Sunday, January 30, 2011

This Week In Books


When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
666 Park Avenue by Gabriella Pierce (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Glee: Foreign Exchange by Sophia Lowell (Requested for Review)
The Big Book of Knitted Monsters by Rebecca Danger (Purchased through Borders.con for in-store pick up)

Friday, January 28, 2011

Lookalikes 134


The Language of Trees by Ilie Ruby


Evenfall by Liz Michalski

I'm enjoying this photo but I think I prefer the top cover and how it reflects two seasons but I love the blue of the water in the second cover!

Thanks to Rebecca Rasmussen who suggested this lookalike!

Have you spotted a Lookalike you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Weekly Dose of Crafts!

Ok this is getting depressing, I'm still working on this scarf and it still looks the same. I should put it down for something more colorful but I can't seem to. I will say this mindless knitting in the round is great for when I get home and I don't feel like doing much. Next time I need to pick a color with some variation in it though!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Hardcover vs Paperback 117

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

Hardcover

Paperback


Sarah and Brianna have always been friends, and it's always gone like this: guys talk to Sarah in order to get closer to Brianna. So even though Sarah met Ryan first, she's not surprised that he ends up with Brianna (even though Sarah has a massive crush on him). The three of them hang out, and Sarah and Ryan's friendship grows until one night an innocent exchange between them leads to a moment that makes Sarah realize that Ryan might be interested in her after all. But if there's one unwritten rule, it's this: you don't mess around with a friend's boyfriend. So Sarah tries to resist temptation. But with the three of them thrown together more and more, tension builds between Sarah and Ryan, and when they find themselves alone together at one point, they realize they just can't fight how they feel anymore.... 
 
While I enjoy both covers I think the hardcover speaks to the plot a million more times, but at the same time it's not a very original concept for a cover. As far as the paperback goes every time I see it I want to turn the girl right side up. 

Thanks to Gail and Jenny who suggested this H vs P!


Have you spotted a Hardcover vs. Paperback you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

This Week In Books



The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
 Withering Tights by Louise Rennison (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
The Implosion of Aggie Winchester by Lara Zielin (Accepted Review Copy)

Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis (Just Showed Up Review Copy)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Weekly Dose of Crafts!

How sad, I only have 1 thing to share this week, remember when I had tons and tons, well no more. :( I only worked on my lace scarf but I worked on it a lot over the weekend actually and during the entire airing of the Golden Globes on Sunday, I couldn't stop! But since it is lace it really didn't get very big ha! Hopefully you got more crafting done than I did!


For more crafty goodness be sure to stop over at WIP Wednesday! And find me on Raverly as mint910.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Hardcover vs Paperback 116

Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn by Sarah Miller

Hardcover

Paperback


What if you could get inside the head of the boy you love? Hear his every thought...? Know his every dream...? Listen in on his every fantasy...?

The narrator of Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn can, and she tells us the story of her beloved Gid, an adorably clueless boy who flukes his way into one of the fanciest New England prep schools.  Gideon's more than a little out of his league at Midvale, especially compared to Cullen and Nicholas, his charming but morally ambiguous rommates. They terrorize Gideon as they initiate him with a bet over Gid's borderline virginity, and the feisty, sexy Molly McGarry. Gideon is torn--he wants to prove himself, bu he also wants Pilar Benitez-Jones, the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. Hooking up with Molly might be possible, but winning Pilar would be legendary. On the other hand, Gideon actually likes Molly. It's all incredibly confusing and intoxicating. And one hysterically funny girl is savoring Gideon's every thought. But who is she?

I've always thought the hardcover for this book was suggestive in a way that didn't really fit with the book but the paperback is a little blah, so this is a toss up for me. 


Have you spotted a Hardcover vs. Paperback you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

This Week In Books



Monday:


Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Badd by Tim Tharp (Just Showed Up Review Copy)

Tuesday:


Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Paris was Ours by Penelope Rowlands (Just Showed Up Review Copy)

Friday, January 14, 2011

Lookalikes 133

 The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens

Falling Home by Karen White

There is something about these two. While I'm not totally convinced they are the legs of the same person the angle is very similar and the focus of the photo is as well. Also both dresses have the same sort of trim. The foot in the air on the first cover has always seemed kind of off to me, so I think I will pick Falling Home for the winner here. 


Have you spotted a Lookalike you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Weekly Dose of Crafts!

So sadly my crafting rampage is coming to an end, but for a good reason! I got a full time job! So I'll still be crafting but not to the extreme I once was.

The last week was all about scarves for me. I worked on three different ones, hopefully I will finish one soon so I can wear it to my new job!

I did a little more work on the Chroma scarf, I know for a fact the other colorways look great in this scarf because several other people on raverly had the same idea as me and are doing this scarf!


When my ball winder and swift came I had to start in on some projects that involved hanks of yarn, I had to get my wind on! This strange triangle shaped thing is actually the pattern A Little Ruffle.


Yarn used:
Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light 4284

I also started my first project in lace weight yarn. After a false start of another project I decided to make Melody's shawl


Yarn used:
Knit Picks Gloss Lace Yarn in Sterling

For more crafty goodness be sure to stop over at WIP Wednesday! And find me on Raverly as mint910.


Giveaway: Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg


Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn Academy on scholarship, isn't exactly interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be—especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London. Lizzie is happy about her friend's burgeoning romance, but less than impressed by Will Darcy, a pompous jerk who looks down on the middle class. So imagine Lizzie's surprise when Will asks her to the prom! Will Lizzie's pride and Will's prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? From Elizabeth Eulberg comes a very funny, completely stylish prom season delight of Jane Austen proportions.

Here's how to enter to be one of two winners of Prom and Prejudice.

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.

The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S. only.

The giveaway will end January 25th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

Entries left in the comments of this blog post will not be counted, please fill out the giveaway entry form.

**Prize provided by marketing firm**


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Hardcover vs Paperback 115

Maine Squeeze by Catherine Clark

Mass Market Paperback

Paperback Reprint with Banana Splitsville


In Maine Squeeze, eighteen-year-old Colleen Templeton can't wait for summer. She's going to share a house with her best friends, earn money for college, and spend every free moment with her boyfriend, Ben. It's the perfect plan. At least until she discovers that she's going to be working side by side with Evan, the guy she dated last summer—the best summer of her life . . . until he broke her heart. Will Colleen be able to keep her cool when this summer starts heating up? 

While the original paperback works for the type of book it is, I think it doesn't quite speak to the right audience. The style of illustration I feel targets someone a little younger than a YA reader (maybe an early middle grade reader) so it makes sense to me that the book was repackaged with something that would attract someone slightly older and I think the intended audience.

Have you spotted a Hardcover vs. Paperback you would like to contribute? Send me an email!


Sunday, January 09, 2011

This Week In Books


Monday:

Finding Perfect by Susan Mallery (Purchased at used bookstore)
The Sweetheart's Knitting Club by Lori Wilde (Purchased at used bookstore)
The Best of Friends by Susan Mallery (Purchased at used bookstore)
Seaview Inn by Sherryl Woods (Purchased at used bookstore)
Knit Fast, Die Young by Mary Kruger (Purchased at used bookstore)
Casting Off by Nicole R. Dickson (Purchased at used bookstore)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (Purchased at used bookstore)

Wednesday:


Knit.Sock.Love by Cookie A (Ordered on Knitpicks.com)
Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy D. Johnson (Ordered on Knitpicks.com)
Someone Like You by Susan Mallery (Purchased at Half Price Books)
Knit Two by Kate Jacobs (Purchased at Half Price Books)


Friday: 


Timeless by Alexandra Monir (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen (Just Showed Up Review Copy)

Friday, January 07, 2011

Lookalikes 132

 Reaching Through Time by Lurlene McDaniel

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

It really upsets me when a stock photo I really don't like pops up more than once and that is the case here. The photo is just so staged and awkward, you can't even see the girl's nose, I just can't dig it! I'm usually all about simple design but in this case I like the first cover because all the swirls and bright colors in the background help distract from the image.

Thanks to Yan who suggested this lookalike!

Have you spotted a Lookalike you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Weekly Dose of Crafts!

This post is late because Blogger decided not to work this last night!

Usually I try to do my posts in chronologically order but this week I'm started with a few really exciting things! I ordered a swift and a ball winder and they both just got here this week! They are both from Knit Picks. I had been going back and forth on if I really needed then but then decided to go for it and get the swift right before it went back to normal price! So even though I'm currently on the Yarn Diet I was able to enjoy some new purchases because I had ordered than last week and the week before!


Here is the ball winder with some lace (I've never worked with lace, this came yesterday too!) 


Also with a gift certificate for Christmas I was able to get the Harmony Needle set and that came too! I'm pretty impressed with the case it fit all my needles, including the 3 sizes I bought that didn't come with the set and the other ones I had bought previously! 


Over the weekend I was at Borders (surprising right?) and was looking at their sale and clearance stuff, I saw this really cute bag which I guess it supposed to be for bath stuff or something and I thought wouldn't this make the greatest project bag, and it did!


And here is what was inside the project bag, 2 balls of Knit Picks new Chroma and the scarf I am making from them, based on the Noro Striped Scarf pattern.


Yarn used:
Chroma Mixtape
Chroma Regency

This is the first project I started after the Yarn Diet began a crocheted cowl called the Calm Cowl.  I think I did the pattern a bit wrong the first few rows but I think I'm going to leave it.


Yarn used:
3 skeins of Berroco Comfort DK 2742

Also around Christmas I started and finished a hat for my dad's birthday which is coming up soon! It looks sort of long here but when you fold the brim over it fits (me) perfectly! I decided to go with stripes because I didn't have enough of the darker brown to complete the hat to match the scarf I made him for Christmas. And I found out they don't even have the color anymore so yeah! The pattern is from the book More Last Minute Gifts that I got from the library. 


Yarn used:
KP Comfy Bulky in Fedora and Bison

And finally I enjoyed the seed stitch so much in the cowl I recently showed for a friend I thought I would try it again in a scarf, held double for another friend!


Yarn used:
2 skeins of Jiffy in Shocking Pink


For more crafty goodness be sure to stop over at WIP Wednesday! And find me on Raverly as mint910.


Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Hardcover vs Paperback 114

The Amanda Project: Invisible I

Interesting note, in the paperback version the Invisible I was dropped from the title and also the two versions of the book have different authors. I do remember hearing the author listed on the first book was actually a pen name for an author with other authors writing sequels so I guess Melissa Kantor's name (along with Amanda, the character in the book) was used on the paperback to attract fans of hers that may not have known she wrote the book when it was released in Hardcover. Thoughts?

Hardcover

Paperback


Mysterious, charismatic, and one of a kind—the only way to find Amanda is to think like Amanda.
When enigmatic freshman Amanda Valentino arrived at Endeavor High, she chose three people—Callie, Hal, and Nia—to guide her through the choppy waters of her new school. Except she didn't tell them about each other. When Amanda leaves, the three must reluctantly work together to figure out why. But once they start piecing together the cryptic clues that Amanda herself is leaving for them, they realize that everything they thought they knew about her is false. The more they dig, the mystery of where—and who—Amanda is deepens. 

As far as the covers are concerned I think the paperback has a much more current feel than the hardcover but I really do not like the invisible thing going on, it won't be so bad if it wasn't on top of bricks.

Have you spotted a Hardcover vs. Paperback you would like to contribute? Send me an email!
 

Sunday, January 02, 2011

This Week (and last) in Books


Last week passed me by and I completely forgot to post so here is what I got the past 2 weeks!


Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
The Pain Merchants by Janice Hardy (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Where She Went by Gayle Forman (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Throat by R.A. Nelson (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Gemini Bites by Patrick Ryan (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Clarity by Kim Harrington (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Love, Happiness and Other Lies by Mother Told Me by Krista Lee Woodman (Christmas Gift from aunt who knows author and had it signed for me!)

Teenie by Christopher Grant (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker (Accepted Review Copy)
Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Loser/Queen by Jodi Lynn Anderson (Purchased at Borders)

A Strikes Again, 2 More Times

The Tuesday before Christmas another mysterious package ended up on my doorstep. This time A had send me a digital picture frame with a memory card in it. Turns out it was full of pictures half which I assume are from the new episodes starting tomorrow, Monday the 3rd and the other half sort of weird random pictures which I think are clues of some kind. At the end of the slideshow was the web address abcfamily.com/hohoho which leads to another photo gallery and a note that says "Where and what am I? You tell me. Share your thoughts in the comments section below!"




Last Tuesday I got what I believe is the final mystery package from A. The note inside said "Hey Liars, Happy New Year? I Don't Think So. -A" Besides the calla lilies there was some A confetti and inside of that a puzzle or rather 2 puzzles! I didn't find a web link this time so I guess we will have to watch the premiere tomorrow to see what this all means! I can't wait for the show to return, this Fall it ended at the end of my favorite book of the series (so far, I recently heard there are going to be 4 more books in the series!) so I can't wait to see where it goes next!




Saturday, January 01, 2011

Yarn Diet 2011



Today is a scary day. I'm officially on a Yarn Diet until June 1st of this year. Now before you go "Oh yeah right you can't do that Alea!" I will tell you I am allowed to buy as much yarn as I want 5 times during those 5 months but really 5 times is not very many times!!!!!!! And if I use up half of my yarn before June 1st I'm done and can go back to my yarn buying ways! Even though I'm new to the yarny crafts (I only learned the very end of last February!) I have gathered quite the stash!

So in preparation for this challenge I took another set of pictures of my stash, pulled out every single skein of yarn and then counted them all! I'm afraid to say it but I ended up with 381 skeins, even beyond my own guess! HOLY CRAP! Here is a flickr album of all the yarn and in the descriptions I put all the projects I have planned for the yarn so I won't forget and can focus on those instead of finding new projects (and new yarn) to want!

I do have a set of needles from Knit Picks, a ball winder, a swift and a few final skeins of yarn on the way which will hopefully ease me into my diet though!

To read all the details check out Tami's post here! Also, please feel free to join us, we could use some other people to share our misery! :P

Favorite Books of 2010

I may not have read as many books this year as I did the last, yet 7 books rated very high in my book and received 5 stars during 2010! Here they are in chronological order! I believe all but 1(?) the Crochet book by Klutz were released in 2010! Click the titles of each to read my review.



Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
5 stars given on March 22nd of 2010
Genre: Historical Romance








The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow
5 stars given on April 1st 2010
Genre: Middle Grade










Get Lucky by Katherine Center
5 stars given on April 7th 2010
Genre: Contemporary Fiction











Crochet (Klutz) by Anne Akers Johnson
5 stars given on April 11th 2010
Genre: Crafts









Leaving Unknown by Kerry Reichs
5 stars give on June 28th 2010
Genre: Chick Lit









All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins
5 stars given on July 26th 2010
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Chick Lit









Don't Stop Believin' The Unofficial Guide to Glee by Erin Balser & Suzanne Gardner
5 stars given on September 20th 2010
Genre: Non-fiction/TV
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