March is National Reading Month

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Did you know that March is National Reading Month?

I always make reading and having books in our house a top priority and its been like that since day 1. Books are important to have and thankfully I am lucky that I am able to afford buying them and I never say no to a book although I really need to stop. Although I know if money was tight I would be going to the library to borrow them like I do in the summer time.

Did you know that millions of child go to bed each night without a bed time story? This was always part of our bedtime routine with my son. He would have his bath, a snack and then it was story time. This is something that we still sort of do but now Michael is old enough to read to himself so he will do that as we get ready for bed too.

Did you know that some children begin kindergarten having been read to as few as 25 hours, while their peers may have been read to as many as 1,000 hours? Every time you read to your child you are improving their learning advantage.

Did you know that by age four, low-income children have heard an average 32 million fewer words than their wealthy peers? Reading aloud is a key way to introduce new vocabulary.

This month Michael and I are pledging to read aloud for 15 minutes a day.

Do you plan on taking part?

Meme/Waiting on Wednesday #9

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“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:

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On sale April 28th, 2015 from Scholastic

Kody Keplinger returns to the world of The DUFF in this brand-new companion novel!

Sonny Ardmore is an excellent liar. She lies about her dad being in prison. She lies about her mom kicking her out. And she lies about sneaking into her best friend’s house every night because she has nowhere else to go.

Amy Rush might be the only person Sonny shares everything with — secrets, clothes, even a nemesis named Ryder Cross.

Ryder’s the new kid at Hamilton High and everything Sonny and Amy can’t stand — a prep-school snob. But Ryder has a weakness: Amy. So when Ryder emails Amy asking her out, the friends see it as a prank opportunity not to be missed.

But without meaning to, Sonny ends up talking to Ryder all night online. And to her horror, she realizes that she might actually like him. Only there’s one small catch: he thinks he’s been talking to Amy. So Sonny comes up with an elaborate scheme to help Ryder realize that she’s the girl he’s really wanted all along. Can Sonny lie her way to the truth, or will all her lies end up costing her both Ryder and Amy?

*I am super excited for this book to come out.*

Announcement!!!

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I am happy to report that I have been given the green light and I can let you all know that I will be going to BEA/NYC this May.

I am super excited about going. I have worked really hard to make this trip possible.

Are you going?

Review/ Budapest Romance

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budapestromance Before I begin my review I have to send out a huge thank you to Rozsa for sending me her book to read and review and thank you to Dorothy from Pump Up Your Book for allowing me to be a part of the blog tour for this book.

I was sent an email from Pump Up Your Book looking for bloggers to be a part of this blog tour and I quickly replied back with a yes please include me in this tour.

I was lucky enough to have gone to Budapest in the summer of 2013 and instantly fell in love with the city. I want to go back one day and actually see more of Budapest because there is so much to see and do and I would love to see the city at night. I believe the banner picture is the Chain Bridge and the Hungarian Parliament building.

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Hungarian Parliament Building Summer 2013

This was the first time I heard of Rozsa Gaston and her books and after reading Budapest Romance I will be checking out her other books thats for sure.

I really enjoyed reading the book and actually any books that takes place in places that I have been too because I always look for mentions of places I went to and this book was no exception. We didn’t go to the baths but we have been to the market and it was beautiful.

Reading Budapest Romance made me feel like I was transported back to Budapest. Rozsa did an amazing job and maked you feel like your a part of the story. Perhaps it was because I was there that made me feel like that but I have to say after reading this book I really want to go back very soon.

The main character, Kati lives in NYC (another favorite city of mine) and she is a international conference planner who is going to Budapest to wrap up her father’s estate. The last thing on Kati’s mind is finding someone and falling in love with them and this is exactly what happens to Kati because she thinks that this is the right time for a romance to happen.

Its at one of the Hungarian bath house that she meets Jan who is a social worker from Holland. Jan goes to Budapest yearly on doctor’s orders to take advantage of the bath houses to help him with his neck and back pains that he had suffered when he was in a motorcycle accident. The relationship started out sweet with smiles and glances across the baths until Jan finally has enough courage to approach Kati.

Kati hestiated at first because she is still grieving the loss of her father and I think she realized that this long distance relationship couldn’t possibly work but gradually with signs from her father to move on with her life she lets things progress with Jan.

Can their love survive the distance?

This was a super fun read and it was just what I needed.

GlossyBox January Edition

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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.

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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.

Gone But Never Forgotten

Today marks the 7th year anniversary to a tragic accident that took the lives of seven talent young men and a teacher. These young men and teacher were from my old high school, Bathurst High School (BHS). There was one survivor in this accident, Bradd and I think we should also take a moment and think of him on this day.
I remember this day just like it was yesterday, waking up to hear the tragic news that Javier, Justin, Daniel, Nikki, Nicholas, Nathan, Codey and Beth all had died in a car accident on their way home from a basketball game in Moncton. The most shocking was that they were literally just moments away from the Bathurst exit.
To this day my heart literally just breaks for these families and my home town. They may be gone but they will never be forgotten.

First Book of The Year 2015

firstbookof2015Its hard to believe that this is New Year’s Eve…Seriously where did 2014 go? This year literally flew by and honestly I have to say that I am so happy this year is almost over because it feels like its been one thing after another this year and I am hoping and putting it out there that 2015 will be a totally rocking and amazing year for myself and my readers.

Sadly 2014 ends in a tragedy for my family because on Monday my father in law passed away after a brief illness peacefully in his sleep so this week we are making arrangements.

So needless to say I haven’t really been able to put much thought into what I want my first read of 2015 to be. I think I am going to pick up:

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This has been a book I have been wanting to read since it came out a few years ago and I bought it when it came out so I think after seeing the movie this month that its high time to read the book, right?

What will you be reading? How do you decide what you will read?

I should also mention that the totally amazing Sheila from Book Journey is hosting this fun event. I am excited to find out what Sheila and the other bloggers are reading this year.

If you are interested in taking part please CLICK ON THIS TEXT and it will take you to her blog post so you can find out more about this fun event. Will you be taking part?

Its time to reveal the book I will be curling up on the couch with later tonight.