Monday, June 24, 2024

Evil Izzy's Haunted Emporium Costumes & More - Phoenix, AZ!

As someone who enjoys cosplaying & putting together costume outfits for a variety of events and not just Halloween, it was always a bummer that options for year-round costume shops are slim pickings. I recently found out about Evil Izzy's Haunted Emporium which is new to Phoenix, so I had to visit. They are a year round costume shop located at 4239 W Thunderbird Road Suite B Phoenix, AZ 85053.


The store is still new & they are working on adding more inventory every week. They currently have a great selection of masks, adult costumes, kids costumes, pet costumes & costume accessories. They also have a large special effects makeup section and not the crap they have at Spirit Halloween, but the good makeup that is worth the price.

You'll also find hair dye, candles, random housewares like blankets plus horror themed clothing, ghosts in a jar up for adoption & more. I think this is a spot that I will end up visiting often and look forward to seeing what else they add to the store. Knowing there is a spot not too far from me that has my favorite special effects brand is a huge plus, especially if I run into an issue of needing something last minute for a cosplay.



Prices are about what you would expect at a costume shop/themed store like this. We picked up a Evil dead shirt & it was just over $20 with taxes. If you are in the area & are looking for costume pieces or even just want to take a look I would suggest stopping by to see what you can find.

★ This is not a sponsored post, we paid for this on our own. I enjoy sharing new places to check out in my local area! 

🌵 If you live in Arizona check out the "Things to do in Arizona" section of my blog to find entertainment, restaurants, vacation spots & more. (Click on the name or locate it on the right-hand side of my page). 

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Trappers Sushi Co in Anthem, Arizona - All You Can Eat Sushi!

 

My husband & I enjoy going out for a sushi night from time to time and we are always looking for new places to check out. I recently found out about Trapper's Sushi Co. which has three locations in Arizona - one in Anthem, one in Avondale & one in Surprise. Along with having locations in Arizona, they can also be found in Washington + one location in Texas. Before getting into the review, I do want to note that prices vary depending on the region so the price I mention below may vary from one near you if you are in another state. Trapper's Sushi Co. has a large menu of various sushi & appetizer options, and they also have All You Can Eat Sushi. My husband & I were recently invited to visit on of their locations here in Arizona to experience their AYCE. I live down in Phoenix, but this spot is well worth the drive up to Anthem & if you love sushi and have a chance to visit one of their locations, I recommend that you do. The location we visited is located at 39510 N Daisy Mountain Dr Anthem, AZ 85086. 


They have a number of great deals including Happy Hour plus kids under 10 eat for free on Sundays. This location has the AYCE at $20 for lunch and $30 for dinner, depending on how much you are able to eat this is an awesome deal. If you are going specifically for the AYCE sushi it is only served at the sushi bar, or you can relax at a regular table/booth to enjoy the full menu. The restaurant itself was very clean & felt welcoming, there were plenty of seating options and they had several large TV's each playing something different so you can choose what you'd like to watch while eating. The TV's & music were not turned up to a point where you weren't able to hear other party guests you arrived with which is nice as I enjoy having a conversation with my husband during dinner. 


We did the AYCE during the dinner hours. The only issue we had was deciding what we wanted to order because there were so many delicious rolls on the menu. I liked the selection of rolls they offered & I loved that it clearly stated what was in each roll. I've been to spots in the past that only have the name of the roll but not what was in it & as someone who can be slightly picky with sushi it is nice knowing what I am ordering. My husband & I each tried three different rolls plus we got an order of pot stickers & an order of trapper bites. All of the rolls we picked out were delicious & filling, you will be served a large portion, and everything is freshly made right there at the sushi bar. This is the first sushi place I've been to that has scallops on or in the sushi and man, I've been missing out!



I had ordered the white peach lemonade; it tasted like peach rings in a cup, and I loved it. My husband had ordered a blueberry alcoholic beverage that he enjoyed & when he went to order a second drink, he had asked for our server's recommendation & was very happy he did. The server recommended a drink called the Sea Monster Mai Tai. I am normally not a fan of alcoholic drinks, but I tried a sip and wow it was so good & one I would actually drink. All of the staff we encountered were friendly, talkative & attentive when it came to getting our orders, taking away empty plates.


They also have a program where they sell raffle tickets for $5, all the proceeds go to a cancer research group called Valley Girls & Guys. Later in the year they will draw raffle tickets and the winners could win one of an assortment of prizes. I always appreciate when companies & brands host raffles and events like this to help give back. 

We look forward to going back, not just by ourselves but with some of our other family members who love sushi as well. I can't wait to try out some of the other sushi rolls that we didn't try out this time, there is only so much I can eat & didn't want to feel like I was going to pop. But, that is a good thing because it gives me a reason to come back and try out more of their menu. 

🍣 Is this a spot you think you would enjoy eating at? What is your favorite kind of Sushi, or appetizer to order? 

🌵 If you live in Arizona check out the "Things to do in Arizona" section of my blog to find entertainment, restaurants, vacation spots & more. (Click on the name or locate it on the right-hand side of my page).

DisclaimerTrapper's Sushi Co. provided a meal for two for us for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Soak up the Vitamin C with BeautyStat + Fable & Mane!

 

Vitamin C can be a very helpful ingredient to have in your skincare routine, it provides a number of benefits including brightening your complex, decreases hyperpigmentation, hydrates skin and more. I was recently sent a wonderful PR package that included two products from the brand BeautyStat & two products from the brand Fable & Mane all of which have Vitamin C as a main ingredient. This group of products was brought together to be a Vitamin C powerhouse to boost both your face & scalp. Let's dive into what I received & what I thought about it. 

Fable & Mane SahaScalp Wild Ginger Purifying Scrub. I have never used a scalp scrub before so I wasn't quite sure what to expect and whether it would be difficult to use or not. This scrub was actually pretty easy to use, it was able to get all the way down to my scalp without just getting caught up on my hair. Using it felt nice, like a gentle massage for your head. It rinsed out without any issues & my scalp felt so clean and refreshed after, plus it smells amazing. The scrub is suitable for all hair types, it is vegan, color safe and has no silicones - The brand is also cruelty free! I'd love a room spray that smells like this scalp scrub. I only needed a little bit of the scrub & since it isn't something you'll use every day the jar will last for several uses. Based off of what I used, I will guess I can get close to between eight to ten scrubs with this jar. You can pick up this scrub on the Fable & Mane website for $36 it comes in a 8oz jar. My hair did not feel greasy or look greasy after using this which is another pro. 

Fable & Mane SahaScalp Amla Soothing Serum. This is a pre-wash hair oil which aims to help you maintain dandruff, cuts down on product build up & helps soothe an itchy scalp. The smell of this is calming & soothing which is a perfect way to start off your shower. You can either use it shortly before you get into the shower or you can leave it in overnight before a morning shower. It is recommended that you use this once bi-weekly for best results & your hair type will help determine how much product you'll need to use. I have fine hair so I only need several drops which means I'll have this bottle for quite some time. This combined with the scrub I reviewed above will leave you feeling like you just got back from the hair salon. This serum can be picked up on the Fable & Mane website for $38. 

BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner. This product aims to help tighten & firm skin which helps reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. This product goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly, it dries to a powder like consistency with a slight bit of slickness where it was used. It will leave your skin feel refreshed and moisturized, I also like that it doesn't have any strong scents as I generally do not like scented skincare products. This product can be bought in a 1oz container on the BeautyStat website for $85. 

BeautyStat Universal C Eye Perfector. Most of us keep busy schedules and do not always get the correct amount of sleep we need which is one of the things that can lead to dark bags under the eyes. Eye creams and serums can help reduce the look of dark bags, fine lines and help tighten the skin. This product has a nice light scent & a little goes a long way. You'll only need one pump for both eyes, much like the other product above this absorbs quickly and leaves an almost powdery finish when you touch it after you apply it. You can pick this product up on their website for $65.

Disclaimer- The product mentioned above was provided by BeautyStat and Fable & Mane for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Thursday, June 13, 2024

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is back!


The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is back! They are bigger & better than ever after they searched around the globe for fresh new and exciting acts to join them on the road. You'll find danger acts, acrobats and more in this action packed show. They are headed to the footprint center in Phoenix, Arizona from July 5th until July 7th. Tickets range from $25-$55 depending on where you would like to sit in the stadium.

If you aren't from Arizona, no worries! They are currently on tour and are stopping in dozens of cities across the US so check out their website for a full list of where they will be visiting next.



My family & I were invited out to check out the show, and review their new show. Keep an eye out for the post after they've visited to find out our thoughts on the new acts.

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

June Beauty & The Book Giveaway!

 

May was a busy month! I celebrated my birthday and we moved into a new house so we were busy with packing, moving and unpacking. I still have some random odds and ends to unpack like our art work and collectables, otherwise we are mostly settled now. Due to the move most of my photography stuff & the products I had for this months giveaway were packed away thus the delay in getting this giveaway posted. 

I will have some new reviews coming soon including some delicious spots to eat, beauty products, board games and more including some fun giveaways. One of the giveaways I plan on hosting this month is for a box full of books, so all of you book lovers keep an eye out for that. 


💙 Included In This Month's Bundle: 💙

★ All three books in the Immortal Circus series. 
★ Morphe eyeshadow palette
★ Real Techniques Sponge
★ Ardell False Lashes
★ Context Lipstick
★ Revolution Eyeshadow palette
★ Tiffany & Co Perfume sample
★ L.A Colors Iced Powdered eyeshadow
★ L.A Girl lip scrub
★ Mascara
★ A Watermelon filled with beauty blenders
★ Patchology under eye patches
★ Loreal lip liner 
★ L.A Colors black eyeliner 


This is open Worldwide! Please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email! This giveaway is hosted by ME.

This giveaway ends on 07/11/2024

Giveaway entry question: Leave a comment answering at least one of these questions.

Which item in this bundle are you most excited about?
Do you have any fun upcoming plans?
What is your favorite activity to do in the summer?


It is easiest if you log onto Rafflecopter using the Name/Email Address option. 

You can complete as many entries as you want, there are several one-time activities and daily activities that can earn you more entries into the giveaway. Be sure to keep an eye on my site & social media pages for more giveaways headed your way. 

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Pardon the lack of posts!

 


You may have noticed that I haven't posted a lot in the last two and a half weeks. My family & I recently completed a move into a new home! We are still in the same city as before, we've just moved into a new house. So I've been busy packing, moving, unpacking, organizing & still working my day job thus the lack of new posts here on my blog. Some of my things like the products for this month's Beauty & The Book Giveaway are still packed in boxes, but I am working on getting everything sorted out. 

Within the next few days I will be back with this months Beauty & The Book Giveaway, along with some new reviews and other giveaways like a box stuffed full of books. Thanks for sticking with me! I look forward to getting back to work on new posts.