AmyJo

Hello all! Michele, I know how frustrating that is when you have typed a long post and then it disappears. Ugh!! A very happy belated birthday to your son, and I'm so glad you were all able to be together! The Super Tarts cappuccino blend sounds delicious. I found a longer walking route today and it took about an hour and a half... I'll only do that one a couple times a week, lol! The other three paths I walk take more like an hour. But perfect sunny weather for walking today and not too warm. So today it's: Scentsy Just Breathe - eucalyptus, lemon zest, and mint medley - beautiful! It's similar to Bath & body works eucalyptus mint, but that lemon zest takes it to another level. Love! Have a great day everyone!

(traveling across America is in our plans as well - so much to see!) Yes I do listen to all sorts of things...a recent podcast is Hey, Stranger! by Thoraya Maronesy. She interviews strangers and the results are often very moving. The person below me keeps a journal.

Good morning all! Well, the weather here is the same as up by you Mag (and I imagine Michele also), very grey and gloomy, but the birds are in lovely voice so this is all good. Mag, I am sorry your allergies have acted up and are interfering with your sniffing!! We have finished watching all of the ancient seasons of St. Elsewhere, a favorite of mine, and have moved to Britbox for MI5. So far we are enjoying this, very edge-of-the-seat exciting. I am hoping that Doc Martin and Shetland will release new seasons soon. What is everybody watching? Today it's my favorite tea and cakes blend: Empire Alchemy Earl Grey Cookies (floral tea, creamy biscuits) - divine - as always a beautiful balance. That was the last of a loaf, sadness. Anna has a customs going on but I have no business ordering, not that has ever stopped me before. Enjoy your weekend all!!

Good morning all!! Mag.....a slow boat to anywhere is sometimes needed... Definitely room for multiple occupants! Your work sounds very busy with the parties and crafts - I hope you will get a chance to have some fun on break! This week flew by, not that I'm sure I was all that productive, but it was a good week of walking / music / wax fun, and the full moon was gorgeous last night, so much to be glad for. I have Clemmie on a new type of cat food with greater protein and it has done wonders for her energy level. She is flying around the house like a wildcat and I must say, she is cracking me up. She slides around the corners on the new floors and it is a bit like NASCAR in here. Well today it's: Scentsy Strawberry Basil - from the new Life Is A Garden collection - and while this is a pleasant enough candied strawberry, I'm not sure I'm getting any basil. Maybe it needs to cure. The rest of this collection is spectacular (Chamomile Daisy, Apple Parsley, Pineapple Mint, Lavender Violet). Have a good Saturday everyone!

Good morning all, I hope everybody is well. I've just fed the three dogs and one cat... They all eat different foods due to age, health, etc, but - just like people - the best food is always what the next guy is eating. There is a certain amount of jostling. Just so everyone eats something, I am happy. This morning it's Sparkles Downy April Freshest - just like the fabric softener and throwing well. This is a new to me vendor and I purchased a small mystery box. I am always a sucker for mystery boxes and samplers. We have a wind advisory today so I will hold onto my hat when walking. Take care all!

Good morning everyone, Michele, that was the year we bought all those VRC samplers - loved them all and I thought the coffee blends were so delicious. Just got back from my walk and soon a t-shirt will be enough. Just a month ago we had thick ice. My DH is starting to get distanced music jobs again so he is very happy. I'm so glad for him. This last year he has missed doing shows so much, and missed seeing his friends. It's also good because soon I would have had to put him on a slow boat going somewhere. Today it's: Destination Wax London Mist - described as floral, earthy, moss, mist. Very springy and I'm enjoying it. Medium high throw in multiple warmers. Have a great day all.

Good morning ladies, Michele, you have been burning the midnight oil. I completely understand, though - sometimes you just want some quiet time all to yourself. I also love pumpkin at any time. Susan, I guess that arm was pretty sore, wasn't it? Almost everyone seems to be experiencing that. I love the sound of your peach scent. Mag, I hope you are well as I know you are extremely busy with many things right now. Do you even have time to melt?? The music is going a bit better with the new amp. I like it but I as I don't have to pluck the strings as hard to be heard, it is taking some time to get used to playing a bit differently. Well that candle I was working on yesterday just didn't turn out the way I had hoped - I love green tea, but the sandalwood together with it was not for me. So I will ponder what is next as I am trying to go through some older candles.. Today it's: Scentsy Marshmallow Mint Cocoa - so heavenly - the chocolate is like a dry cake and so perfect with this airy cloud of marshmallow. I could just bathe in it, lol. Have a great day everyone!

Hello everyone!! Susan, it's good to see you. Thank you for your kind words. Did you get your shots / have any reactions? You have been melting away! How did your Country Candle do for you? I just bought a couple on sale but didn't try yet. Mag, I'm so glad you are fully vaccinated and feel great. Can you imagine how great it will be, when (if) most people get the shots and we can actually relax?! I remember GWW Draper Lane - loved that one. Come to think of it, I haven't ordered from them for a long time...hmmmm... Michele, I'm glad you continue to make your way through the older VCS. I love the background scent of her wax. I saw your grandbabies' picture with their St Patrick's bibs, so adorable!! Fingers crossed that your second shot will go well this week. Well I feel 100% today so that shot wasn't so bad after all. Had an excuse to lie around, lol. Today I have been practicing with the new amp and I sound like but am working on it. Well today it's: Homeworx Matcha Green Tea Scentsy Thunderstorm (floral, dewy greens) ... And both are lovely. I am in a floral mood. Take care all!

Good morning everybody! I hope you all are well on this Sunday. It's been beautiful and sunny here, cold in the mornings but then so warm in the afternoon that you can step outside with no jacket. Lovely! Well the first Covid shot went fine, with just minor discomfort - headache, mildly upset stomach, sore arm, all the first day. But the fatigue was pretty strong, lol, for the first and second day - I just wanted to lie down. Today I feel much more myself! In any case I am glad to have this process begun. Five weeks from today I will return to the hospital with guitar in hand. Michele, I'm happy that you and DH will complete your series this week. That Koopa Claus is a good coffee blend, isn't it? Sharon, your Darley Llama Pink Marshmallow sounds lovely. I always love marshmallow in wax. Well yesterday my enormous Zombie head from Britta's Creepy Treasures arrived, and it has surpassed expectations, lol. It is in a minty blend - since it's so big, I chose a blend I knew I would love in quantity. I don't want to cut it up, but I will nibble away at it. This morning it's: Love FAT (For All Things) Wax Eggnog Frosted Sugar Cookies Latte - this smells delicious and is throwing right away. I'm enjoying this vendor and as mentioned the background scent of her wax is luscious. Going to resume walking this morning after a couple of slothful days. Take care everybody and continue staying safe. One day we will be able to meet.

Good morning all! Well, this morning I had the first Covid shot so I'm very happy to have this process underway! I got there early and was in and out in no time, which was lucky because by the time I came out, there was a long line. Three weeks until the second shot and then it looks like my first day back at the hospital will be April 25th. So yay! Yay!! Yay!!! Michele, I remember that SB Lemon Cream Puffs and I hope it threw for you. I seem to remember liking that one...hmmmm... Memory.... Well this morning it's Scentsy Swept Away - ocean air, limestone, driftwood, and pink lemon. This one is very different and I like it a lot. To me it smells like you're sitting on a hot sandy beach with a lemon grove nearby. And EA Boba Flan - very different and lovely. These haven't cured and while they were very light in the Yankee Scenterpiece (15W), they are doing beautifully in the Scentsy warmer which allows an Edison bulb (40W). Have a great day everyone! Colder but beautiful sun today.

Good morning! Mag, good to see you! Oh, well done, to make a big dent in your oldies bin! I need to follow your good example. I can't say I'm super busy in retirement, no, but somehow the days are flying by - not that I know what day it is anymore - "every day is Saturday." I do have this sense of "What is my next task?" which is a hangover from working. On the whole, though, this new chapter is wonderful, especially with the hospital opening up. Michele, I love L3 Pretzels in any blend so the Jarreth one sounds amazing to me! When I retired, at my request people donated money to our hospital group in lieu of a gift. So I've been able to purchase a lovely new acoustic guitar which has an electronic pickup and can be plugged into a small amp. The little amp will lift the guitar above the hum of the ice machine, without being too loud. We have money left over so I will also purchase a keyboard that will stay at the hospital. I can't say how happy I am with all of this, and how grateful to my colleagues. So tomorrow is my first Covid shot and I'm very glad to be finally getting this done. So today it's: EA Oolong Tea from the Boba Sampler - earthy and comforting! Scentsy Sugared Strawberry - it is supposed to have lemon in it but so far I'm just getting the sweet strawberry. Hoping the lemon will make an appearance. Take care all!

(I love that you and your friends were like Stand By Me...I have some similar memories. It was a simpler world, wasn't it? Favorite movie - like you, I have so many. Contact with Josie Foster, The Family Man with Nicolas Cage, To Kill A Mockingbird, Good Will Hunting, Brokeback Mountain, Arrival with Amy Adams, Brick Lane, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.) Yes I do have a bicycle. It is an old five speed that I bought for $10 at a yard sale and it is great for our relatively flat country roads. The person below me wants to learn or do something new.

Hello all! Michele, thanks, I do feel a bit scheduled with the walking. However, my friend said she is enjoying it so much and getting away from her caretaking duties - so I'm glad for that. And we agreed that Friday, Saturday and Sunday we will be on our own to do as we like. So it's working out. Your grandbabies have more than doubled their weight - such a wonder. I'm so happy for all of you. They were so tiny in the beginning. Absolutely adorable and such a loving family. I remember Woodstock Boogie! That was a beautiful scent, so earthy. Thanks for telling me about Anna from EA's pregnancy! How exciting! I hadn't seen that - taking a little social media break from IG. Mag / Susan / Sharon, I hope you are doing well and enjoying springtime. It's funny how this Daylight Savings Time can throw you for a loop with just one hour off. Well today it's: Scentsy White Woods & Lavender - so lovely and calming. Yesterday I received a small order from a NTM vendor, Love FAT (For All Things) Wax, and everything smells great on cold. Her chunky frogs and hearts are adorable and I'm looking forward to trying these out. That's it for now. Stay well everybody!

Good morning all, Michele, glad you're enjoying the older VCS. I love Honey Pear Cider. Like you, I have strayed on the wild side and have too much. I was able to share out some doubles/overage with some newer wax fans from Instagram and this helps reduce the load. I'm trying to order smaller portions but I still fail regularly. I'm still walking every day and a neighbor friend has joined me. I have mixed feelings about this. It's nice to have company but I also like the solitude. She loves it, so now the challenge is how to say, "Um, we don't have to walk together every day..." Last night I melted Scentsy I'm Snow Over It, which is berries, sage, and cedar and that's the one I just don't think goes together so I'm glad to be Over it. In general, though, I'm really enjoying Scentsy. They have some beautiful scents and the wax is soft, which I love. In other news, I just received the Empire Alchemy Boba Tea Sampler and it's beyond wonderful - Anna can really blend!! That's it for now. Take care all.

(It's been awhile... Guilty!) A favorite book... That is tough because I love quite a few. I would say that To Kill A Mockingbird is up there. (How about you?) The person below me has a favorite movie.

Hello dear all, I'm sorry I've been MIA and I have no excuse other than I see you ladies on other forums and then I don't come here and then I feel guilty and then I don't open this up and then I hide my head... Mag, I'm so glad your DH has done well with the knee recovery and is up and about. Having our DHs up and about is always a good goal. I know you are busy with school and it has to be challenging with Zoom classes! I admire your low-buy and can say that I have not been as disciplined. Michele, your grandbabies are growing so fast and they are beyond adorable. I know they keep you busy but you all seem so happy together and they are very lucky babies to have so many loving arms about to hold and comfort them. It is lovely to watch all of you together. Susan, I hope you are doing well and that your clients are healthy. Maybe we will see an end to this pandemic in a few months if we are diligent. Sharon, I hope you are well and as I write this it is UK Mother's Day so I hope you will enjoy visiting with family in whatever form possible! I continue to be very happy with my decision to retire and the days are flying by, giving truth to the statement "I don't know how I ever had time to work." I am grateful to no longer have my stomach in a knot worrying about the details of my former job, even though I loved it. I've been getting the house in order following the remodel - next comes drawers and cupboards and am enjoying downsizing the possessions (except wax, which continues to go in a dangerous direction). Best of all, I have heard from the hospital, and we can start up the singing and bingo groups again as soon as I am fully vaccinated. I'm so very grateful for this and my first shot is this coming Friday. It has been difficult to get in but lately more appointments have come available. As for melting, I am currently working on the new Empire Alchemy sampler (boba tea) and the Spring Scentsy collection. I have been getting through some of the older stash but it is slow going... As soon as I make a hole, I find a way to fill it. Big hugs to everyone and Happy Spring!!

Hi everybody, I'm sorry I've been absent. Maggie, I hope your husband is doing well with recovering from his knee operation. That has to be stressful for you but fingers crossed for a speedy recovery. Michele, I can only imagine how busy you are with the babies!! It took me pretty much this whole week to put everything away from the flooring job. They worked through last Sunday and did a great job but the plumbing turned out to be a much bigger job than anticipated. They fixed everything. It took me a few days to adjust to having the house to ourselves again. I'm just finishing putting things away. Tonight it's EA Mint Creme Cocktail, absolutely beautiful. Have a good night all.

Body lotion...I definitely forget half the time! - I do put it on my hands and arms after I remember... The person below me plans to reorganize some closets this year.

Hello all! Michele, any Lord of Misrule blend gets my vote. Continuing to work through Rainbow Melts this week. Everything is lovely and strong - I enjoy this vendor so much. Will I have the strength to resist the Cookie and Coffee Samplers coming up?? Right now it's: RM Honey Lavender Lemonade - so smooth and beautiful. I normally don't like lemonade and lavender together but the honey smooths it all out here, just beautiful. Have a good Sunday all. Hopefully the floors start tomorrow, fingers crossed.

Hello dear all! I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe out there. Well, it's been a week! We were all set for the flooring folks but then our already-slow plumbing came to a halt and we had to address that. The same people who are doing the flooring are general contractors and also do plumbing, so they spent an entire day cutting and replacing and welding pipe. They were trying to juggle another job at the same time, and those people asked for an additional bit of work, so we agreed that we would start on the flooring next week! Someday it will happen. In the meanwhile, Moses the beagle has been doing quite well with his leg, but he developed a terrible dry, barking cough so that has had me worried silly. He has had this before and it passes on its own, so I was reluctant to take him to the vet for a bunch of x-rays at his advanced age. It is indeed getting better at last. He has been eating heartily throughout all of this, which I took as a good sign. He is leaping for his treats again so whatever happened to his leg has healed. It's always something!! In the meantime, I have been putting out a lot of odds and ends to the curb, which people have been picking up... An old table, some old chairs, and even a box of candles (horrors!!) - mostly Homeworx doubles from orders I made in a frenzy last year. It feels good to lighten the load a bit...I say this after having purchased more wax in the last few months of 2020 than ever before... Mag, I give you a lot of credit for trimming your own hair... That would be a disaster If I tried that!! You rock!! Michele, I know you are all getting so excited about the babies coming home soon... As soon as they are ready! All of your wax melts sound beautiful, from EA, L3, Vintage Road... There are just so many wonderful vendors. Well this week I'm melting Rainbow Melts, because I have just a few items from her , and today it's: Casper - vanilla bean marshmallow, vanilla ice cream, spearmint - so creamy and airy and minty and just heaven on earth. It's very strong and I adore it! Take care everybody and I really hope we can have a get together after the pandemic is over. Hugs to all of you!

(oh no!! Red wine on a white carpet - so did it come out?? Ugh I'm sorry!! And your shoes sound lovely and just my style. I love slip-ons.) Yes, because I am essentially lazy and uncreative, I definitely prefer bagging gifts. I do like the look of a beautifully wrapped gift, but then I hate that it gets torn apart, so I guess I am ambivalent about the whole thing. #bagsforthewin The person below me has done needlepoint and likes to do it.

Good morning all! Well I have been a bit remiss on here and I hope you will forgive me! Such a week, but we are pressing through... I was thoroughly rattled by all of the events in Washington and my heart was breaking for the country, but hopefully we will find our footing again. In addition, my beloved beagle Moses hurt himself the other night and couldn't get his hind quarters up, which had me in despair and required an emergency visit from the vet, but now he is on two meds and doing much better now, still wobbly. The one medicine is supposed to cause feelings of relaxation and euphoria. I may need one of those myself. On a happy note, next week our hardwood flooring will be installed, and it is supposed to take 7 to 10 days. The flooring people have brought the wood over, and it is relaxing in the living room getting used to our temperature and humidity. This is a bit of a retirement treat which we planned and saved for, so happiness abounds. Susan, I'm glad you are ok, and yikes, I'm sorry the covid numbers are up where you are. That has to be scary when you are a caretaker. I know you are careful and I'm saying prayers that you will stay healthy throughout all of this. Mag, I hope the new job is going okay and that the children know how lucky they are to have you. Yes, putting the Christmas decorations away is always a bittersweet activity. Michele, You must be so excited with the twins coming home soon! I think your household will be very lively and full of joy. Sharon, your pictures on Instagram have been so beautiful from your daily walks... You truly are lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world! All of your melts sound amazing - L3, VCS, Burning Mitten, OPT... I've been looking at all the wax stored around here and shaking my head... Focusing on one vendor per week at the moment in an effort to appreciate that vendor's different blends, and to see a dent. It will take a long time to make any sort of dent in all of this wax! This week is Empire Alchemy, which had been curing for 2 months, and I continue to be stunned by the beauty of her blends... It's an interesting wax, because it seems to take about an hour to start blooming in the house, and then all the different notes are apparent... She combines things differently than many of the other vendors and I am really loving her wax. So today it's: EA Dalgona Coffee - gorgeous gourmand espresso blend with heavy cream, a touch of cinnamon, and vanilla crumb donut- And EA Storybook Cottage - hazelnut coffee, pecans, raspberry, a hint of maple and pancake - beautiful with the coffee and raspberry mixing so well together. So far I am quite happy with retirement - playing my guitar more - I have heard retired friends say they don't know how they ever had time for their jobs, lol, and I can appreciate that now - So far I have no trouble filling the day and I have never had a problem with being by myself. Of course the whole thing is very new, so we shall see how things go in a few months. Hugs to all and please stay safe out there.

Haha! I am horrible at getting stains out of anything.... And due to DH's allergies, we don't have carpeting... Just a few area rugs which are washable. (Uh oh - why are you asking this - ) The person below me has recently bought a new pair of shoes for work.

Hello everybody, I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas and that everyone stayed safe with all the snow. Mag, I hope the new job will be wonderful. Michele, the house must indeed be quiet with the kids off visiting. But with the twins coming - it will soon be so lively!! Susan, I hope you and your clients are doing well and that you are getting some sort of break over the holidays. It is indeed sad to hear what Sweet is going through and Mag, you are a dear to set up the GoFundMe. Let's hope it will give her a breather. All of your scents sound beautiful - I'm still letting The Burning Mitten cure, do you think it's ready Mag? Michele, how is the ST Sleepytime, is it as good as reported? And everyone, I must agree - UTC does peppermint so well and I'm hoarding some of that. This is my last work week and I am home. Retirement starts officially Thursday night at midnight but since that is a holiday, my last work day is Wednesday. There are actually still reviews but we are doing them remotely. Very mixed feelings! Today it's: RG Palo Santo, Pine and Peppermint - a muffin, very strong and beautiful. Take care all.

(I love, love, love that you bought the worst tree you could find... You gave it love... I'm sure it is very happy!) Yes, I was so happy that I was home when it snowed for the first time this year in our neck of the woods in Ohio. And tomorrow I might get to see a lot more snow, with the impending snow storm!! I'm excited!! Ooops I forgot to finish here. The person below me will make a snow angel this week, snow allowing!!