I'm Back!: An update on my life and what is to come

Just a quick shout-out to all my followers past, present and future. I thank you so much for following even though I have been gone for some time. Something about deployment and single-parenting make it a bit difficult to keep up with things not Navy or child related.

On that note, Lily will be visiting her grandparents this summer, so I can start to focus on self-improvement.

A few things on the list that I will try to update about every other day, if not every day, will be my (hopeful) transformation into a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle. Being in the Navy forces me to focus on health, nutrition and fitness on a regular basis, so I am going to be looking into that a lot with my blog.

I also want to point out that I was recently diagnosed with anxiety and depression after being in a pretty messed-up marriage, so I'm going to share my journey dealing with that along with coping mechanisms and other useful things I learn along the way.

Every now and again I will also share stories from my travels underway. I was lucky enough to participate in  Pacific Partnership 2016 last year, and I have many stories I would like to share.

I will be reviewing products like Arbonne ( I am a consultant and do make commission off of if, though I just started like three days ago and will post more information about that when the time comes) which is a vegan certified and gluten-free company that provides nutrition, beauty products and skincare, that will go along with my attempt at a better lifestyle.

I'll probably also talk about my new love, Spider Gwen, and my Convention experiences as they happen.

There is a lot in store for this summer, and I'm going to try to make the best of it for my readers!

Just remember that my posts are not endorsed by the Navy, and anything I say about a product has absolutely nothing to do with the military, Navy, Department of Defense, or anything else of that nature.

Welcome to Chromedome: A Filmmaker Review by Eric B. Turnbull -- Guest Post

Check out the Indigogo campaign!

Where has all the originality gone in the modern-day film industry? Too often in the last decade, movies have consisted of a mere retelling, spinoff, or “fresh” perspective on another. Fearing the considerable risk of failure that originality may bring, the Hollywood film industry has been reduced to cobbling together overused tropes and has stripped ideas from other artists.  The colossal expense of making movies, from actors’ salaries to the cost of special effects, weighed against the fickle hearts of the masses is enough for anyone to lean toward the safe bet of tried and true tropes. So where does that leave us? Are we doomed to cycle through the same stories over and over until they’ve been so whitewashed that even the simplest minds to entertain catch on? I declare to you now: no. The art of film is still a flourishing, ever-expanding medium of entertainment; we’ve simply forgotten or never knew where to look. This all-pervading ignorance would be the doing of the Hollywood film industry hedging its bets and dazzling the public with a shiny new version of the same old thing, drawing attention away from the genuine originality of the independent filmmaker. 

Long time no see, folks!

Well, I've been absent a long while, but I"m going to revive this blog to the best of my ability.

My last post was in September of 2013 and many things have changed since then.

January 2014 I began the process of joining the United States Navy. By May, I was on my way to boot camp, and in July I was officially a U.S. Navy Sailor.

I went through Navy Mass Communication Specialist A-School at Fort George G. Meade, MD, at the Defense Information School. After 8 months of education, May of 2015 I went to my first command, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East in Norfolk, VA. I was slated to deploy with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group on USS Gravely in November, but a physical altercation between my husband and me caused my command to hold me back. My husband was arrested and I became a single mom almost two weeks before I was to deploy.

Now it's 2016, and I am slated yet again to deploy in May this year with USNS Mercy.

Obviously that doesn't describe everything I've learned and encountered, but in a nutshell that's what I have been up to.

I hope to keep up with the blog now that my life is settling down into something easier to handle.

Lily is doing very well as a Navy kid.  She's joyful all of the time and I'm really going to miss her while I am overseas. I know, though, that I will be able to bring back many experiences to share with her :)

Winner!!! And I'm Pooped.

Been All Tuckered Out

 

So I have picked a winner for the Firmoo Glasses Giveaway, I am just awaiting a confirmation. Check your inboxes!!

Sorry about the long wait y'all, but between a clingy two-year-old and work I haven't had a lot of time to get to a computer.

I do have a lot of items in to review for you guys, and updates on Halloween Costumes and Halloween activities and crafts. Exciting!

I'll check in here after I get a confirmation.

Wordless Wednesday

Recipe Success! And Other News

Yesterday I made the Halloween Oreo Pumpkin Cheesecakes I mentioned in a previous post, and I have to say they ROCKED! Even Lily loves them. She keeps saying, "Mama, cheesecake!" :)

So yes, if you are a pumpkin pie person like I am, those cheesecakes are awesome! And it really doesn't take a lot. I got a huge can of pumpkin, all I need is more cream cheese to make more!



Om nom nom

Lily is also starting to wear panties now. Yay! Of course as of right now she completely takes her underwear off, hands it to me, THEN goes potty.  We're working on it :)

I also have some reviews in progress for y'all to check out soon. Pretty excited about it! Some Kindle books and some nice Halloween stuff, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, don't forget to enter the Firmoo Giveaway. Low entries, ends soon!

Now off to run errands and finish up some chores. 

My New Favorite Shampoo/Conditioner

I've had problems finding shampoos that did my hair justice.  I have color-treated hair with split ends I really should cut but... well, I don't feel like it.  It's long, wavy-curly with heat-damage from straightening it frequently. Long story short, my hair has about had it with me and it was no longer cooperating with me.

I took $20 with me to Wal-Mart and told myself I was either going to chop my hair off or get some really nice hair products because obviously 98-cent bottles of shampoo weren't cutting it.

Okay, so $20 doesn't mean "really nice" hair products, but I was willing to pay more to make my hair more awesome. Give me a break.

Anyway, I walked into Wal-Mart and saw an installation for some new L'Oreal products.  I didn't think much about it and kept going to look at all of the shampoos to see what I can do.

 

There L'Oreal was again in the pretty black bottles.  I know product appearance is all about attracting a consumer to buy based on looks, but I picked up the $5.97 bottle of shampoo anyway. L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo.  Sounded good, so I picked up the corresponding conditioner, and figured I could top it off with the Damage-Erasing Balm as well.

Didn't pick up the Dry Oil that went with the set because I was on a budget. I also figured if everything else worked out I would go back and get it.

After my first wash I was AMAZED.  I followed the instructions on the bottle to a T (Just leave the stuff in 1-3 minutes each) and VIOLA! My hair was so soft and silky, and seriously, the split ends were GONE!

YAY!

So if you're looking for a nice affordable treatment for your damaged hair, I definitely suggest this L'Oreal shampoo/conditioner/balm/oil set.