I Signed the Pledge... Did You?

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/givebooks

Ulta Haul October 2014

I need to finally post this Ulta haul post, part 3 of my October hauls. I have actually gotten more from Ulta since I started this post, but I can't include here because I've already started my holiday shopping...

Nicole by OPI Gumdrops Nailpolish in Blue-Berry Sweet on You

• This was picked up by the kiddo because it looked nifty. Neither of us have tried it yet, but we're looking forward to it.

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded

• I picked this up because of the great reviews all over the blogs/YouTube. Is is commonly called the best of the color tattoos, and color tattoos are frequently called some of the best cream eye shadows. This color actually reminds me a lot of the Shimmering Topaz color from the Ulta line, but they are very different in consistency to the touch. However, it does seem to spread easily with good color payoff. I have still been using the Ulta shadow more, mostly due to the consistency differences, but this one will not be wasted.

Ulta Butter Balm in Luna

• This was first found by the kiddo in August as a sample in a store, but they were unfortunately out of it when we went to purchase. This was our first trip back to Ulta since then, so checked for availability and grabbed it as soon as I saw it. She currently carries it in her school bag every day.

Ulta Twice as Nice Mascara in Jet Black

• I have seen a lot of ads and heard talk lately on the internet about dual-ended mascaras, one sided being for top lashes and the other with a small wand dedicated to the bottom lashes. Ulta had their mascaras on sale, so I thought I would give it a try in a relatively inexpensive way.

NYX Butter Gloss in

• Raspberry Tart
• Madeline
• Creme Brulee
• Praline
• Angel's Food Cake
• Devil's Food Cake
• Red Velvet
• Butter Glosses are very well reviewed among beauty bloggers. They are many people's favorite lip glosses. We had picked one up before this for the kiddo to try (Tiramisu), and really liked it. They smell like sugar cookies, and can be worn as fairly sheer or built up to opaque. I had been looking for the darker colors, which happened to be the newer colors and aren't available pretty much anywhere besides Ulta around here. So as soon as we found the huge NYX display with all of the additional colors, we snatched them up as fast as we could.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in

• Sugar Plum
• Fig Jam
  • These also have a huge following online, so I knew I had to try them. When Ulta finally had a significant sale on for Revlon, I grabbed some, and was able to limit myself to only 2 colors. I am actually glad I did. They have a very different feel than I expected. With how glossy and sheer they are, and how everyone calls them so buttery, I expected them to feel much slippery-er on my lips. But they felt like a standard lipstick, and a non-moisturizing one at that, although the texture changes the more times I wear it. Sugar Plum looks really good on the kiddo, so she will be keeping that one, and Fig Jam will be mine.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme in

• Cannes
• Monte Carlo
• Addis Ababa
• Prague
• Abu Dhabi
• London
• Amsterdam
  • This also gets very good reviews on the internet, and I had tried it before in San Paulo. I like that one as well, and like the Butter Glosses, most of the colors I prefer are in the newer line that aren't carried in other stores. Yet even at Ulta, these were picked through pretty well, and the only color I could find on my wishlist was Cannes. I was able to pick up all the others I was eyeing online (and on sale!). I have found that I do need to wear a lip balm under these to prevent my lips from completely drying out. They still wear pretty well but do come off easier than if it was applied directly to the lips. I have also applied balm/gloss over these, which 1) defeats the purpose of being matte, and 2) also makes them come off easier. There are differences in application between colors, with some applying patchy while others are completely covering and smooth in a single coat.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Nail Enamel in Mrs. Mia Wallace (Limited Edition)

• I have been a fan of Pulp Fiction since it was first released. I saw it in theaters when it was first released, and still watch it routinely when it comes on TV. I first saw this nail polish when I saw a display of the full Pulp Fiction Limited Edition line put out by Urban Decay and loved it. I had read that this was on sale, but it wasn't anywhere I looked. But Ulta was also the only store that I was still able to find it, so I decided to grab it while I still could. I love me a good metallic blood red nail, and this is just gorgeous. And since I am a packaging nut, I got sucked in even more. The matte black box with the movie logo and raised glossy “UD” were eye-catching. But the skull on top pushed me over.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Eye Shadow Palette (Limited Edition)

• Righteous
• Tyranny
• Vengeance
• Furious
• Anger
• Dual Ended Brush
  • I know Urban Decay eyeshadows by reputation and by some minimal use of other people's and experimentation at stores. I had also seen this palette when I first saw the Pulp Fiction display and liked what I saw. But I didn't think it was worth $34 for 5 neutral colors, even if they were Urban Decay. I haven't picked up any of their Naked palettes for the same reason. So when I saw it on sale for more than half off at only $16, I briefly debated and then decided to get it.

Smashbox Lashes + Lips

• Be Legendary Lip Gloss in Pink Lady
• Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black
  • I thought $10 for this set was a really good deal. I almost picked it up when I was at Ulta last week, but didn't see it until after I had checked out. The lip gloss is a light pink, a little lighter than I normally like, but it is sheer enough that it is wearable.

Philosophy Beauty Break Set

• Amazing Grace Shampoo/Bath/Shower Gel
• Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion
• Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes
• The Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash
• Miracle Worker Miraculous Anti-Aging Moisturizer
  • Every so often, Ulta offers Beauty Breaks. They are offered every Wednesday from 10am-2pm with online orders. This time, the Philosophy sample set was the free gift for a minimum purchase of $50 during this time. So far, I've tried the moisturizer and exfoliating facial wash with poor results. See my October Favorites or September/October Empties posts for more information.

Fright Night Claw Polish in Where My Witches At?

• Walking past the display, this brand of VERY bright nail polishes caught our attention. And since they were a reasonable price I figured we could get one. The kiddo found this one hiding in the middle of the bunch, and this bright green will be hard to miss.

Ulta Strengthening Nail Polish Remover

• This is the main reason we made a specific Ulta run. I had run out of nail polish remover, and needed a replacement bottle.

Freeman Feeling Beautiful Facial Masks

• Peel-Off Mask in Cucumber
• Anti-Stress Mask in Dead Sea Minerals
  • The kiddo and I recently tried out some masks I had received in Birchbox. I had forgotten how much I liked them, but remembered that, when I was younger, I preferred peel-off ones. I was able to find these on sale, so grabbed the peel-off and figured an anti-stress one would not go to waste.

Mally Lip Fence Lip Pencil

• I have never used lip liners on a regular basis, so I figured that if I was only going to have one, clear was the way to go. I had a clear one, but when I opened it one day, the clear stick was gone from the mechanical pencil part. I looked for a replacement on the drugstore side, but the only one I could find was a standard pencil and not mechanical, which I prefer. I looked around the higher end products and found this one for a reasonable price.

Samples

• Eva NYC Soften Up Conditioner (packet)
• StriVectin-SD Volumizing Hand Treatment (packet)
• Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream (packet + coupon)
• Three little packets as samples with my order. They'll get added to my pile of sample packets to try when I get the chance.
• I now have 2 coupons for Hada Labo Tokyo products. I am really surprised at how reasonably priced these products are. Since the coupons were at least $3, I expected very high prices. However, at Ulta, the most expensive item was listed, when full price, is listed at $25.

Target Beauty Box Fall 2014

I had been debating whether to pick up the Fall 2014 Target Beauty Box for a while. I wasn't hugely interested in several of the products, and knew that I just wouldn't use others. However, after reading a review/unboxing of the box and learning a bit more about the BB Cream (see below), I decided that it was most definitely worth the $7, especially with the free shipping being offered by Target.

First off, this box comes with a card describing all included products. After receiving some beauty boxes without this now, I realize just how helpful this is and how much I really depend on it when I'm opening the box. As an added bonus, there's a $3 coupon off $15 for beauty purchases at Target attached to the bottom!  It also came with a 20% off coupon to Dermstore.com.

Laneige Cushion BB Cream (sample) – I recently read good things about cushion foundations and was interested in trying them, but there are very few options available locally and they are rather expensive with few shades available. Samples were provided of 3 shades which are all available at Target, so I'll be able to really figure out if it works and which color to pick before I spend more than I normally would for a drugstore foundation.

Fekkai Blowout Dry Shampoo (travel size) – I haven't tried this yet, but added it to the pile of products to try. I don't use dry shampoo often, but will give it a shot when I do.

L'Oreal Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hairspray (travel size) – I've heard good things about this, but I don't use hairspray. This one got passed to my mom, who will definitely get use out of it and will hopefully report back.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (full size) – I use cream shadow every day, at least as a base for other eye shadow. I look forward to trying this.

L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Extraordinaire in Ruby Opera (full size) – Not a fan so far of this. It goes on patchy and was difficult to apply in general. The scent reminds me of fruit punch that is heavy in peach, but it's subtle to the point of thinking “am I really smelling that or am I imagining it?” The color itself isn't bad, but it's not my favorite either. It's rather dark and looks red at first, but when you put it on you realize that it's a dark hot pink with quite a bit of shimmer.

Overall, I think this box gave a good variety of products for a very good price. Some of the products I know I won't use, but for $7 it was worth the products that I will use, especially since 2 of them are full size.  Unfortunately, this box is no longer available, but all of the products can be picked up at Target.

Did you pick up this Fall's Target Beauty Box? What did you think of it?

In Honor of Veteran's Day

In my spare time, I consider myself a bit of a history buff, particularly the American Civil War and, secondarily, World War II. One of my favorite ways to indulge is by watching movies related to the events of these conflicts. So, in honor of Veteran’s Day, here is a list (in no particular order) of my favorite movies based on Wars and Conflicts.

Glory – American Civil War

• This is one of my all-time favorite movies. It's where I was first introduced to Denzel, reestablished my infatuation with Matthew Broderick, and deepened my love for all things Civil War. I remember grossing all my friends out at my birthday party with one particularly bloody battle scene from the beginning of this movie. They saw one flying head and refused to watch any more. :)

Gone with the Wind – American Civil War

• What more can be said about Gone with the Wind that hasn't been said before? This is one of the classics that I made sure to watch with the kiddo. Whether it's the original or the spoofs, I will watch it anytime I can. I'm still upset I missed my chance to see it on the big screen earlier this year.

Dr. Zhivago – WWI and Russian Civil War

• I've only seen this a handful of times, but it has stayed with me all these years. Omar Sharif and Julie Christie perfectly embodied their characters, and the image of the ice palace is burned into my soul.

Schindler’s List – WWII

• Schindler’s List started a whole line of self-study for me that continues to this day. I have the book waiting for me to read, and have already read the author's memoir about his writing of the book. Steven Spielberg masterfully ushered this tale from history to page to screen and introduced us to one of the best villainous actors of our age. And my last two words: Red Coat.

The Hunt for Red October – Cold War

• Sean Connery. Alec Baldwin. Tim Curry. That was almost too much for my teenage brain to handle. Then add to that the defection angle, and my Russophile self was in love.

MASH – Korea

• I love this in either the TV or movie form. While I prefer the show, the movie does have a certain appeal.

Persepolis – Iran/Iraq War

• I had heard good things about this film, so I made sure to watch this when I had the chance. I was only able to see this once, but it has stuck with me ever since. It gives a different perspective on the experience of women in the Muslim world from what we commonly hear. I love that the movie, based on a graphic memoir (like a graphic novel but a memoir), is animated but keeps the artist's style. I will be reading the book, but for now, the movie has made a lasting impression that I refer to on a routine basis.

A couple notes: This list is based only off of movies I have seen, and is a list of personal preferences. I know that there are other great movies out there, but some may not be personal favorites of mine (e.g. Apocalypse Now and Platoon). Other great movies can’t be included in the list because I haven’t actually seen them (i.e. Casablanca). Finally, I am really, REALLY picky when I say something is a favorite. With rare exceptions, these are movies that I will stop and watch any time I see them on, so matter what else I had been planning on watching. In fact, this list started off a lot longer!

Empties September and October 2014

Earlier this year, I sorted through my skincare products to better organize them and realized just how many I had, so I thought that I better start using them up! I think I made a pretty good dent in September and October. Have you tried any of these? What did you think?

Makeup

• Avon Ultra Glazewear Lip Gloss in Intense Plum – Sample I purchased from Avon when trying to figure out colors of a new product. This was 1 of the 2 I liked in the line (the other was Creamy Nude), while the kiddo got the others. Purchase: Probably not. There are just too many other lip products out there to try. 
• Benefit They're Real mascara – Deluxe sample from Birchbox that I bought in order to qualify for free shipping. This was OK, but definitely not my favorite mascara. Fairly difficult to remove. Purchase (full size): No.
• L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream – Rippy packet sample from magazine. This product acts like primer, which was not easy to tell from the descriptions. This did work surprisingly well at smoothing out any imperfections and diminishing the appearance of pores. Purchase: Possibly.
• Mox Botanicals Lip Butter in Pomegranate & Fig – Sample from Birchbox. This was a nice lip product and worked fairly well for an overnight balm, but it’s not worth the price. Purchase: No.
• MUA Clear Lip Liner – I purchased this full size to use with darker lip colors. I wanted a universal lip liner because it would be my only one for at least a little while. I was really impressed with this, especially for the price. My only gripe with it is that I went to use it one day and the pencil portion was no longer present in the mechanical/retractable part! I did buy a more expensive replacement for this, but actually prefer this one. Repurchase: Yes.

Face Care

• Caudalie Polyphenol [C15] Anti-Wrinkle Defense Serum – Sample from Birchbox. Nothing remarkable about this product. I couldn’t tell any major difference when using this. Purchase: No
• Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correcting – Sample from Birchbox. I couldn’t see any noticeable differences while using this product. Purchase: No.
• Derma E Hydrating Night Creme – Sample from Birchbox. Nice fruity smell. Hydrating but not overly thick. Purchase: Possibly.
• Frownies Rose Water Hydrator Spray – Sample from Birchbox. I used this once with the gel patches that it came with, then just used it as a facial spray. I didn’t like it as a face spray. It is overly scented (I’m not a huge fan of rose-scented things) and I think it made me break out. Purchase: No.
• Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate – Sample from Birchbox. At first this was OK, and I even seemed to notice a difference when I didn’t use it. Over time, I started to notice it develop a solvent-like odor. Purchase: No.
• Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiaging & Antiwrinkle Face Serum – Rippy packet sample from Sephora. This was fine, but I’m not willing to spend the money on it. Purchase: No.
• L'Oreal Paris Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Golden Balm – Rippy packet from magazine. Very perfume-y. Purchase: No.
• Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover – Full size. I purchased this when my Mary Kay product was packed away during a move. This worked almost as well without the greasy residue. Repurchase: Yes.
• Nugg Face Mask in Revitalizing (flaxseed and peppermint oil) – Sample from Birchbox. This was a fun little mask. It says that it is a single-use product, but there is enough for at least 2 masks, which makes the packaging inconvenient. Purchase: Probably not.
• Philosophy Miracle Worker Miraculous Anti-Aging Moisturizer – Deluxe sample from Ulta. Smells like petroleum chemicals or solvents. Purchase: No
• Sea Breeze Naturals Purifying Clay Cleanser – Rippy packet sample. Nice minty smell, thick clay cleanser. Very nice, refreshing, non-irritating, gentle. Purchase: Yes.
• Skin & Co Sicilian Light Serum Day Brightening Serum – Sample from Birchbox. Nothing bad happened while using this, and skin did look pretty good.  It did have a somewhat odd smell.  Purchase: No.
• Ulta brand Enriching Cleansing Cloths – Full Size. Needed new face wipes, and there were freebies on the line if I purchased Ulta brand products, so I tried these. They smelled somewhat harsh, very much like alcohol. The cloth itself was rough as well. Repurchase: No.
• Wei Beauty Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask – Sample from Birchbox. Used by the kiddo. Single use product but actually enough present for more than one mask, which made the packaging inconvenient. Purchase: No.

Skincare

• Hada Labo Skin Plumping Gel Cream – 2 rippy packet samples, one from Sephora, one from Ulta. Mild scent, gentle but rich formula. I like the gel texture, which makes this more unique. Purchase: Yes.
• Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula – Rippy Packet. I have lots of these rippy packet samples that I think the hubby got as race swag over the years. This is nice and smells like chocolate. It is fairly thick, so I need to be somewhat careful when I use it. Purchase: Maybe.
• Soak Handmaid Hand Cream in Yuzu – Rippy packet from Birchbox. This was a really nice hand cream and had a pleasant scent. When I went to look up more details for this post, I found that they sell an unscented version, and it is not crazy expensive. That is two huge pluses right there. Purchase: Yes.
• Soap & Glory Hand Food Hydrating Hand Cream – Travel/small size received as part of a gift box. Love the scent, love the formula. I have been looking at other Soap and Glory products now that I know where to get them. Purchase/Repurchase: Yes.
• Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream – Sample from Birchbox. Very much like Aquaphor with a slightly medicinal scent. Purchase: No.

Fragrance

• Bath and Body Works A Thousand Wishes (fragrance) – Sample pad. The sample was enough to want me to get a larger size, but the sample pad itself was lousy for application. Purchase: Yes.
• English Laundry (fragrance) – Sample from Birchbox. I like this fragrance well enough, but it doesn’t last a long time on me. I received another sample from Birchbox with an order, and that is enough for me right now. Maybe a purse size might be in my future. Purchase: Maybe.
• Versace Bright Crystal (fragrance) – Samples, one from Ulta, one from Sephora. Needed both to get a single application. No lasting power. This one just isn’t for me. Purchase: No.
• Viva la Juicy Gold Couture (fragrance) – Sample, just not sure where I received it. I have liked most of the Juicy fragrances, and this was no exception. This one does not have quite the staying power on me as the others do, but I like it while it lasts. Purchase: Yes (already have).

Toiletries

• Degree Ultraclear Pure Clean Invisible Solid Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant – Full Size. This is my Holy Grail (HG) deodorant. When you find one that works, you stick with it, right? Repurchase: Yes (already have).

Hair Care

• Nexxus Salon Hair Care Color Assure Sulfate-Free System – Sample from Birchbox. The products were very hard to get out of packaging, particularly the shampoo. It also seems like the provided portions were off, like too much Primer was provided considering the amount of shampoo and conditioner. I realize the primer is there to protect colored hair from the rigors of shampooing, but it did not seem to rinse out completely with the shampoo either. Why would anyone want to feel like a greaseball AFTER they shampoo? I wound up shampooing twice, once with the provided product and once with my own. Purchase: No.
• Nexxus Salon Hair Care Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir – Sample from Birchbox. This was OK. I used it like a leave-in conditioner. I often combine this with Argan oil, which is one of their recommendations. I don’t find this a necessary item for my hair. Purchase: No.

Other

• Bath and Body Works Pocketbac in Pink Chiffon – Full Size. I have been going through a lot of hand sanitizer lately, and finally used up this one. This is one of my favorite scents from BBW. It should be noted that scent of the sanitizer seems to last longer than any other product. Repurchase: Yes.
• Sally Hansen Extra Strength Extra Fast Polish Remover – Full Size. This worked perfectly fine. I use whichever nail polish remover I can find, as long as it is true Acetone remover and not Acetone-Free. Repurchase: Yes.

I love being able to throw something out because it is empty. I try really hard to finish off my beauty products like I do other things in my life (you should see me with pens ), but this time there were some things I just had to stop using.

Give-Ups

• Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash – Deluxe sample from Ulta. Had to stop using this product because it was aggravating my skin. I keep breaking out every time I used it. Purchase: No.
• Mereadesso All-In-One Moisturizer – Sample from Birchbox. I could not finish because it started causing an allergic-like reaction after applying, although the reaction did not happen immediately on first use. Even when I restricted it to just use on specific parts of the face or hands, it caused a burning sensation. Purchase: No.
• Crest Pro-Health Sensitive + Enamel Shield toothpaste – Full size. I was told by the dentist to stop using this immediately. This was found to have small plastic beads in it which had to be dug out from under the gum line. What was funny was that the only reason I purchased this toothpaste was because I had received a coupon for it from the dentist! Repurchase: No.

Favorites and Disappointments October 2014 – Beauty and More

It's hard to believe it's already the end of October! Here's a summary of some of my favorite products, and also a few I didn't like this month.

Favorites first...

Lips: Matte Lips - NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (particularly in the shade Cannes), Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Always Red

I love the fact that matte lips are so popular right now! Thanks to other beauty bloggers and YouTube, I've discovered NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream and Sephora Cream Lip Stain. The NYX product has a nice texture and smells divine, but can be rather drying so I make sure to put a balm on under them. I found this is actually a great use for the Benefit Benebalm/Posiebalm because they do tend to be somewhat thinner than others that I own. Some colors go on more streaky than others, while some go on almost perfectly in one swipe. Cannes is a great color that is muted enough to wear at anytime, to work or on weekends. They wear well, but do need to be reapplied after eating.

The Sephora Cream Lip Stain, on the other hand, truly is the classic red like everyone says. This also goes on smoothly and for such a bright color, really easily. I get no feathering with this one, irregardless of whether I wear a clear lip liner. After a few short minutes, this dries to feel like there is nothing on your lips, but the color stays a very long time. It stays fairly well through eating, but I did wind up reapplying. This one didn't dry out my lips at all, and I didn't need to use a balm under it.

Eyes: Ulta Color Coat Cream EyeShadow in Shimmering Topaz

A lot of times, if I want to try something new that I don't know how I'll like the format, I'll try the Ulta version when they are having one of their major sales. That's what I did here, and I'm really glad I did. From what I can tell, this color is a dupe for Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded. Now, I don't know if it is just my pots, but my Ulta one is incredibly creamy whereas the Barely Branded is kind of thick and much drier to the point where I definitely prefer the Ulta one. I've already made a significant dent in my pot, and wear it almost every day as a base for most shadow looks.

Face: Benefit Majorette

Please read my review on this product to see just how much I love it!

Fragrance: Killer Queen Eau de Parfum by Katy Perry

The kiddo found this one, and I have to force myself not to wear it every day. It almost smells a little like an “old lady” perfume because it has a bit of a powdery undertone to it, even though that's not in the description at all. Check out the description of the scent breakdown here, then go check it out in the stores.

Skincare: Freeman Beautiful Cucumber Peel-off Face Mask

I needed a new mask, and always enjoyed peel-off ones. This one is cooling and relaxing, and I've been enjoying it at least twice a week.

Hair: Hard Candy Brows Now in Light/Medium

You may be asking, why is this here? Well, eyebrows are hair, right? This is a fiber gel that comes on a spoolie wand that looks like a mascara wand on one end. On the other side there is a retractable highlighter stick. I picked this up because the gel seems to be similar to Benefit's Gimme Brow but at a much lower cost. Considering this would be my first brow product EVER, I didn't want to shell out $30 for Benefit's product right away when I didn't know how I would like it. After using this, I can see why people like this type of product. I now notice when I don't do my eyebrows, even though there isn't a huge difference. I'll keep at it for a while, but most likely stay with the lower cost products.

Book: Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

The kiddo and I have read all of the Percy Jackson books, and now the Heroes of Olympic series as well. This is the fifth and last in that series, and it was a good one. It was a good way to finish off the series while still leaving room to continue the story in the future.

Movie: N/A

For the first time I a long time, I didn't see any new movies this month. I'll make sure to change that for November!

TV: Red Band Society; TGIT

This TV season has been off to a great start, and there are a few shows I absolutely will not miss. Red Band Society, while getting beat up in the ratings and reviews and not likely to get renewed, completely sucked me in. Three generations gather to watch it on Wednesdays, and it's a sure way to make the kiddo hurry after swim practice.

TGIT consists of the Shonda Rhimes shows on ABC on Thursday nights: Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away With Murder. I've watched all of them now from the beginning, and, do I dare say, each one is better than the last.

On to the disappointments... Yes to Blueberries Brightening Facial Towlettes (caused an allergic reaction), Philosophy products (face cream smelled odd, exfoliator my be causing breakouts), Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Nail Enamel in Mrs. Mia Wallace (hard to apply, chips quickly)

Shelfari

Shelfari is a site run by Amazon that, from what I can tell, is similar to Goodreads. The kiddo had to sign up on Shelfari for school in 6^th grade, so the hubby and I joined also. This social media site lets you log in books you have read, books you are reading, or those you want to read. You can also write reviews, update information about the books, and keep track of your copies. There are various social groups you can join, and you can follow people. The site provides lists of books and can also provide recommendations based on your reading history.

Now, over the years (25 years to be exact), I kept track of every book I have read in a journal. At one point, I also started tracking the dates when I finished the books. In my “Book of Books”, I also had everything color coded as to whether the book was a graphic novel, if I had re-read it, or listened to it as an audiobook. Can you tell I'm a little neurotic about my books?!?

This was actually really great when I finally joined Shelfari. After inputting my most recent books with mini reviews of 10 words or less, I went back and put in my entire reading history. For those of us who are interested, it gives all kinds of stats like how many books you've read in which categories and how many pages that is. At this point, I have a little over 900 books on my list totaling almost 300,000 pages. :) I do also have a partial “to read” list on the site, but haven't yet imported my full list.

Interested? Check out my bookshelf on the side of the page. You can link to my full Shelfari profile from there. Feel free to follow me!

My complaints? My biggest gripe is that they don't have a mobile app. I also found that you can't sort your bookshelf by completed date, just by entered date, which for me isn't the same. Other than that, it's a nice little site for the general user.