smash book vs. creative chaos books.

So, apparently I am behind in school work, blogging and pretty much everything else at this point. I am never late, but somehow this year I have fallen behind. I'm going to blame scrapbooking for part of that. All I seem to do is find new things to stick in my Smash book! It is a great way to save mementos and store photos, etc in a somewhat chaotic somewhat stylish way. So when I went to Micheals on my weekly visit I was excited to see another version. Recollections had come out with a Creative Chaos line. Basically a Smash Book idea. So I will now list the things I like about it and the things that I don't!

Creative Chaos Features: -Smaller & Wider (shown below)
-A lot of plain floral pages (this could have just been the version I bought but it was pretty yet basic)
-Colored cover and inside of cover
-It has binder rings, where you can add more pages if you want

 Likes: -Pretty pages
-Colored cover and inside cover

Dislikes: -thickness, its way to short and thick in the binding
-Pages are pretty, but also pretty boring
-It is basic but it is not unique like a Smash book, it is too scrapbook like

So my verdict after studying both is that the Smash book is nicer. I may be biased slightly, however I find the pages are more fun, they have writing and can spark your imagination as to what should be on that page. As well I like that you can't add more pages, the amount it has is great. The smash book has it's pen/glue stick on the side of the book for easy access and adding items on the go.
*Note: This is the Red Smash book, the 'Doodle Style', the Recollections is the 'Sweet Blossoms' version.

So there you have it! In case you were trying oh so hard to decide which to buy!

-B

shoe shopping.

The other day I was feeling kind of down and not that online shopping is a huge problem for me but this deal I just couldn't pass up. I found (and purchased) these five pairs of trendy shoes. The flats, sneakers and sandals are all trends to me so I didn't want to spend a huge amount on high tops, and neon/neutral's so when I scored all of these for $73 including tax and shipping I just had to. I think they will all be a great addition to my wardrobe!
-(all were purchased from spring shoes online)

-B

latest reads.

So in the summer months as my text books are packed up I generally turn to teen fiction as my summer reading list. Although at 21 sometimes I am a wee bit embarrassed with my book choices, all I can say is when I am not studying and reading cases, I want a little mindless easy reading. Here are my latest reads.

*Also I just wanted to note for some reason that all these books are trilogies [to my knowledge] and [pretty much] dystopian novels.

Delirium/Pandemonium

Delirium/Pandemonium:

I read delirium a few months ago but three weeks ago I finished the second book in the trilogy Pandemonium. I really liked the second book. It was possibly my favorite book out of the last four here. It moved from past to present. Each having a great story line; exciting and suspenseful.

Delirium: ★★★★

Pandemonium: ★★★★★

Divergent/Insurgent

Divergent/Insurgent:

For these books I like the first and second book equally, there is a little more suspense in the second book. Either way they were both great reads! The story can be a little violent and sad but nothing too crazy in that department.

Divergent: ★★★★½

Insurgent: ★★★★½ 

Matched

Matched: ★★★★

This book I heard was really good and when I read it I did like it but not as much as some of the other series. I do believe that once I read the second book the first will be better just because it leads up to a lot of stuff and in this series there are cliff hangers, in books which I find frustrating when the next copy isn’t due out for another year [although the second book is already out the third is to be released later this year]. 

The Selection

The Selection: ★★★★

This book was good! It didn’t have a lot of crazy turns and suspense but it was an easy light read. I look forward to the next book, as the first book was a huge cliff hanger ending.

Happy Reading! 

-B

diy: glitter boots.

Similar

So I have wanted to make these glitter boots for a while now.. I saw them here originally, and although I love those shoes, I opted for the more cowboy boot look. Also, I found these boots on Asos for $22, from $80. So I figured I could spend that on a diy project!

Materials:

-Boots (Asos)

-Glitter (Dollar store)

-Modge Podge (Wal-Mart)

-Aleen's glue (Wal-Mart)

-Painters tape (my garage haha but I'm sure you can find it at Wal-Mart too)

Directions:

-First I taped off the section of the boot that I wanted to glitter.

-I then mixed a generous amount of glitter with some of the OK to wash glue. It started to turn purple, and I'm not sure if that is normal, since I'm not an avid crafter, but it seemed to work perfectly. After when I was doing touch ups it was easy to see where I was applying it as well.

-I let the boots dry then re-painted where I thought it was missing a little glitter.

-Finally I let the glitter mixture dry.

-Then I used the Jewel it glue to create a top coat.

-Once dry, I sprayed the whole boot with some all weather spray to help with the elements.

*Now I have seen many diy's where people use all of the glues/adhesives I have listed above. I didn't use the Modge Podge in the end, but there is no reason why it wouldn't work! 

I'm off to work [in my new boots!] 

-B

to date.

To some up my summer thus far.
-90% procrastination of finishing my final essay in a summer law course.
-5% reading.
-2% fair fun.
-3% beach.
- plus work on top of it all.

In better news, I finally finished my essay! Handed in as of yesterday Nd now I am ready for summer to officially start in my weird home schooling schedule.

-B

diy: bubblegum lip scrub.

I love diy's. I have always loved crafts. Now as a 'grown up' if I can find ways to make things myself and save money it's a win-win! I heard that LUSH had an amazing bubblegum lip scrub. And although I would like to call that a beauty essential I just couldn't justify it. So I created this recipe to subside my longing for bubblegum anything and a great lip exfoliate. 

I used Olive oil, sugar, food coloring and LorAnn bubblegum extract. 

My recipe is kind of like Rachel Ray's. I put in around 1/8 cup of sugar and then I added a slight amount of olive oil. I mixed it up really well. If it is too 'wet' then add more sugar. You want the sugar to stick together but not be saturated. I then added 1 single drop of pink food coloring. I would only use pink just because if it stains your lips it would be pink and not some nasty green color! I then added a little less then a cap full of LorAnn bubblegum extract. I ordered mine off of eBay since I couldn't find it here in Canada. I worked great!

I then filled my little jars, that I also ordered off of eBay. 

Ta Da! And done! They are so cute, smell GREAT! And really work! 

I just finished 3 uni finals yesterday and have a bit of a break before summer classes (x2). So I am hoping that this 'free' time will allow me some time to update the long awaited diy that I have planned! Jetting to Phoenix in the next couple of days so I hope as well that I find some great deals to share!

-B

here's a show.

Here's a runway show I did! Then a photo shoot, amongst the runway show.

Exhausting. Heavy. And COMPLETELY worth it! I love modeling, more than school. That's not good.

 Oh well!

-B

magazine extras.

Here are a few extras from my magazine photo shoot. It was such a blast and hopefully there is more work to come!

-B

debut.

My magazine finally came out! Super exciting, I even got a full page spread too. Ridiculous for my first shoot ever!

-B

magazine shoot sneak peek.

Oh boy! Am I excited for this! Yesterday I found a few preview pictures from the bridal magazine I shot for.. Here's one of my favs (that I've seen so far).

-B

new year.

 

Happy New Year! It was a great New Year/Holiday season that seemed to just fly by! Filled with many laughs and tonnes of great food. I am back to the books and the workout regime hoping that the season didn't sway my eating habits too badly. Chips and dip at 11:30 last night? No biggie! 

I hope everyone had a great holiday season! I had ordered a dress from asos and it came, fit like a glove and I couldn't wait to wear it for new years. Here a few pictures of the night!

-B