Things I'm Loving

1. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

I didn't know that this story existed. I saw Beauty and the Beast the other week with my roommate and the trailer for this new movie showed beforehand. I saw that Amandla Stenberg was starring in it and immediately decided that it was a blockbuster hit and deserved six trillion awards. I knew I would have to read the book before I dare saw the movie and lo and behold, it was on sale for like nine bucks or something at Target and it felt like fate.


I read this entire book on Easter Sunday. I think by now it's clear that if I don't read a book in one sitting or a 24-hour period, I forget to finish them. It's binge-reading or bust for me, so I did what I had to do and powered through the book. It's a fairly easy read. I feel like the term "easy read" can be construed as simple, but I prefer to attribute it to the fact that the author has been able to create a story that captures your attention and doesn't waiver in their detail or storyline. Everything in Everything, Everything flows gloriously together.

The narrator, eighteen-year-old Madeline Whittier, is smart and clever, but is sheltered from the outside world. She has SCID and cannot leave her house because anything and everything could trigger a sickness. Her mother is her caretaker and doctor, alongside longtime nurse Carla. She has very little human interaction in person aside from her mother and nurse besides a few teachers who are able to give lessons in person rather than through Skype–after they've been "sanitized."

Things change when a new family moves into the neighborhood. Madeline watches from the window, forming a silent connection with the son of the family, Olly. They begin messaging each other, forming a bond and friendship. Eventually, Carla gives in and allows the two to meet in person and from then on out, for lack of better terms, sh!t gets real. Everything that Madeline had once believed has the chance to change forever.

I don't want to spoil too much of the plot, but if you're looking for a new springtime read, I'd pick this one up at Target before the movie hits the big screen!

2. "Hard Times" by Paramore

Paramore is back!!! I've been a big fan of Paramore since the "Misery Business" days and have continued to fall in love with whatever they're doing musically. I was going through my usual morning Facebook scroll yesterday morning and was bombarded by a new song and music video from the group that I barely even recognize anymore. It's got this really sick like, 70s vibe, and just makes me want to bop and dance. I mean, most songs make me want to dance. I have horrible rhythm, but nonetheless, I have ~ have the rhythm in me ~. All jokes aside, I actually really dig the song and I'm really stoked to see if their new album is following in this direction. It comes out on the 12th of May, which means it'll probably have to fight for my attention from Harry Styles' debut album. And you know, like, me crying over the fact that I'll only have two or three more days living with my roommates for the rest of forever. *starts hyperventilating*

3. Dior Oval Crystal-Embellished Optyl sunglasses

Oops I did it again, I played with my debit card...Let me just start this out by saying that the outlet mall is a scary, dangerous place and Saks Off Fifth always takes my money. And by takes my money I mean I practically just toss all of my money at random crap when I'm in there because I can't control myself. Luckily, I went with my mom who is always my voice of reason. Even this time though, she let me get away with a couple of things that I probably didn't need. Case in point: these sunglasses. I literally only wear my Quay glasses. I did pick up those Tom Ford cat-eye glasses not too long ago from work, but the second I saw these sitting on the sunglasses display, I immediately knew they had to be mine.

Typically, I avoid black frames because they look way, way too stark against my fair skin. Amazingly enough, these don't look like complete trash on my face. The shape is something unlike anything that I ever thought would look good on my face. But honestly, we all know the best part of these glasses is the incredible mirrored and embellished arms. Look at that sparkle!

4. "Kissing Strangers" by DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj

Oh, my first love...Joe...DNCE's music never fails to just make me happy. It's always so upbeat and danceable and honestly, those are two things that I look for in my pop music. And then a Nicki Minaj feature? Nothing could be better, nothing. "Kissing Strangers" is no exception to my love for DNCE. In fact, it might be one of my favorite songs of theirs. I would kill to hear this live. I can just see Joe, Cole and JinJoo bouncing around stage in my head. So fun!

5. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

It's been a while since I last talked about this mascara. When my last tube dried out, I decided to try out a few new mascaras in between, but I always come back to this one. This is either my second or third tube, which for me, extreme mascara fanatic, is pretty incredible. I have fairly low maintenance eyelashes (I know, I know, I'm lucky but just remember that my skin is horrible!) so most mascaras work for me. But this one works for me. It keeps my lashes long, full and curled. The tube says "full fan effect" and man, it is not wrong. If I'm using this mascara in succession with another, I always put this on second to separate the lashes and really just lengthen the crap out of them. The formula is nice too because it stays put all day, but isn't a pain in the butt to take off at night like some other mascaras I've tried.