death of a bachelor - panic! at the disco REVIEW!!!

hi everyone! as many of you know, i love panic!.  they are my favorite band (even though they aren't technically a band anymore since it's just brendon and all) and yeah.  i've been waiting for this album to come out since hallelujah came out, and i've been counting down the days since i had a release date to count down.  january 15th.  just make it until january 15th.  and i made it.  i'm going to review every song one-by-one and then the album as a whole.
1 / VICTORIOUS
tonight, we are victorious. champagne pouring over us.  all my friends were glorious.  tonight, we are victorious.
victorious is the perfect way to start this album.  it is a victory/party anthem that i promise you i am blasting at my graduation party.  it is very high beat, and has ridiculously catchy lyrics. victorious is also one of those songs you blast when you are working out to try and keep yourself motivated, you know? a "i need to lose 10 pounds by the end of the month and i need a song that will help me do that" song. (in my case anyway, lol)
2 / DON'T THREATEN ME WITH A GOOD TIME
i lost a bet to a guy in a chiffon skirt, but i make these high heels work.  
i told you time and time again, i'm not as think as you drunk i am.
good time by far has the best (funniest) lyrics out of the whole album.  this song is such a party ballad.  something you'd totally blast at a party where everyone is going crazy and getting drunk.  one of the best parts of this song (besides the lyrics) is the "rock lobster" sample that goes perfectly with this party ballad.
3 / HALLELUJAH
my life started the day i got caught, under the covers with second hand lovers.
hallelujah is a song about sin, and how nobody is perfect, and how everybody is a sinner.  and that is okay.  jump up, move your body, and scream "hallelujah"!!  this song has such an amazing beat that you find yourself dancing and clapping along to more often than not.  another fun, party ballad.
4 / EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES
welcome to the end of eras.....
this song screams halloween to me.  it may be because brendon turns into satan in the video, it may be the sound that makes me think of  "the nightmare before christmas", it can be anything about this song, honestly.  emperors has a super ghostly, creepy, halloweeny, feel to it in both the lyrics and the music.  truly a masterpiece.
5 / DEATH OF A BACHELOR
i'm walking the long road, watching the sky fall...
death of a bachelor is a total frank sinatra sounding song.  totally something that panic! has not done before. (every panic! album is very different) i can totally picture this song being played at an old bar, with girls in poofy dresses and crazy curly hair and guys in old, white button down shirts and jeans, with slicked back hair, dancing and singing along to this song.  with the wonderful sound of the beat, and the beautiful lyrics about brendon saying his farewell to his bachelor days, this song is the total package.
6 / CRAZY = GENIUS 
if crazy equals genius, then i'm a fucking arsonist.  i'm a rocket scientist.
crazy = genius is a very upbeat sinatra sounding song.  the beat makes you think of a circus, or an old disco.  the lyrics make you think it belongs in a old movie.  this song is something you jump up, sing, and dance along to, something i'd totally blast at a birthday or a dance.  one of my absolute favorites off of the album.
7 / LA DEVOTEE
drinking white wine in the blushing light, just another la devotee.
everytime i listen to this song, i feel like i'm driving on the streets in california.  neon lights shining behind the windows of the car, the palm trees laying over the city, the blue ocean waves crashing against the sand, i feel like i am in la.  i want to get in the car, and drive to beautiful los angeles california everytime i hear la devotee.  and, i miss la like crazy even though i was there in november, if you couldn't tell.
8 / GOLDEN DAYS
we'll stay drunk, we'll stay tan, let the love remain. and i swear that i'll always paint you, golden days.
golden days starts out with the lyric "i found a pile of polaroids in the crates of a record shop", which ultimately makes me think of polaroids and a record shop.  and a romance surrounded around polaroids and a record shop, which sounds like an amazing relationship.  the lyrics of this song are amazing.  i was instantly in love with this song the moment i heard the little snippet off ESPN that was all over tumblr.  it is lyrically beautiful, the sound is beautiful, the feeling i get when i listen to this song is beautiful, all of it is beautiful.  by far, my favorite song on the album.
9 / THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE DIRTY
if you want to start a fight, you better throw the first punch.  make it a good one.  
tgtbatd is a total fight song.  i can picture people sitting on old cars watching a massive fight happen while this song is playing.  with it's high beat and catchy lyrics, this song is very addictive and will get stuck in your head for a very long time.
10 / HOUSE OF MEMORIES
and when your fantasies, become your legacy, promise me a place, in your house of memories.
this song puts me on the verge of crying everytime i hear it. it is a very sweet love/breakup song talking about how even though we are miles apart and even if you become wildly successful, please remember me and all of our memories. this song is another one of my favorites on the album
11 / IMPOSSIBLE YEAR
there's no sunshine, there's no you and me, there's no good times, this impossible year.
impossible year is the perfect way to end this album.  this song sounds like it was sung my sinatra himself.  everything is awful and sad, this impossible year.

this album is amazing.  i feel the motions, the happy, the sad, and every little thing in between.  every lyric, every beat, every little thing about this album is amazing.  as much as i love this album, i still love too weird more.  but just because it's not my favorite panic! album doesn't mean it still isn't short of beautiful or amazing.


RATE/ 10/10
i recommend this album for anyone who is willing to listen!!

kisses! until next week! 
candi / savannah 

ways to stay relaxed / have personal time!

happy 2016! i haven't written on here since the beginning of october!  i had a lot happen the last couple of months, i'm not going to go into detail, but i took a break from any and all social media for a little bit.  now, i'm back and ready to get back into it all!
a goal i have had for the new year is to take more time for myself and not be on a screen all of the time.  so, since the new year, i've been taking an hour (sometimes longer) to do things off of a screen and to take time for myself, and i have found it has improved my mood, my headaches, and my sleeping patterns! so, i thought i would share with you all the things i do to have personal time and stay off of a screen!
1 - READ!!
i love reading.  but i never do it!  even if i do, i tend to opt for an online book then an actual, paper book.  i got some books for christmas, and i love to sit and read them!  i would recommend right now, to stop whatever you are doing, (unless you are just reading this post, then wait until the end and go do this) and go to your local library or bookstore, and get a book!! i promise you won't regret it!
2 - color in a coloring book
this one seems a bit odd, but trust me.  go get some colored pencils, a coloring book (whether it is an adult one or a kid one), turn all distractions off, and just sit and color!  it is tons of fun! not only does it bring back childhood memories and/or make you feel like a child again, but it also is super relaxing!
3 - write thoughts down/write in your journal
i love journal writing and would highly recommend it for anyone.  it helps to get all of your thoughts out of your head and onto paper and it makes it easy to reflect on your day.  another reason i would highly recommend journal writing is because it is so much fun to go and look back on your old journals and to see the progress you have made over the years.  i tend to start the week by writing down weekly goals, and during my hour of "no-screen" i write my thoughts, a lot like a "thought journal, or whatever else i want to write.  at night i write about my day and reflect back.
4 - take a nap
there are days where i feel lousy and sick and all i ant to do is lay in bed and sleep.  so that's what i do! nothing wrong with that.
5 - pamper
fun fact about me before i start this part of the post - i have never been to a lush store in my life! i don't have one where i live, and everytime i go shopping in the bigger towns around me, they don't have a lush wherever we go! how lame.  anyway, i love to pamper myself.  run a hot bath, stick a face mask on, put bubble bath or a knockoff bath bomb in the bath, and then just lay and relax for a bit.
6 - take a walk /bike ride/etc...
my whole downstairs is wood flooring.  so one of my absolute favorite things to do is put on my roller blades and ride them downstairs.  it is so much fun and so relaxing!  i also love to go on walks around my neighborhood.  hikes? not as much my style but also a very great idea.  i also love to ride my bike around as well.  try it!! it is really good to get out and get some fresh air.
7 - yoga / stretching / dancing / exercising
must-have!  i used to dance when i was younger, and i take a dance class at school, and it is soo much fun!  i love to sit and do yoga routines i found on pinterest, or sit and stretch, or to do some exercises! great way to relax as well as stay fit!
those are all the things i do to relax and that i would recommend to all of you! if you have any other ideas, please comment them down below, or tweet, instagram, email, or facebook them to me!! (links are all on the side bar!!)
i hope you all have an amazing week!
until i post again,
savannah/candi

young women / youth group activity ideas!

i was going to do a "september favorites", but as i was writing it, i realized i didn't have any.  so i'm writing this one instead.  i plan activities for a youth group every wednesday, and i find it super hard to do.  i always look on pinterest and youtube for ideas, but most of the time i'm out of luck!  here are some ideas i've done with my youth group that have really been a success.
1 / clothes swap
my youth group did this right before school started.  we had each one of the girls bring any clothes / shoes / jewelry that they didn't need, and had a swap!  one of the rules my advisor sat was that how ever many things you brought was how many things you got to pick out, so it was fair.  (ex-if you brought 2 things, you got to pick 2 things) if there is any left over, take it to your local d.i. / goodwill / thrift store.
2 / family feud
we came up with some questions, and "surveyed" our priesthood / relief society members for the answers.  we then split into 2 families, young men and young women.  we had a gameboard, a bell to ring, and a ton of fun!
3 / makeover 
we had a makeup artist in our ward who came in and taught us how to use our makeup / what products to use / how to clean/prepare our faces for makeup, and how to clean our brushes.  it was super fun and i got a ton out of it!
4 / card night
we had a youth leader (who loved cards) come and teach us how to play (appropriate) card games.  we played cards all night long!
5 / make your own pizza party
we had a make your own pizza party in the kitchen of our church.  we bought some already made (roll ) dough, sauce, cheese, and a ton of toppings, and made little tiny pizzas for everyone in the group!
6 / recipe exchange
around the end or the beginning is the best time to do this activity.  everybody is to bring 3 recipies of their choice, print out enough copies for everyone, and everybody gets to go and take some.
7 /  game night
perfect last-minute activity.  have everyone bring a board game of their choice, and play them! super simple and super fun.
8 / talent show
another fun one to do at the end of the year.  have each girl show a talent! it can be a dance, playing an instrument, singing, showing some artwork, whatever they want to do to show off their talents!
9 / temple pictures
the wednesday before school started, we went to the temple and took group pictures,  we went and had ice cream as a treat after.
10 / cupcake wars
this is a fun combined activity.  give each team some random ingredients (syrup, chocolate eggs, candy canes, oranges, etc) and give them a time limit to make cupcakes.  have the leaders be judges.  and decide a winner!
11 / diy night
have a night where you do a couple easy diys on pinterest.  super simple and easy!
12 / target scavenger hunt
split into teams, give each team a list of items they need to collect, and tell them not to be rude to customers while doing it.  first team that doesn't break the rules and comes back with all the stuff is the winner!
13 / grocery shopping list
give each member a $300 fake shopping budget, have them make a list, and take them to the grocery store.  see if all the groceries they get match their budget.  closest one wins!
14 / a "walk into your future"
we did this, and it was by far one of my favorite activities!  we had one room that was "the wedding room".  there was wedding photo albums, a wedding dress, wedding decor, flowers, and a wedding cake.  we went in and talked about everything that went into a wedding.  themes, dresses, flowers, venues, bridesmaids and groomsmen, receptions, etc.  we then walked into "the newlywed room".  it was filled with ramen noodles/macaroni and cheese, $200 worth of fake money, toilet paper, toothpaste, presents, wedding thank you cards, a christmas stocking, etc.  the ramen noodles and macaroni represent what you will more than likely be eating for a bit. the 200 dollars represented the "newlywed paycheck", the toilet paper and toothpaste represent the coomon debates, toilet paper over? or under?  squeeze the tube or roll the bottom of tube? ,  presents represent the little gifts your spouse will leave for you on occasion, wedding thank you cards, you get the point, and the christmas stocking represents the constant decision of which holiday will you spend which family with.  the last room was "the children's room".  toys and books scattered, baby books, backpacks / homework, dance costumes and baseball stuff, and so on.  we went into what it is like to have children, and the fun experiences that went along with it.  very fun, special activity.
15 / quilt night
we had a yw who had just recently lost her mom.  we put up a quilt and tied it. we then took fabric markers and we each wrote a message in each one of the squares for her.  it was very sweet and fun.
16 / birthday dessert
on each girls birthday, we take every one of the girls out for dessert.  each girl gets to pick a dessert, and eat it for each girls birthday.  it's easier then having to pick out gifts for them every year!

hope this post gave you some ideas on things to do for youth activities!
if you do any of these activities, please tweet or instagram photos (@candireviews) or email them to me candireviewsblog@gmail.com. i would love to see them!

review / queen of the clouds (blueprint edition) - tove lo

i was super excited when i heard this was coming out, now it's here!! now i'm gonna review it. because duh

i love tove. i've loved tove before the first queen of the clouds came out. i have a fan instagram for tove (@iamtovelo). if i say anything negative in this review, don't take it that i hate tove or anything, it is just my honest opinion! which is what i had intended when i started this blog. all honest opinions. i still love and support tove no matter what.

when i heard this was coming out, i thought this would be a lot like ellie goulding's "halcyon days", which was kinda like a part 2 to "halcyon". "halcyon days" was "halcyon" except with 5 new songs. i thought tove was going to do the same thing. put qotd and truth serum together, and add some new music. nope. this album is basically "queen of the clouds" and "truth serum" put together. which i thought was kinda lame. i already own "queen of the clouds" and "truth serum". why do i need them both on one album? in my honest opinion, blueprint was kind of a waste, since most of her fans already have all of this music. i'm not saying that the songs suck or that she sucks, i'm just saying that i would do it different.  i wouldn't have released it unless it had some new stuff on it, so long time fans weren't just getting a repeat of stuff.

rate 7/10

would i reccommend it? / if you have "queen of the clouds" and "truth serum", no. if you don't, absolutely.

review / all the bright places by jennifer niven

i remembered to post today! i feel so accomplished. i just finished this book (all the bright places by jennifer niven) and thought i would review it for all of you. hope this helps you all!

i am always looking for a good book. zoe sugg reccommended this one in a favorites video a while back, and i knew i had to read it. if you don't know what the book is about, it is about a boy named theodore (who goes by finch) and a girl named violet.  they both ended up on top of a bell tower with the same vision in mind, to end their lives.  i'm really into books about people who commit/want to commit suicide. i don't know why, don't ask. but something i really enjoyed about this book is finch and violet's thought process.  why finch hated his life and why he wanted to end it, and why violet wanted to do the same. like, finch is obsessed with knowing anything and everything about suicide.  he knows statistics, several different ways how to do it that i didn't even know, (and i know a lot!) and has read who knows how many articles and stories about suicide. it's kind of insane! violet has just been miserable since her sister died, and doesn't want to deal with the pain anymore. this book took a bit for me to get into, i struggled trying to start it. but as soon as i got into it, i couldn't stop reading it.  at the very end i started to struggle again, but then fell back into it. so, if you have trouble starting books, this one might not be for you.  it also talks a ton about suicide (and death in general) which i don't mind, but i know some people don't like reading about that.  in finch's chapters, there is a ton of swearing. (which again, i don't mind. if you know me personally you know i swear a ton.) so i wouldn't reccommend it to younger people. it is a young adult book, so i would say it would be for anyone older than 14.  it also goes into a ton of detail about sex and kissing, so it might not be your book if you don't like reading it.  overall review-not my favorite book, but for sure in the top 10. as soon as i got into it, i laughed with them, i cried with them, i freaked out with them, and i got angry with them and threw the book across the room on multiple occasions. i would reccommend it if you are into books with a little bit of smut, death talks, and language.

rate / 9/10

do i reccommend? / if you are okay with a bit of smut, language, and death talks, for sure!

review / panic! at the disco-victorious

2 blog posts in one day. what??? i was planning on blogging everyday this week, but i forgot to blog yesterday, so 2 today!

i have been anticipating this song since i first heard about it. i loved hallelujah and death of a bachelor, so i couldn't wait to see what this one sounded like. 

someone on twitter said that it's a mix between queen and panic! at the disco. which is exactly how i would describe victorious.  it's a different sound than the typical panic! at the disco, which is how hallelujah and death of a bachelor are, so i kinda expected it. when i first heard it, i surprisingly really liked it!! i'm not normally way into queen-type-sounding stuff, but the twist that they put on it really drew me in. it has been on repeat all day long (that includes right now) and it will be on repeat for a long time to come. 

rate / 10/10

would i reccommend it? / yes!

review / clean and clear advantage acne control moisturizer

i mentioned in my august favorites that i haven't been able to find any good moisturizers. i was wandering around the store and i saw this one. i half got it because it was $6, half because it had acne medicine in it, so its a moisturizer and a treatment in one. kill 2 birds with one stone, right? not really. i didn't like this moisturizer. i put it on before i went to bed, and when i woke up, there were tons of little baby whiteheads. at first i thought it was just a coincidence, so i used it for 2 more days. still, little baby whiteheads. when i quit using the product is when they went away.  although this moisturizer moisturised my skin well, the mass amounts of little spots is something i can't live with. 

rate / 4/10

would i reccommend it? / no