Time To Put On Your Bossypants!

I have been meaning to read Tina Fey's Bossypants for so long now! When I was packing for my recent trip to Puerto Rico I made sure to bring this book along with me so that I could finally read it after all this time! Bossypants is basically an autobiography written by Tina Fey about her life from when she was born to pretty much now. She tells hilarious stories about growing up, school, jobs, family, and her evolving career. It took me only a few days lying on the beach to read this book and I loved it so much I was sad when I finished it! I loved learning about Tina Fey's life and reading all the behind the scenes stories she had from her improv days to working on Saturday Night Live. There were so many times where I just started hysterically laughing because the way Tina tells the stories are so vivid that you feel like you were actually there. If you've read the book you know the cruise ship story and I'd say that part was my favorite, especially the guy on the lifeboat! Something that I thought was really great about the book was that you don't even have to be a big Tina Fey fan, have watched SNL or seen any episodes of 30 Rock to get the jokes or laugh at the stories. I am a huge SNL fan so I loved all the stories about that time in her life, but I had never seen 30 Rock before. Well, after reading the book I have currently binge watched the first three seasons of 30 Rock and am now on the fourth! I really did love the book so much, but there was one thing that really disappointed me. There is no chapter or part or really anything about Mean Girls! I know, you're probably thinking really Alyssa? But I love Mean Girls so much, I was just hoping for a little behind the scenes chapter or something! She did mention what inspired her to make the movie and how a character from the film is named after one of her real life best friends, but that was it. Part of me just hopes that her next book will be completely dedicated to Mean Girls! (Come on Tina Fey give the people what they want!) Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and if you haven't read it yet I highly recommend it! It is such an easy read and it is so funny, but the thing I loved about it most was how real it was. The book shows you how celebrities are just like everyone else. They deal with everyday problems like school or work. They are just as confused on where their life path is going. They deal with crazy families, kids, friends, and everyday stuff you and me deal with. That's whats great about celebrity autobiographies, all the glamour goes out the door and they tell you how it really is, or in Tina Fey's case she tells you the story of how she became known as Bossypants.

Summer Lovin' Tag

Seeing that it is officially summer, the season that everyone loves a little bit more then the rest, I thought it would be fitting to do the summer lovin' tag!

1. Summer lipstick you're loving?
I'm loving my Sephora Cream Lip Stain in African Violet and will be wearing it as much as possible during the summer.

2. Summer nail polish you're loving?
I am currently totally obsessed with my Essie Nail Polish in Flowerista and I just know I will be finding an excuse to wear it all summer.

3. Bikini you're loving this summer?
The swimsuit I'm already loving this summer is my new Victoria's Secret swimsuit top in the color electric violet and bottoms in the color white graffiti metallic.

4. Favorite summer Frappuccino from Starbucks?
Well, this question was too easy because I only ever order a Java Chip Frappuccino from Starbucks.

5. Favorite fake tan?
I'm not much of a fake tan person, but on occasion when I do feel the need to use fake tan I use my St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse because it looks natural and lasts a long time.

6. Favorite summer song?
Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon is definitely my favorite song this summer!

7. Favorite summer accessory?
Summertime heat and really long hair are two things that don't mix, which means anything that can keep my hair up like hairbands, hair bows, and headbands are my favorite summer accessories.

8. Favorite summer fragrance/perfume?
I have fallen back into love with my Victoria's Secret Fragrance Mist in Love Spell Bloom. The scent is fresh with many floral notes, which to me just smells like summer.

9. Summer book you're loving?
I'm currently having Paris withdraws so I'm loving my book How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are.

10. What are you most excited to do this summer?
I am most excited to go on vacation to Puerto Rico! I'm looking forward to sitting on the beach for two weeks and forgetting that the rest of the world exists.

From Alyssa With Love Book Club - Read With Me!

Welcome to the first Friday of the month! One of my goals this year is to read more books. Now that I'm no longer in school, I feel like reading helps keep my brain active along with everything else I do. (Like writing this blog, painting again, and learning another language... but we'll talk about all of that later.) Last month I read Dark Places by Gillian Flynn and I highly recommend it. If you loved reading Gone Girl or you just love a good murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end, then Dark Places is a must read! It's the story of girl named Libby whose family is murdered, she survives, and her brother goes to prison for the murders. Then 25 years later the case is reopened and Libby will find out the truth of what really happened that dreadful night. The Kindle version is only $3 on Amazon! If you don't have a Kindle don't worry, you can download the free Kindle app on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. This month I will be reading Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan. It's a true story of a 24 year old girl's "decent into madness." Mental illness is something I deal with everyday in my life, so I hope this will be an inspiring book for myself and everyone to read. If you'd like to join me in reading this book, you can pick it up from Amazon for under $10.

One of Those Days...

Well, it's one of those days... you know the ones where it's just so gloomy outside that you don't even want to move from your couch. As unproductive as these days can feel sometimes, here are some of the things I like to do to get me through one of these days.

Binge watch Netflix

Netflix has finally added the best show ever (in my opinion) to watch on instant, Friends! If you haven't watched it, haven't seen all the episodes, or just want a good laugh, I recommend Friends. If you want to watch something with a bit more drama, then I recommend House of Cards. This show totally surprised me and sucked me right into it's twisted political world. The third season goes up on Netflix on February 27, so you have plenty of time to catch up!

Read a book

I just finished reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn and it was amazing! If you have read Gone Girl or even just seen the movie, you'll love this book. I don't want to give anything away, but I will say it's a murder mystery case that reopens 25 years later by the girl who lived. The story keeps you guessing until the very end so this is the perfect book to get lost in on gloomy days.

Bake

I absolutely love to bake! Today I baked chocolate fudge cake batter cookies which were delicious. Check out my Yum Pinterest board for more baking ideas.

At home fitness

I believe in making the most out of lazy days, especially if you eat those chocolate fudge cookies. So why not do some at home fitness while binge watching something on Netflix? Check my Stay Fit Pinterest board for all of the latest at home fitness routines. 

Get out of the house

As surprising as it might seem, try to get out of the house and run some errands. You'll be surprised how much you can get done on these types of days because everyone prefers to stay in the house.

What do you like to do on these type of days?

Christmas Gift Guide 2014

It's hard to believe there are less then three weeks until Christmas! I'm sure most of you are on the hunt for the perfect Christmas gifts, but sometimes it's hard to come up with that ideal gift for someone. Well, that's where I come in. I have put together a small gift guide of things I believe any girl in your life would love to receive! 

For the Go Getter: #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso. Everyone should read this book! This book is the perfect gift for any girl that wants to go out and conquer the world. Sophia Amoruso's story is so inspiring and after reading this book you will truly believe you too can conquer anything. 

For the Beauty Beginner: Lauren Conrad Beauty. I am a huge fan of Lauren Conrad. Her style and overall look is so effortless and will really stand the test of time. This book is filled with so many useful tips and tricks that makes this a great gift for anyone one who is just starting out in the beauty world or is obsessed with all things beauty. 

For the Funny Girl: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling. This book is absolutely hilarious! You get a look into Mindy Kaling's quirky life and the stories she tells are not only funny, but inspiring. This book is the perfect combination of a memoir and how-to guide to get through life that will make anyone laugh and everyone want Mindy Kaling to be their best friend.  

For the Television Lover: Almost everyone I know loves to binge watch television shows. (Don't lie, I know you do too!) Some of my favorite gifts I've ever received over the years have been box sets of my favorite television shows so that I can watch them wherever and whenever I wanted. Whether the person has seen the show or not, I believe that television series make excellent gifts for anyone. 

For the Beauty Guru: Every beauty guru loves to receive makeup as a gift. Whether they're just starting out with makeup or already have an extensive collection, I have a few gift suggestions for the makeup enthusiast in your life. First, the Naked palettes by Urban Decay are the best eyeshadow palettes out there. With twelve eyeshadows in each palette, there are so many looks and possibilities within these palettes. Another great eyeshadow palette is the Too Faced Natural Eyes palette. This palette is small and compact, but still packs a punch with nine beautiful neutral shadows. Lastly, the limited edition NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette will be the most coveted item this holiday season. With three blushes, a highlighter, and a bronzer, this palette has everything a beauty lover needs. 

What is on your wish list to receive this year?