Sunday, 4 November 2012

Life Update



So school started in mid-September and since then, my life has been non-stop school and work. The free time I have had was spent watching all the most recent 7 seasons of Doctor Who, which I completely fell in love with. My favorite doctor is definitely David Tennant, he just brought so much to the part! I've also begun watching the spin-off series of Torchwood and I am pretty much done that. I now feel like that world is such a big part of my life. Guess you could call me a whovian ;). 


I've also been planning something really big and exciting, but also super stressful. I have been officially accepted to go to a semester at the University of Nottingham in the UK, meaning I will be spending 6 months from January to June in England. I've already paid the deposit for my accommodation and I am working on finding a flight that actually gets in at a time that will work with the coach that brings international students to the school from the airport... Doing this exchange was a really last minute decision, because I had dropped out of the Co-op (internship) program but still wanted to do something with my time in university. A lot of my friends are doing exchanges and some people I know transferred to universities I have always wanted to go to... You could say I got jealous. I am really excited for this trip, both for the amazing travel opportunities I will have when i am there and the amazing history courses I will be able to take. I've set up another blog so that I can document my travels and I also plan on keeping a journal/scrapbook type thing. I have many places I would like to see and I really want to be able to share my adventures with my friends and family, so a blog is probably the best way. 
 
 

The semester is halfway over, but the worst is yet to come. I have to write 4 papers of various lengths and on various topics. While I enjoy doing it, I am not a huge of the pressure and stress. I then have to write 5 finals. Don't you just love university? After that, things will get much better though. I'll be working almost every day to get money for my trip, but I will at least have one week off to visit with my family. Then I jet off to England! The next few months should be interesting...

Monday, 13 August 2012

RIP Kona

June 11, 2001 - August 13, 2012

You were the best dog anyone could ever ask for. You were adorable, loving, hilarious and super sweet. I wish you could still be here to keep me company, but you were so sick and in so much pain. But being the good boy you were, you never complained. We just could not see you struggle any more, especially since you were obviously suffering from a crazy infection and who knows what else. Your hair didn't grow back after we shaved you for summer and you lost so much weight because you hardly ate. And at 11 years old, you just could not handle a surgery, nor could we afford it. You were a fantastic boy, my best cutest boy, and we will miss you sooo much. I hope you are safe and no longer hurting, where ever you are. I love you, forever and always.

:(

Saturday, 23 June 2012

Recent Additions to my Movie Collection

It may just be me, but whenever i see a really good deal on a movie that i loved or have been wanting to see for forever, i sometimes tend to slip and buy them. Not so good for my wallet, but i don't do it enough that it should be considered a problem. These are some of the purchases i have made over the last two months. And yes, they are DVD's because i do not own a blu-ray player, nor do i own a game system that is compatible. Blu-Ray's are expensive, even when you do find them on sale!


I got In Time and Iron Man at Superstore for 8-10$ each. I had been wanting to buy In Time because it was one of my favorite movies this year and i could not believe it was so cheap for such a recent release. I adore the Marvel films and want to gradually get all of them, so i figured i would start with Iron Man. 


I got X-Men: First Class and What's Your Number? at Wal-Mart for 10$ each. I can't even express how much i loved X-Men: First Class and since it is a Marvel film, i couldn't pass up the bargain. I had been wanting to see What's Your Number? for quite some time, so i figured i would buy it. I am so glad i did, because it was a great movie!


These last four are my most recent purchases. I got them from Wal-Mart yesterday for 7$ each. I was not planning on buying movies, but i saw that they were having their summer blowout so i went to see what they had on sale. I ended up getting Life as we Know it, a movie i loved; Crazy Stupid Love, a fantastic movie that i had been wanting to buy since i had seen it; Inception, a ridiculously well done movie that i have been wanting to re-watch since i saw it in theaters; and Happy Feet Two, which i have not seen, but i own and loved the first one so i figured i would get it.

:)

Thursday, 24 May 2012

Recently Watched Movies (Spoilers)

The Avengers
I absolutely loved The Avengers. It was the best super hero film that i have seen in a long time. It does a really good job of sticking to the fact that it is a super hero movie. Though it includes a lot of big characters, it does a really good job in making sure they get relatively equal screen time. There a bunch of absolutely hilarious lines and pumps out many great one-liners. The action sequence is fantastic. There is one shot that pans from character to character as they fight without cutting - it was beautiful. Joss Whedon and the cast did a fantastic job with this film and i look forward to the upcoming Marvel films we have been promised!

War Horse
War Horse was another film that i adored. I heard many many good things about this film before i saw it, so i was looking forward to seeing what people were saying was an amazing film. I completely agree with the reviews. This film is emotionally heart wrenching and inspiring, humorous yet tragic. We follow Joey, the horse, throughout World War 1, also witnessing the stories of several people in the War. Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston, two of my favorite actors, are in this film and they do a fantastic job. My emotional attachment to them made their section all the better. The two German boys, while only a small part of the story, provided a very sad reality of the war - young boys were sent off to war and died. Emilie, the French girl who found Joey and his companion after the boys, provided a refreshing view of the innocence that still prevailed during that time. I wish we knew what happened to her! After a horrible stint with the French army and the death of Joey's companion, Joey escapes and then finds himself in no mans land, unfortunately stuck in wire. A wonderful show of cooperation between the British and Germans is seen as they work to cut Joey free and then part as unlikely acquaintances. This brings us full circle and we see the reunion of Joey and his owner, who had gone to war in search of him. This film is just fantastic. I can't help but love it. I also bought the book and plan to read that as soon as possible!

John Carter
I honestly don't get why this film got such bad reviews. It was a fun, creative film based on what was the first science-fiction book to be written (1912!). Taylor Kitsch did a really good job in his role and the characters on Mars were hilarious. The Tharks - green four armed aliens - were hilarious and their society interesting. The red humanoid aliens provided a human counterpart on mars in the middle of a 'civil' war? The storyline itself was really interesting and considering the time it was written, original. It was probably a big inspiration for future science fiction novels and films. I think that they did a good job with this film, though i am sure it could have been done better, there are always things to change. But i liked it, a lot actually. I even bought 7 of the books it was based on because i am interested. I personally think that they should have marketed this film differently and better - then maybe it would have done better in theaters. I plan on buying the DVD because i would really like to watch this again. 

I would definitely recommend all these films to every one. The Avengers and John Carter if you enjoy fun films. The Avengers is almost a no brainer. War horse was fantastic especially if you like war films and stories of war. 

:)

Friday, 27 April 2012

Candle Collection

I have recently developed a major addiction to candles and have been buying them whenever there is a really good deal. I've actually been able to burn them because i live at home (not in rez). I have just finished school for the year and had the time to burn them while i studied for finals, etc. I bought two more candles yesterday so i figured i would make a blog post about my current collection before it gets too big or before i finish burning these!


3-Wick Candles
(1) Banana Fizz (2) Gingham Apple (3) Coco Lobo (4) Mint Chocolate
(5) Tropical Spice (6) French Garden (7) Tiki Beach
(1) Banana Fizz - A refreshing concoction of island pineapple, banana and fresh kiwi, infused with spiced rum and coconut.
(2) Gingham Apple - A sugar-sweet delight to find at the orchard - Golden Delicious apples with juicy pear, ripe peaches and sugarcane.
(3) Coco Lobo - A delightful mix of coconut milk, papaya nectar and passionfruit with macadamia nuts and sugarcane.
(4) Mint Chocolate - Semi-sweet chocolate, dark cocoa and peppermint with vanilla cream and white chocolate.
(5) Tropical Spice - An exotic blend of cinnamon bark, spiced rum and Tahitian vanilla.
(6) French Garden - A delicate mix of French bergamot, sweet mandarin, sheer jasmine and freesia that brings to mind a hidden garden in Old-world Paris.
(7) Tiki Beach - A tropical island blend of toasted coconut, vanilla musk and purple orchids infused with sugared berries.

Mini Candles 
(1) Sticky Toffee Pudding (2) Caribbean Escape
(3) Frosted Tangerine Cake (4) Leaves (5) Toasted Pistachio Delight
(1) Sticky Toffee Pudding - A rich, tempting treat that combines melted toffee, pure maple syrup and toasted pecans, topped with brown sugar and whipped cream.
(2) Caribbean Escape - Indulge in a sweet, tropical blend of melon, raspberry nectar and Italian lemon, tempered with creamy coconut milk and raw sugarcane.
(3) Frosted Tangerine Cake - A delicious blend of fresh tangerine and sweet pineapple, with powdered sugar, rich cream cheese frosting and a hint of coconut.
(4) Leaves - Autumnal notes of golden nectar, juicy mandarin and red delicious apple are paired with toasted cinnamon stick, mulled cider spices and freshly harvested red berries.
(5) Toasted Pistachio Delight - Toasted pistachios and almonds blend perfectly for a delicious indulgence with notes of zesty orange, brown sugar and creamy vanilla.

There are apparently some new summer candles coming out soon, so i will likely end up buying some more! They just smell so good!

:)


Friday, 20 April 2012

Mini Book Haul

So I had to go out today because i had an interview, which i think went really well. I should know by sunday whether i got the job or not. Cross your fingers for me! Anyways, the place where i had my interview is right next to a superstore so i figured i would go walk around for a bit until i had to catch the bus. First thing i thought when i walked in was, Holy crap, they changed everything around. Second thing was, Oh hello 40% off books i might actually want to purchase. And purchase i did. Two of the books on that table happened to be books that i had been looking to buy for a while, but after my last massive purchase (here), i have been trying not to get anything. However, 40% is just too good to pass up! So here are the two books that i bought!

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong


This is the second installment of the Darkness Rising Trilogy and the fifth of the Darkest Powers series. Maya and her friends--all of whom have supernatural powers--have been kidnapped after fleeing from a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set, and after a terrifying helicopter crash they find themselves pursued by evildoers in the Vancouver Island wilderness.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young


Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

:)

Thursday, 19 April 2012

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 14: How you feel today

Eeehhhh, finals. :(



Picture edited in Instagram

:)

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 13: Something you found

An angry birds sticker on the floor of my university's food court.



Picture edited in Instagram

:)

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 12: Stairs

My cute puppy loves to sit on the stairs.



Picture edited in Instagram

:)

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 11: Where you ate breakfast

At the dining table looking outside!



Picture edited in Instagram

:)

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 10: Cold

A cold glass of milk with breakfast! Yum!



Picture edited in instagram

:)

Friday, 13 April 2012

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 9: Younger You

Looking back at myself at a young age on my 20th birthday.



Picture edited on Instagram
:)

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 9: Younger You

Looking back at myself at a young age on my 20th birthday.



Picture edited on Instagram

:)

Thursday, 12 April 2012

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 11: Where you ate Breakfast

At the table surrounded by windows.



Picture edited in Instagram

:)

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 8: Inside your wallet

My lovely bright pink fossil wallet! :)



Picture edited in Instagram

:)

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 7: Shadow

Casting a shadow.



Picture edited in Instagram

:)

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 6: Lunch

I had a mocha frappe from Good Earth. So healthy. -_-



Picture edited in instagram

:)

Monday, 9 April 2012

April Photo a Day Challenge

Day 5: Tiny
A Tiny giraffe i got in a kinder surprise!



Picture edited on Instagram

:)

Book Haul

I went to Chapters yesterday and i could not help myself. I rarely go to Chapters because this happens. I end up buying over 100$ worth of books! I am good at rationalizing my buys haha.



PAPERBACKS:

Variant by Robison Wells

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.
He was wrong.
Now he's trapped in a school that's surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive. 
Where breaking the rules equals death.
But when Benson stumbles upon the school's real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape--his only real hope for survival--may be impossible.

Eve by Anna Carey
 

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.


 HARDCOVERS:

Two Truths and A Lie by Sara Shepard
 Sutton Mercer watches from the afterlife as her long-lost twin, Emma Paxton, takes over her identity to solve her murder. But after ruling out her early leads, Emma still hasn’t found Sutton’s killer. A lot of people wanted her dead—but one name keeps popping up: Thayer Vega. When the gorgeous and mysterious Thayer returns to town, Emma has to move fast to figure out whether he’s back for revenge…or if he already got it.

Set in a town where friends can turn into dangerous enemies and everyone harbors dark secrets, The Lying Game is a juicy new series that fans of the #1 New York Times bestselling Pretty Little Liars series—and the hit ABC Family show—will love.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.
Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.
 
 
Legend by Marie Lu 
 What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

 Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

:)