My Beauty Favorites: {Summer}

Summer Favorites by darlingdreamer featuring an essie nail polish

Maybelline voluminous mascara / Essie nail polish / Essie nail polish / Styling product / Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

When I was little, I was really into makeup: it fascinated me, and because my mom never really uses beauty products, I was enthralled with everything to do with makeup or hair. I wasn't allowed to wear makeup until I was sixteen years old, and for a few days here and there, I really enjoyed it. But now, I'm a person of minimal makeup: I do really like using Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB cream, because it evens out my facial color, moisturizes my skin, and provides SPF 30! It's also very light, I can't even tell I'm in makeup! I also use Maybelline's Cat Eyes mascara, which makes my eyelashes longer and more pronounced (as well as making my eyes pop!) without clumping. 

As far as hair goes, I'm usually just a brush-and-go girl, unless I'm braiding my hair or putting it up in some other way. Not Your Mother's Beach Babe texturing spray gives my already wavy hair something a little extra. 

And last but not least, nails! I love to paint my nails to match the season or my mood. It's a good way to express yourself. During the Summer months, I really go for the bright colors: turquoise, corals, pink glitter, bright blues, etc. But my favorites this summer were Essie's Turquoise & Caicos (also Naughty Nautical!) and Sunday Funday. 

What are your favorite beauty products this Summer?

xoxo

Book Review: The Pledge

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Synopsis: In a country called Ludania, language is the dividing factor of the classes. Someone in a lower class cannot look upon a member of a higher class while they are speaking in their own language, is punishable by death. This is where our protagonist, 17-year-old Charlaina "Charlie," who has a secret: she has the ability to comprehend the languages of all the classes. But then she meets a mysterious boy, named Max, who can speak a language that she has never heard before, and she almost exposes her secret. As she is drawn to Max, she becomes aware that she doesn't truly trust him, nor does she know where his loyalties lie. When things in her violent country grow worse, and more  information comes to light, we learn that Charlie may be the key to change in a country with a powerful, and deadly, regime. 

My review: This book was a fast read, but I was hooked so I really didn't put it down for a whole day! I found it easy to relate to Charlie, the main character, but I could see some people having issues relating to her. As a lover of languages, I was hoping to get a peek of some of the fictional languages described in the book (with translations!) but it was all written in "Englais," our English. However, I could see how adding the other languages could be unnecessary and make the book a tad lengthy. The plot was a bit slow to start, but it gave us time to get to know a bit about each character first, which I enjoyed. The best part of this book, though, was that we readers got an ending of sorts, despite the fact that it is a book in a series. NO CLIFFHANGER! It was actually kind of wonderful. All in all, this was a good read. 

My rating: 4/5

xoxo

Netflix Movie Night

Finding a good movie on Netflix Instant can take as long as watching an actual movie sometimes (or is that just me? I'm so indecisive), but if you take the time you may just find a gem! Here is a list of some movies featured on Netflix Instant which I personally recommend to y'all:

If you like Disney or kids' films:

Source

Other Disney Favorites that you can find on Netflix Instant: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Dumbo!

If you like Romantic Comedies or Classics:

Roman Holiday (Vacanze Romane) 

It's set in Italy and it stars Audrey Hepburn... So it's a natural pick for me. Hepburn plays a princess who is taking a tour of Europe, and when in Rome, she grows tired of her highly scheduled life and takes off to discover Italy's capitol for her own.

If you like history or foreign films:

A Royal Affair (En Kongelig Affaere)

Starring Alicia Vikander, Mads Mikkelsen, and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, this movie tells the story of Caroline Mathilde, a young British princess who was married off to King Christian VII of Denmark and Norway. 
After Caroline moved to Denmark and met the King, it became apparent that he was mentally ill. After he
they had their first child, a son, Christian turned his interests to the brothels in Copenhagen, and then
to travelling on a tour of Europe. He brought back with him the physician Johann Struensee,
who could handle his tempers. Caroline Mathilde and Struensee began to see each other, and it altered
the course of Danish history. 

Happy Netflixing,
Caryn Elizabeth

Wow, what a weekend!

So, last Friday was my new university's orientation for transfer students, and while I was expecting to meet a ton of new people, I really didn't meet many people, and besides running into them on campus, I doubt that I'll see any of them again. I may have met more people had I not gone to the wrong major's advising meeting in the morning. -sigh-

So, apparently at my new school, there is a difference between Italian Studies (my major) and Italian language studies (apparently not my major)... So I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off all day long, thinking I was taking all of the wrong classes, only to find out from one of the student volunteers that I was doing all of the wrong advising all day. 

Luckily, I was sent to the literature and history departments before they left (I cut it really close) so I have all of my classes for this quarter, but I have no idea how to get around school (there's buses to take you around campus, but which one do I take? When do they run?) or which college is which. So things are going to be pretty confusing for the first week or two. 

My mom came for the weekend, though, so I got to spend time with her and my doggies. We went on a nice morning walk on the beach pictured above, and then a friend from home came to visit. The three of us shared the best cupcakes in the world and then went to see the Conjuring.

Rotten Tomatoes

The Conjuring started off alright, particularly since the doll pictured above was involved in the beginning of the film, and the doll alone is just freaky. However, toward the middle of the movie, I thought it was just going to be another mediocre horror movie. It started to move really slowly and went for a lot of cheap scares that just weren't scary. But then, at the end of the movie, things looked up. It got pretty frightening - there were a few laughable moments, but overall, they put together a horror film that was better than I'd seen in a long while. 

Enjoy what's left of the weekend! 

xoxo, 

Caryn Elizabeth

Summer Reading

Who doesn't love lounging by the pool, or better yet, the ocean, with the sun shining bright overhead, book in hand? I certainly love that feeling; I wait for it all year long.
Here's some of my book recommendations for this summer:

Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan

Synopsis: Four girls (named Celia, Bree, Sally, and April) are placed in the same dorm during their freshman year at a Northeastern liberal arts college. They're all quite different in personality and background, yet over the course of their four years in school, they struggle with adult life, learn lessons, and bond as a group. They reunite four years after graduation for Sally's wedding, and despite their growing differences, their devotion to one another is strong. However, one of the girls finds trouble and it is up to the other three to help her. 

My review: This book kept me up reading for days, despite the fact that I tried very hard to spread it out. The characters' stories each drew me in, and I felt as though I could be a part of this group. The situations these girls end up in are very realistic; this is a great read for college students and those entering adulthood. 

My rating: 4.5/5 stars

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Synopsis: City-girl Corrinne's world is falling apart. Used to her extravagant life in New York City, she and her brother are sent to live with her grandparents in Texas, and Corrinne refuses to accept it. She will do whatever it takes to get her life back on the "right track:" going to boarding school, getting her credit cards back, and more. However, she's stuck in public school with a job shoveling manure. Will this city girl find a home in the country?

My review: It was a quick read, and one that I really enjoyed. The protagonist acted like a spoiled brat at first, but that was to be expected. She grew up quite a bit, though, and became a much more enjoyable protagonist. This book was sweet and a bit predictable, but sometimes that is just what you need. This is a perfect summer read. 

My rating: 3.5/5 stars

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

Synopsis: In the fifth and final installment of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants books, Tibby, Carmen, Lena, and Bridget are beginning their adult lives, and despite the fact that the Pants have been lost, their friendship continues on. The closeness that they once shared is missing, however, and it has affected each of the women greatly. Tibby reaches out to the others, sending them plane tickets for a reunion in Greece. That trip will change their lives forever, in the least expected way. 

My review: The Sisterhood has been a part of my life since middle school, but I feel that this book was written in such a way that even if you hadn't read the other books, you could grasp that these women shared a deep bond. Much has happened since the last installment, and the girls have grown up and apart. During what should have been a happy reunion in Greece, something entirely unexpected happens. I cried, I laughed, and I cried some more. But the end of this book, and the series, was worth all of it. 

My rating: 4/5 stars 

Happy reading, 

Caryn Elizabeth