Spooky New Show

This is not at all of the craft or book nerd nature, but of course my musings are not limited to those subjects! Just largely composed of them...to the point where they usually distract me from what I should be doing...
ANYWAYS!
Anybody tuning in to the new Sleepy Hollow series on Fox? I am a total pansy when it comes to anything horror (a good movie can have me lying awake at night for days!). However, I am totally jonesing for October and Halloween to get here already so what better way to get my fix while I wait?!

You do have to pay attention while watching, which may be a turnoff for some people (tv is supposed to be mindless, right?). And admittedly, I am already slightly confused. Though I did watch the pilot tonight just before the new episode. But that aside, I loved the concept and am looking forward to seeing what they do with it.
One of my favorite childhood memories is of a sleepover at an older cousins house where she let us way-too-youngsters watch the movie version of the tale.  (Cue sigh at Johnny Depp's ability to be dashing in any role) We were scared out of our minds! But of course, isn't that what Halloween is all about?!
Definitely check it out next week!

In the meantime, what awesome shows are you all watching now?

Book Review: Of Poseidon

Loved, loved, LOVED this.  Fantasy and doomed forbidden romance in one.  That's my s***.  Hahaha.

Anyways, when I picked it up, I was under the impression it would be some kind of modern retelling of Greek mythology (FYI: Greek mythology is also my s***.)  It was not.  

However, I was not disappointed.  I was excited to delve into a story with mermaids.  I've read about angels, vampires, werewolves, witches, fairies...other strange non-human things...you name it.  I love to try somethin new!  

Predictably, I fell in love with Galen. I mean come on! A boy who's willing to give up his one true love- and to his brother for that matter-for the sake of doing the right thing for other people? I too have a completely self-destructive self-detrimental (is that even a real phrase?) conscience! Galen is my kinda guy. 

Of course, there was much more to it than a swoon-worthy mer-man (that just doesn't sound logical...haha).  It was just a good story...created such a beautfully fantastical world.  I mean for one... I would freakin love to find out I'm secretly a mythical creature!  This is one of the reasons I love to read so much.  Books offer such astounding possibility for life.  You just never know what can happen.  

But really I loved  the heroine Emma in all her plain-old human-ness (someone get me a dictionary!) too, just for living her life when everything she thought she knew about herself and her life turned out to be wrong.  That's something we can all learn from and aspire to, I think.  

Ok...I know...I get far too emotionally invested with book characters, hahaha! But seriously, read it!

Been Doing Quite a Bit of Reading...

Book Review: Because it is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin

I really enjoyed the first book in this series (All These Things I've Done).  So I was pretty bummed when I got into this one.  She's in Liberty, she's out of Liberty...She's with Win, they're broken up...she's done with chocolate, she's running a chocolate business.  Oh boy, is my head spinning! Way too much back and forth.  I like Anya, her tough attitude and her willingness to do anything for the ones she loves.  But her story was too jumpy for me to get into this time.  I'll still try the final installment.  I'm hoping it's much better.

As always, I say don't take just my word for it.  Try it out!








Book Review: Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

I very much enjoy modern re-tellings of the classics.  Particularly the Shakespearean ones.  To quote the author...the man could tell a story!  This one was no exception.  I loved what she did with the characters, especially that she made this Ophelia's story.  The sometimes crazy extent to which we will go for the ones we love is something we can all relate to, you know, minus the running around stabbing and poisoning people (er, hopefully...?).  And though I am a self-professed sucker for doomed bad boys, I was with Ophelia all the way on this one.  I couldn't wait for her to dump Hamlet's crazy ass!!  Remember ladies...it is never okay for your boyfriend to tackle you and choke you out in the back of a limo!  Even if he is a super handsome prince! Hahaha, this one is most definitely worth checking out.






Book Review: Margarettown by Gabrielle Zevin

A very cute, magical love story.  And a quick read too, which is always a plus for me.  My only complaint is that the ending wasn't the happiest!
Any woman can agree, we are each much more than just one person. On any given day or time we may be someone or something else.  We do a million things at once, we dress up, experiment with makeup and hairstyles, and we play much more than one role.  For this, you''ll love Margaret.  She's the fairy tale representation of every one of us...what would happen if everything each one of us is, split into different versions of ourselves!
I just love the mind of Gabrielle Zevin!







Happy reading!

Giving Credit Where it's Due!

I am finally beginning to feel satisfied with the look of my blog.  I've worked very hard but I could not have done it alone.  So a massive thank you to Picmonkey, Image-Maps, and every single blogger who has made a tutorial for gadgets or images or html or whatever!  I don't have the space or the memory to include you all in this post but believe me when I say I appreciate them all more than you all know.  They have been so extremely helpful! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The Fault in Our Stars.

Okay, okay, okay! This was one of the BEST books I have ever read. It was beautiful and real and terribly heartbreaking all at the same time. It's the books that elicit overwhelming emotion, the ones that make you think about the things you never want to, the ones that force you to re-examine what you think about life and remind you to appreciate all that your life offers you- those are the books  that I fall in love with. And I fell in love with Hazel and Augustus' story, from the sweet beginning to the devastating end.

If you have not read this book, do it now. You won't regret it. And the story will stay with you forever. 

Cheerios: Update!

So last week I had written about how excited I was to see a Cheerios commercial featuring a biracial couple. Well apparently that commercial is now the center of a very controversial debate.
Just a few minutes ago, on Facebook, I came across a video of children responding to the adults who disagree with the commercial. The young girl at the end brought me to tears.
I am incredibly touched by their ability to be so accepting and disapproving of the adults' failure to see that all people deserve equal treatment and acceptance.
The parents of each of those children should be incredibly proud for giving the world such beautiful little people!
Click the link below to see the video! I promise you'll fall in love with them too!

A Debate Over a Controversial Ad Gets Owned by a Bunch of Kids

Spotlight on Cosmopolitan Magazine.

I've always loved Cosmo, and tonight while flipping through the August issue I fell in love with it even more! One of my favorite things is when big companies/media/celebrities use their influence over the public domain to knock down social barriers, banish stereotypes or to just flat out say that to be different is perfectly okay!

First I found this picture...and you all know my stance on the biracial couple (b-e-a-utiful freakin babies!!!)

And then I came across this one. A bunch of your boring plain old guy gal couples and then BAM! Bottom right corner. ELLEN AND PORTIA!!! I absolutely love love love Ellen. And I love love love the fact that Cosmo recognizes their love just as any other couple's!

One of my other favorite things is when the media highlights the accomplishments of us non-famous, hardworking people. These four gals below are absolutely ah-mazingggg!

The two featured in the top left are Jessica Matthews (25) and Julia Silverman (24). "They inserted into a soccer ball a generator that harnesses energy from movement". How awesome is that?! Playing for just half an hour can power a small light for three hours! Their organization is called Uncharted Play and according to Cosmo you can follow them @SOCCKET. Check them out!

The young woman in the middle is Adrianne Haslet-Davis (32).  She was a victim of the Boston marathon bombings, losing her left foot.  But that terrible injury hasn't slowed her down.  You can look for her at next year's Boston Marathon and on the 17th Dancing With the Stars! From me to you, Adrianne-YOU CAN DO THIS! And I'll be watching for ya!

The last-but definitely not least-girl on the bottom left is Maria Teresa Kumar (39).  This inspiring
lady was able to do something the government has been unable to do successfully for years! And if for nothing else that deserves a major thumbs-up.  She came up with the idea to use the power of texting to encourage the Hispanic population to get out and vote! According to Cosmo her idea helped to bring out 220,000 new voters! Que bueno!

Hats off to you Cosmo for a great issue! Readers, pick it up today!

And then something like this happens...

Jared- "The Singing Nurse"

And I remember why I want to be a nurse.  To make a difference in people's lives. In even the smallest of ways.
Jared, "The singing nurse", you give me hope for this world.

Cheerios

This is random. And it's late. But I just saw something I had to share. Cheerios has a commercial out featuring a biracial couple. This shouldn't be such a taboo but unfortunately in the world we live in it is. It always gives me hope when the world offers up a little more acceptance. Perhaps down the line, other "non-traditional" ( and do I hate that phrase..) couples will be openly accepted and highlighted too.

Remember people. Love is love. And every human deserves acceptance and respect and equal treatment.

Side note: black and white couples should be the stars of  million commercials because they make beautiful fucking babies! That is all.

Goodnight.

For Talia

A bright, brave, truly beautiful young woman was taken from our world today. What she accomplished in the small time she was here should serve as an inspiration to us all. I only wish I had known her story before it was too late to help her dreams come true while she was alive. But I will aspire to live my life with her spirit and determination. Rest peacefully sweet girl. You give me hope.

Another awesome book found!

So I've just finished Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. Fantastic! If you love doomed paranormal romance mixed with action, suspense, and some plain old ghost stories you'll love it too. I've been waiting very impatiently for the last installment of the Mara Dyer series and this eased some of that- though briefly. I can't wait to get my hands on the second book of the series, Girl of Nightmares. Check it out!