January #RAK Wrap-Up

I LOVE R.A.K! I love receiving and sending out books. I get super excited to do both!

This month, I did not receive any books. However I was able to send one out to Amanda from Short and Sweet. I sent her The Chick Friends Rules: Freshman Year by Vici Howard.

How big is your R.A.K.?

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Beauty Guest Post: Little Ramblings

Today, we have the awesome Mary from Little Ramblings!

Hello, everyone! I am so excited to be a guest blogger for Arianne Cruz! I am the blogger behind Little Ramblings. I blog about anything fashion, makeup, and beauty related. Today, I came up with a fun nail look that I hope you enjoy!
 Every once in a while, I get tired of wearing just one color on my nails. In the past, I have spiced it up a bit by adding glitter, but even that seems to have lost its luster. In order to overcome my boring nail slump, I got a little funky with it. I took two colors and created a slightly different design on each nail. It was almost like giving myself a modern art homework assignment. At first, I was just going to do half of each color on each nail, but then I decided to take it one step further and intentionally design the nails so they would not be monochromatic. Here's what I came up with using two of my favorite blue polishes: NYC Skin Tight Denim Creme and China Glaze For Audrey. 




 I love how well these two colors work together and how great the colors look against silver. A silver clutch, bracelets, and/or rings would add the perfect touch to this edgy nail look. After painting my nails and playing around with accessories, I noticed that the colors seem to follow together from one nail to the next. A complete accident, but one I am glad to have made.  Although this design is rather simple to achieve, it definitely adds dimension and style to not only your nails, but to your whole outfit. I'm looking forward to trying this look with other colors that are similar or even complete opposites. Imagine this look using black and white polish!What funky nail design are you rocking these days? What designs have you been wanting to try out?

Make her feel welcome by leaving a comment or question for her :) Also, don't forget to visit her blog!

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NEW WINNER: The Crystal Princess

Unfortunately, the original winner failed to reply to my email so I had to pick a new winner.

Congratulations Coranne! Please reply by February 1 or I will have to choose another winner.

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Book Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

What a beautifully sad book!

Death is a sad phenomenon most of the time. This book emphasized that while incorporating love, grief, and hope in the entire story. At first, I was really prejudiced because I'm not a big fan of ghosts. They scare me, therefore, I didn't really want to read about them. This feeling caused me to feel that the book started slow. I'm not sure if it really did or if it was just me. However, after I finally focused in the story, I started enjoying it and went on to finish it. It was sad but not sad enough to make me cry. It also wasn't scary!! :)

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

Aura was the main character of the story. She was a Post-Shifter which meant she was born after the Shift. I still don't know what Shift means. If you haven't read this book, Post-Shifters could see and communicate with ghosts. It was such a phenomenon that the government started an entire agency dedicated to ghosts, kind of like the FBI of ghosts.

Logan was Aura's boyfriend. They were a typical young couple who had a goal of having sex with each other at a certain time, drink a lot, party, etc. Logan was a part of the band Keeley's Brothers. Everything was going well until he did something stupid and killed himself. His passing was hard for everyone, especially for Aura. It was hard for her to let him go and vice versa. They really did love each other.

Zachary was the new Scottish exchange student at Aura's school. He was so charming and just criminally adorable. He was also in love with Aura. Throughout the book, he expressed how patient he was and that he would wait for Aura to be ready, no matter how long it took. Well, at least, until it was time for him to go back to Scotland. Did I mention, he was also the last of the Pre-Shifters? As the Last, he had some kind of special powers. As Logan described it, he was so bright and red. No wonder he repels ghosts.

Logan's family sued the record company who gave him the cocaine that killed him. The description of the court chapter was so sad. Anyway, he was supposed to move on but instead, he turned Shade. Shade meant that the ghost was no longer violet, instead, he was black with specks of violet. They were also very harmful to living people. Despite turning Shade, however, Aura believed in Logan coming back. Something about her believing brought him back in the end. Woah.

Check out these awesome quotes/scenes :D

Zachary: "The pieces of you are complete shite today, the bloated eyelids and splotchy skin and your hair all, you know, and all together you should look pure hackit, but somehow, you're more bonnie than ever. (insert Aura's response) I'm no' flirting with you, not with your boyfriend just passing. I'm only making an observation."

Zachary: "I won't believe a word. In fact, I'll just give them blank looks and say--" He uttered a series of guttural Gaelic syllables. All I could make out was something that sounded like byorla.
Aura: "What's that mean?"
Zachary: "I don't speak bloody English."

"Aura."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zachary's hand near my face. Slowly he brushed back my hair, sliding it behind my shoulder. His fingertip grazed my bare neck right under my ear.
My entire body tensed. I held my breath to keep from gasping.
"Sorry." He quickly tucked the ends of my hair inside my hood. "It was in the way. I couldn't see."
(omitted scenes here)
"Your turn to draw." I tossed the pencil at his chest.
"At least my hair won't block your view."
"No, but your big head might." I crawled behind him so he could take my place in front of the chart.
"I'll have you know, my head is perfectly average size." He spread his fingers. "My hands, though, are enormous, and you know what they say--"
"Shut up and draw, lad," I said in my best attempt at a Scottish accent.

Z: "Aura."
A: "Hmm?"
Z: "Your, uh, your chest is humming."

Z: "The man at the flower shop said that yellow was for friendship and red was for, well, more than friendship."
A: "Does this mean we're both?"
Z: "It means I don't know which we are....I know I want to be with you. But not if you're in love with someone else."
A: "I'm not."
Z: "I could hear it in your voice--it hurts you just to say his name. And I can see it in your eyes right now. You're not over him."
A: "I'm working on it."
Z: "Aura, I'm really patient, but I'm not a bloody saint."
(omitted scenes)
A: "I'm ready to move on."
Z: "Moving on doesn't mean moving on to me. I don't want you to want me just because I'm here and alive."

 So, have you read this book? Can you tell I'm a bit obsessed with Zachary? Isn't he just too awesome? Talk to me in the comments :)

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Just A Rant...

Have you ever had that feeling when people are talking down on you, like you're some kind of idiot? You know, that feeling you get when someone thinks they're better than you and you're just a piece of worthless substance? If you answer yes, then we're on the same boat.

You'll never be able to please everyone in the world. There will always be at least one person who will disagree or just be plain mean. But you know that one person who just gets a kick out of making you feel miserable, putting you down every chance they get, calling you an idiot in fancy ways? Yeah, been there.

So what do you do fellow readers? I personally ignore it or let the authorities know and hope that the issue is dealt with. However, at the same time, don't you wish you could stand up for yourself? What are you afraid of anyway? Oh yeah, Confrontation. Conflict. That feeling that you're losing even before you start fighting.

People that makes you feel like that are poison in your life. They must be cut loose or avoided at all times. Such individuals are bullies. They have no understanding that you're human, you say stupid things or do stupid things, not necessarily on purpose. But people such as these don't know the word "forgiveness" or "understanding" even after preaching to you themselves.

Hypocrites is what I call them. Do I feel sorry for them? At first I thought I did. But not anymore. Not after they've put me down countless times and I've had enough of it. They're alone because of their own doings. I'm alone because solitude is my sanctuary.
There is a difference.

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New Blog Layout :)

Some of you that are regular visitors of my blog might have noticed my new layout... So, let me know in the comments if you like it :)

The regularly scheduled posts will resume tomorrow.

P.S. Hello to my new followers and thank you to the old ones who stayed and regularly commented :)

UPDATE: I'm already having issues with this new layout. I'll try it out for maybe a week. If the issues continue to bother me, I will revert back to my old one.

UPDATE #2: Does anyone know how I can put back the Share buttons for every post? It is enabled but it is not appearing and it is really aggravating me. Also, does anyone know how I can enable the thread comments in this new template???

Arianne

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under construction

I am testing different designs. Such indecisiveness around here. In light of that, I am holding my scheduled posts until I decide on a final design.. Hopefully I would have decided by the end of this weekend. Cross your fingers and thank you in advance for being patient with me :)

Arianne

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Book Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

"My wolf."

This book really got me into wolves. I love the way it was written and the short chapters. It was basically an easy read. I feel like I just started and it is now finished.

Grace was the girl who was bitten by the wolves but never turned. No one really knew why or how she was able to stay human. Despite the failed transformation, she retained some wolf traits such as sensitive smell and hearing. She was also drawn to the woods and the wolves in them ever since. Especially one in particular: the wolf with the yellow eyes.

I really can't picture an animal or a human with yellow eyes, but that was Sam. He was only human during the spring and summer seasons and then he turned into a wolf when it got colder. The winter months were the wolf months. During those times, all he could do was watch Grace from the edge of the woods, filled with longing.

When they finally had time to be together, it was so beautiful and wonderful. They were so in love. It would have been unrealistic but the way the author wrote it, it just made sense. They both fought to keep Sam in human form until the very end.

This book is absolutely amazing, I would really recommend reading it. Check out a couple quotes I bookmarked :)

"My wolf was a cute guy and he was holding my hand. I could die happy."

G: "What do you eat?"
S: "Baby bunnies." She narrowed her eyes so I grinned and said, "Adult bunnies, too. I'm an equal-opportunity-bunny-eater."

Excerpt:

With peculiar clarity, I remembered that conversation clearly, down to the expression on Beck's face: "Sam. Come on, bucko."
"What's that?"
Beck shoved his back ineffectually against the glass door, suffering under the weight of a huge box. "Your brain."
"I already have a brain."
"If you did, you'd have opened the door for me."
I shot him a dark look and let him shove against the door a moment longer before I ducked under his arms to push it open. "What is it really?"
"Schoolbooks. We're going to educate you properly, so you don't grow up to be an idiot."
I remembered being intrigued by the idea of school-in-a-box, just-add-water-and-Sam.

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The Crystal Princess Winner!!

Congratulations Megan!!! Please check your email and reply by midnight PST of January 29, 2012.

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Oh My Gosh!! Buck From What the Buck Show Mentioned Me!

Oh my gosh!! So, I mailed a letter to Michael Buckley from the What the Buck Show. Do you all watch his videos? He is so amazing, funny, entertaining, inspiring... I could keep going.. Should I? Anyways, he was super awesome and read my letter in the video :D

P.S.
My name is pronounced AR-YAN :)

Thank you Buck! You are amazing! Seriously, I am making it my goal to meet you one day. You also make me wish I get fan mails ;) It looks like so much fun!
*cough*cough* Who wants to send me fan mail?

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Collective Fashion/Book Haul

I hope you enjoy this new video! :)

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Quarter Quotes #3

Welcome to the third installment of Quarter Quotes. Creating these posts are so much fun, I hope you all are enjoying it.

This week's quotes came from VintagexKiss. For pictures, I decided to do a black-and-white-theme :) Searching for them was like looking for a needle in a haystack!

1. Sometimes our vision clears
only after our eyes are washed away with tears.

2. Sometimes you have to forget what's gone,
appreciate what still remains, and
look forward to what's coming next.

3. Time goes by fast. People go in and out of your life. You must never
miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you

4. Don’t feel stupid for missing him,
even if he treated you like dirt
you still had happy memories.

5. I love hearing old songs I used to love.
They're like memories you can always go back to

6. Always be yourself
Because you could be exactly what some guy out there is looking for.

7. When you fold a heart into half,
you get a teardrop.

8. An >>arrow>> can be shot only by pulling it backward.
So when life is dragging you back with difficulties,
it means that it's going to launch you into something great.

9. Be with people who you can just be yourself with,
who can see the real you but doesn't mind
rather than people who you are dying to impress

While searching for these photos, I came across something that I thought needed to be addressed:
I searched "broken heart" on Google and the first thing that came up was a man who hanged himself. LISTEN TO ME: That's not art. No matter how much it hurts, there is a brighter day. No matter how hopeless it seems, it WILL get better. It happened to me, I know.

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All's Fair in Vanities War Winners!

Congratulations to the following individuals. You each won an ebook copy of All's Fair in Vanities War. An email will be sent. Please email me by January 27, 2012 before I pick a new winner.

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The Secret Circle Season 1: Witness

Yet another episode of annoyance for me. Check out my chronological commentary below.


Cassie is the most gullible person ever. It's very annoying.

Faye continues to run with the wrong crowd.

Dawn is such a liar. There's way too many bad people in this show. She's a big manipulator.

Cassie is seriously too obsessed with finding her father, she's willing to endanger herself. WHAT. AN. IDIOT.

I like how Jake seems to genuinely care about Cassie. They seem to be the one that is attracted to each other more than Cassie and Adam.

There are way too many secrets in this show. Too confusing.

I'm pretty sure Cassie getting a hold of that medallion is not a very good thing. She's so stupid, she'd hurt people on accident.

Diana and Adam should be together. They really belong to each other.

I have a nagging question in my mind whether Adam's dad, Ethan, is evil or not. Power really can bring the worst in people.

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Vampire Diaries Season 3: The Ties That Bind

This episode was not as great as the others, but it's okay. I enjoyed it anyway, especially the ending! Check out my chronological comments while watching the show!

• Damon using the puppy eyes to get Elena to let him go on the road trip to find Bonnie's mom. It was so cute!
  
  
  
  
• When Caroline came home and there was a guy, I thought it was Klaus and my reaction, "WTF!!" But then it was actually Tyler. Boo.
• I'm not sure Caroline's dad being back in town is a good idea....
• I really don't like Alaric and Dr. Fell's potential relationship.. At least Damon and Alaric still has bromance going on :)
• Klaus just hanging out at Stefan's house is so weird. That smirk on Stefan's face make me wanna slap it off of his face. He's too arrogant. It's amazing how Klaus questioned Stefan having any friends. It's like Stefan is losing everyone and Klaus is gaining them :)
  
  
  
• Elena is totally hot for Damon :)
• I like Jamie :)
  
  
• In a way, it's kind of amazing that Tyler would face the pain again so he can get over his sire from Klaus.
• Damon sure has so much charm.
• Dr. Fell is a psycho.
• Tyler breaking bones is really painful to see. Caroline's dad really have the most unconventional ways - threatening to kill Tyler if he doesn't turn.
• Damon is too adorable.
• Elena is so detached from Stefan, she didn't even show enough worry when he got shot. All she asked was "What can I do to help?"
• I love it when Klaus starts to speak danger and threat. He's absolutely old-fashioned and that voice and accent just spikes it up to a whole different level of menace.

"I will tear you limb from limb, and only then, when you're a writhing mass of blood and flesh, will I rip your heart from your chest."

• Wow, the first time I saw Stefan shaken up, I felt so sorry for him. When Elena told him that she kissed Damon (which she didn't, Damon kissed her), he looked like he died inside. At least finally he showed emotion.
• I wonder what will happen if Bonnie actually decides to bring her mom back to Mystic Falls.
  
  
• Alaric is so adorable, stuttering when Elena interrupted a moment.. He's really become family.
• Stefan is actually really hurt/mad about that kiss! It was kind of refreshing seeing him punch Damon. Brotherly love :)
  
  
  
  
• Elijah is back!! He always was so classy and honorable! Now I REALLY can't wait til the next episode!

Did you see the episode? Did you like it?

UPDATE: Just found out a few days ago that Vampire Diaries is taking a week off. Seriously, why do they do this to us?

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY RENSRAMBLES!

My twitter and blogger buddy Ren from Rens Rambles is having her birthday today!!! So, to give a little tribute to her, here's a pretty pink zebra-like cake with cupcakes on them!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REN!!!!

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Gossip Girl Season 5: End of the Affair

Teardrops...

I was seriously crying in this episode! I tried to hold it back, I promise! Chuck and Blair's story is just so sad. Kind of cliche but still beautifully sad.

The episode started out with Chuck and Louie thinking that Blair is having an affair. Who would have known those two would ever work together? The worst part was that they thought the guy Blair was having an affair with was Dan. Well, Dan loves Blair but I'm pretty sure from the last episode, he already decided that Blair needs him more as a friend.

The flashbacks to the night of the accident and the moments that came after that were so sad. Blair really thinks that Chuck would die if she decided to go and be with him. "Just because we can't be together, doesn't mean I won't love you." That is the sweetest, saddest quote ever.

Serena is seriously in love with Dan. It's all in her eyes and the way she acts around him. She's so pretty :) Dan should totally get back with her, they were good together. Dan deserves someone who would really care about him and love him, and unfortunately, Blair is not that person.

I was SO EXCITED when Gossip Girl revealed herself to be the person texting Nate. I knew it was her! Either that or it was Charlie. I'm so glad Charlie is gone, by the way. But I'm even more glad that Gossip Girl is not giving up. She will come back next episode, I just know it. The show won't be what it is without her after all.

Finally, the real Charlotte Rhodes finally turned up. I hope she's not another witch in the upper east side. I like her better than the one pretending to be her. At least her voice isn't messed up :)

By the way, I think I've become a Vera Wang fan after this episode. That dress is BEAUTIFUL.

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The Crystal Princess by Kimberly Norton (Review + Giveaway)

 

The Crystal Princess was a book of 121 pages and a very beautiful cover. The book was sent to me by the author, but this review is by no means biased.

• Since the book was so small and I knew it must have been self-published, I literally counted the errors I found. Let's just say there was more than enough, almost in every chapter. If you read my reviews, you know this is a very big deal to me. However, in this book, this was not my biggest concern.
• The story was beautiful as with the cover. However, I felt like the dialogues were awkward and forced. I thought the use of exclamation marks were sometimes unnecessary, throwing me off on the character's real emotion.
• Given that the book was short, I felt the characters weren't as developed. From what I've learned from attending writing workshops, the book seemed to tell more of the story as opposed to showing it.

The story itself... (SPOILER ALERT)

Kelly was abducted before her 18th birthday by her real family. She found that every single person that knew her had their memories erased. She also found that she was a powerful witch with two sisters. The goal of the story was to get them to become immortal on All Saints Day.

Along the way, she fell in love with an Indian boy named Max or also known as White Bear. I thought their relationship was absolutely amazing/romantic. I think if given a chance, I would love to see more of the development of their relationship.

Finally, I truly enjoyed Kelly's powers. I would have loved to have seen more scenes of her using crystals to protect the ones she loved.

Overall, I think the idea of this book is very interesting. It would be great to read to young readers. I hope it could be developed into a full novel one day :)

Check out my favorite scene and quote :)

Kelly's adopted parents: "Kelly, hurry. Get up; the house is on fire, we have to get out."
Still half asleep, I ran out the front door. Parked in the driveway was the Mustang with a huge bow on it. I screamed by head off for an hour. Then I hugged them both, telling them thank you and how much I loved it. God, parents are nuts sometimes.

"Don't worry; this is something I can handle. I am the crystal princess."

Kimberly generously sent me an extra book to give away to all of you. The book is SIGNED with a personalized message from her :) Just fill out the form to enter.

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