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maegan mariee

Post-Christmas depression. Is there any wonder why people spend more money to make themselves feel better once the twenty-sixth rolls around? All those sales. All those returns. I used to work retail, so I know it's a personal hell for those working. God speed customer service desk workers.

I'm stuck in that feeling of still having my decorations up and waiting for the new year and not wanting to take it down and definitely not wanting to get back into the routine of going back to work. I don't have the luxury of having almost two weeks off like those in school do. I miss those days, don't you? Sure, we have the freedom of being able to make adult decisions, but how free are we really when we're chained to our work place?

Ah well, I'm just blathering on in my post-Christmas sadness. A lot of good things happened this year, along with some bad, but I'd like not to focus on that and rather improve on what I'd like to accomplish. A new year is like a new slate. And while I feel like new year resolutions don't tend to stick very well, I'm going to try really hard to make a go of it this year. So here it is, some easy and some difficult new year resolutions, along with everything that I loved in 2016.

2016 Accomplishments; no matter how small!
♥moved out of hell house and into our stress-free home!
♥read and wrote a ton more. so proud of this one!
♥learned how to really calm myself when anxiety peaks.
♥got married!
♥got a raise at work!
♥started to really dig into my brain.

2017 Resolutions; a task list for the year.
♥whoops, get that car fixed! body work, new rear windshield wiper, rear brakes. yikes.
♥get healthier! work out and meal plans.
♥save more money for an amazing vacation!
♥worry less, plan more.
♥develop and stick to a routine.

And that's really all there is to my year. I want it to be a year where I don't have to worry and stress so much. Unfortunately, in this day and age, that means you need more money. I've always tried to save, as I'm sure we all have, but this is the year I'm really going to put a dent in it! It's a lot of everyday, adult things that I want to get accomplished, but it will make my life, and my husband's life, all the easier. And that is something that we could definitely use after the year we've had. So now I leave you with some images of my magical Christmas room, so I can remember it forever, and with this;










How are you going to make 2017 the best year ever?
♥
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There never seems to be a good moment to sit down and type this out. First I think that there could be someone out there, maybe someone I know that reads my blog, that would get angry over this. Which seems like a silly thing to think about, but I have, and now I'm over it.

I'm over trying to be perfect.
I'm over trying to change myself to make someone elses' life easier.
I'm over trying to please others.

I'm just over it.

I've done a few things in my life that I'm not happy with. There are the little mistakes that everyone has to make in their lives. But then there are the ones that you make when you clearly know that you're doing wrong. And I've done them. I obviously can't deny it.

But there has never seemed to be a good time in my life to change who I am just because someone in my life thinks that I'm doing something wrong. Either I'm not driving to their liking or I'm organizing paperwork wrong. What does it matter to you?

These are just all little things, of course, but those little things can build up. And I hate confrontation.

Basically, the whole point of this post is to tell anyone who might be reading to just be yourself for yourself. Don't try to please anyone in your life because you won't make them truly happy unless you're happy. And if they're not happy when you're in a good place in your life, then they shouldn't be around you.



♥
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Wearing dresses in winter may not be everyone's first choice. I know for a fact that I don't particularly like to wear dresses, even in the summer, so the fact that this post is happening... it's a surprise!

Finding a good sweater dress is a lengthy process for me. It needs to be warm, but not TOO warm. Soft, not scratchy. And it definitely needs to be of a proper length. I have three options here that have made it to my approval list. Which, I must say, is highly coveted. Jokes.



Knit Wit Sweater Dress
Aztec Cardigan | Sold out
Leopard Print PomPom Beanie
Gray Knit Gloves
Revlon Lipstick in Love That Red
Britney Spears Curious In Control


Sunday's Loving Shift Dress
Get Lucky Santa Claus Sweatshirt
Santa Socks
Kitty Face Beanie | Sold out
Revlon Kate Moss in Red 107
Ari by Ariana Grande


School Boy Ribbed Sweater
American Eagle Pink Beanie | Sold out
Zoella Bake My Day Body Mist | Sold out
Nyx Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee
Victoria's Secret Minty Shine | Sold out

I paired all of these dresses with some black tights and whatever boots I was feeling that day. I like the casual appearance that these dresses allow you to have. You can definitely class them up, but being able to curl up and be lazy in something like this has turned me onto the sweater dress loving side.

All sweater dresses are from Tobi! Give their collection a look and sweater up your closet!

♥


*This post was kindly sponsored by tobi.com. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always*
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Hello Lovelies!
Another quick post on what I'm currently digging my nose into. I've reached my reading goal for the year! WHOO! However, I do feel like I cheated a bit as some of those books, like two or three, were short novellas. So they took me like a second to get through. So to make up for it and because I just need to be reading something all the time, I've gone beyond my goal and of course needed to share it here with all of you.


So, first things first. Girl Online: Going Solo. The third book in the series. The last book in the series? If Zoe Sugg was going to end Penny and Noah's story here, it wouldn't be a bad spot. Plus I think it would be a good decision on her part. I'd like to see something else from her in the book front. But, moving on. As usual, I'm not going to dig deep into the plot and give it all away, but I am going to say that while I didn't fall in love with this series, I did really enjoy it and would definitely recommend. It's a very easy going plot with normal, everyday hurdles. If you don't count the super popular blog and dating a rock star thing. I know this book isn't for everyone. I've read and heard a lot of talk about how YouTubers shouldn't be doing stuff like this and it's all for the money and nothing else. I don't personally buy into stuff like that and think that if other people enjoy it, then there's nothing else to it.


Preach over. Moving on, we have Passenger. I'm not too far into this one, but this is also one of those books that has a very selective audience. I really enjoy period books, and this one is set in 18th century Manhattan and current time. Yes, it's a time travel book. Which can go one of two ways; beautifully executed or horribly, horribly wrong. Time travel is a tricky thing to write, since there really is nothing to compare it to. I will be updating this post when I finish because I feel like I'm going to have so much more to say about this.

UPDATE: 1/26/2017: Man. Where do I start? First of all, there is So. Much. Detail. An absurd amount of detail. The detail in this book is filler, I'm 100% convinced about that. Does it paint a picture? Sure. Is all of that detail necessary? No. Absolutely not. I could have gotten through this book just fine with half the amount of detail. I would have preferred a little more conversation between characters over describing the precise stitching in whatever dress she's wearing. Gah.

The story, however, I thought was well written. I got the feeling that I was reading something similar to Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children when the characters were describing the way the time travel worked. It was incredibly similar. I think the author could have done a little bit better of a job diving into her version of time travel, but it was clear and I followed along just fine. So not a disaster by my standards. All in all, I would suggest this book to you if you like this kind of thing: period pieces, time travel, slight romance, adventure, mystery. It has it all, though prepared to be skimming through some of the detail.


And last, but not least, I'm reading Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory. However, I'm reading this on an app. I've mentioned before that checking books out of your local library is probably the best thing that you can do if you're on a budget and want to read something. But what if you don't end up liking it? Well, then you just return it! No money spent, no money lost. Sometimes it takes longer to get the books if you're waiting for a release, but I'd rather wait for something then spend money on what could be a real bore. You could also save your receipt, but sometimes those have return day limits. 



I don't think I need to mention again how in love I am with the Tudor era. Whoops, just did. Sometimes these kinds of novels can go wrong, the facts get twisted for entertainment purposes, and I end up huffing my way through it. Philippa Gregory is famous for doing just that. Don't even get me started on The Other Boleyn Girl. I decided that I would let it go for this particular novel, because I have to admit I'm incredibly curious about how this will go. It's about Catherine of Aragon, Margaret Tudor and Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's sisters. As of right now, it's in the POV of Margaret, and let me tell you she is one selfish, materialistic brat. If she was actually like this in real life, I would cry out of frustration. But since no one can know for sure, I just have to bite the bullet and see where this goes. 

UPDATE 12/16/16: I couldn't get through this. I stopped about mid-way through. I honestly just don't know if it was her writing, the character of Margaret... I just don't know. Long story short, I solidified my reasoning that I don't like Philippa Gregory's writing style.

To check books out of your local library and get them directly onto your phone, check out this app!

♥


*This post is not sponsored, all opinions are my own and recommended at my discretion, as always*
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The idea of getting something, anything, personalized is exciting. I personally love personalized items and look for them at every turn. Mostly on websites because as you can imagine, the spelling of my first name is not very common. I had a very un-personalized childhood.

But personalized shampoo and conditioner? This is the greatest thing to ever be thought of. Not only can I get something that will work on the volume of my hair, but also that burden of dandruff. (That's right, I still have those little snowflakes). Since I've started using these two, my hair has been super soft, shiny, a little bit taller, and mostly dandruff free. (It's not a miracle worker).


So in comes Function of Beauty. A hair care company specializing in, you guessed it, personalized shampoo and conditioners for your very special needs. You can choose pretty much everything you want. Up to five different hair problems, the colors (which is why I have two different ones, haha), and even the smell. I got a lovely sandalwood and look forward to switching it up next time.

And then they put your name on the bottle. These products just scream YOU and I love it. You can even choose the size. And when you're done, you have the option to make an account and save your preferences, which can be changed the next time you decide to make an order. That's the best part, everything about this process is up to you. They don't spam your inbox with reminders to re-order your duo. I don't think I've received any emails from them that wasn't a shipping notification.


And I couldn't be more pleased. My hair loves this stuff, I love this stuff, and I really feel like you would love this stuff too. If you give it a try, definitely let me know how it worked out for you, because my hair couldn't be happier.

♥



*This post is not sponsored by Function of Beauty. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.*
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Hello Lovelies!

So as I'm sure I've mentioned before, getting Zoella Beauty when you live in the US is no easy task. Especially her newer ranges. You can get the original range, though only select pieces and while that's all well and good, it's still rather disappointing. So I'm going to plug this again, (and I swear I'm not being paid to mention them), Feel Unique will ship everything for an extra fee. If you don't want to pay twenty something for shipping, avoid getting 'dangerous' items, like the body sprays.

With that in mind, I highly suggest you get something, at least one thing, from this Christmas range. If you like gingerbread, you're going to love it. It's not crazy heavily scented, so you can layer this stuff on and not worry about going overboard. I absolutely love the hints of spice in the Hungry Hands hand cream and I've been using it non-stop since I got it. I'm trying to save the fragrance for as long as I can, but I can see it as something I'll be wearing throughout most of the holiday season.


Hungry Hands
Beauty Spa in a Jar
Secret Scenta Fragrance Set
Lip Balm Duo
Deck the Baubles Bubble Bath
Gingerbread and Vanilla Fragrance Set
Ginger Fizz Bath Bombs

♥
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Before I really get into this, I just want to say that I am not a serum person. I don't have an extensive collection of serum's that I rotate each evening. My skincare routine consists of cleanser, under eye cream, toner, and moisturizer. Done. In all honesty, I've never really seen the point of a serum. What can it do for me that all my other products aren't already doing?

Needless to say, I was skeptical when I was sent this from Valentia. I've reviewed a handful of their products, all four star ratings if we're going with numbers. But I really, really didn't have high hopes of liking this. Because why even bother? With that in mind, it took me a while to even take this out of the packaging, though not for lack of trying.

This serum boasts the usual advantages that Valentia offers: made in the US, Vegan Friendly, Cruelty Free, Organic and Natural Ingredients, and made using Sustainable Energy. This serum can also help reduce wrinkles, even out that skin tone, manage breakouts, and to keep the skin soft.


I used this every other night after my toner and before my moisturizer. It kind of irritated my skin around my nose and on my forehead, so I stopped putting on those areas. I didn't have any other issues with it and did notice my skin tone even out. I would suggest using it if you are looking for a new serum that is affordable and has a good consistency. I don't think I will continue using this personally, as I still don't quite like serum's, but it was a change of pace for once and I will probably come back to it.


Valentia | Facebook | Amazon | Instagram

♥




**This post has been kindly sponsored by Brandbacker and Valentia. All opinions are my own, as usual**
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No need to worry, I won't be doing a crazy long review on this, as I know I'm not good at them. But I finished this wonderful piece of work a few weeks ago and I needed to share it. Funny story about the purchase of it; I got it at Barnes and Noble, a little annoyed that they didn't have a paperback version available. (I prefer paperbacks, you see). Then the next day, I purchased it AGAIN from Target because they had signed editions of it. So I had to go back and return the other copy to Barnes and Noble.

I live a strange life. Anyway. This book is about Libby, named America's fattest teen after having to be cut out of her house after she suffered a panic/anxiety attack, and Jack, a boy who can't recognize faces. It's split up in their own POV's, which I love because you can always really sense who they are as a character when they're speaking for themselves.

If you liked Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places, which I realize I never really updated on like I said I would after I finished reading it so long ago, then you'll like this one. It's the same kind of writing style and it flows very well. But unlike All the Bright Places, this one has *SPOILER ALERT* a happy ending. 


Happy reading!
♥
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For me, there is nothing better than curling up in a few dozen blankets and putting on a show that I know by heart. Why watch a new season of something when you can recite episode after episode word by word? Don't get me wrong, I love watching new shows and catching up on new seasons, but there is just something so satisfying of going back to your favorite shows.

1. The Tudors

I can hear Ami rolling her eyes all the way from Slovenia. This is one of those shows that I will put on no matter what I'm doing. Cleaning, sleeping, reading, inter-webbing. Whatever I'm doing, I like to put this on. Nine out of ten times I get sucked into it though, so cleaning and reading might not get finished. If you haven't guessed already, this is about Henry VIII and his reign, played by the wonderful Jonathan Rhys Meyers. And Henry Cavill is in it, too. (Wink).

2. Bones

I will be the first to admit that I HAVE NOT FINISHED this show yet. Why? Because I keep going back to The Tudors. Oi. In my mission to get caught up, I've started all over again at Season One and am currently in the middle of Season Two. Not much progress when you consider how many seasons there are, but I'll get there. Wait, so does this count for the list? Hm.

3. Bob's Burgers

I am a cartoon connoisseur. I don't think I will ever get out of my cartoon phase. (As I'm writing this, I'm watching the Spongebob Squarepants movie). This is another one of those shows that I will put on as background noise while I'm doing other things. In this case, I don't get sucked in, though I still know every line. Ha.

4. Gilmore Girls

With the new season about to come to Netflix pretty soon, I've started at Season One to refresh my memory. However, I've always watched this show and have a few episodes that I could watch over and over again. The nostalgia I get from this show is just unreal and I love it.

♥
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I know what you're thinking... 'How is she just posting about this collection NOW? When there is already a Christmas range out?!' I know. I had been hoping to post it sooner, but there is always something holding me back. I.E. UK to US Customs. It's a nightmare, but recently, things have happened that's been so exciting that it was worth the wait!


If you live in the US like I do and love Zoella's beauty range, then you're in for some luck. I've always stated that you can buy her range, all of it, from Feel Unique. Although you couldn't get the perfumes, it was more than enough to have everything else. But now, you can get the perfumes without having to worry about what country you live in!


Feel Unique seems to have switched, or worked out a deal, with DHL, who does international shipping of all kinds. Meaning you can get everything from her collection and just everything on the website in general. YES! Though you do have to pay a little extra for shipping and customs checks, I personally think that it's worth it. Because I definitely didn't want to wait and see whether or not Tilly's or American Eagle would get her other collections in stock. Which seems unlikely since the original collection is in small supply.


All hail Feel Unique though, amiright.

♥
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 Another month, another Tudor book for me to share with you!


I know I read a lot of books about this time period, but I can't help it. I am the definition of obsessed when it comes to the Tudor period. I blame sixth grade history class.

I picked up this book about Mary I. It's been on my reading list for a while now and probably the only one about Henry's oldest child that's on there. I don't know why I haven't read anything on her before... maybe because for so long I placed her in the same slot as Katherine of Aragon, who I view as slightly boring. But that's just based on what I have read about her so far, and most of that has been in Anne biographies. Which are obviously going to make her look as boring as possible. Biased.

I've been pleasantly surprised to find out that while Mary definitely shares her mother's view on religion and law (clearly, as history shows) she was also very into gambling and fashion. As sickly and religious as she was, it seems that she did inherit seventy percent of her personality from her father.

Everyone who has researched the Tudors and know anything about Henry's reign, then you would know that Mary was basically ostracized from her father in his mission to marry Anne and to shuck the church of Rome out the window. From my point of view, I only ever read bits and pieces of what was done to her. But to read in detail about it is a lot more eye opening. It's actually pretty crazy how intensely Henry wanted her to obey him. And eventually she did, but the years of neglect and downgrading of her status is incredible.


If you enjoy reading about this time period, I highly suggest you pick this up and give it a read. It's very well researched and not staunchly boring like most historical biographies can be.

♥
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Hello Lovelies!
So I've been doing that thing where I scour the internet and add things I can't afford at the moment into my shopping cart and then just let them sit, where hopefully I'll be able to check them out sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately, being an adult is super hard and you have to pick and choose what you can afford, and getting paid bi-weekly does not help at all. So to keep myself grounded and remind myself that these products aren't going anywhere, I thought I'd post my 'shopping carts' here.
The Ambient Lighting Palette from Hourglass. I think with my skin tone, I could work with at least two, if not all of these colors. And Hourglass highlighters are GORGEOUS. I've never owned anything by this brand, but I have gotten samples and good Lord, they work like a dream. Normally I would go to Becca Cosmetics for a good highlight, but I think it also might be time to try something new! That price tag though. 


I don't think I could express how much I want this foundation. I've wanted it ever since I got the sample of it from the store and tried to squeeze EVERY OUNCE of it out of the little container. I know I heard of this somewhere before knowing that it was in store, most likely from a Youtuber that I can't place at the moment. But wherever I heard about it, I need this stuff. Like right now.


Of course I also want the concealer to go with it! It's not very often that I have foundations that are just right in color, I'm usually a little off when it comes to getting that down. Thankfully Sephora has this thing that scans your skin color and they match you with all the right shades in different brands. It's been super helpful, so I know that this would be stress free wear. Plus, the packaging is super cute.

Speaking of my issues when it comes to foundations, I think this would be a great help when it comes to those drugstore foundations that I already have. After all, I spent good money on those things, I shouldn't have to throw them away! While this is kind of pricey, in my opinion, I also think that this would go a long way and last a good amount of time. Depending on how often I use my foundations. I think I would get the lightening and the darkening shades, just because I never know which shade I could be getting wrong.


My lips and I have this thing going on where they get all dry and irritated, forcing me to NOT wear any of the cute lipsticks or glosses that I own. And I own a fair amount. It just doesn't look right when your lipstick is highlighting the dry skin on your lips. Especially for the fall and winter months, I think this would be a good investment to get my lips in check.


Another highlighting palette but one that I NEED RIGHT THIS INSTANT. Look at those beautiful colors! Normally, I'm a neutral, everyday shade kind of girl, but these colors just make me squeal in excitement. That purple horseshoe would be worn every single day of my life. Currently, I can only find this palette on ebay, but you can bet sooner or later, I will have this in my possession. And the blog post will be gorgeous!


Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Aquacealer Concealer
The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Drops
The Body Shop Lip Scuff
Anastasia Beverly Hills Moonchild Highlight Palette

♥
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I think it's safe to say that over the last few months I've really taken a liking to Valentia products. Looking through my previous posts, I have at least two or three about Valentia. And the reason is... I seriously just love their products. It's hard to find something that's made in the US, is vegan friendly and cruelty free, AND is made with both natural and organic ingredients. So none of that artificial crap that does absolutely nothing for the skin. This month I was lucky enough to try out their Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer.



My face is constantly looking tired. Whether that be from not enough sleep and diet, or it's just genetic, I'll never really know. But using this has made me look a little more human. I look more awake and ready to function for the day, (even if I'm really not and all I want to do is crawl back into bed). It's honestly helped with the dark spots I'd been developing on my cheek, and now it's like they were never there! The smell is also not very strong, which is something I always look for in a product, because if you're putting on various products for different things, the smells combining doesn't always make for a winning combination. 

You can use this under your makeup! I've noticed that it makes a pretty good primer for powder foundations (surprise!) and it keeps the skin moisturized all day long, not just for a few hours in the morning. If you like the dewy look, REACH FOR THIS. Seriously, I've been looking like a water sprite the last few days and it's been amazing.

For a full list of ingredients, go to the product page here and take a good look at what makes this stuff so amazing. You can also find Valentia at the following links;

Valentia | Facebook | Amazon | Instagram

♥



**This post has been kindly sponsored by Brandbacker and Valentia. All opinions are my own, as usual**
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About me

About Me

Welcome to the little part of the internet that I like to call my own. Come here to see what I'm reading and what I'm throwing on my face.

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