Thursday's Top Ten: Top 10 Things You Love/Hate about V-day

Thursday's Top Ten is a weekly meme you can find here. This week is the Top 10 Things you Love/Hate about Valentine’s day.

Love:

1. Candy...I love sweets, this is the one good thing about Valentine’s day...but even better is the sale on the candy after Valentine’s day...
2. Colors...I love the color red, especially with black. They were my school colors for both my high school and college
3. Elementary school Valentine’s Day “mail” boxes made out of shoe boxes...I still find this adorable, and I think now, they make everyone give a card to everyone if they are giving cards (make sense?) So now no one feels bad for not getting a valentine from the “popular” kindergartner.
4. the movie, Valentine’s Day... I really liked this movie. I think parts of it are hysterical. 
5. The real Valentines... There was a priest named Valentine who was put in prison because of his teachings. He was beheaded on the 14th. Supposedly he performed a miracle for the jailer’s daughter. He cured her of her blindness and left her a note stating “From Your Valentine.” Now this would be a good tradition on V-day. Doing something nice for someone without needing credit for it. The other Valentine was an Italian bishop who was imprisoned for marring couples in secret. Now that is sweet. He believed in love and helped people who loved each other get married (let’s hope he wasn’t the one who marred Romeo and Juliet since we all know the ending of that story.”

Hate:

1. The actual day...Why should there be one day where you celebrate your love for someone? Why should there be just 1 day where you should buy your loved one a gift? There is no spontaneity in this. My dad used to randomly come home from work with a rose for my mom, sometimes for my sister and me as well. Now that is love.
2. the Candy...or should I say gaining weight from eating too much candy. I wish I had a fast metabolism, and I wish I enjoyed fruits and veggies, but my love belongs to things that include sugar as one of the first ingredients.
3. When people feel bad for you when you do not have a Valentine. Back when I was like 12, my best friend (who I am still friends with now) felt bad for me because she had a Valentine and I didn’t. Why on Earth would someone feel bad for me. I don’t need a Valentine, I am perfectly capable of going and buying myself whatever I please (well within my budget which back then was pretty small but still...) Maybe some people don’t want a Valentine...like me.
4. the expectations that some people have...Back in high school and college around this time my friends would talk about what they wanted to Valentine’s day, what they were going to do, and how great it was going to be. But guys don’t think this way (or do they?) I guess I just don’t understand why this day matters so much. (anyone want to give me a hint.)
5. How Cupid is a baby with a bow and arrow or a grown man in a diaper (depends where you look I guess.) Who came up with this symbol for this day? First of all, who would give a baby a bow and arrow? Babies can barely hold a fork by themselves and now you want them to help people find love? That’s what match.com is for. And if you go the grown man route, why is he in a diaper? What happened to pants and a nice shirt? (do you see about the expectations thing?)

So this is my insane list. I might have gone a little crazy, but I am not feeling so well and took a bunch of medicine in hopes that it would help. Ok maybe we can’t blame it all on the medicine. We can probably blame some of it on the students in my school who only care about what gifts that will be getting on Monday. Thank goodness I am taking off. Have a great day everyone!

In My Mailbox:

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by the Story Siren. I actually got a bunch of books this week (all from the library...yay free books) So here is what I got.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Envy by Robin Wasserman

Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz

  

Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conra

Jemima J by Jane Green

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham

"You're okay for a bloodsucker..."

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Synopsis:

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of bad luck. First, her coworker is murdered and no one seems to care. Then, she’s face- to- face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisonous lashing.  Enter the vampires, who graciously such the poison from her veins (like they didn’t enjoy it).

Point is, they saved her life. So when one of the blood-suckers asks for a favor, she complies. And soon, Sookie’s in Dallas using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She’s supposed to interview certain humans involved. There’s just one condition: The vampires must promise to behave- and let the humans go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly...

Review:

I am really enjoying this series. I like that Sookie Stackhouse isn’t portrayed as a normal main character that I read about. Basically, I like that she isn’t extremely skinny. She is voluptuous and pretty, and I found out in this book a size 8. As much as I enjoy books that include the stereotypical main female character that is a size 2 and gorgeous, I really really like when authors bring in average females into the mix.

Other than Sookie’s supposed looks, I like how she thinks. While I read this book, I was trying to decide if I would have made the same decisions as Sookie made. I like how Charlaine Harris makes you think. I like that in this book, there were 2 mysteries. Who killed Lafayette and who had taken Farrell. You get so involved with what happened to the missing vampire in the middle of the book, that you seem to forget about who killed the cook (sounds like clue doesn’t it?) Charlaine Harris makes you think a little. As much as I enjoy easy reads (which are great when I am actually teaching and my brain hurts to think so much), these are the books that I enjoy when my brain doesn’t hurt. These are the books that won’t turn my brain to mush when I read too many of them because they keep me thinking. 

So in my rating, I said the cover was a 10 out of 10. I think I should explain this. At first glance the cover is confusing. Sookie is on a coffin flying above a city. I didn’t understand until I read the book, and then I thought it was a genius idea. 

Cover: 10/10 Beginning: 5/5

Ending:          5/5         Plot: 10/10

Characters: 10/10 Satisfaction: 10/10

                                     Grade: 50/50 = A+

"Welcome to Hollywood"

LA Candy by Lauren Conrad

Synopsis:

Los Angeles is all about the sweet life:

hot clubs, cute guys, designer...everything. Nineteen year old Jane Roberts can’t wait to start living it up. She may be in LA for an internship, but Jane plans to play as hard as she works, and has enlisted her BFF Scarlett to join the fun. 

When Jane and Scarlett are approached by a producer who wants them to be on his new series, a “reality version of Sex and the City,” they can hardly believe their luck. Their own show? Yes, please!

Soon Jane is TV’s hottest star. Fame brings more than she ever imagined possible for a girl from Santa Barbara- free designer clothes, the choicest tables at the most exclusive clubs, invites to Hollywood premieres- and she’s lapping up the VIP treatment with her eclectic entourage of new pals. But those same friends who are always up for a wild night are also out for a piece of Jane’s spotlight.

In a city filled with people chasing after their dreams, it’s not long before Jane wakes up to the reality that everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be. 

Review:

I had been wanting to check out this book since I first heard about it, what seems like forever ago. I loved watching Lauren Conrad on Laguna Beach and the Hills (which totally went downhill when she left.) I think she did a pretty good job writing this book. It completely comes from experience which I am sure made it easier, but I think she has a knack for writing. I loved the beginning, I thought it was creative, and it gave us a sense of what the main characters were like before the cameras. I liked how the chapters went back and forth between Jane and Scarlett with a few other random characters thrown in once in awhile. 

While reading this, I found myself wondering if Jane and Scarlett’s friendship was like Lauren’s and Heidi’s friendship, and if the girls would last as friends throughout the series. I also found myself wondering if MTV helped Lauren get her apartment, like in the book. I guess I couldn’t help wondering if the fiction was truly fiction, or if everything happened to Lauren the same way. Maybe this is why I enjoyed the book so much, I thought I was getting an inside look at the Hills. However, I will be checking out the next book, and I hope it will be as enjoyable as this one was. 

I think this book would be good for anyone who wants an easy, beach type read. It didn’t include much mystery, so it didn’t involve as much thinking as say a Dan Brown book might. 

Cover: 10/10 Beginning: 5/5

Ending:           5/5         Plot: 9/10

Characters: 10/10 Satisfaction: 9/10

                                    Grade: 48/50 = A

"Nothing says love like a cookie"

Fat Cat by Robin Brande

Synopsis:

And that’s when I realized: I wanted to be her.

Not her in the sense that I wish I had to fight saber-toothed hyenas just to get a decent meal, but her in looks. I want- and I know this sounds incredibly shallow, but science requires the truth- I wouldn’t mind for once in my life seeing what it’s like to actually look...good. Or at least better than I do right now. Maybe even pretty, if that’s possible. When I wake up in the morning, it’s like I’m wearing this giant fat suit, and if only I could find the zipper, I could step out of it and finally go start living my real life.

Review:

I had heard about this book through other blogs. I saw a couple reviews, and when I saw it at the library on the New Books shelf, I figured “why not?” Well I am glad I picked it up. I’m so  insanely happy that I picked it up. This book was absolutely the best book that I have read in awhile. I loved everything about it, the characters, the plot, the descriptions of how Cat felt with Greg. I cannot express how much I loved it just by writing (I guess I need to work on that?)

At first when I started reading it, I just thought it was about a girl who wanted to be skinny and got the chance to achieve that goal in a very weird way. But as I read more, I learned a lot, about Cat, about life, about friends, and about myself. That is what makes this book so great. I feel like any girl, no matter how old, can learn something from reading this. They might not relate to the main character as much as I do, or as much as others, but I think the book has something to give to everyone. I really think Robin Brande did a great job writing this book. She did a great job explaining the characters, she did a wonderful job expressing Cat’s feelings for things. And I really like how we didn’t find out what exactly happened between Cat and Matt until almost the very end. So even though my review might not be that great (but hey I’m still learning) I think that this book would be a great read for anyone at any age. I mean, it must be good if I want to start reading it again as soon as possible right?

Cover: 10/10

Beginning: 5/5

Ending: 5/5

Plot: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Satisfaction: 10/10

Grade: 50/50 = A+

Ramblings:

This is where I am going to put up some awesome, funny, possibly creepy things that has happened to me in the past 24 hours (at least today). So here it goes:

• On Monday I received my Clarisonic Mia and I finally got to use it last night. I am amazed. My acne has not started to clear up yet (but I mean after 1 night c'mon.) but my skin is so much smoother. My make up went on so nicely this morning, I was actually happy with it when I left for work. 
• Today we had a delayed opening because of all the ice. So many teachers called out, everyone had to cover extra classes (not just the 4 subs that were there either, teachers were covering for teachers) it was a madhouse. 
• At 2 pm, while I was subbing for honors language arts (7th grade) we watched the clock go from the 12 to the 3 in about 30 seconds. Is that creepy or what?
• And lastly, I got some caramel hot chocolate from Dunkin Donuts this afternoon on my way home from work. I think I am in love. 

I hope everyone has a great night. 

Top Ten Favorite Debuts

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme by the Broke and the Bookish. This week is the Top Ten Bookish Resolutions which means anything book related, reading related, writing related, or book related.

This week is my favorite Debut books. And like usual, they aren't really in order, just when I think of them. 

1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer- It took me awhile to read this, my roommate at college read it because all of her students were reading it, then she made me watch the movie which made me really want to read it. Usually I do the movie/book thing the other way around, but this way it worked. Go figure
2. Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison- No matter how old I am, I will always love this book and how much it makes me laugh. 
3. Decked by Carol Higgins Clark- Great series in all, this book came out when I was about 4, but even 20 years later its great.
4. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard- Another great series, this one got me hooked. Sara Shepard is a great author.
5. Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie- Who knew psychics were so interesting. Picking this book up by accident has been one great adventure. Best suspense books I have read in awhile.
6. One Child by Torey Hayden- Amazing book about a teacher and a little girl with behavior issues.
7. Night Swimming by Robin Schwarz- I honestly think Last Holiday starring Queen Latifah was based off of this book. The story lines are very similar. At least at the beginning. I read this book a long time ago, but I remember how great I thought it was.
8. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner- I love the stories Jennifer Weiner comes up with. I think all of them are great, but this was her first and I think it’s good enough for my list. If you haven’t read it, or any of her books, and you like chick lit, you should definitely pick it up.
9. A Little Help From Above by Saralee Rosenberg- This wasn’t her first book exactly, but it was her first fiction book, so I am counting it. My sister bought this book for me and I loved it. 
10. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella- This was her first book under her real name, so I am counting this one also. I love the whole series, I relate to Rebecca in the sense that I am a shopaholic (which is bad when you don’t have a real job.) I just think this book is really cute and fun.

What are your Top Ten Debut Books, I would love to hear them.

Book Review: Sookie Stackhouse book 1

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Synopsis:

Sookie Stackhouse is a small time cocktail waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She’s quite, keeps to herself, and doesn’t get out much. Not because she’s not pretty. She is. It’s just that, well, Sookie has this sort of “disability.” She can read minds. And that doesn’t make her too datable. Then along comes Bill. He’s tall, dark, handsome - and Sookie can’t hear a word he’s thinking. He’s exactly the type of guy she’s been waiting for all her life...

But Bill has a disability of his own: he’s a vampire with a bad reputation. But he is an interesting addition to the town, and Sookie can’t help but listen to what everyone else thinks about Bill...especially since she’s starting to fall for the buff bloodsucker. But when a string of murders hits town - along with a gang of truly nasty vampires looking for Bill - Sookie wonders if having an undead boyfriend is such a bright idea.

And when one of her coworkers is killed. Sookie realizes that Bill and his friends may have some special plans for a woman who can read minds...

Review:

The summer of 2009 was when I first heard about Sookie Stackhouse. I was watching TV with my parents and my mom turned on True Blood. I stayed for a little, and then decided that it bit off Twilight and left to watch TV in my room. Well, I am happy to say, I was wrong. Maybe if I started watching the series at the beginning, or if I heard of the books before the series came on, I would have felt different. Yes both Twilight and Dead Until Dark deal with vampires, but Charlaine Harris took the normal approach to vampires. What I mean by this is that she went with vampires not being able to be out in the day, and how vampires can be killed with a silver stake and so forth. But what I think makes this book good, is that Sookie is special. I think her “disability” gives this book something that most vampire books don’t have. I just feel like there is something more magical about it, and yet there are no wizards or witches involved, go figure.

So what I really liked about the book was the conversations about Sookie and Bill. Reading them I thought it was so easy going, I felt like Sookie was comfortable around Bill in the normal human way, but nervous in the girl liking guy way (does that make sense to any of you?) I just thought it was sweet. I also really liked how Sookie felt like she needed to protect Bill from the people in her town and yet Bill thought he was protecting Sookie. I just really felt like this book was a great read. I think Charlaine Harris did a great job writing it, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. 

Cover: 9/10

Beginning: 5/5

Ending:         5/5

Plot: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Satisfaction: 10/10

Grade:          49/50 = A+