Tag Archives: review

Nov12

Hoosige Elf Costume Review

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Hoosige Elf Costume Review

Hi everyone!! I am SO excited to start creating content for the holiday season with Tim Misny. We have a ton of fun planned to show off our Misny Merch holiday collection, decor tours, and featuring all things merry and bright. For the festivities, I purchased an elf costume by Hoosige on Amazon and wanted to write a review because I just tried it on. This costume came with six different pieces and was under forty dollars, which will make it a hot seller for holiday celebrations. However, there are definitely some things you should be aware of before clicking on the order button:

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^^^ Image by Hoosige

When I am ordering clothing or costumes, I always always check the customer reviews in terms of sizing. Nine times out of ten, these sentiments have steered me in the right direction for a perfect fit. This time – not so much. If you read the Amazon reviews for this costume, almost every person recommended sizing up. So I did. Rather than ordering a small, I went for a medium and I wish I didn’t because the costume was ginormous. Not only was it oversized in width, but it is nowhere near as short as the image will lead you to believe. The dress went to the middle of my calves. With no time to exchange my order, I had to make things work so I gathered the excess in the back and secured it with a hair clip. The moral of the story: Order your regular size and, for once, do not listen to the reviews!

It is also worth mentioning that the socks looked more like sleeves for a shirt and did not fit close to the body at all. I opted to swap mine out for a pair of white, ruffly ankle socks. The shoes also leave a lot to be desired and felt like sanitary coverings. They are not made for outdoor use so if you plan to wear them, put them on after you enter into your destination. I will not be using them and will wear a red pair of heels instead – I need any extra length I can get! I will say that the hat and ears are insanely cute and both stayed nice and secure once on. In fact, they are the only parts of the costume that I don’t have a problem with lol.

Even though I am swimming in this costume, I will be damned if I’m not working it and after some tweaking it did look a lot better. If you plan on ordering one for yourself, just know that it might not be exactly what you had in mind after viewing the product pictures!

Do you have a costume you wear during the holidays? What is your favorite holiday movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct27

October 2024 Finishes

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October 2024 Finishes

Howdy!! Just like that, October is about to draw to a close and that means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. This is going to be a short and sweet post as there really isn’t too much to chat about. I used up several long term products last month and am still working away at their replacements. I did, however, try one new thing that I fell in love with so take a look and let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Calypso Clementine Body Cream: YES

Provence Beauty Collagen + Retinol Serum: NO

Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion: YES

Bath & Body Works Lavender & Iris Body Butter: YES!!!

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Body Cream: You already know the Calypso Clementine from Bath & Body Works is a forever use again product. Anyone who is a fan of citrus scents like me will love it! It took me two and a half weeks of once daily use to finish the bottle.

Provence Beauty Serum: It took me one month of twice daily use to finish the Collagen + Retinol serum by Provence Beauty and it was just okay for me. I have used several serums by Provence Beauty and they tend to be hit or miss so this wasn’t too much of a shock. I didn’t notice any difference to my skin one way or the other and will be skipping on it if I ever see it again at TJMaxx.

Jergens Lotion: A really cool thing about one of the Targets in my area is that there is always a basket of free travel size products at customer service. My mom snagged the Jergens lotion for me during her last visit and I was delighted because you can’t go wrong with that brand! My skin was smooth and hydrated as can be with each use and I can’t get enough of the rich, creamy scent.

B&BW Body Butter: While I enjoy lotions and creams, body butter always reigns supreme. The body butter from The Body Shop was my favorite thing to treat myself with and, unfortunately, their products are no longer available in the US. I never bothered with another brand of body butter but decided to try B&BW’s during their Semi-Annual Sale. I’m so glad I did because the Calm Haven Lavender & Iris was divine.

Normally, I am not a lavender girl whatsoever but this body butter really didn’t smell like traditional lavender. The scent was soft, light, and soothing rather than overpowering. The texture of the product was whipped, applied easily, absorbed quickly, and I woke up to puppy fur soft skin every morning. It took me two and a half weeks of once daily use to finish the jar and I would happily use it again!

Even though there wasn’t too much to my October Finishes, my skin was ultra soft from the products that I did use up and that is a huge win during cold weather. I’ll take it!

Which products did you finish 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

Oct24

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

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Boyfriend 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 a thriller by Freida McFadden called The Boyfriend. Even though I figured out the grand reveal well ahead of time, it was a pretty good and fast paced read. I finished it in three sittings! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Boyfriend for assault, violence, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

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Sydney lives in New York City and is in her mid thirties. Saying she is unlucky in love is an understatement and she is well aware of the ticking of her biological clock. One of her best friends, Gretchen, has found a great new boyfriend. Her other bestie, Bonnie, who has a date almost every night has even found a dreamy guy to cozy up with regularly. So why can’t Sydney? As she scrolls aimlessly through dating apps, she solidifies plans for a dinner out with a match and is actually excited. Until her date arrives, that is.

What should have been Sydney’s handsome suitor turns out to be a catfish named Kevin. Sydney decides to see the date through because they did have some semblance of a connection over text. This nicety proved to be a bad idea and after their dinner, Kevin attempts to assault her on the way home. What was an already terrible situation could have been so much worse had in not been for a Mystery Man who came to Sydney’s rescue. When he looked at her, she felt sparks flying but she never even got his name.

Sydney is officially back to the drawing board and continues to go about her normal routine. Work, dating apps, and outings with her girls. Everything is almost back to status quo, until one of her best friends is brutally murdered in her own apartment. Of course, Sydney swears off the dating apps – for a while anyways. After what she considers an appropriate amount of time off for grieving, she has a coffee date with a new match. They are having a wonderful time during their meet up, but then Sydney suffers a nosebleed that sends him running out the door. Sydney is left with the bill and in a state of shock – Mystery Man is in the coffee shop and he is approaching her!

Finally, the man she has been pining over since their first encounter is talking to her and his name is Tom. He is a total babe, respectful, and a doctor too. Could things be any more perfect? As they pursue a relationship, Sydney has a hard time thinking otherwise – other than some glaring red flags, that is. Maybe, Tom is just a full fledged commitmentphobe. Or perhaps he’s harboring his own dark secrets that Sydney is none the wiser to. All she knows is that Tom might not be who she thinks he is. So who is her Mystery Man, really? Read The Boyfriend to find out!

I wouldn’t go as far as to say that The Boyfriend was the best book I have ever read. There was, however, a lot that I liked about it. As you all know, I love a book with alternating narrators and this one went back and forth between present day Sydney and Tom in the past. This really added to the sense of urgency revolving around Sydney because every time we circled back to Tom’s childhood, we learned a new disturbing fact. While we could see things for what they were, she had no idea and it made her situation that much more dire. The grand reveal was also quite the shocking one despite my super sleuthing.

Where this book fell short for me was in terms of characters. When I consider a “good” book, I think about ones where I felt really connected with the characters. The Boyfriend lacked this significantly. Sydney was a very milquetoast leading lady and read as completely desperate more often that not. Tom, on the other hand, was your typical “love interest with a dark past” and it was rather stereotypical as opposed to something fresh and new. This was too bad because the plot was definitely one I was interested in but the characters lacked that special something to really drive it home.

Overall, I am going to rate The Boyfriend with a six out of ten stars. If you are looking for a decent quick read, I recommend it. If you are on the hunt for a book with a bit more oomph, then it is one you can certainly skip on!

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

Oct21

Dr. Wellness Lip Balm Review

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Dr. Wellness Lip Balm Review

Hello! My favorite brand of chapstick has got to be Pacifica. I was introduced to it a year or so ago at TJMaxx and have loyally used the brand ever since thanks to their multipack on Amazon. I am one of those people that always needs to have lip chap on them. I have one by my bed, one by my computer, and one in my purse. In the past week, I have reached the bottom of the tube on literally every chapstick I own. It feels like such an accomplishment to finish an entire chapstick, but it was terrible because I was legit jonesing for more lol. During my skin care haul at TJMaxx, there were no tubes of Pacifica to be found, but I did purchase a multipack by a brand I have never used before called Dr. Wellness:

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I was drawn to the pretty packaging on this chapstick set, the price was nice at five dollars, and it came with five tubes so I could replace my fallen friends and still have two extras. I thought it was a total steal and couldn’t wait to try them out! My first impression upon my first application was honestly that it wasn’t as good as my beloved Pacifica. That’s not to say that it wasn’t good, though, and I liked it more and more with each use. Actually, these Dr. Wellness balms are kind of amazing. In just one swipe on your lips, full coverage is achieved with a pillowy soft balm. And, even after the product has absorbed, my lips still felt smooth and hydrated without needing a reapplication. I have a hunch that these balms are going to be a total lifesaver come winter!

I always prefer a scented balm so let’s discuss the smell good factor for each of them:

Berry: If you recall the scent of the Mixed Berry Lipsmackers, then that is exactly what the Dr. Wellness Berry lip chap smells like. I can especially detect the raspberries, which is great because that is one of my favorite fragrances!

Pink Grapefruit: Grapefruit scents tend to be hit or miss for me because they can be overly pungent. I love this lip balm’s scent, though! It is bright and zingy without burning my nasal passages and is actually my favorite one of the bunch.

Mint: I am a huge fan of mint scented anything and nothing will ever be “too minty” for me. Unfortunately, the mint scent of this balm is light. Really light, as a matter of fact, and it certainly left me wishing for way more oomph.

Aloe: I was expecting the Aloe balm to be relatively scentless and, happily, that wasn’t the case. The Aloe lip chap smells a lot like cucumber melon which was a pleasant surprise. It is a close second favorite after Pink Grapefruit.

Cooling Water: Now, the Cooling Water is what I expected the Aloe balm to smell like: Not much of anything lol. It has the softest hint of a fresh rainwater scent but that is about it.

These Dr. Wellness balms might not be from my go to brand and after a few uses, that was a-okay. I would definitely recommend buying a tube or two to combat chapped lips this winter!

Do you have chapstick stations in your house? What is your favorite lip balm brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct11

Don’t Watch This Movie!

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Don’t Watch This Movie!

Hello!! Johnny and I are working our way through the 31 in 31 challenge – AKA watching a scary movie every day of October. So far, we have watched a lot of movies that we have both enjoyed. This Monday, however, we watched quite possibly the WORST movie we have ever seen. It was called We’re All Going to the World’s Fair. I was drawn to the description of the movie, which talked about a lonely teen finding herself immersed in an online horror game. And, of course, we liked the fact that it was under an hour and a half long because we both had a long day. Despite its short length, this movie felt ten hours long and not in the good way. Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Okay! Long story short, Casey joins in playing an online game called the World’s Fair. It is a horror role playing game that employs secret methods to gain entry. Once you are in, strangers dictate what you have to do and the players document the “changes” they undergo on video. As Casey goes through her days in a sad limbo, someone from the game contacts her with the concern that she might seriously harm herself or others. Will Casey take the World’s Fair too far? Please, please don’t watch to find out lol.

Let me first start off by saying, the plot of this movie was enticing to me. I love an internet horror story line. I also very much like artistic and thought provoking horror films. So why didn’t I like We’re All Going to the World’s Fair? Because it sucked lol. Johnny and I watched every agonizing minute of this movie hoping that it would get better. Unfortunately, all it did was get even worse and even weirder to the point that we were in stitches laughing about it.

We’re All Going to the World’s Fair was an impossibly slow burn without a big bang at the end. Every scene which could have lasted seconds took minutes because every action was shown – IE: A man walking through the entirety of his home to get to one room. Had there been anything particularly scary about this movie, maybe these lengthy scenes of movement would have felt more charged. Psychologically and visually, though, there was just no horror there. Rather, we were watching Casey’s pointless livestreams or watching pointless videos that she was watching. Whatever sense of anticipation was built at the beginning quickly crumbled because literally nothing happened.

I have seen SO many positive reviews for We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and it even scored a ninety percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The high tomato-meter score was part of why I chose it. It makes me wonder if I was watching the same film as the people who really enjoyed it because this should have been a movie I liked. If you are looking to waste an hour and a half of your life, put it on. I promise you that you are not missing out on anything if you skip on it!

What is the worst movie you have seen recently? What is your favorite kind of movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct6

Bath & Body Works October Freebie

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Bath & Body Works October Freebie

Hello!! I received a freebie coupon for a hand cream at Bath & Body Works and was able to stop in after my nail appointment on Tuesday to snag it. I was on cloud nine – a fresh fill, a little treat, and I still made it to work with ample time to spare. Everything was coming up Lil Red! Better yet, I was in and out of B&BW in literally two minutes without having to explain to an employee that I was only there for the freebie lol. What can I say, I keep my bath and body care well stocked! As I had no desire to linger, I grabbed the first hand cream I saw without giving it the old sniff test. So, let’s find out what Platinum smells like together…

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The consensus? Platinum smells… fine lol. According to B&BW’s website, their description for what it smells like is “a mesmerizing vibe you can’t help but be drawn to” and offers notes of “sparkling bergamot, silver blooms, and patchouli musk”. I wouldn’t go as far as to call it a mesmerizing vibe because I feel like it doesn’t smell like anything! I get a whiff of a slightly floral fragrance but that’s about it. Honestly, that’s fine too because this scent had the potential to be overly pungent which is something I can’t stand for. I will say that the packaging is cute AF and Platinum would be a safe bet if you’re purchasing for someone else as there wasn’t much to like or dislike.

PS: If you are already in holiday mode, B&BW is previewing their seasonal collections in store and online. In fact, I hardly saw any Halloween scents in store and it feels like I just had my spooky roundup yesterday. My, how time flies in the retail world!

Would I go out of my way to get Platinum again? Hard no, but free is free!

What is your favorite seasonal scent? Where do you get your bath and body care from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep30

September 2024 Finishes

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September 2024 Finishes

Howdy!! Just like that, September draws to a close which means it’s time to discuss my beauty empties for the month. This was a particularly good product roundup as I used up a lot of long term skin and bath and body care, allowing me to try something new afterwards. I always look forward to browsing in my beauty department as soon as a product is complete! Let’s take a gander at my September Finishes and chat a bit more:

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Would I Use Again?

Harlowe’s Shop Goat Milk & Honey Body Cream: YES

Bath & Body Works Sun-Washed Citrus Shower Gel: YES

Ellen Tracy Toner: NO

Clinical Works Toner: NO

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Skin Assistant Collagen + Hyaluronic Acid Day Cream: YES!!!!!!!!!!

Simple Soothing Eye Balm: MAYBE

Malie Body Cream: NO

Why/Why Not?

Harlowe’s Shop Body Cream: I am a HUGE fan of the Cherry Almond lotion by Jergen’s and if you are too, then you will absolutely love the Goat Milk & Honey body cream by Harlowe’s Shop. My mom gave this to me as a hand me down so I only got one week of use out of the bottle. In that time, however, I woke up to insanely soft skin every single morning. The scent was a bit softer than Jergen’s but highly reminiscent of it and I would happily use this body cream again. It would be so perfect for combating dry skin during the wintertime!

Toners: I purchased the toners by Ellen Tracy and Clinical Works when TJMaxx had none of my beloved Evoluderm micellar water available. It took me about three weeks to finish each bottle and I was not impressed by either of them in the slightest. It really did just feel like splashing my face with water and I definitely wouldn’t spend money for that sensation again lol. These toners are something you can skip on and I promise you, you won’t be missing anything.

Skin Assistant Moisturizer: Now, this moisturizer – I loved. In fact, it is one of the best ones that I have used in recent memory. This jar took me almost THREE MONTHS to finish with day and night use, which is an amazing value. During that expansive tenure, I enjoyed every single use. This moisturizer left my skin feeling so soft and it looked and felt so much brighter and refreshed. A little went an incredibly long way, it fully absorbed within minutes, and sat well under makeup. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that TJMaxx will have it again because I plan on buying the lot. Yeah, it’s that good!

Simple Eye Balm: Like the aforementioned moisturizer, the Simple Soothing Eye Balm also took me about two and a half months to finish with twice daily use. Unlike the last Simple eye cream I used, this one was just okay for me. I did feel like under eye puffiness and bags were reduced, but the results certainly didn’t blow me away. If this was the only option available for eye cream, I suppose I would buy it again. It’s nothing to write home about, though.

Malie Body Cream: Normally, I wouldn’t take the time to do a review on a random travel size product BUT this is one I need to talk about lol. The Malie Body Cream was another hand me down from my mom and it really confused me. I, of course, think of lotion when I see body cream on packaging. But, whatever this was felt SO much like a shower gel that I genuinely don’t know what to think – it even bubbled on slightly damp skin! It did make my skin feel softer, but I just can’t get behind the texture of it!

Despite a few duds in the mix, I got to use so many new to me products and I love being able to do that. It’s also always going to be a GREAT SUCCESS when I find a moisturizer that I, without a doubt, would use again!

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

Sep10

Lil Red’s Book Club: Nailbiter Vol. 8 “Nailbiter Returns” By Joshua Williamson Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Nailbiter Vol. 8 “Nailbiter Returns” By Joshua Williamson 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 final volume in the horror series, Nailbiter. From start to finish, Nailbiter was a wild ride and Nailbiter Returns did a good job of wrapping things up. Minus ending on a massive cliffhanger!! As of now, there are no new Nailbiters in the works and it is a shame because I’d love to see what happens next. But, I digress. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Nailbiter Returns for graphic violence, gore, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

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Volume Eight of Nailbiter picked up right where Volume Seven left off: A high school game called the Buckaroo Brawl was made up by a young Crane and Warren. The game should have ended a long time ago but it has started back up again with look alike Buckaroo Butchers slaying citizens and harvesting their eyeballs for a new Master. Warren, Finch, Crane, and Alice return to Buckaroo at the end of Volume Seven to put an end to the new game where it all began. And Volume Eight begins.

Upon our ragtag team’s arrival in Buckaroo, they are almost immediately separated and Alice finds herself deep in the woods. As she tries to make her way back to the others, it begins to rain. Not regular old rain, but blood. Alice hallucinates nightmares before her very eyes until Warren tracks her down and leads her to where he knows they need to go. It isn’t an underground tunnel or a laboratory, rather it’s the home of Warren’s former high school fling whose ties to the Butchers go far deeper than just an appreciation.

In the house, one of the look alike Butchers hurls Warren and Alice into a dark room where Crane, Finch, and FBI Agent Danny are found in chains. A grand reunion is promised and it is there that they meet the new Master. This is a highly inconvenient time to be dealing with a bunch of cosplay serial killers as the Master has a plan: To rain blood all over Portland and let people experience horror as they never have before. With the Master and game in full force in Buckaroo and a catastrophe underway in Portland, decisions must be made for the safety of all. Can both be stopped? Read Nailbiter to find out!

If you recall, Volume Seven was my least favorite of the Nailbiter series. In my opinion, Nailbiter could have ended with Volume Six and that would have been fine. I’m not sure how I feel about Nailbiter Returns because I wasn’t privy to the plot of the Buckaroo Brawl to begin with. It felt like grasping at straws and that was disappointing as the series has always felt so confident in what it was. I did like the outcome of Volume Eight as well as the introduction of the Master. However, it seemed too little too late and I would have much preferred for this story line to have come forward earlier in the series. Then, these final two volumes wouldn’t have felt like such an afterthought.

While I didn’t much care for Volume Seven and Eight, I really did enjoy everything in the series leading up to it and I’m glad to have read it. Nailbiter is the first graphic novel series I have read that truly felt like horror. The plot of a small town with a double digit amount of serial killers is an instantly gripping one and I just had to know more. There were an abundance of jump scares, serial killers, and crazy twists and turns that any horror fan would appreciate. It was also very easy to get attached to the characters and that made every situation even more shocking. I wish there was more because the final panel of the series leaves A LOT more questions than answers!

Overall, I am going to rate Nailbiter Returns with a five out of ten stars. It was good, but not great. Don’t let this be a deterrent to not read the series, though! I still highly, highly recommend it.

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

Sep7

Groovy Movies: Longlegs Edition

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Groovy Movies: Longlegs Edition

Hello!! There haven’t been too many movies that have come out in theaters recently that Johnny and I have wanted to see. The only one was Longlegs. We had grand plans to have a Middle Class Fancy night on the town of dinner and a show a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, the movie wasn’t playing at any convenient times so we just went home. We both still agreed that we would like to see it sooner than later, so we ended up renting it this past weekend. I honestly haven’t stopped thinking about it since. In the good or bad way? The jury’s still out! But let’s discuss further in a spoiler free setting with a trigger warning placed on Longlegs for graphic violence, gore, and highly disturbing content. Here we go:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video.

Long(legs) story short… Agent Lee Harker has been assigned to a serial killer case that has gone cold. In the killings, entire families are annihilated with no rhyme or reason. In fact, physical evidence to place anyone at the scene of the crime is nonexistent. All that is left at every scene is a coded message signed by a person calling themselves Longlegs. A true game of cat and mouse between the FBI and the killer ensues and the only guarantee is that Longlegs will strike again. And soon. Lee Harker must dig deep into her mind and her past because the answers are all there, if she can remember them, of course. What happens next? Watch Longlegs to find out!

OKAY, so when we began our viewing of Longlegs, Johnny and I were SO in. The soundtrack was bumping, the first scene was shocking, and a wild ride of a movie seemed promising. I found Maika Monroe as Lee Harker to be very dull right from the jump and that opinion didn’t change. This was okay, though, because we were exclusively there for Nick Cage. Normally, I would say that that man couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag. As the titular character, however, he was masterful. Eerie, disturbing, and so disgusting to look at that you couldn’t look away. He had me completely hooked and I remained that way until I wasn’t.

The first half of Longlegs was purely procedural cat and mouse. This is mine and Johnny’s favorite type of story line and we were loving it. Then, it took a drastic turn and for the worse. What began as something that *almost* seemed plausible did a total one eighty as it shifted from real life to the demonic. This is when I found my interest fading and fast. Do I understand the delving into the paranormal? Sure. Did I like it? Not one bit. This huge change halfway through the flick seemed haphazard – like a cop out. The supernatural shift also felt incredibly flimsy, as if this was the first thing that stuck to the wall and the director said “okay”. We saw the movie through until the end but my opinion changed to “this was stupid” as opposed to the banner reception I had of the first half.

I feel very conflicted about Longlegs and I think I keep thinking about it because I wanted to like it more than I actually did. I plan on watching it one more time, but I wouldn’t call it a “must watch” by any means. I am going to give it five out of ten stars. Five for the first half and zilch for the rest!

What was the last movie you saw in theaters? What did you think about Longlegs? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug31

August 2024 Finishes

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August 2024 Finishes

Howdy and holy smokes! It’s the end of August already?! This month literally flew by. In fact, the whole summer flew by but a second wind is nigh. Unfortunately, we have reached the dreaded point in Ohio better known as “second summer”. It’s been hot as all living F here and I am dying. Plz send help! I am stepping into September manifesting breezy temps and all of the cardigans. But first, it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. Let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

CleanBeauty Vitamin C Niacinamide Serum: YES

Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser: MAYBE

BrightsideOrganics Magical Brew Body Butter: MAYBE

Bath & Body Works Pink Chiffon Lotion: NO

Bath & Body Works Poppy Lotion: YES

Neutrogena Face Serum: NO

Why/Why Not?

CleanBeauty Serum: I absolutely LOVED this serum. It promised an “all day glow” and, I must say, CleanBeauty held good on it. This serum was an instant radiance boost every morning and I didn’t think a glow like that was achievable at 3:30 AM. It was nice and light which made it perfect for summertime use and a little bit went such a long way. It took me over one month of twice daily use to finish the bottle and I would happily purchase a few more if I see it again at TJMaxx.

Youth To The People Cleanser: I received the Kale + Green Tea Superfood Cleanser by Youth To The People as my freebie birthday gift from Sephora. I can’t say I was overly impressed with the other products included in the gift set, but I quite liked this cleanser. It lathered up so nicely and left my skin feeling fresh, clean, and nourished with every use. However, it did smell like you were rubbing your face with a handful of spinach lol. This tiny bottle packed a big punch and it took me over two weeks of daily use to finish it. I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy a full size because I’m sure it’s insanely expensive. However, if it were ever on a freebie promotion again with Sephora I would be all over it!

BrightsideOrganics Body Butter: This lovely jar of body butter from BrightsideOrganics was part of a birthday gift from my blogging bestie. The Magical Brew scent was a bit too woodsy for my liking, but oh my goodness did it moisturize like a dream. I am an avid fan of the body butters by The Body Shop and this was comparable, if not better than them. My skin felt insanely soft and it was fantastic to wake up to after a nighttime application. It took me about two and a half weeks of daily use to finish the jar and I would be very interested in trying a different scent.

B&BW Lotion: Lol, the Bath & Body Works Pink Chiffon lotion was actually given to Johnny by a coworker. She claimed it smelled terrible and he said he’d take it because he knows I don’t care about the scent of lotion as I only wear it at night. What a doll! I have to say, his coworker was right. The Pink Chiffon scent wasn’t the best but it wasn’t the absolute worst. It was quite musky but it was toned down the slightest bit by the red pear in the fragrance notes. I wouldn’t buy it for myself but I would happily use it for free! It took me one month of all over daily use to finish the bottle.

Neutrogena Serum: This travel sized bottle of serum was a freebie from Target. Every once in a while there will be a basket of free product at customer service and I always grab what I can get! It was lucky to have this free bottle because I accidentally broke the serum I was using when I dropped it and it shattered all over the bathroom. It sucked lol. Having said that, I still wouldn’t use this serum again. I liked that it offered a hefty dose of SPF but it was SO heavy and made my pores feel and look clogged. Free is free but this was a definite no go. It took me two weeks of twice daily use to finish the bottle.

Despite a dud or two in the mix, this was a pretty decent beauty roundup for the month of August. I can’t wait to pamper myself with more new to me skin and bath and body care in September!

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