Saturday, January 31, 2015

Book Review: The Witches, by Roald Dahl

The WitchesThe Witches by Roald Dahl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Witches, by Roald Dahl
★★★★

Synopsis: This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches.
Grandmamma loves to tell about witches. Real witches are the most dangerous of all living creatures on earth. There’s nothing they hate so much as children, and they work all kinds of terrifying spells to get rid of them. Her grandson listens closely to Grand mamma’s stories—but nothing can prepare him for the day he comes face to face with The Grand High Witch herself!
In A Sentence: a refreshing and rather sweet read

Book Review: Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson

Snow CrashSnow Crash by Neal Stephenson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
★★★

Synopsis: In reality, Hiro Protagonist delivers pizza for Uncle Enzo’s CosaNostra Pizza, Inc., but in the Metaverse he’s a warrior prince. Plunging headlong into the enigma of a new computer virus that’s striking down hackers everywhere, he races along the neon-lit streets on a search-and-destroy mission for the shadowy virtual villain threatening to bring about infocalypse. Snow Crash is a mind-altering romp through a future America so bizarre, so outrageous…you’ll recognize it immediately.
In A Sentence: An okay read with an overwhelming amount of information.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Favorites Spotlight: Lord Of The Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien


I'm sure no one is totally upset that I haven't posted anything for my Favorites Spotlight, but it bugs me when something isn't done on time.  Life just gets in the way sometimes.  Reading for challenges, colds that makes my head feel all foggy, a bunch of private lessons, a huge pile of laundry, a cat who's begging me to play fetch.... *sigh* ....there's just too much going on.

Yep, that's right!  I sometimes think she's channeling a dog or something

I refuse to miss posting before the month is out, however, and this month I'm going for a favorite series of mine that is popular with practically all fantasy lovers.  And that's J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings series.

It's Friday! Time For a Blog Hop!

Happy Friday readers!  It's time for Parajunkee's and AlisonCanRead's Feature & Follow Friday blog hop!

The rules:
1. create a post answering the weekly question
2. enter your blog into the linky list
3. follow the featured blogs and the two hosts
4. follow as many blogs as you like and have fun!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Wednesday's Opinion: What Would I Do If I Won The Lottery

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Although technically I'm writing this on Tuesday, and I'm looking out the window and seeing this:



or this:


Yep, that's right.  Blizzard Colbie has completely engulfed Connecticut, and they're predicting 14"-22" of snow by the end of the day.  Snow day!  The timing couldn't have been even more perfect.  I have a slight cold so a couple of days off is much needed to recuperate.

So while I'm snuggled up on my chair with a nice warm blanket and a cup of yummy coffee, I figured I'd type up my weekly opinions meme!

This week's opinion:

What Would I Do If I Won The Lottery


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Book Review: The Return Of The King (Lord Of The Rings #3), by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Return Of The King (Lord Of The Rings #3), by J.R.R. Tolkien
★★★★★ and a ♥

Synopsis: As the evil might of the Dark Lord Sauron swarms out to conquer all Middle-earth, Frodo and Sam struggle deep into Mordor, seat of Sauron’s power. To defeat the Dark Lord, the pair must destroy the accursed Ring of Power in the fires of Mount Doom. But the way is impossibly hard, and Frodo is weakening. Weighed down by the burden of the Ring, he begins finally to despair.
In A Sentence: An excellent conclusion to an incredible series.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Happy Monday! A Weekly Recap

Happy Monday folks!  Time to go over last week's reading, and this week's plans!


Well, I guess I'm still technically in a reading slump, although this week has been really stressful for me.  The past seven days has been incredibly busy!  Work has been crazy busy lately.  More and more people want private dance lessons, especially wedding couples, and our groups classes have peaked at 40-50 people per class!  To top it off, our Friday Salsa Night dance social saw 80 people!  Ack!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Wednesday's (Formerly Tuesday's) Opinion: I Am Feminist And I'm Proud Of It!

Hey readers!  Every week I stand on my little soapbox and say what I think!
This week:

Why I'm Proud To Be A Feminist

Lately, we've been seeing women celebrities saying they're not a feminist, and women in general are responding everywhere, claiming not to be feminists.

My response?  I'm a feminist and I'm proud of it!

Monday, January 19, 2015

Hello Monday! Recaps And Goals

It's Monday again!  Happy Monday folks!


Book Review: Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (Harry Potter #2), by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (Harry Potter Book #2), by J.K. Rowling
★★★★★ and a ♥

Synopsis: The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls’ bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley’s younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone—or something—starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects…Harry Potter himself?
In A Sentence: A book I’ve been reading since I was 12, and I never get tired of it!

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Book Review: The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Two Towers (Book #2 in the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy), by J.R.R. Tolkien
★★★★★ and ♥

Synopsis: The Fellowship is scattered. Some are bracing hopelessly for war against the ancient evil of Sauron. Some are contending with the treachery of the wizard Saruman. Only Frodo and Sam are left to take the accursed Ring of Power to be destroyed in Mordor—the dark Kingdom where Sauron is supreme. Their guide is Gollum, deceitful and lust-filled, slave to the corruption of the Ring
In Sentence: not my absolute favorite in the trilogy, but still much-loved

Friday, January 16, 2015

It's Friiiidaaaay! Time For Feature & Follow Friday!

Hey folks!  It's time for parajunkee's and alison can read's weekly blog hop!


Here's how it works: Every week, there's a featured blog or two, as well as a weekly question!  You create your own F&F blog post that answers the question and enter your blog into the list on the original blog page.  Then you follow, follow, follow!  It's required to follow the blog hosts and the featured blogs, but for everyone else it's up to you how many of the participating blogs you want to follow!  It's also nice if you leave a comment with the blogs you're following.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Wednesday's (Formerly Tuesday's) Opinion: Why Dance Instruction Videos Shouldn't Replace Dance Classes

Happy Wednesday everyone!  I'm a day late with my Tuesday's Opinion thing, and since that's been happening a lot lately, I think I'll just move it over to Wednesday and use Tuesday to write up most of it.

This week's opinion:
Why Dance Instruction Videos Shouldn't Replace Actual Dance Classes

In this day and age, technology and the Internet makes it supremely easy to access information of all sorts.  You can find information and advice for your health, lifestyle, hobbies, and news.  Youtube in particular has numerous instructional videos for just about anything....including how to dance.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Hello Monday! A Weekly Recap

Well, it's Monday everyone!

So, it's been a great week and a sucky week these past 7 days.

Good stuff first: I got a butt-load done in terms of organizing and cleaning!  The Christmas stuff is mostly put away, my husband and I are successfully keeping the clutter at bay, and our new system of dish-washing is totally making my day!  Hey, I'm a poet and I didn't even know it!  Ha!

Friday, January 9, 2015

It's Friday! Time For Feature And Follow!

Happy Friday!  It's freezing out and it's snowing, but it's still Friiiddaaaayy!  Time for the Feature And Follow Blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.


This blog hop is awesome!  Every week there's a featured blogger, and there's a weekly question.  You create a post answering the question of the week, publish it on your blog, and then follow, follow, follow!  The rule is you must follow the featured blogs and the host blogs, and the rest of the participating blogs are optional.  And if someone follows you, follow back!

This week's question:
Do you have any fun collections (other than books)? Suggested by Peace Love Books.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Tuesday's Opinion: My Top Ten Pet Peeves When Ballroom Dancing



Hello everyone!  I haven't posted anything about dancing for a while, so I figured I post something now.

As most of you know by now, I'm a ballroom dance teacher.  I have a whole lot of dance experience, both positive and negative.  So I've decided to post:

My top pet peeves when ballroom dancing



Book Review: The Fellowship Of The Ring (Lord Of The Rings Book #1), by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My review from January, 2015:
The Lord Of The Rings Book #1: The Fellowship Of The Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien
★★★★★ and a ♥

Synopsis: The dark, fearsome Ringwraiths are searching for a hobbit. Frodo Baggins knows they are seeking him and the Ring he bears—the Ring of Power that will enable evil Sauron to destroy all that is good in Middle-Earth. Now it is up to Frodo and his faithful servant, Sam, with a small band of companions, to carry the Ring to the one place it can be destroyed—Mount Doom, in the very center of Sauron’s dark kingdom.
In A Sentence: This will always be a classic favorite of mine.

Happy New Year! A Recap Of 2014 and My Goals For 2015

Happy New Year fellow readers!  I might be a few days late in writing this post, but better late than never, right?

This year was a huge accomplishment for me!  For the first time ever, I manged to read over 100 books in one year.  I know that for many other bloggers out there, this is only a trifle, but I could never do it before, and this year I finally managed it!  Yay!

A lot of my reads were really good ones too.  Here's a list of my favorites, and of the books that flunked (in no particular order):