July/August Book Club Picks

First I want to apologize for being MIA on the blog and pretty much all social media! I have had a crazy couple of weeks. First my husband left for his 3rd deployment! (Stay tuned for care package ideas) Second my very best friend came down from SC to visit! And then I got super sick (yuck!) So I have been recovering and pretty much sleeping 24/7 the past week because my fever drained my energy. (Starbucks didn't even help, I tried. Drank a Venti Skinny Caramel Macchiato and then napped for 4 hours.)

Now that I am some what better, I'm playing catch up not only on the blog, but in school as well! So I decided to do the books for July and August together since its already two weeks into July. 

I'm getting a little adventurous for my picks this time and going with 4! That's right 4! Since my husband is gone and my mom isn't coming to visit until August I have a lot of time on my hands! 

Here are my 4 picks for July and August

Stand Alone:

 I am so excited to read this book, I have heard such great things about it. Dear Girls Above Me, was inspired by a true story! You can check out the synopsis and purchase the book from Amazon here: Dear Girls Above Me

Series Books:

The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare is loved by so many YA readers and I have heard nothing but good things about this series! I'm already on the fourth chapter and it is so good, I feel like I'm going to tear through it! This series is a long one so you will probably see this series on the book club for awhile. You can read the synopsis and by the book on Amazon here: City of Bones 

So this is a continuation from the Gemma Doyle Series Book Club picks from May. I really can't wait to see what happens to Gemma and the girls in their next adventure! You can read the synopsis and buy the book on Amazon here: Rebel Angels 

I have wanted to read this series for a while and I got the book set for Christmas, so I am finally getting around to reading them! (Even though I already saw the movie) You can read the synopsis and buy the book here on Amazon: The Maze Runner 

P.S. The Kindle edition of this book is only 1.99 right now!

So there you have it, my July & August Book Club picks. Reading three different series at a time might sound crazy to some but I have reading ADD and I normally take breaks between series book, so I'm just going to take breaks with another series! 

Happy Reading!

Jess

May/June Book Club Book Reviews

So the book club has gotten off to a rocky start! I planned to pick a stand alone book for each month, as well as a series every 2-3 months. However, May and June turned out to be super busy months for me, so I didn't get as much reading time in as I wanted. Sadly I only got through two books, which for me is WEAK!

I finished A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray and Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

A Great and Terrible Beauty - This book started off with crazy action and then really dulled down for a big chunk of it, but then the ending was action packed and a lot of things happened. I really can't say much with out giving the plot and twist away, but if you love supernatural books and historical fiction then you will love this book. This is the first book in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy and since it is the first book is it really about Gemma trying to come to terms with who she truly is and dealing with the tragic lost of her mother. The ending was a cliff hanger and I can't wait to see what happens in Rebel Angels!   

Saint Anything - Let me start by saying that Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite authors and I haven't read a book of her's yet that I didn't like. Saint Anything is about a junior in high school named Sydney who is dealing with the convection and imprisonment of her older brother Peyton. This book deals with a lot of heavy issues and in my opinion is one of deepest Sarah Dessen novels ever. I love the relationships that are born and fixed in this story! This was a wonderful read and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves YA novels.

NYC Color Big & Bold VoxBox Review

Last month I received the NYC Color VoxBox from Influenster and NYC Color. In the box were two of the newest NYC Color products for their new line Big & Bold. So lets dive right into my review!

NYC Color Big Bold Angel Lash Mascara: This mascara wasn't the best I have ever used, but it wasn't the worst either. I did get pretty decent volume on my lashes, but they felt a bit sticky. Once it dried all the way it looked pretty good. I think this is mascara would come in handy on the days that I'm just throwing on BB cream and I want my lashes to look thicker than they are naturally. 

NYC Color Big Bold Precise Liquid Eyeliner: I was honestly not a huge fan of this product. The tip design resembles a  marker tip. I am also one of those weird people that smells their cosmetics and this product smelled like a Sharpie. Now that I have gotten the negative out of the way I do have some good things to say about this product. It was very simple to use and the line came out nice and thick. I think the design of this product is great for people who are just learning liquid liners. 

Please excuse my red eye!

May Monthly Favorites

Skin Care:

May started off super stressful for me! I had finals and last assignments/projects due for school! All that stress wrecked my skin so I have a ton of skin care products that I used in May to try to keep all the little face demons at bay. This are the products I used to help keep my skin clear and avoid stress breakouts!

1. Olay Pro-X - This skin care tool is AMAZING! I have been wanting Clarisonic for months and months, but with the cheapest model starting at $99 it was way out of budget. So I did some research and found the Olay Pro-X. It has two speed settings, and at less than $40, its is a deal. I use this almost everyday and I can tell a huge difference in my skin! Its brighter, less oily, and my blackheads are disappearing. You can find this at most major retailers, click here to view it online at Target.com.

2. St. Ives Green Tea Scrub - I love love love this face scrub! Not only does it smell amazing, it feels amazing. It has 100% natural exfoliates and it can be used everyday. I use this with my Olay Pro-X at least once a day. You can find St. Ives products in most major retailers.

3. Formula 10.0.6 Keep Your Cool Mask  - I could write a million pages on why I love this mask so much. First it smells amazing, its made with coconut and cucumber, and I just want to crawl in the bottle and live in this perfect topical scent. Second it feels amazing on your skin! This is a gel mask which at first was a little strange to me because I normally go for mud mask, but I really liked the texture once I had it on my face. It is light and almost looks like you have moisturizer all over your face. Once you put it on it feels so cool and calming, but after about 2 minutes you can start to feel it tingle and warm up. The third reason I love this product so much is not only does it calm redness and breakouts, its also gentle enough to leave on overnight! Formula 10.0.6 is my go to brand for face masks. Check out the whole Formula 10.0.6 line here at Ulta.com

4. Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner - Toners are kind of a hot product right now, there are so many on the market that it can be overwhelming when looking for one to buy. I have tried a lot of different toners and this one by Boots has become one of my favorites. First, its a great price, less than $5. Second, if you have sensitive skin like me then this is a good option for you. It is gentle enough to keep my skin from being irritated but strong enough to tighten and minimize my pores. Adding a toner to your skin care routine can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. I use this one twice a day after cleaning my face and before I put on my moisturizer. You can find the entire Boots Expert line at Target, click here to view them online.

5. Boots Botanics Shine Away Mattifying Day Cream - This is another Boots product from their Botanics line. This day cream is SPF 15 and instantly controls shine and minimizes pores. This is the perfect under makeup moisturizer! You can check out the Boots Botanics line at Target online here.

6. Ocean Potion Clear Zinc Oxide Face Potion - Its summer and as a beach bum I have to protect my skin from the sun. Like I said before I have really sensitive skin and normal sunscreen burns and irritates my skin. This Face Potion from Ocean Potion is SPF 45 and super water resistant. This stuff as been a savior for my face, it feels like I'm putting regular moisturizer on my face, it doesn't burn, or irritate my skin at all. You can find this at most major retailers with the other sun care products. 

Makeup:

7. No. 7 Lift & Luminate Foundation - I don't normally switch up my foundation, but I was in the mood to try something new this month and I am so glad I did. This foundation is amazing! Its light and for a liquid foundation it doesn't settle in fine lines. I got the lightest shade which is calico. No. 7 made by Boots. You find No. 7 products in-store and online at Target. 

8. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara - I have used this before but I recently got a new bottle and I fell in love with it all over again. This mascara is fabulous, it makes your lashes look super big and the brush is amazing. Although it is a bit pricey at $23, it lasts forever and I feel like it is totally worth the price. You can find this mascara and other Too Faced products at Ulta and Sephora.

9. Elf Eyebrow Kit -  Eyebrows are in baby! This kit from elf makes defining your brows super simple! The kit contains two products, a tinted brow gel and a lighter brow powder, and a double ended brush. I love this kit because of its simplicity, its two steps to prefect defined brows and its a steal at $3. 

10.Elf Kabuki Brush - I have been wanting a Kabuki brush for a while now, I'm not sure why I waited so long to get one! I love Elf professional brushes because they are such good quality for such a good price! This Kabuki brush is prefect for applying powder, it leaves it looking flawless, its also a steal at $6. You can find Elf products at most major retailers.

Random:

11. Starbucks Green Tea Lemonade - I have been obsessed with this drink lately! Its so yummy and the prefect summer drink. If you love green tea as much as I do, you will love this. I always get it unsweetened and in the trenta size. 

12. ABC's Once Upon a Time - I had a few weeks off of school before summer classes started and I totally binged on this show. I'm still not caught up on the current season, I'm just starting season 3. If you haven't watched this show and you love Disney as much as me, you need to start, it's amazing!

13. 24 oz Bubba Tumbler - I am obsessed with tumblers and when my Bubba tumbler broke a few months ago I wanted to cry. I got this one at the beginning of May from Target and I love it so much. I use it every single day and it keeps my drinks cold for hours. You can find Bubba Tumblers at Target and Wal-Mart. 

Well there you have it, all of my favorite things from the month of May! 

xo,

Jess

The Perfect Disney Park Bag

For the past week Disney has been on my mind 24/7. Since I'm not planning a Disney Trip any time soon, I thought I would pretend for a few hours and put together everything I put in my Disney Park Bag!

1. A perfect park bag. I have been to Disney so many times and I have taken many different bags! This last trip I finally got a backpack to take and I will never use anything else! The bag shown above is by BUG and it is the exact bag I took with me in December 2014. It have a ton of pockets and the side pockets make the perfect place to keep water. You can find this bag on Amazon here.

2. Rain Poncho. YOU WILL NEED THIS! It doesn't matter what time of year you head to Disney World, you will get caught in the rain at least once. Central Florida is super rainy. I haven't been to Disney yet when it hasn't rained and I've been there during every season. I prefer the actual Disney Park ponchos, they are just better quality than the cheap ones from the dollar store. I got a great deal on them right before we went last year for $5 bucks each and free shipping from the Disney Store online. They are more expensive in the parks, but you can always check online for sales! You can find the Disney Park Ponchos here. 

3. Sunscreen. Just like the rain poncho, YOU WILL NEED THIS! Central Florida may be rainy, but it is also really sunny when it isn't raining! You may only think of sunscreen in the warmer months, but it doesn't matter what time of year you head to Disney, you need to stay protected from the sun. Although a lot of rides are indoors and have covered ques, you still spend a ton of time outdoors and in the sun. If you are like me and you hate the icky feeling sunscreen can leave on your skin, you should try Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock. It is my all time favorite and doesn't leave you feeling greasy like most sunscreens do. You can find this sunscreen in most major retailers, or online here. 

4. Water. This one is super important! While you are running around Disney from ride to ride, it is easy to forget to drink water. Central Florida is crazy humid and you can get dehydrated easily. The wonderful thing about Walt Disney World is they let you bring in food and drink, just no hard coolers. I like to take in an extra large bottle of water and refill it throughout the day. Bottled water can get pricey in the parks, but you can always get free water from any snack stand or restaurant.

5. Water Enhancer. The fountain water at Disney can taste a little funny to people not used to Florida water. Since I live in Florida I don't really notice a taste but my husband swears it has a strange taste. So to take away the "taste" I always take a water enhancer. My favorite is Mio in the Sweet Tea flavor. You can find Mio in most major retailers. 

6. Lip Balm with SPF. Just like your skin, your lips need to be protected from the harsh Florida sun as well. I always take a good balm with SPF to use throughout the day. I love EOS in Sweetmint. EOS balms are sold at most major retailers.

7. Pressed Powder. Most people tend to hit the parks make-up free, but I like to go with at least the bare minimum ( BB cream, mascara, neutral shadow, and liner.) Having a good pressed powder ensures my make up stays put throughout the day. My favorite is the Pixi Flawless Finishing Powder, you can find it at Target and online here. 

8. Neosporin. If you are as accident prone as I am, this one is a no brainer. If you get a cut, scrap, blister, anything really you are going to keep it clean and treated. 

9. An External Battery. Being in the parks all day and taking pictures can really drain your battery. I always make sure I take a charged up external battery with me in the parks, it really is a life saver!! I love this Lilly one for the Iphone 5 & 6. You can find one similar to the one pictured above here. 

10. Camera. There are just some pictures that turn out better with a good camera! I got this really amazing Fujifilm camera from my parents for Christmas and I cannot wait to take it back to Disney! You can find it on Amazon here.

11. Ziploc Bags. I don't take a whole box, but I do take a few. They are good to keep your snacks in, to throw wet ponchos in, and to keep phones, wallets, & keys dry on water rides.

12. Annie's Bunny Fruit Snacks. I love that Disney allows you to bring in your own snacks! One of my all time favorite quick snacks are fruit snacks, because they are delicious, duh. Annie's Bunny Fruit Snacks are not only cute, but organic, vegan, and gluten free. Plus you get your daily dose of Vitamin C! They come in a ton of different flavors, but tropical is my favorite. You can find Annie's Bunny Fruit Snacks and other Annie's products in store at Target.

13. Park Maps. It doesn't matter how many times you have been to Disney, its always a good idea to keep park maps on you! Trust me I've been 14 times and I still need the maps for reference.

14.Band-Aids. Just like I said for the Neosporin I'm accident prone and Band-aids come in handy! I love the Mickey ones from Band-aid brand! I found mine at Target!

15. Granola/Protein Bars. I'm hypoglycemic and when my sugar drops it is not a pretty sight. Running around in the parks all day and longer time periods between meals, really takes a toll on my sugar levels. I always make sure I have some granola or Protein bars thrown in my bag, just in case I start to drop! Plus they make good snacks for waiting in line! My favorite brand is Cascadian Farm! Just like Annie's they are an organic company and their products are yummy!

16. Shine Sheets. Oil absorbing shine sheets are great to keep in your bag for quick touch ups! I've found that the Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets work the best! You can find them at most major retailers.

17. Hand Sanitizer. I cannot stress enough how important is is to keep your hands clean at Disney. Every handle bar, lapbar, guard rail, & hand rail has been touched by like a million other people, most of which are snotty nosed kids! Its important to always wash your hands before eating or drinking, but if you can't make it to the bathroom, the sanitizer comes in handy! Any type will work, I just prefer the ones from Bath & Body Works, because they smell amazing! I used a little holder for mine and hooked it to my back pack strap so it was always easy to get to!

So there you have it, my perfect Disney park bag. I do like to keep all the stuff inside my bag in smaller bags. So I have one little bag for all of my beauty stuff and one back for first aid things. I hope this post helped you guys decided what to take in the parks!

xo,
Jess

Books & Bows Book Club: May

Even though it is late in the month, I have picked the books I want to start with in the book club! 

The stand alone book is going to be Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen. I am so excited for this book because Sarah Dessen is one of my all time favorite YA writers. I have been waiting for this book to come out since it was announced last year, so I know I am going to tear through it pretty quickly. Especially since I have one more week free before summer classes start. You can click on the picture below to find Saint Anything on Amazon! 

The first series that I have chosen is The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray. I actually read this series in high school but there is rumor of a movie in the works, so I wanted to re-read the series. Libba Bray is another one of my favorite YA writers and this series is just so magical. The books in the series are pictured below, each are links to their Amazon sale page.

Books & Bows Book Club

Each month I am going to choose 1-2 stand alone books and every 2-3 months I'm going to choose a new series.


I don't know about you guys, but I love reading series books! But if I read them back to back I get burned out. When I am reading a series I normally take a break between each book to read a stand alone book to kind of refresh.

I'm going to be posting updates during reading on the Books & Bows Facebook Page. Once I finish the book I will post my review and thoughts on some of the book club Q & A for the book!

If y'all want to read along with me that will be wonderful! We can have discussion in the comments or on Facebook.

Reach out to me and let me know what books you guys would like to have in the book club.

Happy Reading,
Jess

Re-branding!

Hello my loves!

Welcome to Books and Bows: A Preppy Nerd's Guide to Life. Formally known as My Random Life as an Air Force Wife.

So why the re-branding?

There are so many reasons why I decided to re-brand my blog but it really was because I was craving change. When I created My Random Life as an Air Force Wife over a year ago I had no idea what blogging was about! Over the past year not only have I learned more about blogging, but there have been a lot of changes in my life and I thought that changing my blog with it only made sense. (Don't worry I'm still married!) The past couple of months I have had no motivation to write for the blog at all! I was over thinking every post and feeling like nothing went with my "theme." So I decided to re-brand and create a title and environment that was more fitting to my style and personality, because although being an Air Force wife is a big part of me, its not all of me.


What is Changing?

None of my content will change, all of the old stuff is still here and I still plan on writing about being a military spouse. I'm really excited about what I am going to be adding to the blog over the next couple of  weeks. I am going to be adding pages for my reading list, a Books & Bows Book Club, Monthly Favorites, Recipes, DIYs, and so much more.

The new URL is: www.apreppynerdsguide.blogspot.com

You can find the link to the new Facebook page in the right sidebar ---->


Thank you to everyone who has followed My Random Life as an Air Force Wife for the past year and I hope you all enjoy the new brand!


xoxo,
Jess

I Have Become a YOGI

So last Friday I finally stepped outside of my comfort zone and attended my first ever yoga class. Now I love yoga and I have done a few poses at home to de-stress and regroup, but I have never really dug deep into the practice and took a class.

Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51625243@N06/7355247670">6-9-12 Project Yoga Richmond</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>

I am so glad I took that class because it opened my eyes to what yoga is and how it's not just a relaxing practice, its actually a real work out. Oh I was dying by the time it came to quiet time!


It felt so good to step outside of my comfort zone and try something that has always intrigued me! If you can't tell by all the explanation marks, I am so excited about that yoga class. Even though I couldn't do every single pose and I sweated like a pig, I felt great afterward.I felt so accomplished, for finally breaking out of my shell, placing my mat at the front of that class, and not quitting!

Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61834008@N04/5685171468">i-love-yoga-by-susan-von-struensee</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>

The class I took was all about the warrior pose, being strong, and believing in yourself. Which is exactly what I needed to hear after a hard week of working out and wanting to quit.

So now I'm planning on taking a class at least once a week and learning more about yoga and the practice!

So while I work on getting better at yoga, check out my yoga board on Pinterest for all things yoga!

Follow Jessica Maynor's board Yoga on Pinterest.

I'll keep you guys updated on my progress and have more yoga inspired post coming soon! 

Namaste,

Jess

December 2014 Walt Disney World Trip Recap: Part One Epcot

I spent December 2-5, 2014 in the most magical place in the world! This trip was so much better than our Disneymoon trip in February 2014, mostly because I wasn't deathly sick this time! In fact it was my husband who wound up sick this trip, but luckily not until the last few days.

We spent the first day of our Disney days in Epcot. I normally like to start in Magic Kingdom but we went during the Christmas season so Magic Kingdom was closing early our first day for the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. (We decided to skip that!)

I got this amazing shot on the monorail! 

Since were staying at the Shades of Green Resort on Walt Disney World property we were able to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours that morning. Since Extra Magic Hours are only for guest staying in a Walt Disney World resort, or in our case Shades of Green, lines are extremely short! We were able to walk right on to Soarin', a ride that normally keeps a wait time of about 70-90 minutes,

From Soarin' we explored The Land Pavilion and rode one of my very favorite classic boat rides at Disney, Living with the Land. This ride might seem boring to most but I find it so fascinating, it takes you on a journey of the development of agriculture and then through the green houses where Disney grows produce for their resort and park restaurants.

 

After we finished with The Land Pavilion we headed over to The Seas with Nemo and Friends. I seriously think this is one of the greatest parts of Epcot and sadly it is over looked by many first time visitors, especially ones with older kids. This pavilion is not just a ride based of the movie Finding Nemo, its an aquarium! Its massive, in fact the main tank is large enough to hold Spaceship Earth. The ride part of The Seas is also pretty entertaining, I think kids of all ages will enjoy the journey to find Nemo! We spent a lot of time in the aquarium, I think I could have stayed in front of the dolphin tank all day. This is a great part of the park to head to take a break from the heat if you are visiting in the summer. 

After the visiting The Seas with Nemo and Friends we hit the other great rides in Future World. Mission Space, Spaceship Earth, & Ellen's Energy Adventure. Ellen's Energy Adventure is one of my favorites, it is a classic to me! This is a 45 minute ride (yes it really is that long) so keep that in mind when heading over, its a great ride to sit back, relax, and take a break from the park crowds, the heat, or to avoid one of Florida's quick rain storms. 

From Future World we headed into The World Showcase! I love this part of Epcot and I feel that I never get enough time in it to see everything. And this time wasn't any different, we got hit by a horrible rain storm. Since I got sick last time from being rained on in the cold, we decided to head back to the hotel and not brave the rain. We did end up going back to Epcot a few days later at night to have diner at San Angel Inn and explore the World Showcase. 

While in Epcot we also got to catch the Candle Light Processional narrated by Neil Patrick Harris. It was beautiful and if you are in Disney for Christmas it is a must see! Unfortunately I didn't get any good pictures of the Processional, but trust me it was beautiful.

So there's our day(s) in Epcot in a nutshell! Stay tuned for part two of my Disney Recap for our day in Magic Kingdom! (It was epic!)

A Very (late) Happy 2015!

Can you believe it is already 2015? I know this post is coming in super late but I hope everyone is having a great and healthy start to their New Year. 

Its only 22 days into the new year and already so many things have happened/changed for me!

The most exciting thing is I started school again and not with the University of Phoenix (that change is a whole other rant blog!) I am now a student at Northwest Florida State College! Go Raiders! My classes started on the 12th and so far it has been so exciting and overwhelming at the same time. This change did set me back a little on the track of education, but in the long run it will be worth it because I will have a better education and be much more prepared for a classroom full of kids after graduation. 

If you have been following my Disney Series, you know that I went on a trip recently! I'm trying to put together a recap of everything and have it up soon! I also have so many post planned for this series, its exciting! 

I also have some new product reviews and book reviews that I also need to put together! 

I am also starting the new year off with a much healthier lifestyle so look out for post about my progress in my weight loss journey!

After taking a month off of pretty much everything, I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of things! Hopefully I will get back into it soon and be posting much more!! So just keep a look out for new post and series! 

xoxo

Jess