Life:  Friday Ramblings

I can't believe that...

...an entire year has passed since we last had our fall decor displayed.  Life passes way too quickly and is kind of depressing.  To celebrate the start of Autumn, we swapped out our regular decor for things that are a little more festive.

I cant stop laughing at...

...my son trying to imitate my daughter's ballet moves.  The first day of Autumn was also the first day of her dance classes.  To celebrate, I snapped a few shots of her before she ran off to class.  My chunky Prince Charming kept screaming "MY TURN" every time my daughter struck a pose.  He tried so hard to do them too, but mostly just ended up landing on his butt.

I was even more appreciative of it when...

...he took a little cat nap on the couch afterwards because all that "dancing" tired him out!

September is always the worst because...

...it's the fiscal year end close for my job.  This means long hours, missed family time, and way too many hours staring at a screen.  While I hate the close, it's always great motivation for me to think of creative ways to quit my draining job and get into something else that I actually enjoy.

I smiled to myself with pride when...

...I got another Dean's list certificate for my Summer course.  While I don't talk about schooling like, ever in real life, I'll share the news here because you'll reserve judgement.  Or, at least, I can't hear it too loudly through the computer screen.

An article left me baffled when it asked...

..."What is the end game?".  When thinking about COVID19, it's easy to understand why certain restrictions have been put in place and why our lives have been altered.  What I'm having a hard time understanding is, when or how or will it end at all?  When looking at history, it may take time, but it will end.  But, even if that isn't reassuring when everything has become about politics.  I'm curious of your thoughts.  Do YOU think it will end?  If yes, when?  How?

To leave on a positive note...

...happy official Fall, Y'all!

Do you decorate for the Fall?

Travel: A packed itinerary for a 4 day trip to Rhode Island.

We had the absolute BEST time on our little road trip to Rhode Island.  We traveled as a family of four, with two kids, ages 2 and 7.

Fun Fact:  Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US, but has the longest name.

Don't let the small size of Rhode Island fool you.  It's packed with beautiful scenery, history, famous eateries, and plenty of things to do.  It's definitely an overlooked state when it comes to travel destination bucket lists.  I planned this itinerary so that we would be able to enjoy the best of what Rhode Island has to offer over the course of 4 days.  If we return, I now know how to extend this trip to cover a full week of fun exploration.  Please note, we love action so this itinerary doesn't allow for much quiet time!

Related Post:  Ten tips and tricks for surviving a long road trip with a toddler.

4 Day Itinerary - Rhode Island

Where should we stay?

We decided to stay in Providence, RI.  We chose this location because it was central to almost everything we wanted to do.  Luckily, because the state is so small, there really isn't anywhere to go that takes more than 45 minutes to get to.

We chose to stay in the Homewood Suites in Downtown Providence because of its central location, reasonable rates, and generous amenities.  We did a room upgrade to a corner room that had the most gorgeous view of the entire city.  We legit had front row seats to the Providence River, the state building, and local parks.  The room came with a daily breakfast, a light meal in the evening, and other perks.  Parking is not included, but for a small daily fee, you're able to come and go out of a lot across the street for less than full price.

Day One

Morning - Travel time.

Our morning was dedicated to traveling to Rhode Island.  If you'll be flying in, I still recommend renting a car since there are so many fun things to do throughout the entire state.  You don't want to waste the extra time and money on public transportation.

Afternoon - Providence, RI

1:00 - We started our trip with a bus tour from Experience Rhode Island.  This was an educational tour that made stops along to way for pictures, historical lessons, and for gelato at Federal Hill.  The kids enjoyed this tour because they loved the experience of a bus and had time to run around Prospect Terrace and Brown University.

3:00 - Check out the highlights throughout Providence on your own time or schedule time slots for an official tour.  We opted to skip additional tours, because, you know, young kids!  Here are some ideas to fill the time slot.

1.  The Providence Athenaeum -  This bucket list item is more than a library.  It's like walking into a scene from Harry Potter.  It's filled with history, architecture, and a notable past.  Years ago, it was regularly frequented by Edgar Allen Poe.

2.  The Stephen Hopkins House - This historical site is open for tours if you so chose.  It was the home of Stephen Hopkins, a signer of The Declaration of Independence.  It boasts the bedchamber of George Washington and sadly has historical roots to slavery.

3.  The Arcade Providence - This is the first indoor shopping mall in the US.  It's small with very little to do inside, but is fun to walk through nonetheless.

4.  The John Brown House Museum - This place also offers paid tours.  This mansion was owned and inhabited by an heir of Brown University.  It's filled with artifacts and some original pieces.  The supposed burial place and apple tree that took over Roger Williams' grave is also at this house.

Fun Fact - The Brown family didn't find Brown University.  Instead, it was named for them after they made a hefty donation towards the school at that time.

5.  Annmary Brown Memorial - After an untimely passing, this museum was created by the love of her life.  It's the tomb of the couple filled with their favorite things and original love letters.  Their story is an intriguing one that totally made my bucket list that we unfortunately had to skip because it was closed when we went.

6.  Prospect Terrace - This small park boasts the best view of Providence.  It's up a great hill and overlooks the entire city.  It's home to the moved ashes of Roger Williams along with a gorgeous statue dedicated to him.  It would also be a lovely place to go for a picnic as it's surrounded by beautiful, historical colonial homes.  This is also the park that Edgar Allen Poe would use to take romantic walks and court his love.

7.  Rhode Island State House - The architecture of this building alone is intriguing.  If you're interested in it's history and what lies within, they are open for paid tours.  We only observed from a distance.

8.  Explore the city for your favorite mural.  One of my favorite parts of modern Providence was the gorgeous murals displayed on the walls of the modern buildings.  See the above collage for an example of the art with a mural of angel wings that my daughter found.

9.  Another one for the art lovers is the RISD Museum.  It is known to have beautiful pieces of art from local artists and other famous works.

10.  The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium is another Providence tourist spot.  The building was absolutely gorgeous from the outside.  We chose to skip it because the one in NY is boring for kids and I assumed this was the same.

6:00 - Go to Federal Hill to enjoy one of their famous restaurants.  Don't forget to stop by Venda Ravioli for dessert and Antonelli Poultry for a picture with their giant chicken statue.  Just don't go inside unless you can handle caged animals that are waiting to be picked for dinner and slaughtered.  I'm all for "fresh meat", but no thanks..

8:00 - End the night with a historical and fun Providence Ghost Tour.  Make sure to go with sneakers since it's a long walk.  If you do choose this ghost tour, skip prospect terrace above because that's the meeting point of the tour.  My toddler loved this stroller ride though the city and my 7 year old was intrigued with the spoooooky stories!  In fact, she said it was her favorite part of the trip.

Day Two

9:00 - Breakfast.  You can eat the free breakfast at the hotel or you can enjoy a local place to experience the city.  I'm going to do a second post on the best breakfast spot in Providence, so stay tuned!

11:00 - Wearing very comfortable sneakers, be prepared to spend half a day at the Roger Williams Park Zoo.  We LOVED this zoo.  Since we frequently visit The Bronx Zoo, I thought we'd be left disappointed.  I'm being honest when I say it was better in more ways than one.  You'll get to see lots of different animals, get to enjoy interactive experiences (like zip line & a choo choo train), learn about the animals, and feed farm animals.  For the record, my hubby said this was his favorite part of the trip.  It was also exciting for me to learn that this is the first accredited zoo in the US and that it dates back to 1872!

4:00 - While in the Roger Williams Park for the zoo, head on over to Carousel Village.  It's the second oldest continuously operating carousel in the US.  The first oldest is located about 30 minutes away in Warwick, RI.  We didn't take the ride to Warwick, but it's another option.  Be prepared to spend some time in Carousel Village because it's way more than a 5 minute ride on a fake horse.  There's the carousel that's cheap enough to ride several times, a Hasbro playground that's HUGE, a Candy Land walkway, a choo choo train ride, and a place to get ice cream.

The Roger Williams Park has lots more to do including paddle boat rides, fishing areas, historical cottages, walking trails, a rose maze, a Japanese garden, and a seal house whatever that means.  We didn't have time for this, but it's there if you do!

6:30 - Take a ride down the Providence River on a Providence River Boat Tour.  While I wasn't a huge fan of the tour because it reiterated what we already learned on the bus tour, it was fun to ride up and down the Providence River and see the city from this perspective.  It was also safe for younger children due to the cruising speed and high walls.  If you don't have young children, I'd go on the gondola ride down the Providence River.  It's the same view in a more romantic setting while you're serenaded like you're in Venice.

8:00 - Go for a late dinner at a restaurant you missed in Federal Hill.

Day Three

9:00 - After waking up early and enjoying a quick breakfast, start the 45 drive to Newport, Rhode Island.

10:00 - There are several mansions and grounds to tour in Newport.  There are The Elms, The Breakers, Marble House, Rosecliff, and more.  For our itinerary, we only have time to tour one and the kids wouldn't want more than that.  We chose to tour The Breakers because of it's affiliation with The Vanderbilts and Long Island.  It took about two hours to tour the mansion and the grounds, but could have taken longer if we weren't being dragged by our toddler.  It's a scenic place that makes a gorgeous backdrop for pictures, filled with history, a historical walking trail, and views overlooking the ocean.

12:00 - The Lobster Shack was on my bucket list since I'm a huge fan of seafood.  It isn't fancy.  It's a food truck with picnic tables, but the wharf is filled with history and the food is amazing and FRESH.

1:00 - Since we had limited time to explore Newport, RI, we opted to do a private tour of the historical city with Newport Jaguar Tours.  This tour was AMAZING!  The tour guide, Bruce, was a wealth of information.  He took us to see things and places that I didn't even know existed in Newport, such as President Eisenhower's house, Artillery Co of Newport, Goat Island, and The Newport Tower.  If you're looking for a good mystery, research The Newport Tower.

4:00 - Visit Bowen's Wharf to check out the little boutiques, climb on a giant anchor, see the ships, and then get an early dinner on the water overlooking the marina.

6:00 - Take a quick stop in the old world looking arcade called Ryan Family Amusements.  While the kids will LOVE it here, it's ridiculously expensive and the prizes stink.  Limit them to a dollar amount and then let that be it.

7:00 - Before saying goodbye to Newport, stop at Sprinkles Ice Cream & Espresso Bar for DELICIOUS ice cream.  All the locals said to skip the popular ice cream chains and check out this local ice cream bar for something better.

Idea:  If you're looking to extend your stay, try spending a day or two on the Newport beaches.  Beach 1 and 2 what they're literally called is ideal for surfing and those who like rougher water.  Beach 3 is much calmer waters that is perfect for the children.  You could also visit Fort Adams State Park to see a real bunker, visit President Eisenhower's house, and enjoy the views of the bay and harbor.

Day Four

9:00 - Grab your final breakfast in Providence and then wave goodbye to this beautiful city!

10:30 - Start the 30 minute trek to the historic Jamestown, RI  to see a few more sites worth visiting before heading home.

11:00 - Visit the Beavertail Lighthouse to see a historic lighthouse base, GORGEOUS views of the water, tour the museum, and climb to the top.  I've seen countless beaches and shores all around the US, in Greece, and in the Caribbean.  This shore line was the most beautiful and intimidating of all that I have seen.  The trip to Jamestown is worth the view alone.

12:30 - Spend an hour exploring the trails of Fort Wetherill State Park where you'll see more gorgeous displays of the ocean, calm groves of rocky beaches, and historic bunkers that date back to the revolutionary war, WWI, and WWII.  Sadly, they've been destroyed by graffiti but are still worth seeing.  If you're brave enough to explore inside the bunkers, you'll find ancient spools of rope and other large items reminiscent of past wars that are too big to move.

2:00 - Reach out to the Jamestown Historic Society to get a private tour of a working windmill that dates back to 1787 and a Quaker meeting house that is still in use today.  This tour was personal, hands on, and really interesting.  My favorite part was seeing the initials of the town founders carved in the original benches of the meetinghouse.  Plus, a member of the society was kind enough to let my kids hang up their flag!

3:30 - For your final stop on your trip, go to the East Ferry Deli for THE BEST lobster roll I had on the entire trip.  It was even better than the famous Lobster Shack.  We took our food to go and ate on a park bench across the street.  We ate with beautiful views of the harbor and the Newport bridge.

I apologize for the really long post, but when I was researching things to do in Rhode Island, it was tough.  I had to search for days and wished it was all in one place.  I hope this post makes planning a trip to Rhode Island easier or intrigues you to visit it in the first place.

Have you ever been to Rhode Island?

Related Post:  Ten tips and tricks for surviving a long road trip with a toddler.

List: Top ten scariest movies that are guaranteed to creep you out.

Our favorite rhyming cat and I were talking about scary movies the other day.  Apparently, he has a much higher tolerance for creepy films than me.  I jump way too easily.  We decided to link up and list our recommendations for the top ten scariest movies that we've seen.  With Halloween lurking around the corner, I figured this would be a most appropriately spooky post!

Related Post:  How to have a Halloween party for the kids on a budget.

Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links to products.  We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Please note that I would only recommend products that I would use myself and all opinions are my own.

Top ten scariest movies to watch this season.

1.  The Ring

This movie is a scary movie classic!  It's been almost a decade since I've seen it and I can still see that little girl crawling around.  You'll watch this movie through spread out fingers covering your eyes.

Can be found here.

2.  The Hills Have Eyes

This movie is about a bunch of mutants not the friendly kind from X-men that track, hunt, and do unimaginable things to a poor family that was just trying to enjoy a vacation.  It has suspense that will make you jump and a backstory that will linger in your thoughts.

Can be found here.

3.  Final Destination 1 - 5

These movies will teach you that you can never cheat death.  When it's your time to go, there's no saving you.  I credit this series with ending my tanning salon addiction.  With 5 films, you can easily watch one a week as a countdown to Halloween.

Can be found here.

4.  Friday the 13th Collection

While this may not be the spookiest flick on this list, it's a classic and a must watch.  Besides, if you get to the end of the collection, you'll be rewarded with Jared Padalecki my favorite Hollywood hunk as the main character.

Can be found here.

5.  The Grudge

Of all the movies on this list, I think this one is the scariest.  Just seeing the cover image of the film makes me have to look away.  This movie will creep you out, make you jump, and have you checking under your sheets for unwelcome guests every night.

Can be found here.

6.  The Others

I saw this one as a young teenager and can still remember explicit details.  Watch out for the twist at the end, and, you know, the others.

Can be found here.

7.  The Amityville Horror

This movie was creepy enough without taking into consideration the fact that it's based on a true story and that I live two towns over from the actual house.  What started a gruesome mass murder ended with a home full of restless and vengeful spirits.

Can be found here.

8.  Open Water 3 Cage Dive

This suspense movie was extra scary because it took place under water.  For those of you that fear drowning, the dark, the unknown, and being eaten alive, this movie may quickly become your #1 scariest.

Can be found here.

9.  Insidious:  The Last Key

This scary movie was creepy, suspenseful, and real difficult to watch with both eyes wide open.  While the originals were definitely creepy, this most recent one was the scariest of them all.

Can be found here.

10.  Saw 1 - 7

This movie has it all.  Suspense to make you jump.  A creepy back story that will haunt your thoughts.  Anyone take time to taste their tea after watching this?  And lots of gore to make you nauseous.  If you're looking for a movie marathon to count down the days to Halloween, this is the movie collection for you.

Can be found here.

If scary movies aren't enough to get you into the Halloween mood, then try watching all 14 and a half seasons of Supernatural.  Not only is it scary, but the lead characters are three very handsome men.  We're about to see the end of an era this upcoming October.  A moment of silence for Supernatural, please.

What movie do you find the scariest?

Related Post:  How to have a Halloween party for the kids on a budget.

Life:  Friday Ramblings

We had the absolute BEST time...

...in Rhode Island!  This little state is packed with stuff to see and do.  I was shocked to see how many people reached out to me on social media for my itinerary.  Lots of people apparently have this state on their bucket list but little idea of what to do there.  I'm going to put together a whole post about it, but in summary, we really had a lot of fun.  We only stayed for 4 days, but I think it could have easily turned into a week if we did a beach day and if it wasn't for corona.

We had a little thief visit our...

...bird feeders the other day because my husband had to rearrange the feeders for the roof to be repaired.  It was literally moved for just one day and already the squirrels knew about it.  Note:  I never saw a squirrel in my neighborhood until we put up the bird feeders.

I'm really dreading...

...this semester.  I took Globalization because it's a graduation requirement and I really don't have the focus or motivation to get through it.  It's going to be a lot of writing and research about something that doesn't interest me.  Luckily, I only have three classes left which I can use to force myself through it.

My daughter's hybrid schooling is...

...just as big of a pain as I thought it was going to be.  She's unable to navigate the lap top they lent her and she's already forgetting basic fundamentals such as using a writing utensil.  These kids already lost half a year of school.  How can another year lost be justified?

I was almost in tears listening to...

...a neighbor at my daughter's bus stop.  She has three weeks left to work from home.  After that, she either goes into the office full time or has to resign.  Since schools aren't reopening, she's forced to resign and will have to put her house up for sale quickly after.

In brighter news...

...it's almost Fall!  While it's around the corner, I still think early September is way too soon to release all the pumpkin flavored products, Halloween decorations, and set up pumpkin picking at the local nurseries.  This also goes for my husband who wanted to toss my vegetable producing plants away to make room for mums that are WAY TOO early to plant.  End rant.

What are your Friday Ramblings?

Life: Vacation

Life: Friday Ramblings

Friday Ramblings

I have to admit that I really didn't have...

...a very good week.  My phone finally completely broke down after taking a swim in a water park.  I was having terribly anxiety and wasting life fixing something that I knew was dumb.  I was fighting with my husband because I accidentally ran over his phone, laptop, and coffee mug that I didn't know he left on the trunk of my car.  That meant neither of us had a working phone.  Did I mention our phones are company phones and the damage had to be reported to our managers?  The lack of phones meant that we missed the memo that my son's day care closed early, so he was abandoned for 30 minutes until they reached his emergency contact for pick up.  I was drowning in work and making little progress because I was focused on that stupid project mentioned above.  I wasted a second morning driving the kids to day care that was actually closed.  I then had to try to sit on conferences all day with the kids running around me.  I clicked the wrong button at work while taking a daily health survey.  Suddenly, everyone at work and their mother got alerted that I may have corona and to quarantine for 14 days.

  I could go on and on.. but you get the point.  It was a bad week.

Saturday morning I woke up to...

...to the little lady bug pictured above chilling on our pepper plant.  As I stood there watering the plants I thought, "I'll leave you alone because I could use some good luck".

A knock on my door meant...

...my husband and I's new phones were delivered from our job.  We didn't get in trouble for breaking them and they were replaced with seriously amazing upgrades.

The mail man delivered...

...an envelope that held a certificate and license.  It was our notification that my husband passed the county exam he needed to keep his job!  After failing several times, you could see the pride and relief in his face for the rest of the afternoon.

We got a phone call from...

...our insurance company that they settled on a payoff amount for all the damage our house suffered from a storm a few weeks back.  It was a generous amount which means everything we need fixed or replaced will be.  & with zero out of pocket expense!!

My cucuzza plant that I pronounced dead...

...sprouted three new flowers.  I was upset that this year's harvest only gave us two cucuzzas, but it looks like she isn't done yet!

All I can say is...

...not too bad for a bug, right?  Lady bug, I may totally and completely skeeve you but you're welcome any time!

What are your Friday Ramblings?

TV Review: Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich

I'm sure that you're all sick of hearing me, but I can't get off my soapbox just yet.  Sorry, but I'm disgusted by the influx of sex trafficking and horrified by everyone's blind eye.  After hearing the Wayfair conspiracy and diving down the rabbit hole, one name engraved into my brain.

That name is Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein was a man of unexplained resources and power.  He utilized this power to abuse and traffic women, specifically, minors.  This information wasn't a best kept secret.  It was known.  Really, really well known.  People of power turned a blind eye to this well known fact and allowed the crimes to continue for decades.

Netflix released a documentary TV series titled Jeffrey Epstein:  Filthy Rich to expose it all.  This four episode series was one of the most eye opening things I've ever seen.  It was hard to watch.  Difficult enough that I cried more than once.  Even still, I think everyone should force themselves to watch it.  Here is why.

via

A review of Jeffrey Epstein:  Filthy Rich

Let's start with basics.  Who is Jeffrey Epstein?

Jeffrey Epstein was a very rich and powerful man with friends in high places.  He was very mysterious.  He was popular, especially in celebrity circles but not many people knew why.  His wealth was a mystery.  His power was a mystery.  His death is even a mystery.  After years of eluding the public, he was finally connected with sexual abuse and sex trafficking crimes.

The big mystery was that he was one of the worst types of criminals.

Why was the documentary so difficult to watch?

Throughout the series woman came forward and told their story in explicit detail.  As a mother, it was heart wrenching to hear what these women went through when they were as young as just 14 years old.  Their stories is what had me in tears.  It was also difficult to see how arrogant Jeffrey Epstein was.  He was sexually abusing countless underage females and didn't even bother to hide.  He knew that law enforcement could do little to hold him accountable.  That had my stomach turning.  Then the victims associated Jeffrey Epstein with other people of power that are still relevant today.  That had me scared.  This is a difficult, heart wrenching, really i m p o r t a n t, series to suffer through.

You keep saying it's important to watch.  Why?

It's important because this documentary series opens your eyes.  Opening the world's eyes can save your child, your neighbor's child, you colleague's child, or a child you'll never meet on the other side of the world.  These are children and it's our job as adults to protect them.

Without giving any spoilers, what was the most shocking part of the series?

I was shocked and horrified at the extent that people went to ignore Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.  People of power ignored his crimes and praised him.  Politicians and royalty befriended him and allegedly engaged in the crimes.  Infamous lawyers teamed up to defend him in court.  The media ignored and mostly continues to ignore the extent of the sexual abuse and trafficking.  Layers of our judicial system and law enforcement even tried to protect him and his criminal associates in an insane plea deal.  Money doesn't give that much power.  Although, I think a good bribe could.  But, who am I?

Did you learn anything good in this series?

I want to say no, but that's not true.  There was one thing that gave me a ray of hope.  That was the string of men and women that investigated, pushed, and continued to fight for these victims despite any glimmer of hope being extinguished.  It reminded me that despite all the evil in the world there are good people still out there.  One particular member of law enforcement was obviously distraught because he felt like he couldn't protect the people he swore to protect.  People like him are the "good" in the series.  Good people exist.  Morals exist.  This series proved that without a doubt.

I would highly recommend Jeffrey Epstein:  Filthy Rich.

Have you seen the docu-series yet?

List: Top ten best coconut scented products.

This exchange happened recently while browsing the candle section of our local Target.  Me:  "This smells so good!"  Daughter:  "That's because it has a coconut on it."  Me:  "I do love the smell of coconuts!"  Daughter:  "If you love coconuts so much, why don't you marry one?"  Insert look of surprise..  Oh, to be 7 again and to think life's as simple as marrying a coconut!

Related Post:  Top ten best smelling candles for people with sensitive sinuses.

All joking aside, even at 7 years old, my baby girl knows her mommy loves all things coconut.  Almost all of my beauty care and housekeeping products have some sort of coconut scent.  This makes me some sort of self proclaimed expert on all things coconut scented.  Here are the top ten of my all time favorite coconut scented things!

Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links to products.  We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Please note that I would only recommend products that I would use myself and all opinions are my own.

Top ten best coconut scented products.

1.  Coconut Water & Orchid Body Wash | St. Ives

As you all know, I have REAL sensitive skin with horrible allergies that have sent me to urgent care.  This product does nothing to aggravate my allergies or sensitive skin.  In fact, it soothes it.  Lathering with this soap fills my bath with such a pleasant aroma that it's legit heavenly.  Forget the urge for Herbal.  This stuff should bring the hunks to the shower!

Can be found here.

2.  Coconut Beach Original Large Jar Candle | Yankee Candle

This candle does not aggravate my sensitive sinuses nor is it so faint that it's nonexistent.  It's such the perfect strength of a scent that it's totally worth the higher price tag!

Can be found here.

3.  Coconut Colada Hand Soap | Bath & Body Works

This is a new love for me.  When Bath & Body Works released it, I had to try it immediately.  It smells so good that I wash my hands until they are burning and raw!  Well, maybe not that much..

Can be found here.

4.  Coconut Air Freshener | Little Trees

I've tried lots of air fresheners for my car, but this one is the top coconut scented one.  #1 of all car air fresheners that I've tried to date is Febreze in Gain scent.  Smells SO good.

Can be found here.

5.  Coconut Oil Weightless Hydrating Mist | OGX

When I get out of the shower and my hair is still wet, I spray two squirts of this mist onto my head.  I wait a minute, freakishly breathing in the aroma, and then brush it through for perfectly soft hair.  Warning - As good as it smells, don't spray too much because your hair will get greasy.

Can be found here.

6.  Coconut Moisturizing Lotion | Jergens

I'm not a fan of moisturizers because they leave your skin feeling oily, greasy, and just gross.  This moisturizer is strong enough to get the job done but light enough to not know it's there.  Oh, & it smells absolutely  f a b u l o u s, I promise.

Can be found here.

7.  Coconut Colada 3-Wick Candle | Bath & Body Works

Like #2, this candle is strong enough to announce it's presence but mild enough for allergy sufferers.

Can be found here.

8.  Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie | Shea Moisture

On hot, humid days, I'll take some of this smoothie and scrunch it through my hair.  It keeps the frizz away and allows me to get a nice, soft scrunch without the crunch that gel gives.  It's also nourishing for your hair.  After you wash out the coconut smoothie, it feels like virgin hair!

Can be found here.

9.  Coconut & Vanilla Deodorant | Native

A while back I switched to natural deodorant for reasons that I explained in this review.

This deodorant smells so good that I could eat it!  Which I probably really could since it's all natural..but, no.

Can be found here.

10.  Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner | OGX

I've been loyally using this shampoo & conditioner for well over a decade now.  It's my absolute favorite.  It smells good.  Makes my hair feel good.  And is actually good for my hair.  My fine, thin hair looks fuller and healthier whenever I wash with this OGX product.

Can be found here.

What scent makes you happy?

Related Post:  Top ten best smelling candles for people with sensitive sinuses.

 

Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links to products.  We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Please note that I would only recommend products that I would use myself and all opinions are my own.

Life:  Friday Ramblings

My daughter was a little down because...

...Summer camp ended and school is still up in the air.  She's going to miss her friends and the special activities that the camp had planned for her daily.  Instead, she'll be stuck home working with her mommy.  It's a sad time to be a primary school student.

She got cheered up when...

...Mr. Softee made a return to our block!  He was wearing a mask, but it was him!  She ran out of the house so fast to get her favorite ice cream cone that daddy couldn't even keep up with her.

A car dealership tried to...

...rip us off again.  They wanted $1800 to replace the front and rear breaks.  Luckily my husband is handy.  He did the work himself for only $200 worth of parts.  The second that he said our SUV needed to go in for a recall, I started prepping myself for a high bill.  They always seem to find something wrong and it's always a million dollar job.

I'm laughing right now because...

...I just asked my two year old to put his bowl in the sink and he said "YES SIR" while saluting me!

I'm in the middle of a new read called...

...The Poet.  I find myself lingering in parking lots to get more reading in and to avoid unwanted tasks.

I'm really happy because...

...my Summer class ended which means I get a whopping two weeks without the added responsibility of college.  Only TWO more classes to go until I graduate.  I say it and I know that it's true, and still I just don't believe it.

I'm totally obsessed with...

...these car coasters!  I was uploading the Kalahari photos into our annual book and found them.  I already ordered (2) sets of these since coffee stoppers were outlawed where I live.  Ever since they were banned, everyone's coffee spurts out like a geyser every time we drive.  I showed my husband my new find.  He was unimpressed until I mentioned the splattered coffee that he's constantly complaining about. 

I'm completely FRUSTRATED with...

...Blogger!  They keep making changes and they're changing quicker than I can keep up with.  It took me two weeks to figure out to get rid of the double spacing between paragraphs.  I couldn't figure out how to get to my signature pink font color after it disappeared.  It took me a few days to figure out the new hyperlink buttons.  The sizes of fonts changed and were more options were added.  As a result, my large font is ridiculously large.  What's next?  Blogger- I think I speak for everyone when I say, it's just too much for us to handle at once!

What are your Friday Ramblings?

Review: Duke Cannon Supply Co. - Activated Charcoal Soap

I'm about to say a word that no one wants to hear right now, so I apologize in advance.

On Christmas, sorry again, I like to fill my hubby's stocking with silly but useful items.  One year it was reindeer poop chocolates that were actually really delicious.  Another year it was shower curtain rings because he lacks the ability to delicately enter the shower.  There have also been others such as Taylor Swift CDs, Hugh Jackman memorabilia, and a shaving bib.

This past year was a little more difficult for me since the clever idea area of my brain was empty.  That's when I stumbled upon a classic idea while browsing at Target.

Duke Cannon's Big Ass Lump of Coal Soap

While it didn't have the backing of an inside joke, it did get a chuckle and a shaking of the head.  It was also a teaching moment for Mushy when she realized Daddy was bad and got coal!

Related Post:  Top ten best coconut scented products that smell like the beach.

Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links to products.  We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Please note that I would only recommend products that I would use myself and all opinions are my own.

A Honest Review of Duke Cannon's Charcoal Soap.

What is the purpose of this product?

Activated charcoal soap is known to deep clean your skin, being extra beneficial to those prone to acne and extra oily skin.  It gets deep into your pores and removes all impurities.  While I'm not sure of the scientific backing of this, activated charcoal soap is rumored to remove toxins from the skin and even lighten or remove acne scarring.  Yay, because who wants to remember their favorite pimple?!

What do you like best about this product?

The first thing that I love about Duke Cannon's charcoal soap is the size.  It's honestly the biggest bar of soap I've ever seen!  In addition to it's size, it really does deep clean.  I try to limit it's use to once a week because it cleans so well that it can be drying to the skin.  After that weekly wash, my skin feels like it's been freed!  Build up from cosmetics and its own oils must be taking root in my pores because my Saturday morning wash this soap leaves my face looking and feeling like it was recharged.

What does "mischief & shenanigans" smell like?

It smells wonderful.  To me, it's a masculine scent that should linger on all men's skin.  The official scent of mischief & shenanigans is bergamot and black pepper.  Bonus points for whomever could tell me what a begamot is?!  The scent is subtle enough for me to like it.

Is this a costly item or reasonably priced?

I purchased the Duke Cannon Big Ass Lump of Coal soap for <$10 at Target.  For the size and frequency of use, this bar of soap will undoubtedly last us a year.  I would classify that as a bargain!

Is there anything else you think is worth mentioning?

I'm a huge fan of the company Duke Cannon Supply Co.
In the past, I've purchased numerous gifts for the men in my life.  They sell reasonably priced, useful gifts that won't get thrown in a drawer to never be seen again.  At least, I hope not.  In addition to selling a good product, they donate a percentage of all proceeds to veterans.  They also advertise being from a simpler time when men were chivalrous and handy.  These are things that I can and do totally support!

You can find a variety of scents of Duke Cannon Soap here.

Do you use any charcoal products?

Related Post:  Top ten best coconut scented products that smell like the beach.