Kayla's Book Nook

For the last week, I have been reading another John Green book , Paper Towns. He is again, the author of the amazing book, Looking for Alaska.  Therefore, while I was at the warehouse book sale, I figured I would pick up a few more of his books to read. Another book for 1$ at the sale. This book is about a guy and a girl, who have known each other almost their whole lives, and yet really don't know each other at all. This guy is in love with this girl, who decides to leave their town. He decides to search for her using her clues as a way to find her. This book is more about self discovery, and about how a person is usually only how you see them. It is hard for us to see people as themselves, we usually see people as how we want to see them. This was such an interesting part of this book, and I really loved how that was the center of the book, rather than the boy character's love for the girl character. We have all had that moment, where we finally meet someone and they'

Over the weekend, I finished my 22nd book, Let it Snow , by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle. This is a book that has three different stories, written by three different authors, but each story overlaps characters as well as setting. There are three winter romance stories about young love, but each love story is about a different kind of love. It's also interesting to read about how theses three stories fit together, and how the characters are connected and brought together. A great find for $1 at the warehouse sale. I really enjoyed this winter romance novel for a change. It was cute, quaint, and heart-warming to read during these cold times. I'm also a sucker for a good romantic comedy, and it's very funny in certain parts. The characters are very real, and although all of them are from different writers, they are very believable. Each story is about a different kind of love story. The first is about realizing the love that you have, may not be the love

I finally went and saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in the theatre, and I actually really enjoyed it. I know that there are details from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie, that they will need to resolve in the next film. For example, the diadem placement in Hogwarts, and the real owner of the Elder wand. I enjoyed the realness of the movie though. When Harry, Hermione, and Ron leave they really do struggle, bicker, and feel hopeless about the task ahead of them. They show that in the movie, as well as how long it takes for them to get to the next horcrux. I love the beginning scene of the movie, with all 7 Harry Potters standing around together. It's just like I imagined the scene looking when I read the book. I also love the scene at Luna's father's house, because it shows how desperate people were during the Dark Times. I wish they had followed the book a bit more closely, but I understand their need to cut things out due to time. Another part that I

Late last night I finished the book, Incarceron,  by Catherine Fisher. I am writing this review about that book today, because I didn't have time to do it last night before bed. A hardcover book at the warehouse book sale for $3. This is a fantasy novel about a world that put all it's criminals after a bloody war into a world called, Incarceron, where no one can enter or leave. This novel focuses on Claudia, the Warden of Incarceron's daughter, and her fascination and adventures with Incarceron. It's about a world so afraid of change, that they have stopped time and progress and choose to live in a time called the Era, as far as I can tell it's like Medieval times maybe a little later. They all have to follow strict Protocol, and not use, make, design, or change anything that wasn't around in the time of the Era. This is interesting in the book, many characters struggle under Protocol, and they cheat and change it whenever they can. I like the diverse group

I have just finished up an awesome book, if i stay,  by Gayle Forman. This is truly an "achingly beautiful story" like NPR's The Roundtable said in the front cover. Another wonderful find from the warehouse book sale, $1. This is a story about a girl who has lost everything from the living world, and needs to make a decision about whether to stay or go. It's about her struggle to live without her family, or to die with her family. It's about giving up the familiar, and going into the unknown. I love this book, because of it's bold tale, the flashbacks, the memory, the sensory detail surrounding the music of her life. It's a tale that makes you look at both sides of her life, and wonder exactly what she will decide. Will she stay? In the end it's a decision only she can make, and it's a hard one at that. The pull between the living and the dead, the light and the dark, the known and the unknown, the familiar and the unfamiliar, the hard and th

This is exactly how I feel today. Here are the awesome lyrics describing my terrible day Given Up lyrics Songwriters:  Bennington, Chester; Farrell, Dave; Shinoda, Mike; Delson, Brad; Hahn, Joseph; Bourdon, Robert; Waking in a sweat again Another day's been laid to waste In my disgrace Stuck in my head again Feels like I'll never leave this place There's no escape I'm my own worst enemy I've given up I'm sick of feeling Is there nothing you can say? Take this all away I'm suffocating! Tell me what the heck is Wrong with me? I don't know what to take Thought I was focused but I'm scared I'm not prepared I hyperventilate Looking for hope somehow somewhere And no one cares I'm my own worst enemy I've given up I'm sick of feeling Is there nothing you can say? Take this all away I'm suffocating! Tell me what the heck is Wrong with me? God! Put me out of my misery Put me out of my misery Pu

Today I had a day off, so I spent my day cleaning my apartment, listening to christmas music, catching up on shows, and the best of all, reading. I started and finished the 18th book, Something Like Fate  by Susane Colasanti. Another wonderful book from the warehouse book sale. This is by far my favorite of the three Colasanti books that I own, and have read recently. This is a book that really shows the reality of high school: the pressures, the people, the attitudes, the cruelty, the mocking, the relationships, and the hardness. I remember high school and how easy it was for someone to ruin another person's reputation with a few words that might not even be true. That's what happens in this book, Lani and Erin are best friends and then Erin starts dating Jason. Although, Jason and Lani are pretty much soul mates for high school anyways. The chaos ensues from there, and we see how relationships are built, torn down, and how reputations are ruined. This book also adds in fa

The last book that I managed to finish in November is, Waiting For You  by Susane Colasanti. She also wrote Take Me There  which was book number 17. My own copy of the book, bought at the warehouse sale. This book is about a girl waiting for love, waiting for life to start, and waiting for her anxiety to stop. I liked this book much better than Take Me There , which is a little different in style. I like that this book offers the reader more than one relationship, it's not all about girl-girl friendships, or boy-girl dating, or boy-girl friendships. It's about all of them, and how as a teen you can have many relationships that are different and complicated, but that still work. I like the reality of her books, her characters aren't always the popular ones or the dorky ones either. She brings a realness to her characters, which is probably from her time being a science teacher to teenagers. Observation in these instances is key. Susane Colasanti writes books about teena

The other day a co-worker asked me how many books I read a week, to which I replied about 1 to 2. This question really got me thinking about how much I read, and how many books I own right now that I haven't yet read. This led me to my new journey and goal: I am going to read 100 books in 12 months. That equals about 8.3 books per month. I will be using the September start date and the books that I have already read in September, October, and December. September 2010: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (re-read) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (re-read) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (re-read) Jellicoe Road Hunger Games (re-read) Catching Fire (re-read) Mockingjay Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea October 2010: My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands The Prodigal Son The Little Princess A Secret Garden Slam! An Ice Cold Grave November 2010: My Name is Memory Winter Girls Take Me There Although some of thes

Here is my list of the top 10 things I am thankful for this year: 10. Life itself, you can't go wrong when you Live, Laugh, Love. 9. That I graduated college, in my major, in the four years, with great friends and colleagues. 8. For my friends, from home, from high school, from college, and now from work. 7. That my family, brother, sister, cousin, and grandpa, have stopped smoking for real. 6. My huge library of books, without them I probably would go crazy during the week. 5. I am extremely thankful for my full-time job, even if it isn't what I want to do for the rest of my life. 4. Having our awesome dog, Brama, finally living with us at our apartment. 3. That my mother is an awesome cook and baker, and that she passed those skills down to me. 2. My awesome family, both sides, who love me, support me, care for me, and pick on me throughout the years. 1. Finally being married to the love of my life. <3 He is everything that I love, need, want.

A new craze has swept over the nation in the form of a new tv show, Glee. I have been hearing from many friends that they love Glee, and are now a Gleek. I admit, at first I was hesitant about getting into a new teenager show, but after watching just a few episodes of Glee I was hooked. Then, I tried the ultimate test, I rented the DVDs and made my husband watch them. Turns out, he loves the show too! I was very surprised, but pleasantly so, because now we can watch Glee together. In my opinion, Glee is a refreshing show about teenagers. It's not about the rich, the popular, the pretty, or the elite. It's more about geeks, unique students, diversity, minorities, and real life situations. Now I am not saying that I love everything about this show, but there is so much to love anyways. I love that a girl got pregnant and it wasn't all happy and sappy, I love that Kirk is gay but is supported by friends and family although bullied at school. I love that Mercedes is big, be

For so long I have been focused on getting a full time job, and now that I have that I am once again focusing on my future. Questions just keep plaguing me like: "What am I going to be doing in a year?" "Will I go to grad school?" "Will I get a teaching job?" "Will I stay at my current job?" "Will I get another job somewhere?" And now I just can't seem to get these questions out of my head. I feel so lost.  I don't know what to do, where to apply, how to find new opportunities. Ever since I was a little kid, I have been striving for something. Whether it's doing well in sports each season, or getting good grades at the end of the year, getting Top 10 of my class, and then graduating high school, then it was doing well in college, finding a good major, and then graduating. Now that I am done with all that, I am finding that it's hard for me not to feel a little lost, lonely, confused, and without purpose. Once I discove

I was shown this video during college, and it made me sit and really think about teaching for once. I love this video, which is also slam poetry. It's a great video from a teacher's perspective, and it so emotional that it makes me want to cry every time I watch it. Take a minute and watch, you'll be surprised.  

This is for all of you who think poetry is slow, read from pages, boring, and uninteresting. This is slam poetry, a form of poetry that is about rhythm, emotion, performing, and heart. This is a great poem, a great poet, and an awesome performance. Take a minute, listen to this poem and think about what it says, you'll be surprised. 

This teen has been blowing up all over the web, and personally I think he is awesome. Therefore, I've decided to post one of his videos to my blog, and get some more hits for him. I think he is incredibly brave, funnny, cute, and imaginative. If you like, go onto youtube and check out some other videos of his at,  http://www.youtube.com/user/BeenerKeeKee19952#p/u/9/T4ChcMtiiic .

This year at the Putnam Penguin Publishers book sale, I got 53 books for 97$, that makes each book about a $1.83 each. That is an amazing deal and steal. My mom also bought me two Taste Of Home cookbooks for 6$. This year was a little different for me, I went on the first day of the sale, Saturday. My mom, sister, and I got there about 2, and waited in line for about 2 hours. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it was well worth the wait. Once we were in the warehouse, my mom got boxes and picked a spot, and my sister and I went out shopping. It was great, and the deals were awesome. Many books were between the $1 and $4 range, and some were in the $6 and up range. All my books were $4 or less, which is amazing. Waiting in line to pay was long as well, but they pack your books back into your bag or boxes, and since we had 4 boxes and one bag, they took our boxes out to our car for us. It was a great day with beautiful weather, and awesome book sales. Here are some pictures of the li

Here is another video of Liz, being crazy to meet Sandra. This time she mows down on two habanero peppers, and waits 30 seconds until she gets a drink of milk and yogurt. You go Girl! haha So watch it, share it, send it to friends, comment on it, whatever you want! Thanks! Good Luck Liz!!! <3

 One of my favorite book series, is of course Harry Potter. I have been reading these books, and watching these movies since I was 11 years old. I have been an book lover since about third grade, maybe younger, so when I found the Harry Potter books it felt amazing. Finally, here was a series that I could really sink my teeth into. I read the first book, and just sat back in awe. Here was a fantasy book that was fun, interesting, exciting, and new. Each year or two, a new book would come out, and I would devour it within a day or two, and just marvel at the wonderful writing, amazing characters, and intricate plot lines. Each book in my opinion, was amazing in its own right. There are good and bad things about each book, but it really comes down to personal opinion, and I love them all. It was heartbreaking when the 7th and final book was released. It meant the end of the Harry Potter series, and it's been hard for me to handle the truth that no more will be published. The movies

The other day, my husband and I were discussing something, and the topic of MTV came up. The only thing that we watch on MTV these days is the Challenges between Real World and Road Rules people. We still love these shows even if they are a bit fake, and not real reality. We really enjoy the physical aspect of the show, and the challenges they show. This got me thinking, MTV has gone severely downhill since I used to watch it as a kid/teen. Back then I watched Daria, Beavis and Butthead, Real World, TRL, and actual music videos. What do kids watch on MTV now? Engaged and Underage, Teen Pregnancy, My Supersweet 16, Jersey Shore, and so many more horrid shows. Even Real World has gone downhill in my opinion, it's the same exact cast every time, there's always like three guys, three girls, maybe one more of each, one gay person, one black person, one shy girl, one promiscuous girl, and meaty guy, one shy guy, etc. It doesn't feel that real anymore. What are these shows teach

Hey everyone, so my friend Liz who I have known since 9th grade is trying to get on Ellen so that she can meet her hero, Sandra Bullock. She is starting to do some videos that might help her get Ellen's attention. In an attempt to help, I am going to add any and all videos to my blog to help her out. She is a wonderful, fun, kind, and generous person that deserves to get to meet Sandra. So please watcher her videos, comment on them, send them to friends, write funny stuff for her to do for Ellen. It's all for fun, so have some! Here's the video: Also, check her out on youtube at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=midA8KH8THQ&feature=player_embedded . Thanks everyone! Love ya Liz!!!

It's that time of the year again! Maines warehouse is hosting the Penguin Group book sale in Binghamton, NY. This is a great sale, it is in a warehouse and many hardcovers and paperbacks are lowered down to about $1!!!! Here are the days and times of the sale, make sure you bring a big back to carry them all home in! Saturday, November 13  —  1-8PM Monday, November 15  —  5-8PM Tuesday, November 16  —  5-8PM Wednesday, November 17  —  5-8PM Thursday, November 18  —  5-8PM Friday, November 19  —  5-8PM Saturday, November 20  —  1-5 PM Thousands of titles available including Reader's Digest and DK ALL SUBJECTS FICTION * NONFICTION * JUVENILE HARDCOVERS * PAPERBACKS * AUDIO PRICED AS LOW AS $1.00   No entry fee Cash and checks only - NO credit cards (Checks require two forms of ID, including 1 photo ID) Location: Former -Maines warehouse on -Terrace Ave. in -Conklin, NY. Directions: Interstate 81 Northbound:  Make a left off exit 1. Go .8 miles to light at Conklin Rd. Ma

Every year around this time, I start thinking about the upcoming year full of holidays. First there's Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year's, then Easter. These are the major ones, because I don't even want to get started on Christopher Columbus day, gah! Halloween in my opinion, has actually been made better. I think that it's great children and even adults get to change who they are for one day! It's freeing, fun, and exciting. The only thing I do dislike about this holiday, is how much money candy companies make of it! I guess trick or treating is fun, but maybe we should slow down on the candy. It's sad to me that now when we think of Halloween it's not only about how cool we'll look in our costumes, but about how much candy we can get from all the people that are generously giving it away. Thanksgiving is an awesome holiday in my mind, because on one day I see my entire family usually, and we get to eat some really delicio

As of recently, I was hired and took a Customer Service Associate position at Lowe's. Which at first, I thought was just really a glorified cashier. As it turns out, we do a lot more than just ring customers out with their purchases. As a customer service associate, we ring customers out, we handle customer complaints, requests, problems, inquiries, we handle the phones, we find, print, and call about customer's order that were special ordered, or an internet order, or just ordered. We do a lot, and sometimes it gets very busy and crazy. What I really want to write about concerning my job was how to me it seems that people have just lost their ability to be pleasant, nice, and gracious to the people they are buying products from. I had so many customers be rude to me today, that it got me wondering, (and using Full House phrases), "Why are we so rude?" I know that I don't have a very important job, but I am still a person that should be treated with respect wh

Tattoos although painful, are something that society accepts and even praises now a days. Long ago it was something that mostly men who were in some branch of the service did to prove their bravery and have a lasting memory of the honor they got while serving. Now not only do men get tattoos but more and more women are getting tattoos, and not just in places that you can't see all the time either. Kat VonD comes to mind when I think of women who are very liberal with tattoos and look amazing and beautiful with them as well, (even if she is a man stealer). She not only has a lot of tattoos, but she is an amazing tattoo artist and runs her own shop, you can watch her on LA Ink. I waited until I was completely sure, and had enough money before I got my first tattoo last year on spring break during student teaching. I had to wait until I had a break from school, because I got my first tattoo along the side of my right foot, and I would not have been able to wear the correct and appro

As I have said before, I am an avid moviegoer, so my husband and I went to go see Jackass 3D because it looked hilarious. There are some amazingly funny parts, that make you want to pee your pants they are so funny. I don't want to give anything away, but I think this might be one of the best ones of the Jackasses. There are some really original skits, scenes, and jokes that make you laugh till it hurts. This is the full cast, and some of the background members of the group get to do quite a few stunts and jokes, which makes it very funny. Bam, Wee Man, Johnny, and Stevo are a great group of guys that make life seem funny. Of course, as with any Jackass movie, there are some really gross parts, and I do not recommend this movie to anyone who has a weak stomach. It was pretty disgusting in some parts, and I would not have been able to keep anything down had I not eaten for awhile before seeing the movie. The 3D of this movie wasn't something that I really noticed throughou

This week as I stepped on the scale, I had only lost one pound but altogether that is 7 pounds lost in the last 3 weeks. I am extremely proud of myself, and I am very happy that I am seeing results. Although, there are still bad habits that I need to break. I am still giving in to certain cravings, like chocolate or chips. I eat late at night after I get home from work, and I should either not eat at all or try to eat something healthy. I've also broken down this week and had some fast food (yuck) but I am trying to get back on track, and will be making healthy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners these next two days while I am off of work.  I also need to start walking more, and getting outside more even if just for a little while. It's a hard thing to do, change your life, and it is going to be a battle for me. But this is something I have wanted to do and tried to do for a long time, and I think that I am finally committed to being a better me.

      This summer, before I begin graduate school I want to take a trip somewhere that maybe not many people want to go to. I want to go to Florida to the Harry Potter amusement park. I know that it sounds dorky probably to you, but I have grown up reading these books, living in this world, and it would be amazing to go to a place that is all about Harry Potter.       My brother's girlfriend and I are thinking about all meeting down there this summer, and going to the theme park for a few days. My brother, his girlfriend, my husband, and I all love Harry Potter probably too much! haha. But it would be a great way to get to see them again, and it would be a way for my husband and I to go down to Florida again and see the Harry Potter museum and rides and shops!!       They have a special going right now that if you plan a trip for 4 nights you can stay at a hotel on the park for like $278! I think that is very affordable. The only problem is the flight, whether or not that will be

Lately, I have been feeling a bit down and a bit off. I finally figured out that I am severely unhappy with my current weight. I have always struggled with my weight, but during high school I was also pretty trim, because I played 3 sports a year for six years. Since high school, my activity level has steadily decreased, and it makes it hard to keep weight off. I have decided to change my life , I have begun doing weight watchers online, eating more fruit and veggies, I have cut soda out completely, and I have started walking as much as possible. I feel great, and I think work is helping me lose weight because I am active almost everyday, not just sitting home and doing nothing. After two weeks of all this, I have lost six pounds! Now it may not seem like a lot but just seeing the scale and my results makes me feel awesome. I am eating better, exercising, and getting things done. I don't feel as tired, and my feet don't hurt as much after work. I am very proud of myself, and

     Spoiler Alert: If you have not seen Easy A then do not read the rest of this review.      I watched Emma Stone do an amazing job in her new movie, Easy A. Which is about the fact that she lies about losing her virginity, and sleeping with a lot of guys after that. At first you are pulled in by the dry sarcastic humor, the funny family, the interesting character that Emma plays, Olive. But, then you are pulled in by the message of this movie: That lying about who you are, can actually make you momentarily forget who you are.      This movie had many great moments that were funny, happy, sad, intriguing, and for many people that actually went to high school, accurate. I find this movie very accurate in the way that rumors often spread like wildfire, without fact checking at all. Also, there is a bible hugging jugdgementalist (not a real word but still works in this instance) in this movie, that seems to perpetuate all the religious nut stereotypes, which begs the question, "A