BOOK REVIEW | DID I MENTION I LOVE YOU? BY ESTELLE MASKAME

Okay so I didn't really know what to expect from this book... the storyline sounded really interesting and i'm a sucker for ya romance books they're totally my guilty pleasure. However the whole 'main character falling in love with her stepbrother' storyline did make me a little apprehensive. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book and ended up giving it four stars on goodreads although,  I probably would have given it a 3.5 if I had the option. 

So I won't lie; this book is full of cliches and is very cheesy at times but I found that once I was a couple of chapters in I couldn't stop thinking about reading it when I wasn't. You know when a book just consumes your thoughts and when you aren't reading it your mind is constantly wondering whats going to happen next? well that is how the book made me feel. 

At first I didn't really understand how the main character Eden could possibly fall for her stepbrother Tyler because he just seemed like a totally awful person and I didn't fathom how there could be more to him and also how he could redeem himself. However, I like how the forbidden romance unfolded between the two. 

An aspect of this book I really enjoyed was the mystery surrounding Tyler and why he was such a 'jackass' as described by Eden. This element of the story made it all the more intriguing. I would have to argue it was a little bit of a slow burner but worth the wait. The ending did seem a little bit rushed to me in a way *SPOILER WARNING* as the whole story builds up to everything happening just so that Eden and Tyler could be together; they have finally admitted their feelings to one another, Tyler has ended things with Tiffany yet all of a sudden Eden decides to quit at the final hurdle... After Eden realised her feelings for Tyler she did everything she could to continue things with Tyler in a way and seemed very enthusiastic in pursuing their forbidden romance. Then suddenly Eden out of nowhere decides to do the right thing and end things just as things can begin... It was kind of disappointing and even though  it was a good element to the story and more realistic it could have been executed better and not so abruptly. The rushed ending to the story and slightly strange epilogue is what decreased by rating. But I did really enjoy this book and I can't wait to pick up book 2 in the future! 

Thank you for reading, 

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

When sixteen-year-old Eden Munro agrees to spend the summer with her estranged father in the beachfront city of Santa Monica, California, she has no idea what she’s letting herself in for. Eden's parents are divorced and have gone their separate ways, and now her father has a brand new family. For Eden, this means she's about to meet three new step-brothers. The eldest of the three is Tyler Bruce, a troubled teenager with a short temper and a huge ego. Complete polar opposites, Eden quickly finds herself thrust into a world full of new experiences as Tyler's group of friends take her under their wing. But the one thing she just can't understand is Tyler, and the more she presses to figure out the truth about him, the more she finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn't – her step-brother.

Throw in Tyler's clingy girlfriend and a guy who has his eyes set on Eden, and there's secrets, lies and a whole lot of drama. But how can Eden keep her feelings under control? And can she ever work out the truth about Tyler?

Did I Mention I Love You is the first book in the phenomenal DIMILY trilogy, following the lives of Eden Munro and Tyler Bruce as they try to find their way in an increasingly confusing world. 

BOOK REVIEW | STALKING JACK THE RIPPER BY KERRI MANISCALCO

In all honesty I really don't have a clue exactly where i first saw this book or how i found it but OH MY GOD am I glad that I did. This book!!!!!! I'm struggling on how exactly to word my feelings regarding this book right now because I have all the feels. Do you ever read a book that is so incredibly good and captivating that you don't want it to end so you read it as slowly as possible? just me? (awkward) but this book is THAT kind of book. Now obviously there is a degree of grotesqueness in this book but Kerri Maniscalco's writing captures this dark part in history in the most amazing way to the point of wanting to experience the life of the main character - Audrey Rose (even if that means existing in the same time period as a murderous maniac). Also would you look at that cover?! 

Since this is my first book review and I am by no means good at this kind of thing I will keep my review fairly brief. I will try my best to make my jumbled up thoughts make sense. *Potential spoilers ahead*

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. 

Quote on the back of the book cover: 

 "I was the girl who loved the ripper". 

Okay so I have to admit I am totally a sucker for a romance story and a bit of mystery and this book perfectly offers both! Having a romance story alongside the main plot of the book just made it all the more intriguing; especially considering this is a story based upon Jack the Ripper, one of the most notorious serial killers in Britain's history to date. 

The plot of this book is interesting to say the least. One thing I adored most about this book was the way in which Maniscalco was able to capture (in my opinion) 18thy century London exactly as it has been portrayed to be. Through the use of dialect, intricate details regarding characters clothing and including a particular portrayal of status and social conduct in the Victorian era, I got a true sense of what it would have been like to live in the upper class during the 18th century. 

The main character Audrey Rose Wadsworth is a character I absolutely adore in this book. Unlike other women within the 18th century whom lived for gossip, afternoon teas, expensive gowns and propriety, Audrey Rose is engulfed in her dark curiosity and her love for science; leading to the majority of her time consisting of cutting up dead bodies as an assistant to her uncle at his laboratory. Blood and dead bodies were something she was used to and did not phase her until the day the first mutilated corpse of a dead prostitute arrived for her uncle to examine. Understanding the brutal and hateful manner in which this crime had been committed, it sparked her dark curiosity even more. Audrey Rose became determined to solve the mystery of 'Leather Apron' (Jack the Ripper) to also prove the stereotypes against women to be both stupid and wrong. However with her family falling apart and going against the status quo, her character faces a variety of challenges. The hardships of love and friendship along with trying to be a step ahead of a murderer who preys upon women, leads Audrey Rose's character to become reckless. Never the less I can't help but admire her as she is both fierce and smart through out the book and constantly challenges societies views of women during the 18th century. 

Although Maniscalco uses Audrey Rose's character to touch upon feminism and it's importance, I feel at times that it was counterproductive due to the way in which her character judges other women as not being as open minded as her. She openly makes assumptions that they do not consider other things apart from what society tells them too which I found to be rather contradictory. I feel that if Maniscalco had touched upon feminism and inequality a lot more through the use of Audrey Rose's character, it would have given the book a deeper sense of connecting with it's main character. Furthermore it would have also created a more intensified insight as to what it was like to be a woman in a time were they viewed as inferior to men. On the contrary, I do feel that the touch upon feminism was substantial enough and I'm gladded Maniscalco chose to incorporate it into the story to make it much more realistic and believable.

My favourite character has to be Audrey Rose's love interest/side kick. An upper class young gentlemen in society named Thomas Cresswell, who seems completely cold and disconnected from all emotion; particularly when it comes to murders and corpses. His character is very flirtatious and witty making him instantly quite likeable, although at times his arrogance does become rather annoying with regards to him being very aware of his own intelligence. The further into the book we get the more the mystery of Thomas Cresswell is unraveled, revealing him to actually be very caring;  especially towards Audrey Rose. All I have left to say on this character is that Thomas Cresswell owns my heart.

This is a story that constantly provokes your imagination and curioustiy throughout and leaves you guessing at each page. I loved the 'plot twist' so to say, and did not expect Jack the Ripper to be the character he was. The reasoning behind sed character being Jack the Ripper was unique to say the least and very random; interesting none the less. I would have liked a slightly longer ending and more information about how deeply the events of this story impacted the surviving characters but the ending did leave room for your imagination to do its own thing. 

 The only real negative I could find with this book was the letters from Jack The Ripper that were included in certain parts. The font that they were in was near impossible to read and resulted in me merely skimming over them, guessing the words or having to ask someone if they could read what they thought it said. 

Over all I would definitely rate this book 5/5 and have already been recommending it to every other bookworm I know! If you're looking for a unique read that incorporates history, romance and a little bit of feminism (in its own way) then it's definitely worth picking up this book. If you have read this book leave a comment down below on what you thought of it and what rating you would give!

If you actually made it to the end of this review then thank you for reading what probably makes no sense and is very grammatically incorrect (its nearly 2AM as I am writing this so sleepiness is my only defence). Find this review on my goodreads page: goodreads.com/vanillaxmoon

Jodie x

BREAKFAST ACAI BERRY BOWL

If you're wondering what an acai bowl actually is then let me tell you in the simplest way. An acai bowl is basically just a really thick smoothie that you can make look pretty with a variety of different toppings of your choice - both for decorative purposes but also for added yummy-ness. Personally I love making acai bowls because not only are they full of goodness that our bodies love, they taste pretty good too. They're an energising and filling breakfast option also. You can be as adventurous as you want with ingredients or keep it minimal; the internet is not short on recipes. 

My favourite acai bowl is the 'berry bowl'. It's super easy to make, tastes f*cking awesome, is definitely aesthetically pleasing on it's own (purpled-pink in colour) and let's not forget that it's completely healthy! 

Ingredients:

• X2 frozen bananas. 
• 1 cupful of frozen blueberries.
• 1/2 cupful of raspberries.
• 1 tbsp of chai seeds.
• 1/2 cupful of unsweetened almond milk. 

Pretty basic ingredients right? Just incase anyone was wondering I will explain the ingredients. The bananas are essential to give the mixture a creaminess and are also packed with vitamin B6  which can help protect against type 2 diabetes. The blueberries are what give the mixture it's vibrant pinky-purple colour along with the raspberries and are great antioxidants and also a good source of fibre and copper. Plus they are one of my favourite fruits and give the 'nice cream' a sweeter taste. The raspberries are also great antidioxidants. The word frozen in the ingredients list is essential to produce the nice-cream effect; keeping the mixture thick and of the same consistency as ice cream. Chai seeds are used to add more texture to the mixture but also for their amazing health properties; highly nutritious, loaded with fibre, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and various micronutrients. The almond milk makes it easier for the frozen fruits to blend, adds a slight 'nutty' taste that isn't strong enough to overpower the other ingredients and is the healthier alternative ingredient to using any dairy products. 

When making my acai bowls I prefer for the 'smoothie' portion of the bowl to essentially be dairy-free ice-cream AKA 'nice-cream'. It's really easy to make; infact you can make one using just three simple steps. 

STEP 1: Freeze your bananas and berries the night before so they are completely frozen by the next morning. 

STEP 2: Add all of your ingredients into the blender. 

STEP 3: BLEND - until a smooth but thick consistency. 

Pour into a bowl of your choice and there you have it, your very own berry nice-cream! Now the fun part of decorating with toppings.... I chose to keep it simple adding some sliced strawberry pieces, a small handful of blueberries, some granola and cocoa shavings and to finish a sprinkle of oats. 

Hope you enjoyed this little recipe..

Jodie 

x

CURRENT LUSH FAVOURITES

I thought i'd write a little post on my current favourite Lush products that i now couldn't be without! What's not to love about Lush?! Cruelty free affordable goodness that i promise your skin will most definitely LOVE. I've always had problematic skin (a combination of dry & oily - more oily than anything) and recently my skin hasn't been it's best; resulting in a little lush skin care splurge. So here are some of Lush's skin care products that have definitely helped improve my skin. 

Lush | Dream Cream

On Lush's website it is described as being 'A soothing and cooling cream that is designed to go on even the most sensitive and easily upset skins.' It is also described to be soothing, calming, balancing and restorative. I have to say i agree! I use this cream as a body lotion when i get out of the shower each night and my skin instantly feels softer and smoother. I will admit it has a strange scent but is ultimately a treat for my skin, especially during these cold winter months that make your skin a little drier than usual. 

Lush | Ocean Salt

This body scrub is my favourite body scrub i've tried so far. The salty citrus fragrance instantly makes me feel fresh before i even apply it to my skin. The small sea salts help to exfoliate and remove any dead skin, leaving my skin soft and rejuvenated. I like to use this every other day. 

  

Lush | Mask of Magnaminty

On the label this mask claims to help fight eruptions and outbreaks and return your skin to tip top condition. I wouldn't say it has returned my skin to 'tip top condition' but it certainly has made my skin feel and look healthier. I love the minty-fresh scent and find that it works really well for my combination skin. Furthermore, it also helps to exfoliate the skin on my face without being too harsh. I use it 1-2 times a week to exfoliate my skin. 

Lush | Tea Tree Water

I absolutely love this stuff. It has massively helped my skin by reducing redness and break outs. I use this once each night by spraying a few pumps onto a cotton pad and wiping it all over my face. I feel that it has helped reduce the oiliness of my skin and has now become a permeant part of my skin care routine each night. 

Lush | Grease Lightning

This is by far the best spot treatment i have used. I wouldn't say it has cleared my skin, but it helps to decrease the size and redness of a blemish. I also feel a lot better using this spot treatment as i know blemishes aren't being irritated by chemicals, but soothed by natural ingredients instead. If you're looking for a cheap and natural spot treatment, this is for you!

I hope you enjoyed this little post & get the opportunity to try each of these products! Let me know your experience with any of these products in the comments! 

Jodie x

MY BUCKET LIST

                1. Go on a road trip with no planned destination. 

2. Explore a shipwreck.

3. Spend the night in an igloo.

4. Camp in the woods.

5. Go tree climbing.

6. Go to a drive in cinema.

7. Bury a time capsule.

8. Send a message in a bottle across the ocean.

9. Go fishing and catch a fish. ✓

10. Discover something.

11. Learn a new language.  

12. Visit Mount Everast.

13. Ride on a motorbike.

14. Visit Tutan Khamun’s tomb.

15. See the ancient pyramids in Egypt.

16. Get my photo taking kissing the ancient sphinx.

17. Run a marathon.

18. Fly a plane.

19. See the northern lights.

20. Go in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey. 

21. Go to the bottom of the ocean.

22. Ride in a helicopter.

23. Go snowboarding. 

24. Surf.

25. Coachella.

26. Tomorrowland.

27. Join a protest.

28. Cuddle under the stars. ✓

29. Fall in love. ✓

30. Get a tattoo. ✓

31. Make a positive difference.

32. Kiss under mistletoe.

33. Take kissing photos in a kissing booth.

34. New years kiss. ✓

35. Underwater kiss.

36. Skydive.

37. Volunteer.

38. Rescue an animal.  ✓

39. Learn to play an instrument.

40. Visit every state in America.

41. Visit Area 51.

42. Scuba Dive.

43. Go snorkelling.

44. Set foot on each of the seven continents.

45. See a Luna eclipse. ✓

46. Attend London Fashion Week. 

47. Go to Walker Stalker Con.

48. Go to Madame Tussad’s.

49. Go on the London Eye.

50. Visit the London Natural History museum.

51. Walk through hyde park.

52. Cross the Abbey road crossing.

53. Take a train from London to Paris.

54. Visit the Eiffel Tower.

55. Have dinner in the Eiffel Tower restaurant.

56. Put a lock on the Pont de l'archevêché bridge in Paris.

57. Visit All 7 wonders of the world.

58. Grand Canyon. ✓

59. Drive through the desert.  ✓

60. Go zip lining.

61. Spend new year in New York.

62. Have a bonfire on the beach.

63. Take part in a food fight.

64. Swim with turtles.

65. Rafting down a waterfall.

66. Ride a camel in the desert.

67. Walk the Great Wall of China & leave a note in one of its cracks.

68. Go on a safari in Africa.

69. Join a disaster relief team.

70. Skinny dip in the ocean. 

71. Fire a gun.

72. Brooklyn Bridge. 

73. Golden Gate Bridge.

74. Bake a rainbow cake.

75. Visit Bora Bora.

76. Watch fireworks from inside a plane.

77. Fly over the Heart Reef in Australia.

78. Go to Hamilton Island.

79. Visit Bali.

80. Galapagos islands.

81. Buy macaroons in Paris.

82. Visit the Cascade mountains.

83. Go to sturgis.

84. Attend Loy Krathong (sky lantern festival in Thailand).

85. Jump off a bridge into water.

86. Go to a masquerade ball.

87. Shout from the top of a mountain.

88. Bathe an elephant.

89. Kiss on top of a ferris wheel.

90. Meditate under a waterfall.

91. Throw a coin into the fountain di trevi in Italy.

92. Visit Phuket, Thailand.

93. Ride a bike in Amsterdam.

94. Go sailing.

95. Visit the temples of Angkor.

96. Pass my driving test. ✓

97. Snorkel in the great barrier reef.

98. Buy/build my dream house.

99. Crowd surf.

100. Hollywood walk of fame. ✓

101. Own a pug.  ✓

102. Buy a homeless person something to eat.  ✓

103. Kiss in the rain.

104. Go to Paris.

105. Have a song written for/about me.

106. Be happy with myself.

107. Visit/Trek Machu Picchu.

108. Go to Tokyo.

109. Go quad biking.

110. Hike the inca trail.

111. Go to yellowstone national park.

112. Go whale watching.

113. Visit under water caves.

114. Go to Hobbiton.

115. Go canoeing. 

116. Jet Ski.

117. Travel through the amazon jungle.

118. Be a tv/film extra. 

119. Serve food at a soup kitchen.

120. Watch a space shuttle launch.

121. Go to university and get a degree.

122. Learn to say hello in ten languages. 

123. Visit a Buddhist temple. 

124. Experience zero gravity. 

125. Climb mount Kilimanjaro. 

126. Meet a sloth.

127. See a wild wolf.

128. Parasail.

129. Watch the sun set and rise in one day.

130. Have meaningful conversation with a stranger.

131. Top of the Rock. ✓

132. Go to New York. ✓

133. Visit Niagara Falls. ✓

134. See the statue of liberty. ✓

135. Ride the subway. ✓

136. Times Square. ✓

137. Visit Petra.

138. Christ the Redeemer Statue. 

139. Visit Chichen Itza. 

140. Visit the Colosseum. 

141. Visit the Taj Mahal.

142. Attend a traditional indian wedding.

143. Hoover Dam. ✓

144. Las Vegas. ✓

145. Ride in a yellow cab in New York.

146. Visit the temple of Artemis. 

147. Swim in the red sea.

148. Visit Pink Lake in Australia.

149. Pamukkale, Turkey.

150. Walk through central Park. ✓

151. Visit “The Door to Hell” in Turkmenistan.

152. Visit Ronda city, Spain.

153. Shop on Fifth Avenue. ✓

154. Go to Los Angeles. ✓

155. Visit Milan.

156. Visit Rome.

157. Go to Barcelona.

158. Go on holiday in Santorini.

159. Go to Dubai.

160. Florence.

161. Moscow. 

162. Take a gondola ride through Venice. 

163. Eat a french breakfast in a parisian cafe.

164. Start a blog.  ✓

165. Shop on Avenue Montaigne.

166. Go to The Côte d’Azur.

167. Go on a boat on the French Riviera.

168. Go on holiday to Fiji in the Maldives. 

169. Go to disneyland Paris and see the firework display above the castle.

170. Attend New York Fashion week

171. Go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando.

172. Go on a safari in South Africa.

173. Party at the Rio De Janeiro carnival. 

174. Take a walk along Venice Beach. ✓

175. Walk through Rodeo Drive. ✓

174. Go to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London. ✓ 

175. Feed a kangaroo. 

176. ‘Gibbon Experience’ in Laos.

177. Experience the Holi festival in India. 

178. Ride the worlds biggest swing in New Zealand.

179. See the Taj Mahal.

180. Take part in the La Tomatina festival in Spain.

181. Watch a broadway show in New York.

182. Go to the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.  

183. Rollerblade along sunset boulevard in LA.

184. Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. 

185. Go interailing. 

Hope you enjoyed my bucket list - yes i know it is extremely long! I hope to have every single thing ticked off one day, and i will of course share that with you via this blog! 

Jodie x

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EXPLORING LOS ANGELES | MY FIRST TASTE OF AMERICA

I was lucky enough to be going on a trip of a lifetime with my family in September/October 2015. This wouldn't be your typical relaxing by the pool with a cocktail in hand kind of trip, but instead would include hours of traveling, going to sleep extremely late and waking up extremely early to cram in what we could each day. After two flights lasting a total of 12 hours, we finally arrived in the 'city of dreams' : Los Angeles. We arrived late at night, picked up our hire car and drove to our hotel.

We stayed in the Best Western Sunset Plaza Hotel (Hotel Website Here) for three nights. The hotel was absolutely perfect for our short stay with big spacious rooms, comfy beds, and doors leading directly onto the pool. Breakfast was included and was incredible; every morning consisting of pancakes and lucky charms. The staff were also incredibly friendly and helpful throughout our entire stay. Another added bonus being the free wi-fi also! I would highly recommend staying here as the over all vibe is very relaxed and quiet, yet the hotel itself is situated right on sunset boulevard, making it in close proximity to pretty much everything!

I visited from the 17th - 20th of September. The weather was gorgeous with blue skies and constant sunshine. However, it was ridiculously hot which made being a tourist doing a lot of walking around very very difficult. If you go at this time of year i'd make sure you pack all your summer clothes and carry round water and suncream everywhere with you! While we were there we wanted to cram in as much as we could, making sure everyone within the group got to do at least one thing they really wanted to. Due to being there for such a short time it was more of a 'taster'.

Day 1 On our first day we enjoyed an amazing breakfast and then headed to Beverly Hills Mall, had a little shop about, and then walked through Rodeo Drive. Rodeo Drive is one of the most photogenic looking places i have ever been too. Palm trees everywhere, fancy cars etc. It is such a surreal place. After having a quick walk through, we then drove down to Venice Beach. Venice Beach is everything you expect it to be; beautiful, relaxed, and incredible. We walked along the shore line enjoying the beach itself and then walked through little stalls and shops on the beach picking up some trinkets! Then of course we checked out the 'muscle beach' part which didn't disappoint either. The over all vibe at Venice Beach is just so cool and i loved it there. Later in the evening we then drove to the famous 'Bob's Big Boy' to get one of their signature burgers and also attended the vintage car show that was going on there.

Day 2 On the second day we hung out a little around the pool in the morning, and then embarked on what seemed would be a quick walk to Hollywood Boulevard. How terribly wrong we were. It took us around an hour to walk as we kept having to make rest stops due to how tired out the heat made us.  But eventually we got there and were able to see what the most touristy part of LA had to offer. It was extremely busy and the heat didn't help. Over all i really enjoyed completing the Walk of Fame and it's another thing i can tick off my bucket list! We then went into the Hollywood Mall, and the view point to the Hollywood sign. Hollywood is such a surreal place, everything really does look like it came from a movie and is just so extravagant. After visiting Hollywood Boulevard we went back to the hotel to freshen up and then headed back down to Venice Beach for dinner. We went to C&O Trattoria by the Venice Pier (Restaurant Website Here), featuring an Italian cuisine that is just unforgettable. The restaurant is well known for it's 'killer garlic rolls' which definitely lived up to their reputation in being the nicest garlic rolls i've ever had in my eighteen years of living. This has to be one of the nicest restaurants i've been too; great food, great service, great atmosphere, and a unique decor. If you ever have the chance to go to Venice Beach and find yourself feeling peckish then this restaurant is a must.

Day 3 Our last day. We spent the morning packing our things and then relaxing around the pool for a little, before loading the cars up and checking out. We drove to Hollywood Boulevard and did some more shopping and went for a couple of drinks out of the heat. The time we spent at Hollywood Boulevard was short as we had a long drive through the desert ahead of us to get to our next stop: LAS VEGAS! (watch out for my Las Vegas post)

Thanks for reading! 

Jodie xx