Book Recap: April 2012

Here is a recap of all the books I read this month!

(as promised)

Click the covers to open their Goodreads page.

4 April	6 April	9 April	10 April
13 April	17 April	21 April	28 April

 Dates listed are dates finished.

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban :: J.K. Rowling
• I ran out of time to read this one in March so here it is!
• Additionally, I am loving re-reading Harry Potter!

•  Lost Voices :: Sarah Porter
• I liked it. It was an interesting take on mermaid lore. I will probably read the next one?

• Under the Never Sky :: Veronica Rossi
• I cannot recommend this enough!
• Possibly my favorite book this month!

• Clarity  :: Kim Harrington
• 3.5 stars, really. The 1st half was 3ish and the 2nd half was 4. I will probably read the next one at some point because I like the characters.

• As You Wish :: Jackson Pearce
• This was super cute, guys. I knocked it out in a shift at work and 30mins at home. It would be a great summer read for when you want to lie in the sun and burn while reading. !

• Hammered :: Kevin Hearne
• For being a 3rd book in a series, this one starts out rather slow. I am happy I read it as for part of the story we are told tales in the POV of 5 other characters. It fit well in the context and it was cool to 'hear' other voices instead of Atticus for a bit. The second half of this one was much better than the first . 

• Bloodfever :: Karen Marie Moning
• I liked it. I accepted Mac's world a lot faster this time and there wasn't a lot of drawn out catch up for those who skipped book one.

• Faefever :: Karen Marie Moning
• The pacing of this book was faster than the first two, or at least it felt like it. Also ending this book made me NEED the next one as if I am pri-ya* and this series is death-by-sex Fae. Woah. 
• *This is a joke tied to a term the book series. 

• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies ::  Seth Grahame-Smith
• As an Austin Addict and a Darcy lover, this tale was such fun!! Plus it was a great easy read at work when you are constantly only getting bits of time to read. 

 && Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

 by J.K. Rowling

• I suck. I didn't make it to reading GoF in April. 

Okay MAY! Let's Do This!

What books have you read this month?

Please feel free to leave recs in the comments!

♡
{read all book re-caps from 2012}

Book Recap: March 2012

Here is a recap of all the books I read this month!

(as promised)

Click the covers to open their Goodreads page.

8 March	13 March	14 March	18 March
19 March	31 March	x	x
		=(	=(

 Dates listed are dates finished.

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets :: J.K. Rowling
• I know that this was the HP book meant for Feb and while I started it in February, I technically finished it in March.
• Additionally, I am loving re-reading Harry Potter!

•  Outside In :: Maria V. Snyder
• The first 60pgs of this book were a lot like 'Inside Out' where I just found myself muscling through the words BUT I stuck to my 100pg rule and by the very last page I was pissed that it was over and that I wouldn't learn anything more about these characters! 

• The Realm of Possibility :: David Levithan
• There were parts that I ADORED and parts that I read. I enjoy Levithan's writing and enjoyed how the book was constructed. Was it believable that all these voices of students could be from reality? Maybe. Not to me. Possibly from my brother's graduating class but certainly not from mine. But I did like the 'realm' he created and the stories he told 

• The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight  :: Jennifer E. Smith
• 3 things grabbed me to read this book: the title, the cover, the British male interest! THEN I find out it takes place in an airport and a flight to London and IN London. Let's just say I would totally be this chick in a heartbeat ;)

• Glimmerglass :: Jenna Black
• I enjoyed this version of  life with the urban fae. It was a quick read but entertaining. The next book has been added to the list!

• Cut :: Patricia McCormick
• As I do not have a history of cutting, I read this as an outsider. As an outsider, I enjoyed this book. It has a very interesting voice and structure. It is also a short read. 

• The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making ::  Catherynne M. Valente
• I just wasn't that into it for the longest time. I even broke my 100pgs rule because so many others had given it good reviews.
  I'm going with: it was good but I wasn't the target audience.

 && Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

 by J.K. Rowling

• Prisoner of Azkaban was my March HP book but because The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland took me way to long to read and my hectic schedule I didn't get to it.
  Now there are two books for my April HP re-read assignment. 

What books have you read this month?

Please feel free to leave recs in the comments!

♡
{read all book re-caps from 2012}

Book Recap: February 2012

Here is a recap of all the books I read this month!

(as promised)

Click the covers to open their Goodreads page.

2 Feb	6 Feb	8 Feb	16  Feb
20 Feb	27 Feb	28 Feb	#currentlyreading
			Harry Potter

Dates listed are dates finished.

• Angel Burn :: L.A. Weatherly
• I finished it in under 24hrs. I loved it. The twist on angels was really cool, the story is told in multiple POVs and I liked the characters. I have the next book checked out from the library already.

•  Cool, Calm & Contentious :: Merril Markoe
• I usually sway to the polarizing sides (1 OR 5 never 3) when it comes to biographical essays. This one was a 3.
  She is a comedy/writer person and does it well. I enjoyed the humor and running commentary. I liked it. It was good. && then I sent it back to the library to hang with the other books.

• Some Girls Bite :: Chloe Neill
• 4.5 FO SHO. I liked the world that Neill has created for her "Chicagoland vampires." I liked Merit as a lead character as well as the others around her. I look forward to the next book. =)
• Also I want to go visit Chicago even more now! ;)

• Shatter Me :: Tahereh Mafi
• In the running for the best book of the month. Seriously. I have recommended this book up and down since reading it. LOVED. SO FREAKING GOOD!!! I WANT ANOTHER!!! && it is the kind of book I am going to recommend but tell you nothing about! Heh.
• Just go read it.

• The Other Countess :: Eve Edwards
• I don't read historical fiction often but I am glad I read this one!
  Ellie is likeable and even though the teaser on the jacket suggests a forbidden love story the book isn't just about her. I really enjoyed stepping into this window of time and look forward to reading the next one!

• Touch of Power :: Maria V. Snyder
• I love Snyder's magical series. I was so excited to see that she was going to start a new one with Touch of Power. This book takes place in a new magical realm with new rules but I adored it all the same!

• Inside Out :: Maria V. Snyder
• This book was much harder to get into than her others and by much I mean about 60pgs (vs 5-10pgs of Study, Glass & Touch). But I am glad I gave it the 100pg try!I love that Trella is another strong female from Snyder's mind and while I did guess the major mystery, I was still surprised and engrossed in the plot points and characters.

&& Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

 by J.K. Rowling

• I started Chamber of Secrets yesterday (leap day) so I haven't finished it yet but I do find myself loving Dobby this time around... #tears

{VIA}

What books have you read this month?

Please feel free to leave recs in the comments!

♡

Bonus Find! 

{read all book re-caps from 2012}

Book Recap: January 2012

Here is a recap of all the books I read this month!

(as promised)

Click the covers to open their Goodreads page.

4 Jan	8 Jan	11 Jan	15 Jan
17 Jan	19 Jan	23 Jan	25 Jan

 Dates listed are dates finished.

• The Girl in the Steel Corset :: Kady Cross
• If ever there was a single book that makes me love steam-punk, this is it!
  Plus it is set in London. So there is that. I am very excited for the next one! 
• Additionally, this is one of those books where if done correctly would look really good on the silver screen. Jus' sayin'

•  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? :: Mindy Kaling
• I don't watch The Office other than the random re-runs on TBS but home-girl is ADORABLE and hilarious. Equally, this book is adorable and hilarious! I especially loved the chapter 'Best Friend Rights and Responsibilities;' it was both funny and accurate and I want to share it with every one of my best friends!

• The Fault in Our Stars :: John Green
• I. Love. John Green. Admittedly I have not read or loved EVERY book of his (LFA-really good, AoK-couldn't finish, PT-pledge to read by this summer, LiS comp-not yet read, WGWG w/David Levithan=love) but the man behind the career is pretty phenomenal. #FTL That is why I pre-ordered TFiOS on Day 1 back in June when I knew very little about it. Now, months later, I know I also went in knowing little about it and I think that way is a great way to read this glorious book about young love and life as a kid with terminal cancer which is NOT as sad as it sounds. Promise.
  JUST GO READ THIS BOOK, OKAY?!

• The Future of Us :: Jay Acker & Caroline Mackler
• I really liked the concept of knowing your future and then how to cause "ripples" to change it. Honestly, Josh and Emma kind of got on my nerves at times. There's definitely laughy moments both with talk of AOL (I remember my first IM and email address!!!) and then the talk of Netflix and Facebook.

• Lola and the Boy Next Door :: Stephanie Perkins
• I had no idea I was going to enjoy this book so much!! Lola is everything I dreamed of being in high school and yet never was (except for the confidence); I enjoyed her themed outfits and wigs even though they creep me out in real life. I loved learning more and more about Cricket (COOL NAME ALERT) as she did. Plus, It was wonderful to have Anna and St. Clair back for a chunk of everything.
  But what kept me reading while I was wary in the first two chapters is that Lola's parents are two men who love each other dearly and who she deems as more strict than her parents friends. I love that they are front and center in the book. I love that Lola has a good/great relationship with them. I love that they are just like any other parents in real life (vs book parents who sometimes are hardly present and don't notice when their kids are {insert terrible plot/character here}.

• The Secret To Lying :: Todd Mitchell
• I didn't know what to make of this book. I liked it, yes, but it hasn't stuck with me the way most books do. I was drawn to the cover in the book store but ended it getting it from the library months later. Here is the summary if you are interested yourself.

• Mercy :: Rebecca Lim
• For me, the first 100 pages were torture but since I was reading late at night, I didn't notice that I had already hit halfway until I was too tired to read. I felt the first half was too slow and like I didn't know enough about Mercy to care about her. Maybe the way the voice is written left me with scattered information. Yet, the second half I really liked. In that last 100 pages I found myself trying to solve the mystery and couldn't put it down until I finished 3am.

• Tempest Rising :: Tracy Deebs
• At first I was a tad bit wary but ultimately I feel in love with this book and it's version of mermaids. But seriously, how would I not? says the girl with the water/dolphin tattoo. Book 2 comes out this summer! ;)

 && Harry Potter

I love my leather bound edition! #nerd

Separate from my challenge to read 100 new books, I also decided to re-read Harry Potter this year.

Harry Potter and the PhiloSorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

• This is actually my first re-read of any Harry Potter books since the third movie was released in 2004!
  
• I also have realised how much I miss Harry's world within the pages vs the screen or on Pottermore. (Though I have enjoyed Pottermore!)
  



via tumblr search "snitch"

• I cried. Yep.
  Again.

What books have you read this month?

Please feel free to leave recs in the comments!

♡

Pottermore and the #BETAclub

So ya'll must know of my Harry Potter fangirl-ness...
If you didn't well....

I am so excited!!
Please leave your Pottermore name in my comments!

Wrock Music!

&& Harry Potter week continues!

I am a 'I CAN'T READ THE BOOK SO CLOSE TO THE MOVIE' person.

So where do I turn to get pumped up for HP?
You know other than own nerdy self..

WROCK.

or Wizard Rock!

I introduced wrock on my blog with 'House Song'

but there are really so many amazing wrock bands out there!

Ministry of Magic competes for first place with me.

I also love The Parselmouths.

&& The Remus Lupins...

Here are some more you can Google and YouTube:
-Harry & the Potters

-Draco & the Malfoys

-The Luna Lovegoods

-The Whomping Willows

-The Moaning Myrtles

-Blubbering Humdingers

-Gred and Forge

-The Owl Post

-Sugar Quills

-Swish and Flick

-AlwaysPureBlood

&& there are so many more!!!

Question:

Before this post, did you listen to wrock?!

If so, WHO!? 

=D

Want more Potter from my POV? Read yesterday's post! <3

House Pride

*hangs head in shame* I know, I know!

It's been way too long since I have posted!

But what better to come back to blogger for than Harry Potter!

Yes, I am aware that every blogger

-and their mother-

are doing a 'Harry Potter' week. 

Well, so am I!

So to kick off this week, I am going to start with

HOUSE PRIDE!

&& what better way to celebrate than with some wrock*!

"House Song" by Ministry of Magic 

(& friends)

I'm a Ravenclaw
I like to read books
When I cast spells they're off the fricken hook.

I'm a Gryffindor
I'll fly with my friends
We'll never back down and fight to the end.

I'm a Slytherin
I am very rich
I'll go on a date with whoever gets the snitch.

I'm a Hufflepuff
Just hanging relax
Got our drinks and friends
No fueds we got tact.

(Slytherin) Ew who brought a Hufflepuff?
(Hufflepuff) Hey I'm just trying to have a good time over here. Have a good time
(Everyone) A good time

I'm a Ravenclaw got wit beyond measure
I can catch a snitch like it's caught up in a tether.

I'm a Slytherin
The house of the snake
Come get in my way
And get tossed in the lake.

I'm a Gryffindor and we own the sky,
Yeah we always win with our rally cry.

I'm a Slytherin
The top of my class
If you disagree
I'll kick your muggle ass.

Uh Alan, do you even know what Harry Potter is?
(Alan) Well, I haven't read the books, but I've seen all the movies!
(everyone) Let's beat him up!
Let's beat him up.

I'm a Slytherin a big fan of Snape
If it's a MoM album we have to say Snape.

I'm a Hufflepuff we're true to the end.
United we stand so I'll stand with my friends

I'm a Gryffindor as brave as the come
And my namesake sword will get the job done.

I'm a Ravenclaw
My brain is super fast
Like Shelden Cooper but not a total ass.

So who's this Sheldon Cooper guy anyway Aaron?

(Aaron) He's from the show The Big Bang Thoery.  

(Luke)You're out of the band..  

He's no Spock.
(Aaron) I don't want to go

So...I ask that that age old question:

What house are you in?

Which am I?!

&& PROUD, BABY!!

*wrock: a definition:
            nerdy music written by and for Harry Potter fans

          full name- wizard rock

thank you tumblr

...for giving me the best thing the internet has given me this week!

amazing.

ps.

This is Spring Break for half my city,

therefore lots of kids want to swim at our pool.

aka. I am working a LOT and am SO TIRED after.

I'll be back strong on the internet soon!

I hope!

;o)

Chipotle burritos this year: 9

Boba smoothies this year: 10

I am a Nerd: Hogwarts Dollmakers

I know I said in my last blog that this week would be Zoo Week.

Oops. 

...next week!

I have been a little distracted...

By online Hogwarts doll-makers!

...'specially since I am starting my costume for July!

[Me as Luna?]

But the most popular one by far,

is the maker from DollDivine.com

Not only can I make myself a Ravenclaw

I can haz the Ravenclaw seeker as my boyfran!

And we can get in trouble with Snape together!

Yes.

I am a nerd.

Actually I have had

bigger distraction

lately.

Within the next 24 hrs I will be opening an Etsy

so I can sell all the scarves I have been knitting!

 

The biggest problem I have right now is to name it!

The options:

Kat's Creations

Kat's Kreations

Kat's Korner

Diamond's Details

Details by KatOfDiamonds

The K.A.T. Shoppe [Kat's Accessories & Trinkets]

Do you have a favorite?

Or a suggestion?

Hurry & comment coz I might pick yours!

*Chipotle Counter [43]*

My Brother, the 21 year old.

On Friday, 26 Nov10

my little bro had a 21st birthday.

and he was in town.

and I got to do something for him.

and this is what I did:

I invited my broha to the 11:15 IMAX on Turkey Day

and went to Couture Cupcake for some birthday noms...

I made sure to 3 different kinds

(all flavors that I like, of course)

When he {& friend Sam} got there late...

We switched theaters... & clinked our cupcakes

:)

Then afterward, a beer!

I bought his first illegal beer...

Only fitting that I buy him his first legal one!

I hope the rest of your birthday weekend was fantastic, Sean!

<3

*Chipotle Counter [43]*

p.s.

Tomorrow is Zoo Week

here and on my YouTube

because I love ZOOS!!!

Frugal Gal Knitting Tip: Circular Stitch Marker

I love to knit.

Ages ago my grandma taught me how.

I got addicted and she gave me a lot of supplies to help said addition.

Between living with her now and that Ravelry site and that blogger friend...

I have become re-addicted

And better than ever!

This means more challenging patterns and plans.

When you combine this addiction to that of my Harry Potter addiction...

You get me trying knitting on a smaller set of circular needles

and knitting in the round for the first time.

Why all this hulla-buh-loo?

So that I can make a Ravenclaw scarf like this.

(Or this one on Ravelry)

But I do not have a circular stitch marker.

What?

Basically a little piece of plastic that marks the beginning of a row.

The thing is these come in a multi-sized plastic set, around $5-10...

Or pretty dangle-y ones at a pretty price,say $15-25!

Well at this post-Uni-moment in time,

I don't have the ca$h to buy it.

So I just looked around the house

and found....

a safety pin!

Doesn't everyone have about a thousand hanging around the house?

I like the sound that "free" makes!

Feel free to leave other 'frugal gal' tips in my comments!

*Chipotle Counter [42]*