Novel Notes: Punta Cana Trip

It's been awhile since I wrote a non-review post and I wanted to say hi, everyone and that I am still here! It's been crazy busy at work as the semester waned but since now it's the summer semester, the students are off campus and it's a bit more manageable workwise. I was fortunate enough to go away during Memorial Day weekend. I ended up extending my weekend to go to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for my husband's cousin's wedding, which was fabulous by the way. This was my first time going away for a destination wedding and the whole long weekend was so much fun. Besides the hiccups with all transportation, including us getting stuck in Toronto overnight on Memorial Day into Tuesday, the trip was amazing!

Not only did I get to spend more time with my husband's family, we finally got to relax and enjoy the wonderful views Punta Cana provided us. It was a paradise from Thursday to Monday! The water was the perfect temperature to cool you down during the hot summer day. The sun shined reflected on the water, making it dazzle as the waves washed over the shore. The sand was so smooth! The beaches here in Massachusetts are often filled with rocks and seashells so it was a nice change to walk on the smooth sand. The cabanas were great! We got a great view without too much sun. I am so happy I brought my sunhat and a lot of sunblock. The sun is so strong in the Dominican Republic.

The pool was great to keep cool without worrying about the rough waves of the ocean. The swim up bar was perfect though! I mean how many times do you get to still stay in the pool and get drinks? I succeeded in getting my fresh coconut to drink out of. I actually had quite a lot of coconuts that weekend. We also found a new delicious cocktail drink at the swim up bar that we ended ordering all the time during the trip. The Dominican Baby was the bomb!

For the wedding events, there was a cocktail party the night before the wedding which was nice since it was along the beach at a beach bar and we got to see the beach at night with all the lights. On the day of the wedding, on Saturday, we left to resort to travel to the wedding venue. OMG! I have never been to a wedding so beautiful. From the views along the water to the delicious food, everything was on point. The decorations created a whimsical romantic feeling to it and everyone had a great time! The drinks were great too! I loved the Passionfruit Mojito. The couple getting married were all smiles during the ceremony and reception. It's such a wonderful thing how two people and their families fuse into one.

 

The next day, we attended a catamaran trip with a good amount of the people who attended the wedding. We got to go snorkeling, ate some of the most delicious seasoned shish kabobs ever, enjoyed some wonderful views and we even got to swim/stand in the shallow section of the ocean to chit chat and to have fun.

 

The day before the wedding was crazy weatherwise. We had an afternoon T-storm that was so intense! I never heard thunder so loud before! The downpours were so intense that many of the walkways and the pristinely landscaped grounds were flooded! We lucked out that we got the storm the day before the wedding instead of the day of the wedding. 

My husband and I even got to play a little bit of Pokémon on our trip. I was super excited to relax at the beach while doing a Lapras raid and we were even fortunate enough to get some Heracross pokemon. I love exploring new areas with Pokémon Go.

Some of the things I had on my to-do checklist in Punta Cana included the following:

Drink coconut water out of a fresh coconut
Eat fresh tropical fruit every day
Enjoy the Dominican coffee
See the sunset at the beach
Catch a Heracross Pokémon
Buy a bottle of Dominican vanilla extract to bring home

I have to say I was able to do everything on my list and much more.

Everyone had a great time and I cannot wait to visit the Dominican Republic in the future. The husband and family are thinking about going to Santo Domingo the next time we go back. I cannot wait!

Why We Need Diverse Books is Important

How is diversity portrayed in books? According to the We Need Diverse Books website, We Need Diverse Books is a non-profit and grassroots organization of children’s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry. Their aim is to help produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. Most of the diverse books are fiction novels. But what is fiction? Is fiction just merely composed of stories of the imagination or is it something more? Are there underlying meanings about the plot and the characters? Is our unconscious trying to tell us something? Is there something that is more than meets the eye?

Dhonielle Clayton's tweet thread about how only one person caught the core theme about The Belles being a reference to slavery has been going viral in the blogosphere. With our own identities, sometimes it is hard to fully understand someone’s experience fully because we are not in their shoes. We do not bear their pain. Yes, we may love reading diverse books but we truly cannot understand the experience that someone went through. However, diverse books sheds light and awareness about societal issues and things that we are unfamiliar about. Ignorance is the result of the lack of knowledge about something and assumptions being made.

Society has molded the way we think, the way we talk and the way we act for many years. What is right and what is wrong? Who decides this? Why is mental health looked down upon as weak? Why is being a person of color bad? Why is being gay a sin? Mental health is not a sign of weakness, being a person of color is not bad and being gay is not a sin. Society has engrained certain values and morals. However, what society deems is right and wrong depends on who has the institutional power.

Fiction has provided an avenue for some of society’s issues to be read by the masses. It’s a less controversial way of presenting issues that someone can relate to. However, people are more aware of what is going on in the world and are taking the stand to speak up about the inequalities. People try to reach a fair playing field for equity, diversity and inclusion but will humanity ever reach justice?

Unfortunately, no! It sounds great to have an utopia like world where everyone will accept one another no matter who they are but society’s values will take awhile to even change. Look at history. There are many instances where history repeats itself. Mistakes aren’t being learned from. Microaggressions from words to actions are hurtful, yet we see them every day since the existence of humanity. Why aren’t we making progress?

Tolerance needs to be taught and needs to be accepted in order for us to move forward. Something has to change. Marginalized groups need their voices to be heard. Their experiences are needed to create awareness of what prejudice society has regarding certain people.

Novel Notes: I'm Finally Starting to Heal

It's been a month since I've moved away from a toxic environment where it was consuming my life. Ever since 2016, my life has changed and it for the worst. My quality of life has plummeted. I was no longer sleeping well, my appetite was all over the place and my anxiety started increasing to the point that I had panic attacks. I would be crying multiple times a week and I wasn't happy with my life. It was affecting the relationships I had with people as well.

I was trying to get out of the situation in the fall of 2016 and no avail. Things were a little bit better for a few months of the winter but then everything got swept into a whirlwind for most of 2017. The fall of 2017 was the absolute worst. I almost hit rock bottom but I was strong enough to find a way out! I needed this! Not just for me, but for people who have seen me be defeated. One wound was opened in 2016 and before it was able to heal, I was striked again and again in 2017. Enough is enough and with hard work and new changes happening, I knew that I needed to change things for 2018.

I was able to officially leave the toxic environment during the beginning of January. 2018 is a year of change! Last November my fiancé and I were officially engaged and we plan to wed later this fall! I am looking forward to a year of possibilities and opportunities that will last a lifetime. It's been a month since I moved forward and I am completely happy with my decision. My quality of life has improved. I feel like a new person. I feel empowered! I finally have a sense of peace.

During these couple of years, I've noticed that my blogging was sporadic. Because I am at a better place right now, I am hoping to create more of a schedule for Nicole's Novel Reads. I am ready to reinvent myself!

Best Things About the Holiday Season

Happy end of December! I hope you are enjoying the wonderful holiday season with a lot of holiday cheer. December is one of my favorite times of the year because everyone gets into the holiday spirit. Some of my favorite things I look forward to in December includes the following:

1. Outdoor lights - How gorgeous are the houses are buildings decked out with whites lights, colorful lights and all the cool glowing blowups?

2. Hot Chocolate and Tea - I look forward to a nice steaming cup of hot cocoa with a candy cane in it. Don't forgot to use a favorite mug! However, I also love having a nice warm cup of tea during the colder months. I find tea very calming.

3. Snuggling under a blanket with a book - There is something comforting about snuggling with a soft blanket while reading. I love sitting next to the Christmas tree curled up reading while drinking hot chocolate or tea.

4. Fuzzy socks - Socks are the best to keep the feet warm while snuggling with that blanket with a book near the Christmas treat while drinking hot chocolate or tea. I love fuzzy, warm socks especially during the cold days and nights.

5. "Ugly" Christmas Sweaters - Yes! I have a Harry Potter sweater that has a Deathly Hallows symbol, Potter glasses and also a lighting bolt on it. Another sweater I have is a light up French Bulldog one. The dog has a cute santa hat. I find it fun to wear the sweaters to holiday gatherings or just because I want to get into the holiday cheer.

6. Cookies - You can't beat yummy cookies around the holidays! My favorite cookies to make are snickerdoodles but I love eating sugar cookies, Italian cookies and chocolate chip cookies. Don't forget the milk!

7. Decorations - You can't enjoy the holidays without the festive decorations in the house, outside of the house, at the mall, etc. It's fun to add some color and lights to room.

8. Chance of snow - Although I live in MA, it hardly snows on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I always hope for a white Christmas. It doesn't have to be a blizzard but a light coating of snow would be picture perfect and very fitting. I was super excited that we got a White Christmas this year.

9. Family and Friend Time - The holiday season isn't the same without spending time with loved ones. Enjoy this special time with people you cherish.

10. Holiday Cheer - Get into the spirit whether it's decorating the house, watching holiday films, listening to holiday music or even decorating gingerbread houses. Make those traditions and enjoy them with others.

Image from eekologie.com

What are you favorite things to do in December for the holidays?

Novel Notes: Hello December

Novel Notes is a new feature where I will be discussing about my life. Some topics may include life events, travel and food. If you have suggestions about topics I should write about, please leave a comment at the end of the post.

Happy December everyone. Sorry for the decrease in posts lately. It's been a rough couple of months with life related events. Work as been taking a lot of my energy and time due to constant stress and the increases amount of time I need to put into my job. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving last month and I have been enjoying the weather lately. We're suppose to be getting snow this weekend in Massachusetts which is exciting yet daunting at the same time. Although I love flurries, I absolutely despise when too much snow accumulates. Walking on ice and through snow is rough and I walk pretty much everywhere. The only time I love a lot of snow is when it grants me a snow day or if I don't have plans to leave the house. However, I would love to see snow on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day! We haven't had a white Christmas in awhile.

I do have one exciting news for you. I recently got engaged! My fiancé popped the question on our 10th anniversary last month! It was so unexpected too! We hope to get married in 2018 or 2019 in October at a brewery somewhere in New Hampshire, Vermont or in Maine! My fiancé and I love visiting random breweries and vineyards in the New England states and would love to host a wedding with good beer, good food and good company. I am excited to get married but I am not really looking forward to the planning process.

I haven't read too much lately. I was able to read one book last month and I absolutely adored it! I read American Panda by Gloria Chao in one sitting the day I received the book. It's a heartfelt book about trying to live up to your family's expectations. You want to pursue your passion but at the same time you don't want to let down your parents. Part of the journey is finding the courage to speak up and to find out what makes you happy. If you enjoyed reading Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman and/or When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, check out American Panda.

I participated in The Broke and the Bookish's 8th Secret Santa Swap this year. By chance I received a package from Sara from Forever17Books. She nailed this year's package perfectly! The wrapping paper is lovely and that card!!! Look at all the puppies! I am excited to read Tales of from the Shadowhunter Academy and Made You Up. The Nightmare Before Christmas socks are too cute and how adorable is the Ravenclaw winter beanie ornament with the pom pom? Thank you so much Sara for getting the book colors too! Yay blue and bronze! Also, I can't wait to drink a mug of the mint hot chocolate while reading a book next to the Christmas tree with the cute ornament hanging from the tree. Thanks again Sara for the holiday cheer! I love everything you've gifted and I know you put a lot of time and thought into selecting everything.

What has been happening in your life recently? Read any good books lately? Any huge life events that happened? How was your Thanksgiving?

Eventful Summer

So I haven't been blogging too much this summer due a very eventful summer because of work. I work with first generation and low-income high school students at a college prep program for my full-time job. Every year I go away for three weeks as part of a six week summer academy and staff work 24/7 around the clock weekdays and weekends. During the academic year, we provide tutoring, workshops, classes and so much more after school and on the weekends. During the summer, we have a 8-4 day for three weeks at the community college that I work at. The last three weeks is the residential component that involves living at a residential college campus. It's an intense and exhausting job but it's so rewarding.

Seeing students succeed and reach higher is something money can't buy. Although the pay isn't that great, I've helped countless amount of students graduate high school and go to college. The great thing is seeing some of the alumni who graduated college. Not only do I see students' growth throughout the years, but the program I work with provides the atmosphere for a second family to bond. 

I just came back last Saturday and took off Monday to relax before going back to the office. But of course my co-workers and had to pack the whole office in less than 3 days to move to a new office. Because we already moved 2.5 hours away for the three weeks of summer and back, packing is something we were not looking forward to do on Tuesday. Nevertheless, we succeeded in packing by putting in overtime hours. I am looking forward to a wonderful vacation next week in New Orleans. Speaking of New Orleans, I will be doing a recap of my trip sometime after I get back from my trip.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. What did you do in July and for the first couple weeks of August?

How Blogging Changed the Way I Read

I have always been an avid reader ever since I was a child. My mother took me to the library for story time and encouraged me to take books out of the library. She would rather me buy books than toys from a young age. I was always that kid that would beg my mom to take me to the library and for my dad to take me to the bookstore. I often spent my weekdays at the library and weekends at the bookstore wandering through many aisles and looking at many shelves of books. Immersing myself in a book for hours is definitely a favorite hobby of mine still to this day.

I used to frequently visit Borders before they closed. Before Amazon, I used to get cheap books at book sales and also at a bookstore called New England Mobile Bookfair. All books at the New England Mobile Bookfair are 20% off. Sure, the bookstore looks more like a warehouse but I didn't care. The books are organized by publishing house which I found interesting. At that time when I was younger, I was frustrated how the books are organized. Now, I find it to be a clever way to organize books because readers get to learn what publishing house publishes each book.

Before blogging, I would choose books based on new releases and also based on synopsis. I never relied on reviews before choosing a book to read. If it's assigned reading, I never questioned prior whether it was good or bad book. I guess I can say that I am more of a picky reader now after blogging.  Now, I also don't finish books if I can't get into them. I don't believe in forcing yourself to read something that isn't interesting to you. Reading is suppose to be fun. Of course if it's assigned reading, you have no choice to read the book, but life is too short to read a book you are not enjoying during your free time.

It wasn't until I started blogging that I really began looking more at reviews and the opinions of others. Now, I always check out the synopsis and reviews for almost every title that I am interested in. Should I pick up this book if most people gave it 3 stars? This book got 5 stars, so I must read this book because I would like it. But is the hyped up book as good as people claim it to be? I look at reviews for certain tropes that I like in books. If there are friends or reviewers that have similar book tastes, I will consider looking into their recommendations a little bit further. I want to know why someone gave a book 5 stars besides "The book is great." Why is it great? I want to know why I should pick up a book.

Blogging has kept me aware of what books are coming out in the future. I no longer just read back list books. I know a lot of bloggers are obsessed with the front list books and want all the ARCs but I like to know what books are coming out soon. I still love reading back list titles. Also, this awareness lets me figure out what books I can recommend to my students. I love recommending books to my students based on their interests. It definitely makes my day if I can recommend a book or two and to keep encouraging my students to read for fun.

How has blogging changed the way you read? Do you still have similar reading habits or are they completely different now?

Happy 20 Years, Harry Potter!

June 26th marks the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter! Come and share the magic with everything Potter like! Not only has Harry Potter been in my life for over 15 years but Harry Potter was life changing for me. I didn't dive into the fandom until after the fourth book was released when I was a freshman in high school. Who knew that I would still be loving Harry Potter in my adult years. As many of you know, Harry Potter has been a positive influence in my life and has helped me through many tough times. The books have transported me to Hogwarts, Hogsmeade and to a world that I felt comfortable. I could be myself and I didn't have to pretend to be something I am not.

Harry Potter has opened doors for many friendships. I bonded over Harry Potter in college with other Potterheads and it wasn't until after college, I began to attend Harry Potter conventions. Can I say those conventions are life savers! The fandom is so welcoming and it feels like a second family. Every time I go to MISTI-Con, it feels like a family reunion. Harry Potter conventions has provided a safe environment for many Potterheads. Along with conventions, I enjoy local Harry Potter meet ups in Massachusetts. It's a nice way to get together with others when conventions are not in session. 

The relationship between my sister and I has grown stronger through our mutual love for Harry Potter. We often attend Harry Potter conventions and events together. Harry Potter has helped me become a stronger person and to always persevere. After all, “happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."

Bloombury recently launched a new set of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone books in house colors. Definitely check them out! I was fortunate enough to get a paperback and hardcover in Ravenclaw blue and bronze through Book Depository. If you live outside of the UK, definitely check out Book Depository to see if they deliver to your country. They provide free shipping!

Image from harrypotter.bloomsbury.com

Check out some of my favorite Harry Potter related blog posts. I have listed a bunch below for you to check out. I have various posts from Pottermas features to convention recaps.

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Teaser Trailer
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Film
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Obscurials
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Connecting Wizarding Worlds

LEVIOSA 2016 

Day 1 and Day 2 Recap
Day 3 and Day 4 Recap

MISTI-CON 2015

Day 1: The Beginning
Day 2 Recap
Day 3 Recap
Day 4 and Day 5 Recap

MISTI-CON 2017

Day 1 Recap
Day 2 Recap
Day 3 Recap
Day 4 and Day 5 Recap

POTTERMAS 2015 

November 13: Pottermas 2015
December 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
December 3: Harry Potter Trivia Contest + Giveaway
December 4: Harry Potter Gift Guide
December 5: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
December 8: How Did I Find Harry Potter?
December 9: Pottermas Butterbeer Recipes
December 10: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
December 13: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
December 15: Ranking Harry Potter Books and Films
December 17: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
December 22: Harry Potter Gifts I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year
December 23: Harry Potter Appreciation Letter and Digital Holiday Card
December 24: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
December 29: What Should You Read After Finishing the Harry Potter Series?
December 31: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

POTTERMAS 2016 

December 1st: Pottermas Introduction
December 5th: Ten Underrated Moments in Harry Potter
December 7th: Harry Potter Patronus
December 10th: Ranking Harry Potter Soundtracks
December 12th: Harry Potter Recipe
December 14th: Harry Potter Funko Pop Photoshoot
December 17th: Harry Potter Craft Tutorial
December 20th: Harry Potter Gifts I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree
December 23rd: Favorite Harry Potter Spells
December 28th: Favorite Harry Potter Character Quotes and Moments
December 31st: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Review

OTHER 

Harry Potter Spells Book Tag
Harry Potter Salem Wizarding Halloween Ball
Pages to Tea: Harry Potter Version
Fandom: Harry Potter Beyond the Books and Movies: A Focus on Fandom
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Midnight Release Recap


Harry Potter has lead us to so much more than the books. With the films, theme parks, merchandise, Pottermore and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I don't see the fandom ever dying. Long live Harry Potter!

Are you doing anything to celebrate 20 years of Harry Potter? How are you involved in the Harry Potter fandom? Please share your experience below.

Summer Essentials

It's not even summer yet and the temperatures are rising. With this increase number of days in the 90's, it is important to try to stay cool and to protect yourself from the sun. I am definitely not a summer lover like most people. I absolute love the fall and I am counting the days until September. However, as I wait for fall to approach, here are some some of my favorite things I use during the summer.


1. Hydroflask // $29.95 - $59.95

I use this water bottle every day year around but it's so helpful in the summer due to the insulation feature. I can fill up my Hydroflask with water and ice the night before and still have cold water the next morning even without the AC on. During the summers, I spend 3 weeks living in a college dorm for work without AC. My Hydroflask becomes my lifesaver. Also, the best part is that the Hydroflask prevents condensation! No more sweaty bottles.

2. Bionaire Whole Room Air Circulator fan // $49.99

I love this fan. It's a table top fan that circulates the air throughout the room to keep the room cool. I use this fan all the time and it's probably my favorite fan that I've used. I know many people complain how noisy it is but personally I love the noise because I need white noise to help me sleep at night. The fan has three speed settings and has a breeze and sleep mode. The remote controller is a bonus.

3. Moisture Wicking Socks // Varies in cost

This type of sock is amazing for the feet as the sweat is wicked away from the body. Your feet will be less sweaty when you take off your shoes which is a plus. Dry feet = happy feet!

4. Sunscreen 

Sunscreen is super important to wear every day outside. I have super sensitive skin and finally found a few face sunscreens I can use that won't break me out in hives. Asian sunscreens are more watery/milky and they spread on easily. Also, they are non-greasy on my oily/combination skin. I found one American spray sunscreen that won't break me out for the body.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ // 50 ml

Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 42 for Face // 30 ml

Missha All Around Safe Block Soft Finish Sun Milk SPF 50+/PA+++ // 70 ml

Coppertone Sunscreen Spray Clearly Sheer Broad Spectrum SPF 50 // 142 ml

5. Havaianas Flip Flops // Varies in cost

These flip flops are my favorite ones since they don't wear down every year where the heel of the foot is. The pattern usually retains and they are super comfy. They are my go to every year despite to higher cost compared to other flip flops. I usually opt for the slim ones.

6. Zeroll Original Ice Cream Scoop // $18.64

This is the holy grail of all ice cream scoops. I used this ice cream scoop when I worked at Brigham's and at Ben & Jerry's during the seven years when I worked in the ice cream industry. The heat from your hand will warm up the handle of the ice cream scoop and the heat eventually travels to the scoop section to make scooping easy.

What are some of your favorite summer essentials to stay cool and protected?

Book Sleeve Love

I have been obsessed with book sleeves lately. A book sleeve is a fabric pouch for your book. It keeps your book in good condition when you throw it in your bag when you commute. This prevents the pages and the cover from becoming bent, wrinkled or dirty. A book sleeve is generally made out of fabric and some kind of foam stabilizer to pad your book.

A book sleeve is a life saver for me since I commute a lot on the bus and train during the warmer months. I don't have time to read my book during a lunch break at work so I usually don't carry a book sleeve during weekdays. However, if there is a book event, I will put my books in book sleeves if I don't want them to be damaged. I love all the different fabrics of the books sleeves and some companies will have exclusive limited edition prints. 

The book sleeve makers that I normally follow have Instagrams. This is perfect because I set up notifications so I can see any new photos they might post of their upcoming sleeves they plan to sell. Check out the following makers of book sleeves that I highly recommend checking out!

USA BOOK SLEEVE COMPANIES

1. The Cozy Life, run by Steffani, releases book sleeves on Mondays at 2:30 PST. I have the pleasure of purchasing two book sleeves from this shop and the quality is fantastic! I was pleased to see that she had a pre-order feature for her Beauty and the Beast design through her Instagram. It worked out well since she had a waiting list and she would contact people if they are still interested in a cozy. The Cozy Life provides book sleeves in three sizes. Sapling cozy fits e-readers. Pine cozy fits most paperback books and some small hardcovers. Redwood is a larger cozy and fits hardcovers and if you are lucky, some monster sized hardcovers like the Harry Potters.

Sapling - 7.5” x 5.5”
Pine - 9.5” x 7.25”
Redwood - 11” x 9”

2. Book Biff, run by Breanne, is currently going through a re-branding stage right now but her book sleeves are some of my very first that I have purchased. I have had the pleasure to purchase a couple Harry Potter related ones from her that I adore! She sells e-reader Biffs as well as standard size paperback Biffs. However, some of the standard size Book Biffs can hold smaller hardcovers as well.

E-reader
Standard - 9” x 7”

Harry Potter book biff are the best! My UK paperback of Half-Blood Prince fits very comfortably in the book biff! 😃 ⚡ 📚 📖 These are handmade by @bookbiff!!! #HarryPotter #HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince #bookbiff #booksleeve #JKRowling #Potterhead

A post shared by Nicole Moy (@nicolecmoy) on Feb 11, 2017 at 3:16pm PST

3. Book Beau, run by Benita, may be the most well known book sleeve provider. Although, I haven't had the luck to purchase a Book Beau, I hope some of you will be lucky to snag one. Currently she has been running pop ups to give her audience a better chance of snatching a Book Beau randomly. FYI, her Book Beaus sell out in minutes or even seconds sometimes. Make sure you are a speedy mouse clicker. Book Beaus come in e-reader size, standard size and indie size (which holds slightly larger paperbacks).

E-reader - 8.5" x 6"
Standard
Indie - 10" x 8"

4. Story Time Sleeve just opened up a couple weeks ago but their prints differ from other companies which is a good thing. One of my friends purchased a book sleeve from this company and confirmed that it's good quality. So far there is one size Story Time Sleeves. The book sleeves will accommodate paperbacks and some smaller to medium sized hardcovers. What I love is how the book sleeves are lined with another fabric.

EDIT: I received a sleeve from Story Time Sleeve in a giveaway and I can vouch for its quality and the craftsmanship. 

Standard - 10.5" x 8"

5. Story Hero, run by Becky, makes very unique book sleeves. Her Story Heroes are slightly more expensive than the other companies mentioned by the quality is impeccable. So far, she makes my favorite book sleeves. You get your money's worth due to the fact that the Story Hero has a Velcro flap closure on the top of the book sleeve and it also has a front pouch to hold your sticky notes and bookmarks. Each front pouch has a literature saying or quote. Also, the inside lining is water resistant! So far there is a standard size Story Hero but even the standard size can hold a lot. I was able to squeeze a medium size hardcover into it.

Standard - 10" x 8"

Watching @th37ito hitting those golf balls while I am reading a book. Thank you to my Story Hero by @stories_and_sweeties for keeping Always and Forever, Lara Jean safe and sound! 😃 #storyhero #booksleeve #Always #alwaysandforeverlarajean #HarryPotter #harrypotterforever #DeathlyHallows #Patronus #SeverusSnape #beautifulday #spring

A post shared by Nicole Moy (@nicolecmoy) on May 3, 2017 at 3:02pm PDT

6. Book Bubbie, run by Diana, sells three types of Book Bubbies. She carries mini, standard size and hardback sleeves. For those who want the hardback sleeves, customers must put in a custom order. The mini size fits mass market paperbacks while the standard size fits regular to larger sized paperbacks and possibly smaller hardcovers.

Mini - 8.5" x 6"
Standard - 9"x 7.5"
Hardback - Customized order

INTERNATIONAL BOOK SLEEVE COMPANIES

1. The Book Sac, run by Dharshini, is located in Australia. I believe there are only one size Book Sacs but the fabric prints are distinctive. Book Sacs are released on Fridays at 8 am AEST and Mondayss at 9 pm AEST.

Standard - 10" x 8"

2. Melvis Makes, run by Melanie, is located in the UK. She makes a variety of items from Book Buddys to pencil cases. With the Book Buddy you can either purchase a pre-made one or you can get a pre-order one to choose what color lining you want. There are four sizes to pick from which include small, medium, large and extra large. For e-reader size, the seller will customize the size so the Book Buddy hugs your e-reader perfectly.

E-reader - Customized order with flap
Small - 9" x 7"
Medium - 10" x 8"
Large - 11" x 8.5"
Extra Large - 12" x 9.5"

3. Green Leaf Baby is located in Canada. The shop sells e-book sized book sleeves as well as standard size book sleeves. The book sleeves have a soft minky lining and they are made-to-order book sleeves. The seller also sells baby bibs, pouches and taggie blankets.

E-reader - Customized order
Standard - 10" x 8"

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Connecting Wizarding Worlds

In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them there are many Easter eggs that can be found throughout the book that many Harry Potter fans can easily point out. Most people who have seen Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them are Potterheads who are eager to find the connections between the beloved Harry Potter Wizarding World of mainly Europe and American based Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

WARNING: This discussion post contains spoilers for Harry Potter series and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Read at your own risk. Image from flickeringmyth.com

From the beginning of the film, The New York Ghost is New York's version of the Daily Prophet. Many Potterheads will notice Gellert Grindelwald has been wreaking havoc. Potterheads also know that Grindelwald is the dark wizard Dumbledore beat in a legendary duel.

Hedwig's Theme Song is iconic. Everyone who hears the song will will feel at home with the sense of nostalgia. During the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them theme song, you can hear hints of Hedwig's Theme Song weaved in.

1926 is an important year. Not only does Newt arrive to New York but this is also Voldemort's birth year.

Newt's Hufflepuff Scarf, although faded, represents Newt's Hufflepuff house pride and connection with Hogwarts.

The Goldsteins living New York may have a distant relative named Anthony Goldstein, fellow Ravenclaw during Harry Potter's school years.

Right when I saw the Deathly Hallows pendant that Graves had around his neck, I knew that he had some connection to Grindelwald or the Hallows as a whole. This symbol is so well known and this symbol alone radiates with so much history. It connects the many eras of the Wizarding World.

Dumbledore saw something in Newt and was willing to back up Newt when there was a mishap at Hogwarts involving a magical creature. Sounds familiar? This also reminds me of how Dumbledore backed up Hagrid and knew that Hagrid didn't set Aragog on people in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

During the Great War, Newt worked with Ukranian Ironbelly dragons on the Eastern Front. This is the very same dragon breed that protects the vaults of Gringotts!

Obscurus Books is the Wizarding publisher who published Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander. Obscurus books was known even during the age of the Harry Potter books. I love the foreshadowing! Who knew Obscurus Books would lead to something so big for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the film.

When Mary Lou asks Newt, "Are you a seeker? A seeker after truth" Newt responds, "I am more of a Chaser." For Potterheads, we know Newt was thinking about Quidditch and maybe it's hinted that he played or prefers playing as a Chaser.

The Niffler makes an spectacular appearance but it wasn't the first appearance in the Wizarding World that we know of. Nifflers were seen during Care of Magical Creatures classes in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Lee Jordan levitated Nifflers into Umbridge's office in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Pickett the Bowtruckle is one of the creatures that I absolutely adore in the film. However, we've seen Bowtruckles being taught in Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix to fifth years during Care of Magical Creatures.

Erumpent makes an interesting appearance in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Xenophilius Lovegood believed the horn in his house belongs to a Crumple-Horned Snorkack. Haermione claimed it was an Erumpent horn and said it is highly dangerous. Luna Lovegood ends up marrying Newt Scamander's great grandson, Rolf Scamander.

Frank the Thunderbird is the first creature we've seen represent Ilvermorny. Summer of 2016 was when Pottermore announced Ilvermorny and the four different houses. Thunderbird is one of the houses and favors adventurers. Not only am I a Thunderbird but I can proudly say that I live in the state of Massachusetts and I visited the area near Mount Greylock during the summer of 2016.

Leta Lestrange will mystify everyone. Not only is the family name Lestrange well known but everyone wants to know how Newt befriended Leta and what happened to cause Newt to get expelled.

And of course, as mentioned in one of my previous posts, the Obscurial might give hints about Ariana's past and how Grindelwald is so invested in the Obscurial and Obscurus.

What is your favorite Easter egg? Do you like how the Wizarding Worlds connect and overlap? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Cosplaying: What is It?

Whether it be characters from books, movies, cartoons, video games, comics, TV shows, anime or manga, many people around the world choose to cosplay as their favorite characters. Cosplay is the practice of dressing up as a character. This costume play also involves becoming the character through costumed role-playing. Cosplay definitely goes beyond your average Halloween costume that you throw on for a party or for trick or treating.

Cosplaying is it's own subculture and is growing in popularity. Originally very popular at anime conventions, cosplaying is continually showing up at comic cons, sci-fi cons, multi-genre cons and even at niche cons such as Harry Potter cons. The great thing about cosplay is that it creates a platform for interpretation of a character. There are no rights or wrongs of how you interpret a character. Cosplayers adopt the mannerisms and body language of the characters they portray. Some cosplayers will take this more seriously than others and will hardly break out of character.

Cosplayers often create their own outfits and accessories and style their own wigs. With technology these days, YouTube is a great place to check out how to DIY videos. There are many forums where you can find patterns and tips and advice to create an outfit or how to create accessories such as a staff or sword. However, sometimes it's all about trial and error. You can always use a pre-made pattern from the fabric store as a base and build to it. Depending on the outfit, you can scout out pieces at thrift or consignment shops and alter them. Craft stores and even hardware stores are great places to start at if you are creating accessories.

Many conventions will offer cosplaying workshops from wig styling to sewing techniques. Photo ops are very popular at conventions whether it be meet ups for a certain universe or just a stylized posed photo.

Some cosplays I have done in the past include Kotoko from Chobits, Mizore from Rosario + Vampire, Cho Chang from Harry Potter, Sailor Saturn from Sailor Moon and Homura from Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

Me as Homura before wearing the heels.

Have you cosplayed before? If so, what characters did you cosplay as? If not, would you want to cosplay in the future and what characters would you like to cosplay as?

Beauty and the Beast Live-Action Film

Everyone is super amped up about seeing Beauty and the Beast, the live-action film. But does it live to its high expectations? I went to see the film in regular 2D with my mother on Saturday, March 18th, 2017 and yes, it does live up to the expectation. Image from coming soon.net. 

WARNING: This discussion post contains spoilers about Beauty and the Beast 1991 and 2017 versions. If you did not see both films, I encourage you not to read any further unless you don't mind spoilers. Read at your own risk.

The live-action version of Beauty and the Beast is a re-imagining of the 1991 animated classic. With it's spectacular cinematography, it is also breathtakingly gorgeous and perfectly casted. The choreography is on point! This version invokes emotions that the original version cannot. The film takes place in 18th century France in a small village but we do see scenes of Paris.

The new film has a few addition songs and includes some new scenes which added length to film. The original clocked in at 84 minutes while this version clocked in at 124 minutes. The new film brings a sense of nostalgia and a return back to my childhood. After all, I was only 4-years-old when the classic film was out.

Stephen Chbosky is one of the screenplay writers of the film. For those who don't know who he is, Chbosky wrote Perks of Being a Wallflower and also the screenplay for the film of the same title. Evan Spiliotopoulos is his partner in crime. The screenplay for this film includes more complex layers compared to the animated version. Beauty and the Beast offers a chance for the audience to learn more about the backstories of Beast, Belle and also Gaston.

A magic atlas that can take you anywhere is left by the Enchantress which helps add a layer of Belle's mother and what happened to her. By adding this subplot, it also adds a shared experience that Belle and Beast went through since he also lost his mother. When the Prince lost his mother, his father raised him to be the man he is today. The Prince's sweet kindness died with him when his mother died. Belle is the only one that was able to reignite who he really is.

Image from today.com

In this version of Beauty and the Beast, Gaston's backstory about his time in the war and his PTSD explains more about his charter and why he does the things he does. He is more realistic compared to the classic film. Gaston's character is the perfect foil for the Beast and he also brings out more of the darkness of the plot.

Belle doesn't just like to read books but she also wants to promote literacy like when she teaches a young girl to read. She also is an inventor and creates a washing machine with a horse, rope and a barrel. The village people don't approve of her being an oddity since she doesn't fit into certain gender roles of the time period. Her father, Maurice, is more than an inventor; he is also an artist.

Subtle changes such as having Belle read Romeo and Juliet instead of Jack and the Beanstalk help develop Belle's and the Beast's shared interest in Shakespeare. When the last rose petal falls, the servants become inanimate antiques for a short period of time which causes a sense of shock for the audience. I love the intricate detailing of the re-imagined favorite characters such as Cogsworth, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and Chip. The line about Monsieur Jean forgetting something comes full circle when he later remembers that he is Mr. Potts. Due to the curse, all the village people forget the Prince and everyone that lives in the mansion. This film closed many plot holes found in the animated classic.

Disney is definitely expanding on the diversity front. LeFou has a gay moment in the film. He pines for Gaston but he also share a dance with another guy at the celebration dance when Le Fou and another man are accidentally pushed together. LeFou is also not a silly sidekick but actually an important friend to Gaston. LeFou is definitely a new favorite character for many.

Image from screenrant.com

Disney also features two interracial kisses, which is the first time an interracial kiss occurs in a Disney movie. Cadenza, the harpsichord, is a new character and also, Candenza and Madame de Gardenrobe are lovers in the film. Lumiere and Plumette share a kiss as well. However, many don't know ethnicity of the Beast's staff until they turn human.

Of course the snow, thorny bushes, wolves, and gargoyles surround the mansion to depict a more coarse and rugged ugly version of what the Prince once had.  However, this is the beauty of Beauty and the Beast. You cannot judge people from the exterior. It's what's inside that counts.

Agathe is a new character added to the film. She lives as an unwed woman and the village ostracizes her because of it. However, she is an important character since she is also the Enchantress who cursed the Prince. She was the one who turned the prince into Beast and erased all the memories of the townsfolk. In this version, she alone can reverse the curse. Because she observed Belle's love for Beast and Beast's love for Belle, she lifts the curse. Belle was too late to share her love with Beast before the last rose petal fell. I guess if Belle said I love you before the last petal fell, Agathe's role wouldn't be as big as it is in the film.

Agathe helps those who are in need like when Maurice was tied to a tree and left to die by Gaston. She takes Maurice into her makeshift house in the forest and nurses him back to health. However, when Maurice returns back to the village, no one believes his stories about Beast and how Belle is a prisoner. No one believes about how Gaston tried to kill him in the woods. Because the only witness is Agathe, the village shuns Maurice just like how they shun Agathe. The village actually shuns anyone who doesn't conform. They treat Agathe like dirt, they want to send Maurice to the insane asylum and they think Belle is an oddity.

The updated version of Belle's ball gown is absolutely gorgeous! I also liked the added pockets to Belle's everyday blue and white dress. The pockets are more useful that the basket. Belle upgrades to a sturdy everyday boot instead of a pair of flats. In fact all the costumes are splendid! Every detail is important from Cogworth's Roman numeral buttons to Gaston's militaristic coat.  The details add more dimension to the story and everything interlaces quite well together.

Image from twincities.com

Overall, the Beauty and the Beast live-action film is sensational! Beauty and the Beast brings a classic to life and is beyond my expectations. This film is a romantic dark fantasy musical for all ages and is still compassionate, curious and open-minded as the classic.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Obscurials

WARNING: This discussion post contains spoilers for Harry Potter series and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Read at your own risk. Image from flickeringmyth.com

I absolutely love Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them the film. I you haven't seen the movie, I suggest you see it soon. You can check out my review on the film here. I plan to delve into discussing more about the film in this post. Please do not read further if you do not want to read spoilers about theories and the plot of the film.

The Obscurus poses a lot of questions yet provides many answers. This single entity connects both the Harry Potter world with the 1920s Wizarding World. Credence Barebone has magic running in his veins and his adoptive mother shuns all magic so of course Credence keeps this magic bottled up inside him However, it's not good for a child to bottle up the magic. This repressed energy will explode if the child doesn't learn how control it. The child is often forced to repress their magical talent or face consequences.

Tina Goldstein describes the Obscurus as "an unstable uncontrollable dark force that busts out and attacks, and then vanishes." The Obscurial is the host who developed a dark parasitical magical force through suppression of magic in result of psychological or physical abuse. This young person eventually loses control and awakens the Obscurus who consumes them once they an emotionally mental breaking point. The Obscurus a invisible wind like entity that can morph into a black, fluid-like ink cloud and sometimes has a red core depending on it's power and strength. It's a violent catastrophic fury. This dark mass can cause major destruction, often destroying and killing anything in its path. The more powerful the Obscurial, the more powerful the Obscurus.

GIF from radiotimes.com

So how does this connect with Harry Potter? Do you remember Ariana Dumbledore? Yes, Albus and Aberforth's younger sister who died at a young age. She was bullied by Muggle boys when they saw her use magic. Soon after she vowed never to use magic again because she became emotionally and magically unstable. Her mother kept her at home, away from the magical community due to her random outbursts. However, after about eight years, she had an outburst that killed her mother. Because she repressed her magical talent, I see this as the first stage of Ariana walking the path of becoming an Obscurial. Ariana ended up dying during a three-way duel with Albus, Aberforth and Gellert Grindelwald.

Image from cdn.fansided.com

It is curious that Grindelwald is involved with Ariana and Credence. Yes, Grindelwald posing as Percival Graves indeed had a great interest in the Obscurus and I believe he started studying more about them after what happened to Ariana. Right when I saw Graves holding the Deathly Hallows, I knew he had to be connected to Grindelwald. Very few people know about the Deathly Hallows and the symbol was well known was Grindelwald's mark.

Usually a child that produces an Obscurus will die before they are ten due to the immense power the Obscurus creates and that they are consumed by their repressed magical powers. However, there are some cases like Ariana and Credence where they are much older and are into their teens. It seems like the older the child is, the more powerful the Obscurus becomes. There is no concrete proof that Ariana is an Obscurial but I pose the theory that she is. Time will let us know whether she is one or not.

So what do you think about Ariana Dumbledore being an Obscurial? Also, do you want to see more theory based discussions about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Harry Potter?