New Mini Haul - Walgreens

Sorry for the blurry photo.

Hello Beauty Sleuthers!

I haven't posted about my makeup journey in a long time. So, I thought I'd tell you about a couple of 5-pan shadow palettes that I picked up yesterday at Walgreens.

The palettes are from Wet n Wild. They are called Haute Hollywood and A Karat in the World. These are from a new display that popped up at my local Walgreens. This is different than the display for the halloween makeup that is up right now. However, this display is also called the New Halloween 2014 Halloween Wet n Wild Collection. No confusion there, eh? lol This collection is exclusive to Walgreens and stores that are also owned by Walgreens. So, if you want to check these out, check your local Walgreens. Not all Walgreens will get this display but go ahead and check it out if you want them.

Be warned, there aren't that many eyeshadows in the display so check early and often so you make sure you can pick up these beauties. FYI, if you already have The Naked Truth palette which is in the regular collection, The Haute Hollywood palette is the same thing just renamed for Halloween.

Today I am wearing the A Karat in the World palette and I just love it. I have put little hearts showing the shadows I used today. It is a definite winner in my book. I am totally a neutrals kind of gal.

BOOK REVIEW - Embellished to Death by Christina Freeburn

Embellished to Death (Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery #3)

by Christina Freeburn (Goodreads Author)

Paperback, 266 pages

Published September 23rd 2014 by Henery Press

Goodreads synopsis - When Faith Hunter agrees to help PI Bob Roget find an identity thief at a local scrapbook retreat, her friendly croppers’ weekend quickly morphs into a dangerous one. As croppers share their own memories, a killer collects them for her new identity, and doesn’t appreciate Faith in the picture.

Faith struggles to balance her professional, detecting and personal lives as threats and secrets keep her off-balance. Things turn deadly when a woman is killed and Faith is blackmailed. Truth and lies collide when Faith discovers croppers aren’t the only ones embellishing, and the results might end her life.

I really enjoyed this book. It did take me a minute to get into it because I had not read the first two books in the Faith Hunter series. But if you want to read this book first, the author does a good job at making sure you know who everyone is and giving enough back story to keep you informed.

The murder happens right at the beginning which is good because I have had books where I wonder "when is the death going to happen" and you lose half the story by busy writing up to the death. I did think the author did not spend a whole heck of a lot of time focusing on the person who actually died. I know she probably did that purposely since a lot of the mystery could have been solved if the focus was more on that woman than all the other shenanigans happening. Although, I am not completely sure why the lady from Cropportunity abandoned her car at the beginning of the story (which is what drew Faith into the mystery to start with). Everything thing else in the story all tied up nicely which is always a plus.

I am not sure if the whole "Adam" issue was brought up in previous books but I thought that section where Faith confronted Steve about betraying her could have happened earlier. Since it was so close to the end, I am hoping there is a book four that will put to bed this issue between the two.

Other than those niggles I completely enjoyed this novel and the characters. I am sad that I did not get to see the Faith Scrapbooking Tips since they were not included in the ARC copy but I'll bet they were truly interesting.

4 Stars!

I received this book as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from Net Galley in return for an honest review and I thank Net Galley, Henery Press and the author for allowing me to read this title.

BOOK REVIEW: Double Strike by Gretchen Archer

Double Strike (Davis Way #3)

by Gretchen Archer (Goodreads Author)

Trade Paperback, First, 260 pages

Expected publication: October 21st 2014 by Henery Press

Goodreads synopsis: Bellissimo Resort and Casino Super Spy Davis Way knows three things: Cooking isn't a prerequisite for a happy marriage, don't trust men who look like David Hasselhoff, and money doesn't grow on Christmas trees. None of which help when a storm hits the Gulf a week before the most anticipated event in Bellissimo history: the Strike It Rich Sweepstakes. Securing the guests, staff, and property might take a stray bullet. Or two.

Bellissimo Resort and Casino Super Spy Davis Way has three problems: She's desperate to change her marital status, she has a new boss who speaks in hashtags, and Bianca Sanders has confiscated her clothes. All of which bring on a headache hot enough to spark a fire. Solving her problems means stealing a car. From a dingbat lawyer.

Bellissimo Resort and Casino Super Spy Davis Way has three goals: Keep the Sanders family out of prison, regain her footing in her relationship, and find the genius who wrote the software for futureGaming. One of which, the manhunt one, is iffy. Because when Alabama hides someone, they hide them good.

DOUBLE STRIKE. A VIP invitation to an extraordinary high-stakes gaming event, as thieves, feds, dance instructors, shady bankers, kidnappers, and gold waiters go all in. #Don'tMissIt

That has to be the longest synopsis in history. Wow. #LargeSynopsisROCKS!! You might notice my hashtag there. This book is full of them. One of the characters was like Daffy Duck, the Tasmanian Devil and Speedy Gonzales all rolled up into one and on a helium high She was constantly using hashtags not only in all her social media posts but in her real life convos as well. Who can think of so many hashtags that would apply so quickly. Not me, that's for sure. 

The hashtags were to announce this Casino game that was the main focus of the entire book. Davis Way is one of a few casino spies who go around trying to keep customers from putting one over on the casino. She, Fantasy, No Hair and a few others make up her team. The owners of the Casino send her in to infiltrate this game and try to see what is what. Somehow they have a new Casino floor manager who is keeping everyone out of fray of his game. And Davis is trying her best through hair color changes and clothing changes to get in anyway.

This book just cracks me up. There are so many times when Davis comes into harms way. She nearly fries her hair off once due to a wayward spark from the roaring fireplace lights her newly spray colored hair. She jumps into a nearby pool that is located inside the building. I guess all casinos have this? But to make matters worse, Davis was dressed up as Bianca, who is the wife of the owner of the casino. Have I mentioned that Davis and Bianca look exactly alike except for the color of their hair. And Bianca takes total advantage of this sending Davis in to deal with her wayward son who shows up unexpectedly at the casino, not to mention refurnishing her entire apartment which was ruined at the beginning of the book.... twice. Bianca gets on my last nerve. I don't think the woman deals with anything in her life. She just sits in obscurity in her big casino apartment twidding her thumbs and thinking of things that Davis needs/has to do for her.

What I have related here is only the chocolate sprinkles on the top of a tasty, wonderfully flavorful book that everyone needs to check out....PRONTO! 

Definitely deserves the 5 star rating I gave it. Amazing.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from NetGalley in return for an honest review. I thank the publisher, Henery Press, NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read this title.

BOOK REVIEW: E-Squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments

E-Squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality

by Pam Grout

Paperback, 163 pages

Published January 28th 2013 by Hay House Insights

Goodreads synopsis: Don’t face reality. Create reality!  E-Squared could best be described as a lab manual with simple experiments to prove once and for all that reality is malleable, that consciousness trumps matter, and that you shape your life with your mind. Rather than take it on faith, you are invited to conduct nine 48-hour experiments to prove there really is a positive, loving, totally hip force in the universe. Yes, you read that right. It says prove. 

      The experiments, each of which can be conducted with absolutely no money and very little time expenditure, demonstrate that spiritual principles are as dependable as gravity, as consistent as Newton’s laws of motion. For years, you’ve been hoping and praying that spiritual principles are true. Now, you can know. 

      E-Squared proves the following: 

1.       There is an invisible energy force or field of infinite possibilities.

2.       You impact the field and draw from it according to your beliefs and expectations. 

3.       You, too, are a field of energy. 

4.       Whatever you focus on expands.  

5.       Your connection to the field provides accurate and unlimited guidance.

6.       Your thoughts and consciousness impact matter. 

7.       Your thoughts and consciousness provide the scaffolding for your physical body.

8.       You are connected to everything and everyone else in the universe.

9.       The universe is limitless, abundant, and strangely accommodating.

I read 60% of this book last year and I do remember being more negatively mind set and had a harder time manifesting due to my own unbelief. I tried the find the specific color car experiment (I chose orange) and I did not see one. I think my mind was on expecting to "not" see an orange car and so I did not.

I read the latter 40% of this at the same time I read E-Cubed. And I had much more success in my manifesting abilities during this time. This is a great book that everyone needs to embrace. And if you were like me in the beginning, you need it even more. Give yourself time to manifest. Don't try going  on to the next experiment until the first one is accomplished. You will only overwhelm yourself.

This is a fabulous book and you need to read it no matter who you are.

5 Stars!

BOOK REVIEW: E-Cubed: Nine More Energy Experiments by Pam Grout

E-Cubed: Nine More Energy Experiments That Prove Manifesting Magic and Miracles Is Your Full-Time Gig

by Pam Grout

Paperback, 248 pages

Published September 16th 2014 by Hay House, Inc

Goodreads synopsis:  E-Squared , the international hit sensation described by one reader as “The Secret on crack,” provided the training wheels, the baby steps, to “really getting it” that thoughts create reality.

     In E-Cubed (don’t worry—there will never be E to the 10th Power), Pam Grout takes you higher and deeper into the quantum field, where you’ll prove that blessings and miracles are natural and that joy is only a thought away.

     With nine new experiments and more tips on how to keep the gates of the world’s largesse and abundance wide open, this book is chock-full of incontrovertible evidence that the universe is just waiting for us to catch up, just waiting for us to begin using the energy that has always been available for our enjoyment and well-being

This book is a follow up to her über popular ebook from last year called E-Squared. I have also read that and found it equally awesome as this book was and is.

This book makes you take these experiments seriously. Each one takes a commitment of time.  And I would suggest you at least try one of them because you can't seriously see how amazing this is if you don't put in the time and effort.

One of the first experiments I got results on was to get a message from a butterfly. I think the experiment was to see a certain color of butterfly but I wanted to make it interesting. Less than a day went by and someone posted on my Facebook feed about a large amount of butterflies leaving such a huge impact that they looked like a storm in doppler radar. I spoke about this in one of my oracle/tarot readings on YouTube and I then pulled a card that not only had a butterfly on it but it also had a message that related to yet another experiment Pam Grout had posed. I got two for one on that one. And then someone posted a comment to my video saying that my mentioning of the butterflies looking like a storm on doppler radar was a sign to her! How awesome is that? 

This book makes you realize exactly how powerful you can be if you direct your mind in these unique ways and  focus on what you want to manifest instead of complaining about what you don't have.

Become a manifesting superfreak like me. Come on. I know you want to.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to manifest wonderful experiences into their lives.

5 Stars. Yes, it is "that" amazing!

I received this book as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from Net Galley in return for an honest review. I thank Net Galley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this title.