Best Book Covers of 2014 (MUST be a book released in 2014. Would be best if it’s a book you’ve READ in 2014, but it’s not required)
These are my choices, what are yours?
Author: Cindy
The Christmas 2014 Tag
This is the last Christmas Tag that I am taking from last year. I hope you are enjoying the replies to the questions and please let me know in the comments below if you are taking part.
Its hard to believe its that time of year again. It literally just feels like we did this yesterday. I am super excited because I have discovered that Michael still believes in Santa or perhaps he is just humoring me. I always worry that this will be the year he tells me he doesn’t.
I have tagged ALL of you guys to do this so don’t forget to do this tag and then comment below with a link so I can read it! I look forward to seeing your replies to the questions.
Have fun and Merry Christmas.
1. Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?
I prefer a real Christmas tree. Growing up we always had a real tree so that is all I really know. I love the smell of it when it comes in and throughout the Christmas holiday. Plus getting a real tree allows us to spend the afternoon with friends as we go and cut down our tree. The place we go to actually shows you how to cut the tree so that it will continue to grow which is amazing. Plus our trees don’t go into the garbage in the New Year our city has a pick up date and they mulch it.
2. You’re in a coffee shop, it’s December, what do you pick?
I would probably get a hot chocolate (depending on where I was) otherwise it would be the Starbucks Carmel Brulee latte or Chestnut Praline Latte. I love both of those drinks.
(this is our tree last year and I tend to decorate it the same way each year)
3. Whats your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?
For the past 15 years we have used multi colored lights on the tree but next year I am going for white ones because I would love to do my tree in white and red. I love that color scheme for a tree.
4. Giving or receiving?
I love giving presents at Christmas. I think everyone deserves to get a little something during the Christmas season no matter what it is. Its the thought that counts.
5. To mince pie or not to?
OMG I love mince pies. I make them every year. This was something I grew up with and to this day I continue to make them every year. Christmas isn’t complete without them.
6. What’s your traditional Sunday lunch?
I would think you are talking in reference to Christmas day. We don’t go to my in laws until dinner time so we tend to have a brunch which consist of eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, toast with fresh baked buns with orange juice and coffee and a bowl of fruit.
Christmas dinner is the whole works of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, salad, potatoes and desserts.
7. Christmas day fashion?
We go to Christmas eve mass so we always dress up. Christmas day I always wear something new that I bought for the holiday. Not sure what it is this year as I haven’t really found what I am looking for but we always dress up Christmas day.
8. What’s your favourite Christmas song?
My all time favorite Christmas song is “Last Christmas” by Wham although I do like all versions of it. I love Christmas music and nothing beats the classic songs of the holiday season.
9. What’s your favourite Christmas film?
We have so many favorites from the classic cartoons to Miracle on 34th Street.
10. Open presents before or after lunch?
Christmas presents are opened before lunch. I have a child so there is no way he is going to wait much longer to open them up. When he was much younger we could literally do half before lunch and the rest after lunch but as he got older they are opened rather quickly.
I hope you enjoyed reading my replies and I look forward to yours.
Top 10 of 2014 (Day 1)
Welcome to Day 1 of the Top 10 of 2014, A Week of Looking Back…And Looking Forward.
Today’s topic is:
Best Books I’ve Read in 2014 (Doesn’t have to be released in 2014, just a book you’ve read in 2014)
We are off to a great start today. I had to think a little bit on which books I would pick. BTW I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else picked. Here is my list:
- Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin
- A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall
- Losing Logan by Sherry D Ficklin
- Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella
- Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
- The Taking by Kimberly Derting
- The Girl Who Never Was by Skylar Dorset
- Dream Boy by Madelyn Rosenberg and Mary Crockett
- The Dare by Hannah Jayne
- Chasing Before #2 by Lenore Appelhans
This list is in no particular order.
What is in your list?
GlossyBox December Edition
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.
As you can see I actually got my December box in December and right before Christmas too. I should let you know now that I purchased this monthly subscription with my own money.
I was surprised to get my box today in the mail. I didn’t think Canada Post was working on Sundays so imagine my surprise when he rang the bell this morning.
I am going to start off by saying that I love the overall presentation of this months box from the outside all the way to the inside. Don’t you?
I also have to note that once I opened the box it smelt really good. Not quite sure what it is but it smells really good.
Toni & Guy is a brand I have heard of before and I have gotten a few things from this brand before. This is a leave in conditioner (I think this could be what is making the box smell so good). I love trying out hair treatments. This is suppose to protect and prime the hair.
SRV= $16.99 for 3.3 fl oz and this is a full size item.
A brand I have been wanting to try is NUXE and now I can I was sent a Masque Creme Fraiche de Beaute. Its a 24 hour soothing and rehydrating fresh mask. Its perfect for this time of the year. It will keep my face moisturized.
SRV=$32 for 1.7oz and this is a full size item too. Wow
Another new to me brand is Rituals Cosmetics but looking at it now I feel as though I have seen this name before but I could be wrong. I got the Miracle Scrub in Ginseng & Ginkgo Biloba. Try and say that 10x fast. Another item that is good this time of the year. I will have the softest hands this winter. I am excited to use this.
SRV= $17 for 2.5 fl oz and this too is a full size item.
Bellapierre Cosmetics is brand I am very familiar with as I have gotten several make up items from this brand. I like the packaging on the lipstick. Its a pretty color and its in the shade Burlesque. Its a mineral lipstick. I am going to be trying this out during the holiday season. I have to admit I am not into dark shades but I really like this one.
SRV=$19.99 for 0.12oz and this is a full size item
This is a mini paint pot in All Aglow by Ciate. I have never tried this before so I will be excited to try this out for Christmas. Looking at it you think its a gold glitter polish but when you look closely you see some tiny flecks of red. It is so pretty and once I do my nails I will post a picture. I will have to try it bare and over a polish to see what it will look like.
SRV= $10 for 0.17oz adn this is a full size item.
The SRV of this months box is $95.98 and I am impressed product/ brand wise and value wise. This is why I love Glossybox. You always get the value back in the box and I am super excited to try everything out this month.
Since I got two boxes in one month I didn’t get a chance to completely try out my last box so starting in January, I will be doing a what I thought of Glossybox post. Not sure if I will include that in my unboxing or a separate post. What do you think?
All I Want For Christmas Is… #6
by #BookWishlist, #Christmas2014
Danya from A Tapestry of Words started this fun little feature on her blog called All I Want For Christmas Is… and basically what you do is share your wishlist of books. I thought that this would be something fun to do perhaps on a weekly bases until Christmas. Can you believe we are a little over a month to go?
Its hard to believe that this is my last wishlist post for 2014. I can’t believe that Christmas is this week. Where did the time go?
I do believe that there is a weekly meme for wishlist book that I think I might look into for 2015. Do you know of any good ones?
Here is my 5 books this week:
Movie Review/ The Maze Runner & Give Away
I was contacted by Think Jam a little awhile ago asking if I would like to be a part of The Maze Runner promotion and I instantly said yes because one I have never read the books (even though I own them) and secondly I have wanted to see the movie since I saw previews for it when it came out.
I was selected along with a handful of other bloggers (some that I knew and some that I didn’t) and we were all going to get to watch the movie and join in the twitter party (that happened on Friday Dec. 20th) with @JamesDashner . How fun does that sound?
I was a little late in getting to the twitter party because we had hockey but I quickly rushed home popped the dvd in and hit play. I fast forwarded the upcoming releases just because I was a little behind and quickly logged onto twitter to see all the action happening.
The Maze Runner is based on the first novel by James Dashner The Maze Runner which is part of a popular YA trilogy.
I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through the movie because let me tell you I am a huge chicken when it comes to scary stuff and at times I think I was looking through the cracks of my fingers and yes I did jump and perhaps let out a scream once or twice but I made it through and it was all fast paced and the movie just whipped through. When it ended I was like WTH? No it can’t end there has to be more.
What can I say about it? It was amazing and I am making plans to read the books this holiday season because I have to admit it feels like I am missing out on something. I know I should have read the book before but IRL happened.
The soundtrack was amazing and the music suited each scene perfectly. The setting was breath taking at times. I can’t describe it. It looked so real and made you believe that this could really happen. The maze was incredible and I can’t imagine how many hours went into making it.
I think Thomas was my favorite throughout the whole movie and I think when he remembered his name it made me cry and then there was Chuck who I instantly feel in love with and just wanted to reach into the movie and hug. The ending I wasn’t prepared for and literally cried through it.
There was also some pretty fun scenes through out the book that made me laugh which was nice.
This is definitely not something I would let Michael watch right away because its pretty scary when the Grievers were around. Even I was a little scared of them. Plus there was some language which I know he already knows and has heard on the school bus.
After seeing the movie I have to say I really need to read the books.
So enough of my rambling because I feel as though I am the only one who hasn’t read the book. Anyways I have an awesome give away for 1 lucky reader of my blog. One of you will win a book/Blu-ray bundle. Which consist of a hardcover book “The Maze Runner” and a Blu-Ray dvd movie. The contest is open to Canada and USA.
To enter this all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me why you would like to win this bundle and I will randomly pick on comment to win. One comment only please, duplicates will be deleted.
Please note that you must include a email address so that I know how to contact you should you be the winner. If you are selected you will need to respond within 24 to 48 hours because a rep from Think Jam will be mailing out the prize and I would like to have it done by the end of the year.
So this is open now and will run until December 26th at 11:59pm.
12 Days of Book Blogmas (Day 7)
A Holiday Tradition…
Growing up my family had a few traditions such as we all got new pjs, socks and underwear for Christmas and we also got a huge orange and a red delicious apple.
Since moving away from home and starting my own family I have continued the new pjs, socks, undewear, the apple and orange. I have also added things such as we all get something new to wear on Christmas day (sweater, shirt etc), every year we pick out a new ornament for the tree, a new Christmaas picture book is bought as well as a new movie and christmas cd.
I think its fun to make traditions that are your own and things you can pass done to your children.
What are some of your traditions?