Joyal Beauty Vitamin C Brightening Cream

The holidays can be...exhausting.

This one especially so for me. As you can imagine, I needed to ready my "NOPE. Nothing wrong here!" face and I was failing.

So, I decided to try Joyal Beauty Vitamin C Brightening Cream and see if it would help. I got my package a few days before bricks started to fall on me from out of the sky of life so what better time to try it?

I really liked the effects, because it did brighten it but the cream was a little heavy and I'm still fighting a break out from it. But, I have oily to combination skin and tend to stick to lighter moisturizers. My pores clog way too easily. 

The packaging was nice and it arrived very quickly! I would definitely recommend for those of you with drier skin. And, the extra brightening (especially around the eyes) is fantastic. You can find it for $18.99 on Amazon!

Stranger Things About Stranger Things

I don't know if you noticed or not, but I went just slightly INSANE about the Netflix show, Stranger Things.

                                   photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

From the very first episode, I WAS IN THERE. Yeah, just why are they running tests on kids? And she is number 11?! SHE FLIPPED AN ENTIRE VAN. WHERE IS BARB? WHY IS STEVE SUCH A DOUCHE? HEH, THE NAME FINN WOLFHARD IS WAY AWESOME. And, OMG what in the shit exactly is a DemiGorgon and WHAT, WAIT IT'S OVER?! IS SHE STILL IN THE UPSIDE DOWN?

Serious stress, yall.

You better believe I was on pins and needles, counting down, jumping out of my skin for the next season. 

And, then this is what we got.

So, apparently now 11 has a (kinda) sister and Steve is everyone's mom, Will's brother is non existent, oh and at the very end THERE IS...

A PROM.

NOPE.

I'm not digging that with a diamond shovel. Ok, I get it. Growing up is hard, but with crazy upside down world shit going on, it's definitely harder.

What I am saying is this. I am a fan. A HUGE FAN. The characters are amazing and well cast for sure but what I love...what made me fall in love with this show?

The story. 

Let's get back to that. I still have questions. How about you?

Alterre Shoes Resort/Winter 2017: That 70s Shoe Collection

This post is a bit late as I have been traveling here, there, and everywhere lately. In my travels, I was able to catch an open studio Alterre showcase in NYC.

It was awesome!



These are like nothing I've ever tried before! I spent quite awhile checking out all of the different combinations and love how I can go from one look to another with just a quick change of the base or the straps. I could not decide which one I wanted to take home...well, ok, I wanted to take home all of them!

The shop is gorgeous and the employees are beyond helpful! You should check them out on 373 Broadway, Rm C10 NYC or you can always visit their website (they're having a sale!) https://www.alterreny.com  

**I have received a sample product, payment, or both in exchange for this review. Regardless, I pride myself in bringing you an honest and thorough review. Thanks for reading! My comment box is always open for any questions you may have!**

Asani Fabric Steamer

More than anything, I hate buying gifts for people. Not that I don't like to give gifts, I love to, I am just never sure if I am getting the right thing. And, of course, every year someone will give me a useful gift that I think to myself, "Best present! Why didn't I think of that?!"

This year, I decided I want to be the one to give the useful gifts. Luckily, Asani reached out to me to review their Fabric Steamer and so begins my search for the best useful gifts to give this year!

 I ordered it right off of Amazon and it was here in a just a few days (thanks, Prime!). I have never tried a fabric steamer but I knew of a dress that could definitely use a good ironing, steaming, whatever!

Believe it or not, I have only worn that dress once. 

I got to work. The steamer was really easy to fill and it was heated up and steaming in less than a minute. The instructions were really easy so off I went.

About 15 minutes later, this is the result:

So, better and I didn't have to pull out the ironing board and all of that. I just hung it up and steamed. I liked it and if I spent a little more time on it (I'm impatient) I could probably get all of the wrinkles out. 

This would be perfect for travel, too. It's small enough to fit in any bag. I will probably be packing it while we're going to see family this year. We are doing family photos, so this will come in handy.

You can find it for $21.99 on Amazon right now so definitely check it out!

Have you used a fabric steamer before? What were your results?

**I have received a sample product, payment, or both in exchange for this review. Regardless, I pride myself in bringing you an honest and thorough review. Thanks for reading! My comment box is always open for any questions you may have!**

His eyes were like saucers
A moon inside a sun
The night that was full of turmoil
After we both saw
Apollo
punch the universe.

Sights In The City

 Emily Dickinson, 1830 - 1886

Hope is the thing with feathers  
That perches in the soul,  
And sings the tune without the words,  
And never stops at all,  
   
And sweetest in the gale is heard;          
And sore must be the storm  
That could abash the little bird  
That kept so many warm.  
   
I've heard it in the chillest land,  
And on the strangest sea;         
Yet, never, in extremity,  
It asked a crumb of me.

In the sweet years
I hid under the tree
the leaves' canopy
sheltering me

From the loud ones

The haunted house
far away
the words of disappointment 
didn't touch me that day

I got lost in words
on pages of adventure
it felt like freedom
that was the clincher

I didn't want to leave
my sheltering tree
but no one ever cared
after all, I was just
me.

The Day The Sun Came Out

Originally published on The Legendary (downdirtyword.com)

The Day The Sun Came Out (April 11, 2012. Issue 36. The Late Issue)

My mother has been in a committed relationship since I was 17 years old. While people staying together that long is an anomaly within itself these days, my mother is still with the woman she fell in love with when I was only 12 years old.

My life as it is today hasn't always been this way. I grew up in a traditional home, my father worked as a journalist and editor for the local paper and my mother worked various jobs as we moved around.

From an early age, however, I knew there was something different about my family.

My parents seemed like they weren't very happy most of my life. My father manifested this by becoming a working alcoholic at a young age and my mother, well my mother cried a lot. Things were pretty bleak but it was my family and all I knew so I assumed this was how all families were. Things went on like this up until I was about 12.

My mother was involved in community theater my entire life. Everywhere we went, she found the local theater and immediately got herself and my brother and I involved in it.

We were all in plays together and had a lot of fun.

My father wasn't interested in the least. He didn't come to our performances and was pretty annoyed when we sat around practicing lines or rehearsing.

We moved away from my hometown for awhile when I was 11 and when I was almost 12, my mother met Mary for the first time. We all met Mary. She worked the light board for most of the plays in the theater and was just generally talented in all things set design.

Mary and my mother soon became best friends. We often did things with her family and things slowly began to change. We went camping more, we went on little trips. My mom smiled more. Mary had a daughter around my age and a son around my brother's age and I thought her husband was hilarious. Mostly, I was just glad my mom had finally found a friend.

As I grew older, Mary and my mother grew closer and closer as my mother and father drifted apart. By the time I was 15, my father was drinking every day, especially so on the weekends, and just didn't really have anything to do with any of us. We continued to all hang out together as a family and sometimes my father joined us but most of the time he didn't.

When I was 16 almost 17, my mother told me that she had decided that she was going to divorce my father. We were going to move again and that's when I found out the secret that all of us KNEW but couldn't confirm.

My mother and Mary were in love.

To me as a 17 year old girl, this news was confusing, frightening, and exciting all at the same time. I knew my mother was happy with Mary but I didn't quite understand same-sex relationships yet. After two nasty divorces, my mother and Mary were free to be together and I was unsure what the future would hold.

I would come to learn over these many years, however, that love is love and my mother deserved to be in a committed loving relationship no matter who it is with. When people ask me today what it was like when my mother came out, I tell them it was like the day the sun came out. Suddenly, everything was clear and bright and I understood things in a way I don't think many other people do at that age.

I have my two moms to thank for teaching me about real love and the sacrifices people make for it. The sun has never stopped shining for me, since. It may not be what most people believe but I know it is real and true and no one will ever be able to take that away from them.

Suddenly
It was just us two
we
me and you

Where are we going from here?

You promised me
when you were defending my sea
and I promised you
forever, too.

Where are we going from here?

Transition
Tradition
It's an odd situation
Butterflies
Fireflies
They are now scattered
in the wind

Where are we going from here?

Suddenly
It was just us two
we
me and you

Where are we going from here?

In the house of the girl
named after the sky
 It's the quiet house
on the inside

                                           photo courtesy of BusinessInsider.com

Anavita Foaming Facial Cleanser and Deep Moisturizing Lotion

Today I got to try my first completely vegan beauty products.

photo courtesy of FreedomofTruth.Org
To say I was skeptical is an understatement. Nevertheless, I gave it a try. The facial cleanser left a refreshing feeling on my face. It is great for my morning routine! It opened my eyes right up and got me going. I'm not so sure about the strength of the cleanser as I am not prone to breakouts but no breakouts since I started using it.

But, the deep moisturizing lotion? It is close to luxurious! My skin was so soft and the smoothness lasted all day. I use it on my hands, legs, everywhere! I will definitely be buying this one again when I run out!
**I have received a sample product, payment, or both in exchange for this review. Regardless, I pride myself in bringing you an honest and thorough review. Thanks for reading! My comment box is always open for any questions you may have!**

Qi Wireless Charging Pad Station Review

I have always been curious about wireless charging pads for phones. A friend of mine showed me his and I wondered how exactly it worked and how effective it was.

Recently, Qi reached out to me to review their wireless charging pad station. 

It had pretty simple packaging and an easy to read/follow manual. It came with the charger as well as an USB cord. Alright, let's set it up.

The set up was fairly easy and it charged SUPER fast. If the phone is positioned correctly, the light around the charger will turn blue. My phone is a Samsung Galaxy S7. The charger works with iPhone 8 /8 Plus ,iPhone X ,Samsung Galaxy Note 8,S8/S8 Plus,S7,S7 Edge,S6,S6 Edge Plus,Note 5, Nokia Lumia 950, and other Qi enabled phones and tablets. For $12.99 on Amazon, it's a pretty good deal and I'm glad I got to try it! It's pretty handy.


Do you own a charging pad? What do you think of them?



**I have received a sample product, payment, or both in exchange for this review. Regardless, I pride myself in bringing you an honest and thorough review. Thanks for reading! My comment box is always open for any questions you may have!**

Being 40 is different than what I expected.

I assumed that I would be depressed and sad, yearning for the face I used to have, the body I used to have.

Now that I'm here + a year, I have to say that I was completely and totally wrong.

I find that my tolerance for bullshit is at an all time low. I have less patience for things that I used to think were important. I don't let little things bother me as much.

And, I definitely, DEFINITELY don't give a shit if my hair/makeup/outfit is 100% perfect.

These were all things that I thought were the most important when I was in my 20s, even 30s. 

I find vanity pretty boring these days. I prefer to funnel my money, time, and energy into my bank account where it can sit and blossom into a trip to Australia or anywhere really, a nice RV, land, a home, a truck...etc.

I was always fairly good at finding bargains, now it's practically an Olympic sport.

I pay more attention to world events. I am drawn to people who are wise, kind, and thoughtful. I have real, true friends now. It's amazing.

Every day, I surprise myself with my reactions to things. What once used to make me so upset, seems kind of boring and sad now. I don't fight as much with my husband (he's super happy about that, heh). I find myself more concerned with what motivates people than any other kind of superficial things.

But, most of all, I think I have finally found myself. I knew I was in there, somewhere. I never imagined that the age I was so afraid of would actually bring out the woman I have always been meant to be.

                                                             photo courtesty of dccomics.com

What was a major life changing event in your life? Was it age or experience or both?

A New Dawn On The Mountains

Sometimes, a trip away is all you need.

Transitioning into this new life, new view has been more difficult than I ever imagined. For 21 and 19 years, I was "Mom, where is my folder? Will you tie my shoes? Mom? Mom. Mooooom." 

And I am still and will forever be mom, but having all of my butterflies flying away has been...interesting.

So, for a friend's birthday, I ran away to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

My husband and I had few opportunities to get away while the kids were growing up. We took lots of trips to visit family because I felt that was most important. Ok, and my husband's family trips are amazing! 

However, this is the first trip that just we two went on. Adults adulting with other adults.

I laughed until my belly hurt. I caught up with old and dear friends. I even got to see a gravity conveyor in action.

It's the little things.

Most of all, I got to spend time alone with the man I have been waiting to come home for good from sea for twenty years.

I think I'm going to like this new life. 

While I watch my butterflies soar on their own, maybe I could fly a little as well.

Thought

His mouth is full of snot
Oozing onto everything
shot
from the womb of a racist babboon
To look down on the have nots

Who do you think you are?

Don't you know
that you're a figurehead
You're all for show
To ease the peasants' woes
but they don't know

Who do you think you are?

You want to control my state?
Wait
You want to control the senate?
You aren't even close to being in it
But, you think you are king
In the global ring

Who do you think you are?

You think you have won
While you twitter away
But, we see who runs
when the rabbit comes to collect
the
carrot.

-Stephanie Stebbins

Hello and welcome, readers!

 Here I will be bringing you news on my future novels, past novels, interesting products, and random writings and thoughts. Comments are open, you can always ask me anything! If you would like to purchase my public works, please visit my author page on Amazon.com. Keep reading, friends <3