Something Real

By: Heather Demetrios
Published Year: 2014
Publisher: Henry Holt BYR
Pages: 413

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): There’s nothing real about reality TV.

Seventeen-year-old Bonnie™ Baker has grown up on TV—she and her twelve siblings are the stars of one-time hit reality show Baker’s Dozen. Since the show’s cancellation and the scandal surrounding it, Bonnie™ has tried to live a normal life, under the radar and out of the spotlight. But it’s about to fall apart…because Baker’s Dozen is going back on the air. Bonnie™’s mom and the show’s producers won’t let her quit and soon the life she has so carefully built for herself, with real friends (and maybe even a real boyfriend), is in danger of being destroyed by the show. Bonnie™ needs to do something drastic if her life is ever going to be her own—even if it means being more exposed than ever before.

                                                            First Impressions

The bright yellow cover is definitely an eye catcher and the title intrigued me. The summary definitely sounded interesting, especially as I am from a reality TV generation. I definitely watched John and Kate Plus 8, so this sounded like an interesting insight into what it could be like to live in this world.

                                                             What I thought

This story follows Chloe/Bonnie Baker through her senior year of high school. Bonnie was born on camera and is one of the eldest of 13 children. Her entire life has been filmed up until she was 13 and had a breakdown. For the past 4 years, she has been enjoying living life as Chloe instead of Bonnie with no cameras around. That is, until her mom and stepdad decide to put the family back on camera during Bonnie’s senior year.

The interesting part of the story is seeing how the cameras have affected the three eldest children differently. I wish that there had been a little bit more involving the family to see how it was affecting everyone. However, one of my issues with the story was that it was a bit long so I don’t know if there would’ve been a good way to accomplish that. For the most part, I liked Chloe/Bonnie. I felt like she kept doing the same things over and over again, so I did start to get irritated with her. I think if the story had been a little shorter, that wouldn’t have happened. I really loved Benton and thought he was the best character hands down. I would have loved to read this book from his perspective.

I think my biggest issue with this book (and it tends to be an issue for me whenever this occurs) is that both Benton and Chloe find the love of their lives in high school. Like, to the point where marriages are discussed. I get that the author wanted to show that Benton and Chloe had found love, but it just all seemed to perfect. Chloe just happens to find an 18 year old boy who is 100% ok with being thrown in the tabloids and is super mature about it. I just couldn’t really believe Patrick as a character because he was too wonderful.

The main conflict was that Chloe did not want the show to start up again, but it seemed like that conflict would be forgotten for periods of time while other conflicts came up. It just felt like the author had a little too much that she wanted to get into, therefore nothing was as meaty as I would want it to be. The concept was cute, but I think it could’ve been executed a little better.

It’s a cute book. If you were a fan of John and Kate plus 8 I would check it out. I wouldn’t re-read it and I wouldn’t purchase it for my collection. If you enjoy these types of stories, I’d recommend this book. If you’re on the fence about it, I’d say you could pass. I also kind of wish the title was Something Reel instead of Something Real. I think it’s a missed opportunity for a cute pun, especially since the TV company that is taping Baker’s Dozen is called Meta Reel. Oh well.
 

Birchbox August 2015

In case you are unaware, Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription box. It costs $10 a month and you receive multiple sample size item. These boxes allow you to try tons of new products that you may have never even heard of before. The other fun thing about Birchbox is that every time you purchase an item from their site, or review a product from your box, you receive rewards points! Once you collect 100 points, you get $10 off of your next purchase. These points definitely add up quickly between buying your box, and reviewing the products.

Each month, Birchbox allows subscribers to pick one of their samples. If you prefer surprises, you don’t have to pick one. You can choose to be surprised instead. They also offer full boxes that have been made by a guest. This month’s guest editor box was by Nicole Richie. This month’s sample choices were R + Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo, Air Repair Complexion Boosting Moisturizer, Rusk Volumizing Mousse, and  Coola Makeup Setting Spray with SPF 30. I went back and forth between the Mousse and the Spray but ultimately went with the spray. I’ve been looking at a few moisturizers that don’t have SPF, so a setting spray with SPF would be a great solution.

The Products I received this month were as follows:

Air Repair Complexion Boosting Moisturizer (Full-Size $20)- This is a moisturizer that has antioxidants and is meant to hydrate and protect the skin. I haven’t used this product yet but I’m really excited about it! I’m also excited that this was the first of 3 sample choices I got in my box! I’m planning on saving this for Iceland. I think that this will be a great one to put in my carry on and put on my face during the long flight. It’s also nice that you can use it as a hydrating mask.

COOLA SPF 30 Organic Makeup Setting Spray (Full-size $36)- This was my sample choice and the product I was most looking forward to getting! This setting spray is meant to provide a matte-finish that not only sets your makeup, but hydrates skin and blocks UV rays. I’ve only used this one and I did not like it at all. Not only did it reek of chemicals (not appealing at all), but it burned my eyes. I closed my eyes when I sprayed it, like I do with my other sprays, but when I opened them up I immediately regretted it. I will try this again, but I am super disappointed. This product seemed so smart!

LAQA & Co Charm School Kit (Set of 3- $20)- This is a crayon that is meant to be a lip and cheek product. I’m always a little wary of these kinds of products. I feel like they tend to only work well as one or the other and just kind of get you by as the second use. I’ve only tried this one as a lip product and I really liked it. It’s matte but not drying and is a very pretty pink color. I haven’t tried it on my cheeks yet, but I have high hopes as long as it blends easily!

Beauty Protector Protect & Oil (Full-size $25.95)- This is a hair oil meant to defend against heat, breakage, and UV rays. I love the smell of this! I think I’ve had a few other Beauty Protector products and didn’t enjoy the smell, so I wonder if this is different or if I just don’t mind it in oil form. This oil makes my hair feel very soft. It doesn’t do much else that I can see, but I do like how soft my hair feels afterward. I might buy this in the future, but so far it’s not a must have.

RUSK Volumizing Mousse (Full-size $18)- I was so excited to see this in my box! How lucky am I to get both of the samples that I wanted? This is a mousse that is meant to give hair a hold and provide volume. I’ve used it once and I think I need to play around with it. I have curly hair, but the top sometimes gets a little flat. It says to blow dry your hair after putting this in, but I don’t even own a hair dryer. I put it at my roots and fluffed it, but it didn’t do much. It was a little crunchier than I thought it was going to be. I definitely need to try this again. 

Overall this box is a total win! I opened this and immediately wanted to try every single product in this box. I would happily purchase almost every product in this box as well! I think that this is a great box and it makes me really excited for my other boxes to come.

July Birchbox Update

Jouer Daily Repair Treatment Oil- I have used this face oil a few times. It does hydrate my skin, but I don’t know if it smooths and rejuvenates my skin. I don’t use it consistently, but it has been nice to have.

Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray- I actually completely forgot that I got this product ad haven’t tried it the first time. I wasn’t super impressed (obviously) the first time after using it. I might try it once more and if I don’t like it, I’ll pass it on.

COOLA Classic SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer- I’ve used this twice and it’s ok. I love the smell, but it doesn’t greatly hydrate my skin. There also was barely anything in the sample which was disappointing. I’m hoping I can get one more use out if it as I really had to squeeze the first two times. It’s nice as a sunscreen but I don’t think I’d use it as an everyday moisturizer.

Juice Beauty GREEN APPLE Peel Sensitive- This peel is weird! It is totally liquid which makes it difficult to put on. I didn’t notice a big smell, so that’s a good thing. It also made my skin itch while it was on my face. The sample says that tingling is normal, but I don’t find a mask that makes me itchy very relaxing. I will not be purchasing this.

Stila Look at Me Liquid Lipstick- This product is fun. It’s a great product that I can put on and not have to worry about reapplying it throughout the day. It isn’t the best in terms of transfer, as it does transfer to people and products and gets worse the longer you wear it. I also had more issues the second time with the fading of it than I did the first, but I don’t think I was as careful with my application. I don’t know if I would purchase this product at full price, but I wouldn’t turn it down on sale or as another sample!

Hold Me Like a Breath

By: Tiffany Schmidt
Published Year: 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 400

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Penelope Landlow has grown up with the knowledge that almost anything can be bought or sold—including body parts. She’s the daughter of one of the three crime families that control the black market for organ transplants.

Penelope’s surrounded by all the suffocating privilege and protection her family can provide, but they can't protect her from the autoimmune disorder that causes her to bruise so easily.

And in her family's line of work no one can be safe forever.

All Penelope has ever wanted is freedom and independence. But when she’s caught in the crossfire as rival families scramble for prominence, she learns that her wishes come with casualties, that betrayal hurts worse than bruises, that love is a risk worth taking . . . and maybe she’s not as fragile as everyone thinks.

                                                             First Impressions

This cover immediately caught my eye. I then remember reading that it was a crime novel based off of fairy tales and I was sold. 

                                                               What I thought

I swear that I read that this book was based off of fairy tales, especially since the series is Once Upon a Crime, but that is definitely not true. However, I did still enjoy the book and think it is a fun read.

Hold Me Like a Breath follows Penny, her family, and her Family. Penny’s family is a part of the illegal organ donation business. Her family runs six spas at which people can get paid to donate organs (or get paid to donate the organs of a deceased family member) to people who can’t afford to wait on the donor list. Penny has a blood disorder that causes her family to treat her as though she was very fragile. Her platelets attack themselves, causing her to have very low platelet counts and to therefore bruise very easily. There is, of course, drama and danger in the illegal world of underground organ donations that Penny and her family have to face.

Penny teeters on the edge of being annoyingly innocent and endearingly sheltered. There were definite moments where the illness became a little irritating, but it was a unique twist on making a character vulnerable. I think the only thing about the illness that irritated me was that she has been dealing with this for 10 years and still seemed to be in denial.

I liked that there wasn’t a clear good or bad with a lot of the story line. It wasn’t as though the Families were harvesting organs from unwilling donors and selling them for money. It brought up a really important point that an organ donor list doesn’t always work. It was and interesting perspective and I liked that even though they were “bad” guys for running an underground business, they weren’t bad guys.

I did find that the story was a bit predictable. There were a few moments that I didn’t 100% expect but wasn’t surprised when they happened, and then there were moments that I felt like I was waiting to happen and then eventually did. It took me out of the book a little bit because I felt like I wanted to tell the main characters what was happening or going to happen, but obviously I couldn’t.

The book also seemed to be very divided into two parts. The first half of the book was very different from the second half. While it made sense for the story, it still threw me off a little by how much Penny changed in such a short amount of time. In regards to the fairy tale side, there is nothing fairy-tale esque about this story. The main character mentions fairy tales and that she loves them and even makes one reference to feeling like Rapunzel, but I can’t see this book as being based off of a fairy tale. That part disappointed me a little, but not so much that it made me dislike the book.
 

It was enjoyable to read a book that’s different from what I normally read. If you like crime novels, this is a nice easy choice. It’s not a mystery and is a bit predictable at times, but it has some unique elements that make it worth reading. This is the beginning of a series, so I could see myself possibly re-reading it before the second book comes out. However, it didn’t have a lot of intricate details that make me feel as though I will HAVE to reread it to know what’s going on.
 

The Isle of the Lost

In honor of the premier of the movie Descendants on Disney Channel this past Friday, here is my review of the prequel, The Isle of the Lost.

By: Melissa De La Cruz
Published Year: 2015
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 320

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon and made to live in virtual imprisonment on the Isle of the Lost. The island is surrounded by a magical force field that keeps the villains and their descendants safely locked up and away from the mainland. Life on the island is dark and dreary. It is a dirty, decrepit place that's been left to rot and forgotten by the world.

But hidden in the mysterious Forbidden Fortress is a dragon's eye: the key to true darkness and the villains' only hope of escape. Only the cleverest, evilest, nastiest little villain can find it...who will it be?

Maleficent, Mistress of the Dark: As the self-proclaimed ruler of the isle, Maleficent has no tolerance for anything less than pure evil. She has little time for her subjects, who have still not mastered life without magic. Her only concern is getting off the Isle of the Lost.

Mal: At sixteen, Maleficent's daughter is the most talented student at Dragon Hall, best known for her evil schemes. And when she hears about the dragon's eye, Mal thinks this could be her chance to prove herself as the cruelest of them all.

Evie: Having been castle-schooled for years, Evil Queen's daughter, Evie, doesn't know the ins and outs of Dragon Hall. But she's a quick study, especially after she falls for one too many of Mal's little tricks.

Jay: As the son of Jafar, Jay is a boy of many talents: stealing and lying to name a few. Jay and Mal have been frenemies forever and he's not about to miss out on the hunt for the dragon's eye.

Carlos: Cruella de Vil's son may not be bravest, but he's certainly clever. Carlos's inventions may be the missing piece in locating the dragon's eye and ending the banishment for good.

Mal soon learns from her mother that the dragon's eye is cursed and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She'll just need a little help from her "friends." In their quest for the dragon's eye, these kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain't so bad.

                                           First Impressions

It’s confession time. I am in my (late) 20s and I still watch the Disney channel. Granted, it’s for Girl Meets World, but still I’ll admit it. While watching Disney, I heard them say “Based on the book by Melissa De La Cruz.” Being a book nerd and a fan of De La Cruz, I rewound to see what they were talking about. This book is a companion for a Disney Channel Original Movie about the children of all of the famous Disney villains. I am a big fan of the classic Disney fairy-tales so I put this on my TBR list. I didn’t have the highest of expectations, but I thought it could be cute.

                                                           What I thought

This book wasn’t bad. I think that younger readers will enjoy it if they are already a fan of Disney. I will also admit that it does make me curious to see the movie that occurs after the story, which is Disney’s plan.

Isle of the Lost is about all of the Disney villains and their children. About 10 years prior to the beginning of the story (I think, it wasn’t super clear) all of the villains and their children were banished to the Isle of the Lost; a magic free island. Literally every villain is there, even ones that were killed were brought back from the dead to suffer on the island. At the time of the story, the children of the villains are 16. The four main characters are Mal, the daughter of Malefacent, Jay, the son of Jafar, Evie, the daughter of the Evil Queen, and Carlos, the son of Cruella De Vil. They are each trying to find how to be the best villain they can be and they all want to make their parents proud.

I get that the children all have names that start with the same letters of their parents to make the connections easier on the readers, but it seems a little lazy. The laziness continues with no explanation of the history of the children. I was a little confused because I thought it said they had been on the island for 10 years, but all of the main characters are 16. They all have only one parent, and it is never explained why that is or who their second parent could potentially be. I also find it oddly coincidental that not only are the children all the same age, but they’re the same age as Queen Belle and King Beast’s son. Also, why did the Beast stay as Beast and not back to his original name of Adam?

I don’t blame De La Cruz for these plot holes. I think that she was given what she was supposed to write and couldn’t really expand on it. Unfortunately, that lead to a story with a lot of questions that were left unanswered. I think I would’ve been more invested in the characters if they had their own backgrounds and weren’t just shadows of their parents.

This book did also take a while to get started. It seemed like it was going to go one way for the first half of the book, but then the second half was completely different. The second half was definitely predictable even though it was a little more action packed. I liked some of the general ideas of the story, but it just wasn’t done well. 

I wanted to like this book, I really did. I’m a Disney fan and I love stories that are Disney spin-offs. Unfortunately, the execution just fell short for me. It seems like this book was rushed and that De La Cruz wasn’t allowed to expand on what she was told to write. I understand that it’s a prequel to a movie, but I don’t think there is anything in here that you need to know before watching the movie. I think that this book would appeal to a younger reader because they wouldn’t be as critical of the plot holes, but it’s not great. I think if you have a young reader who loves fairy tales, I would recommend Land of Stories hands down before this one. 
 

Finding Audrey

By: Sophie Kinsella
Published Year: 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 288

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.



                                                            First Impressions

This cover immediately caught my eye (love the cover and the minimalistic vibe!) but when I saw it was by Sophie Kinsella I was hooked. I didn’t even need to read the summary before I grabbed this book. I have loved the majority of Kinsella’s adult books, although her most recent ones have been a bit of a miss for me. However, Finding Audrey is her first YA book which meant I could count it towards the Debut Author’s Challenge!

                                                             What I thought

I really enjoyed this book. It is unique and refreshing and done in a very good way. I think that this is the kind of book that will connect with a lot of teenagers and it will help them feel like they are not alone.

Finding Audrey follows Audrey, a 14 year old girl, through her fight with anxiety and depression. The book takes place in the aftermath of some event that occurred at school. While the reader never finds out exactly what happened, it is implied that there was a lot of heavy duty bullying that caused a nervous breakdown. Following a stay in the hospital, Audrey is now at home and learning to deal with her anxieties and depression in everyday life. She wears dark glasses all day every day to help cope with her social anxieties.

I think what I loved most about this book is that it really gets inside the head of someone who has anxieties. Kinsella does an amazing job at writing Audrey’s thoughts and not making the reader feel as though Audrey is overreacting to certain situations. Audrey refers to her fight or flight part of her brain as her lizard brain, and often will say things along the lines of “my lizard brain is telling me to freak out.” I thought this was such a unique take on explaining anxiety and I think that it’s perfect. It really shows the medical side of anxiety, without being over the top and still relatable.

I also love all of the secondary characters in this story. Frank, Audrey’s brother, is my absolute favorite. His sense of humor is wonderful and really got to me a few times. However, he is still a 15 year old boy and, not only does he have 15 year old boy problems, he isn’t the perfect brother. He loves Audrey and tries his best to understand her illness, but he’s not perfect and that makes him more lovable. None of the characters in the book are perfect and that’s what makes this story work so well.

At the beginning of the book Audrey’s therapist gives her the assignment of creating a documentary to work through her social anxieties. As a result, the book has some chapters that are written in a script format. This was fun and allowed for the characters to be seen as they are and not necessairily through the eyes of another character. Considering that Audrey’s brain has a pretty intense filter, I think that this helped with the story telling. It allowed for another dimension and an unbiased view of certain events.

I really really liked this book. If you are a fan of Kinsella’s, then I would highly recommend checking this one out. While I haven’t enjoyed her most recent adult novels, this one was a big hit for me. I loved all of the characters and feel like this book could really hit home with a lot of teenagers. If you know someone who suffers from anxiety, I would recommend checking this book out. I think it has a unique look into the brain of a teen with anxiety and depression and it was very good. I definitely recommend adding this to your TBR list, and I could see myself re-reading it, but I don’t know if I would purchase it for my shelves. I might if I found it for really cheap, but I wouldn’t purchase it full price which stops me from giving it a full Beloved rating. 
 

Throwback Thursday- The BFG

Throwback Thursday is a series in which I re-read books that I've read previously and review my thoughts on them now. I am mostly planning on re-reading books from my childhood, but that might change as time goes on. I am also taking a part of the re-read challenge hosted by So Obsessed With and Belle of the Literati
 

By: Roald Dahl
Published Year: 1982
Publisher: Puffin Books
Pages: 199

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Captured by a giant! The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, the Fleshlumpeater, the Bonecruncher, or any of the other giants-rather than the BFG-she would have soon become breakfast. 
When Sophie hears that they are flush-bunking off in England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!




                                                           What I remember

I remember that this was one of the first Roald Dahl books I read and I vaguely remember the movie. I also remember thinking that it was funny and I remember loving the BFG. Other than that, I don’t remember much about this book. I didn’t even remember the other characters in the book other than the BFG.

                                                            What I thought

Unfortunately, I don’t think this book is one that grows well with you from childhood to adulthood. It’s a pretty silly book, and while I enjoyed it, I think I liked it better when I was younger.

The BFG is about a little girl named Sophie who spots the BFG one night. Because she sees him, he kidnaps her and takes her to live with him in the land of giants. While there, she learns that ever night, the giants snatch humans from their beds and eat them. Sophie is appalled by this (as is the BFG who doesn’t eat humans) and she tries to find out a way to stop them.

The cute things about this book are that there are a bunch of puns. For example, the humans that live in Chile are good to eat on a hot day because, well, they’re chilly tasting. I also still love the BFG. He’s a fun character with a good heart.

I did forget that the BFG talks kind of funny which is a little difficult when reading. It’s easy to get used to, but threw me off at the beginning. I was also a little thrown by how fast everything moved. It was definitely fun and I would love to rewatch the movie to see if it’s just as fun or if it’s better than the m

I would recommend this to other young readers easily. I think it’s fun and that it’s even better for young readers with a lot of imagination. I think I preferred The Witches to The BFG in comparison, which surprised me, but both are great. I can’t wait to re-read more of his books as they’re all so unique, but I don’t think this one is going to have a permanent place on my shelves.
 

I Do Vox Box Part 2

I recently received a complimentary I Do VoxBox from Influenster, in exchange for my honest review. In this box, there were 7 products. I will be reviewing them in two separate parts. You can read my first part, a review of the make-up products, here. Today I will be reviewing the non-make-up products. The I Do VoxBox is full of products meant to be essential on your wedding day.

Skinnygirl Tasty Nutrition Bar ($4.99 each)

These nutrition bars were sent as a means to keep energy levels up. They have a decent amount of protein (usually 6 grams), are gluten free, kosher, and have no artificial sweeteners or flavors. The flavor that they sent was the Lemon Swirl. I’ve had these bars twice before and really enjoyed them. I tried the chocolate pretzel and some sort of banana one. I liked them and I think they’re pretty decent for a nutrition bar. The carbohydrates are a little high for my preference, so I don’t buy them often.

 I’m not a lemon person, so I wasn’t looking forward to trying this bar and I have to say my instincts were right. The flavor of this one is gross. I’m sure if you like lemon bars you’ll enjoy it, but I definitely did not. I took about one bite and gave the rest to my fiancé. The nice thing is that it doesn’t have chocolate, so if you are looking for a chocolate free nutrition bar this is good one to go with.

Sahale Snacks Grab and Go ($27.46 for 18)

These snacks are perfect for on-the-go snacking. They have seven different flavors, and the one I received was almonds with cranberries, honey, and sea salt. Admittedly, almonds are not my favorite nuts. I don’t mind when they cut up and in things, but I have tried many times to enjoy them on their own but I just don’t. However, these are really good! I would not have normally bought this flavor, but I would definitely buy it again.

Some of the other flavors they have are raspberry crumble cashew mix, mango tango almond mix, berry macaroon almond mix, cashews with pomegranate and vanilla, California almonds and sea salt, and classic fruit and nut blend. They also have some layered nut bars that look good! These snacks are also gluten free and kosher, and this particular one had 7 grams of protein. When looking at nutrition, these two snacks are pretty comparable. While the nuts have more calories, they have less carbohydrates. I will definitely keep an eye out for these snacks next time I go grocery shopping.

URGENTRx Ache and Pain Relief ($1.39)

This is a single dose of flavored powder that works as a pain reliever. I haven’t had a chance to try this personally yet. Luckily, I haven’t had any aches or pains recently, so I haven’t had a need to try this. It seems a little bit odd that it’s in powder form, but scientifically it makes sense as to why it works faster than a tablet. The powder gets into your blood stream quicker than a tablet does, which means it will start acting faster. I also like that it’s in a thin package. I could see these being really good for traveling, especially on long flights. When you’re somewhere that you don’t have water or a lot of room in your bag, these could be very beneficial. I also like that they have different ones for different issues, such as head ache, heart burn, allergy attack and even upset stomach. It’ll be interesting to give this a try even though it does seem a bit gimmicky.

That's about it for the I Do Vox Box. I think that overall, a lot of the products they sent are good for wedding day. I like the foundation and I really like the two food products (even though I don't like the flavor of the SkinnyGirl I received). I also like the hand lotion and it's not something I would have thought to have in my emergency bridal box. If you or someone you know is getting married soon, I would definitely recommend looking into some of these products!

July 2015 Favorites

Time for my monthly favorites for July 2015! This month has definitely been busy and crazy. I apologize for the sporadic nature of posts this month, and I honestly can't promise that it's going to change within the next few months. The wedding is coming up in October and I can only see my life getting busier. I apologize in advance for the lack of schedule in the upcoming months. I will do my best!

                                                                     Books

Hold Me Like a Breath (Once Upon a Crime Family #1) By: Tiffany Schmidt

Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour By: Morgan Matson

Between the Notes By: Sharon Huss Roat

What She Left Behind By: Ellen Marie Wiseman (Book Club Review)

Fangirl By: Rainbow Rowell

A Whole New Word By: Liz Braswell

Between the Lines By: Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer

The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novel By: Raina Telgemeier

Off the Page By: Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer

The BFG By: Roald Dahl

Favorite Book I Read This Month: Fangirl. I feel like I’m cheating a little bit because this is a reread, but I wasn’t in love with any of the new reads this month. It was so wonderful to come back to this story and enjoy it all over again.
 

Beauty

Birchbox

I have been a Birchbox subscriber for about a year now and I have to say, these past few months they have been killing it! Not only are the boxes beautiful but I have been loving every sample I’ve been given. Some of my most recent favorites are the Skyn Iceland Eye Gels, the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick and the Dr Jart+ Premium BB Cream. You can read my most recent review here.

Skincare

In general, I’ve just been on a huge skincare kick. I haven’t been hugely into makeup, but I’ve been loving different skincare products. I’ve tried a few different face masks lately that I’ve enjoyed (the Sephora sheet mask was fun and there will be a review soon) and also a few different moisturizers. Even though I’ve been doing different products, my skin seems to be very happy right now so that makes me happy!

Sephora Creamy Lip Stain

On the lookout for a stay all day color for the wedding day, I stumbled across recommendations for this product. I tried it on in the store and was insanely impressed. I put it on and kissed the back of my hand and it did not come off at all. That excited me because that means I can kiss my husband to be and not worry about leaving mark on his face.

                                                                         Buys

White Barn

In my local mall there is a White Barn store. In case you didn’t know, White Barn is the brand of candles from Bath and Body Works. They had a bunch of their summer scents on sale, so I bought a Love candle for 50% off. I had purchased one a month or so ago and I’ve bene loving it, so I am excited to have a backup! I also found really nice boxes of matches for under $2 a piece (with 40 matches in each box) that will be perfect for the wedding!

Wedding Products

We are now a little more than 2 months away from the wedding so I feel like all I’ve been purchasing all wedding things but I’m ok with that. This month I picked out my veil, got some items from Paper Source and got a few other crafty items.

                                                                 Miscellaneous

Flash Tattoos

My friend and I tried these out over July 4th weekend and I became obsessed. I absolutely LOVE these. Flash Tattoos are metallic jewelry temporary tattoos. They are supposed to last 4-6 days, and I think if you apply them correctly and wait until they dry then they stay. We also used them for my bachelorette party and they are just too much fun.

Wedding Events

This month we had both my shower and bachelorette party! I can’t believe we’re getting so close. Both events were so much fun and I feel so blessed to have such generous and loving people in my life. I can’t wait to continue the fun wedding things as we get closer!

Supernatural

I started watching Supernatural over a year ago and got to about season 4. I then got bored and made my way very slowly through season 4 and stopped at season 5. It sat at season 5 for at least a year and I just never went back to it. Recently, I caught a few episodes on TNT and it reignited my interest. I have since flown through season 5 and am currently in the middle of season 6. I love it!