{New} Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition

One of the many defining points in who I am is that I am without a doubt a Potterhead. For those of you who don't know, that simply means that I have quite the infatuation with Harry Potter, and as Daniel Radcliffe himself has mentioned there are far worse things to be obsessed with. So when I saw that there was going to be an illustrated version of my most beloved series I was ecstatic! I immediately knew that I had to have it.

Take a little peek at my favorite illustrations!

Do you think you'll buy this?! I adore it!!
Buy this book at Barnes and Noble or Amazon. 

Currently Reading

As a child I don't think I would have called myself a bookworm. I liked books but I didn't have the thirst for knowledge like I do now. I find reading, wait for it, fun. I like learning new and exciting things through reading. I love learning about other peoples expirences and lives through the written word. 

Currently I'm devouring The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J. K. Rowling) but I've got two books on deck; Amy Purdy's On My Own Two Feet and The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes. I am excited for The Last Letter From Your Lover the most, because I feel like it'll be a good read that I'll be able to enjoy but still plow through. 

What are you currently reading? And are you a bookworm or do you read because just to read? 

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Now that it's the start of the new year I thought it'd be a great time to share a few of my favorite things from 2013. While I loved a whole lot of things in 2013 (i.e. meeting certain people, performing in three cities, visiting places I've never been) these are the tangible things that I loved, adored really, in 2013!

It's so FLUFFY! 

This blanket was bought on Black Friday because it was on sale and I knew that I was getting a new comforter set soon. But right after I opened it on Christmas day I fell in love with it's softness, it's size (it's a twin blanket not a throw) and it's warmth. I love it soooo much! And Missy approves.

Nars Blush! 

Guys, this stuff is the holy grail of blush! I own two shades (Orgasm and Deep Throat) and they are by far my favorite blushes. I reach for one of them every morning because I love how natural they look. And as a plus, they seem to last pretty well (I wore Orgasm for any performance I had this year and it stayed even in 90 degree weather with humidity)!

Pucker Up, my deary!

 This year was a year for lipstick. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and just go for it. I tried three lipstick this year and I really liked two of them, Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Yu and Candy Yum-Yum Matte Lipstick by MAC. These two are the perfect pop of color!!

Read and Weep!

This year I read some books but my favorites were these three John Green books. John Green writes books that make you cry (TFiOS), laugh (An Abundance of Katherines) and just love (Paper Towns).

These were a few of my favorite things in 2013. I can't wait to see my favorite things of 2014 in 364 days!

Naked Heat//Richard Castle

Imagine that you’re one of NYPD’s finest homicide detectives. Now imagine walking into a crime scene only to find that your ex-lover is the person who found the body. Oh and on top of that your victim is a gossip columnist who “lived like she died, with dirt on her hands.” You’re probably thanking your lucky stars that you’re not Nikki Heat. I did too and throughout the whole book I kept thanking my lucky stars, because it just got stranger and stranger and don’t mention more awkward.

 

This book is the 2^nd novel in the Nikki Heat series by Richard Castle.  It was a very aggravating book to read, in the sense that I couldn't figure out “whodunit”.  In Heat Wave I had a few clues as to who the murderer was (I was right!!!) but this time I was stumped. I loved that though, I loved not knowing and being able to find out who the murderer along with the characters in the book. Not matter how aggravating it was. Kudos goes to the (ghost) writer of this novel, you had me hooked.

I’m starting the third book (Heat Rises) in the series next week after I do my usually re-read but I’m totally nervous that I’m not going to be able to put it down, which usually isn't a bad thing but with my life schedule that means that I sleep for about 4 hours.  Wish me luck!!

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Heat Wave//Richard Castle

I’m a huge fan of the TV show Castle. I watched all 4 full seasons and what has already aired of season 5 when I first saw it on TNT awhile back. If you watch the show or happen to catch the first few minutes of a season 1, 2 or an early 3 episode you know that Richard “Rick” Castle is a mystery novelist who has found his inspiration in one of NYPD’s finest, Kate Beckett. He shadows her, helping her solve some the craziest murders ever. Oh and on top of that he annoys her to no end and based a series of books on her, The Nikki Heat series. The books exist in real life and in the show and are a topic of many conversations on the show (without many spoilers, of course)!

 I ordered all four Nikki Heat books after Christmas when I got my Christmas money. I read good reviews and was excited to read the first one. I was like a little kid when I saw that amazon box sitting on my door step. My eyes lit up, my heart started racing and I couldn't wait to get it open! As I mentioned in my “what’s in my bag” post this books is all I’m reading right now! I’m in love. I’m a huge fan of murder mystery, and underlying romance so put the two together and I feel like I’m floating on a cloud. Yes, it’s got it all.

I’m not going to spoil anything that happens in Heat Wave but I will say this; read it. Read it more than once.  Fall in love and hope that you can live inside the book. Don’t be afraid of the next page, if you don’t like it there’s another one right after it. I can assure you though, if you’re anything like me you’ll love it. 

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[Book] Wishlist

[Above Photo From Elsie Larson's Blog A Beautiful Mess]

My favorite thing about chilly weather is staying inside and reading a good page turning book. Nothing beats sitting on my bed wrapped up in a cozy blanket with fuzzy socks and a hot cup of tea with a heaping amount of honey.  It’s the best way to spend a chilly day, don’t ya think?

 I love looking for new reads and that is why I’m sharing my reading wishlist and opening it up for you to give suggestions.

My Book Wishlist.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Change Of Heart by Jodi Picoult * 

The Story of Us by Deb Calet 

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan 

The Causal Vacancy by J.K. Rowling 

Fifty Shades of Grey (Trilogy) by E.L. James

*(This one is a bit older than the rest)

Is there anything you suggest I add? (I will most likely post about all of these once I (buy and) read them. xoxo Jess. 

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What If your Soul Mate Is Your Best Friend's Boyfriend?

Can I be honest with you all and not get rocks thrown at me? Yes? OK, I read more lovey-dovey novels than anything else. Sue me for poor taste; I would gladly settle that out of court. 

Something Like Fate is one of those books. Lani, a smart, loyal and cautious best friend jumps in head first into a relationship with none other than her best friend, Erin’s boyfriend. When I first picked up this book my first thought was; scandalous and Lani is a five letter word starting with a “B”. But after I did my random page check (anybody remember those from elementary school) I fell in love with Lani’s guilt and torn thoughts.

When Lani and Jason meet she sees a spark and knows immediately that it’s wrong but it doesn’t stop her from falling for him. After Erin conveniently goes off to summer camp, Jason and Lani start growing closer, causing Lani to become worried. She chalks it up as fate and every other superstitious or factious reasoning. It works for a while too until Erin comes home from camp and discovers their dirty little secret. But here’s the catch; when Erin comes home Jason and her are no longer together. He broke up with her for Lani. Lani and Erin go through what most BFF’s would if they just stole your boyfriend. And in the end they all end up happy, in a strange teenager way.

I enjoyed this book more than I did the first time I read it (this was the second time). I’ve got a sore spot for romance novels and I’ve read enough to say that this one was sweet like candy. I recommend this to anyone who’s OK with sappy, heart tearing, teenage love.

PS. The Author is Susane Colasanti and you can read a expert here. 

xoxo Jess. 

Life Magazine's Remembering Marilyn 50 Years Later.

A couple weeks back I was with my dad at Target and right before we were about to check out I spotted Life Magazine's Remembering Marilyn Monroe 50 years later. Naturally I begged my dad to buy it for me, because I'm a little Marilyn obsessed. I have a read a few books on Marilyn and this one is just as informative of some of the 700+ pages books I've read.

Kissing Adrien

Imagine, you're in Paris with your high school crush. You spend everyday for a month with him and just when you think you're OK with just being friends he does something that sweeps you off your feet. Bam, that's what happens when your high school crush is a charismatic, overly intelligent business man. This is precisely what happens to Claire Le Noyer in Kissing Adrien.

Claire a 30 year old girl from Seattle finds her high school summer crush and falls for him all over again but it isn't as pretty as it seems. Nothing runs smoothly and the circumstances that brought Claire to Paris aren't exactly ideal. Adrien is a quick witted, intelligent French business is Claire's high school summer crush. The big draw back to all of Adrien's perks is that he uses them to be a player. Almost half of Paris has seen him or at least that is what Claire says. Against her better judgement though she keeps falling head over heels for Adrien.

This was a pure "chic lit" book. It was very sappy and perfect for curling up with a cup of tea. I honestly enjoyed all of it even if I did get very very mad at certain points.

Why We Broke Up.

No, I'm not going to write a 354 page letter to you. I am going to tell you why I fell in love with the book Why We Broke up by Daniel Handler.

Ed Slaterton and Min Green are two different sides of a coin; a non-compatible coin.  Min who according to Ed is artsy and "different" is not she is like every other girl in high school who is falling for the Basketball team's Co-Captain. Ed is the Co-Captain of the basketball team and lives to live up to stereotypes set in high school. No wonder why they didn't last. 

I’ll be honest; I’m a total book nerd. I will read anything no matter how long or boring it may seem. Why We Broke Up is 354 pages long and I called it my mini textbook while I was reading it. The length of the book isn’t what you should judge it by or the fact that there are some pretty awesome pictures for everything Min pulls out of the box that she is giving to Ed. What you should judge it by is the fact that the Author Daniel Handler and the Artist Maira Kalman dug through their own personal breakups to develop this wonderful book about a terrible break up.

I fell in love with this book immediately. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did; I only bought it because the personal stories on the back by other authors were terribly cute and honest. Min Green fell in love with the wrong guy, Sara Shepard was heartbroken when her boyfriend moved to Chicago, Carolyn Mackler had her heartbroken her senior year in park outside of town. I hope I never have a heartbreak as tragic as Min’s, but hers has taught me that I can sulk, but I have to live up to my end of the deal; Don’t let it become the only thing on your mind, indulge yourself in the things you used to do before you had your heart broken and find the girl you used to be before he ever stomped into your life.

Keltie Colleen's Rockettes Rockstars and Rockbottom

Last night I said to myself I want to read something that I actually want to read. When I get in this type of mood I grab my kindle and usually go for things by people like Jodi Picoult or Nicholas Sparks, but last night I remembered that Keltie Colleen had written a book, "Rockettes, Rockstars and Rockbottom." It had good ratings on the kindle store so I said why not, what could i possibly learn that would surprise me. The answer; A LOT.

I tend to read book and then compare them to other books. While reading this book, I couldn't compare it to any other book. Sure it was non-fiction and you can't usually compare that type of book to other books, but this book was honestly one of the most interesting books that I have encountered on my late night reading "cravings".

Sure, I have read a lot of books and thought a lot about them, but it's usually never while reading them that I am thinking about things. Keltie is a dancer; she has been dancing since she was a little girl. I am a dancer, obviously not as talented or as experienced as Keltie, but I too have been dancing since I was a little girl. I know how hard that it's hard to not look at the other dancers and say I want to be her, because no matter how hard you try you will never, ever become them and that just makes you mindset worse. While I was reading I kept picturing myself in the same position as her in that point in her life, I could do it but only for a minute. I read this book in a short amount of time and all the things she learned are already creeping up on me and saying “their right”. I never responded to a non-fiction book so nicely, I guess you could say. Keltie’s experience did teach me one very important thing; never give up on your dreams.






I may have found this book on a late night reading craving, but this one sure cured my sweet tooth.