So...hi. 

It's the first day of 2019.  It's officially been over a year since I blogged here. 

Did you miss me? 

One of my resolutions is to get this space (and all of my subsequent social media) back up and running. 

The general tone and topics might change a bit. Living in Alaska means it's a lot harder to get products to review. 

If you have suggestions on things you want to see, please comment on ANY of my social media or down below! 

Here's to a new year. 

FIRST OF ALL, let's discuss a few legal-ish things. 

Cannabis (weed) is legal for recreational use here in Alaska. It's regulated just like alcohol (more heavily than alcohol. I can't even walk into a dispensary without showing ID but I can browse a liquor store no problem) 

If you take issue with my "using drugs" I'd sincerely hope you don't drink alcohol...because my experiences with being really drunk are a lot different from being really high. 

I use it like I did when I was prescribed narcotics: Sensibly. In fact, I'm more sensible with cannabis than I ever was with alcohol. 

This blog does not condone illegal drug use. If cannabis is not legal where you live I suggest you join the rally to legalize it.

I've been using cannabis regularly for 6+ months now. 

I have chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, and a slew of weird symptoms I'm currently working with a doctor to decode. 

Cannabis makes me functional. 

Honestly, it makes me a better parent because just having it in my system (even if I'm not "feeling high") controls my anxiety. 

A quick hit in the morning keeps me from randomly dry heaving the first few hours of the day.

A joint before bed works better at helping me sleep than any medication I've tried. 

I don't wake up groggy, swollen, or sick like I do with alcohol. 

Edibles calm a migraine and keep me from wanting to try DIY Trepanning (where they cut a hole in your skull to release pressure). 

I won't get into a lot of strain/type detail in this post or it will be stupid long and most people will quit reading it. 

Drop your questions down below and I'll go about answering specifics in my next post! 

STAY TUNED UNTIL THE END OF THE POST FOR A SPECIAL SAVINGS LINK JUST FOR MY READERS!

This post contains affiliate links

Legally, I have to start this post by letting you know I received these items for free in exchange for an honest review! Y'all know I'll be honest no matter what I'm given so no worries there. 

These might be the nicest accessories I own right now. 

Erase the "might be" because HOT DAMN these feel fancy. 

As soon as I opened the box I knew they were quality products. I was hit with the immediate scent of leather. My eyes got wide and I told my husband, "Holy crap. Do you smell that? IT'S ACTUAL LEATHER!" 

I'm easy to entertain, y'all. 

​Let's start it up!

Buffalo Hide Leather, y'all. 
 
Let me say that again:

Buffalo Hide Leather

There is a lot of space inside. There is plenty of room for your approved size liquids if you're flying! 

AND it comes with this nifty addition:

• TSA APPROVED LOKSAK BAG • Keep liquids away from your essentials with a TSA approved Loksak waterproof bag. Featuring a hermetic airtight seal and waterproof certification up to 200 feet/60 meters, this bag offers leak-free protection.

(Disclosure: I did not receive one of these loksak bags so I can't review that part personally BUT IT SOUNDS SO NEAT!)

This is one of my favorite inventions ever. 

I take a lot of cords with me when I travel. My phone, my kindle, my husband's phone, my kids' tablets, and a laptop. Oh! And headphones. 

Yes, they end up a tangled mess that would revel Christmas lights. 

But this has neat pockets, loops, and a cloth bag to store all of that! 

Again, high quality leather! 

​Here's a pic from their website of it in action!

I am IN LOVE with this bag. 

There are so many pockets! SO MANY OF THEM!

I can easily fit my kindle, my phone, cords, snacks, my wallet. I could probably put a kitten in here if necessary. (You never know, okay?) 

Crossbody is my favorite style because I like having my hands/arms free. With 4 zippered pockets, 2 snap pockets, and a velco pocket...I'm set for the long haul. It's seriously a great "mom purse" based on pockets and storage size alone! 

Plus, again with the quality leather! 

You can click on the pictures to go directly to that product on their site! Be sure and take a look around because they have other fantastic products beyond bags! 

They were also nice enough to give me a special discount code to share with y'all! It's for a limited time so GET IT NOW because after July 31, 2017 it'll be too late. 
Use SAVE15 to save 15% at checkout!

However! They run specials and deals frequently so go check it out even if you're reading after the above date! 

Thank you SO MUCH to Dwellbee for sending me these awesome bags! I love them so much!

I love a good YouTube rabbit hole. 

Sometimes I search something outlandish and click through the "recommended" videos just to see where I'll end up. 

OR I'll explore a channel's various playlists and older videos. 

So, here are a few playlists I've discovered and recommend you spend time on...

It's super cheesy and based on a book I haven't read (I think I put it on a list somewhere)

I went through a period of time where I watched a lot of vid series like this. This is one I remember actually liking enough to finish it. 

Vegan, vegetarian, or food allergies/avoidance readers! 

She cooks and tries various VEGAN fast food items. She's pretty engaging and honest AND I've learned a few things about food customization from her channel. 

How many times have you seen a pin on Pinterest and thought, "But would that really work?" 

How many times have you thought that and immediately thought, "Well I'm not wasting my time and money to find out..."

(How many times did you pin it anyway?)

Fear not. Rob tests many of those outlandish and weird pins. He's loud, he's inappropriate, and he's reckless at times...but he's saved me the frustration of failing a pin. 

This post contains affiliate links.

Recently a post went around Facebook where you asked your friends to request Top 5 lists from you. 

Of course, the first person on mine asked me to list off my Top 5 books. 

That's like asking me to name my favorite child! 
(hint, it's actually one of the cats)

I think I've figured out what to put on my list.

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER: 

​

The Hobbit

This book was one of my first forays into a more grown up form of fantasy novels. I probably didn't grasp it "properly" at that age but I enjoyed it enough to read again over the years. 

No, I haven't seen the movies. The book is NOT 3 movies long and I've refused. 



​The Giver

This book was my first glimpse into the world of Dystopian Fiction (even though didn't know what to call it then) 

Again, I haven't seen the movie because I hold the book in such high regard and it's a bit of nostalgia for me. 



Darkfever

This isn't the first time I've recommended this book. 

Because it's fantastic. 

The "love story" is totally unhealthy but the characters are so engaging you end up cheering for them. The world-building is fantastic and the writing is beautiful.



​​The Scarlet Letter

I know. I actually liked a school assigned book. 

It's actually one of the few I read most of the way through. I've written several papers for English classes (both mine and others ha!) about this novel. 



​The Clan of the Cave Bear

BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD JUST BECAUSE I SAID I LIKED IT

Trigger warning for a rape scene. It's short but totally makes sense for the characters and plot development. 

I've read this book so many times I can't remember. The rest of the series was very meh and this book works fine as a standalone!

If you're anything like me, you have more food pins on Pinterest than you've actually tried. 

Sure, you get creative and brave some nights and decide to make something "from the Internet" (I'm old, okay?) but most nights you reach into your tried and true recipes because you want your kids to actually EAT.

I thought I'd round up a few of the recipe pins I put to the test and enjoyed. There are some I used as inspiration and played with ingredients myself (usually because we were out of something) but overall, these are things I recommend. 

Yes. Tofu Bacon. Yes. It's freaking delicious. 
Slice really really thin and press for SEVERAL hours. I accidentally marinated mine for almost 2 days and it was amazing. 

​Now, going in the opposite direction...

KETO friendly and my husband still asks for it! He's not a veggie person so to have him ask for something veg based is huge.

I freaking love this recipe. OMG it's a huge favorite of mine.

This is an excellent freezer meal and I need to make it again because my kids actually ate it! AND THEN requested I make it again.


There are a lot more but I didn't want to clutter up the post too much! Follow my board here!

This post contains affiliate links. 

As I zoned out during a more boring part of the newest season of Orange Is The New Black (and, seriously, what the hell was season 5 anyway?) I plugged the show title into Amazon to see what's out there. 

I came across this gem: 

You guys. YOU GUYS. This is awesome. 

So, of course, I immediately fell into the "customers also bought" rabbit hole (because that's how Amazon gets you!) and decided to share my newfound knowledge with the world. (Give this post a share if you see your fandom listed!)


I know The Walking Dead is a massive fandom and I wasn't surprised to see y'all have your own cookbooks. I'd be wary to make anything considering the amount of human flesh consumed in the show...but you do you. 

Breaking Bad is another show that lit up my Facebook feed constantly. I don't think you'll learn how to cook meth with this book (you have the Internet for that anyway) but dessert is definitely a good thing to know. 

Personally, a good burger is the way to my heart. Bob's Burgers is one of my favorite animated adult shows. I feel as though I'm a mixture of Tina and Louise...with enough Linda thrown in to keep things stable. 

This post would end up obscenely long if I kept listing all of the wonderful books I found last night AND today. 
​You can Eat Like A Gilmore or enjoy some True Blood Eats and Drinks 

Whatever you choose, do me this favor? Post a picture on Instagram and hashtag it #FandomFood SO I CAN SEE YOUR CREATION! 

Maybe it will inspire me to create a fandom themed book of my own. (No promises, but that would be cool right?) Hmmm 

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So, when I opened my BookBub email and saw several retelling novels recommended . . . I had to share with you all! 

At least one is on my To Be Read list! So they already get a nod from me. 

BONUS!

If you're reading this on the day it's posted, these are on sale!!

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I tried to get this gift roundup out earlier than the post I did for Mother's Day because we all know moms are shopping around already! 

Here are a few things I snagged from the Internet! There are even more ideas if you follow the links (I couldn't include them all or this post would never end)

1. 36 oz All Natural Material Drinking Horn
Hear me out. I know it looks weird to some of you but it's SO COOL! The colors and exact shape are determined by nature so each order is truly one of a kind. It's awesome for a theme party or as the center cup for the King's Cup Grog (it's a drinking game...) Their site is very informative and has info one WHERE they get their materials in the FAQ section.
They also do custom engraving, especially for Game Of Thrones fans! 

2. Blue Octopus Upcycled Dictionary Art Print
This seller offers A LOT of various designs but I though this one was really neat. It's not quite Cthulhu, but definitely weird enough to start a conversation or two. In fact, I may buy this Anatomy Print for myself.

3. The Book of Everyone: Dad Edition
Give him a totally custom gift full of quotes and pictures you chose just for him! (that was redundant...I apologize)
These are really neat and I'm probably going to start doing them for family members. 

4. Achievement Unlocked Shirt
This is absolutely perfect for a geeky first time father!!! If you're pregnant with your first, get this shirt NOW so he can wear it to your birth out of obligation. (And because he loves you and stuff)

5. Moo Point Coffee Mug
Okay, okay...this is geared more toward those of us dorks who have seen every episode of Friends. As parents, coffee is basically what keeps us alive some days so a mug is always a good gift! 
And that's not a cow's opinion! 
(If you don't get it, go watch Friends on Netflix. Yes, all of it)

I'm going to preface this post by saying these experiences are mine. If you're part of a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) organization and happy with your choice? You do you. I was fairly happy for a couple of years and then I figured out it just wasn't for me. 

I'm just here to write a post and tell some stories!

My first foray into the MLM world was in 2005. At the young age of 18 I became a Mary Kay consultant... and promptly left for college. 

I was wholly unprepared to "run my own business." I had no start-up income (your consultant buys those samples to give out for free), I knew basically no one, I had no vehicle (I did have my boyfriend drive me in to a single meeting...that was the night I broke up with him), and a full schedule. 

This was a time when Facebook was in its infancy. MySpace was the ruler and Twitter hadn't even been created yet! My "upline" gave me a folder full of CDs to use for training. I was flying blind and started out $99 in the hole. (The cost of a start up kit)

Needless to say, it was a painful learning experience. I walked away several hundred dollars poorer. My upline was hard to get in touch with and my "team upline" (or whatever it's called) wasn't personable and seemed irritated to be dealing with a kid. 

It made me wary of trying an MLM again.

It wasn't until my second son was born (so, around 2011) I discovered Team Beachbody. 

Now, at the time it was still a newish company. P90X wasn't quite a household name yet, but it was getting there. They had 2 flavors of Shakeology and neither were vegan. (And the greenberry was pretty gross) 

But I was doing well losing weight and inspiring others on my own. A (now) friend approached me and told me I was "acting like a coach" and should be getting paid for it. 

So I signed up. 

Overall, it was a good experience. I walked away with LOTS of new friends and a lot of neat memories. 

​But I also came away bitter.