A Top Ten Tuesday That is Somehow Halloween - Schemed

I have a confession to make: I am not big on Halloween.

Before you stomp me to the ground with your superhero-strength in costume-form, let me explain, k?

I'm German. There's basically no Halloween in Germany aside from fake American Halloween that results in not much more than funnily dressed up candy to horrific prices.

Also, some teenagers think it's the perfect opportunity to drink. But then again...

So, I always feel a bit lost in October, when everyone starts reading scary books. That might also have something to do with the fact that I usually don't read scary books. Because I don't like horror or crime or thriller or whatever else might be scary. Not because it's scary, but because I don't like horror, thriller or crime novels...

You see where this post is going, right? I'm just bending and twisting the rules so much that you think I'd write a Top Ten List on the actual topic, while I actually don't. Whatever, let's get started.

1) Pretty Little Liars by Sarah Shepard

...is a fantastic mystery read that I cannot get enough of (although I could never read those books back to back). They are refreshing, juicy, a bit scary and a very, very girly version of everything thriller, mystery and....Halloween?

2) Born Wicked by Jessica Shirvington

This is probably my most favorite trilogy ever. It is about witches in New England in what I think the 19th century and it is the most amazing story ever. Gripping, fast paced, passionate, funny, heartbreaking. You have to read it!! Oh, and witches...halloween???....

3) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

I still haven't finished this series, but I've gotten through book four which was a massive 500 pages. If you still haven't read the series I highly recommend it. One of the best out there. DON'T shy away from the vampire thing! These are the kinds of vampires you have never seen before! They're like Harry Potter. No, reallly.

4) Admittedly, I am running out of ideas here.Oh, wait. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnsson

Really good crime novel, in my opinion. I recommend the audiobook.

5) Ashes Trilogy by Ilsa J. Bick

Have only read the first two books but seeing as how they are so amazingly disturbing, you'd do good getting them ASAP. Because you honestly can't go as a zombie for Halloween if you haven't read these books...

Oh, and I really, really want this to be a movie...

6) Okay, I'm out. Can't think of anything...

BY THE WAY; I NEED YOUR HELP!

Really. I've got to find a costume until Thursday and literally have no time or money to get one. Any ideas? The creative - or not - people amongst you? I need something cool, cheap and quick ...? By any chance? I'd sure love you guys forever!!!

Kidding, I love you anyway!

Happy Tuesday!

I ran some unexpected miles today...

Normally, I get pretty excited about running. I mean, I do it because I love it, right? It makes me happy. Sometimes it takes a bit of motivational gummy bears to get me out in the cold, but I will go, because I enjoy the feeling of speeding past people (errr, and people speeding past me) and the wind and even the rain around me. It makes me feel free and happy and - with the right song in my ear - even giggly.

Today, though, I didn't feel the vibe at. all.
I've been struggling all week. First, I was battling a cold that is still not completely gone, then the stress at Uni really gets me down sometimes, but I'm not going to lie, I wasn't feeling the runner's high this week.

So, when I actually set out for my run this afternoon, I surprised myself. And then, after I was over the first couple of steps, I was even more surprised because it turned out running is actually not that stupid waste of time that turned into an even more stupid addiction I can't get rid of.
No, no, it was fine. Great, even!
Not to be a hypocrite here, my last couple of runs did suck. Heck, they were awful! And to top it all up I even moved yesterday's run to the gym treadmill and it was really just a matter of time if I would have killed myself or the treadmill first.

But back to my run. I warmed up 3 miles around our park here and then went to the track to do mile repeats and then trotted home for 3 miles as a cool down. I am not super - professional with my running gear since I always forget to charge my Garmin, but I thought I'd tell you that my goal pace for every mile was 7:16 - and I was faster every time!!!! (7:00, 7:06, 7: 11)

Okay, not wayyyy faster, but I was still proud of myself. Also, this was the first time I've ever done mile repeats and I was so horrified by them, but I realized they're not that bad. I HATE 800s. I even hate 400s. With a passion. Running that fast just kills me.
But mile repeats are nice. My new best friends.



Okay, my dears, I'll see you tomorrow!

Review: The Mediator - Ninth Key by Meg Cabot

Everything is going great for Suze. Her new life in California is a whirlwind of parties and excellent hair days. Tad Beaumont, the hottest boy in town, has even asked Suze out on her very first date. Suze is so excited that she's willing to ignore her misgivings about Tad... particularly the fact that he's not Jesse, whose ghostly status--not to mention apparent disinterest in her--make him unattainable.
What Suze can't ignore, however, is the ghost of a murdered woman whose death seems directly connected to dark secrets hidden in none other than Tad Beaumont's past.

When I read the first book in the Mediator Series, I remember being happy about it, but not too excited. I'd tried to move on from the Princess Diaries after years of fandom and, of course, went into it with very high expectations, then never continued the series.

Now, though, with a couple of years apart and the disappointment over All American Girl and the Abandon trilogy, I was up for some good Meg Cabot magic and she did swing her magic wand with these books.

It's humor and confidence at its best, the whole girl power pack in one book. Sam is sarcastic, strong, funny, and yes, at times very reckless. So reckless even, that you could call her immature. And I do. But not in the annoying way. I am willing to pay the price of immaturity if I get a kick-ass heroine in an awesomely plotted story for that. Those incredible showdowns were made possible by Sam's way of going on missions on her own, so I could stand her sometimes silly behaviour.

Also, while I had no interest in Jessy during the first book, I am now slightly obsessed with him. No, seriously. I know he's a ghost and stuff, but Sam's obsession with him is addicting!

All in all, Ninth Key was a feel-good novel in a feel-good series that you should read no matter where you are in your life right now. It'll make you happy or happier and get you in such a giddy, freakishly funny mood ;D

Wishlist Wednesday. The Most Anticipated Book of the Year

..and I don't have it.

Really, Waterstones? Allegiant came out yesterday - and where are your copies??? Where is MY copy??? I. Do. Not. Understand. 

This is a desaster. 

I really wish I was a really important person so that I could send my five assistants to hunt down that book, but since I am not and I only have one Waterstones in walking distance, I am currently depressed. And very, very aggressive.

Top Ten Grand Character Names

Wow, I had a hard time coming up with these! I'm generally pretty good at remembering the storyline of a book, but I suck at endings - and character names! I will admit most of these I found by looking around other blogs, so let's just call this list my Top Ten Favorite Unusual Names in YA Books, shall we? Awesome!

1) Echo from Pushing the Limits (I will totally name my future daughter after her!)

2) Emerson from Meg Cabot's Airhead Trilogy and Myra McEntire's Hourglass - I even named my old Netbook Emerson!

3) Maura from Jessica Shirvington's Cahill Witches Trilogy (Okay, no, this is my future daughter's name! Sorry, Echo)

4) Willem from Gayle Forman's Just One Day

5) Emaline from Sarah Dessen's The Moon and More

6) Cinder from Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles

7) Ever from Alyson Noel's The Immortals Series

8) Fia from Kiersten White's Mind Games

9) Aria from Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars Series

10) Roar from Veronika Rossi's Under the Never Sky Series

I personally hate my name, Laura, because at least in Germany, that name is so popular that everyone is called Laura. In my highschool year we had 12 Lauras. It was awful. I think I love the name Maura the most. It has something really special and warm about it, don't you think?

Do you guys like your names? If not, what would you like to be called if you had a choice?

The End Is Near...

The end of what, you ask?

2013, silly! Not the end of the world!

Although, can you believe it's been almost a year since everyone expected that to happen? Crazy, right?

What I wanted to discuss today are my reading goals until 2014 (feels weird even typing this).

Believe it or not, it's almost November and that means, we will be bombarded by Best Book of the year Surveys and 2014 anticipations soon!

My reading year has definitely not turned out the way it was supposed to, but maybe I will write about that in another post.

Today is only about stomping my two feet on the groud and committing to finish off strong!

I'm trying to be realistic and with my life right now and my awful reading in the summer, there is no way  I will come even close to my Goodreads goal of 120 books this year.

However, I want to read 2 books a week until the end of December. I know that I can do it - and I should be able to finish two with ease.

Now, you probably want to know which beauties are selected for my ambitious (ha!) goals.

Oh, I can tell you, only the best.

I really only brought books to Uni with me that I either

a) started and didn't finish, but want to finish or

b) am really, really excited for.

Books I need to finish:

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Books I Want to Finish this year:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Fire by Kristin Cashore

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Pantomime by Laura Lam

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fragments by Dan Wells

However, if I do find the time to read more than these books, they will most likely be ebooks or - oh come on, you didn't think I would forget, did you? - ALLEGIANT!!!! - which comes out tomorrow!

What books do you want to get to before the year is over? Which new 2013 releases are you beyond excited to read???

A Peak Into My Pocket

This week is pretty much all over the place, because I've been so busy and then just tried to read as many different kinds of blogs that I could. I hope, you enjoy my links anyway :)

If you need a bit of guidance as to what to do  with those dumbbells in your hands...(like I do)

Still debating if I should  go for it, but ... the time!

I need this. Everyone needs to at least read this!

Everything you could ever want to know about entertainment

Too funny to miss!

She makes the best desserts ever. Ever.

This is just really helpful.