Showing posts with label book blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book blog. Show all posts

Monday, May 2, 2016

Favorite Bookish Quotes Vol 1: One Last Thing Before I Go (Jonathan Tropper)

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Today’s featured book: One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper

“Mistakes have been made. It’s hard to know where to start. Things have been a mess for many years that trying to pin down a starting point is like trying to figure out where your skin starts. All you can ever really know is that it’s wrapped around you, sometimes a little tighter than you’d like.”

“The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don’t necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom is largely a function of intelligence and self-awareness, not time on your hands. But you do become very good at thinking yourself into endless loops of desperation in half the time it would take a normal person.”

“We’re all clichés, all following scripts that have been written and played out long before we landed the role.”

“The only thing worse than not having your dream come true is having it come true for a little while.”

“And ice-cream cones,’ she says. ‘What is it with you and ice-cream cones?’

He licks around the edge of his cone as he considers the question. ‘I guess no one ever eats an ice-cream cone at a funeral, or a fire. The Red Cross doesn’t drop ice-cream cones into third-world countries. If you’re eating an ice-cream cone, it’s just very hard to believe that things have gone completely to shit. That there isn’t still hope.”

“It’s hard to imagine your heart simply stopping, but at the same time, it’s hard to believe that it didn’t give up years ago.”

“This was his childhood, safe and warm and brightly lit, and being here now makes him feel like he died years ago and he’s now a lost spirit, stuck between worlds with unfinished business.”

 


Monday, March 7, 2016

Life, Lately (04) + Bookish News!

LIFELATELY

It has seriously been forever since I last posted here but life has been craaaaazy. There are days when I’m just seriously exhausted and have no time for anything else, and when I do have time I just feel like I want to eat and sleep and walk the dog (lol)…but seriously, it’s been a tiring couple of weeks.

Plus…well, I’ve also been going through a depressive phase. For a time, there were certain things I felt I had to stop (such as writing books, tbh) because I felt like it was going nowhere. I kind of felt like I wasn’t good enough. That has been playing in my head for a while and it was sad and I thought, maybe, I should stop BUT, you know…life really works in mysterious ways because just when I felt like giving up, a certain email popped up in my inbox that made me realize that sometimes, you really just have to wait, especially if you have done your part (because what would you wait for if you have not done your part, right?) and what you’re waiting for will come. I also remembered this conversation I had with a friend (Hi, Kaye!), about dreams and not giving up on your passion, because really, what would life be like if you’d give up altogether?

Well, going back to the email… it’s not exactly what I wanted, but it’s close. Imagine being one of the chosen ones (HAHA not like Harry but that would be good, too) among many (I know, cryptic, will divulge when I could but not now…). What I’m saying is, maybe this will finally lead me to what I really, really want. Maybe, it’s a test. You’ll know soon, but for now (for a taste of it), do read THIS.

And to know more about that, you can subscribe to my newsletter at: http://ift.tt/1OYdEcM

Another bookish news: you can order a copy of this compilation some of my colleagues and I made. It’s called Project TIMES: Hearts For Sale, and you could order your paperback copy here: bit.ly/HeartsForSale

Anyway, going back to other things, I’ve been walking a lot recently because #ChewytheDog loves the outside world so much lol. Still a cat lady though!

What I’ve been reading

Haven’t been reading so much, too L Except for certain articles here and there, and I’ve only read only 15 books this year (that’s a lot for some but not for me but my ADD’s really getting worse…) Most recent reads are:

  1. Rainbow Rowell – Kindred Spirits
  2. Jojo Moyes – After You
  3. Jessica Love – In Real Life
  4. OJ Simpson – If I did it (THIS MADE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH UGH)

Currently reading Marcia Clark’s Without a Doubt.

What I’ve been watching

  1. American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson. This is so good (and I’m obviously obsessed, if you could tell by what I’ve also been reading recently). It kind of inspires me to do more, do something like that (not KILL OMG but create something as artistic, and as good as that). It’s the kind of show that’s worth watching.
  2. How to Get Away with Murder! STOP TRYING TO MAKE WES-LAUREL HAPPEN IT’S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN. But seriously, still twisted and gooooood
  3. OUAT. IT’S BACK!!! AND DARKER!
  4. Damien. Just started watching this and it’s super creepy! I like how they’re using old The Omen footages though. And I’m really scared of saints (at least the figures), big ones (Ikr it’s weird but they really freak me out) and this show UGH !!!!
  5. Pretty Little Liars. #Spaleb

Also American Idol is really good this season!!!! Grease: LIVE was also amazing! Still watching Supergirl, some Recovery Road, and Tyler: The Hollywood Medium, amongst others lol. Oh, and a lot of Late Late Show with James Corden!

Current Favorite Tunes (aka songs on repeat)

  1. Alex and Sierra – Back to You
  2. Alex and Sierra – I Love You
  3. We the Kings ft Elena Coates – Sad Song
  4. Zayn – Pillowtalk (IKR LOL)
  5. Kelly Clarkson – Piece by Piece (Idol Version)
  6. Fifth Harmony ft Ty Dolla Sign– Work from Home
  7. New Radicals – Get What You Give (old one but I’ve been playing it a lot)
  8. Charlie Puth ft Selena Gomez – We Don’t Talk Anymore
  9. Carly Rae Jepsen – All That
  10. Nick Fradiani – Beautiful Life
  11. The Corrs – I Do What I Like
  12. Seafret – Sinking Ship
  13. Nickel Creek – This Side
  14. Lana del Rey – Freak
  15. Chvrches – Clearest Blue

That’s it for now, I guess…So how’ve you guys been doing?

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to http://ift.tt/1OYdEcM. Making this blog more interactive. Let’s do this!

 


Tuesday, December 22, 2015

2015 Favorites: Best Books

BESTBOOKSLOGO

Now, time to list my 15 favorite books of 2015! Check them all out below!

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  1. Everything, Everything (Nicola Yoon)

“I was trying so hard to find the single pivotal moment that set my life on its path. The moment that answered the question, ‘How did I get here?’

But it’s never just one moment. It’s a series of them. And your life can branch out from each one in a thousand different ways. Maybe there’s a version of your life for all the choices you make and all the choices you don’t.”

Everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING, about this book is beautiful. You know, you’d think it’s one of those usual stories but it’s definitely on a league of its own. It’s beautiful, heartbreaking, and there are a lot of unexpected moments that will make you swoon, cry, and basically just gasp and take a lot of deep breaths. I’m a really forgetful person but this one? I know it would stay with me for a long, long time.

 

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  1. All The Bright Places (Jennifer Niven)

“She is oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. The same elements that are inside the rest of us, but I can’t help thinking she’s more than that and she’s got other elements going on that no one’s ever heard of, ones that make her stand apart from everybody else.”

I read this early this year, before it became big, and I’m glad I did because it’s just one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking, cry-worthy books I’ve read all my life. I’m glad it also talks about Depression in such a way that makes it understandable for those who don’t. I’m just basically glad for the beauty that is this book. The author’s also working on the movie’s screenplay so that’s something to look forward to.

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  1. The Good Girl (Mary Kubica)

“I know how betrayal and disillusionment feel, when someone who could give you the world refuses even a tiny piece of it.”

Mary Kubica is one of my favorite authors right now because she writes soooo well. Like, seriously. I’m a fan of crazy suspense/crime thrillers and she nails it. She knows how to do it. This book certainly proved that.

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  1. Another Day (David Levithan)

“That has to be what love is – seeing what a mess he is and loving him anyway, because you know you’re a mess, too, maybe even worse.”

There were lots of bad reviews for this book but I liked it not just because I love David Levithan, but also because it’s good to be in Rhiannon’s shoes. So heartbreaking and painful. I wouldn’t choose what’s better between this one and Every Day because I love them both.

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  1. The Status of All Things (Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke)

“A very wise person once told me marriage is hard, that you have to keep fighting for it everyday.”

One word: Facebook. It’s so witty and it has that Sophie Kinsella/Alexandra Potter feel.

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  1. Pretty Baby (Mary Kubica)

“Momma used to say, “We don’t have much, but at least we have each other.” And then one day, we didn’t even have that much.”

Another Kubica! Pretty Baby is really crazy but great. Read it and you’d know what I mean.

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  1. Hallowed (Tonya Hurley)

I love the Precious Blood series and this was such a fitting ending. But I still want mooooooore

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  1. Down The Rabbit Hole (Holly Madison)

“Maybe I wasn’t defined by the mistakes I had made after all . . . maybe those decisions were what allowed me to become the person I was always destined to be.”

Didn’t know much about Holly except for Girls Next Door, but I really enjoyed this book. She is a survivor and no matter what you say, I’m glad things worked out for her.

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  1. Finding Audrey (Sophie Kinsella)

“I think what I’ve realized is, life is all about climbing up, slipping down, and picking yourself up again. And it doesn’t matter if you slip down. As long as you’re kind of heading more or less upwards. That’s all you can hope for. More or less upwards.”

This book nailed what anxiety feels like to a T. It’s Sophie’s first YA offering and she did it so well. So beautiful.

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  1. P.S. I Still Love You (Jenny Han)

“There’s a Korean word my grandma taught me. It’s called jung. It’s the connection between two people that can’t be severed, even when love turns to hate. You still have those old feelings for them; you can’t ever completely shake them loose of you; you will always have tenderness in your heart for them.”

The ending to the Song Sisters series. Oh man, the rollercoaster of emotions this brought me!

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  1. Carry On (Rainbow Rowell)

“Sharing a room with the person you want most is like sharing a room with an open fire.

He’s constantly drawing you in. And you’re constantly stepping too close. And you know it’s not good–that there is no good–that there’s absolutely nothing that can ever come of it.

But you do it anyway.
And then…
Well. Then you burn.”

Harry Potter. Twilight. Fanfics. Fangirl. EVERYTHING.

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  1. Leaving Time (Jodi Picoult)

“I wonder if, as you get older, you stop missing people so fiercely. Maybe growing up is just focusing on what you’ve got, instead of what you don’t.” 

Dark, sad, beautiful, unforgettable.

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  1. My Heart and Other Black Holes (Jasmine Warga)

“Depression is like a heaviness that you can’t ever escape. It crushes down on you, making even the smallest things like tying your shoes or chewing on toast seem like a twenty-mile hike uphill. Depression is a part of you; it’s in your bones and your blood. If I know anything about it, this is what I know: It’s impossible to escape.”

Again: Depression. Suicide. I love how it does not sugarcoat things. It’s heartbreaking. It’s fearless. It’s beautiful.

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  1. Pretending to be Erica (Michelle Painchaud)

I just like how it was written; how enjoyable and entertaining and painful it was.

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  1. This is Where I Leave You (Jonathan Tropper)

“I may not be old but I’m too old to have this much nothing”

I’m pretty sure this was not released this year but only read it a couple of months ago and it had a really big impact on me. I always like complicated, intertwining stories. I like this novel’s humor and wit—and the characters, too!


Friday, December 18, 2015

124/50: Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015

 

So this year is almost over in like, 2 weeks, and while I have not posted my favorite local and international reads yet (well, they’re coming in the next few days), let me share with you my 2015 Reading Challenge first!

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According to Goodreads, I read 124 books this year not counting beta-reads and what-nots. Actually, I only set a goal of 50 books this year because busy life is busy + my memory is failing me + I have a worsening kind of anxiety and (possibly ADD) so I CANNOT FOCUS that much on reading anymore (yeah, it’s sad but that’s life) and I’m kind of disappointed because I know I could still read more. Well, 124’s not bad but the past years I managed 133, 164, and I have no idea before because I have not made a habit of tracking my reads before 2013 lol.

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Anyway, let’s see what I’ve read this year…

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Well, I kind of started the year with Ines Bautista Yao’s ONLY A KISS, then there’s LEAVING TIME by my all time favorite Jodi Picoult, Hans Christian Andersen’s COLLECTION OF FAIRY TALES (I’m a fairy tale girl in case you still didn’t know), and my alter ego’s STORMY HOLLOW…

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Oh, at the start of the year, I was also in this Alessandra Torre feast (SHE IS SO GOOD. Look her up!), then a bevy of non-fiction stuff (I KNOW, I love the Kardashians so what—but seriously, Kris’ book was actually entertaining). And then there’s ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES (my god, that was heartbreaking + one of my personal favorites for this year). Gayle Forman’s I WAS HERE was kind of in the same genre but it didn’t hit me the way it should…

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Some suspense/mystery/thrillers here. Oh, and there’s MARY KUBICA’S THE GOOD GIRL (I love that one so much, she’s also such an amazing author!), Lauren Oliver’s VANISHING GIRLS (which reminds me of the old Lauren Oliver that I love), lots of Goosebumps, MY HEART AND OTHER BLACK HOLES (another good one). LITTLE PEACH was quite damaging. THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, well I probably read it at the wrong time because I didn’t like it the way I probably should.

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Oh my gosh PS I STILL LOVE YOU (TEAM KAVINSKY FOREVER!!!!), some Fear Street, my friend Amae’s ONE LOVELY SUMMER DAY, and HAHA THERE’S A MENAGE THING HERE LOL. Still Alice was beautiful like the movie and SHUG was pretty cute. ISLE OF THE LOST, hmm I guess I was a little too old for it lol

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Some Marilyn books because I’m a Marilynette. Lea Michele’s BRUNETTE AMBITION, HALLOWED—the third installment of the Precious Blood series! Zoe Sugg’s GIRL ONLINE (I had to write about her for work before), ONCE REAWAKENED (I love the show, loved the adaptation, too!), THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB (because I was also obsessed with the show especially Rene Carpenter), Sophie’s FINDING AUDREY (another favorite), and oh yes, Holly’s DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE was really nice, too!

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OH my number 1 favorite for this year EVERYTHING EVERYTHING is here. THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU, PRETTY BABY are pretty good, too. PRETTY LITTLE KILLERS was disturbing (go look up Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy), some other true crime books. CREEP for #HeistClub, some new Fear Street novels…

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ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE was something I had to review for work but it actually turned out to be enjoyable, just not my usual kind of read. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE with its pretty cover, some more non-fiction stuff, and last night oh god JANUS SILANG 2 made me want Part 3 right away I NEED IT NOW.

So yeah, that’s pretty much my crazy, colorful year in books! Hopefully, I’d still get to read a lot this year (and in these last few days of 2015!) Will post those favorites lists soon!

 

 


Monday, November 16, 2015

Life, Lately… (aka dealing with this and that, and #WriteBreakUpSongsAbout)

LIFELATELY

So…it’s been a few days since I’ve been here and I wish it was just because I was busy but aside from that…depression and anxiety have been pretty bad, too. The thing with them is that when they attack you bad, they attack you real bad.

And it’s hard. There really were days the past few weeks when I felt like I’ve reached the end of my rope. You have no idea how hard it is to remind myself to keep going; just keep going. Sometimes, life just feels too constricting; like it’s just full of losses and you have no idea how to win. This isn’t about being dramatic; it’s just the truth.

But, anyway, I’ve also been writing and the latest I’ve worked on was my #WriteBreakupSongsAbout (You can still write along! Details HERE) manuscript and though I cannot talk much about it, I could say it’s one of the most challenging things I’ve done simply because…well, this one involved lots of real emotions (my choice! Ha!) and it’s like looking back at a different time in your life (at least, in mine).

It’s just something I have not written about for sooooo long, and this time, it’s like I got to feel all the emotions (haha) just because you know, you’re looking back, seeing another version of you, and putting yourself in your old shoes (whatever the hell that means), and yeah, it’s also kind of therapeutic.

See, I guess what I’ve learned is that sometimes…it’s harder to write about things that are close to you because…you have to work on blurring the lines between fiction and reality, and you have to give it your best.

But here’s another thing: this manuscript is something I’m proud of. It’s something that cheesy as it sounds, really came from the heart. ;)

What I can say is that we had to choose a One Direction song for this project, and what I chose was You and I. You can listen to it below.

I figured it out
I figured it out from black and white
Seconds and hours
Maybe they had to take some time

I know how it goes
I know how it goes for wrong and right
Silence and sound
Did they ever hold each other
Tight like us
Did they ever fight like us

[Harry:]
You & I
We don’t want to be like them
We can make it till the end
Nothing can come between
You & I
Not even the gods above
Could separate the two of us
No nothing can come between
You & I
Oohh You & I

I figured it out
Saw the mistakes of up and down
Meet in the middle
There’s always room for common ground

I see what it’s like
I see what it’s like for day and night
Never together
Cause they see things in a different light
Like us
They never tried like us

[Harry:]
You & I
We don’t want to be like them
We can make it till the end
Nothing can come between
You & I
Not even the gods above
Could separate the two of us

‘Cause You & I

We don’t want to be like them
We can make it till the end
Nothing can come between You & I
Not even the gods above
Could separate the two of us
No nothing can come between
You & I

You & I

Oohh You & I [x2]

We can make it if we try
You & I

Oohh you & I
You & I

Have a good week, everyone!


Monday, October 26, 2015

DRESSED TO KILL Cover Reveal #HeistClub

5 Friends. One Dead Body. A Summer they’d rather just forget.

5 years ago

Amelie, Christina, Cara, Monique, and Tamara spent one summer at Christina’s family’s ranch 5 years ago. It was a time of rest; a time for peace. It was a time when they just spent days fishing, swimming, and forgetting all the troubles of the city. One last hurrah before college, they said.

But that last hurrah ended when Monique was suddenly found dead on the last day of vacation—and their lives have never been the same since.

NOW

Now is their chance to figure out the truth.

But sometimes, truths are far more complicated than they seem.

Will they find out all the answers they need?

Or are they in for something bigger…something deadlier?

Tick Tock. Don’t look back. You might be next.

 

So…recently I joined a class called #HeistClub, and I wrote a story called Dressed to Kill, which will be out soon! And well, you know, I’m always the excited early bird (lol) so ta-daaaa here’s the cover for the said novella!

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What do you think? Check back here for more deets!


Thursday, October 22, 2015

She Flies with Faeries Reviews: BLISS by Shay Mitchell and Michaela Blaney

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Title: Bliss

Authors: Shay Mitchell and Michaela Blaney with Valerie Frenkel

My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Sophia Marcus, 21, has already mapped out every aspect of her glamorous life as a Hollywood actor on her vision board. But her life right now in Toronto is anything but exciting. Attending fruitless auditions during the day and working at a douche-y club at night, Sophia is starting to feel like she’s going nowhere…slowly.

Demi Michaels, Sophia’s best friend, didn’t go to college after high school. Short of ideas for her own future, she puts her energy into building the perfect relationship with an older man. And when that relationship crashes and burns, Demi is left to pick up the pieces.

Sophia’s friend (and Demi’s frenemy) Leandra Hunting doesn’t give a crap about hard work or a loving relationship. She has other plans for her future. After college graduation, Leandra sets out to travel the world in the yachts, planes and limos of ridiculously wealthy men. Will any of them be able to show her what love really means–if she can take off her Chanel sunglasses long enough to see it?

Set in the exotic, intoxicating worlds of Hollywood, Thailand, and London, Bliss paints a relatable portrait of life in your early twenties with equal parts optimism and fear, hope and disappointment, expectation and reality. It’s the Age of Uncertainty when you can count on nothing, but, if you’re lucky enough to have one truly great friend, you can survive just about anything.


If you knew me, you probably already know that I do like Pretty Little Liars (even though it’s quite crazy and well, you know what it is), and I actually like checking out the first novels of celebrities (because why not?) just to see how it goes.

Well, Shay Mitchell’s BLISS actually had a nice blurb so I thought, why not?

Let’s start with the good stuff first:

  1. I thought the book actually had good premise. 3 Friends, interwoven stories, growing up and what-not. That’s basically my kind of thing, you know?
  2. Well, upon reading the book I realized it was pretty nice. Nothing too poetic and prose was not deep, BUT, it was quite enjoyable—especially if you’re looking for a good, light read. It reminded me of Dorothy Koomsoon, early Alexandra Potter, some Lauren Weisberger, etc.
  3. I like the imagery! This book takes you places, at least figuratively. You have Vancouver, Phuket, London, etc.
  4. I’d say somehow, it was also realistic because it deals with issues that 20-somethings usually deal with right now, too—just a bit more exaggerated, though…

Then, the not so good:

  1. Uhm, the characters were pretty much all over the place. For 20-somethings, they’re quite immature(!), but hey, a lot of us 20-somethings aka Millenials also probably don’t know what we’re doing. My only problem is that the way it was written made me feel like they could have been more—like there was more to explore but those things just were not explored. I wished the characters actually had more depth. L
  2. A couple of stereotypes. (i.e., tourists being scammed, spoiled little rich girls, etc.) They were just passé.
  3. There were times when the story itself felt like it was all over the place, especially near the end and you just wish the authors would just get straight to the point already.

But here’s the thing: For a first novel, this was actually good, and I might be reading part 2, if there was any. So, yeah, over-all, it’s still worth-reading—especially if you need a light read—and something you’d be able to relate to.


Friday, October 16, 2015

#CassiesBirthdayGiveaway Time! WIN Adult Coloring Books + eBooks and Bookmarks!

So…my birthday’s coming up and I have some stuff to give away!

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StrangeLit_IncredibleTruths

1 Winner will Win: [PH Only]

3 Adult Coloring Books

#StrangeLit Incredible Truths eBook Bundle

#ThePathofUs Bookmarks

#StormyHollow Bookmarks

1 Winner will Win: [Open INT]

#StrangeLit Incredible Truths eBook Bundle

#ThePathofUs eBook

#AMerryLittleChristmas eBook

Just click the link below to join!

Giveaway starts today (Oct 17) and ends on Oct 26!

Join #CassiesBirthdayGifts HERE