Motivation Monday

Image can be found here

This just makes me smile!

Motivation Monday

Image from Southern Charm


What are some of your biggest dreams?

Time for a Pinning Party!!

OK so I know I've missed a few pinning parties but I'm organized and ready now! This month's pin is brought to you by Mixed Method and you can read the original post here and you can see my original posting here!!

I am not going to be doing the step by step guide you can see that in Mixed Method's posting but I will give a brief overview.

The things you you are going to need are: 

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Dish Soap
• A plate
• and dirty brushes (eww!!)
  
  
  
  
  I didn't have a ton of brushes to clean but they were REALLY dirty so from start to finish it probably took around 30 minutes but now my brushes are all nice and clean!!
  
  

  

  All of my brushes drying off after their bath! Notice how white  my stippling brushes bristles are!!
  
  

  This was a really nice way to deep clean brushes and I should start trying to do it once a month (even though I won't...), it does leave your brushes really damp so don't expect to use them soon after. I did fold over the drying towel to help aid in dry time.

  
  

  
  

  Hope you all try this method it is really nice for dirty brushes!! Also, head over to my Pinterest Page (here) and check it out and tell me what you would like to see at the pinning parties!!

  
  
  
  

Happy Valentine's Day

Image from Friendship Quotes


Happy Valentine's Day everyone! How are you spending your day?

Motivation Monday

Image from liveluvcreate

Happy Monday everybody! Who's your favorite Disney princess?? 

Shopaholic Saturday (Book Edition!)

If you read my Divergent Book Review you know how I feel about Young Adult books and that they are primarily what I read. I have recently gone on a book shopping spree picking up some books from Amazon and Half Price Books and thought I would share my most recent picks!


Amazon

Insurgent by Veronica Roth (the follow up to Divergent!)

The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters: Destiny Rising by L.J. Smith
 **I am obsessed with Vampire Diaries! I love the show and the books, although it's important to note that the two don't go hand in hand!)

The Fame Game & Starstruck both by Lauren Conrad
** These two novels take place after the L.A. Candy novels and there is a third one out that I wasn't aware of until AFTER I read these two in four days...le sigh...

Live Second: 365 Ways to Make Jesus First by Doug Bender
** This is obviously not a novel but a devotional by the same people who developed I Am Second -- for a little more information and a link to their website you can read my December Fab Five).

Half Price Books
Disclaimer: These are books that I found at my local Half Price Books but selection may vary from store to store.

The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner
**There are a total of three books in this series and my Half Price Books sold them as a set for $14.99

Hush, Hush & Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
**There are a total of four books in this series, these are the first two

Wicked Lovely & Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
**Not a YA novel but I love her books and this is part of her Cousin's War series


Needless to say I have A LOT of reading ahead of me, but I don't mind. I will try to do some reviews of some of these, just not sure which ones yet Insurgent will more than likely be one of them. If you have any you are interested in hearing about let me know in the comments. And if you have any book suggestions let me know those too!!

Whatcha Wearing Wednesday

Outfit:

Top: Bird Peasant Top (Target)

Bottoms: Jeans (Maurices)

Shoes: Brown Bow flats (Maurices)

Accessories:

Bag: A.N.A. Handbag (JCPenney -- about 3 years ago)

Necklace: Charming Charlie

Headband (as modeled by Mr. Pig): Charming Charlie

January Fab 5!

If you didn't read December's Fab 5 you can check them out here. This month's Fab 5 include: a body care product, a song, a quote, a snack, and a random item!! Enjoy:


1. Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Lotion

Image from Walgreens

I have crazy dry skin all of year round but in the winter it's just unbearable. This is my go to lotion right out of the shower every single day. It instantly makes me feel less like an alligator and more like a real girl! I also like that it's not greasy so I don't feel like I have to wait a million years for it to dry before I put clothes on. 

2. Beer With Jesus -- Thomas Rhett

Thanks to CodyKing2011 for posting the video on YouTube

I love this song!! I seriously blast it every time it comes on!

3. This Quote:

Image from Westwood College

Someone recently asked what my favorite quote was and this has always been a favorite and it's so fitting for a new year and trying to realize all of my dreams (cheesy moment I know..)

4. Hershey's Drops

Image from Walgreens

Seriously they're delicious go buy some now!!

5. Snuggie

Image from mysnuggiestore

I am perfectly aware that they are nerdy but they are soooooooo warm!! I don't have the owl one but I kind of want it...would it be sad to have 2 Snuggies?

Well there are some of my favorites for the month of January. What were some of yours??

Motivation Monday

Image from Habitual Bliss

Wise words from Peter Pan. Who's your favorite fairy tale character??

Divergent Book Review

Image from Amazon

In a recent Shopaholic Saturday I bought Divergent by Veronica Roth and slightly proclaimed my love of Young Adult novels. I personally really like them because they are quick and easy to read and aren't as graphic as some "grown up" books. Could you imagine if Hunger Games wasn't edited for the younger crowd?? Those would have been some pretty graphic fight scenes that would have probably caused me nightmares for months!! ANYWAY Divergent falls into the Young Adult category and is a dystopian (aren't THEY taking over the world) novel.

Overview:

Divergent is set in dystopian Chicago which has been divided into 5 Factions. The story follows Beatrice Prior a 16 year old who has to decide if she wants to stay in the Faction she was born in or choose another. Once she has made her choice she has to complete a brutal initiation or risk becoming one of the Factionless (the lower class who are shunned by Faction members). Beatrice struggles with her decision throughout the story and is ultimately faced with a huge challenge that could ruin the "perfect" society that the government has tried to create. 

My Thoughts:

At first I was a little worried that Divergent was going to be a wannabe Hunger Games, however, I kept hearing that it was amazing so I decided to pick up a copy when I was in need of a book to read. It is fast paced and definitely NOT Hunger Games. Beatrice is a character that I know my 16 year old self could have related too. She had to choose between doing what would make her parents and family happy and doing what was best for her, as well as sticking up for whats right or not challenging authority. She's smart and sensitive and ultimately has to decide how she's going to be true to herself.

Naturally there are some comparisons to Hunger Games (dystopian, challenging the government, etc.) but Divergent definitely has a mind of it's own. 

This is the first of a planned trilogy -- the second Insurgent is already out and next in line of books to read!! If you want to see a review of Insurgent let me know in the comments below!Also, let me know if you've read Divergent. What were your thoughts? What are you're feelings on the whole Young Adult novel take over of society? Let me know!!