Sky's Buzz

A while back, I got an advanced copy of the new Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Shatter Your Senses !, the newest book in the bestselling series from Ripley Publishing!  Anyone who knows Ripley's , knows that they never let you down. I really love seeing the new cover designs and all the new content in each of these. I was really excited for this one. I really want to tell you about everything in it but I also want you to be able to experience it for yourself. This edition is a mind-blowing collection of fantastic, fun, and even freaky stories from around the world. Its sections include Animals, Pop Culture, Believe It, Food, and Beyond Belief. And like always, they’re all true and handpicked by Ripley’s Believe It or Not staff. HERE ARE SOME OF THE STORIES THAT AWAIT READERS AS YOU SHATTER YOUR SENSES! *Read about the world's most expensive dress ever sold at auction which was covered in rhinestones and worn by Marilyn Monroe! *Check out freaky foods from all over t...

I've always been intrigued by astrology and astronomy. I often stare up at the stars at night. It's peaceful and relaxing. Well recently, I just finished reading, What We See In the Stars by Kelsey Oseid. It's more than just a starry guide, it's a piece of art and so entertaining and informative. You can tell even by the cover of this book, that it is very detailed in its illustrations. It's creative and unique and very visually appealing to the eye. The color scheme fits with the night sky and starry blanket. This book is full or informative, history, tidbits and trivia about stars, constellations, planets and comets and so much more. It is organized and looks clean and well written. Each page has again, very detailed and beautiful illustrations that bring the story and information to life. It is a very entertaining and educational read. Would be great as a coffee table book, a gift for a friend or teacher, or for fun. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and...

One of my resolutions this year and every year is to start journaling. But to do that is challenging.  I cant always find the time or the inspiration. And then there is always the fact that I may not know what to write about.  Another resolution was to live more fully, spread kindness and compassion and love. Which is again challenging and often I do not know how to do so.  Do One Thing Every Day That Makes You Happy: A Journal is a great tool for helping achieve these very goals.  Upon first sight, I noticed the book is thick, but small and would be easy to take along, store in your desk or on a shelf. It's cover is a bright, sunshine yellow color. The title is silver but you can see colors in the letters if you move it under light but one word stands out in a rainbow colored font: HAPPY. Which is the whole point of this book, to make you happier.  With this book, each day can be special and another chance for you to exercise and refle...

One of my goals this year was to start journaling. While I haven't started it yet, I now have a rad journal to start with. I just got this  My Rad Life Journal  Written by Kate Schatz, Illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl. It is pretty rad and not like your average journal. Instead of just a boring book of blank pages, this journal has so much more. It is filled with quotes, pictures, prompts and can give you the opportunity not only to express feelings but to exercise your mind. Which is great. Journaling has been around so long, but I like that it tries to inspire you and get you to think more along with being the book you can literally vent into. Another thing I like about it is the look and design of it. It's very bright and loud and feminine. It would be great for a youth or an adult ahs has inspirstional quotes by famous people like Michelle Obama in it. It even has several pages of blank lines in its rad fashion for general notes or journaling, but the...

Swanhart has put together a delicious collection of recipes that appeal to the eyes and stomach equally. Weeknight Cooking For Two  is filled with so many nutritious and tasty simple meals.  It is separated into categories including breakfast for dinner, soups and sandwiches, salads, sandwiches, vegetarian, seafood, meat, poultry and desserts. Plus it even has info on the Dirty Dozen, conversion tables, cheat sheets and indexes.  What's great about this book is that these recipes are great for couples. Many recipes you find will make enough for families and it is hard to find simple, double serving recipes.  My mom in law and her husband are still learning how to cook for themselves without the excess food leftover. This book really helped them and I even tried a few recipes myself.  I also loved that in the beginning of the book, there is a Healthy Staples Checklist. This list includes spices, fruits and veggies, and other I g...

It started out on Present Day, which is the night of her 40th birthday.  She is with someone and they are taking her to a place in the dark woods.  They reach the foot bridge.  It's a place that kids like to jump from.  People have died here, but the thrill of danger keeps kids coming back.  He died here.  No Trespassing, the signs say.  But they are trespassing now.  He tells her as she backs away from the edge,  "Go ahead and jump. You know you want to." Then it jumps to a day, 22 years earlier. Kate, Aubrey and Jenny met in college and quickly became friends. The inseparable kind. They shared secrets, laughs, heart breaks. They went on and to get married. Kate to a hearty, party boy, Jenny to a boy next door type and Aubrey to a higher class. Now though, time has gone by. Things have happened. They aren't the friends they once were. One of them has died mysteriously. Things have changed. Is it p...

As part of my summer reading experience, I have decided to branch out of my normal routine of reading only crime books and thriller/horror genres. While this was not as intense and thrilling as those subjects might be, I was definitely pleased with the artistic story-telling of Jardine Libaire's White Fur . This is an exciting story, in a different way. Not for younger readers. Mature audiences only. With a story that will bring to mind the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, this book tells of star-crossed lovers, Elise Perez and Jamey Hyde. It is a story that resonates with most people because of the simplicity and realistic-ness of their situation. Though so close in distance, their lives could not be further from each other's. This novel, follows them from their instant attraction, through their relationship, as sexuality is high and emotions run deep. No matter, there is always something at bay, trying to force them apart and keep them from each other. Can they b...

To start off my Summer Reading List I have been making for myself, I wanted to tell you about this new book I have been reading. The New York Times: Footsteps is a small collection of short geographical essays telling stories about different places in the world. A literary footstep-ing across the world. This book is based on a New York Times travel column, Footsteps and gives you insight to the locational muses of some of the world's famous writers. It was a very well put together collection, and each story is written by someone who is walking the footsteps of a famous author. The essays are enticing with a bit of whimsical charm and some even hold a surprise or change-up. Each writer also contained their own writing style. Some were easy for me to get into while others I had to really focus to see the stories between the lines. But all were very fascinating and took me to another place where I could really imagine the life there and see why those famo...

I think, for being a girl, the biggest motivation and inspiration comes from reading about other women who changed the world and make a major impact in how we live and how things are done today. It seems we often hear about the men who have made history, but what about us girls?!?  I recently read the book, Rad Women Worldwide , by Kate Schatz, illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl, and was inspired by all the stories about women in sports, medicine, science, along with the pirates, punks and revolutionaries.  There are some remarkable women out there who have done equally amazing things and this book is full of them. From the look and design of the book, to the stories inside, it is a very visually attractive with a modern focus on women.  I really love the bright colors and fun presentation of this book. It is like a fun trip in history. Each story is well researched and engaging and inspiring. The content of it covers from 430 B.C. to the year 2016 in 31 cou...

* They are coming April 7, 2017!!! * NEW MOVIE ALERT! * The little blue people are at it again! “In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurfs history!” – ABOUT on http://www.smurfsmovie.com/ How well do you know the Smurfs and their history?!? A Brief History As you may or may not know, the Smurfs started as a Belgian comic in 1958 by Peyo which was the pen name of Pierre Culliford. Originally named, Les Schtroumpfs, the Smurfs were introduced as small blue, cap wearing, “humanoids” with varying characteristics and talents. Each one has a distinct name, look...

When you think of Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, what's the first thing that comes to mind? For me, it's those crazy pics of people with strange facial tattoos, long fingernails, weird cars and all those things that must be fake but aren't. But did you know that they have a children's line of books? I didn't either until recently. Ripley's offers a wide range of books incorporating the strange and unusual. Most of you may recognize their annual books but they also offer activity books, adult and children's books, including Fun Facts & Silly Stories, Curioddities, Twist series, RBI series and More. So Ripley's Publishing has finally expanded once again. This time they have expanded their children's genre and introduced 2 new board books, the company's first! Ripley's Believe It or Not! ODDphabet and Ripley's Believe It or Not! Wacky 1-2-3, are suitable for ages 3 and up. Ripley's Believe It or Not! ODDphabet is so c...

I recently got to read When We Last Spoke , a book by Marci Henna, and I loved it for many reasons. When We Last Spoke is the story of Juliet and Evangeline Cranbourne, who when young, was left at their grandparent's porch by their mom. Their father was away at war and their mother swapped out motherhood for the big city and freedom. It starts out when they are older and goes back to when they were children. The sisters are relatable and have their differences and are not as close as they once were. Set in the South, there are lots of humorous characters and quirks and Southern representation. This book is something I can cuddle up to and travel with to another place and time. The characters are full bodied and relatable. The story seems real and is something you can lose yourself in. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was heartwarming and entertaining and wasn't something that was far fetched and unrealistic. Not only were the characters relatable, so we...