Five Things Friday

5 things I did:

1. Participated in the national book foundation's Readathon from 12-4 on Saturday. I managed to read one books in that time.

2. I cleaned my makeup brushes. I try to do this every Sunday, but sometimes I fail and sometimes I didn't wear any makeup really so they aren't dirty. If you're interested, these brushes are from bh cosmetics and are super colorful and come in a nice snap closure stand. I absolutely love them.

3. I went to the doctor on Monday because I had a persistent sore throat since Thursday and exposure to strep throat. A rapid strep test was done and came back negative, so that's a plus. Now, to just get rid of this sore throat...

4. We went for a nice, crisp and cold walk around the neighborhood one night. It was chilly, but it was nice to get out and breathe in some fresh air.

5. We had a "snow" day yesterday. It was actually because of ice, but I woke up feeling pretty rough so it was a nice surprise.

5 things I ate:

1. I got a drink from Dunkin' on Saturday morning, because we had coupons to use up. It was kind of syrupy and sweet, with just one flavor shot of french vanilla. It was caffeinated and hot though, so what more do you really need?

2. Lasagna soup, I tried making the recipe I had in the crockpot and it didn't really work out the way I wanted. I will have to mess around with it.

3. I ate at Halo Burger and I don't regret it.

4. We had slow cooker pork chops! The recipe should be up next week, as my first installment of recipes. It is literally the easiest recipe in the world, and one we have been using for years. Seriously, years.

5. Due to feeling sick, I haven't had much of an appetite. But popcorn is always delicious and always a good choice.

5 things I read:

1. Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb

I thought this book would be just a usual little "chick lit" feel good story about a woman who makes chocolate. Instead I got an intense story about an abused woman and her attempt to free herself. I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads.

2. Funny parent tweets
This had be lol-ing for sure. Kids are so funny and parents who can just laugh and be real about it make it even better. I hope to be a parent like that someday.

3. Dream of the Blue Room by Michelle Richmond

Eh, this book was weird. Like it's totally normal to have both parties in a marriage conduct affairs on a cruise ship down a river in China? I don't think so. I do want to learn more about the three gorges though. I have this book 1 star on Goodreads.

4. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
 I really enjoyed this book. I had read mixed reviews on it, but while reading it I didn't want to put it down because I wanted to know what happened next. In my world, that is the making of a good book. I gave this book 3 stars on Goodreads, and the only reason I gave it 3 instead of 4 is because I felt the ending was rushed and would have liked to have read more about HOW those things happened (vaguebook I know, but I don't do spoilers.)

5. Wandering dog in Grand Rapids, MI area
This dog looks like a newfie!! Poor buddy, I hope he is okay and that he finds a nice warm, loving home. 

I am going to be continuing linking with Fitting It All In and her Five Things Friday. I am also going to be rejoining the High Five for Friday link up over at Coffee with Caitlin, Cup of Tea, Bright on a budget and Della Devoted.

Beauty | Valentia Even Glow Serum

I think it's no surprise that I enjoy playing around with my skin care routine. I find it enjoyable to spend way too long looking at moisturizes, cleansers, exfoliaters, serums etc. So when I was given the opportunity to work with Valentia Skin Care and review their Even Glow Serum, I of course said yes.

 

Now, I will be honest. I did not have a serum as a consistent piece of my skincare routine. When I would receive samples in my Birchbox I would use them up and then carry on with my life. The idea behind a serum is to get the nutrients deeper into your skin. A moisturizer hydrates the top layer of your skin and makes a protective barrier. So after figuring all this out, I realized how the order of skin care should go: cleanse, tone, serum, moisturize, spf. Got it.

But why this particular serum, you may ask. What are the benefits? There are so many out there, how do I know what they will do and why should I care and/or spend more of my hard earned money on something else? Or maybe it's just me asking these questions.

The Even Glow Serum contains organic rosehip seed oil and organic sea buckthorn oil; along with plant stem cells and green tea extract. Why is that good? Well the oils lock in moisture to help protect your skin from aging. I definitely want that, I am aging regardless but if my skin could keep some of it's good looks while I'm doing it that would be great. The plant stem cells also help with aging effects and promotes skin detoxification. It also helps your skin regenerate faster, while also protecting it from environmental factors. All of that seems legit to me, I don't want toxins from the environment hanging in my pores and the layers of my skin. Lastly, green tea extract has lots of antioxidants (all of these ingredients do) and which helps with inflammation and irritants. These are all good things, for sure. This serum is full of antioxidants and chocked full of nutrients to help your skin get a nice even glow; hence the name.

So, the first time I used this, I was kind of confused because it comes in like a dropper. Do you know how hard it is to fill up a dropper with a liquid and then disperse it across your face? It's surprisingly complicated. But I just dripped it across my forehead and checks then rubbed in with my hands. A little goes a long way, definitely. It's kind of an orange color, and it smells like orange juice which is nice. Once it soaks in, which is does quickly, you can go about your regular skin care routine. It's just that easy. Just remember to give the jar a nice little shake before you apply because, like the ingredients, separation is natural.

Valentia recommends only using this serum once a day because of the high boost in nutrients, and they don't want your skin to become overwhelmed - so I have been sticking to that rule and have not noticed a problem in the 7 days I have been using this product. I also have noticed that my skin is not as dry, the skin tone is more even and my face is definitely softer. 

I definitely recommend this serum if you're interested in adding one to your routine. You can purchase this product via Amazon.

This review is sponsored by Tomoson.com and I received this product free of charge from Valentia Skin Care in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review | A Fifty-Year Silence by Miranda Richmond Mouillot

So, this book at first didn't necessarily catch my attention. Let's be real, we all judge books by their cover and my first thoughts were, "Ehhh old people. War. FRANCE. No thanks." But upon more perusing of my options, I decided to give this book a go. It's good to step out of the comfort zone.

The plot

This book follows the author, Miranda, on her journey to discover why her grandparents (Anna and Armand) are estranged. After surviving World War II by escaping Nazi-driven France for refugee camps in Switzerland; Anna and Armand bought a stone house in a remote town (Alba) in the South of France. Many, many years after the fact Miranda decides to move into the falling down house and and immerse herself in letters, immigration records and archival materials to put together her grandparents story. She even works on coercing information out of her reluctant grandparents. Throughout the duration of the book, we find out how Miranda wrestles with the legacy of trauma, the burden of history and the complexities of memory.

Miranda grew up in a family where her parents were divorced and both remarried but she had great relationships with both sets of parents and step-parents. She even states that she felt loved and had a very happy childhood. But even things that she overheard affected her, she was aware (even if she didn't realize the awareness) of the trauma that her grandparents went through; she even had dream about having to flee somewhere quickly and was fearful of losing her home; which never happened. Miranda grew up close to her grandmother, and grew closer to her grandfather when she moved overseas to attend a school and then even more so as an adult when she moved to begin her book writing journey.

During the ten years it takes Miranda to put together this book her grandmother died and her grandfather lost his mind. Miranda's own life undergoes change, and while she is writing and researching the past of her family - life does not stop in the present. It's a great story of love and history.

My thoughts

Initially, I was wondering why does she care SO MUCH about why her grandparents are estranged? I mean, she has a relationship with them, obviously something happened during the war it was a traumatic time. I think if it were my grandparents I would just be like, "I guess this is just how it is." But her grandfather was an interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials, so clearly the things he heard affected him to the point of ruining his marriage. So why the big deal? But upon reading it, you can just feel the love and admiration Miranda has for both her grandparents. To move across the world, into an abandoned former home of your grandparents to willingly immerse yourself in their history is complete and utter dedication.

It's fascinating how as a small child Miranda feared having to leave her home quickly; to the point of leaving her shoes by the door and having a bag packed. She never once had such an instance happen in her life, but hearing snippets of it or just something about her grandparents history made that fear legitimate for her. I am sure there is some sort of memory or neurological phenomenon that someone much smarter than I can figure out, but I find it amazing.

Even though I had initial skepticism, this book won me over. I definitely would recommend it if you like historical fiction and/or nonfiction, but even if that is not usually your book preference; I would still recommend it if you're just looking for a book that is interesting and isn't like everything else out there. I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.


I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.

Five Things Friday

I am going to be linking up to different blogs with my Friday posts, I am going to be continuing linking with Fitting It All In and her Five Things Friday. I am also going to be rejoining the High Five for Friday link up over at Coffee with Caitlin, Cup of Tea, Bright on a budget and Della Devoted.


 5 things I did:

1. Opened a joint checking with my husband!

2.  We did not have school on Monday due to MLK Jr day. It's great to have that day off to celebrate and reflect.

3. I bought a new car in August, and I took it in for it's first "check up"! It got it's 5000 mile tire rotation. I never once took my old car in for a tire rotation, so we're already off to a better start with this one!

4. I am participating in a Readathon tomorrow, for the National Book Foundation INC. If you are interested in learning more, or donating, click here! It's for a great cause,and I am really looking forward to having a set time to just read. 

5. I went to Sephora. I only bought 3 things, so not really haul worthy, but if any of those items end up being favorites I will write a post about it.

5 things I ate:

1. Sausage and Tortellini. It was absolute perfection and very easy. If you want an actual recipe, let me know!

2. I made another smoothie, this time I made it with: 1 cup of blueberries, 1 peeled clementine, 1/2 cup rolled oats and 1 cup milk. SO GOOD! Can't wait to experiment more and see what I can come up with!

3. Yes, we had Pad Thai again. I know, shameful.

4. I made Italian Bean & Sausage, which is a staple dish in our home. I am contemplating adding a weekly recipe post to the mix, let me know what you think!

\5. We bought a 4 lb container of animal crackers from Sam's Club. I don't know why, but I will definitely be eating those for awhile. That is a lot of animal crackers!

5 things I read:

1. Reunion by Hannah Pittard
A very quick and enjoyable read. Touches on sibling issues, issues with parents and dealing with "growing up".

2. Top 27 Places in the U.S. Foreigners want to visit

3. Bird in hand by Christina Baker Kline
This book was another quick read, it was entertaining enough but quite depressing. It kind of felt forced to wrap up at the end, and the timing just didn't feel natural to me. I really enjoy this author though, so I will continue to read books by her.

4. A fifty year silence: Love, War and a Ruined House in France by Miranda Richmond Mouillot
Full review on this book coming on Monday, so stay tuned!

5. I have been loving Human of New York this week, in particular this story about schools and teachers. It's great to be reminded.

Beauty | January 2015 Birchbox

The theme of this month's box was Let's Do This! I feel like it was the box with the most expensive items I have had. When I looked at the full size prices, I was floored. Even if I absolutely adore one of these items, I doubt I could stomach purchasing any of the full size products unless I used Birchbox points.

This box also had 7 products, which is the most I have ever received in a box. So, it seems like Birchbox is stepping it up in 2015! 

1. Davines Oi/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion

Full size $41

This hair oil is very lightweight, and helps to tame frizz and even strengthen your hair over time. I have A LOT of hair, so I an anxious to try this and see how it works with my tangled, frizzy locks. The sample size looks like I might get two uses out of it, so that is disappointing. Plus, I hate samples that come in the little packets. They are hard to store once you have opened it, it's almost like you're only supposed to use it once...so then what is the point? I am NOT going to purchase a $41 hair oil from a one use sample. Not happening.

2. Davines Oi Conditioner

Full size $32

This conditioner boasts a faster drying time and protection from the elements. As long as it doesn't weigh my hair down and it hydrates it enough to calm the static that is the winter in Michigan -- I'm game. But again, it came in a packet. So we'll see. 

3. Mirenesse Mattfinity Cream Lip Rouge in New York

Full size $29

This lip rouge is a velvety texture with a matte finish, it says no lip liner is necessary as it is a stain so it should stay put. This color is a bit bright for me, perhaps if I went out for the night it would be something I would throw on, but just for work and day to day life -- it's not really my scene. But it applies beautifully, the color pay off is fantastic and it really does last. It's not something I would purchase, because of the cost (ridiculous) unless I was using points. BUT the sample size is quite hefty and since I won't be wearing it daily it will definitely last for awhile.

4. Sweet Science Invisible Daily Tint SPF 35

Full size $45

This is a mattifying cream that evens tone, blocks UV rays and protects skin from pollutants. You just smooth it over your face, neck and chest and you can wear it alone or with makeup. I haven't actually used it yet, it's definitely something I will wear come summertime when I am outside in the UV rays a bit more. I swatched it and the color seems to be a good match, it blends very well but the sample they gave is quite small so I don't see getting more than 2 uses out of it unfortunately.  

5. Harvey Prince Hello Liquid Loofah

Full size $22

This is an exfoliating body wash that is infused with the best-selling Harvey Prince Hello scent of citrus and floral. I do love this scent, for sure. It exfoliates very gently, which is a must with my sensitive, pale skin. I am always on the lookout for gentle body scrubs, but have never found any that I consider a must-have. So we will see how this works out!

6. Essential Elements Wake Up Rosemary Body Lotion

Full size $19

This lotion is lightweight and helps to heal dry skin and energize with the rosemary and mint scent. It is paraben and petrol free, so no clogging pores with this lotion and it does not leave a greasy residue. I LOVE this fresh minty scent. Seriously. It also helps relieve nasal congestion because of the minty, kind of medicinal smell. I realize that may not be everyone's cup of tea but I adore it. Especially in the winter months. A potential repurchase for sure. 

7. Davines Oi Shampoo 

Full size $26

This shampoo is a beautifying cleanser that helps boost healthy hair by providing shine, volume and texture. I love that they sent a decent size sample, I will for sure get about 5 or more uses out of this. But I won't be able to use it with the conditioner, and that is annoying. The smell is great, very fresh and clean. 

Thanks Birchbox! Can't wait for February's box!

Book Review | The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

I recently finished the The Red Tent by Anita Diamant and I really enjoyed it, and since I am not usually a huge fan of Historical Fiction I figured it was worth a full review!

Full Disclosure: While I consider myself a Christian, I am NOT that familiar with the readings of the Bible. I am not an expert, and I am not pretending to be one. Also, this book is FICTION. It is based on a story in the Bible, but it is FICTION, as in NOT REAL. Carry on.

The Plot:
This book is set in Biblical times, and it follows the life of Dinah (who is briefly in the Book of Genesis) and is the daughter of Jacob and Leah. Jacob has 4 wives (who are sisters); Leah, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah and with those wives he has many sons and one daughter -- Dinah. As we know, that time is ruled by men, but the women have their time in the "red tent." In the discussion with author in the back of the book, I was unable to discern whether or not the "red tent" was a real thing. Basically, during the women's cycle they are to be separated from the men. They spend that time in the red tent, with the other women, resting and such. In the Bible, Dinah's story is short (according to what I have read at least) and violent as she is raped. This book tells a completely different story about Dinah. It takes us on a journey on what it was like to be a woman living in the shadows of men. Dinah's story in this book does have a violent path, but shares a different view on what you may have previously read. I know this is vague, but I really don't like spoilers so I am being that on purpose!

My Thoughts:

I don't even care if the red tent was not a real thing, the celebration of womanhood within this book is refreshing. I was so intrigued by the multiple wives and concubines and their interactions within the tent, about the midwifes and the birthing process. They do kind of depict the men as sex-crazed penis wielding crazy people, but maybe they were/are -- I don't know, I'm not a man. I read some reviews about this book after I completed it and some people did have issue with it. I felt like Diamant covered that part of the story very well, discussing the concepts of "laying with" a man, and how marriage was conducted and held in that time.

I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

Five Things Friday

Here you have it, my five things Friday! Hope everyone had a great week and has an even better weekend! See you on Monday! Or, better yet, keep up with me on social media! @estherlaurien on Instagram & Twitter!

5 Things I did

1. We got snow. Because of said snow, we had a snow day last Friday. There was a very bad accident about an hour or so away from here, it involved a 150 car pileup and a truck carrying fireworks. There was a fatality. My thoughts are with all those who were involved and with their families.

 

2. My mom had foot surgery last Tuesday, so on Sunday I went out to see them. As it ended up, my Dad got sick the night before and my Grandparents came over with tons of food for them. So I went on fridge duty for them, and left with some yummy food for myself too. Hope they get better soon, silly parents.

3. So this is Shiloh. She was my 16th birthday present (I am now 30). She is a verrrry old girl who doesn't usually like to snuggle. When I was at my parents house, she randomly decided she wanted to snuggle. It was adorable and glorious and my mom snapped this cute picture of her.

4. I took 10,500 steps one day this week!! I know this because for Christmas I received a Jawbone UP24.

5. I caught up on Parenthood; my husband doesn't really like it (too soap opera-y for him) and he was out of town so I caught up on it one night. It was gloriously guilty and delightful.

5 things I ate

1. A delicious bowl of Cream of Wheat on a snowy winter morning is just absolute perfection. Truly.

 

2. I had some leftover frozen blueberries; so I threw those along with some spinach and milk into the blender. Pretty yummy.

3. Monkey Bread!

4. I have a guilty pleasure in eating frozen lasagna. I mean, I heat it up first, then eat it. My husband does not understand this, and has no desire to partake in it. So that means when he is out of town, I eat it and I enjoy every guilty morsel. He calls it a Lasagna Brick. So that is what I ate; a lasagna brick. Delicious.

5.Swedish Fish. That's all that needs to be said about that, am I right?

5 things I read

1. Corgi cuteness

This is an adorable little article about this corgi who went to Disney and got pictures taken with the characters. Trust me, it will make you smile.

2. How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

This book was well written, but kind of confusing because it is told in the voices of like 10 different characters. So that is kind of annoying, but I do understand the importance of the different voices to the plot but still...I had a  hard time keeping up with each switch.

3. Literally made me LOL

4.  The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Loved, loved, loved this book. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads in fact. Historical Fiction is often hard for me to get into, but this story just sucked me in for days. Let me know if you want a full review on this book!

5.  Every month from my library I get a free copy of BookPage and I thumb through it very slowly and deliberately to decide what books to add to my Goodreads. It's a book nerds heaven for sure.

Beauty | Eyeshadow Round-Up

I am by no means a beauty expert, but I like to play around with makeup and I have gathered quite a collection of eyeshadow palettes, duos and trios. These are some of my favorite of the bunch, but are by no means all of what I own. If you're interested in hearing about all of the eyeshadow I have, leave a comment and let me know and I will write that up! 

1. First up, is the It's Judy Time Palette (Sold Out). It is no longer being made and sold, unfortunately.

 

I love this palette because of the variety of colors, but most of them are neutrals with a good mix of matte and shimmer. I use the brighter colors as eyeliner on my upper lashes, because I don't really like to wear bright colors all over my lids. It really makes the eyes pop. The texture of the shadows are super creamy, and they are long lasting for sure. 

 

 This palette consists of 12 colors, 9 of them being more neutral/brown shades and then a lilac shimmery color, a light blue-ish color and a darker blue. There is also a nice highlight shade included as well. I really do enjoy this palette, a great variety for day and night.

2. Naturally, next up is the Naked 2 Basics palette.

 

This is kind of a fan favorite throughout the land of beauty. This is my first Naked palette, and honestly it really is great. As can be expected, the texture is like satin; smooth, rich in color and lots of staying power. This palette contains 6 colors, all matte.

 

(From left to right in above picture)

- Skimp is a pale nude satin shade, great for under the brow bone, in the creases of your eye or as a highlight.

- Stark is a nude-pink shade

- Frisk is a warm grey shade, and probably my most used color in the set.

- Cover is a muted red-brown shade.

- Primal is a muted brown color, and my second most used one.

- Undone is a deep, smoky brown. Great for in the crease, or as an eyeliner. 

3.  The first trio of the group is the Almay intense i-color shimmer i-kit for the eye color blue, since I have blue eyes. They make them for all eye colors though, but a lot of the options for blue eyes were a bit brighter then I really wanted, so I went with this trio and I love it!

 

I wear it just as it is in the packaging, it really is foolproof. I wear the bottom all over my lid, the middle color in the crease and the top color under my brow bone and in the corner of my eye.

4. NYX Love in Rio in Bikini Bottom

 

The last two shades in this trio tend to be a bit darker than I prefer for a daytime look, so I use these mainly for nights out or as an eyeliner. The first shade (left to right) is a beautiful pink shimmer color, the mid color is a bronze and the last is a dark bronze. They really are fantastic, and the price is incredibly reasonable.

So there you have it, my top 4 eyeshadow palette's and trios! What are you favorites?

Book Review | The Vacationers by Emma Staub

                                                    


First off, how peaceful looking is the cover art? I love it, it looks and feels so relaxing.

The plot: The Post family is going on a two week vacation to the Balearic Island of Mallorca (which is in Spain). Franny and Jim are "celebrating" their 35th wedding anniversary; daughter Sylvia has graduated from high school and is going off to Brown in the fall. Their son Bobby and longtime girlfriend Carmen are joining them from Florida, along with close friends Charles and Lawrence. Franny and Jim are attempting to salvage a marital issue; Sylvia is on a mission to lose  her virginity before college; Bobby & Carmen have a myriad of relationship issues and Charles & Lawrence are in the process of adopting a child, and the waiting is driving them crazy. As you can expect, when you run away to Spain hoping to escape your problems they usually end up escalating...especially when you are stuck in a house on an island with your family and friends. I won't go into detail on the situations, spoilers and all. BUT they aren't anything shocking or amazing, and you'll probably be able to figure it all out fairly quickly.

My thoughts: This was an easy, breezy read. Some would coin it a "beach read" but considering I read it on my couch in negative temperatures, I will not use that term. The characters were alright, none were super likeable but I also didn't wish them pain. I think this family has issues and dysfunctions like all of our families probably do. I would recommend this book to a friend, who is looking for something quick and entertaining but not wanting to push the brain.

I gave this book 3 stars Goodreads.

Five Things Friday

I like doing a nice recap on Friday's, it's a nice way to condense a week into one blog post without overwhelming (or most likely, boring) everyone.

5 things I did:

1. I attended my cousin's basketball game on Saturday. They apparently are not very good, and the team they were playing against apparently was quite good, but they only lost by like 4 points. It was a nail biter to the very end, I really thought they were going to pull it off!

2. The temperatures have been in the single digits, with wind chills in the negatives. So naturally, the heat at work went out. Staff showed up at work Monday to a very icy building. Kids got to stay home for an extra two days, and staff bundled up and tried to get ahead of the chaos that is being a teacher!

3. We went for a delightfully snowy (and brisk!) walk around our neighborhood on Tuesday night, we both love the snow and it was great to get out in it even if it was only for a few minutes. The temperatures and windchill are quite cold this week, so we didn't wander around for too long!

4. Monday night we watched Galavant, which we had TIVOed from the night before. I was dying from laughter, so I'm rather excited for the rest of it! I love musicals and I love comedy so this is pretty much a perfect matching in my mind.

5. We went grocery shopping last night. Sometimes I really really really really enjoy grocery shopping. It is so satisfying to have the ability to fill up our fridge and our cupboards. We are blessed.


5 things I ate:

1. I have had a hankering for some Pad Thai since NYE, and my dear partner attempted to get some for me, but our favorite Thai food restaurant was not open. On the way home from the basketball game on Saturday we swung in and I got my craving fulfilled!

2. On day 2 of our arctic workplace, a co-workers sister made everyone delicious breakfast burrito's to warm up our bellies. It was delicious and improved my mood for the 45 seconds it took me to eat it.

3. I made these delicious and simple sesame noodles for dinner on Tuesday night. I doubled the recipe (so we could have leftovers) and omitted the hot chili oil - mainly because I forgot to buy it. It tasted fantastic and next time I am going to add some chicken and that should make it even more delicious.

4. We had cheesy stuffed shells at work on Wednesday. They were surprisingly good, although the kids didn't like them. I think the white sauce scared them.

5. We received a lot of candy in our Christmas stockings. Since the wedding was 5 days before Christmas, we did not receive any presents on Christmas but I feel like we got double the amount of candy. So I have been making my way through that stash. Trying to avoid stomachaches.



5 things I read:

1. Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
This was a nice Christmasy little novel, left wide open so I hope she does another so I know what happens to the characters!

2. Getting Even by Sarah Rayner
This book was terrible. Check out why I thought that on my Goodreads page.

3.  This is a cheat, because I didn't read it...I listened to it. I caught up on the Nerdist (link) podcast this week on my drive to/from work. I enjoy that podcast in particular because Chris Hardwick makes me giggle. 

4. Now, I am not a parent. I hope to be one day, but I have two nieces (and one on the way!) and I am 16 years older than my little brother. I am also a preschool teacher. This blog post made laugh.

5. The Vacationers by Emma Straub
I believe I am actually going to write a review for this book, so look out for it next Monday!


Have a great weekend everybody! See you back here on Monday!

Face Mask Round-Up

 

I love a good face mask, but I have a tight budget. Here are the 5 face masks that are currently in my rotation.

1. Eclos Skin Renewal Clay Mask 

I use this one at least once a week, it's really good for making my skin feel fresh and renewed. It apparently is supposed to help reduce wrinkles, I don't have a ton of wrinkles due to a complete avoidance of sun so I cannot comment on the the reduction or not. It dries fairly quickly, comes off nicely and my skin feels good afterwards.

2. Freeman Feeling Beautiful Cucumber Facial Peel-Off Mask 

This is my least favorite of the masks I currently have. It's sticky, takes forever to dry and then the peeling off part is a pain. Now, it's like under $5 so it's incredibly budget friendly, but I don't really feel like it does anything. My skin is always red afterwards from my picking at the mask, attempting to peel it off in chunks. Now that I writing this, why do I even still have this?

3. The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask 

 This is an all-time favorite, but for whatever reason I can only link to the single-use packets on The Body Shop website. This mask clears my skin up in a wink, my skin feels brand spanking new after using this and nice and hydrated. I can't say enough great things about this mask. Plus, it's green so we call it The Hulk Mask.

4. Juara Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask 

 I got this in my December Birchbox, and only just used it last Sunday. It went on nice and smooth, dried up quickly and came off nicely. My skin was kind of breaking out during this time, and it did seem to soothe some of the angry redness that was um, all over. It didn't dry out my skin or have any negative side effects, but it's rather pricey (I feel) so I'm not sure I would actually ever purchase it outside of Birchbox.

5. The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask 

Another The Body Shop favorite that I can only link to the single use packets (so weird). This seaweed mask leaves my skin void of all impurities and clogged pores. This is another staple in my rotation, that I like to use in the summer months especially when my skin just feels...plugged up. Gross.

So there you have it, those are the face masks currently in my drawer. I do a face mask once a week (usually on Sunday) and which one I use depends on the state of my skin that particular week. Since it's winter here, I have been leaning towards more hydrating masks to try and bring some moisture back into my skin.

What are some of your favorite face masks, that are budget-friendly? 

New Beginnings

So, it's been awhile since I have been on here. I blame planning a wedding, so in place of the wedding planning shenanigans I am going to get back into my blogging. I plan to start off with 2-3 blogs per week, and see what happens from there. I plan on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  But, I am down with change, and flying by the seat of my pants.

To start things off right, I'm going to begin with the books that are currently waiting to be read on my nightstand. You can find me on Goodreads to follow all of my reading adventures, but I do plan on doing a monthly post about it. So moving onward.

 

 We will start from the top and work down to the bottom.

1. The Last King of Texas by Rick Riordan (Tres Navarre #3) 

This is the 3rd book in the Tres Navarre series by Riordan, and I have read the previous two. Tres is a PI and a Ph.D  in San Antonio, Texas.  When an English professor ends up shot to death, Tres is the only person willing and crazy enough to fill the emergency opening at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The police reassure him that they have a suspect, so all Tres has to do is fill the dead man's shoes. Tres has a knack for trouble finding him, and while this is expected to be an easy assignment - it is anything but. He naturally find himself doing some PI work and ends up in the darkest streets of San Antonio's west side.

Thoughts: I am what my husband likes to call a "finisher" So once I started this series, I know need to finish it. Since I am all up to speed on Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series I figure this can replace the need for a mystery series in my life. So while this may not be a book I would normally pick up on a whim, I am a finisher and finish this I will.

2. The Vacationers by Emma Straub 

The Post family has a lot to celebrate while on their trip to Balearic Island of Mallorca with friends and family- a 35 year wedding anniversary and a high school graduation. When traveling with friends and family, it's only natural that issues (former and current) come to a head, and that's just what happens.

My Thoughts: One of my good friends read this book rather quickly and told me that it was a good read, so naturally I boosted it up on my to-read list and here we are.

3.How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

When sixteen year old Tariq Johnson is shot and killed by two gunshot wounds, his community is thrown into an uproar. Tariq is black and his shooter, Jack Franklin, is white. What follows in the aftermath is everyone having something to say about the event, but no two accounts lining up.

My Thoughts: Full disclosure: I had no idea what this book was about until I sat down to write the summary. I just grabbed it off the new book shelf at the library. The idea behind this book sounds a lot like the Michael Brown shooting, and I initially thought Magoon was writing this book off of that. But, this book was published in October so unless she wrote it in two months it is just a strange colliding of coincidence.

4. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

This is a story told in the voice of Dinah, Jacob's (from the Bible, Book of Genesis) daughter. This novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood - the world of the red tent.

My Thoughts: This book has so many great reviews, how could I NOT want to read it?

5. Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City by Gordon Young

Flint, Michigan used to have one of the world's highest per capita income levels but is not one of the country's most dangerous and poorest cities. Journalist, Gordon Young, returned to his hometown with the intention of purchasing a home, what he found was a city of great contrasts.

My Thoughts: I received this book as a gift from my brother and sister in-law, and I am so excited to read it. I live about 45 minutes away from Flint, Michigan and I am interested to hear about the interviews and research that Young conducted for this book. I have read many books along the same theme, but about Detroit, and I really hope Young focuses on the rally power of his hometown people.

One final note, on January 24th I am participating in a readathon for the National Book Foundation. If you like to help support the cause, please click on this link to read about what the funds are being raised for and to donate. On the 24th I will be reading from Noon - 4 pm to help expand the audience for literature in our country, and to help fund programs that do just that. Help us encourage children to keep on reading!