Hiking in Olympic National Park

While we were in Washington last month visiting my grandparents, we decided to drive up to Lake Cushman in Olympic National Park and go for a hike.

My mom had bought a National Park pass in August of last year, and we had planned on using it, but unfortunately we just didn't get around to it. We really wanted to visit some National Parks, so we made sure to use it twice during this trip! 

The drive from my grandparents house was a little over an hour and a half, and we didn't get started until after lunch, so we knew we weren't going to be able to go on too long of a hike.

We arrived about mid afternoon and it looked like most people had already left for the day. The weather was great, warm, but not too hot, and sunny.

The hike was really nice. It was a couple of miles and not too strenuous. There is just something so relaxing about being in the woods surrounded by peace and quiet!

Have you ever visited a National Park?

August Ipsy Glam Bag Review

theBalm Cosmetics Voyage in Kuwakaribisha: I didn't really care for this eyeshadow. The shade is super pigmented but way too shimmery. Not for me!

Seraphine Botanicals Liquid Coal Waterproof liner: I thought this eyeliner was okay. It was easy and precise to use, the color was bold, and it lasted throughout a hot summer day. Not really anything spectacular, but overall a good liquid liner.

Promise Organic Nourishing Coconut Milk Face Lotion with Hibiscus: I really wanted to like this, but I just didn't like it as much as I had hoped. It smells so good! And I love that it's organic, but it was just a bit too oily feeling for my liking.

Paula Dorf Cosmetics  Mini Universal Brow Pencil in Taupe: This pencil was surprisingly creamy and went on easily. The color is a little dark for me. For a taupe, it was darker that it should have been. But with some smoothing out it works fine. Since the pencil is so creamy, you go through it pretty quickly. I've had to sharpen it almost every other day, and I'm not really using that much of it.

sundays Nail Polish in No. 28: I was really excited when I saw I had gotten this color! Ironically, I had just bought a very similar color not too long ago. I really like the color, it's the perfect purple-gray (it looks prettier in real life!). I haven't had it on long enough to tell if it's a long lasting polish, but so far it hasn't chipped yet.

Overall this wasn't too bad of a bag. I think my favorite item would have to be the nail polish, with my least favorite being the eyeshadow.

Have you ever tried any of these products? 

What I've Read Lately

Anyone who really knows me knows I love to read. Today I thought I would share a few of the books I've enjoyed lately!

Engaged In Trouble by Jenny B. Jones
From back cover:
When a washed-up pop star inherits a wedding planning business, it's all bouquets and bliss...until a bride turns up dead. 

Paisley Sutton shot to stardom as a teenage rock sensation, but ten years later that star has fizzled out, just like her bank account. When she unexpectedly inherits her aunt's wedding planning business, Paisley leaves the glamour of Los Angeles for a charming small town in Arkansas. Thinking she'll arrive in Sugar Creek and liquidate the moldy property, Paisley's shocked to find Enchanted Events has experienced a major makeover and is now the place for brides.

Paisley's tossed into a world of vows and venues, but her most difficult challenge comes in the form of one demanding bride. When this bridezilla's found facedown in her cake, all fingers point to Paisley as the prime murder suspect. And she does not look good in prison orange. 

The former pop princess will need the help of her gun-toting, ex-CIA grandmother and her handsome neighbor, Beau Hudson, to unravel the mystery and clear her good name.

Love is in the air this wedding season, but before Paisley can help the ladies of Sugar Creek say, "I do," she's got to unveil a killer. Or find herself the next target. 

I really liked this book! Like, best book I've read in a while good! 

I've always been a fan of Jenny B. Jones's books, but this was my favorite one so far. 

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters. I mean an ex-CIA granny? You really can't beat that! I really liked Beau and Paisley, even minor characters were interesting. I was sad to finish this book because I liked it so much! There is so much humor in this book too, which kept me laughing and entertained. 

But for me, the biggest surprise was that I couldn't figure out who the killer was. I usually can figure these things out pretty quickly and I'm usually even disappointed at the end of books when the killer is who I thought it was because it was too easy. But I was pleased with this ending. 

Overall this was a really good book and I don't think you'll be disappointed!

The Moon Stands Still by Sibella Giorello

From back cover:

On a scenic riverbank outside Seattle, forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon accidentally digs up evidence linked to the local FBI's most famous unsolved mystery-D.B. Cooper's 1971 hijacking of a passenger airplane, before he disappeared without a trace. 

When the bureau hires Raleigh to help solve the legendary cold case, she's forced to juggle two urgent assignments-she's already working with the state crime lab to identify geological material linked to a young girl's murder. A murder that might send an innocent man to death row.

Now, as Raleigh digs deeper into both cases, she triggers a dangerous series of events. And she fractures her fresh romance with agent Jack Stephanson. What's worse, Jack doesn't seem to care.

In The Moon Stands Still, Raleigh Harmon confronts her worst fears of abandonment and failure, fighting to deliver justice and uncover the truth.

Being from the Pacific Northwest, I am very familiar with the D.B. Cooper case. So I was quite intrigued when I saw that this book was going to be 'solving' that case. 

I thought the book was well written and it kept me interested. I know Raleigh is a geologist, but sometimes the geology information and descriptions get a little boring, but it's easy enough to skim over. 

Maybe not my favorite book in the Raleigh Harmon series, but overall a good read. 

This is book 7 in the series, so I would recommend starting with book one if you are interested in this series.

Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks

From back cover:
An unsolved case. A tempest of memories. The future's at stake-and time is running out.

Gwen Marcey has done a good job keeping the pain of her past boxed up. But as she investigates the case of a missing child in Lapwai, Idaho, details keep surfacing that are eerily similar to her childhood traumas. She doesn't believe in coincidences. So what's going on here?

No one knows more about the impact of the past than the Nez Perce people of Lapwai. Gwen finds herself an unwelcome visitor to some, making her investigation even more difficult. The questions keep piling up, but answers are slow in coming-and the clock is ticking for a missing little girl. Meanwhile, Gwen's ex-husband is threatening to take sole custody of their daughter. 

As Gwen's past and present collide, she's in a desperate race for the truth. Because only truth will ensure she still has a future.

I have really enjoyed the Gwen Marcey series and this book did not disappoint! It's another book set in the Northwest, which I enjoy. The author is a real forensic artist, so it's pretty interesting to read about through Gwen. 

I did find the plot line circling around Gwen's childhood a little odd. Mostly just her childhood. I think I could have done without that part. With everything else going on it was a little unnecessary. 

Overall this is a great read! If you like mystery and suspense, I don't think you'll be disappointed!

I have really enjoyed every book in the Gwen Marcey series. There is a lot of history and mystery in every book. I highly recommend checking them out!
Book one in the Gwen Marcey series.

Have you read any good books lately?

Five for Friday

Hello and welcome to my Five for Friday! I am linking up with Cup of Tea , Bright on a Budget, Della Devoted, and BYBMG!

1. I started going through my pictures from our Washington trip earlier this week and I am excited to share them! Here is one from our hike in Olypmic National Park. I just liked how the light was shining through the trees. 

2. My mom's birthday was earlier this week so I made and decorated this cake. It was so hot that the frosting kept melting as I was trying to pipe it onto the cake! It still tasted pretty good though!

3. On my mom's birthday we decided to go shopping! There is an outdoor mall nearby that we decided to go walk around. Fortunately it was somewhat cloudy so it wasn't too hot out. We went into Athleta, as I just wanted to try on their leggings to see if they really were all that great, and sure enough I really really liked them! My mom ended up buying me the High Rise Chaturanga Tights, which was very nice of her! They are so comfortable! I ended up going up a size as I do not like leggings to fit really tight, but they are really forgiving too. Thick, but not too thick. I can't wait for the weather to cool down so I can wear them! My mom also found some nice pants, so it was great that we were both able to find something!

4. So after we were at the mall we drove over to Michael's to look around. We get back out to my car and it won't start. The battery was totally dead! We called my sister to come give us a jump and luckily we caught her right between her getting off work and going to school. So we got a jump and headed over to Walmart to get a new battery. Luckily we were able to go right in and get it done and didn't have to wait. (So FYI, if you need a battery and if you buy one at Walmart, they install it for free.) 

Needless to say, sitting at Walmart getting a new car battery wasn't exactly how I wanted to spend the afternoon of my mom's birthday! But it is nice to have that done!

5. In case you missed it, I shared a recipe for soft maple & brown sugar granola! It's pretty good if I do say so myself!

Hope you have a great weekend!