How cute is this foot warmer? It is shaped like a ladybug and has the words “Good Luck” written on it. It actually belongs to my sister but she never uses it, so I steal borrow it to keep my feet warm when I’m sitting at my desk (as I’m doing now lol) during the long winter months. It keeps my feet really warm and looks so adorable! How do you keep your feet warm in winter?

And now, this week’s beauty reads:

Ask Me Whats shares her day and night skincare regimen.

Lipglossiping shares her favourite winter perfumes.

Makeup And Beauty Blog explains how to do a glitter ombre manicure.

Makeup 4 All reviews No 7 spring 2012 collection.

My Women Stuff explains why it is ok to use two face serums together.

I’m a bit obsessed with Adele at the moment and am listening to her new album, 21, a lot. One of my favourite songs from the album is Rolling In The Deep. It’s just a very powerful and beautiful song, enjoy!

And now, this week’s beauty reads:

Beauty Fool shares some videos on how advertising is killing women softly..

Derm TV explains when moisturizing doesn’t help your skin.

Aging Belle talks about hydrosols and how they benefit skin.

Temptalia shares some holiday shopping tips.

The Beauty Brains wonders if conditioner causes hair to fall out?

I usually like to recommend you books I loved but this time I’m gonna talk about a book I really disliked. That’s because I don’t want anyone to waste time on it like I did but also because I’m curious to know if other people who have read this book feel the same way about it as I do. And to be completely honest, I’m not sure I’ve understood this book as I think there may be some deep symbolism that has eluded me.. or maybe not, which makes the book all the more disappointing. The following mini review contains spoilers so if you don’t want to know what happens, just skip to this week’s beauty reads instead.

The Particular Sadness Of Lemon Cake is the story of Rose, a young girl who, on the day of her ninth birthday, discovers that she, whenever she eats something, can taste the feelings of the people who cooked the food. This idea is quite interesting but sadly, like everything else in the book, is not well-developed. Rose, and the other members of her family, are very selfish people. Apart from the mother, everyone in the family seems to have a special power that, if used properly, could help them do good to lots of people. Instead, they spend the entire book trying to repress these powers and avoid to use them at all.

Her granddad could smell people’s feelings and so he went around with a strap on his nose. Her father thinks he could discover his power should he go into a hospital and so refuses to go into one even when his kids are born or seriously ill. Her brother, a selfish brat who doesn’t know how to live in the real world, prefers to turns himself permanently into a chair! Yep, you read that right! Into a chair! WTF?! Only Rose at the end, uses her ability to become a chef and is hired by a girl who works with teenagers to help her out with them, but Rose is all too quick to point out that she’s willing to help only once in a while!

I understand that having special powers can feel like a curse sometimes, but no one in this book has even considered the possibility of the good they could do as well. It’s all about how they feel and who cares about everyone else. Overall, to me, this is simply a book about lost opportunities and just shows us how selfish our modern society encourages us to be. The book is also unfinished. Of all the issues mentioned (their powers, the breakdown of her parents’ marriage, her mother’s affair…), none is fully developed and has a definitive answer at the end. It’s just an unfinished book full of characters that never grow up imo. What about you? Have you read it as well? if so, what did you think of it?

Oops, sorry about that. I didn’t mean to write an essay about the book, but I guess I needed to get a few things off my chest. And now, this week’s beauty reads:

My Women Stuff explains how lack of sleep can cause havoc on your skin and how to deal with it.

Future Derm talks about 3 hair thickeneing ingredients that actually work.

Nouveau Cheap shares her holy grail drugstore beauty products.

Makeup And Beauty Blog reviews Deborah Lippman Holiday 2011 Collection.

Fables In Fashion reviews Shu Uemura Burning in Water eyeshadow palette for the holidays 2011.

I firmly believe that a girl can never have too many makeup brushes. But it doesn’t matter how many brushes we have, we all have our favourites which we use every time we apply our makeup. So today, I thought I’d briefly talk about my three favourite eyeshadow brushes. The E.L.F. Eyeshadow Brush is very versatile. It applies eyeshadow on the lid evenly, and can be used to blend and place the color on the crease as well. You could actually do an entire look just with this brush if you had to and it’s really inexpensive.

The other two brushes are both from Gosh. The Flat Eyeshadow Brush is perfect to pat the colors on the lid, while the Round Eyeshadow Brush can be used to create shapes, apply the color on the lower lashline and just work on small areas. I actually prefer it to the MAC 219 Pencil Brush because the tip is smaller and thus more suitable for those who like me have small eyes. In addition, all three brushes have dense but soft bristles that don’t scratch skin and don’t shed. What about you? What are your favourite eyeshadow brushes?

And now this week’s beauty reads:

Hair Romance explains how to ask what you want at the hairdresser.

Viva Woman shares 5 things not to do to strip your skin’s acid mantle.

Future Derm wonders if retinol breaks down every time we open the container?

The Beauty Brains wonders if yogurt is an effective natural exfoliant?

The Notice explains how to do a wet-finish, faux-gloss smokey eye look.

I don’t wear a ponytail often, but when I do, I always use this elastic hair band. It’s brown, shaped like a flower and I think it adds a cute and whimsical touch to my outfit without going over the top. What do you think? And do you have a favourite elastic hair band too?

And now, this week’s beauty reads:

Blog Herald shares 21 legal facts every blogger should know.

Derm TV wonders if long term antibiotics are safe for acne treatments?

The Best Beauty Blog explains how to floss like a boss.

Lipglossiping shares some useful tips on how to deal with dry skin.

Gloss Magic shares Cleopatra’s beauty tips and how you can still follow them.

Do you have a favourite song? There are plenty of good ones I like but if I have to choose, I’d pick One by U2. The music is beautiful and so are the lyrics. I love how they are open to interpretation and have a different meaning to everyone. One is just a very powerful and moving song, an all timer. Just listen to it.

And now, this week’s beauty reads:

Viva Woman shares 7 lifestyles choices she has made to slow down skin aging.

Renee Rouleau explains how losing weight affects the skin.

My Makeup Geek shares 10 different ways to apply your darkest eyeshadows.

Phyrra shares some eyeshadow blending tips and tricks.

Future Derm wonders what the best peptides are?

Beautyholics Anonymous gives some advice on how to write negative product reviews.

I have recently read The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, and I have mixed feelings about it. The story is very moving and romantic. Clare falls in love with Henry, a man who time travels but never knows when that’s gonna happen nor where he’s gonna end up next. When he’s in his 40s, he first meets Clare who’s only a six-year old child and their love, which starts back then (although nothing sexual will happen until she’s 18) will continue throughout their lives.

Together, they will have to face the problems a marriage, a life and children with a man who can time-travel involves, always fearing that the next time he goes back or forth in time will be the last time they see each other. While the story is captivating, I really hated the writing style. At times it can be quite dull, like when the author’s talking about Henry’s taste in music or what he eats. It is basically an endless lists of bands and foods and you feel like you’re reading the list of singers that’s gonna perform at a concert or a menu in a restaurant. But if you can put up with these excesses, the book is a nice read.

And now, this week’s beauty reads:

Derm TV shares essential skincare tips for teenagers.

Ask Me Whats explains how to do a Frankestein-inspired manicure for Halloween.

Beautyholics Anonymous shares her thoughts on who has editorial control over a blog.

Viva Woman wonders if one can make homemade beauty recipes in big batches.

Temptalia reviews Illamasqua Violate Sheer Lipgloss

Mars Bars have been one of my favourite snacks ever since I was a child. They’re so yummy, aren’t they? Sadly, they’re not healthy, which is why I haven’t eaten them often in recent years (I’m trying to be a good girl eheh). But a few days ago I went to the supermarket and found this big packet of 10 Mars bars, two of which were free, and I just couldn’t resist. I don’t know what it is about them.. maybe it’s the caramel, maybe the malt nougat… but these bars are one of the most delicious snacks I have ever tasted. Somehow I don’t think they’ll last long in my house lol. What’s your favourite snack?

And now, this weeks’ beauty reads:

Cosmediccted shares how to get the most out of your bath bombs.

British Beauty Blogger warns bloggers against Social Media Agencies.

The Derm Blog shares the truth on how to treat cellulite.

Skin Deco shares her Daily Makeup Staples.

Beaut.ie reveals the REAL Reason Why Expensive Eyelash Curlers Work.