I’m still trying out new subscription boxes. So far I’ve reviewed Ipsy and Simply Earth, and today I’m adding Walmart’s quarterly sample box. It’s only $5 four times a year, but I’m not sure it’s worth it for me. They actually sent two boxes by mistake but only charged for one. They have different items in them, so I really got to see what this season’s samples are all about. However, I’m not really impressed and am considering canceling my subscription. After looking at other reviews, it seems this season’s box is lamer than usual. Last spring’s box held travel size samples I’d use, but this season’s box consists mostly of tiny Garnier sample packs. I’m not a fan of Garnier, and I don’t think either of the boxes is worth $5.

Rembrandt 3 Day Whitening Boost Kit and $2 coupon

4 Nair Wax Ready-Strips

Palmer’s Natural Fusions Shampoo and Conditioner

Garnier Fructis Damage Repairing Hair Mask

Garnier SkinActive Moisturizer

8 Kleenex Wet Wipes

I like this box better than the second one. I plan to try the teeth whitening strips, and I’ll share the Nair strips with one of my teenage daughters. Both of those will be new experiences. My oldest teen colors her hair a lot, so I’ll give her the hair mask. My other teen has oily hair and can try the Palmer’s shampoo. She usually only uses Nature’s Gate Tea Tree (which is amazing for her oily hair), but since this Palmer’s sample is a clarifying shampoo, she’s willing to try it. (The card said it’s ethically and sustainably sourced, along with no animal testing. I’m all for that!) I’m not sure about the Garnier SkinActive. I have sensitive skin and am cautious about everything that goes on my face. Don’t think I’m going to try it. Oh, and my son got the Kleenex wipes to help with his school snacks. White cheddar popcorn leaves a mess on his fingers, so this sample works great for that.

Now the second box:

Garnier Whole Blends Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner

Acai Berry Revitalizing Sleeping Mask

Village Naturals Therapy Aches & Pains Muscle Relief Bath Oil/Body Wash and Lotion

8 Kleenex Wet Wipes

Garnier SkinActive

Garnier Fructis Damage Repairing Hair Mask

Except for the sleeping mask, most of these samples are what you occasionally find in magazines, and in my opinion, they aren’t worth $5. The sleeping mask may cost $2.50 at Walmart, but it’s not for my skin type and isn’t worth anything to me. If I had to choose between this $5 Walmart box and the $10 Ipsy box, I’d definitely spend the extra $5 to get the Ipsy box. You get a LOT more for your money with it.

I don’t know if I’m going to give Walmart one more try. With this subscription, they’ll automatically send out my box when the time comes and charge my account $5. I don’t have to do anything, and if I don’t like the next box, I can easily unsubscribe. It’s that easy. This box is highly rated with a lot of people. Maybe they just had a bad season.

What do you think? Let me know if you want to try it. I’d love to hear your opinion in the comment section below.

Have you heard about Ipsy yet? It wasn’t until I started researching subscription boxes that I found this beauty bag. It’s only $10 a month, and you can cancel at any time. Although I’ve always avoided subscription boxes, my experience with Simply Earth taught me that you can receive more products for less money through some of them. It’s also a bit exciting to receive gift boxes in the mail. I highly enjoyed Simply Earth, but I ended my subscription when my stock of essential oils became sufficient. I just don’t need any more at the moment.

After canceling my subscription with Simply Earth, I started researching other subscription boxes and decided to try Ipsy, along with a few others. Ipsy has a big following with high ratings, and at only $10, it’s affordable–especially when the products you receive cost a lot more in the store. Each month you get a makeup bag with full-size, deluxe, or sample products. You fill out a form when you sign up, so the products are tailored to your skin tone. Each bag is different, depending on the person.

Lately, I haven’t been wearing much makeup, but with two teenage daughters, I figured I’d give them most of what I received. Hah! That didn’t happen with my first bag. I’m keeping almost everything.

A full-sized Luxe Longwear eye pen with a star stamp at the end = $19

bdb billion dollar brows mini universal brow pencil = $18 full size

1 oz. Formula 10.0.6 Three Times Sublime = $6.99 3.4 oz

Deluxe size Hikari cream eyeshadow in Latte – $13 full size

Sample size the Pore Professional primer – $31 full size

Ipsy makeup bag

Not so bad for $10, and I’ve seen some valued at over $50. I love the products I’ve tried and would never have bought a cream eyeshadow for myself. I almost gave it to one of my daughters, but I decided to try it first. So glad I did! This subscription service will definitely get me to try new things, and I can easily gift what I don’t want to sample. If my daughters walk into a makeup store with me, I wind up spending quite a bit. This subscription should help to curb that. Ipsy also has products on their site at discounted prices with reviews. I can see why it’s is one of the highest rated subscription boxes. It’s definitely got my vote! You should check it out.

Woohoo! We survived the summer. And I mean that literally since a gas can exploded on my husband and me. I’m back at my desk, and although I have to set my alarm for 6:00 each morning, I’m ready for a routine. I spent most of the summer on our boat and visiting friends and family. I still haven’t finished unpacking, my house is a mess, and we’re about to start construction on a screened porch. However, I feel good about the day. Unlike my summer schedule, when everyone in the house sleeps in, I got up early this morning and started on laundry. I even prepared some Cajun red beans and rice in the slow cooker. (So yummy!)

I always listen to music while driving long distances. I wish I could listen to audiobooks, but that would put me to sleep. It has to be music, and it has to be music I’m in the mood for at the moment. This summer called for a lot of driving, and I spent most of it listening to the soundtrack for the Alissia Roswell Series. (You can find the songs for each book on their Pinterest boards.)

Some of the songs describe Alissia in general, while most of them go with certain scenes. At the moment, I have three songs for Unexpected Legends, and when I hear them, I clearly visualize the scenes I plan to write. Like the book itself, the scenes are intense. Wish I could share the songs with you now, but it’s not time and gives away the mood of the book. I usually release a Pinterest board a couple of months before the release of each book.

I’ve heard from some of you about Unexpected Beginning and am loving the feedback. If you get a chance, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. It really helps.

It’s been a wild summer! From the end of May until the end of July, I lived out of my suitcase, and although I enjoy traveling, I’m so happy to be home. There’s just nothing like sleeping in my own bed and sipping on my favorite hot teas throughout the day while sitting at my desk (or outside when it’s not so hot). I also miss my own cooking and am burned out on eating out. I haven’t ground my own flour since May, and my body needs it. I feel really unhealthy right now and need a detox.

We left a few days after the children got out of school and returned a week before they begin again. Everyone in this house is ready for a sense of routine–even if it means waking early to the sound of an alarm.

We left our sailboat in South Carolina, where it’s about to get pulled from the water. We’re having it delivered to Mississippi on a truck instead of trying to sail it home. We bought it in Florida, and the weather didn’t cooperate for us to try to sail it home over the summer. Here’s a tour of it, if you haven’t seen it already.

As for the gas can exploding on us, the boat isn’t damaged, and my husband is recovering from surgery. I came out with only minor burns, and the children weren’t even on the boat with us. I’ll do a blog post on it soon, as I want everyone to know the dangers of those red plastic gas cans. We came out VERY blessed!

Alissia’s adventure continues! One more book in the series, and you’re going to love it. I should have everything unpacked and be ready for work at my desk on Tuesday when the children go back to school. I expect life to return to its normal chaos with more house renovations and our usual daily activities. Until then, I have a messy SUV to clean and a massive pile of unpacking to do. Oh, and I guess I need to take the children school shopping as well.

Look what just arrived! It’s here. It’s finally here! The fourth book in the Alissia Roswell Series is now ready for signing. I’m loving the cover and already can’t wait for the fifth (and last) book in the series. They look awesome together.

Many of you already have one from Amazon, but I plan to mail out signed copies as well. I’ll do a blog post about it after things settle down from all the travel. School starts the first week of August here, and although it means waking at 6:00 in the morning, I’m ready for a schedule. I guess I’m starting to like a sense of routine.

I’ve heard from some of my readers online, and the feedback for Unexpected Beginning is highly positive. If you get a chance, please consider leaving an honest review on Amazon. Not only will it let me know you enjoy my writing, but some days I need the encouragement. I have teenagers. I definitely get discouraged!

At the moment, the eBook (of this book in the series) is only available at Amazon, but it’s coming soon to Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo. Living on a boat for the summer and visiting family and friends have delayed those outlets.

What do you think about the covers now that they’re together? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

It’s hot in the South! July and August are NOT the best months for an outdoor lifestyle when you’re dealing with high temperatures and humidity. With the children staying at our friends’ house for a few weeks, I decided to leave the boat and take some time away to myself. No children. No husband. Just me, myself, and I. It’s a dream come true!

And if you’re like my mother (thinking I’m silly for not taking this time without children to romance my husband), I spent last week alone with my man. For the record, I may write romance, but my main characters are loners and aren’t exactly very romantic. Love and romance are two separate things.

What am I going to do with all this time alone? Well, let the writing begin! It’s time to dive into Unexpected Legends, and it’s an intense one. I can’t wait to share the final book with my readers.

I did take a video of the inside of the boat and plan to upload it soon. I just have to clean up my hard drive a bit before I can work on pictures and videos. My Mac is cluttered, and I need to free up some space.

I’ve heard back from some of you about Unexpected Beginning. So happy to hear the feedback. If you get a chance, please leave a review on Amazon. It helps a lot. Hope you’re enjoying your summer. Stay safe and take care in the heat!