A little while ago, I won a giveaway hosted by Rebekah and I soon after received my prize - this cute print! 

I ordered a frame for it, which as you can see, arrived in the wrong size. Tired of waiting, I decided to display it in its mis-matched frame until I can locate one of the correct size!

I don't have a craft room. I have more of a craft space -a craft corner, if you will. I love that this picture helps create and give definition to that space.

Thanks, Rebekah!

Review - The Hunger Games

I work at a University that is currently on Spring Break. Of course I don't get the week off, but it's been awfully slow around here. That is why I started The Hunger Games on Tuesday and am already almost done with the third book (Thursday).

I'm probably going to get some arguments here, but I don't really get what all the fuss is about. I know it's supposed to be a Young Adult book, which is perhaps what makes it different, but I can't help feeling like the dystopian society thing has been done already, and done better. These books, to me, are reminiscent of 1984 or Fahrenheit 451, but not as well written and infused with elements of Twilight. In fact, the main character, who is compared to fire throughout the books, is assigned to squad 451 in the final battle. I was also distracted by the blatant and shameless attempts of the author to conjure up Team Jacob vs. Team Edward hype with Peeta and Gale, especially since the book was published in 2008.

That said, I obviously enjoyed them, as I read them all in three days. I also think they will make EXCELLENT movies.

**Edit: Oh, and one more thing. I just finished Book 3 and I really, really like the ending. Which in my book makes up for just about anything else.

make it better

I had the best weekend with all my best friends. We hadn't all been together in years. Jenn flew in from Boston and Katie from San Francisco and Danielle from Colorado and the rest of us drove. We stayed in one hotel room, the seven of us, and wore matching shirts and drank too much and got sunburns and stayed up all night.

My friends are home to me, and I hadn't been home in a very long time; almost convinced myself I was fine without them.It's hard to know I'll never belong anywhere like I belong with them, since that era is gone. Since once a year or so is all I can hope for now, and even that's a stretch.

Since they left, I feel this enormous sense of loss.  This part is harder to admit, but I also find myself filled with resentment. Resentment that my boyfriend still lives in the same town as all his best friends. Resentment that I'm in this town because of him, working full time at a boring job while he doesn't work at all because he's in grad school. Resentment that I don't feel like I fit in with them and he doesn't seem to care.

I can finally find the words but I still can't find the words to make it better.

Recommendations

I finally finished Book 5 of the Game of Thrones series, I've booted up my Nook, and I need some book recommendations....silly, heavy, inspirational, I love to read all sorts...GO!

Home Mani

Yesterday I gave myself my first french manicure. I originally just planned to paint my nails pink, but the pink ended up being way too pale to cover up the white part of my nail, and it looked odd. I decided to try the tape method, and it actually worked! It didn't turn out perfectly, but I'm pretty proud for my first try. It might have worked better with another type of tape, but all I had was scotch tape!

1. You can see these nails are just painted pink, and shade is too odd by itself. I'd already put three coats on at this point!
2. After waiting for the paint to dry COMPLETELY, I put scotch tape over the part of each nail that I DIDN'T want to paint and tried to make the line as straight as possible. I started from the middle and smoothed out the tape to either side so there wouldn't be bubbles.
3. It was easier for me to file my nails, especially my thumb nail, straight across instead of rounded. That way, I could just put the tape straight across and not worry about rounding that.
Another tip: Taking the tape off too early is a bad idea because the nail polish will run, BUT taking it off too late is ALSO a bad idea because the paint hardens together with the paint on the tape. It will flake when you take the tape off if you've waited too long.
4. Since there were more layers of paint at the tip, it was important to put several layers of top coat over everything to smooth it out. This is what it looked like before it dried.
5. Ta-Da! Not perfect, but I'll take it!

Do you have any tips for home french manis??

Help!

Help! I'm channeling the 90s and I can't stop. Actually, more like channeling my childhood. I grew up right on the beach and have since moved away, so whenever I think about the beach, I'm thrown back into being a teenager. I'm all Volcom and neon colors and jean shorts and seashells right now. Reminds me of hanging out at PacSun at the mall and my first pair of platform shoes.

Help! I'm channeling the 90s by rosemarks1 featuring a crop tee

South Beach Essentials

I'm way too excited about my friend Julie's bachelorette party in SOUTH BEACH this coming weekend. Having grown up in Florida, I already know the South Beach Essentials I will be bringing on this trip.

1. I found this shoe at Payless that looks exactly like the Modcloth shoe (pictured next to it) that I've been coveting, plus it's cheaper and not sold out in my size.
2. Glitter is a must on South Beach, hence this dress I ordered on sale from Urban Outfitters. It should be coming in any day now.
3. A blender for the hotel makes drinking SO much cheaper in Miami.
4 & 5. Running clothes and sneakers for early morning runs on the beach. Gotta work off all those empty calories I'll be consuming on vacation.
6. Sephora LASH STASH kit to rock smoky eyes all weekend. Don't forget the waterproof mascara.
7. Wal Mart has $6 mix and match swimsuit separates that actually don't look like crap. Bathing suits are expensive...but these aren't!
8. I love these cropped sweaters from Kohls as bathing suit cover-ups, especially the one all the way to the right.

I will now spend the rest of the day making beachy mood-boards....