Author: Cindy

Meme/ Know Me Better #4

Posted on by Cindy

I was just recently introduced to this new blog, I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and I was instantly hooked when I saw her pretty blog design. You should check it out if you haven’t already.

Kathy has created this wonderful meme and each week she will pick 5 questions off her author interview list for us to answer.

Kathy invites you to share your answers to these questions as well. You can either leave your answers in this weeks post which if you click here it will take you to it or you can create a post on your blog and then go back and link to this weeks post by clicking here and it will take you there.

Quotes

Top 5 songs on your playlist?
How much time do you spend reading each week?
What is the last thing you Googled?
Favorite places to travel?
What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day?

The top 5 songs on my playlist are:

  1. Finally Found You by Enrique
  2. Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keyes
  3. Dance Again by Jennifer Lopaz and Pitbill
  4. Wild Ones by Flo Rider
  5. Breathe by Faith Hill

How much time do I spend reading each week is a really good question and I would say roughly 10 to 15 hours reading a book but that doesn’t include reading online it emails, comments, blogs etc

The last thing I googles was about a sample I recently got at Sephora, it was the Dior Gentle Cleansing Milk and I wanted to know how to use it. I have never used a cleansing milk before and I figured what better place to ask and search then google.

My favorite places to travel to are NYC, Chicago and Upstate NY. Love those places.

My favorite way to spend a rainy day is curled up on the couch with a good book and a cup of hot tea.

So these are my answers this week check back nect week to find out some more things about me 🙂 Have a good weekend everyone.

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 #4 -Skinny

Posted on by Cindy

Title: Skinny
Author: Donna Cooner
Pages: 272
Pub Date: October 2012
Publisher: Scholastic

Source: I received an ARC of the book when I attend Book Expo America back in May 2012. Thanks to Scholastic USA for providing this for me to review.

About The Book:
A remarkable new voice in YA fiction. And a powerful topic that is both timely—and timeless.

Hopeless. Freak. Elephant. Pitiful. These are the words of Skinny, the vicious voice that lives inside fifteen-year-old Ever Davies’s head. Skinny tells Ever all the dark thoughts her classmates have about her. Ever knows she weighs over three hundred pounds, knows she’ll probably never be loved, and Skinny makes sure she never forgets it.

But there is another voice: Ever’s singing voice, which is beautiful but has been silenced by Skinny. Partly in the hopes of trying out for the school musical—and partly to try and save her own life—Ever decides to undergo a risky surgery that may help her lose weight and start over.

With the support of her best friend, Ever begins the uphill battle toward change. But demons, she finds, are not so easy to shake, not even as she sheds pounds. Because Skinny is still around. And Ever will have to confront that voice before she can truly find her own.

Donna Cooner brings warmth, wit, and startling insight to this unforgettable debut.

Quotes

When I went to BEA last year this was one of the books that I really wanted to get and read. I was so happy when the rep from Scholastic USA offered it to me. Thanks Scholastic for giving it to me.

I actually finished up the book earlier in the week but am only finally sitting down to right it now because the book was that good and I want it to really sink in plus I was having a hard time putting my thoughts into words.

When I started the book I was instantly hooked and managed to read at a steady pace so that I wouldn’t rush through it because I think this is a book you really need to savor and take your time with. I honestly think taking my time made me enjoy it a little more.

I think one of the things I really liked about the book was how real it felt. We all know that kids are being bullied in school and being judged all the time on the way they look etc. I honestly have to say my heart went out to Ever at times as it does for all kinds who are victims of a bully.

Right from the beginning you can tell its loosely based on the fairy tale Cinderella because the main character Ever has lost her mother (like Cinderella) and her father has remarried but her step mother is nothing like the evil step mother (she is skinny and beautiful) and I think you will grow to love the step sisters especially Briella who are also skinny and beautiful).

Ever is the main character and she is a fifteen year old girl who weighs over 300 pounds. She has a little voice in her head (Skinny) that is always there to bring Ever down. Telling her she is fat, that no one will ever love her, that she is ugly etc.

Ever doesn’t have many friends (and this is due to Skinny) but she does have one best friend called Rat ( I would have loved to know where this nick name came from) and he is always there for her. I wish the author would have touched more on their relationship because I felt like Rat could have told us so much.

Ever has tried all kinds of diets and has never successfully lost that much weight. When an unfortunate embarrassing event (my heart actually broke for Ever at this point) happens at school during a presentation that has left Ever totally embarrassed she decides its time to get the gastric bypass surgery.

This has been something that Ever has been researching and thinking about for awhile. I honestly could see how and why Ever wanted to go with this. She thought it would be a quick and easy solution to her problem. She just wants to be a normal teen age girl having fun in school, being accepted and having a boyfriend, who just happens to be her old time friend (Jackson). After the surgery Ever realizes that this isn’t going to be an easy journey and that she really has to work to loose the weight but thanks to Rat he is there encouraging her.

Things are going good for Ever she is loosing the weight, making friends, gets to show everyone she can sing and gets a boyfriend but its not who you think it is. Will she nab her old time friend or is it someone who has always been there for her in good times and bad?

I really enjoyed the book and I am looking forward to future books by Donna Cooner.

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.

Lip Factory Inc Janury Edition

Posted on by Cindy
Today I got my Lip Factory Inc box for January.
 
I am always excited when this box comes in because there is always a suprise element to it and I think thats due to the fact I don’t see alot of spoilers and this box is probably opened the fastest.
 
Since getting the box they have really upted the presentation and I think that says alot about the company and how they represent themselves.

They now ship in a normal brown box but inside the box is a little black box stuffed with crinkle paper to hold it in place.

When I took out the black box I could see that it was filled to the brim. I can’t wait to show you what I got this month.

Please note that I purchase this subscription and that this is just an unboxing posts. If you are interested in subscribing I would apprecitate if you used my name “Cindy Smith” as your referral or http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com I would appreciate that greatly.

Lets get into the box shall we.

As you can see its packed with all kinds of goodies.
The first item I spotted was a dupe for the Beauty Blender. This is used to great a flawless look making it seem like your wearing no make up at all. I have actually been looking at the Beauty Blender but couldn’t never justify spending the money on it so I am thrilled to have gotten this one even if its a dupe for the real one.
These are both new to me items and the first one is Onsen Mirco Water Complex cuticle conditioner which is perfect for this time of the year. To go along with that I got a cult nails polish in the shade Charlatan. Its a sheer color and was told it looks great as a top coat. You can wear this alone as well. I love that this nail polish is cruelty free, 4 free and vegan friendly.
Now two things that I won’t use but will probably give away to someone who could use them is this ELF Brow Stencil Kit and NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in the shade brunette. I admit that I rarely pluck my brows as I leave that for the professionals to do because I have a fear of over plucking. I also got a brow brush.
This month we got some foil samples which I don’t mind. The first two are from dermalogica the pinkish  one is a sheer tint moisturizer and the gray one is a special cleansing gel. On the tops is Beauty So Clean cosmetic Sanitizer wipes which I have to say at first I was a little tired of getting them but once I started to use them I loved them.
Naked Skin Cream is great for the face and body. Its like a whipped cream. I smelled this before but can’t place the smell. Two Lips graciously provided a lip gloss in the Shade Vixen. I was honestly I little scared because its so red. I admit it went a really intense at first but with wear it went into a nice shade and you can put this on top of a lipstick for an intense look. The other lip gloss is from Senna Lip Pics Lacquer in the shade Shiver. Its a vanilla flavored gloss that contains Vitamin A, E, C and Jojoba Oil for extra conditioning. When you put it on its got a frosted look. I discovered for myself that I can’t wear this alone because I find it drying but on top of a clear gloss was nice.
I really liked the box and never have a complaint with it. Everything apart from the foil samples were all full size items.

This months box has a value of over $40 so its paid for itself. I am excited to try everything out

 
What was your favorite thing in the box?
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.

Montreal Beauty Blogger Meet-Up/Swap

Posted on by Cindy

My friend Lucy from Simply Blushed & Moonlight Gleam’s and I are organizing  a Montreal Beauty Blogger Meet Up/Swap for March.  This will be our very first meet up with beauty bloggers/lovers from the Montreal area.

We know there are many beauty bloggers out there and we are always looking to discover some local bloggers to meet, hang out with and chat about all things beauty related.

If you are a beauty blogger/ beauty lover from Montreal (or surrounding area) and are interested in meeting up please let us know here or ask to join our facebook group. You can email me at cindysmith2007ATgmailDOTcom and I can email you the link to the facebook group.

We will be meeting up for coffee at a restaurant in Montreal, and along with chatting about all things beauty, we will be having our own beauty swap! Members are free to bring samples and products that they’d like to trade with other beauty bloggers!

Date: March 2013
Time:
Location:

More details to come very soon.

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.

Meme/ Know Me Better #3

Posted on by Cindy

I was just recently introduced to this new blog, I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and I was instantly hooked when I saw her pretty blog design. You should check it out if you haven’t already.

Kathy has created this wonderful meme and each week she will pick 5 questions off her author interview list for us to answer.

Kathy invites you to share your answers to these questions as well. You can either leave your answers in this weeks post which if you click here it will take you to it or you can create a post on your blog and then go back and link to this weeks post by clicking here and it will take you there.

Quotes

This Week’s Questions:

10 words that describe yourself?

This was a hard one to answer but here goes:

  1. Caring
  2. Kind
  3. Honest
  4. sincere
  5. Loving
  6. thoughtful
  7. determined
  8. Giving
  9. Tired
  10. Busy

Favorite TV Shows?

Some of my favorite shows are:

  • Law & Order SVU
  • Rachel Ray
  • Once Upon a Time
  • Criminal Minds (Love Shemar Moore)
  • Glee
  • Big Bang Theory

If you could take over the world, would you?

Not sure if I would want to because its a huge task and thats to much power for one person to have.

Who was the first boy you kissed?

The first boy I kissed with a boy I knew in grade one and his name was Jody. He was one of the cutest boys in my glass. He had kissed me at recess and say he was now my boyfriend. He wanted me to go to his house for a play date and I said no so that was the end of our grade two romance.

How do you unwind?

When I really need to unwind I tend to take a bubble bath and go to bed to read.

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.

Meme/ Sunday’s In Bed With… #33

Posted on by Cindy

The awesome blogger behind this is Kate from Midnight Book Girl   not only is she an awesome blogger but she is was one of my roommates for BEA. YAY!!

Midnight Book Girl

Sundays In Bed With….is a meme I’ve started to share the book we’re spending the morning in bed with, or the one we’d like to stay curled up in bed with all Sunday if only our busy lives would allow! For fun, take a picture of the book in your bed, or simply write up a post or comment below sharing your Sundays in Bed With book. Quoted from Kate’s blog.

Good Morning everyone. Its hard to believe its that time of the week again for another Sunday’s In Bed With…. It just feels as though the weeks are going faster and faster. Can you believe its alread January 20th?

This is another week that I am not curled up in bed reading. I am super tired and had to make sure Michael was out the door for hockey practice and Faith First. I am going to attempt to do groceries while he is at Faith First.
Although if I was able to, I would be curled up in bed reading this:

I received this book last year at BEA from Scholastic and I am determined to try and read the 50+ books I got from BEA before going to BEA again this year. I know I probably won’t get to read them all but hopefully I can get through a good chunk of them.

What are you reading today?

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.

The Wash Box – January Editon

Posted on by Cindy

Good Morning everyone. I have a new subscription service to share with you today. Its called The Wash Box and its a quarterly subscription service. This is my very first box and I have been anxiously awaiting this one for a few months. The first box was in September and I had just missed out on that so I have been waiting that long.

A little bit about the box and the subscription before I get into what I received in this box.

All subscription boxes will include 8-10 exclusive Suds Bar Soap and Essentials products in adorable mini-sizes as well as other brands every now and then. You will also receive a $10 Suds Bar Soap and Essentials gift code in each Wash Box you get.

The boxes are available three times a year, January, May and September to go along with the seasons basically. As a subscriber we will get the boxs roughly three weeks before the product launch of the box. Its a sneak before to what will be available.

For Canadians its $27.99 and for Americans its $19.99

Quotes

The box is shipped in a small brown box and packed with tissue paper. The box was packed and I had no idea what to pull out first. I also have to add that the box smelled really good. Everything is all hand made.

This first thing I pulled out was this Sea Island Grapefruit soap. This smells just like a tropical paradise. It also looks tropical. I can’t wait to start using this soap.

Next is this White Tea & Ginger Body Butta. You apply this to the driest areas of your skin. Its moisture intensive so it will soften all those dry areas. This is another great smelling item. I noticed that once I put it on my hand to blend in that the scent instantly reminded me of my aunt. I think this will last quite a while since a little goes a long way.

I have to say almost right away that I love how everything is package. Especially this Moisturizing Tinted Lip Butter. The containter is a cardboard  container so there isn’t alot of waste and I am sure its all recycable. Now when I opened this I was like wow thats dark (Brick House) but once I put it on to try it wasn’t that dark on me. I really like the color was nice and it doesn’t leave your lips sticky or tacky. They felt like they were getting moisturized.

Another soap I think I am really going to enjoy trying is this Oatmeal Milk & Honey. This smelled so good. Its a great blend and the smell is delicious. This smells like something I have smelled before although right now I can’t for the life think of what it is. 

This has got to be one of the cutest little perfume samples I have ever seen. Its Serene Perfume Oil. I loved this from the moment I put it on and a little goes a long way. I am not good at describing smell so I am not even going to try but it was sort of fruity/floral ish. It was a great blend. I can’t wait to add this into my dialy collection.

This is called a Lotion Stick and you  apply it to the dry areas of your body. When I first saw it was like wow a deodorant but when I flipped it over I saw that it was this. What a neat idea. Great packaging. This smells so good. I think this had to be my favorite scent of the box. This smells of a certain kind of cookie that I use to eat when I lived in NB. Sadly they no longer make them and its been years so I have forgotten the name of them. But ya I am sure I will be going crazy using this now.

These are new to me but excited to try them out.  The first one is Tahitian Desire and the second one is Polynesian Breeze. Both smelled really nice. So not only is this good for your body but your hair too. All you have to do is spritz some on your hands and rub together and then work your hands into your hair. I haven’t tried this yet but will very soon.

I love burning candles and wax tarts so I am super excited to start burning this one asap. I don’t know what the smell is but I really like this and curious to see what the throw will be like. I will let you know when I finish burning it.

Finally the last item is this Shampoo Bar. How interesting is this? I haven’t used a shampoo bar yet (although I have a few that I should really try) but the idea of a bar of shampoo intriques me.

So this is what I got in my very first The Wash Box. I am really impressed with the contents and as you can tell I am excited to try them all out. I like how its all natural and hand made. I can’t wait for the May box to come.

What interests you in this box?

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.