POPSUGAR Must Have Box: October 2015.

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I know that in the past I’ve said that Loot Crate is my favorite subscription service that I pay for, but in the couple of months that I’ve been subscribed the POPSUGAR’s monthly “Must Have” box- it’s definitely creeping up on the competition. I love the themes and monthly inspiration, how everything is carefully selected and packed, the variety of what’s inside the box- and the value. I get food, home decor, accessories, beauty products, jewelry and so much more. It’s an incredible find that I look forward to each and every month!

October’s box was inspired by Autumn (yes!) being cozy and restful nights (double yes!) irresistible, and breast cancer awareness (the entire month of October marks Breast Cancer Awareness month, for those who didn’t know!) As it turns out, via a card tucked inside this month’s assortment of items- POPSUGAR made a charitable donation to Right Action for Women (also known as the Christina Applegate Foundation), which I thought was fantastic- and I’ll be making an independent donation of my own before the month is over.

Let’s see what was inside, shall we?

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I was so, so, SO excited to receive a hardcover copy of Mindy Kaling’s “Why Not Me?” and I absolutely cannot wait to start reading it this week. I think Mindy is so talented, so funny, and unbelievably inspirational- and this book of her personal essays that cover a variety of thoughts and topics is sure to be a page-turner that I’ll read cover to cover in no time at all. Just give me a rainy day and a warm cup of coffee and I’ll immerse myself in this!

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I love the “cozy” items included in October’s POPSUGAR box. The first, a set of 100% satin pillowcases from Savvy Sleepers. I’ve heard a lot of great things about these pillowcases, like how their material prevents wrinkles and hair damage while you sleep (because satin doesn’t roughly rub up against your skin and hair like some other fabrics.) I’m going to be washing and changing my sheets and bedding this coming weekend- so these are going to get some use for sure!

And I am THRILLED with these soft, fuzzy slipper socks from Richer Poorer! I wear socks like these on my lazy days around my place or on nights where it’s cold under my covers. They’re just so comfortable- and cute!

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I love that POPSUGAR includes one or two food/beverage items in each box, since it sort of opens doors to brands and foods I wouldn’t have discovered or would have thought to try otherwise. I haven’t bitten into these caramel-filled waffle cones from Belgian Boys yet (they’ll be packed in my lunch for work this week)– but they look delicious.

I also took a peek at some of the company’s other products available on their website- and it all looks ridiculously tasty!

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I’m not a big wine drinker, but I thought these four individual paper wine bags from Easy, Tiger were pretty cute- and I’ve already gifted them to my brother and my sister-in-law who will surely get more use out of them than I would! The company makes more than just liquor bags, too- and I’ve been coveting some of their uniquely styled greeting cards and comfy-looking t-shirts while browsing their website!

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I am a compulsive exfoliator- I go through facial and body scrubs on a bi-weekly basis- so I was pretty psyched to get this full-sized tub of a relaxing lavender & vanilla scented sea salt and sugar scrub from The Honest Company. I’m looking forward to working this stuff into the dry patches on my knees and elbows the next time I take a nice, hot soak in my tub. It’s going to be divine!

And I can never have enough leave-in conditioner- so the deluxe sample-sized one from It’s A 10 is always welcome on my bathroom vanity! I’m currently finishing up a couple of other conditioning products I’ve received in recent beauty/subscription boxes- but this one is next on my list to try when I run out of them!

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And finally, POPSUGAR also gives out some really impressive coupons each month! October’s box (the photo was edited to white out the promo codes) included a 20% coupon for Savvy Sleepers- for when I’m ready to order more pillowcases- a 30% off coupon for The Honest Company, and a $40 gift card for Danielle Stevens Jewelry! I am head over heels in love with their monogrammed necklaces and I will definitely be using this generous bonus to purchase one of my own in the coming weeks!

Overall- and it should come as no surprise to anyone- I LOVED October’s POPSUGAR box! Each item included was wonderful and thoughtful and I can’t wait to dive right into using and trying them!

I cannot wait to see what’s in store for November!

Oct 27

Horrors of Netflix: “Black Forest”

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BlackForestPoster Oh, “Horrors of Netflix”, how I missed you while I was away on vacation! It’s so nice to be back and browsing all the awful, terrible, and ridiculous selections you have for me to choose from.

With just a few days left until Halloween (this month went by too quickly! Nooooo!) I wanted to get a couple more movies in this year’s series before HoN signs off until next October. I’ve covered ghosts, vampires, Val Kilmer, and hillbilly-eating-pits-in-the-ground- so I thought I’d choose something a little different this time around and check out 2012’s ‘Black Forest’, a sci-fi/fantasy/fairy tale horror movie with a 1 1/2 star rating.

Awesome.

The synopsis, via Netflix:

“When tourists visit a European village and agree to observe a pagan ritual in the forest, they become trapped in an alternate fairy tale dimension.”

This sounds like it’s going to be filled with terrible decision making and even more terrible special effects. Let’s get into it, shall we?

And- of course- there are spoilers ahead! If, for whatever reason, you want to watch “Black Forest” for yourself (and why wouldn’t you?) THEN DO NOT CLICK THE “CONTINUE READING” TAB. I REPEAT. DO NOT PROCEED.

You’ve been warned!

Oct 26

GLOSSYBOX: October 2015 Review.

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As much as I enjoyed last week’s vacation, and have no regrets whatsoever with the time I took off (except for maybe that one night in California where I thought eating half my weight in Mexican food was a brilliant idea)– it did create a teeny, tiny bit of a problem in regards to my subscription services. To be more specific- they all arrived at the same time while I was away- which made going through them and giving what I received a thorough and proper review upon my return quite a project in itself!

I decided to start with October’s “Viva La France” GlossyBox, an assortment of items inspired by the top products found in French pharmacies that came packaged in the cutest box imaginable- covered with drawings by illustrator Jamie Lee Reardin. Now, being from a spectacularly French family, myself- I was eager to dive into everything right away since it all looked just SO nice (and three of the products were full-sized!) but I had to pace myself so this post wouldn’t be a mishmash of exclamation points and all capital letters.

But I mean- the box is SO CUTE, RIGHT?!

What I Received:

NUXE Gentle Exfoliating Gel with Rose Petals (*Full Size!*)

PHYTO Huile Soyeuse- Lightweight Hydrating Oil

De Bruyère ‘Paris Red’ Lip Gloss (*Full Size!*)

LOLLIPOPS Paris Nail Polish in ‘Voyage à Paris’ (*Full Size!*)

Carven Parfums – Carven Le Parfum

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Product # 1: NUXE Gentle Exfoliating Gel with Rose Petals ($26)

I’m always thrilled whenever I receive any type of exfoliating product in a subscription service- but especially during and/or after traveling- where my skin takes a beating in changing climates and conditions. This gentle, lightly-floral scented, coffee-colored facial scrub definitely came in handy while my pores were attempting to rebound after facing in-flight cabin pressure, Vegas-induced heat, San Diego sunshine, and finally bitter cold New England air upon my return home. My skin was dry, flaky, and bumpy in some areas- like it couldn’t quite figure out what to do or how to recover.

This scrub helped even out my skin’s overall texture and sloughed away dry patches and would-be blemishes without further drying out my skin or causing any kind of awful reaction. My face felt softer, smoother, and looked considerably brighter after each use. If I had to nit-pick (and I do sometimes), I would say the only frustrating thing about this product is the cap- which clicks into place a little too tightly and requires a good amount of pressure to re-open again for each use. I know it sounds silly, and not-at-all-important, but try doing it in the shower when your hands are wet. It’s a feat in itself!

Would I Purchase?: Yes! This scrub is such a nice (and kinder) alternative to harsh apricot scrubs that can cause more damage to the skin or not-strong-enough gentle exfoliants/cleansers that don’t quite clean out pores as much as I’d like. It’s a little on the pricier side, sure- but you only have to use a small amount of this scrub once or twice a week- so buying in bulk isn’t necessary. One tube of this stuff should last you for a while- and it really does give great results!

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Product # 2: PHYTO Huile Soyeuse- Lightweight Hydrating Oil ($40)

Like exfoliating products- another post-travel pick-me-up lifesaver that I always appreciate are leave-in conditioners for my hair- which also takes it’s fair share of abuse while I’m away from home. With naturally curly (but color treated) locks, I have to give my hair and scalp some TLC now and then to keep it from looking dry and damaged- but especially after I get back from a cross-country trip.

I liked the consistency of this oil (in a convenient spray pump), which absorbed quickly into my curls and didn’t leave my hair looking or feeling greasy- however I didn’t notice much of a difference in my hair’s overall softness or texture after each use. My strands still looked- and felt- a little on the dry side- and a second product (a hydrating styling cream) was added after and alongside this oil to make my hair look and feel a little more conditioned and glossy. I’m used to using more than one product when styling my hair in the morning anyway, but for a $40 price tag- I was hoping that this oil would give me significantly noticeable results all on it’s own.

Would I Purchase?: No. I think I’ll be sticking with my current collection of tried and true leave-in conditioning sprays and styling creams for the time being. This product- which may be helpful to others with different hair types who try it- was just not a good fit for me. I need something a little stronger- and definitely less expensive!

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Product # 3: De Bruyère ‘Paris Red’ Lip Gloss ($17.50)

I love when GlossyBox takes a bold chance with lip colors- especially reds- which I prefer much, much more than the usual “safe” colors of light nudes or barely-there pinks/rose tones. I like to make a statement with my eye color or my lips, after all. I was really excited to try this shiny gloss- which looked fire engine red in the tube. However, when I applied it- the color appeared to be more of a hot pink hue than red. It was still flattering to my skin tone, and definitely stood out- so I didn’t mind the initial deceit that much- and it helped that the formula wasn’t overtly sticky or thick.

Longevity wise, this gloss really packs a punch. I had applied it early in the morning and it stayed in place throughout most of my work day- gradually fading near the end of the afternoon where it left a subtle stain on my lips (which meant I didn’t have to rush and furiously re-apply it to avoid the dreaded “outline-only” look.) That’s always a plus for someone like me who is typically busy running from place to place and can’t always stop for touch-ups.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I really liked the pigmentation of this gloss (even though it was more pink than red) and I was especially fond of it’s long-lasting, non-drying, and not-sticky-at-all formula. It has all the qualities I like in a decent lip gloss- although the pricing might be considered a little steep for a “drug store” brand. I’d like to try this product in a different color to see if it’s true to the hue in the tube, as well- or if it’s different as advertised, too.

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Product # 4: LOLLIPOPS Paris Nail Polish in ‘Voyage à Paris’ ($10)

Like my lips, I also like to make bold and bright statements with my nails- so a cherry red shade is perfect for me (and the Fall, and the days leading up to Halloween…) While I’ve heard of LOLLIPOPS polish before, this is the first time I’ve ever been able to try it. The formula applies pretty sheer, so it took about three coats to get the color to look just right- but it’s stayed in place over the course of a few days since I initially applied it. I haven’t noticed any chipping, smudging, or discoloration just yet- which is always nice considering I do a pretty good amount of typing and texting every day.

Would I Purchase?: Maybe. I have quite a few red polishes, and this one didn’t particularly stand out for me. It’s not bad by any means, but it’s not “blow me away/have to have it,” either. The longevity has been great so far and the pricing is fair for the amount of product you get in a container- but I’m in no hurry to buy this in bulk just yet. Also? LOLLIPOPS seems to have a really, really limited selection of other lacquer colors available on their website- which is a bit disappointing. I’d like to see and try more of a variety!

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Product # 5: Carven Parfums – Carven Le Parfum ($86)

While I am always up for trying new things and experimenting with different brands and products- I admit that I can be a bit picky when it comes to two things: hair care and perfumes. In the fragrance spectrum, I typically like things that aren’t too heavy or spicy but don’t smell sickeningly sweet and floral, either. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this Carven perfume (which came in a cute little bottle) but was pleasantly surprised with the floral/earthy combination of ‘Le Parfum.’ With noticeable hints of jasmine and sandalwood- this perfume smelled incredible and stayed in place all day. I got quite a few compliments on this at the office and out with friends when I wore it- so I’m not the only fan!

Would I Purchase?: Yes! This sample came at the perfect time, since I’m running low on my current perfume and was looking to try something new for the colder months. I loved this fragrance, and it’s available at Sephora (so convenient) with a matching body wash, body milk, and deodorant. I think I’ll be splurging on myself- just a little bit- within the coming weeks!

Although there was one product I wasn’t a fan of and one product I’m still on the fence about- October’s GlossyBox might be one of my favorites I’ve received to date. I loved the theme, the selection and value of the products included, and of course- the design of the box- which I’ll be using in the future for cute storage or to package a lovely gift for someone. This was a great box for the service and I know they’ll only get more impressive within the next couple of months with the impending holiday season!

Oct 21

“Sunsets and Neon Lights…”

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It’s always sort of surreal returning from a vacation on the opposite coast- like I’m re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere for the first time in years. My mind is fuzzy and foggy, my body (usually) aches from long plane rides, and it takes me a couple of days to adjust to the time zone and climate change- especially this time of year where I spend more than a few days in Summer-like temperatures and then return home to Boston where it’s particularly chilly.

I digress- I’m back from a near-week-long trip to fabulous Las Vegas and sunny San Diego! I hit the ground running, having jumped right back into work at my office mere hours after my plane touched down- and I fully admit that I’m way, way behind on my e-mails and messages (but plan to catch up today!) Sometimes it’s just really nice- and healthy- to unplug for a while. I can’t even tell you all how many people I saw during my trip that were so immersed in the screens of their phones/tablets that they were oblivious to everything and everyone else around them (including bumping into so many people/things!) and couldn’t really experience the excitement of Vegas or the beauty of Southern California right there in front of them.

And then there were the planes- where people flat-out REFUSED to stop mindlessly scrolling through Facebook and Twitter (much to the aggravation of the poor flight attendants) before and during take-off. On my flight home, a layover from Nashville to Boston- the man sitting to my side was back on Facebook the second the plane touched down- before we’d even come to a full-stop and pulled up to the gate! He was just furiously scrolling like his very existence depended on it!

It was eye-opening, for sure.

And yes- I occasionally updated Instagram and other social media from time to time during my vacation- but I made a point to have face-to-face interactions and dialogue with the people I care about out West, and whom I don’t get to see nearly as often as I’d like. I highly recommend it for those who plan to be traveling soon (or even just sticking around where you live!) Put the phones/tablets away for just a little while. I promise, all those Facebook photos and Tweets will still be there when you get back!

But here I am getting preachy when I don’t mean to. My apologies!

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The view from our breakfast table!

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My main reason for visiting Las Vegas was for my beloved friend Kelsey’s wedding to her very lucky (now) husband, Andrew. I haven’t seen Kelsey since the last time I was in town- roughly 4-5 years ago- but it was so great to be back. I had prepared for endless sunshine and heat stroke- but was pleasantly surprised that there were some clouds during my stay- and even some light rain! I think it followed me from New England.

Kelsey’s wedding took place at the M Resort Spa and Casino, which is also where I stayed with my best friend Sean- who arrived in town a few hours after I did (and who thought I wasn’t coming into Vegas until the day after he got there- which led to a very nice surprise in the lobby when he showed up and I was waiting to help him with his luggage.) The property is beautiful, about 15-20 minutes away from the Las Vegas strip but with an incredible view of the towers and casinos in the distance- so you can actually relax at night without being disturbed by loud music or bright, neon flashing lights in your window.

Sean and I spent a lot of time at the resort, mostly eating- because oh my God the food was amazing- and taking turns swimming in the gigantic bathtub in our room- but he had never been to Vegas before, and I insisted we catch a shuttle to the strip the day before the wedding to do a lengthy casino-to-casino tour so that he could drink in all the fun, tourist-y stuff the city had to offer a couple of geeks like us.

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Sean and I got an early start, heading into town (by the Wynn) and working our way down the strip until we got to the Luxor and Mandalay Bay later on that night before we backtracked to the resort to sleep off a full day of walking, running, sight-seeing, shopping, and riding the roller coaster at New York, New York. Sean got to see his very first fountain show at the Bellagio, while I got to ooh-and-aaah at the interesting decor in The Cosmopolitan (my favorite hotel/casino!)

We didn’t have the time- or the energy- to catch any of the shows taking place at any of the casinos, but I made a mental note to come back as soon as possible to see Britney Spears perform at Planet Hollywood and take a peek at the ‘Absinthe’ show at Caesar’s Palace because if you’re going to go to Vegas, you HAVE to see a show- right?

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Since Kelsey’s wedding took place in the evening, and we had more than enough time to get ready- on Friday morning/afternoon, Sean and I once again headed into town so that he could see a couple more locations we didn’t get the chance to hit the day before- namely The Stratosphere and historic Fremont Street. During our brisk walk, we passed more than one drive-through wedding chapel (and sent our friends and loved ones a photo of the exterior of one particular Elvis-themed church asking them if we should take the plunge and get hitched for fun. The responses were golden.) and plenty of gift shops.

Sean, who has been terrified of heights during the entire 19 years I’ve known him- surprised me when he willingly took the elevator up to the top of the Stratosphere to get a bird’s eye view of the strip- and watch people who had WAY more courage than either of us free-fall jump from the top of the building (a new attraction that hadn’t been there the last time I was in town.) Maybe next time I can convince him to try it with me. I admit- it looked like fun.

Fremont Street, which has always felt delightfully dirty and sketchy to me- was a treat, too. I picked up a couple of SUPER tacky gifts for a few folks back home and ate a pretty fantastic street taco while we bobbed and weaved through the crowds under old neon signs and through historic casinos like The Golden Nugget and the Four Queens. By the time mid-afternoon rolled around- we knew we had to hightail it back in order to make ourselves presentable for Kelsey’s special day.

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The wedding itself was beautiful. Kelsey looked absolutely gorgeous (which isn’t hard for her at all since I consider her to be one of the most stunning girls I know!) and the reception was one of the most fun things I’ve ever attended. It was a pleasure seeing some of our mutual friends (Erica! Beth!) and meeting loads of new people between drinking, dancing, and hijacking the adorable photo booth that was set up to commemorate the occasion. I am truly so, so happy for Kelsey and Andrew- and I wish them a lifetime of happiness, love, and good fortune. I can’t thank them enough for including Sean and I in something so wonderful!

On Saturday, following the wedding reception- Sean headed back to Boston while I continued West to stay in San Diego for a couple of low-key and relaxing days off the grid where I did my usual tour de force of my favorite burger and Mexican food restaurants- and had more than one night of late night drinking with my dear friend, Jimmy. It was the perfect way to unwind and prepare myself for the flight home and subsequent return to work and New England life.

I’m hoping the next time I head out to San Diego, it’ll be to move into a new apartment (fingers crossed!)

But now that I am officially back on the East Coast for the time being- it’s time to catch up on those e-mails, review the subscription boxes that arrived at my door in my absence, prepare to select a winner for my Halloween Giveaway, and get ready to watch a few more awful horror movies on Netflix!

‘Til next time!

Oct 14

Horrors of Netflix: “Jug Face”

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JugFaceMoviePoster Good morning! I’ve queued up yet another play-by-play of yet another one of Netflix’s poorly rated horror offerings to post on here prior to my cross-country flight to Las Vegas! Does that mean “Horrors of Netflix” is over? Unfortunately not, silly. Don’t be ridiculous! It just means that for the next few days- I won’t have much time to sit down and really watch or concentrate on a movie (apart from any in-flight ones I happen to catch) while I enjoy a mini-vacation filled with some gambling, a little boozin’, plenty of sight-seeing- and attending my lovely friend Kelsey’s wedding in Sin City! From there, I make my way out to San Diego for a couple of days- and then head back home to the East Coast.

“Horrors of Netflix” will be back when I return next week!

Until then, I recently sat through ‘Jug Face’, a one-star rated flick from 2013 that should not be confused with the character Jughead Jones from the Archie Comics series.

The synopsis, via Netflix:

“A pregnant teen tries to flee her backwoods community when she learns she’s to be sacrificed to a monstrous beast that lives in a pit near her town.”

Teenage pregnancy? Backwoods communities? A PIT? This sounds delightfully awful!

And as always- my review (see: suffering) through this movie will be placed behind a “CONTINUE READING” cut for those who would rather see ‘Jug Face’ for themselves, for whatever reason. If you do not want to be spoiled- DO NOT CONTINUE.

You’ve been warned!

Oct 12

2Spoopy: A Halloween Giveaway!

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It’s the most wonderful time of the yeeeeeaaaar! No, not Christmas (I don’t even want to think about that right now)– It’s almost Halloween, everyone- and it must be celebrated accordingly! Like last year, I wanted to put together a little giveaway for readers of Legally Redhead to get into the spooky- I mean “spoopy”- spirit!

Also like last year? This giveaway isn’t limited to just residents of the United States. Since I’ll be taking care of the postage and any applicable shipping fees myself- I wanted to include everyone! If you’re outside the U.S., don’t fret- I’ve got your back! All you have to do is enter and cross your fingers.

But before I get into how exactly to enter the drawing for this prize pack- I wanted to show what’s included, first:

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It’s no surprise to anyone that I’m an avid collector of FUNKO’s adorable POP! figurines (so much that I’m running out of places to display them!) but picking just one out of the numerous horror-themed collectibles they have available proved to be a bit difficult this time around. That’s why this year, instead of selecting just one to include in this giveaway- I’ve chosen a set of three mini-figurines for the lucky winner! This particular set includes Ghost Face from ‘Scream’, Chucky from ‘Child’s Play’, and Billy from the ‘Saw’ movies. You can leave them in the box they’ll arrive in, or display them around your space however you wish!

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A spoop-tacular All Hallows’ Eve isn’t quite complete without some horror movies by candlelight- and it’s just an added bonus if those candles happen to smell nice. Included in this year’s Halloween Giveaway is this medium sized ‘Trick or Treat’ Yankee Candle– which smells like a combination of their candy corn and buttercream fragrances (so it’s a sweet and rich combination!)

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I wanted to pay homage to the late and great Wes Craven in this year’s giveaway, and I thought this ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ Collection Blu-Ray was the perfect way to do that. Featuring all 7 original ‘Nightmare’ films in one convenient package- this is the perfect series to binge watch on Halloween night with your friends (or alone, if you’re feeling brave.)

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Finally, for the relaxing bath-lovers in all of us, I included this “Heebie Jeebie!” Bat set from Lush. What’s inside this cute round ball with fangs, you might be asking? Well, this set contains a 2.0 ounce bottle of Lush’s ‘Lord of Misrule’ shower gel, and a 3.5 ounce tub of their ‘Nightwing’ shower jelly (I didn’t photograph the contents of the bat since I didn’t want to break the safety seal around the packaging- but they can be viewed on Lush’s website for anyone who is curious!)

I’ll also be adding a couple of other small surprises for the winner, too- including but not limited to plenty of candy!

Now, the most important part- how does this giveaway work?

Here’s a couple of ground rules:

The giveaway is running from now through 11:59 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, October 21st, after which time a winner will be selected at random through Rafflecopter and contacted directly via e-mail to obtain additional information to process shipping. If selected, you’ll have 72 hours to respond to the confirmation e-mail. If I don’t receive a response in that time, I’ll unfortunately have to select another winner, instead!

Nothing in this giveaway can be traded or swapped for something else. What you see is what you’ll be receiving if you win!

HOW TO ENTER:

First and foremost- please visit the Rafflecopter page for the giveaway by CLICKING HERE to make sure your entry is properly counted!

1. Comment on this post with your name and e-mail address. Please keep in mind that I have comment moderation turned on to avoid spambots- so if your comment doesn’t appear right away- don’t panic! I’ll put it through as soon as I’m able!

2. You can tweet about the giveaway and link back directly to this post or to my homepage: legallyredhead.com

That’s all there is to it! Just two simple steps and you’re in!

Good luck to everyone who enters! I’m really looking forward to choosing a winner next week!

Oct 09

Horrors of Netflix: “Twixt”

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TwixtPoster In the three years I’ve been writing my “Horrors of Netflix” posts, it’s only recently dawned on me that I’ve never written one about a vampire movie. Sure, I’ve sat through my fair share of ghosts, serial killers, and other paranormal entities (and there was also that one incident with Gary Busey), but the most classic of horror figures- Dracula and his ilk- are scarce.

I decided to rectify that gross oversight this year- and skimmed through the “Vampire Horror Movies” category on Netflix (it’s a real thing!) to find a bottom of the barrel bloodsucker film. To my surprise, I came across a one-star rated flick from 2011, “Twixt”, which was written and directed by none other than Francis Ford Coppola.

While Mr. Coppola is undoubtedly one of the finest writers and directors of all time- he’s also been responsible for some Godawful contributions to the cinematic world (hello, ‘Godfather: Part III’!) and judging solely by the synopsis for ‘Twixt’, this is another one to add to his scrap pile of movies he probably wants to forget about. Unfortunately for him- the internet forgets nothing.

From Netflix:

“In this gothic horror film from Francis Ford Coppola, a has-been writer becomes embroiled in a murder mystery during a stop on his book tour.”

While reviewing the synopsis, I also noticed that this movie stars Elle Fanning, and- wait for it…

… Wait for it…

… Val. Kilmer.

I didn’t choose this movie for that reason. I swear.

As usual, I’m putting my break-down of this movie behind a “Continue Reading” tag. If you don’t want to be spoiled and would rather see this movie for yourself- DO NOT PROCEED. You’ve been warned!

Oct 06

“Slip Into the Autumn Shade…”

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Even though I’ve had to gradually add more and more layers to my wardrobe over the past couple of days because the mornings and evenings have been particular chilly- I have been having the absolute best time outdoors with friends hiking through the woods and past old cemeteries, as well as driving down leaf-lined back roads to farm stands and pumpkin patches. While many of the trees still have a lot of green on them, it looks so beautiful mixed in with the yellows, oranges, and occasional reds that are practically glowing on the branches.

On Saturday, I took a long and aimless drive to Brattleboro, Vermont (which isn’t much farther from my beloved Western Massachusetts) where I stopped numerous times to photograph the foliage, pick up a pumpkin for my mom’s front porch (it’s a tradition!), buy some locally grown vegetables and baked bread, and take in the cozy charm that only the small and picturesque communities in Vermont could offer.

… I also got to feed a baby goat- which had me in near hysterics with how cute it was. I’m such a softie for baby animals.

Each time I visit the area, I always end up asking myself why I don’t spend more time up there. It really is lovely. Especially this time of year.

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If Saturday’s excursion wasn’t enough nature for me- I also headed to the Middlesex Fells Reservation on Sunday afternoon with a group of my friends for a couple of hours of hiking and posing for plenty of photos before the sun began to set and we had to start back to where we’d parked before it got too dark out. The Fells is such a massive area to explore, and even though we were there for quite some time- we’d only covered a very small fraction of all there was to do and see. I’d love to head back in the coming weeks before it gets too old (or worse- icy!) to explore a little more. It’s simply awe-inspiring- especially when you catch a glimpse of the area (and the far away Boston skyline) from the top of Wright’s Tower.

All in all, I had such a relaxing and beautiful weekend. My photos just don’t do it justice.

A day in the wilderness isn’t exactly easy on hair like mine.

Oct 02

Horrors of Netflix: “The Traveler”

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TheTravelerPoster Oh, you’re damned right I’m kicking off October with one of my favorite traditions- reviewing the absolute worst horror movies that Netflix has to offer! Maybe it’s because I’m a bit of a masochist, since watching most of these 1-2 star rated flicks on a regular basis over the course of a month could be considered a form of torture or punishment to those with a more refined cinematic palate- but I really and truly do enjoy it. You could say I’m even inspired by these typically low-budget filmmaking endeavors- because you know that as bad as they are (and they usually are pretty terrible)– they came from a place of love and respect for one of my favorite genres, and were made with the best of intentions…

… They’re just almost always executed awfully from start to finish.

Choosing the first movie to sink my teeth into for what will be my third year of doing “Horrors of Netflix” proved to be slightly difficult. I mean, I wanted to start this season’s reviews with a bang. Scrolling down my recommendations and watching as the rating for each film that passed by my eyes gradually became lower and lower and the covers became more and more cheesy- I wanted something that looked suspenseful, not-too-old- and, wait–

— oh my God, is that Val Kilmer? The same Val Kilmer I had a crush on when I was nine?

We have a winner.

2010’s “The Traveler” boasts a rating that falls just a fraction higher than one star. The synopsis, via Netflix:

“A mysterious drifter wanders into a small-town police station and confesses to a series of murders, none of which has occurred… yet.”

Wuh oh. That “yet” in the description is pretty ominous!

As always, I’ll be posting the thorough and detailed review under a “Continue Reading” cut for those who would rather watch the movie for themselves. You’ve been warned! If you don’t want to be spoiled- do not proceed!

Sep 30

September 2015: In a Nutshell.

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I take my apple picking very seriously.

If you’ve been reading ‘Legally Redhead’ for any good length of time, then you surely must know by now that October is hands down my favorite month out of the entire year. The New England weather, watching scary movies (the good AND the bad ones,) the return of ‘The Walking Dead’, haunted hay rides, houses and corn mazes, Halloween- and so much more! October has it all for me- and this coming one is looking to be one of the best and busiest yet!

For starters, I’m going to be doing a LOT of traveling in the coming weeks- including stops in Vermont, Las Vegas, San Diego, and NYC- just to name a few. I’ll also be doing some long overdue urban exploration shoots, cooking up some festive Fall-food, attending a couple of weddings, suffering through the worst scary movies Netflix has to offer for my annual ‘Horrors of Netflix’ series, and preparing for the long-awaited return of my main squeeze of the post-apocalypse, Daryl Dixon (and my flawless Queen, Michonne!)

I’m also in the process of putting the finishing touches on this year’s Halloween Giveaway! The details are going to be up very soon, but I can confidently tell you all that it’s going to be another good one! I’m very pleased with it so far!

But as excited and as eager as I am to lunge into the coming month, I must, of course- reflect on the relaxing transition from Summer to Fall that was this past September. When I was younger, September was almost always a hectic month for my friends and for myself. Returning to school, trying to adjust to a new schedule while shifting out of the late Summer nights mindset, and re-arranging my closet and shoe collection to keep up with the changing temperatures that would vary between unbearably hot and then ridiculously frigid- sometimes within the same day. It could get stressful at times- which is why I’m so thankful that I can just sit back and enjoy the Fall Equinox these days without the distraction of classes or homework. The varying and indecisive New England temperatures, however- will forever be a hassle.

I spent a good amount of September outdoors: enjoying the last lazy days at the beach, late afternoons hiking in the forest, picking apples at a local orchard, and more recently- watching the Super Blood Moon eclipse! I’m looking forward to doing more of that (and then some) in the coming weeks now that the leaves are starting to change colors. When I wasn’t outdoors, I was experimenting in the kitchen and putting in some overtime at the office. I also anticipate doing more of those things in October, too- but I don’t mind. I can’t have “Legally Redhead” without actively participating in the “legal” end of it, right?

So here is one final and fond farewell to September 2015, which was low-key and lovely- the perfect combination to prepare me for the coming craziness of October!

The blood moon eclipse- viewed from my backyard!