Book Review Time: Beneath the Glitter

Hey guys, it's been a while! I've been super busy the last couple of weeks, but I did make time to read a new book I'd like to review for you guys. Ever heard of Beneath the Glitter? It's a new novel written by YouTube stars and sisters Elle and Blair Fowler. I love the Fowler sisters and their videos; when I heard they had a book coming out I knew I had to buy it. I'll admit it-I was a little skeptical about how good the book was going to be. You wouldn't exactly expect two girls who do makeup and fashion videos to be authors as well. But I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and here's what I think:

The story is of two sisters, Sophia and Ava London, who move to Los Angeles to start their own makeup line after their YouTube videos become extremely popular (the Fowler sisters mention in the beginning of the book that the main characters are loosely based off their own lives). Sophia, the older sister, has just suffered a break up with her long term boyfriend, and is convinced to do a "boytox" and stay away from dating for a while. The younger sister, Ava, meets her celebrity crush, actor Liam Carlson, and the two immediately take interest in each other. When the two sisters win a "Webstars of the Year" award, they're given a chance to launch their own line off of a head honcho makeup line. The rest of the story is basically the fall out of being thrust into the limelight- Ava trying to balance her work while dating an A-list actor and volunteering at a pet shelter, while Sophia deals with trying to protect Ava, work, photography (a passions shes encouraged to follow) and her love life (she becomes torn between two guys). Meanwhile, someone close to them is trying to sabotage them and everything they worked for.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a very quick, easy-to-follow read. I enjoyed that the story has some mystery to it; it makes me want to read the next book they put out. If you want something fun and entertaining, I'd definitely recommend this book. I'd say good job to the Fowler sisters!

Happy Reading

-Ashley

My Top 5 Favorite Theme Songs

Have you every just watched a tv show to listen to its awesome theme song? I'll admit it, I have. Even if I've already seen the episode or I'm about to fall asleep, I'll watch the first two or three minutes of a show because I just want to hear the theme song. Here are some of my favorites:

#5: Carry on Wayward Son-Supernatural. Okay so this song only plays during season finales, but its as close to a theme song as the show gets. Who doesn't love a good rock song during some fight scenes with demons?

#4: Where You Lead-Gilmore Girls. I absolutely love Gilmore Girls, its most definitely one of my favorite tv shows. I watched the entire series throughout my freshmen year, and whenever I hear the song it brings back memories.

#3: The Hawaii 5-0 Theme song- this song doesn't have any lyrics; but it just reminds me of an action movie.

#2: Baba O'Riley- CSI: New York- I actually started watching CSI New York because I thought the song was so cool...

#1: I'll Be There For You-Friends. Absolutely without a doubt my favorite theme song. I love friends and think the shows hysterical, but I get disappointed if I turn the show and the theme song already played.

I know this was kind of a silly post, but I think if you have a favorite theme song it can instantly put you in a good mood, especially if the show its for it good too!

Happy reading, listening, and watching!


-Ashley

Country Music & a Quick Update

Hey guys, so I know its been a while.. but I've been dealing with a lot of stress lately, trying to handle all my schoolwork, preparing for college applications, extracurricular activities, car troubles, family issues, and three jobs on top of that. I'm going to try to keep this blog updated though, at least once a week. Have I ever mentioned my great love for country music? I love just about every genre of music, but there's just something about country that really gets me. Whether its the natural sounding instruments, the story behind the song, or just the fun performances singers give, country music is just, well, awesome.
A couple of my favorite songs right now are "Alone With You" by Jake Owen,  "I Don't Want this Night to End" by Luke Bryan, "Banjo" by Rascal Flatts, and "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes. I actually like the first and the last song so much that I learned how to play them on guitar and piano (covers, anyone?). The way Alone with You is sung is just so raw and emotional, I love it. I recently watched the CMA Country Music Festival, where Hunter Hayes performed Wanted and Rascal Flatts performed Banjo, and I have to say I was truly inspired by their performances. I'll post links at the bottom.
What kinds of music do you guys like to listen to? Do you like country? If so, what are some of your favorite songs/ artists?
Happy listening!

-Ashley

Review: Maybelline Dream Fresh B.B. Cream

Hey everyone, so many of you have probably heard of beauty balms, or BB creams. Lately many makeup brands have created their own BB creams, such as Loreal, Maybelline, Smashbox, Covergirl, and Garnier. Today I tried Maybelline's BB cream in Light (other colors include Light/Medium, Medium, Medium/Deep, and Deep) and I really like it. It has eight purposes: blur imperfections, enhance your skin, brighten your skin, adjust to your skintone, smooth, hydrate, SPF 30, and contains no oils or other heavy ingredients. This product really does all of these things! My skin looks brighter and most of my blemishes are covered. It's also a great moisturizer. I will say it can leave your skin looking a little shiny, so I'd recommend using a translucent or light colored powder over it. If you don't like using heavy foundation and want something to make your skin look a little better, this product is perfect for you. However, if you have a lot of redness due to acne or rosacea, you may want to use a concealer or a heavier foundation.

I hope this review helps! Happy reading

-Ashley

Loving the Lip Products

Hey everyone, so I've come to notice that a very popular product among makeup brands are lipsticks or glosses that provide both a color and a moisturizer. For instance, Maybelline's Baby Lips work as a chapstick while providing a subtle hint of color. Revlon has two lipstick/chapstick products: The Colorburst Lip Butter and the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. I absolutely love the Colorbust Lip Butter (I have one in Sugar Frosting). They really moisturize your lips while providing a soft color (more of a lipgloss effect than a lipstick). I have yet to try the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, but they look fun to try, so I will be purchasing one soon (comment if you want a review!). I have to say, Maybelline's Baby Lips are my favorite. They moisturize very well, and provide a color that's not too overpowering. I've tried two: Fruit Punch and Peach Kiss. Clinique also has a lip color/moisturizer called the Chubby Stick Moisturizing Color Balm. The way they work looks similar to Revlon's balm stain, except a little bit pricier. I want to know what you guys think about the lip color/ moisturizer craze. I for one am loving it! I think its a very fun, innovative way to put two products together.



Enjoy your moisturized, colorful lips, and happy reading!

-Ashley

Outfit of the Day!

Hey everyone, I thought I'd do a quick outfit of the day. I paired a cute crop gray shirt embellished with pink and white triangles along with high waisted shorts (both purchased at american eagle). For jewelry I wore a silver and gold charm bracelet I bought at Claire's. I'm no fashionista or anything, but I thought my outfit looked cute today. I especially love crop tops, they're probably my favorite clothing item for the summer.













Happy Reading!

-Ashley

You Gotta Stand for Something

Anyone recognize the title? If not, it's lyrics to the Script song "Fall for Anything." I love the message behind this song; its aimed towards girls who may not have the highest self esteem. Basically the song is saying that some guys will tell girls anything they want to hear in order to use them, and then once they've gotten what they want they leave them. Girls, if you're with a guy who's just using you, get out of the relationship. Chances are it's not really a relationship anyway. You'll end up feeling worse about yourself if you continue to give yourself away. You're much better than that. Always remember that if you respect yourself, others will respect you.
Never "give until there's nothing to give"
Happy listening,

-Ashley

She's the Secret that Nobody Knows

Hey everyone! Have you ever heard Lauren Alaina's song "She's a Wildflower" off her album Wildflower? It's one of my favorite songs off the album; I think it's very inspirational for girls in high school. It's about shy, insecure girls who feel like they don't fit in, when in truth they are beautiful and special people. When I was a freshman, I had no idea where I would fit in. I came from a small private school to a big public school, and though my best friends came to school with me, I met so many different groups of people.It was hard and a huge adjustment, but it eventually got better. Now I'm going to be a senior, and though I know who my true friends are, there are times when I still feel like a wildflower. For anyone who feels like high school is a scary and cruel place, believe me I know. But also know that it gets better. No matter how hard it is or how bad you feel, know that there are people out there who feel the same way. Eventually you'll find your way, and people will realize just how truly special and unbelievable you are.
Happy listening,

-Ashley

"She's a wildflower just waiting on a sunny day, she's the secret that nobody knows"

video from KrazySpiice

The Best Waterproof Mascara and Eye Makeup Remover!

Hi everyone! So a little while ago I bought Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express waterproof mascara. I heard mixed reviews on the mascara, so I wasn't sure whether or not to buy it...but eventually I gave in. Maybelline mascaras are generally my favorite; they're good quality and inexpensive. This mascara is easily one of my favorites because it lengthens my lashes and holds the curl (my lashes do not curl easily). The mascara does not come off either. I went swimming yesterday at a Fourth of July party, and after coming out the water, my mascara didn't even budge! I am so impressed by this mascara, it worked better than the higher end waterproof mascara from the Sephora collection I used last summer. The only downside to this product is that is does not come off easily. I tried using the Simple makeup removing towelettes, but they ended up pulling off some of my eyelashes while I was trying to wash my makeup off. I ended up buying the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes and they are amazing! They took my waterproof mascara right off without taking my eyelashes with it. I definitely recommend these two products as a Summer must have.

Happy Reading,

-Ashley

Get Great Skin for Summer!

Hey everyone! So normally I blog about music, but today I thought about changing things up a bit. Like most teenagers, I struggle with acne. Since I have oily skin, I tend to struggle the most with blackheads. During the summer the weather gets hotter and, naturally, I sweat more. As a result my skin gets oilier and I tend to get more pesky bumps on my face. Now I'm not a dermatologist, so what I do for my skin may not be the best for everyone's skin. I have sensitive skin, so acne treatments with salycic acid tends to worsen my skin rather than help it. Instead I like to use clean and clear morning burst facial scrub twice a week (you don't want to over exfoliate because it strips your skin of its natural oil, making it dry and possibly causing more acne). I also like using Proactive's line, such as the wash and the benzoyl peroxide cream. I also really like Proactive's refining sulfur mask, just put some on a troublesome pimple or area, and overnight they almost completely disappear. Another good way to help your skin is to drink plenty of water! Water in your system helps flush out any impurities. Also, try to reduce the amount of makeup you wear. The heat will melt any heavy makeup into your skin, causing breakouts. During the summer you can get away with wearing little makeup,so try to cut out things like heavy blush or foundation. Personally I skip out on makeup if I'm not doing anything special. If you need a little coverage, use a tinted moisturizer instead of a foundation. It will moisturize your skin while offering some color. Most tinted moisturizers have SPFs in them as well, so you're protected from the sun. Another good tip is to keep your fingers off your face! The bacteria from your hands will make any pimples worse.


I hope these tips help! Happy reading,

-Ashley

My Summer 2012 Playlist

Happy Summer everybody! When I think of summer, I think about pools, bathing suits, ice cream, the beach, camping, and spending time with my friends! But what another important thing I consider is what songs to put on my summer playlist. What are the songs that put me in the summer mood, the ones I want to listen to when I'm tanning on my pool deck or driving in my car. After going through my Itunes music, here are a few songs that made it to my Summer 2012 playlist:
1. Long Hot Summer-Keith Urban. I'm pretty sure this came out in September 2011, but it's definitely a must on my playlist.
2. Country Girl (Shake it for Me)-Luke Bryan. Luke Bryan has a lot of good summer songs, like Drunk on You, but I have yet to purchase it. This song was my summer favorite for last year, and it's so good I just had to put it on this years playlist as well.
3. Georgia Peaches- Lauren Alaina. Okay, so country music is definitely a must on my playlist. This song, which is Lauren Alaina's first hit single, is so much fun and really catchy.
4. Sweet Disposition-the Temper Trap. If anyone has ever seen 500 Days of Summer (cough cough, one of my favorite movies) this song is played in the movie and the movie trailer as well. It's an alternative song, which is not always my favorite kind of music, but it's so relaxing I love listening to it, especially while I'm tanning at the beach.
5. Good Girls Go Bad- Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester. Okay, so this song has been on my summer playlist ever since it came out. It honestly is the perfect party song, it just reminds me of summer.
6. California Gurls- Katy Perry. A song about California and beaches, need I say more?
7. Africa-Toto. So the reason this song reminds me of summer is because I work at an amusement park, where they play this song on rides all the time.
8.My Weakness- Kris Allen. This is probably one of my most played songs on my playlist. The whistling and lyrics remind me of summer love.
9. Here We Go Again- Demi Lovato. This song came out during the summer of 2009, which is also when I saw Demi in concert. It was probably one of the best concerts I've ever been to, so listening Here We Go Again reminds me of good times.
10. If I Ruled the World- Big Time Rush. I really love this song from Big Time Rush, it came out last summer and I like it so much it had to be on this summer's playlist.

I have some songs from Brad Paisley and Selena Gomez, as well as more from Kris Allen and Keith Urban. So if you're having trouble trying to find songs for your summer playlist, feel free to check out the songs on mine.

Happy Listening!

-Ashley

Kris Allen's New CD!!!!!!!!!

If you don't remember, Kris Allen is the season 8 American Idol winner. He's probably my favorite winner (other than Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, of course). I absolutely adore his voice and music; I thought his first album was fantastic. When I heard he was finally coming out with a new CD, I was ecstatic. I had been waiting for two years for new music from Allen, His sophomore album "Thank You Camellia" was released yesterday, and I purchased it today. This album EXCEEDS his debut one, something I didn't think could be possible. It's got everything- fun, catchy songs with well written lyrics. This CD is definitely full of summer songs- Better With You, My Weakness, Rooftops, and Loves Me Not (his duet with Meiko) are definitely the driving with the rooftop down on your way to the beach kind of songs. And then of course, there's his debut single "Vision of Love" which calls people to take a stand against bullying and loneliness. My personal favorites are "Monster" and "Blindfolded." The chorus' are so catchy, and the guitar in Monster is awesome. I love the message in Blindfolded, "If I was blindfolded, if my memory was erased, if every sign pointed to another place, I would still find you." Ahh, its so romantic! And, of course, Kris Allen wouldn't be Kris Allen with out adding a powerful ballad "You've Got A Way." Overall this album is fantastic, and Kris Allen needs to be recognized for just how talented he is as a singer and songwriter  (by the way, if anyone's a Glee fan, Allen penned Matthew Morrison's song "Still Got Tonight"). I would highly recommend everyone to go and purchase this CD.

90's Music

Hey everyone! So recently I've been a little obsessed with listening to 90's music...I'm a little addicted. Not just any kind of 90's music, but pop/rock. The lyrics have so much meaning and the voices and  instruments are real, not like some of the fake synthesized stuff you here on the radio. Some of my favorites are "Closing Time" by Semisonic, "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls, "If You Could Only See" by Tonic, and "Everything you Want" by Vertical Horizon. I'd never even heard of any of these artists until I heard these songs on the radio. If your in the mood to listen to something different or want a takeback to the 90's, listen to these songs, I guarantee you'll fall in love with at least one of them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAS-pvQ06s4 closing time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8UeeIAJ0a0 Iris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_YsN8AlfEU If You Could Only See

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKW0uelA6Dw Everything you Want




I'm a sucker for well written, meaningful lyrics. I think that's what especially draws me to a song. I feel like a lot (not all) of songs these days don't have as much meaning to them than they used to. I hope you can take the time to listen! Maybe you'll even find a new favorite song!

Happy reading!
-Ashley

How to deal with Bad Days and Negativity

Every one has a bad day every once in a while. They're inevitable. Whether your bummed because April vacations over and it seems like the rain will never stop falling (that's my case), you've gotten into a fight with someone your close to, or you just feel like nothings going right, bad days happen. But they don't last forever. As much as I want my day to end as soon as possible, I find a way to get through it. Here are some of my tips of getting over a bad day:

1. Listen to music. Most of the time I like to listen to upbeat, happy songs when I'm down in the dump (Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield and Selena Gomez's Who Says are some of my favorites), but I also like to listen to songs that correspond with my mood (I don't know why, sometimes it makes me feel better when I listen to a song that describes exactly how I feel). 

2. Look at something colorful. Brightness can lift your mood, whether its looking through a flashy magazine or wearing a pair of neon flip flops, you'll feel better having a little color in your day.

3. Write! Get your feelings out on a piece of paper, write a poem, song, or even just make a list of everything that went wrong in your day. Sorting out how you feel will make you feel less stressed or overwhelmed. It's a good way to vent.

4. Talk to someone about your day. Talk to a pet, your mom, friend, boyfriend, whoever will encourage you and help you get through your bad day. Do not yell at someone your mad at or whoever may have contributed to your sadness. It'll probably end up making you feel worse. 

I hope your bad day ends and that you'll find joy in the next day! 

Happy reading!

-Ashley 

Introductory!

Hey everyone! My name is Ashley and I'd like to welcome everyone to my little blog. I figured before I started my posts you should know a little about me. I'm a teen from New England who loves to write. I write for my school newspaper and I enjoy writing creative stories. I dream of publishing a novel someday and working for a magazine.Music is a passion of mine. I listen to everything, country, pop, rap, you name it. I play sing, play piano, write songs, and I even recently learned how to play the guitar. Over the past few years I've also started to take an interest in makeup and hair styling ever since I've discovered YouTube gurus Kandee Johnson and the Fowler sisters. My sisters and I have our own YouTube channels: Dracutgrls12 (Music) and Dracutgrls12Beauty (Makeup). I would not call myself a professional in anything-I just like to learn and share what I know with people! It'd mean so much if you followed me or subscribed to my channel. Happy reading!
-Ashley