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Bigger Home, Smaller Spend: Expand Your Property For Less

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Bigger Home, Smaller Spend: Expand Your Property For Less

It’s pretty common to start wishing that your home had more space. Your family might start to grow or maybe you even pick up a hobby that starts to take over your home. Moving is one option, but you can also consider trying to work with what you’ve got. Perhaps you have some land, even if only a small amount around your house, that seems to be going to waste. Or you might already have indoor space that you might be able to put to better use by converting it. Expanding your home can be expensive, though. If you want to do it, it’s a good idea to find ways to do it for less. Take a look:

Convert An Existing Space:

By far the easiest way of getting more space in your home is to convert a space that you already have. While it’s not technically expanding your home, you can create more liveable space where it wasn’t before. For example, your attic, basement, or garage might currently be a storage space. A smart conversion could turn it into anything you want, from a spare bedroom to a workshop, a home theater, a bar, or a games room. Before you start decorating and bringing in furniture, you might need to think about some more basic things, such as insulation and plumbing.

If your home cannot afford to lose any of its existing rooms, then that is when you would want to think about an expansion. This could be as simple as adding a sunroom to give an extra space to chill out in. If you want to go the expansion route, enter a search for “Construction company in Asheville, NC” (or your local area) to begin researching professionals and getting quotes.

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#menatwork

Alternative Building Materials:

If you’ve decided that you want to build something, possibly separate from your existing property, things are likely to get more expensive. One of the ways that you can think about keeping costs down is by selecting the right building materials. You don’t need to construct a new building out of brick. Steel is a cheap option that can work for several purposes. Perhaps you want space for a workshop, a garage, or storage space. You can easily find out how to put up a steel building so you can ensure that your project goes smoothly. Steel buildings are becoming increasingly popular for their durability and cost effectiveness. The ease of assembly for barndominium kits makes it a huge game changer for those considering a steel option. Another material to consider could be wood or, perhaps, you might think about using concrete. Both materials are good options.

When you consult with a construction team like IMI (or a similar company in your local area), it is important to have a firm budget established as well as some extra wiggle room. With your budget in mind, they will be able to recommend the materials for your project to keep you in a range that you are comfortable with while ensuring a successful end result.

Use a Pre-Fab Design:

A pre-engineered design is a great way to save money on expanding your home. If you want to add a separate addition or even a cozy cabin to your property, prefab buildings make a lot of sense. Sometimes they can be built off-site and lifted in or you can bring in the different parts and put them together when they arrive. They make construction quicker, easier, and cheaper.

With the costs you cut by using prefab buildings, you have more wiggle room with the rest of your budget. These savings can be used for skid steer rentals to work around your property, new furniture, or additional helpers. Extra room in your budget will also be helpful in putting your own unique touches on a pre-designed unit.

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#menatworkAGAIN

Save On Construction:

You might also like to think about how you could save money on construction. It’s not just the materials and planning that can cost a lot of money. Some people like to try and save on construction by doing some of the work themselves or taking on the role of project manager. However, these are both difficult things to do if you don’t have any experience. You can also make sure to get quotes from different contractors to find the best price before saying yes to anything.

If you are taking a more active role in this project, you must be aware of your limits. If you do not have the proper skill set, you could get injured or make costly mistakes. This also includes being aware of things you aren’t comfortable with completing. For example, looking into a scaffolding rental service in Dallas, TX (or your local area) might not be the best option for your DIY if you are afraid of heights. Be sure you are budgeting accordingly so you can hire the help that you need.

If you want to add space to your home, it could be more affordable than you think. Consider your options before you make any decisions!

Featured Image By: Wikimedia

Carolina Belle Of The Ball Blazer

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Carolina Belle Of The Ball Blazer

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! If there’s one style of jacket that I love, it’s the blazer. From fitted and sexy to slouchy but chic, you can really wear a good blazer day or night and it always looks like you’re dressed to the nines. Blazers are always an excellent option when I’m working in the field of helping people with special needs because it says professional but still casual and cool, especially since I normally just wear a plain old t-shirt or sweater underneath.

Obviously, I never say no to buying any particular type of clothing, but this rings the truest for blazers. It can be gosh-darn difficult to find just the right one so when a keeper comes up, it’s best to snag it ASAP. This fall, the velvet trend is hitting the clothing stores hard. I can’t say that I completely love it – BUT I do love the gorgeous navy blue velvet blazer I picked up from TJMaxx this weekend! Take a look:

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^^^ So. PRETTY!

Normally, when I’m shopping at TJs, I stay pretty well parked in the Junior’s department. However, I was helping my mom scour the women’s section this time, because I love picking clothes out for her. So, it certainly came as a shock when I found something for myself in the department that I would have never thought of looking in before!

I. LOVE. THIS. BLAZER.

Everything about this jacket is just perfect to me – the retro style, the metallic sheen of the fabric, the gorgeous floral print. This blazer seriously looks like a women’s smoking jacket and I am totally obsessed. As you all know, I live for all black everything clothing BUT this Carolina Belle beauty is the exception. Dare I say, I like this blazer even more in its deep navy hue and pewter detail glory – and that’s really saying something.

Aside from the magnificent color palette of my new find, which gives it so much edge without even trying, my other favorite part of this blazer is the fit. I am a solid Small in the Junior’s department (Sometimes Extra Small, depending on what I’m trying on.), so I was pretty worried that a women’s size jacket wasn’t going to fit me well. WRONG. I found my blazer in an Extra Small and the fit was totally divine. I often opt for the slouchy, boyfriend style blazer so it was fun to try something that was more fitted and sultry. 😉

My Carolina Belle blazer is going to be such a cool, unexpected piece for fall and I am so excited to start incorporating it into my outfits immediately. Of course, this will look fabulous with jeans and dresses, but I am most looking forward to pairing my new blazer with my mustard yellow A-line skirt and tights for a fashionable fall work outfit. Can’t wait!

So there you have it, my Carolina Belle Of The Ball Blazer! What is your favorite style of jacket? How would you style my new wardrobe addition? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Survival Advice For Newbie Nurses

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Survival Advice For Newbie Nurses

Is there an ideal career? Well, for the people who want to help others, nursing is an excellent place to start. The pay is solid, the people are amazing, and the work is fast-paced and varied. Okay, so that’s a positive take on the industry. But let’s face it – nursing comes with lots of negatives. But, they don’t have to get in the way of your ideal career if you know how to cope.

As it happens, there is a list of coping mechanism below which should come in handy. For all you newbies, here’s how to survive on a ward:

Get Plenty Of Sleep:

The shifts will come thick and fast, and they won’t stay the same. Sometimes you’ll have to work during the day and other times at night. There are even times when nurses work a variety of each per week. A lack of sleep, then, is a realistic possibility. But, not getting seven to nine hours a night is a sure-fire way to feel run down and depressed. Whether you are on the evening shift or not, make sure that you find ways to catch up on your 40 winks. The art of napping is something every nurse should learn.

Bond With Colleagues:

Apart from laughing and joking more, your colleagues can have a significant impact on your work life. Take being totally swamped at work and you haven’t ate or, god forbid, used the loo in nine hours. The people who don’t have friends at work have to struggle through until the very end. Colleagues who like and trust each other will have your back so that you can slip away to use the facilities or grab a quick power snack before hitting the pavement again. Bonding with colleagues helps with everything from checking patients to finishing early. Some will even cover a Saturday shift so that you can go out and let your hair down if they’re really nice!

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Study:

Why on earth would you study when you’re working 80 hour weeks? Okay, so the thought of enrolling in a university course isn’t appealing. However, an online RN to BSN degree program has lots to offer. First, it fleshes out your resume and adds another string to your bow. Even as a qualified professional, it never hurts to have an extra qualification in this day and age. Also, it gives you something to look forward to. Having a balance between life and work is essential, and an extracurricular course promotes a healthy mental attitude. There is no better way to keep going than the thought of a promotion (And straight A’s for days!).

Be Healthy:

It’s ironic, but medical professionals are the ones who are often the most in need of health advice. From eating junk food to drinking caffeine, doctors and nurses cover all of the bases. Poor physical health leads to poor mental health, and that can lead to a meltdown. Also, it’s hard to continue working when your body feels like it will break at any moment. Eating healthy foods, such as fruits and veggies, is an easy way to promote better health and well-being. Also, lay off of extreme amounts of coffee and energy drinks.

So, that’s a healthy diet, lots of sleep, and a balance between work and personal life? Just what the doctor ordered!

Featured Image By: Flickr

5 Golden Rules For Freshman College Students

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5 Golden Rules For Freshman College Students

It’s that time of year when thousands of fresh-faced, wide-eyed students find themselves in an unfamiliar environment: a college campus. For the best part of the first few weeks, this will have been nothing but one dizzying blur of names, new buildings, streets, and fiddling with a laundry machine to get the blasted thing to work. Now that the whirlwind has passed, it’s time to start getting serious (Well, a little). Below, we take a look at those five golden rules which will ensure that your college experience is as awesome as you are.:

Get Your Money Sorted:

Sorry people, we hate to break it to you, but you’re broke. Maybe not totally broke, but you’re not exactly flush for cash and, as such, you’re going to spend more time than you’d like counting pennies and familiarizing yourself with the less quality toilet paper. To avoid financial problems later on down the line, create a budget. It’s simple: after rent, and other important things have been subtracted, divide all of the money that you have by the number of months it needs to last. Then, do as Charles Dickens did and use only the amount of money you’re able to spend every day. Easy-ish!

Learn To Fit Everything In:

Now, let’s see. You have classes, assignments, activities, social groups, sports games, and TV shows to catch up on. Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? That’s because it is. You won’t be able to do everything unless you’re taking steps to make sure that your body can handle it. Keep a can of Monster Energy nearby during studying and classes to be at your peak level of focus. Learn how to say no to social invitations and, if you’re going to skip anything, then make it the sports game, not class!

Don’t Forget The Homies:

You’ve emerged as a beautiful butterfly on campus, but remember those days when you were just a caterpillar? That world still exists, and you’d be foolish to turn your back on it just because you have new and exciting things to occupy your time with. Your friends and family back home will continue to be the best support network you have, even if they’re hundreds of miles away. Try to visit as often as you can, and make sure that not too much time is passing in between phone calls.

Try New Things:

It sounds like a cliche, but there will never be a better opportunity to try as many new things as you wish in college. See something that you’re even vaguely interested in? Try it. What’s the worst that can happen? A half hour wasted at a club which you thought would be fascinating? You might just stumble upon something you love.

Don’t Worry So Much:

There’s a lot of pressure and anxiety present in first-year students, but if we could plead with you to do just one thing, it would be: don’t worry so much. Remember that no one really knows what they’re doing, so act like you have confidence and hey, you probably will! Now have fun!

Freshman year at college can be a blast, if you let it be. Of course, keep your grades up and study hard – but you have a whole new world to explore on campus. Now get to it!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Skin Care Surprise

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Skin Care Surprise

Hi everyone and happy weekend! One thing that I am passionate about in the world of beauty is really good skin care products. I love my staple serums and moisturizers from The Body Shop, but I am always willing to try out new, cruelty free products if the opportunity presents itself.

I have grown increasingly more impressed with the beauty section of TJMaxx during every shopping trip that I make there. Every single time, there seems to be new brands of makeup, skin care, and bath and body care products to try out. And, the fact that they have the bath and body goodies from The Body Shop for a fraction of the in store price is a definite plus, too!

I was running low on my staple skin care products of my Vitamin E moisturizer and Vitamin C Skin Boost from TBS, so I thought that I would try to find something new from TJMaxx. Unfortunately, there is no longer a Body Shop close by to me, as the one near my home closed down. Because I was too low on my supplies to order online, I ended up with these two products from TJs, instead. Take a look:

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  • Dermapeutics Vitamin C Serum – $8 (Originally $45!!)
  • Spa Cosmetics Vitamin C Day Cream – $6

Skin care that offers an extra boost of radiance is very important to me when it comes to protecting my pasty pale complexion. It’s very easy for pale skin to take on an almost pallid and dull appearance when it’s not cared for properly – and that is so not the look that I’m going for! To prevent this from happening, what better method to use than some skin care products chock full of Vitamin C?!

I swear by my Vitamin C Skin Boost from The Body Shop, but I have to admit that I am looking forward to trying this new serum by Dermapeutics out. After a closer look at the box, I saw that this serum was originally FORTY-FIVE DOLLARS!! That’s crazy! I’ve never used a skin care product before that I would consider overly expensive, so it will be exciting to see what an almost fifty dollar serum feels like and if it differs greatly from what I normally use.

As for moisturizers, I’m not exactly married to the Vitamin E one from TBS, although it definitely might seem that way. Honestly, it doesn’t matter that much to me what kind of moisturizer I’m using, because my skin type is extremely normal. I usually just stock up on my Vitamin E if TBS has a good deal on it, though, because it’s easier than searching out a new moisturizer every time that I need more. Am I excited to try my new Spa Cosmetics moisturizer? Sure – it’s always fun to try something new. Do I care all that much, though? Not really, lol.

No matter how I feel about my new products either way, it will definitely be a Skin Care Surprise! I’ll be sure to report back on the products once they’re all finished up in my monthly empties post. Which skin care products do you swear by? Where do you usually shop at for skin care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Black, Glittered, And Bejeweled Nails

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New Black, Glittered, And Bejeweled Nails

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! This Thursday I was able to squeeze in getting a much needed fill for my talons. I used to get my nails filled every three weeks, but I’ve pushed it up to four in the name of saving money. I don’t really mind, but by the time the month mark hits, my nails are in desperate need of some TLC.

As always, my beloved nail tech, STEVE, did an amazing job of sharpening the claws and getting them back to their normal fierce selves. Then, once I got home, I rhinestoned my middle finger crosses myself and it turned out great! Take a look:

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I am super happy with how my rhinestones turned out, especially because this is only the second time that I’ve tried my hand at it. AND I freaking LOVE my accent nail color. The glitzy, glam, not quite pink and not quite purple color is so fun. Combined with the harsh black on my eight other acrylics and the edgy crosses, my accent nails add the perfect touch of sassy sweetness and I think that they look stunning.

I must pat myself on the back during this post, because none of my nails broke in an entire month and that rarely happens. It’s not like I mean for it to happen because I try to be careful with my claws, but accidents are bound to occur when my acrylics are over an inch and a half long in length. It’s really no matter, because instead of rushing to the salon to fix a break, I super glue them myself and once I’m in for a fill, Steve can repair it without even putting a new nail on. BUT, it was a nice feeling to not sit at Steve’s station with my tail between my legs about another boo boo on my acrylics! GREAT SUCCESS.

So there you have it, my New Black, Glittered, And Bejeweled Nails! What color of nail polish do you have on right now? Are you an acrylic or natural nails kind of gal? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Candies Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Candies Edition

Helloooo everyone and TGIF! As you all know from yesterday’s post, the arrival of autumn spells out big trouble for my bank account. A recent trip to Kohl’s and Target with my beloved mother left my wallet a little less fat but my wardrobe all of the better for it. Take a look at my new boots from the brand Candies, which Kohl’s offers, and let’s discuss:

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First of all, in my defense – I haven’t bought myself a non ankle or combat style boot in literal years. The last time I bought actual knee high boots was on Valentine’s Day in 2015, so this purchase was a long time coming. Why, you might ask? The answer for a long hiatus between boot purchases, is that I actually have a really difficult time finding “actual” boots that I like. Why, you might ask? It’s not like I have a problem buying anything else! Lol, sigh. Let me explain. Ahem:

  1. I have expensive taste. Sue me for it. The boots that I do happen to like are usually close to or above one hundred dollars. As much as I love shoes, I’m not comfortable spending that much.
  2. This is a really personal preference when it comes to footwear, but I absolutely despise rubber soles on shoes. I’m well aware that many of the shoes featured on my If The Shoe Fits series has them and, believe me, I’m not thrilled about it. But rubber soles on boots are a bit of an eyesore for me, and I refuse to purchase ones with them.

In my perfect world, literally every heel or sole on a shoe would be covered with cloth or made with funky material like wood, cork, or see through plastic. However, I know that this is just not feasible, because rubber soles on boots during inclement weather is a nonnegotiable staple for obvious reasons. I realize that, but it doesn’t mean that I have to like it! Therefore, I’ve always avoided buying, and even looking at boots to purchase because it’s just too damn hard to find what I like for a price that I’m comfortable paying.

(This is the part where the world pauses for a second, because the boot world as I know it is about to change forever.)

Pre Mind Blown Monologue: I love the shoe department at Kohl’s. I would say that about forty percent of my shoes are from there, forty percent are from TJMaxx, and the remaining twenty percent is from other various locations. I think that Kohl’s has a fantastic selection of brands and styles and the prices are, for the most part, extremely reasonable thanks to sales and coupons. While browsing through the shoe selection, I wasn’t really anticipating buying anything until…

MIND BLOWN.

My leisurely amble through the shoe department led me to my new boots from Candies. Guys…It really was love at first sight. These boots had EVERYTHING that’s important to me in my “Buying Boots Guidelines”:

  • Must be black
  • Must be at least knee high (These go up to the lower part of my thigh.)
  • Must be made from non-animal materials (These are pseudo-suede and man made.)
  • Must be heeled
  • Must not have a rubber sole

These Candies boots checked off literally every single thing on my Buying Boots Guidelines. Not only that, but I got these babies that were originally about one hundred dollars for sixty bucks. Fifty to sixty dollars is my cut off point when it comes to buying anything, but I prefer to stay well under that. However, because I own a whole two other pairs of boots, one pair that is two and a half years old and another that is four years old, I was okay with spending up to my price limit. This doesn’t happen very often, but it really has been a while since I found a pair of boots worth buying and I realize that around sixty dollars is very decent for a new pair of such high quality.

What I love about these boots, aside from the jet black color, CLOTH COVERED HEEL, and cruelty free material, is the length. I’ve never owned an above the knee pair of boots before and, I say this very rarely, but these boots made me feel sexy. These babies hit solidly at my lower thigh but are shorter than mid-thigh. I’ve always wanted a high, heeled pair of boots but never found one that I liked so much until now.

These boots made me feel good. Sexy is a look that is never a priority when it comes to how I dress but, man, I felt it in these shoes and it was definitely a new feeling – but I liked it. I was wearing a mustard yellow maxi dress and a moto jacket when I tried these on and I loved how I looked. These boots were edgy and cool but they gave off a glam and sultry vibe because of their length and, I don’t know…I felt good in them.

Another plus to these boots is their shape. They’re form fitting without being skin tight, but they have just enough slouch to give them edge as opposed to more sex appeal. Had they not had that extra give, I don’t know how comfortable I would have been in them.

Of course I’m looking forward to pairing these with one of my many black skinny jeans from my black skinny jeans collection for a sleek silhouette, but I never thought to pair boots like these with a maxi dress. I absolutely loved it and I genuinely can’t wait to style these with maxi and knee length dresses in the fall. And a cool moto or distressed jean jacket is a definite must with these bad boys, too!

I realize that I just wrote a freaking novella on these boots but I just couldn’t help it. I’m really happy with this purchase and they are going to look absolutely stunning with my new coat from yesterday’s post, to boot! (AYYY, see what I did there?!) 😉

So there you have it, the newest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Candies Edition! How would you style these boots? What are your own guidelines for boot shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A New Day, A New Jacket

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A New Day, A New Jacket

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! Boy, does it feel great to be back on lifewithlilred after my vacation in Asheville, North Carolina. Thanks again to all of my fabulous Falling For Fall guest bloggers for holding it down while I was away! ❤

The fall is a very dark time for me. With all of the gorgeous cool weather clothing, shoes, and accessories that the stores have to offer, I turn into a woman possessed. I forget my name, where I am, and the fact that I don’t need any more clothes and go credit card crazy. I JUST CAN’T HELP MYSELF. If you guys pay an ounce of attention to my page, you’ll know that cool weather clothing makes up a solid ninety percent of my wardrobe. I love it all. Ahem:

  • Peacoats
  • Flannels
  • Sweaters
  • Skinny jeans
  • Thick tights
  • Moto jackets
  • Trench coats
  • Knee high boots
  • Thigh high boots
  • Ankle booties
  • Combat boots
  • Hats
  • Gloves
  • Scarves
  • Layering ALL THE THINGS
  • Sadly, the list goes on.

With this list in mind, it’s easy to see how I lose my bearings literally EVERY TIME I step foot in a store that sells clothing. It’s my cross to bear, I suppose, but hey – it could be worse!

The splendor of fall clothing, aside from the gorgeous jewel tone hues, is that if you style it properly, you can get away with wearing some of the pieces year round. Fall clothing gives you options. To me, there is nothing better than buying something that I can get away with wearing during most weather conditions (with the exception of heavier coats and sweaters). I always consider the Cost Per Wear (CPW) with everything that I buy, and year round appropriate clothing dwindles the CPW down significantly. You guys know by now that I try to get the most bang for my buck, which is why my wardrobe gravitates so heavily towards all autumn everything.

Blah, blah, blah – Just get to what you bought already, right? Sigh. Okay. Enough trying to justify my spending. I dug my grave and now I must lie in it, but first, let me show you my new jacket from Target’s brand, A New Day:

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Have you ever had a spiritual connection with a piece of clothing? You know, that feeling of “I could buy this right now and not even bother trying it on”?  I had that feeling when my eyes landed on this magnificent knee length A New Day coat. And, I have to tell you guys, I was nervous. To me, this jacket looks expensive as far as Target goes. Come winter, their coats can reach up to eighty dollars. And, despite my love for this beauty, I would not be comfortable spending that much for it. So, imagine my relief when I took a peek at the price tag and saw that it was half of that – forty bucks. Yeah, I can swing that.

The jewel tones, the length, the possibility for layering, and the warmth level between light and medium, ON TOP of a forty dollar price tag made this jacket such a steal. Frankly, I couldn’t believe it, because it really just seemed too good to be true. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and that purchase price sealed the deal. I ripped my moto jacket off, set my purse on the ground, and got the coat on all in under five seconds. It then took a literal glance of myself in the mirror to verify that this jacket was mine.

I absolutely LOVE the colors of this coat. The deep navy, violet, and mustard yellow are all shades that look stunning against my red hair and pasty pale skin. It makes everything that makes me, me pop. But what really got me about this A New Day piece is the shape of it. It has that shabby chic college professor vibe to it and I just love that. It’s just the smallest pinch oversized which gives the coat such gorgeous movement as well as the option to layer a thick sweater underneath it during the winter.

And, finally, this jacket will last me from the beginning of fall until it warms up in the spring because of its relative lightness. This piece is perfect. It’s the epitome of what fall clothing is all about and why I love dressing for the season so much. And also why I basically wrote a love letter to my new jacket in this post.

A New Day provided me with A New Jacket and I can’t thank the brand enough for it! I never knew what true love was until now and whatever. What do you love about fall clothing? How would you style this coat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Signs That It’s Time To Leave Your Job

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Signs That It’s Time To Leave Your Job

It’s easy for us to get used to our jobs and maybe even feel content with them, to the detriment of our future advancement. Just because a job is easy and it’s pleasant doesn’t mean that is is the right place for you to be. While there’s nothing wrong with staying at a job because it’s easy and we know what we’re doing, it can lead to complacency, and you might still be there ten years down the line when all of your colleagues have moved on to bigger and better things.

To avoid being trapped by complacency, here are some sure signs that it’s time to move on from your current job:

Your Life Is The Status Quo: If you’ve been doing the same job with the same routine every day for so long that you can’t even remember when it started, it might be time to look elsewhere to start really building a career. If promotions in your current place are hard to come by and you haven’t been considered despite being more than qualified, chances are you could definitely do better. And who doesn’t want to spice up their life a little>

You’re Never Given Feedback: Feedback, both positive and negative, is important for your development. If you don’t know what you’re doing right and which things could be improved upon, you’ll never be able to grow into the best professional that you can be.

Your Bosses Are Being Difficult: If after all of the hard work and dedication you’ve put into building their business, your bosses are so difficult that you have to see a workers compensation lawyer or they put you on probation because you had to take a few days out to look after a sick family member, take it as a clear nudge to get out. It’s rarely worth sticking with a company that doesn’t value you, especially when you’re only doing it because the work is easy or it’s a little more convenient for you.

There’s A Mass Exodus: If your long-term coworkers all start to abandon ship around the same time, it’s probably worth finding out why. If they’re experiencing problems in the workplace, it’s only a matter of time before you start experiencing the same issues, too. Or, if they’re leaving because they’ve found better opportunities elsewhere, you could, too!

You’ve Been Contacted By Headhunters: If you’ve been contacted by headhunters who’ve gone out of their way to try and poach you, you’d be foolish not to at least consider it. If a company really wants you, it’s usually because they’re impressed by your work and are willing to pay for the experience that you bring to the table. You may be able to negotiate a better salary and more workplace benefits with them than you could in your current position. And, once again, who doesn’t want that?

You’ve Already Been Considering It: If you’ve been thinking about leaving, even if they’ve only been idle thoughts, it could be a sign that you’ve grown weary of your job, even if you don’t fully realize it yourself. Don’t dismiss these thoughts and look into your options, because everyone has them.

Leaving a steady job can be scary, but sometimes it’s the only way to move forward to bigger and better things in your life.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

If The Shoe Fits: Coconuts By Matisse Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Coconuts By Matisse Edition

Hi everyone and TGIF! Okay, you guys all know how much Lil Red loves shoes – specifically heels. But two of my latest footwear purchases from TJMaxx sport barely there lifts, which I’m shockingly okay with. The mule shoe is the it thing right now, and I have been on the prowl for the perfect pair since they made their debut late in the spring.

The mule hunt has proven to be extremely difficult. I don’t want them completely flat like a slipper but I also don’t want a huge, chunky heel like a clog. I thought that all hope was lost until a TJs trip last weekend, which resulted in these Coconuts By Matisse baroque beauties:

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Having size six feet truly is a blessing, because the pair seen above was the only one in the entire shoe department and it felt like they were sitting there just waiting for me. My new Matisse mules were stationed on the bottom shelf, tucked into the corner of the size six section looking forlornly for a new owner. Thank god I came along to help out with that!

These beautiful slip ons were the first thing that caught my eye upon entering TJ’s shoe section and as soon as I saw them, I knew that they were “the one”. The stunning pattern? The tiny heel? The pure craftsmanship of the embroidery? The twenty-five dollar price tag? As if my leg didn’t need twisted to buy them before!

The small lift of these mules was the selling point for me when it came down to it. Frankly, if my new babies were totally flat, then I don’t think that they would have been coming home with me. I don’t like flats. I really just despise how they look on me and this mini kitten heel made me feel excited to not be wearing four plus inches high shoes. That’s not just saying something, that’s screaming something.

My Coconuts By Matisse mules are going to be so extraordinarily perfect for fall. The rich jewel tones will add spice to the black skinnies that make up my cold weather wardrobe and will look simply stunning among the fallen leaves on the ground. I’m looking forward to wrapping up the summer by wearing these with shorts during errand days, but will be transitioning them into the autumn season with A-line skirts and sun dresses with thick tights underneath.

There’s no doubt that my marvelous mules will be making a huge statement in my autumn wardrobe and I can’t wait to kick up my mini heels for some fall fun! And for more heelless hootenanny, be sure to tune in for the next edition of If The Shoe Fits where I discuss an edgy new pair of combat boots perfect for a punk night out at the Marilyn Manson concert that I so desperately want to attend!

So there you have it, the latest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Coconuts By Matisse Edition! How do you rock the mule trend? What is your favorite brand of shoes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah