Solitaire by Sarah Afshar

Solitaire is a beautiful ballad originally performed by Neil Sedaka. I heard the song several times throughout my life and really loved it after hearing the talented Clay Aiken cover this song over 10 years ago. The song truly tells a story that many can relate to and identify with.

 

I took it upon myself to record it tonight on Smule. Originally I wanted to perform this song in parts, but decided to just record it in one go. Using Super Studio 30/30, there was barely any editing done to this song. What you hear is what you get and pretty much close to what I sound singing this IRL.

Check out the video above to listen to it. If you cannot see the video, simply click here right now. Remember to listen to this song with headphones.

Natural (piano version) by Sarah Afshar

Imagine Dragons is one of my favorite bands. They are so unique and just bring something new, different and exciting to music. I have quite a few favorite songs from them, with their newest song Natural being one of them. I think the best way I would describe them is the Dave Matthews Band mixed with OneRepublic with a hint of Cold Play. 

The moment they released the song, I learned it because I knew I would want to record it. The day I first heard it, I learned it. You can listen to that recording by going here. Tonight, I took to Smule to create another rendition. A cover that was unique and didn't sound like every other cover of the song.

To listen to my version of Natural, simply watch the video. If it doesn't play, just click here right now.

Princess Night by Vera Wang

Princess Night by Vera Wang

Introduced in 2011 by Vera Wang, this romantic fragrance hit the shelves in January of 2012. Princess Night is best described as a spicy yet oriental fragrance that includes fruity, floral, and woody notes. What do I think about this perfume?

PROS

The top note is definitely a warmer note. It is a combination of sugar with a hint of vanilla and cocoa. The raspberry note is very evident in this fragrance, which I love. I can smell several other fruity notes that remind me of a combination of cherry and honey dew. The fact that it is more fruity than anything else makes me really love this perfume.

I am not a fan of musk notes, but what makes me enjoy this fragrance is that the musk note is very subtle in this fragrance. The jasmine and rose notes really bring this fragrance together along with the woodsy scents.

The bottle is something to not only love, but appreciate. It is heart-shaped, covered with dark glitter. The cap resembles a silver crown with a hint of bling. This makes the bottle novelty chic.

After applying this fragrance early in the morning, it lasted 12 hours and still managed to last an additional 3 hours on top of that. The scent life of this perfume is fantastic.

The sillage is moderate, as it isn't overpowering at all. In fact, you will get compliments more so than any criticism.

Personally, I think anyone would love this fragrance because it is one of those that is great for anyone. Although it is very different from Aquolina's Pink Sugar, there are some similarities in note collaborations that make this fragrance a lot like that one.

CONS

If you are into musk notes, as well as, intense floral notes; you may not find Princess Night appealing. If you are prefer clean scents or if you are into extremely fruity or citrus fragrances, you may not like this perfume. If you enjoy earthy notes, you will not find this fragrance appealing.

Not every fragrance in the world is for everyone, so if you are into mature scents that emphasize on using musk, woody, and powder notes or you are into uni-sex scents that combine various floral, woody, and spicy notes; I don't think this Vera Wang addition will interest you.

RATING - 92%

Vera Wang's Princess Night is available at FragranceNET for $48.19. Would I use this fragrance again? Absolutely. In fact, I just sprayed some 20 minutes ago. Would I recommend this fragrance to a friend? Yes, especially to those that love fruity yet warm scents. For more information about this product, please visit FragranceNET today.

Do I think Morgan Ingram was murdered?

Morgan Ingram was a young woman from Carbondale, Colorado who was found dead on December 2, 2011 by her parents Toni and Steve Ingram. After the cause and manner of death was changed several times from natural to porphyria insinuating Morgan took her own life, I just knew it was foul play.

After investigating this case independently, I did not have to speak personally with Toni Ingram to know this was a murder. I have always been a fan of true crime and as an enthusiast, what I found the most troubling with the stalking and death of Morgan Ingram was the toxicology reports. There were quite a few things I found wrong about it, in conjunction with the story itself. Morgan Ingram had 7,909 ng of Amitriptyline in her blood stream. Therapeutic range of Amitriptyline in the blood is considered to be somewhere between 10 ng and 250 ng. This was stated on the toxicology reports themselves. How is it possible that 7,909 ng of Amitriptyline was in her blood?

Then, the amount in her stomach (or gastric fluids) was 2,287,440 ng. Although I am not familiar about the therapeutic range or level of Amitriptyline in the stomach, it is evident that this is a very high dose. Now, when I examined the toxicology reports along with the police reports, they did not add up to me. An expired Amitriptyline prescription was sitting in Morgan Ingram's bedroom or bathroom with only a few pills missing from it. How can only a few pills missing from this prescription create this much Amitriptyline in both the blood stream and gastric fluids?

Then, when you look at the ratio of Amitriptyline to Noratriptyline in Morgan Ingram's blood stream, the numbers are so close in comparison to the gastric fluid ratio. How can someone consume only a few pills missing from an expired prescription of the said drug and still have such a close ratio of the drug in their blood stream? This is a sign of a one time dosage and/or injection of the drug hence why the numbers of Amitriptyline to Noratriptyline are close. 7,909 ng of Amitriptyline to 2,833 ng Noratriptyline. Then, when looking at the gastric fluids the amount of Amitriptyline is 2,287,440 ng to 9,431 ng of Noratriptyline.

Several of you who dislike me because I believe Morgan Ingram was murdered always tend to say "Sarah, there was sludge found in her stomach" or "Sarah, there are pill fragments in her stomach" etc. Yes, that is true, but I don't believe the high amount in her stomach was what killed her. I believe most pills are designed to be regurgitated when consumed in such heavy amounts. Granted, Morgan did not do that here. With only a few pills missing from an expired prescription, even if she would have consumed the entire pill bottle, how does that explain the amount in her blood stream?

The level in Morgan Ingram's blood stream is so obscenely high, it is virtually impossible to say this is a suicide as she had over 6,000 ng of Amitriptyline in her blood stream. 1,000 is considered to be death. Excluding the high amount in her stomach, the question I have is: how does one get this much Amitriptyline in their blood stream? It is virtually impossible to entertain the suicide theory, overlooking this very vital fact in the investigation.

Another reason why I believe Morgan Ingram was murdered was the fact she had no history of drugs. If you examine the toxicology results fully rather than one dimensionally, you will see that some of those drugs listed were not found in the house during the investigation. Cyclobenzaprine (or Flexeril), for instance is a drug used to treat muscle spasms. This drug was not found in the house yet was mysteriously found in Morgan Ingram's stomach. 175 ng of this drug was found in her gastric fluids. If a woman with no history of drugs let alone suicidal thoughts is found dead, how does this drug mysteriously end up in her stomach? When it was not found in the Ingram home.

When examining the autopsy photos, I definitely noticed quite a few red flags. Her face had marks on it, as if she were hit in the face. The first thing I noticed was her lips followed by her nose. It looked as if someone hit her several times in the face. Her body was also in a weird position, as her arms were raised up. And what makes me not only believe, but rightfully know this is foul play were how her hands were raised. She clenched them and signed two letters via sign language. She signed a "K" and an "N" for Keenan, the man she personally identified as the man stalking her. She also had weird marks on her neck as if she were strangled.

The interrogation video is another questionable source of information which I find to be quite plausible in this entire case. When Keenan was questioned simultaneously regarding the stalking and murder, he said, "in my opinion, I didn't do anything." He also denied being near the Ingram's residence, when it is clearly him on camera. Of course, what I found most shocking were Morgan's stalker's responses and how he used his hands to respond before throwing out Brooke Harris's name several times. This is a sign of deception and I am surprised how most of you who believe she committed suicide are overlooking this fact. Perhaps you haven't watched the interrogation video. I definitely believe he is involved in her death.

 Now taking a look at the character of Morgan Ingram and her overall decorum. She was woman who was optimistic, who had no reason to escape. She wasn't running from her life. She was also an artist. I don't believe a woman with her artistry, including her creative writing talent would leave the world without writing a letter saying goodbye. Morgan Ingram was a free-spirited, happy woman with more drive than NASCAR. She also informed law enforcement that Keenan Vanginkel was the man stalking her. How is this fact being overlooked by skeptics who are pushing the suicide theory? She personally identified the man.  

So, to answer your question - do you think Morgan Ingram was murdered? Yes, I do.

I could probably write an entire dissertation on why I believe this was a homicide; however, it is up to you to draw your own conclusions. The case is closed, but the proof is right in your face if really look at it. I want to also add that whatever lie you hear about me from those who believe Morgan Ingram did take her own life, I can tell you they are nothing more than lies in efforts to discredit me for publicly supporting Morgan Ingram, her mother Toni Ingram and the homicide theory. And no matter how many lies you spread, no matter lies you tell, it will not change the truth.

Have a nice day!

River by Sarah Afshar

I decided to take on River by Bishop Briggs on Smule. There is currently a trending contest going on called the "Smule Olympics" where various groups work together to collaborate and create their own unique version of a song. Although I didn't enter the contest (I didn't join any groups this year), I decided to use the hashtag (#SO2018) and experiment with the song as it is my first time diving deep into this tune.

 

I recorded all of the parts in the song directly from the app using my iPhone. I used Super Studio 25/25 on each part, so I barely edited the parts as much as I could have. I sung the song originally through on the first part before adding each additional part in. There are a total of five parts in this song.

 

To hear my rendition of River watch the video above. If it doesn't play, just click here to listen. I recorded this using headphones, so I highly suggest wearing them while listening.

My Own Worst Enemy by Sarah Afshar

My Own Worst Enemy is one of those classic 90's songs that reminds me of life. This song came out while I was in high school and was played on the radio a lot during that time. Recently I joined a contest for my friend Lashonda, but had to drop out as I didn't have time to sing everyday multiple times. In case you are unaware, My Own Worst Enemy is a pop punk kind of song, so I wasn't sure I was going to be able to cover this at all.

And like any risk, sometime the reward is worth it. My rendition of this song is so unique, I don't think anyone has ever done this ever with this song. I recorded all of the parts (5 total) via Smule, including the harmonies and dark growl/scream parts. I did everything from my iPhone. As much as I wanted to go darker, I didn't want to do too much. 

Here it is:

To listen to my version of My Own Worst Enemy, simply watch the video or listen to the video above. If it doesn't play, just click here right now. What do you think?

A Guy What Takes His Time by Sarah Afshar

I first heard this when watching Burlesque and immediately loved it. Christina Aguilera did this song so much justice. I heard it shortly after by Mae West, the original singer of the song and loved it as much. Sure, she (West) didn't have the vocal abilities as Aguilera, but she definitely had something special. A certain personality to the song that was very sultry. Her rendition was very simple in comparison. I love both of them in entirely different ways.

 

Tonight, while on Smule I decided to record this song in parts without overdoing it. I went with A Guy Want Takes His Time because it was a song that I found myself singing throughout the day today. It's a very classic yet edgy and sexy burlesque song which embraces the jazz concept.

 

If you cannot hear the video above, just click here to listen now. And remember to listen to this with headphones.

Zombie by Sarah Afshar

Zombie is one of those hauntingly sinister songs that sends a message so beautiful, you find yourself lost in translation. The song was released in Fall of 1994. I was only 13 years old when the song came out. And still today, it remains to be a wonderful song. Written by Dolores O'Riordan herself, the song sends a powerful message about political trauma.

I read that The Cranberries were offered $1 million from their record label to work on another song and O'Riordan ripped up the check (and checks were big before bank deposits back in the early-to-mid 90s) and worked on releasing Zombie immediately.

I was a huge fan of Dreams, so I wasn't sure if I would ever like the song, but when I heard it, I just knew that it would be a song I would not only love, but appreciate. In fact, I love it so much I had to cover it.

Check out the video above. If you cannot see it, simply click here to listen to it. Listen with headphones.