Dive Into Diversity in 2015

I will be participating the Dive Into Diversity challenge next year. Books with diversity is a huge thing for me so it's a no brainer that I will be taking part in this challenge hosted Estelle and Magan of Rather Be Reading and Rebecca at Reading Wishes.

The #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign, which started earlier this year, definitely encouraged readers to read more diverse books. Even though I have always been reading a lot of diverse books, I wouldn't mind discovering more diverse books and diverse authors. I am not going to list off the books I plan to read since I plan dive into the new year discovering new diverse books.

If you decide to take part in the challenge, make sure to post your review or blog post to the Dive Into Diversity monthly linky. Use #DiversityDive when spreading the word on social media.

Day 12 of the 12 Days of Book Blogmas

I was reading Ashley's Books to Tea blog earlier this month and I stumbled upon the 12 Days of Book Blogmas that Rachel at Parajunkee is hosting. I wanted to do something festive this month for the blog but haven't found the right Book Blogmas to participate in. Parajunkee's 12 Days of Book Blogmas is definitely right up my alley. The twelfth day is today and it's the last day of the 12 Days of Book Blogmas.

Day 12: Merry Merry

Image from fanpop.com

So I haven't opened all my gifts yet since my last gift exchange isn't until later tonight. However, I already have a few favorite gifts.

1. Two of my friends chipped in to give me this limited edition bottle of Versace Disaronno. How cool is this bottle? So gorgeous!

Image from Disaronno.com

2. Briana from Bree's Book Talk was my secret santa for 5th Broke and the Bookish Secret Santa. One of my favorite bookish gifts is a signed copy of The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson. I have already read it before but I don't own a physical copy. It's one of my favorite books of all time and I am super grateful to have received it. Thank you Briana!

3. My boyfriend got me a monthly subscription to Tea Sparrow. The image below includes the December box teas. I am so excited to try all the teas, especially the Snowflake one.

Image from teasparrow.com

Day 11 of the 12 Days of Book Blogmas

I was reading Ashley's Books to Tea blog earlier this month and I stumbled upon the 12 Days of Book Blogmas that Rachel at Parajunkee is hosting. I wanted to do something festive this month for the blog but haven't found the right Book Blogmas to participate in. Parajunkee's 12 Days of Book Blogmas is definitely right up my alley. The eleventh day is today and the 12 Days of Book Blogmas will continue for 1 day until December 25th.

Day 11: The Night Before

I bake a lot during the holidays and I have at least of dozen cookbooks at home which are mostly baking books. I can't deny the fact that I love to eat and I have a huge sweet tooth. I recently met Dorie Greenspan at a book event and signing earlier in the fall.

Her latest book is Baking Chez Moi. One of the recipes that she recommends is the ever so easy Custardy Apple Squares which can be found in Baking Chez Moi. Please check out the recipe on the Food Network's website.

Image from foodnetwork.com

Top Ten Tuesday and Day 10 of the 12 Days of Book Blogmas

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's Top Ten Tuesday asks bloggers to list their top ten books we wouldn't mind Santa bringing this year. The following books are in no particular order. Today is also going to be a double feature on the Top Ten Tuesday and Day 10 of the 12 Days of Book Blogmas since the theme overlaps.

I was reading Ashley's Books to Tea blog earlier this month and I stumbled upon the 12 Days of Book Blogmas that Rachel at Parajunkee is hosting. I wanted to do something festive this month for the blog but haven't found the right Book Blogmas to participate in. Parajunkee's 12 Days of Book Blogmas is definitely right up my alley. The tenth day is today and the 12 Days of Book Blogmas will continue for 2 days until December 25th.

Day 10: All I Want/ Top Ten Books I wouldn't mind Santa bringing me this year

So Christmas is around the corner and there are so many books I am dying to get my hands on. I usually gift a lot of books around the holidays but I hardly receive them as presents. Here are 10 books I am wishing for this year.

1. Rebel by Amy Tintera is the second book in the Reboot Duology. I have read Reboot and it's an amazing dystopian. I can't wait to get my hands on book two! I need to know what happens to Wren and Callum.

2. This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl by Ester Earl, Lori Earl, Wayne Earl and John Green is a book I have been wanting to read ever since I finished reading The Fault in Our Stars. I heard it is a terrific autobiography/memoir. It is also a Goodreads Choice 2014 winner.

3. Rites of Passage by Joy N. Hensley sounds pretty badass. I heard great things about this book among the blogosphere and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

4. Miss Mabel's School for Girls by Katie Cross is the first book in The Network Series. I am a big fan of boarding school books and the synopsis to this book sounds fabulous.

5.  The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton is magical realism with powerful writing about love and pain. It sounds amazing and everyone has been recommending it to me. Even Candlewick Press recommended the book to me on Goodreads.

6. Pennyroyal Academy by M.A. Larson is a middle grade novel about a girl who learns what it truly means to be a princess. The book is also set in the Grimm's fairytale world and is the first book in a duology.

7. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson is a middle grade memoir written in verse. It's also a National Book Award winner. Everyone has been raving about this book so of course I have to see what the hype is all about.

8. Something Real by Heather Demetrios is Demetrios debut novel. I heard it's fantastic and I can't wait to read it. I am interested in reading Demetrios' other works as well. 

9. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black is a paranormal novel I have been wanting to read for quite awhile. I am finicky when it comes to Black's books but this one sounds amazing.

10. Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout is the first book in the Covenant series. The Greek mythology is what drew me in. I love reading books with mythology, especially Greek mythology. And it doesn't hurt that the book has a bit of action and a bit of romance. 

Day 9 of the 12 Days of Book Blogmas

I was reading Ashley's Books to Tea blog earlier this month and I stumbled upon the 12 Days of Book Blogmas that Rachel at Parajunkee is hosting. I wanted to do something festive this month for the blog but haven't found the right Book Blogmas to participate in. Parajunkee's 12 Days of Book Blogmas is definitely right up my alley. The ninth day is today and the 12 Days of Book Blogmas will continue for 3 days until December 25th.

Day 9: Free For All

The Yule Ball in Cambridge took place at the Middle East Downstairs on Saturday, December 20, 2014. It was an amazing event with an amazing lineup. Yule Ball X's lineup included Harry and the Potters, the Potter Puppet Pals, Draco and the Malfoys, Tonks and the Aurors, Jason Anderson, Lauren Fairweather and The Whomping Willows.

Image from harryandthepotters.tumblr.com

I have seen half of the groups previously but I was super excited to attend this festive Harry Potter event. The cool thing is that 5 dollars of the ticket purchase goes toward the Harry Potter Alliance.

The event was amazing. The Whomping Willows played the "I Believe in Nargles" which is one of my favorites. Lauren Fairweather is amazing! She had a song called "Math" in tribute of Hazel from The Fault in Our Stars. 

Lauren Fairweather

And the Potter Puppet Pals were hilarious. This year the Potter Puppet Pals did a Christmas beauty pageant. Snape MCed and the trio were contestants. I loved it so much. I love all their outfits and Hermione's song about "All I Want for Christmas is Books" was amazing! I loved how her Christmas wish is a Kindle...a Kindle Voyage because if of the better DPI. Ron's Christmas wish is to have a lion with a nice mane to eat his enemies or something of that sort. Harry's Christmas wish is to get a more competent Potions Master. Harry did a freestyle dance which was so him earlier during the Potter Puppet Pal act. You can check out Rachael's video for the freestyle dance/song.

The best part of the pageant was the ending. Ron won the competition but had to complete one more task...to beat Voldemort in a snowball fight. You can see part of the fight below. Voldie got pummeled by a bunch of small snowballs and one HUGE snowball. Too funny.

The HP Alliance hosted an amazing Apparating Library. If you have a chance to attend an event with an Apparating Library, please participate! It's an amazing way to share books with other book lovers. 

I brought in three books to donate and was able to bring new books home. I already read The Fault in Our Stars before but I can never have too many copies of the book. I never read Burn for Burn but it's been on my TBR list for quite awhile. And I loved Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried so I figured I would check out If I Die in a Combat. I also picked up a Books Turn Muggles into Wizards mug.

Day 8 of the 12 Days of Book Blogmas

I was reading Ashley's Books to Tea blog earlier this month and I stumbled upon the 12 Days of Book Blogmas that Rachel at Parajunkee is hosting. I wanted to do something festive this month for the blog but haven't found the right Book Blogmas to participate in. Parajunkee's 12 Days of Book Blogmas is definitely right up my alley. The eighth day is today and the 12 Days of Book Blogmas will continue for 4 days until December 25th.

Day 8:  Deck the Halls

So I don't really have a lot of pictures of festive holiday decorations at home. We pretty much just have the tree. I think it is hilarious that there is a mini tree ornament on top of the tree :D.

When I get my own house, I definitely want to go all out on the decorations. I love this time of year and decorating is part of the fun. You can take a look what my future house will look like when decorated. 

Image from betweennapsontheporch.net

It does't hurt to fantasize about the Great Hall from Hogwarts! It's sooooo beautiful in the winter. I would love the holidays at Hogwarts. 

Image from imgkid.com

Day 7 of the 12 Days of Book Blogmas

I was reading Ashley's Books to Tea blog earlier this month and I stumbled upon the 12 Days of Book Blogmas that Rachel at Parajunkee is hosting. I wanted to do something festive this month for the blog but haven't found the right Book Blogmas to participate in. Parajunkee's 12 Days of Book Blogmas is definitely right up my alley. The seventh day is today and the 12 Days of Book Blogmas will continue for 5 days until December 25th.

Day 7: Tell a Tale

I don't have too many traditions during the holiday season since I don't live with my parents and sister anymore. However, one thing I always do for the holidays is going to my maternal grandma's house on Christmas Eve to spend time with the family.

We usually have Chinese takeout for dinner, a wide assortment of desserts, we take lots of pictures of all the cousins and the kids 18 and under get to open presents. I always make some kind of dessert to bring over. Baking is my specialty and I love sharing baked goods with my loved ones.

Speaking of baked goods, I like to gift tins of cookies as gifts. Usually, I will gift tins of snickerdoodles because they are simple and festive at the same time. I have not heard one complaint from someone not liking snickerdoodles.

I also bring these snickerdoodles to my boyfriend's aunt's house on Christmas Eve. We usually go to his side of the family before going to my side of the family for the holidays. Usually my boyfriend's family will hide the big tin of cookies I give them until after everyone eats Spanish food for dinner. 

Yes, there are two dinners. However, during the past few years, I have been eating the dinner at my boyfriend's side of the family and dessert at my side of the family's. 

When I have more time to plan out dessert I will make fancier ones like this Apple Pithivier I made for Thanksgiving.

Christmas Eve is when I get together with family and friends. After the family events, my boyfriend and I will exchange gifts with friends at someone's house. This usually ends the night. 

Christmas Day is fairly simple. We sleep in and enjoy a nice breakfast in the morning. After breakfast we open presents and relax. I love relaxing on Christmas Day. 

Image from crateshire-uk.co.uk

And of course I will read books during the mini break...especially ones I receive around the holidays.

What traditions do you partake in during the holidays?

Day 6 of the 12 Days of Book Blogmas

I was reading Ashley's Books to Tea blog earlier this month and I stumbled upon the 12 Days of Book Blogmas that Rachel at Parajunkee is hosting. I wanted to do something festive this month for the blog but haven't found the right Book Blogmas to participate in. Parajunkee's 12 Days of Book Blogmas is definitely right up my alley. The sixth day is today and the 12 Days of Book Blogmas will continue for 6 days until December 25th.

Day 6: Stocking Stuffers

Here are some wonderful holiday/winter books for the season. These books will make great gifts and stocking stuffers.

1. My True Love Gave to Me is edited by Stephanie Perkins and includes holiday short stories by Stephanie Perkins, Holly Black, Ally Carter, Matt de la Peña, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Rainbow Rowell, Laini Taylor and Kiersten White.

On the left is the US version and on the right is the UK version.

Image from lainitaylor.com

2. Winterspell by Claire Legrand is the perfect holiday read. It's probably the first Nutcracker retelling that I heard of and what better time to read this book? 

3. Dash & Lily's Books of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a love story fitting for this time of year in New York City!

4. Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston is the first book in the Heart of Dread series. Vegas is now New Vegas and it is covered in ice. Follow Natasha's journey to a mythical land called "the Blue."

5. Landline by Rainbow Rowell is a contemporary with a magic phone. Georgie's marriage with her husband is in trouble because Georgie keeps putting work before the family even during the holidays.

6. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is the best series for the holidays. I always imagine myself at Hogwarts, especially during the holidays. I would love to go to Hogsmeade and to grab a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks with friends. 

Image from pageoneliteracycenter.org

Day 5 of the 12 Days of Book Blogmas 2014

I was reading Ashley's Books to Tea blog earlier this month and I stumbled upon the 12 Days of Book Blogmas that Rachel at Parajunkee is hosting. I wanted to do something festive this month for the blog but haven't found the right Book Blogmas to participate in. Parajunkee's 12 Days of Book Blogmas is definitely right up my alley. The fifth day is today and the 12 Days of Book Blogmas will continue for 7 days until December 25th.

Day 5: Nice List

You heard who was on the Naughty List this year. Let's see who made the Nice List.

1. Tris Prior from the Divergent series by Veronica Roth because her sacrifices are for the greater good. She does what she can to save her loved ones and all of humanity, even if she has to shut down David's plan.

Image from rebloggy.com

2. Eliot from Little Eliot, Big City by Mike Curato because even though he is small, he never gives up doing everything things like reaching doorknobs, navigating the subway and buying a cupcake. He even meets a friend, Mouse. 

Image from mackidsbooks.com

3. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling because without her, Harry Potter would have not succeeded within the 7 books in the series. With Hermione's wit, bravery and quick thinking, Hermione helped Harry Potter take down Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Also, Hermione founded the Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare. She fights for rights of all muggles, witches, wizards and magical creatures.  

Image from a whatanerdgirlsays.com

4. Kyla Davis aka Rain aka Lucy Connor aka Riley Kain from the Slated series by Teri Terry has been lied to ever since she was given away. She lives under different alias trying to find who she is. She has never done anything wrong and didn't deserve to be slated. However, Kyla finds the truth. During the series, Kyla has always wanted to help others who have been slated or who have gone missing. 

Image from twitter.com

5. Professor McGonagall from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is a strong woman. Though she is strict, she will bend the rules when necessary. When people who she cares about are threatened, she makes sure to protect them. She comforts Professor Trelawney when Trelawney is let go by Umbridge. Professor McGonagall protects Hogwarts when it was under attack by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. I love when McGonagall duels Snape! She takes control! 

Image from reelrambling.blogpot.com