Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Mascara Review

I walked into Rite Aid trying to find a good mascara, and found myself facing a store-length wall of makeup with no less than a hundred choices in mascara alone.

I had just returned one and wanted to stay in the same price range.  After going up and down the wall over and over, I settled near the middle and froze, somewhat overwhelmed.  Nothing stood out.  The names were all similar.  They all promised the same things (I think?) with different words: plump, volumize, lengthen, curl, magnify....

So, I took a deep breath and focused on only the brand names on the banners above it all and realized I was in front of the Maybelline section.  I had owned a few Maybelline products in the past.  None stood out in my mind as amazing, but I didn't recall ever tossing any out because I disliked it either.  It's a well known brand.  You see commercials all the time.  Why not?  That narrows it down.  Now to choose from their dozen or so makes.

Maybelline Mascara Section

There are blue bottles, and yellow, and pink, and purple, and green, black, silver.....

You know what?  Let's buy that one.  Just because the name on it makes the perpetual 12 year old inside my mind giggle.  The Falsies.  It's  $9.79.  

On the way to the register, I happened to glance at an end cap display.  Lo and behold, there was a 2 pack of the very same thing for only 20 cents more!  Of course, I took that instead.

Naked Lashes

I should probably have started by saying that I have very short, sparse lashes.  I have spent over 20 years trying to find an affordable mascara that would help, and I never have.... until now.

I am AMAZED.

I applied 3 coats of this mascara (don't dry between coats), and the difference was stunning to me.  I could have applied more (and have since this test) for even better results, but for the purposes of this test I just did a normal number of swipes as if I were in a hurry to go somewhere.

The Falsies by Mabelline

 FYI: Do you have any idea how hard it is to take a clear picture of your own eye with a phone?

Drug store mascara could never do anything like this 20 years ago. This stuff gives me visible lashes even from a distance, even with my glasses on.

I don't know if I got lucky and bought the best option on the (drugstore) market right off the bat, and I will definitely buy others to see.  I do know there are more expensive products that do even more (fiber lash mascaras like Younique and Love Alpha Cashmere Micronesia. I've seen the videos and intend to try them eventually), but for now, and for the price, I am completely IN LOVE with The Falsies.  It works very well and fits almost any budget.

How My Body Has Changed: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

I was never a chubby child.  However, I WAS the first in my class to blossom... by YEARS.  I was 9 in this picture, and I loved that sweatshirt because it hid that I needed to wear a bra already.  I mean, by the time my friends were getting their first training bras because they "wanted them" in 6th grade, I was already a DD. I was horrifically self-conscious about it and often wore big baggy clothes to try to hide it.  This, of course, just made me look busty AND fat.

By the time I was 14, I was on prescription pain killers and muscle relaxers because of the damage (tearing) to my back muscles.  Between being busty and large framed, and at that point rather tall for my age, I wanted to do ANYTHING to be smaller.  I was 5'4" tall, weighed 120 pounds, and I had a 47" bust.  I also took a snug size 14 jeans.

Age 14

I did not understand that I wasn't fat.  I really didn't.  So, I decided to exercise and diet.   I rode my bike about 15 miles a day and ate only 1/2 an apple, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, and 2 liters of Kool-Aid a day.  That's it.  Of course, I lost weight.  I lost about 20 pounds in a month, maybe more. But, all that did was get me to squeeze into a tight size 13 jeans and destroy my eating habits for life.  I continued on for a couple more months, but never got any smaller.  Honestly, after a few months of it, I'm lucky I didn't end up in a hospital or worse.

This picture is BEFORE I started that crazy diet. I had to buy that dress several sizes too big in order to accommodate my bust.

Never since have I been able to eat what would be considered "normally".  I cook and eat with my family because that's what I am supposed to do.  Left to my own devices I probably wouldn't even have that much. 

Age 16

By high school, I could no longer even find bras to buy that fit.  I dressed rather bizarrely so that may have helped, but I don't know.  I'm sure sometimes my crazy wardrobe made me look worse.  I just did my thing and didn't really care too much what anyone thought.

As soon as I turned 18 I had a massive breast reduction (13.5 lbs.) which left me at 119 lbs. again and still a full D cup. Though I required some touch up surgery after the scar tissue softened (not uncommon in such a drastic reduction), I was happy with the results.  I sadly, still thought my pants size determined if I was "fat" or not, and my 14s didn't fare well in my mind against my friends' 6s, 4s, and 2s. I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that you could count my ribs but I needed such big pants.  I couldn't get that it was my bone and muscle structure and not fat.  That took me years.  I'm actually surprised I finally got there given that I gained weight constantly since then.

I think, looking back, that I was most happy with myself and felt my most attractive (dare I say I felt sexy?) at about 140 lbs. in my early 20s.

I don't want to be skinny again.  It's not healthy for me and I really don't find it beautiful.  If I could snap my fingers and magically be any weight I wanted, I would probably choose that 140.  At my low moments I curse my body for refusing to stay there (or at least near there).

Age 25

 Instead, I have gained weight steadily, year after year.  By the time I got married (the first time) at age of 25, I was a size 18.

When I cleared the 200 lb. mark, I went to the doctor to ask for help. They told me to eat less, but I didn't understand how to do that given how little I ate already.  They told me I could see a nutritionist to "improve my food choices" but I didn't see how I could improve my largely vegetable based diet.  I went home with no answers and trudged on.

I tracked my intake with My Fitness Pal. I tracked every sip and morsel I consumed for almost 2 years.  I didn't change any of my habits.  I just logged faithfully and accurately.  I wanted to be able to show the doctors that I really DON'T overeat and I really don't eat lots of fatty junk.  I couldn't think of any other way to get them to understand.

"Sedentary women ages 19 to 25 need 2,000 calories a day; sedentary women ages 26 to 50 need 1,800 calories a day." -USDA, WebMD, etc.

2010 Size 22.

I found that I average 900 calories a day.  My entire adult life, I have been eating about 900 calories a day.  Let me say it again so it will sink in.  Nine. Hundred. Calories. Per. Day.  Yet, I continue gaining weight.

Early last year I inexplicably, suddenly, gained 60 lbs in only 4 months.  I also started having massive dizzy/faint spells.  That scared me, so back to the doctor I went.

I begged for help.  Their answer was still "eat less" or get gastric bypass surgery.  I explained AGAIN how much I eat.  Showed the printouts.  Begged for an answer that didn't mean flirting with anorexia again.  So, they sent me out the door with no answers and a list of blood tests to have done.

My blood work wasn't very helpful.  My cholesterol is fantastic (reinforcing the truth of my healthy food choices).  My blood sugar was normal (amazing at my weight).  I do have an under-active thyroid, but I take medication for that.  I tested positive for an autoimmune disease, but after ruling out Lupus, the specialist I was sent to basically ignored it and went right back to telling me to eat less and lose weight.  He lectured me on how I must be over-eating and repeatedly telling me being fat was why the arthritis in my back and knees hurt so much.  He made me cry he was so nasty.

I'm now so heavy that walking up the stairs to my bedroom at night winds me like a heavy workout.  I have chronic migraines and insomnia. I have severe arthritis in my knees and they frequently give out on my without warning.  Also, in the last few years, I have become allergic to the world (practically) including sunlight.  My exercise options are limited to mostly light housework and shopping.  I'm about 260 lbs. and a size 3x/24.

I've tried supplements to improve metabolism, mood, and energy.  Probiotics, B boosters, raspberry ketones, cinnamon, etc.  All to no avail.  I've considered, and may still try, garcina cambogia if my doctor says it's safe.  I will NOT undergo unnecessary surgery or take amphetamines even though my weight makes them technically viable options according to medical insurance.

At this point, I have pretty much given up on doctors.  They don't have any answers for me.  I go when I'm sick and that's about it.

I'm trying to get an elliptical or treadmill to use at home as much as the pain allows.  When/if I do get one, I may possibly keep track of any progress in posts.  I don't know.

Mostly though, I'm trying to be happy the way I am.  I'm trying to have fun with makeup and nails and hair so I can remind myself I'm still feminine and maybe even pretty, even if I am more curvy than I'd prefer.  I'm trying to stop being angry at what I lost, and to start being happy with what I've got.  And, I think I'm winning.

Forever Fragrant Fresh Sticks Review

In the box:  Round glass jar, 20 "fresh sticks" in a ziplock type bag, instructions (Place sticks in jar and put in a well ventilated area), and an ad for another product.

Simple enough!!

Claims: Eliminates odors for up to 2 years.  No oils.  No mess.  Eliminates odors from smoking, pets, cooking, musty rooms, and more.

Cost: $9.99 at my local Rite Aid


I bought the linen scent.  It smells like pretty much every other linen scent air freshener on the market which is good.  I hate when things don't smell like I expect them to.

The fresh sticks themselves feel like regular plastic.  There is no oil to soak into the sticks.  No spray to put on them.  No need to plug it in.  Just these plastic sticks in a jar.  There is no oily residue on them so I did not feel any need to wash my hands after setting this up and placing it on the mantel in my 14'x18' (252 sq.ft.) living room.

We have 3 cats, a dog, and smokers in our house so we should theoretically be the ultimate test for this item.

1 week check in:
I did have to move it from my mantel after only a few hours because it was only a couple feet from my favorite seat on the couch and the smell was a bit overwhelming and gave me a headache.  I instead put it on top of a short book case across the room.  Unfortunately, from there I can't smell it at all.  I felt certain anyone walking in our door would be well aware there are pets and smokers living here.

I can smell it as I walk by it, but it has never filled the room with the linen scent and doesn't seem to be doing much, if anything, more than a few feet away.  I suppose if I bought 3 or 4 and spread them around the room we would smell them all the time, but it just feels like it should be doing more. Then again, lets face it, as far as I can tell, nothing other than Febreeze can trump the smell of cigarettes and wet dog.

2 week check in:
After the disappointing first week I moved it to the porch to test it in smaller room and see if it was any better. Ours measures about 11'x7'. (77 sq.ft.) Three sides of it are almost entirely glass so it gets very hot in there on sunny days, and quite cold in there at night.

Usually when I empty the kitchen garbage, I tie the bag shut and put it in the porch for hubby to toss in the outside tote when he gets home from (or leaves for) work.  This does not make for a nice smelling porch.  Especially if we do the same with a bag of used cat litter for a couple hours. Again, this should be a good test of the product.

I have to say it actually worked pretty good in the porch!  Yes, in the heat of the day, sometimes the garbage still won the war; but, for the most part, the linen scent was still detectable, and the porch definitely got non-stinky a lot faster than normal once the garbage actually went out to the toter.

3 week check in:
By now I was determined to see just what size room this thing can handle, so after the week in the porch, I moved my Fresh Sticks to my teen son's messy room.  It measures 10'x14' (140 sq. ft.) and comes equipped with all the usual nasty teen boy smells: feet, armpits, dirty laundry that is always on the floor instead of in a basket, and probably some kind of old food lost Lord only knows where.

We can't even smell them in there.  Not unless you put your face right up to the sticks.  I don't know for sure at this point if it's just another "too big" room, or if they have just worn out already.  I think it's the latter of the two.  Less than a month.  How disappointing. I don't know if this is the norm for Fresh Sticks or if the heat of the porch accelerated their demise.

All in all, I would say these are worth a try if you wanted to put them in a small room like a bathroom or large closet, but I would not recommend them for much more.  I will definitely not be buying enough for my 2,000 sq. ft. home.  If you want to deodorize larger rooms, I would stick to something like the Febreeze Noticeables or Air Wick Freshmatic. Personally, I'll probably stick to buying a can of Glade or Febreeze every month or two and having one of the Noticeables in my living room.

Coming Back To Makeup After Years Away

All through high school I wore full makeup almost daily.  Living with my father, I was left to my own devices regarding what I used, but I had to buy it myself and in stores we were already going to. In a small town, and on a teen babysitter's budget in the 80s, that left me with the very limited choices available in our grocery store or at CVS the few times a year we had to go there for prescriptions.

I wanted to insert a picture of the current version of this store's selection, but they don't even have a makeup section any more.  :(

There really isn't much decision making involved when your choices are so limited: maybe 4 foundations, 4 colors of eyeliner, 2 or 3 (all black) mascaras, probably less than ten eye shadow colors, and a pink or brown blush. I think there were only 2 brands. (Wet-N-Wild and Cover Girl?)   It really is kind of a miracle I didn't look like a clown.

I tried to pay attention to what other girls did that I didn't like (oh, the mountains of blue eye shadow!).
I got a couple books on how to apply makeup, and did the best I could with what I had. Most importantly, I understood that less is more.

I think I was about a decade ahead of the girls I grew up with in learning how to properly apply multiple shades of eye shadow. Honestly, some of them are still just slapping on a pile of dark color on the eye lid and thinking its attractive and done.  They're likely to be the ones still using Baby Soft perfume and Aqua Net.

Anyhow, I wore those drugstore makeups all through high school and part of college.  I really just didn't know there were more choices aside from Avon until a friend became a Mary Kay consultant. I let her do her whole skin care and makeover presentation on me, and although I didn't like her application style, I actually DID like the products themselves.
I dropped what was, for a 20 year old in their first apartment, a small fortune on the complete kit. The complete skin care line (face and body), the full face worth of makeup (concealer, foundation, blush, eye shadow, eye liner, lipstick, and lip gloss), and even the hot pink hanging travel bag with the clear zip pockets to keep it all organized in.

 This is the current version of the bag, though I think my larger flat pink one was much cuter. I think it all cost me about $250, and back then they allowed it to be split into 3 payments though I didn't. 

By that time I was working a rather physical, very dirty, outdoor job in the summer; so, I mostly only wore makeup if I went out in the evening or on my weekends.  That was the beginning of the end of makeup for me... a job that made makeup impractical and somewhat unnecessary with the tan.  Eventually makeup became a "winter thing", and then a "date night" thing, and over the years it dwindled down to a "weddings and funerals" thing.

After my third child and escaping an abusive relationship, I was very unhappy with how I looked.  I didn't feel pretty. I didn't even feel feminine. So, I started doing my nails and growing my hair out, and even bought some new (cheap) makeup.  Anything I could to find that confident part of myself again.

It's been six years and I still don't wear full makeup often.  Usually I'm just sporting some mascara and lipstick. I don't always do my nails because I prefer to only do that when they are long enough for my taste, but I still do them pretty often.

Due to medical issues (I'll save that for another post), I have become increasingly unhappy with my appearance but have found that I am similarly increasingly more pleased when I do something for myself, something to make me feel more feminine.

I started doing cute pedicures and wearing eyeliner.  I recently cut off my waist length hair into a shoulder length bob and had it frosted to mask my grays. (Wow, what a difference between the 2 cameras on my phone! I swear my haircut isn't lopsided even though it appears so in this pic for some reason.)

 I bought 3 or 4 cute tops that actually fit in a relatively flattering way. And, I started playing with the new to me MUCH wider world of makeup available on a budget.

This is actually the smallest makeup section nearby now!  It's one entire wall of the store! Wow!

Experimenting in a somewhat random manner with all the new inexpensive options is something I really look forward to.  I will enjoy sharing my successes, failures, disappointments, and surprises with you!!

Touch Purse Review

The other day I was perusing the As Seen On TV section in my local Rite Aid and found the Touch Purse.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE purses, and although this was not my usual bright and blingy style, it certainly seemed like it would be a USEFUL purse... if it worked.  Since it was only $9.99, of course it ended  up in my basket.

In the box were the purse, a wrist strap, and a shoulder strap (both detachable). Its features claim to be 6 inside pouches, zipper closure, a phone pouch with clear plastic cover that touch screens work through, a belt loop on the back, and a pen/stylus loop.

The box says you can use it with "any phone".  This claim is not true.  My Samsung Galaxy S4 with its thin plastic cover was definitely the largest the phone pouch could take.  I had to force it in there, but it did go.  If I took the cover off I would have to be careful to never flip the purse upside down or risk the phone falling out.  I would never have been able to fit a Note 2 or any of the larger phones in there. I would be perfectly accepting if it stated "most phones" instead. I think the majority of phones are the size of mine or smaller.  An iPhone 4s or older would have a good deal of extra room.

With my phone, the bottom buttons were covered by the fabric, but it still worked just fine anyhow. I could touch where the button is and it would respond.  The same was true for the screen. It responded properly. I was quite surprised at how well my phone still worked, in fact.  The only drawback to the phone pouch would be that (obviously) you cannot take photos without taking the phone out of the pouch, and that I could not fit any pen or stylus in the loop, but that may be a manufacturing error.  I wasn't terribly bothered by this as I could put either one of those inside the purse itself.

I tried a variety of items in the purse to see just how much I could potentially carry and still zip it up.  I did find that the box claim that it will hold a checkbook was blatantly false.  My standard checkbook with no cover on it was almost an inch too long to fit in there; but, again, not a big deal.  How often does anyone actually use a checkbook while out and about any more?  I could easily tear a couple off and fold them in half to carry for emergencies.

I could easily fit 10 credit cards and all 5 of our social security cards with room for some cash (that wold also have to be folded up);  a pack of cigarettes and half a dozen cards and cash; or an inhaler, contact case, half a dozen cards, and some cash.

The one thing I was bummed I couldn't fit in were my EpiPens. Clearly this is not an issue for most people, and could probably be resolved by getting that new Auvi-Q which is much smaller and rectangular.

This one problem prevents this from being the PERFECT vacation/festival/craft fair purse for me because I always have to carry my EpiPens.

I will still likely still use this for mall shopping and other times I want a small purse but feel safe that I wont have a severe allergic reaction, or when I have my husband with me and he can carry my EpiPens on his belt.

For most people, I would definitely call this a win.

Physicians Formula CC Mascara Review

The claim:

"Curl & Volumize. Condition & Nourish. 100% Natural Origin. 100% Recyclable Sculpting Brush. 24 Hour Wear! 1st Ever CC Curl + Care Mascara. Curl Booster Technology."

Having recently had a bad run of luck with mascaras (a couple needed to be tossed out because they were old and dry, one had what I have to assume was a manufacturing error of an applicator, and one that was barely noticeable on), I was hunting for suggestions.  I read other bloggers favorites. I read reviews.  I read lists.  I was confused.  How do I know they want the same look I want?  So, I tried vloggers, hoping they would SHOW me the differences.  That was a tough one.  Few show close ups, and even fewer review drugstore makeup. 

Eventually it occured to me to check and see if my favorite silly fun beauty vlogger grav3yardgirl had ever reviewed drugstore makeup, and she DID! In fact, she even did one specifically comparing four popular drugstore mascaras! Perfect!

I watched her video (more than once) as she applied and provided close-ups of all four, and then again with her favorite two.  I looked closely to see which of the four applied I liked best.  I decided to try Physicians Formula CC Mascara, and off I ran to Rite Aid to buy it for $9.95.

As soon as I  got home I plunked down with a mirror and tore it open to apply it, and I was immediately surprised.  The wand was caked full to the very tips of the bristles with what looked to be rather dry, clay like mascara. This looked NOTHING like the video I had seen.

I scraped it back into the tube hoping it was a settling issue, pushed the wand back in and spun it a couple times.  It did seem better when I pulled it out, so I started brushing it on.  It was still more dry than I am used to, but it went on.  It took 3 coats for me to decide something really just wasn't right.  Yes, It made my lashes black.  No, it did not curl them at all.  And, it certainly didn't give me anything near the dramatic improvement over my natural lashes I had hoped for.  It wasn't really any better than the old ones I had just thrown out for being old.  I also found out later that night (thank you cheezy romance movie) that this mascara runs super easily and stings my eyes a little bit if I tear up.

I couldn't find any expiration date on the package (wondering if maybe it had just been in the store too long... this happens in small towns), so I decided to call the company itself. They were, of course, closed for the weekend.  Just my luck.

On Monday I called again.  I have definitely got to say the representative I spoke with was super friendly and helpful.  When I described my experience, she agreed that it did not sound right.  The product itself is new this year so it couldn't have been expired, but she agreed it should not have looked as I described or apply the way it did.  Any number of situations could have caused this from temperature problems in shipping to a manufacturing error, and she did take the lot number for reference.  She let me know that if the store would not take the return, Physicians Formula would replace it for me.

I did return the mascara with no problems and would be willing to try it again, but I chose not to that day under the assumption  that the 4 in my store probably came in the same shipment from the same lot, just in case those were the cause of the problem.  Having seen how nice it looked in the video, I will likely buy it again for one more try in the future... from a different store. ;)

All in all, I didn't hate it.  I just didn't love it enough to make me want to stay with that tube when better results supposedly can be found with others. 

The Curse of the W.I.P.

Yes, the Work In Progress.

Something about my personality makes me aspire to do BIG projects, but to get bored with them after a week or two, or to get distracted by the next shiny lovely thing I want to try; and so, my WIP pile grows and grows.

I really don't like this bit of my personality, but I can't seem to shake it no matter how often I try.  I make the decision to not make anything new until I clear away my WIP pile but get overwhelmed trying to choose which one to do first.  If I can manage to put them in an order of "to dos", I find that after going back to something that has been sitting in a bin for months (sometimes even years) I can't remember where I was in the pattern, or I no longer like that pattern, and end up having to tear it all apart. And, even if I do manage to complete a couple, I somehow feel like it makes it ok to reward myself by starting new projects which, quite likely, will end up in the WIP pile also.

I literally have a project that I have been working on, on and off, for 26 years.  I started it when I was 14 and have frogged and changed plans for it so many times I have lost count.  I just can't get it right. It's currently sitting in a bin and I know I need to frog it again and start over, but that alone is a daunting process I have been avoiding. Yes, it's the one from my And So It Grows Rug post.  It's still sitting there heckling me from my office.

There is another bin that held the materials (cotton craft loops) for a braid rug for almost 10 years. I originally tried to make it round, but I apparently sewed it too tight and it buckled up, so I had to cut the stitching back out and start over.  Being me, of course, I then decided to make it an oval big enough for my living room (or as close as using ALL the bags of material would allow).  I finally made ALMOST all the braid last year, and then it went back into the bin because it hurts my back to even think about the actual sewing part.  I'm hoping to find the ambition to try it when I dig my dining room table out from all the clean laundry piles, but somehow I doubt even a magically open work space will get me to start sewing that bugger together any time soon.

I have drawers full of decoden kits I never put on the bin full of phone cases, and now the phone styles are a year out of date so it seems it would be a waste to decorate them. They all sit awaiting my decision between buying more recent cases to decorate or using them on something else someday.  Either way, I need to get around to selling those cases before they are tragically outdated.

I have at least half a dozen quilts siting anywhere from cut pieces in a pile (like the picture below) to fully assembled tops waiting to be backed and finished, and easily that many afghans also in varying states of progress.  It's probably considered some kind of sickness in some book somewhere, some bizarre combination of ADD, OCD, and hoarding, but I just can't seem to ever get ahead of that pile.