A Book Review: All you Need to be Impossibly French

I was wandering through McKay's when this book caught me eye. As some of you know I am taking French right now and I found this very intriguing.

Title: All you Need to be Impossibly French: A Witty Investigation into the Lives, Lusts, and Little Secrets of French Women

Author: Helena Frith Powell

Number of Pages: 240 pages

Publisher: Plume

Genre: Nonfiction-Sociology

Rating:

The book is about a British woman living in Paris, France investigating what gives the French women the je ne sais quoi (the phrase literally means: I don't know what) that they seem to have. It is a wonderful book to read.

It is not a how to put make up on book, what to wear, or how to act in public book. This book simply talks about how to have (or at least understand) the french attitude, personality. What they think about food, fashion, friends, and men.

You join Powell as she goes on this journey to learn more about the the their eating habits, when they start wearing makeup, shaving(11, 12 sometimes as young as 9!), their obsession with staying thin, and how having affairs is as normal as having wine at multiple meals and is easy as going to a person and saying hello (literally in France people will straight up ask you, "Do you want to sleep with me?").

The amount of lingerie shops(tasteful and sexy, not skanky!) they have it is said is equal to the number of cheese shops they are supposed to have and the french love their chesse. At least that is the impression I was given thanks to this book. Or how about how French men would rather not have a french women! I know, to all of us this is shocking.

I won't give away any more, you will just have to go out and find out yourself!

This book is for everyone who is interested in the French women and how they live, you should definitely read this. It is well written, easy to follow, and one of those books you can finish in one sitting, although I recommend that you didn't do that. Very enjoyable.

If anyone wants to see my thoughts on this book just take a look on my french blog.

Phi Theta Kappa 

A few days ago I was invited to become a member of FQK (Phi Theta Kappa). Which I am very excited about because I have never been a part of an academic/honors group of any kind.

I have always been smart, but my biggest problem in the past was that at times I procrastinated, was lazy, or simply pessimistic about school. Over time I have stopped procrastinating, worked on motivating myself, and I now have a better outlook on school. I am very, very proud of myself.

It is so exciting it really is. I have already checked out their website and everything. I have joined their membership and have already explored what they have for us members.

What they have is very helpful and beneficial for anyone that is a part of it. It will definitely not only help improve the life skills you will need for your future, it also improves who you are as a person.

I am very excited and I can't wait to learn more about it. I just wanted to share that little victory with everyone.

Well I guess I will do another challenge!

I was invited on facebook by Book Chick city to do this challenge and I thought, what the heck.

It could be any book and the book can crossover from other challenges and hey, it will motivate me to read more. I am excited.

I just woke up, I am very tired. I am waiting for my boyfriend who is still sleeping to get his sleepy butt up.

Well I have to go I have lots to do. Just click on the link below to see what exactly it is all about!

First Day Back to Classes

Well Christmas break is officially over...back to classes.

I am so glad to be back. Yes, it does sound weird, it's just that I was getting a bit of cabin fever and I wanted to get out and do stuff besides be stuck in my room all day. I was starting to become lazy and bored with the stuff that I was working on, drawing, painting, making collages, reading, writing, and even dare I say blogging. The last one for me has definitly started to feel like a chore, the reason...I had to figure out what I was going to talk about. I feel all talked out so to speak.

Well not now, I am very excited about this week. I am only taking 4 classes again this semester. It may not seem like much but I like doing this so that way I can dedicate as much time as I can to each class and get higher grades. Yes it may take me longer to get done with classes, but at least my GPA will be awesome. Besides....I have to work my butt off to get into grad school. I still have a long way to go.

I already know 2 of my professors. I had one of them for math last semester and the other for french. The other 2...no clue who they are, but I will find out.

Other than that nothing much is really going on. I do have to find this one program for math which costs a lot. Actually its just a slip of paper with a code on it and I think the price to pay for it is ridiculous....anywho. I have to find that by Monday or I am screwed...wish me luck on that.

I only had to buy 2 books this time, which was really nice. I already had my french book and workbook from last semester, which I don't like but at least I won't be lost or have to buy another book. These textbooks are expensive though, really 2 textbooks equals $182??? What does the book contain...the secret to life? Yes I know...I'm being a little dramatic. It is just annoying, well it doesn't really bother me that much. It is more like a fly that is buzzing around the room annoying instead of buzzing in your ear annoying.

Wow I am going on a random tangent. I have to get going though I have to get ready for classes.

Wish me luck!

Being Stylish & Fashionable

Today I am going to talk about fashion and style. Yes I do not usually talk about it, fankly I am still learning. Growingf up being a Navy Brat (yah love that) on middle class working budget. Style & fashion went back to the wayside. Also everything I have learned about fashion and clothing has been pratically self taught.

I know the basic difference between fashion and style. Style is a personal thing, like your signature. While fashion is what everyone else is trying to live up to. That's what I have come to understand it to be.

There is one problem that I have with fashion and style...ok to be honest I have several. There are many misconceptions that people have about it.

Here are my list of problems with it:

1. You have to buy designer clothes or labels in order to be deemed fashionable or stylish.
2. Anyone that does not have these labels, you are a disgrace to fashion and style.
3. Those that don't have labels are rednecks/ ignorant.
4. Once you shop at one brand store(like American Eagle, Abercrombie, Aeropostle, etc) it's bad to shop at the other, you have to stick with that one brand.
5. You can only have one style
6. etc.

You get the idea. I will first begin by talking about the first one.

#1, 2, &3

These are pratically the same, so I put them under one heading.

• Do I like Designer clothers? Yes
• Do I like lables? Yes
• Do I have a few designer clothing? Yes
• How did I get the labels? Either always on sale or as a special gift. I don't ask my parents or my boyfriend to get me stuff thats over a certain price. That way I know they got something for me on sale. I don't mind it in the least.
• Do I shop at stores like American Eagle, Aeropostle, etc? Yes
• Do I only shop there? No
• Do I shop at places like Walmart, target, and even goodwill? yes :)
• Do I think it is important to have labels & designer clothes in order to be fashionable? NO

You see there are many average people out there that cannot afford designer labeled clothes. They can't, they shop at places like walmart, target and goodwill stores. Seriously why the heck would you spend $35 on a tshirt? I am a college student without a job right now, I am not going to go out and spend money to try to impress someone. Granted I am coming from a perspective of not having a lot of money and if I did have a lot of money I would probably decide if I really liked that shirt or not before getting it.

You can just get as many fashionable stylish things from the places I mentioned above. Are they high end,no. But guess what most of the clothes out there look the same,and if I ripped off the label from the clothing would you be able to tell which store it came from. I bet only maybe 10% percent of you could ( I'm taking into account that there are many fashionistas out there that stalk the fashion magazines like Twilight fans stalk Robert Pattison or Taylor Lautner).

Just because there is not label, it does not mean it is not fashionable.

Also the fact that people are not considered fashionable or stylish unless they have these labels is absolutly absurd. Just like I mentioned above how the heck are you going to honestly know if it is a label.

And to call the people that can't afford ignorant or disgusting of anything of that nature... well that is just plain nasty and rude.

To say that you have to only shop at one special store and you have to remain faithful to it, that is like saying that you will eat only at one restaurant and stick to that one.

And the last is that apparently you can't have more than one style.

I find this one very hard, simply because of the fact that I like all different kinds of clothing that I enjoy, there are many styles I want to convey. The reason everyone is complex, no one is fully preppy, goth, classic, etc. I like some clothing, some would consider gothic others preppy....I am a complex person so my style reflects that. I don't know why a person has to have one style.

Maybe it is to make it their signature, but your clothes should not define you. You wear the clothes, not the other way around.

I don't know... it just seems all silly to me at times.

Is there no answer?

So I have been checking the news stations on TV, there websites to see if there has been any reports on the dead animals. Anything, just a little bit of something.

There has been nothing new that has developed and that really annoys me. I want to know!

Sorry I had a kid moment.

There have been many theories going around and really none of them can be ruled out.

People are saying it could be a warning of a natural disaster that is about to happen as well.

Hey at this point, it could be anything. Heck we can't even rule out if fireworks were the cause, even though that should be really, Really obvious.

So I guess I will have to let go of this story and move onto something else.... unless of course it pops up again in the news, than I will be all over it.

Well of to another topic....

More Snow in East Tennessee!!!

I woke up and my grandma told me that I wouldn't be able to go anywhere. I asked why and she said that there was snow outside. And I was like okay, so what there is snow...

As soon as I thought this I realized, Wow! The fact that I am already beginning to think that about snow in the South, in East Tennessee in Knoxville!! Is amazing. We have had quite a few snow storms this winter. It has been the weirdest winter in Tennessee since 2002 (when there was also quite a bit of snow too and we had just moved here too). But this is not just a dusting, no flurries. We are talking about more than 2-3 inches people... it's awesome.

It has actually, dare I say it become common to get snow. I love it. I really do

For all those that have snow in Tennessee, enjoy it while you have it. I will be going out soon to play in it! Yes I will post actual pictures of the snow, it's so cold outside. I am not going out there in my pajama's to take pictures.

Have a great day! Be careful on the roads. Lots of schools have been canceled and not a lot of people are going into work either.

Stay safe!

Talking with Friends

So I'm trying to get away from talking about all the dead animals for a moment, for there hasn't been any new development.

This past week I have talked to 3 people on the phone, outside of my boyfriend. For me that is a record. No, it is not because my boyfriend is more important than my friends. The real reason is because I have never really had to call people on the phone to keep in contact with them.

Let me explain....

I have been through a lot. Yes, you have probably heard this from many people whose blogs you have read, but it is true. Before high school I didn't really have any close friends or people that I could trust. And when I did trust those few people, I would try to stay in touch with them, but they would never get back to me.

So as a result I had gotten used to not having friends, calling them, hanging out, etc. I am a little awkward when it comes to that. I will admit it. I hate admitting things, but it is the only way for me to get better.

Now ever since I have left high school and the 1st college I went to I miss my friends a lot. I really do. I have been afraid to call them though. The usual questions run through my mind:

• Do they want to talk to me?
• Do they still like me?
• Will they just ignore me?
• Are they upset at me about not calling me after so long?
• Do they think I'm weird?

And etc. The list goes on. So usually I have not called the people I used to talk to.

I was then inspired by one of my great friends, Leanne who had posted on here facebook that she had a little phobia of talking on the phone too! She doesn't know that I deal with it. She said that it is one of her new years resolutions that she is trying to overcome.

That has inspired me to add that to my new years resolutions as well.

I didn't have to call the 1st 2 people, they called me! They were my awesome friends from high school Jessica and Kathleen. I miss both of them and it was great to hear from them and talk to them. I tried calling one of my friends (this awesome girl has been leaving me messages say call her, so I wasn't too nervous about that) and I called her and her phone was acting up and her husband was home from boot camp for the weekend. I hope to hear from her today.

I then called my other friend Meredith, who I haven't talked to since August. I didn't get a hold of her. But she called me back yesterday which was really great.

There are many more people I want to call , but I'm nervous too. Some of them I have never really talked to them on the phone and yet I have there number. Others I was just friends in high school with them, but since I have left I haven't really talked to them, unless I bump into them.

So I don't know what to do. Should I call them, email them, send them a letter?

I am new to having to keep friendships because this is the first time I have had friends I want to keep in touch with.

If anyone has advice, please leave some comments. Thank you :)

Theories about the Dead Animals

Right now people are freaking out over the massive death of animals. Me, I am more intrigued by it than anything. I love mysteries, strange happenings, and anything that is beyond a coincidence.

I have come up with a few theories.

It's the End of the World as We Know It!

I love that song...anywho. This theory has of course been swimming around like crazy as though it was a bunch of sharks that smelled blood. After all it is 2011, the 2012 supposed deadline is coming up and hey everything has gone to hell: wars, economy, power hungry leaders, crappy healthcare, high taxes, food prices sky high, etc. Hey why not add dead animals into the the hell soup we are already in.

Me I have no idea. I believe there will be an end eventually. Will we know when it will happen, probably not. It will take us all by surprise. Is this a sign? Possibly. What is the sign telling us? No idea.

The Gulf Oil Spill

I am surprised not a lot of people have blamed it on this, but I don't think it is entirely possible. True the oil is gone, but there is the fact that it left toxins behind. Same time though how could have the toxins spread throughout the globe? That could have been done to the water currents.

The problems with this is that the toxins would have had a hard time getting past the equator, it being hot and all. True there are more toxins in the northern hemisphere than then southern. But it doesn't seem to fit also.

The Impact that the oil spill would have had on the whole globe is... well let's look at it this way. Take the biggest football stadium you know, fill it all the way to the top with water. Then pour a can of beer in it. That is what the gulf oil spill was to the ocean on earth. The only area that would get the most affects would be the area near the spill itself.

A New Bacteria/Virus

It is possible that there is a new bacteria or virus that has evolved from the environment and has made itself known. It does not have to be a man made problem. It could simply be mother nature herself.

So far it has only been happening to wild animals; birds and sea life (crab & fish). And has only occurred near the water (save Kentucky & Tennessee, but they have rivers, so it could have been transferred that way.

Over Reporting

Yes people have been saying that this could be it also. After all things like this have happened in the past. Same time though, after checking numerous sources I haven't come across as many animals deaths in the past few years like there has been recently.

I have no idea, but nevertheless I am interested in this and so far the theories that they have had for it seem either a bunch of nonsense or they are not looking hard enough.

Update: It's Raining Birds

An update on this article. These are summary's of what has happened before now and this article is also a summary

Well there have been more finds and discoveries of massive deaths of animals. The conspiracy theories keep on coming. Meanwhile I will continue to do some research to maybe come up with a theory of my own. No I am not science major, or specialize in anything like that. Rather I consider myself an amateur scholar, always learning, always seeking answers to all the questions.

If anyone has any articles information about the death of these animals and any information from people who live in the areas. I would love to know, just comment below and or send me an email.

Kentucky

At Murray State University several hundred birds have been reported to be found on campus dead. The kinds of birds vary: grackles, robins, red winged blackbirds, sparrows and starlings.

It has also occurred in Marshall county, but there have been not enough details about it.

Arkansas update

The tests for the 1st set of dead birds is inclusive. I hate that word a lot.

Florida

In Spruce Creek, Florida there have been thousands of dead fish. Nothing much else is known at the time.

England

It is estimated that 40,000 crabs have washed ashore dead. Granted this kind of thing has happened in the past according to the Huffington post. This is apparently the 3rd year that this has happened and it has so far been blame on the extreme cold weather.

Italy

Dead doves have been found in heaps in flower beds and trees in Italy. Inside the beak, they found a blue stain. The area where the birds were found it is said that it is in a part of town where it's apparently not the greatest. Same time though the deaths have happened before, but not in the numbers that that are seen now. Cause is in question there will be more investigation.

There have been rumors of dead animals in Japan and Thailand. But I have not found anything on that either.

News Links

• Dead Crabs in England
• Dead Doves in Italy
• Overview of Dead animals
• Finding Dead Fish in Florida
• Kentucky has Dead Birds too

It's Raining Birds!

It's raining Birds and no its no joke.

Yesterday I was checking the news, I haven't watched any news station since exams of last semester (which I will post my grades soon). But I came this one piece of news that I sounded like it came out of an apocalyptic movie. Birds were falling out of the sky, dropping dead.

There are already lots of talk and speculation about this topic. You think it wouldn't be a big deal, birds dropping out of the sky, falling dead. There is just one little problem, this has occurred not only in the United States, but in Sweden too.

There is a saying, I don't know it exactly but its something like "If it happens one time it is chance, 2 times coincidence, 3 times... there has to be a connection."

There is talk that there is no connection. I think they are wrong or lying or both.

I will go in order

1. Louisiana

On New Year's Eve (as of right now time is unknown to me if anyone has heard anything on this please let me know) 5,000 redwinged black birds fell to their death. Then the next day 500 more birds (multiple species, not just one) were also found dead. It has been reported that both these incidents are not related and the explanation for the 500 birds found on monday was because they ran into a power line. Specialists say that the birds could have been startled and ran into power lines.

• Question #1 What were they startled by?
• Question #2 If this is the case, how come we have not heard more incidents about this in the past?
• Question #3 If this is a common thing for them(the birds), why the heck are the reporting it?

I understand birds like to follow each other around a lot and can be ditzzes as a result (example I always see birds over areas and they look like they are going in circles following each other). Still though, it is pretty weird.

It doesn't explain the other incident. The first incident is a mystery still.

2. Arkansas

In Beebe, Ark 2,000-3,000 birds were found dead. The reasons again unknown. They fell dead apparently around midnight between New Years Eve and New Years Day. There is of course talk of fireworks. But there is a problem with that, the area where it occurred is said to not be a heavily populated area. It is also speculated that it could be fireworks, but some experts like Dr. Fitzpatrick who says it is possible, is not so fully satisfied by it.

A few days earlier up to nearly 100,000 fish washed up in an Arkansas river, west of Beebe. Cause of death? Unknown. Connection maybe?

3. Sweden

Here only 50-100 birds died in Falkoeping. The cause is guess what....uknown! Most likely fireworks but still unknown and unclear. The birds were a different species, can't recall exactly.

4. Maryland

No dead birds here, not yet at least. But there is something interesting, more dead fish. Yes they are washing up on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. The number of dead fish, estimated to be 2 million.

5. Brazil

Since last Thursday dead fish have been washing up on the shores of a fishing town in Brazil. The cause? You guess right again, unknown. The number of dead fish up to 100 tons worth.

6. New Zealand

Hundreds of dead fish were also found here on the shores of the Coromandel Peninsula. To make it more interesting, many found that there eyes were missing.

Many are saying there is no connection. But I am curious I have so many questions and I can't wait to investigate it.

Even more there is so much going on with animal deaths that I haven't been able to keep up with it. If anyone has any articles related to what I have talked about and other mass of weird animal deaths, please send me the article.

Since this is such a complex topic. I will be writing another article on this. Just look back here later today to see another article.

The nerd in me is so excited about this mystery. I feel like Sherlock Holmes from BBC's new series.

News Links

• New Mass death of birds in Sweden
• Dead birds fall from sky in Sweden and Dead Fish in Brazil
• Beebe Arkansas & the Mysterious dead Birds
• Louisiana and it's bird problems
• Mayor speaks on bird Problems in Beebe
• Mass of Animal Deaths

I Run for Him

I have been thinking about running for quite some time. I did it a little bit in high school and on/off with my roommates from last year. Now I have started to exercise so that way in April I can run for my brother. The reason why I run for him is because he has autism and he wouldn't be able to do it for himself. He just would not understand what was going on and the whole purpose of the run.

I have until April 16, 2011 at 8 a.m. to get ready for this race. It's going to be interesting I have never done a race before and I have a little over 100 days left and counting to get ready for it. I have to be careful though while working out and exercising, a few months ago I got plantar tendonitis in both of my knees. For the 1st two weeks of this month I will probably just be walking and doing stretches until my knees are able to deal with it without being in pain.

I am very excited and of course I have decided to add another blog to my list to keep track of my progress. If there is anyone that is a more experienced runner out there that would like to give me advice, please do.

After this race, I will probably do one. It is the Breakthrough for Autism 5k. It takes place in Knoxville, Tennessee.

For more information of the Breakthrough Corporation go here.

French Phrase of the Day!

I have had a wonderful idea. I just got a little pull-away calendar and on it it has French phrases of the day. I am taking French in college and I want to improve greatly so I will share this with all of you so that I can become better.

Not only will I have french phrases on there, but I will also talk about different facts and data about French history, different places, and anything else french related.

Here at my other blog is where I have started this:

http://me-learningfrench.blogspot.com/

I hope you all enjoy! Bonne journée! (Good day!)

A Book Review: How to be Lovely-The Audrey Hepburn Way of LIfe.

I love Audrey Hepburn; her style, her grace, and she is so classy. I was so excited when I got this for Christmas.

Title: How to be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life

Author: Melissa Hellstern

Number of Pages: 208

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Genre: Biography(esque)

Rating:

This is just a simple great little book. It is not a long read, it is quite enjoyable. It is basically filled with little quotes that have to do with each topics that are discussed in each chapter. You could say it is filled with Audrey's words of Wisdom on life.

No, this is not a long book. It is one of those great coffee table books or you could use it as a a daily thing to look over for fun.

A Book Review: Fairest of All

While I was in Disney World I was looking at the little bookshelves that they had there and lo and behold this little delight crossed my eye. I was hooked and intrigued, I always loved hearing the "villains" point of view, if you can truly call them villains after you have read the books.

Title: Fairest of All

Author: Serena Valentino

Number of Pages: 256

Publisher: Disney Press

Genre: Fantasy

Rating:

We all know the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but what about her step mother, The Wicked Queen as we have come to know her. Do we really know her?

In Valentino's story he tells us about the Queen, telling us about her awful childhood to her eventually meeting a handsome King. From there on out it seems like a Cinderella story. But not so fast.

The King's family members seem bent on messing things up for the King, the new Queen and the little princess Snow White. There is something strange and mysterious about them that puts everyone on their guard. On top of that, a terrible tragedy strikes which affects everyone in the castle. Not only that a mysterious mirror that was once her fathers keeps showing up in the castle and she is trying to get rid of it, but the more she holds on to it, the more she cannot let it go.

As the years pass after the tragedy, the Queen loses it more and more. She is constantly conflicted with her love for Snow and the woman that she(herself) used to be. Her character change happens slowly, goes through a nice progression to the point that you are no longer surprised at her acting the way she is (and not because you have seen the movie). Only in the end is the Queen's true character shown. However it is to be interpreted is up to the person who is reading it. For me I saw that she was doing the world a great favor, and I am not saying that in a mean spirited sense either. I believed she did not like the person that she had become.

The reason why it is not 5 cups is because I wanted more, I just wanted the book to be a little longer, to see interaction between the Queen and other people of the castle to give it a little something more.

I Got My 1st Stephen King Book!

Yes this is random but I am very excited, for the blogger of Book Chick City's Stephen King Challenge I will be first reading The Shining! Yes this is random, but I am very excited. I will probably reading Christine after that too (it will be very weird since that is my name, but oh well).

Nevertheless I am very excited and just wanted to share that with everyone.

For all those that are interested I highly recommend that you go ahead and do it.

Just click on the little button below. I will probably read that book halfway through.

I Know a Secret

I have a secret to share with all of you, would you like to know?

Title: The Secret

Author: Rhonda Byrne

Number of Pages: 198

Publisher: Atria Books/Beyond Words

Genre: Self Help/Religion/Spirituality/New Age

Rating:

My boyfriend was the one that introduced me to this book, to be honest I was very skeptical about it. I guess it was because of my Catholic background I honestly thought this was going to be a New Agey book filled with mumbo jumbo.

Boy was I wrong.

The Secret talks about how a young woman, Rhonda Byrne went on a journey to discover and sharing a great wonderful secret. It is called many things, but what it is commonly known is the Law of Attraction.

The Secret, the Law of Attraction states that we attract everything that happens to us through our thoughts.

For anyone that is of any faith, especially Christian I recommend this book. Yes, this sounds crazy I know but think about it. I will not tell you the full details of the Law of Attraction, you are going to have to go out and do that for yourselves. But I will tell you that it proved to me the whole idea of 'God thought and spoke and there was light'. Yes a little bit of a different take on it. Once you read it, you will see it perfectly.

In a way it just really proves the whole concept of hope.

Everyone should read this book, not matter what you believe.

Catching up on Book Reviews

I have been quite busy these past few months. As a result I have only been able to finish reading books and not actually write the reviews for them. I would space out the reviews, but I don't know when I will be able to next and I do not want to procrastinate on this. Otherwise I will get behind, feel guilty and get back into a pattern where I feel terrible and awful and etc.

So I will probably writing more than one post a day, just to get it out of the way. I know that sounds bad, but I do just want to get it done.

My Christmas Gifts

This past Christmas was a very awesome one. I got to have some new amazing experiences, spend time with my family and receive awesome gifts.

I hope everyone got what they wanted and had an amazing Christmas and an Amazing New Years as well. If you didn't, just remember that things will get better. It will take time, but all good things come to those that who wait and have hope.

I am going to share a brief of what I experienced and got this Christmas. I will spare you and not go into the details.

Here is what I experienced:

1. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventures
2. Hollywood Studies of Walt Disney World
3. Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World
4. The Beautiful Hotel that we stayed at..I forgot it's name

What I received:

1. How to Be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life by Melissa Hellstern
2. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
3. Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino
4. Abigail & John: A Portrait of a Marriage by Edith b. Gelles
5. In Mozart's Shadow: His Sister's Story by Carolyn Meyer
6. A Writer's Workbook by Caroline Sharp
7. Breakthrough by Colbie Caillat
8. All I Ever Wanted by Kelly Clarkson
9. Back to the Basics by Christina Aguilera
10. Blackout by Britney Spears
11. The Young Victoria
12. Empires: Queen Victoria's Empire
13. PBS' Marie Antoinette
14. Marie Antoinette (Kirsten Dunst)
15. Vampires Suck
16. Much Ado About Nothing (1993 version)
17. Andre Bocelli Vivere Live in Tuscany
18. A new Radio- it can play Cd's and my IPhone and it charges it too. Yah I have been wanting one for over a year!

But the best thing is of course is that I have been able to spend time with my family, friends, and my boyfriend. That was the best part of it all.

Who Doesn’t Want to be Famous?

My first book review for this year!

Title: How to become a Famous Writer before you're Dead

Author: Ariel Gore

Number of Pages: 288

Publisher: Three Rivers Press

Genre: Writing Reference

Rating:

I remember this when I picked it up from McKay's (an amazing used books, music, movies and more store that exists in Tennessee). The title is what caught my eye. After all I want to become famous for something before I die, not after. I want to reap some of the benefits from my hard work.

It is an enjoyable book, with exercises and interviews from authors. Granted I have not heard of most of these authors, but I think that was her point, to expose us to authors that we have never heard of and to give the authors more publicity.

Before I found this book while wondering through McKay's I had never heard of Ariel Gore. My first thought that occurred when I came across this book was, 'What right does this person have to write a book about becoming famous writer when I have never heard of them?'

I have been proven wrong, somewhat. No, she is not famous like J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer. But she gives great advice that is very beneficial that does not give way to the old idea that it takes luck and chance to become famous.

Her whole idea is that if you want to become a famous writer, you have to work and work hard. Work your butt off. Writing, like everything is a job she said throughout the book and you have to spend a great amount of time dedicating to doing your job. Yes,the benefits are not as quick as with other tasks and other jobs but nevertheless it is necessary.

In the book she discusses everything for those that are beginners, tips on how not to procrastinate, self-publishing (yes such a thing exists), to everything else in between. The most important thing is this, write and get your name out there. And no, I am not talking about taking the Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton way. It involves sending in comments to newspapers, magazines, etc. Writing for school newspapers, literary magazines, etc.

I had no problems with this book. My only hope is that she comes out with a book of writing prompts and exercises.

This is a definite read for anyone who wants to become a famous writer.

My Rating Guide

I have decided to do something a little different. With rating whatever I am reviewing at that time I will use my Tea Cup System. Here is a generality of how I will rate each

5 cups- This means I absolutely love it and would read it again and use it as a point of reference for my writing.

4 cups- I like it a lot, there seems to be something missing from it, but with more development is could be brilliant. Still enjoyable.

3 cups- It's good, nothing too special about it. Needs more develop and focus. A Pleasant Read

2 cups- Disappointed, there was great potential and it was wasted. Barely any development and sense of plot was all over the place.

1 cup- Don't buy it. If you are curious, just borrow it from the library, but do not have high expectations. All over the place and the little that is good is barely discussed. Just not worth it. An insult to literature.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year everyone. It is now 2011 and the 1st day of the new year is coming to a close. I will not go back and reflect everything that has occurred this past year. There has been a lot of changes both good and bad. But this year holds great promise.

I am very excited and looking forward to this year. I can really feel the spirit and the hope that this New Year brings. In the past I liked the idea of the New Year, but never really felt the potential, the excitement of what the New Year can bring. I feel it this year.

I, of course like the many people out there have come up with a list of resolutions for this coming year that I want to and will keep. But I planned it a little differently, I will try to accomplish each thing in stages, instead of trying it all at once like I used to do in the past. Now I will just take it one day at a time, starting tomorrow.

My New Year Resolutions

1. Write every day, even if it is only a page
2. Get one piece of work published
3. Get better at keeping in touch with family and friends
4. Learn how to sew
5. Learn how to knit and crochet
6. Draw more
7. Keep my room clean
8. Make A's
9. Exercise
10. Participate in a race
11. Get a job
12. Pray more
13. Learn more about how business works
14. Accomplish everything on this list

I hope and pray that this year, is a wonderful one. Let this wonderful year begin!