Two things -

1) Sorry these photos are a little fuzzy. Taking pictures of bright white dresses in pretty shaded areas is hard >.<

2) If you like this dress (which I highly recommend since it dresses up and down so well) don't be afraid to try on the petite and regular versions. I ended up buying it in Large Petite because there was less fabric along the sides but the length wasn't affected.

//Can I go to the Maldvies now? I mean - damn. That is the possibly prettiest place I have ever seen.

//Gladys Jose has some super cute art and I'm so thankful to Epbot for introducing me to her!



//A drink recipe that's on my "must make" list this summer.


 //It took me longer than expected to track down the Guerlain Summer releases but the cream eyeshadows are freaking fantastic. The pink lipstick turned out not to be my shade, but I definitely recommend trying it on for yourself because it looked beautiful on Makeup and Beauty Blog's Karen.

//I don't know why I pretend to have all the time to DIY, but this particular one looks simple enough and light enough to be hung in my popcorn ceiling apartment. Wish me luck?


//Can you hear Jake singing? Cause I sure can!


//Who loves me enough to buy me this?



Fun Posts & Random Finds: I'm a collector of DIY's I'll never do, but this seems like a cute gift. // Adorable smiling octopus! // Do we think these shoes could be worn to a summer wedding? // I've never even played Zelda but I LOVE THIS. //

Clothing & Jewelry: I have to stay away from novelty tees, because then I just want every, single, one I find, even if other people probably won't find them funny. // This dress could be great or terrible but looks wonderful for summer. // Ditto for this dress. // Why don't I live a life where this skirt is required?! // The print on this skirt is so fun. // Another skirt I haven't tried on but am trying to convince myself I need. // My first adventures into thin delicate necklaces, at a good price point.

So April was a bit of a bust when it came to this but hey, a new month gives me the opportunity to try again!

Read & Loved:

The Unleashing by Shelly Laurenston

Kera Watson never expected to face death behind a Los Angeles coffee shop. Not after surviving two tours lugging an M16 around the Middle East. If it wasn’t for her hot Viking customer showing up too late to help, nobody would even see her die.

In uncountable years of service to the Allfather Odin, Ludvig “Vig” Rundstrom has never seen anyone kick ass with quite as much style as Kera. He knows one way to save her life—but she might not like it. Signing up with the Crows will get Kera a new set of battle buddies: cackling, gossiping, squabbling, party-hearty women. With wings. So not the Marines.

But Vig can’t give up on someone as special as Kera. With a storm of oh-crap magic speeding straight for L.A., survival will depend on combining their strengths: Kera’s discipline, Vig’s loyalty… and the Crows’ sheer love of battle. Boy, are they in trouble.

My Thoughts: I might still be a little sad that Laurenston is stepping away from her Pride/Shapeshifter series, but I think the Crows and Ravens will fill that spot pretty nicely. Same kick ass heroines paired with violently protective but loveable heroes, this time with a smattering of Norse mythology that I admittedly know nothing about, lol.

Love After All by Jaci Burton

A woman discovers that the man she least expects is exactly what she needs...

High school math teacher Chelsea Gardner has the perfect plan. She’s tired of dating all the wrong men, and after years of frustration, she’s developed a foolproof list of requirements for finding “The One.”

Bar owner Sebastian “Bash” Palmer finds Chelsea beautiful, smart and fun, but he thinks her list is ridiculous and unnecessary.  Intent on proving Chelsea is looking for love in all the wrong ways, he offers to help her find the “perfect” man.

Chelsea knows Bash isn’t the right guy for her—he barely meets one of her criteria—but there’s something about the charismatic man that has her yearning for things that are most definitely not list approved.

Because sometimes, a relationship that looks totally wrong on paper can turn out incredibly right…

My Thoughts: I have no idea why this is the only Burton series that I read currently, she does such a fantastic job at writing contemporary romance with realistic leads that focus on the process of making a relationship work. Another great addition to a comforting/fun series.

Rock Hard by Nalini Singh

In New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh’s newest contemporary romance, passion ignites between a gorgeous, sinfully sexy man who built himself up from nothing and a shy woman who has a terrible secret in her past…
Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

My Thoughts: After a great series debut and a connected novella, I have to admit these Rock Kiss stories are to going be auto-buys for me. There's a lot of emotional intensity throughout this series, love represented in relationship, between friends, and amongst families, which makes staying in touch with everyone's lives a joy.

The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire

Toby thought she understood her own past; she thought she knew the score.

She was wrong.

It's time to learn the truth.


 My Thoughts: At the end of last year I had to take some time away from a couple of my favorite urban fantasies series, I just wasn't in the head space to give them the time and attention they needed, but I'm so glad I picked this back up last month. This is never going to be a series where you can start just anywhere, the history amongst all the characters and their experiences is just too deep, but it's fantastically done and highly recommended.

I'm Looking Forward To:

Garden of Lies by Amanda Quick

The New York Times bestselling author of Otherwise Engaged and The Mystery Woman presents an all-new novel of intrigue and murder set against the backdrop of Victorian London…

The Kern Secretarial Agency provides reliable professional services to its wealthy clientele, and Anne Clifton was one of the finest women in Ursula Kern’s employ. But Miss Clifton has met an untimely end—and Ursula is convinced it was not due to natural causes.

Archaeologist and adventurer Slater Roxton thinks Mrs. Kern is off her head to meddle in such dangerous business. Nevertheless, he seems sensible enough to Ursula, though she does find herself unnerved by his self-possession and unreadable green-gold eyes…

If this mysterious widowed beauty insists on stirring the pot, Slater intends to remain close by as they venture into the dark side of polite society. Together they must reveal the identity of a killer—and to achieve their goal they may need to reveal their deepest secrets to each other as well…

My Thoughts: While her contemporary romance and paranormals might still be my favorite, Jayne Ann Krentz in pretty much any form makes me happy.