Saturday, May 31, 2014

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #12: Tiffany Candles' Fluffy Marshmallow

I wrote an essay when I was 10 years old about how clouds look like marshmallows; I sent it into PBS to win a prize.
I didn't win.
I have never forgotten this sting of rejection.
Tiffany Candles' Fluffy Marshmallow
Cold Rating8/10
Lit Rating: 9/10
Throw Rating8.5/10
Overall Rating8.5/10; so delicious and creamy and sweet and wonderful! Rivals Front Porch's marshmallow for my favorite. Very strong throw, in fact, this lingered for a long time. Melted for 12 hours, threw strong for about 7 of them. Unfulfilled childhood dreams. I still love PBS and NPR. Doing stereotypical 87 year old things. Marshmallow clouds. Flying in dreams to eat said marshmallow clowns (Deb has made me aware of this typo and I love it so much I am leaving it in here, LOLOL). Serendipity. Serendipity restaurant. Going to New York is my dream. Dreams of being a writer....but always holding onto the sting of rejection at 10.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #11: K's Kreations' Waffle Cone

If I had my dream ice cream, it'd be a big bowl of Spumoni in a waffle cone. With whipped cream on the side. And two cherries. Yeah, that's it...
K's Kreations' Waffle Cone
Cold Rating5/10
Lit Rating: 4/10
Throw Rating3.5/10
Overall Rating4/10; disappointed in the performance of this tart, it was not strong at all. Light wisps on cold, barely any warm throw. I had high expectations but they were not met. Light performance even in a small room. The fair is coming to town soon (the DEL MAR FAIR, not the San Diego County Fair [if you live in SD, you know understand this])!!!!! Never actually tried a waffle cone. Coldstone is so lackluster when it comes to ice cream. Stores that smell life waffles = HEAVEN. Breakfast. Bacon waffle. ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE!! Best coffee ever. Coffee and waffles are like lamb and tuna fish...the one true pairing. Points if you know the movie without Googling it!

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Random Picture Post: Non-Waxy Photos From the Last Few Weeks #10!

It's that time again, folks, time for a random picture post!
We like wine.
This is a good one.
AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH our new vacuum is pretty damn amazing! We went with a Shark Lift-Away Professional vacuum cleaner since it was waaaay less money than a Dyson Ball and we couldn't be more thrilled. It sure cleans like a motha!
Someone queue up "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You" by Savage Garden, please.
My first attempt at nail stamping! I bought some Cheeky brand nail stamping plates on Amazon with a gift card I got for Christmas and hopped to it. While the process was definitely labor intensive the first time, I really like the outcome! I can't wait to do more of these in the near future.
Last time Freddo got groomed, the lady who cut his hair knicked him. She told me she didn't think it would be that big of a deal and sent us on our way. When we got a look at it at home, it was a pretty bad cut and lasted over a month on his body. He had to wear the cone for about 10 days because he couldn't stop licking and picking at it. Poor thing. :(
I'm sure I mentioned to some of you that I recently broke my foot. A couple of days after my mom's wedding, my foot felt pretty bad, but never got better. We were walking into the movie theater and my foot just POPPED, and boom, broken 5th metatarsal. I have been in this boot for a month and now need to wear it at least one more. Luckily, I am getting used to my crutches, but it's still a pain in the ass.
This soap came with my May PopSugar Must Have Box. It smells DIVINE. I need to track it down and buy gallons of it. Has anyone tried this in soap, bath and body, or wax? It's an alluring mixture!
My trusty car-steed, Scully, was on her last limb...it has gotten to the point where we didn't want to drive anywhere because we were worried it would die. Well, we bought a new car! It's a 2014 Nissan Rogue and we absolutely love it! We had been looking for a while, and I had been doing research for a few months, and I have a feeling she's going to last us many, many years. :)
My favorite Starbucks drink at the moment: the iced hazelnut macchiatto. It's like a caramel macchiatto, but with hazelnut drizzle. Mmmmmmmm, I could go for one right now...
Sunnee mentioned on her blog that she was really close to the recent wildfires we had here in San Diego. Here's a map I took from the TV showing some of the locations of the fires. Now, about 4 more popped up over the course of last week that are not shown on the map. It was a scary week, even though we live closer to where the map says "San Diego". It definitely gave me flashbacks from the 2003 and 2007 fires we had, which were extremely close to where I lived at the time.
OMG, IT'S A GOOGLE MAPS CAR!!!!!!!
The first backyard bonfire of the summer! Oh, you can see our new lights, which we just recently added to the deck!
BEAN BUTT! I love that face he's making, like, "whatchu lookin' at, mama?!" LOL. <3
OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

Monday, May 26, 2014

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #10: Haley's Heavenly Scents' Lemon Chiffon

Do you have a favorite fruit?? One of mine is lemon. I know, I know, weird, right? But, lemon is so versatile. Pop some flour, sugar, and egg with lemon and get lemon cake. Put lemon and butter and capers together and you have a pasta sauce. Water and lemon and sugar? No problem, lemonade! YUM!
Haley's Heavenly Scents' Lemon Chiffon
Cold Rating: 6/10
Lit Rating: 6.5/10
Throw Rating6.5/10
Overall Rating6.5/10; creaminess mixed with lemon, right up my alley. Not intensely strong while warming and could have had a stronger throw. Small traces of cleaner lemon. Versatility of lemons in life. Pasta is my one "desert island food." Cold lemonade on hot, summer days. Mmmmmmmmmm, cake. What is chiffon? Reminds me of meringue. Double F's in words! Word search puzzles. Double Z's in words!! YAY!!!!111~~~``**

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Random Post: 12 Questions Tag!

Today, I wanted to do something fun and not (really) wax related!

Hope you like these tag posts, because I do! :)

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1. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
As far as domestically, it been my dream to go to New York at least one time in my life. I have always had a fascination with NY and everything related to it, so that would be a dream come true. Also, I have wanted to go to Australia, too, and I know that's not too exotic, but I'd love to go there sometime!

2. What made you start a blog?
At the time I started this blog, I was into big candle vendors like Yankee, Bath & Body Works, etc, and I had no idea the online wax vendor existed. A quick search made me find Scentsy, and from there, many of the vendors I have come to know and love today. I figured, why not blog about my experiences with vendors and scents in general, since there weren't too many blogs like that at the time. I haven't looked back since, even though I don't always update regularly!

3. What weapon would you bring with you in the zombie apocalypse?
I don't know how to shoot a gun, so that'd be useless. I don't know that I'd be any good with a smaller weapon like a knife, so I might pick a sword for the sheer size. Plus, if "The Walking Dead" has taught me anything, they are relatively quite, and noise attracts zombies, so that seems like a safe bet for me!

4. Would you rather only be able to wear 1 lipstick for the rest of your life or 1 nail polish?
One nail polish, and it would probably be something gold or silver and sparkly. I only wear one lipstick anyways (Lady Gaga's Viva Glam pink lipstick, seen here), so that's sort of a no-brainer.

5. How do you take your coffee? And if you don't drink any, what do you drink in the morning?
All the coffees + Lolo = HAPPY DAYS. I gotta have my java every day! I like the strongest, boldest, darkest roast I can find, usually dolled up with half and half and sugar or vanilla creamer. If I am going to Starbucks, I fluctuate between a tripe grande white mocha (no whip) and an iced hazelnut macchiato. Now I need some joe!

6. What is your favorite beauty product right now?
I am still loving the Naked 3 palette that Josh got me for Christmas. It's so simple and yet there are so many different things you can do with it! As far as that goes, I am loving the hemp hand protector cream from The Body Shop...that stuff works miracles.

7. What makes you feel the sexiest? (an article of clothing, a certain lipstick shade, a pair of shoes, etc?)
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...that's tough because I don't really think of myself as sexy. Funny, sure, cutesy, maybe, but sexy? Ehhhhh...If I am being honest, I'd probably say a good, deep red polish on my fingernails and toes.

8. What is your favorite blog or YouTube channel? (prepare for A TON of links, lol)
Wax Blogs (all in alphabetical order): Fragrance Obsessed (Sunnee), It's Always Something... (Deb), ScentsMakeMyDay (Ashley), YankeeCandleSisters (Jenna and Kari Ann)

Non-Wax Blogs: Dan The Movie Man Reviews (movie reviews) Plain Chicken (food), The Impulsive Buy (food reviews), What's Good at Trader Joe's? (Trader Joe's reviews)

Wax YouTube channels: Charmed Leo (Jason, but I don't know where he has been), Jessi Campbell (mah gurrrrrrrrrl), MericP86 (Maggie)My Random Favorite ThingsScentMyWay (Keren), Sheri Courtssuukasi (Karen), TheNoseKnows76 (Jason), TouchTheFireTwice (Josh), vnetta662 (Vnetta)

Non-Wax YouTube channels: Clean My Space (amazing cleaning tips), Crazy Russian Hacker (this guy is nuts, lol), DoItOnADime (living on the cheap), Epic Rap Battles of History (HILARIOUS), Essie Button (vlogs) (she's adorable and I want to be her friend), Grace Helbig (so, so funny, but NSFW), Lindsey Does Nails (the best nail vlogger...she's so awesome!), Sam the Cooking Guy's livecast (local San Diego chef, he's my fav!), Screen Junkies (movie trailers), Zoella

OMG that took forever. :P

9. What is one thing that you truly admire in another person?
Compassion and warmth, acceptance and honesty, and a well placed sense of humor. Also, the ability to get my weird ass sense of humor is a huge plus (and part of the reason Josh and I work so well together). ;)

10. What is your favorite color to wear on your nails right now?
Currently (and, well, always), I am loving pastels and glitter polishes. The more glitter, the better, and the more color, the better. Flashy is fun in spring and summer!

11.  What advice would you give to someone who's thinking about starting a blog or YouTube channel?
If you're starting a wax blog, be nice, but not too nice. Be critical, but don't be too critical. And never, EVER back down on your position. Don't just give good reviews in exchange for free wax, that's a BIG no-no. If you hate something, say it. If you love it, praise it. There's no point in lying. If a vendor is worth their salt, they will see your reviews and comments as a chance to change their business/formula/way of being and take your words as potential positive experiences or learning guides, not criticism or "haterade." Be yourself, be truthful, and most of all, have fun!

12. What is/was life like for you in high school and what advise would you give your past self now that you have lived through it?
At the time, I thought I knew it all. I thought I hated high school at the time, and sure, some of it sucked, but other parts were incredible, like getting to see my friends every day, getting to share and make fun memories with them, falling in love, even getting my heart broken a time or two was "fun" because I got to know some amazing people out of it. I didn't give a flying youknowwhat when I was in high school, but that all changed in college. I shaped up, got straight A's, and really bettered my educational habits in college. If I could give my past self advise, I'd tell myself to fight for things more: to fight for friends, to fight for love, to fight for what's right, to fight for my grades, to fight for myself.


Any and all of you with a blog/YouTube channel, PLEASE do this, these can be fun! :)

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #9: Beezy Tarts' Lavender Sugar Cookie

This week seems to be all about unusual pairs in wax, things that you wouldn't necessarily associate with one another. And I like it. I LIKE IT A LOT.
Beezy-Tarts' Lavender Sugar Cookie
Cold Rating7.5/10
Lit Rating: 8/10
Throw Rating7.5/10
Overall Rating7.5/10; Beezy's amazing sugar cookie scent mixed with a light floral lavender. Fantastic mix of another two scents that wouldn't necessarily be good together (or good together from every vendor in general). Beezy is the MAN! Good throw, solid performance. Purple is the greatest color. Cute picture on the label. Beezy doesn't restock too often. Needing unlimited supplies of Beezy. NOT CHRIS BROWN (ugh he's the worst). Lavender fields. Crabtree & Evelyn. Malls = annoying teenagers and too much cheese. Moving stairs = 'MURICA. Backwards hats. Lost focus.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #8: Candles from the Keeping Room's Full Moon

Do you like the moon? Well, if you don't, you might as well forget the beach and the ocean and your life because THE MOON IS AMAZING and TIDES and STUFF.
#ProMoon.
You know what's even more amazing? Full moons. No, not the "drop your pants as a teenager" kind, the "in the sky kind," ya heard?
Candles from the Keeping Room's Full Moon
Cold Rating6/10
Lit Rating: 8.5/10
Throw Rating8.5/10
Overall Rating8.5/10; orange and clove are the perfect combination. This was good even in the spring. Strong throw, amazing scent. Faith in CFTKR re-instilled. I want this as a car air freshener. Reminders of fall and Halloween, which leads to CHRISTMAS!!! Don't get the wrong impression, I've never mooned anyone. Being pro moon might save your life.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #7: Pics, Petals & Scents' Cucumber Mint

Do you like cucumber scents? I have realized lately that I am in love with them, if they are fresh and not vegetable smelling.

On another note, I want to wish my wonderful husband a happy, happy birthday! I love you dearly! <3
Pics, Petals & Scents' Cucumber Mint
Cold Rating7.5/10
Lit Rating: 8/10
Throw Rating7/10
Overall Rating7.5/10; very lovely fresh and spa type scent. Great balance of cucumber and mint. Reminds me of walking into a Bath & Body Works in 1997. Another unexpected pairing that I totally dug! Great throw, too. Cucumber > zucchini. Zucchiniawfulbread. Minty freshness. Toothpaste? Cucumber melon throwback to 7th grade. Meeting lifelong friends in 7th grade. Middle school was awful. Do any of these ever make sense?!

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Review: Candles from the Keeping Room's Orange Cream Filled Twinkie

I hate to admit it, but when Twinkies went away for a while there, I died a little inside.
(One of the main reasons is because, at the time, my mom's fiance worked for the company and got pretty majorly screwed over, but that's a story for another day, kids)
Twinkies are, ashamedly, delicious and wonderful and magical.
...just not in wax. For me, anyway.
Since scents like vanilla, marshmallow, and some cake blends tend to be lighter by nature, the the scent they are coupled with needs to be wonderful and bring out the good parts of the Twinkieness.
I don't know if it's the 'orange' or the Twinkie, but I didn't particularly like this scent. To me, this smelled more like something else completely mission from the scent description...I can't put my finger on it, but it almost smelled like something with watermelon. I don't know if this was mislabeled, but it sure didn't smell orangey.
Given all this, I did let it melt for quite a few hours since I (sort of) avoided the bedroom. I didn't know what to make of this one and I tend to believe it was mislabeled, or maybe I'm wrong and I just don't like it. Either way, not a repurchase for me.

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Candles from the Keeping Room's Orange Cream Filled Twinkie
Cold Rating5/10; not really bad since this is a paraffin tart.
Lit Rating: 4/10; I just didn't really like this one bit. It was strange and not orangey.
Throw Rating5/10; average throw, but I didn't mind because I didn't care for this.
Overall Rating5/10; something about orange and Twinkies doesn't match. Hostess can suck it. Twinkies > Ding Dongs. Ding dong the witch is dead? Sun Man tarts are the best! Man in the wax watching me...Paranoia setting in! WAX MAN WATCHETH!!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #6: Candles from the Keeping Room's Cranberry Yuzu

I scream, you scream, we all scream for.......yuzu????
Candles from the Keeping Room's Cranberry Yuzu
Cold Rating5/10
Lit Rating: 8/10
Throw Rating6.5/10
Overall Rating7/10; fresh yuzu mixed with sweet cranberry for a wonderful, tranquil blend. A really great scent! Loving fresh/fruity blends as of late. A scent I would have never purchased without getting it from a sampler. Changing ideals and scent favs. Wondering, "can my neighbors smell my wax?" Could have done with a bit more throw. Slightly rounding up on this one.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #5: Streetman Candle Company's Pom-Pom Noel

Go team, GO!
Pom-Pom!
TAUNTAUN!!!!!!!!
Streetman Candle Company's Pom-Pom Noel
Cold Rating6/10
Lit Rating: 6.5/10
Throw Rating6.5/10
Overall Rating6.5/10; sweeter while melting than on cold sniff (to me, at least). Never having anything except Pomegranate juice. Star Wars references. Obsession with vanilla bean noel. Streetman's 1-ounce scent shots kick major ass!

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #4: Scentsy's Wishing Well

Hey, hope all is well in your neck of the woods! My foot is healing SLOWLY and I am losing my mind.
"Neighbors" was kind of lame.
My birthday was this past Wednesday and I realized I didn't melt anything I had set aside for that day, LOL. Fail on my part.
I am trying to get through my Scentsy bars from, like, almost 4 years ago, so if you see a lot of that brand, that's why! :)
Scentsy's Wishing Well
Cold Rating7/10
Lit Rating: 6.5/10
Throw Rating6/10
Overall Rating: 6.5/10; could have been stronger while melting. Nice fresh/spa scent. Bars too expensive for such a low amount of wax. Fear of spas in general. Masseuses touching you. Weird robes and slippers. Scentsy Element warmers cool looking, but wattage too low (12-13 watts, R-U-KIDDING??). Almost done with Scentsy bars. BBMB is like "fetch," it's not going to happen. Needing a better Scentsy rep (other than eBay, LOL).

Friday, May 2, 2014

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #3: iheartwax's Coconut Leaves

Heeeeeey, y'all!
As you're probably all too aware, I complain a lot about the heat.
My idea of a perfect day is 65 degrees with clouds in the bright blue sky...
....but this week was not that perfect week.
This week, we have had Santa Ana winds, knocked over trees and some downer light poles, and hot, dry temperatures. It had been 90+ degrees since Monday, and we live right by the ocean! UGH.
Anyways, since it was hot here, I have been gravitating towards fruity or tropical scents. I've got one to share with you today!
iheartwax's Coconut Leaves
Cold Rating: 7/10
Lit Rating: 7/10
Throw Rating: 7.5/10
Overall Rating: 7/10; very authentic coconut smell. Could have been stronger. Nice dupe of the B&BW scent. Hawaii. Needing more pina coladas. Backyard is a mess from the wind. Hot weather. Sleeping with the air conditioner on. Like a hotel, but in my house.