H.A. Larson's Blog, page 53

Ipsy's February Glam Bag

Good morning and Happy Saturday! I'm on my second cup of coffee on this lazy Saturday morning, and I'm sitting here getting some writing in before the day really gets going. It was 75 degrees yesterday, and will be just as nice today. This means that we can start working on cleaning out the garage and get the back yard ready for Spring. Since we live in a small house, having outdoor space to sit in--in our cast the front porch and backyard patio--helps us to feel less crowded during the warmer months. It also helps our plain-Jane house feel a bit more bungalow-ish and cute. 
Anyway, I got my February Ipsy Glam Bag this week, and it's cute. Of course, I've really liked nearly all of them, so it's what I've come to expect from Ipsy. So, let's dive in then, huh?




Here is the bag and the card that comes with it. This month's theme is about our girlfriends and how much we love them. That little denim bag is sooo cute! And it's accented in orange, which just happens to be my favorite color.




Here are the five items that came inside.




First up is Luxie's Blush Brush. I only have one real blush brush, and this one is better. I wear different colors too, so this will more than come in handy. Who doesn't love makeup brushes? I have a ton, and it reminds me that I really need to wash mine. I'll have to make a post about washing brushes one of these days.




Another Trust Fund Beauty item. This one is the second fingernail polish I've received from them, this one in the color Latte. If that doesn't tip you off, I can tell you that it's a deep brown color, but not dirt brown. It's more of a light coffee color, hence the Latte name.




This is Rosehip Cleanser by Indie Lee. It's a facial cleanser, and I love trying new facial cleaners. This is a small, trial size, so will end up in a travel bag next time I scoot out of town.




This is Nyx's butter brand lipstick in the color Ripe Berry. I love the deeper colors in this month's pallette. It will a nice color scheme for the end of Winter, although I use whatever colors strike my fancy. Who needs to limit themselves? I wear darker colors in the evening, typically. This one will be great for date night. 




Last, but not least, is a Hikari eyeshadow in the color Latte (again!). It's a coffee color, like it alludes to, but it also reminds me of copper. One of my favorite eyeshadow colors was a brown Hikari shadow I received about a year ago in Ipsy. This one will go perfect with the other one. Add in a cream color and I'll have the perfect eyecolor trio!


There you have it, another month's worth of Ipsy. I'm off to work on The Box and then some yard work before heading out to the woods today. I'll share my adventures with you this coming week.
Until Monday,
H.A.

Why Savings Matter

I was involved in a conversation recently that got me thinking about money and saving.
It all started with the question: Could you come up with $1000, right now, if you needed to? This isn't even the first time I've heard this question, as my dad and I had a similar discussion about a year ago. If you were asked this question, what would be your answer? If the answer is no, you should probably begin taking steps to remedy that. But, "Why?" you may ask. Well, the answer is simple: saving is important.
If you read through news websites as much as I do, then you see what I see. There is a steady flow of articles out there about how to save money. Many articles just regurgitate the same information over and over again to a small minority of people; many others are targeted to people who are looking towards the future (i.e. retirement); and then there are some that give people easy, small ways to save money. I fall into the last two categories, but it's the very last one I'd like to focus on today.
There was a time in my life that I thought I'd never be able to save money.
Actually, I was fiscally challenged, but I've grown and changed a lot since those days. I realize now that everyone can save. It may not be very much, but if you're persistent and consistent, it will pay off in the long run. What exactly do I mean by that? Well, say you're a broke college student, working a part-time job to help you get by. You think there's no way you could save money...but you're wrong. Take $1 (yes, $1) out of every paycheck and put it away. When you have some extra, put a little more in, and when you get a monetary gift from someone (think Grandma at Christmas), put some of that in there. 
I'm sure you're thinking, "That's not going to build any real savings?" Well, you're wrong for two reasons:
1. If you're that college student, and you put aside $1 from each paycheck, and you got paid every two weeks, you'd have $96 dollars after four years. If you added Grandma's $5 every Christmas, you'd have an additional $20, and if you were able to save an additional $25 over the years, you'd have a total of $141 after graduating.
2. $141 isn't very much in the scheme of things, but, still, you've saved $141 dollars with no effort, and you've gotten so used to that $1 investment that it doesn't affect your life in any real way. You are still young, and, now, you are used to saving . It might not be much, but you've created a good habit. Now that you've got a degree, you can go out, get a career, and start habitually saving more money.
You don't even have to be young, nor a college student, to start saving. If you can, save $5 a paycheck, but save something. It's never too late to start, so don't delay. 
But, why is saving so important? 
The reasons for that are many, but include the following:
*What if you find yourself unemployed for several months (or even one month)? How will you get by? How will you pay the electric bill, buy food, or make rent?
*What if your car breaks down, and you are either faced with a hefty car repair bill, or need to replace the car altogether? How will you come up with the money?
*You're still a few decades away from retiring, but how do you want to spend your retirement? Do you want to sit around your house just getting by? Or are you planning on doing some traveling? Will you be able to afford to retire?
There are plenty of other reasons for saving money, but those are some of the big ones. Most of us don't think about future scenarios when we think about saving. Many people think they have plenty of time, or don't really worry about money until they're in a crisis situation. Neither of those are productive nor responsible thoughts. 
Now, I'm not saying that putting away $5 a week is going to solve all your problems, but it's money you'll never miss. If you save it and forget it, your persistent dedication will add up. If you saved just $5 a week for 20 years, you'd have $5200. That's a nice little chunk of change for saving no more than the price of a value menu meal at a fast food restaurant every week. Most people, myself included, will frivolously spend $5 every week on something, so why not invest it in yourself?
If you'd like to start saving money in small ways, here are some links: (These aren't endorsed by me, per se, but there are some good tips, hints, and strategies in these, so pick and choose ideas that work for you...and start putting away $5 a week.)
100 Ways to Save Money
Saving on a Minimum Wage
Growing a Retirement Nest Egg on a Small Income

Coffee Talk: Balancing Act, Signs of Spring, and The Box

Good morning, and welcome back to my site! I'm glad you're here. If you haven't been here before, wander around up top where the tabs are. There, you can find out about me, what I do, and the various things I blog about here. Right now though, I've got a fresh, hot cup of coffee and I'm ready for Wednesday!
As I mentioned recently, I've added more responsibilities/interests to my personal life, and trying to get them configured into my already hectic schedule proved to be a challenge. I'm happy to report that two weeks in and I'm good to go. I've got everything worked out (as far as tasks go), and have now incorporated them into my current routine. That's the key, really, to balancing everything in your life: routine. If you have a lot of things on your plate, you need to get some kind of steady routine in place--and one that offers some flexibility--if you want to juggle everything without losing your mind. Keeping that in mind, then, I figured out a flexible schedule for myself that allows for everything to get done with time to relax and time for unexpected things. 


Sunday at Lake Cunningham, Omaha, NE.
As you know from Monday's post, we had fantastic weather this past weekend, and so I made sure to get out and about both days. It was too sloppy and muddy to even attempt a decent hike, so we had to settle for just taking some pictures and walking where the areas were dry. It felt so much like Spring that it put me in a fanciful mood. Spring, while not my favorite season, is always a welcome one. After the cold and dreariness of Winter, being able to spend time in nature again while the green comes back is a good feeling. It's a time of renewal and the prospects for a good year start to creep up in our minds.




Cover for my upcoming book The Box.
I hope you read the last teaser I put up on Friday for The Box. I'm down to the last few chapters before it's time to edit. I'm anticipating it to be ready within the next few weeks, give or take a few days depending on time. Like I mentioned, I've got a good time schedule going, but things don't always go exactly as planned. 
I'm excited too, as I've also mentioned before, as I have big plans for a spin-off from this book. I have a whole series in mind. I have another book that I'm interested in writing as well, so I'm not sure if I will start that one next, or move on to my huge idea. We shall see!
Thanks for having some coffee with me this morning, and I'll be back again on Friday with a new post. Until then, have a fantastic journey!
-H.A.

A Midwestern Saturday

I have to admit, there's nothing like Midwestern weather. Not only do we run the gamut of weather (90 below F windchill factors in Winter and 100 degrees F in Summer), but we have wildly fluctuating weather on any given week. For instance, this last week. On Wednesday we woke up to a few inches of snow. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but it was so sloppy and slick that people were getting stuck everywhere, and most of us were late to work...some by as much as two hours. By Friday, the temperature had soared to 63 degrees F. The snow had all melted and the weather was gorgeous enough for shorts and t-shirts. 
This weather held out through the weekend, although not as warm on Sunday. Saturday, we knew we needed to get outside, and a friend of mine mentioned that there were flocks of geese on the western end of Lake Manawa over in Council Bluffs. I grabbed my camera and off we drove across the river into Iowa. Not only did we find geese, but other birds as well. The scenery was lovely too, making for some great photos.



I'm no bird person, but I think these are a type of gull. 





Some of the geese that brought us to Lake Manawa. 




This was one of two bald eagles we saw out on the lake. It was quite a ways out (thank goodness for zoom), and with all the other wildlife out enjoying the weather, I can only imagine that it was waiting for a food opportunity.




The early evening sky looking gorgeous. The Sun was just peeking out from some clouds, providing me with a good photo op.




Another beautiful shot.




A view out into the lake and it's clear demarcation. On the right is where the ice from the cold weather is clinging to existence, while on the left is the melted lake from the warm temperatures. The sound of the two as they crashed against each other was akin to the muffled sound of light, thin glass breaking.




The water near the shoreline was mostly melted away in certain areas, including this one. You can see the rippling waves, a reflection of trees, and the numerous rocks & stones that help compose the shore.

I hope you have a great Monday, and that you have a pleasant week. I hope you enjoyed the teaser I put up on Friday for The Box, as well. Let me know what you think in the comments.

The Orb and EVP 7

It's officially Saturday and I'm sitting here--cup of coffee in hand, of course--plotting out the next major ghost hunt for myself and my friends. While I've done minor ghost hunts with no real luck, I had better luck with the one major ghost hunt that I've done: Edinburgh Manor (which you can read all about right here and here, if you haven't already).
It was such an exciting and fascinating experience, that I've pored over the evidence a few times. If you've read the big blog post I did about the Investigation, you'd know that I posted a few pictures and six EVPs (or electronic voice phenomena) as evidence. The truth is, I actually got another decent photo (although questionable), and quite a few other EVPs while we were there. Most of those EVPs, however, were either indistinguishable or questionable. 



This, out of all the photographs I took (besides the blurry photographs), is probably the only real, albeit questionable, photographic evidence I have from Edinburgh Manor. You can see, in the middle of the photograph, an orb "streak". Is it real, or something else? Keep in mind, this was late October, frigid and cold, without a bug in sight. Also, we captured plenty of dust orbs while there, and this is nothing like that. I tend to think it's a manifestation (or a manifestation trying to happen). This was in the hallway near where we did our second spirit box session.




Now, about those EVPs. I mentioned at the beginning of this post how I had captured other EVPs that I didn't post, either because they were questionable or indistinguishable. I did, however, post the most distinguishable one on my Soundcloud account, but never posted it with the other EVPs in the original post. The reason for this is because I couldn't understand what was being said. After listening to it several times, I finally figured it out. Remember in the original post, EVP 5, where I asked questions and got answers. One was when I asked what their name was, and they answered something that sounded an awful lot like "Seven", or maybe "Stephen" (like Steh-fen).
When we did our last spirit box session in the boiler room (where we got EVP), I got this other EVP later. Listen here:

EVP 7

Did you hear it? Right after I asked, "Is there anyone here with us right now?" I get an answer right around the 14 second mark. It says, "I already told you, Seven." 
I've tried doing some research into Seven as being a name for anything, and I come up with only religious answers, which are not applicable in this instance. If you, or anyone you know, has experienced this number as a name thing, comment below or shoot me an email.
I hope you enjoyed my last little bit of Edinburgh Manor reveal, and have a fantastic Saturday!
-H.A.

Last Teaser from The Box

Good morning! Well, the weekend is finally here, so what better way to get things rolling than with a book teaser? Actually, this is the last book teaser I'm putting up before The Box is finished. Yep, that's right: this means that my book is almost complete! I anticipate two weeks plus editing time, so roughly three weeks. I've learned from past mistakes to be patient and cautious while editing, so I'm going to give myself more than a day or two to complete that process.


Cover for my 5th book, The Box
So, without further ado, I present, The Last Teaser:


The moon, even obstructed by the trees, shone down well enough over the neighborhood for Heidi to see fairly well, even from a distance. She saw a flash of gray as it moved behind a large tree in the neighbor’s yard. She moved closer to the front gate, trying to see exactly what it was.             Her instincts told her to pay attention to her peripheral vision, because thoughts of the shadows came to mind. While she saw nothing there, as she hadn’t the whole time she had been at Rebecca’s house, she saw movement from the next house again in her fore vision. She concentrated all her energy in that direction, a sinking feeling in her gut. Scanning the neighbor’s yard, what she saw next to the side of their house caught her breath.             Standing there, the mild breeze blowing it’s gray robe around, was a shadow. While it was similar in appearance to the ones she could never get a full glimpse of, this one was larger and more menacing. A hood covered it’s head, and the space where it’s face was was black as night. Even so, she could tell it was staring straight at her. Startled, she moved a few steps back, but the creature remained motionless.             The phone in her pocket buzzed to life, making her jump. She kept a watchful eye on the hooded figure as she took the phone from her pocket and answered it. “Hello?”            “Heidi, it’s Sam,” announced the familiar voice of her cousin.            Surprised, she asked, “Sam? For real?”            “Yeah,” he answered. “Look, I just saw one of those fucking shadow things in my apartment.”            Her eyes grew wider, “Oh yeah?”            “Yes, and get this, I could actually see it standing right in front of me!”            “Oh my god.”            “Right? What’s more, it was bigger than those shadows in my peripheral vision.”            “Is it still there?”            “No, it just vanished in front of my eyes.”            “How long ago?”            “Not more than five minutes ago. I’m still shitting bricks, Heidi, and my hands are shaking.”            “Um, I’m not sure if it’s the same one, but I’m staring at the exact same thing right now.” The shadow hadn’t moved one bit, and Heidi almost wondered if it was real or not.

Coffee Talk: Breakfast, Writing, and Life

Good morning! Welcome to another edition of Coffee Talk, where we sit around together behind our mutual devices and drink coffee while I wax poetic...or not. 
This morning I actually have my breakfast and coffee, so I think I'm on top of things. I made a yummy omelette with FYH's vegan egg, some vegan brats chunks, mushrooms, and Daiya cheddar. It's very yummy, but something I don't make often. Maybe it's laziness, or maybe efficiency, but I usually end up making breakfast sandwiches or tofu scramble. I used to eat omelettes a lot in my omnivore days, but not so much anymore. Anyway, I'm glad I made one today, as it didn't really take me any longer than putting together a breakfast sandwich. So, in hindsight, maybe it's a preference thing.
The Box is moving along now at a good pace, and I anticipate having the rough draft done in two weeks. Then, of course, I'll have to edit it, but that's to be expected. I'm definitely going to devote more time to editing it this time as I usually, in the past, get in a hurry to finish it and don't go in for that one last pass. Friday, I'm going to put up the last teaser for the book, so stay tuned for that.
The writing process is so amazing to me sometimes, a fact that has been solidified for me while working on my latest effort. Some people use structured outlines before writing their book so they know how they want it to specifically go, while others, like myself, use stream-of-consciousness writing. I usually start by thinking about an idea for a few weeks, then I start writing the things that come to mind. I keep track of details in notes, and every so often I'll sit down and write a line or two about how I want the next few chapters to go. Then, during the editing process, I always make changes. 
Anyway, the point I'm getting to is that sometimes your story takes drastic turns, or ends differently, than you had originally anticipated. The Box for me is especially true. It's definitely more unique and different, and that's not a bad thing. I needed to have a more drastic change than where my other stories landed. It's no good to be stale.
I told you about the RenFaire After Dark event that I'm going to in May. Well, I decided to dress up for this event, and my costume came yesterday. I tried it on, and it fits! This is exciting because buying things online can be tricky. This is particularly true if you're buying clothes and you're a plus-size person. Luckily, it fit as expected. Bring on the debauchery!
So, that's it for me today on this Wednesday. We're halfway through the week already and I'm looking forward to the weekend. Have the greatest of days!
-H.A. 

A Perfect Winter's Sunday

Good morning, and Happy Monday! Another week is here and I'm ready. After last week's hecticness, I was finally able to get everything done over the weekend. In addition, I got to relax and spend time with both of my kids, in nature no less! I'd say that makes the perfect scenario for a good weekend.
Saturday I caught up on all the work I needed to get done, as well as wrapped up another chapter of The Box. I managed to have some time to relax and get to bed early. Sunday, then, I was raring to go. I got some writing done, and when The Teen came home, he announced he wanted to go hiking. Nature Girl and I were already planning on doing just that, so his timing was right on.




We headed out to Hitchcock Nature Center, where we started out on the boardwalk trail. I know many people who don't like to hike/walk out in nature during the Winter. The absence of colorful foliage discourages many from getting outdoors, but I love it. The stark contrast of color stands out, and the lack of foliage means that one can see for miles in a place such as this. Nothing deters me though, as I see beauty in nature everywhere. 




One of many trails that can be seen from the boardwalk trail. They aren't normally very visible in the warmer months because of the foliage.




The Teen and Nature Girl spend some time together, and admire nature around them.




When we first arrived, the Sun was partially hidden behind the clouds and the temperature was 27 degrees F. By the time we got off the boardwalk trail, it had risen to 31 degrees F.
I used my nice camera on the boardwalk, but when we reached the end of it, we delved deeper into the forest. It's not feasible to lug around a big camera, so I put it away in my backpack.




After a chilly but vigorous 2.5 mile hike, we drove over to the Visitor's Lodge. The Lodge has an enormous deck that provides one with stunning views from high up in the Iowa Mountains (Loess Hills). Even in Winter the view is incredible.




While I've taken and posted dozens of photos from HNC from every season, I've never really shown you what it looks like inside the Lodge. It's a great place for kids to learn about the Loess Hills and the various raptors that visit here.




I usually park myself here, on the large, dominant fireplace, while Nature Girl plays over in the kid's nook. The Teen took advantage of the comfy bean bags to relax and text his friends.

It was so nice to finally get back to normal this weekend, and indulge in my favorite activities, particularly hiking. For me, nothing brings balance to my life like time spent in nature. Hiking does, not only wonders for my physical health, but for my mental health as well. A good hike through the woods is the ultimate way for me to bring myself back to center.
I hope you had a good weekend as well, and that your Monday is the start of a great week.
-H.A.

Medieval Merriment

Good morning! This is the breakfast sandwich I made for myself on this wonderful Saturday morning, and, yes, it's vegan. After the busy & stressful week I've had, it was nice to stay up late last night, drink some beers, and have a lazy kind of morning. I also got to see one of my best friends last night, and we had a great visit. I've got my cup of coffee next to me, and I'm ready to tackle the day.
It's no secret to anyone who knows me, yourself included, that I love Renaissance Faires. I love everything about Ren Faires, and I mean everything. I'm even listening to Renaissance Folk music right now as I type this. Anyway, I always go to our local Ren Faire every year in the Spring, and also go to a major one in the Fall--usually Minneapolis or Kansas City. 




So, knowing how much I love Ren Faires, you can imagine my excitement at discovering a smaller Ren Faire in a neighboring state is going to hold it's First Annual Ren Faire After Dark. It's for adults only (21+) and includes camping, merriment, and debauchery. I got tickets for my husband and myself right away.




Now, while this event won't have a joust such as pictured above, it does have many other fun activities, all spaced out so everyone can enjoy every event. The merriment is scheduled to last into the wee hours of the morning when we can then go back to our tent exhausted. I can't wait for this event! My poor husband is probably already tired of hearing about it. Haha! I even, for the first time, will dress up for the event. It has a pirate theme and so I got a proper pirate wench costume, hat, and long stockings. My husband is also looking foward to dressing up. No worries for you, I will undoubtedly make a great post about the event after it happens in May.
I'm finally hoping to get out and about today and tomorrow like I had hoped I would last weekend. Between feeling off and having a ton of stuff to do, I just couldn't get out. I'm going to get caught up on stuff today, and then enjoy the good weather that is happening this weekend.
Have a great weekend, my friend. 
-H.A.

Reflections on this Week

Good morning, and Happy Friday. The weekend is finally here, and I don't even have a proper post for you. I've had a rough week, to be honest. I've had a lot of things to take care of this week, so I've been really busy. On top of that, it's been a week of drama as well. Sometimes life is that way, you know? You can go along, for the most part, just living casually day-to-day, week-to-week, and then one week it's chaos. That sums up my life in general, and this was a chaos week.
There's still no end in sight through the weekend, honestly. I'd like to think I'll be able to relax--I will to some degree--but I can't, it's mostly busy work. Like right now, I should be getting ready for work, but I had to take care of business first.
I'm really hoping to get out more this weekend, but we shall see. If last weekend (which started off this week of chaos) is any indication, I won't get to do much either. You never know though, right? Things can change quickly.
It's now afternoon, and I'm feeling more relaxed. I'm going to go visit a dear friend tonight and have a couple of drinks. That always is good for the spirit. I've also got a few events that I've purchased tickets for coming up this year, so I'm excited for that. I'll get more into detail about that when I've had a chance to get myself organized again.
Until then, have a great weekend!  
-H.A.