tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62472677763940237152024-03-12T20:48:34.650-04:00Life, or something like it...Who Knows? Anything that pops into my head, but mostly books, movies, and good old life, I'm sure.Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-25961486110984348162010-03-23T09:37:00.018-04:002010-03-23T13:42:38.772-04:00A Little bit of this, a little bit of that, will somebody please get me a Kit- Kat!Hey! How is everyone? Grand, I hope! <br /> <br />It's been a very long time since I last picked up my pencil almost a year, actually. It's not because I don't love to draw, I do, but see, I lost a lot of my art supplies and drawings in a fire I had last year, 2009. When things like that happen you lose a<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S6jPkO0jgOI/AAAAAAAAAjY/QWsAA-8Nzd0/s1600-h/img034.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S6jPkO0jgOI/AAAAAAAAAjY/QWsAA-8Nzd0/s320/img034.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451835570292752610" /></a> bit of yourself, I guess. Well, a few days ago I was going around the blogs I follow and one of my favorites is <a href="http://thetwirlingdragon.blogspot.com/">The Twirling Dragon</a>. Kim has wonderful art and mostly she seems to draw the Human face and body, though she can draw just about anything. I, on the other hand, love drawing animals such as Dragons, lions, gorillas, and have only drawn the Human face twice(years and years ago) and never the human body. So, when I was over at Kim's blog I had this overwhelming desire to draw and try my hand at the human body, which I've never done before. A little nervous I got up and found me a mechanical pencil and a piece of white copy paper and started to draw my lil' one. Once I got started I realized how much I've missed drawing and the utter solitude it gives me. I completely zone out. By no means is my drawing perfect but I think it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. I could definitely use more practice, and I'm sure you can tell I used my eraser quite a lot during the process, but now I'm super ready to start drawing again! And as soon as I have a little extra money I'll be heading to an art store to get me some real art supplies. :)<br /> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />I have decided to recommit my life to God. I started a new church about 3 months ago and I'm really loving it. The last time I went to church regularly and enjoyed it I'd have to say was when I was about 14 or 15. A church van used to come pick us kids up in front of our trailer park and take us to church every Sunday morning and Wednesday night, but at around the age of 16 or 17 I lost my way and started struggling with my faith. One Sunday morning, about 3 months ago, I woke up and decided its time to make a change and give my woes to the lord. It's been a hard couple of years for us and I had a lot of woes to lay down, but I did. I have not only started going to church on Sunday mornings, but Friday nights "Road to Recovery" and I've volunteered for many church activities, as well. It's been an amazing ride so far and has really opened my heart to the lord and his blessings. Miracles can happen. <br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3PN-BMHi5L8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3PN-BMHi5L8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">Great Song! Love it.(Logan I think you'll really like it :)</span><br /> <br /> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Finished reading a couple books over the past few weeks <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Hundred-Thousand-Kingdoms/N-K-Jemisin/e/9780316043915/?itm=1">The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin</a> and <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Bite-Me/Parker-Blue/e/9780980245387/">Bite Me by Parker Blue</a>. Both books I enjoyed and highly recommend. Then, this week I'll be starting <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Iron-Hunt/Marjorie-M-Liu/e/9780441016068/?itm=1">The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu</a> and also<a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Before-They-are-Hanged/Joe-Abercrombie/e/9781591026419/?itm=1"> Before They are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S6jvpN7RBaI/AAAAAAAAAjo/Hkp1l8phyE4/s1600-h/Before+they+are+hanged.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S6jvpN7RBaI/AAAAAAAAAjo/Hkp1l8phyE4/s200/Before+they+are+hanged.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451870840323900834" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S6jwbyepp-I/AAAAAAAAAjw/34wddZtmHhQ/s1600-h/the+iron+hunt.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S6jwbyepp-I/AAAAAAAAAjw/34wddZtmHhQ/s200/the+iron+hunt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451871709129451490" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Also you can enter to win a SINGED Copy of The Name Of Wind by Patrick Rothfuss over at <a href="http://logankstewart.blogspot.com/2010/03/on-meeting-pat-rothfuss.html">Rememorandom</a> Awesome book, too, so everyone should enter!:)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S6j8yG6N6bI/AAAAAAAAAj4/EUeNDBtRzD4/s1600-h/the+name+of+the+wind+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S6j8yG6N6bI/AAAAAAAAAj4/EUeNDBtRzD4/s200/the+name+of+the+wind+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451885286710438322" /></a><br /><br /><br />Well, I guess thats about it for today and I hope you all have a fantastic week!! :)<br /><br />Thanks for reading, Krista!Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-20279061132643439472010-03-13T18:52:00.029-05:002010-03-13T23:33:20.480-05:00Saying goodbye to Winter and hello to Spring...<object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/67xr_KKPTHE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/67xr_KKPTHE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Just a short lil' post to share a few Winter pictures and this very pretty "Winter Song"!! :)<br /><br />I had a wonderful winter this year, because I'm one of the many who really enjoys a good snowfall! Yep, that's right, this year it snowed at the beach! I coudn't believe it! The snow was super fun to play in and absolutely beautiful. However, I am completely ready to say hello to warmer weather, as you can tell from my new header picture I took on a Warm Spring Day! Oh, how I have missed you, my shorts and flip flops! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5w4gmTYfdI/AAAAAAAAAiw/uqC7xeTLQ1c/s1600-h/winter+122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5w4gmTYfdI/AAAAAAAAAiw/uqC7xeTLQ1c/s320/winter+122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448291781900271058" /></a><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;"> Tennessee Snow! The first snowfall we got to play in this year! So cute! </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5w5fhpn-HI/AAAAAAAAAi4/fSxTXkAnoJ4/s1600-h/winter+213.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5w5fhpn-HI/AAAAAAAAAi4/fSxTXkAnoJ4/s320/winter+213.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448292862983141490" /></a><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">My lil' Miss Aubriannah loved the snow especially eating it! lol. We were staying in Aberdeen with my Aunt Darlene when it snowed ice and realized we had forgotten her mittens, so we made homemade ones--a pair of socks with plastic baggies taped around them. It worked like a charm, too! Ha-ha! :D<br /> </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5xDJWCaMkI/AAAAAAAAAjI/rC_khkXfMuc/s1600-h/winter+223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5xDJWCaMkI/AAAAAAAAAjI/rC_khkXfMuc/s320/winter+223.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448303477025026626" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Yep, the first snowfall here at the beach in ten years and everyone of us EXCITED, as you can see! Ha-ha!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5w3ZCBBXXI/AAAAAAAAAio/400yZPSUB_0/s1600-h/winter+245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5w3ZCBBXXI/AAAAAAAAAio/400yZPSUB_0/s320/winter+245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448290552388869490" /></a><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">Ha-ha, That's my Daddy! Yes, that snowball is meant for me! Him and my lil' brother(up there on the top porch) totally ganged up on me so every time I looked up I had another snowball hitting me in the face! I was totally soaked by the time we went inside to warm up I had to change all my clothes! LOL! It goes to show that you're never too old to play in the snow and have tons o' fun! </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5w76n5hZOI/AAAAAAAAAjA/dPLRA_J6wOc/s1600-h/snowman+and+bri.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5w76n5hZOI/AAAAAAAAAjA/dPLRA_J6wOc/s320/snowman+and+bri.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448295527540155618" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">And last, but definitely not least, our beautiful Slanted Snowman and his awesome Snow-Hat!!! LOL!</span><br /><br /><br />I had tons of fun this year with all the many snowfalls I got to experience, but I am so ready to say goodbye to you my friend Winter and Hello to you Spring!!<br /><br />Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed your winter, too! :)<br /><br />KristaKristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-51209614912252202242010-03-09T12:41:00.005-05:002010-03-11T19:33:35.691-05:00The Road to old memories...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5aH6FWQWgI/AAAAAAAAAhM/d78_ryrroPA/s1600-h/old+house.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S5aH6FWQWgI/AAAAAAAAAhM/d78_ryrroPA/s320/old+house.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446690231288879618" /></a><br />As I sit here contemplating what exactly I should write I can feel the nights chill vibrate through me, it runs up my spine and sends goosebumps down my arms. I love night and all the mystery it brings. The cool fresh air, the many sounds; night creatures you cannot see, the whirl of leaves as the wind picks them up to carry them off to a new home, and the noise that sounds so much like absolute silence. Everything is louder at night, because when darkness engulfs around you it seems to bring a kind of silence with it. Not too many are awake at this hour. Their all safe in their warm beds doing what I love most and often do, dream. Dreaming is a passion of mine. I daydream often and I almost always have dreams while sleeping. <br /> <br />Memories seem a lot like dreaming to me. Remembering those times on the playground swinging by your knees upside down on the monkey bars. You don't realize how wonderful that feeling truly was until you're older and trying desperately to do it again, and just the slightest pressure on the back of your knees sends you screaming in pain. Dreaming about how limber you once were when you could climb up trees like one of the monkeys. So fast, so easy. My fondest memories are of when I was a child, as I hope most peoples are. <br /><br />I can remember vividly as far back as about 4 or 5 maybe even younger. It's hard to know how old you are in your own visions of the past. It seems funny to me how our minds and memories work. For me, I can't remember everything I've ever done, learned, or read, but I try and soak up as much as I possibly can, more so now then when I was a teen. Mostly I remember my most fun, most horrid, and most intimate memories the best. <br /><br /> My favorite memories are of my childhood in a house I came to love. We didn't have a lot of money growing up, so we lived in an old one story pinkish color house with a worn porch, and weak broken windows covered with a thick plastic and duck-tape--the tape for men. Those things though didn't really matter much to a child because our front-yard was big and our backyard was vast and endlessly full of trees. I loved those days playing hide-and-seek in the woods. I love to run and I was the best at climbing trees so not many could catch me. It was fun and exhilarating being so high up when you're so small. Its strange how you could find yourself deep within the woods in a matter of minutes and still we always seemed to find our way home, though every tree looked the same. The adventures we had were endless. Pirates, soldiers, princesses, kings, ninjas, ninja turtles, and I could go on and on I'm sure. I grew up with two brothers and our next door neighbors were boys, so I was pretty much a tomboy from the get go. There was nothing they could do that I wouldn't try or do myself, even when they said, "No way, you're a girl!" I remember the boys next door had a treehouse and because I was girl there was no way they were letting me up there, and in an 'all boys clubhouse' at that. I would try climbing up the wood planks but they had ammo, pine-combs. They definitely hurt, so ultimately I would give up and go do my on thing like finding frogs, or climbing on things like my playhouse or the shed just so I could jump off. Eventually, the boys would get bored in their "all boy clubhouse" and come join me. It's amusing how that works. Boys are weird for sure. <br /><br />I still love that pinkish worn down house and those woods. I had my first kiss there, my first set of stitches, and I played my first and last game of beebee gun tag, but those are stories for another time...<br /><br />Once again, Thank you all for reading.<br /><br />KristaKristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-91679143049068091522010-03-03T08:00:00.007-05:002010-03-03T09:40:55.570-05:00Books to Movies...Went to see T<i>he Lightening Thief</i> this past weekend and I thought it was a really good movie. I enjoyed it. I've heard up and down reviews, though, and the downs seem to be the ones who have read the book first. I did not read the book and I really enjoyed the movie. Some of the plot seems to have been recycled from other stories and or movies before it, but it was still pleasant to watch. What I'm wondering though is... Do you like to read the book first or vise versa? I mean, it seems I come away disappointed no matter which way I go. See, if I see the movie first, I tend to put the book to the bottom of my to read list, and then when I do end up reading the book the story can sometimes be a bore because I know around about what's going to happen. But, if I read the book first, I seem to be disappointed with what they left out, or didn't interpret the overall story in the same way I had it played out in my mind while reading. It seems to be a lose-lose situation for me, however, I think I enjoy reading the book first so the movie doesn't ruin an otherwise wonderful story. What about you?<div><br /></div><div>I'm even looking forward to watching <i>Shutter Island, </i>but I just can't decide whether I should run out and read the book first! What a dilemma! lol. I just adore Leo, though. He is totally my dream guy. ~heart flutters~ </div><div> <div><br /><br />Anyway, I'm headed to the book store today (love that place ha-ha) and I'm hoping to pick up <i><b>The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin </b></i>so I can join in on the Barnes and Nobles book club discussion with the author <a href="http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Fantasy-Science-Fiction/MARCH-FEATURE-1-The-Hundred-Thousand-Kingdoms-by-N-K-Jemisin/td-p/477819">here</a> and anyone is more than welcome to join in. Yes, even you! (hint, hint, wink, wink, lol). Really looking forward to this book. Love the cover, by the way. I have always been a sucker for fantastic cover art or just art in general really. However, the cover does remind me of <i>The Never Ending Stories</i> castle in the movie... Does it not? o.O</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/S439q9rYX-I/AAAAAAAAAhE/LgaR_Kpi56o/s320/N.K.+Jemisin.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Once again, Thanks for Reading! Next Post more in the Life of Krista, ha-ha! :)</div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-16398100794175944352010-02-28T00:40:00.017-05:002010-03-01T22:49:27.251-05:00Living up to my title: Life or Something Like It...<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">When I first started this blog I had no idea where I was going with it. I didn't really know what to write about and if people really wanted to hear all about my actual life. The only thing I did know was that I was absolutely IN LOVE with books, so this blog became a book blog. Which by no means is a bad thing; I love books and book blogs. But, well, I'd like to share some of my intimate feelings with you and live up to my title now: Life or Something Like It... So if you're looking for a book review or just a post about books I'd say turn back now, 'cause today I'll be sharing a little bit of My Life or I guess you could say, what happens to be in my noggin... lol :D<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">So where do I even begin? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> Hmmm, it may be a little morbid for some of you but I think I'll start with my first real experience with death. You may be wondering why I said "Real" death? What I mean is, it's the first time I've had someone I knew well and loved dearly pass away. Death is never an easy thing, though, no matter what. So let’s start at the beginning shall we...</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> I got a call early morning on December 16 from my mom she was crying so hard she could barely speak, she whimpered in the phone to me, " David passed away this morning..." I replied in total shock, "What? What do you mean David passed away?" Some of you may not know, but my little brothers name is David, so automatically the first person I thought of was him. Then my mother whimpered again, "David S*** passed away this morning." It was heartbreaking for sure, but I couldn't help myself when I sighed in relief that it wasn't my little brother David named after my Uncle David. Then total shock hit. I didn't cry right away. I wasn't really sure I believed it, you know, because I had just seen him at my little girls’ 2nd birthday party. Hugged him, told him I loved him, thanks for coming and I'd see him again soon. It was a surreal experience to get that phone call. We packed us up a bag that day and headed down to my Aunt Darlene's house to comfort her in her time of loss. You see, they've been together for 28 years, and 6 months before he died they found out he had brain cancer, but that doesn't mean his death didn't come as a surprise to everyone. See my Aunt Darlene and David's daughter had seen him through what they thought was going to be the hardest part, David's brain surgery. At the time of his surgery they felt they were ready for the worst but David pulled through it. He was a strong man, a fighter, but as you may know cancer can really break a person down and work its magic through your veins. His heart gave out in the ambulance on his way to the hospital the morning of December 16, 2009. </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I can't describe how his wife must have felt and is still feeling, but I can tell you how it made me feel. When I first walked into her house and David wasn't there it really hit me hard that I would never again get picked on or get one of his famous loving Bear Hugs. He was David, and he was gone. My heart was breaking and not just for myself but for my Aunt Darlene and his family, too. That Sunday was his funeral and I remember the feeling I had most-LOVE. Love for David, for all his family and friends, for my family and friends. I just wanted to hug everyone and make sure they all knew how much I really loved them no matter if I didn't know them all that well or not. I was seriously bursting with love and tears. That night, I believe, or maybe the next night, we went out to eat and still I had the "need" to hug and say I love you to my other aunts and uncles that I see all the time but never really have that intimate moment with. Then a few weeks later came Christmas morning at my grandmas house with my close family. I remember I had that same loving feeling. I ended up being the only one, that as soon as I came in, to give a hug to every person that was there. I was happy to be there with them, and I'm pretty sure they knew at that moment I really loved them. So, for me, with death came love. </span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" size="13px" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><br /></h3></span><p class="MsoNormal">In loving memory of my Dear Friend and Uncle David may you rest in Peace.</p><p class="MsoNormal">{Edited March 1, 2010} I just wanted to add a quote and this here song. Love it. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, serif;font-size:10px;"><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E_gPPLmml3o&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E_gPPLmml3o&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, serif;font-size:10px;"></span>As for the quote; "Sometimes it takes a funeral to see how blessed we are to have life."</p>Thank you all for taking the time to read! :)<p></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-11272945812592748872010-01-11T16:33:00.004-05:002010-01-11T17:39:51.678-05:00Books read in 2009 :) And Skiing fun!So I thought it'd be cool to write down all the books I've read this year, 2009, in no particular order. :)<br /><br /><b>FANTASY-- SCIENCE FICTION:</b><br />1.<u>Mistborn</u> by Brandon Sanderson<br />2.<u>The Well Of Ascension</u> by Brandon Sanderson<br />3.<u>The Hero of Ages</u> by Brandon Sanderson<br />4.<u>Warbreaker</u> by Brandon Sanderson<br />5.<u>Elantris</u> by Brandon Sanderson<br />6.<u> Name of the Wind</u> by Patrick Rothfuss<br />7.<u>Lamentation</u> by Ken Scholes<br />8. <u>Canticle</u> by Ken Scholes<br />9.<u> Blade Itself</u> by Joe Abercrombie<br />10.<u> Discworld Graphic novel-- <i>The Colour Of Magic</u></i> by Terry Pratchett<br />11.<u> Discworld Graphic novel-- <i>The Light Fantastic</i></u> by Terry Pratchett<br />12.<u>Unclean Spirits</u> by M.L.N. Hanover<br />13.<u>The Sword Of Shannara</u> by Terry Brooks<br />14.<u> Of The Forest</u> by Juliet Marillier<br />15.<u> Legend Of Singurd & Gudrun</u> by J.R.R. Tolkien<br />16.<u>The Children of Húrin</u> by J.R.R. Tolkien<br />17.<u>One Second After</u> by William R. Forstchen<br />18.<u>A Canticle For Leibowitz</u> by Walter M. Miller Jr.<br />19.<u>The Lovely Bones</u> by Alice Sebold<br />20.<u>The Host</u> by Stephenie Meyer<br />21.<u>Pandemonium</u> by Daryl Gregory<br />22.<u>The Strain</u> by Guillermo DelToro and Chuck Hogan<br />23.<u>Pride and Prejudice and Zombies</u> by Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith<br />24.<u>Street Magic</u> by Caitlin Kittredge<br />25.<u>Red-Headed Stepchild</u> by Jaye Wells<br />26.<u>Touch the Dark</u> by Karen Chance<br />27.<u>Claimed by Shadow</u> by Karen Chance<br />28.<u>Embrace the Night</u> by Karen Chance<br />29.<u>Curse The Dawn</u> by Karen Chance<br />30.<u>Midnight's Daughter</u> by Karen Chance<br />31.<u>Unclean Spirits</u> by M.L.N. Hanover<br />32.<u>Dead Witch Walking</u> by Kim Harrison<br /><br /><b>ROMANCE</b><br />33.<u>Sense and Sensibility</u> by Jane Austen<br />34.<u>Pride and Prejudice</u> by Jane Austen<br />35.<u>Poison Study</u> by Maria V. Snyder<br />36.<u>Magic Study</u> byMaria V. Snyder<br />37.<u>Fire Study</u> byMaria V. Snyder<br /><br /><b>CHILDREN (9 &up)</b><br />38.<u>Coraline</u> by Neil Gaiman<br />39.<u>The Graveyard Book</u> by Neil Gaiman<br />40.<u>The Amulet of Samarkand</u> by Jonathan Stroud<br />41.<u>The Golem's Eye</u> by Jonathan Stroud<br /> 42.<u>Ptolemy's Gate</u> by Jonathan Stroud<br />43.<u>Roverandom</u> by J.R.R. Tolkien<br /><br /><b>MYSTERY</b><br />44.<u>And Then There Were None</u> by Agatha Christie<br />45.<u>Murder on the Orient Express</u> by Agatha Christie<br /><br /><b>YOUNG ADULT</b><br />46.<u>The Hunger Games</u> by Suzanne Collins<br />47.<u>Catching Fire</u> by Suzanne Collins<br />48.<u>Pastworld</u> by Ian Beck<br />49.<u>Cybele's Secret</u> by Juliet Marillier<br />50.<u> Wildwood Dancing</u> by Juliet Marillier<br />51.<u>The Good Thief</u> by Hannah Tinti<br />52.<u>The Naming</u> by Alison Croggon<br />53.<u>The Riddle</u> by Alison Croggon<br />54.<u>The Crow</u> by Alison Croggon<br />55.<u>The Singing</u> by Alison Croggon<br />56.<u>Graceling</u> by Kristin Cashore<br />57.<u>Fire</u> by Kristin Cashore<br />58.<u>Legacy</u> by (16 year old) Cayla Kluver<br />59.<u>The Warrior Heir</u> by Cinda Williams Chima<br />60.<u>Oh. My. Gods.</u> by Tera Lynn Childs<br />61.<u>Rebel Angels</u> by Libba Bray<br />62.<u>A Great and Terrible Beauty</u> by Libba Bray<br />63.<u>Sweet Far Thing</u> by Libba Bray<br />64.<u>City of Bones</u> by Cassandra Clare<br />65.<u>City of Ashes</u> by Cassandra Clare<br />66.<u>City of Glass</u> by Cassandra Clare<br />67.<u>Twilight</u> by Stephenie Meyer<br />68.<u>New Moon</u> by Stephenie Meyer<br />69.<u> Eclipse</u> by Stephenie Meyer<br />70.<u>Breaking Dawn</u> by Stephenie Meyer<br />71.<u>Girl in the Arena</u> by Lise Haines<br /><br /><br />So yeah, I know I haven't been around lately to visit all my favorite blogs so sorry guys you are all awesome and I will try my very best to be a better follower! :)<br /><br />Things have just been quite crazy around here with all the holidays and work. I also just got back from a week long Vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, which was so very cool. I had a lot of fun and had many new experiences!<br /><br />Went skiing for the first time ever, and I tell you, it was so much fun! It was my two brothers, my lil' brothers girlfriend, and me. All of us newbies, and, of course, we were all way too cool to take skiing lessons. lol. Well, we were all in the practice area trying to figure out what we were doing and how these big boots and skis worked. It was pretty easy to get going, turn, head down the small hill, and slide to a stop at the bottom, right. Yeah, so after I, and seriously only me, actually slid down the hill a few times I was so ready to go up the lift! I asked my brothers if they were ready and they said " Heck no, are you crazy!" lol, and all of them were seriously too chicken to go up at all! I couldn't believe it, so I just went on my own. I got in line for the lift, let it take me to the top of the Newbie section, which is still pretty high up there if I do say so myself, and then I got off. So now there's only one way down.... I went for it, I got around the first curve, then the second one, and here I come down this crazy amazing hill and I'm flying! But then all you can see are tons of people just standing at the bottom TALKING with their skis and snowboards on, and I felt like they were yelling at me saying, "Come on, I dare you to hit me in the back!" lol. So yeah, I'm flying down this huge hill trying my best to slow down and hopping I stop before I hit a few people. Well, stopping ends up to be a pretty easy task to do when you completely bomb out at the bottom! At least I had a few feet to spare before I hit anyone, however, I can't say the same for my skis! Hey, falling stopped me, but it didn't stop me from wanting to go back up that lift again and again to feel that awesome rush, and me and the snow becoming one. :) After my first time down My brother and his girlfriend saw the whole thing, of course, and still they weren't so sure until I got up and said "WHOA, that was so much fun!! I'm so going again!!!" I guess once they seen me, their sister, making it down okay and alive they felt they could brave it out. :) My lil' brother didn't even fall once!!!(he was going down like a granny, though, I'd say!) ha-ha. The only way I knew how to stop was by falling!lol. Man, I had so much fun till I twisted my ankle! It hurt, but I said whatever, and went SNOW TUBING! Now that was awesome, too!!!<br /><br />So who wants to hear about my first Horse Back Riding Experience????Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-47165807907287603022009-11-03T03:00:00.000-05:002009-11-12T12:21:53.495-05:00Review: Pastworld by Ian Beck<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SuGa9SSKZEI/AAAAAAAAAec/7Crr537NNP8/s1600-h/pastworld+by+Ian+Beck.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SuKf5AK5QvI/AAAAAAAAAek/Galhh2Lc6_k/s1600-h/pastworld+by+Ian+Beck.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 210px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396051105190331122" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SuKf5AK5QvI/AAAAAAAAAek/Galhh2Lc6_k/s400/pastworld+by+Ian+Beck.jpg" /></a> I know it's been a long time coming, so without further ado, I give you my review for <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Pastworld/Ian-Beck/e/9781599900407/?itm=1">Pastworld By Ian Beck!</a><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">My review and thoughts:</span></em><br />Imagine London in a huge dome of sorts where all civilization is reproduced in the Victorian age, while the outside world is in the year 2048. Not only is London living in the past, but it's know as the <em>Pastworld Theme Park</em> for all the outside world. Tourists, also know as the Gawkers, come from all over the world as they pay big money to live the life of a Victorian, and enjoy the many entertainments of Pastworld.<br /><br />Eve, a girl who's only known the life of London as it is-horse run carriages, harsh laws, gas lamps, and old buildings-decides to set out in the streets of Pastworld on her own. As she does she's met with the realization of what her home really is--a theme park, and money maker for the man in charge. Not only does she have to reassess her home, but herself as well.<br /><br />Caleb, a boy from the outside world, brought to Pastworld by his father on Halloween, is left awe struck by how fascinating everything around him really is. But soon enough, when he sees his face on wanted posters for a murder he didn't commit, he's all but ready to return to his strict home life in the outside world.<br /><br />But this seems to be the least of Eve's and Caleb's problems when the most dangerous and biggest attraction of <em>Pastworld</em> decides to show his face and destruction once again. They call him, The Fantom....<br /><br />Intricate, compelling, and one masterfully told story. <em>Pastworld</em> is a place where many haunting worries are hiding in the streets, and around the darkest of corners. There is much adventure to be had, and many fun , interesting, and spooky characters to follow. You will find romance, friends, thieves, and many shocking murder mysteries to witness in the streets of <em>Pastworld</em>. This was definitely a page turner for me to the very end, and I find myself recommending it to you all! :)<br /><br />:) More about Pastworld <a href="http://www.past-world.com/main.html">here</a> :) I will also leave you with the trailer for the book below. It's pretty cool, if I do say so myself! Enjoy, and have a wonderful day every one :)<br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZRtAOFkUyuc&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZRtAOFkUyuc&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><em>(Off topic---Man, it's been awhile since I last posted, but in my defence it's been crazy around here :) Also, with the way life is going right now the best time it seems for me to post will be on the weekends... What can I say, I'm a reader of all your blogs and I love it! How you guys keep up with posts and comments I'll never know! You're all awesome!)</em><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SuGa9SSKZEI/AAAAAAAAAec/7Crr537NNP8/s1600-h/pastworld+by+Ian+Beck.jpg"></a>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-57746820121754788142009-11-02T06:40:00.000-05:002009-11-02T06:43:53.953-05:00Sharin' the Fun!!<div align="center"><br />I thought I'd share some of the pictures and fun we had!!! I hope everyone else had a wonderful Halloween too! Halloween was tons of fun for us and I even had two costumes for <em>Little Miss Aubriannah. </em></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 358px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399308830749940370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Su4yxll62pI/AAAAAAAAAgM/wnjJm_hjQf4/s400/Halloween+049.JPG" /></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Ah, My <em><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Little </span><span style="color:#ff6600;">Miss Snow White</span></strong></em> :) She was <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6600;">Snow White</span></em></strong> for the <em><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Trick Or Treating</strong></span></em> part of the day, and boy did she have fun! She couldn't keep her little fingers out of her candy, lol! </div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399308370789517506" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Su4yW0GzyMI/AAAAAAAAAgE/yyZQusvZHfk/s400/Halloween+002.JPG" /><br /><p align="center"><br />Here is Aubriannah in her <em><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Pirate</span></strong></em> costume getting ready to head to the <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6600;">Fair</span></em></strong>, which was tons of fun! :)<br /><br /></p><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 201px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399307732291981090" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Su4xxphIjyI/AAAAAAAAAf8/w42j4JOCHfI/s400/Halloween+014.JPG" /><br /><p align="center"><br />"Why so serious?" lol! :) My little <em><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Pirate</span></strong></em> ridding a Pony all by herself!<br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399306788967306530" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Su4w6vXAVSI/AAAAAAAAAf0/JP9ZrrSHxQA/s400/halloween+2+690.JPG" /><br /><p align="center"><br /><br />My little Pirate's first time ridding a ride ALL by herself! She was so serious on all the rides, I think, because she was a little nervous about falling off, lol! :)<br /><br /><br /></p><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399301931678318178" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Su4sgAjEPmI/AAAAAAAAAfk/WFjm1u1OfGE/s400/Fall+2009+Briannah+040.JPG" /><br /><p align="center"><br /><br />This was taken a few days before Halloween with her <em><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Pumpkin</span></strong></em>. She really enjoyed carving them. :)<br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399300104361483874" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Su4q1pQyHmI/AAAAAAAAAfc/sGqhQGPSlgo/s400/008.JPG" /><br /><p align="center"><br />Ah, so sweet! My little knuckle heads! </p><br /><p align="center">Well, that's all she wrote, Folks! I hope you enjoyed them and your Halloween! :)<br /></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-27831268789657392082009-10-31T08:30:00.007-04:002009-10-31T10:41:30.752-04:00Happy Halloween!! Who's it gonna be....<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Suw04jj6BvI/AAAAAAAAAfU/ZwGvS0tqJR4/s1600-h/halloween2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398748199533545202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Suw04jj6BvI/AAAAAAAAAfU/ZwGvS0tqJR4/s400/halloween2.jpg" /></a> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Man, that picture is so cool! :)</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />It's time to announce my very first giveaways winners!! I had four awesome books to giveaway to four awesome bloggers, so who's it gonna be.... I used the Random Name Picker at Classtools.net, so without further ado I give you my Halloween Winners!<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398747952154306962" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Suw0qKAGaZI/AAAAAAAAAfM/-uayla805q8/s320/contest!" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">Drum Roll Please.........</div><br /><br /><div align="left">The Winner of <em><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson</span></em> is</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>David Wagner</strong> </span></div><br /><br /><div align="left">The winner of <em><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Lamentation by Ken Scholes</span></em> is</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Logankstewart</span></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="left">The winner of <em><span style="color:#ffcc00;">The Naming By Alison Croggon</span></em> is</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Michelle (Red Headed Book Child)</span></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="left">And the winner of <em><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Pastworld by Ian Beck</span></em> is</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Ryan G.</span></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Yay! Congrats to all the Winners! I have a busy day today (we're going to the fair and Trick or Treating, of course! :), but I will make sure and email each of you before the day is over! </div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#ff6600;">Happy Halloween to you all!</span></em></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-7302869734553539122009-10-11T13:12:00.029-04:002009-10-28T15:31:12.327-04:00FireFlies and Randomness...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/StIPQPhOW5I/AAAAAAAAAd0/upVBTeAIwGI/s1600-h/fireflies3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 215px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391388475634113426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/StIPQPhOW5I/AAAAAAAAAd0/upVBTeAIwGI/s320/fireflies3.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><div>So tonight's post is brought to you by Fireflies! <span style="color:#ff0000;">(Book stuff and links are at the bottom for those who want to skip my Randomness for the day....)</span></div><div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/H-4ln_sXty0&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/H-4ln_sXty0&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">(</span><span style="color:#ff0000;"> I love music you can sing along too.... Not that I'm saying I'm any good at it! lol! :)</span><br /><br />Wow, right! *Sigh* I love it! For those of us who love our dreams and fantasy worlds this song speaks volumes. I'm sure different music affects people in many different ways, though. His voice is so amazingly soothing, when I close my eyes I feel as though I'm eight, maybe younger, maybe older, running around trying to catch fireflies in a jar. </div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391388335194147570" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/StIPIEVuivI/AAAAAAAAAds/SVxCKEgEtpo/s320/fireflies2.jpg" /> </div><div align="center">Favorite quote:</div><div><div><div><div align="center">" 'Cause I get a thousand hugs </div><div align="center">From ten thousand lightening bugs </div><div align="center">As they try and teach me how to dance"</div><div><br /><br />Fireflies are amazing in their own right, so it'd be something marvelous to see and feel, indeed. Ah, the joy of dreaming....</div><div><br />If you haven't already noticed, I really feel that today I'm all up for a blog post that has only a little to do with books, so this is my attempt at randomness, or lack there of ... </div><div><br />So, as many of my faithful followers know I've moved into a new house, a wonderful house, I might add. My favorite part about my new house is our Huge fenced in backyard. It's not only my favorite part, but my little girls and her puppies(Eskimo Spitz, Nala and a Husky, Roxie) , too. You should see them run around! CRAZINESS! It's very amusing and nice. Now the only problem left is figuring out where everything will go and what junk I need to ditch. Okay, okay, I admit it, I'm a pack rat, and no, I don't mean the actual <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grba/parknews/images/Packrat_2.JPG">pack rat</a>! LOL! It's so hard to just throw things out. You end up losing or breaking so many things over the years anyway, right? I have so much stuff that I "could" get rid of, but how do I know what exactly to ditch? That, my friend, is why I'm a pack rat! I'm just thankful it's NOT the <a href="http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Da%2Bmess%2Bof%2Ba%2Bpack%2Brat%26b%3D21%26ni%3D20%26ei%3Dutf-8%26y%3DSearch%26pstart%3D1%26fr%3Dfptb-tyc7-154&w=500&h=333&imgurl=static.flickr.com%2F3421%2F3362296019_70e002d2c3.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkarpinsky%2F3362296019%2F&size=139k&name=Being+John+Karpi...&p=a+mess+of+a+pack+rat&oid=cf217f8c90dbca2c&fr2=&fusr=john.karpins...&no=29&tt=47&b=21&ni=20&sigr=11i6otdig&sigi=11gvcsvh0&sigb=13qcifjer">overbearing kind of pack ratness</a>..LOL! It's definitely not that bad it's just too many boxes in the garage. I'm also a big Book Hoarder! Now I just need more bookshelves (<a href="http://kyusireader.blogspot.com/2009/10/bookshelf-project-13.html">Peter</a> I'll let you know.... :)<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391387834900654770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/StIOq8mdqrI/AAAAAAAAAdk/W347kPaFkvk/s320/024.JPG" /><br /><br />On other news, my little girl is getting WAY too big for her own good! Her birthday is just around the corner, she'll be 2 on November 17th. Can you believe it? It feels as though just yesterday I was in the hospital holding her for the first time. Where has the time gone? Being a mother can be hard business, but it's all worth it! The smiles and laughs you get by the simplest of things is most definitely my favorite part about being a mother. Not to mention all the smiles and laughs she gets from me. Anyway, her favorite word right now is Apple. I never thought a word could be so cute! She loves to dance, especially to Hannah Montana or <a href="http://thefutureaccordingtotaj.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/backyardigans1.jpg">The Backyardigans</a>. I am very serious, we have the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFtYLDszWA">Hannah Montana</a> movie sound track CD in our car and we have to listen to it always. She really does get down to the music in her Car seat, and sometimes you can even catch her trying to sing. It's lovely. Kids are most definitely Gods gift to us. </div><div><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Okay, now onto book news. Lets start with books I've finished over the past couple weeks that I haven't been able to write reviews for yet. Sorry, moving is tough work! :)</span></div><div><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780439023498">Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins</a>- All I can say is Awesomeness! If you are up for solid characters, great action, and crazy plot twists, then I would highly recommend you pick this one up! Anyway, here are a couple Blogger friends reviews for this title, <span style="color:#ffcc00;"><em>Melissa</em></span> @ <a href="http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-review_10.html">My World </a>and <em><span style="color:#ffcc00;">JuJu</span> </em>@ <a href="http://www.talesofwhimsy.com/2009/10/catching-fire-book-review.html">A Tales of Whimsy...</a></div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781591025948">The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie</a>-- The first book in the First Law Trilogy-- Wow! It was one heck of a ride. This book was basically just the set up for a new world and well rounded, fantastic characters. Not to mention all the fight scenes that will leave your mouth hanging open. One thing I will say is <em><span style="color:#ff6600;">The Blade Itself</span></em> is definitely not a book for the feint of heart. Anyway, here are a few blogging buddies who have done wonderful reviews for this title, <em>Melissa</em> @ <a href="http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-review.html">My World</a>, <em>Logan</em> @ <a href="http://logankstewart.blogspot.com/2009/07/first-law-blade-itself-review-spoiler.html">Rememorandom</a>, and <em>Alec </em>@ <a href="http://onlythebestscifi.blogspot.com/2009/08/review-blade-itself-by-joe-abercrombie.html">Only The Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy</a>.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>:):):)</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Pastworld/Ian-Beck/e/9781599900407/">PastWorld by Ian Beck</a>-- Wow, it was such an experience hanging out in the amusement park of London! I don't want to say too much about this one as I will be doing a review as soon as I am able. You can also enter my giveaway to win a Hardcover copy of it <a href="http://carmen-krista.blogspot.com/2009/10/favorites-giveaway.html">here</a>!</div><div><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Now onto books I am reading and want to read over the next few weeks....</span></em></div><div><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781599903729">Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines </a>-- Many thanks to <em>J. Kaye</em> @ <a id="followed-blog-40" onclick="'BLOG_readingList.changeSelectedBlog(event," href="javascript:void(0)">J. Kaye's Book Blog</a> for this ARC! Just started this one and so far so good. </div><div><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dune/Frank-Herbert/e/9780441172719/">Dune by Frank Herbert</a>-- Many thanks to <em>Alec</em> @ <a href="http://onlythebestscifi.blogspot.com/2009/07/review-dune-by-frank-herbert.html">Only The Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy</a> for producing such a fantastic review that I just had to pick this one up. I'm really looking forward to starting this title.</div><div><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Lost-Art-of-Keeping-Secrets/Eva-Rice/e/9781615511648/">The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice</a>-- Many thanks to <em>Deb</em> @ <a href="http://bookmagic418.blogspot.com/2009/09/review-lost-art-of-keeping-secrets.html" target="_blank">Bookmagic </a>for recommending this title. </div><div><br />And last, but not least, <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Embellish/R-L-Sloan/e/9781432740320/?itm=1&usri=Embellish">Embellish by R.L. Sloan </a>-- Many thanks to <em>R.L. Sloan</em> for this review copy. I'm definitely hoping it's as good as it sounds!</div><div></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">(If you have a link to reviews for any of these titles, and I missed you, then feel free to leave the link to your review in the comment section.)</span></div><div><br />Well, that's it! Krista's Randomness 101! Hope you enjoyed it! If your in the mood for more and more Awesome Randomness, then I highly suggest you check out <em>David's</em> blog @ <a href="http://dlwagner.blogspot.com/">My Little Corner of the World</a>. </div><div></div><div>Don't forget on your way out the door to check out all the wonderful blogs and the many reviews I mentioned! They're Great!<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/tony%20the%20tiger/bwhitker/tony-the-tiger---frosties.jpg?o=20"><br /></div></a></div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-31624512859415622242009-10-06T12:13:00.004-04:002009-10-06T12:39:00.086-04:00Teaser Tuesdays--Catching Fire<p align="center">Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly event hosted by <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">MizB</a> of Should Be Reading.<br />Here is how it works.<br /></p><br /><ul><br /><li>Grab your current read </li><br /><li>Open to a random page Share 2 or 3 “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page </li><br /><li>BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) </li><br /><li>Share the title & author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</li></ul><br /><p></p><p align="center">I'm just now getting around to starting <span style="color:#ff6600;"><em><strong>Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins!</strong></em></span> So far it's great, I might add!</p><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 215px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389524125379211266" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SstvoxmgMAI/AAAAAAAAAcM/gehpg7UZqHA/s320/CatchingFire-1.jpg" /></p><p></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>"If a pack of wild dogs were to appear at this moment, the odds of scaling a tree before they attacked are not in my favor. I should get up, move around, and work the stiffness from my limbs." pg. 3</strong></span></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">So there you have it, my Teaser Tuesday! Now it's your turn! What are you reading and have any quotes caught your attention more than the next...?</p><p align="center"></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-32805896667585470452009-10-01T15:32:00.021-04:002009-10-02T22:40:44.082-04:002009- My Top Favorites- Giveaway!!I thought that since this is the 1st of October I'd get my FIRST contest up and running..... 4 books, 4 winners!!!!<br /><br />This giveaway is going to consist of four books I've read over this year-2009- that have been some of MY favorites! What better way to get your favorites and favorite authors out there, then by giving one away?<br /><div><div><div><br /></div><div>Here are my four favorite reads so far this year.... In order of most enjoyable for ME...</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 212px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387728018182119618" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SsUOFk4qIMI/AAAAAAAAAb8/7bm0L5NqqNg/s320/warbreaker.jpg" />My favorite read so far this year has been <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Warbreaker</span></span> by Brandon Sanderson! View my review and book synopsis <a href="http://carmen-krista.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-review-warbreaker-by-brandon.html">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 184px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387728012589333714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SsUOFQDO_NI/AAAAAAAAAb0/SFtXLbHhIAM/s320/Lamentation.jpg" />Lamentation by Ken <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Scholes</span></span> is the first book in The Psalms of Isaak series, wonderful read! View Synopsis <a href="http://carmen-krista.blogspot.com/2009/08/waiting-on-wednesday.html">here</a>.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 185px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387728010329701730" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SsUOFHofvWI/AAAAAAAAAbs/Osp4bmEg2GU/s320/The+Naming.jpg" /> <div></div><div>The Naming is the 1st book of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pellinor</span></span> series by Alison <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Croggon</span></span>. I loved this whole series! And Guess what? If you happen to have this book and are missing one of the other three, no worries, I'll send you which ever book you are missing....<br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387727652568990290" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SsUNwS3sglI/AAAAAAAAAbk/Zf3G1aEigF0/s400/pastworld+by+Ian+Beck.jpg" /><br /><br />I just finished reading <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pastworld</span></span> by Ian Beck and I must say it rocked! I haven't read any other books by him before now, but I'm sure to go and find more of his titles now!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><strong><em>To Enter:</em></strong></span><br />US and Canada only- sorry!<br /><br />All you have to do to enter my giveaway is leave the title of the book you would like to win and your email address so I can contact you.<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"><strong>Extra Entries:</strong><br /></span></em>+2 New followers<br />+3 Old followers<br />+4 Linking this contest to sidebar, Twitter, blog post. (Include links please!)<br /><br /><br />This contest will end on Halloween(BOO!) October 31st! I will email the winners (a winner for each book) and they will have 72 hours to contact me with their shipping info or a new winner will be chosen! I wish you all the best of luck!Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-17002361785056284372009-09-24T13:55:00.012-04:002009-09-24T19:37:45.018-04:00Moving and First Giveaway Info....<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sru6nlT-V1I/AAAAAAAAAa8/NjQYWY-N_Ak/s1600-h/faithcopy.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385102968645113682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sru6nlT-V1I/AAAAAAAAAa8/NjQYWY-N_Ak/s400/faithcopy.png" border="0" /></a> <div>Hello fellow followers! I just wanted to let you all know that over the next week or so I'll be moving into a new house. What does this mean, you ask? Well, my Internet and computer access will be on hold for awhile. :-( Alas, no new posts, and sorry to say, but I won't be able to comment much either.... Very sad, indeed! Don't worry, though, I'll be back soon enough to stalk you all!</div><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385101524167675762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sru5TgNtz3I/AAAAAAAAAas/Sw3zfqHBGaE/s400/happy.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>But hey, with bad news comes good news, right? Or, at least, that's how it should be! So, I am as happy as this little puppy to announce that I have decided when I get back I'll be having my very first and 60 follower giveaway! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Woot</span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Woot</span>! That will be something to look forward to, right? I haven't decided what exactly this giveaway will contain, so I'm up for any and all advice if you have it? </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Have a great Week all! Stay cool!</span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-4913427973923286002009-09-21T09:07:00.018-04:002009-11-01T22:45:06.769-05:00Book Review: Oh. My. Gods.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Srd8JIrDK3I/AAAAAAAAAaU/XcqT6goBMmY/s1600-h/ohmygods.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383908375933430642" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Srd8JIrDK3I/AAAAAAAAAaU/XcqT6goBMmY/s320/ohmygods.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Srd8Ns5eq1I/AAAAAAAAAac/IF6_qFixJeU/s1600-h/oh.my.gods..jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383908454377106258" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Srd8Ns5eq1I/AAAAAAAAAac/IF6_qFixJeU/s320/oh.my.gods..jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Which one? They both seem to fit the book perfectly, but being the girlie girl I am, I have to say I like the wing sneakers best (the one I bought..<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">LOL</span></span>!)! Both are very fun covers, though!<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>Author:</em></span> <a href="http://www.teralynnchilds.com/omg.htm">Tera Lynn <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Childs</span></span></a><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>Genre(s):</em></span> YA, Fantasy<br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Publisher:</span></em> The Penguin Group<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>Publication date:</em></span> May 2008<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>Recommended?</em></span> Yes, especially to those looking for a good run!<br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Reread?</span></em> For sure, this was such a fun read, so I don't see why not!<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">My Review:</span></em><br /><em>Phoebe Castro has just crossed the finish line in hopes of making all her dreams come true--a chance at the full track scholarship to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">USC</span></span> with her best friends, Nola and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cesca</span></span>. Little does she know her Mom's waiting at the finish line with news that could destroy all these plans. Her Mom has decided to marry a man Phoebe has never meet before and move them across the world to Greece. But this is the least of her problems. She finds herself on a secretive Island known as Aegean and attending the elite Academy, run by her stepfather, full of students that are anything BUT normal--they're descendants of the Greek Gods, where superpowers are a given. Not to mention the fact they're not fond of mundanes and want to make her time at the Academy total pandemonium! How can she possibly win the race to total freedom?......</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>I went into this book looking for something really fun, laid back, and entertaining and I was highly rewarded with this tale. This was such a fun book to read! Phoebe, the narrator, is a really fun character who seems to be able to handle herself quite well. She may have a few bullies, but there's no way she's going down without a fight! She even has the guts to go after Griffin, descendant of Hercules, and the boyfriend of her arch enemy! </p><p>The story line is very entertaining and at times I found myself laughing-out-loud. <em><span style="color:#ff9900;"><strong>Oh. My. Gods.</strong></span></em> is definitely a book that could really help anyone get out of a funky mood, that's for sure! I recommend this book if you're looking for a good laugh, a fan of Greek mythology, want to reminisce on old high school days, and especially to those that love the feel of a good run: <span style="color:#33ff33;"><em>"the steady rhythm of my sneakers hitting the ground, the adrenaline and endorphins pulsing through my bloodstream, the cotton of my PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY tee rubbing against my skin with every step."</em> </span><span style="color:#ff0000;">( Favorite <em>Oh. My. Gods.</em> quote) </span></p><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Other Favorite quotes:</span></em><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">"wondering what Plato meant when he said, <em>We can easily forgive a child who is scared of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light</em>."<br /><br /><em>"You,"</em> I say, leaning in and giving him a peck on the cheek, <em>"are a rock star in coward's clothing."</em></span><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>My Rating:</em></span> 4/5 Wonderfully fun!!!<br /><br /><br />Thanks to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">JuJu</span></span> at <a href="http://talesofwhimsy.blogspot.com/2009/08/ohmygods.html">Tales of whimsy....</a> for recommending this book! She has tons of great book reviews!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">(All comments welcome!)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Srd8Ns5eq1I/AAAAAAAAAac/IF6_qFixJeU/s1600-h/oh.my.gods..jpg"></a>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-45009444370674269352009-09-15T09:27:00.004-04:002009-09-15T09:45:44.702-04:00Teaser Tuesday.....<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sq-aDCVQZ_I/AAAAAAAAAZc/vLJWkQgotgU/s1600-h/TT.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381689456687343602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 81px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sq-aDCVQZ_I/AAAAAAAAAZc/vLJWkQgotgU/s320/TT.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /></div><p>Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly event hosted by <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">MizB</a> of Should Be Reading.</p><ul><li>Here is how it works. </li><li>Grab your current read</li><li>Open to a random page Share two (2 or 3) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page </li><li>BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) </li><li>Share the title & author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</li></ul><div align="center"><br />I'm reading <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6600;">The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#ffcc00;"></span></em></strong></div> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381689286430102946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sq-Z5IExFaI/AAAAAAAAAZU/IqUvdNb1e6U/s320/The+Blade+Itself.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#ffcc00;"></span></em></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#ff6600;">If Logen had been the one clinging to Shanka's foot, he would most likely have thought, "My life depends on this leg I'm hanging from--best not take my chances." A man would rather save himself than kill his enemy. Trouble was that the Shanka didn't think that way, and Logen knew it. </span></em></strong></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#ffcc00;"></span></em></strong></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-47236742576942143662009-09-14T19:57:00.007-04:002009-09-14T21:54:35.718-04:00Awards, you say!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sq7tjNmfVNI/AAAAAAAAAZM/NzVgFHxk3-U/s1600-h/who-loves-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381499793956623570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 218px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sq7tjNmfVNI/AAAAAAAAAZM/NzVgFHxk3-U/s320/who-loves-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I received this award from my dear friend Melissa at <a href="http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My world</a>! Thank you, Mel! Be sure to check her blog out it's pure awesomeness! </div><br /><div></div><div><em><strong>This award is designed with one purpose in mind. Pass this on to other bloggers who have awarded you in the past. </strong></em></div><br /><div></div><div>I would love to say thanks to all you awesome bloggers who have presented me with wonderful awards! I haven't been able to pass on and say thanks for a few awards I have been given by very dear friends and wonderful bloggers lately due to a busy schedule, so I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to say thanks! </div><br /><div><br />Jessica at <a href="http://abookloversdiary.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A BookLover's Diary</a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Michelle at <a href="http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Book Addict</a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Teddyree at <a href="http://teddyree-theeclecticreader.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Eclectic Reader</a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Sara at <a href="http://mylifeisaneffingfairytale.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Life is an Effing Fairy Tale!</a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Alexia at <a href="http://alexia561.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alexia's Books and Such...</a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Deb at <a href="http://bookmagic418.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bookmagic</a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Froggy at <a href="http://froggaritavillesbookcase.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Froggaritaville's Bookcase</a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Ryan at <a href="http://wordsmithonia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wordsmithonia</a> </div><br />Alyssa, Gregory and the Gang at <a href="http://teensreadandwrite.blogspot.com/">Teens Read and Write</a><br /><br /><br />Thank you all very much! And If you haven't been by these blogs please visit them all, they're all very wonderful blogs that I enjoy every day!Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-36172847350341642992009-09-12T10:53:00.007-04:002009-09-12T21:02:28.372-04:00A Special Thanks....I just wanted to say <em><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong><span style="color:#cc66cc;">Thank you</span> </strong></span></em>to all of you awesome followers that sent an email to <em><strong>Maria</strong></em> for me! I just received an Email saying she is sending me a signed copy of <em><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Storm Glass</span></strong></em> today, how exciting!! So, expect a picture and a review sometime soon! You guys rock!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Squ2sY23amI/AAAAAAAAAZE/ETNTw0XBbnM/s1600-h/storm+glass.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380595053527263842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Squ2sY23amI/AAAAAAAAAZE/ETNTw0XBbnM/s320/storm+glass.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Storm Glass</strong> </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ff6600;"><br /></span><span style="color:#33ccff;">From Amazon.com:</span></em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqfZIhQcfhI/AAAAAAAAAYk/AmyyG0j3rEY/s1600-h/storm+glass.jpg"></a><br />As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Thank you so much!!!!!)</span>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-79333290594090958632009-09-09T12:13:00.000-04:002009-09-11T22:04:33.420-04:00I have a favor to ask, please!Hi guys! I'm going to ask a very special favor of 5(or more) of you. I am absolutely dying to read Maria Synder's book - Storm Glass - and I can get a signed copy of it from Maria, if five of you email her telling her that Krista from Life or Something Like It... chatted up her books with you.<br /><div><div><div><br /></div><div>Maria has this great referral program that anyone can participate in. You just have to talk to FIVE people about her books and then have them send an email to her saying you did. You get to pick one of her books and she'll send it to you signed! How cool is that? </div><div><br /></div><div>Check it out on <a href="http://www.mariavsnyder.com/contests.php">Maria's website</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Her email is <a href="mailto:maria@mariavsnyder.com">maria@mariavsnyder.com</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Please, Let me know in a comment below if you're willing to do this for me! Thanks! And, if you haven't heard about her books, here's a little bit about them:</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><em><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>The Study Series - consists of Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study</strong>. </span></em></div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sqfas3HIntI/AAAAAAAAAY8/1CiIoRVyiB4/s1600-h/poison+study.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379508744160321234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sqfas3HIntI/AAAAAAAAAY8/1CiIoRVyiB4/s320/poison+study.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Poison Study</strong></span></em><a href="http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/bestselling-sci-fi-fantasy-2006/382-1.jpg"></a><br /></div><div><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>From Publishers Weekly.</em></span> </div><div>Shivers, obsession, sleepless nights—these are the results not of one of the milder poisons that novice food-taster Yelena must learn during her harrowing job training but of newcomer Snyder's riveting fantasy that unites the intelligent political focus of George R.R. Martin with a subtle yet potent romance. Through a stroke of luck, Yelena escapes execution in exchange for tasting the food of the Commander, ruler of Ixia. Though confined to a dank prison cell and doomed to a painful death, Yelena slowly blooms again, caught up in castle politics. But some people are too impatient to wait for poison to finish off Yelena. With the help of Valek, her steely-nerved, cool-eyed boss and the Commander's head of security, she soon discovers that she has a starring role to play in Ixia's future—a role that could lead to her being put to death as a budding magician even if she hits each cue perfectly. The first in a series, this is one of those rare books that will keep readers dreaming long after they've read it.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#ff6600;">Magic Study</span></em></strong><a href="http://kayedacus.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/magic_study_cover.jpg"></a> </div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqfadpeyK7I/AAAAAAAAAY0/HU-pCm36bzs/s1600-h/magic_study_cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379508482803379122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 222px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqfadpeyK7I/AAAAAAAAAY0/HU-pCm36bzs/s320/magic_study_cover.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#33ccff;">From Publishers Weekly.</span></em><br /></div><div>Family betrayal, a power-mad serial killer and a potential diplomatic crisis threaten the independent-minded heroine of Snyder's fine sequel to Poison Study (2005). With the overthrow of the royal family of Ixia, 20-year-old Yelena Zaltana, who was kidnapped as a child by the evil magician Mogkan, is now free to return home to Sitia. Her reunion with the family she hasn't seen in 14 years palls when her brother spreads rumors she's actually a spy from Ixia. At the Magician's Citadel, where Yelena enrolls to hone her prodigious magical talents, her powers raise concern that she might be a rare, powerful Soulfinder. Then a string of ugly murders reveals the presence of a rogue magician in the area. As Yelena joins the hunt for the killer, complications grow with the arrival of a diplomatic mission from Ixia—including her lover, Valek, a notorious spy and assassin, sure to be executed if anyone sees through his disguise. Snyder's lively, charming mix of romance and fantasy is sure to gain her new fans.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VMth3uQmqVg/SqMmbiYV8II/AAAAAAAAAXI/eRXSEJgJrmM/s1600-h/51n9S1k1gUL.jpg"></a></div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqfZmRZE3BI/AAAAAAAAAYs/JFAbE47DWYM/s1600-h/fire+study.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379507531444182034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqfZmRZE3BI/AAAAAAAAAYs/JFAbE47DWYM/s320/fire+study.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;"><em>Fire Study</em></span></strong><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>From Publishers Weekly</em></span><br />Fans of high-spirited adventure, intrigue and romance will celebrate the third book (after 2007's Magic Study) in the saga of reluctant mage and diplomat Yelena Zaltana. The news that Yelena is a Soulfinder, able to manipulate the spirits of the dead and the living, hasn't made her popular with the inhabitants of Sitia's Magician's Keep, since the last Soulfinder turned people into mindless slaves. First Magician Roze Featherstone's hostility toward Yelena increases until the Sitian Council decides to send Yelena north as diplomatic liaison to the rival nation of Ixia. When Roze takes over the council, imprisoning her rivals and driving the nation to the brink of war with Ixia, Yelena is caught between her duties as liaison, her love for Ixian intelligence officer Valek and her fear of her own power, which she must embrace fully to defeat Roze and restore the council. Snyder delivers another excellent adventure, deftly balancing international and local hostilities against Yelena's personal struggles.Glass series: Storm Glass and Sea Glass<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51n9S1k1gUL.jpg"></a><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51n9S1k1gUL.jpg"></a><br /></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">These next two books are from Maria's newest series.</span></em></div><div><br /><em></em><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;"><em>Storm Glass</em></span></strong> </div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">From Amazon.com:<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqfZIhQcfhI/AAAAAAAAAYk/AmyyG0j3rEY/s1600-h/storm+glass.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379507020306873874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqfZIhQcfhI/AAAAAAAAAYk/AmyyG0j3rEY/s320/storm+glass.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></em></div><div><div>As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known. </div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqfXSISnbqI/AAAAAAAAAYM/uRq75rEPgMY/s1600-h/sea+glass.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379504986380529314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqfXSISnbqI/AAAAAAAAAYM/uRq75rEPgMY/s320/sea+glass.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><em><span style="color:#ff6600;">Sea Glass</span></em></strong><br />Student glass magician Opal Cowan's newfound ability to steal a magician's powers makes her too powerful. Ordered to house arrest by the Council, Opal dares defy them, traveling to the Moon Clan's lands in search of Ulrick, the man she thinks she loves. Thinks because she is sure another man now her prisoner has switched souls with Ulrick.In hostile territory, without proof or allies, Opal isn't sure whom to trust. She can't forget Kade, the handsome Stormdancer who doesn't want to let her get close. And now everyone is after Opal's special powers for their own deadly gain....</div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Thank you so much, guys!)</span><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-32929443028616700382009-09-08T09:03:00.000-04:002009-09-11T22:04:10.032-04:00Book Review: Legacy!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sqa51laCoKI/AAAAAAAAAX8/FnplHK-13n4/s1600-h/n49026582415_1752.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379191135166177442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sqa51laCoKI/AAAAAAAAAX8/FnplHK-13n4/s320/n49026582415_1752.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>Author:</em></span> <a href="http://www.caylakluver.com/">Cayla Kluver</a><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>Genre(s):</em></span> YA, Fantasy<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>Publisher:</em></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595910557/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0980208971&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=04BJD1Z8DC1HA14SJKSA">AmazonEncore </a><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>Publication date:</em></span> August 18, 2009<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>Recommended?</em></span> Yes, anyone looking for a good Historical Romance.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">My Review:</span></em></div><div><em>Legacy</em> is a tale narrated by Princess Alera in the unbearable position of an arranged marriage by her father, King of Hytanica, to the egotistical and irascible man known as Steldor. Alera finds herself in the position to defy her father when Narnia, a secretive boy from Cokyri, is brought before her father as an enemy. While trying to find a way out of this potential marriage, a century old war erupts between Hytanica, her home land, and the kingdom of Cokyri. Heroine Alera now must chose between becoming Queen of her homeland, or her hearts true love.....</div><br /><div><em>Legacy</em> is the first book in a trilogy written by the young author of 16, <em>Cayla Kluver</em>. This story is very much a romance with fun characters that all have their own unique personality's. <em>Kluver</em> has done a wonderful job with the plot of her story and keeps you engaged and wondering what will happen next. We are left with a cliffhanger ending, which leaves you stupefied and ready for book 2,<em> Allegiance</em>. While I really enjoyed Legacy there was one downside. Kluver's writing, while good, was lacking and over descriptive at times to where I found myself skimming over useless information. But as a first novel (not to mention her age) I think she did an exceptionally good job and has tons of room to grow into a wonderful author! I'll be looking froward to continuing this series.</div><br /><div><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">My Rating:</span></em> 3.5/5 Very good </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sqa5htm8XpI/AAAAAAAAAX0/ZwolcEFPGNI/s1600-h/163_Cayla_Press_072.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379190793770393234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 163px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sqa5htm8XpI/AAAAAAAAAX0/ZwolcEFPGNI/s320/163_Cayla_Press_072.jpg" border="0" /></a>About Author:</span></em><br /><div>Cayla wrote the first draft of Legacy during her sophomore year in public high school. She then worked very hard to combine her junior and senior years so she could graduate early. She completed the first draft of Allegiance, which continues the story begun in Legacy, the following year. She is sixteen years old, and lives with her family and her muse (Nina, her cat) in Wisconsin, where only the hardy survive. Legacy is her first novel. The first edition of Legacy won first place in the 2008 Reader Views Literary Awards, and a bronze medal in 2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Award for young adults.</div><br /><br /><div>Thanks to Eleni at <a href="http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">/- LA FEMME READERS -/</a> for this wonderful book! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">(All comments welcome!)</span></div></div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-42536828848575908282009-09-04T09:48:00.018-04:002009-09-04T10:40:20.821-04:00In my Mailbox!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqEgdl3rU6I/AAAAAAAAAXI/ybZ5bXgJYiM/s1600-h/mail+box.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377615122811016098" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqEgdl3rU6I/AAAAAAAAAXI/ybZ5bXgJYiM/s320/mail+box.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div>So I just <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">received</span> a few new books in my mailbox and have seen this meme floating around so I thought I'd give it a go. The Credit goes to: <a style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)" href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/"><span style="color:#33ff33;">Story Siren</span></a> for 'In My Mailbox'! Okay, on to what I got this week in my wonderful Mailbox:</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqEfXszvQlI/AAAAAAAAAWo/3BZxMQEJgt8/s1600-h/overlander.jpg"></a><div><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong><em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqEgWQQQjOI/AAAAAAAAAXA/B-YhV6FqS64/s1600-h/CatchingFire-1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 215px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377614996749454562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqEgWQQQjOI/AAAAAAAAAXA/B-YhV6FqS64/s320/CatchingFire-1.jpg" /></a>Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins</em></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Synopsis (spoilers if you have not read The Hunger Games)</span>:</div><div>Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqEgOllujhI/AAAAAAAAAW4/UtLeWi9CL_Q/s1600-h/overlander.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 218px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377614865037692434" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqEgOllujhI/AAAAAAAAAW4/UtLeWi9CL_Q/s320/overlander.jpg" /></a> <span style="color:#ff6600;"><em><strong>Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins</strong></em></span><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Synopsis:</span><br />When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it -- until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever.<br /><br /></div><p></p><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqEfwz4es3I/AAAAAAAAAWw/irYEdHUzIbE/s1600-h/weeks.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 194px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377614353478366066" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SqEfwz4es3I/AAAAAAAAAWw/irYEdHUzIbE/s320/weeks.jpg" /></a> <span style="color:#ff6600;"><em><strong>The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks</strong></em></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Synopsis:<br /></span>For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art-and he is the city's most accomplished artist. For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly - and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins' world of dangerous politics and strange magics - and cultivate a flair for death.<br /></div><div></div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-10707506023106579832009-09-02T21:45:00.013-04:002009-09-07T22:29:53.956-04:00My ABC's!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sp-9SIqwxeI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/p7GLXCppqkM/s1600-h/abc.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377224599365797346" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sp-9SIqwxeI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/p7GLXCppqkM/s320/abc.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Sara at <a href="http://mylifeisaneffingfairytale.blogspot.com/">My Life is an Effing Fairy Tale</a>!, Christine at <a href="http://booktumbling.wordpress.com/">booktumbling</a> , and Lori at <a onclick="" href="http://psychoticstate.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Psychotic State</a> tagged me for this ABC meme so here goes. </div><br /><br /><div>Here are the rules: </div><br /><div>1. Link to the person who tagged you</div><div>2. Share your ABCs</div><div>3. Tag three people at the end by linking to their blogs</div><div>4. Let the three tagged people know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website</div><div>5. Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people, so there is a big network of bloggers doing this tag</div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Available or single?</span> To be determined, ha, ha!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Best Friend?</span> Yep, Christina and my Mom!! </div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Cake or Pie?</span> Cake all the way, baby!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Drink of choice?</span> Water always! Root beer, too, but only in a glass bottle. Don't know why but it taste much better that way!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Essential item for every day use?</span> Ummmm.... Computer and my hair dryer..LOL~!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Favorite color?</span> Red</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Google?</span> Not really. I'm a yahoo kind of girl! LOL!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Hometown?</span> I'm not telling you, ha, ha!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Indulgences?</span> Books and movies. </div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">January or February?</span> January </div><div><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Kids and their names?</span> Aubriannah and my little puppy Nala!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Life is incomplete without…?</span> Family, friends, books, chocolate, laughs, and my little puppy!<br /></div><div><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Marriage?</span> Once upon a time.....*Shrug*</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Number of siblings?</span> 2 brothers<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">Oranges or apples?</span> Oranges and Green apples! I hate red apples, yuck!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Phobias and fears?</span> Ummmm......Like Sara, I'm super scared of things I can't see in the ocean, sharks, stinging jellyfish, and such. Yikes!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Quote for the day?</span> Life is much too short!</div><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Reason to smile?</span> All the great people I've met through my blog! (I stole this answer from Lori, but it's true!)</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Season?</span> Summer and Winter...Ha, Ha, I can't decide I love the Fall too!</div><div></div><div><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Tag 3 people?</span></div><div></div><div>Ryan at <a href="http://wordsmithonia.blogspot.com/">Wordsmithonia</a></div><div>Mel at <a href="http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/">My world</a></div><div>Michelle at <a href="http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/">The Book Addict</a></div>And anyone else who would like to join in!<br /><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Unknown fact about me?</span> I can't go anywhere without a book in my purse, you never know when you may need it! I also Love to do makeup, it's so enjoyable!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Vegetable you hate?</span> Squash, yuck! </div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Worst habit?</span> Procrastination!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">X-rays you’ve had?</span> Back, and teeth!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Your fave food?</span> Chicken!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;">Zodiac sign?</span> Cancer!</div><br /><div></div><div>Well, there you have it, My ABC's!</div><div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-15498945970533627562009-09-01T21:49:00.013-04:002009-09-08T09:32:30.437-04:00I won my first Book Contest! Woot! Woot!<div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sp3R_TlYgKI/AAAAAAAAAWI/QlSm1iHEb8E/s1600-h/n49026582415_1752.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376684415669272738" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sp3R_TlYgKI/AAAAAAAAAWI/QlSm1iHEb8E/s400/n49026582415_1752.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Thanks to...MY NAME IS ELENI AND I AM A BOOKAHOLIC... at <a href="http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">/- LA FEMME READERS -/</a> I just won my First book contest! Woot! Woot! I really can't wait to read this! I can't even believe I won! Thank you so much, Eleni! </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#33ccff;"><strong><em><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Legacy by Cayla Kluver!</span></em></strong> </span></div><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#33ccff;">Summary for those of you who aren't familiar with the book:<br /></span></span><span style="color:#ffcc00;">"An award-winning YA fantasy debut, 16-year-old novelist Cayla Kluver brings a magical touch to an unrelentingly suspenseful coming-of-age tale. Duty-bound to wed her father’s choice in successor to the throne, Princess Alera of Hytanica believes that she is being forced into the worst of all possible fates—a marriage to the arrogant and hot-tempered suitor, Steldor. When a mysterious boy from enemy Cokyri appears bearing secrets and an entirely different view of what's appropriate behavior for a young lady, Alera learns that her private desires threaten to destroy the kingdom. When Narian’s shocking past comes to light, Alera finds herself in a shadowy world of palace intrigue and ancient blood feuds, facing an uncertain future with dwindling options—and must learn to decide between right and wrong all alone. Marked by witty, rapid-fire dialogue and dramatic complexity that belie the writer’s age, Legacy brings a fresh, new sensibility to age-old questions of duty and inheritance and to a young heroine’s quest to find her true voice."<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-36156150950404287652009-09-01T09:21:00.006-04:002009-09-01T18:03:27.549-04:00Teaser Tuesdays: Graphic Novel<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sp0_x07UPuI/AAAAAAAAAWA/pnD3Lq9k-iY/s1600-h/TT.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376523655403814626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 81px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sp0_x07UPuI/AAAAAAAAAWA/pnD3Lq9k-iY/s320/TT.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly event hosted by <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">MizB</a> of Should Be Reading.<br /></div><ul><li>Here is how it works.</li><li>Grab your current read</li><li>Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page</li><li>BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)</li><li>Share the title & author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</li></ul><div align="center">I'm reading <em>The Discworld Grahpic Novels</em> -<em> <span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>The Colour of Magic</strong></span></em> and <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6600;">The Light Fantastic</span></em> </strong>by<strong> <em><span style="color:#ff6600;">Terry Pratchett</span></em></strong>! See the inside <a href="http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061685965">here</a></div><div><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376523653466697282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sp0_xtteLkI/AAAAAAAAAV4/1BIqqz2KQVE/s320/Discworld.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center">"<em><strong>Great A'Tuin the Turtle</strong></em> comes, swimming through the interstellar gulf.... Through sea-sized eyes, he stares fixedly at the destination. In a brain bigger than a city, he thinks only of the <em><strong>weight</strong></em>. <em><strong>Most</strong></em> of the weight is, of course, accounted for by Berilia, Tubul, Great T'phon, and Jerakeen, on whose star-tanned sholders the <em><strong>Disc</strong></em> of the world rests."<br /></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376523649689061362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Sp0_xfo0B_I/AAAAAAAAAVw/C7cbrXB2sx0/s320/discworld2.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">This is a picture of the scene of my Teaser Tuesday. Awesome, eh?</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"> </p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-89983322142834246032009-08-31T10:22:00.010-04:002009-09-02T14:50:15.674-04:00Blogger Friends!Jamie at <a href="http://booknerdextraordinaire.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-like-to-see-what-my-blogging-friends.html">Revenge of the Book Nerds!</a> posted a really fun blogger activity, that I found on <a href="http://mylifeisaneffingfairytale.blogspot.com/2009/08/pictures-of-blogger-friends.html">My Life is an Effing Fairy Tale</a>!:<br /><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">"I'd Like To See What My Blogger Friends Look Like, Wouldn't You???"</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">"I just think it's fun to share what we look like with each other. Sure, we have our profile photos, but they are tiny! Let's have some fun and see what we look like."</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">I thought this was a really cool idea and I'm also glad to participate in Jaime's feature, so here I go! By the way, if you do this, link me to your post in my comments, please! I'd love to see you all : )</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376140870252973522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SpvjozHjTdI/AAAAAAAAAVY/w9s_hLj6nKk/s320/007.JPG" /></div><div align="center">Me, of course! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">LOL</span>!<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376140502962048722" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SpvjTa2kjtI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/b9C879Ys4jU/s320/004.JPG" /> <p align="center">This is my Little girl <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Aubriannah</span>! She will be two in November! They grow so fast, I'm telling you!<br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376139038402221346" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/Spvh-K8TFSI/AAAAAAAAAVI/lQaW327WbK0/s320/me+007.JPG" /> <p align="center">Me again!<br /><br /></p><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376137218615693010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SpvgUPtYTtI/AAAAAAAAAU4/FcSWc29ToE8/s320/bri+and+Disney+World+859.JPG" /> <p align="center"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Aubriannah</span> and me last Halloween!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376136125155416226" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SpvfUmQImKI/AAAAAAAAAUw/NsepuC1xxN4/s320/Disney+World+337.JPG" />This is my little puppy, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nala</span>! She is an Eskimo Spitz and the cutest thing ever...<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">LOL</span>!<br /></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6247267776394023715.post-82970810942476086132009-08-29T15:03:00.004-04:002009-09-04T10:45:48.428-04:00Book Review: The Graveyard Book!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SpguCBSF6fI/AAAAAAAAATY/AUJOSBZNqPo/s1600-h/35749437.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375096767505623538" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWTRZbgEuBA/SpguCBSF6fI/AAAAAAAAATY/AUJOSBZNqPo/s320/35749437.jpg" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Author:</span></em> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_gaiman">Neil Gaiman </a><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Illustrator:</span></em> Dave McKean<br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Genre(s):</span></em> Fantasy, Horror<br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Age Rank:</span></em> 9 and up<br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Publisher:</span></em>Harper Collins<br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Publication date:</span></em>September 30, 2008<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Re-read?</span></em> Sure. Like any children's book, you could read this many times over.<br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>Recommended?</em></span> Highly. Anyone looking for a fun, fast, and enjoyable read.<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">My Synopsis:</span></em><br />A boy they call Nobody Owens, Bod for short, is a normal boy like you and me. Well, except for the fact he's raised and taught by ghosts in a Graveyard. When I say taught, I don't just mean the normal things you learn in school like English, History, and Science. Oh, no, there's also fading, dream-walking, and how to put fear into your classmate bullies. Like any young boy there's mischief and trouble to be had, especially in a graveyard-- a secret gateway to long forgotten ghouls, a mysterious grave of the oldest inhabitant that if you enter you may never return. But what awaits Bod on the outside of the Graveyard could be even more dangerous then whats on the inside....<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">My Thoughts:<br /></span></em><em>The Graveyard Book</em>, a wonderful tale of a boys adventure through life that I found to be absolutely delightful and fun. This is a children's book, but it does have a darker, gritter side, like a ghost story told to children around a campfire. (There is a smaller children's version of the book found <a href="http://www.bloomsbury.com/childrens/Books/Details.aspx?isbn=9780747569015">here</a>, maybe not so gritty.) But, of course, all books have there villains, and Gaiman does a brilliant job of giving you just enough to give you the shivers. He has a very sound writing style with a dialogue that's perfect for anyone. Engaging world, fun characters, and the tale exceeds at a rapid pace with adventure steady to the very end. To top it all off we're left with an ending like no other! Now I know why <em>The Graveyard Book</em> won a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal">John Newbery Medal</a>, and in the end I was very happy to have read it!<br /><br />Also, here's a link to <a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/221843/march-16-2009/neil-gaiman"><em>Neil Gaiman</em> on <em>The Colbert Report</em></a>: It's funny and tells a little bit about <em>The Graveyard Book</em>. Enjoy!<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">(P.S. I've changed my review up a little - I did my own Synopsis this time. All comments welcome!!)</span>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246520046645594673noreply@blogger.com24