New Blog!

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to inform all of my old followers here at Loud Words & Sounds that I have started a new blog called Unromantic Mondays.

Why you might ask? Because I felt like I couldn't come back here are almost a year and a half after I stopped blogging at LWS. I'm not the same person I was then, I'm different, and my reading taste have really changed. I'm not longer reading young adult books anymore, I've developed into reading adult books, and their basically all I ever read (except for school textbooks). I founded Loud Words and Sounds on the bases of reviewing young adult books and music, for me it just didn't feel right to switch that. I felt like I should leave the past in the past.

Unromantic Mondays will be a place where I can post about adult books. I'm going to start off with just posting once a week on Mondays, because of my college schedule. But if it works out well then I'll hopefully be posting more than that. So if you'd like to see my new blog please visit me at: unromanticmondays.blogspot.com/. I'll have my first review up tomorrow.

To read my introduction post to find out more about why I started  Unromantic Mondays, and what has been happening to me, please click here.

I'd be glad if you followed me there!
Andrea

P.S. Just to inform most of the accounts, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, that I had associated with LWS have been converted over to be hosts for my Unromantic Monday doings. So if you see Unromantic Mondays or unromanticmon on any of your accounts that me!

Well Welcome To College Life...

I just wanted to take a few moments and just give you all an update on how everything is going. The Friday I was supposed to move in was the weekend of Hurricane Irene and about 6 hours after arriving on campus and setting up my room, we were asked if we could go home because well my school is in a flood zone. (I didn't know this when I applied, but all the campus buildings are on top of a hill- its the lower level parking lots that are completely trashed because of the epic flooding that has been hitting the north east coast lately.) So I went home that weekend and just sat around reading books that I didn't take with me, including Chain Reactions (Which I loved!). Classes started again that Wednesday, and then last week we didn't have classes Wednesday Morning or Thursday at all. I've had a ton of work though since I'm in the honors program and have two honors courses. Like literately its been nonstop work and then I occasionally get to go hang out with my friends (or lets say I make time because if I don't I'd be driving myself crazy with work). I'm hoping this week to see if I can get a post in with book reviews that I've been needing to do. And the fact that my work load is so heavy means I haven't been reading so much either which kinda sucks but tonight I'm making time to read I'm tired of work. Anyway there is my update, I hope I'll be posting at some point this week....

The Tough Truth

Okay so this is hard to say but I've got to put this out there. I'm starting a new chapter in my life and I have no clue what and where it will take me. Friday Morning I'll be leaving the place I've grown up in for my whole life for a bigger city (well suburb) to live on a beautiful college campus! I'll be taking with me only one small crate of books (it's seriously killing me and there is also DVDs in this crate) and my trusty nookie, plus my laptop and new HP Touch pad. Having Nookie helps since a lot of my newer books are on her but, still I'm leaving behind over 300 books (I kid you not). Luckily my very awesome roommate also likes to read (and has just about all the same favorites as me) so were both in the same boat.

Now here's what I'm getting at. I have no clue what is going to happen to Loud Words and Sounds in the next month. With 7 really intense classes (3 being honors, and one well being Performance Ensemble), I'm going to be working my butt off. And I'm probably going to attempt to get a part time job. But I promise I won't let go of LWS. I want it to be a "place" were I can relieve my stress, to talk to the book blogging community about my love of books that some just won't understand. So this is why: I solemnly swear that I am up to no good or should I say that I will keep blogging ^_^.

This week since I am mostly already packed as of today, I will be attempting to write up as many posts as I can while: A) finishing my honors class assignments B) hanging out with my friends and family and C) this is random but- move my want list of books over to Goodreads.

So if I do disappear its because our mascot the Griffin ate me or something, because I don't want to leaving blogging!

Also something odd... and that gets on my nerves if I Google my college Boston College comes up! I'm not going there btw. And the fact is I can't find any really good campus pictures...

Sorry- Video

I wanted to do this because you all deserve to see my face when I say these things not just text on a blog post.

I'm a horrible blogger...

OKAY Sorry again everyone, I seriously really am so determined to get back into blogging its just every time I want to something gets in the way! I'm so determined that every morning I get up and I'm like I'm going to blog today, I'm going to finish the design, get some posts together, etc. Yah that has yet to happen. And I'm blaming it on the fact of wanting to get to college already and how obsessive I've become with trying to get everything together. And next week I start work so I'm hoping to be focused a lot in the next months if not then I'm going to be a horrible secretary.

But anyway I would like to wish Tera Lynn Childs a big happy Book Birthday! Because guess what! Fins Are Forever has been released today, along with the paperback of Forgive my Fins.

Happy Book Birthday! :)

Check Fins are Forever out at you local book stores!

Or at TLC's website... HERE.

^_~

Question?

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the midst of working on finishing the design and setting up the new pages I need for the blog. PLUS reorganizing myself with this blog which I have neglected so much. But I have a simple question. Can you see the images correctly on your screen? Between the school computers and my laptop I've had different results. If you could comment that would be great! THANKS! :)

~Andrea

Coming Back

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for being so great and not leaving!

I'm happy to say that I hope I'm back for good now.... I've said that so many times before since November!? But I'm truly sure I'm back now. I have a new design ready and I'm going to implement it tonight. Basically all of the family things have balanced out and now I'm just waiting for Graduation to come and for me to move into the beautiful campus of my college in PA. I also got a job which will help with that lovely loan cost and for me to be able to do some more blogging type things like giveaways.

I hope everyone is well!

I can't wait for Graduation next week! Even though I have to wear an orange cap and gown? (I'm not looking forward to that orange.) But I hope you all will like the new design it's involving some things I love, like the Victorian era and a top hat which may or may not be from Alice in Wonderland...

Reminder: Cover Remake

Hi Everyone I'm back! Hopefully this week I can write up some much needed reviews and that seniorities doesn't kick in full swing!

I just wanted to remind everyone that the cover remake ends at midnight (EST) TONIGHT. Please submit your entries by then, if you submit it after midnight I'll still take them up till the point when I make the poll for the covers.

Thanks! :)

And I'm hoping to redesign the blog for the spring/summer months, this just one I have right now just feels too dull and wintery.

Gone For the Rest of the Week

So right now I'm probably having fun in Epcot or the Magic Kingdom... Depending on where my friend and I wanted to go.

If you haven't guessed I'm in Disney on a trip with my friends. And I won't be returning till Saturday. We met at 2am this morning! And I'm either dreading the rest of the day with out sleep or having a lot of fun!

But anyway I have a few posts scheduled, and I've bought several books with me to read. If I get through them or not will be another question...

So if you email me I won't be responding till Sunday! Because I more than likely won't have internet access, unless on of my friends brings their laptop.

There is also a Cornucopia for Dystopia post scheduled for Thursday, so I hope all of you will tune in for that! And don't forget to get your covers in for the cover remake either!

I'm Back!

(^How many times have I stated this before)

But I'm pretty sure i'm back for good! I'm working right now on simplifying the blog, I'm getting rid of somethings and bringing some new things in to help keep me posting and wanting to post.

I love blogging and have missed it so much this past month! If it wasn't for my research paper outline being due last Friday and a Teen Arts Festival I would have been back sooner but alas I was held up!

But I'M BACK!

And so is Loud Words & Sounds, and hopefully I'm going to make a new design. I'm getting tired of this one right now.

See you soon!

~Andrea

(I'm working on an IMM & an announcement right now actually.)

Update....

Okay so I'm so so sorry for not being around. Like seriously I've been gone a lot lately. But I have legit reasons!!!!


1.) The Winter Newspaper is getting finished up and I'm Editor of the Layout and such and yes I'm stressed- I'm hoping to finish it this weekend


2.) Playbill, I"m Student Producer of my school's musical. And that is also due next week! So I've been working on that. And then the dress rehearsals and performances are in the next two weeks! AHHHH!


3.) My Research Paper!!!!! -_- I want to rip my hair out! How many times I wrote my thesis statement until it was finally approved today I don't know. But it's really good, my papers going to be on the societies influence on young couples love, and I'm taking my examples out of Shirley and Agnes Grey by the Bronte sisters. And next week I go to the college to research.


4.) States testing for one of my clubs is next week too!


5.) I'm also making Leilani a cover for her book Walking Dead so this taking some time


6.) Band, were gearing up for competitions that are coming up in the next two months so I've been practicing a lot.


6.) THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT: I'm working on getting everything together for my Freelance Business, Musical Designs. I've got the url bought and ready and a desk set up. Now I'm just working on the site (I'm adding all the info right now) and my desk area.


So sorry again!!! But Feburary-March is my busy time in the school year which means I'm just so stressed. And I've read an amazing book this week and I want to review it but it's a surprise right now.


Thanks for listening to my rant!
~Andrea


P.S. I've got some surprises for you next week. :)

Bookshelves + Others Update

***Breaking News***

Andrea's Bookshelves UPDATE 2011+ MORE!

***I'm a little crazy right now Midterms...***

So over winter break I moved my bookshelves/bins around and I wanted to show you the new and improved (I think) shelves (and or random containers slash furniture). So here they are:

First off is my new bin stack, I used to have them all over the place in my room, and I finally decided to just make one big stack, because I was tired of tripping over them. It houses all of my Manga series and some other books too.

Those other books are all of my Historical Fiction books. And of coarse I put my American Girl Dolls, Samantha and Nellie with them (the stopped making both of them :( ). Plus on top of the bin stack is my swag box and signed books.

Next around there is my Swag Board which I updated with some of my new bookmarks. And my Titus and Atreus Poster with Kyleigh's Print. Around the corner is my desk which is home to Pal my stuff animal from when I was little that helped me through some surgeries, and my Harry Potter books (all of them are very important to me).

Also near by is my vampire book collection housed on my bureau. And my Sarah Dessen and Eva Ibboston books on top of my DVD player.

And last but not least my actual bookshelf!

On Top of the Shelf is all of my paperback books that I need to read.

Then the next shelf is some more paperback books that need to be read and my hardback ones that need to read.

Then behind my music stand is part of my Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies book collection, and an assortment of hardcover books are on that shelf as well.

The next two shelves have no meaning at all. Though all my Meg Cabot books are basically together and I have all my series grouped together too.

I'm kinda proud that, that many books fit there now. Because before it was just not holding up to its potential.

So what do your shelves (or other containers for books) look like?

Update

Hello!

So I've been trying to get back to blogging for the past week but school and the fact that I got sick with a cold and an ear infection have kept me exhausted and in need of sleep.

But as many of you know, January 1st at 12:30am somethings happened at my house. And I prominently decided I needed to take a break till things got better. Things have gotten significantly better and everything is now really fine here. The short story (because I really don't want to elaborate because it brings back memories), there was a fire in one of our garages and my father had a heart attack. I just want to express my thanks to all of you that left your well wishes. And thank you for all the emails. My dad's fine now, and currently out shopping with my mom.

But other than those semi-depressing matters I hope to amuse you today with an IMM which I was ready to post before everything happened and an update of my bookshelves this week (I rearranged them). While trying to finish my somewhat dull research paper book.

So Thank You! :)
~Andrea

Out With a Bang: Update 2&3, Plus Winner

First, I want to say thanks to everyone thats send me well wishes, I really appreciated them. I have a few spare moments and I wanted to get this done before I went back to school tomorrow.
UPDATE 2 & 3:I finished these books during the Read-a-Thon:

Mysify by Artist ArthurToil and Trouble by HP Mallory
Winners for the Mini-Challenge:So the winners of the Mini-Challenge I hosted are:Shannon @ Books DevoredandPrecious @ Fragments of LifeClick on both of their names to see their images!
Over all for my first Read-a-Thon I had a lot of fun. And I'm really excited that I actually finished three books, because I was still running around before everything happened.

Stuff

Hi Everyone,

Some family stuff happened last night, and I don't know when I'll get back to post. I was really hoping to write up reviews today but I don't think that's happening. This is just a great way to start of 2011, I'm being really sarcastic here. So I'll post when things get better.

Andrea

Out With a Bang: Mini- Challenge!

So today I get to host a mini challenge for Out with a Bang! I had fun coming up with an idea so here is what you need to do for this lovely mini-challenge today:

Come up with three photos (you may use  image sites or your own) that pertain to the chapter or page you are currently reading in your book. And state why they are significant to this chapter or page!

THE PRIZE:There will be two winners and each will be given a swag pack consisting of lovely 2010 Debut Author Swag. I want to surprise each of the winners so I'm not going to say what will be in the packs yet.
And also if the winners have a blog they will have an option of having me make a new header and a blog button for their blogs.
RULES:

• You must be a participant in this event, if you want to sign up go HERE.
• You must leave a comment with your email, participant name, and the link to your blog post (or images if you don't have a blog).
• The Blog Post must included the name of the book and chapter or page your currently on.
• All entries must be in by 11:59pm on 12/31/10 EST

So since I'm also reading in this Read-a-Thon, here are my three photos:

I'm currently reading, Mystify by Artist Arthur, and on Chapter 5.

I felt like using Photoshop, but you don't have to get fancy with these pictures at all, just post and explain. :)

Have fun!

Out With a Bang: Day 1 Update

So today I only finished one book, but I have excuses! And their good ones.#1- I went and talked to people about setting up my website design business, and have gotten somewhere with the whole thing. Turns out I have to pay $40 to the town. But I'm looking at free lancing, and talking to a friends mom about it soon.#2- I had a very very eventfully party today. It was a "premiere" of my friends and mine Glee parody. We taped it for another friends Birthday/Christmas present.
So yes, but I finished a book, but it wasn't on the list, I started reading it last night:
The Pleasure Slave by Gene Showalter
Some might think the title makes it sound a little *ahem*, but it wasn't really that bad. I like the plot and characters. So stay tune for a review on it soon. I really like Showalter's book Oh. My. Goth. so maybe I should check out some of her other books now...
But anyway I'm hoping to get a few pages read in Agnes Grey and then I'll be off to bed.Night!
How have you other lucky Out With a Bang peeps done?

Out With a Bang: Reading-List

So tomorrow Out With a Bang starts, and I'm hoping to get a chunk of reading done through it. But I also have to balance writing up a lot of reviews, making designs, and working on the newspaper for school. Plus starting to read my research paper books. But in the next three days I'm hoping to read these following books:

(Click on each picture to see the summary.)

Mystify (Mystyx #2) by Arthur Artist

Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead

Prophecy of the Sister by Michelle Zink
Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schrieber
Toil and Trouble (Jolie Wilkins #2) by H.P. Mallory


Manga wise I received a lot during Christmas, but the last of what I have to read is this series:

NG Life Volumes 4-7 by Mizuho Kusanagi


I also have to start reading my research paper books, which are:
Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte
and 
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte


I'll probably start with Agnes Grey since it's shorter...


Wish Me Luck!


And if you still want to join Out With a Bang, click HERE.


I'm also hosting a mini-challenge on the 30th but there will be more on that on the 30th.

Sorry

Hey so all of you are like where is she?

Well sorry about the absence! I've been busy with drama club (I produce the spring musical with my sister) and making up designs for the contest winners so I've been a little absent. I can't wait to show you the one I made for Casey though!

Hugs,

I should be back tomorrow!

~Andrea

305

305 FOLLOWERS!

I love you all!

And don't forget Thanks to the 1st ends this Sunday the 5th.