Eleanor & Park book review

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Eleanor & Park was the perfect read for the month of February. Rowell is able to explore falling in love for the first time so subtly, yet so thoroughly. Reading through Eleanor and Park's story transported me back to the time I was young and exploring the idea and feeling of love for the first time, and brought back a barrage of memories and emotions I'd long since forgotten.

The characters are so well-developed, and the plot is so engrossing you are swept away into 1980s Omaha without even realizing it. I see why this is a beloved book by many, and I regret having waited so long to read it. I feel this book is relatable for just about everyone that is 13+, and suggest if you're looking for a read that touches the darkest recesses of your heart to check it out.



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Witch Child book review

Witch Child by Celia Rees

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I read this book many years ago when I was a teenager, and it has stuck with me. I mean to get back and read it again one day, because it is a truly enthralling read.

This book reads from the perspective of the main character, a young girl living in the 1600s. She is forced out of her “old world" home and travels across the sea with the Puritans to the "new world". Being from a family who is spiritually connected to the earth and magic, she is forced to try and hide her inner witch among the Puritans lest she find herself trailed and executed as a witch.

The pacing is great, and you really connect to the main character, Mary, right away. The writing is diary-like, so you are waiting eagerly to turn the pages and see how things turn out for Mary. I feel as though this is a great read for those in middle schools or above.

The book is by no means action-packed, but it aptly presents the subtle, lurking danger of those who were different during these times and how standing out could've meant death. I'd even offer that pairing this book with learning about the witch trials or Puritanical life would enhance younger readers' understanding of life at that time. I picked it up, because I have always been interested in witchcraft and its history and truly found a text that will stay with me all of my days.

If you are interested in historical fiction, witchcraft, early america, or thrillers, you should check this out!



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Black is for Beginnings (Blue is for Nightmares #5) book review

Black is for Beginnings by Laurie Faria Stolarz

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


As a fan of the "Blue Is For Nightmares" series, this was vastly disappointing. I was excited to see that it was a graphic novel - the first I'd ever read - however, it was short, disjointed, and added nothing to the marvelous universe Stolarz created in her other four novels in this series.

I would have preferred a 5th full book over this. In fact, this is the first and only time I've ever returned a book to Barnes and Noble after buying it. If you are a fan of the series, I would suggest skipping this and pretending the true end was Red is for Remembrance.



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Upcycling Old End Tables

I was lucky enough that my mom had some end tabled she was looking to get rid of. When I decided to makeover the sun room, I knew I wanted 2 of these mid century modern end tables to cap off the daybed I was putting out there.

The first step was priming. I sprayed 2 coats of Krylon primer all over these tables. This is a definite must if you are working with wood or faux wood that have a glossy finish. Paint won't stick to glossy finishes, so you need the primer to offer a rough surface for the paint to stick to.

I was especially careful about this, because I knew end tables get tons of wear, so I didn't want the paint to chip or peel.

After the primer dried, I sprayed 3 coats of Rustoleum Ocean Mist spray paint - letting each coat dry fully before re-coating. I started from the bottom up, using the principal I learned when painting the kitchen cabinets. I knew it would be okay if the bottom of the legs were a little messed up due to being on the grass, but I wouldn't want the tops of the tables to get ruined by sitting face down on the grass since they are the part of the tables that are most visible.

I then sprayed the center supports and taped off and sprayed the bottom of the legs in Krylon Gold. I did 2 coats of this, letting each coat fully dry before re-coating. 

I then had to fix the center supports. I did this by taping off the center with 1" painters tape and spraying the Rustoleum Ocean Mist over the tape and touching up where any gold paint had accidentally been over-sprayed onto the base color. Once it was dry, I removed my painter's tape, and was DONE! 

You can see here what I meant about fixing the center supports. I thought a small golden band around those would be really pretty, and it ended up working great!

Now these lovely end tables fit in perfectly with the new sun room (you can see that makeover here)!

Here's a breakdown of what I used:

• Primer ( I used Krylon, but you can use any primer you'd like)
• Primary Color (I used Rustoleum Ocean Mist)
• Accent Color (if you want one - I used Krylon Metallic Gold)
• Painter's Tape 1" (you can use larger if you like - this is just what I had and what I wanted for the center supports - additionally if you aren't doing an accent color you don't need this)
• Patience (letting all of the coats dry turns this into a full day project, but you can relax inside while this is happening)
• Good Weather (if you are going to spray outside)

Secret Vampire (Night World #1) book review

Secret Vampire by L.J. Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have to admit, I do judge books by their cover. I just bought this title, and the lovely hardback caught my attention immediately, then the synopsis within the cover left me knowing I had to read this book. I found the characters and pacing refreshing. As someone who has read (and enjoyed) the Twilight series, I was completely prepared for another long-winded, long-drawn-out story about a girl in love with a vampire. However, plot devices within this book expedite the story and we get to the “good stuff” within a few chapters. I flew through this book, which says something about the readability and the appeal of the story. I work full time, and I usually read right before bed. Instead of falling asleep within a few pages, I spent over an hour and a half reading without even knowing how much time had passed.

Upon doing more research about this book, I didn’t realize it was originally written in the late 90s, which is probably why I feel it isn’t as broody or convoluted. The characters aren’t absorbed in modern situations or technology, they are living simply, and that, for me, helps the book feel refreshing and lighter. There isn’t a lot of filler, and I was ultimately sad that the ending seemed to come so soon. I will definitely be picking up #2 in this series, because the world Smith creates is interesting, out-of-the-ordinary, and fun.

This book is great for paranormal romance lovers from middle school through adulthood. I just wish I had found these when I was younger, I had SO MUCH MORE free time for reading back then!



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Sun Room Makeover

Another room I decided could use a face-lift was our sun-room. It was the same "oriental yellow" as the rest of the house, and it HAD TO GO. 

Right side of the room before

Left side of the room before

I apologize for all of the mess in these photos. I was, and still am, living in box city, and are taking care of unpacking one room at a time. Since I'm trying to be as budget conscious as possible I decided to use the leftover paint from our cabinet makeover, which was Valspar "Fresh Cotton". I figured white would really open up the room, and eventually I would like to get some nice bamboo shades for the window, which will look really nice with white walls.

This is after  one coat of paint. I ended up doing 3 coats for maximum coverage.

I wanted the room to feel light, airy, and magical, so I ended up finding some really nice Harry Potter inspired artwork online, and used my Umbridge kitten plates from a previous Loot Crate.

The left side of the room after

I ended up upcycling the black shelf from the second and third photos (I'll do a separate post on how I did that soon), created custom name plates for my fur babies for their respective dining areas, and repainted their leash/harness hanger to go with the feel of the room.

 

The right side of the room after

There are still a few knick-knacks I need to put out, like my wands, a salt crystal lamp and some other fun, mystical, magical decor, but I really like the new vibe the room has. It is ultimately a room for our girls. During the day, I like to leave the blinds up, and Cassie will sit on the bed and look out at the yard or at the neighbors. It also doubles as a second guest room for visitors!

This was a really fun project, and I had several mini projects within this project that I'll be posting about soon. In total, I'd say the makeover for this room, including the mini projects, cost maybe $75-$100 total including the paint, some storage boxes, a desk fan (not pictured), and the bedding set. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to share below!

The Lost Symbol book review

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This books was utterly amazing. I love conspiracy theories, I love history, and I'm very familiar with the mystery that is Washington D.C. This book kept me interested from the first page to the last. I was always excited to pick the book back up, and get right back into the action. Dan Brown never fails to impress with the amount of detail and thought put into the setting and history he entwines with fiction. At points I found myself wondering if he has a secret "in" with the Masons and is revealing all of these well-kept secrets in the form of fiction to throw off conspiracy theorists. In all seriousness, if you love history, secret societies, and good ol' adventurous treasure hunts, don't miss out on this book!



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