Running Shoes

Shoes!  I really like shoes, and I never thought that there would be a day when my shoe pile went from heels and fancy shoes to running shoes. But it happened. The four pictured below are the ones in my front entrance. My picks for running - Merrell, Salomon, Adidas and Brooks.

 It doesn't end there, though!

< I also have these New Balance,

And this Saucony pair >

< I did a 10K walk in these FiveFingers!

And the lace up version are also in my closet. >

I'm pretty sure that every time I've made it out to run, my feet look different! I love how bright and colourful they are, and after this weekend running Colour Me Rad, one lucky pair will be even brighter!

Book Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Publish Date: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781442435001
Pages: 448
Series: None 
Source: From publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just... disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try... unless they could lead back to her best friend. 
Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough.
Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? 
Kiss a Stranger? Wait... what?
Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?
Go Skinny Dipping? Um...
My Review:

*Cue Kelly Clarkson's Since You've Been Gone - as that is all I can think about when I say the title of this book.*

Sloane is missing from her best friends life. She just vanished one day with nothing, no goodbye note, no phone call. She isn't even answering her phone calls.One day a list shows up in the mail, a list of things for Emily to do, written in Sloanes' usual girlie writing. Only when Emily is certain that her best friend is no where to be found does Emily start the unusual and scary tasks on the list, hoping that it will lead her to Sloane.

Since You've Been Gone is a perfect light summer read. It's entertaining, and it will remind you of lazy summer days hanging out with your friends. The friendships that Emily is able to form over this list are warming and familiar. Dawn, Frank and Collins will fill the void in Emily's summer and help her in so many ways.

What I really liked about this book was though it started out centered around finding Sloane, as the novel progressed it was focused about Emily finding herself first. She realized that she could make friends herself, and talk to strangers -though it took some work. I liked the way the book turned it's focus. Though the hunt for Sloane never ends, Emily comes to some realizations and her self-esteem increases immensely.

Morgan Matson is a brilliant writer. The book was everything - comforting, funny, honest. We read through flashbacks of Sloane and Emily throughout their friendship which was a nice little touch. It really added depth the both Emily and Sloane. Also, the running playlists, while not necessary, was a nice add-on throughout the novel. Not only did it open my eyes up to new music, but it was fun to see the playful banter between Emily and Frank regarding the music.

After reading Since You've Been Gone, I'm really looking forward to reading more summer reads by Matson. On a nice sunny day like today (only a few degrees warmer), you'll want to lounge outside and devour this one!

Running Like A Girl

I walk. 

I walk where I need to go most of the time. I don't drive, I don't own a car, and I keep a few bus tickets on hand just in case. I used to hate the idea of having to walk to work. The walk itself, then having to be on my feet for 8 hours didn't sound like a good idea. But I had to, so I did. And each and every day (3 years after that first walk) I enjoy it more each walk. I throw on a pair of running shoes and my headphones and walk away.

When Simon & Schuster announced this Running Like A Girl challenge, I accepted. Why not? I already walk a ton, why not speed up my pace and go faster and further.

The idea here is to read Alexandra Heminsley's book Running Like a Girl, and start running. We're to keep track of our progress and let everyone know how we're doing. Simon & Schuster and #Hemmo are going to cheer us on, and help get us motivated. It started with a little surprise in the mail...a few things to get us started on our new journey.

Be sure to follow me while I embark on #Runninglikeagirl. Also, be sure to keep up to date with my sister. I was lucky enough to have her join this with me! Also, get on Facebook and Twitter, and look for others participating in this, and be sure to keep the cheer spreading for us!

If you're here only for #Runninglikeagirl, note the page at the top of my blog. I'll be sure to track all of these posts under there to make it easier for you!

Divergent Movie and a few extras

Divergent - we've all read it and loved it (most of us anyways). And as I'm sure EVERYONE is aware, Divergent is now a movie.




Surprisingly, I haven't seen this movie as of now. Though I guess it's not a total surprise, I haven't seen Catching Fire yet either.

Those of you who have watched Divergent have had good things to say about it. Both groups, those who have read the book, and those who haven't have said it's a good movie. My initial thought was that Tris isn't what I had pictured in my head. But the trailers that I keep watching over and over put my mind at ease a little as I think the fit may just work!

While we're on the topic of movies, how about The Fault In Our Stars? I just recently had the honour of reading John Green's book and it was fantastic! Then to hear they're making a movie of it, so I had to watch the trailer of course.



And don't even get me started on how awesome The Maze Runner by James Dashner looks. Not sure? Have a look for yourself!




It's always hard when books turn to movies, because as readers we have envisioned characters and settings and each and every one of us picture it different.

Book Review: Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave by Shyima Hall

Publish Date: January 21st, 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781442481688
Pages: 240
Series: None
Source: From publisher for honest review 

Goodreads Synopsis:
An inspiring and compelling memoir from a young woman who lost her childhood to slavery—and built a new life grounded in determination and justice.
Shyima Hall was born in Egypt on September 29, 1989, the seventh child of desperately poor parents. When she was eight, her parents sold her into slavery. Shyima then moved two hours away to Egypt’s capitol city of Cairo to live with a wealthy family and serve them eighteen hours a day, seven days a week. When she was ten, her captors moved to Orange County, California, and smuggled Shyima with them. Two years later, an anonymous call from a neighbor brought about the end of Shyima’s servitude—but her journey to true freedom was far from over.
A volunteer at her local police department since she was a teenager, Shyima is passionate about helping to rescue others who are in bondage. Now a US citizen, she regularly speaks out about human trafficking and intends to one day become an immigration officer. In Hidden Girl, Shyima candidly reveals how she overcame her harrowing circumstances and brings vital awareness to a timely and relevant topic.

My Review:
Hidden Girl, the story about a modern-day slave is a riveting read. From the first page, I was hooked and I needed to know the ending of her story. It was definitely a page-turner and a nice change of pace to the usual genre I read. It was a total eye-opener about what can and does go on inside people's homes. Hidden girl is a book that all young adults should be shown or asked to read even if it is just to acknowledge  the horror of slavery, or to see that life events and challenges can be overcome. You just need strength and determination. Like Shyima, the young girl who went through something that we cannot even fathom - she had those two qualities that helped her through the end. 
From the start of Hidden Girl, Shyima recounts her life the best she can remember - From her happy and very young childhood on the streets of Egypt playing with her friends to her last moment in captivity. With all she has been through and the trauma she's experienced, her memory for simple things such as the names of some of her siblings have been forgotten. Sold into slavery to repay her family's debt but never actually given any money, forced to take care of strangers and do their every bidding, then smuggled into a new country to do the same are just some of the events that will be talked about in Hidden Girl.  Shyima will recount her life with pure passion and hatred at times. You will feel her pain and emotions will run high in this book. 
There isn't a whole lot I can say in this review, being as Hidden Girl is a true story so I can't comment on the plot or the storyline or such similar things so all I can say is that you should read this book and be aware of these events that can happen behind closed doors. Human trafficking is thought to be something in the past, when statistics and this true story still show that child slavery is something in today's day and age. The one thing that saved Shyima was someone who noticed something a bit off at a certain household and made one phone call.
Shyima was put through hell and back and at times was willing to give up but she stayed strong and came out on top in the end. The people she meets in her new life who help her and become the ones she learns to trust again play a huge role in her life now and have shaped who she has become and the work Shyima does now to educate the uneducated and bring justice into an unjust world. 

Book Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Publish Date: November 26th, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 978-1-7436-4788-2
Pages: ebook, 464
Series: Pushing the Limits, #3
Source: ebook from NetGalley

Goodreads Synopsis:

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane 
The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 
Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 
But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

My Review:

Crash Into You follows the lives of Isaiah (whom you'll remember from McGarrys previous books) and Rachel, both young teenagers with troubling lives but for very different reasons. Rachel is from a rich family. Rich with money, and a big house and cars. Isaiah is from the foster system, moving from houses to the streets where he now lives with his best friend Noah. The two characters meet one night, doing something they can both relate to - drag racing and hanging around cars. And from the first time they meet, they are not only forced together due to a bet, but they are drawn to each other on a deeper level. 

The relationship that is formed between Isaiah and Rachel is intriguing. They both know how different they are and they both have secrets but yet they can't stay apart. Their building relationship is true and meaningful even with Isaiah's tough exterior and his lack of trust to most people, and with Rachels "angelic" like ways, her inexperience and her lack of street smarts. I really liked that we got to dig deeper into Isaiah and see why he's the way he is, and doing so will make you see that he isn't as tough as he appears. He feels the need to put on this facade because of the system he was brought up in.  So to see that Rachel can break through this and bring out the real Isaiah is great. He's got a sweet personality and a big heart. We not only get to see more into Isaiah, but some of our other favorite characters like Noah and Echo play a role in Crash Into You and Beth is introduced to Rachel, which brings in a little drama but not too much. 

A true form to McGarrys other books, the emotion and strength behind the characters is unbelievable. McGarry can make her characters come alive in the pages of her books. Her writing is raw and true and because of that, you'll feel everything from the book. You'll get butterflies in your stomach when Isaiah looks at Rachel. You'll feel the shyness and newness of everything that Rachel feels and it's incredible. And just wait until things get really romantic! 

Crash Into You is a book where unlikely friendships and relationships are built and it's a story that proves that you can't judge a book by its cover, because you might just miss out on something or someone special.  I would recommend getting this book tomorrow if you haven't already read it. It's definitely worth every late night spent up. 

Book Review - Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Publish Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN:  978-1-4603-1328-2
Pages:  ebook, 365
Series: Pushing The Limits, #2
Source: ebook from Netgalley

Goodreads Synopsis:

"I DARE YOU..."
If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock--with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams--and his life--for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

My Review:

I really wish I read and reviewed Dare You To sooner. I had the book for a while before I got around to reading it, and I've had my review done, but only now posting it here. I loved the book, and since reading it, I have read other books written by Katie McGarry. She is a fantastic writer!
The book starts off simple enough. Ryan and his friends are out, and he is dared to get a girls phone number. A girl his friends have to pick, someone they believe he will have a hard time with. In walks a girl; black hair, black clothing, piercings all over, the whole nine yards. Ryan knows that it's going to be hard to get her number but Ryan doesn't lose. That's what years of baseball, countless dares and a father whose expectations need to be lived by have taught him. He doesn't lose, no matter what. So when this girl says no after all of Ryan's usual moves, he's shocked! He can't believe he lost, and neither can his friends, so when they run into each other again, Ryan wont give up. Little do they know, their lives will be impacted by each other through more than a casual dare.
Beth, this girl who turned Ryan down has secrets and a life she can't run away from though people are trying to make her. She's been in trouble, has an alcohol and drug addicted mother who is with a man who is known to beat her. Beth knows too well that she is bad news to Ryan, the perfect boy who has a perfect life in the perfect town. Why is it then that she can't seem to stay away from him and break the connection they obviously feel toward each other. Ryan can't believe that all of this has escalated from a dare, but he can't leave Beth alone, and starts to question his life when Beth shows him a whole new meaning of life. Together Beth and Ryan discover there is more to life and in doing so they discover what it feels to be truly loved by someone.
I absolutely loved the relationship between Beth and Ryan. I loved Beth - she doesn't care what people think of her and she tells it as it is. The relationship they build is true, genuine and Katie McGarry has a way of bringing it to life and making these characters come alive. I felt as though I was experiencing the events of the book first hand, when an author can do that, they definitely have a gift. My favourite part of the book besides the WHOLE thing was one simple little quote, "Dance with me." I had shivers run down my spine and had goosebumps reading this part. 
Dare You To is a book that is worth reading over and over again. I was drawn in with the change of narrative between Ryan and Beth, as it gave me a full 360° view of feelings and emotions that mattered so much throughout the book. And the last page? I wanted to hold onto the words forever. It was so intense that I didn't want it to end.