Halloween Hijinks

It was a rare occasion but this Halloween the Sprite and I stayed in. No costumes, no booze nothing but the two of us and a couple of B rated scary movies. Life was swimming along at a lazy pace as per usual when a thought hit me and then the following conversation takes place between me and the Sprite: 


Me: Man we didn't think to get candy in case we get trick or treaters

Sprite: Nah, no need to worry, noone trick or treats on this street

*Thirty seconds later I shit you not* DING DONG

Sprite: *looks at me with wides eyes* Is our porch light on?

Me: Yup, it's always on.

Sprite: *flips light off on the poor kid standing on our doorstep*

Me: You did not just do that *giggles in disbelief* You know that's like the Halloween equivalent to getting a door slammed in your face, right? lol



#HangingWithTheSprite #AnotherDayInTheLife #WeAreSoGoingToHell #ItShouldntBeFunnyButItWas #AdventuresAtZanarkand

Wool Dryer Balls

Wool Dryer Balls - XL - Extra Large - 100% Natural Premium Organic by Sheep Soft 
Set of 6 - Cost $12.99 

They arrived on time and packaged well so I have no complaints there. For that, the webstore receives 5 out of 5 shipping packages from me. 

Now on to whether or not I feel this product is Cart Worthy or not...

I'm okay with these dryer balls but I’m not sure if I’m ready to give up dryer sheets just yet. They do seem to aid in drying time while simultaneously diminishing wrinkles but man are they noisy. Like wake you up from a nap thinking that people are trying to break in noisy. Sounds a lot like tennis shoes in the dryer to be honest. On top of the noise, they also don’t work very well on static cling.

The product came with no instructions (do I need to use 2 at a time? 4? all 6? Do the balls themselves need any sort of care?) so I had to guess on everything and we settled on 4 in the dryer at a time. Yes, there are some instructions in the ad on Amazon where I purchased them but what if I had sent these as a gift? I’d have assumed instructions some sort were included even if it was just a mere slip of paper that said: “Put 4 to 6 balls in your dryer per load. If product is wet, dry in machine or in direct sunlight. Do not store wet.” But this product came with nothing. Also, we tried using essential oils on them and thus far have not noticed our clothing smelling any different.

Pros:
Does speed up drying time
All natural
Reusable 


Cons:
Noisy
No instructions
Doesn’t do much for static cling


I find these dryer balls to be a decently made product but I’m not giving up my dryer sheets for them. In my humble opinion I’d have to give these Wool Dryer Balls three out of five shopping carts and overall, I’d leave these on the virtual shelf, they are not a going home with me cart worthy item.


My Images of the actual Product:

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Peppermint Essential Oil 4oz - Review

Peppermint Essential Oil 4oz (Huge Size) 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Pre Blended with Unscented Fractionated Coconut Oil (FCO) by Island’s Miracle 

by Island's Miracle

Talk about a lot of bang for your buck...huge jar for the cost! The coconut and peppermint smells mix well together so neither is overpowering. I see many and various uses for this in my household from colds to bug control to laundry. Some seem to have had an issue with the fact that it is already mixed with a carrier oil but it was stated clearly in the ad, which means I expected it and was fine with it. I think it’s perfect for use in lotions, soaps and laundry. 

Not sure if I'd recommend this for diffusing as the smell wasn't really prominent when we tried it.

Overall, I rate this product 4 out of 5 stars overall. 

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TraveT Stainless Steel Lid and Spoon Rest

TraveT Stainless Steel Lid and Spoon Rest Storage Cooking Tool
by TraveT


We love this item! It solves a timeless cooking dilemma with an added spoon rest! No more stove tops covered in lid condensation. No more looking for space where there is none. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves to cook.


I might even get a second one for when I do holiday cooking! 

Functions as advertised and expected, one step assembly and cleanup is a breeze! You can't ask for more.

**NOTE** if you have Square lids (like on the copper skillets) it can be a it tricky to get them balanced.

Rock Car Mount Adjustable GPS Bracket Air Vent Phone Holder for Smartphones - Golden 
By ROCK 

This phone holder was just what the doctor ordered! My husband had a magnetic one he adored but

once he got a new phone it wouldn't attached to that any longer. He looked like a real lost puppy with no way to mount his phone to the dashboard so it would be near eye level. This car mount put the pep back in his step. It was easy to install (one step - clip to vent and Voilà ) it stays put (which was my major concern with this item) and it is easily adjustable.

I highly recommend this to anyone that uses their phone for GPS or music while on the move.

5 out of 5 stars overall. I have zero issues with this item. No Cons to report. 

Alexa Fancies Herself a Comedian It Seems...

So this just happened:


Sprite: Alexa, tell me a joke. 

Alexa: Why did Adele cross the road?


... so she could say hello from the other side.


This made still being sick with barely a voice, a snotty nose and achy ears much more bearable. Sleep well all, my meds are calling.

Fatback Soul Shack

Fatback Soul Shack - Party of Two 

2440 Roanoke St
Christiansburg, VA 24073

I have to give this place 4.5 stars out of 5 because this place was absolutely wonderful!  Good food and great service. 

Everything from the decor (It looks like a truck-stop garage blend with the giant tires made into the counter and actual tailgates for the backs of benches) to the food (if you never have fried green tomatoes anywhere in the New River valley EAT.THEM.HERE.)

My husband and I ordered a side of fried squash and a side of the fried green tomatoes to share as an appetizer. That was the best decision ever. Both were amazing. They were fried and seasoned to perfection! They needed no salt, they needed no sauce...just needed the quickest way possible into my mouth! 

My main course was the half rack of St. Louis Style ribs and a side of collard greens. I wasn’t wowed by the greens (they tasted like they were cooked with vinegar in the pot and that isn't my thing but for others it may be awesome) and it came with 3 hush puppies (those things were golden balls of yumminess). The hunk of rib meat that came out as my meal was the size of my head... seriously, this thing was huge. The flavor was really good but it could have been more tender in my opinion because I don't like to have to take a knife to my ribs I just like to bite into them and have them all but fall off the bone.  Also, upon eating the rest later because there was no way I could eat it all in one sitting, I ran into more of that toughness and a lot of gristle and fat and not much meat left considering the size of it...I was a little disappointed in that but I'd order it again (I am guessing that this was a fluke because meat cuts can be odd like that). Anywho, I had everyone in my office wanting BBQ thanks to me heating that up in the microwave for lunch. 

I can easily see myself working my way through the menu at this place. 

Also, do yourself a favor and try the beer they have on tap... you will not be disappointed.

Food: 4.5 out of 5
Service: 5 out of 5
Dining Area: 5 out of 5
Value: 4 out of 5

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The Last Remnant -Xbox 360 by Square Enix

The Last Remnant -Xbox 360 by Square Enix

This game has a lot of potential but in my opinion it needs some work so overall I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. If you're thinking about buying this game I implore you to consider what it is you really like about RPG’s then go on online and look up some gameplay footage to see how it this game plays out firsthand. When it comes to video games, I think it’s better to watch videos as opposed to only reading reviews (especially when the game is an older one so there's lots of input about it already online). I bought this with a lot of excitement in my heart unfortunately after only a few hours of gameplay I found myself yawning and I have to say I’m more than a bit disappointed in this. 

The opening of the game did grab my interest a little… and only a little and all this talk of Remnants kinda makes you curious but it is no Final Fantasy so don’t go in thinking you’ll get that kind of gameplay or storyline out of this game. The graphics are decent most of the time (a little glitchy at others). The battle system is okay but leaves a bit to be desired. You pick a command but it is super general (You don’t get to choose fire, steal, blades of fury, etc. Just choose magic or combat, use heal, or wing it) the characters act as a big confusing group, then your opponent's attack as another group, and then it’s your turn again. I won't go into any more detail than that. Like I said in the beginning, it has potential but in my humble opinion it needs some work to be truly gratifying to hard core RPG lovers like myself.


Gameplay: 2.5 out of 5
Graphics: 3.5 out of 5
Storyline: 2.5 out of 5
Fun Factor: 3 out of 5

Three Li'l Pigs Barbeque - Daleville, VA

Three Li'l Pigs Barbeque - Party of Five

Three Li'l Pigs Barbeque

120 Kingston Drive

Daleville, VA 24083

The food here is pretty good. They serve you good sized portions and the food has nice flavor. The meat can be a little dry but it's nothing the sauce can't fix. The sweet potato fries are awesome along with the peach ketchup. The pigtail curly fries and onion straws were really tasty as well. They have this cute little pig game on table to pass the time and there is a Television on one wall too if catching the game highlights is more your thing. The service here is attentive as well as kind and the restaurant is very clean and well maintained. 

The bathrooms are amazing! They are well stocked, clean and more welcoming than any restroom I’ve been in, in the area. Stylish and stocked with anything you might need. They even keep diapers and wipes by the changing table!

Now for the downsides. Be forewarned if you come with a group of four or more the seating area is small and crowded. We felt really claustrophobic at the table in the middle of the dining area and moved to a booth. But they were nice about it so no issues there. The drinks are overpriced in my opinion, three dollars for a fountain soda and two dollars for an ice tea, yes you get refills but how many glasses do you really drink at dinner? Two at most on average so these prices are a bit much in my opinion. Also, if you want a slab of ribs with sides (and of course we all want sides because they rock) be prepared to drop around thirty bucks, $21 for a half slab. 

Overall a nice place with good food and we will return.

Food: 4 out of 5
Service: 4 out of 5
Dining Area: 3.5 out of 5
Value: 3.5 out of 5

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