Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Prophecy of the Sisters is a riveting story of a life-changing prophecy, placing the sisters on different sides.
Twists, turns, and almost on the edge of my seat awesomeness, I definitely suggest this book.
Author, Michelle Zink, takes myth and legend (though more out of the way legend...not typical, read it again and again re-done mythology) and though it weaves a story, breathing into it new life.
Since this was an awesome book, I give it a 4 out of 5...due to a slight amount of content...seriously, only slight nothing really bad or anything...well...unless your one of those hard-core magic hater peoples, than this isn’t your kinda of book. You can safely skip it.
But, for those people who get that it's just fiction, read on.

Finishing Prophecy of the Sisters, was resigning myself to good-book-withdrawals.

My rating: 4 out of 5

(this review was originally written in May of 2010 and published on my now-no-more book review blog)

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Just wanted to let you all know I'm not dead, just busy! BIG updates coming soon!

instagram

Anyone heard of Instagram?

It's a lovely little app for your iPhone or iPod Touch where you can upload pictures to a "social" if you will but are able to change the pictures with several different choices in filters.

Me?

I started this morning and am officially obsessed!

And the cool part?

My iPod touch barely has a megapixel of definition, only two of those pictures are from an actual camera...can you tell which ones?

I can, and actually the 'be original' picture isn't mine, but other than that all the others were taken by me.

Anyone interested in getting the app, its free and I rate it a full 5 stars! {click here for iTunes store}

Which two do you think are actually captured with a camera?

Time Sensitive (FREE) AWESOMENESS!

Hey bloggy peeps!

I know I owe you all a post or two on my escapades from my Fine Arts trip...but I had to dish out this post real quick 'cause its time-sensitive!

I don't know if any of you have read or are familiar with Wings by Aprilynne Pike but its currently on sale @ Amazon (.com)!

And get this...ITS FREE!!!

So...if you have a Kindle, or even just an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch (the latter being what I have) even if you don't have a Kindle well, there's an app for that. ;-)

Wings turned out to be MUCH better than I was expecting, I must say.
Insanely original story line...yes faeries, but not like anyone has ever really portrayed them...

Now, I have to put my opinion on the matter out there...on the whole 'fairy' vs. 'faerie' issue. (YES there are WAY too many OTHER spellings...but these being the most common so them I will address.)
I do know people who are pretty "What the heck?! Just spell it one way and stick with it!" on the subject...but here's what I think.
'Fairy' makes me think of little girls, pink dresses, princesses, fairy godmothers and dress up. In other words: GIRLY
'Faerie', however, makes me think mystery, intrigue, mischievous, dark awesomeness...in other words: INTERESTING or perhaps gothic...but not girly.

Anyway...moving on....

I guess I should start at the beginning.

Laurel has just moved, from small town-home schooled girl, to slightly bigger town-public school girl.
Adjusting isn't easy for her.

Laurel has a zit.
Maybe puberty finally has caught up with her.
On her back.
Right between her shoulder blades.
But, it keeps getting bigger...and bigger...by the time its the size of a softball...she decides that if its not gone by the next morning, she'll tell her parents.
She, of course, is FREAKING OUT...thinking it must be some kind of tumor.

So, next morning, she wakes up...and its gone, but in its place is a large, flower.
We're talking petals, the whole shabang...OUT OF HER BACK...
She of course, flips out more.

Anyways...hoping all you people aren't either grossed or freaked out by now, but THAT is how the book starts...seriously, its NOT as gross or anything that I probably made it sound like.
My rating: 3 1/2 out of 5.
Not 'cause it wasn't good or anything, but compared to the amazingly awesome books I was reading around the same time (I read this last year), it was rather short.
But I still definitely suggest it!

'Beastly' by Alex Flinn

For anyone who has seen or is interested in the film Beastly starring Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens...here's what I thought of the original novel by Alex Flinn. As to what I thought of it, the jury is still out 'cause I have yet to view it. I'll let you know after it comes out on DVD.

 ***Viewer Disgretion Advised for short flashes of violence and cussing (though definitely nothing worse than PG...it IS a preview)***

(from the inside flap)
        I AM A BEAST
       A beast. Not quite a wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore.
        I am a monster.
       You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. Its no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.
       Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly…beastly.

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       Beastly is not your traditional family-fun, sing-along Disney adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. While Alex Flinn’s retelling gives the tale fresh new life, as well as heavily re-enforcing the truth that it’s what’s on the inside that matters, this tale is more than ‘somewhat’ dark.
       Wrestling with his beastly persona and instincts, this story is not without violence. Nor is it without the occasional cuss word, or some rather startlingly blatant content.
       Though some of the afore-mentioned content could definitely have been left on the cutting room floor, Beastly is a poignant tale of love, and looking at what’s on the inside.
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5
suggested for ages 13 and up

Headphones, Speakers and Crocheting

I've made a couple of things of interest in the past couple days.

On Monday I finished covering the cord for my headphones with crochet thread...and yes, actually I did crochet it! If anyone is interested, maybe I can make a tutorial video sometime.

Something I have seen and have really liked is where people have crocheted around their headphone cords.
Now, some of you may wonder, why on earth would someone do that? haha
Well, I personally did it because, while giving your headphones a unique flair, it also gives just enough bit of slight weight to your headphone cord that they don't knot up (I hate that, don't you?) and they wind up rather nicely.
I didn't actually have directions or now how to do it, so I just figured it out as I went, and I really do like the results!

These are Altec Lansing Muzx® Core - MZX206 Headphones Which, while it took me a while to get used to (seeing as I usually prefer SkullCandy's Lowrider headphones which sit on my ears and don't do in) these are excellant headphones that for their small size, give off great sound.

Its one of the reasons why I do love Altec Lansing speakers, I had a speaker dock for my Zune that I got from Altec Lansing and the true proportion of the sound that came out of those speakers was a wow. Little speakers, big sound.

When I ordered the speaker dock I have now (for my iPod Touch), not only was the speaker dock on sale, but I also received the headphones for free. ^_^ A deal? I think yes.

At this point, I would like to note, I have not been payed or endorsed in any way to review nor promote Altec Lansing, SkullCandy, or any of their products. This is merely my opinion on the merchandise.

I ordered the inMotion® Compact - IMT320 and wasn't let down.

Not only had I received free headphones, but the true portability of these speakers is fantastic, perfect for my use considering I take my music everywhere I go.




You see, the little stand the speakers are propped up with, is actually a flap that covers the speakers and the dock for portable awesomeness.

And did I mention the BIG sound little speakers thing?

The only downside to this speaker dock, no remote.
Of course if I had wanted a remote, that would've been much more money...which I didn't quite have and didn't quite wish to spend at that time.

One more quick creation of interest before I go, I also crocheted a rather versatile necklace with some semi-precious stone beads my grandma send me for Christmas.

I really like how it turned out...its long so I can wear it SO many different ways!

And now I shall leave you all to your evenings...
blessings~

P.S.
Have you checked out my Etsy Shop? Theres some really cool stuff up, (though not all made by me, some by my family) and hopefully more coming soon!

How to Train Your Dragon

          Earlier this summer, I gladly found myself at our local theater with friends, purchasing soda and M&M’s, and sitting down for an enjoyable evening of viewing How to Train Your Dragon.
          Though my mom enjoyed the movie, she wasn’t too impressed…but I don’t really think this is a movie meant for the specific enjoyment of an adult audience…more of a family movie that the kids will love.
          Myself, I laughed and had a great time, and give the movie a 4.5 out of 5...awesome.
          Though not the same kind of awesome as Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen with its CG mayhem; being a fan of dragons and movies like Shrek and Lilo and Stitch I immensely enjoyed How to Train Your Dragon in all its quirky, dragons and Viking, family fun.

          If you’re a dragon junkie, or just like family movies…this is one to add to your list.
          My Rating: 4.5 out of 5