Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Characters to Check In On.

Every Tuesday, the folks over at The Broke and the Bookish pick a topic for us zany book lovers to create a list on. This week's topic is about our top ten characters we would like to check up on.

At first, I was going to skip this week's topic, as I very much agree with John Green when he says that after a book is finished, it is up to the individual reader's interpretation about the fate of the characters. But then...well, I wanted to play along. And while I certainly do respect that characters are different in everyone's eyes when they finish a book, there are some that I wouldn't might knowing more about. And the sappy part of me wants to know if they got their happily ever after.

I only picked 7, as these are the ones I'm most curious about. :) In no particular order...

1. Lawrence Selden from The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton: For anyone who has read the book, you have to know why I wonder about poor Selden. This book is my favorite of all time, so of course I have always wondered what became of Selden....

2. Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte: I would love to check in on these two...make sure they're happy and alive and well. They deserve it, you know?

3. Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: I find this fitting as I am set for a little readalong with some fellow bloggers in the near future. But wouldn't you love to know what Scarlett has done since the end of this saga? I do!

4. Katsa and Po from Graceling by Kristin Cashore: Cashore hasn't published anything in a few years, which is probably why I'm craving to return to these two characters (I actually just want to reread Graceling). Katsa is one of my favorite female characters, so I would love to see what she's up to!

5. Miles from Looking for Alaska by John Green: It's fitting that I talked about John Green earlier and now picked one of his books, yes? :) This is my favorite Green novel (it was also the first I read, long before he blew up into superstardom). I think Miles would make a fascinating adult...

6. Harry Potter: I don't think I need to explain this one.... ;)

7. Eleanor and Park from Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell: I'm a worrier, so I worry about both of these teens. And I would love to make sure they're both okay after the events of the novel.


There you have it, my shorter than usual list. :) Let me know what characters you would like to check in on!

March 2015 Makeup Favorites.

Before we get into all the pretty colors and fun items, just a little backstory.

I've always been a huge fan of makeup. When I was younger, I actually danced, so putting on stage makeup for recitals was always a huge highlight for me. Because when you're 6 and get to slap on a bunch of red lipstick...I mean, that's a fun time. However, I always wore makeup pretty minimally in middle and high school. I usually slapped on one eyeshadow, some mascara, a bit of blush, and a clear lip gloss. I began really playing around with makeup in college, but my "collection" was always relatively small (hello, college student), and I stayed with things from the drugstore or that I knew worked for me.

Over the last couple of years, I've been really playing around with not only makeup, but my skincare. Since being diagnosed with Lupus, I have found that if I take care of my skin, I can keep a lot of my skin-related Lupus issues at bay. But when they do flare up, makeup is a great way of disguising them. And while I'm fortunate that I don't have a prominent butterfly rash, as my Lupus case is pretty mild, when I do break out, I can cover it.

So, I've really been into playing with makeup and branching out of my comfort zone. I know there is this common discussion that women should embrace their natural beauty and avoid heavy makeup. And I agree, but makeup is also fun, and allows women the chance to be creative. For myself, it also allows me to hide some of my rashes (which are not made worse by makeup), and feel a little more comfortable and human when I'm not feeling like myself.

Anyway, since I started to branch out into different brands and kinds of makeup over the last 3 years, my collection has grown pretty dramatically...to the point where my husband has noticed. But it makes me happy and hey, I like the pretty colors. ;)

I thought that I would stop from time to time to highlight some of my favorites and share some tips and tricks. I am by no means an expert in makeup application, but as someone who wears a full face everyday that I'm working, I have some products that I know work for me and what I need.

Without further ado, here are my makeup favorites:

I took this in my bathroom, so some of the reflection is from the mirror.

I'm going to talk about products from left to right, and I will link them when I can.

1. Stila's "In the Know" Eyeshadow Palette: When I went to look up a place to purchase this palette, imagine how heartbroken I am to see that it's now discontinued. I did link you to the "In the Light" palette, which I also own and love. Anyway, this palette is all matte shadow, which is a great addition for anyone who is into makeup. I own a total of 3 of these Stila palettes and love them all. The shadows are pretty smooth and easy to blend, and when you're a beginner, that's super helpful!

2. ColourPop's Snap Dragon (teal) and Girl Crush (brownish taupe): I love ColourPop Shadows, which are relatively new. You can only buy them on their website, but they're $5 and come in a million shades. I own quite a few of them (probably about 15 or so), and find them to be pretty pigmented and easy to apply. I also like that they have bright shades, like Snap Dragon, so that I can branch out. They have a lot of matte colors in addition to shimmers and super glittery shades, but I find the mattes easiest to pull off. I also like that you can apply this with your fingers!

3. Urban Decay's "Naked Basics" Eyeshadow Palette: This is probably my most well-loved and well-used makeup item. I find myself using it on a daily basis, and I've almost hit pan on 2 of the shades (even though that's hard to see in my collective picture). This is another great little staple in my collection with almost all matte shades (the lightest is a shimmer). I can create some gorgeous basic looks with this, so it is a winner in my book. I don't own the second version of this palette, but I do want it. :)

4. Maybelline's Master Prime in Blur and Redness Control: This has been a favorite the last two months as I flared and my face went crazy. I've always had really red patchy skin on my cheeks, but when I flare, it gets out of control. This has helped tame some of that redness and really helps the rest of my makeup go on smoothly.

5. Maybelline's Master Conceal in Fair: It's a little sad that I have to buy super light concealers to cover up my horrible dark circles, but I do. haha. Anyway, not only is this a great concealer for dark circles and blemishes, I also use this to cover up my butterfly rash (when I have it). It's pigmented enough to do the job, and I don't know where I would be without it.

6. Urban Decay's "Naked Skin" Foundation: This is my favorite "high-end" foundation as it is really light but offers a good amount of coverage. The only downside is that is smells a little when you first pump and apply, but the smell does go away. I like that I can build it up to give more coverage in certain areas, and it leaves my skin feeling awesome. I wear shade 2.0.

7. Maybelline's Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation: This is my favorite drugstore foundation and I'm nearing the end of my second bottle. It's a great foundation-a bit heavier than my UD Naked Skin, so it covers well when I'm having a really bad day! It also comes with a pump, which is a little rare for a drugstore product and it helps keep things sanitary, which I much appreciate. I also wear shade 2 in this line.

8. Loreal's Infallible Eyeshadow in "Amber Rush": I own quite a few of these shadows, as they are super pigmented and pretty shimmery, but Amber Rush has been a long time favorite. It's a gorgeous rose gold color that looks great all over the lid!

9. ColourPop's Blush in "Rain": See that bright purple blush in the middle of that picture? I bought it on a whim when I decided to go for something different. It's gorgeous. And easily my favorite blush of all time. It goes on pretty light, but you can build it up to some intense purple on your cheeks. I've found that dabbing it on with a stippling brush works best, and it looks SO GOOD. You can tell on the cheeks that it isn't a normal blush color, but it looks great! I have two of their other blushes and like them just as much...Rain has just stolen my heart.

10. Milani's Baked Blush in "Luminoso": Luminoso is a bright peach blush with a touch of shimmer. It's also pretty pigmented, so I have to go in with a light hand. This is a blush I can only use when my skin is pretty clear (it's so light that if my skin is red, it doesn't show well). It's another gorgeous shade that I normally wouldn't have gravitated to before, as it's so light.

11. Bobbi Brown's Illuminating Bronzing Power in "Santa Barbara": I doubt I will ever use this product up as all I have to do is lightly tap my brush once into the pan and I can put it on both cheeks. This is a supper pretty pinkish blush with a ton of goldish shimmer. It's sold as a bronzing powder, which I really don't get because of the color, but it's gorgeous and BAM in your face.

12. Julep Lipstick in "Chit Chat": I originally joined with Julep for their nail polish, but they have been killing it with their beauty products over the last year or so. Chit Chat is a great nude lipstick. I'm not a HUGE lipstick wearer, as I'm not a fan of the clown lips look, and I feel a bit silly wearing bright colors, but this one works so well for me!

13. ColourPop's Lippie Stix in "Westie" and "Bound": Like I said above, I'm not a big lipstick fan, but I have been branching out. I love these two colors, as both are muted pink and look great on-almost natural, if you know what I mean. I have a few other Lippie Stix from ColourPop, including a couple brighter ones for the summer months, but these 2 have been in heavy rotation. It also helps these are only $5!

14. Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in "Park Avenue Princess": I have a really hard time finding bronzers that work for me, since I have fair skin, but this Tarte bronzer is pretty amazing. It's a bit shimmery, but once I blend it out, the shimmer disappears. I use this every day, and if you look closely, you can see that I'm about to hit pan. eek!

15. Elf Baked Highlighter in "Moonlight Pearls": I own a couple of highlighters, but this one is my favorite and the cheapest (only $3!). I don't like a ton of shimmer on my face (I think it makes your skin look oily, which is odd for me since my skin is so dry). But this is a great highlighter. I find it easiest to apply with my finger-across the top of my cheekbones and on the bridge of my nose.

There you have it, some of my current beauty must haves. What items do you use and love? I'm looking for a great mascara if you have any suggestions!

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven.

"The great thing about this life of ours is that you can be someone different to everybody.” 

When I first read a synopsis of All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, I knew it was a book I wanted to read. On a surface level, I don't know what drew me to it-two kids meet at the bell tower of their school when they want to jump off and kill themselves-so why did I want to read it so badly?

I truly believe that there are times when books find us. Niven's book was the first title in a long time that I was genuinely excited to pick and read. And so I ordered it and waited until I had a night that I could fully immerse myself. And I was right-that I would want to sit and read the book straight through-to be fully engaged in the voices of both Theodore Finch and Violet Markey.

Theodore is the freak of the school-always odd and eccentric and never quite fitting in. He goes through periods of time where he feels like he's asleep as he doesn't remember day to day interactions or things that make him feel alive. It is when he is awake that he finds himself at the top of the school's bell tower, ready to jump off. He is stopped when he sees a girl also standing on the ledge, and determines then to save her.

Violet Markey is a popular girl at school. However, she's still coming to terms with the tragic death of her sister, who died in a car accident a year earlier. While many around her have moved on, Violet has yet to come to terms with the death of her sister and the impact it truly had on her life. She refuses to ride in cars, is worried that her presence upsets her parents, and wonders whether life is truly worth it. It's with those thoughts that she finds herself on the bell tower.

When the two save each other, they start a friendship that soon turns to something more. Together, the both battle their depression and attempt to heal one another. But it's clear to the reader that their depression is very different and their reasons for being on the bell tower are disparate. Theodore, as it is hinted at throughout the book, suffers from definite chemical imbalances (there is a direct reference to bipolar disorder). Violet, on the other hand, suffers from grief and depression.

It was Violet as I was first drawn to, and this line in particular....

“It's my experience that people are a lot more sympathetic if they can see you hurting, and for the millionth time in my life I wish for measles or smallpox or some other easily understood disease just to make it easier on me and also on them.”

I had to stop reading and write that down, as it struck home. As someone who suffers from a chronic illness that is mostly invisible, I know that feeling. It's hard for people to understand or be sympathetic when there are no outward signs of something being wrong. On my bad days, I try as hard as possible to look normal and act like myself. It's rare that anyone picks up on my actual state of being (unless it's a horrible day-then it's pretty obvious). For Violet, her grief is much the same. I've never been in her situation, and I'm sure many high schoolers aren't either. In high school, life moves quickly, and many high schoolers since themselves as invincible. But we all know that isn't the case. Violet is there.

But I digress.

What I loved most about the novel was the language, and the feeling in my stomach that while these two attempted to heal each other, as a reader I knew that something would happen. And of course, in any book that is about suicide, you know that something has to happen to truly develop the characters and the story.

And when things did happen, I dissolved into a mess. I don't think I get overly emotional when reading-meaning that I don't outwardly cry that often-but I did while reading this. It got to me. There was something beautiful and raw in their story.

And I also found myself pulling for Theodore, as I see some of my students in him. There is always a struggle when you are not the same as everyone else, but Theodore fought through it and stayed true to himself, which, I think, is a hard thing for high schoolers.

Above all, I just plain loved the story. It has some hope, some sorrow, but I think it leaves the reader with a lot to think about. I, for one, was reminded that behind every smiling face, there is a deeper story. Sometimes we are lucky and people share those stories with us. And other times, we find out their truth when it's too late.

If you passed this one over, give it another look. I promise you won't be disappointed. 

“I walk through the black Indiana night, under a ceiling of stars, and think about the phrase "elegance and euphoria," and how it describes exactly what I feel with Violet. For once, I don't want to be anyone but Theodore Finch, the boy she sees. He understands what it is to be elegant and euphoric and a hundered different people most of them flawed and stupid, part asshole, part screwup, part freak, a boy who wants to be easy for the folks around him so that he doesn't worry them and, most of all, easy for himself. A boy who belongs - here in the world, here in his own skin. He is exactly who I want to be and what I want my epitaph to say: The Boy Violet Markey Loves.” 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books from My Childhood/Teen Years to Revisit.

It's Tuesday, which means another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they name a topic, and book bloggers give their list to match.

When I saw this week's topic, I got very nostalgic and excited, so I knew I had to make an effort to figure out the titles for this list. And, once I got started, I was super excited to write out this list.

I hope you can relate to some of these titles, and perhaps find a few titles to check out. :)

In no particular order...

1. It Zwibble, The Star Touched Dinosaur: This book was one of my childhood favorites. I know I still have my copy somewhere, but I haven't seen it in awhile, and I miss it. The story basically follows It Zwibble, who is sent to earth in search of lost dinosaur eggs. It's adorable. There's a toucan and a moose. And it is made of awesome.

2. The Sweet Valley High books: I discovered these as a preteen during a library book sale. There was a big brown paper bag full of them, and I begged my mom to buy them for me (this was the mid-90s?). I became obsessed with the series and read them all numerous times. I have no idea what happened to my old copies, but I do feel a wave of nostalgia just looking at that cover-the drama. The heartbreak. Ugh. And I still can't believe my mom let me read them when I was only in the 5th or 6th grade. 

3. Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder: No list about my childhood would be complete without this series. I actually reread them a few years ago and blogged through the process, and they stood the test of time. I know I read these at least a dozen times as a girl, and there are scenes that are still incredibly vivid in my memory. They also remind me of my grandparents, since their copies were the ones I originally read.

4. The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell: I actually loved all of O'Dell's books, and my copies are safely tucked away in a box somewhere. I actually read this one after one of my older brothers came home from school and complained about it. I fell so hard for Karana's story and this jump-started an early love of history. I also went on to read all of O'Dell's books, and all of my copies are beat up from multiple rereads.

5. The Mrs. Piggle Wiggle Books by Betty MacDonald: I can remember reading these in the second grade, hidden away in our classroom castle (yep-we studied medieval times and built a castle in the classroom). I LOVED these books. Of course, they're cheesy and meant to teach children lessons, but I loved them anyway. When we moved into this apartment and I had to decide what books to keep on shelves, you better believe Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is out. YEP.

6. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner: This was another big hit in the second grade. My teacher had this big bookshelf FULL of books, and the Boxcar Children were always in big demand, especially this second book. Everyone fought over it (no idea why), and it was always joyous when someone new got to read it. I went on to read a majority of the series (my older brothers also had them). Great series of books!

7. The White Dragon by Anne McCaffery: I have another vivid memory for you. In 8th grade, my English teacher told us we had to read a book outside our comfort zone. My best friend Jenny and I decided we needed to read the same book. We scoured the school library and painfully passed up our beloved Mary Higgins Clark (it was a phase....at one time I owned everything she wrote). This was the only book we found that had two copies and that our teacher agreed to. DO YOU SEE THAT COVER? Anyway, it ended up being the best thing ever, as it launched my love of fantasy. I own a bunch of the Pern novels (some are more battered than others), and I know I need to reread them at some point.

8. Loves Music, Loves to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark: So....like I said, I went through a phase in 7th and 8th grade with my friend Jenny where we obsessed over Mary Higgins Clark. I have no idea why it started, but I blame Jenny completely. We each bought tons of her books, traded with each other, and gushed over the "romance" and "mystery." This one was a favorite of ours, and I'm pretty sure I read it 5 or 6 times. I'm happy to say that I sold all my Clark books years ago, and while I have a huge wave of nostalgia every now and again, I've resisted. ;) And please know I say that all in good fun.

9. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card: I debated whether or not to put this book on my list because of the controversy surrounding Card, but this title remains a large part of my reading history. This was required summer reading for my 9th grade English class (we actually had to choose between this and David Copperfield, which I now love, but would have hated then. And for those interested, the other required titles were My Antonia and The Count of Monte Cristo). I loved this book. It created my love of science-fiction and really drove me as a reader throughout high school. It also encouraged me to branch out to trying new things and exploring different kinds of fiction. Now...I have mixed feelings about the book and Card. I actually taught this book in the fall to my struggling readers class, but they hated it and the experience was not that much fun for me....but it still remains a book I keep on my shelf and think about from time to time.

10. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: This series started to debut when I was in high school, and while I avoided them at first, I caved in when my aunt gave them to me when I ran out of things to read on vacation. I soon became a Harry Potter nerd, attended midnight release parties for the last 3 books (the first 4 were already out when I started reading them), and saw all the movies on their debut. It's a series I will always love. I mean, it's Harry Potter, you know?

So, there's my list. There's a few more I could have added, but I think these were fun and representative of my early reading life. :) Do we have any books in common?

Reading Habits.

This is an old survey that I did once before on my blog. I decided it would be fun to revisit, as my habits have changed a lot in the last year or two! Let me know if you decide to complete it as well!

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack:
I usually become to absorbed in what I'm reading to snack while I'm trying to flip pages. I'm also a fast reader, so I find it incredibly distracting to eat and try to read!

What is your favorite drink while reading?
I'm a big Diet Coke addict (I've cut way back from how much I used to drink), but I usually have a my water bottle nearby. I've been meaning to try adding fruit, etc to my water to give it more flavor, but haven't tried it yet. I know they make special water bottles for that as well!

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
It really depends on what I'm reading. If I'm reading something history related, I will usually jot notes down. And depending on what kind of novel it is, I might circle or star something. I used to do much more to my books when I was in college, but I've fallen out of that habit. It is fun to go back and reread those old notes!

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
I am very kind to my books. I always use a bookmark (or a scrap of paper, a postcard, something) when I'm reading. Since I consider my book collection more of a library, I want to take care of them so they last. That might sound silly, but it's how I see. I also try to protect the spines of my books as much as possible, but if it breaks, it breaks. I have quite a few hefty paperbacks with broken spines, and that's AOK.

I will say that if I lend a book out, I do expect the person will treat it the way I do. I mean, I know things happen, but if you destroy one of my books, that's the last time I will ever let you borrow from me. My BIL is one of those people that lost the privilege of borrowing from me.

Fiction, non-fiction, or both?
I read a lot of fiction, but I also love history, biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. I would really like to read more of those, but I often feel they require a little more effort on my part.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
If I'm really tired and just can't get to the end of a chapter, I will try and finish the "Scene" that I'm currently reading. But I have a hard time stopping mid-chapter. It usually means I start over from the chapter's beginning when I pick the book back up.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
I've done it a few times, but it's rare. The only book I can vividly remember throwing (more than once) was Atlas Shrugged.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
Usually I don't need to. I think context clues are very helpful, so I always go that route. However, if I can't figure out that it means, I have to look it up or it will annoy me.

What are you currently reading?
I just finished a book (I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak) this afternoon (Saturday, March 21) and I'm hesitating in deciding what else I want to read. This is the first weekend in a LONG time where I haven't had piles of grading, so I'm not quite sure what to dive into. I might pick up the new Andrew Smith or Lady Audley's Secret.

What is the last book you bought?
I just posted about some recent "Book Loot" but I also just ordered the first 2 volumes of Fables. I read the first 9 or 10 a few years ago, and I have been meaning to acquire and reread them. It helps that the series is coming to a close shortly.

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?
I usually read before bed. It's really the only time I have available anymore. It's also pretty typical for me to come home on Friday afternoons and relax with a book while Matt is working. It's rare that I read any other time of day. However, if I'm teaching a text in class, I usually complete the homework during my prep hour (and yes, I count that as books read, as I always reread the texts I teach).

Do you prefer series books or standalones?
It really depends on the mood I'm in and what time I have available. It never used to be that way, but since my grading pile dictates some of my free time, I'm wary of starting big series in the middle of the school year. That's why I've avoided some books!

I do think that there are way too many trilogies, etc, and there is nothing wrong with a good standalone title. I actually really like picking up a book and knowing the story will be complete when I close the cover.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
I have some standard titles that I always recommend: The House of Mirth, The Portrait of a Lady, The Odyssey, etc. But recently I've added a few books and mainly because I know that students have enjoyed them. They always love John Green and Andrew Smith!

How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author’s last name, etc.) 
I currently have 5 bookshelves that house about half of my total library (the rest are in boxes in the closet). The 2 tall shelves in the living room house most of my classes. My small Puffin Hardcovers are actually sitting in our entertainment center on a top shelf (I had to move them because I ran out of room). The classics are mostly in alphabetical order by author, except when a book is too tall to fit on a shelf (then it gets kicked to the bottom row). The whole left shelf is A-R, and the right shelf is the rest. The top 5 rows on the right shelf are also home to my Penguin clothbounds and all 100 Penguin English Library editions.

In our second bedroom, I have two more tall shelves, and one super skinny shelf. One of the tall shelves houses all of my Shakespeare (takes up a whole row...and it's organized a little crazy to get them to fit). The rest of the shelves house YA, a row of teaching reference books, and history/biography titles. The skinny shelf holds a mishmash of things, but mainly it has a ton of mass markets (mainly fantasy and Sci-fi). The skinny shelf is double stacked because I've been acquiring too much. haha.

I also have some nicer leather-bound books in another storage area in our living room and a stack of TBR on my nightstand. As my husband says, we are quite surrounded by books. It IS a bit excessive and I do need to cull some titles (especially from the boxes in my closet).

Any other weird habits?
I keep a written record of books read each month. They are all in a spiraled journal and I've had it since the beginning of 2008. I did fall out of that habit a few months ago, but I did update it. :)

I have a big printed out list of the titles on my 250 list taped to the back of our "office" door. I highlight each title as I finish it. I'm a big fan of crossing things off, so it helps me visualize my progress!

If I buy the first book of a series in a certain format (paperback, mass market, or hardcover), I like the remaining titles to match. I know that it's a bit obsessive, but I'm weird like that. So, it bothers me when publishers change the layout/design of books halfway through a series.

I used to keep a book database in Excel of all the books I owned and when I last read them, but I stopped updating it about 3 years ago when it became overwhelming. I opened it up the other day and it is so out of date and incorrect that I need to just start over. Perhaps I will do so over the summer and after I cull some books.

I like pretty covers. If there is more than one edition, I look at a couple of things before buying. 1-the publisher. I do have preferences when buying a classic, so that trumps everything (I prefer Penguin or Oxford). 2. The cover. I like pretty covers. Maybe that's a bad thing, but it does make me want to read certain titles over others!

There are my habits! Let me know what yours are!