Wet N Wild Goth-O-Graphic MegaGlo Highlighting Stick - Review

This is a recently released limited time offer from Wet and Wild for a small line called "Goth-O-Graphic" and this is a MegaGlow Highlighting stick.  It comes in one shade "Hell-O Darkness".

I purchased for $7.00 with free shipping when ordering through Hush's downloadable app through Apple for I-Phones, but also downloadable on Smart Phones through GooglePlay.  It is also available on Wet N Wild's website or check their store locator  to purchase in store near you.

It comes sealed with a peel off outer layer plastic and when you take off the top lid it is sealed underneath with a smaller lid for added protection, so if you carry it in your purse and the top lid comes off and get all that gunk in your purse on the product or the product gunk up your purse.

At first glance it looks like the product in the tube is silver, but once you swatch it there is a lavender-ish sheen along with the silver and has an pearlescent iridescent holographic sheen.

It is a stick that can be used on cheeks, brow bones, collarbone, decolletage or any area of the body you would like to feature.

My opinion is it is for evening and Winter wear as it would look better on paler skin   

Why?  Because although th website indicates it is formulated to flatter all skin tones, I think it would be more flattering on paler skin and can look a off in the harsh light of day even with a bit of tan and make it look sweaty and only instead of sparkly and magical. 

Also recommend using it sparingly and probably pick one place to highlight. When I first got it I used it where I would normally highlight my face and it was overkill with the above mentioned sweaty look.

I do think that it that looks absolutely beautiful in the evening when it catches the light if you edit yourself and just pick one feature to highlight.

Another plus is it is also Cruelty-Free (not tested on animals).

Swatched on forearm 

Swatched on white paper 

Worn just on the cheekbones below with a light shade of foundation.  It is not as flattering in daylight as it is in evening light when it is the right about of magical sparkly glimmer. 

Cuban Caliente Cafe - Review

As I took off work a little early I had decided to try a late lunch a the Cuban Caliente Cafe downtown as co-workers said the food was good, albeit a bit on the pricey side and I had read rave reviews for their authentic Cuban food other location.  

I did not get a picture of the inside, but there was lots of black painted wood and they have a counter were you can walk in to pick up orders or the server can seat you in the dining room which was the same black wood theme and barren of much decorations but begging for some colorful Cuban culture painting, maps or other decorations on the wall as it is rather dismal  As such, I requested to dine on the patio.

The patio is on the sidewalk and twice there were bike riders on the sidewalk (they are not supposed to be) that had to quickly maneuver around the bikes chained to the parking meter nearby and I was concerned they were not going to make it and end up hitting the fencing, so it you go and sit on the patio would recommend sitting closer to the windows instead of toward the street.  

They carry Coke products for the soft drinks currently for $2.50 a glass with free refills.   

I ordered the Balsero Sandwich for $8.50, which is seasoned ground beef with an egg on top a tomato, pickles and a special sauce.   The sandwich was very large and would be better if they offered 1/2 sandwich for lunch or you might want to split one with a friend.

I had expected the sandwich to have more of a kick and spice; it was sort of like a sloppy joe without the spicy tomato sauce and a little bland for my taste.. Salt and pepper helped a little but the waiter did not offer up hot sauce until I was almost done.  Also would be better if it were served with a side of potato chips.  

Overall the server was attentive as he was juggling the counter, a few tables inside and me outside.

They do have a selection of sides, but none are in English on the menu and none have an explanation of what they are.  I did search afterward and found their menu on Waiter on the Way and it does explain what the side are.

The story behind this place is interesting as it was started by a couple that was exiled from Cuba by Castro and became an American success story, now with their second location downtown - for more information on that visit Caliente's website.

Currently lunch is from 11am to 5pm, I did see a notice in their window they are applying for an alcohol permit so they might be expanding their hours in the future.

The sandwich everyone says is the best is "The Cubano", which is roasted pork, ham and Swiss cheese, with pickles onion and mustard so I do plan on trying that some time.

Location:  

120 W Wayne St
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

•  

• Phone number

• (260) 471-0900

Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Sale - Some Items as Low as $3.00; Check Your Package Upon Arrival

Bath and Body Works is currently having their Semi-Annual Sale with some products such as lotions and wall fragrances starting at only $3.00.  

You can also get $10 off of a $40 or more purchase with the code GOHAUL.   If you sign up for cash back through Ebates, you can also currently earn 1% cash back on your purchase.

I have been a long-time customer of Bath and Body Works and enjoyed every product I have purchased so far (some more than others due to personal preferences), but I did have an incident after the last Semi-Annual sale with an online purchase.

I had ordered four items and received a box with only one item (picture below).  I figured that that either the items were on backorder or out-of-stock, but upon inspecting the packing list, it indicated the items had been shipped.

I contacted their Customer Service Dept. and inquired about it and they advised that the items had shipped.  I wrote back and indicated my box only contained one, perhaps the items were out of stock and incorrectly marked?   They advised that they do not weigh the box until all items are packed and it weighed 4 lbs and that would be the weight of the items that were shipped.

Actually, this bothered me even more as it seemed to indicate it was not just an oversight during a busy spurt, it would seem like someone would have had to have taken the items out of the box after weighing then shipped.   When I expressed that concern they indicated that perhaps the box was damaged during shipping and re-packaged by the mail carrier.

I advised I had their box and it was not damaged and could send them a picture.  I did point out I was a long-time customer that could be verified with my account history, enjoyed their products and wished to continue to make online purchases but the whole situation but needed to be able to count on getting what I had paid for.  

They did finally agree to send the missing items if still in stock or refund the difference and I was made whole and I did make another purchase after this with no problems.  

I do want to say that the Customer Service responses were prompt and professional and the situation was resolved in 2 days even with back and forth emails.  In life, mistakes happen and I understand that things are going to be perfect all the time.

However, I do recommend opening your box and checking right away to be sure everything is in there.

(As I am still trying to de-clutter, as painful as it is going to be, I will not be purchasing anything during this sale so there will not be a post-sale haul post).

L.A. Colors Color Craze Nail Polish - Color #4 - Review

This was a Dollar Tree purchase for $1 and I have to say the first time I have purchased and L.A. Colors Nail Polish and not been happy with the result, although I absolutely love the beigish color with a hint of a grey undertone.

I think it is because it is a more opaque and not very forgiving of brush lines and although I tried several times, but in fairness though, I think it would do better with a base coat, but for trying out any product I prefer to try just the product on its own.

The above is 2 coats and a touch up to try to make the nail consistent.  I tried several time and never to get an even finish on my nails so it has been relegated to craft projects going forward.

In general, I have found the LA Colors brand  of nail polish will need touch up every day to every other day if you don't use a base and or top coat, but if you are a gal that likes to match her nails to an outfit or a look and change your polish every day it is a very affordable brand to do that with and they usually have a vast array of colors.

PROS

• Inexpensive - only $1- a great way to try out a new color
• Lovely neutral color 
• L A Colors in Cruelty Free per PETAs website

CONS

• Hard not to get brush lines in polish with this color
• Not long lasting - will need touch up every day or so unless you use a base coat and/or a top coat

Nine Mile Restaurant - Review

This is a small restaurant/bar that seems to be in the middle of nowhere on 27 South between Fort Wayne and Decatur, Indiana.

it is a place I took a pass on in the past as I figured it would just be a roadside dive with a minimal menu and barely passable food until a friend advised the food and service was good.

I found I had been missing out as it is a great low key, casual place to get some good comfort food and think about a piece of local history.

While the accommodations are modern, this restaurant/bar is on the site of a historic primitive tavern and store that had been there since 1837 when there were no real roads, just traces of worn paths that had been used by native Indians an was a stop for weary travelers coming to the area to have a drink and a bit of hospitality.   The place is named Nine Mile as it is nine miles from the Allen County Courthouse.

Upon entering the place, the lobby is spacious and has a bench on each side if either side is full up and you would need to wait.  A sign on the podium there indicates they do not accept reservations after 4pm.   The place is divided into two sections:  Bar on the left and restaurant on the right.

On the way into the restaurant there are swinging doors, not the type that you would find in a old saloon, but full length metal ones more like you would see on a boat.  I think it would have more charm it it had the old saloon type of doors but guessing what is there is to cut down on heat/air conditioning loss and noise.

Upon entering, there about a dozen booths and 9 tables and some decorations on the wall, but not high on ambiance.  If the place was full, it would be fairly cramped quarters so if you are the least bit claustrophobic, you would probably want to go during non-peak hours.   It does look like from the website they have patio out back for additional seating during the Summer.  They also offer carry-out.

In browsing the menu it was much larger than I had anticipated.  It had standard bar/pub type food along with comfort food dinners of beef, chicken, and seafood, the latter which is served with two sides.  They serve Pepsi products, but if you want something a little stronger to wet your whistle they do have been, wine and flavored Martinis.

We both ordered the Chopped Sirloin with home fries and a salad for $9.99 and  my guest had his topped with sauteed mushrooms for an additional $1.99.  The salad ingredients were fresh and crisp and the dressing served in a plastic container on the side so you could add what you liked.

The chopped steak was cooked to well done as ordered as well as the home fries which were ordered as extra crispy (many places we have gone never get this right).   Service was excellent with the waitress being friendly, checked back frequently to see if anything needed and refilled drinks and cleared plates without having to ask.

We were going to check out the bar side on the left side but there was a full house and no two seats were available together so we will check it at on a future visit as we do plan on adding this spot to one of our go-to dining spots.

 Lobby

Door between lobby and dining area

Dining area - view from back 

 

Side Salad

Chopped Sirloin with home fries

Chopped steak with home fries topped with sauteed mushrooms

Bar side

History

A few Menu pics

9 Mile Website Restaurant

9 Mile Restaurant Facebook Page

Free Create Your Own Disney Decal

One of my bucket list items is to go to a Disney Park, so I was excited to see that Disney Parks is offering again this year where you can Create your own free Disney Decal and downloadable image  . as dreaming is free, and so is this offer if you live in the U.S. and are over 18 years old

You start with options of Adult, Teen, Child, Toddler or Pet.  Then there are a few customization options for the people, such as hair, clothing, hats, facial hair, glasses, and accessories for the people and 3 options each for dog or cats under pets.  You also have the option of a few parks in the background or elect not to have a background at all.  Along with that, you can add can short phrase (I put in "Our Family" above) and pick one of three phrases or skip this step and just go without any wording.  

If you want a decal mailed, you will need to provide your date of birth, email address and mailing address, but you can download the picture without doing so and could print on your own sticker paper or print it off and put on an inspiration board or mood board if you have one.

I ordered one last year and it took a few weeks to arrive, but it is a cute addition to a vehicle or a planning binder.

How to Organize Your Freezer Like a Pro | Epicurious

As part of my declutter, I am gearing up to tackle my fridge so using this short video on freezer organization as inspiration, with the main points being:

• Take everything out of of the freezer
• Get rid of anything that won't be used - a great point in this video was make something and don't like it, it is not going to taste better after being frozen 6 months later - let it go.
• Sort thing into categories.  
• Label items and include the date.

In preparation for this will head to my local Dollar Tree for:

• Masking tab and a Sharpie - while fancy label look professional, they are more costly - just going to go old school on this one.
• Plastic bins (hopefully clear ones)
• Freezer bags