Must Reads!

My last article for the paper is a list of books that I am suggesting for all to read, from YA books to non fiction. Here it is:

1.       The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

This series is great and is one that can be read over and over again. Though it is a young adult series, many adults have enjoyed the story line and classic love triangle. For those of you who haven’t seen the movie adaption preview, it is all about life after the USA with new states, called districts, and each one has to send two tributes to the “hunger games” . The games are basically a fight to the death between 24 young adults. The story is shown through the eyes of Katniss, the heroine.

2.       The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

Moran’s follow up novel to Nefertiti, focuses on the life of Nefertari, the niece of Nefertiti, who lost her family in a fire is on journey of restoring her family’s reputation that had been tainted by her aunt. Once she moves into the royal palace to be tutored by the Pharaoh’s aunt, she quickly finds herself falling in love with the crown prince, Ramesses II. Soon she finds herself fighting against society to become his wife. Their love is stuff of legend and can be seen all across Egypt to this very day. This is one book I can’t wait to have time to read and enjoy the world that continues from her debut, Nefertiti.

3.       The Nerdist Way: How to Reach the Next Level (In Real Life) by Chris Hardwick

This book helps the nerd inside everyone explore the world outside of the Xbox games and role playing games. Chris Hardwick has revolutionized the nerd world with his creation of The Nerdist, a weekly podcast that explores all the nerdy things that people enjoy, like Doctor Who, and current nerdy trends that are showing up. I love the podcast, but have yet to read this.

4.       The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

The author of The Notebook and A Walk to Remember is back with another love story to make you wish your love was as tragic and exciting as the ones in his stories. This is a story of high school sweethearts that are brought back together after many years and kindle their romance.

5.       Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

This is an epic story of a fantastic new world that is a mix of medieval times and magic. This story is an intense one that is worth the long read, because of the details that bring the story to life. The series on HBO follows the series very closely and helps explore the story in a new medium.

6.       Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

This novel mixes fiction and old pictures to tell a story of children that are a little more “special” than others that were basically stranded in a house on an island. The story of the children is told through the eyes of a sixteen year old boy exploring an abandoned house on an island. This book has been on my list of must reads for a long time and looks so unique that I can never stop thinking about it.

7.       Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher

A very touching story, but a tad depressing due to the fact that it follows the story of a boy who receives tapes from a crush that had killed herself. The tapes are her suicide note to those who are the reason she took her life and each person must listen to them and pass them to the next person on the list.  

8.       Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

I am an introvert and am very proud of it, but sometimes it takes a toll on person’s social life. This book explores that many successful people in history and in the modern world have been introverts.

9.       A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison

This is a fictional look into the world of sex trafficking. It tells the story of two girls that are sold into the sex trade after losing both parents. Their story begins in India and continues across the globe.

10.   Onward by Howard Schultz

If you ever want to work in the corporate world, this is the best book to read. This book is an inspiration and should be read multiple times!

Happy Reading! 

Starting to Wonder...

With only a few weeks left in Chicago, I am starting to wonder what life will be like in five years for myself. Will I be traveling around or will I be settled somewhere? Will I still be writing or will that be a distant past that I don't think of anymore? Will I have a somewhat handle on life or will I still be trying to figure that out? I know I shouldn't be thinking or worrying about this at 20, but these are some of the thoughts that cross my mind everyday. 

One of the biggest questions on my mind is will I be happy? Happiness has so many variables that it pretty much encompasses all my fears and worries into one big question. This has always been the question that pretty much guides me in all big life decisions. I guess one reason I'm thinking about this is because the next few months really decide what I'll be doing for the rest of my life and where I'm most likely be living for at least a year. I say a year, because of something my sister, Erin, told me when I first moved up here back in 2009. She told me that if I wanted to move back right away, to think about it for a year before I move decide to move. This way the jitters of first being away settle and a rash decision doesn't ruin your life plans. 

Well, another thing I am thinking about is do I continue on this blog or do I start a new one? This is another, less important I feel like, question that I think about from time to time. Let me know what you think. 

Toddles! 

Nicole

Six More Weeks!

It is so surreal to think that in SIX weeks I will be graduated from college, granted I pass all my classes this quarter. This quarter is really testing my work ethic and how I study due to my capstone class. This class is vital to my graduating status. It combines all my hard work from the past two and a half years and puts it into ONE ten week course, a final research paper (roughly 80 pages), weekly exams over the material covered in class, a twenty minute presentation, and ONE five part final over all the classes I have ever taken. It is not pleasant, but I hear that I lucked out and got a great teacher.

My newspaper life has been very stressful, but has been going good! I love all the new writers that are sticking around for more than a paycheck. They are very energetic and encouraging, especially since I am new to being in charge they are making it easy. The paper is posted on line and looks great! Take a look!

I am organizing a fundraiser for the American Heart Association for a Valentine's message board in the paper. I can't wait for it to be over with and be able to raise money for a good cause, while encouraging people to share the love on Valentines day. So if you go to Robert Morris University stop by the booth in the Student Center in Chicago to send a message for 50 cents and make someone's day!

See you all next week!

Toodles,
Nicole

I know... I haven't been posting lately due to an increase of school obligations and zoning out when I don't have those. I have really been left brian lately and haven't wanted to think when I don't have to. Hence the re-watching of Doctor Who and White Collar. Well, I'm going to bullets to update you all on what I have been doing.

• I planned and successfully pulled off a holiday party for my internship for the Career Services office at the school. At the party I made a floating Christmas tree for decoration. I decided that if I was going to throw the party I wanted to become a legend. Which the tree did for me! I also made an assortment of decorations for the party.
• I was promoted at the paper last week to Editor-In-Chief of my school newspaper. This means more responsibility, more editing, and more stress. I'm excited to help out, but am sad that my time as Editor-In-Chief won't last that long, only 10 weeks. Still as everyone keeps telling me, this will boost my resume. Which I will  be busting out to get a job after this quarter is over.
• I pulled out all A's last quarter! This I am very proud of!
• Since Monday, December 5th I have been soda free and drinking lots of water! I am having withdrawal, but reducing caffeine will help me in the future with not relying on it to keep me going all day.  
• I'm taking my first art class since high school and a yoga class. (More Right brian centered!)
• Still single. 
• I started reading The Game of Thrones on my last trip home before Thanksgiving. I spent Thanksgiving in Peoria with Katie Rose and her family. Which was great and hopefully one of the last times I spend that holiday away from my own family. 

Well that is about all the new thing that have happened to me. Nothing exciting has happened. My goal for while will be to update this blog at least once every two weeks and my book blog whenever I finish a good recreational book I'll write a post. I'm starting small so that it will be achieved sooner and make my goal to get it down to once a week by March of next year.

If you want to read more of what I have been writing, aka the school paper, check out this link: the Eagle Online Editions

Till next time!

Toodles!

Finals are OVER!

I just finished my last final and have a few sentences left in my final paper for my online class. I am so happy to be done with these classes. These classes have been working on my last nerve, but the information that I learned is useful and will probably be worked into my career one day. I think of stats as help for menu design and CIS as help for understanding how my computer and it's network function. I knew the basics before and now I fully understand it, besides the anagrams. Those always trip me up. Right now my grades are in the in between stages, like could be an A or B all depending on how well my finals go.

My mother is a saint! I thought I could wait till November to get the next to Potter's. She has sent them to me and I should be getting them tomorrow! I'll have nothing to do with the lack of homework and I'll be reading and finishing up Kingdom Hearts II possibly tonight or tomorrow.

I am going to see The Lion King in 3D today! I can't wait to see it. I remember going to see it in theaters when it first came out with my mom, sister, and someone else I can't really remember. I loved it and now I get to re-experience it.

Have a wonderful day!
Toddles!