February Update 2016| It's Carenza B

Hello!

So today I am bringing you my February Update, in case you don't know this is a series were I look back at the month and how I felt it went. You can read my January one here. Without further a do here is my February Update.

1) Be more organised i.e be more tidy
Again, like last month (January) I haven't made much progress. My bedroom and desk did not get tidied once, my blog became less organised and I would only remember on the day of the post going up that I had not written one. So far this month (March) I have become at lot more organised, I have made a revision timetable which I am trying to stick to and I have had a massive tidy of my bedroom.

2) Be more confident
I feel as though my confidence dipped in February, and that in general February was a bad month though not as bad as January. My 2016 has not got of to the best start and it is not something I want to talk about, and because my 2016 has been bad my confidence has suffered.

3) To get fit and feel happy with my body i.e drink more water
This was not happening at the beginning of the month and it wasn't until the middle did I pick it up again. I exercised for 4 days in a row, and I noticed such a difference in my mood and general well being over that time. My goal is to exercise everyday in April and there are no excuses unless I'm ill and that's the only excuse I'll accept.

4) Study more often
This needs to start happening, I started to revise a bit more in February but it wasn't general revision it was specif revision for tests and I need to start revising more. I've drawn up a revision timetable for Easter and on average, on weekdays I plan to do 6 hours a day and 5 hours a day at weekends (this is when my parents are off and I want to spend time with them)

5) Do more of what makes me HAPPY
This one has taken a step down from my last update but still has been done more than revision. I think it's because I had a bad start to the year and I'm still adjusting to what happened. I'm glad I'm happy but I am going to start revising more.

6) Write and read more
I think that this one hasn't happened as much either. I did a lot of writing during the Half Term Holidays but I am getting through books a lot quicker. I've started taking books with me when I am travelling and reading them. I've also started going to bed a bit earlier and have been getting more reading done that way.

General Update:
As you guys know, I start my GCSE's in May and this means that blogging will have to take a step down. I don't want to do this but I have to focus on my exams and I want to do really well in them. All my other social medias will be taking a step down as well as I won't have the time to post on them. It is because of this I have decided to post ONCE A MONTH with a general mash up of my usual posts (TBR and Wrap Up, Favourites and Update). These posts will start in April and will finish in June. I will start blogging properly in July as I would like to enjoy the stress free days I have after my exams. I hope you guys can understand why I am making these decisions about posting once a month (the posts will come on the last Friday of those months).

So that was my February update, I hope you guys enjoyed it. You can now follow my blog by using the follow by email option and I have direct links to my Twitter, Instagram and Goodreads down the sides. If you have any business inquiries please drop me an email at itscarenzab@gmail.com

Carenza x 

Book Review Monday- Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Hello!
So I have my 4th Book Review Monday post and this time I am reviewing Truthwitch by Susan Dennard, I received this in the February Illumicrate (my review of which will be going up on 25/3/2016). I had never heard of it before then and was excited to read it, so without further ado here are my thoughts, feelings and opinions on Truthwitch.
WARNING: This review contains spoilers so do not read if you are/ want to read this book.

Cover

I'm going to be honest, I don't like the cover for this book. It has nothing to do with the book and I have no idea who the girl is supposed to be. I do like the typography used for the title though. Also I want to apologies for my cat being in the photo, he decided my bed was the best place to curl up on. Also, I am not mad keen on Hardback books. I'd say around 10% of my books are Hardback.

Plot 

What Goodreads says:
"In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.
Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.
Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.
In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch."

To be honest, this is the best way of describing the plot. The plot is quite simple: They are being hunted, but all the terminology made it hard to understand what was happening (I'll talk about this more in my Opinions section). The Goodreads rating for this book is 4/5 stars on average.

Opinions

I am going to be honest, I did not enjoy this book. It was very slow paced until the very end were everything seemed to happen. I felt as if there were too many action scenes and they were almost always straight after another. The one major thing that held this book back was terminology, I didn't understand half of it and it wasn't explained. I felt as though I spent more time trying to work out what was happening than actually enjoying this book. I don't think I would have read this if it hadn't have been sent to me. I do love the premise of this book, that it's two girls friendship that save the day but there wasn't much of that friendship in the book. I will be continuing with this series as I am interested to see were it goes but I don't have high hopes at all.

Also I have decided not to include a Characters section in this review as I find it really hard to explain the terminology and I felt that the characters were too similar to ones in the book and ones that existed in other books.

So that is my review of Truthwitch by Susan Dennard, please remember that these are my opinions and that I am not trying to offend anyone in anyway. You can now follow my blog by using the follow by email option and I have direct links to my Twitter, Instagram and Goodreads down the sides. If you have any business inquiries please drop me an email at itscarenzab@gmail.com

Carenza x 

February Favourites 2016| It's Carenza B

Hello!
So today I have my February Favourites post and I will say that I have a few more favourites than last month. As you guys know January was a very busy and stressful month for me, so I didn't really enjoy it that much. February was a slightly better month, but I'm still working towards making the most of each month. Without further a do, here are my February Favourites!

Beauty

I didn't have many beauty favourites this month, I'm going to be honest I'm not into beauty right now. I just am not enjoying it and that's why I don't have many favourites in this category.

Like last month I really liked the Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream, it's been helping my dry skin loads and feels really nice on. I also like the smell, it smells really fresh and floral. I have been using this most mornings before school.

The other beauty favourite I have is the Sanctuary Spa 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask. This has been helping me with my blemishes, as when it heats up it opens the pores allowing all the crap to come out. Thermal masks are really good for blemish prone skin and they only last 5 mins. I used this once a week and noticed a difference in my skin.

Books

My favourite book of the month was Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, my full review can be read here. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to get my hands on the others, also the movie looks amazing and I can't wait to see it. I never thought I'd like it as the cover use to scare me but I read it over 2 days and fell in love.

The other bookish related thing I loved are my USA editions of The Mortal Instruments, firstly please ignore the funny objects either side- they wouldn't stay up and secondly how could I say no to those covers. When I saw they had released these editions I was so happy, but then I found out they were only available in the US. I managed to get mine from eBay for £18 which is a total bargain!!  

Bits'n'Bobs

 The first Bits'n'Bobs thing I have been loving are my Harry Potter Pop! Funkos. They are these plastic figurines that originally came from Japan, but people loved them so much they brought them over here. I only have the Harry Potter ones and at the moment I have Ron, Hermione and Hagrid. I have been using them lots in my bookstagrams and when they are not being used they sit on my desk.

The second Bits'n'Bobs thing I have been loving are my Tsum Tsum, you guys probably know by now that I love Tsum Tsum. I currently have 46 in my collection but I have another 40 as good reward policies with my parents (that makes me sound like a little kid, but it's just something fun that's all). They have characters they sell all year round and they have limited collections that they release twice a month. They are sold in Disney mainly, but can be bought from Clintons and Toys R US. They range in price from £3-3.99. The ones in the photo are my favourites and they often appear in my bookstagrams.

The final Bits'n'Bobs thing I have been loving is my Instagram, I started the month with 4 followers and no idea what to post, by the end of it I had 16 followers which isn't a lot but I am happy with it. I get lots of nice people liking my photos and the occasional nice comment. My favourite thing I did last month was shoutout 9 of my favourite accounts and 4 of them liked the post and 1 of them is following me now. Being recognised in the bookish community is making me so happy and I hope one day my account is as good as the people I aspire to be like.

So that's all for this post, I hope you liked it. Leave me a comment telling me about your favourites, don't forget to follow my Instagram and Twitter (@itscarenzab) and if you have any business inquires please email me at itscarenzab@gmail.com

Carenza x

Book Review Monday- Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs| Its's Carenza B

Hello!
So today I have another Book Review Monday and today's post is all about Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I read this over two days and I honestly can't wait to get my hands on the other books in this series. I read this over half-term, while staying in London and I have to say it has been my favourite read of 2016 so far. So without further a do, here is my thoughts, feels and opinions!
Warning:
This review contains spoilers, if you have not read this book I would advise you to read it and then read my review as I don't want to spoil it for you.

Cover

Can we just take a minute to appreciate this cover? Although my use of flash makes it brighter and probably wasn't the best idea, is this not a thing of beauty? It's a photo that is featured in the book and I love how the title is in several different fonts, which makes it seem even older and more rustic looking. Also the spine looks like it should be from some old fashioned book and I can't wait to put these beauties on my shelves! 

Plot

Miss Peregrine's follows a young boy called Jacob Portman living in Florida. Jacob grew up on his grandfather Abe's crazy stories about monster and were he lived during the war (World War Two). At first Jacob believes the stories but as he grows up he realizes they are just a figment of his grandfathers imagination. The story then jumps to a now teenage Jacob, who is unhappily working in his families chain store. He suddenly receives a phone call from his panicked granddad, who now suffers from a dementia like illness, demanding where the key is. Jacob tries to reason with him, but he hangs up. Upon arriving at his grandfathers house it is clear something is wrong, and he finds a trail leading into the woods. After a short distance he finds his grandfathers mutilated corpse and he sees some monster, like the ones his grandfather use to tell him about. His grandfather begs him to go and tell "the bird" that "they found him" and he dies. After these traumatic events, Jacob is sent to a psychiatrist and has regular appointments. While clearing his grandfathers house out, he finds a box of old photos and a letter from a mysterious women called Miss Peregrine's. He then decides to head out to the island his grandfather used to tell him about, after he has persuaded his parents and psychiatrists. The island is a small one of the coast of Wales and doesn't have much to do. After making his way up through the woodland, Jacob notices someone following him and he runs after them, going through this old cave. He is then jumped by the people he chased and they take him hostage, revealing he has time traveled to 1940. He notices that they have very peculiar talents and it is revealed that these are the children his grandfather told him about. He is then taken to to the house were his grandfather lived and introduced to everyone, including Emma Bloom (who took him hostage) and Miss Peregrine. He then spends the next few days travelling between the present and 1940. When weird things begin happening in the present, it is revealed that wights (a failed peculiar experiment) are trying to kill the protectors of the peculiar's. Jacob, Emma and the other peculiar's must fight off these threats and Jacob must also make his own decision about whether he will stay with the Peculiar's or will he stay with his parents.

Characters

The first character I am going to talk about is Jacob Portman. I really like Jacob, he is a slightly cheeky teenager who will do anything to infuriate his parents. He seems to despise his parents wealth and goes out of his way to hang around with people who annoy his parents. I could tell that there was a really close bond between Jacob and his grandfather, a possibly closer bond than Jacob has with his own father and that his father had with his grandfather. I got the feeling that Jacob wasn't close to his parents and that his parents didn't really care about him. I felt really sorry for him, and could see the change him in after he became obsessed with finding the island his grandfather had told him about. I was really surprised by his decision to stay with the peculiar's but at the same time thought it was for the best.

The next character I am going to talk about is Emma Bloom. Again, I really liked Emma but it did take me a while for me to like her. At first I thought she was a bit hot-headed and arrogant, but you learn that she doesn't want to see Jacob because he looks like Abe and she and Abe were lovers. You get this immediate  sense of some kind of relationship building between her and Jacob, but you are unsure as to whether it is romantic or not. I felt that Emma was the rebellious one of the Peculiar's and that she would do anything to save them. I was surprised by how old she was, I thought she was a teenager but when you see a picture of her she must be in her twenties at least.

The final character I am going to talk about is Miss Peregrine. I have a on-off relationship with her character as at first she was really nice and she let Jacob come and go, but then she becomes more cruel and either insists he stays or leaves. You learn that this decision is because she wants to protect the peculiar's, but still it's a bit harsh seeing as Jacob has only just discovered this world and he needs to get use to it. I am intrigued to see where her character goes as at the end of the book, she is stuck  as a bird.

Opinion

I am going to be 100% honest, I didn't want to read this book when my mum bought it in August. I thought it would be creepy and horrid and give me nightmares, but I was just judging it by its cover. It wasn't until I saw Jessethereader (Jesse) rave about it on his channel that I decided to pick it up. I really enjoyed it and found that I couldn't  put it down, and this is very rare that I will find a book like this. I really liked his writing style and found it so interesting that he came up with lots of the ideas from old photos. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy and I hope he brings out more books, Ransom I need more books! I also believe that it's being made it to a movie but I'm not 100% sure.

So those were my thoughts, feels and opinions on Miss Peregrine's. If you have read this book, please leave a comment down below telling me what you thought. Don't forget you can follow my blog by clicking the follow button. Also don't forget to follow my Instagram and Twitter (@itscarenzab), and if you have any business inquires please email me at itscarenzab@gmail.com
Carenza x    

Bookstagram Tips| It's Carenza B

Hello!
So today I have something a bit different, as you may know I have changed my blog and other social medias to be focused on books. I am really glad I have done this and I have been getting some great feedback on my Twitter and Instagram, and because of this I thought I'd share with you some of my personal tips on how to start/ improve your bookstagram account, enjoy!

Tip 1) Post photos of books you love/ have read

This is probably one of the most important tips I can give you as if you don't like what you are posting, there is absolutely no point posting it. Take photos of the books you love and have read so you can discuss with people why you love them. The bookstagram community is so lovely and everyone is there because they love books, so you will most likely meet someone who is passionate about that book and will want to discuss with you. So if you haven't read the book, then you are going to look like a bit of an idiot when you have no clue what you are talking about.

Tip 2) Use props- these can be anything  

Most bookstagrammers use props to enhance there photos and this is rightly so because of a picture of a book by itself can be quite boring and if everyone did this, it wouldn't be as interesting. So use props and don't worry, you don't have to spend anything. These can be household objects like candles, mantelpiece ornaments, fairy lights, soft toys etc! You do not have to spend lots of money on fancy props, but if you want to you can. I use fairy lights in my photos and in my Harry Potter posts, I use my Pop Funkos, which I collect anyway. I also use my Tsum Tsums as they just add a little something to a photo. But before you leap into the world of props, do a bit of research as to what everyone else is using to see if you can make your unique.

Tip 3) Join in with other bookstagrammers

If you want to take part in something make sure that other people know you. Follow lots of different bookstagrammers to see what's hot and what's not. Like and comment regularly on people's posts, this shows that you are interested and that you want to be a part of the community, also you never know when they might spot you.

Tip 4) Use appropriate hashtags

This is crucial if you want to get your photos noticed, every time you post use a certain amount of hashtags in a separate comment. By posting them in a separate comment, you aren't adding to what they have to read. I usually post two comments with hashtags, one specific to the photo the other, using generic bookstagram hashtags. Now you may be wondering in this works and I can confirm it does, I have received a lot more likes since I started using hashtags.

Tip 5) A little bit of editing can go a long way

Editing can do a photo a whole lot a good, it can enhance it to make it look super good. I use my iPad to take all my instagram photos and I then edit it to make it look more like it was taken with a camera. I just bump up the highlights and shadows, make it a bit warmer and bobs your uncle, you have a good looking photo.

Tip 6) Interact with followers

By interacting with the people who follow you, it makes you seem more approachable. I follow every single person who follows me as a little thank you for following me. If they comment on your posts, reply and tell them how much it means to you. But on the negative side, keep an eye out for inactive followers or people who are following you just so they can gain followers.

Tip 7) Do appreciation posts

By appreciating fellow bookstagrammers, it shows how much you love the community but it also helps you get noticed. I posted an appreciation post recently and it is my most liked photo, with 4 of the 9 people I tagged in it liking it.  Appreciation posts also make those who you are tagging know that you enjoy there posts and it can make peoples days.

Tip 8) The basics- name, bio and schedule

Name- when it comes to choosing a name, keep it simple. I had already chosen my name before I started bookstagramming so my name doesn't really relate to my account but then several bookstagrammers have done that also. Don't stress over the name, pick something that you like and shows that you have an interest in books.
Bio- again, keep it simple. Mine at the moment isn't simple as my instagram is playing up, but an ideal bio is something like: Small statement about yourself (around 4 words), other social media handles, currently reading and business email. That is all you need.
Schedule- when it comes to posting, stick to a schedule. I post 1-3 times a day, usually in the evenings after school. Once you have found a schedule you like and works for you, stick to it. This means your followers will be anticipating your next post.

So that's everything so far that I have to say on bookstagram, I hoped you like this post and let me know if you want more. Don't forget to follow me on instagram and twitter (@itscarenzab) and if you have any questions please feel free to email me on my business email itscarenzab@gmail.com
Carenza x

January Update 2016| It's Carenza B

Hello!
So today I have a bit of a different post, I have decided to update you guys on how my New Years Resolutions are going every month. I am doing this so I can look back on it later but also so I can track my progress. I think you guys might like these posts as they are a bit more personal than my other posts.
Enjoy!

1) Be more organised i.e be more tidy
This one is a work in progress. I would say that I have become more organised with things like planning blog posts, writing in my various diaries and calendars what I'm up to. But when it comes to being tidy, it isn't going to plan. I have been stupidly busy with school based commitments so tidying just got pushed further and further to one side. I also had some personal problems to deal with that meant I didn't have time to tidy. I have also been planning out what I am going to revise each night.

2) Be more confident
This one varies at times. I feel though at times I am a lot more confident but others I tend to be quite shy. Throughout January I feel as though I was a lot more on the shy side of things and that I didn't open up a lot. I am going to try and be more confident this month and I'll update you next month as to how things went.

3) To get fit and feel happy with my body i.e drink more water
This one was going really well. For two weeks straight I exercised every morning before school and I began to notice a difference. I could push myself further and I felt that I could stay awake a lot longer, that I was more alert in lessons. But then things happened and I stopped exercising, I plan to start exercising again after the half term holidays. I also drank more (water and fruit juice), I noticed that I didn't get headaches as much as I normally do.

4) Study more often
This one has not happened at all. I have been procrastinating really badly and because of this I have downloaded this amazing app called Forest which blocks apps while you study. I have started to plan what revision I am going to do every night. If any of you know an app or something for windows laptops that blocks certain websites while your on your laptop, please let me know. It is quite scary to think that 12 weeks on Monday (22/2/16) I start my GCSE's.

5) Do more of what makes me HAPPY
I think that this one has taken over the previous one. I am glad I am doing things that make me happy but I think I need to do more studying as once I finish my exams in June, I have around 12 weeks holiday before I start school again. I am going to try and balance fun and studying more.

6) Write and read more
This one didn't really happen in January, I only read two books in January and did a little bit of writing that wasn't blog post writing. I plan on doing a small bit of writing every now and then as I am enjoying it lots.

I hope you enjoyed this update type post and please let me know if you would like more. Don't forget to follow my blog and my Twitter and Instagram- @itscarenzab. I am so close to 30 followers on Twitter but I only have 4 on my Instagram. I also have a business email if you have any requests, which is itscarenzab@gmail.com.
Carenza x   

Book Review Monday- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard| It's Carenza B

Hello!

Today I am sharing with you guys my second Book Review Monday, this time I'm talking about Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. As the second book in this series has just come, I think it's only fitting to talk about the first book. If you have any requests for books for me to review, please let me know as I don't have a book to review for the next Book Review Monday, which will be going up on the 29/02/2016. Anyway, here is my review of Red Queen!
Enjoy!

Cover

Like the last two Book Reviews I have posted, I love the cover! If you didn't know, I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover and white covers are my favourite. I love the bold red writing, and the blood dripping down from the upside crown. I think the covers for this series are amazing and love seeing them lined up on my bookshelves.

Plot

I will  try and make this as spoil free as I can but I would advise reading the book first before you read these posts. The story is set in a world were common Reds like Mare Barrow are undermined and ruled by superpower possessing Silvers. When Mare is cornered by Silvers and threatened, it is revealed that she has powers. The Silvers panic and to cover her up, announce she is a long lost heiress and she is entered into a competition to win one of the hands of the Royal Princes,  heir to the throne of Norta Prince Tiberias (known as Cal) and his younger brother Prince Maven. While settling in to life in the castle, Mare is approached by her old friend Kilorn Warren, he has been called up to fight but he thinks he has found a way out by joining a rebel group led by a women called Farley. The story follows Mare as she learns to control her powers and sees her grow close to both of the Princes.

Characters

The first character I am going to talk about is Mare Barrow. Mare is a 17 year old Red, the second youngest in her family, she struggles to support her family. All of her older brothers have been sent to the war and her sister works in a sewing factory. Mare is protecting her sisters when her powers are revealed and because of this her sisters arm is broken. Mare is strong, fierce and independent. She is use to looking out for herself and hates living in the palace. She finds life very different and difficult from what she is use to, but she finds a friend in Cal.

The next character I am going to talk about is Cal, Cal is slightly older than Mare. Unlike the rest of his family, Cal enjoys walking around the Red part of town, and isn't as formal as the rest of his family. The first time he meets Mare is before she has discovered her powers, he was nice to her and seemed to see something in her.

The final character I am going to talk about is Maven. Cal's younger brother and Mare's fiancee, he is young and hotheaded. He is kind to Mare like his brother, but is very rash and turns out he's not as nice as he looks.

Opinions

I love this book and can't wait to get my hands on the second book, Glass Sword. I love the way it's been written and her characters are brilliant. Mare is such a feisty and independent person, it's hard not to love her. You also get to know how hard it is to survive in that world and I hope the next book finishes a lot of unanswered questions.

So that concludes my book review for Red Queen, I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think of Red Queen and if you have read Glass Sword, please no spoilers! I'm waiting for it to come out in paperback. Don't forget to follow my blog, and my Instagram and Twitter, my username for both is @itscarenzab. If you have any business inquires, please email me at itscarenzab@gmail.com.
Carenza x    

January Favourites 2016| It's Carenza B

Hello!
Today I have another favourites for you, but this one is my first of 2016! January was a very busy and emotional month for me, so I don't have too many favourites. I barely read anything and didn't really try anything new, so this post might be very short! I hope you guys like it though!

Beauty

Left to Right:
Maybelline New York Baby Lips in Peach Kiss,
Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream,
Etre Belle Golden Skin Caviar Eye Gel Roll On

The first beauty product I liked in January was one of my two Baby Lips, this one is Peach Kiss. It's a very subtle nude that makes the lips a bit shiny and smells like peaches. I have been loving putting this on first thing in the morning and before I go to bed, it makes my lips feel super soft as they have been really dry because of the awful weather we have here in the UK. I would highly recommend Baby Lips as they do their job really well and are affordable.

The next beauty product I enjoyed using was the Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream, this stuff makes my skin feel really good. I don't know if I have said this before but I have super dry and sensitive skin, and this stuff makes my skin feel nice. It doesn't give me an allergic reaction like some products do and doesn't make me look like a tomato from being red in the face. I love the Vitamin E range and have loads of products from it, I highly recommend it!

Finally I have a favourite eye product and this one is the Etre Bell Golden Skin Caviar Eye Gel Roll On. This was in the December Glossybox, so this has been thoroughly tested and I have noticed a massive difference in my under-eye bags. I think that I have really noticeable dark circles under my eyes and it is something I hate with a passion, so finding a product that helps this is a massive relief. However this product is pricey, it's around £30 so I am going to have to find  a cheaper alternative! 

 Books

I didn't get round to reading many books this month and if you do want to know what I read, click here to be taken to my January Wrap Up and TBR post!

Girl Online On Tour by Zoe Sugg (Zoella)

I really enjoyed reading Girl Online On Tour and was really interested to see where she took the characters after her first book. I will admit I was a bit skeptical about reading this book as contemporary books aren't my favourite, but I was pleasantly surprised. I do go into more detail on the post I linked above, so go check that out!

Bits'n'Bobs

I only have two random favourites for the month of January and you can wear both of them.

My first random favourite is a Christmas present I got from my parents , it's this cat watch they got from notonthehighstreet.com. I know it's from their because I put it on my Christmas wishlist. I have worn this pretty much every day and I love how comfy it is. It's also super cute because it's a cat!!

 The next thing I have loved is this black and red checkered shirt from New Look. It's super slouchy and cosy, I really like that it's longer at the back. I love the New Look checkered shirts, all bar one of mine are from there and I get so much love out of them! They are really good quality!

So that concludes my January Favourites, I hope you liked it. Leave a comment saying what your favourites more and I'll chat to you in the comments. Don't forget to follow my blog and other social medias like Twitter and Instagram (@itscarenzab). I got a notification the other day informing me that I now have over 25 followers on Twitter which is insane. If you have any business type things, please email me on itscarenzab@gmail.com.
Carenza x

Book Review Monday- The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen| It's Carenza B

Hello!

So today I have another book review, but unlike my Throne of Glass review this review is part of my Book Review Monday series. As you can probably tell, I am really into books at the moment and want to share some of the amazing books I have read. I hope you guys like this review and I would love it if you left some constructive feedback, don't forget to follow my blog and my twitter and Instagram (@itscarenzab). Enjoy!

Cover

I really like the cover for this book, I think it makes you think what the book is about without giving it away. I love the use of red on the cover as it can symbolise danger but it might just be a pop closer, I really like that the metal object (I can't remember what it's called!) looks like a crown.  

Plot

Again I am going to try and make this as spoil free as I can but if you want to read this/are reading this, I would advise you to read the book first. The plot follows the life of Kelsea Raeleigh Glynn, who just turned 19 and the royal guards have turned up at her door. Turns out she's the Queen of a land called the Tearling, who have suffered greatly while she has been in hiding under her mothers orders. She has to travel very far to get to her kingdom and the journey proves to be treacherous. Upon her arrival to the kingdom, she makes some rash decisions and angers the enemy of the Tearling. The rest of the book follows her decisions and how they affect everyone else in the kingdom. 

Characters

The first character I am going to talk about is Kelsea Raeleigh Glynn, the Queen of the Tearling. I have to say that I have a love- hate relationship with Kelsea. There are parts of her that I like, for example that she stands up for what she believes in and is able to defend herself, but some of her actions are very rash and in my opinion very stupid. Some of the things she does affect lots of people and in my opinion causes more problems than before. At the start I found her very whinny and stuck up, but she has grown on me.

The next character I am going to talk about is Lazarus (The Mace). One of the members of the Royal Guard under Kelsea's mother, he is wise and has a reputation. Again he makes very rash decisions and often goes against Kelsea, but he means her well at heart. I have to say I like Lazarus as he becomes a father figure to Kelsea and he seems to be able to calm Kelsea down.

Finally I am going to talk about one of the "baddies" in this book, The Regent- Thomas who is her uncle. While Kelsea has been in hiding, Thomas has been ruling but has been a debauched puppet of the elusive Red Queen. He is a really nasty person and means to hurt Kelsea, he wants the power for himself and his puppeteer.  

Opinions

I have to say that this book was a disappointment, the beginning was really sluggish and the end just seemed really weak. I haven't got the sequel, but am looking forward to reading it to see if it picks up. I just couldn't get into this book and felt it was boring. I have to say my favourite bit was when they were in the library and mentioned current existing books as being classics, that scene touched me. Apart from that scene, I wasn't too impressed by the world it was set in.

So that concludes my review of The Queen of the Tearling, I hoped you liked it and remember all the opinions stated are my own. Let me know if there are any books you want me to review for the next Book Review Monday, which takes place every other week. If you have any business related questions, please feel free to email me on my business email- itscarenzab@gmail.com Let me know what your opinions are of this book and we can chat in the comments.

Carenza x   

Best Places to Buy Books Cheap| It's Carenza B

Hello!
So today I have another book themed post but today I thought I'd share some advice I have learnt from being a book hoarder. I feel that I have learnt were to buy good cheap books and I thought I'd share it with you guys. Also when this post goes live, my blog will have been viewed more than 1000 times which is insane. I couldn't believe it when I checked it this morning! It would mean so much to me if you guys followed my blog so you can be notified when I post, but without further a do here is the post! Enjoy!

The first place to buy good cheap books are Charity Shops and Second hand book shops, this may seem obvious but seriously you get some epic book deals. The best time to get books is sadly when the shop is shutting down and they are trying to get rid of there stock. Before Christmas, my mum and I went to a charity shop that was closing down, and we got 4 books for £1. I do feel sorry that these shops were shutting but the money goes to a good cause and you get books for donating money. I would also recommend giving any old books to charity shops as you don't know who could get joy out of them.

The next place to buy good cheap books is the Works, now I know that this is a thing in the UK but I'm not sure were else it is. The Works is amazing for book deals, I got the Maze Runner series reduced to £9.99 for £34.99! I saved £25, which is insane. You can also get some good 2 for £10 deals as well, but these tend to be for trilogy's. If you live in the UK and are on a book budget, hit The Works and you will walk away with some series deals that won't damage your bank balance!

Finally, we have Amazon. Amazon is great for buying books as once the book has been out for a while, they will take the price down to get it to sell. I bought The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire direct from the Dan and Phil shop and is cost me £18 but on Amazon it cost around £10! If you are wanting to buy a Youtube/ Blogger book don't buy through there website as it will cost a fortune. Amazon often have sales and books are often reduced in them, I got the new Harry Potter illustrated book for £15, which was half price!

So that is the post for today, sorry it's a bit short and different, I've  had a very long week! I hope you liked it and leave a comment saying were you get good cheap books, don't forget to follow my Instagram and Twitter (@itscarenzab). If you have any requests, please email me on my Business Email- itscarenzab@gmail.com. I hope you have enjoyed the posts I have uploaded this month, I have really enjoyed it and have had so much fun writing them. I have lots of fun posts planned for February!
Carenza x   

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass Review| It's Carenza B

Hello!
So if you didn't read my birthday book haul, then you won't know that I bought Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. Anyway, 2 months later I finally got round to picking it up and reading it. I instantly fell in love, it was a brilliant read and had me hooked from the start. I think I finished it about a month ago*, which isn't as fast as I would usually read a book. I have even pushed Harry Potter to one side so I can read this series, and I'm glad I did. If you haven't read it, then I urge you to do so as it is a bloody good read! So without further a do, here is my review!

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram then you'll know I want to start a book review series, this post is kind of a trial post to see if you guys like it. Also I want to clarify that this review will be as spoil free as I can make it.

* I read this in October and planned to put it up in November/December, but I became super busy so I had to push it back to January so in real fact when this goes up it will have been around 3 months since I read it*

Cover Design

So it seems only right to start with the cover as that is the first thing you see when picking up a book, now I know it's wrong to judge a book by its cover but this cover is beautiful! Just look at it! The title is embossed with silver lettering, and the blue glow around the girl on the cover. I love how it is on a white background as it makes the title stand out and go "look at me!". Overall, I rate the cover 5/5.

Blurb

Not only is the front cover beyond beautiful, the blurb is too! It's the same girl as the front but from the back. Instead of being dressed in combat gear she is dressed in this beautiful dress. I love the pale blue tint to the image and how it makes her look like she is glowing.

Plot

OMG, the plot. How do I even began to describe the plot without ruining it?? The plot follows the life of Celaena Sardothien, an 18 year old assassin in the fictional kingdom of Adarlan. After a year in a slave camp, Celaena finds herself in front of the prince who offers her freedom by competing to become the Kings assassin. As the only female in the competition, she finds herself up against an assortment of criminals. During her time in the palace Celaena becomes close with the Captain of the royal Guard, Chaol and the crown prince, Dorian. As she makes her way through the competition, several fellow criminals are mysteriously wind up being killed in the most brutal way. Celaena must now survive the attacks and the competition. Not only must she survive being attacked, she must figure out who her heart belongs to and pick one of two dashing men who care about her deeply.

Characters 

 In a Throne of Glass there are lots of lovable characters that you meet and get to know as the books go on. I am going to tell you some of my favourites and some I think you need to know about. Obviously, I have to talk about Celaena. Celaena, in my opinion, is the queen of bad-asses. I absolutely love her, in a competition dominated by men she manages to shine and overcome them. There have been lots of traumas in her past that have made her who she is and this adds to her personality. Although she finds the competition hard and hates the idea of working for the king, she manages to persevere in order to gain her freedom. I love books with strong female characters and this has easily become one of my fave book series ever. She doesn't let anything stop her and works for what she wants not what others want.

The next character I want to talk about is Chaol Westfall, he is the Captain of the Kings guard and is really young for his position. Throughout the book you learn reasons why he is the Captain and things about his past. At first I wasn't to keen on him and saw him as a bit of a thug, but you soon come to realise that he cares deeply for Celaena and Dorian, who I will talk about next. You also learn that he works well with Celaena even though they fight a lot at first, he takes great interest in her training throughout the competition.

Next we have Dorian Havilliard, Crown Prince of Ardalan. Again, like Chaol I wasn't wowed over by him, seeing him as an arrogant prince. At the beginning of the book you learn that Dorian is a bit of a player with the ladies and has a reputation for it.But as you get to know him, you discover that he's actually a kind person. Unlike his little brother, he is a lot more docile and also takes part in Official Court based things. Like Chaol, he also cares for Celaena and does have romantic feelings for her.

Finally I am going to talk about Princess Nehemia from Ellywe. Nehemia is a strong-willed person who refuses to let people look down on her. While staying in the castle, she pretends she can't speak the native language and speaks in her own native language. Luckily Celaena speaks Nehemia's natural language and the two become friends. I love Nehemia as she supports Celaena and speaks her mind openly.

Opinion

As you can probably tell, I love this book and am currently reading the fourth one in the series. I am actually sad that I have caught up with the series as now I have to wait ages to read the last two books and the prequel novellas. The reason I love this story is that Celaena started of bad and chose to take part in the competition for her own benefits rather than others. I feel that a lot of books like this start with something happening to the protagonist and this forces them to become involved in the magical/ dystopian world they live in. I love the idea behind the series as well, which is basically a retelling of Cinderella but instead of being sweet and innocent, Cinderella is an assassin. Also you have some truly vile characters in this book who are out for their own gain.

I highly recommend that you guys read this series as I think it's amazing and I wouldn't be reviewing it if I didn't like it. Please let me know if you like this type of post and want more like this for my Book Review Monday series. As I said at the beginning this is a trial post so I would find it super helpful if I was given some critical/ constructive feedback. Don't forget to follow my blog and follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@itscarenzab), I have started posting daily book themed posts which need some love. If you have any post requests or business inquires please email me at itscarenzab@gmail.com
Carenza x     

New Look Haul 2016| It's Carenza B

Hello!

So I have another haul for you guys but unlike my previous post, this one is about clothing. On Boxing Day (the day after Christmas in the UK) I went shopping to New Look and picked up quite a few pieces. I will say that there is a theme of Jumpers and Burgundy.

The first thing I picked up was this over-sized checkered shirt. It's in this really nice black and red combo, and has the weird things that can keep your sleeves up so they don't fall down. Although this item wasn't in the sale, safe to say I am in love.

Next I picked up this Burgundy and Black checkered shirt dress. Again this item wasn't in the sale, but I love it so much. It comes down to just above the knee and I love the belt that comes with it. 

I also picked up this over-sized Burgundy cardigan which was in the sale. It is a really deep purple-red and is so massive. I really rate New Look cardigans as they are so soft and just amazing quality.

Similar to the Burgundy checkered shirt dress, I picked one up in a green and blue pattern. This one is slightly softer than the other one and slightly shorter. This was also in the sale. 

Next I picked up this black mock neck ribbed jumper. It has a front that is shorter than the back, I really like this, but the sleeves are really tight but that could be because it needs to be washed before it is worn, this was also in the sale. 

I also picked up this long grey mock neck jumper, I love jumpers. I just love wearing them on lazy days and they just go with everything. New Look does amazing jumpers and they last for so long. This was also in the sale. 

Similar to the previous item, I bought this thick mock neck burgundy jumper. As you guys can probably tell I that I am loving jumpers. This jumper is slightly  shorter than the previous one and a lot thicker, as you can probably guess this item was in the sale.

Next I got this thin mock neck burgundy jumper, I would say that this one is more of a "I've put this on because I can't decide  what to wear". It has three quarter length sleeves and is slightly longer than the previous one, again this item was in the sale.  

Next I bought this thick mock new jumper in burgundy and black, you can probably tell that my favourite colour is burgundy. It is super thick and cosy, I love paring this with jeans or leggings, yet again this item was in the sale,  

Next I got this jumper dress with a massive turtle neck in Navy. This is such a comfy thing to wear and I love the idea that it's a jumper and a dress. I really like the neck on this jumper as it keeps your neck super warm, again it's a sale item.

The last thing I have a photo of is this jumper dress style thing in burgundy. I wore this on New Years Eve and it is super comfy. I just love everything about it and just want one in every colour possible, again a sale item.

I also bought a black A-Line corduroy skirt, but completely forgot to take a photo of it! I have worn it loads and saw one in burgundy in the sale but they didn't have it in my size, this item was not in the sale but I love it and can't wait to wear it loads.

So those were the items I bought in the Christmas sales, I hope you enjoyed it. Leave me a comment if you bought anything in the sales. Don't forget to follow my blog and my Instagram and Twitter (@itscarenzab), as I have started posted more often and about books. In case you haven't noticed I am moving away from beauty blogging to book blogging and hope to start a new series were I review books every other Monday starting Monday 1st February. If you have any inquires or requests email me on my business email itscarenzab@gmail.com

Carenza x   

Book Haul 2016| It's Carenza B

Hello!

So while I was on holiday over the Christmas Break, there were lots of sales in lots of book shops and this means I spent more money on more books. Its got to the point were I have had to ban myself from buying any new books for a while because my bookshelf is full. This is going to be so hard as there are loads of new books coming out that I am going to have to get myself, but anyway I bought too many books and I thought I'd share it with you.

The first series I picked up is the Percy Jackson series which consists of 5 books but as I already had the first book I plan to give the brand new copy to a charity shop at some point. I loved the first book and have had it for about 2 years. The series follows a boy called Percy Jackson who has had a troubled upbringing. When his maths teacher attacks him and turns into a strange creature it is revealed that he is the son of Poseidon Greek God of the Sea. The series follows his various adventures and dangers he encounters with his friends. This set should have cost me £34.95 from the Works but in their sale it cost me £10.00!   

The next series I picked up from the Works is a series I had never heard of but it had a sticker on saying perfect for fans of Divergent and the Hunger Games. It is the Legend series by Marie Lu, the series follows a boy called Day and a girl called June. Day is 15 years old and is the country's most wanted criminal and June is a prodigy who scored a perfect 1500 on the Trial to see who can enter the army. June's first mission is to track down Day after he killed her brother. I got this as part of a 2 for £10 deal at the Works.

The next Series I picked up was The Maze Runner series, now if you have read my Birthday Book Haul, which you can read here, you will know that I already have the first book in this series but when I saw that the series had been reduced from £31.96 to £9.99 I couldn't resist. Now many of you will probably have seen the movies but this is what I have gathered the series is about. The series follows a boy called Thomas who wakes up in a mysterious place called The Glade with no memory other than his name, he then meets some other people in this mysterious place and they have to try and escape. I want to read the series before I see the movies so this series is very high on my growing TBR pile.

The next series I got was The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by by Maggie Stiefvater. The series follows two people. a human girl called Grace and a wolf boy called Sam. After Sam saves Grace from the Wolves, Grace begins to watch out for "Her Wolf". One day Sam turns up at Grace's house after being shot. Grace nurses him back to health and allows him to stay in her room. The two soon fall in love and begin to search for a cure for Sam. I got this as part of a 2 for £10 deal along with the Legend Series from the Works.

The next two books I got are Harry Potter themed. I saw both of these in WH Smiths and bought one and waited to get the other.

The first book I got was the official Harry Potter Colouring Book. After seeing this book all over Bookstagram, I knew I had to pick it up. You guys know I love Harry Potter so this book was a self explanatory purchase.

The other book I got was the new Illustrated Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Holy crap, these illustrations are amazing. I posted on my Instagram that I love this book and included a snippet of some of the images. I got this on Amazon after seeing that it would cost half the amount that they were selling it in WH Smiths.

The next two books were books that I got for Christmas from my parents.

The first book I got was called Street Photography Now. If you haven't read my Best of Bits'n'Bobs 2015, which you can read here, then you won't know that I have been loving Photography. I have been enjoying picking this up and flicking through it. I love taking quirky photos and this has really opened my eye.

The next book I got is a book I have got every year for the last 10 years, and this is the Doctor Who annual. I come from a family of Doctor Who lovers and am not gonna deny that I love the show. I have a huge section of my bookshelves but to be honest I don't mind as I love the show so much. My favourite Doctor (from the revival) is David Tennant and my favourite companion is Catherine Tate who played Donna Noble.

Finally the last two books I got are from the Throne of Glass Series.

The first book is the 4th book in the series and is called Queen of Shadows. As I plan to review the series in my new feature called Book Review Monday, I will not be going in to detail about the series. My Throne of Glass Review should be going up on the 22nd January, so keep your eyes peeled.

The next book is the prequel to the series and is a series of novellas. It is called The Assassins Blade and features 5 stories pre- Throne of Glass. I am really looking forward to it and have been informed that I will cry while reading it. I love the cover for this series and can't wait for the other two books to come out.

I would also like to add that I got Girl Online On Tour by Zoe Sugg (aka Zoella) and I posted a photo of it on my Instagram, but when I was getting it down to move some books near it I damaged it. It isn't major but it is annoying as I have only had it for 5 days. But hey ho, I can still read it. If you would like me to review it please let me know.

So those were the books I got at the end of last year/ the beginning of this year. If you enjoyed this post, let me know by leaving me a comment. In case you hadn't noticed I am moving away from beauty blogging to book blogging. I will still be posting beauty related posts but from now on expect more book themed posts. Don't forget to follow my blog by clicking the follow button and you can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram @itscarenzab. If you have any post requests or business based questions, please feel free to email me at itscarenzab@gmail.com.

Carenza x   

Best of Bits'n'Bobs 2015| It's Carenza B

Hello!

Welcome to the final post in my "best of" series, in my last two posts I discussed beauty and books, and today I am going to talk about bits'n'bobs. This post is about the random things I loved in 2015 and I hope you enjoy!

First I want to talk about things I haven't got photos for and they are the new Star Wars Movie and Photography.

Let's start with Star Wars. When it was announced that there was going to be a new Star Wars movie, the world went crazy. I have been brought up by Star Wars lovers and have seen all of the 6 movies. I was very excited to see the new movies and it lived up to my hope. I will not say anything about the plot as I don't want to spoil it for you as someone spoiled it for me. If you love sci-fi and even if you don't this was my favourite movie of 2015, even though I saw it in the last week of 2015.

Next I want to talk about Photography. I have found that over the year I have become more and more interested in photography. I love taking photos and I have found that since I started blogging I have been thinking more about how to make the photos more natural looking and to make sure that they are set out in a nice way. I just love the fact that I can capture a moment in time forever and be able to look back and see what I saw when I took the photo all those years ago.

I want to talk about scarfs. 2015 saw my love for scarfs grow and made me realise that I can't go a day without wearing scarfs. Not only do they look nice, they keep your neck warm. A fashion item with a purpose. My two favourites have been my grey snood from New Look and my massive checkered one from Miss Selfridges. The Miss Selfridges definitely got more love than the New Look one as it's slightly warmer and can also double up as a blanket in car/ train journeys.   

Next we have my trusty Q and A book that I got in August. I love it. I have found that I can reflect on my day and I really enjoy going back and reading old ones.  The premise of the book is you get one question for every day and you answer that question 5 times over 5 years. The only time it's a negative is in the new year and you're still writing last years date and making it messy, but that's not the books fault. I can't wait to finish it and look back on 5+ years worth of change.

Finally, we have my favourite Bits'n'Bobs of the year and these are Disney's Tsum Tsum. Originating in Japan, they took Disney lovers by storm. They have there generic collection, which are sold all year round and then twice every month they release limited addition collections. So far collections have included The Nightmare Before Christmas, Avengers, Cinderella, Aladdin, Snow White, Toy Story, Big Hero Six, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland and many more. You tend to get more collections if you live somewhere like the US or Japan. This months collections are Lion King and Guardians of the Galaxy. I just love them because they're so cute and you can play with them. Not gonna lie, I buy these for the inner 4 year old within me who loves Disney and all things cute.

So those were my 2015 Bits'n'Bobs favourites and thus concludes my Best of Series for this year. If you would like to see another one of these, please let me know and also let me know which out of the three was your favourite. I think mine was the books. Don't forget to follow my blog and also follow me on Instagram and Twitter @itscarenzab. If you have any business inquires please email me on my business email itscarenzab@gmail.com.

Carenza x 

Best of Books 2015| It's Carenza B

Hello!
Welcome to the second post in a series I'm calling "Best of", in which I look back at things that I loved in 2015. This one is all about books and which were my favourite books of this year. Since the start of this year I have read so many new books and re-read old favourites, but somehow I managed narrow it down to my top 5 books/ series of 2015. Enjoy!

These books are in no particular order other than when I grabbed them of my shelf to take there photos.

First we have Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, I read this in July after seeing so many book-tubers hype it and it rightly deserves the hype. The story takes place in a fictional world of Norta, were the people are divided by class- your either a common Red like Mare or a powerful Silver like Prince Tiberias (who is called Cal). Without giving too much away, in the society the Silvers have special powers and when pressured it is revealed that Mare has powers. The book follows her journey about learning to control her powers and surviving in the royal palace. I can't wait to read the second book, Glass Sword when it comes out this year.

 Next we have a classic, around the end of  July I started to re-read the Harry Potter series. I don't think I need to explain the plot of Harry Potter and if you don't know it, go read it. I grew up reading and listening to the books and waiting for the films to come out. We had this rule in my house hold that I wasn't allowed to watch the movie until I had read the book, I ended up seeing the last three movies in the cinema and having to watch the rest on DVD. I love Harry Potter and I have lots of fond memories about it. I tend to re-read it at least once a year to refresh my mind and I find that every time I read it I learn something new.

Next we have a very hyped up book and that is The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire by Dan Howell and Phil Lester aka danisnotonfire and amazingphil. This book was massively hyped up in the YouTube world and in my opinion, the hype was unnecessary. Don't get me wrong I liked the book but it wasn't my favourite book I read in 2015. There are bits that are funny and there are loads of pictures, it is basically another part of the world of Dan and Phil.

The next series I want to talk about is the Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Sthol, this was the first series I started book blogging about. I love it, it follows the story of Ethan Wate, a seemingly normal boy and a girl called Lena Duchannes. Lena is the niece of the towns reclusive and when she arrives at Gatlin School, things start going weird. It turns out that she is a witch (Caster) and on her 16th birthday she will claimed for the light or the dark. The series follows their relationship and how they overcome everything in their path. This is probably my second favourite series of the year.   

And finally we have my favourite series of the year which was the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J Mass. This is beyond superb. The series follows an assassin called Celaena Sardothien in the Kingdom of Adarlan. She is summoned to the palace to take place in a competition to become the Royal Assassin. The story follows her journey through the competition and her getting used to her freedom. I don't want to give too much away as I plan to review the book, which should be going up at the end of this month.    

So those were my top 5 books of 2015, leave a comment saying what your favourite books are and maybe we can all get some good recommendations. Don't forget to follow me on instagram and twitter @itscarenzab. You can also follow my blog by clicking follow, if you have any post requests please feel free to email me on my business email itscarenzab@gmail.com.

Carenza x