Tag Archives: review

Feb25

Hadestown At EJ Thomas Hall Review

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Hadestown At EJ Thomas Hall Review

Hello!! This past Saturday, Johnny and I had Part Two of our Valentine’s Day celebration: A night at EJ Thomas Hall in Akron to see our favorite musical, Hadestown. Two years ago, we saw Hadestown for V-Day at Playhouse Square and it was magnificent so I just had to jump on the opportunity for us to see it again. We both went into the show knowing that it wasn’t going to be as good as our first viewing and we were spot on about that. Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty about it that we liked. However, this show had some glaring issues that were difficult to look past. Let’s get to it:

First things first, let’s start with the good because there were two standout performances. Jaylon C. Crump as Hermes really helped carry the show and was so solid from start to finish. His vocals were phenomenal and he was exuberant, which was very necessary especially considering the times when the actors on stage just seemed tired. Johnny and I were blessed with seeing Nathan Lee Graham as Hermes at Playhouse Square and, frankly, no one compares to him. Having said that, I could tell that Jaylon found inspiration in Graham’s portrayal and that was good enough for us.

Next up was Nickolaus Colon as Hades who, easily, had the strongest performance of the night. During our first show of Hadestown, the man who played Hades took the dark and mysterious route and that is still my preferred portrayal. Nickolaus had a different approach, playing Hades with anger that boomed and resonated. This was further complimented by his larger than life and looming presence and he made it work so well. We were both really impressed by him and his rendition of “Why We Build the Wall” was one of the best numbers of the whole show.

Finally, we have Megan Colton as Eurydice for Honorable Mention. I loved that she brought some grit to Eurydice’s character and my qualm isn’t exactly directed at her but to her acting partner, Bryan Munar, as Orpheus. Look, I don’t know if he was having a rough night and I am not trying to be mean but he was not good at all. His falsetto, which is such an important part of the vocal performance was simply not there. There was no strength behind it and his performance felt more like one of their first rehearsals rather than a real live show.

Johnny and I were not the only ones to feel this way about Munar. In fact, as we were both in line for the bathroom, literally everyone we chatted with was not impressed with him either and had nothing but negative feedback. He brought the entire show down and because of that, Eurydice didn’t shine as brightly as she should have. This is truly unfortunate and while I understand that everyone has a bad night, I really wish it didn’t happen when we saw it lol. From this performance alone and the fact that he could barely hit his falsetto definitely had me questioning the casting decision.

Last on the “not so great” list was Namisa Mdlalose Bizana as Persephone, which was a major disappointment for me. Persephone is one of my favorite characters of the entire show and I don’t think she was done justice with Bizana’s portrayal. It is no secret in Hadestown that Persephone loves to self medicate with booze and drugs. She is so much more than that, though, and Bizana played her as a falling down drunk. This did little to add dimension to Persephone’s character and Bizana turned her into a caricature. On top of that, her vocals didn’t feel strong enough for such a boisterous lead and she seemed exhausted throughout the show.

It’s funny because I saw Jesus Christ Superstar at EJ Thomas Hall after seeing it at Playhouse Square. I was so surprised because it really was a comparable performance for the most part and there were even aspects that I liked better at EJ Thomas than at Playhouse. Having that experience going into Hadestown made me feel hopeful that we would still be seeing an excellent show despite my ambivalence. I am kind of bummed because regardless of the cast members that shined, this performance felt like a dress rehearsal and not even a good one. Major characters brought the whole cast down and that is a crying shame!

Although this performance of Hadestown was literally nothing to write home about, Johnny and I still had a fabulous time on our date night. Stay tuned for my OOTD coming soon!

What is your favorite musical? Have you seen a play or musical recently? 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

Feb17

Lil Red’s Book Club: Preacher Book One By Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Preacher Book One By Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! For my Christmas gift this year, I treated myself to the entire collection of one of my favorite graphic novel series called Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. After a stint of reading The Housemaid series, I finally was able to crack open Book One of Preacher and devoured it. I didn’t think it was possible, but it was even better than I remembered! Before we discuss Book One in a spoiler free setting, as always, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on this graphic novel. It features graphic language, graphic violence, and highly disturbing content. It is not a read for the faint of heart! Now, let’s get to it:

God quit. He has left heaven and is nowhere to be found. In his absence, a creation called Genesis has broken free. Genesis is the child of an angel and demon, harnessing power and knowledge greater than god almighty. What Genesis needs is a human host and it is found in Reverend Jesse Custer. What heaven needs is to get Genesis back and the angels call upon the Saint of Killers to take care of whomever Genesis embedded himself in. During Jesse’s service at a small church in Texas, Genesis enters his body and creates an inferno that kills the entire congregation.

While all of that is going on, we meet Tulip who just so happens to be Jesse’s ex-girlfriend. She is in BIG trouble and needs to make a quick getaway. She hops in the car of a stranger named Cassidy and they hit the road. As they travel to anywhere but here, they see the aftermath of the explosion at Jesse’s church. As Tulip investigates the scene, she reunites with her long ago love. Just in time for the police to show up. Jesse, Tulip, and the elusive Cassidy are fully surrounded by heavy artillery. Then, as Genesis, Jesse speaks. He tells the cops to drop their guns and, amazingly, they do so. After the promise of certain death is eliminated, they get in Cassidy’s car and leave.

In a small diner, the newly formed crew evaluates how they ended up in this situation and what to do about it next. Not only do they have the cops to worry about, but the Saint of Killers is on their tail too and his bullets do not miss. Of course, Tulip would love to know why Jesse left her high and dry years ago but that is a conversation for another time. Right now, all Jesse wants to do is find god. But where does one look for god? Cassidy knows someone who might be able to assist in the search so their next destination is the Big Apple.

Rather than get any answers, Jesse, Cassidy, and Tulip find themselves in the grasp of a twisted serial killer. Jesse and Tulip closely escape and Cassidy ends up in a morgue. Until he wakes up, bums a cigarette from an employee, and decides to hit the road solo. After Cassidy makes his leave, the former lovers, Jesse and Tulip, are all alone. They quickly pick up where they left off after an abrupt end to their relationship, but Tulip still has no idea why it even happened in the first place. She is about to find out.

Jesse’s past is dark and he was raised by a wicked grandmother and her two backwoods cronies. He learned to love the lord through unspeakable abuse and made a vow to never, ever come back after he escaped. Some vows are meant to be broken, however, and said cronies catch up to Jesse and Tulip. They are returned to the place where it all began, Angelville. Jesse’s family knows about Genesis and they know they want that power desperately. They will do anything to keep Jesse and Genesis for themselves and murder is not off the table. Will Jesse and Tulip make it out alive? And where the hell is god, anyways? Read Preacher to find out!

In case you couldn’t tell, Preacher is a WILD ride. Honestly, the above synopsis isn’t even the half of it. Book One has always been my favorite and it sets the stage for the entire collected work so beautifully. Yes, the story is beyond far fetched. Yes, none of this could ever happen in real life. However, if you allow yourself to enter into the world created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, it really does feel real. The trio of Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy are all so likeable in their own right and it’s impossible not to root for them instantly. Because of this, the danger that they are in feels that much more immanent. The twists are shocking and there is a tangible sense of urgency in every panel. Once I started reading, I just couldn’t stop because the last thing you want it for anything bad to happen to our heroes. And, when it does, it feels like a punch in the gut.

Not only does Book One establish the clear divide of “good versus evil” but it also introduces us to a variety of subplots. We get to see the Detectives hunt for Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy. We meet a young, disfigured teen who vows to avenge his father’s death. We are shown settings and people that might not mean anything now, but they certainly will later. The promise of tying these loose ends is intoxicating. There is no rule book for a story line like this and that means it can go where ever the author and artists wants it to. Rest assured, you will never know what happens next in Preacher!

Overall, I am going to rate Book One of Preacher with a ten out of ten stars. From start to finish, this is a masterclass in story telling, artistry, and creating the blind faith in every reader that somehow, things are going to work out. No matter what!

Have you read Preacher before or watched the show? What did you think about it? 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

Jan20

CleanBeauty Barrier Support Facial Oil Review

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CleanBeauty Barrier Support Facial Oil Review

Hello!! In mid-October, I had a most excellent skin care haul at TJMaxx. I ended up with several new to me products as well as one that I was really excited about because I truly thought that I had used it before. During a previous haul, I fell in love with a Vitamin C serum by CleanBeauty and had my fingers and toes crossed that I would find it again. I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I saw a CleanBeauty serum on the shelves that I assumed was the same one because, at a glance, the bottles looked exactly the same. But, you all know that old saying about when you assume lol. Rather than my beloved Vitamin C serum, I ended up with a facial oil, instead *face palm*. Take a look and let’s discuss:

I consider myself to be very lucky because my skin type has been incredibly normal all of my life. I don’t experience acne, oil, or dry skin and this allows me to be able to experiment with a lot of different types of skin care. Normally, I do shy away from facial oil products just as a personal preference. However, when I realized I had a case of mistaken serum, I was eager to try the facial oil by CleanBeauty anyways. This Ohio winter has been absolutely brutal, especially within the past few weeks, and I figured it would do my skin good to have an extra protective barrier against the frigid cold. In theory, it sounded great. In practice, not so much.

This product is a prime example of why I don’t like facial oils lol. Every time I apply it, I try to use the smallest amount humanly possible on my face and neck. Regardless of the thimbleful application, this facial oil sits on your skin All. Day. Long. It doesn’t absorb whatsoever and after an hour or so, it just feels like you have residue that won’t come off. I hate it! This facial oil is a pain in the keister to apply makeup over so I just haven’t been wearing any – even on the weekends. Is my skin softer? No question. But, that’s not the end all be all because I have achieved softer, smoother skin with plenty of other products!

If you have extremely dry skin, then I think you will love this facial oil and it will be beneficial. For any other skin type, though, this is a product you can skip on and I cannot wait to use it up so I can kiss it goodbye!

How do you protect your skin during the winter? Which products have you not been impressed with recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan15

Bath & Body Works Shower Gel Haul

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Bath & Body Works Shower Gel Haul

Howdy! I had a most successful Semi Annual Sale shopping experience with Bath & Body Works. I was able to stock up on our tried and true favorites as well as a few new shower gels for myself and Johnny. For Johnny’s shower gel, literally every single one had some type of alcohol in the name lol. Mine, on the other hand, all had fruit! What can I say, I just love a fruity fragrance. By the time I was ready to place my order, a few of the shower gels that were in my cart had sold out. That was a bit of a bummer because the remaining selection were all scents I haven’t used before. Are they a hit or miss? Let’s find out together:

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Costa Rica Pink Pineapple Surprise: We already have a winner!! Pink Pineapple Surprise is an extremely straight forward fragrance – it literally just smells like pineapple and I am SO there for it. This scent is bright, tangy, and will be perfect to wake up with during my morning shower. If you are a pineapple fan, this one is for you!

Fruity Sherbet Scoop: This scent is just okay for me and is fairly muted. With a name like Fruity Sherbet Scoop, I was expecting something with a little more oomph. This fragrance offers notes of “rainbow sherbet, zesty orange, and sun kissed strawberry”. It’s fine, but it reminds me of how a bowl of Fruity Pebbles smells after it has been sitting for a while. I wouldn’t get it again.

Strawberry Soda: Finally, we have Strawberry Soda and it definitely lives up to its name! With notes of “fresh strawberries, bubbly seltzer, and crushed ice” it really does smell like a Waterloo sparkling water. It’s sweet without being overpowering and this might sound weird, but I can smell the fizz! I wouldn’t say this is my favorite scent or even that I would buy it again, but I certainly won’t mind using it.

The Pink Pineapple Surprise was the obvious winner from this batch so I’m glad I got two of them. And, even if the other two aren’t great, it’s always fun to try some new scents!

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