// brandy melville haul

You'd know from my Brandy Melville inspired post that Isha and I absolutely adore Brandy Melville. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to purchase some new clothes from Brandy whilst we were in America. Our original plan was to go to a Brandy Melville store whilst we were in California, but unfortunately we didn't have time to go. Luckily, Pacsun sell Brandy Melville clothes (but not a lot though hmp) I want to give my mom a shoutout for being super duper nice and giving us a money just for Brandy. (love you mom!)

I recently bought a t-shirt dress from Tilly's for my fourth of july outfit. Let me tell you one thing I instantly fell in love with t-shirt dresses. They are super duper comfy and stylish at the same time. So i decided to pick another t-shirt dress. If you don't own one, you honestly need this piece of clothing in your wardrobe. It's a wardrobe staple really. For when you're feeling lazy to dress up but still look hella cute at the same time. 

So the bee decided to join me during my photoshoot. 

I was playing with my uncle's dog before we took this picture. 

The reason why Isha and I bought this top was all because of the backside. I mean it looks like a normal white top at the front but when you look at the backside its like woah. I'm wearing the typical Brandy Melville bralette under the top. 

I decided to pick this up as a remembrance from America. When I tried this on, I immediately said that I'm going to buy it because the fit was on point. It was tight in the boob area but it becomes loose when it comes to the tummy. I've been trying to find this top on the website but I couldn't find it, so sorry people! If you like this top you might just want to look in your local Brandy Melville or Pac Sun stores.

I am squinting because it was really really sunny back in AZ. 

Can we talk about how cute this outfit is? *insert heart eyes emoji* The material of the grey top is absolutely amazing. Its a bit thick so it would be perfect for those cold winters in Ireland. I also decided to finally pick up the "pj shorts" as my mom would say. She convinced me not to buy this when we were in London because it looked flimsy but my cousin, Kyra and I really love this one so I finally got my own one.  

I'm squinting because of the sun 

The last thing we got is this top. Isha has been looking everywhere for a "California Republic" top (She's in love with California Republic lol). So it was perfect when we saw this in Pacsun. Again, this was nowhere to be found in Brandy's website so check your local stores if you liked this top. 

We would love if you comment down below if you too love Brandy Melville or if you own any of the  clothes we recently got. Thanks for reading! :) 

// review + discussion: emmy & oliver by robin benway

Title: Emmy & Oliver
Author: Robin Benway 
Publication: 23rd June 2015 by HarperTeen 
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Genre: Contemporary

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Synopsis: 

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?

Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.
She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.
Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.
He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.
Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?
Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story.




Review:

Emmy & Oliver is a contemporary novel and being a massive fan of contemporaries, I didn't hesitate in picking this book up. The cover was also very minimal (which I liked) and I've read several good reviews about it so why not get my hands on a copy? I got excited reading the synopsis of the book, it was about this two people who were best friends (slash puppy love) until one day, Oliver disappears. But after 10 years, he comes back. I just knew they were going to rekindle their friendship and probably turn it into something more than that... And I was right. I loved that aspect. I have a soft spot for best-friends-turned-into-lovers kind of stories. Their relationship was so new and innocent, I just wanted to put them in a bubble and protect them at all times. 

This book focuses on Romance but I liked how it also touches on friendships and family relationships. Emmy, Caro and Drew, the trio, their friendship are goals, you could never ask for better friends to be honest. They're very loyal to each other. 

Ever since Oliver disappeared, everyone in their town became so panicky and uptight. Emmy's parents are so cool but ever since what happened, they've been strict and cautious. They didn't want to lose her too so they monitored almost everything she does. From curfews, to where she goes and making plans for her after high school. I know they just want her to be safe but what they're doing could be suffocating. I think this is very relatable because some of us here do have strict parents. 

I also felt really bad for Oliver because he is put in this shit of a mess and he didn't even have a say. He's just dragged into a situation and he has to suffer the consequences. He was pulled away from his mother and made him believe that she din’t want him and was left to hurt all those years but then now he’s back things wasn't exactly working out the way they wanted to do. Maureen was expecting her seven year old son to be the same but things are different now that he’s grown up. Being back was like the same thing ten years ago. He had to start all over again. I just wanna hug Oliver because he’s so lost and he doesn’t deserve it.

Okay overall, this book was alright. I didn't hate it but I wouldn't say I'd go around raving about it either. It's not that Emmy & Oliver was horrible, it's not the book, it's me. The book and I just didn't click... My rating for this is three stars. 

// lil makeup haul in the us

One of the things we needed to do whilst we were in America was do a makeup haul. There were more makeup brands + stores available there compared to Ireland so we definitely needed to was take advantage of this opportunity. My sister and I went to Superstition with Nanay (Grandmother) and her friend and going there was like HEAVEN. I was grinning like a Cheshire cat while I was checking every row of makeup. What I really like about Ulta is that you can get drugstore makeup such as NYX, Maybelline, Revlon  and high end makeup such as Urban Decay, Tarte, Smashbox in one store. How handy is that.

The first product I got is the "NYX HD Studio Phototgenic Finishing Powder" I've heard so many good things about a loose setting powder to set the under eye concealer. I'm so excited to give this a try.

The next product I got is the "NYX Proof It! Eyebrow Primer" I haven't seen any reviews about this product but recently when I was with my cousin, Kyra, at Sephora, she recommended me to try the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel but I wasn't really up to spend $22 for a brow gel. I am so excited to give this brow gel a try.

The contoured look is very popular at the moment. So I decided to pick up the "NYX Wonder Stick" and "NYX Conceal. Correct. Contour" and finally try out and see what the hype is all about.

The next two products I got is the "NYX Lip Liner"  in the shade "SPL860 Peekaboo Natural" and "SPL810 Natural" I think I would get a lot of use out of this two lip liner because it's kind of similar to my two favorite MAC lipsticks in the shade "Velvet Teddy" and "Kinda Sexy".

Lastly,  I got the "Precisso Beauty Blending Sponges". Once again, it was recommended by our cousin, Kyra, as she also had the same beauty blender. She said that this was the "best dupe" of the original beauty blender and it was a lot cheaper?! Let us know in the comments below what your favorite makeup brand is and if you've also done a makeup haul. :)

// july wrap-up: book haul

I was really happy with my purchases this month. I usually bought books at Barnes & Noble during my stay in America but then I discovered Amazon Prime. Some of you might think, "What?! That has been around for ages". Unfortunately Ireland isn't blessed with it, the only countries benefitting from Amazon Prime are countries from the UK. I also found about their Prime Day! Where books get discounted and shipped to you in two days. Great bargain plus fast shipping? Sign me up! Okay, so here are the books I bought.

Title: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)

Author: Marissa Meyer 

Publication: 8th of January 2013 by Square Fish

Format: Paperback, 387 pages 

Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalypse

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Title: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)

Author: Marissa Meyer 

Publication: 4th of February 2014 by Square Fish

Format: Paperback, 454 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Title: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)

Author: Marissa Meyer 

Publication: 27th of January 2015 by Square Fish

Format: Paperback, 552 pages 

Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Title: Emmy & Oliver

Author: Robin Benway

Publication: 23rd of June 2015 by HarperTeen

Format: Hardcover, 352 pages

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Title: Every Last Word

Author: Tamara Ireland Stone

Publication: 16th of June 2015 by Disney-Hyperion

Format: Hardcover, 368 pages

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Read my review here.

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Title: The Raven Boys, (The Raven Cycle, #1)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publication: 18th of September 2012 by Scholastic Press

Format: Hardcover, 416 pages

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Title: The Dream Thieves, (The Raven Cycle, #2)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publication: 17th of September 2013 by Scholastic Press

Format: Hardcover, 439 pages

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Title: Blue Lily, Lily Blue, (The Raven Cycle, #3)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater 

Publication: 21st of October 2014 by Scholastic Press

Format: Hardcover, 391 pages

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Title: Throne of Glass, (Throne of Glass, #1)

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publication: 7th of August 2012 by Bloomsbury USA Children's

Format: Hardcover, 404 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Title: An Ember in the Ashes, (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Publication: 28th of April 2015 by Razorbill

Format: Hardcover, 446 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz

Publication: 21st of February 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Format: Hardcover, 368 pages

Genre: LGBT, Contemporary

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

So far, I've read Emmy & Oliver and Every Last Word. If you're wondering if I'm only reading Throne of Glass now, nope, I just bought it again in this cover because I have the very first cover that came out and I wanted it to match lol. Anyway. I wouldn't be able to buy half of these books if it weren't for my grandmother, my mom and my uncle. So thank you so much for buying these books for me because you know how much it makes me happy, you guys are the best. Enough about me, have you read any of the books from my haul? Which books did you get this month? Hope you're having a fun summer and happy reading!

// us holiday wrap-up

We were very lucky to have the opportunity to visit America for a month this summer. Our stay there was truly memorable and is one of the highlights of 2015. We loved it so much that we’re constantly convincing our mother to move there in a few years, ha! It was exciting going to places we’ve never been before, eating at restaurants we’ve never eaten at before and shops we’ve never been to. If you’ve read our older blog posts, you’d know that we’ve been to the most famous landmark in Arizona which is the Grand Canyon and of course the beautiful city of Los Angeles. We were also able to explore the different cities in Arizona such as hip downtown Tempe, to Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale and Phoenix. 

 

Our uncle has actually taken us to one of the night art walks in Tempe. If not mistaken it happens every first Friday of the month. They close off streets and then different art galleries, vintage shops and stalls selling a variety of things and food open up. There was this one art gallery where the woman gave us gum, asked us to chew then spit it out on her hand. She then sticks it onto the wall, it was for her contemporary project. We came across a vintage bookshop which was lovely but surprisingly no book caught my eye so I wasn’t able to buy anything. The atmosphere was amazing. Loads of friends and family came all over Arizona. There was live music, varying from jazz to rap. Different kinds that would suit your taste. One thing I liked the most about Tempe though was their street art and graffiti. It was really beautiful and I wish I could’ve taken more to show you guys.

 

 

 

 

 

We were also able to go to Phoenix Zoo! It’s such a bummer how it’s only open till 2 in the afternoon. We freakin’ walked around the zoo at 12 noon when the sun was at it’s highest and it was scorching hot. In the pictures below you could see some of the animals we saw.

Besides our love at first taste with Chipotle, we also tried Rubio’s Mexican Grill, which according to my uncle was Chipotle’s competition lol. They were both really good! Hanna ordered the grilled mahi-mahi tacos and I got the salsa verde shrimp which was yum! We loved it. They’re both our faves, you could get something from Rubio’s that you wouldn’t get at Chipotle and vice versa. 

We got to try Sonic, which is a drink shop (if you didn’t know!). Our other uncle treated us after we went for a swim. They sell these massive (really good) milkshakes and slurpees which was bomb. So you park your car and you make your order. They then bring your order to you whilst wearing rollerblades, how cool is that? And if it’s ten past in the evening, everything in the menu is half priced. I got the frozen limeade, cherry limeade for Kyra and Oreo milkshake for Hanna. 

And last but not least, we went to Scottsdale to check out Scottsdale Fashion Square and of course go to Sprinkles! If you didn’t know what Sprinkles cupcakes was, you must be living under a rock because I would always see it on tumblr and youtubers always post about it on different on their instagrams and stuff. The cupcakes were a bit pricey but it was worth every frickin’ dollar. This may sound over exaggerated but their cupcakes was out of this world good. Hanna got the Salty Caramel, Vegan Red Velvet for me, Cinnamon Sugar for my aunt and Chai Tea for my Grandma. Hanna and I got sad that our cupcakes was gone so we got more from the cupcake ATM this time (Don’t judge! We ate it the next day) ATM!? For cupcakes!? How adorable is that. It’s also hassle free because you just pay by card. I’ll probably research their recipe and try to recreate it even though I know deep inside it wouldn’t be as good. 

I'm crossing my fingers and toes that we get to go back in America next year and do stuff we weren't able to do during our last stay. I hope you enjoyed reading this post and loved looking at the photos :) 

// review + discussion: every last word by tamara ireland stone

Title: Every Last Word
Author: Tamara Ireland Stone
Publication: 16th of June 2015 by Disney-Hyperion
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Synopsis: 

If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.

Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off. 

Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

Review: 

“Everything’s got something. Some people are just better actors than others.”

I can’t remember the reason why I exactly picked this book up when I was at Barnes & Noble. If not mistaken, I think it was because one of my friends on goodreads added it on her “to be read” list and me being curious as ever, I clicked on the book and was instantly attracted to the minimal and simple cover. Honestly, I don’t regret this purchase! 

It was so different from all the other books that I’ve read. Samantha McCalister, lover of the number 3, words and swimming has OCD. She has no control of the thoughts running on her mind which is quite exhausting and is making her think she’s crazy. Like most people, she tends to overthink things. I loved reading this book because we really get a good insight of what OCD really is and raising awareness that people do suffer from it, even young people. Often times people would be quick to say “Oh yeah I have OCD” but haven’t got a good grasp of what the disorder really is. The story also touches on friendships and I think people my age could really relate to Samantha. She hangs out with a group called the “Eights” and they’ve been friends pretty much since they were in kindergarten. They would be your typical clean-cut jocks in high school which usually were the “cool people” and the “bullies”. She is conscious of what her friends would think in whatever she does or say. Samantha is a good person, but since she cares too much about what her friends thinks, she kinds of just goes with the flow, even if it involves torturing a classmate from middle school just because of stuttering. She felt that she had to fit in or else she’d had no one and nowhere to go. Admit it or not, there is probably a point in our life where we did something to impress our friends or when you’ve just stood there doing nothing even when you saw someone getting bullied. There would also be times where Samantha felt left out in her group of friends and again we’ve all felt left out in our lives at least once. 

But Sam’s character development is something I admire and I’m proud of. She’s far from perfect but she’s a great example to everyone. She got her shit together. She literally conquered her fears and demons. She discovers a healthy therapy which would make her feel better. She learns how to be kind to herself and be brave. She knows her worth now realises her friendship with the Eights was nothing but toxic and finally decides to leave them because she deserves better than the way she’s being treated. She becomes confident and learned how to care less about her friends and what other people think. She starts to stand up for the things she loves, voice out what she thinks and most of all express what she feels instead of keeping it all in. I just want to hug her for all the things she has accomplished. 

And then there’s AJ *swoons*, him and his guitar and his dimples. I love how he gives Samantha a second chance. He brings out the best in Sam and she is a complete different person when she’s with him. I loved he’s so gentle and caring. I just couldn’t help myself from smiling whenever he kisses Sam’s forehead so she would relax whenever she thinks too much. I loved how he doesn’t judge Samantha’s past and supports her in everything. You’ll love him, I promise. 

This book also made me appreciate poetry anymore. I had to learn poetry for school but the poetries in the book I actually enjoyed. They varied from ones about hearbreaks, couches to food. It made me wish I didn't suck at writing poetry hahah. The only thing I hated is the fact that this book is underrated. More people should read this! 10/10 I would recommend this book to everyone. So go ahead and get yourself a copy. Not only is this so interesting, you’ll also learn about a serious mental disorder. My overall rating for this book is 5 stars. Let me know if you read this. Happy reading! 

// day two in los angeles: california adventures

We couldn't be more excited to have new adventures for the day and going to Disney California Adventures is in our agenda. This would be my second time going to Disneyland this year, the first time being in Paris for a school trip and I must say the one in California is bigger and better! The hotel we stayed in wasn't that far from the park which was great. Don't judge okay, some of you probably think I'm a bit old to get all psyched up over this but deep inside I am a kid at heart lol. We had to get tram from the parking lot since it was a bit of walk and we didn't want to spend our energy on walking when we could use it for having fun inside instead. Before we bought our tickets, we headed to the Disney store first because getting Minnie Mouse ears headbands was at the top of Hanna and our cousin, Kyra's to-do list for the day. It was really sunny that day and I was crossing my fingers that I'd finally get a tan.

The park was packed! Waiting time for the rides were 40 minutes to an hour. Hours of standing and walking, but it was all worth it in the end because the rides were so much fun. The first ride we got on was "Grizzly River Run", a ride which involves water and getting soaked! The floaty thing could take up 8 passengers, there was four of us and then four lovely people we didn't know. Here's what it looked like.

Most of the backside of my dress got wet, but it was nothing compared to what happened to Hanna. She didn't put up her shoes like what I did so her converse was literally dripping wet. But oh well, it was only water and it'll eventually dry up since it was hot anyway. Other rides we went on was the Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventures: we sat on a booth which took us to see the highlights from the movie, there were dancing characters and the like as well. Going on California Screamin' was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking at the same time. There were loads of drops and a loop which looks scary just by looking at it but at the end it wasn't actually too bad and we realised it was all just hype. The queue for Toy Story Midway Mania was probably one of the longest, but it was fun and worth it at the end, the ride was interactive, we had to wear 3D glasses and try to aim at the different targets that had different points. Mickey's Fun Wheel was a unique ferris wheel: it had normal gondolas and swinging gondolas. We also went on Silly Symphony Swings and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. 

Here are other photos we took and I hope you enjoy them. Thanks for reading!