March Reads

Well, I am ahead on my goal for this year, which is a good thing. I didn’t realize that my first semester of online college is on July 2nd! So scary to be so close to starting it up again. I think I am currently a month ahead of my reading goal which is 24 books this year. I have to wait for my new degree audit to go through to see what classes I will be taking. As soon as I have more info, I will be sharing it with all of you.
Jem and the Holograms, Vol. 4: Enter the Stingers by Kelly Thompson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn’t care for the weird art that popped up in this one, but the storyline was much better in this one. When I finished the book, I wanted to read the next one to see how things would turn out for the girls. This is a guilty pleasure read and a good break time book at work. I remember reading comics as a kid and a few graphic novels in high school, but this is the first time (not literally, this is the fourth installment after all.) that I have enjoyed a graphic novel series again. It is not my typical faire but I could see picking up others (not from this series) and reading them if I needed a break from reading traditional books. I recommend this series and specifically this one.

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It has been a hot minute since I last read of Sarah Dessen book. I was getting tired of her stories, which all seemed to be the same story rehashed over and over again. Saint Anything was different though. It rekindled my love for her writing style again. The theme of the book also struck home for me. Back when I was in a relationship, I felt invisible and that no one could see me and what was happening to me. All the wrongs that went unrighted. I could relate to the main character. It wasn’t a far out tale that happened to other people. It was so realistic to me and I related to most of the events that occurred in the book. I cannot wait to read more of Sarah Dessen’s books again. I am betting that the more recent books are better than her earlier works that I grew so tired of. She feels fresh again. It is funny how an author can be so outdated one minute and then current the next. She has redeemed herself in my eyes and I look forward to reading more.

Shattered Rose by T.L. Gray

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Eh. I didn’t care for it, but it was a good read. I wanted to finish it to know how the story ended, but I am glad that I didn’t pay for this. The religious streak running through the book didn’t blend with the story at all and was only brushed on at the very end. Left a bad taste in my mouth. I skipped through most of the book finding it very boring and not very exciting but for a few parts. I don’t recommend it. I would try another book by this author. I see potential. If you like character development stories, I think you might enjoy it more than me. I enjoy books that are more action filled less reflective.
View all my reviews

What have you been reading lately?

With Love,

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What D Got Me For Christmas

I am so happy to be sharing with all of you the goodies that D got me for Christmas this year. We just traded our gifts in Feb and I am just getting around to posting all of the new goodies that I got. I haven’t touched any of these things yet, because I was waiting to have time to put up this post. As soon as I am done, I am putting on my new MAC lipglass, because I feel like having a purple lip today. I’m feeling dramatic. One a side note, don’t be alarmed, but I deleted a lot of old photos from my blog. I had reached my 3.0 GB limit and now, I’m back down to 1.4 GB or roughly 40% of usage. Now, I have room to grow again!

Russell Stover Assorted Chocolates

I couldn’t wait on these. I took a photo of an empty box. They were delicious!

Assorted Samples

I love trying out new stuff, so samples are right up my alley. I’m in the market for a new foundation, so hopefully, one of these items work out for me. I only have two summer BB creams right now and they are too dark for my Winter skin color.

Mystic Tan Self Tanner

I’ve never tried a self tanner before, besides the Sally Hansen legs. I’m curious to see how this works. I’m going to try this during the summer months, once I get a tiny bit of tan going on to even it out. I have an in ground pool now, so I’ll be spending a lot of time outside in my bathing suit. It would be awkward to self tan now, when my skin gets no exposure to sunlight whatsoever and I haven’t been on vacation.

VersaSpa Face Moisturizing Gradual Tanner

Since this has gradual in the name, I might give it a shot now to give my skin a healthy glow. I don’t want to look tan, but sunkissed. I love using bronzer for a sunkissed look, if this gives me that, I can skip bronzer in the morning. Anything to cut out a morning step I love. I’ll give this a shot and will report back with my thoughts on it in an empties video.

Forever By Judy Blume

I loved Judy Blume books growing up and this will be my first time reading one of her adult books. I’m really looking forward to reading this one by the pool or whenever I can find time to actually read. It’s been hard with working full time, taking a class, blogging, and most importantly, taking care of my son and keeping house. I just never seem to find the time. I want to try to read two books a month again. I am like three to four books behind this year, but I am going to try to catch up and make an effort. I will definitely read this one this year.

Sarah Dessen Saint Anything

Let me start of by saying that I have a love, hate relationship with Sarah Dessen books. I love them, because I get wrapped up in her story telling. I hate them, because they tend to follow the same plot line in every book. I love the predictability, but hate it at the same time. If I want a sweet, sad story, I’ll read one of her books and I know it’ll end happily. I look forward to reading this book, when I need a little pick me up. I’m happy to own another one of her books. I tend to reread her books a lot.

Hard Candy Nail Color in Sky 1123

I have been DYING for a Hard Candy nail polish. I remember when they used to be a high end product and carried in places like Sephora. Now Soap & Glory can be found at CVS? I need to get my hands on that next. Anyways, I love this shade. It has a cool duo chrome quality to it and I cannot wait to paint this onto my nails. I already picked out my nail color for  this week, so maybe, I’ll wear this next weekend.

Shoot For The Stars Starry Night Bath Bomb

I love Lush and I think it is obvious. I’m excited to have another bath bomb to try out and it smells very calming. It will be perfect on a night after I put Dean to bed to relax in a hot bath. Something, I rarely get to enjoy these days.

Lush Shooting Stars Night In! Soap

D thinks that this smells lemony and I think it smells more on the lavender side. Either way, this seems like it is going to be a creamy soap, which is the type of soap that I enjoy the most. The lavender is faint in this, so I do enjoy the scent. I’m trying to use up my shower jelly right now, so I’m going to hold off on using this one. As soon as I use up the jelly, I will be using this. Or if I get sick of that scent and need a change. But honestly, who gets sick of The Comforter scent? It is also covered in glitter. My fate is sealed.

MAC In Extreme Dimension #D Black Lash Mascara

Not much to say about this, since I have to wait to finish my Benefit Roller Lash Deluxe Sample before I can try this one out. I’m excited to have a mini sample though. You can never have too many tubes of mascara. I never seem to buy any because I always get them in subscription boxes. I think I’m down to five now. I’m up to  with this bad boy.

Ulta Tinted Lip Balm in Lollipop

This is such a pretty sheer pink. I have the swatches at the bottom of the page and this color is the top swatch on the right large picture. I can see this being very flattering on the lips, since it is sheer and won’t compete with your natural pigmentation. I love easy balms to throw on at work that I don’t have to worry about. This will be used at work, once I get through an office friendly gloss that I’m working on from B&BW.

PBJ Smoothie Stick Creamy Lip Crayon in Raisin the Roof

I can see using this one at work as well. I love that this is more on the purple/mauve side of the spectrum and it will par perfectly under the MAC Lipglass that D gave me as well. This color is more on the matte side, which I enjoy a matte lip as much as the next girl. I know I won’t be disappointed with this color and I might have to repurchase it when I use it up.

MAC Trolls Collection Lipglass in Glitter Grunge

I love the cute packaging that MAC always come up with. This glitter purple is pretty pigmented as well, which I love. I’m not a fan of dark colors, but if it’s purple with glitter, I am all over that. I’m all about that life. It’s the bottom swatch and it is gorgeous! I am so happy to own this color. I don’t want to use it up anytime soon, because the packaging is so cute! I really wanted to get some of the SELENA collection, but it was always sold out and I only really wanted one of the powders anyways.

That is what I got for Christmas from D. I am so lucky to have a best friend like her!

With Love,