Tag Archives: review

Oct26

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Oct6

September 2025 Finishes

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September 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone! Holy cow, we are into October which means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes from this past month. This was a particularly good month because I would happily use all of the empties again that we are about to see. GREAT SUCCESS! I don’t know about all of you, but October is the best time ever for me. It’s spooky season, baby, and I can’t wait to do ALL of the fall things. It’s also fabulous from a beauty standpoint too because you know your girl loves an apple fragrance – my favorite! Now, let’s do this thing because we have a lot of skin care inspo to expand on:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Starfruit Sangria Body Cream: YES

ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub: YES!!!!!!!!

Bath & Body Works Strawberry Pound Cake Body Cream: YES

Elf Holy Hydration Moisturizer: YES

Dr. Wellness Collagen Moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

ValJean Labs Scrub: I started using this scrub at the beginning of May and it took me until September 30th to finish it. I so wish I had more because this Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid scrub was the truth. Obviously, it was an amazing value as I got five months of use out of it and I enjoyed it every day. This scrub was very gentle but effective despite its lack of grit. Sometimes scrubs just feel like you’re shredding your skin and I loved that this one had a cream based formula. My skin looked radiant, was smooth as can be, and the cost per use for a five dollar bottle can’t be beat. A dime sized dollop went a very long way. Highly recommend!

Elf Moisturizer: Holy wow was this Holy Hydration moisturizer a delight. My mom gave me this sample jar and, like the scrub, a little went a long way. It took me over a week of twice daily use to finish it and that’s awesome for such a small size. I love Elf products and the Holy Hydration moisturizer is easily one of their best and most popular. Try it for yourself and you can see why! This moisturizer is seriously as light as air on the skin but provides such rich hydration. It also absorbs really quickly so you can feel its effects immediately with a rush so noticeable it’s like splashing water on your face. I need to get me a bigger jar!

Dr. Wellness Moisturizer: The Dr. Wellness Collagen Moisturizer was a REALLY good one and I was so sad when I completed the jar after a month and a half of twice daily use. It was an excellent value, smelled like freshly falling rain, and I definitely noticed a positive effect on my skin. I sometimes find that collagen products make my skin feel dry but this one both tightened and hydrated in a major way. My skin felt firm and was insanely soft to boot. I hope I find it again at TJMaxx because I would end up buying the lot – it was that good. 😀

Although I’m bummed to not have more of these wonderful skin care products, it’s always exciting to test out new ones. I am loving the cleanser and moisturizer I have started so check back in for the reviews!

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

Oct5

Groovy Movies: The Strangers – Chapter 2 Edition

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Groovy Movies: The Strangers – Chapter 2 Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! If you are a horror movie fan like me, now is your time to shine. There are countless new scary flicks on the horizon that look awesome and previous releases that share the same sentiments. One movie that I was particularly looking forward to is The Strangers – Chapter 2 because I absolutely love that franchise. I saw it this past week and I really enjoyed it despite the reviews raking it through the coals.

I never go into watching a horror movie with the expectation of a masterpiece and view them as popcorn flicks instead. Regardless of the outcome, I will be entertained and that was very much the case for the newest addition of The Strangers. It was a popcorn flick through and through! Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as always. But, before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on the film for harm to animals, disturbing content, and graphic violence. Now, let’s get to it:

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

The Strangers – Chapter 2 picks up exactly where Chapter 1 left off. The lone survivor, Maya, is recovering in the hospital after her terrifying first ordeal with The Strangers and is grieving the loss of her beloved fiance. She is wounded, in pain, and an emotional wreck but her problems are far from over. She is the only one who has ever survived an encounter with The Strangers and they aren’t going to let it stay that way. They have already infiltrated the hospital and the mad chase begins.

As Maya becomes the hunted once more, she emerges from the hospital into the rainy night in Venus, Oregon. Is there anyone she can really trust, though? Everywhere she turns, it seems like the whole small town is in on it and The Strangers know her every move before she even makes it. During moments of blessed solitude when Maya tends to her wounds, we learn flashbacks about Pin-Up Girl and Scarecrow when they were children in school as well as the origins of the question on everyone’s mind: Who is Tamara? Maya’s time alone is always short lived and she is outnumbered and has no one or nowhere to turn for help. Will she survive her second night being hunted by The Strangers? We’re going to have to wait for Chapter 3!

As I mentioned earlier, the reviews for The Strangers – Chapter 2 were anything but flattering and it scored a whopping eighteen percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The main qualms being that The Strangers should have been a stand alone film and that we don’t need a backstory into the three villains. My thoughts? The first Strangers movie was brilliant. It’s actually one of my favorite movies and I can see why people would say that it should have just been left alone. Its predecessors pale in comparison but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t entertaining. As for the backstory on The Strangers themselves, I am so there for it. Yes, it’s harrowing that their original reason for their murderous spree was “because you were home”. However, it is enticing to me to learn exactly why that is and how the whole town plays a part in it.

The Strangers – Chapter 2 was fast paced and clocked at just under an hour and forty minutes. For its entire duration, I was on the edge of my seat. It had plenty of good jump scares and the fact that The Strangers always seem to be everywhere was so suspenseful. Even more so because it was easy to root for Maya – seriously can that poor girl catch a break? I was genuinely bummed out when the movie ended on a To Be Continued because I wanted it to keep going and wanted to know more. I don’t know, I really liked it!

Overall, I am going to rate The Strangers – Chapter 2 with a seven out of ten stars. If you are a fan of this franchise, go into it with no preconceived notions. I think you will like it too!

What is your favorite scary movie? What did you think of The Strangers – Chapter 2? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct3

Groovy Movies: Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie Edition

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Groovy Movies: Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie Edition

Hello! My two big nieces are HUGE fans of the adorable show on Netflix, Gabby’s Dollhouse. And, honestly, so am I. It’s just pure fun and cute as can be and I love all of the kitty cat friends! Ever since we learned that there was going to be a Gabby’s Dollhouse movie coming to theaters, grand plans were made to see it altogether. I went this past weekend with my sister and two little besties and our girl squad had the best time! Of course, we had to get ALL the snacks because no movie is complete without popcorn, candy, and an Icee. With our haul in tow, we made our way into the theater and were treated to a fabulous experience. This movie was hilarious, darling, and one that adults will enjoy too because my sis and I were in stitches. Let’s discuss:

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

Our Gabby girl is SO excited because her and the dollhouse are heading to Cat Francisco for a week to spend time with Grandma Gigi. She is Gabby’s best friend and all of the cats in the dollhouse love her too. Gabby, Gigi, and the cats set out for their big road trip and have a blast sightseeing and snacking! Once they arrive at Gigi’s home, the dollhouse is still attached to the back of the car and CatRat is getting impatient to get out. So, he detaches the straps and the dollhouse takes a wild ride through Cat Francisco and ends up in the front of an antiques store.

Immediately, an ultra posh and super serious cat loving woman named Vera takes a shine to the dollhouse and lays her money down. Vera has no intention to play with the dollhouse. Rather, it is deemed as a “collectable” as everything in her cat decorated home is. She scatters the cats throughout her home and the dollhouse becomes a new place for her old toys to explore. While Gabby doesn’t know where her dollhouse ended up, she can still get tiny with the help of the audience and Pandy and comes to be in Vera’s cat museum for her rescue mission.

With Pandy’s help, Gabby begins to locate her missing cat friends and bring the dollhouse back home. She instructs CatRat and Vera’s old toys to stay at the dollhouse in case any of the cats come back on their own. Trouble is brewing, though. It has been so long since Vera’s favorite toys have been played with and they refuse to give it up that easily. The dollhouse has officially been taken over and all of its old residents will be kicked out. It is up to Gabby to save the day but she can’t do it without Vera. Somehow, Gabby is going to have to get her to unleash her inner child, use her imagination, and bring play back into her life. Will she succeed? See Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie to find out!

Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie was just a delight from start to finish. I love going to the movies with my nieces and to laugh, sing, and cheer together is so special. And, this movie was certainly worth cheering for because it was an absolute blast. Kristen Wiig as Vera was so perfectly cast and literally everything she did and said was funny. I don’t think I have ever laughed this hard during a children’s movie before and as I retold some of the parts to Johnny, he was cracking up too. This really is a movie that parents can sit down and watch with their kiddos and not be counting down the minutes until it’s over.

For all of the fun of Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie, there is such a sweet message behind it. That people do grow up, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t play, be silly, and dream big. For all of her quirks, Vera deemed herself as a serious businesswoman and had no time or desire to go crazy and be creative. So much so that she forgot what it meant to use her imagination. With Gabby and the dollhouse crew’s help, she learned that you are never too old to have fun and Gabby learned that growing up is okay… As long as she continues to never give up on her friends and keep her own magic alive. This is a good lesson for everyone and it came in the form of a nonstop fun flick!

Overall, I am going to award Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie with a ten out of ten stars. A ten for the experience of being with my nieces and a ten for being one of the best children’s movies I have seen. Highly recommend!

What was your favorite show growing up? What do your kids like to watch? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct2

Lil Red’s Book Club: Peaches For Father Francis By Joanne Harris Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Peaches For Father Francis 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 fourth installment of the Chocolat series by Joanne Harris called Peaches For Father Francis. I have been a fan of Joanne Harris for a long time and when I learned that a prequel to Chocolat called Vianne was recently released, I just had to revisit the best little chocolateer in all of Paris. I have so enjoyed reading through the series and regret not rereading Chocolat to start with. It has been a phat minute since I read that book! However, I know the outline well enough and that has not made reading any of its predecessors anything short of a delightful experience. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Peaches For Father Francis for sexual assault, violence, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Vianne, Roux, Anouk, and Rosette are finally a family and living together on a houseboat in Paris. They live simply, love fiercely, and savor every moment together like it’s their last. Life is so good, but the winds are changing and with it brings a letter. A letter from a beloved friend back in Lansquenet who is deceased. In her letter, she states that there are people in Lansquenet who need her and her final wish is for Vianne to return to the little town where it all began. To the tiny village where, eight years ago, she opened her chocolaterie with Anouk and sent the ultra religious into a frenzy that was headed by Father Francis Reynaud. Vianne’s memories of Lansquenet are bittersweet but she cannot refuse her friend’s parting wish and decides to take the girls on a little vacation.

Upon their arrival to Lansquenet, nothing and everything has changed. There are familiar faces and those who Vianne does not recognize. Since her departure from Lansquenet, a Muslim community has settled downriver. At first, things were very peaceful between the villagers and their new neighbors. Children played games in the streets, the adults mingled over coffee, and friends were made. Of course, Father Reynaud has never been open to strangers as we know with his tumultuous past with Vianne. He tolerates the new members of Lansquenet but finds himself questioning everything about them. Their religion, their clothing, and their traditions that are so far away from the gospel he preaches.

As tensions between Father Reynaud and the leader of the Muslim community rise, everyone in Lansquenet can sense it and begin to separate themselves. No more games, no more meals shared but each side remaining on their half of the Tannes river. In a shocking turn of events, the chocolate shop Vianne used to run which is now a Muslim school for girls is set aflame. Its residents, a mysterious woman and her daughter, are unharmed but the damage has been done and Father Reynaud takes the brunt of the blame.

Father Reynaud who has been a long term staple in Lansquenet becomes a stranger. His church is being taken over by a younger, more progressive priest. He is no longer invited to say mass and passerbys on the street can barely mask their disgust. Is this how Vianne felt when she first came to Lansquenet? Unwanted and unloved? To bring both communities back together again is beyond what Father Reynaud can do on his own. But with Vianne back in Lansquenet, he comes as close as he can to begging for her assistance. With a little magic, can Vianne return peace to the little town that will always be in her heart? Or will both sides be forever divided? Read Peaches For Father Francis to find out!

I have mixed feelings about Peaches For Father Francis. After reading The Girl With No Shadow, I not only had a taste for chocolate but more along those same lines. A fabulous new character, the sense of danger, and the delicate dance in the balance of good and evil. Peaches For Father Francis delivered on drama, yes, but I simply didn’t like it as much as the book that came prior. This novel swapped between Vianne and Father Reynaud’s point of view and I would have preferred it if another person from the Muslim community was thrown into the mix. At the end of the day, Reynaud and Vianne were essentially seeing the exact same things and it made for a lackluster read. In The Girl With No Shadow the story weaved between Vianne, Anouk, and the fantastic Zozie so we were getting the point of view from characters that ranged in age and desires. The story came to life whereas Peaches For Father Francis felt stuck.

Well over the first half of the book did nothing for me although things really picked up with the remainder. The very slow burn was finally ready to burst but by the time it did it felt like it was too late for the momentum to carry. I found myself counting down the pages to its completion and as I read The Girl With No Shadow, I didn’t want it to end. While it is always nice to be reunited with Vianne, the girls, and Roux, this was not the strongest book in the series. Despite the wishy washy sentiments, I am excited to read The Strawberry Thief next and conclude my Chocolat journey with the prequel.

Overall, I am going to rate Peaches For Father Francis with a five and a half out of ten stars. I am happy to have read it to further the series but I am even happier to be done with it!

What are you currently reading? What are your thoughts on the Chocolat series? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah