Maelys Cosmetics Review!

 

It is no secret that as we get older & our bodies change that sometimes our skin might not be as smooth as it once was. We also know that sometimes after weight loss you can be left with areas where your skin doesn't tighten up right away, and that is where Maelys wants to help you. Maelys sells a wide range of products aimed at helping reduce the look of fine lines, stretch marks & even helping tighten up the skin for a smaller appearance. I was recently asked if I wanted to test out a couple of their products, and after looking at some of the reviews on their website I decided to go for it. I was sent their B-Flat, B-Tight & B-Thicc to test out. 

Let's start with the B-Flat. This product is a belly firming cream that is supposed to help reduce the look of stretch marks & tighten your skin a bit. After having two children I am left with some "Tiger Stripes" aka stretch marks, and I am not always the happiest with how they look so that is something I was looking forward to using this on. I haven't used this product for the long term yet meaning I haven't used the entire bottle, but I have used it a few times. It does seem to have helped reduce the coloration of the stretch marks a bit adding moisture to them which reduces their look. If you are not a fan of products that give you a warm tingly sensation do not use this within a short period after getting out of the bath. I tried it both right after a bath & waiting a while after getting out to see the difference between the two. If you use it right after a shower, it creates a very warm tingly feeling almost like icy hot without the icy part, it is bearable but some people may not like the feeling. However, if you wait a bit and then use it there is no tingly feeling at all. The product also smells nice, absorbs quickly and doesn't leave your skin feeling oily. This is sold in a 100ML bottle for $49. 

Next is the B-Tight which is for your booty! Just like the B-Flat this is aimed at tightening the skin to give a more lifted appearance and it also helps reduce the look of cellulite. It also has a pleasant smell & quickly absorbs into the skin, your skin will feel nice and smooth after using it. After a few uses your skin will feel more moisturized & you may already start to feel a difference, with most products like this you'll want to use them for a longer period to really judge the difference. My main thing with this one is I usually forget to use it after getting out of the shower. Maelys does sell other products for different areas of the body, but honestly I don't see why you wouldn't also be able to use this B-tight on areas like your underarm loose skin or under your chin if you have any issues with those areas as well. This is sold in a 100ML jar for $49. 

Lastly is the B-Thicc that is one step above the B-tight, which both essentially work the same however the B-Thicc is also designed to help give your booty the appearance of having more volume while lifting and firming. I haven't notice a large difference, however as I had mentioned I may just need to use it for a longer period of time. There are dozens of photos on their website showing real results from customers who have used these products for an extended period of time & then posted their review on the website. This product is a little bit thicker than the B-tight it almost reminds me more of a coconut oil in the container than a cream, but it glides on just as smoothly and absorbs quickly as well. Just like the B-Flat this has a warming sensation so if you'd prefer to avoid that, do not use it right after a shower. This product comes in a 100ML jar for $49. 

I think if you were using these products along side a diet & workout routine along with your normal skincare routine that you will see some great results. I myself am getting back into more of a fitness journey and look forward to having these products help me along the way. If you have other problem areas aside from your tummy & booty they have a wide range of products for different areas and problems from dry skin to plumping products. Be sure to stop by & check out everything they have to offer on their website. 

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by Maelys 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.

Cheese Brothers Review & Giveaway!

 

When hosting get togethers for family + friends during the holidays I like to put together a charcuterie board or two for everyone to graze on while we hang out, play games and enjoy each others company. A cheese & cracker board is always a must, and the brand I prefer to use for my cheese boards is the Cheese Brothers! They have such a wide range of products, you are sure to find something you and your guests will enjoy. Whether it is for yourself or for a cheese lover on your holiday shopping list this year, Cheese Brothers offers a wide range of gift packs from their 12 days of Cheesemas advent calendar to mini charcuterie boxes. 

I've worked with the Cheese Brothers in the past on a review & ourselves along with family have ordered their cheeses randomly through out the year. I am very happy to share that I am working with them again on not only a new review, but a giveaway as well! For my review I received the deluxe "The Best gifts are Cheesy" holiday gift box. This box offers an assortment of nine difference cheeses, two summer sausages, a jar of Cherry Lavender jam & a box of crackers. It includes everything you need to create your own cheese & cracker charcuterie board. The cheeses featured in this pack at the Smoked Gouda, Dill Havarti, 3 Amigos Spicy Gouda, Bourbon Gouda, Horseradish Cheddar, Smoked Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar, Fratello, and Smoked Adelheid. Out of the nine, we have tried five of them in the past so the other four were brand new to us. 

I personally love their smoked gouda and the 3 Amigos is a big hit in our house. The Fratello which is a mixture of asiago and parmesan, is also a huge hit in our house and it is delicious in so many dishes. If you've never tried a cherry lavender jam before, then you are missing out - it is a must have for your charcuterie board. Of the new flavors of cheese we tried the smoked adelheid was pretty good! The Bourbon Gouda is a bit sharp & really does taste like whiskey so the kids & I weren't fans of it. I also wasn't a huge fan of the eight year aged cheddar, but my step-dad liked it. It is a more dry cheese with a very sharp cheddar flavor to it. Adding some other small platters of assorted holiday themed treats is also a great way to spice up a grazing table. I picked up some popcorn, chocolate pretzels, chocolate and a spicy pineapple jam to go along side the charcuterie board I put together. The cheese was of course the main focus though that everyone enjoyed nibbling on. 

You can create a similar charcuterie board to share with loved ones, or keep the cheese for your own cheese and cracker nights. You can buy a pre-made gift pack or if you'd prefer to create your own mixture of cheeses they do sell all of their products individually so you can create your own bundle. They also sell a cheese of the month club box which could make an awesome holiday gift as well! 

🧀 GIVEAWAY 🧀

One lucky winner is going to receive the cheese & sausage sampler which includes three different cheeses and a Barron sausage. Worth $39.95 

This is open US Residents only! 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 ends on 11/26/24

Giveaway entry question: Leave me a blog comment letting me know which cheese from their catalogue you'd like to try. (Link is the purple)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by Cheese Brothers for the review & giveaway 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.

The Canal Convergence is back!

 

The annual Canal Convergence at the Scottsdale water front is back! This is a FREE ten day event that features different art exhibits installed along the canal near Scottsdale fashion square mall. This is our fourth or fifth year attending, it is nice to walk around for the forty or so minutes it takes to see everything & enjoy the weather. Parking is also free! You can park inside one of the three different mall parking garages. It is located at 7038 E. 5th Ave Scottsdale, AZ 85251.

This is a family friendly event so bring the whole family! It is even pet friendly so your dogs can join as well. Have a stroller? No worries, it is stroller and wheel chair friendly everything is along sidewalks and paths. There is also a small vendor area this year, there was a food truck and they have a wine/beer area for adults. 

The hours for this event are: 

November 11-14th 6-9PM
November 15-16th 6-10PM
November 17th 6-9PM

The fire show times are 6:30, 7:30 & 8:30PM be sure to get to the area about twenty minutes ahead of time to sit & wait so you can have a good spot to see the show. The front row or two fills up quickly & while you can still see the flames over everyone's heads it is a better show if you can see everything. If you would like to see a reel of this event, I have one up on my Instagram! You can see it by CLICKING HERE. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them below or on my Instagram page and I will answer them as best that I can. 

🌵 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).

★ This is not a sponsored post, we paid for this on our own. I enjoy sharing new places we explore with my followers.

November Beauty & The Book Giveaway!

 

For this month's Beauty & The Book Giveaway I decided to put together a giveaway for my fellow Nerdy ladies out there! I gave a hint last month about this month's giveaway being "Magical" so as you can tell from the photo of this month's bundle above, this month's theme is Harry Potter! I've included two different books, some makeup/beauty goods along with some great Harry Potter merchandise. 

October was a crazy month! It really did go by in a flash. I caught a cold and was sick for about two weeks, which was a bummer, but other than that it was a fantastic month. I decided to go as Batty Koda from Ferngully for Halloween/Uwu Con so I spent a few days working on it. I bought a base adult sized bat onesie then I hand stitched everything on to make it look like the character. We also attended a few fun events. Coming up this month I have some fantastic reviews & giveaways headed your way including some fun gift guides since the holiday season is just around the corner. I also have somewhat of an idea of the theme I want to go with for next month's giveaway bundle. Let's get into the giveaway though! 

For this bundle I included two different books. One is the unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook which features tons of recipes based off of food/drinks in the movies along with just some fun themed items. The second book is a magical film projections book. When you place one of the pages in front of a flashlight in a dark room it will light a scene on the wall, just like shadow puppets.  

❤ Included In This Month's Bundle: ❤

★ Morphe "Gold Seeker" palette
★ Dove Cinamon Pumpkin Pie body scrub
★ NYX lip gloss
★ Silver colored facemask
★ IT Cosmetics undereye cream
★ Revlon Mascara
★ False Eyelashes + Eyelash glue
★ Blush
★ Maree undereye patches
★ Green glass nail file
★ Harry Potter Wallet
★ Hermione as a cat Funko pop
★ Two Harry Potter Decals
★ Unicorn postcard
★ Ghost straw topper
★ Dragon ornament
★ Room of Requirement hanging sign
★ Wand chopstick set 

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 winner notification! This giveaway is hosted by ME.

This giveaway ends on 12/7/2024

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

Which item in this bundle are you most excited about?

Who is your favorite Harry Potter Character?

What is another theme you'd love to see as a Beauty & The Book Bundle?

Tell me about something exiting you have coming up or something good that happened to you lately.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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. 

Uwu Con 2024!

 

If you live in Arizona & love Anime conventions and are looking for one in the winter, then Uwu con is your answer! They usually have their event in late October or early November. Over the weekend we attended the 2024 Uwu Con & had a wonderful time. This is our second time at the convention, this year it was hosted at the Westworld of Scottsdale. Let's go over a short run down of this year's event! 

This three-day event offers interactive panels, meet & greets with voice actors, cosplay contests, a car show, dozens of vendors and more. It is a very family friendly event & we always enjoy going with the kids. It is a blast to pick out a cosplay, do some shopping and visit a panel or two. As the convention continues to grow each year, one of the things that I hope improves more and really grows is the panels. There are only a couple panels each day, it would be nice to see a bigger list of options to visit that really range from cosplay, to anime to even board games. 

The vendor alley is always fun to explore, there is a fantastic range of products that include so many fandoms from Marvel & Disney to different anime franchises. Chances are you will find some merch from your favorite characters. You'll also find a range of products including clothing, candles, custom dice, replica weapons and more. 

Getting to see & interact with others who love cosplaying as well is a blast! There are so many amazing and unique costumes at the event & they range from handmade all the way to store bought. While wondering around they have a few photo opportunity spots set up like the Uwu con themed funko box above. They also have a few late-night events for adults like a late-night dance party. I felt like the way everything was set up at this years event was better than how everything was set up last year. So even though Uwu con is done for this year, you should keep it in mind for next year! 

Here is what we purchased from the vendor alley;

Disclaimer- UwU Con. provided media passes for the convention for this 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.

Imaginarium Phoenix Review!

 

Imaginarium Phoenix is a light art installation mixed with photo booth opportunities galore. If you've ever wanted to visit a spot that has a ton of pretty backgrounds to take photos in front of, then this is the spot for you. There are over a dozen different photo rooms each with their own theme & set up where you can take photos. This event is only open until November 10th! So, there are still a few days left to check it out and since it is close to the end of the event tickets are slightly cheaper than they were. It is located at the back of the Phoenix Premium outlets in Chandler. Weekday tickets are $21 per person and weekends are $23 per person. 

If you are going alone, I highly recommend bringing a selfie stick or even a tripod otherwise you won't be able to get the full effect of each booth. There were a few solo people at the event when we were there that had to rely on asking other guests to help snap a few photos of them. So going with someone else or as a group may be the best option. The event starts at 7pm, we arrived around 8:30 and it was packed, the line to get in wrapped around the corner. Close to closing time around 10pm the amount of people inside started to die down and there was no line outside which still gave everyone an hour to look at everything before they closed. 

Almost all of the guests were patient & had the common courtesy to wait their turn in line for each photo opportunity, you will of course run into a few of the inconsiderate people who just don't care and will cut directly in front of you. Each photo booth line ranged in length; some took about five minutes to wait in while others took only about a minute. They had some pretty cool set ups from trippy light tunnels to spaces with flowers & swings or seats and even an under the sea room. Most of the rooms were level with the sidewalk so a wheelchair user could easily take photos in the room as well, however I would say 10% of the rooms such as the light tunnel above have a several inch lift that wouldn't be easy to get a wheelchair over.

There were also many fields of flower lights that looked quite beautiful, large light sculptures and a mystical flower forest you could explore to find a wide range of fantasy creatures to take photos of or with. Plus, at different times of the event there is a small circus performance in the middle of the venue. I personally loved the light tunnels and the rooms with different light displays, they were beautiful & fun to look at. Quite a few of the flower rooms I loved as well especially since each booth had its own color scheme which was fun & you could get some photos with your favorite colors. 

🌵 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).

Disclaimer-  Imaginarium provided this experience to 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.

Terror Trader Arizona's Year Round Horror Marketplace!

 

As someone who is a fan of horror movies, spooky things & lover of Halloween I am so happy that Arizona has had a few horror & gothic style stores pop up within the last year or two. One of the horror themed stores here in Arizona is called Terror Trader which is a year round horror marketplace. You'll be able to browse & shop selections from a number of local small artists all under one roof. They are located at 941 W Elliot Rd Suite 3 Chandler, AZ 85225. 

Along with having a large variety of products to purchase there are also free photo opportunities with their life sized props including a coffin in one of the small rooms that you are able to stand in to snap a phot. There is also a small room which features a mini museum of oddities that is pretty cool to check out. 

Everything in the store was well organized & each local seller had their own little section that featured their products. You could find pretty much everything including trading pins, taxidermy, clothing, jewelry, props, masks and more. This spot is a great place to pick up a few creepy, spooky or awesome finds all while supporting not only Terror Trader but all of the local artists who sell their products in store. 

All of the staff were friendly when we were there, the store was easy to navigate. There were one or two small rooms that felt a little stuffy if too many people were in it at once, otherwise the store has plenty of space to roam around and look at everything. We enjoyed visiting & we will definitely be back the next time we are in the area to pick up a few more things. If you want to add another stop on your terrifying route, be sure to stop across the street to visit Spooky's Swirls where you can grab some horror themed baked treats and see their collection of props as well. 

Terror Trader also puts on events through out the year including larger pop up markets where vendors will set up their own booths and special horror movie nights at a local cinema. Be sure to check out their page to see what events are coming up, you won't want to miss out on their Spooktacular events! 

🌵 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).

★ This is not a sponsored post, we paid for this on our own. I enjoy sharing new places we explore with my followers.