Another Long Weekend

Hello friends! Welcome to Monday (ok Tuesday) and the VERY LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!!! That’s right summer vacation is four days away and I am so ready.

I have no idea what was the matter with me these last two weeks.  Literally every time I sat down at my computer (which was probably all of two times) I just couldn’t get my fingers to type anything out.

But c’est la vie.  I’m back and have a library chalk full of posts ready to go for the next two weeks.  Woo HOO!

I wish I could say I had a thrilling Memorial Day weekend but that just wasn’t the case.  It was a very laid back and uneventful four day weekend around these parts.  Here we’re the few highlights:

– I FINALLY made some semblance of progress on my couch.  If your new around these parts or have forgotten I am refurbishing a vintage couch my roommate found in front of a neighbors house.  By progress I mean I completely stripped the couch of it’s old fabric and have it ready to start putting new fabric on it.  I’m really hoping this project is not gonna cost as much as just buying a brand new couch.  I think I’ll end up saving at least $200.  But I have a post coming up this week with more details.

– Treated myself to sushi.  It’s seriously my favorite.

-Enjoyed the Disney Channel original movie marathon that was on this weekend.  I watched some of the movies I grew up watching: Brink, Rip Girls, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (my fav), and Motocrossed.

– Bought a few more essentials for the apartment.  I’m tell y’all I have nothing.  I actually need to make a list of everything I need so I don’t accidentally re-buy something.

And that friends is pretty much it.  See told you.  About as uneventful as you get.

Last weekend on the other hand was amazing!  My friend Molly got married in St. Pete Beach AND I went to Disney World.  Doesn’t get much better than that.  The wedding was on Friday and we spent Saturday and Sunday romping around my personal happy place.  It was perfect.  I got to see so many of my Florida friends!  Plus the weather was perfection and our Sunday spent at Epcot was pretty darn magical.  Since I’m lame and didn’t take any pictures from this weekend…here are some from last!

My dress is from this amazing online clothing boutique called The Well Clothing Boutique.  It got so many compliments on it and it fit perfectly.  I will def be ordering from the again and wearing orders dress every chance I get.  Check them out by clicking here. 🙂

See much more exciting.  Well that’s a wrap for me today friends.  Off to tackle the LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL.  Sorry, I’m just that excited for the year to end.  It’s been a doozy that’s for sure.

Have a great Tuesday! Linking up with Biana!

6 Books On My Bookshelf

Last week Biana from B Loved Boston did a post sharing the books she’s planning to read this summer.   I thought it was such a fun idea!  Especially considering that I always do reviews of books I’ve read, as opposed to just sharing the ones I’ve chosen to read and why I’ve chosen them!

So I’m taking a page from Biana‘s book and sharing six of them! 🙂

If you’d like to read the synopsis of any of the books, just click the GoodReads link underneath each of the book covers!  Sorry, real talk, I’m just too lazy to copy and paste the descriptions right now.

(GoodReads)

I think I’m a little behind on the times with this one.  I saw the previews for the movie version and it looks like a major tear jerker.  SO of course that means I need to read the book first!  This is our June read for one of my bookclubs but I think I’m gonna start it this weekend.  I’m tired of waiting! 

(GoodReads)

Ashley just did a review on this book in this post.  And she and I have talked about it like 3 times already and I am dying to read this book.  It’s a historical fiction book based during WWII and I’m a huge fan of WWII era novels.  I have no idea why but if there is a historical fiction novel based during WWII, I have either read it or want to read it and this one if no exception.  This one is about two sisters living in France during the war and the different paths they each take to survive the Occupation.  Ashley raved about the book so I’m sure once I start reading this I won’t be able to stop!

(GoodReads)

This is another WWII historical fiction novel.  I was browsing Target and immediately knew I had to read it.  I picked this up about 2 weeks ago and have had a few others on my list before it but I think this is going to be super interesting.  It’s going to be telling the story what happened to German Jewish children after WWII ended.  The story is told through the eyes of an orphaned little girl and a Polish man who finds her.  I have a feeling a few tears will be shed with this one.  

(GoodReads)

One of my fellow teachers/book club members passed this book along to me.  It’s based in the 1950s and set right here in Houston. Those two facts alone had me very intrigued.  I love reading books based on places I been or lived because it helps me connect with the characters so much more!  I’m able to visualize where the characters are a lot better when I’ve been there.  It looks like the book is mostly going to revolve around two best friends and how their relationship is going to change and evolve which I’m excited to read through as well.  

Also please note that this is another historical fiction novel as it is based in the 1950s.  Told you that was my favorite genre! 🙂

(GoodReads)

This is another find from Target.  Ashley and I were browsing the book section and she pointed this one out to me.  First of all it’s based in France and I’m itching to get back across the pond so if I can’t go in real life I may as well go in my imagination.  Second of all it’s about a girl who is studying abroad in France.  Which means she’s living in Europe.  My biggest regret from college is never having studied abroad so reading about people who have studied abroad is something that happens pretty often.  This looks like its going to be an easy but enjoyable read.  It’ll be perfect for a summer vacation read.  

(GoodReads)

Ok so I’ve already seen the movie.  In case you didn’t know, it was nominated for Best Picture this year at the Oscars and Bree Larsen won the Best Actress Award for her portrayal of the main character Ma in the book/film.  Now normally I read the books before I see the movies if I can help it.  But I didn’t know this was a book until right before I went to see the movie.  But I LOVED the movie and I know I will love the book too.  I think it will be harder to read the book than it was to watch the movie because I know there will be a ton more details but I still want to read it.  

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Well there ya have it.  Those are the next 6 books I will be reading.  We only have 14 school days until summer vacation and then my reading will be pumped into overdrive.   I think I’ll get most of my reading goal taken care of this summer.  Actually I wouldn’t be surprised if I met my reading goal this summer and had to change my number! 🙂

Have a great Thursday! 

|Confession Session| What’s New With You Link Up

I am TIRED!  It’s almost 9:30 pm as I type this and I’ve been sitting in front of my computer since 9:00 trying to figure out how I want to start this post.  A post that is really about nothing but everything at the same time.  I’m having one of those times where I want to blog but I’m not really sure what to blog about.  Don’t you hate it when that happens?  You want to use your creative outlet and nothing is flowing.

So I think I’ll just fall back on an oldie but a goodie and have myself a little confession session.  SO…

I CONFESS….

// I bought myself a color correcting palette and used it for the first time yesterday.  And oh my goodness what a difference it made!  I’m a fan so far.  I bought the NYX brand from Target.  I’m excited to get really good at it so it doesn’t take me as long to do my makeup in the morning.

// I have a slight obsession with strips.  I may or may not have bought two very similar black and white stripped shirts at Target last night and was totally called out by a Target employee on it in one of the isles.  It was hilarious.

// Jurassic World debuted on HBO a few weeks ago and I’ve watched it like 3 times.  Mostly because of Chris Pratt.

// I LOVED Sunday’s episode of Game of Thrones.  I have a feeling this is going to be my favorite season.

// I still haven’t started refurbishing my couch.  My plan was to have it stripped of all the old stuff in April and start the refurb in May and I have yet to do a single thing.  I think need to get on it.

// If you saw my snaps the other day you’ve heard this, but I want to blog about it because my blogging ego is still a little bruised.  I applied to be in one of those blogging community things and was rejected.  A few of my fellow Houston bloggers are members and I thought it would be fun to join as well and meet some more bloggers.  But apparently my blog doesn’t meet their requirements for membership.  One of the requirements is that you have high quality photos and when I read that I thought, “oh perfect! I have those!”.  But I guess I don’t have enough.  Not every single post I write has high quality pictures but I just don’t have time to take them!  I have to reserve those pictures for the weekends when I have time to go out and take them and edit them and stuff.

The other reason is that my blog doesn’t focus on just one or two things (like fashion and beauty or solely travel).  I have blog about several different things (which I thought was the definition of a lifestyle blog).  I have to admit when I saw the email that I was not being offered membership I was sad!  Here I was thinking I was doing pretty good in blog world and boom someone comes along and basically says my blog isn’t good enough for their community.  It was not a nice feeling.  Plus I started comparing myself to all the bloggers that are in the community and that really started to burst my blogging bubble.

But I’ve had a few days to think about it (and bitch about it to my friends! THANKS FRIENDS!) and at the end of the day, I’m happy with my blog.

I like what I blog about and I’m not gonna let one silly little rejection stop me from doing something that I love.  And I’m not gonna change what I do just to make my blog more appealing to one community.  I think plenty of people find it appealing for what it is and I am proud of the little space I’ve created.

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And on that note, I’m taking myself to bed with a cup of tea and my book!

Linking up for:

Have a great Thursday! 

Your Next Favorite Book: April Reads

Once again the books I read April were each very different from each other.  Which is one of my favorite things about books!  There are so many different genres that you can find a favorite book amongst each of them.  Even though I do tend to stick to just a handful, I do like to branch out every now and then.  

Sadly I didn’t get to read either of the book club books for the month of April (well technically I’m reading one of said books right now, and it’s May.  Womp womp).  I’m hoping I’ll get to read the books chosen for May though!  

Today I bring you my thoughts on said books read in April.  

(via)

GoodReads Synopsis: Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places…

This is not one of those times.

Everyone expects Billie Bridgerton to marry one of the Rokesby brothers. The two families have been neighbors for centuries, and as a child the tomboyish Billie ran wild with Edward and Andrew. Either one would make a perfect husband… someday.

Sometimes you fall in love with exactly the person you think you should…

Or not.

There is only one Rokesby Billie absolutely cannot tolerate, and that is George. He may be the eldest and heir to the earldom, but he’s arrogant, annoying, and she’s absolutely certain he detests her. Which is perfectly convenient, as she can’t stand the sight of him, either.

But sometimes fate has a wicked sense of humor…

Because when Billie and George are quite literally thrown together, a whole new sort of sparks begins to fly. And when these lifelong adversaries finally kiss, they just might discover that the one person they can’t abide is the one person they can’t live without…

My thoughts:  I’ve read pretty much all of Julia Quinns books.  I think I started reading them in high school now that I think about it.  So I’m not gonna lie when I say that I was pretty excited to see a new Bridgeton book coming out.  The book was ok, like most of these types of books.   I enjoyed the storyline and the characters and will most likely be reading the next one in this series.  If you’re looking for something light and fun…then this is the book for you! 🙂

(via)

GoodReads Synopsis: When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

My thoughts: This book.  First of all it took me FOREVER to finish.  Which was weird because I was enjoying the book but man was it slow.  Second of all it’s a totally messed up book.  Mostly because it is so realistic.  This could literally happen to anyone, especially if you are super active on social media.  Makes me re-think just how much I post about my life on Instagram and Twitter.  I was getting kinda bored about half way through and then the book just kinda took a turn and I was devouring it within the last few days of reading it.  The ending was kind of a double edged sword because I feel like you were expecting the ending but at the same time were totally caught off guard by it.  

Then I found out there was a sequel and I’m dying to read it.  And I’ve heard the second is better than the first, so obviously I have to see for myself.   

If you’re looking for something to creep you out and make you think twice about your social media activity, read it! 

(via)

My thoughts:  I was going to post the synopsis like I usually do but I don’t want to give away a pretty big part of the story.  So I’m gonna skip the synopsis and get right to what I thought of the 4th book of the Throne of Glass books.

I mentioned in my last book review post, that I didn’t really care for book 3 and that is still true.  But that has 100% changed with book 4.  I LOVED it.  There was just the right amount of action and romance.  The story finally moved along and progressed in a way that was VERY beneficial to the whole story line.  I was a tiny bit irritated with the romantic aspects of the story, but I’ve accepted what has evolved and will happily cheer them on come book 5.  So basically I love this series and everyone need to read it ASAP.  Also I need September to hurry up and get here so I can read book 5.

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Hopefully you find one or two of these interesting.  I love adding new books to my to-read list on GoodReads so be sure to leave a suggestion in the comments section today! 🙂

Happy Tuesday and happy reading! 🙂

Linking up for Show Us Your Books!