Fri-Yay #5

I took my shot a few days ago. I take a CGRP injector to help with my migraines. I think with the stress with Covid, weird weather and the stress of my house I'm just getting more pain days (like, two more). The CGRP meds seem to lesson after 25 days but my insurance will not let me have a new shot before 28 or 30 days. So I have a  few days where it's a bit rough, but it's nothing like before! The CGRP seems to be working well for me. The only side effect I have is dehydration (which does lead to dry skin). I've cut down on my drinks that aren't water and upped my water intake. Also, I added more serums to my skin care regime and a light oil. It's all okay. 

I totally bought the book above for the title. I didn't like it as much as I wished I had but the title was glorious. I think the book was more zany than I could handle. The rest of the books in the series have amusing titles as well, Since You're Leaving Anyways, Take Out The Trash and Our Red Heart Romance Is Making Me Blue. 

Watching:

I've started two new series. I'm on the hunt for new things since most of the shows I was watching on cable got canceled or ended (or on a break). So I gave in and watched some Hallmark mysteries. I. am. shook. They're pretty cute. My old roommate loved Hallmark movies but the ones where it's straight romance or Christmas series. I don't actually like those as they're too saccharine for me. The mysteries for the most part are cozy and cute but well done. The leading man is always cut out of the same cloth (tall, dark, pretty handsome) and the leading lady is wholesome and cute (or elegant depending on her job). 

​So far I like the Aurora Teagarden and Mystery 101 the best. I wasn't expecting to really enjoy Aurora as a character that much, but the acting was great and the scenery was excellent. I think both shows are filmed in Canada so we get some excellent nature shots. 

The other ones I've watched in full are Crossword Mysteries, Matchmaker Mystery and Morning Show Mysteries.

I've seen a few episodes of the Emma Fielding Mysteries and Picture Perfect Mysteries. I didn't really like the Picture Perfect ones and I'm not sure why. I thought the leads had no chemistry, which is shocking because I think they're married and super cute together. 

​The second show I started is The Windsors on Netflix. I have a British problem (and an Acorn and Britbox subscription but that's another story) and Netflix has given up and just shows me recommendations from that. This show has popped up a few times but I resisted because I don't have a huge interest in the royal family (unless they abolish it). I gave in a few days ago and oh lord, it's the best. It's a parody on them in the best way. I think even if you like the royal family you might like the show. 

I like Camilla, Beatrice and Eugene, and Pippa ("Puh-pah") the best. Of course, Prince Philip's angry letters are horrifyingly amazing.  

They're almost bearable if I imagine them like this. That's bad right? 

Reading:

I'm about to finish Sharyn McCrumb's Highland Laddie Gone. It's a shorter book and part of a series that covers Elizabeth MacPherson, an amateur sleuth, when she joins an annual "highland" games set in the U.S.A. The games tilt more to Scottish-American culture (which is similar but heavily different than Scottish culture). I might not be explaining any of that right, but like...it's different. Anyways at the games, someone kills one of the clan heads (not the official clan chief) and Elizabeth sets out to solve the murder. I really enjoyed this series although I'm not sure I read it all. I've also read it out of order for some reason, so I've been trying to go back and read in order. I suppose this series is quite done (the last book was released in 2000) but I did want Elizabeth to continue. 

Her more current novels (the Ballad novels) are some of my favorite. They're haunting and many are currently in my to be (re)read pile simply for the joy. I haven't been able to read them since I went to Scotland. 

I've started this article by NPR.  NPR's Decolonize Your Bookshelf: Your Bookshelf Might Be Part of The Problem.  I think this falls into a topic that's come up a few times on social media in the book sphere. It's not really new but it does come up a few times a year it seems. I've been working on my bookshelf because it's mostly white women authors who write my favorite type of tropey genre. Nothing wrong with that type of book, but it's good to read other stuff too. I've been adding books and authors as they've popped up. My non-fiction science/history section is actually more diverse. Odd. 


I saw that "Lady G: was trending on Twitter awhile ago. I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole. It would be shocking but then again.


I'm starting on American Predator about Israel Keyes. I'm aware of Keyes but not enough to talk about. He's a particular scary type of serial killer that was captured after kidnapping and murdering a young lady in Alaska. It's really horrific and I wouldn't suggest looking up the particulars unless you're prepared. The FBI isn't quite sure how many people he murdered,  but the number tends to be listed as eleven. He committed other crimes (rapes and robbery). I could go on a rant about the backlog of rape kits and how some of these kits, once tested, showcase repeat offenders. I digress...

Wanting: 

I haven't been interested in the last few eye palette releases (from any company). I think the last palette I bought was from Pat McGrath. I'm super intrigued by the new Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet.

I don't think Naked and Ultraviolet go together at all but they have a branding going so whatever works. One of the bloggers I follow isn't that keen on it because purples aren't her color choice but I'm the exact opposite. I love purple eye shadow! 

Temptalia has swatches on her blog, and I think they look okay but she's pretty honest about how this palette doesn't make her happy. She rated it a C-. Not the worst. I'm actually quite decent with makeup as it's a fun hobby for me so I don't mind more finicky  products. Maybe not for $50. I'll keep my eye on it. There are other purple palettes and quite honestly I don't need another eye shadow palette.  

I'm just drawn to this one! Go figure. I also really want Clinodh eye shadows but again...trying to behave! 

I've bought some more pillows. I'm on a quest to find more gel pillows that stay cold and also help me when I do have a migraine. Since Macy's was having a sale, I bit the bullet and ordered two to give a try. If they don't work for me, I have several family members who would be just fine with using them. I'm the only one with a delicate sleep issue I guess. 

One of the pillows was from Sealy, it's called the Chill Gel Memory Foam Pillow. It's $130 normally---which is more than I've ever spent on a pillow. Perhaps that's my issue? With the sale it's around $52. They might be coming out with a new version and are getting rid of this stock but whatever, I'll take it. It got a lot of good reviews so that might mean something...or nothing...

The second pillow is from Sealy as well. It's called the Memory Foam Gel Pillow, obviously the naming guy was phoning it home at this point. It's normally $96 but it's on sale for under $40. I think this one is softer (plusher?) than the first pillow but that's fine. Sometime I want firm and sometimes I want plush. 

I'm excited about these pillows. Mostly because my pillows now cost $5 from Target. Nothing wrong with them but they're not doing much for me. 

But I was bad and added in...Lancome's Juicy Tubes. These were the IT items when I was younger. I think the kids now have better makeup options and are able to get a huge collection going before high school. Maybe from buying it (or if they're anything like my younger cousin) pick up family (my) rejects. Anyways, these tubes used to be the high end bomb. I only had one (they were expensive!). Whatever, I'm excited!