The Mid-Month Roundup

It's the same old thing around theses parts--having a lot of stuff on the to-do list, and feeling like a snail trying to check it all off. And to have to do it all in unseasonably chilly weather? Please. I've had enough of you, May. You can go home now.

My plan for May was to finish the first revision of In Another Life and finally finish up that novella I put off from last fall. I still have a good chunk of the month to see these things through, but I'm no superwoman (too bad... I'd love to wear a cape like it was no big deal). There are also poetry revisions that I would like to get to, another first draft I would like to finish writing, and of course there's always submissions--I need to set aside more time for that, or I'll end up like Dickinson with ninety-nine percent of my work undiscovered until my ultimate demise.

So that's all I've been vacillating between and not getting completed. What have I actually done? Well, I've developed a huge book crush on Real Artists Have Day Jobs (And Other Awesome Things They Don't Teach You in School) by Sara Benincasa. It's filled with lots of good advice for the artists, writers, comedians and non-9-to-5-ers of my generation. But it's also funny and honest (oh, and here I go again... you can read my review to continue this love fest).

I've also been inundated with free stuff (not a bad gig, if you can get it) and I've been starting to catch up on reviews of all the neat things like mud masks, snacks, lotions and the occasional sleep aid. I've just reviewed the latest Pinch Me box I received and my Influenster Bloom Vox Box review should be up by the end of the week.

And to fill up what little time I had left, I started writing an essay on birthdays. After I start typing away, I realized I had much more material than a single essay could hold. It's turning into a series of essays. Eventually.

Are You Ready to #TryDry?

Meetings? Deadlines? Extra workouts to get that summer beach bod? Yeah, there are a lot of things in life that can make you sweat. So what do you do when you have to face each day with a new set of challenges? Finding the right antiperspirant can help you get through the day with confidence.

I received the product complimentary to test and/or review from Influenster.

I was able to dry Degree Dry Spray through the latest voxbox Influenster sent me. This antiperspirant product does a lot of things that typical solids and gels cannot do. First, it doesn't leave any white marks on clothes like solids can do (and yes, even those that claim to be invisible solids still leave marks). Degree Dry Spray also doesn't need any dry time like gel antiperspirant products. No gross gooey feeling here!

The product has MotionSense technology that actually keeps you fresh while you move with a scent of tiare and lily of the valley (great if you are a fan of floral scents). It also claims 48-hour protection. I cannot confirm or deny this. I use it every day, so if it does protect that long, all the better for consumers, right? I know that it does exactly what it is supposed to do--protect me from sweat and odor throughout the day--including after a workout.

 

Are you ready to #TryDry or have you already tried Degree Dry Spray? Let me know what you think about this product.

The Ups and Downs of Mondays

I watched the Grammys last night and I'm pretty sure I'll never make that mistake again. I could go on for hours, but I'll just say these two things: when Jeff Lynne is on stage, YOU STAND UP. And no one turns off Paul's mic. NO ONE. And these weren't even the issues that anyone thought were controversies... I mean really. This made me regret not switching the channel to Sister Wives.

Five versions of the same song--this is love.

At least my mail carrier loves to brighten my day. Three packages came, all of which have contents that were totally free or paid for with gift cards (don't want anyone to think I'm just pretending to be poor!).


Seriously, the highlight of my Monday. I've been able to add to my vinyl collection and I received another Influenster VoxBox. As always, if you want to read more about the products from this box, please visit Showered in Beauty over the coming days and weeks for reviews, photos and other fun stuff.

Products provided free from Influenster for testing.

In terms of writing, I found another social media site that may be worth checking out. It's called Biosgraphy and is looks like a great place for personal essays and photo essays. In fact, I'm currently working on something to post into my Thank You/It's All Your Fault biog. Stayed tuned for that.

I think I may be giving up on Tsu--because of the potential to earn money, no one on that site is interested in making a genuine connection. Pity, because there are some great people over there. They just need to stop concentrating on the pennies that the site divvies out.

Aside from hanging out on social media, I have been working on that grant application I mentioned last week and revising the heck out of a few pieces so I can get them out by the end of February. Still looking for gainful employment as well, but I'm not to the point where I'm lowering my standards. I have to believe that I'll be my authentic self in my job, and nothing that's quick or easy to get has been the right fit yet. Although, if you talk to me again in a week that may change. ;-)

The #VitaVoxBox is Here!

Influenster has bestowed upon me another box of fun products to try out. This is the Vitality Vox Box, and it is full of goodies. As always, I'll be posting reviews, photos and videos on my other blog, Showered in Beauty, and across all of my social media platforms.

Received this box free from Influenster for testing purposes.

A Fun Week

You may have already noticed this on my social media feeds, but this week is all about product testing. I've been given the opportunity to check out all of the products in Influenster's #GoVoxBox and so I've been sharing my thoughts on all the products. Not only is it really cool to get a box of free stuff in the mail, but it keeps my product review skills as sharp as a tack. And the VoxBox isn't the only thing on my plate right now--I'm also in the middle of a few BzzAgent campaigns as well. Lots of free stuff... and you can't beat that!

* received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes

However, it's the summer slump in the writing arena, so I'm getting ready to go badger friends to see if they know about any summer jobs opening up. If I want to feel good about my life by my 30th birthday in a few weeks, I'm going to have to make some changes. The status quo will never cut it. But the print version of Unfolding Life is still on the way, so stay tuned for updates about that.

Here's a Chance For #Freebies!

Hey guys -- Happy Labor Day weekend!

I know that most of you are on vacation, or at least relaxing at home with your long weekend (if you don't happen to work in food service or retail). So, I thought I would brighten your day by bringing you a special offer. This is an awesome chance to help influence what products people are using and talking about and get a chance to get free stuff. I know I love free stuff. Do you? Read on.

Recently, I joined a program called Influenster that rewards its members who are influential in different expert topics. They are looking for more members, but it is an invite-only program. And guess who just happens to have 5 invites left to give out? Yep, that's right. Me. I do. Want one?

You may want to know how Influenster works to see if you are interested. You can read all about it at their website, but I'll give a quick overview. Once you sign up, you take a few short surveys about topics you are interested in, then you are awarded badges and an Influenster score. My topics include beauty, fashion, food and pop culture. There are also topics such as eco-friendly, wine enthusiast, debonair man and home decor. You can also earn other badges for lifestyle topics such as new mom, pet owner and bookworm (yep, I've got that badge too).

Once you earn your badges, you can improve your score by sharing product pages on social media, writing reviews of your favorite products and answering questions other users have about those products. The higher your score, the greater the chance you will be able to get freebies, such as a VoxBox full of goodies.

If you take my invite and sign up this week, you can have your own chance of earning qualification for the next VoxBox just by using your own invites to give out and let your most influential friends shine along with you. If you get three active invites of your own, you are one step closer to those freebies. Can't you just imagine it already? There's no cost, you don't have to do stuff every single day--all you have to do is link your social media accounts to your profile and your set!

In order to get your invite, I will need your email address. I promise, you will not receive any other email other than the invite. You can EMAIL me with the subject line "Influenster Invite" and I will send it out ASAP. Or you can send me your email in a DM on Twitter. Or on Google+. Or Instagram (trying to make this as easy as possible!). To automatically qualify for the next VoxBox, you have to sign up and send out your invites before Friday. I can't wait to hear from you!