Tag Archives: 2023

Jun30

June 2023 Finishes

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June 2023 Finishes

Hello everyone and welcome to my beauty finishes for June!! Johnny and I had a fantastic birthaversary month with lots to celebrate. Now that the festivities are over, it is time to focus our attention on the next big thing: Halloween. It’s never too early for us to start thinking about our other favorite time of the year! This past month, I enjoyed lots of great products with only one dud that came as a surprise to me. It was a serum that I had used religiously in the past, but just didn’t hit the same this time around. Let’s discuss further:

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Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Tree Of Life Vitamin C Serum: NO!!!!!

Bath & Body Works Sun-Ripened Raspberry Body Cream: YES

Honest Beauty Calm & Heal Melting Balm: YES

Why/Why Not?

Tree Of Life Serum: Back in 2021, I was using the Tree Of Life Vitamin C serum regularly for several months until I switched things up. I always thought that it worked well, even if it wasn’t my all time favorite. So, when I saw it available at TJMaxx during a January Haul, I instantly added it to my cart. The first time I used it after almost two years, I was taken aback by how much I didn’t like it. The texture of the serum was thick and a decent amount was needed to cover my full face and neck. It also didn’t absorb as well as I would have liked, either. After only three weeks, I completely used up the bottle and my skin had nothing to show for it in terms of a radiance boost. I was very happy to be done with it and now I know that some past used products are better to be left in the past.

B&BW Lotion: Sun-Ripened Raspberry is one of my favorite old school scents from Bath & Body Works and I always have to buy a few lotions or shower gels during their Semi Annual Sales. I don’t use the Body Creams by B&BW too often because they are more expensive than what a full size freebie coupon covers. However, I am VERY impressed with it whenever I get the chance to use it. The shea butter and Hyaluronic Acid base is so nourishing and my skin feels amazing after every use. Any slightly dry patches on my arms feel like they are gone in an instant and it leaves my skin looking and feeling healthy. It took me over three weeks of nighttime use to finish the bottle.

Honest Balm: The Calm & Heal Melting Balm by Honest Beauty was the first product from that brand I ever tried and it was a home run. You can read more about it in my review above, but it is a moisturizer that I would definitely use again. It took about three and a half weeks of twice daily use to finish the jar and I was so sad when I did – it was that good! Highly, highly recommend – especially if you have a dryer skin type.

Even though the Tree Of Life serum sucked, I got to try a new brand out and use an old favorite so this month’s empties were still a GREAT SUCCESS. I am keeping my eyes peeled for more Honest Beauty products every time I go to TJMaxx!

Have you used an old faithful product after a while and been disappointed by it? What is your favorite Honest Beauty product? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun7

Happy 29th Birthday To Me!!

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Happy 29th Birthday To Me!!

Hello!!!! Break out the fanfare, parades, and marching band because it is your favorite Lil Red blogger’s 29th birthday!! Johnny and I have been enjoying a low key birthaversary celebration starting this past weekend because the world gave us a gift: The release of Diablo IV! We have been LOVING it, even though it’s basically the same as all of the other installments in the Diablo series. But, hey, if it’s not broken then don’t fix it! 😀

Although I am not too fond of growing older, I have high hopes for 29 because 28 lightweight sucked lol. And by lightweight, I mean majorly. I had two good months after I turned 28 and that was pretty much it due to some devastating circumstances in my family. Honestly, it’s hard to believe I’m only 29 when I have felt 50 for the past almost year. And, yes, my aching back can confirm. *Face palm*

I have a few birthday wishes this year and the biggest, most important one is that my loved one in the hospital is blessed with perfect health. And, of course, I am wishing the best for my Johnny, family, friends, and darling readers. My final wish for 29 is one for me… I wish that I have more than two good months and for my online work to go even better than it already is because that is a major high point in my life. I know you aren’t supposed to say your wishes, but sometimes putting them out into the universe is the best thing you can do to make them come true!

Happy Birthday To Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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May28

May 2023 Finishes

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May 2023 Finishes

Hello everyone!! May is just about over, which means that it’s time to discuss my beauty product finishes for the month! I have finished up a few new to me products in the past few weeks, most of which I would happily use again aside from one major dud. So, all in all, it was a pretty successful month! Take a look and let’s chat more in depth about the following:

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Would I Use Again?

Clinical Works Soothing Body Lotion: YES

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Pearberry Shower Gel: YES

Happy Dance Look Alive Moisturizer + CBD: YES!!!!!!!!!!

SkinLab Lift & Firm Serum: NO

Why/Why Not?

Clinical Works Lotion: I really liked the Lavender + Chamomile lotion by Clinical Works, despite the fact that the pump on the bottle didn’t work – which is probably why it ended up at TJMaxx lol. Even with that slight annoyance, this lotion was SO nice to use before bed. It was really light, absorbed quickly, and had the softest scent to it which helped to soothe and relax. The skin on my hands, arms, and chest looked a lot healthier and felt significantly softer after over two months of working through the big bottle.

B&BW Shower Gel: Pearberry is one of my favorite scents from Bath & Body Works and I wish that they carried this old school fragrance all of the time! It also happened to be one of Johnny’s new favorites too lol the first time he used it, he was raving about it – and for good reason. The juicy pear and berry scent is the ultimate in sweet/tart and I love it so very much. It took a month to finish one bottle with two people using it daily.

Happy Dance Moisturizer: You can read more about the Look Alive Moisturizer + CBD by Happy Dance in the review linked above. I will say, though, that this is easily the best moisturizer that I have used in a month of Sundays. This moisturizer was so nourishing and I loved the way my skin looked and felt after each use. The CBD was calming at night and invigorating in the morning, making it a fantastic product for twice daily use. It took me one month to finish the jar and I wish that I had more of it!

SkinLab Serum: I like the SkinLab brand, but the Lift & Firm Serum was an epic failure. I am a huge fan of products that you only need to use a small amount of and that was not the case with this serum at all. I needed a decent amount of this serum for full coverage on my face and neck, which made the small bottle only last for three weeks. It also didn’t mesh well with the other skin care I was using, making it incredibly difficult to rub in my eye cream and moisturizer. I definitely wouldn’t use this serum again.

Although there were some products from this list that I was sad to finish up, I still have lots of new to me skin care to try out from TJMaxx hauls and I am excited to use them. Keep it locked for a review on the Honest moisturizer that I have started using for the past week and change because it is a very unique one!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr28

April 2023 Finishes

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April 2023 Finishes

Hello!! Another month of 2023 is about to draw to a close and that means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes! I was able to use up four new to me products in April and I liked them all a lot. It also depleted my reserves in my beauty stockpile considerably so thank goodness for this past TJMaxx skin care haul! I would definitely recommend all of the following so let’s find out why:

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Would I Buy Again?

Sea-el Miracle Kelp Eye Cream: YES!!

Bellyssima Vitamin C Moisturizer: YES

Kopari Coconut Water Moisturizer: YES

Spa Cosmetics Vitamin C Serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

Sea-el Eye Cream: The Miracle Kelp Eye Cream by Sea-el is easily one of the best that I have ever used. I noticed a huge improvement in my under eye circles and the delicate skin around the eyes felt so much stronger and hydrated. I started using this eye cream at the beginning of January and just finished the small jar yesterday, which is an amazing value! A little bit of this eye cream went such a long way and I was so disappointed that I didn’t find another one during my last TJs shopping excursion.

Bellyssima Moisturizer: I was a huge fan of the Vitamin C moisturizer by Bellyssima and so was my mom because I got her one too. I loved the whipped texture of this moisturizer and it absorbed so quickly, but left my skin feeling insanely nourished. It also sat so well under makeup and made my skin look simply radiant. This moisturizer smelled really good too! It had the lightest scent of oranges and I enjoyed using it very much. It took me one month to finish the jar.

Kopari Moisturizer: I couldn’t wait to try the Kopari Coconut Water Moisturizer because it just sounded nice lol. And it was! This moisturizer was delightful with the faintest hint of coconuts and cream. It featured a whipped gel texture and I was astounded by how little I needed to cover my entire face and neck. My skin felt so hydrated after each use and it felt SO soft too even when using the tiniest dollop. It took me about three and a half weeks to finish the jar, which isn’t the best value, but I would happily treat myself to another if I found it again. I feel like it would be the perfect summer moisturizer!

Spa Cosmetics Serum: The Vitamin C Serum by Spa Cosmetics was great! It took me close to two months to finish the big bottle and I loved that for value’s sake. Like all of these products, you only needed a little bit to cover the face and neck and I saw a noticeable difference in my skin with only the serum on. It looked a lot brighter and it always helped perk me up in the morning with its moderate orange scent. After using a product for a few months, I usually feel ready to try something new, but I was wishing I had another bottle of this serum as soon as I used it up. 😦

If you come across any of these products, you have the Lil Red Guarantee that you will like them too! All of these skin care staples were so lightweight and absorbed quickly, making them ideal for the hot days of summer. I promise they won’t melt off of your face as soon as you step outside! 😀

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above empties if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar26

March 2023 Finishes

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March 2023 Finishes

Hello everyone! It’s about that time to discuss the products that I finished up this month and I can’t believe that we are already almost in the fourth month of 2023. It’s flying by! March was pretty successful as far as empties go and I was able to use up lots of new to me products, which is always nice. Let’s get started and discuss these finishes further because there are definitely a few that you can skip on:

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Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Champagne Apple Honey shower gel: YES

Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple lotion: MAYBE

DesignLine Fiji Therapy styling oil: NO

Sujata Gazder Valinora serum: YES!!!!!!

Clear Beauty 24K Gold and Collagen moisturizer: NO

*Not pictured* Evoluderm micellar water: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Lotion: I got the Winter Candy Apple lotion as a freebie from B&BW and assumed that I would love it because anything apple is alright with me. This scent, however, proved me wrong. I love apple fragrances because of the sweet/tart notes and the Winter Candy Apple was just sweet with nothing more to it. It also had some pretty strong floral notes, which I was not fond of at all. I would use this lotion if it was gifted to me, but now I know to skip on it next holiday season. It took me about five weeks of once daily use to finish the bottle.

DesignLine Styling Oil: I have been working my way through this bottle of Fiji Therapy Styling Oil for what feels like forever. I wanted to like this product so bad because the scent is nice, it’s lightweight, and applies so easily, but it just never showed me the results I wanted. After getting my hair done, it needs all of the hydration help it can get from the bleach. No matter how many times I used this oil, the ends of my hair were still bone dry. I was very happy to finish this product up because I was using it just for the sake of using it and would definitely not buy it again.

Sujata Gazder Serum: You can peep my full review for the Valinora serum with the link above. I just wanted to take the time to reiterate how fabulous it was! My skin never looked better after twice daily use of this serum and I was so sad to have finished it up in one month. Every use left my skin feeling hydrated and nourished and I couldn’t believe how effective this serum was in diminishing designer bags. I highly, highly recommend this product!

Clear Beauty Moisturizer: It took me one month of twice daily use to finish the 24K Gold and Collagen moisturizer by Clear Beauty and I was unimpressed. I noticed no real difference in my skin’s appearance or firmness, which was disappointing because all of the ingredients would make you expect to see results. This also wasn’t the best value, either, as the jar was super small so I had to ration how much I used carefully. I would not buy this product again.

Although there were a decent amount of duds in this month’s finishes, that is fine with me. Now, I don’t have to use them anymore! Lol, here’s to using lots of products that I actually like next month! 😀

What products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar20

Find Your Dream Home In 2023

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Find Your Dream Home In 2023

Searching for your dream home can be an exciting yet daunting task. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. However, following a few simple steps can make the process much easier, and you can be well on your way to finding the perfect place for you! Let’s get started:

Determine Your Budget:

The first step is to determine your budget. It is important to understand how much you can afford to spend on a home. This will help you narrow your search to homes within your price range. You can also get pre-approved for a mortgage to better understand what you can afford.

Create a List of Must-Haves and Nice-to-Haves:

Once you have determined your budget, the next step is to create a list of your must-haves and nice-to-haves. This is most helpful if you are working with an estate agent like those at Wooster & Stock Estate Agents Camberwell (Or a similar company in your local area). When you provide a list of home must haves for an estate agent, they can focus their search on homes that meet your specific criteria.

Some examples of must-haves might include:

A certain number of bedrooms

A specific location

A certain style of home

Nice-to-haves might include:

A swimming pool

A large backyard

A gourmet kitchen

Chase The Dream:

If the kind of home you crave cannot be found by simply moving across town, then are you ready to chase the dream? Perhaps you want to be immersed in a big city. Maybe you want somewhere quiet in a wooded area. Or do you dream of sprawling land and livestock at Ranches in south Texas? Even if this big of a move isn’t possible right now, do not put it on the back burner. If a move to a new state is your goal, you would be wise to stay put and save until you can make it happen.

Start Searching for Homes:

After you have created your list of must-haves and nice-to-haves, it’s time to start searching for homes. There are many ways to search for homes, including working with a real estate agent, using online real estate websites, or driving around neighborhoods to look for “For Sale” signs. You can also attend open houses to get inspiration for what you are looking for in a home.

Consider Your Home/Apartment Size:

Your home or apartment size is essential when searching for your dream home. For example, you may need a home with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms if you have a large family. On the other hand, if you are a single person or a couple, a smaller home or apartment may be more appropriate. Looking into different shapes, like square apartments, may also be of interest to you. It’s important to consider your current lifestyle and any potential future changes when deciding the size of your home.

Schedule Visits to See Homes in Person:

When you find a home that interests you, schedule a visit to see it in person ASAP. This will give you a better idea of the layout, the size of the rooms, and the home’s overall condition. It’s also a good idea to take notes and pictures to compare homes later. If you are working with a real estate agency, this is something that we highly recommend. Your agent will be able to handle scheduling and alert you to houses that might not be listed online yet. They can also accompany you to home visits for advice in that very moment.

Make an Offer and Move Forward with the Home Buying Process:

Once you have found a home you love, it’s time to make an offer. Your real estate agent can help you with this process, which involves submitting a written offer to the seller. The seller will then have the option to accept, reject, or counter your offer. If your offer is accepted, you will move forward with the home-buying process, including getting a home inspection, securing financing, and closing the sale.

Although searching for your dream home can be a long process, remember that it’s worth taking the time to find the right home for you and your family. Happy moving!

Featured Image By: cottonbro studio on Pexels

Feb28

February 2023 Finishes

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February 2023 Finishes

Hello!! How is another month of 2023 already over?! Hey, I’m not mad about the winter months flying by; I’m ready for springtime, baby! As always, we will be wrapping up the month with my beauty finishes and then it is onto a brand new month of fun here on lifewithlilred. Keep it posted for new OOTDs, bloopers, and product reviews coming soon! Now, let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Garnier Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Happy Birthday Shower Gel: MAYBE

Pacifica Rainbow Watermelon Lip Balm: YES!!!!!

SpaLife Vitamin C Moisturizer: NO

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Shower Gel: I am a faithful user of the shower gels from Bath & Body Works. I love how well they lather and the formula leaves my skin feeling so hydrated. The Happy Birthday scent just wasn’t my favorite and I’m glad that I had a travel size of it because I got tired of it pretty quickly. At first, the vanilla cake fragrance was awesome and then it started smelling almost sickly sweet. I would use it again if I received it as a gift, but I wouldn’t buy it or use a freebie coupon on it. It took me three weeks of daily use to finish the bottle.

Pacifica Lip Balm: As per my recent review, you will know how much I freaking LOVE the Rainbow Watermelon lip balm by Pacifica. Check out that post for all of my thoughts on it because it is the best lip balm I have ever used. I cannot wait for my multipack to ship and plan on using them exclusively. Why mess with perfection?!

SpaLife Moisturizer: It took me close to a month of twice daily use to finish the Vitamin C moisturizer by SpaLife. During that time, I really did want to like it. However, it was a good moisturizer but not great and I was ready to try something new. The gel texture was nice and my skin looked slightly more radiant after using it, but I wasn’t blown away by the results. I’m glad that I tried it out, but I wouldn’t purchase it again.

Overall, it was a pretty alright month for finishes because I got to use up some lackluster products and move onto new ones. It’s also good to know which ones aren’t worth buying again and sharing my findings with all of you! See you all next month! 😉

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the products above if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan28

January 2023 Finishes

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January 2023 Finishes

Hello everyone and welcome to the first beauty finishes post of the new year! I used up a lot of new to me products this past month and also got a lot more to try out from TJMaxx thanks to my Christmas gift cards. 😀 My beauty hoard runneth over! We have much to discuss from our empties roundup for January so let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

SpaScriptions Scrub: I started using the SpaScriptions Hyaluronic Acid + Sugar Scrub at the beginning of November and it took me until the end of January to finish it. At five dollars for the bottle, it was a great value and you only needed a small amount for full coverage on the face and neck. I liked this scrub because it was gentle enough to use every day. It was really creamy in texture with only the slightest touch of exfoliant and it smelled as sweet as candy. My skin felt well hydrated and looked radiant after every use and it is a perfect scrub for the cold winter months.

SpaLife Serum: It took me about six weeks to finish the SpaLife Hyaluronic Pearl Serum and I was unimpressed by it. The pink hyaluronic pearls were pretty and that was pretty much all that this serum had going for it. The SpaLife serum was quite runny in texture and I never noticed a difference one way or the other in how my skin looked or felt. While I love a longer lasting product, this serum missed the mark completely and I definitely wouldn’t use it again.

Elf Sleep Mask: I was so excited about the Elf Dope Dreams Sleeping Mask when I got it because sleeping masks are my fave. Using them is literally the easiest way to achieve great skin because all you have to do is go to bed! It took me about three weeks of every other day use to finish the Elf mask and I thought that it was a massive dud. I was expecting ultra soft and hydrated skin every morning when I woke up and that was never the case. In fact, my skin felt better after returning to my normal nightly skin care routine.

Clinique Eye Cream: My aunt gave me a makeup bag full of Clinique skin care samples and I couldn’t wait to test them out because I have never used Clinique products before. The moisturizer and serum that I tried didn’t blow me away but I actually really liked the Smart Clinical Repair Eye Cream. It took me two weeks of twice daily use to complete the tester jar and a little of the product went a long way. After each use, I noticed that the skin around my eyes looked so much better and brighter. This eye cream helped diminish my designer bags and I definitely didn’t look as tired as I felt! If I got this eye cream for a good deal, I would probably buy it. However, I still wouldn’t pay a full price tag for it so it is a “maybe” for me.

SkinLab Moisturizer: I like the SkinLab brand and purchased the Hydra Moisturizer during a past TJs haul. I was expecting a good experience with this moisturizer because I am familiar with the brand and that, unfortunately, wasn’t the case. It took me three weeks of twice daily use to finish the jar because a lot of moisturizer was required to fully cover the face and neck. For value’s sake alone, I wouldn’t buy this moisturizer again. It also did nothing for my skin to improve its appearance or feel so this is a big fat no from me!

Although there were a fair amount of duds in this month of empties, there were several winners too. Whether I would buy the product again or not, it’s always fun to pamper myself and my skin felt surprisingly well taken care of regardless of the chill and snow!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan8

New Year, Same Us

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New Year, Same Us

Hello! One of my favorite things about being married other than annoying Johnny every day for the rest of our lives is the holidays. I am a huge fan of birthdays, holidays, and any occasion that calls for a family get together and being able to double the celebration time with Johnny’s family is such a treat! This past weekend, Johnny and I celebrated our third New Year together and we just had to show out in our best for the handful of people that saw us lol. Check it out:

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As you can see, “act more normal” was clearly not one of our New Year’s resolutions. In fact, we didn’t make any! However, we both have several projects and goals that we’d like to see come into fruition this year. I currently have a rough draft for a children’s book and I am meeting with a potential illustrator in a few weeks. I also would very much like to continue gaining clout with my social media presence and blog. While I am a word gal, Johnny is my music guy and he has plans for a new honky tonk band with two of our musician pals. So, no resolutions per se but lots of exciting things to work towards!

Let’s be real, the past few years have sucked eggs. Since 2020, I have gone into every new year thinking the best and then craziness broke out with the pandemic. This is the first time that I have felt, dare I say, hopeful for a new year ahead of us. It is also nice to kick start 2023 with the major goal of self publishing a book. I have never done anything like that before and I am ready to sink my teeth into a brand new challenge. I also have a very rough draft of a sequel written already and a majority of the writing I did was to the tune of Johnny’s guitar. It’s a match made in heaven. ❤

Maybe I feel a bit better about 2023 because nothing could be worse than the last few months of my 2022 lol. I can’t wait for Johnny and I to have success in these side hustle projects and have my fingers crossed that the curve balls will be kept to a minimum!

What is something that you are looking forward to this year? How did you celebrate the new year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan4

Feel More Confident Without Changing Your Look

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Feel More Confident Without Changing Your Look

With the start of the new year, chances are high that you have chosen to make resolutions about changing yourself or trying to be more confident. The thing is, there are plenty of ways that you can feel more confident in yourself and about who you are without having to change your look. Your weight doesn’t need to change, your hair doesn’t need to change, and you don’t need to change who you are as a person to be confident. Instead, you have to believe who you are as a person.

There are plenty of ways that you can be more confident without completely overhauling your look, and you can consider anything from a spritz of Michel Germain perfume to a course on public speaking to help you. As long as you can understand that your confidence isn’t based on your looks, you will go a lot further in life than you think. Here are some of the ways that you can be more confident without having to do an extreme makeover for it:

Stand tall:

If you sit in a coffee shop and look out the window you could point out everybody who has little confidence in themselves. They hunch and walk with their shoulders low and their heads down. If you want to feel confident, you need to stand up straight and tall, with your shoulders and head back. Think about commanding a room even when you’re just walking down the street. A powerful presence starts with good posture!

Change your environment:

What is it around you that is hindering your confidence? What’s making you feel less than you should? Did you know that people who spend all of their time in offices find that spending just a couple of minutes outside puts them in a better mood? You need to look at what it is that is pushing you down and go to the place that makes you feel most creative, happy, and relaxed. See, you don’t have to change who you are, you just need to change where you are.

Try something new:

It can be hard as an adult to try new skills or hobbies because of the fear of failure. We all want to be amazing at what we try right off the bat! However, persevering through something difficult and finally achieving success is going to do wonders for your confidence. You worked hard and you reached a goal, and that’s enough for a huge confidence boost.

Adopt a positive mental attitude:

A great way to be more confident without changing who you are is to be positive with everything that you do. Your thoughts will influence your behavior and your decision making, so reframing your thinking can drastically change everything. If you start each morning thinking that today is going to be a bad day, then it probably will be. Wake up every morning ready to take on the day and see what a difference it makes!

All of these ideas are natural confidence boosters – no pricey trip to the salon or store required!

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