Thursday, May 19, 2011

Day 19: Book That Turned You On

I am skipping this day. This a personal matter, and I do not need to share it with the world.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Short Break

I will be away from any computer for a few days, so I cannot update the books of the day. But once I get back to a computer, I will finish the days I missed.

=)

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Day 17: Shortest Book You’ve Read

This book was a lot easier to find. I used to read this book all the time when I was little. It is such a short book, only 13 pages, but it is a classic. So, the shortest book I have read is:

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle.








The book starts with an egg on a leaf. The tiny caterpillar emerges and looks for food. On consecutive days, the caterpillar eats through a single red apple, two pears, three plums, four strawberries, and five oranges, which takes us from Monday to Friday. Saturday: the caterpillar eats its way through many different foods: chocolate cake, ice-cream, a pickle, Swiss cheese, salami, a lollipop, a cherry pie, a sausage, a cupcake, and a slice of watermelon. The caterpillar develops a 'tummy ache' as a result of eating all this food. Sunday: the caterpillar eats through a single leaf, which makes the caterpillar feel better. The now big caterpillar forms a 'cocoon'. On the final pages the caterpillar is now a 'beautiful' butterfly.

     I think the summary was longer than the actual book. But nonetheless, if you have not read this book, it really is a classic that everyone must read. In fact, it is over 40 years old and was inspired by a hole puncher.

=)

Monday, May 16, 2011

Day 16: Longest Book You’ve Read

Well, I have a hard time comparing lengths of books, because it really does depend on the size of the pages, and the font size. But, I do believe the longest book I have read completely is:

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling


It's been another long, hot summer at the Dursleys' for Harry Potter. Having spent most of it in an adolescent "funk" of depression and bitterness over his friends' lack of informative letters about Voldemort's return, he's suddenly jolted out of his bad mood when two Dementors show up in Little Whinging and attack him and his cousin, Dudley. When Harry uses magic to drive them off, however, he quickly receives a succession of owls from the Ministry, requiring him to attend a disciplinary hearing. His heart sinks when he reads that his expulsion from Hogwarts will be decided then.

When Harry finally manages to make it back to school, he finds his long awaited return jarringly different than usual. Hagrid's missing, there are now skeletal horses pulling the school carriages that only he can see, and the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is none other than toad like, repulsive Dolores Umbridge, a Ministry Representative whom Harry is all too familiar with.

Even worse is the constant mutterings of the other students. Having spent all summer discrediting both Harry and Dumbledore, the Ministry has succeeded into convincing everyone they're both crazy and that Voldemort's return is nothing but a figment of their imagination.

With only Ron and Hermione standing by his side, Harry is hard-pressed to stay in a good mood and often lashes out at the ones he is closest to. His defiant behavior lands him in detention for weeks at a time with Umbridge, who soon rises to the status of Hogwarts High Inquisitor and revels in sacking teachers and keeping the entire school under the control of her stubby, ugly-ringed fingers.

As the school year progresses Harry and Umbridge frequently lock horns, and she retaliates by taking away everything he cares about: Quidditch, letters from Sirius, and visits with Hagrid. So Harry fights back the only way he can, by forming a secret Defense group and teaching his friends how to fight properly.

In spite of the frantic workload of O.W.L. year, the tyranny of Umbridge, and an unbearable crush on Ravenclaw Seeker Cho Chang, Harry keeps having tantalizing dreams of dark corridors and locked doors that are distracting at best. His scar prickles constantly and he soon finds he's turned into a tiny antenna for Voldemort's mood swings, which certainly doesn't help his own temper.

Things take a disastrous turn when Dolores Umbridge finds out about Harry's secret Defense group. Harry is thrown into a world of guilt when Dumbledore, protecting Harry, claims credit for the group and has to flee the school in order to escape arrest.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ends with an epic battle of good and evil, resulting in a devastating loss to Harry and the full revelation that his destiny lies intertwined with none other than Voldemort himself. He finds out what true loyalty is, and how to stand strong in the face of ultimate sacrifice.

     Again, Harry Potter is a fantastic book series, and even though this book is long, it really is amazing.

=)

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Day 15: First “Chapter Book” You Can Remember Reading As a Child

Now, I have no idea if this is actually accurate, but I do believe I picked the first, or one of the first chapter books I read on my own. And I do love this book. So, bringing back memories of my childhood is:

"Amelia Bedelia" by Peggy Parish.


When, on her first day as the Rogers's maid, Amelia Bedelia follows directions to dust the furniture, she applies a coat of dusting powder to it, and by the time she "draws" the drapes, children will giggle over her silly mistakes. This classic about the housekeeper who follows her chore list literally features cartoon like illustrations that are simple and charming.

    I also wished I had a maid like Amelia Bedelia. She seems like an awesome person. She may get confused a little, but she doesn't care. She is also oh so very sweet!


=)

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Day 14: Book Whose Main Character You Want To Marry

Man, I have literally hundreds of book for which I could marry the main character. Female authors have a fantastic ability to create the perfect guy. Now only if they actually existed... For the book I choose, the main character is a female, but the person I chose is one of the other main characters, a guy... So here is the Gabe, the guy I wish to marry:

"Bamboo and Lace" by Lori Wick.


Shy, lovely Lily Walsh leaves her rural homeland, the tiny Asian country of Kashien, to visit her brother Jeff in Hawaii. Everything is new and exciting to Lily: grocery stores that overflow with food, chewing gum, coffee makers, and the luxury of hot showers. Most thrilling of all is Jeff's best friend, the handsome Hawaiian Gabriel Kapaia, who teaches her how to play tennis and golf, and encourages her to become more assertive. Despite her conservative father's disapproval, Lily falls in love with Gabe and must choose between pleasing a parent and following the tug of her heart.

   Yes, I know that Lily falls in love with Gabe, and the whole story would be ruined if I married him. But he is one of the sweetest guys Lori Wick writes about, not to mention a Christian and extremely handsome. Plus he is very family orientated, and works hard. Honestly, I would have to meet him first, but from this book, I could easily see myself falling for him.

=)

Friday, May 13, 2011

Day 13: Book Whose Main Character Is Most Like You

Again, this list is throwing me a curve ball. I am not really the type of person people like to cast as their main characters. I have not fallen in love, I am no "rags-to-riches" story, not a super genius. So the book I choose isn't really a lighthearted book, but I want to read it someday:

"To Engineer is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design" by Henry Petroski


The moral of this book is that behind every great engineering success is a trail of often ignored (but frequently spectacular) engineering failures. Petroski covers many of the best known examples of well-intentioned but ultimately failed design in action -- the galloping Tacoma Narrows Bridge (which you've probably seen tossing cars willy-nilly in the famous black-and-white footage), the collapse of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel walkways -- and many lesser known but equally informative examples. The line of reasoning Petroski develops in this book were later formalized into his quasi-Darwinian model of technological evolution in The Evolution of Useful Things, but this book is arguably the more illuminating -- and definitely the more enjoyable -- of these two titles.

      I find failure fascinating, because if you know why something fails, you can figure out how to prevent it from happening in the future. Which, if I do say so myself, is pretty awesome.

=)

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Day 12: Book That Is Most Like Your Life

I tried to think of a good book, but it is really hard. If there is a book like my life, I would have written it. Or my sister. If you're going to bet, bet on her writing one over me. But the book I choose is slightly unorthodox....:

"I'm Just Here For the Food, Version 2.0" by Alton Brown


Eight years ago, Alton Brown set out to create a cooking show for a new generation. The result was Good Eats, one of Food Network’s most popular programs. Four years ago, Brown set out to write a cookbook for people who would rather understand their food than follow a recipe. A mix of cutting-edge graphics and a fresh take on preparing food, I’m Just Here For the Food became one of the bestselling cookbooks of the year—and received the James Beard Foundation/KitchenAid Book Award as best reference book.

This year, to commemorate and celebrate this success story (more than 300,000 copies in print), STC is pleased to announce I’m Just Here For the Food: The Director’s Cut. This special edition features 10 brand-new recipes, 20 pages of additional material, a jacket that folds out into a poster, and a removable refrigerator magnet—along with everything that made the original a classic instruction manual for the kitchen. Each of the book’s 15 sections is a module on a given cooking method—from pan searing to pressure cooking, stewing to steaming—with a “master” recipe and a varied selection of recipes that epitomize the technique. The text is accented throughout with food facts, history and lore, and science.

     I think this book describes my life because A.) I love to cook, and B.) I am a major dork, so this book combines those sides of me. A dorky chef.

=)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Day 11: Book From Your Favorite Author

Today was an easy day. I literally have  dozens of books by my favorite author. In fact, I just finished one last night! So that is the book I chose by my favorite author:

"Who Brings Forth the Wind" by Lori Wick.


Raised by her aging grandfather in the quiet English countryside, Stacy Daniels radiates a sweet loveliness and unguarded innocence that quickly captures the attention of London society.

Stacy’s summer visit to her aunt catapults her into a swirl of balls and teas—and an unexpected meeting with Lord Tanner Richardson, the handsome yet cynical Duke of Cambridge. 

Stacy cannot know the joy-turned-anguish that awaits her as the duke battles his own tormented past. Nor can she foresee the betrayal that will challenge her faith. Yet through the heights and depths of their turbulent love, Stacy comes to know the One who can not only bring forth the wind, but also calm the angry storms of her husband’s heart.

     This is one of 4 books in a series, and honestly, all are fantastic. But for some reason, unbeknownst to me, this is my favorite. It has romance, tall, handsome men, and a love story to swoon over. In some way, I relate to Stacy, even though I am not tall, blond, and gorgeous. But I do sympathize with her. Now if only I could find my Tanner, at least the nice version of him...
=)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Day 10: Book That Changed Your Life

I feel this day is better suited for someone who has lived a longer life than I have. Don't get me wrong, I very well may have read a life-changing book before now, but I don't know what book it is. As they say, hindsight is 20/20. I may look back in 20 years and realize the book that changed my life is the book I read yesterday. Unlikely, but I don't know. However, there is a book that has changed my life, though not really all at once. And my life still changes because of it. So the book that has changed my life is:

The Bible.





So, I am not going to put a synopsis of the Bible here. All I am going to say is that it is God's word. =)

       This book is very powerful, and it really speaks to me. I would still be a lost sinner going to hell if it wasn't for this book right here. I mean, I am still a sinner and I ought to go to hell, but I am not because Jesus Christ died for my sins so I can live forever in heaven. And who doesn't want that?

=)

Monday, May 9, 2011

Day 9: Book That Makes You Sick

I had a difficult time thinking of this book. Books don't generally make me sick. In fact, I have never read a book that made me sick. So, that being said, the book that makes me sick is:

"A Shore Thing" by Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi.


It’s a summer to remember . . . at the Jersey Shore.

Giovanna “Gia” Spumanti and her cousin Isabella “Bella” Rizzoli are going to have the sexiest summer ever. While they couldn’t be more different—pint-size Gia is a carefree, outspoken party girl and Bella is a tall, slender athlete who always holds her tongue—for the next month they’re ready to pouf up their hair, put on their stilettos, and soak up all that Seaside Heights, New Jersey, has to offer: hot guidos, cool clubs, fried Oreos, and lots of tequila.

So far, Gia’s summer is on fire. Between nearly burning down their rented bungalow, inventing the popular “tan-tags” at the Tantastic Salon where she works, and rescuing a shark on the beach, she becomes a local celebrity overnight. Luckily, she meets the perfect guy to help her keep the flames under control. Firefighter Frank Rossi is exactly her type: big, tan, and Italian. But is he tough enough to handle Gia when things really heat up?

Bella is more than ready for some fun in the sun. Finally free of her bonehead ex-boyfriend, she left home in Brooklyn with one goal in mind: hooking up with a sexy gorilla for a no-strings-attached summer fling. In no time, she lands a job leading “Beat Up the Beat” dance classes at a local gym, and is scooped up by Beemer-driving, preppy Bender Newberry. Only problem: Bella can’t get her romantic and ripped boss Tony “Trouble” Troublino out of her head. He’s relationship material. Suddenly, Bella’s not sure what she wants.

The cousins soon realize that for every friend they make on the boardwalk, there are also rivals, slummers, and frenemies who will do anything to ruin their summer—and try their relationship. Before July ends, the bonds of family and friendship will be stretched to the breaking point. Will the haters prevail, or will Gia and Bella find love at the Shore?

   And the reason this makes me sick? The author. It really shames me to think that someone like that, who can't really read herself, and doesn't like to read, writing a book that is undoubtedly half-written by someone else, and the only reason it is popular is because she is a reality TV star on MTV.

=)

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Day 8: Book That Scares You

As a general note, if a book scares me, I stop reading it. I am not a fan of scary stories at all, so if it looks potentially scary, I won't read it. But if a teacher assigns the book, then I am out of luck. And so that is how the book that scares me the most is:

"The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe.


The story takes place at the castellated abbey of the "happy and dauntless and sagacious" Prince Prospero. Prospero and one thousand other nobles have taken refuge in this walled abbey to escape the Red Death, a terrible plague with gruesome symptoms that has swept over the land. Victims feel overcome by convulsive agony and sweat blood instead of water. The plague is said to kill within half an hour. Prospero and his court are presented as indifferent to the sufferings of the population at large, intending to await the end of the plague in luxury and safety behind the walls of their secure refuge, having welded the doors shut.

One night, Prospero holds a masquerade ball to entertain his guests in seven colored rooms of the abbey. Six of the rooms are each decorated and illuminated in a specific color: Blue, purple, green, orange, white, and violet. The last room is decorated in black and is illuminated by a blood-red light; because of this chilling pair of colors, few guests are brave enough to venture into the seventh room. The room is also the location of a large ebony clock that ominously clangs at each hour, upon which everyone stops talking and the orchestra stops playing. At the chiming of midnight, Prospero notices one figure in a dark, blood-splattered robe resembling a funeral shroud, with an extremely lifelike mask resembling a stiffened corpse, and with the traits of the Red Death, which all at the ball have been desperate to escape. Gravely insulted, Prospero demands to know the identity of the mysterious guest so that they can hang him. When none dares to approach the figure, instead letting him pass through the seven chambers, the prince pursues him with a drawn dagger until he is cornered in the seventh room, the black room with the scarlet-tinted windows. When the figure turns to face him, the Prince falls dead. The enraged and terrified revelers surge into the black room and forcibly remove the mask and robe, only to find to their horror that there is no solid form underneath either. Only now do they realize--too late--that the figure is actually the Red Death itself, and all of the guests contract and succumb to the disease. The final line of the story sums up: "And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all."

        It just is super creepy, and I can't stand it. I have a phobia about getting sick and dying, especially due to some horrific disease, like a plague. Ick.

Though on a lighter note, I want to wish my mom, Karen, a wonderful Mother's day! I love her so much and I am so glad she is my mother!

=)

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Day 7: Book That You Can Quote/Recite

I apologize for such a late posting. Moving out and a long car ride home really took it out of me. But now I am back and I am loving it!

As for a book that I can quote, I had a hard time with this one. I read soo many books that I didn't know which one I really quote. But then it came to me. Yes, I know I just had a guilty pleasure book series yesterday, but I am going to pick another one. Mainly because of all the books I do read, I may quote certain lines from this one more often than others. And I do quote the book, not the movie. And so, the book I can quote is:

The "Twilight Saga" by Stephenie Meyer.


Bella Swan moves from Phoenix, Arizona to live with her father in Forks, Washington to allow her mother to travel with her new husband, a minor league baseball player. After moving to Forks, Bella finds herself involuntarily drawn to a mysterious, handsome boy, Edward Cullen. She eventually learns that he is a member of a vampire family who drinks animal blood rather than human blood. Edward and Bella fall in love, but James, a sadistic vampire from another vampire coven, is drawn to hunt down Bella. Edward and the other Cullens defend Bella. She escapes to Phoenix, Arizona, where she is tricked into confronting James, who tries to kill her. She is seriously wounded, but Edward rescues her and they return to Forks, having killed James

     Some of my favorite lines to quote come from this book. My favorite is "I bet she's tougher than that. She runs with vampires." So I now promise that I won't have too many more guilty pleasures. And give me credit, Harry Potter made it on the list before Twilight. And will most likely be back.

=)

Friday, May 6, 2011

Day 6: Favorite Young Adult Book

Now that I have both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings in this list, I can now mention one of my guilty pleasures. =) I really like reading a lot of young adult books. It really is a fun way to pass a few hours. Nothing too serious, but nothing super childish either. And I actually stumbled upon this book through a recommendation of one of my other guilty pleasure authors, Stephenie Meyer. So now, without further ado, my favorite young adult book is:

"The Hunger Games" trilogy by Suzanne Collins.


The Hunger Games follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th Hunger Games in place of her younger sister Prim. Also participating from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a boy who loved Katniss the moment he laid eyes on her. As Katniss and Peeta battle the other tributes together, they pretend to be madly in love to gain favor with the audience. When the Gamemakers try to force the pair into a dramatic finale where one must kill the other to win, they threaten suicide and are subsequently both declared winners.


     I won't put the summaries of the other books, due to the fact that it gives away what happens in the first book. But I love theses books. Some romance, a little drama, action, adventure. It has everything. And I think you should all read it before the movie comes out. And for the record, I liked these books before they became popular. The 2nd and 3rd book wasn't out when I started. But I am glad they are popular again!

=)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Day 5: Book You Wish You Could Live In

I was right once again. Now Lord of the Rings has appeared. =) So as for the book I wish I could live in, I most definitely want to live in Middle Earth in:

"The Lord of the Rings Trilogy" by J.R.R. Tolkien.


The story takes place in the context of historical events in North-West Middle-earth. Long before the start of the novel the Dark Lord Sauron forged the One Ring in the year 1600 of the Second Age to gain power over other rings held by the leaders of Men, Elves and Dwarves. He is defeated in battle in the year of 3441 of the Second Age, and Isildur, son of Elendil cuts off his Ring and claims it as an heirloom for his line. Isildur is later killed by Orcs, and the Ring is lost in the river Anduin. Over two thousand years later, the Ring comes into the hands of the hobbit Déagol, who is then strangled to death by his friend Sméagol, who takes the ring, is banished from his community and hides under the mountains, where the Ring transforms him over the course of hundreds of years into a twisted, corrupted creature called Gollum. Eventually he loses the Ring, which, as recounted in The Hobbit, is found by Bilbo Baggins. Meanwhile Sauron takes a new physical form and reoccupies Mordor, his old realm. Gollum sets out in search of the Ring, but is captured by Sauron, who learns that Bilbo Baggins has the Ring. Gollum is set loose, and Sauron, who needs the Ring to regain his full power, sends forth the Ringwraiths, his dark, fearsome servants, to seize it.

The novel begins in the Shire, as Frodo Baggins inherits the Ring from Bilbo, his cousin and guardian. Both are unaware of its origin, but Gandalf the Grey, a wizard, learns of the Ring's history and advises Frodo to take it away from the Shire. Frodo leaves, taking his gardener and friend, Samwise ("Sam") Gamgee, and two cousins, Meriadoc ("Merry") Brandybuck and Peregrin ("Pippin") Took, as companions. They nearly encounter the Ringwraiths while still in the Shire, but shake off pursuit by cutting through the Old Forest, where they are aided by the enigmatic and powerful Tom Bombadil, upon whom the Ring has no effect. After leaving the Forest, they stop in the town of Bree, where they meet Aragorn, Isildur's heir, who joins them as guide and protector. They leave Bree after narrowly escaping attack, but the Ringwraiths follow them to the look-out hill of Weathertop and wound Frodo with an accursed knife. Aragorn leads the hobbits toward the refuge of Rivendell, while Frodo gradually succumbs to the wound. At the Ford of Bruinen, the Ringwraiths attack again, but flood waters controlled by Elrond, master of Rivendell, rise up and overwhelm them, saving the company.

Frodo recovers in Rivendell under the care of Elrond. The Council of Elrond reveals much significant history about Sauron and the Ring, as well as the news that Sauron has corrupted the wizard Saruman. The Council decides that the threat of Sauron is too great and that the best course of action is to destroy the Ring by returning it to Mount Doom in Mordor, where it was forged. Frodo volunteers to take the Ring, and a "Fellowship of the Ring" is chosen to accompany and protect him: Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, and the man Boromir, son of the Ruling Steward Denethor of the realm of Gondor.

After failing to cross the Misty Mountains via the pass below Caradhras, the company pass through the Mines of Moria, where they are attacked by Orcs. Gandalf falls while fighting the ancient and terrible Balrog, allowing the others to escape. The remaining company take refuge in the Elven forest of Lothlórien. With boats and gifts from the Lady Galadriel, the company then travel down the River Anduin to the hill of Amon Hen. There Boromir succumbs to the lure of the Ring and attempts to take it from Frodo, who breaks from the Fellowship to continue the quest to Mordor alone, though Sam insists on coming to assist and protect him.

Meanwhile, orcs sent by Sauron and Saruman kill Boromir and kidnap Merry and Pippin. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas pursue the orcs into the kingdom of Rohan. Merry and Pippin escape when the orcs are slain by the Rohirrim. The hobbits flee into Fangorn forest, where they are befriended by the tree-like Ents. In Fangorn forest Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas find not the hobbits but Gandalf, resurrected after his battle with the Balrog and now the significantly more powerful "Gandalf the White". Gandalf assures them that Merry and Pippin are safe, and they travel instead to rouse Théoden, King of Rohan, from a stupor of despair inflicted by Saruman, and to aid the Rohirrim in a stand against Saruman's armies. Théoden fortifies himself at Helm's Deep along with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli while Gandalf rides off to gather more soldiers. Helm's Deep is besieged by Saruman's orcs, but Gandalf arrives with reinforcements, and the orcs are defeated.

The Ents attack Isengard, trapping Saruman in the tower of Orthanc. Gandalf, Théoden and the others arrive at Isengard to confront Saruman. Saruman refuses to acknowledge the error of his ways, and Gandalf strips him of his rank and most of his powers. Merry and Pippin rejoin the others and Pippin looks into a palantír, a seeing-stone that Sauron had used to communicate with Saruman, unknowingly leading Sauron to think that Saruman has captured the Ring-bearer, so Gandalf takes Pippin to Gondor.

On their way to Mordor, Frodo and Sam capture Gollum, who has been following them from Moria, and force him to guide them to Mordor. Finding Mordor's main gate impassable, they travel toward a pass known to Gollum. Gollum betrays Frodo by leading him to the great spider Shelob in the tunnels of Cirith Ungol. Frodo is left seemingly dead by Shelob's bite, but Sam fights her off. Sam takes the Ring, and forces himself to leave Frodo. Orcs find Frodo's body, and Sam learns that Frodo is not in fact dead, but unconscious. Frodo is carried to the tower of Cirith Ungol, and Sam determines to rescue him.

Sauron begins his military assault upon Gondor. Gandalf arrives at Minas Tirith in Gondor with Pippin to alert Denethor of the impending attack. Minas Tirith is besieged, and Denethor, under the influence of Sauron through another palantír, loses hope and commits suicide. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli come to Gondor by the Paths of the Dead, where Aragorn raises an undead army of oath-breakers in fulfilment of an old prophecy. The ghostly army help him to defeat the Corsairs of Umbar invading southern Gondor, and the forces freed from the south, along with Rohan's cavalry, help break the siege at Minas Tirith.

Sam rescues Frodo, and they journey through Mordor. Frodo weakens as they near Mount Doom, but is aided by Sam. Meanwhile, in the climactic battle at the Black Gate of Mordor, the vastly outnumbered alliance of Gondor and Rohan fight desperately against Sauron's armies, with the intent of diverting Sauron's attention from Mount Doom. At the edge of the Cracks of Doom, Frodo is unable to resist the Ring, and claims it for himself. Gollum reappears, struggles with Frodo for the Ring, and bites off Frodo's finger, Ring and all, but in so doing falls into the fire, taking the Ring with him. The Ring is thus unmade. In the instant of its destruction, Sauron perishes, his armies retreat, his tower crumbles into dust, the Ringwraiths disintegrate, and the War of the Ring seemingly ends. Aragorn is crowned Elessar, King of Arnor and Gondor, and marries his long-time love, Arwen, the daughter of Elrond.

Meanwhile, however, Saruman has escaped his captivity and enslaved the Shire. The four returning hobbits raise a rebellion and overthrow him. Saruman is killed by his former servant Gríma Wormtongue, who is in turn killed by Hobbit archers. The War of the Ring thus comes to its true end on Frodo's very doorstep. Merry and Pippin are acclaimed heroes. Sam uses his gifts from Galadriel to restore the Shire, and marries Rosie Cotton. Frodo remains wounded in body and spirit, and some years later, accompanied by Bilbo and Gandalf, sails from the Grey Havens west over the Sea to the Undying Lands to find peace. After Rosie's death, Sam gives his daughter the Red Book of Westmarch, containing the story and adventures of Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry. Sam then crosses west over the Sea, the last of the Ring-bearers.

   And I know that was really really really long. But there is no really good short summary of LoTR. Can't be done. And as for living in Middle Earth, that would be amazing. As long as it is during the time after the Ring is destroyed. Because I don't think I would be good at fighting. Maybe if Legolas or Aragorn taught me...

=)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Day 4: Book That Makes You Cry

Well, I was right. Harry Potter does show back up. As some of you may know, I am prone to tears. And whenever one of my favorite characters die in a book, I bawl like a baby. So the book that causes my waterworks, no matter how many times I read it is:

"Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling.


The war against Voldemort is not going well; even Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.


And yet...

As in all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate -- and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weasley twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multi layered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort -- and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.

    Spoiler Alert: When Dumbledore dies, I cry. Tears stream down my face. I can't help it. But I still love the books. And I way prefer the books over the movies.

=)

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Day 3: Book That Makes You Laugh Out Loud

Again, this was a difficult book to choose. I rarely laugh while reading books, at least out loud. I know I have laughed during books such as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, but I probably will choose those books later on. So I picked my favorite book of poems:

"Where The Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein.

Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein, is a collection of poems and accompanying illustrations targeted specifically for children. First published in 1974, Silverstein's poems have preserved their humor and relevance through generations of very different childhoods. Silverstein manages to successful twist playful and imaginative writing with wit and truth to create an amusing and highly engaging anthology of poems and illustrations that both make a reader laugh and think.

     This book of poetry contains my absolute favorite poem, "Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too." I had to memorize it during 7th grade, and I still can.


"Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too
Went for a ride in a flying shoe.
"Hooray!"
"What fun!"
"It's time we flew!"
Said Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle was captain, and Pickle was crew
And Tickle served coffee and mulligan stew
As higher
And higher
And higher they flew,
Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too,
Over the sun and beyond the blue.
"Hold on!"
"Stay in!"
"I hope we do!"
Cried Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle too
Never returned to the world they knew,
And nobody
Knows what's
Happened to
Dear Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too."

     I love all of Shel Silverstein's poetry, and they always can make me laugh!

=)

Monday, May 2, 2011

Day 2: Least Favorite Book

Now, this one was hard to decide. I rarely read books and hate them. But if I had to pick one, it would be:

"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte.


Many people, generally those who have never read the book, consider Wuthering Heights to be a straightforward, if intense, love story — Romeo and Juliet on the Yorkshire Moors. But this is a mistake. Really the story is one of revenge. It follows the life of Heathcliff, a mysterious gypsy-like person, from childhood (about seven years old) to his death in his late thirties. Heathcliff rises in his adopted family and then is reduced to the status of a servant, running away when the young woman he loves decides to marry another. He returns later, rich and educated and sets about gaining his revenge on the two families that he believed ruined his life.


     I could barely get though this book. And the only reason I was able to was because it was required for Honors English in the 11th grade. I just could not get into this book at all!

=)

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Day 1: Favorite Book

So, since it is May, I feel like I want to do another "post-a-day" for month. So, since I love books, I am doing a book a day! And since technically, I have already done my favorite, you will see it again. But now I will also post a summary of the book, most likely taken from Amazon or Barnes and Nobel, or so forth. So now for my favorite book:

"The Princess" by Lori Wick


In the Land of Pendaran, Shelby Parker lives a humble but good life. Her special qualities are eventually noticed by the king and queen of the House of Markham, who seek a new wife for their widowed son, Prince Nikolai.

To uphold the tradition of their country, Shelby and Nikolai agree to an arranged marriage. But while Nikolai is a perfect gentleman in public, he remains distant at home, leaving Shelby to wonder what is in his heart. Will the prince ever love her as he did his first wife? Can the faith they share overcome the barriers between them?

      This book is a wonderful love story, that even though it is fiction, it is still believable. And that's why I love it. If I am feeling down or sad, I read this book. It makes me happy.
=)

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

End of the Year

So, then end of the school year is fast approaching. And it has gotten me thinking about what has happened so far in my life.

I have made some really wonderful friends, I have lost contact with people. I have done great on tests, I have done not so well on some tests. I have been up, I have been down, and everywhere in between. But that's normal.

What I really thought about is how I got to where I am today. Why Penn State? Why Architectural Engineering? Honestly, I have no idea why I chose this major. I mean, I love it, and I can't imagine ever doing anything else, but how did I decide on this? I can only think it was God. He brought me here, he brought many people into my life, which I cannot imagine ever have not known. I am beyond blessed for all my experiences, but sometimes, you need to sit down and really think about it.

What would my life be like if I hadn't wanted to go into AE? I know I wouldn't be at Penn State. I don't even know what I would do. My back-up plan was always mechanical engineering, or civil, but if I had to switch now, I wouldn't be able to. If I wasn't at Penn State, I would most likely be at OSU. It is a fabulous school, and it is in-state. But now, PSU is my home.

So that's what I thought about. Now I have to get back to Revit. Fun. Be back soon!

=)

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Day 31 - A Picture of Yourself

So, the last day. I have to admit, it is slightly sad that I am done. But also a bit of a relief. I almost forgot today! But now March is over, as well as this challenge. I will, of course, blog again, but I might take some time off. But not too much time! However, school is a priority, so if I don't have time, I won't be on here. Thanks for reading my posts!

=)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Day 30 - A Picture of Someone You Miss

This is Bubbe, my step grandmother. She passed away way too early at the age of 48 in May, almost 3 years ago due to breast cancer she had been fighting ever since I could remember. She was an amazing woman, and I will always love and miss her. She was always an inspiration, even finishing her Bat Mitzvah the summer before she passed away. Having her die was one of the hardest moments in my life, as she was slightly younger than my own mother. She seemed like an aunt more than a grandmother, but she was wise beyond her years. I really miss my Bubbe, though everyone else knew her as Joni Singer. It was especially hard on my grandpa when she died. For a few months after she passed away, most of the cards we received had the word "and" written after his name, then crossed out. They were such a great couple. She was perfect for my gandpa. And when we went to their house during Christmas time, we would have presents under the treee, but also light tht Menorah. I love and miss you Bubbe, more than you'll ever know.

=)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Day 29 - A Picture That Can Always Make You Smile

My Dad, on his mission to kill the bugs outside. =) He had all different types of insecticides, and bug sprays, and the fly swatter. He was all ready to get those bugs! It all started because we noticed we had some wood bees living in our deck, and Dad was determined to get rid of them. So while the rest of them (I was on my way back from baby-sitting) enjoyed a lovely evening outside, my Dad had the tools and was waiting to pounce. The look on his face in this picture looks to me like he is just waiting and daring the bugs to try and bug him, no pun intended.

=)

Monday, March 28, 2011

Day 28 - A Picture of Something You're Afraid Of


Fire, specifically unplanned fires. I absolutely hate them! I will literally get nightmares from them. Which is ironic, since I picked fire as my inspiration for my Studio project. I think fire is beautiful, but terrifying. Like a polar bear. Home fires are the worst, followed by forest fires. I have had many experiences with things burning down, or catching on fire, but luckily never my home. In Raleigh, our church caught on fire. In Seattle, out middle school kitchen caught on fire. In Erie, our dinning hall Dobbins caught on fire. In State College, Simmons did catch on fire, but it was nothing serious, only having to wake up at 7 to go outside when I had a 102 degree fever. And no, it was not me that set it. I have learned a lot about fire, and fire prevention, but it still scares me so much. I can't even watch the live action version of "The Secret Garden" because there is a scene where they burn the main character's doll because of the plague. So terrifying. I honestly don't know what I would do if my house caught on fire. It is also ironic that I work for a candle store.... That place would be awful if it went up in flames, especially since it is a very old building... So that's what I am afraid of. That and falling from heights.

=|

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Day 27 - A Picture of Yourself and a Family Member

From left to right, Nick, myself, Julie, Grammie, Lucas, and Kyra, right before we celebrated my Grammie's birthday! We went on a limo tour around Buffalo, and had a fun time! We even went up to Niagara Falls that evening for the awesome light show. We have been so many times, but it is still always pretty cool. Unless your feet hurt from 4 inch stilettos. Even though we are missing 3 grandchildren from this picture, it is awesome seeing everyone. And then the next day I turned 19!

=)

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Day 26 - A Picture of Something that Means A Lot to You

My doggy, Serena! She is a half black lab, half golden retriever. We originally got her when we were training her to be a guide dog for the blind, but unfortunately she was career changed because of her knees. So now she is ours! She is so sweet and loving; I really miss her when I am away at school. She loves everyone, is so soft and loves to be petted. She always acts like she hasn't seen you in forever, even if you just step out of the room for 5 minutes. I just love her so much!

=)

Friday, March 25, 2011

Day 25 - A Picture of Your Day

Classes with my friends... Here we are about to leave AE 221 and go to EE 211! Friday is my crazy busy day, when we're in class solid from 8 am to 2:15 pm. We were going to be late for our next class, so we rushed this picture. Lowell didn't want to be in the picture, so I made him take the picture. These are the people I'm forced to spend all my time with.... Just kidding, I love them all.

=)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Day 24 - A Picture of Something You Wish You Could Change

Childhood cancer. It is hurtful, horrible, and I wish it didn't exist. I THON for all the kids who lost a sibling to cancer, for all the parents and grandparents who lost a child too soon, and for all the kids who struggle every day to beat this. I am so glad I go to Penn State and can participate in THON. When I grow up, I still want to be involved with beating cancer. It is not something that I can just forget about.

=)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Day 23 - A Picture of Your Favorite Book

"The Princess" by Lori Wick! So many awesome ones to choose from, but no matter how many times I read this book, I still love it! As many of you know, I love reading, so picking my favorite was really hard, but I decided on this one because it is a slightly more realistic fairy tale, and it just makes me so happy! Actually, I love any of Lori Wick's books. I debated between this and a series, like Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, or even a childhood book, but I chose this one because I love it to read in a long afternoon. My favorite childhood book is "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. "I'll love you forever / I'll like you for always / As long as I'm living / My baby you'll be."

=)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Day 22 - A Picture of Something You Wish You Were Better At

Calculus, mainly integration. I can do it, but it can get complicated very fast. And then having to do double or triple integration.... Yikes. I am great at differentiation, and so far, differential equations aren't bad either. Of course, I take DifEQ next semester, so we'll see on that. Easy integrals are easy, like the ones we use in EMCH 213. (Strength of Materials for those not in the Penn State Engineering department). I have the hardest time with fractions and arc-trig functions, like arctan, arcsine, and the like. And don't get me started on those crazy secant and cosecant functions.... Plus logs and natural logs.... No wonder I did the worst in Math 141.... It was basically all integrals!

=)

Monday, March 21, 2011

Day 21 - A Picture of Something You Wish You Could Forget

This book, "Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka. This book really creeped me out when we had to read it for AP English.... This book, especially with the cover of our books in Mr. Silvidi's class, really  gave me nightmares. The story is weird, supposedly all about existentialism and stuff, but it really seemed like a story about a guy turning into a bug. Sorry if I gave you a spoiler there. But if you don't have to read it, don't. Unless you're an English major and you enjoy bugs. Then maybe it is a good book for you!

=)

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Day 20 - A Picture of Somewhere You'd Love to Travel

The Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas! I could spend a day, a week, a month, several months down there... I think it all started with the Mary-Kate and Ashley movie, "Holiday in the Sun". It looks like paradise. Of course, it would cost an arm and a leg, but it looks so wonderful. Not only is it an awesome resort with an awesome name (like the awesome movie), but it is in the Bahamas! How cool is that??? And this picture looks even better because even though it is mid-March, it is 32 degrees outside. Not cool. However, if I could jet off to Atlantis right now, it would be so much better!

=)

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Day 19 - A Picture of You When You Were Little

Me, on the left, and my sister, on the right, when we were little. When we were a little bit older, people thought we were twins. I was a bald little cutie back then. My mom used to tape bows on my head so people would know I was a girl.

=)

Friday, March 18, 2011

Day 18 - A Picture of Your Biggest Insecurity

My upper-half of my body. I don't like my belly, my chest, my teeth, or my acne. I wish I could change all of that, to be thinner, to have smaller breasts, to have white teeth, and a clear face. But I have a hard time with all of those. And I feel like it makes me unattractive. The only pictures I like are they ones that hide all of that.

=|

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Day 17 - A Picture of Something That Has Made a Huge Impact on Your Life Recently

The Penn State Architectural Engineering department. I have fallen in love with my major, gotten mad at it, wanted to throw parts of it out the window, but because of it, I have met some awesome people, and I know what I want to do for the rest of my life. It has really changed my life, and I am super thrilled I got into this major. You know that feeling you get when you open your favorite book, listen to your favorite song, or watch the opening of your favorite movie? Well, when someone asks me about what I want to do, or about my major, I get that feeling. Sure, AE and I have had our rough times *cough Revit cough*, but we have have a lot of amazing times. I could tell you a lot more about concrete and steel than you ever wished to know, but it is something I am passionate about.

=)

Day 16 - A Picture of Someone Who Inspires You


My lovely sister, Kyra. She has done so much, both academically, spiritually, and in her community. She is someone anyone can look up to and I am blessed she is my sister. She was valedictorian of her class, over a 4.5 GPA, aced any AP class she took, went on several mission trips, volunteered whenever someone needs help, is beautiful, musically gifted, and the list goes on and on. I am really inspired by her.

And I know I missed a day. So two posts today!

=)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Day 15 - A Picture of Something You Want to Do Before You Die


I want to visit every single Continent in a year. Really travel the world, as they say! I have been a lot of places, but I want to tour the world, and it would be cool to go everywhere in one year. Just something a little different, but so much fun! Of course, this means I have to learn some key words and phrases in several different languages... Maybe my sister can help me out with that...

=)

Monday, March 14, 2011

Day 14 - A Picture of Someone You Could Never Imagine Your Life Without

One of my best friends, Angela. Even though we have our rough patches, she is an integral part of my life and I am so glad I can share it with her.She is an amazing girl, and I try my best to be there for her. She is smart, beautiful, and has an amazing heart. I don't know what I would do if she wasn't a part of my life, and I would really not care to find out. You can read more about her in this post!!!

PS It is PI day!!!!!! One of the best days of the year!

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=)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Day 13 - A Picture of Your Favorite Band or Artist


Relient K - They have some awesome songs, some funny songs, and some thoughtful songs. One of my favorite non-instrumental songs comes from their best album, MMHMM. "Let It All Out" is a song that can seem depressing, but it is a great song when you're feeling down. And the song "Mood Rings" can always make me laugh.



=)

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Day 12 - A Picture of Something You Love



I love napping! You know, when you're little, you never want to nap. But once any hour of sleep is precious, napping is a glorious thing! When you're 1, you will take a nap willingly. When you're in kindergarten, you are wide awake. When you're in grade school, you yell, screaming and protesting. When you're in middle school, you're tired but won't nap. When you're in high school, you'll take a nap willingly. But when you're in college, if someone wakes you up from a nap, you want to threaten them with their lives.... But seriously, there is nothing better than having a class canceled, and taking a nap during that hour. I can justify that to myself because it is not like I would've been productive doing something else like homework or studying....

PS I go back to school in just a few hours. =( So sad. And we lose an hour. So doubly sad. =( But my week at home was great.

=)

Friday, March 11, 2011

Day 11 - A Picture of Something You Hate



I absolutely loathe any type of seafood! Fish, shrimp, lobster, oysters, clams, sushi, anything. I cannot stand the smell, the taste, anything! I used to love it, back when I lived in Indonesia. There, fresh fish is always available and good, primarily because the country is made of hundreds of islands. When I was little, we went to a restaurant. I had some fish, and even though they de-boned the fish, there was a small bone left in the fish. Of course, I swallowed it. I then had to throw up the bone into a small bowl of lemon water. Now, to this day, I cannot tolerate any type of seafood, or water which contains lemon. At least I know why I hate seafood!

=)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Day 10 - A Picture of the Person(s) You Do the Most Crazy Things With


These girls (plus Kelsey) are so much fun, and even though we all go to school far away from each other, we still make time to see each other and have awesome amazing times together! I met most of the girls in 11th grade, and we have been non-stop fun ever since. I am so glad that I can see them when I do, and that it is never awkward. We can always pick up our friendship where it left off! I miss them, but I will see them again over Summer break!

=)

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Day 9 - A Picture of the Person Who Has Gotten You Through the Most



I know this picture isn't one of a person, but it represents my faith, and God. No matter what, God is there for me. When I have had troubles with friends or family, God is there. He really has gotten me though everything. And I love him so much, because he will never let me down.

=)

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Day 8 - A Picture That Makes You Laugh




I had several pictures in mind, but this one beat out all the rest. This is my second cousin Andreas. We were at my Grandma's 85th birthday celebration, and I was playing with him. Whenever I tried to take a picture of him, he would scrunch up his face. Of course after I took the picture, he would break out into this huge goofy grin. But I can't help but look at this picture and giggle. He is so adorable, and one of the sweetest kids you'll ever meet. I wish I could see him more often, but I am glad every time I do. I love him and his whole family. And how this picture makes me laugh.


=)

Monday, March 7, 2011

Day 7 - A Picture of Your Most Treasured Items



My bears, Bubba (R) and Mumma Mia (L). I have had these bears since I was born, and I sleep with them every night. They have been with me through everything, from sickness to health, fights to good moments. I love these bears, no matter what they look like. And yes, they are bears. Not pigs. If I had time to grab something from a burning building that wasn't a family member, pet, or important document, I'd grab these bears. Everyone in my family has at least 2. Even my Dad. And we all sleep with them every night. Mom's are brown and white, Dad's are white (well, they are supposed to be), Kyra's are white, and mine are pink. I also have a brown one, but these two are my favorites. It is funny, for a long time, they didn't have names. Then one day, I decided to name them after a Pringles commercial introducing the new pizza pringles. And then I told everyone in the car on our way to the airport. Because seriously, these bears go everywhere with me that involves me spending the night. They may be worn and losing their fur, but they are still perfect in my eyes.

=)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Day 6 - A Picture of a Person You'd Love to Trade Places With for a Day




Carrie Underwood. She is beautiful, talented, can sing, loves Christ, and is genuine, as well as really funny. Plus her husband is gorgeous. When I saw her in concert, she was so fun to watch, and she told really funny anecdotes. She loves what she does, which is all anyone can hope to do. She also was able to reach her dreams, yet she is humble about it. She doesn't take it for granted.

=)

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Day 5 - A Picture of Your Favorite Memory




This was a party our parents threw for us before we entered High School. I love all these girls, and we had so many awesome memories together. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of all of them. But this picture I think best shows our friendship back then. At this party, our parents gave us a scrapbook that they worked on secretly that had baby pictures of us, as well as current pictures. They also wrote facts about us, and each of us had a page. I am so glad that God blessed me with each and everyone of these girls. They really enriched my life so much when I was in Conway. I really miss them, and I hope to see them soon!

=)

Friday, March 4, 2011

Day 4 - A Picture of Your Night




I spent my night at home with my Mom! We made dinner, ate ice cream, and watched a movie in bed, just the two of us. =] After we got home driving me back from college, we unloaded my stuff, then ate. I made pancakes. Then we enjoyed some Creamery chocolate cherry cordial ice cream, and curled up to watch "Amish Grace" which was a very sad but good movie based on the Amish school shootings in 2006.

I love being home!
=)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Day 3 - A Picture of the Cast From Your Favorite Show




I had a hard time deciding between NCIS and Glee, but I decided on NCIS because it appeals to my science side. And all the pictures of the Glee cast either lacked some characters or had Terri. NCIS is a funny, intelligent show that has had an awesome history and great character dynamics. Plus the guys are pretty attractive. =] Also, NCIS is a longer running show, 8 seasons, so I feel like it has withstood the test of time.

=)

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Day 2 - A Picture of You and the Person You Have Been Closest With the Longest



My Mom! She gets me through everything! Since I have moved around so many times, I haven't had one best friend that I am super close with for a long time. And since my sister is only a little more than a year and a half older, when I wanted to play, she wanted nothing to do with her little sister. Funny story about us. When I was little, I gave my sister $20 to play with me. She wanted the money, I wanted a playmate, seemed like a good deal. Well, our parents found out, and we both got in trouble. Regardless, since we have been sisters, we haven't always been close. But I am a Momma's girl, always have been, always will be. I love my Mom and I am so glad I can tell her anything!

=)

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Day 1 - 15 Facts About Yourself




1.) I attend Penn State, and I love it here. Whether you call it Happy Valley, State College, or University Park, it truly is an amazing campus and I feel like I really belong here.
2.) My favorite Creamery flavor is a tie between Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Arboretum Breeze. For those who don't know, Arboretum Breeze is mint ice cream with chocolate chunks and a raspberry swirl. Doesn't sound too appetizing, but boy is it delicious!
3.) I am the second tallest in my immediate family, only dwarfed by my father, topping in at 5'6".
4.) I am only 5'2". But I am proud of it!
5.) Including preschool and college, I have attended 10 different schools. One in Indonesia, two in North Carolina, two in Washington, two in Arkansas, one in Ohio, and two in Pennsylvania.
6.) I am a picky eater, but I still eat a lot, as long as the food is made the way I like it. And that's the way my family makes it.
7.) I love spending time with my family, even just doing the little stuff.
8.) I work at Root Candles, which is this amazing candle store that blows Yankee Candles out of the water!
9.) I am studying to be an Architectural Engineer, Structural option, which is a 5 year program at PSU. It is tough, but it is something I have been passionate about ever since I was little.
10.) I have lived all over the United States and World, as you can tell by my list above. The only state I didn't list above was California, where I was born.
11.) My hair grows super fast, so I have donated between 10 and 12 inches 3 times to Locks of Love. It was tough the first time, but now it is no big deal. I like to help out however I can.
12.) I consider Buffalo my home away from home, since it has been the one place in my life that has been constant no matter where I have lived.
13.) I love to travel, and hope to one day go to all 50 states in one year, as well as every continent in one year.
14.) I adore cooking and baking, and I really miss it when I am at college. Give me a recipe and I'm all set! I do experiment with cooking more than baking, because baking is a science, and I haven't messed around with it yet to get good results.
15.) There is nothing better than wearing warm socks out of the dryer, curled up in a blanket, playing a game with your family, while drinking hot chocolate on a cold winters day. It is a feeling I wish I could bottle up and keep for whenever I am feeling blue.

=)

Monday, February 28, 2011

Countdown to a Spring Break begins!

I haven't realized just how much I miss my parents till now, but this weekend hit me hard. But now that I get to see my mom in 4 days, I feel so much better! I miss seeing her, eating awesome food, and having fun without stressing out about school!

I just found out today that my mom is getting her implant for her chipped tooth in sometime during break, which means she and I will spend the day lounging and watching movies! How awesome is that??? And if she still feels bad the next day, she'll take it off and we can enjoy the fun times together!

So now that THON and most of my classes are almost done, I realize I have 9 classes, 1 quiz, and 1 test before I am home with my family! The only thing missing is my sister, but she is still at school. =(

I hope to do this, but next month, for 30 days, I will be posting a picture, both here and on Facebook, following the 30 day challenge. A picture a day for the next month. The only difference is that on here, I will talk a bit more than just the caption on Facebook. So here's to hoping I can do it!

PS THON two weekends ago was amazing. I got to see one of my best friends Angela, and get to really make a difference, when THON raised $9,563,016.09to find a cure for pediatric cancer! FTK!

And for those who missed it, here is an awesome video of the 2011 line dance!

THON 2011 Line Dance
Stretch:
Stretch it out, Side to side,
Come on Penn State, Show your pride,
Grab left, Grab right,
Throw it up, and touch the sky,
1-2-3-4-5! 6! 7! 8!
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh,
WE. ARE. PENN. STATE.
Verse 1:
For the fight, til it’s done.
2-0-1-1
Stop requested, CATA speaks
Next stop, BJC
150, For The Glory
Wall Street Journal, front page story
Volley, Fencers, Soccer too,
GET IT! white and blue
JoePa wins 400th game
Adding to his Penn State fame
Feature twirler, he’s brand new
See ya later HUB lawn view
Thon 5k gets new start
Keep the cause close to heart
Dance, to make a difference
For The Kids
Chorus:
Penn State, can you feel it?
We got that dancin’ spirit.
BOOM! now shake those stands
BOOM! now rock that floor
We love Hershey’s heroes
We will dance some more
THON. ON.
LET’S GO STATE!
Verse 2:
Lindsay Lohan posts her bail,
Hashtag: #epicfail
Bieber fever sweeps the nation
Wizard world, new vacation
What up Oprah? Take a bow
Lady Gaga wears a cow
Flight attendent goes insane
Scan that bod to board the plane
Toy Story…
Back for 3…
You’ve got a friend in me. . .
iPad, iPhone makes a buzz
Can you bring it? Droid Does
Lost, final scenes
Inception, protect your dreams
Will gives Kate his momma’s ring
Pryor would have sold that bling
Zodiac, gets new sign
Glad i’m born before ’09
Antoine Dodson takes the screen
Ke$ha, Katy, OMG
Larry, turn it up up up up. . .
[Chorus]
Verse 3:
Spain scores to win the cup
Shut that vuvuzela up
Jim Joyce, whiffs the call
Legends, Leaders, in the fall
LeBron heats a superpower
Did he really need an hour?
I throw my diamonds in the air sometimes. . .
Sayin ayyy-o
FTK-o
THON hats, silly bands
Reppin’ hard, Barry Bram
Fed-ex Field
Lions roar roar roar
Redskins helping
For a cure cure…remix
[pause]
Teach me how to Dougie
Teach me, teach me how to twist
All the dancers love me
When i shake my can like this
I whip my can back and forth
I whip my hands back and forth
[Chorus]
Verse 4:
Obama signs healthcare bill
Gulf suffers oil spill
Against bullies we unite
Chilean miners see the light
For the fight, everyday
Nittany Lions pave the way
Our love, we will share
Nothing beats Hershey’s care
Courage to be brave
Wisdom never falls
Honesty gives hope
Strength empowers all
46, stand up tall
for the kids, give your all
Sailing on to the finish
THON together without limits

=)

Monday, January 31, 2011

Rough Times

I have been going through some really tough times with school and friends, but in order to help myself get though it, I have been listening to a particular song, "Arise, My Love" by NewSong. So I am putting it here so ya'll can hear it.

No matter what I am going through, God will always be there for me. And nothing I am in can even compare with what Jesus went through. He literally died after living a perfect life so I didn't have to. And God took care of him, so he will take care of me.

Not a word was heard
at the tomb that day.
Just shuffling of soldiers feet
as they guarded the grave.
One day, two days,
three days had past.
Could it be that Jesus
breathed His last?

Could it be that His Father
had forsaken him?
Turned his back on his son
dispising our sin.
All hell seemed to whisper
'Just forget Him, He's dead.'
Then the Father looked down
to his son and he said..

Arise, My love.
Arise, My love.
The grave no longer
has a hold on you
No more death's sting
No more suffering
Arise...Arise...my love.

The Earth trembled
and the tomb began to shake,
and like lightening
from Heaven the stone was rolled away.
And as dead man
the guards they all stood there in fright
As the power of love
displayed its might
Then suddenly a melody
filled the air
Riding wings of wind,
it was everywhere
The words all creation
had been longing to hear
The sweet sound of victory,
so loud and clear.

Arise, my love.
Arise, my love.
The grave no longer has a hold on you.
No more death's sting
no more suffering
Arise...arise....

Sin, where are your shackles?
Death, where is your sting?
Hell; has been defeated.
The grave could not hold the king.

Arise, My love.
Arise, My love.
The grave no longer
has a hold on you
No more death's sting
No more suffering
Arise....Arise....Arise


Actually, all the songs on NewSong's album "Rescue" are speaking to me. That's what I have been listening to all day today as I am doing school work.

=)