2019 has been a lot of different things. Happy, sad, exciting, stressful, nerve-wracking, and so much more! Here's my 2019 in review!

January
January is an interesting month. It's that weird time where there's nothing that you're really looking forward to other than the last day of winter. The weather just would not give us a break! However, it was also the month where I got back into blogging again after going through a little bit of writer's block. Not going to lie, January was kind of slow but I was glad to be stepping into the writing seat again!

February
What to say about February. I had to go deep in my journal archives for this one only to discover that all my then-14 year old self could talk about was school closures/delays and the fact that I really wanted Spring to come but was doubtful that it would because of how the weather was going. The things you find when you dig through time.

March
Finally things started happening in March. I was getting worried for a minute that nothing was ever going to happen. This month my stress levels skyrocketed. Why? 8th grade was about ready to give me a nervous breakdown. They just kept giving us essays and projects then you add Iowa Assessments on top of that. Spring break was a very nice and much-needed reprieve. That week was me catching up on sleep and not doing anything.

April
April brought so much nice weather! I just enjoyed the fact that the snow was gone for good! This month I was getting anxious for school to get out. After Christmas break I was pretty much done because there weren't anymore real breaks besides spring break in March. I feel that the first chance of the year is kind of boring for me because I've just gotten stuck in all the cold weather and school non-stop. Anyone else like that?

May
I loved May! It was finally getting warm for real and the feeling of summer was returning and it made me all giddy and excited. I put away my winter wardrobe for good which is one of my favorite pre-summer rituals. This month we also did a lot of shopping. Also another favorite pre-summer task. Love updating my closet for the new season. No complaints from me!

June
After many, many, many long months school was finally done! We celebrated by getting Coffee Attic, somewhere we always tend to end up on days like that. I started a job in June so I was really glad to finally have some money of my own. Dad and I made a trip to Illinois for the Abilities Expo. It's a giant weekend convention for people with disabilities and their families or caregivers. It's really cool. I was able to get my wheelchair serviced for free as long as they had the right parts. This is another cool thing because a basic check can cost a couple hundred dollars or a couple thousand. Toward the end of June we got confirmation that my new chair was almost ready to come get. More on that in July!

July
July was an eventful month. My new chair came and we went to a hot air balloon festival. If you haven't seen the chair yet, it's totally awesome.My favorite part is that it goes almost 9 miles an hour instead of six. Going slow annoys me so I was defiantly happy with the upgrade. After that, we all went to a balloon festival in Indianola. That was the highlight of the summer and a great way to end the month. 

August
August was both exciting and sad at the same time. My birthday came around, it was state fair season, and summer was ending all at the same time. I had a really fun time those last few weeks and high school started with less difficulty than I anticipated.

September
September finally gave us all a break. All there was on the calendar was volleyball and we were all grateful for the slower pace that wasn't very frequent in the summer. September is one of my favorite month's because of the weather. It stays pretty reasonable except for those rare days when it's super hot or cold. Personally, I'd love to live in September all year round.

October
October sort of dragged on for me. It started with homecoming which was a lot of fun but then the back to school "honeymoon period" wore off and I was kind of smacked in the face with reality. However, this month allowed me to catch up with myself and regroup so I could start getting things accomplished on all fronts.

November
The start of the holiday season is always chaotic.​ I know our house was full on Thanksgiving but it was so much fun! Here's a little insider tidbit. After Thanksgiving, my mom couldn't walk into the kitchen for a couple days because the amount of dishes and things that needed to be put away stressed her out to the max. After Thanksgiving concluded it was decided we'd be ordering pizza for Christmas dinner and eating lasagna for Christmas Day lunch. Sometimes you just need a break from all the non-stop cooking.

December
December was surprisingly nice this year. There weren't any crazy snowstorms and it was almost 60°F on Christmas. I'm waiting for January to laugh at us before it all just comes in the masses. December brought my family's craziness out in full force. My mom has a newfound love of TikTok (look it up if you don't know what it is). On Christmas Eve, my mom wanted my sisters to learn a TikTok video she had found. After many trials, MJ and Her friend Brandon finally got it which made my mom quite ecstatic. I have video evidence if you don't believe me.

There's my entire year in review. How'd yours go? Like you thought or totally different? Let me know!
-Caroline:)
YouTube: Caroline Hill
Pinterest: Caroline Hill
Twitter: @carolinegh16
Podcast: Convo''s With Caroline
Instagram: @carhill765 and @fahionfunandextra
Facebook: Caroline Hill and Fashion Fun and Extra
FabFitFun: I'm a #fabfitfunaffiliate now! Click this link and use code WINTERFUN for $10.00 your first box!

Welcome back everyone! I hope you had a great holiday with friends in family! My Christmas was pretty hectic but now that it's subsided I can finally sit down and talk to you all about what I got this year. Christmas Eve in our family is when the gift-giving starts. We do a gift exchange game and open up one gift. For the exchange game I got a pair of socks and a string of Christmas lights that's actually a phone charger. The gift that all the kids get is matching pajamas and a Christmas-themed book. You can see everything I got in my newest YouTube video. 
Christmas Day was both busy and chill at the same time. Everyone was up by 9:30 or 10:00 so we were able to get going earlier. I'm the youngest so I got to start the unwrapping. In the end, here's what I finished with: 

Makeup Organizer: This was very much appreciated! I got on off Amazon earlier in the year but I've accumulated so much that I needed a new one already.

Pajamas: I'm a sucker for pajamas and comfy clothes so I can always count on one or two new outfits. In this case, another pair of pajamas.

Sweater and Sweatpants: Like I said, I love soft things and I got exactly what I needed in that department. Sweatpants that are really warm and a new sweater that's all fuzzy and soft. Nothing like braving winter in style!

​Starbucks Cup: I've determined that I have a water bottle addiction because this new cup makes my collection a grand total of six. I'm thinking I'll stop here because The Starbucks cup I got is a glittery version so it seems like a fitting end.

Makeup Organizer: I got another makeup organizer! I'm telling you, these were necessary for my sanity. Things were just piling up everywhere so I needed new storage option. This one is tall and spins like a Lazy Susan.

Blanket: I got another fuzzy and soft thing. A new blanket! Blankets are one of my favorite things because they're not only cozy but they're really fun, simple decorative pieces.

Bed Set: The last time I got a new bed set was my 12th birthday. I absolutely loved it. However, it was losing it's appeal to me and I just needed something fresh and a little more grown up. This one comes with a reversible comforter. One side is blue with white circles and the other is all white with black flower stitching. It also came with two pillow cases with the same two sided patterns as well as two throw pillows. I love!

Face Mask: This gift is kind of a tradition almost. MJ always gets us face masks and they're always nice ones. This year I got a hydrating mask.

Keychain: One thing I collect constantly: keychains. They're really cool and it's nice to look back on the memories associated with them. My newest addition is a Leo keychain which is my birth sign.

Gift Cards: Take me on a shopping spree any day and I'll be happy but take me on a book shopping spree? I'll throw a party. I got not one but three $10.00 gift cards to Barnes and Noble. That's $30.00 all for books. I'm in heaven.

Socks: I got another pair of socks! This is another favorite not just because they're soft and warm but the circulation to my lower legs and feet is really bad. To keep them regulated, I have to wear really thick socks, even in the summer.

New Phone: I went from an iPhone 7 to an iPhone 11 so fast. The three of our phones were slowly ceasing to work because they were getting older. We all needed new ones but none of us were expecting any because our plans weren't up yet. Then, all of a sudden, there we were unwrapping them!

Stocking Gifts: This year's stocking had chocolate, fake nails, and a budget book inside. I was a little overly excited about the budget book but that's besides the point.

There's my haul! This holiday season was a fun one! I just posted a brand new YouTube video that's also on here under the "YouTube". tab so go check it out for a visual look at all of this.

Happy Holidays and New Year! 
-Caroline:)
YouTube: Caroline Hill
Pinterest: Caroline Hill
Podcast: Convo's With Caroline
Twitter: @carolinegh16
Instagram: @carhill765 and @fashionfunandextra
Facebook: Caroline Hill and Fashion Fun and Extra
FabFitFun: I'm a #fabfitfunaffiliate now! Click this link and use code WINTERFUN for $10.00 off your first box!

Hi friends! I hope you're staying warm out there and enjoying the holiday season. Since winter has officially started I thought I'd kick off the new season by talking about my latest FabFitFun box! The things I got this time around probably won't be what others have gotten since FabFitFun is completely customizable. This box is probably my all-time favorite so without further ado, let's dive into this season's box!

1.) Vera Mona Color Switch Makeup Brush Cleaner- Retail Price $16.99
This has been a lifesaver! All I have to do is run each brush through the cleaning pad and all the product I used will be removed. That's it! No other cleaning tools necessary. Just wash it once a week in water and wait for it to dry. This is an item that won't be in every box because this is a select member-only customization.

2.) Rebecca Minkoff Marled Arm Warmer and Beanie Set- Retail Price $70.00
This beanie and arm warmer set has been a great addition to my winter attire. Not only are they stylish but super warm! Personally, I really enjoy that the arm warmers are fingerless rather than closed entirely. It makes using my phone easier and putting them on is a much smoother process. Due to some of the effects from my cerebral palsy the muscles in my hands- especially my fingers are very tight so not having to deal with individual finger spaces is really nice. This is a customization that everyone had the option to choose.

3.) DryBar Prep Rally Prime and Prep Detangler Spray- Retail Price $23.00
A little fact about me. I have a mess of tangly hair when I wake up in the morning. No matter what I do it always happens. By now, I was lost on what to do but then this spray by Drybar came into the mix. One of the best haircare items I've ever seen or used. Just a few pumps over damp hair and a quick brush through then you go on with your day. Speed and efficiency is a great combination at 7 am. This is an item that came in everyone's box.

4.) Makeup Eraser in Original Pink- Retail Price $20.00
I didn't know this existed until I saw it sitting in my box but I'm glad I have it now. This small cloth is total magic. All you have to do is add water and it wipes away a whole day's worth of makeup. It eliminates the use of multiple makeup wipes and is much safer for the skin. There's no dyes, chemicals, or other additives. This item was also another that everyone got in their box.

5.) Beauty Bakerie Proof is in the Pudding Eye Shadow Palette- Retail Price $38.00
I'm always on the hunt for new makeup. This palette is perfect for day and night because it's full of warm, neutral tones. The colors look great on the eyes and have plenty of pigment. Look out for future tutorials online to see the colors in person. This item is another customization for select members only.

6.) Battington Lashes Fake Eyelash Set- Retail Price $32.00
Full transparency here. I've never tried fake lashes before. I saw these in my customization choices and I said, "Yes, I need those." In person, they're stunning but also not too flashy. They come with their own glue and can be used up to 25 times. Look out for these in future looks too. This was a customization that everyone had the option to choose.

7.) Ban.do Bluetooth Shower Speaker- Retail Price $35.00
Who else likes to sing in the shower or at least play some of your favorite songs? This speaker is perfect for that. It's waterproof and has a suction cup so you can attach it right to your shower wall. I can say for certain that the product and sound quality is phenomenal! This item was another customization that everyone had the option to choose.

8.) Cuccio Somatology Calm + Clean Epsom Salt Hand and Body Wash- Retail Price $39.95
There were two mystery items you could get. A hand mask or this dual wash. I got the second option and I'm so glad. My skin gets dry and cracked much more easily in the winter so this has been an absolute blessing. I really like using it in the shower because it locks in moisture immediately so my skin doesn't get dry the second I get out like in the past. On top of that, the ingredients are natural and are all added to benefit your body in some way.

9.) My Add-ons
Add-ons are things you can add to your box outside of the customizations offered that season. You have to pay extra for those but add-ons are discounted by up to 70% for some members. This season, I got 4 add-ons that totaled $34. Three were technology cases by Mytagalongs. A computer, headphone, and charger case. The fourth was a floral travel coffee mug by XO, Sienna.

That's my entire box this season! If you would like more information on FabFitFun, there are two really good blog posts that I've done in the past. One is called, "You'll Thank Me Later" and the other, "Worth While Subscription Boxes". If you need no more persuading, you're in luck! I'm a #fabfitfunaffiliate so head to this link and use code WINTERFUN to get $10.00 off your first box.
-Caroline:)
YouTube: Caroline Hill
Pinterest: Caroline Hill
Twitter: @carolinegh16
Podcast: Convo's With Caroline
Facebook: Caroline Hill and Fashion Fun and Extra
Instagram: @carhill765 and @fashionfunandextra

Everyone's favorite is back! It's time for this month's top five books. For December, I tried to pick some of my all-time favorites since it is the end of the year. Can anyone else believe that? It's almost 2020! With that in mind, these five books are ones you should check out before ringing in the new year!

#5: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry
This book is a fast read but it's filled with awesome writing. The story is based on a girl named Cady who starts off the book with amnesia and she's being held hostage in a cabin where one of her captors is getting ready to kill her. Cady escapes and spends the rest of the book trying to figure out who she is and why all of this is happening to her. The story takes a little time to really pick up but after the first few chapters, you'll never want to put it down.

​#4: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Read this if you're really into history or if you like sad books with happy endings. It's based on a Jewish family from World War II who get separated and put into different concentration camps. The entire book is told from the daughter's perspective and it's a really cool view and adds to the story's emotional side. Definitely recommend!

#3: To All the Boy's I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
This one's just a feel-good book. It's cute and corny at the same time which is the perfect combination for a lazy weekend read if I do say so myself. The characters are sweet and the storyline is pretty calm so if you don't like really heavy material, this is probably a good choice for you.

#2: Into the Dim by Janet Taylor
I love this book! The storyline is so interesting and you'll never want to put it down. It's based on a family who've been able to time travel for generations. Hope, the main character, goes back in time to save her mother who's trapped in the twelfth century. She only has seventy-two hours to do so but any mistake she makes could alter the course of history. Throughout the novel, Hope is trying to figure out why a boy she meets is oddly familiar and that sets her on a course to discover the truth behind her own history.

#1: Ambush by James Patterson
I'm actually in the middle of this one right now but so far I'm enjoying it. I love any James Patterson novel so I have to include one when I can-even if I haven't read it all the way yet. There's something about his writing style that's refreshing. Every book of his is different. The plots, the characters, the setting, nothing is the same but they're all connected through the author. Personally, I find it really cool when someone can be in the same writing genre but can always produce different things. Some get in a rut of making each book the same story just with different names so when you find one that says away from that, it's really nice. 

That's all for this month! I'll see you all in the new year for another edition of "Caroline's Book Club" that you can add to your shelf. Stay warm and happy holidays!
-Caroline:)

YouTube: Caroline Hill
Pinterest: Caroline Hill
Twitter: @carolinegh16
Podcast: Convo's With Caroline
Facebook: Caroline Hill and Fashion Fun and Extra
Instagram: @carhill765 and @fashionfunandextra
FabFitFun: I'm a #fabfitfunaffiliate! Use code WINTERFUN at this link to get $10.00 off your winter box!

Happy December! I'm working on this month's newsletter and am hoping to have it up by the end of the week (sign up for yours if you haven't). While you're waiting, enjoy this new post all about this season's hottest topic. Gifts! Whether you like getting, giving, or both there's bound to be a few snags in the process. From not knowing what to get to what's too extreme versus what's not, the whole gift-giving task can be a tad stressful. But because I'm nice, I'm going to share some of my favorite gifts as well as some others that the internet recommends. 

Books/Magazines
No matter the age of the person you're buying for, books or magazines are never a bad option. Personally, I love mystery books and my favorites are the ones by James Patterson. With this gift idea you really have to think about the personality and likes of the person you're getting it for. If you buy a random book there's a greater chance of it being given away or set on a shelf. To think or not think. That's the trick here.

Charging Hub
Charging hubs are super popular right now. Basically, they allow you to charge all your devices in one place at one time. From what I've seen charging hubs are mostly for apple products but I'm 99% certain they'll work for anything. If money's an issue check amazon or eBay. I found one on amazon for $20 but there's probably cheaper ones than that even.

Bedroom Decor
Everyone loves to decorate their bedroom and then re-decorate it again. For aspiring interior designers or people who like to change things up once and awhile, gift them some fun things for their room. Pick new bed sets, sitting area accessories, and more of what complements their style and age. A room should be a fun, relaxing retreat. Make it that for under $50 by heading to Target, Home Goods, Pottery Barn, and any other favorite stores.

Beauty Essentials
This could be anything. Skincare, makeup, haircare, anything under the realm of beauty. Everyone, guys included, needs some extra love occasionally. Along with typical hair and skin problems, issues can arise at any point. Help out everyone on your list by giving them an arsenal of tools to help them deal with whatever's happening under their skin or in their hair. Even if this type of thing isn't on someone's list, they'd probably really appreciate it because things like acne and oily skin wait for no one.

Hobby Kits
These are great things that you can make yourself for cheap. For the art lovers, builders, tech nerds, fashionistas, and sports obsessed, make kits that are dedicated just for them. Throw in some new things or pass some things down. When things are customized to one particular person and it's not something universally sold, that gift is one that's most remembered throughout the years.  

Organizers
This may be something that only I would love but you never know who would really enjoy or benefit from organizers. Probably nearly everyone on your list if you think about it. I'm not too sure about everyone else reading this but in my case this is not only a want but a need because my makeup organizer currently is about ready to explode and is slowly running out of room. Not only do they keep your things in one place but they're also a great space saver by limiting clutter. Organizers can be anything really. You just need to make sure that what you get matches what that person needs.

Subscriptions
There's so many of these now. They're for moms, dad's, kids, siblings, grandparents, pets even! I get two subscriptions. Sephora Play which is strictly just makeup. Every month, I get six sample-sized items for only $10.00 a month. Makeup products range from Tarte to Urban Decay to Sephora. The next one I get is FabFitFun. This one I LOVE. Each season, I get 8-10 full-sized products (which never happens in 97% of other subscription boxes) valued at over $200.00. This box comes seasonally and either costs $49.99 per season or $150.00 per year. Another reason why this box is so cool is that it's entirely customizable. That means you get to pick every item in your box. My winter box came last week so I'll be diving into what I got either next week or the week after.

That wraps up this week's post! I hope you enjoyed my little gift guide and make sure to comment some of your favorite gift ideas or any other questions. Have a great weekend and stay warm this week!
-Caroline:)
Instagram: @carhill765 and @fashionfunandextra
Facebook: Caroline Hill and Fashion Fun and Extra
Twitter: @carolinegh16
YouTube: Caroline Hill
Pinterest: Caroline Hill
Podcast: Convo's With Caroline 
I'm a #FabFitFunAffiliate! Like what you read above? Click this link and use code WINTERFUN at checkout to get $10.00 off your box. Order soon so it gets here before Christmas!