The Roomate @AuroraTheatre #ATTheRoomate #sponsored #review

I received tickets in exchange for my honest review.

From the promotionals:

"Fifty-something-year-old busybody Sharon is in need of a roommate to share her expenses and break
the isolation in her Iowa home. Robyn, also in her mid-fifties, is a bit more of a free spirit with a
complicated past, looking for a fresh start. As Sharon and Robyn fight to find common ground in their
new, uncommon living arrangement, they find themselves in an unlikely friendship that teaches them
lessons they never expected."

"Dark comedy" is definitely appropriate for this one.  It's almost a set up for Thelma and Louise.  Two people with widely different backgrounds end up as house mates.  The almost innocent reactions of Sharon to the previous life of Robyn make for an interesting chemistry.  Sharon carries most of the load when it comes to changes.  Robyn is the catalyst that sets the action in motion.  The influences they have on each other lay the groundwork for situations that are both humorous and, in a way, sad.

This is a well preformed one act show.  The two actors do a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life.  It's not a show to leave you feeling good at the end. It's also not one meant for kids.  It is, however, a show for an enjoyable evening.  Combining your visit to Lawrenceville with a good meal at one of it's local restaurants with the show at the Aurora makes for a great ladies' night out. 

Kroger delivers #instacart @kroger #review

I injured my knee last week to the point of having a grapefruit on my leg.  Not sure exactly what happened.  Anyway, I hadn't done my grocery run yet when it happened and by the weekend I wanted to stay off of it.  I've used their ClickList before, where you drive up and they load.  I was going to do that and then send a teen off to pick up.  However, once I logged into my account, I realized that I could get it DELIVERED free the first time.  I decided I'd go that route instead.  Making my grocery list was the same as ClickList.  However, instead of just marking things as being able to be substituted, I had the ability to actually select what I wanted as an alternative.

I received a text when my shopper started shopping.  I received texts when she had to substitute. I could then go see what she'd selected and approve/deny her choices.  Now, I didn't have her do produce or fresh veggies for me.  Mostly just easy staples (cereal, frozen foods, etc).  When she was done, I received one more text indicating she was on her way.  At that point I let the kids know that they would be unloading and putting away the groceries when she arrived.

Easy Peasy.  First delivery was free, though there was an area to tip your driver.  Definitely a help so that I could keep off of my knee.  I thought I'd share in case anyone else had stuff going on that kept you from getting out like you need/want.

Doll's House part 2 @AuroraTheatre @braveatlpr #ATDollsHouse

I was given tickets in exchange for my review.

From Aurora Theatre:

"Based on the characters of the Henrik Ibsen classic play, this follow-up story imagines what would happen if Nora Helmer returned home, 15 years after she slams the door on her husband and family. Audiences don’t need to be familiar with the original story to enjoy this “Part 2,” as playwright Lucas Hnath juxtaposes contemporary and classic sensibilities to create a thought-provoking and sharp- witted comedy. A co-production between Aurora Theatre and Actor’s Express, A Doll’s House, Part 2 features a quartet of Atlanta’s top-tier talent. Three-time Suzi Award winner Tess Malis Kincaid will star as Nora, Rob Cleveland as Nora’s estranged husband, Torvald, Shelli Delgado as the Helmer’s daughter, Emmy and Deadra Moore as the nanny, Anne Marie. This all-star cast is under the direction of Freddie Ashley, Actor’s Express Artistic Director and two-time Suzi Bass Award Winner for Outstanding Direction."

My daughter and I attended the show this past Friday.  One major change is that Tess Kincaid did not star in the show.  Due to illness, she was replaced by an understudy.  She had to use the script to help her with the role (somewhat distracting), though.  The set itself was simple, but fit the play very well.  The only "problem" with the set is that my daughter and I found the lighting around the stage to be somewhat distracting.  Fortunately, not enough to really bother us.

The show was a good continuation of the original story.  You find that Nora has travelled, experienced more of life, etc. She has to return home, though, to keep a scandal from happening.  There she finds that nothing has changed for Torvald.  The play consists of a series of exchanges between Nora and Anne Marie, Nora and Torvald, Nora and Emmy.  The question is can anything be resolved for Nora during her exchanges?  

All together the actors did a good job.  Their facial expressions were on target for the characters.  I will say that I liked Shelli Delgado as Emmy.  The facial expressions she had were great.   I loved some of her "come back" lines too.  Individually, though, I didn't have a favorite character or actor this time around.

The show runs until February 10th.  You can get show dates/times and pricing on the Aurora Theatre web site: Doll's House Part 2

A New Series to watch #thegifted #thaidrama

When I'm home and have the time, I like to search for new shows to watch.  I don't limit myself to what's in the US, though if I look abroad I have to find it subbed.  Last time I found something to share, it was from China - The Guardian.  A great fantasy story.  This time it's from Thailand.  You could classify it as either sci fi or fantasy depending on your point of view.  It's called "The Gifted".  It's about a group of kids at a high performance high school.  They are "given" abilities, which they have to discover and figure out how to control.  There's a lot more to the story line than that, but I don't like giving away stories.  I'll just say I enjoyed all 13 episodes (they're broken down in to 4 parts each) and I'm hoping they decide to continue it for a 2nd season.

You'll find the series on it's host station GMMTV here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszepnkojZI6gXfF-ztOGLmQRlFAFAzSf

Check it out and let me know if you like it too.

Medieval Times' New show #review #sponsored @usfamilyguide @medievaltimesatl #MTFan #MTAtlanta

I was given tickets in exchange for my review.

They've upped their game and changed the story.  The princess has now stepped into her father's shoes and rules the land.  A new tale takes place and the joust goes on.  I like the new show, it came off very well.  It's less aggressive (no foreign diplomat), but the queen definitely displays her power when needed.  You still have your knights competing to display their skills and bring honor to their land.  There is still some conflict as well.  I won't say more than that, I don't like giving out story line spoilers.  My daughter actually caught our knight's (red knight) first flower of the show.  I have a small snippet of the show (the horses) that I can share, though  Take a gander..

The food was as good as usual.  The menu has changed slightly in that it no longer includes ribs.  The desert was changed to vanilla ice cream as well.  For those that know me, you know that I rarely drink alcohol.  I do, though, REALLY like their mead.  (Alcohol is not included in the price.)  You still get plenty to eat, though, so no worries there.  We had fewer leftovers to take home than before, which isn't a bad thing either.
If you've never been, gratuities are NOT included.  Plan to bring a little extra to tip your server with.

All said and done, my family had a good time.  We enjoyed the changes.  The new costumes are definitely neat.  The knights helmets were cool to see.  My daughter liked the blue knight's head band.  I liked the green knight's helmet, reminded me of a particular Marvel character.  The sound effects have changed somewhat too.  They both help the show and give a bit of humor if you know what you're listening to.  When you go, see if you can hear the tie-fighter.

Experience the New Medieval Times Show for Only $37 with this coupon at all castles thru Jan. 31 Must mention or enter code USF37 at time of purchase. More details: https://bit.ly/2Sit7P2

Review of Nunsense at the Lyric Theatre in Marietta @bravepratl #sponsored

My daughter and I went to see the Marietta Theatre Company perform Nunsense at the Lyric Theatre (in exchange for our review, we were given tickets to the show). We got there early, so we went to eat at Hemingways on the square. We weren't particularly hungry, so we just ordered appetizers. The waitress (didn't get her name) was funny. She came to our table with our apps and let us know nothing had been dropped or otherwise affected. She then stated she felt like she should start singing "Be Our Guest". My daughter and I tried to convince her to go ahead, but she wouldn't.. so after she left we did it for her. I mention it because it was great customer service.

So, on to the show..

The program had 5 performers, each did a great job.  The show is VERY irreverent, so if you're easily offended by dad jokes or such, I wouldn't go.  On the other hand, my daughter and I found the program very funny.   The story line runs that a few nuns from NJ leave the convent to play BINGO with another group.   Meanwhile, at home, the rest of the nuns are killed by botulism thanks to bad stew/soup.  The show starts with 5 of the surviving sisters doing a fundraiser to help bury the last 4.

It's a fun musical with each of the 5 contributing stories to entertain.  More than that, though, their interactions with each other (and the audience) make it priceless.  I loved the way the actresses portrayed their characters.  Even when technical difficulties happen ("Help me ObiWan"), they carry on with the story and keep it seamless.

My daughter and I usually have our favorite performers in the show.  It isn't meant to say the others weren't good, it's just that these were our picks of the night.  For my daughter it was the Novice, Sister Mary Leo (played by Megan Martell).  For me, it was a hard choice, but I'll go with Sister  Robert Anne (played by Kate Metroka).  All 5, though, did an excellent job.  Our only problem with the evening was some mic problems, fortunately with the small space it was a minor problem.

The show runs through September 1st.  Tickets run $25 for general seating.  There are options for dinner plus show, as well as VIP tables.  The theater area itself is small with no bad views in the house.    Next show up is The Toxic Avenger, not recommended for children (border between PG13+ to R primarily for language).

Recap and Review of the new Atlanta Comic Con @theatlantacomiccon #convention #geeks #nerds #press

I was invited to attend the new Atlanta Comic Con as press in exchange for my pre-post and posting a review at the end.

I have to admit, I was rather disappointed by the turn out of attendees, especially on Friday.  I knew it would be low (workday and all that), but it was still smaller than expected.  It didn't start until noon, so we picked up our passes and got lunch before diving in.  Our only real confusion Friday was thinking that the convention was in building A (like Momocon), when it was actually in building C.  I mostly wandered to see what was going on where.  There were free 80's type arcade games to play on as well as a room set up to play various XBox games.  I did go to a family friendly freestyle D&D panel, which was interesting (and funny) to watch.

Optimus Prime

Saturday was considerably more interesting.  A lot more people came out for the convention, so there was a lot more going on.  I started my day out by going to the panel featuring Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings and more recently in Stranger Things).   I stayed in the panel area and sat in on Linda Larkin and Paige O'Hara (voice of Jasmine and Belle respectively).

cosplay

I followed that up by going and visiting with the men from Helluva Productions.   They showed a short film of what they HAD and followed it up with some examples of work from a new animator.   Barring any production or other issues happening between now and then, look for a potentially good new animation out in October (may not be appropriate for younger audiences).

goodies

I watched the girls for a while and checked out some of the games in the 1UP game room.  We also took our time going through the exhibitors hall.  I picked up 3 themed mystery boxes while there (the main one being Harry Potter themed) and a hand crafted phoenix figure from HP.  I finished my day up on an HP note with the Matthew Lewis (Neville from Harry Potter) panel.

guests!

Sunday we discovered that there was an Atlanta United game.  It made getting in/out of the convention center challenging to say the least.  Otherwise, I attended Renee O'Connor's panel as well as Cary Elwes'.
My son and I attended the Sadie the Science Lady presentation and then finished our con out by watching another freestyle D and D panel, this one aimed at the 18+ group.  Considerably more humorous, but definitely not for the younger set.

Science Rap

There was definitely a good selection of guests in attendance (certainly aided by the fact that Stranger Things is filming in Gwinnett).  They had an app that you could use to keep track of the schedule.  My request on this one would be that you be able to pick the panels you're interested in and make your own calendar to track them (similar to the one used by Momocon).  For the bigger panels, they used 3 rooms together with a lot of chairs.  If the crowd had actually filled the room, the people on the sides would NEVER have seen the panelist.  There were no monitors for them to watch.  Also, the acoustics in the room weren't very good either.  There was a definite echo at times and the speaker would occasionally get lost in clarity.

My daughter would love to see a "quiet space" for those that get overwhelmed or just need a time out for a while.  She and her best friend were also concerned by the price.  It wasn't cheap for a 3 day admission, even getting them online early.  Talking with another attendee, she was concerned that there hadn't been enough advance notice for the cosplayers to really come out in force.  Apparently another con was this weekend and most had travelled for that one.  Hopefully if this one happens again next year, there will be plenty of notice so they can attend.

A kudos to the Gamers on the Edge group that sponsored the 1UP video game room.  The girls really appreciated being able to play games aimed at multiple players and fewer single person games.  I liked the fact that they were supporting the Children's Miracle Network with both a raffle and an item sale.  We entered the raffle (didn't win) and I got a beanie.  Though I suspect the beanie will be taken over by one of the children at some point.

 If it does happen again next year and a larger number attend, they'll need more panels.  My son would suggest fan-run panels or something similar.  He appreciated the scheduling tasks, but isn't one to appreciate sitting an hour in between panels he finds interesting.  The panels he DID attend, though, he definitely enjoyed.

All of us agree, for a first year con, well done!

First Date @mariettatheatrecompany #ad #FirstDateMarietta @bravepratl

I was invited to attend a media show in exchange for my honest review.

From the company flier:

"Marietta Theatre Company is pleased to debut its third production of the 2017-2018 season -- First Date. A romantic musical comedy written by Austin Winsberg,  First Date will run from February 9 through February 24 at the Lyric Studio on the Square. The award-winning play wittingly depicts the desires and desperations of dating, starting from the awkward first date -- all put to the score of Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner.

Since its original production at Seattle’s A Contemporary Theater in 2012, First Date has brought the all-too-real challenge of looking for love in the city to commiserating audiences around the world. Starring Ashley Prince as Casey and Chris Saltalamacchio as Aaron, both making their Marietta Theatre Company debuts, hopeful and hopeless romantics alike will revel in this relatable off-Broadway show."

If your friend or family member set you up on a blind date, what would you do?  How would you react?  A very irreverant presentation of the "what not to do" aspects of a first date.  A small cast of 7 people present what would happen "if".  Not something to show to the younger set (some language, innuendos, etc), but definitely a great show for adults to check out. 

The cast did an awesome job.  My daughter and I were impressed by their skills.  John Jenkins and his roll as Reggie (the bail out call) was hilarious.  He expressed versatility by performing multiple rolls during the performance.    Becky Ittner was great with her rolls as the sister, grandmother, facebook, and more.  A wonderfully talented cast.

Boba Bee #restaurant #Atlanta #review

Boba Bee is one of those places that every time I see it, I say I'm going to go in and try it.  Saturday, the girls and I actually followed through.  It's a small shop in the same shopping center on Buford Hwy as Sweet Hut and Roll it Up.

I had their blueberry green tea fresca and a waffle.  My daughter had some cajun fries, her friend had the takoyaki.  ALL of them were VERY good.

The ambience was fun too.  There were some games you could play while waiting or enjoying your drink.  The menu for food was primarily meant for snacking, though I think we could have made a meal out of what was there.

I have every intention of going back soon and trying out some of their other creations.

The Bridges of Madison County @AuroraTheatre @BravePRAtl #BridgesMusical #AuroraTheatre

I was given tickets to the show in order to provide my honest review.

Based off of the book by the same name by Robert James Waller and converted into a musical.  The story follows the meeting and brief love affair of housewife Francesca and traveling photographer Robert Kincaid.  The songs were composed by Jason Robert Brown and suit the show very well.

My daughter and I attended the show this past Friday night.  We were up front, so hearing and seeing weren't an issue.  We were duly impressed by the stage and set.  We loved the simplicity of it, and you definitely got the feel of the settings. 

I have to admit, though, that my favorite characters weren't the leads.   My favorite was Marge (played by Valerie Payton).  I just love the humor and way she was presented.  Of course, if you like Marge, you have to appreciate her husband, Charlie (played by Rob Cleveland).  My daughter appreciated the character Bud Johnson (played by Matt Lewis).  The leads were very well done as well, as were all of the other characters in the show.

The show does contain mature content, so I don't recommend it for the younger set.   If you've read the book or seen the movie that was created before this, you'll understand.  The show runs through April 16th.  You can get more information and purchase tickets from the Aurora Theatre web site.

Boxete Delivery Korean Bistro #Review #Restarant #GoodFood #Korean

Over the weekend, my daughter and I didn't want anything we had at home for dinner.  So, she went online and found Boxete.  She then convinced her brother and I to join her.

My son ordered the B-Burger.  He said it was good.  He certainly didn't have anything left over when he was done.

My daughter ordered the beef lettuce wrap with rice roll.  Her comment about her meal was simply "yum".  It was more than enough for her (plus someone else) to eat at one sitting.  She had leftovers for lunch the next two days.

I knew going in that I would have leftovers, but I underestimated just how much would be left over.  I ordered the Boxete sampler with Boxete chicken.  The big yellow thing is the omelet.  The chicken is very good.  The omelet was a bit odd to me at first (I'm not used to sauce on my eggs), but was still very good.

My daughter and I agreed that next time we would split an entree.  My son wants to try something new next time (he played it safe with his choice this time).  There's a $15 minimum for free delivery and delivery area is limited.  We're fortunate enough that we're just inside the delivery area. 

One of those unmentionable problems of being a female @iconunderwear #iconundies #review

Not something I normally talk about, but something I figure it's time to bring up something that most won't.  I like to run.  I like to be active.  I have issues like most people, including my bad knee and the vision issues I've had since last year.  One that isn't as obvious is that when I run, I pee.  Yup, I'm one of those.  I leak when I sneeze or cough.  If I start to jump, bounce, run, etc, it's a bit more than a leak.  I went through the process of getting diagnosed with a bladder with stress leaks.  (Yea, THAT was a fun experience.)  I could have gotten (could still get) a mesh sling. I choose not to.

 So, I have to plan ahead when it comes to exercise.  Easy enough, plenty of piddle pads I can get at the grocery.  Not a great solution, but tolerable for running.  It makes the resolution to get out and RUN difficult, though, knowing that I WILL leak as I run.  Much easier to walk fast so that I don't piddle, but that tends to annoy the other racers as I'm the walking turtle on the course. Or, if I'm in a race, it also makes it very hard to want to hydrate like I should (hydration means active bladder).

I really don't want to have to wear leak pads every day for the random occasion when it can't be predicted.  Instead, I've been on the hunt for alternatives.  I finally found one in specially made underwear.  They actually fit better than my regular underwear and breathe better when sweating too.  The nice thing, though, is that they DO absorb the random result of a sneeze and then wick it away.

Now that this secret is out, I'll try to save others who may be in the same spot the trouble of looking for a good solution.  Check out Icon Undies.  I was not compensated for this, this is a product I found and purchased on my own.

Review - Aurora Theatre presents I'm Not Rappaport @AuroraTheatre @BravePRAtl

I was given tickets to view the show in exchange for my honest review.

From the Aurora Theatre web site:

By Herb Gardner
Directed by David De Vries

This 1996 Tony Award winner is the touching humorous tale of two old men who inhabit a bench in New York’s Central Park. Nat Moyer, a feisty Jewish man, spins tall tales and doesn’t want his daughter dumping him into an old folk’s home, while half-blind, cantankerous African-American Midge Carter, hides from his disgruntled tenants.

------------

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I went to view the show.  I can honestly say, though, that I was definitely pulled in.   A very simple set that is impressive none the less.  The two main characters, played by Kenny Raskin and Rob Cleveland, tell a story that most of us would not want told about society and the way the world treats some of it's seniors.  A mostly humorous and still very serious plot, takes us through these two as they meet in the park and exchange stories.  Watch them as they tackle some very real troubles and come out the other side.  An awesome tale told by some awesome actors.  Definitely a must see.

The show runs:

May 5–June 5, 2016

Performances:
Wednesday–Saturday at 8:00pm
Saturday & Sunday at 2:30pm
Tickets $20–$55

Wednesday Discount Matinee
May 25 at 10:00am
Tickets from $16

You can purchase tickets here.

Review - Juicy Juice Teasers @juicyjuiceusa #juicejuiceteaserskickoff

I was invited to attend the kickoff event for Juicy Juice's new product: Teasers.  It was a wonderful evening out with wonderful food and lots of samples of the product.  There were a lot of young teens and children.  The entertainment was a rising young YouTube performer named Ryleigh Ledford.

My preference is the half and half decaffeinated tea, my daughter enjoyed the peach..  It was good to know that they all are naturally caffeine free or decaffeinated as kids don't need the caffeine (and I can't have it).  My daughter sampled the Splashers (a juice pouch drink) and thought they were all good.

The Teasers are a blend of juice and tea.  They have less sugar and are sweetened with fruit juice.  There are four flavors: berry, half and half, peach, and apple.  Apple is the only caffeine free version, the rest are decaffeinated.

There's a great coupon available on the Juicy Juice Teasers site.  If you get the chance, give it a try.

sugarfina - a sweet new taste in town @sugarfina #sugarfinainatlanta #candy #YUM @braveprATL

I was invited to check out a new sugarfina store opening at Lenox Mall.  It's located on the main floor about halfway down the mall (across from MAC/Fendi).

We were given lots of samples to try while we toured the shop.  I sampled several types of gummies including champagne bears, gummy lips and apple pie. They had a wonderful chocolate covered almond and chocolate covered sea salted caramel.

You can purchase the candy individually packaged (about $7 per box), or you could purchase a bento box and assemble your own.  This is one of the pre-assembled bento boxes you could get.

They had some fun candy as well.  I didn't sample this one.

Flavors for those that like their bacon.. (I didn't try this one either)

I had my daughter with me when I went to sample.  These are the flavors we came home with.  She picked out the Queen of Hearts box (gummy hearts, various flavors).  My son loves mango, so we brought him home the mango gummies.  I sampled the scotch cordial at the store and decided I needed to bring some home.

I have a feeling I know where some of the Christmas gifts I'm giving this year are coming from.  Not a candy store for children, this is aimed at adults who enjoy their sweets.  However, I'm sure that kids will enjoy quite a few of the treats as well (mine were not impressed with my choice, though).

Disclaimer: I was given a gift card to the store to attend their launch party.  All opinions are my own.

Review: extreme Teriyaki Grill Express #Tucker #restaurant

My daughter wanted to get her hair cut/trimmed Sunday, so we went over to Cofer Crossing in Tucker to the Great Clips.  From there, we wanted lunch and this place was having a grand opening.  We wandered in to give it a try.  She had the chicken teriyaki meal, I had the chicken teriyaki bento box (below).

We both agreed it was very good.  I've never eaten the rice rolls before (they didn't call them sushi, so..) but they were very tasty especially dipped in sauce.  It was actually a bit more than I could eat (or my daughter for her meal).  About $7 for the bento box.  We decided it is definitely a place to revisit.

Review - Memphis @AuroraTheatre #Musical #Lawrenceville

I was given tickets to attend the show and provide my honest opinion.

 It seems most times I go to Lawrenceville for a show at the Aurora Theatre, I end up having dinner at Cosmo's across the street.  Quick and good pasta, I had cheese manicotti.  Yum!

From now until August 30th, the Aurora Theatre, in cooperation with Theatrical Outfit, has begun a run of the musical Memphis.   I have to admit, I really had no idea what I was getting in to when I decided to go.  Based on real life events, we follow a white man as he discovers the music on Beale Street in Memphis in the '50s.  Falling in love with the music, he becomes a DJ and brings it to the white population.  Not always a popular person, we watch as he pioneers music on the radio and Rock'N'Roll in the South and then gets his chance to pioneer TV too.

Part of the show did happen on the very sides of the stages, which made my seating unfortunate, as I couldn't see the performers.  There seemed to be a few problems with the mics as well.  Nothing overly detracting, but I noticed.  I loved the music and the performers, though.  They were outstanding.  While Huey (lead character) was fun to watch, I think my favorite was Gator, a mute who finds his voice.

All together, I think the cast and crew put on a very good show.  It is a long show, though, with the first half running about 100 minutes.  I didn't plan for that, so it was later than I expected when I got home.

I also wanted to mention that the Theatre, working with one of their sponsors HoltKamp and in celebration of their 20th anniversary, are trying to bring in 20 tons of food for the local food banks.  Bring a bag of the listed "most needed" items or a $5 donation to help them along the way and you will be entered to win a trip to San Diego and tickets to the Old Globe Theater.

Here is a list of the basic needs -
Canned: meats (chicken, spam, ham ravioli), soups, vegetables, fruits
Protein: peanut butter, dry beans, tuna fish
Dry: pasta, rice cereal
Paper: toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, diapers
Hygiene: soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant
Cleaning: detergent, laundry soap, new cleaning cloths

Brooklyn and her February Mardi Gras @BarkBox #review #dogtoys #dogtreats #petlove

Since January's box went over so well, we went ahead and got February's too. Two toys this time around, one chew stick and some treats.  The treats are definitely being enjoyed.  She took maybe 10 minutes to demolish the bully stick.  The rest I'm doling out slowly.

The toys aren't as popular this time as they were last time.  The ball toy has been briefly played with, then left in the basket.  The mask hasn't left the basket yet.

For the investment, it works out well. She will eventually get to the toys, there just isn't as much of them to de-stuff. She loves to de-stuff.

Review - Clairol Nice and Easy Hair Color 5G/117 Natural Medium GoldenBrown @clairolcolor @influenster

Sometime around August, I colored my hair red.  It was fading and my grey hair was showing again, so I decided to color it again.  This time, I went with a "natural" color instead of something else.  My daughter wanted to help out, so I let her pretty much do it for me.  It was simple enough for her to follow the directions without any problems and the coverage was excellent.  My hair was even left nice and soft. I don't have a picture of the before, but I do have after.

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."


See? No grey!

Loving candy and snacks from Japan via @OyatsuCafe #review

My daughter is in to pretty much anything Japan.  I've tried Loot Crate and Nerd Block, so she asked to try one that does Japanese candy.  Of the ones that were available, I went with this one.  So far so good.

Most teen/tweens are familiar with Pocky, we received Strawberry in our box. The other candies were:

Giant Caplico (Chocolate Bomber) - an ice cream shaped candy filled with chocolate
Tohato Chocobi - star shaped choco corn snacks (Tasted kind of like a chocolate corn puff cereal)
Parikore Gummy - peach and grape shelled gummies (I sampled this one, odd texture in the shell, otherwise not bad)
Morinaga Ramune Soda candies - candy flavored like the Ramune soda (daughter has those and wasn't impressed)
Gashapon - Japanese capsule toy (daughter snatched this, it was a keychain samurai from Naruto)
HanaKappa DIY Jelly - mix it yourself jelly candy (just add water)
Hi Chew Mini - little candies in 4 flavors: strawberry, apple, grape, lemon (son sampled these - definitely fruity & chewy, but all tasted the same)
Takayaki Tei - puffs of corn flavored like balls of fried squid and batter topped with nori (actually not bad)
Puccho Kumamoto Strawberry - chewy, fruity candy made with strawberries from Kumamoto Prefecture (daughter said they're not what you would expect, but were good)
Don-Koeda Chocolate - chocolate bar made with chocolate biscuit, rice puffs, and almond (son had this one too - tasted like a Crunch bar, but healthier)

All told, I think the teens here were happy with what came in the box.  Now to give it another try and see what happens.