Adventures in Polishland

July Empties | #365DaysofEmpties Update

Posted on August 1, 2016July 26, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It’s now August, and it’s time for me to share an update on my #365DaysofEmpties project. July was unfortunately a bit of a fail for me. I only used up three products! I think because I emptied so many products in June, I just wasn’t close to finishing that many others in my collection in July. Nonetheless, I’m happy to be sharing my mini reviews on these products with you!
I typically separate my empties out into different categories, but with only three products this month, I’ll discuss them all together. Also, I won’t be repurchasing any of these products for reasons I discuss in yesterday’s Upcoming Adventures, so you’ll get my mini reviews only this month.

Maybelline Fit Me Shine Free Foundation Stick – 1 tube [BUY]

Mini Review: I really like this foundation stick because it does a great job at providing my skin some coverage while being no fuss to apply. It does cling to dry patches, so I recommend only using this if you have normal or oily skin. I used it with a primer and set it with powder, and found that it lasted all day. It inspired me to look for other foundation sticks that I may enjoy more!

Julep Conditioning Nail Polish Remover – 1 bottle [BUY]

Mini Review: This is one of my all-time favorite nail polish removers. It takes off all my polish while not drying out my nails or cuticles. Plus, it doesn’t smell. Unfortunately, it is quite expensive and is often out of stock on Julep’s website. If you are looking to splurge on a remover that you know will work wonders, definitely check this one out!

Bath & Body Works Merry Cookie Hand Soap – 1 bottle [BUY]

Mini Review: It took me so long to finish up this hand soap because I had it in a bathroom I don’t use as much. I finally ran out of this Christmas soap, and I have to say there was nothing really special about it. Basically, the soap smelled like vanilla and cinnamon, which is nice but not so nice I’d rush out for it again. Sometimes I get sucked into the festive products that stores offer just because of the packaging!

JULY EMPTIES: 3

TOTAL 2016 EMPTIES: 58

Unfortunately I am now just slightly behind on my goal of finishing up 100 products this year. I hope next month I will use up more products in my stash! I know I am running low on dry shampoo and night cream, so perhaps you’ll be seeing those in my next empties post! Please let me know in the comments what you finished up this month. I would love to know what you liked or didn’t like! Here’s to using up more products in August.

This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

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!

Dare to Compare | Sally Hansen Celeb City vs butter LONDON Diamond Geezer

Posted on July 29, 2016June 13, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have the last Dare to Compare post to share with you for quite a while. I have now gone through my entire nail polish collection and weeded out any dupes or similar shades. I will have an update for you regarding my nail polish declutter project very soon, but today I have a final comparison. This one is quite exciting, as I’m matching up a super affordable polish with a higher end brand. Both Sally Hansen Celeb City and butter LONDON Diamond Geezer are silver polishes, and look nearly identical in the bottle. Let’s find out if they are!

First up is Celeb City from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear. I used to be obsessed with this nail polish. In fact, this is my second bottle because I went through one! Celeb City has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. It looks like chrome on the nails, and is super cool. I don’t wear Celeb City much anymore, but it is a great polish to have in my collection.

Next up is butter LONDON Diamond Geezer, another silver nail polish. Diamond Geezer has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It also has a chrome finish on the nails, and unlike many metallic polishes doesn’t show a lot of brushstrokes. Diamond Geezer is shiny without a top coat needed!

Here is a look at Celeb City and Diamond Geezer side-by-side. I can’t tell the difference between these two polishes! They both apply the same way, and they look the same, too. I definitely consider these polishes to be exact dupes. I will be keeping Celeb City in my collection, since I like to blog about affordable products, and it’s been a favorite of mine for years now.

All in all, I’m always glad to find a dupe for all of you! There is no need to spend the money on Diamond Geezer when you can save over $10 on Celeb City. I hope you found this post helpful if you are looking for an affordable silver polish to add to your collection. As always, please let me know in the comments if you have a favorite silver nail polish. I would love to hear your recommendations!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

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.

Dare to Compare | Milani Mauve Medley vs Milani Color Statement Mauving Forward

Posted on July 27, 2016July 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to try out two Milani nail polishes side-by-side to see if they are duplicates. I’ve noticed while decluttering my nail polish collection that many of my nail polishes from Milani are very similar in shade. This is completely understandable, as Milani revamped its entire nail polish line a few years ago. Nonetheless, I don’t need to keep polishes if they are the same shade. Let me share two mauve polishes with you and let you which I’m keeping!

First up is Milani in the shade Mauve Medley, a deep mauve that leans towards a brown shade. Mauve Medley has a good formula, but it is a bit on the streaky side. It does even out well in two opaque coats, and is very rich in pigmentation. Mauve Medley is not a nail polish shade that I reach for, but it is a beautiful polish.

Next up is Mauving Forward from Milani’s current Color Statement line. Mauving Forward is a lighter mauve shade with purple undertones. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It applies smoothly and has a very rich pigmentation. Mauving Forward is a great neutral polish for everyday wear!

Here is a side-by-side look at these two polishes, with Mauve Medley on my pinky and ring fingers and Mauving Forward on my middle and pointer fingers. It is clear that these polishes are not exact dupes, and are instead quite different in shade. Yes, they are both mauve shades, but Mauve Medley is quite darker than Mauving Forward. That being said, I’ve decided to declutter both of these nail polishes. I just never reach for a mauve shade, and there is no reason to keep these if I’m not wearing them.

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together to discover that they are actually a bit different despite both being mauve shades! While Mauve Medley is no longer available for purchase, you can pick up Mauving Forward at your local drugstore or on Milani’s website HERE. Please let me know in the comments if you have a favorite mauve nail polish, or if you prefer to wear another neutral shade!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. 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.

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

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

Physicians Formula Organic wear CC Cream Review

Posted on July 22, 2016July 14, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to review for you a CC cream that I picked up at the drugstore a couple months back. In the summer months, I love to wear a BB or CC cream instead of my usual liquid foundation. Not only is it lighter on the skin, but CC cream contains moisturizing properties and sunscreen that can take the place of other products in my skincare routine. I decided to grab the new Physicians Formula Organic wear CC Cream during a sale at CVS, and I’m so glad I did! This is a great option from the drugstore, and I wanted to share my thoughts with you.

First, let me share a bit more about the product and its claims. The Organic wear CC Cream is of 100% natural origin and is 70% organic. I am definitely becoming more aware of the ingredients in my makeup, so it is always nice to know that I’m not putting harsh chemicals on my face when I use this product. As with any CC cream, this one has a few claims including color correction, instant hydration, and “naturally perfect skin.” This CC Cream also includes SPF 20, which is great.

The CC Cream comes in a silver metallic squeeze tube. I purchased the shade Light, and am very disappointed that in only comes in one other shade – Light/Medium. I really don’t know why Physicians Formula didn’t include, at the very least, a Medium/Dark and Dark shades. While CC cream does adjust to your skin tone a bit, it would be nice if more shades were made available so that all consumers may use this product.

Physicians Formula Organic wear CC Cream Review

The CC Cream itself is quite thick in consistency, almost like a mousse texture. I like to wear it over a mattifying face primer, as I tend to get oily skin. If you have dry skin, you can probably go without a primer. I use a BeautyBlender to apply the CC Cream, and find that it does a great job at getting an even application. I am very impressed with the coverage in this CC Cream. As you can see in the photos above, it cancels out redness and blurs any imperfections. CC Creams are not designed to be full coverage, and I would describe this one as medium coverage. That being said, it is buildable! I go over some areas with a bit more product to get the coverage I want.

Moreover, the reason I really enjoy the Organic wear CC Cream is because it wears well throughout the day, even in hot summer weather. My oil is controlled, with the help of my primer and a setting powder. While you can tell I am wearing makeup, my face does not look cakey at all. In fact, the CC Cream dries to a nice satin finish that is not tacky to the touch. This is by far one of the best, and most affordable, CC creams I’ve tried!

All in all, I highly recommend the Physicians Formula Organic wear CC Cream. You can find it at your local drugstore for $14.95, or online HERE. Keep an eye out for sale events to score this product at a discount! Please let me know if you’ve tried this product from Physicians Formula, or if you recommend any products from this brand. I know I tend to look over Physicians Formula at the drugstore, as it can be more on the expensive side. I’ll be paying more attention from now on!

This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

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.

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program.

$300 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

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

Happy Wednesday! I’m very excited to announce my participation in another collaborative giveaway! Today you can enter to win a $300 Amazon Gift Card. How awesome is that?! It’s Back to School season, and this will definitely help purchase some textbooks and school supplies. Of course, if you’re not headed to school you can stock up on some basics or treat yourself to some goodies on your wish list. I know I’ve been eyeing the Polaroid Zip Printer so I can put photographs in my planner, but that’s just me. The possibilities of how the winner can spend this prize are endless! Best of luck in the giveaway, and please read the details carefully before entering.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Prize: $300 Amazon Gift Card

Co-hosts: Coupons and Freebies Mom // Misadventures with Andi // SWEETHAUTE // Splash of Teal // Jenns Blah Blah Blog // Pretty Thrifty // A Better Me // The Mommyhood Mentor® // Simone – Your Style Architect // Sweating Champagne // Fleek Week // Dorky’s Deals // Behind Blue Eyes // True Story Book Blog // A Wandering Vine // It Girl Accessories // A Noted Life // Casey At: Work, Home, Play // Taffeta & Tulips // Surviving Mommy // Heartfully Heather // Style On The Side // JUGGLING ACT MAMA // Blog by Donna // Smartysaver

Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily. Giveaway ends 8/17 and is open worldwide. Winner will be notified via email.

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