Music: Bear by The Antlers

I don't think I've shared this song before. It's one of my favorites.

If you want, let me know what the lyrics mean to you. There have been so many different theories. The album itself is about:

Hospice is musical journey through a boyfriends eyes as he painfully watches his girlfriend die in a hospital. Does not get much more sad then that eh? The motivation for this concept came from an similar experience that Peter Silberman, The Antlers architect went through in a relationship.
-We All Want Someone

If you haven't heard these guys, check them out!

~~Lisette~~

Waiting on Wednesday: But i Love Him by Amanda Grace and Mandy Hubbard

Release Date: May 8, 2011

Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. 
Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap. 

At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved-and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything-and everyone-in its path. 

This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.

~~Lisette~~

T.V Show Addictions! + Pretty TV Stands

Wow. Wow. Wow!

I just finished watching yet another t.v show. It was so good! It's a Korean T.V show called Personal Preference. Review will be coming up. It will include the "thoughts" of two other folks who've seen it. I won't say anything more about it because you will have to wait for the review for more mwahaha!

Anyway!
I'm currently watching:
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho - Korean T.V show. It already ended and boy do I have some catching up to do!
The Big Bang Theory Season 3
Dexter Season 5

Sadly that's all at the moment. I'm trying really hard to spend an equal amount of time updating this site, reading, watching movies, studying, having a life, etc. ;) It's difficult to not get distracted with just one of these.

You know where I wish I could be watching my t.v shows at? Here:

It looks cute and so sleek I think. My brother has one similar to this except his is brown. I'm a bit jealous but then I think, where would I put it if I had one? And then there's the fact that my tv is WAY smaller than that. Sigh. In case you're curious, that t.v stand is from CSN Stores. You can check out all their flat screen tv stands on that link there. They have tons, but honestly, the cutest/awesomest (no it's not a word and don't I know it) ones cost over a thousand bucks. I personally think that's worth it. I mean look:

Breathtaking. If you're into furniture. Which I kind of am. Sometimes. I love clothes more. And books. 

On a related note, don't forget to enter the current CSN giveaway! Click on the link at the top of the page!

~~Lisette~~

Music: Sunshine by Keane

Here I go with Keane again. I just love them to much not to keep sharing their music :)

~~Lisette~~

Waiting on Wednesday: Possession by Elana Johnson

Release Date: June 7, 2011

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even thinkabout kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Sounds a whole lot like Matched by Ally Condie. But I'm still so darn curious about this particular dystopian read. Can't wait to read it!!


WoW hosted by Breaking the Spine!

~~Lisette~~

Who's watching Dexter Season 5?

Source.

So who's been watching this season? Ahhhh I feel like tearing my hair out whenever I have to wait to watch the next episode. I really want to know what's going to happen next!!! The first episode was total crap. I knew they were going to get rid of you know who, but I still hated the way it was handled.

Heavy sigh.

Thoughts?

~~Lisette~~

T.V show review / Korean Drama: King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo

Here's a T.V show review by Deadflower_2012 a.k.a my older sister!



Title: King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo
Also known as: Baker King, Kim Tak Goo, 제빵왕 김탁구, Jeppangwang Kim Tak Goo
Genre: Family, romance, melodrama
Episodes: 30
Broadcast period: Jun-09 - Sept-16, 2010(KBS2)
Ratings:Peak=50.8%, Avg=38.6% (TNS Media Korea)
(Source: Wiki-d.addicts.com)

Synopsis:
Kim Tak Goo (played by Yoon Shi Yoon, friend of Lee Hong Ki) is the eldest son of Goo In Jong, the president of Samhwa Enterprise, a legend in the baking industry. After his mother is kidnapped before his very eyes he has many struggles but grows up to be good gentlemen. After 14 years of searching, he finally becomes reunited with his wonderful dear mother. He is an extremely talented baker with a rare gift and is destined to be happy. Goo In Jong's family plotted to rob him of his inheritance because he was born to In Jong's mistress. Tak Goo's determination to find his mother and with his belief "the kindest person in the world will be triumphant" he begins to create the world of his choice.

Comments:
At first, I hated this drama because it was killing "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (Nine-Tailed Fox)" and "Playful Kiss" in terms of ratings. Once these two dramas were over I needed something to watch and so I proceeded to watch the third episode of King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo (I had previously given it a chance and saw the first 2 episodes) and I was glued to the monitor. The drama starts off when the guys are kids and gives the background of the story. Once they forward to 12 years later that is when the fun begins. I fell in love with Shi Yoon's bright smile. It is truly fitting for his character. It left me wanting more of Kim Tak Goo.
Like the typical Korean drama this drama has annoying people but it is all worth it because of Kim Tak Goo. I loved the ending and altogether it is one one the best dramas I have ever seen. Very inspiring I now understand the ratings.

Favorite Songs from OST:

• Lee Seung Chul (이승철) - That Person (그 사람)
• Kyuhyun (Super Junior) - Hope is a Dream That Doesn't Sleep (희망은 잠들지 않는 꿈)
• Yoon Si Yoon (윤시윤) - Only You (너 하나만)
  

If interested, enjoy!

~~deadflower_2012~~

Giveaway: Great Realistic Reads - CLOSED

Hello!

Fact: O.K stands for "Oll Korrect." Spellings used to be different back in the day you know. Source: Dictionary.com

Anyway. Giveaway time!

One lucky duck will get these:

Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins | RD: January 13, 2009 | My Review

When her father loses his job and leaves India to look for work in America, Asha Gupta, her older sister, Reet, and their mother must wait with Baba’s brother and his family, as well as their grandmother, in Calcutta. Uncle is welcoming, but in a country steeped in tradition, the three women must abide by his decisions. Asha knows this is temporary—just until Baba sends for them. But with scant savings and time passing, the tension builds: Ma, prone to spells of sadness, finds it hard to submit to her mother- and sister-in-law; Reet’s beauty attracts unwanted marriage proposals; and Asha's promise to take care of Ma and Reet leads to impulsive behavior. What follows is a firestorm of rebuke—and secrets revealed! Asha’s only solace is her rooftop hideaway, where she pours her heart out in her diary, and where she begins a clandestine friendship with Jay Sen, the boy next door. Asha can hardly believe that she, and not Reet, is the object of Jay’s attention. Then news arrives about Baba . . . and Asha must make a choice that will change their lives forever.

One of my all time favorite books. This is a brand new and signed book. If you don't win it BUY it! It's amazing! 

Say the Word by Jeannine Garsee | RD: March 17, 2009 | My Review

The world expects perfection from seventeen-year-old Shawna Gallagher, and for the most part, that’s what they get. She dates the right boys, gets good grades, and follows her father’s every rule. But when her estranged lesbian mother dies, it’s more than perfect Shawna can take. Suddenly, anger from being abandoned ten years ago is resurfacing along with Shawna’s embarrassment over her mother’s other family. As she confronts family secrets and questions from the past, Shawna realizes there’s a difference between doing the perfect thing and doing the right thing.
Shawna’s honest and relatable voice will draw readers in and hold them until the last page in this coming-of-age story. Jeannine Garsee has delivered a compulsively readable second novel, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Laurie Halse Anderson. 

Also one of my favorite reads! This book is a paperback ARC. Like new. 

The Half-life of Planets by Emily Franklin and Brendan Helpin | RD: June 15, 2010 | My review

Liana is an aspiring planetary scientist . . . and also a kissing addict. This summer, though, she plans to spend every kissworthy hour in the lab, studying stars. Hank has never been kissed. He’s smart and funny and very socially awkward, because he’s got Asperger’s syndrome. Hank’s plan for the summer is to work at a music store and save enough to buy the Fender Jazzmaster he craves. What neither Liana nor Hank plans for is their fateful meeting . . . in the women’s bathroom at the hospital. But their star-crossed encounter could be the very best kind. Two veteran YA authors tell, in alternating chapters, the story of two kids who discover that the best parts of people can’t be summed up easily.

Interesting and cute read. Recommended. This one's hard cover and like new.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon | RD: 2003 | My review

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher’s carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.

Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents’ marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher’s mind.

And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon’s choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.

I really enjoyed reading this one. I miss Christopher. I bought this extra copy at a used bookstore, but it looks new. 

Rules:

U.S Only (sorry...)

1 entry - leave a comment

3 extra entries - in a separate comment leave one link where you spread the word (sidebar, tweet, post - it's all good)

Deadline: November 30, midnight Central.

Have a nice day! If you've read any of these and don't want to enter feel free to say what you thought about them!

Giveaway sponsored in part by Mitali Perkins and me. 
~~Lisette~~

\o/ Winners! \o/ + more coolness!

I am quite proud of my post title ;)

Okay so here are the winners of The Giveaway of the Undead.

Ghost winner:

is The Cozy Reader! (Her blog is so pretty!) She wins the first 3 books of the Ghostgirl series. Edit: She chose the pillowcase. 

Vampire winner:



Rosa {shah}! She wins her choice of 3 vampire books. Edit: She chose The Eternal Ones, Infinite Days, and Blood Oath. 

Zombies:



Reading in Appalachia! She won You Are So Undead to Me and Undead Much?





Marlene {jaberblue}! She won the 3rd installment in the Generation Dead series, Passing Strange. She gets her choice of the U.K copy or U.S. Edit: She chose the U.K cover.

Megan {Megan K} - She is the runner up for the Passing Strange books. She will get the remaining U.S book.

Congrats folks!!

I've already contacted the winners who will have 48 hrs to reply or another winner will be chosen. Two of the winners have yet to be contacted because they were runner ups (I need the first winners to choose their prize first) but here they are:

Melissa {pirate pants} - She is the runner up winner of Ghostgirl: Lovesick (book 3) + remaining goodie. Edit: She's been contacted and by the way, the remaining goodie is the tote.
Martha {mlawson} - She is the runner up for the vampire books. She will get the two remaining books. Edit: has been contacted and will win Tantalize and The Reformed Vampire Support Group. 

+
Cool things for those that did not win.

I had asked for recommendations of places where one can buy dresses for less than $20. Here are some links entrants provided (thank you!).

yllektra(force-oblique) suggested:

Asos' sale items

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer suggested:

15 Dollar Store

Reading in Appalachia suggested:

Goodwill online - completely forgot about this and I must say I am not a fan of how it's not that user friendly

Megan suggested:

Depshops
Laura H suggested:
Forever Trendy


Another Giveaway!
In three minutes a scheduled post of another Giveaway will go up. Feel free to enter and bring some friends why don't ya? BTW The Dandy Blogaversary giveaway is still going on so enter if you haven't already!



~~Lisette~~

In My Mailbox: Fire and a snow globe and a smile!

This is what I got recently:


Smile for the Camera: A Memoir by Kelle James / Really liked it! Breezed right through it. Await a review please because I had to let one of my friends borrow it to see what she'd think and you shall know both of our thoughts. Sent by Publishing company - Thank you!

Release Date: November 2, 2010

Smile For the Camera is a true story of escaping abuse in a small-town to encounter more in the big city and the way one girl overcame them both.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan / Want to read this already, but because it's the first in a series, I'm hesitant. Yeah, that's just how I roll. I hate the waiting in case you're curious. I won this over at Lost For Words. Thanks again!

Release Date: September 1, 2010

A hidden truth. 

Mortal enemies. 

Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus / Very curious! Won this over at Once Upon a Twilight. Thank you!

Release Date: July 13, 2010

After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA — a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned in her last diary entry before she died.

Once there, Phe quickly realizes that something is deeply amiss in her new town. Not only does Shadow Hills' history boast an unexplained epidemic that decimated hundreds of its citizens in the 1700s, but its modern townies also seem eerily psychic, with the bizarre ability to bend metal. Even Zach — the gorgeous stranger Phe meets and immediately begins to lust after — seems as if he is hiding something serious. Phe is determined to get to the bottom of it. The longer she stays there, the more she suspects that her sister's untimely death and her own destiny are intricately linked to those who reside in Shadow Hills.

+

Someone tell me something interesting! ;)

Share how your week was or a current favorite movie/book/song. BTW I always check out recommendations/suggestions even though I forget to say thank you hehe

Don't forget to head over to The Story Siren for the other IMM's and Pop Culture Junkie who inspired TSS!

~~Lisette~~

Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Rating: 4/5; Really liked it. Enjoyable. Re-readable.

Release Date: November 30, 2010

Series: Yes it is!

Synopsis:
In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. 

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion. 

Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic.
-goodreads


Thoughts:
Start saving up because this is the next book for you! Let me state why I liked this read so much :)
Even though this book starts out slow and kind of reads like a Middle Grade read it's going to be enjoyable for ages 12 and up. For a YA book there's not really much sexuality (like there is in a bunch of YA's considering most are coming of age stories in one way or another), but that may change in the coming sequel/s. In the mean time, it's appropriate for the younger audiences. Anyway, Cassia lives in a crappy society that controls what anyone can do including how they live and how they die. Her whole society does not have a choice in anything. One of the things the Society ( that's what the higher ups that control everything are called) controls is who one marries, but Cassia is falling for the guy she's not arranged to marry. 
Gradually, Ally Condie gives us more bits of information on how Cassia's society works while Cassia begins thinking about how messed up her society is. How can they keep controlling everyone's lives like this? Cassia finds herself breaking more and more rules and getting a taste of freedom. She of course likes it and wants more of it. She not only wants freedom, but she also wants to choose who she loves. 
There's a love triangle in which I wish both guys had a semi-equal amount of time in the book, but nope. That makes me sad :( Either way, it's a cute love story and even though it's not exactly what I hoped, readers will want more of it. I also wasn't a huge fan of the fact that a huge chunk of the story is about the Society and how it works. I want to know more about the characters and I want to know more about any adventures they are going to partake in! 
Condie created a dystopian read with a great set of characters, twists, and surprises. I wonder where she will take the story next. All I really want to say is, I very much liked this world (not the mean parts, but the hope building up inside Cassia) and I know many readers who enjoy an entertaining story will most likely enjoy it. The main downsides are how the reader gets a lot of background information, not much adventure, and at times the pacing is slow. I for one, was still intrigued and ended up liking it. 
I must stop thinking about this book now because I'll go crazy waiting for the sequel especially since there's no word on the release date (Ms. Condie's still working on it). 

Tag Cloud:
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer - These two reads have quite a bit in common, including the bit about arranged marriage, choosing between two great guys, and living among a society where your choices are not your own. Ally Condie. Arranged marriage. Dystopian. Love triangles.

~~Lisette~~

Who's Watching Conan?

Aww it makes me so sad that he's on TBS now (I have such a low opinion of this network). And it's worse that he's getting paid less. It sucks that his band is different now. Ah so many things.

Anyway COCO'S BACK!! And that's what matters :)

I love late night shows. My favorites are Conan (yes, the name has changed) and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. I love Jimmeeeee!!


So are you watchin'?


~~Lisette~~

Love It: I Want

These are some things I Want.


I want these so bad!! Why can't I have them? They're only like $700+ bucks! Quite a pretty penny, but oh how gorgeous they are!

From Brown's Fashion. 

These are cute and more affordable. Approx. $32.80 at Forever 21.

I love this dress from Ruche but it's like $159

Anything you've been wanting lately?

~~Lisette~~

Watch This: Mirror Mask (Movie)

Watch it now! It's beautiful and so creative! Trust me, this is a neat world you will want to escape to for a while.

~~Lisette~~

Book Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Rating: 3/5; Liked it. Fun read. Had some issues. May or may not re-read.

Release Date: October 19, 2010

Series? Yes, check it.

Synopsis:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?
-publisher

Thoughts: 
Nightshade is one of those fun quick reads that does not necessarily have a strong plot. The plot, although engaging, was somewhat predictable and not quite unique enough to make it one of the books I'd add to my collection. I need my protagonists to be likable enough for me to give a care and I need them to also be developed enough the point that they almost jump out of the pages. This may be asking to much, I know, but I can't help what I like. *shrug* Most of all, I need things to make sense.
As you can tell from the synopsis, there is a love triangle (my favorite kind of love story by the way!) that involves two hot guys and a girl. My main beef with this  read was how the chick chooses one guy over the other. I will not tell you who she chooses even though you can make the guess from reading the synopsis, but I will say this: her decision is ridiculous. The guy she throws to the side  (she might as well have with the way she treated him and led him on) was a really great guy! And yes, I understand that it's possible to be attracted to someone for seemingly no reason, but that does not mean I have to like it. I also hated the way she treated both guys. It's difficult for one to like a protagonist like that. I just did not get what her attraction to her chosen guy was. He seemed cute and nerdy in this awesome way (the Indiana Jones bit was cute, quirky, and new), but also very boring and controlling. Well, both of them were controlling to an extent. The chick, Calla, was also very odd in her behavior. At times she would wonder why the system she and her pack live by is so sexist (not only that but also like slavery, and includes arranged marriages), yet she would succumb to their ways every now and then. She was not much of an alpha. It's possible she was an imperfect alpha (I mean who's ever perfect, especially leaders?), but because the readers are told the complete opposite of that on the synopsis, it's a difficult thing to remember and get used to. It's also possible she acted in that way because that's just how she was raised. Old habits die hard after and kids learn behavior from watching their parents, so that's understandable, but again, not a fan of this girl's actions.
Overall I had fun reading this book. I did not have a hard time setting it down, but I did wonder about what would happen. I honestly thought the ending would be better even though it wasn't. It was somewhat predictable, yet I still find myself getting curiouser and curiouser. I loved reading about the love story (especially anything to do with Ren) even though in the end, it did not fully deliver in my opinion. Most of this book contained folks doing research. I am not a fan of that. With this kind of read I expect a LOT of action. There was action, but not enough to keep me immensely interested.
Yes, I am curious about the next books in the series. It sounds like there will be tons of action to spare especially now that Calla knows what she's dealing with. I'm hoping for smart and sneaky twists and turns (as always).

Note: I loved the beginning. There was no beating around the bush. The author threw you straight into the story and you will get stuck for a while. By the way, I had a huge issue with the wolf and clothes deal. I do not approve.

Tag Cloud:
Andrea Cremer. Blood and Chocolate by Anne Curtis Klause (I've read that Nighshade is eerily similar to this one). Werewolves. Love triangles. Quick and fun reads. Arranged marriages. Slavery issues.

~~Lisette~~

Giveaway of the Undead - Extended

Sorry folks (or maybe this is a good thing?) I'm extending The Giveaway of the Undead until November 13th (instead of November 6) since I will apparently be out of town.

Be sure to enter and spread the word if you haven't already!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

By the way, there will be 7 winners! :)

~~Lisette~~

Waiting on Wednesday: Rosebush by Michele Jaffe

Rosebush by Michele Jaffe
Release Date: December 7, 2010


Instead of celebrating Memorial Day weekend on the Jersey Shore, Jane is in the hospital surrounded by teddy bears, trying to piece together what happened last night. One minute she was at a party, wearing fairy wings and cuddling with her boyfriend. The next, she was lying near-dead in a rosebush after a hit-and-run.

Everyone believes it was an accident, despite the phone threats Jane swears were real. But the truth is a thorny thing. As Jane's boyfriend, friends, and admirers come to visit, more memories surfaceÑnot just from the party, but from deeper in her past . . . including the night her best friend Bonnie died.

With nearly everyone in her life a suspect now, Jane must unravel the mystery before her killer attacks again. Along the way, she's forced to examine the consequences of her life choices in this compulsively readable thriller.

I really want to read this book! I love mysteries and this sounds quite mysterious! 


WoW is hosted by Breaking the Spine, go check the others!

~~Lisette~~