Favorite Cliches

As you may have noticed, I did not do my 30 Days of Lists prompts this weekend. And I am unlikely to do them next weekend as well. My sister is getting married next weekend and I have a ton of things to get finished before then. So, instead of doing those posts on the weekends, I am going to save them for the end of the month and tack them on in the beginning of October.

Let's get onto today's prompt: Favorite Cliches

1. Birds of a Feather - it just sounds cute!

2. Couldn't Care Less - only because people misuse this SO much ("Could Care Less") that it always makes me second guess whether I use it correctly.

3. You Are What You Eat - as with many things in life, good intentions gone wrong

I don't think I use cliches all that often. When I do, it's usually for humorous effect....which sometimes goes wrong. So, um, stick that in your pipe and smoke it?

Must Haves For A Night In

Well, now, see, this list will depend on whether I am alone or whether my family is with me. Those are very separate lists.

If I am alone?

• Something they don't watch - a TV show or YouTube channel
• Some sort of junk food that I don't normally eat when they are around
• My dogs snuggled up on the couch with me

If I'm with my family?

• A TV show or video game that we all play together
• All three of us snuggled on the couch together (sorry, dogs, you get the floor)
• Snacks that my daughter can eat with her braces

I suppose those don't sound like very different lists but they are in practice. Admittedly, I don't get a lot of time to myself so the first list is mostly a wish list. But that is OK. I enjoy spending time with my family.

Vitamin C Serum by Day by Day Beauty

Awhile ago, I received a bottle of Day by Day Beauty's Vitamin C Serum to try. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from it but I went ahead and followed the directions.

At first, the product seems sticky and gross. However, it quickly sinks into the skin. It really did leave my facial skin feeling soft and smooth. Very surprising. I'm not sure that it is going to "diminish wrinkles" or "reverse sun damage" like the marketing guys tell us. I just know that it made my skin feel nice and there wasn't a lot of work to make it happen. Both positives in my book.

There was only one negative about the whole experience and that was the applicator. When you get the package, the applicator comes separate from the bottle, which is OK. The applicator is listed as a pump applicator. I expected it to drop a dollop of serum on my finger so I could smush it all over my face. Instead, it is somewhere between a spray and a pump. The serum comes out a little too forcefully, ending up in the sink or on my shirt. Loved the serum, hated the applicator.

I am going to keep using the serum...when I remember to, anyway. Maybe it really will fix some of the problem areas on my face and make me look gorgeous. One can always hope, right?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Things I Finished (So Far) This Year

What makes them think I finished anything? Nah, I did finish some things. Let's see...

I successfully ported my website (and this blog) from thegeekwithin.com to cassandra-morgan.com, complete with a new host and a fresh look. I am quite proud and happy about that.

I started my YouTube channel, which I am enjoying immensely. I'm not sure if that counts as "finished" since it will always be a work in progress but I got it this far!

Hm. I honestly don't know what else. A lot of the things I have are constant projects, like the YouTube thing. I don't usually have a lot of things to finish, just things to keep working on.

Stretching The Borders

I just finished Stretching The Borders by Yael Shachnay. It took me a very long time to read this particular book. Much longer than it takes me to normally read a book. Don't worry, I'll get into that shortly.

Stretching The Borders tells the story of an Israeli woman, Naomi Raziel. She is currently married to Reuben and they have to children together, Uri and Ayelet. However, Naomi is not truly content in her life. On one fateful day, she meets her neighbor, Avinoam, whose wife is dying. Shortly thereafter, Naomi begins a torrid affair with Avinoam. One that will change their lives forever.

First, I'd like to state that I wouldn't classify this book as a "romance" novel. Yes, there are love stories here. Both Naomi with Reuben and Naomi with Avinoam. But I wouldn't say that is really the driving point of the story. The story is really about Naomi's wish to learn more about herself and try to stay the carefree, wild child she used to be. Everything that occurs within the story is a direct result of that one wish - to be the girl she used to be.

Second, I'd like to note that the book can be very difficult to read. This is why it took me so long. The book is written entirely from the first person perspective. That, alone, is fine. But there are times when the narrating character changes and the book doesn't give us any hints that we are no longer "inside" Naomi. It isn't until you get past the 'Wait, what?' moment and realize that we're now "inside" someone else that things make a bit more sense. In addition, the book is written as a very long letter to an old friend. That makes the character shifts even more jarring.

With both of those points made, I did enjoy the story. Granted, I didn't particularly like Naomi. She is a rather self-centered woman only concerned with how she used to be. While she seems to care for both her husband and children, it feels like a shallow thing that only exists so they can love her more. But, overall, I would recommend the book. Just give yourself plenty of time and patience to finish it.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Subjects I Can Talk About For Hours

I don't usually talk a lot. But when certain subjects come up, I can't stop babbling. I try my best to be polite and not monopolize the conversation....but sometimes it is difficult.

1. My daughter - She does a LOT of things. A LOT. So I frequently have a lot to say about things she's accomplished or what she is currently doing or what she has planned. Sometimes it's a little too much.

2. Sailor Moon - I love Sailor Moon a little too much.

3. Bad writing in books - I review a lot of books. Most of the time, the book is already for sale to the general public by the time I read it. I honestly have lost count of the number of books that are grammatically incorrect, have numerous misspellings, and are just plain difficult to read due to the errors. If you are going to write a book, do it right. Get some good editors and have multiple people read through your manuscript. Don't just toss it up on Amazon because you said it's finished.

I think those three are the main culprits. Sometimes, if I find a new Thing that I think is super interesting, I'll do a ton of research on the subject and babble about it to my friends. I try really hard to not do that. I know it can be annoying.

Ain't Nobody Got Time For

Grammar, apparently. I get that this is a meme but, seriously, do we have to keep it going? Ah well. Here goes:

1. Thinking you are "too old" to do something. I am, like, a billion in internet years. Yet here I am starting new things and trying things out. I may be "old" but I'm not dead.

2. Being too serious. Have fun! Who cares if someone is looking at you? I bet they are wishing they had the guys to just do whatever.

3. Caring what strangers think. Your close friends and loved ones love you for who you are. Why care about what some stranger on the street thinks of you? Their opinion really doesn't matter all that much.

4. Hating on other people. This kinda goes along with number 3, except on the other side. Don't be the person that hates so-and-so because they are this or that. What does it matter to YOU if they are gay? What does it matter if they have pink hair? It literally has zero effect on your life. Focus your energy on something positive for a change.

Basically - be awesome to each other. It isn't that difficult. Really.

Books Everyone Should Read

Hm. A lot of the books I think people should read aren't necessarily books that I think they will enjoy. These are mostly books that will get them thinking.

1. To Kill A Mockingbird

2. Flowers for Algernon

3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

4. Mists of Avalon

5. Paper Towns

There are probably a ton that I am forgetting but these are some of the big ones. I will probably get some strange looks for my list but that is OK. I'm used to strange looks.

Chores I Actually Enjoy

What? There are chores that people actually enjoy? I can't say I really like any of my chores. I do the household laundry, which I don't particularly enjoy, and I washes the dishes, which I enjoy even less. 

While I don't classify these as "chores," I suppose I can say that I kinda enjoy driving my daughter around to all of her activities. It does put a little stress on the household schedule to make sure everything is done but, for the most part, it is semi-enjoyable. 

What sort of chores do you enjoy? I can't believe anyone would enjoy chores. 

Two in One

I didn't have a chance to post my 30 Days of List prompt yesterday so you are getting TWO today!

Things To Nurture This Month

1. My family - They can always use a little more of my time.

2. My writing - I never feel like I'm writing enough.

3. My YouTube channel - I'd really like to work on making this more popular. 

Every Night Before I Go To Bed

I'm not really sure what this prompt wants to hear. The only things I do every night before I go to bed is brush my teeth and kiss my husband goodnight. Sometimes I watch a little television, sometimes I'm working on some last minute writing projects, sometimes I'm finishing a craft project. I do a lot!