Cindy

Fortune Cookie Soap The Soap Box Spring 2015 Edition

Posted on February 17, 2015February 23, 2015 by Cindy

All subscription boxes will include 8 exclusive FCS products in adorable mini-sizes. You will also receive a $10 FCS gift code with each Soap Box, that can be redeemed online or in our retail store. Price includes shipping.

Cost for the Soap Box is:

United States $19.99 and its billed every 3 months
Canada $28.00 and its billed every 3 months
International $34.00 and its billed every 3 months
Summer box is now open CLICK ON THIS

I probably begin each and every Fortune Cookie Soap unboxing post by saying that this is my favorite quarterly subscription box and honestly it is my absolute favorite subscription box out there. Please note that I am not sponsored by them and these boxes are purchased by me so this is my honest and sincere opinion.

The theme this month is Wonderland. This box smelled so good when I opened it. If this is what Spring is suppose to smell like then bring it on.

“Almost Alice” Fortune Cookie Soap. The soap is a baby blue colored soap and it smells heavenly. Smelling this makes me think of spring and what spring should smell like. Its a fresh green snap peas and juicy pears brighten this bouquest of sweet pea flowers and freesia, sprinkled with ripe berries. Each fortune cookie soap comes with a fortune and mine said “Which luckily I am.”

“Twisted Tea Party” bath tea is a whole new concept to me. I never knew what they were until I started to get beauty box subscriptions. All you have to do is get a bath running and drop it in. This is another scent that when I smell I instantly think of spring. This is a light refreshing green tea with notes of sweet herbs, vanilla bean, cucumber, golden amber and hits of neroli and geranium stirred with a bright sprig of spearmint.

“Who Are You?” Incense Cones. I was curious when I saw the little bag in the box because I had no idea what it was. I instantly thought of my aunt because she use to always burn incense cones. This is a mysterious mixture of crisp, ripe, pear twisted with tart limes, vanilla orchid, and a dash of raw can sugar. I got seven in the bag.

“It’s Only a Dream” Whipped Cream. I love that they give you a generous sample size of their items espeically there whipped creams because you get alot of uses out of them. This is a calming verbena. lemongrass, calla lily and citrus blended with leafy greens, ylang-ylang, rosewood and ozone with hints of soft musk and roses.

It smells spring like and the whipped cream isn’t greasy and it absorbs into the skin quickly leaving a fresh spring like smell on your hands.

“Off With Their Heads” bath bomb. I love bath bombs so I am excited to use this up. Its lemon and orange scented mixed with wild roses, violets and star jasmine perfumed with tones of bergamont and Egyptian musk. I was expecting something else when I smelled this such as a spring scent and its not really that but still smells really nice.

“Futterwacken” body wash. When I saw this I instantly thought I was getting alcohol because its in that kind of packaging but then I realize that hey FCS wouldn’t do that or would they? Its bright orange and I when I smelled it I instantly thought of the orange crush pop (soda). This is a sun warmed lilies brightened with a splash of grapefruit and a breath of fresh air. I have a feeling that this will be used up in one shower oh no!

“Eat Me” Perfume Oil. This is another item that I am getting use to using. A little goes a long way when you wear it. I think this was one that I took forever to try and figure out that scents and I was wrong. Its yellow cake with fresh slathering of rich creamy vanilla frosting topped with fresh white pineapple slices with sprigs of cilantro. Even after I read the card I was still trying to figure it out.

Finally the last item in the box is the “We’re All Mad Here” OCD Hand Sanitizer. Just an FYI don’t use if you have a cut on your hand because it will hurt like he**. I love that we always get these because I love throwing them in a purse to have on hand when we are out and in a pinch. The scent was really nice and not strong. The scent is playful mint waters and natural leafy green notes along with a musky rich cedarwood.

This was another amazing box and I have to say it came at the perfect time. I am in dire need of some spring because I am getting tired of the bitter cold winter we are having. Getting this box makes it feel like spring is just around the corner and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I will always say that this subscription is worth it. This will always be a box that I will keep subscribed to.

The spring box will be launching later this week (February 27th at 6:30pm CST) and you will be able to purchase the above products then.

They have also opened up the signups for the Summer box. I have include the link above.

Review & Blog Tour/ New Uses For Old Boyfriends

Posted on February 16, 2015February 17, 2015 by Cindy

New Uses For Old Boyfriends Series: Black Dog bay #2

by Beth Kendrick
Format: Paperback
Published by Penguin on February 3rd 2015
Pages: 336
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Genres: Contemporary Women, Fiction

After growing up in privilege and marrying into money, Lila Alders has gotten used to the good life. But when her happily-ever-after implodes, Lila must return to Black Dog Bay, the tiny seaside town where she grew up. She’s desperate for a safe haven, but everything has changed over the past ten years. Her family’s fortune is gone—and her mother is in total denial. It’s up to Lila to take care of everything...but she can barely take care of herself.The former golden girl of Black Dog Bay struggles to reinvent herself by opening a vintage clothing boutique. But even as Lila finds new purpose for outdated dresses and tries to reunite with her ex, she realizes that sometimes it’s too late for old dreams. She’s lost everything she thought she needed but found something—someone—she desperately wants. A boy she hardly noticed has grown up into a man she can’t forget...and a second chance has never felt so much like first love.READERS GUIDE INCLUDED

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This is the second book in the Black Dog Bay series and I have to admit at first I didn’t realize it until I was reading it and a few characters names popped up that I am like I have seen their names before so I quickly had to check it out and yes this is the second book but let me tell you that you don’t really need to read the first one, Cure For The Common breakup to follow along with this book.

Like I mentioned in my review for Cure For The Common Breakup, I have never read anything by Beth Kendrick before this and I am really interested in reading more because I really enjoy her writing. So I will be checking out her other books very soon.

Lila is the main character in New Uses For Old Boyfriends and she is living the dream life. She is married and is one of the host of a shopping channel. She thinks things are good until her husband divorces her and leaves her with barely anything. She decides to move back home and help her mother out since she recently lost her father.

Lila things that things are good for her mother and that there is enough money to take care of herself and possibly Lila but she quickly realizes thats not the case. Not only is Lila in financial trouble but so is her mother. Lila always thought that her father had everything in control but realizes things weren’t as they seemed and it seems like her mother, Daphne who was once a model in her younger days has a shopping problem and it leaves them no choice but to have to sell the house in order to get out of the red.

Daphne wants nothing to do with that and fights every step of the way and its only when Lila discovers that the situation is more serious then expected. When Lila discovers all the vintage gowns and clothes hidden away she encourages her mother to sell them and once they realize there is a demand they thing that this could be the answer to their financial problems.

Now no book would be complete without a little romance and Lila has her share of it. Her mother has her sights set on Ben an old high school boyfriend that would be the perfect man for Lila. Lila at first thinks she could rekindle that romance but so discovers that Ben has his sights on someone else that he is hoping will work out and will it?

The second man, Malcolm, who she discovers by accident and who I have to say that I actually liked from the moment he was introduced. Back in high school Lila had snubbed him and he remembered it like it was yesterday he slowly chips away at her but will be win her heart?

I really enjoyed reading this book and it was a fun and quick read. The third book is called Put A Ring On It and its out November 2015 and you know I will be reading this when it comes out.

Meme/Waiting on Wednesday #6

Posted on February 11, 2015January 26, 2015 by Cindy

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine and its spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly waiting for. I plan on including upcoming releases and books that are already released.

This week I am featuring:

From the Back Cover

A spinning wheel.
A prick of a finger.
A Terrible curse.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her “true love” is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept. Everyone expects Aurora to marry her betrothed and restore magic and peace to the kingdom before revolution tears it apart. But after a lifetime spent locked in a tower for her own safety, Aurora longs for the freedom to make her own choices. When she meets a handsome rebel, she is tempted to abandon everything for a different kind of life.

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

A Wicked Thing is a surprising, spellbinding reimagining of what happens after happily ever after.

On sale February 24th from HarperTeen.

Review/ After

Posted on February 10, 2015February 11, 2015 by Cindy

After Series: After Series #1

by Anna Todd
Format: Paperback
Published by Simon and Schuster on October 21st 2014
Pages: 592
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Women, Fiction, General, New Adult, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Suspense, Thrillers

Now newly revised and expanded, Anna Todd’s After fanfiction racked up 1 billion reads online and captivated readers across the globe. Experience the Internet’s most talked-about book for yourself!There was the time before Tessa met Hardin, and then there’s everything AFTER... Life will never be the same. #HessaTessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way. But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos, and lip ring, Hardin is cute and different from what she’s used to. But he’s also rude—to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin. And she does—until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before. He’ll call her beautiful, then insist he isn’t the one for her and disappear again and again. Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper. Tessa already has the perfect boyfriend. So why is she trying so hard to overcome her own hurt pride and Hardin’s prejudice about nice girls like her? Unless…could this be love?

I just recently heard about After by Anna Todd and her series of books and I have to admit I was curious about them so thankfully Chapters had a promotion that I took advantage off and bought three books in the series.

The books in the series are: After We Collided, After We Fell and After Ever Happy (available Feruary 24th)

I honestly had no idea what to expect when I started them and I am going to say that I was pleasantly surprised. In case you didn’t know, Anna had originally wrote this on Wattpad and its fan fiction which I have to admit that this is something new to me. Its inspired by One Directions bad boy Harry Styles. I am not on One Direction fan and have no idea who is in the bad and what they do but I figured why not give it a try. I have been looking for something a little different to read and this was it. I just wonder is the Wattpad version the same thing or is it different? I will need to check that out.

I read this over a course of about a week (582 pages) and I was hooked after a few chapters and thankfully I have book two sitting here waiting to go because I am curious to what happens next in this wild and crazy relationship that Tessa and Hardin have.

The main character Tessa actually rubbed in the wrong way in the first few chapters because she comes off as this goodie two shoes, who is the perfect girl, has the perfect house, has the perfect mother, boyfriend etc…you name it that is what she is. I honestly didn’t think I was going to like her but as the story progresses you realize that she is the way she is because of the way she is brought up.

Now the other main character is Hardin and I am going to admit I had a love/hate/love relationship with him. One minute he is this jerk that you just want to punch in the face and then the next you love him until he opens is mouth again and then I wanted to punch him. I really don’t think I could have stayed with this ticking time bomb because he would have drove me crazy.

Their relationship is like watching a train wreck happening and that makes you want to read the book more to find out because it was always them fighting over something. I do have to admit at times it was just a little much and way Tessa stayed is beyond me.

Tessa is clearly head over heels in love and has given up her family to be with him. Is he worth it? Now is Hardin in love with her? That was going through my mind the whole time because he would be sweet and loving one minute then crazy jealous and flipping out the next. He had to control Tessa and for me I loved when she stood up to him.

Throughout the book I kept saying something is up because this can’t be love for him and then slowly Tessa breaks down the walls and he starts revealing things about his past which make a bit of sense but I still was leary of him and boys was I surprised at the end of the book. I was not expecting that to happen. How will Tessa react? Could that be the straw that breaks the camels back?

Probably not since there are three other books in the series which I am dying to read now.

Have you read the book or heard about it? What did you think?

Meme/Waiting on Wednesday….#5

Posted on February 4, 2015November 26, 2014 by Cindy

This week I am featuring:

Pub Date: March 31, 2015

In this sequel to the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die, who is good—and who is actually Wicked?

My name is Amy Gumm—and I’m the other girl from Kansas.

After a tornado swept through my trailer park, I ended up in Oz.

But it wasn’t like the Oz I knew from books and movies. Dorothy had returned, but she was now a ruthless dictator. Glinda could no longer be called the Good Witch. And the Wicked Witches who were left? They’d joined forces as the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, and they wanted to recruit me.

My mission?

Kill Dorothy.

Except my job as assassin didn’t work out as planned. Dorothy is still alive. The Order has vanished. And the home I couldn’t wait to leave behind might be in danger.

Somehow, across a twisted and divided land, I have to find the Order, protect the true ruler of Oz, take Dorothy and her henchmen down—and try to figure out what I’m really doing here.

GlossyBox January Edition

Posted on February 2, 2015March 4, 2015 by Cindy

Glossybox is a bespoke box of 5-6 luxury-sized cosmetic and wellness samples hand-picked by our beauty experts and mailed directly to your door. No matter which subscription plan you choose, from once-a-month to just once, this box is perfect little present from you to you!

There are four different types of GLOSSYBOX subscriptions: a monthly package ($21/month), a 3-month package ($60), a 6-month package ($115), and a 12 month package ($220). All regular subscriptions are recurring, unless cancelled within the term deadline. Please note that Canadian addresses will incur a $5 shipping fee. So be sure to add $5 on to the above totals.

Please note that if you use my referral link and sign up I will receive points that I can use towards a free box, so I invite you to use THIS LINK it will be greatly appreciated. Also please note that these boxes are purchased with my own money, I am in no way being compensated by Glossybox.

I am always excited when Glossy Box comes each month. This is one of those boxes I try to avoid watching or reading any spoilers on.

The first item I am going to talk about is the Skin & Co Roma Sicilian Light Serum. Its suppose to correct imperfections while softening and tighening the skin. I haven’t tried using this yet just because we have been so busy with hockey and they way my skin reacts to items I didn’t want to have any kind of reaction so I will be trying this after hockey. I did try a little on my hand and it blend into the skin nicely leaving a nice smooth surface. There is a scent that is nice and not strong.

I was sent a sample size of 0.17 fl oz and the full size is 1 fl oz for $47.00

The next item is the Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Beautiful flat brush stiff. I was thrilled to have gotten this because I always need a eyeshadow brush and the packaging is so pretty. The brush is made with natural hair. The bristles are soft but a little firm with fitted round edges which is perfect for applying powder and cream shadows to both upper and lower eyelids.

This is a full size item and sells for $23.50

Another item I was excited to get was the Kueshi Revitalizing Face Toner. I have never heard of this brand before but I am excited to try it because it promises to rebalance skin with a blend of liquid moisturizers like aloe leaf and flower extracts. Its suppose to control shine in oily prone areas and soften dry spots. I haven’t tried this out yet either for the some reasons mentioned above.

This is a full size item and is 6.76 fl oz for $13.30

Vichy is a brand I am familiar with so it was nice to see that I got the purete Thermale 3-1 One step cleanser. I am excited to try this out because its an all in one formula (cleansing milk, toner and make up remover). I will probably save this and use it when we travel with hockey or on vacation this summer when I know time is limited for time to get ready. I love that you can just wipe it away with or without water.

I got a sample size of 1 flo oz and the full size is $19.50 for 6.7 fl oz. I love that this isn’t too expensive and that if you like it you won’t be breaking the bank to repurchase this.

Finally the last item is by Lollipops and they sent an Eye Pencil in Goodbye Moon. I have never heard of this brand before and its a retractable eyeliner pencil in black. Its long lasting. Its enriched with vitamin e. You can wear as is or smudge it for a smokey eye.

The pencil retails for $17.70 and it was a full size item.

This is my third box and I have to say so far I haven’t been disappointed in anything. This month we got three full size items, one sample size and I would say one deluxe sized sample. This box did pay for itself.

January Book Un-Hauling #1

Posted on January 29, 2015January 31, 2015 by Cindy

Good morning everyone. Today I thought I would start a new monthly feature on my blog and its going to be all the books I un-haul for that month and it will be posted at the end of each month.

I know I have shown in the past the books I have released but you never really got to see what books they were and why I was releasing them so I thought I would start 2015 with that.

If you know me IRL you know that I don’t tend to keep the books I have read unless I really like it or I love the covers, but once the fall came around and I was cleaning up for Christmas and preparing my background for my YouTube show, I realized that I have way to many books as you can see from this photo below and everything just looked cluttered and overwhelming. (This has already been purged in the fall and alot of books were given away then)

That is just what is on the book cases image having boxes and boxes and more boxes fulled with books in your basement just sitting there and that will be tackled this summer.

So, for now I thought I would just tackle what I can physically see around me. This week I ended up tidying up the book cases behind me just because it didn’t look right on camera so these are the books from the book case and that huge stack beside it. I will post a photo at the end of this post showing the new look.

Books Read:

Budapest Romance by Rozsa Gaston (Read and Review will be up in February)
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Can’t Look Away by Donna Cooner
Captivated by You by Sylvia Day
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Defriended by Ruth Baron
Cure For The Common Break Up by Beth Kendrick
Good Riddance by Cythina Copeland
Beginning Pearls by Stephan T Pastis
Blaze by Laurie Boyle Crompton
In Real Life (Love, Lies & Identity in the Digital Age) by Nev Schulman
The Silversix by AJ Lieberman & Darren Rawlings
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Letting Ana Go
Fakebook (A true story based on actual lies) by Dave Cicirelli
Reflected in You by Sylvia Day
Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich
Prodigy by Marie Lu
Fever by Megan Abbott
Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans
Mia’s Dairy Home Sweet Rome by Marissa Moss
Teen Boat by Dave roman and John Green
Send by Patty Blount

Those were all the books I have read and enjoyed and with the amount of books on my TBR I know I will never re-read them so why not pass them along to others who will enjoy the books just as much as I did, right?

The following books are books that I didn’t like/enjoy or didn’t finish. The have been sitting on my shelf for the longest time in hopes that I would re pick it up to try again but honestly I think that if I couldn’t get into them the first time I probably won’t get into them again. So its time to take them off the shelf and share them with people who will actually read and enjoy them. Sorry if this list upsets anyone but its only my personal taste and not everyone likes what everyone is reading or has read.

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn
Return To Sender by Julia Alvarez
Hedge Fund Wives by Tatianna Boncompagni
Feminista by Erica Kennedy
The Beef Princess of Practical County by Michelle Houts
The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones
Just One Kiss by Susan Mallery
Forever an Eaton by Rochelle Alers
The Night is Watching by Heather Graham
Rescue My Heart by Jill Shalvis
Deas is a Killer Tune by Marlene Perez
The Book of Mormon Girl by Joanna Brooks
Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin & Nicole Kraus
Shelter by Frances Greenslade
Some Kind of Peace by Camilla Grebec & Asa Traff
The Broken Lands by Kate Milford
Farewell to Freedom by Sara Blaedel
Only One Life by Sara Blaedel
What Came From The Stars by Gary D Schmidt
Beach Season by Lisa Jackson

A photo posted by @cindysloveofbooks on Jan 31, 2015 at 6:17am PST

This is what it currently looks like. As you can see I still have alot of books and I am trying to avoid having them double or triple stacking apart from the bottom shelves and I am going to make it a point to read those one firsts.

The total of un-hauled books for January is 46.