a disease that affects people two times during the year: during winter and a few weeks before summer vacation. the side affects vary, and are not limited to: wanting for summer, sudden cravings for ice cream, missing summer clothing, wanting to travel, wanting to go to the beach
I have officially diagnosed myself with summeritis
Come on, I can't be the only one who is tired of the winter weather. Don't get me wrong, I love snow and all that, but I am a girl who is easily bored. Everywhere I go, all I see is snow, snow, snow. Where are the flowers and green grass when you need them???
Today was 50 degrees and it rained a bit, but that's a good sign in my book. It's an indication that spring is on its way! Yay! Any sign of warmer weather is a godsend. I am lusting for warmer weather because I desperately want to swap my layer of puffer jackets, sweaters, and boots for bright dresses and sandals.
In an attempt to cure my summeritis, I gathered a collection of summer-y photos to make up for the drab weather.
It's been over a month since I read a book! If you read my New Year's Resolutions, then you already know that my top goal is to read 50 books. Well, here is the second book of the year! As I mentioned in my other book review, I will try to review this book without giving away too much details of the book! However, that is very difficult so if you haven't read this book before, please ignore the parts that say Spoiler Alert! Rating: «««««
From the book cover, you can probably tell that this book is a mystery/action book, and it is. It's genre is a synthesis of mystery/action/historical fiction, and there is a dash of horror. This is a young adult book, the writing style probably will not appeal to older readers.
Summary: (Spoiler Alert)
This book is about the life of orphan Carver Young. It is set in the late 1800's to the early 1900's in New York City. Carver grew up in Ellis Orphanage in New York City. He has a knack for opening locks, sneaking around, and detective work. He is adopted by a renowned detective, Albert Hawking. AS Carver's very first official "detective case," Carver is to find the identity of his father. The only piece of his father that Carver has was a letter from his father to his orphanage. By matching his father's handwriting to a letter written by Jack the Ripper, (spoiler alert) Carver finds out that his father is none other than the notorious Jack the Ripper. When Carver is investigating his father's identity, there have been brutal murders in New York City. The victims are all women, and they mimic the murders of the infamous Whitechapel murders. With the help of Delia, Finn and others, Carver sets out to find his father, who also is behind the New York murders. (spoiler alert) Carver finds out that Albert Hawking was Jack the Ripper in disguise. Carver's father led a double life. He was a notorious murderer as Jack the Ripper, but was one of the world's finest detectives as Albert Hawking. Carver never had the opportunity to arrest Jack. Although Carver is very disturbed that his father was a murderer, Jack writes Carver a final letter, in which Carver realizes that his father was once a good man. Sorry for the bad summary! It was a very long book with many other major events, so it was hard to condense everything into a paragraph! I guess you'll just have to read the book to know what exactly happened!
My Opinion:
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and interesting. Personally, I love mystery books, so I really enjoyed this book. There was a plot twist in the book, however it was a predictable plot twist. I only have two complaints for this book. The first is that some chapters are extremely short and choppy. The other is that the ending was not very satisfying to me. Other than that, I loved this book!
Main Characters:
Carver Young: He is the protagonist of the novel. He is a fourteen year old boy who was an orphan at Ellis Orphanage. He was then adopted by his mentor, who is a detective, Albert Hawking. Carver aspires to be a detective, and when he is adopted by Albert Hawking, his first "case" is to discover his father's identity, which leads to an unexpected turn of events. Albert Hawking: He is a famous detective and co-owns the secret detective agency the New Pinkertons. Albert is a grumpy person, and can be described as half-crazy. He always wears a large overcoat and is not in the best physical condition. (Spoiler Alert) He is Carver's biological father, and is actually Jack The Ripper in disguise
Delia Ribe: She grew up in the same orphanage as Carver, and is his friend. She was adopted by writers from the New York Times, and she works there in the puzzle department. She helps Carver with finding his father and hunting down Jack The Ripper. She and Carver have a slight crush on each other. Finn Echols: He is yet another orphan who grew up with Carver and Delia. Finn has the repuatation of a "bully" and dislikes Carver. Eventually, he and Carver form a friendship and he helps with capturing Jack The Ripper. Jack The Ripper: (Spoiler Alert) He is Carver's father, and was disguised as Albert Hawking. The only reason why he started the New York murders that mirrored his Whitechapel murders was to create a "game" that would train Carver to be a great detective, and also lead him to his father. Septimus Tudd: He is the other owner of the New Pinkertons detective agency. Septimus works for Roosevelt and he is trying to solve the New York murders behind Roosevelt's back with the Pinkertons so he will gain more attention and respect. Theodore Roosevelt: He is the commissioner of the police. He is basically the overconfident detective who becomes humbled by Carver's work.
Characters:
The characters were very well developed. There were quite a lot of characters, however each of them had their own distinct personality and persona. From the main characters to the minor characters, each one was very well developed and though out.
Plot:
I summarized the plot above, however the plot line was fantastic. Kudos to the author for being super creative! It was super cool how the author (spoiler alert) related Carver finding his father to Jack The Ripper. Even though the "game" that Jack set up for Carver was evil and gruesome, it was a very interesting idea, and I loved it! Throughout the book there were small details that I thought were really cool, such as the use of anagrams. The author did a terrific job writing the mystery. You know how in some mystery novels the author reveals a lot to the reader so that the whole story becomes excruciatingly predictable while the protagonist seems clueless? That did not happen in this novel, which contributes to my liking for this book.
Conclusion:
I definitely recommend this book. For young adults interested in this type of genre, or if you want to read something else other than main stream teenage love stories, then this book is a must read!
Nobody's perfect. Oh, and that also applies to places.
Boston Common
I live in New England. It's an amazing place to live. We have great schools, great people, and great amenities! What's not to love?
But just like anyplace else, New England does have its flaws.
As a New Englander, I have compiled a list of the Pros and Cons of living in New England
Pros:
Snow
I love snow. In my winter lovin' post, snow was my #1 favorite thing about winter. Snow itself is breathtakingly beautiful, but playing in the snow is even better. Who doesn't love a good snowball fight?
Schools
New England is probably most famous for its collection of schools. We are near many private schools, universities, colleges, and music schools. Boston Symphony Orchestras and New England Conservatory are very well known. We are the location of multiple Ivy League schools such as Brown, Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth.
Nature
In New England, nature is everywhere. Vermont is a popular scenic attraction during the fall, and New Hampshire is a popular local skiing destination. The Cape is known for its lighthouses and beaches. Wherever you go, you will always find some scenery to marvel.
Ambiance
Anybody who lives in New England will tell you that it has its own charm and ambiance. You know when you walk into a house, and that house has its own peculiar smell? When you first visit New England, you will feel a peculiar ambiance. It's hard to describe the ambiance, but it's like an old-school, historic, rustic, and classic feeling.
Diverse
Depending on where you reside, New England can be very diverse and ethnic. People of all backgrounds live in New England, providing a range of foods and culture.
Food
Not everyone will agree with me on this, but, New England has some pretty great food. In my opinion, it does not compare to southern BBQ, but New England has great seafood! Maine is known for its lobster, Vermont for its maple syrup, and Boston for its chow-dah... and that's about it!
Beautiful Homes
New England has a long and old history, being part of the original 13 colonies. Many of the old homes and architecture have survived the years. New England suburbs are known for its sprawling brick colonials with meticulously manicured lawns.
The Ocean
The Atlantic is certainly not prettiest ocean you see, its waters are nowhere near clear, and the water is freezing as heck, but being near an ocean is very convenient. Ocean= fresh seafood. Ocean= beautiful beach houses. Ocean= beach. Ocean= beach= fun summer times at the beach. Ocean= whale watching. Ocean= cruise. Ocean= endless possibilities.
History
Being part of the original 13 colonies, New England has a rich and old history. There are countless historic buildings and museums... but that's boring stuff.
Cons:
Snow
Snow can be a pro, but it's also a con. Shoveling is so annoying. I walk home from school, rain or shine, so after a big snowstorm the commute home is very tedious. I hate it when some people do not shovel their sidewalk! Grr! The other downside to snow is cleaning it from the car. We have only one garage, so only one of our cars is protected. We have to constantly scrape ice of the windshields and swipe snow from the roof of our other car.
Expensive
Depending on where you live, the price of living is very expensive. Boston real estate is very high, and Greenwich, CT is renowned for its affluence. Wellesley and Weston are among the richest towns in Massachusetts, and Connecticut is filled with affluent towns. Where I live, the average listing price for a house on the market is $1,246,105.
Hard To Escape
The worst part of New England is that it's hard to escape. To all the New Englanders out there: Face it- you were born here, you were raised here, and you probably will or have attended college here, and you most likely will start your family here.
As a human, music is a central part of life. Music is poetry, music is feelings. There is always a song that can describe my feelings.
I love music. Whether it's classical, pop, rock, jazz, or alternative, I love it. Here are a few, well, a couple, scratch that, a lot of songs that I can't live without:
Imagine
This is absolutely my favorite song of all time. John Lennon is perfect.
There is just something about this song. It's so different, striking, and catchy. The music video is very confusing, but I love the song.
Don't You Forget About Me
This song is a-maz-ing. The beat is so groovy, and the chorus is so catchy. Every time I hear it, I think of the Breakfast Club.
Thriller
Who doesn't like this song?
Paradise
My friend recently acquainted me with the song, and I am so thankful she did. I always find me playing this song on replay. The lyrics speak to me.
Man In The Mirror
This song is the best of both worlds, really. It combines great music with activism. I love the message, and the song. OH, and I love Micheal Jackson. :)
I Will Always Love You
AND III EE-III WILLL AL-WAHHHYY-S LAAH-VE YOUUUUUOOOOUUUU
It's All Coming Back To Me Now
My mother was a die hard Celine Dion fan, so I grew up listening to her music. Every time we went on a road trip, her album would be playing and playing and playing. Basically, I spent most of my childhood listening to Celine. Most people know her song My Heart Will Go On from the Titanic, but I like this song better.
Hey There Delilah
I immediately fell in love with this song when I first heard it. It was my favorite song for a solid 3 years. This song made me want to learn the guitar!
Brave
I found this song through the Windows Commercial, and I am so glad I did. The beat is so catchy, and the lyrics are inspiring. This is my go-to song for motivation.
Young and Beautiful
There is something so hauntingly beautiful in every Lana Del Rey song. This song is so beautiful and dark. It gives me shivers.
Bad Romance
Ever since fifth grade, I was a fan of Gaga. Yes, she is weird, eccentric, and different, however I love her songs. I love her individuality and uniqueness. This song is my favorite song by her.
If I Die Young
This is a really beautiful and sad song. I love it so much, but sometimes the lyrics make me cry.
F**K You
Sorry for the explicit song, but this song is so. darn. good. Lily Allen does not get enough credit for how brilliant she is. This song is something I listen to on a daily basis. The lyrics are catchy, but most importantly, this song promotes equality.
Sorry for so many songs! What are your favorite songs? Let me know in your comments!
This has been such a loooong and tedious week. I had a geometry test on Tuesday, then a french test on Wednesday. I had a huge history paper due Friday. I spent three whole afternoons writing the darn thing! The outcome of this paper basically determines my grade for the quarter. School has really stressed me out this week. It may not seem much, two tests and a paper, but it certainly stressed me out!
My school had a snow day on Thursday, which I was so thankful for. If it weren't for the snow day, I don't think I would have finished my history paper!! The downside of the snow day was that it made Friday feel like a Monday, and I hate Mondays.
The highlight of my week was most definitely Friday. Who doesn't like Fridays? Yesterday, I celebrated my friend's 15th birthday! In my opinion, you are never too old for birthday parties! We had lasagna, mac n' cheese and chicken parm for dinner. It was a carb lover's dream!
Lasagna is my favorite food ever, what's yours?
Have you ever heard of Cards Against Humanity? I never have until yesterday. It's the most hilarious game ever! We were playing it at the birthday party yesterday. The easiest way to describe the game is it's basically apples to apples but PG-13. It's super funny, and I recommend it for everyone.
I am too excited that Saturday is here. Not only does it signify the start of the much anticipated weekend, for our school, it is also the start of February Vacation! No school for a week! No stress, no obnoxious classmates, no eccentric teachers, but the best part? No homework! (well actually we do have homework...) My plans for vacation? Well, while my friends slip away on a 10-day cruise to the Bahamas or a trip to Cali, I'm stuck here in New England with all the snow. I will be spending the week in my jammies, catching up on some reading, playing my violin, and just the doing the norm.
Call me weird, but my idea of a perfect vacation has never been traveling. My perfect vacation would be a week at home, not having to have any responsibilities. I would sit around in my jammies, watch movies, catch up on my favorite TV shows, read from dawn until dusk, blog, and not worry about anything. When I say anything, I mean anything. I am extremely lazy on vacations.
As much as I'd like to do nothing this vacation, I can't. My math teacher had the audacity to assign homework and a project. Ugh, way to ruin my hopes of a Gossip Girl marathon. I also have a french project to worry about, and a biology test. Honestly, I don't know if vacations should be called vacations at all.
Basically, I have a lot to accomplish this week. Aside from the school stuff, I would like to do other things on my mind. First of all, I need to start watching Gossip Girl. I have promised myself that I would go on a Gossip Girl marathon. All of my friends have seen the show, and I always heard positive reviews. I feel like its also a classic, every-girl-must-watch kind of show. Speaking of shows, I also want to watch some more Criminal Minds, NCIS, and my guilty pleasure, Dance Moms! In addition, I recently ordered The Fault in Our Stars, Divergent, and Eleanor & Park online. If they come in early enough, I absolutely need to read them during vacation! When I finish them, I'll definitely do a review! If you have any book suggestions, please comment!
Criminal Minds is such a good show!
Excited to start watching!
I can't wait for these to arrive!
I love school vacations because they give me so much time to practice my violin. It's tough to fit an hour and a half of practicing everyday. Sometimes I am unable to practice due to tremendous amounts of homework. Thankfully, this vacation will give me more than enough time to practice! I'm currently playing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto! It' s so beautiful and magnificent. To all the violinists out there: If you haven't played the piece yet, you must!
Hillary Hahn plays Mendelssohn so beautifully!
Share with me where you are going for February Vacation in the comments below!
What are some of your goals for February Vacation?
If you read my last post, then you probably already know about my obsession with The Breakfast Club. Due to my unhealthy obsession with the amazing movie, I decided to make some outfits inspired by the characters!
After seeing The Breakfast Club for the third time yesterday, I have come to the conclusion that I am obsessed with it. It has become my favorite movie of all time! Honestly, if you haven't seen, or heard of, The Breakfast Club, you have been living under a rock!
I don't even know where to begin, the movie is just pure perfection!
The Characters:
John Bender
a.k.a- The Criminal
Girls, if you like bad boys, this guy is for you! He is your classic bad boy. He does not have a care in the world, and he is never afraid to speak his mind. He lives in an abusive household, but beneath his bad-boy persona, he is actually very sweet and caring. Plus, he is hilarious and witty! Can I mention how hot he is??
Claire Standish
a.k.a- The Princess
This girl is your typical princess: pretty, social, popular, and rich. Although her life may seem picturesque, she is stuck between her parents, who are on the brink of divorce. Basically, her parents use her as a way to get back at the other parent.
Allison Reynolds
a.k.a- The Basket Case
She is just plain weird. She is very shy and introverted, however she opens up near the end of the movie. Her parents flat out ignore her. Her parents treat her as if she did not exist.
Andrew "Andy" Clark
a.k.a- The Jock/ Athlete/ Sporto
Andy is your typical jock. He is a wrestling varsity letter man. As you probably can tell, all the characters in the movie have problems with their parents. Andy's problem is that his father dictates his life. Being number one on the wrestling team is never enough. His father has huge expectations for Andy's sport career, and he controls Andy's life. Whatever Andy does, it's to satisfy his father.
Brian Johnson
a.k.a- The Brain
Brian is the brain. He is the straight A student who cannot fail a class. Brian is currently failing shop, and his parents are outraged. His parents create a lot of stress for Brian. His grades must be only A's. Nothing lower.
For me, this movie is so relate-able! It's the quintessential high-schooler movie! Even if you are not a high schooler, this movie is absolutely fantastic. I don't want to do a review on this movie or anything, because I do not want to give away the plot for those who haven't seen it. Basically, the run-down is that five students from different levels on the social hierarchy are forced to spend a Saturday together in detention. They all realize that they are quite similar, and they all face problems with their parents.
In high school, or in life in general, there will be people who can be categorized as "a criminal," "a princess," "a basket case," "a jock," and "a brain." No matter how different people may seem, we are all similar. We all go through the same problems and face the same issues. No matter how rich or poor you are, no one has a perfect life. True, some people have it better while others have it worse, however we can all connect on a certain level. Look past judging others because of their reputation or social class, because we are all on the same boat.
The reason why I love this film so much is its message. There are so many elements of self-discovery, and I can easily relate to the characters. Don't we all have family issues? Plus, this movie has the best quotes!
The ending scene is pure perfection:
Oh and by the way, The Breakfast Club Soundtrack is fantastic
Sometimes, I wish my life could be a 80's movie.
P.S- I apologize if I sound like a obnoxious fan girl in this post, the movie is just that good!
Men are harder to shop for than women. Depending on their hobbies, gift ideas will vary widely. Shopping for them is frustrating, because they either have everything they need or don't want anything!
Stumped on ideas?
Whether you like to keep gifts modest, or you wish to dig a little deeper into your wallet, here are some gift ideas for him!
As I mentioned in my Gift ideas for her, Valentine's Day celebrates love. That being said, the best gift you can give your beau is you! Show him your love, if you know what I mean (wink wink)
If you really don't know what to give your beau, you can never go wrong with bacon!
