MiaUNLEASHED!

AVON HAUL!!!!!! :D :)

2013-03-19T19:31:00.001-04:00

My 1st Haul and I'm showcasing ALL AVON products!!!!!! I think I may be turning into an Avon Addict, honestly, and I couldn't be happier about it! Now if only I could get the hang of vlogging! ;)

**NOTE: Sound issues have been fixed! Yay!!! :)

FEATURED PRODUCTS:

All available at Avon http://www.avon.com.

Glimmersticks Waterproof Eye Liner (Blackest Night)
Haiku Eau de Toilette Spray
Imari Seduction Eau de Toilette Spray
SuperSHOCK Max Waterproof Mascara (Black Noir)

Samples:

Ideal Flawless Liquid Foundation (Light Beige)
Ultra Color Rich Brilliance Lipstick (Sienna Sparkle)

DISCUSSED:

Coolpad Quattro 4G
Samsung Admire

##### DISCLAIMER: All products were either purchased by me or gifted. None of the products in this video are sponsored in any way, shape, or form. #####

Influenster Sugar N' Spice VoxBox 2013

2013-03-18T18:57:00.001-04:00

Woohoo! The UPS Fairy dropped another present from Influenster off at my door today! Now this may be my second VoxBox, but it's my very first vlog—the first video I've ever recorded and posted online, actually—so I'm a little nervous! I'm unboxing my 2013 Sugar n' Spice VoxBox and sharing my initial impressions.

**NOTE: Sorry for the poor sound quality, my cellphone cam has a crappy mic. I'm working on finding a better alternative now.

As you can see the 2013 Sugar 'N Spice VoxBox contains:

Vaseline® Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture® ($7.99 for 6.5oz can)
New Vaseline® Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture® is a continuous spray lotion that moisturizes and absorbs in seconds, and leaves skin feeling instantly soft—not stickey or greasy. Now you won't have to wait for your lotion to absorb before pulling on those skinny jeans!

Nectresse™ ($3.99 for a box of 40 packets)
Nectresse™ sweetner tastes like sugar but has zero calories per serving! 100% natural, Nectresse™ is made primarily from monk fruit combined with other natural sweeteners.

Dickinson's® Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes ($5.99 for a 20-count box)
Introducing Dickinson's® Original Witch Hazel Towelettes - The soothing blend of Witch Hazel and aloe on these facial wipes rejuvenates your skin by gently lifting dirt, oil and impurities from your pores while nourishing even the most sensitive skin. The result is a clean, refreshed and blemish-free complexion even when you're out and about.

Colgate® Optic White® Regimen that includes...

Toothpaste ($2.99 for 4oz tube)

Mouthwash ($2.99 for 8oz bottle)

Toothbrush ($2.99 per brush)

Your VoxBox contains not one, but THREE Colgate® Optic White® products in a new high impact formula. Use Optic White® toothpaste, toothbrush, and mouthwash together for whiter teeth in five days (vs. brushing with an ordinary toothpaste alone).

belVita Breakfast Biscuits ($3.69 for a box)
belVita Breakfast Biscuits are made with delicious ingredients and carefully baked to release steady energy that lasts all morning. They are a good source of Fiber and B-vitamins, contain no high fructose corn syrup, have 18-20 grams of whole grain per 50 gram serving and taste great—perfect on-the-go!

If you thought I was hyper during my first round of product reviews last month, it's nothing compared to how excited I am for this Sugar 'N Spice VoxBox! Mainly because these are all brands I know and love with products I've been meaning to try. That always makes things more fun in the long run.

Like before, I will be reviewing each item individually over the next few weeks, posting those reviews to my blog, and linking to them here via this post. So even if you miss a couple of reviews, all you have to do is bookmark this one post and check back weekly to eventually read them all. Stay tuned!

XOXO

Blu Cigs and Sizzling Stephen Dorff!

2013-02-21T14:32:00.001-05:00

Excuse me for squeeing like a teenybopper as I have this fan girl moment but...HOW FRIGGIN' SEXY IS STEPHEN DORFF IN THE NEW BLU ELECTRONIC CIGS CAMPAIGN?!?!?????!

Not that Stephen wasn't über sexy beyond belief before, but now? NAO?!

Now he's a super-duper über sexy beast who's giving me vapors! *Le happy sigh*

I love the fact that Stephen's finally getting healthy and dropping the cancer sticks, but I adore him for putting his "Bad Boy" rep on the line by promoting a healthy alternative like Blu Electronic Cigs...and he looks badass doing it too!

Then again, when doesn't Stephen Dorff look badass? He's just one of those guys that exudes "cool" without breaking a sweat.

And before I get criticism from smokers telling me to mind my own beeswax because I don't know what the heck I'm talking about, let me just say that I do. I've lost multiple friends and family members to cancer. Cancer that was caused by decades of chain smoking.

Sad part is, despite going through all that grief, I was still dumb enough to give into peer pressure and have a brief year-long love/hate affair with Marlboro Menthols when I was a teenager... Stupidest thing I've ever done. It took a severe asthma attack eight months later to really wake me up. (Yes, I have asthma and, as we all know, asthma and cigarette smoke don't mix.) That's when I decided to quit.

Luckily, I was a casual smoker, not a chain smoker, so quitting for good just meant having enough willpower to throw my last pack away and not buy another one or bum anymore cigs off of my friends. However, I know it's not that easy for everyone...

I know a lot of people that still smoke. People who have been smoking for so long that they simply can't go a day, let alone an hour, without a cigarette. They've tried the pill, the patch, and the gum—all to no avail. For some, it's the nicotine they're addicted to, and that's very unfortunate... For others, it's a nervous habit that's triggered by stress. Holding the stick in their hand or dangling it from their mouth actually helps calm and comfort them. So, I can't help but think how something like Blu Electronic Cigs could save their lives.

Anyway, back to drooling over Stephen Dorff and resisting the urge to take a flying leap at my flatscreen every time I see his handsome chiseled face. I'll leave the decision to "rise from the ashes" up to you. ;)

XOXO

Peptic, Not Peppy...

2013-02-20T10:54:00.001-05:00

Sorry I haven't been too talkative lately, guys, but—ugh! I've got a peptic ulcer—er, um...gastric ulcer?—and the constant gnawing/burning pain in my upper abdomen sucks. Not as excruciating as the gallstone attacks I use to have for 5-8 hours straight, but pretty close. Here's hoping I don't chew off a limb or something before it heals...

Don't worry, my friend Jill has already assured me that she will put me out of my misery in the most badass and loving way possible if I suddenly go all killer zombie and start snacking on fingers and toes. Like me, Jill is a certified Zombie Executioner, so you guys are in good hands. She's kinda like "Tallahassee" (Woody Harrelson) in Zombieland and Haymitch (also Woody Harrelson) from The Hunger Games, only crazier. Def crazier. But you have to be zany to hang with me and get the drop on the living dead at the same time.

On a side note, how awesome is Woody Harrelson in dystopia movies? Loved him since Cheers, fell in lust with him as an actor after Natural Born Killers, and have been obsessed with his career ever since.

Anyway, back to zombie killing, because—HELLO! FUN! Peptic ulcers? Not so much.

Where was I? Oh, yeah! Jill and I discussed opening up our own zombie slaying business called Zombies-R-Us (think The Walking Dead meets Charlie's Angels) after the Mayan Apocalypse, but then the Mayans totally screwed the proverbial pooch on that one. Or should I say they screwed the proverbial chupacabra? Hmm, no, nobody screws a chupacabra, except maybe another chupacabra...and Charlie Sheen...but that's because Charlie Sheen is a wizard who drinks tiger blood wine so he can pretty much screw anything he wants. Well, except for Lindsay Lohan. Even LaLohan won't cross that line. Wild, huh?

So, yep! Peptic ulcers, killer zombies, Woody Harrelson, Charlie's Angels, failed Mayan Apocalypses, chupacabras, and Charlie Sheen! Sounds like a good time to me! How about you? Yes? No?

Ooh! Hey they should make a spoof of Charlie's Angels starring Mr. Sheen and call it Charlie's Goddesses! I bet it would be a big hit! Or...maybe not. See, this is how my mind works when I'm sick. It's like a washing machine stuck on spin cycle. It doesn't help that I just watched four back-to-back episodes of Two and a Half Men.

And now I'm going to take a shot of Pepto-Bismol, chew on a few pieces of black licorice, and clean my crossbow. You know, just in case... ;)

XOXO

Beware the V-Day Grinch!

2013-02-14T19:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day, Minions! Today we celebrate love in all its forms: romantic/platonic, family, friends, and furbabies... With so many wonderful options, how can you go wrong?

Which leads me to my Question of the Day...

Why do single people complain about Valentine's Day so much?

Not all singles, mind you, but there certainly seems to be a select unhappy subset of the population that's doggedly determined to ruin Valentine's Day for others. They're either single and hate it or taken and miserable, so they do everything in their power to trash St. Valentine and the heart he rode in on — even posting the grisly details of the martyr's unfortunate demise on Facebook in Someecards format. These same people would probably steal Cupid's bow, beat him up, and leave him unconscious in a back-alley dumpster if they could. It's sad the lengths they will go to, to bring everyone else down.

I never understood the thought process that goes into being a Valentine's Day Grinch. It seems like a lot of wasted time and effort to me. Why bother raining on the lovefest when you can do something positive for yourself instead?

I mean, I'm single and I'm not letting it get me down. Sure, it sucks not having a man to call my own today but I don't need romance to appreciate a holiday made for love. I figure someday someone special will walk into my life and make all the waiting worth it. Meanwhile, I'll spend today with friends and family. Love is love. It doesn't take a particular shape or form, it just is... and I'm grateful for it.

So grab your spouse/significant other, best friend, mom, child, cat/dog, and let them know how much they mean to you!

But what if you don't feel like sharing V-Day with others? You could be mourning the loss of a loved one, fighting with a lover/family member/best friend, or suffering from a bad work day and just not in a very social mood? What do you do then?

You love yourself.

Yes, you read that right — I said: love yourself.

After all, Valentine's Day is a celebration of love of every kind, including self-love. You don't have to spend the day with anyone else to fully appreciate that, not when you can make it a "Me Day" dedicated to loving and pampering yourself.

Rent a movie from RedBox and snuggle up with your favorite pillow for the night. Order your favorite take-out, include a decadent dessert, maybe even end the night with a nice soothing bubble bath while reading the latest bestseller from your favorite author. (You know, the one you're always promising yourself you'll read soon but then never do? And it's been a year already? And the crappy-Hollywood-interpretation-of-this-bestselling-novel is opening in movie theaters all over the country next weekend? Yeah, that one.)

The point is, you can be alone without being lonely. Things are never hopeless, it's just the way we perceive life sometimes. What we do for ourselves and others, despite those negative perceptions, is what truly defines who we are. So don't waste your time being a Valentine's Day Grinch because, in the end, the only person you're denying happiness to is yourself.

xoxo

Happy Valentine's Day!

2013-02-14T13:04:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day, my lovelies! May that chubby little matchmaker Cupid plant a big, wet, sloppy kiss on your heart! :)

XOXO

Make Things Happen...Control Your Own Destiny!

2013-01-31T13:57:00.001-05:00

Life is all about taking risks... If you don't make things happen, things will happen to you. Be the master of your own destiny! Don't let someone else control it for you.

XOXO

Be Weird. Be Random. Be Yourself.

2013-01-31T13:01:00.000-05:00

No one else can do it...ONLY you can! Your uniqueness is the most beautiful thing about you!

XOXO

L3375P33K

2013-01-29T16:36:00.001-05:00

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TRANSLATION:

You know what I miss? Leetspeak! I use to type like this all the time because it made me feel uber smart and intellectually superior. It also really freaked out my friends—most of whom, had no idea what Leetspeak was and didn't give a fark about becoming part of the Geek Elite. They thought I was some kind of hacker hiding out in my mom's basement sticking it "The Man", instead of a WoW nerd with a little too much time on my hands and a love for messing with AOL newbies. Yes, I said AOL. I know, I'm so old, aren't I?

Anyway, I just posted a blog featuring George Takei doing the Happy Dance and that got me thinking about all things geek, which lead me to Leetspeak, and there you have it!

I'm sure this is making your eyes hurt by now. In fact, some of you will probably assume this blog has been hacked by the FBI or CIA or something but NO!!! I'm just flexing my nerdy ninja skills today, and my nerdy ninja side can be a bit of a dick (sorry, Wil Wheaton!) so I've included this Leet-to-English translation for all the Non-Leets out there...

Sux0R5 70 B3 j00, huH?? :)

Oh, and one more thing...

PWN3D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! H4H4H4H4H4H4H4H4!!!!1!111

Whew! Okay, I think I got it out of my system now! Thank Zog I never learned Binary Code!

XOXO

Blog Stats and George Takei Dancing!

2013-01-29T12:41:00.000-05:00

You like me! You really, reeeaaally like me! Case in point? I just checked out the stats for this blog and was shocked to discover that MiaUNLEASHED has received almost 80,000 pageviews since I launched it back in August of 2011!

That's 80,000 times that you guys have searched for some inane topic that is in no way related to this blog—like "Charlie Sheen wearing a tutu" or "hot dogs" or "Charlie Sheen wearing a tutu and eating a hot dog"—and, for whatever reason, the Google Gods saw fit to redirect you here... Bwahahaha! You poor, gullible SOBs! You really thought Google had your best interests at heart, didn't you?

Thing is, I've been a bit of a blasé blogger. Meaning, I didn't actually start blogging in earnest until April 2012...but then I got sidetracked by life and took a three month hiatus May through July. I found my "Blogging Zen" again and came back hardcore in August and September, only to completely disappear again between October and November... So I'd say 80,000 pageviews is pretty damn good. In fact, it's HUGE! Especially if you take into account the six months out of the year where I barely posted any blog entries at all.

Amazingly, and despite all of that silly waffling back-and-forth, thousands of you stuck by my side and now MiaUNLEASHED is really beginning to thrive! So thank you! Thank you all so very much for making my blog part of your Daily Dose of Cray-Cray.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, I leave you now with George Takei doing the Happy Dance... Because, let's face it, what's more awesome than George-F**KIN'-Takei doing the Happy Dance?!

THAT'S RIGHT! IT'S MR. SULU HIMSELF DANCING HIS FABULOUS LITTLE HEART OUT FOR YOU UNWORTHY BITCHES!!!!! Not because I know him personally (although I would love to), and not because he cares about how many visitors my little ol' blog gets on a daily basis ('cause the man is a national treasure and national treasures have lives too, dammit!), but because I saw the video floating around on the Interwebz and couldn't resist posting it here. YOU'RE WELCOME!

And if you don't know who Mr. Sulu is, then you need to go immerse yourself in Seasons 1-3 of Star Trek: The Complete Original Series and watch every movie in the original Star Trek motion picture collection because you are missing out on Nerdvana, baby. No, seriously. You can't call yourself a Proud Geek unless you've seen every episode of Star Trek at least once. It's like a rule or something.

XOXO

Check out SORIEL by Melanie Nilles! #StarfireAngels @amsaph

2013-01-23T11:41:00.000-05:00

Heads up, Minions! I've got some mouthwatering literary goodness for you guys today! In fact, it's so good, well...you may need a bib. You see, my friend/writing mentor Melanie Nilles is promoting the latest installment of her phenomenal bestselling Starfire Angels saga. The book is called Soriel (#1 in the Starfire Angels: Revelations continuation series) and it's out now!

YUM!

How gorgeous is that cover?! Downright decadent, isn't it? I don't know if I want to kiss him or lick him. I think I'll focus on prying my jaw off of the floor and wiping the drool from my chin first. Oh, Melanie, you sure know how to make your readers swoon!

Here's the summary:

SORIEL (STARFIRE ANGELS: REVELATIONS, BOOK 1)
BY MELANIE NILLES

Life for Gavin Durinden is about to change from puzzling to downright odd. An intellectual prodigy with blue hair and the ability to create energy from the marks on his palms, he was always told he had a mysterious condition. However, when the scientists at NeoGen Labs begin treatments, everything changes, including the appearance of blue wings.

That's not the half of his problems. From Kaira, an "angel" with black wings brought in to help him transform to look human again, he learns a truth hinted in his dreams; he's neither human nor angel, nor is his real name Gavin. He's an alien brought to Earth by an enemy known as the Shirukan, who killed his parents and changed his memories and identity with the intention of raising him as a test subject for their vile experiments. Together, Gavin and Kaira escape, but the Shirukan will fight fist and feather to reclaim him, because he holds the key to what they desire.

Paperback: $9.99ISBN: 978-1-939412-00-3
Ebook: $3.99

Read some sample chapters here! (You'll need Adobe Reader to read the .PDF file.)

PAPERBACK:

Amazon.com

EBOOKS:
Amazon.com

BarnesandNoble.com

Smashwords.com
...and more to come!

Go! Buy it! Buy it now, buy it often—JUST BUY IT!!! Once you discover the Starfireverse, you'll never look at our world quite the same again.

XOXO

P.S. Check out Melanie's official site for more info. She has several series in various stages of development (including the original Starfire Angels!) so there's plenty to read and keep you entertained.

**Note: Thanks to Melanie Nilles for her constant encouragement and advice—and for supplying me with a copy of her gorgeous cover art to ~~salivate over~~, er, um...*AHEM* use for this blog post. ;)

SITE UPDATE: And We're Back Online!

2013-01-23T03:59:00.001-05:00

MiaUNLEASHED is back, baby! It only took a day for GoDaddy to release all of my domains and allow NameCheap to transfer them. Not bad, considering the level of Scorned Psycho Ex-GF drama I was anticipating from GD after breaking off a 14 year relationship with them.

You know, kind of like this...

Remember the Overly Attached GF meme?
...only with an axe and duct tape.

However, there was no "overly attached" axe-wielding hot mess to be found on GoDaddy's end. No yelling, no screaming, no crying or threatening to go all Jazmine Sullivan on me by busting the windows out my car. They just sent me an "Oh gosh! We're so sorry to see you go... Gee, we hope you'll regret leaving us and, if you do, we'll be waiting for you with open arms" email and bowed out gracefully. Talk about anti-climatic, huh?

Of course, I discovered two hours too late that I could have saved this blog some unnecessary downtime if I'd simply switched nameservers before initiating a domain transfer. Then the DNS host info wouldn't have needed to be manually re-submitted, it would have stayed the same with maybe a 5 minute window of "OMGWTF?!" between registrars... Oh well, you live and you learn.

The point is...wait, what was my point again? Oh yeah! My point is: MiaUNLEASHED and the mobile site are both back online now to ~~corrupt~~ ~~harass~~ ~~strike fear into the hearts of millions~~ entertain the masses! And this time I'm doing it from a whole new registrar too 'cause I'm special like that. ;)

XOXO

SITE UPDATE: Transferring Domain Registrars

2013-01-22T16:02:00.000-05:00

Hey, guys! Just wanted to let you know that I'm taking advantage of Namecheap.com's 2nd Annual Move Your Domain Day and transferring all of my domains out of GoDaddy. So if you notice any downtime with this blog over the next 24-48 hours, now you know what's what.

Q. Why did I decide to leave GoDaddy after 14 years?
A. Honestly? Price. When I first registered with GD circa 1999, their prices couldn't be beat. (I think it was only $6.99 per domain back then.) Over the years, however, the price has jumped exponentially to a whopping $14.99 per .COM! That's an $8 price increase—double what I use to pay!

Needless to say, I can't afford it anymore. Not in this economic climate. I've already dropped 6 domains over the past few years just to keep the rest. I refuse to drop anymore.

Enter NameCheap's superamazingfantastical domain transfer sale TODAY ONLY and, well, the rest of the story pretty much writes itself... I get a new domain registrar, an extra year extension per domain for free, free WhoIsGuard Privacy Protection (I know that will disappoint some of my more dedicated stalkers *wink*), and free email/URL forwarding! Plus, I get the chance to support the Electronic Frontier Foundation at the same time too!

Sorry, GoDaddy, but this thing between us is no longer working for me. I hope you understand. We had a nice run and all, now it's time for us both to move on. Please don't be mad. After all, it's not me, it's you... ;)

XOXO

NameCheap - Domain Transfers ONLY $3.99 Today!

2013-01-22T15:26:00.001-05:00

NameCheap.com is celebrating their 2nd Annual Move Your Domain Day and I couldn't be happier about it! Transfer domains for only $3.99* each (an additional $0.18 ICANN fee is charged for .com and .net transfers). The sale is happening TODAY ONLY until 12 AM! For every domain transferred NameCheap will donate $0.50-$1.50 to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a donor-supported membership organization that works to protect fundamental rights regardless of technology and to educate the public on their digital rights.

Use Coupon Code:

OPENINTERNET

...and GET MOVING!!!

All domain transfers include:

Extra year* of your domain registration for free!
Free WhoisGuard Privacy Protection* ($2.88 value)
Free URL and Email forwarding while using our DNS
Optional Comodo PositiveSSL Certificate* for an extra $1.99

And here's a little more on the history of Move Your Domain Day:

The Stop Online Piracy Act proposed that owners of intellectual property block or disable any website that they felt infringed on their intellectual property. The threat of SOPA to the Internet and website owners is dire, and one that Namecheap decided must be acted upon. As a domain name registrar and web host that loves internet freedom, the rights of our customers come first.

In a statement, Richard Kirkendall, CEO of Namecheap said:

While we at Namecheap firmly believe in intellectual property rights, SOPA is like detonating a nuclear bomb on the internet when only a surgical strike is necessary. This legislation has the potential to harm the way everyone uses the Internet and to undermine the system itself. At Namecheap, we believe having a free and open Internet is the only option that will continue the legacy of innovation and openess that stands for everything we all value in our modern society. Some of our competitors support SOPA, despite the untold damage it can do to the internet as we know it.

Because of the threats to the company and our customers, we hosted our first Move Your Domain Day in 2011 as a call-to-action for those who oppose SOPA and wish to leave service providers who support SOPA and other ill-conceived legislation.

See you on the other side of the web! ;)

XOXO

One Singular Sensation

2013-01-18T20:45:00.001-05:00

Mom and I waiting for the show to begin

I saw my first Broadway musical in 10 years last Saturday night and it was awesome! Well, it was a college revival in an auditorium that seats approximately 300 people so it was technically Off-Broadway, but it was still awesome! Not surprising at all, since this particular play won nine Tony Awards (including "Best Musical") and the Pulitzer Prize for drama...

Any guesses yet? No? Okay, let me give you another hint:

One singular sensation,
Every little step she takes.
One thrilling combination,
Every move that she makes...

That's right, my minions! I saw A Chorus Line and it was—wait for it—abso-friggin-lutely A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!!1! (You see how I changed that up for you there? lol)

The whole marvelous musical adventure was made possible by my incredible Mom, who scored the tickets last minute through mutual friends when another couple cancelled. We wound up going with said friends as a group and, I must admit, it was one of the best group experiences of my life.

We drove out under a thick fog. If it wasn't for Google Maps, we would've gotten lost. I've never been so relieved to see a parking garage in my entire life.

We clocked into the theater with plenty of time to spare and wound up listening to some very talented college students from the nearby Arts Center perform show tunes in the lobby before finding our seats.

The stage and orchestra pit area

The stadium seating was nice but short on horizontal space, especially for a sold out show. They basically packed us in tighter than canned sardines. I had to take off my coat just to have a little bit of elbow room.

Despite the cramped seating arrangements, everyone was very pleasant and considerate of each other. We were allowed to bring snacks, so we each packed our own bags of goodies and shared. Someone else we didn't know down isle brought a salami hoagie with garlic pickles and it stunk up the whole auditorium. I mean, I adore salami as much as the next gal (I am Sicilian, after all!), but who the heck brings that to an award-winning Broadway musical??? FOR REALZ?!!!!!

The show itself was phenomenal. The actors danced and sang their little hearts out. I felt "nothing" for Diana, laughed at Val's tits and ass, cried over Paul's heartwrenching secret past, took a breath of my asthma inhaler after Cassie's marathon dance routine, and swore Sheila "the Leo" would become a Vodka-swilling, pill-popping cougar someday. There were a few sound issues—a malfunctioning mic, squeaky cot noises during Paul's monologue that made us all wonder what on earth was happening backstage, and a loud burst of static over the speakers that came out of nowhere when no one was even speaking—but the cast didn't flinch. They kept calm and continued entertaining us without missing a beat.

Unfortunately, the theater wouldn't allow photography or videography during the performance, so I don't have any pictures of the cast on-stage. Although, I was extremely tempted to sneak a snapshot or two with my cellphone during the finale when everyone was in costume and linked arms to form an actual chorus line. I decided not to risk it after hearing the college kids sitting behind us scream for specific actors and actresses that they were apparently friends with. Not that they could actually confiscate my phone or anything, but yeah—better safe than being forced to kick someone's sorry butt.

I did, however, snap a pic of the poster hanging inside the Main Lobby. This is exactly how the chorus line looked during the finale...

Poster in the Main Lobby

Same actors, same costumes, better viewpoint. You're welcome. ;)

Getting out of the parking garage proved to be more challenging than landing a space shuttle on Three Mile Island in a snowstorm during a solar eclipse. That's because we parked in a corner and had to figure out how to do a nine-point-turn in a ten-by-ten foot cubicle without dinging anyone else's car. Meanwhile, all the other drivers just pointed and laughed and refused to move their SUVs even one inch to let us out. Those bastards! Well, okay, it wasn't that bad...but it was close.

We didn't get home until well after midnight. By then, my tendency towards suffering severe car sickness on road trips lasting longer than forty minutes had already kicked in full force, so I was pretty much a great big walking headache in hot pink suede boots. But, at least, I was a happy headache hobbling up the stairs while humming show tunes.

What a night to remember!

XOXO

SITE UPDATE: New Year, New Resolution!

2013-01-18T20:33:00.000-05:00

Screen resolution that is! Confused? Here, let me es'plain...

I've noticed a new trend in my Google Analytics and StatCounter blog statistics going into the New Year. Specifically, the screen resolution used by MiaUNLEASHED readers—your screen size is increasing! Look...

1024x768 = 19% visitors
1280x800 = 7% visitors
1366x768 = 26% visitors

For almost a decade 1024x768 was the standard for most web sites, but an interesting thing happened over the past three years...

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Info via StatCounter Global Stats

1366x768 is now taking over the WWW, while 1024x768 has steadily declined.

My guess is, it's due to the introduction of LCD monitors (let's face it no one wants a massive CRT taking up precious desk space anymore) and the push to make them ever more affordable for budget consumers.

Here's another info graphic of the Top 10 Screen Resolutions Worldwide going into January 2013...

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Info via StatCounter Global Stats

Pretty irrefutable evidence, huh?

So I did what any savvy social media maven worth her salt would do when confronted with a rising trend that shows no sign of slowing down, I changed the overall width of my blog to compensate. But, to be fair, I combined the top three screen resolutions and split the difference.

Hence, MiaUNLEASHED is now optimized for readers with a 1280x800 screen resolution! Big enough to view more comfortably on larger screens, but not too big for my 1024x768 visitors to read too. (Especially, if you use a browser with a page zoom option like Chrome, Firefox, IE or Opera.)

Don't worry, the mobile site hasn't changed at all. Unless, you count the fact that it can now read your mind and tell me what you're thinking... Yes, it can... YES. IT. CAN... Wait, what?! *Humph* Well, that was pretty rude...

Happy ~~stalking~~, er, um...surfing! ;)

REVIEW: Kiss Nail Dress for Tips & Toes @KissProducts #KissNailDress

2013-01-16T12:43:00.000-05:00

I must admit, out of all the goodies in my 2012 Holiday VoxBox, THIS was the item I couldn't wait to test most of all. Why? Because I am obsessed with my nails—and not for the reasons you might think.

You see, for most of my life I couldn't grow my nails worth a darn. They'd chip, crack, split, rip, and break off whenever I tried adding the least little bit of length to them. It was only at the end of 2012, when I discovered the awesome power of natural gelatin capsules, that my nails did a complete one-eighty to the point where I could actually enjoy decorating them again.

Enter Kiss® Nail Dress™, which retails for $6.99 at most stores, and suddenly I'm in manicure heaven! Nail Dress really is the ultimate fashion accessory for tips and toes. It is easy to do too: just peel, apply, clip to fit, and shape with an emery board or nail file. (Hint: Make sure your nails are clean and polish free for better adhesion.) Skip the topcoat, Kiss Nail Dress has it built right in.

Kiss® Nail Dress™ in KDS12

The results last up to a week and look so amazing your friends will swear you spent $40-$50 at a professional nail salon instead of the 15 minutes it will take to give yourself a mani/pedi at home. Best of all, Kiss Nail Dress comes in 21 different styles, many of them featuring 3-dimensional designs with cute little faux-jewels that glitter in the sunlight like precious gemstones.

To remove, peel off slowly. No smelly acetone required.

I simply can't say enough good things about this fantastic product. Once you try it, you won't be able to deny it. It's that good.

Bottom Line: Kiss nailed it!

XOXO

Brass Bras, Ruby Cowboy Boots, and Justin Bieber...

2013-01-14T22:57:00.003-05:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again—my friends effin' ROCK!!! As proof, I give you another one of our cray-cray conversations on FB...

^^^THIS????????!?!! Yeah, I rest my case! ;)

XOXO

REVIEW: Quaker #RealMedleys Oatmeal @Quaker

2013-01-14T18:26:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't like oatmeal? It's wholesome, it's good for you, and it's the perfect pick me up on a cold winter's day. That's why I was pleasantly surprised to see Quaker® Real Medleys Oatmeal in my 2012 Holiday VoxBox... and it comes in a convenient cup instead of a pouch! What a great idea! I wish someone would have thought of this sooner!

Each individually packaged, microwavable cup retails at $1.79, which is a little expensive for one serving of oatmeal if you ask me. I mean, I can get five or six Nissin® Cup Noodles for the same amount of money. So yeah, I would definitely recommend Quaker® price this product more competitively.

Preparing the oatmeal couldn't be easier. You just pop open the seal, add water or milk to the little blue fill line, nuke it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, and...wallah! Instant gooey goodness for breakfast!

Quaker® Real Medleys Oatmeal / Summer Berry flavor

Unfortunately, I was given Summer Berry to test and, although I'm a huge fan of strawberries and blueberries, I was not impressed by the flavor or texture. The oatmeal tasted bitter. It really needed some sugar or a hint of creamer to liven things up a bit. The oats were too big and bland. They soaked up all of the moisture in the cup within a matter of minutes and left me with a cold, sticky clump of cement-grade cereal surrounding my spoon. Not appetizing at all.

Mixing in a little extra milk and nuking it again helped somewhat, but not by much. It took me almost an hour—and multiple cups of orange juice—to choke down the last spoonful. It was the first time in a long time that I actually had to force myself to finish breakfast.

I'm sad to say that I would not recommend this product to others. At least, not at this particular point in time. Perhaps a different flavor (or a lower price range) could win me over someday but, as of right now, I'd rather put my money toward a warm Nissin® Cup Noodles instead.

Bottom line: Great concept, poor delivery.

Sorry, Quaker® Real Medleys... I was really rooting for you!

XOXO

REVIEW: NYC #LiquidLipshine for Kissable Lips @NYCNewYorkColor

2013-01-11T14:19:00.000-05:00

I have a confession to make: I am proud of my pout! I was lucky enough to be born with big, luscious Angelina Jolie lips and I'm not afraid to use them. I'm also a NYC New York Color fanatic. Have been for quite a few years now. In fact, I never leave home without one of their lip glosses and liquid eyeliners tucked inside my tote bag. Suffices to say, reviewing this product as part of my 2012 Holiday VoxBox is pretty easy for me...

Buy it! Buy it now, buy it often—just BUY IT!!! (And use it! You have to use it too! LOL) I guarantee you will love it as much as it loves you! NYC Liquid Lipshine goes on smooth, not sticky, and lasts a long time. Plus, it's extremely affordable, retailing at only $2.49. This high-definition gloss adds a wonderful hint of color that both moisturizes and shines. Apply it by itself or on top of your favorite matte lipstick for added pop. With NYC my lips are not only kissably soft and alluring, they're downright dangerous!

Don't believe me? Judge for yourself...

NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine in Nude York City #582

Now that's what I call lip service! ;)

XOXO

Pillow Talk

2013-01-11T14:17:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl I use to pretend the government had a secret Pillow Inspector Division (PID) with hidden cameras everywhere and that someday I'd wind up getting a visit from the Pillow Police for illegal tag removal... (Yeah, never would've guessed I'd grow up to become a fiction writer someday, huh?)

I only bring this up because I'm doing laundry right now—specifically, pillows and assorted pillow paraphernalia—while having a very interesting conversation with the one and only +Michael Lamerique on Google+ about the prevalence of pillow tag mutilation in the United States. It's a strange proclivity of Western culture really and, I must admit, that I've been guilty of callously ripping the tags off of my pillows without proper permission in the past too.

I'm not sure why people do it. Is it the thrill of not getting caught? Or maybe there's a small rebellious part inside us all that simply enjoys preying on poor innocent pillows? For me, it's a little of both. I guess that's something I'll have to explore further with a court ordered psychiatrist someday... Maybe even donate to the Purple Heart for penance.

Anyway, all of this provocative pillow talk got me thinking... Why are those DO NOT REMOVE tags on pillows, cushions, and mattresses anyway? What gives? Was there once a pillow apocalypse that produced this peculiar practice?

So, I turned to Google for help and was pleasantly surprised with the explanation I found...

From the Arizona Republic newspaper (On-line Edition)
October 30, 2007

The warning is not meant for consumers, but for merchants and manufacturers.

Back in the old days when business people were not as high-principled and as scrupulously honest as they are today, some manufacturers were not too picky about the materials they used to stuff mattresses and the like. So you might have ended up sleeping on vermin or stuff that could make you sick or a dead cow or something. Well, probably not a dead cow.

Anyway, the government stepped in and required them to put a tag on the product listing its contents, and it carried the warning "Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law." That never applied to you, just to the manufacturers and dealers, but lots of people didn't understand that.

Nowadays the tag says, "This tag may not be removed except by the consumer."

Phew! See? Neat, huh?

Wait a minute...You mean to tell me, all those years of pervasive paranoia were pretty much pointless? I can, in fact, clip off every pillow tag in my house without fear of persecution or prosecution?!

*Blinkblink*

Excuse me while I procure my scissors! ;)

XOXO

Discussing DISQUS...

2013-01-10T14:15:00.003-05:00

W00t! MiaUNLEASHED is officially DISQUS enabled! That means you can comment this blog via your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts now!

You can also sort comments, vote them up or down, star posts, subscribe to individual discussions via email/RSS, and then share them with your friends. Best of all, DISQUS works on both the WWW and mobile site so your comments will always stay synced.

Don't believe me? Try it! Go forth and COMMENT TODAY!!! :)

XOXO

WRITING WAFFLES: Affairs of the Heart...or, Giving Romance a Chance!

2013-01-09T21:43:00.001-05:00

Yay! I completed Chapter 11 of my young adult fantasy novel DE on Saturday and now I'm almost finished Chapter 12. "Almost" meaning I'm on page 13 with the expectation of wrapping things up by page 14.

This chapter was soooo much easier to write than the others! Maybe that's because it gave me the chance to explore the blossoming romance between two of my favorite characters?

No, I'm not telling you who...yet...but I will say that it involves a terrycloth turban, a Finding Nemo bath brush, lots of snowflakes, and a particularly heartfelt performance by our potential Prince Charming in the moonlight with his trusty cherry red Gibson guitar...

Okay! That's it! That's all you're going to get right now! I know I'm being a terrible tease but I get so excited about what I'm working on that I can't help it sometimes. In fact, I tend to release more details than I probably should. Hence, the "zippy the lippy" thing I'm ~~poorly~~ attempting to do right now.

I've gotta admit though that it was nice taking time out from all of the murder and mayhem and magic to concentrate on affairs of the heart for a change. Then again, that's not how this chapter starts, it's just how it ends. I purposefully constructed an opening sequence that's the complete opposite from what transpires at the end of the chapter in every way possible—and THAT'S truly the last hint you're going to get from me!

Well, that and this... ;)

REVIEW: Goody #QuikStyle Paddle Brush @GoodyHair

2013-01-08T16:08:00.001-05:00

I have been in love with Goody® hair care products since my early teens, so I was over-joyed to spy this little beauty peeking out at me from within the confines of my 2012 Holiday VoxBox.

The Goody® QuikStyle Paddle Brush regularly retails for $11.99 and comes with super absorbent microfiber bristles that are suppose to remove up to 30% of water as you style. I've heard of this type of material being used for towels before (think ShamWow) so I was excited to try it on my hair.

Now I usually avoid blow dryers at all costs, preferring my shoulder-length locks to dry naturally, so this QuikStyle brush was a perfect fit for me—and it really does seem to dry hair faster by absorbing excess moisture! Working the brush through my hair was easy, de-tangling was a breeze, and the end result was both smooth and silky.

Would I recommend this brush to someone looking for a heat-free alternative to style with? Absolutely, yes. It won't dry your hair instantly, but it will get the job done 30% faster than you're use to.

XOXO

Get $25 Off Your First Purchase at @SoleSociety! #PerfectPair

2013-01-07T15:34:00.001-05:00

Hey, Ladies! Who feels like getting a new pair of shoes from Sole Society for $25 Off today?! I just got mine in and they are gorgeous!

Sole Society has an amazing selection of designer quality, on-trend women's shoes at surprisingly affordable prices. Plus, you get FREE Shipping!

Just visit SoleSociety.com and sign up for a FREE account, browse their amazing selection, add the items you want to purchase to your Bag, and enter the following at checkout for $25 Off...

PROMO CODE: INFLUENSTER25

Go now! You won't be sorry. Treat yourself or even spoil a friend! But you gotta hurry because this code is only good until January 31st so make sure to use it while you can! And don't forget to tag @MiaUNLEASHED and @SoleSociety when you post pics of your new #PerfectPair of shoes on Twitter! ;)

XOXO