Sleep Schedule Differences: College Roommates 101

Hey guys! As you probably don't know, I've been in college for the past semester and have had to deal with all the ups and downs of having a roommate. Not going to lie, it's been challenging going from having an entire floor to myself after my sibling left to having to share an super tiny space with another person. But I have learned some things from it, which is why I've decided to share them with all of you!

What's been hardest for me is adjusting to the differences in the sleep schedules my roommate and I keep. I prefer to stay up until 11:30 or so and get up very early (otherwise I feel as if I wasted half my day), and she likes to stay up all night and sleep into the day. As you 
can see, they are basically opposites. Now, it's nice to have the room to myself at night, but- if any of you have been in this situation you'll know- it's difficult to study in your room with the light of a single bulb while trying to be quiet.

I became very stressed and anxious because of this and realized that I needed to do something. After talking with my mom she said that "I needed to take control of what I could do because I can't change her." So remember that. You can only control your actions and no one else's.

Here are 5 tips to get you through the stress of sleep schedules!

1. Get out of there

The best thing you can do when your roommate is asleep and you are getting annoyed or stressed because of it, is to get out of your room. Go to the library, go to your dorm’s common area, go to a coffee shop, take a walk. Just go. Even if you don’t think it will help, give it a try for a few days and I promise it will.

2. Make a schedule

Something that I found helpful was to make a daily schedule and stick to it. It doesn’t have to plan out your entire day, but something like:

6:00 Get up, shower

7:00 Eat breakfast

8:00 Get coffee (if you haven’t at breakfast)

9:00 Go to class

If you have a basic schedule you won’t have time to get bothered by your one light illuminating your room. You’ll end up being more productive and having more time to study or relax before class because of your “goals” that you’ve set for the day.

           

3. Find out what you can do

If your roommate’s sleep schedule is bothering you, talk to your friends, your RA, or your parents. Find out if there are any single rooms on your floor or if one of your friend’s roommates is moving out. Then jump into action and snag that room! Obviously this is more of a drastic step, but they will let you change rooms if you have a good reason (which you do).

4. Talk it out

Yes, you should try to stay positive, but in some situations you need to have a brief minute to complain about your roommate struggles. I can bet you most of your friends will have had even minor issues with their roommates- you aren’t alone! And tell your parents, siblings, or family members what’s going on too. That way they’ll understand if you seem a little snappier or more stressed than usual.

5. Accept it

This one's pretty self explanatory, but once you realize that you can't change someone's habits, it gets easier. It's hard, not going to lie, but just think about how your roommate is feeling too. Maybe they don't like coming into the room when it's pitch black, or they feel like you're always in the room because they're sleeping when you're not. It's okay. Everyone goes through something like this. They've all gotten through it just fine and you will too.

I hope you guys liked this post! Do you have any roommate issues or any funny stories? Leave them below!

Hope you are having a great day!

Au Revoir!

"Life is a journey not a destination." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Motivational Quote Monday

Here's a little motivation for your week!

In honor of the fall season...

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."
   -F. Scott Fitzgerald

"I am better than I was. I'll be better than I am."

"Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations."

"Life is tough, my darling, but so are you." -Stephanie Bennett Henry

"Stop letting people who do so little for you, control so much of your mind, feelings, and emotions."

"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." -Nora Roberts

"Tomorrow you will wish you had started today."

"Be with those who bring out the best in you, not the stress in you."

Have a great week!!!

Au Revoir!

Summer 2016 Book Wrap Up and Ratings

Hey guys! Today I'll be sharing with you every book I read this summer. In total, I read 40 books! Woohoo! Since I've started college, I wanted to read as much as I could over the summer when I actually had time to read. Fun fact: I am two books away from meeting my Goodreads challenge of 60 books (this is, of course, counting the books I've previously read this year)!

1. P.S. I still Love You by Jenny Han  5/5
2. The Crown by Kiera Cass 4/5
3. The Last Star by Rick Yancey 5/5
4. The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson 5/5
5. Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot 4/5
6. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson 5/5
7. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 3/5
8. Pink and Green is the New Black by Lisa Greenwald 3/5
9. Mother- Daughter Book Camp by Heather Vogel Frederick 5/5
10. Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch 4/5
11. Two Summers by Aimee Friedman 5/5
12. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling 5/5
13. Princess in Love by Meg Cabot 4/5
14. Summer Days and Summer Nights by Various Authors 3/5
15. Steel Scars by Victoria Aveyard 3/5
16. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson 3/5
17. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella 3/5
18. Hearts, Fingers and Other Things to Cross by Katie Finn 5/5
19. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella 5/5
20. Princess in Waiting by Meg Cabot 3/5
21. A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall 5/5
22. The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler 4/5
23. I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson 4/5
24. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling 5/5
25. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling 5/5
26. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling 5/5
27. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling 5/5
28. You are a Badass by Jen Sincere 4/5
29. Austenland by Shannon Hale 3/5
30. Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson 3/5
31. Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella 3/5
32. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella 4/5
33. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling 5/5
34. Whatever You Are Be a Good One by 5/5
35. Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli 5/5
36. Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot 3/5
37. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall 5/5
38. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall 5/5
39. The Penderwicks on Pointe Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall 5/5

40. The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall 5/5

If you guys want more in depth reviews of any of these books, please let me know!
What was your favorite book you've read this summer?
Out of the new books I've read, I'd say it was a tie between Two Summers and The Last Star!

Good luck in school guys! Study hard!

Au Revoir!

"You have to embrace the idea of imperfection, even in the thing that is most perfect for you"
 - The Crown by Kiera Cass

5 Things I Learned in High School

Hello, you are reading the words of a new high school graduate!!! Over the past four years, I've learned a lot about, well, a lot! Today I thought I'd share 5 of those things with you!


1. If you want something done right, do it yourself
I cannot tell you how much I learned this lesson this year. Whether it's in a project, a lab, or a club, having an unmotivated partner happens to the best of us. It may seem like the end of the world, but think about this: would you rather force someone to do work and have it not be at your standard, or would you rather take on extra work and know it's done right? Probably the latter. People won't always care as much as you do, so you need to be a leader and step up!

2. It's okay to change
Change is okay! It's a good thing! Do you want to end your high school as the same person you entered as? High school is a time to understand who you are as a person, grow in confidence, and develop new skills. Being timid and naïve is fine as a freshman but isn't so great when you're a senior! If you're unhappy with who you are, you're free to become the best version of yourself!

3. You are successful
This has been the hardest lesson I've ever had to learn. The end of senior year is filled with students receiving awards and being recognized for their successes. Even if you aren't recognized, it doesn't mean you aren't successful. Personally, I have taken almost all of a certain type of class offered at my school and done quite well, but I didn't receive the award for that area. Initially, I was angry, but then I realized that I didn't need validation because I knew that I did well! Believe in yourself and know that you are successful.

4. Chase your dreams
After high school, it's up to you to put your dreams into reality. There won't be teachers or parents alerting you of certain opportunities and pushing you to do them. So take control in high school, push yourself to find opportunities. If you've always wanted to be in a theater production, go for it! If you've always wanted to take computer science classes, do it! High school is what you make of it, so find something you're passionate about and take advantage of opportunities!

5. Don't base your beliefs or wants off of what others think
This can be hard, I know, but you have to do what's best for you. If you don't hate someone all your friends seem to, tell them! Don't do things based on what others are doing. It won't make you happy in the long run. If someone's ripping on your favorite English class, shoot back at them and say everything that makes it special to you. You're not obligated to believe or need something just because others do.

I hope this was helpful for some of you guys! If you have anything you learned in high school that stood out to you leave it down below. 

Have a great summer everyone and congratulations to all those who have graduated!

Au Revoir!

"You are so close to the victory, don't you dare give up now."

Favorite Pride and Prejudice Spin Offs

In honor of the new Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie, I have decided to compile a few of my favorite P&P spin offs for you guys! Can we pause a moment and think about the fact that Matt Smith is playing Mr. Collins? Oh my gosh, that is perfection.

The Youtube Version (With Book Accompaniment)

- The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (find the videos here)
  with The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick

The Young Adult Tales
- Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
- Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
- Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

The Film Variations:
- Bridget Jones's Diary
  with Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

You may have noticed that I did not, in fact, have the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies book on this oh-so-short list. That is because I didn't actually like it that much. I found that it dragged on and on and it wouldn't end! Maybe it was because I was in a huge reading slump or because it seemed to be lacking in the zombie area- I love graphic zombie scenes, and this didn't fill that void- but it just didn't live up to its praise from others. I wanted to like it, I truly did! Although that's not to discount the movie, I've heard that it is amazing!!!

Au Revoir!

"No ninjas! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without any ninjas!I never heard of such a thing." - Seth Grahame-Smith, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Random Thoughts #1

Currently, I'm sprawled out on my bed reading posts I've never published, and writing strangely deep paragraphs about life. Every draft I've written has never made it to the real world because it has no meaning. It has no spark, no passion put into it. That's why I haven't been blogging recently. I had no ideas or motivation to write something worth reading. Maybe it's because I've just finished reading Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, but there's something inside of me that's clicked. Recently I've felt like breaking out of my shell. It's like I've been holding myself back for so long now. Everyone knows that feeling. But I want to do something about it. I want to gain that confidence back. So 2016 marks the year where I will actually work on having a proper blog. No random posts with months in between. It's my challenge. Gosh, that does sound cheesy, doesn't it? 

So, in the spirit of Fangirl's Cather, I decided to write something. Yes it's quite strange, but hey, this is a post of random thoughts, right? Anything can be thought of.

I sat there on my grandparent’s lived-in couch, sandwiched between my aunt and my mom, just taking in my obnoxious, talkative family. We’ve all grown up so much. It seems like just yesterday I, the youngest of the bunch, was sitting on the floor playing Goblet with my oldest cousin. Now he has a baby of his own and I’m no longer a youngster. There’s always a group of relatives focusing on my newest cousin. Currently, it’s my aunt, grandma, and cousin-in-law, watching as the toddler stumbles and teases us with her new toys, all the while screaming shouts of laughter. So much has changed so quickly and I didn’t realize it until now. That’s life though, it truly does pass in the blink of an eye. I move my attention to my left. My aunt is rehashing her trip to Israel that she took with my favorite college. My mom's, dad's, and cousin’s attention is solely focused on her. I’m only half-listening; my thoughts have become preoccupied with college. The ex-youngest is now weighing her options, caught between the almost-perfect, the affordable and comforting, and the just-out-of-reach. It’s a constant battlefield in my brain. At times there is a clear winner, but then one of the others makes a comeback- a valiant effort to defeat the additional contenders. But those are thoughts for another day. Now it’s time to celebrate Christmas. My eyes drift to my brother and my second youngest cousin; they’re desperately trying to work the new-and-improved View Master. It’s no use. They’ve been at it for what seems like hours. McDonald’s Happy meals immediately pop into my head. Memories of pre-packaged toys and stuffed animals come flooding back. Polly Pockets, the Jungle Book 2, princess figurines, you name it, my brother and I probably had it. Drinks. Happy meals came with drinks, didn’t they? A question that once seemed trivial now seems impossible to answer. The rest of the family- my dad, uncle, and grandpa- are occupied with their drinks. Grandpa sips on the coffee that never leaves his hands- now it’s like blood in his veins, an addicting drug. I don’t remember the last time I saw him when he didn’t have a mug of the liquid attached to his palm. My dad and uncle are having small glasses of a minty melted-ice-cream-looking rum drink. It’s on the rocks, apparently that’s the way to have it (or so my dad tells me). They are dissecting the football team’s latest loss- today’s loss, it's still fresh in their minds. The running joke would be the miniscule string of game highlights the local sports networks will play. Then there’s me. Sitting, thinking, listening, observing. My normal habits. As much as I like being surrounded my outgoing, outspoken people, I have yet to find my voice. It’s buried somewhere deep inside my muscles and bones. Where do I fit into this family? This life? I’d sure like to know.

Au Revoir!

"Don't think about what can happen in a month. Don't think about what can happen in a year. Focus on the 24 hours in front of you and do what you can to get closer to where you want to be."

Huge Reading Wrap Up and Reviews

Hey guys! I realize that I have probably been a disgrace in the blogger world because there has been a large (quite large) hiatus (about 4 months). I wasn't feeling like myself and honestly I needed to put my well being and school ahead of this. It may be a while until another post is up... I'm planning on editing posts that have been written (somewhat) but not put up. Well, on with the reviews!

1. The Duff by Kody Keplinger - 4/5
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I saw the movie first, and there were practically no spoilers because the book and movie are very different. There was a friends-with-benefits relationship going on with Bianca, the main character, and Wesley, the super hot jock guy which I was not expecting. It definitely makes you think about "Duffs" and it's a quick, fun read to squeeze in during a torture- er, school- break.

2. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry - 3/5
This book has been on my TBR- kid you not- since second grade. After reading it, I think that it is an okay book, I had high hopes for it, but it just wasn't for me. Kira is a strong girl, but it just wasn't what I was expecting. This one makes you think about the government since it's set in a dystopian society and about morals and humanity.

3. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison - 4/5
This is a fun, quick read about Georgia Nicholson's life. She is a teenager from England and all her boy and family drama. I wouldn't say it's amazing, but it is entertaining!

4. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - 5/5
Well, this book made me start to enjoy mythology (which is a hard feat)! I love that it is modern, but has the gods and monsters from the olden days. Even if you don't like mythology, this is such a great book that it is a must read! (Also don't judge the book by it's movie!)

5. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins - 5/5
Oh my gosh, I was hooked with the first word! Southern belle gone, well, ninja! There is romance, suspense, magic, and practically everything else! Harper, the protagonist, is the typical popular girl with a somewhat messed up family life who is next in line for homecoming queen, but then the school's janitor kisses her in the girl's bathroom (sketchy, right?) and she finds herself protecting the last person she would ever dream of!
 
6. Homemakers by Brit Morin - 4/5
Okay, I know this has horrible ratings on Goodreads, but I thought it was pretty good! It has pretty basic things like how to hard boil an egg and how to set a table the fancy way, but, I mean, I don't know how to do that and I'm willing to bet most teenagers don't either!

7. Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous by Kathryn Williams - 5/5
Yes, yes, yes! Awesome book!!! Sophie has worked at her family's Italian restaurant all her life, and now she is on a teen cooking competition (very Masterchef Junior-esque). She is sent to Napa, California to compete for an internship at a culinary school and may or may not win the heart of a young French man. I wonder if she saw Hallie Parker when she was there?

8. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella - 4/5
This is different from the movie, but it is a good different. I like that it is relatable (shopping problem, anyone?) and Becky Bloomwood is so funny! It gives good financial advice in a sneaky way, too!

9. The Spiderwick Chronicles series (#1-5) by Holly Black - 3/5
This series was okay considering it was a children's series. I would recommend it for younger people because each book is only about 100 pages or so. A good story, although because they are so short, get the whole series from the library or a half-priced book store because each book is a quick read.

10. The Looking Glass Wars (#1) by Frank Beddor - 4/5
This was pretty good! It is an Alice in Wonderland novel, but don't worry, it's not the Disney version! Alice is the narrator and her imagination is all powerful. I don't think I will continue with the series because it wasn't my cup of tea, but if you are a fantasy person you will love this!

11. On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison - 3/5
The second book in the Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series definitely wan't as good as the first. But, no doubt, it was still entertaining! I can't even imagine having a friend like Georgia; it would be so strange, yet so fun!

12. Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes - 5/5 (read the review here)

13. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks - 3/5
No. Just no. This was so slow and boring. The movie, now the movie was good, but the book, not so much. I just could not relate to any of the characters and they were all so lovey dovey and it was just kind of weird.

14. Julie & Julia by Julie Powell - 3/5
This book. Oh this book! It was quite boring at parts and I could not get through it at a good pace. The movie is so much better, to be honest. If you like cooking (specifically French cooking) or are a Julia Child fangirl, this book is for you! But if you aren't, I suggest you look for a different novel to fill your book void.

15. Four: A Divergent Story Collection by Veronica Roth - 5/5
No words. Read it if you are a Divergent fangirl! This follows Four (obviously) through his choosing ceremony and Dauntless life. It's a peek into his personal life and thoughts which is awesome!

16. The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine - 4/5
This was pretty good! It's about a good girl who starts hanging out with a bad(ish) guy while they are working at a wedding business. I probably wouldn't reach for it again, but if you want a typical YA romance novel, read this! You won't be disappointed!

17. Revenge, Ice Cream, and Other Things Best Served Cold by Katie Finn - 5/5
What a great summer read! This is the second book in a series that follows Gemma as she and her ex best friend Hallie try to get revenge on each other. It's light hearted and funny and perfect for any time you need a fun book.

18. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall - 5/5
This book is one that is a classic (or at least should be)! It's about 4 sisters and an amazing summer at this picturesque cottage. Such great imagery and descriptions. It really makes you want to go there. Honestly, I'd love to see this as a film, but I'd also hate it because there is no way an adaptation could do it justice! If you want a quick read that brings you back to your childhood, please please please read this!!!

19. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall - 5/5
The girls are now older and boy, are they getting into some messes! Skye and Jane swap homework assignments, Rosalind is in a romantic kerfuffle, and Batty is busy with Hound and the new neighbor boy. Even Mr. Penderwick has some surprises!

20. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall - 5/5
The girls have grown up again (gosh, will they stop doing that!?!), and are now taking a trip without Mr. Penderwick and Rosalind. It's a bumpy ride

21. The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall - 5/5
Oh man, Rosalind's in college, Skye and Jane are in high school, and the book is basically centered around Batty. It was hard to get into at first because all the characters are so grown up since there was such a huge time jump, but it ended up being so darn good! Now I only have to wait four years until the last book (*crying inside*).

22. The Heir by Kiera Cass - 5/5
I know there has been a lot of hatred towards the main character, Eadlyn, but I actually liked her! I know she was very spoiled and angry, but I think that it is just a side effect of being a princess and a teenager and knowing all the horrible things going on in the kingdom and trying to figure out how to stop it. I really liked that Eadlyn wanted to be queen without a husband. It's almost like a Princess Diaries thing again! Honestly if any one of us were in her position, we would feel and act like Eadlyn.

23. My Almost Epic Summer by Adele Griffin - 4/5
For a book picked off of the cover, this ended up being pretty good! A little weird at parts, but overall a nice summer read. The main character is babysitting and ends up becoming aquatinted with a couple older kids who kind of bully her in some ways.

24. Just One Night by Gayle Forman - 3/5
Okay, this was good, but not outstanding. Yes it was cute and yes it was a good ending, but, I don't know, it was an end to a series that was just "ehhh" for me.

25. Please Remain Calm by Courtney Summers - 4/5
Oh my gosh. Once I got past the disappointment of this only being a short story, I rekindled my love of this series. The first book, This is Not a Test, literally gave me chills. This installment follows two of the characters as they try to find civilization in a world overrun by zombies. So good, so good.

26. When Irish Guys Are Smiling by Suzanne Supplee - 3/5
Disappointing is one word to describe this. I honestly had high hopes for this because, come on, who doesn't picture Niall Horan when reading the title?! Plus it's set in Ireland! But I just couldn't get into it. Maybe the rest of the series is better?

27. The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard - 4/5
I loved the Pretty Little Liars series and was sad to see it end, but this has definitely replaced it! Although it does seem to be similar to the PLL plot, if you like it, read the second book because it has a huge plot twist and is nothing like PLL!

28. Something Real by Heather Demetrios - 5/5
This was so good. It's about Bonnie™ who has spent her life growing up on a reality show about her family. After 3 years of having a normal life, she is once again thrown into the spotlight. It's interesting to see how reality TV affects children and teenagers even if this book is fiction.

29. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan - 5/5
Too good to put into words! Mythology is my friend now! And Percy, oh Percy, he is quite sassy!

30. The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan - 4/5
Very good, very good. Sad ending though!

31. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan - 4/5
Wow, this one definitely brought me back to my mythology days in English class! It's so interesting that some mortals can see through the mist! Can you? (*cue mysterious music*)

32. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan - 5/5 - What an epic conclusion to the Percy Jackson series! The huge fight, oh the fight! Soooooo good!!! Kronos was defeated and all is right! There are no words to describe the amazement felt from this book. On to the Heroes of Olympus!

33. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling - 3/5 - Boy, I had high hopes for this book because I loved the Three Brothers tale that was in HP and the Deathly Hallows, but it was slightly disappointing. I enjoyed the stories because they had a good message and were incredibly creative, but I disliked the format. I feel like there could have been a few more stories (there were only 5 or 6) or there should have been 10 or 15, maybe even 20, stories without Dumbledore's comments.

34. The Good Girls by Sara Shepard - 4/5 - Plot twist alert! I thought this would end up being like the Pretty Little Liars series, and in a way it was- until the twist. If you are debating whether or not to continue on with this series after reading The Perfectionists, continue! The OMG moment makes it all worth while! (Plus it's a quick read!)

Okay, I have read a lot more books than this, but without being insane and having this be a mile long post, it just wasn't possible to add any. Also, don't kill me because I've said "fun" and "quick" so much... argh! Descriptive words, must find new descriptive words!

Anyways, I hope you've enjoyed this book wrap up! Leave a comment below if you have read any of these or have any recommendation!

Au Revoir!

"The unexpected is usually what brings the unbelievable" -mkr

Book Review: Lemonade Mouth

Hey guys! Today I'm reviewing Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes for you! If you watched Disney channel when you were younger, you probably saw Lemonade Mouth with the detention kids turned rock stars. But I am here to tell you, this book is definitely not the same as the movie. It is more young adult than child.

The book starts off with Wen, Charlie, Mo, Olivia, and Stella finding themselves in detention on the same fateful day for various reasons (for example, Mo is caught making out in the trees and Wen has a not-so-Disney-esque guy problem in front of his class). None of them immediately click and make a fabulous show tune like in the movie- they actually start by signing/playing to the beat of a commercial. The music teacher, Mrs. Reznik, encourages them to become a band and none are particularly enthralled with the idea. Stella eventually turns their frowns upside down, they give the band a go, and sign up to play at the Halloween Party, much against the competing band's wishes. When Lemonade Mouth comes onto the stage, the crowd is in for a strangely amazing blend of ukulele (Stella), vocals (Olivia), trumpet (Wen), drums (Charlie), and bass (Mo). Everyone falls in love with their music and Lemonade Mouth is instantly famous around town. Now, now, obviously I'm not going to give away the rest, but I will say that, as in every book, the characters have difficulties at home, with each other, and with their classmates. At one point Lemonade Mouth calls it quits. Is it fate or coincidence that this band seems destined to take over the world (or at least the radio)?

Okay. Lemonade Mouth was awesome. Seriously! If you liked the movie please give this a try! The way it was written seemed so, I don't know, fluid. Each chapter had multiple points of view so I felt like I was being told the story by each of the characters. The best parts were when the music was described. It's really hard to explain, but I could practically hear the music! I was also pleasantly surprised by the characters. They were quite different from the movie, which I was not expecting. Olivia is incredibly shy and scared (and a little strange) and she has contact with her father throughout the book. Mo wasn't all that different, so I won't really comment on her. Stella had a stranger home life and she definitely rebelled more than in the movie. The largest change for Wen was that he had a crush on his father's girlfriend, which made things infinitely more complicated for him. Charlie was the most different because he had his dead twin's voice in his head. Eventually he overcame it and the voice stopped, but it acted as his alter ego almost. The part I loved the most was that the wimpy freshmen came together and changed the way people acted at school. Although it is a tad cliché, the message was there and it was definitely well written!
A 5/5 stars!

What did you guys think? Have you read Lemonade Mouth or seen the movie?

Have a great weekend!

Au Revoir!

"How could you ever feel comfortable if no matter where you went you felt like you belonged someplace else?" - Lemonade Mouth

Book Review: The Sisterhood Everlasting

 Hey guys! Long time, no see! Today I have a book review of The Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares. Enjoy!

**CONTAINS SPOILERS**

The Sisterhood Everlasting, the last installment of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, was about the girls (Bridget, Carmen, Lena, and Tibby) around 10 years after the previous book; each is doing their own thing, barely having time to contact one another. Carmen is an actress in NYC, Lena is teaching at RISD, Bridget is over in California, and Tibby, who has practically cut herself off from the others, is in Australia. Eventually, the girls get letters from Tibby saying that she bought tickets for them to go to Greece. Of course, they are overjoyed, but when they arrive, Tibby is nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, they find that Tibby has passed on while in Greece (she drowned, but later they find out she was suffering from Huntington's Chorea) which leaves them shocked and sad about what has occurred. All the girls are depressed and they don't really have any idea what to do with their life. Each one goes through some growing up, many love interests, and eventually finds their path.

All good things have to come to an end, huh? Well, this was quite the end.

Honestly, this book was a little depressing. It was hard to see Bridget, Lena, and Carmen be so lost without Tibby. It was hard not to feel so attached to them. And it was hard not to feel like I was going through the whole thing with them. Throughout the entire book I had the awful feeling in my chest- the one you get when you're reading or watching something really sad but you can't cry over it. 

Unfortunately I had read major MAJOR spoilers about Tibby so when I got to the part where she died I was prepared. 

There are a few things I need to get off my chest:

Lena FINALLY got together with Kostos. (woohoo!)

Carmen FINALLY broke up with that idiot Jones. (yes!)

Bridget FINALLY settled down with Eric. (goodness me!)

And Tibby? There are really no words to describe how good of a friend she was and how sad her death was!

Overall, this was a great last book. Quite sad, but still great. If you are a crier, grab some tissues, my friends. At first it was hard to read because it just felt so grown up and mature, but as I read on, it really made sense that Ann Brashares (the author) wrote it this way. The girls are all older and they have real, grown up problems, rather than the fun, in-the-moment whims of the other novels. In addition, it was really a thought provoking book due to the death of Tibby and the things the girls went through. It made me really appreciate my life right now, and it made me want to do something more with my life, not just live to live (so cliché, I know). The only thing that I really have a complaint about is the characters. I just couldn't relate to them! Maybe it's because I'm not 29 and I haven't experienced a loss like that before, but throughout the book it blew my mind that they weren't doing what they wanted to do and that they were just so lost!

Have you read the Sisterhood series? Did you like the ending? Comment below!

Hope you liked this! School's almost done now (one day left!) so there will be many more book reviews and cool things coming. My family is traveling to Kaui soon, so I will have pictures, places we went, and everything else!

Au Revoir!

"And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." - C. S. Lewis

Story Time: A Trio of Driving Stories

Recently I've had some unfortunate driving incidents so I thought I would share some of my more memorable experiences with you guys. If you feel like you've made some stupid mistakes on the road, you are not alone.

The Life Flashes Before My Eyes Moment

About a week ago, I was about to take a left turn out of my neighborhood and onto a country road (45 mph), when I almost caused a major accident. There was a car behind me and that always makes me a little on edge, like I shouldn't be waiting for a long time to take my turn. There were two cars coming from the right, both of which I let pass. There were also a couple cars coming from the left. I thought I had enough time to take my turn before the car came, but apparently I didn't. I was pulling out and, boy, was that car comin' fast. It slammed on its breaks and honked its horn and, thankfully, I completed my turn, but if I had hesitated for just one more second, crash!!!! Needless to say, I was in shock the entire morning, continuously thanking God for keeping me safe, and wondering what would have happened if the crash had actually happened. Moral of the story: be safe, not sorry and if you are on a county road, do not take turns when cars are coming. 

The Stoplight Mishap 

This one happened on the drive home from school on the same day as the traumatizing experience relayed above. I was driving home (obviously) and I guess I wasn't paying very much attention. I could have sworn the light was red so I slowed down and stopped. Then I got lost in thought, as one does at stoplights, and I couldn't think of why the guy in the car on the perpendicular road was stopped. Suddenly, I heard a horn, I snapped out of it and resized that the light was in fact green! To make it worse there was a really long line of cars behind me! 

The Slippery Slope: A Theatrical Performance on Ice

Ahhh, one of the first experiences sliding on ice. Not so good times! Well, it was a dark and snowy night when a teenage girl (me) was driving to volunteer at her high school. I was almost to school when I noticed a line of cars slowing down by the railroad tracks. Not an uncommon occurrence. Only this time everyone stopped-- there had been an accident not twenty feet past the tracks. Of course, I slammed on my breaks when I found that everyone was stopping. And you know that little dip by railroad tracks leading up to them? Yeah, I was at the little dip part which didn't help for slowing down. I literally saw my life flash before my eyes as my car slowly skidded across the ice towards the back of the car in front of me. Thankfully, I stopped inches away from the car and narrowly avoided an accident!

I hope you guys enjoyed this! It's a little different, I've never shared stories like these on the Internet! I whole heartedly apologize for not posting for such a long time. Junior year is a beast, but just over a month left and then a normal posting schedule! Book reviews and summer things galore! Woohoo! Just a heads up, I will not be posting until after May 15th or so because I need to focus on school and tests. And for all you Bloglovin people out there, hello! and thanks for the over 260 followers!

Do you guys have any memorable driving incidents? What was the first time driving like for you?
Let me know in the comments!

Au Revoir!

"What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?" - John Green 

Conquering the ACT (Including Writing)

Hey everyone! Today I have some ACT tips! I would say I'm qualified to talk about this now, seeing that I've taken the ACT and received a pretty decent score. Throughout my experience of studying and taking a prep class, I have picked up a few tricks that I think would be helpful for you guys!

The first is to buy or borrow a prep book. I would recommend the Kaplan book or the Princeton Review book. I have the 2010 edition of the Kaplan one, and I'm really liking it so far. It goes through each section of the test (Reading, Science, Math, English and Writing) and give tips to help you get the best score. There are  6 practice tests in my edition. The book also includes a CD with more practice tests, but I'm not sure how good they are because my CD doesn't work! In addition, the tips are just as good as the tests. Some tips didn't work for me personally, but, who knows, they could work for you!

My next tip is to take an ACT prep class. In my town, there is one the week before each ACT. It is actually super helpful. I learned how to manage my time, which helped a lot. I will talk about what I learned for each section later. And just to prove that it's worth the time, I'll say that I did way better on the test than I ever thought I would and I did improve a ton from how I did on the practice tests.

Now, if you're anything like me, that math section is pretty daunting. If you still have time before your test, specifically if you're a freshman or sophomore reading this, I would recommend taking the full year of Algebra II and taking trigonometry before the test. There are a decent amount of trig and algebra problems and you will have an even better chance of knowing the answer if you get those classes out of the way as soon as possible. 

Practice, practice, practice! I was so nervous for the ACT that I probably took way too many online practice tests! I actually found some great (free!) apps that are useful. One is the Kaplan app, I didn't actually use this one, but because it's by the book people I'm guessing it's good and there are some practice tests and a diagnostic test to help you keep track of your improvement. The other, which I highly recommend, is play2prep. It gives you a diagnostic test and as you "train" it increases or decreases your overall score based on how you did. Honestly, I'm not sure how accurate the score is, but I do think it helped me. 

Here are my tips for the sections. There aren't a ton for reading and science because it's hard to give a lot of tips since it's different every time. 

English:
-Have an eye (and ear) for grammar mistakes. Be the grammar police! Does the verb tense make
 sense? Does the verb agree with the subject? Is the information relevant? 

-If there's an omit answer, most of the time it's that (or so my teacher tells me). A lot of the time, the
 ACT people add information that may seem right, but overall it doesn't add anything to the story. Use
 caution when choosing it and be sure to look at the other answers.
-Don't choose the wordy answers. Just like the previous tip, the ACT usually try's to trick you by
 putting having answers or sentences in the reading with too many words. They want to make it seem
 like the more words a sentence has, the more intellectual and correct it is. So be careful and read
 each answer, but if you're in a pinch, choose the one with the least words.
-Look for redundancy. Many times there are phrases they sound right, but, when taking a closer look,
 are completely redundant. From what I've gathered from the books, I believe these are usually in the
 form of "should this part be omitted?" although I'm not positive. 

Math 

-Know your formulas! Area, circumference, distance, and all the rest! The quadratic formula may be
 used a few times. Also look up arithmetic and geometric sequences which allow you to predict what
 number will come next when only given a few numbers. 

-Be sure to remember the trig functions. My teacher uses SOH CAH TOA (sine- opposite over
 hypotenuse; cosine- adjacent over hypotenuse; tangent- opposite over adjacent)

-Review, review, review! I like looking at my old notes from geometry, algebra 2 and trig. 

-Do not spend too much time on a problem. Guess, circle it (in the booklet), and come back. Getting
 hung up on  questions is a great way to waste valuable time. A guess is better than no answer! 

-Get a graphing calculator. These really help. I've very minimally needed to use mine, but I did
 sometimes. It also may make you feel more confident knowing that you have so many little program
 type things on it. Just be sure to get an approved one!

-Be sure to bring an extra calculator because you do not want yours to run out of batteries in the
 middle of the test!

Reading

-Actually read the passage! You may think that this is a waste of time, but I find that I spend more
 time searching for answers if I haven't read the text. 

-That said, do not spend too much time reading. You will waste a ton of time if you do. 

-Underline important things. While you're reading, underline people, main ideas, and really anything
 that you think is important. This really does help; last time I took the ACT I barely had to look back
 at the passage because I read and underlined!

-Do not be overwhelmed. There's a lot of reading, but take it one question at a time. Make your best
 guess and come back to it if you need to. 

-If you know you are better at one type of passage than another, do that one first because it's a good
 way to make sure you get the most correct. 

Science 

-There are 3 types of passages: all reading (read this through before answering questions), all graphs
 (skip right to the questions), and a mix of graphs and reading (read this through).

-For graphs, I suggest reading the x axis and the y axis to get a feel for what it's about. 

-Do not panic if you come to a topic  that you know nothing about. Be sure to stay calm and
 understand it the best you can. Usually you understand it a lot better than you think you do!

Writing

-First things first, you need 5 paragraphs (introduction, 2 body paragraphs, a counter argument, and a
 conclusion) and a good thesis. 

-When you get the test, read the question, think of your stance, and make an outline. When I make
 my outline, I write the thesis, the points of the body paragraphs and the examples, and the topic of
 the counter argument and an example. Don't write anything about the intro or conclusion because
 that wastes time. 

-Introduction: write 3-4 sentences introducing the topic and taking your stance. Place the thesis at the
 end. 

-Body paragraphs (2): introduction your point, give an example, tell why the example relates to your
 stance (relate to thesis), conclude. Use transitions between paragraphs. 

-Counterarguement: state why others oppose your stance, say why they are wrong, use an example to
 prove your point, say why it proves your point, conclude. Use transitions. 

-Conclusion: transtion, state overall point, kind of sum up what you wrote about, restate thesis (in a
 different way, do not copy it word for word), strong conclusion

-Once you are done, check it over. Look for legibility, spelling, and words that could possibly be
 changed to be stronger. 

One last thing: be sure you have everything you need. This includes your ID, ACT ticket, multiple number 2 pencils, an approved calculator or two, and a snack if you need it. (This might not be all, I believe that everything you need should be on the ticket)

Some parting words: 

-I strongly suggest not comparing scores. It could make you or the other people upset. 

-There will always be someone who got a better score than you (unless you got a 36, kudos to you if
 you did!). Don't put yourself down if you didn't do as well as others. What matters is that you did the
 best that you could do. 

-Follow your normal routine. Don't do anything special because it could throw you (or your stomach)
 off.
-If you receive a nice score and decide to retake the test, do not be overconfident. For my second time
 I was and I actually thought the test was easy. My score begged to differ.

-Try not to sit by your friends. This could make you more nervous. 

-Get to the school early, especially if you don't know where the room is.
-Sign up early!

Good luck! You can do it!!!!

Here are some helpful links:
Kaplan ACT Premier 2016 with 8 Practice Tests (preorder)
Kaplan ACT 2016 Strategies, Practice & Review with 6 Practice Tests (preorder)
Cracking the ACT Premium Edition with 8 Practice Tests and DVD (there's also a normal version)
ACT website

I really hope these helped! It's quite long, but I think there are some pretty good tips in here! Do you have any tips? How was your experience with the ACT? 

Au revoir!

"If you know you can do better... do better"