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6 Tips To Prevent Illness When Moving

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6 Tips To Prevent Illness When Moving

People often get sick during the moving process. One of the reasons for this is that moving can be very stressful, and you’d be involved in many activities that could make you sick. However, with exposure to adequate information to guide you on what to do, you can drastically reduce your chances of falling sick when moving. This article will be sharing some practical tips you can use to avoid getting sick when moving out of your home:

1) Wash your hands thoroughly:

When using soap and water to wash your hands, do so for at least twenty seconds. Get a pocket sanitizer if you don’t have access to soap and running water. Don’t touch unnecessary surfaces, and remember not to touch your face and mouth before you clean your hands to avoid the transfer of germs

2) Don’t touch your face:

This was mentioned in the first tip and is worth mentioning again. For your good, don’t touch your face and the faces of other people. You could help spread infections, and you could put yourself at the risk of getting sick.

3) Sanitize everything you come in contact with:

This includes door handles, seat belts, seats, and steering wheels. It may seem a little extra, but there’s no such thing as ‘extra’ when it comes to keeping yourself and other people in the environment safe. To sanitize, you can make use of disinfectant spray and wipes.

4) Have proper ventilation:

You don’t want to be in an enclosed space with other people, such as the hired movers. This would increase your chances of getting any airborne disease. You could adequately ventilate and aerate your room by opening a few windows.

5) Mask up:

Masks have been proven to be effective in reducing the spread of diseases. If you want to avoid getting sick, you could wear a mask. If you feel too uncomfortable or hot with the mask on, you can go to a secluded area and take your mask off for a few seconds before putting it back on. You can also maintain a distance of about six feet from other people you’d be working with.

6) Boost your immune system:

Your immune system is like your shield against disease-causing organisms. If you want to win the fight, you have to strengthen your defenses. What better way to improve your defenses than to eat healthily? Eating healthier food sources and incorporating supplements and vitamins into your diet would help. Also, get adequate sleep and drink water regularly.

Moving can be a lot of work, but if you don’t want to get so stressed, you can hire a moving company to do all of the work while you supervise. Use all of the tips mentioned in this article to reduce your chances of getting sick. Happy moving!

Faux Fur Fabulous OOTD Bonus Pictures

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Faux Fur Fabulous OOTD Bonus Pictures

Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pictures from my Faux Fur Fabulous OOTD! These pictures were taken when Johnny and I celebrated our six month wedding anniversary and it was such a wonderful day. Take a look at my bonus shots including one hilarious blooper and let’s discuss what we did to make our day special:

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Can you guess which one the blooper is lol?! Like any good blog husband, Johnny takes So. Many. Pictures. in rapid fire succession and this includes the dismounts, awkward shots, and pictures that I didn’t even know he was taking!

To start off our day, Johnny and I met up with my parents and our niece in downtown Cuyahoga Falls for a puppy parade. While we got the time wrong on the parade itself (whomp whomp), we still got to see tons of dogs dressed up in their holiday best. We had so much fun pet watching and petting all of these adorable pups and it was truly dog heaven.

In the indoor area set up, the pooches could get their picture taken with Santa and owners could shop with local vendors for stocking stuffers for their pets. Our niece was able to meet Santa and by that I mean she just stood there in stunned silence haha. She eventually warmed up enough to give him a high five, though! 🙂

After the outing with our family, Johnny and I enjoyed a big lunch at Barrio where you can build your own tacos. Barrio is one of my favorite eateries and they have the best margaritas I have ever had. We got tacos for now and tacos for later and I am already itching to go back. 😀

When we were done eating, we checked out Off The Wagon and got a new board game to add to our vast collection. Then, we went to the Zephyr for a drink before heading home. Once we were back at the home front, an evening of video games and music commenced and it was an absolute blast. If our half year wedding anniversary was this good, I can’t imagine what our full year anniversary will be like!

No matter the occasion, Johnny and I always have the best time together and our date day was no exception. He is the best husband ever! ❤

What is your favorite restaurant? How does your community celebrate the holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Finding Success Without Compromising Your Mental Health  

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Finding Success Without Compromising Your Mental Health  

Looking after your body is an important part of life. You exercise to make sure that your muscles are strong and your body is fit while eating a healthy diet to give yourself everything you need. Of course, though, it can be all too easy to ignore a part of your body that doesn’t need physical care to be healthy; your mind. To help you to make sure that you’re looking after your mind as well as your body, this article will be exploring some of the best ways to keep your mental health in good shape:

Research & Learning:

Many people don’t know much about mental health. Until recently, this sort of issue was rarely discussed in settings like schools, and this means that you may need to do some research to learn more. Keeping yourself happy is a good goal to aim for, and different people will find different methods that work for them. This makes it well worth taking the time to explore things like meditation, mindfulness, and even different types of mental health issues so that you know what to look out for. It can be hard, but many people can work to improve their own mental health from home.

Improving your mental health is person specific meaning that what works for your friend might not necessarily work for you. That is okay! For example, your friend might benefit from journaling as opposed to talking to a counselor. Yourself, on the other hand, might love interacting and sharing with other people. If this is the case, you could look into free services offered by ShareWell. You will be able to access peer support groups and discussions on countless different topics. Knowing that you are not alone in your struggles can make a big difference in changing your mental health for the better.

Being Mindful & Aware:

It is all too common for people to ignore mental health issues. This is rarely deliberate, but it can be easy to think that everything is alright when you are actually struggling. Being mindful can take some practice, and most people need to work on this aspect of their life before they are successful. This will be well worth the time and effort it takes. Alongside being mindful, you should also be aware of the way that you feel and act. Big changes in the way you feel can be a sign that something is wrong, and it will be worth acting on this even if you believe you are alright.

Getting Support:

Anyone can find themselves struggling with mental health. There are loads of different issues you can face, from anxiety and depression to addiction and substance abuse, making it crucial that you know where to get support if you ever experience these issues. Going to a website like https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/texas/frisco/ can be a good place to start when you want to get mental health support. Support can come in many forms, from therapy to being given advice over the phone. Telehealth appointments are also a great option to utilize, especially if it’s hard for you to get to an in person session. Finding mental health support through online platforms can give you the help you need from the comfort of your own home.

A good therapist should be easy to find in your local area, but you can usually go to your doctor if you are struggling. Remember that your practitioner should be someone you feel comfortable and safe with. They should also be providing evidence-driven treatment to maximize your success.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of looking after your mind just as well as you look after your body. Many people struggle with this, finding it hard to know what to do to keep their mental health in good shape. Thankfully, though, there are tons of tools and resources that can help you with this.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Should You Decorate With Real Or Fake Garlands This Christmas?

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Should You Decorate With Real Or Fake Garlands This Christmas?

From Christmas trees to mistletoe, there are many different types of traditional decorations that adorn homes all over the world come the festive period, and a Christmas garland is another one of these. There is no doubt that you will have a huge assortment of Christmas garlands to choose from. However, before you can decide on the style that appeals to you the most, your main decision is whether to go for a real or artificial Christmas garland. In this post, we will reveal the reasons why the latter is the best option:

Disadvantages of Real Christmas Garlands:

A lot of people mistakenly believe that the only way to benefit from beautiful Christmas garlands is to purchase fresh versions. However, this is certainly not the case. While it is easy to understand the initial appeal of real Christmas garlands – their smell and their appearance – once purchased, people quickly realize that there are many more disadvantages associated with real garland decorations than meets the eye.

Firstly, you are going to need to replace your garlands every year, and, unfortunately, for some people their garlands do not even make it until Christmas Day. And, if they do, they are assured to have lost a considerable amount of their beauty by then. This is because real flowers deteriorate quite quickly. If you are someone that likes to have their Christmas decorations up for a while before and after the 25th of December, then this is going to be a big problem. The fact that you do not get a lot of use out of your real Christmas garlands shows that this is an expensive route to go down.

Not only are fresh flowers costly to begin with, but they are going to need replacing. You then need to consider the upkeep of these garlands. You are going to have to look after them if you are going to protect their longevity. The needles can go brown and they can drop, and the weather is assured to wreck havoc with your outdoor decorations, especially if you use screws or another type of fixture to hang them.

Advantages of Artificial Christmas Garlands:

On the other hand, you do not need to worry about any maintenance when it comes to an artificial Christmas garland. Instead, you will get many years of use out of them and all they will require is a little bit of dusting when you get them out of the box each Christmas. You will get a better value for money as your purchase is going to last you for a considerable period of time. Moreover, artificial flowers tend to be cheaper than real flowers in many cases.

Of course, the main worry for a lot of people when it comes to artificial Christmas garlands is that they are going to miss out in terms of beauty. While there is no denying that there are some companies that sell cheap artificial flowers, which are obviously fake, there are some great retailers nowadays that craft stunning artificial garlands – so much so that you won’t be able to tell the difference.

One great benefit of using artificial garlands is that you can use them both indoors and outdoors. Choosing outdoor garlands means you can add something extra special to your home for the holiday season. On top of this you can work with a holiday light installation company to add lights to any external garlands you have or around your property to enhance any garlands you use outdoors.

If you want to give a modern twist to an old tradition, then artificial garlands are ideal. You will get more bang for your buck and still have a beautifully decorated home for the holidays!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Lil Red’s Book Club: Last Girl Ghosted By Lisa Unger Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Last Girl Ghosted By Lisa Unger Edition

Hello! We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming of bonus pictures from my last OOTD for a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club. Today, we are going to be discussing a thriller called Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger – without giving any spoilers away, of course! Before beginning this review, I will be placing a trigger warning on this book for general violence and terror. Let’s get to it:

Wren Greenwood had lived a lifetime of trauma before she was even in the double digits. With lots of hard work, however, she has made a name for herself and a comfortable living as an advice columnist for “Dear Birdie”. Saying Wren is a workaholic is an understatement and her bestie, Jax, encourages her to sign up for the popular dating app called Torch to have some fun.

After a couple of Torch dates that Wren considered a bust, she decided to give it one more go before calling it quits. She matched with a man named Adam Harper who intrigued her through his panache for poetry and brooding image. After one date, Wren found herself head over heels and her and Adam were inseparable for the next three months. Until…

On the eve of Adam asking Wren a very important question, he disappears without a trace. Wren is completely heartbroken in the aftermath but things are about to get a lot more complicated than just a broken heart. Private Investigator, Bailey Kirk, knocks on Wren’s door to discuss Adam with her because he has been linked to the disappearance of three other young women.

In an ultimate game of cat and mouse, Bailey and Wren begin the search for Adam and his missing exes. Red herrings, possible sightings, and eerie text messages appear at every turn until, eventually, Wren and Bailey are led back to where it all began – her hometown. Will Wren and Bailey find the girls alive and well? And just who is Adam Harper? Read Last Girl Ghosted to find out!

Last Girl Ghosted is one of the best books that I have read in a while and I really enjoyed it. I read ravenously and finished this four hundred page thriller in about five sittings. I couldn’t put it down if you paid me! From multiple narrators, a back and forth timeline, and an urgent chase, Last Girl Ghosted incorporated everything I like and did it just right.

I will admit that at the beginning of this book, I found it to be a little cliche. But, as I continued to turn the pages, I was hooked. In fact, it kind of reminded me of You by Caroline Kepnes. I loved Wren’s strength and she was a character that I found myself rooting for because she truly deserved happiness. Her roots as a blogger also spoke to me!

Not only was Wren an exciting heroine but the supporting cast was just as likeable, as well. Her best friend, Jax, was someone that anyone would want in their corner and PI Bailey Kirk definitely fit that bill too. Even Adam Harper started out great until he did a one eighty really fast.

I am going to award Last Girl Ghosted with an eight out of ten stars. While I figured out the grand reveal fairly quickly, this was still an excellent thriller and I highly recommend it. I also have to say that this book would have earned an additional star from me, however, there was a considerable amount of typos in it which drove me nuts!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Faux Fur Fabulous OOTD

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Faux Fur Fabulous OOTD

Hi everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Saturday, Johnny and I celebrated our half year wedding anniversary and had a date day to celebrate. We met with my parents and niece in downtown Cuyahoga Falls for a puppy parade, had lunch at a build your own taco restaurant called Barrio, and a drink at our favorite bar in Kent called the Zephyr. It was the best!

For such an amazing day, I needed an amazing outfit to step out in. Inspired by being told that I looked like a Disney villain twice in one day (best compliment ever!), I came up with the following:

Who? What? Wear?

Saturday was an absolutely glorious day for being the beginning of December and the weather was much warmer than my last OOTD shoot. Because of the mid forty temps, I was able to get away with just a sweater and the faux fur vest and I was so there for it! However, by the time my sweet Johnny took my pictures, the wind had really picked up. And, as any Midwesterner would tell you, it’s not so much the cold as it is the wind lol.

Despite the chilly breeze, Johnny powered through and took what felt like a million rapid fire pictures of my Faux Fur Fabulous OOTD – such a blog husband! ❤ Like many of my OOTDs featured on lifewithlilred, this look combined lots of older pieces in my closet in a new way. While your girl really likes to shop, I also revel in making years old clothes feel brand new again.

For this look, I already planned on wearing the faux fur vest and built the outfit from there. For styling looks with a more unique piece like the vest, this is the best way to go. As per ushie, I feel my best in an All Black Everything OOTD as does my husband lol. So, I incorporated pops of color into the palette through the accessories to brighten things up.

For the shoes, I went with one of my favorite TJMaxx purchases of the baroque heeled boots. I have several pairs of Bamboo brand shoes and they are all so unbelievably comfy and cute. In fact, I usually call them my “walking shoes” and could walk for miles in them. This is no exaggeration because I did when I visited my bestie in New York City! 😀

To continue with the gold embellished theme, I chose my Mia Fiore necklace which boasts a historical coin at the end of the chunky gold chain. I am a huge fan of gaudy gold jewelry and loved how this necklace looked with the outfit. An OOTD is only as good as its accessories, after all, and the necklace made a statement of its own against my statement vest.

Johnny and I had so much fun celebrating a half a year of wedded bliss together and we had a perfect day. Tune in tomorrow for bonus pictures from this shoot as well as more about the adorable PUPPY PARADE!!

What is your favorite statement piece in your closet? How do you incorporate faux fur into your outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Face Mask Festivities: Que Bella Recharge & Restore Gel Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Que Bella Recharge & Restore Gel Mask Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Face Mask Festivities! Today, we are going to be discussing a gel mask by Que Bella that I definitely plan on purchasing again. I so enjoyed using this mask for a multitude of reasons and consider it a steal for four dollars. Let’s get to it:

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This Que Bella Recharge & Restore gel mask had it all. First and foremost, it was pretty! I love, love, loved the glitter and the deep purple color and even if the mask didn’t work very well, it still would have earned brownie points for that reason alone. For fifteen minutes, I felt like the weirdest looking fairy princess ever with all that sparkle! 😀

Not only was this mask obviously really visually pleasing to me but it worked great too lol. I used it when I woke up in the morning and could tell that it had caffeine in it because I felt wide awake after washing it off! My skin looked and felt rejuvenated and also tingly in the best way possible. The charcoal powder also eliminated the blackheads near my piercings which is always nice.

I wasn’t expecting much out of this mask for its price and was so pleasantly surprised by it. I would happily use it again and plan on buying other Que Bella masks on my next Target run. I highly recommend it and the masks would also make great stocking stuffers! *Hint hint* 🙂

How do you like to relax? What is your favorite drugstore product? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Thinking Of Getting A Dog? Here’s How To Make The Adoption More Practical

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Thinking Of Getting A Dog? Here’s How To Make The Adoption More Practical

Are you thinking about adopting a pet into your family? Perhaps you’ve had your eyes set on getting a dog for a long time or maybe your children are interested in helping to adopt a dog. Whatever the case is, bringing a dog into your family can be surprisingly difficult, time-consuming, and also impractical depending on where and how you live. So in this post, we’re going to be discussing a few tips to help you make adopting a dog much easier”

Are you ready to train your dog?

First, remember that you need to commit a lot of time to puppy training and other training tasks if you want your dog to behave and learn from you. If you don’t think that you have enough time for something like that, then it’s usually best to consider a different kind of hobby. Raising a dog and providing for it can be really hard, especially if you can’t provide them with attention on a regular basis.

Do some research on various dog breeds:

You may also want to do a little research on various dog breeds to help you choose which one to pick from. Dog breeds vary a lot in their personalities and also their physical looks. This is especially important if you want a dog that stays smaller or grows up to be a big boy or girl.

Is your home suitable for a dog?

You’ll also want to start preparing your home for a dog, especially if they’re rather big. Dogs can easily knock things over and you really don’t want them to be running around when you have a lot of things on the floor. Clean up your home and make sure you’ve installed various kinds of devices to hide cables and to keep your dog safe from harm.

Get to know your local vet ASAP:

Every pet owner has a duty to get to know their local vet. This is an important step in keeping your dog as healthy as it can be. Your vet will be able to provide you with ample information for recommended foods, keeping their shots up to date, and training tips too.

Do you have enough space in your home for a dog?

Finally, don’t forget that you need to prepare enough space in your home for your dog. You need to think about where your dog should sleep at night, but you also need to consider that your dogs need a bit of space to roam around. If you don’t have a large open area in your home or even access to a local park for your dog to explore, then you might want to reconsider adopting a dog. Just remember that it’s a lot of work and takes more space and sacrifice than you might imagine.

Dogs are a forever part of your family so consider all of the above before you sign the adoption papers!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

3 Delicious Baking Recipes For The Holiday Season

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3 Delicious Baking Recipes For The Holiday Season

Tis the season of going home for the holidays, staying close to those you hold dearest, and decorating everything with a sprinkle of joy. Most importantly, tis the season to experiment in the kitchen. Yes, most people have enough extra hours at work, renovating with a Renewal by Andersen Windows, or being a full time parent. But, you’ve seen the films of families getting together and baking a splendid dessert. There’s no reason for you to miss out!

This article will teach you baking is for everyone and give you the chance to impress your loved ones. It’s time to get creative, throw on an apron, and decide what type of dessert calls out to you:

Gingerbread Cookies:

Gingerbread cookies are a holiday tradition and for a good reason. They are a taste of holiday possibility best accompanied by hot cocoa with marshmallows. Baking gingerbread cookies is a fantastic activity for young children to participate in and feel included in the festivity preparations.

Ingredients:

  • Brown sugar
  • Egg
  • Molasses
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Cloves
  • Nutmeg
  • All-purpose flour
  • Butter

Prepare: For this recipe, you will have to whisk the following ingredients together in a bowl: baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt, ginger, and flour. Next, you will beat the dough and add the butter and sugar with a hand mixer. Finally, add the previous flour mixture to the dough and beat until combined.

Then, you must chill the dough, first dividing it into two parts and rolling them into a ball. Next, flatten the ball and wrap it in plastic wrap inside the fridge for close to an hour. Once chilled, unwrap the dough, place it on a floured surface, and use a cookie cutter of your preference.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for eight to ten minutes. Finally, take your cookies out of the oven and let them sit for five minutes. Eat them with a glass of milk, coffee, hot chocolate, or start decorating to enjoy at a later time.

^^^ Image By: Jill Wellington on Pixabay

Linzer Cookies:

Nothing like some good Linzer cookies to dip into milk…

Ingredients:

  • Flour
  • Almond flour
  • White sugar
  • Butter
  • Salt
  • Cinnamon
  • Vanilla extract
  • 1 egg yolk
  • Powdered sugar
  • Raspberry Jam

Prepare: Like most baking recipes in this article, you’ll prepare the dough. Have the butter, white sugar, and cinnamon ready to beat in a bowl. Carefully add the yolk and vanilla to combine them. Whisk the salt, flour, and almond butter together in another bowl. Combine both of the mixtures.

Just like the gingerbread cookie recipe, repeat the process of dividing and refrigerating the dough. Take out the dough from the fridge and allow it to soften for five minutes. Roll one disk on a floured surface and use the desired cutter to give shape to the cookies.

Bake the cookies for fifteen minutes and then let them cool for a few minutes. Powder your cookies with powdered sugar and add jam to their center. Cut a hole on top of other cookies and place those on the first ones.

Picture By: Devanath on Pixabay

Cinnamon Rolls:

The smell of cinnamon rolls is truly enchanting. Ask anyone within reach of a bakery and they’ll tell you how cinnamon rolls bewitch the heart. 

Ingredients:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Salt
  • Instant yeast
  • Two percent or Whole milk
  • Salted butter
  • 1 Egg
  • Granulated sugar
  • Brown sugar
  • Cinnamon
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla

Prepare: You’ll have the perfect cinnamon rolls to dig into in six easy steps. First, you will add salted butter, yeast, milk, egg, salt, brown sugar, and water in a bowl. When you’re done with the mixture, heat water, butter, and milk together to add it to the butter mixture.

Time to knead the dough! Don’t be afraid to make a mess. With your hands, knead the dough. Let it rest for a couple of minutes and prepare the ingredients for your filling: sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Get your dough, roll it out, spread some butter, add cinnamon, and sprinkle some sugar. Roll the dough and cut it into even pieces. Grease a round pan and place your rolls inside. Allow the rolls to rise for sixty minutes.

Finally, bake the cinnamon rolls until they look golden brown. The only problem left is resisting the temptation to eat them all in one sitting!

Picture By: Monika on Pixabay

Call a friend, bake with family members, or spend this time with whoever makes your day. You will have amazing memories and treats to show for it!

Featured Image By: Jill Wellington on Pixabay

Face Mask Festivities: BioRepublic Lip Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: BioRepublic Lip Mask Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Face Mask Festivities! Today, we are going to be discussing a lip mask by BioRepublic that I purchased during a recent Target run. I was very much looking forward to trying this mask because my lips have been SO dry since winter began. Unfortunately, though, it missed the mark big time. Let’s get to it:

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While I liked the idea of this lip mask, its execution left a lot to be desired. Like most sheet style masks, this one was a huge struggle to keep on as it was slipping and sliding off constantly. If this were a five minute mask it wouldn’t have been a huge deal, however, it was so saturated with the serum that I left it on for close to a half hour. In that time, I had to adjust the mask at least ten times. This definitely made for an annoying experience rather than relaxing.

Despite the mask refusing to stay put, I still had high hopes that my lips would feel some type of relief once I took it off. When I removed the mask, my lips felt slightly better but it wasn’t the improvement I was hoping for. In fact, when I woke up the following morning, my lips felt dryer than usual which I didn’t think was possible! WHOMP WHOMP.

At three or so dollars, this mask was cheap enough that I wasn’t disappointed by the outcome. However, that is three or so bucks that you will be saving because I do not recommend it!

What do you use for dry lips? What is your favorite type of face mask? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah