5 Things: End of the Week Favorites #3

Hello Fair Ones!
    Oooh new intros are fun. So anyway, this is the 3rd installment of my weekly favorites and I gotta say, this week it was a slight challenge. I didn't really have too many things stand out to me super strongly, but I was impressed with a couple new things I've been trying. Or maybe the cause of my lackluster attitude is from working 22 hours the past couple days. This wouldn't be that bad if I had gotten some sleep, however I got 4hrs on Wednesday, 3 1/2 on Thursday, and finally managed to get around 5 1/2 hours of sleep last night. Needless to say, I've been devouring coffee.

   Speaking of coffee, that leads me to my first favorite of the week. So when I lived in New York during middle school, Tim Hortons' was the place get your coffee from. Not Starbucks (although there were a lot of those around too), not Dunkin ( wish I were running off of that right now), but Tim Hortons. You may have not heard of it, I didn't until I lived a in North Eastern state. But this week, given my utter lack of sleep and energy, while trying to manage college algebra, I found myself brewing a cup of one of the most delicious smelling coffees, EVER! Tim Hortons' French Vanilla is a new staple of mine and since I got mine at a discounted rate, it makes me love it even more. It's a medium Arabian roast that has such an amazing fragrance and taste very delicious. I've found my new favorite coffee blend.

    Along with my new coffee find, I've also found a foundation that is, surprisingly, amazing. I speak of the Maybelline Better Skin Foundation. And while it is a newer product for me, I really like. I've been wearing it to work for the past week. Work involves lots of sun and sweat and water and dirt, but this foundation has yet to budge on me throughout the day. I really like how it feels on my skin because it doesn't weigh it down and provides a really nice coverage. I'm a big fan and I definitely want to try out the concealer now, in hopes that it is just as amazing. I have combination skin so anything that doesn't feel heavy on my T-zone and still feels moisturizing for my cheeks, is a winner.

    Also throughout the week, I've been using the Freeman's Feeling Beautiful Purifying Acia Clay Mask which claims to neutralize damage caused by the environment while drawing out impurities and clean out clogged pores. I love this mask. It does a really nice job of clearing up my temperamental skin. It's kept me pretty clear this past week and making me feel more confident in my face sans makeup. It dries really nicely and once rinsed off leaves the skin feeling very soft.

    On a non beauty related subject, I wanted to talk to you all about a struggle of mine. Being a runner my hips have a tendency to be tight. Maybe tight is an understatement. That being said I'm always on the lookout for stretches that make me feel happy. Enter BrettLarkinYoga's Stretches for Hip Pain. This really gets deep into my hips and make me feel like a million dollars afterwards, or at least I feel like my hips aren't in a rebellion.

   Lastly, is yet another song. I really have been jamming out to my country playlist on Spotify this week and one of the many songs that I've been listening to, is Peter Pan by Kelsea Ballerini. This girl can seriously do no wrong in my books. Her voice is sweet and the twang is super pretty with the strong guitars throughout the song with a really nice beat. The song is really beautiful as well and kinda speaks to me right now. I'm loving it and I definitely recommend it if you enjoy sweet sounding country.
    I hope you all had an amazing week and I'll talk to you soon! If you enjoyed this post, tell me in the comments. I love you all so much!
Grace

GRWM: Everyday Summer Makeup Routine

Buy and Try #1: Drugstore Beauty

Hello Everyone!
    Wow I'm just totally feeling the need to start a million and one new series. I purchase a pretty good amount of things throughout my days and I thought instead of calling my hauls, well, hauls, that I would put my own twist on it with the series "Buy and Try". Number 1: it rhythms and Number 2: I'm not creative enough to come up with a different name. So whenever I buy something new spread out across, let's say, a week, I'll share the items with you at some point in time or another.
    Today I went to one of my favorite places in the entire shopping world: Target. And of course in classic white girl status, I proceeded to get my Starbucks ( grande iced non-fat latte with a packet of Sugar in the Raw) and parooze the aisle scouring for new goodies. Also I had a list in my mind of things that I have on my summer buying wishlist that I knew I could pick up, and so I did. While there was definitely an impulse purchase, I can honestly say, I regret nothing. So let's jump into what I got myself.

     First off a picked up yet another tube of the St. Ives Green Tea Scrub. I've used St. Ives scrubs periodically throughout my skincare experience and have yet to have any complaints, and seeings how I don't always want to make my own face scrub, I grabbed it up. This product claims to unclog dirt and oil from pores, helping clear blackheads and calm redness. It has a really nice and gentle texture and smells like matcha tea. I'm excited to use this product again and hopefully I like as much as I previously have.

    I've only ever tried one Maybelline foundation, and it was the Dream Matte Mousse  when I first started wearing makeup. I don't remember too much about it, except that it made me look a little orange and cakey. But I'm on the hunt for the perfect summer foundation and I watched Saaammage do a first impressions video on the Maybelline Better Skin foundation, so I wanted to give it a shot. I got shade 25 Nude Beige, seeings how my face is paler than the rest of my body and I want it to look even. This product is supposed to provide all day color wear with Actyl C which is known for it's antioxidant benefits. So I'm interested to see what happens.

    Physicians Formula is my go to brand for mineral powders, and I've been wanting to try their other products, so I grabbed their Organic Wear BB Mascara. The BB stands for bigger better lashes. This product supposedly has a Coconut Cocktail infusion of coconut water, pea peptide and a refreshing coconut scent that naturally boosts lashes and can expand hair diameter by increasing hydration, supporting lash length and boosting lash luster. Basically, it claims to volumize, lengthen, thicken, define, lift, build, prime, sculpt, condition, and nourish the eye lashes. I'm very, very curious to see if it lives up to the hype it has created for itself.

    Lastly is my impulse purchase. I was finally leaving the beauty section when out of the corner of my eye, I spyed a pale pink and shimmery nail polish. Sally Hansen has created a new line called Pearl Crush which is have a unique combination of special effect pigmentation that interact with layers of large glitter particles. The result is supposed to be a a one of a kind iridescent reflection inspired by the mother of pearl for an intense, unpredictable radiant glow. I picked up the shade She Sells which is a light ballerina pink. I'm painting this one my nails tonight!

    That's it for my first Buy and Try! I hope you all enjoy this new series and tell me in the comments anything you'd like to see in the future: I'm always open to new ideas! As always, I love y'all so much, and I will talk to you *fingers crossed* on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest.
Grace

5 Things: End of the Week Favorites #2

Hello Everyone!
     Another week of Summer bites the dust, and along with the weekend, comes a favorites of the week post! This past week I went on a short trip to Michigan with my mom and enjoyed a wonderful couple of days with my Aunt and little cousins. Needless to say, not a lot of sleep was had ;) But in light of that, I'm a little late getting to this post, seeings how yesterday when I was supposed to upload this post I drove home from MI, went to a baby shower, hopped on over to a grad party, drove an hour to get home, shower off the mud and bug spray, and didn't see the comfort of my bed until 11 pm. But I'm here now, mostly rested, and ready to share my favorites with you! Let's jump on in.

    On my nails over the past week, I've been wearing a magical combination. Sinful Colors does such a nice nail polish and at $2 a pop, you really can't go wrong. I did about 3 coats of the shade "Let Me Go" which is a seriously gorgeous light and iridescent purple that had a multi-chrome of blue-green and teeny tiny, microscopic blue shimmers. It goes on pretty thin, but the effect is absolutely gorgeous! And to finish everything off, I did a finishing coat of "Charmed" which a silver nail polish with tiny pink multi-shimmers. The nails stayed on for a good 5 days without any topcoat without chipping in the slightest bit, and were so magical looking that I've started calling it unicorn nails. I'm more than just a little bit obsessed with this combination, mainly because depending on the angle and lighting, it can look several different ways. Think fairies, princesses, and magic that pictures can't do justice lol.

     Being an avid runner has so many benefits. Not only does it tone up your body and help you shed off excess pounds, but it gives off the best endorphins ever! I have a goal of running 5 miles straight by the end of the summer without feeling too much pain, so I've been running 4-5 times a week. My parents house is surrounded by hills so my legs have become a lot stronger. With that new added strength though, comes a lot of sore muscles. Enter the Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint Body Lotion. Now before you go too crazy on me about using a winter inspired product in the summer, lemme just tell ya: This lotion gives off the best and most soothing cooling sensation on the skin. I love applying it after my shower to my legs and let the peppermint oil do it's thing. Peppermint is a natural soothing herb and it is great for sore muscles, so it has been great for my legs. And yes, I do smell like a candy cane.

    During the week, I began using the Purminerals Hot Rocks which is my latest addiction for my cheeks. This powder gives off a gorgeous and subtle warm toned pink. It's perfect for everyday wear and gives the skin some crazy glow in a very natural way. I've been liking to apply it with a powder brush after my bronzer and it gives me perfect glowing skin for the warmer months, giving me an ultra beach babe vibe.

    As I mentioned above, I spent half of the week up in Michigan visiting family. And while I love my little cousins to pieces because lets face it, they are just so frickin' cute, they wake up very early. And by very early, I'm talking like 5:45 am. Now me, being the night owl that I am, stayed up each night til about 1:00-1:30 ish, leaving me completely dependant on my Jesus juice (aka Coffee) and the ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Glow. This powder and cream had a baby hybrid eyeshadow is the perfect inner corner brightener, giving me an instant wide awake look. Glow is a luminescent matte vanilla shadow that is a perfect way to give you a subtle and natural looking 8 1/2 hours of sleep.

    Lastly, is a song I haven't been able to get out of my head all week. Love Like This (Acoustic) by Kodaline* is a chill and laid back version of their ever popular song. It's mellow and gives you a slightly melancholy feelings, as opposed to the upbeat version. It puts me in a place that makes me super creative, and gives me the feels. Seriously, give it a listen. It has a strong piano lead, and soft acoustic guitar in the background that encompass beautiful and strong lead vocals and accentuate the soft harmonies. Basically, I've been singing this song all week.

    So that's it folks! I hope that you enjoyed the second edition of my End of the Week Favorites. I really enjoy doing these, because I'm super indecisive and my style and tastes change so much, that it's almost impossible to remember everything I loved if I just did a monthly favorites. What product have you been crazy about this week? Tell me in the comments! Love y'all so much!
Grace

*You can find it easiest on Spotify

ColourPop Haul and First Impressions

    Hi Everyone!
    So about a week ago, I decided to check out the brand ColourPop, which has been raved about on social media platforms. I ordered three things and I wanted to share them with you, as well as my first impressions. Before I start though, I do want to tell you about their customer service and shipping. I really appreciated that they kept me up to date with when my order was confirmed, shipped, and the ETA. Also it shipped really fast to me and I received my package within a week of placing my order.
But, now onto the products!

     The first thing that I wanted to check out was the Where The Light Is eyeshadow set by Kathleen Lights, who has become one of my favorite YouTubers. This set comes with 4 gorgeous and warm toned shades. Let me just tell you right now, the texture is so cool! It's like a cream eyeshadow and a powder had a baby that has super good staying power and pigmentation. I really like the texture of these and I'm super excited to try them out some more! $20.00 set
Colors:
Glow- Creamy vanilla with a matte finish
Cornelious- Mid-tone warm caramel with a matte finish
Kathleenlights- Bright golden copper with a pearlized finish.
Blaze- Coco bronze sprinkled with multi-dimensional glitter with a metallic finish.

    The two Lippie Stix's that I got are both collab colors. Frida is apart of the Coffee Break with Dani collab, and Lumiere is apart of Kathleen Lights collection. Both are very creamy and have nice finishes. I haven't had the chance to wear them on my lips yet, but they claim to feel comfortable to wear. $5.00 each
Colors:
Lumiere- A dusty mauve pink in a matte finish.
Frida- A warm mid-tone nude pink with a satin finish.

    That's all folks! I plan on getting more products from ColourPop in the future, and be on the look out for reviews on these products. What is your favorite ColourPop product? Tell me in the comments below! As always I hope you enjoyed this post, and I'll see you all next time! Love ya'll,
Grace

My Workout Routine: Running, Blogilates, Yoga + More!

Hi Everyone!
    In the past I've done a few health and fitness posts, and I want to get back into the habit. Currently I work out roughly 5-6 times a week. For me, I think it's a good amount. My exercise experience has been cultivated over my entire junior high and high school career, and I've learned a fair share about working out in a healthy way. Being a young teen age girl, on all social media platforms, I find myself bombarded with "ideal" bodies and it can be quite easy to begin comparing yourself to them. PLEASE! Don't. The only thing that you should be working towards, is a healthy you, whether that's smaller or more muscular or anywhere in between. The way I like to look at it is that working out is adding to my life; it is not the main focus. I'd much rather be kind and work on my relationships, then to spend all my time focusing on the outward appearance of my body.
    During my younger years, I participated in gymnastics which cultivated a want for highly physical exercises, and once I started high school, I needed to refocus. Working out wasn't fun for me. I felt pressured to look a certain way; follow in the ideal body type trends whether it was thigh gaps or flat abs. The thoughts of standards kept me from being able to enjoy and embrace the hard work my body was putting in for me. I hit my sophomore year and decided to change that. After years of feeling forced to workout to be valued, I found a routine that not only makes me feel happy, but fits in nicely with my lifestyle.
    While 5-6 days works for me and makes me feel the best throughout the week, you might need more or less. You really just have to listen to what your body is telling you. If it's telling you it can do more, do more; if you believe it's telling you to slow down, by all means slllllloooooowwwwww ddddoooooowwwwn. Find what works for you and makes YOU feel happy to be alive.
     That being said, what works for me might not work for you, but I encourage you to give it a go! And there is still a lot I'm learning, but that's one of the bonuses of fitness, is that it is a constant learning experience that will really humble you along the way. Please remember to have fun as well! Working out shouldn't be a chore, so don't just make it an item on a to do list to check off for the day.
    So what is this routine that I've been babbling about?

1. Pilates
     If you haven't heard about pilates, it is  system of exercise that uses your own body weight against yourself. I find that it's super effective in sculpting muscles and overall toning. My favorite way to do pilates, is through Blogilates. Blogilates is a pilates community started by upbeat and bubbly Cassey Ho, who is a professional pilates instructor. She has amazing videos on YouTube that are as much fun as they are challenging. I like to use her app which you can get for either Android or Apple. The app itself is free, but for the monthly workout calendar, it's 99 cents, which is definitely worth every penny. There is also a beginners version for those newer to the practice as well.

2. Running
    Okay. I know that running can kinda suck. But I have a deep love for this form of cardio, because I've been running with my oldest sister since I was 10. Over the course of the years, I've ran here and there, but my love really expanded when I did cross country last year. It really taught me how to push myself to a point I didn't think I'd be able to get too. Now I try to run 3-4 days a week outside. During the winter months I ran on a treadmill, but since moving down to mid Ohio with my parents, I've taken it upon myself to run the horrendous hills that surround me. My goal is to get up to 5 miles by the end of the summer, and I have a whole schedule for it, if you'd like to join me in this challenge (tell me in the comments). What helps motivate me is finding an awesome playlist that empowers me and motivates me to not give up. One of the apps I'm currently liking is the RockyMyRun app which is free professional mixes. They have a ton of different genres including, country, pop, reggae, rock, hip hop, and soooo much more! Another thing that gets me going, is the Charity Miles app. For each mile you run, 25 cents is donated to a charity of your choice. So not only are you changing you, but the world around you.

3. Yoga/ Stretching
    It super important to stretch after your workout, and while I've been kind sucking at it lately, I'm determined to get back in the flow of my yoga practice. Some of my favorite ways to stretch out with yoga is through Plumtv and Yoga With Adriene. I love the Plumtv instructors because they have a few great routines that totally open up your body and challenge you. But Yoga With Adriene is my favorite. Adriene has an awesome personality and she really allows you to explore what feels good for your body in her videos, which makes it a lot more enjoyable. I try to stretch out everyday if I remember to.

4. Don't forget a clean diet!
    I know, the word diet causes shudders. There are literally millions out there that claim ridiculous things, so do yourself a favor and remember that clean eating is not a quick fix diet with empty promises and effects that only last for a month; it is a lifestyle. If you want to know more about clean eating, I did a post awhile back, which you can click here to check out. And while I directed the post towards teens, the advice goes for everyone at any age.

    So there it is! I love my routine right now because it doesn't require me to go to the gym and pay a ton for monthly subscriptions. I hope that my routine inspires you to find one of your own, and remember to be happy about your workout. Don't rag on yourself during your workouts, instead think about all that you are doing and accomplishing. As always leave any of your questions and comments in the down bar and I'll get back to it as soon as I can. Love you all so much!
Grace

Lilly Collins Inspired Makeup Tutorial

5 Things: End of the Week Favorites #1

Hi Everyone!
      Today I'm starting  new end of the week series! Each week I'm going to share with you 5 things that I've been loving throughout the week. I figured I would do this on my blog and at the end of the month, I'd do a favorites video on my YouTube. So let's begin!
    This past week was pretty relaxed and chill. I'm still doing some math courses for school, but besides from that, I've had a pretty free schedule. Besides working only one day this week, I had a pretty uneventful week.
    But I got to try out some new brushes that I recently purchased. One of them being the Real Technique's Expert Face Brush, which is so amazing! It does a fantastic job of blending in my liquid products. It gives a very natural finish and doesn't leave any streaks on my face. It also helps to provide more coverage when you do stippling motions. This brush is made specifically for cream and liquids and works perfectly with my BB creams. It's made with ultra plush, synthetic brushes which are hand cut and completely cruelty free.

    Another brush I've been trying out is the BH Cosmetics Flat Blending Brush which has been amazing to apply and blend out crease colors. It's super soft and gives shadows a really nice soft, almost stained on look, which I think is perfect for the warmer months.

     I've been trying to use my eyeshadow palettes lately, and I've been attempting to use more of the Tarte Golden Days and Sultry Nights palette which has 5 gorgeous colors, 3 of which I've been using a ton this week. Whenever I've had anywhere to go, I pop the light matte brown into my crease, the matte cream onto my inner corners, and go around my eyes with the gorgeous warm toned shimmery brown. It creates such a nice, soft, and sultry look to the eyes. Another added bonus is that it takes literally only a few minutes and lasts forever, even without primer underneath. I've very impressed with these shadows, and they just might become summertime essentials.

    I've been wearing Essie's Blossom Dandy which is a gorgeous mint creme hydrangea that could easiest be described as an eye catching light blue with a hint of spring mint green. I picked up this shade at Target before I went on vacation earlier in the month of May and have been wearing it ever since. Not only is it drop dead gorgeous, but also for all of my tan ladies out there, this nail polish is boss at accentuating your new bronzed look, I know I've been loving it for that reason. The formula is very nice and has a medium thickness that is uber easy to apply.

    Lastly is something I've had ever since I ombred my hair last year. Garnier Fructis Marvelous Oil Color Illuminate Elixir has become a staple in my hair care routine. It helps combat frizz and helps my hair from drying out in the crazy heat and humidity that comes with Ohio summers. It also helps my hair dry faster and leaves it soft and silky with moringa and sweet orange oil. I've always had really good experiences with Garnier hair care treatment type products and this one is definitely no exception for colored hair.

    What products do you like this week? What was your past week like? Tell me in the comments! As always I hope you all enjoyed this post. I will see you soon and don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin to keep up with all my posts! Love you all,
Grace

Song Favorite of the Week:
Crash and Burn- Thomas Rhett

Summer Reading List 2015

Hello!
    So I've never done anything like this before, but I thought that it would be fun. With the school year ended and another year crossed off my high school days, I finally have more time to read non school books. I love a good story, whether it's Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Contemporary, or Distopian, and so I decided to share with you the books on my TBR list over the summer.

1. Undertow by Michael Buckley

     Sixteen-year-old Lyric Walker’s life is forever changed when she witnesses the arrival of 30,000 Alpha, a five-nation race of ocean-dwelling warriors, on her beach in Coney Island. The world’s initial wonder and awe over the Alpha quickly turns ugly and paranoid and violent, and Lyric’s small town transforms into a military zone with humans on one side and Alpha on the other. When Lyric is recruited to help the crown prince, a boy named Fathom, assimilate, she begins to fall for him. But their love is a dangerous one, and there are forces on both sides working to keep them apart. Only, what if the Alpha are not actually the enemy? What if they are in fact humanity’s only hope of survival? Because the real enemy is coming. And it’s more terrifying than anything the world has ever seen.

Action, suspense, and romance whirlpool dangerously in this cinematic saga, a blend of District 9 and The Outsiders 
(from Goodreads.com)

2. Wandering Wild by Jessica Taylor

    Raised by Wanderers, sixteen-year-old Tal travels the roads of the southern wild in her Chevy by day and camps in her tent trailer at night. Hustling, conning, and grifting her way into just enough cash to save her fifteen-year-old brother, Wen, from bare-knuckle fighting was once enough to keep her dreams of traveling the whole world at bay. Everything changes when the Wanderers set up camp in a little town called Cedar Falls.

There, Spencer Sway, a boy Tal tried to hustle at a game of billiards, keeps popping up into her life—and worst of all—into her scams. Buttoned-up, starched-and-ironed Spencer talks of places where Tal’s truck can’t take her. His promises of traveling across oceans are almost enough to shatter her love of the Wanderer life.

When a boy shows up at camp, ready to make good on a nearly-forgotten arranged marriage to Tal, Tal and Wen make a pact: No matter the cost, they will use their limitless skills of grift to earn the bride price and buy back her future—even if Spencer Sway gets used along the way.

(from Goodreads.com)

3. Illusionarium by Heather Dixon

    What if the world holds more dangers—and more wonders—than we have ever known? And what if there is more than one world? From Heather Dixon, author of the acclaimed Entwined, comes a brilliantly conceived adventure that sweeps us from the inner workings of our souls to the far reaches of our imaginations.
     Jonathan is perfectly ordinary. But then—as every good adventure begins—the king swoops into port, and Jonathan and his father are enlisted to find the cure to a deadly plague. Jonathan discovers that he's a prodigy at working with a new chemical called fantillium, which creates shared hallucinations—or illusions. And just like that, Jonathan is knocked off his path. Through richly developed parallel worlds, vivid action, a healthy dose of humor, and gorgeous writing, Heather Dixon spins a story that calls to mind The Night Circus and Pixar movies, but is wholly its own.

(from Goodreads.com)

4. The Aqua Secret by L.L. Hunter

    The year is 2042 and the world has been consumed by water.

    Those who survived the great floods of 2012 clung to the debris of the Old World from which they rebuilt their lives. 
    Pym Maddox thought life was good living on the floating city called Aqua. Harboring secret feelings for her best friend, the smoldering Rush Rodgers, was the least of her problems. Rush is the son of her father’s second in command, a boy whom her father approved of – or so she thought. After her people are moved onto her father’s navy vessel, a motion which is only the start of the torrent of secrets that begin to unravel. Pym’s search for answers lead her and Rush to a secret underwater lab that just might hold the answers to everything.
     Pym soon discovers that the world she grew up in is not what it seems, and her father may hold the key to unlocking the biggest secret of all – the reason Pym and Rush have a mysterious connection to the water.
     Secrets and water have one thing in common: they get distorted on the surface.

(from Goodreads.com)

5. Entwined by Heather Dixon

    Just when Azalea should feel that everything is before her—beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing—it's taken away. All of it. And Azalea is trapped. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. So he extends an invitation.

    Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

(from Goodreads.com)

6. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

    

    Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

    Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.
     As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

(from Goodreads.com)

7. The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas

    When Rose’s mom dies, she leaves behind a brown paper bag labeled Rose’s Survival Kit. Inside the bag, Rose finds an iPod, with a to-be-determined playlist; a picture of peonies, for growing; a crystal heart, for loving; a paper star, for making a wish; and a paper kite, for letting go.

    As Rose ponders the meaning of each item, she finds herself returning again and again to an unexpected source of comfort. Will is her family’s gardener, the school hockey star, and the only person who really understands what she’s going through. Can loss lead to love?

(from Goodreads.com)

8. Puddle Jumping by Amber L. Johnson

    When it comes to love there’s no such thing as conventional. 

     Everyone thinks Colton Neely is special. 
     Lilly Evans just thinks he’s fascinating. 
     Once friends when they were younger, their bond is cut short due to her accident prone nature and they go their separate ways. Years later, they meet again and Lilly learns that there is something special about the boy she once knew, but she has no idea what it all means. And she’s not sure if she’s ready to find out. 
    When he walks through the corridor of her school the first day of her senior year, she knows that it’s time to get to know the real Colton Neely. The more she learns, the deeper she falls. 
    Their friendship grows into love, even as Colton does not express it in words. But one decision threatens to break down the world that Lilly has tried so hard to integrate into and she must figure out if the relationship can survive if they are apart.

(from Goodreads.com)

9. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

    "A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

     It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."
     From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.
     Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.
     Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

(from Goodreads.com)

    So that's it! There really isn't an order tht I'm going to read these in, although I do have Crown of Midnight out from the library right now, so I'll probably be reading that first as soon as I finish Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini. I think my goal is to read at least 3 books a month, since I have a lot of time on my hands during the summer months. What's on your TBR list for the summer? Tell me in the comments below. Love you all so much!

Grace

Beauty Box 5 Review: May SOS Box

Hi Everyone!
    The past couple months I've been wanting to try out some subscription services. I had gotten a Beauty Box Five a few years ago because I was interested in the natural products that this box carries in it. So last month I decided to try it out again. While the products are good quality, the selection isn't my favorite, so I've cancelled my subscription to them and switched to Ipsy. But today I wanted to share the products that came in the May SOS box.

     The theme of his box is Super Outstanding Skin, which I thought meant that I was going to get a lot of skincare products. Not so much. A strange thing is that I like the non skincare items in this box 10x more then the skincare products.

1. Bio Swiss Mini Tweezer
     I can't complain too much about this because these tweezers are very good quality and I've been using them since receiving this box. They do a good job of removing even those super tiny and annoying strays from my eyebrows.

2. Dermalogica Active Moist
     This lotion is supposed to help with oily skin and help combat slick skin throughout the day with a lightweight formula. I've used this once since receiving my box and have to say that I didn't notice anything too special about this besides a good moisturizer for combination skin, but definitely not worth $60.

3. Ahava 3 Piece Skincare Sample
    Out of this set, I've tried the hand cream, which I thought had a nice thick texture, but had a grandma perfume scent to it. I am looking forward to the other products in this kit though since I've been meaning to try Ahava for awhile now.

4. Styli-Style Glide-On Blush Stick in Pretty Pink
    This blush has a good creamy formula and decent pigmented pink with silver shimmers in it. While I have yet to use it on my cheeks, I've swatched it and thought it looked very wearable and good for everyday use.

5. BH Cosmetics Eye Shadow Brush
    I really like this brush. I've been using it a lot since receiving it. It sweeps eye shadows nicely on the lids for a soft finish, which I've been loving for the summer months. I also love the feeling of new makeup brushes, and this one is definitely no exception!

Overall: While this box is not my absolute favorite in the world, I do like some of the things that I received. I'd have to give this a 4/5 because while I'm not too impressed with the things chosen for me skincare wise, I love the beauty items that came in this box. But sadly, nothing about this subscription service has ever given me that "wow" factor. Finger's crossed that I enjoy Ipsy better.

     Thank you all so much for joining me today and as always I hope that you enjoyed this post. If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions, leave them for me in the comment section and I'll get back to you ASAP. Love you all so much!
Grace

Spring Beauty Favorites 2015