A Farewell to How I Met Your Mother

To say I love the show How I Met Your Mother would be an understatement.
I live for this show.
Okay, that’s an overstatement. But really, it’s probably not. Especially if you ask every person in my life.

I didn’t start watching HIMYM until 2010, 5 years after the show started. Considering my love for Jason Segel, it’s surprising that it took me so long, but I didn’t understand the title and I just didn’t care to start watching it. When I finally did, I immediately loved it. I love the characters and the plots and it’s ability to make me cry and laugh all the time (even after multiple viewings). Sitcoms come and go but this one has lasted 9 wonderful seasons (sure, it’s had it’s low points, but overall it is solid). I’m sad to see it go, but all things must come to an end and tonight…it will.

I decided to re-watch the entire series while watching each new episode every week. I’ve been caught up for a while (even though I used to wait for the DVDs for a few seasons), specifically so I could be shocked and sad and happy with every new episode of this final season. It’s certainly been a ride…I’ve cried at every single episode for the last few months. Only slightly ashamed to admit that. But in honor of the show ending tonight, I thought I would list my favorite episodes of each season. Here’s the top 9, with honorable mentions!

Season One
The Pineapple Incident
This episode, the 10th of the season, is one of the definitive “let’s solve a mystery” episodes, where our characters take us back and forth in time to figure out what exactly happened to a super drunk Ted, why there’s a pineapple on his nightstand, and, most importantly…who’s the girl in Ted’s bed? I’ve read that this was the most-watched episode of the season and I can totally see why. It’s just a great episode with suspense and humor.

Honorable Mentions:
Pilot - It’s so rare for the first ever episode to not be awkward and seem so different from the rest of the series, but this is an exception. That Blue French Horn we always talk about? Pilot episode, guys!
Okay Awesome - Marshall breaks out amazing dance moves, Barney grinds with his cousin,
Lily and Robin flash a bouncer.
Life Among the Gorillas – Marshall abandons his dreams of becoming an envrionmental lawyer to give Lily the whole package. She encourages him that he has a huge package.
Come On – Ted does a rain dance and finally gets Robin. Lily and Marshall break up (not cool, guys).

Season Two
Arrivederci, Fiero
This episode is my personal most-watched of the series. To me, it is perfect. Marshall and Ted take Marshall’s Fiero out to make it to 200,000 miles but they hit a pothole right before they get there. Being that the car is quite old, it will most likely not make it. The gang sit at the auto shop and recall their memories in the Fiero, all of which brought the friends even closer together. Favorite part? Ted and Marshall’s friendship-building road trip in college and the repetition of one of the best songs ever, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers.

Honorable Mentions:
Brunch – A brunch during a visit from Ted’s parents proves to be the final straw in a series of disputes within the group. We get to experience each story separately before it all culminates.
First Time in New York – Robin’s sister comes to visit and it turns out that she is planning on losing her virginity to her jerky boyfriend. Robin, desperate to stop it, tries to get everyone to help her stop and they recount the ways they lost their virginity. Robin also finally says the L word to Ted.

Season Three
Spoiler Alert
Ted begins dating a new girl that happens to annoy every single one of his friends. He doesn’t know why but they won’t tell him in order to keep the allure and not ruin her for him. Eventually, they reveal that she talks wayyy too much. That leads to the glass shattering for every character and their annoying habits (ex. Lily’s loud chewing) and they get into an argument that ends up leading to Marshall finding out he’s passed the bar exam. They celebrate and prove that love and friendship make those annoying things easy to handle.

Honorable Mentions:
The Third Wheel  - Ted has the opportunity to engage in a threesome…does he? Doesn’t he? Will we find out tonight?
I doubt it. I like to think he did.
How I Met Everyone Else – Ted dates a crazy girl he met online and they tell the stories of how they met each other, all of which are super-duper cute.
The Platinum Rule – Ted is about to go on a date with the dermatologist removing his tattoo and Barney urges him not to, using the “platinum rule” to explain how this is a very bad idea. Everyone else has experienced this exact issue.
Rebound Pro – Ted and Barney have had a falling out because Barney slept with Robin. Barney is in desperate search for a new wingman and ends up with Randy (played by Will Forte, rockin’ it), a shy and useless bro.

Season Four
Three Days of Snow
This was a tough call, but this episode has a great storyline in a season of some pretty great storylines.
A huge storm hits New York and the crew deals with it in different ways. Ted and Barney meet college girls who are in a band and ask them to meet Maclarens when they are done performing. The weather is awful and Carl wants to close shop, but Ted and Barney ask to stay a bit longer and end up with full range of the bar, thus satisfying the inevitable lust for owning a bar. The “band” they are in is actually a marching band with lots of members, so the bar gets crazy quickly.
Meanwhile, Lily is away from home and everyone is asking whether Marshall will pick her up from the airport. He says they’ve moved on from their silly traditions, but of course he ends up making his way there and the cutest scene involving “Auld Lang Syne” ever.

Honorable Mentions:
The Best Burger in New York – Marshall is having a hard time with unemployment, and reacts by forcing the game on the hunt for the amazing burger he had once (but could never find again) on his first lonely excursion in New York. His ode to that burger is one of the best HIMYM moments ever.
The Naked Man – Ted is slowly trying to get back into the dating pool and ends up with a horrible girl. Before the date, he finds a naked man in his apartment waiting for Robin to finish a phone call. It turns out that this is the guy’s move, standing there naked, and it works 2 out of 3 times. Turns out that’s true, as Ted, Barney, and Lily try it with the same results.
Murtaugh – an episode about getting too old for this…stuff. Ted and Marshall have a list of things they once were able to do with ease but are too old for now, and Barney sets out to disprove them.
The Front Porch – one early morning, Ted, Marshall, and Lily stay up to watch Robin’s TV show, but miss the craziest episode (she helps deliver a baby!) when Ted realizes that Lily has sabotaged pretty much every relationship he’s ever been in…including his relationship with Robin. Marshall and Barney in nightshirts…enough said.

Season Five
Girls Versus Suits
Ted gets the closest to the mother that he has ever been when he dates her roommate, played by the adorable Rachel Bilson. We learn some of her interests (she plays bass guitar, a quality Ted has always wanted in his dream girl) and that Cindy (Bilson) hates her because everyone happens to fall for her. Ted only catches a glimpse of her ankle. TEASER!
This episode is also the 100th of the series, so to celebrate they did a great musical number in which Barney proclaims his undying love for suits. Awesome.

Honorable Mentions:
The Sexless Innkeeper– This is included simply for Marshall’s amazing song e-mails he sends to everyone. Cat Funeral? Classic. It’s also fun to see Lily and Marshall struggle to find the perfect couple friends, and how much they goof everything up, even when it’s just with Robin and Barney. Also, Ted is in full professor mode with his adorable tweed jackets, and disproves the theory that no one will find it sexy.

Season Six
Blitzgiving
This episode is just fun. Jorge Garcia, a.k.a. Hurley from Lost, plays Blitz, the unlucky guy who always misses out on the fun when he leaves the night. There have been Blitz’s before him, and basically, the moment they turn around or leave means something amazing will happen and that they will miss it. “Ohhhhh MAAANNNNN!” Through the course of the episode, Ted and Barney switch off becoming the Blitz and crazy stuff ensues. Just a fun episode.

Honorable Mentions:
Subway Wars – Ted, Barney, Lily, Marshall, and Robin all take different routes to try and get to a steak restaurant the fastest to see Woody Allen. Though everyone is seemingly trying to beat each other at a silly race, they are really look for a greatly needed win after various tough moments they have been facing.
Last Words - This one is a bit of a tearjerker. When Marshall’s father passes away, everyone is trying to help him through the rough spot at the funeral. The pastor suggests the Eriksens recall their final moments with their father/husband and everyone has a great story but Marshall, who heard various ridiculous things come out of his father’s mouth. In the end, he realizes he has a voicemail on his phone.

Season Seven
Tick, Tick, Tick…
Despite the fact that both Barney and Robin are happily dating other people, they end up sleeping together and freaking out about whether or not they should tell their significant others. Through much debate, Robin and Barney decide they should tell them and discuss the possibility of getting back together. Barney breaks up with his girlfriend, Nora, but Robin stays with her boyfriend, Kevin. It’s a heartbreaking moment when Barney expects to be alone with Robin at the bar, but Kevin is by her side. Points for Marshall and Ted’s extremely high quest for nachos at a concert.

Honorable Mentions:
No Pressure – After Robin’s breakup with Kevin, Ted admits that he still loves Robin. Barney and Ted discover that Lily and Marshall have been taking bets on their personal lives, one of which includes Robin and Ted getting back together (Lily is obviously against it, Marshall is for it). Ted is upset, but Robin admits that she doesn’t love Ted that way.
The Magician’s Code Pt. 1 – Lily goes into labor the night she sends Marshall off with Barney to Atlantic City for some relaxation before the baby arrives. Ted and Robin come to the rescue and tell her various stories to calm her down.
Meanwhile, Marshall is so drunk that he struggles to find a way to the hospital.

Season Eight
Twelve Horny Women
Despite the silly title, this episode is a great showcase of Marshall and how his future will unfold. He has finally become an environmental lawyer, and is up for a big case against a pharmaceutical company that has been dumping toxic waste into a place called Frog Lake. The events that follow bring him in front of the NY State Judiciary Committee to discuss the case, which involved him being pitted against his former law school buddy Brad (played hysterically by Joe Manganiello) who is clearly using his good looks to win over the jury of women. What looks like a rough spot in Marshall’s career ends up leading him to apply to be a judge, hence the meeting with the committee.

Honorable Mentions:
The Time-Travelers – Fans might be surprised that this is an honorable mention, and I find this episode, in which Ted is alone and worrying about the past, present, and future, to be a really emotional one (the speech to his future wife is perfect). I liked the episode, but I still find myself a bit confused over it.

Season Nine
How Your Mother Met Me - With the hour-long finale happening tonight, it’s hard to narrow down the episodes I like as the end might be one of the bests. Still, I’m trying. This episode, the 200th in the series, was all from the perspective of the mother (I CAN’T WAIT TO FIND OUT HER NAME). We learn that her first true love died (but we don’t know how) and that it largely affected her love life (or lack thereof). We saw that she was, in fact, in Ted’s first ever class (when he accidentally ended up in an Economics classroom) and laughed at his “shellfish/selfish” joke. We also learn about her relationship with her roommate Cindy, who seemingly hated her because she actually had feelings for her (and that’s how she came to realize that she was actually gay). The mother’s performance of La Vie en Rose on ukulele is a thing of beauty. And, of course, I cried. Especially since Ted was right next door, listening.

Honorable Mentions:
Bedtime Stories – This entire episode was told in rhymes. Marshall is traveling with Marvin, who will only sleep if told a bedtime story. Without a book, Marshall feels a bit lost so he ends up telling stories about his friends. A lot of people didn’t dig the gimmick, but I think they pulled it off nicely.
Vesuvius – Every fiber of my being screamed after watching this, and I actually cried for days worrying about the fate of the mother and/or every other character on the show. I am hoping for peace tonight.
Sunrise – Ted finally lets go of Robin and let the tears fall.

 

So there you have it. It took me a long time to come up with this list because there’s over 200 great episodes of this show and I love the episodes so much for various reasons. I am so glad they made it this far, that they were able to carry out their story (instead of the threat of cancelling attacking that goal).
I am so thankful for this show, which provides a security blanket for me on really crappy days.
Here’s to a great end!

P.S. Since I’m a nail art girl, I decided to do a huge mixed manicure dedicated to the show.

Obviously, I’m in love with them!

Recent Reads and the Beginning of the 40 Book Challenge

The last two books I read at the end of 2013 were the final two books in the Jessica Darling series written by Megan McCafferty. My love for Jessica Darling, these books, and the author have been strong for over 10 years now…hard to believe it! The best part is, I obviously wasn’t alone since she decided to write 5 books about our beloved Not-So-Darling, the elusive Marcus Flutie, and why growing up sucks (or doesn’t, depending on the day).

When I reached junior high, I lost the voracious appetite I had for reading. Then I read Sloppy Firsts when I was in 9th grade. I’m pretty sure the book was recommended in an issue of Seventeen or something. For the first time, it wasn’t a book about teenagers in some kind of dreamy situation, like sharing a beach house and reuniting with your old summer fling or the eventual arrival of Gossip Girl and rich bitches. Don’t get me wrong, I loved books like that, too. But they weren’t relatable. Jessica Darling, however, was relatable. Her best friend, Hope Weaver, had moved away, she was struggling with strange menstrual issues and acne and annoying clique-y friends and a crush who would eventually come out of the closet. Then, of course, she fell for the manwhore dreg Marcus Flutie, who played more mind games than anyone could actually handle. Sighhhhhhhh.

For some reason, it took me this long to close up the series. I was reminded of how much I missed Jessica Darling. In fact, I really wish I could’ve re-read the series from start to finish, but I have so many new books to read that it seemed silly. Besides, I’d already read the first three books at least twice a piece. Also, fun fact, I once wrote an email to Megan McCafferty after the release of Second Helpings and she responded!

Anyway, I enjoyed both of these books, as expected. If you haven’t read any, I suggest you just go buy them all and love your life. Perfect Fifths was my least favorite, but it still wasn’t bad. It was the first and only book written in third person, as the others were written in Jessica’s perspective, in journal format. In a way, it was helpful to the story because we got to know a bit about Marcus in a way we never did. It was also interesting that Megan McCafferty had Jessica explain a little bit about writing and storytelling in third person in the book, a little wink at it, I’m sure.

I’m jealous of anyone who hasn’t read these. They are some of the most important books in my personal library and I’ve grown with them. They come highly recommended by me!

In related news, my reading challenge has officially begun! Because I finished Perfect Fifths yesterday, it is considered the first book of the year on Goodreads. You may remember my attempt last year? I ultimately finished at 37 books, 15 books short of my goal. I decided to make my goal this year an even 40. It’s not fun feeling like I have to finish a book by a certain time. In the beginning, it didn’t feel that way, but as the year got harder, it felt like a chore.
I hope to read more than 40, of course, and I have plenty of books on my list to read!
But 40 feels like a good number. 1 down, 39 more to go!

I like to write about what I read, as you know, but if you’re ever curious about books I’ve read in the past, what I’m interested in reading in the future, and how I’m doing on my current book, please feel free to check out my
Goodreads profile! I’m off to start book 2!

Recent Reads: The Divergent Trilogy

Yesterday, I finished Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy.
I started Divergent in August and only stopped in between Insurgent and Allegiant because the latter just came out at the end of October. I like being able to read a series without waiting too long in between books, but it was also nice that no spoilers were out and I could avoid finding out the end because I would be reading it around the same time as everyone else.

I could’ve written about these individually, but I decided to group them together because, well, they are all one story, just separated. I also believe that it’s hard to determine whether or not you like one or all of the books until you’ve actually gone through the whole collection. That’s where you come to your conclusion.

Our heroine is Beatrice Prior, a 16 year old girl who lives in a city divided by “factions”. They are:
Abnegation – the selfless (her home faction)
Erudite – the intelligent
Candor – the honest
Amity – the peacekeepers
Dauntless – the brave
When you turn 16, you are tested to see which faction best suits you. Even if you are raised in one faction, you can stay or switch over to another, depending on your strengths. After the test, you attend the choosing ceremony and turn yourself over to your new home…in the city, the saying is “Faction over blood.”

Beatrice faces a problem when she is tested and the results are considered inconclusive. This is because she does not fit into just one faction, but the majority of factions. This makes her divergent, according to their laws.
This is a problem because the divergent are seen as a threat to the faction system…Beatrice must keep her divergence a secret. When it comes time to choose, she picks the Dauntless. She is enthralled by their thrill-seeking and fearless behavior. When going through the faction initiation, Tris (as she is now called) must learn to fight in hand-to-hand combat and with guns, as well as facing her fears in a series of simulations. Her trainer, Four, learns that she is Divergent through her reaction to the simulations. They grow close through this and eventually fall in love. However, the world they know starts to crumble as the threat to the divergence grows stronger and the city erupts in war.

Through the three books, we learn a lot about how and why the factions started, secrets that have been kept for a long time, and how far people will go for what they consider to be freedom.

It should be said that I finished the last book’s final 100+ pages this morning and there were definitely tears.

Overall, I liked this series. And I think I liked it even more as a whole, knowing the whole story from start to finish.
I also liked the final book, which can be tough in a trilogy like this. As much as I love The Hunger Games, I did feel like Mockingjay didn’t live up to the standards of the previous books. Still loved it, but it wasn’t my favorite of the three.
Speaking of The Hunger Games, I feel that you’ll enjoy these books if you enjoyed those.
In the beginning, I felt like I was reading a Katniss knock off, but it turned into it’s own story very quickly.
It should also be noted that the author is only 25 years old.  
Ultimately, I would recommend these. They were intriguing and exciting and heartbreaking.

If Divergent sounds familiar, but you haven’t seen the books in stores, maybe you’ve seen the trailer for the movie?
It will be out next spring.
Plenty of time to read up before it premieres!

A Top 5 List: Scary Movies

Halloween is today, and while some of you may have already celebrated, are about to, or won’t be until the weekend, it’s almost impossible to avoid it. Trick-or-treaters will be venturing the neighborhoods (make sure to turn the front light off if you’re not handing out the goods!) and party pictures will pop up on every form of social media. Scary movies can be relevant all year round (heck, they so often dominate the box office, even with no-name actors…we are a creepy country), but now is about the time you might feel like pulling some out for a marathon. I have a love-hate relationship with horror…if it’s a good movie, I’m down no matter what. But I am easily skeeved and scared, and I really hate violence, so it sort of narrows my selection. Still, I have several favorites that I thought I would share/recommend.

1. Cabin in the Woods

What I love about this movie is that it teases and praises the horror genre at the same time. We’ve all seen a movie about a bunch of young adults who head off to a secluded place in the middle of nowhere for good times. Those good times never really pan out in the end…cliché? Yes. But enjoyable? Usually. This movie turns the horror film on it’s head, and while you might laugh at parts, it’s scary in ways I didn’t expect or imagine. Co-written by Joss Whedon, you know you’re getting a sharp and witty script. I really had no idea what to expect going in…except for a group of basically doomed college students heading to a cabin in the woods. The fun is watching it all unfold, so I’ll leave the rest vague.

2. Paranormal Activity

I will always be upset that they made multiple sequels to this excellent movie. I was scared to see it…my sister had a hard time sleeping after watching it, and I have friends who STILL won’t watch it. Playing on the found-footage genre, this movie is subtlety scary…which is often the worst kind. It’s quiet and uses a lot of quick movement, shadow play, and small moments to invoke that terror. But the thing is, it didn’t just scare me. It entertained me, as well. It was an awesome idea and it made a lot of money for a reason, without needing special effects, buckets of gore, or any high-end celebrity actors. It’s no wonder that they decided to continue to make these movies. Though I’ve seen each sequel, none compare to the first. If you haven’t seen it, the first time is the best time.

3. V/H/S

Another found footage film, this movie is 6 stories in 1. The premise: A group of petty criminals are asked to steal a VHS tape from a house. When they get to the house, they find a dead body and a huge collection of video tapes. Each time they check a tape, we are introduced to a new, terrifying story. Each short has different directors, so you won’t see the same story or premise twice. One or two of the stories may be lacking, but overall it is a horrifying movie. There’s a sequel I’ve been wanting to watch but dread doing so. Again, this movie is more about fear than cringing at a bloodbath. That’s not to say there isn’t gore, but it’s much more than that.

4. Black Swan

I know about a zillion people would disagree with this being on the list…but it’s MY list so BACK OFF. Scary, to me, isn’t about the blood and guts, the masked murderer walking slowly as you run away. That’s extremely scary, of course, but something even scarier is the fragility of the human mind. Black Swan is a psychological thriller, a drama, but watching the downward spiral of Nina Sayers was one of the most frightening things I’ve ever seen. The last 20 minutes left me clutching the seat and gasping for air…something that rarely happens to me in the theaters. What is real? What is fake? What is lurking in the dark when your mind is a second away from shattering?
This movie stuck with me a long time after I saw it, still sticks with me. And yes, I did this for Halloween in 2011.
It was a brilliant movie, terrifying to me, and Natalie Portman deserved every award she got.

5. Scream

Not adding this to my list would be a travesty. I was 9 years old when this movie came out, and I wasn’t allowed (nor did I really want to) watch scary movies. But eventually, a few people in my class started talking about it and I got really interested…and of course, scared.
It ended up being the first scary movie I’d ever seen, and I’ve seen the 3 sequels (they could’ve stopped at 2, which I loved, I hated 3 and 4). I was super young and fragile and it messed me up multiple times in my life, but it is so 90s and funny and awful all at once.
You’ve seen it, though, of course you have. So you already know.

 

Again, this is my list of scary movies. Since I didn’t watch scary movies growing up (aside from Scream), I don’t have the “classics” in there. I still haven’t seen movies like Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, or Halloween (I’m too scared for that one in particular!).
But I chose the movies above not only because they creeped me out, but because they were good movies that I enjoyed watching.

Enjoy your Halloween!!!!!

Top Ten Favorite Nail Polishes

A while ago, I compiled a list of my top ten favorite nail polishes.
This was an extremely difficult thing to do because I have over 100 polishes in a variety of colors and finishes. How do I narrow it down?
The funny thing is, even though I have so many polishes, I tend to go to the same several colors over and over. Some are reserved for special occasions. Some are trend polishes that maybe don’t really flow with my style anymore. So after some careful consideration and thought, I came up with the polishes you see above, all of which should be easy to find if you so desire.
There is no ranking for these, just random order.

On the left: Deborah Lippmann’s Hapless Hunter Green (Hannah) from the GIRLS collection.
Considering that I love the show GIRLS and I love nail polish, this set was a must-have. The price was wince-worthy, but I’m glad I got it because the colors, this one in particular, are gorgeous. Before I got this polish, I was often covering my nails with designs and glitter…anything to avoid a flawed look. But this polish applies smooth and is such an interesting shade of green that it’s PERFECTION on it’s own.
It finally gave me the confidence to do simple one-polish manis.
On the right: China Glaze’s Fairy Dust is a must-have for polish (and glitter) enthusiasts. I couldn’t wait to get it myself. I haven’t tried it for this purpose yet, but I hear it’s perfect for galaxy nails. It is a super fine, non-gritty holographic glitter that can be layered for an intense look but one coat is enough to add some flair to absolutely any color you own.

On the Left: Essie’s In the Cab-Ana…I got to be honest, I don’t actually “own” this one. My sister has it and I borrow it A LOT. I want to get my own bottle, but I just can’t get myself to do it. I’ll regret it if I don’t soon. While it’s easy to find on Amazon, it is from the resort collection this year, so it’s Limited Edition. It is a beautiful, tropical, almost juicy looking blue that goes on beautiful in one coat and looks amazing with a variety of colors, glitters, or on its own.
On the Right: Sally Hansen’s Xtreme Wear in Black Out is CLASSIC. If you want an excellent black polish, pick this up. Don’t bother with expensive brands. For no more than 3 dollars, you can own the best. It’s shiny, it lasts, it covers in one coat, and it’s excellent for nail art.

On the Left: As I’ve mentioned on the blog before, I am a Julep Maven. When I first started the program, I got a code for 50% off any polish and it was hard to choose. Since I can only look online, I did a lot of swatch research and settled on Julia. This metallic polish is sometimes purple, sometimes gold, and always beautiful. I couldn’t have picked a better polish to start with. Once again, it’s excellent to have a a great color that works for one-polish manicures. This one is so interesting without any extra art or glitter coverage.
On the Right:  Essie’s Good as Gold is a part of their Mirror Metallics collection. Out of the several colors they offered, I chose this classic gold and it is beautiful. The finish is outstanding and top coat only adds more oomph! Most metallic shades tend to go on streaky, showing visible brushstrokes. But this polish goes on smooth and it also works great for nail art! I’ve done stripes and polka dots with ease.

On the Left: Nail polish connoisseurs will know that glitters don’t just come in chunky multi-colored blends. Black and White glitter was something I couldn’t wait to get my hands on. If you follow Chalkboard Nails (if you don’t, you should), you might have seen her massive collection and comparison post. Who woulda thunk that black and white could be so versatile? Most of the glitters she has shown are indie brands, but mainstream has been allowing various glitters (matte, bar, hex) to trickle into their formulas. I had no idea Maybelline was releasing a Polka Dots collection, which has a few polishes with color bases, but as soon as I saw Clearly Spotted, I snatched it up. At less than 4 dollars, how could I say no? The first time I used it, I nearly cried. Glitters can be tricky but this polish has excellent glitter coverage and plenty of each color in various sizes.
On the Right: Black and white nail polishes are, without a doubt, nail art staples. Without them, you’re limited with what you can achieve. But I didn’t realize how important nude polish was until recently. OPI’s Don’t Pretzel My Buttons is the perfect beige-y nude. It applies smoothly and is perfectly opaque. It’s beautiful on it’s own, but it provides an excellent base for neon nail art to pop.

On the Left: Pink is one of the colors I don’t own many of. I purchased Spring Break, a Nicole by OPI polish from the Selena Gomez collection, after seeing the movie Spring Breakers. I was all excited, and the hue really went with the bright colors in the film, so I snatched it up, knowing there was a hot pink gap in my collection. Though I knew I’d use it occasionally (and actually had an idea for it right from the start), I didn’t expect it to become a go-to polish like it has. You can’t see it in the picture, but the bottle has a visible line showing how much I’ve used. This is a feat since I hop from polish to polish, but that’s why it’s a favorite. Excellent pigmentation, great coverage, and easy to work with in terms of nail art. I actually have it on right now!
On the Right: I didn’t want to do a Top Ten without including an indie brand nail polish. Happy Hands Nail Polish is the first indie brand I’ve purchased from, and I will continue to go back. The formulas are excellent and the color combinations are gorgeous. Most of the collections are inspired by your favorite TV shows, movies, and music. However, Afternoon Thunderstorms is inspired by the weather in the Florida. This polish is a best seller on the site, and for good reason. It is honestly a thunderstorm in a bottle. The gray base and black glitter would’ve been enough to showcase stormy weather, but the gold shimmer adds that post-storm silver lining look of the hopeful sunshine!
This is an excellent and super beautiful polish.

And there you have it!
Since my polish collection is always growing, the list will certainly change at some point.
Do you have any favorites? What polish(es) is your go-to?

Halfway to 52: My Favorites So Far

I have officially finished 26 books in 2013. It’s hard to believe that I’m halfway done, mostly because that kind of means the year is halfway done. Obviously, I chose the number of books I would read so that it would equal to a book a week.
I have had some ups and downs, but I am always reading, and would be anyway.

My favorite part of this challenge has been looking for the books to read. I didn’t want every book to be the same, or to just read a whole series of books. I wanted to try new authors and genres, step outside of the box, and I think I’ve done that. I’ve also stayed safe, too, because hello! You have to read what you love. So what were my favorites so far?

1. Where’d Ya Go, Bernadette? – This was the second book I read, and it set a high standard. This might have been the most original book I’ve read this year. I loved the story and the way it was told: A young girl tries to find her missing mother by piecing together e-mails, receipts, etc. It’s a mystery with a whole lot of heart and humor. It’s now on paperback, so pick it up if you haven’t yet!

2. The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance – I read a few memoir/humorous autobiographies this year, but this is my favorite of the bunch. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did, and that might be why. I’d heard of it from a friend’s blog and I’m so glad she recommended it. I think what I liked most about it was the exploration of the Mormon religion. I learned a lot about it, about the beliefs they hold, while also laughing and being extremely entertained. This was a sweet, quick read, and I’m so glad I own it.

3. The Book of Joe – So, I read a lot of Jonathan Tropper this year. 3 books, to be exact. And while I’ve enjoyed them all enough to know he is one of my favorite authors, this is probably the stand-out of the three I read this year. I laughed. I cried. This is Where I Leave You might still be one of my favorite books ever, but this quickly made it on the list, too.

4. Will Grayson, Will Grayson – Again, I read another John Green book (and I love love LOVE HIM, he can do no wrong), but this one stood out. Probably because it’s told from two distinct perspectives by two excellent authors (David Levithan is the co-writer). It was undeniable who was speaking when, and that’s important. Also, it was just a funny and heartbreaking tale of first love, sexuality, and finding your place in the world (especially in high school, it’s own little complicated world).

5. Sharp Objects – If you aren’t reading Gillian Flynn, I feel bad for you. I do. I would’ve never read crime or mystery novels if it weren’t for the raving of her most recent novel, Gone Girl. This book was sooooo good. I can’t wait to read Dark Places. This is Gillian Flynn’s debut and I can’t recommend it enough. It was haunting and fantastic and she is an excellent writer who can make even the most disturbing stories some of the best books you’ll read.

(I listed these by when they were read, not by preference…too hard to pick!)

Here’s to another 26!!!

Recent Reads: How to Talk to a Widower (Book #25 of 2013)

I almost feel like I’ve cheated by reading 3 Jonathan Tropper books during this challenge.
Obviously, part of a challenge is expanding my reading horizons and while I feel I’ve done this by adding sci-fi and crime novels into the mix (my list of books to-read on Goodreads is painfully long and it gets bigger everyday). But that Jonathan Tropper…I mean…come on.

I wasn’t originally going to read this book for a little while. But I finished A Stranger on the Planet a few days earlier than I had intended and it was the only book I had at Brad’s. If you don’t know, I can’t go a day without reading a book, especially at work (it’s my salvation on extremely boring days…so everyday.), so I grabbed it. I knew it would be a quick read, though, and it took me about 4 days to read (which is good when I pretty much only read at work and before bed). It actually brought me back up to speed and I’m hoping that I can read my next book within the week so that I stay on track! Once again, you can check my Goodreads profile to keep track!

Onto the book…

How to Talk to a Widower is my 5th Tropper book. I only have one more of his novels to go before I’ve read them all, and I sure hope he’s working on his 7th book. I don’t want to know a life without him for too long.
This is the story of Doug Parker, a 28 year old who’s wife Hailey (an older woman around 40 years old) dies in a tragic plane accident.
We meet him about a year later and his life is a disaster…if you can even call it that.
He drinks and cries his days away, in deep sadness over the loss of his wife and deep confusion over how he could ever move on.
Meanwhile, his twin sister Claire has big plans for Doug, hoping to help him get out of his stupor and back on the dating scene.
Doug is deeply afraid of moving on, the fear of pushing Hailey behind so far into the past that it’s a problem for him. He feels guilty at the prospect of moving on, finding love, and fears that it will be like Hailey never existed.
As all of this is happening, Hailey’s 15 year old son Russ is getting into trouble on a regular basis, and Russ hates his real father, so he longs to be adopted by Doug. So, obviously, Doug has a lot on his plate.
And I’m just scratching the surface.

I have officially read 6 of Tropper’s books, and while I’ve enjoyed them all, this one made the top 3 for sure.
I sincerely enjoyed the characters and the plot development, as well as the writing (which was bonkers good in this one). For example, Chapter 26 is one of the most interestingly written chapters I’ve ever experienced in a book.

If you’re going to start reading his books, this is one of the ones you should start with. Job well done.

A Passion, An Obsession

If you had told me two years ago that I would eventually accrue and obsess over hundreds of nail polishes, I wouldn’t have believed you.
I only painted my toenails, mostly in the summer. I hated painting my nails for a few reasons, but the main one was laziness. I knew I’d goof it up, become impatient, mess my nails…I wasn’t good with shaping (I’m still not) or cuticle upkeep (I’m still not).

But now, it’s 2013.
Last Wednesday, I laid all of my nail polishes out on the living room floor, color-categorizing them and marking them down in a notebook for kicks and giggles. After counting, I realized (minus base and top coats) I had 101 polishes. By this past Monday, I’d have 106.
There are two more coming in the mail for me, and plenty more on my lust list. I don’t know how this happened, but I’m kind of glad it did.
Nail polish is one of the little things that helps save my mind. Maybe that sounds crazy, but it all comes down to the little things.
It’s the way I treat myself, express myself…it’s exciting and fun and pretty. It’s my hobby, my obsession, my passion.

So I thought, “Shame on you for not blogging about this more.” My various manicures, nail polishes I’d like to get, the new brands I’m trying, various techniques I’m doing or I’m curious about…this is a huge part of my life at the moment and I’m not even sharing it.

Of course, if you follow me on Instagram (@mikeylynn), you will see my latest purchases and NOTD.
But I want to share them on here more. Expect to see more posts like this in the near future.

A Recap: Season 2 of GIRLS

This past Sunday, the season finale of the second season of GIRLS aired. It’s hard to believe, considering I remember watching the first season clear as day, and we now have 20 episodes of the show to discuss, praise, and tear apart.
To say the season has been a roller coaster would be an understatement…I think this season really lost a lot of fans. I’ve stayed with the show, and I’m glad I did, but I definitely had moments of doubt. Even though I heard a lot more complaints than raves, I think the show, whether the episode is good, bad, believable or not, I know people are still watching. I don’t know if it’s because they hope the show will get better (which I was doing) or just to “hate-watch” but whatever.

I thought I’d look back at some of my favorite moments from this season…

In the first episode of season 2, Hannah and her new roomie Elijah hold a party. I loved seeing Hannah in her cute dress, all excited about throwing her first soiree. More importantly, I loved Shoshanna’s spacy, post-virginity loss behavior…the strange mini hat, the air DJing, and, of course, the Karaoke version of “Beautiful Girls” by Sean Kingston…amazing.

I know I wasn’t the only one excited about Booth and Marnie’s hookup…especially after the huge tease from season 1.
I was a bit disappointed with the payoff, but I was still very happy that it happened.

Also in episode 3, Hannah and Elijah do a whole lotta coke. I don’t condone drug use (and cocaine happens to be my “scary drug”), but watching them lip sing to “I Love It” by Icona Pop was the most fun I had all season.

Episode 4 was classic GIRLS. After episodes that felt very Hannah/Marnie-centric, we got to look into the lives of Shoshanna (and her relationship with Ray) and Jessa (and her flailing marriage with Thomas John). We found out that Charlie still very much cares for Marnie (yay! except for she’s not having it), Ray has been living with Shoshanna without her even realizing it but it’s okay because she loves him and vice versa, and Jessa meets Thomas John’s parents, acts like her crazy self, they get into a massive fight, and that’s basically the end of that.

It also led to this awesome moment of Hannah singing “Wonderwall” in the bathtub, Jessa sneaking up on her, getting in the tub, and crying.
Beautiful, upsetting, funny…all the things I love about this show.

Episode 5, One Man’s Trash, was probably my least favorite. I don’t have any favorite moments…it was an unbelievable episode for me. And not because, like some people, Patrick Wilson wouldn’t wanna be with someone like Lena Dunham…bullshit. It was because it’s very rare that a random girl would meet a random guy and spend two whole nights with him…or maybe that’s just not something that’s ever happened to me or anyone I know or anyone they know pretty much ever.

Episode 6 held a lot of big moments for Hannah and Marnie. Hannah was presented with the opportunity to write and e-book and is thrilled, but mostly anxious. Marnie thinks she’s living the good life with the famous Booth Jonathan. Both realize they are in way over their heads and have one of the most heart-breaking conversations at the end, in which they both lie about their lives, proving that friends usually have a competition of who is happier or more successful.

In 7, we got to meet Jessa’s father. Jessa, who is ever the carefree spirit, is finally unable to be careless. She is feeling the ache of never being properly raised and of her inability to make good choices and keep in one place. It was the most honest we’ve ever seen her, which was beautiful. It is also when she chose to run away again, leaving a gaping hole in her wake for Hannah.

In 8, we learn about Hannah’s past with OCD as it has come back. That might have been the most important part of the episode, but it was Adam’s confession at an AA meeting that took my breath away. Adam Driver has continued to prove himself an amazing actor throughout the 20 episodes of this show (though he wasn’t on every single one). This in particular blew me away. He finally speaks up about his feelings towards Hannah and their break up…not that anyone in the room particularly cared…but the audience sure did.

9…Hannah has officially lost her mind. She injures herself with a Q-Tip, puncturing her eardrum and ending up in the ER. As she wanders the streets of New York in an oversized tee and not much else, she sees Adam, who looks clean and put together as he enjoys a night out with his beautiful new girlfriend. This is the first time they’ve seen each other since episode 2…when he was escorted out of her building by cops. It is awkward and endearing all at once.

AND FINALLY…

Charlie and Marnie!!! Yay, please work. But more importantly…

Hannah cries for help in a big way by chopping off her hair in a very unattractive bob and calls Adam in a moment of weakness. Through Facetime, he sees how low she is and runs from his place to her place, breaks down the door, and embraces her in a beautiful and happy ending that couldn’t have made me love this show anymore.

Portraits of a Wednesday

Wednesdays have become one of my favorite days. There’s something I like about everyday, I suppose, which is good to think about when I feel like complaining or willing the weekend to come and wishing my days away. The reason I like Wednesday is because, unlike the other days, there isn’t any obligation in the evening. In fact, the only thing that seems to stick is movie night with my sister/mom/dad/all of them/some of them/one of them. I get nice and cozy in some sweats, treat myself to some wine or beer, snack, and watch a movie.
How can there be anything wrong with an evening like that?
And, of course, it’s almost the weekend. But whatever.

My favorite snack of apples and cheese! This is a Pink Lady apple and some Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar.
My Hello Kitty slipper socks in addition to super warm knee socks and my sweats.
A couple of bottles left over from my MYO 6 Pack Endeavors and our movie for the evening.
Chocolate Peanut Butter brownies. From the box. Whatever, still delicious.

Yesterday was frigid. We were below zero. Fun fact, the heat in my Buick isn’t working…so that was super fun!
I was thawing out for a while. It was so nice to hide under a blanket and enjoy a nice snack and some quality time with my mom.

I am desperate to move out of the house, but I adore my family.
It’s going to be sad to miss out on nights like these one day, so I will cherish them for as long as I can.

Recent Reads: Where’d Ya Go, Bernadette? (Book #2 of 2013)

I tore through Where’d Ya Go, Bernadette, book number 2 of my 52 books in 52 weeks challenge, in about 4 days.
Again, this is usually a good thing, as sometimes a book can take a couple of weeks for me to read depending on what’s going on in my life and how interesting the story actually is. This book was just…SO GOOD.

Where’d Ya Go, Bernadette is a story told through letters, e-mail correspondence, conversation transcripts, and the narration of one Balakrishna (better known as “Bee”) Branch, a 15 year old using everything she can get her hands on to solve the strange disappearance of her mother, Bernadette Fox. Calling Bernadette quirky would be putting it lightly. She is utterly antisocial (she refuses to deal with the “gnats” who send their children to the same school as Bee, rarely leaves the house and relies on a virtual assistant through an Indian outsourcing website to do pretty much everything for her), an insomniac who goes days upon days without showering, and loathing every inch and aspect of Seattle, Washington, where her family lives (her husband, Bee’s father, works for Microsoft, one of the reasons they moved up there). Through the emails and letters, we get a glimpse into the downward spiral her life has suddenly taken, all thanks to a looming cruise to Antarctica that Bee has requested after receiving perfect grades.

I don’t want to share much else about the book, but it just covers a whole mess of lovely topics. It’s a truly funny book, and I love the way it was written, with the toss-ups between correspondence and narration of how Bee saw things. Bernadette clearly suffers from some mental issues, and I like the way Semple handled it. Then, of course, the book contains the main mystery of wondering what happened to Bernadette.

I am so happy I read this book, my friend got it for me for Christmas so props to him, and I would recommend it to any and everyone!

Top that, 50 other books I’m going to read this year! (I hope so…)

At the Moment… (a few of my favorite things)

Onesie and Coat-Set Pajamas. I’m living in comfy cozy clothes, and pajamas are where it’s at.
Shock Top’s Honeycrisp Apple Wheat beer. So easy to drink, delicious, wonderful!

Coffee in cute mugs, especially when it’s drunk in bed.
Re-kindling my Kindle Fire love. Whether I’m reading or using it as a tablet, I’m so thankful for that piece of technology.

Movie nights with my mom and sister. (Last few movies: Jeff, Who Lives at Home, Liberal Arts, It’s A Wonderful Life)
Getting packages in the mail. I got my copy of Just One Day by Gayle Forman yesterday. I pre-ordered it on Amazon a couple of weeks ago.

 

And those are some things I love at the moment.

A Look Inside My Nail Polish Addiction: Nail Art and Inspiration

My love of nail polish has been made quite obvious at this point. I am perfectly content adding to my stash with the release of new collections and pretty colors from all different brands. Who doesn’t love a nice, fresh, glossy coat of a new polish?
But one of the main reasons I love nail polish and painting my nails in general is the creative expression that comes from dabbling in nail art.

I think it’s so easy to write off trying nail art on your own nails. But DON’T! Even the rockiest of hands can attempt some form of nail art, thanks to the internet. There are lots of great ways to learn, step-by-step, how to turn your nails into mini works of art.

My favorites?
Little – Nails – an awesome blog that focuses on different polishes and dabbles in lots of nail art. There are tutorials and swatch reviews, and of course, she has short nails! I do, too, so it’s encouraging to see someone working with a similar “palette”, I guess you could say.

The Beauty Department – This website is great for any beauty needs, but they do great step-by-step photos to show you new and inventive ways to do your nails. They get crafty, using stickers, tape, and even string incorporated into their manicures, which sounds intimidating but is made effortless.

Lulu’s Blog – Here’s another cool site that explores many beauty/fashion tips, but the mani tips are great. Original and fun!

One Nail To Rule Them All – Alice’s nail art is ridiculously good! She also keeps fairly short nails, but she’s done such amazing things with them. Being the bookworm I am, I especially love this manicure.

Pinterest – Doy! I can find all kinds of wonderful nail art from all over and from all the people I follow and share what I like with others.

And last but not least…
CutePolish !
CutePolish is probably my favorite nail art space. Every Sunday, a new video is uploaded. She’s covered everything from leopard print to Gangnam Style and she makes everything easy! I have used her methods many times. She makes nail art simple and always walks the viewer through each and every step, showing you along the way, and even she goofs up sometimes (and shows you how to fix it!).
I had to save the best for last.

I wanted to share some of my favorite nail art moments that I’ve tried as well!
You’ll recognize a lot from the sites above. But you’ll also see my own twists on them.
I’m not saying they are always perfect, but the site has made them incredibly easy, and I’m quite proud.

Fruity nails are so fun! I based the watermelons off of pictures I’d seen on the internet, and got the apples from CutePolish!

Braided nails are another CutePolish design. The triangular mani was done using tape and a striper, and I spotted a similar design on Pinterest.

The above designs were done on a whim. Just some random stripes, dots, and crossover colors I tried.

I love mixed manicures. It was fun doing the cute, creepy Halloween creatures! And I also loved the loud mix of stripes and flowers.
The rose pattern is from CutePolish.

Cloud manicures are super fun. Nailside does a great tutorial. The splatter nails were inspired by Lulu’s blog.

Galaxy nails are one of my favorites ever, and it was my first CutePolish design! The rainbows came from Pinterest.
So happy, right?

I should also give a shout out to one of my other favorite blogs…The Polishaholic!
If there’s a polish you want, but aren’t sure what it’s going to look like, you will find the swatch there.
You’ll also learn about polish brands you might not know about.
She has an extensive collection, and it’s cataloged on a spreadsheet. Amazing.

A List of Favorites: Redux

 

Once upon a time, I followed in the footsteps of another blogger and posted a list of little favorite things at the moment. That same blogger went ahead and did it again two years later, to see if anything had changed. So I figured I’d be a copycat once again and test myself as well…

My favorite letter is (still) M.
My favorite numbers are 27 & (still) 19.
My favorite color is every color mustard.
My favorite flowers are lilies not flowers, but succulents.
My favorite place is (still) wherever I am when the sun is shining and I’m surrounded by people I love and everything feels right.
My favorite animals are (still) elephants.
My favorite smell is cinnamon and baked goods coffee.
My favorite season is summer late summer-early fall.
My favorite food is mostly from the Chinese buffet Szechwan-style green beans and tacos. 
My favorite show is Misfits (though I still love all the others I listed).
My favorite candies are Swedish Fish and Lindor Truffles.
My favorite movie is Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Or Black Swan. 
My favorite time is 5:19 4:40 PM (5:40 PM on Fridays).
My favorite bands are Radiohead and Minus the Bear (I don’t even listen to Kings of Leon anymore).
My favorite drink is ice cold water or an Arnold Palmer.
My favorite book (currently) is Looking for Alaska by John Green. (I started obsessively reading.) 
My favorite word is bodega.
My favorite thing is love.

OPI Obsession

Until recently, it had been years since I painted my finger nails. I’d occasionally paint my toenails in the summer, but that was it. This year, I fell in love with the Sally Hansen nail polish strips, and it expanded my horizons. It’s become my favorite weekly wind-down activity to paint my nails. I especially like to try different designs and color combos. But, it’s also become a bit of an obsession/addiction…and a slightly costly one at that. I love Sally Hansen and Wet N’ Wild nail polishes…they are cheap and come in an amazing amount of colors. HOWEVER…I am sort of in love with OPI polishes. Sure, there are more expensive polishes on the market, but 8.50 a pop can run up a rather large bill.

It also doesn’t help that OPI does special collections. I have been freaking out trying to find the Muppets Collection polishes, specifically Rainbow Connection. I was lucky enough to find one of two bottles left at Ulta.

I may have shrieked with glee when I left the store.

Colors I’m currently wearing: Jade is the New Black + Rainbow Connection