December Books

Based on the results from my Future of the Blog questionnaire (which you can still answer, by the way), you all would rather read my book reviews in one month per post. So, I'm going to oblige, starting now!

Stop Pretending by Sonya Sones
This is another book from my classroom shelf that I needed to read. The book is in free-verse format. It's based on the memories of the author, with some creative liberties. It's about when her older sister "went crazy" with schizophrenia and had to be checked into a mental health clinic. It goes through how Sones deals with the stigma of having a "crazy" family member and how she eventually overcomes it as a young teen and regains her relationship with her sister. It was a very quick read--it took me about an hour. Poetry-wise, I didn't think it was very well written, but it's full of memory and emotion. I'd like to share with troubled students.
3/5 stars

More Than The Tattooed Mormon by Al Carroway Read the full review here. 5/5 stars

The Final Farewell by Patricia Wiles
This is another book from my classroom shelf. Because of that, I didn't realize that this was the 4th and last book of the series! This is definitely a Mormon young adult book. It's about Kevin Kirk's senior year of high school and how he and his very few Mormon friends in his small town deal with changing beliefs, the prospect of going on a mission vs going to college, and surviving a tornado. I'd definitely have my Mormon students read it, but I don't think it would really interest any non-Mormon kids... 3/5 stars
Mary Jane by Judith O'Brien Yet another book from my classroom shelf. What really caught my eye about this was it is a Marvel comic book, but from a girl's point of view! This is the first in a series that goes through the Spiderman adventures, but from Mary Jane's perspective. I think it was great to have a way to really include geeky girls (like myself and many of my students) in the Marvel universe by having books like this. Even a lot of my male students would open this and read a few chapters. However, upon reading it myself, I didn't really enjoy it. I thought it was very cheesy and predictable. True, I already know the different variations of Spiderman, but this just wasn't good quality writing. 2/5 stars
Secret History: Conspiracies from Ancient Aliens to the New World Order by Nick Redfern I saw this book on display at the library and had to check it out. I love reading conspiracy and esoteric theories even though I don't believe a shred of it. To me, as a historian and a Mormon Christian, it's hilarious and fun to read. Justin and I laughed at some of these theories Redfern compiled. Redfern didn't create any of these theories. Basically, he just gathered a bunch of theories and put it together in almost a chronological encyclopedia of sorts. Some of it was honestly boring--I mean, how can you make conspiracy theories boring? 2.5/5 stars
Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris I absolutely love NPH and was excited to read this book, especially because he decided to be true to form and make it a unique autobiography in the form of a choose your own adventure book. This autobiography can either be read as such, or chronologically. He talks about his early life, theater, movie/TV, magic, family, and love lives, including some magic tricks for you to learn, as well as recipes. He even got some of his friends to write little letters in it. I absolutely love how he talks about his parents, kids, and husband, David. He is such a sweet person and strongly believes in family. However, sometimes it did get a bit lewd in his openness and honestly about drugs and his sex life. I cringed a bit with that. 4/5 stars **I received a free copy of Choose Your Own Autobiography from Blogging for Books in exchange for a review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Have you read any of these books? Which were your favorite? Why?

4 Really Cool Etsy Shops!

I am often amazed at the generosity of people! My students have worked hard to improve their grades all year. I give them star stickers for 80% or higher on assessments or left over homework passes at the end of each term. The last Monday of school, they will cash in all their star stickers for "money" for an auction I'm holding. I have been to a few dollar stores and gotten a few items. Then, I gathered up courage, one of my best teacher outfits, and my teacher badge and went to local restaurants asking for excellent student gift cards or coupons. Thankfully, I received a few! I then decided to take it one step further. I created my very first media kit...a very plain, simple one...and took my addition as a blogger along with being a teacher to Etsy shops that not only had school-related items, but also geeky items that my students would love.

And guess what! A few of them jumped at the chance to send some free products! I was surprised! I'm not a very big blogger! Could they trust my intents? How kind of them!

So, I decided to pay it forward and share these items and the shops they came from!

Studio Fliff

My students and I both love Marvel and D.C. comics and movies. We often have conversations about the movies and the different heroes during carpool. Many of them have their lockers or binders decorated with pictures of their favorite heroes. They are so excited to be 8th graders next year, because one novel is about a hero, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and one of their projects is to compare him to their favorite hero! So, this is a perfect shop to donate to the auction!

I am absolutely in love with the Avengers stickers! They are so adorable! And, they are a great size, as well! I know my students will definitely fight during the auction for them. And the buttons are really neat, too. Justin and I had fun naming each super hero based off the symbols. I know my students will decorate their backpacks, lunchboxes, and pencil holders with these!

Check out Studio Fliff for more geeky merchandise!

Rosie's Pendants

Grammar is huge in my school. My students all can label and diagram complex sentences...and by complex, I also mean simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences! Some are even as good as me! I know this because sometimes I race them! In a world where public education is veering away from the classic knowledge of grammar, I think this item is perfect!

I absolutely love, love, love this pendant! I am secretly hoping that no one bids on it so that I can keep it! Rosie was super fast with her service, and sent it in such a cute package! She does  ton of pendants, both modern and vintage. They have quotes on them, pictures on them, basically, everything! I'd definitely use her shop for birthday or Christmas gifts!

Check out Rosie's Pendants shop for other neat necklaces!

Pink and Lime Designs

My students live in the world of printables. Each day, they come into my classroom seeing our class motto created by Designs By Tiffany, that says, "Be Awesome Today", and a Whovian print created by Honey Lemon Designs that says, "Allonsy". I've also seen different prints in their lockers. So, I know that a "cool" school print would not only get me points with my students, but also with the other teachers and my principal!

I love this poster! And, it fits perfectly into a frame! So, my students, once they bid on this, can hang it in their locker, slip into the front cover of a binder, or even hang it up at home! Lyndsi does a ton of other prints, as well as personalized paper items and iPhone cases! There is so much to chose from her shop!

Check out Pink and Lime Designs shop here!

Captain's Print Shop

Like I mentioned, many of my students love Marvel. Many have already seen the second Avengers movies...and I haven't! I really need too! But, they also love Pokemon a lot. They bring binders and tins full of cards to class to trade while waiting for their carpool. While I can't name most of the Pokemon nowadays, I was a huge fan as a child myself. I root for the original 150 and even the 2nd generation. So, I was really excited to see these posters, and I know my students will go crazy with them!

I absolutely love these posters! The size, the colors, the style, the fonts, everything! They are so clean and crisp and appealing! I didn't even want to take them out of the packaging to take pictures of them! Captains Print Shop also does other geeky, sci-fi movie posters like Star Wars, videogames like Bioshock, and Disney movie posters, all of this same style!

To check out Captains Print Shop, click here.

Demeraki

Not only do I have Marvel and Pokemon fans, I also have fellow Star Wars and Whovian fans. So, I knew I had to pay homage to these as well. I have a Doctor Who print in my classroom, and many of my current and previous students have conversations with me about the current, and previous seasons of Doctor Who.

I absolutely love these prints! Not only can they be motivational for English class, but they are also printed on dictionary pages!! How cool! They are also very durable, not flimsy, which makes it even better!

To check out more of Linda's stuff, check out her shop here!

Which of these Etsy shops peaks your interest?

Two Geeks Walk into a Con

News Flash:

I am such a GEEK!!!

As is Justin. Which is why our marriage is awesome!!!!!

So, this weekend, we went to Comicon.

But, before I get into that, I have joined Skirtember challenge. This challenge is to wear a dress, skirt, or dress-shirt every day in September. Well, I didn't know about this until the 3rd. So, that day I dressed in a skirt for work (luckily I wore a skirt to church like I always do on Sundays).

Sunday, 9/1, I wore a black and cream maxi skirt, cream skirt, and a black wrap.

Monday, I didn't know and I traveled on a plane home.

Tues, 9/3 Skirt: old, Socks: old, Tank and Cardigan: old, Shoes: Sole Envy

Wednesday, 9/4 Shirt: Papaya, Skirt: BYU Bookstore, Tights: H&M, Shoes: Payless

Thursday, 9/5 I wore a pink dress with a brown shirt and tights.

Friday 9/6 Skirt: Black and cream maxi, Doctor Who fan shirt.

Sat 9/7 I wore a costume for Comicon--no skirt.

Sunday, 9/8 Skirt and shirt: WalMart, Tights: H&M, Shoes:Payless

So, onto Geekdom!!!

Friday, we went after I was done teaching. Saturday, we dressed up. We saw a lot of cool costumes and some awesome booths. We went to a few panels, but honestly, some were boring and all were packed. Salt Lake City didn't expect this many tickets to be sold. It was jam-packed on Saturday--over 50,000. They eventually stopped letting people in. We hung out with a few friends.

I dressed up as Rogue, based off the cartoon, X-Men: Evolution.

I think I pulled it off. Here are some other pictures from ComiCon!

Gollum doesn't like my advances!

Korra from Legend of Korra and a Kyoshi Warrior from Avatar the Last Airbender

Ulquiorra's last form from Bleach anime!

Justin and I adventured in the TARDIS! 

Justin's Wolverine! Doesn't he look awesome!!

He totally pulled the look off!

There is a girl inside that moving Dalek!

Thor doesn't want to be touched by Rogue--he knows what'll happen to him!

My favorite Bleach character: Urahara!

Justin found Gru on his way to steal the moon!

What a nice Ood! Very obedient when I asked to take a picture with it.

Loki, Captain America, and Thor-a

Justin found his idol.

Captain Kirk! William Shatner!

Jana, this one is for you! We snuck a picture of Dean Cane, when we should have paid $40 for it!

I have proof I saw the Silence!!! No more forgetting!