#1. I’m thankful I grew up doing a non-traditional Thanksgiving. Weird right? But I really am. As much as I love Thanksgiving food ( I really do!) tamale Thanksgiving ranks high on my list of wonderful memories. So does “learning how to use our RV oven” Thanksgiving & our “let’s try this random place in the middle of nowhere that says they will be open” Thanksgiving. We did have some traditional Thanksgivings but although tasty, I simply don’t remember them as well! If I could spend every Thanksgiving in California with my family, I would.

#2. I’m grateful I can cook. Ryan is horrified every time I bring up how much I miss Tamale Thanksgiving. I mean, in horror. He is from Texas & ultra-traditional. When I took him home for Thanksgiving & explained “In the afternoon we spend Thanksgiving at a park & pretty much just eat pie then go home & eat food a few hours later” he just looked at me. He still thinks it is weird but had a lot of fun. I now cook a traditional Thanksgiving, last year when my mom was visiting & this year for us & a friend. If I didn’t know how to cook (& cook well) he’d honestly probably still eat it. But I’m glad everything is tasty even if they aren’t super creative dishes.

#3. I’m grateful my husband is home. We have spent a lot of time a part, especially in the first 3 years of our marriage. It is what the military does. Each holiday he is home, I whisper a little thank you because you never know where they’ll be next year. Our friend coming over for Thanksgiving this year is all by herself for this Thanksgiving because her husband is deployed. I plan to help her drown in gravy & pie.

#4. I’m so thankful for you guys. I know it is tacky & lots of people are saying it, but it is true. I try to let you guys know by thanking you randomly, hosting giveaways so you can win, & putting up good content. But in case no one says it to you today… I’m so thankful to be a part of your lives.

#5. I’m grateful for my family. Cliche? Don’t care. My family is the best. The first Thanksgiving Ryan was gone, my parents drove up to me. We went grocery shopping (we were so poor back then!) & then I cooked everything up in the kitchen then layered it in a laundry basket. We then drove it to their hotel & had Thanksgiving in the hotel on paper plates with plastic forks. & it was amazing. I talk to my dad almost every day & my mom multiple times a week. There has never been a time when my parents weren’t there for me (& Ryan) so I can’t help but single them out. They’re just the best.

To those celebrating Thanksgiving, I wish yo a happy, safe, fun one. If you’re cooking it this year (like me) take the time to breathe. Make your husband to the chick…ahem turkey dance for his food, & have a great time. & to those who celebrate, Happy Black Friday. There’s no way I’m posting on here at midnight! I wish everyone a full belly & a comforting day.

What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving memories? Are you doing Black Friday this year?

So this book is definitely quite different from my usual reviews… My Life Map by Kate & David Marshall is written in a journaling format. I won’t be showing you my answers here but I will be talking about what I thought about it! If you guys want to see anything from this journal such as my past or my Ten Year Map…just let me know!

Overall I liked this book & enjoyed the format. It asks specific questions without being too textbook. There is a somewhat school vibe to it which I honestly enjoy. I haven’t been in school for awhile so it was nice to put pen to paper. Very rare these days unless we are playing Clue! I feel like it was personal without being too personal. It was kind of like writing to an aquaintence: You’re nice, but not insterested in oversharing. I think this would be a great tool for a newly married person or someone fresh out of college. I enjoyed it!

To join in on BlogHer Book Club discussions about My Life Map, check out the main book page here. The copy of this book was provided to me in consideration of review & I was compensated for my time. This in no way alters my opinions or my review.

Sylvia Day is a NY Times best seller but this is NOT one to read in public or you may find yourself busting into giggles. Is this book that funny? Oh no, that is just what I do in awkward situations. Perhaps this is why I am a blogger & not a spy? Oh that realization hurts folks.

I only have one issue with the Crossfire Series: The main character’s name is Gideon & as an avid Charmed fan (I’m geektastic IRL) all I can think of is how evil he is. But once you get sucked in, you forget all about the creepy Charmed Gideon & get into the “I’m bad but I’m tormented” Gideon. Oh yes, he is one of those. If you enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey, I would definitely recommend this as it has a similar angsty feel but, in my opinion, better writing.

For anyone that dated a project (guilty) you wanted to fix because he was just so BAD but you knew deep down he really WAS good…this is for you. With lots of phrases like “damaged & tormented on the inside” & sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession” you should know what you’re in for. Romance at its most ridiculously dramatic. Is it something I would read all the time? No. But I do like the occasional romance read & this happened to be a good pick!

If you’re interested in participating in the upcoming BlogHer Book Club, then check out our Reflected in You discussions here. Although this copy was provided to me & I have been provided a very small compensation for my time, all opinions are my own.

Pre-reading disclaimer: This post is about an erotic (although VERY well-written novel!) tale & is meant to be read by adults. That is all. If you wanted to read about beauty, simply look at many of my other posts! 🙂

The extent of my knowledge of dominant & submissive sexual culture pretty much starts & ends with Laurel K. Hamilton. Many of her characters (most being shifters or vampires or…well you get the point!) are subs or doms & although she touches on certain topics throughout her many books I’ve never delved deeper into the culture. I was surprisingly interested in reading about it!

I felt like the author Sophie (who writes about herself) really lets you see this world through her eyes. From her first experiences to her funny tales, she writes in a way that makes you feel comfortable reading. She does not dive straight into pony play or furries (what you guys don’t watch Comedy Central?) so don’t worry. I loved reading about he actually learning about the submissive & dominant culture, especially the weird messages she got. Writing a blog opens you up to strange messages frequently so I think I definitely could relate!

If you are interested in reading a well-written erotic story, learning more about a submissive sexual story, or even just looking for something out of your reading norm I think this is a good choice. It is pretty impossible not to fall for Sophie & I can guaruntee it is worth finding out what happens to her!

This book was kindly provided from BlogHer for review purposes, to participate in our discussions go here & start chatting! This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

When it comes to sunscreen, I prefer a heavy dose of SPF. I’m fair & freckled but I honestly think everyone should be as SPF obsessive as me. However, when I’m sitting around the house or having a low to no makeup day, I try not to waste SPF on nothing. When Badger’s Damascus Rose SPF 16 Face Sunscreen Lotion came into my life, I was wary. Would I like the scent? Is 16 enough SPF for daily use? & would my picky skin accept or reject this as a moisturizer?

Contains Organic Ingredients

• Broad Spectrum protection from UVA & UVB rays.
• Light, nearly invisible lotion base rich in Certified Organic ingredients.
• Ideal for everyday use, even under makeup.

Directions for use: Use daily on the face and neck to moisturize and protect. Can be used alone or under makeup. Ideal for dry and delicate skin.
Let’s start with scent: I love it. I was nervous. Sometimes scented lotions are just weird on the face. This one smells beautiful, natural, & feminine. It isn’t a light scent either, you can definitely smell it. I hate the “sunscreen scent” so this was perfect for me! It really is a mix of the rose, lavender, & chamomile not just one or 2. You can definitely smell them all!

I was a bit worried to use this when I was outdoors because its been so humid & gross here. I stuck to using it mostly indoors with some light outdoor work like running errands or throwing toys with the dogs. I didn’t accumulate any additional sun damage & it felt nice on the skin. I applied it down my neck as well. It says to reapply every 2 hours if you’re swimming or sweating so I figured it was safe. It was!

My skin loved it! Maybe its all the treatments I’ve been trying lately or the very non-natural ingredients I’ve been putting on it. It’s actually quite soothing & feels a bit thick in your hands. But then you realize you don’t need a lot & it thins out to the perfect layer.

I don’t use it every day but I very well could. It smells divine, provides the right amount of moisture for normal skin without over doing my oily combo skin. I haven’t had any reactions to this, probably because of how natural it is. My biggest plus is how I feel when I apply it: I honestly think is has a calming, romantic effect to it! Plus, I will always like a glass bottle with a pump, such a step above other methods.

I freely admit: The last few books I have read just haven’t blown my mind. In fact, a few were a struggle to get through. However, salvation. I finally have a new book to suggest for you guys & I think you’ll really like it. As pictured, I’m of course referring to Matched by Ally Condie. Is it a Young Adult book? Yes, yes it is. Guess what? I don’t care. I may not have been a Twilight fan, but so many of my favorites fall into the YA genre. Don’t judge a book by where they put it in the store!

Admittedly, with all the technical issues I’ve had these past few weeks, this book helped. Technology fail, big time. I feel ya, I really do. I’m one of those people who doesn’t want their car driving itself or to be served by evil robots. Take that as you will.

 

BlogHer is discussing everything Matched on their site so if you’re interested in learning more, I suggest you check it out! What do you think, does Matched sound right for you? If not, what are you currently reading?

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed, as always, are my own.

From Amazon:
Trust Your Eyes– Thomas Kilbride is a map-obsessed schizophrenic so affected that he rarely leaves the self-imposed bastion of his bedroom. But with a computer program called Whirl360.com, he travels the world while never so much as stepping out the door. He pores over and memorizes the streets of the world. He examines every address, as well as the people who are frozen in time on his computer screen.

Then he sees something that anyone else might have stumbled upon—but has not—in a street view of downtown New York City: an image in a window. An image that looks like a woman being murdered…

 After the last few chick-flick type books, I was so ready for something a bit more gritty. Okay, so I like reading some pretty dark books normally, but this was a solid in-between. Spoiler: No one wears anyone else’s skin. This is more of a thriller/mystery with that whole “I wish my brain worked like that” type jealousy to it. If you watch Alphas & obsess about the brilliant Gary then you are totally on my brainwave.

So Thomas is pretty wicked. I get he’s got all kinds of hardships going on, but his attention to detail both shatters his life & creates a new one. Barclay does a really good job of not making this into a total pity victim scenario which I appreciate though! His brother, Ray, has been tasked with taking care of him. He’s pretty much the go-between for Thomas & the real world. He pretty much humors him about the whole “I saw a chick get murdered” thing…until he gets the feeling it might be legit.

This story has a lot of twists & turns, another thing I actively look for in a plot. If I know what is coming next all the time, you’ll find me not reading it much. I finished this one in 2-3 days because I was really busy. On a more laid back week, it could have easily been 1-2. If you’re into mystery/abilities stories, this one would probably be a good fit for you. There’s like 3 plots going on here, you’re bound to latch onto at least one of them!

Check out our discussion on BlogHer’s Trust Your Eyes page & please do comment below if you have any questions!

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own. For more information, see my disclosure policy.

I literally wore this mani to go fishing! I got Je Taime from my Mattese Elite haul from Ricky’s NYC. It is GORGEOUS & pretty much looks incredible over any color. With some small hols, large holos, & then the bulk of the glitters being small almost beige/gold looking glitters that throw off a sheen that is gold & green. The holos give this an especially unique look since they throw off every color imaginable in certain lighting.

BEFORE the last coat of Frida:

AFTER the last coat of Frida:

What do you think, does is look like something oceany/fish scaley? I love it. It was SO pretty on.

*Zoya polish was sent in consideration of review, Je Taime from Mattese Elite was purchased with my own funds.