Books I Want to Read

If you’re like me, then you probably have a big stack (or shelf, or list) of books that you plan on reading in the near future.  And in my case, not only do I have a list; I also have the physical books already.  Because yes, I’ve already gone out and either purchased them, or have received the as a gift.  But that’s completely normal right?

Here are the top books on my ‘to read’ list:

1.    Pandemonium – The second book in the Delirium trilogy, I am super excited to read this book that I received as a gift for my birthday in September.  I am currently reading the first book in the series, and am completely in love with the world that was created and can’t wait to continue on with the story.  If you’re a fan of books like “The Hunger Games,” or “Divergent,” I would highly recommend this series.

2.    Matched – Another dystopian trilogy similar to “The Hunger Games,” and “Divergent,” I have heard some great things about the Matched books and cant’ wait to dive into this series.  In case you weren’t able to tell yet, I have quite a thing for the dystopian novel lately.

3.    The Cuckoo’s Calling – Written by the lovely J.K. Rowling under a different name, I simply have to read it, basically just because of who it is written by.  I mean, let’s face it, anything Rowling writes is pure gold.  I may be making a pretty big assumption by saying that, but I feel pretty confident in my ‘inspiration’s’ abilities here.

4.    The Song of Ice and Fire series – I am currently reading the first book in the series, “A Game of Thrones,” and it’s been a very long process.  As in, I’ve been working on the book for over a year.  Not that the book is bad, but I have a copy with very tiny print and a tendency to get bad migraines- two things that do not mix well.  I am almost finished the first book however, and look forward to continuing on with the rest of the series, and beginning the tv show on HBO, which I have heard incredible things about.

And there you have it- the top things on my list of things to read!  What is on YOUR reading list?  Let me know in the comments below if you have any recommendations for me!  I’m always on the hunt for new material!

Don’t forget to follow me on GoodReads!

http://www.goodreads.com/allisonlag

Household Tip: How to Clean an Eyelash Curler

For all of you ladies out there, we’ve all been there- having an eyelash curler that is so full of makeup buildup it’s disgusting.  But have no fear!  There is now no need to rush out and buy a new curler just because your old one is dirty!  In just a few minutes, you can have an eyelash curler that looks brand-spanking new!

All you need is your eyelash curler, a hairdryer, and a tissue or cloth (I recommend a tissue).

1.     Using your hairdryer, heat/blow hot air on the built-up makeup on your eyelash curler.  This should take no more than 30 seconds.  I like using the low setting for this.

2.     Take your tissue/cloth and wipe the makeup away!  The makeup should be easy to remove.  Don’t forget to clean the black rubber piece!

3.     If the makeup did not come all the way off the first time, simply reheat and wipe again.

And there you have it- a simple at home DIY that takes less than 5 minutes!  Having a clean eyelash curler can do wonders.  Not only does it make you feel like you have a brand new product/took in your collection, but it also helps your lashes curl nicer and that curl will hold better throughout the day.  All around a winning situation.

I hope you all enjoyed this little DIY and that it benefits you all.  Please share this tip with your family and friends if you enjoyed it!  And be sure to let me know if there are any other DIYs that you would like to see in the future or if you have any other post requests in the comments below!

Happy Reading,

Allison

Awesome Fall Nail Polishes

Hey everyone!  For today’s post, I thought I’d share some of my current favorite fall nail polishes with you all.  I absolutely love the fall season, and I love the fall nail polish colors that I get to decorate my nails with.  So here are my current top five polishes, for your viewing pleasure.

Zoya “Pinta”  I think this is the first time I’ve ever featured a Zoya polish, and to be honest, that’s just because I don’t have many of them.  But I absolutely love this deep eggplant/amethyst color.  Plus, it’s also a great JMU (my university) purple color!  Go Dukes!

Ruffian “Fox Hunt”  Another new brand to my blog, this brand is also brand spanking new to the market.  This polish is a gorgeous burnt orange/red toned color that was featured in the latest Birchbox, which is how I received mine. 

China Glaze “Harvest Moon”  Part of the Hunger Games polish collection, this color is a beautiful golden color with sparkle, or shimmer flecks, in it.

China Glaze “Hook and Line”  Another polish from China Glaze’s Hunger Games collection, Hook and line is a slate gray color with a small hint of shimmer in it, but not too much – it’s just enough to make the gray not boring.  I highly recommend this color for someone who is looking for a color that is more muted/subtle but still stylish.

China Glaze “Sex on the Beach”  Last but not least, this polish is a muted pink color with a hint of purple shimmer to it.  It is a gorgeous twist on a classic color, making it perfect for the new season, where the styles tend to be less bright and bold but still pretty.

YouTube Standouts

Everyone here knows that I’m a tad YouTube obsessed.  But I don’t use the popular site like many people do.  Instead of searching for random videos of people falling down (it’s been done), or just viewing the top videos of the week, I actually follow certain people and groups on YouTube.  This gives the site more of a social media feel to it, and for me personally, gives it a bit more meaning.  So who are my own most viewed people?  Well, lucky for you, I’ve made this list (in no particular order).

1.     Nikki Phillipi: Along with her husband, Dan, and adorable dogs, Bowser and Zoe, Nikki’s videos always bring a smile to my face.  She has three channels: a ‘lifestyle’ channel, a vlogging channel, and an advice channel.  Her bubbly personality, and her ability to be completely open and honest about even the toughest topics makes her enjoyable to watch. 

Main Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/NikkiPhillippi

Vlogging Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/NikkiPhillippiTake2

Advice Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AskNikkiP

2.     Allison Andersen (Amarixe): Allison is first and foremost one of the most talented beauty gurus online today.  Not only are her tutorials creative, and her recommendations honest, her video editing is always extremely well done.  She is definitely someone that I think deserves more credit then she already has.  In addition to her main beauty channel, Allison also has her own vlog channel, where she reviews books, has a ‘tea time’ series, and covers much more.

Main Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/amarixe

Vlogging Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AllisonVlogs

3.     MeghanRosette: Meghan’s bright, bubbly, and sometimes crazy out-there personality makes you wish she was your best friend.  She holds nothing back, and isn’t afraid to be real on camera and show that she isn’t a perfect human being – a rare quality in the online world.   I love watching her videos because they are diverse, creative, and unique. 

Main Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/meghanrosette

Vlogging Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/moremeghann

4.     Jim Chapman: An absolutely hilarious British man who isn’t afraid to make fun of himself.  I personally love his sense of humor – it is a perfect blend of British and American humor (because yes, there is a difference) – but he never makes the viewer feel overly uncomfortable with how far he takes a joke.  If you’re looking for some off the wall type humor and are in desperate need of a good laugh, check him out.

Main Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/j1mmyb0bba

5.     Kurt Hugo Schneider: An incredibly talented musician, Kurt just seems to be able to do it all.  He can sing, he can play countless instruments, he can edit videos, produce…. What can’t he do?  I was lucky enough to meet him at the last Alex Goot concert that I went to, and he is just as nice in person as he appears to be on camera.

Main Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/KurtHugoSchneider

So there you have it – my top five played YouTubers!  I hope this introduced you to some new faces and will give you plenty of new material to check out!  Let me know what you think of everyone in the comments below; I would love to hear your thoughts!

Cool Jobs

If you could have any job in the world what would it be?  Regardless of skill set or degree needed, what would you do?  I took the time to think about it recently, and here’s what I came up with:

1.     Makeup Artist: I love makeup; I don’t think that’s a surprise to anyone.  And working with makeup on a daily basis would be so much fun.  I would love the opportunity to work in the fashion industry and create new looks each and every day, and actually have a positive influence how people utilized their own styles.

2.     Film Industry:  I’ve always had this secret desire to work in the film industry as an actress, director, producer, screen writer… something.  I love watching the behind the scenes cuts on DVDs to see what the filming experience is like, and I’m always following actors to see their latest projects.  I get such a thrill at Oscars season.  There’s just something about it I can’t put into words – and it has nothing to do with the fame and fortune.  I just have a genuine interest in it.  I guess it comes from my desire to create something out of nothing.

3.     Writer/Editor:  Another career that comes from my desire to create something out of nothing, writing has always been a passion of mine, ever since I was kid.  Editing is a more recent development, but I could definitely see myself doing it as a career.  Many of my personal inspirations are writers, and I feel as if I am a more ‘creative oriented’ person, as opposed to analytical.  Meaning, I could never do something math/science related.

4.     Photographer:  While I could never be a school picture day photographer, I would love traveling and capturing the moments and images I see.  When I was in London studying abroad, some of my favorite and strongest memories were when I was just walking around the city taking pictures of what I was seeing.  Unfortunately, this isn’t the most practical idea.

5.     Talk Show Host: I would love to be the next Ellen DeGeneres.  I love her style on her talk show, and I think it would be great to meet people and make friends in that way.  You can tell she genuinely enjoys her job, and that makes me want to be like her too.

What kind of jobs are on your ‘cool job’ list?  Let me know in the comments below!  I’d love to read them!

Happy Reading,

Allison