Book Review: the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Let's talk Disney. Well, technically not Disney, but it's darn close.

The Lunar Chronicles are books that take characters we already love and put them in a dystopian world. In this version of Earth, there are humans (and lots of cyborgs and androids!) living here on Earth and "Lunars" living on the moon. Lunars mhave powers to make themselves appear however they'd like and can basically mind control, so they've been banned to Luna. There, of course, are other intricacies but this is the basic idea within this world.

Now, let's talk about the characters. If the idea of people living on the moon that can also mind control doesn't hook you, these people will. Of course, you have Cinder(ella) and Prince (...Kai who is charming!) but here's the thing: Cinder is a cyborg. Yep! Prince Kai is just a normal person but then we have Cinder's best friend, who is an android who has the hots for all males within the story. She's adorable, I promise.

The story is that Cinder falls for Prince Kai, who visits her to get his android repaired (yep, she's a mechanic!). While that's happening, the plague is spreading and Cinder ends up twisted all up within that and tensions between the Queen of Luna and Earth. The Queen can be easily compared to the Wicked Stepmother and we later meet characters based off of Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Snow White. If you've seen Doctor Who or Torchwood, we also get a character who reminded me an awful lot of Captain Jack Harkness. He's hilarious. :)

I highly recommend this series. I picked up the first book after my best friend raved about it and ended up reading the first half of the series in just a few days. If you do pick it up, I recommend reading the books in the following order, as there are extra novellas (Fairest and Stars Above) that will enhance the story if you do.
Cinder --> Scarlet --> Cress --> Fairest --> Winter --> Stars Above

If you have read it or end up reading it, please let me know your thoughts!

DIY Christmas Gifts

Christmas can be difficult--especially if you don't have a job and you have lots of friends you want to get gifts for. That was always me in school. These are some super easy and pretty cheap gifts I found while browsing the Internet. Most of them can be done cost free if you happen to have the supplies already. :)

Ear Bud Case
I will be real, I totally stole this image from an awesome blogger named "GigglesGalore" because I never eat mints and didn't have an empty container to use to make one myself. This is seriously so easy, though, and everyone in today's age can certainly use one.

All you need is an empty mint container (any will work just fine--including Altoids--but I think the Ice Breakers containers look the nicest), some paper or duct tape, Mod Podge and a brush for the Mod Podge.

Carefully remove the sticker from your container, if you are using one with a sticker label, and then cut out your paper or add your duct tape to your container. If you're use duct tape, you'll also need a knife to carefully (and slowly!) due the label to the right shape. If using paper, use Mod Podge to stick that to your container. When you're finished with either, paint Mod Podge on top to seal your design to the container.

Emoji Jar
This is something I'd love if someone made for me because I can always use jars. I have lots of make-up brushes, pencil liners and things that need homes so these are great for beauty or art lovers.

You can get mason jars at Pat Catans and other craft stores super cheap. From that point on, you just need to paint the inside whatever color you'd like and then paint a face on the front. You can also find faces online, print and cut them out, and use Mod Podge again to stick them on. I like this particular look with the cap on it but! If you take out the middle section of the cap, the middle part that is left is usually sharp. Make sure you file that down with some sandpaper, hot glue on it or use tape to cover that up. Those things can cut you up pretty badly.

Super Easy Stress Balls
Do you have friends that are mildly (or severly) stressed out all the time? I totally love this one. It's so stupidly easy to put together.

Get some baking soda and hair conditioner and put them in a bowl. You'll want a lot of baking soda and not a lot of conditioner. Now mix the two up well and use either a funnel or the top of a pop bottle that you've cut off to move that mixture into a balloon. Don't fill the balloon up very much. Then, tie it off! If you want it to look extra cool when squishing it, take a bag potatos and some times apples come in and put the balloon in that and tie it off. It'll look pretty sweet when you squeeze it then. Make sure you've tied the balloon off really well and bam. Easy, homemade gift!

Bam, easy Christmas mode active!