Influenster VoxBox: Spring Fever 13

About a year ago I signed up with Influenster.com hoping that I would be selected for one of those really cool voxboxes that I saw on just about every blogger. Well, a month ago it finally happened. I got the happy email in my inbox saying I was SELECTED!! Yes, but I must have been one of the last to receive one because I just got it. Now onto the reviews.

Secret Outlast Clear Gel Antiperspirant/ Deodorant- When I first saw this in the box. I groaned. I have a particular brand that I like to use and I went through many others to get to it. I decided to suck it up and try it. Before even put it on I could smell it. Caution: Not for ones who have allergies or sensitive noises. It was a little to smelly for me. The other negativity is that it goes on a little thick. After running some errands, I was still dry and good smelling. Over all thought: I will try this a few more time before casting it out. 

Broadway Nails inPRESS Press-on Manicure- I LOVE these. They are just the right sizes for my nails and I like that they aren't long either. Note: I didn't apply mine. I work an outside job that murders my nails. I will save these for a special night out. Once I use them, I will review them. haha. 

 OSiS Gelastic- I dont' really need gel because I don't do much with my hair. So unfortunately, this product wasn't reviewed. If I do my hair, then I will make sure to use this to show you. 

 Tastykake Kandy Bar Kakes S'mores- Because I didn't get to my mailbox until after work. This little gem sat out in that hot mailbox all day so there for it was pretty melted. I did however brave a taste and I have to say it was good, a little dry. They also had Peanut Butter. Hmm..
Overall thought: I am tempted to go out and buy my own. 

 NYC New York Color Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm- This was the second thing that I tried in my box. I am always happy to receive a little beauty product, since I don't buy any. Results below:

It was just the right amount. It was just enough to make a certain someone *coughJAMEScough* to stare at  me the whole time I was wearing. The downsides: not flavored  or good smelling (not that that matters) and it didn't last every long, only about a few hours. Overall thoughts: I may or may not buy on my own but I will be using the one that I have a little more often. 

I recived this box thanks to Influenster.com in exchange that I review the products. 

Preview to Summer Reveal

via I signed up for this swap as soon as I could. It seemed perfect. Which it was. I met many new bloggers through the links-ups, which you have seen through out the time of my blog. It was alot of fun.

My swap partner was Kaity from Beeautiful Blessings. I was nervous at first because she and I had different taste in books. She likes Christian Fiction, I like Young Adult. Lucky, my mother is an avid Christian book reader so I was able to pick out two books that seemed to fit. 

This is just the book for me. THANK KAITY! This book is defiantly one that I will be reading soon. Thanks so much for swapping with me!
I hope Kim has another swap like this soon!

Sponsor Me // Sponsors

It's been an exciting month. I decided to do an Introduction Series, where I explain a little more about my life. I introduced my family;  Me // Soren // My Mom. Then I introduced my mans family; James // His mom // His step-dad. Next month I will be doing some more introductions into my life but today I want to introduce you to some pretty awesome people because they are involved in my blog's life. 

"My name is Kelsey, and I blog at Be Like The Fox. I just got married to an awesome dude who's training to serve us overseas. I sell vintage and handmade items online and in various local shops, and I run a dog walking service! I like to blog about my outfits, recipes, DIY tutorials and craft inspiration, and the little things that happen in my life. I'd love for you to read my blog!" You can find Kelsey at: Blog // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram

"Hi! My name is Megan. I'm originally from a small town in Alabama, but now I live in the big city in North Carolina. I have been married for almost 3 years to my wonderful husband, Lee. I am first and foremost a follower of Christ. My faith defines who I am and how I live my life {and how I blog}. I am a 4th grade teacher at a year round school. I love reading, crafting, blogging, baking, watching football, traveling, and hanging out with my husband, friends, and family. I blog about the things that inspire me and I hope will inspire others. I hope you'll visit me atJust a Small Town Girl. You can also find me on Bloglovin, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest."

"Hello all I’m Ashley and I blog over at Beauty Flawed,  two years ago I found myself trying all sorts of different beauty products and being asked by friends and family my thoughts on them and that’s how my blog Beauty Flawed was born. It was important to me to create a place where I could share my honest reviews for products, good and bad without being censored. I know how frustrating it can be to find a candid review about whether a product is the real deal or not so I hope my reviews help ease that frustration.
I’ve always been an avid writer and blogging has really allowed me to explore not just my passion for writing but also my love of beauty products. I mostly do beauty product and subscription service reviews but I have been known to throw up an outfit of the day or haul post here and there too. I also dabble in blog design and am happy to be able to say I’ve done all the design on my blog myself. If you ever find yourself needing some information about a beauty product or subscription service I hope you take a second to check my blog."

Are they not lovely? Your going to check them out right? Don't be too jealous, you can be here next month. Just click 'sponsor' and I have tons of different options so I am sure there is one there for you.
Are you my new sponsor?

Stats: o5.21.13 Daily Pageviews: 30-40 // Last Month Pageviews: 1,000 // Unique Vistors: 143 Twitter: 111 // Facebook: 46 // Instagram: 27 // BlogLovin: 36 // Pinterest: 40

P2S: Childhood Favorites

Via I can't believe that this swap is over already. This is the finally link-up til the big reveal day on Tuesday.  So today we are talking about Childhood Favorites. 

1. Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. When I first read this book, I found it odd. I was a child of 'what it is, is what it is'. I didn't question. The book helped changed that. It also inspired me to write poems. Writing poems helped me out of alot problems. If I never read this book, I might not have handle things the way I did.

2. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I didn't realize, til this second that they are written by the same person. Anyways, when I was younger I always felt lonely. I grew up in the country and many of my friends where 45 mins away. I didn't get sleep over or play dates. I ended up winning a tree from a contest I entered when I was in 2nd. We planted it and I grew up with it. Now, it's much bigger then me but it's MY tree. This book and that tree helped me feel less alone. =]

3. The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This was one of my nursery books. I know the point of this book now but then I really just loved being able to interact with this book. I also love that this caterpillar seemed as hungry I did and do. 

4. Goodnight Moon by Margret Wise Brown. This is another one of my nursery books. I LOVE this book. I read it so many times that I could quote it in my sleep. I loved the look of the pictures. The night filling the room. The lights on and then off. It's soo pretty. One day I want to take one of the illustrations to make a canvased picture for my wall. And of course if I ever have kids. You know it would be one their wall.

These are the four books that came to my head when I saw the theme of the link-up. After writing these. I thought of others like ALL of Beatrix Potter's books, Music of the Dolphins, Where the Wild Things Are, Said the Spider to the Fly, the Bible for children and anything with Unicorns or Dragons. I was an avid reader and still am. My mother always told me that "books open doors and take you on adventures". I still believe. Here's to reading as a child.  

What was your favorites when you were a child?

Debut-a-Thon June 2013

 I love spending Fridays reading up on all the blogs I missed Tuesday-Thursday. Well, it just so happens that I came across Amber's blog. I see that she is going to be having a Debut-a-Thon. So cool. The books that I will be reading are at the bottom. Now on to your Questions:

What the heck is a Debut-a-Thon?

It's a four day read-a-thon that focuses on debuts. I know, I know, the play on words is awesome. The aim is to get everyone reading - goodbye, reading slumps! - and interacting with one another. I met a few great bloggers while taking part in previous read-a-thons, and I want to meet many more!

Who can join in? Are there any requirements?

This read-a-thon is open to absolutely anybody. You don't have to have a blog, you just need to be able to confirm that you're posting your updates somewhere, whether that be on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook or Youtube.

As for requirements, the name should say it all. For this read-a-thon, only 2013 debuts count towards your reading goals. Those goals can be anything you wish them to be, but please only list debuts!

Do the debuts have to be Young Adult?

Nope, read any debut you like! I will be focusing on YA because, hello, it's what I read the most of. But you're welcome to dive into Middle Grade or adult!

If you have any recommendations, then you can fill in this form and then I will share the results a bit closer to the event! Recommend as many as you like.

How do I know if a book is a debut?

The YA Debuts 2013 list on Goodreads is very helpful when it comes to YA. There are a few mistakes in there though, so it's best to check the description of whatever book you're curious about. There is also this list which includes MG books as well. 

When will it happen?

The debut-a-thon will start at 12AM on Thursday June 27, and end at 11.59PM on Sunday June 30, no matter what your timezone is. So the Aussies and Kiwis will start earlier than the rest of us, but they'll also finish before us as well.

The end of June seems a bit random... Explain yourself!

I initially just planned on doing a week-long debut event during the final week of June because it's the six month mark (and then again in December). Then, quite randomly, I did Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon and had so much fun that I decided to host my own. And why not coincide it with my debut event?

Okay, so how do I sign up?

Just fill in the form embedded below. All I ask is for your name and your sign up post, tweet, or video. (I need the sign up post to confirm that you're eligible for the giveaway at the end.) Those details will then show up in a spreadsheet. And it's as easy as that! Don't forget to grab one of the buttons that the wonderful Judith went through the trouble of making for me!

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask in the comments/on Twitter/via email! And don't forget to recommend your favourite debuts of the year so far. 

-From Amber

So I decided I am going to join on in. I will be using twitter and Goodreads to update when I finish. On Sunday Night, June 30, I am going to post all the books that I read. I also am going to be using the twitter handle #debutathon13 to make it easy.  One more thing, I am going to list the books I hope to read...

1. A Dying Fall // 2. The Caged Graves // 3. The Painted Girls // 4. Bronze Gods // 5.Clockwork Princess//6.City of a Thousand Dolls//7.Dance of Shadows//8.Eleanor & Park//9.Doll Bones// 10.If You Find Me // 11.Mind Games // 12.Stung // 13.Splintered // 14.The Crooked Branch //  15.The Mermaid of Brooklyn//16.The Wrap-Up List//17.Tracing Stars//18.Unravel Me //19.Scarlet//  *Fist 4 aren't really YA but I had a hard time finding debuts.* *Also, these aren't in any order*
Alright I found 19 books at my library that all debut books. I know I won't get to read all of them cause some are on a waiting list and I don't think I could read 19 in four days but I am going to try.  Here's to trying. Are you going to join? Why not? P.S. Sorry this post is kinda long...

PTS Link-Up #5 : Literary Soundtracks

Via

I am so EXCITED about the swap. I sent my package off Wednesday and I can't wait to see if my partner enjoyed  I also can't wait to get my package. This was an awesome swap. I would love to do this again.  

This week link up was a choice between Literary Soundtracks or Character Crush. It was hard to choose but once I thought about it became clear that I had to soundtrack. I just finished reading the series "Caster Chronicles" or "Beautiful Creatures Series". Ever since the first book I had a song that fit perfectly in my head. This is the perfect way to share it.  Theme Song: Beautiful Creatures Songs: Beautiful Darkness: Beautiful Chaos:  Beautiful Redemption:

Books Ends April 13

My month link-up that where I talk about all the books that I have read this month. 

April 2013

Goodreads Summary:  Their time in exile is over, and Cole and Peter are heading back to the one place they're not sure they can handle: high school. Gangs and violence haunt the hallways, and Peter's limp and speech impediment make him a natural target. In a school where hate and tension are getting close to the boiling point, the monster of rage hibernating inside Cole begins to stir.

My Thoughts:  I really loved the first book. This books isn't as good. I wish it started before Cole and Peter came back but I still love it. 

Rating:  3.5 stars 

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Goodreads Summary: Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.
In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

My Thoughts: I am happy that I didn't listen to the hype because I really enjoyed this book. 

Rate: 4  Stars.

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Goodreads Summary: Boneshaker derives its title from the Bone-Shaking Drill Engine, a device designed to give Russian prospectors a leg up in the race for Klondike gold. Unfortunately, there was one hitch: On its trial run, the Boneshaker went haywire and, long story short, turned much of Seattle into a city of the dead. Now, 16 years later, a teenage boy decides to find out what is behind that mysterious wall. Can his mother save him in time? Zombie lit of the first order.

My Thoughts: Pretty good. I really like how it all flowed. I wish there was a squeal. I want to see if the Blight/Rotters get solved or take over the world...I didn't mind that alot of it was historically correct. She wasn't writing historical fiction.

Rate: 5  Stars. (I rated it a 3 on goodreads but I realized how much I liked this. It plays in my head alot)

    ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Goodreads Summary: Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

My Thoughts: Pretty good. I liked how trust was played with on both ends. I feel bad for some of the other charters in this book though. It was a great second book, unlike most. It entertained me through the whole book. 

Rate: 3  Stars.

 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

CURRENTLY READING:

Summary: Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What — or who — will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin? For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself — forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask. 

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

Currently on page: 367 

(I also have a feeling I know where this book is going...)

Featuring: Sweet Home Amy

I have a fantastic lady on my blog this month. Go on and read more about her!

On February 9, 2009, I remember sitting down at my computer with my head in my hands, feeling utterly embarrassed and ashamed, and wondering what the heck to do next. I had hit rock bottom of the dating world. I was divorced, and officially had gone wild trying to get back "in the game". There was always one thing that made me feel better whenever I was down - writing. So I turned to the computer, and found blogging.

Fast forward a few years later and I've blogged about every dating disaster, dating success (yes there have been some!), cross country move (multiples of those), new job, and new friends. I quickly found a home in the blogging world, where my emotional rants and crazy dating tactics were completely acceptable.

I took a break from blogging from 2011-2012 and turned my old blog posts into a book series. Book 1 was published in November 2012, and book 2 is almost done. There will be 3 total. Visit my site to find out how you can get your own copy! I reentered the blogging world late 2012/early 2013 with a new fresh perspective on life - but still the same clumsy, happy, business minded woman from before, with just a little beach/California style added in!

Now, I live a truly peaceful and blissful life. I blog about everything - you could say I'm a "lifestyle" blogger. I love posting about fashion, even though I have no idea how to style myself (I'm always jealous of girls who can pull off that flawless look!). I write about my life at the beach, because, well, frankly its awesome. I talk about my relationship with a boy I call Surfer; a relationship that since the beginning has never defined me, yet always been a part of my happiness.

I invite you to come be a part of my adventures, big and small, and laugh with me as I try to stumble through this thing we call life! It is my hope that you can find in me someone you can relate to and share stories with. Thank you for reading!

xoxo, Amy

Visit: Blog // Twitter // Bloglovin

Wow. That's something that I totally inspire to do. I would love to write books and one day turn this little adventure into something more. Thank you Amy for sharing! She is so sweet!