Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Five on Friday: Happy Baby, High School Tennis, and HelloFresh

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In the interest of sharing more of the day-to-day life of the Winsteads (not that anyone has asked for that), I’m jumping on-board the Five on Friday train for the very first time. Here’s a peek at what we’ve been up to this last week:

Five on Friday: Happy Baby, High School Tennis, and HelloFresh

Happy Baby

Our sweet little Q is nine months old as of yesterday! As with every month, I can’t believe how big she’s getting. She currently loves sitting on the floor surrounded by toys and cruising around in her walker. She’s seriously the happiest baby I’ve ever known.

Five on Friday: Happy Babies, High School Tennis, and HelloFresh

High School Tennis

I took G and Q with me to watch the high school tennis team play on Tuesday. I didn’t snap any pictures because, hello, six-year-old and infant, but we had a blast. We watched several of my students play, G ran around a little, and Q, as always, smiled at everyone who even almost made eye contact. It was a successful trip made even better with a stop at Flitter & Flo’s for our first snow cones of the season.

S-Town

I’m a huge fan of podcasts, especially the true crime genre. I’m currently obsessed with a new one called S-Town. It’s from the people behind Serial, and all seven episodes dropped on Tuesday. I’m already four episodes in and it’s taking all I have to not binge-listen to the next three. I have no idea where this story is going, but I’m loving the rich characters and the compassionate narrator.

[Read more…]

My Completely Honest LipSense Review

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Is it just a fad, or is it the best thing to happen to beauty products since waterproof mascara? Read my unpaid, Completely Honest LipSense Review to find out.

Is it just a fad, or is it the best thing to happen to beauty products since waterproof mascara? Read my unpaid, Completely Honest LipSense Review to find out.

This may come as a shock to readers who know me in person because I am so not into makeup and beauty products. I don’t wear a whole lot of makeup, and I’ve especially never been into lipstick. So how does a former lip balm-addict feel about LipSense?

I’m glad you asked.

My Completely Honest LipSense Review

The Facts

LipSense is liquid lip color. It comes in a variety of shades and textures that are perfect for mixing, matching, and building your own custom colors. LipSense lasts between four and 18 hours (that number is much closer to 18+, in my experience) and restores moisture to your lips.

One thing I love about LipSense is that it naturally shields lips from the sun. Because it’s a non-wax liquid that protects the skin of your lips from exposure to elements, LipSense actually makes your lips softer with use.

When you’re first getting started with LipSense, you need to buy three products: a lip color, a gloss, and a remover. To apply the product, you put on three layers of color and finish with a layer of gloss.

Is it just a fad, or is it the best thing to happen to beauty products since waterproof mascara? Read my unpaid, Completely Honest LipSense Review to find out.

The Good

Um, I actually wear it?

I never wore lipstick much for two reasons: my lips were always too chapped for it to look right and I didn’t have time to reapply several times throughout the day. LipSense solved both of those problems.

The product has healed my formerly-chapped lips. Part of that is some special secret of the LipSense formula, and part is because I make sure to apply Glossy Gloss when I’m not wearing a color.

[Read more…]

Guest Post: An Open Letter to the Future President of the United States

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Today’s guest post is different than what I normally share on Winstead Wandering. Rayben, a former student of mine, sent me a text asking if she could share this post here. I said yes because I love to see young people with a passion for writing and with a passion for politics.

An 18-year-old's open letter to the next president of the United States.

TO SECRETARY CLINTON & MR. TRUMP:
“Love Trumps Hate.”

Does it really?

A clever play-on-words created by an experienced word-weaver, the phrase is more often used as a tactic of destruction rather than that of benevolence.

One of you declares his love for the minority; the other makes well-known his amnesty toward the radicals: Polar opinions with identical approaches.

Who really loves the most?

Some would say the left-wing, with their attempts to prove that “all are loved,” and “your life matters.” What they fail to inform the general populous of is that with every “we’re all equal” statement (to include a minority), a majority is displaced. You, the candidate say that “your life matters,” but not if the person they’re speaking to has been blessed with a hardship-free life, or if they’ve worked hard to live comfortably, or if they seem to have never been in a situation in which they had to choose between a luxury and necessity. You say our religion is accepted, but not if I worship this type of god, or if I pray more than once a day.

If the love expressed is “love” comprised of thinly-veiled attempts at gaining political momentum, how true are his intentions? Can love really be love if the person giving it has hate in his heart for the opposite opinion? If you’re using love as a means of demeaning others’ opinions and their beliefs, you’re not actually loving anyone.

Love does not envy

A neighbor who loves does not covet what his more fortunate neighbor is blessed with

Love does not boast

A proud leader is usually not very well-received

Love is not rude

Where rudeness is, loyalty is not soon to follow

Love is not self-seeking

Self-promotion and self-adoration are unflattering

Love is not easily angered

A short temper is not quickly admired

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth

Lies and schemes are not in fellowship with true love

Love always protects

A true leader does not provoke and stand back while his people are attacked from the inside-out

I say to you both:

Love may trump hate, but only, only if the love being expressed is a love cultivated with pure intentions: intentions only possible if one follows the outline given in 1 Corinthians 13.

Give me your love and acceptance, or bluntness and blatant disregard for others’ feelings all day, but I’d much rather have truth and discord, than lies and unity.

Regardless of how I vote in November, good luck to you both.

The Best Books I’ve Read Lately

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Looking for the next must-read? Check out the best books I’ve read lately.

Looking for the next must-read? Check out the best books I've read lately.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately. I’ve read a lot- okay, too many- mediocre books that I never would have read had they not been free through Amazon on my Kindle.

I’ve read some good books, though, and even some outstanding books. Like, read-them-again-and-again books. If I love a book, I hold onto it- usually virtually- and read it again. For instance, I’ve read my all-time favorite books, Redeeming Love and To Kill a Mockingbird, multiple times each. As in, well over a half dozen times each.

I’m not sure if the books in this post are that good, but they’re certainly really darn good. They’re the best books I’ve read in quite some time.

The Best Books I’ve Read Lately

The Short Drop

The Short Drop

The only reason I took notice of this book is because I got an email from Amazon offering it to me for free on my Kindle. I don’t accept every one of those offers, but the brief summary of this one intrigued me. Here’s the gist:

A decade ago, fourteen-year-old Suzanne Lombard, the daughter of Benjamin Lombard—then a senator, now a powerful vice president running for the presidency—disappeared in the most sensational missing-person case in the nation’s history. Still unsolved, the mystery remains a national obsession.

For legendary hacker and marine Gibson Vaughn, the case is personal—Suzanne Lombard had been like a sister to him. On the tenth anniversary of her disappearance, the former head of Benjamin Lombard’s security asks for Gibson’s help in a covert investigation of the case, with new evidence in hand.

I could not put this book down. Seriously, I think I read it in a day and a half. The plot pulled me in and, even though it got predictable in a couple spots, there was still plenty of mystery and suspense. In my opinion, the sign of a truly great book is when, days after you’ve finished reading it, you can’t get the characters and the story out of your head. That was The Short Drop.

[Read more…]

My Completely Honest Rocksbox Review

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Have you heard of Rocksbox? Have you considered trying this jewelry rental service? I had no idea what to expect when I signed up, so in an effort to answer the questions others might have, I’m sharing my completely honest Rocksbox review.

Have you heard of Rocksbox? Have you considered trying this jewelry rental service? I had no idea what to expect when I signed up, so in an effort to answer the questions others might have, I'm sharing my completely honest Rocksbox review.

First things first. Let’s cover the basics:

What is Rocksbox?

Rocksbox is like subscription box meets jewelry rental service. For a flat monthly fee, they’ll send you three pieces of jewelry that you can keep and wear for as long as you’d like, purchase to have forever, or return in exchange for three more pieces. You curate a wish list using your Rocksbox account, which means the stylist who chooses your pieces gets to see what kind of jewelry you’re into. In addition, each box will contain at least one piece from your wish list.

How much does it cost?

Rocksbox is $19 a month. That $19 gets you three pieces of jewelry to rent for as long as you’d like, plus you get $10 of “shine spend” every month, which is just $10 toward the purchase of any of the pieces in your box. The pieces themselves range from $25-$70 on average.

You never pay for shipping, either. The box ships to you for free, and you keep the mailer it comes in, slap on the accompanying prepaid label, and mail the whole thing back when you’re done.

The Background

Those who know me might be thinking I’m the least likely person to try a jewelry rental service. I wear jewelry in some form every day, and I enjoy growing my collection with pieces I love, but I’ve never been obsessed with having the latest and greatest designer jewelry.

I never considered signing up for the service because designer jewelry isn’t important to me and because I don’t mind wearing the same several necklaces and the same several pairs of earrings. I figured Rocksbox would be great for those who want to be able to wear “new” jewelry all the time without forking out a ton of cash to make it happen.

But then an invitation to join landed in my inbox. I began to think a little harder about signing up. Finally, I decided to give it a shot. I realized Rocksbox might not just be for women who enjoy being on the cutting edge of jewelry. It might just as much be for people like me, who don’t want to wear outdated pieces, but who also don’t have the time, the money, or the know-how to keep their collections up-to-date. So I signed up.

I got right to work adding items to my wish list. I was actually a little surprised by how excited I was for my first box to arrive. I was nervous, too; what if I hated every piece? Because of all the questions I had, and because of how hesitant I was to try it, I decided to share my experience here.

My Completely Honest Rocksbox Review

So far, I’ve received three Rocksboxes. I don’t have photos of the first because I didn’t know I’d be sharing my thoughts here. I do have photos of my next two boxes, though, so let’s jump in. Here’s everything- plus way more than- you ever wanted to know about Rocksbox:

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3 life lessons I learned from weeding

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Sometimes in life, we’re wise to take cues from the world around us; here are 3 life lessons I learned from weeding.

Hey! The month of July has me crisscrossing the country, from a road trip to Chicago to a plane ride “home” to Oregon. While I’m away, I’ve lined up some awesome guest posts for y’all.  Today, Angela is sharing some wisdom she’s gained while working in her flower beds.

I love the Spring and early Summer. I’m not a very experienced gardener of flowers or vegetables, but I have tried to make the space around our house beautiful with flowers. We moved into our house 9 years ago and my husband and I worked patches of the hard clay soil with compost and a lot of sweat so that we could have a few flower beds.

With the beautiful budding flowers and Spring rain come weeds. Lots of them. Every time I weed the garden beds, I find myself meditating on how there are life lessons we can learn from weeding. Today I was weeding the garden beds for the second time this season and reflecting on 3 life lessons from weeding.

Sometimes in life, we're wise to take cues from the world around us; here are 3 life lessons I learned from weeding.

1. Pull weeds early and often. The first time I pulled weeds this season, there were a lot of them – but they were small and their roots were thin so they pulled up easily. This time – I had neglected the garden beds and some of the weeds took two hands and all my muscle to pull out. Some I couldn’t even pull out with just my hands – I needed a tool.

All of us have vices, negative habits or thoughts, sins – whatever you personally call them. There are things that we do in our personal lives that are unhealthy for us. These “weeds” can’t be neglected. We need to be vigilant about knowing what our triggers are and pulling out our “weeds” before they take root in our lives.

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summer reading swap box + a book review

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Book swap boxes are a fun way to meet new people and discover great books. Here’s what I got in my box + what I thought of my first book.

Book swap boxes are a fun way to meet new people and discover great books. Here's what I got in my box + what I thought of my first book.

I’ve always been a reader. You know the words people use to describe those who love to read? Avid, voracious, insatiable? I am all of those things. I love words. I love discovering brilliant combinations of words. I love that paradoxical race to finish a book and the anxiety of leaving the characters behind when you do.

Because I love to read, and because I enjoy connecting with others who love it, too, I was glad to have stumbled upon the summer reading book swap hosted by Chelsie at Life with Rosie.

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how to make kool-aid playdough

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Adding a packet of Kool-Aid to homemade playdough is a simple way to give your batch a vibrant color and a fun, fruity smell.

Summa summa summatime! My Facebook and Pinterest feeds are full of creative outdoor activities to keep kids occupied this summer. Soda bottle sprinklers, lawn-size board games, any number of homemade paints and chalks; you could try a different craft every day all summer long.

Adding a packet of Kool-Aid to homemade playdough is a simple way to give your batch a vibrant color and a fun, fruity smell.

But can I tell you a secret? I don’t like outside. I live in Mississippi, where summer is really freaking hot and humid. I’m a fair-skinned (read: I burn like toast) mom of two fair-skinned ginger kids. We avoid the sun with vampiric skill. So when school’s out for the summer, we turn to creative ways to have fun indoors, including this Kool-Aid playdough.

Adding a packet of Kool-Aid to homemade playdough is a simple way to give your batch a vibrant color and a fun, fruity smell.

I love that it’s easy to make and it’s easy to double or triple the recipe. This playdough is soft and smooth, not grainy like the store-bought version. You can customize it using your child’s favorite color, and along with the rich color comes a pleasant smell.

Kool-Aid playdough is an excellent opportunity to discuss the five senses: your kids can touch the smooth dough, they can smell its fruity scent, they can see its vibrant color, they can hear it plop on the table, and they can even taste its salty flavor. [Read more…]

5 blogging mistakes you’re making

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Are you making one of these five blogging mistakes? They’re actions that can drive viewers from your blog, but they’re all easily corrected.

 

Are you making one of these five blogging mistakes? They're actions that can drive viewers from your blog, but they're all easily corrected.

This isn’t a post containing the tried-and-true wisdom I’ve gained from years spent in the blogging trenches. This isn’t a post written by someone who makes a living helping people grow their blogs. This isn’t the post of an expert blogger.

Because I’m so not.

This is the post of a seasoned blog-reader. I read blogs, a lot of them. A few I read faithfully, but lots I visit randomly, through Pinterest or through the internet rabbit hole of “I clicked a link that led there, where I clicked another link that led there, and that’s where I saw another link…”

Are you making one of these five blogging mistakes? They're actions that can drive viewers from your blog, but they're all easily corrected.

I’m stilling feeling my way through the blog-owning side of things, but I’ve been a blog-viewer for many years. This is what I see:

5 blogging mistakes you’re making

your links don’t open in new pages

Picture this: I’m on your blog, let’s say browsing a recipe. During the course of reading the post, I come across a link, like this. Based on context, I’m interested in where the link leads, so I click it. Now I’m no longer viewing the recipe, I’m viewing the page from the link.

And most likely, because I’m me and usually have no fewer than seventeen internet tabs open at any given time, I get distracted by the link and forget I was there for a recipe. So the recipe doesn’t get pinned, or commented on, or shared.

the solution: have every single link you include in your posts open in a new tab or window, but especially a link that takes the reader away from your site.

(2.21.16 update: I recently learned that have all your internal links open in a new tab can seriously hurt your bounce rate. With that being said, I still highly recommend you have all external links open in new tabs.)

you’re not replying to comments

I don’t comment on many blogs. Now that I have my own blog and I know how special comments are, I try to make more of an effort, but I’m still pretty bad about it. So when I do take a few seconds to leave my thoughts on a blog post, the least you can do is respond.

Oftentimes, I go back and visit the blog again when I get an email informing me of the reply. If there’s no reply, I don’t really have a reason to go back.

the solution: respond to every comment left on your posts, even the one-word ones. If a reader is kind enough to leave their thoughts, it’s the polite thing for you to do.

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Father’s Day Gift Ideas

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A unique selection of Father’s Day gift ideas, perfect for the impossible-to-buy-for dad in your life.

 

A unique selection of Father's Day gift ideas, perfect for the impossible-to-buy-for dad in your life.

 

1. sandalwood shaving kit
Pampering isn’t just for women anymore. Give Dad the male equivalent of a bubble bath kit with this sandalwood -scented shaving kit.

If fancy oils and creams aren’t Dad’s thing, grab this Nivea aftershave– it’s my husband’s favorite.

2. team pride toolbox
Is Dad a handyman? Does Dad wish he was a handyman? Or does Dad just jump at any opportunity to represent his favorite team? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, a team logo toolbox might be just the gift you’re looking for.

If you’re buying for a dad who’s just starting his tool collection, this toolbox will help him get started.

3. darth vader shirt decal
Come on. Darth Vader? I am your father? Star Wars gear for Father’s Day is a no-brainer. This decal is an iron-on transfer, meaning you can put it on Dad’s favorite brand of t-shirt or sweatshirt.

If you’d like to buy something ready-made, this Star Wars Darth Vader t-shirt is my favorite.

4. periodic table “father” mug
Got a chemist in your life? J. teaches high school chemistry, so he appreciates all things periodic table. This mug is just the kind of thing a science nerd would appreciate.

For a dad who likes to cook or grill, this apron is an amusing choice.

5. grill branding iron
J. loves red meat. So does my dad. For a lot of guys, grilling is an art form. What better way to brag about your barbeque prowess than to stamp your steak with your initial?

If the dad in your life is a big sports fan, maybe a logo brand is more his style.

6. men’s messenger bag
Does your dad use a briefcase? Or does he still carry his old college backpack? Upgrade him to a hip messenger bag.

If you aren’t a fan of the Backcountry bag, this one from Fossil is a sharp-looking choice.

Don’t see anything that grabs you? A few months back, I wrote a post with Valentine’s Day gift ideas, many of which would make perfect Father’s Day presents, too.

Who is the most difficult dad in your life to shop for?

(note: this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see my disclosure policy)