I went to Goodwill today to look for pants for my oldest son. He's outgrowing his jeans I JUST BOUGHT and managed to put holes in his khaki uniform pants. So...I tried to find cheaper options. 

I did get a pair of khaki pants I hope fit him. I also found a pair of jeans but when I got them home I realized they're girl jeans so the fit is different. Those will be going back for store credit. 

I found some other neat things though!

Of course I have to get books. I snagged a spiderman graphic novel AND a book I had (and enjoyed) as a kid. It's about weird school/class happenings sort of like Wayside school so I figured the kids would like it. 

Side note: Did anyone ever read those "Haunted Babysitter" or "UFO Kids" books by Zullo? I LOVED THEM. I nearly bought them today when I saw copies in the books section but the kids aren't quite old enough for that yet so...

It's VERY purple and I love it. Don't ask why I needed a purple purse...I went over to that section in hopes of finding a black one. 

My plan is to have a "wine/alcohol" theme for the dining room. This is the first real purchase (unless you could a bit of discount fabric I used as a quickie table-runner at Thanksgiving) 
​It's small but I think it's pretty! 

Once upon a time my cats were tiny enough to sleep in the sink. This worked out perfectly when we used to lock them in the bathroom at night (so they wouldn't bother us)

Eventually, they got large enough that their weight would depress the plug.

​Can you see where this is going?

Imagine waking up at 6am being told your bathroom is flooded. 

Yeah. On the list of "stuff not allowed before coffee" THAT is right under "diaper blowouts" and "vomit." 

​It turns out, the cat laid in the sink and pushed the plug....and then stood up and bumped the faucet handle. 

So, the water ran. 

All. Night. Long. 

Did I mention this was the second floor? 

Flooring damaged. Carpet damaged. Ceilings damaged. Drywall. 

All because my stupid cats slept in the stupid sink. 

The only silver lining was their bathroom was above the garage so most of the damage was in there and could be fixed gradually. No electronics or anything were beneath it. 

I think it took my husband a solid year to forgive them. He still gets irritated when you bring it up. 

So that's the story of how my cats flooded part of my house! 

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Sometimes you just need a fluffy romance. Sometimes you need angsty, heart-wrenching moments. And sometimes...you just need some, ahem, in your books. 

Here are a few good romances I've picked up lately! Click any of the pictures to head to the Amazon page and get your own copy!

After the 50 Shades fiasco, I started rolling my eyes at the "innocent girl and powerful boss" angle...but this book nails it. It's erotica so be sure to check over your shoulder if you're picking it up in public! *wink* 
It ends on a cliff-hanger and I can't wait for the next book to drop...next year. Sigh. 

First of all, I love Alice Clayton. Everything I read by her makes me giggle out loud. Yes, this is an erotic romance (or whatever...there's sex okay?) It's hilarious. The characters are well rounded and very well written. Clayton will have you laughing out loud as you follow Roxie on her journey to find herself. Definitely get a copy of this one and you can join me waiting for the next one. (It's a standalone but there's another in the series coming)

I'm not ALLOWED to tell you a lot about this book because it doesn't come out until December 7th...but it's fantastic.
Very rarely does a book make me feel naughty for reading it in public... this one sure did! (It got me through a 2 hour wait in urgent care) I think I loved everything about this book. The plot and subplot meshed very well together. You can pre-order it now.

If you snag one of these please let me know what you thought!! 

What genres do you read? I have several that I can spotlight! 

I received this product in exchange for an honest review. I receive no compensation past the product to use. 

​This post contains affiliate links.

I HATE washing my makeup brushes. You're "supposed" to wash them after every use (um, what?) A good person will wash them once a week at minimum. 

I do good to wash them every month.

Usually, washing involves standing at the sink forever, making sure the brushes are thoroughly scrubbed, and drying out my hand because I use my palm to agitate the bristles. My foundation brush takes the longest (even after a soak in soapy water) because the product really gets down into the brushes. 

It sucks. I hate doing it. I risk infection by not keeping my brushes clean prior to every single use. 

I literally do a little dance when Ipsy sends me a new brush because it means I can go EVEN LONGER in between washings. 

Did I drive the point home yet? 

I've seen YouTube videos for those makeup gloves you can buy at Ulta...and they look amazing BUT they're so expensive and literally a bulky glove. I have 3 draws in my bathroom space right now. THREE. And basically no space to add storage. 

So I wasn't about to get something the size of a dang oven mitt. 

When I was invited to trial this thing called a "Brush Egg" I jumped at the chance. It fits in the palm of my hand and will clean my brushes? Sure I'll give it a try. 

I poured some of the soap I use (kid soap with few additives) in a little bowl to put on the brushes and gave it a try. 

I even have 2 identical brushes and did the first one the "old" way and then tried the brush. 

Oh. My. God. 

Literally half the time and effort. The little dot things help lather and scrub and then I just rubbed the bristles over the ridges. Rinse and rub again under running water. 

Done. Clean. EVEN THE FOUNDATION BRUSH. 

My mind is blown. 

It's made of high quality silicone so it's not going to hurt your brushes. You can get it in 3 colors (the above is green)

It fits right in my makeup bag (so I can take it on my next vacation too). It may sound weird to mention this...but it didn't have a funky smell coming out of the box. You know how some things have that "processed" smell and it can get on your brushes? This didn't smell gross.

Seriously. You need this in your life. Green, Pink, or Purple...go get one! 

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Legal Stuff! 
I received this book for free through Tomoson in exchange for my honest review. Receiving it free did not impact my review in any way.

_First of all, I don't usually like sci-fi. Occasionally I find something that I like and can actually read without wanting to throw it across the room. 

This book stayed firmly in my hands throughout the day it took me to read it. 

It's so good!!

I want to be very very careful spoiler wise so forgive me if I vague it up a little. 

This is one of those books that constantly changes it up on you. Just when you think you have something figured out, another question pops up. (Kind of like LOST but with a real ending.) 

When I hit the big finale twist I actually said to my husband, "Wow. I did NOT see that coming." And, honestly, I read so many books that I can predict just about any twist. (It makes life boring) 

I kept checking the reading percentage because the tension was so high, I was afraid for the protagonist. In fact, at several points I thought his purpose was to die. 

This book hits Amazon on January 19th, 2016. As of the posting of this blog, it's under special pre-order price of $2.99.  You definitely want to click below or on the photo above to go and set it up to be delivered to you the day it comes out. 

When I don't have an immediate idea for a blog post I tend to browse "writing prompt" posts by other bloggers. 

This one suggested discussing an embarrassing moment. 

Oh dear. Which one? 

So I decided to go with the one that came to mind first. It's not the worst memory ever and I definitely survived just fine...but I still cringe and blush a little. 

Let me paint a picture. 

Highschool. So already things are awkward. Those of you that weren't popular but not TOTAL outcasts know what I'm talking about. 

Now, I had an eating disorder around this time so I was pretty skinny. Like, most of my pants didn't fit kind of skinny. I had a pair of black pants that were like a cross between workout pants and dress pants (before "leggings that look like other pants" were cool. Trendsetter. Right here.) I wore those things to death because they fit well, were comfortable, and I could come home and immediately workout. 

I remember I was in my Comparative Politics class. I knew most of the people here AND the guy I had a major HOLY CRAP I CAN'T crush on was in this class. Obviously I had to play it cool. (hahahaha) 

Class hadn't started yet so I was chatting with a friend. I squatted down to whisper to her and felt a rip....

Right in the crotch of my pants...

Did I mention I wasn't wearing any panties that day? 

Yeah. That happened. 

There was a nice cool breeze on the lady garden before what happened truly sank in. 

The tear was HUGE. Like, no way I could go about my day and just keep my legs together and pray. 

My favorite pants had betrayed me. 

Or finally decided to rebel against constant use. 

I borrowed a jacket from my crush (OH GOD) and had to let the teacher know I'd torn my pants and needed to fix them. 

This involved leaving and knocking on another teacher's door (the one that taught sewing class) and begging for a needle and thread...

And then slipping into a bathroom stall to hastily sew the hole up enough to last the rest of the day. 

By the time I'd returned the supplies and returned to class, word had spread. 

When I was a kid we shopped almost exclusively at Goodwill. This was back when shopping at thrift stores wasn't cool or trendy. 

So when it became THE place to shop....I grumbled. 

Now that my boys are constantly growing? I get it. I can drop $12 on a handful of items at Goodwill instead of spending $20 on a single item for them that they'll outgrow in a month anyway. 

I've made it a point to swing by every now and then. I browse the clothes, pick through the random shelves of items, and scour the books. 

​I thought I'd share today's "haul" with you!

I mostly went for long-sleeved boy shirts. Arizona has a very small window for cold weather so I'm NOT about to drop $15 a shirt for something they'll wear a month and outgrow next year. 

Two of these were $2 and one had an orange tag (making it $1) 

Disillusioned by the tragic loss of his family, Thomas Kent just wants to die. But a mysterious message and a voice from the past stir him to fight for his life and the lives of a family he doesn't know. He is reluctantly drawn into the murderous plot of a dangerous cult that threatens to steal America's future. As he attempts to expose the cult, Thomas finds himself facing his past and the God he had denied.

My son's teacher is stuck in the hospital (and has been for quite some time now) so the school is collecting canned goods for her family. I'm going to try to slip this book in for her...because being stuck in a hospital bed SUCKS. It had an orange tag (so $1) and it looks appropriate to send to a Christian School teacher....

I bought a lamp. I don't normally buy lamps or anything like that...but this was only $3 and FREAKING ADORABLE so I couldn't pass it up. I keep saying I'm going to get a lamp for the living room but haven't found an affordable one....until now!
I do want to get a cooler bulb for it because the one in there gets super hot. Other than that? It's cute. I like it! 

Total spent today? Roughly $11.00!  I'll definitely go back soon but I'll check to see what special deals are which days so I can maximize my spending. 

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We definitely encourage a love of reading in this house. One way to do that is to start reading to them at bedtime. Normally, we pick easy to follow chapter books and do 1-2 chapters a night. 

So here are 5 of our favorites so far! 

1) The Little House Collection
I think I liked this a lot because it's based on true events so the kids got a little history lesson with it too. We had discussions on what life was like back then and because it's from the point of view of a child it was easy to follow. 

2) The Wayside School
As I mentioned in a previous post, I still love these books. They're silly and funny. The chapters are short enough to do 2-3 each night and simple enough to keep my boys' attention.

3) Upside-Down Magic
This book follows a group of kids who can't seem to get their magic "right." It teaches a lesson about being true to yourself and accepting your uniqueness. I think I enjoyed it as much as the kids did! (Okay, maybe more...)

4) Ramona
There are A LOT of books in this series (we haven't read them all.) The boys liked this because it's from the point of view of a young kid with young kid problems and misunderstandings. It offered a lot of discussion points too. GREAT for kids with first-day of school jitters as Ramona deals with that!

5) Magic Tree House
Again, A LOT of books in this series (and we didn't even finish our first 4 in the box set...I need to start those again) 
Imagination is the name of the game! Yes, they really "go back in time" or whatever, but so what? The kids had fun and ended up learning little bits too.

So what if Halloween has already passed? SCARY STUFF HAPPENS ALL YEAR ROUND!

I have a few scary stories that I've saved from various places online. A few seriously sent chills down my spine. Fake? Probably. But that doesn't mean they aren't incredible. 

Assume all stories have adult language. 

1) The Anansi's Goatman Story
This has been making the rounds for a few years now but I can't NOT include it. It takes a lot to really freak me out and, for some reason, this story did it. 
Basically, a bunch of kids are camping and their group is infiltrated by a shape-shifting "goatman." Cue terror because they never know who he's shifted into and who is really one of the group. 
​Someone even turned it into a short film!

​2) Black Eyed Kids
​This is a list of stories involving Black Eyed Kids. These are creepy children that show up randomly and ask, politely, to be allowed in to a home. Experiences discuss how the appearance of these children creates a feeling of pure terror. 
Oh, and their eyes are totally black. Either no whites or like their pupil takes up their whole iris. (Depending on the lore) 

3) Children are Terrifying
Sometimes kids say things that are unintentionally terrifying. Here's a list of 50 quotes!

4) Honey Cinnamon
I'll admit, I actually wrote this one...but it was well received. Even writing it made me seriously question my current lip balm addiction.

5) "Didn't The Bunny See You Last Night?"
This is a comment on a larger "scary" themed thread...but it freaked me out. 
I always wonder if these are truly imaginary friends or if something nefarious is happening...

Because I have a slight book obsession...

Okay, a massive book obsession. 

Don't judge me. 

I decided to check out The History Channel's "This Day In History" option and was delighted to find there's a major literary date today. 

Well, major to me. 

On November 14th, 1851 Herman Melville's Moby Dick is published!

It originally flopped big time. Anyone that was forced to read this in high school is currently nodding their heads. 

Let's face it, the book is kind of boring. 

Surprised? I enjoyed it, but not enough to rave about it or thrust it upon someone as a recommended read. I own a copy because it's a classic. 

No, my heartstrings are pulled for this book because it reminds me of English class and one of the best teachers I've ever had. 

This was the second book we read in John Mitchell's class. We spent an entire class period on the opening line "Call me Ishmael." I still have copies of my notes. I remember many late nights and splitting analysis work with friends. 

So, I'm not about to run and pick up my copy to celebrate the release of the novel. I'm merely going to smile and remember the teacher that pushed me to be better and work harder. I'll think back on the many class discussions that erupted into yelling that could be heard down the hall. I'm going to be thankful that Mitchell questioned our beliefs and forced us to think for ourselves.

I'm also going to make my kids read it when they get old enough. Because it's my duty as a Mitchell Child to continue inflicting Melville on future generations. (Once a Mitchell Child, always a Mitchell Child)

​Rest in Peace, Mitchell. Save me a seat in Heaven's library!