There is a time and a place for everything. I am the first person to speak up if I think political topics are being discussed through an inappropriate medium. Certain subjects are too much for kids to process at a young, immature age. Zootopia deals with bullying and prejudice, two issues relevant to to this day and age. Brava to the cast and crew because the subject matter is palatable for kids and poignant for adults. The concept will keep kids’ attention while the story plants questions and leaves a lasting impression. Why can’t bunnies be cops? Why can’t foxes be trusted? Do all predators have to be isolated because they are carnivorous by nature? Prey and predators have been living together peacefully in the city of Zootopia for decades, but cases of predators reverting back to wild behavior create panic and tension. The citizens start looking for the worst in each other rather than considering that evil intentions are at play. This movie had me hooked from start to finish. I highly recommend it both as entertainment and a teaching opportunity.
I did it! I bought a jumbo Disney pin. Call me insane if you must, but I feel good about my purchase. I know that not everybody will understand the draw of Disney pins and the desire to spend money on them. Honestly, I can’t tell you much more than “It’s just plain fun.” This particular pin holds a lot of significance with me as a Disney fan. Keep reading to find out why! My Youtube video is provided down below for those of you who want to watch the opening process and see more of the pin.
I tried my best to take a picture that did it justice because this pin is heavy, glossy, colorful, and magically beautiful. Moving on to the moment of truth. I will keep you in suspense no longer. Can you guess the significance of this pin? Drum roll please…
Tarzan, Aladdin, and Hercules are my top 3 favorite animated Disney movies!!
How cool is it that I found a pin featuring the couples from those three movies?! As long as I live, this pin will remain in my possession. I want to mention a couple more cool facts. All three of these movies feature male protagonists. Interesting! I am obviously more fascinated by heroes than princesses.😉 Tarzan, Aladdin, and Hercules had shows on Disney Channel respectively, and I watched them every week on the TV at my grandma’s house.❤
I know I’m a little late to the party, but wild horses couldn’t stop me from paying tribute to this show. Rizzoli & Isles will always hold a special place in my heart because it is one of the few TV shows, if not the only, that I have watched from episode one to the show finale. I finished what I started, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. The cast did not get half as much recognition as they deserved for their unbelievable chemistry. There were many tears and many laughs, and I enjoyed every single moment. To the cast and crew, thank you!! I will forever be a Rizzoli & Isles fan.❤
* * * I want to say a special thank you to the Rizzoli & Isles crew for including a mention of Barry Frost in the finale. Lee Thompson Young will always be a member of the R&I family!❤
I consider myself a person with a good sense of humor. I try my best to decipher the appropriate times to let go and laugh. This is not one of those times. Recently, I noticed some jokes on social media centered around the California drought. I not only find this in bad taste but extremely offensive. I am a California girl born and raised so I am naturally protective, but I have other reasons. The drought is much more than a shortage of water. Thanks to the lack of rain and scorching temperatures, the Golden State is kindling ready to ignite. Hearing about or driving by a fire is a daily occurrence. A few weeks ago, the shopping center where I work was more crowded than usual because people were waiting for the smoke from a nearby fire to clear from the air. Of course some fires are started by people, but the dry conditions invite the flames to spread with open arms. Farmers are scrambling to protect their livelihood. Families have lost their homes. People have lost their lives. Is that funny?? NO!! Yes, there are selfish people who have not taken the drought seriously, but that is not an excuse. It doesn’t matter what your personal feelings are regarding this state. Next time you want to poke fun at the California drought, remember the people whose lives are being negatively affected. Let this be a lesson to us all: educate yourself before opening your mouth.
I promised another Disney pin post, and here it is. I bought two limited edition pins on eBay and hoped for the best in terms of authenticity. I am pretty sure both pins are real (YAY!) but feel free to let me know in the comment section whether or not you think either pins are fake. If you want more of the surprise factor, press play on the video down below to watch me open the two packages and reveal the pins. If you want to skip ahead and see close up pictures, scroll down.
Today I am reviewing products from Anthology Candles, a company owned by Rheney Williams and her husband Stephen. Their soy products are whimsically inspired by music, movies, & books. Keep reading for information on their candles, mini candles, & wax tarts. My Youtube review video will be posted at the end for those of you who want to see the products in action.
The top white layer is clean river water; the middle lavender layer is a floral blend; and the bottom purple layer is a mixture of flowers & water. There is no need to burn the candle down to smell each layer; it immediately smells clean and floral. If you like strongly scented candles that fill a room within minutes, this is not the product for you. It took an hour for me to smell the scent, and even then I had to remain within a foot or two to enjoy it. Once it is burnt, the candle’s scent is hidden by the smell of burnt wick. The draw of this candle is definitely the aesthetic. The design, inspired by the lantern scene in the Disney film Tangled, is spot on. The white wax becomes transparent when burning and makes the candle appear as though it is a lantern. The effect is mesmerizing! If you are planning a Tangled party, think about investing in these candles and creating your very own “Floating Lanterns” scene.
• Find the candles here: https://anthologycandles.com/collections/candles
Instead of purchasing more big candles, I got a sampler pack of four mini candles. Belle’s Library is aged library books, hint of leather, & wild roses. To me, it smells nutty with a hint of rose. My nose is obviously confusing the smell of old books for nuts. I don’t know of any other way to describe it. It just smells nutty! Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is bakery cakes with vanilla icing, chamomile tea, and a twist of cinnamon. I do smell cinnamon and occasionally vanilla but mostly an icee. I know that sounds crazy but it’s true! Part of Your World is crisp coastal breeze & warm golden sand. I smell a blend of vanilla & flowers, and the strength of the scent reminds me of Bath & Body Works products. Tink’s Flight is fresh verbena, sweet coconut, & tangy lime. I smell every single one of those notes. The scent is sweet & sour just like Tinker Bell. Time for the bad news. The wicks are folded down in the packaging so when it comes time to light them, zip. Zilch. NADA! I had to trim the wicks a little bit and wipe them gently with a paper towel; I wasted a lot of matches before finally getting flames. Once lit, the candles look pretty but don’t smell at all. These sampler candles are fine if you plan on testing the scents without flame. It might be a better investment to know what scents you like and buy a few big candles.
• Find the mini candles here: https://anthologycandles.com/collections/sample-packs
* Note: Wax tarts are cubes of scent-infused wax. Once placed in a warmer (e.g. Scentsy), the heat melts the wax and releases the scent.
I bought one sampler and received four different wax tarts. Rivendell is amber, oakmoss, twilight woods, & woodland foliage. I wish I could tell you that my dream of being a Middle Earth elf was fulfilled by this product. Alas, it smells like play-doh, and the warmer is no help at all. However, due to circumstances I cannot explain, the scent is improving. There is hope yet! Soaring Over is orange blossoms, orange groves, and salty sea breeze. The scent is inspired by the Disney park ride Soaring Over California. It smells of oranges and takes me right back to my childhood in Orange County. The Black Pearl is cannonball smoke, mildewy wood, musty “pirates” water, & salty sea breeze. I did not like this funky scent at first. All you smell is must, mildew, and smoke. Surprise of the year, it smells much more pleasant in the warmer. If you aren’t into scents that are clean, floral, and/or sweet, this scent might float your boat (get it?!). Wilderness Lodge is campfire and a forest tree mix of juniper, pine, & spruce. This spicy forest scent will be p-e-r-f-e-c-t for Christmastime. Overall, I am very happy with the scents I purchased. However, much like the candles, it takes an hour or more for the scent to be recognizable, and it does not fill the room; you have to be within a few feet of the warmer to enjoy the scent.
* Rivendell scent description courtesy of http://ritareviews.net/2015/11/anthology-candles-spotlight-lord-of-the-rings/ *
• Find the wax tarts here: https://anthologycandles.com/collections/wax-tarts
Conclusion:
The novelty of Anthology Candles is attractive. I would recommend their products for two things.
1. The candles and wax tarts are best enjoyed in close proximity (e.g. bedside table or living room side table).
2. I have seen the candles used as decor all over Instagram, especially on bookshelves.
My overall experience was good. There are only a few changes I would suggest.
1. There are descriptions on the website for the candles but not the wax tarts. This works out fine if the wax tart happens to have a candle, but if it doesn’t, there is no way of knowing what the scent is. Also, the packaging gives no indication of the scent.
2. The mini candle sampler packs are not customizable. There are three packs available, each with a set group of candles. I am not sure of the possible complications, but it would be nice to have a customization option in the future.
3. The wax tarts can only be purchased in groups of four. Once again, a customization option would be nice in the future.
4. These products would be much more enjoyable and worth the money if the scents were stronger.\
• My review video:
• If you’re interested in more information on Anthology Candles, here are some links to get you started:
With sadness, I bid farewell to the 2016 Olympics. I have been filled with pride and joy watching my teams compete these past two weeks. Yes, I said teams. Of course USA is my number one, but I also support the countries that make up my heritage. After all, they are underdogs compared to team USA. No harm done! Let’s take a look at the medal count:
🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆🏆 🏆🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
• Team USA 🇺🇸 | 121 Medals | 46 G – 37 S – 38 B
• Team Great Britain 🇬🇧 | 67 Medals | 27 G – 23 S – 17 B
• Team Spain 🇪🇸 | 17 Medals | 7 G – 4 S – 6 B
• Team Israel 🇮🇱 | 2 Medals | 2 B
• Team Ireland 🇮🇪 | 2 Medals | 2 S
🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆🏆 🏆🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
What were your favorite moments in Rio?? I have so many I could mention, but I will try to narrow it down. I felt like a proud mother watching Michael Phelps have one last successful Olympic games after the rough few years he’s had (maybe he’ll be back!). The USA women’s gymnastics team kicked butt and made me feel more patriotic than I have ever felt in my entire life. Shout-out to Michael Phelps (5G, 1S), Katie Ledecky (4G, 1S), and Simone Biles (4G, 1B)!! According to Google, they are the top medalists for 2016. Team USA made me proud all around, but it felt good to dominate artistic gymnastics and swimming. After a rough start, I am so proud of Spain for getting the bronze in men’s basketball. Also, a silver in women’s basketball. Top 3 in the world. Not too shabby!! I watched Marc Lopez & Rafael Nadal win gold in men’s doubles. I’m pretty sure I grew gray hair during that match. The stress was real, but Lopez earned his first medal, and Rafa now has a gold medal in singles and doubles. I watched Team GB get the gold in women’s field hockey. It was a stressful but thrilling game. Well done ladies! I did not have the pleasure of watching Ireland at all, but I am nonetheless proud. Last but certainly not least, I want to express my admiration for Team Israel. My heart breaks knowing that the Israeli athletes continue to be treated like trash. However, they held their heads high, maintained composure, and walked away with two medals.
Farewell Olympics! See you in Tokyo!! 🇯🇵
🏀 🏇 🏉 🚣 ⛳ 🏊 🎾 🚴 ⚽ 🏀 🏇 🏉 🚣 ⛳ 🏊 🎾 🚴 ⚽ 🏀 🏇 🏉 🚣 ⛳ 🏊
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