Spring Inspiration

Hi! I'm sorry I didn't get to do a fall or winter related inspiration post; even though I'd been planning for them (both of them are actually almost finished), I wasn't able to get them completed to my satisfaction in enough time. I was determined to get one up for spring though, and here it be! So what inspires me for spring? If I had to sum it up, I'd probably say all the florals, pastels and green veggies. lol I like to engage all of the senses when finding inspiration for a season, so this one's probably going to be lengthy. Find a comfy seat, grab a snack and enjoy!

--Pastels and one vivid color (this year it's orange); flirty, feminine pieces and fashions; shorter, piecey hairstyles with pastel highlights or accents

Polish colors (from l to r):

Sinful Colors Polishes in Easy Going, Skylark, Island Coral, Firefly, Cinderella, Tempest, Mint Apple, Lavender; Wet 'n Wild Wildshine in Nuclear War

My color palette is heavily influenced by flowers and Easter colors; I prefer pastel versions of the deeper colors I enjoyed during the fall and winter. I chose these polishes because they were all lighter colors, but it's not hard to build up layers of any of the polishes. They don't clump as easily as some of the other brands and they intensify with more layers, which is a good thing as a couple of these look more sheer on the nail than they do in the bottle. They don't last terribly long without chipping though, so make sure you've got a great topcoat. 

1. Rose Flower Crown, Forever 21 ($5.90)
2. I'm Bayside Myself Dress, ModCloth ($59.99)
3. MINKPINK Tangerine Dream Floral Top ($68) and Shorts, NastyGal ($69)
4. Lacy Floral Cami Mini Dress, Forever 21 ($17.90)
5. Converse All Star Fringe Sneakers, Urban Outfitters ($100) / Tan Tall Gladiator Sandals, LuLu's ($30)
6. Dollhouse Distressed Cropped Jeans, Charlotte Russe ($25) / High Riser Skinny Jeans, Madewell ($125)
7. Multicolor Floral Tassel Longline Kimono, Choies ($23.90)
8. Stripe for the Picking Ribbed Top, NastyGal ($38)
9. Aglow with Gusto Dress, ModCloth ($69.99)



(*Don't mind most of these prices; I can't afford anything on this list except for #1. LOL This is purely for inspiration*)

That color palette extends to the clothes I feel more drawn to for spring, which are lighter, brighter and more fun than the clothes I gravitate to during fall and winter. I think shades of coral and orange look so pretty during the spring, and this is one of the only times that I'm willing to wear white jeans. I have a bad record with white jeans, one which I may or may not detail in a later post, I'm clumsy and rather messy so light-colored jeans, especially white ones, aren't really the best ones for my life. But they're so pretty!

With spring being festival season, of course I have to put a crown somewhere on this list but truth be told, I'll wear a floral crown regardless of the month. I'll just change the colors of the flowers I use. lol I also like stripes and lighter floral-printed clothes for this time of year. I've been getting into rompers and playsuits as well; I really like the loose, boho feel that both of these outfits have. I've been seeing a lot of off-the-shoulder and cutout style clothing for this time of year and I'm into all of it. I also like extending the 'pop of color' concept to shoes rather than just accessories 

1. Style Inspo 1
2. Style Inspo 2 (you'll have to scroll through the photos to find it)
3. Flower Crown Braid (a combination of two of my favorites!)
4. Pastel Ombre--Color Inspiration
5. Dutch Braid Pigtails

Extra: Dark Pastel Hair Inspiration

I've been wanting to switch things up with my hair lately, and I've gotten my heart set on the blunt-cut, shoulder-length styles that are in the first two photos. It's much different from the longer styles I've gravitated to for the past few years, and I'm excited to try something new. I'd like the ombre to blend like the second photo, which is why I included it, but I'd prefer the color to be like the third picture. I worry sometimes about looking a fool because with hair, especially extensions, the line between 'trendy' and 'hoodrat' is a thin one for a Black gal, but oh well. If I like it and it looks nice on me, I'm going for it. 

I also love milkmaid braids, loose, tousled waves and as of late, Dutch braids for this time of year, the last of which is tempting me to keep my hair long. Accessories like small floral headbands, leather strips intertwined in braids, and both small and large floral crowns are my go-tos because they give me boho, free spirited vibes. They're also kinda messy, and I've been into that lately too. I was trying to find more pictures that inspired me for spring and realized I kept coming back to braids in some fashion, so that's why I just left this collage at the two photos I chose. 

--Indie pop, ambient and light electronic



When we're in the midst of cuffing season, for some reason I gravitate toward darker instrumentals and more calming beats. Once spring hits though I want happier, lighter tunes to keep me company. I wouldn't say there are any 'spring' themed songs for me, but there are many songs that put me in the lighter, happier frame of mind that I usually associate with the season. Playlists aren't my forte anymore (although I used to be a beast with them back in the day lol), so I checked out Spotify and Soundcloud for some good tunes.

If you're into shorter playlists, here's this Indie Spring playlist. Most of it is indie pop and a couple of lighter electronic songs.



If you want a longer playlist with more options to scroll through, check out the Indie Spring 2016 playlist. It'd be a stroke of ambition to try and get through the whole thing; it's over 1000 songs long. But you're sure to find something you like if indie pop, electronic and ambient music is your thing.

--Light, floral, clean, citrusy scents

1. Glade 2-in-1 Candle in Sunny Days/Clean Linen
2. Bath and Body Works 3-Wick Candle in Lilac Blossom
3. Bath and Body Works 3-Wick Candle in Amsterdam-Spring Tulips
4. Bath and Body Works 3-Wick Candle in White Gardenia
5. Bath and Body Works 3-Wick Candle in Honeysuckle
6. Glade 2-in-1 Candle in Jubilant Rose/Lavender and Peach Blossom
7. Bath and Body Works 3-Wick Candle in Turquoise Waters
8. Bath and Body Works 3-Wick Candle in New York-Beautiful Day
9. Bath and Body Works 3-Wick Candle in Pure White Cotton

Extras: Glade Air Sprays in Blue Odyssey, Red Honeysuckle Nectar, or Blossoming Peony and Cherry

For spring, I like light, crisp scents. During the colder months, I prefer either calming or heavier, muskier scents but once the weather warms back up, I like to switch it up. I mostly prefer lighter floral, clean scents for spring, but I don't mind secondary sweet or fruity scents, as long as they're done right. I went with candles rather than sprays because their scent notes are much stronger, spread out to further distances, and last much longer than the regular sprays. The sprays are cheaper, though, which is why I included the three I prefer underneath the candles. lol 

--Colorful displays and touches throughout the home-- I like watercolor-colored decorations, creative pops of color in otherwise plain places and floral/nature-inspired decor

1. "Grass" Coasters, Sincerely Kinsey

2. Teacup Lights, Martha Stewart / Upcycled Teacup Projects, The Cottage Market

3. Spring-Inspired Mixed Floral Arrangement, Wayfair

4. DIY No-Sew Pillowcases, Homey Oh My!

5. Floral Letter Decor Ideas, Homesthetics

6. Color Block Frosted Tumblers, Vicky Barone

7. Spring Greeting Tablepiece, Midwest Living

8. Easter Colored Mason Jars, Mason Jar Crafts Love

9. Colorful Wall Art, HGTV

Extra: Floral-Inspired Garlands, Brit+Co

Spring, despite being hell on my respiratory system (I have the stereotypically nerdy distinction of being afflicted with allergies, sinus issues AND asthma), is a beautiful time of year and I like that to reflect in small places in my environment. Despite the fact that my spring color palette is heavily influenced by Easter, I didn't really include anything related to the holiday in these projects. I really like the colors associated with the day though, especially with white, because they pop and bring life into your space.


The majority of these links here go to the actual tutorials, but the visual of the pillows is just inspiration because there wasn't a link on Martha Stewart's website to make them, so a tutorial for basic no-sew pillowcases is linked above. Just figured I'd slip that in there so it wouldn't be misleading. Some of these, like the floral arrangement or floral letters, can easily be recreated with silk flowers from your local craft or dollar store. Some of the other photos, like the colorful wall art, are more of an inspiration/starting point rather than a step-by-step instructional. If you have plain or light-colored walls, the colorful wall art would be a good way to bring color into your space in a minimal way without having to change anything else. 

If these aren't your thing and you'd like something different, I'd start by creating a color palette that speaks to you for the season, then simply changing some of the decor in your home or bedroom to suit those colors. Bedding and wall art for me are the first things I think about changing, then I'd go from there with other smaller decor elements and accessories around the home. I think spring is a great time to reintroduce greenery around the home, whether it's fresh or fake. Green spruces (ha. See what I did there?) up the home, especially if the surroundings are white. I like clean, simple decor for spring, but with lively pops of color in visible places. 

--Fresh fruits and vegetables, lighter dishes and picnic-friendly finger foods, cold pasta salads

1. Antipasto Salad
2. Strawberry Sweet Rolls w/Vanilla Cream Cheese Glaze / Pound Cake
3. Fried Smashed Potatoes with Lemons
4. Peach Lemonade
5. Parmesan Chicken
6. Traditional French Baguette  / Strawberry Jam
7. Turkey Club Sandwich
8. Berry Ice Cubes
9. Pesto Pasta Salad
10. Southwest Ranch Chicken Mason Jar Salad

Extra: Spring Produce and Recipes

After the permanent food coma that is winter and the holiday season, I appreciate returning to foods that aren't quite as heavy or rich. I like going on picnics and eating outdoors during the warmer months, so I like foods that are portable, don't spoil easily, and are lighter on my stomach.

For spring, I like foods and drinks that use fresh and light ingredients. I love the burst of colors in food, the crisp tastes that most veggies provide to a dish, and how light many of these foods are on the palate. I'm not super crazy about fruit in general, but I always enjoy them more during the spring. I find myself really excited for jams, breads, sandwiches and the like. One of my ideal spring mornings would be taking a small breakfast, a homemade baguette and jam to a park with me, which I'm aware sounds corny but my field of f*cks to give about it is barren soo.... that's that. lol

By this time, you can tell that 'light' holds a lot of weight for me when it comes to my spring inspiration. (See what I did there? Oh, that was only funny to me?) If you're struggling to come up with a seasonal inspiration list, I hope this helped a little bit and if you actually got all the way through it, you have my sincerest thanks. There are entire fanfiction sagas that are still shorter than this post. LOL I'm assuming, of course. I don't read fanfiction, so I wouldn't know that for sure. *looks away*  See you soon!

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Maybelline Fit Me! VoxBox

Hi! As you know, I'm a member of Influenster, a company that allows influencers to sample and review various products. I applied to try out a new beauty VoxBox in January, and Influenster contacted me last month to let me know I'd been selected to try one of the Maybelline Fit Me! foundations. Per usual with anything I review from Influenster, I received the product for free in exchange for an unbiased review, and all opinions are my own. 

What is it? Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Liquid Foundation

How much does it cost? $7.99

Where to purchase: Maybelline's website, all major drugstores & supermarkets

So what came in the box?

The only thing that came in my VoxBox was the foundation itself, and as you can see, I received my foundation in Toffee Caramel, or 330. I'm still a bit light from winter (read: my Irish half really comes out during the colder months so atm I'm pale as a mofo) so the shade is currently a little dark for me, but by the time the rest of my makeup is on it looks fine. For my actual skintone, however, it's a good fit. 

Pros:

--Has a matte & poreless finish

--Provides an even, lightweight feel to the face

--Buildable & easily blendable formula without streaking

--Lasts throughout the day w/o needing tons of touchups

                                   --Doesn't smudge easily if set correctly

                                   --Easy to remove

Other than my usual CG foundation, I usually stick with BB creams and pressed powders for face makeup. My face is a bit sensitive (read: fussy) with certain products and I prefer a more low-maintenance look unless the occasion calls for it, so I don't have much need for a heavy foundation. Thankfully, the Fit Me! is both lightweight in formula and light on the face. I don't like the greasy feeling of many foundations on my skin but when I'm wearing the Fit Me! my face still feels like skin. I know that sounds weird, but my face doesn't feel greasy or oily.

Even when I build up how much I apply, my face doesn't feel heavy or weighed down with product. Setting my old foundation with powders sometimes gave my skin a cakey appearance if I set it too much, another thing I haven't had to worry about with the Fit Me!. I haven't had any issues blending the product into my skin, and even on the days I wear two layers it still blends out easily and gives me the matte finish I prefer. With my old foundation, anything more than one layer gave me an oily appearance (despite supposedly being made to combat oily skin/appearance), which I'd have to fix with the setting powders. I don't have that issue with the Fit Me! at all.

A big reason why I don't bother with face makeup heavier than pressed powders and BB creams is because of the repeated need for touchups throughout the day. I often have allergies or sinusitis, especially around this time of year, so it can get annoying having to touch up my makeup every time I blow my nose. I still have to touch-up with this, but it doesn't look like I scrubbed the bottom of my nose clean so a pressed powder works just fine. On that note, the smudging isn't as serious or noticeable, especially if I set it correctly.

The Fit Me! lasts throughout the day quite well, but is also pretty easy to remove when I'm ready. It doesn't take tons of scrubbing or even a lot of face wash; it comes right off.

Cons:

--Can cause a few breakouts

--Tends to itch at the end of the day

--Has a bit of an ashy undertone

Like I said, I don't usually wear full-on foundations. So the first time that I went full-throttle with this product, I applied two layers then wore it for the rest of the day. I forgot to wash my makeup off that night, and ended up falling asleep with it on. To my complete and utter delight ( ::eyeroll:: ), I discovered a new collection of stars forming a constellation on one cheek the following morning, and after washing it off, discovered even more stars across the rest of my face. I have never broken out that much before and I've fallen asleep with makeup on tons of times. Not even my Red Sea breakouts are that bad. This was enough to show me that for my skin, falling asleep in this would be a horrible mistake and I haven't done it since. I wouldn't recommend falling asleep in makeup anyway, but let's be real. Sometimes it happens. But for this product, I would definitely recommend investing in makeup wipes at very least to get this off of your skin before going to bed. 

As I've mentioned before, my skin is a little fussy with certain products and tends to either start drying out or breaking out with repeated usage. When my skin doesn't agree with a product, one of those two things start to happen or my skin starts itching so much I have to remove the makeup. This is the case with my CG Smoothers, so I always have to mix it with foundation. This hasn't happened with the Fit Me! yet, but after wearing it for an entire day it does start to itch just a little. When I scratch, the makeup doesn't smudge or look splotchy, which I like, but it does itch after awhile. I'd suggest wearing a good moisturizer underneath this; the matte effect can cause the skin to feel a little dry. 

Finally, this is something I've noticed now that I've gotten accustomed to the foundation, but when I first apply the foundation, it tends to look a little ashy on my skin. I'm not sure if that's because my skin's still pale so the color is a bit more intense, or because the foundation has cool undertones because those tend to give my face a gray hue. Again, once everything else is on and blended it looks fine, but initially, it does look a little gray. 

Overall, I think the Fit Me! is a great foundation. I like that it's affordable, feels lightweight on the skin, provides even coverage and does what it says in giving a matte and poreless finish. It doesn't smudge as easily as other foundations, doesn't require constant maintenance, and lasts throughout the day without oxidizing. I would recommend this for those who have a more casual approach to makeup, as the initial application will suffice. I love the way this foundation looks and feels on my skin, it's affordable so I can repurchase it with no issues, and it's a great fit for me. The pun wasn't originally intended but it helps drive my review home, so it stays. lol 

So that's my review of the Fit Me! Matte & Poreless foundation; I hope you enjoyed and as always with these VoxBoxes, big thanks to Influenster for selecting me! If you've tried or wear the Fit Me! Matte & Poreless, what do you think about it? See you soon!

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No Rest for the Wicked

Hi! I mentioned last week that the author of this book, Dane Cobain, contacted me early last month to ask if I'd like a copy of No Rest in exchange for a review. I've been heavy into smut books lately because I'm that kind of gal, so I was looking forward to a change in reading material. This definitely fit the bill. 

What's the book about?

A disillusioned priest joins forces with a young businessman to try and figure out the source behind a string of mysterious murders going on in their community. The Angels are a dangerous group of supernatural beings who exact their form of vengeance on those whom they feel have committed crimes too heinous to be forgiven. As the murders continue, the priest and his new cohort have to not only figure out exactly who their new threat is, but try to stop them before they kill again. Secrets are revealed, the truth comes out and nobody is safe.  

What I liked:

--I really enjoyed the concept of the book. Throwing a priest with secrets of his own into the mix really drives home the irony of having the villains in this story be a group of beings who call themselves Angels. My absolute favorite thing about the book was the concept of the Angels themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed the sinister take on the angel concept and the exploration of  'divine punishment' as it related to the people they targeted.  

--I liked reading the progression of the plot from the various viewpoints that were presented. Usually, differing viewpoints throughout a story bug me a little bit as continuity ends up becoming a problem and I can't get behind any one character, but I didn't feel like that with this book. I believe that it was the way that it was written that allowed me to enjoy it as much as I did. Each viewpoint contributes a piece to the puzzle that is the plot, and just as a puzzle is put together one piece at a time, this story came together, piece by piece, by each character's experiences. It was kind of a "All Roads Lead To ___" sort of thing in terms of how it was written, and I enjoyed that a lot. 

--I loved that the priest had his own demons to work through, his own disillusionment and fear to contend with. Many times, religious figures in books are depicted as fearless due to belief and unable to be  because of their faith. Father Montgomery was neither fearless nor untouchable, hidden behind an invisible wall of ceaseless faith and confidence. He was just as afraid as his congregation, just as confused as they were despite his vocation, was even discouraged at the start of the book and I think those things (as well as his own secrets) helped flesh him out for me. 

--I enjoyed the writing style. Everything flowed together very well, 

--This is a smaller note, but I loved the names of the chapters. For me, they further drove home the religious paradox that the book presents. 

What I didn't like:

--I wish we'd had a little more backstory on some of the characters. Not a major complaint at all and not even vital to my enjoyment of the book, but some of the character histories would have been nice to read.

--At times, the changing viewpoints caused transitions to be a little choppy for me.

Overall:

Overall, this was a great read for me and I can't say I have too many major complaints. I loved that, rather than being about a specific character going through something, this was more about the feelings and thoughts surrounding an ordeal that affected many people. There was the added bonus of being able to see the story unfold through a number of those eyes, from each angle vital to the progression of the plot. It isn't a story with a lot of emotional character development; the focus here is the effect of the Angels, and the people they choose to exterminate. 

For someone who grew up in a religious household like myself, the obvious religious conflict was a real treat to explore. How does one reconcile the typical idea of an angel with these villainous beings? In a more secular view, how many people do we meet who claim to be someone good but do these awful things, supposedly for a reason that is good, but is really for their own selfish gain? I think it helped me to understand how the idea of divine retribution or punishment may look to those who have no religious alignment, something I'd never considered in quite that light before. Angels who consume the sins of mortals for sustenance is such an intriguing concept to me and this book explored that in a way that didn't make it sound campy; it came off as a supernatural apocalypse of sorts to me and I liked that a lot. 

If you don't often read supernatural horror and don't do gore very well, then No Rest for the Wicked is not for you. The content is quite graphic and there's more than a little of folks emptying the contents of their stomachs. lol I don't typically do gore because I'm not about that life (I've got a weak stomach LOL), but the scenes with it thankfully don't last too long. 

If you're into supernatural books with a religious base, something that sounds like a feasible fate if you're into religion and the concept of punishment from a higher power--or other sources--then check out No Rest for the Wicked. It has a few twists and turns that increase the impact of the climax, is brought to life through a writing style that is simple but flows well, and you won't want to put it down.

Where can you get a copy?

Amazon ($2.99) | 

Contact the author here!

Website | Facebook | Twitter

I hope you enjoyed this review; many thanks to Dane for allowing me to read and review his book. While we're on the subject of books, I haven't forgotten about the RRNT Reading Challenge; I already have my first few entries. Have you started your reading challenge for the year yet? Update me on your progress and I'll see you soon!

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Physicians' Formula Sexy Booster Cat Eye Liquid Eyeliner

Hi! A couple of months ago, I won a contest held by Physicians' Formula to win their new liquid eyeliner. To enter the contest, each participant was asked how they get a good cat eye every time, and the best 500 answers would receive the new liner. I don't enter contests unless there's a possibility to review something new (and I actually have the chance to win something, Lord knows I enter these often enough and never win a damn thing lol), so when my answer was one of those selected I wanted to follow through with my thoughts on the product. I've never tried a Physicians' Formula product before but I've heard good things about the company, so I was interested in trying out the liner. Honestly, I'm kind of split on how I feel about it. 

What is it? Physicians' Formula Sexy Booster Cat Eye Liquid Eyeliner

Price: $9.95

Where can it be found? PF Retail Outlets

How does it swatch?

I wanted to get a close-up of the wand, but I wasn't able to get a good shot without it looking blurry with zoom. The insert photo is how the liner swatches with both thick and thin lines. The thick line is much darker and intense, but it skips a bit as you finish the line. For thin lines, one swipe of the liner produces the line on the right. It's quite a bit lighter than the line on the left and not as intense either, so in order to avoid the liner building up like at the bottom of the left line, I'd have a steady hand and just build up the intensity of the liner. Let the liner dry first though, or you'll run into one of the cons I'm going to mention in a bit. 

Pros:

--Cute container

--Felt tip isn't flimsy

--Easy to remove

I love the detail that went into the look of this liner. The little heel charm dangling off of the front was really cute. A cute package will get me every time. lol

Even though I've been using liquid liner for years now, if I don't use a firmer applicator I'll have liner all over the damn place. This liner has a firm felt tip and hasn't begun to flake on me, which I appreciate. I've had that problem with a couple of felt tip liners; they start flaking and shedding after awhile, which drags liner everywhere. I'd recommend this style of applicator to beginners because the applicator isn't a brush, so it allows for more control over the lines you draw. The lines aren't terribly sharp once you start using the liner on a regular basis, but I'll speak more on that later.

Finally, the ease of removal is both a pro and a con, the latter of which I'll also get to in a moment. I like my liner to stay put all day without me needing to reapply it, but I don't like having to scrub the skin off my eye to remove it when I'm finished. I don't have to do that with this liner at all. I use a CAS (cheap as shit) eye makeup remover and it still doesn't require a lot of effort on my part to get it off so imagine how much easier it would be if you use a great makeup remover. 

Cons:

--Not very dark

--Skips when going back over a line

--Smudges easily

--Doesn't create sharp lines

As for things that I could certainly live without, this liner isn't very dark. It swatches dark enough but sets your expectations a little too high, as it often isn't that dark once you start lining your eye. This might just be a complexion thing though. I usually have to reinforce this liner with another one on top of it, which brings me to the second con.

When I draw my lines, if I go back over it too soon the tip usually skips through my line so I'll have to use another liner to fill it in. If I have to rely on another liner in order for the first one to look good, there really isn't much point in using the first liner, right?

Even though the liner is easy to remove, this isn't really what I want mid-day if I even attempt to scratch my eye. The slightest bit of poking or scratching starts smudging the liner, so I have to be extremely careful with my eyes should they itch. I have to poke at my eye with a Q-Tip and even then, the liner still comes off a little bit. I don't mind being careful with my liner, but good grief.

Finally, the other reason that I have to go back over this liner with another one is because this liner doesn't allow for very sharp, precise lines. No, the felt tip isn't flimsy and I appreciate that, but it also isn't very sharp. The lines I draw with this liner are usually wider and a bit less precise because of the tip. (There's no way I can clean up that sentence, I promise. LOL) I struggle enough with making my lines even and the tip of this liner doesn't make my life any easier.

Overall, I'm not crazy about this liner but I do like it and intend to finish what I have. I think this is a great choice for those who don't go overboard with their cat eyes (unlike yours truly here) and don't need a thick or very dark line. It's probably a bit darker on lighter skintones though, so the color might be a personal gripe. If you're a pro with liquid liners, you'll be fine here too. Is it worth $9.95? For me, no. I've heard tons of great things about Physicians' Formula and I'm still open to trying out other products, but this one was a bit underwhelming for me, especially for the retail price.

Have you tried this liquid liner before? If you have, what'd you think of it; were there any pros or cons that I left out? 

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February Favorites

Hi! I haven't done a Monthly Favorites post in quite some time; I think the last time I did one was back in November. Part of the reason is because in terms of my personal life/health, they've been on a decline so I wasn't making an effort to try out new things. The other part was because I've been focusing on the design elements for so long that the smaller stuff, like the Monthly Favorites, kinda slipped through the cracks. But I've finally got a few things to talk about so let's get started!

Carmex Strawberry Lip Balm, Maybelline Fit Me! Matte and Poreless Liquid Foundation

The end of winter usually has some kind of shit in store for me. Unfortunately, it's usually an infection of some kind, a cold or an allergy flare-up. When that happens, for some reason my lips either get a lot drier than they normally do during the winter, or I get a build-up of dead skin on them, which also dries them out. Regular Chapstick seems to sit on top of my lips rather than sinking in so I go for either Blistex or Carmex instead. It helps me year-round, but I use it the most during the colder months and it keeps my lips from looking like Tyrone's (shout out to all the Chappelle's Show fans LOL). While I was down with an infection last week, Carmex was the only thing on my face other than Vicks, ointment and vaseline. lol The strawberry flavor is aight, but I prefer the original. 

I'm going to talk more about the Fit Me! foundation in a review that should be up within the next couple of weeks so I won't go into too much detail here, but I've tried this a couple of times this week and I'm in love with it so far. I think it's replaced my longtime fave, the CoverGirl Clean Oil Control foundation. It's also replaced my CG Smoothers BB Cream because the formula is light enough for me to get away with using it for low-maintenance looks. It's been great on my skin so far and I'm looking forward to using it more often. 

No Rest for the Wicked by Dane Cobain

I was contacted by the author last month to read this book in exchange for a review, and I ended up loving the book. This is another book I'm going to go into more detail about in a separate review, but it was a great read. No Rest for the Wicked is Dane's debut novel, a supernatural thriller about a group of murderous supernatural beings, or Angels, exacting their form of revenge on numerous citizens of a small town. A disillusioned priest with some secrets of his own teams up with a young businessman to try and figure out what the Angels' end goal is. I really enjoyed this book, but you'll hear more about it in my full review. 

Snow Lotus Flower, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

Snow Lotus Flower is a K-drama that I found on Netflix earlier in the month, and I fell in love. Two people find themselves afflicted by strange dreams, but while the man's dream seems to focus on romance, the woman's is more of a nightmare, as it always begins with her dying to save the man she loved. These lovers from 1000 years ago are reunited in current times, with the present paralleling the past in helping them figure out who the other is, but they also have obstacles in their way in the form of old/new enemies and trying to change the unhappy fate of their past love. I love mystical shit like that, so I ate this series up. I believe the English name for the series is Lucid Dream. 

I've been watching MFMM for a couple of years now, and in a move that surprised me, my sister ended up obsessed with the series when she watched it with me earlier this month. She was hanging out in my room, which is random enough in itself, and I happened to be watching Poirot. She liked the whole murder-mystery concept but I know that Poirot isn't for everyone, so I put on MFMM because the format is a bit lighter and that was all she wrote. It was fun watching the series again through new eyes and already knowing which parts were going to piss off my sister or make her happy. We finally finished the third series last night, and it reminded me that we still don't know if there'll be a fourth one, so um....I'm still waiting on some confirmation for Series 4, Australia! 

Skyrim: Legendary Edition for PS3, Virtual Town for Android, Megapolis

I finally got that damn Legendary Edition as a late birthday gift this month, and it's the only game I've played since I got it. There's nothing notable about the game that I haven't already said, but it's been on my mind so much that I had to put it on the list this month. 

Virtual Town is a fairly new game from Last Day of Work, the folks behind the Virtual Families and Virtual Villagers games and it's probably the most developed and thorough game of the three. I'll be reviewing it next week sometime, but the gist is that you play mayor of an abandoned city and are tasked with the responsibility of bringing the town back to its former glory. It takes up a good amount of time to maintain and kills my phone battery in the process, but it's been a lot of fun to play so far.  

Snapchat

Nope, I'm still not actually posting anything to Snapchat. But I still like lurking other people's snaps. I already use Twitter for TNTs on Thursday so I usually don't bother with it otherwise, and getting on Instagram reminds me of both how infrequently I use it and how much I always end up missing while I'm gone. I don't think my life will ever be interesting enough nor will I ever have enough readers to warrant needing Snapchat as a blogger, but there's no saying I can't lurk on those who do. LOL

Pinterest, Black Past

I've been looking for some things for March's theme for the month, so I've been on Pinterest quite a bit over the past couple of weeks. There was absolutely no surprise involved when I discovered that it is still the place where to-do lists and blog schedules go to die. Several to-do lists have already fallen at Pinterest's feet, and I've been delaying the rest of my research that requires me to use the site because I know it'll happen again.  

Over on ATV, I hosted a Black History Month Spotlight and for many of the subjects I chose for the daily Spotlights, I found the information I needed from a site called Black Past. It's an excellent resource if you're looking to find out about Black achievements, notable figures in Black history, or comprehensive timelines of notable events. It was an invaluable reference point for me this past month, so I had to include it here. 

Spring cleaning, candles, soaps and body butters

Because the theme on both of my blogs this month is spring cleaning, I've had to immerse myself in everything spring related in order to find the material I needed for my posts. Here, it'll be a mix of DIY projects, tips and tricks, so I was looking for material that I could use to build a good post. Over on ATV, I'm focusing on old school spring cleaning tips, tricks and hacks, which left me with the challenge of finding some that have held up over time.

A friend of mine talked to me recently about trying to start a side hustle of making our own natural candles, soaps, lotions and perfumes. I've been dabbling in making my own candles for a couple of years now, but I've been curious about how to make the others so I've been researching the different base recipes for each of them.  

Children's medicine, Black History Month, puzzles, breakfast recipes, coffee drinks, DIY cleaners, apartments

Per usual for this time of year, I recently went down with a respiratory infection/chest cold that turned into a sinus infection within days, and children's medicine saved my life. lol Adult medicines both wreck havoc on my guts and are too strong for me (but I can down prescription and OTC ibuprofen without blinking, wtf?), so I have to take children's medicine when I catch anything. I now have an entire shelf in my bathroom cabinet dedicated to various children's medicines. But it helped me get better a lot sooner than I would have had I not taken anything, so I'll deal with the mocking. 

Black History Month isn't something that I usually go out of my way to celebrate quite like I did this year, but I just finished a month-long promotion on ATV to celebrate a few unsung heroes of Black History. It was one of the most educating experiences I've had in some time and I'm thinking about making it an annual addition to my blog's lineup. 

Both my sister and my uncle got me jigsaw puzzles for my birthday last month, and they've sent me on a bit of a spree since then. Many people, myself included at one time, find jigsaw puzzles to be frustrating wastes of time, but as I've gotten older I discovered that I actually quite enjoy them. They're challenging but a lot of fun for me to do and much like coloring, I find them to be relaxing rather than frustrating. I can't wait until I'm all caught up with everything else to get started on the increasing stack of puzzles waiting for me. 

Breakfast is both my favorite meal of the day and the subject of a business idea I'd like to pitch in the upcoming future, so this month has been about buckling down and getting some of the details hammered out. It's never not fun to look for breakfast recipes, but looking at recipes for purposes other than shoving the end result down my gullet is satisfying for another reason entirely. The same goes for coffee drinks; I've been teaching myself about the coffee world for about 10 years now and I still haven't learned all there is to know yet. This goes hand in hand with the breakfast recipes and I'm trying to research everything I need to know so I can develop the items I want. 

I'm going to be doing a post this weekend as the entry to a Spring Cleaning series that I started, and the first one focuses on various DIY cleaners and whether or not they work. I don't mind cleaners with chemicals in them, but I also enjoy the ability to make a cleaner with absolutely no chemicals that does the same job. Affordability isn't really a factor; I just wanted to see which of the recipes I could honestly recommend for those who'd like to try their hand at chemical-free cleaners. 

I'm still on the quest to move out and get my own place, but it's hard doing that on a fixed disability income and having a family to take care of at the same time. I promised myself at 20 and every year after that that I'd be in my own place by 30. In less than a year, that deadline will be on me and of all the promises I've ever made to myself, it's of the utmost importance to me that I keep this one. 

What documentaries did I watch this month? Spanish Lake

This documentary premiered on Netflix recently, and I'd been actively avoiding it until last weekend. Small confession: I haven't actually finished watching Spanish Lake. I have a really hard time with racially charged documentaries, mainly because the subject itself isn't an issue I need to be educated on. It hits a little too close to home for me, literally and figuratively. I've dealt with racism, both subtle and overt, for just about my entire life, and it's never too far from my mind. Watching a documentary about a bunch of ignorant people doesn't rank too high on the list of things I find entertaining, but I thought it'd be something that I could challenge myself to finish. Despite my own struggles with finishing it, however, I do still recommend the documentary because it does raise some intriguing lines of inquiry that you could discuss with others. Films like Spanish Lake both provide insight to those who would still like to insist that racism isn't a thing, and it gives a painful, uncomfortable glimpse into the opinions of those who'd really rather not have us around. 

I'm working on trying new things for March. I say this often, but I mean it this month. I always mean it, I just don't get to follow through very often. This time I'm going to try to make sure that I do. I hope you enjoyed this post and I'll see you soon!

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