Ten Things Tuesday

1. It's the simple things in life: cup of tea, a good laugh, nice company, funny movie, my puppies, so on....that make me really happy!

I took these tonight. Aren't they cuties?!
Mykelti, Rosie, and Ranger

2. I'm currently burning Candles by Victoria's "Cinnamon Gingerbread Latte" candle. It smells amazing! I plan to do a "wax review" video on it soon.

3. Hair clips are bad hair day saviors!

4. My dogs enjoy chasing the laser pointer more than my cats. It's so funny to watch them bounding around the house trying to chase after the little red light that they think is a bug!

5. When I went to the doctor yesterday, the receptionist called out a lady with the exact same name as my sister. So of course, I stood up and looked around for my sister, only to realize the lady just coincidentally had the same name as her. (Slightly embarrassing!)

6. I'm obsessed with Harney & Son's Hot Cinnamon Tea! I highly recommend it to all of you out there who adore tea as much as I do! 

(You can pick it up in the cafe section of Barnes & Noble bookstores.)

7. Today I got fitted for braces for both of my wrists. I'm supposed to wear them when I sleep and during the day. Apparently, my immune system is attacking my nerve endings in a rather painful way, so having braces on my wrists might help a bit. We shall see if they're worth the annoyance! 

8. I love quirky, whimsical coffee mugs! I'm planning on doing a video/blog post soon to show you all some of my very favorite ones. 

9. After a lot of tears and soul-searching, I've decided that I would rather keep my friends few and genuine, than have unnecessary fake, toxic friendships that do not add to the quality, joy, and happiness of my life. It's a tough lesson to learn, and even harder to cut the metaphoric string when you care about someone. When they continually cause you more grief than happiness though, it is  the right thing to do when you really look at the big picture. True friendship is not selfish. It should add joy and happiness to your life. A true friend should be there to be build you up out of love and care, not cause you misery. Life is just too short for drama. The older I become, the more I've discovered that I'd just rather not have any, nor associate myself with it. On that same note, I've also grown to appreciate and cherish the sincere, amazing friendships that I do have. They're such wonderful blessings in my life! 

10. Am I the only person out there who is absolutely going crazy to see the movie, "Warm Bodies"? I think it looks adorable! The previews remind me a bit of the, "My Boyfriend's Back" movie that came out in the 90's.

I ♥ Fall TAG!

The "I  ♥ Fall" Tag has been floating around YouTube recently, and I had such a blast doing this one! Autumn is my absolute favorite season, so I thought this tag was especially fun! Click the video below to watch the tag and see what my very favorite picks for Fall are. Feel free to leave a comment and tell me what your favorites are, or answer these questions on your blog. :)

Questions from the Tag:

1. Favorite Fall lip product?


2. Favorite Fall Nail Polish?


3. Favorite Starbucks Fall Drink?


4. Favorite Fall Candle?


5. Favorite Fall Scarf or accessory


6. Haunted house, haunted hay ride, or haunted corn maze?


7. Favorite Halloween movie?


8. Favorite candy to eat on Halloween?


9. What are you dressing up as for Halloween?!


10. What is your Favorite thing about Fall?

All about Candles! (Reviews, Hauls, and Re-purposing those used candle jars!)

Do you love candles? I sure do! They're one of my absolute favorite little guilty pleasures in life! They help you relax, they smell divine, add ambiance to your environment, and they really just make your home a more cozy, inviting place! Today, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my recent candle video reviews with all of you! I will have be making some more video/ blog reviews soon, as I am expecting a new order to arrive sometime in the next week from the huge Candles by Victoria sale she recently had. I also need to play catch up and review some of my past orders, so be on the look out for several new candle-themed videos in the near future! (There are more brands than the ones mentioned in the video below covered in my future reviews! I burn everything from Walmart's "Mainstay" candles to "Lafco" candles, and in between. 

I really think that candle making is such an amazing art form. It's so spectacular when companies are able to achieve perfection in candle form with the way their candles burn, throw scent, and preform. It's definitely safe to say that I'm a candle addict! Out of all the potential addictions a person could have though, I'd say this is a pretty delicious one! ;)

Lets start this off with what I hope will be a helpful tutorial: How to clean/remove wax from your empty jar candles. I loved making this video because I really enjoy getting to re-purpose the things I use on a regular basis. Why be wasteful and throw these gorgeous jars away, when you can clean them up and give them a new life! They make amazing storage containers, excellent containers for presents, you name it! :)

Below is my recent Slatkin & Co / Bath & Body Works Haul Video and Review! In this video, I explain a bit about the  three "Test Scent Stores" in the US, and the 2/$20 sales. I also tell you how you can order seasonal scents from these special stores weeks/months before they are ever available in the regular stores! Enjoy!! (I'll also let you know which Fall fragrances are my absolute favorite!)

Another Bath & Body Works mini-haul and review! In this video I cover some of the mini-candles and the soap sale! Pay attention to the very end of the video! It explains why you should NEVER throw away those B&BW receipts! (At the end of every receipt is a survey that you can do: You will receive a $10 off coupon towards your next purchase. It NEVER expires!). I really like the customer service that Bath and Body works provides; they are always so terrific about addressing any concern or question you might have, and are so polite! Their shipping is also very prompt, regardless of if you order from a Test Store, or online.

Below are two reviews on one of my FAVORITE companies: Candles by Victoria! I absolutely adore this company. They are US based, and have such great customer service; they are so friendly, and just a joy to order from. Did I mention that they have over 750 fragrances to chose from, you can pick your own wax colors, add glitter or use any container your heart desires, and oh my goodness...the list goes on and on! They hand pour all of their candles and scent shots fresh with each order, so you never have to worry about the freshness or fragrance throw! There are so many options that they even have a terrific message board set up where people can talk about their favorite products and give reviews! Their candles and scent shots (tarts) smell amazing, and are very affordable! (I link information about coupon codes,etc in the videos, so watch closely!) I REALLY need to catch up on my Candles by Victoria reviews and show some of the candles/scent shots that I own. There are quite a bit lol! This company is absolutely fantastic! I can't recommend them enough! Go check them out: www.candlesbyvictoria.com:

Candles by Victoria Review: Amber Romance Jar Candle

Candles by Victoria: Scent Shot (tart) review: Cinnamon Gingerbread Latte 

(It's AMAZING!)

This review is on a company that I recently discovered called, Shayz Scentz. I am so impressed with this company so far! This was my very first order, and it will definitely not be my last! I recently ordered from Shay when their website had a sale going on (check their website often: they run sales frequently!). Just like CBV, Shayz Scents is also based in Texas. (I love supporting US based small companies!). Out of every single company that I've ordered with, I have to say that hands down they have the BEST customer service! Very prompt, friendly responses to any question you have, insanely fast shipping, and best of all: Very great products! Shayz Scents has a really nice "pink" line of fragrances that I am especially pleased with. I've used a few of her tarts since I placed this order, and I am very pleased with the fragrance throw and the performance! I highly recommend this company! (Just like CBV, Shayz Scents hand pours all of their candles/tarts, so you are getting very fresh products when you order!). Go check out her website!: www.shayzscents.com

Lydia's Tip: Keep those flames and melted tarts away from your furbabies and little ones! Be sure to read the link below with tons of information on EVERYTHING you've ever wanted to know about candles! This link offers TONS of helpful hints on caring for your candles and getting the most out of your money! (Yes, you need to take care of your candles, and yes there is a proper way to burn them, trim wicks, etc!)

 http://www.candlesbyvictoria.com/cbv/faq.html

Huge Sale Alert: Bath & Body Works/ Slatkin & Co Fall 2012 Test Candle Fragrance Sale!!!!

This juicy detail is just too great not to share with all of you lovelies! Today and Tomorrow, Bath and Body Works/ Slatkin & Co, will have ALL of their Fall Test Scent candles on sale for only $10 (2 for $20) and shipping is a flat-rate of only $6! These are the huge 3 wick candles we're talking about! (The only time you will ever see the Fall scents on sale again will be after Christmas during the Semi-Annual, and most will be picked over if not sold out.) If you want them now while they're on sale, now is the time to order! These make great Christmas/Birthday gifts!


I just found out about this sale today from another Youtuber I follow, and placed my order this morning. (It apparently started on July 9th, and ends tomorrow (Friday). They put out the test scent candles to see how well they sell in select stores/over the phone, before they decide which lines/candles will sell in stores across the country. Many of the fragrances are happy returns from last year with new packaging; many are brand new! I ordered a bit of both, and can't wait to try them! Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year! I can't wait for this hot Summer to end and Autumn to begin! Nothing is more inviting, than an incredible candle making my home smell delicious and warm. (I spend a lot of time at home, so I'm the type to really enjoy and burn candles often) 


Here are the numbers to the three test stores that you can order from.They will take in-store coupons, survey coupons, and such over the phone. Online coupon codes do not apply, so make sure it is something that could be used in stores (four digit number) Ask nicely, and many times they will break up your order into several orders so that you can use multiple coupons! I've listed coupon info below for all of you.


Tennessee: (423) 282-0008 - this is the store I ordered from (Johnson City). The girl was very, very friendly and helpful! 


Missouri: (314) 725-6265- placed an order from here as well; also very nice. ASK nicely for $6 shipping ,otherwise the will try and charge $10. When I mentioned the TN store only charged $6 flat rate shipping for the same amount of candles, they kindly agreed to offer me the $6 price instead of $10. They also let me use multiple coupons.

Ohio: (614) 475-0196


They ship via FedEx ground, and call to give you your tracking number as soon as they ship so you can follow your package. They usually package/ship out the following day and you will have your order ASAP. B&BW has always had incredibly fast shipping when I've ordered in the past. Use code: 3006 for 20% off your order (give the code to them over the phone). With each order, you will also be given a Survey Coupon- it never expires! Complete this and you'll get $10 off any order! (Now, do you see the importance of ordering from different stores and breaking up your orders ;) ) (You can also use the code: 6118 for a free full sized item from their Signature Fragrance Line! - shower gel, fragrance, lotion, bubble bath, etc)


Since this was such an incredible deal, I ordered 20 candles from the sale: Ten from TN and ten from MO. The candles I ordered were: 


Cider Lane (2)
Pumpkin Cupcake (2)
Leaves (2) -You have the option to order the traditional packaging (brownish wax, or the new white wax/gold lid packaging. Both are an identical formula and scent; the company is just trying to see which packaging sells better.)
Pumpkin Caramel Latte (2)
Marshmallow Fireside
Farmstand Apple
Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin
Creamy Pumpkin (2)
Autumn
Salted Caramel
Nutmeg & Spice
Spiced Cider (2)
Plum Wine & Amber
Cranberry Harvest


(Also included were a free full sized: Pink Chiffon Shower Gel and a free Love,Love,Love Body Mist. The code for that is Auth # 6118)


They do have more fragrances than the ones I listed above: 
-Autumn Day (In stock)
-Brandied Pear (In Stock)
-Cinnamon Nut Bread (In Stock; smells like banana nut bread)
-Cinnamon Sugared Donut (In stock)
-Mahogany Teakwood (In stock)
-Apple Crumble (Out of stock at MO & TN stores)
-Black Pepper Bergamont (In stock in MO)
-Fresh Balsam (In stock)
-(There were a few more I can't remember! If you call the stores, they will be able to tell you what they have in stock)


-Fragrances I was interested in, that aren't in stock yet: (Many of these will be available starting September 5th for Test Sale. When I get details, I will post more! I asked about all of these mentioned today, none of them were available in either store.)


-Pumpkin Carvings
-Roasted Pumpkin Butter
-Cafe o'lait
-Cedar Wood Oak
-Bonfire Maplewood
-Sweater Weather
-Blueberry Pumpkin Patch
-Chocolate Bacon Cupcake (MO store said that test fragrance is being cancelled & won't be sold).
-Sweet Macroon
-Farm Apple Cookie
-Caramel Apple
-Cedar Oak Wood
(Forgive me if I forgot any! If you know about any not included on my list, please let me know! :) )