Favorite Video of the Week

I've said before that I listen to a lot of different music and this is different from most of the others that's I've shared. It's not metal and if you've heard of Hollywood Undead before and didn't like their music, you might like this song. They have a lot of different styles that they record and this is one of my favorites.

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a 'Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to great samples at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received:

The two artificial ferns I reviewed yesterday
a $5 amazon gift card from crowdtap

Did you receive any freebies this week?

Review: Silk Plants Direct

I live in an apartment and we don't have a balcony or a patch of dirt outside our door to plant things and frankly I have a black thumb when it comes to real plants, I mean I somehow killed an air plant! Not even kidding. So I like artificial plants. 

I was contacted by someone who represents Museum Trees, who are the leader in the manufacturing of indoor/outdoor museum trees exclusively for commercial projects and the wholesale trade. Their website is quite impressive. I was asked to pick a product from Silk Plants Direct to review and I would get to keep it. I settled on the Fern Hanging Basket because it reminded me of one of the fern's my mom had when I was a kid.

The one I picked came with 2 ferns and they look quite nice. They both came with a green basket and material already attached to the plant to hang it with. I like that I was able to bend the leaves around to make it look the way I wanted and I like the feel and color of the baskets.

I hung both of them in my living room because I don't have any other plants fake or otherwise in my living room and these really brightened things up. Ken likes them because he said he misses having plants around but I can't keep them alive so this is the next best thing.

Silk Plants Direct Special Reader Discount:

This is a unique offer just for my readers who wish to buy at Silk Plants Direct. You can use this code, "BLOGGER10 " to receive 10% off their products except custom. 

Do you have any artificial plants in your home? Would you consider buying any?

Disclaimer: I was sent a free product in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite Picture of the Week

I was playing ball with Falcor and snapped this picture of my goofy dog. 

Review: Tea Tree Oil Dandruff Conditioner by Maple Holistics

Product Description

TEA TREE OIL CONDITIONER dry hair treatment oil blend nourishes hair with essential oils & antioxidants to protect + moisturize + repair damage + stimulate follicles & is great for color treated hair.

HAIR STRENGTHENING TREATMENT anti-dandruff conditioner helps relieve scalp itch + dryness + flakiness while improving hair strength. Silk amino acids work together to strengthen hair & fortify hair.

My Review

I have long hair and like to try out new products to see if they are any better than what I'm currently using. I've now used this conditioner 5 times, it left my hair feeling soft, manageable and easy to comb through. 

Now I know so many people get told to only apply conditioner to the ends of their hair and I don't know what started that but I always apply conditioner to all of my hair and this said it has a cooling effect on the scalp which was interesting. I felt the cooling effect a little bit while rinsing it out but felt it more once the cool air hit my head.

I'm rather particular about the scent of the products that I use and the scent for this is a bit over powering because it smells like menthol and I don't particularly like that. It did leave my hair feeling soft once my hair was dry but I don't like the scent at all. 

If you'd like to try this, you can find it here. 

Disclaimer: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. 

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

"I'm a pirate. Arrr, matey."

*Picture courtesy of @Poppy'sMischief*

"No, he's not poopin' croutons, I wouldn't be eating this if he was." 

*Picture courtesy of me. lol *

"Are you lookin' at me?"

Review: My Viking Vampire by Krystal Shannan

Book Description

She’ll fight them to the end…

…Or die trying.

With enemies closing in on her, Bailey Ross has nowhere to run–except into the arms of a sexy stranger, who promises to keep her safe.

But the irresistible and mysterious vampire, Erick Thorson might be a little more than she bargained for. As they begin to grow closer and their chemistry ignites, they realize that their lives are more in jeopardy than ever before. Can Erick live up to his promise of sanctuary in a world of danger and doom?

My Review

Bailey Ross is on the run from her abusive ex. But he is an investigator for SECR Southeast Coast Republic and his job helps him find her even though she keeps moving to try and stay away from him. Right from the very beginning we find out that the supernatural species came out and stopped living in the shadows about 50 years ago. The supernaturals are known as Others now and some Republics have banned them from becoming citizens. Not everyone is welcoming the Others even though they've always been around. Things really changed for the worst after that and now women are often married off between the ages of 17 and 18 usually and those who aren't married are little more than prostitutes that live in brothels. 

Not only is Bailey on the run from her ex but she now has to contend with a Djinn, that's when Erick runs into her and helps her. Erick let's Bailey know that the Djinn is stalking her and she's in danger. He's going home and offers to take her with him to a place that the Djinn isn't welcome. She has no money, no family and no other choice so she accepts. 

They go to a place called Sanctuary and a lot of Others live there as well. I really liked how welcoming everyone was to Bailey and how easily she fit in with everyone. 

The town was interesting, it had a cafe, a clothing shop and a castle that was also a fetish club. All of these places were owned and run by Others who had really interesting powers. Because Bailey had been beaten and abused by her ex, she wanted nothing to do with the fetish club. I really liked how comfortable she felt with Erick, how safe he made her feel and how easily they just fell together so fast. She isn't used to trusting anyone and it took her some time to trust him but I can understand the yearning to feel safe and replace the horror she's lived with happy, safe feelings. 

Things are going really well and she and Erick are getting closer when they find themselves and the town in real danger. There's a huge twist in this story and I loved it because it really fit, things get wild and it's not hard to see how she was meant to be there all along. I loved the ending, it was everything I could have hoped for with this story and I'm looking forward to reading more of this series and getting to know these characters. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Favorite Video of the Week

This is my favorite song this week. The lead singer's voice is really something.

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a 'Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to great samples at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received:

15 free prints from Snapfish
Salonpas pain patch
Maple Holistics Tea Tree Conditioner

I have a folder on my computer with digital pics that I want prints of so when these places have specials for free prints I get them printed.

I used the Salonpas patch before and I really didn't feel any pain relief from it.

I like the conditioner. It has a cooling feeling on the scalp when you use it and left my hair feeling really soft.

Did you receive any free samples this week?

Recipe: Cauliflower and Avocado Salad

I've been trying out different raw vegetable salads since I tried and liked the Broccoli Salad. So I looked in my fridge and took out a bunch of ingredients and thought this would make for an interesting cold salad. The dressing really made this taste good and I'll definitely be using it again. 

What You'll Need: 

3 large cauliflower florets, cut into bite size pieces

1 Large broccoli floret, cut into bite size pieces

1/2 Red bell pepper, chopped

2 Tomatoes, chopped

2 avocados, chopped and divided

2 TBSP Cilantro, chopped

2 TBSP Fresh lemon juice

1 Green onion, chopped

1 tsp. mayonnaise

1/4 tsp. salt

What To Do: 

Add the chopped cauliflower, broccoli, bell pepper and tomatoes into a large bowl and mix together. Add in 1 1/2 of the chopped avocados and mix together. 

In a small bowl combine 1/2 of an avocado that's been chopped and use a fork to mash it really well. Add lemon juice, mayo, green onion, cilantro, and salt. Mix really well and pour over salad. Mix until salad is thoroughly coated and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. I added a little roasted sunflower seeds to my bowl of salad and I really liked that. 

Does this sound like something you might try?

I'm a guest reviewer at I Smell Sheep!

Book Description

In a beautiful compound hidden away from the world, Emeline Sanchez tries to blunt the pain that has wracked her body ever since her terrifying ordeal in the labyrinth beneath the city—when she was forced to exchange blood with an evil master vampire. 

Now, it’s his voice that haunts her...that calls to her in the dark...that never lets her rest. And while the children that she helped to free from his clutches struggle to heal, watched over by their Carpathian protectors, Emeline knows one thing: She must sacrifice herself to keep them all from harm...

For her beauty is irresistible to the vampires, her psychic ability like a drug. Whipped into a frenzy, they’ll never stop coming for her. And only the taste of one Carpathian warrior—the rush of his blood—can save her...

I'm a guest reviewer over at I Smell Sheep where I reviewed this book. If it sounds good to you, go read my review. This is one of my all time favorite series.

You can find the review at I Smell Sheep.

Review: Naughty Boss by Whitney G.

Book Description

He definitely wasn't supposed to get that email...

Subject: My Boss.

Have I already told you that I hate my boss today?

Sexy as hell or not, this pompous, arrogant, ASSHOLE asked me to pick up his dry cleaning the second I walked through the door. Then he told me that I needed to take his Jaguar to a car wash that was ten miles outside of the city, but only after I needed to stand in a never-ending line to buy some type of limited, hundred-dollar watch.

I honestly can't wait to see the look on his face two months from now when I tell him that I'm quitting his company and that he can kiss my ass. KISS. MY. ASS.

All those former fantasies about him kissing me with his "mouth of perfection" or bending me over my desk and filling me with his cock are long over. OVER.

Your bestie,

Mya

PS--Please tell me your day is going better than mine...

Subject: Re: My Boss.

No, you haven't already told me that you hate your boss today, but seeing as though you've sent me this email directly, I know now...

Yes, I did ask you to pick up my dry cleaning the second you arrived to work to day. (Where is it?) And I did tell you to take my Jaguar to the car wash and pick up my thousand-dollar watch. (Thank you for taking five hours to do something that could be accomplished in two.)

You don't have to wait two months from now to see the look on my face when you tell me you're quitting. I'm standing outside your office at this very moment. ( Open the door. )

No comment on your "fantasies," although I highly doubt they're "long over."

Your boss,

Michael

PS--Yes. My day is definitely going far better than yours...

My Review

When I first read the blurb I knew I had to read this. It's hilarious. How awful would it be to have your asshole boss read an email about him? Yeah, really bad. I would have packed my stuff and high tailed it out of the office but this novella gave me so much more. 

Michael is the CEO of a publishing company and Mya gets hired as his executive assistant. Michael is known for being a playboy and being with a different woman every night but his name has been in the tabloids far too often so he's changing his ways so his name isn't tarnished anymore than it already is. 

In walks Mya and even though she's the best executive assistant he's ever had, he's a total douche bag to her. She puts up with him for over a year and then decides to start looking for work elsewhere. That makes her boss, Michael crazy. At first I didn't understand why he didn't just let her go but then he mistakenly gets sent an email that was meant for Mya's best friend and things definitely take an unexpected turn. 

These two were so much fun to watch and see inside their minds. The emails and banter between these two were hilarious. This is a short quick novella that is super steamy and fast paced. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

"I think I'm stuck in the corm."

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

"I really didn't need a baff but I don't mind being a ratty burrito."

Review: Undaunted by Diana Palmer

Book Description

The only man she wants is the one who’ll never forgive her… 

Falling in love with her boss’s handsome millionaire neighbor was easy for young Emma Copeland. Despite the vast differences between them, and a past that’s left Connor Sinclair reclusive and wary, Emma gambles her heart on a desire that rocks them both. But there’s something Connor doesn’t know: Emma is responsible for an accident that changed his life forever. 

Connor lives by rules intended to protect both him and his vast wealth. Emma’s innocence is the only thing that’s ever broken through his cold reserve, but now his trust is shattered. By the time he realizes how much he stands to lose, it might take a miracle to win her back. But it’s a challenge he’ll gladly face for the woman and the family he needs more than his next breath… 

My Review

Emma works as an author assistant and had a bad childhood growing up. She's not used to the rich people that her boss entertains. But one person in particular bothers her more than he should, Connor has never been very nice to her but that doesn't stop her from having feelings for him. 

Connor is cold and likes his privacy. He always seemed to be angry at one thing or another but that might just be his way of keeping people at arms length because he didn't want to let anyone close enough to hurt him. 

The banter between these two right from the start made me laugh. While Emma was young, naive and emotionally scarred, she still gave as good as she got even if it did upset her afterwards she didn't let him see it for the most part. 

Something happens to Connor and his personality changes, the next time he runs into Emma he's different and they start to hang out. This part made me a little mad because nothing good ever comes from lying. She should have just told him the truth right away instead of keeping it from him. 

Connor is a hard man to be around but it was nice to see the other side of him as well. Emma and Connor were just right for each other and I really liked how well they got along when he wasn't being a hardass. While I didn't really care for Connor all that much, I loved Emma. 

I was a little more than half way through the book and the story took a turn that really pissed me off. I actually had to put the book down for a few days. I've never had that happen before. But like I said earlier, she should have been truthful with him from the beginning because if she had maybe some of what she went through wouldn't have happened. But the stubbornness, one track mindedness and his thoughts about having a family made this story take a very sad turn and I hated it. Thankfully it's a romance and we all know that with romance reads we get an HEA or at least we expect it so I had to read more to see what would happen and I was glad that I did. 

I can only hope that Connor feels bad for the rest of his life about what Emma went through and makes sure that she is happy every day because she sure deserves it for putting up with this guy. He might not be your typical hero and he sure does have some flaws, some big flaws in his personality but he knows when he's wrong and makes up for it. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Favorite Video of the Week

This week I was going through some youtube videos and listening to some songs I'd never heard before. This is one of those song. It's one of my favorites this week.

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a 'Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to great samples at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received:

PCA Skin Acne Gel
Vichy Mineral 89 Skin Booster
Magnetic Air Vent Mount for Mobile Devices

I gave the Magnetic air vent mount to my daughter since I don't have a cell phone and she liked it, said it works really well.

I used the Vichy skin booster and it left my face feeling soft.

The PCA acne gel is just like other acne gels I've used as they dry out the pimple and in that way it seems to work just as well as any of the others that I've used.

Did you get any freebies this week?

Recipe: Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

I made a different version of this a while back and wanted to try it with other ingredients, so here's my recipe. 

You'll need

3 large broccoli florets

1 large cauliflower floret

1 tomato, chopped

1 avocado, chopped

1 green onion, chopped

roasted sunflower seeds

Dressing

3 TBSP of your favorite salad dressing

2 TBSP Freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp. mayonnaise

Mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. 

Chop all ingredients into bite size pieces and add to a large bowl. Pour dressing over salad and toss well. Let sit in the fridge for an hour before serving. Sprinkle a TBSP of sunflower seeds over salad right before serving. 

My daughter came over the day I made this and she loved it. It's one of my favorite things to make for lunch now because you can add so many different ingredients to it to make it how you like. And in case anyone was wondering, I used my favorite cilantro lime salad dressing in the dressing for this. 

Does this sound like something you would try?

Review: BirchBox- August

I decided to sign up for a Birchbox subscription box. It's only $10 a month and this month's box came with 5 products. 

In this box was...

Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel for eyebrows

GlamGlow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment for your face

Marcelle City Multi-Protection Tinted Cream with SPF 25

Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect Leave in Conditioner

Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo

All of these products are new to me so I was exited to start trying them out. I don't usually do much with my eyebrows (shocking, I know) and I've never plucked them (gasp!) so the fiber gel for eyebrows isn't something that I would normally buy but I did use a little of it and it looked fine. It wasn't too thick or weird looking, it just made my eyebrows look a little darker.

I used a little of the tinted cream and well as the hydrating treatment for your face and both are nice smelling products. The tinted cream really didn't have much of a tint to it but I appreciate the SPF 25 and the hydrating treatment left my face feeling soft.

I love leave in conditioners since my hair is long, it's nice to find different things to try to keep the tangles at bay.

The dry shampoo is another that left a fine white powder residue in my hair. I have dark brown hair so I really don't want to look like I've played in the flour or put baby powder in my hair so I didn't care for that.

This is my second BirchBox and over all I liked most of the products.

Does this sound like a subscription box you would sign up for?

Review: No Ifs, Ands, or Bear's About It by Celia Kyle

Book description

The first day of Mia’s new life in Grayslake, Georgia is not going as planned.

The house her grandfather left her looks ready to crumble, boxes cover every inch of the floor and—oh—there’s a bear cub in her pantry. It gets worse when the cub’s uncle comes by and busts out his fur and claws while on her front porch. Then it gets loads better because suddenly there’s a hot hunk of badge-wearing werebear on her lawn ready to rescue her. Yum. Of course, he has to ruin things by trying to take the cub out of her hands. Ha! The cub is hers… No ifs, ands, or bears about it.

Werebear Ty can’t seem to get the curvaceous, delectable Mia to understand that, even if she is one-quarter werebear, she isn’t keeping the cub. Ty is the Grayslake Itan, the clan’s leader, and the little werebear is going home with him… Unless it isn’t. It’s her smile. If she’d stop smiling and being gorgeous, his inner-bear would support him and Ty would get his way. But the beast wants to make their woman happy, so it’s perfectly content to let her do as she pleases. Then things change. Threats arise, danger comes close, and Ty demands she return to his den. No ifs, ands, or mates about that.

My review

This is the first book in the Grayslake series and I loved it. It's starts right off with Mia finding a bear cub in her pantry. Next thing she knows there's a drunk, angry shifter at her door demanding she give him the cub. But Mia knows that the cub is scared of this guy and right before things get really bad the police show up and cart this crazy guy off. Mia is part werebear and after looking after the cub for a little while she plans on keeping the cub but Ty, the clan leader isn't about to let her keep the cub. He thinks it'll just be that easy, he'll say no and she'll just do what he says but things are never that easy. 

Mia inherited her grandfather's home when he passed away, she knew about shifters since she is part werebear even if she wasn't able to shift. So she knows that there are shifters where she now lives but that doesn't make things easier for her when Ty wants her and the cub to come back to his home. 

I really liked Ty's brothers and some of the other werebears. Because Ty is the clan leader he's expected to mate with another werebear who can give him cubs that can shift. But because Mia is only part werebear and can't shift, it brings up problems for their relationship even if he and his bear want her because of what the clan expects from him. 

I really liked their romance, their relationship and the drunk uncle's story line as it unfolds. I really liked that Mia was so taken with the adorable werebear cub and fought so hard to keep him safe. It was also fun to see how werebear hierarchy and politics in the group worked. I really like the world that this author has built and I'm looking forward to reading more of this series. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of Cindy Rogers*

"Human, let go of my cupcake. Don't make me bite you."

*Picture courtesy of Cindy Rogers*

"I went shopping and got lots of treats."

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

"These check out lines are always so long!"