I took off some time to concentrate on getting my nail license, so I decided to take four months to dedicate to school and now I’m almost finished and I’m all over the place. How am I going to plan for the next phase in my life? One key word: Organization. I’m going to get everything I need set up and ready to go. This means going down the list of things that need to be done and checking them off one by one.

 


Laundry is always needed to have a successful work week. It eliminates the need to run around looking for clothes to put on. I need to print off some weekly schedules from Canva (Quick tip: write in pencil so you can erase the schedule and use it all over again… We don’t waste around here)


This might not be something a regular person would put on their to-do list but one of my most difficult ones is hair. Yes! I spend way too much time trying to maintain not only my hair but the hair I buy (aka wigs) So having my hair in a style I can do in minutes is important for me.


 Make sure all transportation is loaded and ready. If you have a bus/train card load it, If you have a car put some gas in it, or if you are doing rideshare make sure the phone is charged, the bill is paid for and the correct payment is linked (I have a horror story about how I forgot to pay my phone bill and I was in the middle of nowhere).


I plan on making more posts like these to keep myself accountable and on track. I count everything in quarters like a game, so we are ending the second quarter and have to finish off strong! I’m also planning on a brand-new website/blog that will be self-hosted. I’m very excited about that! I plan to have an amazing recap of the year 2023.


Make sure to stay organized & keep your eyes on the prize. Make every day count and go for your dreams! 


 I have been slacking on my duties as a content creator lately. So I need to at least do an update on this blog and other platforms (We will get to those later) I've been keeping busy with many different things and I'm obsessed with finding different skills for working at home.

So while I sip green tea in my slippers I search online for opportunities to do from my home. I still do Upshift, Shifts By Snag A Job, Shipt & Qwick but I want to focus on the main source of income from home so I don't have to jump around as much.
The jobs I apply to are very serious and require photo identification W-9 forms and signatures. It's basically the same as applying for an in-person job position. 
In my spare time I like to work on new press on nail designs to put in my shops. The trend right now is glitter and deep french tips. I've also been experimenting with loose glitter.
And of course, I have to vlog! It's been part of my life for over 5 years so I must make videos to make myself laugh! New video coming soon. Welp that was my update and I will be getting more consistent with not only Melle Indie blog and YouTube but also throwing Medium and a brand new blog that will be self-hosted into the mix. Got to stay busy and keep grinding! I'll catch up with all of you in the next post! BYE!


BLOG: http://www.melleindie.com 

 

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/melleindie

 

MEDIUM:  https://medium.com/@mellejohnson84

 

TIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@melleindie

 

DEPOP: https://www.depop.com/melleindie

 

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/melleindie/

 

MERCH: https://www.redbubble.com/people/MelleIndie/shop

 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/indiemelle

 

MEDIUM:  https://medium.com/@mellejohnson84














 I've been asked repeatedly if my press-on nails are manufactured and the answer is no. The nail themselves may come from China but they are definitely designed by myself all by hand. From that point on (a couple years ago), I said I would make sure to also hand paint and hand write each and every Thank You card so when a customer gets their order off of whatever platform I sold it off of they would know it came from an indie operation. 

Sharpie, Stamp Pad, Watercolors, Rubber "Thank You" Stamp, Index Cards

Everything I use to make my Thank You cards can be found at Dollar Tree, eBay, and Hobby Lobby. It's extremely easy and relaxing to do. Even though it's nerve-wracking when you have a bunch of orders and forget to make the Thank You cards I still feel grateful when making them.
Water Colored Index Cards

I can sit on the floor and make loads of these watercolor designs on the blank side of an index card. To me, it's therapeutic and calming. I'm usually listening to a podcast or watching a show while painting.
Stamped Watercolor Index Cards

After the index cards dry after a couple minutes you can now stamp them with your choice of color ink pad. I ran out of black so I'm using dark purple. I stamp "Thank You" in the middle with a flower on each side. leaving plenty of room for cutting shaped edges and writing your desired website at the bottom.
This is the finished Thank You watercolor card with my chosen website written at the bottom with a fine sharpie marker. I always cut the sides down with  special craft scissors and add in a pretty nail decal set (I have many repeat customers so I like to give everyone something every time they order to show appreciation) I really enjoy the art of things being hand painted and hand made. I will always be a fan of indie work I mean Hello my name is Melle INDIE lol. Make sure your supporting indie businesses and indie business owners. Thanks for stopping by! Now go paint something!

If you have recently handed in your key at work and packed up your briefcase and business suits, you probably have thoughts of sunny weather and relaxation. When thinking of retirement locales, Florida probably comes to mind quickly.


However, there are so many options when it comes to which city in Florida to retire to. As you decide on a new city to call your home in retirement, consider Fort Lauderdale. These are the reasons you will love retiring in Fort Lauderdale, Florida:


Photo by Lance Asper on Unsplash
Weather and Beaches

Fort Lauderdale is known for its fantastic weather and beautiful beaches. If you have always dreamed of retiring somewhere warm and lounging on the sand listening to the waves crash, Fort Lauderdale is the retirement city for you. 


The weather in Fort Lauderdale is known for being consistently nice, with an average year-round temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (obviously warmer in the summer) and with the majority of days each year being sunny. This amazing weather combined with beaches that are within 30 minutes of each Fort Lauderdale neighborhood make for a fantastic retirement location.

Affordability

Compared to other beach cities in Florida, like Miami, Fort Lauderdale is considered relatively affordable. It is actually considered one of the most affordable beach cities in the state. Housing, specifically, is considered reasonable compared to some other coastal cities in Florida.


This is an extremely important variable for retirees, who are generally on a fixed income, and who need to focus on living within a set budget. Luckily for retirees, there are plenty of Fort Lauderdale houses for sale in this affordable beach city.

Lifestyle and Things to Do

Lifestyle is an important part of retirement because for the first time, you have complete control of your time and how you want to use it. If you are looking for a relaxed retirement, Fort Lauderdale is for you, as the city is known to have a laid-back vibe. You can take long walks on the beach, lounge in the sand and read, or spend a relaxing afternoon shopping and then head to one of the many restaurants for dinner.


If you want a more active retirement, Fort Lauderdale is also known for its golf courses and opportunities for fishing, including deep sea fishing. If you plan to travel in your retirement, Fort Lauderdale is also a great choice, since it is a popular tourist destination and as such has a robust travel infrastructure. Most residential neighborhoods are just a few minutes from the airport, where you can fly out to a myriad of domestic or international destinations.


Many people dream of retiring to a warm beach town, and Fort Lauderdale is a top choice if that is your dream. From fantastic weather to beautiful beaches to affordable housing to golfing and fishing to travel options, it seems like Fort Lauderdale was made for retirees. If you are having a hard time choosing among cities in Florida for your retirement, consider these attributes and put Fort Lauderdale at the top of your list.


 So before all of this CRAZY inflation came about I managed to get myself a fun colorful wig to replace my old pink and ombre yaki wig. In with the new out with the old. I thought I was going to be filming more YouTube videos than I actually do. I like colored hair on camera it provides a boldness to the thumbnail and the video and makes you stay engaged even if its just to look at the hair.

This particular wig was a black and purple ombre short bob synthetic wig from Ali express I found in a simple search. Of course the part that caught my eye was the price $14.60 (I think I caught a sale) The seller had good feedback and I was on a wig buying binge so I went for it! When wigs are that low in price it could be very good and you got a steal OR it was cheap.. and it looks cheap. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality for the price. It didn't look super shiny and halloween-ish. I always judge the wig by saying "Could I wear this outside?" And the answer is yes! 

Very nice on the inside. The cap is well constructed. The hair felt soft and didn't fall out when I ran my fingers through it. Of course the scalp part is a standard "wig part" but I've seen people on YouTube really make the part look way more natural. I'm not into all the plucking and putting foundation in the crease. I'm a slap it on and go type of person.  This has to be one of my favorite wigs of 2022. 

I like it just plain by it's self I also like pairing it with a hat which I did for a recent You Tube video. It's a very bright colorful wig or a good price. The only con is you can't pull this one up in any kind of ponytail which is ok with me. Anything under $15 is ok with me (I'm extremely frugal.. this will be a theme throughout the life of this blog) Don't sleep on Ali Express for you wig and accessories purchases. If you willing to wait 2-4 weeks you could save yourself a lot of money.

*TIP: Don't forget to purchase thru Rakuten and use a cashback card to pay. Make the most of your purchases.


Here is my You Tube video on my Black & Purple Ali Express Bob Wig: