Book Reviews: The Chalk Man, The Fellowship of The Ring, The Night Circus, Ways to Hide in Winter

Reading Challenge update time: Absolutely the most gratifying group of books I've read this year. All attending to different moods, not the least of which was tackling a book hovering on my to-be-read list for over 20 years. Fantasy--Fiction, classics--adventure stories--legendary--Middle earth--might Elrond's council end soon? I need another cup of tea--skip the prologue The...

Wax haul-That Smell Good Shop

Seventy-five: the number of days I lasted in-between wax purchases; not my most impressive achievement, but not a bad start either. My seventy-fifth wax-free day celebration purchase? That Smell Good Shop. The vendor reappeared on my radar this fall after losing track of them for awhile, as the owner converted from former brand name Wilma's Handmade. I...

Teaser Tuesday: Ways to Hide in Winter

It's been a bit since I shared a book teaser, mostly because I've been immersed in classic novels but I also haven't had the time even with relatively newer stuff. Not wanting to let this debut novel slip by unnoticed, I'm sharing a quick tease of my current read.  Ways to Hide in Winter | ...

Sea Witch Botanicals- essential oil soap and incense

Sea Witch Botanicals are purveyors of natural home fragrance, cosmetics and bodycare. I discovered this shop when a potter I follow, Kelsey Star Stuff, raved about the incense and shared a follower discount code on her instagram. Nothing peaks my interest in a shop more than good word-of-mouth. Pair that with an introductory offer and...

Wander and Whimsy: silver Mountain studs

The last time I bought myself a pair of earrings was...so long ago I don't remember, my guess is decades at least. I've been gifted a few pairs over the years, and it's true that I prefer silver rings and stretchy bracelets. Occasionally I experience metal sensitivity which means my earrings languish in my trinket...

The Cleveland Candle Co: diy custom candle

The deeper into the wax fragrance world I dive, the more I crave creating custom blends. Brainstorming, list-making, debating, rearranging, complementing; there's nothing more satisfying than smelling a scent which is a manifestation of your own personal taste. It's this notion that The Cleveland Candle Co. caters to. This past July, I went to Cleveland Candle's...

Death Eaters Tea Club-quarterly Autumn box

Welcome back fellow Death Eaters and Potterheads who find themselves drawn to the dark arts. Another season has come to pass and with it, a new quarterly box delivery from Death Eaters Tea Club. The fourth in the series of DETC boxes saw a slight price increase to align it with the Auror tea box;...

October Superlatives

October will forever be a month in which I grit my teeth to get through the memories of loss, but this one had some real dumpster fire days. Stress monsters appeared from multiple directions resulting in the appearance of physical hives for a few weeks that I'm still trying to relieve. Years ago, a dermatologist...