Saturday, June 28, 2014

1st Year Blog Anniversary Post!

Happy Blogiversary to me!
I've officially been writing this blog for a year!


So for the past year-

I have a total of 37,973 pageviews (as of the day before this post goes up).
My most viewed post is the Bare Escentuals Beauty Surprise Box from September 2013.
My second most viewed post is the Foreo Luna Mini First Impressions/Review.


For the next year, I'd like to focus more on reviews, so I'm discontinuing the 'Books I'm Excited For' series- if you want to see what I'd like to read, you can friend me on Goodreads and check out my 'To Read' shelf.

I'd also like to add some more "lifestyle" type posts, as well as recipes and stuff. I will put those up on "off" days, so it won't take the place of my beauty or book related posts! Since we are now in our own home, I'm going to start experimenting with baking and cooking a little more, and since I'm basically a beginner, it might be fun to document!



Thank you all, for being around for my first year. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where this blog takes me over the next one!

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Birchbox June 2014 (or, the month I got two boxes)


My box spoilers were a couple of days late this month, but well worth it! I could not wait to get my hands on this box!


- Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect: I'm always into more hair products, especially ones that say they'll prep my hair and make it more manageable. 

- Egyptian Magic Skin Cream: I've heard amazing things about this cream, and I'm really excited to try it out! I have really dry palms (It's basically like eczema), and it pretty much only happens in summer, so this is the perfect time for me to try this!
- Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain: Depending on the shade, this could be a major win! I was really impressed with the eyeliner I received in my April 2014 box, so I have expectations!
- nyakio Kenyan Coffee Face Polish: I'm always willing to give a new exfoliant a try! And it gets pretty good reviews on the birchbox site.
- nyakio Kenyan Coffee Body Scrub: I've never tried a body scrub before (though I have almost bought them several times).
- nyakio Hydrating Face Oil with Kola Nut: This is the only product I'm not super psyched to be getting.
- Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette Set: I really like the Coastal Scents brand, so I'm looking forward to this!


But then my box came, and the products were not at all what was listed in my spoilers.



For reference, this is a screenshot of my spoilers page:

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And this is what I received (and the first blog pictures I took at my new house!): 


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It includes the COOLA Tinted Matte SPF 30 for Face (which I received in my March 2014 birchbox), the Gilchrist & Soames London Collection Body Lotion, the Joie Folle de Joie Eau de Parfum, the Number 4 Hydrating Shampoo (and they also included the conditioner as a bonus), and the Vasanti Cosmetics BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. 

Which, I'm going to be honest, I am not as excited about. I might have been if I'd had time to research and fall in love with them like I had the other products, but I opened this box and it was full of disappointment. I promptly emailed Birchbox Ops to let them know what had happened, and also jumped on the Birchbloggers facebook to see if this issue has come up previously. I also tweeted Birchbox Ops, because sometimes that helps get problems resolved faster. 

I didn't have to wait long- Taylor from Birchbox Ops answered me rather quickly (I had a response the next day) and she said they would be getting a new box shipped to me. I also expressed concern about my points- I'm really good about reviewing all my products to get the 50 points per box, and she stated to me that if the products received in my new shipment were different than what is showing in my box online, then that will be updated so I can review the products. She assured me the products would be different, and she also stated that if they were unable to get a box shipped to me, I would be appropriately compensated. 

I was a little skeptical about this- after all, I had already received completely different products than what was listed online and they didn't update automatically, but I figured they are sending me another box at their cost, and I don't have to return the one I got, so what was the harm!

As of drafting this post, I have not yet received my replacement box, but they did update my birchbox account to show the new products that I will be receiving, and here is what they are- 


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I am glad I'm still getting a Cynthia Rowley Beauty Stain, and the Evologe sounds interesting. The rest I don't know much about. 
I'll have to do an individual review on all of these products some day, because I wasn't able to do my usual birchbox post since I didn't receive my box in time. Plus, with moving... well, I've been kind of busy!

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, June 25, 2014

Almay Longwear & Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads Review

Almay Longwear and Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads

How to Use: Smooth pad over closed lid and lashes

How It Works: ALMAY oil-free gentle eye makeup remover pads are part of Almay, the number 1 eye makeup remover brand in America, which offers a full line of makeup removers to meet the needs of your skin and eyes. Gentler than soap and water, Almay Makeup Removers condition skin while removing makeup without irritation.

Initial Impressions: Wow, these are greasy.  I had read they were but I don't think I was fully prepared. They are definitely not oil-free, as the description above says! However, this did seem to get off all my eyemakeup, especially if I hold it over my eye for about 10 seconds, and then pull away. I have to go over a couple of times, but overall, other than the greasy-ness, I like them!

Final Impressions: These are really, really good at getting off all my eyemakeup, even the waterproof kind. You do have to hold them over your eyes for a few seconds, but it does come off! However, these leave my eyes feeling like a grease factory, and sometimes make my vision a little blurry. Also, it leaves a greasy residue. So that's no bueno if I have extra eye makeup on in the morning, or want to do a fall-out cleanup before putting on my foundation. 
I probably won't be buying these again, based on that fact. There are other eye makeup remover pads out there that probably work just as well, but don't leave behind that greasy residue. Next time I'll check to make sure they're oil free!



You can purchase this product at your local Ulta (like I did), or purchase it from amazon here.

FTC: This product was purchased by me with my own money. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
This post contains an amazon affiliate link. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Books I'm Excited For: July 2014

Conversion by Katherine Howe Landline by Rainbow Rowell Like No Other by Una LaMarche On The Fence by Kasie West Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch




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: All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I am not in any way affiliated with any of the authors mentioned.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Summer Nail Pinspiration

Happy Summer, everyone! The first day of summer is coming this Saturday! I don't know if it's hot where you live, but it has been super hot here recently (we got up to 108 during the first week of June!). So I'm definitely feeling all things summer, and ready to get some summer shades on my nails.

Here are some of my favorite Summer-inspired nail designs from Pinterest.
(Clicking on the photos will take you directly to the pin so you can pin it to your own boards. All photos are credited to the appropriate blog, which you can reach by clicking on the pin from pinterest.)


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I love this! It's simple but that neon just screams summer!

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Does this remind anyone else of those airbrush t shirts they sold in the early 90s? If I could figure out how to do a proper ombre nail, I would definitely do something like this!

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This also screams 90s to me, but in the best way possible. And I just LOVE that blue.


There are so many other great options for summer nails, but these were my favorite while browsing through pinterest. I can't wait to break out my neon colors!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Pinspiration: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

When I purchased my Urban Decay Naked 2, it was after I bought the Urban Decay Naked 3, so I thought about it for a long time. I wasn't sure how the colors would be on me, but after hearing my sis-in-law say it was basically her favorite, and really researching swatches for girls that have similar coloring, I ultimately decided to complete my Naked Palette collection and pick it up.


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I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with The Small Things Blog, but I discovered her through pinterest and have been following her ever since. She has the BEST tips for hair and makeup, and her photo above is probably what pushed me over the edge of getting the Naked 2.


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And this photo is just beautiful- this is like VS model eyemakeup!





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And this is a fun way to use them all together! I actually love the way the combos look vertically together as well!


This has made me want to get out my Naked 2 palette again to play! Guess you might see that in next month's WIMMB post!

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Book Review: The Collector by Nora Roberts

The Collector by Nora Roberts

Description from Goodreads
From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Nora Roberts comes a novel of a woman who needs nothing, a man who sees everything, and the web of deceit, greed, and danger that brings them together—and could tear them apart . . .

When professional house-sitter Lila Emerson witnesses a murder/suicide from her current apartment-sitting job, life as she knows it takes a dramatic turn. Suddenly, the woman with no permanent ties finds herself almost wishing for one. . . .

Artist Ashton Archer knows his brother isn’t capable of violence—against himself or others. He recruits Lila, the only eyewitness, to help him uncover what happened. Ash longs to paint her as intensely as he hungers to touch her. But their investigation draws them into a rarified circle where priceless antiques are bought, sold, gambled away, and stolen, where what you possess is who you are, and where what you desire becomes a deadly obsession. . . .



My Review
This book doesn't leave you anytime to breathe- the murder happens before page 20! 

Lila Emerson is house-sitting at an apartment in Chelsea, where she sees a woman get pushed out of a window by her lover, Oliver. Or at least that's what she thinks she sees.
Ashton is Oliver's brother, and doesn't believe his brother would hurt a fly, let alone push someone out of a window. And they quickly uncover that both were murdered.

We also get inside the head of Jai, who seems to be working for someone, but doesn't seem to be the murderer. Though later does become one. She's not a sympathetic character in the slightest, at least not to me. She's money hungry and only cares about the job, and not about life.


The novel itself revolves around two of the lost Faberge eggs, and about the greed and lust of money and acquiring property. Lila and Ashton are basically caught in the middle of this, because Oliver acquired an egg to sell. Reading about the antiquities business was pretty fascinating, but then again, I really like second hand shopping and I used to really enjoy antiquing and going to yard sales with my grandma and great aunt, so maybe nostalgia brought interest. 

The other aspects of the story I liked is the description of Ashton's art- the way Roberts describes it just makes me want to go into the pages and look myself. I wish it were real and I could look it up on the internet and purchase it.

I think my favorite side story was the romance between Julie and Luke. I love the history and the fact that they both found each other again later in life after finding their passions. It was a really sweet story, and I wish there were more of it.


Overall, this is a really solid stand alone novel by Roberts and probably my favorite stand alone of hers in quite some time.
I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.




If you'd like to purchase a copy of this book, you can purchase a copy for Kindle here, or a hardcover copy here. Or you can borrow a copy from your local library, like I did!


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

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

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes Review

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When my Yes To Cucumbers Makeup Removing Wipes started failing me, I started reading reviews for a makeup wipe geared toward sensitive skin. And a lot of people were talking about the Simple wipes, so I picked these ones up while shopping at Target.

How To Use: Lift seal and remove wipe. Gently wipe over eyelids, face and neck to cleanse the skin. After use, dispose of wipe in trash (do not flush). Reseal pack to keep wipes moist. Avoid direct contact with eyes.

How It Works: Clean and refresh your skin with Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes. These face wipes truly are simple they contain no perfumes, dyes or harsh irritants so they are great for sensitive skin. The unscented facial cleanser in these wipes even removes waterproof mascara. Carry these wipes with you on your next travel adventure in place of your daily cream cleanser. Available in 25-count.

Initial Impressions: These feel good, and they don't really smell like anything (so the unscented claim is absolutely true). On the first use, I felt like they really got my makeup off, and I didn't notice any irritation.


Final Impressions: After using the whole package, I can tell these are a contender for my new favorite makeup removing wipes. They never once irritated my skin, and I always felt like it got all of my facial makeup off. I never noticed breakouts occurring after use of these. They do what they promise- they're unscented, they remove all makeup, and they're great for sensitive skin. Overall, I'm extremely pleased with this product and will definitely look into repurchasing in the future.




You can purchase this product at your local Target (like I did), or purchase it from amazon here.

FTC: This product was purchased by me with my own money. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
This post contains an amazon affiliate link. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Beauty Protector Protect and Oil Review

Beauty Protector Protect and Oil

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Beauty Protector Protect and Oil I received in my February 2014 Birchbox.

How To Use: Apply a quarter-sized amount to wet hair, concentrating on the scalp. Rinse thoroughly. 

How It Works: In addition to honey pearl powder, Protect & Shampoo is packed with rich vitamins and a gentle mix of sulfate-free cleaning agents. This powerhouse lineup cleanses and nourishes your strands.

Initial Impressions: My first impression is that this sample packaging is not great, and it is really hard to control how much product comes out. But it smells amazing- like sugary sweet goodness. My first time using this product, I used way too much, and my hair was oily, but it seemed to protect my hair and it didn't tangle. My second time using this product, I didn't use enough and my hair was a mess. 

Final Impressions: After completely using my sample, I feel kind of the way I did on my initial impressions- it smells really good, but it's too hard to use either too much or too little. That could be a problem with the sample given rather than the product, but there was enough in the sample that I used this for a total of about three weeks (a little goes a long way!), and it was very hit and miss. Because there are other hair oils that I've enjoyed more, I don't see myself purchasing this again.



You can purchase your own Beauty Protector Protect and Oil here.

FTC: This product was received as part of a subscription service which was purchased with my own money. No affiliate links have been used in this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Book Review: The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12) by J.R. Ward

The King by J.R. Ward

Description from Goodreads
J.R. Ward's # 1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood continues as a royal bloodline is compromised by a grave threat to the throne.

Long live the King… 

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle--with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything--and everyone--at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response--or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over?


My Review

I am a huge fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series of novels by J.R. Ward. This is the 12th book, and is centered on whom the first book is- Wrath, son of Wrath, aka the King. It's not like Ms. Ward is running out of characters- she's actually still introducing new characters and working their stories into the existing ones, but it's necessary to go back to Wrath because the glymera votes him out of being King.

The book also centers on his wife, Beth, wanting to be with child. And becoming with child. And Wrath being a huge asshole one minute and then being totally fine with it the next. (Okay, so not quite, but it was within 20 pages and problem solved!) His reasoning was sound- he didn't want his child to be doomed to rule the way he was. And part of the glymera's issues with Wrath is that Beth is not a full vampire- but no one really is except Wrath. 
All I really get is that a majority of the glymera are complete assholes, and Ward has done nothing to prove to me otherwise. They're also really easily influenced.


The book also has stories about Sola and Assail (probably my favorite part of the whole book was the part where they were in it, his rescuing her and her decision left me pretty torn up), Trez and Selena (He needs to get over his past in a big way), Xcor and Layla (I'm interested to see how the Brotherhood will handle this relationship!), iAm (Trez's brother), and John Matthew was also in this story quite a bit, since he is Beth's half brother. 
If you're a fan of the series already, this is a great addition to the story, but if you don't know anything about the story, this isn't a book you want to start with and go back- it definitely hinges on you knowing everything up to this point. I had to get on wiki and google a couple of times, because there are so many main characters now!

The next book is going to be Trez and iAm, and that makes me pretty excited. I'm interested to see who they end up pairing iAm with (if anyone), because there aren't really any hints on who it could be, but he's a really interesting character. 


I gave this book four stars on Goodreads- Like I said, it's a great addition to the series as a whole, and really continues to expand it further. You can purchase a copy of this book for Kindle here, or a physical copy here. Or, pick up a copy from your local library, like I did!


FTC: I borrowed this book from my local library. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This post does contain Amazon Affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

What's In My Makeup Bag? (As of June 5th, 2014)

It's that time again!


What's in my makeup bag?

Foundations- the same as last month. It's working for me!

What's in my makeup bag?

I've been wanting to break all three of these babies out since the last time I used them, so here they are! I actually cheated and used the blush in the Lorac Pro palette twice last month. So I knew this month I needed it out.

What's in my makeup bag?

I also really wanted this Tarte blush out- it will be PERFECT for summer! And the elf blush is staying out because I wore it probably 5 out of 7 days of the week last month.

What's in my makeup bag?

I decided to keep the CKone mascara out because it's really been working this last month- I wore it on the day of my grandma's funeral with just a little of the lash blast on top, and there was no smudging at all. I think that's the sign of a pretty good mascara!
I also wanted to give the butterfly and the lash domination mascara another go now that their a little more dry.


That's everything in my makeup bag this month! I still need to do an update on what I use for eyeliners and such- I just need to get it scheduled and show you guys!

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

This Month In Nails - May 2014

Avon in Ruby Slipper

Avon in Ruby Slipper

This is one of my all time favorite polishes- I only wish it was debuting on the blog when my nails were in better shape. It's a great red for my skintone, and the sparkle just adds a little something extra without being too blingy- it's like a glitter light.


After that, I didn't do anything to my nails really for the rest of the month. I put a quick coat of Orly's Rose Pixel (seen here and here) on for my grandma's funeral, and that basically lasted me through the end of the month.


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

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

My Life, May 2014

This series is actually getting quite a few views (though not a lot of comments- don't be so shy!) so I've decided to keep on.
These are kind of "stream of consciousness" posts, so my apologizes for any rambling.

The biggest thing that happened this month is that my grandmother passed away. I talked about it a little in this post. She's the first grandparent I have that has passed away- I am fortunate enough to have been able to grow up with my full sets, including my "bonus" grandma, who is my step grandma on my mom's side. The grandma that passed away is my maternal grandmother. I spent a lot of time with her as a child, and she basically helped my mom raise my younger brother and I, and lived with us for years after my parents separated. So, in a way, it's very much like my mom passed away.
Something I haven't touched on at all is that I lost my father five years ago this year. It was a hard loss, to be sure, but I wasn't as close to my dad as I wish that I was, and there was so much left unsaid between us. With my grandma, I spent a lot of time with her growing up, and recently. She's the reason I love football and the Seahawks, so it's pretty special that this year they won the Superbowl- she got to see it with us! But when I think about her not being around come next football season, it's pretty upsetting to me.
I won't go on and on about this on my blog much more. But it is a profound loss in my life, and it is something I am struggling with greatly, and something I don't see myself really getting over. She was my grandma, a mom, and really one of my very best friends. I'm fortunate that I was with her when they made her comfortable at the hospital, and got to kiss her and tell her I love her, and one of the last things she said was that she loved me, too. And I'll always have that and cherish that forever.

I saw a couple of movies this month- The Amazing Spider Man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past. I really loved both of them! There are seriously so many movies coming out this summer that I want to see. Godzilla and Neighbors both came out this month, and I haven't seen them yet but I really want to! I also want to see A Million Ways To Die in the West, and Maleficent.
As far as TV goes, the season finale of 2 Broke Girls was this month, and it was pretty good. The Arrow Season Finale was SO FREAKING AMAZING, even though they totally teased all of us "Olicity" fans. The Supernatural Finale... meh. I'm not a fan of the very end, but it will be interesting seeing where they take the show next season. And the Big Bang Theory Finale was pretty good.
I also finished rewatching Orange Is The New Black Season One, so I'm all ready for Season 2 that starts in June! And Sailor Moon came on Hulu so I've been pretty much about that, as well. I also started watching an anime on Netflix called Attack On Titan, and I'm still kind of getting into it so I'll probably get more into that next month.
Oh! My husband and I also watched the Jim Hensen's Creature Studio Challenge, and I was pretty much in love with it! I'm pretty happy with who won, and I loved seeing how everything was made.

For books, I read Orange is the New Black, re-read The Fault in our stars, read The King, and The Collector.

I didn't really get out and walk this month, but I'm going to try to change that going into the summer.


I am also thinking about posting recipes and stuff here on off days, as well. And my sister-in-law gave me a great idea for a new series, that will probably start after I get settled in my own space, so I can check lighting and all that. I'm really excited about it and already have a bunch of ideas on how to make it work!


I think that's pretty much it for May. Obviously a black cloud hung over May in a big way, and I'm hoping I can turn that into some sunshine next month.