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How To Purchase Used College Textbooks from Half.com

It’s that time of year again: back to school season. For those of us in college it also means hunting down textbooks for new classes. Some of these can cost over $100 per book. That is, if you purchase them new. Which is why you’ve got to be creative and hunt down used copies. In the end you could save a bundle of money!

First, check with your college to find out which books you’ll need. Visit your school’s website, as many post a list of books needed for each class. Cut this information into a fresh document of your computer. Pay special attention to the Title, Author, Year Published and ISBN #.

Chic Lit: Comparing Bergdorf Blonds & Can You Keep a Secret

Bergdorf Blonds by Plum Sykes and Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella are two fast paced Chic Lit  books that follow the exploits of twenty-something girls. The books are similar in several ways. Each main character begins the story with a boyfriend, who is gorgeous but inattentive. The main characters are British, although the unnamed narrator of Bergdorf Blonds resides in NYC and is a part of high society.

Both books are fantastically funny, each tapping into the naivety of the main  character. Sykes brings more of a sardonic wit, writing things like, “mascara clots are a federal crime here,” and “a fashion tantrum was brewing” (39). Meanwhile, Kinsella keeps the humor mixed in with a ping of compassion. Can You Keep a Secret’s main character, Emma Corrigan has to over come many obstacles including an awful attention-grabbing cousin and the desire to succeed at work.

What Writers Need to Know Regarding: About.com and Suite101.com (Part II)

Similar to about.com, suite101.com is a site that publishes content from freelance writers and makes it’s revenue from banner advertisements and Google ads, but unlike about.com they don’t pay writers a base monthly fee.

At suite101 (a Canadian site) writers are encouraged to dole out as many articles as possible (the minimum being ten articles every three months). Yet, suite101 frequently displays the “Hiring Freelance Writers” link. It’s no wonder, the more writers they have -> the more content they build -> the more traffic they can lure in -> the more ads to be clicked. However, it’s my belief that the writers get a raw deal. Here’s why . . . 

What Writers Need to Know Regarding: About.com and Suite101.com (Part I)

Most young, contemporary writers have an interest in taking their craft online. In fact, it seems like internet publications are sprouting up everywhere on a variety of subjects. Consider one reason why, the lead time for print magazines averages about four months, meaning after an article has been accepted, it will take about four months till publication. Yet, online, the lead time is significantly less. Despite this positive attribute, I feel several online sources have taken advantage of writers.

Some smaller home-grown e-zines can’t afford to pay writers; people contribute because they are passionate about a particular topic and want to make a difference. This is a writer’s choice and the majority of these sites state these terms up front. Some offer an exchange of advertising; others provide high ranking positions on a staff list. What concerns me the most aren't specialty e-zines but content driven, ad-centered sites like About.com and Suite101.com. These two large companies work hard to portray themselves in a positive light, all the while I believe they manipulate writers’ expectations and degrade their work. How do I know? I’ve had direct experience with both sites.

Beauty Finds - Eye Shadow from MAX Factor

Many women's magazines feature beauty products and tips but if you're like me you've wondered; did someone actually try this? Here, I’ve include my personal beauty finds.

The 80's, along with the whole shoulder pad fiasco, took eyeshadow to a scary place. Heavy creams in shades of bright blue and barney purple were as in as the perm. The 90's saved us with an influx of contoured nudes and browns.

But as Cyndi Lauper said sometimes, "Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun." This absolutely includes eye shadow. If you are rather new, stick with the basics (especially nudes and pastels) and learn what blends best with your skin tone.

However, if you're like me, experienced and looking for a brighter take on things, listen up. There is a new line that you've got to try called MAX Factor "MAXeye Shadows."  These medium sized compacts come with three different shades, each bold in it's own right. Visit this page for MAX's shade collection. Move your mouse over each set to reveal the powder platelets.

What's interesting about this eye collection is that you get more product than other compacts. Especially because MAX doesn't include a cheep sponge applicator which only takes up space.

Colors go on smooth and stay on for hours. Build with layers for a deeper tone or stick with one coat for a more sheer application. They can be used wet or dry, but be careful when dripping a wet brush into the compact, as with any shadow, water can "clump" the product. Its best to dust shadow liberally onto the palm of your (clean) hand then dip wet brush scooping up the color from you palm.

Finally, when going bold on the eye, stay with a more nude lip. It will draw attention to your eyes and avoid an overly done appearance.

Meme: Searching "Twenty-Something" on Technorati

You might have heard of a meme before, it's where someone creates a topic and "tags" people to continue with the process. Each person chooses whether or not they want to participate. I've done one meme on another blog a long time ago but generally I don't get caught up in them. I am big on original content. *smiles* However, I was tagged by Mihaela Lica, owner of the blog www.ewriting.pamil-visions.com with the great concept of tagging other bloggers that she didn't know in an effort to meet new people.

Mihaela searched the word "beauty" and found this very blog magazine. I decided to continue the meme using the phrase "twenty-something," and selecting seven that looked interesting. Here are the sites that I came up with:

1) The Cat Lady–Attacking life with all the grace of a 300-lb transvestite.
http://the-cat-lady.com

Snarky, twenty-something single mom to Makoa and Ku'uipo, the sweetest Domestic Shorthairs south of the Mason-Dixon. Recently widowed and transplanted to the South. Tough as nails with a sense of humor to match.

2) The Lost Girls
http://lostgirlsworld.blogspot.com

Meet the Lost Girls: Three twentysomethings who quit their Manhattan media jobs to take a yearlong, 35,000 mile trip around the planet. They'll hit five continents and more than a dozen countries in their search of adventure and inspiration.

3) Mom in Progress - BlogCharm
http://blogcharm.com/mominprogress

4) Struggling Single Twenty-Something
http://strugglingsingletwentysomething.blogspot.com

5) Monologues Of A Twenty Something
http://rubyrocks.blogspot.com

6) Girl, twenty-something, charming, but insane!
http://imaget.livejournal.com

7) Musings of a Bemused Twenty-Something
http://norfolkian.livejournal.com

If I've listed your site here and for whatever reason you've found your way back to this site, consider yourself "tagged." Kindly linkback my blog and search your own keyword, see what other bloggers come up and continue the meme if you're up to the task!

Blood and Chocolate: The Movie

Set in the city of Bucharest, Romania this visually stimulating movie centers around a 19 year old female named Vivian. But she is no ordinary teen. she's part werewolf (or loup garou). Vivian struggles to overcome the events of her past all the while coop with archaic rules of her kind. To top it all off Vivian mets Aiden a human strangers who captures her attention. Soon Vivian must decide where her loyalties lie, with the traditions of her kind of with Aiden.

Blood and Chocolate is based on a popular young adult book by Annette Curtis Clause. Despite this great start, I found the movie lacking. The plot was one-dimensional and the end was too easily predicted. However, some of the visual effects (such as the shapeshifting from human to wolf) were great. And the music matched perfectly with the Romanian setting.

Overall, I'd give this film 4 out of 5 stars.   

TV Shows to Skip: Entourage and Age of Love

Sometimes I see things TV wise that make me go seriously? Case in point, two shows I will never ever watch again because they are absolutely degrading to women: Entourage and Age of Love.

I recently rented Entourage from Netflix because there was much hype about the show. Essentially, the premises is that a group of guys from Brooklyn move to L.A. to “support” (read: mooch off) their friend. They treat women like they are disposable, going to trendy parties for one purpose only: to shop at Sluts-R-Us. Not to forget that they curse like their sailors. I don’t think the characters are aware that it is possible to extend ones vocabulary beyond four-letter words. Trust me when I say, this show isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Entourage is chauvinism at its finest.

Age of Love isn’t any better. The exception is that it makes the point to objectify older *and* younger women by encouraging them to compete for one man’s affection. During the first episode the bachelor (Mr. Bad Tan Tennis Player) is devastated/pissed/concerned when he realizes that the first group of woman vying for him happen to be older. His personality, by the way is about as interesting as the air inside those green felt balls: seriously lacking.

This post has been dedicated to the low life  who wrote “get boob jobs” as a comment for this blog on Reddit. Thanks for your support, we appreciate it, seriously.

Create a Life List!

Recently, I came across this site SuperViva.com. It’s a place where people can compile their Life Lists. You might have heard of the concept before, making a list of things you want to do before you die. Usually it’s 100 things to do. Why 100? I don’t know, I guess it’s a good clean number that’s easy to remember. Anyway! I haven’t joined the site but it certainly got me thinking about the whole concept in general. Here is a small list I’ve started for my own Life List:

Sing at a Karaoke Bar
Ride on a Motorcycle
Write a YA Novel
Attend a Protest on an Issue I Feel Passionate About
Pick Fruit Off a Tree for An Afternoon

Journal Exercise:
Jot down a few ideas for your Life List. What do you want to accomplish that’s interesting, different or spectacular?

Feel free to post a comment below and list a few for others to read!

All About Book Divas: Online Book Club

BookDivas is an online book club for young adult and college age readers. I have been a member for several years. Just recently they revamped their entire site and message board. Its a fun, positive place that nurtures the book worm in all of us. Authors of YA books frequently visit and answer members questions. Coming up next E. Lockhart mid-July to discuss her upcoming book Dramarama! Best of all, for us fans and readers the site is *free* so sign up today: Book Divas!