Daughters of the Sea Series by Kristen Day....I'm OBSESSED!!!

Get it for free on Kindle Amazon here!!!
Okay so out of curiosity and because I wanted to get back into reading more series I downloaded the Amazon Kindle app on my phone and tablet. I searched for free books and found a wonderful book Forsaken. The first of a series called Daughters of the Sea written by Kristen Day. I'd never heard of this author nor this series before but still decided to give it a try and I am VERY glad I did. I'm now obsessed.

The story centers around a teenager, Hannah, who was adopted by a family after being left on the steps of a police station as a baby and moved around "the system" her entire childhood. She experiences strange dreams and other incidents that leave her feeling completely confused and out of place. She also happens to be the direct descendant of a water Goddess but she doesn't know it...yet. She starts having fainting spells in which she would have these dream like experiences that seemed all too real. Finally her adopted mom decides it's time to take action and again, and takes her to a therapist who happens to be the door to her amazing, brand new, magical, unbelievable life. The complete series includes a total of 5 books that take you through the journey of Hannah (Anastasia as she decides to go by) as she learns where she came from and where she truly belongs and what she's meant to do.

It's funny because I've never been into Greek mythology until after reading this series and now seeing how much influence on our lives it has I'm hooked. For instance how our Achilles' heel is called that because of what happened to the Greek God Achilles. Or how the "world atlas" corresponds with the 'curse' put on the Greek God Atlas to hold up the world. It's crazy. My thought is something fake couldn't have such an establishing impact on an entire species. But that's another conversation for another day...er post. :-)

I hope if you are looking for something new and awesome to read that you check this one out.

Happy reading!!

Craigslist: Maybe the most unusual place to find a lovely short story

So if you've ever braved the different sections of Craigslist for ANY location you'd know why it's the LAST place anyone would ever expect to find such a riveting short story. Among the many postings for free curbside furniture, baby clothes for sale, and help wanted ads, who knew a beautiful love story would be created in the "missed connections" section. You have to be particularly brave to enter the gates of the "personals" section and even more than that you have to be CAREFUL otherwise you might stumble upon something that will be burned to your mind forever and hunt your dreams.

Although not professionally written, which is obvious by the lack of punctuation, in no way does that lessen the impact this story is sure to have on it's reader. In some weird way it actually makes it even more compelling, adding to it a rawness that it might otherwise lack if kept within the limits and editorial expectations of multiple edits. Surely if you like a good love story this is one you'd want to read. It's a simple story yet draws you in and keeps you reading to see if the two strangers make something of their encounter. I won't spoil it by telling you what happens but instead let you read it for yourself.

Here is a tidbit of the story:

"I saw you on the Manhattan-bound Brooklyn Q train.

I was wearing a blue-striped t-shirt and a pair of maroon pants. You were wearing a vintage red skirt and a smart white blouse. We both wore glasses. I guess we still do."

To continue reading this divine love story click here. Enjoy!

Famous Personalities Born on April 1 to 15

Does you birthday fall on April 1 to 15? Find out who shares your birthday!

Photo from guamsportsnetwork.com

April 1
Randy Orton, William Harvey, Otto von Bismarck, William Manchester, Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Annette O'Toole

April 2
Casanova, Hans Christian Andersen, Emile Zola, Sir Alec Guinness, Marvin Gaye, Charlemagne, Christopher Meloni, Adam Shulman, Amy Castle

April 3
Washington Irving, Alec Baldwin, Eddie Murphy, Amanda Bynes, Leona Lewis, Adam Scott, Wayne Newton

April 4 
Maya Angelou, Anthony Perkins, Robert Downey, Jr., David Blaine, Heath Ledger, Jamie Lynn Spears

April 5
Colin Powell, Pharrell Williams, Juicy J

April 6
Peyton List, James Watson, Raphael

April 7
William Wordsworth, Will Kellogg, Jackie Chan, Russell Crowe, Jack Black, Duncan James, Francis Ford Coppola

April 8
Betty Ford, Patricia Arquette, Sara Shepard, Vivienne Westwood

April 9
Kristen Stewart, Jesse McCartney, Jackie Evancho, Dennis Quaid

April 10
Joseph Pulitzer, John Madden, Steven Seagal, Haley Joel Osment, Mandy Moore

April 11
Morgan Lily, Charles Evans Hughes, Vincent Gallo, Tricia Helfer

April 12
Jennifer Morrison, Shannen Doherty, David Letterman, Beverly Cleary, Claire Danes, Tom Clancy, Brian McFadden

April 13
Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Beckett, Ron Perlman, Paul Sorvino

April 14
Annie Sullivan, Loretta Lynn, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amy Dumas, Rod Steiger

April 15
Emma Watson, Leonardo da Vinci, Iyaz, Flex Alexander, Bessie Smith

"A" Phobias

Let's first define what phobia is. As per MedicineNet.com, Phobia is "An unreasonable sort of fear that can cause avoidance and panic. Phobias are a relatively common type of anxiety disorder. Phobias can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, using exposure and fear-reduction techniques. In many cases, antianxiety or antidepressant medication proves helpful, especially during the early stages of therapy."

Ablutophobia - Fear of bathing, cleaning or washing.
Acerophobia - Fear of sourness.
Achluophobia - Fear of darkness.
Acousticophobia - Fear of noise.
Acrophobia - Fear of heights. (Altophobia)
Aeronausiphobia - Fear of vomiting.
Agateophobia - Fear of insanity.
Agliophobia - Fear of pain.
Agoraphobia - Fear of open spaces or of crowded places.
Agyrophobia - Fear of streets or crossing the street.
Aichmophobia - Fear of needles or pointed objects.
Ailurophobia - Fear of cats.
Alektorophobia - Fear of chickens.
Algophobia - Fear of pain.
Alliumphobia - Fear of garlic.
Allodoxaphobia - Fear of opinions.
Amathophobia - Fear of dust.
Amaxophobia - Fear of riding in a car. (Hamaxophobia, motorphobia, ochophobia)
Ambulophobia - Fear of walking.
Amnesiphobia - Fear of amnesia.
Amychophobia - Fear of getting scratched.
Anablephobia - Fear of looking up.
Androphobia - Fear of men.
Anemophobia - Fear of air drafts or wind.(Ancraophobia) 
Anglophobia - Fear of England or English culture, etc.
Angrophobia - Fear of anger or of becoming angry.
Anthrophobia - Fear of flowers. (Anthophobia)
Anthropophobia - Fear of people or society.
Antlophobia - Fear of floods.
Anuptaphobia - Fear of staying single.
Apeirophobia - Fear of infinity.
Aphenphosmphobia - Fear of being touched. (Haphephobia)
Apiphobia - Fear of bees.
Apotemnophobia - Fear of persons with amputations.
Aquaphobia – fear of water.
Arachibutyrophobia- Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.
Arachnephobia - Fear of spiders. (Arachnophobia)
Arithmophobia - Fear of numbers.
Arrhenphobia - Fear of men.
Arsonphobia - Fear of fire.
Asthenophobia - Fear of fainting or weakness.
Astraphobia - Fear of thunder and lightning.(Astrapophobia, Ceraunophobia, Keraunophobia)
Astrophobia - Fear of stars or celestial space.
Asymmetriphobia - Fear of asymmetrical things.
Ataxophobia - Fear of disorder or untidiness.
Atelophobia - Fear of imperfection.
Athazagoraphobia - Fear of being forgotten or ignored or forgetting.
Atychiphobia - Fear of failure. (Kakorrhaphiophobia)
Aulophobia - Fear of flutes.
Aurophobia - Fear of gold.
Autodysomophobia - Fear of one that has a vile odor.
Automatonophobia - Fear of ventriloquist's dummies, animatronic creatures, wax statues - anything that falsely represents a sentient being.
Automysophobia - Fear of being dirty.
Autophobia - Fear of being alone or of oneself.
Aviophobia - Fear of flying. (Aviatophobia)

Sources: 
http://phobialist.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_phobias

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

I read this book since it was being compared to Gone Girl and Before I Go to Sleep. It's also been on the NY Times Best Sellers for 12 weeks now and that got me convinced to read this.

Photo from goodreads.com

I found this book generally fast-paced. I got confused at first with the dates but when it was easy to get the hang of it. There were three narrators for this book. With that in mind, I didn't feel like there were three persons narrating. They sounded the same and talked the same so it got boring in some places.

What I like about this book is that I couldn't predict the outcome at all. Unlike with other thrillers and suspense, this has kept me on my toes until the last few pages. Human emotions and relationships were realistically conveyed, capturing the dark essence of humanity.

I still like Gone Girl better. Maybe because I read that first and I had such high expectations with this book. That said, this is still a good read.

10 Quotes About Happiness

Here are some quotes about happiness that will surely get your spirits up.

Photo from: ishafoundation.org

1. It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness. (Charles Spurgeon)
2. I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it. (Groucho Marx)
3. Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get. (W.P. Kinsella)
4. It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. (L.M. Montgomery)
5. The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. (George Washington Burnap)
6. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile. (Mother Teresa)
7. Happiness quite unshared can scarcely be called happiness; it has no taste. (Charlotte Brontë)
8. One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory. (Rita Mae Brown)
9. Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. (Guillaume Apollinaire)
10. It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living. (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Have a happy day!

Inspirational Quotes: Life

Feeling down? Here are some inspiring quotes that will lift your spirits up.

Photo from: hedgy.com

• Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. (Helen Keller)
• You're going to go through tough times - that's life. But I say, 'Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.' See the positive in negative events. (Joel Osteen)
• If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes. (John Wooden)
• In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can. (Nikos Kazantzakis)
• Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground. (Theodore Roosevelt)
• Either I will find a way, or I will make one. (Philip Sidney)
• In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. (Abraham Lincoln)
• Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
• You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way. (Walter Hagen)
• Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. (Marie Curie)
• When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. (Mark Twain)