This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined list, choose a book, compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite.
This weeks theme
Knock, knock… ‘who’s there?’ – A cover featuring a door, ajar or closed
One of my favourite books Daughter of Smoke and Bone (UK edition) features a door. The door that was marked by the angel with a handprint beside it. I like the German one, I hadn’t seen before, and the Dutch, but I still think the original cover with the blue mask with feathers, along with the beautiful font is my favourite. Which one do you like?
I am delighted with this month’s Boxycharm where I am even willing to overlook the lip palette because it is from Smashbox. I love Smashbox. However, I don’t like lipstick in palettes. You have to apply it with a lip brush. Besides, it gets messy. Oh well. The cuticle oil is something I always use when I do my nails, but I can’t smell it Kathleen lights said its fragrance was like candy. I am a huge fan of sheet masks, but I’ve never done an eye mask before. Now I’m determined to try them. I love the mascara and the eyeshadow palette and the brow/eyeliner. I used the Tarte Cosmetics mascara today and let me tell you. I love the way it makes my eyelashes look! I have short next to no eyelashes, and this mascara makes them appear full. It is long wearing as well. I am not a professional makeup artist, so when it comes to colourful eyeshadows, I don’t know how to make them work. So this ‘party animal’ by Laura Lee Los Angeles is a little intimidating. So that’s it.
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.
OMG! It’s time for the Sunday Post already?! This week went by quick. I don’t know what is wrong with the weather but these past few days we have been breathing poor quality air caused by smoke, reducing visibility, on top of it being unusually hot. Tonight (Saturday) it finally cooled off with some rain showers. UGH!
Virtue: A Knight World Novel (Fireborn Wolves Book 2)
I decided it was much less expensive to get Kindle Unlimited. So what I added to my Kindle shelf were two series from a couple of authors in which I have been missing.
Genevieve Jack’s new series (Fireborn Wolves)
Cambria Hebert (Bearpaw Resort).
Genevieve Jack new standalone called Wicked Seduction.
I also added Jane Eyre because according to readers the next book I want to read is about it.
In the vicinity of Shaganappi Village sits a (lowly 8 story)highrise concrete-red-brick building along with single family townhouses. There are two newly built condominium highrises which are connected to the pedestrian bridge overpass to Westbrook Mall on the other side. I live in that area. Here is a conceptual drawing of what the Bow Trail Pedestrian bridge is mainly supposed to look like after the completed renovations. I can’t wait for that.
Concrete red brick building vs developed condominium highrise
Bow Trail pedestrian overpass bridge as it is now
Shaganappi Village is one one side and Westbrook Mall is on the other side
On top of the pedestrian Bridge
conceptual drawing of the new pedestrian bridge over Bow Trail connecting to Shaganappi Village and Westgate Condos
In food news, is anyone hungry for pizza and . . . patio furniture? Have you seen this Boston Pizza box? The patio furniture is so cute! I never thought that the middle pizza separator was like a table lol
I am learning to live with chronic back pain because I have degenerative disk disease and arthritis.
Some days are better than others but deciding to take Tylenol isn’t a viable option as it slows me down and disrupts my exercise and I find I am in a worse condition where it is harder to walk let alone jog. Today I feel much better about not taking any drugs for the pain, and I can jog for a more extended period. 2.2 miles in fact. (3.4 km) That is the distance I go every day.
The only time I’m not in pain is when I walk and/or jog, and I hope it will only improve as I build up my core strength. I do that first thing in the morning after I roll out of bed, working my way up slowly to jogging at least 3 times a week. So then I remembered Dr. Ho’s pain relief therapy belt! ←
(not an affiliate link) It allows me to jog comfortably, and I’m grateful for that!
I have been managing my health solely on my own (with the help of Dr. Google) far too long, and it was a concern for not having a doctor. Anyway, I found a doctor. When I stopped taking my blood pressure medication a couple of years ago, I started Keto dieting to manage my diabetes, and it has been working well so far 🙂 and my blood pressure is healthy too. I feel a lot better physically.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Some of you have probably read Stephen Kings book Mr. Mercedes but if you didn’t know there is a TV show as well. Season 2 will premiere on August 22 on Audience Network. The actors Brendon Gleeson, who played MadEye Moody in Harry Potter, is brilliant, and the show is even better than the book IMO.
Also, The Darkest Minds is in theatres. I read the book but never finished the series. So I figure I need to play catch up since The Darkest Legacy #4 was released and it looks promising.
Tower of Dawn (link to my review), and I wasn’t impressed.
I also finished listening to Venom in the Veins by Jennifer Estep on audio. Lauren Fortgang is a brilliant narrator.
What I watched on Netflix. The 100 final episode season 5 finale! Damocles part 2 is August 8th, and I wish it weren’t over. I can’t wait to see what Madi does as the new commander. I love that girl! I also don’t want to see Diyoza die at the hands of McCreary. UGH! Somebody stop him!
I got some Fabletics (personal referral link)so that I can look good jogging in fancy pants lol. And sports bras and all other kinds of jogging outfits like capris. I love @Fabletics By #KateHudson! Use my personal referral link for special savings!
I received a few packages that I was so excited about. A new eyeshadow palette by Nyx called Swear By It. (magic link affiliate) I think it is just beautiful and the colours are stunning and a T-shirt dress that is so comfortable.
The weather has also been hot in my neck of the world. Since August 1st it has rained every day in the late evening and night which cools things down significantly. Also on my daily hike, I saw a dead snake ???!!! What? I never knew or HAVE NEVER seen a snake in Calgary before! And it was interesting. Thank God it was killed though! It looked like it was destroyed only minutes before encountering it, ugh!
That’s all for today. I hope everyone is having an excellent long weekend. I missed My Sunday Post yesterday because I didn’t get this finished in time. Sometimes formatting can be a bitch, as it can drag on
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kim @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share the news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.
I have almost finished the last book in the Broken Destiny trilogy by Jeaniene Frost. I persevered, and it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Yay for bloody paranormal romance! The novels feature Archons aka angels, and demons, a Gargoyle, and a couple of humans, Jasmine and Costa. We follow Ivy’s journey and discover she is the last descendant of David. With this privilege, she can wield some hallowed weapons such as a slingshot, the staff of Moses, and Longinus’ spear to save humanity from all hell breaking loose, literally. We discover Demetrius and Adrian are demons and Adrian is the last descendant of Judas Iscariot who is fated and strongly attracted to Ivy and vice versa. Also, the angel they call Zach is Michael.
My reading has been on pause since the summer started, which means I am 9 books behind my Goodreads Reading Challenge, but I am proud to say I have worked my way up to jogging 3 to 4 times a week! That has been going well although I found out recently I have degenerative disk disease and arthritis, which explains why I can hardly get out of bed in the morning and I am in constant pain in the lower back area. Tylenol helps immensely with that though.
What I enjoyed on Netflix this week. I really liked the Suicide Squad featuring crazy supervillains like the Joker, Harley Quinn, and star casts such as Will Smith. Very cool. I was not familiar with the rest of the cast but it was a fun fantasy full of action.
This month Ipsy Bag is about getting lost so you can find yourself. Ipsy, are you telling me to get lost? lol. I wish I found Paris if I ever get lost. I miss travelling, however, I am already lost But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. Myself. U2? Go me!
SUR.MEDIC+Pore-less Carbonic Peel Mask
This bamboo charcoal sheet mask is made with carbonated water (it doesn’t feel fizzy, just super-refreshing) that clarifies impurities and gently removes dead skin cells.
It’s packed with alpha-hydroxy-acids (AHA’s) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA’s). AHA’s help gently exfoliate and improve your skin’s moisture levels. While BHA’s unclog pores and have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Together, they brighten up and smooth out your complexion. They retail for $3.50(US), and I got 2 packs.
LORD & BERRY20100 Maximatte Crayon Lipstick in Spicy or Intimacy
This crayon is creamy, smooth, and richly-pigmented, and they won’t dry out your lips like some matte formulas tend to do. The colour is long-lasting, and it is actually good for you! It has Vitamin E which boosts hydration and serves as an antioxidant, with anti-inflammatory properties. It comes in two shades – a spicy nude taupe that’s flattering on so many skin tones, and a mauve pink that feels so fresh and springy. Call it Spicy OR Intimacy. I got Spicy. Retails for omg! $18.00!? That is expensive.
NEON & CO.Hair & Scalp Mask Retails for ..wait for it… $60 !?
It says it is just like a facial only for your hair. Imagine that! I would be impressed if it masked the grey out of my hair and brought back my natural hair colour Lol. Talk about anti-ageing. *)
FIRST AID BEAUTYUltra Repair Hydrating Serum
It retails for $36. This hydrating serum is made with hyaluronic acid, which leaves your skin super soft and smooth.
In a rush? The lightweight, water-based formula absorbs really quickly so you can apply your makeup right away.
The soothing formula is loaded with calming ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and aloe leaf juice, so it’s great for all skin types—even sensitive. Yay!
I use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links. Check it out here:https://www.magiclinks.org/rewards/referral/jackiebrie/
When I was in my late teens, I used wet wipes and Isopropyl rubbing alcohol on my face. You know those air-laid paper towelettes folded into pocket-sized packaging? I thought it would help clear up my acne! 😦
Naturally, I should have been using a good toner. I had extremely oily skin, and I just wanted to get the oily sebum off my face. Those with oily skin would understand.
At my age now, I have Acne Rosacea. Dry to sensitive skin and oily in the T-Zone. I have big pores too.
Even after using rubbing alcohol on my face, I developed cystic Acne. My doctor referred me to a skin specialist who suggested I take Accutane. At that time it was a fairly new acne treatment. It worked to diminish the pimples, but the scaring is still there. I was never told that rubbing alcohol damaged the skin, but I learned the hard way. I was a psychiatric in-patient on PTU- a patient treatment unit when I developed cystic acne, and I didn’t have anything else to use, not even vitamin E cream. At that time I never wore makeup, but I don’t think makeup wipes were invented either.
Living as an in-patient on the Psychiatric unit of Foothills Hospital in 1979 and again in 1982 is a story for another day.
If you are interested in knowing more about makeup and skincare subscribe to Elle Leary Artistry’s channel on youtube. She is a celebrity makeup artist and shares her knowledge and skills of the Beauty industry. Elle’s video is exactly what I needed to hear about the damaging effects of alcohol on the skin, and of course, I don’t use any product made with the lousy ingredient anymore, but I also didn’t know there was such a thing as right and beneficial alcohol ingredients.
Here is a list of “bad” alcohol. When using products with these ingredients, it can aggravate the skin, make your acne worse, lead to severe dryness, erode the surface of the skin and strain or inhibit it from renewing and regenerating itself. It weakens the surface of the skin. It will make anything you have like eczema, worse. I have found all this to be accurate from experience. It is exactly what happened to my skin, which is why I developed rosacea and extremely sensitive skin.
This is the list of names you should look for in skincare products within the first 6 ingredients and AVOID THEM. DO NOT USE. SEE VIDEO
»SD, Denatured, Ethanol, Ethyl, Methanol, Benzyl«
Here is an example: L’oreal Paris Hydra-Total 5 Toner
Ingredient list:
aqua, alcohol denat., Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, CI 19140/yellow 5, CI 42090/Blue 1, Parfum/Fragrance, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene…
Here is a list of the “good or beneficial” alcohols:
»Cetyl, Stearyl, Cetearyl Alcohol«
Here is an example of a “good” and suitable Toner. One that I am currently using: Vichy Perfecting Toner
Ingredient list:
aqua, peg-8, glycerin, peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, disodium EDTA, copper sulfate, myrtrimonium bromide, parfum,
Instead of flowers this Mothers Day,
give your mom the glowing skin she deserves with a sheet mask.
Ever since I started wearing sheet masks I feel like I’m getting a spa treatment. It is an easy way to pamper yourself without the muddy mess, and it is affordable. My skin always feels refreshed and rejuvenated and since I could be your mother I think it is a good way to treat the skin with the added moisture it needs.
Today I got my first box of sheet masks from Facetory™. The only subscription service that delivers sensations and hidden gems straight to you starting at only $5.95/month
For anyone who hasn’t heard about it, it is a Korean brand sheet mask subscription where you have the option to choose a less expensive box, Four-ever Fresh kit that is curated with 4 masks, or, the more expensive with the Seven Lux box. That is a whole month worth of sheet masks! If you wish to receive this subscription box you can click on the image or use my referral link to become a sheet mask queen! OR if you want to buy something from their website please feel free to use my coupon code JACKIEBR20 for an extra 20% off.
I have new books on my shelf to showcase this week.
The new books I got were written by these amazing authors
—Jennifer Armentrout, Colleen Houck and Anne Bishop.
–Because I enjoyed reading The Return(Titan, #1), I wanted the entire set and nowhere but Amazon had them. The Titan Novels are a New Adult paranormal spin-off series to the best selling Covenant series.
–The final release in Colleen Houck’s Tigers Saga was released! I needed Tiger’s Dream in my life. I waited years for this book and to see the thickness and the beautiful cover were well worth the wait, making my collection complete. I LOVE IT!
–I also picked up the second novel in Anne Bishops Others series called Murder of Crows. I have to be honest; I thought the first book Written in Red wasn’t as good as I expected it to be. I mean it wasn’t my favourite paranormal story that I’ve ever read, but I am willing to give it a second chance. Its quite complicated and my concentration isn’t that good, but we’re looking positively forward to reading them.
Happy Mother’s Day!
It has been 10 days since the dentist pulled one of my back upper teeth because it was basically dead and causing trouble so I just wanted it gone, to heck with a root canal, although I am afraid the dentist might want to do a root canal on another one. I suggested taking all my teeth out and getting a partial plate or even a set of dentures. Ha! both the orthodontist and dentist did not agree with me.
About 12 years ago something terrible happened. I was kicked in the jaw. I blame that traumatic blow for why a couple of my teeth were broken and why I need to have them pulled now. Ugh!
The stitches have dissolved and the hole is pretty well healed but I’m still having to flush it out with sea salt and warm water. In the interim, I’ve been enjoying amazing delicious smoothies with nut butter, almond milk and frozen berries. yum
The New Legends of Monkey is a new take on the story of the monkey king. Pigsy, Sandy and Tripitaka, the monk, are on their journey to restore the world. It’s so funny. Its hilarity is obnoxious. I am only watching it because of Chai Hansen, the actor who plays the monkey. He is gaining popularity these days. I can’t wait for the next season already.
I saw Chai Hansen first in The 100 as Ilian, a member of Trishanakru, then on Shadowhunters as Jordan Kyle the praetor lupus cult leader werewolf who stalks Simon. Wow! He is so incredible in these shows, and I am happy for him.
I also bought Fear the walking dead on youtube. One cast member of The Walking Dead, Morgan, crosses over to this show. Fear the walking dead is alright so far but some members of the cast have to tell their story, and they give a pretty watered down version which doesn’t make sense. Also, Negan from TWD is still alive!! Grrr. I hate that guy for being the most prominent prick.
If I could watch the final season of The Originals, life would be complete. But Alas! I have to wait until it broadcasts on Youtube. It’s so frustrating to see the Tweets about in on Twitter when I can’t even watch it ;(. Anyway —
I went to Sephora last week and I bought Chloe Morello’s Pretty, Fun & Fearless volume II eyeshadow palette. IT’S SO PRETTY! For those who have never heard of Chloe Morello, she has a youtube channel and is also one of the creators of Face Halo, the makeup remover made of HaloTech fibres in a small round cushion. Ya, that one. I use them all the time, and I think they are excellent if you care for the environment.
Inside: fun,fearless volume II, mascara, liquid lip and eye liner. Fit Me foundation, sephora eyeshadow brush and some makeup setting spray
My Sigma warm neutral palette came in the mail BUT one of the shades ( passion fruit) was a bit damaged. I also got a Smashboxpetal metal highlighter in the shade gilded rose and a deep cool grey lipgloss in the shade chill zone. I do not typically wear foundation, but I try so I bought some Maybelline FitMe matte and poreless foundation in the shade natural ivory, to conceal and cover my skin imperfections and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Inspired by the Icy Betch palette from Tarte that was supposedly an April Fools joke, there were a couple companies that did their best to recreate the look. Devinah Cosmetics and Finding Ferdinand.
The Harmony palette from Devinah Cosmetics is Sold Out but they are planning to restock. I splurged on some green eyeshadows from Makeup Geek as well. Finding Ferdinand calls it the Icy Beesh Palette. I think they are both cute and I can’t wait to see how they perform on my eyes. Also from Devinah Cosmetics, I bought a bundle called Midnight Affair. I love the colours!
Kathleen lights said its fragrance was like candy. I am a huge fan of 
It allows me to jog comfortably, and I’m grateful for that!
A new eyeshadow palette by Nyx called 
I saw Chai Hansen first in The 100 as Ilian, a member of Trishanakru, then on Shadowhunters as Jordan Kyle the praetor lupus cult leader werewolf who stalks Simon. Wow! He is so incredible in these shows, and I am happy for him.
