Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Blessing Bags GIVEAWAY

Let me just start by saying, the blogging community is second to none. You ladies never cease to amaze me when it comes to the support for causes I am so passionate about.

If you were around my corner of the internet during the holidays last year, you may recall my Blessings Bags for the homeless giveaway and how YOU helped me touch 150 lives? I've decided I want to make this an annual tradition!  

No longer will you need to ask yourself: Do I hand him money? But then what will he spend it on? Do I drive through that McDonald's and buy him some lunch instead? Are they even homeless?  It always seems to leave you feeling guilty whether you give in to their pleadings or not.

My first thoughts were in asking friends to donate trial size toiletries. But, unfortunately, with all my blogging pals living across the country (& world), this would be difficult and costly to coordinate. So instead, this giveaway will help to gain donations to purchase items that go in the bag. In addition, I am pledging to match you guys dollar for dollar in what I spend on the items!

Insert these fabulous contributors:

Kelly / Lisa / Nicholl / Chelsea / Erica / Jena / Shirley
Breanna / Sarah / Chelsea /  Rachael /  Kristina / Paige / Anna 

I am overwhelmed with the amount of support I have received this project and am truly blessed to have each and every one of these ladies in my blogging life because I surely could not have pulled this off all on my own! 

My contribution will be a fun prize pack  full of Vera Bradley, Essie Summer Collection, Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette, braided bracelets from my shop. Below are the physical items up for grabs.

In addition, gift cards to all of our favorite places:
Target // Starbucks // ASOS // Bath & Body Works // Etsy // Sephora // Paypal // Amazon

This entire loot will go to ONE lucky reader!

I do hope some of you will follow suit and set up a similar gig in your own community. Trust me, the faces of these people you restore hope in are simply priceless. You haven't truly lived until you've done something for someone who can never repay you, and are perfectly content with that.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway  photo WHISPERINGblogsignature_zps1331fffd.png

Things I wish someone had told me in College: GUEST POST SWAP


Hi there!

I'm Liz, and I blog over at Creating Silences. I'm super excited to be swapping posts with Cody! She asked me to talk about college, so, without further ado, I bring you what I'm calling:
I'm coming up on one year since I graduated from college, and I thought it'd be a good time to reflect on my college experience. It wasn't the most normal of experiences. The short version of this story is that I attended New College of Florida in Sarasota for two years before I transferred to Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. It was a crazy ride, but I have never regretted a second of it. Here are my top pieces of advice for surviving (and thriving) in college and making it work for you.

Major in something you love

I was a member of a youth theater in my hometown for twelve years. When I got to college, I quit cold turkey. New College doesn't have a theater program and barely has any performing arts classes at all. I fought as hard as I could against majoring in theater, but eventually I found that I couldn't fight it anymore. It made me happy, and I had to be true to myself and go for it. And it was the best thing I could've ever done. I wish I had made the decision earlier because it would've saved me a lot of grief. If there's something you really want to do, regardless of what you or anyone else thinks you should be doing, do it. You'll be happier in the long run.



What you want to do may change

All the above being said, you don't have to know what you want to do with your life. You don't have to know it going into college, you don't have to know it when you declare your major, you don't even have to know it when you walk across that stage to graduate. Society puts this huge pressure on us from the time we're young with the question, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" You know what? "I don't know" is a completely acceptable answer. And even if you've known forever, that can change. I graduated in theater with an emphasis in sound technology. I spent three and a half years dedicating myself to learning about theater sound technology and design. And then, this summer, nine months after graduating, I went, "I don't know if this is actually going to get me where I want to go." And now I'm doing something completely different and loving it. It's okay. It's okay to change your mind, and it's okay to explore other avenues. No matter what your piece of paper says. 


Explore your opportunities
This refers to classes, extracurriculars, and anything else. This may be cliche, but college is a time for exploration. Before you get stuck in all classes pertaining to your major, take a course you're interested in. Be it religion, psychology, philosophy, art history, statistics, meteorology, biology, or whatever, take a class outside of your comfort zone. Join a club that has nothing to do with your major. I found a deep love for psychology while I was in college. And even though no psychology-related career appealed to me, I continued to study it with vigor because I found it that fascinating. I also sang in chorus for a year and a half while at Plymouth. That's not exactly far outside my major, but it got me out of the small program I was in to make new friends, go new places, and do things I loved. And speaking of which...

Make sure you're friends with the right people
The people you're friends with in college can make a huge difference in your experience. When I was at New College, I didn't have many friends. Everyone I knew (save a select few) was very into drinking and drugs, things I wasn't interested in at all. When I finally did make friends, they were people who shared my interests and my morals. At Plymouth State, I met some of my best friends. It helped that most of them were in my program, but seriously. Seek out the cool people and leave everyone else behind. Because those are the people who will make or break your college experience. Find the people who will text you to make sure you got home okay on a Saturday night, who will make you a cake when you break up with your boyfriend, who will give it to you straight because they love you and want you to succeed. Find those people and do this:
Ultimately, most of this comes down to something you've probably heard before: college is what you make of it. So make it fun, make it count, and don't let it get you down. You're going to have to make harder decisions in your life than what you major in. And though it may not seem like it at the time, college can be a great period of growth, maturity, and perspective. It's your life, and nobody can tell you what to do with it. So get out there and do you. Your future self will thank you for it.

Liz

You can check out what I wrote for Liz Here.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Shop A Catching Closet

In case you haven't read in my three blog post or saw on my sidebar, I OPENED AN IG SHOP! I will be adding 8 new items a week on Sunday. I am sooo excited. This will get rid of the clutter I have in my room and hopefully make me some money. =]
I am even thinking about opening an Etsy but I haven't decided yet.

P.S. If you haven't checked out Saturdays post then your should. It's all about promoting natural womens' beauty and power.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Influenster Varsity Voxbox Review




**I received the Influenster Varsity Voxbox for an honest review.**
1. Tide Pods-I am very sensitive to most laundry detergents but tide so I am excited to be able to try these out.
2. AirHead Extremes-CANDY! is my first thought but after tasting them, they were good. Kinda like the ribbons they make. Not sour just sweet so it was a plus in my book.
3. NYC Lip Balm-The last NYC balm I tried had a horrible funky smell. This one does too. Plus it takes away the color of my lips. Not really a fan.
4. Kiss Nail Designs-I am excited to try these. The last pair that Influenster sent me were those fake nails and everyone know they don't last but two hours. I have heard alot about these sicker nails so I will be trying them soon.
5. Clearasil-My skin is sensitive to face wash. I break out more when I wash alot or with certain brands. I tried Clearsil once before but I defanteilty am willing to try again.

I haven't tried these out yet but I will be soon. Check out tomorrows post as why I didn't...

Check out this awesome affect and this amazing designer:

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Interview with MY Character

Interviewer: Today I am with Macdowell White. The Governor of Georgia. He was one of the first to see this deadly decay disease. Although I want to jump right into that topic, lets for awhile pretend things are normal. *grasp stomach for a second*

Interviewer: What made you quite being a doctor and start being politician? 
Mr White: Well, after 30 years of helping save lives and delivering babies, it got old. I was tired from having very long hours and wanted a job that was more excited.

Interviewer: So being a politician is exciting?
Mr White: Oh Yes. *big gin* I have ate with the President, Marshall Day. I have seen more of my home state then when I lived there. I have gotten to know wholesome people and of course some snakes.

Interviewer: Snakes?
Mr White: You know those how those politicians can be! *laughs*

Interviewer: *laughs* Yes. Well there is a rumor saying that you quite being a doctor because your death rate was at an unnormal high.
Mr White: My death rate was high not because I wasn't the best doctor I could be but because I was working with many high risk cases. High risk cases are at a much higher risk then others. I tried everything I could but couldn't save all of them.

Interviewer: Alright, why did you decided to become Governor of Georgia?
Mr White: I grew up in Carl, Georgia. It was my home state and I understand what the people need.

Interviewer: And what do the people need? 
Mr White: They need a local. They need someone to listen and then need that person to act. I can change that state into what it wants to become.

Interviewer: Do you know what Georgia wants to become?
Mr White: You bet I do. Georgia wants to become the best southern state it can be.

Interviewer: Can you expand on----*hunches over and throws up*
Mr White: Sir! Sir!

Interviewer: My body it won't stop hurting. I feel so horrible.
Mr White: Did you encounter them? Did you?

Interviewer: My niece---just died. I cou---ld let her be---alone as she passed.
Mr White: So she bit you didn't she? How long along?

Interviewer: Maybe----10 mi---nutes?
Mr White: *Yells* Does someone have a gun? I am sorry sir but you have to go.

Interviewer: Nooo. No! Let me live! *drops to floor, trying to crawl away*
Mr White: *Yells* F#@& shoot the man! He will kill you all.

Police: Sorry Mr White. I thought we thoroughly checked him. Move away and I will handle it. 
Mr White: Thank you officer. *Walks out of the way but doesn't leave the room. The interviewer is shot.*
---------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks everyone for reading! This part will NOT being appearing in my book because I am writing in first person but I love how it turned out. This was completely randomly done for you.

How far along are you on your book? Are you having as much fun as I am? Keep writing everyone!


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Monday, November 4, 2013

Books In October 2013



Mix-Aug, Sep, Oct 2013

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Goodreads Summary: Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.


My Thoughts: I really liked this book but it wasn't my style. That's all I have to say, so no bad parts.

Rating: 2.5 Stars



Ascend (Trylle #3)
Goodreads Summary: Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself.  If she doesn’t surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe.  But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind…even if it’s the only way to save them? The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn’t the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice…who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end. 

My Thoughts:I love how this story ends. The author showed great writing. The characters develop throughout the books and in this book you can see the growth. Also, I love the main character. She and I are just alike, minus the Tylle part. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Rome for Beginners: The Semifictional Misadventures of Four WomenAmazon Summary: This story follows these three unlikely friends in different stages of life over the course of a year: broken bones, dates in the Catacombs, multiple boyfriends named Massimo, spelunking into cavernous Roman ruins, killing one's own turkey in a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, explaining to a nun how adorable one's own child is after he is expelled, learning how to get some sleep when you've rented a room in a church directly under the church bells.
My Thoughts: I was given this book for an honest reviewI really like the idea of this book but overall it wasn't all that good. Although the description has four main characters, only three are ever present. I really believe that the fourth one could be taken out and this book wouldn't loose anything. Also, it seemed that the author couldn't keep up with who was who or who was with who. There was alot of mix ups. Plus the ending was horrible. It felt uncompleted and thrown together and the book tied no loose ends or left anything open for a series, it was just there.
Rating: 1.5 Stars


Grounded
Goodreads Summary: New York City flight attendant Annie Taylor is grounded, putting a halt to weekends in Rome and her jet-setting lifestyle. Soon her noncommittal boyfriend’s true nature is revealed, and to top it all off, she loses her apartment. With nowhere else to go, Annie leaves the city for the family farm in Kentucky, a place she’s avoided for years. The country quiet haunts Annie with reminders of a past that can’t be changed.  As the summer heats up and her interest in the land. When a sudden phone call comes from New York, Annie is forced to choose between coming to terms with her past or leaving it all behind.
My thoughts: I was given this book for an honest review.

I was surprised how well I would like this book. It was a simple, easy and fun read. The author did a wonderful job writing and it held my interest through the whole book. My only problem is that the ending is a little to overly happy. Everything ends in a neat tiny bow tied package. I almost wish she left a little more open so that there could be room for a second book. 

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Stung (Stung, #1)
Goodreads Summary: There is no cure for being stung. Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right. Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark. Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I like how the society is and how style of writing. I don't even mind the main characters acts. There are just two problem spots for me. One towards the end when the main character makes a mistakes and it just doesn't seem all that real. The other being the a surprise that the main character didn't know but it seems really out of the ream of reality. Rating: 2.5 Stars 

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
CURRENTLY READING:


Frost Fire (Tortured Elements, #1)
I haven't started this book just yet because I am debating about because I have some other reads that are looking good but I will read this book because it's for the Semi-Charmed Book Challenge. I will updating that sometime this week.


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