A Hunger Games Playlist!

So excited for the premiere!! And I recently stumbled upon a Hunger Games Mix!! I don't know about you but in high school I made myself (and others) quite a few awesome mixes. One of my all time favs was one I made as a party favor for my water park sweet sixteen. It includes the Hilary Duff song "Sweet Sixteen", "High School" (sorry couldn't find the artist. It's a punk rocky one where they talk about the glories of high school.. came out around 2004 or so...), it may have even included a Hoku song, you know other classics from HS. 


Well on a recent blog browse I discovered a cute new blog! Have you ever visited Designeditor.typepad.com? I have become so inspired just browsing. I love that she offers not only free monthly playlists but also free fonts! Neat!


So after all my babbling here is the playlist including her justification of each song! I love it. Thank you Design Editor!! 

Listen here!

Without spoiler details, some of the lyrics that tie into the story: 

• THE CAVE by MUMFORD & SONS: Cause I need freedom now / And I need to know how / To live my life as it's meant to be
• STADIUM LOVE by METRIC: Every living thing / Pushed into the ring / Fight it out / To wow the crowd
• BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE by NEW ORDER: (The title speaks for itself!)
• AS YOU ARE by TRAVIS: And ever since I was young I had no choice / But it's OK to lead me on / I must admit it's not much fun / To be led on by such a one / As you are
• SONGBIRD by EVA CASSIDY: And the songbirds keep singing / Like they know the score 
• LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD by PAT BENATAR: We are young / Heartache to heartache / We stand
• DO THE PANIC by PHANTOM PLANET: I guess we're all in trouble, huh? / Black clouds are upon us / And it's doomsday on the other side of town
• GIRL IN THE WAR by JOSH RITTER: Pretend the dove from above is a dragon / and your feet are on fire
• POISON ARROW by ABC: Shoot that poison arrow through my heart
• I WILL SURVIVE by GLORIA GAYNOR: (This was too easy)

AHHH! So excited for the movie. Do you guys have any grand plans?? I haven't made any official ones yet but want to go all out! :)

What I'm Reading...

Source

The other week when Little and I went to the library I picked up the book Moloka'i by Alan Brennert because it is a One Book, One San Diego novel. There are technically three books for the year but KPBS (our local NPR station) hosts and organizes various events with the authors throughout the year. Do your cities do this type of thing too?

I thought it would be neat for Little and me to read the books then attend the free author presentations.
I know I'm boring but I swear she likes the idea too!

Anyways- I'm kinda obsessed with the book. Here's the basic rundown: "Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Here her life is supposed to end—but instead she discovers it is only just beginning."

Her story is fascinating and heartbreaking. All I can think about is this book and getting back to reading it! I'm basically mentally in Moloka'i- ha! This book is that funny, touching, informative, interesting, etc.

I highly recommend it and if you decide to read it let me know so we can chat about it! I LOVE chatting about good books with friends!

So I know what I'm doing this weekend (plus yoga, a Little outing, and possibly a DIY project) how about you? :)

What I'm Reading

Alice in Wonderland. Yes. That wasn't that exciting you say (or think in your head since you are probably not reading out loud).

But I am also currently reading this-

Credit

So why am I reading this??? Well I have a simple answer for you. Because I am becoming a BIG SISTER!!!!!

Yes, I have since the age of two and a half been a big sister. But starting in December I will be a Big Sister to a young 11 year old girl!!! I am so excited! Sooooo with that I learned that her favorite book is Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Well, I never read that when I was a kid- was that book even out when I was a kid??? Anyways- so I wanted to read it to learn more about her and her sense of humor.

My boss actually lent me her son's copy (age 12. Yep I'm that cool- reading a book her 12 year old son read....) and I am actually enjoying it. It's clever and funny and I really appreciate the author's humor and reflection of 'his' middle school life. I'm only 30 or so pages in but I recommend it, if you're into that sort of thing.

I can't wait to meet my new Little and get to know her.

:)

I Wanna Read! Do you?

So I have been obsessed with The Hunger Games like most people I know these days.

Have you read them? You should. They are about a different, future world after natural disasters, civil wars, everything, where The Capitol controls 12 Districts of what used to be North America.  The Capitol, in a way to display their power, mandates that every district have a lottery to send one girl and one boy, from the ages of 12-18, to the Hunger Games where they fight to the death.

Before you go "Woah there Elise a little intense all of a sudden?" Yes, they are intense. But they are compelling, riveting and capitvating. Collins has taken me into their world. While I definitely don't want to be a part of it forever, it has been one fascinating place to visit.

So after reading that amazing trilogy I needed something else that could compare. A friend suggested The Giver  and since I never read it in school (I went to a public school in Southern California, a sad state of affairs if you ask me) I decided to pick up a copy.

I feel like I won't do it justice by saying this but OMG. So fascinating!! A completely different future world where everything is the same. Sameness goes. Everyone is fed, and clothed, and is a contributing member of society. Doesn't sound so bad does it, just wait. Please read it if you haven't yet, or just haven't in a long time. It has rocked my young adult mind. I finished this lovely little pocket book (my favorite kind BTW) in no time flat.

And now I need something as fascinating to read. How in the world am I supposed to top these four books? I can't possibly go onto some summer beach read from here. I need your help Sparklers. I wanna read! What are you reading? I heard about a series called The Maze Runner that is supposed to be similar to The Hunger Games but still doesn't compare (the same reference says). Have you read anything riveting lately? Thanks.

 :)