Long time, no write! Well, despite the update I posted on Monday. Anyways, I know you're probably looking at the picture above and thinking, "You only read three books? You usually read more." No! I actually read 5 books this month but two of them were rereads so I decided to exclude them from this post. I was getting bored of the other books that I had started to read at the beginning of this month. So, I picked up two of my old favourites (Anna and the French Kiss and Isla and the Happily Ever After). They really helped boost my mood and made me want to read my other books. I started two series this month which I plan to finish in the month of October (yippee!). Also, I read a fantastically amazing thriller and soon-to-be movie coming out next week! So, if you want to hear about my opinions on the books I read then, keep reading! 

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater:
Read: September 14 2016- September 21, 2016
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
I know I don't actually have this book in the picture but the previous one before it and that's because I borrowed it from the library and I returned it on the weekend. But anyways, I started this series in August and while it's not action-packed and thrilling it's very unique, different, and intriguing which is why I wanted to continue on with the series. The main character in this book is Ronan and basically the plot surrounds around him, his abilities, the raven boys and Blue, as well as, Welsh mythology which I'd never read about before. In this book, the relationships develop a bit more and more mysteries are revealed. I won't give too much away since I don't want to spoil the first book. I would recommend this if you are looking for a bit of a different fantasy book where romance takes a backseat for Welsh mythology. 

Buy the book here.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas:
Read: September 18, 2016- September 25, 2016
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
This book... I've wanted to read one of Sarah J. Maas's books for a while now and the hardcover version was going out of stock at my local bookstore so I just decided to buy it. I'm so glad that I did! The main character of this book is a huntress named Feyre, who is taken to the magical land of Prythian after killing a wolf. Her captor, Tamlin, is one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled the Mortal Lands which is where she and her family are from. She stays at his estate and the longer she's there, the more her feelings toward Tamlin begin to transform from cold antipathy to a burning passion. But there are things that are being kept from her and an evil darkness spreading over the faerie lands which she needs to figure out how to stop before she dooms Tamlin--and his word--forever. Feyre is such a strong female lead, the romance is slow-building and passionate, the world which the faeries live in is so interesting and I hope we get to explore it more in her next book, as well as, see relationships develop after what happened towards the end of this book. I highly recommend this if you love fantasy, romance, and/or new adult. 

Buy the book here.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins:
Read: September 26, 2016- September 28, 2016
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
This. Was. Incredible. This book is about a woman named Rachel who takes the same 8:04 train every morning. The train stops at the signal which allows her to watch a couple who she's named Jess and Jason. She thinks their life is perfect and enjoys fantasizing about them. Until the day she sees something shocking while passing by the couple's home on the train and it changes her life forever. She becomes involved in a police investigation and is seen as an unreliable witness. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Thrilling, unpredictable, and heart-stopping. The Girl on the Train is an addicting novel with unlikable characters who all become entangled in a messy and horrifying situation that will leave you guessing until the very end. It reads like a movie and has many shocking revelations. Definitely a 5-star read and I highly recommend if you haven't read it yet. I really hope the movie adaptation that's coming out next week does this book justice. 

Buy the book here.

I hope you have a Happy Friday and a great weekend! xx

love xena

School has been a bit busy these past few weeks so I wasn't able to get a post up (shame!). However, I really wanted to take the time to post this week so I made the effort and started to come up with some ideas. So far, so good! I'm super excited because on Thursday 22, 2016 marked the day of the autumnal equinox. What does that mean? That means...FALL IS HERE PEOPLE! Fall is my favourite season because it gets cold, the leaves change colour, it's the best time to binge on tv shows and books, but most importantly...MY BIRTHDAY MONTH. This is one of the most important birthdays in a while since I'm turning 16! Pretty exciting, huh? Anyways, I just wanted to get this mini post up just as an update but I am getting an actual post up later this week. I hope you have a great week!

love xena

With school starting tomorrow I thought posting this would help anyone who needed some tips for this upcoming school year. I find these three tips really help me stay focused and motivated to finish my homework, as well as stay consistent during the school term. So, without further ado... here are some of my tips!!

#1

Use a planner to write down homework, important dates, projects that are due in the future and after school activities. I usually write in mine everyday during the first few months but after that I tend to get lazy and stop writing in it altogether. What a waste of paper! I highly recommend at least trying to write in it everyday if you are anything like me. It helps organize your life out better, especially if you are taking multiple courses. I like to highlight subjects different colours so I know which one is which and put a check mark beside the tasks I've completed. This helps keep track of what's done and what I still need to finish. 

#2

This is my after-school routine for this school year. This is a really good tip as it helps me monitor how much time I spend on recreational activities and when I should start buckling down to start my homework. I find that when I stay focused and try to get as much work done as soon as possible, I have more time for myself to watch TV or read my book. It also helps because I can go to bed at a reasonable time instead of staying up late, rushing to finish homework that could've been completed already if I'd just started earlier.

#3

Find some inspiration! I find that I start to lose motivation once the excitement of the first month ends. I love going on Pinterest or Tumblr and finding motivational pictures to help me feel more motivated to finish my homework and be better in school. This can get a bit tricky because I find myself pinning and reblogging more than doing my homework sometimes... It's still great though if you are feeling a bit uninspired!

I hope you enjoyed this post and have a great school week! Have a great day and maybe use some of the tips I mentioned in this post. 

love xena

#1

I went to Baskin-Robbins with my mom on the weekend and I tried their new flavour BeaverTails Pastry in a waffle cup with Oreo bits as my topping. It was crazy, out-of-this-world amazing! It's a cinnamon flavoured ice cream with gooey caramel and fried dough mixed in with it. *Sigh* This is my new favourite flavour besides Cookies 'n Cream which is my ultimate favourite flavour from Baskin-Robbins. I would definitely recommend trying this before it's too late!

#2 

I randomly felt like baking this week and I was really in the mood for some carrot cake cupcakes, so that's exactly what I did! I picked up some Betty Crocker Super Moist Carrot Cake Mix and poured into a cupcake pan and used Betty Crocker French Vanilla Deluxe Frosting to frost my cupcakes. They came out super moist and spongy and stayed that way for days! Also, topped with the french vanilla frosting-- heavenly! It turned out to be a great hit as my family loved it so much. Since my aunt Sue's birthday is coming up soon, she asked me to make it again for the celebration. I don't blame her-- they're very addicting!  

#3

This might be my favourite thing I've completed this week. I always look forward to reading Colleen Hoover's books since she's my favourite author. I've read so many of her works already and always find that I'm never disappointed with what she releases. This book is so powerful, truthful, important, and puts things into perspective as well. This is some of her most honest writing and is probably my favourite book she's ever written. I truly recommend this to everyone. If you only read one of her books, choose this one. I seriously can't stop thinking about it since the day I finished it. This is on a totally other level regarding her other books and I just can't wait for her next release as always. 

#4

This show... I've heard a lot of buzz regarding this series lately and I've wanted to check it out for myself for some time. I thought it would be too scary so I ended up avoiding it. That was until my aunt, Sue, said she finished all 8 episodes within a few days and that it was really good and not as scary as I was thinking it to be. On Wednesday night, we started watching it and I was immediately hooked. It's about a boy named Will, who goes missing one night after racing one of his friends home. As his mother, friends, and the police department go searching after him they start to unravel extraordinary mysteries that involve secret government experiments, supernatural forces, and a peculiar little girl. I have 3 episodes left to go but I am holding off until my aunt comes back next week so we can binge watch the rest on her birthday. I would recommend watching this if you are into sci-fi or just looking for a new and interesting show to watch. 

#5

Lastly, this is the playlist I've been listening to on repeat all week. I'm so obsessed with all of these songs and most of them are sung by my favourite artists (Imagine Dragons and Broods). I love music so much and I find that it's something I always reach for when I want to relax or be productive (chores, homework, etc). I hope you enjoy this playlist I made on my Spotify!

 I hope you had a great week as well and try out some of the things I mentioned in this post. Enjoy your weekend and have a Happy Friday! 

love xena

School is fast approaching and I realized that I hadn't made any posts related to the topic. I haven't done a beauty post in a while so I thought this would be a great idea for anyone in high school who wants to spruce up their look this year. It is very natural, minimalistic, and does not feel like you're wearing any makeup. This routine takes me less than 2 minutes in the morning so it's great if you are running late and need to get ready in a short amount of time. I personally don't like wearing a lot of makeup because I think less is more. I think these products are great at giving you a fresher and more awake look in the morning without being overly dramatic for school. So to find out how I use these products...keep reading!

1)  I use the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer as a base for my makeup as it mattifies my skin and fills in my pores so my powder goes on smoothly. I apply this to my cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin (my t-zone or the area that gets the shiniest throughout the day). You only need very little as it spreads very well and it goes on transparent. This a great and affordable primer that you can find at the drugstore. 

2) After I apply my base I powder my skin using the Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Powder in Translucent with my Real Techniques Powder Brush. Since the powder is translucent it doesn't change the complexion of my skin and mattifies and colour corrects very well. The brush is super soft and gentle on the skin and blends the powder in nicely.  

3) Next, I mix Naked 2 and Faint from my Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette with my EcoTools Eye Enhancing Duo Brush Set to fill in my eyebrows. I use the define brush to fill in my brows and the shade brush to highlight my brow bone. This really enhances my face as the tails of my eyebrows are a bit sparse. I set it in place with my Covergirl Professional Natural Lash Clear Mascara so the eye shadow doesn't smudge during the day.  

4) Then, I use my middle finger to blend The Body Shop Colour Crush Eye Shadow in Berry Cheeky on my cheekbones. I find that my powder washes me out slightly so I use this to bring colour back to my skin. I also use my Ellen Tracy Ombre Blush on top of it to give it a little highlight.  

5) Lastly, I apply my favourite lip balm in the whole entire world. I use Vaseline Lip Therapy Lip Balm in Rosy Lips to keep my lips soft and moisturized before applying Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle. This lipstick is a pretty, pinky nude colour that looks very natural and subtle with my skin tone-- almost as if I'm not wearing anything at all!  

I hope you enjoyed this post and got some inspiration from it. I love keeping it nice and simple and I hope these products work for you. I hope you have a Happy Friday and great weekend!

love xena

My family and I took a day trip to Niagara Falls for my Mom's birthday and I took lots and lots of pictures. We had a really fun and relaxing time there and ate the best food (pizza and spaghetti from Antica Pizzeria & Ristorante, salted caramel fudge from Hershey's, and fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt from CC Swirls). I had a bit of a cheat day but that's okay because we all need one. Here are some pictures we took throughout the day during our mini trip!

love xena

I have set myself quite an ambitious challenge this month in terms of reading. All of these novels are recent purchases that I am extremely excited about. Three of them are 2016 releases that I so badly wanted to get the chance to read before the school year starts. I decided not to do a July Wrap-Up post but instead do a Summer Wrap-Up. It will be a cumulative post on all the books that I have read this summer and will be posted on the last Friday of this month. I don't know if I am going to get to all of these books this month but I will try my best and see how it goes! Without further ado, let's get into my August TBR!

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson:
I purchased I'll Give You the Sun by the same author a few months ago because of all the hype it was getting. After I picked it up I realized that she had another book that was published and when I read the synopsis I was immediately intrigued. This book is about a girl named Lennie Walker, who is a book lover and a clarinet player-- the total opposite of her older sister, Bailey. She has always lived happily in her sister's shadow but when her sister dies unexpectedly she finds herself in the spotlight of her own life. She struggles with her love life (which was non-existent until now) as she spends her time with two boys: Tony, Bailey's boyfriend, as well as, Joe, the new boy in town from Paris who shares her love of music. Both boys are essential in her life and bring different things to the table but ultimately she can't have both. Who will she choose and what will be the consequences? I have heard amazing things about Jandy Nelson's writing so I can't wait to pick this one up!

Buy the book here.

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid:
I am always on the lookout for a good romance novel and I have had my eyes on this one for months. I was so excited to find out that my aunt, Sue, bought this and feature it on her website. She let me borrow it and I was so grateful. Due to the fact that I was in the middle of a series I was trying to finish I didn't get around to reading it last month. Hopefully, this month will not be the same as this book sounds very interesting. It contains a main character named Emma Blair, who married her high school sweetheart, Jesse, in her twenties. They build a life together away from their parents and the people of their hometown. On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse goes missing whilst on a helicopter over the Pacific and is lost forever. Emma is forced to put her life back together without her beloved husband. She moves back home and starts her life over. Years later, she runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself being able to fall in love again. They get engaged and she is finally happy again until Jesse is found. Now, with a husband and a fiance she is left with a big decision..who is her one true love? Sounds incredible and drama-filled, right?! 

Buy the book here.

Signs of You by Emily France:
I won't lie...this book definitely caught my eye because of its cover. It is absolutely gorgeous and so colourful that I just had to know what it was about. This is about a girl named Riley Strout who lost her mother two years ago. She sought and found comfort within her family and the grief support group she joined in her first year of high school. Her friends: Jay, Kate, and Noah, understand her pain as they have all lost someone they loved too. One day, Riley thinks she sees her mother in a grocery store and is fearful that she is suffering from post-traumatic stress. That is, until Jay and Kate experience the same situation. Noah is the only one who hasn't seen his loved one and becomes skeptical and begins to distance himself from the group. Unexpectedly, Noah disappears and Riley worries that she is going to lose another loved one. As she and her friends begin to search for him they become entangled in a mystery and learn clues about the afterlife. Riley finds herself having feelings for both Jay and Noah and realizes that the only way to help those she loves is to mend things with the one she's lost... This book sounds so captivating as it has romance (which is my favourite genre) and mysteriousness to it as well. 

Buy the book here.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover:
Of course I had to buy this book as Colleen is my all-time favourite author. I have heard that it is best to go into this book blind so I will not write a synopsis for this reason. Though knowing Colleen, it is bound to be an absolutely gut-wrenching, heart-soaring, mind-twisting, explosive romance novel that I will not be able to stop thinking about. People have been saying that it is her best writing piece yet so I have extremely high hopes and I don't think that I'll be let down. 

Buy the book here.

The Oh She Glows Cookbook by Angela Liddon:
I am so excited and ready to dive into this! Although I am not vegan I am definitely interested in eating more plant-based foods and just healthier food in general. I shared my health issues in my Healthy Breakfast Ideas post and since then I can say that I have been eating much better despite last week. I struggled a bit with my temptations and ate 2 croissants, 1 banana bread slice, 1 baked apple pie from McDonalds, and half an apple turnover in one week. As you can imagine, I felt super icky after that. I have been trying to get rid of all the unhealthy substances that I ate and work on eating healthy again. Don't get me wrong-- it's not like I'll never eat these treats ever again. I plan to eat them in moderation instead of the crazy sugar addict I can be at times. My body needs sugar as well as other nutrients so I would never deprive myself of having a nice and decadent treat. I am looking forward to perusing this cookbook and making some of these recipes for myself and my family!

Buy the book here.

Now...Onto the Kindle Books.

                                           

   

Buy the books here and here.

Whew! I am almost done with this series and it feels really good. Not that I want it to end but since it is a ten book series I'm pretty proud of myself that I only have 2 more left. Seeing as though this is series, I won't write any summaries so I won't spoil you. What I will say is that Long Way Down is about Ryke and Daisy's relationship and Some Kind of Perfect is the epilogue of the whole series. Ryke and Daisy are my absolute favourite couple because they're just so wild, fun, and carefree. However, I really love Lily and Loren's and Rose and Connor's relationship as well. They're all so amazing, have such different and unique traits, and their love for one another is so evident and beautiful that it's hard to decide which relationship I prefer. I think I might get around to reading these two novels first and then I'll carry on with the other novels I mentioned in this post. I am so excited and seriously hope I get to the majority of these books this month. I really hope you enjoyed this post and get some reading inspiration and pick up some of the books I featured. Have a wonderful day and see you next week! xx

love xena