Day 3 is Snow Storm, a shimmer ink. Of the inks I have access to, I could only find one similar ink. Thankfully, it’s an almost perfect match.
25 Days of Dupes – Day 3
Posted in Ink
Author: Rachel
25 Days of Dupes – Day 2
Posted in Ink
Day 2 is Candy Cane, a standard ink. From the inks I swabbed, Valentine Red is the closest color dupe. It’s not identical, but it’s pretty close.
25 Days of Dupes – Day 1
Posted in Ink
Day 1 is Blue Peppermint, a shimmer ink. From the inks I swabbed, Soft Mint is the closest color dupe.
Don’t worry, I won’t be sharing spoilers today (or any day, technically).
When the Diamine Inkvent Calendar was first announced, I thought it was a cute idea, but didn’t plan to get it. As more and more photos and mentions of it appeared, I found myself experiencing FOMO to the highest degree. Eventually, coming across it in person at Bertram’s Inkwell, I decided to get one to satisfy my interest and curiosity.
I went home, and, initially, I planned to be good and open it in December like a proper advent calendar. But then I remembered that I won’t be available to open the inks during Christmas week. I considered opening it day-by-day in November instead, but ultimately decided to just open it up and swab them all one Saturday.
Let’s start with the obvious, I’m going to be talking about periods and ways to deal with them. If this bothers you, stop reading now. However, if you have to deal with having a period, I highly suggest you read this, because it could make a major positive impact on your life.
Also, you might want to grab a snack, this is going to be long. As ever with my ultra-long posts, I’m going to help you jump to the info you’re interested in. Keep in mind, the links only work when you’re actually on the article page.
I should probably also mention, just for clarity, that this post is not sponsored in any way. It’s all my honest thoughts and opinions, no external influences.
Content Links
Some Background
I’ve known about menstrual cups for a while. And, to be honest, the idea grossed me out. I’m well aware that periods are normal bodily functions and nothing to be bothered by, but that doesn’t keep me from being grossed out at bleeding for a week and feeling dirty because of it.
Why I Ordered One
My cycle has always been irregular. Like 1-3 times a year irregular. Yes, I’ve been to doctors for it. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with me. Honestly, I’ve been grateful because it’s one less thing to worry about—one part of the female tax I can avoid.
Taming Demons for Beginners
Series: The Guild Codex: Demonized, Book #1
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Occult, Supernatural
Release Date: September 13, 2019
Pages: 360
Purchase from: Amazon
My Rating: ★★★★★
Rule one: Don’t look at the demon.
When I arrived at my uncle’s house, I expected my relatives to be like me—outcast sorcerers who don’t practice magic. I was right about the sorcery, but wrong about everything else.
Rule two: Don’t listen to the demon.
My uncle chose a far deadlier power. He calls creatures of darkness into our world, binds them into service contracts, and sells them to the highest bidder. And I’m supposed to act like I don’t know how illegal and dangerous it is.
Rule three: Don’t talk to the demon.
All I had to do was keep my nose out of it. Pretend I didn’t find the summoning circle in the basement. Pretend I didn’t notice the shadowy being trapped inside it. Pretend I didn’t break the rules.
But I did, and now it’s too late.
From the author of The Guild Codex: Spellbound comes a new series that will plunge an unprepared young woman into the darkest magic of the mythic world.
Dorothy in the Land of Monsters
by Garten Gevedon
Series: Oz ReVamped, Book 1
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
Release Date: October 11, 2019
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Shifters, Zombies, and Vampires? Oh my!
My name is Dorothy Gale, and I think I might be dead.
When my dog Toto and I got swept up in a twister, we landed in hell. A very colorful hell. Like a rainbow dripping in blood. Now it looks as though this dreadful underworld plagued with vampires, zombies, and shifters will be the site of my eternal damnation.
They say this terrifying land called Oz isn’t hell or purgatory and escape is possible, but first I must survive the journey down the blood-soaked yellow brick road to the only place in Oz where vampires dare not tread—The City of Emeralds.
With enchanted footwear and the help of my three new friends—a friendly zombie, a massive shifter lion, and a heartless axe murderer of evil night creatures (who also happens to be the hottest guy I’ve ever seen)—Toto and I have a chance to make it to the Vampire Free Zone. When we get there, I must convince the most powerful wizard in this magical land of monsters to send us out of this radiant nightmare and back to the world of the living. They say he’s just as frightening as this monstrous land, that he detests visitors, and even the most horrifying creatures cower in his presence. But I must seek him out. And when I find him, I’ll do whatever it takes to make him send me home.
Where I’ve Been
Posted in News
I haven’t been posting much lately. Find out why, and find out the fate of my blog and stories in the future.
I’m comparing seemingly identical inks to see how similar they really are. This week: Noodler’s Liberty’s Elysium and Organics Studio Bert’s Blue.
Review: Lume Deodorant
Posted in Non-Stationery Reviews
Fair warning, there is, within this review, what some people would consider TMI relating to sweatiness and BO. I felt it necessary to provide that information to adequately discuss the changes with and benefits of, Lume. So, you have been warned.
I acknowledge this is a long post, so, if you don’t care about backstory and just want to jump down to the overview, feel free to do so.
UPDATE: Due to the significant increase in views and comments I’ve gotten on this post, I’ve shared a quick update. Also, I’m not affiliated with Lume in any way, which should be REALLY obvious by the content of this post.
Identifying My Vintage Pelikan
Posted in Fountain Pens
This past Saturday, I went to Bertram’s Inkwell to pick up the pen I won from Pensplaining with Corinne. While there, Adam mentioned that they had a bunch of secondhand pens. So, pen fiend that I am, I asked to see them.
Note: If you don’t want to read the story, feel free to jump down to the pen porn or the list of sites I mention in the narrative below.
Out came three big zip cases of vintage pens. I went through the cases, but I don’t typically love the look of vintage pens. They aren’t as pretty as modern pens, in my opinion. But, in the third case, there were a bunch of vintage Pelikans. Among those was a red and black pen. I love red and black, so I pulled it out.
Unfortunately, the nib was looking a bit rough. Out of curiosity, I took at look at each of the other Pelikans. Most of them were stubs or broad, which I know I don’t like writing with. But, this one was intriguing.
Ink Dupes #12: Diamine and Colorverse
Posted in Ink
I’m comparing seemingly identical inks to see how similar they really are. This week: Diamine Soft Mint and Colorverse Photon.
I’m comparing seemingly identical inks to see how similar they really are. This week: Organics Studio BWIPS 2018 and Diamine Dark Forest.
Review – Seize
Posted in Book Blogger
Seize
by Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor
Series: Magnus Blackwell, Book 3
Genres: Adult, Supernatural
Release Date: March 26th 2019
Pages: 359
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Lexie Arden has a loving husband, a thriving business, and consults with the New Orleans Police Dept on murder cases. Kalfu has given her everything she desires, but challengers to her authority are closing in.
Her dark secret remains hidden from everyone except Magnus. He sees the evil growing stronger, changing her, and hurting her marriage. If Lexie doesn’t rid herself of Kalfu’s influence soon, the consequences will be irreversible.
When she unexpectedly inherits a cottage in the swamp, she uncovers a library of rare books on voodoo. Their spells can reverse the dark lord’s hold and set right the balance between darkness and light. But such magic requires a great sacrifice; one Lexie isn’t willing to make.
With the shadow spirits and raging voodoo gods vying for her attention, Lexie is on the verge of losing everything—her husband, her power, Magnus, and possibly, her life.
The battle for control of the mambo’s soul is about to begin.
Book Blitz – A Touch of Darkness
Posted in Book Blogger
Disclaimer: I’ve stated in the past that I don’t feel comfortable promoting books I haven’t read. I signed up for a review tour stop for this book, but received notice on May 2nd that the book would not be available in time for the tour. Rather than abandon my spot on the tour, I decided to post this excerpt as requested by the author via Xpresso Book Tours. Please consider this post as informative as opposed to promotional. I have not read the book as of posting this.
A Touch of Darkness
by Scarlett St. Clair
Genres: Adult, Mythology, Romance
Series: Hades & Persephone, Book 1
Release Date: Spring 2019
Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist.
Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible.
After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.
The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a Goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—and it’s forbidden.
Conflict in Books
Posted in Book Blogger, and Random Reflections
I hear often enough that without conflict, there is no story. That a story without conflict is just a boring series of events. But when…
Ink Dupes #10: Diamine and Lamy
Posted in Ink
I’m comparing seemingly identical inks to see how similar they really are. This week: Diamine Pansy and Lamy Dark Lilac.
The Dentists’ Daughter
by old-crow
Genre: Harry Potter
Word Count: 20,081
My Rating: ★★★+
Dan and Emma Granger’s peaceful life is rocked by a visitor claiming that there is a magical world. More shocking, the visitor wants their only daughter to become a part of that world! What would responsible parents do?
Review: Tangle Teezer
Posted in Non-Stationery Reviews
I’ve had the Tangle Teezer (TT) for about 4 months now. I’d watched a couple of reviews on YouTube and was intrigued by the idea…
Results of a Proper Introduction
by dunuelos
Genre: Harry Potter
Word Count: 73,285
My Rating: ★★★
A spin-off of my Lone Traveler stories (Lone Traveler originally from The Professional). Harry gets a proper introduction with some insights from an alternate self who has lived it. What does he do with this information? How would his attitudes change?