What Am I Currently Reading?

In my last post I discussed with you how finals, basically are consuming my life right now. If I'm not studying for one class, I'm studying for another. If I'm not studying for either, I'm either sleeping, eating or attempting to squish in some blogging time.

So I don't know how much reading time I'll be able to get in during these next few days. Reading usually calms me down, and brings me joy in times of stress, so I'll probably do an hour or so of reading every night, in the hopes of going to be not a complete ball of stress and anxiety.

Right now I'm in the middle of reading the first book in the Birthright Trilogy, All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin. This trilogy has been on my shelf for a while now, so that's the main reason I decided to finally give this a read, but also, I wanted to know what kind of world bans chocolate and coffee?! They must be out of their minds, do you know what that would do to everyone in Washington state, where I live?

Washingtonians would attempt to over throw the government in the matter of hours...

Besides that I'm also in the middle of enjoying My True Love Gave To Me, which is a book filled with twelve holiday stories..I figured what better time then now?

With finals, and so much going on in school, I haven't really been feeling the holiday spirit just yet. It usually comes the day right after my last final, but I was thinking some holiday cheer would help me get through this tough time. My True Love Gave To Me seems to be exactly what I was looking for. Also a lot of amazing authors have contributed to this book, so I'm excited to see what all of the stories have in store for me!

Have you read All These Things I've Done? What about My True Love Gave To Me? What did you think?

Let me know!

Studying for Finals.

The holidays are finally upon us, lights are everywhere, Christmas trees are being set up, and tons of shopping is being done. I absolutely love the holidays, and the cozy feeling everyone has around this time of year. There is honestly no better feeling than coming in from the cold and rain, to change into festive pajamas, grab a cup of hot tea and read a good book. 

Who doesn't love just staying in bed, and watching holiday movies? Or baking Christmas cookies?

I know that I sure do!

It's the beginning of December and what better time to start doing all of those things?!

Well, not right now actually...

It's the beginning of December, and it's also the end of Autumn quarter for me. Which means papers are due, project and presentation dates are upon us, and finals week is just around the corner. Basically, I'm a ball of stress, trying to handle everything all at once, trying not to lose my mind, and trying to somewhat continue living on with my regular life....whilst studying harder than ever before.

Originally this was going to be a post, with a couple of useful studying tips, but than that quickly change. Who am I kidding? I don't know what I'm doing here. I'm just trying to get myself through the next week and half, hopefully by passing all of my classes.

So many bloggers and youtubers, have "Helpful Study Tips" but in all honesty they are pretty much the same thing. Highlight important things in the textbook..blah, make note cards, blah blah, & take a break occasionally blah blah blah.

We all know how to do those things; those are all given and so obvious.

Also I feel like giving studying tips is strange and hard to do. There are so many different courses, every class is different, and teachers provide different types of tools. You can't honestly give "Helpful Studying Tips", without them being completely generic.

If you want to know what I do to prepare myself for finals week, its pretty easy. I skim the chapters from the textbook (if the class has a textbook), I go over my class notes and from those create note cards (only if the exam will be conceptual), and I also work practice problems (if the class is mathematical). 

Besides that, my teacher provides office hours, so if I have any questions I can go there and get them answered. My school also provides tutors, workshops, and finals week study sessions, so I sometimes attend those as well.

If I'm really lucky, professors will even layout the exam for us, provide a study guide to follow, or even hand out practice exams. Most professiors will also have a review session during the last class before finals, but some also don't.

My two tips for studying for finals, is to take advantage of everything, and to continue pushing through, no matter how hard things seem. Go to office hours, attend study sessions, meet with a few classmates and go over the material. Take advantage of all of those resources, they are incredibly helpful!

We all know how difficult and stressful finals week can be, but just keep pushing through, it's only a few days. Take a few deep breaths, and organize yourself. Layout everything out, and find a starting point. Continue pushing through, and don't lose that drive. If you need coffee or a redbull to help you get through, do it.

So I've been rambling on for a while now, and I have a stack of things that need to get done sitting next to me, so I'll end this blog post here. I hope you all study hard, and do amazing on your final exams! I'll be crossing my fingers!

Book Review: Life and Death

Life And Death, by Stephanie Meyer

Release Date: 10/6/15.

It's been ten years since the first book in the Twilight Saga, Twilight, released...I honestly can't wrap my head around it. Ten years ago, I was in my last year of elementary school, as a fifth grader. Now I'm twenty one years old, and in the third year of university.

Boy, does time fly by!

With the ten year anniversary, I'm sure many of you, just like myself, assumed she would finally release Midnight Sun. If you don't know what that is, it's another installment in Stephanie Meyer's series which she wrote not too long after Breaking Dawn. But during the writing and editing process, the book was somehow leaked, before it was fully completed, and Meyer decided she didn't want to continue working on it.

All of us hardcore Twilight fans were absolutely crushed, but being somewhat of a writer myself (with this blog and the many essays I've written throughout my education), I know how disappointing it is to have something like that happen; especially if that person was really close to you.

The ten year mark finally rolled around, and we were all greeted by a mediocre ten year anniversary edition of Twilight. No one was excited, and no was looking forward to it. Everyone had their first, worn out, and over loved copy of Twilight, that didn't need replacing.

But Meyer always has a few tricks up her sleeve and she definitely shocked her fans, when the back half of the ten year anniversary edition, had a second story. The second story, as you can tell by the title of this post, is Life and Death, and it's a retelling of Twilight, with all of the characters' genders swapped.

When I heard this, I was most excited to see how Beau would act. Bella is socially awkward, has no hand eye coordination, and in all honesty seems depressed or sad somehow, most of the time. I wanted to see if Meyer would give Beau these same qualities, or follow the "guide to being a strong male" and change him.

Of course I was also dying of anticipation of what Edith and Jules would be like, and if they carried any resemblance to Edward and Jacob. In some ways they did. Edith more so than Jules.

The rest of the characters all pretty much stayed the same besides their gender, which I also really liked. I found myself having a hard time keeping all of the names straight, remembering who was who relative to Twilight, so I was glad their personalities didn't change.

The story line pretty much follows Twilight, with a few altercations due to the gender swapping, and a few minor details. The ending wasn't what I expected at all, but I'm not going to discuss that, since I want you all to be able to experience for yourselves.

So did I enjoy Life and Death? Yes.

I think what brought me the most excitement was the memories it resurfaced for me. The first time I picked up the series, the love I had for Jacob, the confusion I had towards Bella's depression, the experiences I had with friends when I went to see the movies in theater, it gave me all of that. It allowed me to relive all of those memories, and even create new ones.

I also enjoyed the story for what it was worth. Now that I'm twenty one years old, I did find the relationship between Beau and Edith a bit forced, but overall I enjoyed it.

There were some things I, however, wasn't too fond of. The biggest factor being that we didn't get too hear much from Jules. The love triangle, that basically takes over the entire Twilight Saga, isn't present in this one. We also don't get to experience Jules turning into a wolf, or being part of the pack.

I found this pretty disappointing, mostly because I was always a Team Jacob kind of chick, and couldn't believe that Jules didn't play this kind of role in Life and Death.

Overall, I liked the book and was happy to have the opportunity to read it. It was a great experience just reminisce about my childhood and something I truly loved.

Have you gotten the chance to read Life and Death? Do you plan to?

If you have, what did you think?

P.S I Still Love You

P.S. I Still Love You, by Jenny Han

Released: 5/26/15.

"Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.

She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.

When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?"

After indulging and practically gulping down To All The Boys I've Loved Before, I couldn't resist and had to add the second book, P.S. I Still Love You to my birthday wish list!

On my birthday I was lucky enough to receive my very own copy, and couldn't contain my excitement!! If you haven't read any of Jenny Han's books, you NEED to! They are absolutely amazing and I recommend starting with these two.

If you don't know what the first book in this duology is all about, you can go ahead and check out my review of To All The Boys I've Loved Before.

After the dramatic ending to the first book, there was no way I wasn't going to continue on with the second one. I loved the cast of characters, and enjoyed watching them and their relationships with one another develop. 

I've never had a sister, so I couldn't get enough of Lara Jean, with her younger and older sisters. They were so close, and had this bond that is indescribable. They always cared so much for one another, and placed the other before themselves. Besides that I also really like their father, he wasn't the usual dad. He didn't judge his daughters, he let them do whatever they want in life, and completely supported them doing it. He wasn't mad or upset when Lara found herself in a bit of trouble, but instead wanted her to feel comfortab;e enough to talk to him about it. He wanted to be a part of their lives, but still gave them enough space to truly discover who they are and what they want to be. 

Besides reading more about this family and their close bond, I was also dying to see what would happen between Lara Jean and Peter, as well as Margo and Joshua.

Lara Jean had no idea that she would create these real feelings towards Peter, while "pretending" to date him, and she doesn't know what to do with them. Things don't become any easier for Lara when one moment Peter is giving her all of his attention and time, and then other moments he is back with his ex-girlfriend, hanging out and talking. 

But time is up soon and chances to tell Peter how she feels is running out. She needs to decide if these feelings of hers are real, or if they're just as "pretend" as her relationship with Peter. 

I couldn't get enough of these two! They are just too adorable! 

P.S. I Love You, had a lot to live up to, and it meet every one of my expectations. I got more of Peter and Lara's special relationship, I finally learned why Peter and his ex-girlfriend broke up, and Margo's true reason for breaking up with Joshua in the first book!

I couldn't have picked a better book to end my summer reading with, and am hoping for a third installment! Have you picked up this duology yet?

One Book Shelf & Lots of Books

With the final two years of university upon me (I'm actually procrastinating on studying right now, by writing this blog post), I knew it was time to get a desk. I was tired of sitting on my bed, with my back aching, and no real space to do any kind of work or studying. I wanted a place I could do school work, Etsy and blogging, without feeling crammed or in pain.

About two months ago, I decided it was time to get a desk, a chair, a lamp and build my own work space. This work space did require a few compromises, due to the size of my room. That compromise would be the smaller of my two bookshelves. 

Originally, I wasn't sure how I was going to do this. I had so many books on that shelf, my television, and an assortment of other random things. But after reconsidering, I decided to that it was finally time to face reality. I had so many books I already read, knowing I would never read them again, or books that were unread that had been collecting dust for years on these shelves. Ultimately, I didn't get rid of a single book I wanted to keep or haven't read but still really wanted to. I got rid of ones that weren't on my favorites list, and books I wasn't interested in anymore.

This sacrifice, was well worth it, and I absolutely love my desk.

At first, the entire idea of losing a book shelf scared me. It's weird how these books can become a comfort item, and how much I loved seeing them every day. But school and having a real space to get work done was worth so much more than a shelf full of books, that I would never read or reread. Also those books were just wasting away, when they could have been shared and read by many other people.

After picking out the books I didn't want anymore, carrying the book shelf out to the garage, and setting up my desk, I almost felt uneasy. Almost like I made a mistake, before I was even able to experience my desk and what it would be like to have one.

After two or so months, I can say it was well worth the compromise. My back isn't hurting every night, I have a place for everything, and it looks so organized! I still have an entire shelf crammed full of books I'm dying to read, with new ones coming in and old ones being shared with friends and family. 

Have you had to reduce your collection? If you did, why? How did you cope?

To All The Boys I've Loved Before Review

To All The Boys I've Loved Before, by Jenny Han.

Release Date: 4/15/14.

"To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all."

To All the Boys I've Loved Before was a book that was on my radar for a while, until I decided to finally bite the bullet and give it a try. I originally just wasn't sure if I would love it. Before picking it up, I went through a few contemporary romance novels, and just didn't enjoy them as much as I hoped and as much as everyone around me seemed to. Summer was coming to an end, the contemporary romances I was reading were crap, and I was ready to start moving on to deeper and more dense books for the fall.

What lead me to the tipping point, and forced me to go out and pick up To All The Boys I've Loved Before, was my best friend. She never reads contemporary romance, but some how ended up with this book in her hands, and she absolutely loved it. She thought it was fun, cute, and corky. The fact that she doesn't like contemporary romance, but ended up loving this book, I knew I had get my hands on a copy.

I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting myself into, expect for the fact that the main character, Lara Jean writes letters to her crushes, and then simply moves on. Obviously, she never sends off these letters, and they're more for herself, than anyone else. From that, I assumed that they would somehow be sent off, and she would have to deal with the consequences of all of most inner thoughts and feelings be exposed to all of her past crushes.

But the story doesn't entirely focus on just this idea, but instead a whole different issue in itself. One of the letters is actually to her neighbor, Joshua, who Lara Jean had a long time crush on. He's been around for a while, always hangs out at her house, and is not only good friends with her, but also her dad and her sisters....the only thing that I forgot to mention is that Joshua is now dating Lara Jean's older sister, and has a steady relationship going.

Lara Jean continues to have these feelings for Joshua, but can't truly explain them. She would never want to hurt her sister, or even Joshua, so she has to come up with a plan...to either get the letter back, or explain to him that it was from a long time ago, and those thoughts and feelings aren't relevant anymore.

Sounds easy? Sure. Does it end up going smoothly? No. Before she knows it Lara Jean is pretend dating one of the cutest guys in her high school, and avoiding, her once best friend, at whatever cost. While Peter isn't the douche bag guy, she just always assumed him to be, she actually finds herself having fun "pretend" dating him. He seems to be much more sensitive and sincere, than she ever thought possible.

Pretending dating the hottest guy in school, making his ex-girlfriend jealous, avoiding Joshua, missing her older sister, and taking care of her baby sister and dad is a lot to handle for Lara Jean...it would be for everyone. But she needs to figure something out, and she needs to figure it out quickly..

Overall, I really enjoyed To All The Boys I've Loved Before. I fell in love with Joshua instantly, but soon loved Peter even more. Lara Jean and her relationship with her sisters made me want to have sisters, to share everything with. The characters were amazing, the story was fun and cute, and the ending left me craving the next book.

If you haven't picked up To All The Boys I've Loved Before, I recommend doing so now! It's a feel good story, and I promise you won't regret a thing!

Birthday Book Haul, Birthday Update & What Am I Currently Reading!

YAAY!

Last week was my birthday, and I turned 21 years young. Yes, young! No one here is old...

I didn't have a crazy birthday party, with hundreds of people and I didn't get any extravagant gifts. But I did have dinner with the closest people to me, at the Cheesecake Factory, and received some smaller meaningful presents. The weekend of my birthday was absolutely crazy busy, with my birthday on a Thursday, my celebrations on Friday, Halloween on Saturday, and trying to catch up on school work on Sunday!

But I loved it, and had so much fun!

Originally I wasn't expecting any gifts from the parentals, simply because they bought me a brand new laptop at the start of the school year. But they did end up buying me a new pair of boots for the winter, and a laminator for my Etsy shop.

Joshua and I spent the night before my birthday together, and waited for midnight to finally come, to celebrate the first few minutes together. After counting down the seconds, and wishing me a happy birthday, he surprised me with a Barnes and Noble bag full of books.

Before I get into the books he got me, I want to explain why this was so special to me. He told me days before he wasn't sure what he would buy or what I would like. You would think after five years of being with someone, you would know exactly what they like...but let me tell you, from my own experience, it gets harder and harder every holiday. Anyways, he instead promised to take me out and let me pick something. I don't really like the idea, because it isn't meaningful. 

Joshua also doesn't read. He isn't the type of guy who will come with me to grab a coffee and stroll around the book store. So when he came around the corner with a Barnes and Noble bag, he not only picked up books I've been dying to read, but he also went out of his comfort zone, to go look for them. 

...I know I'm killing you with anticipation, so here's what he picked me up!

The Infinite Sea, by Rick Yancey.

P.S. I Still Love You, by Jenny Han.

Library of Souls, by Ransom Riggs.

I couldn't contain my excitement, so I've already picked up and finished P.S. I Still Love You, AND LOVED IT! I can't wait to finally get to the other two!

The books I'm currently reading are...

Life and Death, by Stephanie Meyer.

Being Audrey Hepburn, by Mitchell Kriegman. 

This are the goodies I've received for my birthday, and the goodies I'm indulging in right now! But what books have you recently picked up? What books are you currently in the middle of reading?!