Headed into 2013~ Bravely.

Well this post is slightly late, but we will just have to overlook that. :)

I started picking out a "word" for the year (and last year was the beginning of that tradition). Almost as a theme for the coming year, and something to ensure what I wanted to achieve that year would come true.
     Last year, I chose the word "yes." In the sense, that I was going to "say yes to myself," that I was good enough. This weirdly, played out very well this year. I became more confident (with some slight rough patches) and returned to the land of loving yourself.
     This year, however, was slightly hard for me to choose a word. I was unsure what I expected to get out of the coming year, but in the end, I decided that I wanted to be brave, confident, and BOLD.
     So, this year is going to be bold. :)

be ready for my "bold" journey!
mckenna k. xx

Best Reads of 2k12.

Unfortunately, I haven't really mentioned what I have been reading lately, so I figured I would wrap up the year with a list of my top ten favorite books of this year :) Enjoy!

9; Divergent by Veronica Roth
      Now, I started out skeptical about this book. I mean, the plot line is becoming quite cliche in the book world (boy loves girl, girl loves boy, for some reason they can't be together, throw in a few things supernatural, and voila!) However, after a friend of mine talked my ear off about how great this one was, I gave.
      In the end, the book was quite good. To me it still followed a very similar plot line to the Matched series, but all in all, I loved it.

8; The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti

     Now this author drives me up a wall. Even though her books have the right idea, and good plot lines, she (almost) always bores you to death until you just can't keep reading. 

      However, this book broke the model and was one of the great books to bring me joy this year. The story line was cute, the characters were great, and you definitely wished you had the fortunate luck of Indigo Skye :) 

7; The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
    I don realize I am quite late reading this one, but whatever.
    I absolutely love the movie and most of Nicholas Sparks other books, so I got thinking to myself, why exactly haven't I read this one yet?! And it was just as good as I thought it would going to be :)

6; The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodrin

    This one I actually just finished last week, and let me be the first to tell you, this. book. is. amazing. 

     I was slightly leery at first, but after the first chapter, I swear you're hooked. This book has its fair share of suspense (even the ending was a cliffhanger), amazing characters that you learn to love/hate, and actually has a unique story line (a rare find these days).

The only thing that is stopping me to literally run to get the sequel is the wall of books, I have yet to finish...  

5; Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
      This book I completely picked up on a whim. I was in Barnes & Noble with no book list on my phone (shocking, I know!), so I text a friend of mine (also a crazy reader) if she had any recommendations and she sent this back to me with many exclamation points.
        You will absolutely, without a single doubt, fall in love with the characters in the book. The authors make it so incredibly easy to love them, so much to the point where you don't want to put the book down and separated from their world. So. Good.

4; Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer

      From the beginning, this book has intrigued me. As soon as a I found out that Jodi Picoult wrote this with her 17 year old daughter, I knew I had to read it. 

       The plot was so out-of-this-world imaginative, it was just down-right genius. We never quite seem to think, what happens when we shut the book, and let me tell you, I so wish this was real life. :) 

3; Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
    These last three spots were about the hardest decision I've had to make in a while. However, this book got pushed down to third, while it just as easily could have been number one in any previous year.
     I finished this book way back in late summer, and I still have moments when I think back to it. It is one of those books that kind of changes your outlook on power, greed and anger and how they can effect one person. Seriously, it is a must-read.

 2; Life of Pi by Yann Martel 

     I honestly have no words on how great this book is. It is magnificently written and so well crafted. I have read this twice in the last two months, and I can honestly say, I would read it again in a heart beat.

I also, unfortunately missed the movie when it was at my local movie theater.. *silently sobs in background*

 1; The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

         This one was really the no-brainer choice for me. I have raved over this book for ages. (I am pretty sure I mentioned this in not one, but four previous blog posts) 

          It is so cheesy, and worn-out to say this, but it will literally change your life. I view things differently and still think about that world. I wish to be Hazel, I want a boyfriend like Augustus, and I swear, they will never leave my heart. 

         John Green is quite the genius. :) 

until next time lovelies, 

mckenna k. xx

New Traditions.

photo cred; Amber Walker

This past year has been pretty much a roller coaster  In October, my family went through a huge change that basically turned everything in my life, upside down. And since the holidays are sort-of, kind-of the worst times of the year when you have experience a massive change, my mother & I were determined to make a good, new tradition.

We needed something to symbolize letting go and something to hope for. So, we bought five red balloons and five green. Each of the red symbolize something we planned to let go off in the new year, and each of the  green stood for everything we hoped to see in the future. We then released them over the ocean.
        For myself, it was incredibly emotional and healing. The idea of sending them away, and looking forward to something was just what I needed.

However, one thing we may have looked over was the fact that it was only 30 degrees out and there was almost no sun... We froze, but it was kind of worth it. 

So, the holidays turned to not be so bad after all. We created new tradition let go of awful feelings and are moving in a good direction for the new year. 

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who has been through a time of loss and bleakness. It helps greatly, and you start to feel yourself again :)

 So, I will leave you with what has become my moral over this year: Sometimes you just need to twirl :)

mckenna k. xx

My Little List to Happy

1. Returning to my love of writing <3 

It seems like ages and I am so glad to be back

2. Holiday drinks: 

Joe Muggs frozen peppermint mochas, Starbucks gingerbread lattes, I could go on for days..

3. Ed Sheeran. I will forever worship him. 

If you have yet to experience the magic that is Ed Sheeran, you have yet to live young grasshopper.

4. The beginning of winter; snow, snow, snow

Chunky scarves, cute boots, warm mittens, cuddles, fireplaces, I love it all.

5. X Factor UK.

I had been watching it obsessively on YouTube & I was over the moon excited that James won :)

6. My tea concoction of gingerbread tea & vanilla caramel creamer 

I have been having upwards of 4 of these daily... 

7. My little sister's giggles :) 

This really is my favorite time of the year. Family surrounds you, warmth welcomes you at every door way and you have the excuse to do everything that you love <3 

mckenna k.xx

{My Little Pony Hair}

I did something crazy. Well, okay crazy for me that is. 

Lately I have been utterly obsessed with ANY type of colored hair. Seriously, if you have a primary color in your hair, beware because I will most likely be dying for a picture. 

A friend (she's also a blogger! go check her out!) and I were watching the X Factor a few weeks ago, and we flipped over Britney's hair during judges' homes week, when it had the pink & blue ombre thing going on. 

And so it all began.

We made the plans, and it was set! I made probably, the most impulsive decision of my life (well, I did consider chickening out before.. but I just couldn't)

We spent hours bleaching, dyeing, jamming out, and washing until FINALLY we had blue hair! And let's be real for a sec, I was completely obsessed with it. I literally took over 200 photos in less then 24 hours...

Then... the night mare set in.

 After only three days, the blue had faded to the ugliest shade of grey-ish green and I was forever depressed. :( I looked like all that & a bag of chips for only 72 hours and I didn't want to re-dye my hair again (it had already been dried out quite a bit the first time).

So, I discovered this shampoo & conditioner by Aveda, which puts the natural brown tones back into your hair without dyes or unnatural materials, and it is MY NEW BEST FRIEND. My hair has almost to it's natural color WITHOUT dye. So my friends, if you have this awful experience, buy this shampoo.

So, even though I was pretty sad it only lasted for three days, I am proud to say I was able to cross something off of my bucket list! Number 4 was "Dye my hair blue/purple/green, even if only for a little while." :) and that made me very happy. 

So until next time lovelies, 

mckenna k. xx

Currently.

 

So, I may or may not have missed a month (or two, or maybe even four) of doing my currently posts.. I love doing these so I am so sad that I didn't keep them going! So let's just dive right in, shall we? :)

What's New; My life experineced a HUGE change about two weeks ago, so about everything right now is "new." Not in the sense that I have to start over & crap, but more in the sense of having to start new routines, traditions and finding new things to do with myself. 

But on a happier note, I have been starting to truly act myself lately. Wearing flower crowns, laughing freely, and telling jokes when I think they're funny. Cheesy I know, but it's been a while since I have felt like me all the time. :)

Reading; What you are about to read may shock your ears, so continue with caution. I started to fall out of love with reading. Yup, you read that completely right. I was shocked too at first, wondering why o'why couldn't I just sit down and read for hours like I used to? However, I am slowly crawling back to the old love. :) Let us see, I just finished James Patterson's new novel, "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" which was so. Freaking. Good. Seriously, I couldn't put it down and when I did, I swear I expereinced withdrawls from not being inside of Tandy Angel's brain. 

I am now reading Deb Caletti's new novel, "The Story of Us." I am so on the fence with this writer. If you have read here you may understand, some of her books are OUT OF THE WORLD FANTASTIC and then some are just "eh" and then some are just flat out boring. So let us all cross our fingers that this one is going to be good. 

Watching; Well, what I haven't been watching would probably be a shorter list. Project Runway (CHRISTOPHER SHOULD HAVE WON. Okay, rant over.), Covert Affairs, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (I cannot believe I just admitted to watching that show), and much, much more that I will probably remember as soon as I stop typing. 

Thinking About; The Future. I know, so cliche but as aforementioned in the begin of this post, a recent shaking-up of my life has lead me to plan ahead like a maniac and worry like a maniac as well. Let's hope these thoughts quickly faaade. 

I also have been thinking a ton about the pending election. People are seriously becoming crazy over this, so I thought I better be keeping myself (some-what) educated about what's going on.

Eating; Smoothies, smoothies and more smoothies. I am an addict. Legit.

Also, I have been an extreme addict of Quaker's Popped rice cake/chip thingys.. They. Are. So. Darn. Good. How could I not have discovered them before now?! My favorite flavors are Sweet Chili and Ranch. Sooo gooooood ;)

Braces color; Teal and puuurple. Yes, I am a freak but I had planned to add this to these currently posts ages ago, but didn't shocker. You can see my awesome metal mouth here. ;)

Wishing For; my childhood to come baaaack. I think I get these feelings everytime Halloween rolls around, I mean who doesn't though? I am at the age where I just look stupid dressing up without a party to attend and trick-or-treating is definitely out of the question, considering I wanted to go as Nicki Minaj this year.. I swear I'm not a sketch. I just need a rewind button :)

Listening to; RED. Taylor Swift freakin' does it again. She is seriously a genius. I haven't been listening to too much else since I bought that CD and I don't think that is changing anytime soon. :) 

However, on that note, I will admit that I have been slowly slipping back into my love for crappy pop music. *Shudder* I know, so scary. But in my defense, my music taste is bipolar: one day Indie alternative and Top 40, the next.

enjoy this month lovelies! i have a feeling it's going to be a great one!

mckenna k. xx

Style Icon of the Moment; Ariana Grande

Lately, I have been completely obsessing over Ariana Grande. It's no secret that I have been lusting over red hair for about.. forever! So, when I saw her gorgeous Ariel-the-Disney-Princess red hair, spot on makeup and retro with a dash of Audrey Hepburn style, I had my newest style icon. If I had discovered her this summer she would have easily made my Style Icon of this decade.
        So, since I missed the boat on adding her to my Style Icons Through the Ages, I decided to create a Ariana Grande post(s) all on it's own! I add the yes, because I am going to be doing a series of posts for this Style Icon; today is make-up, and I will be adding hair, and style to the series as the week progresses! Stay tuned! :)

I decide to start the series off with the most fun: her makeup. Seriously, it always looks picture perfect, and due to the fact that she just made a YouTube tutorial on her exact makeup routine, it was so easy to find! 

       1. She always starts by filling in her lashes, with some individuals. Personally, I think a full-set of faux lashes is just too much, so I am all for the singles. She didn't mention the exacts she uses but I you can virtually find them anywhere; the ones I love are here.

       2. She uses RCMA foundation mixed with a moisturizer (my favorite) to prevent cakey-ness. I have never used the RCMA foundations but it's pretty cheap, and this one is a close alternative.

       3. I freaking love this bronzer. It is seriously, one of the best you can buy that doesn't a) make you orange, b) get clumpy throughout the day or c) make your face too shiny. It's some-what of a splurge for a bronzer, but trust me, it's worth it.

       4. Urban Decay's eyeliners are probably the best there is on the market right now. They glide on super easy and never smudge. Seriously, one night I was out late & didn't remove my makeup, and when I woke up the next day it looked like it hadn't moved at all. I wear it in the color "Underground" and she wears it in the color "Corrupt" which was discontinued recently.

       5. Too Faced eye shadows have slowly become the only ones I use; they stay on forever and look so professional! She uses the the duo palette in the colors "Honey Pot" and "Cocoa Puff."

       6. I have never been a fan of the Clinique mascaras personally, but she raves about their high impact mascara so I might have to give them a try again.

       7. The original Chapstick is like, a staple to my makeup regimen. Duh.

       8. I am always a slacker when it comes to lip liner. If I don't absolutely need it, I usually skip it. However, Ariana uses the Inglot lipliner in color 74.

       9. I. Am. Obsessed. With. This. Lip. Color. Being known for her ever-amazing red lips, I was shocked to hear that Ariana usually wears Maybelline's Fushia Forever lipstick. BRB, heading to the store to buy it now. 

       10. Last but not least, is her blush. She wears MAC's Powder Blush in the color Pink Swoon. And that is just what I did for it.. swoon! So, gorg, I might just be heading to get this one as well :)

Also, if you would like to see Ariana put on this makeup routine for yourself and check out her amazing singing covers while you're there, you can find her YouTube channel here.

stay lovely, lovelies <3

mckenna k. xx