Monthly Favorites ~February 2014~

Hey guys!

Wow, February is officially over and March, the month of my birthday, is upon us!

Lots of amazing things happened this month. I finished my novel on February 13th, and as of today, all chapters except the prologues are officially offline. I will be publishing it this year, whether that's through a publishing company or through Create-A-Space/Amazon.com. It's coming out this year (or when the publishing company's ready), so be prepared!

I'm also going to be starting a YouTube channel. Well, I've had one since 2006, but I'm actually going to start making videos, starting later today! I'll post about each video I upload, never fear! You'll finally get to see me freak out over books and stories and rant about dumb authors. Okay, getting a little too excited here. I'll save it for later!

BUT! Enough about the future! Time for a look back!

BOOKS

WARRIOR!

*ahem*

Okay, not. Not yet!

House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan has done it again. Another beautiful masterpiece has been unleashed upon us.

Okay, getting a little cheesy here...

Regardless, this book is amazing. Seriously amazing. And I will expand upon that in the video review I plan on doing! :)

TV SHOW

Sherlock Season 3

I think I labeled the season finale for season 2 last month, but this season BEATS THAT! By like, a LOT! I've yet to see the season's final episode, but so far I've been blown away. Love this to pieces!!!

MOVIE

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters

I know a lot of people don't like this movie, but why? I don't get it. My dad, who loathed the first one likes this one! It's really well done. I do miss Percy turning into a guinea pig, but I think it flows well. Super fan, right here!

VIDEOS

Okay, I've got three this time.

First up is from the BookTuber (no, I didn't type that wrong) PolandBananasBooks, who I'll discuss more in a second. This perfectly explains my frustration with Barnes and Nobel, and the fact that Borders--my favorite place in the world--went out of business.

Also, check out her video about Book Scoffers, which I totally get too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxJbeTMekxc&list=FLaAuZ7-QAgDGk2g_IzAxXwg&index=5

This next video is incredibly inspiring. It's why I decided to do the YouTube/BookTube channel now. It's called #GirlsCan: Women Empowerment. If you're a girl, or a dad, or just curious, you MUST watch this video! Totally showing my girlfriends this today!

Last but not least is a hilarious sketch from Facebook. As such, I can't embed it and put it up here, but I can give you the link. You've got to see this. I found it hilarious and was almost crying at the end! XD

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202447639205069&set=vb.1016788026&type=2&theater

YouTuber

PolandBananasBooks

BookTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/polandbananasBOOKS

This girl is super funny. She got me into "BookTube", YouTube channels all about books. She's so hilarious! There's a reason I posted not one, but two of her videos this month! I've been watching her non-stop since I found her by sheer accident. A very happy accident!

MUSIC

To be honest I've been listening to all my favs from last month, but I did find some new ones that I've put into the mix all month long!

Christina Perri - I Don't Want to Break

This image is from the lyric video, FYI. This video is as raw and honest as the rest of Ms Perri's videos. Love it!

Amy and Ellen - Glitter Stained Dress

(No, I couldn't find a bigger image)

These girls are just 16, have been making videos for years, and now released this beautiful song! I love it to death, and have been playing over and over again!

Family Force 5 - Cray Button

This song is super catchy, upbeat, and been in my head since I first heard it. Never heard of these guys, but this song is so addicting! Had to add it in!

RANDOM

And to finish things off, this had me rolling with laughter for a long time after I first saw this. Seriously, funniest gif EVER! LOL!!!

So that was my February!

Do anything amazing? Surprise yourself? Find something inspirational? Let me know!
(I know this is going to mess up, but whatevs)
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Gilbert Temple Open House!

Okay, seriously owe you guys an apology. Totally forgot about this post. I ended up getting a calling with the Primary as an assistant teacher to the four-year-olds. And two of the boys are hyperactive. @.@

To try to battle the exhaustion...I picked up a book. House of Hades, to be exact. Still only half way through the book, but I'm totally addicted. Putting it down for the night, and doing this now!

For those not familiar with my faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS or Mormons for short, a temple is a House of God. It's a place where Heaven and Earth meet, and our holiest ordinances take place there. Once active, they're closed to the public, including the majority of the church. Only worthy members with special recommends can get in, and you only get one after a long interview. And only members 12 or older can get one. The list of requirements to get one is long, but always worth it.

But never fear! Even if you're not a member, before a temple closes its doors, for about a month it's open to the public. You don't need tickets, but they do ask you to dress modestly, and preferably in Sunday Best, or business professional, and you have to booties over your shoes, and speak in hushed tones or whispers the whole time your there. You can also end up waiting for a while in line. But trust me, it's worth it.

I couldn't take any pictures while inside, and I'm so sad I couldn't, because it's the prettiest temple I've ever seen! Granted, I've only been inside 2 at this point, but I've seen lots of pictures, and they're not as pretty! Gilbert definitely takes the cake! You can find some images online. Just head to this website [http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/] and you can click on each individual temple.

When you first arrive, you enter the initial line depending on if you tickets or not. And trust me, you need tickets. With tickets you can wait 45 minutes easily, but without it could 3 and half hours!!! I was in line about 10 mins, but waited 15 or so for my dad, who had to park on the other side of the moon, it was so busy.

The building you're waiting to get into isn't the temple, not initially. First you watch a 10-15 minute video about what the temple actually is. It's a lovely video and very expressive of how important the temple is, and what it's mainly for, sealings. A sealing is when a couple is married, or a family sealed, for time and all eternity. The bonds formed are truly eternal, and last not just in this life, but longer than our planet will be in existence. Any children born into a sealing, or sealed at the same time, share this bond to their parents.

After the video, we actually waiting in the room for a bit because they were backed up, which was really nice. We could use the inside bathrooms and drink cold water while waiting in AC. And yes, it was 88 degrees out, so it was super hot! Then we went through a huge line. That's when almost all my pictures were taken. Once inside, again, I couldn't take pictures, and we could barely pause to take in the beautiful rooms. I saw rooms I've never seen before, and may not see for a long while. I saw Endowment Instruction Rooms, a Sealing Room, the Celestial Room, and offices. I also saw the Baptistery, where we do work for the dead, making sure they receive all the ordinances necessary to reach the highest circle of heaven, if they so choose. And it's BEAUTIFUL!!!! Everything was!

I gotta say, when we were entering the Celestial Room, a place modeled after the Celestial Kingdom, the highest heaven where Heavenly Father dwells, I almost cried. I really had to fight tears because the heat was melting my makeup enough already. And I didn't want tears to blur my view. I've waited my whole life to see that room. Me, Megan, and my brother, all of whom have never seen one other than in pictures, took in everything. My mouth was open the whole time, it was so beautiful. A giant chandelier, little ones (3 feet instead of 12 ft) as the wall light fixtures. Images in the carpet, mirrored beautifully on the ceiling. It was spectacular. And all the widows and doors were stained glass. Everywhere, in the carpet, ceiling, windows, doors, walls, furniture, was the image of the guava flower and plant. It was so beautiful. Truly spectacular.

Sadly, the open house ended Saturday, and it's now closed for cleaning, and then to be dedicated and closed to the public. But the church announces more temples every six months at our General Conference in the spring and fall. If there's one opening near you, you've GOT to go! If only for how beautiful the building is. It's truly breathtaking.

But I've talked enough. Time for pictures of the outside!!!

Enjoy!

This was taken from the line, along with the majority of them. It's 3 whole stories, with one and a half under ground due to height restrictions.

Look at the windows! ALL of them are like that, even the ones inside! And most of the doors are mostly stained glass with the same designs.

All the temples have a huge fountain and tons of flowers around it. I was too tired to take more pictures like this (we walked all four or five of the levels via stairs, up and down again to the ground floor), but there were roses and even more flowers all around the parking lots.

This is the main front, with the huge fountain. Of course there were kids around, who were sticking their hands in. :)

I'd have done it, if I wasn't supposed to be a responsible adult. ;)

This was how my Valentine's Day went. I'm really sad that Ray and her husband Karl couldn't make it. Ray was sick and Karl had worked a night shift and didn't have enough sleep. Hope their feeling better!

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My Week(s) in Pics ~1/29 - 2/15~

Hey Guys!

Sorry for not posting one of these last week. I had two pictures before the Gem Show, then was at the Gem Show the days I was supposed to upload. And then I was too tired to post after that, and my room was just too dirty.

BUT! I have quite a few pics, and one more blog post to go up tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow, a Sunday. But not for work. It's about where I was yesterday...the Gilbert Temple Open House! Wonderful temple! I got to see rooms I've never been allowed in, and some offices and things that I may never see again. It so cool and beautiful...and I digress.

OH! Another thing...I FINISHED WARRIOR! That book is DONE! Now I've just got to edit it. It's kinda...huge. Like really huge. After all, there's another chapter you guys don't actually know about. :)

Anywho, took some more pictures and here they are!

Something I forgot to show in the last WiP post was that I'm now over 200 followers on Pinterest! Wow! Thanks to all of you guys for following my craziness! :)

February 1st I wore red to remember Congenital Heart Defects, an illness that affects millions, including Jessica Jensen, who passed away from it 3 years ago this October. I don't have any rich, red shirts or dresses, so I settled for my red pants.
RIP Jess! Love you! <3 nbsp="" p="">

Going along with Pinterest, this pin's gotten pretty popular. It's my favorite, and one of the most heartbreaking moments in Bleach. If you don't know what's going on, READ THAT MANGA! You can read it online, and at least my library stays on top of the big 3 manga, since so many people read it. So check it out!

Here's a link to my fav site for it (go to the bottom for all the chapters): http://mangadoom.com/bleach/

This pic's a little blurry, but that's because it's from my cellphone. Strider's a lover kitty, but not a lap cat. He'll rarely be on my lap longer than a minute or two. This time he was cuddling with me for almost 5 minutes! Had to capture the moment. :)

Now that Mighty's been going out for a good while, he's become not only a nice cat, but a playful one! This was taken around midnight! He'd been running around so much the hallway rug was all messed up. Then, while I watched, he dove into the roll, and stayed like that for a good while. A couple nights ago, he even played with me!

Last weekend was the Tucson Arizona Gem and Mineral Show. If you aren't certain or just don't know what that is, it's the biggest show of it's kind in the world. Anything you can think of that goes along with that is there. They've got lots of jewelry, gems, and precious stones, but also lots of other cool things from furniture to swords, statues of wood and stone, clothes, scarves, etc. etc. It's all over the city. Most places are open to the public, or are easy to sign up to get passes. Other places require a business license, or, at the largest and most prestigious place, a jewelers license and proof that the business exists. Of course I can't get into the biggest place, a resort where there are diamonds as big as your head. BUT! My family's and friends have been going to the Gem Mall and Holodom for years, and that just requires a business license, or a copy of one.

I attended twice this year, once with my mom, aunts, David, and a cousin, and the next day with my girls and cousins. This haul's from the first day. I can't help but spend most of the money the first time through getting items off my list. The rest is spent on other things that I just think are cute.

As you can tell, I got only a few things the next day. All of these purchases were from vendor's I've visited in the past years. All my necklaces/earrings and that bracelet/ring were from the same vendor, who sells statement jewelry between $5-$12 only! Isn't that AWESOME!?! The ring was only $2, the rose earrings $4, and that watches were $12 from Geneva, who's got a million stalls all over the city. Best place to buy watches! Super cheap, and they last years! The pendant and scarf were from vendors I've seen before, but never bought anything from. I plan to make a necklace of that pendant, and my mom's got plenty of beads and things for me to do so.

So that was my past two weeks, minus the Gilbert Temple Open House. Look for the post about that tomorrow.

Do you do anything really fun recently, or hit a major achievement like me?

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Monthly Favorites ~January 2014~

Hey guys!

Sorry for not posting a week in pics. Don't have very many, but there'll be one up next week, I promise!

Are you excited for February? I am! And NOT for Valentine's Day. Talk about a bummer, that happening when I'm super single and all, am I right? But I am excited for several reasons: Gem Show next weekend, Gilbert Temple Open House, and Ray getting a job! Which means we might go to Phoenix ComiCon!!! Sweet!

But we're not here to talk about February. We're gonna talk about January. January Favorites, to be precise! I may not have been all that busy this past month, but I do have some favs to share with ya'll!

So here they are!

BOOKS

Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian

I finally got my hands on Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian. And

O

M

G

It's SO good! At first I had trouble getting into the beginning while how *SPOILER* Opal Koboi gets out of jail. *DONE NOW* But the rest is just amazing, and by the end I was racing to get to the next page and see how Artemis survives this one. Brilliant end to the series, and the very last line is just the greatest. Well done Eoin Colfer. Well done.

Akage no Anne (Anne of Green Gables manga)

Read it for free here: http://www.mangahere.com/manga/akage_no_anne/

Yes, the title means Anne of Red Hair, but ignore that, because this manga is so well done! The lines are directly from the novel! Sadly, this is not out in English, but I'm enjoying this. The landscapes are just breathtaking.

MOVIES

Despicable Me

Yes, this movie came out a long time ago, and so did it's sequel. And yes, I've seen it like, 5 times. But I watched this with someone who wasn't sure they'd like it, and they did. Which made me like it even more. Absolutely adorable, this!

Cloud 9

Saw this just last night, and I really, really like it! So cute!

FASHION

My Teal Pants

Yes, the picture's sideways, but it's already uploaded on the site, so I can't fix it without a headache.

*ahem*

Anywho, these pants are so awesome. Wearing bright colors helps with depression, so when I'm really down, I pair these with this bright purple sweater I have. Totally helps, too! :)

YOUTUBER

LaToya Forever

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/latoyaforever

This girl was an ad on Youtube, and I couldn't help but watch a video. Then another. Then four more. Then I was hooked and now I've seen almost all her videos. WARNING: she cusses, like, a lot. But she's just too funny. And I live with my brother, so...yeah. But I really like her, and if you need a laugh, watch her. She's hilarious!

VIDEO

Bored Swedish Marines do Grease Lightning

OMG, this video is hilarious! Someone shared this on Facebook, and I've shown everybody since, and now you! I love how the moves and choreography are identical, but it's completely their own!

MUSIC

AKB48 - River

Yup. I like anime, K-Pop, and now I'm back to being addicted to J-Pop. This is the largest girl group in the world, with 89 current members, split into different groups. They've taken over Japan, literally, I mean, you can't escape them. Everyone knows almost all their songs, and they perform every day, with different groups taking different days.

And I'm addicted. Dang it.

But you watch the video on Youtube and read the lyrics (it is in Japanese), then you'll see why I love the song. It basically says life can be like a big, wide, dangerous river, but there's always the other shore, and you'll make it if you just keep trying. And then I like the sound, and yeah. Addicted.

Lee Hyori - Bad Girls

Yup. Addicted to K Pop.

This song is just really fun, and the music video is really funny. It's bashing the lesson that you must always be perfect, which is even worse in Korea. While I am a basically a good girl, I'm not afraid to be "bad" and kick ass when it needs it.

Katy Perry - Dark Horse

Did you see the Grammys? I didn't see most of it, honestly, since it started with Beyoncé acting like a hoe, but then LL Cool J won me over with his awesome speech about how music brings everyone together. I wanted to watch to see P!nk and Taylor Swift perform, and my mom to see Ringo Star perform. But then we saw Katy Perry's performance.

No, she wasn't trying to summon the devil, you superstitious morons. I've been assigned to sit next to a devil worshiper who really did try it, and that's NOT what he did, and not how it's done. (Yeah, I met the weirdest people, seriously).

But I LOVED it. It was so good (though I muted the rapper, since I don't like his part), and so well done. I've found it on youtube and showed my girl Ray, who loved it too. And now I'm addicted to the song. It's just so cool! Very well done.

So that was my January Favorites!

What about you? Saw a cute movie or vid, or maybe found a new group to love? Let me know in the comments below!

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