A DIY Kinda Life – Home to Barnett's School House

Best Face Regimens

Feb, 2017 No Comments

So I’ve tried a lot of things to make my skin glow and get back to my wrinkle free face. I’ve hit 30 and realized I need to start being more careful with that skin on my face, I mean it’s the first thing people see. Starting a new job has caused me to realize this. I have slowly noticed dark spots from the sun, oh, how careless this chic was when she was younger. Back in my day, I sound old, we didn’t get taught the importance of SPF because it was all about getting that golden glow in the 90s. I’ve compiled a list of items that I use in my everyday life to keep myself looking, well, brilliant.

My Personal Face Regimen:

I have tried lot’s of expensive face creams. From Avon to Clinique to the Korean skin care by Saranghae which runs $130 plus. Yes, I was cra-cra, but I got my money back minus shipping costs. OH, and by the way, if you aren’t hardcore dedicated to doing five steps of face care each day, don’t do the Saranghae, it’ll wear you out. My face practice each night is as follows:

Step 1: I use PONDS make-up remover wipes to get my make-up off and start with a clean slate. I’ve also heard that the PONDS cucumber make-up remover is good, but I haven’t tried it yet. I like to wait until I’ve used every last drop of my purchases.

Step 2: When showering, I use St. Ives Apricot face scrub each night to get the crime from each day off of my face. If you shower in the morning just do this over the sink each night. It’s healthy to get your skin free of build-up. This face wash just makes my face feel so soft and it’s not expensive. It run about $4. I do have some acne every once in a while especially during that time of the month and this really helps. I’ve included a link below.

Step 3: I am currently trying out the Rodan and Fields Redefine regimen with their lashboost. So far, I love the whole line! I’ve been using it for five days and have gotten compliments on how good my skin looks already! It’s a little bit of a process each morning and night, but well worth it if it helps my skin to look tons better. The lashboost hasn’t shown real results yet, but I’m hoping in another three weeks to see some serious length added to those lashes! I use the Redefine regimen morning and night. You can go to rodan and fields online to check it out for yourself. I’ll tell you, it isn’t cheap at all. All total, lashboost and regimen, I spent $280!!!

I hope this helps all of you out there to get to work taking care of that precious skin on your face! One last thing, if you are a teen reading this or no matter what age, please put on an SPF underneath your make-up each day. I don’t care if it’s winter or what season it is. The sun is harsh and I never did this until I began noticing dark spots. Girls, if you’re laying in the tanning bed, be careful with that beautiful skin.

Money, Side Income

5 Simple Ways to Earn Cash Fast

Jan, 2017 No Comments

If you’re short on cash or just need a little extra to stash away, there are plenty of resources out there that will earn you some money fast. Our world has transformed into a fast-paced, internet driven society and this platform is where you are going to make all of your cash fast. If you are driven and dedicated, you can do this. I’ve compiled a list of 5 simple ways to make money fast and each one of them is something I’ve embarked upon and succeeded while doing. I’m not going to lie, the road has had it’s ups and downs, it does take dedication. I’ve made it this far and so can you!

Whether you’re a teacher or not, you can start creating teacher resources and begin selling them on Teacher’s Pay Teacher’s! This is not a joke, you can really earn some cash with this marketplace. Sign up today, it’s free to get started and see what you can do!
Place your teacher created resources on TeacherSherpa. This marketplace is a little new, but well worth the chance if you are willing to take the time to upload your resources and put forth a little effort. You earn a designated commission for each download of one of your items.
Sell your services. If you are good at something such as showing others how to manage their money or website development, then start a website using Bluehost along with WordPress. You can be a consultant for people. Start off doing free gigs just to get your name out there. Once you’ve made your mark on the world, begin pricing your work.
Sell your handmade items on Etsy. I sell digital cards on this marketplace that I edit for my customers and send to them in a digital format when I’m finished. I only make around $500 extra a year with this marketplace, so it isn’t much, but every little bit helps. I also don’t put forth much effort as this isn’t my favorite interest in life.
Last but not least, Poshmark is a great way to earn fast cash! I can’t stress this enough. If you have baby clothing lying around, depending on the brand and condition, it will likely go like hot cakes on this app. If you have name brand clothing and shoes lying around that you don’t ever wear or you just need to purge your closet, this App is for you! I’ve made about $300 since November of 2016. I know that’s just around a $100 per month, but that is cash from items I didn’t use anymore. I simply started selling random clothing items from around our home that the baby or my toddler couldn’t wear anymore as well as some of my clothing and shoes I just never wore. You simply take a picture and write some details and your items can be posted within minutes. Use the link above to download the app (you will want to use your phone) and use the code GHZQF when you sign up to get $5 in Posh cash to use towards earnings or first purchase!

I hope this post will help you make some cash fast.

budgeting, Money, Saving

Budgeting on a Dime

Jan, 2017 1 Comment

If you are considering a budget and you’re always broke, don’t panic. You’re considering a budget because you feel like you’re living paycheck to paycheck and you want to figure out where your money is going each month. One way or the other, you’ve noticed you aren’t able to save a dime. Most of us are paid every two weeks or once a month. I know we quickly realized after two children came along that we were living paycheck to paycheck each month and we decided to make a budget. We weren’t dedicated at first because we were used to being free spenders with no children. We recently sat down and actually wrote out a budget on paper hoping that this would help us stick to it. We have! I’ve developed a few tips below to help you begin budgeting and how we are doing with our budgeting.

Find budgeting forms to help get you started when writing your budget on paper. Keeping it on paper in a designated location is really going to help you figure out where your money goes each month. The Budget Mama has a really good FREE book that provides you with some printable worksheets to use when creating your budget.
Be willing to make a change. Of course, living on a budget doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice the good life, but it does take dedication and hard work. If you want to figure out where all your money is going, you’ll have to start somewhere.
Cut back on things you waste money on such as television. We all know that cable is far to expensive these days. It’s actually way overpriced. We have been married almost eight years and have never had cable or satellite. We did get Netflix as it came into popularity, probably about four years into our marriage, which runs us about $10 a month. We both feel that beats the heck out of $100+! If you wear expensive makeup or perfume, be willing to make a sacrifice in this area as well. Let’s face it ladies, a $50 Urban Decay eyeshadow palette is far too much to pay!!!! I am not guilty of this just yet and probably never will be. I’ll admit, I used to be, but two children changes your perspective on life.
Save for specific things such as vacations or those property taxes that come up right before Christmas or those car insurance/tax bills that come due at the exact same time. I promise it’s going to happen. Every November, we are bombarded with $1500 in extra miscellaneous bills (property taxes, car taxes and car insurance) and I was never ready for them until this last year. I kept a separate account hidden all year just for these bills and it didn’t make me feel broke right before Christmas.
Keep your random coins!! We all joined in with saving our coins and ended up having over $300 in loose change last year that we put towards Christmas gifts! It’s so simple to save change, yet something that is commonly forgotten! I really wish everyone in America would send me one penny. Haha
Do NOT get into further debt or venture into any debt especially if you don’t have any! A house is a necessity and should likely be your only debt especially if you are making payments to own your own place someday. Here’s an example of what not to do. Don’t be tempted to buy a brand new car. I’ll just be upfront with you, I did it. I guess I just had to experience the feeling of buying a brand new car and boy was I dumb back then. I wasn’t raised that way. I had always driven used cars, wrecked cars, that me and my dad rebuilt together. I have no clue what I was thinking, but I was young and dumb is all I have to say. Don’t do it! There are very nice cars out there for a lot less!

This list is going to keep growing! We ourselves are on the track to saving and budgeting the right way. We’d love to hear your stories of budgeting!

Cover Pages

My secret to Creating an Attractive Cover Page

Jan, 2017 No Comments

I’ve uploaded a video that will reveal my secret to creating attractive cover pages. This video will provide you with step-by-step details to get you to your first cover page. If you’re ready to take the leap and join TpT go to TpT.com and sign up today! Happy learning!

Teachers, Use TpT

Signing Up for TpT

Jan, 2017 No Comments

If you’re iffy about signing up, watch this video where I guide you through the process and discuss the advantages with you! If you’re interested in signing up after watching this video, go to TpT.com and get started!! It’s going to change your life!

Power Point, Teachers

Power Point Basics

Jan, 2017 No Comments

If you need help getting started with power point, watch this short video clip to get a hang of the basics. Happy learning!

Cover Pages, Teachers

5 Steps to an Eye-Catching Cover Page

Jan, 2017 1 Comment

Let’s face it, your cover page is what sells your product and if it’s not attractive you’re going to lose a lot of sales. Attractiveness isn’t what it’s all about, of course, your product needs to include some quality content, but that cover page is going to gain the attention of a potential buyer. I’ve created this short post to get you started with creating an eye catching cover page. How-To videos are coming soon! The five steps you’ll need to follow in order to create a great cover page are:

Invest in clipart-this is going to pay off in the long run. Clipart will help you sell your product and it’s something you can include in your actual product, not just on the cover page.
Think bright-there are a lot of women who shop on TpT and other teacher sites so it is a good idea to make your covers bright. If you think bright, you’re going to catch the attention of a lot of teacher’s out there.
Take your time-doing this will help to make you the perfect cover pages. Create your own style that encases your store.
Change up the fonts-Don’t just simply use the same font for your entire title. I absolutely love fonts mixed together.
Be sure your cover page conveys what your product is/does-this is only going to increase who looks at your item. Don’t overcrowd the cover, but make sure it states what subject and grade.

These fonts for this cover below are a great example of mixing it up! Good luck on your adventure! Stick around for more tips and tricks for becoming a star TpT seller!

Money, Saving

Brilliant Ways to Earn and Save Money

Jan, 2017 No Comments

Have you been looking for ways to save money, but never know where to start? I’ve tried many ways to save money and been very successful at it. I’ve created a growing list below. If you have never been a saver, don’t try to do all of this at once, it will be too overwhelming. Take you time and do it right.

First off, you need to open a separate savings account that isn’t as easy for you to get your hands on. For example, Discover has a savings account that is easy to apply for but a little harder to take money out of. I just opened one and it’s perfect for saving because it’s money that I’ll keep hidden from myself.
Sell some of your clothing (you don’t wear), or jewelry on Poshmark. Once you’ve done this, take that extra $200 or so and put it into that hidden savings account.
Don’t be a procrastinator. If you’re wanting to save money to pay off debt, do it. If you have things just lying around that you don’t use, pick them up, take some pictures and put them on Ebay. These are tedious tasks with packaging and all, but that couple hundred extra dollars is well worth it in the end. Of course, drop this into your hidden savings account as well.
Set yourself up on a budget, your spouse as well. Allot money for specific items each month. There’s no reason a new pair of shoes has to be purchased every single month. Let’s get serious people.
Download these two apps, Ibotta and Checkout51. They can be annoying as heck to use sometimes, but it’s well worth it when you save $30+ over the course of a few months. Once you acquire this money, drop it into your hidden savings account.
If you shop at Wal-Mart, download their app. They’ve got a savings catcher section that allows you to scan your receipt and the app looks for any items you purchased that might be sold for a better deal down the road. You are then given some money if that’s the case. It usually only totals up to about $40 over the course of a year, but that’s money we would’ve lost and it gets dropped into our hidden savings account.
Shop frugally. Clip coupons out of that trashy stuff that comes in your mail each day and use them! It’s okay to buy the knock off food brands, but keep in mind that not all tastes are equal.
If you have a baby that’s still in diapers, download the Huggies app and use it. If you purchase wipes or diapers, scan your receipt and they’ll give you points that you can earn that can be used for gift cards or free diapers and wipes!
Download the On the Go Survey App. This one can be a little time consuming, but it pays you to take random surveys. It’s not much, but it adds up at the end of a year and all of this random cash can be put into your hidden savings account.
Start a shop on Teacher’s Pay Teacher’s and go from there! The possibilities are endless with this website. You don’t have to be a teacher to join!
If you are a state employee, sign up for deferred comp to begin increasing your retirement. This is offered to state employees in my state. Other states aside from Kentucky may be a little different. Deferred comp basically is a set amount, that you set, that comes out of your check each month into a semi-savings account. The reason I say “semi” is because this is a mutual type investment. Yes, your money is being put into the “real” stock market. It’s a risk, but it will gain more interest than a savings account.
Don’t eat out all the time! We all know it’s easier then making a huge mess in the kitchen, but if you do it all the time, you could easily end up spending thousands each year eating out. Every once in a while can be a special treat.
If you have a credit card and are dead set on keeping one, make sure it earns you cash back rewards. It’d be pointless to have one that doesn’t. The cash back rewards can be used for gift cards or to pay on your account. This is perfect for Christmas time!

Blog, Use TpT

10 Skills to be Successful with Teachers Pay Teachers

Jan, 2017 No Comments

If you’re like me and you have that entrepreneur mindset, then you can be successful with Teachers Pay Teachers. Just about anyone can be successful with Teachers Pay Teachers as long as you have the know how. Let’s get some things straight. You don’t have to be a teacher to sell on TpT, you just have to be talented and have a passion for education as well as the desire to own your own business. Let’s all be real here, this is an online marketplace, it’s not like you own the site, but once you become a seller and make your first sell, you are a business owner on the path to success.

Computer skills: This is a must. You’re working with an online marketplace and your technology is the key to your business success.
Power Point knowledge: This program will become your absolute best friend and it is a program I use to create absolutely everything in my shop.
Design skills: You’re going to have to create cover pages that will catch a lot of attention. Cover pages sell your product, trust me, they help. Investing in Clipart and learning how to use Power Point to create these brilliant cover pages is going to pay off in the long run.
Social media experience: Places such as Pinterest and Facebook will help drive your sells. It does take time so don’t give up. My Pinterest has grown as has my Facebook, but I’ve been selling for over three years now and neither are where I would like them to be. If you need some assistance with this, feel free to ask, I’m always excited to help a fellow colleague out!
Blogging skills: Creating a blog is going to gain you followers as well as sales. My blog hasn’t grown as much just like my other social networks, but this is an area I didn’t dedicate my time to until the last couple of months. I’ve created a blog on WordPress and actually got me a .com using bluehost. Learn a little more about this from this blog post.
Passion and drive: if you are dedicated to your new business, you will go places. Passion is going to make your products great for teacher’s everywhere. Taking your time and putting a lot of hard work into a product will pay off. A high quality product will likely take you around 40 hours of work, I mean serious work depending on your intentions. So be prepared to dedicate your time and energy into this endeavor.
Basic knowledge of core content/Common Core: This can be done with some research or even talking and working with your friends that just might be teachers. This knowledge is going to help you create powerful products. Please do keep in mind that not all states core content is the same. Some use the Common Core and some have their own core content. Do some research and make google your best friend.
Paypal knowledge/account: You’ll be paid via Paypal from TpT so creating and getting a feel for Paypal is going to help you in the long run. Don’t be afraid of Paypal, it’s very protective of your personal information and this site does it’s best to keep your money safe.
Patience: If you’re lucky, you won’t need this skill. I was one of those lucky ones. I started out and made $10,000 in my first six months selling on TpT. Yes, that was amazing and a true blessing from God. Most of the time, though, it’s going to take time to build your small business, this will be an important skill to possess. When sells are slow or I’m creating a new product idea that’s taking longer than expected, I need patience.
Data Analysis Skills: This is a handy little skill you’re going to want to possess. It’ll help you to keep track of where you started when selling and how much you are growing as your business grows. Along the way you will be able to use this to improve products and increase sales.

I hope this list helps you on your endeavor and business! Go ahead, take your life to the next level and give TpT a try!

Kitchen

15 Country Kitchen Declutter Tricks

Jan, 2017 No Comments

If you’re like me and you have a panic attack anytime you come home and realize your countertops are covered with crap, then this is a good read. I’ll admit that on occasion, this home decor nut becomes a bit overwhelmed when it comes to attempting to decorate a specific spot in my home. My countertops have been one of those overwhelming tasks. I’ve tried to include links to similar decor items for you to purchase easily. Normally, my links come from Amazon just because I find the best deals there most of the time. Hope these stylish declutter tricks make your day.

from a bowl full of lemons

This is my favorite idea because right now those vintage wire baskets have been all the rage. I know I am head over heels for this look. It gives me that feeling of a country home.

from voguehome

This little shelf idea is perfect if you have lots of backsplash space. I love the jars that can hold just about anything from flour to sugar.

from HGTV

I absolutely love how this corner space isn’t wasted at all. It just makes me happy to see floating shelves like this.

from redoityourselfinspirations

I know this isn’t something that fits on a countertop, but I had to share this. It’s a flea market flip I believe, but it’s an absolutely perfect way to store your fruit and vegetables keeping your countertops free of another clutter problem.

from decortoadore

I am obsessed with these tiered trays and glory if they weren’t so expensive, I’d have them all over my house. Okay, maybe not, but the design possibilities are absolutely endless.

from little country home

Here’s another favorite decluttering idea. This has a Joanna Gaines written all over it and I absolutely love the vintage scale. These are easy to come by at any good old fashioned antique store, but can range from $40 and up.

from lemonade makin momma

This is a great way to get your mail out of the way and off of your countertops. I’ve tried plenty of ways to keep my mail out of my face and where does it end up? Right on the counters.

from a decorated life

I love this one. The crate is country and everything inside of it is being used for some type of kitchen duty so it isn’t wasted space being taken up on your counter.

from rusted bliss

I love, love, love this little shelf. The wire boxes are a perfect touch for creating that country look.

from lures and lace

This little coffee stand is perfect for disguising that hideous kureig. I hate my husband’s and try all the time to hide it in a cabinet. He finally won this battle and I styled the area in a way that appealed to me.