Hoarding Confessions: Fabric

Okay, not so much as HOARDING since I don't have a whole ton of fabric but... I bought out of compulsion and my inner hoarding traits.

Well, before I babble on, have you ever heard of Pick Your Plum? Essentially, it's a daily deal site similar to HauteLook, Zulilly, Rue La La, etc. except different.  There are usually 2-3 items and they're very different kinds of items.  Might be cute jean jackets, cute leggings, maxi skirts, maxi dresses, fabric, crafting supplies, etc. and all at really, really good prices.  I have ordered from them a couple of times- I ordered some Washi Tape, elasticy fabricy things (to make those hair ties, see? no idea how to describe them haha), and fabric.  If you order early, you'll get your order quick but there is a cut off time and after that, it will take 3-4 weeks.  Overall, my experience has been really, really good.  Note, this is NOT a sponsored post.  Just wanted to share a smoking deal site and to contribute to others' bad spending habits.

So, to the reason for my post.  I was on Pinterest and saw some how "easy" (yep, rolling my eyes at myself) it would be to sew pillow cases and said to myself "You can make them, too!".  Lo and behold, my Pick Your Plum email came and lovely chevron fabric called out to me.  Can't remember how much they were but I ordered all the colors and a few extras of the teal, gray and yellow.  All with dreams of sewing pillow cases to update my interior decor.  Well.  I did not take into account that 1. I don't own a sewing machine and 2.  I pretty much suck at crafting and really, I am a wannabe.  I really WANT to make the pillow cases and I really WANT to sew but crap, I need the space, the time and the energy. Oh yeah.  I also need a sewing machine.

Alas, I have lovely fabric and I stare at it and it stares at me.  Aren't they lovely?  Now... to get a sewing machine.  Can you throw a girl a bone and tell me what you would do with all this gorgeous fabric? HELP!!!!

Review: Something From The Nightside by Simon R. Green

Synopsis via Goodreads:

John Taylor is not a private detective per se, but he has a knack for finding lost things. That's why he's been hired to descend into the Nightside, an otherworldly realm in the center of London where fantasy and reality share renting space and the sun never shines

Mix a Humphrey Bogart (a la Maltese Falcon) style private investigator, the underground from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, a bit of Harry Dresden and every single odd ball and scary preternatural, supernatural and science fiction and you will have the world that is the Nightside.  It's wild.  You have NO idea what will happen next.  You must expect nothing and expect everything in the Nightside.  Don't hail a cab because you have no clue if it will eat you, if it's legit or who it works for.

I like the brain popcorn.  This a bit detective/PI noir, urban fantasy and science fiction.  All in one.  I never felt connected to the main protagonist, John Taylor, but I feel I will.  He goes on a bit about an oddity in the Nightside (almost too long).  I want more Suzy Shooter aka Oh God, it's her, run!

Frankly, I liked it.  It's a you-never-know-what-is-next kinda book and I love it! Bring me more!

I say read it.  You might enjoy it!



disclaimer: I purchased this book out of my own pocket but there is an affiliate link within this post.

Six Feet Under DVD on Sale!

This is a GREAT deal!  I love watching Amazon's Daily Deals and seeing what I can score for a great price.  This is how I get most of my TV shows on DVD and Blu-Ray.  I am constantly watching Amazon's prices for a great price drop.

If you are a Six Feet Under fan, grab it!






Disclaimer: affiliate link

Monday Music: Halloween Edition

"Kürbis Fratze" by 3268zauber - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Obviously Halloween is in the air and we are all sharing our favorite Halloween movies, books, costumes, treats and scares.  I am LOVING all the blog posts! Seriously!  I love this time of year!

I decided to hit this week's Monday Music post with some Halloween-ish themes.

I can't believe I didn't list Teen Witch on my list of favorite Halloween Movies (Ok, I have only listed part I so... maybe. )



Sing along.  I won't judge.  Girl Scout's promise!



I ain't afraid of no ghost!



Dance.  Go ahead.



Day Oh! Dayyyyyy oh!



Oh yeah.  You know it's on now.



I hate that feeling.  Creeper's always watching me.



Goosebumps? I think so.



Werewolves are essential.



Yep.  On that highway.



Real bad things with you.  REAL bad.  BAAAAD.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Sheila from Book Journey is the brains behind the "It's Monday, What Are You Reading?" linkup. 

 

 Last night, I finally finished A Storm of Swords and yep, in true GRRM style- we have death.  One thing I love about this series is that even though you KNOW (i.e, have read the spoilers) what will happen, it still takes you by surprise.  This installment? Two thumbs up.  I am not sure when I will read A Feast for Crows.  I tend to space out books in a series.  Well, I do when the book is extremely intense and the first three in this series are very, very intense and I needed recuperation time.  No lies! 

As for this week, I will continue with Simon R. Green's "Something From the Nightside"

Now, I haven't accepted any ARCs in awhile just because I don't want to commit to anything but I did accept three from Sourcebooks.  The one I will start working on this week is from James Whitfield Thomson called "Lies You Wanted to Hear".  It will be released next month and I am pretty excited. 

 Here's the synopsis from Sourcebooks:

Alone in an empty house, Lucy tries to imagine the lives of her two young children. They have been gone for seven years, and she is tormented by the role she played in that heartbreaking loss. You can hardly see a glimpse of the sexy, edgy woman she used to be. Back then, she was a magnet for men like Matt, who loved her beyond reason, and Griffin, who wouldn't let go but always left her wanting more. With shattering, unthinkable turns that will wrench every mother’s heart, this suspenseful story probes the issue of how well you know the person you married. How much can you trust them with your heart— and with your future? - 

Favorite Halloween Movies: Jaime's Edition Part 1

Yesterday, I posted Emma's favorite Halloween movies (read here.).  Today, it's my turn.

I will admit that I am a bit old school when it comes to my "scary" movies.  I like more of the older movies versus the more modern ones.  I am a bit more nostalgic, I guess you could say.  Without further ado, here are some of my favorite Halloween movies (notice, I only say SOME because honestly, my list would be endless, lol).

Let's start it off with.... HALLOWEEN! How can you NOT have a Halloween movie list without HALLOWEEN?  Yes, I like it in all caps.  Of course, I am referring to John Carpenter's Halloween not Rob Zombie's.  Michael Myers, you still give me heebie jeebies.

Good ol' Freddy Krueger gave me some great thrills growing up.  I don't care how cheesy they are now, Freddy still makes me jump! 

Poltergeist.  Enough said.

This movie has low ratings but I don't care, I still love it! Tawny Kitaen! 

The ugliest, creepiest doll.  Ever.  

Linda Blair.  Exorcist.  Scary, scary stuff!

REDRUM! REDRUM! REDRUM!!!  Oh my goodness, when I was pregnant with Emma (I was probably 7 months along), I got the great idea to watch The Shining.  I was in bed. Alone.  I fell asleep and I woke up to REDRUM! REDRUM! REDRUM! Almost gave me a heart attack! 

I think I will wrap up part one right here.  Part two will post tomorrow.   

Now, your turn! What are YOUR favorite SCARY movies?

disclaimer: affiliate link

 

Favorite Family Friendly Halloween Movies: Emma Edition

As a movie nut, I love certain times of the year for certain movies. Fall is the best time to start plowing through Halloween movies.

This list is brought to you by my daughter.  She is also a huge movie nut and she wanted to share some of her favorites.  Tomorrow will be mine. *cue evil laughter* I love gore!

Traumatic Brain Injury: Consistently Inconsistent.

Consistently inconsistent.  Such an oxymoron but the complexity of a traumatic brain injury can be quite the oxymoron itself.

My daughter and I live with her traumatic brain injury and its inconsistencies and unpredictable behavior every single day.   Some mornings I have been woken up with a pleasant ray of sunshine.  For example, she stood in my doorway and asked "Did somebody order some loves and hugs?" and when I said "Yes, I did!" she comes running in and gives me a huge hug and a big kiss that are both so full of love and her innocence.

Then, there are the "other" days.  One day, I was in the kitchen doing dishes and I hear her muttering something and I asked "What?" (thinking she was talking to me) and she ignored me.   So I walked into the living room and asked her what she said.  She looked up at me with the meanest stink-eye ever and said "I hate your ugly face.  I want you out of my house."  I try to keep a straight face because I know she doesn't mean it, there was some odd little trigger and she will snap out of it.  I tell her "Well, that's okay because I love you and want you to stay in MY house forever."  Then about 10 minutes later, she's hugging my waist crying her heart out saying how sorry she is, she loves me and wants to stay with me forever.

Angry outburst plus an added fist shaking.  At her birthday party. Haha. 

There are some days, her anxiety levels are high.  There are some days, her silly happiness is bubbling over.

She was diagnosed with "moderate intellectual disability" and I warn people, don't look at the diagnosis because she is very intelligent.  She's acutely aware of others' emotions, nuances and very, very intuitive.  She's easily frustrated and easily redirected.  I fear for her future because the world is cruel.  If she is by herself walking and falls on the sidewalk and there's nothing there to pull herself up with, she can't yet get up off the ground.  She's not afraid to ask for help.  She's not afraid to tell somebody that something makes her uncomfortable and that they are in her bubble.  She thrives on praise.  She's very strong headed, loving and has the best personality in a child but...

She's perfectly imperfect and consistently inconsistent.  I like her.  A lot.  Each day is a surprise in the world of Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Excited for Fifth Grade and Super happy

Raising Special Kids | Jaime and Emma

Don't forget to read our interview!

Raising Special Kids | Jaime and Emma

Thor The Dark World: New Clips Available

     Whooo hooo!! Thor returns on November 8.  I am sooo excited.  I love comic books coming to life.  I love the entire Marvel lineup.  I loved the first Thor movie.  I can't contain my excitement.  Who else is with me?

Courtesy of Marvel Studios:

Marvel’s "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself.  In the aftermath of Marvel’s "Thor" and "Marvel’s The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. To defeat an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor sets upon his most dangerous and personal journey yet, forced into an alliance with the treacherous Loki to save not only his people and those he loves…but our universe itself.

 Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, p.g.a., from a story by Don Payne and Robert Rodat and screenplay by Christopher L. Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery “ #83 in August, 1962. Marvel’s "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself.

     Check out these new clips!





How excited are you? I totally lust after Idris Elbar and I am a huge fan of Natalie Portman's and of course, Chris Hemsworth is a great Thor.  This is a lineup destined to make a great movie!

disclaimer: images, videos, and material courtesy of Disney/Marvel Studios

Monday Music: Supernatural Edition

This past week or three *whistles innocently*, I've been on a Supernatural bender.  I am caught up through season 8 and now I am going to wait and obsess over another series until season 9 is added to Netflix.  Oh, I know... it's time to catch up on Mad Men and then Downton Abbey.  I have all of these on DVD.  I watch Amazon for their major deals on the television series.  I have never paid more than $9.99 for any of these. Now BBC shows, that's a different story. I wait for used copies but I end up waiting a long time to get them at a price I am willing to pay.  I am a junkie!

So, back to my Supernatural bingefest.

I adore this show.  Frankly, Bobby Singer is my favorite.  I love his trucker look.  Reminds me of back home.  I also love junking, too :).  Oh and the boys are from Lawrence, Kansas and being a Kansas girl and all, I love seeing my home state in a good show.  Jericho was also set in Kansas but that's for another day.  The show has really grown and adapted over the last 8 seasons and I can not wait to see what is in store for the Winchester boys in season 9.  Ssshhhh.  Don't spill any secrets!

I love the comedy in the show, the brothers' relationship with each other, their relationship with Bobby and other Hunters.  I love, love, love the Impala.  I love Dean (Jensen) and his phenomenal booty and love of cheeseburgers.  Sam's hair needs to figure itself out.  However... *drum roll* the music.  The music just rules.

Some of my favorite music from throughout the show.  Enjoy!  These are mostly clips but... they work so perfectly with the show.





Swayze ALWAYS gets a pass.  Always. (I agree.)








 I love this compilation.  So many goosebumps to be had.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

I haven't joined a book meme in forever!!!

Sheila from Book Journey is the brains behind this meme.  I met her many years ago when I was dedicated to books.  As I have been trying to make my blog have a bit more variety, I put my book blogging to the way side.  Not that I stopped reading, (Oh no! Never!)  I just stopped writing about them.  I still get a good book hangover.  I still get crazy over my book boyfriends.  I still have obsessions over my stories.  I love having a vibrant, borderlining on insanity, conversation with my friends over a good book or a series! With that being said, let's talk about...

It is Monday! What are YOU reading? I hope something good.

Add caption

Oh yes.  I am reading book number three in the acclaimed A Song of Fire and Ice series.  Holy crap. Murder and mayhem galore.  I love it.  I have been so enthralled.  I wasn't sure how much more could happen but I should NEVER underestimate GRRM.  Word to the wise, seriously, don't underestimate him.  I thought Shonda Rhimes (the brains behind Grey's Anatomy) was a masochist, uh uh- GRRM is the KING of masochism and I like it... a lot! Ha.  A LOT.  I must be a sadomasochist, too.  Heh.  If you can handle it- do it! I have no words.  I don't.  I wanted to quit my job because my breaks weren't long enough and I have a book to read, damnit!

I just started this gem.  Yes, I read more than one at once.  This is like a cross between the Dresden series and Neverwhere.  I'm not too far in it but I will be deep in this series once I finish Sword.  

How about you? Read any good books lately?

If you are interested in any of these books, don't hesitate to click on the following affiliate links!

The Fifth Estate Is In Theatres

     Ok. Fifth Estate has hit the theaters.  Have you seen it yet? I was offered a chance to go to the pre-screening but alas, the night wouldn't have worked for me to go BUT I do plan to see it! I am so stoked.  I am a huge fan of Benedict Cumberbatch and the story behind WikiLeaks is fascinating.  If you have seen it, definitely tell me what you liked, didn't like, etc! I think the title is absolutely brilliant- many people don't know what Fifth Estate means.  

Courtesy of Disney/Dream Works:

Triggering our age of high-stakes secrecy, explosive news leaks and the trafficking of classified information, WikiLeaks forever changed the game. Now, in a dramatic thriller based on real events, “The Fifth Estate” reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century’s most fiercely debated organization. The story begins as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Daniel Brühl) team up to become underground watchdogs of the privileged and powerful. On a shoestring, they create a platform that allows whistleblowers to anonymously leak covert data, shining a light on the dark recesses of government secrets and corporate crimes. Soon, they are breaking more hard news than the world’s most legendary media organizations combined. But when Assange and Berg gain access to the biggest trove of confidential intelligence documents in U.S. history, they battle each other and a defining question of our time: what are the costs of keeping secrets in a free society—and what are the costs of exposing them?"  A dramatic thriller based on real events, “The Fifth Estate” reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century’s most fiercely debated organization.    NOTES:  The Fifth Estate refers to citizen journalism. “Fifth Estate” is used to describe media outlets (including the blogosphere) that see themselves in opposition to mainstream media (the official press) any class or group in society other than the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), the commoners (Third Estate) and the press (Fourth Estate). It has been used to describe civil society, the poor or the proletariat. 

disclaimer:  Not a sponsored post but the material and images are courtesy of Disney/DreamWorks. 

Review: Card.com

Mmmmm bacon

     I have posted previously that I have been in a bit of a financial bind. I'm seeing a relief soon (not a huge relief, but maybe one more knot will exit my shoulder) but some things have happened and I have put myself in a bit of predicament a time or two. It's two days before payday, I have a nearly empty tank of a gas and a seriously empty bank account. I gamble by going to the gas station and crossing my fingers that the charge won't post for two days. Some times, I am golden and other times- BAM! Overdraft charges.

     One of the nice things is you can avert a bank with overdraft charges by using an option like Card.com.  The card is a debit card, just like the one I get with my checking account.  You use it everywhere Visa is accepted!  You can only use what is in your account, no courtesy overdraft! No need to opt-in or opt-out!  Yes, we all know to be careful but there are just some times... well, desperate times call for desperate measures.  

     The card is free for the first 30 days and then there is a $5.95 monthly fee UNLESS you have $800 direct deposited.  Same cost as the Walmart card and less than many other alternate debit card options.  And as I stated above, no overdraft charges!  I have only had it happen a few times but when it happens, it hurts! So... here are some awesome perks of Card.com:

• Free to order, activate and load
• Free app and check deposits from your smartphone
• Free direct deposit
• Free card-to-card transfers, any time, anywhere, in seconds
• No overdraft fees -- never goes negative!
• Safer than cash - 24/7 support, Visa fraud protection and 100% FDIC insurance on funds
• No debt, financially responsible, no interest/credit/APRs
• No credit check and approval in seconds
• 22,000 in-network ATMs
• Thousands of cool, unique card designs to choose from, including brands like: Garfield, Popeye, Betty Paige, James Dean, Care Bears, Walking Dead, Star Trek, Autism Awareness, Breast Cancer Research, Shark Week, Where's Waldo, Doodle Jump, THree Stooges, Nancy Drew, etc.

I opted for my fab nerd status card: Star Trek Deep Space Nine and I picked the one of the space station. What can I say? I loooove Star Trek! I used my card at my local Half Priced book stores and bought some food for my brain and the girl ringing me up was super geeked out over my card. I was seriously waving it around. Haha. What? I am not lying. I plan to use this card to connect with my PayPal account, especially when I start building up my Etsy shop and adding more products. I need to keep the money separate and this is perfect.

So, go check them out at card.com and fall in love with the designs. Oh and keep in mind, this is NOT a gift card but a true-blue debit card!

disclaimer: I was provided with a product to review. The views/opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Bloggy Moms October Blog Hop

Are you a member of Bloggy Moms? Have you joined in October's Blog Hop? You need to!!!
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Oh and don't be scared to help pimp me out, too! Just kidding.  Maybe not....

Musical Obsession: Noise Trade & FREE Brett Dennen Music!

Have you heard of Noise Trade?  I am so obsessed.  As you all know, I am a huge music fan and I am always on the hunt for new and old music.  I am nostalgic, I am trendy, I am hip, I am indie, I am metal, I am country, I am all the above.

Noise Trade offers FREE music.  Find new artists who are looking for fans.  Some artists are already popular (i.e., Brett Dennen).  You can leave a tip but you don't have to.  You can share the music and help spread the world.  Tis beautiful.



Oh and I have no affiliation, sponsorship or partnership with Noise Trader.  :)

Captcha is the Devil!

Seriously.  It is.

It really pisses me off and honestly, if I go to a blog/website/whatever and it has a Captcha requirement and it takes me more than one time to get it, I move on.  I don't find the effort worth it.  They say that Captcha helps decrease spam.  I disagree.  I find comment moderation much better.  I like it anyways so I can keep up with blog comments.

Do you agree? Disagree? Don't give a crap either ways?

All I know is...

Captcha is the devil.

Or debbbilllllllllllll.  Foosball's da debbil.  Ooooohhhh... I am going to watch Water Boy now...

this shit is for the birds... Peace Out.

Blogger Identity + Music Monday: 70s Edition

When I started blogging several years ago, I knew what I wanted my blog to do.  I wanted to blog about shaken baby syndrome and what it was like to raise a child who survived shaken baby syndrome.  I let that blog go to the wayside when I started blogging about books.  Then, I said Hey! I'm gonna combine the two.  Well... then I revamped with this new blog.  I don't like be constrained to one topic.  I felt myself being burned out previously.  Reading books became a job.  Shaken baby syndrome became extra draining.  Now, when I reinvented (well, that's the best word I could come up with for this blog)- I feel a bit... all over the place.  I am not sure WHAT my blogger identity is.  I don't feel like a mom blogger, I don't feel like a book blogger, I am not a lifestyle blogger... maybe I'm a whatever-I-feel-like- gosh (sorry, shameless Napoleon Dynamite plug) blogger.  I really don't like to be categorized.  I have always been a bit indecisive and all over the place.  Maybe, I should separate blogs? One book.  One SBS.  One Parenting. One Reviews.  Bah.  I don't know! Or... leave it as is.  Chatting about whatever I feel like, GOSH!  I like to write about random topics.  I love reading all of your amazing and well focused blogs! I follow so many amazing blogs and that is NOT a lie.  I am finnicky about the blogs I choose to follow and I am so lucky that I read some amazing ones and that I have virtually "met" you.  Blog friends are real friends!  I know I don't care about internet fame.  I know I don't care if I make any money (don't get me wrong... I'd be geeked to the max if I made money from this).  I DO know, I want to share my obsessions, joys, heartaches and amazing finds with those who read my little space on the interwebz :)

I know most of you have your identity down pat, but... how do you define your blog?



Oh and here ya go...




September 20 was the 40 year (Omg! FORTY) anniversary of the death of the great Jim Croce.  His life ended at 30 years of age and just at the prime of his career in a plane accident.  What could have been, we will never know but what we do know, he was a great artist and had we been allowed, he would have been making many more amazing albums.

Here are two of my favorites:




Of the 70s music scene isn't complete without John Lennon's iconic Imagine:


Let's be honest, Player's Baby Come Back is one sexy song.  I looooove smooth/soft rock.  I can just imagine cruising along in the cool evening with this song playing.  Hot.


And let's end this with the lovely, Bread and "Everything I own"

Sponsored Post: Campus Book Rentals + Operation Smile

Raise your hand if you went to college (community, junior, university, etc.).  *raises hand*

Raise your hand if the cost of textbooks still gives you anxiety.  *raises hand*

I have been back and forth with trying to finish college over the last... well, a long time.  Life.  Becoming a parent. Returning to work full time. You name it- it's caused major hiccups with finishing my goals.  Oh yes, let's not forget it's EXPENSIVE (unless you go to an inexpensive local community college- then it's reasonable for tuition).  Textbooks? Insanely priced.  Selling them back? Ugh.  Embarrassing that I paid $270 for a textbook and get $30 back when you sell it back.  

I think it's awesome that there are now options to RENT textbooks.  I think that's smart.  I still have textbooks because they were now outdated and no bookstore would buy them back.  I know you can buy used but you can still get stuck with a book! Yuck!

Campus Book Rentals has many perks available for all of you college students or parents of college students!  You can actually save 40-90% off of bookstore prices.  Shipping is free BOTH ways!  Highlighting in the books is allowed.  They do also offer flexible renting periods. Campus Book Rentals ALSO donates to Operation Smile with EACH textbook rental.  Here is some more information about Operation Smile.  I love when a company gives back to those who are in need of help.  Operation Smile is a GREAT organization helping improve and save lives.  I highly recommend reading the Operation Smile Blog. It makes sense about the good they do.  Just go.  I promise you won't regret it.  Your mascara will be smeared though.  

Also, speaking of low buy backs, Campus Book Rentals also has a new program called RentBack.  Rentback is a new intitiave that allows students to rent the textbooks they own to other students.  The student can make 2-4x more money compared to what is offered from buyback options.  Pretty sweet, huh?  I did check it out with some of my old textbooks (well, they're NOT old, they're from the spring semester) and the option to Rentback will definitely net me more money than traditional buyback or even selling on Amazon.com.  Oh and I won't be paying for shipping.  I'm good with that!  I did find their website to be VERY user friendly. 

Watch this video to see how it works:

disclaimer: this is a sponsored post.  I may have been compensated with a product or financial compensation.

Viva Labs Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Review

Coconut Oil has been a part of the "it's-good-for-you-no-it's-bad-for-you" tug of war.  Well, coconut oil isn't the only product that has gone back and forth over the healthfulness of the product over the last few years.  It also makes sense why we are so confused and our diets tend to be a bit bipolar at times and extreme.  I also tend to ignore most of the diets.  I like to eat.  I eat in moderation.  I *attempt* (attempt being the operative word here) to eat as clean and as healthy as possible.  I also can't stand those who get on the dietary soap boxes- don't eat carbs! Ermagherd! They're EEEEVIL!!! or whatever the latest evil product is.  I am not judging those who do the diets- you know your body.  Your body will communicate with you if it hates an item you like or not.  You will feel like crap, your stomachs upset (*evil eyes at milk* thankfully, I loooove Almond Milk), etc.  Gluten might cause major fatigue, joint pain, etc. Lactose may create a farting machine.  You have to do what is best for you and your body.  Of course, Monstanto- you are pure evil.   Ok... Talking about soap boxes, lemme step down. Ha.  *disclaimer- trying to not be a hypocrite)

So.. I received a container of Viva Labs' Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil to review.  I love, love, love anything tropical and coconutty so Coconut Oil is always on my must have list.  It is such a well rounded product.  You can use coconut oil for beauty, cooking, and healing.  I am in Phoenix, so right now- my coconut oil is NOT in solid form.  Come winter, it will be but for now it's in a liquid form.  The product is FINE if it liquifies, solidifies, and liquifies again.  So, if yours does that- do not fret.  It's fine.  

Viva Labs' Coconut Oil is NON GMO (Yay!), Organic, and from the container:

• free of pesticides, bleach, hexane and trans fat.
• USDA certified organic and non-GMO
• Unrefined, extra- virgin, cold pressed
• MCTs for energy and weight management
• Suitable for Vegans
• Delicious Tropical Aroma and Taste. 

Delicous aroma and taste? Absofreakinglutely.  I wanted to go to the tropics after one whiff. Also, the container is BPA free.  The rest of the points? Perfection.  Well, I had NO idea what MCTs were so I went to the handy-dandy Google and searched.  

Per Ward Dean, MD on Nutrition Review, MCTs are "Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are a unique form of dietary fat that impart a wide range of positive health benefits. Nevertheless, the potential anti-aging properties of MCTs have been largely unrecognized by many life extension enthusiasts. Dietary fats are molecules composed of individual carbon atoms linked into chains ranging from 2 to 22 carbon atoms in length. Long Chain Fatty acids (LCTs) ranging from 12 to 18 carbons long are the predominant form of fat in the American diet. MCTs, by contrast, are composed of only 6 to 10 carbon links. Because of their shorter chain length, MCTs have a number of unique properties which give them advantages over the more common LCTs"

A lot of information there but essentially, MCTs are awesome and have many health advantages.  I suggest reading the article linked above.  I learned something new! Always a win!

I like to use Coconut Oil for oil pulling.  Oil pulling is an ancient ayurvedic treatment in which you use a virgin oil (sesame, olive or coconut) to essentially pull bacteria out of your system via swishing (not vigorgously) the oil in your mouth for 15-20 minutes.  You spit it out (full of toxins!) and rinse with clear water for a few minutes.  I swear by it! I have a problem with my gums and tend to get infections easily and find that with oil pulling- I can pull these toxins out and I feel better overall.  I am just starting this process (only a few weeks) but I feel a difference.  Check out these articles:
Oil Pulling Hype?
MindBodyGreen.com
Authoritynutrition.com

You can make toothpaste, add it to your lotion, or even put the oil directly on your skin for super moisturizing.  Want shiny hair? You can put coconut oil in it! 

Of course, coconut oil makes the BEST oil to stir fry in.  

All in all, this is a GREAT coconut oil and for a GREAT price on Amazon.com!  I found that Viva Labs' Coconut Oil is a high quality coconut oil.  

If you'd like to purchase, please feel free to click through my affiliate link (I do get a small commission for any purchases through my link! I thank you if you do!)


disclaimer: I did receive the product for free to review but this did not affect my ability to voice my opinion of the product. 

The North and The South... Korea

I have a strange obsession with the Koreas.  Something about Koreans, the Korean culture, food, music, etc. draws me in.  Heck, my ex is half Korean.  If that tells ya anything...  Lemme back step a bit and say,  I have a love of all things Asian period.

I had a pen pal from South Korea when I was in junior high and was really sad when she had to stop writing.  She used to send me cassettes of her favorite Korean music and I would send her mine.  She was teaching me words written in Korean.  It was very cool! I fell in love with all things Korean.  I adore Korean food.  I really, really, really am a bit obsessed with K-Dramas (Korean Dramas).  Let's face it, they are pretty.  Very pretty to look at.  The drama...oooohhhh, the drama is so deep.  Ha.  I totally have a Pinterest board dedicated to K-Dramas (Click on the link... I dare ya).  I was indoctrinated when a random person via Send Something sent me a DVD of Princess Hours and I was done.  I get on serious obsessive kicks and will be watching for DAYS on end my "stories".  I had to dig to find my stories! It was so difficult to find them.  Now, they have such a wide audience and you can watch them on Hulu, Netflix, Viki, Drama Fever, etc.   It's crazy! They have taken the world by storm! No lie!  Besides, I think Asian guys are seriously hot.

*cough* Sure I will *cough*

My first:

Of course.  The plot.  Always the plot.

Check out what Hulu has:
Korean Dramas



Now, my friends that would be SOUTH Korea.

Perfect choreography.  Via: Unknown.  Please let me know if this is yours and I will cite the proper source!

Sadly, North Korea has been so cut off from the world since the Kim Dynasty has taken over all north of the DMZ.  A North Korean can be put in the gulag or even executed for being in possession of South Korean shows, music, etc.  The country is starving, they have been brain washed and are so controlled... it's sad.  Some have been lucky enough to escape.  I have spent two nights of my depression watching a few documentaries about North Korea.  One is called Kimjongilia (believe it or not, there's a flower called that named after Kim Jong-Il) and it's heart breaking.  The interpretive dancers are a bit distracting but it's about the people and their fight to survive.  Another one is called Seoul Train about the underground railroad helping get defectors to safe ground.  Jaw. Dropping.  And last, Lisa Ling went in as North Korea but posed as a Medical Coordinator- she gave us a rare glimpse of what it is like VISITING North Korea.  It's mind boggling.  North Korea is starting to allow visitors in.  You can't go in without a "guide" *cough* handler *cough* but.... this has me thinking.

I want to visit Korea some day. North and South.
I want to volunteer with Helping Hands Korea.
While I am at it, I want to help out the Cambodian Children's Fund
I know most of this will have to wait until my daughter is much older but... it's a goal.  It's in writing! I can't back down! Right?

Where would you like to go? What is a goal you have?

Affiliate Link if interested in buying/renting the above mentioned documentaries:

Boring + PM Dawn

I posted previously that I have been in a bit of a funk.  I don't want to divulge too much of my personal issues but it all boils down to finances.  I am in a dangerous area financially and I am very scared.  We all go through feast and famine modes and right now, it's famine.  These are all my own doing and I will get myself out of the mess but it sucks.  It pulls my spirit down and am having a hard time trying to motivate myself to blog and my mind is a bit blank which makes it difficult to come up with a topic.   I feel like I am such a boring blogger these days.  I need to get my juice flowing.

To make matters worse- my TV stopped working.  We don't have cable and just watch via Netflix and Amazon Prime (and hulu on the computer).  Netflix is a reward I use with my daughter for when she has a good choice day.  She likes choosing her shows to watch and enjoys the 30 minutes to 1 hour she earns.  i feel this is fair.  So when it went out last night, I cried.  I can't replace it.  It sucks.  My sister is giving me one from her house but who knows when it can get taken off her wall.  It's not even about the TV right now.  It's about everything being too close to the edge.  It SUCKS.  It affects my daughter. Enough about personal issues.  That's enough.  Ha.


On the positive side, I listed two items in my Etsy shop.  Only two items but TWO are listed! Whoo hoo.  I hope to get photos taken this weekend and get items listed! Yay!  I do have a ton of product reviews to write.  Sigh... get motivated grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrlllllllllllllllllllllllllll ha.

So... I am on a huge PM Dawn kick.  Prince Be the Nocturnal has an amazing voice.  Their music has always resonated with me and it's a shame that the band's career has kind of stalled.  Unfortunately, Prince Be did have a stroke which caused a left sided hemiparesis or maybe hemiplegia (essentially, left sided paralysis) and recently, he had a leg amputated (I believe due to diabetes).  I feel like their music is timeless and I will always be a major fan of theirs!  It's a little difficult to find videos of their music but these are some of my favorites!









If you like their music and would love to download the album or purchase the CD, please click through the widget below.  This is an affiliate link and I do earn a small commission!

Thank you!