Banned Books Week extras

Hey guys,
So I saw this post/article on a site and thought that it was interesting.
This shows a little about what happens when a parent takes issue with a book, and what subsequent responses may be. In this case the book is the Hunger Games.
So read the article, and please tell us what you think

♥ Allie

http://mockingjay.net/2010/09/30/banned-books-week-the-hunger-games-challenged-at-new-hampshire-middle-school/

Banned books week

It is banned books week!
This event started as a protest because too many books (over thousands now) have been banned from schools and stores due to the fact that some people found them offensive in some way shape or form.
I have read a number of these books, and trust me, they are fantastic!
I urge everyone to go out and read what makes you happy, not what others say is good or not.
Sometimes the fact that something is challenged is point enough to read it.

Below is a link with more information about banned books week, along with a list of banned books.
I hope all of you look at it

♥ Allie

http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/info.html

Another Awesome Contest!

Hey all, I'm very sorry we havn't been keeping up on our posting. Whenever a new semester of college starts it's always chaotic, and this year more than most, so please forgive us.
 To make up for it though I have details on a new contest being put on by one of my favorite blogs, Reading or Breathing.

Here is the link to it. it explains everything. hope you enjoy! :)
http://readingorbreathing.blogspot.com/2010/09/favorite-five-giveaway.html

♥ Allie

Review - Mockingjay

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

This was definitely the most anticipated book of the year for me. I absolutely fell in love with this series and the characters! Of the three books I think this was my least favorite, but that is because it was so bittersweet seeing it come to an end. Don't get me wrong though, the book was amazing, the whole trilogy is! Unlike some series, where it seems like the author just needed to finish so the final book never meets expectations (which trust me, happens to me all the time when it comes to series), I actually enjoyed Mockingjay. It was so bittersweet to see this come to an end, but since it must, I accept this end. Collins' writing takes the reader right into the world of Panem. I felt for each of the characters, and I'll admit, I got choked up at the end. Mockingjay was an intense read that kept me going until the last page. I absolutely love this series, it is definitely one of my all time favorites, and I highly recommend it to everyone!

♥ Allie

Recipe - Mockingjay

In honor of Katniss, the heroine of the Hunger Games, here is a recipe of her favorite meal from the capitol: Lamb Stew.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds lamb stew meat
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 large onions, quartered
3 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
4 small potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 (14.5 ounce) can beef broth
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons minced chives
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
note: if you dont want to buy fresh herbs, then use the dry one's you have at home.
note: many people do not like lamb, if you are one of these people, then it is perfectly fine to substitute a different meat.

Directions:
1.In a large pan, brown meat in 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Remove with a slotted spoon; set aside. Add onions, carrots and remaining oil to pan. cook for 5 minutes or until onions are tender, stirring occasionally. add potatoes, broth, salt, pepper and lamb. bring to a boil.
2. Reduce to low heat and cover pan. Let everything simmer for about 45 min to an hour. (until potato and lamb are tender)
3.With a slotted spoon, remove meat and vegetables to a large bowl; keep warm. Pour pan juices into another bowl; set aside. In the pan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in pan juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the parsley, chives, thyme, and meat and vegetables; heat through.
 
Enjoy :)
♥ Allie

Contest!

hey guys. i thought everyone would be interested in this epic contest that is going on!!!

The Great YA Bake Sale of 2010

It’s here, it’s here – The Great YA Bake Sale of 2010!

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Get your napkins and cups of coffee and glasses of milk ready, because the sweetest contest of the year has begun! The whole thing started when I realized that YA authors seem to have one big thing in common – an obsession with sweets and baking.
That gave me an idea. I started calling (well – okay, emailing) around and ended up with more than a dozen kind, sugar-loving authors on board to bring you one amazing contest.

Here’s the deal:

To enter, simply leave a thoughtful comment on an author’s Bake Sale blog post, or tweet about the contest with the hashtag #YABakeSale10. Voila! You’re entered.
When you enter, you become eligible to win any one of the Personal Prize Packs (i.e. a comment on Saundra Mitchell’s blog may net you the Cyn Balog prize pack. You’re entering the whole contest, not just that particular author’s part of it.) You also become eligible to win the humongonormous Grand Prize Basket.

What’s in the Grand Prize Basket?

Each author has hand-written two copies of a favorite sweet-treat recipe. One copy has gone into a beautiful recipe book that is part of the Grand Prize Basket. In addition to the (hand-written! Did I mention that?) recipe collection, the Grand Prize winner will receive:
A signed copy of Cyn Balog’s SLEEPLESS
Bookmarks for KAT, INCORRIGIBLE by Stephanie Burgis
A signed copy of GIVE UP THE GHOST by Megan Crewe
Signed bookmarks for THE CRESCENT and HALF MOON, pencils, and a crescent moon and crystal-studded star necklace from Jordan Deen
A signed copy of 13 TO LIFE, a chap book of the prologue and first chapter of SECRETS AND SHADOWS from Shannon Delaney
A copy of THE BODY FINDER, a THE BODY FINDER tote bag, sticker and bookmarks from Kimberley Derting
An EVERLASTING-themed notebook, bookmark and pin from Angela Frazier
A signed copy of CLAIRE DE LUNE, signed stickers and a silver, moon-themed bookmark from Christine Johnson
A signed copy of SHADOWED SUMMER, matching chocolate candies, Twilight-themed heart candies, bookmarks and THE VESPERTINE dance card from Saundra Mitchell
A signed copy of THE PACE, by Shelena Shorts, along with bookmarks and THE PACE pencils
A signed hard-cover of SHADE and a Keeley Brothers pin from Jeri-Smith Ready
A signed copy of PERSONAL DEMONS, a PERSONAL DEMONS tank top, temporary tattoos, and bookmarks from Lisa Desrochers
. . . AND MORE!!! All for ONE LUCKY WINNER!

But that’s not all!

Each author has one other handwritten recipe that will be part of each author’s own Personal Prize Pack.

The prize packs include:

Cyn Balog – Signed copy of SLEEPLESS and a handwritten recipe for Coconut Bread.
Stephanie Burgis – UK paperback copy of A MOST IMPROPER MAGICK and a hand written recipe for Apple Muffins
Kay Cassidy – Hand-written recipe and giveaways
Megan Crewe – Hand-written recipe and signed copy of GIVE UP THE GHOST
Shannon Delaney – Hand-written recipe and signed copy of 13 TO LIFE
Jordan Deen – Basket with Pampered Chef baking gear and a recipe for Orange Pineapple Cake
Kimberley Derting – Signed copy of The Body Finder, stickers, a totebag, bookmarks and a recipe for Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lisa Desrochers – A copy of PERSONAL DEMONS and a recipe for Sunday Coffee Cupcakes
Angie Frazier – A signed hard-cover copy of EVERLASTING, bookmark, and a recipe for Butter Rum Cupcakes with Coconut Buttercream Frosting
Judith Graves – Copy of UNDER MY SKIN, a character card, and a recipe for Dead Lady Fingers
Christine Johnson – A signed hard-cover copy of CLAIRE DE LUNE, stickers, a silver moon-themed bookmark and a recipe for Chocolate-Chip Butterscotch Blondies
Saundra Mitchell – Recipe and giveaways
Jennifer Murgia – ANGEL STAR swag, Octogram earrings, and a hand-written recipe
Shelena Shorts – Signed copy of THE BROKEN LAKE and bookmarks and a hand-written recipe
Jeri Smith-Ready – SHADE UK paperback edition and a recipe for Scottish Oat Scones
Get ready, get set . . . . enter away! Good luck, everyone.
Fine print: The contest entries must be posted by midnight eastern time on September 20th. This contest is open to the U.S., U.K. and Canada. Questions? Leave them in the comments or email me – christine(at)christinejohnsonbooks.com

Review Oh. My. Gods.

Oh. My. Gods. is  about a young girl who is forced to transfer to a high school inhabited by the decedents of Greek gods. Pheobe is the only student without mystical powers, so between homework, racing against teammates, and crushing on a boy with Greek god good looks, she must figure out how to survive high school.

 

I rather enjoyed this book. It was an extremely quick read, but very enjoyable. I am intensely fascinated by Greek mythology so having the classical mythology thrown into the high school world, made it so interesting. I found Oh. My. Gods. wildly entertaining. I definitely recommend reading this book.

~ Stevi

Recipe Oh My Gods

Phoebe and the rest of her school are all in insanely good shape, plus their god given good looks. While we normal folk don't have the advantage of being part god, we can still look good and stay healthy. Here is a recipe that is sure to taste great, but also keep us looking and feeling good :)

Greek Salad
Ingredients:
1 cucumber
2 roma/plum tomatoes
1 cup kalamata olive
1 small package of feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 red onion
1/2 packageof romaine lettuce
1/2 package of baby greens

Directions:
Cut everything up and throw it together. how easy is that!

Now for the vinaigrette dressing..
Ingredients:
6 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp each of: garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, dijon mustard, lemon juice
1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar

Directions:
whisk everything together and pour  as needed on salad :)

~ Stevi