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Ouai Hair Mask Is A Miracle For Damaged Hair
Are you someone who is struggling with dry, brittle hair? Have you noticed how difficult it is for your hair to retain moisture and oil in thick coils? Lastly, is your hair unhealthy because of its dryness, split ends, heat, chemical, or color damage? If you responded ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then; I have the perfect solution for you! The time is up for dry, damaged hair! Ouai hair mask is the best solution to repair and heal thick, dry and damaged hair.
DISCLAIMER: Heads up! My posts contain affiliate links. Above all, if you buy something through one of those links, you will not have to pay a penny more, but I receive a small commission. In other words, it helps keep the lights on. Thanks!
Before we explain how the Ouai hair mask is the best solution for hair damage and dryness (and why you need to use it), let’s discuss how THE LEWK discovered this haircare miracle. I received this product complimentary from Influenster; in exchange for my honest opinion. I have been an Influenster affiliate for a year now, and that means I get to test and review hundreds of products to help consumers make easier shopping decisions. Please check out the other beauty products I’ve reviewed for Influenster in previous blog reviews.
About Ouai Hair Mask
The Ouai (pronounced ‘way’) hair mask is a treatment product for hair that restores and revitalizes natural hair textures. It repairs hair damage, restores moisture and hydration, and prevents breakage. The brand offers two options for this treatment mask for different hair types:
- fine-to-medium textures
- thick hair textures
Each mask targets different hair concerns for all hair textures, but there’s one thing that they both have in common: building shiny, manageable, and healthy hair. You’ll want to use the thick hair treatment masque if your hair concerns and goals are:
- hair damage
- anti-breakage
- frizz control
- moisture retention
If thick hair maintenance isn’t your struggle, then; you’ll need to use the fine-to-medium treatment masque to address your haircare concerns. Ouai’s fine-to-medium treatment masque targets:
- repairing split ends
- hydration
- frizz control
- strengthening fine-to-medium strands
Ouai Hair Mask Ingredients
All of the products from Ouai are cruelty, gluten, paraben, and phthalate free. The fine-to-medium treatment mask contains:
- shea butter
- panthenol
- hydrolyzed keratin
Click the jump for a complete list of ingredients.
Additionally, the Ouai hair masque for thick hair contains:
- shea butter
- lillipe butter
- hydrolyzed keratin
- blend of almond, olive, and macadamia oils
Click the jump for a complete list of ingredients.
How to Use Ouai Hair Masks
Both mask products work best when applied to freshly cleansed hair. Next, starting from the ends and working into the roots, apply a quarter-size amount of the mask conditioner. Then, comb through with your fingers. Finally, let the mask sit for 5-10 minutes and then rinse with cool water. You can follow up with your favorite leave-in conditioner for added hydration.
Where to Buy These Hair Mask Products
Are you ready for your next hair miracle? It’s time to break up with split ends and do some damage control. Ouai hair masks are here to heal and repair everything your hair has been through in the name of maintenance. These hair treatments want to deliver smooth, shiny, healthy, manageable hair to your natural tresses! Visit your local Target, Ulta, or Sephora store to grab these haircare goodies!
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Do you feel that hair damage, breakage, and split ends aren’t your haircare goals or concerns? Check out the posts below for more hair-spiration and haircare products! Moreover, don’t forget to sign-up for our newsletter to stay in the loop about new haircare product reviews, be the first to know about new blog posts, and receive exclusive discount codes and shopping giveaways!
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How To Use Influenster: An App Review Guide
Influenster is the #1 go-to app for consumer product reviews and discovery. It is a platform known for showcasing honest reviews from real people in real-time. People love to use Influenster to share their experiences with hundreds of thousands of products. In short, Influenster changed how consumers share reviews and create user-generated content. Additionally, the popular review app underwent a facelift earlier this year and made vital changes to its platform. This post is your guide to navigating the all-new and improved Influenster app! Here you will get a glimpse of how to use Influenster. Let’s learn how the app works, how to leave product reviews, and how to get the surveys that lead to free products. Let’s get started!
Disclaimer: Heads up! My posts contain affilate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but I’ll get a small commission, which helps keep the lights on. Thanks!
How To Sign-Up For Influenster and Join the Review Community
Did you know that anyone can join the review community for free? First, you’ll need an email address to get started. Then, once you’ve created a profile, start digging into other consumer reviews to discover new products on the Influenster app.
Welcome to the Influenster Home Page
After you’ve created your new profile, you will then be able to explore the app in detail. The first tab that you should get acquainted with is the home feed. This page will show any tier progress, daily tasks, and a product discovery feed.
Tier Progress
When you complete certain required activities, you will earn tier points. These points will allow you to unlock higher tiers. The higher you go, the better your chances of getting free samples and qualifying for campaigns.
Daily Tasks
To put it simply, completing tasks earns you tier points. There are a variety of activities that Influenster will ask you to complete. Some examples of activities include:
- writing reviews
- answering questions
- referring friends
- completing profile info
- making suggestions and recommendations
- creating polls for feedback
Feed
Your home feed will have recommended reviews based on your interests. You’ll see all of the top-rated products, participate in polls created by reviewers, share your expertise by responding to consumer questions, and connect with the brands you love.
How to Use Influenster to Search
You can use the search tab to look for specific products on the app. To search, type the name of the product or brand. You can even search for a product by barcode. Additionally, you can use the search bar to discover your friends on the app and follow each other.
Find and Follow Me on Influenster!
Since you discovered the goodness that is Influenster by reading this post, you should definitely check out my reviewer profile. I am an active member of the Influenster community! Click the above image to follow me on Influenster to enjoy awesome, fascinating new products and read my reviews.
How to Get Product Samples
Influenster sends thousands of hand-picked samples to its members every month. If you get chosen for a sampling campaign, it’ll show under the sample tab. Moreover, Influenster selects members for product campaigns based on their interests and responses recorded in surveys. In conclusion, it is absolutely critical to complete those profiles after sign-up!
Influenster Profile Set-Up
Customize your profile by adding an avatar and personal details. An email and home address are crucial for receiving free samples! Connect your new Influenster account to your social media channels to amplify your reviews. Next, review your recent activity, interests, and badges, and invite friends to sign-up directly from your Influenster profile.
The new changes to the app made it easier to navigate Influenster. Influenster absolutely knows how to make shopping easy. The new features make it simple to leave reviews and qualify for free stuff. I can honestly say that shopping is convenient when you use the Influenster app. Check out the new and improved website today to see what I mean, and start digging into those reviews!
Sharing product reviews is a special way to connect and engage with online shoppers just like you! The LEWK Digest is a weekly product guide newsletter for consumers to research buying options.
Subscribers receive exclusive product details on many popular beauty, household, and lifestyle products. They also receive store locations, discount codes, promotions, and special pricing on select products delivered directly to their mailbox for free!
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Trendy 4C Hairstyles for Natural Hair
Whether you’re in the beginning stages of transitioning to natural hair or you’ve been natural for some time, you have to admit that styling natural hair is challenging. Learning how to care for your texture is a lot of trial and error. Sometimes natural hairstyles can be a bit of trial and error too. When I stopped getting relaxers and started to transition my relaxed hair to my natural hair, it was hard to find 4c hairstyles I liked. Then, I would meet other Black women with 4C hair, and they would say the same thing (and some still do).
It’s been helpful to see influencers and celebrities with 4C hair embrace their texture and coils in the entertainment world. Since the reemergence of the natural hair movement in the early 2000s, women with 4C hair can see more ways to style and manage their hair. In conclusion, this post has eight classic, trendy 4C hairstyles. Each hairstyle is a beautifully versatile protective hairstyle with low-med maintenance. However, you can apply any natural hairstyle on this list to any hair texture.
Beauty Tip: If you’re really feeling like taking these 4C hairstyles to the next level, try experimenting with color, braiding hair, or clip-ins (extensions).
Disclaimer: Heads up! My posts contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but I’ll get a small commission, which helps keep the lights on. Thanks!
Is It Hard to Maintain 4C Hair?
A common myth about 4C hair is that it is non-manageable because of tight coils and hard to keep moisturized. Although styling 4C hair can be challenging, 4C hair is not hard to maintain. The key to 4c hair is to moisturize. The right moisturizer will protect 4C hair from frizziness, shrinkage, breakage, and sluggish hair growth.
Tools For 4C Hair Texture Hairstyles
Every hairstyle will require tools. Here are some popular hair styling tools used when styling 4C hair:
- Edges Brush
- Detangling Brush
- Hard Bristle Brush
- Styling Gel
- Bobby Pins
- Hair or scalp oil
- Leave-in conditioner
- Moisturizer
8 Simple and Easy 4C Hairstyles
1. Flat Twists
The flat twist hairstyle is super trendy and a popular go-to hairstyle for natural hair. To clarify, flat twists consist of two twists done to the scalp. This twist hairstyle is a protective style that eliminates daily maintenance and creates a path to healthier hair. Twists are versatile and worn in just about any method (from twist-outs to updos).
4C Hair Flat Twist Tutorial 2. Mohawk, Fauxhawk
Mohawk hairstyles for natural hair are so much fun! Many naturalistas rely on the mohawk (a*k*a the frohawk) to create trendy updos. This hairstyle gives many opportunities for geometrical parting, adding braiding hair, and accessories. To start, brush the hair upward towards the center of the head or crown.
How-to Mohawk on 4C Hair 3. Halo Braid
Credit: CurlCentric.com The halo braid is a cornrow-style braid that wraps around the head. This plaited protective braid is the halo effect and is a beautifully elegant hairstyle worn casually or in glam. The halo braid has been famously seen before on many high-profile celebrities such as Beyonce, Ciara, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
How-to Tutorial for Halo Braid on 4C Hair 4. Twist Out
Source: @curldaze IG The twist-out hairstyle is one of my favorites. Next to box braids, the twist-out is a regular go-to protective hairstyle. Twists are a popular protective style that can create uniformity throughout natural hair. A twist-out style is a method of unraveling stranded twists. If you are going to recreate this hairstyle, the key to a successful, beautifully curly twist-out is to lock in moisture.
The Perfect 4C Twist-Out Tutorial 5. Afro
An afro hairstyle is perfect for showing off coils and hair texture. The afro first gained its popularity during the Black Panther movement. This hairstyle gets rocked from puffs to curls and tapered designs. Many high-profile celebrities have sported the afro hairstyle in glam and everyday casual aesthetics (Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Marsai Martin, Solange, Lupita Nyong’o, Ebonee Davis).
The Perfect Afro Tutorial for 4C Natural Hair 6. Space Buns
Although I am not too fond of their name, the space buns are fun, festival beauty trendy, and sassy! The space buns hairstyle is two high buns on both sides of the head. Easy and simple. Space Buns on natural 4C hair showcases coils and curls like no other hairstyle that made this list.
Space Buns on 4C Natural Hair 7. High Bun
Credit: @jascmeen IG If you are looking for something similar to the Space Buns hairstyle, you will want to try the High Bun. This classic hairstyle is a part of the “Everyday Essentials” starter pack. The High Bun is the hair sleeked together in a bun that sits at the top of the head. This hairstyle is a beauty favorite for convenience and low maintenance.
High Bun 4C Natural Hair Tutorial Half Up/ Half Down
The half up half-down hairstyle on curly, natural hair is another idea for an everyday casual look. To create this hairstyle, first, gather the top half of the hair into a high bun. Next, leave the back half down. If you want a lot of volume with this hairstyle, clip-ins would really take it to the next level.
Articles Related to Trendy 4C Hairstyles for Natural Hair
Want More 4C Hairstyles?
Subscribe to the product guide newsletter, The LEWK Digest, to get the products mentioned in this post, or learn more about how these products can help promote healthy hair growth and protect 4C hair. The LEWK Digest has reviews from women who have tried out these products and seen results!
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7 Makeup Tips and Hacks No Girl Should Live Without
Flawless makeup is the ultimate beauty goal.
It’s easy to unlock this achievement with the help of makeup artists (MUAs) and beauty experts. However, the makeup application process at home is much different. For this reason, it is absolutely impossible to have too many makeup tricks. You should always learn new makeup tips and hacks to enhance the application process. Like, why struggle with lashes or eyebrows when there are so many makeup tips and hacks to make the process easier?
I am not a makeup artist. I am someone who loves and wears makeup often and can share what she knows about makeup. This post contains seven makeup tips and hacks for applying makeup and creating beautiful, flawless makeup at home. Anyone can do these makeup hacks. Keep scrolling to read more about what makeup tips you should not live without. Ever.
Disclaimer: Heads up! My posts contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but I’ll get a small commission, which helps keep the lights on. Thanks!
Sign up to get product guides to the beauty products mentioned in this post delivered to your inbox. The Lewk Digest is a weekly newsletter for all the products mentioned on It’s The Lewk.
Makeup Tip # 1: Apply Foundation Before Concealer
The “foundation before concealer rule is golden and is the principle. Starting with one layer of foundation will help minimize any redness or discoloration. The goal: is to create flawless makeup. Next, follow up with concealer to cover additional redness, spots, and blemishes.
Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation Buildable/Medium Coverage
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation Medium/Full Coverage
Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25HR Hydration Boost Full Coverage Lightweight Foundation
Makeup Tip #2: Put on lip balm or scrub before applying lipstick
Pucker up and get ready to exfoliate and moisturize those lips! Matte lipsticks are notorious for not gliding on smooth. Try this genius hack to buff away dry skin before applying lipstick. However, if you’re using lip scrubs, do not over-exfoliate! Lip scrubs are to be applied once a week max (anything more and you’ll risk irritation).
Fenty Beauty Universal Lip Luminizer
M.A.C Cosmetics Lip Conditioner
Makeup Tip #3: Look down to apply false lashes
Putting on false lashes is a struggle. However, this simple hack can make any lash application less problematic. The mission: after the lash glue has dried, grab a mirror and hold it downwards to look into it. Then, start the lash application process.
Makeup Tip #4: Use spoolie brushes to tame brows
Whether or not you plan on filling in those eyebrows, you need to get yourself a spoolie brush a*k*a mascara wand to tidy your brows. Spoolie brushes are great for keeping those tiny brow hairs in place. These brushes are inexpensive and easy to buy in bulk.
Disposable Eyelash Mascara Applicator Wand
Makeup Tip #5: Applying lip liner gives the illusion of fuller lips
The ‘fuller lips’ cheat code is activated when applying one of two methods. Method one is filling in your lips with a liner the same shade as your lipstick. Method two is drawing over your natural lip line with lip liner, also known as overlining your lips. Both methods for using lip liner are considered ideal for long-lasting wear and coverage.
Makeup Tip #6: Use highlighter for eyeshadow
Highlighter is for accentuating the highest points of your face, and while it is for cheekbones, it is just as useful for the rest of the face (Vogue link). Since the goal is to create flawless makeup, highlighter is what every beauty lover needs in their makeup collection. Apply the highlighter in the inner corner of the eye and brow bone to lift the eyes. Then, have a little fun with other parts of your face. Try this: add highlighter to the bridge of your nose to make it appear thinner.
Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter
M.A.C Cosmetics Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish
Makeup Tip #7: Use setting sprays/powders for long-lasting makeup
After you finish applying makeup, the last thing you want is for your fresh new face to get messed up before leaving the house. Apply setting spray (or powder if that is your preference) to lock in makeup and avoid smearing. Setting your face with spray or powder prevents caking and creasing. Think of it as if you’ve just finished mixing together all the ingredients for a cake. Now, you’re ready to bake.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder
Enjoying these makeup tips and hacks? Check out these similar posts:
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How To Outline A Blog Post in 15 Minutes
How long does it take you to write a blog post? This question is one I see bloggers ask each other all of the time. I’ve even googled it out of desperation and curiosity to figure out the answer. It takes a blogger approximately 2-3 hours to write a quality blog post. I started comparing my writing performance to the responses of other bloggers. How to outline a blog post efficiently? Is two hours enough time to brainstorm a blog topic, gather thoughts, and still have enough time to write it?
There are many ways to outline a blog post!
Some bloggers do not take as much time as others to write their blogs. Don’t worry. The last thing you should do is compare yourself to another blogger’s writing schedule. The best advice for figuring out your writing schedule is to create a consistent timetable that works for you.
I would not recommend adopting another bloggers’ writing schedule, but I would recommend learning the strategies that helped them develop the blogging schedule that works for them. This blog post highlights one of the best tools bloggers use to publish quality blog posts — blog outlines.
Blog outlines are simple tools for bloggers to draft, write and organize their ideas for a blog post before publishing.
this guide will cover:
- how to spend less time planning out a blog post
- what to outline for your blog post
- examples of blog outlines
- how to outline your next blog post in 15 mins
How To Spend Less Time Planning Out A Blog Post
If you are spending more than the average amount of time it would take to write a blog post, you are most likely doing this:
- struggling with coming up with topics
- researching while you write
- not passionate about the topic you chose to write about
One thing that will help cut out much of the time you spend writing is to start drafting your blog posts in advance. Developing a blueprint for your blog posts gives you more ideas for what you will be discussing in your post. It can not be easy to juggle all our ideas for one topic & without drafting or jotting them down, we will forget them. Start sketching your blog posts & researching topics thoroughly before committing to writing the post.
Need help brainstorming topics you should write about? Check out this list of 350+ blog topic ideas for any niche!
How To Outline For Your Blog Post
Are you looking for ideas for what to write on your blog post outline? First— you will need a topic. The topic you chose needs to be something you can talk about comfortably and freely. Next, you will need:
- Key subheading content points
- Supporting statements for that subheading
- Affiliate links for any suggestions for readers
- List of keywords and tags for search engine optimization
You can even take it a step further and create a checklist/to-do list for each step in your writing process. To-do lists and checklists for your blog post will help you remember to edit, format, schedule, publish, create pictures, etc. Here is an example of what a blog post outline should look like:
example of a blog post outline A Simple Blog Post Outline
Ready to start outlining your next blog post? I have the perfect blog post template for bloggers planning out their blog posts. I created this template to help with organizing and writing ideas for quality blog posts. The Blog Post Template is a digital pdf that you can download and save to any digital planner or notetaking application. This digital template is designed to help bloggers brainstorm post titles, publish dates, related posts, call-to-action, and key content points. The digital blog post template has checklists and to-do lists to keep bloggers on track with outlining, writing, editing, formatting, and scheduling their blog posts. The template also includes space for tracking tags, links, and keywords.
Click the jump to get your blog post template and start planning your writing content today.
Never have to worry about writing quality blog posts again! To keep your readers engaged, your blog posts have to be cohesive, entertaining, informative, and easy to read. It’s easy to write and have all your thoughts jumbled at once while you’re trying to remember to get all of your ideas out!
Use this Blog Post Planner template to avoid never having to worry about jumbled thoughts, incohesive paragraphs, and sloppy structures ever again! This Blog Post Planner template was designed to help bloggers and writers get their key points across, create blog outlines before writing, and checklists for blogging tasks.
Bloggers should be using outlines when preparing to write quality blog posts. Using an outline before you write helps you create thought-flowing, entertaining posts & cuts down on how much time you would usually spend writing your blog posts. You can easily create an outline for your next blog post in 15 minutes! Outlines are another tool to help you stay consistent with blogging & they will also help with coming up with ideas for additional blog post topics!
Was this helpful? Leave me a comment below.
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What Is Seo And Why Is Seo Important For My Website?
Search Engine Optimization is a vital digital marketing tool.
Picture this. You own, manage, and run your own website. Your website is filled with entertaining, informative, and valuable content, but no one is reading it. You’re stressed because you’ve spent so much time, energy, and money invested in your website. However, it’s not thriving due to low or no traffic. You want to know how to increase your website traffic because you are passionate about seeing your business succeed. You landed here because you discovered SEO during your research, and you have no clue how to increase your traffic. You’re also not sure if you really understand how SEO works and how important it is.
SEO consists of many elements. Knowing what they are and how they work is key to understanding why SEO is so important.
Search engine optimization is crucial for your website because it helps make it more visible. This then equates to more traffic, builds brand awareness, and positions you as a trustworthy expert in your niche.
This post discusses the importance of SEO for your website and how to use SEO to rank on search engines. You will have a better understanding of how SEO works and a step closer to increasing traffic to your website.
Quality Content is what Search Engines Look For
Content is the most vital part of Search Engine Optimization. It is what the people will see first when they visit your website. The content you create is what you use to reach and engage with your target audience. You most likely know by now that you should be creating and posting content that readers will find valuable. Quality content varies in many forms for many website creators (blogs, videos, podcasts, e-books) and needs to be shared consistently to rank on search engines. A lot of content = a lot of chances to increase your website’s online visibility.
For example, website pages and posts should have a minimum of 500 words for search engines to crawl the content on your pages. Even then, depending on which SEO expert you’d ask, they would say 500 is considered to be generously low and should really be around 700-800 minimum words. Valuable content is just one key element to increasing traffic with SEO.
Keywords Will Help Search Engines Find Your Content
Your content will also need to feature some keywords to rank higher on search engines. Keywords are words and phrases that consumers use to find what they are looking for online; and that brands can then use to connect with prospects looking for their products and services.
Finding out what keywords you’ll need for search engine optimization is not a simple task. A general rule of thumb is to look for keywords with high search rates (but low competition). Choose short-tail keywords (such as kid), long-tail keywords (such as adolescent children’s books for sale), and local keywords (such as children’s books for sale in Biloxi) to work into your content. Use keywords to optimize your titles, URLs, and the usability of your website. All this work you are doing to optimize your on-page SEO content will be crucial to improving the visibility and traffic of your website.
You Can Create SEO Opportunities Off-Page
Off-page SEO refers to actions taken outside of your own website to impact your rankings within search engine results pages (SERPs). Backlink building is a popular tool for establishing off-page search engine optimization. There are many tactics for backlink building. Some of the current best practices include guest blogging, advertising, creating a lot of high-quality content to be shared, and using influencer marketing in your content. You will need to network to start building backlinks to your website. Networking and backlinks are great ways for your target audience to find out about who you are and what you do. Take advantage of collaboration opportunities!
Search Engines Love Websites With Quick Load Times
A responsive and speedy website will make a user-friendly experience for all your mobile and desktop visitors. By increasing the load speed of your website, readers will be able to browse longer, decreasing your website bounce rate. You should find out what your website’s load speed is before you decide to make any changes for search engine optimization. If it ain’t broke, do not fix it!
Word of advice for pages with low load speeds: if your load speed is low, take steps to improve your speed by optimizing high-resolution images, fixing JavaScript issues and excessive HTTP Requests, and bad hosting.
Think about it: you have spent a lot of time putting content on your website. It would be a disappointment if your audience cannot access (or gives up waiting to access) the content because the website/page does not load.
Some things to remember about SEO:
- SEO does not happen overnight
- search engines are not perfect
- You do not have to be an expert to optimize your website content
I recommend researching and using SEO tools to continue learning how to use search engines to increase website traffic and brand awareness. Websites like Moz and Semrush have been extremely helpful for me and my journey to understanding SEO. There are plenty of SEO courses and e-books to help you create a consistent SEO strategy plan for optimizing your content, increasing traffic, and reaching your target audience.
I have been working to understand how SEO works for years, and each time I learn something new about how important it is to rank (and rank higher) on search engines. The more elements of SEO we incorporate into our growth strategies, the more opportunities for increasing brand awareness, visibility, and site traffic.
What do you think about SEO and its importance to organic website traffic? How will you use SEO to help grow your website? What else do you think is important to know about SEO and search engines? What advice would you give someone who wants to rank higher on search engines and increase website traffic?
Leave me a comment below.
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Wash Day Routine For 4c Hair Optimal Hair Growth
Wash days, for me, are all about using the right products for optimal hair growth and hydration. Being a naturalista for eight years has taught me the importance of managing my 4C hair and understanding which products are best for my hair type. If you have ever wondered whether you’re using the best products for your natural hair, you aren’t alone out here. I never imagined I’d be learning how to wash my hair all over again at my big age! In addition, my wash day routine has varied and changed several times throughout my natural hair journey. However, getting my wash day routine to where it is now has made washing my hair less of a nightmare and more of an adventure. The process is all about the products and the routine. As a result, I have developed an effective wash day routine for my 4C Hair.
Disclaimer: Heads up! My posts contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but I’ll get a small commission, which helps keep the lights on. Thanks!
Wash Day Routine for my 4C Hair
- Scheduling
- Detangling
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Drying Method
- Moisturize & Style
Scheduling
I don’t have a scheduled day for wash days. I used to wash my hair every Saturday. But after hair length and growth, the frequency changed to every 2-3 weeks. So, dedicating time for your hair is just half of this battle. In other words, your wash day schedule is subject to frequent changes and moderation.
Detangling
This step takes about 10-15 minutes. Before beginning to shampoo, I section my hair into four parts. Then, I saturate my hair with a Scalp-Foaming Pre-Cleanse to gently remove any knots, mats, tangles, and product dirt buildup. I never attempt to detangle without saturating my strands first. So now my 4C kinky coils are now ready for the shampooing process.
Shampoo
After I comb and rinse out the Scalp-Foaming Pre-Cleanse with a detangling comb, I use Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo to nourish my tresses. Then, I lather a generous amount of shampoo in my hands, and massage the shampoo down the length of each coil and rinse. Therefore this process takes approximately 10 minutes.
Conditioner
The next step is to gently smooth an Intensive Conditioning Treatment all over my freshly washed tresses. First I gently work it all over my hair with a detangling comb to lock in moisture, and this also helps prevent any hair damage. Then I place a plastic cap over my hair and sit under the dryer for 15 minutes. After rinsing the Intensive Conditioning Treatment, I use a Biotin and Collagen Conditioner for additional hair hydration and rinse after 2-3 minutes.
Drying Method
Next I grab a dry towel to squeeze the excess water dripping from my curls. Occasionally, I prepare my hair for styling while it’s still a little damp. Sometimes I will use a blow dryer to finish drying my wet hair. However whichever method I decide to use takes approximately 3-5 minutes.
Moisturizing and Styling
After drying off my hair, I add a leave-in conditioner and start sectioning my hair for styling. Meanwhile, I use Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil to treat my scalp and take care of any split ends. Then, I use Style and Shine Foaming Mousse to flat twist my hair. Consequently I then go to my favorite protective hairstyle is two jumbo flat twists, with a part right down the middle.
Overall, it takes approximately 60 minutes to complete my wash routine for optimal hair growth and hydration. Consistency and repetition have made this routine become a quicker process.
4C Wash Day Routine Products
Creme of Nature Argan Oil Perfect Edges (Extra Firm Hold)
Creme of Nature Argan Oil Style and Shine Foaming Mousse
Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment
Creme of Nature Argan Oil Strength and Shine Leave-In Conditioner
Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo
Mizani Wonder Crown Scalp Foaming Pre-Cleanse
OGX Thick & Full Biotin and Collagen Conditioner
Click to get a product guide to all the products for wash day. The Lewk Digest product guides give details about each product. The Lewk Digest has product reviews, prices, store locations, coupons, and discount codes to make shopping for these products easy. In other words, The Lewk Digest makes shopping easier.
How long does your wash day routine take? What are your wash day secrets and products that you like to use? Let me know what your wash day is like and what products you’re using in the comments!
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Should I Trademark My Online Business Name?
Your name is your superpower. What you call yourself (personally or professionally) is your unique identifier. Your name, aka your identity, sets you apart from people/ businesses with similar names. Entrepreneurs realize that it takes hard work to establish their brand and create an identity different from their competitors. So, how will you stand out without blending? How will you organically grow your business? As a result, business owners must establish their rights to ensure that their name is one of a kind. Therefore, it is important to trademark your online business name.
Scroll on to learn why you SHOULD trademark your online business name. Learn how to start the trademarking process and resources to help you start trademarking your business or brand today.
So, what is a trademark?
A trademark is a symbol or word(s) legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product. Registering a trademark helps protect a name or brand from intellectual property theft or misuse as a business grows (Forbes). The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website is where entrepreneurs can go to begin the trademark application process, search the trademark database, and check the status of a trademark. Filling out the trademark application is an easy beginner’s first step to trademarking your business.
How does a trademark help my business?
It gives you a legal avenue to protect your business or brand from copycats replicating your identity. Trademarking your business name, product, or symbol can protect you from scammers looking to make a profit off of your name. In other words, a trademark establishes your exclusive business owner rights to use your name, symbol, or word(s). Trademarking also helps you run a successful company. You will also be able to use the ® symbol next to a successfully registered trademarked name. Completing your trademark registration will make it much easier to file for trademark registration in other countries.
I have an LLC, sole proprietorship, and DBA business. My brand is already protected.
That’s great that you formed your online business. However, you should still decide to trademark your business or brand. A trademark is different in the sense that:
- Forming an LLC (limited liability company) only protects you from individuals using your business name/symbol in your state. It does not protect you nationally or internationally.
- DBA or doing business as; only protects you from individuals using your business name/symbol in your state. It does not protect you nationally or internationally.
- A copyright will protect original artistic and literary works. Copyrights apply to logos but usually do not apply to names.
How to Trademark Your Business Name
Here’s how you can start trademarking your online business today:
First, remember filling out the application is the initial step. If you do not have the necessary information for your application, an attorney can help you with this step. Next, you should figure out what trademark class you want your business’ name or symbol recognized in before submitting your application. (There are 45 trademark classes, and each trademark class covers a wide range of goods or services.)
Example: If a beauty company with the name “Enchanted” wanted to register this name in the cosmetics trademark class, it could. However, if this company also produced jewelry, it might require an added listing in the jewelry trademark class. Therefore, the beauty company has to file for each trademark class that the business will be listed under.
Additionally, if you want to trademark the same name for multiple classes, it might be a little costly. It costs as low as $250 to file a trademark application. To file for a trademarked name for multiple classes, that’s $250 for each trademark class.
Attorneys Can Trademark Your Online Business Name
Sometimes it is best to talk about things like this with your lawyer or attorney. If you are not sure how to fill out your trademark application, schedule a time to consult with your attorney or lawyer. If you do not have an attorney or lawyer, I have an available online resource for you.
Attorney Kiara Taite is a licensed Mississippi trademark attorney dedicated to protecting your legacy. She provides her trademark services to business owners and entrepreneurs anywhere in the country!
Attorney Taite is an attorney equipped to help you understand why trademarking your online business is key to protecting your brand, filing the trademark application, explaining trademark classes/ fees in greater detail, and getting your business trademarked.
If you are looking for quality legal service in the U.S., then look no further. The Law Office of Kiara Taite’s mission is to ensure that clients are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and quality legal representation required to create, protect, and preserve the legacies they intend to leave behind for their children, loved ones, community, or the culture. Visit the Law Office of Kiara Taite website to learn more about her services, fees, and to schedule a time to consult with her about trademarking your online business today!
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This Is What My Stay-At-Home Mom Schedule Looks Like
I never believed that this would be the life for me. The life of a stay-at-home mom. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that the stay-at-home life would be something that I could afford to do or that it would be something that I could get comfortable doing. The pandemic forced me to see that I could create a stay-at-home mom schedule. I literally lost my job and became a stay-at-home mother overnight! Before this, I used to spend most of my time at work. Away from my family. Since 16, I have worked countless jobs for financial stability and security. While all the while, I was missing out on quality bonding time and precious milestones. Then four years into my son’s life, I suddenly became more accessible and available.
So I was at home, all of the time, 24/7.
Related: Social Distancing: Choosing to Self-Care & Keep the Faith
Subsequently, I have been dedicated to a stay-at-home mom schedule that allows me to work from home, start and build my business, complete household chores, and devote time to my husband and son.
The ultimate goal for my stay-at-home mom schedule was to have time to do it all.
Having no extra help made me realize that I needed to follow a schedule that could keep me organized and focused on my priorities: starting a business and being there when my family needed me the most. A flexible stay-at-home mom schedule would become my secret weapon, and it continues to be a routine that brings contentedness and peace. My daily stay-at-home mom schedule works well for me, and I want to share it to help other stay-at-home moms figure out a rhythm to juggling everything at home.
5:15 am
I set my alarm to wake up 45 minutes before Landon gets up. Starting my day earlier allows me to get mentally and physically prepared for my day. I like to use this time for prayer and quick stretching exercises. Then, I will start ironing school uniforms and making Landon’s lunch to take to school. I will use any remaining time to let our family pet, Pablo, outside to use the potty and put food in his bowl.
Early mornings set the tone that I am ready to tackle anything. It also allows me to finish all my tasks at a reasonable ending time. I don’t even sleep in late! To be honest, I can’t sleep past 7 am without feeling unproductive. I like to maximize my time in the mornings by choosing not to waste a single minute.
6:00 am
I wake Landon up and make him breakfast. I’ve got to brag that I do my best gentle parenting in this hour. I want to make sure I am helping my son start his day with some positivity. There’s lots of hugging, smiles, and I love you‘s exchanged during this time. In conclusion, 6 am is one of my proudest hours of the day.
Related: 20 Affirmations for Abundance & Success
6:50 am
It’s time to drop Landon off at school for the day. Morning drop-offs are usually 10-15 minutes long. While we are in line, waiting to make our way to the front, Landon and I will practice repeating daily affirmations. I like to encourage Landon to have a great day, believe in himself, give his best effort, and commit to learning new skills. This type of encouragement is the final preparation before he walks through those school doors to begin his day as a Kindergarten student.
7:15 am
After drop-off, it’s time to get started with work. Before I shift into work mode, I take 20 minutes to eat a light breakfast, let Pablo outside again, and do those things that I might have skipped earlier (prayer, stretching, meditation).
8:00 am
After that, it’s time to dedicate myself to my brand, my business, and evolving as an entrepreneur. From 8 am to 1 pm., I give my all to writing new blog posts, creating YouTube videos, Reels, or TikToks that could help increase awareness about my business, scheduling or creating content, reviewing products, editing, etc.
I maximize my time during these hours because I can complete the bulk of my tasks without any distractions. No one is here to disrupt me or feel like I am not giving them any attention. I am prioritizing my business and my clients. I will schedule all of my consultations, client calls for social media management, and brand strategy between these hours.
1:00 pm
At this point in my day, I realize that I’m either hungry (if I’ve skipped breakfast) or feeling like I need to take a break. I usually make myself some lunch and watch something on tv, catch up on social media, or take a nap. Just because I can’t sleep in late doesn’t mean that I don’t know how to go lay down somewhere in the middle of the day.
1:55 pm
After a much-needed recharge, it’s now time to get Landon from school. School dismisses for each day at 2:55. However, parents of car riders line up an hour early to prepare for dismissal.
In conclusion, sometimes your schedule will have events that throw curveballs in your plans.
Expect this. It’s okay.
For example, waiting to get my child home from school takes an hour out of my day, but I choose to look at this differently. Instead of viewing this as me losing out on time, I will use this time to finish up something that I was working on or do something that I haven’t had the chance to do yet.
Examples of Time Fillers for “Lost Hours”
- creating captions for Instagram posts/ reels
- researching blog topics and ideas
- researching youtube video topics and ideas
- pay a bill online
- watch an episode of a tv series
- digital planning
3:00 pm
I’m back at home and back to full-time mama status. This hour belongs to Landon. He usually has so much to tell me about what happened at school! We also have snacks, do homework, and go outside to play before it gets too late.
4:00 pm
It’s almost time to end my work for the day. I wrap up anything that I didn’t finish that morning. Every day is different. On some days, I can say that I finished my workload by 5 pm, and on other days I can’t. Wrapping up the day helps me understand what I’ve already accomplished for the day, what’s left to do, and where to pick up the next day.
4:30 pm- 5:00 pm
It’s time to start making (or buying) dinner. I’ve never been into meal prep, but perhaps it’s time that I start; because I never know what’s for dinner! Most of my dinner ideas come to me throughout the day. At 5 pm, I am cooking dinner or asking my husband to grab something on his way home.
7:00 pm After everyone has made it home and had dinner, I get a little bit of free time. It is the ultimate hour for relaxation and chill time. I dedicate this hour to doing whatever I want to do.
- conversations with my husband about his day
- bonding time with my husband, Landon, and Pablo
- taking a nice hot shower
- browsing social media
- listening to music
- preparing for the next day (pulling out school uniforms, making lunches, cleaning up)
8:00 pm This is Landon’s wind-down hour. His dad bathes him, and after bath time, we read a 15- minute bedtime story. I appreciate this time to be able to take a break and regroup.
9:00 pm It’s Landon’s bedtime and his parents’ bonding time. Both mom and dad are exhausted by now, but we still make time for each other. We have to because we hardly have any time earlier in the day to make it work.
10:00 pm If I want to get up for my 5:15 am alarm, I need to be in bed no later than 10 pm.
More Tips for Success
- Don’t get wrapped up in exact times! These are the hours that work best for my life at home, and I provided them for structure.
- Find your rhythm and rhyme for your reason. You’re crafting the ideal schedule for your life and goals.
- You can still be productive throughout the day even if you don’t stick to a strict routine.
- Plan around family bonding time. Choose the repeat times throughout the day for consistent, fun times with your loved ones.
- Most importantly, don’t stress on days where following your schedule does not work out.
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3 Cute & Easy Hairstyles Using Headband Wigs
I love whenever I make a new cute hairstyle discovery! When I decided to go natural a few years ago, I never thought I would struggle to find protective hairstyles. It has been hard for me to find protective styles for curly, natural hair that I like! Why is it so hard to find cute and easy hairstyles to protect and support my hair’s health and growth? Why is it so hard to find protective styles that will keep edges safe from thinning out?
It should not be this way!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but I’ll get a small commission, which helps to keep the lights on! Thank you!
Who doesn’t love cute and easy hairstyles?
Wigs and braids have made styling my curly hair less of a struggle. I love using wigs and braids to switch things up. Wigs are a preferred protective style because they are generally quite simple to wear and don’t require much maintenance. After reading reviews online about different wigs, I decided to try a new style that I’d never heard of before: headband wigs.
Headband wigs work to protect natural hair and edges. As a result, this wig is the answer to all of my haircare prayers! The quality of my natural, curly hair life increased by 100 points after wearing this wig for the first time.
Here’s why…
This wig has been the most manageable and convenient wig I have ever worn. The headband makes it easy to slip on over your natural hair without much maintenance. In addition, the biggest flex here is that no glue is necessary for this wig! It’s my favorite benefit of the wig because I know that my edges and natural hair will be 100% protected. Sometimes I like to take a break from wearing wigs that require a glue application. Therefore this headband wig continues to check off all boxes for convenience, ease, and support!
More About Headband Wigs: Cute and Easy Hairstyles
I got my 22″ Kinky Straight textured headband wig from LuvMe Hair. I chose the kinky straight-textured wig because it matches my hair type and texture (4c). My wig came in a beautifully packaged box that contained:
- Additional headbands and hair accessories
- Iridescent cosmetic bag
- LuvMe Hairclip
- Bobby pins
- Wig Cap
- Wig Care Instructions
- Hair Wrap
- Edges Brush
The wig came with everything that I needed to style it. I put this wig on and styled it in less than 15 minutes! So, let me show you how I did it.
Keep scrolling to reveal the long headband wig and easy hairstyles you can recreate using headbands.
To Achieve Cute and Easy Hairstyles Using Headband Wigs, You’ll Need
- wig cap
- wig w/ clips and headband straps
- extra headbands and accessories for styling
Firstly, I brushed my hair down using curl-enhancing mousse and styling gel for it to stay nice and slick. Next, I used bobby pins to secure the hair in position before placing the wig cap on top. Then, I pulled the detachable straps to the headband apart to put on the 22″ kinky straight textured wig. To get it perfectly adjusted on my crown, I secured the wig using two techniques: the wig clips and reattaching the headband in the back. That’s it! Again, you can do this in under 15 minutes.
Then, I started to play with other ways to style the wig. I just wanted to play around with it to see what I could come up with and what kind of fun looks to create with it. My favorite thing that I love about the wig is that you can switch it up at any time with this headband wig. I can put it all to one side, up into a ponytail, half ponytail, wear it in a bun, or switch out the headbands with the extra ones that I got from LuvMe Hair. In addition to my review, you can watch the video for my hair tutorial for the 22″ Kinky Straight Headband Wig on YouTube for more guidance on how to rock this wig and how you can style it.
Wearing the headband wig with one of the extra headbands that it came with. 
Headband Hairstyles: Wearing the LuvMe Hair headband wig as it is (kinky curly) 
Headband Hairstyles: Wearing the headband wig with a middle part and headband. Wig Hairstyles Are Easy To Achieve!
I honestly love everything about wearing headband wigs as a protective style. It’s perfect for someone like me who loves convenient, cute, and simple hairstyles. I can still look cute while protecting my natural hair and my edges. It is so versatile and gives plenty of inspiration for switching up my hairstyles whenever I want. I’ve finally found the ideal protective style for me.
I believe that the headband wig could help any naturalista looking for protective hairstyle solutions and inspiration. It is not too good to be true, ladies! You can achieve this simple look too!
Watch my LuvMe Hair Headband Wig Tutorial and Review on Youtube What do you think?
Visit luvmehair.com to check out the 22″ kinky straight headband wig and to view other textures from the collection.
I even have a referral code for you to take something off of your purchase once you’ve found the wig for you. Just use offer code KRIS at checkout to get 23% off of your LuvMe Hair wig purchase.
Comment with some of your favorite time-saver protective hairstyles below!
Check out more beauty and haircare posts:
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15 Pinterest Nails For Fall
The best thing about the season changing is not the weather or daylight savings! It’s honestly the new vibes and colorful foliage that I look forward to in autumn every year. It’s the fall color scheme that truly gets me going! I like to incorporate fall foliage and earth tone colors in my outfits, makeup, and nails all the time now. Pinterest has become my go-to for all my seasonal moods, aesthetics, and inspiration for fun and festive ideas for beauty and outfit choices. Lately, Pinterest nails have all been all of the nail inspo for the fall season. There are some new colors, shapes, and designs that are trending to be popular this season. LET’S GET INTO THEM!
Don’t ask for my mood, just check my nails. They say it all.
Popular Pinterest Nails: Color
Now, as far as colors go, there’s PLENTY for the girls to choose from; because of this, you may have difficulty picking one you will enjoy. Shades of brown, orange, red, purple, gray, and blue will continue to reign supreme for fall colors. I am in love and invested in the brown color scheme. I love me some chocolate! Caramel and coffee are popular universal colors to have in your palette. My searches on Pinterest have also indicated never rule out shades of white. Why? Cream, ivory, or coconut colors are great for creating nude and natural nail aesthetics. My general advice is to choose colors that will accentuate your personality and capture your vibe.
Popular Pinterest Nails: Shapes and Patterns
Choosing my nail color and design will be easy- Said no one ever
Choosing a nail color is not the only decision you’ll have to make during this process. Patterns and designs are ways that you can create signature nails to match your personality or vibe. It’s all in the details! If you’re looking to spice it up this season, there are certainly some different trends for you to check out. Ombre or duo tone nails (features two colors that are smoothly graduating into each other) are not new but trendy. Plaid nail art is ideal for outfit matching, especially with anything flannel.
Find Pinterest Nails to Recreate
It’s important to remember to pick patterns and designs that your nail technician will be able to replicate. Nail technicians will be creative with abstract, marble, and leopard print designs. If you do not have a regular nail technician, please make sure that your tech can replicate the design you’ve chosen. I use Pinterest to create mood boards to show my nail tech where my nail inspiration came from. Look at the board that I’ve started for fall! It has all sorts of ideas for the season, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.
Nails are the #1 thing you can get into shape without exercising
Nail color, design, and art are NOTHING without shape and length. Yes, girl! Your nail’s shape and length are important, too. It’s the first step in nailing the right aesthetic. How long will your nails be? How short would you like them to be? Do you like your nails square or oval? All shapes and lengths can be customized to any preference if you have communicated this with your nail technician.
I want you to nail it this season! Get fall-inspired nails from Pinterest searches if you are in need of some nail art ideas. Pinterest has you covered on the entire look! Piece your new nail art together by choosing from colors, patterns, designs, and shapes that you find on pins and boards. Halloween and Thanksgiving are just a jump, hop, and skip away! Set off your new season with some fun, festive nails.
What is your favorite go-to color or design that you love to wear during fall?
What are some colors or designs that you hope to try this year?
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How To Start YouTube Channels & Earn Money
YouTube is one of the biggest video-based platforms on the entire world wide web. There are more than 37 million YouTube channels out there (2020 latest data)! So many people create YouTube accounts to watch new and trending videos that are uploaded daily by creators and vloggers. YouTube continues to be a popular platform that creators use to grow their brand or business, nurture video content for target audiences, and generate passive income online. If you’ve ever wondered how to start YouTube, this post is for you! YouTube users are subscribing daily to creators who provide relatable and valuable content! I recently developed a YouTube strategy to become more comfortable with creating video-based content and grow my brand. I have always felt that I’ve been ready to join the masses, but I had NO clue what my channel would be. What would I post?!
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Finding Friends: Black Women Sisterhood
Are you aging gracefully into your 30s and 40s but finding it hard to build new friendships or find a group of women that you can genuinely call your sisterhood? Do you get overwhelmed trying to establish genuine friendships and connections with women in your age bracket? Finding friends can definitely be challenging.
You are not alone.
Thank you, Jody-Ann Buckle, for contributing this post to lifestylewithkris.com!
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How To Get Sponsored Posts On Instagram
Have you ever wondered how to get sponsored posts? Sponsored posts are advertisements created by a brand or business for a product/service. Companies are looking to work with content creators daily to reach consumers through sponsored advertising. Many Bloggers and Influencers use sponsored posts (also known as promoted posts) to generate more traffic and link clicks to their website or social media. Sponsored posts are just one of the ways you can create additional income online and monetize your blog.
In the past, I worked with brand companies such as Amazon, Jenell B. Stewart’s DCU affiliate program, Influenster, and The Raw Dosage. I continue to work with businesses on collaborations through sponsored ads and partnerships. In this blog, you will gain insight into how sponsored posts work and how to get sponsored posts. Are you ready to generate website traffic and revenue for your website, blog, or social media? Let’s get started!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate marketing is designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to brand websites. This is at no additional cost to you!
Photo by Olya Kobruseva on Pexels.com UGC is Key to Sponsored Posts
It is important to remember that when promoting a company’s services and products through sponsored posts, you are introducing your community to brands that they’ll be interested in purchasing from and learning more about how they can benefit from them. Brands are looking to reach communities and audiences through UGC, user-generated content. You want to collaborate with brands related to your niche to create the authentic, quality image and video content that brands are looking to use to attract consumers.
For example, my blog is a lifestyle blog. I am inspired to create content around my interests and daily activities. I create brand awareness by sharing content from companies who express interest in reaching consumers with interests in many topics (beauty, health, wellness, finance, travel, food, etc.). I love to promote products and services that are relatable to my everyday life and my brand.
How To Get Sponsored Posts With Influenster
The bulk of my sponsored posts are from my collaborations with Influenster. Influenster is a product discovery app that allows consumers and influencers to try products for free; in exchange for an honest review of the product on your website or social media. By signing up and becoming a member of the Influenster community, I save money by not spending it on products, connected with lots of cool brands to establish long-lasting partnerships, increased traffic to my blog, and gained followers on social media. Let’s look at some of my favorite campaigns that I have been a part of so far:
TurboTax Ambassador Campaign MAC Cosmetics Campaign Are you ready to land sponsored posts to gain website traffic and grow your business? Are you ready to land sponsored posts as a way to generate a source of income? It’s time to figure out what your next steps should be. Here are 4 ways that you can get started today:
4 Ways To Get Sponsored Posts
Start a Blog or Create a Social Media Account Now!
Having a website is a no-brainer decision. It’s time to start building your online platform if you haven’t already. Online marketing is crucial for brands in 2021. I recommend beginning with a blog to share quality content that you know your audience will want to see. Do research. Learn. Apply what you learn! Establish what you want you think your niche should be and create good content. If you aren’t on social media already, the decision to join is something that you will want to make soon. It’s free to create an account on all popular social channels (TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter) and most blog platforms (WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, ).
Pitch Ideas to Brands
If you have an idea for a sponsored post, it’s time to pitch that idea to the brand or business. Don’t let imposter syndrome set in! Pitching content ideas is one of the ways that you can start landing brand partnerships. Create a media kit before reaching out to brand PR to showcase yourself and your business. Most media kits contain:
A list of services that you offer
Statistics (website/blog stats, engagement rates, followers/subscribers)
A bio (one for yourself and your brand biz)
Network Within Your Niche
Most collaboration opportunities come from networking and meeting other business owners and content creators. It’s time to get comfortable with the competition by getting to know them. There are opportunities out there for everyone! I have met some amazing content creators in online groups and through taking blogging courses. Blogging and Engagement Groups are great ways to learn about partnerships, sponsorships, and collaborations. Facebook has a wide variety of blogging groups for you to research and join.
Join Influencer Marketing Platforms
There are several influencer marketing platforms online that you can join to help you get sponsored posts that can help you grow your business and generate traffic to your website. I recommend researching each one to find out which works best for you. Most of these influencer marketing platforms will allow you to join for free; after approving your website and social media accounts. I compiled a list of the influencer marketing platforms that I have had success with so far. These websites allow me to generate traffic to my blog, grow my brand, and make money. Click the jump to download the list.
FREE DOWNLOAD
Did you find this post helpful? Leave a comment below. Tell me your niche and what brands you are interested in collaborating with.
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Top 10 Reasons To Use Lightroom
There are many photography apps on the market these days, so I can only imagine that it can be hard to find one that you’ll enjoy. You might have found yourself asking, Do I need to pay for an app to get the best option? Do I need something to do quick edits? Do I also need to think about being able to store and organize my photos? Adobe Lightroom is a powerful photo and video editor for managing and processing thousands of stunning images.
Thank you Tracey Jones for contributing this post to lifestylewithkris.com
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10 Creative Post Ideas for Social Media
You’ve started a business, you’ve created a brand. You’re ready to start marketing your business/brand on social media, but there’s so much overwhelming information out there. Everyone is telling you that you should post at least 3 pieces of social media content per week, post to your social channels every day, and create high-quality content, but where are you going to find inspiration to post interesting, engaging and relevant things to share with your audience? Here are 10 creative post ideas for social media that can work for you!
Thank you Tracey Jones for contributing this post to lifestylewithkris.com
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Powerful Words of Affirmation For Success
Words of affirmation are short and powerful statements that people can use to promote positive thinking. They allow us to be in control of our thoughts and shape our realities. Individuals can repeat affirmation statements until they become new beliefs. I use affirmations to eliminate negative thinking and to help me navigate challenges that will make achieving goals easier, through the law of attraction. This blog post will provide insight into what affirmations are, what the laws of attraction mean, and how to incorporate these things together when motivating ourselves through self-care practices.
Every day, people are using affirmations to attract confidence, abundance, love, success, and happiness. Studies have shown that it is not uncommon for people to increase their happiness through a positive mindset. Plenty of people desire to be more successful in life and have found affirmations help combat negative self-talk and negative mindsets. After I started using affirmations, I found that I have a better outlook on what my purpose is and that I am worthy of attaining success. I’ve learned how to be gentle with myself by becoming more trusting and confident in my abilities to make decisions. Positive affirmations require regular practice to achieve long-term changes in your life.
Related: How Letting Go of Negative Thoughts Changed My Life
Words of Affirmation: The Laws of Attraction
The Law of Attraction is the belief that positive thoughts will yield positive results in your life, career, health, or relationships. There are 3 Laws of Attraction that detail this concept:
- Like Attracts Like
- Removal of Negative Energy
- The Present is Always Perfect
Like Attracts Like is the law that similar things are attracted to one another. Although opposites can often attract, it is the belief that it is more often that like attracts like. What we think about and choose to believe is what we tend to do. People will use affirmations to think and believe positive thoughts to do the work needed to attract positive results.
Removing negative thoughts makes space for positive thoughts! This law of attraction is identified as “nature abhors a vacuum” and is the belief that if we remove negative energy and replace it with positive, we will create a space to attract new things. Ex: Decluttering your closet will allow you to make room for the new clothes that you just purchased
The Present is Always Perfect if you’re looking to use this law to attract the things you want. Amid a challenge, it can be hard to see the good in bad things. It is never too late to change how you choose to respond to negative situations. Implement the use of affirmations whenever there is a desire to complain about something that isn’t going right for you. Look for ways to improve the present moment.
20 Powerful Words of Affirmation to Attract Abundance & Success
Related: Who Else Wants a Free 7-Day Gratitude Journal
Now that you know about affirmations and the 3 laws of attraction, here are 20 affirmation statements that you can use to help you attract abundance, confidence, and success into your life. This list of affirmations that I’ve compiled consists of action statements that I’ve repeated throughout the year. Try saying them in the morning, to start the day or at night, before going to bed. Repeat affirmations daily and regularly (at least 10 times a day). Listen to yourself say each word, focus on them as they are leaving your mouth, and believe them to be true.
I hope that this post helps anyone interested in learning how affirmations work, and how to use them to attract success and happiness in their life. I have always encouraged positive thinking as a form of self-care and I believe it motivates people to meet their goals. What are some positive affirmations that you may say to attract what you want?
Let me know in a comment!
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The Secure Guide to Filing With TurboTax
Thank you, TurboTax for sponsoring this post!
Filing taxes is a stressful situation for everyone. Every tax season, American citizens are hopeful and excited about their tax returns. Some look for ways to ensure that they’ll receive as much money back as possible, some are prayerful that they will not have to owe the IRS anything, and some look for tax preparers or financial advisors to help them because they need professional tax advice.
Whether you decide to go to a CPA or financial advisor, or you decide to do your taxes alone, you want to feel comfortable about the decision you make. TurboTax is the best solution for all your tax filing fears! I am an active and current TurboTax user. I have always had an easy, comfortable, and reliable experience with using their software. In conclusion, this post is your secure guide to filing your taxes with TurboTax.
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How to Use Instagram to Grow Your Audience
In the world of social media, Instagram is one of the most popular platforms out there. Users post pictures and videos daily for personal enjoyment, exposure, and business opportunities. For entrepreneurs, it’s important to reach your target audience, client, and/or customer for your business. This post contains everything you need to know about how to use Instagram for business. Anyone can grow an audience on Instagram! There are over 1 billion monthly active users, with accounts, defining their audience.
With The Five C’s Contingency Plan, you will be able to organically grow an online presence. You will be able to use this contingency plan with any Instagram algorithm. This Contingency Plan is a combination of strategies that I use regularly and simultaneously to reach new readers and subscribers to my blog, sell gratitude journals, and land brand partnerships. I used the 5 C’s Contingency Plan and reached over 60,000 accounts, receive over 400 new followers, and increase content interactions within 90 days in Q1.
What is the ‘5 C’s of Contingency Plan’?
- Connect
- Consistency
- Comment
- Commit
- Create
Connect & Network
Connecting with people can and will help you to grow your audience. You should be following more people and engaging in conversation. Get to know the competition, but do not compare too critically! Networking is an easy way to land new opportunities and business deals. Collaborations happen every day on Instagram.
Note: You should NOT be following “overwhelming accounts” that can trigger emotions like imposter syndrome or self-sabotaging doubt.
Consistency Is Key
Post consistently to your feed and Instagram stories. If you are inconsistent with posting, how will you truly be able to cultivate an audience? When will your audience know when or where you post? Everyone’s posting schedule is going to be different. Your posting schedule should be based on the peak days that you receive the most views. Using your insights and metrics, you will be able to figure out what is the best time for you to post your content.
My peak days of the week are Monday through Friday (9 am-9 pm). That’s a twelve-hour window for me to post my images and videos and maximize the views I receive during those times of the day. Although Saturday and Sunday are not the best days for views, according to my insights, I still find the best peak time of the day whenever I’m looking to post on the weekends. Enjoying this post? Check out more Social Media Tips & Tricks
- 125 of the Best Fall Hashtags For Instagram 2021
- 8 Blogger Groups to Help You Master Blogging
- How To Start YouTube Channels & Earn Money
- 10 Creative Post Ideas for Social Media
I’m 100% certain that commenting and liking posts will help you grow your audience on Instagram. After you leave a comment on someone’s post, their followers can see your comment and now have the option to engage with you! This type of banter often leads to clicks on your profile, clicks to the link in your bio, and someone else learning more about you. I hold plenty of conversations with brands in their comments! I’ve also pitched to brands for sponsorship post opportunities via email just through conversations that developed in the comment section.
Note: Pinning comments is good exposure for your business, and can be small examples of CTAs when guiding your clients to make a purchase or subscribe to a newsletter.
Commit to Quality
Commit to sharing quality pictures, videos, and graphics. Use Canva to create your graphics and use photo-editing apps like Lensa for brighter and high-quality pictures. Image quality is important to increasing user engagement and decreasing your bounce rate, which means more traffic and higher rankings! Commit to making content with value! When recording videos, try to find spaces in your home that will make great aesthetic backgrounds. Committing to sharing quality images will help you create content you know your target audience would want to see.
Create The Content They’ll Love
Always remember to create content with value when creating engaging content. When you’re ready to share the content that you’ve created, you’re going to want to create captions that will grab the audience’s attention. OMG, did I just make a scroll-stopping caption? Be sure to also include CTA (call-to-action) statements in your caption and use relevant hashtags. Additionally, if your post contains a product, tag the brand in the post and the caption. Ideally, it would help if you were using one CTA and at least five hashtags per post.
You want to avoid asking your audience to do too many things in one post. Why? Your audience won’t know what you want them to do first and they will do the exact opposite of what you wanted. Lastly, do not use hashtags that are already being used by too many users or will cause your post to be shadowbanned.
Note: Shadowbanning is the practice of blocking a user or their content online from being seen or shared.
There’s no doubt that when (not if) you incorporate the ‘5 C’s of Contingency’ into your social media strategy, you will begin to see an increase in your engagement on Instagram, new clients or customers for your business, new subscriptions to your blog, and more. Using these methods are ways that you will learn to navigate any algorithm and help you grow your audience!
Follow me on Instagram for more tips and strategies.
What do you think about the ‘5 C’s of Contingency’ Plan and how will you use it to grow your online presence on Instagram?
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How To Reduce Stress and Self-Care Everyday
Whenever I neglect to practice personal care, it has an effect on my anxiety and general mood. We all know that stress is not the easiest to manage and it’s easier said than done. How many of you have started one thing that you’ve gotten motivated to do for yourself, but did not stay committed to the journey? Have you ever felt defeated because of stress? Discouraged?
How often is your mood affected by stress? It’s time to change your self-care habits! How to reduce stress? Certainly, you can manage stress. I’ve found that regular practice with these six self-care activities helps to improve how often I tend to personal care, how much I enjoy practicing self-care during each of these acts, and keep me motivated to meet my goals.
It’s almost like I’ve discovered a hidden message all within my mind, body, and soul, and I’m finally finding the courage to crack the codes. Yes, I am a full-time working wife and mother of one. Of course, my life is hectic! Most often, there’s too much on my plate (even though I’m passionate about EVERY thing on my plate). I’m sitting at the table trying to finish all of my food, but truth is, I am overwhelmed. Whenever I get like this, I have to remember to get up and relax. To lower my risks of burnout, anxiety, and depression, I engage in things that I enjoy to rekindle the balance in my life.
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You’ll Want These: Simple Veet 3-In-1 Wax Strips
On Instagram, I talked in my stories about wanting to try body waxing at home. I am still uncomfortable and apprehensive about going out. COVID-19 is like that guest that can’t seem to take a hint when they are on the verge of overstaying their welcome. Even though Mississippi has deemed it “safe” for residents to get back to some sort of normalcy, I will still be hosting Self Spa Nights at my home until further notice. My friends recommended I try Veet 3-in-1 Wax Strips.
Disclaimer: Heads up! My posts contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but I’ll get a small commission, which helps keep the lights on. Thanks!
My followers on Instagram agreed that I should try body waxing and recommended that I try Veet’s 3-in-1 Wax Strips or Sensitive Precision Beauty Styler (an electric trimmer for facial hair). I decided to conduct a poll because I didn’t know which one I wanted to try out first. Both products seemed like a great fit for what I wanted to accomplish. The people voted and decided that the 3-in-1 Wax Kit was what they were so eager for me to try. A lot of you had positive feedback about what you liked about it and what it was able to do for you.
Scroll on to read more about Veet 3-in- 1 Wax Strips & the Waxing Body Kit
About Veet
Veet has made waxing super fun, quick, and easy with their latest body waxing strips. I was able to wax in under 25 mins & now I love body waxing at home!
Veet 3-in-1 waxing strips effectively removes hair close to the root in just a few minutes! The formula with cold wax strips quickly removes 95% of your hair at the first application while leaving your skin moisturized. It is best suited for sensitive skin as it is enriched with Shea Butter and Acai Berries fragrance that help nourish your skin and leaves behind salon-like glowing smooth skin with results lasting up to 28 days for a refreshing experience. The pre-cut body hair removal strips are for ready-to-apply action in seconds and perfect finish wipes will help clean up any remaining wax residue.
I purchased my wax kit from Amazon. You can easily get yours from Wal-Mart or Target while you’re out, but if you’re like me and shop online for convenience, I got you. Grab yours here.
One Veet 3-in- 1 Wax Strips Kit includes:
- 40-count wax strips
- 4 Perfect Finish Wipes
I did not realize that I ordered a two-pack until it arrived, so I have (80) wax strips total. I knew that since it’s been six weeks since the last shave I needed to make sure I had enough. FYI: one box is enough.
Take a look at the 3-in-1 Waxing Kit contents below.
The use of the gel wax strips was simple and easy. I decided to wax my underarms and legs and you can watch as I review my experience in the video below.
How to use Veet 3-in-1 Wax Strips
There are just four easy steps. Gently peel the double-sided wax strips apart using the grip tabs. Next, apply the strip to the skin, and grip the tab side facing downwards. Rub several times in the hair growth direction your hair grows.
Pro Tip: Always pull back the strip against the direction of hair growth, keeping the strip close to the skin as you pull.
Hold your skin tightly stretched, grasp the tab, and pull the strip back on itself as quickly as you can! The faster you pull, the more hair you remove! After waxing, clean away any wax left on your skin with the Perfect Finish Wipe.
Veet 3-in-1 Wax Strips Review
Very easy! I was so pleased and happy with the end result. I did have to clean up mid-waxing because I waxed the same area more than once. It became TOO much gel TOO fast. LOL! The instructions for use do recommend to wax in a consistent pattern to make sure you don’t miss hairs.
However, DO NOT wax over the same area more than once. My leg hairs did not show well in pics or on film due to lack of hair. Veet has made waxing at home super fun, quick, and easy. I was able to wax in under 25 mins! That was super convenient for me because Landon (my son) was ready for me to spend some time with him.
Let me know your experience with using Veet’s 3-in-1 Wax Strip Kit in the comments below. If you are looking to do more self-care things like this when you’re at home, give this a try. I have decided that I just might not ever return to a spa for waxing services ever again! Oh and if you’re not already, make sure you’re following me on Instagram and YouTube so that you can catch my posts and videos.
Check out more self-care posts:
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How To Create a Beautiful Image Backdrop
Do you love to take quality pictures and video content? Have you ever found yourself trying to take the perfect photograph for your Instagram feed, but your background looks a mess? Maybe you’re a blogger/ vlogger trying to record a video but your shower curtain is photobombing you because that’s the only space where you can create. You could be trying to take the cutest photo of your kid for a special occasion without wanting to pay a photographer for backdrop services. Photography services can be expensive!
Having backdrops can really enhance your photo and video aesthetic value to your digital content. That’s why professionals like photographers and videographers rely on them so heavily! You, too, can have your very own backdrop sis! What’s even better is that you can make a backdrop yourself, saving money on future professional photography services forever. Woohoo!
So, I hopped on Pinterest to search for ideas for photo/video backdrops and backgrounds. I soon learned the basic essentials of making a flower wall backdrop! This was a great idea, as people use flower walls as backdrops for weddings and baby showers. Pinterest makes everything seem so easy!
Materials Needed for Backdrop
Here’s a list of all the materials that I used to create my Sunflower backdrop wall. The grid panel frames I got from Amazon. All flowers were ordered from eFavor Mart.
Disclaimer: LIFE + STYLE with Kris receives a commission for using Amazon products for the projects that I share in posts. Although I receive a commission for using and linking their products, they are extremely good for my projects. All opinions and suggestions are unbiased.
10-Pack Grid Plant Wall Frames ($25.99)
Hot Glue Gun + Glue Sticks ($9.99)
- 252 Pcs- Chocolate Artificial Mini Carnation Flowers – $14.99/ea
- 6 Pk Ivory and Cream Assorted Size Paper Peony Flowers – $10.99
- Natural and Cream Assorted Size Paper Peony Flowers – $10.99
- Light and Dark Yellow Assorted Size Paper Peony Flowers – $10.99
- 144 Ct. Ivory Paper Mini Flower Roses – $3.99
The steps that I took to building my Sunflower wall actually were as simplistic as Pinterest made it seem to be. There really aren’t many steps involved in building a backdrop BUT it is time-consuming. I could have completed this in less than six days and you may be able to finish it in a shorter timeframe. However, I was not in a hurry to complete this project. I wanted it to turn out beautiful and honestly, I had so much fun making it!
Build Your Panel Frames
I used the beautiful chocolate carnation flowers as what I call my “base” color. The panel size dimensions are 19 x 14in. and require a lot of artificial flowers. There are over 100 pegs to fill! To fill them, simply attach the stem of your artificial flower to the peg on each panel frame. I used nine-panel frames for my backdrop. I originally wanted a combination of different carnations (chocolate and cream) but made a choice to forego it. Buying flowers in bulk can be expensive!
TIP: Think about what color(s) you will use in great detail. The more color you want, the more money you will spend.
Gluing Paper Flowers
If you choose the perfect flower, you may not want to add additional details. I added white paper roses to the center of my carnations for a 3D look. Using a hot glue gun, I glued the roses to every other carnation for each panel frame.
TIP: If you are fine with the flower you’ve already used, then you can easily move on to attaching your panel frames to your wall.
Place Frames on the Wall
Designate your space/area where you will build your frames. I used a wall in our home office because that’s where I go to create most of my digital content. I used thumb tacks to pine each panel closely together evenly.
TIP: Building a full wall is great for full body images. If you are going to use your backdrop for mainly selfies/headshots, you should use fewer (roughly six) panels.
Continue Adding Embellishments: Peony Flowers
The last task for me to execute is adding peony flowers. They arrive flat after ordering, so I had to fluff out 12 paper peony flowers before attaching them to the frames. Each peony has a clear string hook that makes for easy attachment. I love that they also came with peel-off adhesives! I should have ordered more of these (probably will go back and buy more).
Backdrops are easy to do!
Overall, I would rate this project 5 stars on how easy it was to make this. I will most likely continue to embellish with more peony flowers in the future. What is unique about this project is that it’s universal–you can use it for anything! You can easily take it apart and build it again and again for any occasion to add beautiful and amazing detail to your images.
Watch my YouTube tutorial video below to see how I made my beautiful backdrop for less. Please like and share this post if you’ve enjoyed learning how to enhance your digital images. Subscribe to me on YouTube to watch more tutorials and follow me on Instagram to see me share images using my new backdrop!
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7 Lessons Learned in Life
There are so many lessons that have been taught to me over the course of my thirty-one years of existence on planet Earth. It’s hard to even recall all of the lessons that many people have taught me, or the self-taught ones that I’ve learned over the process of trial and error. What I’ve come to find out, is that the most recent lessons that I’ve learned are the ones that have shaped and molded my self-improvement journey. I decided to share them with readers, in no particular order. To clarify, these are seven valuable lessons learned in life (mine).
List of Lessons Learned in Life
- love
- trust
- self-care
- speak up
- passion
- education
- validation
Photo by Katerina Holmes on Pexels.com Life Lessons #1: LOVE YOURSELF
Although I said earlier that my list is in no particular order, perhaps this is the best way to start; with yourself. You are important, you are beautiful, you are talented, you are deserving of love. The most beautiful thing about loving yourself is that if you’ve mastered self love, you can then be able to pour that love into the ones around you that you love the most (ie. family, friends). Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments or your falls! Own it.
Life Lessons #2: TRUST GOD, NOT MAN
This one may go over a few heads, but it’s really quite simple. Yes, if you know that you will never let yourself down, please place trust within yourself. However, people can sometimes disappoint. That goes for everybody, no one person is exempt. Family, friends, spouses, business partners. At some point, you will find yourself in situations where you have to question “can I honestly trust this person?”, and you need to be prepared to know a few things. Not everyone is YOU. People will lie, mistreat, abuse their power in your life. When you place your faith in God and also yourself, you run a decreased risk of disappointment.
Life Lessons #3: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Your body is truly your temple. Your mental health is just as important as physical health. Do your research to find out the best practices for self-care, that work best for you. Everybody has a different vice but there are many different options. Exercise regularly, visit a therapist, meditate! Most important, pay attention to your triggers and know when you need to take that moment for yourself. A big gem that I learned here, is that deep breaths really do work.
Life Lessons #4: SILENCE IS NOT ALWAYS GOLDEN
You have a voice, use it. Especially during conflicts and conflict resolution. Learn to express yourself and your feelings in color. Learn how to communicate loudly and effectively, but without raising your voice or getting too angry. You should be able to convey your thoughts concisely, in healthy dialogue.
Life Lessons #5: PASSION DOES NOT EQUAL ANGER
You just care a whole, whole lot. That’s okay! You’re not an angry Black woman, contrary to what the masses say. You care about particular things and people way more than others sometimes, and that is what makes us all unique. No one person is the same. Passion will eventually help your creative process, with being able to figure out new way(s) to express your thoughts.
Life Lessons #6: OPINIONS ARE NOT FACTS
Why do people care so much about what others have to say? Stop seeking for others to validate you, and validate yourself. People will always talk and have solicited and unsolicited opinions, but why let it dictate your life? Tune out the naysayers and do you. It can start to add unnecessary anxiety and stress that you may not even realize exists until after you’ve listened to what others have to say. Just remember, if it’s not fact, it is fiction. If it doesn’t apply, then let it fly!
Life Lessons #7: EDUCATE YOURSELF
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.– Socrates
Educate yourself. Research, research, research! Read lots of books, browse the internet. Especially if you want to be an entrepreneur. Every thing is not always taught in school, we can learn in so many other ways!
See Related: 3 Powerful Books Recommended for Self-Help
I hope that by sharing what I’ve learned in life, helps any of you that’s been looking to change your thought process on how you view life. Hopefully we are all on a journey to improve ourselves and become happy humans, enjoying life. Who would have thought that these are things we have to learn? Some of you may have already learned these lessons, and that’s great. I hope that by paying it forward, it will reach someone that may be struggling with any of these lessons that affect our day-to-day operations.
See Related: How To Reduce Stress and Self-Care Everyday
What are some life lessons that you’ve learned? Leave a comment below. If you know of anyone who this may benefit, share/ reblog!
