Wordless Wednesday

Kyle, the wedding bandit

Clean (sort of) Bookshelves

Do you ever look around and think, "Who made this big mess?" (Said in the voice of Loonette from the  Big Comfy Couch)  Well, I did that today! And I think I made the big mess. Of my bookshelves. I have a serious addiction to books. I can't stop buying them, and I can't get rid of them. Today I just got so tired of looking at them stacked all over each other, so I finally straightened them up. I took them off the shelves and dusted even! And I think I probably got rid of around 20. I am so proud of myself. It's the little things in life that make me happy :) The problem now is this. I keep entering contests to win more books....I have a problem.

It's the end of the world as we know it

Today was the end of an era in my mothering. My son signed up for 2 high school classes at our public high school. He has never been to school in his life! He wants to play baseball, so he needs to be at the high school to do that. Taking 2 classes is a good way for him to get acclimated to being there. I have a feeling he will soon want to take all of his classes there. He thinks that he would enjoy mechanics during his coming high school years. Even though he will have some classes at home, most of his work here will be independent.

My daughter who is a senior this year, and my son who is a freshman have always been homeschooled. I have loved having them with me all this time. We have enjoyed much bonding that we would have missed out on had they been away from me 8 hrs. a day, 5 days a week, 40 weeks a year.

I am anxious for the homework and tests he will have to endure. I am worried that he will be tired. I'm worried that he won't find his classes the first day. But all of these are things that everyone goes through, and deep down I know he will be fine. It's the first step to independence.

I have loved every stage of motherhood, but this may be the hardest journey yet. I am sure I thought the nights of no sleep and endless crying would never end. I am sure I thought the years of temper tantrums would never end. I am sure I thought that I'd never have privacy again. Now that my days of constant mothering are coming to an end, I am sad.

I wonder how I will deal with the empty nest syndrome when that time comes. I know that I can do all things through Christ, but it is still hard for me to imagine a world without my kids at home.

Review of Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

 FROM GOODREADS:

Varen Nethers is trapped in a perilous dream world -- a treacherous and desolate realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. Isobel Lanley, plagued by strange visions and haunted by the nightmares of Varen's creation, is the only one who can save him.
Isobel knows that her only hope lies within a Baltimore cemetery. There, in the early morning hours of Edgar Allan Poe's birthday, a mysterious stranger known as the "Poe Toaster" will make his annual homage at the legendary poet's grave.
Only the Poe Toaster holds the key to the way between worlds. But even greater dangers lie ahead for Isobel. An ancient evil, draped in veils of white, is watching, challenging her for Varen's affections. When Isobel finally finds Varen, he is no longer the quiet and brooding boy who once captivated her, but a dark force, powerful and malevolent


Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Kelly Creagh! My daughter won an ARC of this book in a contest, so we got to read it before it's release. It is an amazing sequel to her debut novel Nevermore.

In this book, Kelly takes us back into Isobel's pain after losing Varen to a bleak dream world. She is no longer the popular, happy cheerleader. Her dreams are horrifying. She is desperate to find Varen, and in her desperation, she deceives her parents. She talks her dad into taking her to visit a university near Poe's grave on the day the Poe toaster is set to make his appearance.

What follows next is an amazing set up for a third novel. I'm not very patient, so hurry up, Kelly :)

View all my reviews

Bella Luna Creations at Craft Cafe

 Bella Luna Creations

My friend Brenda is a beautiful, creative person! It shows through her love of jewelry making. She is a kind and generous soul. Here is what she has to say about her shop:

ABOUT THIS SHOP

I have been making jewelry for about 15 years. Usually for friends and family. But in the past 8 years I started small and decided to start selling. This is really my first try in the "outside" market, so here's to success to all that have decided to make Craft Cafe their new home. I make one of a kind gemstone, crystal, pewter, and silver jewelry.

SHOP POLICY

Each piece of jewelry is handmade and one of a kind. This means that I make each piece as it is ordered. Payment is made thru PayPal at time of purchase. You may also make a payment with your credit card thru PayPal with no PayPal account.

If you are a resident of North Carolina a 6.75% sales and use tax will be added at time of purchase thru PayPal.

As soon as payment is received your purchase will ship in 2 to 3 days. Insurance is separate please let me know at time of purchase that you would like insurance.

All custom orders require a deposit of 50%, with balance due at completion.
Feedback is very important, please do not hesitate to contact me, let me know how I am doing, or if there is something you would like to see in my shop.

Please visit her online at  http://craftcafe.co/shop/bellalunacreations/

Review: The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

From Goodreads:

  Citizens of Ember shall be assigned work at twelve years of age...

Lina Mayfleet desperately wants to be a messenger. Instead, she draws the dreaded job of Pipeworks laborer, which means she'll be working in damp tunnels deep underground.

Doon Harrow draws messenger - and asks Lina to trade! Doon wants to be underground. That's where the generator is, and Doon has ideas about how to fix it. For as long as anyone can remember, the great lights of Ember have kept the endless darkness at bay. But now the lights are beginning to flicker.....

I was first introduced to The City of Ember through a friend who did not want her DVD copy. She said it wasn't her type of movie or story. Well, lucky for me, it's exactly the kind of story I love :) 

The Emberites have been living safely in their city for over 200 years. But lately, the lights that keep the city alive are failing. Food is running low. People are beginning to fear the worst:  what if the lights go out and never come back on? 

Lina lives with her elderly grandmother and her baby sister in home full of things that were once useful but are now mainly clutter. Lina's grandmother begins searching for something that was lost. Something important. She cannot remember what the something is, but she knows it is very important. One day, when Lina comes in from work, she sees her grandmother in the closet searching for the lost thing. Lina sees her sister with paper in her mouth and a box on the floor.  She gathers the bits of paper from Poppy and glues them together to find a message with missing pieces.  She goes to her friends for help with the message, but no one takes interest until she shows it to Doon. Together Lina and Doon decode the message and find a way to save their city. 

This story is reminiscent of The Giver by Lois Lowry. It is a story with underlying meaning. It is full of symbolism and spirituality. This is meant for the young adult reader, but I love it. I think it is a story for the ages.

Beanfields Snacks

I recently entered a contest where the prize was 6 bags of Beanfields Bean Chips. Well, I won and have since received them. I love them! They are made in the USA, gluten free, non-gmo, and corn free as well. I received 2 bags of the nacho variety (yummy), one bag of unsalted (eating now..yummy too but I need salsa with them), one bag of pico de gallo (haven't tried yet), one bag of salt and pepper (haven't tried yet), and one bag of sea salt (haven't tried yet). I know there are 3 bags that I haven't eaten yet, but I'm sure they will be just as good!

From the back of the bags:

Welcome to Beanfields, where we've created quiet possibly the world's tastiest tortilla chips, in fact they're Crispylicious!

Corn and Gluten Free
Twice as much protein and fiber as most tortilla chips
 A Source of Complete Protein

Beanfields is a family owned, values-based company and we're all about beans. We believe beans are good for our families, good for our farmers, and good for our Planet.

To find out why we love beans and why we don't use corn or GMO ingredients, visit us at beanfieldssnacks.com!

Seriously, people, you need to try these :) Happy Healthy Snacking!!

Wordless Wednesday

Cozy, Crazy Cats

Midnight (no flash so he looks like a black blob)

Midnight keeping cool

Tiger with his big eyes

Midnight

Stop with the pictures already

Tiger and a mouse

 

Ashes by Ilsa Bick Book Review

From Goodreads: 


An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.



Let me just say, I love this book! It is one of the most memorable I've read in awhile, and I cannot wait for the second book in this trilogy, Shadows, to come out September 25, 2012.

The main character in this book is Alex;  a girl with a personal mission that takes her into the wilderness. While she is there a cataclysmic EMP occurs, and she is suddenly thrust into a fight for survival. This EMP has suddenly turned some people into a kind of flesh eating zombie. Yet, it has turned Alex into some kind of super human with a super gift. 

Due to circumstances beyond her control, Alex is entrusted with the care of 8 year old Ellie.  She has no idea how to survive in this zombie infested wilderness until Tom, an ex-soldier, saves them from disaster. Tom and Alex develop a close bond over the next several weeks as they struggle to find a way to survive in this world gone crazy.

While trying to head north, Ellie, Tom, and Alex are separated. Ellie by force, Tom by injury, and Alex by fate. She ends up in the town of Rule where the leaders have ultimate say on who stays and who goes. Alex is one who must stay even though she wishes to go and find those she has lost. She ends up making peace with her fate in Rule until circumstances force her to see that she must leave Rule to seek the truth. 

This is my first review, so I hope I gave enough info but not too much!  :)

This book was classified as a horror book in the YA section of my library. Although there are horrific elements to it, I'd put it in the dystopian section. If you enjoy apocalyptic, zombie books, this one is for you. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5. 

*I was not compensated for this review, nor did I receive this book for free. I just loved it :)

Legacy of a Writer: Beautiful handmade jewelry at a beautiful price (G...

 I just entered to win this beautiful bracelet! Head on over for your own entries!


Legacy of a Writer: Beautiful handmade jewelry at a beautiful price (G...: Good afternoon, all! Just as a heads-up, remember that tomorrow is the bookswap  that'll take place right here on Legacy of a Writer . Don't...

My Obsession with Blogger Giveaways

I just discovered the world of blog giveaways in July. I'd have to say since then, I've developed a problem :) It's not a BAD problem. It's just a little bit of an addiction....an addiction to entering giveaways! The thing is...I've won like 9 things since I started this obsession. And I love it! You can find giveaways on all kinds of blogs. I would love to learn how to do giveaways myself. Hopefully once I get the hang of this, and get to know more bloggers, I will learn how to do them. I'd love to review books, movies, skin-care, clothes, ok everything :)

I hope you will join me in my obsession! I will try to link up more giveaways as I learn to do this!! I have no clue how to post other peoples buttons here, but I think I will learn!