Wasps...

(Sorry for the language, but I still think it's quite hilarious and accurate!)

I spent more time than I care to admit yesterday spraying the daylights out of a wasp nest that popped up near my garage. Essentially, I would spray the can and then run like hell....watch until the wasps died, and then repeat about 20 times! I plan to repeat this process again one more day this week before I try to knock down the little nest the punks built.

Want to know why I have these stupid bugs?

Oh lets see, because my "neighbors from hell" refuse to have pest control come out and exterminate their house/porch area! IDIOTS! Their front porch is literally covered in wasps nests...huge nests! (No joke! The first week I moved into my house, I went to go ring their doorbell to ask them to move their car that was blocking my driveway (oh yeah, something they do constantly!) and ran like crazy when I realized their front porch was a scene out of a wasp-themed horror movie! Not only do they not care to call an exterminator, they are so pathetic that they don't use the front door at all! Instead, they walk around MY side of the yard in between our homes to go check their mail. Ummm hello, wouldn't it just be easier and safer to call an exterminator? Last summer, one of my lawn care people got stung, my dad got stung, and I got stung more times than I care to count! (I'm slightly allergic too so needless to say I keep a stockpile of Benadryl!) I will never understand stupid people like that: why on earth wouldn't you have the wasp nests sprayed so you can use your front porch? Seriously! Oh, and they have kids too...real safe to let them frolic in their yard around a swarm of wasps. Really safe....parent of the year safe.... 


Anyways, enough of my ranting tonight! On a bright note, I think the "neighbors from hell" shall be moving soon....YAY! (I saw a "for sale by owner" sign. Let's hope they get out and someone awesome (preferably a pest control person) moves in!  

Wal-Mart is the anti-Christ of retailers!

Once again, I'm reminded of why I ALWAYS shop at Target! I truly believe that Walmart is the scourge of the earth sometimes! If it were plausible for a store to be the anti-Christ of retailers, it would be Wal-Mart! Fourteen phone transfers....fourteen...to fourteen different people today: none of which were any help! ARE YOU KIDDING ME WAL-MART???? For a store that is dependent upon their customers to make a profit, you would think at least one of the fourteen people I spoke with would have been helpful. (It's not like I tried to order anything complicated: just a simple little vanity shelf that I've previously purchased from the store near me). Off my soap box now: time to head over to Target and support their business and helpful staff!


For the record, all I wanted was a little Wal-Mart brand (Mainstays) 3-tired glass vanity shelf that sits on a bathroom counter top! (I bought one last year from the store near me and loved it so much that I wanted another one to organize more with!) I typically don't care for Wal-Mart items because so many are sourced in from China and cheaply made, but this shelf held up so well and looks amazing in my bathroom; I really wanted another one! It's not like I wanted anything crazy; I just wanted one more shelf to organize the other side of my bathroom with. So much for that idea! I'm going to go to Target instead and just see if they have any sort of vanity shelving that I like instead. If I find something I like and get it, I'll just re-purpose the glass one somewhere else. It really just irritates me that neither the website, the stores in my area, or the 1-800 Wal-Mart idiots were helpful! You would think that at least one of those places, or at least one of the fourteen morons I talked to would have helped! Nope!  

So in closing, I would just like to say:

F. YOU WALMART!!!

(You're losing my business to Target! ;)

Exciting Announcement!

Rosie the Puppy!!!

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Rosie is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy (We think! She was an owner surrender and supposedly from a N.S. breeder, so that's what we're going off of. I do think she looks like an N.S., but she could also be just a cute mix; she's darling either way! In my opinion, if she was from a responsible breeder, there would be proper paperwork and she should have wound up back with the breeder if the owner couldn't keep her. (So, she might be the result of an irresponsible Back Yard Breeder that breeds for money, rather than quality and health...but that's a rant for another day! I'm a huge fan of responsible, ethical breeders and reputable shelters/rescues when it comes to finding a wonderful companion or working dog!) . 

We aren't certain of Rosie's age, but we think she's around 5 months . We are so excited to welcome her into our home as a foster puppy! If all goes well and she acclimates to our home, pets, and shows potential for therapy work, we will adopt her! Please wish us luck as we begin training her! She is a little lovebug! :)

Eli Young Band - "Crazy Girl"

(Pause the music in the right side bar before you press "play"!) 

Dolls Creep Me Out!

I thought I would share a random tidbit with you all today, and hopefully give you guys a good laugh. Who knows, you might be able to relate to this as well! Some of you might find this a bit hilarious; some of you might not. I however, find the topic quite TERRIFYING! What am I talking about?

DOLLS!

Creepy, terrifying, nausea- inducing Dolls! They scare the living daylights out of me! I mean come on people, they're just not normal! Dolls: with their creepy eyes just blankly staring at you like they want to consume your soul! Ahhh freaks me out every time! There is just something so creepy and shudder-inducing about them...


This morning, I thought I was going to have a small heart attack thanks to the creepy little things! While leisurely browsing Pinterest, I choked on my coffee when I saw that one of the ladies I follow had pinned about a half a million creepy doll pictures! No joke, there were pictures of dolls everywhere. It was awful! I literally choked on my coffee as I immediately scrambled to "x" out of that page and compose myself. I just don't understand how people derive enjoyment from dolls? (Even as a little child, I hated them!) Needless to say, I kept my friend on Pinterest, but I definitely  had to "unfollow"  her doll-themed board. Ahhhh so creepy!


I'm not sure exactly how old I was when my terror of dolls, ventriloquist dummies, clowns, and things of that nature began, but I know it was during early childhood! I'm pretty sure it started when my step-sister made me watch creepy movies like "Chuckie", "Leprechaun", "It", and "Tales from the Crypt". (That certainly explains why I am absolutely terrified of dolls, dummies, leprechauns, and clowns!). To make matters worse, every time I visited my Granny's house as a child, I would be royally freaked out because she had porcelain dolls everywhere! Everywhere! Bless her heart, she even showcased them in a glass case (which is still at her house to this day, and still freaks me out every time I visit). She also had clown paintings all over her living room walls, and insisted on giving me little stuffed clowns for every birthday and Chaunakkah! (A little background on that: my Aunt Joanne adored clowns. She very sadly passed of Leukemia from a young age, so since I look like my aunt, my Granny just assumed I would love clowns too. I don't think poor Granny ever saw the movie, "IT"!) 


I remember one sleep over as a little girl: one of my friends had porcelain dolls, rag dolls, and things like that all over her room. I was "ok" with it for a few hours while we hung out and played, but when bedtime came and the lights went out, it was a different story! When the lights went out at bedtime and the Dolls' shiny, creepy eyes glared at me from the glow of the nightlight, I freaked out so badly that they called my mom to pick me up. We're talking an absolute terrifying "panic because the dolls are going to hurt me" meltdown! (Quite hilarious in hindsight! Although, I'm sure my mom didn't appreciate the late night road trip to retrieve her terrified child!). 


Today, I have a few adult friends that collect dolls much in the same way that I enjoy collecting vases for my home. Every time they want to show me a new doll or item they've added to their collection, I can't lie: I cringe a bit on the inside. Although dolls creep me out, I just try to smile and nod to show my support because I know how much they love their collection (just like I love the items I collect!). It still creeps me out though; I just do my best not to let it show...and to avoid locking creepy glances with those doll-eyes! :/

Here's hoping that my future children will be content with Teddy Bears and animal-themed stuffed animals to snuggle, instead of dolls! 

Puppy Play Date!

Over the weekend, the Aussies enjoyed a fun trip to our friend Margee's farm for a playdate with her German Shepherd and their horses. They had so much fun! I thought I'd share a few pictures of their "Play Date" with all of you: 

Sweet Mykelti

 This was Mykelti's first time ever seeing a horse. She was so fascinated! 

 Blaze and Cheyenne wanted to visit with the Aussies

 Waiting politely for a cookie 

 This is Blaze, the Quarter Horse. I really love him! (Every time I visit, he gives me kisses!)

 Blaze wanted in the picture too!

 Liebchen and Cheyenne the the Quarter Horse

 I have to say that I am shocked the Pause Box didn't break when all three of them decided to hop up there together lol! 

 Mykelti posing by the hydrangeas 

 Brake's Lone Ranger :)

 Ranger Smiling!

Sweet, happy Aussies! 

 Ranger loves Blaze! I have a similar picture to this one from a few months back when he visited then. Australian Shepherds really love horses!

 Ranger and Mykelti with their sweet friend, Liebchen!

My friend's dog, Liebchen. Isn't she a pretty girl! 

Herding Dogs and Horses

Liebchen teaching Mykelti about horses... (Look at that herding stance!)

Saturday's Quote of the Day

Today's quote is a powerful reminder. I think we're all guilty at some point in our lives of speaking freely on something, yet maybe being hesitant to act and follow through on our words. This quote below is a wonderful reminder that our actions really do speak louder than our words!

"It is easier to fight for one's principals, than to live up to them"

                               - Alfred Adler 

How To Open a Wine Bottle Without a Corkscrew. Use your Shoe!

Yet another grand find thanks to Pinterest! I do own a wine corkscrew, but sometimes certain corks can be difficult to remove, even with that little gem. Enter, this video! (It is in French, but it is very easy to understand because he does such a great, quick demo!) Watch and learn! 


(I have to be honest, I was just waiting for that bottle of red wine to burst all over his shoe and his crisp white sweater,because that seemed plausible when he was smacking the bottle against the wall! Thankfully, that didn't happen though and he got to enjoy his wine!) 

10 Things Thursday

In no particular order: 

1. Finally finished reviews on BeautyFix and Lush Haul. Video's coming soon!

2. The Memphis area Lush inside of Macy's at Oak Court is closing on 5-28-12. I'm SOOO upset!!!

3. As a result of number two, I stocked up on what items weren't already sold out when I visited today.

4. I had a really fun day with my sister! Love girl's days! This one was long overdue.

5. Ranger and Mykelti started Rally last night. It's so much fun! I can't wait to compete them at Rally trials!

6. On the note of my dogs: Tuesday- Advanced Obedience, Wednesdays- Rally, Thursdays- Advanced Agility, and don't forget the Therapy training and work they do on a regular basis. They keep me on my toes!

7. Butter London's Lippy in the shade "Trout Pout" - AMAZING! Go check it out at Ulta!

8. I had Logan's for dinner tonight. It was quite yummy! (Definitely try their sweet potatoes!)

9. I need to get my highlights redone...big time! They're growing out and it's obvious. :/ 

10. My house is all decorated for Memorial Day/4th of July. (I may have already done this in April...lol! I like to decorate for every single holiday!)

My mission in life...

Maya Angelou has been one of the biggest inspirations in my life. She is an incredible, strong woman. The wealth of knowledge that she possesses, and her uncanny ability to speak directly to your heart is absolutely astounding. She may be small, but Maya's words are definitely a force to be reckoned with in their own right! Not only does Maya know how to teach us about eloquence and grace, she also teaches us how to survive things with our dignity still intact as well. My life has really had some ups and downs over the past few years to say the least. (I'm sure you all have gone through your own personal struggles and joys as well.) Through everything that I've gone through, I've really found some of Maya's works to be the most helpful and inspiring. The words she speaks instill motivation and strength. I thought it would be nice to share one of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes with all of you today:

Short People Problems...

I recently decided that I needed some new pants. Well to be honest, I need new clothes in general; I don't really buy clothing all that often. Most of mine are now getting to the point of being worn out. Thus, begins my ever frustrating quest to find some pants that actually fit me well and don't look like a hand-me-down from the "Jolly Green Giant". 

A little background: I'm short. I'm really short...under 5' short. (I'm 4'11.5" to be exact. Yeah...I never quite made that last .5" leap to 5'!) I'm accustom to always being "the short one", and even dealing with the occasional dumbass person who attempts to make my head an "armrest" (Side note: NEVER DO THAT, PEOPLE! I may be short, but I have a mean right hook!). Needless to say, finding properly fitting clothing items in the right length can be a frustrating task! Most Capri's fit me like pants, and I've had Mini dresses look like Maxi dresses on me lol!

In my experience, it's a rarity to find a great pair of pants in stores with the right length. (On the exceedingly rare occasion that it happens, I feel like someone who's just hit the lottery!) It's almost impossible to find pants in stores that come in petite/"short" lengths; most places just don't carry them or keep them stocked. On the rare occasion I find a pair marked as "petite/short", it's often not in the size, color, or cut that I want. So it goes without saying that shopping can be frustrating. To add insult to injury, more often than not, even the pants marked as "short/petite" are still too long on me! At some point, you just have to laugh at yourself and find a good seamstress! ;)

(One of these days, I'll learn how to use a sewing machine!)

To remedy the frustrating issues that go along with pants shopping in stores, I often look online instead. This usually results at my animals staring at me in confusion while I make an awkward, almost comedic attempt at measuring myself. After all of the clumsy measuring, I then hop online to scour reviews and sales, for the perfect pair of pants at a good price. Oh the things we ladies go through to look presentable! So yeah, if you see a short person out in public with a perfect hem/fit to their pants, know that person went through a lot of trouble to make sure those suckers fit well! (I'm sure my taller friends can relate to my shopping frustrations in the opposite way! ) 

So, now you all know why I prefer dresses and leggings: they make life much more simple! 

~Wish me luck this week folks, I may actually make an attempt at pants shopping!~

2 Bain Girls found alive; great news!!! (Update on the Adam Mayes kidnapping/murder case)

For those of you who have been following the case about Adam Mayes and the Bain girls, there is an update tonight: The girls were found safe and sound! Thank goodness!! I first heard about the case when I received an Amber Alert on my phone early in the morning the day the case first was announced. (I have a weather app on my phone that sends out alerts for severe weather, amber alerts,etc). I vividly remember waking up to see that alert on my phone and then hearing more about it on the news at the story progressed. (They went missing on 4-27-12). The reports are saying that Adam Mayes allegedly took his life tonight when he was confronted by some wildlife officers in the woods. (He was pronounced dead a while ago in New Albany, Mississippi) The remaining two young girls were found safe and sound. Thank goodness they're physically ok! The girls (8yrs and 12yrs) have were transported from MS to a fantastic children's hospital near me in Memphis to be checked out. I'm so happy to hear that the girls were found safely! Everyone I know has been praying for good news; there have been prayer vigils all over my city. I'm so happy those girls are ok! I also hope that they will eventually be ok mentally as well (I can't even begin fathom what those little ones have been put through with this case and the murder of their mom and sister). My prayers will definitely be with them as they try to put their lives back together and heal. News of this case has been plastered all over Memphis and the surrounding areas since it started. I've also seen it the story on the national news quite a bit, so I thought I would share the update I heard with all of you tonight. (From what I understand, Mayes' wife Teresa and Adam Mayes' mother, Mary have been charged in the case too, and have been in jail since Sunday.)


Here are a few links to the story for those of you who are curious:
http://www.wmctv.com/story/18291547/adam-mayes-captured-2-missing-bain-girls-are-safe]
http://www.wmctv.com/story/18242709/fbi-will-hold-news-conference-regarding-missing-bain-girls-at-2-pm]
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/05/10/adam-mayes-dead-kidnapped-girls-found-alive]
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/10/justice/tennessee-missing-children/index.html?hpt=hp_t1]
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten] (FBI 10 Most Wanted List posting an update and listing Mayes as deceased)

FDA Issued:Pet Food Recall

Mykelti and Ranger have a special announcement about a pet food recall!

This post is for all of my readers who have pets. The FDA has issued an updated alert on the list of pet foods included on the current recall, due to potential Salmonella. If you feed your pet one of these brands, check the bag and and see if it matches the information listed in the link below.:

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts UPDATED: CORRECT PRODUCTION CODE INFORMATION Diamond Pet Foods Expands Voluntary Recall of Dry Pet Food Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

Brands on the list include:
-Kirkland
-Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul
-Country Value
-Diamond
-Diamond Naturals
-Premium Edge
-Professional
-4Health
-Taste of the Wild


***This recall is serious:In addition to reports of pets becoming ill and even dying of this, 14 humans (yes, humans!) have become ill as a result of handling/working around the contaminated foods.If you have a food on the recall list, please stop feeding it to your pet immediately and return it to the pet store you purchased it from.(Save all of the labeling information, expiration dates, and receipts). Check out this link as well for more information: http://truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/cdc-links-diamond-pet-food-to-human-salmonella-outbreak.html


If you need to switch your pet off of a recalled product, I highly recommend using Fromm. (They make food for both cats and dogs.) All products from the food to the packaging are made in the USA and thoroughly inspected. They have NEVER had a recall. If you are local, you can pick up Fromm at Hollywood Feed; if you live out of town, you can check their website for ordering information at: http://frommfamily.com/ . I've been feeding Fromm for several years now, and my animals have thrived on their products! The staff is also fantastic if you ever need to contact them! (They offer a free buyers card too; when you buy a certain amount of bags, you get one free. I've saved a lot of money with that little card!). Another great thing about higher quality, holisitic dog foods is that it doesn't take a ton of food to fill your dog up. Because you're not feeding your dog junk food (Beneful, Purina, etc) they require less food, so even though it is a little more expensive on the front in when you first purchase the bag, it actually winds up being less expensive in the long run and healthier because you aren't running through triple the amount of dog food just to keep your pet satisfied on the poor quality brands. The premium foods have more filling ingredients and aren't full of artifical junk that passes straight through your pets (literally!). This means a healhtier dog, more money in your wallet, less nastiness at pick up time, and a safer peace of mind knowing you can trust a reputable company with your pets food. Definitely check out Fromm! I trust them with my own pets food, and my readers who follow me all know that I only give mine the best! 

Sample Society Box by Beauty Bar (May 2012)

My review on May's Sample Society Box by Beauty Bar/Allure. Go check it out!


(Be sure to pause the music in the right side bar before you press play)



If you want to order a box, be sure to use the code: LYDI3036 at checkout! 

Bless Your Heart!

I think I scared the beejezus out of one of my Northern friends this week, when I was in a particularly rotten mood. (A rotten mood that was the result of said Northerner's unintentional provocation). For those of you born and raised in the South, I'll give you a good guess at what happened next. I said it. Yes, I said "IT". I said the term we Southern ladies all know, embrace, and use when the situation merits: 

BLESS YOUR HEART! 

Seriously, the look on my friends face was priceless upon the realization that my comment was NOT a positive thing. I'd describe the look as being one of utter shock and confusion. Haha. Oh, sometimes I just adore living in the South and getting a good laugh at things like that. I don't break out that phrase too often in a negative connotation. However, you better believe that if I do, I'm mad as hell! 


So, a helpful hint for all of you non-Southerners out there: when a Southern lady says, "Bless Your Heart" and gives you the icy look of fury: RUN! She is not wishing showers of joyous blessing upon you and your household. No, she is essentially letting you know that you are a total idiot, and you should go "F" yourself for whatever actions you angered her with... 

Dar Williams - The Light & The Sea (2012)

I love Dar Williams! You lovely readers should love her too! Check out her incredible, soothing voice in the video below. :)


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Allure Summer Beauty Box 2012

Here's a little sneak peak of what came inside this year's Allure Summer Beauty Box 2012! 

www.allure.com

For only $34.95 and $10.00 s&h, you receive over $300 worth of full sized beauty products! $5.00 from every box goes directly to support the Skin Cancer Foundation. Amazing! I watched a review on this last year and decided that I wanted to order one this year. Thankfully, I got one before they sold out. (They sold out within 8 hours this year). Before I placed my order, I was able to view the items that would be included in the box online, and determined for myself that they were products I would purchase and wanted to try. So for me, this box was an incredible deal! If you'd like to order one next year, be sure to follow updates on Allure's website and in their magazines! In the mean time, be sure to check out Allure's new monthly subscription service through Beauty Bar: Sample Society. (They put out monthly boxes similar to Birchbox)

(Be sure to hit the "pause" button in the right side column before you play this video! 

I was a bit sick when I made this, so ignore my "Darth Vader" breath sounds! ) 

Microwave Mayday: How to clean a microwave!

Today, my dad came over for lunch, and then he helped me re-hang a storage shelf in my laundry room. My house has absolutely no food storage: no pantry, no shelving, nothing! So to remedy that situation, I added a small black bookshelf beside my refrigerator in my kitchen for canned goods/etc, a long shelf in my laundry room for boxed goods, and a metal microwave cart in the laundry room for miscellaneous items and such. That system works out really well for me. The only problem I've ever had with it arose a few weeks ago when the shelf in my laundry room that I use for boxed goods decided to take a tumble. I had to get creative and use the top of my dryer as temporary storage: not ideal!). While me dad was over today, his mischievously nosy self decided to sneak a peak into my microwave to see how clean it was. (Are you kidding me? My mom is the one who has owned her own cleaning business since I was a toddler, not him! If anything, I'd expect my mom to go through my house with a white glove checking for dust, not my dad lol.) 


Anyways, because they're both a bit OCD about cleaning, I turned out to be the same way as well, which I honestly embrace and enjoy. After all, I have pets and allergies. I like my home to look clean and inviting, not rolling in fur and dust, so I am admittedly a bit OCD about keeping things tidy. I had my morning free today, so I cleaned my house from top to bottom: bathrooms, living rooms, kitchen, clean linens, clean dog/cat beds, everything! OR SO I THOUGHT! Apparently, I had forgotten about my microwave. (A few days ago, there was a chicken tortilla soup disaster in there right before I was getting ready to leave my house. I completely forgot about it since I don't use my microwave that often to begin with. It's not even in my kitchen if that gives you an idea! I keep my microwave in my laundry room on a cart with other storage things.) So, when my dad got nosy today and opened up my microwave, he commented, "I found the one thing you and your sister Debbie have in common: neither of you like to clean your microwaves!" Since I pride myself on keeping a clean home, that comment left me slightly mortified! (I was also wondering why he was being nosy and looking in there in the first place!) I told him I usually keep it clean but I had forgotten about it today when I cleaned the rest of my house. He laughed and then said, "I'm joking, I know you clean house like your mom does! (i.e.: OCD freak!).


Needless to say, after he left I made sure that I cleaned the microwave! I found the link below on Pinterest recently and wanted to share if with all of you. It REALLY works well! All you do is use 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup of water and put that into a microwave safe container. Place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes and let the steam work its magic. Carefully take the container out of the microwave and then dip a rag into the solution and wipe the microwave clean. (The steam breaks up the grime and makes everything wipe off really easily!)


Made2Style Blog : How To Clean Your Microwave!
(All credit goes to the Made2Style Blog for this awesome cleaning idea!)

Kisses!

Ranger and Mykelti made a new friend with an elderly lady on our walk at the park today! As a therapy dog, Ranger really loves visiting with older people; Mykelti does too! So, when we passed a park bench and an elderly lady that was sitting on it today, I could tell that they wanted to visit with her. The lady made a comment about how cute they were and asked if I could bring them over to her so that she could pet them. So, I brought them over for a little visit and socialization. (As a handler, I LOVE opportunities like that for therapy practice! It's also really helpful when Mykelti is out with Range rand sees how well behaved Ranger is as a therapy dog; it sets the example for her to exhibit calm, friendly behaviors as well. They really do learn from  one another!) After visiting with the lady for a while, it was time for us to leave and go home. The little lady asked if she could give them a kiss goodbye (I think my pups had already given her quite a few kisses at that point!). Since my pups were at ease and thoroughly enjoying their time with her, I said ok. (They were clearly comfortable around her, exhibiting  relaxed body language, and enjoying her company!). When I said yes however, I forgot to take into account how much lipstick the little lady had on! (We're talking "Mimi" from the old "Drew Carey Show" lipstick!). My pups wound up covered in a nice layer of lipstick. (Look at the lipstick marks she left behind on Ranger and Mykelti in the pictures below It cracks me up lol!) This was not the first time that Ranger had come home with lipstick on him either. (The adult daycare we used to visit when working with our old therapy group, had quite a few older ladies that enjoyed giving him kisses as well!). Mykelti got kisses today too; although, after the lady laid a big one on Ranger's forehead, her lipstick was a bit smeared when she went in to give little Mykelti a kiss lol. My pups were just happy to have attention and gave her more kisses goodbye. :) 

Happy Aussies!

He's such a ladies man! 

Birdy - Skinny Love [Official Music Video]

I really love Birdy's cover of the Bon Iver song, "Skinny Love"! Last night, I was pleasantly surprised when Lindsey Pavao preformed it on The Voice's Semi-Finals; she did a beautiful job! Want to listen to this incredible song I keep referring to? Go check out the link I've posted below!


(Be sure to pause the music in the right side bar before you press "play"!)