2015 New Year's Resolutions

I am not great at New Year's Resolutions mainly because (1) I make too many to possibly remember or keep track of (2) I forget (or rather, forget to remember) them or (3) I don't have anyone to motivate me. But now that I have so many more followers than I did last year, I have plenty of people to remind me or check up on me. If you also have the same problem of not having motivation, let's keep our resolutions together! You all can motivate me to keep mine, I can help motivate you to keep yours.

My Resolutions for 2015:

1) Meditate everyday: Life is stressful and by meditating, hopefully I will be less stressed and be able to focus on the tasks that I have that day.

2) Eat less chocolate: I have noticed a sudden increase in the amount of chocolate that I eat because of holiday goodies and vacation at home.

3) Get a better grade in math: For some reason, I thought that math this year would be easier than last but taking an honors class a year ahead of my grade level  is just as hard as it always was. I am not one to be disappointed with a one B but I would love to get a better grade than last semester and hopefully an A.

4) Eat breakfast everyday: I usually get to eat something every morning but I have to leave for school at seven in the morning so a good quality breakfast is difficult on somedays.

5) Continue reading books: This one is a bit arbitrary but I have been able to set aside plenty of time to read novels since it is so relaxing and I forgot how satisfying it can be to set aside a few hours to indulge it a good book.

As a side note but not a resolution, I hope to post more often in the 2015 as well since I have been feeling rather inspired lately. But this is almost every single blogger's goal so I have avoided making it a resolution.

Anyway, I hope that you all remind me to keep these goals and I will do my best to help you with your goals.

Girl Online By Zoella & Her Ghostwriter

I have never been a huge fan of Zoella (also known as Zoe Sugg) but I did and still do respect her as a blogger and Youtuber.

As many already know, Zoella released her first novel titled Girl Online and I just had the chance to read it and I can say that I genuinely loved it. I thought it was an excellent novel with a great premise and relatable characters. Throughout the novel, the reader could pick up on a few "Zoella" references from the fairy lights to the bath bombs.However, I should point out  that after Noah's big secret was revealed, the book became predictable. And the panic attacks that Penny faced, were not as descriptive as I would have expected since I assumed that the novel wanted to show just how serious that panic attacks can be and describing them in detail would have helped raise awareness. But overall, I really liked it and couldn't put it down.

The fact that the novel is ghostwritten does not shock me whatsoever. Writing an entire novel in less than two months is difficult for even full-time writer, much less a social media icon. Multiple celebrities have released novels that were written by someone else so Zoella had nothing to be ashamed of.

Not everyone can be a writer but that doesn't mean that not everyone can have great ideas that deserve to be shared with the world, which is exactly what she had. Bringing anxiety more attention is definitely important and sometimes someone needs to be there to put the ideas into words. Ghostwriting isn't a new concept nor is it something that should be hidden away.

Overall, I applaud Siobhan Curham (whom I think deserves more credit than she got) for bringing to life such a wonderful story and Zoella for thinking of it. I am not at all disappointed about the novel being ghostwritten but rather that Zoella kept trying to pretend that it isn't and instead of admitting it, has chosen to pretend it never happened. Zoella should be proud that her message is spreading so quickly with the help of a ghostwriter not upset.

I continue to support Zoella and wish her the best and hopefully, in the future, she will be a bit more honest with her fans.

Please feel free to leave any comments that you have about the novel, ghostwriter or Zoella since I would love to read them. Do you think she was justified in using a ghostwriter or not? Should she have been more transparent about the who really wrote it?

The Colbert Report Ends

As an avid watcher of Stephen Colbert on his popular Comedy Central television show, I was sad to hear that the show would be ending. He is one of the best places to go to find out about current events (even though, one should fact check some of the information). His use of satire makes him some what of a contemporary and humorous Mark Twain.

Although he claims to be a "conservative" and a "Republican", he constant criticism of conservative policies, candidates and Fox News implies the opposite.

My mother and I were discussing our theories about the ending of this iconic show. She believed that the show would end on a quiet and subtle note while I thought the opposite and was convinced that it would be just as grand if not more than every other show is. And as it turns out, it was in the middle of both of our theories.

As any aspiring journalist will tell you, Stephen Colbert's relevance, tone and ability to relate with so many are all critical to get his voice and opinion heard.

The show started off with Stephen Colbert sarcastically saying that he wants to "start on a positive note" and began talking about Syria. Syria, clearly a very serious issue, is presented by Colbert in a blunt and engaging way. He then sings with is other famous guests and friends and I could not help but sing sadly along despite the happy and cheerful lyrics. He then ended of the the show in a very bittersweet way by riding away with Santa Claus.

It is extremely disappointing to know that I will never be able to get comfy, eat a snack while catching up on the news. But after nine years, ten seasons, and nearly 1,500 episodes, I am happy that the show was able to run for such a long and amazing time without disappointing its audiences even once. You can be sure that I will absolutely be watching Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Please feel free to leave your comments and opinions about The Colbert Report and what you thought about the series finale.

How To Get Through Finals With Minimum Stress

I am currently preparing for the next four days of finals and am much more stressed than I usually am. Expecting finals to go smoothly is nearly impossible but I have found several ways to help it go by quickly and calmly.

These tips are not tips to help you study but rather to help before, during, and after the test since that time is just as important as studying.

Eat Healthy and Happy Food

Most of the people that I know eat a breakfast that they consider "brain food" and as well-intended as that may be, it might not be best. The general rule of thumb is to eat healthy food that you actually like. There is no point in eating something you hate just because it's good for you. At any other time of the year, this is a good idea but not during finals. Sometimes the food you eat can reflect in your mood. If you eat something disgusting, your attitude walking into a test will be a worse than it would if you had eaten something you liked but try to keep it healthy because antioxidants are great for your brain. Better food means a more positive attitude which means a much better test grade.

Make Good Use of the Time Right Before the Test

Most people try cramming the night before up until the ten minutes before the test which is probably one of the worst things to do to yourself. Although if may seem like a good idea to quickly learn a concept so it's fresh in your mind, it'll only make you more anxious and nervous. While it is a great idea to review notes and go over equations the day of the test, one should not do that fifteen minutes before the test (or however long it takes you to relax). Studying is meant to be done well in advance. If you haven't learned it before the day of your test, there is not point in learning it now.

Prioritize

It may not always be in your best interest to study and prepare. Sounds ridiculous, right? But it really isn't. If you have an excellent grade in the class, you might not have to study day and night for your exam. I usually go to RogerHub's Final Grade Calculator to check how well I need to do on my finals. The finals you really need to study for are the borderline ones. Grades that are really close to the next grade level are the ones that are really worth your time. And sometimes you may want to increase your grade but its just not possible. Pulling up a solid B like an 85% up to an A is nearly impossible or calls for a grade like 98%. Although it is possible, it is not likely so if you have other finals that you need to maintain or are in major jeopardy, they deserve a lot more attention. In the end, your overall GPA can be more important than the individual grade.

Make a Plan of Action

At this point you should have a good portion of your studying completed so plan how you are going to conquer the test. Ask in advance how many questions there are and what types of questions (multiple choice, writing, essay or show your work math problems). Depending on the type and the amount of time given, choose a reasonable amount of time for each question while keeping in mind the various setbacks that might occur. If certain parts of the test are worth more points, do them first and do the easy ones that are worth less later since your brain does not need to be as sharp for those parts.

Stay Focused but Not too Focused

During the test, it may be in your best interest (if and only if time permits) to take a small break. Sometimes spending a minute to relax your breathing can give the clear mind needed to answer a hard question or ease your mind after one. You don't need a definite answer for all of your problems so you need to master the art of letting go. Don't sacrifice the difficult ten point short answer for the one point multiple choice one.

Don't Think About the Test After the Test

This is one of the hardest rules to follow. I, like many others, try to guess how I think I did on the finals which I have learned is horrible. Chances are that you have many more tests to come and thinking about a previous test can be a disaster. The point is that you can't do anything about a test after it's been submitted so there is no point thinking so much about it after it's over. Just because you think you did horribly, it doesn't mean that you did! If it were any other test, would you be this concerned? Chances are it is not nearly as bad as you may think.

I hope these tips helped! I usually follow these myself and I have noticed that my attitude and scores are better than those of my stressed out peers with no better grades than me. In the end of the day, finals are a mind game and the sooner one masters the game, the better they can perform.

MAC Lipstick Wishlist

I have heard nothing but great things about MAC lipsticks but unfortunately, I don't usually wear lipstick much. I'm more of a lip gloss or tinted lip balm or lip crayon type of person. I guess lipstick gives me a bolder look than I am used too. However, since MAC lipsticks have been so raved about, I have complied a wishlist of some of the ones that I would love to try.

Looking at the colors on their website, I see that they are really vibrant and colorful which is a stretch from my usual subtle lip look but the colors are just so rich that I am excited to try some of them soon.

(All of the following pictures are from the MAC website.)

Stunner (Matte) 

Sushi Kiss (Satin)

Crosswires (Creamsheen)

Flat Out Fabulous (Retro Matte)

Spice It Up! (Lustre)

Smoked Purple (Matte)

The last one is the most daring of all of them. Hopefully, I will be able to try some of them soon since they are so colorful and fun and come in so many different finishes making them perfect for any outfit and look.

I hope you liked reading this post and be sure to leave your opinions on these lipsticks behind as I would love to read them! 

1989 Made Me Love T. Swift Again

It's been awhile since Taylor Swift released her latest album, 1989, and I'm sure many of of you have already heard of it or listened to some of the songs. And if you haven't, you should. But that's not what this post is going to be about. Lately, I have noticed that Taylor Swift has been getting a lot of criticism for her music, personality, fashion and relationships. I'm not saying that I am the biggest fan of Taylor Swift but I would like to think her new album helped people realize that all of that criticism was not all reserved.

Let me tell you the story of my perception of Taylor Swift from her first album. After her first album, Taylor Swift, was released, I didn't really know her and it wasn't until her second album that I heard about her first one. Once I borrowed her second album, Fearless, I listened to nearly all of her songs and I would have considered myself a pretty big fan of her. By the time Speak Now came up, Taylor Swift kind of disappeared from the media screen or maybe her presence just decreased but either way I only listened to a few of her songs.

I barely listened to any of Taylor Swift's songs from Red and it seemed like everyone suddenly became against her. All of a sudden it seemed like everyone started to hate her. Everyone seemed to constantly point out her multiple boyfriends or her rather personal lyrics or her very red lipstick and criticize her for all of it. And at the time, I didn't think much of it, in fact, I also stopped liking her and took on what everyone else told me to think of her. 

But once I heard her latest album, I realized that all of the bad things that everyone once said about her didn't change the way she acted and she just kept doing what she wanted to do and for that, I respect her. It doesn't matter whether I like her clothing or her songs but I still respect her as a person. 

And to conclude the story of my perceptions of Taylor Swift: I have her Out of the Woods stuck in my head.

Maybe the title of my post was a little bit misleading, I may not LOVE Taylor Swift but I am happy to admit that I learned that even though I don't love her, she stills deserves my respect.

Hope I didn't sound way too preachy or annoying but feel free to leave your opinions of her new album and any songs that you like/don't like in it.

Shay Mitchell's New Youtube Channel

I am a big fan of Shay Mitchell, so when I heard that she started her own official Youtube channel, I immediately checked it out.

Shay Mitchell is without a doubt, a great actress and insanely gorgeous but it was nice to be able to see her in a different, more personal way. Shay has a rather big social media presence but I was initially unsure whether a youtube channel was the best way for her fans to get to see her.

But I am glad to say that she went far beyond my expectations. As an actress with plenty of experience in front of a camera, her first video was far from the usual awkward and poor-quality videos usually seen.

As of today, she has two videos and one trailer for her channel and over 100,000 subscribers.

Her current two videos are one being a fashion vlog and the other being a question and answer and house tour. In her vlog, Shay looked amazing in her gingham dress and I would be lying if I said that I didn't do a quick search for one like it. But - I do have to admit - that the ending was a bit cheesy. In the end Shay comments about how winning doesn't matter and talked about how losing is okay. Usually, I would find that inspiring but she was talking about losing a corn maze, which I thought was making a big deal out of nothing.

The question and answer video was impressive since she managed to incorporate a house tour in it as well. I think its a great idea to have such an extensive question and answer video during the beginning of a channel.

Overall, I like Shay Mitchell's youtube channel and I can't wait to watch her upcoming videos! Comment letting me know how you feel about her channel and videos.

100 Bloglovin' Followers!

Hi everybody! I am so excited to announce that I officially have over 100 followers on Bloglovin'!

I would like to thank every single one of my readers and followers for offering their advice and constructive criticism ever since I first started writing. Without people reading and commenting on my posts, the quality would not be nearly as great.

Throughout all the time I spent writing for my blog, I have learned so much about topics I should write about and how to write them. I also changed from a book blog to a more personal blog.

In honor of my 100 followers, I have decided to create a Pinterest. I am not social media savvy but I decided to do this because I feel that since my blog is growing, my social media accounts should be too. I am still pretty new at the whole pinning thing so please offer your advice and tell me about some people to follow and so on.

Once again I would like to thank everyone for reading and leaving such nice comments!

"New" Glasses

I change my glasses frames every year and it seems that each year they get better and better. And these glasses aren't particularly new because I have had them for about a month but it isn't up until now that I have gotten used to looking at myself in the mirror with them on.

I usually have smaller black or brown frames but this time I decided on a pinkish brown color and huge frames. I am a bit on the smaller side (five feet tall) so my face isn't really big either so the frames look even bigger.

Needless to say, the case is really cute too. They are a bit of a different type of case than I am used to but my glasses still fit in really snug. However, I wish that the case were a bit harder just to protect my glasses if it falls. But I probably shouldn't complain since my glasses are always on my face unless I'm sleeping or showering and so on. And just in case you were wondering these glasses are from MarchoNYC.

Although they might not fit my face the EXACT way that I want them to, I love them. Comment letting me know if you love to change your glasses frames (which type do you prefer) or use contacts instead.

L.A. Candy By Lauren Conrad

Lauren Conrad has proven to be a super talented writer so I was excited to learn that she had written a book that I had never heard of. The overall synopsis of the book is that two best friends move to Los Angles only to be discovered by the producer of a reality show. Reading the summary, I didn't find it anymore exciting than any other book but I still decided to take a closer look at it since I felt that this was something that Lauren Conrad would most accurately be able to write about as opposed to other writers.

Most books written by a celebrity, especially fiction ones, tend to be cheesy and dull and boring. But I am happy to say that this one exceeded my expectations. Both of the main characters were not really cliche like I was expecting. They were pretty well-rounded, confusing at times, but well-thoughtout. Even the side characters were interesting. I personally would have liked to see more of a background story for each of the secondary characters but I'm sure this isn't an issue for many others.

Sometimes the Hollywood scene can be kind of overused especially one that is the story about how two best friends become discovered. But that doesn't mean that this book should be ruled out because most people who write books about being discovered in Hollywood don't have the kind of experience that Lauren Conrad has.

The end of this novel had a heartbreaking cliffhanger and I without a doubt picked up the next book just to find out what would happen next as soon as I could. The juicy love stories were abruptly cut off as was the current state of friendships and alliances. It was a very skilled and well-planned ending.

Overall, this book is pretty good if you like the other Lauren Conrad novels. If you have read this novel before or anything else Lauren Conrad has written, I would love to hear what you have to say. 

Removing Lint From Sweaters

It has been fall for a little while now and it seems like everyone is breaking out their sweaters in preparation. I myself did the same only to see that tiny balls of lint have collected on the top.

Usually the little lint balls do not bother me much; in fact, I usually like having a few because it makes my sweaters look worn in and cute but sometimes they get annoying. And I usually find myself picking at them throughout the day in the middle of class, which is not only distracting but also not good for the sweater.

After looking up several ways to remove them online and asking around, I found two methods and even got to try them out. I tried both of these methods out one of my old ratty sweaters since one of these ways is a bit risky and I wouldn't trust any of my favorite sweaters with it.

Pumice:

Pumice is the gentler version of the two methods. Pumice is a rather cheap and porous rock that you can rub over your sweater to collect tough balls of lint. The pumice stones pores help to trap and rather gently pull of tough unwanted lint. This may need a bit more force to get your sweater looking new but still works.

Shaving Razor:

This is a bit more risking and I'm happy I didn't use any of my good and expensive sweaters because I "shaved" my sweater too roughly and tore a hole in it. But it is much much more effective compared to the pumice stone. My only piece of advice would be to get some practice before using it on good sweaters so you know how how hard to rub the razor against it.

I know lint rollers can help pick up a bit of lint but sometimes it can be tough to get them off so easily.

I hope this helps some of you enjoy sweater weather! Leave comments telling me if you knew any of these methods before, tried them or have anymore interesting sweater hacks you know of.

TMI Tag

A little while ago, I was tagged by the lovely blogger Lily @Lilypad  to do the TMI Tag. You should definitely check out her blog. I thought that it was super cute and I am honored to do it. Anyway, I feel like I've been doing a lot of tags and as much as I love doing them, I will be posting one of my regular posts soon!

1) What are you wearing?
Grey tights and a striped sweater.
2) Ever been in love?
Never been IN love.
3) Ever had a terrible breakup?
Happy to say I have not.
4) How tall are you?
Five feet tall. :) I know I'm short.
5) How much do you weigh?
A bit of a personal question but ninety pounds.
6) Any tattoos?
Nope. 
7) Any piercings?
My ears.
8) OTP?
So so so many! 
9) Favorite show?
Pretty Little Liars, Modern Family, or The Middle
10) Favorite bands?
The 1975
11) Something you miss? 
My old friends.
12) Favorite song?
Anything by Beyonce.
13) How old are you?
Almost 16!
14) Zodiac sign?
Sagittarius.
15) Quality you look for in a partner?
Honesty.
16) Favorite Quote?
"Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light." -Norman B. Rice
17) Favorite actor?
Kristen Wiig.
18) Favorite color?
Yellow
19) Loud music or soft?
I'm leaning toward soft.
20) Where do you go when you’re sad?
I take a nap on my bed.
21) How long does it take you to shower?
A lot longer than it should! Probably 20 minutes but if I'm washing my hair, it'll take longer.
22) How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
Not including a shower I take about 20 minutes to get ready.
23) Ever been in a physical fight?
Nope. Never anything that serious.
24) Turn on?
A nice smile.
25) Turn off?
A ridiculously big ego.
26) The reason I joined blogger?
I wanted to make friends and share stuff with others.
27) Fears?
The dark, being alone and ladders.
28) Last thing that made you cry?
When I was reading To Kill a Mockingbird for the hundredth time.
29) Last time you said you loved someone?
I probably told my best friend I loved them a few days ago.
30) Meaning behind your blog name?
Kind of spur of the moment really.
31) Last book you read?
Probably some SAT book. Sigh.
32) The book you’re currently reading?
The Hobbit for the second time.
33) Last show you watched?
Modern Family.
34) Last person you talked to?
My brother to ask him what time it is.
35) The relationship between you and the person you last texted?
She's one of my best friends ever.
36) Favorite food?
Ice cream or fish.
37) Place you want to visit?
Just one place? Probably Mexico.
38) Last place you were?
School. But as a vacation, I went to Alaska.
39) Do you have a crush?
I don't know.
40) Last time you kissed someone?
Never had my first kiss.
41) Last time you were insulted?
Last time I was aware of someone insulting me is actually awhile ago. A few months?
42) Favorite flavor of sweet?
Watermelon!
43) What instruments do you play?
I used to play the flute.
44) Favorite piece of jewelry?
Earrings! 
45) Last sport you played?
Self-defense is a sport right?
46) Last song you sang?
Crazy in Love by Beyonce.
47) Favorite chat up line?
Wow! I love your (shoes, shirt, etc.)
48) Have you ever used it?
All the time.
49) Last time you hung out with anyone?
My friends and I went to a restaurant three days ago.
50) Who should answer these questions next?
I don't like tagging people to much but if you want to do this tag, then go for it! I tag everyone who feels like it.

I hope you enjoyed reading that! And like I said earlier, I tag everyone who wants to be tagged! Let me know if you've done it or if you plan to.

Watercolors App

I am always on the hunt for new and cool apps for my iPhone! I saw this app a while ago on the app store and I decided that it looked fun and it was completely free. I really wanted a game I could play when I was bored or showed up somewhere early that wasn't Flappy Bird.

I cannot emphasize this enough: I love clean apps. I love ones that let you play the game without all the harsh colors and distracting images. This app was extremely easy on the eyes. Sounds pretty weird since the name is Watercolors, right? Don't get me wrong, there's color but it is just where is has to be.

The game is filled with amazing levels. Some of them get a little difficult to pass but they are always fun. It takes a lot of tries to get the colors exactly where they have to go.

The thing I love most about this app is the pretty color combinations you have to create. Combining a red and blue for a deep purple or combing a yellow and red to make orange. It really gets complex when you have to take the orange and make it a red orange. As difficult as is may get, I always stick with it and get to make beautiful pictures.

Overall, I recommend this app for everyone. It is actually really mentally stimulating in a clever and subtle way. I'll be keeping this game for a while. I still have a few more levels I need to pass and some high scores to get.

September Favorites | 2014

I usually like to post my monthly favorites on the last day of the month but I put if off until today because I was busy but mainly because I do not want to accept that summer has become such a distant memory. But it doesn't feel like it since it was 93 degrees outside.

Matte Eyeliner:

I love my Revlon Matte eyeliner in the color black truffle. This was one of my first eyeliners that I actually was comfortable using. As much as I love liquid eyeliners, I have a very difficult time using them. For this reason, I like that this eyeliner gives you a chance to fix any mistakes. And if I don't want the lines to be too bold, I can smudge them around the edges which I like to do for the fall.

Nail Art Pen:

I have only used this nail art pen once but I can already tell that I'll be using it a lot more. The instructions to get it to work and use it are super easy to follow. It isn't hard to draw on designs and it dries pretty quickly. But not so quickly that you can't fix your mistakes.

Macarons:

Something about the macaron makes me happy. They are not only absolutely adorable but they taste so good. I am obsessed with them, which reminds that I should probably go and buy some more. These ones are from Trader Joe's.

That's it for this month! I hope you enjoyed reading this and be sure to tell my some of your favorites!

The Autumn Tag

 

My favorite season summer has passed but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy autumn. I saw this cute tag on a great blog called Wanderlust Daydreaming and I knew I had to try it.

1. What's your favorite seasonal drink?

I love Starbucks! I know most people look forward to the Pumpkin Spice Latte but I look personally look forward to the Salted Caramel Mochas. I love everything salted caramel like ice cream but since it is getting a bit too cold for that, a mocha is a great substitute. 

2. Accessories - what do you opt for: scarves, gloves or boots?

Umm... this is tough. I would have to choose boots because they are the most comfortable to wear. Where I live the mornings start of really cold but then slowly become much warmer in the afternoon. Halfway throughout the day, I would have to take off my gloves and scarves.

3. Music - what's your favorite music to listen to during Autumn?

I am a lover of all things indie and I think autumn is the best time of the year for indie music. The entire vibe of indie folk and indie rock fits perfectly with the crisp autumn atmosphere. If I would have to choose some artists, they would have to be The 1975, KONGOS, and The Bleachers.

4. Perfume - what's your favorite scent for this time of year?

I have this wonderful vanilla sugar scent. It can technically be used in all seasons but I think it works best for autumn.  

5. Candles - what candles will you be burning this season?

Unfortunately, I very rarely burn candles so there are none that I will be burning.

6. What do you love most about Autumn?

I love the fall fashion. I love summer dresses but the knit warm dresses are my favorite. I also love colorful scarves that pop against the other monochromatic clothing. Leg warmers and boots are coming back, a trend I've been waiting all summer for.

7. Favorite make up look?

The dark lipstick is a must for me. It never seems right to wear them in the summer and spring but once fall starts, it looks perfect. A bold mascara also helps.

8. What are you looking forward to most in Autumn?

I most look forward to the different color scheme. The colors gracefully transition from the summery pastels to the monochromatic grays and browns.

I tag everyone who wants to do this! And I hope you all do because it is super fun and makes you realize the beauty of autumn just like I did.

Uprising By Margaret Peterson Haddix

I love a good story about strong and independent women and this book had not only one powerful female character but three. The girls in this book are young and hardworking and I find them to be incredibly inspiring. I grew up reading Margaret Peterson Haddix and I was looking through my bookshelf when I picked this one up again and I can't believe I didn't revisit it sooner.

When we think of New York City, we see a soaring buildings, high-end fashion, and glam throughout but NYC wasn't always like this. About a century ago, New York City was just as busy as it is now but the social environment was completely different. Labor movements were emerging and women were becoming more and more empowered. Although these crucial events were occurring throughout the novel, the main event was the the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.

The story follows the life and experiences of Yetta from Russia, Bella from Italy and Jane from a very wealthy family.

Margaret Peterson Haddix uses strong descriptions to portray the terrible conditions that the girls had to work in. She uses a strong narrator to tell the story and I was happy that the story still managed to incorporate the unique voices of each of the girls. They were all so different, the only common thread they had was their place of work.

Slowly each girl begins to realize the significance of getting the rights they deserve and helping others.

Once I reread this book, I can remember why this was one of my favorite books from my childhood. I think it tells a great story about becoming more aware of the world around you. We always hear about the Industrial Revolution that took place all over world but we don't always hear about how bad the working conditions actually were. This book shed a new light on the women's rights movement and the Industrial Revolution, two important events.

Anyway, I loved this little blast from the past. I love looking back at the books that I used to read years ago. I hope you liked reading this post and let me know if you have read this book or any other books about Margaret Peterson Haddix or about any of these topics.

My Nail Polish Collection

It's no secret that I am completely obsessed with nail polishes. And I realized that I didn't get a chance to paint them this weekend (something I usually do every two weeks). Instead of crying looking at my chipped nails, I decided to share with all of you, my nail polish collection!

Some of these nail polishes have been with me for a very long time but I just never opened any of them up until recently. Nail polish is my favorite thing to wear because it almost never expires. You remember that mascara you had to chuck because of the risk of potential bacteria? With nail polishes, the risk of infections are extremely slim compared to that so one practically only needs to throw them out when they dry.

Can I stop for a second to rant about how much I love this bag? It was a gift and it is super cute and goes with my room pretty well.

About half of these nail polishes are gifts from friends and family and the other half, I share with my mom.

Some of the nail polishes include: Sinful Colors, Revlon, L.A. Girls and Sally Hansen. There are others, of course, but these are my favorite and don't chip as easily. The box said it could hold twenty-four nail polishes but I have a bit more than that (oops). So I put the extra where I also keep my nail files and clippers.I know it looks slightly unorganized but technically, they aren't supposed to be in there.

I hope you liked looking briefly at my nail polish collection!

Since nail polish is such a favorite of mine, you can be sure that I will somehow incorporate that into further blog posts. But either way, thanks reading and leave comments to let me know what you think about either the bag or any of the nail polishes.