Dreams, Goals, And Trucks

*This post is sponsored by Cars.com*

It's nice to have goals, right? Dreams are important.

Since my husband retired from the Navy, it seems like we have a new dream/goal every other day. First, we were going to get an RV and travel all over. Well, that's a little difficult when your entire life is on the east coast and you have a little bit of separation anxiety (ok, alot) from your adult children (yes, that one is me). Ok, we still want to travel but now we want to get an old bus (school or otherwise) and repurpose that skoolie! Well, that's a little difficult when you live smack dab in the middle of a busy capitol city with no yard (which will be remedied when we move again in the summer). It would be even more awesome if we could find a junkyard/pick and pull close by as well.

Right. So, what to focus on in the interim. A new dream/goal, if you will.

When we were in Texas, we bought a great truck. A Nissan Titan and that truck lasted FOREVER! 

Of course, two months before my husband's retirement, the transmission finally went and we decided it was time for a new truck.

                                   I will miss you, *cry*

We have been looking for a replacement vehicle since but it hasn't been a pressing concern as, again, smack dab in the middle of the city (with zero parking). 

As such, I have been browsing Cars.com constantly looking for something that I think will fit our eventual dreams/goals. Fortunately, not only do they have a great selection, there are lots of articles like this one to help research what would be the best vehicle for our dream/goals.

We're going to need a big truck if we are going to haul a 28 foot RV around the country. It's also nice to have a reliable vehicle, busy city with no parking or not.

The best thing I found on website is the auto loan calculator. Using my husband's retirement and disability pay as the primary income, as my income tends to be sporadic (yay freelancing!), I was able to see just how much we would pay for a nice used truck that can handle what we are thinking about. There are so many options to choose from on Cars.com so this really helps narrow down the choices. 

Now, I just have to decide if we are going to go with a diesel or not. This has become the hot topic debate within our household lately. 

This could all change if we decide to renovate a skoolie, obviously. Luckily, Cars.com has plenty of vehicles to look over as we make our decision.

After all, it's nice to have dreams and goals, right?

App Addicted

Hi, friends! 

I have a confession: I am terribly addicted to apps. 

I mean, really addicted. 

I just got a new phone after years of having an older phone and I am blown away by all of the advances in technology (I went from an S5 to an S8). Of course, I am downloading apps for it like crazy, considering I can actually FIT all of them on my phone now.

I want to share some apps with you that I am really enjoying. They were made by the lovely people at AppeKapps powered by UM Tech so if you're interested in developing your own apps, they can definitely help you with that.

The first one is Beditations. As most of you know, I have a really hard time sleeping. Well, once I am asleep, I have zero problem with sleeping but getting there is another story. I just can't seem to shut down at night. So, I tried this app for about a week and I can definitely say it's working pretty well. I don't know what it is but it just relaxes my brain and body and before I know it, I'm ready for bed! 

The other one I am really enjoying is ReferLocal. Having moved to a new city, I am out of my comfort zone when it comes to good places locally to shop, eat, play, etc. This app has definitely come in handy with my "shop local, buy local" mentality and has been a lifesaver! I have found so many great new places all because of this app! Richmond is ALIVE and I am helping it breathe. I love it!

These apps are so well made. I haven't had any issues with them at all. I am certainly glad I found them. I hope you enjoy them as well. You can find them in the Google Play store or the Apple store. 

Now, for those of you more-techie-than-me types, I highly recommend visiting the AppeKapps website. If you are looking for a great team to help develop your app for your store, website, anything, they are amazing at what they do. They  have won quite a few awards for their mobile and desktop apps. I can't say enough good things about their development team, that's for sure. They provide a multitude of services including app development and an app calculator that helps you find out exactly how much it will cost to develop your app. Tell them Steph sent you! If you download any of the above mentioned apps, let me know what YOU think in the comments!

Still searching...

...for the perfect moisturizer which I am convinced doesn't exist.

Joyal Beauty once again has sent me a new cream to try! I have already reviewed Joyal Beauty Retinol Cream and Joyal Beauty Brightening Cream to mixed results. This time I am trying the Hyaluronic Acid Cucumber Moisturizer.

I actually really like this one. It's still a little sticky as the other ones are but I haven't broken out at all! The smell isn't as intense as the other products, either. 

This has been AMAZING for my under eye puffiness and dark circles. It's made my face and neck incredibly soft and I can definitely see a difference over just a two week period. *This* is the Joyal Beauty product I would recommend to everyone!

If you would like to try it yourself, you can check it out on Amazon.com for $18.95!

Washing Machines and Homeowner Dreams

I have a slight obsession with home renovation/decoration shows. 

It is almost worse than my slight obsession with true crime shows.

Almost.

The next goal on my list is to be a first time homeowner. We never really thought about owning a home while my husband was serving in the Navy because we never knew where we would be moving next.

But now, we have pretty much decided where we want to settle and have been looking for houses and going over options.

It's going to be a long process.

That hasn't stopped me from daydreaming about alllll of the things I would love to have in my home.

1st thing? LG’s TwinWash and Sidekick system.

Do you KNOW how many times my kids needed just their uniform/just one shirt/just these pants washed at 11pm after all of the laundry has been done? Way too many. I would have LOVED to have this washer under a washer when they were younger! My husband is always bringing me stuff to just throw in after the washer is full, still! My favorite feature is that I can throw in a smaller load underneath the mega capacity load and get it all done! Why didn't anyone think of this sooner?!

I know, but I'm a simple girl living in a simple world and awesome washing machines make me giddy. I've been on Best Buy all day, dreaming away. While I was there, I found that right now, you can save up to $500 on select LG laundry packages, if you click here! 

What are some of the things you dream about having in a brand new house?


The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Time Marches On..

Having grown up children, one who is living on his own, has been....different.

I say different because I still feel like mom, I still talk like mom, I still act like mom, but I'm not cleaning noses, or yelling about cleaning rooms, or taking inedible things out of toddlers' hands.

Those are the things I used to fret over. Some accident or random thing was going to happen to my children so I had to watch them every single second of every single day. 

The things I fret over today, however, are very different. I still fear accidents and randoms, but mostly it's I hope they're wearing their seatbelt, I hope work/school went ok, are they eating enough? Is everything ok in their personal life? Are they struggling quietly and privately (just like good ole mom) and too proud to tell me? 

And on..and on...and on....

You never really stop being mom, it just changes. 

And now, with my second child about to free fall into the world, I am beginning to feel the wind of the empty nest storm moving in.

Worry and pacing the floors at all hours of the night has always been part of my job, so to speak, but now I can't just crack the door open and look at the most wonderful part of my life, laying there sleeping soundly.

I feel a tornado, a hurricane, a tsunami coming. I already know I am going to be a mess, so I just embrace it. It's part of life, right?

To remind myself, and because I have more money now (one of the perks of kids growing up), I have been treating myself to little trinkets here and there. Things I probably would have bought for myself when I was younger but was funneling all of my money into diapers, clothes, and toys. 

I found this necklace on Soul Soup Treasures for a reminder to stay strong, that the weather isn't always going to go my way, and tomorrow is another day and I want to be around to see it. 

Parenting is never easy, regardless of your child's age, but if you can hold on while the wind whips around you, when the rain just keeps coming down, when you feel like everything has been washed away and you're drowning in the sea of worry, just remind yourself that the sun will come back and the rain clouds will retreat... 

It's just a matter of time.

Hello, Operator?

Fuzzy brain fumble
through the mist
and
fog

Sun up
sun down
doesn't matter
it's just smog

Waiting 
a whole lifetime and 
then some
For what?

To 
become

Not me.
Never me.

I'm not here
Do you hear?
Call back later
when the air
is clear.

Image Source

LaLa Shoes Boutique Has Stolen My Heart

You guys. I have found an online boutique that has my shoe size and it fits like a GLOVE. So comfy.

You see, I have a slight obsession with Mary Janes since the first time I saw them paired with a cute skirt and top.

So, when LaLa Boutique told me to pick a pair to promote, my first thought was "SHOES!!!!, second thought was of course, I will.

I headed right over to: https://www.lalashoe.com and found the CUTEST, most comfortable Mary Janes ever from Chase And Chloe!

There are so many other styles to choose from. I bet you'll find something you love as well! I want to see pics of you in your gorgeous LaLa Boutique shoes!

**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!**

Poppa Ravi Amazing Huge Bamboo Cutting Board

I am so excited to work with Poppa Ravi again! This time they sent me a GORGEOUS Extra Large Bamboo Cutting Board and I am in love!

The picture doesn't do it much justice but I can guarantee it is the best cutting board you will ever own!

And, just for being a loyal reader, right now you can receive 75% off if you order through Amazon.com for $33.99 with 75% off! You won't regret it and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!

**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!**

Joyal Beauty Retinol Cream

I am on a beauty kick lately.

I started out in my forties not worrying a bit about wrinkles, lines, dark circles, puffy eyes, etc etc etc. 41? Not so much.

So, in my quest to find the perfect creams, elixirs, potions, and lotions, I was asked to review Joyal Beauty's Retinol Cream.  

Like the Joyal Beauty Vitamin C Brightening Cream I tried awhile ago, this is a heavy cream with a different sort of smell. The difference, however, is that this one worked much better! I put it on every night before bed and actually started to see results within a week! I did not break out at all and I can tell that my skin is firming up due to the boost in collagen and although it doesn't work as well as my very favorite "beauty hack"....

                                                   (LOL)

It is definitely something I plan on adding to my regular routine. You can find Joyal Beauty Retinol Cream on Amazon for just $20.85. Let me know how you like it!

**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!**

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