Lifestyle – Page 10 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Lifestyle

Book Review | Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu

Posted on August 9, 2016August 4, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu

Published by Roaring Book Press on September 20, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Format: eARC

Pages: 320

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★★

When Caroline’s little brother is kidnapped, his subsequent rescue leads to the discovery of Ethan, a teenager who has been living with the kidnapper since he was a young child himself. In the aftermath, Caroline can’t help but wonder what Ethan knows about everything that happened to her brother, who is not readjusting well to life at home. And although Ethan is desperate for a friend, he can’t see Caroline without experiencing a resurgence of traumatic memories. But after the media circus surrounding the kidnappings departs from their small Texas town, both Caroline and Ethan find that they need a friend–and their best option just might be each other.

REVIEW

After reading Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu earlier this year, I knew I had to read her new release Afterward, and was very excited to receive a review copy from the publisher. Afterward immediately gripped me with its story. We follow a dual perspective between two teenagers, Caroline and Ethan. Caroline’s younger brother was kidnapped, and when the police find him, another boy, Ethan, who had gone missing four years ago was discovered in the same home. Caroline desperately wants to find out what happened to Dylan, her brother, during the days he was gone. Dylan is autistic, and cannot communicate with words, but it is clear he suffered from something very traumatic. Thus, Caroline makes it her mission to befriend Ethan to see if she can help Dylan.

When you pair this fascinating story with Mathieu’s writing style, you are in for a real treat. I really love how Mathieu’s writing captivates me as a reader. There is something so easy about the writing – it is not overly flowery, but it’s also not too simplistic. The writing flows really well and keeps me turning pages quickly to find out what happens next in the story. Plus, I was sucked into the plot from page one because I, just like Caroline, wanted to know what Ethan and Dylan went through with their kidnapper.

Moreover, I really appreciate the research that I can tell went into this novel. I can feel how the story comes to life with the careful attention to detail, and the effort Mathieu puts in to create an authentic story. For example, it meant a lot to me that Dylan has low-functioning autism, and that it is represented very well. It is rare to see autistic characters in books, and I think it is important to create awareness and build empathy through the stories we read. Similarly, I think it was great that we got to see how Ethan and his family are rebuilding their lives with the help of therapists. Although what Ethan goes through is extremely rare, getting a glimpse into his therapy sessions normalizes it for others who may be afraid to seek help.

The only thing I did not enjoy so much about Afterward is the ending. I was a bit underwhelmed with it, as I expected the story to go one way, but instead it focuses on something else. While I won’t discuss this in detail due to spoilers, I do want to mention that I wish the book went a bit deeper into what Ethan went through during his four years in captivity.

That being said, I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it. If you are looking for a gripping young adult contemporary that is not focused on romance, Afterward is a great choice. I fell in love with the characters and cared so deeply for them from page one. I know I will continue to pick up the books that Mathieu writes in the future, as they are truly something different in the young adult section today.

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Book Review | Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Posted on August 4, 2016August 4, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Published by Delacorte Press on April 5, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: ARC

Pages: 336

Source: Giveaway

Goodreads: ★★★★

Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

Julie Buxbaum mixes comedy and tragedy, love and loss, pain and elation, in her debut YA novel filled with characters who will come to feel like friends.

REVIEW

Young adult contemporary novels are definitely one of my favorite genres to read, especially in the summer months. I absolutely loved the synopsis of Tell Me Three Things, and was beyond excited when I won a giveaway for a copy of the book. The story follows teenager Jessie as she starts at a new school. Her father recently remarried, and Jessie has to deal with moving across the country all while she is still coping with the death of her mother. Jessie begins receiving anonymous emails from a Somebody Nobody (SN) with advice on how to navigate her new high school, and she needs to decide whether to trust this mysterious person.

I really enjoyed my read of Tell Me Three Things. The story idea is a lot of fun, especially Jessie’s emails with SN. Unfortunately, I found the story to be extremely predictable. I knew who SN was the first time we meet him in the book, but I was still glad for Jessie to discover who he is. I also felt like Jessie trusted SN much quicker than she should have. At first she is quite hesitant, but then she suddenly begins texting him personal information. I wish we saw SN gain Jessie’s trust a bit more.

Moreover, I think the author does an excellent job of writing the high school experience, as it was done in a very realistic way. Bullying does play a role in the book, and I think it was handled really well. In addition, we see Jessie struggling to keep the relationship with her best friend from home alive all while making friends at her new school. Overall, Buxbaum handles high school culture well, and I think any reader of this book will notice and appreciate that.

My favorite part of Tell Me Three Things is definitely the relationships Jessie has with the people in her life, and how they grow and change over time. Jessie’s familial relationships with her dad, stepmom, and stepbrother all evolve over the course of the novel, and so do Jessie’s friendships. Of course, Jessie gets herself in some romantic situations as well. I loved seeing how she related to all the other characters.

All in all, Tell Me Three Things is a quick and enjoyable read, and one that I recommend if you like contemporary stories. While I do wish it wasn’t as predictable, I think the story is so cute and heartwarming. I will definitely keep my eye on any books that Buxbaum publishes in the future!

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July Lifestyle Favorites!

Posted on August 2, 2016July 27, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I can’t believe August is here and it’s time to share with you everything I loved in the month of July. This year is just flying by for me! I feel like each month ends before I can register it is beginning. Nonetheless, I discovered some new-to-me products this month that I am really loving, and I also have an older product I want to share as well. It’s time to jump right into the favorites!

NAIL POLISH

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics – Chlorophyll [BUY]

I love this green nail polish! It is perfect for any time of year, and goes well with my skin tone. Chlorophyll is not available for purchase any longer, but I linked OCC’s nail polish collection above if you would like to see what is currently available!

MAKEUP

elf Baked Highlighter in Moonlight Pearls [BUY]

I also purchased some products from elf this month that I’ll be sharing in a haul post later this week. One of my favorites so far is a highlighter that is surprisingly high quality for just $4.00! I wanted a new highlighter that is almost a gold shade, but would fit my fair complexion well. Moonlight Pearls is just perfect! I would be happy to share a full review if you are interested.

BODY CARE

The Body Shop Mango Body Scrub [BUY]

I’ve been using The Body Shop scrubs for about six months now, and my favorite of all the varieties I’ve tried is the Mango. Not only does it smell amazing, but the texture is really nice, too. I love when a scrub is abrasive enough that it removes dead skin cells, but doesn’t feel painful. That is exactly what you get with this one!

FOOD

Dates

I tried dates for the first time in July, and I’ve quickly become obsessed with them! I now understand why people refer to dates as “nature’s candy.” They are gooey and sweet, and remind me of caramel! I eat around 4-6 each day as snacks in between my meals, or as dessert. They are delicious and nutritious!

ETSY SHOP

Cricket Paper Co. [SHOP]

My new favorite Etsy Sticker Shop for planner stickers is Cricket Paper Co. This shop makes kits specifically for the planner I use, the Erin Condren Horizontal, but is also quite affordable. A two-page kit costs $6.00, which is a steal compared to competitor shops. Plus, the kits include the stickers that I actually use in each spread. I will definitely be back to this shop for more!

APP

Disney Emoji Blitz

I decided to get this new game from Disney after seeing it on Good Morning America and online. It’s basically a Bejeweled style game with Disney characters! It’s a ton of fun, and it’s free, so I recommend getting it if you like these types of games.

That wraps up my favorites for the month of July! As always please share what you are currently loving with me in the comments, or on social media with the hashtag #PolishlandFaves. Is there a new nail polish you recommend? A great book you just read? Be sure to let me know!

Upcoming Adventures | August Blog Chat

Posted on July 31, 2016July 19, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! August will be here tomorrow, and I want to give you a sneak peek to what you will see on Adventures in Polishland next month. Things will be changing ever so slightly, so make sure to keep reading to find out what my upcoming adventures are for August!

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I’ve been sharing more food photos than I normally do. The reason for this is because I’ve changed my eating habits! I decided to make the switch to a vegan lifestyle about a month and a half ago now. The food was the first, and easiest, thing for me to change. I was already a vegetarian, and so all I had to do was stop consuming dairy, eggs, and honey. I am surprised at how easy this change has been for me! I used to eat copious amounts of cheese every single day, but after two weeks I wasn’t craving it at all. I’m feeling great, and am making sure to eat my daily nutrient requirements.

What does this mean for my blog? Well, part of being vegan means not using any products that are tested on animals or contain animal products as far as is possible and practical. That means that from now on I will no longer be featuring non-vegan products on my blog. The only exception to this are my empties posts, in which I will share the non-vegan products I used up during each month, as I am slowly using up the things I already own instead of throwing them away. Otherwise, my blog content will not change at all. You will still get my regular beauty posts and lifestyle posts, and I bet that you wouldn’t have noticed much of a change at all if I wasn’t telling you! However, I wanted to share this lifestyle change with you so you’ll understand why some of my once favorite products and brands will not be on my blog any longer.

I hope that you will continue to read and enjoy Adventures in Polishland! I will not be preaching a vegan lifestyle, nor will I be mentioning veganism all the time. I will still focus on Adventures in Polishland’s mantra as well, which is living a fabulous and affordable life. It will just so happen that all of the products I use from now on will be vegan. I hope that makes sense!

Moreover, I am also making an effort to share more lifestyle posts on Tuesday and Thursdays. I love writing book reviews, but I do want to diversify my content for you. This will include food, games, fashion, travel, or anything else I happen to be enjoying in my life. If you have any requests or questions for me, you can feel free to let me know in the comments!

That wraps up my August Blog Chat! I hope you are as excited as I am for the next chapter of not only my blog’s life, but my life, too. Here’s to a great August!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn Recipe | Vegan Snack Idea

Posted on July 28, 2016July 7, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I’m excited to bring you a new recipe, as it’s been quite a while since I shared one here on the blog. I recently posted a photo of my popcorn on Instagram, and quickly got a question about the recipe. This Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn is super tasty, but it’s beyond easy to make. It also happens to be vegan! I decided back in June that I was going to transition to a vegan lifestyle, and the first thing I did was change my food. I’m slowly transitioning all of my beauty products, skincare, and clothing, but will share more about that in the future. Today it’s all about the delicious popcorn that I like to enjoy as dessert, so let’s jump into the recipe!

Remember how I told you this recipe is super easy? All you need is two ingredients and your microwave and you’re good to go!

The two ingredients are popcorn and Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter. You can use any brand of popcorn you like. I love the Pop Secret Popping Corn because it’s 100% all natural popping corn without any added ingredients whatsoever. You can also use your choice of peanut butter flavor, or perhaps even a chocolate hazelnut spread!

I also use the Nordic Ware Microwave Popcorn Popper to make my popcorn. I received this for Christmas this past year, and it is such an amazing kitchen gadget. It allows you to make popcorn in the microwave without purchasing the ready-made bags. It’s also super affordable at under $10! If you love popcorn, I highly recommend getting this popper. It’s much less hassle than shaking a pan over the stove top.

The first step is to make the popcorn. I go by the directions on my Nordic Ware Popper, and use 1/3 cup of popcorn. I microwave it for about 1 minute 30 seconds, and then stop the microwave to give the popper a shake before microwaving it for 1 minute more. This helps to pop almost all the kernels without any of them burning. Of course, our microwaves vary so make sure to stop the microwave when there are 1-2 seconds between pops.

Once the popcorn is done, I take 2 Tablespoons of peanut butter and place it in a microwave safe dish. I microwave it for 30 seconds, and then stop to stir it before microwaving it for another 30 seconds. This liquifies the peanut butter so it mixes onto your popcorn easily. You can find Peanut Butter & Co. at many stores nationwide, just check the brand’s website HERE to find a location near you.

Finally, carefully pour the melted peanut butter onto your popcorn and stir gently with a spoon. Use a potholder or towel when picking up the melted peanut butter so you don’t burn your hand on the hot container. I also like to eat the popcorn with a spoon because it is messy, though very delicious! This snack is full of fiber and a great option for dessert. Of course, it is really quick and easy to make, too! The recipe is below so you can easily copy & paste to print it out at home. Please tag me on social media if you end up making this recipe so I can see your popcorn!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn

Ingredients:

1/3 cup popping corn
2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams (or peanut butter of your choice)

Directions:

Pop popping corn according to the directions on the package.
Place peanut butter into a microwave safe container and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir.
Microwave peanut butter for another 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat if necessary until peanut butter is fully melted.
Pour peanut butter over popcorn and stir.

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | When We Collided by Emery Lord

Posted on July 26, 2016July 20, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

When We Collided by Emery Lord

Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on April 5, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 352

Source: Library

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

We are seventeen and shattered and still dancing. We have messy, throbbing hearts, and we are stronger than anyone could ever know…

Jonah never thought a girl like Vivi would come along.

Vivi didn’t know Jonah would light up her world.

Neither of them expected a summer like this…a summer that would rewrite their futures.

In an unflinching story about new love, old wounds, and forces beyond our control, two teens find that when you collide with the right person at just the right time, it will change you forever.

REVIEW

My love for young adult contemporary prompted me to pick up When We Collided by Emery Lord shortly after its release this year. This book chronicles two teenagers and is written in a dual perspective format. Readers follow Vivi and Jonah as they meet one summer in Jonah’s hometown, and begin a whirlwind relationship unlike any other. I absolutely loved this book, and the characters we meet in the pages.

When We Collided is very character driven, and there is not much of a plot whatsoever. We know that Vivi is struggling with something that happened in her past, which is the mystery that kept me engaged throughout the book. While I did feel like I was wandering around without direction for much of the book, the story worked in the end. I especially enjoyed Lord’s writing style. She does an amazing job at capturing the voices of both Vivi and Jonah at all times throughout the book. I was very impressed when the tone of the writing changed to match each character’s current mental state.

In addition, I absolutely adored Vivi and Jonah’s relationship. I know it is critiqued by other readers as insta-love, but for me it was very realistic. Both characters need one another in this moment, albeit in different ways. They cling to one another naturally, and their romance progressed quickly because of their unique situation. I think many of us can relate to relationships that form immediately, whether they be romantic or not. Vivi and Jonah come together at the perfect time, and I love how it is portrayed in the book.

Similarly, I also really liked how family plays a role in When We Collided. We see how important it is to care for those around us, even when it seems too difficult to handle. All of the side characters in this book really help to round out the story, too. For example, Vivi befriends a rough-around-the-edges police officer that many townies avoid. It is nice to see how Vivi is affected by this friendship, and how she then encourages others to see the officer differently as well.

Of course, I also appreciate the mental health aspect of the book. It appears to be very highly researched and written in a realistic and sensitive way. I learned a lot about Vivi’s particular disorder, which is revealed later in the story, and it helps me empathize more with people in real life. I think it’s great that fictional stories can help shed light on issues that aren’t talked about much in everyday life.

Overall, I really enjoyed When We Collided and highly recommend it. If you liked All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, you will like this one as well because it has a similar storyline but is executed in a new way. I know I now plan to read Emery Lord’s other books, and look forward to giving this one a reread at some point in the future.

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My Morning Routine | How to Be Bold Every Day with Listerine! #MyBoldMoments

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyBoldMoments #CollectiveBias

Happy Monday! Today I am excited to share with you my current morning routine. While I wouldn’t say I am a morning person, I do believe that I am more productive in the early hours of the day. Thus, I always try to wake up early and prepare myself for the day ahead so I can be confident and bold each day. The key is with the morning routine I create for myself to ensure I not only look my best, but feel my best, too. This blog post will take you from my shopping trip at CVS, where I pick up Listerine, a necessary component to any morning routine, to my step-by-step process of getting ready for the day. It’s time to live boldly!

PREPPING FOR MY MORNING

First things first, I need to go shopping! I headed over to my local CVS Pharmacy to pick up my Listerine. Plus, I always love to browse the sales at CVS and use any coupons I have that week!

I headed directly to the Oral Care aisle in my local CVS. For me it is located right behind the beauty and skincare products, so I know just where to go. I spend a lot of time browsing this area of the store!

The mouthwash is all the way at the end of the aisle. I’m glad CVS has such clear signage to make the shopping experience really easy. It’s always nice when I don’t have to spend a lot of time hunting down the product I’m purchasing.

I spotted my Listerine right in the middle of the shelf in the Flouride area. Can you see the purple Listerine Total Care? That’s what I picked up! I’ll share more about the product later in this post, but you bet I’m snagging the mouthwash with as many health benefits as possible. Plus, I was in luck this day – Listerine was on sale! Score!

MY MORNING ROUTINE

Now that I have everything I need to start my day off boldly, it’s time to wake up and get started! Here is my routine step-by-step.

STEP 1: BREAKFAST

Okay, I’m the first one to admit this breakfast looks a bit sad, but the truth is I absolutely love to eat oatmeal in the morning. The boost of carbohydrates gives me the energy I need to start my day. Plus, oatmeal is super delicious! I change my recipe up regularly, but today I’m sharing my brown sugar and cinnamon variety. I use quick oats, mix in some brown sugar and almond milk, and microwave my concoction. I finish up with a sprinkle of cinnamon for some added flavor. Of course, I have my coffee and water nearby to pep me up and rehydrate my body!

STEP 2: JOURNALING

While mornings can be very hectic, I always like to schedule in a little time for myself. This helps me relax and not feel rushed. I like to change up my morning activity depending on my current mood. In my days as a student I watched a lot of YouTube videos while I ate breakfast. Today I much prefer to read a book or journal. I have two dedicated journals that I write in each morning. It only takes a few minutes, but helps to calm me down and gives me time to spend on myself. It is worth waking up early to get in some ‘me’ time!

STEP 3: ORAL CARE

Now it’s time to head to the bathroom! At this point I’ve already showered and gotten dressed, so I get right to my oral care routine. I floss, brush, and use Listerine before doing any skincare whatsover. As I mentioned earlier, I use the Total Care variety of Listerine because it provides 6-in-1 benefits! This one mouthwash helps prevent cavities, restore enamel, strengthen teeth, kill bad breath germs, clean the whole mouth, and freshen breath. Of course, Listerine helps wake me up with it’s intense and tingling feeling!

STEP 4: SKINCARE, MAKEUP, AND HAIR

Last but not least, I use my skincare products, put on some makeup, and do my hair. While you don’t have to wear any makeup to look great and feel confident, I do find that when I put a bit more time into my appearance I feel a bit bolder and ready to start the day. In the summer I go lighter with the makeup, and I let my hair dry naturally. My hair gets frizzy in the summer humidity anyway, so I embrace the natural waves and don’t sweat it with any heat tools. My morning routine is now complete, and I’m ready to live boldly!

All in all, I know that my morning routine is very important if I want to start my day off right. Every step helps prepare me for the day, from my breakfast to my oral care to my makeup! I’m sure you’ve experienced those days where if your morning starts off poorly, your whole day heads south. I definitely try to avoid that by sticking to these steps! I would love to hear how you live boldly, so head to Listerine’s website HERE to share your tips! Of course, you can find Listerine at your local CVS store, and online HERE. I will also leave Listerine’s social media links below if you would like to follow the brand online!

Do you have a morning routine? Share it with me in the comments!

Follow Listerine: Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Book Review | The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle

Posted on July 21, 2016July 21, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle

Published by Entangled Teen on June 7, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age

Format: eARC

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★ 1/2

Kiki Nichols might not survive music camp.

She’s put her TV-loving, nerdy self aside for one summer to prove she’s got what it takes: she can be cool enough to make friends, she can earn that music scholarship, and she can get into Krause University’s music program.

Except camp has rigid conduct rules—which means her thrilling late-night jam session with the hot drummer can’t happen again, even though they love all the same TV shows, and fifteen minutes making music with him meant more than every aria she’s ever sung.

But when someone starts snitching on rule breakers and getting them kicked out, music camp turns into survival of the fittest. If Kiki’s going to get that scholarship, her chance to make true friends—and her chance with the drummer guy—might cost her the future she wants more than anything.

REVIEW

When I heard that Entangled Teen was releasing a book that takes place at opera camp, I knew I had to read it. I love when music plays a role in the novels I read, and The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle definitely piqued my interest. Readers follow teenager Kiki Nichols as she goes away to a prestigious opera camp to compete for one of seven scholarships to college. Kiki is a shy girl who spends most of her time watching TV and talking with her Twitter friends, and hopes to break out of her shell at camp.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Sound of Us. The story idea is great, and had me turning pages to find out what would happen next. I loved the competitive aspect of Kiki’s opera camp, and could relate to everyone vying for one of the seven scholarships. Plus, there was an added mystery element to the novel, because one of the students is a mole, and will tell the teacher if any of the kids break the rules. Of course, it is also great to see Kiki grow in the short time she is away at camp.

Similarly, I liked the writing style and think it is very well done. Hammerle does a great job at maintaining a realistic teenage voice, while at the same time not compromising the quality of her writing. I’ve read a lot of young adult books that speak just as a teenager would, and for me that detracts greatly from the reading experience. The Sound of Us is easy to read, but not cliché.

Unfortunately, there are several things about the book that I did not enjoy. First, I was very uncomfortable with the role of underage drinking in the novel. Yes, some teenagers do drink in real life, but I think the way it is handled in the book does not send a good message to the readers. Not only are the repercussions for the drinking very minor when the students are caught, but Kiki makes a statement that really caused me to take a step back. In one scene, Kiki says: “The beer is a license to make bad decisions.” Kiki never seems to realize why it is not okay to use alcohol as an excuse. While drinking does play a small role in The Sound of Us, it definitely impacted my enjoyment of the novel.

In the same way, I also felt very uncomfortable with how cheating is portrayed in the book. I won’t discuss this issue fully due to spoilers, but I did want to mention it because I know many people will not read a book if they know it involves cheating. Just as the drinking issue is not fully resolved, the cheating isn’t either. At the end of the book, it’s basically swept under the rug without being dealt with head on.

Moreover, there are a few little things about The Sound of Us that detracted from my reading experience. For example, I really loved how pop culture plays a role in the book. Kiki loves TV, and often talks about how the people she meets in real life remind her of actors or characters in pop culture. However, Kiki is a big fangirl for a fictional show called Planet Earth. At times I was confused between the fictional references versus the real life ones. There were some instances where I didn’t know if I just missed a reference, or if it was based on something fictional.

The author also uses a slang word quite often in the book that I had to look up to get the meaning. It turns out the word is British slang, which I found surprising, as the book is set in America and none of the characters in The Sound of Us are from the UK.

Finally, I got a bit annoyed with how often Kiki talks about how she doesn’t want to be seen as the ‘aunt’ in her friend group. Apparently, being seen as an aunt is a bad thing to her, as it seems to mean she is the side character that no one likes. As a proud aunt myself, I thought this was frustrating and quite insulting, especially because it is repeated so much in the book.

Thus, while I did really enjoy The Sound of Us for the most part, there are definitely things along the way that I wish were not included in the novel, or were handled in a different way. This is Julie Hammerle’s debut novel, and I would definitely consider reading books from her in the future if the story sounds like something I would like. I do recommend this book if the premise sounds interesting to you. It is a quick and fun read, and great for music lovers.

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Book Review | After Alice by Gregory Maguire

Posted on July 19, 2016July 19, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

After Alice by Gregory Maguire

Published by William Morrow on October 1, 2015

Genres: Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Format: eARC

Pages: 273

Source: Edelweiss

Goodreads: ★★

From the multi-million-copy bestselling author of Wicked comes a magical new twist on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis’s Carroll’s beloved classic

When Alice toppled down the rabbit-hole 150 years ago, she found a Wonderland as rife with inconsistent rules and abrasive egos as the world she left behind. But what of that world? How did 1860s Oxford react to Alice’s disappearance?

In this brilliant new work of fiction, Gregory Maguire turns his dazzling imagination to the question of underworlds, undergrounds, underpinnings — and understandings old and new, offering an inventive spin on Carroll’s enduring tale. Ada, a friend of Alice’s mentioned briefly in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is off to visit her friend, but arrives a moment too late — and tumbles down the rabbit hole herself.

Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to find Alice and see her safely home from this surreal world below the world. If Euridyce can ever be returned to the arms of Orpheus, or Lazarus can be raised from the tomb, perhaps Alice can be returned to life. Either way, everything that happens next isAfter Alice.

REVIEW

After Alice by Gregory Maguire is a retelling of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. While I’ve not yet read the beloved classic, I did read and enjoy Maguire’s Wicked several years ago. Unfortunately, After Alice was not my cup of tea, and I struggled to get through the novel despite its short length.

The main reason why I had a difficult time with After Alice is the flowery and complex writing. I’ve been reading so much young adult literature lately that it can sometimes be hard to transition back to adult. I did settle into the book’s pace after a while, but I honestly never got into the writing style completely. The vocabulary was difficult to follow, partly because this is a historical fiction book. This dense writing slowed down the pace of the book, and I even put it down to read another book at one point.

Moreover, there are a few things I really did enjoy about After Alice. First, I thought the setting was really interesting. The book takes place in Oxford, England in the 1860s, and follows two families of the time. Ada is the daughter of a vicar, and suffers from a physical handicap that makes it difficult for her to walk. Her only friend is Alice, of the original Wonderland story, who lives nearby. I really enjoyed learning about the society of the time when it comes to family, race, the class system, and more. I did learn quite a bit, and it’s always nice for fiction to teach a thing or two about history. Charles Darwin is even a character!

In addition, I kept reading the book because I wanted to know what was going to happen. Ada ends up falling into Wonderland, and she is trying to find Alice so she can bring her home. Ada meets many of the familiar Wonderland faces along the way, so I was intrigued to find out if she would find Alice after all. Unfortunately, the ending was a bit lackluster to me, and a bit of a let down in the end.

Thus, while there are a lot of aspects of After Alice that I did enjoy, my reading experience was not a great one. I think it would have improved significantly if the book was constructed in a different way. For example, the point-of-view, though always in third-person, changed randomly throughout the story. Sometimes we are following Ada in Wonderland, other times her governess Miss Armstrong and Alice’s sister Lydia. This constant switch did create suspense in the story, but it also was quite confusing. I also found that many aspects of the book were skimmed over when I wish they were explored more.

While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend After Alice, I think if you enjoy retellings of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland this might be more your style. I did enjoy the book I read by Maguire in the past, so I’m not giving up on his writing completely. One day I want to return to his Wicked series, and I would also love to hear your thoughts on his books in a comment.

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Erin Condren Life Planner Monthly Color Comparison 2016 vs 2017 | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on July 16, 2016July 7, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’m here with a quick #PlanWithPolishland blog post to share a color comparison between the 2016 and 2017 Erin Condren Life Planners. I purchased the Horizontal Life Planner for both 2016 and 2017, and I noticed that the colors in the planners are the same, just in a different order. I thought this information would be really helpful for all of you who, like me, purchase stickers in the monthly colors. That way you can easily figure out which stickers from last year go with the 2017 planner! First I will show you the planners side-by-side in video form, and then provide you with a shareable graphic. If you would like to learn more about the 2017 Erin Condren Life Planner, you can see my unboxing and review HERE.

As you can see in the video, the 2017 monthly colors are the same as the 2016 colors, with a very minor change on the Monthly Calendar. This is the case if you own the 2016 Horizontal or Hourly planner, but not the Vertical planner. While all of the new 2017 Life Planners in the Watercolor color scheme share the same color palette, the old Vertical planners had different colors. Thus, only the colors in the 2016 Horizontal and Hourly match with the new 2017 color scheme.

I created this graphic so you can have an easy-to-use list of the matching colors. Feel free to share it on Pinterest or social media, or print out a copy to keep in your planner! You can also place this in your sticker collection as a cheat sheet if needed!

That wraps up today’s #PlanWithPolishland blog post! I hope you found it helpful if you purchased the new 2017 Erin Condren Life Planner in the Watercolor color scheme. I know many sticker shops put their monthly colors on sale at the end of every month, so take advantage of the affordable pricing and stock up on stickers for next year. Of course, if you are a new Erin Condren shopper, please use my referral link HERE to save $10 off your first purchase! Let me know in the comments what you think of the Erin Condren color scheme – do you love it, or do you prefer the neutral (black and white) planner? I would love to hear your thoughts!