A little rant...

What the heck is up with all the Chinese spam these days?? *Grrrr*

This has been bugging the crap out of me for a while now and I don't know what to do about it. I keep logging in to find these Chinese comments on my posts {I'm sure some of you have noticed when you leave me comments} and if I accidentally click on it, it takes me to some Chinese "buy-a-bride" site or some shit!

I've been deleting them, but that's not a permanent solution.

Help me guys!

I already have captcha enabled, but it doesn't seem to be working :(

What can I do to stop getting these? Am I the only one?

Rant or Rave Monday 4.19.10

{We're baaaaaack!!}

Hey guys, we're back from Orlando and we could use a vacation from our vacation! We had a great time and Disney was awesome, but we're pooped from the 15 miles of walking we did at the parks, lol.



We got to Orlando at exactly midnight on Wednesday night and relaxed at the hotel before getting ready for park # 1 on Thursday morning. Isalys got to spend her 30th birthday at Mexico, Norway, Germany, China, Morocco, Japan, Italy, France and United Kingdom all without needing to whip-out the passport even once *wink* We finished the evening with the spectacular fireworks show at Epcot! Not a shabby way for a girl to spend her birthday =)




Then Friday we saw lots of cool and exotic animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom. We took about a zillion pictures, saw the parade, were almost eaten alive by dinosaurs {not really!} and then finished off with an all you can eat African buffet.



Saturday, we hit The Magic Kingdom. This was the craziest of the parks because we were surrounded by about a million other people. We rode Carousel of Progress, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain {Isalys's didn't go b/c she doesn't like plunging to her death, lol} and more!



Then finally on Sunday morning, we hit Downtown Disney where we did a little damage and got some more souvenirs. Final stop was the Premium Outlets (our only non-Disney related stop) where we did MORE damage at Coach and Bebe.

We really did have a Micktacular weekend and we couldn't have asked for a better way to spend our birthdays!



We'll have some pictures for you guys soon!

Rant or Rave Monday 4.5.10

♥ Isalys's Rave ♥

Hey kids!

It's Monday again. Hope everyone had a wondertastic Easter weekend!

Today, I'm raving is my rad new cuff=)

How smokin' hott is that?!
I have to give a big HUG to Mary {Vanessa's momma} for making it and giving it to me. It's my early birthday present *yayyy*

She's got some pretty amazing designs and will be selling them online soon. The website is still under construction though :)

PS: You all know what this means, right?
Now I need a smokin' new outfit to rock my new cuff! *Oh shucks*

Rant or Rave Monday 3.29.10

Every year, the Florida Renaissance Festival visits us for five weeks in February/March. We LOVE Ren Fairs so we dedicated a whole Saturday to enjoying the medieval festivities.

Here is a bit 'o info on the fair:

Suspended Between Myth and History

"Browse through our enchanted crafts Village where over one hundred merchants and artisans demonstrate and sell their wares. Behold glass blowing, hammered pewter, wooden toys, unique pottery, clothing and a wealth of other riches. Applaud Hundreds of Performers, not only on our twelve stages but literally all around you. Sword fighters, minstrels, magicians, wenches and more. For all the world's a stage. Cheer Battling Knights, as they mount their steeds, lower their visors, aim their lances and charge at full tilt, thrice daily. Feast on Hearty Food fit for a King! Visit the Pub and toast to the Royal Court with a tankard of ale or cider. Hip! Hip! Huzzah! Play Games of Chance and games of skill which challenge both young and old alike...archery, the test of strength, Jacob's Ladder and more." [Florida Renaissance Festival]

♥ Pictures ♥


{Yes, we were rocking the wings!}

{Left: Who doesn't love a good joust? Right: Listening to lovely music played on the harp.}


{On the left, the 'ooh la la' German knight Rodrick and on the right, with the King & Queen of the Ren Fair.}

{With our lovely friend Denisse!}
{Vanessa + Isa = Visa ♥ Everywhere you want to be!}


{Bye bye Ren Fair...until next time!}

Can't wait for next year! HUZZAH!!!

Rant or Rave Monday 3.8.10

♥ Isalys's Rave ♥

I am a follower of The Season, a website/blog dedicated to all Romance books (historical, paranormal, contemporary, etc.) Last week, they announced that they were looking for a few more reviewers to add to the family.

With my addiction of historical & paranormal romances in mind, I 'applied' via email.

I'm VERY EXCITED to announce that I was one of the chosen reviewers along with three other ladies! I'm am so stoked to become a part of their team and can't wait to start sharing my love of romances with other junkies like me :)

If you'd like to know more The Season, you can visit the following links:

The Season Website
The Season Blog
Sign up for The Season Newsletter

The first book that I will be reviewing for them is:


Synopsis:
A secret list of the desires of Lady Olivia Rathbourne:
1) Disregard convention
2) Follow my heart
3) Bed the Earl of Wyldewood

A decade ago, Olivia had expected to marry the Earl of Wyldewood, only to have happiness stolen from her before his ring could be placed upon her finger. Now he stands before her, as proud and arrogant and handsome as ever, vowing to rescue her.

Well, he's got some nerve urning up after all these years. Where was he when she needed him? As for the earl, scandal has never touched him nor has impropriety ever besmirched his name. But his penchant for doing the expected does have his family calling him, well, dull. Isn't it time to flaunt society's conventions and do what he's always wanted?

And first on his list:
Olivia in his bed—with or without a wedding.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


Today, I {Isalys} am RANTING on behalf of Vanessa who is going absolutely nuts at work. My poor friend is being run ragged...lol...so much so that she's not able to work on her post today.

So guys, leave her some fun messages, comments or anecdotes to make her smile and get her through this truly manic Monday =)

♥Isalys

Rant or Rave Monday 3.1.10

Hi guys!

We're very excited because we have an awesome RAVE today :)

Over the weekend, we received an email from Laurie Viera Rigler who is the author of "Confessions & Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict". We have no idea how she stumbled onto our blog, but we love that she did and she loved our Vlog *eeek!* She has made our weekend :-D

It seems that she got such a kick out of our video that she decided to feature it on her website.

Yayyyy!
Jane Austen Addict: Videos

and she included our blog on her Jane Austen Addictions.

Double yayyyy!
Other Cool Links

Oooh and as a side note, she told us that "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" will be coming out in paperback on April 27 so you guys may just want to save that date.

Side-Side note: We may be able to host a Giveaway for the paperback version so stay tuned for more information!

Rant or Rave Monday 2.22.10

So we thought we'd do a little ranting today on something that we've given a lot of thought to...and that's cover art. As avid readers, we've come to realize that the cover art of a book is a large part of a book's overall success. We all know that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but should and won't aren't the same thing. We rely on a book's cover to attract our attention. With thousands of books lining the shelves, a book's cover should say, "Hey, pick me, pick me!" Otherwise, you'll just walk on by and may miss out on reading a great book.

This especially applies to new/first-time authors. Well established authors who have a strong fan base could probably put a turd on the cover and someone will read their books. However, if you're a new author, you really need to rely on your book's cover art as part of your marketing strategy.

Case in point, The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich which Isalys referenced on Friday's Vlog Post. We've heard about how funny & well-written these books are, but the truth is that we haven't read them because the cover art just isn't all that appealing. It seems more of a deterrent than a lure.



Note from Isalys: To be perfectly frank, I find the covers to be obnoxious and little too much of a throwback to the good 'ol 1980s. They weren't something that I was excited about adding to my shelf. However, I will say that Janet makes them memorable with the lime green and highlighter orange color action she's got going on, lol!

I have added the first book to my TBR list because I trust my friend's judgment and will read it on her recommendation :)

♥ Here are a few of Isalys's favorite covers ♥
{I Heart Vanessa's choices too!}




♥ Here are a few of Vanessa's favorite covers ♥
{I Heart Isa's choices too! lol}




What can we say, we have the same taste =)

Do you think covers are important to how well a book does?
What are your favorite and least favorite covers?

Rant or Rave Monday 2.8.10

♥ Vanessa's Rave ♥

We are all about Alice in Wonderland lately! I just finished reading Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin and boy was it awesome!! I cannot stop Raving about this book. I will be posting the review for this awesome book in March, which is when we will be having an Alice in Wonderland challenge (The challenge will only last through the month of March. There WILL be a winner!)
I highly recommend this book! Isn't the cover great?

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥ Isalys's Rave ♥

A few weeks ago, Vane did an awesome POST featuring the new cover art for this special edition of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". You can read all about the artist that designed this cover on the post.

Well, looky what I found =)

Barnes & Noble currently has a section reserved for Alice In Wonderland and during our last weekly excursion, we found it....yayyyy!

It is a hard cover book and if you remove the sleeve, the cover is black with a really nice metallic magenta "A" on the front. The paper is also higher density (photo-type) paper. It was worth paying $16.99 just to have this awesome book on my shelf.

Rant or Rave Monday 1.25.10

♥ Isalys's Rave ♥

So this is actually more of a bitter sweet Rave. Many of our local Borders Express and Walden Books are closing their doors :( I don't think this applies to any of their main (big) branches, only their smaller ones. Nonetheless, we must bid them farewell!

Why is this my Rave post for this week? Because it means that the entire store is on uber, mega-clearance :) and that means that my money will take me extra far and get me a zillion more books than usual and that makes me very happy!

This weekend...and the week before that...and the week before that, Vanessa and I went to Borders Express and ransacked what was left of their YA and Romance section. (Side note: All YA was 60% off and Romance was 70% - woot!) Book stores should have grocery carts available for people like us because our arms can only hold so much!

See...
Pfft...I don't think I have a problem! *insert sarcasm here*

But at least I'm not alone...I've got my book soulmate/partner in crime with me :)

I can't say that I actually bought ALL those books [at one time] because if I had, my husband would probably throw me in a padded van. However, I will say that I'm out-growing my current bookshelf at lightning speed! LOL