Summer Reads: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

**Not a beauty/haul related entry! YAY!!!!!! I'm actually taking a break from those, they're kinda boring, one right after the other..... @__@. Going to write more about ballet & life.**


  A Series of Unfortunate Events is series of children's novels. There's a film base off the books called "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" staring two of my favorite actors; Jim Carrey and Emily Browning. When I watched the movie in theater a couple of years ago I fell in love with the characters, atmosphere, costumes and of course, the storyline. Since then I tried to look up the books around my area. I looked in used book stores, retail stores like Wal-Mart and other places. But no one had the whole series box set. Then I remember that there was a Barnes & Nobles not to far from me. They sell the whole book series, all 13 books all together in the awesome box set. But it was too expensive for me, the price was set at $150. Amazon has it cheaper. Right now I'm saving up for the series, so by the end of July I should own them. Loved the movie and I know I'll love the books. So, this will be my Summer Read for 2012!

   I already own two books that accompany the series, "The Beatrice Letters" & "Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography". I brought both of them in used and new condition online at Amazon. "The Beatrice Letters" cost $1.98 used & "Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography" cost $1.89 new. Both arrived just days ago in perfect condition and are First Edition books at that (which is a plus) :)! 

  I read that both of these books serves as clues for later on in the series. I already promise myself that I will NOT read these books until I own all 13 books and have gotten far into the series. I just brought these books now because the prices were so inexpensive and they were low in stock. But I did skim the pages just to be sure the book was in great condition and had no missing pages. And I couldn't help myself to noticed some of the pictures in the books. But no spoilers for me, I closed the books immediately.
  But from what I read and what I saw, this is going to be fun to read!

 Some picture of the books....

Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography: Original Dust Jacket (Left) and Reversible Secret Dust Jacket (Right)

Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography: Front Book Cover (Left), Back Book Cover (Right)

The Beatrice Letters: Front Book Cover (Left) and Back Book Cover (Right)

I wonder if this is a clue....lol

Inside. This is a used copy so mine didn't come with the double sided poster :( 

STOP HERE! lol I won't take pics of the inside of this book because I don't want to spoil it for anyone looking to get into this series.

1st Day of June!

Me in the purple!

  Summer is here and it's time to go on vacation. Since my college classes double as a summer program I won't be doing much relaxing. But I will be making this summer the best yet! Other than shamelessly spend my money on frivolous things things have been great. But I've been sick for the past two days, think I caught something at school. On the topic of school, It's great. I'm learning a lot and made best friends for life.

  We are having a ballet recital on June 19. It's nothing big, just to get use to performing in public. Which I've already grown accustom to since I was a child. But more practice never hurt anybody.

  I'm looking forward to two new ballet shows coming on TV. "Breaking Point" and "BunHeads". I'm hoping they'll be good. I'm leaning towards BunHeads being better because Breaking Point looks like it's going to focus on more of a love story. Maybe my ballet teacher will mention to watch them for homework lol. Not gonna happen I know :P



   Earlier in the week, I re-watched Rose Red by Stephen King and then watched The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer, it's the prequel to Rose Red. I loved both so much that I decided to order a copy of the book "The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red" on Amazon. I read lots of reviews that this is a highly recommend book. Can't wait for it to come!

  

    Haven't talked about Sara Crewe lately, she doing fine. Just a few days ago I was leaving my apartment and she runs right past me down the hallway wanted to ride in my car. I got her leash and let her come with me. She, like many dogs love to stick her head out of the window. I get kinda scared when she does, she's so small I think she'll be blown away. 

More updates later! Have a great weekend guys!

Memoirs of a Geisha

  Today I decided to stay home and enjoy the peace and quiet in my apartment. I layed on my bed with my  drink of water on my night stand and picked up one of my favorite books to read. I bet you are all wondering " what is the title of this book?" Well the novel I'm talking about is "Memoirs of a Geisha" by the wonderful Arthur Golden. Here is the original cover of this beautiful book.

   This breath taking novel is of the fiction literature and is a must for all book loving folks (like me!) Many people may have heard of Memoirs of a Geisha but only from the film. The film is very lovely but it's nothing compare to the novel its self. You see, in the novel it cover so much more than what the film showed. The novel talks about the main character when she was still living in her village compare to the film, where it shows about half a mintue of her village then it goes right to her training to become a geisha. But the novel gives so much detail that you just can't get from the film. To really understand the film you need to read the book and see for yourself why it's so darn good. This is a picture from the film.....

   I fell in love with the film when I first saw it on the big screen. It was so beautiful that I was mesmerized. I went to see the film with my friends at a theater in Boston. Anyway, since my friends all read the book they were thinking that the film will be crappy. Seconds into the film we were all pulled in, I myself think that I only blinked five times in the whole film so I was not to miss a second of it. At the end of the film I started to cry but I felt happy inside knowing SPOILERS! (highlight to see) that the main character founded what she was looking for.  Here are some eye candy from the film.....

   The next day I went to a Goodwill store to donate some old shoes, clothes and sheets I no longer needed. The store had a book selection and because I love books I had to see what they had. I looked on the bottom shelf and saw "Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden" it was $ 1.50 so I brought it. I read the book five times already and each time I read it I can never put it down. The book is really amazing and I recommend it to all. This is a 5 star novel and should be treated as one. So please stop by your local bookstore, library, or goodwill store and pick up a copy.

Book Reviews: Beauty Rules by Bobbi Brown

Front Cover

Back Cover

   I purchased this beauty/makeup book at Barnes & Nobles last winter for $24.99. The book is filled with lots of colorful pages and step by step simple, natural looking makeup looks done by Bobbie Brown. It also features before and after shots of each makeover. This is perfect for young girls 12 on up because young girls at that age should learn the basics of makeup, nothing heavy to hide behind.

  The book not only talks about makeup but also beginners skincare tips and eating healthy tips. Like, eating lots of potato chips are bad but lots of fruit is good. Choosing lip colors, what makeup brushes look like, and 'putting your best foot forward", "love who you are" type of passages, etc...  In the book it states that all the models used are not models at all, but random, everyday young girls.

   The thing I like most about this book is the makeup tips for different ethnicity and skin tones. Even for people with freckles!

  For a makeup/beauty book for beginners, I give it 5 out of 5 Teddy Bears. This isn't really the type a book I would recommend for someone who knows about makeup.

Packaging: Comes in a Hard back cover.

                               Price & Location: I purchased this at Barnes & Nobles for $24.99.


Pros: A makeup/beauty book for young girls that are just learning to use makeup or for beginners at any age.
                               Cons: Not for you if you already know your way around makeup.

Loving it?: I love the high quality pictures in the book. and the fact that it shows different techniques for different skin tones, races, and facial structure. But sense I know about makeup, this book doesn't really teach me anything useful or new.  

The Other, Another Day

Was watching Jane Eyre (2011) and certain parts of the movie reminded me of my PlayStation 2 video game, Rule of Rose.

Had a very busy week or two packing for my new life in San Diego that I have had no time to write an entry on blog. I havn't done anything new & exciting. My day mostly contains waking up, go to spinning class come home and pack some more.

    I was watching Jane Eyre (2011) again today and after reading the book (I always watch the movie before I read the book.) I realized how much stuff that was missing in the movie. I really wish the film had added one more hour at least so it could go into deeper detail of the story. The book was very good. Can't believe I went through school without ever knowing of its existence.

   Speaking of Jane Eyre, like I said before, some scenes of the film reminded me of Rule of Rose. Even though the stories and timelines couldn't be farther apart.....

Jennifer, Main character of Rule of Rose

Jane Eyre, Main character of Jane Eyre.

 
   On Sunday, I grew bored of paking that I decided to break out my PS2 and play Silent Hill 2. I played it twice before but it felt so boring running around, attacking the same enemies over and over again. But I wanted to give it one last chance before I wrote it off as a dud. And I'm glad I did because it's getting good so far. I stopped now because I'm stuck on a stupid safe in one of the apartments. I have the passcode but can't open it! Do I need to solve it inorder to move on?

Yes, my gaming TV is OLD, so don't laugh! I'll upgrade once I've moved.

My PS2 controller is a piece of crap. But I have no choice since Sony didn't make the newer PS3's systems PS2 friendly. Thanks....Sony!

Chips & Hawain Punch is my gamer snack. What's yours?

My Summer Reads

  How is your Summer coming along? I just wanted to quickly share my two Summer reads. I am currently finshing up Jane Eyre and will soon start on The Lovely Bones. My favorite time to read is in bed. I don't know why but I feel that if I read a few hours right before bedtime, the story will come to life in my dreams. Do you have any Summer reads? If so, what are they?

Summer Read: The Lovely Bones

  I love to read. But the way I choose the books I read is kinda weird. I love to watch movies and when I really like a movie I'll try to find the book it's based on. Usually people read books then go watch the movie. I do it backwards. I like to read one book for the summer. I hate to rush a good book. A book deserve to be read slowly and savor every moment. I think the reason why I watch movies first then read the books last is bacuse in the movie, the characters have a face. Like, I know what they look like. So when I read the book I have a picture of the character in my head.

   This summer I'm going to finsh my book "The Lovely Bones". I've seen the movie over and over and loved it each time. I recommend that you watch in too. I've already started reading it some months ago but somehow just stop reading it. I didn't get very far, I think I'm on the second chapter. I want to read a chapter a day. So by the end of summer break I'll be finsh and write a review.

  A quote from the book....

  "These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence: the connections — sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at great cost, but often magnificent — that happened after I was gone. And I began to see things in a way that let me hold the world without me in it. The events my death brought were merely the bones of a body that would become whole at some unpredictable time in the future. The price of what I came to see as this miraculous lifeless body had been my life."

`Lovely Bones

  I think everyone should pick a book that will last all through out summer, stick to it and read it. Books can really take you places.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

    A Series of Unfortunate Events is series of children's novels. There's a flim base off the books called "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" staring two of my favorite actors; Jim Carrey and Emily Browning. When I watched the movie in theater a couple of years ago I fell in love with the characters, atmostsphere, costumes and ofcourse the storyline. Since then I tried to look up the books around my area. I looked in used book stores, retail stores like Wal-Mart and other places. But no one had the whole series. Then I remember that there was a Barnes & Nobles not to far from me. They sell the whole book series, all 13 books all together. But it's to expensive for me now :(, the price is set at $150. Amazon has it cheaper but I'm not one to buy things online but I guess I should join the crowd. Right now I'm saving up for the series, so by the end of June I should own them. Loved the movie and I know I'll love the books. Here's the trailer if you decide to go buy the movie......

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♥Natasha