Amanda Weidensjö

Back at the beginning of February I posted about actively and consciously taking the no buy makeup challenge very seriously. Here we are at the end of June and I kinda, sorta failed the challenge? As it is no surprise to everyone I have an Ipsy glam bag subscription and have had it for many years but for the past year or so I have been putting it on pause because I just have too many products. Too much makeup, too much skincare and too much haircare so I figured pausing it would be better than canceling it.  A couple months ago I got an email stating that they attempted to process a payment (I clearly forgot to pause a month), however, the payment they had on file was old and needed to be updated. Not sure how but they eventually were able to process a payment without me updating the card on file. Now we have Ipsy June glam bag! I'm happy at least that most of these products are skincare based which is a preference for me. The older I get the less I care for makeup and have focused...

This year has been the year of underconsumption and using what I have without purchasing more of things and items that I already have in my stash. One thing that I have an abundance of is nail polish. I have nail polishes that are over 15 years old. Fortunately, most of what I have is still usable and I've trying to use it up instead of purchasing more or trying different nail techniques that requires me to buy more items.  For a while, I was very much into going into the nail salon and getting acrylics. Eventually, I stopped going because it was just getting too expensive and I needed something different to do. So, I tried dipped nails. That lasted a couple of years but this past year I've taken a break on that and have been just using nail polish. The main reason I was getting my nails done is because mine are very thin and easily break so it was nice having them rigid and not breaking every second day.  Doing dip nails at home was my way of trying to save money while also h...

 ***This review will contain spoilers*** Summary:  Before she was Wonder Woman she was Diana, Princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island Paradise, Diana meets an American pilot who tells her about the massive conflict that's raging in the outside world. Convinced that she can stop the threat, Diana leaves her home for the first time. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, she finally discovers her full powers and true destiny.  I really enjoyed the opening of the movie. The settings alone were marvelous and truly jaw-dropping. It was great how they presented the story of man, how Themyscira came to be and how Diana was created. I've already watched the animated movie of Wonder Woman and was hesitant to how the cinematic one would be able to one up it.  The movie was going beautifully until Gal Gadot acting came into the picture. I don't know how she had such a difficult time acting because every scene was l...

 ***This review will contain spoilers*** Summary: This short story dates back to the period shortly after Michael turns vampire, and Shane’s still deeply uncomfortable about it. He’s also still picking fights to work off his rage, which never really helps him. Warning: there’s drinking. And confessions. And secret missions with night vision. Bonus Bishop, and scary battles. Michael and Shane, being heroes together. Which seems about right. Another great short story! One of the oldest friendships (human friendship) is Shane and Michael. And it was nice having a story of them together, especially, after Michael turning into a vampire their relationship has been strained. Shane hasn't been holding back when it comes to jabbing at Michael about the whole vampire thing but at the end of the day he will have Michael's back and protect him, and vice versa.  I loved the perspective being from Shane's point of view for this story. Claire has had thoughts and feelings of doubt when i...

Product Summary: Naked Heats up. Get lit with 12 can't live without, amber-hued naturals including warm browns, burnt oranges and rich siennas. From a super smooth red-brown matter and a glimmering copper to a deep, shift bronze, this palette has everything you need to create sultry daytime looks, intensely smoky nighttime looks and everything in between. Cost: Full price is $70 but I bought it on sale from Sephora for $38.50   ***Cruelty Free*** This palette is right up my alley! I love this kind of color story with browns and reds. It's absolutely perfect for the summer months while being dark enough for the autumn time when the weather gets colder.  I've been learning new ways to do my makeup instead of doing the same eye look; having a shimmer shade on my lids and matte colors on my crease. Prior to learning new ways to do my makeup I would have found this palette too dark, especially, for everyday wear. I would have thought a single light shimmery shade wouldn't be...

 ***This review will contain spoilers*** Summary: Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again…Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve’s castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger—and way more dangerous—than anyone suspected. Another fantastic book in this wonderful series that keeps on giving. The previous one we finally got the big bad Bishop killed and brought back some normalcy in Morganville. So typically, once you kill the big antagonist, it's hard to keep a story going, however, I'm so happy to say this wasn't the case. I...

 Product Summary: This blush contains soft, silky, Amazonian clay-infused powder so it glides on smoothly and lasts for 12 hours. The rich pigment delivers a fresh flush of color with buildable coverage that blends smoothly while instantly airbrushing imperfections. Cost: $41. I currently have the shades: Captivating, Charmed, Delight, Exposed and paaarty.  ***Cruelty free*** A girl can never have too much blush, especially, when you are a fan of blushes. Being pale, I have never met a blush that I didn't like or that didn't look good on me. In comparison to bronzer, it's a lot harder to wear and pull off which is why I've always gravitated towards blushes. Even on days that I'm wearing light makeup (which is most days) I'll always add a little blush and some highlight.  During the summer, a little goes a long way but during winter this pale girl gets paler and needs all the help I can get to add some color to my face.  I love just how well these blushes sit on ...

 ***This review will contain spoilers*** Summary: Tired of dating egomaniacs, interior designer Pamela Gray has nearly given up. She wants to be treated like a goddess—preferably by a god. As she whispers her wish, she unwittingly invokes the goddess Artemis, who has some tricks up her celestial sleeve…Twins Artemis and Apollo have been sent to the kingdom of Las Vegas to test their mettle. Their first assignment: make Pamela’s wish come true. So Artemis volunteers her golden brother. After all, who better than the handsome God of Light to bring love to this lonely woman? It might be a first, but here in Sin City, where life is a gamble, both god and mortal are about to bet on a high-stakes game of love.. For the third installment of the series, it focuses on Apollo and his journey in falling in love with a human. It's nice that for this book we have recurring characters from the previous one, especially, Apollo since he was known as being a lover of the flesh, never to have fallen...

 Product Summary: Intensify your lashes with outrageous length and volume. The extra large brush fiber bristles are cut long on one side to lengthen lashes and short on the other to coat lashes for ultimate volume. The velvet carbon black formula enhances the lashes adding depth and dimension that creates visually fuller and larger lashes. This creamy and buildable formula is flake-proof, resistant to sweat and humidity, and will not clump. Cost: $24  I ended up receiving this item in a Ipsy glam bag which is a monthly beauty subscription service where you get 5 items from sample to full size for around 20$ Canadian.  Click here to check them out.  ***Cruelty Free*** This mascara definitely has a unique brush that I have yet to find thus far. I don't wear false lashes so the most my lashes will ever see is multiple coats of mascara. Otherwise, they are practically nonexistent.  In terms of length and volume, it didn't do anything more than what every other masca...

 Product Summary: A big drink of water for you skin. Alleviating dryness and reducing the appearance of fine lines for dewier, brighter skin. It's time to say 'hi' to hydration and a glowing complexion. Cost: $11 I ended up receiving this item in a Ipsy glam bag which is a monthly beauty subscription service where you get 5 items from sample to full size for around 20$ Canadian.  Click here to check them out.  ***Cruelty Free*** This is the first product I have tried from Grace & Stella and I'm not really sold on it. It's not the best to use during the winter when your skin desperately needs moisture. It's ok for a product but I didn't see much improvement to my skin. It added a bit of a glow to my skin but otherwise it didn't help much with moisturizing my skin or improving my fine lines. I will say you don't need much product to cover your face. A drop or two is more than enough.  Rating:  This is getting 1 star on 5. I'm definitely not rep...

***This review will contain spoilers*** Summary: Resistance leader John Connor sends an agent back to 1984 to save his mother from a Terminator assassin but the fractured timelines spawns new threats.  The Terminator franchise has lasted for decades (a lot longer than I've been alive) but nothing comes close to the first two movies. Terminator 1 and 2 were just so good which means a lot considering most sequels tend to flop. The following two movies were good and gave us insight to John Connor in different times of his life. However, something new had to come along.  Terminator Genisys is combination of a reboot with very much respecting the OG movies. Let's be honest, Arnold is the face of the Terminator franchise and it doesn't feel right to not have him featured in a movie. I loved that they brought him back and he was the star of the movie. His performance every time is phenomenal and has such an amazing screen presence. One issue I've had with this franchise is the...

 Product Summary: Deeply nurture your locks and moisture with Herbal Essences wild naturals rejuvenating oil elixir. Become a natural knockout with every drop of this lightweight oil that softens and gives you naturally luscious hair, while also reviving your senses with the rick scent of Turkish fig. Cost: Between $8-9 but I bought it on sale for a $1.  ***Cruelty Free*** With all the coloring I do to my hair, I always try to nourish it and keep it as healthy as possible so it doesn't fall out. I have over 30 inches of length and my mission is to keep as much of it as possible without damaging it beyond repair.  First off, I absolutely loved the scent of this oil! Smells just like paradise. And for someone with hair length like mine all you need is 1-2 drops and concentrate it on your ends unless you know you'll be washing your hair the same day then giving yourself a scalp massage with this oil will do wonders to help moisture your scalp.  This oil definitely helpe...

 ***This review will contain spoilers*** Summary: FBI psychologist Olivia Sotiris was looking for a cool ocean breeze, sand between her toes, and a break from her crazy, chaotic, and sometimes all-too-dangerous life. But when she escaped to the small Greek island of Patmos, all she got were meddling grandmothers trying to marry her off. Can't they see that none of the men around interests her—except Robby MacKay? Robby needs to cool off, too, since all he can think about is revenge on the Malcontent bloodsuckers who once held him captive—but then he meets Olivia, the beauty with wild curls and a tempting smile. When a deadly criminal from a case back home tracks her down, Robby will have to save her life—along with giving her a first time she'll never forget . . . This is Kerrelyn Sparks' eight book in the Love at Stake series of hers. I have read the first one, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire,  which I was not a big fan of because it was one of those romance novels with...

 ***This review will contain spoilers*** Summary: Figuring they're all expendable, a U.S. intelligence officer decides to assemble a team of dangerous, incarcerated Supervillains for a top-secret mission. Now armed with government weapons, Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Killer Croc and other despicable inmates must learn to work together. Dubbed Task Force X, the criminals unite to battle a mysterious and powerful entity, while diabolical Joker launches his evil agenda of his own.  I'm not a fan of the intro to this movie. It was close to twenty minutes and that is just too long. I love Viola Davis and she is a fantastic choice to play Amanda Waller, however, the movie should have started with her since her plan to control these villains is the entirety of the plot. it felt redundant starting the movie with a montage of Dead and Harley Quinn to then have another montage of them when Waller was going over the team members in detail. What made it obvious that those t...

***This review will contain spoilers*** Could I have lived without reading this short story? Yes, it didn't add anything to the main story. And beyond that I'm not a fan of baseball nor do I really know much about the game. I do find it ridiculous that Hamilton will write about anything and everything but putting together a good story line? Clearly, too much work and effort needed.  This short story was just a couple of pages long and quite frankly was less annoying than the last few books I have read from her. This short story was actually decent, especially, since none of her boy toys were involved and I didn't have to put up with Anita's atrocious sex life. If anything it reminded me a little of old school Blake just raising zombies. Exactly, how we were first introduced to her dozens of books earlier. I truly wish that Hamilton would go back to that type of writing and story telling but I know better than that.  Overall, it was okay but you could forgo reading this ...

 Summary: It's been nearly two years since Superman's colossal battle with Zod devastated the city of Metropolis. The loss of life and collateral damage left many feeling angry and helpless; including crime-fighting billionaire Bruce Wayne. Convinced that Superman is now a threat to humanity, Batman embarks on a personal vendetta to end his reign on Earth, while the conniving Lex Luthor launches his own crusade against the Man of Steel.  Opening Scene: Introduction of Bruce Wayne and the murder of his parents that shaped him to be the man he is today. I hope with the new Universe that James Gunn is creating I won't have to see pearls hitting the ground anymore. I swear DC fans have developed PTSD from those damn pearls.  It was interesting seeing Bruce's perspective about the attack on Metropolis by General Zod. You can clearly see his hatred growing for Superman with every building being destroyed and person dying due to the attack.  I can understand the vision of t...

 Product Summary: The enzyme-rich plump-kin eye cream works overnight to help fight wrinkles, sun damage, and inflammation while plumping up the under eyes! The cream has a light but potent formula infused with 10,000ppm of vitamin and antioxidant rich pumpkin extract that will work to de-puff, moisturize and plump up the delicate skin under the eyes. Cost: $25. I ended up receiving this item in a Ipsy glam bag which is a monthly beauty subscription service where you get 5 items from sample to full size for around 20$ Canadian.  Click here to check them out.  ***Cruelty free*** I first started using this eye cream in September and in just 5 months you can see such an improvement to my under eye. When it comes to skincare you have to be consistent and every night before bed I would apply the eye cream on clean skin.  I am beyond impressed with this eye cream. You can see that my under eyes have plumped up dramatically. It's not as dark but has brightened up while also...

 Product Summary: The YC loose setting powder is an extraordinary, finely milled formula for a weightless, flawless finish. Softens and smoothens skin with incredible staying power. Non-cakey doesn't settle into imperfections and offers no photo flashback. Light and airy application, keeping excess oil in check. Cost: $15 and the shade I have is #117. I ended up receiving this item in a Ipsy glam bag which is a monthly beauty subscription service where you get 5 items from sample to full size for around 20$ Canadian.  Click here to check them out.  ***Cruelty free*** I am not much for wearing foundation. I prefer a more natural look and try to keep my face makeup light. I tend to use concealer then apply a setting powder all over to even out my skin tone and to set my concealer.  This is going to be an extremely short review. This typically doesn't happen often but when they do it speaks volumes to just how good the product is.  This setting powder is extremely ...

 ***This review will contain spoilers*** Summary: Lina's trendy bakery in Tulsa is proving to be less than lucrative, and she must come up with a plan. When she stumbles upon an Italian Goddess cookbook, Lina can't help but think she's found the answer to her problem—even if it means invoking a goddess to save her business. Soon enough, Lina finds herself face-to-face with Demeter, who has a plan of her own. She proposes that Lina exchange souls with Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, who will breathe new life into the bakery. In return, Lina must set order to the Underworld. Before all this, Lina's problems mostly involved sourdough and second dates. Now that she embodies the enchanting Persephone, Lina has weightier things on her mind—like the formidable task of bringing Spring to a world of spirits. But when the handsome, brooding Hades kindles a spark in her heart, Lina wonders if this Lord of the Underworld might be the man of her dreams. I absolutely loved reading...

 Product Summary: British rose hydrating mask consists of 98% vegetable substances such as rose flower water and does not irritate to the skin. It provides intense moisture and nourishment to dry skin. The cooling water formula helps rejuvenate dry skin and prevents fine lines and wrinkles. Cost: Between $8-10.  I ended up receiving this item in a Ipsy glam bag which is a monthly beauty subscription service where you get 5 items from sample to full size for around 20$ Canadian.  Click here to check them out.  ***Cruelty free*** Living in a country where it's cold the majority of the year forces you to take skincare seriously. One piece of advice that is great to know and follow is that sometimes it's not the makeup the problem but rather your skin and how hydrated it is.  There comes a point during the cold weather where a simple moisturizer is not enough and I need something that packs a hydrating punch. One thing I love to do when it comes to hydrating sheet m...

Over the years I have accumulated more makeup than I would like to admit. And unfortunately, a lot of it is very similar. A have a lot of blushes, highlighters and a lot of eyeshadows. I do have quite a bit that has been sitting. Whether I haven't gotten to it yet and haven't had a chance to do a review on it. There's just quite a lot and it's definitely time to make a change. I rationalized it by only purchasing items on sale or it's a subscription box of samples only (Ipsy) so clearly it's okay. But in reality I was just getting too much and not knowing when to stop. Overconsumption at its finest.  I'm grateful to my boyfriend for many reasons and last year he pointed out to me how my eyeshadow palettes all look alike to him. I, of course, shrugged it off at first but then I started opening all my palettes and seeing just how much I enjoy the same type of color scheme. There's nothing wrong with that, however, what is wrong is having so many palettes t...

I have been a huge fan of Mob Wives for years. I'm not quite sure how I got into the show but I've watched all six seasons multiple times over the years. And I find myself looking for a rewatch every six months or so. One of the many downsides to living in Canada is that a lot of the shows that I love to watch you cannot stream it here. Sure, I can buy a a subscription to change my VPN but that's just too much work for watching a dang tv show.  I have so many subscriptions for streaming and not a single one allowed me to stream Mob Wives. So I went on the hunt to purchase the dvd set of all six seasons. Let me tell you!!!! This was so fucking hard and beyond ridiculous. All the normal places you would go to to buy digital media they didn't have it. Went on Amazon they didn't have it. I did a general search in Google and one person was selling for $600 + shipping and I was not desperate enough to be paying that much. I started my search on Ebay but I noticed that no ...

 ***This review will contain spoilers*** Summary: Eve, Michael, Shane, and Claire go to the EEK party one year after the events in The Dead Girls' Dance. When Michael ends up leaving and doesn't come back, Eve goes to search for him... This is one of the longer short stories I've read from Caine. I love short stories that add a little context to the overall feel of the series and that we get another character's point of view. It's definitely interesting seeing someone else's point of view on how they view Morganville and Claire who is the protagonist of the series. Even down to their inner monologue it's intriguing seeing just how vastly different characters can be from one another.  This time around we have the perspective from Eve where the gang is all dressing up for a Halloween party. I don't understand why the gang would want to go to any party from EEK since they were the same frat that are known for spiking girls drinks and raping them. The same t...

 ***This review will contain spoilers*** Summary: Normal life in Morganville. As far as normal ever was, Shane Collins thought; nobody was overtly rioting, getting arrested, or killing anyone. Not on the street, anyway. One of the hard-to-find exclusive stories written specifically for the UK editions (which at the time were being published a month or two after the US releases, meaning that die-hard fans rushed to buy internationally) … it was offered as an extra to help the UK publisher convince fans there to wait for the local edition, and it seems to have worked! I love these little short stories. Especially, when it is from a different character's perspective. We don't often get to see much from Shane by himself so I'm happy this short story exists. He has truly grown and changed for the better so far in the series and it truly shows in this story.  Aside from Claire, Shane is the only one in the house who doesn't have a car. For most it doesn't seem much but wh...

***This movie will contain spoilers*** Summary: In the 1830s, estate agent Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania for a fateful meeting with Count Orlok, a prospective client. In his absence, Hutter's new bride, Ellen, is left under the care of their friends, Friedrich and Anna Harding. Plagued by horrific visions and an increasing sense of dread, Ellen soon encounters an evil force that's far beyond her control. I watched this movie last night in theatre with my boyfriend at our local cineplex since they were having a special of $5 per ticket for the next few Tuesdays and this is the first time in a long time I regret my movie pick. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect since I maybe saw the trailer for a few seconds but I expected so much better. I've never left a movie theatre feeling so defiled and needing to go to church the day after. I've seen some disturbing movies over the years but this movie really takes it to another level. I've seen the Terrifier mov...