Social Shell

Well, surprise surprise. This introverted quiet and reserved gal is taking on a new role here shortly. I'm taking over as our company FRG Leader when our 1sg and his wife leave.

I think people will be surprised if not a little confused as to why I volunteered for it. I hardly ever speak at group events, I tend to go with the flow, etc etc. you get the idea right?

Well, I decided it's time to end that and throw myself into a new and challenging position. I don't mean that the position is difficult in skill requirements, but that it will be personally difficult for me to get over my shyness and quiet self. But I'm diving in head first and looking at this as a way to break out of my socially awkward shell and meet people all while supporting our Commander and his goals of family readiness.

*cheers*

here's to new things in the New Year

Better Homes and Gardens: Wax Warmer and Scented Wax Cubes Review

Disclaimer: I am not being compensated in any way for this review. I bought everything with my own money from my local WalMart. I haven't been contacted by BH&G, Walmart, or Scentsationals (one set of wax cubes) for this review. This is an unbiased review as it is the first product of its kind that I have ever tried. This is NOT a comparison between BH&G Warmers/Wax and Scentsy Warmers/Wax. I have recently placed my first Scentsy order and will do a comparison post after receiving it. Whew...that said, read on!

I have NEVER used a product like this and I rarely use candles. However, I've been more and more intrigued by "wickless" candles because we have 4 dogs (a very large and clumsy great dane and 3 rambunctious weenie mixes) and the possiblity that they could burn my house down by knocking over a candle scares me to death.

After perusing the Scentsy website and talking to those that have used it before I decided to order a "Combine and Save" package that includes 1 full size premium warmer, 1 full size regular warmer, and 6 bars. Shipping is going to take a few days and because of my impatience I went scouting for an alternative to try out in the meantime. Several bloggers and friends pointed me in the direction of the "Better Homes and Gardens Wax Warmer and Cubes" available at Walmart. For a fraction of the price and with a decent selection of scented wax available I decided "What the heck, couldn't hurt. If I can save a few bucks in the long run, why not, right?"

HOW IT WORKS:
The warmer comes in the box show in the pic. You simply open the box and remove the top dish portion. Inside the warmer is a bubble wrapped 25w lightbulb and the cord is also inside held in a bundle by a twist tie. You simply take the cord out of the inside and screw in the lightbulb. Place the dish back on top of the warmer. Plug in, turn on, place 1-2 scented wax cubes in the dish and within 5-20 minutes the cube will melt and release the scent. If you want to change scents, you can pour the remaining wax back into the package to reuse. Keep in mind though that the more you do this, the milder the scent becomes. Then wipe out the dish, choose another cube, and repeat the process again.

My husband and I live in a quaint 2bd 1bth single story house and one warmer placed in the entry room lightly scents the entire house with just 1 cube.

FYI: The Warmer was $15.00 and each pack of Scented Cubes was $2.00. As far as I can tell, comparable Scentsy Warmers range between 25-35 with comparable sized Scentsy "Bars" priced at $5.00/pk. Be sure to watch for my comparison post as soon as I have time to try out all the goodies in my Scentsy order:)

*BH&G Red "Fleur De Lis" Wax Warmer and "Fresh Ocean Flowers" Scented Wax Cubes*

*Warmer "dish" with 1 completely melted cube*

*Fleur De Lis detail closer up. It's a glossy red ceramic with a bit of an orange undertone. It has little holes around it that allow the light to give it this great sort of glow when the lights are off.

*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Fresh Ocean Flowers". I used 1 of these cubes for my first ever trial run of the warming system, which you can see in the pics has already melted down and started releasing it's Ocean Flower-y goodness through the house. I have a feeling this scent will be one of my favorites. It's a very light floral, NOT overpowering at all. My husband who is VERY sensitive to any sort of smell walked in the house after work and said, "Man, it smells great in here!"*

*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Pomegranate Passion Fruit". While I haven't used any other cubes besides the Ocean Flowers one, in the package this smells verrrrry nice. I'm sentitive to fruit smells so i was hesitant about this but the second i opened it up in store I decided to buy it. I can't attest to how strong the smell will be when melted but in the box it's a pleasantly perfumed MILD scent. It actually really reminds me of a Febreze air freshener spray I purchased before called "Cranberries and Frost". It's a nice mix of floral and fruity notes without being overpowering on either side.

*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Butterscotch Maple Cream". This scent is a very strong "food" scent so if you're not really into "bake shop" smells this is one you'll want to pass on. I, however, don't mind them much. This is a borderline one for me. It smells exactly like you'd expect. It's a very heavy creamy/toffee/sweet smelling cube with maybe a hint of vanilla tossed in.

*ScentSationals Fragrance Cubes in "Cup Cake". This one I actually didn't open up in store before purchasing. I'm regretting that. While it has an overall "sweet treat" smell, it's almost overpowered by an off putting waxy smell or a scent similar to that of...playdoh? Maybe this will change once melted but in the box alone, it's not one I'm anxious to try out. I will update this post once I try out the cubes to let you know if the waxy scent goes away when melted.

*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Vanilla Caramel Spice". Contrary to its name, this doesn't have much of a "spice" to it. It's primarily vanilla with caramel undertones and maybe a hint of brown sugar.

*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Chocolate Peppermint Truffle". This is a DELICIOUSLY crafted scent. I allllllways had an affinity for mint chocolate anything as a child and I still do today which made this one of the first boxes I picked up to test. There's no synthetic waxy scent at all, it's just pure mint chocolate goodness. It's easiest to relate this to either a York Peppermint Patty or Andes Mints (you know, those little thin mints wrapped in green foil with pictures of the andes mountains?). Mmmmm....talk about a scent that inspires memories.

*BH&G Scented Wax Cubes in "Baked Apple Strudel". This is a VERY strong (yet surprisingly not overpowering) scent in the box so I suggest trying a 1/2 of a cube first and adding more if need be. It's very much a baked apple scent with a bit of spice. This to me is more of a fall scent vs other baked apple pie types smells that can be used all year long but that's just my preference.
**
There are TONS more scents to choose from. There's florals, foods, seasonals, ranging from mild to "whoa, no thank you Batman". While I have only used the BH&G Ocean Flowers scent cubes so far, I reckon you should be able to use any sort of scented wax pieces from other brands as well but time to melt may be different given the grade and "hardness" of the wax.

Also there are several different designs of warmers but this was the only one available at my local walmart store but I love it just the same. BH&G as I understand it comes out with limited editional seasonal ones as well as more decorative ones so check out your local WalMart and let me know what you find and if you decide to try this before Scentsy as a cheaper alternative.

So far I am glad to have bought this warmer to tide me over while I wait for my Scentsy order. Let's just hope that Scentsy lives up to the hype. If not, I'll be perfectly happy with this BH&G Warmer:)

-B

New Year, New Ideas

First of all: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

This is going to start off with another apology for not writing anything in several months. Here's hoping to change that.

I wanted to let you know that this blog is going to take on many different facets from now on. It's going to be a little mix of everything from food stuffs, recipes, makeup/nail polish/beauty reviews, home decor pics and reviews, crafts, etc etc. I don't want to stick to just one aspect of my life. I want to sort of make this a showcase of many of the things I love as well as things that have been recommended to me by friends.

One of my Christmas gifts was a super nice Nikon d5100 digital SLR camera so expect lottts of pictures of the dogs, friends, products, and more.

*cheers* Here's to a new year and new blog ideas!

I still have questions.;..

First and foremost, I had a bad dream and that's what has spurred this entry.

As much as I'd like to say I've moved on and whatnot from the troublesome things of a few months ago, fact is...I haven't. I still find myself wanting to check his emails and his phone calls, I worry when I realize that when I go home for the next forensics season he'll be here at the house by himself...with strip clubs nearby...and the internet to use as much as he wants...I'm scared it's going to happen again.

I'm scared he's going to find someone "better" and forget about me and not want anything to do with me. I shouldn't have to be afraid but the neurotic side in me is making me scared as shit to ever leave the house on my own. It's a legit fear and I hate that.

New Hobby

I officially am in love with sewing...

Bought a sewing machine with a gift card my mama and papa gave me, tested it out with a few scraps and some random pieces, and have been experimenting with random online patterns/tutorials.

Tonight I finally made my first usable item that didn't turn out all wonky and crooked (much)

It's a small key ring wallet. I'm starting to realize that carrying tons of crap in a huge tote bag might not be the most convenient thing in the world, nor the best for my back and shoulders in the long run. Thus, I found this pattern online and changed the layout a bit and added the key ring tab. I wanted something that had minimal card pockets with maximum space. all of my cards i need to carry with me fit in the two pockets with room to spare. behind the card pockets is where the cash/receipts can go, and the zip compartment is for spare change.

There are a few things I'd change about it. I would change the location of the key tab and move it just a bit from where it's at now, i'd change the card pockets/bill slot and zip compartment around. I'd have the pocket openings and zipper facing the center. I would also maybe make the key tab a bit longer.

ugh.

anyway, just thought i'd share my new little obsession with all of you in cyber space:)

And she's back!

Howdy to anyone reading this:)

I am officially back to blogging now that I have constant internet access here at the new house in Georgia.

It's been a trip...literally and figuratively. The heat alone has been a complete 180 degree turn from upstate New York. Not necessarily a bad change, but an interesting one. The dogs sometimes can barely stand to be outside. Audie goes through buckets of water every day. The little dogs go through as much water as Audie would go through on a regular day up in New York. Water bill should be interesting in a few months.

One thing that really has me hating this place though...and i mean, HATING, LOATHING...is all the huge bugs and pests. We've hung up sticky strips in the house that are already just completely covered in moths, flies, gnats, mosquitoes. We've had several cockroaches show up in the house...dead for the most part, but a couple we found crawling around.

I'm seriously barely out of the bedroom because I hate bugs...I have a legitimate insect phobia and I barricaded myself in the room this morning because there was a cockroach as long as my index finger on it's back out in the foyer. I doused it with 409 because it was the closest thing to me in the kitchen and I would have had to cross the cockroach to get to the pest sprays and stuff that we've bought and that our landlord left for us.

I thought it was close to dead but when I sprayed it, the legs started kicking faster and faster and I thought it was gonna flip over and start crawling again so I just stood in the bathroom, reached my arm out, and sprayed it as much as possible until it stopped moving. Then I went back into the bedroom. I had to come out of the bedroom later because I was too hungry to give up lunch so I ran out to the kitchen but out of the corner of my eye (I tried to avoid looking at the cockroach soaking in 409) I saw another cockroach, a smaller one but a more alive one that was on it's back, still kicking pretty quickly. I did the same thing, scream...and then doused it with 409.

I hate this place because of the bugs. I love it because it's an adorable house and a pretty area in downtown but I hate the bugs. I'm afraid to come out of the bedroom because of them. I just plan on surviving by either being out of the house and working when i can find a job here or having rich finish killing them and throwing them away whenever he gets home each night.

I want to go back to New York...more than anything. I miss Sandra, Quasi, their doggies, the area, their WalMart...I hate the WalMart here. I can never find anything because it literally seems to move each week that I'm there. I hate the post...the px isn't all that great, the commissary is ok I guess but small. I just don't like it. The roads here are ridiculous, there's ghetto everywhere...and there's so much poverty down here...run down houses that look like the roof will cave in if you blow on it. I just don't like it. I'm sure I'll learn to like it but I wish I could learn a little faster because as of now....one word.

HATE

The Door Swings Both Ways...

So...what do you do when someone says that you need to open up and when you do, it ends in a nightmare?

I've been feeling really upset about my life, NOT my marriage (which I'll get into here shortly). I'm upset with myself that I haven't gotten my ass back into school sooner, that I haven't pursued a job as actively as I should.

Hi, my name is B and I have anger management issues.

Plain and simple, that is the root of all my problems.

I snap at those who don't deserve it whether it be Rich, my parents, my friends, strangers even. If something goes wrong in my day and it upsets me, I dwell on it and dwell on it.

Lately I've been trying to change that so Rich and I got into an argument yesterday and I told him that I was unhappy and he took it completely out of context, which in hindsight I can see why. But I'm not unhappy with him. He's everything to me. He's what keeps me going each day and he's what keeps me hoping for a bright future. But he took it as me saying I'm not happy with him.

NOT true. I'm unhappy with me and how I've let myself go and he's the only thing in my life that has been a constant since we met. I need to be better for him, my family, and for myself. I need to start living up to the expectations I have for myself. I know I can be better but it hurts when he won't even give me the time of day.

We've been through this song and dance before so I completely understand why, ya know? But God says to never give up on love for each other, for love never gives up. It is everlasting.

I wish he knew how I felt.

Onnnnnnnnnnnnn the other hand...

He doesn't realize how much it hurts when we just sit in silence. I try to bring up things to talk about and somehow it reverts to video games or facebook games or typical small talk. That hurts more than anything in the world. I feel like he's blaming this all on me and making me apologize, making me grovel and beg and I can't do that anymore.

I talked to my dad for about 3 hours today and he told me that I should never have to feel that way. He also told me that I need to stick it out and this time, we both need to hold to our promises to change and to love unconditionally.

I'll drink to that!