30 Days of Lists ~ Day 2

Plant.

So I did a quick sketch of a plant in our house, and I am quite happy with how it turned out... :)

30 Days of Lists ~ Day 1

How I Read a Book

Hi all~~
So here's a little doodle that I did about how I read a book.
Unfortunately the quality isn't that great and you can see the little scribbles, but hopefully you can look past that and enjoy!! *^^*

Book Review #26 ~ Behind the Secret Window

Oh my, this book was amazing.
When I read the back cover of the book, I wasn't too interested, since it sounded too similar to "The Diary of Anne Frank." However, I decided to give it a chance since books about the Holocaust are very exciting and suspenseful to read, and boy am I glad that I did.
So without further ado, here is...

Behind the Secret Window ~ Nelly S. Toll
When the Nazis arrive in Poland, Nelly's happy life is overturned and transforms into one filled with fear and despair. 6-year-old Nelly must suddenly learn how to deal with these terrifying problems like an adult and try to cope with her situation the best she can; and remarkably, she does.
No matter how incredibly difficult and heartbreaking situations get, she listens to her parents and tries to understand.
When things worsen and tensions rise sky high, Nelly's father sends her and her mother to a Gentile couple who is willing to hide them in their home, and so an entire year passes as they lie hidden in the small bedroom, living in constant fear of discovery.
The only thing that gets Nelly through these terrible times are the watercolor paintings that she paints to pass the time as they spend their days in silence. She paints a fantasy world filled with happiness and laughter, and family and friends, and tries to imagine away the horror and loss.

I found this book to be very powerful. Every moment the story had me on my toes, anticipating what would happen next; I experienced so many different feelings while reading this book. There was horror, there was hate. There was happiness, there was sympathy. I simply loved every minute of it. I would definitely recommend this book to everybody, and I give it 5/5 stars.
Hope that you'll love it as much as I did!

30 Days of Lists

So I was surfing the internet the other day and found out about "30 Days of Lists."
Unfortunately, the event was long ago, but I think it'll be fun to do it anyway!
Originally, the lists are supposed to be simply lists, but I've decided to put my own twist on things and draw the lists.
I'll be posting the lists soon, so look forward to lots of drawings!! ^^

Candy Store.

Here's a painting that I did about a year ago. I call it candy store~

One of my most favorite places in the whole world.

My All Time Favorite Pens

So the scanner has finally come in the mail which means that I can now share some of my drawings with you!
So here's a sketch of a couple of my all time favorite pens. I like to save them for special occasions, but of course, no occasion is special enough to use them...
I've decided that I really need to just use them since they will dry out if I don't... -3-

Scanner

So I've been wanting a scanner for the longest time so I could share some of my drawings and doodles with you guys, and finally, after lots and lots of searching, we bought one online.
Since I had absolutely no idea what I was looking for, I went on the internet and started looking for which scanner seemed to be the cheapest and the best.
When I came upon the Vupoint Magic Wand Scanner, I was quite lured in. Not only did I like the name of the scanner, it was small and portable, and once I learned that all you had to do to scan something was swipe the scanner over the document, I had my mind set on buying it. On top of it all, it was only $70!
So I typed a few things and clicked a few buttons and I was told that my Magic Wand was on its way. Unfortunately I spent half an hour at my window waiting for the UPS man to arrive, until I was informed by my parents that the package wouldn't arrive until sometime next week.
I don't think I can even put into words how stupid I felt at that moment...
But in my defense, it was my first time ordering anything online, and I thought that, much like everything else on the internet, the package would come in a couple minutes.
Unfortunately it didn't.
Well, I've got to say, lesson learned. :)
To end on a happier and less naive note, I will have drawings and such uploaded onto my blog as soon as my scanner arrives, so look forward to a whole 'nother level of Sitting by the Ocean. *cue dramatic music.*

Movie Review #3 ~ "Soul Surfer"

So the other day, I finally got to watch "Soul Surfer." I had heard many good things about the movie and I had been wanting to watch it for some time now. The movie is wonderful but contains a sad story. What I love about this movie is that it's not just pure sadness throughout the whole thing, but is a story in which sadness turns into success. "Soul Surfer" tells the story of a 13-year-old girl named Bethany Hamilton who is a champion surfer. Born into a family of surfers, Bethany has been in the water since she was a baby, and has belonged there ever since. She spends her life in the water and has grown up with surfing. She leads a happy and content life until a tragic accident occurs while surfing with her best friend. A shark attacks her, biting her arm off. She remains remarkably calm as she is rushed to the hospital and tries to stay that way and trust in God.
Right then and there, her life is changed forever, for now she must learn how to live her life with only one arm. It takes everything she has in her to get back in the water again, but once she does, she comes out triumphantly.

What I loved so much about this movie was that it was based on a true story. I thought that the movie itself was amazing, but to hear that this had actually happened in someone's life made the whole thing surreal. Many parts of the movie were heart-wrenching, but I had to admit that there were many happy and heartwarming moments also. Overall, I thought that the movie was great, and I really wouldn't mind watching it again!
I definitely recommend this movie for everyone; it's worth watching.
Bethany Hamilton and AnnaSophia Robb
                                                                    (Bethany Hamilton in "Soul Surfer")