Thursday, February 27, 2014

Books I'm Excited For: March 2014

I have almost 400 books on my "to-read" list on Goodreads, and March definitely helped add to that list!
Here are the books I'm excited for that are coming out in March 2014.


The Divorce Papers by Susan Rieger The Opposite of Maybe by Maddie Dawson Anne Fortier Growing Up Duggar by Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger Duggar Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski Panic by Lauren Oliver


I received the following books from NetGalley to review: The Divorce Papers, The Opposite of Maybe, The Lost Sisterhood, Don't Even think About It, and Growing Up Duggar. 

There are so many awesome books coming out next month! I'd love to see your reviews if you do one on one of these books, so be sure and link me below! And feel free to add me on Goodreads!

FTC: Some of the books mentioned above have been provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I am not in any way affiliated with any of the authors mentioned.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

The J'Adore VoxBox

I qualified for the Influenster Jadore Vox Box!
From Influenster: A little Valentine from us to you, mon cherie! Filled with trinkets, joy, and a certain je ne sais quoi, the J'adore VoxBox will have you head over heels and whispering tweet nothings.

 Influenster Vox Box

Here is all that came in my box, and I was pretty excited about a couple of things!


Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask

Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask  
Treat your skin to deep cleansing with this mineral-rich clay mask. Designed for use on normal skin, this unscented, hypo-allergenic formula absorbs excess oil and deeply cleanses skin. The oceanic clay exhibits a negative electrical charge, which helps to draw out impurities without overdrying, leaving your skin feeling softer and smoother. 
My Thoughts: I've used this once since receiving this box, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet. It's a very runny product (I recommend shaking it to thicken it up a bit), and it has Willow Bark, which my skin always seems to have problems with. BUT, I liked the way it felt when it was drying (it didn't make my skin feel super tight like some other masks), and I really felt like it got all the nastiness out of my pores. So, I'm hoping my skin can tolerate the willow bark and I will keep using it. Otherwise, I'll be passing it off to a coworker that expressed interest.

John Frieda Frizz Ease 3-Day Straight Flat Iron Spray

John Frieda Frizz Ease 3-Day Straight Flat Iron Spray
Revolutionary heat-activated formula wraps each strand in long-lasting straightness for up to 3 days (or until your next shampoo if less than 3 days) without weighing hair down. Formula, infused with Keratin, protects against heat damage and blocks frizz making hair glossy, smooth, and swinging with body.
My Thoughts: I received this product once before in my November 2013 New Beauty Test Tube, and I'm going to be doing the same with this one that I did with the other one- passing it off to a friend. I already have straight hair, so it would be useless for me to try this and give it an accurate review.

KISS Looks So Natural Lashes

KISS Looks So Natural Lashes
KISS Looks So Natural Lashes are made with Tapered End Technology so lash strips blend seamlessly with your own lashes, inconspicuously highlighting your eyes- they're so luxuriously light and comfortable, you're forget you're wearing them! Available at Walgreens and CVS Stores Nationwide.
My Thoughts: I'm not a huge wearer of false eyelashes, but these look like they are nice quality and will be good ones. I might give them a try soon, and if I do, I will do a follow up blog post.

Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas

Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas
Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas deliver rich decadent flavors in a premium black tea blend. Enjoy this indulgence in a cup, with none of the calories and none of the guilt.
My Thoughts: As I've said before, I love tea. I look forward to trying these, though I haven't yet, but they smell amazing. I got mostly the Creme Caramel favor, but was also given the Lemon Chiffon to try. (They also have Cinnamon Streusel, and Peach Cobbler.)

Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolates

Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolates
The right words don't always come easily. And sometimes it's impossible to say what you really mean. But give someone Hershey's Kisses Chocolates and you'll instantly say it all.
My Thoughts: This is a FAMILY SIZE BAG of Hershey's Kisses! I love Hershey's Kisses- they're probably up there with my favorite type of candy. So I was really happy to receive this!

Vaseline Men Spray Lotion

Vaseline Men Spray Lotion
New Vaseline Men Spray Lotion is a continuous spray lotion that moisturizes deeply and absorbs in seconds to tackle dryness fast and leave skin feeling great. After application, skin feels instantly moisturized - not sticky or greasy. Vaseline Men Spray Lotion is available in two formulas: Fast Absorbing and Fast Cooling. 
My Thoughts: I had my husband try this, and he is not at all a fan. He doesn't use lotion, and he didn't like the smell when I asked him to try it. I passed this off to my step father-in-law, and he says he is enjoying it, so it's not a total waste.


If you're interested in joining and being active on Influenster to try your hand at receiving boxes, please leave your email here and I will invite you! My score will go up the more you review, but that's the only form of "compensation" I would receive.



FTC: I received all products from Influenster for review purposes.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This post contains amazon affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Book Review: Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer (and meeting the author!)

Cress Marissa Meyer

(This is the third book of four in a series. If you would like to read more about Cinder, the first book, please check it out at Good Reads. And if you would like to know more about Scarlet, the second book, you can read my review here.)

Description from Goodreads

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.


Meeting the Author!

Before I get into the review, I wanted to talk about experience going to see Marissa Meyer. I have family in San Diego and was fortunate enough to be able to attend her morning reading/signing on February 6th. (For reference, I live about 5ish hours from there.)

The reading took place at the absolutely beautiful library in Downtown San Diego. It is 9 stories! If you have the chance to visit it, I highly recommend it, because if you love books, you will be in book heaven.

The morning reading was mostly kids, because there is a charter school in the library (lucky kids!), but there were also a few people closer to my age, so I didn't feel too super awkward (or old). 

Marissa is really lovely, and funny. She did a presentation on herself, and how she got started writing. She also talked about her love of Sailor Moon, which I also grew up watching and loving, so that was fun!  And her love of fairytales. 

She also did a reading of the original Rapunzel, which was wonderful. So many people are not familiar with the actual story of Rapunzel, so it was cool to hear it outloud and for her to share it with others. Especially for the kids- I could tell they were surprised!

She did a quick Q&A, and the library raffled off some prizes. I didn't win anything.
I brought my book to sign, and waited in line!

(I also noticed her husband walking around in his Seahawks shirt, and wanted to say Go Hawks, but got too shy to do so. So if you're reading this- GO HAWKS!)


Meeting Marissa Meyer

Marissa was wonderful and I highly recommend if you get a chance to go see her, or any author that is doing a reading in your area, really. She was so gracious, and really took the time with everyone to make them feel special. I will definitely be seeking out more author readings and signings in my area!



My Review

Cress picks up almost immediately where Scarlet leaves off. It begins with Cress in her satellite, monitoring Earth for the Lunars, and also trying to help out Cinder and her crew. Eventually, they get connected, but only for their plan to help Cress escape to be foiled by Cress' mistress, Sybil. There is a bit of a battle, and the ships are disconnected. Cress and Captain Thorne are then stuck in the satellite plummeting towards Earth; Cinder and Wolf are disconnected and on their way to Africa- Wolf was severely injured, and the only doctor that Cinder knows that will help Wolf without problems is located there, with Jacin, a bodyguard to Sybil (who seems to have allegiance to Cinder); and Scarlet has been taken by Sybil. And she becomes the prisoner of Princess Winter, who is a little more on the crazy side of the scale than not.

Cress is essentially Rapunzel with a twist, right down to Captain Thorne becoming blinded. (In the original story, the prince is thrown out of the tower and blinded by rose bushes.) This is the common thread of the Lunar Chronicles- fairy tales with a twist. And all the stories interweave to create one solid, amazing story. You would think with the amount of characters involved it would be confusing, or you would need an evidence board with strings tied to pins to keep everything straight, but you don't. Meyer tells the story in such a way that it keeps you involved enough with every character that you shouldn't be wondering about specifics.

(Though I have to say, I wish I remembered more of Cinder than I do, and might do a complete re-read of the series before Winter comes out next year. I've read quite a few reviews stating that people have seen foreshadows of things mentioned in Cinder starting to tie in to the story, and I LOVE when authors tie up loose ends. Or write things that you don't really think of as important, but then OMG become the most important thing that you totally missed!)

Another important piece of the story is Prince Kai's impending nuptials to Queen Levana of Luna. Prince Kai knows that once they are married, it's basically off with his head. And Cinder desperately wants to stop the wedding, part because she is in love with Kai, and part because, well, she believes she is the lost princess and should be queen of Luna. And Queen Levana is a horrible, awful person- but I love to read her. She is evil in the best way. 



I don't want to ruin the story and say whether the characters eventually meet up. But there is resolution of sorts, however, there is still one part of the story remaining to be told, and I'm starting to see how this could all come together, but there is still so much I want to know! I was actually a little frustrated when I hit the end, because I didn't realize it was coming- there were a lot of pages left in my book because I purchased a special edition from Target with a short story. Which was also really great.

(Side note: I cried a couple times, especially the scene with Cress and Dr. Erland. That's all I'm saying about that.)

I rated this book 4 stars on Goodreads, but I really feel like it was 4.5 stars. Obviously I didn't LOVE IT enough to give it a 5 star rating, but it was a really well-written continuation to the series, and left me desperately wishing I didn't have to wait a year for Winter.




You can purchase Cress here for Kindle, or here for a hardcover copy. You can also check out the first 5 chapters on Kindle for free! I usually download the samples to read before I get a book from the library or buy it, so I think this is a great way to get to know a book before you commit!




FTC: This book was purchased with my own money. All thoughts and opinions are my own.This post contains Amazon.com affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.


Thursday, February 20, 2014

Birchbox February 2014

February 2014 Birchbox

I pulled the trigger. I decided to sign up for Birchbox. And I picked a pretty good month, because February was the Birchbox collaboration with US Weekly!
I couldn't help myself and peaked at the contents of my box prior to actually receiving the box, but I was still really excited when I saw what was coming, and once I received it.

Side Note: I was given a light studio for my birthday from my super awesome Sister-in-Law and Brother-in-Law! I'm still playing with my set up a bit and trying to make sure there are no shadows and all that good stuff, so please be patient with me in the mean time!


(As usual, since this is my first box, I am showing the complete unboxing.)


February 2014 Birchobox


February 2014 Birchbox


February 2014 Birchbox


Each box comes with a card that, on one side, details the "theme" of the box, and on the backside, lists all the products that are included.


February 2014 Birchbox


February 2014 Birchbox Beauty Protector Protect & Oil


Beauty Protector Protect and Oil

Exclusive Launch! This just-for-you hair oil defends against UV rays, heat, and breakage.
How To Use: Smooth one to three drops into damp hair, working from the roots to ends. Or, you can apply a small amount to the ends of dry hair to tame frizz and provide light conditioning.
How It Works: This nourishing formula uses star ingredient argan oil to protect, strengthen, and add a pretty gloss to strands—all without heaviness. Armed with UV and heat protection, it stands up to two of our favorite past times: heat styling and spending hours in the sun. The paraben-free formula is also cruelty-free.
Will I Use It?: Well, I do love a good hair oil, so I imagine I will be making use of this soon! It's getting pretty great reviews on the Birchbox website (It's about at a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars). I will definitely update you guys when I use it and get an idea of whether I like it or not! 


February 2014 Birchbox Harvey Prince Hello


Harvey Prince Hello

Best-selling spritz that mingles cheerful citrus with floral notes. Well, hello there!
How To Use: Spritz on first thing in the morning and whenever you need a fragrance mood boost.
How It Works: Made with eco-friendly ingredients, this scent has all-day staying power. A top note of Meyer lemon captures the scent of fresh-squeezed lemonade, while Satsuma mandarin adds a double fruity note. Next up, summer forsythia and pink plumeria—traditionally found in Hawaiian leis—give the scent its heady floral layer.
Will I Use It?: I have tried it, and it is a really nice scent. It's definitely not something I would have purchased for myself, but after wearing it most of the day today after receiving my box, I like the way it mixes with my body chemistry, and it really lasts! I'll definitely keep using the sample!


February 2014 Birchbox OPI Sheer Tints in Don't Violet Me Down


OPI Sheer Tints in Don't Violet Me Down

This tinted top coat gives nails a wash of high-shine, translucent color.
How To Use: Wear the tinted top coat over bare nails for a sheer wash of color or customize your shade by layering to achieve your desired outcome.
How It Works: The translucent colors take your polish to the next level: Make solid nail lacquers pop by brightening or darkening, accent glittery or dark polishes, transform crème and shimmery shades, reveal imbedded colors in your favorite hues, and layer to create the ultimate ombré look.
Will I Use It?:  I tried this on one of my bare nails, and to be honest? It's not my thing. I think if I had received the pinker color, it might be a little better for me, but overall I'm not really into this. I might try it over a couple polishes to see what kind of look comes out, but I haven't decided yet.


February 2014 Birchbox Harney & Sons Fine Teas


Harney & Sons Fine Teas (Black Tea in Paris (Caramel and Citrus), and White Vanilla Grapefruit (White Tea infused with Vanilla and Grapefruit))

Rich and flavorful tea blends from the family-owned craft brand.
How to Use: Steep sachet in boiling water according to directions.
How It Works: Harney & Sons has a robust range of teas. Try one of their black teas: Organic English Breakfast is a classic black, Early Grey Supreme adds citrus for a twist on the original, Hot Cinnamon Spice blends orange, cinnamon, and cloves, and Paris is fruity with vanilla and caramel flavors. Then there are the green teas: Japanese Sencha has light accents of citrus, Organic Green with Citrus and Ginkgo brings added health benefits, and Organic Bangkok blends green tea with ginger, lemongrass, coconut, and vanilla. And the herbal teas: Chamomile is mellow with very subtle apple flavors, Rooibos Chai brings spicy, earthy flavors with a hint of nuttiness, and Mint Verbena is a refreshing mix of mint and citrus. Finally, the flavored teas: Pomegranate Oolong is a tangy fruity brew, Caribe blends black and green tea with tropical flavors, Tilleul with Mint mixes peppermint and woodsy tilleul, and White Vanilla Grapefruit is a sweet brew with a white tea base.
Will I Use It?: I love tea, so I will absolutely be trying these. I'm not at all familiar with this brand, but depending on how I like these two samples, I will definitely be checking out their Earl Grey (my fave tea type) and the Caribe. And the Pomegranate Oolong. Okay... so I may just buy all of them!


If any of you are interested in signing up for Birchbox, please click there and use my affiliate link! I receive points which I will exchange for products that I can review on this blog.




FTC: This box was purchased by me with my own money. All opinions are my own. All product descriptions were taken directly from the Birchbox card included in the box.
This post contains Amazon.com affiliate links and a birchbox affiliate link. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
The individual product links to the birchbox product page are not affiliate links.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Book Review: Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead

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(This book was provided to me by NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for review purposes).

Description from Goodreads
From the author of the widely acclaimed debut novel Seating Arrangements, winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize: a gorgeously written, fiercely compelling glimpse into the passionate, political world of professional ballet and its magnetic hold over two generations.

Astonish Me is the irresistible story of Joan, a ballerina whose life has been shaped by her relationship with the world-famous dancer Arslan Ruskov, whom she helps defect from the Soviet Union to the United States. While Arslan's career takes off in New York, Joan's slowly declines, ending when she becomes pregnant and decides to marry her longtime admirer, a PhD student named Jacob. As the years pass, Joan settles into her new life in California, teaching dance and watching her son, Harry, become a ballet prodigy himself. But when Harry's success brings him into close contact with Arslan, explosive secrets are revealed that shatter the delicate balance Joan has struck between her past and present.

In graceful, inimitable prose, Shipstead draws us into an extraordinary world, and the lives of her vivid and tempestuous characters. Filled with intrigue, brilliant satire, and emotional nuance, Astonish Me is a superlative follow-up to Shipstead's superb debut.


My Review

This book started off a little confusing to me- I got about 4% in and realized I didn't know Joan from another woman in the novel, so I started over. (This was not the author's fault; upon re-reading, I realized I had applied to Joan what should have been applied to the other woman. Lesson learned to pay better attention to details!)

This book is broken up into 5 parts, and each part is broken up further into time frame. Each part also skips back to a time period either slightly before or slightly farther along than what the first part started as. So each part introduces you to more detail than you were previously given, which makes the first part of the book a little frustrating (Why did Arslan choose to defect with Joan? What happened between Elaine and Joan?), but ultimately, everything seems to be tied up just as tight as a ballet shoe.


Joan is a ballerina who's good enough to be in the corps, but not good enough to solo. She meets Arslan while he is becoming super famous in Russia but he wants to come to America. So, after much letter writing and secrecy, Joan helps Arslan defect. They have a sexual relationship, but not a real one. At least not the kind Joan wants.
Elaine is Joan's roommate on and off. She is an interesting character- she is a soloist, she does coke, she has a relationship with Mr. K, who is gay. I think of everyone, she ended up being my favorite character.

Then there is Jake, Joan's husband. He loved her in high school, they sleep together once, and ultimately Joan ends up pregnant and they get married. Jake starts off as this kind of pathetic guy, but as the story progresses, you come to respect his quiet strength for his family.
Jake and Joan's son's name is Harry. Joan quit ballet shortly after becoming pregnant with Harry. She still studies ballet (in her private time), and ultimately begins to teach ballet. Late in his childhood (but before becoming a teenager, Harry also becomes a ballet dancer. A very, very good one.

Jake and Joan move next door to Sandy and her husband, who have a daughter who is Harry's age, named Chloe. Harry develops a crush on Chloe, and although it isn't really stated specifically, I believe she is the reason he also decides to dance ballet. Chloe does not return Harry's feelings, though Harry is always there for her, especially in an extremely upsetting time.
To me, Harry's crush on Chloe almost mirrored the crush that Jake had on Joan throughout their teenage years. I thought that was an interesting way for the author to continue to show more about the relationships between the characters, in general.
Sandy is jealous of Joan- that much is obvious. They are friends but eventually are just parents who have kids that are friends.

I'm not sure if I was supposed to be surprised by the "revelation" of the book, but I wasn't. I figured it out pretty much right away. That doesn't take away from the book- I still enjoyed watching it all unfold.


If you're not a fan of books that skip around in time, or skip perspective, you will not like this book. I don't find it to be confusing- it's clearly stated when time is moved. It's just a matter of paying attention (kind of like I didn't when I started this book), and making sure you understand where you are in time when things start to get revealed.
To me, this was an interesting book with interesting characters, and I really enjoyed it. I have been interested in ballerina's since seeing Center Stage, and pretty much will read or watch anything with one. (Though I have never been to an actual ballet- strange!)

I debated with myself on which rating to give this book, and I decided to give it 3 stars. I want to rate it 3.5, but I didn't like it enough to bump up to four stars. Because, ultimately, I liked it, but I don't see myself re-reading it, and it will be a very specific kind of person I would recommend it to. So, 3 stars.


This book will be available to purchase on April 8, 2014. You can preorder a copy of this book in hardcover here, and for Kindle here.


FTC: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This post contains amazon.com affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Wet Brush Review

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A review of a brush? I can hear you all now saying "Really? A brush? How great can a brush be to warrant its own review?"

Umm... so good that when I search YouTube, a ton of results come up, including my absolute favorite by Rachel Whitehurst.
(Seriously- watch this. It is both informative and hilarious.)

So good that it has absolutely changed the way I deal with my hair both pre and post shower. I used to have to completely brush my hair preshower, but now I don't have to do that. Because post shower, this cuts through my hair like a knife through butter.
It also works great on my long hair once it's dry. My hair is fine and tangles super easy, but this gets out the tangles without ripping out my hair. 

Not that this brush is without it's problems- even though it gets through tangles easily, it's not like there is absolutely no tugging- there is. It's just not as harsh and I don't feel like any of my hair is coming out. There is also less fallout of hair while brushing. So it's a win in my book!

I also find it makes my hair more shiny- something about the Inteliflex bristles just helps my normally not-so-shiny hair look almost supermodel shiny!
I have no idea what kind of witchcraft was put on these brushes, but all I know is that I want more of it. 


You can purchase your own Wet Brush here.


FTC: This brush was a Christmas gift. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Liebster Award

Thank you to Allie from Buttons and Bees for nominating me for a Liebster Award!

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My understanding of this award is that bloggers with fewer than 200 followers can nominate each other for the award, and you continue paying it forward- so more of us can see each other and connect to others in our little blog corners of the world!


It works like this:
1. The nominee posts 11 Facts about himself/herself
2. The nominee answers 11 Questions posed by the nominator
3. The nominee nominates 11 small blogs and poses 11 questions to their authors


So without further ado...


11 Facts About Me

1. I've been with my husband for 9 years and we've been married almost 2. We are currently saving up money to buy our first home, and hopefully soon after, we will be starting our family! (I'll probably post more stuff about that as it gets closer to time.) It's a cliche to say so, but he really is my best friend and one of my favorite people in the world.
2. One of my favorite things to do is thrift shop. I love hunting and finding the perfect piece!
3. The beauty product I am absolutely hopeless with? False Eyelashes. I really need to practice more, but I always end up needing someone else to do them for me if I want to wear them.
4. I'm also not great at doing my own hair, and it's only thanks to a curling wand that I actually curl my hair anymore!
5. I'm extremely close to a lot of my extended family, and was lucky enough to not only be born with a full set of grandparents on both sides, but blessed enough to still have all of them with me. I was also born with two great grandmothers that I loved dearly (and one I lived with for a time!).
6. I have recently realized I spend far too much time on social media, and am trying to find the best balance for my life. I am also trying harder to be more present in the company of friends (meaning- not looking at my phone while at dinner or out with them).
7. I'm the kind of person that is perfectly fine staying in on a weekend night. I do love going out, but mostly I don't like the hassle or the crowds. And the amount of money! 
8. I love board games. I'm a huge fan of Tabletop on the Geek & Sundry channel on YouTube, and my husband and I probably own close to thirty games now.
9. I also love going to the movies. I would go to the movie theater every day if i could. (I will see any kind of movie except the Horror genre- I don't really like scary movies.)
10. I own over 60 bottles of nail polish- I'm a little obsessed!
11. I started reading at the age of 4 1/2, and haven't stopped since!

Here are the questions I received from Allie-

1. Why did you start blogging? 
I started blogging because I wanted a creative outlet- I was tired of just sitting around at home after work and not really doing anything but wasting a lot of time. I've always loved beauty, and books, so I found a way I could combine them both. And, luckily, it seems like people are reading the posts equally! So thank you!

2. If you could have any ani
mal as a pet, what would you choose and why?

Honestly, right now my husband and I both really want a dog. But that has to wait until we are in our own home, and hopefully my cat (who currently is staying with my mother), will be able to adjust to the idea!

3. In a movie about your life, who would be cast as you?
This is such a good question, and one I have no clue how to answer! I would hope it would be someone like Emma Stone or Natalie Portman- they can do comedy and drama and in my life, there is both!

4. What is your #1 guilty pleasure food? You know it's bad, and that makes it soooo good!
Pretty much any kind of carb. I could never go no carbs- I'd give up meat before that!

5. What is your best color? 
I get the most compliments when I'm wearing jewel tones, and feel the best when I'm wearing them, also.

6. What motivates or inspires you?

Everyone that is currently in my life motivates or inspires me to either be as good a person as them, or be a better person than they are. (Not everyone is a good influence, so it's learning from them and being motivated to better yourself.) For inspiration, I draw from so many people, but mainly my grandmothers- they are both amazing women in their own way, and inspire me so much to be a better person myself.

7. On the other hand...what relaxes you?

Reading fully relaxes me- it sucks me into another world completely so I forgot about everything else for just a little bit. 

8. Fill in the blank: I need _____________ every single day.

a Coke. I'm addicted. I know it's not great for you, but going back to the answer for #4- I would actually give up carbs before I give up my Coca-Cola! I tried to give it up once upon a time, and did pretty well for about a month, but overall I just love it too much! But I do try to limit to once a day, or drink equal amounts water for every one I drink.

9. What is your go-to dish when you need to bring something yummy to a party? 

I'm honestly not much of a cook, but it's something I want to get better at, and hope to!

10. What are you favorite books (or genres of books) or magazines?

I love Young Adult novels, and "female" centric books. As far as magazines, I love political, entertainment, and women's.

11. What makes you feel "put together?" 

I feel most put together in a nice shirt, a sweater, and a good pair of flats. And mascara!


If Allie didn't nominate me, I would have nominated her!

The other person I would like to nominate is Dakota from Dakota's Beauty Blog. I follow her twitter, as well, and I get a lot of really good tips from her. 
Both girls write extremely well, and are thorough, which I really like!
I'm a little disappointed I don't seem to follow more "small" blogs, because I feel like I get the best, unbiased information. Time to start finding more and connecting!

My questions are-

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. What is your favorite beauty product (if you had to choose just one!)?
3. What do you wear to feel most confident?
4. What is your favorite app on your phone?
5. Who is the person in your life that inspires you most?
6. If you have a day job, what do you do, and is it a life's passion?
7. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
8. What would be your choice for a "last meal"?
9. If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why? 
10. If you could add any one piece to your wardrobe, what would it be?
11. Who is your celebrity crush?


Thanks again, Allie!

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer Review

Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer I received in my Fall/Winter 2013 QVC New Beauty Test Tube.

As I said when I first received this product, I am absolutely in love with it. I'm currently scraping the bottom of the container that I received in the Test Tube, and have a backup of the same size waiting for me. (I ordered this duo from Sephora.com.) 

The product itself is thick, so you don't need much to moisturize your whole face. It has an extremely strong floral scent, but this goes away after the product soaks in. It also burns a little- but to me, it's nothing bothersome and doesn't also make my skin red or irritated. 
It is also just works for my skin, and hasn't made me break out. I've also noticed my skin looking better under my makeup when using this. 

I have noticed that this can make makeup ball up a bit if it's not allowed to soak in all the way prior to putting makeup on- this isn't a product to use when you're in a rush. But usually I put this on, then put on my eyemakeup, and by the time I'm done with that, this product is soaked in and I can follow with my CC creams or foundation (or both). 
I also really, really like the way my skin looks with this product alone. It doesn't make my skin greasy, and I actually feel like my skin glows. I'm comfortable enough with this product alone to just leave my house, which is saying a lot because I can't do that with every single moisturizer.


The only downside to this product is the price- a 2 oz size is $69.00. However, it's good enough that I'm going to at least try to get a 0.5 oz size every once in awhile (when I can find it), so I have it for the days when I want my skin to look really, really good. I highly recommend if you can find the 0.5oz size, to pick it up and give it a try! Or, ask for a sample at your local Sephora!

You can purchase the 0.5 oz size here, or the 2 oz size here.


FTC: This product was originally received as part of a subscription box, which I paid for with my own money, and has now been repurchased with my own money. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Lumene Time Freeze Anti-Age CC Color Correcting Cream Review

Lumene Time Freeze Anti-Age CC Color Correcting Cream

Lumene Time Freeze Anti-Age CC Color Correcting Cream Lumene Time Freeze Anti-Age CC Color Correcting Cream

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Lumene CC cream I received in my November 2013 New Beauty Test Tube

This is one of my favorite products I have received in a New Beauty Test Tube, and quite possibly in my favorite products of all time. It provides an amazing amount of coverage, corrects any pigmentation problems, and works really well under any product I decide to pair it with.

To use this product, you basically just squeeze the tube to get out the desired amount, apply it on your face, and smooth in. I have noticed when I store this product upright, it tends to leak a little (it stays in the container, but the minute that lid comes off, the product starts coming out), so I store it upside down now and no longer have this issue. 

It's a very thin formula, but provides a decent amount of coverage- I would say it is definitely a light-to-medium coverage. And I've used it with my Bare Minerals, a liquid foundation, and just some regular setting powder, and I believe I've had great results with all three.
I've also been able to build this product up quite a bit without it looking cakey, which is great for those days when I'm running a little later for work and need to get out of the door without the usual fuss. 

I have also had absolutely no issues with breakouts being caused by this product. If anything, I feel like it's helping my skin because I don't have to use a ton of products in addition to it to keep my skin feeling moisturized, and also get a desired coverage with makeup. I don't have good skin by any means, and this helps me feel more confident as well!

This product is the reason that, even though I don't love every New Beauty Test Tube I have received, there are gems that I never would have discovered without them. Lumene is just not a familiar brand to me, and I was obsessed with the Ponds BB cream (which I still really like!), so I wouldn't have branched out to find this. And, thankfully, it is within my budget limitations and I will definitely be repurchasing again as soon as it is time!


You can purchase this Lumene product here, or at your local Ulta!


FTC: This product was received as part of a subscription box, which I paid for with my own money. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Book Review: Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

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Description from Goodreads
New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice), and nobody wants to turn him in—not his poker buddies, not his bimbo girlfriend, not his two right-hand men, Shorty and Moe. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game, because—just Stephanie’s luck—the godfather is his actual godfather. And while Morelli understands that the law is the law, his old-world grandmother, Bella, is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail.

It’s not just Uncle Sunny giving Stephanie the run-around. Security specialist Ranger needs her help to solve the bizarre death of a top client’s mother, a woman who happened to play bingo with Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur. Before Stephanie knows it, she’s working side by side with Ranger and Grandma at the senior center, trying to catch a killer on the loose—and the bingo balls are not rolling in their favor.

With bullet holes in her car, henchmen on her tail, and a giraffe named Kevin running wild in the streets of Trenton, Stephanie will have to up her game for the ultimate takedown.


My Review

I've been wanting to read this book since I first wrote about it in my Books I'm Excited for list in November 2013, and have just been waiting for it to be transferred to me at my local library. Usually I can catch the books I really want when they are first put in the system so I don't have to wait quite as long, but this time I didn't get as lucky! 

However, I'm kind of glad I had to wait so long.

It's the same Plum formula. Nothing is new here, so if you were hoping for something new, you'll be disappointed. 

The Stephanie Plum novels are like a worn in comfy chair, and I already have a butt-groove perfectly formed. So I can't get rid of the chair, because I've used it for so long. But I am getting tired of the same old chair. 



The novel mainly centers around Stephanie (and Lula, of course), trying to capture Salvatore Sunucchi, or "Uncle Sunny", because he broke his bond for murder. The problem is that everyone in the Burg loves Sunny. He's also Morelli's Godfather, which further complicates things. A lot of people know where Sunny is, they just don't spill the beans.

There are other little bond enforcements throughout the story that provide a chuckle, And, of course, Grandma Mazur is featured and always good for a laugh.

What really gets me is that I thought for once we'd start to get a little resolution about the Stephanie/Morelli/Ranger love triangle. Instead, it gets blown off again. 
Eventually, one of those two is going to get tired of it. Or I'M going to get too tired of it to keep reading about it. I seriously have no interest in Stephanie constantly cheating on Morelli, emotionally or otherwise.  Because it appears they are really a couple. Except, Morelli doesn't have Stephanie involved in family-type things, and really they don't interact much except for sex.

Which I wouldn't mind. If Stephanie just had sex with both Morelli and Ranger, I'd be all for it so long as all parties were agreeable (or, rather, just didn't disagree with the arrangement). But she clearly eventually wants to be with Morelli. 
There is no sex between Ranger and Stephanie in this book (I don't think that's considered a spoiler), but she wants to. 

What this review boils down to is I'm tired of the formula, and wish she would shake things up a bit. I feel like this exact story has been done before for the Plum novels. 
I like a good, refreshing, predictable novel as much as the next girl. But I like a little variety in an on-going series. 
So please, switch up the formula. Kill off a main character. Get Stephanie for real engaged to one of those guys.
Just... do something!


I'm giving this book two stars on Goodreads. I was entertained by it, but it was just okay.
If you'd like to purchase a copy of this book, you can purchase a copy for Kindle here, or a hardcover copy here.


FTC: I borrowed this book from my local library. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

What's in my makeup bag? (As of February 6th, 2014)

Before I get into what's in my makeup bag, I wanted to say I have decided to suspend "my looks" post. I don't feel like I have the right set up right now to continue it. I do plan on resuming in the near future, but for now, I am going to take a bit of a break.



Okay, with that said, on to what's in my makeup bag!

First, I got a new storage container specifically for my Geek Chic eyeshadows.

makeup storage

I picked this up at Target for $2.99. It's a good fit for what I have now, and leaves me plenty of room to grow! And now I also don't have to worry about them moving around a lot inside my other containers or my makeup bag. It's also really great if I want to travel with these. Which I will be this week, because I'm going to San Diego, and taking them all with me! Just in case my sister-in-law wants to play, too.


Okay, now what I'm going to be using this month.


what's in my makeup bag?

Face products: I really, really love that Lumene CC cream. (I'll be posting a review next week!) The Ponds BB+ is still a face, and, of course, my Bare Minerals.
And as a follow up, I did throw out that Lorac powder. Yuck.

what's in my makeup bag?

Blushes: The Bare Minerals on the right is not actually a blush, it's an eyeshadow, but I'm going to try it as a blush. The others are actual blushes.

what's in my makeup bag?

Eyeshadows: I'm really digging the options of the Lorac Pro To Go (it's surprisingly versatile!). The Naked 3 is coming back because I really miss it. And I want to get this NYX palette out and play with the greens and blues.

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More Eyeshadows: Love that Here Kitty. I actually took the stickers off the bottoms of all my bare minerals eyeshadows and stuck them on the lids, so they could sit properly in my containers and not make a mess. I also decided to bring back Bad to the Bronze. It's great for those mornings where I just don't have time but still want to look put together.

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And Mascara. The Last Blast is in black brown, everything else is in black.
Eyeliners and such remain the same.


And that's what's going on for February! I really intend to use my Geek Chic shadows more than I have been, but also really try to create something new every day when I can. (Some mornings it is just not possible!)
Hope everyone has a wonderful February!



FTC: All products were gifts or purchased by me with my own money. Everything else was purchased by me with my own money. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

This Month in Nails - January 2013

Ulta Beauty in Celebutante with a topcoat of Avon Urban Splatter in Purple Graffiti

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My mother-in-law bought me THREE of the Urban Splatter polishes. I'm not super happy with Purple Graffiti- you can't even tell it's purple. BUT I do love how it looks and all the different mixes of glitters.
And Celebutante is a favorite of mine- I would repurchase it if I ever ran out. I feel like it's coming off more blue than it is, but trust me- it is extremely purple.


China Glaze in Santa Red My List


China Glaze Santa Red My List


China Glaze Santa Red My List

My sister-in-law bought me this in a set that China Glaze had out during Christmas time. I hit the motherload in nail polish this Christmas! I feel like this is an exact dupe for Color Club's Hot Like Lava, but I love it, so I don't mind having this little "back up".
I also really like the length of both my pointer and ring fingers here. Random observations!


Zoya in FeiFei


Zoya FeiFei


Zoya FeiFei

OMG. I really wish the swatches of this were coming off better and the tips weren't so worn. Unfortunately this is about three days in on the wear, because every time I would remember I still needed to take pictures, it was dark.
This is really more blue than it seems in the pictures, and I love it. I got it during the Zoya promo (Buy three, pay $12.00), and I'm so glad I decided to get this one. I wore it during the NFC Championship game (Go Seahawks!) and it really was near the perfect color to be wearing. I might even pop it on during the Super Bowl! I still haven't fully decided what I'm doing yet.


Sally Hansen in Jaded, Pat on the Black, Red My Lips, and Please Sea Me


Sally Hansen Jaded Pat on the Black Please Sea Me Red My Lips


I did a complete post on these polishes here. I received three of them in an Influenster Vox Box, and the other in the Allure Fall Beauty Box. The more of these polishes that I get, the more I like them!



Zoya in FeiFei with Accent Funky French with China Glaze in In The Lime Light


Zoya FeiFei China Glaze In The Lime Light

(My apologies for the tip wear- I forgot to wrap the tips and after typing all day it just tore my nails up!)

Zoya FeiFei China Glaze In The Lime Light

This is the nail look I did for the SuperBowl. I had to do it a little early due to plans over the long weekend, and needing to get two weeks worth of blog posts written because I'm going out of town for a long weekend next weekend (Sunday is my Birthday). I like how it turned out, and you can't really see it in the pictures, but the green from In the Lime Light really played off the shimmer in FeiFei. 
I purchased In The Lime Light partially because it was just so obnoxious and really the perfect "Seahawk" green, and partially for the name. (I'm a huge Rush fan, and they have a song called Limelight. I know, nerd alert!)


FTC: Please see above for how polishes were received. Unless stated otherwise, they were purchased by me with my own money.