August has always been one of those months which gets lost in the summer if it wasn’t for the Independence Day on 14 August. So apart from the display of patriotism, August wasn’t all that high on activity since all I pretty much did was nap, read and tweet. Things worthy of note are of course mentioned below.
LIST OF NEWSWORTHY
Since I pretty much hung out at home, most of these things happened online.
Buzzworthy
BuzzFeed released a new category: BuzzFeed Books. It is as awesome as it sounds and it’s part of the reason I didn’t blog as much as I should’ve. It’s like a gifs heaven out there! And the lists, oh, the divine lists! I loved this list, this one, and ooh, this one’s the best!
Photoshopping
I started learning Photoshop (okay, it was back in July but it totally counts). I did a few tutorials and this is my best effort up till now. You like?
Geek Out
I geeked out at YouTube’s Geek Week. I discovered so much awesomeness; Gravity Gun being one of the best. Yes, I’m all for sci-fi.
Seriously, it’s like the web series to watch in 2013. I know it’s my first one but this is me venturing into anime (okay, anime-syle). It’s a big deal and the soundtrack kicks ass!
My addiction to #RWBY is- Wait, is it Thursday yet? When is it going to be Thursday? Please, Thursday?— Sana (@artsymusings) August 10, 2013
Book Clubbing
EpicReads revamped their book club on Goodreads and they chose Something Strange and Deadly for August. Then Susan Dennard started her own SS&D book club which I just had to join. I had so much fun digging deeper to answer the discussion questions and I finally read Something Strange and Deadly so win-win.
Saga-ed
At 9:18 am on 8 August 2013, I discovered the epic The Starkillers Cycle saga by Susan Dennard and Sarah J. Mass. Elena from Novel Sounds posted about it’s existence and I freaked out just after reading the first chapter ’cause it’s that amazing!
#TeaTime
EpicReads changed the timings of Tea Time from 4pm to 7pm. I can’t take part now because for me that means 4am in the morning. I got sad.
Sci-Fi
I joined Sci-Fi Month which will be happening in November all because of Rinn from Rinn Reads.
Niece
My second oldest sister gave birth to a baby girl on 19th August 2013. She’s so adorable and very clever. Another reason of not blogging all that much.
Burqa?
Lady Gaga wrote a song titled Burqa which is so not cool. Here’s why.
TV WATCH
I watched the first season of Orange is the New Black and loved it. It is a little too skin-showing for my taste (okay, a lot).
I also watched a couple of episodes of Teen Wolf but I’ve yet to fall in love with it.
The midseason finale episode of Pretty Little Liars was the bomb! I bet October 22nd episode will be the best Halloween episode ever.
I also watched some episodes of Mistresses because it’s from the creators of Gossip Girl. Not really my cup of tea because it’s full of sex, scandals and a lot of drama. Might finish watching the first season though.
Suits is going good but the storyline kind of dwindled into another mess all too fast. I just want it to slow down.
MOVIE WATCH
The Croods (thumbs up)
Passion (meh)
Before Midnight (thumbs up)
Bachelorette (meh)
The First Time (thumbs okay)
LIST OF READS
I read 7 books in August. I could have read more but I’m happy that five of these are for my (93) days of summer goal.
Five Summers by Una LaMarche
Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt
A Midsummer’s Nightmare by Kody Keplinger
Heist Society by Ally Carter
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
LIST OF BLOGPOSTS
I didn’t post as much as I should’ve since I don’t have a schedule. However, I have one now because I started using OneNote (thank you, Asti!) and I feel much more organized.
I posted my review of Just One Day by Gayle Forman. The book killed me.
I posted a Top Ten Tuesday list of books set in tech-heavy surroundings and secondary characters.
I waited on Crash Into You by Katie McGarry on a Wednesday.
I posted my answers to A to Z book survey.
I posted my review of Everneath by Brodi Ashton. I read this book because a Secret Reader chose it from my to-read list.
LIST OF BOOK BUYS
I ordered most of these online and it was my first time ever doing that. I’ll be doing it more often now.
Inferno by Dan Brown
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Heist Society by Ally Carter
Five Summers by Una LaMarche
Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt
A Midsummer’s Nightmare by Kody Keplinger
Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
PLAYLIST
Most played tunes in August, favorites first. I’d love to know which one you like or was your favorite this month.
How was your August?
Congratulations on learning Photoshop! I was squealing like a baby the first time I made something on it haha.
And congrats on your new niece! I only have a nephew so far, but I've been itching to have a niece so I can buy her girly stuff 😀
I hope you'll love Teen Wolf. Scott is adorable. And Stiles is hilarious. As for PPL… I still have to watch the last three episodes.
And I've already Something Strange and Deadly! I can't wait to read it!
Ahhh, Cinder and Scarlet <3 Two of the best books I've read. Seriously. And If I Stay was really beautiful; I still have to read Where She Went (I have it), mostly because it's from Adam's point of view!
Orange is the New Black is really good! Sad that you haven't connected with Teen Wolf yet, but the first season is definitely the slowest of the bunch. The second and third are much better 😀
Oh trust me, your August was so much more exciting than mine! I've read Just One Day by Gayle Forman and that was THE BOOK of me. I found myself huddling at a corner of the sofa and bawling my eyes at the end. It was so emotional and though the writing was simple, the one da in Paris storyline touched my heart till it hurts and Allyson's journey of self-discovery of how she's only existing and not living, struck me. <3
Hope you'll have an even better September ahead!! Haha ordering books online is the killer of my wallet but *shrugs* can't help it 🙂
Alicia @ Summer Next Top Story
I have Photoshop (and Illustrator) on my laptop now and I need to learn how to use it. I just bought Something Strange and Deadly when I went to Sarah J. Maas's book event. I'm really excited to start it.
I AM DEVOTING MY WHOLE LIFE TO THE STARKILLERS CYCLE. I spent like 80% of the time reading it, squealing in joy. The relationship between all the characters are well developed. I LOVE IT. IT IS SOOO GOOD. I NEED MORE.
I hope you continue to watch Teen Wolf. It does get better.
I squealed a lot! It just feels so good and all the graphics. xD
I've like four nieces so I'm dying for a nephew. Sigh. Let's swap them ha ha.
Stiles hilarious! But I'm all meh about Scott. And HOW are you even surviving all the PLL spoilers? It got spoiled for me like four hours after the episode aired. =/
Yeah, so many books to read this month. Eep!
I felt it was kind of clichéd but everyone I know claims to love it so I'm definitely going to watch more!
And yes, all the points to OITNB! =D
I LOVE Just One Day! Seriously, that book is ah-mazing times ah-mazing. The ending killed me, too! No scratch that, the whole book killed me.
And yes, I guess I'll be ordering books online more and more now… 😉
I hope you like Something Strange and Deadly, it's a good book and there's action.
YES, The Starkillers Cycle is the best thing that happened to me in August. NEED MORE STAT. =D
Oh yes, definitely continuing with Teen Wolf.
Yay for learning Photoshop! It's quite a steep learning curve but once you get it, it's like typing haha. Congratulations on your niece! I'm actually loving what's going on with Suits right now, I do feel like they're dragging the whole Hessington Oil saga a bit too long but I am loving the character development that is going on and especially with Harvey and Jessica finally coming to terms about the merger.
Woo hoo for Gayle Forman and Marissa Meyer! I hope you enjoy the books ^^
First off, LOVE this monthly recap! So many interesting links and goodies to talk about.
YAY ONENOTE! It is my blogging headquarters and I'm so glad it's been helpful for others! And of course, yay for ordering books online 😉 Of course, I just got an e-reader and that's super deadly because Amazon has that one-click buying option and if I'm not trouble that will get me in a big heap of trouble >.>
Congrats on the niece! It seems a lot of people are having babies this summer. My new nephew was born in July. 🙂 And I'll have to check out this whole The Starkillers Cycle. I haven't even heard of it yet. O.o
And seriously, Youtube is horrible. I have recently ventured onto it and IT IS ADDICTING! So not good for my blogging ways. Someone send help!