2015 Wrap Up

Let me preface this by saying that 2015 has been the worst year for me personally. A lot of pain and loss. I have continued to blog without much reference to real life problems because I want this to be a "fun space". But in all honestly I cannot wait for this year to be over and to start the New Year fresh.

So to send 2015 out, here are a few of the highlights from this year.

(This will be link filled to some of my other blog posts)

Iggles 

The best part of the year has included my fellow Iggles from the International Geek Girls Pen Pal Club. I love the camaraderie this groups has. I have participated in many Iggle activities including watch-a-longs, Iggle Camp, fitness challenges (which I never complete lol), book club and swaps. This is a great group of people and if you are not already an iggle, look into it!

www.geekgirlpenpals.com

Books

I have read a lot of books this year but two stand out. You can read my review of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore HERE. 

I wish I had written about Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. It is an amazing but bittersweet novel. I read this the night after a Tornado hit my town. We were not even under a Tornado Watch. I was just sitting at the kitchen table and the sirens started. I could see the top of the wall cloud from my front door. The tornado cellar had not been cleaned out so my fear of snakes and spiders (also running out into the backyard to get to the cellar) won and I grabbed my cat and hid in the bathroom. I have never been that scared before. It was the closest a Tornado has ever come to my house. I could HEAR it. 

The electricity went off fast and stayed off until the A.M. So after I got the all clear from my parents who still had electricity I grabbed a flashlight and started to read Code Name Verity. 

Sitting in the dark, still traumatized, I read the entire book. For some reason this was the perfect way to read this book. 

Even if you have not been threatened by an act of nature, this is a big recommendation from me. A story about two girls in the middle of WWII.   

My Year in Books GoodReads

Starbucks

A Starbucks opened near me this summer! If I had the money I would be there everyday!

TV and Films

Marvel

I have fallen deeper into the Marvel Universe this year. I finally watched the first 2 seasons of Agents of Shield in time to start watching season 3. Why am I always late to the shows that I end up loving?! FitzSimmons forever!!

Also Avengers- Age of Ultron was great but I am so looking forward to Captain America: Civil War that I am actually giddy.

Sense 8

One of the best series I have seen, maybe ever, shows up this year on Netflix. An interesting sci-fi show filmed all over the world with an amazing cast, also from all over the world.

And this year I watched two shows I had ignored for years because I thought I wouldn't like them. Parks and Recs and The Office US.

Parks and Recs may now be one of my favorite shows of all time, even though the first 2 seasons weren't good, I fell in love with these strange characters.

Leslie and Ben LITERALLY forever

My Favorite Posts from this Year

Harley Birthday Cake

Tony Awards Cookies

Universal Monster Nails (From HallowFest2015)

My Placebo Addiction...The British Band

Tales From Childhood- The Easter Bunny

December Birchbox and Ipsy

It's that time again!

Birchbox and Ipsy time.

These are monthly subscription boxes that cost $10 shipped each month in the US. 

I share these with my mom so any products in GREEN are the ones she chose and those is RED are the ones I got. If they are not red or green that means neither one of us pick it.

Birchbox

• Kate Spade Live Colorfully Spray- A mini spray with Hawaiian blooms and coconut. *Why coconut, always coconut?! Yuck
• Coastal Scents stylesEYES Eyeshadow Palette- A duo of eyeshadow in a nice little container. 
• Coola Classic SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer- This SPF is supposed to block UV rays and help keep signs of aging away while having a cucumber scent.
• Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow- A decent amount of BB cream. Way too dark for my pale skin but perfect for my mom.
• WEI Manuka Bee Venom Anti-Wrinkle Mask- Okay, this sounds a bit scary. It is purified bee venom and herbs. 

 Ipsy

Each month Ipsy sends a makeup bag or "Glam Bag" as part of the subscription box

• Acure Cell Stimulating Facial Mask- A nice sized sample of a green face mask. I think my mom keeps forgetting she has these.
• Formula X Nail Polish in Revved Up- On the small side sample wise but I really like this nail polish. A very sparkly and opaque gold. Put some on the tips of my nails after using black nail polish and it covers perfectly.
• Pacifica Power of Love Natural Lipstick- A vegan lipstick. This looks like a full sized product and the color sent was a nice mauve. 
• Klorane Floral Water Makeup Remover with Soothing Cornflower- This looks interesting. Even though it is called "floral" it doesn't have a scent. It is for both sensitive skin and eyes. 
• Crown Brush Brow Duo Brush- Truthfully I am not sure what to do with this. It will be something to experiment with later. 

Overall this month Ipsy won for me. I love that nail polish. 

Slightly Off The Radar Holiday Films

From November to January every kind of Holiday film crosses our TV screens from the good, the bad and the just plain horrible. After all the mid-season finales of my favorites shows air, TV becomes a wasteland of gag worthy films. But occasionally there are a few gems that shine brightly. Here are a few that I kind of like.

Dutch

Ed O'Neill and Ethan Embry star in this holiday film about a spoiled brat put through the ringer by his mother's boyfriend on their road trip home for Christmas. Sappy at times but Ed O'Neill is great at keeping it from being too much of a "feel good" film

Home for the Holidays

Technically a Thanksgiving film. An amazing cast including Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr, Holly Hunter and even Steve Guttenburg. Out of every holiday film I have ever seen this is the closest to being real while at the same time having some comedic moments. A dysfunctional family film that still has a feel good appeal.

Bonus points for having RDJ

 The Ref

I just watched this on Netflix and found it rather funny. While the movie is set during Christmas it is more of a situation comedy. I sometimes forget how funny Denis Leary can be. In this he plays a thief that is on the run and happens to take the worst hostages, a bickering couple preparing for Christmas dinner. Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis play the unhappily married pair.

Mixed Nuts

It has been awhile since I have seen this movie. Steve Martin and Rita Wilson work at a suicide prevention hotline with the incomparable Madeline Kahn. High-jinks ensue when multiple characters and arcs overlap. 

Bonus points for John Stewart and Parker Posey playing the rollerblading couple.

  A Princess for Christmas

Okay this is not a good film. It is painfully predictable and trite. But it has a young Sam Heughan as the "Prince". Worth it only to watch Jamie Fraser in the 21st Century.

Babes in Toyland

I have mentioned this in a 5 Fandom Friday post this season already but I don't care. Perhaps if enough people start watching this whenever it comes on then they will finally make a dvd version, or at least put it on Netflix.

These are my favorite Holiday films the not many people know about. Feel free to add yours in the comments below 

I Wanna Be Holiday Edition: Yule Logs and Meringues

My mom and I decided to try and make Yule Log roll cakes. The first attempt is in the picture above. It is the only pic I took because it was the practice one. It looks like a real Yule Log. We we so happy. The only problem came with the roll cake recipe which was just too eggy. 

So we found another recipe for the next try. The one that would go to my mom's office party. The new roll cake recipe worked perfectly. And it used less eggs and more flour than the first one.

Look at that lovely Cake Burrito

I even made mushroom meringue cookies to decorate the Yule log. Side note. I wish I had taken pictures of the assembly process for these meringues. If I make them again I will remember to take pictures because they came out great and taste delicious. 

Maybe I will use them in a Alice in Wonderland themed project.

Now here is where things go wrong!

With the first Yule Log cake we used a semi-sweet ganache. Semi-sweet chocolate chips, heavy whipping cream and a splash of vanilla. It worked perfectly. It covered the cake with an almost fudgey consistency after cooling that could be made to look like the texture of a log. 

With the second cake mom wanted Milk Chocolate ganache. 

Milk Chocolate ganache does really work for this. As you can see it the pictures above and below.

It went everywhere and was too thin.

Oh the chocolate Humanity!

In order to try and hide the massive chocolate spill we put on a lot of mushroom meringues.

Unlike the semi-sweet ganache, the milk chocolate version tried to melt the meringues.

I mean, the mushrooms are held together by the semi-sweet ganache so how could this happen?

Basically don't use milk chocolate as a ganache unless you are making petite fours. 

Christmas Tree Meringues with half a Fail

Since everyone that had the Mushroom Meringues loved them, I wanted to try something more festive. Christmas Tree Meringue cookies sounded ideal.

I made half just plain with only some vanilla extract and the other half flavored with peppermint.

The ones on the right are the plain ones and they are the ones that actually piped up into tree like cookies.

The mint ones had too much liquid and flattened like my hopes and dreams. 

But SPRINKLES!

I think they plain ones look great. Don't they look like little Christmas trees with the little ornaments.

BTW the mint ones look sad but taste amazing.

Maybe not my worst baking fail.

The Yule log take two wins that dubious honor.

5 Fandom Friday/ Funko Friday: Holiday Wishlist

Fandom 5 Time! Brought to you from the clever minds of The Nerdy Girlie and SuperSpaceChick

Today's Fandom Friday is Holiday Wishlist.

Also since Funkos take up my number 1 spot this post works for Funko Fridays with Pepi and Kimi.

1. Funkos

All Photos above from Funko.com No Copyright infringement intended

I would really like to complete my Marvel Funko pop collection. Along with Agent Carter, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Loki and Vision pictured above I kind of need Phil Coulson and Agent May. 

Still need to find Alice.

I am afraid if I get a Doctor Who pop I may become as obsessed with getting them all like I have been with the Marvel ones. But look at that Adipose one : )

All Photos above from Funko.com No Copyright infringement intended

I would also really like to finish both sets of Game of Thrones mystery minis. I love these.

2. Video Games

 I have an XBox 360 and a original Wii but I just don't have that many games. I am such a bad gamer.

3. Placebo 

 

Dear Santa, I want Placebo to play someplace I could actually get to.

It is a bit upsetting that I have never seen my favorite band perform live. Although I watched their Loud Like Love special live on youtube. Not enough! Come on Santa, make it happen.

4. The Mortal Instruments

I would love the entire Mortal Instruments books series. I read them the first time from the library and I swear that who ever was checking these out before me could not read them without eating and spilling food in the books.

YUCK

I am not looking forward to the ABC Family TV version of this. If HBO or Starz made it, then I would be all on board. Look at Outlander! But look at some of the ABC Family shows on now...double yuck. Plus I cannot forgive them for cancelling Bunheads.

5. Captain America

via GIPHY

Basically anything Captain America or Winter Soldier related.

I am still loving the trailer for Civil War. The Bucky-Steve Bromance is back!

Literary Fixation: White Oleander

Once again I choose to read a book because I watched the film. Strange habit of mine.

I read White Oleander by Janet Finch for this month's IggleWorms challenge. The challenge this month is to read a book set in the 90's. This book doesn't state specific dates but it was published in the 90's, so I'm guessing that is when it is set.

Spoilers

------------------------

After watching the film, I had some idea what the book was going to be like. 

The main character, Astrid, is put into the foster care system after her mother, Ingrid, murders her ex boyfriend. Ingrid uses Oleanders to poison him because he left her. 

The story follows Astrid into each of her foster homes.

Foster Home #1

A born again, former alcoholic stripper, Starr, is the first foster mom for Astrid. There are a few other kids living there including two of Starr's biological kids. Problems occur when Astrid takes a fancy to Starr's live in boyfriend, "Uncle Ray". In true "Lolita" fashion Astrid and Ray begin a really disturbing relationship which leads to Astrid getting shot by Starr.

Foster Home #2

After Astrid gets out of the hospital she is put into a foster home with the racist Turlocks. Astrid becomes the babysitter and maid for the Turlocks. It is here that she makes friends with a "prostitute" next door and begins to dabble in drugs.

Once Astrid's friendship is discovered by the Turlocks she is kicked out.

Foster Home #3

In Astrid's third foster home, she and a group of other foster girls are starved to the point that Astrid eats food out of the garbage at school. The foster mother, Amelia, uses the girls for chores and takes the money from the state but keeps the food in the house under lock and key. After making many calls to social services, Astrid is given a new social worker who takes her away.

Foster Home #4

Astrid is taken in by actress Claire Richards. Everything seems wonderful at first. With Claire and Astrid becoming more like mother and daughter than Astrid has ever known, even with her mother Ingrid. Only beneath the outer perfection Claire is a broken and fragile woman. She eventually falls apart when her husband leaves. She kills herself and Astrid is left feeling more alone than ever.

Foster Home #5

After the trauma of losing Claire, Astrid ends up in a Children's Center. It is there that she meets a kindred spirit in Paul. Paul unfortunately ages out of the system while they are there. 

Side note: The Paul-Astrid relationship is different in the book from the film. In the film they seem to have more of a connection, while in the book it is almost fleeting.

Foster Home #6

17 year old Astrid lands into her final foster home with Russian immigrant, Rena. She lives there with two other girls. These girls, Niki and Yvonne, become Astrid's first real friends. Out of the whole book, it is the friendship with these girls that makes Astrid likable again. This foster home isn't a bad place. They live outside the norm, but it works.

So what about the murderess mother?

The entire time that Astrid is being tossed around the foster system, Ingrid is manipulating her. Ingrid may have been the final push that made Claire kill herself. She doesn't see Astrid as a person, only a possession. One that either belongs to her or must be destroyed. 

Throughout the book Ingrid is making things worse for Astrid. It is only in the end that Ingrid starts to see some of the damage she has inflicted on her daughter.

Here is where the book leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Astrid and Paul are in Berlin, living like true starving artists. Astrid has thought about cheating on Paul. I cannot see the character's reasoning for this.

It is in Berlin that they find out that Ingrid has been released from prison. 

As the book closes, Astrid is thinking about what is would be like to go back to her mother.

After everything that she went through, why does she want to go back? Ingrid has not been there for most of Astrid's life. Does Astrid think that going back to Ingrid means that she can get a second chance at the childhood she lost? I feel like Ingrid never really cared about Astrid even before the murder and jail.

The ending just made me feel uneasy.

Anyone else read this?

Which Foster home did you like or hate?

5 Fandom Friday: Holiday Recommendations

It is 5 Fandom Friday time! Thanks to The Nerdy Girlie and SuperSpaceChick for putting this together every week.

This week is all about Holiday Recommendations.

1. Holiday Candy

There are so many delicious holiday candies out right now but out of all of these I would have to choose the Milk Chocolate Orange as a must try. I believe you can find these some places year round, I never have. 

The first thing you do with these orbs of yummy is to smash is while it is in the foil. BAM! Then you have slices of chocolate with a perfect hint of orange. 

2. Bath and Body Works Peppermint Lotion

I worked at B&BW one holiday season. I still have flashbacks. The one positive thing I got out of my time there is my love for their Peppermint Lotion. It isn't too sweet smelling like some peppermint lotions. If you are near a B&BW try it out.

3. Hogfather

I read this every year. Imagine every holiday story you know and mix it up in a fun and strange fantasy world. Where DEATH is a character that you root for as he and his granddaughter try to save the Hogfather. If you don't have time for the book there is a movie version. But in all honesty, read this. Terry Prachett wrote some of the best fantasy books I have every read. His Discworld series has at least one book that everyone will like.

4. Starbucks

Starbucks seasonal drinks are back. My mom is obsessed with the Eggnog lattes. I however hate eggnog so I go for the Peppermint drinks. Mmmm Peppermint mocha latte please.

5. Babes in Toyland

Why do I love this cringe-worthy film? A very young Keanu Reeves and Drew Barrymore take on the forces of mildly evil to save Toyland. This needs to come out on DVD already. I used to have it on VHS but now I have to catch it with it is sporadically on TV. BTW I know all the lines from "C-I-N-C-I-N-N-A-T-I" song

November Wrap Up

November is over. It has been a tough month again. Nothing horrible happened this month but everything from the past few months still has us fighting to stay afloat. 

Hauls

Let's start off with something great...I won a prize pack from Crimson Peak! Including a Hiddleston Funko Pop, Crimson Peak shirt and an autograph card including Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain and Guillermo del Toro's autographs. So happy to have won this!!!

Accomplishments

My friend is having a baby. For some strange reason I am now the maker of all baby quilts within my social and familial circles. I actually have no idea what I am doing when it comes to making these quilts. My great-great aunt used to make the quilts for the family and when she got too old to do it my her daughter, my grandfather's cousin, made all the quilts. Still not sure how this fell into my lap, but it has. Unfortunately no one actually taught me how to make these so I just fly by the seat of my pants. I never know if these quilts I make will fall apart after I give them away.

Netflix

The Office

via GIPHY

I ended up watching The Office Us on Netflix simply because it kept being recommended. I really did not think I would like it...I kind of love it now. Same thing that happened with Parks and Recs. Shows that I passed on repeatedly only to fall in love with much later. Sometimes the shows that become your favorites are the ones you've overlooked.

Both The Office and Parks and Recs have the absurd sitcom aspect but with deeper emotions underneath.

A Long Way Down

When life gets you down, sometimes the best thing to do is find an escape. I go for tv and films. On a particularly bad day I watched this film, A Long Way Down. Four people meet when they all end up on top of a building to kill themselves. Sounds pretty depressing for a film. Nope. It is all about finding reasons to live.

Not a film for everyone, but I really enjoy it.

(In the same vein as this film but I don't think it is on netflix, On The Edge with Cillian Murphy. Dark but hopeful.) 

Geez, what a depressing end to this post. I blame the weather, cold and raining. 

November Ipsy and Birchbox

It's Ipsy and Birchbox time.

Ipsy and Birchbox are monthly beauty subscription boxes that cost about $10 shipped in the US.

I share these with my mom, so anything in BLUE are the products she took.

Ipsy

With Ipsy each month you get a makeup bag. I absolutely loved this one, you can see it in the first picture. Galaxy. 

• tre'StiQue Mini Lip Crayon- I have tried this product before in a different color. It goes on smooth and stays on fairly well.
• Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exsposure Mascara- Smashbox is a really good brand and in the reasonable price range,
• Figs & Rouge Mattifying Emulsion & Pore Refiner- A sheer primer that doesn't leave a chalky film.
• Model Co. Highlighting Trio- I am really not sure how to go about using highlighters yet. I must try this out.
• INSPR Beauty Angle Liner Brush- I love getting makeup tools in these bags. Can't wait to try this out soon.

 Birchbox 

• theBalm cosmetics Cindy-Lou Manizer- Once again a highlighter. Are these boxes trying to tell me something?
• Parlor Touchable Curl Cream- Problem with this sample is that both my mom and I do not have hair that this would work with. Mine is long and straight, hers is short and thick.
• Living Proof Perfect Hair Day dry shampoo- Dry shampoo samples are always great.
• Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches with Soothing Cornflower- Since this is one that my mom choose, I have no idea what this even looks like.
• Loc Vibrant Matte Lipstick- In Wildest Dreams. A rich red that goes on like a smooth lipstick but becomes matte. It actually stays on really well for a matte.

My favorites out this month's boxes: Ipsy- Liner Brush and Birchbox- Loc Matte Lipstick.

5 Fandom- Fandoms That I'm Thankful For

It has been a long time since I have written a 5 Fandom Friday post.

This week is all about Fandoms.

Thanks to the Nerdy Girlie and SuperSpaceChick for once again coming up with all of these prompts.

1. Stargate

via GIPHY

I think Stargate was the first real fandom that I interacted with. Because of this show I went to my first Trek Expo, I totally sported some camo capris. 

Stargate was also indirectly responsible for me becoming a Whovian. I saw the promos for Doctor Who on the Sci-fi channel and decided to watch it.

Thus my descent into the sci-fi rabbit hole became complete.

2. Harry Potter

This is more for my mom.

My mom used to go to the release parties at book stores for these books. Then she would come home and read the latest book well into the morning.

See, nerdiness is genetic

3. Doctor Who

I am a Whovian.

Although the past few seasons have left me disenchanted.

I can still remember watching that first episode and know that this would be my favorite show.

"I'm the Doctor, by the way..... Run for your life"

I was hooked.

4. Marvel

via GIPHY

I was late to the game with the Marvel Universe, but I feel like I have made up for it. I absolutely love the Marvel Universe. The films and the tv shows just make me happy. I really cannot choose my favorite from this. 

But I will say that Peggy Carter is PERFECT

5. Geek Girls Pen Pal Club
This is not a fandom, but a collection of people who are involved in various fandoms. Geeks from all over the world with something in common.
I have met (via online) some of the most amazing people because of this group. I have also been introduced to new fandoms through them.

Thinking About The 90's

This month's theme on Geek Girls Pen Pal Club is the 90's. This has brought up some massive nostalgia for me. I was really too young in the 90's to enjoy what most people remember as classic 1990's. Then again, I live in Oklahoma and until a few years ago we were about a decade behind the rest of the US. 

I remember being into grunge after it had started to die out. I wore my pink and blue flannel like I was so street. Add on the smiley face felt stovepipe hat and the back pack purses. I was an absolute mess.

Ying Yangs, beanie babies, pogs, The Backstreet Boys...oh my.

via GIPHY

In retrospect I feel like I missed out on so much that the 90's are remembered for. I never got to go to a rave. I didn't get to see any real concerts. I used to get the Delia's catalog but I never got to buy anything from it.

I did have a bunch of inflatable furniture, door beads, disco ball and glow in the dark stars in my room.

Most of what I love about the 90's comes from discovering after the fact. 

My favorite band is Placebo. I did not know anything about them until 2007.

I am glad that I can say that I did have a cassette tape of Garbage's Version 2.0 that I wore out for over listening.

At least that gives me a bit of 90's cred.

Does anyone remember getting a ton of cds for a dollar from a mail-in form? I think the majority of my cd collection comes from that.

ROUNDHOUSE

via GIPHY

It seems like the 90's are coming back more and more now. Teen Nick now has Splat that show some of my favorite shows from the late 80's and 90's including Ren & Stimply, Hey Dude, Salute Your Shorts and ROUNDHOUSE.

I think out of all of the Snick lineup Roundhouse gets over looked the most. I loved this show. I preferred it to the New Mickey Mouse Club.

It had skits, singing and awesome dance routines. Each episode had a theme, usually with some kind of moral. Even though it had the air of being a teaching experience, it never shaved it in your face.

Also if you are a fan of the movie The Newies, you will recognize a few of the newsies in the tv show. You can find a few of the episodes on youtube.

If you haven't seen it, you need to...now

I am thinking about making more blog posts like this, the 90's and 00's etc. What do you think? Also what would I call them??

Marvel Collector Corps- Villains

A few weeks late, but I am trying to get back into the flow of blogging again.

My Marvel Collector Corps box arrived. October's theme is Villains.

I was really hoping for a Loki pop because I really need that one (and Peggy Carter, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Vision ...I need quite a few for my Marvel collection)

 I didn't get a traditional Loki Pop but I did get a Loki Dorbz. These remind me of Anime characters. While I still want a Pop Loki, I do like this Dorbz.  I have an Ultron Dorbz that came in the first Marvel Collector Corps box. I really like the boxes the Dorbz come in, they have "windows" in the front and back.

This month's shirt is great. It isn't Pop related, which I kind of prefer. Instead it has illustrations of some of the most well known Marvel Villains, including Red Skull, Loki, Ultron and Thanos.

I really wish I liked Spiderman. I just never got into this part of Marvel. Maybe my dislike for Toby Maguire has something to do with it. But the past two boxes have had Spiderman related pops. I actually had to look Morbius up to know where he fell in the Marvel Universe. To Ebay they go.

And of course no MCC box would be complete without the pin, patch and comic. The pin is Green Goblin (Ugh more Spiderman) the patch Red Skull (YEA Captain America) and the comic Iron Man.

Over all a commendable box. I don't mind the Spiderman products, that is my own problem lol.

December's box is Guardians of the Galaxy themed.

A Year of Ipsy and Birchbox

After nearly three weeks, I think it is time to get back into blogging. Mainly as a distraction.
Easiest place to start- Subscription Boxes
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Since October of last year I have received an Ipsy Glam bag and Birchbox every month. I thought I would give a show you what this looks like. Each subscription box is $10 a month shipped in the US.

First up: Ipsy

Ipsy comes with a makeup bag every month. In general with this subscription you are more likely to get full sized products, or close to full sized. I have also gotten a few really great makeup tools. The brands range from the affordable, which you can pick up in drugstore to a few higher end products. 

Ipsy also has a Rewards program where you review the products you've received for points that you can trade in for certain products.

Birchbox

Birchbox tends to have some of the higher end product samples. While you may not receive as many full sized products, this subscription box offers a chance to try out all sorts of different products that you may not have ever tried due to price. Birchbox is the more diverse in terms of what you can get. I feel there is less of an emphasis on makeup and more skin care and hair styling. That isn't to say that I haven't gotten a few good makeup samples in this box.

The Birchbox rewards program is really great. You get points for reviewing your box as well as points for anything you buy from them. Every 100 points equals $10 that you can use in their store.

I have really enjoyed getting these subscription boxes. The price is great and every month you get new products to try out.

Hiatus

Today I have lost my sweet baby boy Arthur.
My heart is broken.
He was such a funny, sweet and tenacious little thing.
I miss him so much already.
I do not care what some disgusting people may think, but just because dogs and cats are not human does not make them any less important to the people they love and who love them. I have lost a family member today. We are grieving.

I will not be posting for the foreseeable future.

HallowFest: Literary Fixation- Something Wicked This Way Comes

As a child I watched The Halloween Tree cartoon every year that it came on. It helped to shape my love for Halloween. This month for Iggle BookWorms The Halloween Tree novel by Ray Bradbury is our book club pick. I am still currently on the wait-list for this book I decided that for this month's challenge to read another book by Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes.

I wish I could say I like this book. If a book has really short chapters it throws me off. In fact, in this book one chapter only had one sentence. It just stops the flow during reading. I have had this problem with some classic novels, like Dickens' works, which were written to be printed a chapter at a time.

The story itself is interesting. Small town America becomes the battle ground for a fight between good and evil. Evil being represented by a traveling carnival that uses peoples wants and fears to lure them into their soul stealing traps.

Good being represented by the carefree innocence of two young boys, one of which is being pulled towards the darkness.

And of course the sage wisdom of the older father, who would like nothing more to be young again but understands the cost of such greed.

I never felt like I knew the characters well, only superficially. Even the evil carnival people seemed to be caricatures, hardly fleshed out. The constant descriptions and comparisons throughout the novel drown out the characters themselves. It was all style and prose without substance.

Towards the end of the book it starts to flow a bit better, but it felt like a labor to read. I really wanted to like this book. I still have good hopes for The Halloween Tree. 

Sorry if this sounds disjointed, it is really late and I just finished the book and wanted to write down what I thought quickly.

Kind of a disappointment for #HallowFest15

  

HallowFest: Universal Monster Nails

I love nail art. I love old monster movies.

Put the two together and you've got Universal Monster Nail Art.

I apologize for my lack of nail art skill.   

Yup I misspelled Frankenstein. 

I used black acrylic paint on these, it is just easier to draw details.  

Black and white paint for the details 

These actually came out better than you can tell in the picture. The black polish has flecks of reddish gold. 

Really, black acrylic paint is the way to go with nail art. 

Water marbling on the green nails and sponging on the red and orange ones. Kind of turn into the Eye of Sauron. 

With the Wolfman nails I wanted to try making my own nail polish transfers. It completely shocked me that it worked. Of course I ended up putting them on upside down.

I am really bad a taking pictures of my hands for these nail polish pictures. My hand looks all "Hulk Smash".

Funko Friday: Once Upon A Walking Dead Funko

It is still #HallowFest15 but the lovely ladies at kimiwho.com and dePepi.com have started a new blog together all about Funkos. 

Funko Fridays

Each week they have a prompt for their fellow bloggers.

This week it is "Once Upon A Funko", meaning how us Funko addicts got started.

This works for HallowFest because my first funkos were THE WALKING DEAD.

I had never heard of Funkos before I won a Walking Dead prize pack from Nerd Fu.

Prior to that I had one or two Doctor Who mini Titan figures.

The prize pack came with two 7 inch Walker pops and three mystery minis.

The minis I got were Meryl, bicycle girl and girl with teddy bear.

This is where my obsession with mystery minis began in full.

Right now I am working on the Game of Thrones sets. 

Of course I am prone to collection due to being a kid of the 90s. Beanie Babies and Pogs anyone? I miss pogs for some odd reason.

 The season premier of The Walking Dead was last Sunday. This show and Game of Thrones are my nerve wracking, masochistic watching shows. I love them but I spend most of the time in a fetal position while watching. At this point anyone one could die.

I love that the Walking Dead has veered away from the Graphic Novels and made the show its own entity. It makes it where no one knows what could happen. So Sundays are the most stressful day of my week and I love it.

Also they killed the guy from Empire Records...aka Rusty Griswold...aka the guy from That Thing You Do. 

Don't mess with the Ricktatorship, especially if a Walker TRAPPED in a tree is able to take you out. Weak