These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

This book caught my eye a little while ago and not only because the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I have seen it recommended so many times that I could not resist checking it out.

The genre is a very familiar one: science fiction and fantasy with a touch of romance. And the authors blend all three of those aspects together seamlessly. 

The general plot of the novel surrounded the experiences of Lilac, the richest girl in the universe, and Tarver, a famous soldier who comes from a simple household. The two meet and within a few days they crash out of hyperspace in their spaceliner. They end up on an unknown and seemingly uninhabited planet where they experience hallucinations that have only one conclusion: they are not there alone.

My favorite part of this novel by far is the incredible setting and time period. I loved the new technology with the old-timey social conduct. The glamorous clothing and "balls and ball gowns" lifestyle is a great cause of my envy. The setting perfectly embodies everything that I think that science fiction should be.

Another major plus in this book were the characters. Lilac is a female icon. She is strong, beautiful, determined, and compassionate while still being smart and resourceful. Tarver is brave, thoughtful and passionate. And it was frustrating it took them such a long time to realize that they loved each other.

The only thing I really hate about this book is that it's over. But I know that they return as minor characters in the second novel, This Shattered World, which I will definitely be reading.

You Know You're Short When...

I have never been known for being a really tall person. And I feel that by being an amazing five feet tall, I am qualified to write about being short.

I have spent a lot of my life regretting my height and hating it. It was only until about two years ago that I learned that there are some pretty amazing things about looking at the world from a more down to earth perspective.

Here are some of the "perks" that come with being fun-sized:

1. Every single pant is hemmed.

This happens every single time for me especially with jeans. Sometimes, I feel like I can only have jeans that fit around my waist and hips or jeans that don't bunch at my ankles.

2. People think you are a lot younger than you really are.

People generally associate shorter with younger. I have been repeatedly called anywhere from a year to four years younger than I actually am. Being thought of as younger than you actually are is not "bad" just a bit frustrating.

3. The children's section is the only place to find clothes that fit.

Sometimes embarrassing. Sometimes not your style. But amazing bargains. Children's clothes tend to be a lot cheaper than junior's and adults.

4. You automatically go to the front of group pictures.

I know I'm going to end up there anyway so might as well do it before I'm told too. But it's all good. Better than being in the back where no one can see you.

5. You are constantly on your toes.

I find myself constantly needing to be on my toes. Sometimes it's to peek through the door's eye hole or reach the top shelf (both that I still can't do even with the toes).

6. You stopped going to movie theaters because you don't want to pay to see the back of someone's head.

I would much rather watch movies at home when they come out on DVD than get the booster seat to watch a movie.

7. Your feet never touch to ground when you sit.

But no biggie. It looks absolutely adorable.

After being made fun of so much for my height, I realized that I love that part of myself. If no one else thinks your height is perfect, I do.

Please share your experiences with your height and mention anything that I forgot to.

Talenti Gelato

I love ice cream but I especially love gelato. The weather is getting much warmer now and I decided to indulge and celebrate the coming of spring with the deliciously creamy taste of gelato. I have much experience with eating ice cream so I know which to buy from the supermarket.

The one that has yet to disappoint me is the Talenti Gelato. In case you would like to check out their ridiculously amazing iced snacks, their website is www.talentigelato.com and they have a super cute video there.

Much to my dismay, I have not yet tried all the flavors that they have but that doesn't mean that I have not fallen in love with the few that I was lucky enough to try. 

I love this company as a whole because it  not only has cute packaging but also uses natural ingredients. The thing I love most about their ingredients are that there are not many of them and I could pronounce every single one of them.

I apologize in advance if the following pictures and their accompanying descriptions make you hungry and flustered but hopefully a few true blue gelato fans will see how important it is to talk about this.

Sea Salt Caramel:

This was the very first of Talenti's gelato that I got to try and I've been hooked ever since. They weren't lying about how creamy it really is. 

Alphonso Mango Sorbetto:

This one isn't really a gelato but an amazing treat nonetheless. The mangos are super authentic and consistency is perfect.

Tahitian Vanilla Bean:

I used to think that vanilla was such a blah flavor and this gelato proved me wrong. Definitely for anyone who gave up on the standard vanilla.

Double Dark Chocolate:

I hate things that are too sweet. Sounds ridiculous since I just profusely declared my love of ice cream but things that are too full of sugar can make me feel sick so I was apprehensive to try this. I really should stop doubting Talenti as it had enough of a chocolate taste without being too overbearing.

Coffee Chocolate Chip:

This was the latest one that I tried and I love it with a burning passion. The coffee is authentic and the chocolate deserves to be treasured. Definitely worth trying even if coffee isn't your thing.

Raspberry Cheesecake:

This one is a lot different from the ones that I have tried but I am happy I tried it. Both of the flavors are strong and recognizable. 

Sicilian Pistachio:

I usually don't like pistachio ice cream but I never would have guessed that I would love pistachio gelato. This one isn't for everyone but it's worth a shot.

German Chocolate Cake:

This one is not my favorite because I hate pecans but maybe anyone who doesn't mind them will love it.

Leave your opinions on gelato, any of these flavors, or anything else you want to say about ice cream and frozen treats.

Red Band Society Ending

Saying goodbye to TV shows is so much harder than movies or book series. At least with books and movies, you know when a series ends but with TV series, there's a lot of anxiety about when it will end.

When I heard rumors that Red Band Society was ending, I was shocked. When you get Oprah and Spielberg to collaborate with an amazing cast and generally solid plot, the possibility of it ending is unlikely. But it still ended.

At least the ending was appropriate and well-fitting. So in case you wanted to start the series after reading this post, you shouldn't be worried about an abrupt ending.

Overall, the show failed to make a lasting impression as it ended so soon but it was a good watch nonetheless.

There aren't many great things that you can say about a series that ended as soon as it did but that doesn't mean it didn't have them.

The characters were lovable and relatable and the acting was top-notch.

But the setting was unrealistic and staying full-time in a hospital cannot be cheap yet money is hardly an issue for anyone. It was remarkably cheesy to have Charlie, the boy in a coma, visit the other residents when they are unconscious. The overall plot had many dead ends and loose ties but the general message was sweet. But it still ended way before its time.

As much as I did like the show, it is over. Tell me what you think of the show and whether you would still watch it.

Double Ear Piercing

Ever since I got my ears pierced again, my friends, classmates and other people have asked questions about getting their own ears pierced. I know that when I was thinking about getting my ears pierced, I did a lot of resource online myself so I decided to write this post to answer the questions I was asked, or I wished I knew. If you are not interested in piercings, you are not obligated to read this post, but if you are interested in ear piercings, then I hope to help you. I waited until the healing period ended to write this post.

Here are some common questions that I have had and that I have been asked:

How much did it hurt?

I am a big baby. I cry at the thought of flu shots but since I really really wanted it, I guess I forgot about the pain because of all the adrenaline. If you really want it, it probably won't hurt. But then again it depends on who does it and with what. It hurt about a 2 or 3 out of 10 but the soreness after was about a 4 out of ten.

How should I get it done? Gun or needle?

I wanted to use a needle but eventually used a gun because that is how I got my first piercing and the other place that used a needle was too far away. For a lobe piercing, I think I gun should be fine but other parts of the ear shouldn't be done that way. In the end, it is a personal preference if a gun or needle should be used. Just know that a gun comes with some cons (not as clean, possible scar tissue forming, ear trauma).

What material should I use first?

Talking about this with a piercer is probably best unless you know how sensitive your skin is. Sterling silver can be used to pierce but not for sensitive ears. Gold, white gold and other precious metals are your best bet for a first time piercing.


How much did it cost?

Around $45 but I have seen the prices range from anywhere from $35 to $95 it just depends on the method the piercer uses and where you get it done. I got mine done at Claire's. Despite the negative things I've heard about Claire's, I had a pretty good experience.

How do you clean it?

Claire's gave me a cleaning solution and I used cotton balls to clean it three times a day for the first week. Then two times a week for the next two weeks. Once a week for a week then whenever I felt I needed to. This is not recommended and you should clean it three times a day for six weeks but I very rarely ever touched it or did anything to irritate it so I slowly stopped.

Can you get an infection?

Yes, you can get an infection but if you follow the "don't touch the piercing unless you are cleaning", "don't sleep on it", "don't put anything on it", and "wash regularly", you should be completely fine. Lobe piercings, in my experience, don't get infected often but there is always the chance.

What if you don't like it?

Lobe piercings don't usually scar much. Needles scar less than guns. But the worst that could happen if you decide you hate it and take it out is that a small scar is left behind.

Why did you get it?

I really liked the way it looked but more than that, it was a way for me feeling empowered. I feel like it was me taking charge of my body and what I did with it. Convincing my parents was hard as showing I was responsible had not worked out (I've been trying to convince them to let me get it since August of last year) so I went to the bugging method. I am not proud of bugging them but I had tried everything else. The piercing process itself was very empowering for me but that does not mean that you need to get a piercing to feel confident, but that that was what happened to me.


I hope this helps anyone who was thinking about getting lobe piercings but were unsure. I will answer any questions that you ask but just know that my knowledge is primarily on lobe piercings and slightly there on cartilage.