tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27787474196823971912024-03-14T04:35:56.027-04:00Buttercup's ObsessionShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-9329149936719585002016-04-11T22:06:00.002-04:002016-04-11T22:06:53.901-04:00Filippo Berio DelicatoI received a coupon recently for a free bottle of Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I'm already a regular user of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil, so I was excited to try the Delicato or the Robusto. After searching high and low for it at my local stores, I happened upon the Delicato while on vacation. I was glad I had my coupon in my car and was able to pick it up.<br />
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This couldn't have come at a better time, I've been trying to eat better and salads have been a big part of that. I've been making my own dressing. Below is a fresh strawberry vinagratte I made with left over strawberries the Filippo Berio Delicato and some apple cider vinegar. The mild flavor of the olive oil doesn't overpower the other flavors in the dressing like Extra Virgin or regular Olive Oil sometimes does. I also made Italian seasoned parmesan croutons to go with my salads and added a splash of the oil to get the seasoning to stick. They are the best croutons I've ever had. <br />
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I am a huge fan of this olive oil and can't wait to see what other things I can make with it.<br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-62852836112863356782015-07-08T20:52:00.001-04:002015-07-08T20:52:19.855-04:00Attitude 2 in 1 Shampoo and Body WashI received a bottle of 2 in 1 Shampoo and Body wash in my Influenster Nuture Voxbox as a complementary test product for review.<br />
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I've been using natural shampoo and this was on par
with that product and I love that I can find it at Target. It didn't make my hair overly dry like other 2 in 1's that I've tried. It lather's nicely in the hair or on a bath pouf or washcloth. You feel clean after using it. It really is a nice multitasking product. I'm usually skeptical about products like this, but this actually works pretty well. It smells nice too.<br />
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I feel good about letting my kids use it as well because it doesn't have a bunch of irritating stuff in it so it won't bother their sensitive skin. It also speeds up shower time after a long day at camp and sporting events.<br />
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I'll definitely be looking for this at Target in the future. It is a little pricey, but I expect Target will have it on sale, with coupons, and their app so it will be no more expensive than the stuff I use now.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-1463550164879614922015-07-08T20:42:00.002-04:002015-07-08T20:42:42.230-04:00Influenster Nuture Voxbox ReviewI love receiving Voxboxes from Influenster to review. I was very happy to find out I'd be receiving this box. I always get a mix of stuff I've never heard of, never tried, and tried and true items I love.<br />
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Inside was a facemask by Hada Labo Tokyo, a full sized Attitude Shampoo and body wash combo product, a coupon for a free bag of Ore Ida Easy Fries or Tater Tots, a coupon for a free box of Uncle Ben's rice, a packet of Red Vines Licorice, a box of non-drowsy Dramamine tablets, and Blue Lizard Sunscreen.<br />
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The first thing I tried was the Dramamine. I was headed to the amusement park with my family and am happy to report that it really kept the nausea away and there were no side effects to report.<br />
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I was extremely happy to receive the coupons. Free food is always a plus, especially with 2 hungry little boys around. Ore Ida and Uncle Ben's are brands I know and trust and keep around all the time. The Easy Fries are a quick and tasty side for a weeknight dinner. The Uncle Ben's rice was a great side for a night when I have a little more time to make dinner, but it still only took 10 minutes to make and tastes great. <br />
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I'm always skeptical about 2 in 1 products, but the Attitude shampoo and body wash really delivers. Usually something that washes my body strips my hair of all moisture and leaves it either too dry or with a residue. This product is really nice. It lathers nicely, cleans well, and smells good. I think because it doesn't have all the stuff in it that other shampoos and body washes do it doesn't strip my hair like other products do. I've been using natural shampoo and this was on par with that product and I love that I can find it at Target.<br />
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I've been loving the Blue Lizard Sensitive Sunscreen. I keep it in my purse and apply whenever I'm in the sun, which is almost all the time lately. My boys are very active and both play baseball. We've been spending alot of time at the baseball field or at the park so keeping this in my bag has been really great. My son has sensitive skin and alot of sunscreens make my face breakout. This doesn't both either of us so we've been using it alot.<br />
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The Red Vines got mixed reviews in my house. I was never a fan of Red Vines, I just don't care for the flavor. I think they are cherry flavored and I don't like cherry flavored anything. My oldest son and husband felt the same, however my husband kept sneaking them out of the bag at the baseball tournament we were at over 4th of July weekend. My youngest son, however loved them as did all of the younger siblings cheering for our team over the weekend.<br />
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The final item I used from the box was the facial mask. I don't get much down time so finding some quiet time to enjoy it was tough. I've never used a paper mask like this before and it was a little strange. It is very moisturizing though. I typically use masks to pull out impurities, not put moisture back in, so it was a nice change.<br />
<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-996848867862216982015-07-03T11:23:00.000-04:002015-07-03T11:23:52.359-04:00#BeginwithBen ReviewI'm a busy mom of 2 boys who needs something quick, easy, healthy, and tasty to put on the table in between baseball, basketball, piano lessons, drum lessons, and whatever else is going on in our crazy life.<br />
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When I got my Nurture Voxbox from Influenster with a coupon for Uncle Ben's, I knew the possibilities were endless. I grabbed a box of Chicken Rice and made BBQ chicken. I had made pulled pork in the crockpot the week before an had some left over sauce in the fridge, add some homemade apple sauce and some microwave veggies and we have a decent weeknight meal.<br />
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I love Uncle Ben's, it's quick, tastes good, doesn't break the bank, and comes in a wide variety to fill out any meal and any family's needs.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-31917813365100436622015-07-01T11:05:00.000-04:002015-07-01T11:05:01.063-04:00Review of Non-Drowsy DramamineI've used dramamine for years. The one drawback is that it always made me sleepy, but it did keep the motion sickness and nausea at bay when it struck. I always take it with me and deal with the drowsy side effects for the sake of not feeling sick.<br />
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When I was young, it was tradition to go to the local theme park Kennywood. As a kid I rode every ride in the park multiple times without a hint of nausea or motion sickness. As I got older, things changed and I get carsick sometimes or the rides bother me especially the ones that spin. Atleast my beloved roller coasters don't usually bother me. I normally get a little bit of nausea after a ride, but it goes away as I walk around the park or wait in line with my family.</div>
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I was happy to receive this product in my Nuture VoxBox, as my oldest son suggested we make our annual pilgrimage to Kennywood this past weekend. It was a beautiful day and we went for the evening. I took 2 pills as directed on the box before we left for the park. I am happy to report that I experienced absolutely no nausea symptoms during our outing to the park. There were also no drowsy or unwanted side effects, which we all know can sometimes accompany non-drowsy products. I felt great all afternoon and evening. This is very exciting for me as I love going to theme parks with my kids but I have to sit out of some rides because they don't make me feel so well. </div>
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We have a vacation later this summer with a long drive, a boat ride, and a theme park planned during that trip. These will be in my bag this summer with my other must take medication to keep me feeling my best.</div>
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This product was provided by Influenster for complimentary testing purposes. </div>
Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-34896260228224356372015-07-01T10:59:00.001-04:002015-07-01T11:01:37.993-04:00Ore-Ida Easy Fries reviewFrench Fries are my all time favorite food, with some Heinz Ketchup on the side with a little salt. Ore-Ida are a favorite from my childhood. My mom always made them when I was growing up so when I saw the coupon for a free box to try these out in my Influenster Nurture VoxBox I couldn't wait to grab them at the store.<br />
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The box is small, but just enough to share with one other person or eat them all and not feel gluttonous. For a family of 4 I'd suggest 2 boxes. My kids weren't feeling French fries the night I made these so it was the perfect portion for us. <br />
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I love that they are hot, crispy, and ready out of the microwave in just 4 minutes. I rarely make fries at home because they take 20 minutes or more and hot dogs only take 5 minutes or less. Its a little different if I'm making something that takes longer to make or I'm baking something else, but on a night where we have a baseball or basketball game or practice that runs late or some other activity and I need a quick dinner on the table these are perfect. I will be purchasing these again as well as the other varieties to keep in my freezer.<br />
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This product was provided by Influenster for complimentary testing purposes. <br />
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-17319673801439758532014-07-11T13:38:00.000-04:002014-07-11T14:04:57.678-04:00Influenster TCLVoxBox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I recently received a TLCVoxBox from Influenster to test some of the products seen in the picture below. I'm always excited to get a VoxBox and test all of my products. Overall, I'm very happy with this box. Keep reading to see what I go and what I think of the products I received.</div>
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I received a coupon for a complementary package of Breyers Gelato in the flavor of my choice, I picked Vanilla Caramel. Breyers Ice Cream is a frequent staple in our house and as an ice cream lover I was excited to try this. It is creamier than regular ice cream. If I had to describe it is is like whipped cream and ice cream combined into a frozen treat. It isn't as hard as traditional ice cream. This indulgent treat is very rich, and my whole family liked it. The Gelato had about the same nutritional content as regular ice cream with caramel. I will definitely try the other flavors, like triple chocolate. <br />
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The next item in my box was a bar of Ivory soap. I use Ivory all the time to clean my makeup brushes and wash my face in addition to regular bath/shower soap. It is a regular staple in my house. It is affordable, easy to find, and a brand that I trust. I love to clean my make-up brushes with it because I can tell when they are clean when I scrub the bristles over the bar of soap. Since I wash my face with the soap, I know it isn't going to cause irritation. There are lots of other things you can do with Ivory like making your own detergent and making bath crayons for your kids.<br />
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I received a sample pack of Puffs To Go tissues. I have kids, that means I always need a tissue. I usually have some napkins or tissues stashed in my bag, but they get dirty or ripped plus they are usually not the best quality. The packaging is cute, and it is nice that the tissues stay clean in my bag or pocket when I'm on the go at a t-ball game or at the grocery store. These are strong enough to wipe a runny nose or a dirty face, but soft enough not to irritate the skin. I've used them to touch up my make up and wipe up spilled juice boxes. I would definitely purchase these and keep them in my purse or carry them in my pocket. These are perfect for a busy mom on the go.<br />
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Neosporin's Neo To Go is also a must for a bust mom. I mentioned I have kids earlier, and both of my boys are very active in sports. One or both of them always has a cut or bruise and I'm not always able to wash out whatever the injury of the day is. This is the perfect solution. It is compact and easy to keep in a purse, pocket, or car. It is much easier to apply to an active kid than neosporin in a tube which I also use frequently. Add a bandage of your choice and you are good to go and you know you are going to protected and the little ones are going to have some relief. I'll be keeping this in the first aid kit I keep in my car from now on.<br />
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Also in my box was a Shell Fuel Rewards Card. I wasn't really sure about this one, mainly because I couldn't think of a local Shell Station near where I live. I went on the fuelrewards.com website and looked for a station near me and expanded to a 50 mile radius, and my suspicions were confirmed that there isn't a Shell Station within 50 miles of my location. The program looks great though, you can earn various amounts of cents off of gallons of gas by shopping for groceries, online shopping, eating out, shopping at local retailers via e-coupons, and other promotions with your rewards card. They have an online and mobile app so you can track your progress. It would be a great way to earn savings off of your gas, but this isn't a great program for me as I don't have Shell Stations where I live. The program looks like a great way to save, I'll be keeping a look out for Shell Stations popping up in my area.<br />
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The last item in my box was a sample of Avon Anew Reversalist Complete Renewal Express. This products is a wrinkle blurring balm that claims to instantly blur wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes. You gently pat it on the skin over your moisturizer or over your makeup. The product is very creamy and goes on invisibly. You can't tell you are wearing anything. The product feels really nice on the skin. I didn't find it greasy or heavy. I wore it over my moisturizer, as I don't wear make up everyday. I am very lucky and don't have many wrinkles yet, but I do have some barely there fine lines on my forehead. I didn't notice much of a difference when using this product. I'm not sure if I had more defined wrinkles if that would make a difference. I'll keep experimenting to see if I can find another use for this product or if I can notice a difference when combined with something else. My only other caution to new users of this product is read the back of the package for the instructions on how to open the compact. I did not flip it over and could not figure out how to open it for the life of me. Eventually I figured out that the lid slides instead of the typical hinged compacts that we are all used to. Now that I know how to open the box I actually prefer it because it prevents it from opening in your bag and making a mess. The top is mirrored so you can apply the product with the compact open and use it as a mirror while applying other products with the compact closed which is a bonus. The compact is quite large though, so it will take up a bit of room in your make up bag, but there is a nice amount of product in the pan.<br />
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Update: I was posting my review on Avon's website, and I read a few other reviews from other users just seconds after posting this. I found my use for this product. So I said I don't have wrinkles, but other people said they used this under their eyes. I do have dark circles and I always look tired, so I said what do I have to lose and I patted this under my eyes and within 5 minutes my eyes looked less puffy and tired. I still had the darkness that I would normally cover up with concealer for a night out. Less puffy and tired looking is a win for me. </div>
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Are you an Influenster? What do you think of these products?<br />
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All opinions are my own and all products were provided complementary by Influenster for testing purposes.<br />
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-15698710469168298012014-02-17T14:26:00.000-05:002014-02-17T14:26:03.299-05:00Liquid Lacquer Ladie EveI've got one of my favorite indie polish makers today, Liquid Lacquer. Unfortunately, the shop is closed and has been for a while. I don't have a huge indie collection, but these were some of my first and the quality is excellent on all of the ones I have.<div>
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I have a thing for gray polish, so I grabbed this during a sale. I am not a fan of pink, but love this combination. It's a grey and pink version of one of the very first Liquid Lacquer polishes that I purchased <a href="http://buttercupsobsession.blogspot.com/2013/01/liquid-lacquer-sexy-secretary.html" target="_blank">Sexy Secretary</a> (taupe and orange) which I absolutely love. Ladie Eve is a cool gray jelly with magenta and baby pink circles, and smaller magenta glitters. </div>
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I decided to layer this over Sinful Colors Cool Gray to save on coats. Sexy Secretary took 4 coats to be opaque enough for my liking, so I knew this would take about the same as they are very similar in consistency. I picked up Cool Gray at Walgreens for 99 cents and its application was perfect. This is 2 coats of Cool Gray.</div>
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Cool Gray was the perfect match for the jelly base of Ladie Eve. Two Coats of Ladie Eve and a top coat completed the look. I've been using Out the Door top coat and I've been loving it. It doesn't shrink on me and chips less than other fast dry top coats. <br />
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Do you love indie polish? Who are your favorite makers?</div>
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All products purchased by me.</div>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-79699054627344904112014-02-15T23:13:00.001-05:002014-02-15T23:13:40.417-05:00Stamping SaturdayMy birthday was last weekend and my husband asked me what I wanted. He assumed I wanted polish, but I had been eyeing the new Pueen Buffet Stamping Plates that just came out. They were sold out at Pueen, but Amazon had them. The reviews from the other stampers have been nothing short of fantastic, so that's what he got me along with the Pueen Love Elements set. I've done some test stamps with both sets and the quality is great. Every image I've tried is etched perfectly and stamps cleanly and clearly.<div>
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I used plate 46 from the Love Elements set. I stamped with my Winstonia squishy stamper.<br /><div>
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I started with 2 coats of Can We Carol on from Different Dimensions which you can find <a href="http://www.differentdimension.us/" target="_blank">here</a>. It is a pale lavender holographic shown on the wheel below. </div>
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Then I stamped with Funky Fingers Keyan Sunset. You can find Funky Fingers polish at Five Below stores, not sure if this one is still available. Kenyan Sunset is thick making it perfect for stamping. It is a holographic royal purple but the holo doesn't really show up on the wheel, it does sparkle in the sunlight though and the formula is really nice as a base color too.<br />
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Here is my final result. I'm really happy with these plates and how my stamping skills have progressed over the last few weeks with some practice. </div>
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Different Dimensions polish and Pueen plates were purchased by me, Kenyan Sunset was provided as a prize in a giveaway.</div>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-40725181924976660992014-02-15T22:18:00.001-05:002014-02-15T22:18:11.508-05:00Adventures in Stamping - My First SuccessI've recently taken up stamping. I started out with a Salon Express set which you can get at Sally's, Walgreens, and various other places for $10 or less. It comes with all the tools needed to get started with basic stamping. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to try stamping before making a the investment in expensive plates and kits. The plates are cute and decent quality. I've had trouble with the stamper though. I purchased some Bundle Monster plates but I couldn't get the Salon Express stamper to pick up any of the images. I read some tutorials and got some tips from expert stampers and got a few of the images to pick up but I still wasn't having a lot of luck. So I decided I needed to try a different stamper before completely giving up. I picked up a double ended Konad from Amazon and a squishy silicone stamper from Winstonia, the first generation Winstonia plates jumped in my cart too.<br />
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After trying out both of my new stampers on the Bundle Monster images I had trouble with before, I was able to pick up the images right away on both new stampers. I will caution that I had to "prep" the squishy stamper just a little before using it. I washed it with dish soap (I use Ajax antibacterial). You want something without moisturizers. Then I swiped it with acetone just to get the sticky stuff of it until I could get an image to pick up. Since then I've only used a lint roller to get excess polish off of it based on recommendations from other stampers out there. From what I gather acetone can break down the silicone on the squishy stamper.<br />
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For this manicure, which I call my first successful stamping mani using my "grown up" stamping supplies. I used OPI Schnapps Out of It as the base and stamped with OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons (both from the Germany Collection). The image is Winstonia W111 from the first generation set. These pictures are a few weeks old. I've been practicing so I'm getting better. These aren't perfect but for a first attempt, I'm really pleased.<br />
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All products purchased by me.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-8078588532181447162014-02-15T21:56:00.000-05:002014-02-15T22:18:29.232-05:00Zoya Tallulah and KB Shimmer I Got a Crush on BlueOK so life has been crazy and my nails have been peeling like crazy but I've been doing maintenance and I've been taking pictures of the really good manicures. Here is Zoya Tallulah. I've had this for a while and picked it up during one of their many promos last year. Its an awesome bright royal blue with a shimmer. It is a nice bright blue for a dreary winter weather we've been having lately.<br />
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Application was perfect. This is 2 coats with top coat.</div>
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Tallulah was the perfect underwear for KB Shimmer I Got a Crush on Blue! Which is a blue jelly packed with various sizes of holographic glitter from micro to large hexes. </div>
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This is 2 coats of I Got a Crush on Blue over Tallulah. Despite being packed with glitter application was great. </div>
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Zoya can be purchased at Zoya.com at Ulta and at various salons and retailers. KB Shimmer can be purchased from KBshimmer.com. </div>
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All products purchased by me.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-26118819856730929162013-11-09T22:13:00.003-05:002013-11-09T22:13:55.550-05:00Zoya LondonSo I have an obsession with gray polish. I also have recently fallen in love with textured polishes. I didn't think that I would like them since rough glitter usually drives me insane unless I can tame it with a good top coat. I have to say when Zoya released the PixieDust Collection I was intrigued and the swatches looked amazing. I waited for a good promotion before I finally broke down and bought a few. My only complaint is that I waited so long to buy them. London is the first one I used, and I love everything about it.<br />
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London and the entire line of PixieDusts are available at Zoya.com and select Salons & beauty retailers such as Ulta. They retail for $9.<br />
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Zoya describes London as a fog gray with a sugared sparkle, in the exclusive Zoya PixieDust Matte Sparkle formula. That description is pretty spot on. This is 3 coats. The first coat is pretty sheer but it builds nicely and keeps the matte texture. It feels like sand on the nail, but it doesn't snag.<br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-69172413366856865162013-09-02T00:12:00.000-04:002013-09-02T00:12:43.442-04:00China Glaze Jungle QueenI haven't posted in a long time. This manicure is from a while ago, and the pictures have been sitting on my computer. Please forgive the ragged cuticles and terrible cleanup. Life has been crazy for the last few months between work and afterschool activities for my boys. My nails and cuticles have also been a mess for the last few months so I haven't been posting. Between my chaotic life and weak nails blogging has taken a back seat. I'm hoping to get back into it now that things have gotten back into a routine and my nails are finally healthy again.<br />
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Today I've got China Glaze Jungle Queen. It is from the Fall On Safari collection. They came out summer of 2012. I only picked up a few colors from this collection.<br />
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Let me start out by saying that I love the color on this one, but application was a mess. My bottle was really thin and it flooded the cuticles no matter how much I wiped of the brush. I might let the bottle sit open for a while and let it thicken up a bit. I ended up getting decent coverage after 2 coats. <br />
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This color is a dusty gray purple with a pink shimmer. The shimmer was really hard to pick up on the nail with the camera, but you can see it in the bottle shot.<br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-69910421207927260222013-06-28T12:08:00.000-04:002013-06-28T12:08:09.033-04:00Dr. Scholl's® For Her Ball of FootI love my heels, but sometimes they kill my feet after an hour because I don't wear them everyday. I am a bridesmaid in November and I have a pair of shoes that are comfortable, but after wearing them all day I'm sure my feet are going to hurt. Enter Dr. Scholl's® For Her Ball of Foot inserts. I received a pair in my Something Blue VoxBox from Influenster. I've tried other Dr. Scholl's products so it's a brand I trust. I've also tried other ball of foot inserts, but I haven't found any that really worked so I was really happy to see these in the box.<br />
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I have pair of heels that I love, but they really hurt my feet after an hour or 2. I tried out the ball of foot inserts on my 10 year anniversary last weekend. These are a lifesaver. My feet didn't hurt at all. We did some standing and walking that normally would have had me in bare feet in these shoes. These inserts really did the trick. I really love that you can transfer them to another pair of shoes but I can see myself buying a pair for every pair of heels I own.<br />
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I am going to recommend these to the bridal party and the bride for the wedding that I'm in. I love that they are clear and they didn't damage my shoe. The other inserts I've tried had double stick tape and you couldn't adjust them once they were in the shoe. Others that I tried slide around or change the fit of your shoe. These stuck to the shoe perfectly and didn't slide at all, but you could move them if you needed to make and adjustment to get them under your foot to get the perfect comfort. My shoe still fit perfectly and I didn't even notice they were there.</div>
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Bottom line if you love heels, you need these inserts. I'll be picking up a few pair to add to my work shoes and my fun shoes so I can finally wear some of the heels that I love that are painful to wear. </div>
Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-576478045378807652013-06-28T11:37:00.000-04:002013-06-28T12:08:30.629-04:00Q-tips® Precision Tips™I received two sample packs of Precicsion <a href="http://www.qtips.com/" target="_blank">Q-tips</a> in my Something Blue Voxbox from Influenster. <br />
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I love these Q-tips. I use them all the time for cleaning up my manicures. I change my polish several times a week so I get a ton of use out of these. They also came in travel sized boxes so I can take them everywhere. I love that! They are perfect for cleaning up around the cuticle area if you happen to make a mess while polishing. I recommend using pure acetone for cleanup and cleaning up after each coat of polish. <br />
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The precision Q-tips are also perfect for cleaning stamping plates. Here is a picture of some nail art I<br />
did using a stamping plate. The starbursts were really hard to clean with a cotton ball, so I pulled out my precision Q-tips and they really were able to clean up the plate so I could continue stamping and get clean lines. I cleaned up my manicure with the Precision Q-Tips as I went.<br />
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When I'm getting ready for a special night out and I wear more make up than usual, I keep my box of Precision Q-tips within arms reach. I know I'll need them for several types of makeup.<br />
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Other uses for Precision Q-tips are cleaning up mascara mistakes, which is something I use them for as well. They do a great job getting under the lash without smudging your mascara. They are perfect with the pointy tip for grabbing any clumps or separating lashes that may have stuck together during application.. <br />
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You can also use them as an eyeshadow applicator, they are perfect for the crease, while you can use these or regular Q-tips for the rest of the lid. I can never find my eyeshadow brushes, but I've always got Q-tips handy.<br />
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I also like to use the Precision Q-tips to apply concealer where I need it. I have dark circles under my eyes and the occasional blemish that I want to hide. The concealer applicator doesn't always apply concealer that well and this way you don't have to worry about putting a dirty applicator back in the tube, you get a clean one each time you use the concealer. These are perfect for application and blending concealer where you need it.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-6486713424677375142013-02-28T16:21:00.005-05:002013-02-28T16:21:48.430-05:00Zoya KellyIn honor of my brother getting married this coming November, I wore Zoya's Kelly to go bridesmaid's dress shopping this past weekend. The colors for the wedding are dark gray and yellow. Kelly matches the dresses we got perfectly.<br />
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Zoya describes Kelly as a rich gray shade with soft purple and blue undertones. An easy to wear alternative to black and a perfect NEW neutral.<br />
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Kelly had perfect application. Super shiny and smooth with 2 coats. In the pictures Kelly looks blue, but she is really more of a dark charcoal gray with dusty blue and purple undertones. I love gray polish and this is a softer alternative to black.<br />
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I purchased Kelly from Zoya.com during their New Year's Promotion. I paid $10 for 3 Zoyas of my choice. Keep an eye out an Earth Day promotion. Kelly has been on my wishlist ever since I saw it posted on the Polished Cousin's blog a while back. It is a very sophisticated shade that would go well with a power suit or as underwear for an awesome glitter or nail art. <br />
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Zoya retails for $8 at their website, select e-tailers, and Ulta. Kelly is from the 2010 Fall Wonderful Collection so it may not be available everywhere, but it is available through Zoya directly.<br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-8512813742961043832013-02-28T15:27:00.000-05:002013-02-28T15:27:03.053-05:00Zoya JemToday I have Zoya's Jem for your viewing pleasure. I love Zoya and if I had to pick my favorite of the ones I have I think I would have to say it's Jem. <br />
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Zoya describes Jem as: A dark red-toned purple base with metallic dark pink highlights and subtle gold duochrome flecks. This shade has it all; bold color, vampy drama, bright sparkle and a glam rock persona.<br />
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I will definitely say Jem is a vampy purple. It was hard to capture the true color on camera. Jem is more red on the nail and appears more purple in the photos. The gold flecks are more visible in the bottle, while the red flecks are more apparent on the nail. While you don't see the gold specifically on the nail unless the light hits it just right, but you can tell it's there. The red and gold give the polish a certain sultry depth that I love.<br />
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Like all of my Zoya's the formula was great. Opaque in two smooth coats. The only thing, and you can see it in the pictures is that foils, no matter the brand, tend to show every flaw in your nail. It is more apparent in the photos since they are close up, but not so noticeable in real life. The dark color of Jem helps hide any blemishes, a lighter color wouldn't be so forgiving.<br />
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Zoya retails for $8 a bottle at Zoya.com, in most Ulta stores, and select online retailers. <br />
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This product was purchased by me and the opinions are my own.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-59126098195536108242013-02-18T22:59:00.001-05:002013-02-18T22:59:08.611-05:00Happy Valentine's Day (a few days late)This was my Valentine's Day manicure. I know its a few days late, but I wanted to post it anyway.<br />
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This is 2 coats of OPI's Animal-istic with several coats of Revlon's Hearts of Gold FX. </div>
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Animal-istic had no application issues and is a fun red from the Muppets collection. I liked it so much I did my fingers and toes with it.</div>
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Hearts of Gold was a bit difficult to work with. I got it for 40% off at Rite-aid so it wasn't a total bust. It is a thick clear jelly with small gold fleck glitter which I like, that part was OK. The hard part was the hearts. You rarely get one on the brush and when you do they require manipulation to get them where you want. The base polish builds up while you are doing this making it build up a bit too much. Fortunately its clear so you can't tell but it does make dry time longer.</div>
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I did like the holo hearts and the gold together. I didn't care for the final outcome, but it was perfect for the holiday. I wasn't crazy about it over the red and I think I put too many hearts on each finger. I think it would look better over a more neutral color or a nude. I'm a less is more kind of girl so I'm not giving up on this one yet.</div>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-11146629776589392752013-02-18T22:35:00.002-05:002013-02-18T22:35:38.596-05:00Amy's Nail Boutique ChesapeakeI've been slacking on the posting. I've been taking the pictures and doing the painting but life has been crazy as of late. I had the day off today so was able to catch up on some of my posts for the last 2 weeks and get back on track. <br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AmysNailBoutique?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">Amy's Nail Boutique</a> is one of my favorite indie polish makers. I picked up Chesapeake during a sale she had on her winter polishes. It is a unique color and reminds me of being out on the ocean. It has different sized turquoise glitter as well as green and baby blue glitters. It is pretty sheer, so I layered 2 coats of Chesapeake over 2 coats of NYC Cashmere Crème which is a pale baby blue.<br />
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As always, Amy's polish had no issues with application. This polish isn't as glitter packed as the others I have from her so it took some work to get the larger glitters out, but it wasn't unreasonable.<br />
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I still think she has this available in her shop, as well as a bunch of new creations. Amy has ventured in to holo's and she's got amazing glitters. Check out her shop or her facebook page for updates.</div>
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I recently won a giveaway from the lovely Stephanie from <a href="http://alittlepolish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Little Polish.</a> The prize was pretty awesome. It was a custom <a href="http://www.liquidlacquer.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Liquid Lacquer</a> polish and a bunch of other goodies. I love Liquid Lacquer so I was really excited to get this in the mail. I immediately stripped off the mani I was wearing and put this on. It is packed with glitter as you can see from the bottle shot. There's blue, silver, black, and purple in an off-white crelly base. I love it because its like a jelly sandwich but you only need 1 polish.</div>
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Application was great. I did 3 coats to get the glitter the way I wanted it. Each brush was packed with glitter and minor manipulation was all that was needed. I didn't have to fish for pieces.<br />
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I used a coat of Seche Vite to smooth things out and that was all that was needed.<br />
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This was a custom made for the giveaway so I'm really honored to have it. Be sure to check out A Little Polish and Liquid Lacquer on FacebookShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-85030404513760409452013-02-18T16:38:00.001-05:002013-02-18T16:38:31.519-05:00Happy Birthday to Me with Color Club Eternal Beauty and Blue HeavenSo my birthday was a few weeks ago and my husband asked me what I wanted. I had been eyeing the Color Club Halo Hues for weeks since the 2012 collection came out back in October. The 2013 collection had been release early to select retailers online people have be able to grab them in January and February while supplies were available. I told him I wanted some of them for my birthday. Well being the awesome guy that he is, he got me both sets instead of just the few that I wanted. Needless to say I was a very happy girl when the box came and I was allowed to open it early since he was out of town.<br />
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These are my first Color Club polishes and they didn't disappoint. They are also my first linear holographic polishes. My only complaint is that I couldn't decide which one to wear first. Since my birthstone is amethyst I decided to go with Eternal Beauty first. Eternal Beauty is a beautiful purple linear holographic. <br />
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Later in the week and on my actual birthday I wore Blue Heaven. Blue is my favorite color in general. Blue Heaven is a pale blue holographic that heavily leans towards silver. <br />
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Application of both was perfect. Blue heaven did show some of the blemishes on my nails at certain angles, but it was more apparent on camera than on the nail.<br />
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The official 2013 Halo Hues will be released soon. The 2012 Collection was available at select brick and mortar stores as well as various online retailers. I didn't have any luck locally.<br />
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I haven't tried them all yet but here are the 2012 Halo Hues on a swatch wheel. Halo-Graphic is a pale pink, while Cloud Nine is pale lavender and you can see from the wheel they are close in color. Cloud nine is definitely purple, but they are close. Harp on It is silver and Blue Heave is blue, but they are really close as well because of all the silver in Blue Heaven. Cherubic is tan and Angel Kiss is an aqua green.</div>
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These are the 2013 Halo Hues and they are a totally different color scheme from the original collection which was all pale. The holographic is equally as amazing. Kismet is an odd green shade, chartreuse maybe. Cosmic Fate is a coral orange color and Beyond is a black holo. Over the Moon is a mermaid blue and Miss Bliss is a deep pink. Eternal Beauty you've seen above.<br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-88387014073740773162013-02-03T22:53:00.002-05:002013-02-18T11:08:01.409-05:00Butter London TrustafarianThis week was holo week, and to finish out it out I went with Butter London's Trustafarian. It is a subtle scattered holo, but its there. I had a really hard time capturing the holo in the photos.<br />
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Trustafarian is a sage green polish with golden holographic shimmer, which is unusual. Most of holos I have go with silver vice gold. Gold and green go well together so this was a perfect combo. I love green polish. My favorite color is blue, but purple and green dominate my polish collection.<br />
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Application was perfect. The formula was excellent. I had almost no cleanup. The cap on the Butter London's is small so it takes some getting used to, but the brush is great. What you see here is two coats with a quick dry top coat. I got great wear out of this polish as well, I wore it for 4 days before it chipped and I was doing some serious house cleaning when it happened. Anything that wears for 2 days or more is good in my book.</div>
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I purchased this polish with my own money and the opinions are my own.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-58651546195676101322013-02-03T22:26:00.000-05:002013-02-03T22:26:16.023-05:00Milani HDDespite the fact that the sun hasn't been shining and the weather has gone from belown zero, to warm, to raining, to below zero and snowing all in a matter of days I felt rainbow polish was in order. Milani HD is a silver scattered holographic polish. It is one of the 3D holographics. I picked up all six at CVS.<br />
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I have to say I'm very impressed with these polishes! They apply like butter and dry extremely fast. There is no grit to the polish at all despite all the sparkle. HD required 3 coats for the opacity achieved in the photos here. There is still a little visible nail but it is barely there. Normally that would bother me, but it was hardly noticeable. You could always wear it over silver or grey to eliminate that problem. I might try that next.<br />
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I really like the Milani brushes too. There was little to no clean up needed with HD. The holographic in HD was amazing. It was scattered, but you could catch a linear rainbow when the light hits the nails just right. I would recommend these while they are still available. CVS recently had them on clearance for less than $2 a bottle, but I'm not sure if the winter beauty clearance is still going on.</div>
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I purchased this with my own money and the opinions are my own.<br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-46611896525856051482013-02-03T21:40:00.004-05:002013-02-03T21:40:36.504-05:00Picture Polish GoddessToday I am bringing you a foreign brand of polish. Picture Polish is a brand from Australia. I won Goddess in a giveaway a while back from Llarowe, which is a specialty online shop which carries Picture Polish as well as other foreign and specialty brands. I have several picture pOlish polishes on my wishlist, and hope to add more to my collection.<br />
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I am trying to go through my untrieds and this one has been sitting on my shelf for a while. Goddess is a really pretty copper color. It is the color of a shiny new penny. I wasn't so sure about this color or formula at first. The first coat was a streaky mess so I was not happy. The formula was a bit thin, but not unmanageable. Thinking that sometimes frosty polish evens out with a second coat I kept going. I am happy to report that coat #2 was much better. There were hardly any brush strokes and everything leveled and evened out nicely. What you see in the pictures is 3 coats, but 2 would be enough. I was trying to cover some nail blemishes, the unfortunate thing about frost polishes is that they show every uneven spot on your nails, creams are a little more forgiving.<br />
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I think this is a great neutral color and would be great in the fall as well.<br />
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This polish was provided to me via a promotional giveaway, the opinions are my own.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778747419682397191.post-8244882439296216942013-01-29T22:34:00.000-05:002013-01-29T22:34:09.358-05:00Hiding in Sunshine ReviewToday I have something a little different. It isn't beauty related at all. One of my other obsessions is reading so when I received notification that I was getting a book to review from Influenster as part of my Holiday VoxBox I was really excited. I can often be found reading a book or curled up with my Kindle. Since I paint my nails a lot, the Kindle is a little easier to manage with wet nails. <br />
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Now onto the book...Hiding in Sunshine by John and Caitlin Stuart was not typically a book I would have picked up. I normally read science fiction and paranormal romances. This book is soundly based in reality with not one otherworldly creature mentioned, which was actually quite refreshing. Within the first 2 chapters I was immediately reminded of reading Dan Brown's Deception Point and Digital Fortress. Both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. They were thrilling, suspenseful, and kept me wondering what was going to happen next. Hiding in Sunshine delivered the same. The pace was a little slower than I'm used to but it fit the story. A faster pace wouldn't have made sense for the plot or fit well with the development of the characters.<br />
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Here is a description of the book:<br />
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Living lives of quiet affluence in a historic, suburban Boston town, Gavin and
Lisa Brinkley had no idea how quickly and decisively their lives, and those of
their two young daughters, could be upended. A series of events - a mysterious
break-in at their home, some menacing tailgating on the highway from Boston, a
startling visit from an F.B.I. agent warning of an imminent kidnapping attempt -
leads to the family's abrupt uprooting from its comfortable existence into a
terrifying new existence on the run, under new identities. This taut thriller by
a father-daughter team follows the eleven-year odyssey of an American family on
the run, in hiding through the mountain states of the American west, where
survival skills and living off the grid are paramount, but so are friendship,
cooperation, and resilience. The enemy, always lurking just out of sight, is a
foreign cyber-criminal enterprise that launches breathtaking assaults on the
American banking system and physical infrastructure, but the Brinkleys also know
that the threat is deeply personal, reaching ever closer to them from the
shadows of the past. At the same time, Gavin and Lisa discover the perils of
wandering too close to the edges of the dark side, in the murky world of
cyber-security. A compelling story of suspense and treachery, HIDING IN SUNSHINE
is also a celebration of a family's abiding love and courage -- and a young
girl's faith in the triumph of the truth.<br />
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Here is my review:<br />
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This book kept me engaged the whole time. I very much enjoyed it and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Every time I put it down I couldn't wait to pick it back up again. I was invested in the Brinkley family and their journey through various identities as they struggle to keep their family safe and stay alive. They make a huge transition from a wealthy family with not a care in the world to roughing it in Montana in the wilderness with made up identities to protect themselves. At every turn something was challenging their safety, yet they kept up hope that someday they would get their lives back. Then ending provided a twist that I didn't see coming. I was surprised and thrilled to see how things ended. I also appreciate reading a story with issues that are real. Cyber security and identity theft are very real threats that we face today. The authors didn't choose to write about pop fiction like vampires and werewolves, they chose to write about something that made me think "some of this could actually happen" and "how much of this is happening now and I don't know about it". I think John and Caitlin Stuart did a wonderful job and they should be very proud of their book. You can tell they really put a lot of themselves into it. <br />
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You can check out Hiding in Sunshine on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hiding-Sunshine-John-Stuart/dp/1477283293/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352239472&sr=8-1&keywords=hiding+in+sunshine" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16153946-hiding-in-sunshine?auto_login_attempted=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>. I would recommend this book and look forward to seeing what the Stuarts come up with next.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151326569727888106noreply@blogger.com0