Oct. 21 - Updates

Time flies.  I can't believe, what, ten days passed between posts . . . ?  So much for posting at least *something* daily, huh?  I don't know what's going on but it just seems like I can't get ahead.  I thought by giving up soap making I'd find more time for myself and find some peace in my life again but that doesn't seem to be the case.  I have been working some extra days but not enough to make me feel as scattered as I have been lately.  As my blog titles says, "It's always something."

It is my day off today and I've had some post ideas rolling around in my head for a while so I thought I'd just combine them and do a sort of update post on a few things.

'basis' face wash - I used it several times and noticed my face getting dried out and needed to start using lotion again so I switched back to handcrafted goat milk soap.  I do like the cleanser and will keep it on hand to use maybe once a week or something for an extra deep cleaning.

Wood wick candle - We've burned this almost down to the bottom now.  Actually, I think it's low enough that I'll scoop the wax out to use as tarts at this point.  The scent throw was medium all the way through.  We really enjoyed our first wood wick candle, but when it started to get low we noticed it had more of a sputtery crackling sound and the wick started to tip to one side which then caused uneven melting.  Overall though, I would buy one of these again. 

Actually we're trying to use up all our old cheap candles that we've accumulated over the years.  Last weekend hubby said "Let's light all that we've already started," so we did.  The coffee table looked like a sacrificial alter or something!  LOL!  I'd just finished getting our Halloween decorations out and then there were about ten candles of various sizes and scents all burning among the witches and skulls and pumpkins.  It was a sight!  I should have taken some pics.  Duh me.  When we get through what we have I want to start ordering from Candles By Victoria.  Can't wait!

Zum products - My excitement for this company seems to have mysteriously fizzled out.  I can't say for sure why but a few things have happened that may have done it for me.  First, they are pricey.  I was aware of that going into it but I didn't care at that time because I'd thought I'd found a shop that had everything I wanted.  I had put one of those larger sample pieces in the shower to give it a try and a smaller piece by the sink to use as my face soap, and wow the scent on them is strong!  Maybe it's just this particular scent but it's overpowering and I don't like that.  The soap itself lathers amazingly.  It's an immediate, thick, long lasting lather similar to commercial body washes so at first I was thrilled beyond belief, but that strong scent was almost too much.  I've been using the face toner but really couldn't tell you if it's doing anything because I've never been a toner user before so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking for.  It does sting a little but I figure they all do . . . ?  I haven't used the lotion enough yet to give a fair review but the price comes into it again.  There are cheaper lotions out there that I already know I like so I'm not as excited about this one anymore now that the initial thrill has worn off.  The lip balm is ok but again, there are others out there that I know I like, and for cheaper.  I thought it would be cool to get everything I use from one place and make shopping/shipping easier but maybe it's not going to be worth it in the end.  Finally, they never answered my second email and that sort of thing drives me nuts.

The Secret Circle - Oddly enough, I'm really getting into this show now.  Heather, if you're reading, it's almost nothing like the book!  I'm almost done with the first book (which would be the first two original books, I guess) and besides the fact that they're witches and some of the names being the same there really isn't much the same.  I find I much prefer the show over the book.  The last two episodes haven't been slutty so that's been a nice change.  It was almost heartbreaking last night watching Adam's reaction to what Diana was saying about fate and destiny.  I find I don't like Cassie (main character) much, while I'm liking the lesser characters more and more.  And I'm hoping Cassie and Adam don't end up together!

Eco-Emi - They've done away with their waiting list now, which is super exciting!  However, I still have to wait till November to receive my first box.  Bummer.  Since open enrollment was on Oct. 2, I was hoping we'd be squeezed in for the October box, but nope.  And it sucks even more that boxes don't come until the END of the month.  But hey, I've joined now and I'm still looking forward to getting my first box!

Oh what else is there to talk about?  Hmmm.  I've been feeling overworked and out of touch lately.  I might just do a separate pity party post about all that.  Let's see . . . Casey donated blood this week at school.  It was his first time and it was uneventful for him.  He said two kids passed out.  I remember when Ty gave blood he got really bad bruises afterwards and was sort of sick in the days that followed, to the point we almost called the nurse.  Speaking of Ty, he hit a deer last week.  Well, he says the deer hit him.  It ran into the driver side front quarter panel then bounced around and sorta caved in his back door.  There is pretty good damage to the car but no one was hurt and the deer got up and walked away.  Go figure.  Ty's waiting for an estimate now, for the deer damage and the raccoon damage from a while ago.  He's also been talking more about moving out or even buying a house.  I sooo want to laugh in the faces of all the people who talked down about him for not going to college and still living at home.  He's got a better job than most of the people I refer to and he's got more money in the bank than I've ever had or than those people ever will have.

Hubby and I are doing fine, both working too much and sleeping too little.  He had a bit of a health scare recently but all tests have come back normal so that was a relief.  He's started puttering around again in what's going to be his wood shop.  We're making the barn our project for next year . . . cleaning and rebuilding, getting him a finished shop that he can work in year-round.  I've been working on my photo album project again, ordering a lot of prints from Snapfish, and finally getting many years of neglected photos labeled and organized.  Hubby will build some shelves, probably in the living room, for me to keep the photo albums because I want them easily accessible to all so these pictures can be seen and memories relived.   Having the books stacked up in a corner of our bedroom doesn't do anyone any good.  So he's looking forward to building things and I'm looking forward to having someplace to put my books.  Win win!

And we are both really reeeeeaaallllly looking forward to this year's trip to a Minnesota Vikings game, which is coming up next month. wOOt!!