8.30.2010

MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES.

A good balanced meal could be a great start to your day! This summer I interned on my college campus (CSUEB) and was involved in a group called PAW: Peer Advocates for Wellness. What we did was learn how to be peer educators on campus for various health topics such as Nutrition&Fitness, Sexual Health, General Health and ATOD which stands for Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs.

I worked with the Nutrition track and we developed a program on campus for students, faculty and staff to have an easier time choosing healthy food and drink items in our bookstore. It was a great learning experience and a lot of fun too. Many of the items were fresh fruit and veggies, yogurt, string cheese, water, 100% juices and whole grain granola bars or baked chips. For different items you want to look for little to no sugar, low sodium and no trans fats. Also, make sure you look at serving sizes so you don't consume a whole bag of baked chips by the time you realize you just had 3 servings. These are just a couple tips when you're looking for something healthy.



I came across this link on yahoo on new restaurant meals that you should DEFINITELY steer clear of as they are EXTREMELY high in sodium, calories and fat.
You can see the items here.

8.27.2010

SEVEN HEALTHY BEVERAGES.

I know we all love a good iced mocha but when you start thinking about being healthy usually water is your only option. Yahoo has a list of healthy alternatives to water and you may be surprised at all the good they can do.



Check out the list of healthy beverages here

MUSICA.

Just the latest on what I've been listening to lately. I tend to stick with what I love so Metric, Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses, The Black Ghosts and Ava Leigh all make the cut! But I must say that my favorite band this year is definitely Camera Obscura!! I love the sound they have. It's very Pipettes meets the 60's with a twist of bossanova! sounds ridiculous but I love them!!




You can check them out here.

8.25.2010

MOCKINGJAY.

the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy...


NOTE** contains spoilers!!



I knew that I would read this book within a day. The first two in the series were SO good I just could not put them down after I started reading. I just wanted to know the ending so badly that I sped through the pages until all my questions were answered. This is a story that stays with you for many days after you've finished reading it. It's a story about war, loss, love and freedom. And about how it's not just a game when peoples' lives are at stake...

As I literally am turning the last page I cannot even begin to describe what an emotional ride this series has been. "Mockingjay" marks an AMAZING ending to an already amazing series. The surprises and twists that this book sends you on is a palpable thing. You feel like a player in the games; constantly glancing over your shoulder to see if you're being chased. I kept turning the pages and getting ahead of myself to find out if my favorite characters would survive. Katniss and Peeta's relationship was always expected to triumph, but the problems that occured along the way caught me off guard. I really love Gale's character, but as the story evolved I knew that he wasn't right for Katniss. It is perfect that he is her best friend only, as it should be. And I can honestly say that although the ending was quite unexpected, I knew there would be some ridiculous turn of events after a 76th hunger games was announced!! The epilogue was a sweet ending with the line, "there are much worse games to play." Collins has done it again in writing a sequel that surpasses the novel that precedes it. Such a fantastically and intelligently written series. I rank this trilogy as high as i do Harry Potter, which is high praise indeed. A definite MUST READ!

8.23.2010

SIDENOTE.

Haven't posted anything in the last few weeks because I've been busy interning and working on campus. Also it's the summer and I tend to keep busy with the friends and fam. A couple things that have passed in the last month or so...


1. Saw Charlie St. Cloud with my bff's. I read this book last month and was mildly surprised at how much I liked it. The movie was quite surprising as well. I think Zac Efron has come a long way since HSM!! Not exactly a "must watch" but still a very good choice if you're thinking of seeing.. oh i don't know.. Piranha 3D or something like that.


2. I have started the second book in Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series but I've been so busy that I'm only halfway through it. I do like it though, maybe not as much as the 1st in the series... but it's still too early to tell.


3. VAMPIRE DIARIES season 2 is premiering on Sept 9th and I am ECSTATIC! You can view a preview of the season opener here.


4. Went to Aloha Fest in San Francisco and it was so much fun! It made me miss Hawaii immensely and the highlight of that day was a little something called "Macadamia Icebox" =) mmm... these were macadamia cookies from Kelley's Kookies based in LA. they are DELISH!! I sampled a few other flavors but the icebox was my fave. You can check out the website and perhaps order some for yourself here.


5. Saw LADY GAGA aka "Mama Monster" in concert last Tuesday. She is AMAZING!! She is highly entertaining and I'm not just talking about her music! She is HILARIOUSLY and (I think) unintentionally funny!! I absolutely loved her concert and it is EASILY one of the best concerts that I have been to which is saying something because I have been to some AMAZING concerts (Janet Jackson, Paramore, John Legend/Corinne Bailey Rae, John Mayer/Maroon 5 to name a few). I highly recommend seeing her in concert because she is fabulous live!


6. Read some of the FIRST reviews for Deathly Hallows today! Anyone who is a die hard Harry Potter fan (not unlike myself) knows just how EPIC this movie will be!! I am too excited for words! MTV has a nice recap of the advanced screening which you can read about here.


7. Lastly, just got back from an annual camping trip with some friends. Portola State Park near Santa Cruz. It was FREEZING and the sun never really warmed us up. But it was still a LOT of fun and we always have a good time hanging out in the woods for a few days =) Highlight of that trip: the raccoon (pronounce "ruh-koon") stole my sister's ENTIRE bag of marshmallows 3 feet away from where we were eating dinner!! All in all it was a great mini-vacay.


So that is all, just a few things to recap. Hopefully I'll be back on to write a review of "Ink Exchange" when I finish or if I see fit and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is out tomorrow so I'm sure I will have a review of that in a couple of days because her books are so addicting you HAVE to finish it until you're done. Putting it down is NOT an option. =) Summer is almost over, about a month until Fall quarter starts!!

THE HUNGER GAMES.

Just a heads up that "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins (the third and FINAL book of The Hunger Games trilogy) comes out tomorrow August 24, 2010. It is an AMAZING series that I cannot wait to finish and if you haven't read this series you are truly missing out. That is all. :)

8.04.2010

WICKED LOVELY.



Finished this book in a frenzy to find out the ending. I found myself torn between flying through the pages to savoring the last two chapters because I didn't want the story to end!! It's a great thing however, that there are still three more books to the series, not including this one, and a 5th apparently that should be out sometime next spring. I was so engaged in this book and the storyline that I couldn't sleep; I just kept turning pages. It really draws you into this fantastical world filled with crazy, unique and terrifying characters that you almost wonder whether or not the author was inebriated or high when she thought it up and wrote about it. Anyone who can think up a story world like this must be very gifted indeed.

I was really surprised by how much i liked this book. I do tend to go for Y/A fantasy-fiction and this book was on my list for a while but I was just never that drawn to it that I HAD to pick it out of all others on my list. Suffice it to say that I wish I had picked it up sooner! Melissa Marr does a fantastic job mixing faery tale with modern concepts and emotions. Problems that arise in her story, although quite extraordinary and unique, will still stir up emotions that readers can relate to. It was a good stepping stone in understanding the folklore and legends surrounding the idea of faeries. Most concepts were easy to understand if you've read The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare because some terms and ideas overlap between the two sagas.

You grow close to the characters and torn between which ones you should like and which ones you should... not entirely hate but like a little less given the circumstances. I found myself really despising Keenan's character at first but when it became apparent as to who he was to end up with everything cleared up. Aislinn was a favorite from the beginning, as were Donia and Seth. You really feel attached to these characters, as in any other story that draws your attention enough to finish the book within a couple days, and find yourself secretly hoping the end goes well for them. Very well thought out writing and researching went into this book which you can tell by the way the words just suck you into the story and the romantic chemistry between the characters is an added bonus.


Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st century faery tale.



Check out my review of Wicked Lovely and other books at good reads.