Far From Reality

Aikawa Ayumu is a normal high school boy. One day he is killed by a serial killer and revived as a zombie by a necromancer named Eucliwood Hellscythe. He starts to serve Eu as her guard but he happens to deprive the masou-shoujo Haruna of her magic power. Haruna orders Ayumu to fight against the anti-masou-shoujo system "Megalo" in her place.

Kore wa zombie desu ka? follows the story of Ayumu, normal teenager who one days dies, then comes back as a zombie, then turns into a magical garment girl after some pretty funny sequences of events. He is now tasked with defeating Megalos, demon-type enemies bent on destruction. However, he has a few problems, mostly the girls in his life who will not leave him alone! I giggled throught the anime and it made me smile. 

 I thought Kore wa (shortened!) was a nice little anime at first, kitchy with its comedy and fanservice and the way the girls (haruna, Eu, and Sera) always picked on him and more often than not (haruna) beating him up. However about halfway through the story changed into something darker, deeper and more compelling. Sure there were the comedy/fanservice moments but i found myself tearing up at some parts and really getting into the characters, most noteably Eu (Lady Deathsythe) her story just about teared me to bits. 

 As far as characters go Ayumu is pretty average, he is the typical high school guy, leering at girls, slacking off. He really does have a soft spot though and he really shines near the end during Eu's crisis. He had his redeeming moments, much like the others. The one i did not truely like was Sera (Seraphim) she is a ninja and thus, cold. She does show a softer side but hearing her call Ayumu 'repugnant' or a 'maggot' multiple times Every. Single. Episode. Got annoying to say the least. Same with Haruna, i had to hear 'dumb Ayumu' more than i would have liked. There are other characters thrown in as well, but they do not have such a defining story as the others. 

 All in all it is a charming anime, with 12 episodes int he first 'season' it is short and worth the 6 hours to watch it if you like yoru light animes. While there are some dark themes and quite a bit of blood, it is not so deep that it will stick with you indefinatly but its a nice, easy, vacation from the more complex animes out there.

For a YA indie fantasy, The Dream Map was quite enjoyable. It tells the story of Max, a gawky teenager who is magically transported to another world by accident and his adventures helping rid the other world of an evil menace. While the story is kind of generic, the characters were really alive and colorful. I liked Max and how akward he was and his friend Heidi who was just all sorts of bad-ass. Kate, the princess, was not your typical princess either, she was a warrioress who cared deeply for her people and would do anything to make sure they were safe. 

 There were points where some things could have been explained better and some parts that could have been edited better, I occasionaly came across some typos and had to re-read the sentances before it to figure out what the person was trying to say. The world building was nice and you got the general sence of what was what without going into over-detail about it. 

 Fantasy adventure usually has some romance right? no romance here! no love triangles or wobbly teen angst.. It was chaste and simply a good for you YA novel. Dragons, magic, technology and friendship.. there is a lot of happy and good going on for this book and it makes a great splash in the community of YA fiction

REVIEW

Honestly, I have NO clue about One Direction or their music. I just know it is five guys in a boy band and they have TONS of followers, and that I enjoy makeup. I was also not expecting much from this since usually celebrity made or endorsed items are not so well made or hyped up so much that you can be easily disappointed.

Pleasantly I was pretty wrong. The One Direction makeup is quite well made and lasts longer than I imagined it would (I used an eye shadow base underneath the pigments) The colors are quite pretty and work well together, they are easy to blend even with the little sponge brush they give you. The eye shadows are easy to apply and feel very silky on, the color payoff is nice too and it does not fall everywhere like with some pressed colors.  The lip colors are also nice, though I find I will never use the brown color and the 'peachy' color is more of an over the top color or a shine instead of a tint. 

At first i thought the clear tube was eye liner (a glitter liner) and I was pretty happy about that but upon closer inspection it is actually a lip wand to add a bit of sparkle/glitter to your lips. A nice touch but you will need to clean the wand after each use since the lip color under it will get on it and you do not want to mix colors (or DO  you? you rebel!) The eyeliner is a creamy texture and no so dark black as what you would get with a liquid liner, good for a beginner doing wings are eyeliner in general since it comes off easily with a q-tip and can be shaped the way you want it. 

I can not comment on the nail polish as I have no nails to speak of to apply it to but I do like the sparkle top coat they give to go over the kind of obnoxious pink. All in all it is a great little kit for any fan of One Direction, while the make up is not top notch (No MAC here!) at the price charged, it is a good deal. The colors all have cute names too so it was quite fun.

The Niacinamide Vitamin B3 Moisturizer is a hydrates and plumps the skin. This is a rich and heavy moisturizer (not to be confused with our Vitamin B3 Serum), but it also dries fast and can be used in conjunction with the Niacinamide serum to diminish redness and inflammation, as well as reduce the appearance of scar, acne and hyperpigmentation. Our formula also contains Vitamin C that works synergistically to minimize damage from environment factors and promote ongoing skin health and rejuvenation, so you can attain a radiant, youthful glow. 

 Key Ingredients: 

+ 5% Niacinamide
+ Vitamin C 
+ Matrixyl 3000 
+ Rosehip Oil

I am always in the market for a natural, better moisturizer than my current one. This was a nice departure from my usual. The first thing I  noticed was the pretty packaging, the rosey-purple color is very inviting and makes me want to open it up. 

The air pump is what I noticed next, I LOVE air pumps. They are are far easier to use than a regular pump and offer more control over how much you squeeze out and it does not go everywhere so there is no mess. 

The smell of this was almost non-existent , there was a slight smell that was a tad unpleasant but it quickly went away while applying the product. Now to the product, it is THICK! I was surprised at how creamy and thick this was, as you can see in the picture below it was not moving! This means that it did take a little extra time to rub into the skin but also that you need to not use as much so it's kind of a good thing!  Overall, I really did like this and it did provide me with adequate moisture for these dry winter months and I would recommend this to my friends and others. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Our Professional Zester Grater is the easiest way to add instant flavor and uniqueness to all of your dishes. 

 Take your dishes from good to great!
 - Grate a rich Parmesan or Reggiano over your favorite pasta or salad
 - Zest fruit including lemons, limes, oranges and coconuts 
- Grate chocolate to sprinkle over delectable desserts or ice cream
 - Grate ginger or garlic for stir fries, stews and more 
- Zest lime or orange over the top of your favor beer or cocktail 
-Toss your old spices and grate fresh cinnamon and nutmeg for today's meals Here are just some of the reasons why Chef Proven's Professional Zester Grater is the best on the market: 
- High grade stainless steel durable blade never needs sharpening 
- Soft comfortable non-slip grip 
- Unique ergonomic design for maximum control and easy use

While I do not zest lemons or lime often, I do use a lot of cheese for many recipes and I love fresh grated cheese on my salads. This grater comes packaged with a sheath to fit over it to keep it clean and sharp, a feature that is greatly (no pun intended) appreciated. 

It is easy to hold and the stainless steal rips through cheeses easily creating small flakes for soups, salads and pastas. The design is simple and sleek with a hole int he handle so you can hang it up with your other tools and take up little space. You can easily use this for chocolate, nuts, citrus, coconut or even garlic. It is easy to clean and I would recommend this to someone who likes to add a little something special to their dinners or desserts.

I used this for soft cheese, an unwise idea but even though it took a while it worked for that as well and made me some tasty nachos! 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Ever Shade A dark twist on faeries. For Shade, a chance meeting with a powerful Teleen faery warrior who wields electrical currents and blue fires along his skin, has her joining him on a treacherous mission for the good Seelie Faerie Court across the land of Faerie. Magic and malice abound and nothing is what it really seems to be. The evil Unseelie Queen and her treacherous allies are around every corner as Shade makes her way across the breathtaking landscapes of the world of Faerie, which exists alongside the mundane human world. Shade discovers her own uncharted magic and meets some of the most powerful warriors in Faerie while battling evil dryads, conniving Teleen guards and challenges on her life with every step in a world where nothing can be taken for granted.

What can I say? it was boring, simply written and Shade was a cry-baby. First of all, Shade is a cool name for such a whiny little girl. She is 17 and 'somehow' gets to the faerie lands (i forgot how, i just rushed through the book) There is no telling WHAT she is but shes not fully human, but it is never actually explained. 

 There are so many inconsistancies in this book I got caught up on them sometimes. I mean.. WHY can Shade block electricity and fire (Oh.. the Teleen are made of electricity but apparently glow with blue fire?..okay) The characters are not really hashed out well, they are very one-dimensional and the one I actualy liked Blythe, was killed so quickly that you never got to hear WHY she wanted Shade. 

 The other characters (love interests) are.. blah. There wa one tree-plant guy who was cursed Erusad? who was really cool but Shade just kind of ...left him behind..literally. I hated her decisions. Dylan is a good character, he has a blood bind with Shade and he does take it seriously, I can respect that. 

 The world building could have used some help as well, it just felt flat.. yes this tree is pretty, yes the water is clear.. we get it. Also, the fact that Faerie is o tottaly ultimatly magical got to e. Everything was so convienant.. it was a bit harry potterish in the fact that Shade's bag could hold anything because it shrunk it to 100x its original size.. her canteen had neverending water.. she always seemed to have food and there are even Immortals who CHOOSE when to die.. it just all seemed so incredibably easy i wonder how Shade even had trouble on this journey. 

 There are about 4 more books in the series that i know of, but I will not be reading them.. I just did not connect with the characters or the story at all. it was all very generic.

Phytoceramides are a great way to achieve healthy skin from the inside out. Ceramides are naturally occuring substances in the body that are responsible for binding skin cells together and retaining moisture. 

As we age, we lose these important molecules and thus become susceptible to dry, rough skin. InstaNatural's Phytoceramides are 100% Gluten Free and derived from rice, which clinical studies have shown to be even more powerful and effective than typical lipowheat phytoceramides. 


 Hydates your skin from the inside out 
 Attain smooth, soft skin 
 Fortified with Vitamins A, C, D, and E antioxidants 
 Derived from Rice, not Wheat 
 100% Gluten Free

I have used these up to the last pill and I can not say if they gave me youthful skin but it is softer. These were very easy to take, they are not softgels or coated but they are not too big or rough. The smelled a bit funny in the bottle though but I guess most natural things do have an off odor.

 I like that they are gluten free so that those who can't have gluten can still get the benefits of these. I really liked that it had vitamin A, C, D and E as not all of us can easily get these (I know that i need more D in my life, I rarely go outside in the sun) While not necessarily giving me youthful skin, this did give me a nice health boost and softer skin.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

 About KISS Hair Appliances 

The KISS Instawave curler was a very simple, fast way to achieve lovely beach waves or super scrunchy curls for my baby fine hair. My hair is very thin and usually tangles pretty easily but Instawave was a no-tangle thrill. Fully automatic it took the 'guess work' out of the process. 

Instawave has two settings: Low and High. Use low for looser curls or High for tighter more bouncy curls. All you have to do is place a section of your hair onto the wand (keep it vertical!) and press either left or right on the button and watch as it instantly catches that section of hair and curls it, after 5-10 seconds pull the curler down and you have beautiful curls! It did take me a while to figure out the right amount of hair to use with it and sometimes other parts of hair would get caught up in it as well (pin up other sections!) the learning curve is pretty low regardless. Oh, and if you forget that you have the curler on, do not worry! It will shut itself off after 90 minutes so that you won't burn down the bathroom 

It took me about 10 minutes to achieve my wavy curls, and after two days of sleeping on it and not washing it the curls are still noticeable! In the pictures below on the Left is my natural hair only blow dried, pretty straight right? On the right is my hair after using the curler, I LOVED it I brushed my hair out and it only got wavier ad less curled and it gave me the perfect beach look (even though i hate the beach!) I will be using this again next time I go out. KISS Instawave truly is a great product and simple, if you want a no-mess, no-hassle way to curl your lovely locks. 

• Specifically Formulated To Reduce The Appearance Of Fine Lines And Wrinkles While Making The Skin Appear Younger, Firmer And Smoother.

 • Contains Natural Ingredients Including Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel And Lavender Oil Which Are Great For Alleviating A Variety Of Skin Conditions. 

• Professional Grade Anti Aging Moisturizer Is Non-Greasy, Quick Drying and Paraben Free With An Airless Pump Dispenser Making Targeted Application A Breeze.

 • Suitable For Most Skin Types Can Be Used Under Your Regular Moisturizer or SPF Cream To Give Skin A Dewy, Plumper Look.

Can I just say how much I ADORE the bottle? It is skinny and long as apposed to the more stout, rounder bottles we usually see and it makes it that more appealing to me. 

The fact that it is also an air pump pleases me. I love it when the product is easy to get out. The serum is a clear liquid that is not to thick and not to thin and a little goes a long way. There is a smell to it but it is nice and not industrial. 

I found with this that I did not need to put a ton of moisturizer on afterwards since this did not dry  my skin out like most serums. It gave my skin a nice plump feeling and worked well under my makeup too. This bottle will last you a while if you only use a tiny bit daily, really you do not need more than that! As for anti-ageing, I am only 28 so I do not need to worry about that just yet, but it is nice to get a head start!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

*COLLAGEN FACE SERUM: Collagen production is increased, resulting in reduction of fine line and wrinkles. This ageless serum is a face lifting serum.

 *LIGHTENING SERUM: Benefit from the fading of sun spots and scaring w/ brightening Vitamin C Serum.

 *ANTIOXIDANT FACE SERUM: Provides a barrier from the environment, the sun & from free radical attacks.

 *FACE TIGHTENING SERUM: Works as a firming serum and a pore reducing serum for tight beautiful skin.

 SIMPLY THE BEST SKINCARE SERUM *Vegan base hyaluronic acid: plumps the skin *PH balanced: making the right environment for cells to thrive properly *Botanical enriched: Giving face a natural radiant glow *Vitamin c20 source: Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, gentle, stable, able to assist with acne inflammation and scaring

 *COSMETIC VITAMIN C + E SERUM: An anti-wrinkle serum for men and women PURE, NATURAL, ORGANIC VITAMIN C and E SERUM SAYS NO TO:

 *NO Parabens, chemicals, formaldehyde, phthalates, triclosan, GMO, fragrance, alcohol, or colors *NO Nano-particles *NO Animal testing *NO Clear bottles

I received this and i instantly was drawn to the eyedropper tool and the color of the bottle. It just looks nice and you can tell its a vitamin C product because of the oranges on it. 

I used this for a while and the formula was quite nice, not too thick but not runny or watery and there was no terrible smell from this. It definitely tightened up my skin and gave me a bit of moisture (however you MUST put a moisturizer on after this because it will dry out your skin fairly badly) I have very young looking skin anyways so I am not so sure it worked to get rid of wrinkles or fine lines but I did enjoy using this and after the initial 'getting used to it' point tit worked wonderfully. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Pilates for Dancers is designed for BEGINNINERS, and anyone and everyone who would like to attain the often celebrated dancer's body, incredibly strong, limber, and articulated muscles and frame. Pilates for dancers was born of the idea that the dancers body and physique is beautiful, graceful, and lithe. At the same time, it is an attainable beauty, given the proper exercise routine and discipline.

 Pilates is the perfect exercise routine.

 This video has a great, limbering warm up routine, followed by over 20 explicitly broken down, step-by-step, instructions that anyone (yes, even you) can follow. This video progressed in stages so that even absolute beginners will have no problem getting a complete and invigorating workout.

 Geared towards beginners and those whom are learning their first pilates movements, all the way to intermediates, a lot of time is spent on explanation and proper repetition, so you get the most out of your workout.

 Multiple angles make sure you don t miss any of the important alignment, or subtle movements, Pilates can get us into. A great video, and a chance for you to experience a dancer s workout!

Ready for a great workout? Well, you will get a nice low impact, slow, easy one with this DVD. Not a 'great' workout if you are looking for something to get your heart pumping and body moving but it is a nice downtime workout between cardio days and strength days.

Pilates for beginners is really for beginners. If you have never before done pilates (me!) you will be surprised at how easy it is to get the hang of and start. There were times when I could not do some of the moves because of my back or asthma (I can not stay in certain positions long or I can not breathe) but that is okay, everyone should go at their own pace!

The tagline "now everyone can obtain the dancers body" is kind of misleading though. You will NOT get a dancers body just from this DVD, you also need to eat right and walk/strength train. This is not a cure-all and is not the only thing you should be doing but like i said, it is great for downtime and great as a beginning tool to learn pilates. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Danica knows bounty hunters don't have it easy. So when an simple job with promises of great rewards comes along, she has her misgivings. It's simply too good to be true. But the opportunity is impossible to refuse - even when she learns that her quarry is in her old home town of Triskellian, a city where old ghosts and buried memories call to her from the shadows.

Her past is not the only danger Danica must face. The once-powerful city-state of Triskellian is splintered by political upheaval. The brutal slaughter of the ruling family of foxes forces everyone, friend and foe alike, into a frantic search for the sole survivor and heir, Fabrizio.

 With the city in chaos, Danica's 'easy job' suddenly turns deadly. Finding her prey isn't so simple, when every clue drags her further into the political tangle. As she slips ever deeper into Triskellian's troubled present, her own past refuses to stay buried, and Danica learns that honor, once lost, could well prove impossible to regain.

Scars is one of those novels that you either love it or you hate it, fortunately i loved it.

 Danica is a bounty hunter with a sordid past. Her newest hunt takes her and her friend Tucker the racoon bandit on a wild chase after a slippery quarry. 

 Danica was a great character, being a red fox she is lower on heirarchy than a grey fox but that does not matter to her much. She knows who she is and she does not let that stop her from doing her job. She is tough as nails, hard and sometimes witty. She does grow throughout the book though and I liked how she did. 

 Tucker and Delaney are two of her only friends (I think she has four?) but they add a quality to the novel that makes it quite charming and I did love Tucker, he was spunky and vivacious. His little crush on Danica is super cute and I love how he would do anything for her, even thinking about getting into the bounty hunter business himself. 

 There was not too much action in this book, no romance either but what was there was so well done that I wanted it to last longer! While it did take me a while to get into the book (it looks thin but the text is quite small) It did get better and it really sucked me in. The hidden plots, the relationships, the nicely rounded characters were all put together so nicely. The images throughout the book also added a nice touch, at key points int he book you are gifted with a cute image depicting that scene. It helps give an overal sense of what the characters look like. 

 The other characters (Rizio and Malik..) add drama and a certain emotion to the book as well. 

 If you enjoy Anthro fantasy books, or fantasy in general and can get past the fact all the characters are animals (i know some people can't) then i think you will enjoy this book!

Facial Sponge by Ashieda Made from natural Konjac vegetable fiber with collagen, this sponge has an extra fine texture and is the ideal cleanser for every type of skin, even the most sensitive.

 Exfoliates, Nourishes and Repairs Skin The Natural Clear Skin Cleansing Sponge will exfoliate dead cells while leaving behind a soft film that will nourish and protect your skin with additional collagen.

 It will tighten and plump your skin and fight wrinkles by softening the keratin structure and repairing the elastin fiber needed to keep skin from sagging.

 Cleanse pores, eliminate blackheads, dirt and oil without need of another cleanser Naturally moisturize your skin Gently exfoliate your skin, bringing out a natural shine Balance the PH of your skin Help repair and renew your skin 100% Natural The Natural Clear Skin Cleansing Sponge is manufactured using only natural processes, with no preservatives, no coloring and no additives.

 It is completely bio-degradable, naturally sustainable and environmentally safe. Softly massage your face to a clear, healthy glow with the only sponge that will nourish and protect even the most hyper-sensitive skin.

When I received this sponge I was confused. It was so hard! After leaving it under warm water for about 30 seconds though the fibers expand and it gets soft and pliable. I used this alone and while it was very soft and gentle on my skin I did not feel like it was doing much int he way of exfoliation. However when I paired this with a sugar scrub to use on my face I found it really held up and the scrub did not fall into the sponge and get lost like some other products (You know how you put a product on your sponge and it disappears and you have to use more? not so with this!)

When you put this up, either just on the side of your tub or using the attached string, it will dry out quickly and feel quite odd (kind of slimy but fun) and then dry completely, it will not go back to the original super hard state, not that I have seen anyways. Just run it under water and its back to its pliable nature. I do love this product, I use it once a week when i exfoliate my face, it is the perfect size to cup your cheeks and chin and get into all those nooks. 

Available in multiple colors: gray, green, purple, pink, red, dark blue, light blue, yellow and orange Small Packing Cube Size: 11" x 6.75" x 3"

Product Benefits: See through mesh panel of these travel packing organizers allows you to easily find what you need.

Maintain your privacy while going through security in the airport. Save time ironing your clothes at the hotel. The packing cube set will help minimize wrinkles on your clothes.

Maximize your luggage space so you can squeeze in more of your stuff. Traveling with the entire family? Make packing and unpacking easy by assigning a cube per person or purpose.

Save time packing and unpacking by allowing you to unpack only what you need. These travel packing cubes fit on your luggage, duffel, suitcase, backpack, slim bags on on their own.

I love these! They are well made and store quite a bit of things, i fit around fourty jars of lotion in three of them plus some soaps. They fill out and up to accomadate most small to medium sized items, perfect for your travel toiletries. I like how lightweight they are but still sturdy and easy to use. It has mesh to see your items through and easy zippers that open with no catching. The only thing off? I picked purple and the color i got was cranberry, but its still a lovely color! I think any of the colors could be paired well with your luggage, there is plenty to chose from! I would reccomend these for sure to anyone traveling. 

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

“Women serve men, and you must prove that you can be a man before you may lead.”

 The Bear tribe have always ruled the Nation of Ruxdor, though with no male heirs to continue the line, Klawdia, the chieftain’s daughter and only child, must compete in a bestial rite of passage against four other tribal boys to retain her family’s sovereignty.

 The competition is set among the perils of the Death Peak Mountains and pits representatives from Ruxdor's five strongest tribes—Bear, Lion, Wolf, Snake, and Hawgrald—against each other in a race to slaughter their tribe’s animal and return home. Each competitor is overseen by an opposing tribe’s elder to discourage dishonesty.

 Klawdia is seriously injured by the bear she must slaughter, and a rival both saves her life and sabotages her chance of victory by cheating. When elders start disappearing from the competition, Klawdia must draw on the last of her strength to expose the truth and save her family’s lineage

For a short novella Bear Heart definatly packs a punch. Klawdia being a female must partake of a challenge (the first in more than 200 years) against 54other boys from the neighboring tribes (Wolf, Snake, Hawgrald and Lion) In order to be able to rule the Bear clan after her father dies. 

 From the get-go the book was fast paced and mesmerizing. I loved Klawdia's tough character and she definatly made some hard choices during the trial and afterwards. Not that it was easy for her, Skelkra of the Wolves was definatly a great bad guy and made me want to punch him in his naughty bits quite a few times. He just had that air of "I do what i want to get what i want no matter who it hurts or how badly i ruin someone" and that is what a great antagonist is all about. 

 Jaykel and the other boys did not get much play time but they add to the story. Klawdia's father was another one I wanted to punch, since Klawdia was a girl she was below the males and thus could be hit, slapped, beaten without recompense. It bothers me a lot when this happens in books but i think that is what the author wants, emotion: and this book will give you that for sure! 

 I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a short day read or a fan of fantasy and wants somethign different. The only complaint i think i have is the cover, it is god-aweful creepy! I do not like it and I do not picture Klawdia looking so "I'm going to eat your soul"-ish. Other than that, great book.