Legend. [April Book Club Book Review Link Up]

Happy Tuesday!!! 

I hope you all have been enjoying some gorgeous spring weather, wherever you may be! Here in Nebraska we finally got a hint of spring and I absolutely loved it (never mind the fact that it's going to be in the 40's for the rest of the week).

Anyway. We all know why we're here - to talk books and be all nerdy. Welcome to Blogger Book Club!

In case you've forgotten, April's book was Legend by Marie Lu.

I'm not really sure where to begin with this one, so let me steal someone else's words to give you the gist of the story (thank you, GoodReads):

"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."

Okay, let's see here.... we all know how much I love a good dystopian novel, but this one really failed to impress me. I mean, don't get me wrong - the storyline was great, and it had a ton of potential, but here's what bothered me: 

- The voices of the characters. This story switches back and forth between the two main characters. It's great because you get each character's perspective. It's not great because, well, both characters have exactly the same voice. Day is a boy and June is a girl, but that's about the extent of their differences. The writing style doesn't change at all when the narrator does, and that really bothered me. 

- The predictability. I mean, yeah... all dystopian novels are more or less the same, but am I the only one who could map out this plot from the very beginning? 

-The stupid slang. I don't know why, but it really bothered me that Day called everyone "cousin."

Here's what I liked: 

- It was a very simple, mindless read. I picked it up and read it in an evening. While it didn't quite meet my expectations, it was nice that I didn't feel like reading it was a monumental waste of time. 

- It's considered children's fiction. At least it was put in that section in my library, and that makes me feel like I can go a little easier on it when I'm grading it. I think that, if I was a fifth grader, I would have freaking loved this book. 

The final verdict? 

C+

While it wasn't the best book I've ever read, I enjoyed it. It could have been so, so much better, but it wasn't bad. I'll probably read the sequel. 

Have you read it? What did you think? Link up your review below, and join us for a google chat Thursday night at 8:00 est (if, of course, I don't have a baby)!

Sunday Confessions Link Up

I bet you thought I forgot, didn't you?!?! 

You know what to do. Grab a button, write out some confessions, link up, and visit other bloggety bloggers who have done the same.
  <center> <a href="http://itsalyx.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6701442513_4c7153a301.jpg" width="200" height="200" /></a></center> 1. I haven't had the chance to look at the confessions from last week. Sorry, guys. I'm a slacker. I'd like to promise that I'll have more time to blog once this little girl decides to get the heck out of my belly, but we all know that that's probably a lie.

2. I am absolutely appalled at what I used to think was "good" photo editing. I found this gem in my "B&A" album on Facebook, and was shocked. Did I delete it? No. I like to see how far I've come.

3. Essential oils are the bomb-diggity. Really, though - they are. Call me a hippy, but why in the world would I put drugs into my system when I have a natural cure right in front of me?

4. I'm ready to give birth. No, really... let's do this thing! Somebody tell this baby that the world is ready for her to be in it!

5. I'm not afraid or nervous. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm actually excited to give birth. I'm sure it won't be easy, but it's totally doable. It's what my body was made for, right? Hmm. We'll see if I tell Mike, "I'M NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN!!" in the delivery room. I'm sure I will. At least five times. And then I'll hold my cute little alien and say, "LET'S DO THIS AGAIN!" Because I'm totally sane.

I'm Kind of Addicted.

... to my camera. And Photoshop. Good thing the two of those go hand in hand.

As in... I can use my camera to take pictures of other people in order to keep feeding my PS addiction. Good thing I have friends with cute babies who humor me (even if their husbands don't... cough, cough, PETER... cough).

I think we got some good shots, though! At the top are the edits, and then underneath I put together some before and afters (because I like to see how far my editing skills have come).

For this edit, I removed the truck from the back of Peter's shirt and changed the trees on the left hand side of the building. 

For this edit, I moved Katie over to the far right side of the photo and added sand. 

For this edit, I removed most of the background (it was kind of an eye-sore). 

I wish I'd saved some of the "before" shots from my maternity pictures, because the editing that went into those was pretty awesome, and I was really proud of myself. Oh, well. I'll just have to remember to always keep originals from now on! 

Maybe someday I'll show you some of my old edits, and you all can laugh at my horrible judgement from days gone by. ;)

Sunday Confessions Link-Up

I'm sure I've lost most of you, since I have been a HUGE slacker lately when it comes to doing Sunday Confessions.

Anyway, if you are here and want to participate, grab a button, write up some juicy confessions, and share them with the world. If you're not too chicken.
  <center> <a href="http://itsalyx.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6701442513_4c7153a301.jpg" width="200" height="200" /></a></center> 1. I have a baby product giveaway entering problem. One for which I should probably go to rehab. But, in the words of the late Amy Winehouse, "They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no.'" 

2. I just found 2 thank you notes in my purse that I *thought* I sent. So... if you're Kristen or Sara, I'm sorry... I'll mail these things ASAP. 

3. I can down a small chocolate shake from McDonald's in about 0.03 seconds. I don't know if I should be impressed or disgusted with myself (yes, I'm aware of the amount of calories, sugar, and fat in that crap, and I know it's nasty). 

4. I frequently daydream about the clothes I will wear once I've given birth. It's a little pathetic how excited I am to have my closet back. 

5. I also dream about working out again. So. Flipping. Excited. 

What do you have to confess? Link up below. 

Oh, I'm Just Having a "Whale" of a Time

Howdy hey hi ho! 

Can somebody please tell me where that phrase came from? A "whale" of a time? Right now I feel a lot like a whale - moving slowly, blowing a lot of water out of my... eye sockets (that's crying for all you non-metaphorical folk out there), and finding it hard to fit into small places.

It's weird being a whale (aka a woman who is nine months pregnant). I mean, wasn't I just getting toilet hugs a couple weeks ago? How has time gone by so quickly? This baby could arrive any day. Part of me is freaking out, like, Holy balls, I am going to have to take care of another human being. Another part of me still looks at my tummy on a regular basis and thinks, Holy balls, there is a baby in my belly. And still, another small part of me thinks, Holy balls, I need to buy a car seat. 

I'm not nervous about labor - I know that my body was made for this. I know that it's completely natural and that millions of women have given birth before me. People always ask me if I'm nervous, and I think they're shocked when I tell them that I'm not nervous about the act of having a baby... I'm nervous about bringing the thing home and actually having the baby!

I realize this post is just a lot of disjointed thoughts, but that's what happens when you're a whale with a parasite - your brain turns to mush. Smelly, icky mush that looks something like this:

Hey - just be glad I didn't post a picture of baby poop. You're welcome.

He's Good at Taking Pictures.

Happy Monday! 

I know I've totally slacked on Sunday Confessions the past few weeks, and I will try to get back in the swing of things, I promise!! Anyway, my wonderful husband took some photos of me since I'm WAY too cheap to pay someone to take maternity pictures. Besides, I REALLY like to do all of my own photo editing (since I know exactly what I like/don't like), so this was a win-win. Without further ado, I give you my 36 week (okay, 35 weeks 6 days) maternity pictures.

Check that one off the List!

Hey guys!! 

Just wanted to drop in and let you know that I've accomplished something (okay, two things... but I only have photographic evidence of one of them) on my 25 before 25 list! 

I hosted a party (a baby shower, actually... and I co-hosted, but it counts)! And here's my proof. My friend Kelsey (who just had her baby) was about four weeks ahead of me, and it's been so fun to talk pregnancy/baby with her over the past 6 or so months. My friend Torrie and I planned a little baby shower, and I think it turned out really well! We got the idea for a shower-themed shower from Pinterest, and this is how it turned out, complete with a crepe and parfait bar (sorry the pictures aren't the greatest): 

So there we have it.

Oh, and in case you were wondering... I've also taught myself to like carrots. When they have been been soaking with a roast in the crock pot for eight hours  BOOM. 

And the Winner is....

Legend by Marie Lu.

Get to reading, because we'll link up our reviews on the last Tuesday of the month, and have a video chat book discussion on the last Thursday of the month!

I'm Alive.

And my blog hates me. Please excuse the sea foam green, as blogger decided to be a witch with a capital "B" and just go and change some stuff up on my design. I can't figure out why it's doing what it's doing, and I'm probably going to have to just re-install my design to fix it. I'll be honest, I don't feel like doing that right now, so just ignore the hideous-ness that is my current look. Thanks.

Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah... I'm alive!!!

And what better way to celebrate than by holding a vote?

We have been major slackers when it comes to Blogger Book Club, but can you blame us? Kim has been busy getting accepted to law school, Kaylee has been busy hanging out with the King and working at her awesome job, and I've been busy baking a bun in the oven.

Anyway, let's vote on a book for April, shall we??

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.

Hopelessly crossed in love, a boy of half-fairy parentage leaves his mundane Victorian-English village on a quest for a fallen star in the magical realm. The star proves to be an attractive woman with a hot temper, who plunges with our hero into adventures featuring witches, the lion and the unicorn, plotting elf-lords, ships that sail the sky, magical transformations, curses whose effects rebound, binding conditions with hidden loopholes and all the rest.

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents--unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers--that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...