Tag Archives: recommendations

Feb28

February 2025 Finishes

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February 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone and welcome to my February Finishes! Spring will be here before we know it and I am SO ready for it! Sunshine and warmer days means that my seasonal depression can kick rocks and reveal itself as plain old depression and, honestly, I’ll take it lolol. In fact, we had our first few forty degree and sunny days this past week and it has been glorious. So, without further adieu, let’s wrap this month up and kiss February goodbye:

Would I Use Again?

Hope Soap Honey & Almond Body Cream: YES!!

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Evoluderm Vitamin C Micellar Water: NO

CleanBeauty Barrier Support Facial Oil: NO

Why/Why Not?

Hope Soap Body Cream: I genuinely forgot that I had a Honey & Almond Body Cream from a local business called Hope Soap until I reorganized my beauty stockpile. I have been using it every night for the past month and I’m actually happy that I didn’t know I had it because it’s so perfect for wintertime use. First of all, this cream smells AMAZING. I wouldn’t say it’s a true honey/almond scent because to me and Johnny, it smelled exactly like chocolate covered cherries and we were not complaining! Most importantly, this body cream is so nourishing for dry winter skin. I love its lightness and how quickly it absorbed and my skin felt fully hydrated with each use. My hands tend to get very red during the winter and it was so nice to wake up every morning seeing my normal skin tone!

Evoluderm Vitamin C Micellar Water: I had no idea that my go to brand of micellar water, Evoluderm, had a Vitamin C line so I was excited to try it out. I am a huge fan of any kind of Vitamin C skin care and assumed the best for this product. Unfortunately, the Vitamin C Micellar Water was a big miss for me. My skin always feels amazing after using my standard Hydrating version and that sensation just wasn’t there. Not only that, but the Vitamin C micellar water was not the best at makeup removal. I really had to scrub to get my makeup off and even after that, remnants of my MOTD was still there. Once again, that was never the case with my old standby so I will be sticking with it from now on.

CleanBeauty Facial Oil: This facial oil was actually a mistake purchase because the similar packaging made me think that it was a serum by CleanBeauty that I loved. It wasn’t a big deal and I liked the idea of using a facial oil during the winter. This one, however, was just too much. No matter how little of the oil I applied, it still felt suffocating on my skin. This product was thick, literally never absorbed, and was a nightmare to put makeup over. It took me over a month of twice daily use to complete the bottle and I was ecstatic when I was done. Unless you have SUPER dry skin, this is a product that can definitely be skipped on.

Smell ya later, February! Here’s to ALL of the springtime fun here on lifewithlilred! ❤

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb24

Groovy Movies: Heart Eyes Edition

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Groovy Movies: Heart Eyes Edition

Hello!! I have had the pleasure of working with my very first client as an Independent Provider again and it is nothing short of a total joy. When I first started working with her almost a decade ago, one of our favorite community outings was going to see scary movies together. We both share a love for horror and slasher flicks and would hit the movie theater at least once per month. This past week, it was the most wonderful deja vu to go see Heart Eyes, as per her suggestion. This Valentine’s Day slasher checked all of my boxes and it was a blast from start to finish. I can’t wait to watch it again with Johnny because we both adore holiday themed scary movies! 😀

^^^ I do not have any rights to this video!

The Heart Eyes Killer or HEK for short has been terrorizing happy couples on Valentine’s Day for the past handful of years. Any cute couple displaying PDA is not safe from the scorn of this serial killer and they are advised to stay inside and keep their affection under wraps. This is no problem for Ally because saying she is unlucky in love is a total understatement. She went through a bad breakup and truly believes that romance is dead. So much so, that she created a dark ad campaign featuring famous death scenes from romance flicks for the jewelry company she works for to celebrate the season.

With the HEK on the loose, this could not have been a worse time for the campaign to launch so her employer sends in the big guns: A handsome freelancer named Jay who will surely create romantic magic to sell jewelry for Love Day. This comes as a HUGE shock to Ally who happened to have a meetcute encounter with Jay at the coffee shop prior to her campaign coming to a screeching halt. Jay would like Ally’s help for the new ad and invites her to dinner to which she agrees with the emphasis on it not being a date but a work meeting.

The restaurant they go to is very romantic and fully decked out for Valentine’s Day. It would be perfect minus the fact that Ally has sworn off of dating and, oh yeah, her ex boyfriend and his new flame have arrived for their reservation. To make her ex jealous, Ally engages Jay in a passionate kiss. Her former love isn’t the only one to see their lip lock – the HEK did too. In the killer’s heart shaped eyes, they broke the most important rule of all: Absolutely no PDA. From the moment Jay and Ally’s lips touched, their fate was sealed and the killer is hot on their tail. Will they survive the night after the Heart Eyes Killer targets them as the newest victims? Or, will true love conquer all? Watch Heart Eyes to find out!

As soon as Heart Eyes started, I was immediately in and remained that way for the entirety of the film. This short and sweet slasher was nonstop fun! It was hilarious, had some pretty nice eye candy, and crazy kills. My client and I couldn’t believe that a movie like this hadn’t been made before because the plot seems somewhat obvious. Then again, no one else has ever thought of it and Heart Eyes twisted this predictable plot into something shockingly fresh. Like I said, Johnny and I have grown most fond of holiday slashers and Heart Eyes is, easily, my favorite one yet. Is it the best scary movie ever? Of course not. Is it worth the watch? Absolutely!

Overall, I am going to rate Heart Eyes with an eight out of ten stars. Based on the fact alone that I wanted to watch it immediately again with Johnny after seeing it, I highly recommend giving it a watch!

What is the last movie you saw in theaters? What is your favorite scary movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb7

VALJEAN LABS Foaming Cleanser Review

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VALJEAN LABS Foaming Cleanser Review

Howdy!! Last month, I was genuinely sad to have finished one of the cleansers that I was using long term. For almost half a year, it was part of my morning routine until it wasn’t lol. Of course, I am always excited to try a new product and introduced a Hyaluronic Acid and Micellar Water Foaming Cleanser by VALJEAN LABS into my skin care arsenal. This cleanser has been sitting in my stock pile for over a year now and it has finally had its day in the sun. A bright, sunshiny day because I freaking LOVE it!

WAY back in my retail days, I used to work at The Body Shop. It really was the job to have because being surrounded by makeup, skin and bath and body care all day was like a dream come true! The products from The Body Shop were beloved staples in my childhood and working there as a teenager turned me into one of their most faithful customers. Unfortunately, all of TBS’s United States locations closed and I genuinely couldn’t tell you the last time I used their signature body butters or my go to Vitamin C serum. I think about these items fondly and I would so love to have them again. Which is exactly why I am obsessed with this foaming cleanser by VALJEAN LABS!

The Body Shop used to have an Aloe skin care line that was absolutely perfect as a starter kit for teenagers or people with a normal skin type. I dabbled in products from several different collections but a tried and true standard was always the Aloe Foaming Cleanser. It smelled so crisp and clean, lathered gloriously, and left my skin feeling fresh and soft. The first time I used my new cleanser, it unlocked this product memory because the resemblance is simply uncanny. From the cucumber scent to the foaming bubbles and fresh faced glow after each use, it was like being reunited with an old favorite. I would happily buy a few bottles of this cleanser again!!

I cannot recommend the Foaming Cleanser by VALJEAN LABS enough. If you have used and liked the Aloe line from The Body Shop, you are going to fall head over heels for this fantastic replacement!

Did you used to shop at The Body Shop? What was your favorite product? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb4

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid Is Watching By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid Is Watching By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, in a spoiler free setting, we are going to discuss the third book in The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden called The Housemaid Is Watching. I have heard mixed reviews about the third installation of the series so I was expecting a lackluster read. I was so wrong because this ended up being my favorite one in the trilogy after devouring The Housemaid and The Housemaid’s Secret! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Housemaid Is Watching for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

We reunite with Millie over a decade later and she has officially made it. She has two children with Enzo named Ada and Nico and they are happily married and moving to their dream home in a quaint col-de-sac. Can they afford it? Barely. Are the kids thrilled about moving in the middle of the school year? Hard no. But all Millie has ever wanted is a quiet, normal life and she finally has it. As the family gets settled into their new digs, Millie can’t help but think how incredibly lucky she is – minus the minor sense of dread after meeting her new neighbors, of course.

In the col-de-sac, there are two homes next to Millie’s. One belongs to a woman named Janice and her son, Spencer. Janice is the neighborhood busy body who is stern and rarely has a kind word for anyone. She spends her days at home and you can almost always catch her looking out of her window. We also have Suzette and Jonathan Lowell. They are youngish, very wealthy, and might be a good fit together. Millie can’t tell, though, because Suzette cannot take her eyes and hands off of Enzo.

The days go by in suburbia and Millie notices a lot of changes. 1) She is constantly hearing scratching sounds in the middle of the night. 2) Enzo seems to be spending a lot of time with Suzette. And 3) Her son, Nico, is showing some alarming shifts in his normal, happy go lucky demeanor. After breaking the Lowell’s window with a baseball, Millie hoped that Nico would learn some responsibility by doing chores at their home to pay for the damage. Nico doesn’t improve but only worsens by getting into fistfights and withdrawing from his family.

Millie has so much on her mind between her son’s deteriorating mental health and her growing confidence that Enzo is cheating on her. He is working in Suzette’s yard almost every day, she saw him talking to her outside at ten at night, Enzo returned home in the early morning hours smelling like her perfume, and Suzette all but undresses him with her eyes every chance she can get. Millie has had enough. She marches across the lawn to confront Suzette and enters the home when she doesn’t get an answer. She doesn’t see Suzette, but a body on the ground and lots of blood. Not again. Who has met their demise? And whodoneit in the most shocking reveal of the series? Read The Housemaid Is Watching to find out!

I understand why The Housemaid Is Watching might have been a miss for some fans of the series. It is very different than the setting and general plot that we have grown used to. However, that is why I liked it so much! In fact, after completing the second book, I found myself hoping that the third one would throw a curveball and it delivered. While I loved plucky young Millie in her vigilante glory days, it was a welcome change of pace to see where she ended up well after the fact. I suppose I would have liked to know a bit more about the in between from then and now, but it was still a fully cohesive read.

What I liked the best about The Housemaid Is Watching was the grand reveal. I did get some parts of it right but not all of it and I literally couldn’t believe my eyes! I wouldn’t say it shocked me as much as the reveal in The Housemaid’s Secret because I had no idea what was going on in that one. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t still really good, though. And, finally, another great part about this book is the reintroduction of a few characters that you will totally not see coming, tying the series together in a perfect little bow.

Overall, I am going to rate The Housemaid Is Watching with a ten out of ten stars. It was my favorite of the series so it deserves the highest recommendation!

What did you think about The Housemaid series? What do you think about the movie casting? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb1

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid’s Secret By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid’s Secret By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the second book in The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden called The Housemaid’s Secret. Like its predecessor, I devoured this one in a few days. Unlike its predecessor, this one left me absolutely shook because I did not see anything in The Housemaid’s Secret coming! This was an excellent change of pace as I literally predicted the first book in its entirety less than fifty pages in lol. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Housemaid’s Secret for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

We reunite with Millie at her new housekeeping/nanny position for yet another wealthy family. Life is good. She has a new boyfriend, is taking classes at a community college, and has steady work. Until she gets fired, anyways. Back to square one and with a criminal record, Millie begins an endless loop of job interviews and doesn’t hear back from any of them. Then, she gets a phone call from a Douglas Garrick as he and his wife, Wendy, are interested in her services.

Millie makes the trip to the Garrick’s lavish penthouse apartment and expects to be greeted by the lady of the house. Rather, she interviews with Douglas. He says that Wendy has been incredibly unwell and that she spends most of her time in the guest room resting. Normally, Wendy would handle the housework but has requested the extra help as she recovers. The job includes cleaning, cooking, running errands, and the most important rule of all: Do not bother Wendy if her door is shut. Millie accepts her new position and is eager to start. She needs the money, badly.

As Millie settles into her new gig, she notices that there really isn’t much to do at Chez Garrick. The house is essentially already spotless, but she cleans anyways as Wendy spends her day in bed. Next on Millie’s to do list is laundry and it is then that she does spot a spot. Spots of blood on the collar of Wendy’s nightgown. Immediately, Millie is suspicious and her “battered wife” senses fly off the charts. Why was Wendy bleeding from her face or neck? Why has Wendy not even introduced herself yet? What does her husband have to do with it?

Every time Millie cleans at the Garricks, she tries to knock on Wendy’s door and is told to go away. That doesn’t stop her from listening in every time she passes the guest room, though. She has heard crying, screaming, and shattering but has never laid eyes on Wendy. Then, one day, Millie notices a trail of blood on the ground going from Wendy’s room to the bathroom. Like a punch in the gut, she sees a red, bloody hand print on the sink. It’s time for Millie to take action.

Millie pounds on Wendy’s door and threatens to call the police if she cannot get visual confirmation that she is okay. Finally, the door opens and Millie sees the elusive Mrs. Garrick for the first time. It takes her breath away. Wendy is emaciated, her face is badly bruised, and she has a split lip. Now, this is not Millie’s first experience with an abused wife. In fact, since her stint at the Winchester home, she has helped other wives leave their violent husbands. And, now, she knows that she must help Wendy too – by any means necessary. Millie is certain that Douglas is a dangerous man, but is he really? Read The Housemaid’s Secret to find out!

The Housemaid’s Secret was a wild ride and Freida McFadden truly outdid herself. The first Housemaid book was essentially “crazy husband with a secret room” 101. Like many people, I’m sure, I was expecting more of the same in the sequel. This was not the case at all and McFadden flipped the formula on its head. I’m so glad she did because The Housemaid’s Secret was infinitely better than the first. I legit had no idea what was going to happen next in this book and it made for a very exciting read.

In The Housemaid’s Secret, we were really able to see Millie come into her own and she is a formidable heroine. Of course, I liked her in the first book but I LOVED her in the second. Millie is strong in so many different ways and, oh my goodness, is she funny too. The beauty of Millie, though, is that she isn’t just a tough vigilante for hurt wives. She can be soft, gentle, and vulnerable and it makes her character highly dimensional. At the end of the day, Millie is going to do whatever TF she wants to do and I cannot wait to see where this reckless abandon takes her in the third book.

Overall, I am going to rate The Housemaid’s Secret with a nine out of ten stars. Very rarely do I find a sequel to be better than the first book of a series but this was the exception. I just got the third book from the library so stay tuned for another new Book Club installment soon!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan30

January 2025 Finishes

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January 2025 Finishes

Howdy!! January felt like the longest year ever, didn’t it? I, for one, am so happy that this month is drawing to a close because it is one step closer to spring! Honestly, the winter in Ohio wasn’t too bad. Then, it got really bad out of nowhere and it sucked eggs. After moderate weather, it felt cruel and unusual to face zero degree days, white out level drives, and biting gusts of wind! So, smell ya later, January. But, before it’s official, let’s discuss my beauty finishes to wrap this month up in a bow:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Poppy & Calypso Clementine Body Cream: YES

Clinical Works Vitamin C Cleanser: YES!!!

Dove Whole Body Deo Cream: NO

Dirty Works Miracle Cream: MAYBE

Why/Why Not?

Clinical Works Cleanser: I have been using this Vitamin C Cleanser by Clinical Works for what feels like an eternity. In all actuality, it was more like five months but you get the point. Normally, I am very excited to try out a new product after using up a long term one. In this case, I am so sad! I absolutely LOVED this cleanser. With a nickle sized dollop during each morning shower, I felt pleased with the results every time I looked in the mirror. My skin looked brighter and more radiant and was smooth as can be. This cleanser was incredibly light and would be great to use during any time of the year. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will see it again at TJMaxx because my showers don’t feel the same without it lol. Highly recommend!

Dove Deo Cream: I received the Dove Coconut & Vanilla Deo Cream from Target as a freebie and it took me a month of daily use to complete the travel size bottle. This is not the first deo cream I used and my sentiments from this review remain. I love the bang for the buck with deo cream because you only need a tiny amount for full coverage. The sensation of this product was a turn off for me, though, because it was so much heavier than my normal roll on. If you need protection on areas other than armpits, this would be an amazing product and I would recommend it. It just doesn’t suit my preferences.

Dirty Works Moisturizer: I have always been curious about the Dirty Works brand and was eager to try out their Miracle Cream. It took me a month of twice daily use to finish the jar and it was pretty good, but not the best. I think I put this brand on a pedestal because I have wanted to try it so anything less than amazing didn’t satisfy me. That’s not to say that it wasn’t a nice moisturizer, but there wasn’t anything that stood out to me enough to warrant buying it again. If I saw it on clearance or as a last resort, I would go for it. I don’t plan on seeking it out, though!

That is all for my January 2025 Finishes! Here’s to another year of keeping you all in the know on what products to score and skip on!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan22

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello! Every year, I like to spoil myself with a Christmas gift and I knew just what I wanted: The completed set of Preacher! I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth back into one of my favorite graphic novel series and that meant waiting for all of them to ship. In the meantime, I had nothing to read and noticed that my mom had a copy of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden sitting on the table. I decided to crack it open and I was immediately in. Unfortunately, the book was due to be returned the following day but I still wanted to see it through. I didn’t have to wait long for the book at the library and devoured it in days. In a spoiler free setting, as always, let’s discuss. However, before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Housemaid for domestic violence and highly disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Millie is an ex-convict who is living in her car and recently got fired from her job at a bar. As per her parole, she needs a new job and fast. She applies here, there, and everywhere and by some miracle, gets an interview with a Nina Winchester for a live in housekeeping position. The job seems too good to be true: Cleaning, cooking, occasional care for Nina’s daughter, and a roof over her head. Millie felt satisfied with her interview but didn’t hear back from Nina immediately. Then, after another agonizing week of calling her car her home, Millie got the call. She’s in!

The next day, Millie heads to the Winchester mansion as a new employee. As she walks to the door, she expects a warm greeting from the landscaper, Enzo. Rather, she gets a message from him in Italian that she is in danger. Okay… That was weird, but she needs this job and into the home she goes. Nina gives her the lay of the land, including Millie’s new bedroom – a tiny attic with a single cot, dresser, a window that doesn’t open, and a door that can only lock from the outside. Once again, weird but did I mention that Millie needs this job?

Despite her less than luxurious accommodations, Millie is determined to make the most of this opportunity. She likes Nina and her dreamboat husband Andrew, she’s not opposed to hard work, and she doesn’t want to go back to jail. However, after one day of work, she notices oddities in Nina’s behavior and they don’t let up. She accuses Millie of throwing out her PTA meeting notes and destroys the kitchen trying to find it. She tells Millie the wrong location to pick her daughter up from school only for her to learn that she doesn’t need a ride after all. Millie is gifted with Nina’s old clothes and is then threatened with a call to the police when Nina claims she stole them.

Millie isn’t the only one to notice Nina’s strange behavior. Her gossipy friends find pleasure in laughing behind her back about it. Andrew, on the other hand, finds no humor in the situation and as he and Nina grow apart, him and Millie get closer. Millie knows it’s wrong to be pining after a married man, but Andrew just seems so sad and dejected and she doesn’t understand how such a good person could be married to someone like Nina. He should be with Millie, instead. As their forbidden love blossoms, Nina is slowly but surely edged out. With the crazy wife out of the picture, everything should be perfect, right? So wrong! What happens next? Read The Housemaid to find out!

As you all know, I love playing detective. I like to consider myself a decent sleuth and have a pretty high success rate in figuring out grand reveals well before they happen. In the case of The Housemaid, I knocked it out of the park. To the letter, I predicted Every. Single. Twist. that arose and it was a real feather in my cap lol. I tend to not like books that are “too easy” to figure out as I revel in a super shocking grand reveal. However, I still really liked The Housemaid and considered it to be unputdownable.

Regardless of essentially knowing how the plot was going to play out, it was a story that was juicy AF. I was invested in the characters, but also how the book itself was written. It felt like there was some minor twist or clue in every single page and it kept me turning them until there was none left. Freida McFadden expertly crafted this book because she truly gave you everything you needed to know. Whether you used it or not was up to you. I did and it didn’t make The Housemaid any less enjoyable and I never thought I would say that about a book where I saw the ending coming from a mile away.

Overall, I am going to rate The Housemaid with an eight out of ten stars. I wouldn’t call it my favorite book I’ve ever read, but I highly recommend it and can’t wait to read the sequel!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan13

Bath & Body Works Men’s Line Haul

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Bath & Body Works Men’s Line Haul

Hello! During my holiday break, I treated myself to some online shopping. As my Christmas gift, I ordered the completed set of the graphic novel series, Preacher, as well as shopped the Semi Annual Sale at Bath & Body Works. I scored big at B&BW and spent seventy dollars for twenty-one full size products. Talk about a steal! During the Semi Annual Sale, I always like to get some shower gel from the men’s line for Johnny. While he doesn’t mind using my fruity fragrances, he still appreciates some variety! Like most men’s bath and body care, all of these shower gels feature “whiskey” or “bourbon” in the title lol. So let’s review and see if these shower gels will leave you smelling amazing or like you just left the bar:

IMG_2391

Gingham Legend: Gingham is one of my all time favorite scent collections from B&BW and I had no idea that Gingham Legend for men even existed. So, into the cart it went! Gingham Legend offers notes of “bergamot, rich oak, and sandalwood reserve” and I really, really like it. It’s kind of foresty and fresh and I can tell that it was definitely inspired by Old Spice. This is one that would go over well if you are gifting it because it’s such a classic men’s fragrance – almost anyone will like it!

Single Barrel Bourbon: Okay, onto the boozy stuff! Single Barrel Bourbon features notes of “spiced citrus, smooth tonka, and aged oak”. I’ll be perfectly honest with you, I think it smells exactly like Gingham Legend. This is a classic B&BW move to slightly change up previous scents and the only real difference is the spiced citrus. Single Barrel Bourbon is very rich and the most pungent one of the bunch so just be wary of that because it might be overpowering to sensitive noses.

Whiskey Reserve: To continue with our booze crawl, we have Whiskey Reserve. With notes of “crisp apple, single malt whiskey, and white oak”, Whiskey Reserve is my favorite because I love all things apple. This scent is nice and light and has all of the vibes of a brisk fall day. While I can pick up on the hints of whiskey, it is not the main focal point of the fragrance. Whiskey Reserve is, easily, the most dimensional of the four and is a refreshing take on a men’s product.

Sweet Whiskey: Finally, before last call, let’s discuss Sweet Whiskey. The name is spot on because this fragrance is incredibly sweet and quite feminine. No fragrance notes were listed on the bottle, but it smells like straight up vanilla with a dollop of caramel to me. I like it, of course, because I am a fan of anything vanilla. However, if you are purchasing for a real “man’s man” this probably isn’t the best way to go. I would actually be happy to use this shower gel and would consider it to be more gender neutral.

Johnny was most excited about his shower gel surprise and I was too! We really don’t have a lot of “men’s line” products in our home so it was fun to do an ol’ sniff test and review. 😀

What is your favorite men’s scent? What is your signature fragrance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan8

Groovy Movies: Moana 2 Edition

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Groovy Movies: Moana 2 Edition

Hello!! This past weekend, I spent a lovely afternoon with my dad and two of my nieces to see Moana 2 at the theaters. I was really excited about this for a few reasons. 1) I was with my eldest niece for her first movie theater experience and this was her little sister’s first time seeing a show. 2) My eldest niece and I watched Moana during our very first slumber party. It was her suggestion because I hadn’t seen it. I absolutely loved it and it instantly became a special movie for the both of us. And 3) Movie theater food is the best lol. I know Moana 2 was not as well received as its predecessor, but we enjoyed every minute of it! In a spoiler free setting, let’s discuss:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this video!

It is a joyous day on Motunui because wayfinder, Moana has returned after a three day exploration mission. She is greeted by her precious family (including adorable little sis, Simea) and the island population in its entirety to welcome her home. Moana dreams of connecting the people in surrounding islands and thinks she might have found her first clue to achieve this on her expedition. Little does she know, her next adventure is already on the way. During a special ceremony that evening, Moana has a vision from her ancestors. The message is grim: The people of Motunui will not survive if Moana cannot raise the island of Motufetu from the depths of the sea. Motufetu was sunk by the angry storm god, Nalo, and used to join all of the islands together. Without it, any connection between islands is impossible and the people will slowly fade away.

With no time to spare, Moana assembles a crew of experts to assist in her voyage – a farmer, an inventor, and a historian. However, they are missing a BIG piece of the puzzle: Maui. Proud demigod Maui had his own problems with Nalo and wanted to raise Motufetu himself out of fear that Moana could die. During his efforts, he was captured by Nalo’s enforcer and let’s just say he is currently… tied up. A rescue mission is in order and after some help from an unexpected ally, it is full steam ahead to Motufetu. Can Moana and her team connect the islands and save the day? You’re just going to have to watch the movie!!

Moana is my GIRL and it was so exciting to reunite with her together with my bestie squad. We were hooked from the very start and remained glued to our seats for the whole movie. I know that many people felt like Moana 2 wasn’t as good as the first, but I thought it was just as good. The plot was a fantastic quest, it was visually stunning, the new characters introduced were great, and I could not get enough of the music. The soundtrack for Moana 2 is straight banger after banger. My favorites were “Beyond” and “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?”. The best song for me, though, was “Get Lost”. It was pure jazzy, villainous fun and, like all of the music in the movie, enhanced the scene and location beautifully.

One of the things that I loved the most about Moana 2 other than everything was the nods to the first movie placed throughout the film. The real ones will know and every time a tip of the cap happened, my eldest niece and I confirmed “it’s just like the first movie” lol. And, of course, the bond between Moana and Simea was the sweetest and it felt like watching my two “big” nieces in animated form. The fact that they called each other “big and lil sis” melted my heart because my nieces call each other “sissy”. Like me, my eldest niece thought Moana 2 was a hit. The jury is still out on her lil sis, though, because she slept the whole time lol.

It was such a gift to see Moana 2 with my best girls and I cannot recommend it enough. I know sequels can be hit or miss, but this one was excellent!

What was the last movie you saw in theaters? Is there anything coming out that you would like to see? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan3

Beboe Blackberry Gummies Review

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Beboe Blackberry Gummies Review

Hello!! Marijuana was legalized in Ohio for recreational use a few years back and it was honestly one of the coolest things my state has ever done lol. Since then, dispensaries (or as I like to call them “Weed Boutiques”) have been popping up everywhere. Some of the ones nearby are specific only towards medical use, but the one I go to called Curaleaf offers both medicinal and recreational options. I usually opt to buy cartridges for my vape but on occasion I will go the gummy route. This can be hit or miss and I am, more often than not, less than impressed. The Blackberry gummies by Beboe, however, are something to write home about:

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Let me start out by getting this story out of the way… Johnny and I have a million different nicknames for each other. They start out as one thing, then they dissolve into something light years away from the original pet name. For example, I have no idea why I call Johnny “beboe” but I do and it is frequent word that’s thrown around our household. So, I guess what I’m trying to say by this is that I had a moral obligation to give the Beboe gummies a go. It is our namesake, after all.

I really wasn’t expecting much out of these gummies, but my first impression was a good one. The blackberry flavor was just right. I have tried quite a few Black Cherry gummies in my day and they tasted like cough syrup. Not that I need them to taste like candy, but the Blackberry was easily one of the best tasting ones I’ve used. The gummie size was a little bit smaller than a piece of Laffy Taffy (I guess we are on a candy kick now!) and after having one, all that was left was to wait for it to do its thing.

All I have to say is, if you are a fan a soothing, but giggly high – these are the gummies for you. Even on the weekends, I find it very difficult to relax and can feel guilty for having a nice time. My mind is always, always going and because of work related stress, it was racing this past weekend. Once these babies hit, it was legit like “what work?” lol. It honestly felt like the first time I wasn’t thinking about work all week because I’m pretty sure it was. Negativity disintegrated into the giggles and it was SO nice to have a laugh and not get an immediate guilt trip.

By the time I was ready for bed, I slept incredibly after many nights of constant tossing and turning. I woke up feeling fully energized and it was as if a “mental reset” button had been hit. I would happily buy the Beboes again and *highly* (lol) recommend them!

Do you have any dispensaries near you? What is your favorite brand of gummy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah