Current Reads January 2015

So I decided that 2015 would be the year that I started reading for pleasure again. For whatever reason though, I still can't seem to read only one book at a time. Here is how the 3 that I am reading right now are going:

A Bend In the Road by Nicholas Sparks
I really enjoy this book, I mean I must if I am reading it for the second time. In his usual fashion it is a love story, but it is also a little bit of a mystery. There are twists in the plot that I didn't see coming, and when done well, that is always a good thing! This is the book I find myself constantly reaching for. I would definitely recommend this book.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
I may be the only person on the planet who just doesn't like this book. It may be a little premature to judge being that I have only read the first 2 chapters, but I just can't stand the writing style. I don't care for whiny teenagers because they just drive me crazy. I probably would have enjoyed this when I was a teenager, but I don't feel any connection to the characters. I'll keep reading and let you all know....even if it takes me the rest of the year to finish.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
I am officially reading the Harry Potter series. I never really cared to read it before, but I decided that it was time that I did. So far I am enjoying it and I plan on watching the movie after I finish each one of the books so that I can compare the 2. I never cared for the first couple of movies and I assume the books will be the same for me so it is something to look forward to to keep me reading.

When was the last time you picked up a book just for pleasure? Do you have any book recommendations for me?

Get In The Kitchen

I write to you all today as I am watching the TV show "The Chew" on abc. I like to watch TV shows like this all the time, cooking shows are my guilty pleasure. They always motivate me to get into the kitchen and start cooking, which is never a good thing according to my family. However, they make it seem so easy! I don't understand why I can almost never get a meal right when I am copying a recipe. Either I don't like any of the same foods as many others or the people on TV that say something is delicious are liars!

I want to be in the kitchen more, it is always something that I have tried to do before. I know for a fact that baking is definitely not my forte and I have decided that I am giving that up for now. I can make a decent banana bread, but that is about it. And even that comes out more like a cake so I am not to sure I am doing that right either. I will leave the desserts to others. What I want is to make some main dishes. You know, start off small and build my way up. I can make a pretty good soft boiled egg which is harder than you think to get perfect. Pasta, also a no-brainer that I have done many of times. So I am working my way up and I think I will start to post some recipes if I find that they are relatively easy and they actually taste good. This may include some middle eastern traditional dishes every once in a while.

I hope we can learn to cook together and I look forward to these posts. Lets make some delicious food together!

If you have a food blog or follow a good one, link it below and tell me some of your favorite recipes from it!

First Product Empties!

Hey Beauties, today I have for you all my empties that have been piling up in my makeup drawer for far too long. I love watching empties videos on youtube or reading blog posts about them. They are great for a quick review if that is what you are looking for, and that is usually what I am looking for. So here goes!

This Mary Kay cleanser and moisturizer set was great for my skin. It was a new product when I ordered it and I hadn't heard anything about it. It is the botanical set and it also came with a mask and toner which I am still using. It always left my skin feeling really clean. I went through 2 tubes of the cleanser. I would recommend this for anyone. You can get it for oily, dry, or combination skin.

 Face wipes are something I go through quickly because quite frankly I get way too lazy to fully wash my face after a long day. Neither of these broke me out at all and were really good price. I liked the equate (Walmart brand) ones more because they were a larger wipe. I would repurchase either one of these.

 Sally Hansen Hard as Nails was great until I made it to the bottom, it began to get gooey at the point. It is a nail hardener and it did just that. My nails are always healthy and strong when I wear it and it is a great base and top coat. I have already repurchased!
Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume mascara, who doesn't love this stuff? It is a classic and I will undoubtedly repurchase at some point (I have way too many mascaras right now!).
My first time finishing a lip balm and it was a Maybelline Baby Lips in Grape. I loved the purple tin it gave and have already repurchased this.

Last we have a body spray from Victoria Secret in True Escape. This was by far my most favorite scent from VS. It is both sweet and spicy and just smells so darn good! I would repurchase this in a heartbeat and would recommend it to anyone! I love the jasmine that is in there.
The Macadamia Deep Repair Masque was a small sample size that I got at Ulta for $4. It smells amazing and works well , but I would't purchase the full size. It gets pretty pricey and I'm happy with my L'oreal Total Repair 5. It does the same thing as this but at a fraction of the price!

Overall I enjoyed using all these products and would recommend them to anyone and everyone! I don't know how often I will be doing empties posts because I don't go through too many products that fast, with the exception of skin care. However now that my makeup drawer is a little more empty now, What would you recommend I go pick up next time I'm out?

Snow Day

I write to you all today in my beyond soft robe with a cup of coffee in the company of my family. The snow has been falling since last night and the weatherman says there little chance of it lightening up any time soon. We have been taking turns shoveling the snow. I took some extra time during my turn so that I can play in the snow. I managed to throw a snow ball at my mom, dad, brother, sisters, sis in law, and uncle. I also started a snowman, but then I realized that I don't know how to make a snowman. It was the sad truth of becoming an adult. 

So I wrote this to challenge all of you "adults" that live in an area where there is snow to go out and make a snowman or throw a snowball at someone. Relive your youth if even for just a moment. It is those little things that give up pleasure and we can't just forget about them. As for me, I'm wiped out and going to go watch a couple of movies on Netflix before the semester starts on Tuesday and I won't have time for a movie. 

2013 Year In Review

Happy new year everyone! So the year has come to an end and yet again there is only so much that I can show for it. It hasn't been a complete fail of a year, but it wasn't the most eventful either. The years have come to blur together and I don't know when what happened so that may have something to do with it.

I think the thing that stands out the most to me is my getting a job. It pays well but like all jobs that pay well, it sucks. It is no where near my profession but I like the idea that I now have work experience outside of my moms home daycare to which I was an assistant and fill in whenever she had to travel. A of the 2nd of January it will have been one year exactly...it feels like it has been much longer than that. However I am great full to have a regular income and something to do week nights. 

Another thing that happened was I graduated with my Associates degree in Elementary Education. I don't feel much different and considering I don't have a job in education yet I guess it makes no difference. I am still a full time student except I will be transferring over to a university this Winter semester and my pockets will undoubtedly cry from the cost of tuition. I am both excited and anxious about the transfer and will most likely make a post after my first day or week. 

My niece and nephew both turning 1 this past year is also something that stands out to me. I have loved seeing them both grow and can't wait to see them grow even more this year and in years to come inshallah. They have easily become 2 of my most favorite people. 

The last thing that I feel is worth typing out for you all from 2013 is my first actual teaching experience. My chem professor took us to an elementary school to teach kids as opposed to sitting in class and teaching each other like I have done in past courses. It is a much different feeling teaching children than it is adults. I am awful at teaching adults, but with kids it came so naturally. I was beginning to sway from my decision about teaching, but that brought me right back to it. It was overall a very rewarding experience!

Minor things that have also happened: 

I've redecorated my room...still in the process actually.

I've become less obsessive about social media, which is a good thing in my opinion!

I am working on putting together something for charity and can't wait till it all comes together. It may not be ready till next winter but that's alright as long as it becomes real.

I have a beauty blog, it's not the greatest but it is a work in progress. subtlebeauty27.blogspot.com
I built my own bed which took all day, but was rewarding when I got to sleep in it that night.

Well that was basically my 2013. I can't wait to see what this year brings for me. I plan on being much more easy going and try not to stress over the little things. Take things as they are because, for the most part, you can't really change the outcome of some things! Happy new year :)

October Ipsy

Hello lovlies, long time no post. I apologize about this and won't give any excuses but instead get right into the review of what I got in my ipsy bag this month. For starters the bag this month is by far my favorite! It has made its way into my handbag and will probably stay there for a while. 

I was really excited to try the Zoya nail polish in Mason. Its a gorgeous purple color with pink and magenta shimmer in it. Naturally I put it on as soon as I got the chance. I wasn't too impressed with it. I chipped very easily and was easy to peel off as well. This may be because of the base coat I put on under it so I will have to give it one more try with a different base coat. Otherwise I would never pay $8 for a nail polish in general, especially one that chips so easily. 

Next is this gorgeous loose pigment by bella terra in Navy. It's a mineral pigment and I don't normally where these types of things becuase they are so messy, but I know I will eventually use it as it is too pretty to let go to waste. I like that Its a nice navy color because it makes me want to wear it a little more. These run for $15 on the website.

The medium Coastal Scents shadow brush was one of the next things in my bag. I wasn't particularly excited about this because it isn't an expensive brush and I already own one like this. However I don't have anything from the brand and they are inexpensive (this brush is only $2.50!) so I might buy others from them.

Seeing as I just finished up the pack of makeup wipes I was using these LA FRESH oil-free face cleansing wipes came at a perfect time. The pack comes with 10 wipes. They run for about $10 for 30 wipre on the website. That is a bit expensive in my opinion, but they are eco-friendly which is nice. They are scented and I can't get my finger on what the smell it but it is not that unpleasant, that is not to say that I prefer the scent. I have sensitive skin and these wipes are made for that so we'll see how it goes.

Last is another texturizing spray from Sexy Hair. These travel size sprays usually run for about $6. I'm not a big fan of these sprays because I either don't know how to use them or they just don't work. My hair already has texture as it is so I am hoping I don't get another one of these in a glam bag again honestly. 

Overall it was a pretty decent bag. It doeesn't have enough of things I don't care for to stop my glam bag, but my favorite thing this month was the bag itself. I put in my reviews though so hopefully I will be getting a more appealing bag for November!

Getting the Jitters.

Hey everyone, so it is the night before the semester starts. I have a 9 a.m. class tomorrow and of course I am nervous. The reason being that it is a chemistry class.....I didn't do too well in chemistry in high school. But regardless of that, I always get the jitters and a bit of anxiety before anything remotely "big" coming up. Thankfully I know one of the girls in the class and I won't have to worry about going into a class blind. Don't get me wrong, I like to meet new people, but it helps when there is someone you know and can rely on if you aren't too great in a certain subject. Anyway, I'm anxious and should be asleep.....but of course I can't sleep. I guess I will finish this post after my first day tomorrow.

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Well this turned into a first week of school post. Sorry for my extreme laziness, if you read my previous post on being a crap blogger (here) than this should be no surprise. It has been a bit of a busy week actually. My MW Chem class is a lot better than I thought it would be so far. As for the Culinary Arts classes that I was super excited to be taking on Tuesdays.....turns out they were lecture classes and there was no actual kitchen time. So I dropped those right after class (actually I couldn't even make it through the second one).

Now I can't go through a semester only taking one class because that would be an extreme waste of my time. I went searching and decided that online classes are always a great option, especially when most classes are full and I would need an override to get in. So rather than dealing with people, I looked online and managed to find a Psychology class that I hadn't taken yet (very hard, there was only 1 left) and an Algebra class. I am excited about the math because Algebra was always one of my favorite classes in high school (I know I am a geek, but who cares?) and because I haven't taken any legit math in college yet. In the 2 years I have been there I took my required math, which is Math for Elementary Education. If you have ever taken either of the 2 classes I have taken then you would know it is like going back to grade school all over again. Which surprisingly wasn't as easy as I would have liked it to be.

So anyway I am excited for this semester to kick into full gear, I mean as you all know that is when I will be doing my most posting!