New look coming soon!
I'm just going to warn you all know, I am going to be changing my blog name, look, url, and some other things very soon! The title will be changed to "Ceci Creates" because I think it fits me and the direction that this blog is going! So just a heads up ;)
(ps check out my earlier post from today!)
Everything She Didn't Say {Book Review}
In 1911, Carrie Strahorn wrote a memoir entitled Fifteen Thousand Miles by Stage, which shared some of the most exciting events of 25 years of traveling and shaping the American West with her husband, Robert Strahorn, a railroad promoter, investor, and writer. That is all fact. Everything She Didn't Say imagines Carrie nearly ten years later as she decides to write down what was really on her mind during those adventurous nomadic years.Certain that her husband will not read it, and in fact that it will only be found after her death, Carrie is finally willing to explore the lessons she learned along the way, including the danger a woman faces of losing herself within a relationship with a strong-willed man and the courage it takes to accept her own God-given worth apart from him. Carrie discovers that wealth doesn't insulate a soul from pain and disappointment, family is essential, pioneering is a challenge, and western landscapes are both demanding and nourishing. Most of all, she discovers that home can be found, even in a rootless life.
With a deft hand, New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick draws out the emotions of living--the laughter and pain, the love and loss--to give readers a window not only into the past, but into their own conflicted hearts. Based on a true story.
Where do I start? This book is SO GOOD! I had really low expectations for it but it blew me away! I really, really, really loved the authenticity that this book has (I mean, it is based on a memoir but this book felt super authentic). I felt as if Carrie "Dell" was sitting next to me and talking to me. One of the things that I really appreciated was the fact the Carrie struggled with her body image, which I haven't read much of. This is something that I have an on-and-off battle with so this was so great to read. All the descriptions made me feel like I had stepped inside that time period and was traveling all over the place with "Dell" and "Pard". I could also feel Carrie's pain and teared up a few times. I also learned a lot about Manifest Destiny and even though Robert and Carrie Strahorn are real and did so much, I don't think I've ever heard of them.
I love books that make me laugh, and (you guessed it), this book made me laugh. I was reading and started cracking up and my sisters gave me the "yep she's insane" look. The humor felt really real and it wasn't forced. I'm laughing now just thinking about it.
The adventures were so great! Again, they all felt very real and a lot of them were hilarious. But whenever something went wrong my heart started pounding and you just want everything to turn out alright.
Okay, so the book starts out with Carrie and Robert getting married and yes, I did want to smack Robert a few times, but his adoration for Carrie was soooo adorable. And Carrie's love for her husband was so real (seeing a pattern here?:P) and inspiring.
I actually can't think of anything that I disliked. I really liked this book xD
Like I said, the book starts with Carrie and Robert getting married so there are some references to that - and they can't have children - but it's clean besides those few references.
Take a wild guess....
5 stars
So I love Historical Fiction but this one just blew me away! I now want to read Carrie Strahorn's real memoir 15 Thousand Miles By Stage, just to compare the two.
Have you read Everything She Didn't Say or 15 Thousand Miles By Stage? Did you like them? Do you want to read them?
I would like to thank Revell Reads for giving me a free copy of Everything She Didn't Say in exchange for my honest opinion.
Back To School Tips
Hello everyone! Yes, it's Monday, the dreaded day of doom and destruction
Anyways, I think by this time everyone has already started school. This year I'm a junior, so I'd just thought I'd share some wisdom that I've earned over the years
[what wisdom??]
*throws Lina out*
Just a note before we begin, most of these tips are geared towards homeschoolers (and MoDGers more specifically), but as for the rest of you, feel free to pick and choose which ones work for you!
1. Don't snooze your alarm
This is sooo important! It may not seem like it, but it is! I read in "Seven Habits for Highly Effective Teens" (which I highly recommend) that every day is a series of battles that you win or lose, and the outcome of these battles is how your day goes. The first battle of your day is when your alarm goes off. If you hit that snooze button, then bed wins over mind, and the rest of your day will be sluggish. But if you jump right out, then mind wins out of bed, and you'll be more productive. I'm not kidding! Whenever I don't hit my snooze button I feel that I'm more productive!
2. Start your day off with prayer
This has also helped me be more productive. If you start your day off with God, then you will also see an increase in productivity. What I do it say a morning offering, and if I have my prayer book (I can't remember the name at this moment....but it goes like Carmelite Prayers by St. Therese of the Little Flower or something like that...) I say the morning prayers. If I don't, then I make up a small one. Then I read 1 chapter of the Bible. I have a small notebook that I keep for that and I have three questions I ask myself for each chapter: Where, What, Why. Where is for where in the Bible is this (so, for example, Genesis Chapter 8), What is for what verse stood out to me, and Why is why that verse stood out to me. I do all of this even before I turn on my computer and it really, really helps!
3. Close all your tabs
4. Schedule everything
This year I decided to schedule everything. And I mean everything. Here's an example of my Monday schedule:
I haven't been following it very faithfully as of yet because the first two weeks are weird with classes and Labor Day, but I have been getting better, and I seem to be getting more things done!
5. Do things in chunks
I've found (and this goes with #4) that if I schedule things in chunks, I'm more likely to get it done. Instead of just having no schedule whatsoever and just mindlessly going through schoolwork.
6. Allow for music practice times
This also goes with #4 and 5 and is for you musicians. I know its SUPER hard to get all of your practicing in. Believe me. That's why I do some schoolwork, then some violin, more school, more violin. That's the only way you're going to be able to fit in all the practicing you have to do.
7. Take small breaks
8. Go to bed no later than 10:30
I know, I know it's really tempting to stay up till midnight finishing that Algebra II homework, but you need rest! Go to bed no later than 10:30 and your body AND mind will thank you.
9. Allow yourself some downtime
Downtime is important. Maybe on the weekends just read that book on your TBR list. Write some, take a walk. This was all mentioned in "7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens", allowing your body to rest is just as important as getting all your schoolwork done, or else you'll burn out and your school won't come out the way you want it to.
10. Don't beat yourself up
If you got a B instead of an A, don't beat yourself up. It does no good and it isn't good for you mental health. Just take a deep breath, promise yourself that you'll do better, and move on. That's all you can do.
11. Don't procrastinate
This is literally the worst thing you can do. You keep putting things off until you're behind 10 lessons in math, 15 Religion papers, and you're running against the clock trying to turn things in on time.
12. Try to turn things in on time
This goes hand-in-hand with the last one. At the end of last year, I was sooo behind. I was writing 2 Religion papers a day, 2 Latin quizzes, believe me, you do yourself a HUGE favor by turning things in on time
13. Have "that one friend"
Have that "one friend" that you can gripe to whenever you want. I have this one friend (and we're actually in 2 of the same classes) and you know, it's awesome to just be able to chat her and rant about, well, anything!
14. Listen to music
Are any of these tips helpful? Which one do you most agree with? Any back to school tips of your own?
Some of My Favorite Period Drama Couples
Sybil and Tom Branson
{Downton Abbey}
~ I promise to devote every waking to your happiness ~
~ I will not give him up! ~
It should be no surprise that these two are one of my favorite period drama couples! I absolutely loooooooooove these two!! Season 3 totally destroyed me because #reasons. I really wished that Downton had focused a bit more on their romance than others, like Mary and Matthew's. Or more on their situation than the whole Mary-Matthew-Sir Richard-Lavinia situation. But beside the total lack of seeing them that we get, I am bery content with their romance (except *sniff* what happens in Season 3)
Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester
{Jane Eyre}
~ Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear. Your mind is my treasure, and if it were broken, it would be my treasure still ~
~ He is more myself than I am. Whatever our two souls are made of, his and mine are the same ~
Laura Timmins and Fisher Bloom
{Lark Rise to Candleford}
~ Come on, show the world Laura Timmins ain't buttoned up ~
~ I just wanted more time with you. One more day ~
I cried. A lot. When Fisher Bloom left. It was honestly the most heartbreaking scene in Lark Rise to Candleford (needless to say, I was very torn when SOMETHING *coughsomeonecoughcough* CAME BACK THE NEXT SEASON). Out of all of Laura's "loves", Fisher was my favorite. I also liked Daniel, but no, Fisher was my top pick. He really brought out the other side of her, and I think he genuinely cared for her.
Amy Dorrit and Arthur Clennam
{Little Dorrit}
~ I have thought about you. Every day, every hour, every minute that I have been in
here ~
~ Well, the truth this. . . I have nothing! Father placed his money Merdle, just like everyone else. So now will you share my fortune with me? ~
Cosette and Marius Pontemercy
{Les Miserables}
~ Would you weep, Cosette, for me? ~
~ Every day, we'll remember that night and the vow we made ~
Soo....does this count as a period drama?? Well, I'm counting it as one. These two. Gah, these two (I'm really trying not to use caps in this post but it's getting hard). I know that these two lovelies get a bit of a bad rep for some reason? I know that some people have problems with "insta-love" but it can happen. I haven't read Les Miserables yet (I have to get through The Old Curiosity Shop first....) but I love this quote that I found about Les Mis and Marius and Cosette's love
Emma Woodhouse and George Knightley
{Emma}
~ If I loved you less I might be able to talk about it more ~
~ We always say what we like to one another ~
Mr. Knightley is...he's....(like I said, trying not to use caps here or excessive screaming but it's getting EVEN HARDER) Anyways, I really, really love these two. They complement each other soooo well! I really can't compare them to anyone because they are! They just are! I also just realized that this might (?) be one of the few period dramas where it takes the girl longer to realize that she loves the guy/guy loves her.
Lorna Doone and John Ridd
{Lorna Doone}
~ You break my heart then accuse me of cruelty? ~
~ For the first time in my life, I am truly happy. I am loved for who I am, not for selfish reasons ~
I honestly adore these two. I love their story and yeah. I love Lorna. I love John. I love every single tiny little detail about them (at this point I'm realizing that I started out trying to analyze each couple sorta to just fangirling.....whoops) At the end, I was really REALLY (I caved to the caps) worried that this was going to have a Romeo and Juliet ending, but yeah, the ending was sweet <333
Laurey Williams and Curly McLain
{Oklahoma}
~ If she liked me any more, she'd sic the dogs on me ~
~ Thought you was somebody ~
Again, not sure if they qualify as a period drama couple, but these two might be the banteriest (yes, I just made that up) of all the couple (even more so than Emma and Mr. Knightley) and I love them to death. I remember the first time I was watching Oklahoma (which is one of my favorite musicals of all time) I kept thinking, "Um, helloooo?? They are so obviously in love with each other!!" Anyways, yeah, these two are so adorable and I love Gordon MacRae.
Margaret Hale and John Thornton
{North & South}
~ I don't want to possess you! I wish to marry you because I love you! ~
~ You've been to Helstone! I thought those had all gone! ~
*inhales and bites lip to stop from screaming* (the caps lock button is taunting me now) This is probably my favorite period drama EVER. I love every single thing about this one. I didn't realize how much I loved it until I rewatched it and was left with this awesome feeling. From the theme music, to Richard Armitage, to the plot! GAH. And John Thornton and Margaret Hale!! They are amazzzzinnggggg!!!
Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney
{Northanger Abbey}
~ Now I must give you one smirk, then we can be rational again ~
~ I thought you were so angry with me, you told him what you knew. Which would have justified any discourtesy ~
I love this movie (because I haven't used that word before......) JJ Field was uh-mazing! I was cracking up during most of his scenes. Catherine and Henry are prooobably one of my favorite (if not my favorite) Jane Austen couples. Catherine is so innocent and I really love how Henry loves her. I really wish that Jane Austen wrote sequels, because I would love to see what their later life would entail.
Juliet Ashton and Dawsey Adams
{The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society}
~ A private freedom to feel the world growing darker all around you, but you only need a candle to see new worlds unfold ~
~ Do you suppose it's possible for us to already belong to someone before we've met them? ~
This is another new favorite. This story is sooo sweet, and yes, I suppose there is a bit of "insta-love" but I honestly don't mind! Juliet and Dawsey are so sweet and agrghhsadhjfdksfmacx, I can't really say more because #spoilers
There you have it! Some of my favorite period drama couples!
Have you seen these period dramas? Do you love them too? What are some of your favorite period drama couples?
Judah's Scepter And The Sacred Stone {Book Review}
"The Scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until He comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the Nation is His." (Genesis 49:10)
Princess Teia, daughter of Judah's last king, begins a harrowing journey after she's rescued by the prophet Jeremiah from the burning city of Jerusalem. They flee to Eygpt, where amid Teia's efforts to cope with the devastating loss comes an unexpected awakening of her heart when she meets Eochaid, a foreign prince. The two young nobles fall in love, but are soon forced to part and follow their preordained destinies of ruling separate nations.
Against the backdrop of daring escapes on land and seas, raging sword battles, and deadly sorcerers, an emotional journey ensues across multiple continents for both Teia and Eochaid. All the whole they're unaware that God's steady hand guides their paths as part of his plan to restore Judah's everlasting throne -- as symbolized by the sacred stone that Israel's patriarch Jacob once used as a pillow in the wilderness.
Judah's Scepter And The Sacred Stone is the story of an everlasting kingdom and of true love.
I really enjoyed the genre! I've never read anything that was Biblical fiction and I found that I liked it a lot. While I was not entirely familiar with the story from the Bible, I could still remember pieces from the Bible. Another sorta interesting thing was the prologue and the epilogue. I will have to say that I strongly disagree with the ending. No one knows when the end of the world is.
I liked some of the characters. Especially the main characters. But I think my favorite character was Eochaid. I think that his character arc was the best one. Teia also had a character arc, but her's wasn't as strong and not as believable.
*sigh*
I am a romance sucker and this romance was sooooo adorable. I wouldn't actually categorize this book as a romance since the hero and heroine weren't together for that much time. But still, adorable!
Okay, so this may be just me, but this book was a little preachy. I don't mind books that give the message that this book was trying to give (trusting in God) but I don't think that Brittain did an amazing job of incorporating a great message. It just sounded really preachy in some parts :/
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh. basdihajlsadfes *huffs* So. Some of the characters were sorta whiny?? And yeah, I really can't stand it when a character complains for like no reason.
Aaand, I really didn't like some of the characters....THE SECONDARY CHARACTERS ACTED LIKE SECONDARY CHARACTERS NOO. Yeah. Pet peeve.
It was also really rushed. Like, the ending???? I had to read it several times over to make sure I had read it right.
There were Druid priests and mention of their rituals.
Some references. Actually, quite a few.
The princesses also stumble into something really disgusting in Eygpt. I think that I might have liked the book a bit better without the content.
I wish I could have rated this higher, but....
3 stars
Sorry....
Have you read this book? Do you want to? Have you read books in the Biblical fiction genre before? What did you think of them?
Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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