ALIEN ILLUSTRATED BOOK

I was sent Alien The Illustrated Story and it's amazing! The color pages are vivid and crisp. It essentially follows the storyline of the movie so it was very familiar. It did bring another level to the story though.I really enjoyed it and well I knew exactly how it would end because I've seen the movie so many times. If you love Alien and comic books, this one is for you!

Archie Goodwin and Walter Simonson definitely did the franchise justice and really brought the movie to a whole other dimension.

Six days?!

Sorry guys I haven't posted anything for 6 whole days. I've been a horrible person haven't I? Well I have been super busy finishing up Christmas shopping because well...umm I waited till the last minute again. Wait you were finished back in Aug? Well I for one like the hustle and bustle and that extra push before Christmas. So I'll be posting some book reviews, beauty reviews, and product reviews. I'll be looking to do some giveaways as well. Keep an eye out and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Merry Christmas?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 So as we inch closer and closer to that dreaded, I mean joyous two week vacation for Christmas I've just realized something. I am NOT ready for them to be home for 2 weeks in a row. It feels like it was just yesterday that they were coming home for summer vacation, a whole 2 months I might add. I wish there was a second school they could be sent to. Oh wait yes there is, sort of. Holiday camp! Yup they have camps for everything because parents just don't have to time to spend with the kiddos. But then isn't that the whole point of the holiday season? To spend time with your family, to eat, play, and be merry together? Well yes, but I'm sure that person wasn't stuck with 3 teens and 1 pre-teen. Oh not to mention a 10yr old who is very emotional and 2 furry kids, 1 of which is basically a two yr old on sugar. How can I be merry with the noise, the fighting, and the mess that threatens to devour any who get too close? You try cooking for 5 kids, 2 adults and still be merry afterwards. It isn't easy that's for sure. Then of course you have the fighting afterwards over who ends up washing the dishes, cleaning the table, etc etc. Who needs all that day after day?  As much as I'd love to send them off on a two week long vacation to the north pole I just can't. For one it would be too expensive to send them all, and well I kind of do love them. Yea...just a little bit.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all you guys! Try and stay merry and keep your sanity!

Broken Build by Rachelle Ayala

 BROKEN BUILD

BY RACHELLE AYALA

This is the second book I've read by Rachelle Ayala and it certainly didn't disappoint. It was very different from the first book, which was on the religious side. Broken Build is full of suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. Broken Build is about Jen Jones who is a software programmer, but her programs keep failing, or creating "broken builds".  She has a rocky criminal past that she is desperately trying to keep quiet, but her ex-boyfriend's brother isn't making it easy.

Jen Jones was formally Jennifer Cruz who went to far as to get plastic surgery to get away from her past. She somehow ends up getting a job for David Jewell, a man she hurt years ago. He of course doesn't recognize her, but that doesn't keep the feelings that they had from resurfacing.

This is a great thriller and seriously one that you should put on your list. I think it is really far from the Christian theme in her first book, and I have no problem with that. I don't read books because they're written by the same author, I read them because they have a style I like. It was fairly easy for me to draw a distinct line between this book and Michal's Window. Broken Build was well written, stayed in line as far as the plot went, and the characters were well developed. I can't wait for the next book from Rachelle, I'm sure it won't disappoint me either.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

PetSmart Pin It For Pets

PetSmart's "PIN IT FOR PETS" 

For every holiday pet photo we receive from Pinterest with the #pinitforpetsmart hashtag, $25 will be donated to PetSmart Charities^® to help save the lives of homeless pets.  So all you have to do is share your holiday pet photos on Pinterest and you help save the lives of homeless pets! So get pinning!!

COVERGIRL FLIPSTICK REVIEW

I was so happy to be chosen for the COVERGIRL blastflipstick BzzCampaign. I don't wear much lipstick, but was really interested in seeing how the blastflipstick actually worked. Every flipstick comes with 2 different shades, one matte and one shimmery.

There are thirteen duos to choose from:

1. Whisper
2. Flashy
3. Tease
4. Snap
5. Intense
6. Pucker
7. Vixen
8. Cheeky
9. Smooch
10. Glimmer
11. Perky
12. Stunner
13. Minx

I was given Vixen, Stunner and Minx to try out. All 6 colors were very pigmented and went on easily. It was really fun playing with all the colors so let's get started!

The first duo is Stunner which includes a rich bright gold and a bright pink/orange. This is the color that Sofia Vergara is wearing in the photo. I played with this color and it really wasn't too hard to achieve the same look. I would suggest getting a lip brush as it is just easier to use one when outlining your lip with the darker shade. Then you can use a separate brush to slightly blend the two colors more smoothly.

The second was Vixen which included two different shades of pink. A burgundy/deep pink and a shimmery pearl pink. I wasn't sure that I could pull this duo off. I've got darker colored skin and pink is just, nuh uh for me. When I tried it I was amazed at how great it looked! It was really fun to play the different ways to place the two colors. I tried the lighter pink on the edges with the burgundy inside, well it was just beautiful.

Last was Minx and I have to say this was my favorite duo out of the three. It has a rich deep brown with a dark gold, this duo definitely compliment each other. I took the darker shade and used it only on the outer edges of both my top and bottom lip. Then I took the gold and filled in the rest making sure to add a bit more in the middle of my lips. I then took a brush and slightly blended the colors. I was pretty happy with the result (see above right). This duo went really well with my skin color and definitely highlighted the shape of my lips nicely.

The selling point of the Blast Flipsticks is their customization and they do deliver. I have read other reviews stating that their lips get dried out, I didn't have that issue. There are 13 different duos, 26 different colors, and tons of combinations between them all. You can use any of the colors together and create all new duos allowing you to have an even wider range of customization. The lipstick wore really well throughout the day, whether I combined the colors or didn't. The duos go for about $8.50 each, which is a pretty good value. 

BzzAgent - Sally G
#GotItFree

Disclaimer: I received these products from BzzAgent and Covergirl. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was given.

Assassin's Creed Comic Book

ASSASSIN'S CREED
3 COMIC BOOK SET
 

 I have been bombarded by awesome books this past month and this is another one, well actually THREE! I was sent the Assassin's Creed Comic Book set and I love them! The covers are great and really lend a mysterious feel to the books. It made me think of some long lost secret society and that inside is a secret that will get me killed. Assassin's Creed has a great wonderful thing that helps to push it to the forefront: a good story. The characters are believable and the world is just as real as ours. That's why this franchise has done so well, and that's why these books are so good.

VOL 1: DESMONDThe first book in the series is "Desmond", which obviously it tells you more about Desmond's life. You'll learn about how Desmond ended up in the lab, going through his ancestors' memories. They also touch on the mysterious subject 16. It's really interesting to read about the characters in the book and see how they are played out in the games. The overall style totally fits in with the game franchise. While the visuals aren't the same it has a style that lends to the overall story. The colors are warm, but can change drastically to a cold industrial feel. You can tell the artist had a very distinct style, and it definitely shined throughout the whole book.

Sometimes the book left me wondering and wanting more as it was kind of fast. I hope the next two books tie up any loose ends left by the first installment. If you haven't played the game it will leave you a little lost, but its still quite enjoyable.

 

VOL 2: AQUILUS

Volume 2 tells the story of Aquilus which is an ancestor of Desmond.  Aquilus was talked about in the first volume and was one of the loose ends. I'm glad that they decided to really delve into his story in the second book. The main story has Aquilus trying to get a certain rare artifact, which you'll read about in the third installment.

Not only do you read about Aquilus' story it also goes deeper into Desmond's life. You'll find out some things about his youth, as well as some love interests he had.

The style in this book is different from the first, but they don't battle each other. It's as if the artists new that a change in style would bring this story to life. It is still very detailed and crisp like in the first, so it does match the overall feel of the series, as well as the game. You can also tell the writer's took their time with

this one as the story didn't seem so fast. It had a great pace and I felt satisfied after reading it.

  

VOL 3: ACCIPITER
Accipiter is the last book in the series, sadly I might add. I was really starting to get into the story. Aquilus continues his story into this installment and wow is it good! He is still looking for that one artifact talked about in Vol 2, but he isn't alone this time. Another master assassin, Accipiter, joins him in his quest. The book starts off with them on separate journeys until their paths collide.

Desmond is still present in this book, but not so much so. They tease you a bit with a postcard at the end making you think that the story continues on in Egypt. Well if you've played the game you know it ended up taking place in Revolutionary America.

All three books were excellently written and drawn. If you are a fan of Assassin's Creed then you should really get these, if you haven't already. Or if you are a fan of games in general, its a great series to have on your shelf.

*Disclaimer: I was sent this book by Titan Books to read and review. All opinions are my own and no further compensation was made.

HALO 4 ART BOOK REVIEW

So I also had the chance to check out the art book for Halo 4, and I was definitely impressed. Now I've never been one for "Shoot'em up" type games as I totally lack the hand eye coordination for them, but this book swayed me...a little. I didn't buy into the hype of any of the Halo games, but seeing the pictures in this book, well they were pretty amazing.

This book has 192 pages filled with huge photos, sometimes spanning across two pages, that are crisp and vivid. The concept art is highly detailed leading you into a whole new world.

If you are a Halo Fan you will definitely love this book, it's a must have!

Awakening: Halo 4 gives you a look at new characters, creatures, and items that you'll find in the game. Of course it doesn't take any fun out of playing the game. You can even compare the scenes in the game from the sketches and drawings in the book. You can definitely tell the differences and how the look changed from the start to finish.

The guys over at 343 Industries must be filled to the brim with creativity. They paid so much attention to detail it's mind boggling how they were able to come up with so much lavish designs.

So if you love you some Halo, then you should pick this book up!

I received this book from Titan Books, and I love them for it! All opinions are my own and no further compensation was given.

Maybe I'll have to try playing Halo again and see if my aim has gotten any better.

I love that guy --> I'm sure he isn't too nice and would kill me in the game, but he is so ugly he is cute, no?

POLISH GIVEAWAY

RANDOM POLISH GIVEAWAY

So I've got a drawer full of polishes and well, I need to cut down on some of my stock. So my loss is your gain! Some of these polishes have been used a couple times, but all of them have been swatched. There will be 4 winners! So you won't be able to win if you don't enter. I may throw in some extra goodies so keep an eye out!

Also I haven't quite decided how I'm going to split up the polishes, so the pictures below are not how they will be given.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FLASH GIVEAWAY WINNER

WINNER OF THE STARBUCKS CARD IS...

GINA TAYLOR!!

FLASH GIVEAWAY

STARBUCKS $10 GC

ENTER BELOW AND THAT'S IT!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Assassin's Creed III Art Book Review

© 2012 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

So I was really excited to get this book. It was a total surprise for me, but wow its amazing. I have loved exploring the world of Assassin's Creed I and II, and have yet to get my hands on the third installment. This book ended up being an introduction to the game. Sort of like a backstage pass to see all the things going on behind the scenes. The images in the book are much more crisp than my cruddy picture taking has made them look. The front of the book shows the main character, Connor Kenway, standing in a tree above a group of soldiers. The back of the book shows a few scenes from the movie and has a short synopsis of what you'll find inside. Assassin's Creed III takes place during the Revolutionary War in America, a perfect time for an assassin to come out, right?

© 2012 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

There are seven chapters in this book with 141 pages full of wonderful images. The images include sketches and concept art followed by commentary from Ubisoft's artists. If you love video games, Assassin's Creed, or just like looking at great art you'll love this book. Writer Andy McVittie's paragraph long commentary are throughout the book along with special excerpts from the games various artists.

The seven chapters are: I Present World, II Characters, III Forest and Frontier, IV Boston, V New York, VI Homestead, and VII Battle at Sea.

I. The Present World shows Abstergo with very hard angled modern buildings highlighted by the artificial lighting we "love". The images that are shown are dark and ominous, but give you a great sense of the feeling the artists were trying to give.The world looks strangely familiar, and thats because the artists made it so life like it seems I'm looking at the streets of my own city.

© 2012 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

II. The characters chapter is self explanatory. You have beautifully sketched images of all the characters presented in the game. You can see the dramatic changes between Connor's appearance to what he ended up being. There are nice little historical tidbits about the historical characters that are featured in the game. This was probably my favorite chapter as you could get a really good feel of the character's backgrounds, etc.

The next few chapters show the other landscapes and areas that you'll be seeing in the game. Some of the images came off as a little dark, but really that's just how the game is. I can't wait to play the game as I have loved the first two installments. I'm hoping Santa brings it to me for Christmas, hint hint.

© 2012 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

So if you love the Assassin's Creed Franchise and would like to see the work behind it, I totally recommend getting this book. It just adds another level to the game play to see all the hard work and care that goes into creating an awesome game.





*Disclaimer: I received this book from Titan Books to review. All opinions are my own and no further compensation was given.

Green Mountain Fair Trade Coffee

I was very fortunate to be able to try out Green Mountain Fair Trade Coffee. It came to me in 24 k-cups full of delicious coffee. There are plenty of coffee manufacturers out there, but do you know where you're coffee comes from? By that I mean, where is that coffee ground from? What most of us only know is that it comes from a plant found on many continents that make us a great beverage.

Fair Trade Coffee was put in place to help farmers get good prices on selling their coffee beans to different companies. So while the actual coffee bean is not different, knowing that it was obtained fairly makes it that much better. You can find fair trade coffee all across the world in many different stores and shops. Green Mountain Coffee has quite a few flavors to choose from. They're all unique in their own way and will be sure to please even the pickiest coffee drinker. You can help farmers many different countries like Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Sumatra.

In the end buying Fair Trade goods will ensure that you're getting a handmade product that will benefit the person who made it. Buying fair trade products in general will help to alleviate poverty worldwide. Also fair trade encourages organic farming wherever possible, and even if it isn't shown to be organic no major harsh chemicals are used. This makes it healthier for the plants, farmers, and for us - the consumers.

Coffee is not the only fair trade product out there. You can get jewelry, candles, home decor, and clothing - all Fair Trade! Whenever you can you should check out FAIR TRADE USA that compiled a lot of great companies that make and sell Fair Trade products.




**Disclaimer: I was sent products from BzzAgent and Green Mountain Coffee for the purpose of trying out and reviewing it. All opinions are my own and no further compensation was given.

Update

Sorry I have been pretty absent lately, I've been sick as a dog. I have had a sinus infection for a few days and now have chest congestion. So where does the term "sick as a dog" come from?

Apparently back in 1705 someone decided that dogs were sick. Actually no, you see dogs like to eat stuff, yup STUFF. Anything and everything - is it spoiled? Yes - yumm! Is it alive, barely living, dead? Yes, yes, yes -- *crunch*. Yes I know that dogs are definitely not picky eaters when it comes to things you aren't feeding them. I have seen my 2yr old chihuahua, Bear, pass up some freshly made steaks in turn to munch on some bug crawling around. Walking him can be a hazard at times; Bear: "Oh look there is dog poo right there! Let's have a try." So of course dogs often are seen hacking and throwing up some unknown thing they ate. Oh but you know they aren't picky about eating their vomit right back up either. So there you go, because dogs tend to vomit and humans vomit, well we can be sick as dogs as well.

Yes I have been sick, although not really vomiting. I've been coughing and hacking till I felt my lungs had completely been expelled from my body. But I'll be doing better soon, I can feel it! For now though, I'm going to continue swallowing down pills and sucking on some Halls. I hope none of you are "Sick as dogs!"

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

MYSTERY BOX GIVEAWAY WINNER

CONGRATS TO LYDIA HARPE!

$5 Amazon.com Code

 

What is the one thing you really would love for Christmas? I want to see some great answers guys!! I'll choose one person to win a $5 Amazon.com code. You can post your answer here or on my Facebook page. I'll choose a winner at 5PM CENTRAL! 

CONGRATS ANGELIQUE DRUMMOND

Also for commenting Eva Biggs and May both win a coupon envie!

Message me at infinitedreams50@aol.com guys!

Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce

 

Less Sodium Teriyaki

 So I got some coupons courtesy of Smiley360 to do a review on Kikkoman's Juicy Bird Project using Soy Sauce. I was given 2 coupons one for a free product and the other was a buy 1 get 1 free product. With the latter I bought this bottle of Low Sodium Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce. I am trying to cut my salt intake so opted for low sodium in the teriyaki, it is still a little high at 13% DV but it could have been worse.

I had some beef short ribs already thawed out and waiting to get tasty. I grabbed a bag tossed them in and added some teriyaki sauce to it. The smell was pretty strong and it was everywhere in the kitchen. I knew it was going to be even better on my beef. I then thought, hmm what would take it up another notch? ONION! I love using onion in my dishes to add some extra flavor. I just cut them up in slices and threw them in the bag, and then I threw in some pepper as well. I let it sit in the bag for about 35 minutes and then it was ready to cook.


I placed them on a pan added a tiny bit of water and put them in the oven at 350. I would have covered them up with some foil, but sadly I had run out of it. I let them cook till their inner temp was 160. Always make sure your meat, pork, and poultry is cooked all the way through. I'd hate to see any of you guys on an episode of, "Monsters Inside Me". Temps should be between 140 and 160 to make sure all the bacteria inside your protein is good and dead.

I had some of the ribs just tenderized with some of my regular spices as well as some onion to see if there was a difference between the two. The beef that was marinated in the Kikkoman Teriyaki sauce was juicer and much more flavorful. It had a great taste to it and everyone loved it!

If you ever have a chance then you need to go out there and buy yourself a bottle of Kikkoman's Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce. It isn't very expensive, about $2.84, so it definitely won't hurt to try it out. You can find them in grocery stores all over the world so keep your eyes peeled.



*Disclaimer: I received coupons for free product from Smiley360 and Kikkoman to do a review. No further compensation was given and all opinions are my own.

No 7 Facial Products

I had the chance to review Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion and Night Cream. I received these both from Influenster, and was glad I got them. They were sample size, but a lot definitely goes a long way. I had never heard of Boots before and hadn't really seen any No7 products. Boots is a company based in the UK and has an extensive history. Its been over 160 years since the first store was opened in Goose Gate, Nottingham, UK. For a company to have lasted that long, they must be doing something right. All their products are tested on actual human beings, no animals are used. In fact 1 in 3 women in the UK own Boots beauty products. That's a huge number and its quite impressive. 

No. 7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion

normal/dry 

 I can say I've never used a cleansing lotion before so was unsure of what it really would do. Well its a lotion that cleans your face while it moisturizes. The scent is a little different, but not unpleasant. Again, I'm huge with smells and I don't feel comfortable with putting something that doesn't smell right on my face. The lotion itself is very smooth and creamy. I put on make-up and got to work testing to see what happened. I was pretty impressed because I could feel it coming off, if that makes sense. The more I rubbed my face the more the gunk came off. It was great, I had no reactions to it and no redness left on my face. I have more sensitive skin so it was essential that this be "kind" to my face. You can buy a good sized bottle for less than $9.00, making it very affordable.

 

No. 7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream
normal/dry

The night cream went on after the cleansing lotion. It didn't have much of a smell to it, so that was a plus. It dissolved really quickly and left my skin feeling silky smooth. There was no greasiness or heaviness when I put it on. I've tried other night creams that literally had my skin sweating. This absorbed quickly and left my skin feeling refreshed. It has cocoa and shea butter to keep your skin moisturized the whole night through. The cream is a little more pricier compared to the cleansing lotion at $13.99, but still very affordable. You don't need a lot of it so that bottle will last you the whole month.

Overall I was really impressed by the quality of both the cleansing lotion and night cream. I'll definitely be looking for these products the next time I hit up Target. No more skipping that aisle of "expensive" unknown products. Boots is in that aisle so don't skip over it either!

 

Disclaimer: I received these products from Influenster and Boots to review. All opinions are my own and no further compensation was given.

SHESPEAKS TORANI TWITTER PARTY

Join shespeaks on Thursday November 15th at 9 p.m. ET for their #ToraniFlavors Holiday Twitter Party. They'll be sharing their favorite holiday drinks and tasty desserts while also giving away some incredible prizes. Also they'll fill you in on how your favorite recipe can win you a Mr. Coffee Latte, Espresso & Cappuccino, Iced Tea, or Cafe Frappe Maker! How awesome is that?! I always have tons of fun at their parties. I've won some great gifts twice, so I know you guys will have fun as well. 

Twitter Party Details:
When: Thursday, 11/15 at 9pm ET
Where: Twitter, follow the hashtag #ToraniFlavors
Custom TweetGrid: http://bit.ly/PUqOAf
RSVP: http://bit.ly/T5gN1T
Brands: @Torani
Party Panelists:@Zipporahs, @lisasamples, @StacieinAtalanta, @jonbonjovious, @erinclane, @MommaDJane

Twitter Party Prizes:
Four Mr.Coffee drink makers with two Torani Syrup flavors included and a grand prize of one case of Torani Syrups (12 bottles) and a Mr.Coffee drink maker.

Party Topics:
Favorite holiday drinks, desserts and Torani. Prepare to dish some of your favorite recipes while also hearing about how they can win you a Mr. Coffee Latte, Espresso & Cappuccino, Iced Tea, or Cafe Frappe Maker!

To get started, click here to Tweet:
"Join me at the #ToraniFlavors Twitter Party w/ @SheSpeaksUp & @Torani 11/15 at 9pm ET! http://bit.ly/TJ1gVC";
RSVP to Win!
Be sure to RSVP to be eligible to win our door prize by commenting on shespeaks blog post with your Twitter handle (Ex. @SheSpeaksUp)!

 

New to Twitter Parties?
No problem. Check out our TweetGrid 101 video and our Twitter Party tips and hints. Then get ready to jump into the conversation!


We hope to see you Thursday!
The SheSpeaks Team