Tips Archives - Embracing Beauty

10 Places to Sell Used Items for Cash

March 25, 2013 by Ashley 9 Comments

This is the time of year where a lot of people start thinking about ways to de-clutter, organize, paint, and other ways to breathe new life into their homes. If you’re like me, you probably have way too much “stuff.” I never know where this stuff comes from but it always accumulates so quickly, doesn’t it?

As you’re spring cleaning this year, I want to challenge you to set aside the items that are still usable but just not useful to you right now. Start keeping a box for donations in your garage or closet and every time you run across an item that you no longer need just toss it in.

Now, once you have a good collection started think about ways that you could either give these items away (local Goodwill, Salvation Army, homeless shelter, etc.) or places you could resell these items. I’m going to share a few places where you can sell your used items online to make a few bucks. This won’t make you rich but you’ll have less stuff invading your home and a little extra money in your pocket. Alright, let’s dig into this list!

– Amazon

Amazon is probably my favorite place to sell used books, CDs, DVDs, games, etc. As Amazon’s logo shows, they sell everything from A to Z. Once you have a sellers account set up, the simplest way I know to add a new item to sell is to search for that item on Amazon and click on the button that says, “Sell one of these” somewhere on the right-hand side of the page. Doing it that way saves you from entering bar codes and I think it saves time. Amazon is my favorite online place to resell items because there is no listing fee whatsoever and your item will remain for sale for 6 months or until it sells. You only pay a small fee to Amazon if your item sells. It’s an easy set up and hassle free. I love it!

– Ebay

Ebay is also an obvious choice for selling used items online. With ebay you have more options to make your item stand out from the crowd…for a cost of course. Ebay allows you to add a large description with your items as well as upload your own pictures, change the background color of your page, as well as many other ways to make your items really stand out. I’ve sold a few items on ebay through the years but I’ve mostly used it for buying rare items for personalized Christmas gifts.

-MusicMagpie

This is a company I’ve only recently heard of but from what I’ve been told musicMagpie is a great place to sell old DVDs. If you have any experience or advice selling here please leave it below in the comments!

– Recycle

There are 101 places online that will pay you to recycle old electronics. You can either do a simple google search for a place where you can mail it off to or you could check with your local computer store. Most of the computer companies in my area offer recycling bins when you first enter the store. There is no pay for these donations but at least your electronics won’t end up in a landfill.

– Local Facebook Groups

I’m a member of a few local Facebook groups where people list a picture of the items they have for sale and the cost of them. People will comment on that thread if they are interested and then they will make private messages on where to meet to do the exchange. Always, always, always meet in a public place for an exchange with someone you don’t know and I recommend bringing someone with you just in case.

– Craigslist

I recommend the same advice for meeting someone on Craigslist as I do with the Facebook groups. You can never be too cautious! Through the years I’ve sold and bought a lot on Craigslist. It’s been a tremendous blessing and I’ve only had one semi-negative experience in all of my many dealings. Be honest, be friendly, and set a fair price.

– Consign

Many consignment places will accept your items and pay you only if they’re sold. The local place that I go to gives me a call when it’s time to pick up my items and if I don’t want to bother with them they will donate them to Goodwill for me. I don’t get the tax write off this way but it saves me time from running an extra errand so I like this option! Some consignments will checkout your items and make you an offer for all of your items when you drop them off. This is my favorite way to consign because it’s over and done with right away and I have money in my pocket….which I usually spend at the consignment store but that’s another story!

– Yard Sale

If you live in a neighborhood where a lot of people pass by it might be a good idea for you to have a good old fashion yard sale. Get out your sharpie and stickers and get to pricing! Don’t forget to leave room in your price for some negotiation. While I’ll never understand it, the truth is, most people love to haggle. Also, make sure you advertise well and have spare change on hand for people who pay with bigger bills.

– Used Bookstores

We have a used bookstore in our area that I absolutely love! They sell used books for very cheap but you can also sell your used books, dvds, cds, and video games to them. It’s worth checking to see if you have a used bookstore in your neighborhood.

– Video Game Stores

Many video game stores will buy back used video games for either cash or store credit. We don’t have a huge amount of video games to get rid of but we have a friend who does and they love to resell their old games back to the store.

There you have it! That’s my list of places to sell your unwanted belongings. Someone’s trash is another person’s treasure! If you have any other places you recommend and would like to see added to this list please leave a comment below to let me know.

Happy Spring Cleaning, everyone!

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: Money, Selling

How to be a Green Shopper

March 20, 2013 by Ashley Leave a Comment

In a time where being fashion and environmentally conscious can work hand in hand, there’s no better time to consider your shopping habits and how you can make your weekend of retail therapy that bit more green! Read on for our top tips on how to be a green shopper:

Recycle your shopping bags

The first step to a greener shopping trip is to start reusing the hundreds of polythene bags that get stuffed in your kitchen drawers. Stock piling plastic shopping bags is a common household habit, we feel too guilty to pop them in the bin and send them off to landfill, yet it takes a concerted effort to actually re-use! The best thing to do is to knot them up tightly and keep them zipped in a handbag pocket for when you need a quick carrier out and about, however if you know you’re unlikely to re-use make regular trips to your supermarket to return old shopping bags and they can do the hard work for you.

Use a fabric shopper

Crumpled plastic carriers aren’t the most stylish of shopping accessories, so if you’re looking for an eco-friendly shopping bag that’s lightweight and fashionable opt for a fabric tote bag. Tote bags have become an affordable high-street staple and come in prints and patterns to suit every wardrobe, and budget. Whether you invest in designer slogan print or an Aztec patterned number, tote bags are comfortable shoulder bags that can be rolled up and kept in your handbag until needed. New Look is a retailer of value fashion apparel, the second largest women’s wear retailer in the UK, with over 1,000 stores worldwide. New Look’s designs range from dresses and jackets, to tote bag and shoe collections. They have adorable and affordable eco-friendly shopping bag options.

Book your groceries carefully

If you do your grocery shopping online, there’s a very simple way to make your weekly shop a greener. Check with your supermarket and find out when a van will be in your area, this way deliveries can be made covering a smaller locality and save on fuel. Most supermarkets provide symbols to indicate when a van will be nearby, so do your bit and choose to have your products delivered then too.

Buy eco-friendly

When you want to know that each and every item you buy has been made in an environmentally considerate manner, buying eco-friendly fashion is the ideal solution. You will find numerous dedicated retailers online, but many high-street brands now stock their own ‘green’ collections.

Explore charity shops

Forget charity shops filled with unattractive knitwear and a lingering smell of must, the economic downturn has meant second-hand shops have become a viable place to pick up incredible fashion bargains. Each time you make a purchase at a charity shop, not only are you doing providing finance for a good cause, you’ll be doing your bit for the environment as you recycle a garment and keep it from landfill. Charity shops are another great place to find eco-friendly new items too, with many producing their own green tote bag shoppers too!

Filed Under: Tips

DOLE Fruit Parfaits #DoleParfaitEscape

March 20, 2013 by Ashley 11 Comments

My family is always looking for new quick and low-fat snacks so I was eager to try DOLE’s Fruit Parfaits. They are yummy! They contain all natural fruit, they’re naturally low in fat, cholesterol free and very low in sodium. Plus, they are rich in Vitamin C! I love snacks that feel like a splurge but really aren’t.

Dole Parfait Fruit Cup

DOLE Fruit Parfaits are available in three delicious flavors: Pineapple and Creme, Apples and Creme, & Peaches and Creme (it’s pictured above and it’s my favorite flavor!). They have small pieces of fruit with a light refreshing creme on the bottom. They are great and at only $2.79 for a 4 pack (and often on sale) they are very affordable too! For more information, including full nutritional facts you can visit Dole.com. You can also connect with DOLE on Facebook or Twitter too.

Which flavor do you want to try?

Disclaimer: I am part of the Mom It Forward blogger network. Mom It Forward and DOLE partnered in support of this campaign. DOLE compensated me for participation in this campaign. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: Dole, Tips

SuperJeweler: Sapphire Ring Review & Coupon Code!

March 14, 2013 by Ashley 7 Comments

I love jewelry and it’s probably safe to say that a lot of women do as well. While I may not have a huge collection of nice jewelry (yet!), the pieces I do own are unique and each tell a story. Some I bought myself, some my parents bought me when I was in high school, but most of them were bought by my husband. I much prefer unique pieces of jewelry found at smaller, independent stores (in person or online) over the ones you’ll find at the big jewelry chains. You know the ones! It’s not that they don’t have lovely pieces. Obviously they are very pretty but the thing is, everyone has them.

Recently a company called Super Jeweler contacted me to review a piece of their jewelry. I was overwhelmed by the beautiful jewelry, unique jewelry that they had on their website. It took me a while to decide on a piece but once I saw this sapphire ring I was in love.

Isn’t it lovely? It’s unique because it’s a rough cut sapphire. That means that it isn’t a clear gem but it has a variation of color and cut marks on the surface (I don’t know the official name but I’m sure it’s not “cut marks.”). I’ve never owned a rough cut stone before so I was eager to receive it and when it arrived, it exceeded my expectations.

Do you see the detailed texture on the top of the stone? I think it gives it character.

The ring came packaged in this very cute Tiffany-blue colored box.

I just adore it! Here are the specifics that the website gives, “HUGE sterling silver diamond and sapphire ring. Sterling silver diamond and sapphire ring contains one rough cut sapphire and four sparkly diamonds for a total gem weight of 7 carats. Diamond content is .02 carat in J/K color, I2 clarity. One star diamond.” The diamonds are barely noticeable but I didn’t choose it for the diamonds anyway. I bought it for the main stone and the sweet hearts on the side of the ring.

Beautiful, right? It’s not too big and not too small. Just elegant.

From this angle you can see two of the four diamonds. The two diamonds are beside the second heart down from the top. As you would assume, the other two diamonds are in the same place on the opposite side of the ring.

I have been enjoying wearing my new ring out and about. I even had a few friends and family members ask me about it and compliment me on it. It’s an eye-catcher for sure!

All in all, I’m very pleased with my experience. Super Jeweler has been great to work with and order from. The ring I’ve got is amazing and I’ve made sure I let my husband know how pleased I am with their products. *wink wink* The next time you’re looking to buy a piece of jewelry for yourself or a loved one be sure and check out Super Jeweler. They have unique, high quality jewelry at reasonable prices.

*Here is your exclusive coupon code to save 15% off just about anything at SuperJeweler.com! Just enter embracingb1 at checkout to save 15%!*

Connect with Super Jeweler:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperJeweler
Twitter: https://twitter.com/superjeweler

Disclosure: Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. SuperJeweler.com provided me with free products to review and did not see my review before it was published here.

Filed Under: Life Lately, Tips Tagged With: Jewelry

#ShareBreakfast with Kellogg’s

March 11, 2013 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Everybody knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s the meal that gets your metabolism jump started in the morning and preps you for a good day of energy and concentration. Being a mom with a toddler at home I need all the energy I can get and since I’m a blogger I need all the concentration I can get. I don’t have a lot of time to blog so when I do it’s nice to be able to focus completely on what I’m doing. My husband used to dislike breakfast but he has found that when he eats breakfast he’ll make better food choices the rest of the day. If he skips it, he’s starving by the time lunch comes and makes unhealthy choices. My little toddler sleeps tremendously at night but when 8 o’clock rolls around she is ready to eat! Giving my family breakfast is a small thing that I can do to help my family have the best start to the day that they can have! Kellogg’s believes the same way I do and they want to make sure as many people as possible can have that same great start to their day.

The sad truth is, not every child is able to have the great start to their day that comes from eating breakfast. 1 in 5 kids may go without breakfast everyday and Kellogg’s wants to do something to change that. This is where their “Share the Breakfast” campaign comes in! This is the third year they’ve hosted it. This year Kellogg’s and celebrity Taye Diggs have teamed up together to help reduce this high number.

We can all help a child in need with a few simple actions! This is what I like to call a Free Donation. You won’t pay a dime, you only donate a few brief moments of your time. For each of the following actions Kellogg’s will share breakfast to a kid who might otherwise go without.

Until April 15th we can all share a breakfast with a child in need with a few simple actions. A dollar will never leave your pocket and it won’t take more than a minute. For each of the following actions Kellogg’s will share breakfast to a kid who might otherwise go without:

Here’s what you can do to help:

Watching and sharing the Great Start Videos on ShareBreakfast.com.
Sharing the public service announcement with friends.
Sharing your “share” on your Facebook page.
Posting on Twitter with the #ShareBreakfast.
Sharing and repining on Pinterest.

It’s very sad to think about any kid not being able to have access to the food that they need. As a child I was never without food and it just breaks my heart to think of a little one going hungry. Head over now and let’s take these simple steps to help feed needy children.

Here’s a few pictures from a #ShareBreakfast get together I had with a bunch of friends. We had Kellogg’s cereal bars, fruit, eggs, and biscuits and gravy. It was yummy!

This is me and my little lady.

Friends of mine enjoying breakfast.

Here the men are at the food table.

Cute kiddos enjoying their breakfast!

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kellogg’s. I received a product sample as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

Filed Under: Life Lately, Tips Tagged With: Kelloggs, Mom Central

3 Money Wasting Wardrobe Items I Refuse to Buy!

March 7, 2013 by Ashley 7 Comments

Let’s be honest. Nobody likes to throw their money out the window during the best of times. With the uncertain economy that we have now it’s even more important to pinch every penny and stretch every dollar. I’m going to share with you three clothing items that I think waste your hard earned money.

I’m not a fashion expert, however, I am someone that likes to look nice when I’m out of the house interacting with others. Sweatpants and hoodies won’t always do! {Check out our How to Wear a Hoodie article}

Here are three of my biggest historical money wasters:

Cheap shoes.

Any of these I’ve ever purchased have lost their comfort way faster than I found acceptable. I use to think that rotating through them to transfer my discomfort was a smart idea. Yes, I never got blisters that way but my feet were constantly uncomfortable. It might have been a sore heel one day and then a cramped toe the next. It wasn’t worth it! When I met my husband I found someone who spends as much money as me on his wardrobe but he has a significantly smaller selection. While I’m not ready to minimize as much as he has, I have learned from him. I’ve found that investing in two good pair of comfortable shoes a year, shoes that will last, is worth more to me than 30 pair that I can’t wear two consecutive days.

White bras.

Ugggh, how I hate these! They easily stain under shirts of a different color, they aren’t discreet under a white shirt, and well, I just don’t think they are very exciting. I like fun colors but if I’m wearing something light in color or a white shirt, I’ll go with a flesh tone bra that can’t be detected. Avoiding white bras saves me from being immodest, spending my Saturdays trying to get unwanted dye out of them, and I get to add a little bit of color to my day.

Way too cheap T-shirts.

I’ve fallen into this trap multiple times! Never, ever, ever, ever buy a shirt that is under $5 at a non-sale price. I’ve bought shirts for $1 that have lasted me 10 years (and counting!) but they were originally $30. Every shirt I’ve bought for $5 and under has made it’s way to the trash can within a few weeks. They don’t even hold up well enough to donate! Don’t get me wrong, thirty dollar T-shirts aren’t in my budget either but that’s why I know where the clearance racks are at my favorite stores and what day of the week they mark new items down. The fading, stretching, pilling, and loosening of seams isn’t worth it to me to buy the cheap shirts.

There you have it. Those are my top three money wasting wardrobe purchases that I refuse to buy any longer. Do you have any other items you would like to add to the list? I would love for you to share! We’re all trying to save money during these tough economic times and I would love to hear what ideas you have for shopping and saving!

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: Clothing, Deals, Fashion, Savings, Tips

10 Places to Find Fabulous Shoes For Under $30

March 3, 2013 by Ashley 2 Comments

Fabulous shoes don’t have to come with a hefty price-tag as the magazines would have you believe. Here is a list of 10 places you can find absolutely adorable shoes for under $30.

1. Forever 21

Buy them at Forever 21 for $29.80.

2. Go Jane Buy these at Go Jane for $18.90.

3. Ebay.com Buy these at ebay.com for $9.99.

4. AMIClubwear.com Buy these at AMIClubwear.com for $19.99.

5. Target Buy these at Target.com for only $29.99.

6. Amazon.com Buy these at Amazon.com for $27.99.

7. Overstock.com Buy these at Overstock.com for only $17.99.

8. Delias.com Buy these at Delias.com for $19.50.

9. Rue21.com Buy these at Rue21.com for only $12.99.

10. Maurices.com Buy these at Maurices.com for only $24.

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: Fashion, Shoes, Style, Tips

Tips for Breast Cancer Prevention

February 28, 2013 by Ashley 8 Comments

The National Cancer Institute estimates that about 12% of women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. The vast majority of these cancers will result at least in part from environmental factors. This is actually good news, as it means that there are choices that women can make that will help to prevent their chance of developing this serious and life-threatening condition.

General breast cancer prevention tips

The application of the basic principles of maintaining good health can help all women to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer. These principles include exercising daily and maintaining a healthy body weight. It’s also best to avoid smoking entirely and to limit alcohol intake.

All women should also strive to get adequate levels of vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine vitamin” because the human body can synthesize it from sunlight. Recent research has suggested that 75% of all new breast cancer cases could be prevented if women simply maintained their vitamin D levels in the optimal range.

Minimizing the risk of getting breast cancer

Some important preventative measures against breast cancer can only be taken by a woman at certain points in her life. For example, younger women should be sure to breastfeed their babies for as long as circumstances permit. Ideally, during a woman’s lifetime she should include at least twelve months of the activity in order to help reduce breast cancer risks.

Women long past their childbearing years can also make choices that limit their chances of developing breast cancer. One of the most important is to avoid the hormone replacement therapy that is commonly prescribed for women after the start of the menopause. The hormone progesterone should be particularly avoided. If hormone therapy is necessary, it should be limited to a period of three years.

Another way to minimize risk is to buy Evista, a prescription drug that is used in post-menopausal women to reduce their chance of developing invasive forms of breast cancer.

Breast cancer prevention foods

Eating a wholesome diet rich in breast cancer prevention foods is another sensible lifestyle choice. Many kinds of fruits and vegetables offer a bountiful supply of the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and anti-oxidants that can help prevent cancer. In fact, studies have shown that women who consume vegetables in abundance can reduce their breast cancer risk by more than 35%.

In general, the fruits and vegetables that offer the most anti-cancer nutrients are those that are deeply or brilliantly colored. Romaine is a better lettuce choice than iceberg, for example, because it is more densely packed with nutrition. This kind of diet can be thought of as “eating the rainbow.” Women should strive to include in their diet as many brightly colored foods as possible, from the dark blues and reds of fresh berries to the deep greens of kale, chard, and spinach.

Another useful cancer prevention food is the herb turmeric, which is commonly used in Indian cuisine and is usually sold in powdered foods. Turmeric contains the active ingredient curcumin, which is able to block certain molecules associated with the aggressive spread of breast cancer cells. Other excellent anti-cancer foods include cabbage, garlic, mushrooms, and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower.

While nothing in life is guaranteed, hopefully these breast cancer prevention tips can help some women to avoid developing this very unpleasant and potentially dangerous condition.

You may also be interested in our article: Restoring Your Skin, Hair, & Nails After Chemotherapy.

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Health, Tips

VIPRE Anti-Virus Software Review

February 18, 2013 by Ashley 14 Comments

This post brought to you by Vipre. All opinions are 100% mine.

Recently, you may have noticed that my site, this site, was down. If you have any anti-virus/malware software at all you were notified when visiting EmbracingBeauty.com that it had been infected with malware and you had the option to exit or proceed anyway. It was a nightmare! I contacted my designer who is fabulous but in a totally different time zone and unable to help me asap. I panicked and read and read all I could read about malware. For hours. I finally contacted someone who was able to help me out in a hurry for a relatively small fee. Hooray, my online life was saved!

While reading all about malware I found out that my website could have been infected if my computer was infected. I didn’t know that before and this news was worrisome. I think I had up-to-date software but to be honest I really wasn’t sure. By the way, did you know that outdated software {like Adobe, iTunes, Java, Skype, etc.} is one of the most common causes of an infection? I didn’t either! I did some more investigating and I learned about another anti-malware/spyware software, VIPRE Internet Security.

I downloaded the free version of VIPRE and I was pleased right away. It didn’t drag down my system like other programs I’ve used. Plus, this software incorporates both anti-spyware and anti-virus functionalities in one program. The traditional, easy to follow, user interface was refreshing. It spoke my language and I could easily figure out how to get it set up and running without the help of my husband. That scored big points in my book! The program also has a neat feature where it keeps me updated on the present threat levels using real-time capabilities. I’m in love!

So, okay, I realize that no anti-malware/spyware/virus/other-bad-stuff program is able to ensure total protection and recovery but with VIPRE I think it comes pretty close. So far so good anyway! My system has been running dramatically faster and given the program’s fancy technology I can rest easy {for now} and not have to lift a finger. It’s catching and neutralizing any threats before I even knew there were any.

Oh! This may be my favorite part – the company offers free tech {and malware removal} support for all virus/malware program related matters. Isn’t that awesome? I currently own the free-trial of the basic VIPRE home package but the company also offers an unlimited home option, which allows you to cover all systems that you currently own. I think I may have stumbled upon a great thing. It’s an effective, free, helpful addition to my home office. If you don’t want to take my word for it {because I’m admittedly not a tech person!} check out the free version for yourself. Go to vipreantivirus.com and once you give it a look over, let me know what you think of it!

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: Reviews, SocialSpark

Call Me Maybe Nail Art

February 15, 2013 by Ashley 8 Comments

These sweethearts whether near or far will always be connected by their love.

Right now, they’re talking on the telephone and he’s making her blush.

One of my good friends, Emily from Live2Save2Live, told me about a nail design contest that Sally Hansen was hosting. I didn’t really figure I had a shot but I thought it would be fun to play around with polishes to find a design to fit the “Sweethearts” theme they chose. My final design turned out better than I thought it would so I’ve decided to submit it. I have titled it, “Call Me Maybe.” What do you think? Cute?

To Vote:

To vote for my design, go to Sally Hansen’s Nail Art Contest to vote for my entry. Thank you! {It should pull up my entry automatically but if it doesn’t just search for Ashley Walkup.}

How To Replicate:

To replicate this simple design all you need is a couple basic nail polish pens and a nail polish in your favorite shade. I recommend practicing once or twice on paper with an ink pen and then once with the polish pen before you dive in. Also, make sure the polish pen has dried fully before giving it a top coat {if you choose to do so}.