Christmas Gift Ideas for Teens 2018!

It’s that time of year again! It has been a while since I have posted, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share with all of you some gift ideas for teens if you are having trouble thinking of what to get your friends, family, or even yourself. Hope you enjoy! ❤️

1. Mock Neck Sweater ($40.80 Abercombie and Fitch)

This mock neck sweater is great for the winter time when going out or even staying at home watching Netflix. It comes in a variety of different colors as well. ❄️

https://www.abercrombie.com/shop/us/p/cable-mock-neck-sweater-12402822?seq=04&faceout=model

2. Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Camera ($57.99 Amazon)

This gift creates long lasting memories with the press of a button. It comes in a bunch of different cute colors and is great to surprise any teen with. 📷

https://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Instax-Mini-Instant-Camera/dp/B06WW64YM6/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_421_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=G4V1AG3NQ9Z867CQQAVE&th=1

3. Message Light Box ($19.99 Amazon)

This light up message board is great for any teen wanting to add a little something to their room. It’s great for any occasion and is very affordable! 💡

https://www.amazon.com/A4-Cinema-Light-Box-Sign/dp/B07147CGJ4/ref=asc_df_B07147CGJ4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=254363560456&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9614105387142711460&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031100&hvtargid=pla-418145802901&psc=1

4. Tombow Dual Brush Pens ($12.31 Amazon)

Do you know anyone that loves to draw? Well, these brush pens are great for anyone that enjoys drawing and is looking for high quality brush pens. 🖌

https://www.amazon.com/Tombow-56185-Markers-10-Pack-Blendable-x/dp/B00JVB8FBA/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1543335975&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=brush+pens&psc=1

5. Anastasia Beverley Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette ($29 Ulta)

This Anastasia Eyeshadow Palette has 14 different shades and a brush. It’s great for anyone that loves makeup and wants to test out a new eyeshadow palette that is relatively cheap. 💋

https://www.ulta.com/modern-renaissance-eyeshadow-palette?productId=xlsImpprod14291015

6. 32 oz. Hydro Flask ($29.96 Dick’s Sporting Goods)

For anyone looking for a durable, insulated water bottle, the Hydro Flask is a great investment! They come in a ton of different colors and is perfect to bring on-the-go. 💧

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/hydro-flask-wide-mouth-32-ozbottle-15hflu32zbttlxxxxcac/15hflu32zbttlxxxxcac?camp=CSE:DSG_pg1050515143_mk_PLA_454&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8_PfBRC3ARIsAOzJ2uo3VXfAA0bMbMbzfOZLMsjy048EyYnRpi8t7sOpWwQvLxRptp-smt0aArJvEALw_wcB

7. Planner ($12.59 Amazon)

You can never go wrong with gifting a planner! It is a great gift for anyone that needs some place to organize their responsibilities and is easy to carry around anywhere. 📔

https://www.amazon.com/2019-Planner-Monthly-Calendar-Stickers/dp/B07BT4LGX1

8. Herschel Backpack ($59.99 Herschel)

If anyone in your lives is looking for a backpack of great quality, Herschel backpacks are the way to go! They are cute and will last you a long time. 🎒

https://herschel.com/shop/backpacks/settlement-backpack-mid-volume?CAWELAID=120248120000002737&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=45009913410&CATCI=pla-297767871815&mkwid=8fQvInju&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_campaign=&utm_term=&utm_content=8fQvInju%7Cpcrid%7C236414940864%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7Cpdv%7Cc%7Cproductid%7C10033-00001-OS%7C&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8_PfBRC3ARIsAOzJ2uqpEP5Us2je4peRFWoBbfsFDDaMYJQtLKGcYuLVj0orlfWSMakPvRgaAsdJEALw_wcB&v=10033-00001-OS

9. Buddha Board ($14.95 Amazon)

Instead of using a pencil and paper to draw, the Buddha Board allows you to draw with only a brush and some water. It’s easy to use and super relaxing! 🖌

https://www.amazon.com/Buddha-Board-Mini-2-Inch-Black/dp/B000LUYQ22/ref=asc_df_B000LUYQ22/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=278249889816&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7504903434301115610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031100&hvtargid=pla-332948857843&psc=1

10. Wentworth Wooden Puzzles ($-$$$ Wentworth Puzzles)

If you’re looking to splurge on gifts this season, then the Wentworth wooden puzzles are something to consider. They are a bit expensive, depending on the puzzle, but well worth it because of its quality and fun. 🧩

https://www.wentworthpuzzles.com

Angelfall Review!

 

 

Hey everyone! Hope you all are having an amazing summer. The book I will be reviewing today is Angelfall by Susan Ee. If you would like to learn more about the author or read an excerpt from her book, click on the links below!

http://www.susanee.com/angels/

http://www.susanee.com/blog/five-free-chapters-of-susan-ees-angelfall.html

 

Title: Angelfall

Author: Susan Ee

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15863832-angelfall

I enjoyed reading Angelfall as Susan Ee made it such an interesting read! This book contained a mixture of romance, angels, and adventure. What more could you ask for!! This is absolutely a perfect YA novel that I recommend teens read.

This book captured my interest from the first page to the last. Penryn teams up with an angel, Raffe, in order to find her family. However, in the process she develops feelings for him. The characters and story’s plot were amazing as well as the diction. I cannot wait to begin reading Susan Ee’s other two books, World After and End of Days, that are a part of the Penryn and the End of Days Series. If you ever come across this book, I suggest you read it!

I rate this book a 5 stars out of 5 as this book was incredible and I loved the way Susan Ee wrote it. If you enjoy reading books that include romance and adventure, I suggest that you read this one! And for Susan Ee…

❤

 

 

Top 10 TV shows!

Do you ever have days where you have nothing to do? Do you ever have time to spare? Because today, I will be giving you my top 10 list of favorite TV shows! I hope this helps all of you out there figure out how you want to spend your weekend! 🙂

1. How to get away with Murder

2. Fresh Off the Boat

3. Blackish

4. Modern Family

5. The Big Bang Theory

6. The Flash

7. Friends

8. Pretty Little Liars

9. The Real O’Neals

10. The Middle

Comment if any of y’all enjoy any of these shows as much as I do! Hope this helps and have a Happy Sunday!!! ❤

Reawakened Review!

Hello fellow book lovers!!! ❤ Today’s book review will be Reawakened by Colleen Houck. To learn more about the author and the book check out the links below!

http://colleenhouck.com/

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/231513/reawakened-by-colleen-houck/9780385376594/

 

Title: Reawakened (Reawakened #1)

Author: Colleen Houck

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.

And she really can’t imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.

But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.

From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17331819-reawakened

I actually read this last summer when it first came out so I guess that this review is long overdue XD. Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed this new series that Houck has begun but I still prefer the Tiger’s Curse Series over this one. If you do not know about her first series, you can check out my previous book review about it! Houck has also come out with her new book Recreated that continues on from Reawakened.

When I first read the Tiger’s Curse Series it had to do with a young girl named Kelsey who had to help free an ancient Indian prince from his curse. The Reawakened Series also has to do with a girl, Lilliana(a.k.a. Lily), who had to help an ancient Egyptian God find his Canopic Jars. I loved the concept of having the the heroine protect and assist the male protagonist in the story but both novels seemed a bit too similar. Besides that, I loved the way Lily was portrayed throughout the book! She reminded me of Kelsey in the sense that they were both strong minded, however, Lily was more of the overly confident one. Houck’s incorporation of Egyptian mythology into the novel was flawless and I absolutely love the adventure and romance! P.S. I’m not going to lie but some parts had me tearing up :3 .

Overall, I would rate this book a 4 stars out of 5 because I enjoyed Houck’s use of Egyptian mythology and the characters many adventures. I would highly recommend readers who love YA(Young Adult) novels to read this book! ｡◕‿ ◕｡ ❤

Favorite Musicals!

Hello people!!! It’s been awhile since I have posted something other than a book review so I decided to list some of my favorite musicals including some of my favorite songs! Hope you enjoy!!! ❤

1. Hamilton

• Alexander Hamilton
• Aaron Burr, Sir
• My Shot
• Schuyler Sisters
• You’ll be back
• Satisfied
• Guns and Ships
• Burn

2. Sound of Music

• The Sound of Music
• So Long, Farewell
• My favorite things
• Sixteen going on seventeen

3. Phantom of the Opera

• Think of me
• The Phantom of the Opera
• All I ask of you

4. My Fair Lady

• Just you wait
• I could have danced all night
• Wouldn’t it be lovely

5. Grease

• Summer Nights
• There are Worst things I could do
• We go together
• Blue Moon
• Look at me, I’m Sandra Dee

6. Wicked

• Popular
• Defying Gravity
• Something Bad

7. Sweeney Todd

• By the Sea
• Worst pies in London
• A little priest
• Not while I’m around
• Green Finch and Linnet Bird

8. Gypsy

• Rose’s Turn
• If Mamma Was Married
• Everything’s Coming Up Roses

9. Hairspray

• Good Morning Baltimore
• I Can Hear the Bells
• Big, Blonde, and Beautiful
• Miss Baltimore Crabs

10. Rent

• Take me or leave me
• Seasons of Love
• What You Own

11, Les Miserables

• On my Own
• I Dreamed a Dream
• At the End of the Day

12. Cats

• Memory
• The Old Gumbie Cat
• The Jellicle Ball

 

East of Eden Review!

Hello guys! This book review will be on (drum roll) East of Eden by John Steinbeck. ❤ Check out the links below to learn more about the author and read an excerpt from the book!!!

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/354458/east-of-eden-by-john-steinbeck/9780140186390/

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/29649/john-steinbeck

 

Title: East of Eden

Author: John Steinbeck

Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel. Here Steinbeck created some of his most memorable characters and explored his most enduring themes: the mystery of identity; the inexplicability of love; and the murderous consequences of love’s absence.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4406.East_of_Eden

So I just finished reading this book for my English summer assignment and wanted to write a review on it! If you have not read any of his other books, you are missing out. I suggest reading Of Mice and Men! So back to the review… XD I loved Steinbeck’s reoccurring theme of good vs. evil and also freewill. It tied the whole novel together very well.

I enjoyed Cathy’s character the most because she was so deceiving and manipulative. I don’t know how she did everything but all I can say is that she’s very crafty. I also enjoyed the fact that Steinbeck started with talking about Adam, Charles, and their father, Cyrus, then after many years later went on to talk about the later generation of children. It was as if I was growing up with them and seeing the change. The author’s incorporation of The Book of Genesis in his novel was amazing! In The Book of Genesis, Adam and Eve have two sons named Cain and Abel who both give God a gift. God accepts one of the boys gifts and rejects the other. As you can tell this angers the boy and he kills his brother. A similar concept happens in East of Eden.

I would give this book a 4.5 stars out of 5 because I loved the good and evil throughout the book. In my opinion, I did not notice many faults within the book and thoroughly enjoyed it! If you haven’t already read this book I suggest you do!!! ❤ ❤

The Gap of Time Review!

Hey everybody!!! Today I will be reviewing The Gap of Time by Jeanette Winterson. To read a quick synopsis of the novel and more about the author, click on the links below!

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/240623/the-gap-of-time-by-jeanette-winterson/9780804141376

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/33509/jeanette-winterson

 

Title: The Gap of Time (Hogarth Shakespeare)

Author: Jeanette Winterson

The Winter’s Tale is one of Shakespeare’s “late plays.” It tells the story of a king whose jealousy results in the banishment of his baby daughter and the death of his beautiful wife. His daughter is found and brought up by a shepherd on the Bohemian coast, but through a series of extraordinary events, father and daughter, and eventually mother too, are reunited.

In The Gap of Time, Jeanette Winterson’s cover version of The Winter’s Tale, we move from London, a city reeling after the 2008 financial crisis, to a storm-ravaged American city called New Bohemia. Her story is one of childhood friendship, money, status, technology and the elliptical nature of time. Written with energy and wit, this is a story of the consuming power of jealousy on the one hand, and redemption and the enduring love of a lost child on the other.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24727420-the-gap-of-time

In all honesty, I enjoyed the book’s theme very much! Winterson’s use of the tragedy, revenge, and forgiveness were shown throughout the book and it was great. The drama and problems that went on had a similar concept to what Shakespeare had done with his plays which I believed was very creative.

I thought that the beginning was a bit confusing since it started off with one point of view and then completely switched off to another point of view. But I guess it is called the gap of time for a reason am i right  XD. The author was providing a flashback in the beginning which resulted in a bit of confusion but towards the middle and end everything started to piece together. It was an easy read meaning I did not need to interpret and figure out what every word meant and it had a very compelling plot that kept me reading. Also, the cover is super nice; I appreciate the fact that they had this sort of roman numeral clock as the pupil because it really gave the whole effect of time. I guess that the leaves, feathers, flowers, etc. that are surrounding the eye was to give the whole Bohemian vibe that the author was going for.

All in all, I would rate this book a 3.5 stars out of 5 because I do not think it was my kind of book. Don’t get me wrong it was great but I would recommend readers that love tragedy and revenge to read this. If you love all types of books then I would suggest you go for it and read this book!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this honest review. ❤

 

✎ Back to School Advice! ｡ ◕‿◕｡

Hey guys! So as most of you know, school is about to start or has already started. It can honestly get very stressful especially if you are in high school(like me 😦 ) and your grades matter. Well today, I will be giving you 10 tips(advice) on what you might want to do in order to survive this coming year. HOPE YOU ENJOY! ❤

        1. DON’T PROCRASTINATE 

I know that this is hard to do but trust me!!! Do not hold off your work until the day before the due date because it will cause unnecessary stress. After finishing all your homework early, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you can relax for the rest of the day.

          2. MAKE A SCHEDULE (MAKE A LIST)

In my opinion, making a list of what you need to do for the day makes everything easier. I suggest having a blank piece of paper and writing down all the things you will need to complete with a check box next to it. It will also help with not procrastinating on your work!

          3. HAVE A CLIPBOARD (PLANNER)

Having a clipboard is a MUST! It’s just easy to use and allows you to be organized with all of your papers.

          4. TAKE BREAKS

Remember to take 10-15 minute breaks between every assignment or subject so you don’t get burned out and fall asleep. Plus, taking breaks will allow you to relax for a bit and take your mind off of school!

          5. STUDY FOR TESTS BEFOREHAND

Most people don’t study for tests beforehand which causes them to freak out the night before. It will be much easier for you to start studying for an upcoming test a couple days before so you can just review for the test the night before (maybe an hour or so) and sleep early.

          6. TURN OFF YOUR PHONE 

This is a very difficult thing to do especially for me but turning off your phone while you are working will ensure that you will not get distracted by Instagram, Facebook, or your other apps!

          7. DON’T DO WORK OR STUDY ON YOUR BED 

I typically study while on my bed which is not that great of a thing to do. The reason is because it causes you to become sleepy especially if you are reading. I suggest that you do all of your work and studying on a desk.

          8. SLEEP EARLY 

If you are in high school, I understand your pain! I usually sleep around 12 a.m. every night trying to finish homework. So I recommend that you manage your time wisely and try to sleep before 11 p.m.

          9. PICK OUT WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO WEAR AT NIGHT

People tend to take a long time in the morning trying to figure out what to wear to school. Set an alarm before you go to sleep to pick out what you will wear for the next day so you do not waste time in the morning!

          10. REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN

School is not the most important thing in the world! You should study and try to work hard, but remember to always make time to relax and spend time with family and friends!

✧✧✧And now for some inspirational quotes…✧✧✧

❤❤❤GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!! ❤❤❤

Used Books for CHEAP?!?! :0

Hey everyone!!! Today I will be talking about Camelot Books and ThriftBooks! Camelot Books is a Bookstore in Huntington where you can get used books and ThriftBooks is an online website.

To start off with Camelot Books, I was actually very surprised at the amount of books. There were many used books that looked as good as new (the two books that I got were Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray). Many of the books that I saw were around $4 to $9 but the ones that I purchased were $4.95 and $6.95. These are decent prices considering that most books that you buy from places such as Barnes and Nobles range from $10 to as high as $20. I recommend any book lovers with a couple hours to spare to go visit sometime because there are some great classics for cheap! Pictures shown below!

ThriftBooks is a trustworthy online website to buy used or new books so you do not need to worry about anything. Most of their cheap, used books are sold for around $3 to $4. I ordered three books about 2-3 weeks ago and one came in yesterday. The other 2 books were missent and arrived today. Though the shipping took a while, it was expected since it was free (if you spend $10 or more shipping is free). The book that I received yesterday was Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (only around $3.59 for a hardcover) and I believe it was a library book beforehand due to its minimal markings and some labels on the cover. The other two books that I just received today (Angelfall by Susan Ee and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater) are in relatively good condition so I am very pleased with that. Despite these small problems, I highly suggest people check it out and buy some of their books for cheap! Pictures shown below!

The Selection Review!

Hey everybody! So today’s book review will be The Selection by Kiera Cass. Many of you may have already read this book but I’ll still give the run-down of what it’s about. There are four other books that follow The Selection which includes The Elite, The One, The Heir, and The Crown.

As many of you might know, the novel starts off with a young 16 year old girl named America Singer who is registered to join the selection. She obviously does not want to leave her family and her boyfriend, Aspen, but eventually, for the sake of providing for her family (as well as Aspen breaking up with her), decides to register. America is one of the few to get chosen and when she arrives to the palace she will give it her all to win over Prince Maxon’s heart. As I said before, this novel is very much like The Bachelor where girls are selected to win the man of their dreams, or in this case, a prince. In my opinion, I would have enjoyed more adventure but it was still a great read. I guarantee that this book will have you laughing and tearing up. It was honestly an emotional roller coaster that had me wanting to read the book over and over again. Overall, I give this book a 4/5 and would recommend this book to any readers out there looking for any drama or romance novels. Happy Reading!!!