Merry Go Round Book Caddy

Merry Go Round Book Caddy

The Cinderella Society - Kay Cassidy Jess Parker gets the chance of a lifetime when she is invited to join The Cinderella Society: a group made of up popular girls that are determined to do good in the world.  Soon, Jess is pulled into the world of the Cindys, as they battle against the Wickeds to prevent their world domination by targeting innocent people.  Leading the Wickeds is Jess’s arch-nemesis, Lexy.  Add in makeovers, a cute boy, and secret plots, Jess is soon in way over her head. Was this book kind of really cheesy?  Oh yeah.  Was it somewhat unbelievable?  Definitely.  Was it totally fun to read and gave me a sense of “girl power”?  Absolutely.  I really liked the message the book sends out: just because you’re popular doesn’t mean you have to be cruel or bully other people.  I think it’s a message that doesn’t get out enough to teenagers, and especially teenage girls.  There’s nothing wrong with being nice or doing the right thing.  Jess as the main character was also very likable; she’s independent, funny, and smart, but not without her flaws.  One thing I didn’t like about the book was that there were way too many characters.  Kay Cassidy kept throwing these generic girl names around (Gwen, Gaby, Paige, Kyra, Brooke, Audrey, etc.) that I would be reeling from who was who, especially since she tried to give every girl she named a minor role.  It got confusing really fast.  The other thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was the fact that I felt like the author tried too hard to make this another Gallagher Girls book (a series by Ally Carter).  The whole secret society felt a bit cliche.  However, that didn’t mean the book wasn’t a fun read.  3/5

The Cinderella Society - Kay Cassidy

Jess Parker gets the chance of a lifetime when she is invited to join The Cinderella Society: a group made of up popular girls that are determined to do good in the world.  Soon, Jess is pulled into the world of the Cindys, as they battle against the Wickeds to prevent their world domination by targeting innocent people.  Leading the Wickeds is Jess’s arch-nemesis, Lexy.  Add in makeovers, a cute boy, and secret plots, Jess is soon in way over her head.

Was this book kind of really cheesy?  Oh yeah.  Was it somewhat unbelievable?  Definitely.  Was it totally fun to read and gave me a sense of “girl power”?  Absolutely.  I really liked the message the book sends out: just because you’re popular doesn’t mean you have to be cruel or bully other people.  I think it’s a message that doesn’t get out enough to teenagers, and especially teenage girls.  There’s nothing wrong with being nice or doing the right thing.  Jess as the main character was also very likable; she’s independent, funny, and smart, but not without her flaws.  One thing I didn’t like about the book was that there were way too many characters.  Kay Cassidy kept throwing these generic girl names around (Gwen, Gaby, Paige, Kyra, Brooke, Audrey, etc.) that I would be reeling from who was who, especially since she tried to give every girl she named a minor role.  It got confusing really fast.  The other thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was the fact that I felt like the author tried too hard to make this another Gallagher Girls book (a series by Ally Carter).  The whole secret society felt a bit cliche.  However, that didn’t mean the book wasn’t a fun read.  3/5

Uncommon Criminals - Ally Carter The sequel to Heist Society follows the main character, Katarina Bishop, as she tries to right the wrongs of the world by stealing back lost paintings and helping them find their way to their rightful owners.  That is why she couldn’t refuse when she is asked to help steal the famed, and possibly cursed, Cleopatra emerald.  Uncommon Criminals was almost as perfect as Heist Society.  Almost.  It had all the elements that the first book had: great characters, a great plot and action, and of course, the perfect heist.  However, it wasn’t what it had as much as what it lacked that made me disappointed.  Like I said, it had everything the first book had.  But that was all.  It didn’t add anything more.  I wanted to know more about Kat and her family; her father, her uncles, and most of all, what happened to her mother.  I wanted to know more about who the real Visily Romani is, and about the mysterious Hale, and more about her crew and their stories.  Unfortunately, it was all about the heist, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing - in fact, the heist itself was very, very clever.  Hopefully there will be more!  4.5/5

Uncommon Criminals - Ally Carter

The sequel to Heist Society follows the main character, Katarina Bishop, as she tries to right the wrongs of the world by stealing back lost paintings and helping them find their way to their rightful owners.  That is why she couldn’t refuse when she is asked to help steal the famed, and possibly cursed, Cleopatra emerald. 

Uncommon Criminals was almost as perfect as Heist Society.  Almost.  It had all the elements that the first book had: great characters, a great plot and action, and of course, the perfect heist.  However, it wasn’t what it had as much as what it lacked that made me disappointed.  Like I said, it had everything the first book had.  But that was all.  It didn’t add anything more.  I wanted to know more about Kat and her family; her father, her uncles, and most of all, what happened to her mother.  I wanted to know more about who the real Visily Romani is, and about the mysterious Hale, and more about her crew and their stories.  Unfortunately, it was all about the heist, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing - in fact, the heist itself was very, very clever.  Hopefully there will be more!  4.5/5

Vintage Recycled Book Envelopes

Vintage Recycled Book Envelopes

mothernaturenetwork: DIY: A green version of Natalie Portman’s clutchNatalie Portman carried an expensive book-like purse to the premier of ‘Black Swan.’ Learn to create your own look-alike purse, DIY-style.

mothernaturenetwork:

DIY: A green version of Natalie Portman’s clutch
Natalie Portman carried an expensive book-like purse to the premier of ‘Black Swan.’ Learn to create your own look-alike purse, DIY-style.

Book Page Flower Tutorial

Book Page Flower Tutorial

Impossible - Nancy Werlin Lucy Scarborough is seventeen years old, and doesn’t believe in elves, or magic, or curses.  That is, until she is impregnated and comes to find out that perhaps there’s another world that she doesn’t know about.  One where her ancestors have always had a baby by the time they are eighteen, and go crazy.  Soon, Lucy is thrust into a world with curses and three impossible tasks that she must accomplish, or risk the same fate as her mother and her ancestors. Loosely based on the song, Scarborough Fair, I was completely entranced by this book.  I thought it was a brilliant blend of fantasy, adventure, and romance.  Some of the criticism about this book was that it wasn’t very realistic, and I totally understand that criticism, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.  One complaint I have is that there was a lot of things that happened off screen (such as the making of the shirt), and I would have liked to know more about the original curse.  Also, while a lot of the scenes between Lucy and Zach were very sweet, it was also a tad bit cheesy at times.  Overall, 4/5.

Impossible - Nancy Werlin

Lucy Scarborough is seventeen years old, and doesn’t believe in elves, or magic, or curses.  That is, until she is impregnated and comes to find out that perhaps there’s another world that she doesn’t know about.  One where her ancestors have always had a baby by the time they are eighteen, and go crazy.  Soon, Lucy is thrust into a world with curses and three impossible tasks that she must accomplish, or risk the same fate as her mother and her ancestors.

Loosely based on the song, Scarborough Fair, I was completely entranced by this book.  I thought it was a brilliant blend of fantasy, adventure, and romance.  Some of the criticism about this book was that it wasn’t very realistic, and I totally understand that criticism, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.  One complaint I have is that there was a lot of things that happened off screen (such as the making of the shirt), and I would have liked to know more about the original curse.  Also, while a lot of the scenes between Lucy and Zach were very sweet, it was also a tad bit cheesy at times.  Overall, 4/5.

teachingliteracy: Amelia Bedelia Upcycled Switch Plate by recyclemoe

teachingliteracy:

Amelia Bedelia Upcycled Switch Plate

by recyclemoe

Mini Polaroid Folding Book

Mini Polaroid Folding Book

Bossypants - Tina Fey Yes, I had to put the cover here so all you know what it was like while reading this book - I cringed every time I saw it, and every time I put it down, I placed it face down, because it really is a hideous cover. With that out of my system, Bossypants was like reading a Tina Fey stream-of-consciousness; it was smart, funny, and completely random at times.  Her self-deprecating humor was something that made me laugh in a good way.  Yes, she’s hugely successful, but that doesn’t mean she’s not human, and she was quick to tell everyone just how strange she is!  I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Tina Fey.  3.5/5

Bossypants - Tina Fey

Yes, I had to put the cover here so all you know what it was like while reading this book - I cringed every time I saw it, and every time I put it down, I placed it face down, because it really is a hideous cover.

With that out of my system, Bossypants was like reading a Tina Fey stream-of-consciousness; it was smart, funny, and completely random at times.  Her self-deprecating humor was something that made me laugh in a good way.  Yes, she’s hugely successful, but that doesn’t mean she’s not human, and she was quick to tell everyone just how strange she is!  I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Tina Fey.  3.5/5