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Sunday, November 30, 2014

November 2014 Favorites

Is it really the last day of November?  Holy Molly, this month flew by...and that also means Christmas is right around the corner too.  AH, I am so not ready, need to do SO MUCH shopping.

But on another note, here are my favorites for the month of November:




1-Olay BB Cream: I got his a few weeks ago just because it was on sale at my CVS for B1B1 free.  And I have fallen in love with this product.  It gives you just the right coverage and makes your skin feel so smooth.  Going to be doing a review on it soon, so keep your eyes open for that.

2-Soft Lips Lipbalm: I am loving these little lipbalms that I got a couple months ago.  I have one in my purse, one by the bed, one on my vanity, well I am keeping them everywhere.  With the cold weather here; my lips suffer, but I'm glad I found these little guys...or gals??? I'm going to keep going

3-Bath and Body Works Eucalyptus Body Wash: I bought this months ago and for some ready I hadn't got a change to use it and when I ran out of body wash last month I grabbed this one and OMG, it is amazing.  It smells good, even when you get out of the shower the smell still lingers in your body.  Totally recommend this body wash and I need to pick some more of it too.

4-Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask: My skin has been so good for about 3 weeks out of November; but I used a new makeup remover wipes and my skin freaked out.  Seriously, so thank God for this mask; it truly is a life saver.

And I have a new TV show that I am loving to watch:



Jane the Virgin: This is what I have been watching when I need a little pick me up.  I start watching this show and just laugh, and laugh and laugh.  Totally recommend it.


What were your favorites products for the month of November?  Ready for the Holidays?

XOXO,

Nelia

Saturday, November 29, 2014

November Wrap Up

Wrap up time.  This was a good month I think, I finished reading almost all the books that I wanted and some more too; let's do this:

Endgame: The Calling by James



And I have FINALLY finished listening to this book.  It was a very LONG book to listen too, over 14 hours.  I have a review on it already, click here, but I did enjoy even if it was that long.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken


Yes, I'm so happy that I have finished this book, read my review here; but I can tell you that it didn't disappointed me at all.  Love it...



In Time by Alexandra Bracken


So, so glad I picked this novella up; I totally recommend reading it before you read the last book as this book let's you know what happens to Zu. 

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken


Great book, loved how it crazy action packed it was, read my review here to find out more what I think about this book.


Sparks Rise by Alexandra Bracken


I'm so glad I picked this novella, loved the story line and will be doing a review on this one soon too.

In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken


I'm pretty much all done with this book, I still have about 30% left to read which I will be finishing up hopefully either tonight or tomorrow and then I will post a review.

Hope everyone had a great Saturday!

XOXO,

Nelia

Friday, November 28, 2014

Book Review: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Happy Black Friday!!!  The biggest shopping day in USA, because of my concussion I didn't go at 12AM shopping (like I have been doing for the last 2 years), but both me and the hubby were up at 4am and we went out to a couple stores and did some shopping, not as much as I have done in the past but not too bad.  And one of the deals that I took advantage today was online at Book Outlet, their whole site is 30% off and they had a deal the beginning of this that we could get up to $10 to spend today (I tweeted it), so I just finished ordering 9 books for only $17, not bad.

But today's post is not all about Black Friday, but it is book related.  Are you ready for another book review?  I hope so because today's post is one; let's do it:

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken


The book starts with Ruby doing an Op for the Children's League and from there she explains what her life has been during the last few months.  How the League trains and teaches them.  How she is a Leader of a group of kids; kids that she does everything not to get attached to; just like the last time.  She also explains how the League has been using her abilities and how she feels about it.  Things are not perfect but she is going with flow of things, that is until everything changes on that Op.  From that Op she is trusted a secret; one that makes her g into very dangerous mission, one that involves leaving the Children's League behind and Liam.

As Ruby is out on that mission, she feels obligated to take one of her teammates; Jude a 15 year old boy who is sweet as can be and that trusts Ruby.  And off they go to find Liam; who is the one that has the flash drive that contains the secret information; the one he took by mistake.  While she is looking for Liam; she is reunited with Chubs; who couldn't be more excited to see her, but she also gets a person that she is not expecting, another one of her League's teammate; Vida. 

Poor Ruby, is she is torn between her old and new friends while on this mission and who to trust and what she can tell to them; but one thing that she knows is that she will do anything to protect the people that she loves.

Ruby finds Liam but not the way she thought she would, she is torn between her monster self and the good person that she wants to be.  But she also learns who to trust during this time and who her real friends are. 

This book was full of action from the very beginning to the very end.  Loved to see Ruby evolve more in this book; feel more in control of her abilities.  I wasn't so sure about the new characters but I loved them so much.  I felt more connected to Cate and got to understand her more.  The new kids are amazing...but the only thing I didn't like was the end.  I mean; I cried and it has been a while since I cried because of a book, so THANK YOU Alexandra Bracken.

Can't really tell you more than this without spoiling the book; but I can tell you that I totally recommend this book; this series for that matter as the books just keep getting better and better.  Now I am off to read the next book...

XOXO,

Nelia

Thursday, November 27, 2014

OOTD: Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!  Today I am VERY grateful for my support system: my family.  The accident was something horrible that happened to me but also I got to see who my true friends are and who really cares about me.  My husband is at the very top of the list, I LOVE YOU Honey, he has been amazing and I really got to see how much he truly loves and cares about me.  My parents, I don't know how I would have done what I did without them, they were there taking care of my kids  every day and night, so THANK YOU Mom and Dad!  And I have to thank my kids, it's not every day that you see your kids behaving so well and knowing and understanding when they had to be extra quiet because Mommy had a headache, LOVE my babies so much.

Ok, I'm going to stop as I am getting a little emotional right now, so on to today's post; a quick Outfit of the Day.  Here is what I am wearing today for Thanksgiving;


Outfit:







Shirt: Target
Skirt: F21
Socks: Target
Boots: SO OLD...lol

If you celebrate Thanksgiving I hope you spend the day with your loved ones and that you enjoyed it.  Let's all count our blessings...

XOXO,

Nelia

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

READER PROBLEMS [BOOK TAG]

It's Tag time and today is a Book Tag that has been going around YouTube recently, let's start?



QUESTIONS

1. You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?
Sometimes I pick my next book from a TBR jar and sometimes I hear about a new book and have to just read it.

2. You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you quit or are you committed?
I always finish, when I commit that's it even if I hate he book.

3. The end of the year is coming and you’re so close, but so far away on your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try to catch up and how?
There is no way I can catch up now, 6 months with a concussion ruined my goal.  But there is always next year, right?

4. The covers of a series you love do. not. match. How do you cope?
One thing that I like about ebooks is when the covers change, it automatic changes on ebooks, but on physical books it depends, sometimes I buy so they can match, others time I don't.

5. Every one and their mother loves a book you really don’t like. Who do you bond with over shared feelings?
That is so hard, everybody thinks differently about the same book, we don't have to love the same books to be friends...

6. You’re reading a book and you are about to start crying in public. How do you deal?
Put my sunglasses on and cry, and make sure I got some tissues with me.  And if you cry because of a book, well that is definitely a great book.

7. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read the book? Skip the sequel? Try to find a synopsis on Goodreads? Cry in frustration?!?!?!?
Re-read it or just look for a good review on it, but once I start the sequel usually everything that I don't remember starts coming back.

8. You do not want anyone. ANYONE. borrowing your books. How do you politely tell people nope when they ask?
Another reason most of my books are ebooks, there is no way for them to ruin them, but I just tell them that they can have it but they need to take care of them like a baby and usually that scares them away. lol

9. Reading ADD. You’ve picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over your reading slump?
Buy a book that I have been wanting to read for a while and usually that does it for me.

10. There are so many new books coming out that you’re dying to read! How many do you actually buy?
At least 3 of them...or more. lol

11. After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to get to, how long do they sit on your shelf before you get to them?
Sometimes I read them right away and other times it just sits there for a while...


That was fun...Please do this Tag and let me know so I can check it out...

XOXO,

Nelia

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Haul: F21 & TJMaxx + CVS

Happy Tuesday! Only 2 more days until Thanksgiving and I have absolutely nothing ready, well my Mom will be doing the cooking so I don't have to worry about that.  But, usually I do the baking and I have done ZERO of it, Thank God tomorrow if only a half a day at work so I will be going home to do some baking and get all the dishes ready.  I am only having my in laws over for dinner so it should be an easy Thanksgiving for me, hoping for my PCS to behave at least that day.

One of the traditions that I usually do on Thanksgiving day is to go out and get the newspaper with all the Black Friday flyers and pick out the items that I want on each store and hit the stores at midnight.  But this year there won't be a Black Friday shopping for me, concussed head is not ready for that yet, but I will be doing some shopping online as I think most of the sale is online also...And talking about shopping, today's post is another haul; a collective haul from the last couple weeks for a couple stores: let's jump right in:

First up is a little drugstore haul, I stopped I CVS to get a couple things:



Ponds were having a buy one get one free sale so I got 2 Ponds BB (having been using it for a couple weeks now) and makeup remover wipes.  Restocked my Maybelline Fit Me foundation, got a Maybelline eyeliner and one of my favorites body washes; Softsoap Coconut Scrub (if you haven't tried this one yet, please do).

Up next is Forever 21, I stopped there at lunch time one day (which is less crowed) and did a little bit of shop.


Leggings for $3.99? Yes, please...


Loose Tank: always nice for the winter too when you are layering...



I am actually wearing this shirt right now, really comfortable and cute...



Love this cardigan, got it a couple sizes up to be extra comfy...



I had recently got a new pair of black flats but I left them in Portugal, saw these and fell in love with them...



Got a few hair pieces, like these clips...


And some headbands...


Basic white and black ones...

Jewelry like...


Another one that looks like a chain...


And I got this necklace, really cute...


And TJMaxx always gets me, I went there to buy my mom's birthday gift and I came out with a few things...don't blame me, they were having an amazing sale on summer clothes so I had to pick some up.


Got some shirts for less than $5 each...

loved the back of this one...







Found an American Eagle shirt for so cheap...


Got a maxi skirt...

And a maxi dress...

That has such a cute cut out on the back...



And finally this...back to been a kid again...


And that will do for today.  How's your week going?  If you celebrate Thanksgiving; will you be hosting it?  Cooking? Baking?

XOXO,

Nelia

Monday, November 24, 2014

Nail of the Week: Thanksgiving Week

Happy Monday!  Hope you had a good Monday, as good as a Monday can be, right?

Today I had a NeuroPsych test done to see how much progress I have made and if I am going on the right direction.  And I got great news, I'm definitely going in the right direction, just have to listen to my body and don't over do stuff.  Easier said than done, but I am really going to try to listen to my body.  And they think that it could take another 6 months to be fully recuperated, it's a long time but I have to be positive.

But back to today's post; Nail of the Week, it's Thanksgiving week (in USA) so I had to do my nails with some Thanksgiving Colors.  Let's take a look?

Here are the nail polishes that I used:

 



And here are the nails:







What are you wearing on your nails? 

XOXO,

Nelia

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Post Concussion Syndrome: 6 Months Update

Happy Sunday! Today's post is a 6 month update on my Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS).  What?  I cannot believe that is has been 6 months since my accident and still recuperating.  How am I doing?  There are good days and there are bad days, things has gotten a little better, going in the right direction I guess.  The good days are more now than it used to be, but the bad days are there to remind me that I'm still not 100%.

What are my bad days like?  I think the headaches are what get me, especially when the nausea sets in and lets not forget the dizziness and balance.  Yeah, you can say that's a bad day.  And when I start to feel better my memory gets fuzzy for a few days after, meaning that I kind of forget things easily, and have a hard time remembering things too. It's so much fun...

One thing that has helped me is listening to my body.  I know, I know, I should have been listening to it from the beginning.  It' so hard, especially when you have a million things to do and cannot just pick one or two and come back another day to finish it, but you HAVE to do that.  When thing that I noticed was my To Do list, because of my memory; I started to write everything on this list and then I would stress because the list had over 20 things.  And stress is not your friend when you have PCS, so I had to improvise.  How? No more To Do lists; I keep a small list of the most important things that I have to do; like making doctor's appts, but everything else I don't write it down, when I remember to do I just do at that moment and go from there.

Another thing that has been helping me is Meditation.  Yes, I finally gave in and listened to my doctor and book a meditation class and I am so glad that I did.  The first session was alright, I didn't accomplished much as my mind wondering off to a million places, but with practice I have learned how to calm myself if I'm over stressed.  And it helps that I go every week for a class, consistency is key, the more I do, the better I am getting at meditating.  So, this is a recommendation for you out there that has PCS, try meditation and not just one or tow sessions, commit for once a week for a month and you will see the difference.

I also want to talk about my triggers, stress is definitely number 1.  But I also noticed driving for a long time does it to me; like yesterday, we went to Cape Cod to pick up my husband boat (had to get it ready for the winter), after that we drove to Fall River to a Portuguese store to get some Portuguese food and drinks for Thanksgiving.  Ah, I forgot to say that I woke up at 6:30am to drive my car to the dealer to get it fixed, and dropped my parents and the little one in Cambridge to visit my grandmother.  So on the way back from Fall River; we picked my parents up, went to pick up my car and then came home.  In total; it was over 5 hours of driving around, well my husband drove, but the car ride was...just not good.  After that I had to remind myself and everyone at home that I am still not ready for all that driving around.

Another trigger are the stores, I love to shop, but I cannot be in a crowed store.  If the store has a lot of people there and the music is loud? Forget it, the headaches are instant and I cannot concentrate at all.  I have also realized that since the Concussion when there are multiple people having multiple conversations at the same time; that triggers the headaches too.  TV is still an issue, am I the only one?  It has gotten better, I can watch TV for about 2 hours now, but more than that, it will trigger the headache too.

There is probably more triggers but I can't remember them now.  It is still frustrating; especially when I am having 3-5 good days and out of the sudden I crash.  I think there was this one time that I didn't get bad headaches for a week; and I felt like celebrating, it was such an improvement.

You know what still gets to me? When someone that I haven't seen since before the accident tells me that I look good.  It happened this week; saw someone that I hadn't since a couple days before the accident and she asked how I was doing?  So I told her that I have good and bad days; and she turned to me and says that I look good, well you really can't judge a book by it's cover, right?  It was so frustrating and it made me sad.  Thank God for my support people for been there for me all the time, I don't know what I would do without them.

And I'm going to end on that note, because this is getting too long of an update. 

If you have PCS, how are you doing? 

XOXO,

Nelia

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Celebrity Inspired Look: Hillary Duff

Happy Saturday!!!  Spend my day running errands and tried to do some Christmas shopping but my head is not ready for a super crowed store.  Today's post is an outfit of the day, and one inspired by a celebrity.  Which One?

Who remembers Lizzie McGuire?  I sure do!  Hillary Duff is one of the few child celebrities that came out okay, and her little guy? So cute...and her style is pretty amazing so today's look is inspired by her.

Here is the picture of her for inspiration:




Here is my outfit:


 Boots: Target
Jeans: F21
Shirt: TJMaxx
Leather Jacket: F21






What are you up to on a Saturday night?  I just finished watching some hockey and I'm off to read Never Fade.

XOXO,

Nelia