Back To School Must Haves 2022

 

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Shopping for school supplies and clothing can be such a daunting task. It is a time when you have to make some smart choices especially if you have more than one child.

There are so many things that your kids must-have for the new school year. Make sure that you make a list of the things that you still have from last year that is still in good condition that you can use for this year.

If you can start purchasing some supplies in advance it would be the best way to start buying things for your kids.

Make sure to ask your kids what is style this year so they can get stylish clothing and accessories.

Your kids will need pencils, pens, calculators, laptops, tablets, bookbags, and the coolest clothes to wear back to school.

Get your kids the latest lunch box or lunch bags to carry their lunch.

It is best to start with the most needed items and then add some of the things that your kids want the most for this school year.

Right now is the perfect time to get coats, shoes, boots, and sweaters.

You can save a lot of money if you shop now for those items.

Here is a list of retailers who may have sales and products to take advantage of to save money.

Back-to-school shopping guide

1. Walmart sales valid through 9-7-2022
2. Nordstrom Rack  Up to 70% off new markdowns.Valid for a limited time
3. Columbia   Up to 50% off past season gear plus 25% off fall styles valid now through 9/6
4. Target  Great sales on school supplies and just about anything that your child needs.
5. Nordstrom  Pick up some nice and sturdy bookbags for your kids.
6. Abercrombie     Up to 40% off select styles plus an extra 20% off almost everything. Valid now through 8/30
7. DSW   40% off sandals with code TOPFLOPSValid 8/29 through 9/1
8. Under Armour   Up to 50% off outlet items valid for a limited time
9. Back Country  Up to 70% off Labor Day sale valid now through 9/6
10. J. Crew Factory  Up to 70% off Labor Day styles valid 9/1 through 9/4

Remember, that these sales are for a limited time so check them out now so you can get the best buys.

 

Dresses are fabulous for the summer.

Dresses are fabulous for the summer.

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Strappy Babydoll Mini Dress by Abercrombie & Fitch https://shopstyle.it/l/bJfvB

I love a simple dress that makes its own statement without being over the top.  Ambercrombie & Fitch has a great variety of dresses to fit most occasions. 

What 5 Household Products Or Gadgets Literally Changed Your Life

 What 5 Household Products Or Gadgets Literally Changed Your Life?

There are affiliate links in this post which mean that we will receive a small commission if a purchase is made.  

I am a gadget lover, and I love searching online to find items that I can save to my watchlist or put on my wishlist.  Being an apartment dweller comes with some restrictions, such as, not being able to have a washing machine in my apartment being a biggie for me, because I absolutely hate laundromats.  Having limited space can be a challenge and sometimes gadgets can be very expensive. 

I try to carefully plan purchases in advance, and over the years I have acquired many gadgets to make my life easier.  I work at home, so I wanted to make that process easy and make sure that I had the right printer, paper, stamps, and whatever else I needed to make my business run smoothly.  It isn't wise to wait until you run out of things that are needed right away. 

There are products that I had a second thought about because they were a bit expensive, but then I started to think long-term about the benefits and the fact that they would save me money over time.

So here are the 3 household products that literally changed my life.

1. I purchased a twin-tub washing machine that allowed me to wash my clothes in my apartment and it is very easy to store.
2. My Canon Pixma MG 3620 Printer because I no longer have to go to the library or pharmacy to make copies and I can print important information and send it out immediately, and this assists me with getting more work done.
3. Nikon Coolpix L830 Camera. I am able to get more work because of this camera and it has definitely been a gamechanger for me. I use it for YouTube and for blogging and I really love it.
4. Apple iPad Air because I am able to take my work with me on the go and I am able to edit my videos faster.  It took me a long time to jump on the Ipad train but I am so glad that I did.
5. My Acer 315 Chromebook because it works faster than a traditional windows laptop and does more things than I thought I wouldn't be able to do on a Chromebook.  It makes my job much easier and it is lightweight too.

If there are products that will make life easier for you; take a chance and buy them or save monthly towards the purchase if they are very expensive. 

Go to review sites to find out the quality of the products that you want to buy. 

Before you buy the product or gadget check out different sites to find out which one has the lowest prices.

Buy office supplies in bulk if you work at home.  This will save you a lot of money in the long run.

 

Beautiful Braided Hairstyles For The Summer

 

                         The model is wearing a multi-colored single braided style

     Disclosure:  There may be affiliate links in this post which mean that I will receive a small commission if a purchase is made.

The model in the picture is my daughter.  She loves to wear her hair braided during the summer.  She has been doing hair since she was nine years old.  One thing is for sure, she is not scared to use color as an accent.  

This single braided hairstyle is so easy to maintain.  You can wear it down like she is wearing it but it can also be carried up in a pretty bun. Braids are so easy because when you awaken in the morning, you do not have to worry about wasting so much time on your hair.  You just wrap it up at night and take it off in the morning and you are out the door. 

Braids have been around so long, but this year I have seen so many unique styles with braids that are curly with the multi-colors, or even hair that is super-long you could almost sit on it Lol.  Braids can even be worn if you work in a professional position as long as it is a simple, sleek, style, with using one color braids.

Cornrows are easy if you do not want to sit for a very long time to get your hair braided because getting your hair braided in single braids takes a very long time to accomplish but the results are worth the wait.

There are so many places where you can pick up your braiding hair.  You can check out:

Amazon

Nia Wigs

Wish

eBay

Sally Beauty

Etsy

Target

Where to find good workout wear.

 Where to find good workout wear.

There are affiliate links in this post which mean that I will receive a small commission if a purchase is made.  This helps me to purchase products to review on this site.

I have always liked camouflage because it always look sporty, and fresh, and like animal print, it never goes out of style.

 

My doctor told me to implement different forms of exercise that would be easy for me and I decided to use walking as my main exercise.

I have chronic medical issues so walking works for me.  Finding cute workout clothes for plus-size women can be a little difficult so I have looked around and found some sources that will work for me. 

Workout leggings are very comfortable to wear as long as they fit well.  I don't want them to look too tight because I want a uniform look.

Workout wear does not have to be expensive.  I have found some cute workout wear at Walmart that is very comfortable.

Workout wear is good to lounge around the house in too. 

Please keep in mind that you need workout well that is good quality so your workout wear can last a long time.  

When you purchase your workwear make sure that you put it on and stretch and do some exercise to make sure that it is comfortable and it does not restrict you in any way.  If it does, return it promptly to the company where you purchased it.

During the pandemic, workout wear has been the perfect clothing staple that we have to look good and feel good in.  

To make your workout wear more comfortable, make sure that you wear a sports bra.  

I have still had some issues finding complete sets so I had to buy the pants and then the top.  This can be frustrating at times.

You can find a lot of cute workout wear by shopping at a variety of retailers to find a good variety of sizes and styles.  I don't just shop at one place.

Don't let no one try to shame you when you are exercising in your workout wear.  People like to do this to plus-size people and it needs to stop.  Look cute and hold your head up high.

Here are five retailers to purchase workout wear for plus-size women

1. Torrid
2. Amazon
3. Asos
4. Good American
5. Ashley Stewart

These resources will help you find some workout clothes that will make you look and feel your best.

Be you and stay fabulous!

Does the plastic bag ban in New Jersey really make any sense?

 Does the plastic bag ban in New Jersey really make any sense?

New Jersey started their plastic bag ban which means that stores cannot give you a bag when you shop at their store.  You have to bring your own reusable bag or plastic bags that you already own.  This ban officially started on May 4, 2022.

I have my own bags, but this ban is really starting to irk me already.  The government should have done this when the pandemic was over because this is one more thing that we have to worry about and be concerned with.

On May 5, 2022, I was in a store and an elderly lady asked where were the bags.  She forgot that the stores no longer have bags.  Another customer gave her a bag, but this could have quickly become a real problem for her.

This is already an added expense for shoppers that are already struggling with the high price of gas and food.  We don't need another thing that we have to pay for this year.

This plan wasn't well thought out at all.  Someone needs to create bags that break down more effectively and that would definitely solve the problem.

We will have to bring bags with us to places where we wouldn't ordinarily need a bag just in case we have to make an emergency trip to the store.

New Jersey with its high rents and cost of living, is really becoming a place that isn't desirable to reside in.

Uplift Your Spirit With Flowers And Sunshine

 

Hello, my friends, the earlier part of today was a tough day.  I was down in the dumps, not because anything was wrong but because being stuck inside had really started to get to me.  Where I live, sometimes there isn't enough sunshine coming through my windows and I started to experience bouts of sadness.

There wasn't anything, in particular, that was wrong but it was because I felt trapped inside for a few days.  I had to make myself get up, get dressed, and get myself outdoors. 

As soon as I got outside I was hit with so much sunshine.  I started to feel my spirits lifting up and I was ready to go to our main shopping area in town.  

There were so many people smiling, and shopping, some were sitting around just enjoying themselves.  There was a lady feeding the birds and they surrounded her.  I saw so much joy on her face and the birds seemed like they enjoyed her too.

"Sunshine is healing and the flowers signifies life growing and thriving"

I began to smile, I was no longer in the grips of sadness and depression.  I felt a newness and vigor. and it made such a difference.  A lot of us have experienced the feeling of feeling trapped during this pandemic.

If you can just go outside when you get the blues, you can enjoy the sunshine. You can also plant some flowers or buy some plants or flowers for your home.  It will definitely make a difference in the way that you feel.

If you find that you are really depressed make sure that you call a therapist to make sure that you aren't clinically depressed.

It will definitely help you.

If there is a situation where you cannot leave your home; open up the windows on warm days and let that sunshine through.  Play some music that makes you happy.  Call a good friend or family member to reminisce about the good times that you have had.

Remember one thing, you are not alone!  A lot of us are going through the same thing right now.

How To Choose Beautiful Spring Dresses

 

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I love the spring because it is warm and beautiful, and the spring fashions are on point.  I tend to wear a lot of dresses during the spring. They are easy because you only have one piece to put on, but you will be looking cute and feel comfortable.

Dresses are perfect for when you are going on vacation.  I like to wear a lot of flowy-type dresses to keep me feeling cool but also to keep me from feeling uncomfortable.

Wearing maxi dresses are easy and quite beautiful!  You can roll these dresses up and fit quite a few in your suitcase to take on vacation. 

Midi dresses are the right length to make you feel comfortable and look good while on the go.  You know that you can bend over without everything showing.

Plus size ladies; there are so many dresses for us.  I have been seeing a lot of pretty green dresses that are curve friendly.

Spring is the perfect time to show off those gorgeous legs in a mini dress. These dresses are sexy and it accentuates your best assets.

If you have been invited to a wedding it is good time to look around online or specialty stores to find your special occasion dress. Always shop for these dresses early so you can find the exact dress that you want. 

Lilac dresses seems to be in style this year, and this color suits just about anyone.  I will be on the look out for one this year because that is one color that I do not have in my wardrobe.

Canary yellow is also going to be a big color this year so make sure that you grab a cute dress in this color.

Floral dresses look great and they are a spring staple.  

There are also dresses that are budget friendly.  Just look around online and you can find a great assortment of pretty dresses made for you and they are affordable for anyone. 

 If you are not sure about your size at these sites just order a dress close to your size and if it doesn't fit, send it back and get the next smaller or larger size.  I had to do this recently because one site I thought that the clothes was made smaller but in fact, they made them very large.

If you are on a budget, make sure that you look through the clearance section to find inexpensive dresses that are well-made.  I have been shopping like this for years and I have a wide assortment of pretty dresses. 

The Best Ways To Find Plus-Size Jeans That Are Comfortable And Stylish.

The Best Ways To Find Plus-Size Jeans That Are Comfortable And Stylish.

Our model T. is wearing a size 14 Bandana print jeans

There are affiliate links in this post which mean that this site could earn a small commission if a purchase is made.  All opinions are my own.

I have always had problems finding the perfect pair of jeans.  My apple shape is sometimes very hard to find jeans that accent my figure.

There are plus-size retailers who tend to market their jeans to women who have a larger backside.  I carry my weight more on the top, so jeans that are for women with bigger hips and backside do not look good on me.

Even finding a variety of jeans with prints or certain styles can be a headache for the plus-size woman.  The best thing that you can do is find a store or online site that has jeans with the perfect fit that you like and stick with those sites. 

Now, I hear some plus-size women with a pear shape have some issues with jeans being too big in the waist but tight in the hip area.  This presents them with a problem finding jeans that fit properly. Some of my friends used to take their jeans to a tailor to take their jeans in at the waist.

And some plus-size younger women want jeans that are stylish and what their cool friends are wearing, and this can be a problem because of fitting issues. Your friends can be helpful when you are shopping at the mall to give you their honest feedback on the style and fit of the jeans that you are thinking about buying.

Many younger women like to start their own trend with jeans that are unique and different. This can really make you stand out and be the trendsetter instead of following the crowd. 

Sometimes you may want traditional/classic jeans because of the durable/solid denim cut that is timeless. They are always good to keep on hand because they never go out of style. I have a few pairs of these jeans.

Check out your favorite social media influencer who has your body shape and see if they have listed any resources on the type of jeans that they wear.  You can even ask them where they purchased their jeans.  This is a great way to always find good-looking jeans with a great fit.

This site has some gorgeous jeans! You can find distressed jeans, high waist jeans, skinny jeans, and more.  They have a great fit that you can depend on. Sometimes they have really good sales.

It can be a good idea to measure the length of your favorite jeans so you don't buy jeans that are too long or too short for you.

I have some success with jeans that have a smaller cut, with stretch and those are a little more comfortable. My problem area is my stomach area, so I don't want jeans that are binding to my stomach. I just want to feel comfortable.

Some jeans with a wide elastic waistband can be very forgiving if you feel uncomfortable with jeans that you have to button.

Don't forget to check out Lane Bryant because you can find some cute jeans there. 

Macy's tends to have a great return policy so I like to go in person to check out their jeans so I can actually try on different styles and to make sure that they feel good and if they don't, just return them.

Here'S How Aldi Supermarket Remains To Be The Best Deal For Food In 2022

 

Right now, a lot of people are experiencing food insecurity because of the pandemic.  Supermarkets are raising their prices left and right, and you have to really cut corners to be able to feed your family.  

The gas prices are steadily increasing and it is affecting every area of our lives.  We have been told to always add vegetables to our diet but it is hard sometimes.

I was introduced to Aldi supermarket in the late 1990s and I was able to save so much money on my food bill.  I was able to stock up and add extra items to my deep freezer and my food would last me all month without going back to the store to pick up staples.

I still shop at Aldi supermarket because I can get my meats, dry goods, and milk, and they have a great assortment of their brand of cereal that is absolutely delicious.

They have the best fresh vegetable aisle so I am able to pick up my favorite fruits and vegetables and I also add some of their frozen vegetables because they are so affordable.

Aldi supermarket prices have increased but they are still the most affordable supermarket in my area.  

Lately, I have been experimenting with different recipes on YouTube so I can eat less meat but still eat nutritious great-tasting meals.

If you haven't discovered Aldi supermarket, right now is the best time to try them and see if you can save money at Aldi supermarket.  When I don't feel like shopping in the store, I use Instacart to get my food delivered to me and it works out well this way.

Aldi supermarket also has an organic food section that is amazing if you are trying to cut those carbs and eat healthier.

Aldi supermarket is the best way to buy food without spending a lot of money.  My favorite product is their purified water because it has a crisp taste and you can buy a case of them for a low price.  Their spring water is good too.

Please let me know what your favorite products are when shopping at Aldi supermarket.