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Friday, September 6, 2019

Books I've Read This Month August 2019

Hello everyone and welcome to my monthly wrap-up! This month I read a total of 3 books. I unfortunately did not read as much as I would've liked this month, but thought I would share. Also with this month's post I am going to start including my star ratings next to each title. So lets get to it!


1.  Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga (4/5)
This book follows the character Jude as a teenage immigrant from Syria. Her and her mother moved to the United States shortly after the civil war in Syria started, leaving her brother and father behind. We see her try to navigate her new life as well as the struggle of learning English. I really liked that we see how it was difficult for her to adapt to her new life in the states while still worrying and trying to stay in contact with her friends and family that have chosen to stay in Syria. I enjoyed her point of view as a Muslim in post-911 America. I did listen to this as an audio-book and would definitely recommend it.

2. Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston (4/5)
Everyone who knows me knows that I LOVED Heart of Iron. It was a surprise for me because I don't normally lean towards the genre all that much. The best way to describe Heart of Iron is Anastasia in space. This is a duo-logy- although part of me wishes it was a trilogy. Jax and Robb are my favorite characters in this book by far. They are EVERYTHING. However, I did wish that we saw more of Ana as she is the main character. I do like that the book switches points of views so we get the unique perspectives. It also will dig up old memories of things that happened way before our main characters came to be and I enjoyed that aspect. I loved the action and the emotional toil on my heart was real in this book. The ending was a little strange to me and I wish that had been different, but overall I did enjoy my reading experience.

3. Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart (4/5)
This is the second novel to Grace and Fury, so I went into it with high hopes. I adored Grace and Fury and couldn't wait to follow the story of Nomi and Serina. I love the relationship between the two sisters and how they grow together in the second installment. One of my main complaints about this book is the pacing. It felt like a lot of hurry up and wait. Which for a second book that is also the final book, I felt like it should've been a little faster paced. The romances were also a little flat to me. So while I loved the sisters, this just wasn't my favorite.


So that is it for this month! Here are some of the books on my TBR for next month. A * means I am currently reading the book.
The Beautiful by Renee
Everything All At Once by Ivy Cayden
King of Fools by Amanda Foody
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson *
A Question of Holmes by Brittany Cavallaro

Where else to follow me:
YouTube
Twitter
Instagram
GoodReads
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Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Books I've Read This Month May 2019

Hey everyone! So sorry for the long hiatus. Things have been hectic, to say the least. Unfortunately this month I haven't been able to complete as many books as I would've liked, but I thought I would share them with you.
1. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
So if you enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you must read this novel as well. I'm in love with the characters that Reid creates and how they develop throughout the story. This novel is about a fictional rock band in the 60's and it feels so real, I had to remind myself multiple times that this was a work of fiction. All the band members and their significant others are reminiscing on how Daisy Jones & the Six become what they were. I would highly suggest listening to this story as it is a full cast and really adds something to it.

 2. Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian
This is the second book to Ash Princess and it was everything that I wanted it to be. I loved the first book and could not wait for the continuation of the story. Obviously I can't really discuss what this book is about since it is the second one, but if you love fantasy, kingdoms, and a rebel queen, you will like this series.

 3. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
This is another novel where I listened to the audio book as a suggestion by a friend. It started out interesting and fast paced, but somewhere along the way I started to lose interest. I don't know what about the story didn't appeal to me as much as I thought it would. One of the main characters sisters was found murdered and found in the woods and after she is found, the town is still reeling from the event. It was interesting to see how the murder affected everyone differently and how their lives intertwined. No spoilers, but I also was not a big fan of the ending. Overall I gave it 3.5 stars. Not my favorite read, but interesting enough.

4. Evermore by Sara Holland
This is another book that is the second in a series. I'm trying to finish series that I have started, is it obvious? While I did enjoy the first book more, I still enjoyed this one as well. I read it in about two days so that is always a good sign. This is a fantasy world that is based on the idea of time as currency and the poor have very little time. therefore shorter lives, while the rich enjoy long lives. The main character goes to Everless to earn more time for her father that is running out of time. This book is obviously continuing the story of the first one and I love where it went.

 So that is it for this month! Here are some of the books on my TBR for next month (although I don't think I'll be able to get to all of them- here's to hoping!). A * means I am currently reading the book.
King of Fools by Amanda Foody
The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro*
Furyborn by Claire Legend*
War Storm by Victoria Aveyard
Finale by Stephanie Garber

 Please don't forget to also check out my YouTube channel!
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Sunday, September 2, 2018

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Fall 2018 Cruelty Free & Vegan Options

Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty event is once again upon us! Here I have compiled a list of cruelty free options from the event. * means the product is vegan friendly.

September 2nd
Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer *

September 3rd
Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner

September 4th
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter
Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser

September 5th
Skyn Iceland Cooling 4 ct Eye Gels *

September 6th
Tarte Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint
Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture

September 8th
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer Pencil

September 9th
Bare Minerals Mineral Veil Finish Powder
It Brushes for Ulta Velvet Luxe Brush Collection

September 10th
Stila One Step Primers

September 11th
Buxom Plumpline Lip Liner

September 12th
Too Faced Lip Injection Exteme *

September 13th
Smashbox Photo Finish Minimize Pores Primer *

September 14th
It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil

September 15th
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara * & Tarteist Lash Print Mascara *
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum

September 16th
Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette

September 17th
Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector *
First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser *

September 18th
Tarte Double Duty Beauty Busy Gal BROWS Tinted Brow Gel *

September 19th
Juice Beauty Skin Kits *

September 20th
Cover FX Glitter Drops * & Custom Enhancer Drops *

September 22nd
Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray *
It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Moisturizing Super Cream

HOT BUYS
Bare Minerals Skincare
Smashbox Step-by-Step Contour Kit * & Spotlight Palette
Pur PRO Eyelashes * & PRO Lash Glue
Julep Eyeshadow 101 Creme to Power Eyeshadow Stick + Smudger
Tarte Tarteist PRO Glow Highlight & Contour Palette
Tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer *
Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Foundation (Matte is vegan)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trios
Laura Geller New York Life Glow On! Illuminator Palette
Lipstick Queen Lipstick Chess *
Butter London Mascaras (Stroke of Wow Volumizing Mascara is vegan)
Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick Extra
Dose of Colors Lip Gloss (their website will tell you what is vegan)

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE
Sleek (vegan list)
Wet N Wild (vegan list)
Soap & Glory (vegan list)
Ahava (100% vegan)
The Body Shop (vegan list)

BUY ONE GET ONE 40% OFF
Hempz (100% vegan)
Sheamoisture
Pacifica (100% vegan)

BUY ONE GET ONE 50% OFF
Not Your Mother's (following items are not vegan friendly, but everything else is: Knotty to Nice Conditioning Detangler, Way to Grow Leave-In Conditioner and Double Take Dry Finish Texture Spray. 
Carol's Daughter (100% vegan)
Hempz haircare (100& vegan)
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Sunday, July 8, 2018

Vegan Friendly Update Part Eleven

Hello everyone! I know it has now been a hot minute since I've posted anything on my blog, but I do have some updates for you. If you follow my YouTube channel, you'll know that I've had some big changes in my life recently- a divorce, a move, a change in career, etc. Somewhere in there I lost my motivation for my blog, but I'm back now! I've had these updates sitting here for a while now and I have more coming.
I emailed August 22nd and they responded the same day with this response:
"Thanks so much for your interest in our products! 

We do not test on animals."

I then emailed them back asking about vegan options and again they responded on the same day:

"I am happy to answer your question. Our Gavée Gold products do contain purified egg oil. The egg oil comes from organic egg yolks and it is so purified there is no egg protein in the final formulation. However we specifically created our other brand Salts Alive to be Vegan with NO animal bi-products of any kind."

I emailed them on August 22nd and they answered the same day with this response:
"Since 1985, our goal at TIGI has been to supply the highest quality hair care and cosmetic products to beauty salons, beauty supply stores, and cosmetology academies throughout the world.  Our manufacturers supply us with the finest ingredients for these hair care and cosmetic products. 

An important part of our goal has always been to adhere to the highest industry standards in the manufacture and sale of our hair care and cosmetic products, most importantly-no animal testing.  We can assure you that TIGI and all of our manufacturers have never tested TIGI’s finished products on animals.

Unilever (TIGI’s parent Company) is committed to the elimination of animal testing; and is equally committed to consumer health and safety.
Unilever does not test any finished products on animals and the vast majority of products reach you without any of their ingredients having been tested on animals. 
For more information about Unilever’s position and progress in developing non-animal testing approaches, please visit Unilever’s website: http://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/Respondingtostakeholderconcerns/testing/"

I then emailed them back about vegan options. they answered the next day:
"We are not a vegan product."

They got back to me the next day:
"Hi Elizabeth - thank you for reaching out to us and for inquiring about Formula 10.0.6! You will be happy to know that we do not test on animals and require that our suppliers follow the same policies. Our items are also not formulated with animal derived ingredients."

They answered within four days of my email with this response:
"Thank you so much for getting in touch with us. We apologize for the delay, as we answer questions and concerns in the order we receive them. Our products are 100% cruelty free. Our products cannot be considered vegan because we use a small percentage of sustainably sourced beeswax."

Yadah
Answered eight days later with this response:
"Thank you for reaching out to us. Our products are all cruelty free."

Answered the same day with this response:
"Thank you for contacting us. Yes all of our products are vegan and cruelty free and hand crafted."

I knew this brand was cruelty free and messaged them about vegan options. I emailed them on March 24th, May 22nd, June 11th, June 26th, July 19th, August 3rd, and August 22nd. This is the response I finally received:
"Thanks so much for reaching out and I'm so sorry about the delay in getting back to you! We do have a lot of vegan products on the site right now - not all of them are but we are working on that! Here's a list of what is: 
- Lip pencils in Bare and Beau
- Liquid Lip Stains
- Long lasting liquid lipstick in Nudes
- Eyeshadow palettes

We're constantly trying to launch new products that are vegan to offer a wider selection so you can expect to see a lot more of them in the near future!"

I emailed this brand on May 24th, June 26th, July 19th, August 3rd, August 22nd, and September 21st. I received an answer on September 21st:
"Yes we are 100% cruelty-free but some of our skus are not 100% vegan."

I knew this brand was cruelty free and messaged them about their vegan options. I emailed them on August 24th and September 21st. Here is their response:
"Thank you for contacting Chella’s Customer Service!  Our Water Resistant Mascara is Vegan Friendly.  Please see below:

“Hello. This moisturizing and water resistant mascara delivers smooth, buildable layers with nourishing Panthenol, Honeysuckle Conditioner and Coco Butter.  We’ve kept an eye on creating a vegan, cruelty-free mascara that uses Certified Organic ingredients.  When used with our Heated Eyelash Curler, expect to see lashes that keep a gorgeous curl all day long.  GET READY TO LASH TO THE MAX.  Beautiful!”"
I emailed them on August 22nd and September 21st. Here is their response:
"Thank you for getting in touch. We do not test on animals and most products are vegan friendly except for our yogurt masks, which contain dairy extracts."

I knew this brand cruelty free and I messaged them about their vegan options. I emailed them on August 22nd and September 21st. This is their response:
"Some of the Paula Dorf products are vegan friendly. The products that are not vegan friendly are all products that have color; an example would be Paula Dorf’s Lip Color Cream in Legend as it has color, red. If you have interest in particular product(s) we would be happy to look into whether they are vegan friendly or not."

I emailed them once. They answered two days later:
" ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS ARE VEGAN"

I emailed them once. They answered five days later with this response:
"Thank you for emailing Doucce. Although we are a 100% cruelty free brand, a few of our products do contain animal derivatives. Which products specifically were you wondering about. "

They answered the same day with this response:
"Hi Emily [not my name]

We are proud to say that none of our i ingredients are from animals and are not tested on animals. "
" Thank you for reaching out Filorga Customer service.
The cosmetic regulation has prohibited testing on the animal the effectiveness and safety of finished cosmetic products since 2004 and the effectiveness and safety of raw materials since 2013.
Laboratories FILORGA are responsible manufacturers and scrupulously respect the provisions of European Regulation 1223/2009 on cosmetic products and its amendments, and in particular its article 18 on animal testing.
Any manufacturer of hygiene or beauty products conducts tests to ensure the safety and tolerance of its products. Cosmetic regulation requires the manufacturer to carry out an safety assessment for human health. This evaluation ensures that there is no risk of skin irritation, eye irritation, allergy, and long-term risk under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.
In the past, these data were obtained by laboratory animal tests, but gradually the cosmetics industry developed "alternative methods" for animal testing.

 We hope we answered your questions and we stay at your entire disposal if you need any further information,"

 Also, please be sure to check out my YouTube channel!
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Saturday, March 17, 2018

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Cruelty Free & Vegan List Spring 2018

Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty sale is upon us once again! If you're looking into cruelty free and vegan options, I have made a list of available options. * means vegan

March 18th
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara *
LORAC PRO Palette 3

March 19th
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Anti- Aging Finishing Powder

March 20th
PUR 4-in-1 Pressed Finishing Powder *
Juice Beauty STEM CELLULAR Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer *

March 21st
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water *
Persona Identity Eyeshadow Palette

March 22nd
BUXOM Full-On Lip Cream
EYEKO Eyeliners

March 23rd
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Singles * (vegan shades listed here)

March 24th
STILA Stay All day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
Laura Geller LashBOSS Major Length, Volume, Curl Mascara*

March 25th
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Compact
IT Brushes for ULTA *
MALLY BEAUTY Face Defender

March 26th
BECCA Backlight Priming Filter * & First Light Perfecting Primer
FIRST AID BEAUTY Love Your FAB Skin *

March 27th
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
Stila Convertible Color
KOPARI Coconut Melt *

March 28th
Tarte Tartiest Double Take Eyeliner *
BARE MINERALS 5-in-1 BB Cream Eyeshadow
SKIN LAUNDRY Select Cleansers *

March 29th
MURAD Acne Clarifying Cleanser or Anti-Aging Acne Cleanser
SMASHBOX Full Exposure Travel Palette

March 30th
TOO FACED Melted Matte Liqufied Long Wear Lipstick
LIME CRIME Hi-Lite Palettes *

March 31st
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil *
Mario Badescu
OFRA Banana Powder *

April 1st
Bare Minerals Foundation Primers
Dose of Colors Marvelous Mauves Eyeshadow Palette

April 2nd
Butter London Glazen Lip Glaze & Eye Gloss
IT Cosmetics Confidence In Your Glow & Heavenly Skin One-Sweep Wonder Brush

April 3rd
Laura Geller New York Baked Blush-n-Brighten *
BUXOM Show Some Skin Weightless Foundation

Apil 4th
Lipstick Queen Frog Prince Lipstick
CARGO Swimmables Collection

April 5th
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion *
Juice Beauty STEM CELLULAR Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum *
SKYN ICELAND Icelandic Relief Eye Cream *

April 6th
Tarte Tartiest Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint, Creamy Matte Lip Paint *, Glossy Lip Paint *, & Lip Crayon *

April 7th
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara *

HOT BUYS
Tarte Ready, Set, Radiant Skin Mist *

Laura Geller Spackle Collection * (Following items are vegan: SPACKLE TREATMENT SOOTHING MAKE-UP PRIMER, SPACKLE MIST, SPACKLE TREATMENT SPF 30 MAKE-UP PRIMER, SPACKLE TREATMENT HYDRATING MAKE-UP PRIMER,, SPACKLE SUPERCHARGED FORTIFIED UNDER MAKE-UP PRIMER)

COVER FX Anti-Aging Primer *

Julep Cushion Complexion 5-in-1 Skin Perfector

PUR Miracle Mist Hydrating Spray *

MALLY BEAUTY Shimmer, Shape, & Glow

Butter London Glazen Blush Gelee

BAREMINERALS Matte Liquid Lipcolor *

Lipstick Queen Saint & Sinner Lipstick

LORAC PRO Matte & Satin Lip Color

Smashbox Always Sharp Eyeliners

Julep When Pencil Met Gel Long-Lasting Gel Eyeliner

Dose of Colors Eyedeal Duo

DermaDoctor Kakadu C High Potency Evening Oil

Hey Honey 24Seven Day & Night Revitalizing Cream

The Better Skin Co Better Skin Lava Magik *

Buy One, Get One 40% OFF
Pacifica * (100% vegan)

Buy One, Get One 50% OFF
ULTA Beauty * (vegan options here)
NYX * (vegan options here)
Ecotools *
Essence Cosmetics * (vegan options here)
Models Own * (vegan options here)
Simple *

Please don't forget to check out my YouTube channel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24YHDsaliEA&t=16s

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Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Nourish Beauty Box March 2018 Unboxing


The Nourish Beauty Box is a monthly subscription box that is 100% cruelty-free, gluten-free, and vegan. For $29.95 a month, you receive four full sized products. This is probably my favorite subscription that I receive! If you are interested in the box, you can click here.

Made Simple Orange Blossom Beramot Face Toner, Retail Value: $15.00
I have never heard of this brand, so I am excited to try something from them. This does say that it is for oily skin types. While I have dry skin, I will give it a shot. I will say that it smells really good and has a gentle mist.


Peony Cosmetics Lip Succulent , Retail Value: $18.00
As someone who has dry lips, I appreciate anything that will add moisture to my lips. This is slightly tinted red as well (my favorite lip shade). Definitely excited about this one!


Nourish Nails in Reach Out, Retail Value: $12.50
We receive a nail polish in every box from this brand. I personally do not like pink nail polish, so I will be passing this along to someone else.




 Seraphine Botanicals Goji + Galaxy Ethereal Glow Palette , Retail Value: $55.00
I love this brand and this palette looks gorgeous! They are cream highlighters- which I have a love/hate relationship with. I'm going to have to try this out more, but the swatches look promising!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tqpai8tDpA

 Please don't forget to check out my YouTube channel and subscribe!

 Unboxings:
Vegan Cuts Quarterly Makeup Box- Summer
Vegan Cuts Quarterly Makeup Box- Autumn
Love Goodly October/November 2017
Love Goodly August/September 2017
Love Goodly June/July 2017
Nourish Beauty Box November 2017
Nourish Beauty Box October 2017
Nourish Beauty Box September 2017
Nourish Beauty Box August 2017



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Friday, December 8, 2017

Books I've Read This Month October/November 2017

Welcome my fellow book lovers to my blog! Now is when I list the books that I have been enjoying the past month. If you have any books recommendations, please let me know below. 
 1. Turtles All The Way Down by John Green
I preordered this book a while ago, so naturally I had to read it as soon as it arrived. I have read another one of John Green's books and enjoyed it. Like his other novels, this brings diverse characters together in an interesting plot-line. I also appreciated the way Green talks about mental illness in this book. If you've been looking into this, I would definitely recommend it.






2. Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
I purchased this book after watching a review on YouTube and I was not disappointed. The main character starts this booklet series in her high school to address the sexism in her school. I think this book is really empowering for young girls and even though I graduated high school a while ago, I still enjoyed this book.







3. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
Most of the time stories that have to do with Jack the Ripper are told from a man's perspective, so I was happy to see one from a woman's. The main character is an apprentice with her uncle and helps with the autopsies of the women slain by the ripper. This is an interesting take on the ripper and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good murder mystery.







4. Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
This is the sequel to Stalking Jack the Ripper. We follow our characters to a school where students practice autopsies and learn about human biology. Some strange deaths take place and our main character finds herself caught up in the middle of it. I enjoyed this book as much as the first and would definitely recommend.






5. Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier
This was a reread for me that I haven't read since high school. I didn't remember anything about this book, so it was like I was reading it for the first time again. This is a true murder mystery that anyone who is a fan of the genre would enjoy.








6. The Silence of Ghosts by Jonathan Aycliffe
This is a book I would not recommend reading in the middle of the night by yourself. Seriously, don't do. It is a classic case of someone moving to a new house and strange things start occurring. I really enjoyed this book and found it appropriate for the Halloween season.







7. Past Crimes By Glen Erik Hamilton
This is a book I received in a subscription service. I didn't think I would like this very much, but I flew through it. Our main character comes home after being gone for the Army for a decade and finds that his grandpa has been murdered. He starts to investigate his grandpa's past and what lead him to be killed.







8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book is one that was recommended to me by multiple people. This gives me Moulin Rouge vibes in the sense that it creates a world that is within our own, but is also it's own. I really enjoyed how this book is written and cannot recommend it enough.
 9. The 3rd Woman by Jonathan Freedland
This is a murder mystery in which we follow a journalist whose sister was murdered. At first everyone thinks that it is not a murder at all, but a drug overdose. She starts to see similarities between a few deaths and starts to investigate. Definitely a good read if you like murder mysteries.
 10. Eternal Sonata by Jamie Metzl
This book takes place in the near future, but technology has really changed. Some scientists end up missing and our main character gets himself mixed in with it. I read this book in a day, so I clearly liked it.
 11. Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth
This is the same author of the Divergent series and I really liked those books, so I had to pick this one up. This gives me Star Wars vibes because this world has different planets and societies that have their own cultures. They have something called "the current" that reminds me of the force and everyone has something called a currentgift. There is a sequel coming out next year and I can't wait to read it.
 12. Sabriel by Garth Nix
I had started this book a while ago and never finished it, so I thought it was finally time to read it. This is the first book in a trilogy and I definitely need to check out the other ones after reading this book. Sabriel is a necromancer whose father goes missing and she must travel to the Old Kingdom to try and save him. If you're a fan of fantasy and magic, you would really enjoy this book.
 13. Shopaholic & Sister by Sophie Kinsella
This is one of the books in the Confessions of a Shopaholic series. I am trying to finish this series by the end of the year and I have been enjoying it so far. It is light hearted and I can get through them pretty quickly. They are different than the movie, but I still really enjoy them.

14. Pretty Little Secrets by Sara Shepard
This is another series I have been trying to finish before 2018. This is the last book I had to read in the series and I overall like this series. I did watch the tv series and I actually prefer the books. They are different than the show, but I think they honestly make more sense. If you watched the show, you know what I'm talking about.





50 Book Challenge Tally: 57

 Please don't forget to check out my YouTube channel and subscribe!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--k95DnSe8Q



Past Books I Read This Month:
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
February/March 2017
January 2017

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