Remember the Beanie Baby boom? When Ty first introduced Beanie Babies in the early 90s, everyone thought their collection would be worth a fortune one day — and some of them wound up being right!

While some Beanie Baby value is simply nostalgia, some Beanies became valuable collector’s items. That said, figuring out which of your old Beanies is worth something and getting that money is easier said than done.

Ready to start trading in your Beanie Babies for cash but aren’t sure where to start? Here’s everything you need to know about how to begin buying and selling Beanie Babies.

How to Determine Beanie Baby Value

Did you know that a Ty Princess Diana bear once sold for over $500,000? Well, if that figure alone is the reason why you want to get into buying and selling Beanie Babies, then you’re out of luck because it never happened. While the famous Princess Bear can be one of the more valuable Beanies on the resale market, if you try to sell one now, at most, you’ll probably rake in about $80.

That said, if you manage to find one of the original nine Beanies with a tag misprint, you could be looking at a significantly heftier payout.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about Beanie Baby value, and the only way to combat it is by doing plenty of research and becoming an expert on Beanie resale and by consulting a toy appraiser before listing your Babies for sale.

Keep Your Babies Clean

You may be able to sell a well-loved, tagless, original Pattie the Platypus to someone who’s feeling a bit nostalgic. But, if you want to earn big bucks selling Beanies, you’re going to have to make sure your toys are pristine.

Unfortuabnlty, the best way to ensure you’re Beanie Babies are in “like-new” condition is to travel back to 1997 and pop them all into those handy Beanie Baby display cases that were all the rage. But, until time travel becomes a bit more mainstream, the best you can do is to try to prevent any further damage.

One easy way to keep your Beanie Babies as fresh as possible is by popping them in a Ziploc bag. A Ziploc bag will protect your Babies from dust, water, and unpleasant smells like smoke, which can significantly lower their value.

If you have a few slightly shabby Beanie Baby’s you’re interested in selling to collectors, you may want to consider passing them off to a toy restoration expert first to get them cleaned up and looking their best. But, keep in mind that some purist Beanie connoisseurs may want you to disclose this information before you make a sale.

Find the Right Marketplace

Finally, once you have your Beanie Babies ready to go, all that’s left is to find a place to sell them.

Sites like eBay may seem like the most obvious choice when selling collectibles like Beanie Babies. But, these types of online marketplaces have gained a bit of a bad reputation due to scammers.

If you want to make money selling Beanie Babies on one of these sites, you’re going to have to spend some time building up your reputation first, which can take a while.

The best place to buy Ty Beanies Babies online is specialty sites that cater exclusively to Beanie Baby collectors. Usually, Beanie lovers and experts run these types of sites and will be able to help you navigate the buying and selling process with ease.

Getting the Most Bang for Your Beanies

Once upon a time, people banking on Beanie Baby value was a bit of a joke. But now we know that some of those adorable little plushy, bean-filled animals were actually worth their weight in gold.

Now that you know more about how to begin buying and selling Beanie Babies, it’s time to get to work.

Are you looking for more information on how to get into buying and selling high-value collectibles? We’ve got you covered. Check out the rest of our blog for more helpful articles today!

Having perfectly straight teeth is a goal for many people so that they can look their best and show off their smiles. 

However, did you know that perfectly straight teeth actually have health benefits, too?

That’s right! People with straight teeth experience a number of different perks for their health, making having straight teeth more than just a cosmetic goal. 

Let’s take a look at a few incredible health benefits of having perfectly straight teeth. 

Perfectly Straight Teeth Reduce the Risk of Grinding

One major dental problem that many people struggle with is grinding their teeth. And, many people actually grind their teeth unconsciously while sleeping.

When your teeth are perfectly straight, however, the top and bottom teeth align and reduce the damage caused by grinding your teeth. 

In some cases, straightening your teeth can actually put a stop to teeth grinding altogether! 

If you think you may be struggling with teeth grinding, speaking to a dentist for more information about how to straighten teeth to stop grinding may be helpful. 

Straight Teeth Leave Less Chance for Decay

Crooked teeth often leave awkward gaps in the teeth. They can also leave areas of the gums exposed. 

The shape of the teeth can also make it harder to brush and floss in between your teeth. 

All of these factors combine to make it easy for plaque and gunk to buildup in the teeth and easy for decay to start forming.

Having perfectly straight teeth can help make it easier for you to get in and remove bacteria and consequently reduce the risk of tooth decay. 

Having Straight Teeth Mean Less Chance of Injury

When you have crooked teeth it can be extremely easy to suffer mouth injuries. 

That’s because crooked teeth often stick out at strange angles and can make it easier for you to bite your tongue or cheek. 

It can also make them easier to knock out if you suffer a sports injury or other trauma to the face. 

One of the benefits of straight teeth is that they are in the correct place and aren’t at an odd angle that makes them easy to snag on a tongue or cheek or to knock loose on impact. 

By straightening your teeth, you can actually reduce your risk of injury and of needing implants to replace missing teeth.

Perfect Smiles Help Put a Stop to Gum Disease

Gum disease often develops when you’re not able to brush or floss your teeth properly. 

And, if left untreated, this can turn into a severe issue called periodontitis. 

When you have perfectly straight teeth, it becomes much easier to brush and floss your gums. That reduces your risk of developing severe gum disease. 

It also helps stop bleeding in the gums when brushing and flossing, giving you overall better oral health and hygiene. 

Improve Your Smile And Your Health

Getting perfectly straight teeth offers more than just cosmetic benefits. Perfectly straight teeth actually help you improve your overall well-being. 

If you’re ready to get started with a smile that not only looks beautiful but helps keep you healthy and happy, speak with your local dentist. 

A professional can help set you up with teeth straightening treatments that help you look and feel your best. Get the straight teeth you deserve today!

Your wife’s big day is almost here. No, it’s not her birthday, but you should spoil her like it is. May 9th is Mother’s Day!

Your wife cooks, keeps the house in order, makes sure your kids are fed and taken to school, and does the grocery shopping, all while working a full-time job. Get her something special. Something that says, “thank you for all the work you do!”

Scratching your head because you’re not sure what your wife likes or needs? Is she hard to shop for? Here are a few Mother’s Day gifts for your wife that she’s sure to appreciate.

1. Get Her Something Cheesy 

Some of the best Mother’s Day gifts are the ones that leave her grinning like an idiot. Sure, she might roast you if you go too hammy, but deep down, you know she appreciates the sentiment. 

If you want to get her jewelry and leave a mushy note, there’s the fortune cookie locket. When you order it, you can either pick a message or write a custom one. The message is rolled up and placed inside the locket.

If you’re strapped for cash there’s always the classic create a book of “coupons” idea. You’ll make little coupons that she can turn in. For example, “cash this in for 1 breakfast in bed”.

You can either create them on a computer and print them out or cut a piece of paper into squares and write everything in.   

2. Comfy Pair of Slippers

Between going to work and coming home to take care of the kids and do stuff around the house, your wife’s poor feet are dying. Give her aching toes a break with a comfy pair of slippers. 

It won’t be able to work the same magic as a foot soaker (another great gift idea to note), but it will make her feel like she’s walking on a cloud while she’s at the house. It also gives her something to slip her feet into in the morning, so she doesn’t have to get jarred awake by stepping on a cold floor.  

3. The Fancy Chocolate Boxes 

Everyone can get their spouse a box of chocolates. What makes it special is the quality. Skip out on the store-bought stuff and get a little fancier.

We’re talking about a subscription box. 

Vosges 

If you get chocolate from Vosges, you’ll get to choose from two options for your wife. The first one includes a combination of bonbons and bars. You get to decide what goes into the box, so it’s custom. 

If your wife enjoys the gift and you want to keep it coming, all you have to do is click the “subscribe” and “auto-ship boxes” when you’re checking out. 

The second option is one of their two chocolate clubs. These are a little more expensive, but you can choose to only make it an every 12-month thing if you want. This way, the payments are more spaced out, at least. 

Rakka 

Every Rakka box comes with two or three unique organic chocolate bars. It depends on which subscription box you choose to go with. 

Each bar is pure, ethically sourced, and affordable. The boxes range between 20-25 dollars. You can get a shipment sent to your wife every month or every two months. 

Kekao

If your wife is a real chocolate connoisseur, this chocolate subscription box is for her. The company grabs awesome chocolate bars from other companies to ship to your doorstep each month. 

It’s a fun surprise for your wife because whatever she gets will be completely random. There are four to five bars in every 40-dollar box. 

4. Bathtub Tray 

It’s stereotypical, but there’s nothing like sinking into a hot tub of water at the end of the day with a glass of wine in your hand. Well, it’s nice until you accidentally dump your glass into the water. 

Help her avoid any unfortunate accidents by getting her a bathtub tray. It will allow her to enjoy her bath the way she wants it whether it’s drinking a glass of her favorite pinot noir or reading a book by candlelight. 

5. Clean the House 

Great gifts for Mother’s Days aren’t always about what you get her. It’s about what you do. She stays busy all year-round taking care of everyone. 

Give her one day where she doesn’t have to worry about doing anything. Get up early the morning of Mother’s Day and clean the entire house for her. 

Follow this up by cooking a nice breakfast or dinner, and we promise she will be happy as can be. 

6. Flowers 

Flowers are a classic Mother’s Day gift. We will say that you shouldn’t get her a bouquet from the grocery store. They aren’t exactly kept up well, so they die fast. 

Trust a local florist for your Mother’s Day flowers. Not only will they have a wider selection of beautiful arrangements, but they’ll deliver them right to the door. 

7. A New Bag 

Have you seen the pockets on women’s pants? You can’t fit anything in them. That’s why most women won’t say no to a new purse that they can put their things in. 

For safety reasons, consider getting her a small one with an adjustable strap. If she can keep the purse close by her side, it will detour any crafty burglars. Believe it or not, they don’t want to get caught. 

Choose the Best Mother’s Day Gifts for Your Wife 

Are you wracking your mind trying to pick out Mother’s Day Gifts for your wife? It’s not something that you should overthink. At the end of the day, it’s the act of showing your appreciation for her that matters. 

Consider one of the options on this list, or choose a combination of them to show the woman you love how much she means to you. If you’re shopping this Mother’s Day on a budget, visit the Frugal Living section of our blog for more ideas that won’t break your bank. 

The average woman owns around forty makeup products. Makeup is clearly important to women of all types, especially professional women. 

Of course, it can be difficult for women in the workplace to use the appropriate amount of makeup. You want to wear enough so that you look presentable but not too much because you might distract your coworkers. 

Luckily for you, we’ve got several helpful professional makeup tips for proud career women to help you out. So keep on reading and we will take you through everything that you need to know!

1. Know Your Audience

Your professional makeup routine should fit the workplace that you are part of. If you are someone who works in an office for a law firm, then you want to go with a specific and conservative look. If you work for a magazine or trendy website, then you can probably get a little more creative with your style.

For your average workday, you want to make sure that you look polished but not shiny. You don’t want people to look at you and think to themselves that you’re wearing too much makeup. 

2. Go for a Natural Look

While your nighttime or evening look might involve eyeliner, red lipstick, highlighters, smoky eyes, and bronzer, your workday routine should help you obtain a more natural look.

You don’t want to look like you’re going out to the club.

3. Keep It Light

While you might feel tempted to try out some deep contouring on your cheekbones or cat eyes, you should avoid using too much makeup. Instead, go with a cream blush, lash extension kit, brown eyeshadow, filled-in brows, spot concealer, and tinted moisturizer to create a more light style for the workplace. 

4. Make Sure Your Skin Looks Nice

You want to make sure that you have the right foundation and tinted moisturizer for your skin. You want to have some concealer on and add a small amount of polish.

You don’t want to a face that is very powdery. Spot correcting for blemishes is a good idea. It is also going to be good for your skin.  

5. Highlight Your Best Features

In order to look refreshed and polished, you don’t have to put on a ton of makeup. You should consider the features that you feel the most confident about and highlight them more.

It could be softly defined eyes, nicely shaped eyebrows, or fresh and glowing skin. Show off whatever makes you feel self-assured and comfortable.

6. Keep Your Nails in Check 

As fun as nail art is, glittery and bedazzled nails are not appropriate for most workplaces. If you work in a big office where not everyone knows each other very well, then you don’t want to be known as the girl with the crazy nails.

Most importantly, you just want to make sure that your nails are manicured and neat. Neutrals and light pinks are usually the way to go. However, if you work in a place that is more creative, then you go with a soft pastel, deep blues, or bright reds. 

7. Bring a Little Makeup Bag

You should bring a small makeup kit with you in your work bag. It should contain all of the makeup items that you are going to need to keep your look fresh. It could include a tinted moisturizer, mascara, face mist, a brow pencil, a lip color, blotting papers, and powder.

You can use moisturizer and face mist for a touch-up in the middle of the day. This will help to keep you looking and feeling fresh and it will hydrate the skin. It’s also a good idea to keep some breath mints in the bag too. 

8. Try Multi-Use Makeup

Stick makeup and multi-use makeup products that you can blend with your fingers are good because they are easy to use. Especially when it comes to being easy to wear and for touch-ups.

When it comes to makeup for your eyes, eyeshadow sticks are easy and quick to apply. You can put them on, blend them, or even just put a small amount under your eyes to achieve a more polished look.

You can use stick makeup with a finger so that you don’t need to carry around a makeup brush with you all the time.  

9. Wear Makeup Products That Feel Comfortable

You want to make sure that you don’t wear makeup products that are going to distract you from doing your actual work. If you apply something that you are going to be feeling self-conscious about all day, or you need to constantly apply touch-ups, then it’s going to affect your ability to be productive;

You want to make sure that you look together, confident, and comfortable. 

10. Make It Quick

Nobody enjoys spending a lot of time in front of the mirror every day putting on their makeup. You should come up with a routine that you can apply quickly to your face so that you can get ready and get to work. 

The Importance of Knowing the Top Professional Makeup Tips for Proud Career Women

Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now have a better idea of what the top professional makeup tips for women in the workplace are. As we can see, you should aim to keep things natural, simple, and light in order to be as productive as possible.

Make sure to check out the rest of our site today for more helpful articles! 

One of the largest and most dynamic cities in America, there’s no doubt Chicago is an amazing place to live. For all of the amazing qualities that its residents know it to possess, Chicago’s weather can often leave something to be desired—from freezing temperatures to the city’s trademark winds.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. There is no shortage of places to live in Chicago where you can enjoy pleasing levels of sunshine year-round. Read on to find out about five of the most affordable and beautifully bright and sunny areas of Chicago to live in.

How Sunny Is Chicago?

So, how sunny is Chicago, exactly? Although it may not be the sunniest city in America, it’s far from drab and gray.

December is the month with the least sun hours, but no month sees under 100 hours of sunshine at minimum. July is the sunniest, with over 200 hours of sunshine being the norm for this month. 

It’s even sunny enough for solar panels! If you’d like to enquire about solar panel installation in your area visit blueravensolar.com/illinois/chicago/. See below for some inexpensive areas in this bright and breezy city.

Edgewater

The Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, as its name suggests, is situated along the banks of the great lake Michigan.

Edgewater has the advantage of being home to an actual beach. It is also home to some of the city’s most beautiful historic districts. Bryn Mawr, with its ornate lampposts and eye-catching architecture, is a fine example.

Pilsen

Once the go-to location for artists seeking more square feet for fewer dollars, prices of homes in Pilsen have been starting to rise recently. Filled with elaborate murals and award-winning restaurants, this is a colorful and vibrant neighborhood with a rich Latino cultural history.

Irving Park

If you’re looking for something a little more suburban, Irving Park is a wonderful choice. Tree-lined streets and big, beautiful, old homes are plentiful in this neighborhood. Irving Park is also served by several Blue Link stops, making it easy to get around.

Uptown

Uptown was the home of Chicago’s entertainment industry way back when in the 1920s. As a result, it is filled with beautiful old-style theaters and amazing architecture. The neighborhood has several Red Line stops and is home to a relatively large Vietnamese community.

Pullman

Pullman is located on Chicago’s southside and is filled with pretty red-brick townhouses. Because of the amount of old and beautiful in this community, walking tours often take place here. This is a neighborhood where history is palpable at every turn.

The Best Places to Live in Chicago

No matter where you decide to hang your hat, the best places to live in Chicago are always the ones you feel some affinity towards. Hopefully, this guide has helped you in deciding where that may be.

If you’ve liked this post, please check out the rest of my frugal living tips.