Tag Archives: review

Jul29

Lil Red’s Book Club: Dear Debbie By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Dear Debbie 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 are going to be discussing one of Freida McFadden’s newest books called Dear Debbie. Freida McFadden is a hit or miss author for me. Some of her books are great, others leave a lot to be desired and I feel like there is no middle ground. Her books are either good or bad lol. However, her most recent thrillers have hit hard – so much so that I finished Dear Debbie in one day! I just couldn’t put it down! Before we begin our discussion, I will be placing a trigger warning on Dear Debbie for sexual assault (one instance involving minors), graphic violence, and disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Debbie gives great advice but she never necessarily takes her own. She is the voice of “Dear Debbie” in the local newspaper and does her best to point lonely or sad housewives in the right direction. Her own direction these days? Aimless. Her husband, Cooper, pulls disappearing acts during the evening and there is something going wrong with her teenage daughters that she is completely in the dark about. Debbie’s life wasn’t supposed to be this way. She was a promising student at MIT until an incident happened that made her academic dreams crash and burn. So she became a wife, a mother, and every day since the incident has left her feeling inadequate.

The only thing Debbie really has going for her is Dear Debbie and she enjoys her work. She takes pride in encouraging others to make a change but in one article, her advice goes too far in the eyes of the editor. A woman wrote to Debbie about the financial restraints her husband constricts her to and Debbie advised her to get a divorce. That did not fly for the family friendly publication and Debbie loses her job. Now, Debbie has nothing left to lose and decides to start righting the wrongs in her life.

Her targets are the people who do wrong for the sake of doing it. People who have made her daughters cry. Someone who is standing in the way of her husband’s promotion at his job. The snarky housewives who simply tolerate Debbie’s existence. But this is all child’s play because Debbie is working up to the number one person on her list. The person who derailed her life when her future could have been so vastly different. Debbie is going full on vigilante and there is nothing that can stop her now that her mission has begun. Who will suffer her wrath? Read Dear Debbie to find out!

It has been a while since I read a twisty thriller as I was working through a few palette cleanser books. Dear Debbie scratched that itch and then some! This book was a fast paced tale of revenge and what happens when a woman has had enough. For over twenty years, Debbie lived with her secret and shame and her getting fired from the newspaper was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was absolutely delicious to read about this “super mom” getting more unhinged with each passing page and I genuinely had no idea what she was going to do or say next. It is rare that I finish a book in one day but this one was just that good.

One of my complaints with Frieda McFadden’s work has been her twists. In her earlier books, they seem to be placed so haphazardly with the point of shocking rather than making complete sense. It always left me feeling disappointed because better options were out there and weren’t being used. Her most recent books are so much more concise with grand reveals that actually feel plausible and tie the story line in a bow rather than leave the reader scratching their heads over the frayed edges. The twists in Dear Debbie were shocking, for sure, but they also kept the story moving along and kept me turning the pages until there were none left.

Overall, I am going to rate Dear Debbie with an eight out of ten stars. Freida McFadden has definitely moved up on my radar and I cannot wait to read what she writes next!

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

Jul24

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Insomniacs By Allison Winn Scotch Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Insomniacs By Allison Winn Scotch 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 fun mystery by Allison Winn Scotch called The Insomniacs. Although this book lacked the dishy, often violent twists of my usual mystery thrillers, it more than made up for it in charm, humor, and a cast of characters that are impossible not to love. The Insomniacs is a quick read and I truly think that anyone will find something that they enjoy in it. I sure did! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Insomniacs for abuse in a cult setting. You ready? Let’s go!

Julian, Zeke, Sybil, and Betty couldn’t be more different from each other. Julian is a retired man in his sixties, Zeke is a professional baseball player, Sybil is a middle aged empty nester, and Betty is a young twenty something just trying to find her way. However, they all have one thing in common – they are each full blown insomniacs. To pass the time at night, Julian, Zeke, and Sybil joined an insomniacs message board to chat with other people who run on no sleep. They formed a connection, learned they were close to each other in New York City, and decided to turn their communications online into a real life meeting.

As per Julian’s suggestion, the trio meets at a diner late at night where Betty is working the night shift as a waitress. They invite her into their group and the trio turns into a quartet that very night. As The Insomniacs continue to gather, they all agree that their lack of sleep is caused by problems in their lives that seem unsolvable. So they put their heads together and try to improve their issues with new approaches. Although they are pretty lousy at problem solving, the group enjoys each other’s company and text constantly, have holiday get togethers, and plenty of random pop bys.

The Insomniacs have, indeed, found their people but that is all about to come crumbling down. Gentle curmudgeon, Julian, has been killed in a hit and run and Betty is nowhere to be found. The quartet has dropped to two in a matter of hours and it is up to Zeke and Sybil to uncover what happened to Julian and find Betty. True crime enthusiast, Sybil takes the reigns on their investigation only to find that her and Zeke had no clue who their friends were in the first place. Betty hasn’t been seen for weeks and they believe that their time to bring her home safely is running out. Will Sybil and Zeke crack the case? And just who were Betty and Julian? Read The Insomniacs to find out!

I absolutely love an unlikely friendship book so, of course, I delighted in The Insomniacs. There is something that’s so exciting to me about perfect strangers coming together, getting to know each other, and then being thrown into a crazy adventure. And it doesn’t get much crazier than two people trying to solve a murder and a missing person case! The Insomniacs was a fluff read and I fully admit that. It was, honestly, so far fetched that it almost bordered on being silly. But did I keep turning the pages? Yes, yes, and YES and I finished it in three sittings because it was just fun.

Allison Winn Scotch crafted this book with striking imagery, hilarious one liners, and just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Where her writing shined the most was in her creation of the sleepless characters because they seemed so accessible. I could find similarities between myself or people I know in Zeke, Julian, Sybil, and Betty and each of them felt like friends rather than made up people in a story. I shared in their laughs, frustration, sorrows, and success and it hit hard despite all of the fluff. I am confident that anyone who reads The Insomniacs will see themselves in this rag tag friend group too!

Overall, I am going to rate The Insomniacs with an eight out of ten stars. This is not a book that I would normally pick out for myself but I am sure glad that I read 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

Jul19

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Burning Side By Sarah Damoff Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Burning Side By Sarah Damoff 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 a novel by Sarah Damoff called The Burning Side. It has been a while since my last book club review as I have been addicted to playing Pokopia! However, when I managed to peel myself away I was able to finish The Burning Side in three sittings. This sentimental read was quite short at three hundred and twenty pages but it definitely packed a punch right in the feels. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Burning Side for Alzheimer’s, a house fire, and loss of a child. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Despite their two beautiful children, April and Leo’s marriage has been on the rocks for a long time. After having both children, April suffered from postpartum depression and Leo began to pull away. He spent less time at home, countless hours at work, and left April to her own devices. In her loneliness, April made a bad decision and that was the straw that broke the marriage’s back. As April prepares dinner, Leo tells her he wants a divorce. In her shock, April forgets to turn the oven off and hours later their home burns to the ground.

Homeless and on the verge of divorce, April, Leo, and their kids move in with April’s parents, Deb and Billy. It will be a full house as her two siblings, Josie and Cameron will be there too. Although the situation is grim, everyone loves spending time at Deb and Billy’s and their marriage looks picture perfect from the outside. But, like April and Leo’s marriage, Billy is deteriorating too. He has recently been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and the disease is progressing rapidly. In April’s childhood home, everyone begins adjusting to their new normal of a marriage falling apart, an increasingly confused father, and what moving forward looks like in the wakes of tragedy.

As the days pass, April and Leo speak minimally and focus their attention on salvaging anything from the remains of their home. What April wants to salvage the most is their marriage but Leo is just not there yet and the divorce will proceed. At the home front, Billy has been getting lost and and confusing his grandchildren for his own kids. As their worlds continue to crash down, a chance encounter and a difficult decision could be what is needed to get everyone back on a steady course. What will become of Deb and Billy? And will April and Leo be able to heal the rift that has broken their marriage apart? Read The Burning Side to find out!

The Burning Side was a lot different than the dishy thrillers I normally read but I liked it a lot and it was a nice change of pace. This book focused on themes of family, sacrifice, and coming together during hardships all wrapped into a riveting story line that kept me invested until the very end. And that ending? Wow! Although some of the subject matter in The Burning Side was heartbreaking to read, it was uplifting to see April, her soon to be ex husband, and entire family trying to handle things in the best way they know how. And, ultimately, growing through changing approaches and perspectives.

While The Burning Side primarily focused on Leo and April’s points of view, it also shifted from time to time to Deb. It was SO sad to experience her agony of watching Billy fade and the way she handled it was inspiring. In her sorrow, she was still able to turn this massive blow into something beautiful by creating new memories and gently brushing off Billy’s bouts of confusion. It was such a testament to true love and was able to open the eyes of everyone in the family about what’s really important. Because, at the end of the day, if you have each other – you have it all.

I am going to rate The Burning Side with an eight out of ten stars. This was a palette cleanser read that was most enjoyable and refreshing. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t ready for another dishy thriller, though!

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

Jul15

The Lion King At Playhouse Square Review

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The Lion King At Playhouse Square Review

Hello! This past Sunday Johnny and I had an absolutely fabulous time going to see The Lion King with my entire family at Playhouse Square. It was freaking amazing! When I was about five years old, my family vacationed in Toronto and we saw The Lion King on our trip. I don’t remember much from it but I remember being so wowed by all of the costumes and that sentiment amplified as soon as all of the actors took the stage this weekend. It was awe inspiring to see giraffes, elephants, gazelles, and of course lions right before our very eyes! Whether you are young or old, if The Lion King is coming to your neck of the woods then it is a must see. You are going to love it!

The Lion King opened on the strongest note with “Circle Of Life” and within that first second, we were fully in and delighted in the magic of the theater that followed. The puppeteers, the costuming that transformed actors to animals, and the singing, dancing, and acrobatics made for the most spectacular show that blew the cartoon out of the water. It was such an immersive performance that it really felt like we were all on Pride Rock watching the scenes of betrayal and redemption along with the rest of the cast. From the small practical touches to the big blow out scenes, this viewing of The Lion King can only be described as triumphant.

My favorite songs of the performance have got to be Scar’s “Be Prepared” and the sentimental ensemble song of “They Live In You”. The piece de resistance song and scene, however, was when Simba looked to the stars for guidance in “Endless Night”. As he stargazed, the cast somehow assembled the image of Mufasa into the night sky and it was nothing short of glorious for Simba to see his father once more and know what needs to be done next: Take his rightful throne. Another major scene, the stampede was also particularly effective as it literally looked like hundreds of animals running towards Simba on a relatively small stage. There was dusty smoke billowing, the rumble of hooves, and the dread of the knowledge that something really bad is about to happen.

While The Lion King shined in its full scale production numbers, there were so many little moments that added to the sense of wonder. The ingenious costumes worn by the lionesses created the sleek curves of the animal as they danced. During water scenes, fish were projected onto the billowing cloths that formed the rivers. There were cast members twirling bird puppets on poles throughout the audience. Or, my personal favorite: When young Simba sang “Hakuna Matata” with his newfound friends, Timon and Pumbaa. To transition into adult form, young Simba swung off of the stage on a vine. One second later, adult Simba swung in to join the show. Every effect was so clever and intentional and it translated to every seat in the theater!

I am so thankful for this super special viewing of The Lion King with my whole family in tow. It was simply phenomenal and, without a doubt, a theater bucket list performance!

Have you seen a play or musical recently? How was it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul10

Groovy Movies: Obsession Edition

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Groovy Movies: Obsession Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a back to back edition of Groovy Movies! Today, we are going to be discussing the horror movie that everyone has been raving about – Obsession. However, there is a slight change to the usually scheduled programming as this review won’t be fully spoiler free. The synopsis will, as always, not reveal any spoilers. However, as this movie has been out for a while, my opinions will include spoilers because I have A LOT to say and I can’t keep it to myself lol. Should you want to be surprised, that is when you should stop reading! Before we begin, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on Obsession for graphic and brutal violence, highly highly disturbing content (some of which involves animals), loss of autonomy, and abusive relationships. You ready? Let’s do it:

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

Baron (AKA “Bear”) is desperately in love with his best friend, Nikki, and is working up the nerve to tell her how he really feels. The trivia night him, Nikki, and their friends Ian and Sarah attend could be the place to do so. As Nikki and Bear chat on the phone about the upcoming event, Nikki is disappointed that her favorite crystal necklace fell down the sink. To surprise her, Bear stops in at a metaphysical shop to pick her out a new one. Then, something different catches his eye – a One Wish Willow. The packaging claims that your wish will come true if you snap the stick in half and he purchases that instead of a gift for Nikki.

Revealing his crush at the trivia night is a bust but he still has a chance when he offers to drive Nikki home. In fact, she straight up asks him if he has feelings for her and he lamely tells her how much he loves their friendship. Nikki heads inside and in his frustration, Bear makes his wish: That Nikki would love him more than anyone in the world. He snaps the stick and Nikki promptly returns back to his car, begging to stay with him because she can’t handle being alone.

After a very weird night for both Bear and Nikki, a relationship blossoms and it is picture perfect. Cooking together, watching movies, and basking in each other’s company. Then, things begin to take a dark turn as Nikki’s behavior alters drastically when she fears that she loves Bear more than he does her. Cuddling in bed turns into her standing awake at night while watching him sleep. Bear leaving for work means he has to break open a duct taped door. Even Bear leaving the room to go to the bathroom is too much for Nikki to cope with. This is so not the relationship that Bear had in mind.

As Nikki turns more violent, Bear tries to distance himself and turns to the One Wish Willow company for guidance. Unfortunately, the only way to break the wish will be Bear’s downfall. Bear’s friends no longer want anything to do with the formerly happy couple and both him and Nikki are growing more desperate. Will the wish for Nikki to love him more than anyone in the world be broken? Watch Obsession to find out!

Spoilers starting NOW!

Obsession might be seen through the eyes of Bear but make no mistake, he is not the victim in this movie. It is one thousand percent Nikki. And, if anyone watches this movie and thinks otherwise then they need a crash course in consent and what healthy relationships look like ASAFP. Through his wish, Bear strips Nikki of everything: Her care free spirit, her autonomy, and the ability to even love herself. Bear might be in love with Nikki but to have full control over a person isn’t love. To force someone into love isn’t love. And to want to simply alter the wish rather than cancel it as he talks to the One Wish Willow employee while aware of Nikki’s suffering definitely isn’t love.

Throughout Obsession, glimpses of the real Nikki come forth and it is absolutely heartbreaking to see and hear. Wherever the real Nikki is, she is in so much pain. She can see what is happening to herself, her body, and relationships that she once held dear and can’t do anything to stop it. All she can do is watch as “Freaky Nikki” (As she has been described) takes over. And what does Bear do as she continues to act out? Encourage her to tone down the crazy and be like the old Nikki so he can continue to keep her under his thumb.

Obsession was a full fledged horror movie with (Stating the SUPER obvious here) harrowing themes of consent, autonomy, and what happens when that is taken away from someone. The tension and atmosphere of Obsession was so rich and I could feel myself holding my breath because it felt like something major could happen at any given second. And it was all at Nikki’s expense. This was a gripping story carried beautifully by Inde Navarrette and she more than deserves the glowing reviews she has received. I was in awe of her performance and can’t stop thinking about it to save my own life. I want to see Obsession again SO badly because one viewing just wasn’t enough. If you are a horror fan, you do not want to miss out on this movie!

I am going to award Obsession with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This is, easily, one of the best modern horror movies I have ever seen and I cannot wait to see what Navarrette brings to the table in whatever she does next!

Have you seen Obsession? What are your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul9

Groovy Movies: Toy Story 5 Edition

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Groovy Movies: Toy Story 5 Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies. In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing Toy Story 5! There is nothing better than going to the movies with my nieces and Johnny, my brother, and I were chomping at the bit to take them to Toy Story 5. Toy Story was a franchise that I could have taken or left but it was Johnny and my brother’s absolute favorite. After this past weekend, however, I am a huge fan and even watched the two that I have never seen, Toy Story 3 and 4. I laughed, I cried, and enjoyed my three movie Toy Story extravaganza so much! In fact, I would happily see the fifth one again in theaters! Let’s discuss:

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

Bonnie is eight years old now and loves to play with her toys – especially Jessie! With her vivid imagination, she creates the most wonderful stories for her crew of toys that were gifted to her by Andy when he left for college. The only problem? Bonnie doesn’t have any friends to share in play time with her. All she wants is to play with her neighbors but she just doesn’t know how to do that and it breaks her parents’ hearts. In an attempt to get Bonnie to have more friends, they get her the latest hot new toy – the Lilypad. It is a frog shaped tablet for kids where you can play learning games and chat away with your friend group. Bonnie promptly becomes addicted to the high tech toy and her real toys fall by the wayside.

Jessie and Lilypad clearly have different ideas of what it means to make friends. While Jessie chastises Lilypad for not helping children make connections, Lily shows her up. She friends three girls from Bonnie’s dance class and she is immediately invited to a sleepover from the device. Bonnie is ecstatic and packs her suitcase with her clothes, Jessie and Bullseye, and Lilypad too. However, as soon as she arrives at the slumber party with her two favorite toys, the girls begin to mock Bonnie for still playing with them. Rather than stand up for herself, Bonnie gives her dolls back to her dad and the girls spend the remainder of their evening on their Lilypad tablets.

Jessie and Bullseye aren’t going to stand for this and manage to escape before being taken back home. Unfortunately, they are going to have a long journey as an elderly couple finds them, sees the address of Jessie’s old owner, and takes them back to that location. Jessie’s old owner no longer lives at this home and they meet a family with a young daughter named Blaze instead. And Blaze? She could be the perfect friend for Bonnie because she still loves to play with her toys too! All Jessie needs to do is get them to meet.

This is going to be no easy feat in this unfamiliar location with strange new toys and Jessie is going to need all of the help she can get… Even if it comes from tech. Through the help of long forgotten tech toys from Blaze’s youth, the plan to get Bonnie and Blaze to be friends is a go. And, of course, Jessie is so eager to get back to Bonnie – her best friend in the world. Will Jessie and her new companions finally get Bonnie to have a friend that she deserves? Watch Toy Story 5 to find out!

From start to finish, Toy Story 5 was an absolute joy. The story of a little girl who wants nothing more than to make friends is enough to tug at anyone’s heartstrings. I don’t know about all of you, but I have felt like Bonnie in my youth and even as an adult, creating a character that is perfectly relatable to any age group. And, of course, the toys versus tech dilemma that children of this generation face was such a smart story line choice because we see it every day – kids on phones and tablets rather than playing with an action figure or riding bikes. Toy Story 5 truly encouraged everyone to get back to using their imagination and playing the day away.

If you are a seasoned fan of Toy Story 5 you will surely love this flick. And, even if you’re like me and haven’t seen all of them, you are still going to love this flick because of the themes it covers. I enjoyed every minute of this movie and then some. It was hilarious, heartwarming, tear jerking, and packed with adventure. In fact, I think Johnny, my brother, and I liked it even more than the children in the audience. We were definitely the ones who were laughing the loudest and it was just the best time!

I am going to award Toy Story 5 with the coveted ten out of ten stars. It is a must see for ages young and old and you are in for such a huge treat!

What is your favorite Toy Story movie? Who is your favorite character from the movies (I love Jessie!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul5

Lil Red’s Book Club: Remarkably Bright Creatures By Shelby Van Pelt Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Remarkably Bright Creatures By Shelby Van Pelt Edition

Hi 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 delightfully charming read by Shelby Van Pelt called Remarkably Bright Creatures. After reading an incredibly disappointing installment to the Stillhouse Lake series, I decided to give it a rest and move onto something new. My mom had just finished reading Remarkably Bright Creatures and watching the movie and I thought that it would be a nice palette cleanser. It most definitely was and I enjoyed it so much! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Remarkably Bright Creatures for loss of a child and addiction. You ready? Let’s go!

Tova is a no nonsense seventy year old woman who has had a life filled with loss. Her solitary days are spent completing her rigid routines and then it is off to the Sowell Bay Aquarium for the evening where she works as a custodian. Tova deeply enjoys the work of restoring the aquarium to a perfect state of cleanliness every night and being surrounded by the sea creatures. Every night at the aquarium is the same as the last until her normal routine flips on its head. The aquarium’s Giant Pacific Octopus, Marcellus, has made a jail break from his enclosure and found himself tangled in electric cords. Tova saves him and a very unique friendship is formed. A friendship that will change her perspective and bring closure to the tragedies that she can’t move past.

Cameron is thirty years old and has lived his life permanently down on his luck. His mother abandoned him when he was young with no inkling as to who his father is and his aunt turned into his guardian. From there, his life seems to serve no purpose and he has no motivation to improve it. He is promptly fired from every menial job he acquires, his band broke up, and all of his friends are getting married and having babies. Something drastic needs to happen, but what?

After begrudgingly refiling through some of his mom’s old high school mementos, Cameron stumbles upon a photo of her and a young man as well as a class ring engraved with unfamiliar initials. This person has to be his father and he is going to track him down, make him explain himself, and demand eighteen years worth of unpaid child support. His findings lead him to Sowell Bay, a long haul from his own home. When he reaches his destination, he learns that his potential dad is much harder to meet with than anticipated. The promise of all of that cash makes him stick around and he eventually lands a job at the Sowell Bay Aquarium too.

Through Tova and Cameron’s employment, an unlikely friendship is struck. Cameron thinks Tova is a little weird because of her affection for the octopus, Marcellus. In fact, it almost seems like they communicate with each other and Cameron just can’t wrap his head around it. That’s okay, though, because while Cameron thinks Tova is weird, she thinks he can’t clean properly to save his own life. Little do both of these people know, Marcellus is aware of something that will change both of their lives for the better. All he has to do is make them realize it. What could this secret be? Read Remarkably Bright Creatures to find out!

Reading Remarkably Bright Creatures was a gift. This book was hilarious, heartwarming, and so tenderly written by Shelby Van Pelt. I could tell that every single word was crafted with such care and it reminded me a lot of the writing style of Fredrik Backman who wrote A Man Called Ove and My Friends. This is a style that I really respond to and I fell for Remarkably Bright Creatures hook, line, and sinker. Van Pelt’s expert writing made it feel like I knew every character personally and what a remarkable cast it was as it went round Robin between Tova, Cameron, and Marcellus. It was such an interesting change of pace to read from the perspective of Marcellus – my favorite!

For all of the sadness that plagued the characters in this book, there was still so much joy to be found. The joy of new acquaintances, breaking free from strict routines, and the cast learning that they are stronger than they ever gave themselves credit for. It was so exciting to read about Tova coming out of her shell, Cameron growing out of his man child status, and Marcellus ingeniously moving the plot along. Remarkably Bright Creatures is a testament to the beauty that can be found in life if you know where to look. It might just be under the statue of a sea lion. 🙂

I am going to award Remarkably Bright Creatures with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was a beautiful read that will captivate and inspire and I can’t wait to watch the movie!

Did you read Remarkably Bright Creatures or watch 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

Jul1

Glow Sticks Mini Golf

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Glow Sticks Mini Golf

Hi! Johnny and I freaking LOVE to play mini golf and we visited an ultra cool new indoor course in Chagrin Falls called Glow Sticks this past weekend with my brother, Andrew. Several months ago I saw on Facebook that Glow Sticks would be opening and it was themed around music from the 1950s to the 1990s. I made a mental note of it because it combines our two great passions, music and mini golf, and I just knew it would be a blast. It sure was!! Glow Sticks was absolutely amazing from start to finish and we cannot wait to go back! Take a look at these many MANY pictures and let’s discuss:

So I might have gone a little picture crazy but, in my defense, how could I not?! There was so much awesome artwork, golf puns, and excitement that I wanted to capture it all! The Glow Sticks course consisted of different rooms set up for different decades where we started in the 50s and took a musical tour into the 1990s. Each room played the music of the times and the walls were adorned with the icons of that era. The murals were totally and completely fabulous and we really appreciated all of the golf humor! We are very partial to Stevie Nicks encouraging us to putt your own way and and KISS letting us know that they want to putt and golf all night. Lolol, we were in stitches!

As if all of the music and art weren’t enough, we were delighted by the unique and challenging play through of the Glow Sticks course. As you can see, one of the holes was a literal loopdiloop which we have never seen before! We learned that you had to whack the ball really hard for it to go all the way around. When it was my turn, I told Andrew and Johnny to stay far away so they don’t get a concussion lol. Other noteworthy parts of the course include hitting the ball through a giant Rolling Stones tongue statue, playing on Freddie Mercury’s stage, a skateboard half pipe, and even a 1970s style camper decked out in peace and love decals.

We were simply blown away by the creativity of the Glow Sticks course and everywhere we looked featured something fresh and exciting. Johnny’s favorite part was the mural of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on the putting green. I was a huge fan of the of the Roy Orbison “pretty putter putting on the green” portrait and Andrew enjoyed the statues of The Beatles. Glow Sticks was the perfect tip of the cap to the music that we all know and love and we were singing along to the rocking tunes the whole way through. What a fun afternoon!

If you are in the greater Northeastern Ohio area or are visiting, a stop in at Glow Sticks is a must. You will have a ball!

What is your favorite era of music? Do you prefer outdoor or indoor mini golf courses? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun29

Bath & Body Works Foaming Hand Soap Haul

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Bath & Body Works Foaming Hand Soap Haul

Hi! You recently saw my Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale haul and it was a mighty fine one, indeed. I don’t know how much better it gets than nineteen products for sixty something bucks! Score! B&BW products are a staple at chez moi and it was so nice to restock all of our smell good supplies for a song by simply clicking “confirm order”. While I love my shower gels, lotions, and wall plugins, my favorite product of all time from B&BW are their foaming hand soaps. My bathroom simply wouldn’t be the same without them lol. I did purchase more of my must have soap in May but I couldn’t resist adding a few more to my cart during my Semi Annual Sale shopping. Check it out and let’s discuss these scents further:

Cotton Candy Grape: Grape scents can be hit or miss but I decided to go for Cotton Candy Grape anyways because the cotton candy aspect intrigued me. This scent was either going to be good or bad and, unfortunately, it is a no from me. Cotton Candy Grape features notes of “juicy grapes, fluffy cotton candy, and sugared citrus”. Individually, this all sounds great. Together, however, created a fragrance that smells straight up medicinal. In fact, I think it smells just like children’s cough medicine. This is definitely a fragrance line that you can skip on!

Gingham Gorgeous: I am a Gingham girl through and through and my haul included a body cream of the OG Gingham and a shower gel of Gingham Love. I snagged Gingham Gorgeous as a foaming hand soap just because and I wish I didn’t because this is, without a doubt, my least favorite from the Gingham line. Gingham Gorgeous offers notes of “pink strawberries, peach nectar, and peony blooms”. I can vaguely smell a hint of peach but, make no mistake, this is a floral scent through and through and I am so not a floral fan. So far we are striking out with these sniff tests but that’s the hazard of online shopping for fragrances so what can ya do lol.

Cucumber Melon: Thank goodness for Cucumber Melon because I knew I was going to like this one! The B&BW classic Cucumber Melon is just the best with notes of “crisp cucumber, watery honeydew, and juicy cantaloupe”. I actually hate honeydew and cantaloupe but I can’t get enough of this nostalgic scent! Cucumber Melon is summery, fresh, and brings me back to my early teens when I had a fragrance spray of this scent. It smells exactly as I remember it which is a true testament to if it’s not broken, don’t fix it!

Churro Cinnamon Bun: Mmmmmmm! “Fresh baked churros, cinnamon sugar, and a drizzle of icing”, this scent smells just as delicious as the scent description promises. Churro Cinnamon Bun is exactly what you think it is – a whiff of fresh baked, piping hot cinnamon rolls and it really smells good enough to eat. It is early morning as I write this and it seriously made me hungry when I did the sniff test lol. I would happily buy this one again and happily take a break to eat some breakfast soon. 😀

This haul was half duds and half winners but at least I know what not to get next time and so do you!

Did you shop the B&BW Semi Annual Sale? How many products did you get? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun27

Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

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Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

Hi! In early June I am always on the lookout for mail from Bath & Body Works to alert me to the Semi Annual Sale start date. I mark the date on the calendar as soon as it arrives and count down the days until I can shop till I drop! The B&BW Semi Annual Sale is just the best and I love stocking up on products for myself and Johnny for a fraction of the price. You simply can’t beat getting an eighteen dollar shower gel for three bucks and it’s so fun to spoil myself with old favorites and new to me scents. I scored nineteen products in this haul for about sixty-five dollars and I think we will be pretty well set on smell goods for a while! Check it out:

Did I go a little product crazy? Maybe! But, honestly, no I didn’t lol. This is me fully and completely justifying this purchase because it’s just too good of a deal to pass up. And it’s not like these products are sitting on a shelf to never be used – B&BW smell goods are used daily and constantly at my apartment. Why not get them for dirt cheap?! And, before anyone asks, the answer is: YES. I am, in fact, already looking forward to the winter Semi Annual Sale. Lol, what can I say? It’s my time to shine!

Stay tuned for a review on the hand soaps as they are all new to me scents. Today, let’s take a closer look at the shower gels so we can talk about my favorite discontinued scent of all…PEARBERRY!!!! 😀

After Dark: A little something for the fellas! After Dark features fragrance notes of “spiced bergamot, amber, and smooth tonka”.
All of this is a fancy way to say that it smells like Old Spice! This scent basically smells like every scent ever made in men’s products and I’m not saying it’s not nice. After Dark actually smells really good! However, if you don’t want to pay sixteen dollars for a bottle of this shower gel, Old Spice is definitely the way to go. I wouldn’t buy this shower gel at full price which is why I got it for three bucks instead. 🙂

Gingham Love: The OG Gingham is one of my all time favorite B&BW scents and I always have the fragrance in some form at chez moi. Gingham Love comes in a very close second, though! This scent provides the breezy, freshly laundered crispness of Gingham that I love with a very berry twist. Gingham Love offers notes of “sugared red berries, blushing freesia, and rose meringue” and it is heavenly. With one whiff I am in raspberry heaven and I was so happy to score this shower gel on the cheap!

Pearberry: It wouldn’t be a Semi Annual Sale without Pearberry and I wish that B&BW would come to their senses and just bring it back for good. Until then, I have to stock up when I get the chance! This blast of throwback nostalgia has a ton of different notes like “anjou pear, wild berries, apple blossom, golden freesia, and blonde woods”. All of this is meaningless lol. Have you ever smelled a pear? Have you ever smelled berries? That is Pearberry in a nutshell! Juicy and soft pear, tart raspberries, and a hint of strawberry, this is a fruit salad scent to the T and it is absolutely delicious. I love it SO. Damn. Much!!!!! ❤

Stick around for the last of the reviews from this haul and a concert OOTD coming soon!

Which stores offer the best deals? Did you shop the B&BW Semi Annual Sale? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah