Wednesday, September 17, 2014

September 2014 Birchbox Review

So my September Birchbox came right before I left for a quick trip to the Chicagoland area for a concert. I didn't really get to explore it very much before I left, but now I have and I am excited to share it with you! So let's get to it!

        (From left-right and then in front)

Full size $2.99
Now the other dual-ended hydration lock Chapstick they make is Day & Night, which is the one I really wanted to try! I am about to run out of my night lip treatment, and thought that this could replace it, but alas. I have used the renew side a few times, and it's super creamy and rejuvanting.
Update: I just received a free one of each from BirchBloggers, and I am SO excited! A review will be forthcoming!

Full size $25
This is a water-resistant formula that lengthens, volumizes and curls without clumping or flaking. I have used this once so far, on a crazy day of work and I can say that it doesn't rub off during the day. A lot of times, as the day gets nuttier, I tend to rub my eyes and a lot of times my mascara will smudge to underneath my eyes, giving me a super sexy raccoon look. This did NOT do that. So that's a win in my book!

Full size $18.99
This a day cream that is made with gotu kola cells (no clue what that is). This day cream is also antiaging that firms and protects skin. I have tried this product yet, but it smells kind of like a creamsicle, and I am pro-creamsicle smelling facial products. Can't wait to try this one!

Full size $14.50-$29.50
I am so excited about this product, I have already used it three times! While I am still in love with my Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle, the price went up a little bit and I want to try something new so here we are. I adore this brand anyway, and I oil SPRAY?! SIGN ME UP. This product is lightweight and absorbs into the hair super quick. It combats frizz, boosts shine and blocks UV Rays (what??). Magic.

Full size $27.50
I haven't tried this yet, because it kind of scares me because it's liquid. It's a liquid shimmer that is supposed to illuminate and contour your complexion and gives you an all-over glow. It's a beautiful color, I'm just scared of over applying. I will try it on a day where if I look silly it won't matter!

Full size $48
This is an acid-free peel, that is used to gently exfoliate your skin for instantly softer, smoother, brighter skin. I plan on  using this on Sunday, my face mask day! Even if it is magic, I can promise I probably won't repurchase just because of the cost alone. Eeesssh.

So there you go, the September 2014 Birchbox! I can't wait to try to some of the new stuff, and I can't wait to keep using the stuff I already know I love!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

High Five for Friday | Link Up

Happy Friday! I had a crazy week, so let's get to it.


1. Saturday I took a quick trip to the Chicagoland area for a Garth Brooks concert with some of my friends! It was a blast, and I'm always happy to spend time with great people and FANTASTIC music!

After the concert, forgive the sweaty-factor
2. We had Open House at school for the beginning of the year, and all the parents came except for two!! That is amazing! Another plus is all of our kids nap except for one! I am hoping this trend continues, and it's going to be a great school year.

3. I made two new recipes this week and they were both delicious!

4. The weather had been great this week. Sunny, 60s-70s and cool nights. Perfect sleeping temps. Not that I have been doing much of that!

5. Started addressing wedding invites! We are officially in double digits and my anxiety levels are high if I think about it too much!

Have a great weekend everybody!!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Weekly Wrap Up | Photo a Day

Long time, no talk! Sorry I dropped off the face of the earth near the end of last week. Work got a little nutty, and I had to work late to accommodate some parents for their home visits. But alas, no one wants to listen to me blather on about work. So let's get right into the wrap up from 9/8 -9/14!


Day 8: Broken: I was going to eat a Mrs. Thinster cookie, when I discovered it was perfectly broken in half. Huzzah! Perfect photo opportunity!

Day 9: Orange: orange is not my color, so the only thing I found that was orange is this old xbox remote.

Day 10: Repetition: lots and lots and lots and lots of books in our house. Lots.

Day 11: How I feel today: tired, chilly, headachey. 



Day 12: Spring/Fall: feeling like fall = slippers on my feet!

Day 13: Out of place: if it's a sausage Fest, I am out of place. This was in the bathroom at a German beer hall we went to in Rosemont, IL ('burb of Chicago).

Day 14: Healthy: since we were on a mini trip, healthy was not high on our list of priorities. Lots of beer and late night steak & shake is never a good choice.

Have a happy week! 

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Beauty | Lip Products

I have never much of a bright lipstick girl, but I am trying to step out of my comfort zone a little bit. So I decided to share my lip product collection with you, as of September 2014 this is what I own!


Full disclosure: This lipstick is waaaaay too bright for me. I wore this on 80s day to work, and it was a hit! I am very fair, light blonde hair and I look silly with super bright pink lipsticks. But minus the color, the texture and lasting of this lip pencil is super!

I really enjoy this color. It's a great fall lip color, it's a brighter reddish pink color, but has kind of a rhubarb undertone that makes it perfect for fall. The lasting power isn't super great, it tends to wear off in the center first so you need to touch up a few times.

I probably wear this lip gloss the most. This color is fairly flattering on me, but it the consistency of the gloss can be a little sticky. It lasts for a decent amount of time though, plus the mirror on the gloss is super handy!

This was an impulse buy a few years ago while in line at H&M. I enjoy it, but I have to be careful not to apply it too heavily because the color isn't a great match for me (notice a trend here?). 

This is another brighter pink color, but it actually works for me (I think at least...). The gloss consistency isn't as sticky, it's the perfect amount of shine and it lasts. That's a win in my book!

This is my favorite! It's the perfect neutral color for my skin tone, it's matte, it lasts forever, it's moisturizing and it applies beautifully. I highly recommend the body shop colour crush lipsticks! Plus, the packaging is beautiful!

This is a sample size, and I have had it for a few months now. It's a bit brighter than I tend to wear, but I will slap this on for a night out or a late dinner out or something. It is a smooth and creamy texture, and it has great lasting power.

I love this formula! This lip balm is super hydrating, keeping my lips nice and smooth all day long and trust me, that's a feat! The color isn't super great for my skin tone, but it's manageable!

I got this in my stocking a few Christmases ago, and I'm not sure that it actually plumps my lip up, but it's a nice clear gloss and that's always a good thing to have on hand. It is a bit sticky, but lip glosses tend to be that way so it's nothing surprising.

I adore this product. It's a balm stain, so it's super hydrating and it lasts forever! I also love the color, and you can bet I will purchasing more. Especially since it's super affordable!

This is another sample size, and I absolutely adore this lip stain. I think lip stains are the best because they last. The color is a really pretty light red, with a rosy undertone, and it applies super smooth. It doesn't dry out your lips, and is not sticky in the slightest.

I use this product the most I think. It's a beautiful cinnamon color, and it's a crayon so it applies super smooth and moisturizes as well. It lasts for a few hours without any touch ups needed.

I need to work on figuring out what colors are best for my pale skin, but a lot of these are given to me so it's probably why they're not perfect matches! What colors match your skin tone the best? Any other pale people out there with advice for a lip color novice?

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Books | On my nightstand | Sept. 2014

Another month, so another look at what books are currently on my nightstand and in a pile waiting for me to read! Since I am offically back at work from summer vacation, my reading time is dwindling. But that doesn't stop me from having a library problem. So here are the 6 books I hope to finish in September! 



Last month I read the fourth book, Five Ways to Fall, and quite enjoyed it. So I decided to start back at the beginning, which is this book. This books follows Kacey Cleary and the fall out in her life following a drunk driving accident four years prior. Her main priority is to wait out her hellish life until her little sister Livie is no longer a minor and then they can escape. When their Uncle Raymond slips into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides she has had enough and it's time to leave. They flee to Miami, where they take up residence is an apartment complex full of "characters".  Naturally, the fellow residing in apartment 1D catches Kacey's eye, but she is broken beyond repair...or so she believes.
My thoughts: I enjoy books where people have shitty lives, I know it seems sick but it's the truth. I look forward to reading this book, and I am positive I will enjoy since it seems fairly similar to the other book I read by K.A. Tucker.

I have read 2 other books by Cathy Lamb, and I super loved them...hence why I am already onto a third book! This one is about the woman in Megge O'Rourke's family. They have run a lingerie business for decades, and naturally, their family dynamic is fairly dysfunctional. Meggie wants to stay away, but her grandmother has summoned her back to Portland, Oregon. Given the flux in her life the past year, Meggie is secretly happy for a focus - to keep the family business afloat and deal with her bickering family. In an attempt to draw customers to their website, Meggie begins to interview relatives and employees about their first bra's and favorite lingerie items. What she finds are unexpectedly poignant stories, and revelations that highlight her family's past and help Meggie begin to find her footing again.
My thoughts:  Lamb has no problem writing books about issues that are uncomfortable and I love that. I am eager to read this one, and hear the stories people share. I like unexpected, and I feel like there is more than meets the eye with this novel. 


This is the first book in a series of the same name, there are at least two that I know of. In this novel, 16 year old Alexandria Lee is forced to leave her west coast home after her mother dies in a tragic accident. Alexandria is forced to move in with her wealthy grandmother in Georgia, a grandmother that she has never had a relationship with. Just by birth, Alex is rightfully a member of the Magnolia League - a long standing debutante society. This is a far cry from the life Alex is used to, and she is the first in decades to question the intentions. Yet, even with her unwillingness she gets caught up in their world. Alex discovers a pact and some deadly secrets hidden beneath the "southern charm". 
My thoughts: This book seems kind of mysterious, and I like that. Maybe a little dark, but not too crazy...no nightmares (hopefully!). 


Twin sisters Milly and Twiss spend their days nursing people and birds back to health. But it wasn't always this way, back in the summer of 1947 Milly was known as a great beauty and Twiss was a wild child who never wore a dress or do what she was told. That was also the summer their father was in an accident and their mother finally admitted that their penny pinching lives would never change. It was also the summer their priest renounced his belief and God and ran away, and also the summer a boy caught Milly's eye. And most unforgettable, it was the summer their cousin Bett changed their lives forever.
My thoughts:  I read about this book in my free book magazine I get my from my library. I feel like I have no idea what it is really about, but I still want to read it. I feel like that is good enough for me, so I checked it out. I don't need much encouragement in reading, in case you couldn't have figured this out.

This is the 4th book in the Kovac and Liska series, if you're a Tami Hoag reader. I have read these all out of order, but it hasn't proved to be complicated to figure it out. On New Year's Eve in Minneapolis, MN a young woman's beaten body falls from the trunk of a car into the path of traffic. She is the 9th nameless female victim of the year and homocide dectectives Kovac and Liska are given the task of finding out who she is and why this happened to her. Their fear is that she is the 9th victim of the transient serial killer they have dubbed Doc Holiday. Doc Holiday has been criss-crossing America's heartland, choosing his victims at random; snatching them from one city and leaving them in another...always on a holiday.
My thoughts: I love Tami Hoag, and all of her series, even the particularly gruesome ones. I think this is the last one I have to read in this particular series.

33 year old Shea Rigsby has lived her whole life in Walker, Texas...a small college town that eats, drinks and breathes football, a passion she also shares. Her best friend, Lucy, is the daughter of legendary football coach Clive Carr. When a tragedy occurs in Walker, Shea's comfortable world is no more and she begins to wonder if the live she has chosen is the one she really wants. She decides to step outside of her safety net, and follow an unexpected path. She discovers the truth about the people and things she has always trusted, and is forced to confront her deepest desires, fears and secrets.
My thoughts:  Giffin's books have never really made me feel anything beyond mild amusement. This book has the appearance of being able to go a bit deeper, and it didn't really tell me much by the description which I like. 

What books are on your nightstand? Or what books are you currently reading?

Monday, September 8, 2014

Weekly Wrap Up | Photo a Day

Happy Monday party people! This is the weekly wrap up, all prompts are from Fat Mum Slim and photo a day challenge. You can be sure to check out my pictures in live action daily on instagram and twitter @estherlaurien

Now these are the photos from 9/1 - 9/7! Enjoy!


9/1 In my cup: My beloved Michigan State Tervis was my cup of choice on this particular day and water is what was in it.

9/2 Stripes: I sleep with this pillow every night, and it happens to have stripes on it.


9/3 Button: I snapped a picture of a button on C's shirt.


9/4 DIY: a student of mine made and painted this toolbox for me. This is many years old. 



9/5 Upside down: silly Shiloh enjoys laying upside down.


9/6 I need...: coffee. Obviously.


9/7 Father: This is a picture from a museum when we were on a trip to Louisville, Kentucky many many years ago. It's me, my brother and my dad. I don't have a ton of pictures of my dad, something I need to rectify. I heart my daddy-o!


Are you guys doing the photo a day challenge? There are a lot of them out there! Let me know which ones you're interested in! Have a fabulous Monday!

Friday, September 5, 2014

High Five for Friday | Link Up

Even though it was only a 4-day work week, I still felt like I was going in a million different directions. I may be delayed on the blogging every now and again, but I am still going to try and do one book review, one beauty, the weekly wrap up and h54f every week...and when I can a travel post, or just something random. That is my goal. If it proves to be too lofty, I may have to cut back to only blogging 3 days a week until I can figure it out, but right 4 days a week, possibly 5 every now and then. 

Here are the highlights of my week!

1. C officiated his first wedding on Saturday! A friend of his from high school asked him to do it many months ago, and he happily obliged. The wedding took place in this beautiful pavilion, with the reception following down by a nice little creek. The weather held off, even after a rainy start to the day, and it was a beautiful wedding and C did a great job!




2. On Sunday I got to hang out with these dudes. I got some snuggles in, and they weren't too impressed with my picture taking.


3. After a long weekend, I jammed to some Jay-Z on the way to work. Sometimes you just need to put your damn hands up and surrender, it is what it is. #workjams


4. My classroom is pretty much in order. Now it's just detail stuff, and knocking out home visits. This year is going to be a big change from what I'm used to but it will be a good experience...at least that is what I am telling myself to stay positive. 

5.  We have nothing major going on this weekend. With the last few weekends being so crazy and busy, it will be really nice to just be at home this weekend. That is a major high five!

Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Book Review | Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler


So a friend of mine recommended this book to me, actually. I rarely have NOT read a book that someone recommends to me, so when she told me she had enjoyed this book and I hadn't read it yet I immediately checked it out of the library and got down to business.

This story begins with 89 year old Isabelle McAllister asking her black hairdresser Dorrie Curtis to drop everything and drive her from her home in Arlington, Texas to a funeral in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dorrie, looking to flee some of her own problems, readily agrees -- looking forward to getting away and maybe beginning unlock some of Isabelle's guarded past.  While on the road, Isabelle admits to falling in love in with Robert, a black would-be doctor and son of her family's housekeeper in 1930's Kentucky -- in a town where blacks were not allowed after dark. The story of their romance, and their loss, is truly captivating.

If I could have, I would have sat and read this story all day long. Unfortunately silly things like work and life made that difficult to do. This book was so good! The story of Isabelle and Robert keeps you on the edge of your seat, and just when you think it's tragic enough, another surprise turn. I love stories like that, that seem like they are predictable enough and you're enjoying the ride, but then bam! Something so heart wrenching throws you for a loop, that was the case with this story. I read a review that stated this book was one part The Help and one part Water for Elephants and I can get behind that analysis. If you enjoyed either of those books, I would say you would enjoy this book as well. This is my first Julie Kibler book, but I hope it won't be my last.

I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Beauty | Empties #1

So I thought I would collect some of the items I have used up recently and then share what I thought of them with you. I will probably only make it to like 5 items before the mess drives me nuts, but oh well. I don't go through things super quickly so it would work out pretty well. So let's get onto Empties round 1:



(Since I forgot to number the picture, we will work our way from left to right, mmkay?)

I received this is a birchbox a few months ago, and I used it to remove mostly my eye makeup before washing my face. It worked so great, and it was super gentle. I would definitely purchase the full size of this once I use up my current makeup remover.

2. Avon Naturals Shower Gel (similar)
The scent pictured is coconut and lemongrass, but it is no longer available. I used this up pretty quickly, and it smelled really nice -- like summertime and beaches. I probably wouldn't purchase this again, it didn't last super long.

This is a find from my future mother in law. Foot care is not something people care to talk about. I get it. Feet are gross. But guess what, in the summertime mine get all cracked and gross. So I would just slather some of this on my feet, slip on some socks and carry on. It worked decently. It wasn't a miracle product or anything, but it was a decent enough foot cream. Still on the search for something miraculous. 

I try to use a cleansing shampoo about every other week, just to really get down to the nitty gritty with my hair. I find if I use one every week, my hair dries out quite quickly. I received this sample in a birchbox, and I enjoyed it. It smelled nice and clean, it did a good job of cleansing my hair and not leaving it stripped of moisture. 

I love love love this concealer. I already have a new one on the way. This is one of my holy grail makeup products. It covers up redness and blemishes all day long, and it doesn't flake off or rub off after about 12 seconds of wearing it, especially when used with a primer. 

Thanks for reading about my first round of empties! What are some of your favorite products you've recently used up?

Monday, September 1, 2014

Weekly Wrap Up | Photo a Day

Happy labor day friends! It is Monday, so that means it is time for the weekly wrap up of the fms photo a day. If you want to check out my daily photos on instagram @estherlaurien or on twitter @estherlaurien. 

These are the pictures from 8/25-8/31, I hope you enjoy!



8/25 Mail: So we actually did not get mail on this day, so I took a screenshot on my phone and then cropped it down so it was only the mail icon. Adorable.

8/26 Breakfast: I grabbed one of these soft baked oatmeal squares to eat for breakfast on this particular day, they were delicious.

8/27 Dull: We had training from 8-5 on Conscious Discipline. It certainly had it's dull moments.

8/28 Travel: I took this picture while travelling home from work.




8/29 Dessert: We had a rehearsal dinner to attend for a wedding C was officiating on Saturday, and this was the dessert -- bread pudding. Yum!

8/30 Nearby: The wedding we attended was at this cool pavilion, with the reception nearby. 

8/31 10 am: I was doing laundry at 10 am...fun times.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day! Happy September!

Friday, August 29, 2014

High Five for Friday | Link-Up


Happy Friday! It is Labor Day weekend already? That is absolutely mind blowing to me. Well I had a rather exciting week, so let's get down to it.

1.  So in an unexpected turn of events, I purchased a new car! I have drove the same car for pretty much ever. It was a delightful 2002 Saturn SL2 with no frills, and it ran perfectly great for many many many years. When she finally stopped running she was at 162,000 miles. She had a great long life. My new car, Astrid, is a 2014 Toyota Corolla S Plus. It has quite a few frills that are completely unnecessary. It has been an odd experience to be driving something completely different, but it is fun.


2. I went back to work on Monday and our training room had this lovely view. It was kind of a tease to be stuck inside listening to people talk, while looking at this nice table on a patio.


3. For my birthday from my grandparents I got this awesome Tervis Tumbler! We registered for it for the wedding, well actually I registered for it. I have been using it nearly everyday this week!


4. We have a wedding to attend this weekend, and I am excited to go to a wedding and hangout with people and eat food. I'm easy to please at times.

5. I have made a lot of headway in my classroom. I have all the furniture and place and am going through and organizing everything. Yay organizing!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend! Make good choices!

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Pure Michigan Travel | Eaglemonk Pub & Brewery


So I turned 30 a few weeks ago and it seemed appropriate to go get some drinks and a brewery. A nice classy way to maybe have some giggles with some friends. The brewery options in Lansing, Michigan are few and far between, but luckily we have EagleMonk Pub and Brewery.



The first thing we did was order a sampler. It comes with 8 sample sized beers, and in this case it happened to contain every beer they had on tap. They placed it on this tray with a laminated paper stating what beer was what. I assumed I was going to enjoy the lighter beers only, but I was wrong. They were all delicious!


I am going to consult their brewing list and try to recall which ones I tried...I make no promises as to whether I am accurate or not. It's been like 3 weeks. Also, EagleMonk also has wine, soda and food! We all had pizzas, and they were delightfully delicious. EagleMonk also sells a variety of souvenirs with their logo, including howlers and growlers. We purchased a howler and are looking forward to going back to refilling it. Alright beers sampled:
Red Eye Rye 
Instigator Doppelbock
Irish Red
Belgian Wit
Michigan White
Scottish 70
Delta Porter
And one other that I cannot recall...




EagleMonk also has an awesome program called the EagleMonk Mug Club. It costs $50 for life, and includes one free fill up. You get to chose a mug made by a local artist (mugs pictured above) and they are SUPER COOL. They hang from the ceiling and are super neat. You get a larger pour for the pint price, $10 growler fills on craft beer daily, $2 off any pizza on Tuesdays and $3 mugs on Sundays.

I am so happy that we have a great brewery like EagleMonk in our area, and I can definitely ensure that I will be going there again. With our howler in hand.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Life | August Favorites


The end of another month is upon us, and with that a round up of some of my favorite THINGS from August 2014. It's quite an eclectic grouping of items this month, but that's life.

I couldn't tell you what exact model we own for our Keurig. We bought it many years ago after our cheap coffee pot caught our kitchen on fire. But the reason this is making my August Favorites is because it has been in storage for almost 6 months and now it's back in my possession! I forgot how much I enjoy it, the simplicity of brewing my one cup of coffee. Since I am in the only one in my home who drinks coffee regularly, I feel like the Keurig and I have a special relationship. I am happy to have it back in my kitchen.

I can't actually find this product on the BBW webpage anymore. My grandma got this for me I believe either in my Christmas stocking or Easter basket (don't judge me). I adore this scent. It makes my whole bathroom smell delightful after using it. I am bummed that I can't find it at BBW currently, but they have lots of awesome fall scents, so I am sure I will be able to find a replacement.

We upgraded our phones a few months back, and I previously had an iPhone 4 with an Otterbox Defender case on it. It was super protected, but it was so bulky. One of the things I love the about the iPhone is that is slim, but with this massive case on it...notsomuch. I still wanted protection, but not as much bulk. Enter the symmetry case. I adore this case. It matches my phone perfectly and it protects it without adding bulk. 

I have had this perfume for awhile, but just recently began using it more frequently. It's a nice light scent, kind of flowery and citrusy. I have been loving it for the month of August.


So there you have it, a nice little round up of a few of my favorite items during the month of August! Have a great Wednesday!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Book Review | Goodnight June by Sarah Jio



Sarah Jio is another author whom I love. I don't think I have read a book by Sarah Jio that I didn't thoroughly enjoy, before this one. I wholeheartedly recommend The Bungalow that book was AMAZING. But we are here to discuss Goodnight June

This book follows June Andersen and when we are introduced to her she is a hard-hitting financial person in charge of foreclosures...especially shutting down small businesses. Naturally, her work life takes precedence and her personal life is falling apart all around her. She never visits her family, she doesn't speak to her sister, her love life is is non-existent, etc. She seems content in living this life, until she receives a letter stating that her great Aunt Ruby has passed away, leaving her bookstore to June. The bookstore is a children's bookstore that her Aunt Ruby has owned for decades, and June hesitantly heads back to the west coast to settle Great Aunt Ruby's affairs. Once there, June discovers a secret the Ruby has kept hidden all this time - her friendship with renowned children's author Margaret Wise Brown, who you might know as the writer of Goodnight Moon, a childhood favorite for many. June begins to uncover all of her aunt Ruby's secrets, and the truth of how Goodnight Moon came to be.

It seems like, how could this book be bad? It has all the elements of greatness; books, authors, intrigue, even romance.  While the actual intrigue and kind of mysterious, secret uncovering parts I found to be decent...the character development for the lead fell short for me. It's never a good thing if you loathe the main character in a book. I just felt like she was so...awful, and then we never really rectified her awfulness. It just didn't go deep enough for me, I guess. The relationship between Ruby and Margaret was developed so much better and that was told and developed only through letters. I was disappointed, but I suppose you can't hit every one out of the park. I will continue to read to Sarah Jio, but this one didn't do it for me.

I gave this book 2/5 stars on Goodreads.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Weekly Wrap Up | Photo a Day

While you are reading this, I am officially back at work! I get to sit in a training from 8-5, which is FINE because it's a simple way to ease back into waking up and getting dressed...lame.
So here is the weekly wrap up from 8/18 - 8/24!



8/18 Arrow: This is an arrow in my apartment building directing people downstairs.

8/19 To-do: I really phoned it in on this one, this is a screenshot of my to-do list. Such exciting stuff.

8/20 Before bedtime: I always read before bedtime, barring I have a migraine or am deathly ill in another way. So before I got into bed, I snapped a picture of  my bed with the book I'm currently reading on it.

8/21 Decorate: We have lots of little trinkets and "decorations" if you will. This happens to be one of our favorites, and it has a lovely note from a dear friend written on the back of it. It always decorates our living space.



8/22 Words: i chose to take a kind of macro style shot of a page in the book I was reading.

8/23 Style: I bought my first new car! I have drive the same car for about 12 years and is pretty much the only car I have ever drove. It's a 2014 Toyota Corolla S Plus, and it has lots of style!

8/24 Fragrant: While on a walk around the neighborhood I spotted these cheerful flowers!

Enjoy your week!

Friday, August 22, 2014

High Five for Friday | Link Up

Since it is my last week of official summer vacation, it has just been a chill week. Laying around, going for walks and reading. The calm before the storm if you will.

1.  On Saturday a group of friends and myself went out to celebrate my birthday! We went to a local brewery that I had been wanting to try, EagleMonk Pub and Brewery. Pictured is the sampler that C and I split, to decide what beer we liked best. I had about 4 favorites (out of 8), so that's a definite win in my book! It was a great time, and I super appreciate the people that came to help me celebrate. 


2. It's always a great week when I get to see this old girls smiling face. She was my 16th birthday present, and seeing that I just turned 30...that tells you how old she is. She continues to live at my parents, since it seems evil to yank her from her comfort zone. She has lots of land there, plus her best friend Mojo to snuggle with on cold winter nights. I love her. 


3. I have been going for walks everyday, usually to the library. It's been great to get outside and walk to one of my favorite places ever.

4. I am test driving some cars this week. Unfortunately my car has pooped out. That is not a high five. BUT getting test drive some cars is. I have had my current car...for 12 years. I have never really driven anything else, so this is kind of exciting.

5. We are going to be joining some friends for dinner in Old Town, Lansing. It will be delightful to eat some great food and catch up with people.

Hope everyone has a great weekend, see you back here on Monday!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Pure Michigan Travel | Kayaking in Mt. Pleasant

For my 30th birthday, I wanted to do something that I love to do. I wanted to be outside, near/on the water, with my best friend/fiance celebrating entering the next phase of my life. So, we went kayaking. We had a groupon (we almost always have a groupon #dealsfordays) to Buckley's Mountainside Canoes in lovely Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (home to Central Michigan University). It's about an hour north of where we live, so we made a reservation for right when they opened @ 10 am. 



It was a chilly morning, but beautiful. Big puffy clouds, sun shining bright, the sky was a brilliant blue...pure michigan at it's finest. We got our kayaks without a hitch and we chose to do the 2-3 hour option (about 6.5 miles) figuring we would just take our time and enjoy the scenery. They drove us to our drop-off location, and off we went!


The river we were on is the Chippewa River, and it had a pretty decent current going. For the first 45 minutes or so all we really needed to do was steer, and make sure we didn't get stuck in the shallows. Naturally, we each got stuck in the shallows, but we managed to get out without any major problems. Even though we have had tons of rain this summer, the river was still pretty shallow in some spots.


We saw lots of fish, turtles and even a crane! It was sitting by the river, and we scared it so it flew ahead and hid in the brush. But of course, we were still going in that direction, so as we neared it it flew in front of us again. We played this game for awhile, until finally it gave up and flew off somewhere. It was super awesome, and I wish I had been able to capture a picture of it.


The temperature was perfection, it got a little steamy in the sun, but there was a great breeze and lots of trees. It couldn't have been an easier river to kayak and the entire process of renting and using the groupon was so simple. Buckley's also rents canoes, and stand up paddleboards for various trips. They have a variety of different routes, so if you're not comfortable with your ability they have a shorter route that you could do. They were super easy to work with, and they have so many options for the things.

*Buckley's & Groupon have no idea who I am or that I am singing their praises. All purchases and opinions are my own.



Wednesday, August 20, 2014

August 2014 Birchbox Review

I am delighted to be here today to share with you my August 2014 Birchbox! Everything I received in this box I will most definitely use, and that is always a win! Although, to be fair, I rarely get something that I am like I will NEVER even use this. I am always willing to at least try the samples. Or make my brother try them.



$12 for full size.
This lotion smells like summer and sunscreen...in a good way. I will probably throw it in my purse in February when I need to reminded of sunshine, good times and beaches. It has a 50% aloe content, which is amazing. It rubs in and dries quickly, leaving your skin smooth and soft, smelling like a tropical island. I love this.

$9 for full size
This shampoo has that luxurious, expensive smell that only shampoos they use at salons usually have, so that's super neat. This shampoo is full of antioxidants and promotes shinier hair. I haven't used it yet, because I will throw it into my travel bag and use it next time I travel, but I can't wait to see if my hair is shinier and smells as nice as the product does.

$9 for full size
Pretty much everything I said for the shampoo applies to this as well. This conditioner is paraben free and detangles and smooths hair with antioxidants.

$19 for full size.
I have just recently started experimenting with cream shadows, so I am excited to try this out. It comes in three different colors, and I received the Silver Sands which is a...you guessed it, silver shade! I kind of wish I had gotten the bronze, or rose gold shades but it just gives me something to use points towards! This shadow swatched on my hand super smooth and it dried quickly, maintaining it's silvery finish.

$14.99 for full size (5 pack)
Obviously I have not had the chance to try it, and since it in a little pod thing I am unable to even feel the texture, smell it or see it until I open it. According the product packaging, it is sealed up the way it is because it will prevent the mask from oxidizing...so I don't want to open it until I am ready to use it. I love experimenting with face masks so I am excited to try this one!

Well there you have it, a lot of super awesome products to try out! Tune in tomorrow to read about my birthday kayaking experience in Mt. Pleasant!

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Book Review | MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood

First and foremost, this is brief overview of all three books. So if you haven't read any of them and you don't want to know some spoilers...DON'T READ THIS. Or don't read beyond the first book. 

#SPOILERALERT



So I have recently completed the MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood. Obviously, it consists of 3 books and I plan on giving a brief overview of each book, along with my thoughts on it. Let's get to it!

Book one is Oryx and Crake. These books jump around in time, some is in the present, some is in the past. In this book we meet Snowman, also known as Jimmy. He is living a world decimated by a plague, in which he survived. He does not know if he is the last human alive and he is mourning the loss of his best friend, Crake, and the beautiful and enchanting Oryx whom both Jimmy and Crake love(d). We are also introduced the the Children of Crake, Crakers, who were created by Crake before the plague. Jimmy embarks on a journey with the aide of the Crakers to find out if he is the only human alive still.

My thoughts: Atwood does a magnificent job of creating this dystopian world. I definitely found myself fully immersed into it. The book ends at a place that leaves you wanting more. I enjoy that feeling, especially in a trilogy. After I read the last page I couldn't wait to get my hands onto the second book to continue the adventure. 
I gave Oryx and Crake 4 stars on Goodreads.

#SPOILERALERT 

Book two is The Year of the Flood. This book is more a sidequel, which just means that the main story is taking place at the same time as the first book. In this story we are introduced to some new characters, including a group of people known as God's Gardeners. With the environmental stability on shaky ground, this group of people meld together science and religion; also predicting a huge disaster would one day destroy Earth as they know it. Well...it happened. Two women survived; Ren and Toby. Ren is locked inside of a high-end sex club and Toby (who was/is a God's Gardener) has barricaded herself inside of a spa. They each wonder if they are the only one's who have survived. Ren's friend Amanda? Her step-father Zeb? Her once lover Jimmy? While these two women are fighting their own battles, gene-spliced life forms are rapidly increasing in numbers. Separately, the need to decide their next moves and venture to see what is out there. This book takes a pretty dark turn, but I promise it's a great adventure getting there.

My thoughts: This was my favorite book of the 3. I loved the unraveling of the individual stories, and seeing how all the story lines crossed over one another. I loved learning more back story about the character's, I loved it all. I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

#SPOILERALERT

Book three is MaddAddam. In the third book you meet even more characters, and honestly it gets to be a confusing. At this point, Ren and Toby have met up with Jimmy, the Crakers and a whole mess of other people. We learn about Zeb, who has an interesting past. The group is being stalked by angry Painballers, plus Amanda is still being tormented by her abduction. It's great to finally have all the characters in one place, but the relationships are kind of odd, not mention they form an alliance with the pigoons against the Painballers and that's kind of weird, in an awesome kind of way.

My thoughts: The last book definitely created more questions for me. I didn't end this book feeling like I got any closure, but I guess that just means I'm going to talk about it and ponder it more frequently. I gave this book 3 stars on Goodreads.

I would definitely recommend this trilogy to a reader who likes dystopian novels, with a bit of sci-fi thrown in there. The characters have a great back story, and it was fun to read.