Work Out: Audio Book Style

OK, so it is not really and audio book, but it does remind me of listening to an audio book.

So I heard about this app from a YouTube video and since I have wanted to buy so I finally gave in and purchased it in August.  This is a story to keep you interested in running/walking (which is what I have started out doing.)



I will admit I have recently gotten into listening to Audio Books but there is something about mixing it up with music (even when not working out) that I seem to have to do. When I am working an overnight at work, I will stop and audio book and listen to some Lady GaGa, Katy Perry and even Taylor Swift to keep it interesting and this app gives you that.

The story line portions are short and sweet then they throw in your own workout music.  There are many of different settings to the app for your work out and you don't even have to be running outside for it to work.  I started this app on a treadmill at a gym just getting into working out every week.

REASONS WHY:

My main and really reason to get interested in this app is I have recently watched The Walking Dead and that show gives me nightmares so I know that I want to be prepared to survive. OK in reality I do not believe in the actual Zombie Apocalypse, but I do believe in something similar to it.  I think there is something that is going to make us need to be prepared.

10 Book Series that I have never started though I do want to read them

I know there is a Top 10 Meme every Tuesday but I can never think of anything for the list when it goes up or I just forget about it on Tuesday.  So I am doing a 10 list whenever I feel like it over any topic from her past and future topics that interest me.

So if you want to view other Top 10 Lists go and visit The Broke and the Bookish they have some great Top 10 list ideas to do if you are interested.

And This is one that caught my interest when I was having a conversation at work with a guy who loves the show Game of Thrones.  Now first I do not have the HBO channel at my house, we do not watch enough TV to get us to pay the cost of getting the channel when we can watch the movies we want to watch on Netflix cheaper.  But I realized there are plenty of series made into movies/TV shows and some that are not that I have never started and I have always had on my TBR list.

10.  Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Series)

This is one of those series that are blowing up the Internet.  Whether it is the books or the TV Show everyone is interested in it.  Since I do not have HBO I have not had a chance to get interested in the show, but I do want to see what all the hype is about and at least read the first book.

9.  Percy Jackson and the Olympians

I have seen the first movie in this series and I loved it, but I have this feeling that I will not like the movie after reading the book.  Though I do want to read them, I have yet to do it, I even own the first few.

8.  Sookie Stackhouse

Another series I have never read is the Sookie Stackhouse series that the TV Show True Blood is based on.  Another HBO show that I can not watch for my lack of the channel and partly I do not care as I have seen the first season (I bought it on DVD) and I thought it was  good.  Actually I thought the show had ended as I really do not see anything about it too much but turns out it does still come on the world of HBO is over run by Game of Thrones for me to notice it any more.

7.  Outlander

My cousin's wife said I would enjoy this series (she has read all of them I think from her sisters recommendation) and I do own the first book on my nook but have never actually started it.

6.  Bloodlines

I had read the first book in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy so I think their is a good chance of liking this one.  I even was given the third book in the series from a friend at work but I have never read any of the series.

5.  Uglies

Seen the reviews just never had the time to pick it up (I had even at one time had it checked out from the library but never actually started reading it.)

4.  Lord of the Rings

I see all these people I know who just love these books and I keep thinking there is no way I will love them like that.  I will admit I did love the movies but that was also during my Orlando Bloom days and there is no way a girl will not love a movie that stars him and Elijah Wood.  And yes that was back in High School for me so it was really a good crush where you write all over your folder "I Love Orlando Bloom" or even "Mrs. Orlando Bloom".  Actually I don't think I did that.

3.  Maximum Ride

James Patterson is a great author, I loved The Women's Murder Club but I have the fondness of just solving those mysteries could another series ruin that for me?  But the description has caught my eye and I am interested in reading this series just never got around to doing that.

2.  The Infernal Devices

That is right I have not read this, though I am making plans too.  But wait til you see #1 you may really hate me for not having started it just yet.

1.  The Mortal Instruments

So this is why I never started the Infernal Devices I had not yet read the Mortal Instruments series.  I know they are separate series and don't need to be read in order of release but I am kinda crazy about a few things like that.

So there you go 10 series I have shown interest in reading but never actually started.

Which of these series should I start first? Which is not on here that you would add for yourself?

Movie: Agent Cody Banks

Another Saturday, another movie.  This time I went old school (prior to graduation from High School for me).  This movie stars my favorite Disney Star, yeah there were people before Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez and some of the rocked.  Lets guess who this movie stars:

If you happened to guess Hilary Duff from Lizzie McGuire you would be correct.  So I went with a theme this week (and for the next 2 weeks following) we are watching movies that have to do with spying and stealing.  Starring Hilary Duff and Frankie Muniz I have come across in my massive DVD collection (by the way there are plenty I could watch a movie a day all year and still not finish them all):

Agent Cody Banks, I watched this movie back when I was still in High School when it first came out.  This is a great movie on teen spies.  Very quirky but I loved quirky then and I love it now.  Personally I do not care if my little brother tells me a movie is stupid and should never have been made (yes I have one of those as a younger brother).

This movie reminds me a lot of the Gallagher Girls Series, they are secretly trained to be a spy and have no clue on how to act around or talk to the opposite sex. Instead of being taught during the school year kids are picked to attend a special camp which trains teens to work for the CIA and Cody Banks was one of those lucky teens.   But not knowing how to talk to his target (Hilary Duff) makes his handler's (Angie Harmon from Rizzoli and Isles) much more difficult.  And for anyone wanting to see what a CIA operative does not wear at every turn take a look at what Angie Harmon wears through out the movie.

I love the technology used in this movie (though I do hope bad guys really do not have this type of technology somewhere).  Nano's that can eat you from the inside out put into ice cubes may keep you from drinking anything with ice for a good long while.  But I also loved the holographic phone they used (one day I will get myself one of those).

There are plenty of things to like about this cheesy movie but when you are a 17 year old girl you can like whatever you like and if you still at 17 like cheesy movies about spies you can still like them.

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Title: Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Heist Society Book #1
Published: Hyperion 2010

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.
Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.
For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

MY REVIEW

This is the second time tjat I read this book and even though I already know what is going to happen I am still immersed into the world of Kat and Hale.  The girl who wants to be a normal teenager and the boy who has been normal and wants to be a part of a family.

The internal struggle of Katarina Bishop is a big one.  Growing up in a family of thieves is something you can't fully leave but Kat planned too.  When Kat comes back to save her dad the leaving hurts in statements of "You left" from family and friends.  Then there is the struggle of not wanting to be a thief, but having to do the biggest job of her life to keep her friends and family safe.

There are some great moments that leave you wondering what happened.  Like what happened between Kat and Hale when Kat tried to steal the Monet?

 (Don't spoil me, I know that it is mentioned in book 3: Perfect Scoundrels.)  

Then there is the relationship with the son of the Interpol agent tracking her father, Nick, where is that going to lead to if anything.  Or is the love for Kat going to be Hale the boy that was home when she tried to steal the Monet?  Personally I have made my choice on which relationship I have chosen for Kat, but I am interested in which you have chosen if you had read the books of the series (just remember I am not interested in being spoiled on upcoming events just yet).

I just love this line.  It has to be my favorite in the whole book.

My Rating

Follow Friday #6

Hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read

New and Old Followers, with the possibility of the end of GFC (I want to be prepared ahead of time) I have set up a Bloglovin button as well as moved the GFC follow away from easy to find sidebar location.  I would prefer to see you either follow using the Bloglovin or the Email in the sidebar.

Q: Give us a sneak! What are you reading? Tell us about a fun or fail scene in your current read.

If you happen to follow me on Instagram you saw me post a picture of the book that I am currently reading with a little caption over what it reminds me of.  No it is not a new book but I have not really been reading anything brand new since starting this project.

There is a cute sneak peek into what I am thinking and feeling about this book right now.  I am thinking how much I miss watching Firefly and how I need to go and find the DVD collection.  

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Review: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

Title: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion
Source: Yep I bought it for my love of Ally Carter books

Cammie Morgan is back, and it's clear that her life hasn't calmed down since the events of I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. At first, giddy anticipation is in the air. Gallagher Academy, Cammie's elite spy school, is hosting a visit from a covert training center for boys. Soon after the boys' arrival, though, everything goes dangerously awry when a series of security breaches are discovered at the academy. Worse yet, teenage agent-in-training Cammie is being blamed for the penetration. With the school's top-secret status at risk, the Gallagher Girls have to work quickly to save their beloved school.

The Gallagher Girls are back with their second book ad it is just as boy crazy spy filled as the first.

In the first book the girls got caught sneaking out to learn about the mystery of boys, one in particular Josh.  This turns out to be eye opening for everyone involved.

So when the school brings in the Boys from Blackthrone things get interesting.  The mysterious school fro training boys that the girls had heard a rumor of but never had any proof, well the proof had caught all but one of them going to a secret meeting location and know were coming to school with them.

So the girls are back to spying on boys with a little more information than "does he like me? " in mind.  They need to know who and what these boys are that are taking over their school.

This book holds the first meeting of Zach  Goode the Blackthorn boy that holds Cammie's attention.  She does not know what it is that makes her like him, but she know that she can not trust him as he is lying about something and ever since the boys arrived there have been some strange things happening with the security.

Cammie has probably met her match with Zach and a good match it is.

Ally Carter brought the Gallagher Girls back with an amazing story that keeps you questioning if the Backthrone boys are the good guys or the bad guys.  Even if you can actually trust them.  I love Cammie and Zach and can't wait to tell you more.

Spring Fling Giveaway Hop

Hosted by Eve's Fan Garden & I am A Reader, Not A Writer

Earlier this week I reviewed this book and I am sure there are still plenty of you who have not yet read it.  So I am giving 1 lucky person the chance to win a copy of Ally Carter's first book in the Gallagher Girls Series I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You.

Quick synopsis if you have not already read the book or if you missed my review.

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her? 

Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.

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Review: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

TITLE: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Disney - Hyperion 2006

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?
Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love

MY REVIEW

We are going to start this review with a short note on title, with the length of the title I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You being so long, we are going to refer to this book as Gallagher Girls #1.  This was not my first Ally Carter book, actually Heist Society was (will be reviewed later on).  But like Heist Society this book just proves my love for Ally Cater.

In Gallagher Girls #1 we meet Cammie Morgan the Chameleon.  Most other girls would not want to be known for skills of disappearing, but at the Gallagher Academy that is a good thing.
W are also introduced to Rebecca "Bex" Baxter the first Gallagher Girl not born in the US.  Bex is known as Duchess while on missions for class which has a lot to do with her being from the UK.  If I had to choose a favorite character, it would be Bex, she is confident in her ability as a a spy.

The third friend and roommate we meet is Elizabeth "Liz" Sutton who is known to Cammie for "Oopsie Daisy".  Liz is more the lab girl type with her tendency to be clumsy but she is the smartest of all the girls at Gallagher Academy.

Last we meet the new student Macey McHenry the daughter of Senator James McHenry.  Macey is on her last chance of prep school, as the only student to have really spent any time with the opposite sex she is the go to girl on all things Josh.

This book is a great "first boyfriend" story.  Most girls don't marry the first boy they kiss but when you are 15 you want to find the perfect boy.  When Josh notices her on a class assignment the girls make him the assignment.  Using their skills from school the girls learn what they can about Josh from family to friends and using the knowledge of Macey to decipher what the found out.

I love this book, the characters are great the plot keeps you coming back to see what happens and you can't help but wish for a happily ending for the characters.

My Rating

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 23

ANNOUNCING MY HOUR 19 MINI CHALLENGE WINNER:

Some of my books, my unhealthy snacks, and my reading desk. #dewey #readathon twitter.com/dani_sarabia/s…
— Danielle Sarabia (@dani_sarabia) April 28, 2013

Hour 23

I have this feeling this will be my last update for the night, I am really tired my eyes are drooping and I do not think I will make it the next 2 hours.  So here is what will most likely be my final counts that have not been updated in a while.  I wish everyone still standing in this 24 hour adventure good LUCK for the final 2.

Total Hours Read: 4

Total Hours Listened: 8.5

Total Pages Read: 222 (111 each) 4 hours and this is all that I finished that is how tired I am.

Total Books Read: 2 (well 2 short novellas, does that count)

Total HOURS: 12.5 so not so bad for my first time participating.

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Hour 19 Mini Challenge: Picture Break

These last few weeks I have become addicted to taking pictures with the Instagram app on my phone and I am wanting to see your pictures as well from these last few hours.  If you are anything like me, you have taken and shared plenty with your followers (if not, it is time to share some).

My phone is addicted to @instagram not me
— The Bookish Diaries (@BookishDiaries) April 20, 2013

Let me see:

• The Books you have Read
• The Books you still have to Read
• The Food that you have eaten and maybe even the snacks you started with.
• Take a picture of that spot you have called home these last few hours

I am showing this again because I CAN and I am wishing this is where I was

I would be telling you to go and check out my instagram but it is currently dead as my phone is looking like this.....This was not the plan today, I should have been overwhelming instagram with photos.

Leave a comment with a link to your pictures

You can post using Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or even your blog

I have added a Rafflecopter giveaway just paste the link to your image entry.  I am doing it this way because I do know that not everyone is able to use Google+ entries.  Please if you do have a Google+ account still share the link in the comments section so everyone can stop by and view the images that you have shared with us.

1 Lucky winner will receive 1 paperback copy of the book Divergent  by Veronica Roth which was the book I was listening to while at work and everywhere else I had to go today.  This contest is open internationally if you live out of the US I will use Book Depository to send you book if in the US, most likely Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

This Giveaway will end at the beginning of Hour 23 in 4 Hours at which time I will close the rafflecopter and let it chose me a winner

Good luck to everyone entering. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 16

Hour 16

FORGET telling you all about what I am reading and how reading is going, I just happend in on my sister watching Doctor Who from earlier today (yes I plan to watch it later) to see this screen:

So I have decided to change my reading location next year to this lovely library in the TARDIS.  To make it even better there is a swimming pool around the corner so I can always take a break by the pool and layout to read some more.

If anyone else wants to join me in that location please leave a comment and we will try to locate our library for next year.  

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 14

Hour 14

So while I was gone at the Baby Shower we passed the half way mark for me, during that time I did some listening but when things like this are going on they are more important so here are some cute images as well as some fun from me of the baby shower.  Not much listening was done but you know I may get through with Divergent by the end of the night which is good to me, I would have finished 1 of 4 books that I wanted to finish and the longest form of the 4.

Total Hours Read: 0

Total Hours Listened: 5

Total Pages Read: 0

Total Books Read 0

This is why there have not really been too much on the update front.  Looks Great Right?

The Baby's name is going to be Colton and one of my other cousin's wife makes these.

Another Cute little cookie.

An this because this is also a Craw-fish boil, you cant have that without Liqueur.

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 9

Hour 9

Well Lets take a quick audit of everything real quick:
My 2 hour nap was wonderful why thank you.  Is it still a "cat nap" if it last for 2 hours?
Ok I am awake and back to reading/listening because now I am off to the baby shower.

Total Hours Read: 0

Total Hours Listened: 3

Total Pages Read: 0

Total Books Read 0

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 7

Hour 7

Done with work for the day.  Since getting off work I ran a few errands that I did not know I was going to need to do.  Like get gas so that I can make it home.  I also went on ahead and got myself something to eat for lunch that was more than a sandwich.  So I had some chicken strips from Express Chicken (have loved that place since it was built.)

I am going to make a quick admittance right now, I am really getting into this audio book, and I may want to go back and actually read the book to see if I missed anything but listening to an audio book may be longer than to read but it is sooooo much easier when you have so much to do.

Total Hours Read: 0

Total Hours Listened: 3

Total Pages Read: 0

Total Books Read 0

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 4

Hour 4

So I spoke to soon about being not busy. We started getting busy this last hour and i did not have any time to really listen and when i did i keep having to do the 30 second rewind

Total Hours Read:0

Total Hours Listened:2

Total Pages Read:0

Total Books Read0

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 3

Hour 3

So working has been fun while listening to Divergent, lucky for me we have not been busy (actually i have had no customers) giving me time to listen and type this up. So far so good.

Total Hours Read:0

Total Hours Listened:2

Total Pages Read:0

Total Books Read0

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 2

Hour 2

Total Hours Read:&0

Total Hours Listened:1

Total Pages Read:0

Total Books Read0

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 1

So this is my first year to participate in the read-a-thon as a blogger, I have participated as a cheerleader (which I will be doing for some time) and just read during the event but this time I am going to do this while trying to keep up with the blog each hour and for the first few hours that may a little easier than not because I will be doing this while at work until the beginning of hour 5.

Lets get a few things out of the way though:

1.  What books are in my TBR pile today?

First I plan to get through all of my over due library books that I have found in my bookshelf and never got around to returning.  Yes there are three of those books that I would like to read and return no later than Monday.  Second I bought the audio book Divergent back during Christmas when Audible was doing their deal of the day and I have yet to get around to listening to it (well actually I may be starting with this one as I can listen to it at work).  For the most part I think this will take me most of my 24 hours since I do have more than just work to do today.

My Overdue Library Books I plan to read today 

2.  Where can you find updates besides here on my blog? 

Yes I will try to update here every hour, most will be little updates until after work when I can really get into updating and even then I may have to do little updates since one of the things I have to do today is a baby shower/crawfish boil (yes I will be eating Mud Bugs) for my cousin and his wife who are having a baby this summer.  But you can keep following me through out the whole day in a few different places.

Twitter - This will be an easy way to follow me as all I have to do is quick and easy updates from my phone and yes I will be cheering people on from there as well.
Facebook Fan Page - Another good way to follow what is going on with my reading as well as my instagram updates as they are shared automatically there.
Instagram - Yes I will be sharing pictures (even if it is the baby shower)
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Houston
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
DIVERGENT
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
Spray cheese
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
I really do not have time to participate but i am here
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

Movie Saturday : Oblivion

This movie stars Tom Cruise as Commander Jack Harper and Andrea Riseborough as Victoria Olsen, and had it not been for the preview showing Morgan Freeman, for the first hour I would have really believed them to be the last two people on Earth.











The first hour is pretty dull, a lot of repetition of either a dream/memory of Jack and the mystery woman played by Olga Kurylenko meeting in New York at the Empire State Building.  Once you figure out who the mystery woman is the movie does pick up and does get interesting.  Be prepared if seeing this in theaters.

This movie has a great "Lost Love" story that Tom Cruise acts out beautifully and keeps you wondering what really happened in the "missing years" since the earth has been empty for at least 50 years but closer to 60 years.  There is a lot of holes in this plot but when you lead character has missing memories it makes for a great fill in the blank.

Overall this movie has a really great story line and plot that makes for a good futuristic aliens rule the Earth move.  But I am not going to say go rush out and see it.

Don't want to take my work for it watch this review.