Month: November 2013

Beauty Box 5 November Unboxing

Posted on by Cindy

 
 
I am not quite sure what I am going to do about Beauty Box 5 yet, I am honestly not really getting super excited about the boxes anymore just because it seems to be the same stuff each month. I will keep it at least until the new year and then decide then.
 
I had seen some unboxings and I was so happy because one of the items was my favorite deodorant, Secret and if you know the Secret that is in the box you know its over $6. So getting a free one would have been nice. Sadly I didn’t get it but this is what I did get.
 


 This is what I got in the November Beauty Box 5. Lets get into the unboxing shall we.

 Blum Oil Absorbing Facial Tissues.  I haven’t used oil blotting papers because I don’t find I get overall oily but I am wiling to give these a try. They retail for $2.99 for 50 sheets. I did try this out and it does absorb oil from your skin.

 Montagne jeunesse Glacial Face Mask. I have used numerous face masks from this company and I really like them. This is one I haven’t tried yet and its the Glacial Clay Spa in the scent crushed Artice Cloudberries. I will be using this very soon I am sure. This retails for $2.49.

 I love Aveeno so I was pretty happy to see this sample in the box. Its the Aveeno Positively Nourishing Calming Body Wash.  Its in the scent Lavendar, Chamomile and ylang-ylang. I think this would be something I would use when I was feeling stressed and just wanted to relax. The full size will retail for $6.99 for 16 fl oz. I got a 2 fl oz bottle. This smells really good and when I opened it I noticed that I wasn’t feeling so stressed so this could be something I would buy.

This month seems to be the month of be a bombshell as you can tell from previous unboxings. This time around I got the eye crayon and its in the shade Angel Eyes. Its a white shimmer. Its got a glossy finish. It blends really nice and this could possible be a great base to your eye. This retails for $14.00 and this is the full size. 
 
Finally the last item is from Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Powder. This is in the shade Exile. This is another full size item and retails for $14.99 for 0.08oz. I would say that this is a shimmery lilac color. Its not really dark as you can see in the swatchs above so perhaps its pinkish purple. This would probably be perfect to wear on a night out or over the holidays. I am not a big fan of the loose powders but I have to admit that I will play around with this to see what will work and what won’t work.
 
One thing I really like about Beauty Box 5 is that you do get quite a few full size items and as you can tell I got four full size samples. Which pays for the box which is always nice to see that you get your moneys worth out of these subscriptions.

What do you think? Anything interests you?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Ipsy/ November Unboxing

Posted on by Cindy

Hey everyone welcome to the Ipsy November unboxing. The months are just flying by aren’t they?

I actually have a love/hate relationship with this subscription. One month will be awesome and then the next is blah and its happened so many times where I had a really good month and then a bad a month. This means I am almost on the verge of stopping my subscription but then they start to post sneak peeks on their facebook page which honestly sucks you in.

When I saw some sneak peeks for this bag I was excited.

 Lets get into this months bag shall we. I am not a big fan of the cosmetic bag. I will probably pass this on to a friend and use it in a swap.

 The first thing I take out of the bag is this Pixie Bronzer. This bronzing powder gives your complexion the warmth and luminosity of naturally sunkissed skin. Hydrating, silky-smooth & long-wearing, it also protects against free radicals. Contains Vitamin E to protect the skin and mica, which provides dense natural pigment.

ipsy subscribers who receive this product will receive Subtly Suntouched or Summertime.

Size: 0.11 oz
I got the Subtly Suntouched. As you can see from the above swatch and the one below it is very subtle. I think this will be something I will use as its very light and buildable in my opinion.

 For some reason I thought I took individual pictures of the be a bombshell lip crayon but I didn’t so you will only get to see the swatch. Its in the shade Hot Damn.

A glossy lip crayon with a smooth texture that is perfect for travel and touch-ups on the go.

To use: Apply to top and bottom lips for full coverage. For sheer coverage, apply to lower lip only and blot lips together. For more color, apply several coats until you receive desired results.

ipsy subscribers who receive this product will receive Hot Damn or Shameless.

Size: 0.09 oz
I was kind of hoping for the Shameless one but I will try and play with this and hopefully I can lighten the color up because that is too bright for me to wear.

The swatch below that is the Starlooks gem pencil in the shade Amethyst. I love it.

The Starlooks Gem Eye Pencils provide a magnificent metallic finish and are so versatile, soft, and creamy that they can be used as a liner or eyeshadow base! Each highly-pigmented, unique pencil has a gorgeous, micro-glitter finish.

ipsy subscribers who receive this product will receive the shades Amethyst or Topaz.

Size: 0.64 oz

 lash gallery dramatic volume mascara by Michelle PhanInspired by the girl who wants to rock out with her lashes. Amp it up and create instant lash drama with a single coat. Uniquely-designed spoon brush “cups” and quickly builds lashes with rich color and volume.

Available in Black or Brown. I got mine in black.
Size: 0.236 oz

I am excited to try this because its something we can’t get here in Canada and I don’t know if we can. If you know please let me know or at least where I could buy this in the US.

I am so excited for the Nailtini. Its in the shade Caviar Cocktail.

Glamour is an attitude as much as a look, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look the part…all the way down to your fingertips! Just in time for the year’s most glamorous season, nailtini is serving ipsters gorgeous nails in two shimmering shades – icy golden Champagne and molten pewter Caviar Cocktail. The perfect finishing touch to glam it up head to toe!

Just one of Nailtini’s top-shelf, 3-free nail lacquer, available in dozens of shades, textures and finishes. Wear them alone or layered to create custom looks and effects, each one a cocktail unto itself. Cheers to beauty, and as always, apply responsibly!

ipsy subscribers who will receive this product will receive Champagne or Caviar Cocktail.

Size: 0.5 fl oz
I really like the color and the above picture is just with one coat. It went on really nice and smooth with no streaking. Its the perfect holiday nail polish.

Finally the last item was a sample size of Glam Glow. I can’t use it because it gave me an reaction the last time I tried it so its being passed onto a friend who loves it.

So that is my ipsy bag for November, what do you think?

So since next month is my Birthday I haven’t cancelled my subscription for this yet so we will have to see what that bag brings but overall I am impressed with what they send so maybe its to be expected you get a good bag and then a blah bag.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Topbox/ November Unboxing

Posted on by Cindy
Welcome to the November unboxing of Topbox. This is the regular months box. This time I opted out of getting the special boxes only because they really didn’t impress me. I was really hoping that it would have been a wow unboxing but I honestly have to say that I am not really impressed with it this month.
 
I think if the December box is like this and no wow to it that I will be cancelling it. I know that this is one of the cheaper beauty box subscriptions but still I could put that money towards something that I will truly love and appreciate it.
 

 One of the things I really noticed is that the tube is getting smaller as is the contents in the tube. We literally just get sample sized items. They are just your stardard sample sizes nothing deluxe here which is really too bad because we aren’t getting what we paid for. Hence why I might very well cancel this come the new year.

 The first item I pulled out was the Pleats Please by Issey Miyake parfum. Had this come in last months box I would have had no idea who Issey Miyake was but now I do because when my brother in law came into town recently he brought me back L’Eau d’Issey which I just love.

This is Pleats Please EAU DE TOILETTE

A luminous, joyful, floral bouquet whose addictive base notes combine the sweetness of vanilla layered over vibrant woody notes. A distinctive fragrance with palpable, enveloping femininity. Available in 30, 50 and 100 ml spray formats. The full size retails for $106 for 100ml and I got a sample of 4ml.
 
Honestly at first I really didn’t like the smell of it but as the day went on it became a really nice scent. I think it would make a really nice fall/winter scent. I am not good at describing scents so I won’t even attempt it.

 The next item I pulled out was the Shum Uemura and its a cleansing Beauty Oil. I haven’t used any products by Shu Uemura but I am curious about this because it removes effortless all kind of make-up and impurities. skin feels soften, conditioned, hydrated, nourished from within and glows with a new radiance.

The full size retails for $82-$98 for 450ml or $38-$48 for 150ml. I got a sample size of 20ml

 I have to admit I was a little disappointed in this because its not even completely filled. Its roughly half filled if that. This is  Cover FX and its a CC Cream Time Release Tinted Treatment. This is suppose to treat, correct and protect the skin and its buildable. It will leave you with radiant and natural finish.

The full size retails for $45 for 30ml and I got a tube that says 5ml and I highly doubt its got 5 ml worth of cream in it.

Not sure how many uses I can really get out of it especially if I am suppose to cover my entire face. I did blend in the sample on my hand and it did a good job blending in but I really didn’t like the scent it gave off.

 
 
Finally the last thing I pulled out was this Elizabeth Arden beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipsticks. The card has three bubbles filled with Red Door (it seems like a deep red ), Pretty Pink (its like a nude pink LOVE THIS) and Neoclassic Coral (a coral shade). I love that it comes with a little brush as well. I am pretty sure you can get a few uses out of each shade.
 
They retail for $30 for 3.5g and we got a sample of 0.75g in each bubble.
 
The last thing that was in the box was a Trend Trunk gift card and I was hoping for the $250 card but sadly only got $5.00 which isn’t alot so I am sure this won’t get used.
 
So there it is my Topbox for November. Nothing really impressive about this. What do you think?
copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.
Review/ Extracted

Review/ Extracted

Posted on by Cindy

Title: Extracted
Series: Book 1 of the Lost Imperials
Authors: Sherry Ficklin & Tyler Jolley
Pub Date: November 2013
Pages: 320
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Source: I received this book during my attendance at BEA 2013

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Welcome to the war. The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it. The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens–their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream. Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war. When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Tesla Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It’s there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back. Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both…again.

 

Before I get into my review I just want to wish all the best to Sherry and Tyler on their success of Extracted.

Tyler Jolley, ME and Sherry Ficklin (June 2013 BEA)
 

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Spencer Hill breakfast during BEA earlier this year and I have to admit at first I was very nervous about going because I really didn’t know who was going to be there. I was one of the first to arrive and then shortly after that Tyler came in.

It was so nice because I got to talk to Tyler for quite a bit and then slowly everyone else arrived. I didn’t get any pictures at breakfast and I think its because everyone was talking and eating. But none the less it was so much fun and after breakfast we all walked to the Javitis together. It was so nice to hang out with some awesome Spencer Hill authors.

Spencer Hill was probably the one booth I hanged out the most in and I am looking forward to sharing my reviews on their books with you guys.

Okay back to Extracted.

This was the one book I read on my train ride back from NYC. After meeting the authors I knew that I wanted to read this asap and I honestly packed it away in my bag to avoid reading it before hand because I was so going to read it before hand.

It was nice to curl up in my seat on the train and sit back and read. I took my time reading it and I have to say that it took everything in me not to speed read it because there was parts that I wanted to read through quickly to find out what was happening.

Before I get into my review, don’t you just love the cover? I love it and this is one of those covers that actually suits the book.

I am not all that big into sci fi/fantasy but I am a fan of time traveling and I am just starting to enjoy steampunk. So if you know of any good steampunk books please let me know.

Extracted is told in two points of view and that is from both main characters Lex (Hollows) and Ember (Rifters). I always worry when the book is done in this format but I have to say it worked out fantastic. You could clearly see that each of the authors took a character and wrote it. It was nice to have that distinction.

In the world of Extracted there are two groups of people. One group is called the Rifters and they are specially trained to protect the time stream from the Hollowers. The Rifters are basically the good guys and the Hollowers are the bad guys.

Ember and Lex are members of the opposing groups and they end up getting caught in the middle of this time stream war. They travel back and forth to different periods in time being careful as not to alter the time stream because if they do everyone will suffer the consequences. I loved how references were made in certain periods of time in the book so there was some history added to the book as well.

Every time you enter the time stream it erases your memories that you. Its not until Ember and Lex meet at the Chicago World Fair that they start to remember things about themselves such as the fact that they are brother and sister. How will this play out since the are both in opposing groups?

Lex’s group the Hollowers are at the Chicago World Fair because they need to steal some plans from the past that will benefit the Hollows now. I loved Lex because he was a loyal friend and his motto was like leave no man behind which we need more of.

Ember was the one character I loved because she was a kick ass character and she didn’t need any guy to protect her or defend her. She is a strong and independent girl but she is always sensitive and caring, which is something more books need more of.

There is so much I want to say about the book but I am afraid if I say anything more I will ruin the plot lines. So I will tell you that if you are looking for a fantastic book to pick up I have to recommend this. This is by far my favorite read of 2013.

As you read the book you will feel as though you are actually visualizing it. I love those kind of books that make you feel as though you are a part of it.

I loved the book and I love that even though there was a lot going on everything was neat and tidy. I am dying to read the next installment and really said that I might have to wait another year or two to do so. AGH how could you do this to me Sherry and Tyler?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.
Book Signing with Chris Nilan happening this weekend

Book Signing with Chris Nilan happening this weekend

Posted on by Cindy

If you are a hockey fan you probably know all about Chris Nilan. So this book signing might be of interest to you.

I know I would love to go and bring Michael but I am sure it will be crazy so perhaps we will avoid it. The event is happening this weekend, Saturday November 16th at 2pm at Indigo Place Montreal.

I do believe that Chris still lives in Montreal. Perhaps if he hears about this post he will contact me because I am sure my son would get a kick out of seeing him and meeting him again.

 

One of hockey”s most feared enforcers reveals his off-ice battles with heroin and depression.

Chris Nilan, who grew up in the tough and gritty Irish enclavein Boston, was a feared enforcer for the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, and a Stanley Cup champion never afraid to go into the corners or take off his gloves. He was a valued teammate whose very presence on the ice affected the way the game was played. Always a colourful character, Nilan was married for many years to the daughter of the longtime girlfriend of Boston mob figure Whitey Bulger, among the most notorious, ruthless and murderous gangsters in American history-almost all of his Habs teammates attended the wedding. As an enforcer and as a teammate, Nilan ranks among the greatest of all time.

When the cheering stopped, however, Chris Nilan did not do well. The same qualities-his aggressiveness and high-emotion style-that proved so valuable on the ice did not serve him well when his career ended. Nilan turned to drugs and alcohol to dull his pain, and nearly died from an overdose. Nilan”s story is a fascinating and troubling exposé of the booze, bills and drugs that destroy so many athletes after their careers are over. But it”s also a story of triumph-Nilan has been the victor in his fight against his demons.

 
copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.
Book Spotlight/ Tara's Cross

Book Spotlight/ Tara’s Cross

Posted on by Cindy

Title: Tara’s Cross
Author: G.J. Bachman
Publisher: iUniverse Genre: Memoir
Pages: 176

Purchase at iUniverse

Rescuers pulled George Bachmann, a New York City firefighter from Ten House, from beneath the rubble of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. He survived the terrorist attacks, but somehow, his memory had been temporarily left behind. As Bachmann recuperated, he knew he needed to remember what had happened and he needed to confront his dreams, which was not an easy task. His mind was privy to an unknown piece of history that drove him to the brink.

In this memoir, Tara’s Cross, Bachmann describes the unimaginable events at Ground Zero. He tells not only of his physical recovery, but also shares the return of his memory through a series of dreams. He reveals the details of the magnificent sighting on West Street where he witnessed the two highest ranking NYC officers saluting each other at the foot of the North Tower before they perished on 9/11.

A tale of survival and salvation, Tara’s Cross is a testament to how the mind and soul heal themselves and how the spirits of the honored dead guide them home. This love story, set against the backdrop of the attacks on the World Trade Center, is also one of courage and recovery.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.
Another awesome signing I got to attend

Another awesome signing I got to attend

Posted on by Cindy

Today I was lucky enough to attend another local signing with two awesome authors.

 

 Catherine McKenzie contacted me earlier to let me know that she was going to be doing a signing at my local library in October but I was sadly unable to attend at the last minute. I was disappointed because I would have loved to hear her talk about her book in that kind of setting but I honestly was okay because I knew she was coming to my local Chapters a few weeks later.

When I walked into Chapters at first I have to admit that I had a bit of hard time finding the table. I thought that perhaps I got my dates wrong or that it was cancelled at the last minute but as I was walking around I spotted them in a little cubby hole in the store.

It was nice to see Catherine again and I was telling her that her books seem to be my vacation books because I just read her newest book Hidden on my vacation this summer. My review for that will be up in December when I will be apart of Catherine’s book tour. I am excited for that.

I also got to me another local author, Isabelle LaFleche who is also a Montreal author. It was really nice to meet her finally. I was invited to her book launch of J’adore Paris earlier in the summer by Tina http://bookshipper.blogspot.ca/ but of course I was unable to attend.

You can read about that event that Tina posted on her blog by CLICKING ON THIS TEXT

Then when I was in Hungary I was invited to another event that was being hosted by Harper Collins Canada that had both Catherine and Isabelle in attendace CLICKING ON THIS TEXT (this is a post that Tina wrote on her blog).

Just before leaving the signing Catherine and Isabelle got their table moved into a better location and I hope their signing was a success.

It was so much fun talking to both Catherine and Isabelle and I got my copy of Hidden signed by Catherine. Isabelle signed both her both her books J’Adore New York and J’adore Paris for me. I am super excited to read both Isabelle’s books because Tina has spoken very highly of Isabelle and her books.

Just before I left Catherine and Isabelle graciously allowed me to get pictures. And yes that is two bowls of candy on the table.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.