Friday, September 10, 2021

September 2021 Haul!

 



Ah September is here! I am so excited for the Fall season but, also disappointed that the year has already gone by. I feel like that I have blinked and another year has gone by. 

I love fancy soaps and when I came across the brand Finchberry Soapery, I knew I had to get a few of their soaps. I decided to get their 8 piece sampler and the soaps smell amazing and look so pretty! I am a little shocked at how expensive they are though.

I got a few new sheet masks that I am excited to try. There is this one step Hanaro Modeling mask that has the same results as other modeling masks but it come pre-mixed without any additional steps needed. I think this is pretty cool because modeling masks are cool but, can get messy and unfortunately, they need to be mixed right before using. I had picked up a few sheet masks last week at this local beauty store in the city. Their packaging looks fun and I hope they perform well.

I heard good things about the brand Herbivore and I think I have tried them in the past. However, I saw they had a facial oil called Emerald and I knew I had to get it. I also got a new facial oils from Graydon and  Bybi that I am excited to try.

I remember being in love with Lancome's Juicy tubes so, when I saw L'oreal had a similar one called Colour Juice, I knew I had to try it. I got it in this beautiful rose pink called Panther Pink. I heard good things about Tarte's Jelly Glaze so I got it in toasted coconut. I was debating what color to get it in but, then realized I spend most of my day behind a mask. I ended up going with a soft brown neutral color.

Did you get anything this new that you are excited to try?

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Book Review - Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

 

Nitta Sayuri tells her story of her life as a geisha as she reminisces in her old age. Her story began in 1929 in a small poverty filled fishing village. She was nine-year-old girl with beautiful unusual colored eyes. Her father made the decision to sell her and her sister into slavery to a geisha house. There she transforms from a young girl into a young woman learning the rigorous arts of being a geisha.  She learns the art of dance and music while entertaining her clients. While at the geisha house she has to learn to deal with a dangerous rival who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

The book was an enchanting read and it felt like we were getting a glimpse of a previously unknown world. The novel did move a bit slowly in the beginning and it felt a bit rushed in the end but, I thought it was an enjoyable read. I liked reading about Sayuri's journey but, towards the end of the novel I didn't care for her. I understand that she was trying to take control of her life but, I felt like she treated people like pawns. Overall, I can see why this book is a fan favorite.

Monday, September 6, 2021

Book Review - The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter


 

Delta Dawn spends most of her day photographing the perfect lives of the wealthy people in NYC. She has a special gift of transforming stiff hugs and tear-stained faces into ones of joy during parties. When Delta is invited to Natalie Straub's eleventh birthday party, she finds herself yearning to be a part of the family instead of an outsider. She wants to be includes in the family's daily lives.

Delta decides that she will find a way to make herself a part of the family. She offers to babysit for Natalie while befriending Amelia. She also tries to offer emotional support to Fritz so, she can be ingrained in every aspect of the family's life. Soon she finds herself a fixture at the home and they soon realizes photos are not the only thing Delta is good at manipulating.

The novel is a claustrophobic read and it made me second guess every single person I have invited into my life. I had a hard time believe that no one called Delta out on behavior but, from the looks of it she probably doesn't have much friends. The ending left me wanting more though because it felt rushed and incomplete.

 

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Book Review - Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson

 


Meg Whitaker is devastated when she learns that her father is selling the family's lobster-fishing business to her high school nemesis. Meg is determine to prove she should be the rightful owner of the family business. She had no interest in running a lobster boat or even getting on a boat due to her persistent seasickness. However, she doesn't want Oliver Ross to have her family business especially, since he ruined her dreams of a science scholarship and entry to an Ivy League school.

Oliver is ashamed of the kid he used to be. He was angry and sad that his father had walked on his family. He lashed out on Meg who was an innocent bystander in his path of fury. However, Oliver is desperate to own Whitaker's fishing business because it would provide for his family and give him opportunities he wouldn't have otherwise. He isn't going to walk away from the chance of a lifetime because Meg wants him to.

The book was an okay read. It was a predictable and moved a bit slowly for my liking. I felt like there was a lot of unnecessary details that just bogged  down the story. The author did hint to other at characters being the main stars for the next book in the series. However, I am not sure if I am vested enough to be interested in reading more books in this series.

**I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey

 

Maud is an elderly woman dealing with the early stages of dementia. As she is slowly losing her memory and her grip on everyday life, she is certain that her best friend has disappeared. Her search for Elizabeth goes back decades and she refuses to give up about her friend.

No one believes Maud, not even her daughter, Helen or her caretakers and the police. Maud has her handwritten notes that she leaves for herself while she searches for the truth. However, she can't fight the overwhelming feeling that Elizabeth is in dire need of her help. Maud resolves to find out the truth about her friend.

As Maud begins focusing on Elizabeth, her obsession leads to her rapidly being more forgetful while leading her to remember about her sister, Sukey. Her sister had vanished shortly after World War II and was never heard from again. As she remembers vivid memories of Sukey, she wonders if it ties into Elizabeth's disappearance.

I thought the book had an interesting premise of an elderly woman with cognitive issues trying to solve two disappearances. However, I found the novel to be boring and incredibly repetitive after awhile. We would gleam a nugget of information on either Sukey or Elizabeth and then Maud would forget. I also didn't like that Maud clearly needed to be institutionalized and that having her living alone was dangerous to her well-being. Even though she was a fictionalized character, I kept worrying about her safety every time she was hungry or left her house. I stopped reading the book one third of the way because it started getting too repetitive and had to much detail about Maud's everyday life than the actual "disappearance".

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Book Review - The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb by Candace Fleming + Giveaway

 

The novel tells the story of the search for Tutankhamun's tomb. Many people believed that the dig unleashed a curse. The treasures found within the tomb was heavily debated who owned them and whether or not foreigners should be digging for them.

The boy pharaoh Tutankhamun ruled and died young and his followers had prepared him for the afterlife. His tomb was filled with treasure and goodies that he would need for the afterlife. His tomb was raided a few times but, then the sands from the Valley of the Kings had buried the tomb and it was lost to time.

Centuries has passed while the tomb has sat under the sand and sun undisturbed. Europeans were obsessed with Egypt and two Brits decide to try their hand at hunting for the lost tombs in Egypt. One was a rich earl who likes to gamble and the another is an archeologist who no one wants to work with. The pair worked together for years to find and open Tutankhamun's tomb.

I found the book to be an engrossing and thrilling read. The book is marketed towards young readers but, I found myself  to be spellbound while reading it. The author did a good job at keeping readers charmed and engrossed with the book. I loved that the author included photos and little breaks in the chapters that told of "weird" coincidences. I am definitely open to reading more books by the author.

**Disclosure - I received an unedited version of the book in exchange for an honest opinion** 

 


About the Book:

Title: THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb

Author: Candace Fleming

Pub. Date: September 7, 2021

Publisher: Scholastic Focus

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 304

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, KindleAudibleB&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

Award-winning and critically acclaimed author Candace Fleming presents the edge-of-your-seat true story of the search for Tutankhamun's tomb, the Western public's belief that the dig was cursed, and the battle for ownership of the treasures within.

During the reign of the New Kingdom of Egypt, the boy pharaoh Tutankhamun ruled and died tragically young. In order to send him on his way into the afterlife, his tomb was filled with every treasure he would need after death. And then, it was lost to time, buried in the sands of the Valley of the Kings.

His tomb was also said to be cursed.

Centuries later, as Egypt-mania gripped Europe, two Brits -- a rich earl with a habit for gambling and a disreputable, determined archeologist -- worked for years to rediscover and open Tutankhamun's tomb. But once it was uncovered, would ancient powers take their revenge for disturbing and even looting the pharaoh's resting place? What else could explain the mysterious illnesses, accidents, and deaths that began once it was found?

  

About Candace:

Candace Fleming awarded herself the Newbery Medal in fifth grade after scraping the gold sticker off the class copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond and pasting it onto her first novel—a ten-page, ten-chapter mystery called Who Done It? She’s been collecting awards (her own, not Elizabeth George Speare’s) ever since.

Today, Candace is the versatile and acclaimed author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize honored The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of the Russian Empire; Boston Globe/Horn Book Award-winning biography, The Lincolns; the bestselling picture book, Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!; the Sibert-Award-winning Giant Squid; and the beloved Boxes for Katje. She contributed the chapter on Katharine of Aragon to Fatal Throne. Photo credit: Michael Lionstar.

 

Website | Twitter | InstagramFacebook | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/24/2021

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

8/25/2021

The Momma Spot

Review

8/25/2021

Lifestyle of Me

Review

8/26/2021

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt

8/27/2021

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

8/27/2021

Rajiv's Reviews

Review

8/28/2021

YABooksCentral

Interview

Week Two:

8/29/2021

Log Cabin Library

Excerpt

8/29/2021

BookHounds ya

Review

8/30/2021

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

8/31/2021

Little Red Reads

Review

8/31/2021

Jaime's World

Excerpt

9/1/2021

Locks, Hooks and Books

Review

9/2/2021

@lexijava

Excerpt

9/3/2021

Two Points of Interest

Review

9/4/2021

hauntedbybooks

Review

9/4/2021

Enjoyingbooksagain

Review

Week Three:

9/5/2021

The Bookwyrm's Den

Review

9/6/2021

Books and Zebras @jypsylynn

Review


Tuesday, August 31, 2021

August 2021 Empties Part 2!

 

Wow August is gone! I can't believe its only 4 more months before the end of the year. The year has flown by and once again I felt like I didn't do anything really productive with my life....I guess though this month was productive because I did finish quite a few things this month.

I started using this new lip mask from Fresh Rose Lip Cream and found it leave my lips soft without being greasy. I used the new Facetory Oats My Bananas mask and loved it. I am excited that they are expanding their own offerings and that they are very affordable. I am adding both masks to my night time routine. 

I been using waterproof mascara a lot more lately because the heat has been so oppressive lately. I started using the Yensa CBD Superfood Dual Cleansing Oil to remove the mascara more easily from my eyes. The cleansing oil does have some foaming action but, not my favorite cleansing oil.

I suffer from insomnia so, I was intrigued when I saw Milk Makeup Melatonin Overnight Lip Mask. I thought it was okay and I would get it again if it was on sale. I do think that it did last longer than other overnight lip mask. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask had a sweet scent and had a bit of sticky/tacky base. I liked putting it on but, I noticed that when I drank water the mask would come off. I would definitely use less than more with this product.

I started using this new hair mask called Virtue Restorative Treatment Mask and thought it was interesting. It definitely left my hair smelling nice and feeling soft and shiny. I liked my Akar lip balm so, when I saw their face oil I decided to get it. I thought it was okay. I have tried other face oils that had better results. I felt that the oil just sat on the top and didn't really absorb into my skin.

Have you finished anything that you loved recently?

Here is everything I finished this month -

Fresh Rose Petal Soft Lip Balm
Burt's Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Bath
Shangpree Spa Care System Gold Black Pearl Eye Mask
Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb
Honey Jarret Super Beau'tea Mask Rose
Feel Brilliant Bamboo Charcoal Facial Sheet Mask
Facetory Everyday Charcoal Mask
Gangbly Jeju Canola Honey Nutri Mask
VT Cosmetics Gold Probiotics Mask
Facetory Oats My Bananas
Simply When Cosmic Calm Soothe
Carees Tahitian Renewal Silkening Body Wash
Yensa CBD Superfood Dual Cleansing Oil
June Jacobs Spa Collection Neroli Hydrating Mist
Sunday CEO Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream
Milk Makeup Melatonin Overnight Lip Mask
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Burt's Bees Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter
Botanic Farm Black Soybean Milk Pudding Sleeping Pack
Virtue Restorative Treatment Mask
Rituals of Sakura Celebrate Each Day Body Scrub
Steam Cream Coquette
Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt
Akar Skin Soothe Face oil
TonyMoly Vital Vita 12 Poresol Ampoule Vitamin H
Thisworks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
Knours Skin Mediation
Elemis Superfood Blackcurrant Jelly Exfoliator
ESPA Clarifying Clay Mineral Mask
Rahua Voluminous Conditioner for Body and Bounce
Julep Rock Star Hand Creme
Exuviance Rejuvenating Treatment Masque
Pur x Barbie Glitterally Brightening Peel Off Mask
Ceramedx Restoring Body Lotion

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Book Spotlight - Like Other Girls by Britta Lundin + Giveaway

  

About the Book

Title: LIKE OTHER GIRLS

Author: Britta Lundin

Pub. Date: August 3, 2021

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: GoodreadsAmazonKindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

"What if I played football?" I ask. As soon as it's out of my mouth, I feel stupid. Even suggesting it feels like I've overstepped some kind of invisible line we've all agreed not to discuss. We don't talk about how Mara is different from other girls. We don't talk about how Mara is gay but no one says so. But when I do stuff like this, I worry it gets harder for us all to ignore what's right in front of us. I direct my gaze to Quinn. "What do you think?"

"I think it's frickin' genius," he says.

After getting kicked off the basketball team for a fight that was absolutely totally not her fault (okay maybe a little her fault), Mara is dying to find a new sport to play to prove to her coach that she can be a team player. A lifelong football fan, Mara decides to hit the gridiron with her brother, Noah, and best friend, Quinn-and she turns out to be a natural. But joining the team sets off a chain of events in her small Oregon town-and within her family-that she never could have predicted.

Inspired by what they see as Mara's political statement, four other girls join the team. Now Mara's lumped in as one of the girls-one of the girls who can't throw, can't kick, and doesn't know a fullback from a linebacker. Complicating matters is the fact that Valentina, Mara's crush, is one of the new players, as is Carly, Mara's nemesis-the girl Mara fought with when she was kicked off the basketball team. What results is a coming-of-age story that is at once tear-jerking and funny, thought-provoking and real, as Mara's preconceived notions about gender, sports, sexuality, and friendship are turned upside down.

Britta Lundin's sophomore novel will give readers all the feels, and make them stand up and cheer.

Events

Tuesday, August 3
Like Other Girls 🎉 Launch Signing
Skylight Books
7-8:30pm
more details

Saturday, August 7
Like Other Girls
🎉Virtual Event
Britta Lundin in conversation with Carly Usdin (filmmaker, author The Avant Guards)
noon PT/3pm ET
register here to get the link

 

 

About Britta Lundin:

Britta Lundin is a TV writer and author.

She’s written for shows such as Riverdale, Betty, and The Big Leap and is the author of the young adult novels Like Other Girls (out August 2021) and Ship It.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she lives with her wife, kid, and dog in Los Angeles.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of LIKE OTHER GIRLS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/1/2021

Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews

Review

8/2/2021

BookHounds YA

Excerpt

8/3/2021

Rajiv's Reviews

Review

8/4/2021

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

8/5/2021

Lifestyle of Me

Review

8/6/2021

onemused

Review

8/7/2021

booksaremagictoo

Review

Week Two:

8/8/2021

EveryonesLibrarian

Review

8/9/2021

@curlygrannylovestoread

Review

8/10/2021

BRITTREADSALATTEBOOKS

IG Post

8/11/2021

A Bookish Dream

Review

8/12/2021

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review

8/13/2021

Unconventional Quirky Bibliophile

Review

8/14/2021

Fyrekatz Blog

Review

Week Three:

8/15/2021

@coffeebooksandmascara

Review

8/16/2021

Midnightbooklover

IG Post

8/17/2021

A Gingerly Review

Excerpt/IG post

8/18/2021

The Bookwyrm's Den

Review

8/19/2021

@drewsim12

Review

8/20/2021

Adrianna.reads

Review

8/21/2021

Mallory Books

Review

Week Four:

8/22/2021

GivernyReads

Review

8/23/2021

popthebutterfly

Review

8/24/2021

@pagesofyellow

Review

8/25/2021

My Fictional Oasis

Review

8/26/2021

Perusewithcoffee

Review

8/27/2021

The Phantom Paragrapher

Review

8/28/2021

Eli to the nth

Review

Week Five:

8/29/2021

@fictitious.fox

Review

8/30/2021

Bibliosini

Review

8/31/2021

Two Points of Interest

Review