Tag Archives: review

Nov4

Lil Red’s Book Club: Bird Box By Josh Malerman Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Bird Box By Josh Malerman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the horror novel by Josh Malerman called Bird Box. This book was made into a movie in 2018 I believe and I never watched it despite the internet going crazy for it. I can’t wait to watch it now! After reading Incidents Around The House, also by Malerman, I decided that I would like to read more by him and thought Bird Box was an excellent place to start. It sure was as I finished this book in one sitting! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Bird Box for violence, disturbing content, child abuse, and harm to animals. Ready? Let’s get to it:

Malorie is newly pregnant and lives with her sister, Shannon. Despite their occasional sibling arguments, they are close as can be and are excited to start their lives in a bigger city. Then, The Problem started. In Russia, a man saw something and violently killed the person he was by and then himself. Similar incidents began to occur throughout Russia, then all over the world, and eventually into America. As The Problem starts by seeing something, people are advised to board up their windows, lock their doors, and never go outside without a blindfold. Shannon succumbs to The Problem and Malorie is left all alone with a decision.

Sure, she could stay in the home where her sister has perished. Or, she could travel with no eyesight to a home who placed an ad in the paper. A home that was safe where people could gather and face The Problem together. She takes option B and through blind faith arrives at the property. She is greeted by several housemates but finds herself drawn to Tom. Tom is a thinker, a problem solver, and a gentle soul. He welcomes pregnant Malorie into the home with open arms even though she will soon bring another mouth to feed.

Flash forward to present day and Malorie has gone at it alone with two children, Boy and Girl, in tow. Since birth, Boy and Girl have been trained to use their ears instead of their eyes. They are so good that they can hear a spider crawling on a windowpane and that is good. Malorie needs Boy and Girl. Supplies are running desperately low and it is only a matter of time before they need to leave to the only safe location she can think of. The journey is a dangerous one as she will have to take them by river in a rowboat. And, yes, she is blinded the whole time.

As we journey back and fourth between past and present, we learn of the turmoils that brought Malorie to where she is today. The people she encountered before Boy and Girl were born. How The Problem can decay peoples’ minds into insanity. And the intense training Boy and Girl had to endure seconds after they were born. Will Malorie have the strength to bring her, Boy, and Girl to safety? Will it ever be safe to step outdoors and see the world again? Read Bird Box to find out!

Holy WOW was Bird Box a great read! As I didn’t follow the hype around the movie release, I had no idea of what I was getting myself into. All I knew was that Sandra Bullock had a blindfold on lol. As soon as I read the first page, I wanted to know more and literally could not stop reading until I was done. What a crazy story. What a crazy idea. And what a fantastic gift Josh Malerman is to the world of horror. Bird Box taps into a primal fear – living in complete darkness. Every time a blindfold is placed on a character’s eyes, I found myself holding my breath for them. The simple act of fetching water from the well or answering the door has turned deadly. Evil could be right beside them and they wouldn’t even know it. Painstakingly written and absolutely harrowing, this book was one hundred and ten percent unputdownable.

Reading Bird Box was an exercise in “what would you do?” and “what type of person in the house would you be?”. As you read, you are immersed into a world that seems impossible but not implausible. A world where every single decision you make could lead to the death of yourself or your ragtag band of survivors. Double that with having children like Malorie and it makes your head spin. Malerman crafted the characters of Bird Box so beautifully and provided every type of person you might encounter. An innovator, a skeptic, a madman, a mother to be. The home they resided in became their cage and, when caged, true selves took form. Reading these characters, some beloved and some not so much, rise to the challenge or shrink away propelled this story forward and begged the question of if man is the scariest creature of all.

Overall, I am going to award Bird Box with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This is a standout horror novel that should not be missed and I am so excited to read more from Josh Malerman!

What did you think of Bird Box if you read it? Did you like the movie if you saw it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov2

October 2025 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
October 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone and happy November! The best holiday of all has came and went and now it’s onto the next best holiday of all. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been thinking about my Thanksgiving plate since last Thanksgiving lol. I freaking love Thanksgiving food so much! 🙂 I also love a successful month of beauty empties and October was pretty darn good in that regard. I think I might have found my new favorite serum! Take a look at these empties and let’s discuss further:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast Body Cream: YES

Bath & Body Works Strawberry Soda Shower Gel: NO

Bath & Body Works Golden Mango Lagoon Body Spray: YES

Glow Elixir Hyaluronic & Retinol Serum: YES!!!!

Vital Beauty Cooling Eye Gel: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Body Cream: This isn’t a comment on how amazing this body cream is, just a funny story. Johnny thought that the scent Champagne Toast was Champagne & Toast and I genuinely cannot think of it differently now. In fact, that’s almost how I typed it above! Also the B&BW body cream is so nourishing and fabulous and leaves my skin smooth and hydrated as the temperatures continue to drop. It took a little over two weeks of full body use to finish the bottle.

B&BW Shower Gel: I am extremely faithful to my B&BW shower gel and couldn’t imagine using anything different. I just love how foamy it gets, the scents, and how hydrating they are. However, Strawberry Soda was a scent I couldn’t get behind and I wouldn’t buy it again. This strawberry scent was just too sweet for my liking and almost had a syrupy fragrance. I like my fruity scents with a bit of tartness so it’s a no from me. It took me about a month and a half to finish the bottle.

B&BW Body Spray: If you are looking for sunshine in a bottle, Golden Mango Lagoon is just right for you! This beachy fragrance is paired with freshly cut mango and it is absolutely delicious. This was a freebie item and I thought it would be nice to test out a travel size spray without committing to a full bottle. Normally, I am not one for tropical scents but I loved this one. It invoked sweet summertime on chilly mornings and just made me happy. It took me four months to finish this bottle.

Glow Elixir Serum: So. Much. Yes. This Hyaluronic & Retinol serum by Glow Elixir was the truth. It took me over a month and a half to finish the bottle and I enjoyed every single use. This serum was shockingly thin in consistency and a few drops went a long way for full face and neck coverage. Glow Elixir is the perfect name for this brand because my skin was literally glowing. It was radiant, peaches and cream perfection and I could visibly see it with each morning and night use. I would love to use this serum again and am keeping my fingers crossed to find more at TJMaxx. I’ll buy the lot!

Vital Beauty Eye Gel: I have been loyal to the Vital Beauty eye gels for some time and will happily continue using them. I love the longevity of the product and one jar typically lasts me at least three and a half to four months with twice daily use. That’s awesome! The cooling eye gel soothes and nourishes and feels oh so nice around tired eyes at the end of the day. It also provides an invigorating boost in the morning. As far as I can tell, no new wrinkles have appeared (fingers crossed) with consistent use of this product so I’ll continue to use it as long as TJMaxx has it available!

Out with the old and in with the new! There is nothing better than finishing up long term products and I can’t wait to keep using more goodies and reporting back to all of you! ❤

Which products did you use up last 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

Oct30

Lil Red’s Book Club: Incidents Around The House By Josh Malerman Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Incidents Around The House By Josh Malerman 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 horror novel by Josh Malerman called Incidents Around The House. I see a fair amount of book related posts on my Facebook newsfeed and the first page of this book has shown up several times during my scrolling sessions. The first page is absolutely gripping and I finally decided to give it a go. Once I started reading, I literally couldn’t stop and finished this three hundred seventy page book in one day! It was excellent and I can’t wait to read more by Malerman. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Incidents Around The House for disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Bela is a little girl who lives with her Mommy and Daddo. She is on summer vacation and has been spending an awful lot of time indoors. Bela doesn’t have many friends to play with, but that’s okay. She has Other Mommy and Other Mommy is her friend. She thinks so, anyways. Other Mommy lives in Bela’s closet and has been visiting in the night for as long as Bela can remember. Sometimes they would laugh and play games, sometimes Other Mommy just watches her.

Although Bela is excited to see Other Mommy when she goes to bed at night, she is scared of her too. Other Mommy has a frightful appearance and has been known to pull terrifying faces, grow gargantuan in size, and slither around the floor like a snake. Other Mommy says that she’s Bela’s friend and that friends should help each other whenever they can. All Bela needs to do to help Other Mommy is let her into her heart. Then, Other Mommy can be Bela and Bela can live wherever Other Mommy goes whenever she slinks back into the closet.

Other Mommy has grown increasingly persistent and impatient for an answer from Bela about her request. So much so, that she has began making herself known to the adults in Bela’s life. Now that Mommy and Daddo know about Bela’s Other Mommy, they must protect their daughter from the evil in their home. But how? No matter where they go, Other Mommy follows and Other Mommy hurts. Will Other Mommy be vanquished for good? Or is Bela letting her into her heart the only solution? Read Incidents Around The House to find out!

Holy wow! Creepy right? Incidents Around The House was an unputdownable horror read from start to finish. I have to say, it was also delightfully refreshing to read some horror that isn’t Stephen King, as much as I love him! Incidents Around The House definitely reminded me of Coraline and this isn’t a bad thing as I am a huge fan of the book and movie. But make no mistake, this is no children’s book and truly feels like a Coraline for adults. I enjoyed every single page and couldn’t turn them fast enough.

Incidents Around The House is told from Bela’s perspective and my heart just broke for this poor girl. She is dealing with something SO scary all by herself. And, even when adults know about Other Mommy, she is still alone. The adults around her are cracking after just one glimpse of Other Mommy, while Bela has seen her every night. Incidents Around The House is, of course, about being brave even when you are by yourself. But it is also a firm reminder of the danger of harboring secrets and how quickly it can get out of hand when it finally comes to the surface. If you are a horror fan, this is a must read!

Overall, I am going to rate Incidents Around The House with a nine out of ten stars. I suspect there will be a lot more book club reviews for Josh Malerman’s books in the future. Also, I cannot wait to see the movie of this book coming out next year!

Have you read Incidents Around The House? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

Cliganic Chapstick Review

Posted on by
Standard
Cliganic Chapstick Review

Hello! I am a huge chapstick gal and this love was definitely fostered by my obsession with Lip Smackers in my youth. Lol you just couldn’t beat the scent of them even though I’m pretty confident they did absolutely nothing! As a smoker, my lips get dry easily so I always like to have a chapstick on my person. Several, actually. I have one in my purse, one on my bedside table, and one on my table when I’m working on the computer. A while back ago, I purchased a set of chapsticks by Cliganic and I am most impressed by the product. With winter weather approaching and chapped lip season upon us, I thought we’d discuss this lip chap because I think you will love it:

^^^ This is a cruelty free chapstick!

One of the biggest gripes people have with chapstick is the constant reapplication and I totally get it. If I am using a product, I want it to work right off the bat and what’s the point of a chapstick if you have to keep putting it on every ten seconds? This is SO not the case with the Cliganic lip chap! These chapsticks are made with sunflower seed oil, Vitamin E, and beeswax and they really pack a punch. The formula is so nourishing and rich and you can literally feel it working as soon as you apply it and after the fact.

With just a small swipe across your lips, you are on your way to ultimate and long lasting hydration. I can’t stand when a chapstick feels like it’s just sitting on your lips and the Cliganic lip chaps really do absorb and improve. The best part? My lips still feel soft and smooth even when this product is off! I reapply mine three times a day, at most. Part of it is out of habit but it’s honestly not even necessary because of how well it works. I put some on about two hours ago and even though it has all absorbed, my lips legit feel like I used a lip mask instead of a chapstick. If you want a truly effective chapstick without having to reapply throughout the day, this is the one for you!

I cannot recommend the Cliganic chapsticks enough and plan on buying more once I am out. I couldn’t imagine using anything different since I am already using the best!

How do you soothe chapped lips? What is your favorite chapstick scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct26

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Long Walk By Stephen King (As Richard Bachman) Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: The Long Walk By Stephen King (As Richard Bachman) Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing The Long Walk by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman). As a huge horror movie gal, I am most interested in seeing the movie based on this book that recently came out. Of course, I had to read the book first! After reading through the sweet and cute as can be Chocolat series, I was very excited to delve back into my usual horror and suspense novels. I can’t think of a better place to start than with Stephen King – especially since spooky season is upon us! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on this book for graphic violence, child abuse, sexual assault references, harm to animals, and disturbing content all involving children. If you’re up to it, let’s get to it:

The Long Walk is the nation’s favorite yearly pastime. It is a contest in which one hundred teenage boys simply walk under the watchful gaze of soldiers and the mysterious Major. The catch? You must maintain a pace of four or more miles per hour. Should you hit below four, you will receive a warning. There is no additional warning after the third one – you will be dead before you blink. One by one, the boys will be eliminated until there is one lone Walker to claim the prize: Fame and money beyond your wildest dreams and wishes granted. This is a contest that is not for the faint of heart and for boys who have nothing in their lives to lose.

Ray Garraty is our primary contestant and has a strong backing from his state of Maine. Did he enter The Long Walk for the glory, for repentance, or because he has a death wish? Who’s to say? But he is here and he is going to give it his best shot. Some boys compete in The Walk with a plan like to lone wolf it or frustrate other people into making mistakes. In Garraty’s case as with many others, they linked up in groups. Regardless of how you go about The Walk, there can only be one winner. There are no runner ups, no honorable mentions, and death is imminent for ninety-nine other competitors.

Despite these horrible circumstances, the boys trudge on. Armed with nothing but the clothes on their backs, a canteen of water, and food concentrates they must withstand whatever The Walk brings: Stormy weather, the delirium of no sleep, intense mental duress, and the pain that shoots through every inch of their bodies. Yet, they walk on. They walk until their death is the only option they desire. Only the strongest will survive. Will it be Garraty? Read The Long Walk to find out!

I have really mixed feelings about The Long Walk because it was written in a way that told us so much but also told us nothing. The Walk was, obviously, the focal point of this book and was the main character. It surpassed Garraty as the lead meaning that we knew next to nothing about the boys competing and everything about The Walk itself. This left little time to learn full back stories of the key handful of competitors and I wish that that was explored more. In a way, it was a mercy on King’s part. There were several teens that you wanted to see succeed and knowing more would have made their probable failure even more harrowing. The thing is, is that I’m nosey and still would have liked a bit of background information. On the other hand, it gives you the opportunity to draw your own conclusions.

Although I have some qualms with where the plot lacked, that is not to take away from the fact that is was expertly written, as always, by Mr. King/Bachman. He has a style that is undeniably his own and it continues to radiate. The way he describes horror is almost in a casual sense, then he surrounds the situation with joy wherever it can be found. A funny joke told by one of the boys, a competitor helping a fellow Walker to their feet, a rally by someone you thought was done for. In these moments of beauty, whatever painful situation that comes next hits even harder. There were sections in this book where it literally felt like I was being punched in the gut. Love or hate his books, there is no arguing in that they are a masterclass in pure horror.

Overall, I am going to rate The Long Walk with a six and a half out of ten stars. It wasn’t my favorite King/Bachman novel but it was still pretty good. I am looking forward to seeing the movie!

Have you read The Long Walk or seen the movie? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct23

Factory Of Terror Date Night

Posted on by
Standard
Factory Of Terror Date Night

Hello! If there is one haunted house to go to in the greater Northeast Ohio area, the Factory Of Terror is the place to be. It holds the record for the largest indoor haunted attraction in America boasting four different haunted houses, three separate bars, a dance floor, tarot readings, and axe throwing too. Every year you go is completely different than the last and you will never experience the same thing twice. It is absolutely amazing and my favorite place to go when spooky season hits.

Johnny and I had a date night to Factory Of Terror this past Friday and it was such a scary good time! I was also lucky enough to win my first radio contest EVER and scored two free tickets to the haunt. I couldn’t believe it and was literally on cloud nine. What’s better than a free night on the town to a place we planned on going to anyways?! SCORE! This was my third time going to the Factory Of Terror and I think it was the best year yet! Check it out:

^^^ Be sure to peep my TikTok for the video tour!!

Walking into the Factory Of Terror is like walking into a great big scary playground and the fun starts as soon as you set foot on the property. Character actors roam and are ready to sneak up on anyone that passes by. It makes something mundane like waiting in line for entrance wristbands into part of the experience and sets the tone perfectly for your night of spooky delight. After getting our wristbands, our first move was to hit the Poison Ivy bar for test tube shots. We opted for a blue concoction that tasted like straight up blue and was delicious!

After hitting up the Poison Ivy, it was off to the first haunt called the Forsaken Asylum. The bones of this haunted house hasn’t changed but the interior was totally different and transformed into a freaky hospital. It was filled with jump scares galore but the best part was twofold. Halfway through the house, there was a huge slide that you went down on a burlap sack. It was a wild ride! The ending was also excellent as it was a maze of mirrors. Johnny and I were running into the mirrors left and right and eventually a creepy doll character actor helped show us the way out lol. Not so scary after all and we were most appreciative. ❤

Next up was our favorite of the bunch – the Industrial Nightmare. This haunted house took us into the bowels of a factory complete with steaming pipes, compressed air switches on the ground, and glowing green lights to guide us through the pitch black setting. Everywhere we turned were “injured” employees from factory accidents and their scares couldn’t be beat. Some of the actors were legit perched on the ceiling, others were on bungee cords to leap out in front of you, and just being followed around in the dark was enough to send shivers down my spine. The highlight of this haunt had to be when the front of a train literally looked like it was coming straight towards you. I screamed so loud it could have shattered glass. It. Was. Awesome!!

The third haunted house holds a special place in my heart because it is Factory of Terror’s take on my favorite horror film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This is their staple haunted house called Massacre On Mahoning and while the theme remains the same every year, the inside always changes. For someone who is such a huge fan of TCM, going through this haunted house was a treat filled with tricks. Its setting was exactly what you could imagine if you are familiar with the story and was a pure celebration of one of the greatest, most influential horror movies of all time. I just loved it. 🙂

The last haunt to visit was called The Abyss and it simply delighted me and Johnny. For the first half of the haunt, we walked through almost complete darkness and were able to be guided by waist high walls to keep us on the path. After making it through this portion, we were welcomed into a sunken pirate ship and we were so there for it since we are being pirates for Halloween this year! The Abyss was so visually appealing once we made it to the light but it was also pure FUN. While we were waiting in line, we made friends with one of the actors and he made it a point to sneak up on us throughout the haunt. After we emerged on the other side, we all shared a great big hug and he asked us if we had a blast. It was a resounding YES on our part!! ❤

My first job was as a character actor at a haunted house and being at the Factory Of Terror hit me right in the nostalgia. This place is so incredibly special and all throughout the night I couldn’t help thinking how much fun it would be to work there. Our hats go off to the spectacular cast and crew that make the Factory Of Terror possible because the work that has gone into it is awe inspiring. We can’t recommend it enough if you are in the area!

What is the best haunted house in your neck of the woods? What are your Halloween plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct20

Lil Red’s Book Club: Vianne By Joanne Harris Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Vianne By Joanne Harris 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 newly released prequel to the Chocolat series by Joanne Harris called Vianne. I have read through *almost* the entire series, skipping on Chocolat as I know the story well, in preparation for the prequel. It has been a delightful experience to read these charming novels of magic, hope, and change. However, I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t excited to delve back into my horror and thriller novels! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Vianne for pregnancy difficulties and miscarriage. Now, let’s get to it:

Vianne and her maman have been on the move for as long as she can remember. Their lives were spent traveling from country to country picking up menial work and living hand to mouth all in the name of avoiding the Man in Black. When the winds change, they ride it and go somewhere new. But, now, the destination is up to Vianne and her alone. Her mother has passed and Vianne would follow their old methods but these are special circumstances. Vianne is with child and she knows that she must find work and a place to call home to prepare for the arrival of her baby.

She ends up in Marseilles and every business she visits in search of work denies her. Finally, she tries her luck at a bistro called La Bonne Mere where the owner, Louis, takes a shine to her. Perhaps it is because of her pregnancy or he just needs the help, but he offers her a job in the kitchen and lodging. At La Bonne Mere, Vianne learns the recipes of Louis’s beloved wife and begins to get to know the people in the community. There is Guy and Mahmed who are opening a chocolate shop, cantankerous Emile, wise Khamaseen, and strangers who will become friends. Being Vianne, she has quickly turned Louis’s ramshackle bistro into a place to be but it worries her. It feels too much like home – too much like a good thing.

After an especially kind gesture from Louis, Vianne does what she does best. She flees. She ends up roughing it in Toulouse until she is beckoned back to Marseilles by Guy. He promises her work in the chocolate shop and will teach her everything he knows. Vianne is in no position to turn down this opportunity over living on the streets and accepts. Knowing that she must go back and make right the lives of the people who suffered in her abrupt parting.

With Guy, Vianne learns the magic of chocolate and helps prepare the chocolaterie for its grand opening. She revels in the ritual, in trying new recipes, and using her magic in a more domestic setting. Magic that spreads good into the world with the taste of chocolate on the tongue. Like the bistro, the chocolaterie feels like a place that Vianne can stay. But will that ever be good enough? Or will she answer the call to the wind once more? Read Vianne to find out!

I really enjoyed reading Vianne and it was so worth reading the Chocolat series through for this experience. After the entirety of the series was said and done, there was still so much that we didn’t know about Vianne prior to her arrival in Lansquenet. The prequel answered all of these questions and made me love this fantastical character even more. To finally know her backstory and fully understand her choices was like a gift from Joanne Harris and I craved reading Vianne as much as I crave chocolate on a regular basis.

For all of its delight, Vianne was a bittersweet read. We already know how it’s going to end because the rest of the series exists. But this book allows you to see what could have been. A cast of characters as dear as the ones in Lansquenet, another chocolate shop that is trying to stay on its feet, a permanent home for her children. Part of me wished for more of these stories because it was all too easy to find a closeness to the Marseilles community. We all know that Vianne wouldn’t be Vianne without accepting the winds of change and this book showed us how she came into her own. To learn the magic of chocolate and to be herself. The woman and mother she wants to be.

Overall, I am going to rate Vianne with a seven out of ten stars. This was definitely one of the better books in the series and was a lovely way to conclude my visit to the world of Vianne Rocher!

Have you read the Chocolat series? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct16

Dirty Works Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer Review

Posted on by
Standard
Dirty Works Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer Review

Yoohoo! I absolutely love trying out new skin care products and have been obsessed with the new to me moisturizer I have been using. I finally got around to testing the Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer by Dirty Works and the name is so fitting. This moisturizer is a little miracle in a bottle! This is the first Dirty Works product that I have used that genuinely impressed me and I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed to find it again at TJMaxx. If you try it, you are going to be all about it too so let’s discuss:

When it comes to skin care, I really don’t care if it’s scented or not. All I want is for it to be effective. However, it’s always nice when a product smells nice and the Miracle Works Moisturizer is a delight. It smells like summer and sunscreen and is a lovely little pick me up when I apply it in the morning. Especially because it finally feels like breezy and brisk fall in good ol’ Akron, Ohio. I use a little more than a dime sized dollop for full face and neck coverage and it feels like I’m getting ready for a day at the beach with each use.

While the sunny scent is a welcome addition, the best part about this moisturizer is the way it feels once it’s on. I have never used one quite like this! After its application, this moisturizer makes my skin feel like pure velvet. It offers a matte finish that just feels so soft to the touch and I cannot recall ever using a moisturizer that has provided that crushed velvet sensation. It is heavenly! This moisturizer absorbs super quickly and gives my skin a radiant glow with the Vitamin C and a hydrating snap compliments of the hyaluronic acid. I can’t get enough of it and I know it’s bad but I also can’t stop touching my face as soon as it’s on morning and night. Yeah, it’s that good!

If you are on the market for a new moisturizer, I truly cannot recommend this one enough. You are going to love it!

What is your favorite Dirty Works product? What is the best moisturizer you have ever used? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct14

Amazing Bath & Body Works Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Amazing Bath & Body Works Haul

Hello! I was due for a reup of my beloved foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works and made a shopping trip this past Tuesday. I was armed with a free travel size product and twenty percent off coupon and was ready to save money AND smell all the things! I walked in knowing exactly what I needed but Bath & Body Works told me what I needed… And that was seventy-five percent off their Halloween fragrances! It honestly couldn’t have come at a better time because I was running dangerously low on lotion. Between the $3.50 hand soap promotion the store was running, Semi-Annual Sale pricing on Halloween goodies, and my coupons I ended up making out like a bandit. I got the fifteen products you see below for thirty-seven dollars even! How amazing is that?! Let’s discuss some of these scents:

Pearberry: Pearberry is one of my all time favorite throwback scents and I couldn’t believe it was available in hand soap form. Normally I have to wait for a Semi-Annual Sale to score this fragrance! For those of you who don’t recall, Pearberry offers notes of “anjou pear, wild berries, and golden freesia”. It is a primarily pear fragrance with the slightest tartness from the berries and a hint of freesia floral. I love a good fruity fragrance with no floral notes but Pearberry has always been the exception!

Frosted Cranberry: With Halloween scents out the door, holiday fragrances were in full swing at B&BW and Frosted Cranberry is one of my faves. This is a sweet/tart scent with notes of “frosted cranberry, red delicious apple, and blonde wood”. I can’t speak for the blonde wood lol but this is a perfect holiday fragrance. It invokes freshly baked cranberry scones, falling snow, and a crackling fire. I can’t get enough of it and it seriously smells good enough to eat.

Whipped White Cocoa: This scent is exactly what the fragrance notes describe with “white chocolate, frothy milk, and whipped cream” and it is absolutely delicious! It’s such a true match to the real drink that one smell will have you feeling like you are holding a warm cup of cocoa between your hands. I am a huge fan of this one!

Milk Bar Birthday Cake: Mmmmm… “Layered vanilla cake, creamy frosting, and rainbow sprinkles”? Yes, please! The Milk Bar Birthday Cake in its delightful pink packaging is such a treat and smells like it too. If you’re like me and love a cakey, vanilla scent then you cannot skip on this one. It smells just like cake batter!

Vampire Blood: This is a scent we have discussed a few times before on lifewithlilred so peep the review here. Other than I Scream Float, this is my favorite Halloween fragrance hands down. 😀

I Scream Float: This is also a scent that you can read a review for but I do need to repeat one thing: I Scream Float smells EXACTLY like Diet Coke and if you are as fond of the most delightful beverage in the world as I am, it is a complete must!! ❤

Cookie Butter Truffle: Can you tell that I live for dessert fragrances?! With notes of “cookie butter (As the name implies lol), whipped cream, and vanilla extract you are going to be craving a homemade cookie with each use. This is my least favorite one of the bunch because I actually smell a lot of cinnamon in it, which I despise. Definitely will skip on this one in the future.

As well as my hand soaps, I purchased a couple of wallflowers, body cream, a fragrance spray, and shower gel. Evil Queen is the only one from that batch we haven’t talked about previously so let’s get to it:

Evil Queen: The Disney Villains line was also part of the seventy-five percent off promo and whatever came in the green bottle STANK. I think it was the Maleficent fragrance? I wouldn’t say Evil Queen is my favorite scent in the world but I needed lotion and it was infinitely better than my other option! This scent features notes of “dark red apple, vanilla suede, and wicked pear”. This is a really light fragrance and I wish it had more oomph because I love everything in the fragrance notes. Great in a pinch but I wouldn’t purchase it again.

Thanks to this fabulous haul, I am going to be well set with my bath and body care until the winter Semi-Annual Sale rolls around. I still can’t get over the price for so many goodies and ended up saving a total of one hundred twenty dollars!!!!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works throwback scent? Where do you like to shop for bath and body care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct9

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Strawberry Thief By Joanne Harris Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: The Strawberry Thief By Joanne Harris 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 fifth and final installment of the Chocolat series called The Strawberry Thief. I have been rereading the series to gear up for the newly released prequel called Vianne and I am so excited to sink my teeth into it next. In October, scary movies reign supreme as Johnny and I complete the 31 scary movies in 31 days challenge. These lighthearted, easy read books are a nice change of pace from that and I have really enjoyed revisiting Joanne Harris’s work again. Before we begin chatting about one of my favorite books in the series, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Strawberry Thief for child abuse and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

It has been eight years since Vianne returned to Lansquenet with Anouk and Rosette after receiving a letter from her beloved and deceased friend. She had no intention of staying for long, just long enough to solve a problem for Father Reynaud and then it was back to Paris to be with Roux. However, the urge to settle became too strong and so Vianne, the girls, and even Roux made Lansquenet their home once again. A lot has changed in eight years but some things have remained the same. Vianne’s chocolaterie is open once more, Anouk is now living in Paris with her boyfriend, Rosette is still Rosette, and Roux has stayed in the same place for longer than he ever has before. Life is good, but the wind is blowing and with that wind comes drastic changes.

Rosette has never been one for words and prefers to use sign language or make animal noises. She makes some people uncomfortable but found a friend in the elderly man who runs a flower shop named Narcisse. He is gruff and unfriendly to almost everyone but has taken a shine to Rosette, his little strawberry thief. This nickname came from her love of exploring the woods behind his shop and eating her fill of the wild strawberries that grow there. She dreams of living there one day all by herself and maybe she will. Narcisse passed away suddenly and left the woods on his property to Rosette, much to the disdain of his daughter and family.

Not only did Narcisse leave Rosette a substantial piece of property but he made Father Reynaud the executor of his will. He also leaves behind his confession and life story that is for Reynaud’s eyes only. This infuriates his daughter even more and she spends her time harassing Vianne, Roux, Reynaud, and Rosette for more information. She wants to contest the will so she can have Rosette’s property all to herself. This isn’t the only change that the wind has brought. Shortly after Narcisse died, a new renter has set up in his old flower shop. A mysterious place, ran by an even more mysterious woman.

Vianne has a bad feeling about whatever is going on in that shop and demands that Rosette stay away. Perhaps because the owner reminds her a bit too much of Zozie, the eater of hearts? Despite her mother’s urges, the temptation to enter the shop is too great and Rosette enjoys the company of the owner named Morgane. On her first visit, she learns that Morgane is a tattoo artist – a profession that Lansquenet has never seen the likes of. This information delights Vianne because there is no way that a tattoo parlor will flourish in their small village. Right?

Wrong! Soon enough, Lansquenet is buzzing with tattoo fever and even the most unlikely residents have gotten fresh ink from Morgane. Rosette loves visiting the shop and between the stress of Morgane and her daughter’s friendship, a faltering romance with Roux, and Rosette’s newly acquired property, Vianne takes matters into her own hands. Vianne was once an outcast in Lansquenet and she wants Morgane to have the same treatment. No one, even Father Reynaud, can see what she sees but she feels it fiercely. Maybe if the wind takes Morgane away, the Kindly Ones will be satisfied and leave Vianne in peace. Or maybe, what she’s feeling is all in her head. Will Rosette be able to keep her woods? And will order be restored in Lansquenet if Morgane were to just pack up and go? Read The Strawberry Thief to find out!

I absolutely loved The Strawberry Thief and it was such a wonderful change of pace from its predecessor, Peaches For Father Francis. The Strawberry Thief was fast paced, short and sweet, and I devoured it in three sittings. This book was told from the point of view of Vianne and Father Reynaud as well as Rosette and this delighted me. Finally being able to hear Rosette’s thoughts after two books of not knowing much about her was so amazing. Rosette is sixteen in this book and her chapters spoke of growing up, social isolation, and carving a place in the world that was just for her. The words in her chapters moved me so deeply and solidified what I always knew – she’s not so different after all.

Not only did we get to see the world through Rosette’s eyes, but we also got to travel back in time with Narcisse’s life story. There is a secret that he took to his grave and needed to confess to someone in his passing. Who better than Father Reynaud? To learn the secret, we must start at the beginning and his is a harrowing tale of trauma, abuse, and grief that never left him. It was heartbreaking but beautiful as this shed light on why he became so fond of Rosette. With all of the excitement of these interweaving tales AND a tattoo shop opening in Lansquenet, I simply couldn’t stop turning the pages. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it and was definitely one of the strongest in the entire series!

Overall, I am going to rate The Strawberry Thief with an eight out of ten stars. After my wishy washy sentiments over Peaches For Father Francis, I wasn’t sure what I was in for with this book. It was even better than I hoped for!

What are you currently reading? Who is your favorite author? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah