Showing posts with label Yearly Favorites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yearly Favorites. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

My Favorites of 2014

The brand new year has started, so here's my favorites of this past year!

Remember, my music favorites have their own post, and this year I'm doing a video about my book favorites, so you're only seeing the top book! Make sure to subscribe to my channel to see me post it this coming Wednesday!


BOOK


Batman: Night of the Owls
I'll go into more detail in my video, but basically I became a Batman fanatic this year, and it's all thanks to this amazing book. Nothing topped it, and it's remained at number one since May.


MOVIES


The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Sitting at Number 1 once again is The Hobbit, with the last trip into Middle Earth, The Battle of the Five Armies. It's beautiful, it's powerful, it's sad. I love it. I laughed, I cried, and BOY did my heart get ripped out.



Captain America: The Winter Soldier
This is perhaps my favorite Marvel film so far. It also rips your heart out, has enough hilarity to keep the film from being too dark, and tons of awesome action. Steve steps it up in this one.



Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
You wanna talk about getting your heart ripped out? Watch this film. We enter an alternate universe and BOY is it messed up. Best part? Batman cries. Only time in canon. EVER.


TV SHOWS


Girl Meets World
This wouldn't have sat at number one if we didn't have the Christmas special. But we did. And MAN! This show is AWESOME! We battle bullying, ignoring those of a lesser station, messed up family dynamics, honesty, and then, in the last episode for Christmas, see how it connects with Boy Meets World. I'm DYING for the next episode, and season 1 isn't even over!!!



Sherlock
I lover this show. I may have mentioned this last year, and I've mentioned it TWICE in monthly favorites, but I LOVE THIS SHOW. Sherlock is a modern take of the old story, and it is PERFECTION. Each season (which is 3 episodes long, DANG IT) gets better and better, and each episode gets better and better!!! I adore it so much!



Gotham
Now I'm WAY behind on Arrow (one and half seasons, anyone?) but I'm up to date on this AMAZING take on Batman. Now, the movies tend to be lacking in the accuracy department, but Arrow is so well done, I had to check this show out. I'M SO GLAD I DID. It's phenomenal, and like Girl Meets World, it's just getting started!!!


VIDEOS

(there's 5 so stay with me)


Always - #LikeAGirl
This video is powerful. It asks a big question: why is "like a girl" an insult? I love that this makes me think about it.



Maysoon Zayid - I Got 99 Problems... Palsy is Just 1
This video is a long one, so be ready for it, but it's worth a watch. Maysoon talks about battling Palsy and how she doesn't let it hold her back. I love it.



Lindsey Stirling - Dragon Age
Lindsey's known for her music and her dance moves, but this video is a little different. This time it's more about the amazing special effects. I love this video and found it really amazing, despite the short length. She really oneups herself with each vid, am I right?



ThePerksOfBooks - Confessions of a Bookreader
In case you missed the memo, but I've joined up with two online communities all about books, Booklr (Tumblr) and BookTube (YouTube). This is one of the MANY BookTube videos I've discovered, but I felt this one had to be shared, because it's funny and SO ACCURATE!!! XD



Simon's Cat - The Box
I also discovered this gem. Simon is a illustrator who decided to combine the worst of his four felines into Simon's Cat. Each video is hilarious, and when I want a laugh, I have to watch one of his videos.



MAKEUP


Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream
It is rare that anything truly matches my pasty skin. I have yet to find a concealer during the winter, but THIS matches my skin right now PERFECTLY!!! It's great for when my skin's all dried out, and provides quite a bit of coverage. I just can't use moisturizer, and make sure to let it set for about 5 minutes. But once it's set, it's locked in place and lasts all day! Best thing for my whole face since Revlon's Colorstay Foundation!



Mary Kay Eyeshadow in Emerald
I actually purchased this a while ago, but never really got around to using it. This year I won a bunch of Mary Kay makeup, and it's theme was greens and purples. I got this along with another item on this list, and another eye shadow. I really found myself reaching for it over and over. I'm definitely going to be using this more in the future, though with the heavy lilac and gold shimmers in it (not pictured) it's more of a spring and summer shadow.



Maybelline's The Rocket
Okay, this came out LAST year, but I did find myself loving it. However, it's a really wet formula, so The Falsies is still my fav, but this is the only other mascara I haven't ended up hating.



Mary Kay Lipstick in Mystic Plum
This is the other Mary Kay item I mentioned earlier, and BOY do I LOVE IT! Purple lipsticks were on trend this fall and winter season, and I've actually wanted one for a while. Got this one for free and not only is a beautiful, flattering shade, but it also incredibly moisturizing. That makes it perfect for my dried out lips I battle every season.



Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover
If you saw my post about how I have NEVER found a good eye makeup remover that doesn't burn my eyes or coat them in a film of oil (SO annoying), then you should know that this stuff must be amazing. And it IS!!!! I lover it and use it all the time on my makeup. It can even get rid of that stupid strong Rocket!!!



Hada Labo Skin Plumping Gel Cream
Another thing I've had trouble with is moisturizer. My oily, acne prone skin is sensitive and practically nothing doesn't clog my pores. What doesn't affect all that tends to not moisturize, or prevent wrinkles at all. UNTIL THIS STUFF! I dunno what it's made of, but BOY does it get my wrinkles GONE! I've been battling crows feet for a while thanks to squinting in the harsh Arizona sun, but this, combined with constantly wearing glasses has made them decrease SO MUCH!!! I love this stuff, and a tiny amount mixed in with my regular moisturizer seems to do wonders for the rest of my face!


MOMENTS


Number One has GOT to be finishing Warrior! Okay, it's just a rough draft, but this is FIVE YEARS of HARD WORK and carpal tunnel right here! I'm so proud of myself!



Another highlight had to be seeing Lindsey Stirling live in concert again! I did it completely alone, and while it would've been a LOT better to see it with my friends, doing it alone really was pushing me outside of my comfort zone.
Also, note to self: NEVER go to a concert on an empty stomach again, you almost passed out.



My third and final moment: GETTING A CAR! THANK YOU RAY I LOVE YOU TO PIECES! Her parents got a new car, so they gave their old one to Ray, and she gave me hers! It's running fine now, and I love not feeling so trapped! Plus, with my new job if I get hunger I CAN GET FOOD!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW AWESOME THAT IS FOR ME!!!


PERSON


Robin Williams
Losing this amazing man was devastating for me and the rest of this country, even world wide. He was so amazing, so wonderful, and yet a mental illness took his life. I will make sure to watch his final film with a smile on my face, and probably wiping away yet more tears.


RANDOM


A Very Different Little Mermaid
Finally here's the last item, from this past month, actually. Again, right click to open it in another tab so you can read the amazing talent of this person. They change up the tragic Little Mermaid fairy tale from Hans Christian Anderson, and instead make it about Ariel finding herself and her place in this world. It's really creative and powerful, have to recommend it!


That's it! 2014 is officially over and 2015 is here. Look forward my special music post coming soon, as well as my top ten books on my BookTube Channel!

I hope you had a good year, changed for the better, and that this year will be even better!


Tuesday, December 31, 2013

My Favorites of 2013

Hey Guys!

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!

So, the new year is coming fast, but I've *finally* compiled my favs of the whole year! (There WILL be a December favorites, but I wanted to get this out of the way first).

Here's my favorites of the whole year!!!


MOVIES


The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

In case you didn't know, this is my fav movie of all time. You can read my full review here: http://lorienlobrien.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-hobbit-desolation-of-smaug-review.html


Man of Steel

If I had to choose between Thor 2 (and I did) or this one, this would come on top. It's so well done. I am NOT a Superman fan, but this movie made me one. While I loathe who they got to play Batman (Daredevil? REALLY!?) I'm going to watch it because I want to see this Superman again. And again.



Star Trek: Into Darkness

Wow. Just...WOW! OMG, this movie is so well done! Too bad a knucklehead at church thought I was a complete blockhead and totally gave away the big secret. Everyone who already knew asked me how I found  that twist. My response: I've know for a month already.
-_-+


TV SHOW


The Legend of Korra Book 2: Spirits

The best episodes in both series were in this season of Korra, and HOLY COW, were they GOOD! The latter half of the season had me on the edge of my sit, and everything I thought would happen did and didn't. So well done. SO WELL DONE!!!


BOOKS



LA Knight has come out with an amazing novel, a whole new amazing fan fic (that I was certain I would hate. LOVE IT), and more content to her amazing fanfic ONCE. But, again, if you were to say I was being biased, editing all of these and providing ideas, and knowing the majority of the plot months ahead...




...then I'd choose Percy Jackson. HATED book 1, really liked book 2, addicted by book 3. Currently waiting for Book 4 of the SECOND series to come in at the library for me :)


FASHION


My moto boots is a fav. They haven't been mentioned much, but I've worn them out 3/4 times since I bought them. LOVE them!


MAKEUP


Covergirl Lip Perfection in Hot Passion

I love this lipstick. Even after it's faded, I have a hot pink stain on underneath. Def my fav makeup product this year


HAIR


I'm almost out of this, but it's really saved my hair! Love it, and getting some more soon!


FOOD


Loft House Mini Pumpkin Cookies

I love pumpkin anything ('cept fraps and lattes), and I love cookies. When I tried them together? HEAVEN!


VIDEO



Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - Like a Broken Vessel

This video is the most powerful talk about mental health and making yourself better that I've ever heard in my life. I never felt so loved, and so understood by the leaders of my church. I bawled when I saw it the first time, and every time after. I love this talk. If you're battling depression, you MUST watch this.

To see my immediate response I wrote right after watching this the first time, read here: https://www.facebook.com/llobrien13/posts/517823241627909
If you want this posted on my blog, let me know.


MUSIC

I'm gonna have a whole blog post about this, but here's what my year on Spotify looks like


(click to enlarge and see what it says fully)

That's my favs of this year! Expect more about music in it's own post, and my December only favorites soon!

Hope you had a good year, and a better one next year!

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