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May Favorites!


It's already time for May favorites. This month seemed to fly by. Anyways, here are my monthly favorites.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation 
This month I finally tried the L'Oreal True Match Foundation. I'm probably the last person ever to buy it. I'm almost upset that I didn't try it sooner. I always put off buying it because it doesn't have a pump (it annoys me so much that the packaging in Europe is so much nicer and has a pump). I like that it gives me light to medium buildable coverage. It has a natural finish so my skin doesn't look too matte or too dewy. It feels really light on the skin as well. I understand why it's well loved in the beauty community. I also love that there are a variety of shades for various skintones and undertones so you're guaranteed to find one that works for you.

L'Oreal True Match Concealer
I rediscovered my L'Oreal True Match Concealer. It's a good all around concealer. You can use it to cover redness, blemishes and undereye circles and it looks natural. It never looks cakey. It has a brush tip applicator making it easy to apply and you the right amount of product comes out every time.

ELF Small Stipple Brush
I've loved using my ELF Small Stipple Brush to apply my L'Oreal foundation. It buffs everything in nicely and you don't extra product on your skin. It doesn't leave any lines either. If you want your foundation to have a natural finish I highly recommend using a stippling brush.

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso
I've been hunting down this blush for the past year. It was always sold out at my local Walmart. I finally got my hands on it this past month. I love it! I would describe the shade as peach with gold shimmer. It gives a beautiful healthy glow to your cheeks. The texture of the blush reminds me of the MAC Mineralize Blushes. I've heard people say that it's a dupe for NARS Orgasm but it's really not. Luminoso looks orange compared to Orgasm. I will say that they both give a similar effect on your cheeks but the colors are different. I love them both.

got2b Guardian Angel 
This is my favorite heat protectant spray. It's called a gloss finish flat iron balm. It really works. When I use this my hair looks so shiny and it really comes straighter when I dry it. Even though it's supposed to be used in conjunction with a flat iron you can still use it when curling your hair or even just with a hair dryer.It has a pleasant scent as well.

The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Butter
I love the Body Shop's body butters but this one is probably my favorite scent. I love peaches so smelling like peaches is pretty cool. It's really hydrating and soothing.

Random Favorites

TV:
Orphan Black

Movies:
God's Not Dead
anime films

Music:
Album: The Art of Celebration; Artist: Rend Collective

Books:
Meant to be Mine by Becky Wade
Dream Chaser by Angie Stanton

Food:
mashed sweet potatoes
puppy chow/muddy buddies
tim tams

Youtube:

Sincerely, JoJo. xo

The Goodreads Tag!


I saw this tag floating around and decided to do it because I love reading and goodreads is one of my most used websites. (I even downloaded the app on my phone and tablet.) I love using it because it's a good way of keeping track of all the books I want to read, have read and love. I'm constantly finding new book recommendations based on books I've read or reviews that I've read. If you love reading I highly recommend signing up. You can follow me here if you'd like. *(This photo is not mine I just used it because it was on every tag that I read. Credit goes to whoever made it.)

What was the last book you marked as read?
Dream Chaser by Angie Stanton. I really liked it and I gave it 5 stars. If 4.5 stars existed I would have given it that instead.

What are you currently reading?
Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill. The main reason I wanted to read this book is that it takes place in Montreal but so far I really like it.

What was the last book you marked as to read? 
The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik. I read her book Epic Fail two summers ago and loved it, so when I noticed that she had released a new book I knew I had to read it so there it is. If you love modern day Jane Austen adaptations you will love her novels.

What book do you plan to read next?
Meant to be Mine by Becky Wade. I love every single one of her books and I've been dying to get my hands on this one ever since I finished the first book in the Porter Family series last summer.

Do you use the star rating system?
Yes I do, although I wish it was possible to have a .5 option  as well.

Are you doing a 2014 reading challenge?
Yes, I've challenged myself to read 50 books this year. I've already read 45 books so I think I should increase the number of books in the challenge.

Do you have a wishlist?
I used to have an Amazon wishlist a couple years ago but then it was getting too long so I ended up deleting it. You could say my to-read bookshelf on goodreads is my wishlist. There are currently 96 books in there.

What book do you want to buy next?
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. This is set to be released August 14th. It's been on my to-read list for the past two years. I seriously can't wait to read it. I've loved Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door. I've read them both twice. I highly recommend them.

Do you have any favorite quotes? Would you like to share a few? 
"There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment." - The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen


"I fell in love with you the way you fall asleep; slowly, and then all at once." The Fault in Our Stars by John Green


Who are your favourite authors? 
Becky Wade, Sarah Dessen, Karen Witemeyer, Stephanie Perkins, Janice Thompson, Meg Cabot, Jane Austen, John Green, Jennifer Beckstrand, L.M. Montgomery, etc.

Have you joined any groups?
No, I have not.

What are your favourite genres?
I would say my favourite genres are Fiction, Fantasy, Classics, Historical Fiction, and Christian Fiction. 

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

P.S. I think there should have been a question asking what your all-time favourite books are.


Top 10 TV Shows to Marathon


I watch a lot of TV shows. I often like to marathon shows when I either need to catch up on them or I've discovered a new one. This is a list of TV shows that I think everyone should watch.


1. Gilmore Girls 
I started watching this show back when I was 12. I instantly loved to mother-daughter relationship that Lorelai and Rory have. The show is centered on their relationship. I'm very close with my mom so I loved watching a show that was so focused on a mother and her daughter. There are lots of friendships and relationships as well. I liked that it shows us that the mother-daughter relationship can get rocky but it should never be broken. Even though it's a drama it still have a lot of witty humour. Whenever I'm feeling down I watch this because I know it will make me feel better.
Favorite characters: Rory Gilmore, Lorelai Gilmore
Favorite ship: Rory & Jess; Luke & Lorelai


2. One Tree Hill 
This was my favorite show all through high school. I never gave up on it even after season 6 when most of my friends stopped watching. This show started off being about two half brothers who hate each other, love basketball and like the same girl. I'll admit that the first time I watched it I didn't really like it but the more I watched it the more I loved it. The reason I loved it so much was Naley and the friendships between the characters. I always marathon season 1 or season 3 because those were my favorite seasons. I love watching how Naley began in season 1 and how they rebuild their relationship in season 3.
Favorite character: Brooke Penelope Davis
Favorite ship: Nathan & Haley


3. The OC
A TV show marathon list would never be complete without including this one. This is one of the best TV series ever made (according to my 13 year old self.) I'll give you one reason to watch this show: Seth Cohen. He's funny, witty, the underdog who gets the girl, and he created his own holiday. I always watch the Chrismukkah episodes during the holiday season because Seth's love for the holiday reminds me to enjoy it. Seth and Summer are endgame, they were my first otp; therefore this show will always be close to my heart. The character development of Ryan and Summer throughout the years shows us that people can change for the better. I will never get over Marissa's death.
Favorite characters: Seth Cohen, Summer Roberts, Ryan Atwood, Marissa Cooper
Favorite ship: Seth & Summer; Ryan & Marissa


4. Gossip Girl 
The basic plot-line of the show is depicting the lives of Manhattan's elite but obviously there's someone code-named gossip girl who exposes their secrets. What intrigued me about this show was the fact that set in New York. I loved Chuck & Blair from the beginning. It's easy to fly through a season. You always want to find out who gossip girl is but most of the time you just focus on the relationships and events that are occurring. The fashion is amazing. I've gone through a phase where I wore headbands every day because of Blair Waldorf. I think the most unexpected thing was finding out who gossip girl really was. Blair and Serena's friendship is an important part of the show but the reason I stuck with the show for the entire series is ultimately Chuck & Blair. Once you start to love Chuck and Blair you can't stop watching. 
Favorite character: Chuck Bass, Blair Waldorf
Favorite ship: Chuck & Blair



5. 7th Heaven 
This one's an oldie but a goodie. It was my favorite TV show growing up. This show is about Rev. Eric Camden, his wife Annie and their seven children. It's centered around the nuclear family. There are many ups and downs, and lots of drama. Each member of the family always encounters someone who needs help so you meet a lot of people, some stick around for a long time and some don't. It's a really great family show. I loved that you get to watch all the children grow up and each child goes through different things as they grow. I was sad when this show got cancelled but after 11 season it was time to say goodbye. Happy was my favorite TV dog, she was awesome. I always go back to this when I don't know what to watch. It proves the message that you can always count on your family.
Favorite character: Ruthie Camden
Favorite ship: Lucy & Kevin; Eric & Annie


6. Chicago Fire 
When I first heard about this TV shows I didn't think I would likes it because it's a drama about firefighters. I quickly became obsessed. My best friend watches this show and I don't know how but she convinced me to give it a try. I like that all the members of the firehouse are good friends even when they're not working. This show makes me cry a lot because a lot of tragic things happen. I now have a lot of respect for firefighters, their job is difficult but they do it because they care about their city.
Favorite character: I can't even pick one because this is one show where all the characters are so well played and well written.
Favorite ship: Dawson & Casey


7. Suits
I love Suits. I marathoned through this two summers ago. It follows the lives of powerful New York lawyer Harvey Specter and Mike Ross who never went to law school but ends up working for Harvey because he's so brilliant. It's just so good that it sucks you in from the first episode.
Favorite Character: Donna Paulsen
Favorite ships: Mike & Rachel, Donna & Harvey


8. Downton Abbey 
This is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. I marathoned through it two summers ago as well. It follows the Crawley family and the people who work for them. If you've never seen it before where have you been? You get to see how life was like before, during and after WWI.  I love period dramas because I've always loved history. The fashion of the time was so pretty. I like that the series depicts moments in history for women. It can be heartbreaking at times but it's such a lovely show.
Favorite character: Lady Sybil, Lady Violet
Favorite ship: Sybil & Branson; Matthew & Mary; Bates & Anna; Mr. Carson & Mrs. Hughes


9. Call the Midwife 
This show is a gem. I love, love, love it. I watched all 3 seasons last month and I seriously want to rewatch it all again. This show is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. The show follows Jenny Lee who goes to work as a midwife in East London in the 1950s. All the characters are wonderful, the stories in each episode are believable. It's historically significant as well. I have no interest in nursing or midwifery but I love this show. Before you watch this get the tissues ready. This show will take you on an emotional roller coaster; it make you laugh and cry but you'll enjoy every minute of it.
Favorite character: Camilla "Chummy" Noakes
Favorite ship: Shelagh & Patrick; Peter & Camilla 


10. Teen Wolf 
I know the name of the show sounds cheesy but it's actually a really great show. Yes, a guy gets turned into a werewolf. Yes, supernatural things happen. It's not the type of show that I typically watch but I became immersed in it. I started watching it last summer and I flew through season 1 and 2 to get caught up to season 3. The main reason I watch it is Stiles Stilinski. He's witty, smart, funny, sarcastic, the underdog who's in love with the popular girl and he actually becomes close friends with her. 
Favorite character: Stiles Stilinski, Lydia Martin, Scott McCall
Favorite ship: Stiles & Lydia

What's your favorite TV show?

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

Is it Worth the Hype: Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel


The Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel is designed to clear blemishes instantly and prevent new ones from forming. It contains salicylic acid. You can apply a thin layer over your whole face or use it as a spot treatment. When using it as a spot treatment I was advised to apply it over the whole area of the blemish.

This little guy isn't going anywhere any time soon. A little goes a long way. The product itself is a clear gel that has a cooling effect when you apply it. On sensitive areas of my face it stings a little for about a minute but then it feels fine. It works fast and withing a few days your blemishes are gone. Since it has salicylic acid in it, it can feel drying and make your face feel tight. It works the same way any other acne treatment or clearing gel would work.

If you're looking for one that's affordable I'd say this one is a good one. If you already have products that work well for your skin you don't need this. I go back and forth between this one and my La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. I like them both but I have a personal preference to the La Roche-Posay one. I would say that this little guy is worth the hype because it gets the job done and it's cheaper than La Roche-Posay.

The 0.5oz one is $19 CAD/ $17US. You can find it at any Clinique counter or Sephora.

Sincerely, JoJo.♥