It's Been A While

Thanks have been crazy for the past couple of years but I'm finally getting back to blogging!

Life Updates:

*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.

*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.

*I'm back working at a daycare, which makes me a little sad. However, it's a job & kids are cool.

*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.

*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!

Let me know you're thoughts!

What'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!

Otherwise, I shall do a short recap of life since February:

March: Slipped on ice, got a concussion. Mood issues, Major sound sensitivity, Inability to form sentances and think clearly. Head and neck aches.

April: I finally got back to work after a month off.

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!

June: Work and Life.

July: There were fireworks. Ooooh. Ahhhh.

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.

September: I turned 28. Put purple/pink streaks in my hair.

October: Current month! Trick or Treat is on Saturday!

And that's that folks!

Oscars!

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!

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...

On to my favorites!

Naomi Watts in Armani Prive. She looked amazing, I loved how the dress was cut and it was sparkly!

Amanda Seyfried in Alexander McQueen. Simply stunning!

Jessica Chastain in Armani Prive. Classic in copper!

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)

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?

Honorable best dressed mentions: Sandra Bullock, Stacy Keibler, Halle Berry.

YA Faeries & Fantasy Giveaway Hop

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. 

Because of my love of fantasy, I was really excited to participate in this particular hop! I have a couple things to give away!

I have two books & a set of bookmarks to give away and will pick a winner for each...

First up, is a bookplate signed copy of Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck.


                                     
Synopsis:

Passion. Fate. Loyalty.

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

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.

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 (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!)

Synopsis:

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceshipGodspeed 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.

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? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

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.

FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME.

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!)

Interested? Enter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway




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:

Faeries & Fantasy Blogs

A Photo A Day: January

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...

January 1, 2013 
Coloring in the Alphonse Mucha coloring book

January 2, 2013

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!)

January 3, 2013

Sending fanmail/Autograph requests: IRC & photos. 

January 4, 2013

The view out of my window, Main Street Mayville

January 5, 2013

Today I got a signed picture of Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) in the mail!

January 6, 2013

Icicles on neighbouring building

January 7, 2013

The Importance of Blood Donation!

January 8, 2013

The joy of carrying groceries up the back steps...

January 9, 2013

I made cookies (Oatmeal Raisin)

January 10, 2013

I received my signed copy of Origin by Jessica Khoury in the mail!

January 11, 2013

Received signed photo of Ginnifer Goodwin that I sent out in September back today!

January 12, 2013

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!)

Books Read in 2012

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. 

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. 

So here it is, my list of books read in 2012:

1. Grave Sight (Charlaine Harris)
2. Girl, Interrupted (Susanna Kaysen)
3. Grave Surprise (Charlaine Harris)
4. Dragon's Oath (P.C. Cast)
5. An Ice Cold Grave (Charlaine Harris)
6. A Game of Thrones (George R. R. Martin)
7. Grave Secret (Charlaine Harris)
8. The Sisters Grimm: A Very Grimm Guide (Michael Buckley)
9. Erec Rex: The Three Furies (Kaza Kingley)*
10. Crossed (Ally Condie)
11. Lenobia's Vow (P.C. Cast)
12. The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)*
13. The Warm & Witty Side of Attila the Hun
14. Vampire Crush (A. M. Robinson)
15. Just Listen (Sarah Dessen)
16. Keeping the Moon (Sarah Dessen)
17. Along for the Ride (Sarah Dessen)
18. The Truth About Forever  (Sarah Dessen)
19. Lock & Key (Sarah Dessen)
20. Dreamland (Sarah Dessen)
21. What Happened to Goodbye (Sarah Dessen)
22. Erec Rex: The Secret of Ashona (Kaza Kingsley)
23. Hex Hall (Rachel Hawkins)
24. Demon Glass (Rachel Hawkins)
25. That Summer (Sarah Dessen)
26. Divergent (Veronica Roth)*
27. Insurgent (Veronica Roth)
28. The Ash-Born Boy (Victoria Schwab)
29. Deadlocked (Charlaine Harris)
30. Across the Universe (Beth Revis)
31. The Fault in Our Stars (John Green)
32. Will Grayson, will grayson (Green & Levithan)
33. Spellbound (Rachel Hawkins)
34. Purity (Jackson Pearce)
35. The Sisters Grimm: The Council of Mirrors (Michael Buckley)
36. Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song
37. The Enchantress (Michael Scott)
38. Fifty Shades of Grey (E.L. James)
39. Fifty Shades Darker (E.L. James)
40. Nikolas & Company: The Merman and the Moon Forgotten 
41. Before I Fall (Lauren Oliver)
42. Nikolas & Co: When Boats Breathe and Cities Speak
43. The Hunger Games: Official Illustrated Companion
44. Second Variety (Philip K. Dick)
45. Delirium (Lauren Oliver)
46. Billy the Kid & The Vampyres of Vegas (Michael Scott)
47. What Type Am I? (Renee Baron)
48. Pandemonium (Lauren Oliver)
49. Hana (Lauren Oliver)
50. F For Effort (Richard Benson)
51. Post Secret: Life, Death & God
52. Legend (Marie Lu)
53. F in Exams (Richard Benson)
54. Fifty Shades Freed (E.L. James)
55. Fathomless (Jackson Pearce)
56. The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell (Chris Colfer)
57. Deathless (Catherynne M. Valente)
58. Honor Bound: My Journey to Hell and Back with Amanda Knox (Raffaele Sollecito)
59. Girl of Nightmares (Kendare Blake)
60. Cinder (Marissa Meyer)
61. The Red Fairy Book (Andrew Lang)
62. An Apple for the Creature, anthology
63. Saving Halloween (Lisa Ard)
64. Turn Here (Jackson Pearce)
65. Glitches (Marissa Meyer)
66. Real  Murders (Charlaine Harris)
67. Lamia (John Keats)
68. A Bone to Pick (Charlaine Harris)
69. Three Bedrooms, One Corpse (Charlaine Harris)
70. The Julius House (Charlaine Harris)
71. Lips Touch, Three Times (Laini Taylor)
72. The Sookie Stackhouse Companion (Charlaine Harris)
73. Dead Over Heels (Charlaine Harris)
74. If I Had A Hammer (Charlaine Harris)
75. A Fool and His Honey (Charlaine Harris)
76. Last Scene Alive (Charlaine Harris)
77. Poppy Done to Death (Charlaine Harris)
78. A Tale Dark and Grimm (Adam Gidwitz)
79. The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Palace of the Damned (Darren Shan)
80. Doctor Who: Aliens and Enemies
81. The Saga of Larten  Crepsley: Brothers to the Death (Darren Shan)
82. Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses (Ron Koertge)
83. In A Glass Grimmly (Adam Gidwitz)
84. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Laini Taylor)*
85. Hidden  (P.C. Cast)
86. Days of Blood and Starlight (Laini Taylor)
87. The Archived - ARC (Victoria Schwab)
88. The Queen's Army (Marissa Meyer)
89. Annabel (Lauren Oliver)
90. School Spirits - NetGalley (Rachel Hawkins)

*denotes re-read

2012 Movies & TV in Review

Since I already did my post on my favorite books read this year, all I have left are movies and television. 

Television

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!

1. Doctor Who: 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).

Favorite Episodes:

-The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances (s. 1)

-The Girl in the Fireplace (s. 2)

-Army of Ghosts/Doomsday (s. 2)

-The Shakespeare Code (s. 3)

-Blink (s. 3)

-Human Nature/The Family of Blood (s. 3)

-Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords (s. 3)

-Partners in Crime (s. 4)

-Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead (s. 4)

-Stolen Earth/Journey's End (s. 4)

-The End of Time (special)

2. The Big Bang Theory: 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.

Favorite Episodes:

-The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis (s. 2)

-The Adhesive Duck Deficiency (s. 3)

-The Zazzy Substitution (s. 4)

-The Shiny Trinket Maneuver (s. 5)

-The 43 Peculiarity (s. 6)

Movies

As usual, there was an abundance of movies released this year. Some great, some ok, some bad.

Favorites:

1) The Hobbit: 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...

2) The Hunger Games: 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.

3) The Dark Knight Rises: 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.

4) The Avengers: 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!

5) Prometheus: 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.

Honorable Mention: The Cabin in the Woods. Such twists, such enjoyment!

Worst of the Year:

1)Rock of Ages: 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.

2)Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: It had some decent moments but for the most part, I lost interest and had to fight to pay attention.

3) Magic Mike: 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.