#Acne Treatment Serum Review

Have you ever suffered from acne? I never had a lot of zits, just a few and they were deep. Now I have pretty good skin, or at least I’m told I do. 

My oldest is in that stage in his life, where pimples are a thing. I'm always after him, to take care of his skin. Anai Rui Acne Treatment Serum helps take care of zits. He for the most part gets one at a time, and had blackheads in the crease of his nose.

What does it have in it:

• Tea Tree Oil
• Willow Bark
• Amur Cork Tree Bark 

What it leaves out: 

• Parabens
• Sulfates
• Phthalates
• Fragrance
• Alcohol
• Colorants

Mica has my skin, which is sensitive to harmful chemicals. It's good they leave the crappy ones out. We try to avoid them. 

Where to get it:

You can get it at Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FJBJ2Z6, for $15.99. A little goes a long way. 

Stocking Stuffer:

I give the boys something fun, a movie or book, a food item, and something practical in their stockings. This is the practical thing Mica will get this year. 

Did you suffer for acne, or have blackheads when you were younger? Did you find that anything helped?

Disclaimer: I got this product for a discount in exchange, for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Adulting Never Felt so Good

We sold a coffee table on facebook marketplace. It was big, and old. We bought in return a long, skinny dresser that we are converting into a gecko habitat. 

*Never mind the big stick. Travis is taking the bark off to make some sculpture thing.

It will look something like this, but not. *See the photo below. I want to get a white, or light colored gecko. Possibly in the spring. Its name will be Warhol, and it will have one of his pop art pieces in the background of the tank. He/she will have smooth Campbell Soup cans tipped over/edges smooth, for hides. I'm sure I'll tweak the color of the dresser/gecko enclosure. I'm not the type to leave things as is. I also don't mind its color.

Source

Huge news I got the job at AIM Institute! I even filled out the paperwork. It took way longer than it should have because I called the financial guy to make sure I was filling out the W4. Man things are different with those + I just haven't filled out that many. I wanted it done right considering that this is the job I plan on retiring from. If covid wasn't a thing, I seriously wanted to hug all their team through the computer. 

They pay well + have good benefits. The best things is that I'll be doing good things in the community. It's a nonprofit that helps put technology in the hands of those that can't afford it. I'll have a marketing title, but will do writing and graphic design as well. It will be mostly remote. They are ok with me teaching a college course at a university, in the evening once a week. 

I have to break up with Williams Sonoma. That's not so fun. I'm a bit nervous. I have to be honest, I haven't broken up with very many people or places. I kind of see things through the end almost always. It's their busy time + a coworker's father just passed away. It's only part time. I thought that with being part time I'd be able to transport Isaak to and from school more. Not so. She said she'd have the schedule done two weeks prior, which she does, but she changes it. I now understand why they have so many employees working part time: They don't have to pay for them to eat + they don't have to give them health insurance. I get hangry! Closing makes me on edge. It was in my job description. At Fresh Thyme there was always two people there that knew how to close. If I messed up, another person could help. It is cool setting up their displays. That's really my favorite part of the job. 

Do you find it hard to quit a job?

How to Save Big on Electronics

If you love to own the latest tech devices but you are not so keen on the hefty price tags that come with them, then you need to keep reading.

According to IDC, consumer spending on tech is set to hit $2.06 trillion in 2023, with purchases such as drones and smart home devices becoming increasingly popular, as well as traditional products such as mobile phones and computers

However, there are ways that you can enjoy the latest must-have electronics without breaking the bank.

From applying promotional codes, to earning cash back on old tech, keep reading to find out how you can save big on electronics.

Use coupons

Whether you are already a coupon addict or you have never used a promotional code before, coupons are a great way to cut the cost of electronic devices. For example, simply by using a Lenovo Promo Code, you can enjoy savings of up to 70% on a wide range of gadgets including laptops and desktop computers.

Be sure to also check if a particular retailer allows you to stack coupons, as this can help you make maximum savings.

Check online prices

Although you may enjoy checking out the latest tech at your nearest electrical goods store, you should always compare prices online to find the best deal on any given day.

Furthermore, many retailers offer flexible payment plans, meaning you have the freedom to purchase your preferred tech even if you don’t have the money upfront to pay for it.

Buy at the right time

Seasonal sales and special events such as Black Friday offer a great way to save big on electronics. Typically, January is the best month for finding TV and TV accessories deals as they go on sale ahead of the annual Super Bowl.

Plus, as well as Black Friday and Cyber Monday which takes place in November, you will find that many retailers continue to slash their prices all the way up until Christmas.

Trade-in old devices

If you like to upgrade your gadgets as soon as a new model comes out, rather than simply letting your tech gather dust in a drawer, why not make some money out of it?

Many mobile phones providers offer trade-in programs, giving you account credit that can be used against future purchases. Alternatively, you could sell your old devices yourself via social media or on a selling platform such as eBay.

Opt for refurbished electronics

Refurbished items are often in great condition, with some being as good as a brand new device, yet they cost far less to buy. That being said, the quality of refurbished tech can vary greatly from one store to a next, so it is always a good idea to do your homework before making a purchase.

Similarly, if you do not want the latest model of a particular electronic, you can find some great deals on older versions or discontinued range.

Don’t buy extended warranty

If you usually purchase extended warranty when you buy a new electronic product, you should be aware that the vast majority of electronics last way beyond the time of their warranty. Furthermore, major repairs on new tech items are needed very infrequently.

Most brands offer sufficient free warranties, meaning you don’t need to fork out the extra cash to extend them.

#thanksgiving #turkey #baby Outfit Review

It’s a little hard not being able to see and bond with my niece Margaret. I know that with having Trisomy 18 they get many sicknesses easily, but their life expectancy is short. I'd like to spend more time with her, but I hate the idea of me accidentally passing covid on to her! 

My nephew Emerson is 9 1/2, and pretty much out of it all the time with his seizure meds. He doesn't smile, notice that you're even there, track you, and falls asleep sitting up. I hate what meds have done to him, yet on the other hand he needs them. 

I'm thankful for Margaret:

I asked my sister to take a picture of her in the thanksgiving outfit I was to review. It's not the best photo. At least she got a good one of her in the pink dress, with the hat her first grade brother made her. 

The Thanksgiving outfit is super cute though! It comes with a My first Thanks giving onesie, pants that have food all over them, a hat and headband that match the pants.

You can get this cute set on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08G8G9WVX.

Sizes:

• 0-3
• 3-6
• 6-12
• 12-18

My sister told me she's was just starting to fit in 3-6 months. He's got fluff, and I think it fits. 

There are 3 outfit designs. 

What do you like better on baby girls - hats or bows?

Thanksgiving is usually one of my favorite holidays. I like the food, and the company. I don't know what we'll do this year. We've talked about all having our turn with my parents. They'd get 3 Thanksgivings. I have a single aunt that needs someone to take her in. We've also talked about doing a zoom meeting where we all make the same things, and eat whatever is called out. Not exactly the same, but what's one to do? 

Nebraska hospitals are climbing in numbers. It won't help if we all have gatherings with people we don't usually hang with. 

What are you doing for the holidays? 

Disclaimer: I got this product, for a discounted price in exchange for an honest review. 

Glee Sweet Tarts Giveaway!

Please go to my instagram page, and enter to win for Glee Tarts. 

Mica likes them. They'd be great in a stocking stuffer. 

They didn't send me much, then told me I could send my winner 1/2 of what they sent me, which is like 1 box. Ha! I remember getting stuff from them before, and they sent a kit + gum on top of that. I think all companies are struggling with this pandemic. 

For some reason the post wasn't showing up on my computer, but then it did on my phone. I've been struggling with it. 

Disclaimer: I did get this product for review. You can read the review on instagram. All opinions are my own.

Absent - I Know

I know I've been absent. This year is crazy. Besides job stuff there's the stress of COVID, of politics, of school and more. 

We found out Isaak had not a few, but nearly 40 assignments missing. He went from crying about school last year, to just not doing his work at all. Conferences were all done via Teams. Try signing up for all those conferences, while closing a store with funky hours! Travis tried signing up, and he kept getting "This Spot is Full" messages. For the first time, conferences didn't happen. We got Isaak's report card, flipped, and he's been making up work day and night. He had 2 days off last week, but not really because he was doing homework. He gets out of house tasks because he has homework. No other devices because of homework. We all have to be quiet because Isaak is doing homework. I'm ready to pull my hair out! He's not the stress ball he was. He's just slow moving, and not getting his work done. I found out he was drawing in Math class instead of doing his math work. The kid is driving me batty! He's down to missing 5 assignments now. Grades are due tomorrow. 

I got a job at Williams Sonoma. I'm in charge of opening some days, closing other nights, being a cashier when needed, and setting up pretty displays. My job titles are: Key Manager and Visual Merchandiser. 

Yesterday I spent most of the day redoing their electronic section. What did I learn? The job isn't as creative as I thought it would be. 

1. I have to follow a map to the {T}, for product placement. I get it. Not everyone out there knows how to make something look good.  
   
   
2. The only times I can veer from the map is when items are out of stock. Apparently because COVID is a thing... a lot of items are out of stock. KitchenAid is out of stock nearly everywhere. That company must of been hit with COVID bad, or something went down! 
   
   
3. Being late is not ok apparently to the workers manual. They have a 5 minute rule of some kind. I'm always on time, or slightly early. Somehow it's ok for the person that opens the store to be 10 minutes late, which makes all others late. 
   
   
4. Tutorials are extra happy go lucky. We're talking to the extreme. Travis would describe their voices much like elementary or preschool teacher voices. You know, all high pitched, and animated. 
   
   
5. They love trash cans. They have a ton, and not all of them are used. I'm the type that doesn't like to take our own out unless it's filled to the brim. I suggested they do with 1/2 the ones they have. Nope! It will just get busier with the holidays popping up. BUT they don't have near the sample foods they had before COVID happened. I'll have to get over that. I'm the queen of recycling, reusing, and composting. Not everyone is as green as I am. Some people are more so. They do use earth friendly wrapping. 
   
   
6. I need to use my cell phone A LOT! To take photos of what we have on the floor, and go get whatever it is that we need in the back. That's if we have it. 

Along with getting/starting this job I had to still file for unemployment. With unemployment, one has to apply to 5 jobs a week at least to receive it. I applied to more than 5. 

All the sudden I have a college 45 minutes away interested in me teaching a class, or two in the spring. 

I also have a non profit that is really interested in me. I am really VERY interested in them. I'd be doing many creative tasks. They have a designer, marketing person, writer, and I would fill all those shoes to help all of them out. Their goal is to full fill low income schools with having technology. Seems up my ally. I know non profits don't typically have a lot to pay you, but some do. Some are thriving. It would feel good, to do good. 

All these things are happening at once. It makes it hard to know what to do. 

Williams Sonoma is close to home, has 401 K, I can at times take and/or pick up Isaak from school. Everything is so pretty there. I get 40% off their store, and Pottery Barn. The people seem nice. I get paid more than Fresh Thyme, but not as good as my teaching job that I had. The communication is lacking. I had to apply in person, then online, they told me how much I would make, then I was told something else. Maybe they need me to help with that. I totally believe in yin and yang. Where there's a positive, there then is a negative. 

I really hate being the new kid on the block, yet again. I like being in the role of training others because I know the process. I helped so many staff members at the Creative Center. It was a good feeling to be helpful, and not needy. I know that comes with having a new job, but it's how I feel. 

So...all over I am. Do you ever find yourself in limbo? 

#vote

Is anyone else on the edge of their seat, with this election?

I voted a few weeks ago. We got mail in ballots, then dropped them off at the local library when we were done. 

I know many were not happy with mail in ballots. I tell ya...I love voting that way. We did tons of research to determine who we would vote for. Judges are the hardest. They have no online presence, for obvious reasons. We'd look on the political pages that went over them, then we'd look at reviews online, and cases they were involved in. I just don't think I would have done all that research, had I not had the ballot with me at home. 

I do sometimes have a hard time absorbing the really wordy things on the ballot, such as this...

I don't know if it's because it was getting late, when I read all these types of things, or if I just wasn't absorbing it all. I had to read them out loud about 5 times over again. Then Travis and I had to discuss them before it sank in. I get it now...it's for prisoners to working as slaves, or against prisoners working as slaves. 

Companies do at times have prisoners work for free to assist in their company. 

Do you have problems with questions like the one above? Is it just that it's too wordy? Apparently I wasn't alone. Many others from Nebraska felt the same way. 

Regardless of who wins the presidency, I hope all votes are counted. All votes matter! Shall the rightful president stay or take office. 

I know it's wishful thinking, but I hope there's not bloodshed over who gets into office. 

I have my opinions, but really want what's been voted for. That's only fair. I have friends and family members that are on both sides of the fence, so to speak. It's important that we respect one another; even through our strong differences! One should stand up, for their beliefs. One should also shake the opponent's hand, if they've lost or won. 

WW: I Like This Wall More Than My Children {Linky}

I'm only kidding with the title. That day there may have been some slight truth to it. The boys were grumpy, and the wall is cool!

I finally plugged in my camera to get more of the cool wall and boys off. I may reshoot. It was a day of picking on each other. Even if it's cloudy, the sun is always in Isaak's eyes, but somehow not in Mica's. Ha!

If you have a chance, enter my Ripley's Believe It or Not! Mind Blown giveaway.

WW: Isaak's Closet {Linky}

 

It's spray cool whip, and three sparkling water cans.

If you have a chance, enter my Ripley's Believe It or Not! Mind Blown giveaway.

Keeping #Warm With Mozy

We have now had our first snow this fall in Omaha, Nebraska a few days ago. Has it snowed where you live? 

When snow happens, it means it's time to bundle up! 

The day before it snowed was colder than the day it snowed. That's when I took the boys out for a photo shoot. Bur...what was I thinking?! 

I pulled out our new Mozy. At first I thought I'd give this to Mica, but we've been sharing it. 

What is a Mozy? You might be asking. It's like a thick warm blanket for the lower part of your body.

Uses:

 

You can use a Mozy whenever you feel like it, but I have specific uses in mind. 

• You can use a Mozy for soccer, football, and other games. I know sports are limited right now, but there are some going on. If you are sitting in the stands, mask on, freezing your butt off, a Mozy will help. I've always hated how they make many coats for your upper torso, but no coat for your lower body. Snow pants are hard to put on, and take off because they have to go on before your big heavy shoes or boots do. 
  
  
• You can use a Mozy for a bonfire, or drum circle. I just added the drum circle in there because we used to have one often at Kansas City Art Institute. Maybe it's an artist thing. My friend that just moved to Florida said they have them often right down the street from where she lives. 
  
  
• You can use a Mozy for fishing, or hunting. With fishing there's a lot of sitting around, so a Mozy would be helpful. I think it would be great with deer hunting as well. 
  
  
• Elementary teachers or Aids can use a Mozy at recess time, or when they are waiting for caregivers to pick up their children at the end of the day. They even have pockets in the front for hand sanitizer, pens, pencils, and more.
  
  
• Leave a Mozy in the car for trips, or if you get stranded. I typically have a blanket in the car for just in case needs. Having a Mozy stay in the car would be equally, or better than a blanket to have. 
  
  
• People can use a Mozy for the bus stop. They can wear them around their legs, and turn around and use them like a blanket inside the bus. Mica has a ways to walk to get to the bus stop. Knock on wood he's had very little waiting time. I was worried about bus communication with 3 days in school, and 2 days off. 
  
  
• People can use a Mozy in the morning, for the car. In the mornings Isaak's always cold. He hates taking a coat, that he has to lug around school. They can't use lockers right now, with COVID on the scene. Instead of a coat I encouraged him to grab the Mozy. Isaak's been dressing in layers on his top. He thought he invented dressing in layers. I said, "No son. People have been dressing in layers, for years!" It's harder to dress in layers, for the lower part of your body. Mozy makes layering easy!

They say on their site that a Mozy is easy to walk in. I found it feeling a bit like my legs were hugged. It's not as easy to walk in as I thought it would be. 

How to use a Mozy:

They have a fun diagram on how to use one on the box. I love it, because I'm a visual person. It was much easier to put on then snow pants! 

Easy peasy to put on!

Get it on too tight? It's adjustable.

Unlike snow pants, you can take a Mozy off and put it back on with ease! It's not heavy to carry around. The inside is a heavy fleece, and the outside is a waterproof material. 

Sizes: 

• Mozy Mini (small) 16" - 26"
• Mozy Mid (medium) 27" - 45"
• Mozy More (large) 46"

Patches: 

When you buy a Mozy they have a patch on it. Ever since I was in Girl Scouts, and then again when my boys attended Lowe's Clinic I dig patches! They will ofter more patches. It looks like they are working on that, on their site.

You can get the Mozy here: 

https://www.getthemozy.com/products/mozy, or on Amazon. Their site uses google pay, shop pay, and PayPal. The cost for a Mozy is $99. Think of it as a cost similar to a warm coat. 

It would be great to get someone for Christmas!

If you had a Mozy what would you use it for?

Disclaimer: I got this product for free, in exchange of my honest opinion. Mozy did not tell me what to say.