WONDER WOMAN: AN UNDER THE RADAR FEMINIST PIECE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION

When the credits rolled on Wonder Woman, my mom turned to me and asked,

"Do you think it's a coincidence that this movie came out when it did?"

Taking Literature Into Film last semester taught me two major lessons:

1. Every film/TV show is an adaptation of a book (at least, it seems that way)

2. Every film is made when it's made for a reason (i.e. historical, social, and/or cultural context)

That second lesson in particular is why I was able to reply confidently with a big, fat...

"Hell no!"

Sure, this movie may have been "in the making" for a long time. But there's no doubt in my mind that it finally came to fruition when it did for good reason. In a world where women still have to battle every day to protect the rights and opportunities that we've worked tirelessly to secure, it's only appropriate for a kick ass character to make her glorious return.

And boy, has she ever. 

Before we go any further, here's my disclaimer:

I have no problem admitting that I enjoy superhero movies as much as the next person. Thor, Suicide Squad (though it definitely had its issues), Doctor Strange, The Avengers.

Don't even get me started on Batman vs. Superman though...the best part of the three torturous hours was Wonder Woman's introduction!

What I'm getting at here is that while I've enjoyed the films, I didn't exactly take anything away from them. Good for entertainment, not so good for anything greater than just that. It just always felt like something was missing. 

I'm happy to report that Wonder Woman did so much more than entertain me.

Although, it most definitely did that too!

Yes, the film packed in explosions, fight scenes, and a nefarious villain (or two) like your typical Marvel/DC movie does during its 2-ish hour runtime. The scene where Diana is fighting her way across the front, deflecting bullets and bombs backed by her male counterparts, epitomizes these elements but there's something different about it. 

In fact, there's something different about all of the fight scenes in the film. Diana and her counterparts work together rather than one trying to overpower the other. 

Yes, Diana is more powerful than Steve or his friends (she is a demigod after all...) and that fact is awesomely highlighted. Yeah, she usually goes ahead of the others because she's much better equipped weapon-wise and training-wise.

She did throw an effing TANK, after all.

And honestly, the name of the film is Wonder Woman, so CLEARLY we're all there to watch Wonder Woman to kick some serious booty.

But, Diana, Steve, and their friends are always looking out for each other and doing their best to support the cause in the best way that they can. 

The buzzword/concept surrounding this movie is without a doubt "feminism", and the feminist in me is jumping up and down out of pure happiness!

When it boils down to it, feminism is all about equality for the sexes, not putting women above anyone else. The way that Diana, Steve, and their counterparts function as a successful unit is a perfect example of this. 

Don't get me wrong, the thought of a strong female character like Diana kicking ass 24/7 does make me tear up a bit. But so does the way that Steve and Diana's relationship unfolded.

Personally, I didn't want to see a sex scene between Diana and Steve. And weirdly enough, I'm glad I didn't see one. I love a good sex scene as much as the next gal, and while it was clear plot-wise that their relationship was headed somewhere steamy, it didn't feel right to see that on the big screen. The relationship between the two characters seemed genuine and special (unusual for a superhero movie but much appreciated) and I respect the director's decision to omit whatever happened after the kiss we did get to see. Sometimes not seeing something says more than seeing it, and this was one of those times for sure.

For once, a female superhero was so much more than just eye candy. Gal Gadot is virtually the most beautiful woman on the planet, and we all know this to be true from watching Wonder Woman. Unlike other female superheroes, Diana is coveted for more than just her beauty; her wit, intelligence, and selflessness are what truly make her a desirable character.

A superhero film practically free from the "male gaze" that pervades every other Marvel/DC film, thanks to director Patty Jenkins, the shots focus on impressive leg sweeps and sword-swinging arms rather than jiggling breasts.

Speaking of jiggling, can we talk about the fact that Diana's thigh actually jiggled when she hit the ground?!

#RealThighsJiggle

I could go on and on about Wonder Woman, and I'll probably write more about it when I can cohesively synthesize my thoughts, but for now I'll leave it at that.

I'm so happy we live in a world where girls and women have a role model like Gadot's Wonder Woman to look up to. As a woman, I couldn't help but get misty-eyed watching a film made by a woman that featured some seriously bad-ass women and some bad-ass men as well. There's no doubt in my mind that this movie couldn't have come at a better time. We needed this. We still have a long way to go, but this is definitely a jump and a huge leap in the right direction.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, BLAH: TWO THUMBS DOWN FOR TARTE

Hi everyone! I don't know about you, but I've been watching beauty videos on Youtube for about 2 years now and everyone who tries Tarte's Lights, Camera, Flashes mascara raves about it! Considering all of this great feedback and my previous positive experiences with the brand, I've always wanted to try this mascara out for myself. So, when I opened my December Ipsy bag I was pleasantly surprised to find a sample size of Lights, Camera, Flashes inside!

Now, let me preface this review by saying this: I like high end mascaras and I don't have a problem with paying more for them because usually they are better quality than those you find at the drugstore. However, my experience with Tarte's Lights, Camera, Flashes was not on par with any high end mascara I've tried and definitely not on par with my favorite drugstore mascara Maybelline's Pumped Up Colossal. I've always struggled with finding a mascara that keeps my lashes curled, and that's why I love Pumped Up Colossal so much! It is the only mascara (high end or drugstore) that I've found personally that doesn't weigh my lashes down, and for that I'm eternally grateful. On that note, when I used Lights, Camera, Flashes I could tell right away that my lashes were droopy and heavy. Even though I curled my lashes before applying the mascara, my lashes were weighed down significantly and therefore had no curl whatsoever. Honestly, I was disappointed by this outcome because I was really looking forward to finally trying out this mascara that I've heard so many people rave about! Maybe my lashes are the problem and it's not the mascara's fault, but sadly I will not be using it again as the results were disastrous. The moral of this story? Sometimes more money doesn't mean better results...in this battle, drugstore is the winner! ;)

Have you tried Tarte's Lights, Camera, Flashes? What are your experiences with it? I'd really love to know, comment down below and tell me!

until next time,

AN INAUGURAL BOOK REVIEW: THRONE OF GLASS BY SARAH J. MAAS

Hi everyone! This is my very first book review on Essentially Shannon, and I couldn't be more stoked! I'm thankful for Thanksgiving break because I actually had a chance to read some books that I've been wanting to read for so long (kind of ironic because as an English major i'm constantly reading...) But on that note, I (literally, like two hours ago) just finished Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas so here is my review! :)

Hold on a second, can we just take a second to marvel at how beautiful this cover is? I know it's what's inside a book that's important, but come on. This cover is AMAZING. You don't even have to open the book to know it's going to be crazy good. I mean, you should open the book and read it...but just wait till after my review, okay? ;)

I feel like before I tell you what I thought of this book that I should just say: Harry Potter is, and will always be, my favorite book series. Nothing can ever compare. That's just how it is for me, literature wise. So, when a book/series even comes anywhere close to my love for Harry Potter, you know it has to be good. And this book does not disappoint in any way.

Okay, with that little disclaimer out of the way, let's get into this (spoiler free) review. First of all, you're probably wondering, "Shannon, what is this book even about?" Oh, I'll tell you what it's about. Throne of Glass follows Celaena Sardothien, aka the most kickass female protagonist in any book ever, an 18 year old assassin who is imprisoned in the salt mines of Endovier while she serves out her sentence for the plethora of crimes she has committed. One day, everything changes when the Crown Prince arrives and offers Celaena her freedom, but with a catch: she will compete against other fugitives to become the King's Champion, the royal assassin who does the king's bidding without question. If she emerges victorious, she will be granted her freedom after four years of servitude as the royal assassin.

Upon her arrival in Adarlan, Celaena begins her training and things seem to be going pretty well. Although she pretends to be somewhat incompetent in front of the men she is competing against, it becomes clear that Celaena is the front runner to win the competition. However, her competitors start to be murdered one by one and Celaena discovers that something truly evil is lurking among them.

I know, I know, that synopsis is kind of vague but it has to be because I don't want to give anything important away! And plus, I really want you to read the book! ;) For me, this book started out a little bit slow (but really, what book doesn't) but once I got past the introduction of the world and the characters, I was hooked! Like I said earlier, Celaena Sardothein is the most kickass female protagonist ever. I mean for one, she's an assassin. And two, she doesn't take anyone's crap. And three, she wears beautiful clothes and Dorian the Crown Prince is in love with her. So, I mean what's not to like. 

I thought the plot was great, it kept me interested and there were a few red herrings, which always makes for an interesting read! The world building was pretty extensive (it is the first book in a series, after all) but I enjoyed getting to learn about the different kingdoms and I can't wait to learn more. In my opinion, for fantasy series in particular, creating an interesting world with an intriguing story and mythology is one of the hardest things to do but Maas went about it really well. This book is considered "romance" as well, and the romantic aspect was one of my favorite parts surprisingly. Usually, I am leery of romance in YA fantasy books because it tends to be cheesy or just plain annoying (cough Twilight cough) But, I am a huge fan of Celaena and Dorian (Delaena? Can we make that happen?) Their conversations were by far some of my favorite scenes in the book, and I can't wait to see where the next book takes their relationship.

Speaking of the next book (Crown of Midnight, if you're wondering), I loved Throne of Glass so much that I bought it immediately after I finished and I plan on starting to read it...oh, right after I finish this blog post! If I had to give Throne of Glass a rating, I would easily give it a 4.5 out of 5 starts! It's definitely up there on my list of favorite series and I can't wait to start the next book! If you're looking for a great fantasy read, I would most definitely recommend it!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7896527-throne-of-glass

until next time,

I'LL TAKE ONE IN EVERY COLOR: NYX SOFT MATTE LIP CREAM

Hi everyone! I took a little trip to Ulta the other day and, per usual, I drifted towards the NYX display. (It's so cheap, how can I resist?!) On a whim, I picked up the Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo. I would describe it as a cranberry color, perfect for fall! :) Now that I get to wake up an hour later on school days (I miss you yoga, but I don't miss waking up at 6!), I find myself willing and able to put more effort into my makeup look for school. I've been quite interested in finding some new lip products to try out because there are some truly beautiful fall colors out there! I'll admit it: I hate lipstick just as much as I hate lip gloss. Lip gloss is sticky and so impractical, and to be quite honest (I'm sure most of you will agree, especially if you're a student) I'm not conscious or time-savvy enough in the morning to spend 10 minutes struggling to put on lipstick!

Here is the color on me! I know, strange background...I have to go where the light is! ;)

This product is absolutely AMAZING. Why, you ask? Well, for one this product goes on like an absolute dream! It has a doe-foot applicator which makes putting it on (and reapplying) super easy! I'd say it probably takes me about 20 seconds to put on, which is such an improvement compared to how long it takes me to put on a lipstick. Another reason why I love it so much is because it legit smells like cake. So yummy! The formula in itself is great, it's a matte lip cream so it drys and makes your lips look wonderful. I wore it for about 6 hours at school today, and I only had to reapply once because I ate and drank. Today a girl in one of my classes complimented me while I was wearing it :) I love this product so much I plan on buying it in every color! No joke.

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod3020045

Have you tried the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream? Would you try it? What's your favorite fall lip color? Let me know in the comments!

until next time,

PUMPKIN PIE, SEXY MEN, AND LAVENDER, OH MY!: HEMLOCK SPRINGS SOAPS REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Hi everyone! This past weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting Karen Steuer, the owner of Hemlock Springs Soaps. She runs her bath and body business out of her home in New Hampshire and concocts all kinds of lovely smelling lotions, potions, and of course soap! ;) I've said in past posts that I prefer to use natural products (beauty, bath, body), and this fact is what attracted me to Karen's line in the first place! She uses ingredients like goat's milk, fruit, almonds, essential oils, honey, and olive oil (all of which nourish your skin in different ways!) Another thing I love about Hemlock Springs Soaps is that they donate soap to local shelters for people in need! Karen is also local to my area, and I love supporting small businesses :) She was kind enough to give me a few of her products to try out and review, so that's exactly what I'm going to do today! Also, Hemlock Springs Soaps is sponsoring a giveaway for all of you, so stay tuned to the end to find out how to enter to win a soap and lotion of your choice to try out ;)

The first product that I tried, I actually don't have a picture of because it is currently in my shower! The soap I chose to try out is called Sexy Man Soap...yep you read that right! It's quite a musky smell, as it contains amber and vanilla. It is slightly spicy, and definitely manly. But I'm weird and I like that kind of smell, even though I know it's not for everyone! What I like about the soap is that the smell lingers for a while after you get out of the shower :)

Product number two is one of Hemlock Springs' Olive Oil and Honey cream lotion, and of course I chose Pumpkin Pie because I'm a typical white girl and I LOVE PUMPKIN. And plus, it's that time of year now, so it's appropriate to smell like pumpkin pie ;) Once again, a nice spicy fall scent, and it also lingers like the soap! The consistency is nice and it feels moisturizing on the skin!

Next, we have a whipped shea butter! As you can see on the label, this product is pure and simple: only 3 ingredients! It smells like lavender, which is one of my favorite scents :)

The whipped shea butter comes in this cute tiny pot! I use it on my hands but I suppose you can use it pretty much anywhere on your body that needs moisturizing. The best thing about this product is that it isn't greasy at all like some butters can be.

The last product that I chose was this Tea Tree and Mint lip balm, and I adore it! I am obsessed with putting on lip balm, and this one smells so yummy! It kind of reminds me a little bit of an Andes mint. Nice and creamy, goes on like a dream :)

Now onto the part that everyone is waiting for: the giveaway! The winner will win their choice of a bar soap (cough sexy man cough) and an Olive Oil and Honey cream lotion (scents include almond, dazzleberry, and nag champa...intrigued yet?) The giveaway starts right now, and ends October 6th at 12 a.m. EST, so enter away! I'll link down below to the Hemlock Springs Soaps website so you can peruse all the goodies ;)

Good luck!

http://www.hemlockspringssoaps.com

until next time,

a Rafflecopter giveaway