September 2014 Reads

I definitely didn't read as much this month as I did in August, but I did manage to read a couple books. Here they are :

Vanity, Vengeance and a Weekend in Vegas, Kyra Davis : This is the 6th book in the Sophie Katz series by Kyra Davis. I read the first five back in February/March, and really loved them. They're chick lit mixed with mystery and I couldn't put them down. But for this one, I had a harder time getting into the story. I don't know if it's because I read the other books in French and this one in its original version, but it took me longer to finish it. I didn't have that "oh God what's happening I have to read the next chapter" from the start, like I did with the other. I did read the last few chapters in one go, though, and I'd definitely read the next one if there's one.

You're The One That I Want, Giovanna Fletcher : Because I loved Billy and Me so much, I figured I'd read YTOTIW. Like with Billy and Me, I'd only seen positive feedback for this one, and was worried I'd be disappointed. Well... I was a little. I did like it, but I didn't love it. It took me a while to get into the story and finish the book. I was also a bit disappointed by the ending because SPOILER I felt like Maddie stayed with Rob because she had to, not because she loved him. I honestly thought that the kid in the epilogue would Ben and Maddie's, not Ben and some random girl's child. /SPOILER. It's definitely a good read, I love the writing style, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

What did you read this month ? Do you have any book recommendations for me ?

August 2014 Reads

Okay, I know that when I say I'll try and do a monthly [insert word here], I never do it. I don't even have any excuses for forgetting about it. Buuut, because I'm stubborn, I thought I'd try something different. How about a books-I've-read-this-month type post ? Are you in ? Yes ? Okay !

I mentionned that I went on holiday in August, and I always always read a lot on holiday (which is why I'm very glad to now have a Kindle. So much room left in my suitcase ! Not having to worry about running out of books !)
Here are the books I've read in August !

The Boy Next Door (Melissa et Son Voisin), Meg Cabot : I read this a long time ago, while on holiday with a friend who'd bought the book. I wanted to re-read it, as I love Meg Cabot's books. It's a very easy and fast read, and it's really fun. The text consists of emails between the characters, which means there are no long chapters  you might have to worry about finishing because you have to do something else (I absolutely hate putting a book down in the middle of a chapter).

Billy and Me, Giovanna Fletcher : I'd heard such great things about this book that I put off reading it, as I was worried I'd be disappointed. I finally decided to read it, and I loved it ! I think I read it in 3 days, and I was very glad to have sunglasses on as I read the ending !

Good in Bed (Alors, Heureuse ?) & Certain Girls (La Fille de sa Mère), Jennifer Weiner  : I read both books back to back, so I guess I did kind of like them. I did have a hard time really getting into the story for the first one (mostly because I didn't understand why the character would still be hung up on her boyfriend) but I enjoyed the second one a lot more. Again, prepare to tear up at the ending.

Eleanor and Park, Rainbow Rowell : This book ! Aah ! I read it in a day ! It rained all day that day so we didn't do a lot, and I couldn't put the book down. I absolutely LOVED it ! Although I wish we could have known a little more at the end, it's still a very great read.

Wedding Night (Nuit de Noces à Ikonos), Sophie Kinsella : I really enjoy Sophie Kinsella's books and chose to read this one. And I have to say that although I liked it (I managed to get through it, although it took longer than the other books) I was a little... disappointed, I guess. I felt like nothing really happened, and there was no "Oh my, I can't put this book down" going on. Maybe I expected it to be something else, I don't know. It's still worth checking out, though !

And there are my August reads ! Have you read any from this list ? What books did you read this month ? Do share !

Some books were read in French (I added the French title for those) while some were read in their original versions. I thought I'd mention it, as I feel sometimes translation can make a difference whether I like a book or not.

NOTD : Maybelline Mini Colorama in Urban Lemon

Long time no see ! But I'm back with - yes, again - a nail polish post. Spring is definitely here and the need for bright colors on my nails is back too. This is Maybelline's Urban Lemon from their Mini Colorama range, a bright lemon yellow polish.

(I'm again very sorry for the poor state of my cuticles. I ran out of my holy 

grail cuticle cream and I keep forgetting to buy more.)

Urban Lemon stayed perfect on my nails for 5 days. After that, desert-like cracks start to show on the polish, and it starts to chip (following the cracks). Five days is still long for a polish, so I'm fine with it.

Application was streaky, but it's a yellow so that is to be expected. You just have to be light on the brush. I managed to get away with two coats and it was opaque (Although you can see some nail line on my index finger. I guess I had less polish on the brush for that finger than with the other ones.)

Do you have a yellow polish ? Or several yellow polishes ? What's your favorite one ?

NOTD : agnès b. mini b. in b. Rose Libellule

In an attempt to forget about HIMYM's horrible finale (well, at least those last 5 minutes or so) I thought today I'd show what I had on my nails last week.

Before I buy any more nail polish, I want to finish the ones I've had for years. It's hard, because there  are a lot of colors or finishes I'm just not a fan of anymore. I've only managed to part with two or three polishes that were past their prime (they were too thick and... stringy. You know, when you take the brush and there's a string of polish forming between the brush and the bottle ? Yikes.)

The one I'm wearing in the picture I've had for... at least 7 years ? I'm positive I had it in 2007, because I clearly remember picking at my polished nails in German class, in what would be 9th grade in the US. Oh how boring German was...

It's a polish from agnès b. bought from the CCB. It's a mini b. in b. Rose Libellule. Isn't the name just... ugh ? Back then I thought it was a bargain (it could have been 5€ or something) but now that I've tried better quality polishes for a lot less money and more quantity (this one's only 7 ml, half of a China Glaze polish), well, I'd say it's an expensive polish. Although I've seen worse. Nowadays this line is only 3,95€ (link here) but I still wouldn't repurchase.

Anyway, b. Rose Libellule is a sheer (those are 3 coats and bad cuticles, sorry) pearly white that shifts to purple. I tried to get the shift in the picture but I don't think you can really see it on my nails. I've apparently worn it a lot (bottle's half empty, which is a record for me), but I'm just not a fan anymore. I stay away from sheer polishes now, because I hate seeing my irregular nail lines #firstworldproblems. It was a cool polish back in 2006/2007, and it has held up pretty nicely (it's not thick or goopy) and it applied perfectly, but... it's an old polish. Rose Libellule, you remind me of German class and well... those aren't my best memories.

Do you have any polish that reminds you of a special time ? Are you trying to go through your stash before buying any more polish ? Do share !

OPI Gouda Gouda Two Shoes (Holland Collection) Nail Polish Swatch & Review

Let's all forget I said this would be posted yesterday. Let's also forget this should actually have been posted over a month ago. Like I mentionned in my last post, the first swatch pictures I took didn't turn out great, and I only realized it once the polish was off my nails. And yep, it took a month for me to finally get around to re-taking pictures. I'm so lazy.

Gouda Gouda Two Shoes had been on my nail polish wishlist (yes I have one of those) ever since it was released with OPI's Holland collection in the Spring 2012. I have a few other from that collection on my wishlist, and when it was time to buy last December and I could only pick one, well... I hesitated. I finally picked Gouda Gouda Two Shoes, because I figured it'd be a nice Winter to Spring transition polish.
Here's the swatch :

I love the color. It's an old rose with a subtle golden shimmer that was super hard to photograph. It is definitely there in the sunlight, unfortunately it was raining when I took the pictures so you can't really see it. But it is so pretty !

The polish applies perfectly. I used two coats, but I think three might be best, especially for staying power. I get some tip wear very easily with this polish (without base/top coat), even if I wrap my tips, but that's honestly the only bad thing I have to say. It didn't even chip when I washed my hair ! Am I the only one who judges a polish by that ?

Do you have a nail polish wishlist ? Is there that one polish you have to have ? Do share !