tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65395231353542163952024-03-14T01:58:25.871-05:00The Adventures of DanaDanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-2873437867882779902016-06-03T11:01:00.001-05:002016-06-03T11:01:33.110-05:00It's Been A WhileThanks have been crazy for the past couple of years but I'm finally getting back to blogging!<br />
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Life Updates:<br />
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*I spent 6 weeks in Shanghai as an Au Pair before becoming very ill and having to return home. Tidbit- Don't get pooped on by a bird there, that stuff is toxic and burns your skin.<br />
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*I'm on the Board of the Friends of the Mayville Public Library. Treasurer to be exact. We raise money for the library so that they/we can buy anything they need. We also get items for donations, fundraisers, collections, etc.<br />
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*I'm back working at a daycare, which makes me a little sad. However, it's a job & kids are cool.<br />
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*I've been going through a lot with my anxiety and depression. It's been years and still have not had much luck in the medication department.<br />
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*I finished The Crown's Game last week and am torn about how I feel about it. Before that, I read Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake and This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab and both were to die for!<br />
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Let me know you're thoughts!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-74318019542767871582013-10-22T20:46:00.002-05:002013-10-22T20:46:43.095-05:00What's Up?Goodness Gracious! I've sure let my blog slip to the wayside. I've been otherwise preoccupied; working, living, daydreaming. You know how it goes. I'm sure I'll have to participate soon in a blog hop, I kind of miss that!<br />
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Otherwise, I shall do a short recap of life since February:<br />
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March: Slipped on ice, got a concussion. Mood issues, Major sound sensitivity, Inability to form sentances and think clearly. Head and neck aches.<br />
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April: I finally got back to work after a month off.<br />
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May: It was my mom's birthday. That's all I can recall about May. Oh yes, also- my boss at work announced she was leaving. So me and two other ladies took over her duties. Now I do scheduling, payroll, invoicing, in addition to my normal job of watching children!<br />
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June: Work and Life.<br />
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July: There were fireworks. Ooooh. Ahhhh.<br />
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August: Work, field trips. On one, we went to the Horicon Marsh. So, out of a group of 4-8 year olds, I'm the only one who screamed at a bug.<br />
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September: I turned 28. Put purple/pink streaks in my hair.<br />
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October: Current month! Trick or Treat is on Saturday!<br />
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And that's that folks!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-74499092206142513122013-02-25T09:17:00.002-06:002013-02-25T09:19:51.403-06:00Oscars!Last night was my favorite night of the year, Oscar night! Though I did enjoy Seth MacFarlane as host (I loved his joke about Daniel Day Lewis freeing Don Cheadle), I felt that the show just draaaaagged on! And for me, it wasn't the show that caused my feelings of boredom, it was all of the commercial breaks! I found it overly frustrating... I understand that commercials are how things are paid for, but when the show is running over there really isn't any need to go to a commercial break every 5 minutes!<br />
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Moving on, did you see those dresses? BEAUTIFUL! Nothing really screamed "Worst Dressed" to me, which I found refreshing. Of course there were dresses that were just 'eh' (Kerry Washington in Miu Miu, Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta, Olivia Munn). My biggest disappointment of the night was Anne Hathaway in Prada. It was so incredibly blah...<br />
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On to my favorites!</div>
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Naomi Watts in Armani Prive. She looked amazing, I loved how the dress was cut and it was sparkly!</div>
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Amanda Seyfried in Alexander McQueen. Simply stunning!</div>
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Jessica Chastain in Armani Prive. Classic in copper!</div>
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Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture. I'll admit that I wasn't too fond of it when I first saw it. I'm just not a fan of uber-mermaid dresses. But the light pink is great, I love the subtle print on the dress, and she looked great! Plus, I kind of loved that she tripped (not in a mean way, but in a 'that's why she's my fake bff' way)</div>
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On a random fashion note. Zoe Saldana. Is it just me, or did her dress last night seem overly reminiscent of her 2010 Oscar dress? It's basically a toned down version... (2013 on left, 2010 on right) I'm not a fan of either. Thoughts?</div>
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Honorable best dressed mentions: Sandra Bullock, Stacy Keibler, Halle Berry.</div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-87348445507596129382013-01-07T14:01:00.000-06:002013-01-07T14:11:13.565-06:00YA Faeries & Fantasy Giveaway Hop<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Fantasy. It's one of my favorite things. To many people, I'm sure fantasy means faeries and unicorns and far off magical places. And that is fantasy. But fantasy can also refer to anything that is based in the actual present or past. Dystopian... fantasy. Science Fiction... fantasy. Most Romance novels... fantasy. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Because of my love of fantasy, I was really excited to participate in this particular hop! I have a couple things to give away!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">I have two books & a set of bookmarks to give away and will pick a winner for each...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">First up, is a bookplate signed copy of Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QJ62NFzutEs/UOkAo_jfe2I/AAAAAAAAAK4/LoM5XDTZcY4/s1600/DSCF1228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QJ62NFzutEs/UOkAo_jfe2I/AAAAAAAAAK4/LoM5XDTZcY4/s200/DSCF1228.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qMWCqlcjLZU/UOj_2dt9jBI/AAAAAAAAAKs/1Yhj0XiXbVk/s1600/tigers+curse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qMWCqlcjLZU/UOj_2dt9jBI/AAAAAAAAAKs/1Yhj0XiXbVk/s200/tigers+curse.jpg" width="129" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Passion. Fate. Loyalty.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Would you risk it all to change your destiny?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Second up, is my ARC of Shades of Earth by Beth Revis. It comes out January 15 and is the third book in the Across the Universe trilogy (</span><span style="color: #351c75;">now, since that's the last day of the giveaway, you won't receive it before the book is actually released. But hey, it's still an ARC and ARC's are pretty awesome!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship</span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Godspeed</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Godspeed</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">'s former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">FUELED BY LIES.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">RULED BY CHAOS.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">ALMOST HOME.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Lastly, you can enter to win some bookmarks. The first one is signed by Jessica Spotswood and it promotes Born Wicked and Star Cursed. The second is signed by Victoria Schwab and promotes The Archived (such a great, GREAT book!). The third isn't signed but it's for Starters by Lissa Price (which if you haven't read it yet... is AMAZING!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Interested? Enter below!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7e1cb64/" id="rc-7e1cb64" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">I'm seriously incompetent when it come's to getting the Linky to work, so here's a link back to the list of blogs participating:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.iamareader.com/2012/10/ya-faeries-fantasy-giveaway-hop.html"><span style="color: blue;">Faeries & Fantasy Blogs</span></a></span><br />
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com69tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-54799608544820108382013-01-01T13:08:00.001-06:002013-01-12T11:36:24.154-06:00A Photo A Day: January<span style="color: #cc0000;">One of my goals this year is to attempt to take a photo a day (hopefully!) for a month. Therefore, I may as well make it this month! The photo will be of something I did or saw on that particular day...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">January 1, 2013 </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Coloring in the Alphonse Mucha coloring book</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">January 2, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">The 18 books (mostly signed) that I have received in the past month. Only 8 left to get! (I'm sure I'll be giving some away in the coming year, as long as you don't mind that some are personalized!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">January 3, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Sending fanmail/Autograph requests: IRC & photos. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">January 4, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">The view out of my window, Main Street Mayville</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">January 5, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Today I got a signed picture of Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) in the mail!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">January 6, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Icicles on neighbouring building</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">January 7, 2013</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">The Importance of Blood Donation!</span></div>
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January 8, 2013</div>
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The joy of carrying groceries up the back steps...</div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">January 9, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">I made cookies (Oatmeal Raisin)</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">January 10, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">I received my signed copy of Origin by Jessica Khoury in the mail!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">January 11, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Received signed photo of Ginnifer Goodwin that I sent out in September back today!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">January 12, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Not a new picture but I'm missing my cat, Annabelle (she lives in Missouri and technically I've only spent a day with her. But she's still my cat!)</span></div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-84813699914243771632012-12-31T14:41:00.001-06:002012-12-31T14:41:14.451-06:00Books Read in 2012<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">In 2011, my goal had been to read 75 books and I made it to 82. This year, I didn't want to pressure myself so I set my goal at 50 books... which ended up being met by July. Well, I wasn't about to just stop reading because my goal was met so I kept increasing the goal by 5. </span><div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">My end of the year count was 90. Which, I'm really excited about but at the same time highly disappointed that I didn't make it to 100. If I hadn't slacked off for most of October/November, it would have easily happened. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">So here it is, my list of books read in 2012:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Grave Sight (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Girl, Interrupted (Susanna Kaysen)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Grave Surprise (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Dragon's Oath (P.C. Cast)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">An Ice Cold Grave (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">A Game of Thrones (George R. R. Martin)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Grave Secret (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Sisters Grimm: A Very Grimm Guide (Michael Buckley)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Erec Rex: The Three Furies (Kaza Kingley)*</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Crossed (Ally Condie)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Lenobia's Vow (P.C. Cast)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)*</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Warm & Witty Side of Attila the Hun</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Vampire Crush (A. M. Robinson)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Just Listen (Sarah Dessen)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Keeping the Moon (Sarah Dessen)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Along for the Ride (Sarah Dessen)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Truth About Forever (Sarah Dessen)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Lock & Key (Sarah Dessen)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Dreamland (Sarah Dessen)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">What Happened to Goodbye (Sarah Dessen)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Erec Rex: The Secret of Ashona (Kaza Kingsley)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Hex Hall (Rachel Hawkins)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Demon Glass (Rachel Hawkins)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">That Summer (Sarah Dessen)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Divergent (Veronica Roth)*</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Insurgent (Veronica Roth)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Ash-Born Boy (Victoria Schwab)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Deadlocked (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Across the Universe (Beth Revis)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Fault in Our Stars (John Green)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Will Grayson, will grayson (Green & Levithan)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Spellbound (Rachel Hawkins)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Purity (Jackson Pearce)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Sisters Grimm: The Council of Mirrors (Michael Buckley)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Enchantress (Michael Scott)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Fifty Shades of Grey (E.L. James)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Fifty Shades Darker (E.L. James)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Nikolas & Company: The Merman and the Moon Forgotten </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Before I Fall (Lauren Oliver)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Nikolas & Co: When Boats Breathe and Cities Speak</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Hunger Games: Official Illustrated Companion</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Second Variety (Philip K. Dick)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Delirium (Lauren Oliver)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Billy the Kid & The Vampyres of Vegas (Michael Scott)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">What Type Am I? (Renee Baron)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Pandemonium (Lauren Oliver)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Hana (Lauren Oliver)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">F For Effort (Richard Benson)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Post Secret: Life, Death & God</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Legend (Marie Lu)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">F in Exams (Richard Benson)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Fifty Shades Freed (E.L. James)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Fathomless (Jackson Pearce)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell (Chris Colfer)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Deathless (Catherynne M. Valente)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Honor Bound: My Journey to Hell and Back with Amanda Knox (Raffaele Sollecito)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Girl of Nightmares (Kendare Blake)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Cinder (Marissa Meyer)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Red Fairy Book (Andrew Lang)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">An Apple for the Creature, anthology</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Saving Halloween (Lisa Ard)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Turn Here (Jackson Pearce)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Glitches (Marissa Meyer)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Real Murders (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Lamia (John Keats)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">A Bone to Pick (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Three Bedrooms, One Corpse (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Julius House (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Lips Touch, Three Times (Laini Taylor)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Sookie Stackhouse Companion (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Dead Over Heels (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">If I Had A Hammer (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">A Fool and His Honey (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Last Scene Alive (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Poppy Done to Death (Charlaine Harris)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">A Tale Dark and Grimm (Adam Gidwitz)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Palace of the Damned (Darren Shan)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Doctor Who: Aliens and Enemies</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Brothers to the Death (Darren Shan)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses (Ron Koertge)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">In A Glass Grimmly (Adam Gidwitz)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Laini Taylor)*</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Hidden (P.C. Cast)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Days of Blood and Starlight (Laini Taylor)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Archived - ARC (Victoria Schwab)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">The Queen's Army (Marissa Meyer)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Annabel (Lauren Oliver)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">School Spirits - NetGalley (Rachel Hawkins)</span></li>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">*denotes re-read</span></div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-84699173968728296742012-12-29T20:10:00.000-06:002012-12-31T09:04:45.226-06:002012 Movies & TV in Review<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since I already did my post on my favorite books read this year, all I have left are movies and television. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u>Television</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year, I made it a point not to get addicted to any "new" shows. Meaning all the shows that premiered this year... I haven't seem any. I did, however, discover two shows that have been around for a while but are new to me!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1. Doctor Who</b>: Either you love it or you just don't get it. Not that there's really anything to "get" but I've had a few people watch it and all I get from them are head shakes. No matter, I love it dearly and look forward to continuing on the journey (since I'm only on series five).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><u>Favorite Episodes:</u></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>-The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances (s. 1)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>-The Girl in the Fireplace (s. 2)</i></span></div>
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<i style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Army of Ghosts/Doomsday (s. 2)</i></div>
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<i style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-The Shakespeare Code (s. 3)</i></div>
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<i style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Blink (s. 3)</i></div>
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<i style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Human Nature/The Family of Blood (s. 3)</i></div>
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<i style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords (s. 3)</i></div>
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<i style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead (s. 4)</i></div>
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<i style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Stolen Earth/Journey's End (s. 4)</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="color: #20124d;">2. The Big Bang Theory</b><span style="color: #351c75;">: I think this is the most brilliant and hysterically funny show I've ever seen. Every episode brings laughter into my life and I think Sheldon Cooper is one of the best characters. I love his quirks.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis (s. 2)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-The Adhesive Duck Deficiency (s. 3)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-The Zazzy Substitution (s. 4)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-The Shiny Trinket Maneuver (s. 5)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-The 43 Peculiarity (s. 6)</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As usual, there was an abundance of movies released this year. Some great, some ok, some bad.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1) The Hobbit</b>: Like the Lord of the Rings trilogy before this first installment, An Unexpected Journey is beautifully done. Peter Jackson continued to create a world in which I would love to get lost, Orcs and all. The only problem is that I can't decide if I like Bilbo, Thorin or Gandalf the most...</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2) The Hunger Games: </b>While the book was vastly more enjoyable, the film was still very well made. I left the theater fully satisfied that they hadn't mucked it up, as had happened with Twilight.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3) The Dark Knight Rises:</b> I love Bane. Very, very much. He's just awesome. And, the end of this movie, at the cafe... Alfred... Bruce and Selina... I was very content.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4) The Avengers: </b>For the most part, I'm a big fan of movies based on Comic Books. Well, at least these comic books (I'm not into Spider Man). All of my favorites in one movie... it was fun!</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5) Prometheus: </b>I actually just watched this on DVD today and I loved it more than I thought I would. I was gripped with suspense throughout the entire movie and even shrieked once or twice.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Honorable Mention:</b> The Cabin in the Woods. Such twists, such enjoyment!</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1)Rock of Ages:</b> I really, really wanted to like it. However, from the first five minutes I was very much doubting that I would... and I didn't. A musical at it's worst.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2)Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter:</b> It had some decent moments but for the most part, I lost interest and had to fight to pay attention.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3) Magic Mike:</b> There were some very enjoyable parts (the dance numbers) but then there was the unfortunate aspect of the actual story line. Too much movie, not enough taking off their clothes.</span></div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-5710479932848932102012-12-09T22:05:00.000-06:002012-12-09T22:06:30.150-06:002012 in Review2012 is nearly over, which means that the next few weeks will be spent trying to cram in as many books and movies as possible. Even so, I thought I would post a list of my 2012 favorites. While other lists focus on books/etc. that came out during the year, I'm going to focus on the books/movies/TV that I personally read/experienced during the 2012. This post will deal with, drum roll please...<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">5</span><b style="color: #351c75;">. </b><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Before I Fall (Lauren Oliver)</b> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Well, to be honest, the reason this book made my list is because it stuck with me. The scenario is interesting: living the day you died over and over, making changes along the way, all the while learning more about yourself and the people in your life. I enjoyed the book and went on to read more of Lauren Oliver's work.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">4. </span><b style="color: #20124d;">Cinder (Marissa Meyer) & Days of Blood and Starlight (Laini Taylor)</b><span style="color: #351c75;"> Obviously, it's a tie. Cinder made my list for a number of reasons: It's based on a fairy tale, it features cyborgs, and the end isn't what you'd really expect. The next book in the series, Scarlet, comes out in a few months and I look forward to continuing the adventure. Days of Blood and Starlight, well... I haven't actually finished it as of this moment. I'm about half way through and am loving it. Laini Taylor is a brilliant writer and I love her world and characters. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">3. </span><b style="color: #20124d;">Hex Hall (Rachel Hawkins) </b><span style="color: #351c75;">Basically, the number three spot goes to all three books: Hex Hall, Spellbound, and Demon Glass. Especially the second half of Spellbound and Demon Glass in it's entirety. The series was fun and had some great characters. And now there's going to be a spin-off featuring Izzy Brannick. Fall 2013 cannot come fast enough.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">2. </span><b style="color: #20124d;">The Enchantress (Michael Scott) </b><span style="color: #351c75;">This was the final book in the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series and it was spectacular. It was a wonderful end to one of my favorite series.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">1. </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-weight: bold;">The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) </span><span style="color: #351c75;">This book moved me. Simple as that. I hoped with the characters, I loved with the characters, and I cried. A lot. I believe that this book should be required reading for everyone. John Green does an amazing job at making cancer realistic. Of course cancer is real, but it's the Big Scary. Typically, forms of fictional media tend to focus on the people in the story who do not have cancer. We view it from outside looking in. We see the physical toll it can take, but hardly ever get a glimpse of what that person is internally experiencing. With Hazel and Augustus, we see all of the damage caused. We see the glimmers of hope, as well as the moments when nothing seems worth it...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Honorable mention to every book by Sarah Dessen. I read/reread them all this year and adore every single one of them. They manage to make me wish I could go back to high school because, hey, maybe my life could be like anyone from her books.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Most Disappointing</u>:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">1. </span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-weight: bold;">Crossed (Ally Condie) </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">I had enjoyed the first book in the series, but found this one to be incredibly lacking. Ugh. The only reason I'm going to read Reached in the next couple weeks is because I need to know how it ends, even if I officially no longer care.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">2. </span><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell (Chris Colfer)</b> </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">Good concept, average execution. Nothing new or exciting. It had some good moments but was mostly just, eh.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><u>Crushes</u>:</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>1. </b>Cal from the Hex Hall series. Forget Archer, I was Team Cal. He seemed genuinely <i>Good</i>, and handsome, and useful.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>2. </b>Akiva from Days of Blood and Starlight/Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Any man/seraphim that falls in love with you twice/in two different forms, is a keeper. Well, then again... he did do a horrendous act. Oh, screw it. Put him on probation and just make some Seraphim/Chimaera peace/babies.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>3. </b>Eli/Dave/Nate/Owen/Wes from the works of Sarah Dessen. Swoon.</span></div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-86822801211377659522012-12-03T18:35:00.000-06:002012-12-04T10:06:36.988-06:00Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FxxmtxFPrDg/UL1CmXzl0WI/AAAAAAAAAJI/Jwhhl0OLZSE/s1600/book-lovers-giveaway+button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FxxmtxFPrDg/UL1CmXzl0WI/AAAAAAAAAJI/Jwhhl0OLZSE/s320/book-lovers-giveaway+button.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I decided to participate in this Blog Hop because I love the Holiday season. The weeks leading up to Christmas are something I look forward to every year.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For this giveaway, it will be winner's choice of prize. The only requirements are that:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">1)It has to be $11 or under</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">2)It has to be from Amazon and eligible for Amazon Prime Shipping.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That's it. Anything you want, because it's the holidays!</span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7e1cb63/" id="rc-7e1cb63" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/10/book-lovers-holiday-giveaway-hop.html" target="_blank">Here's the link back to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer</a></span></div>
Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-1183834558279569152012-12-02T15:05:00.002-06:002012-12-04T10:06:13.582-06:00December<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can't believe it's December already. It doesn't feel like it. We haven't had any snow (well, it's snowed but it was just a slight dusting) and today feels like Spring. It's fantastic. Perhaps Mother Nature listened when I suggested that it only snow between December 22 and January 2. I only want snow for the holidays.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, not much has been happening. I did finally decide to begin watching Doctor Who, so I got series one from the library. Well... the first episode was rather... corny. Mannequins come to life because they're being controlled by an alien thing hiding beneath the Millennium Wheel? Like I said, corny. But I kept watching and then "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" happened and I was hooked. I must say, I enjoyed Christopher as the Ninth Doctor very much, though I was looking forward to David Tennant (as I had heard SO much about how amazing he is). And, everyone was right. David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor is phenomenal. I finished series four 2 weeks ago and have been putting off series five. I'm sure Matt Smith is great, but David Tennant is my Doctor. Just as Rose is my companion (I felt that Martha was just eh, though Donna is a close second to Rose). Doomsday broke my heart.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Other than becoming a Whovian, I've been reading. Not as much as I'd like to, but oh well! I'm up to 85 books read for the year and 2 weeks ago I received an ARC of The Archived by Victoria Schwab that I'd dying to read. The only problem is that I just haven't felt much like reading. Plus, the library finally got in "Days of Blood and Starlight" for me and I keeping telling myself that I must. read. it. soon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, I've been working on my autograph collection. I received a couple signed book plates (Marissa Meyer, George W. Bush) and signed photos (Joan Fontaine & Mary Costa, aka the voice of Sleeping Beauty). I have a few more letters out, waiting for a response. I just love doing this :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll be participating in a Blog Hop in a couple days, so check back!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-46948229931990837642012-09-18T16:27:00.000-05:002012-09-18T16:27:51.691-05:00Stuck In A Good Book Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fTqNwpz4NSo/UFjjDhiHKAI/AAAAAAAAAIo/SbCOgA3svkw/s1600/StuckinaGoodBook+Hop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fTqNwpz4NSo/UFjjDhiHKAI/AAAAAAAAAIo/SbCOgA3svkw/s320/StuckinaGoodBook+Hop.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/stuck-in-good-book-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html" target="_blank">I Am A Reader Not A Writer</a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>So, I've been contemplating which book to give away this time. The premise is to pick a book that you couldn't put down, and for me there are many... The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and on and on and on.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>While I do love love love all of the aforementioned books, there is a series that I consider to be one of the best I've read. Unfortunately, I don't feel it gets as much love as it deserves. It has really good reviews but I think that it's not as popular as it deserves to be. Therefore, I will be giving away a paperback copy of book one:</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">He holds the secret that can end the world.</span><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.</span><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">The records show that he died in 1418.</span><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">But his tomb is empty.</span><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.</span><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Sometimes legends are true.</span><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.</span></span></span>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-65114997326851885992012-08-30T17:51:00.001-05:002012-09-02T18:27:16.441-05:00Giveaway!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/08/back-to-books-hop-amazon-gift-card-or.html" target="_blank">I Am a Reader Not a Writer</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">I'm very excited to announce that I am participating in my first ever Blog Hop giveaway! Since my birthday and the release of Fathomless by Jackson Pearce (who writes pretty awesome books!) fall on the same day during this Hop, I decided that I'll give away a copy.</span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #351c75;">Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality.</span><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><br style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her . . . and steal his soul.</span></span>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-73050092764961347662012-08-16T18:58:00.003-05:002012-08-16T18:58:53.151-05:00Olympics, surgery and more...<h2>
<span style="color: #351c75;">The Olympics:</span></h2>
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<span style="color: purple;">Pretty awesome, huh? I've always loved watching them and was particularly excited for these games since they were in London (which I've considered home ever since I spent my first semester of college there).</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Lots of awesome things happened... Michael Phelps is officially the most-decorated Olympian, the US Women's Gymnastics Team won the Gold, the flag flew away during the anthem when Serena Williams won her Gold Medal ("And the flag was still there"...except it wasn't), Usain Bolt, and many more.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I also have to say, in terms of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies... The Opening was a wee bit disappointing, though it did have some amazing moments (Queen Elizabeth and James Bond). Now, the Closing Ceremony... I LOVED it. I mean, The Spice Girls performed!!! I was so excited about that that I spent a lot of time squealing in anticipation. I also loved Russell Brand's performances. Very entertaining. And... Eric Idle. I think I must have watched the Indian dance portion of his performance dozens of times and laughed every time...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">Overall, I had a fantastic couple of weeks watching the activities and am saddened that I have to wait 18 months for more.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Last week my mother had her rotator cuff repaired and she's finally in better spirits. The first week was incredibly stressful for both of us and I am incredibly thankful that things are more under control at the moment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Starting in September I will be participating in Blog Hop giveaways sponsored by <a href="http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I Am A Reader Not A Writer</a> and I am very excited to do so!</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Well, that's all for now :)</span></div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-88838488344623724982012-05-15T05:30:00.000-05:002012-05-15T12:50:14.407-05:00The Ash-Born Boy is here!<span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-size: 13px;">It's May 15th! </span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">Not only does THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab come out in paperback TODAY, but, to celebrate its release, "The Ash-Born Boy" is finally up over at </span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_386750863">Disney </a></span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://un-requiredreading.com/books/the-ash-born-boy" target="_blank">Hyperion's website</a>!</span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #444444;"><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">So, what IS "The Ash-Born Boy"? </span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">It's a free story Victoria wrote as a thank-you to her fans, and she wrote it to answer ONE question: "Who was Cole before he came to Near?"</span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">Now, if you've already read THE NEAR WITCH, "The Ash-Born Boy" is guaranteed to change the way you see Cole.</span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">And if you haven't read THE NEAR WITCH yet, don't worry, "The Ash-Born Boy" won't spoil anything!</span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">So basically, either way, you should go read Cole's story ;) </span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">And if you want to wait and read THE NEAR WITCH first, don't worry! Cole's story will stay up on Disney*Hyperion's website, and if it ever comes down, Victoria will carve out a space for it on her own site. It will always be available somewhere, and it will always be free. </span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">And! </span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">Cole's story isn't the only goodie to go along with the paperback release. In the back of the paperback itself, you'll find the first chapter of Victoria's new book, THE ARCHIVED, which doesn't come out until January!</span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">So what are you waiting for? </span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">Help Victoria celebrate today by taking a look at "The Ash-Born Boy," and don't forget to buy/order/pick up your own paperback copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Near-Witch-Victoria-Schwab/dp/142314242X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337014508&sr=8-1" target="_blank">THE NEAR WITCH</a>!</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0Mayville, WI, USA43.4941611 -88.544823743.4711231 -88.5843057 43.5171991 -88.505341699999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-2383808376517267902012-05-14T11:51:00.000-05:002012-05-14T11:51:08.722-05:00It's been a while...<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And nothing much is new. Figures. Mayville isn't really the most happening city...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyways, I just read an AMAZING book. It's called "The Fault in Our Stars" and is by John Green. It's a New York Times #1 Bestseller that Time Magazine called "damn near genius"...and it is. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. </span><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. </span><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.</span></i>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The book was real, it was gripping and it made me sob uncontrollably for at least 20 minutes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><b>In other news, I will be in Madison this coming weekend for an EPIC weekend. Well, if your definition of epic involves best friends, Wii dancing and some alcohol... then yes, definitely epic. Perhaps more to come on that...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Tomorrow there will be an exciting post for fans of "The Near Witch" by Victoria Schwab!</b></span></span></div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-61673067154376433652012-03-11T20:49:00.000-05:002012-03-11T20:49:26.633-05:00Sinusitis SucksThis past week has been exhausting. I had to go to Urgent Care on Wednesday evening so I could get a prescription for antibiotics. The R.N. at Fast Care at the pharmacy told me she wouldn't give me anything for another week (really? By that time my sinus infection would have healed itself), so we drove to the hospital. I got my prescription and feel loads better already! It's hard to work with kids and keep a non-irritable disposition when your face/neck/ears/head are that sore...<br />
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On the same note, my mother came home ill on Friday and finally let me take her to the E.R. this morning. 4 hours and one massive sinus infection diagnosis later, I finally got home and could chill out for the first time this weekend. It's stressful being stressed about the health of a loved one!<br />
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Well, in other news, I read 2 books this week. I read <i>Crossed</i> by Ally Condie. It's the second book in a trilogy. I did enjoy the story but I find that her books just lack something. Parts of the book are intriguing while other aspects (i.e. the ending) just don't seem worth my time. Still, I'd recommend it for an easy read. The other book, or should I say novella, that I read was <i>Lenobia's Vow</i> by P.C. & Kristin Cast. I enjoyed it up until the end. The last 15 pages or so were just disappointing. They draw things out throughout the book and then all of a sudden they just resolve everything quickly (Build up/climax/destruction/hope, with the climax/destruction/hope happening in those last few pages). I just can't stand that in a book. If I invest my time reading something, I expect a little more...<br />
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And that's it for now...Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-52377389021018611532012-02-27T19:24:00.000-06:002012-03-03T14:48:16.154-06:00The 84th Annual Academy AwardsLast night was my favorite night of the year! Overall, I thought the show was great. Billy Crystal is always an enjoyable host. His opening film montage was amusing and I appreciate that he's not an overly insulting host. As for the winners, I didn't think there were any big surprises. While I had hoped Viola Davis would win, Meryl Streep is always a deserving contender and I found myself incredibly happy for her 3rd win. I thought that the best three acceptance speeches of the night belonged to Octavia Spencer, Christopher Plummer and Meryl.<br />
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Now to the fashion! There were many wonderful fashion choices seen on the red carpet last night.<br />
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<b><i>dis</i>Honorable mentions for Worst Dressed:</b><br />
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<i>Rooney Mara</i> in Givenchy. The top of the dress just seems off to me and it seems that I may one of the few people who didn't appreciate the dress. I'm not a fan of her style...<br />
<i>Stacy Keibler</i> in Marchesa. It seemed too '80s to me with the big flower on her hip. Perhaps in a different color it might have worked for me..<br />
<i>Kristin Wiig </i> in J Mendel. She seems to pick this nude color a lot and it just does nothing for her.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Worst Dressed:</span></b><br />
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3.) <a href="http://www.justjared.com/2012/02/26/berenice-bejo-michel-hazanavicius-oscars-2012/" target="_blank">Berenice Bejo</a> in Elie Saab. It looks very messy.<br />
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2.)<a href="http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/oscars/photos/0,,20564210_20573463_21125524,00.html" target="_blank">Melissa Leo</a> in Reem Accra. It's just so blah.<br />
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1.) <a href="http://www.justjaredjr.com/2012/02/26/shailene-woodley-oscars-2012/" target="_blank">Shailene Woodley</a> in Valentino Couture. Very matronly and outdated.<br />
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<b>Honorable Mentions for Best Dressed:</b><br />
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<i>Sandra Bullock</i> in Marchesa. I love the black and white of the dress with the touches of sparkle. I think she tried something a little different and it worked.<br />
<i>Gwyneth Paltrow</i> in Tom Ford. I love it's simplicity.<br />
<i>Milla Jovovich</i> in Elie Saab Couture. I love the color. I love the sparkle. Beautiful!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Dressed:</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
3.) Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton. Honestly, I hated this dress at first, with the exception of the color. It's grown on me and I really love it. The color is superb on her and the dress shows her personality.<br />
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2.) Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen. The dress is different and it works on her. I love the gold pattern on the black. It fits well and looks beautiful.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YtQ6dxXqXcY/T0wq3_13rbI/AAAAAAAAAFE/Pe_0v7bVPHo/s1600/Octavia-Spencer-in-Tadashi-Shoji-oscar-dress-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YtQ6dxXqXcY/T0wq3_13rbI/AAAAAAAAAFE/Pe_0v7bVPHo/s320/Octavia-Spencer-in-Tadashi-Shoji-oscar-dress-2012.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Octavia Spencer</td></tr>
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1.) Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji. She really works her shape. The dress is stunning and flattering. She's stepped it up with every award show this season and this was a great final dress!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TbJx0AkkduM/T0wrgdEi2OI/AAAAAAAAAFU/5Cy7AcCa35k/s200/Michelle-Williams-oscar-2012-lgn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="130" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle Williams</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_CNx50HzGVA/T0wrIsl3bZI/AAAAAAAAAFM/f9aNCnVgfBE/s1600/022612-oscars-2012-jessica-chastain-340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_CNx50HzGVA/T0wrIsl3bZI/AAAAAAAAAFM/f9aNCnVgfBE/s200/022612-oscars-2012-jessica-chastain-340.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica Chastain</td></tr>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-72374698714757764342012-02-26T09:45:00.001-06:002012-02-26T09:45:58.527-06:00My Favorite Night of the Year, plus other things I'm looking forward to!It's finally here! Yes, I'm talking about the Academy Awards. It's long been my favorite night of the year and I'm always looking forward to it. Who's going to win? What will everyone be wearing? Those are the questions that will finally be answered tonight. Two nights ago I actually found myself so nervous about the Oscars that my mother laughed and reminded me that "it's just an honor to be nominated"... not that I'm nominated. I just love movies and take the Oscars very seriously. I have my list of who I want to win and sometimes find myself disappointed if it doesn't happen (For the record: The Artist, Viola Davis, Jean Dujardin, Octavia Spencer, Christopher Plummer).<br />
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Anyways, after the Oscars are over later tonight, I'll have to find other things to look forward to. In fact, I already have a small list:<br />
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1.) March 23. I'm actually very, very excited for March 23 to come around. Why? <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/" target="_blank">THE HUNGER GAMES</a> is in theaters that day and that was/is one of my favorite books. All you Twilight fans should just forget about being Team Edward or Jacob because the more important question is whether you're Team Peeta or Gale. What's so great about The Hunger Games is that it's appealing to both sexes. I mean, it's about 24 kids under the age of 18 fighting to kill while the rest of the country watches.... and there's a love triangle. Totally Unisex!<br />
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2.) This summer I will (hopefully) be accompanying my Aunt Nancy, Kyen and Soren on a road trip. Where to? Well, it happens to be some place I have ALWAYS wanted to go... Mount Rushmore. As of now the plan is to visit the Largest Ball of Twine in Darwin, MN and then work our way through to visit Sturgis, Deadwood and then finally see Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. On the way home there might even be a stop at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. Who knows what else we could see and what other adventures we could get up to...<br />
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3.) The Summer Olympics in London. Yes, back when I lived in London in 2004 and they were competing to get the Olympics there (and then won their bid), I was convinced that I would be able to make it back to London for the games. Unfortunately, that won't happen but at least I will be able to watch them on the telly.<br />
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I'm going to leave my list at those three events for now, and i'll be back tomorrow with my thoughts on the Oscars!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-81837161388024235012012-01-30T12:15:00.001-06:002012-01-30T12:16:33.692-06:00The Artist & The Screen Actors Guild Awards<span style="color: purple;">This past weekend, I <i>finally</i> got to see "The Artist" and it was amazing! It will make you laugh one minute and the next you're trying not to cry because you just <i>feel</i> for George Valentin. I was incredibly thrilled last night when Jean Dujardin won the Best Actor at the SAG Awards (nothing against George Clooney, but I just did NOT want him to win). It was a well deserved win and I wish him the best of luck at the Oscars in a few weeks.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">As I mentioned, last night the SAG Awards were on. I didn't think there were any big shockers during the broadcast. People seemed surprised that <i>The Help</i> won best ensemble, but that had actually been my pick to win. However, I think it's a wonderful movie though I actually wouldn't consider it the best of the year. What's most important for this award is that I do consider it to have the best overall cast of the year. Every single actor in that film rocked it.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Speaking of rocking it, some actresses rocked their dresses last night, while others.... just eeesh. I actually made notes during the red carpet of my initial thoughts on the fashion, and here they are:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Octavia Spencer</i>: Not the best color, but the dress was amazing on her. She dresses really well for her shape.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Rose Byrne</i>: I don't appreciate jumpsuits. The top was lovely, but pants?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Kristin Wiig</i>: Dress = boring. And the CHOKER! Horrible choice. Looks like biker/bondage.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Julie Bowen</i>: Nice color, great back.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Viola Davis</i>: Stunning, beautiful flow. Marchesa is one of my favorite labels.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Kaley Cuoco</i>: Pretty but regularly featured (in white) on Say Yes To The Dress.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Ariel Winter</i>: Very age appropriate and I love it!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Michelle Williams</i>: Not normally one of my favorites but I like it! I don't like the ankle strap shoes though...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Emilia Clarke</i>: Love her but hate the dress. Pity.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Amber Riley</i>: I'm not a big fan. I think the bow is too big and the dress length looks semi-awkward on her.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Lea Michele</i>: Pretty with a touch of sexy. Boring color. I think she tries way too hard.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Naya Rivera</i>: She's got it and she flaunts it. Looks great.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Sofia Vergara</i>: I want her earrings! Nice dress, though it looks like every other dress she's worn.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Stacy Keibler</i>: I love lace! I think it's a gorgeous dress.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Gretchen Mol</i>: No.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Emily Blunt</i>: Love dress, pretty color but may be a little too bright of green.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Jane Lynch</i>: Great color on her!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Jessica Chastain</i>: Simple, nice color.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Amber Heard</i>: Different and I think I love it</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Emma Stone</i>: Love it. Pretty, girly, short and quirky.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tilda Swinton</i>: I hate her fashion choices, tonight included.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Angelina Jolie</i>: Simple and elegant. She can't do wrong.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Dianna Agron</i>: Worst hair of the night. Forgettable dress.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Zoe Saldana</i>: Not my thing but white looks great on her.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Shailane Woodley</i>: Kind of tacky and yet it grows on me to the point that I don't loathe it.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Meryl Streep</i>: Wonderful for her age.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Jayma Mays</i>: Sparkly and beautiful!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<b>My 3 <span style="color: #cc0000;">Worst dressed</span> of the night (click on links to see pictures):</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
3. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/29/rose-byrne-sag-awards-2012-jumpsuit_n_1240741.html" target="_blank">Rose Byrne</a> in Elie Saab<br />
2. <a href="http://celebritychatta.com/2012/01/29/2012-sag-awards-red-carpet-arrivals-game-of-thrones-star-emilia-clarke/" target="_blank">Emilia Clarke</a> in Chanel<br />
1. It may not be the worst dress, but the choker puts her as my pick for Worst Dressed at the SAG Awards: <a href="http://www.fabsugar.com/Kristen-Wiig-SAG-Awards-2012-21515375" target="_blank">Kristin Wiig</a> in Balenciaga.<br />
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<b><span style="color: magenta;">Best Dressed</span>: </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>3. <a href="http://popstoptv.com/entertainment-411/2012-sag-awards-emma-stone-dazzles-alexander-mcqueen-make-pop-make-stop-4970.html" target="_blank">Emma Stone</a> in Alexander McQueen</b><br />
<b>2. <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-track/sag-awards-viola-davis-dress-marchesa-285596" target="_blank">Viola Davis</a> in Marchesa</b><br />
<b>1. <a href="http://www.fabsugar.com/Jayma-Mays-SAG-Awards-2012-21515538" target="_blank">Jayma Mays! </a> in Reem Acra</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-58166130345784903122012-01-17T19:07:00.000-06:002012-01-17T19:07:45.047-06:00Award Season!<span style="color: purple;">The Packer's lost to the Giants. That totally bummed me out. Thankfully the Golden Globes were on that night to distract me from my devastation... Plus, no more getting to stare at Aaron Rodgers every week. Such a loss!</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">So... the Golden Globes. Lots of beautiful dresses! After the Christmas season, Awards season is my favorite time of the year. I love the buildup to the Oscars. I didn't think there were any big surprises in terms of winners at the Globes, though I did figure that Viola Davis would win Best Actress. Here's my list of the best and worst dressed:</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><u>Best:</u></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">1. Claire Danes</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">2. <a href="http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2012/01/16/angelina-jolie-in-atelier-versace-2012-golden-globes/" target="_blank">Angelina Jolie</a></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">3. <a href="http://justjared.buzznet.com/2012/01/15/charlize-theron-golden-globes-2012-red-carpet/" target="_blank">Charlize Theron</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1nB6MAUO_o/TxYYJFPUXuI/AAAAAAAAAEc/1bmjGpyq-YE/s1600/claire-danes-golden-globes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1nB6MAUO_o/TxYYJFPUXuI/AAAAAAAAAEc/1bmjGpyq-YE/s1600/claire-danes-golden-globes.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><u>Worst:</u></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">1. <a href="http://justjared.buzznet.com/photo-gallery/2618600/julianne-moore-laura-dern-golden-globes-02/" target="_blank">Julianne Moore</a></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">2. <a href="http://justjared.buzznet.com/2012/01/15/lea-michele-golden-globes-2012-red-carpet/" target="_blank">Lea Michelle</a></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">3. <a href="http://justjared.buzznet.com/photo-gallery/2618705/ashton-kutcher-elle-macpherson-golden-globes-2012-presenters-02/" target="_blank">Elle MacPherson</a></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Next up for my viewing pleasure will be the Screen Actors Guild Awards at the end of the month. I'm quite looking forward to that.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Currently:</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Reading</b></span><span style="color: purple;">: Well, I just finished <a href="http://www.houseofnightseries.com/novellas/dragons-oath/" target="_blank">Dragon's Oath</a> by P.C. Cast. It was an enjoyable excursion from the House of Night series. Up next is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Grave-Harper-Connelly-Mysteries/dp/0425217299" target="_blank">An Ice Cold Grave</a> by Charlaine Harris. It's the third book in the Harper Connelly series and I'm looking forward to reading it!</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Watching:</span></b><span style="color: purple;"> I'm 2 episodes behind in </span><a href="http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/switched-at-birth" style="color: purple;" target="_blank">Switched At Birth</a><span style="color: purple;">, which I think is a wonderful show! It's a shame more people don't watch it! So, I'm hoping to get caught up with that most soonliest!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-73951201813028580082012-01-08T15:44:00.000-06:002012-01-08T15:45:10.060-06:00We All Fall Down<span style="color: #351c75;">Last week was sure something. It was shaping up to be an average, uneventful week filled with work, babysitting and reading. Then my mother and I went to see Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (very good!) and as we were walking back to our car, I wiped out. My leg and rear end were soaked and we had a birthday get together to attend. Therefore, we had to run to Walmart so I could buy a pair of sweats to wear. 3 days later at 7:00am, I was walking home from babysitting and what happens? That's right. I slip and fall down. Again. Only this time it made my neck jerked. So, not only was my entire right side sore, but I ended up in so much pain the next morning that I had to go to Urgent Care. I have WHIPLASH from falling. Luckily, medication helps... And that was my eventful week. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">This week, my mother is having surgery on her right hand for carpal tunnel and trigger thumb. Hopefully that will all work out well, I don't see why it wouldn't but I tend to be a worrier.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">Currently:</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>Reading:</i></b> Well, I decided to take a break from </span><i><b>Inheritance</b> </i><span style="color: #674ea7;">as I just didn't feel like reading it. So, yesterday I finished reading </span><i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grave-Sight-Harper-Connelly-Mysteries/dp/0425205681" target="_blank">Grave Sight</a></b></i><b> by Charlaine Harris</b><span style="color: #674ea7;">. I love her Sookie Stackhouse books so I figured I should give the Harper Connelly series a go. Overall, it was enjoyable, even it was predictable. This morning I started to read </span><i><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl,_Interrupted" target="_blank">Girl, Interrupted</a></b></i><b> by Susanna Kayson</b><span style="color: #674ea7;">. I love the movie more than I'm loving the book, but it's still interesting. I have about 40 pages left and will probably finish it later today :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>Watching</i></b>: The Glee Concert dvd. I got it from the library. To be honest, I LOVE Glee but this is a waste of my time. I thought it'd be a bit more enjoyable but they cut the songs and are spending too much time following the Glee lovers.</span>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0Mayville, WI, USA43.4941611 -88.544823743.4711231 -88.5843057 43.5171991 -88.505341699999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-22515378250660962972012-01-01T20:30:00.003-06:002012-01-08T15:46:24.192-06:00Starting the Year Off Right!<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>Well, it's 2012!!</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Hopefully this will be the year where things happen.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Resolutions: To draw more. To write more. To be healthier. To make things happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white;">Currently:</b></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">Reading:</b> <i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.alagaesia.com/" target="_blank">Inheritance</a></span></i><span style="background-color: white;"> by Christopher Paolini. I received a signed copy for Christmas and just began to read it today. I'm so glad it began with a recap of the previous 3 books, as I'd basically forgotten it all.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Watching: </b>Today I watched <i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055614/" target="_blank">West Side Story</a></span></i> for the first time. Now I'm left humming all the wonderful songs from the film. Now whenever I see a movie with two rival "gangs", I'm going to expect the fighting to be choreographed with dancing and singing.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; font-size: xx-small;">On a side note: the Green Bay Packers won their game today, making them 15-1 for the season. Go Pack Go!!!</span>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-74654808908798694982011-12-19T10:27:00.002-06:002011-12-19T20:03:27.205-06:00The Current UnAdventuresome life of Dana<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, it's been a while since I've blogged here since nothing too exciting has happened as of late. The past couple months were filled with ups and down. But, I'll recap the year thus far!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In February, something wonderful happened! I won a trip to a ranch in Montana! My mother and I went from February 6 to 9 (which meant that I missed the Packers winning the Super Bowl). It was WONDERFUL! We went dog-sledding and did archery. We even went zip-lining in the Rocky Mountains during a snow storm, how cool is that? It was all expenses paid so we didn't have to worry about anything. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Other than that, I was supposed to move to Chicago in August for Graduate School. However, I had to defer due to financial reasons (a.k.a. no co-signer for my loans). To be honest, that was the only time I've come close to depression. I was so excited to be going and then it all came crashing down.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On a brighter note, I did reconnect with my best friend from 5th grade through high school, Laura! After a day it was as if nothing had changed. After a month we had matching tattoos and even tried to dye our hair the same color (which was alcohol related). It's been fun...</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e51zMNgPwGg/Tu_s4ptxq2I/AAAAAAAAAEU/aT9CoSXm1fU/s1600/wisconsin+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e51zMNgPwGg/Tu_s4ptxq2I/AAAAAAAAAEU/aT9CoSXm1fU/s320/wisconsin+016.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: red;"><b>And now, ONLY 6 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! I'm soooooooo excited, as usual. In fact, I'm off to go wrap some presents!</b></span>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-44238003662396477802010-06-13T17:14:00.001-05:002010-06-13T17:17:39.183-05:00Forgetful Me<p><span style="font-family:Alba Super;font-size:130%;color:#800080;">I</span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">t has been over a year since I last wrote and updated my blog. Not too much has happened I suppose…</span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I graduated from college and received my B.A. in History. I hope to pursue my Master’s degree in 2011. That’s if any school will take me…</span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I have been working at a daycare in town since September 2009. It’s a nice job and the kids are wonderful.</span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I still have a crush on Adam Goodes and am saddened by the fact that I no longer have any access of Aussie Rules games on TV. I miss it greatly. On that note, I’m getting rather into sports. Watching them that is. Mostly AFL when I can and NFL when Green Bay plays. Aaron Rodgers is amazing.</span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I’ve been a vegetarian for 3 months. I took my cousin to a Miley Cyrus concert in October. I took my mom to see Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson last June/July.</span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Marcus and Colton just graduated from High School and it makes me feel ridiculously old.</span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#800080;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">That’s about it for now folks. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Alba Super;font-size:130%;color:#800080;">Oh and I really really miss London…</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Alba Super;font-size:130%;color:#800080;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_EuBBRsc1jh8/TBVYiSlWWCI/AAAAAAAAAC8/6OHhlY6iErA/s1600-h/rome%20040%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="rome 040" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="242" alt="rome 040" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_EuBBRsc1jh8/TBVYi5_77dI/AAAAAAAAADA/I1HO7oQF8R8/rome%20040_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> </span></p>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539523135354216395.post-48673931894677018872009-04-16T21:05:00.003-05:002010-06-13T17:03:17.621-05:00It's Been A While...<span style="color:#330033;">It's been months since my last entry, but life has been seemingly uneventful as of late. I have just under 3 weeks left of being here at Arcadia University. Though I will still be working on my thesis over the summer from Wisconsin, then returning here to present it. I'll be glad to be done with my degree.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">So this semester... Im taking 4 courses: Mathematical Concepts (really ridiculous, truth be told but it's fulfilling my math requirement), Senior Seminar (thesis topic: the transition of vampires from folklore to fiction), Arabic (I had to drop photography because I'm poor and got stuck in this. I know nothing!!) and Piano (doing two different things with my hands like that is confusing, but its always been a goal of mine to learn!).</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">I did take a trip to Pittsburgh in February to visit Hannah, my roommate from Sydney. It was an 8 hour train ride from Philadelphia on which I consumed the entire first season of Gilmore Girls, a new favorite but an old show. I also went into Philadelphia one day to the Franklin Institute to see the Chronicles of Narnia exhibit, which was really awesome. I also viewed an IMAX (Amazing Caves) and saw Star Lore at the Planetarium. Besides that, just a few trips to the Willow Grove Mall.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">I did go home for spring break, it was so great to be home. Went to a few movies (Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, Watchmen) and met my friend Elizabeth's baby daughter Taylor.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"> The other news that Im looking forward to is that Im going to the Bristol Renaissance Faire this summer! I've always wanted to go and finally I get to!</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Well that's it for now, I'm going to head to bed soon. Tomorrow is the Blitz Carnival on campus!</span>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077453143268523627noreply@blogger.com0