I cannot believe it's been a year since I posted anything here. I keep saying I'm going to get regular and post stuff because I have lots to say!!! Hehe. Anyway, I thought I'd post this review that I did for swoonyboyspodcast.com back in August. I love this book and CANNOT wait till the third book comes out I think in February. Anywho, here's my review.



Daughter of Smoke & Bone
by Laini Taylor
418 pages


"Daughter of Smoke and Bone," what can I say? Two years have passed since I read DoSaB and just sitting here thinking about what to say transports me back to that eerie but magical otherworld that Laini Taylor so vividly painted in this first book of the trilogy. Laini’s prose are so lush and beautiful that they breathe life into the places and characters that at face value should be terrifying, but as the layers are revealed they became friends I’d want to have and places I’d want to visit. I found myself wishing I could knock on doors, as Karou did, and wait to be granted entrance into, "Elsewhere."

She was no longer in Prague.

Even though she had lived in Brimstone’s shop, she still didn’t understand where it was, only that you could enter through doorways all over the world and end up right here. As a child she used to ask Brimstone where exactly "here" was, only to be told brusquely, "Elsewhere." -- "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" page 35

Karou is a 17 year old art student with blue hair. Her best friend, Zuzana, is totally awesome, in part because she accepted the secret side of Karou, who on a whim could be gone for hours or days running her mysterious "errands" only to come home disheveled and sometimes sick. Who knew that Karou was balancing the life of a normal human girl and a completely separate life of an orphan raised by chimeras, who collected teeth for Brimstone, the wishmonger, and moved about the world through mysterious doorways? Why did he need so many teeth? Why was she an orphan? Why was she raised by these partially human, partially animal creatures? Where exactly are they? I loved Karou’s bravery and determination to find the answers she so longed for even when she is thrust into the center of a war she never knew existed, shaken to the core by death, and comes face to face with an angel bent on revenge - all of which are pivotal to the secrets of her past.

Akiva!!! Can I say SWOON?!?! In so many ways he doesn’t seem swoonworthy. He is an angry angel set out for revenge. But as the story unfolds, you learn that his anger comes from a heart wrenching loss of love so devastating that he vows to avenge the love he will never have again. Part of his plan for revenge involves following Karou and for a long while in the book I’m not sure whether to fear him or love him. But from the moment we meet him there was something about him that pulled at my heart. I ached for him before I even knew why I should. He is described as breathtakingly beautiful and as having "live fire in his eyes," but trust me by the end of the book he is completely swoony. His swoon is one that breaks down barriers of worlds we never thought possible.

There are so many twists and turns with elements of surprise around every corner. This book is not the typical YA book that I’m used to reading. There is no High School girl in love with the new “hot guy” at school – drama ensues. The first page of "DoSaB" reads,

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.

There is a certain dark theme set up from the beginning, but the thrilling intrigue, epic love, and magical world that Laini Taylor writes so impeccably beautiful, leaves you in awe and begging for more. Although the answers to the burning questions that surface while reading are revealed rather quickly and the book sort of ends abruptly with a "kill me now" ending, you are lucky because you have "Days of Blood and Starlight" to read right away, which continues the brilliance of Taylor’s writing. I had to wait like a year – ugh.

DoSaB is a must read. Don’t let yourself miss out on this epic masterpiece.

Lifesize Jumping Rob = Total Win & A Little Crazy (total props to the girls who realized that the people who would appreciate the hilariousness of this were the people who mattered and not the people who think this is crazy)

If you haven't seen this video then you must be living under a rock. You must watch right now over and over and over. It is now my "go to video" when I need a great laugh.

Big thanx to DrunkStew for the great .gifs.

What I love about this video:

1. The fact that Rob's entourage is taking pics with "Jumping Rob" before he sees it is soooooooo classically awesome.

2. Nick pointing "Jumping Rob" out to "Live Rob" is total win.

3. Rob's face is EPIC .. I mean in the land of EPIC it really exceeds EPIC!!!


******* Slight Interruption to Talk About This *******
Can you imagine what he's thinking in this moment? I bet it started off something like this,

"Awwwww some fan made a lifesize cutout of me .. I guess that's dedication"

And moves quickly to this,

"OMG nooooooooooooooooo is there seriously a lifesize cutout of me jumping in my underwear? My pastey lifesize self with the flailing arms, wonky legs and that face .. NICK KILL ME NOW .. MY EYES MY EYES .. I can't unsee this!!!"

After having time to reflect on this (something to think about during the BD2 premiere), which I'm sure was paired with Kristen and Taylor putting their two cents in (jet to London anyone?), a few jokes, and some googling of "Jumping Rob" just to get the full impact, I'm sure he decided to embrace "Jumping Rob" in the spirit in which it was created and realize that it is definitely NOT the last time he will be seeing it.

This was probably after he was told:

"You can't 'Cease and Desist' the 'Jumping Rob'."

******* Back to my List of Love for this video *******

4. Dean's uber held back reaction is great. You know he's thinking,

"Don't laugh, I can't laugh. Wait til you get to the car. Stop looking. Stay focused, protect Rob. Best job EVAHHHHH!!!!"

5. The "Jump" music is perfect.

6. "Game Over Internet! We Won!" .. LOVE IT

7. I will admit, staring at Rob's reaction over and over and over did make me miss the gem of the woman in pink behind Rob who obviously has no sense of humor, is completely self-centered, and is desperate to get her 1 second of face to face time with Rob, because that "Pllllllleeeeaaaassseee!!!!!!" is desperate like a 40 year old virgin 107 year old virgin. "Believe me, I want to." - Edward The Twilight Saga - Eclipse.

That concludes my list. Hope you enjoy the "Jumping Rob Reveal" video as much as I have.

I got home, not long ago, after my third viewing of Breaking Dawn Part 2 and I still haven't the wherewithall to post a review for it. The emotions are still swimming around in my head. I can say that I loved it, it's perfect, and I don't want this to end.

One of my favorite moments is at the end when *spoiler alert* Bella lets Edward read her mind. When I got home I saw this video posted, and it so perfectly expands on that moment in the movie, and brought me to tears all over again.

The essence of The Twilight Saga, whether it be the movies or the books, is the everlasting love that Edward and Bella share. Whatever it is that brought you into this fandom, I guarantee that "truth" is at the core. I'm sure you will share in my opinion that this video really does justice to what we love about The Twilight Saga ... LOVE!!! Enjoy this & watch it over and over as I am.

A Thousand Years, Pt. 2 is the perfect soundtrack for their love, and I'm so glad that they did a second version for BD2, because I loved the first version and was not happy when it didn't make BD1. I was completely stoked at it's placement in BD2.

Get your kleenex, you'll need it. Sometimes memory lane just brings out the feelz, and after all, it's video's like this, the movies, the books, and the fan fiction that keep this story alive. #TwilightForever

I'll be honest, when I was first sent this video I thought, "Wow, that's a pretty big stretch, comparing the Newman's and Robsten." When I started the video, I was worried that it might somehow trivialize such an iconic Hollywood couple's successful marraige. I'm pleasantly surprised that I was dead wrong. If anything, I think this video celebrates the Newman's successful relationship, while expressing the somewhat uncanny similarities in expressions made by both couples. One can only wish any couple, including Rob and Kristen, such a
long-lastinglustful and loving relationship.

I won't deny that I really do love Rob and Kristen together. I think they are cute together, I love their protection for one another, how they speak about each other, and that they don't have to say a word because its all in the look. However, I also understand the challenges of a celebrity couple, and no one can deny that "the land where dreams are made" is often parallel to "the land where relationships/marraiges die". Having said that, I would be remiss to ever wish that on any couple in love. Every couple, even those who are famous, deserves happiness, just like the rest of us. I wish much happiness for Rob and Kristen and if that ends up being 50 years then what a celebration that would be.

This video made me cry, not only because it truly captures the Newman's love, something worthy of being cherished, but also because libenet arranged the similarities between the Newman/Robsten expressions spot on and beautifully.

Give it a chance, watch it and appreciate it for what it is ... a celebration of love.

I'd love to hear what you thought.

As I peruse through my google reader posts this morning, I come across this title, "Majestic Monday and Robert Pattinson's Collar Bone Sitting in a Tree..." Of course I opened the link, it did have Robert Pattinson in the title after all, (I cannot tell a lie *snickers* most of the posts in my google reader have Rob's name in them) and it was on Robsessed and I pretty much read everything on that site. I know some of you may be
surprisednot beleive me, but I had never really thought of collar bone pr0n, so I was rather...

As if I didn't already
swoondrool over every part of this man, now I am...



...with his collar bone. Here are my favs:










Robsessed
...for the perfect Majestic Monday & for my new
appreciationobsession of Rob's body.
As if I needed anothernothing is too much when it comes to Rob pr0n.

Now back to our
regularly scheduled programboring life.

If you're interested in partying with other Twilight Fans in the Kansas City area for the Breaking Dawn premiere, or would like more information, please fill out this form. Spread the word.

I'm sure I don't have to tell anyone who reads this how special Kassiah is. Everyone who knows her, knows this to be a fact. She is sooooo sweet, and does so much for everyone. So, when she was offering herself up during the FGB Eclipse benefit, I pounced on buying her. Of course, the selfish thing would have been to relish in whatever gloriousness she came up with for me, but I was feeling a little unselfish, knowing how busy she is, so I told her that I was buying her with the express wish for her to NOT write anything. I knew she was busy and I wanted to give her that gift. Of course, she wouldn't let me do this, and said she was writing me something, sometime. I kept telling her she didn't have to.

She joked with me a few times about some story she'd come up with that included Rob and me and TomStu. Of course, I was perfectly ok with this...LOL...but I know that the only way she could write this is if she wrote Edward/Bella/(insert random person sans Jake) & then did a find/replace of the names....hehehehe...RPF totally squicks her out.

Then one day she told me she had a story worked out for me that she hoped I'd love, but she wanted to know if I minded if she turned it in for the Fandom for Sexual Assault Awareness compilation. Of course, I didn't care. When she sent it to me and I found out it was inspired by one of my favorite songs:

Did you listen???

I just did & I always shed a happy tear while listening. The same is true for this gem that Kassiah has written for me. This story is the cutest, sweetest, fluffiest, feel good story ever. You will love it.


Here are the deets:



Say You Will

Kassiah

A sweet girl home for the summer. A beautiful boy with a cheesy pickup line. A café, catcalls, and a change of pace. Who knew it would last forever? Syrupy Sweet Fluffiness for Twisherry, inspired by "Marry Me" by Train. AH ExB

I know it might be somewhat shocking that it is "T" rated. But, it just worked out better that way. It was sooo cute listening to Kassiah tell me repeatedly that she was trying to work in a lemon, but it just wasn't fitting. I was like, "I don't care, I know I will love it if you write it." I was right. She describes it as syrupy sweet, and it so is. I need some pancakes. Here's a little taste of some of my favorite lines from the song & the story:

We were in the middle of another story that shouldn't be heard by anyone when someone cleared their throat behind us. "Can I borrow your phone? Mine's broken and I need to tell my mom I just saw an angel."

and

"I'm not helping you take off my clothes in your dad's car."

and

"That still won't be enough," he said as he leaned down to brush his lips across mine. "Forever can never be long enough for me to feel like I've had long enough with you."

Here's the part that inspired the banner, don't you love that picture:

We were sitting in our café at the same table Edward had first approached me at, just easygoing and casual—him reading the paper, me watching him, the sunlight streaming through the windows, our legs intertwined beneath the table. Edward leaned over the table and kissed me before handing me a plain white card..."

Lastly my two favorite lines of all:

"Next summer then," he said, unable to contain his grin. "We'll do it right here. You wear white, and I'll wear out the words 'I love you'."

and

Then he leaned over and whispered low so only I could hear, "I knew you'd say 'yes' eventually. You were worth the wait."

Squeeeeeeeeeee. This story may be a short little journey into Edward and Bella's lives, but it captures the sweetest piece of perfection a life can have. I can't get the smile off of my face knowing that my best friend wrote this for me. But, then Kassiah always makes me smile. As I said, we are the one true pairing (wink wink) and she brings sunshine into my life everyday.

I hope you will go and read this one-shot. I promise it will bring a smile to your face too.

Did you hear me? I said go read right now!!!

Say You Will by Kassiah




In closing, I'd like to say to Kassiah:






and




P.S.
In case you were wondering about her authors note and what the video was that I showed her that had the bugs. Well, while she was working hard around her house, I wanted to sing her a "Happy Little Working Song" and I found this and thought it was perfect .. I also think this is hilarious. She didn't see the humor...LOL. Perhaps you will .. remember the premise of this movie is a girl from a fairy tale cartoon magically comes to life and ends up in New York City.

BTW: I loved this movie and apparently I need to offer a disclaimer/warning - This video portrays NYC insects & rodents singing, dancing, & cleaning.