One Day At A Time

 I have a problem with consistency. I have a problem with a lot of things actually. I make plans, set goals, and have dreams, but somehow life gets in the way...or I get in the way of myself. 

Yesterday I briefly explained some of the anxiety and panic I was dealing with. Today I haven't left the house. It gets like that quite a bit. Sometimes my brain and fears get the best of me. It is exhausting to live this way. It isn't living. Its pure hell. 

There are so many things that go through my mind each day. Feelings of doubt, fear, worthlessness, hatred toward my self, anger, sadness, and more "what if's" than I can explain. I know there has to be some type of answer to this madness that seems to have swallowed me, and I pray I can figure it out. 

God has a plan for me, and I have always known that. As a Christian I believe with my entire heart that God has this under control, but the panic disorder in me does not think like that when I am in the midst of an attack. The panic takes over my brain and I give in to the fear. I let it creep in even when I know the truth is that God still has His hands on me. 

Trust me when I tell you I pray about this. I have prayed and prayed. I don't know why I still deal with this. I get so angry because sometimes when I say I suffer with this disorder people say "just pray about it" or "have you asked God to give you peace". YES YES YES! I have not stopped praying about this. I always pray about it. Do people think I don't? Do they think I exhaust all options and then still forget to pray? I pray first. I pray during. I pray and pray some more. I cry and beg God to take this from me, but for some reason He is waiting to do that. 

I sit here and wonder if it isn't the doubt in me that keeps me in this place. Maybe I doubt that I can really be healed from this hell. I say with my mouth and believe in my heart that  God can heal, change and fix everything because He is King of Kings. Why then do I doubt that he would heal me? Why do I think that I am not worthy to be healed or freed from this torment? If I am so sure that He can literally make the blind see, then why is it so hard for me to believe that he can take this fear from me? I am constantly struggling with the belief that I will be this way forever and I will never be able to do "normal" things again. 

I haven't felt "normal" in a very long time.  Saying that I simply mean I just wish I could go places or do things without this paralyzing fear completely holding me back. I can't do normal tasks like drive, sit in movie theaters, walk in big stores like Walmart ,or be in big open spaces. Sitting on the beach gives me anxiety and I literally want to run. I even struggle riding in cars and the only people I can ride with are my husband and my mother. I also refuse under all circumstances to get on the interstate. Even certain roads are triggers and I have to avoid them. Do you have any idea how hard it makes it to live my life?

I have been struggling more lately than ever about wanting to break these chains, because I feel I am supposed to do more. There is something missing. There is something that I am being held back from, but I'm not sure what that is yet. I lie awake at night letting all these thoughts swirl around in my cluttered mind. I believe it's time to figure out why I am letting this hold me back and how I can finally be healed. I have no idea how long this will take or what could be uncovered in the meantime. It's time to let God work on me and learn to let go of the control I so desperately want but don't have. One day at a time is all I can do and today seems like a good day to start. 

Love and Hugs,

Brandi

*images found on google

When Panic Seems to Take Over

Terrible picture for a terrible day. The tears streaming down both my cheeks were very real and raw and so is this post......

Here I am again. I’m back in that awful place I keep trying to run from. The place that is hidden within my mind that lies somewhere between reality and the reality that only I can see. My reality in these moments are not like yours. They are not something you can even understand. You look at me and believe I am ok. That I am healthy. That I look “normal”. I need to uncover that lie and give you a glimpse into what haunts my existence. What paralyzes me with a fear so real that I genuinely believe I have no control, and sometimes in those moments I really don’t.

I get judged for this. I get belittled. I get mean and hateful remarks. I get talked about. I get questions of why I can’t just “get over it”, that I should “pull up my big girl pants”, “stop overthinking things” , or “ just make yourself”. Do you not believe that if it was that easy I that I would? Do you not believe that I would pick LIFE over this hell I seem to be trapped in. It has been almost 20 years and over 20 medications and here I am barely hanging on.

 
Today, like many days, panic showed its ugly face. Not just anxiety that is a constant staple in my life, but panic. The feeling of pure unrelenting fear that washed over my body like boiling lava ready to burn me to my very core. A fear so real that I lose all sense of myself and all knowledge of reality. I tremble uncontrollably and am paralyzed to the point that I cannot move or even think. In these moments I can barely even utter the words “help”, but the tears still form in my troubled eyes as they dart back and forth looking for safety. Something to make it ok. Just something that can stop this absolute hell that is taking me under. I am drowning in my own mind. In my own fears and you can’t even see what is right in front of you. No one can see what is happening inside. I am losing control. I am sinking. I am clawing at the earth trying to stop myself from being swallowed by this monster of panic that tries so desperately to keep me trapped. I am holding on by a thread that is slowly coming unraveled.

Today I cried, shook, and lost all sense of myself. It went on for what seemed like an eternity. I missed work. I could not get past the small neighborhood roads that lead out to hwy78. I could not to get myself 5 minutes from my house. This is just RIDING in the car. I had to stop driving years ago because I would throw the car in reverse in the middle of the road, because I didn’t feel safe. Pills and more pills were all anyone would throw at me. The pills would fix it…..they didn’t . They haven’t. They wont. I have been on over 20 different medications. This is still the result.

We finally made it back home and I stumbled back inside my house and crawled back into my bed. I failed AGAIN. I failed myself and the people who partner with us at the shop. I kept hearing in my mind that “people depend on you” “you HAVE to be there” “you are the only one who can make it”, but still I COULDN’T , and I cried more. Today has taken a tole on me. Panic attacks are one of the worst life experiences a person can go through. When they become constant you begin to feel there isn’t much left. Living in a constant state of fear is not living at all. Some days I can walk around with a smile on my face to hide the pain, other days I literally fall apart.

 
If you know someone with panic disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, or any other mental illness PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try to do as much research as you can so you can get a glimpse into what they are living with. You really never know the battles someone is facing and sometimes a little support will go a long way. We already feel like burdens and failures, so please don’t put your ideas of what they should be doing out there unless you truly understand. Love these people. Love them and support them and let them know that sometimes its ok to NOT be ok.

 

Whoever may read this and is going through the same thing please know you aren't alone! I know alone I feel and sometimes you just need someone who truly understands this hell.

Not Quite Empty

 The downtown streets of Summerville, South Carolina look almost abandoned. This was the beginning of what looks to be a long eerie break from our normal lives. The busy shops and normally crowded streets seem almost desolate. It was definitely not anything you would expect on a typical Saturday afternoon. Nothing these days seems typical.

 Tyler and I walked the block of Hutchinson square where our boutique relocated back in July 2019. These past 8 months have been a whirlwind, but definitely a blessing. God brought us the opportunity of a better location, and within weeks we moved. It has been amazing and such a fun journey.  This area usually looks like something from a Hallmark movie, but lately it is anything but.

Covid-19 has taken over the news, the internet, and most conversations. It has taken away anything we considered normal. We are several weeks into this pandemic and the US is seeing some of it's hardest times ever.


With this disease so rapidly spreading we decided the best and safest measure was to temporarily close our boutique. It was not a decision we thought we would have to make, but these times are not something we expected. I don't think anyone has seen anything like this. It is almost unimaginable. The heartbreak that comes with this disease and the lives lost are something I never thought we would witness. It is definitely a wake up call on so many levels. I think these times have made many of us realize the things that truly matter.

President Trump has extended our social distancing period through the end of April. At that point many people will have been quarantining themselves for 6 weeks or more. It's scary how fast things can change. God has opened my eyes these past couple of weeks. I have spent much more time with Him in the Word and in prayer. I think so much of our time is spent rushing and running and we forget to look to what really matters. We put things off and make excuses. We avoid conversations and hide from consequences. This has been a wake up call for so many. God is calling us to lean on Him in these troubled times, because He truly is our hope.

 So many of us take things for granted. We put so much focus on all the wrong things. I am as guilty as the next person. I know God has a plan and a purpose for me, but I don't think I have been still enough to listen. I'm trying to take that time now. I am trying to listen to Him and hear him through these storms. I want my life to be one that honors Him and gives Him all the glory. I don't want a life of selfish ambitions. I am not saying as humans we shouldn't enjoy life or give up all ambition. I am saying our lives should be pleasing to God. Our lives should reflect one of Christ and not of ourselves. This life is temporary. I don't want to waste this chasing momentary happiness. I want to store my treasures in heaven!

I don't know what the next several weeks will hold. I don't even know what tomorrow will hold, but I do know who holds tomorrow! I know that I am going to trust in my Savior through this. I am going to lean on Him for understanding. I am going to pray that He leads us on whatever path we should be on. I pray for our world. I pray for all those who are affected by this. I pray that things get better soon. I hope we will be able to open the boutique again soon! I know there are several other things that I am looking forward to doing. God is calling me out of my comfort zone, and I am finally going to listen. I pray that if you are reading this you know that God has plans for you too! Trust Him!

Love,

Brandi

18 Lessons I've Learned

It is still January. It is currently the 28th day of January. January feels like it lasts an eternity. Am I the only one who feels that way?

The past few months have been rough to say the least. They have been knock down drag out awful at times. I have struggled in ways that I cannot even begin to explain, and for the sake of a long drawn out story I will not try. I am worn out. I am worn down. I am flat out exhausted.

I have learned lessons in life, and I have learned lessons through life's circumstances. I am not about to beat myself up over things I can't control anymore. I realized long ago that the things that happen to us don't define who we are. The are meant to teach us so that we can grow. While I could wallow in misery and scream I choose to grow. I chose to take these things and turn these lemons into lessons (not lemonade...I am not a fan of that).

November of last year is when things really started to get tough. I questioned so many things in my life. I wanted to do what the younger version of me did...RUN. I learned that running is not the answer. Drinking was not the answer. Hiding under a pile of blankets in my cozy bed was not the answer (tempting, but not the answer). I have learned and learned and learned some more. You would think at this stage in my life all the lessons should be over, but no I am still learning. I think, however, I may pass the test. Not because I know everything I need to know, but because I refuse to give up and I press forward into the storms that life throws my way. I no longer fear failure, because I know God has gone before me and He will make my paths known.

I have made and am currently making some changes in my life. I feel like God is definitely working in my life right now. I though that since I am going to start blogging again regularly I would start off by sharing a few random things I have learned over the past few years!

1) It is OK to take care of yourself.

It is not selfish to make sure that you are ok. It is not selfish to stop and focus on some time for you. You cannot serve others with an empty spoon.

2) Forgiveness is important.

Forgiveness does not mean a fault or mistake is erased, it simply means you now have peace with the situation. I can assure you that forgiveness can be hard, but trust me when I say it is so worth it!

3) Your past doesn't have to be a hidden secret.

When you saw this you instantly thought about all those skeletons in your closet, didn't you? We have all had times we wish didn't happen, but the key is learning from those things. God allows us to go through struggles so we can grow. That is a good thing! Those things become part of our testimony!

4) God's timing is always perfect.

I am not a patient person. I have never been. I know that my timing and God's timing aren't always the same, and that's ok. I trust His timing far better than I do my own. His timing is perfect so I will rest secure in that.

5) When you say "I don't have time" it's a lie.

I just called you out. I called myself out too, so don't feel bad. When you say "I don't have time" what you are really saying is "it's not a priority". Think about that next time. Think about the next time you need to call a friend, make a deadline, or even read your Bible. I bet a lot would change if you said "I'm sorry I couldn't call you it wasn't a priority" or "I didn't read my Bible because it wasn't a priority. You DO have time. What are you choosing to making time for? This brings me to the next lesson.

6) Your priorities get totally screwed up.

We complain that life is busy. We rush and exhaust ourselves doing things that we technically don't even need to do. We keep up with unrealistic expectations that are usually to please someone else. In the meantime we are draining ourselves. We have to step back and look at the things that really matter and focus on those. I will definitely elaborate on this in a future post because there is a lot to be said about this! For now take a break and give yourself some time to think on this one!

7) It is OK of the world doesn't approve.

The last time I checked there was a long list of things I did or still do that the world doesn't technically approve of. Guess what... THAT'S OK! We are not on this earth to get everyone's approval. We all do things others don't agree with or even like! God is who's approval I seek! I want to do what He wants me to do. We were not called to fit in, we were called to stand apart!

8) Planning helps you stay on track

I have a small obsession with planners, lists, and various types of stationary. I love making checklists, notes, and planning out my weeks! There is just something awesome about being able to check off that box when a task is finished.  Be realistic when you plan and set clear and achievable goals! It definitely makes a huge difference! I have a few posts planned for this lesson too!

9) Naps are my favorite.

I feel like this was important enough to be noted! I am all about taking a nap! Sometimes you just need to take time and unwind! Taking naps has a ton of benefits! I can assure you that I am not the happiest person to be around when I'm sleepy! Naps definitely help!

10) Clutter causes added stress.

Half the time my brain feels cluttered, so when I look around and am forced to face clutter around me I tend to get stressed out. I love organizing. I can't say the rest of my family feels that way, which drives me nuts at times. I have a long list of ways I plan to declutter and organize over the next few months! Taking time and getting rid of the extra mess is a huge help! When you declutter you eliminate the mess! The less mess you have, the less you have to attempt to organize. This also means there is less to clean!

11) Daily Bible reading changes you!

We started a 100 day Bible reading with our church the beginning of the month. It is so easy to get distracted, and make excuses not to read. This goes along with lesson five and six from above. It is an amazing thing when you take the time and prioritize your reading! Allow God to speak to you through His word! I cannot begin to tell you how important it is to stay in the Word! I plan to continue this long after our 100 day reading ends!

12) It is OK to say no.

This one was hard for me. I always feel guilty for saying no. For years I would take on entirely more than I should because I didn't want to let someone else down. I am not telling you that you should always say no, but you need to evaluate the situation before you blurt out a "yes". Take into consideration the entire situation and what it involves before you make your decision. It is ok to say no and I have finally learned to say it myself!

13) Electronics have become too important.

Have you ever looked around at all the phones in peoples hands? Two people could be sitting across from each other, yet oblivious to the other person because they were to engrossed in their phone. Its crazy! Family dinners end up in front of the TV, people rush off to play video games, and facebook is more important than face to face friendships. There has to be boundaries. I am happy to announce we have set boundaries and eliminated a huge chunk of time spent on various electronics. Can you guess what happened? Our family has grown closer together and we are making sure our priorities are on track! This has been a wonderful thing that I think should have happened sooner!

14) Clean while you cook.

For years I would pile the dishes up in the sink while I cooked and tell myself I would deal with it when dinner was finished. After dinner I didn't feel like rushing back to wash dishes, so I would usually try to put that off until the last possible minute. It ended up feeling like it was a chore hanging over my head and I couldn't really enjoy my time because I knew there was something I still had to do. Some of you were smart and have always cleaned as you cooked. I was not that person up until recently! Cleaning while I am cooking eliminates extra mess and frees up my time to enjoy other things!

15) High heels are not worth it.

I will admit that some heels are super cute. Ok tons of heels are super cute. The bottom line is I don't care how cute they are, if they hurt my feet I am not wearing them! I'm not saying I don't wear shoes with a heel, but I am telling you that if I can't stand comfortably or walk comfortably I will not even bother! I don't care how cute something is, if it is uncomfortable it's not worth it. End of story!

16) What you put in your body is important.

This is so much more than your diet! What you hear, see, and consume in any way has a major affect on you. You need to be careful what you allow not only into your body, but also into your mind! God tells us to guard our hearts and minds! This is something else we need to make a priority!

17) Quality purses are better than cheap ones.

This is not about the cost of a bag! Don't read that and think I am telling you that you should't have a bag from Walmart or Target! Something I have learned through my years and years of handbag purchases is that quality beats quantity! Quality bags may, at times, cost more than a typical bag, but the value is totally worth it! I would rather have one quality bag then ten cheap ones. The quality bags outlast the others and hold their value. They are also more durable, so you won't always need to go buy a replacement! That alone saves money!

18) Camping is a must.

I had never gone camping up until a few years ago. It was seriously one of the best vacations I've ever had. When I used to think of vacation I was always concerned with the rating at the hotel, nearby shops, and good restaurants. That has since changed! I still love a great hotel, but I love camping in our tent! There is something amazing and refreshing about getting out in nature (with electric and water hookups lol). I have felt more revived after a camping trip than most of our expensive hotel stays! I plan to make sure our family goes camping at least once a year! I may be working on a trip for my husband and I soon!

I hope you found some of these things helpful! I have several posts planned about quite a bit of these individual lessons. This time I have planned out my ideas! I am actually following my own lessons for once! I can't wait to share all the other life lessons that I have learned along the way and get back to regular posts! For years I have said I wanted to get back to this, but something always got in the way. I didn't make it a priority. I'm excited about the new changes and look forward to sharing my journey along the way!

Love and hugs as always!

Brandi

A New Healthier Lifestyle & Weight Loss

I mentioned in the last blog post that a lot has happened in the past year. Partnering with the boutique renewed my love for fashion. I can't say that I stopped loving fashion in general, but I didn't like it if it involved me. I think when you get to a certain point in your weight when you feel miserable the last thing you focus on is fashion. My focus was on covering my bumps and bulges the best and most comfortable way possible.

I wasn't going to post this yet. I planned to wait until I had lost more weight, but I decided that it may help others to see the journey. The one thing I am not discussing YET is how much I weigh currently or what I weighed when I started. I'm not ready to announce everything!

The end of May I made a decision that I wanted to stop eating the way I was eating. It seemed like the only things I ever consumed were junk! I ate a lot of burgers, fries, and anything else that was greasy or full of sugar. My two biggest food issues are bread and sweets!

I didn't really obsess over my decision. I didn't map out some elaborate plan like I have in all my other failed attempts. I used to make these crazy goals and strive to eliminate everything under the sun. After a week on those diets I was back to my normal bad habits and the diet went out the window. This time all I did was make a decision to be more conscious about my choices.

The first few weeks the weight actually came off much faster than I thought it would. I was so excited seeing the numbers on the scale decrease and my energy increase! The first time I weighed after I started, which was about 3 weeks in I had lost 17 pounds!

I was so proud of myself for sticking to my guns! I still didn't make an elaborate plan for losing the weight I just stayed away from processed foods and junk. I ate yogurt and fruit most days, and that helped me eliminate any cravings for sweets!

The biggest changes I made were cutting sugar (including sweet tea, soda, and sugar in coffee....I use Stevia now), cutting breads, drinking more water, and staying away from processed foods.

From the time I started in June to now (it is currently July 30, 2018) I have not started exercising yet. I am going to at some point, but so far I haven't tried. I didn't want to overload myself with more to think about or focus on. I think the key factor for me was just getting a grip on my food choices.


I weighed again about a week after losing the 17 pounds and found that I had lost another 5 pounds. Normal weight loss is estimated to be between 1 and 2 pounds per week. I will say that I think that due to the food choices I made prior to starting this my body was probably in a state of shock! I went from eating garbage to eating what I should have been eating all along.

Before I made the decision to change my eating habits I saw a ridiculous amount friends posting about these "direct sales" companies that help you lose weight or get healthy. I can count 5 off hand that I know I see on a regular basis. They all have these 21 day challenges. Drink these shakes or take this pill and lose weight. Oh, don't forget you have to sign up and pay who knows what for a monthly subscription to their shakes, pills, patches, teas, wraps, or who knows what else. I was curious if I could do my own "challenge" without paying to sign up for some gimmick and compare results.

I mentioned before that I didn't plan or map this out. With that being said I didn't keep track of dates either aside from knowing that I started the very end of May and it is currently the very end of July. I know that in two months time I have lost 30 pounds. I also know that I have bypassed the results of the 21 day challenges I've seen. I'm not saying that because I wan't to prove those companies or people wrong. I don't! I say it because learning to eat better and be more thoughtful of what you put in your body can completely change you!

Most times when you go on a diet you avoid specific foods and go on some crazy binge. Binges don't last, 21 day challenges don't last. These are temporary fixes. I'm not saying you won't lose weight while you are doing them, because you probably will. Anytime you eliminate something from your diet you usually see results. The problem is when the "diet" you are on is over you go back to your old habits and usually gain all if not more weight back. That is why I know this is different. This time I can actually say I am not on some random diet. I have changed my choices and thoughts about food and that has made the biggest difference!

I am ending my second month of this new lifestyle change feeling good about my choices. I feel good because I know I am eating what I need and I am not denying myself. I no longer have crazy sugar cravings or think about eating half a tub of ice cream. I don't really think about it at all! I have replaced all the foods I love with better choices and I don't consider what I'm doing as even "trying" to lose weight now. I am going to continue on this journey and plan to keep better track of what I'm doing so I can give a rundown with more details! I know several of you have reached out to me via social media asking how I am losing the weight. I also plan to start being more active, and I will make sure to document that as well! The picture below is not very flattering (half of these aren't for that matter) but I wanted to tell the story behind it. This picture is what made me decide to post this here now.

These white ruffle tops came into our boutique back in May. My business partner messaged me and asked if I could try on the top to see how the sizing ran. I couldn't even get the top on. It wouldn't even go past my arms and I felt awful. It was heartbreaking to know that there was no way I could get this shirt on. A few days ago I was moving around the clothes and we only had a couple of these left. I picked it up and looked at it and then decided I would attempt to try it on again. I can't even explain how excited I was when I put this on and it fit! I didn't struggle to get it on, it wasn't tight, and it actually fit me like it should. That feeling was so rewarding. To know that I made a decision to change and followed through. I did it! I didn't follow some "miracle diet" , I didn't take random pills, I just cut out the junk!

I still have a long way to go, but I am so happy with how far I have already come. I did set my first goal, but this is attainable! I have about 20 pounds to lose before I hit my first goal! When I reach that I will make another goal. They key is not overwhelming yourself with all the "do's and don'ts". I think we make things so much harder on ourselves. There is no magic weight loss pill and no overnight fix. It takes time, but it is so worth it! I can't wait to share the rest of this journey with you! Comment below if you plan to change your eating habits too! Don't forget to follow me on social media! I am moving pages from Flair, so you can add the new one HERE! I am trying to merge my other page, but that is another story entirely! See you guys soon!!

Love and Hugs,

Brandi J.

Update, Plans, and What's to Come

I think this is the longest I have been away from my blog! I feel like I let life get in the way sometimes. So many things have changed and I wanted to give an update. I would say "quick" update, but I am not sure that would be accurate!

Last September I partnered with a boutique called Nina Belle's and brought in my bath and body products. I eventually took over accessories, jewelry, custom t-shirts, decals, and a few other things. Keeping up with that has taken up most of my time. The moments I would consider "free time" are usually spent working on orders. It's good I can work from home on those things!

The offer to partner with Nina Belle's seemed to come out of nowhere, but I feel blessed to have had this opportunity! God is so good, and even on hard days I am reminded of that.

In addition to Nina Belle's we have had several other things come up that made finding extra time seem impossible. Sometimes it is easy to get lost in the busyness. Tyler branched out from his career and started his own company. That has definitely been time consuming and a lot of work! I am so proud of how far he has come. It seems to have grown much faster than we originally thought, but again I am reminded that God has a plan and He is in control!




I stopped blogging, making videos, and basically anything else I used to do because I couldn't find the time. I thought I needed to pick and chose what was important. I have realized that sometimes you need to put more thought into what you decide to eliminate. While I am aware you need to get your priorities in line, it is also extremely important to make time to do the things you enjoy. Having time to be creative or having time for you is essential for your own well being! You can't do everything you "need" to do when you don't properly take care of yourself! You can't completely put everything you enjoy on the back burner and make life all business. Unfortunately I feel like that is what happened to me, and I am currently trying to come back from that.


Somehow I had it in my head that I should completely dive head first into "work". I was always working on something from the time I got up to the time I went to bed. Some nights I was lucky to get in bed before 2:00 am. I overloaded myself without giving myself time to breathe. It didn't help with my anxiety either. I just kept putting more and more stuff on my plate without bothering to clean it off.

So here I am almost a year later with no time and lacking energy. I have thought long and hard about what needs to happen and I am currently in the process of making changes. The blog, website, and anything related to "Flair by Brandi" is being re-branded! I am excited about those changes and there will be a lot more details on the re-brand soon!

I am excited about the future and what God has planned for us! I am excited to now make the time to get back into things I let go! I hope you will all stay tuned so you can see what comes next!!

Love and Hugs

Brandi J.

The Fall Haul & Hope for Texas Raffle Early Entry & Tickets!!

We are now selling tickets for our Hope for Texas Raffle!! There are over $1000 worth of amazing products that you can win! Pictures will be uploaded to facebook with all the goodies soon!

The drawing for the baskets will be September 16th at 5pm!

To enter please click below! Tickets are only $1 each or $5 for 6 tickets! For every $10 spent you will earn an additional ticket! (if you spend a total of $10 that would be 13 tickets)

Ticket Options

1 TIcket $1.00 USD 6 Tickets for $5 $5.00 USD

Follow our event on facebook by clicking HERE!

Love and Hugs!!

Brandi

Easy Ways To Make Money and Get FREE Products | Work from Home Ideas for Anyone

Everyone is always looking for ways to earn extra money, but the problem is that most of us don't have a lot of extra time. It doesn't matter if you are young or old, single or married, a parent or don't have kids of your own there are simple and fun solutions to earn you money that you can do from home!

I know there are plenty of options in addition to the ones I'm giving you today, but I only wanted to share what I have personally done or currently do to earn extra money! I don't want to send you all over the internet chasing hopes and dreams that aren't easy to fulfill. That wouldn't help anyone!

Below you will find different categories to search from. You can click each link to find out more information. The link will open in a new window, so don't worry you won't lose your place on the page! I have personally done each of these and have actually made money in all these categories!

START A BLOG OR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

I started blogging and writing for fun or as a hobby. That hobby has been such a great opportunity though! I have been paid by several different companies for content and have been featured on several different sites. In addition to being paid for content I got some awesome perks and a good bit of free goodies! You will find out more about that below!

When you start a blog you can get an adsense account through Google. This will allow you to monetize your blogs and get paid for views and clicks! Other sites can advertise in the sidebar of your blog and you are the one to get paid! Yes, you get paid for doing no additional work!

FREELANCE WRITING OR SPONSORED WRITING & FREE PRODUCTS

These sites pay you for your opinion or for writing sponsored content. Some of these awesome companies send you products just to test out! They are only looking for your honest opinion so you only need to write what you know! You get to test out so many different products from a variety of categories. You select your iinterests and they match you to campaigns. I love these sites and still use them today! Who doesn't love free goodies?

1) Influenster was one of the first companies I started with and they have always been faithful! I have     gotten so many products and voxboxes filled with goodies from this awesome company! I highly       reccomend them to women and men alike! This is a site anyone can use!

2) BzzAgent is another company that has always been great sending awesome products. I have tested     everything from household products to ice cream! This is another site good for both women and         men!

3) Smiley360 has also been a fun site that sends a variety of products!

4) Izea Media which used to be Pay Per Post is a great site for product links! You post the link, get clicks, get purchases, and get paid! It is great for anyone!

SURVEY SITES THAT ACTUALLY PAY!

I have personally used these sites and still do! I made over $50 in just a few days for a few hours of surveys! It is easy, fun, and really works! These sites pay via check, paypal, or gift cards to your favorite sites! Make sure to check them out! I am a member of all of these!

5) Global Test Market is one of my favorites I was paid very quickly and the surveys were quick and       simple! It was such an easy way to make extra money!

6) Survey Junkie was another site that paid really fast! Again perfect for anyone!

7) Swagbucks earns you some great rewards and has easy ways to earn besides just surveys!

8) MyPoints is similar to Swagbucks and has easy and fun ways to earn! You can even watch video         clips on topics you pick to earn! How awesome is that?

9) Valued Voice is next on the list. Easy and simple!

I don't want to leave off without telling you about one last opportunity that worked out great for me and so many other people I know! Have you ever heard of Avon? That is a silly question, because I'm sure most of you have! Avon has been around since I can remember, but so much has changed! Avon is not just makeup! Avon offers so many amazing products at seriously incredible prices. The quality of products is outstanding and the fact that this company has been in business for over 130 years says a lot! They aren't going anywhere any time soon!

I was a member of Avon years ago and recently did a first impressions video of some new products I was testing out. That got me thinking! I decided that it would be such a great fit for me to do again! If you love working from home, setting your own schedule, makeup and beauty, home goods, fragrance, and fashion then this company is for you! Did I mention you get a SERIOUS discount!!!

Not only can you work from home, but you also get an online store through Avon for FREE! Yes, you get an online website already designed and ready to go for your customers to shop from in the comfort of their own home! They shop and you get paid! You can also promote your items on social media and, of course, share links with your friends directly from your store!

There are some great incentives to sign up now! You can also kick start your work from home goals by signing up with ME! That's right! I would love to have you on my team and start this journey with you! It doesn't matter what city or state you are in because Avon has recently started training and even having some awesome meetings online! It's a great opportunity! Click HERE and if asked enter code brandijones OR feel free to message me HERE and click on contact!

I will make sure to update you if I find any other good sites that have proven to work! I hope everyone has an amazing day! Love and Hugs as always!!

First Impressions | Avon, Maybelline, and More

I've had a few products I've been meaning to test out, and thought that I would share my first impressions with you! We all know how I am when it comes to rambling so I apologize for the length of the video! Make sure you check the links below so you can find out where to get these! I seriously love the Avon liquid liner! I really cannot say enough good things about it!
 


WHERE TO SHOP
Extra Lasting Foundation HERE

Super Shock Waterproof Mascara HERE

Precise Liquid Eyeliner Pen MY FAVORITE HERE

SSS Bug Guard HERE

L'Oreal Misceller Water HERE

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara HERE

Maybelline Unstoppable Black Eyeliner

Love and Hugs as Always!!

LoveBug Probiotics Unboxing

I was contacted by a company called LoveBug to test out their brand of probiotics. I had not currently been using a probiotic , but have heard great things about adding them to your routine.  Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you and,your digestive system. They promote gut health in addition to several other benefits! I am going to give you a brief description of each of the bottles that were sent to me and the benefits! Check the bottom of the post for my unboxing video! You will also find links to purchase the products! You can click the individual pictures or check out where to shop below!

I was sent three different bottles to test out including Here's The Skinny, Yeast Is A Beast, and Colds Suck. I opted to start taking Here's The Skinny, so I will give you a summary starting with that one!

Here's the Skinny helps with digestive function and sensitive stomachs. It can also assist with your energy and moods! LoveBug claims to have better technology than any other brand and even has a time-release technology in their probiotics!  This specific one also helps assist with weight loss!

The second bottle, Yeast Is A Beast, is targeted specifically for women. It helps balance yeast and helps prevent UTI's in addition to helping gut health. It has a ton of natural ingredients and also helps with weight loss! 

The last bottle included was Colds Suck. In addition to working wonders for gut health it can help boost energy and help fight sickness! It helps your immune system by strengthening it! How great is that?

Lovebug provides several other probiotics that are great for kids! They have a broad range for different age groups and concerns! I was really impressed with their website and variety in products! They aren't just a "one size fits all" company! I also want to mention that this company was started by a mom who was on a mission to help her son and his digestive issues! Its a great story, so make sure you check it out HERE! Make sure you check out all the other great products while you are there!

WHERE TO SHOP

In addition to their website you can also find Lovebug at a variety of retailers! Here are some links below so you can get your hands on these and test them out for yourself!




Love and Hugs as Always!