Monday Reads: Jessica Rules the Dark Side

This week I am reading the sequel to Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. Unfortunately I haven't had a lot of time to read in the last week because I've been traveling so it has been taking me a while to get through this book. I am not enjoying it as much as the first book but I am only half way through so that may change.

Synopsis: It’s one thing to find out you’re a vampire princess. It’s a whole other thing to actually rule. Newly married Jessica Packwood is having a hard enough time feeling regal with her husband, Lucius, at her side. But when evidence in the murder of a powerful elder points to Lucius, sending him into solitary confinement, Jessica is suddenly on her own. Determined to clear her husband’s name, Jessica launches into a full-scale investigation, but hallucinations and nightmares of betrayal keep getting in her way. Jessica knows that with no blood to drink, Lucius’s time is running out. Can she figure out who the real killer is—and whom she can trust—before it’s too late?

Saturday Songs: a little Il Divo

Tomorrow I am going to the Il Divo concert with my dad and am super super excited to be going! I have been a fan since their first album came out and have loved them ever since.

I chose this song because I have also been invited to sing as an alumni with the choir I was a part of a child. And this is the song I will be singing.

Enjoy!

Tuesday Teachables: Monkeys and Fairness

I recently watched a TED talk on empathy, cooperation and fairness when it comes to animals. Here are a couple of clips that demonstrate how animals can recognize fair/unfair treatment and the importance of cooperation.

Monday Reads: Insurgent (review)

I just finished reading Insurgent by Veronica Roth. All I can say is WOW! Usually in a series I find that the second book tends to be a bit slower paced than the first but this one was action packed from the very first page and never slowed down. I was barely able to put it down. This book brought out so many emotions. I was angry, frustrated, relieved, happy, sad...It was a roller coaster ride of emotions from beginning to end. The book starts off from where the first book ended. There is no time lapse between the two books. This also means that Roth does not take any time to recap what happened in the first book. So it is best to read Divergent again before starting this one if you`re having trouble remembering any of the details. I re-read Divergent and then jumped straight into Insurgent. I cannot wait until the third and final installment of this series. We are left with a big cliffhanger at the end of the book and now I am anxiously waiting to see what happens next. Oh how I wish that I didn`t have to wait for the next book.

Saturday Songs: They do it again

I love this singing duo from Britain's Got Talent. They are both absolutely amazing in this performance.

May Reading Challenge

On Wednesday I mentioned my April reading slump. I have started getting back into my books (slowly but surely) and have made a list of books that I intend to finish this month. I know that seven books may be touch to complete seeing as I managed one book and one short story last month, but I am determined to get through these. Look for reviews on Mondays as I finish these books. The only book on this list that I have read before is Divergent and I have already gushed about how much I love it. I read it again so that I could remember all the little things I had forgotten before reading Insurgent.

Here is the list:

 1. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantasky

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Friday Foods: Wonderful Berry Dinner Salad

 Sometimes it`s nice to have a light dinner. Just salad and some bread. Those who know me, know that I love love love food. I am always eating or craving some type of food. And those foods aren`t always the healthiest. So I try to work in a light dinner at least once a week where I`ll have some soup, salad and bread. I found this delicious salad recipe. Click here for the link.

Back from a little hiatus

I have not posted on here for almost a month. I have been in both a reading and writing slump for the past couple of weeks. I had such a hard time picking up a book in the month of April. I managed to read one book and a short story in the whole month of April. Sad, I know. My goal was to read 6-7 books per month but I couldn`t immerse myself in a book no matter how hard I tried. The same thing happened with writing on this blog. I am usually excited to post my book finds, quotations, beauty tips and whatever other randomness I find. But every time I would sit down to write in the past month, I would become easily distracted and move on to another activity. I can say that I am not over this reading/writing slump and am excited to dive into my TBR pile of books and to continue my daily blog posts on here.

Wednesday Health and Beauty: Hair Dye

I have been colouring my hair more often recently. This is because my gray hairs are starting to show. I'm 28 and already have quite a few gray hairs, which all seem to want to grow at the front where it is very noticeable. And no, they do not look like highlights. I have very dark hair so these lovely grays really show. I am not one of those lucky people who don't see a gray hair until their late 30s. But I guess I have to be thankful that I'm also not completely gray in my 20s. To me, gray hair looks distinguished, even sexy on men. But on women (especially younger women), not so much. So I have been trying out various dyes. I must also mention that my grays are stubborn and do not like to be dyed. Here are a few of my favourite hair dyes.



Solfine Crema Color. This is the hair dye I use most often. Is affordable and does a great job covering grays. This can only be found at Jean Coutu Pharmacies. Since I'm close to Quebec, this isn't a problem for me. But I'm not sure where this product can be purchased elsewhere I'm Canada or in the States.



Garnier Nutrisse in Light Brown. Today I picked up a box of this and it's the second time using it. It isn't as great at covering grays, but it's quick and easy to use. Also it does not have the potent ammonia smell that most permanent hair dyes have.

Hair dye tip: when picking a colour, if you're unsure between more than one shade, always go for the lighter one. Remember, if your hair is dark, your results will be darker than those on the box.

Tuesday Teachables: Multiplication

I have a new weekly post for Tuesdays and this one is for my fellow teachers. Look for posts on lesson ideas, tech stuff, teaching strategies..etc.

I am now teaching multiplication to grade 4/5s and I remembered this wonderful site. So many games, resources and ideas. I also send this link home with students I tutor so they can practice their times tables.

http://www.multiplication.com/

My new Ikea table

I bought this table yesterday from Ikea. Living in a small space means I have to look for ways to maximize the space. I love how this table can be folded down and used as a side table.

Monday Reads: A little girliness

This week I'm finishing up Struck by Rhonda Stapleton. This is a 3-in-1 book and I am almost done the last one. Each of the books (Stupid Cupid, Flirting with Disaster and Pucker Up) are fun quick reads. Perfect for a quiet evening in.

Synopsis: Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But the path to love is not always a straight shot...



I also read Jackson Pearce's new short story Turn Here. So much fun! I loved it. It left me smiling. You can download this story from Amazon for $0.99.

Saturday Songs: Walk Off The Earth

I am loving this song! Check out their YouTube channel for some great covers and original songs. (Walk Off the Earth's YouTube channel)

Friday Foods: A Delicious Shrimp Dish

I receive weekly recipes from SELF magazine. This is the first one I tried out. Super easy to make and it is full of flavour. The one bad thing about this dish is that it does not taste great the next day.

Thursday: Things I like this week - Joe Fresh

I discovered the Joe Fresh brand of makeup at Loblaws recently. I was a little skeptical about buying any of the products because I had not heard a lot about them. So I did a little research and found that people are really liking them. Some things I bought yesterday that I am really liking are:

Joe Fresh Tinted Lip Balms. These are surprisingly quite moisturizing. They provide a subtle hint of colour. I bought a few of them and am loving each one. I'm hoping to eventually collect all shades.

Joe Fresh Eyeliners. I love self sharpening retractable eyeliners. I absolutely hate sharpening eye pencils and am always happy to find these types of eyeliners. There are many colours to choose from and some even have a bit of shimmer in them. Easy to apply and easy to remove.

Joe Fresh Nail Polish. These are 3 for $10! I had to pick up a few fun colours. My favourite is Twilight, which has shimmery pieces in it (pictured below).

Wednesday Health and Beauty: Skin Care Routine

It has taken me years to find a skin care routine that agrees with my face. I think I have finally found some products that agree with my face. Here are some of the things I use.


Face Wash:

I alternate between two face washes.

The first is Purity by Philosophy:

This is a great face wash. I have been using it for a few months now and I love the way it smells, the way it lathers, the way it removes my makeup and the way my skin feels afterwards. It is a bit pricey but it is definitely worth the money.

The second is Garnier's Pure 3 in 1 Wash:

 This can be used as a wash, scrub and mask. I use this when I want a deeper clean. It has little exfoliating beads in it and is great for getting all the dirt out of your pores. It has a cooling effect on the skin as well, which is nice refreshing feeling in the morning.

Moisturizer:

For my face cream, I am now using Nivea Pure and Natural:

This has a great scent and is very moisturizing. I put a thick layer of it on my face before bed and I wake up with really soft and smooth skin. I also use a thin layer of this in the morning before I put my make up on. I say thin layer because this cream can be a little greasy. I like that it has more natural ingredients and is free of dyes and parabens. This moisturizer does not have SPF in it, but my foundation does.

Monday Reads: Book Two in the Mortal Instruments Series

This week I am reading City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. This is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series. I am about half way and am having mixed feelings about this book. Not sure what I think of the whole brother sister revelation and relationship.





Synopsis: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go—especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil—and also her father.
To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings—and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

Saturday Songs: An Amazing Britain's Got Talent Audition

This brought tears to my eyes. A must watch.

My Forever21 Bag Purchases

Last night I had way too much fun on the Forever21 website. I didn't really mean to buy anything. My goal was just to browse and kill time. Here is what I ended up buying. If you know me at all, you know that I definitely don't need anymore purses. They were too cute to resist!

Oh my!

This is just too delicious and I am afraid that it may put me into a sugar induced coma.