In Which I Attempt A Bob Ross Painting and My Baby Niece Decides She Likes It A Little Too Much

For St. Patrick's day my whole family got together to do a Bob Ross painting party.  Some of my siblings have already done one, and their pictures of the event looked so much fun we all wanted to try.

I grew up watching Bob Ross on PBS.  He's so calming!  But I've never tried painting before, well, beyond a watercolor project in High School art class, but beyond that I haven't painted at all, especially with oils.

Bob Ross makes it look so easy.  How would it be for a novice like myself?

Getting the materials in place.

All the dark colors look the same on the plate.

It was a guessing game figuring out what color I wanted.

Lindsay's masterpiece.

My Mom had a hard time because she's more of a methodical painter. She takes her time.  Painting with Bob Ross is like doing Nanowrimo (national novel writing month).  You can't think about what you're painting.  You've just got to go with it.  Be in the moment.  Put paint on the canvas and see where it takes you.

My masterpiece.

Not half bad for a first-timer! :0)

Then a funny thing happened.

My baby niece decided she liked my painting, so much so she sat on it, missing all the other paintings.

When I found out I laugh/cried.

Her foot prints we did with the paint she got from my painting turned out rather nice.

 

 And on a completely different note I found out what happened with the Doctor.  He just disappeared  one day from the garage.  It turns out he's been hanging out at my brother's work.  That stare though.  Still weirds me out a little, like he's seeing through me, or I just didn't something wrong.

 

Look Who Turned One Last Month! The Disney Balloon!

Okay, admittedly this is pretty sad.

I'm amazed I kept this balloon for over a year.  During the first week of February, 2017, my Mom and I took two of my nieces to Disneyland for a week.  Loads of fun.  Crazy times.  Two little girls for a week, but it was good.  Usually when I go to Disneyland I want to get a balloon, but never do.  This time I finally got one and wanted to see how long it would last.

Air stayed in the balloon for over a year.  Pretty good.  But every time I looked at it amusement grew to sadness, so the pink Mickey balloon had to go.

I popped it and with no fanfare it ended up in the trash.

Pink Mickey Balloon, it was fun.

-_-;;

The Ups and Downs with New Years Resolutions

"To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility." ~ Thomas S. Monson

How are you guys doing with your New Years resolutions?

There are some I'm doing okay on and some I'm not.

But that's okay.

Sometimes I feel like I bite off more than I can chew, as the saying goes.  Setting myself up for failure.  But I think goals are important, regardless.  We need to aim for something and keep trying when we fall.

Writing a poem each week is something I've definitely faltered on, so I'm reevaluating that.  Overall I want to increase my writing in multiple writing fields, maybe even get myself published professionally.  That would be amazing.

I've already reached some of my walking goals.  With the Hogwarts Running Club they have the base six medals and a challenge medal at the end of the year that can represent any miles you wish.  Quidditch was a big theme last year, and a year ago this March they did an in house Quidditch match where I walked 60 miles in a week for the Gryffindors.  For the 2017 Challenge medal, in the shape of Quidditch goal hoops, I wanted to repeat this success.  At the end of January I did it, walked 60 miles in a weeks time.  Exhausting!  But all that walking does feel good.

And I'm over 100 miles for my 1000 miles goal, and have lost 6 1/2 pounds since the start of the year.  Not a huge weight loss, but it's something, and I'm refocusing my goals.  I need to get back to walking; I've slacked this last month. 

So don't give up!  Keep trying!

Everyday is a good day to start a new resolution, New Years or not.

Spring 2018 FabFitFun Subscription Box Review

 

I've subscribed to FabFitFun again.

Took a break, but decided to go all in and got a year subscription which is $180.  So yes, a major splurge.  A regular box is $50, coming four times a year, each box representing a Season.  With the year subscription each box comes out to $45, and you get to select which items you want.  For instance, if there's mug options, you choose which mug you want and so forth.

Paying upfront and getting this option makes it all worth it.

Plus, being a member (which you can also be if you're getting box to box) you have access to exclusive exercise videos, cooking videos, meditation, and other cool stuff.  Also, with each box there are add-ons you can get at a discount in addition with the box, and they all ship together, items such as makeup, skincare, spongelles, jewelry, face masks, bags, etc.  Add-ons are addicting and awesome, and one of the reasons I got back into fabfitfun was because I can get Spongelles at a discount.

 Rachel Pally Reversible Clutch in Bloom, Zahara, or Paradise

As an annual member I got to choose which clutch I got, which was nice.  Granted I'm not a clutch using person.  I like body purses, allowing me freedom to use my hands and not accidentally leave a clutch somewhere if I set it down.

I've seen on forums some people wanting to use the clutch as an insert in a beach bag or a large purse.  I'm thinking of using it as a makeup bag, as the bag I've using is quite small, so that will be nice.  I wasn't terribly excited to see this item in the box, and I think this was suppose to be "hero" item of the box, which was a mistake on FabFitFun's part.  But it is a cute bag, and there are ways I can use it beyond what it was originally intended.

 

Free People x Understated Leather Starry Eyed Travel Eye Mask

I love sleep masks, and I love the fact that this one comes with a cooling insert.  The information paper that came with the box recommends using the cooling insert to help deep puff the eyes.  Great idea.  Also nice would be using the cooling insert to help with headaches, specifically migraines.  (I had a migraine last week. They're awful.  Any help is nice.)  There is a chance of three colors: Peach, mint, and cream.  As a select annual member I wasn't able to choose the color, no one could, but I was very happy to receive peach.

 Physique 57 Massage Roller

Another item that came in a variety of colors that could not be pre-selected: Lavender, orange, blue, and gray.  So happy I got lavender, which is what I wanted.  I have a foam message roller, but I'm very happy to have this as I love the pokey bumps.  This is small enough to travel with.

 Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion

I've never heard of Murad before, but on the forums a lot of people seem to like this brand.  Apparently this moisturizer is apart of their acne line, but anyone can use it.  This helps "minimize the appearance of pores, refines texture, and soothes redness and irritation." Yes to all the above.  I have a moisturizer I love, but I'm happy to try this out and see how it works.

 

Anderson Lilley Sunset Collection Candle

in Manhattan Beach, Fresh Linen, or Super Bloom 

Select annual members got to select which candle scent they wanted; for everyone else the candle received is random.  I choose Super Bloom as it seems particularly Springy.  The scent is light and fresh, but not very strong.  I was surprised that the candle is only filled 2/3rds full.  In the picture the wax goes to the top of the copper colored cup.  I do like the copper cup, and it's nice that the wax is coconut with a cotton, lead-free wick.

 Korres Guava Body Butter

This is an either or beauty choice.  I choose the body butter, but the other option was the KNC Beauty All Natural Collagen Infused Lip Mask.  That sounds nice, but I didn't like the reviews I read on the product (big, slips off, messy), so I went with Korres.  I have a ton of hand creams, but not a good body butter.  The scent is very summery.  love it.

 Maya Brenner Designs LOVE Bracelet

There was four choices for the jewelry item: 2 tassel earrings by Ettika in peach and black, and 2 Maya LOVE bracelets in white and rose.  I choose the rose LOVE bracelet.  The tassel earring/jewelry trend is one I'll never understand nor get into.  I was worried the bracelet would be too small, but I'm surprised by how nicely it fits and how comfortable it is.  I didn't think I would like it, but this bracelet is quickly becoming my favorite item in the box.  It's dainty.

ISH Lip Statement Palette

This item has been getting mixed reactions, but I'm honestly excited to play with it.  I'm very unadventurous when it comes to makeup colors, and these 11 shades are really beautiful with the ability to mix for new shades.  The colors are very pigmented, enriched with rose extract, shea butter, jojoba oil, and aloe vera.  ISH is apparently FabFitFun's personal makeup brand, and I'm impressed with the quality.  This will be fun.  There's a color for everyone.

 Dermelect Cosmeceuticals Makeover Concealing Ridge Filler

I'm a little meh about this item, but it could be nice.  I don't need a ridge filler, but it seems like a simple, basic shade.

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish

Sponsored item

A small sample size.  Wish it was larger, but it's enough to try.

It seems this box is getting very mixed reactions, but I'm really liking it.  There's a good variety of items between beauty, fitness, home, makeup, jewelry, and relaxation.  Apart of the reason why I might really like it is the fact that I got to choose so much of the box before hand.  In the past I liked the surprise that these boxes would bring, but I've gotten to the point where I like controlling what I'm getting in the box, and I'm glad Fabfitfun allows the option to choose if you wish.

What Is This Madness??!! Girl Scouts Cookie Cereal

 Girl Scouts Cookies!!

Sugary Cereal!!

In One!!!

I found these limited edition Girl Scouts cookie cereals at Walmart: Thin Mints and Caramel Crunch.  Thin mints are pretty iconic for Girl Scout cookies.  The caramel crunch is modeled after Samoas, yummy caramel/coconut cookies, which are my favorite G.S. cookies.  Man, I can down an entire box of Samoas without thinking, which makes them very dangerous.

 So, in the name of science I tried both cereals this morning, for research . . . and fun.  They weren't as sweet as I was thinking they would be, which is a good thing.  I don't like overly sweet cereals.  The flavors are mild, yet still good.  Really, I like these cereals simply for the novelty factor.

Girl Scouts Cookies! 

(And I'll practice great self-restraint this week . . . ;0)

January 2018 J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World by LootCrate subscription box review

Trouble, Harry Potter's got trouble,

Right here in Lootcrate City!

With a capital "T"

That rhymes with "P"

And that stands for . . .

Yeah . . .

This is the January, 2018, J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World by LootCrate, which is a month late due to an item that got delayed at the factory, or so forth.  The November box was a month late as well.

 This box features 5-7 exclusive and officially licensed items.

I underlined that last bit on purpose, because they state it on the website. 

Price for this box, plus shipping, is $44.99, a price increase of $2.  The price increase, which was added to the March box (which will hopefully ship in March), was added for shipping.  What's interesting is how small the January box is.  I put it next to the November box, which is ironically smaller than its previous months.

The info card shows the size of the box.

Along with being late this box only came with 4 items, instead of the advertised 5-7.

Everywhere I've been reading on the net people are not happy.

I'll detail my thoughts after going through the items.

 (Box Theme)

 Hogwarts House Tie

 This is a nice tie.  It's 100% polyester.  I'd value it about $15-20, from what I was seeing online.  Hot Topic has a 100% polyester skinny tie for $12.90.  The Universal Studios Harry Potter online shop has silk ties for $31.95.  I like the lion, makes it more unique, but as my Dad pointed out it's a little off center.  But it is still a nice tie as I don't have one. 

 Black Family Tree Tapestry Shawl/Scarf

This is a nice long scarf. Really nice unique item that I'd value between $20-$25.  I love genealogy, and it's fun to see Sirius Black's complete family tree.  The scarf looks nice rolled up.  All the faces blacked out our family members who have been disowned, aka turned good.  Love the medieval tree feel.

 Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem Pin

This pin is really nice, my favorite pin thus far.  Love the little stone and jewel details.  Value $10-13.

The Wand Collection Book

This is a smaller paperback version of the book that came out last November.  I looked through one around Christmas at a Barnes and Nobles.  The Hardback is so much nicer.  I can see some people not happy with this item simply because they may already own the nicer version.  The pictures are very nice, and I've always found the different wands in the Harry Potter universe to be interesting.  What would have been nice, and this is a critique of the book overall, is if full descriptions of each wand was included: Length, wood type, and core material.  That would have been so nice. Value $13-18.

So the box . . .

I do like the quality of a few items.  Like the tie, scarf, and pin.  The book is nice to have, and I'm glad I didn't already have one.  But there are only 4 items when a minimum 5 was promised, late a month, with a price increase.  If this box is going to continue Lootcrate needs to get it together.  Find a way to get on track with the shipping, and be more transparent with their costumers.  I'm getting this box through May, as May is my B-day month.  May cancel after that.  The next box has already been charged, so I'm getting that regardless.  Guess we'll see how March goes.

Overall personal value for box is low end $58. 

(This blog post wins an award for the overuse of the word "nice".  Oops.)