Fortune Cookie Soaps Review

Hello all!

Sorry for the long absence. But today I come at you with a wonderful product review. Now bear with me as this is my first product review ever.

Recently I was super lucky enough to win a $25 gift certificate from Fortune Cookie Soaps, this wonderful little online store that sells fantastic, natural, fun bath and skin products. I'll post their link at the end of the review. And just to warn you, I ordered mostly fall/holiday products since I live for those scents and that time of year is by far my FAVORITE!!! (I listen to Christmas music year around if I am having a bad day.)

I purchased:
Cold Buster bath salts


Snowball Fight bath bomb


Cornucopia of AWESOMEness fortune cookie soap

Don't Feed the Reindeer fortune cookie soap

First, we'll start with the bath salts. I (un)fortunately am coming down with a cold, or at the very least, my allergies are kicking my butt right now. So yesterday when I felt like my sinuses were being pounded with a mallet, I figured there was no time like the present than to try out my Cold Buster bath salts.
They have a rather strong mentholated scent, though since it is combined with peppermint, it is a rather pleasant smell that isn't too overpowering. The peppermint is added through actual peppermint leaves that float around in the bath water. And if that sounds just wrong to you, then they can omit them from your salts.

The salts themselves dissolved quickly without leaving any grit at the bottom of the tub. As soon as I sunk in to the nape of my neck, I could feel the sense of relaxation the concoction seemed to have on my achy muscles. Now, whether that is an actual effect of the salts or just a placebo effect I don't know. But really, does it matter? You feel good and that is the main goal, so mission accomplished.

On to the Snowball fight bath bomb. I know the picture is little, but let me tell you this thing is HUGE! I had to have my husband bust off a chunk and I didn't even use all of that chunk and still had most of the bomb left. I would say it is the size of a good hand made, well, snowball. Okay, so like baseball size. Anyway, it is just so dang cute to look at. It has that rough hand made rounded shape just like it was packed out of freshly fallen snow. It has a shimmer to it that actually gives a fun glitter to your bath and skin. And when it hit the water the fizzing action was just fantastic that gave a cooling and tingling sensation!

Now, the description says it has a mixture of strawberry, raspberry, vanilla and peppermint with a bit of  menthol. So I really didn't get any notes of the other scents, just the menthol and peppermint, which isn't bad, but not what I was expecting. So, if those scents are not something you might enjoy, then I suggest passing this particular scent up for a different bath bomb. Oh, and a small disclaimer. There seemed to be a small amount of oil in the bath bomb that gave a little slickness to the tub, so caution when getting out.

Okay, next is the Cornucopia of AWESOMEness. It is a plum-brown color and at first wasn't very strong, but as I kept smelling it and after I lathered it up, the smells just began to become more prevalent and delicious! It is a fresh Autumn scent that is reminiscent of Thanksgiving spices and sweets, fallen leaves, sweaters and crisp chilled air. It leaves a light fragrance on my skin that is true to the soap and though it doesn't lather very much, it always seems to be the right amount. There is no filmy residue and it is rather large in size. I would estimate about the size of half a large apple. If that gives any idea! 

The fortunes inside the "cookies" are fun little quips that will make you smile. This one said "Blondes may have more fun but Brunettes remember it the next day." which I totally loved!!

And last but absolutely not least is Don't Feed the Reindeer fortune cookie soap. This has a reddish-tan tinge to it, almost what you'd imagine Santa's reindeer would look like. Same size as Cornucopia. So, let me tell you that I ADORE this fragrance!!! It is everything that I love. As stated before, I crave holiday scents more than anything, so this was just perfect. I couldn't put it down. It is everything you'd imagine to be in a Norman Rockwell Christmas scene. I swear, if I closed my eyes and breathed in (for the millionth time!) this "cookie" I could feel the warmth of a crackling fire and smell the piney, earthy scent of a whimsically decorated Christmas tree and a stack of gingerbread men and sugar cookies on a plate waiting for Santa to arrive. Just divine! And totally gets you in the spirit!

I haven't lathered it up yet, but I am sure it will be just as great as Cornucopia. I am waiting until it is closer to the holidays to use it... well, if I can hold out that long.

So to make a long story short, yes, I love these products, yes, I will most definitely be buying more of these for myself (there are SO MANY I am already making a wish list for) and yes, I will be using these as gifts. Which reminds me, you can purchase cute little Chinese takeout boxes for just a few cents more for your cookies to be gifted safely and adorably. My only big complaint is there are not enough Christmas and Autumn scented products. Really, guys, there needs to be more! Not everyone enjoys the summertime.

I hope you all will stop by and purchase something. The shipping was exceptionally fast, despite the mix up I created on my order form. But even with that, the customer service was great and responsive. Don't hesitate to order. you can find these products at:

http://www.fortunecookiesoap.com/


Happy shopping and have a great weekend!

Politics, Religion, and My Opinion...

What a great jump back onto my blog, huh? Nothing fluffy and fuzzy today. Apparently my opinions (and that is all they are. So, don't get your panties in a bunch) have been consuming me and now they are demanding to get out.

Maybe next time I will have a fun, little story.

First, I just want to express my complete confusion on our economy, our president, and his apparent view on it. I am not going to get into the pointing fingers of why our economy is the way it is and who is responsible for it. That will just go round and round and I don't have the patience or the blog space for it. No, my question is just a simple one.

We are told that in order for the economy to improve, Americans need to start spending more; and spend locally.

I agree. We need to support our home and community. And spending money creates new jobs and keeps the current ones. And then to tie into that, it is said we need to keep the jobs here in the Land of the Free.

Absolutely correct! I despise outsourcing and think it is a shameful practice companies are doing. Yes, I understand that labor overseas is cheaper and I understand that is what keeps (sometimes) prices low in (certain) things. But Americans can't spend money if they don't have a job. But I digress.

So, now to my not so humble opinion. If the president is in a stalwart effort to improve the American economy, then tell me why his wife goes on vacations overseas and spends disgusting amounts of money... overseas? That seems just a tad hypocritical to me. You preach to the people of supporting locally and cutting government spending, and yet as you say this, your wife is gallivanting around Paris spending our American dollars converted into euros.  Please explain, because I'd really like to know.

Second, the American people are so fearful of a religious president, that they go in the complete opposite direction. But as I see it, going in the opposite direction hasn't help us out much. And what is so wrong with having a president who holds values and morals in a high regard? Yeah, I know, those things are as mythical as the unicorn, but how about we give it a try? We literally have nothing left to lose.

Third, I am going to express my deep sadness at the announcement of the closing of Borders bookstores. How terribly depressing that books are becoming a thing of the past. This is hurting the economy and our future.

Now, I am an aspiring writer. I love the printed word. It is something to be experienced and brings to life, if only through the imagination, new experiences. It builds bonds with others and can be taken anywhere. Nothing beats the feel of a book in your hands. The smell of the binding glue and paper combining into a wonderful nostalgic feeling, and the rustle of the paper as the pages turn. Wonderful.

But the printed word is fast moving to be replaced by the electronic word.

The Kindle, Nook, and every other e-reader is quickly pushing the publishing industry out the back door. I know, I know. As an author one should embrace it, but it's a hard thing to do when it is hurting the publishing industry.

As a new author, a person depends upon a person stumbling across their book and buying it after having a chance to flip through it and really look it over. A new author has to work hard to get themselves out into the world by doing book signing events. But if there is no bookstore to host an event, let alone a book to sign, well, that leaves the new struggling author to hope and pray someone happens to get squirrelly and buy their book out of thousands and thousands of other e-books that have buried it deep in the endless pit of digital words.

And then there is the obvious closing of bookstores which puts thousands of people out of work. But it doesn't end there. That in turn puts a heavy strain on publishing companies, who then have to lay people off since there are less retail options buying their authors' books. And then it once again affects the authors who depend on the publisher being able to sell large quantities of their books to bookstores. But with bookstores shutting down, those books are being sent back to publishers in mass amounts, in unopened boxes, and that in turn appears the author doesn't have a marketable product and the author inevitably gets dropped.

And then there is the fact that the Kindle, in it majority, is not manufactured in the US. Only the "electronic ink" is and then the rest is produced in Asia. Well, so much for helping the American economy, eh?

I don't disagree that the e-readers have their benefits. If one is a literary agent or publishing editor, the small lightweight attributes of the e-reader allows them to carry many manuscripts at once without being cumbersome. It is good for the busy, traveling business person as well.

But let's be honest, how many have these things because it is a necessity to their career or travel agenda? Or is it that 90% of the people using these are lounging on their couch or bed reading them and have them solely based on that it is "cool and new"?

Because on a chilly, stormy night, nothing beats wrapping up in comfy blanket, and cuddling up to the sterile, white glow of... a Kindle screen.

And just as the story has drawn you in and it starts to get really good... the battery dies.

What's in a name?

Today is just going to be a mild rant. I am still sick and the mind NEVER seems to fire on all four cylinders ( or maybe I have a six cylinder and that's the problem).

So, to begin, way back in January Doug and I witnessed a car wreck. The guy cited as at fault decided to fight it so we had to be called into court to testify. That is not the point of this story.

Anyway, we had filled out police reports, writing out our full name, address, and what we witnessed. So I was the one who wrote my name out. Me. Not anyone else. So of course I put Dusti. That's my name and how you spell it, after all.

Well, when it came time for me to get my court summons to testify, they had a hard time locating me because they put Dustin on the documents. I said that I clearly was not a Dustin and that it was supposed to be Dusti. Fine. They changed it, no big deal. Clerical error, right?

And of course, I get a bajillion telemarketer  and other harassing phone calls for a Mr. Dusti or Mr. Dustin. Yeah. Sorry wrong number, neither of those names are here at this number. (Hey, if they are not competent enough to get my name right or incapable of actually being intelligent enough to think that maybe I may not be a man, then they don't need to speak to me. what ever you have to say will become important when you get my name and gender right.)

 Well, the other day I call United Water to pay our water bill and the customer service lady is having a tough time locating our account. My name isn't matching up with the address. finally she sees there is one listed under, yep, you guessed it, Dustin. I explain for what feels like the millionth time in my life that my name is Dusti. I was the one who set up the account. (And because this irritating thing happens, oh, so very often, I ALWAYS spell my name out for accounts and documents.)

Yes, I know, it's not that big of a deal. It doesn't do anything but aggravate me, but still, it, well, it aggravates me! Why can't they just accept that I have a more commonly known name for a boy and that it is, in fact, spelled with an "I" at the end. Just an "I". No "N". Please don't assume you know better than me and correct it the way you think it should be. Thank you.

Extreme Couponing

Okay, I am going to step up on my soapbox and let loose my opinion.

Extreme Couponing.

There is a show on TLC about it and many people do it. This is when a person takes a bunch of coupons for one item and "stacks" them with a store offer or another coupon and does this multiple times until they get basically all of their items for free or just a few cents more (heck, even in some cases getting a credit back).

Now, my opinion I am about to give may be in the minority or unpopular, but I think I need say it. First, I am all for saving money. who doesn't like to spend less cash at the grocery line, but when a person is taking a $500 grocery bill, for example, and only paying $5 for it, well, to me that just seems a bit immoral.

Let's look at it this way: It takes the company money to produce their products. Yes, they do price them with a pretty high profit margin, but you also need to factor in that the store adds to that price as well because they need to make money.

But if a person is getting their entire shopping cart for free, then both the store and the company are getting the shaft, to put it mildly.

And guess where they take out that loss?

Good-bye employees! Oh, you want a raise? Yeah, not happening.

And then there is the mass amounts of food these people are, well, let's be honest, hoarding. I am one hundred percent a supporter of having a food storage for a year. We do need to be prepared for whatever may happen; job loss or what have you.

But when a person is making out with over $600 in food and having to only paid $10 for it, and they are doing this EVERY month or more, I think that goes well beyond "being prepared". What are these people doing with the excess amounts of food? Are they donating half of these groceries to food banks and those in need? Most of them probably are not.

And now people are stealing the coupon inserts from newspaper stands, without purchasing the news paper. This is what it's led to.

And finally, pretty soon companies and stores are going to get tired of all of this "extreme couponing" and start to put major limits on things or just stop offering deals all together. Then, that will ruin it for all of the rest of us, who just are happy to save a few dollars.

There is nothing wrong with saving a few, heck, even a few dozen dollars on a few hundred dollar grocery bill. But to be paying 98% less or even getting it with a credit due to you, then we are going well beyond the intention and good grace of the offer.

The economy is bad and it is struggling to get a footing back into the world. And I'm sorry, but these "couponers" are doing anything but helping. Spending money in a prudent manner will stimulate the economy. Not taking money from companies and stores. When you don't spend the money it doesn't help at all for some person to get their pay check.

Okay, so that's my opinion. Sorry if I have offended anyone. I wasn't trying to single anyone out, but rather, hopefully, have a more conscientious outlook on this new trend. Save money, but don't be unethical about it. And if you just must be an "extreme couponer" then please, please, donate your food!

Service and helping others brings greater joy than greed and selfishness.

Okay, off my soapbox.

Where's the Off Switch?

It's one of the seven deadly sins, but to be honest, I envy some people.

Now, it isn't so much for what the have physically or what they look like, but rather what they can do.

Not worry and not stress.

I don't possess such an ability. I think when they were handing out "off" switches for the brain, I must have grabbed the super powered "on" switch instead, because my mind never quits. And let me assure you it doesn't always have to be about things going on right now in my life. Yeah, I have a lot of worries right now and I am exercising my tiny dollop of patience to its full extent, but I can worry about things that happened years ago as well. I am apparently not prejudice towards past events.

And when is the perfect time to do all of this worrying and fretting? Why, in the middle of the night of course!

I struggle with all of my thoughts when trying to go to sleep, which means bedtime is extended to an extra hour or so, that is spent trying to find that dang off switch. Finally I think the battery loses power and I finally fall asleep for a couple of hours.

Cue neighborhood dog, neighbor's noisy junker, our own dog, or my wonderful husband's snoring. Pretty much anything and everything to wake me up.

Okay all of you thoughts and worries, let's all hop in; and yes crowding is permitted and even encouraged. (I don't send out this beacon call, but apparently I picked that up as well without knowing.)

So, now at 4 am, it is prime time to lay awake in the dark and think about all of the things worrying me right now, as well as things that happened 10-15 years ago. Because you know I have so much power to change those events.

Then there is workout time. I have heard this urban myth that it allows one to be able to work off their stress and clear their mind.

Um, yeah, like I said, urban myth.

I workout and I am nearly completely consumed with a cramped mind. The only difference is now I am holding 25 pound weights above myself and trying to stay on count. Not, exactly ideal timing for the mind to be focused on something else. But hey, like I said, I don't have that off switch.

So those are my nights. That is (one) of the reasons I hate working out. I envy the people out there who can flick the imaginary switch at the same time they flick the light switch. I envy those who love working out because they feel recharged and less stressed. But that isn't how my brain works. It is a constant Walmart line of thoughts. I check one out and another is right behind it, each with their own full shopping cart.

Man, could you imagine if I started hearing voices?


.....

Oh, I'm sorry I missed that. Did you just say something?

One of THOSE days...

I think it is best to honest and upfront right off the bat.

Okay, so I don't always practice that, but today I will be.

I am grumpy today.

Every little thing is irritating me and of course having an almost-three year old just makes it so much easier to deal with. Yes, I do want to sit here and scowl. No, I don't want to do housework. Yes, I do want to take a baseball bat to the Dish satellite outside. No, I don't want to hear your problems, because I have my own. Yes, I fee like pulling my hair out, and scream and cry for no good reason other than because I feel like it.

Well, now that is out in the open, I suppose I can offer a bit of explaining.

There is a mountain of housework and yardwork that needs to be done, and I tried doing the yardwork yesterday to only then have my allergies go all Hulk on me and make me feel like crud. But I still managed to get the meatloaf and potatoes made and cooked. Then bedtime came much too late on a day that I had been up since 5 am due to my lovely little girl thinking that was a perfect time to be awake.

And just for the record, as soon as I hit the pillow I was out. I mean dead to the world out. I don't remember my husband coming to bed, let alone when our daughter climbed in with us.

I know what you may be thinking: Dusti, that is the best kind of sleep. Why are still grumpy? Well, because it felt like mere seconds. I closed my eyes when it was dark outside and then three seconds later I opened them and light was coming in through the window.

Next, we have the Dish going out. I can deal without the tv. Especially since all of the season finales have happened. But what do I tell a little girl who wants to watch Mickey Mouse? So we call Dish, they send a technician. Technician said it was the receiver going out, so we order a new one. We get it last night, plug it in, to only have half of the channels working. Call them this morning, they send a technician. Again. He says he can't find anything wrong with it. All things are working properly. Well, it would appear that isn't true, now, would it?

And then there is the combination of just feeling crappy, hating my hair/clothes/body/need for makeup/etc. and no motivation or means of fixing the problems. And to put the proverbial cherry on top of my sundae of angst, I am stressing and fretting over things that are in a limbo state and I have absolutely ZERO power to change or speed them along.

So, do I feel better after venting? I suppose a small tiny bit of me does, but it doesn't solve any of my problems!

Well, here's to hoping that tomorrow is a better day.

Questionable setting, maybe. Delicious food, absolutely!

You see them on the corner. Their white painted sides splashed with bright colors and the little awning that overhangs the window allows for the smell of the contents inside to drift out into the open air. The smells are enticing and mouthwatering and the food is borderline ecstasy.

Yes, we are talking about the iconic taco van. Or also known as taco wagons.

These little gems of Latin culinary delight are probably some of the best Mexican food one will ever eat. And let me tell you there is no skimping on the fixins! Whether it be a taco, burrito, enchilada, or a sampling of all three, they come stuffed like Thanksgiving turkeys!

And oh, the taste. Fresh ingredients, authentic flavors, it all mingles and dances on the taste buds, gently guiding one into pure bliss.

Okay, sure, the environment can seem a tad shady. And the looks of these taco wagons do appear to be on their last legs, but that shouldn't deter one from enjoying one of life's pleasures. Looking at it logically, these taco wagons are someone's livelihood. They get shut down, they are not bringing home the bacon; unlike an actual restaurant where there are employees who don't care for proper cleanliness, or if they do get shut down it is just a small blip on the massive corporate radar. No, these little self sustaining treats are cared for by actual people wanting to bring the masses delicious, well prepared food.

Now this also leads into the discussion of Chinese restaurants. In my experience (and I have had many Chinese food experiences) the best food you will get are from the small, little crumbing buildings back off the main roads and tucked into a corner of town that many think not to venture.

Forget these chain stores! PF Chang's? PUH-LEASE! Uh, yeah, only if I want to have my wallet pillaged for mediocre. The Lucky Palace? Point me in the direction! Panda Express? Only if I am in a hurry and it's nearby. Lee's Chinese? I'll have some more of that! And of course there is the ever great invention. The China Buffet.

We try new places a lot. Most, not the best looking in the bunch. I have never had food poisoning and I even bought homemade tamales from a lady going up and down the street selling them wrapped in foil and being taken out of a cooler in a wagon. Best I ever had. Wish I could find her again.

We shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, right? Certainly we shouldn't judge a person by the way they dress. So why not try being open minded over where we eat. You may just find you've been missing out all along.

Mini Sequel (I should have saw this one coming)

Well, I blame myself for not expecting this to happen. It really is in the norm of how things proceed in our home.

My husband comes home for lunch yesterday after reading my blog.

Husband: "Does this mean I get to buy a new game today?"

Me: "Hi, honey. Glad you're home. Is that what you got from my blog?"

Husband: "Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 comes out soon. So I'm getting it, right?"

Me: "I never said that. I was pointing out a fact of how our mall expeditions go. I don't recall saying you get a game."

There is moment of pause as I am sure he realizes this point in truth.

Husband: "Well, the first one is really cheap. I can get that one."

So as you see, the discussion of video games must imply that he is going to get spoiled once again. Reason is a foreign concept to him while the words "video games" are being tossed about apparently so haphazardly.

Point to parents: Do not spoil your children, for this is what happens.

Oh, and he accused me of making him sound like a "nerd" because of his love for video games.

......

I merely posted about conversations that have taken place; more or less in that manner.

Make of that what you will.

Quick Plug!

And to inform you all (which so very sadly may be a small small number) the manuscripts I am working on are posted at www.textnovel.com and two of the three have received the Editor's Choice Award, which is in a word, fantastic!

Shades of Grey was my first and Delusions is the second. Each are entered into the current contest running so please drop by, read and vote!

I love you all!

The loves that bind us...

Okay, so I am just a wee bit behind on updating my blog. Yeah, the pre-New Years resolution to write in it nearly everyday, with weekly being the most I go, well, we all can see how that went. There must be a punishment for such behavior, yet I know not what it is. But whatever it is, I am sure I deserve it.

Oh, the power of love and the things that love drives us to do. First, let me just say that the love I have for my husband has lead to some interesting conclusions. Yes, he is spoiled beyond belief and usually gets whatever he wants. Whatever you do, don't take him to the video game store or he will revert back in the the ever insistent child who begs and pleads for every shiny thing he sees. Of course, too often than not, I do give in. Hence conclusion number one: I give in way to easily when confronted with big, pleading, green eyes and a handsome face.

Conclusion number two would be that I can dish out the tough love, yet become incredibly guilt ridden for doing so. Like when we are at said video game store and I tell him only one video game and firmly put my foot down that the second desired game must be placed back on the shelf. Inevitably the anticipated pouting comes and usually a full fledged lip quiver accompanied with puppy dog eyes.

Now, I am prepared for this reaction since it is a common follow up to the word "No" (regardless of the reason). I do my best to not look at the face and to direct my attention onto the debit card that is exiting the wallet to complete the purchase of the first video game. I find if I actually pay attention to the money magically deserting my bank account it makes it easier to repel the Pout.

Oh, and to just make it clear, I can be quite stoic in my decision while in the video game store. It is, however, the walk through the mall and to the parking lot, that my resolve may begin to shake.

Husband: "You know, honey, that (fill in blank of game that was left on store shelf) game got a really good review."

Me: "I know, so we will get that one next time."

Husband: "Well, everyone already has that one and they keep asking me to play it. They said it's the best of the year."

Me: "You should have gotten that one then, instead of the one you bought."

Husband: "But this one is supposed to be better."

So, yes the conversation is a problem, but certainly one can overcome it. The final nail in my coffin of guilt is the viewing of the commercial depicting the postponed video game in all if its glory, which is of course, is sucker punching my poor husband and reminding him of the fact that he is the only person in the world who does not own it.

"Me: "Okay, tomorrow I will swing by the mall and pick it up."


And all of this is the prelude to my angelically beautiful daughter, who, in fact, has inherited her father's green eyes and being a girl, knows how to use their full world dominating power. I think we need not go into detail of how store outings result with that one.

Then there is the cookie. Or ice cream. Or cupcake. Or whatever gluttonously sinful delight that is out there, be it sweet or salty. Somehow, my ability to say "No" is non-existent in these situations.

The love that binds me, is the love that conquers me. C'est la Vie.