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Tips

Family

Life tip: take your Christmas pictures now

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas card season all around the beach.  The families are dressed in their perfectly matching shades of white.  It’s a hustle to get those Christmas card pictures just right, so I recommend getting started now.  The weather is still warm, the kids are happy, and you will be the first card in everyone’s mailboxes for sure like that superstar mom you prove to be daily.  Just kidding.

But in all seriousness, here are my Christmas card strategies to help you enjoy some calm in the crazy.

First, save money and don’t use hire out photography.  We purchased a tripod and use the self-timer function on the camera.  It reduces a lot of stress hiring someone and then you can work with your own schedule.

We timed our photo just before sunset and was fortunate to have amazing light.  Make sure to face the sunset when taking your picture just at the right time.  Right after sunset is perfect even light and then the kids won’t be squinting.  We then use Light Room to filter the image and brighten it up if needed.

Secondly, we order our cards through Minted. They can easily be personalized, are quality and I like their designs.

Thirdly, match your outfits however you like.  Our family has been loving Vineyard Vines lately, so we all wore our favorite Vineyard Vines outfits.  The colors all coordinate nicely.  We let the kids pick out what they wanted, and a touch of gingham really adds to the style of the scene. What do you think? Don’t sit on this idea, schedule your family photo this weekend, order your cards and give yourself a big pat on the back. Now, only if ordering the bay leaf wreathes, my dad’s gift, and decorating was this easy.

Maybe next year.

Click to shop our outfits below:

Boys Bleeker pants // Boys White Oxford shirt // Boys Stripe Shirt // Toddler Canvas Pants // Toddler Oxford Shirt

Shalice’s White Dress sz 4 // Shalice’s Stripe button down in Medium // Reid’s canvas pants in gray // Reid’s gingham shirt // Straw hat // “H” Sandals

Girls Stripe Tunic Dress (she wore medium age 12) // Girls teen gingham dress (age 14, xxs)

Home

What it’s like having a rental property

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Chairs // Pressure Washer 2000PSI // Dyson Vacuum //

OWNING VACATION RENTAL PROPERTIES IS NOT ALL HOLIDAY

After renting out properties in Chicago, Lake Arrowhead, and now Florida, Reid and I have seen it all. Well, maybe not everything, but pretty close. We’ve had new chairs ruined by renters making holes in the seats, oven knobs shirred off, and another oven broken for 2 months. You never know what will happen next. We have compiled some highs, and not-so-glamorous realities below.

Like many of you, one of our financial goals is to have residual income in a variety of investment types.  Think barstool.  Each leg is a different means of income.  Vacation rental properties are one leg, but lots of stress. Is it worth it? Keep reading.

TIP: Properties require maintenance, visit your rental once a month to check-in.  As an investment property, you can stay on the property 14 days out of the year for holiday.  However, we recommend you visit the property at least once a month for maintenance and check-in.  It is work, not a vacation.  We use a local property manager for support, but we still find it necessary to keep things looking clean and maintained ourselves.  Management varies by percentages and involvement. Ours doesn’t cover landscaping. We pull weeds, scrub walls, change light bulbs, power wash the exterior and caulk sinks/showers.  Sweat equity is always worth it. I secretly love weeding, especially when there’s not a million mosquitos biting my legs.

TIP: Do things that require professionals during the off-season. The complication to your vacation rental is you have a small window of time between bookings to schedule big maintenance items, so plan-ahead.  We replaced our crawl space insulation with spray foam.  This isn’t a fun expense, but over time it will keep utility costs down.

TIP: Interior design is pivotal to your vacation property brand, but keep durability in mind when making a purchase.  We noticed after only six months of guest, the upholstery is already looking worn.  Keep knick-knacks and breakables to a minimum in the house.  To decorate, we used antique books around the house.  Books add warmth, are cheap, non-breakable and easy to replace.  The basic rule is, don’t get too attached. Your rental will likely experience lots of wear and tear and plan to budget to replace furniture at least once a year. Despite the losses, broke items, highs and lows, is it worth it? We say yes.

TIP: Bring your gently used furniture from your primary house into your rental. You don’t wanna buy new for a rental that gets A LOT of wear and tear. We recently brought our ottoman and rugs to our rental to freshen up the interior and take out the rugs that have seen better days. We’ll enjoy new rugs in our home while our rental gets a glow up.

How about you, have you taken the rental plunge? Share your tips below! Or email me shalice@shalicenoel.com

Family

6 Big Family Budget Hacks

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Some say that having a big family is too expensive. We think that it just takes more creativity.  Here are 5 big family budget hacks that we practice.

Family Ice Cream

Going to Ice Cream Parlor Regular Cup is $5.99 x 7 People = $41.93 plus tax and tips

Going to Grocery Store and buying 2 gallons of Ice Cream

Our Favorite Ice Cream is 2 for $10

Saved $32

Tip:

We find we often go to the ice cream parlor as an excuse to get out of the house, so take your gallons of ice cream to a nearby park and enjoy.

Meal Plan

“WHAT IS FOR DINNER?” Who else hates that question? We try and save time and money each week by subscribing to HelloFresh. We get meals that we pre select online, sent straight to our door. While it will takes time to create the meals, I love not having to think about it. When I have the HelloFresh meals, I go to the grocery store less and therefore less prone to impulse buys. I see you start sweets gummy bears by the checkout line . . .

Family Dinner

Going out to dinner

Nice meal at a modest sit-down restaurant is approximately $15 x 7 People = $105 plus tax and tips

Going to Chipotle

Burrito $10 for mom and dad.  The older kids order 2 pointers for $5.99 and we order Levi side of beans and rice for $2, for a total of $46

Saved $59

Haircuts

Going to the Salon

Kids haircuts cost $25 x 5 = $125 plus tips

Home Haircut

We bought clippers from Marshalls for $24, 10 years ago.  That was a great ROI (return on investment). 

Saved $125 / month

Tip:

The boy’s hair is super simple to cut.  In fact, I have cut Reid and the boys hair for years.  I still go to the salon regularly and the girls go occasionally to get washed and trimmed, but that’s it.

Movie Night

Going to the movies

New Release movie tickets cost $12 for kids and $14 for adults and that’s a matinee.  $12 x 5 + $14 x 2 = $88

Home Movie Night

Amazon Prime Movie Rental $3.99

Saved $84

Tip:

Pop some popcorn, get some cola and plopped down on your couch for a cozy movie night at home.  From what we saved in movie tickets, I bought us a new sectional for our media room!

Car Wash

The car wash cost $8 for the standard wash.

Home Car Wash

1 hour of free entertainment!  (Almost free, yes, we still have a water bill, but the entertainment is worth it)

Saved $8 per week

Tip:

To save water, fill a bucket of sudsy water and give them a sponge.  The kids love washing the car and it usually turns into a water fight.

It’s your turn, what are you money saving tips/hacks? I’d love to hear.

Shalice@shalice-noel

Blogging

How to crush a virtual interview

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Have you interviewed for a job in the last couple years?  How did that go?  With work from home still a thing, it seems the Virtual Interview is the current trend.  Reid just went through a series of Zoom interviews, so we thought it would be useful to share some interviewing tips and I’ll share what I would wear considering; you are on camera and not in real life.  The interviewing dynamic is much different than in person, so prepare wisely to smash that interview.

Five tips to consider on a Virtual Interview

1)    Whiten your teeth.  The Virtual Interview positive is you don’t have to worry about stinky breath, but make sure you smile often and don’t have your lunch stuck in your teeth.  They should only see your pretty white smile.  Whitening Strips

2)    Apply face tanner water and then apply some serum to make your skin glow and radiant.  The Water by Tan-Luxe

3)    Look the employer in the eyes and do not look into the camera. 

4)    Sit with good posture, chin up and hands in your lap. This is what I believe is the downfall to the virtual interview; you lose the importance of body language. Remember to lean into the camera when something interests you as you would at a conference table. 

5)    Keep a cheat sheet in front of you, to remember names, key messages, or anything else you don’t want to forget in the heat of the moment.  Don’t forget a water bottle as well.  If you are talking a lot and nervous, you will want to prevent dry mouth.

Confidence Boosting Essentials

Suits

Accessories

Five tips on what to wear for a Virtual Interview

1)    Do not wear stripes.  Choose something solid. 

2)    I always recommend a feminine power suit with a flattering neck line and tasteful jewelry.

3)    Wear your hair up to show your jaw and neck line.

4)    Wear your power shoes if it makes you feel better.  If not, wear slippers.

a.     (caution though…Reid wore shorts in the interview and they asked about a drawing against the wall.  He naturally got up to show it to them on the screen and revealed his shorts and slides with socks!!!  It may have worked to his advantage in this situation.  They got a chuckle and put everyone at ease on the call.)

5)    Nude lipstick. You don’t want too bold of a color.

Blogging

8 Blogging Tips

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

trench worn in small // polka dot camisole from Express here is similar and similar // red day heels in size 9 (TTS so comfy!) // shorts // jeans // turquoise ring (similar)

1 // CONSISTENCY Post and write daily // Tell your audience what to expect and follow through.

2 // COLLABORATION Together we are stronger, do not shy away from partnering with a like minded bloggers. I once did a shoot with another fashion blogger, Sheryl from Walk in Wonderland and it was so fun! We shared each other on our blogs. Remember, collaboration over competition.

3 // BRANDING Think of your blog as your brand. Sit down and wrote down what your brand is about in 5 sentences.

4 // KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE Study you analytics, straight out ask them. Watch youtube videos on how to find your super power. Ask yourself what is something I know that no one else does or does as well as I do? Am I story telling? In marketing 101, we learn nothing is sold by just sharing facts. You must use story telling to sell your product. Are you telling your story and if so, how is your audience responding?

5 // JUST DO IT Not to sound cliché, but running a business is equal parts heart and head. Go outside the norm, challenge yourself. Do something that makes you scared. My college professor once said boldly, “Take holy risks.” I haven’t forgotten it.

6 // WORK HARDER AND SMARTER // Hustle, work until the work is done, make lists, and delegate. If you’re not good editing, find someone who is! Another pair of eyes is always helpful. I have a virtual assistant who is SO HELPFUL. Many days I wear many hats, from styling, creative directing, modeling to administration. All of it. You get the point! Don’t be afraid to jump in. If there is something you’re not an expert in, google it, and find someone who is. Don’t be afraid to reach out to another blogger. Collaborate! We all have separate gifts.

7 // STAY THE COURSE Slow and steady won the race.

8 // TEACH YOURSELF NEW THINGS, from hair braiding to coding to photoshop to video editing. A successful entrepreneur is ALWAYS learning.

Any tips you have? I’d love to hear.

Happy Thursday!

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How to Buy Authentic Luxury Items off eBay 101

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Rebecca Minkoff Bag // Similar Bags Below
Cute Jeans
As you probably know by now, eBay is a place I visit frequently for lots of designer products. Because who doesn’t love an amazing deal? This mama does, that’s for sure. I’ve scored A LOT of amazing things on eBay and I’m often asked how, specifically, “how do you know it’s authentic?” This is a totally valid question, especially in the world of online shopping. You never want to be in the position where you’re expecting a specific quality of product, but what arrives at your door doesn’t match the pictures or the price you paid.
If you’ve ever wanted to shop on eBay, but have let this fear hold you back, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered with five tips that’ll leave you wondering why you didn’t start shopping on eBay sooner!
How to buy authentic luxury items off eBay 101
1. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. It can be hard to turn away from what appears to be the perfect item. The best thing to do in these instances, though, is listen to your instincts and not buy the product.
2. Research the seller and read his/her feedback. This may feel a little time consuming, but it’s worth it to avoid buying an inauthentic product. Reviews from other buyers can be very telling, so take the time to vet sellers.
3. Compare pricing. Again, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I recommend browsing around and trying to find multiple options of whatever it is you’re looking for. This way you can compare what the sellers are asking for and then compare it to what it retails for. If there’s one option that’s significantly lower, be skeptical.
4. Note where the item is coming from. For example, if a product is coming from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan or anywhere international, I usually skip that seller and keep looking. I’ve only ever purchased from US sellers. The location of the seller can be a major red flag for authenticity, so pay close attention to this.
5. Don’t be shy about asking the seller for a serial number or receipt. I’ve found it really helpful to speak with the seller before I bid with any additional questions I may have. You have nothing to lose by doing this. Most are very kind and offer up any and all details about the product they’re selling.
If you’re still hesitant about taking on these tips, take a look at eBay Authenticate!
Happy bidding!
Thank you ebay for sponsoring this post!
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4 Tips to Shopping on eBay:

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel
I go way back with eBay. It was the first place I sold lots of my clothes and the clothes I thrifted and I loved it! I’ve since gone back, but now to buy as well! I’m usually looking for one-of-a-kind pieces I can’t find here in LA or anywhere else online or in-store. Lately, I’ve been looking for distressed denim skirts, Gucci belt bags and cute Chanel sling backs. Searching for the perfect items can be tedious, but I usually use a variety of creative keywords to find exactly what I’m looking for along with a few other tricks I’ve learned after years of shopping and selling with eBay. I’ve included my best tips below:
 
1. Look for “BEST OFFERS” posts
2. Put the auction end date in your google calendar
3. Bid with weird cents like ending your amount in $.32 – who knows it could mean a winning bid for you!
4. Be patient and try to detach. 🙂 Easier said than done!
As a reminder, you can shop all my instagrams HERE.
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My Make-up Routine

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

shalice-1 shalice-3shalice-6 shalice-22 shalice-10 shalice-11 shalice-21 shalice-28

Everyone has their own makeup routine, and I promise I’m not trying to mess with it. Scout’s honor. But I’m always picking up new tricks (impossible NOT to do in LA) and changing things up in the hopes of finding that Greater Beauty and thought I’d share some of them. I’m often changing up my routine as my skin changes with the seasons. I must admit, I’m no pro and am definitely still learning the best techniques from various brushes to the smoothest finish. But time, ya’ll. There is no time. So before school drop off I have roughly 5-11 minutes to get ready, so I don’t mess around. First step is concealer. I dot it around the middle of the forehead and under the eyes. I smooth it in with my blending  or foundation brush. Next, I pump one to two pumps of foundation onto my left hand, dab it with the foundation brush, and apply it in circles starting at the side jaw and working my way up. Side note, my skin is naturally oily and this foundation leaves no oily residue with its matte finish. Once the face is covered, I finish with finishing powder using the largest and softest brush. All day I get good coverage. Also, I use a make-up setting spray to hold my foundation in the hot SoCal conditions. A quick swipe of lip balm, a few strokes of mascara, and voila. The face is on. Anybody else have any no-fail secrets or techniques? Don’t hold out on us, people! 

I linked all of the products I used here:

foundation (mine is sand 23):: foundation brush :: concealer (mine is light) :: finishing powder 

:: the powder brush :: make up setting spray

@2023 Shalicenoel.com