November 2017 Favorites

Hello friends!! November is over, which is crazy, but I'm also just kind of thinking it's already 2018 so I'm not really that surprised. Also, I am totally into Christmas this year because it's my girl's first Christmas, it's a big deal, and I already have my tree up which is something I'm typically against. No Christmas before December!! ...But I broke my own rule this year.

This past month flew by and I'm just a little confused at where it went, but at the same time I feel like my birthday was months ago. Here's a quick recap of the highlights this month (since I didn't blog all month so you wouldn't know).

November 4th: My birthday!! Kneaders breakfast, Olive Garden dinner and Thor Ragnarok.
November 5th: My baby girls got blessed.
November 9th: I went to the dentist in tons of pain, learned my crown had cracked and my tooth was completely dead, got this large mass in my gum drained, scheduled to have my tooth removed.
November 10th: My girls turned two months old and got their shots.
November 13th: Went in to get my tooth pulled out, got to see the cyst that was on it, got a bone graft. Didn't realize how much pain I would be in/how the drugs would affect me and had to call in my dad to help with the girls. (Thanks, dad!)
November 15th: Took my girls to get their hip ultrasounds (a typical thing for babies who were breached). They're both fine and they had no issues!
November 23rd: Thanksgiving!! Had a lovely Thanksgiving with the Farnes family. Made green bean casserole.
November 27th: Went back to the dentist to get my stitches out. Set up another appointment. (The whole thing is like a nine-month process, which sucks so bad.) Also started my 30-day workout thing (more info below).
November 29th: Went to Festival of Trees, saw BB-8, went to the mall, walked through the "Harry Potter Christmas in the Wizarding World" display, bought new boots.
November 30th: Wrote this blog post.

So yeah, this month consisted of a lot of dentist stuff. For all my readers, DO NOT PUT OFF GOING TO THE DENTIST!!! It had been way too long for me and they haven't even checked the rest of my teeth yet, which I'm positive I have at least one cavity, but I'm known for going in and they find five, and this time it's been so long that there will probably be like thirty. Is that even possible? Anyways, I'm not looking forward to that appointment where they check all my teeth, but I'm planning it for January when I know my new insurance is all good and ready.

Anyways, this post is supposed to be about my November favorites yet I'm talking about the dentist, which is one of my least favorite things (which is why it has been so long). So lets get into the favorites!

ALMONDS

I have been loving almonds this month! I've always loved almonds, but since I'm trying to get healthier, lose weight, etc., almonds have been such a good snack for me. I typically get the Blue Diamond Lightly Salted ones. That's just my preference, but honestly, all almonds are good.

CITRUS BLISS INVIGORATING BATH BAR by DOTERRA

This soap smells amazing, makes my skin feel great, and even has a slight exfoliating factor. I'm really enjoying it.

LASH SENSATIONAL LUSCIOUS FULL FAN EFFECT MASCARA by MAYBELLINE NEW YORK

Ah, Maybelline. I love you. This mascara makes my lashes look ah-mazing!! I'm obsessed. I'm planning on doing a full review at some point so that's all I have to say for now, but I do love it and if you're looking for a new mascara you should consider this one.

PEACH HAND CREAM by TONY MOLY

I got this is my last Ipsy bag and am so obsessed with the smell! With winter here and constantly cleaning bottles and changing diapers and washing my hands, I'm using a lot more hand lotion lately. I told Chris to buy me this lotion for Christmas because I love it.

MINERAL HAND CREAM by AHAVA

Another Ipsy product and hand cream. I need them lately and while this one doesn't have a peachy smell like the last one, it is a great one to stick on the nightstand to use after middle of the night diaper changes.

*Quick note, I promised a great Ipsy post this month but I had a whole credit fraud issue, my card didn't work, and long story short, I didn't get an Ipsy bag this month. It should be all worked out to get one for December though.


TRICK AND TREAT CREAM CONCEALER by HEY HONEY

I've now gotten two Hey Honey products in Ipsy packages and I've loved them both so much. This is a company I definitely what to try more of. This is a great simple, light concealer to just throw on when I'm feeling insecure about my dark circles even though I almost never leave my house anymore. I love it a lot!

 ADVANCED CARE CLEAR TONE DEODORANT by DOVE

I may have talked about this before because it's my go-to deodorant. It feels great on my skin, smells great, and keeps me dry and stink-free. I love it a lot and am really grateful for it.

LOSE WEIGHT IN 30 DAYS by SIMPLE DESIGN LTD.

This is an app that I downloaded on a whim. I've been working hard to lose weight since my twins were born but I didn't have much structure and I just did whatever I wanted. I've been using this app for the past week and it gives me exercises to do every day, it goes through them all with me, makes it really easy to get a fast, strengthing workout in, and overall is a great app. You don't need any equipment (but maybe a mat) so it's easy to do anywhere. I've also gone to the gym and done some cardio as well to get more of a workout in, but the exercises they give me have already made me sore and I struggle each day to get through them all. It's fantastic and I'll be happy to share the final results when I reach day 30, but if you want to see a more day-to-day look at my weight loss journey, check out my health and fitness Instagram account, @kayleeshealthylife.

Let me know in the comments what your favorites for the month were and if you also love any of these products. Love you, you're a hero!

SONEic Sound Machine | Product Review

I was blessed to have so many people in my life give gifts to my girls. Honestly, everyone just killed it on my baby registry. My family is so lucky that we have such great family and friends, we could not be more grateful.

One of the gifts we received off my registry (thanks Aunt Cherene) was a sound machine. To be honest, I didn't do much research on any particular sound machine, I registered for this one mostly based on cost. But I have loved my sound machine these past few weeks and my girls love it too.

So here is my pros and cons list about the SONEic Sound Machine*.

You can purchase this product by clicking below*.

PROS:

-This machine doesn't just have white noise. There are many different options to choose from. My girls and I prefer gray noise at night while we're sleeping, but the rain, ocean, and brook are fun ones too.

-Though I haven't used it, this sound machine has a timer. So if you wanted to not waste electricity or don't need it playing all night, then you can easily set a timer to have it automatically shut off.

-It's an easy turn on or off knob, and when you start it up it goes to the last sound you had it on.

-This can be powered either by batteries or a USB, making this machine portable.

-The machine comes with a headphone jack. I haven't used it, I'm not entirely sure why someone would use headphones to listen to just sounds, but it's an option. This would also give you the option to plug it into an external speaker, for when you want to play it really loud, I guess.

-This may not apply to you, but the sounds don't seem to affect or bother my dog. This is important to me because I have a dog that barks at everything. He even seems to do well with the thunder sound and maybe I can use it to train him to not bark at real thunder. We'll see.

-It's a very lightweight machine (though I don't have batteries in it, which I'm sure makes a slight difference). It's small and not bulky which allows me to move it around the house easily. 

CONS:

-The volume knob is touchy. It takes a little while to adjust it to the volume that you want.

-Why on earth would someone want to listen to whistling wind while they're trying to sleep? I just want someone to explain why that noise is on there because I personally just don't get it.

-Many of the sounds begin to sound repetitive, which obviously they are, but for instance, the first night I listened to the ocean noise, which I enjoyed but after a while, I knew exactly when the big wave would crash. It got too predictable and then I had a hard time ignoring it. The reason we listen to the gray noise is that while it may be repetitive, it's so steady that I can sleep easily with it playing in the background. It's predictable in a different way that allows me to ignore it.

MY REVIEW:

As you may have gathered from my Pros/Cons list, my girls do sleep in my bedroom with me in their bassinets. Every night when I turn on the sound machine, it's for me too. This machine seems to help my girls sleep. It also helps me differentiate night and day for my girls, seeing as we only turn it on at night (I plan on writing up a post on how we taught our girls the difference between night and day in the future). I personally am not bothered by it at all and neither is my husband (though that man sleeps through everything, including his crying children).

This sound machine sits at the bottom price range of $20 along with a few others. However, of the other $20 machines I personally feel this one has the most features, has the cleanest look, and has a good variety of sounds. While I haven't tried out the other machines, I enjoy mine very much and am happy with my decision to put it on my registry.

I would recommend this machine to others. The gray noise helps soothe my children and allows them to sleep easier. It's easy to use and at a good price.

Look at how in awe and amazement my girls are about this machine!! 

*This post contains affiliate links.*

October Ipsy Bag 2017

I'm still just as obsessed with Ipsy and plan to keep up with these posts, sharing what I get in my monthly Ipsy bag. However, starting next month I will go back and give you a quick review on how I've enjoyed the products of the previous month's bag. I think this will be a great way to share what I get as well as giving you my honest opinion on each product.

And if you're wondering, I did get my bag a week ago but have been so distracted and busy with my new babies that I'm not getting around to this post until now. No judgment, please.

The theme for this month's bag is "Spellbound" and honestly, this bag is just gorgeous. I feel like the past few months Ipsy has stepped up their bag game. Every bag I get is so pretty I wish I had more reasons to use these bags on a daily basis. I love that they used a bat as the zipper pull. It's such a subtle Halloween nod but it's beautiful and fun. I also love the texture of the bag. It's a lovely lace pattern in a beautiful red, and it fits in with my personal aesthetic so much. The bag also came with this quote: "In my defense, the moon was full and I was left unsupervised." It's cheeky and fun and would fit in perfectly in a short story.

Here are my Ipsy products for the month of October as well as my first impressions.

My monthly Ipsy advertisement:  Hey, friends, I know I talk about Ipsy a lot, but it's my favorite. For $10 a month I get a cute new makeup bag and five sample size beauty products to test out. I may be poor, but I make it work in my budget to spend $10 a month for new products. I love makeup, hair, and beauty in general and Ipsy allows me to feed my addiction of trying new products without going completely broke. So if you enjoy beauty products as much as I do, then go check out Ipsy by clicking the link below.

PURCHASE YOUR FIRST IPSY BAG BY CLICKING HERE*

Phoenician Secret Scrub - Peppermint*

by Skinvolve

Original Cost: $25 

I am so excited to really test this out. It's meant for cellulite and stretch marks, and I don't really have cellulite but being pregnant with twins gave me a whole mess of stretch marks. If I start to see improvement on my many lightning scars, I would happily purchase this product. I'll keep you all informed. 

Trick and Treat: Active Propolis Cream Concealer

by Hey Honey

Original Cost: $36 for 0.5oz

I love getting concealers from Ipsy. It's probably one of my most common products I get and the most appreciated. It keeps me from having to go out and buy my own and gives me options for when I do need to buy more. I've liked Hey Honey in the past so I'm excited to see how this works for me. 

Peach Hand Cream

by Tonymoly

Original Cost: $12 for 1.06oz

I had never heard of the brand Tonymoly before, but holy moly, they have the cutest packaging ever! Like, I'm honestly upset I got an Ipsy sample. The actual product packaging is a peach and it's so stinkin' cute. One thing I always lack but desperately need is hand lotion. Getting this product is more than appreciated, especially with how much more often I wash my hands thanks to my girls. Oh, and it smells amazing!! 

Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder

by IT Cosmetics

Original Cost: $29 for 0.31oz

My absolute favorite product I've ever gotten from Ipsy was an IT Cosmetics mascara. This is a company that makes the absolute best in beauty products. And seeing as I've run out of my usual powder, and am too busy and poor to go buy more, I was incredibly happy when I found this in my Ipsy bag this month.

Photo Finish Lid Primer - Light*

by Smashbox Cosmetics

Original Cost: $21 for 0.08oz

I hear such wonderful things about Smashbox Cosmetics from the many beauty bloggers and YouTubers that I'm obsessed with. I don't believe I've ever used a lid primer before, and if I have, I probably used it for something other than its actual use. But since being home with my girls I've experimented with makeup more, so I'm happy to try this out for its real purpose. 

*This post contains affiliate links all marked by an asterisk.

Maybelline Volum' Express The Colossal Big Shot Mascara | Review

What's up my friends? I have a love of Maybelline mascaras, always have, probably always will. They're my go-to whenever I need a new mascara and I try my best to keep testing out different ones anytime I go to buy them.

My current Maybelline mascara test was on the Colossal Big Shot. So here is my review on this particular mascara. You can also check out my quick video review (if you would rather listen than read) on my YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.

You can purchase this mascara here*:

PROS:

-Like most Maybelline mascaras (and the reason I love them so much) this mascara does not ever feel heavy or stiff on my lashes. I can brush my finger over my lashes and not be met with hard, stiff lashes.

-The price. Maybelline mascaras are always at a good price point while doing a great job and not feeling cheap.

-The application is easy. The brush isn't too crazy like some where it is easier to get on your eyelids.

-Easy removal. This mascara comes off easily with a little makeup remover or even just soap and water (but, also with tears, see cons below).

-It gives my lashes a darker tone without clumping or making them too thick.

-The brush isn't too thick and can be used on lower lashes without difficulty.


CONS:

-The brush. The product easily clumps onto the bristles, giving you a smaller bristle to work with, making application difficult.

-It doesn't really make my lashes seem any longer, unlike other Maybelline mascaras.

-If you're pregnant and have morning sickness and your eyes water, this mascara will get everywhere. (I've said it before and I'll say it again, mascara commercials are dumb and all I want is one where it shows a woman getting broken up with and crying, but it doesn't look like she's crying because her makeup doesn't move. That's the real test of good makeup, in my opinion, if it stays on well while crying.)

-Comparatively to many mascaras, Maybelline or otherwise, it just isn't anything special. It does its job but doesn't wow me in any way.


MY VERDICT:

I have nothing against this mascara, and it may work out really well for you, but it's just not for me. It doesn't give me the extra length that I crave and doesn't match up to literally dozens of other mascaras I've tried in the past. If you want a good price mascara that does the bare minimum of a mascara, then you should be good with this one. It's just not for me and I will not be using it again.

_______________________________________________________________

So I will be doing a lot more reviews on my blog. This will include makeup and hair products like always, but also baby items that I use with my girls. If you have any requests on what I should review, leave a comment down below. And if you own a product or company and would like me to do a review for you, please email me at thedancingcowblogger@gmail.com. Thanks ever so much!!

November Ipsy Bag 2016

Yay for Ipsy!! I don't care to do an introduction today so I won't. If you haven't already joined Ipsy you can start by CLICKING HERE. (Affiliate Link) It's $10 a month for five different beauty products and a cute makeup bag! It's totally worth the cost, I promise! 

For today's post I'll have links to the company and the product itself as well as letting you know the actual cost of the full-size product. This way you can hopefully see what a deal Ipsy can be.

Luxie Rose Gold Small Duo Fiber Brush 524T

by Luxie Beauty

Cost: $18. Use the code IPSYTRAVEL for 20% of Luxie brushes.

The POREfessional Face Primer (Affiliate Link)

by Benefit Cosmetics

Cost: $31 ($29.99 on the Amazon link above)

Good Morning Honey Silk Facial Serum (Affiliate Link)

by Hey Honey

Cost: $41. Use the code IPSY20 for 20% off any Hey Honey purchase.

Brow Wand Eyebrow Pencil in Chocolate

by Skone Cosmetics

Cost: $18. Use the code SKONE10 for 10% off entire Skone Cosmetics purchase.

B'lighter in Peacher's Daughter

by LAQA & CO

Cost $19. Use the code IPSTERS for 30% off LAQA & CO website purchase.

If you're a fan of a good deal, check out Zak Detox Deodorant's new Super Smooth formula and use the code ZAKDANCE20 to get 20% off your purchase. You can also enter to win a free sample of the deodorant by CLICKING HERE. Thanks everyone for your support with my giveaway! 

And, as always, if you want specific reviews on any of these products please let me know in the comment section below.

All-Natural With Zak Detox Deodorant [Giveaway Closed]

Words can not describe the mix of excitement and anxiety that filled me while taking these photos. For the majority of my life, I have been the girl who wears makeup constantly. And I mean constantly. Beaches, lazy days, I'm pretty sure I even wore makeup to have surgery last year.

But today's post is all about being healthy and all-natural so I took photos in my bedroom in my Chewbacca pajamas and with natural hair and no makeup. It was slightly terrifying posting this, but I'm happy with how it turned out... and even more happy to offer a giveaway with Zak Body Care for you!!

As some of you may recall, near the beginning of this year I did my first real giveaway with Zak Body Care. I tested out their original deodorant, which I promptly fell in love with, and then I was able to give one away to one of my amazing readers!!

Well, today I'm happy to announce I'm not only doing a giveaway but am also offering a code to buy your own Zak's Detox Deodorant for a discounted cost! I love all my readers and want you all to be able to try out a natural and healthy deodorant!

Zak Body Care is a company that I am so happy to work with. The people I have worked with through this experience have been so kind and helpful. This is a company that gives great customer service while providing a quality product.

All of Zak's Detox Deodorants are:

• Aluminum free,
• Cruelty-free,
• GMO-free,
• Paraben free,
• And are made from 100% natural ingredients.

Zak's website states: "Deodorant should promote health, not undermine it."  It's amazing what horrible ingredients products can get away with these days. Health risks can be found in almost any product. So it's nice to find a company focused on promoting health and natural ingredients instead of chemicals.

Being all-natural can sometimes be a change. Whether it's taking photos makeup-less (and bra-less) or trying out a new deodorant, it's a change. For my husband, putting "all-natural" on a product turns him off to it. He doesn't believe that all-natural things are worth the hype. But for Zak Detox Deodorant, being all-natural isn't any gimmick or fad, it's a quality deodorant that keeps you, and your skin healthy.

This time around, I tested out the new Super Smooth formula. And while I was already a fan of their original formula, I like this one so much better. The application is much easier. It glides on with no effort and, just like the original, it lasts all day with no stink! With my new job, I'm on my feet a lot and there's a lot of stress, but this deodorant keeps my stress-sweats from being any issue. I promise you, this new formula is worth trying out.

I'm so excited to be able to share this new formula with one of you FOR FREE! I love receiving free things and I'm sure you do too. But even if you don't win, remember you can still get your own Detox Deodorant at a discounted cost with the code below.

This giveaway will run from today until November 30th. There are multiple ways to gain entries into the giveaway, a few are mandatory but some are just for fun. (And one you can do every day for additional entries!) All information on the giveaway and its rules are listed below.

Good luck to you all! Stay tuned for more fun stuff coming to my blog soon! 

For those who already know they're going to love this new formula, you can buy your own by CLICKING HERE and enter the code ZAKDANCE20 to get 20% off your purchase! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you still reading? Want something else "super" in your life? Check out my short story series about superheroes by CLICKING HERE. Okay, that was a terrible, very shameful plug, but I had to do it. Sorry. But honestly, read it. I know I'm the one who wrote it, but I still think it's pretty awesome and a new story is being posted tomorrow!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Giveaway ends 11/30/2016. Open to legal residents of the US only. Winner will be selected at random by Rafflecopter.com and be notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected.  I will make every effort to assist you in obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with receiving your prize, please notify this blog within 30 days for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you. The product provided for the review was free of charge from the company. The product offered for the giveaway is free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are in no way associated with this giveaway. By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to Kaylee Farnes and Zak Body Care. I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

September Ipsy Bag

So I did film an unpackaging video for this month but it didn't turn out, I hate my hair so much in that video, and Zoram kept distracting me... so you will never see it. This month is a photos only post, but I loved doing last month's, I loved how it turned out and apparently so did a lot of you, and I hope you like this month's as well (even if the pictures aren't nearly as good as last time).

I'm feeling like I'm in a good place with my blog right now. Fashion posts will be coming back regularly (hopefully), I have more book reviews coming as I have such a lengthy reading list and may be joining a real book club, and Heroes & Villains keeps me consistently posting on a weekly basis. I'm happy where I am right now. My blog is mostly books, writing, makeup, and a little bit of fashion, and quite honestly that's a perfect portrayal of my interests so I'm liking where this blog is going.

Sorry for all the rambling, don't know how necessary it was. Anyways, here's everything I got in my Ipsy bag this month. Also, just today I used three of these products in my makeup routine so I'll give a mini review/first impression notes on them. All good things today. P.S. This bag is beautiful and my new favorite bag I've ever received.

Superhero Mascara in Super Black (Affiliate Link)

IT Cosmetics

This morning I used this mascara and HOLY. COW. My lashes look just so amazing today, I'm in love. It gives them length, curl, fullness, and a dark, natural color. This mascara does clump my lashes a bit more than I'm used to, but it's not a messy sort of clump. It's the kind where you know they're wearing makeup, but it looks good rather than looking messy... I don't know how else to describe it. 

Anyways, after just one use I'm obsessed with this mascara. It's fairly expensive, but that's what makes Ipsy so great. $10 for all of these products! 

Oh! I forgot this earlier, if you want to get your own monthly Ipsy subscription you can CLICK HERE. It's $10 a month for five makeup/beauty products plus a bag. I personally think it's one of the best deals for subscription "boxes" and highly recommend it. (Affiliate Link)

Guava Butter Lip & Cheek Stain (Affiliate Link)

Seraphine Botanicals (Use the code IPSY30 for 30% off any purchase!)

I only used this on my lips and was very happy with the creaminess of the product. I personally get so irritated with lip colors that dry out my lips. I only go for the smoothest and creamiest ones. This, as a lip balm, works beautifully. 

However, as far as a stain goes, I don't know if it "stains" my lips as well as other products. I don't know exactly how long they intended for it to stain my lips, but it basically didn't last even half a day. I have not yet used it on my cheeks and it may get better "stain" results there. 

Overall, I will use this product a lot and I do love it, but I wouldn't consider it a stain. 

Eyeshadow in Teaser

Dirty Little Secret Cosmetics (Use code IPSY20 for 20% off any purchase)

I used this shadow this morning and was happy with it. I've been using brown shadows recently so I figured this would be similar, but this color has a lot more orange in it than I was expecting. Not a bad thing, just wasn't expected. But I like how cleanly this applies and stays well. I like it. 

Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum (Affiliate Link)

Eau Thermale Avene (Use code IPSY20 for 20% off any Eau Thermale Avene purchase! (Limited time offer!))

Vanilla Almond Crumbles

Buff Her House of Exfoliation (Use code IPSY20 for 20% off any purchase!)

Sorry the pictures aren't as great as last month's. I was lazy and didn't get good lighting or use my real camera. That's my bad. 

Oh, and if you want real reviews on any of these products leave me a comment so I know! 

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - Book Review

Hello friends! As I think I mentioned (maybe not) this summer I'm trying to get through a lot of books. I set a goal on Goodreads to get through 40 books this year and I've only finished 9! I'm so behind! But this summer I'm working on catching up.

Today I have another book review for you and if I could give this review a sub-title it would by "The Right Book at the Wrong Time." You'll learn more about why in my review. Heads up, this review gets personal, but I'll try to keep it spoiler free.

Photo Credits: www.jenniferniven.com 

SYNOPSIS (from Amazon):

"Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him. 

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink."

MY REVIEW:

This book is so difficult for me to review so I'll start with a checklist then explain why this was one of the hardest books for me to read (which may hint at spoilers so if you don't want anything given away then you can stop reading after the "Anyways..." below).

Good writing? Check.

Relate-able characters? Double check.

Well thought out plot? Check.

Researched material? Check.

Tugs at the heart? Major check. 

So yes, this is an amazing book. Initially after reading it, here is the review I posted on Goodreads (Can I advertise this app enough? My goodness!):

Five star book. I stand by that. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone and not just a soft recommendation, I believe that as time goes on I will shove this book into the hands of everyone I meet. I will read this book time and time again because it is worth it. This is one of the most important books I have ever read and I will force it on all my friends and family. Read it. Just stop reading my blog and read this book now. 

This book can easily be compared to The Fault in Our Stars as far as themes go. I loved TFIOS (the book, never saw the movie) but this one blew it all away. While very similar, Finch and Violet are much more relate-able than Hazel and Augustus Waters (how can you not say his full name, it's awesome). Not just in their situation but they were written as actual teenagers. 

Violet and Finch are very realistic teenagers and are written as teenagers, not overly intellectual showing it was clearly written by an adult, but also not incredibly dumb-ed down showing it was clearly written by an adult... one who seems has a low opinion of teenagers (I'm looking at you, book I'm reading right now). 

I'm such a fan of young adult fiction but get a bit annoyed when it's so clearly written by an adult. All The Bright Places is a smart book with smart characters, but they are a realistic teenage smart, which is something I really appreciated in this book. 

All The Bright Places also has a realistic and easy-to-follow plot. It tells a story in a very clean and concise way. While this is the first book I've read by Jennifer Niven, I believe that this is one of her talents, simply based on her "Twelve Writing Tips" on her website, which I highly recommend reading if you're an aspiring author like I am. 

There is sometimes a struggle with books like this where there isn't a clear ending you're working towards. Take something like Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, you know where it's headed the entire time and so each new chapter you know it will lead you closer to the ending. A book like All The Bright Places doesn't have an obvious ending it's headed towards. Yes there are hints, but for the most part you're just going along for the ride not knowing what's ahead. 

In many books with this structure, where it's just a story of people's lives rather than a specific "quest", I tend to get bored. A lot of books like this often through in random fluff to help with the word count and it gets monotonous to read. I did not feel this way with All The Bright Places and this book kept me reading. I read this book fairly quickly because I could not put it down. I basically did not sleep while reading this book. Just worked and read. What a life.

I very much enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, BUT it was incredibly difficult for me to read and while I suggest you continue reading the rest of my review, if you want to avoid any and all hints at a spoiler, maybe you should stop now. 

Anyways... 

As I mentioned this was also the hardest book I've ever read. The reason for that is that it touches heavily on the topic of teenage suicide and mental health, both of which are things I have personal experience with. 

At the age of 17 I attempted suicide and I can tell you right now that the emotions someone feels during something like that are portrayed incredibly accurately in this book. Suicidal tendencies and mental health is a serious topic and as someone with a personal knowledge of it, this book handled it very well and accurately. 

The problem was not the book. The problem was me. With my depression I have the annoying ability to "absorb" the emotions of people around me. If I'm in an upbeat environment I feel happy and when I'm around people who are sad, I get sad. Basically if anyone cries around me, I'll be crying too. Not to mention already dealing with my own depression, which makes feeling other people's sadness only harder on me. 

When reading this book the same thing happened. I very easily felt the emotions being described in this book. I literally had to stop reading in the middle of the night, pull my husband off the couch where he had fallen asleep, and have him hold me until I could regain control over my emotions. It wasn't about being sad because of what was happening in the book, it was literally feeling what the characters were. And it was terrifying. 

Now I feel so strongly about the importance of this book and if I had read it at a better time in my life I would not have reacted so negatively. But (in case you're new to my blog) I had a miscarriage last November and since then my depression has been at it's absolute worst. Even when I was seventeen and wanting to kill myself I did not feel emotional pain like I have this year. 

THIS WAS THE RIGHT BOOK AT THE WRONG TIME. 

This book is perfect. I want to buy it, I want it to be mine, I want to frame it in my home, I want to buy hundreds of copies and send one to each and every one of you, but I should not have read it at this time in my life. 

I finished it about a week ago and I have been recovering since. Part of me wanted to write up this review right away but I was too emotional. And then people spoiled Me Before You to me and I was also angry. Just a mess of emotions really. Still am a bit. Story of 2016 for me. 

Overall I recommend this book so much. I realize that's a weird sentence, but it's 100% true. 

UPDATE: Jennifer Niven replied to my Tweet about this post, so she's basically my new favorite author. Yep.

What were your thoughts on All The Bright Places? Let me know in the comments below! 

It's Windy On Top Of Cache Valley

I have some terrible photos coming your way!!

So we took these photos at Morty's on their top balcony. Morty's is an amazing burger place. It's on campus and it's all unique and healthy so it's where all the hipster college students hang out, but luckily for us it's now summer, so Cache Valley's supply of hipster college students has depleted.

If you live near the USU campus I highly recommend checking out this place. This trip I had their Sunny Side burger which included a fried egg. It was delicious. They also have amazing French fries... and if you know me I can't resist French fries. But they also have scone fries, which are basically just scones in a dippable format, it's delicious. And another bonus, if you're a fan of the Dole Whips from Disneyland like my husband is, they have them there!! This restaurant is just a big win.

I am obsessed with my shirt in these pictures as well as this jacket. This jacket is old, I got it before I got married, but it's still great and I never want to let it go! The pictures aren't great though because it was cold and windy and we just wanted to go back inside, but the view was amazing!

Shirt: Down East

Jacket: Target

Pants: Walmart

Shoes: Ross

Zak Detox Deodorant - Two Minute Review

You can learn more about Zak Body Care and their other products by CLICKING HERE! 

The giveaway closes soon so enter now!

Zak Detox Deodorant Giveaway!! (Closed)

Hello friends!! One of my goals for 2016 on this blog was to do quarterly giveaways. I am always so grateful for my blog readers and want to reward you for being my online friends! Hopefully as this blog continues to grow, giveaways can be much more frequent and your chances of getting free stuff will grow.

I am so excited to announce this quarter's blog giveaway, because this is my first ever sponsored post!! I was contacted by Zak Body Care  to test our their all-natural, toxin-free deodorant and give away a free sample to one of you!

Now I wouldn't just give away something I didn't know about, so I've been testing this product... AND I'M OBSESSED. It's been far too long since I've hand a deodorant that has lasted me through the whole day, and even longer! When I put on this deodorant in the morning, go through the day with it and then sleep with it, without ever reapplying, I still don't have to worry about stink. It's kind of like a miracle.

To prove that it could last through the day I made a few short clips on my phone the first day I tested it out. It was added on my recent haul video on my YouTube page so you can check that out HERE.

Zak Body Care has released a press release with information on all their new products and exactly what's in them:

New natural deodorant formulas from ZAK Body Care aim to solve the ‘natural deodorant’ problem once and for all. New natural formulas target customers across the board who wanted something different, something more.

DENVER, CO –Driven by customer led demand, all-natural and Organic deodorant company ZAK Body Care is launching not one or two but five new and completely unique deodorant formulas this Spring 2016. “We thought we should offer as many deodorant formulas as fast as we could make them to try and provide what our customers were asking for,” says ZAK Body Care founder and CEO, Zak Lyon.  

It is widely known that all too frequently natural deodorants fail to work. “Natural deodorant shouldn’t be that hard to figure out but for some reason as the natural skin care industry has progressed and produced great products deodorants seem to have been left behind,” says Zak Lyon. ZAK Body Care makes the natural choice without sacrificing effectiveness. ZAK Deodorants are designed with the uncompromising requirement that they literally feed the outer, middle and inner skin cells, protect against unhealthy and odor causing bacteria on the surface, and effectively deodorize.

ZAK Body Care CEO, Zak Lyon, says: “Within each deodorant formula is a number of skin superfoods dense with nutrients and functional compounds to improve the health of the skin and deliver on our ‘Deodorant’ promise.”

Each formula is completely unique in substance and form—some are solid sticks, some are liquids, others are somewhere in between. You may like one for the gym and another for going out or you might prefer one above all others.

The Original Deodorant is ZAK’s home base. A solid stick deodorant, the Original formula uses coconut oil, baking soda, and arrowroot powder as the soft base.  Shea butter, Aloe vera, USA beeswax, and natural plant extracts are added to give depth and structure to the formula. Earth clays and baking soda absorb both odor and wetness.

The newest solid stick deodorant, Super Smooth, is aptly named because it goes on super smooth and glidy. This formula keeps you smelling fresh all day with Aloe vera juice as the most abundant ingredient. All the Aloe nourishes and protects the skin and gives the formula that unmistakably smooth on with a subtle cool and fresh feeling only Aloe vera can deliver.

The new Deodorant Spray is natural and powerful, yet simple. A liquid deodorant, this formula uses natural plant extracts and healthy bacterial enzymes to combine for innovative yet simple odor protection and prevention. Fragrance blends for both men and women give these two deodorants magnificent, head turning fragrances.

The new Essential Oil Roll-on Deodorants are 100% essential oils by volume, nothing else except pure, natural, essential oils. They’ve selected the most powerful essential oils with antibacterial properties and combined them with some of the best fragrant essential oils for men and for women to give these deodorants unforgettable, sophisticated aromas.

The new Body Deodorant is a never before seen deodorant lotion. At ZAK Body Care they created a deodorant so nourishing and smooth that people think it’s a lotion. Call it a body deodorant, call it a deodorant lotion; just don’t say it’s not versatile. This deodorant formula can be used anywhere on the body. Underarm throughout the day and on your feet before you get in bed is just the beginning. Fellas, after a shower, rub it on your junk, front and back. Ladies, after a shower rub it anywhere, just remember: NOT FOR INTERNAL USE.  Use ZAK. Get creative ;)

This new line of premium natural deodorants is aiming to appeal to everybody. Not only do preferences matter but also some natural deodorants just don’t work for certain individuals. Attempting to solve this is ZAK Body Care with 5 totally unique forms of deodorant. “We constantly innovate and improve for our customers,” says Zak Lyon,  “they deserve cutting edge, no-compromise natural skin care products.”

For customers who are categorically disappointed with natural deodorants ZAK Body Care hopes to have the solutions you’ve been looking for.

About ZAK Body Care:

ZAK Body Care is a natural skin, body, and personal care company. Based in Denver, Colorado, ZAK Body Care has been serving customers with their Original Formula Deodorant since 2014 and have recently begun trying out new products to see which ones customers are really after.While ZAK currently only offers deodorants they are quickly expanding into other meaningful areas to better serve their customer base. ZAK products are sold on Amazon, Jet, and ZakBody.com. Local distribution in Colorado is limited. At ZAK Body Care a good diet is paramount to health and this principle has guided the company since the very beginning because skin care is really skin food. At ZAK they believe everybody deserves healthy options and so their mission is to provide access to the latest and greatest healthy skin food available.

I don't know about you,  but that deodorant "lotion" sounds amazing for the back of my neck during the summer time. Long hair and summer heat has never been a good combination for me.

Now if you aren't into all-natural or essential oils, I get that. I'm a skeptic sometimes myself, but I believe in results. I've been using their original deodorant and this has quickly become a product that I believe in and will purchase again in the future. It worth it simply because it works. If any product should work, it should be your deodorant and this is one that truly works.

I could go on and on about how much I believe in this product, but why don't you try it out yourself
FOR FREE!! 

Below you can enter to win their original deodorant for free! You just have to follow Zak Body Care on Facebook, Instagram, check out their website, and visit my own Facebook page as well. After those four things, there are other ways to enter to win that you can come back daily to do, giving you more and more entries!

You have two weeks to enter and share it with your friends to win as well (because we aren't selfish here). The winner will be picked March 31st and will be emailed soon after. The more people that enter, the more likely I am to do another giveaway soon, because I love you and am in a giving mood, so spread the word and we could have another giveaway next month!

I will be posting a Two Minute Review on my YouTube channel next week, so if you're still a little unsure you can check that out before entering.

Okay. Enough rambling. Get entering to win!!!

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