Saga Volume 5

Title: Saga Volume 5

Author: Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Publisher: Image 2015

Genre: Comics

Pages: 152

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retelling; Graphic Novel

Multiple storylines collide in this cosmos-spanning new volume. While Gwendolyn and Lying Cat risk everything to find a cure for The Will, Marko makes an uneasy alliance with Prince Robot IV to find their missing children, who are trapped on a strange world with terrifying new enemies. Collects Saga #25-30.

Another great volume of the Saga series. This volume had a ton of twists and turns (and many many deaths). I love that the story is narrated by Hazel from the future. Most definitely going to be on the lookout for Volume 6...

Music Monday -- Bring Me the Horizon "Follow You"

Really enjoying this song. And the video involves zombies! Woohoo!

Bout of Books 16!

A little late, but I just realized that this readathon starts tomorrow! I have participated in just about every Bout of Books since the beginning. I'm in for this one!

Goals:

Read at least 3 books
Read at least 1000 pages
Review all books read
Read at least 1 hour each day but don't stress about it!

TBR:

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
Top 10 by Alan Moore
The Rocketeer by Dan Stevens
Power Girl
Bitch Planet Vol. 1
Breathe by Sarah Crossan
Saga Vol. 5 by Brian K Vaughan
Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Archives Vol. 1 by Tony Lee
In the Shadow of the Banyan Tree by Vaddey Ratner

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 9th and runs through Sunday, May 15th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 16 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Title: The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5)

Author: Rick Riordan

Publisher: Disney Hyperion 2014

Genre: Children’s Fantasy

Pages: 528

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Finishing the Series; 52 Books - W19

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen-all of them-and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood-the blood of Olympus-in order to wake.
The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it might be able to stop a war between the two camps.
The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

Such a great end to the Heroes of Olympus series. I loved coming to the end of this great epic story. Seeing all the demigods come together to battle Gaea was great. My favorite is still Annabeth, but I have to say this book made me love Nico. Riordan has a great way of switching between the characters for the narrative, but still allows the reader to dig into each character. This volume dove right into the story, but kept the nice character driven moments for growth. After reading this series, I'm curious to start some of Riordan's other series. I'm thinking the Kane Chronicles next to cover some of the crossover stories and then the new Magnus Chase series.

Heroes of Olympus:

#1 The Lost Hero
#2 The Son of Neptune
#3 The Mark of Athena
#4 The House of Hades
#5 The Blood of Olympus

Life Right Now #14

As I look outside my window: It's a bit overcast out there...

Right now I am: Finishing my coffee and curling up on the couch to read a bit before the toddler gets crazy again.

Thinking and pondering: Mother's Day is just an all around disappointment. Would love to feel appreciated at least one day of the year.

On my bedside table: And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander; The Magician King by Lev Grossman

On my tv this week: J had me watch Krod Mandoon. So very very ridiculous. We caught up with Houdini and Doyle. Damn that got dark, but I love it! I finally caught up with Reign. And last night, I finally got to see Deadpool. So very very adult and good.

Listening to: One Bad Mother! I was three episodes behind but now I've caught up.

On the menu for this week:

Monday - Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Taquitos
Thursday - Toasted Sandwiches
Friday - Frozen Meal (possibly chicken and rice)
Saturday - Italian Beef Sandwiches
Sunday - Leftovers

On my to do list: Finish prepping for the sprinkle on Saturday. Definitely some house chores. Finish The Blood of Olympus. Return some library books.

Happening this week:

Monday - Day at home...
Tuesday - Library and errands
Wednesday - Beach day!
Thursday - Day at home..
Friday - Visit to Chabot Space and Science Center
Saturday - Sprinkle
Sunday - Sprinkle; Park meetup

What I am creating: Finishing catching up with the twins' PL albums. Hoping to prep the new baby's PL album. And prepping for Week in the Life.

My simple pleasures: Brownies warm out of the oven, bullet journaling

Looking around the house: The downstairs is relatively clean right now... Wonder how long it will last.

From the camera: He makes a cute flying monkey.

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

I was reminded of just how much I love The West Wing.
Thinking I may just have to fully commit to the Bullet Journal soon...
Costco and Target -- my shopping weaknesses
J has been making me watch Krod Mandoon. It is utterly ridiculous, and yet I keep watching.
Oranges are so yummy
I'm currently obsessed with reviewing all the gowns from the Met Gala. Such pretties.
I really need to catch up with my podcasts.

Monthly Life Goals May 2016

I didn't have any April goals as I took a month off to recenter. The break has helped me get a handle on some of my seasonal goals and eliminate the fluff. On to May's goals:

Create a summer bucket list -- The twins are arriving on the 28th. I always like to have a plan before they show up.
Plan Mom and Great Aunt Alys's trip to SF -- For the end of the summer, my mom and great aunt will be here for about two days. They want me to create an itinerary for them including a cable car ride and cruise on the Bay.
Try three new recipes -- I've been lacking on trying new recipes. Attempting to branch out this month and maybe a few new favorites to our Paprika.
Update all my calendars for May, June, and July -- Like to have my ducks in a row!
Start Arthur's transition out of the crib and to a twin mattress -- I would like him to be comfortable in the new bed arrangement before the baby arrives. Hoping to start this month.
Send out all May cards, prep June and July cards -- Getting my May cards around already, I want all of them prepped before the month is out.
Pull, tag, and deliver garage sale items -- The big MVPA garage sale is on the 14th. I'm hoping to destash our house.
Read at least 3000 pages -- I've been reading over 3000 pages a month for a couple of months already. Want to continue the trend.
Participate in Bout of Books 16 -- Would like to get a readathon in before the twins arrive for the summer and the baby comes in October.
Prep my TBR for June and July -- Again, I like to be organized.

Music Monday -- A Day to Remember "Paranoia"

Love me some ADTR!

The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Warrior (Iron Fey #7; Call of the Forgotten #3)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2015

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 330

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retelling; Finishing the Series; 52 Books - W18

Waking after a month on the brink of death, Ethan Chase is stunned to learn that the Veil that conceals the fey from human sight was temporarily torn away. Although humankind's glimpse of the world of Faery lasted just a brief moment, the human world was cast into chaos, and the emotion and glamour produced by fear and wonder has renewed the tremendous power of the Forgotten Queen. Now she is at the forefront of an uprising against the courts of Faery—a reckoning that will have cataclysmic effects on the Nevernever.
Leading the Lady's Forgotten Army is Keirran himself: Ethan's nephew, and the traitor son of the Iron Queen, Meghan Chase.To stop Keirran, Ethan must disobey his sister once again as he and his girlfriend, Kenzie, search for answers long forgotten. In the face of unprecedented evil and unfathomable power, Ethan's enemies must become his allies, and the fey and human worlds will be changed forevermore.

A fitting end to the Iron Fey series. I can't say it was my favorite book from the series, but it was good. The last book left the read with one hell of a cliffhanger. I'm glad this one picks up basically where that one left off. We get to see the final confrontations play out. We see growth in relationships. And Ethan and Keirran finally find their places. I'm glad I stuck with the series to see the end. But I must say that Grimalkin and Puck are still my favorite characters. Too much fun!

The Iron Fey

Life Right Now #13

As I look outside my window: Dark and stormy... just kidding. It's sunny and beautiful outside.

Right now I am: Getting ready to leave for book club.

Thinking and pondering: What should be on the menu plan for next week?

On my bedside table: A big stack of graphic novels, Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan, Breathe by Sarah Crossan, and And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander.

On my tv this week: I finally watched Pitch Perfect 2 and promptly cried during the ending... J and I finally watched Spectre. And we caught up with some Full Frontal, Children's Hospital, Shield, and Plebs.

Listening to: Not much this week. Although I get squeeze in a few episodes of Elise Gets Crafty.

On the menu for this week:

Monday - Black bean stuffed sweet potatoes
Tuesday - Frozen meals or leftovers
Wednesday - Pressed Picnic Sandwiches
Thursday - Beef Stew
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Burgers on the grill
Sunday - Nothing planned; hopefully I do't have to cook

On my to do list: Drop off charity books, prep for board meeting, clean the house, finish at least one book, prep for Bout of Books, prep Week in the Life album

Happening this week:

Monday - Big anatomy scan!
Tuesday - Oakland Zoo, Charity Drop-off, and Board Meeting
Wednesday - Potentially park playdate
Thursday - Children's Fairyland
Friday - Probably errands
Saturday - MVPA potluck
Sunday - Mother's Day which probably means nothing exciting for me

What I am creating: May design team cards. I knocked out five in one day. I have at least four more finish for this month.

My simple pleasures: Ice cream (although it doesn't quite agree with me now), nice pens, comfy clothes, ice water

Looking around the house: The house is constantly in disarray. Ugh.

From the camera: Looking cute while playing