Life…Money!

I just renewed my domain registration for Etailers Mall, and Mystical Beauty.

I can’t believe it’s been a year.

When I went to pay the invoices via paypal, I was pleasantly suprised that I only had to pay 44 cents out of pocket.

The rest of the money was already in my paypal account thanks to surveys that I have completed recently.

Although it isn’t a lot of money, I’m so greatful for everything I’ve learned as a result of starting the websites…and as a result of starting my White Lily Candles business.

Although I went into the business knowing full well that I was not a party person - I don’t go to parties, much less see myself doing them, I fully believed Tamra when she told me that I could make a living doing this completely online.

I’ve always been a little too wary of things that can’t hurt me, and not wary enough of things that can.

Thinking back, I’m still not sure if I would change a thing…

I’ve learned so much as a result of White Lily - not from the company, but from myself.

I figured out how to make not one but 4 websites…from scratch - because I needed a place to sell my candles.

I found some great resources for learning how to market items, and how to start your own business or increase your income online, and I decided that I wanted to share that information with others, so I started the Free and Low Cost Business Resources Blog, to help others, like me, who were on a budget.

Because of White Lily Candles I decided to learn more about making candles, and bath and body products.

As a result of that I joined a lot of soap and candle making yahoo groups - and realized that there are so many people out there who make fabulous bath and body products, and candles, but don’t have the money or the presence that large companies have to advertise and get the word out about their business…so it’s harder for them to find customers.

As a result of that I created Etailers Mall, to help small business owners, and people who liked shopping at small businesses, where they can get personalized attention, and products handmade to their specifications, together.

Can you imagine asking Yankee Candles if they could change the color of one of their candles so it would match your decor? You can’t do it.

But with most etailers, you can.

Since I wanted Etailers Mall to be 100% opt in by the etailers - that way we make sure that all of the etailers are actively looking for customers, and are able to take care of the new customers we send their way - I created Sarah’s Suprises, a blog where I can showcase the cool etailers and products that I find, that aren’t listed on Etailers Mall.

I’ve learned so much in the past year - I’ve also figured out how to make money online, and although I haven’t made a lot, I have made enough to cover the cost of the hosting for my websites and then some - and that’s all I had planned to do.

I’ve also realized that it takes time to make money online.

I was so disappointed when I signed up as an affiliate for VMC Satellite and didn’t make any money immediately.

But this year alone we’ve sold 2 satellites (and had a dozen more returned), and made $100. I honestly have no idea where the orders are coming from, since I haven’t actively advertised it anywhere other than on my sites.

But I’ve got two orders pending! And I’m crossing my fingers that they will go through.

The site does allow you to create tracking ID’s now - it didn’t when I first signed up though - I just looked again, and it also has information in Spanish!

VMC Satellite also has several resources to help you get started as an affiliate, and to give you ideas on how and where to market the products.

I haven’t exactly done everything they’ve advised, even when I realize that it’s a valid and reasonable thing to do, so if I haven’t made more money, that’s my fault.

I’ve also found several other methods that have money slowly, slowly trickling in, so hopefully if and when I need a little extra money, I’ll have it.

I know this isn’t a great ending, but it looks like it’s time to go.

I’ve got to finish getting everything ready for the movers to come.

It’s the ending of an era, but I’m ready to start a new life.

Posted in Life, Websites | 1 Comment »

New Etailers Mall Interview up!

Etailers Mall’s first interview, featuring Lindsay Green of Lindsay’s Candles & Stuff is up!

Go check it out!

Posted in Websites, Etailers Mall | No Comments »

Site Maintenance

Hi!

I just wanted to let you know that I will be doing a few updates to Etailers Mall, and Mystical Beauty today.

If you see anything funky going on PM me, email me, or leave me a comment and let me know about it.

Thanks!

Sarah

Posted in Websites, Etailers Mall, Mystical Beauty | No Comments »

I’m moving in a WEEK!

Wow, I can’t believe that I will be moving to Minnesota in a week!

The movers are coming on Thursday, and we are packing up and leaving on Friday!

I called and cancelled the phone, electricity, and water, today, I don’t think it really hit me until now.

Wow, it’s kind of scary.

I’ve lived in the Carolina’s or Georgia my whole life, and now I’m moving to MN.

I’m excited, but still a little nervous.

I can’t wait though

Needless to say - I might be out of circulation for a couple of weeks

Posted in Life | 3 Comments »

Leave me a Voice Message at Mystical Beauty

I just signed up for MyChingo Messages, after I heard about it at the WAHM Talk Radio Blog, so now you can leave me a voice message at Mystical Beauty.

All you need is a microphone (and a computer) - and you can leave a message just to say hi, or to share your favorite beauty tip, trick, or technique.

Posted in Life, Websites, Mystical Beauty | 1 Comment »

Beauty Alert!

It’s not a good idea to take Smith’s Rosebud Salve to the beach…it melts!

And when you open it the liquid sloshes out, leaving funny jellyfish looking blobs in the sand…and on your beach blanket!

(Note to self: Buy chapstick soon!)

Beauty Alert #2

Be really careful with those new spray sunblocks!

DH sprayed me pretty good before we left, and I still got a gigantic sunburn on the back of my right leg - it’s a lot harder to tell if you’ve missed a spot with the spray sunblocks.

We also had a lot of trouble with the spray blowing every where except for on us when we were trying to re-apply it at the beach.

DH used Coppertone sport Sunscreen Spray (SPF 30) which is ultra sweatproof, and waterproof, and he was pretty red when he got home. He did reapply once during our 2 -2 1/2 hour trip with my sunscreen.

I was testing a spray sunscreen - so I can’t tell you what it is. I have used this sunscreen previously while I was outside at the park with the dogs, and I’ve never had any trouble. It’s a SPF 45 spray sunscreen which bills itself as being water resistant - but I had the worst sunburn I’ve had in ages - my back is red, and 3 days later I’m just not getting to the point where it doesn’t hurt. It’s definitely not the unbearable ache of a day in the sun with no sunscreen - but it’s still a bad burn.

DH applied the sunscreen before we left the house, and it takes us about 30 minutes to get to the beach. We immediately got in the water, and I’m assuming the sunscreen washed off as soon as we got in - there’s no way the burn would be that bad if it hadn’t.

I applied the spray sunscreen to my face as soon as I got out of the water ( I used Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 55 at home) , and I reappliedthe test spray sunblock on my back as soon as DH noticed I was getting red - but of course it was too late then.

Part of it is my fault - I should have reapplied as soon as I got out of the water, but since I am so used to using those all day sunblocks, I’m not used to reapplying all the time.

I still threw my sunblock away as soon as I got home - the testing periods over, so that’s ok.

I don’t think I’ll be using any spray sunblocks any time soon, although DH will continue to use his Coppertone Spray. I’m not sure if he will repurchase it though.

Posted in Beauty, Reviews | No Comments »

Bare Escentuals i.d. bareMinerals Makeover

I went to Atlanta the weekend before last … and the first thing on my list of places to go was not Sephora…it was Bare Escentuals.

I loved i.d. bareMinerals when I first tried them, but after about a year and a half, it started making my oily skin look flaky around my nose, so I started trying out all of the wonderful traditional foundations, so I could review them for you!

For whatever reason, when I went to Minnesota with DH last January, I took the bareMinerals with me.

I noticed that my foundation wasn’t working at all in the cold weather, so I tried the bareMinerals … and it worked!

I decided that since I’m moving to MN, and I need to make a good impression on the family, and on the job interviewers, I’d better find a foundation that I knew would work, and use it!

Don’t worry - I still plan on doing reviews for you…after I get “established” in my new community

So, I went to Bare Escentuals in Atlanta - and they’re hiring! Boo Hoo, it would be so much fun to work there! Maybe I should lobby them to open a boutique in Fargo!

I got a complete makeover from Jennifer, who was super nice, and is from Hinesville, GA!

She figured out that my foundation color is fairly light, then asked if I wanted to do a whole makeover. I told her she could do whatever she wanted, and she got excited!

We finally decided on a wild but not too wild look for me. I wanted something dramatic, but I didn’t want to walk around Lenox Square Mall looking like I had way to much makeup on.

Jennifer used a tiny bit of Warmth on me - I’ve heard that this is very hard for fair complexions to use, and I was suprised that it looked good on me.

She also used Cupcake Glimpse (pink champagne) as a wash, and Beautiful Lisa Glimmer (rosy pink) in the crease, with Downtown to line, and of course Big Tease Mascara.

I really liked the eye look - I was a little nervous with the colors since I’m not much of a pink eyeshadow girl, but it really looked good. It wasn’t quiet as wild as I was hoping for, but it was pretty.

I love the fact that you have so many choices when you use bareMinerals glimmers and glimpses (eyeshadows).

There are so many vibrant colors to choose from, and a ton of nudes as well. Sometimes its just fun to play with something that’s unexpected.

Overall I was really impressed with my BareEscentuals experience. The makeover was fun, with no pressure to buy, and I really looked good when it was done.

I’ve heard some horror stories about makeup artists using the worst customers on colors, and purposely trying to make people look bad so they would leave them alone, and that was not happening here.

I almost forgot - I couldn’t go to the mall with no makeup at all on, so I used a cloth cleanser before I got there. I’m not sure what it was, but I didn’t have any bad effects from it - and it did a pretty good job of taking off all of the makeup except my liner.

Posted in Life, Beauty, Reviews | No Comments »