*Tips To Earn Extra Money

Image from Stephaniester Jovski via Pinterest

Before I started my blog I used to write product reviews online for amazon vouchers, it was the starting point and from that experience I created my blog. I don't think I would have started my blog if it wasn't for the experience of write reviews online and it was a great way for me to earn a little money or voucher while in college. Today's post is all about ideas to earn a little extra money which I thought would tie in nicely with a question I've been asked recently and that's how to earn money from your blog - July has been my highest paid blogging month ever which I'm incredibly thankful for!

Surveys & Cashback When Shopping

Let's start with what I've already mentioned and that's online surveys and reviews. I used to write on DooYoo and Ciao UK! I used both sites for a couple of years and it was easy, although it isn't a very quick process. I'm not sure if it has changed since I used it (as I haven't used it for years) but you don't get products to review, you just review items you already own so why not use a cash back site and get a little money back from your purchases.

Car Boot Sale 

Since just before spring time, I decided to have a massive clear out of all my beauty products, craft supplies, accessories and clothes to sell at a car boot sale. I had to get rid of almost half of my wardrobe because of my weight loss and thankfully we were able to get around £400 for three car boot sales this spring/summer!

Earn Money From Your Blog 

Now onto the final point and the one that I think most people would be interested in, earning money from blogging. I started my blog in 2012 while at uni and it wasn't until at least two years later that I was able to earn anything from my blog - it takes a lot of patience, hard work, time and passion to even think about earning from your blog. In my opinion, you can't start a blog with the sole purpose of earning money (especially not quickly) it doesn't work like that and you need to write about something you're passion about or interested in otherwise, who will want to read your posts.

The main source of income from my blog is through sponsored posts, such as this one. I've been asked a few times on social media how I come across these opportunities and it's mainly through looking on #bloggerswanted etc hashtags on twitter, on blogger facebook groups and through existing PR contacts for my years of blogging. Additionally, offering advertising package, banner ad placement and sponsored social media posts are other options.

Sadly, sometimes there are unexpected expenses that a little extra money from smaller sources such as the ones I've mentioned aren't enough. Another alternative is a short term loan so why not check out CashLadys city credit index which shows data concerning average loan request, monthly income and top employers for various cities across the UK such as Manchester, Edinburgh and London, among others.

Do you have any tips to earn extra money? Would you opt for a short term loan? 

*This is a sponsored post
*Image from Pinterest

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Bubblegum Balloons

Today's post is a little different but also appropriate for something coming up next month...my birthday! My 26th birthday is on the 15th August and while I am dreading my birthday, I do love presents and the excuse to eat whatever I want! Books are at the top of my birthday wish list but balloons are also cute (and very instagramable) gifts!

*Bubblegum Balloons - One Dozen Rose Gold Heart Balloons (£45)

I was very kindly sent one dozen beautiful rose gold heart shaped balloons from the lovely people at Bubblegum Balloons a while ago (sorry it's taken me so long to publish the post!). If you follow me on Instagram (ofbeautyand) then you will have seen the balloons already on my feed and stories. Naturally I had to choose the rose gold coloured balloons, the blogging community would probably disown me if I didn't!

The balloons are tied and weighted as well as pre-filled so they are all ready to be gifted to your lucky recipient! They come in a very large cardboard box so they are protected, the delivery time was quick and they all arrived full. The rose gold shade is just gorgeous, it's so metallic and looks very pretty - it's also quite unique!

I have the rose gold heart shaped balloons but they come in other shapes such as stars, crescent moons, diamond, cubes, numbers and letter as well as words so there is every style you could want. In addition to the rose gold shade, gold and silver balloons are available too but obviously the rose gold balloons are my favourites.

You know that saying of never work with babies or animals, I'd also like to add balloons to that as they did take a while to shoot (thanks to the wind) but they do look so gorgeous and the photos don't do them justice! The dozen balloons makes for a large, unique gift and it looks very substantial; as well as a gift it would also make a great decoration for a party, baby shower or anniversary.

I had mine since the 26th June and they were still pretty much fully inflated on the 16th July, if a little worse for wear for being buffeted around by the wind. I shared some of mine out to my friends toddlers to enjoy so they would make a great decorations come party favours. I'm so surprised by the longevity of the balloons, I don't think I've had helium filled balloons last this long before! I cannot recommend Bubblegum Balloons enough!

What do you think of these balloons? Will you be checking out Bubblegum Balloons? 

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*Driving Safety Tips + Heatwave Car Checks

Image from Pinterest

Today's post is all about car safety and since passing my driving test after the second time in December 2016, it's become something I'm much more aware of. You can read about my experience of learning to drive on my blog.

Before learning to drive I knew very little about car safety checks or the internal workings of a car but I personally think that it's something every driver should know the basics of. I'm still learning and thankfully my dad is very knowledgable when it comes to cars, engines and the mechanical components but there's still more I need to learn. I don't want to be one of those people who knows nothing about their car besides that they like the colour!

Coolant Levels 

Looking after your car is something that should be done all year round but particularly during the winter and summer seasons when the temperatures are a little more extreme and can affect the safety of your car. The coolant levels within your car are important to check as you don't want to it be low because that could make the engine and radiator work harder resulting in a over heated engine - not what you want at any time but especially not during a very hot day or during a heatwave like the one we've been having over the past few weeks in the UK. The coolant level is something you can top-up yourself or you can take your car to a garage.

Air Conditioning + Ventilation 

Another important point to check particularly if you are going on a road trip this summer is the fans, ventilation and air conditioning of your car. Checking that these aspects are working is important because as with the first point, you don't want your engine to over heat, you also don't want the driver or passengers to overheat! Checking that the air conditioning system is fully gassed is something that your garage can do for you.

Exhaust 

One of the most important components of your car is it's exhaust! For me, it isn't something I've ever thought of but it's invaluable because it removes toxic gases and fumes from your engine. If the exhaust isn't working properly then the worst case scenario is toxic fumes such as deadly carbon monoxide, building up within the interior of the car posing a serious health risk to the driver and passengers so it's not something that should be overlooked. There are a few warning signs to look out for such as a warning light, rattling noise, vibrations and loud exhaust noises, if you experience any of these then you should get your car checked immediately - I can't stress enough the importance of making sure your exhaust is fully working. It is actually illegal to drive with a non-functioning exhaust - the fumes need to pass through a silencer/muffler to reduce noise. If there is a problem and you are based in London, your exhaust can be replaced by DAT Tyres. It's a safety check that should be done constantly but particularly before a long journey.

Tyres

The final safety point I'm going to mention in todays post is about tyres. The tread depth and quality of your tyres is important as it's something that could cause your car to fail an MOT test. We recently had to replace two tyres as they were getting close to the minimum legal tread depth in the UK. We've all heard about winter tyres but did you know that you can also buy summer tyres? Summer tyres can provide high grip on dry and wet roads and also provide high driving stability and optimum mileage performance for the higher summer temperatures, perfect for the heatwave temperatures we've had recently.

Did you know some of these safety points? If you drive, did you know about the dangers of a faulty exhaust (I didn't)? 

*This is a collaborative post
*Image from Pinterest

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Glossybox - Under The Sea July 2018

If you want to see all of the blogger mail and subscription box unboxing then follow me on Instagram (@ofbeautyand) because I show everything on my stories! I always love receiving the Glossybox boxes every month as they contain so many wonderful items and I've genuinely loved some of the items I've received so far and this box is no different!

*Glossybox - Under The Sea July 2018 

This box is a little late but I'm glad that I've received it because the box theme is so unique, under the sea. The theme leaves the door open for lots of summery products which is very appropriate for the heatwave we've been having over the past month or so in the UK. There are six items within the box featuring brands such as Hawaiian Tropic, Crabtree & Evelyn, Oriflame and more.

Oriflame The One 5 in 1 Wonder Lash Mascara (£9, full size)

Let's start with the one disappointing product in the box, for me anyway. Oriflame is a brand I haven't tried before but I have heard pretty good things on the whole. The mascara claims to lift, curl, volumise, lengthen and separate lashes but for my lashes it only defines and separates. The one thing I'm always looking for in a mascara is volume and this one doesn't do it for me; however, if you do love a lengthening, separating and defining mascara then you'll love this!

Regenerate Enamel Science Advanced Toothpaste (£2.50, 14ml mini)

One item that is ideal for me is a travel sized toothpaste as I have a couple of trips planned for August including a weekend away in the Lake District and a cruise as well as a couple of day trips and maybe a night camping! I have tried a toothpaste from this brand before and liked it so I'm glad to have another - the timing is perfect too.

Hawaiian Tropic Duo Defence Sun Lotion SPF 30 (7.4ml sachet)

The second mini included in the box is another that is ideal for summer holidays as it's a sun lotion from a very reputable SPF brand. I have heard great things from other bloggers about this particular sun lotion as it smells amazing (and I have to agree).

Senhor Do Bonfim Sea Water Hair Spray (£15, full size)

This theme is just perfect for the upcoming summer holiday season as we have another ideal summery product, a sea salt hair spray. I adore the packaging for this product, it's so cute! I also like the scent although I think it will be a marmite aspect of the product. I haven't tried it yet but I can't wait to, especially when I have my hair cut short next month - I'm getting close to 10 inches cut off and donated to the Little Princess Trust.

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Hand Therapy (£8, 25g)

The penultimate item is one of my favourites from the box, although to be honest, I'm love all but one of the products in this months box! Crabtree and Evelyn is one of my favourite brands and their hand creams are so lovely - I've tried a couple already. This mini size is going to be perfect for my handbag and I will be taking it on holiday with me next month.

Inuwet Cheek Shell Brush (13.20, fulls size)

The final item is the most adorable makeup brush I've ever seen! Along with mugs and books, I have a habit of hoarding makeup brushes so I always need more especially when they're so cute. This cheek brush, that would be ideal for cream blush, bronzer or highlighter, is the most adorable and uniquely designed makeup brush I own.

What do you think of the July Glossybox? 

*affiliate link and gifted

Update: I don't have affiliate accounts anymore 

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*Looking After Long Hair: Tips

I have never been happy with my hair, it's been very short, red, every shade of brunette under the sun, dip-dyed, highlighted, mid-length and more recently, very long! For the past six or so years, I've grown out my hair to my waist and then I've had at least seven inches cut off to donate to The Little Princess Trust. As I'm going to cut around ten inches off my hair next month, I thought I'd write about some of my experiences of having very long hair, tips and product recommendations.

Minimal Heat

Back in secondary school I washed my hair almost every single day and I straightened it almost every day as well and to be honest, I don't know how I still have any hair left after that! For at least the past six years I've rarely used heat on my hair, I wash my hair around three times per week and I always wash it in the evening so it can dry naturally overnight. I use my hair dryer, curler or straighteners four to six times per month, depending on what I'm doing that month - next month will be a busy month so my hair will be subjected to heat much more (a weekend away, my birthday and a cruise) but normally heat is very rarely used on my hair. When I do use heat, I use my amazing GHD Earth Gold Styler as it makes straightening my hair very quick so the time my hair is connected to the heat is vastly reduced.

Masks & Oils

Masks and hair oils are something I try to use once a week to keep my hair as smooth, healthy and tangle free as possible, the latter is very important because very long can can become extremely tangled (mine literally resembles a birds nest sometimes). I love Morrocan Oil Light, any of the Redken hair masks and the Salon Science range.

Detangle Brushes

Speaking of tangles, one way in which I prevent tangles is to brush my hair when it's wet with my Wet Brush which is a fantastic brush for those with long or very long hair. I've had mine for years and it's still going strong! Since I was a child, I've had a sensitive scalp so brushing out stubborn tangles can be quite painful but The Wet Brush makes it very easy and as pain free as it can be; Tangle Teezer brushes are great too. Your hair is the most prone to damage and breakage when it's wet so it is important to use a detangling brush!

Minimal Washing

As I've mentioned, I try to only wash my hair three times per week as you lose even more hair when you wash it. One of my hair problems has been hair loss, it's something I've struggled with and been self conscious of since I was a teenager until I tried the Regrowz treatment which has helped immeasurably!

Hair Loss Treatments

Very long hair does have a tendency to fall out much more because of the weight of it but hair loss can also be due to genes or stress however there are solutions, thankfully as I have experienced hair loss and it isn't a pleasant process by any means. Harley Street Hair Clinic offers treatments to help; hair transplants Harley Street use the most modern FUE hair transplant techniques which are available for both men and women. There are various treatment options and you can see some of the amazing results and case studies on the Harley Street Hair Clinic website.

Do you have any long hair tips or product recommendations? Do you also experience hair loss?

*This is a sponsored post

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Blog Tour: Wrecker by Noel O'Reilly

I have been lucky enough to take part in quite a lot of blog tours already this year with a range of wonderful publishers (which I'm very grateful for) but this book has to be one of the most beautiful books I've ever received! I was very kindly sent Wrecker by Noel O'Reilly from HQ (Harper Collins) so thank you! Today's book blog tour is featuring a newly released historical fiction and we all know how much I love historical fiction!

*Wrecker by Noel O'Reilly (384 pages) ★★★ (3.5)

I received this book from the wonderful people at HQ at Harper Collins and it has to be one of the most beautiful books I own as not only it is gorgeously designed but it's a naked hardback so the cover is printed onto the hardback book, no annoying dust jacket! I absolutely adore the cover, it's stunning! Anyway, enough gushing about the cover. Set in the wonderful, atmospheric and beautiful setting of Cornwall we follow Mary Blight who rescues a man from a shipwreck after a storm. Shipwrecks are a very common occurrence as is the practice of looting the washed up cargo and personal affects of the dead (I didn't know this was done until I read Sentinels Of The Sea in May).

The story unfolds as the identity of the rescued *handsome* man is unveiled as a minister and what follows is a look into the impoverished lives of the community, how religion plays a part in everyones lives and the intertwining lives of Mary and the rescued minister, Gideon as they struggle with their feelings for each other, the judgement of the community and religious beliefs. Oh also, there's supposedly a cannibal in their midst...

I loved the writing style which was quick and easy but had an eerie and darkly descriptive tone. It was a very quick read, I wanted to find out what would happen and I think the ending was as hopeful as it could have been given the events in the book so I was happy about that! I found Mary annoying at times but I also liked how she subverted the typical expectations and actions of women. There are  some scenes of domestic violence in this book which made for slightly uncomfortable reading but thankfully it is viewed as negative in the book rather than normal part of life, however I think it could have been dealt with even better, if that makes sense. I found some of the characters and their views frustrating at times and I'm not religious at all so some sections of the book were a little tedious but overall I really loved this novel! I'd definitely recommend it for fans of dark, bleak historical fiction.

Do you like historical fiction? Will you be picking up this book? 

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