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Thursday, May 22, 2025

Reviewing Veterans Tribute Park

Last week I visited a park that was new to me. It opened in October 2018. It is located on Kisker Drive in Weldon Springs Missouri. It is an 120 acre park with lots of wonderful features.

Park Features

The park is loaded with features for every age group. They include:

Two Lakes where you can enjoy a nice stroll or go fishing.
A Dog Park
Playground
A Great Trail System for those who like to hike.
Storybook Walk This trail is designed for parents and kids who love to read. Book pages are posted at various stations along the trail, so you can read a book while you take a walk.
Picnic Shelters

In addition, it has two of my favorite features- the Veterans Memorial Plaza and flowers which I will tell you about in more detail in the sections below.

Veterans Memorial Plaza

Veterans Memorial Plaza is a beautiful area that honors Veterans from the St. Charles County area that have given the ultimate sacrifice. It includes a beautiful walk lined with flowers that lead to the Tribute Wall. The tribute wall is a curved stoned wall engraved with names and has waterfalling over the wall. After you see the wall, the walk continues up a slight incline and has stops from each of the conflicts from 1812 to the present day. Each stop features a board that describes the conflict and, on the walk, in front of the board is a star on the sidewalk with the names of those residents of the county that died in that conflict. It is a very moving feature of the park.

Lots of Beautiful Spring Flowers

I visited the park in early May and there were lots of beautiful flowers that lined the walkway to the Veterans Tribute.

Zazzle Products From my Photos

Two-toned Iris Beauties Two-Tone Coffee Mug
by mbgphoto

https://www.zazzle.com/inspirational_greeting_card-256580751976839042

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Wednesday, May 21, 2025

A Prostaglandin-Free Lash Growth Serum for Longer, Stronger Eyelashes

If you’ve been longing for naturally longer, fuller lashes but want to avoid extensions or harsh formulas, Sweed Pro Eyelash Serum is well worth a look. I’ve been using it in my own routine and it’s quickly become a favorite because it’s clean, safe, prostaglandin-free, gentle on my sensitive eyes, and gives me noticeably longer, stronger eyelashes.

The Best Prostaglandin-Free Eyelash Growth Serum

I am not wearing eyeliner on my upper lids in this photo, just mascara

Do You Have Short, Sparse, or Weak Eyelashes?

I have never been blessed with great lashes. Mine have always been thin, pale, stick straight (similar to Asian lashes), and they point straight down. Long, upward curling lashes are especially important for those of us who have deeply hooded eyes. And, as we age, no matter how they started, our eyes tend to become more hooded and our lashes tend to become more sparse. That's why in my late 60s and early 70s, finding an effective lash growth serum became a beauty priority.

A couple of years ago, I used a fantastic lash growth serum from Obagi. It made a huge difference in the length and fullness of my lashes, although it tended to make them brittle. But the real problem was that it contained a prostaglandin analog. So, while I continue to use (and love) their excellent brow serum, I didn't want to keep using their lash serum because I didn't want to use a prostaglandin analog so close to my eyes.

I tried several well reviewed and highly recommended prostaglandin-free lash growth serums with disappointing results. I used at least one entire tube of each brand's eyelash serum to give it a fair trial. But it wasn't until I tried Sweed Beauty's Pro Eyelash Serum that I found a winner.

An Effective, Clean Beauty Lash Growth Serum With No Prostaglandins

One of the first things that drew me to this serum is its commitment to clean, vegan, and cruelty-free beauty. It’s free from prostaglandin analogues (found in many lash serums), as well as sulfates, parabens, gluten, and synthetic fragrance. That’s a rare and welcome combination, especially for those of us with mature or sensitive eyes.

Unlike many lash growth serums that rely on prostaglandins or prostaglandin analogs — hormone-like ingredients originally used in glaucoma treatments — Sweed Pro Eyelash Serum is completely free from these compounds. That matters because prostaglandin-based formulas have been linked to unwanted side effects such as darkening of the eyelid skin and iris, periorbital fat loss (which can create a sunken-eye look), eye irritation, and even eyelid drooping or unwanted facial hair growth where the product migrates.

Sweed takes a gentler approach, using nourishing, non-irritating peptides and botanicals to support healthier-looking, longer lashes—without the hormone disruption or high-risk side effects.

Created by a Makeup Artist Who Understands Real Results

Sweed’s founder, Gabriella Elio, is a professional makeup artist with over two decades of experience. She designed her line to reflect the clean, performance-driven simplicity of Scandinavian beauty, and that’s exactly what this serum delivers. It's surprisingly effective, especially compared to the other prostaglandin-free lash serums I have tried.

It's a bit hard to tell with my stick-straight lashes and deeply hooded eyes, but my eyelashes are so much longer and fuller and don't break as easily after using the Sweed Pro Eyelash Serum for 2 months

What I Noticed

After about three weeks of consistent nightly use, I began noticing a difference in my lashes. They looked a bit fuller and I noticed fewer lashes falling out. By the four-week mark, I could see a real improvement in overall density and health. After six weeks, I was really impressed with how long, full, and strong my lashes were becoming.

There was no redness, no irritation, no stinging—and that’s saying something, because my eyes can be quite sensitive.

Although my mascara didn't cooperate when I took these photos, you can see how long and full my normally short, sparse lashes have become after using Sweed Pro Eyelash Serum nightly for two months

What’s Inside

The Sweed Pro Eyelash Serum formula is packed with thoughtful, lash-loving ingredients:

Peptides to support healthy lash growth
Biotin to strengthen and help prevent breakage
Pumpkin seed extract to nourish and add shine
Vegan keratin to reinforce and protect
Hyaluronic acid for deep hydration
Panthenol (Vitamin B5) to improve flexibility and softness

Each ingredient plays a supportive role in extending the growth phase of your lashes while conditioning and protecting them along the way.

How to Use Sweed Pro Eyelash Serum

It’s very easy to use. After cleansing at night, just apply a thin line of the serum right along the upper lash line, as if it were liquid eyeliner. This eyelash serum dries quickly, and after a couple of minutes you can apply the rest of your evening skincare routine.

After achieving noticeable results, you can scale back to using it two to three times a week for maintenance. And if you’re like me and have a few sparse spots in your brows, you can apply the serum there too, although Sweed also makes a great brow serum.

Packaging & Price

I love the pretty turquoise packaging of this lash growth serum, which is available in a choice of two sizes:

3 ml for $55
5 ml for $80

The 3 ml size should last about 3 months and the 5 ml size should last about 5 months. That averages $16–$18 a month for fuller, longer, stronger lashes.

Final Thoughts

Sweed Pro Eyelash Serum strikes that rare balance of being gentle enough for daily use while actually delivering results. It’s a clean, vegan lash enhancer created by a professional who understands performance and simplicity.

If you’re looking to improve the fullness and health of your natural lashes without irritation or compromise, I truly believe this is one of the best clean formulas out there.

A Prostaglandin-Free Lash Growth Serum for Longer, Stronger Eyelashes by Margaret Schindel

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

A Review of the Easiest Way to Organize Your Closet

Are sick of your closet looking like the FBI just searched it? Are you tired of having to look through 30 tops you rarely wear, to find the one that you do? Do you hate putting on a pair of pants, just to find they are ripped or stained? I used to go through all these scenarios on a daily basis because my bedroom closet was just a mess! Trying to find something to wear to work was a nightmare and when I finally did, pulling it out of a packed closet meant that it was a wrinkled mess and had to be ironed before I could wear it, or go to work looking like I slept in it.

If you have these problems like I did and are ready to do something about it, I have a plan for you that is guaranteed to solve your closet problems for good! It’s actually fairly simple, once the decision is made. It’s just 3 steps to a clean closet and the means to keep it that way.

Step 1: Sort and Toss. This is probably the most time consuming and painful step. You need to go through every single thing in your closet and put it in one of three piles.

Keep - Items you wear frequently and love. They fit well and are comfortable.

Throw away - Items that are damaged, stained or somehow unwearable.

Donate - Items that are too small or too large. This also include items that you may love, but that really don't look good on you or don't fit right. This pile most importantly must include things that you don't wear even if there really is no good reason. If you have not had it on your body in the last year, out it goes.

Keep in mind that you have a finite amount of space in your closet and once it is full you will have to find more items to remove from the keep pile. Once you have your piles, and everything is sorted, immediately bag up the throw away stuff and take it outside and put it in your trash can, so you won’t be tempted to change your mind. Bag up the donated stuff, close the bags with zip ties or knotted twine and put a tag on them. Call your charity right then and there and arrange for pick up, then put the bags in the garage, out of sight.

Step 2: Organize – There are many ways to organize your closet. You can get the shelves that screw to the wall, or you can get space bags, or you can go to Ikea and custom build yourself an organizer. Personally, I prefer to take the easy and more inexpensive route and buy free standing organizers from Amazon

They are very easy to use, you just assemble them, set them in the closet and you are good to go. They are also not expensive, so I think they are the perfect solution. It is also wise to invest in some smaller totes for the shelves. They can hold scarves, belts, purses and other accessories.

My favorite organizer is the Whitmor Double Rod Freestanding Closet Organizer. I like that is has two rows to hang on. I use one for tops and the other for pants and blazers. The shelves are very handy, I use the bottom two for shoes and the rest have totes for accessories. I love this organizer!

Because it is freestanding, it does not take any tools to put together and it only weighs ten pounds, so anyone can move it. It's dimensions are 45.2" x 19.3" x 68" and it is pretty easy to put together. And it is less than $40! You really cannot find a better deal to organize your closet.

I also found some Storage Baskets that I really love. I didn't want stiff basket weave or plastic, so I kept looking. I finally found some gorgeous woven cotton rope totes. They are so soft and can be washed in the washing machine! They are perfect for long term use.

Step 3: Stop or slow the amount of clothes you buy. This is going to be the hardest thing for some of us. Shopping is so much fun and clothes are so pretty! However, you cannot keep your closet organized if you are continually buying more clothes and never throwing any out. If you do this, it will be no time before your closet will again be looking like it does now. Once your closet is full, you need to make a hard and fast rule that for every piece you buy, you have to get rid of one. That way your closet will maintain it’s organization.

Staying organized in any part of your life is challenging, but closets are a special problem by themselves. Organizers are a good way of helping keep this problem under control. Spring is a great time to start!

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Monday, May 19, 2025

Reviewing the Primo Portable Water Dispenser

Clean drinking water is important and I have learned that having more than one source of drinking water is necessary. The Primo Portable Water Dispenser is an excellent water solution in a variety of situations. I wish I had made this inexpensive purchase years ago.

Water is Life

Primo Portable Water Dispenser

I wish I had known about the Primo Portable Water Dispenser before now. It is a small hand pump that fits on 5 and 3 gallon water jugs. Once attached to the jug, you merely depress the pump, pressing it down repeatedly to fill your glass, coffee pot, or other container. I do not understand the technology, but I can tell that it is somehow pressurized so that it pumps out a good bit of water each time I depress the top.

I purchased my Primo water dispenser at a local big box store. And the pump included a coupon for a free 5 gallon water. There are also a large variety of water pumps (brands and styles) on Amazon.

These 5 and 3 gallon jugs are available in many locations for purchase or refill. I had no idea that refill stations were so easily accessible in many grocery and big box stores. If you prefer, delivery services are available in many areas; including my remote area.

Situations in Which Portable Water is Helpful

It seems that situations where potable water is necessary have increased. I can recall many examples that potable water is needed. In urban areas, water supplies are interrupted due to broken mains, lead discovery in older plumbing, and problems at the treatment facilities. During disasters (hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires) water donations are the immediate need. And outside of these situations, the Primo water dispenser is an excellent, everyday water source.

Picnics, camping
sporting events, tailgating
reunions
large gatherings
state of emergency disasters
every day household clean water needs
contaminated public water, "boil water" alerts
environmental concerns; eliminating multiple, single-use bottles
lead contamination in older buildings and water systems

Related Links:

Primo official website
Large variety of water dispensers on Amazon: simple portable pumps, counter-top crocks, and heated/cooled water coolers.

My Personal Water Needs

On my homestead, I have a cistern that holds my water supply. I am unable to put a well in due to being on top of the ridge. I use a large water tank in the back of my truck to transport that water from the town water system. That town water is treated, so I have used my water from the cistern for drinking as well as all of the other water needs I have.

Several of my neighbors use rain catchment as their water source. I have always planned on using rain catchment to supplement my water but it wasn't something I had at the top of my list. Until recently. Now that I have moved rain catchment to the top of my list, I am not confident in my knowledge about making or keeping that rain water clean and potable.

I had a friend who lived on an off-grid homestead in Arizona and she used a ceramic crock and stand for her water jugs. It was a beautiful water stand. I had considered one of those. But I thought that picking up the jug and turning it upside-down at countertop height would be difficult for me.

I knew that I didn't want a large water dispenser that uses electricity since I have limited space and occasional power outages. If I wanted cold water, I could dispense a pitcher full and put that in the refrigerator. So I decided to give the Primo Portable Water Dispenser a try. And I'm glad I did. I am able to lift the 5 gallon jug onto the counter since I don't have to flip it upside down.

The first time I attached the pump to the water jug, I had a bit of trouble. I hadn't turned the ring on the pump open far enough to attach. Once I figured out that small glitch, attaching the pump was super easy. The pump comes with an additional ring for screw-top jugs. This pump should fit any brand of 5 or 3 gallon bottle.

I am very glad that I have a potable water source, that doesn't require the many wasted small water bottles, until I have become confident in my rain catchment skills. Even if you are not in a homesteading or rain catchment situation, the Primo Portable Water Dispenser is an excellent, inexpensive item to have.

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Sunday, May 18, 2025

Pinterest vs. Social Media: What Most Creators Get Wrong

Why Pinterest Is Different from Other Social Media Platforms

If you've got a pile of content and you're wondering how to get more eyes on it, especially over time, Pinterest might be exactly what you need. While Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are great for engagement in the moment, Pinterest works differently. It's less about real-time interaction and more about long-term discovery.

Let's break it down.

Pinterest Is a Visual Search Engine

Most people think of Pinterest as a social media platform, but it's actually a visual search engine. That's a game-changer if you're a content creator, blogger, or small business owner.

When people go to Pinterest, they're not necessarily looking to chat or scroll mindlessly—they're looking for ideas, inspiration, and solutions. Think of it like Google, but prettier.

Someone might search:

"Neutral living room decor ideas"
"Spring front door wreath"
"Easy slow cooker recipes"
"How to start a blog"

And when your pin shows up in those results, you're meeting someone at the exact moment they're interested.

Content on Pinterest Has a Long Shelf Life

One of the best parts about Pinterest? Your content doesn't disappear after 24 hours.

On platforms like Instagram or TikTok, your post might only get attention for a day or two. But on Pinterest, a well-designed pin can circulate for months, even years.

You can:

Create a single photo promo with a compelling headline and link it to your blog, shop, YouTube, or lead magnet.
Schedule that pin to go live next week—or next month.
Rinse and repeat with all your content.

It's the perfect place to build a library of visual content that keeps working for you behind the scenes.

Pinterest is Built for Clicks

Unlike many social platforms where outbound links are either hidden or discouraged, Pinterest encourages users to click through. That's why every pin you create can be connected to whatever URL you feel fits best:

A product page
A blog post
A YouTube video
A landing page
Even an affiliate link

If your goal is to drive traffic (not just likes or follows), Pinterest should be part of your strategy.

You Don't Need to Be "On" All the Time

With TikTok or Instagram, consistency usually means showing your face, filming videos, or engaging with comments regularly. But Pinterest doesn't require that kind of presence.

Instead, you can:

Batch-create your pins
Schedule them out days (or weeks) apart
Let the Pinterest algorithm do the rest

This means more breathing room and less pressure to be constantly visible. I use scheduling a great deal.

I'll create numerous variations of a marketing graphic and schedule them to go out hours, days, or even weeks apart.

Here's an example of a Pinterest graphic I recently created for one of my activity books.

Note that I created five other original versions of this marketing piece and scheduled them to go out days apart, actually, a few are scheduled to go out weeks apart:

More than a wordsearch book grandmas life advice

Got Tons of Content? Pinterest Helps You Use It All

If you're sitting on a treasure trove of blog posts, product photos, videos, or quotes, Pinterest gives you an easy way to repurpose them.

Each piece of content can inspire multiple pins:

One with a bold title
Another with a quote or benefit
A third with just a clean, eye-catching image

The more pins you make, the more chances you have to be found.

Because we may write on numerous topics, having the freedom to create marketing graphics for one location, if you've structured your Pinterest account that way, is incredibly convenient.

An article I posted here several weeks ago about an affordable men's wallet inspired me to create this pin, which leads back to that article; and yes, I created five different versions of this wallet pin to go out at different times to different boards.

Final Thought: Pinterest Isn't Just Social—It's Strategic

If you spend time creating content but feel like it's getting lost in the shuffle of fast-moving feeds, consider Pinterest. Think of it as your quietly powerful sidekick—always working in the background, helping the right people find your content when they're actively looking for it.

If you have a lot to share but not a lot of time to promote it constantly, let Pinterest do some of the heavy lifting.

You can find me on Pinterest here. There, you'll see the boards I've created over the years. To date, with nearly 12,000 followers, the traffic is between 250,000 and 350,000 monthly views, depending on the time of year. Don't hesitate to follow!

___________________

**If you're into more creative fun, in January of this year (2025), I posted an article on how to use Pinterest's new collage feature. The instructions are here.**

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Saturday, May 17, 2025

Lethal Prey by John Sandford - Book Review

A Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers Novel

I have been a fan of John Sandford’s books since his first one (Rules of Prey) published in 1989. Sandford has written 35 books in the ‘Prey’ series, featuring Lucas Davenport as the main character. In 2007, Sandford began the Virgil Flowers series ~ now totaling 12 books.

Both series are police procedurals in the mystery/thriller genre, with the main characters being in law enforcement. By the time we meet Virgil Flowers (in Book #1 - Dark of the Moon), both Virgil and Lucas work for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and Davenport is nominally Virgil’s boss.

By Book 31 in the Prey series, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers have begun handling difficult cases together. Lethal Prey is the 4th novel starring this pair of investigators, providing, as always, a very interesting mystery to solve, plus giving the reader an extremely amusing time with their delightful ongoing ‘cop’ humor.

Synopsis of Lethal Prey

Lethal Prey (A Prey Novel Book 35)Check Price

In Lethal Prey, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers have once again joined forces, this time to try and solve a 20 year old cold case crime and track down a ruthless killer who will do whatever it takes to keep the past buried.

The crime was the murder of Doris Grandfelt, an employee at an accounting firm who was brutally stabbed to death. Despite her twin sister Lara Grandfelt’s persistent calls to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the killer was never found.

Now Lara, diagnosed with breast cancer and confronted with the possibility of her own death, is determined to find Doris’ killer. She offers a $5 million reward for information leading to the killer’s arrest. To this end, she releases the entire investigative file online onto true crime sites. Dozens of true crime bloggers show up looking for new evidence and leads (toward a share of the reward). The problem is, all discoveries have to be reviewed and followed up by Lucas and Virgil.

The crime bloggers DO end up providing new clues and leads, which is helpful to the detectives. But they also blast every clue online, allowing the killer, whose identity the reader knows in Chapter One, to keep one step ahead. As the killer eliminates more people to prevent the detectives from discovering the identity of the murderer, Lucas and Virgil find the whole case not only frustrating, but deadly.

Summary

The ending leaves some things unresolved, thus leaving the reader to decide how things work out both for the killer and with Virgil's future plans. Or, perhaps Sandford is just leaving it open for a future follow-up book).

This non-standard Sandford ending has caused readers’ reviews to be mixed, with some finding this lack of conclusion disappointing. Others, such as myself, found the story very interesting, and the witty banter between Virgil and Lucas highly entertaining. I am never disappointed with any John Sandford novel and enjoyed Lethal Prey very much.

Related Reviews:

For more reviews of books by John Sandford, Click Here
For more book reviews, click on ReviewThisBooks.com

*Book Review of Lethal Prey is written by Wednesday Elf

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Friday, May 16, 2025

Bissell Pro Power Shot Oxy Carpet Spot Cleaner Reviewed

Recently, my husband cleaned our bedroom carpet with the Hoover Smart Wash Automatic Carpet Cleaner that Sam Monaco previously reviewed. It looked so good when he finished, that I wished the rest of the carpet in our home was just as clean. I wasn't about to ask my husband to do that job, so I went in search of a good spot cleaner for the other rooms.

I have tried cleaning a few irritating ugly spots several times in the past with pet stain cleaner, which I always have on hand. Coffee and food stains simply could not be "erased" by the pet stain cleaner.

After reading a lot of product reviews, I opted for the Bissell Pro Oxy Power Shot cleaner. I was very impressed! It actually cleaned one spot that was at least 6 years old that I have never been able to remove with anything else. I've gotten so frustrated with that one spot in the past, that I have actually considered replacing the carpet just to get rid of it. I suspect it was coffee or cola, but no one living in our home seemed to know its origin, which means it was probably something a guest dropped/dripped/spilled. The Bissell Pro cleaner also removed all of the other little spattered drips and spots, but I was especially impressed with it removing the older spot that I was convinced would outlive me.

It is really nice now to be able to walk into that room and not have my eyes immediately drawn to the one "blemish" on the otherwise clean carpet.

Bissell Professional Power Shop Oxy Carpet Spot Cleaner

Bissell Professional Power Shot Oxy Carpet Spot Stain RemoverCheck Price This is by far the best spot carpet cleaner I have ever used. It does have a strong smell when spraying, but that chemical odor fades quickly. I also wore disposable gloves, just as I do when working with any chemical product or cleaner.

It is very easy to use. Just as the name implies, it has a high pressure stream of cleaner that you simply spray on the spot, let is sit for one minute and then blot with a clean, white cloth. I keep inexpensive white wash clothes on-hand that I don't mind throwing away just for cleaning with chemicals, but I actually used a wade of white, ink-free, paper towels to blot the spots I cleaned on the carpet.

Hopefully, I won't need to use the spot cleaner often, but it is definitely nice to have it on-hand to use immediately when needed. I never want another spot that irritates me for years.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Tshirt from Zazzle, Review

I was going to write about a different shirt that I have from Zazzle, but found out that it is no longer available. Zazzle does change their brands of tshirts from time to time. Instead of writing about the two that I have had for years, I am writing about a recent purchase, but I do expect the same quality performance.

The one thing about ordering shirts from Zazzle, is that they don't really have a teen section, sizes go from kids to adults, and some of their shirts are marked as slim. If I was ordering a shirt from Zazzle, I would go a size or two larger when wanting it to be sized for adults. I would definitely go two sizes larger if the description says Slim, so be sure to read the description before ordering.

Other than the sizing thing, I am quite pleased with my tshirt. I already knew to order a larger size. I also wanted a soft fabric, so I got a cotton tri-blend.

All of the apparel items that I have purchased from Zazzle have been printed well. I have learned to order the white or pastel colors when ordering printed tshirts. That way the coloring is printed into the fabric, giving it a soft look and feel.

To get a truer color on dark colored shirts, one would usually have to order with a white underbase printed under the design. This gives the design a brighter and more vibrant look, but also has a rougher and more solid texture to the actual design area. Some people are okay with this, so this is a matter of preference. Some, somewhat darker colored shirts are offered without the white underbase. Customers can click on the various options to see which type of print they prefer.

I have also ordered a hooded sweatshirt from Zazzle, and have had that for many years. It has held up through numerous washings.

My experience with washing instructions have been pretty routine, i.e. washing in cool water, only use non-chlorine bleach, tumble dry low, and don't dry clean.

You can check out the shirt that I'm wearing above, by using this link that goes to my CherylsArt store on Zazzle. This one is for the cotton tri-blend.

This is a bigger picture link, and it is for a Slim style, not the one I'm wearing in the above picture.