Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #25: Butterfly Lane's Celtic Moonspice

Can you feel it? (Commmmmmmmmmmmin' in the aaaaaaaaaaaaaair tonnnnnnnight???)
*sniff sniff*
Fall is coming, folks!!! It's so close I can almost taste it!!

Butterfly Lane's Celtic Moonspice
Cold Rating: 7/10
Lit Rating: 7.5/10
Throw Rating: 7.5/10
Overall Rating: 7.5/10; all my favorite fall spices and homeyness wrapped up into one splendid scent. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, oh my! Pretty great throw, lingering smell. Lasted 6 hours in the bedroom. Not as strong or prominent as other vendors' wax with the same scent. Waiting for the heat and mugginess to arrive...oh wait, it is already here and has been here for a month. UGH. No me gusta the heat. Getting my hopes us for fall every year only to have it not last very long. Vendors opening and closing and opening again. Glad to have the chance to buy more of her products before fall!

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #24: BeauxSavonsFrais' Sugar Coma

This vendor has closed down from its original owner and has transferred to someone else in the wax world, so I have no idea if this scent still exists.

BeauxSavonsFrais' Sugar Coma
Cold Rating: 6.5/10
Lit Rating: 7/10
Throw Rating: 7.5/10
Overall Rating: 7/10; one of the very few scents I've melted from BSF that had a decent throw. Smelled like pink sugar with fruits, but really nothing beyond that. Decent staying power. Lasted 6 hours in the bedroom. Very lovely scent and I, unlike many people, love the really fine micro-glitter in her wax. Wanting my entire life to sparkle like glitter. Defunct vendors. Vendors selling their likeness. Confusion. Really good scents versus ones that are not so great. PINK SUGAR ALL THE THINGS!!! Lack of scent descriptions. Having so much wax I feel the need to burrow myself into a hole and melt nothing until it all walks away from my house.

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #23: A Bunch of Yankee Candle Tarts

I have a few Yankee tarts that I have been meaning to use up recently, so I am going to quick-style review them for you now. I remain unimpressed, unfortunately, because I want to like Yankee.

Like delicate keepsakes from the sea...the lovely scent of tuberose, lily and hyacinth blossoms balanced with soft watery notes.

Yankee Candle's Beach Flowers
Cold Rating: 6/10
Lit Rating: 5.5/10
Throw Rating: 5/10
Overall Rating: 5.5/10; look at this adorable label! Do not be deceived, that's how they suck you in to buy your products. This was just okay, one of the highest rated of the set I melted. Unfortunately, this only had a slight beach-powdery scent and nothing discernibly flowers. Medium throw, and this was crumbly for some reason! Usually, they come out of the wrapper really easy, but this was such a pain. I left this in the warmer because I was too lazy to change it out, but it didn't matter.

Artisanal honey is savored by those in search of flavors that delight on many levels. In that same way, this beautiful blend of flower nectar, honey musk, freesia and woods makes this rich fragrance both full and delicate. Don't be surprised to find its muskily sweet fine fragrance lends itself to delight afternoons of daydreaming.

Yankee Candle's Honey Blossom
Cold Rating: 6/10
Lit Rating: 6/10
Throw Rating: 5.5/10
Overall Rating: 6/10; the best of a very depressing bunch. Sweet floral but didn't leave much to the imagination. It sort of smelled like something LUSH-y, like something I've smelled in the past. Throw still not stellar or above average. Cute packaging again. Still, low throw, had to be in the bathroom to smell this. Lasted 4 hours.

Yankee Candle's Fresh Comfort
Cold Rating: 4/10
Lit Rating: 2/10
Throw Rating: 3/10
Overall Rating: 3.5/10; NOPE. This smelled like some sort of medical cream combined with the aroma of a thousand bathrooms. Nothing about this was towels or comfort or clean, it was just awkward to smell. Lowest throw of the bunch, but the cold sniff was off-putting. When I would lean in to smell this while melting, I got that weird cream scent. UGH, nasty. I only melted this for an hour because I wanted to move on.

Remember those sweet summer days of childhood innocence when the backyard was big enough to hold all your adventures? This nostalgic fragrance, with its warm breeze of soft flowers and fresh green fields will bring you back to those happy days. The fresh, green notes call to mind the outdoors and remind you slow and appreciate life's little moments. This scent, with its sweet, young floral essence, is anything but old-fashioned despite its nostalgic tendencies.

Yankee Candle's Summer Wish
Cold Rating: 4.5/10
Lit Rating: 4.5/10
Throw Rating: 4/10
Overall Rating: 4.5/10; AGHHHHHH, THEIR LABELS ARE SO CUTE. I am such a sad sucker when it comes to cute labels or designs. *blush* Anywho, this was nice, but light. I liked it because it really did smell like a field of greens and flowers with Yankee's really good dewy scent, but again, the lightness contributed to it not being awesome. It's disconcerting when you pay money for a lot of tarts and they just suck, you know? This stayed in the warmer for 5ish hours.

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #22: Up The Creek Scents' Raw Cake Batter

We made a lemon bundt cake the other day. With homemade lemon frosting.
In fact, we've been making all sorts of amazing stuff lately.
In honor of that cake, I melted this.

Up The Creek Scents' Raw Cake Batter
Cold Rating: 8.5/10
Lit Rating: 9/10
Throw Rating: 10/10
Overall Rating: 9/10; this scent was lick the air good, holy cow! It smelled just like a fresh batch of cake batter ready to be turned into delicious, fluffy dessert. So, so good. Slowly turning into a bakery lover one scent (like this) at a time. A tremendously phenomenal throw unlike that I have experienced personally from Up The Creek. Becoming a believer in the wax again. Luscious, velvety cake that almost smells like caramel or butterscotch mixed in with said cake. That wonderful scent lingering in the air for hours after you pull out a fresh baked cake out of the oven. Not eating it before it cools is a pain in the ass. Licking the beaters as a child. And, who am I kidding, as an adult. Memories of cooking with mom and grandma. Lasted 5 hours. REPURCHASE FOR SURE!!!

Wickless Wednesday: Current Favorite Songs!

I'm not addicted to only wax, yaknow. I am also addicted to music.
Every once in a while, I like to post what I'm jammin' out to, old and new!
What songs are taking you through the early part of summer? Let me know in the comments! :)

I am OBSESSED with "All of the Stars" by Ed Sheeran. This song is from the soundtrack to "The Fault in Our Stars" and it fits the movie perfectly. It has so much emotion, especially if you've read the book or seen the movie. You never know what the stars are telling you!

This is the lyrics video for "Stay" by Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko. Love this song. Again, another with lots of emotion behind it. Rihanna has had her troubles, so part of me thinks this song is about all of that. Well, we can all identify with the message behind this song...right? Anyways, I am not really a Rihanna fan, but this song is just splendid and haunting, too. You can hear the pain in her voice while singing it. Well...at least to me it sounds that way!

Eric Carmen's "Hungry Eyes" is from the soundtrack for "Dirty Dancing" and has been stuck in my head for a month and a half. The scene in the movie where this song is featured has one of the best ad-libbed scenes in movies. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey didn't get along on set, and when he was tickling her arm during a dancing training session, she kept laughing and giggling, thus pissing Swayze off enough to get annoyed. The faces he makes are 100% authentic because he really was getting mad, and this wasn't in the script. I love this movie so much, it's insane.

So, we reviewed "Jersey Boys" on our movie blog a couple of weeks ago. It was good, at least the music was. I got my hands on the soundtrack and I'm so glad I did. The song "Cry For Me" by Erich Bergen is just AMAZING! Really! He has such a soulful voice that it makes this song great. I hope he finds success after this movie because he was my favorite part of it. I Tweeted about this song and my dancing around to it, and Erich favorited the Tweet! I had a minor fangirl episode. ;)

Finally, we have another song from a movie! We recently saw "Begin Again," and though I am not a fan of Keira Knightley, the movie was really, really good! The song "Lost Stars"by Adam Levine and Keira Knightley (yes, she sings all her songs in the movie!!) was immediately stuck in my head upon viewing the trailer, and it's still stuck in my head even now. Strange, but Adam Levine is the movie, that's not a typo. When the two sing this song together, it's all sorts of magical. I love the lyrics, I love the tone, it's fantastic all around.

Again, what songs have you been rockin' lately? Let me know, I'm always looking for more music! :)

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #21: Better Homes and Gardens Zesty Lemon Peppercorn

Lemon and peppercorn? How odd...AND INTRIGUING.

Better Homes and Gardens' Zesty Lemon Peppercorn
Cold Rating: 7.5/10
Lit Rating: 8.5/10
Throw Rating: 8/10
Overall Rating: 8/10; fascinating scent pairs strike again! A wonderful gift from a great friend. <3 Extremely strong, great throw, lasted over a day with discernible scent, lovely scent altogether! The zestiness is mixed with some sort of pepper scent that reminded me slightly of a more citrusy version of black pepper bergamot. Look at the lemons on the front of this clamshell, gahhhh they look so juicy and delicious. Making a lemon cake for dessert. Needing a new pepper grinder. Loving pepper scents in wax.

Lightning Round Reviews #22: Happy (Belated) 4th of July Edition!

Unfortunately for me, I was sick all last week, so all of our BBQ/fireworks plans got ruined. My sense of smell and taste are about 50/50 now, but each day it's improving.
Let me tell you, waxy friends, I went to the worst case scenario QUICK.
"What if I never get my sense of smell back? What will a wax fiend like me do with a closet full of wax if it never comes back? What if it's a worse underlying issue (DAMN YOU, WEB MD!!)? What's the average price for a destash?!" LOL, ohhhhh brother.

Anywho, I have some melts to review for you this afternoon, so enjoy!

Streetman Candle Company's Bubblegum Blend
Cold Rating: 7.5/10
Lit Rating: 8/10
Throw Rating: 8/10
Overall Rating: 8/10; LOVED this scent! It was so sweet and yet a little tropical and creamy. YUM. I must get more of this. I haven't smelled a bubblegum scent like this before, most of them I don't like because they smell artificial. This one was so good. I left this going for 10+ hours in the bathroom because I didn't want to part with it. Great throw, strong while melting, all around amazing! Repurchase for sure!

Streetman Candle Company's Citrus Blend
Cold Rating: 7/10
Lit Rating: 5/10
Throw Rating: 5/10
Overall Rating: 5/10; unfortunately, this scent smells much stronger on cold sniff. The throw and warm melting scent was diminished and I'm not sure why because it was bright and fragrant while in its little cup. Oh well! I would repurchase something like this

Streetman Candle Company's Bomb Pop
Cold Rating: 6/10
Lit Rating: 8/10
Throw Rating: 6.5/10
Overall Rating: 7/10; slightly rounded up. Brilliant scent while warming. It smells just like those Astro-Pops lollipops, and omg, reminds me of my childhood. YUM. Sweet, fruity, delicious. Not super strong, but not weak, either. Lasted 6 hours in the bathroom total. I would absolutely repurchase this!

Streetman Candle Company's Cherry Chip Cake
Cold Rating: 6/10
Lit Rating: 3/10
Throw Rating: 6.5/10
Overall Rating: 5/10; this scent was not for me. There was cherry, cake, and chocolate, but while warming, all I could smell was chocolate. Josh said this smelled like vomit, which I didn't think, but it was not my favorite. This is not the fault of Streetman, it's that we don't like chocolate. The cherry note was nice, but nothing else was. I would give her cherry scents 1,000 more tries, but I should know better than to try chocolate. Lasted about 30 minutes before I had to dump it. Not a repurchase. SORRY, HEATHER! :(

Streetman Candle Company's Pink Peppermint Clouds
Cold Rating: 6.5/10
Lit Rating: 6/10
Throw Rating: 6/10
Overall Rating: 6/10; very nice representation of pink peppermint! Could have been stronger on the pink sugar side. Sweeter peppermint than I have smelled before, it seems. Lasted 5.5 hours in the bedroom. Would probably repurchase! Quite lovely.

Streetman Candle Company's Perfectly Pear
Cold Rating: 6/10
Lit Rating: 6/10
Throw Rating: 6/10
Overall Rating: 6/10; a sweet pear scent with no spice, straight pear. This sort of smelled like the Scentsy version of the scent Honey Pear Cider, but without the honey or the cider (does that even make sense)? I might repurchase this, it lasted for 4 hours in the bathroom.

Beezy Tarts' Cherries in the Snow
Cold Rating: 4/10
Lit Rating: 6/10
Throw Rating: 4/10
Overall Rating: 4/10; you know how almond and cherry sort of sound the same from time to time? Well, this was called cherries and smelled like almonds, but in a weird way. In a perfumey way. Not a favorite of mine, and that impacted how I felt about it. Melted this for 2 hours in the bedroom before we couldn't stand it anymore.

Beezy Tarts' Cactus & Sea Salt
Cold Rating: 6/10
Lit Rating: 5/10
Throw Rating: 5/10
Overall Rating: 5/10; one of my favorite scents from one of my favorite vendors, but unfortunately, this was not that strong. It was a little strong on cold, but for some reason, not while it was warming. I should have cut this in half, but I used the entire thing. Oh well. I wouldn't repurchase it from Beezy because, again, this is another scent every other vendor seems to carry. Lasted 5 hours in the bathroom but was only strong for about 1 or so.

Beezy Tarts' Goofy Grape
Cold Rating: 6.5/10
Lit Rating: 8/10
Throw Rating: 7.5/10
Overall Rating: 7.5/10; WOW, never just a scent by its name. I usually think I hate grape scents, but OMG, this was fantastic. It smelled so sweet, so fruity, and so great, that I think it changed my mind about grape scents altogether. Lasted strong for 4-5 hours, but I let it stay in for about 12ish in the bathroom. Definite repurchase!!

Beezy Tarts' Madam President
Cold Rating: 4/10
Lit Rating: 5/10
Throw Rating: 5/10
Overall Rating: 5/10; this was a strange mix of fruity and some sort of perfumey scent. I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it, either. It was not particularly strong, either, while warming or on cold sniff. I'd like to know what's in this, but I doubt it'd change my mind or enhance how I feel about it altogether. I let it melt for like 3 hours but might have taken it out sooner. Ehh, whatevs. Not a repurchase for me.

Beezy Tarts' Toasted Marshmallow
Cold Rating: 9/10
Lit Rating: 9/10
Throw Rating: 9/10
Overall Rating: 9/10; this is almost the most perfect toasted marshmallow scent! I wish it was a bit more toasted, but it was so, so good. And strong, too! Lovely, wonderful, Beezy is the best, etc. I would absolutely repurchase this, and I left this in the warmer for an entire day...it probably stayed strong for like 5-6 hours?

Beezy Tarts' Toasted Wildberry Mousse
Cold Rating: 7.5/10
Lit Rating: 6/10
Throw Rating: 7/10
Overall Rating: 7/10; a very nice scent, but I think it was old or something because there was a weird undertone to it that I didn't like. It sure was strong, but when melting, that undertone was all I could smell. Maybe it was a milky note, I don't know, but I don't think I'd repurchase this knowing that. Practically every vendor has wildberry mousse, so it's no real loss. I only melted this for 90 minutes because of the undertone.

Hope all you're having a wonderful July! <3

Random Picture Post: Non-Waxy Photos From the Last Few Weeks #11!

(Boring) Life update!
-Josh and I have been cooking all sorts of cool stuff this summer. We have been grilling again and loving it. Do you have any cool recipes you'd like to share?
-We've also been going to A TON of movies! Come check out our reviews on Lolo Loves Films!, we're doing a giveaway once we hit 100 Facebook likes!
-Manis on manis on manis.
-I was sick last week and couldn't melt anything, which sucked big time, but slowed my looking for/purchasing of unnecessary wax. My sense of smell still isn't 100% back yet.
-We saw my niece and nephew last weekend and had a blast making s'mores and watching the UFC. Good summer times!
-My brand new car already has a dent and scratch because some butt-head hit it and left, no note. I hope karma f**ks you up royally, whoever you are. Seriously.

How are you all doing? I hope you're ready to see lots of photos because I have been taking tons.

I hate to be one of those pet owners, but seriously, I have the best dog in the world. He provides us with an endless source of entertainment, even when he doesn't know he's doing it. Look how cute he is sleeping under the blanket!! LOOK!!!

Do you have a Trader Joe's near you? If so, run, don't walk, and pick this cold brew coffee concentrate up immediately. It is fan-freaking-tastic! We don't typically buy coffee beans (we opt for K-Cups since we have a Keurig and found a brand we like), but every once in a while, I want some iced coffee without having to drive all the way (read: down the street, LOL) to Starbucks (read: corporate whores). This stuff is strong, tasty, and really smooth.

Speaking of corporate whores, I go through phases where I do and don't want to go to Starbucks. I recently stumbled upon Better Buzz Coffee in Pacific Beach and I am obsessed. Their java is so, so good! Unfortunately, it's not the closest place in the world, so we don't go that often, but I look forward to when we do! This drink is called "The Best Drink Ever," and seriously, how can you pass this up if it has that name?!

Two weeks ago, we were at the Starbucks drive-thru (before I stopped going) and the gal in front of the silver car was texting the. entire. time. she was in the drive-thru. In fact, it wasn't until the silver car in the photo honked at her that we all moved up, about 1 minutes after someone had left. Well, she was so busy texting that she paid and drove off without her drink, but drove away still texting. She parked her car, got out, walked over to the drive-thru window (NOT THE INSIDE OF STARBUCKS LIKE A NORMAL PERSON) and pushed in front of the silver car while STILL TEXTING and grabbed her drink and walked away...while still texting. I don't want to be one of those "It Can Wait" promotional commercials, but good lord, HOLD OFF. I may or may not have rolled up my window in the off chance that I'd be shanked. Anywho, this ends the coffee section of my photo post.

This recipe is one of the greatest things I have ever made. Ever. It's called supreme strawberry topping and it's ridiculously easy to make. Take a basket of strawberries, cut them into smaller pieces, add 1/3 c. sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla into a saucepan and simmer on medium-high heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and mashing the strawberries occasionally to let out their juices. Let me tell you, the end result is magnificent. YUM.

Got the mail the other day and saw two June Bugs doin' it. I snickered. Yes, I'm also 6 years old. I also took a picture, but then felt bad about it because I was infringing on their private time....oh well, #SorryBoutIt.

As I mentioned before, summer means backyard bonfires! We had some friends over and made ourselves a nice little fire, complete with s'mores and drinks. It was a ton of fun! Summer is also a good excuse to turn on the patio lights and sit outside and read. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. :)

Have I mentioned lately that I love KBShimmer? Well, I do, and I have finally been doing my manicures with her polishes more! From top to bottom photo, we have: Partners in Lime (one of the best, coolest textured polishes I've ever used) Scribble Me This (looks like something out of the 80's) over You're So Shellfish (a fantastic sunsetty orangeish), Belle of the Mall (a super awesome pinkish/reddish jelly), and U Rock My Heart on top of Let's Not Coral. She has a couple more colors coming out in the end of summer and I am looking forward to rockin' those as well!

My happy little guy loves riding in the car. <3

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods, and I hope you're having a great summer!

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #20: Streetman Candle Company's Peachy Keen

For the longest time, I thought I hated peach scents. In fact, I was repulsed by the idea of them. Now, I like them! Yay for growing up and giving things a chance. :P

Streetman Candle Company's Peachy Keen
Cold Rating: 7/10
Lit Rating: 7/10
Throw Rating: 6.5/10
Overall Rating: 7/10; medium throw eases transitions into something I thought I disliked. Very bright, cheery peach scent, nothing much more to say about that because peaches are fun! Almost like a peach candy of sorts, maybe a very minor green undertone? Lasted about 3.5-4 hours in the bedroom. Would have been a good bathroom scent, too. Love the peachy color of the wax! Apparently liking peach scents after all. Peaches & cream. 112. High school music(al). Loving rap music and completely changing my musical likes. Anyone have any peach recipes?

Review: Jaimie Lauren Cupcakery and Confections in Wax's Legally Blonde

Often times, vendors try to come up with kitschy, creative names for their scents, and sometimes, the names they choose end up being so far removed from the scent and its notes it's not even funny.
Enter Legally Blonde (AKA blonde moment).
I feel like if Elle Woods had a signature scent, it would, in fact, be Legally Blonde. It's so bubbly and fun and fruity and, for lack of a better term, "girly."

This scent is sort of out of my comfort zone, which sounds crazy because everyone likes super fruity blasts of goodness...right? Well, I do to an extent. I prefer my scents pink, or minty, or floral, or fruity on the more lemony/citrus side of life. Legally Blonde seems to have a slight fizzy note to it in general, like champagne, which really enhances the raspberry/berry fruitiness! JLCCW's version is okay, but it's not the strongest I've ever had. In fact, I like this more on cold sniff than I do while it's warming. Something in the background of this scent wasn't my favorite, and that being said, it wasn't horrible. Maybe it was a strange fruit note that isn't in other blonde moment blends? Regardless, this was nice and makes me want to watch "Legally Blonde" again. ;)

~~~~~~~~~~
Jaimie Lauren Cupcakery and Confections in Wax's Legally Blonde
Cold Rating: 7/10
Lit Rating: 6/10
Throw Rating: 6.5/10
Overall Rating: 6.5/10; pretty alright throw. Not the best legally blonde/blonde moment I've ever tried, but it's still nice. Fruit explosion with a mix of champagne, but this is mostly fruit! Lasted 5 hours in the bedroom. Scents with weird names that are called things that sound nothing like anything in their scent notes. Movies from childhood being funnier as "real" adults. That time when Reese Witherspoon went crazy when she was drunk and pulled the "don't you know who I am?" card. Funny comparisons.

Off Topic Tuesday: A Post About Reading

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." ~Groucho Marx

There have been several times in my life where I thought I needed to read more.
I go through phases of finishing a book and moving quickly on to the next, but then, for some reason, I stop in lieu of technology, or TV, or....well, nothing.

There's really no excuse for my lack of enthusiasm when it comes to books.
I've mentioned before that my love of books and reading came somewhere between 6th and 9th grade, when school forced me to read some BS drivel that I had no interest in finishing.

There are so many freaking books out there, this is obvious.
I feel like if I'm not reading, I am missing out on some great experience.
The thing is, as an adult, I have discovered that I really do like reading.
(I prefer writing, though. I am a much better writer than I am a reader. But that's beside the point.)
I can be transported to a world beyond the pages, to a place where my imagination runs wild, where I can see the characters and situations in my head...so why the resistence?
As mentioned above, I blame technology. It's much easier to pick up my phone or put on a movie or scroll around online than it is to invest time, effort, and thoughts into a book.

Bottom line: I need to change this way of thinking.

Almost one year ago on this blog, I wrote a post about the books I wanted to read last summer. Looking back on it now, I see I have only read one of those books. ONE. And my list was only 8 books long! I know some of you go through that many books in a matter of a few weeks.

My post today, a year later, is about how to get into it.

• What makes you love reading? 
• What books affirmed your love of reading?
• What are the best books you have ever read?
• Is it wrong for adults to want to read books meant for young adults? Because seriously, I love "The Hunger Games." (My answer to this is NO, by the way)
• Do you read a book and then want to go watch the movie to compare?
• Do you have any tips or tricks for people "just" getting into reading? 
• Any tips or tricks to stay focused on reading?
• Do you do anything while reading? Maybe have a candle going (AHHHH, SEE??? We cannot escape the world of wax)? Do you drink tea or coffee?
• When do you read? At night, in the morning, any time you get a spare moment?

If I have missed any questions, please feel free to add to my list. I am at a crossroads in my imaginative life here, folks. I NEED TO START READING!!!