In My Postbox #33

In My Mailbox idea from Kristi @ The Story Siren, and all links take you to Amazon UK.

I didn't see much point in making a post last week as I only got one book, albeit an amazing one! However this week I got loads of books! Decided to post this today (Saturday) as I've got work today so didn't know if I'd be able to do it in time to go live midnight on Sunday! So without further ado IN MY POSTBOX #33!

REVIEW:

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.

I absolutely loved this. Already read it. Amazing. Review can be found here. Honestly. Go out and get it as soon as it's out next month! Thanks to Walker for this!!!

The Hunting Ground by Cliff McNish.

I have loved Cliff's previous work so I am very excited to read this. It's sounding pretty damn good and scary! And that cover!!???!!! Drools! Thanks Nina at Orion for this! :D

Divergent by Veronica Roth.

I have already read this and loved it. Fans of The Hunger Games would love this! Dystopian setting, kind of similar to that of the series! So good! Got sent a proof copy a few months ago, and this is a beautiful, shiny finished copy! Check out my review in the next few weeks!

BOUGHT:

TimeRiders: Day of the Predator & TimeRiders: The Doomsday Code by Alex Scarrow.

I absolutely freaking loved the first book in this series by Alex. It's a great adventure story that takes place all throughout history! Check out my review of TimeRiders here, and be sure to check these books out!!!

Skins: Summer Holiday by Jess Brittain

I really enjoyed the first Skins novel released last year (my first ever review posted on here actually!!), based on the hit E4 show. I kind of missed this years series thanks to work and other stuff but I have it on download so will be checking it out and reading this in due course! Check out the review of Skins: The Novel based on the 2nd generation here!

Casper Candlewacks in Death by Pigeon by Ivan Brett.

Currently reading this actually! Don't me mislead by the cover. It might look pretty young but I am loving it! Hilariously funny and appealing to the 8 year old boy still inside me! Review soon! Also might I add, that Ivan is pretty cool too!

And finally I got this... I classed it as a book as technically it is a book... 

It's the Premium Fan Edition of Britney Spears' latest album, Femme Fatale. A blooming brilliant album and this package is just... gah. It's a hardback book full of photos with the album and a picture disc. Very cool. Had it shipped all the way over from the U. S. of A! Very glad I did! Here is the stock image for it on her official site... A little different but still!

So there ya have it folks. That's what I got this week. What did you get? Have a great Sunday and for us Brits a Happy Bank Holiday Monday! 

In My Postbox #33.2

Two Moon Princess Tour: This and That with Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban

Synopsis: In this coming-of-age story set in a medieval kingdom, Andrea is a headstrong princess longing to be a knight who finds her way to modern-day California. But her accidental return to her family's kingdom and a disastrous romance brings war, along with her discovery of some dark family secrets. Readers will love this mix of traditional fantasy elements with unique twists and will identify with Andrea and her difficult choices between duty and desire.

---

Top Ten List

Diet or Regular? Regular
Pizza or Pasta? Pasta
Duck or Chicken? Duck
Fingers or Toes? Fingers
Sandals or Sneakers? Sneakers
Walk or Run? Walk
Noise or Silence? Silence
Fair or Circus? Fair
All or Nothing? All
Mother or Father? Mother
Morning or Night? Morning
Forest or Beach? Forest
Pen or Pencil? Pencil
Eyes or Smile? Eyes
Winter or Summer? Summer

Win a copy of Two Moon Princess!

Open to US Residents only

To enter, fill out the form below:

Contest ends May 6, 2011

Perspective: Helping, Not Hurting.

While one side of the pond celebrates a royal wedding between a prince and his Cinderella, the other side faces catastrophic loss after what many are calling the worst tornado outbreak in nearly forty years. 

While so many of us watched t.v., talked with friends, cheered for our teams, or just thought about life....people in the deep south were losing their homes, their loved ones, their livelihoods, and even their lives. Nearly 300 innocent people have lost their lives, and that number is expected to rise.

This morning, all I could think about was helping those who have lost everything. In times of tragedy, you always hope to see the very best in people.

While every headline, whether on the television or online, focused on the devastation across the south, someone decided--after so much human tragedy--that this morning was a critical time to send me a rather pointed message about how I (and others like me) am wasting my time waiting for the right man...that I should, in essence, chalk my life up to this point as a massive mistake and give up.

My response? Delete. I don't need to defend who I am or what I stand for, not anymore.  Comments like these, I assume, are meant to tear people down, yet, for me, they only make me that much stronger. It's a sad day when an individual makes it a priority to down someone they don't even know for their beliefs, rather than taking that time and energy and using it to aid fellow human beings who are suffering.  Shame. 

For every individual such as the above message-sender, there are far more who are ready and willing to provide hope.

Please, let's all send prayers, hope, and love to the victims of these horrific acts of nature. 

If you would like to help further, please visit the following sites to learn how:

1. American Red Cross

2.  Salvation Army

3.  You can also visit the Alabama Governor's Emergency Relief Fund.


God Bless all those impacted by these devastating tornadoes.

When you have some free time, please take a few minutes to listen to the lyrics of this song--this is the South, and they need all the love and hope we can give them.

Deathly Hallows Part II Trailer Released

Enjoy!



What do you think?

The part where Tonks reaches out to Lupin is so sad. But I don't think I saw Fred in there. Did you?

Watched it again and did see Fred, or at least Molly and Ginny leaning over his body, right before Lupin and Tonks. Also caught sight of Molly and Bellatrix in battle.

I wonder what they're doing with Harry grabbing hold of Voldemort and jumping? Definitely not in the book.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness [Review]

Written by: Patrick Ness.
Published by: Walker.
Format: Hardback.
Released: 5th May 2011.
Rating: 5/5.

Official synopsis: "The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming... The monster in his back garden, though, this monster is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth. Costa Award winner Patrick Ness spins a tale from the final idea of much-loved Carnegie Medal winner Siobhan Dowd, whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself. Darkly mischievous and painfully funny, A Monster Calls is an extraordinarily moving novel of coming to terms with loss from two of our finest writers for young adults."

I really enjoyed Siobhan Dowd's work, in particular The London Eye Mystery (which I have a signed copy of somewhere in my bedroom!) and was saddened when she passed away shortly after its publication, so when I heard that The Monsters of Men author, Patrick Ness was going to be taking the helm of her final idea in the form of A Monster Calls I was somewhat excited and apprehensive in equal measure. Could her work be done justice? Would Patrick do the job as Siobhan could and do it justice? In short, I need'nt of worried one little bit!

A Monster Calls is perhaps the most hard-hitting, touching and beautiful books I have read ever, let alone this year. In essence it's the tale of Conor trying to come to terms with the fact his mother might not recover from her ongoing struggle with cancer, something he just doesn't want to face at the same time as suffering crippling nightmares. Having had several relatives die because of the disease I found myself back in the mindset I was in all those years ago when it was going on. I suppose that's one the reasons the book hit me so hard. Nearly everyone knows someone or is related to someone who has either fought cancer, or lost their lives to it. So many of us can relate to it.

A Monster Calls is also about truth. It is something of a monster. We all have hidden truths that haunt us. Be that the fact that a relative is dying, or something as mundane as the face that our previously white boxers where dyed pink when something red was put in the wash. Regardless of what it is, there are truths that we just don't want to, or refuse to acknowledge.

Written with such care and in such a beautiful manner, this book is one that I for one am going to treasure for years to come. I can't stress enough what a brilliant reading experience it was. Coupled with the stunning illustrations by Jim Kay, it's a treat on the eyes in a visual sense as well as in a reading sense. I love the way that certain parts are broken up by the artwork. A floor covered in pine needles. A graveyard. 

It left me with a weird sensation in my chest when I finished it. I can't quite put my finger on it. It felt like when you get a lump in your throat and you find it hard to breath, you know?! Like on the verge of crying but for different reasons all at the same time. Sadness, relief even.

The ending as well... well I can't say anything but that is all I need to say on that front. Enough said. 

I cannot recommend this book enough, praise and thank Patrick enough for creating something so brilliant, so beautiful, and for want of a better word... AMAZING! To Walker for actually making this available to the world, and for sending me a review copy! And of course to Siobhan for having the idea in the first place.

Pre-order your copy on Amazon UK

American Idol: Carole King Week

My ears were so happy with tonight's familiar songs of the one, the only Carole King.  My parents raised me on Carole King, James Taylor, and Carly Simon, among other greats. Their music is like sitting by the ocean--calming and comforting. 

Tonight's mentor is also one of my favorite artists from the 1990s, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.  To this day, I can still tell what songs are produced and/or written by Babyface.

With high expectations and seriously fantastic music, the idol contestants took to the stage.

Jacob, Oh No, Not My Baby: YES! This is the type of song I have wanted to hear from him! Like Jennifer said, there were some sharp spots, but his energy was great, the high notes he hits are incredible, and the scatting was groovy.

Lauren, Where You Lead: THERE WE GO! Lauren performed the heck out of this song--she brought a boy on stage to serenade, danced, pushed herself vocally, and it paid off! She was just adorable!

FIRST DUET: Haley & Casey singing I Feel The Earth Move--Honestly, I wasn't feeling it. Parts of the song were good, while others sounded off to my ear. Maybe I'm just spoiled to the original version--for me, it's one of those songs that is very difficult to redo.  They gave it their best, though, no doubt. For their respective vibes, I would have loved to hear them give some attitude to It's Too Late.

Scotty, You've Got A Friend: Personally, I thought this was his best performance to date. Babyface suggested starting the song soft and tender--he was absolutely right on target. As Randy said, it was flawless.  Many have been complaining that he hasn't shown enough range. Well, tonight he did. And if I may take a moment: To all of those angry at Scotty for making every song country--that's his genre, he does it well, so why change what works? There is NO question who this young man is as an artist. 

James, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?: The beginning was beautiful, the middle rocked, and the end solidified his talent.  Simply put, he is special.

SECOND DUET: Lauren & Scotty singing Up On The Roof.  One thing is certain: these two country crooners compliment each other nicely in a duet. Lauren really sang her little heart out, and Scotty seemed extraordinarily comfortable channeling his inner Garth Brooks.  Great song choice for these two!

Casey, Hi De Ho: Bluesy brother! LOVED the beginning--soft, a little tickling of the ivories--very smooth. Towards the middle, some would say it was too much growling-talk, and I can see their point. However, it was at that moment when one glaring realization flashed across my mind: This guy is unique...and what is music without a little unique?

Haley, Beautiful: I'm with Randy, the beginning didn't thrill me. The middle bored me a little.  She really started hitting it towards the end. I'm not sure this was the right song for her style, to be honest. A little Jazzman or Smackwater Jack would have been really interesting with her voice.

THIRD DUET: James & Jacob singing I'm Into Something Good.  And it was good. However, the song just didn't seem to suit them. For some strange reason, I wanted to hear their unique styles and mega-note hitting on Brother, Brother.

Overall, I thought it was a strong night, which could have been even stronger with a few tweaks in song choice. Carole King has such a wide-range of powerful, powerful songs--I wish they had explored those a bit more. Of course, this is coming from a Carole King fan, so, naturally, I'm a little picky.

Who was your favorite of the night?

Virgin: Code Name For Alien.

So, according to Friend, virgins are no different than aliens. You read right. 

Friend: "You know, virgins, especially older ones, are a lot like aliens."

Me: "How do you figure?"

Friend: "Well, they're rarely seen...

Me: "Actually, they're seen everyday. They're not hiding in spaceships, viewing human life from afar. It's just that most people don't know to scream, 'Hey, look, there's a virgin! Run for your lives!'"

Friend, chuckling: "That blows the whole visual I had involving virgins and little green aliens."

Me, smiling, while shaking head: "You're sick, and I don't want to know."

Friend: "Anyway, okay, let me modify things: virgins could be like the aliens on V--pretty damn hot, but scaly creatures underneath."

Me: "Yeah, that's just fantastic. Exactly what virgins need--the idea that we hide scales and gooey grossness under our flesh. Really, just super. --brief pause-- E.T. phone home." (said in my best E.T. voice).

Friend, laughing: "Hey, maybe the government will want to take virgins in for scientific study!"

Me: "It's called a hymen. Hardly a scientific breakthrough."

And so ended the whole virgins-aliens comparison. Good times. Actually, it was pretty dang funny.

Oh, and just one more thing....

Be Good.

Hmm.  I'm hungry.  Think I'll grab some Reese's Pieces and daydream about how exciting Independence Day will be this year.

Gif Image Collection

 

  

 

Cutes Baby's HD collection

Wither by Lauren DeStefano: Review

Wither
By: Lauren DeStefano

Format: Hardcover, 358 pages
Published: March 2011, Simon and Schuster
Source: ARC from publisher, ebook from publisher
Challenges: Debut Author Challenge; E-book Challenge; Dystopia Challenge

---

Summary (from Goodreads): Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

My Review:  This book touches on so many subjects that are fiction taboo: slavery, polygamy, and teenage pregnancy. I was nervous when I started the book, because it would have been very easy for the story to be very, well, not suitable for teens. I was pleased that even with the mature themes, this is a book that I'd be comfortable giving to my sisters.

When you read this book, you'll be left thinking, 'what would I do in this situation?' Rhine is obsessed with freedom. Amy from My Friend Amy compared Rhine to Mary from The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and I absolutely agree.  She will do anything to get free and return to her brother. She knows that she doesn't have much time left, and even though she has access to anything she wants, she is deprived of what she needs. They say that money can't buy everything, and that is certainly the case for Rhine. Her basic needs are taken care of. She has food, entertainment, everything. But instead of just living up short amount of time that she has left, she chooses to focus her energy on getting free.

My biggest complaint about the story is that there were some serious problems behind the science that brings about this disease. I had a hard time coming to grips with the idea that genetic engineering is to blame for everyone dying. However, the story was compelling enough that I was able to overlook some of the science.

I am very excited to read the rest of the series. If you like dystopian fiction, pick this one up.

My Rating:
 

UseFul Informations -- Visual (Plz visit the Link once)

  Plastic Bottle Information - Please Use Only.....

Changeling by Steve Feasey [Review]

Written by: Steve Feasey.
Published by: MacMillan
Format: Paperback.
Released: 2nd January 2009.
Rating: 5/5.

Official synopsis: "Trey thought he was an ordinary teenager. Then he meets a mysterious stranger, Lucien Charron – luminously pale, oddly powerful, with eyes that seem flecked with fire and skin that blisters in sunlight. Somehow Trey finds himself in a luxury London penthouse, like a Bond villain’s lair. It’s the heart of a sinister empire, built on the powers of the netherworld – werewolves, vampires, sorcerers, djinns. And Trey himself has a power that’s roaring to break free. Is he a boy or is he a beast?"

Again, another book that's been out for a sizable amount of time and I hadn't read until recently. And what a blooming mistake!!!! Seriously, if there was a time machine I would use it to go back to when this first came out so I could of experienced the awesome sooner!


Steve writes in such an engaging way that you really get caught up in Trey's story. You can almost feel his utter disbelieve, his anger even, at learning the truth about himself. I found myself really relating to Trey. You just start to get settled, just start getting used to something and then BAMN! Something else happens and you can never stop moving.


Vampires, Werewolves and Sorcerers are all pretty popular in YA fiction at the moment and it's hard to really find the stars out there in all that vast space. But Changling is more than a star. It shines bright and captured me unlike a lot of books I've read of late. There's just something about it, the essence of it. The premise. The entire story. The characters. It all just works. Every bit of it clicks and makes for such an amazing read. 


The writing is so seamless and fits together so brilliantly. It actually hurt me every time I had to put my Kindle down (got this for my Kindle... first brought I bought for it!) and do something else, or like the day I had to go into work with just three chapters left to go. Yes, that's right... 3 chapters left to go!!! Trust me, the pain hit hard and when it was a day I was actually working 9-7 it was even more agony! Never before have I entered the door and disappeared into my bedroom so quick to read. 


The characters are well fleshed out, and thought out. You can tell they're not just the result of a moments thought as Steve was writing. They all earn their place and you actually care about them, get to know them, and in the case of the bad guys, really, strongly, despise them. The main cast, Trey himself, Vampire mentor Lucien and his daughter Alexa, and their right hand man, Tom, are a great bunch. All so different, their personalities, their attitudes, but yet they work as a unit to fight the dark forces of the evil Vampire Caliban. 


All in all a thoroughly enjoyable read that has left me itching to read the second book. I actually purchased the next two books in the series Changing: Dark Moon and Changing: Blood Wolf but haven't gotten around to them yet, which is annoying! There is also a fourth book currently out! Changeling: Demon Games and with the fifth and final book, Changling: Zombie Dawn due for release next month, there is no better time than now to start reading the series. Who can resist reading them back to back? Do not, do not live your life like the old Ryan, the pre-Changeling Ryan who hadn't read this beauty and didn't know what on earth he was missing! I don't want you to suffer the same way that I did!


My thanks to Steve for creating such a brilliant book, and to MacMillan for bringing it to the world!

Innocent Isn't For Over 30

Recently, while watching one of those quasi-corny, yet strangely addicting Syfy super-storm-destroys-the-world movies, I thought I recognized one of the actresses from an old show I used to watch when I was younger. Over to IMDb I surfed, only to find that she wasn't the same actress. However, I discovered something much more interesting.

The actress is set to star in an upcoming film called, Scents and Sensibility. There is very little information on the film, but it seems to be a twist on the Jane Austen classic, Sense and Sensibility.  While glancing over the page, I spotted the following on a message board: "Actresses are too old."

Upon clicking the message, I was astonished to read a slight rant on casting actresses born in '78 and '80 to portray Jane Austen's young, virginal heroines. Simply put, if you are a woman over 30, you cannot possibly pass as a virgin, much less a young one. I believe the individual used the word "ridiculous" to describe such casting. 

As far as playing a youthful character, well, many women (and men) 30+ can pass for much younger.

Certainly, he/she is entitled to feel the way they do. There is no denying that an over 30 virgin in today's society is a scarce finding. Still, I tend to believe that innocence isn't defined by virgins, nor is it reserved for the under 30 crowd.  While virgins, like lambs or angels, are symbols of innocence, it's an individual's heart and soul that define it.

Maybe he/she has never met one of those "ridiculous," scarce oddities...

...um, yeah, hiya!  How ya doin'? Ridiculous scarce oddity here, dang glad to meet ya!

Time Riders by Alex Scarrow [Review]

Written by: Alex Scarrow.

Published by: Puffin.

Format: Paperback.

Released: 4th February 2010.

Rating: 4.5/5.

Official synopsis: "Liam O’Connor should have died at sea in 1912... Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.

Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2029... Yet moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared and said, ‘Take my hand . . .’ But Liam, Maddy and Sal aren’t rescued. They are recruited by an agency that no one knows exists, with only one purpose – to fix broken history. Because time travel is here, and there are those who would go back in time and change the past. That’s why the TimeRiders exist: to protect us. To stop time travel from destroying the world . . .

The first book in a series that revolves around time travel and an alternate history... what's not to love?!

I'd been meaning to read this book since it was released last February and only actually got to buying the book back in January. I started reading it pretty much straight away as the reading pile was quite small after a few days off work thanks to Christmas. And instantly I was transported away from the cold, snow of January and thrust deep into the heart of the story of the Time Riders. I actually kicked myself for not getting it any sooner.

Action packed, addictive, and with the perfect amount of humour, I just couldn't put it down. Alex has obviously put so much thought and effort into this book, and it really pays off!

The entire concept of this series, the premise, is pretty epic. People on the verge of death, recruited to try and save those that have a life to look forward to from whatever horrors a change in the course of history can cause. Some would wonder: could be be done with the justice and conviction it deserves? Well believe me when I say that it is done brilliant. Alex knows exactly what he is doing. 

Now, time travel is not a new thing to the world, be it fiction, television, whatever... it's a pretty popular subject. Who doesn't wish they could go back in time to re-live a certain moment? Or to change something - probably do something in a different way or not at all if it turned out not to be a good idea? But what I think the book really gets across is that time is a dangerous thing to mess around with. One little change can spell disaster hundreds of years in the future. The way the time travel is used in Time Riders is actually one of the best uses I've encountered. The way the villain travels back in time, because they're unhappy with their time, to try and make changes. I also have to say that I love the way the history changes. How there need to be 2 different teams - each in one timezone - because the changes made in the past cause an instant change in the future and that needs to be dealt with too.

It's quite thought provoking too. One question that struck me again and again whilst reading was, quite a simple one but obvious one, what would you do if you were about to die and someone came to you, the way they come to people in the book? And you know what, I still don't know the answer. The first response would be: ARRRRGGGGGGHHH I'M GUNNA DIE! MUMMY! But then there's this niggling, what would you do to survive? If you know it'd save you, would you go, regardless of what you faced? Alex has used this brilliantly  because although it's probably not meant to be that hard hitting, it gets me, and no doubt many others to read this book!

The characters are a nicely mixed bunch too! They all come from completely different times so all have different little quirks.

I'm finding it quite hard to summarise my feelings toward this book so I'll just finish by saying this: Alex has most definitely created a beauty right here and I am looking forward to getting around to number 2, Time Riders: Day of the Predator which is currently waiting to be dispatched from Amazon. Damn the Bank Holiday! This series looks set to be brilliant, up there with the likes of Anthony Horowitz' Alex Rider series. It certainly deserves to be as big, if not bigger. Young boys (I'd say 10-15 would eat this alive, and then the bigger boys (16+) will enjoy it just as much too. Bravo Alex! Bravo!

Buy from Amazon UK

The Mavericks WIN GAME 5!!!!!!

Whoop! Whoop! Despite my slightly tight tummy...that is churning...with lingering game-time nerves...and too much chocolate...I'm bouncing! Now the series is 3-2, Mavericks.

I KNEW they could overcome Saturday's loss--that game was a gut check game, and they checked, cleared, and cashed in. Way to go, MAVS!!!!!!!!!!!! That's heart! Man, I WISH I could be there. Did y'all see those empty seats? Dang!

My mom called during the 4th and this is what I get:

Me: "Hello?"

Mom: "Shhhhhh."

Me: "Huh?"

Mom, whispering: "Have you seen the score?"

Me, whispering back: "Oh, yeah."

Mom, still whispering: "Okay, now, shhhhhhh. Maybe if we don't cheer loudly, they won't realize they have a massive lead."

I just burst out laughing. Only my mama.

Mavs, Please Win & Monday Awards!

First and foremost, I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday!!

Now for the hard part: I must acknowledge the mind-numbing collapse of my Mavs in Game 4 on Saturday. *deep breath time* Just say it and get it over with.  Okay. With my Mavs up by more than 20 late in the game, Portland came back to win. Oh, Lord, that was hard to think, much less type. While watching what many are dubbing the "ultimate choke," I sat very still, much like the eye of a category five hurricane. By the end of said game, I was left wondering how on God's green earth the Mavs just coughed up a win and a 3-1 lead in the series.

Credit to Portland, of course, but I simply do not understand what happened.  With the series now tied at 2-2, I'm guessing the Mavs will have to battle themselves more so than Portland if they are going to win this series.  They can do it...I know they can. Next game: tonight. *copious amounts of Cadbury Eggs will be consumed*

Monday Awards:

How nice is it to awaken to awards on a Monday? Thank you so much to the wonderfully sweet, funny, and supremely talented PencilGirl, who added some sun to a really gloomy day, actually (hey, sun, where are you? Tired of the cold, now!). Please take a moment to visit her blog and be prepared to stay--it's that enjoyable. :)

The first award is one she created for anyone who has commented on her blog--how amazing is that?! I would like to pass this award to every single one of you! You might already know this, but it's worth repeating: your comments are like the white gravy on chicken fried steak--without the white gravy, the chicken fried steak wouldn't be nearly as good. *Hugs*

There are no strings with this award, except to bring smiles. :)

The second award is the Versatile Blogger Award!

For this one, I did not see any rules posted, apart from passing it along to 7 fellow bloggers.  But, just for fun, here are 5 random factoids:

1. Not a fan of clowns. Overall, they creep me out. My mom dressed me as a clown for Halloween one time.  Admittedly, the costume and makeup looked unbelievable.  However, when I looked in the mirror, I wigged myself out. Never told her that, though. The only clown I ever really liked was Ronald McDonald. Why? Because he's the one with the fries and Happy Meal toys. Duh. Still holds true today, truth be told. ;)

2. Diverse Music Selection: One minute I'm singing Gotta Be Somebody by Nickelback, and the next I'm chillin' to La Vie en Rose.

3.  My favorite James Bond movie is The Spy Who Loved Me with Roger Moore as Bond--it is the very first Bond film I remember watching with my dad. It's a special-memory-movie. :)

4. Sean Connery, however, is my favorite Bond. Each actor to play Bond has brought his own unique flare to the role, but Sean Connery was just...sigh.  I could never quite gel with Timothy Dalton, however.

5.  Dobby: I loved Dobby from the Harry Potter books. I know he annoyed some, but I thought he was such a true, honest friend to Harry. And, um, I cried like a baby at the end of Deathly Hallows, Part I. There, I said it.

As always, I would like to pass this award to everyone reading (I'm such a softy)! ALL of you deserve these awards! Hopefully, they will make you happy. :)

Reasons Why We Should Respect Women.....

Thanks 2 Original Uploaders.......
Source: http://cute-wallpaper.blogspot.com/