Matched, by Allie Condie

I recently finished this book, Matched, by Allie Condle. And going into it, I didn't really think I would like it because all the review blurbs on the back said 

"Ah yes, a glorious love        triangle!" 

At that point I was pretty over the whole love triangle thing from the Hunger Games, and most Young Adult Fiction so I had pretty high expectations for it.

I have to say, it was a captivating read about a Society who controls how long you live, where you live, who you love and what you do. All through statistics and timing. Unfortunately, in the seventh grade I had to read and analyze 1984 by George Orwell. I got the best score in the class but I did not like the ending. Agh, seventh grade me hated reading it so much. My hatred caused it to be engraved in my mind forever, so now I compare every dystopian novel I have ever read with it. So my conclusion is that this is Orwell's Society in the early years. Before Big Brother was created. I haven't read the rest of the series yet though, so I can't be quite sure.


Onto the actual story! To summarize it without any spoilers, each person gets Matched at the age of 17 unless they choose to be a Single.The Society uses statistics of each person to find the best match with other eligible 17 year olds. The main character, Cassia, got matched to her best friend Xander. After the ceremony, each person gets a little note card describing their match with a picture of them. Xander and Cassia are very happy, an go on their first official dates and things but Cassia is preoccupied. A few days after the ceremony, she say another boy's picture where Xander's was. It just flashed and went dark. She knew that boy too, his name was Ky. So she starts getting to know Ky and eventually has to choose between a perfect Society match or a passionate, real relationship with Ky.
 I wouldn't have liked it if the book had ended a different way, and I'm trying not to give any spoilers but it was a beautiful plot twist.
You won't see me fangirling away and mobbing up at the movie theater lines if this ever becomes a movie, but I liked it. I'm excited to read the next book.

Qotd: Have you read any dystopian novels?
Aotd: Yes!!!! More specifically, 1984, Matched, Hunger Games, Divergent. A lot of books these days are.

Please answer the QotD! Thanks for reading!

Disney's Into the Woods!

                     Today I saw Into the Woods! If you haven't noticed, I'm very into musicals, so I loved this! 

Into the Woods is a musical where fairy tales are mixed together, much like The Woodcutter, by Kate Danley, a very good book. 

In it are the Baker and his Wife, Little Red Riding Hood (plus her grannie and the wolf), Cinderella (with step-family and prince), Rapunzel, Jack and the beanstalk.

The basic plot is that the Baker and his Wife have been cursed by the witch to never have children, and the only way they can is by getting her 4 objects, a cloak as red as blood, a shoe of gold, hair as yellow as corn and a cow as white a milk to make a potion. They have to go into the woods to find the objects! And that is where they meet everyone else, but the plot thickens and the kingdom goes crazy! I'll leave it to you to see the rest. I thoroughly enjoyed it, however I'd much rather see it performed live because it was just so long!!! The singing, in my opinion was brilliant, but some of the lines were unnecessary. But I suppose since i was originally a musical, you can't really blame it. If I had seen the musical first, I'd definitely have a stronger opinion. Maybe when I get to see it live I'll review it again!

Q: Do you like musicals at all? Any favorites?

A: Yes!!!! Hairspray is my current favorite, and just barely above Newsies

Counting Down!

First of all, I would like to thank everybody who helped me adjust to the change that happened to me this year! Moving was hard and I got plenty of support, so I love you guys!

5.....
Five people that helped me this year
1.Lord and Savior, Jesus! Thank you for never failing to provide for me
2.My parents(they count as on, right?)
                                                                          3.My best friend Julia, for being so cool and not leaving me
                                                                            4.My first new friend here, Mahshad!
                                                                            5.Every single person who complimented me this year. I                                                                                  suck at saying thanks, so I really appreciate you giving                                                                                   me that boost!
4....
Four ways Jesus has provided for me

1. Giving me a phone in June! Without it, I wouldn't be able to keep in touch with any of my friends very well at all. 
2. Our houses, old and new! We didn't have to worry about finding a place to live here at all. Thank you Jesus!
3. My family has really stuck together through this ginormous change. Thank you for my Mommy and my Daddy and my Mollie and my Lucy! 
4. This year's Christmas wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was a good experience. I'm just glad that Jesus was still the reason, not waking up and going to my grandma's house for presents. Thanks for that reminder. 

3...

Three awesome experiences I had this year!

1. Going to Disneyland! It showed me how much I want to act and write and follow my dreams. I miss it so much <3
2. Seeing the Grand Canyon. God's work is truly beautiful
3. Watching my first Broadway show, Newsies! Now I reeeeeeeeeeally want to sing 

Maybe moving wasn't such a bad idea after all

2..

Two crazy things that happened this year 1 good, 1 bad

1. NASA landed on an asteroid!!!
2. The Ebola outbreak :(

1. 

2015!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a prosperous year, and goodbye 2014, you will be missed

Happy new year

Nashville Roadtrip

Yesterday I got back from an overnight trip to Tennessee. The drive was about 3 hours long, and since we took that really long road trip in the summer, so it was nothing. The way my family vacations is by visiting and thoroughly judging the local coffee shops. And then sometimes we  like to look at statues. 

The museums there were really expensive!!!! So instead we look at the pretty buildings. 

Crema Coffee Shop-extremely hipster

Spencer's Coffee-Great vibe, cute town :)

Barista Parlor made me want to become a hipster. 

Nashville Opryland Hotel

Off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

State capitol...I think. 

The sky on the way back was gorgeous

Not Just January's To Do List

Happy Holidays everyone! 

I realize the season is pretty much over so I'm really late. But I kind of took December off, because I was  busy finishing up school and getting ready for Christmas. And I was really out of topics. 

Alas, since it is the second to last day of the year, this calls for a special post. 

Maybe some resolutions? Ok, here we go.

In the years past, I have started about 70 million journals and filled 0 of them. Zero. In 2015 I want to be the kind of person who gets things done. If I want to write in my book every day then I will write in it every day.

Especially with this new adventure of ending eighth grade and moving onto a new high school, where I won't know anyone. Again. I need something to help my old self remember that weird rule and that blue line. Ok not really but I want to organize my thoughts! And write poetry or something.

Which brings me to my next resolution. Blogging! I've started yet another one with some of my friends from home, which you can see here. That means my game has to be way up high and I need to be on top of it. 

I need to maintain both blogs. I kind of want new people to read what I write....I mean who doesn't? But I have to work hard! If I want to get things done, then I will! Yeah! Wow, I'm really good at pep rallying myself. Anyways, in 2015, I'm going to be more adventurous and try new things. If people don't like who I am, their loss. Right? I don't know. It's still 2014. I still have time to think this through.

How am I going to accomplish my goals, you may ask. Well let's see. Start with writing. Maybe make notes of things I need to finish through out the week. Like a check list sort of thing. And blog as often as I can. I'm thinking a minimum of 3 posts a month? We'll see. And to get more feedback, I want to start doing Question of the Day. So after each post I'd put QotD: and then my question, then write my answer. In the comments you can reply! You like?

Also, I've been thinking about putting up some of my work. Like poems, stories, reviews, DIYs and such. What do you think? Good ideas? That's what comments are for!
Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!

QotD:  What were your highlights and lowlights of 2014?

AotD: Moving away from all my old friends, but then making a few new ones, but still being very close to the old but dear ones.