Delirium [book review]

I have been on a roll with the YA fiction novels, I'm tellin' you. I still need to review the Hunger Games trilogy, and then I'll move on to the Emily Giffin books I've picked up lately as well. I'm 12 books into my 2011 Reading Challenge... only 38 more to go! ;) 

SUMMARY

"Love" is a word that is not allowed to leave the lips of the citizens of the US in Lauren Oliver's Delirium. Love and desire are thought to be a disease, and every person in the country must go through the "procedure" in order to be "cured" from the illness. Girls & boys are separated and not allowed to socialize until they're cured, and schools are even segregated in order to prevent the spread of the disease throughout the community. In a world without heartbreak, without pain, and without worry, nothing could possibly go wrong.

All her life, Lena Holoway has looked forward to being cured. Ever since her mother committed suicide when she was infected with the deliria, she's been terrified that she is somehow genetically imbalanced and more likely to end up with the disease. The disease hits your heart first, and then slowly deteriorates the rest of your body as you fall deeper and deeper into the madness.

Lena is a normal teenage girl who hangs out with her best friend, Hana, and is constantly studying for her evaluations, in which she'll be paired with her future mate. She's counting down the days until her procedure, and then the worst thing possible (in her mind) happens... she falls in love. 

REVIEW 

Ironically, I felt so much love for this book that I'm genuinely distraught by the fact that I have to wait until February for the second book to be released.

This book was everything I wanted it to be - it was definitely young-adult material in terms of content, but it wasn't the whiny, emotional, love triangle/internal struggle type of YA reading, which was well received by me, for sure. 

The concept was unbelievable and Oliver obviously spent about a bajillion hours cultivating ideas to make it seem so real and possible... this world that drills into the minds (figuratively AND literally) of the people to make them afraid of love. They are so scared of catching the "disease" that will cause insanity. There are harsh punishments, including death, for those that stray from the strict rules of this society. Romeo & Juliet is a "cautionary tale" which teaches students a lesson... that to fall in love is to ultimately kill yourself. Any interaction with the opposite sex before you're cured could cause the contraction of the deliria and must be avoided at all costs.

All the characters were extremely well developed, and seemed more mature than the main characters of most YA fiction... Lena especially. Her relationships with the people around her were clear and well laid out - from her irritability with her snobby cousin Jenny, to her envy of her beautiful and seemingly perfect best friend Hana. And from her indifference towards her uncle, with whom she lives, to her undeniable curiosity and affection with Alex, the mysterious boy that she falls in love with.

One of the aspects that I loved about Delirium is the amount of actual activity going on. Of course, you have your beginning where you get all your background information, but most of the necessary filler information was spread throughout the book, which I really appreciated. I hate opening a book and having to struggle through the first few chapters to get a good grasp for the story. This book dove right into the action, and I loved every bit of it. There are a lot of major (and interesting, obviously) events that occur throughout the book, which made it incredibly easy to keep reading, and I found myself really battling to put the book down at night, causing me to stay up way past my bed time numerous evenings. 

Needless to say, I loved this book. It was an incredibly strong read, with exceptional characters and a well developed plot. Oh, and a giant surprise at the end. February 2012 cannot come soon enough!

Matched [book review]

SUMMARY

Cassia lives in a perfect, predestined world... The Society. Everything is figured out for her... what occupation she'll have, who she'll marry, how many kids she's allowed to have, etc. Traditionally, every girl is given a Match ceremony - where the government reveals who they'll spend the rest of their lives with. Luckily for Cassia, the face that appears on the screen is the face of her best friend. It's completely uncommon to be Matched with someone in your area, let alone someone you actually know. 

Cassia goes home to review the micro-card that contains all of her Match's information, although she knows everything there is to know about Xander... they've been best friends all their lives. Much to her surprise, Ky Markham's face pops up on the screen... another boy she knows. The Society claims that there's been a glitch in the system, and that Xander is still her match. She should be relieved, but instead... she's a little curious about Ky. 

Cassia becomes more and more intrigued with Ky Markham, and as they fall in love during the Society's regulated rec time, she's faced with an impossible choice: to love the boy she's known and loved all her life... the one that the government has shown to be her best Match for life, or to take a risk with Ky, the Aberration... the mysterious one with a story that has yet to unfold.

REVIEW

I gave this book 3 stars on Good Reads. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I just liked it. It only took me 6 days to complete it, but I think that was because I was just ready to be finished with it, as opposed to actually being 100% invested in the story.

Don't get me wrong, Ally Condie is a fabulous writer - the book was intriguing and descriptive and everything else that I love in a book. The reason I didn't give it a higher rating was due to the content. I just felt like it was a whole lot of emotions and not enough action going on. I felt that throughout the entire book, I was flipping pages just waiting for something big to happen. 

One thing I did love about this novel were the characters. I became very attached to them, although I did want to slap the shit out of Cassia on numerous occasions. In the beginning, I loved Xander, and I was angry that Cassia was even thinking of ditching him for Ky. But then through Ally's writing, I learned to love Ky as well, and I could definitely understand why it was such a struggle to make that choice. Character development is definitely one of Condie's strong points, that's for sure.

The second book of this series, entitled Crossed, is to be released later this year (Good Reads says November 1st). I'll probably pick it up, because I'm curious to see where the story goes.

I think that YA fiction readers will like this book, while people who are wanting a little more substance and action will probably not enjoy it as much. I'm definitely interested to see what happens in the next book, so I guess that's a plus on Condie's part!

19 Minutes [book review]

Summary

19 Minutes, written by Jodi Picoult, is a story about a devastating event that occurred in the small town of Sterling, New Hampshire. Sterling is much like most small towns, where everyone know each other and nothing exciting ever happens - until one fateful day when a shooting takes place at the local high school, shattering the lives of virtually the entire town. The shooter is arrested, and the story follows the progress of the trial, but also includes flashbacks to the past when life was simpler for the kids involved. 

The tale is told from the perspective of many different characters - from the judge prosecuting the young man, her daughter, the shooter, the police detective who investigates the incident, and many others. 19 Minutes examines the ins and outs of the trial proceeding as well as the varying emotions involved with such a tragic event. The inner workings of the mind belonging to the shooter (who was the victim of bullying his entire life) are also explored.  

Review

There's a reason for the phrase "you can't judge a book by it's cover." The cover of this book left much to be desired, if I'm being completely honest. I don't even remember how I heard about this book, but I bought it, and it sat on my bookshelf waiting to be read while I devoured fast reads such as The Help, The Hunger Games and Water For Elephants. In fact, I actually put this book down to read the entire Hunger Games trilogy and did not complete it until months after originally opening it.

With that said, I ended up really enjoying this book. At first, because it's told in so many different voices, it was difficult to get into, but as I got further into it, it was harder to put down. The struggle between the two main characters, Peter & Josie, is absolutely intriguing - they were friends at a young age, and due to the pressure to be popular, Josie inherited a new group of friends in high school, leaving Peter behind to suffer the daily torture of his classmates. 

The character interaction developed by Jodi Picoult in this novel pulled on my heartstrings, to say the least. I was immediately drawn to the multiple third person narrative aspect of 19 Minutes. Although I think it was choppy at times, she made it work. You could clearly identify each person's "part" in the book without needing subtitles above their sections.

The shooting happens literally within the first 25 pages of the book, which was a huge relief for me. I hate waiting for something exciting to take place, and the big event being in the beginning was a change of pace compared to books I usually read. The story develops through the chapters, and with each character, your opinions change. Each character had a distinguished personality, and the emotions they felt seeped through the pages. Because the story parallels the Columbine shootings, it was clear that Picoult did her research when channeling the devastation felt by the entire community.

To say this book was thought provoking would be an understatement. The text is raw, heartfelt, and sympathetic to everyone involved, including the family of the shooter. I would recommend it, if only for the fact of how it made me feel and think. The fact that it's something that could happen at any point in time to anyone you know makes it that much more believable.

The Help [book review]

I'm so thankful for folks that have such great taste in reading material, because without them, I never would have discovered The Help by Kathryn Stockett. While it took me longer than I expected to get through it, it was a fantastic read and I'm still in shock over the fact that this was her first book, for it was beautifully written.

Summary

The Help is historical fiction, set in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's, during a time when segregation between races was a fierce issue. The story is told by three distinct voices... all strong minded and compassionate women living in Jackson. 

Aibileen is a black maid working for a typical Southern white family and practically raising their children, while still suffering the pain from the loss of her own son. Miss Skeeter is a white college graduate who dreams of becoming a writer in New York City, but knows she won't get far living with her parents and restricting herself with writing weekly cleaning columns in the local paper. Minny is Aibileen's best friend, another maid who can't seem to hold a job due to her inability to filter her mouthy comments, even though she has multiple children and a drunk husband to care for. 

These three strong women, as different as they can be, come together when the question "what if things could change?" is presented. Together, they form a movement that will forever change their town.

Review

This book was absolutely wonderful. I quickly became extremely enamored with the characters, and their passion for the cause they're supporting is amazing and so inspiring. Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny risk their entire lives to change the opinions of everyone in their town, to start a movement, to make a difference. They want to change the way that women look at one another... they want women to remember that despite the difference in their skin tones, they are all mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. 

The Help was definitely a powerful, heartwarming, and inspiring read... the amount of love and compassion streaming from the characters allows you to love them, despite their obvious flaws. Each woman has their individual voice, which Stockett clearly researched in depth in order to make it so real. Stockett did a wonderful job portraying the everyday lives of the women in the book, from the black maid, to the rich white woman, to the mother of the single college graduate. It's clear that the writing of this book came from the heart and from personal experience, which makes it all the more respectable, in my opinion. 

To know how much the women living in Jackson went through during this time makes me feel extremely fortunate to have grown up in a later generation, but allows me to truly appreciate the actions of past characters to ensure our freedoms. I love every single one of the characters in this novel, and I would have been proud to be a part of their movement, to have made such a difference, to have stirred the pot so effectively.

A Scattered Life [book review]

SUMMARY

A Scattered Life, written by Karen McQuestion, tells the story of a woman named Skyla. Skyla is a former waitress turned housewife when she meets an older, but financially and emotionally stable man named Thomas Plinka. They meet, fall in love, yadda yadda yadda, get married, and have one child, Nora. 

One day, a new neighbor moves in a few houses down, and Skyla immediately forms a bond with Roxanne, who slightly resembles the woman in the shoe with too many children... and wanting more. While Roxanne's laid back parenting skills are less than par according to Thomas and his nosy mother-in-law, Skyla finds her antics unique and liberating. 

In order to gain a little more independence, Skyla takes a jack-of-all-trades job at a local bookstore, which also moonlights as a place for Madame to read fortunes during the day.

REVIEW

I found this book to be a little boring. The most interesting character in the book, in my opinion, is Roxanne, the neighbor. Of course, then there was the typical mother-in-law and daughter-in-law struggled relationship, which mirrored just about anything TV series with a know it all MIL. 

The whole theme of Skyla's self discovery was such a rip-off. She works in a book store, for gods sake. It's not like she went out for a girls weekend in Vegas. I don't know... maybe for some women, getting a part time job is a really big deal, but I was underwhelmed to say the least. 

There was some attempt at redemption near the end of the book, and while the character interactions and relationships between the three women (Skyla, Roxanne, and Audrey, the MIL) were definitely believable, they lacked depth. The story doesn't really pick up until the end, and by that time, I was over it. 

I really wanted to love this book. I'm all about women having independence from their family home lives, especially with such a control freak like Thomas for a husband. If I could sum up my feelings for this book in one word, it would be "meh." Nothing incredibly exciting happened... if anything, it was mostly sad and a little bleak even. 

I wouldn't say this book is terrible, but I wasn't impressed. I guess if you're looking for a feel good book about friendships and relationships, it might be a good read for you, but I like a little more action and suspense, personally.

*ALSO, I just created an account at Good Reads, so if you're a member and want to be friends, check out my book list in my sidebar and add me!

Water For Elephants [book review]

I know I'm late to the fun on this one, but I just finished reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, which came highly recommended to me from several friends and bloggers. I finished the entire book, cover to cover, in less than a week - started last Friday and finished it Tuesday evening (that's 5 days, people).

Summary

the story is told as a series of memories from a ninety (or ninety-three) year old Jacob Jankowski, who is remembering the most magical time of his life while he lives out his days in a nursing home.

taking place during the Great Depression, Water for Elephants is the story of a 20 something year old college student named Jacob. due to a sudden and tragic circumstance, he decides to leave his normal life behind to escape his reality. he hops a train one night and it just so happens to belong to a traveling circus.

once discovered as a veterinary student, the ringleader makes the decision to hire Jacob on as the menagerie's new doctor, which puts him in charge of the show's animals with their various illnesses, mostly due to neglect and mistreatment. his new boss, August, is the head trainer of the animals, and while he is often charming, he tends to be brutal and violent towards the animals, as well as his fellow circus crew. Jacob then meets Marlena, who is not only the star of the horse act, but also married to August. 

the novel takes it's twists and turns as Jacob falls in love with two of the show's biggest stars... Marlena, and Rosie, the bull elephant. the story tells the tale of a great love story, as they overcome great odds and survive during the gritty and depressing time period that is the 1930's, while traveling from town to endless town on the circus train.

Review

I can honestly say that this book is one of the best stories I've ever encountered. I was hooked from the first few pages, and I was continuously illuminated throughout the entire book. to say this book is a page turner would be quite the understatement, and I seriously don't even know that my words here will do this book the justice that it deserves. 

Gruen is such an amazingly brilliant writer. I was instantly impressed with the terms she used to describe the different classes of circus workers, and the lingo seemed to be right on from what I've read regarding the Big Top lifestyle. it's abundantly clear that she did her research. she really makes the time period and the setting come to life... you can just see the big canvased tent and the line of workers waiting for their breakfast on those hot summer days. 

the raw and abrasive misfit performers and surviving working men disgust you and warm your heart at the same time. it's easy to imagine that you're in the crowd when Rosie & Marlena perform their choreographed routine, just like you can see yourself in the menagerie tent when the animals are being brought in from their cabooses of the train. 

from the song the band plays when something goes wrong, to the set up and take down of the show, and the cooch tents and homemade moonshine during the prohibition period... everything is just so carefully explained in a matter that allows your imagination to see this distinct world through a clear looking glass.

the way the characters are described, along with their dialogue, is just... perfection. you get to know and love these people like you know them in real life... you know their personalities and you could probably even imagine what their voices sound like, and what they look like. 

 

the story is wonderfully written, and it certainly kept me on my toes during the whole five days it took me to read it. being an animal lover, this book was an excellent read, and one I will always recommend to people. 

ALSO, Robert Pattinson & Reese Witherspoon to star in the movie? don't miiiind if I do!


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*on another note, I have the day off work tomorrow and will probably not be near the computer. I plan on doing some things around the house (including putting my kitchen back together... finally!), having lunch with Kaley, and ringing in the new year with close friends. I hope you all have a wonderful, safe, and hilarious New Year's Eve! see you guys next year! ;)

Let Me In [book review]

I recently finished reading Let Me In (in which the 2010 movie was based), written by John Ajvide Lindqvist. the original title, Let The Right One In, was adapted into a Swedish movie in 2008. I was interested in watching the movie, and when I realized it was a book, I was thrilled to read it. 

Summary

Let Me In is the story of a young boy named Oskar, who lives in an apartment complex with his mother. he struggles with everyday life, being that not only is he completely friendless, but he is tortured by boys at school on a daily basis. when a new girl, Eli, moves in next door, Oskar is immediately drawn to her odd ways and her questioning nature, and they become friends quickly. 

Oskar soon start to realize that Eli is a little... strange... she doesn't leave her apartment during the day, and she walks around in the dead of winter wearing only a thin sweater. before long, he figures out what she is and all the while, there are murders happening in the area, which has everyone on edge. 

 

(source)

Review

this is not your typical vampire story, but it's not Twilight either. while it does focus on a younger character base, it contains numerous adult-like situations and language, which was a plus, in my opinion. there are a handful of terrifying, gory, and violent scenes that got my attention. and while there were definitely some creepy characters involved in the story, it wasn't scary enough for my tastes.

I found the characters, the settings, and even the plot to be sort of dreary and mundane. most of the characters were just so sad and lifeless, and I found myself wishing they were much interesting and animated. overall, I was a little bored, honestly. I knew I was disappointed in the book when it took me longer than 2 weeks to get through it. I wouldn't say the book was terrible... I did finish it, after all. it just wasn't my cup of tea, I guess.

I'll still probably see the movie, but I won't be expecting much. 

asparagus & mozzarella stuffed chicken breasts.

yes, a recipe. I know, it's weird for me too. but I posted about this recipe making it's way into our home back here, and I never updated you guys on how AWESOME it turned out.

Sean found the recipe at allrecipes.com, of course - it's right HERE. we fooled with it a little bit, adding a bit more mozzarella and asparagus to the filling, and also adding in grinded garlic pepper on the outside of the chicken breast. you'll see.

[Facts]:
-serves two people

-prep time 20 minutes

-cook time 25 minutes

-ready to eat in 45 minutes

[Ingredients]:

• (2) large boneless skinless chicken breasts
• (16) stalks of asparagus, with the ends trimmed 
• (1) cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
• (1/4) cup of Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• salt, pepper, and garlic pepper to taste

[Directions]:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish. (We used foil, but still sprayed with Pam).
  
• Place each chicken breast between two sheets of heavy plastic (resealable freezer bags work well - this is the method we used) on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound the chicken with the smooth side of a meat mallet to an even thickness of about 1/4 inch. Sprinkle each side with salt and pepper.  
• Place 8 spears of asparagus down the center of a chicken breast, and spread about 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese over the asparagus. Repeat with the other chicken breast, and roll the chicken around the asparagus and cheese to make a tidy, compact roll. Place the rolls seam sides down in the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle each with about 2 tablespoons of bread crumbs.This is also where we added the grinded garlic pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the juices run clear when pricked with a fork, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Our chicken actually took about 32 minutes to cook all the way through... just a heads up. It was a little thicker than the 1/4 inch thickness the recipe called for.

[Pictures]:

this is what it looked like before we baked it.

and after. it was delicious. we served this dish over a side of wild long grain rice, and it was perfect. the melty cheese with the crunchy asparagus made for the perfect difference in texture. the breadcrumbs with the garlic pepper made all the difference in the world for the flavor of the chicken.

 

and it even looks pretty when you cut it open!

it was a night of noms, indeed! let me know if you try this recipe out and if you make any changes to it.

reminder, crappy cell phone pictures, and a book review

hey sillies! I hope everyone had a fabulous Labor Day weekend! Mr. FoFandee and I had a date night Saturday, and it was wonderful to spend some alone time together. we spent the rest of our time off being extremely lazy, but I did manage to get in a good workout yesterday at the gym without my trainer. I was slightly surprised at how well I remembered each workout as it pertained to each muscle, and I'm pretty proud of myself.

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this is just a friendly little reminder that we gots an awesome fofawesome giveaway going on here at The Bear Naked Truth! you can click here to enter. it's simple - just follow my blog and leave a comment telling me you did. for a second entry, you can go to Vol25's Etsy Shop and tell me what your favorite print is. and for a THIRD entry, blog about it and let me know that you did in the comment section. told you - it's easy peasy!  

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and because you know I can't stand posts without pictures, here are some recent pictures from my cell phone. by the way, it's been almost a month since our beach vacation, and I STILL haven't uploaded pictures from my camera. I'm fucking worthless. 

[doggie isn't mine - he's my nephew, Diesel!] 

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oh, and also. 

I finished reading Undiscovered Gyrl by Allison Burnett last night. it was an excellent (and easy) read. 

here's an excerpt from the official website:

Beautiful, wild, funny, and lost, Katie Kampenfelt is taking a year off before college to find her passion. Ambitious in her own way, Katie intends to do more than just smoke weed with her boyfriend, Rory, and work at the bookstore. She plans to seduce Dan, a thirty-two-year-old film professor.

Katie chronicles her adventures in an anonymous blog, telling strangers her innermost desires, shames, and thrills. But when Dan stops taking her calls, when her alcoholic father suffers a terrible fall, and when she finds herself drawn into a dangerous new relationship, Katie’s fearless narrative begins to crack, and dark pieces of her past emerge.

Sexually frank, often heartbreaking, and bursting with devilish humor, Undiscovered Gyrl is an extraordinarily accomplished novel of identity, voyeurism, and deceit.

and now my review:

it's about a young, troubled girl who starts a blog to chronicle all the crazy shit that goes on in her life. while it's written in blog format, it still reads like a story and flows really nicely. I haven't been a teenager for quite some time, but I immediately related to Katie's confused and disturbing thoughts as she writes about her everyday life. 

she changes the name of everyone she comes into contact with, including herself, which allows her to openly blog about the sex, drugs, and violence that occurs in her life. her life is dangerous and sexy and definitely unsettled, and she continues to spiral downward as the story leads on. 

the ending was quite the surprise, and I still find myself wondering what exactly happened. I enjoyed the book thoroughly and would recommend it for an easy read.

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Happy Tuesday!

Day 04/30

Day 04/30 - your favorite book

man, these prompts just get harder and harder. it's hard for me to choose a favorite book. I've been reading a LOT lately and have had the pleasure of picking up fantastic novels. there is one book that always sticks out in my mind. I read it years ago, and to this day, I still consider it one of my all time favorites. 

Odd Thomas - Dean Koontz

I've always been more of a mystery/suspense reader and not so much a fan of love stories. but to my surprise, this book contained a little of both. 

Odd Thomas is the story of a young man living in the desert of a small town called Pico Mundo. he seems like an ordinary guy - he's a line cook at Pico Mundo Grill and he spends his time with his long time girlfriend, Stormy. the truth is that Odd is a little... well... odd. he has a gift (or maybe it's a curse) in which he can see and communicate with the souls of those who have passed on. not only that, but he can sense when danger is near, and he has used his skills in the past to help the local police chief solve minor crimes. 

a strange man arrives in his home town, and immediately, Odd senses that the man is destined to do horrible things to his city. he's dreamed about this day for years. he doesn't know much, just that a lot of people may die if he doesn't stop him. throughout the book, he tries to learn more, while still attempting to cover up his premonitions from those around him. his concern for others far outweighs his concerns for himself, and he puts his life at risk trying to save the town from tragedy.

obviously, I'm not going to give the book away and spoil the plot. I highly suggest that anyone who is a fan of mystery and suspense novels pick this book up and read it. Dean Koontz is such an amazing writer, and he really got it right with Odd Thomas. he delivers much of what I like in a book... horror, suspense, a little violence, and just the right amount of weird. this book illustrates exactly why Dean Koontz is such a successful author. 

also, Koontz took it bit farther and wrote a few sequels to follow Odd Thomas. Forever Odd, Brother Odd, and Odd Hours are those sequels. while I enjoyed reading all of them, if not to learn just a little more about Odd himself, they don't hold a candle to the first book.

if you wanna take a peek at the entire 30 Day Challenge, check it out here! 

Happy Thursday!

Sephora order = product reviews!

yeah, yeah, yeah... I know this isn't a beauty or fashion blog, but believe it or not, I have a big passion for makeup and beauty products that work the way they were intended to.

DISCLAIMER: I want to preface this post by saying that I am in no way affiliated with these brands, nor was I compensated whatsoever for reviewing them. I was honestly just SO impressed with them, that I felt it necessary to publish my good finds! so I did a little online shopping at Sephora the other day, and instead of ordering my normal items, I found some things that I've never used and thought I'd give them a shot.

just a warning - these reviews will most likely end up being more long winded than I expected. ya'll know I have a lot of opinions, and they tend to be pretty lengthy when they're positive ones. :)



1. Hoola Bronzer by Benefit

this isn't a new product for me, but it's been a constant in my daily routine, and it's never failed me, so I thought I'd share for you guys.




I don't wear foundation or anything liquid on my face (that's what sheeeee said), but I like to have a little color, especially when I haven't been outdoors or to a tanning salon (horrible, I know). the thing I like about Hoola is that it doesn't feel like I have a bunch of crap on my face, and with my bronzer brush, I can control the amount that I use, so that it looks natural, and not like I've caked on a powder bronzer. I've always had good results from Benefit products, but Hoola is my absolutely must have.


2. Jet Set Waterproof Eyeliner by Smashbox

now I'm totally old school when it comes to eyeliner, meaning that I strictly use the old Cover Girl pencil eyeliner, with the little smudging tool on the end... the kind you have to sharpen with an actual sharpener.




obviously, this purchase was a big step for me, and I'm so glad I took the plunge. the liner goes on so smooth and clean, and with this brush (that I also bought in the same transaction), it makes it SO much easier than I thought it would be to apply this liner. the best thing about it, is that it doesn't smudge or smear, even if you accidentally rub your eye, which I tend to do pretty often. I bought it in jet black, since that's typically what I wear. I've worn it for 3 days in a row, and I absolutely love it. no more dull pencils for this girl!


3. Just Release Me Makeup Remover by Philosophy


I've always had a problem finding a makeup remover that doesn't make me feel like my skin has been stripped of all it's natural oils. most makeup removing products make my skin burn, and don't really work well for the amount of eye makeup I wear on the weekends (I like I go dark with my eyeshadow and mascara).

I've heard great things about Philosophy brand skincare, and even though I have a skincare regiment that works great for me I thought I'd give the makeup remover a try. I love this shit. not only does it work WONDERFULLY, but it feels great on my skin as well. I love that all I have to do is dab a little of the product onto a cotton pad, rub it gently over my eyes, and ALL the makeup is gone... it doesn't leave eyeliner streaks or mascara dots under my eyes either. it feels good enough on my skin that I don't feel bad washing my face after removing my eye makeup, and it doesn't irritate my eyes at all. it's an overall great product for those of us who like hooker makeup on the weekends!

I also bought. BADgal Lash Mascara by Benefit (which is a staple in my makeup bag), Rocker Eye Shadow set by Bare Escentuals, Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler by Tarte, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion by Clinique, and I got a free sample of Sephora Brand Smoothing Primer with my purchase. I'll make sure to do a write-up on these items once I give them a try... minus the mascara, because I already know it's fucking awesome and it loves my lashes.

not a typical TBNT post, but hopefully still helpful for some of my readers out there! I'm no beauty expert, but I know what works for me, and I loved being pleasantly surprised by good purchases! I also signed up for the whole Sephora Beauty Insider jazz, so I'm sure with the deals I get, I'll have more products to buy and try!