new books in the nest

I brought a few more books (okay, a pile of 'em) into the "nest" recently, so naturally I had to clean my bookshelves out a bit last week to make room for the newest story additions. The good news is I was actually able to part with a couple more books, cd's and dvds to take to the used bookstore. That said, I ended up getting around $6 or so for my dvd trade-ins and around $10 in book trade credit, so I'm all set for my next trip to the used bookstore this coming Friday (with my dear friend Rachelle.) I just love it when I trade in my old books and media and get new books and media for an even trade! I clean off my shelves & get new books all at the same time. It's a win-win situation.

New + Used Book Additions:
*my ever expanding bookshelves are gluttonous, just so ya'll know*

Shiver & Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
(I bought both of these books at the used bookstore // $5 each)
I've heard good things about this series, and after all it's been the staff pick at quite a few different bookstores I've been to lately. It's been said that this series is similar to The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. I actually loved *most* of the Twilight books (sans the 1st half of Breaking Dawn), so I'm sure I'll at least like this series if anything. Oh well, I guess time will tell. 

Prophet by RJ Larson 
(This was my July half book at work // $7)
I read the first few chapters of this book at the bookstore while the store was dead, and I didn't want to put it down. Of course I had to leave the book at the store, waiting to read it until I got my own copy. Now that I have my own copy I have to finish my review books and my two just-for-fun books: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry before I even touch this one. Sigh.


Books I Won In A Giveaway...

 Shadow of Colussus // City of the Dead // Guardian of the Flame


I won a three book giveaway a while ago over at Christian Bookshelf Reviews. I just got the books in the mail this past week. Thank you so much, Melanie!


Review Book Additions:

The Guest Book by Marybeth Whalen

I recently received this book (and 30+ bookmarks to pass out at the bookstore) in the mail a week or so ago. I still have one more review book to read before I can start on this one. Admittedly, I'm behind in my review book reading. *sheepish grin* Look out for a review on The Guest Book in about a month or so.

Aldo's Fantastical Movie Palace by Jonathan Friesen

I also received this book in the mail this past week (right around the same time I got the T.L. Higley books.) This one is a Middle-Grade novel from ZonderKidz. I've actually come to love the Middle-Grade books lately, especially Swipe by Evan Angler and Waves of Light by Naomi Kinsman. I'm really looking forward to reading this one! Look out for a review of Aldo's Fantastical Movie Palace in the next month or so also (hopefully *fingers crossed* in August.)


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Okay, so I'm dying to know what you think of the new blog design and URL!? Didn't Hannah do such a phenomenal job with it? I swear it's like she went rummaging through my brain and created a sanctuary that is so me and exactly what I never knew I even wanted! Thanks again, Hannah! You totally rock!!

coming soon...

This blog is getting it's own unique domain and a brand new design that has been lovingly crafted by the ever so talented and lovely Hannah of Hannah Rose Beasley Art & Design. I am so excited about all of this!

*If you need a website, blog design or business cards, Hannah is the wonderful young lady that you NEED to be in contact with, for sure!*

That said, it's buh bye to the old not-so-me design and old daughteroftheking89.blogspot.com URL. And it's time to say HELLO to some extremely lovely changes around here!

So, I promise you'll get to see the new FANTASTIC design very, very soon, AND the new domain will be: www.ohrestlessbird.com

I hope you will continue to follow me (even with all these changes going on;) and my restless bird life, as I grasp after peace and try to find myself in Him one day at a time!

the "currently" edition

see, i haven't been lost. i've just been wandering and meandering through a super busy life over the last little bit. and just so you know i am sooo sorry for my long, totally unplanned (in my defense) absence, i really am.


so currently life...

 has slowed down a lot pace-wise from the last few weeks of craziness that i {thankfully} made it through without having any major bruises, cuts or breakdowns. and for that i am very thankful.




what did my "crazy weeks" entail for me exactly, you might ask?

well, they entailed the following (in no particular order)...

• met with my district manager and the v.p. of family christian (i was nervous) 
• cleaning + reorganizing the entire bookstore where i work at (though, thankfully i did NOT do it all single-handedly!) 
• went to the chiropractor for a much needed back+neck adjustment 
• had some family visiting from new york / florida 
• finished reading a review book and wrote a review: waves of light 
• worked at another family christian store in another town for 11 hours (in one day) 
• started training two new co-workers at the bookstore
• babysat some super crazy-awesome kiddos (twice)
• went to the movies to see: snow white & the huntsman, brave, the amazing spider-man and the dark knight rises
• spent a little time here 'n' there with the love of my life on various dates
• etc, etc, etc ( i am pooped and pretty sure i forgot to list some things, but, oh well!)

here are some other "currents" in my life over the last couple of weeks and right now...

currently i'm listening to: 

{ 1 }

the soundtrack for snow white & the huntsman. 
yes, i'm head over heels in love with the snow white & the hunstman movie too. and idefinitely liked it better than mirror, mirror, that is for sure. actually i loved s.w.a.t.h. sooo much that i went and saw it twice in theatre's (once with j and once with momma.) 

{ 2 }
i just picked up ceremonials by florence + the machine last sunday and let's just say that it hasn't left my cd player in my car since then. i love, love, love it! it's got this ethereal indie-esque vibe to it...and florence's voice? oh my word! i love the richness and depth and soul of her voice. i'll definitely be trying to find a copy of her other album, lungs, soon.

{ 3 }
okay, so usually i don't like country music. like, at all. but taylor swift is different. her songs are lovely heartfelt stories. and they aren't too twangy for this girl. surprised me, that's for sure. so, i now love me some taylor swift (and the fact that i got this album at the used bookstore for $4: *WIN!!)

currently watching:

                                      
                                       

this movie was totally exciting and epic. that is all.  

i actually only wanted to go see this movie because i knew that my j did, but in the end i ended up realllly loving it too. andrew garfield as peter parker and emma stone as gwen stacy were splendid (and they are a couple in-real-life!) i can't wait to see the next film!

                                                                      

switched at birth. i <3 this show. i am enamored with this show. it is so unique and quirky and so well scripted...and the girls...bay and daphne...they are such neat, lovable yet utterly contrasting characters, and i kinda like to imagine them as my friends. yeah, obviously you can tell that it's been me, work, loads upon loads of laundry, occasionally sleep and watching switched at birth on netflix over the last couple of weeks. yes, perhaps it is lame, in some ways, but that's been my life lately. 


currently reading: 

                                                                       

"The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not."

these words are inviting, intrinsic and ever full of magic and wonder. yes, i've been entranced by the black and white and red circus...and the story of celia and marco's love, the twins and bailey the farm boy. 

steampunk, "peculiars," wondrous libraries, trains, a house named zephyr and goblinism. yeah, i'm there.


okay, so what are your "currents?" i'd love to know!

                                                            

Waves of Light by Naomi Kinsman

Age Range: 9+ (middle-grade readers)

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Release Date: 4.23.12

Pages: 224

Publisher: ZonderKidz (Zondervan)
Part of a Series: *book #3 in the From Sadie's Sketchbook series

Tag Line: Where is God when you need him?

Summary (snagged from Goodreads): After struggling to fit into a new town and school, Sadie faces questions about her faith, family, and friendships, questioning all she has come to believe. Sadie's life is spinning out of control. Her friend moved away, her mom remains ill, and her dad wants to leave town. At least the play Sadie is helping produce appears to be going well. After all, she gets to create the sets with her art teacher's help. But even that falls apart when a flash flood destroys her teacher's home and art. How can she trust or even believe in a God who would allow all this? God isn't fair. With everything crumbling and her faith on the edge, Sadie must find strength in the God she's questioning in order to hold on in the midst of her struggles.

What I Loved: I wasn't so sure I'd really like this coming-of-age story, but I was wrong, as I found myself really really in-like with Waves of Light! It was so full of wonder, questions, hope, faith, trials, love and friendship...all for this spunky 'n' artsy young girl named Sadie to sift her way through and draw closer to God and her loved ones all at the same time. 


The characters were so alive. The writing was beautifully vivid. And the story was super excellent.


You know, I really wish that there would have been more series for young ladies like the From Sadie's Sketchbook series when I was in Middle-School. I really do. 

 

What I Didn't Like So Much: I hadn’t read the first two books in the faithGirlz!/From Sadie’s Sketchbook Series ( {1} Shades of Truth and {2} Flickering Hope ) so I did end up feeling a little bit lost at times in the midst of the already well established story and characters. Other than that I have no more complaints whatsoever.

I’m recommending this book… If you are looking for a hard-hitting coming-of-age story for a middle-grade reader about faith, family and answers about where God actually is when you need him, then this will be a fun, quick read for you! Prepare to smile. Prepare to be charmed. Prepare to fall in love with little lady named Sadie! I give this good-read 4.5 stars!

About The Author: Naomi Kinsman is the author of Spilled Ink (winner of the 2009 Moonbeam Gold Medal for Educational/Activity book) as well as the From Sadie’s Sketchbook series (Zondervan). She has written and directed over 50 plays for young audiences, and has written for Highlights, Spider and Devozine magazines.

As founder of the Society of Young Inklings, Naomi shares her passion for writing and creativity with young people across the country. Society of Young Inklings offers game-based classes, unique resources, national club membership and publishing opportunities for young writers. Naomi has a BA in Theatre Arts from Seattle Pacific University, has studied theatre with the Piven Theatre Workshop and ACT, and has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.

 

She is the Assistant Regional Advisor for the San Francisco South chapter of SCBWI. Naomi’s background in improvisational and story theatre as well as her arts education work in Chicago, Portland and the Bay Area has convinced her that creative play is a doorway through which learners can find inspiration and transformative learning experiences. Naomi lives in Northern California with her husband, and identically colored pets: a tuxedo cat and a Portuguese Water Dog.

*I received this book for free through Charleen Famiglietti of DJC Communications/Zondervan for the purpose of this review. 

Check out these other links... 


Author's Website
Sadie's Sketchbook Site 


// / //

Purchase Waves of Light from Amazon


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Coming soon from Naomi Kinsman...
9 / 3 / 12
Book #4 in the From Sadie's Sketchbook series

my busy bird life

{ me + jay  // being super silly on clingman's dome }

yes, that "busy bird" has been me for the last couple of weeks now. between working 40 hours this week (it's inventory prep-week at the bookstore), having to say goodbye to my love for a whole entire week (he went to the beach with his family and i am so stinkin' jealous he got to go and i didn't), reading various books for upcoming reviews, spending time with my family that stopped in from new york/florida, and traveling back and forth between south carolina to look around the city (and all it has to offer "living-wise"), and then going on a day trip with my family (plus my boyfriend and my sister's boyfriend) to tennessee to visit ripley's aquarium and hike to the top of clingman's dome on the blue ridge parkway, i've been one very busy young lady and have forgotten and completely neglected my poor blog for far too long. 

oh, and don't forget the laundry! dear, lord, i have neglected my laundry for far too long too. sigh. anyhow...my laundry mountain is beside the point...forgiveness for my busy-bird absent-from-the-blogosphere-for-far-too-long-self, anyone?

if you are still reading this that must've meant that you've forgiven me and have welcomed me back to the nest with open arms. am i right? please, oh please, say i am right!

{ me + rachelle // at she speaks last summer }

hopefully (after july 15th) things will slow down and then this restless bird will finally be able to rest her wings for a bit and get back to writing on her blog and current wip novel. and i am also immensely looking forward to getting to spend time with my she speak's sister/blogger pal/writer friend when she comes to visit me the first week in august. sigh. i cannot wait to visit and chat it up with you, rachelle!

ahem. moving onward...

i'd really love a lull in this cycle of super busy-craziness, ya know! and while the last couple of weeks have been so intense for me time-wise, lack-of-writing-time-wise, family-wise, emotionally, physically and mentally i actually had a lot of fun living through it all. i think sometimes life just comes in these cycles of crazy-business and then it lets down for just a mere moment only to let us find ourselves, our sanity and our peace once again, but then it's just back to the crazy-busy-yet-also-exceedingly-wonderful-stretching-growing-learning life right after that. i praise the lord that i am finally starting to embrace this life i've been given to the fullest and have been able to accept the fact that i will always be the restless peace-seeker through it all. 

so, all that said, i'm back and i'll be sure to check in again in a week, or maybe two, again.

remembering to find my peace in him (and forgiveness in you ;),

sarah elizabeth