Writing, School, and Dresses, Oh My!

So...I've been a little lax on posting this month. Sorry about that!

Right now I'm working on rewriting my middle grade novel called Strawberry's School of Glamour. It's so much fun! I love my slightly outrageous main character, and I just love the the middle school setting. Though sixth grade is pretty horrible while you're there, it's pretty fun to write. I don't feel like I'm well-read enough in middle grade, though. If anyone has some suggestions for middle grade reading, let me know.

Meanwhile, I'm almost three-quarters through the school year. This means this weekend I have midterm projects to do (yay procrastination!), AP tests are coming up, and I have SATs to take in May. I've also been having to deal with state standardized testing. Blech.

It is also prom season. I don't know if I'm going yet, but I always love looking at dresses. I haven't read the books yet, but could you imagine having a prom dress like a gown off the cover of The Luxe, Rumors, or Envy by Anna Godbersen? I haven't read them yet, but wouldn't that be epic?




Tell me which dress is your favorite in the comments! For me, it's hard to choose between The Luxe and Envy.

American Idol!

I didn't mean to, but I can't help myself; I'm hooked again on American Idol.

I didn't plan on watching this season (I hadn't watched last season), but then there was nothing else on when the show first started...so I watched. Now I can't stop because I have to watch to see my favorite, Anoop Desai! Ever since his first audition, I liked him. He's the perfect combination of geeky, cute, and talented. The judges always mention how immensely likable he is, and I agree. I still don't think he's shown off his full potential, though, like he has in some YouTube videos with his college acapella groups. Anyone who's watching this season--and anyone who just might be curious--should check this song out, just as an example of some of his awesomeness. I can't wait until American Idol next week. He's been enduring some criticism for his performance this week, so hopefully he brings it. Their may be some big voices left in the Top 11, but when it comes to voices I'd like to listen to on the radio or on a CD, Anoop beats them all...at least for me.

Speaking of bringing it...someone who really knows how to bring it is the original American Idol, Kelly Clarkson. I've been a fan since that first season of American Idol. I even own the much mocked From Justin To Kelly. Her newest CD, All I Ever Wanted, just came out, and I'm loving some of the songs. There are some super catchy pop numbers. I especially like "Long Shot". Has anyone else listened to it yet? I think it's the type of CD that needs a couple listen before you really can appreciate it. What are your thoughts?

Braless in Wonderland, fun but thoughtful!

I just finished reading Braless in Wonderland by Debbie Reed Fischer. If you're looking for a quick read that's cute and intelligent at the same time, and if you're an America's Next Top Model addict like me, you will enjoy this book.

It's about overachieving, feminist high school senior Allee Rosen, who, to her surprise, is offered representation from a top-notch model and talent agency, Finnesse. Allee, who never thought herself particularly beautiful, finds herself heading out to Miami, going on castings, and landing commercials, print ads, and even some high-fashion photoshoots. At first she's reluctant to join the modeling world--she only gives it a chance so she can pay for Yale--, but in no time, she finds it enthralling. It unlocks a different part of herself, teaches her some valubable lessons, and is just plain fun. Eventually Allee has to choose between this glamorous world and the world of academia which she had always planned on entering.

As I said earlier, this book is both cute and intelligent, and that's a big deal to me. While I like books that are fun and accessible, I don't want to read shallow, stupid fluff. Braless in Wonderland managed to pack in some serious content about labeling ourselves and others (I have a soft spot for any book that examines intellectual snobbery, because I am sometimes prone to it, even though it is so wrong...and besides, it's just fascinating.), beauty and intelligence and if they can coexist, making choices about the future, what degrading really is, what femimnism really is, etc. However, I didn't feel like I was reading a book that's sole purpose was to make me think. All of this deeper content was inside of a cute, little package of entertainment, and entertained I was. I liked the colorful world of fashion and modeling. I liked the relatable voice of the main character Allee. I liked the interesting personalities of the fellow models and the relationships they had with Allee.

Overall, I just liked this book, period!

Even if I did feel a little funny carrying around a book with Braless in the title, ha ha.