Makeup Review #2

 

 

 

These are the Isadora Color Shock glossy lip stains. They cost 129kr which is about $20. Yes Sweden is expensive when it comes to makeup even if it’s drugstore, trust me on this. Anyway! I got these on sale, they were 50kr but then everything on that shelf was half off so I got them for 25kr and so I got them all.

 

 

There are five different colors:

48 - Chic Coral

50 - Diva Pink

52 - Foxy Fuschia

54 - Cabaret Red

56 - Vintage Wine

 

The packaging is nice, doesn’t feel cheap at all and the tube has the color of the actual lip color which I like, then you know which color you’re taking without having to read the name of it. Now I gotta say, be careful when you apply this, it is highly pigmented and this is not a product you just slap on and then you’re good to go, you need to be careful. It lasts for a long time as well which I approve of, it starts of really opaque and when it fades it fades into a nice stain that stay on your lips for a while, you may have to touch up depending on what you eat and drink though, "oily" food will take it off. I once put it on quite early one day and I still had it on in the evening and the next morning I actually had some color left but around the edges of my mouth, so this is powerful stuff! You might want to be careful because this product can bleed so I would recommend using a lipliner first just so it doesn’t bleed out, that ain’t pretty, but if you sheer it out with your finger or use a brush then you’ll be fine.

 

All in all this is an awesome product, I really like it, it doesn’t dry out the lips at all and it lasts for a long time and if you can get a good deal on it then go for it, even if you don’t I say it’s still worth the money.

 

Rating:

Anime review #1

"The story takes place in the "ideal" and perfect city known as "No.6". Shion, a boy raised in the elite and privileged environment of his home, gives shelter to another boy, who only gives his name as Nezumi ("Rat") on the former's 12th birthday. What Shion soon discovers is how drastically life will change after meeting with the mysterious Nezumi, in whom he had saved one unforgettable, stormy night." - Wikipedia

Title: NO.6

Creator: Atsuko Asano
Studio: Bones
Episodes: 11
Genres: Adventure, drama, psychological, science fiction - ANN
Themes: Dystopia, post apocalyptic, shounen-ai, yaoi - ANN

Published: 2011

Production

The animations are beautifully done and well accompanied with the suiting music. Bones is probably know for their doings on Ouran High School Host Club, Wolf's Rain, Eureka Seven, Scrapped Princess, Fullmetal Alchemist and Soul Eater. Some scenes can be seen "badly" shaded and made, but are often followed/preceded by extra detailed scenes. It's nothing that brings the enjoyment down though. 

I got to say that the choice of voice actors is amazing. Kaji Yuuki as Shion got to be the most arousing thing I've heard in anime story - then again, I've not even heard the BL CD he has done. Hosoya Yoshimasa as Nezumi is no joke either. It's been a long time since I've heard voice actors that suit their characters this perfectly, especially when Yoshimasa can sing too. Once you've come to the part where he starts singing, you will get goosebumps. The ones voicing Inukashi and Rikiga do their parts really well too, seeing that their characters are a bit out of our own world. 

The opening is a song that takes some listens to get used to and after that, either love it or hate it. LAMA does a really good job on this song in my opinion. First time I heard it, I thought it was a bit annoying, but after watching the opening every episode, I fell in love. 
On the other hand, the ending is something you got to love. Aimer sings the piece with ease and the ending itself is beautiful. There's barely any animation in it yet it captures the moments we never got to see and our imagination like it's always been there. When it ends, you want more.

SPOILER ALERT!

Best part
For me, the best part is when we get to see them dancing together, leaving all worries and problems behind them for a moment. Another scene I love dearly is when Shion is standing up against Nezumi, showing Nezumi that he also can do this and that he's not going to drag Nezumi down. 
Actually, I love the whole series and no scene is better than others, but those two are the ones that captured my heart extra. There's some others too, but more and it'll spoil too much.

Worst part
Worst part... hard question, but it got to be the ending. The story itself is based on a 9 book novel and fitting everything in a 11 episodes long anime is tricky. Bones did a good job though and packed the bag nicely too. It doesn't stray too far from the original ending, but it is indeed different.  

Rating

After reading this, I guess the rating might speak of itself? I watched the series in a row, spent the whole afternoon/evening finishing it and I couldn't get enough. I suggest you watch the anime first and then read the novel - you can find a fan-translation here. After that, you can read the manga. As the manga is currently being officially published, only around 20 chapters is available on the internet. You totally won't regret buying the manga though. 
I strongly recommend the novel.

Book Review #5

Title: Wither

Author: Lauren Destefano

Pages: 368

Genre: Dystopia, romance

Published: 2011

 

Summary:

Trying to create the perfect human race has lead to men dying at age 25 and women die at 20. Girls are being abducted at a young age and sold of into marriages to keep humanity ahead of the disease that is killing them.

 

Rhine is one of the girls being kidnapped and she is sold as well as two other girls to Linden, who is a rich man with a dying wife. She is desperate to escape this place even though he is very nice to her. She then meets the servant Gabriel who she is attracted to  and she is determined to escape in what time she has left to find her brother.

 
Writing:
This book is written from Rhine's point of view so we get to follow her throughout the book. You get the feeling that you get to know her more, know her thoughts and feelings and I actually kind of like these sort of books (but I love any kind of books).

 

SPOILER ALERT!

 

Best Part:

For me the best part of the book was actually two parts. I like the part where Gabriel and Rhine got time to talk to each other and laugh and he would sneak June beans to her and it was just SO SWEET. I love him! He is so nice to her, he hides the candy under her napkin or her spoon and he brought an atlas and showed her the river that had her name and when they KISSED! Oh lord I was squealing inside my head of happiness.

 

The second part was the end of this first book when Rhine was sneaking out of the mansion to meet Gabriel and run away. The head cook had given her hot chocolate and then she meet Gabriel and they ran together to the gates and when it felt like they were doomed another servant, the new one, ran to them with a key card and opened the gates for them telling her that her sister wife Cecily sent him to help her and they both ran away together, hand in hand. That part was wonderful, I could imagine it how it would look like and then they go to the 24/7 movie theater and she fell asleep and he said she was cute like AAH! *fangirl* and then they took a boat and are going far away from the mansion.

 

 

Worst part:

The worst part was, it’s not bad, it was just I felt what Rhine felt, kinda. The first part was when she hadn’t seen Gabriel for days and so she went down to the kitchen to ask them and when they said they hadn’t seen him since he was called down to the basement I panicked just like Rhine, it was AWFUL, for me at least.

 

Second was every time that Linden’s father Vaughn came in the book. He is an AWFUL, AWFUL man! I was so annoyed every time he spoke because Linden was tricked by his father and he doesn’t know it so he is living a “good” life thinking the three girls were in a marriage school preparing for this sort of stuff which isn’t true and oh my goodness will it ever end?

 

 

Rating:

It was a very good book but it wasn’t: “oh my god this is the best ever”. It is entertaining and leaves you wondering what will happen next and the cute moments that are in this book just makes it better.

Book review #4

Title: Fifty Shades of Grey

Author: E L James

Pages: 514

Genre: Adult Fiction, Romance, Erotica

Published: 2012

 

Summary:

WARNING MATURE CONTENT IN THE BOOK!

This book is about Anastasia who is doing an interview of Christian Grey for her best friend who couldn’t do it. Although she didn’t want to she finds this man to be interesting and she is drawn to this beautiful man. Christian feels the same that he wants her but on his conditions. He wants her to sign a contract where he they meet on his terms and it has no feelings involved in the contract. However, Ana feels that she needs more and wonders why he can’t have a relationship and has a need of demand.

 

 

Writing:

The writing somehow, to me, felt a bit…how should I put it, fanfiction-ish. If you’ve read fanfictions or scenarios you know what I mean. It was as if a teenager around 15+ was writing her fanfiction and was being all giggly and didn’t know exactly which words to use or how to phrase certain things, don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad writing, I just feel that it could’ve been more mature since it is an adult fiction. Certain things really got to me and annoyed THE CRAP out of me like: “My inner goddess”. I CAN’T tell you how many times Anastasia said it in the book, it’s okay if she said it three times at the most throughout the book but she said it so many times that it bothered me and it felt like I was watching one of those Gilette commercials where they sing “I’m your Venus, I’m your fire, Your desire” and no, please tell me she does not say it as often in the other two books. Second, “down there”, seriously? It’s an adult fiction! Write the words for the “hoo-haa” instead of down there, I understand that this girl was a virgin and never explored on her own and such but come on. She can’t be that ashamed that she can’t even say the word of her own “vagaygay”.

 

 

SPOILER ALERT!

 

Best part:

I do like this book I really do, if you take away all the sex scenes, which would be like 90% of the book, it would be quite a good love story. Though, being the typical giggly girl who can’t take sex scenes seriously in books, I thought they were the best parts because I laughed so much, not out loud but quiet to myself. No, I am not that person that gets turned on by reading dirty stuff in books but those scenes are funny. I don’t mean funny as in haha he whipped her clitoris or haha she’s never done this and is nervous, it’s more when I read the description and I picture it in my head I just laugh, I can’t explain it better, if you’re like my you understand.

 

Worst:

I don’t have a specific scene for this part but what I don’t like is some minor things about Anastasia. She can really get on my nerves at some points throughout the books because the things that she feels, or think and such just annoy me to the marrow of my bone because she has feelings for Mr. Grey there is no doubt yet there are moments where she doesn’t like the idea of just having sex without any feelings involved from his side and yet she endures it to be with him because otherwise she goes mad and has these sex dreams about him and then again feels that there should be more and tries to learn more about him. Yet in the end she decided to leave him, it was her decision from the start to sign the contract and now it’s not right yet I’ve spoiled for myself and now what happens in the second book, hehe but still. She can be a bit annoying. Now I’m not saying Mr. Grey is flawless, oh no he is not, but at least he has his reasons for being dominant and having those control needs. I just think Anastasia is a bit confused.

 

 

Rating:

This book was good but not amazing and since Anastasia got on my nerves a bit too much I thought it wasn't as enjoyable as it could've been. If you're underaged DO NOT read these books!

 

Book Review #3

 

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Pages: 487

Genre: Dystopian, romance

Published: 2012

 

Summary:

At the age of 16 boys and girls are gathered to the Choosing Ceremony where they are going to choose which faction they will be. They take aptitude tests to see where they belong; dauntless, candor, abnegation, amity and erudite. Once they choose they cannot go back and worst case scenarios you might end up factionless. Beatrice’s test results were inconclusive and she doesn’t know which faction to choose; stay in abnegation or take a different path.

 

 

Writing:

The story is from Tris’ point of view. We follow her throughout the book and the way it is written makes it a lot more interesting. It’s like you’re following her, as if there were cameras around that followed her and she’s talking to you telling about how she feels and what she sees. I like this kind of writing because you somehow feel closer to the character this way.

 

 

Best part:

For me, I loved their “training” when they first arrived as Dauntless. They had to train and make sure they got good scores and those who were at the bottom would be “kicked out” and become factionless and this part was filled with action and drama and it was just exciting to read all about it. You got to know the rest of the people who were there and what it’s like to live there and it was just interesting to read it.

 

 

Worst part:

Honestly, there wasn’t anything in particular that bothered me or was “bad” to read about, nothing made me feel that I couldn’t continue reading the book so I don’t have much to say on this part, he he ^^;;

 

 

Rating:

 

This book is freakin AMAZING! Read it and do it NOW. It is filled with action, drama and a bit of romance and it’s not boring at all and you will be hooked!

Book Review #2

Title: Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner

Pages: 374

Genre: Dystopian

Published: 2009

 

Summary:

Every month a new boy is delivered in a lift. This time it was Thomas, he has no memory at all, no recollection of his home, parents or how he got here. When he is out of the lift he is welcomed to the Glade which is surrounded by a maze and the boys know just as much as him; every morning stone doors open up and every night the doors close. There are kids of different ages and none of them have any memories of their past.

 

The next day, something happens, a girl has arrived in the lift, this has never happened before and then there’s a message she delivers. The gladers are now convinced that if they can solve the maze, they might find their way home but it’s very difficult and more things are starting to happen. Thomas feels somehow that he knows her; that he might have some answers, if only he could know how to work out his own mind.

 

 

Writing:

The writing is very good, the details make it easier to picture it all so you can be in that world and it’s written in a narrative way so it’s not from a characters point of view but it is following Thomas, so you get to know him more and how he feels. It is written in a way that makes it easy to get into the book just after the first few pages and you will be captivated.

 

 

SPOILER ALERT!

 

 

Best part:

The best part was when they started to figure out the maze and decided to run out into the maze and find the exit, not only that but the doors had stopped closing and so much had happened so they then decided that they all would go out into the maze and fight for their lives and their freedom. It was so exciting! So much action was filled throughout that scene and so many emotions I just couldn’t put down the book for a second and when they actually found the spot where they had to jump and when they made it more stuff started to happen and there was action all the time and so many emotions.

 

 

Worst part:

The part that made me panic was when they were going to through Gally out into the maze. The way it was described in the book, plus the song I had on repeat, which was dramatic, made it all ten times worse. To have a “noose” around your neck at the end of a long pipe and be out in the maze while the others are holding that pipe so you can’t run away is just awful, and then doors were closing and he was begging for his life, I seriously felt like I was in that book and saw it all and the panic that grew inside me, I had to take a moment before I continued to read. It was just awful, I know they followed “their rules” and such but oh my God, this was definitely the scariest part of the book.

 

 

 

Rating:

 

This book was amazing! It was thrilling, exciting, kept you on the edge and just good. It had actions and he didn’t drag on and write unnecessary things, the descriptions of the scenes were enough to make you picture it in your head and there weren’t too many dialogues that were about things to just fill in the pages, instead they had meaning to them and overall this is a must-read.

Music review #1

로이킴 (Roy Kim) - Love  Love  Love

I have always been a big fan of ballads and similar - or more like songs with a ballad-ish feeling. I discovered Roy Kim by accident when I searched for different Korean songs to cover (oh yeah, I more than frequently sing covers) and when I heard this song I remembered that I had actually listened to his other song, Bom Bom Bom, but of course that was something that I had forgotten.

This song has a really sweet sound and Roy's soothing and rich voice makes the song even more sweet. The choruses are addicting and the verses build up the song's story really well (unless you have missed the point of the song, it is indeed a love song♥). In my opinion, the song starts out a bit hesitating and without confidence - like a boy in love and hiding from his crush. As the song moves on, the boy goes from showing small, subtle signs of affection to showing it openly and maybe know that the feeling is mutual. The ending choruses sound so more forward and happy compared to the other ones. The last "love love love"'s make the song end smooth and make it sound like a conclusion of a happy love story.
It is in short a simple and clean pop-ballad that delivers the meaning of the song really well.

The music video is incredibly cute too and not to mention that he is handsome~ I like the fact that they use lives with audience instead of a drama music video or a simple one-man video. It makes everything even more lovely.

Rating: 
For a pop-ballad, this is really clean and hits the mark perfectly. The voice and video matches really well with the theme of the song  - even if a drama music video would have worked well too. Seeing artists interact with their fans always make things more down to earth.