Review: Wicked

Title: Wicked

Series: Pretty Little Liars Novels

Author: Sara Shepard

Reading Level: YA

Source: Local Library

Fav Quote(s): "And I think I liked you better when your weren't popular. When you were just...normal."

I a HUGE Pretty Little Liars TV show fan on ABC Family. I really, really love the show. I was kind of having withdrawals. Then bam! They hit me with the Halloween episode and suddenly I can't wait for the regular season to come back on in January. I read the first four books in the series about a year ago and just hadn't gotten around to the next one in the series. But after the PLL hiatus became just too much to bare I checked out Wicked from my local library. Augh! I love these! I read Wicked in a matter of couple hours. I still don't know who the second A is. But gah, I love mystery, the cattiness, the fashion, all of it! Mind you the show is different from the books but they are complementary, just remember they are two separate things!

**Possible spoiler alert**

So if you aren't familiar with the series there are four girls who were brought together by their mutual friend Ali. Ali disappears and is later found buried in her family home's back yard. The thing about this friendship was it was based on secrets and Ali was the ring leader. After Ali's body is discovered the other four girls (Spenser, Aria, Hanna, and Emily) start receiving mysterious, knowing texts signed by "A". In books the first 4 books we discover who A is and that character is killed off. Well in Wicked, book 5 the texts start up again and girls think they know who the new A is, until they don't.

The girls each have their own individual problems which somehow A is always in the know about. Spenser's cheating scandal is carried over and she is now worried she is adopted. Aria clearly has some "daddy" issues or something and tends to like older men. Hanna has a different kind of daddy issue and isn't getting along with her step-family-to-be. And Emily, bless her. She thought she was into girls but seems she might be a "switch hitter" to paraphrase Noel Kahn.

One thing I learned from PLL: If you are just honest with people, especially the people you love then there is nothing for A or anyone else to hold over your head. Secrets can be poisonous to any relationship. There are many times when I wish I could just yell at the girls to JUST TELL THE TRUTH! The truth shall set you free!! It's like whatever they get into wouldn't be half as bad if they would just be honest about to begin with.

I give Wicked 4 out of 5 stars. I love the Pretty Little Liars franchise. I just can't get enough!

I made a friendship bracelet by using this tutorial. I was inspired to make this because Ali gave her girls a bracelet after the "Jenna Thing" in the books (and the show, I believe). So this is my quick and easy "Jenna Thing" bracelet!

It also apparently doubles as a bookmark! 

Impressionable and Inspired

I am very impressionable.  As defined by the dictionary, impressionable means: readily or easily influenced; suggestible. If I hear a phrase that reminds me a song, I feel I must sing it, loudly (mind you my singing is horrible, ask my co-workers, bless their hearts). I fancy myself as a somewhat crafty person and if something I watch or read inspires an idea, I've been known to craft up some kind of homage to the original. See example:

I made these shortly after I first became addicted to both the book and movie, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I'm not quite as neurotic as I once was but I will always love Twilight and be thankful for what it meant to me in that time in my life. 

So the red bracelet, more represents Edward (get it, blood is red, he's a vamp :). The charms in case you can't make them out from left to right are: a graduation cap, dice ("I'm betting on Alice!"), baseball bat and glove, music clef, Carlisle's cross, a crystal heart, engagement ring, bride and groom, dolphin (Isle Esme, anyone?), Edward's piano, and Renesmee's baby shoe.

The black beaded bracelet is for Jacob Black, of course! The charms again left to right are: an apple (like the cover of the first book, Bella's truck, a wolf, a heart, a feather (supposed to convey Jacob's tribal roots), motorcycle, and moon (for New Moon). 

As you have seen on this very blog at least once already (see this post), I have even been inspired to paint my nails in honor of certain books and movies. Here are my attempts are "Girl on Fire" nails from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:

Not everything inspires such a response from me but the "good stuff" can certainly lead to projects for me.

I was trying to figure out why I did these things the other day, most people I know don't do this, I beginning to think this was just one of my many idiosyncrasies. But after discussing with a friend her children's summer reading assignments, it became clear. When I was in school, even on up into college, my favorite (English/Lit) teachers were the ones who had us do "fun" projects that related back to the materials we were reading in class. I was never "artistic" in the sense that I could draw or paint or sculpt but I could collage with the best! And often times I'd receive praise from my teachers on my hard work on those projects. I think that those simple words of affirmation over ten years ago have stuck with me and why I continue with my media inspired projects. (So, there's a little side bar for ya, be careful of what you say to kids cause apparently they really are listening!)

There is actually a point to all my ramblings today. If you've been following me at all, you'll have seen that I've been reading through the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. They are ones with numbers in the titles like One for the Money, Two for the Dough, Three to Get Deadly, Four to Score, etc. If you are not familiar with the books, Stephanie is Jersey girl of Italian/Hungarian descent working as a bounty hunter even though she's not very good at it. The books are a brilliant blend of mystery and humor. The interaction Stephanie has with her family, especially her Grandma,will leave you laughing out loud, literally. Almost always when they have these family times they are eating and having a family meal. In fact, the offer of a good home cooked meal is how Stephanie's mom lures her home. And if I'm not mistaken, the offer of stuffed cabbages always draws Steph home.

My most recent Plum read.

I got to thinking, I've only ever had stuffed cabbage once and it was delish, much better than it sounds. And I've sure never made stuffed cabbage. So this evening I thought I've give it a try. Only I know how lazy I am and I altered the idea just a bit. My cabbage still has all the flavors but I've layered the ingredients into a casserole so it would be easier and less time consuming. I search the net for recipes, such as this one and this one too and then I adjusted with seasonings based on our liking and what we had on hand. I'm not one to measure or do things exactly the same each time.

Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

Plated with green beans and mashed potatoes.

Verdict: It was pretty good. Hubs liked it, said he'd like it again! I think Stephanie and the Plum clan would approve!

Have you ever been inspired by something you've seen or read? Leave me some comments. I HEART comments!