L.J. Smith is known for the Vampire Diaries, but she has some other amazing books as well. Dark Visions is one of them. It’s a trilogy which focus on Kaitlyn Fairchild, who has psychic abilities and is believed to be a witch. She’s offered a place at the Zete’s institute along with the other 4 top psychic teenagers in the country. While there she and the other students uncover a plan to use their abilities as a weapon and spend the next two books trying to escape and defeat the head of the Zete’s Institute, Mr. Zetes.

I really loved these books when I read them, they’re YA books and I went through a phase a few years ago where I was obsessed with Supernatural YA books. This is one of the few books I kept from that phase, and one of the even fewer that I’ve made the time to reread.

My Final Verdict: I definitely recommend this for my younger readers. The trilogy is probably just a bit longer than the longest Harry Potter book, but doesn’t drag at any point.It’s a quick and fluid read.

This week’s outfit is a Cable Knit Sweater from Macy’s, Black H&M pants and Red booties from Old Navy.

How is wearing a Glow in the dark Boo Tee from Martha Stewart’s Petsmart line.

On My Face: Nars Sheer Glow in Siberia, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla, Nars Blush in Deep Throat, Lancome Shadows, Benefit’s Watts Up, Benefit’s They’re Real and Pomme Cider lipgloss from BBW.

My bracelets are two Da Vinci charm bracelets, available at Hallmark Stores and my Alex & Ani October Birthstone Bracelet.

These booties are very recent from Old Navy, they actually still have them. My best friend got these for me as a belated birthday present and I kinda really adore them. Despite the heel they’re really comfortable and I love the way they look.

 From my parents I got the Deborah Lippmann She’s Always A Woman which has My Prerogative, Putty In Your Hands and Raspberry Beret and a Harry Potter Tee Shirt. I’ve already had to wash the shirt twice I’ve worn it so much. My little brother bought me my two childhood favorite movies on DVD, which I’m really excited to watch. From my sister I got a spangly pen that has a lid that screws on instead of clicks which is awesome because I’ve been looking for a pen that I don’t have to worry about in my purse, and an m&m’s ornament (not pictured). My grandmother got me a Mulled Cider Candle set that smells amazing.  And last but not least from members of my family my aunt Heather gave me a pumpkin cinnamon lotion from bath and body works that smells absolutely amazing.

My best friend O gave me the Harry Potter Boxed set that has all 8 movies, which I am insanely excited about because I haven’t even seen the last 2 yet. So I’m crazy excited to watch them all! Now I don’t have to rely on ABC Family for my The Harry Potter Weekends!

My son gave me a lovely necklace that has a heart and a key on it, and spiced Pumpkin Latte Philosophy Soap, he also gave me a fake rose (not pictured) because I love them but am allergic to real ones and the snuggliest socks ever (also not pictured).

Then from my Husband I got the Red Pajamas and Slippers, which per our tradtion he gave to me on Christmas Eve, the Victoria Secret Tote and perfume, lipgloss, lotion that was the promo this year, Lancôme‘s Flirty Red, a bunch of mini hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works. He also gave me the best smelling candles from Bath and Body Works, London Calling which smells like tea and lemon and I may never burn it because it smells so good, and Moroccan Market which smells spicy and smokey. He also gave me Lancôme‘s Holiday Beauty Set the Champagne version I’ll insert a picture of everything at the end. And for my Big Present he got me an iPad and Kate Spade case for it which I’m absolutely in love with, and that is a big reason why this post is late. I’ve spent way to many hours playing the Brave version of Temple Run and Tiny Tower. I’m a bit ashamed that I’ve only been playing it again (I had it on my phone until it crashed and wouldn’t work again) for 3 days and I’m already to floor 17.

Inside the Lancôme gift set:

 It has 3 eye shadows, 2 lipsticks, 2 lip glosses, eyeliner, 2 brushes, eye makeup remover, mascara, and a small Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate Serum.  

I jused it for my makeup look on my husbands birthday and I’m absolutely in love.

That’s roughly everything I got for Christmas, and if you got me something and it’s not pictured or mentioned it just means I already put it way or to use, and I promise I’m just as grateful and thankful for that item as I am everything else I received.

On January first I’ll be starting a new project on my blog that I’ve mentioned I thought about before and am very excited for so come back then to see what that is. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and have a Safe but Fun New Years, and I’ll see you next year!

I got this off of amazon and I kinda really love it. It makes me super happy every time I see it in my bag which is often, because it’s just so silly.

Inside my Sushi Pouch I have all my most used lip products:

From left to right they are: Jouer gloss in Birchbox Pink, Tarte Lipsurgance in Joy, Vapour Elixir Gloss in Enigma, Lancome Juicy Tube in Coral Rush (Similar), Beauty Rush lipgloss in Cherry Bomb(New Packaging), Chanel Glossimer in #60 Satinette (Similar), Liplicious lip gloss in Strawberry Meringue (Similar), C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in Cinnamint, Dermatologica Clean Start Smart Mouth Lip Shine in Original, Liz Earle Superbalm.

 The bottom row is: Covergirl Lip Perfection in #305 Hot, Lancome Rouge In Love #156B Madame Tulip, Lancome Rouge In Love #128M Ever So Sweet, Urban Decay De Slick Shine Control Setting Spray (Similar) and my Travelo filled with Burberry Brit for women.

I’ve swatched all the lip products that don’t go on clear.

First is Lipglosses:

From Left to Right: Jouer Lipgloss in Birchbox Pink, Vapour Lipgloss in Enigma, Lancome Juicy Tube in Coral Rush, Beauty Rush Gloss in Cherry Bomb, Chanel Glossimer in #60 Satinette.

Tarte Lipsurgence in Joy, Lancome Rouge In Love in #128M Ever So Sweet, Lancome Rouge in Love #156B in Madame Tulipe, Covergirl Lip Perfection in #305 Hot.

As you can see I clearly have a lip product problem. I can’t help it, sometimes I start out the day wearing one color, and then decide midday I want to use a different one, I’m just super indecisive.  The only time I commit to a color all day is if I’m using one of the lipsticks because I like ones that stay put. These are definitely my most used favorites and I keep them with me so if I do decide to change the one I’m wearing I have what I want on hand.

What are your most used lippies?

My Bag is from Baghaus and it was a birthday present last year so I’m pretty sure they don’t sell it any more but it’s by Urban Expressions. It has 2 large zipper compartments, and one in the front under the buckles, 2 little pockets on the inside of the front large compartment, a zipper one in the back large compartment, and 2 side pockets that snap.

The larger items I keep in my bag are my Keep Calm and Carry On blog book from Barnes and Noble and Moleskin Pen, Kenneth Cole Reaction Wallet (Similar), Sushi Makeup pouch, Kate Spade Glasses, Nook Simple Touch with Kate Spade cover (sold out but they still have Jack Spade Covers) and my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Band aid box.

A close up of the little things you can’t see:

Lancome Hand lotion (free gift with purchase), Liz Earle Hand Repair, Thymes Eucalyptus body lotion from a birchbox, OPI Black Onyx, Mirror that was a Christmas Gift from a friend, 2 Halloween Bath and Body Works PocketBacs , and a neat square hand Sanitizer my husband brought me home from work, ring from ColorMe.com (which now seems to be defunct) and Earrings from Charlotte Russe.

I hate being anywhere without something to read and since my phone isn’t nook app friendly (not enough space!) I keep my nook with me. The glasses are for reading only, and I absolutely adore them. They’re black on the outside and have pink polka dots on the inside. I think the blog book is self explanatory. If it’s not, there’s a post explaining it here. The band aid box is a relic from when my husband and I started dating, I cut my finger while we were out and he bought me ninja turtle band aid’s because nothing soothes a paper cut like Michelangelo.  The wallet I got for Mother’s Day from my husband because I hated the one I had more about that here. The Nail Polish is just random, thrown in when I meant to paint my nails at a friends house but ended up being to busy to. The Pocketbacs should be obvious. The Jewelry I had on one day and it was getting on my nerves so I tossed them in my purse. Which brings us to the lotions. I’m a knitter, and if you don’t keep your hands moisturized you can get calluses which I don’t want so I’ve got lots of lotions stashed everywhere.

I’m actually going to be doing a post on what is in my Sushi pouch tomorrow because I don’t want this post to get too long or too link happy.  If you’re wondering where all my makeup-y things are, I’ll give you until tomorrow to guess.

• First of all you’ll need a favorite blanket, it could be a cuddly throw you knit yourself, or bought (V.S. Pink usually has some cute ones), or whatever blanket you have that is the schnuggliest. You want to stay warm when your sick and it’s better if your blanket makes you really happy. I have one that I use only when I’m sick, which I think makes it more special. 
• You’ll need your schnuggliest, coziest, cutest sweats or pajamas. Just because you’re ill doesn’t mean your loungewear can’t be adorable, the better you look, the better you feel, and if you’re feeling cute in your sweats, with your hair in a top knot or alice band, you’ll feel better about yourself. And there is plenty of extremely comfortable adorable loungewear/pajamas out there. I recommend Gilly Hicks for that
• Next you’ll need a cute cup to drink water or ginger ale from. Staying hydrated is really important when your sick and it definitely helps if you’re using a super cute tumbler cup. Mine is a polka dot one from Hallmark, but I really want to get one of the Elle and Blair ones from Glitzy Glam. I love the monogramming and they’re really cute, especially the polka dot ones, and the stripey straws you can buy to go with them instead of the plain clear straw. 
• I also have a special soup bowl, it’s red and shaped like an over-sized mug and it says soup all the way around it. This isn’t necessary, but you’re favorite soup is, chicken soup is best but really whatever soup is your favorite will do. 
• You’re also going to need a good movie or a few of them. My personal sick day favorites are Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Easy A. Those are all movies I’ve seen so many times that I can watch them while drifting in and out of sleep and I don’t feel like I’ve missed anything. 
• I’m also really fond of having a candle burning, usually I can’t smell it so I pick a cheap one that doesn’t have much scent anyways so I don’t feel like I’m wasting it, but still the burning candle makes me feel cozier.
• Before you settle in you’ll need to make sure you have your cup filled to the brim, and you have tissues (I prefer puffs plus lotion because a nose in need deserves puffs indeed), chapstick, lotion, hand sanitizer (bath and body works do the best ones), and a small trashcan or bag so you don’t have to keep getting up to throw away your tissues.
• Finally you’ll need an activity, I like to knit, usually something that I don’t need a pattern for. If you knit you know what I mean, there are things like a simple plan scarf you don’t need a pattern for because you’ve done the stitches so many times your hands just seem to know what to do. I also like to read, and listen to music. You want an activity that you enjoy, but one that if you fall asleep doing it or need to leave as it is so you can go to sleep it won’t be ruined.
• Then you just need to snuggle into your favorite spot, whether it’s a large arm chair, the sofa, or your own bed and you’re set.

Obviously, I vary how I spend the day each time I’m sick, since I’m usually ill for at least a week, but this is mostly what I do. In the winter, if I’m feeling especially poorly I’ll add in a cute schnuggly scarf and mittens, even sometimes a hat, and the pajama’s of boots (UGGS), and unless it’s summer or really hot outside, I bundle myself like that if I have to go to the doctor. The more frivolous you are with your routine, the happier you’ll be. I also have a pillow pet, a pink unicorn that I schnuggle with on especially yucky days.