The Mystic Dreamer Book and Tarot Deck Review - Seller VTWiccan

I bought this tarot deck and book for fun.  I was curious and I find that learning something new that has meaning to others gives insight into the way they think and act to some degree.  Plus the pictures were really cool on the card.

I got this set from TopHatter during the Meta weekly Sunday night auction.  The seller is VTWiccan.  The seller's name is Jennifer and she is very sweet.  She is always present during all her auctions where she has items listed so you can ask her questions about her items and even tarot.  She sent the set the following morning and I received it very quickly considering Canadian Post is not known for speed or efficiency.

"Item Description:  Imagine strolling through a dark wood, the silver moonlight bating your path in an etheral glow.  Now is the time to call upon your intuition and explore hidden realms of imagination and creativity.  What secret messages do your dreams hold?

Acclaimed tarot author Barbara Moore presents an essential introduction to card-reading, insightful interpretations of each card's significance, and introspective questions to guide your journey.

Perfect for both traditional and intuitive readings, the Mystic Dream Tarot invites you to enter a mystical world of personal exploration.  Contains deck and book."

The package included the exact same item she had listed.  It was in perfect condition, plastic wrapped and no bent edges.  She even included a purple altar cloth as a small gift.  I imagine it is something you would lay down on the table before you do a tarot reading.

The Mystic Dreamer set is very informative.  The book is great.  It explains the basics of tarot reading and what spreads to use and how they are read.  The rest of the book is explaining the meanings of the 78 tarot cards included in the set.  The cards are a nice size.  They have gorgeous pictures on them.  The cards are not flimsy and are perfect for handling and shuffling without bending.  They are somewhat glossy and have a pretty look to them.  As a beginner I am pleased that I purchased the set.  Jennifer had even said to me when I asked about this set during the auction that it was great for beginners who know nothing of tarot.  It will fully explain its use and how to read the cards.  She also said I could ask her any questions I may come across in the future.

Bottom Line:  Great product, Awesome seller and quick shipping.  I would definitely purchase from VTWiccan/Jennifer again and again.  She also sells bath products, books and items on her website and etsy.

Check out VTWiccan's Etsy store for handmade items and Website for other items.


Design on the Back of the Cards

Deck Details:  The Mystic Dreamer Tarot

Number of Cards in Deck:  78

Size of Cards:  4 1/2" x 2 3/4"

Included with Deck:  A 211 page companion book by Barbara Moore, entitled "The Dreamer's Journal"

Major Arcana:  The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Heirphant, The Lovers, Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, The World

Suit Names:  Wands, Cupes, Swords, Pentacles
Court Cards:  Page, Knight, Queen, King


Haus of Gloi Absinthe Sugar Exfolliant Scrub Review

I love when I find a new e-tailer that I just love!  I placed an order from Haus of Gloi and love every item I received.  I am falling in love with sugar scrubs and buying them like crazy.  I ordered from HoG Bubbling Scrubs in Vice, Twice is Nice and Olde Cider Haus.  I also ordered Sugar Exfolliant Scrubs in Lavender and Sugar and Absinthe.  Today I will be reviewing the Sugar Exfolliant Scrub in Absinthe.

I am not a big fan of earthy scents.  When I opened Absinthe I was not pleased with the scent in the jar.  It did not smell like the glycerin soap I received from Summer ScentSations in Absinthe.  Instead this smelled earthy and manly, so not something I want to smell like.  I prefer gourmand, light floral, sweet, citrus or fresh.  This was none of those.

This scrub has sat in my bath and body bin since early December.  I have been using all my other scrubs instead.  The Lavender and Sugar scrub is to die for.  It is great before bed when you want to relax and unwind after a long day.  It has a medicinal lavender to it, not a sweet scent, but I digress.

Deco Tape Review

Do you do crafts?  I have been wanting to try crafting.  I put all my pictures in ablums but maybe some cute cut outs and decorative tape would bring all the pics together and make the albums look decorative.
So I decided to find out what ll the fuss was about with Deco tape.  So I bought this auction lot on Top Hatter.

Item Description: This lot is for 10 assorted rolls of deco tape. These tapes are awesome for scrap booking, card making,  identifying personal items, wrapping gifts, decorating packages, etc. Each roll is approx 300 cm long and approx 1.5 cm wide. Tape rolls are randomly selected. 

I received these in the mail and they are pretty cool.  They are small but for scrap booking and wrapping gifts will be perfect.  They are super sticky and will stay on the albums once applied.
If you like cute tape and decoration you should buy some deco tape.  They will make plain gift wrap look extra cute.  My neice's birthday is next month and these will spruce up her gift once wrapped.

What would you use deco tape for?

Red Dragon Apothocary SoapScription Review for my January Box

Once a month for January, February and March I will be receiving 2 bars of soap for the 3 month SOAPScription I won at a Top Hatter auction held on the first Sunday of January's 8pm auction.  The lot  was sold by Red Dragon Apothocary.  I have been wanting to win a soapscrption of their's for months now but the auctions are usually at 10pm on Sunday and I am unable to attend at that time. 

The 3 month SOAPScirption includes 2 bars of 4-5oz goat milk's soap for the 3 months and a surprise gift during your birthday month.  The bars of soap are hand wrapped in decorative sparkly paper with pretty labels.  The scents are relevant to the month they are sent out in.

I received my January box today and boy was I surprised with the package I received.  The shipping box was wrapped in red paper.  Inside the box was 2 wrapped boxes of soap, two cards including a coupon code to use for my next etsy purchase from their store and a $ 20 gift certificate to use in conjunction with the coupon code.  I almost didn't see the gift certificate in the box and threw it out into the recycling bin but I noticed that the paper wasn't the same colour as the box and pulled it out and so pleased I checked the box again.  That would of been sad to of thrown out.  I have already placed an order at her etsy store and used my GC.  

The scent for this month is Eucalyptus Mint.  Scent Description:  A bright, refreshing blend of mint, citrus and ginger with clear notes of fresh eucalyptus and jasmine. Fresh cut mint leaves add a little extra to this invigorating blend.  It is the perfect scent for the weather that the GTA gets: cold, crisp and windy.  The soap is very therapeutic if you have a cold.  Eucalyptus is wonderful if you are congested and have a runny nose.  The mint isn't so strong that it is overpowering of the eucalyptus.  When you use this soap it doesn't make you smell like a pharmacy.  The scent perks up your senses and makes you smile.  It clears your head and makes it easier to think.  This is not a scent I would normally pick for myself but am so glad it was sent to me.  I see myself using this soap in my rotation during not only the cold months but also warmer months.  It is perfect for year-round.

The soap is make of goat's milk so it is very moisturizing and creamy.  Red Dragon Apothocary's soaps do not contain coconut oil.  Their soap's descriptions state:  Goat Milk soap is great for people with dry or sensitive skin, or conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Goat milk contains alpha hydroxy acids which help make skin smoother and younger looking. Goat milk is very moisturizing and won't dry out your skin. The milk contains natural emollients, vitamins and triglycerides that are beneficial to all skin types. A mild soap with creamy lather! 

The soap has a raised dragon design on the top of it.  It is rectangular shaped and came in a hand wrapped box.  It would be perfect to give away as a gift.  Due to the dragon design and the non feminine scent this bar of soap would even be appropriate to give away to that special man in your life.

The soap lathers nicely and makes your shower smell like a beautiful day at the spa.  I have some dry areas; elbows, knees and tops of my hands.  After 1 use of this soap those areas are smoother and less itchy and dry.  I can't wait for my February box to get here!

Tips on keeping your bar soaps lasting longer:  Keep them in a well drained soap dish and allow them to dry between uses.  I have bought soap savers that are hand croched bags made of cotton.  I hang them at the back of my shower on the top of my conditioner bottle so the wet soap can dry out.  When soap bars are left in standing water they turn mushy and waste away.  Pus no one wants to use a mushy, slimy bar of soap.

If you are looking for Tarot Readings by Red Dragon Apothocary on Etsy please click on the link.

What I'm waiting for in the Mail

I decided to do some shopping to help with my "Addiction" and get some things that I need and some other things I want.  I need to stop buying but I have so many ideas of things I want to make and only half of what I need to make them.  

I get headaches from people, well working and dealing with people in the pharmacy and have heard great things about this oil and decided to give it a try.  I got it from Top Hatter and the seller posts them alot for auction.  This stuff says it's also good for nausea, hangovers and anxiety.  It must be all the good essential oils in it.  I have turned to aromatherapy to help with most common ailments due to medications making me worse.

"Item Description:  1/3 oz. unique & popular roll-on bottle. 

Migraine and relaxation/sleep blends are: Lavender Oil (headache/Migraine), Clary Sage Oil (anxiety/panic), Chamomile Oil (sleep), Peppermint Oil (headache/Migraine) Peppermint is also very helpful for nausea. Carry oil is Sweet Almond Oil."

I also have been wanting to try Red Dragon Apothecary's SoapScription of goat's milk soaps but never have been able to bid during the Top Hatter auctions when they are posted.  I got lucky at the start of the year when they changed their weekly Sunday evening auction to an earlier time.  I finally won a 3 month SoapScription and with it you get 2 bars of the same scent for 3 months plus a gift in your birthday month.  I should be getting it anytime.

"Item Description: This listing is for our soap of the month club for a 3 month duration. You will get TWO 4-5oz bar per month for 3 months, plus if you tell us when your birthday is we will send you a special birthday gift!  Your bar will come hand wrapped in decorative paper with a label on the front.

We are still finalizing the scent list (and it may be subject to change if we find an awesome scent that we think would make a great addition) but there will be scents EXCLUSIVE to this collection that you cannot get anywhere else in our store! Scents will be relevant to the month sent out Your SOAPscription will start the month purchased UNLESS you ask for it to start at a later date. Each month your soap will be shipped out by the 7th.

Unlike other soaps out there this soap DOES NOT contain any coconut oil! Goat Milk soap is great for people with dry or sensitive skin, or conditions such as excema and psoriasis. Goat milk contains alpha hydroxy acids which help make skin smoother and younger looking. Goat milk is very moisturizing and won't dry out your skin. The milk contains natural emollients, vitamins and triglycerides that are beneficial to all skin types. A mild soap with creamy lather!" 


I decided to find out what ll the fuss was about with Deco tape.  So I bought this auction lot as well.

"Item Description: This lot is for 10 assorted rolls of deco tape. These tapes are awesome for scrapbooking, cardmaking, identifying personal items, wrapping gifts, decorating packages, etc. Each roll is approx 300 cm long and approx 1.5 cm wide. Tape rolls are randomly selected."


I have now got over 400 euro beads and you can only interchange them so many times.  I give them to my mom and friends as well.  I bought these bangles so I can design some bracelets and try and sell them on Top Hatter.  

"Item Description: These silver bangles are perfect for your euro bead creations.  Quantity:  4"





I bought this tarot deck and book for fun.

"Item Description:  Imagine strolling through a dark wood, the silver moonlight bathing your path in an ethereal glow. Now is the time to call upon your intuition and explore hidden realms of imagination and creativity. What secret messages do your dreams hold? 

Acclaimed tarot author Barbara Moore presents an essential introduction to card-reading, insightful interpretations of each card's significance, and introspective questions to guide your journey. 

Perfect for both traditional and intuitive readings, the Mystic Dreamer Tarot invites you to enter a mystical world of personal exploration. Contains deck and book."


These two book I got for fun reading like the tarot deck and companion book.  I'm hoping that the Herbal Almanac has planting info in it.  I read online after I purchased the book that it doesn't have planting dates in it, which would be rather disappointing.

"Today’s busy Witches can stay on top of it all— the magical and the mundane—with Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook. Add a little magic to each day and keep pace with the ever-turning Wheel of the Year with this indispensable, on-the-go tool.

New for this year is Elizabeth Barrette’s insightful introduction to thirteen magical stones that includes spells and rituals. You’ll also find fun, fresh ways to celebrate the sacred seasons and enhance your practice—inspiring Sabbat musings (Ellen Dugan), tasty Sabbat recipes (Susan Pesznecker), and Moon rituals (Ember Grant). For spellwork, there’s astrological information and daily colors. Also included are in-depth articles on good energy (Tess Whitehurst), cauldron magic (James Kambos), rainy day magic (Melanie Marquis), and many more."

"Spice up your favorite dishes with French tarragon. Chase away stress with delicious soup. There are hundreds of ways to benefit from nature’s most versatile plants inside Llewellyn’s Herbal Almanac.

This treasury of innovative herbal ideas spans five categories: gardening, cooking, crafts, health/ beauty, and myth/lore. Learn about endangered herbs, hyssop, and the apple in Nordic ritual. Discover how to whip up antioxidant-rich purple passion parfait, use herbs in energetic healing, relieve dry skin with a borage face pack, treat your feet to a wormwood bath, turn your garden into a wildlife paradise with minimal effort and cost, and much more.

From moon gardens to plant numerology to the perfect “cuppa” hot chocolate, this practical almanac is your gateway to the herbal kingdom."

I Had to Upgrade my Thermostat and Now I Save $$$ Monthly

Ever had your thermostat go out and wonder if you should upgrade it to a better one or not? Well the answer is YES!  It will save you $ in the long run AND better regulate the temperature in your home.  So replace  your cheap $ 25 thermostat and get one that is atleast $60.

My heat didn't come on one night and I woke up to it being 62 in the house. I figured the easiest and cheapest fix would be to replace the thermostat. The display wasn't on and it doesn't have a battery to replace. So I knew my thermostat had gone out and I had to get a new one. It was starting to get cold and the snow was coming. I moved into my home in April 2011. It is a two storey home with a half finished basement. The basement was always colder than the rest of the home and the upstairs, especially my bedroom was always much warmer than the main level. The thermostat is on the main floor on the wall that is open between the dining room and the living room. I know now that the problem with uneven heating and cooling was due to the cheap thermostat. It didn't have enough power to push the air to the farthest vents in the upper level.

The original thermostat was cheap and didn't push much air to the upper floor. As a new home owner I did not know that the quality of the thermostat dictated how well the air was pushed throughout the home. I went to my local Canadian Tire and looked at all the thermostats and tried to figure out what the difference was between them all. I know that I wanted something in the $ 65 - $75 range. I knew that I wanted to upgrade my $ 25 one but didn't want to over do it as I can upgrade to a $ 150 one at a later date. This thinking paid off. The power of the more expensive thermostat gives a lot more power to the furnace.

I purchased a Honeywell 5-1-1 Programmable Thermostat. It was easy to replace. The wires for the most part were the same as the previous thermostat. Before I had removed the previous thermostat to take with me to Canadian Tire I had taken a picture of the wires and which slot they were connected to. When I went to put the new thermostat on all I had to do was match the letters on the picture to the letters and description of the new one.

I set the time, date and schedule, which was easy. The schedule was easy to set up. It is separated by weekdays and then separate schedules for Saturday and Sunday. I pushed done and it turned on. I wanted to test the heat. The upstairs the heat came out nicely in the bathroom, spare room and office. My bedroom even with the filter in it blew out the vent nicely. The main level vents you could feel the heat push through and heat the home up much quicker. The basement warmed up a lot too. The basement bedroom now gets very warm with the door closed, which last year with the previous thermostat never did. After two months the home is much warmer and the furnace actually turns off because it hits its set temperature much quicker. My hydro bill has come down some compared to last year.

• Exclusive Honeywell Smart Response Technology
• 4 programmable periods per day
• +/-1° F precise temperature control
• Auto change from heat to cool
• Large, backlit display - room and set temperature display simultaneously
• Temporary and Permanent hold settings
• Fahrenheit or Celsius temperature display
• Soft-touch button interface
• Easy-access battery compartment
• Honeywell Model # RTH6400
  • Brand Name - Honeywell
  • Day Programming - 5-1-1
  • Periods Per Star - 4
  • Function - Forced Air
  • Auto Switch - No
  • Memory Backup - Yes
  • Display - Backlit Display
  • Voltage - 24V
  • Remote - Armchair programming
  • Energy Star Compliant - n/a
  • Dimensions - 3.75"H x 6"W x 1.25"D

Cocoa Pink's Whipped Topping Soap in Banana Coconut Cloud Pie..mmmmmm delicious

A few months ago a friend of mine had given me three brand new unopened CocoaPink Whipped Topping Soaps.  I put them away in one of my bath and body bins and waited to let them cure a bit more so that the scents and products were right.  Within my bin I had forgotten about these delicious smelling jars of soap.  When I go through my bins of bath, body and beauty items, there is so much that lately when I switch out my scents I find the ones I want and stop looking.  Things seem to be getting overlooked.  Plus I've been trying to use up things to make space for things I love, I have a bunch of scents I don't really like or even care for.  I found my CP Whipped Topping Soaps and decided to do a review on the Banana Coconut Cloud Pie one. as I haven't tried the other scents yet.

CP's Description of Scent:
Banana Coconut Cloud Pie - Harajuku Bananas, Coconut Cream Pie, Coconut Milk, Marshmallow Sugar, Vanilla Pudding, and crushed Vanilla Wafers for the crust.

My Take after the first usage:
I find it VERY sweet.  I love this scent as I am a huge coconut lover.  I find the banana scent to be very underwhelming.  I am not sure if that is good or bad.  There is a hint of banana to it which seems to balance out the sweet marshmallow sugar scent in it.  When I sniff I am able to pin point each scent point listed above.  I love the hint of vanilla wafers at the end.  

My Second Take:
I have now used this whipped soap a few more times and can now definitely smell the banana note.  I love this scent even more now.  It is very well balanced with none of the notes being overwhelming.  I love the banana and coconut scents together.  It just smells so delicious.  I would purchase this scent in a perfume and scrub.  I love using this soap because it fills my shower up with a yummy scent and it lingers good on the skin.

Whipped Soap Topping Review: The soap part of the product is very creamy.  With glycerin being the first ingredient it has lots of moisturizing properties to it.  It is a fluffy whipped soap with some denseness to it.  It lathers really well.  It does everything I love a soap to do: lather, smell delicious, moisturize and of course clean the skin.  Plus it leaves a lingering scent on the skin.  I would definitely repurchase CP's whipped soaps again and in Banana Coconut Cloud Pie.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  I hope you all had a wonderful and safe New Year.

I went with some friends to The Keg.  Their steaks are the best.  I got the Pecan Sirloin topped with goat cheese, garlic mashed potatoes and a Cesar salad.  It was one of the best steaks I have ever had.  I usually get the Blue Cheese Filet when I go there but decided to try something else.  It's a treat to get to go there.

If you have a Keg close by I strongly urge you to try it.  You won't be disappointed, even someone who isn't a big steak eater.  Their steaks are always tender, juicy and perfectly cooked.

After dinner we went to my place and played some Eurchre, snacked and watched some New Year's Eve shows.  It was very relaxing evening.  Some indulgence but mostly relaxing and having fun with close friends.