturizers...yet my face still feels quite dry moments or hours later. I never tried a gel moisturizer; so this was super neat to try. I really love both products. 

The gel under eye mask pads were great. I have tried several brands in the past and were not pleased with them. They either did not stay into place or I did not notice any difference. 

With these gel pads; I noticed the gel pads stayed in place for me and I immediately felt the tightening of my skin under my eyes once I removed the gel pads. I have already used one package so will be buying these for now on.

   This blog post contains affiliate links. 

Tips on planning a children's party

     Whether you are partying at home, virtually or with just a small group...I wanted to share some helpful vendors to consider when planning your next children's party. Etsy has literally everything you need for a party besides the venue. You can find invites, decoration, party favor, linen, centerpieces, gifts and so much more. I love being able to get everything except for a cake in one place. You can get a Costco cake for usually under $15 USD in my area. Then add your own candles!

This blog post contains affiliate links

Find photographers with flytographer

Are you considering a pool party? Find pool rentals HERE.

Tableware and serving ware. 

Happy party-planning!

Invite your guests and manage RSVP's with electronic Birthday Invitations from Greenvelope

D.I. Y. Flower Combos

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Review: Kristin Ess The One Signature Shampoo + Conditioner

  

 I purchased this Kristin Ess shampoo and conditioner set from Target. As I walked past the product display at a Target store; I noticed the gorgeous packaging first of all the Kristin Ess hair care products displayed in the beauty section. Another lady was looking at the products as well so I decided to come back so I could really look good without being in anyone's way. 

   

   As I walked further down the aisle to go ahead and shop for other items; I seen a second display for the Krisin Ess hair care line. This was my sign. I had to go back and get the products I wanted; but back to the larger display I saw first to be certain I seen all the line had to offer.

   Sure enough; the one lady looking the first time I seen the display had not moved. Therefore I made my way to the large bottles of shampoo and conditioner; grabbing both since there was a sale on them and I was actually in the market for a new shampoo. So you have to go ahead and grab the matching conditioner; right? I did just that. 

   The other lady and I began talking and we had both never heard of Kristin Ess. As soon as I got home; I did some searching online and learned Kristin Ess does Lauren Conrad's hair. Lauren Conrad mentioned in an article the Kristin Ess products were good. 

   I admit; washing and drying my hair was not my favorite beauty and self-care task. That changed as soon as I purchased these products and I am not sure why. I was eager to use the products and they came in large bottles; 33.8 fluid ounces to be exact.

   This was a plus to me because right before I found the Kristin Ess display; I had originally found a small bottle of another brand of shampoo; about half the size and sale price. I put it back to get this instead. 

    Let me just say; I am certain I made the correct choice. The bottle had a easy-to-use pump that did not leave a mess and these products even look nice in your shower. 

    I loved the light fragrance of these products and there were a few options as far as The One set which I purchased, a gentle set and even a set for blonde hair I noticed. I cannot wait to try the glosser and gift friends the travel sizes. They are super cute! 

  

    These products would be great for beauty lovers; as gifts!

This blog post contains affiliate links