This weekend, I attended my first ever Comicon!

I feel like I earned a special Geek Badge or something. I even went in costume, which is an additional badge. 

We really need merit badges for Geekdom. 

Anyway, because it was my first attempt and I tend to have issues with crowds...I only bought a single day ticket and stayed for 4-ish hours. 

It. Was. Awesome. 

Even in just those few hours, I had more fun and felt more comfortable than I did when I attended Beachbody Summit a few years ago. 

Like I said on Facebook: These are my people!

Whether you were decked out in street clothes, a geeky shirt, or full costume, you could look around and find a hundred people just like you. With over 85,000 people in attendance, you weren't alone in your nerdy desires. 

When I saw the decked out Impala (modeled after Baby in Supernatural) I didn't think anyone would judge the squealing noise I made or my big grin while snapping pictures. 

That's why we were there! 

To be geeks! To find people that enjoy the things we enjoy. To learn from the pros on costume making, writing, etc...

To be ourselves. 

I got several compliments on my simple costume. It made my DAY when I walked in to registration and someone walking out greeted me with "Hey, Cas!" (my character's name)

In just a few hours, I got to relax (as much as I could running around to panels and trying to make my way through the massive exhibitor hall)

Because in those few hours, I didn't feel judged. 

Don't get me wrong, I don't care as much as I used to about what people think. But there are still times when I'll dampen my enthusiasm for a certain TV show or movie because no one else is as excited as I am. At Comicon? Everyone is excited about their favorite geeky venture. EVERYONE. You don't spend money on tickets, merchandise, photo-ops, autographs, etc unless you love it. 

I'm already planning my cosplay for next year. I told my husband that I'm going all 4 days and would love if he came with me but I'm fine going alone. (Which is HUGE for this socially anxious introvert) 

I'm also going to start a "Comicon fund" so I can have money for autographs, photo-ops, and various merchandise. (The people that publish the graphic novel I love were there! I wanted a signed SOMETHING but didn't have the cash)

Mostly, I'm already looking forward to having 4 days of being able to let my geek flag fly and not get side-eyes or eye rolls because of it. 

Yesterday was Day 1 of my period. Also known as Hell.

Plus, I got some really awful news yesterday. I'd rather not discuss it in depth because I like my little world of denial. 

So I got very little reading done. Between anxiety, crying jags, and narcotic high....I barely started in on "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman.

Here's hoping today goes better.

Books Finished: 3

Total books read: 5

I finished "Neanderthal Seeks Human" and it was cute all the way through. She's not your typical romance novel heroine and I loved her. 

"Dorothy Must Die" was an interesting take on the Dorothy mythos. Sort of a "what happened next" novel. I liked it. Enough to read the next book? eehhhh not sure on that one yet. 

"Dinosaur: 65 Million." 
OMGosh. This book was awful. Downright awful. Like, I stayed up late to finish reading it just so I wouldn't begin my day with such awfulness. I wrote a review on Goodreads here. I was nice...ish. 

Today I'm reading my graphic novel and an online comic my husband recommended (strongly...strongly recommended) 

I can't decide if I want to read a new book (not currently on my TBR) or start in on my horror anthology. 

Probably the latter. Mother Nature arrived today with her monthly dose of pain (30-ish days, skank, and I won't ever see you again) so I think shorter bites of reading are in order. 

Books Finished: 2

I felt kinda stressed out yesterday. Surgery apprehension is creeping in...the kids started the day with fights and fits. So I did what I did best. 

I hid in the pages of a novel. 

I finished "Burned" and it was, of course, fantastic. Now I have to wait anxiously for her next installment.

"Unhinged" (2nd in the "Splintered" series) was also great. I put "Ensnared" on my Amazon wishlist. (Not quite ready for a $10 price tag when I have over 400 books on my TBR)

I started, and nearly finished, "Neanderthal Seeks Human." I'm enjoying it so much. The protagonist is awkward and weird. Her naivety bothers me at times but it's well explained with her background and general personality. She's not just a dumb kid (*cough*50Shades*cough*) It's more that she shuts people and experiences out on purpose. 

When she gets nervous, she spouts off random bits of trivia. It's awesome. I love her so. 

So today's goal is to finish "Neanderthal" and begin "Dorothy Must Die." I have zero expectations for "Dorothy" and have seen a few posts where people wonder if it's any good.

Books Finished: Zero 

Ugh. 

I got 80% of the way through "Burned" by Karen Marie Moning. For all intents and purposes, I should have been able to finish it. 

But...I'm attempting the Read-A-Thon with a 4 and 6 year old at home. 

Not to mention I'm waist deep in PMDD territory (and late so that's extra fun). I tried to ignore the headache building all yesterday and ended up with it threatening to become a migraine last night. 

"Great head you have here. Be shame if something were to....happen to it." 

I could have stayed up later to finish the book but the headache was getting worse. 

And it's still around for a party this morning. 

Goal for the day: Finish "Burned" and make good progress on "Unhinged." 

Reading goals after I started my day (no really, 7am) with a kid throwing a screaming fit. Cute.

One fun aspect of the Bout Of Books Read-A-Thon is the various challenges. 

This one is a "Getting To Know You" kind of survey and the PERFECT way to start off the event! 

1) How do you organize your shelves?
Well, my shelves are 90% virtual right now so I let the Kindle do it for me. My other books are laid about in a haphazard fashion because I lack actual bookshelves at the moment. 

2) What is one of your favorite books that's not in your favorite genre?
Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
I don't read a lot of sci-fi. It's definitely not something I enjoy very often. Even then, I prefer short stories so I can be subjected to the genre in small bursts. But I LOVED the Ender's Saga. 

3) What is the last 5 Star Book you read?
If we're talking about 5 stars on Goodreads... Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning landed nearly 5 stars. (With good reason)

4) What book are you most excited to read during the read-a-thon?
I *should* say "Burned" By Karen Marie Moning. 
However...
I'm actually pretty excited to pick up my very first graphic novel. I've never read a comic book or graphic novel all the way through so this is exciting to me. 

5) What book do you recommend most? 
"Darkfever" by Karen Marie Moning
Notice a trend? I LOVE her series. Seriously though, if you give me zero parameters and ask for a book rec I'm going to say "Fever series" every single time. 

I hold my Associate's in Fine Arts. That means I went to school for 2 years and did 90% Theater in that time. 

I learned a lot more than just "acting stuff." 

We had an entire class on MAKEUP. Yes, Stage Makeup is different from Real Makeup, but there are some carry over points. 

1) Know Your Face
When was the last time you really looked at your face? I'm not talking about when you did your makeup last or when you took your last selfie. I want you to take about 10 minutes out of your day, sit in front of the mirror with good lighting, and just LOOK at your face. 
Find your strengths and the things you may want to downplay. For me, I have really good cheekbones and a good nose...but my forehead is ridiculous! 
I've seen a lot of "how to contour" pins and I take issue with some of it because we all have different faces. What works for Kim Kardashian probably doesn't work for Reese Witherspoon because they have different face shapes and bone structures. 
Learn your face. Learn the high points (where you'll apply highlight) and the points where you'll apply shadow. 

2) A Good Base Is Important
Proper foundation color is KEY. Applying your foundation and setting it is important. Good contour helps show the natural shapes in your face. 
You have to think of it like building a house: Foundation First. 
Then you go in and fix up everything else. 
(Proper foundation has always been my weak spot..pale kids unite!)

3) Makeup Should Be Fun
We had a lot of assignments. From basic beauty makeup to old age to fantasy, it was never a dull moment walking into class. 
Your regular makeup should be just as much fun. 
If you're bored with your look, it's time to take a day and just play. Play with colors, find a tutorial and try it, or do a crazy fantasy look. You should wear makeup because you enjoy it; not out of some societal obligation. 
One reason I love Ipsy is they give me products I may not try otherwise. Lime green eyeshadow? Turns out I love it. Brownish lipstick? Not that bad. 
(That's an affiliate link. If you sign up for Ipsy using that link I do get points in return)

4) Some Things Don't Work. That's Okay
When you play with makeup you're going to come across things that do not work and look hideous. 
Example: During one of our fantasy assignments I decided to be a fairy. Part of that was to draw a flower design across my forehead. It looked interesting right in front of the mirror...but from the seats with me on stage? Big splotch of ICK right above my eye. 
I chalked it up as a learning experience and NEVER DID IT AGAIN. 
Regular makeup is like that too. Maybe you look awful in orange eyeshadow. Maybe Barbie Pink lipstick makes your lips look funny. You'll never know until you try....and then take an objective look at the result. Not sure? Ask a good friend, one that will be brutally honest with you. 

5) There's Always Something To Learn
No one will ever know everything. There will always be something you can learn. New products will come out all the time. You don't have to spend all of your time researching and keeping up with trends, but take a few minutes here and there to watch a video or read and article. Meet someone with super awesome eyeliner skills? Ask her if she'll help you! People that love makeup are usually willing to help others love makeup as well. Please ask what lipstick I'm wearing if you love the color! I'm more than happy to share. 

When you read as often as I do, you get a reputation. 

I tend to be the go-to for book recommendations. 

It's actually pretty fun for me. I get to dig into my lists and pull out my favorites that fit a specific mold. 10 year old boy that hates reading? 15 year old girl that thinks she's ready for heavier topics? Dirty books? *wink* 

I'm the book addict. 

If you don't give me specifics to follow, I have a few books/series that I fall back on for recommendations. 

1) The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning
Seriously, my favorite series of all time. Moning is an excellent writer. The story is compelling and the characters are rich and developed. There's enough sexual tension to keep things interesting without being too smutty. I'd classify it as Urban Fantasy (paranormal elements in a modern world). 

2) The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward
When this was first recommended to me I rolled my eyes...because vampires. It's vampire romance. Vampire smut if we're being honest. 
But these aren't sparkly, broody vamps. The Brothers are warriors. Their personalities are fully fleshed and realistic. The dialogue is PURE GOLD. I love these. 

3) The Demonica series by Larissa Ione
Okay...I'll be honest. This one isn't my favorite. It's pure fluff and smut from the start (heavy on the smut). If you like Paranormal Romance, these need to end up on your list at some point. Pure entertainment.

4) Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
Erotic romance with plenty of hilarious banter and sarcasm? Here you go. This is one of the few books that had me laughing out loud from the start and kept me giggling throughout. It's the first in a series (apparently...I haven't read more than the first) but it's great as a stand-alone.

5) White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter
It's a new and different take on zombies. I'll admit, I've only read "Alice in Zombieland" thus far (and how awesome is that title? dude) but I loved it and just haven't gotten around to reading the rest. That will be remedied soon, trust me. 

6) The Darc Murders series by Carolyn McCray and Ben Hopkin
This is one of my favorite Indie series ever. Actually, these are at the top of my fave author lists. I beta read for Hopkin I love his stuff so much! If you like thrillers and police procedurals, put this on your list for sure. And then check out the rest of their books. They're mostly awesome. 

7) Dark Carousel series by Anya Allyn
I originally got the first book (Dollhouse) for free. It sucked me in like no other. Holy crap. If you want creepy and weird in your library...these fit the bill. They're bone chilling without being overly graphic on the freaky elements. I can't tell you much without spoiling but trust me...you'll love it (if creep and weird is your thing)

8) Splintered (series) by AG Howard
If you like to see fairy tales turned on their heads and pushed darker than Disney, grab this one. 
Alice In Wonderland based. The cover is gorgeous and what drew me to the book originally. It sullies up what you remember from Wonderland in a fantastic way. I've only read the first book but Book2 is on my Read-A-Thon list. 

9) The Shells of Chanticleer by Maura Patrick
This was another I got when it was free. It's a fun Young Adult novel about life after death (or during a coma). There's enough suspense to keep you reading but it's more of a "coming of age" and "self discovery" style novel. 
It was easy to read and just a nice book all around. There is a book 2 and I did enjoy it but not as much as the first one. 

10) To Be Continued
Slot 10 is going to have to be my place-holder for "There will be a follow-up post on recommendations because I can't cut it off at JUST TEN." 

However, that above list is like 50 books so you're more than covered for now....I hope. 

Lately, I've been trying to downsize my paper books. 

I'm sad, but it's necessary. 

We're military so frequent moves are part of the life. As much as I'd love a giant book collection (sigh) it's not practical. 

My loss is your gain. 

Because I'd rather give my books to the loving homes of my friends than dump them in a consignment shop and leave it up to fate. 

This week, it's the Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children!

When I read this, several friends warned me that they had trouble getting into it or staying interested. 

I didn't have that problem. 

However, I didn't love it enough to want to read the rest of the series or reread this one. Your miles may vary! I've seen ecstatic reviews of it from more than one BookTube channel. 

It's a fun read and the photographs in it are creepy and interesting. The story is interesting and the characters are unique (in more ways than one). 

So I definitely recommend that you at least try it!

If you're coming here from somewhere other than the "What Are You Reading" Facebook Event, you'll need to click on the name to go there and click "attending." 
You don't have to participate to enter the giveaway, but we wish you would. Just tell us what you read this week and/or what you're planning to read next week! (Psst. There's a Read-A-Thon coming up)

Each title is also a link to the book on Amazon!

I decided to make a decently sized TBR (To Be Read) and have a LARGE backup if I finish early. 

Without further ado...

Burned by Karen Marie Moning
It's quite nearly a sin that I haven't read this book yet. Seriously. I'm a rabid "Fever" fan and it came out in JANUARY. I'm about to lose my membership card here!

Unhinged by AG Howard
This is the second in the series. Oddly enough, I read "Splintered" (first in the series) during the last Read-A-Thon so this is fitting.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
I've heard whispers about this book (mostly people asking who has picked it up) but nothing concrete. I'm willing to give it a try!

Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid
(STILL FREE)
I've heard a few good things about this. Mainly that it's witty and funny. Every read-a-thon needs a light-hearted entry. 

Dinosaur: 65 Million
Okay, I got this for free (I think...or really cheap) and it looks goofy as hell. Reality TV where you have to survive in a land of dinosaurs? I saw that movie. 
But, I love reality TV and am willing to give it a go.

Grimm Fairy Tales Volume 1
This is actually a graphic novel. My cover is also a lot for, uh, graphic than this one. It'll be my first comic book read EVAH so I'm excited to include it. 
I've heard "Fables" is more "female market friendly" whereas this is geared toward men....whatever. Fairy tales. 

My Backup!
Psychos anthology
It's a collection of short horror stories. I figure I can just start reading and feel good about "finishing things" if it's in short bursts like that. 

Ready?

Shhhh.....I'm reading.