Shining Light Book Update

It has been two months and I have been writing in a highlight every day :)

Some highlights include:

- I went to the Saalburg.
- I had a bad tooth removed (finally).
- The explosion of Hugo Strange's Lab in 'Batman - Arkham City" was hilarious.
- I found out that you can buy a dead Yamcha (DragonBall Z) figurine.
- Lots of lovely snow!
- On the end of one of Lil's whiskers is a little curl.
- Phil licked my finger, he has never groomed me before.
- PB and I went out for sushi.
- I had a wonderful result from a medical test.
- I saw icicles.
- Phil got an empty bag stuck on his butt, making him a kitty-hermit crab.

Going through them, I see a lot are about something PB did, a credit to how happy he makes me (mushy, I know).

Overall, I do feel more positive in general.

Art Break! - Roman Pottery Face

A little while ago, PB, F, D, and I went to the Saalburg to see the Roman Fort and artifacts.
While there we saw these pots with faces on them.

Apparently the idea was the faces would scare off bad spirits and keep the food inside fresh for longer.

I thought this was kind of cute, so lets make a little buddy for the fridge!

We start with some paper in a colour that matches the fridge door.

I cut out a base square.

I curled some spirals for eyes.

With cat hair!

The eyebrows I cut out then folded up in an accordion like fashion to add lines.

I put these on wonky because a lot of the pottery faces had wonky features.

The lips I folded out of two pointed ovals.

The nose was a pyramid.

And two thin strips were curled for ears.
Done!

Now guard my food!

Podcast Review - Sarah's Laughter

This is an infertility podcast in which each episode is a new person's story.

It is also a Christian podcast, which isn't ideal for me (not my faith) but i just skip past the closing prayer and try to see mentions of a 'God' as they way the guests see the world.
I'm not going to take away something that brings people comfort and hope while going through one of the shittiest rides that life has on offer.

I also like how it acknowledges secondary infertility, stillbirth, and miscarriage. 
It's not just an inability to conceive.

If you are Christian or can ignore that aspect, this podcast would be incredible if you were going through infertility and felt alone.

Catagory: Infertility/ Christianity
Rating: 4.5/5 (Just because I'm not Christian, I get the feeling Beth will forgive me for that, she seems to be nice.)

Mermaid Salon - The Original Chubby Mermaid Brush - Galax-Sea

I have been eyeing off this brush for ages!
I think it is perfect for contour and it's super soft.
And I had to get the pink/blue colour.

It comes with a little cap so if you put it in your purse, it won't get everything dirty.

Price: 2/5 ($16 for one)
Effectiveness: 5/5

Featherella Beauty - Mermaid Jewel Brushes

These brushes are everything!

They are pink, blue, jeweled, and super soft!

I've wanted a set of brushes for a while and these just spoke to me!

They also came with a sparkly carry bag!

Price: 1/5 ($85.41... eeep!)

Effectiveness: 5/5

Book Review - James Herbert - The Fog

This is a typical James Herbert book with a twist I didn't see coming.
We follow John Holman as he is thrust into the epicenter of disaster.

Death, madness, love, secrets,

If you don't like the violent and sleazy writing of Herbert, you won't like this.
I loved it.

Thanks for lending it to me, S!

Spoilers:

I won't go into details, but this was not the book to read while in hospital with brain issues!

Category: Horror
Rating: 5/5

Shiseido - The Skincare - Multi-Energizing Cream

This is a sample courtesy of Miss Buttons.

I love the packaging! A sample in a glass jar, with a white iridescent lid. 

It has a faint floral scent.

It is almost a waxy balm, but it melts as soon as it hits your skin, making it easy to apply.
I wouldn't call it lightweight, it is a bit heavy but ok for night use.

I do feel that my skin feels good, but it could be because it is acting as a barrier (like Vaseline) rather than a moisturiser or because of its ingredients.

Price: 2/5 ($60 for 50mL)
Scent: 3/5
Effectiveness: 4/5


***** This product could be reviewed thanks to the raunchy, informative and gorgeous Miss Smut Buttons! *****

Rexona - Women - Classic Dry

This works well and prevents breakthrough sweating.

It didn't upset my skin.

The scent is a muted purple florals and lavender scent, which is quite pleasant.

Price: 5/5 ($4.20 for 50mL)
Scent: 4.5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5 

The Body Shop - Vitamin E - Night Cream

It smells like a less sweet version of a pink Pascall marshmallow.

It is nice and thick, doesn't upset my skin, and leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturised.
Price: 3.5/5 ($28.00 for 50mL, remember it's AUD and all the prices I list are AUD)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Altapharma - Eisen + Vitamine - Sauerkirsch Geschmack 

This is the best tasting iron supplement I've ever tried!

It is a fizzy tablet you dissolve in water, which makes a delicious sour cherry drink. 
Note that this is the fresh 'sour cherry' fruit flavour, not a 'sour cherry candy' flavour.

It has iron, vitamin C, vitamin B12, and folic acid.

Price: 5/5 ($0.71 for 20 tablets)
Scent: 5/5

Shiseido - Bio-Performance - Advanced Super Revitalizer

The packaging is nice, kind of looks like a desk bell.

And I have a sample, which is in a miniature version of the packaging.

It smells soapy, a mix of Olay and soap.

My sample lasted for a week (it was 7mL) and on three of those nights, it had a strong amine smell. Perhaps the formula had separated a bit.
Could it be that it's just a little old?

It was a little waxy on, like a balm.

My skin did look good after using it, but I did notice I was very oily during the day. 

Price: 0/5 ($145 for 50mL)

Scent: 1.5/5

Effectiveness: 4/5

***** This product could be reviewed thanks to the raunchy, informative and gorgeous Miss Smut Buttons! *****

Elizabeth Arden - Good Night's Sleep - Restoring Cream

This is pale lilac, thin cream (but still thicker than a lotion) that has a very faint herbal and lavender smell.

At first I wasn't sure it was doing much, the first few mornings after use my skin didn't look much different.
However after a week, I have to say, I am impressed.

My skin looks more even, smoother.

If money in no object for you, this may be a skin cream for you.

Price: 1/5 ($78 for 50mL, however I got it on sale)
Scent: 3/5 (not much scent)
Effectiveness: 5/5

Catrice Cosmetics - ICONails Gel Lacquer - 05 It's All About That Red - Nail Polish

A nail polish from the June Glossybox!

This is a high-shine, fire-engine red which requires more than one coat to be opaque.

It claims to last 7 days  without a top coat... I'm going to give it a big test and wear it under my dish gloves for 9 hours of work (with the heat from an industrial dish-washer)!

And it was destroyed immediately!

Price: 5/5 ($4.39 for 10.5mL)
Scent: 1/5 (don't sniff it, normal nail polish smell)
Effectiveness: 2/5

Quickcap - Beauty

From the June Glossybox!

This is a pre-measured drink with the powder in the cap.
You fill the bottle with water, put the pop-top cap on and depress the green cap insert to release the powder.

Note the residue.

It is meant to be good for your physical appearance, with biotin (B7) and camu-camu (fancy form of vitamin C).

The bottle itself is quite nice and would be easy to reuse.

The powder dissolves at a decent rate, but little floating stuff remains.

The resulting drink is not effervescent, but is frothy, which is super weird.

If this was a beer, I'd be impressed by the head.

Flavour wise, it is weak (meant to be peach), hollow, and a little metallic.

After drinking it, my stomach hurt.
PB did tell me not to drink it.

Price: 2/5 ($32.17 for 7 caps and a bottle, about $4 each)
Taste: 1/5
Effectiveness: 1/5

Art Break! - Beanie Teapot Cosy

I drink a fair bit of tea and have a lovely glass teapot, but I wanted my tea to stay warmer for longer.

I got this cheap white beanie online.

To make the head, I stuffed it with cotton balls and secured it with a white hair tie.

I cut out the spout and handle holes and sewed around the edges.

I already had some glass beads which I painted black with nail polish.

These became the eyes.

For the beak I used yellow felt.

For the comb I used red felt.

Done!

With this design (things are sewn on not glued) if you want to wash it, just take of the hair tie and stuffing, and hand wash it. Easy!

Verdict: I think it is adorable!  PB thought it was cute and liked it a lot.

If you make a beanie tea cosy, let me know! I'd love to see your work :D

Rexona - Clinical Protection - Antiperspirant Deodorant - Summer Strength

The formula works well, there is no breakthrough sweating.
The scent is ok, something about it reminds me of my Nana's bathroom (actually, I might keep the empty container and smell it occasionally, it really does bring back memories).
It is the ending notes that smell like her bathroom.

It is a 'high strength' antiperspirant, but basically any antiperspirant is if you apply it before bed when you are less likely to just sweat it off before it can work on your sweat glands.

The dispenser has big and little holes, though which the product is forced out. 
I wish it was just little holes, the big holes just get lint in them and end up a bit gross.

Some of the product ended up squished in the tube instead of where I could use it.
This displeases me.

It works as an antiperspirant, but it is not worth the price.

Price: 1/5 ($14.95 for 45g)
Scent: 4/5
Effectiveness: 4.5/5

Essie - Nail Lacquer - Too Too Hot

This is a cool-toned hot red (red that you almost think might be a pink, but isn't).

Two coats and you can still see the cross.
Note: texture is a reaction with the plastic, not the polish itself.

Price: 1/5 ($16.95 for 13.5mL)
New Name: Red Light District
Effectiveness: 4/5

Watching Wheatgrass Grow

Before the twins came home, I thought I had covered everything: good quality kitten food, bowls (water and food), toys, cardboard boxes, scratching post, kitty litter, etc.
And I held this belief until I was with PB's family. 

We were out walking when their dog Lisa started eating grass.

Grass!

The twins are to be indoor cats, they can't just go out and eat grass!
My dear previous cat was an outside cat and could eat grass whenever, so I just never thought of it as something I might need to provide.
And I know that cats like grass, or the option of grass.

I did some research and found that wheatgrass was fine for cats and easy to grow, so I ordered some seeds.

I followed the wikihow instructions for growing wheatgrass (yes, I used wikihow).
I could have just guessed but I have seen enough episodes of 'Gardening Australia' as a child to know that each plant has different needs.

There wasn't much else on the television during the weekend.

I soaked the seeds for a bit longer than the 30 total hours, because I couldn't be late to work just to plant seeds.

Prepped some shallow soil

Then scattered the seeds on top, keeping them moist.

And it grew really well! It was full size within 10 days.

Verdict: When the twins came home they took to it immediately! I was quite surprised, as they had never seen grass before (inside cats).

Plot twist! 
They have been sitting in it and subsequently damaged the grass :/
Whatever makes them happy! XD

But I have a plan!

I re-did some more seeds and used mini pots.
I had a number of them so I could cycle them around and they are too small to sit in.

They love it!