The Seven Days of Secret Diamond Sisters Day 6 - Sisters!

In just 2 days, an amazing new book will be hitting the shelves at a bookstore near you! I'm talking about Michelle Madow's newest book, THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS.  She has written a fun, sexy, and fast-paced novel about the lavish world of the Las Vegas elite, and the three everyday sisters caught up in it's web!  I loved the book so much, and I'm very excited to be a part of this amazing 7-day countdown organized by Tiffany at About to Read.  First, don't forget to catch up on all the posts!

To kick off Day 6 of the Seven Days of Secret Diamonds, I'm talking family; specifically my sister and what I love best about her!  Sisterly love is at the very core of this book, with three Diamond sisters of different ages coming together through this new experience.  What I loved about how Michelle wrote Peyton, Courtney, and Savannah, is the fact that I can envision them in real life as flesh and blood sisters.  They squabble and bicker, but at the end of the day they have each other's backs.  That, besides anything else, is what made me love this book so much.

Don't forget to scroll down for more info on the book, as well as check the link at the end for all the other blogs hosting giveaways.  Keep checking back here through February 25 (Release Day) for more awesome Secret Diamond Sisters posts!

FUN FACT ABOUT THE BOOK:

The character of Jackson wasn’t in the original draft — he was written in during the editing phase!

The Sisters!!

Me and my older sister

My sister Melissa is 4 1/2 years older than me, so that made growing up a challenge for her, as I was always the annoying baby always running after her, bothering her and her friends.  I was just a little brat, but I wanted my big sister's attention because to me she was everything.  And even though I annoyed her like crazy, she was always there to protect me.

Now that we're both older, we have become best friends.  She's the one I turn to, and vice versa.  I don't know what I'd do without her and I'm so blessed to have her in my life.  She is the person who can infuriate me the most, and comfort me the best.  She and I have complimentary personalities and strengths, so together we make a great team.  People who don't have this kind of relationship with their siblings are missing out because there's nothing like having a best friend for a sister.

The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton. 

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

(Goodreads)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE OTHER BLOGS' GIVEAWAYS

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

On this day of thanks I felt I would list who/what I am thankful for.  But before we get to that, have a history lesson on Thanksgiving by the History Channel.

And now here is who/what I am thankful for:

My family:

• My sister, Melissa - She is always there for me, each day every day.  I wouldn't be here without her.  She is my rock, my friend, the person I judge myself by.
• My father, David - He is my champion.  He believes I can do anything, even when I'm screaming I can't.  I am engulfed in his love, and he makes my world feel safe.
• My mother, Michele - I am just like her: smart, stubborn, emotional, righteous, strong.  I take my strong sense of self from her and I hope I am as great of a woman.
• My brother, Raymond - He is the light in my life.  I can't imagine my life without him; I can't imagine a day where I don't get to see or hear about him growing up.  He is going to be a fantastic man one day.
• My puppy, Jeb - He is my baby, my everything.  I rescued him, but at the same time he has rescued me.  He is just a little fur ball of love!

My friends:

• Kaylynn - I've known her since we were babies.  We've gone through birthdays, homecomings, graduations, and soon-to-be marriages together.  I am so happy she has found such a great man to be with, and that I am one of her Bridesmaids!
• Apryl - 7th grade she came into my life in Home Economics.  She knows EVERYTHING about me and I know the same about her.  She is my sister from a different mister.
• Katy - I wouldn't be surviving college without this girl.  Because of an ex-friend I have one of my best friends.  I love her so much.
• Desi - I've only known her for 2 years now, but she is a bright spot in my day.  Always able to make me laugh, she is like a younger sister to me.
• David - I met him around the same time as Desi (it helps that they're best friends), but he is my Deputy Mayor.  David is my intellectual soul mate and I love him.

My Job:

• Financial Aid - This job came into my life at just the right time.  I was working in a dead end position, but now I've found people and work that I actually care about.  I am so thankful for this opportunity.

My blog

• Eli to the nth - With my 2 year blogoversary coming up this Sunday, I am so happy to have had such an amazing experience!  All of my followers make it enjoyable for me to keep going, I have had some cool opportunities, and I have read some terrific books!  Can't wait 

I hope you've all had an amazing Thanksgiving and leave me a comment about what you're thankful for.

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Vloguary Day 2: Disneytastic!

Welcome to Day 2 of Vloguary, the thing where I (try to) vlog every day in January!

PSSST! 

Come celebrate John Green Week with me and other awesome Book Bloggers!

http://bit.ly/ul4kvg

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Follow Friday (12)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read.  It is an awesome opportunity to network other book blogs.  

Welcome to Follow Friday! Let me tell you what is going on today.

• First PJV & Alison will be featuring one blogger from this great community each Friday along with having the Follow My Book Blog feature. 

• Each week one blogger will be selected as a feature, so sign up for the Follow Feature. Future features are picked randomly.

This week's question is:

In light of 11.11.11 and Veteran's Day tell us about your favorite solider and how he or she is saving the world. Fictional or real life.

My favorite soldier is my father.  He was in the Navy for over 25 years, and retired just a few years ago before the war in Afganistan and Iraq broke out.  Which I am thankful for, but he was sorry not to be fighting, defending the country he so believes in.  If you want to see a real American, then I implore you to meet and speak with a soldier.  They believe in the core values of America so much: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.  

My father tells me so many stories (the ones he can anyway) about doing his duty for the country.  Serving during the Gulf War forced him to see death and destruction first hand, exactly what the amazing men and women fighting now are forced to see.  That can change people.  It isn't easy.  I hate the people who are so ignorant to call soldiers warmongers when what they do is nothing like that.  

So on this Veteran's Day, as I'm enjoying an awesome BBQ with my father and the rest of my family, I want you to go out and research the soldiers of this nation: what they do for you and what risks they take every day.  Remember, not all of them are as lucky as others, and they don't all come back home safe and sound; because of that, we need to give them all the support possible even if you don't believe in the cause they're fighting for.  It's not the cause we need to focus on, it's the people.

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VALA: DAY 6 - Vlogging on the Road!

Full of apes, AKs and alotta trees.

Didn't get to do my 30 Days of Books question today, but I'll add it in tomorrow!

Also I have no clue why the first part of the video is smaller than the second. If you know help! (If you guys can't tell, I'm trying to do a much better job editing)

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Things That Make Me Smile (02)

• Getting a great review and a raise at work!  Yay for hard work paying off!
• My sister buying me a cheer-up book.  This has been in my TBR pile for a while! 

• This awesome article on Adults and YA Fiction! If you want some good facts/opinions to use when people look down on you for reading YA fiction, this article will help! Thanks to Mundie Moms for sharing!
• The new Harry Potter Trailer!!  IT LOOKS SO AWESOME AND I'M SO EXCITED BUT AT THE SAME TIME MY CHILDHOOD IS ENDING!!!!!!!!!!!
  
• Learn Something Everyday.  Such a cool site, and a great web time-waster.
• OMG! JUST OMG!!
  
  
  
  
• Finally, if you want to listen to something heart-wrenching but amazing as we count down to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 then here is the song for you.

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Poetry Sunday (05)

 

This is a fabulous new blog feature here at Eli to the nth!  Thanks to Genna from Reading, Writing, and the World of Words, who created this awesome feature and gave me the permission to host it here, as well as, use her cute graphic!  Poetry is one of my passions, but I have yet to share it here.  So this feature gives me the perfect opportunity to do so!

This week, I've decided to share one of my own poems.  Now I don't consider myself much of a poet, I much rather write fiction.  However, we had to do an exercise in my YA Literature class using a form poem titled: I AM FROM (you can find it if you Google it) and this is the result, with a little bit of tweaking.  I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think! 

I AM FROM

I am from blankets made out of long worn clothes,
from televisions, CCD classes and home-cooked meals.
I am from the suburbs, (but every house has character),
From ice cream trucks and the neighborhood watch,
And the three oaks standing tall in the front yard,
growing as my sister grows, as I grow, as my brother grows.

---

I’m from the blessing of the baskets and midnight mass.
From Michele and David, Blanche and Raymond.
I’m from kisses on the mouth and constant teasing.
From enveloping hugs and spanks on the butt.
From Melissa’s shadow, from the middle of three.
I’m from “Don’t talk to strangers!” and “You're so sensitive.",
"Kocham Cię." and "Malutka.", and “Our Fathers”
followed by “Hail Marys”.

---

I’m from Poland, not by blood but family;
the home my dziadkowie speak of so often.
From Gołąbki, Kiełbasa, and Placki ziemniaczane
(with the occasional pot roast and pizza.)
I'm from the struggle of indentured servants
trying to earn their freedom, but never reaching it.
Keeping their traditions alive through
a hand-written recipe book, a cast-iron mold,
and a gilt-edged Bible.

- Elisquared

 

 

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

For my birthday, my sister Melissa and I, along with our mum, went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It was fantastic (for the most part, but I'm not reviewing it so whatever). my sister, being the cool person that she is, made me a slide show of all our pictures. Now some aren't the best quality, but I love it. I thought I'd share it with all of you, so please enjoy!

PS. SORRY IT'S SO SMALL...I don't know how to fix that.

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