Curly Hair, Don't Care

This post is for the ladies out there with curly hair. As you can see below, I have very curly hair. Often times, people ask me how I tame it. There are several different methods I use to taming my mane. (You don't want to see what it looks like without product).

(Doesn't it look like one eye is looking straight and the other is down? hmm...)

First, let me start off with the products that I use:

Sometimes I get dandruff, so if I've got it, I use the classic Head & Shoulders Shampoo.

(Yeah that's right, I'm not ashamed to admit it)

(If you'd rather use Head & Shoulders Cool Menthol or their Smooth & Silky, go for it)

And if my scalp is fine, I use Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo.

Next, I use Dove Daily Moisture conditioner. 

(I feel like a promoter right now)

For mousse, I use Flawless Curls Extra Hold Mousse by TRESemme.

(Not only does it work great, but it also smells delicious, so that's a bonus)

For hairspray, I stick with the TRESemme and use their Tres Two Hairspray with the strongest hold (5)

(Yes, I know that that bottle says '4,' but I can't find a clear picture of '5' and I'm too lazy to get up and take a picture of my bottle)

Water bottles like this come in handy to wet your hair a smidge and fix up your curls after waking up in the morning.

Next are the techniques that I use: 

1. If you have build up in your hair from products or your hair, you can mix a little bit of baking soda with your shampoo and lather your hair good with it to get that stuff out. The recommended about to use is 1 teaspoon. However, I have long and very thick hair so I use more than that. I do this mix with the Organix  shampoo. After rinsing your shampoo/baking soda mix out, follow up with a bit of conditioner. I only do this treatment about once a month because you don't want to constantly be stripping the oils from your hair. This method is used to get the unhealthy build up out caused by hair products. (I generally do this baking soda wash before straightening my hair. Do the baking soda wash, a bit of conditioner to moisturize my hair well (rinse thoroughly), then dry my hair with a blow dryer and then flat iron it). 

2. I start my hair techniques in the shower. I often comb my hair out while I'm in the shower and have the conditioner in my hair. It makes it a lot easier and pain free. The comb slides through so easily with the combination of conditioner and water. Then after getting out of the shower, I flip my hair over and scrunch up my curls. If it is night time, then I will do one of two things:

            A. The first is to put the mousse in my hair and make sure it is worked through thoroughly but not too much. Then I will tie it up in a loose bun on the top of my head and let it sit over night. Upon waking up in the morning, I will use the spray bottle of water to wet my hair a bit and to scrunch my curls and then I will spray a decent amount of hair spray all over my hair to get that all day hold. 

           B. The other option I take is to put some of the mousse in my hair and then to put my hair into a fishtail braid. Here's a youtube link for instructions on how to do that type of braid. It's very easy!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qonbju6iiw4 The instructions on this video start at 1:45. After the braid is complete, I will spray a bit of the hairspray onto the top part of my hair that isn't braided. You can wear your hair out like this during the day if you choose! It's such a cute look! But I use it to control my hair overnight and to create really cute curls! Upon waking up in the morning, I will remove the braid, wet my hair a bit with the water bottle and then spray in the hairspray all over. 

-If I decide to shower in the morning instead of at night, I simply scrunch my hair after the shower and then apply the mousse thoroughly throughout my hair, scrunching as I go and then thoroughly put the hairspray in. 

3. With any of these techniques, you can add a cute headband or scarf for added style and to keep your hair out of your face. I typically don't wear scarves, but the headbands work for all day hold if I'm going to be at work or school. 

4. If you don't feel like having your hair curly and you decide to straighten it, I recommend using Redken Polishing Milk as a heat protectant and anti-frizz. It's a little pricey, but you only need a little bit before straightening and a tiny bit afterwards, so the bottle lasts a while! 

All of the products I have featured here can be purchased at your local drug store. I go to CVS since it's in walking distance of my house. 

I hope that these tips, instructions, and products are useful to you and feel free to contact me if you have any questions. jessica_panza@yahoo.com 

Thanksgiving Activities

With Thanksgiving coming up fast on Thursday, I wanted to give you guys some fun ideas to increase the fun of the celebration with your family. I suffer from stomach problems and had to quit drinking, so things started getting a little boring for me at holiday events with my family. So, I used my creativity and started coming up with fun games for my family to play together when we all gathered together on the holidays. I started the games last Thanksgiving and did them for Christmas Eve as well. (My mom hosts both of those holidays at our house). I hope you like these ideas and that you might be able to take advantage of them and bring tons of fun to your family on Thursday!



The first game that I came up with last Thanksgiving was one that turned into tons of laughs and we got to know a lot about each other that we wouldn't have known otherwise. 
1. Get enough paper and pens for everyone.
2. Have everyone write down something about themselves that nobody knows about them. 
3. Have everyone fold up their "fact" and put it in the center of the table and mix them all up.
4. Read out the first fact and have everyone write down a guess to who they think it is in the room that wrote it down. The person who wrote it will write "ME" on their piece of paper.
5. On the count of 3, reveal your answers and all who have guessed it right get a point. 
6. Repeat steps 4 + 5 until all of the facts have been read and all points have been given.
Whoever has the most points at the end, wins. You can have prizes that can we won if you want. I gave a Dunkin Donuts gift card to the winner. 
Warning: You never know what facts your family members might write down. So if there are children in the room, you might have to word things differently so that the kids don't understand. For example, one of the facts my family wrote down wasn't inappropriate, it was that they believed in Santa Clause until they were 12 and there was a kid in the room who still believed in Santa. So we had to word it differently. 



The next game that you could play is trivia. What I do is try to make it trivia that my family knows and enjoys. You could make it sort of Jeopardy-like and make a poster like the one seen below or you can just read the questions out loud and go through the different categories yourself. The Jeopardy-like poster allows your family to choose what category they want in what order and what difficulty order they want the questions in:.

Notice how I have created 5 different categories. "Kids" so that the children can get involved. Put fun facts about Frozen, or Disney shows like Austin & Ally or Jessie. The kids love being able to participate and they feel so good when they get something right! 

The "All in the Family" category is trivia about our family, but it's not stuff that is too easy. Each question in the category gets more and more difficult as you go down the line from 1 point to 5 points. 

You can split your family into two teams and have them write down their answers and for each correct answer, they get the allotted points. The team that gets the most points wins. Prizes optional again. 

The next game is SUPER easy and fun. This year, I wrote everyone a quick "thank you" letter about why I appreciate having them in my life and with the letter gave them a sheet of stickers with their names on the back in case they misplaced it. 

What you have everyone do is through out the day, try to get the stickers on other people WITHOUT THEM NOTICING. The first person to get rid of all of their stickers wins. Prizes are optional. 

This is an example of one of the letters with instructions and the sticker sheet.

The final game that I am suggesting to you today is a little bit more difficult. You can do a murder mystery game. You are going to have to be the narrator and probably the murder victim as well so that all can get involved. Come up with different motives for everyone to be the murder. Then you'll have to hide clues around the house and riddles on how to find them. Obviously the first person who figures out who the murderer is, wins. This game takes creativity and I admit it was a bit difficult to organize. But thankfully, it all worked out in the end and my family enjoyed it. 

My family greatly appreciated me putting together games like this and last Thanksgiving I was very pleased because my grandmother said it was the best Thanksgiving she's ever had. Sadly, she won't be with us on Thursday and it was her last Thanksgiving with us. So I'm glad to have made her final one a great one. Your family will love these games and it's almost impossible not have fun playing games with your family. 

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, and like always, feel free to email me with questions. jessica_panza@yahoo.com 

Ulcers and Acid Reflux

http://www.amazon.com/Ulcers-Acid-Reflux-Patients-Perspective-ebook/dp/B00NAMUXCA

Check out my book on the Amazon Kindle Store about Ulcers and Acid Reflux. I had stomach ulcers twice, and now suffer from acid reflux, so I published a book about my story and how to get through both conditions. This is a helpful guide written from my perspective, a patient who has gone through these difficult health conditions and overcame both. I went from being bed ridden with ulcers to getting back on feet and having a normal life once again. 

We all go through health scares and it's nice to have support from someone who has been through it before. Ulcers and Acid Reflux: From the Patient's Persepctive gives the reader helpful tips on both what to and not to eat and how to ease symptoms for both conditions. I give you a run through of the medications that I was put on, and there are even some funny stories in there to brighten your mood. 

I really hope that this book finds you well. 

Jes

Blank

My eyes stare at the page and it looks how I feel, blank. Every emotion has run its course  through my body, through my mind and escaped me leaving me empty and barren. I may one day be built again, piece by piece. But until then, I'm as white and plain as the page I stare at. I long to fill its bareness with the words that travel out of my soul onto the page to make it a piece of art. I long to give you your next piece of fantasy. To allow you to get wrapped in my words and lose yourself in the magic and the art that is writing. But right now I am blank, blank as the page I stare at.

Bands and Songs You're Missing Out on

Music is a big part of life. Musicians inspire people every day with their lyrics, beats, melodies, etc. People listen to music in any mood- happy, sad, excited; and in any situation- love, after a break up, when someone has died, etc. Many people listen to the radio when they're driving to help pass the time, or sing their heart out while nobody is around to hear. Others will plug in their headphones while on a jog or at the gym. And some listen to music while they're studying to help concentrate. 

Sometimes I will be listening to a particular band or song and think to myself "I wish people knew more about this song/band." So, why not write a blog post about some of the greats who aren't always recognized.

The first that I want to tell you about is a band that you probably have never heard of unless you caught me talking about them before going to one of their concerts...

The Sweet Remains

(Image taken from www.thesweetremains.com/photos)

I was introduced to this band by my boyfriend Chris. His father plays bass for a local band that covers the song "Been Too Good" by The Sweet Remains. I heard them play it at one of the local events our town holds and thought it was pretty good, but didn't think anything of it. Then Chris' parents got 4 tickets to go see The Sweet Remains at a venue called The Cutting Room in NYC. They asked me to go with them and Chris and I was very hesitant. My response was actually "I don't want to go see 3 men I've never seen before in my life. I don't know any of their songs, I'll be so bored." But, Chris made his cute puppy dog face and begged me to go with them in the days leading up to the show and I finally caved. On the way down to the city, when we were on the train, I sighed and asked myself "what did I get myself into? If I don't like these guys, I'm stuck in the city for hours, bored and what if my anxiety acts up?" I felt like I was dragged into a situation that was going to be Hell. 
And boy was I wrong. From the first song to the last, I was hooked. Rich Price, Greg Naughton, and Brian Chartrand make up this unique band with all original music that they've written together. Talented doesn't fit these guys because they're more than that. The type of music they play is almost indescribable. It's a mix between folk, country, and rock. Three amazing voices who harmonize together so well. 
They have two albums: "Laurel & Sunset" and "North & Prospect" 
Both are great albums filled with catchy songs that will make you want to sing along, sometimes dance, and even snuggle up with your significant other. 

My favorites are probably as follows:
"Spark"
"Dance with Me"
"Love Song" 
"Better Ways to Spend the Day"
"What I'm Looking For"

Check them out! You won't regret it! Here's a link to their website: http://www.thesweetremains.com/ 


The next is a song that you might be missing out on. 

"Forever" by Haim. This is a unique girl band that created this addicting song that will have you dancing and singing along. Unlike The Sweet Remains, I have not seen these girls in concert. However, they have an album out called Days are Gone that you might want to check out. But definitely check out the song "Forever. "

Here's a link to their website: 
http://haimtheband.com/

And here's a link to the music video for "Forever" on YouTube: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEwM6ERq0gc


"Shine" by Jason Mraz

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a major Jason Mraz fan. I actually did a blog post about him and Raining Jane after seeing them in concert back in September if you want to check it out. http://jessicapanza.blogspot.com/2014/09/music-is-living.html

Anyways, Jason Mraz and Raining Jane have an album out together entitled Yes! You may have heard the hit songs "Love Someone" and "Back to the Earth" from this album. The entire album is so creative and even features a cover of the Boys II Men song "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" where Jason shows off his voice with his wide range, amazing control and pleasing sound. Here's the link to the Boys II Men cover: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TIIat3o0z4&list=PLR9HWDKXWsZE1k96n56U5-uaqdDCFWGZV&index=8 

But the song that I REALLY want you guys to check out off the new album is "Shine." Wow!!! You know how they say to save the best for last. Well Jason and Raining Jane did because it's the last song on the album and it's a powerful one. They bring in the sitar on this one and combine it with a calming beat, Jason's spectacular voice, unique lyrics and LOVE. This song gives me the chills. It gets into your bones and runs over your skin and lifts your spirit. Be patient with the song. It starts off good, but at about 3 minutes in the power really kicks in and you'll hooked on it for life. Hearing this in concert in September was invigorating!! 

Here's the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkov1CS36po 
       Make sure to turn up the volume!! You're going to love it.


I hope you guys enjoy the music that I suggested. Feedback is always welcome. Feel free to contact me at my email address jessica_panza@yahoo.com 

Common Courtesy

Today I thought I would give everyone a helpful reminder that you shouldn't always be thinking about yourself first. Many people forget a thing called common courtesy. There are so many rude things that I see people doing, every day, everywhere I go, that could have been avoided if they had used common courtesy. It often makes me wonder how people get that way. Did they have parents who didn't teach them their manners and how to not always put themselves first? Or maybe they are rich and are so wrapped up in themselves because they are so used to everything going their way all of the time? Or maybe they are angry at world and don't want to change who they are because it's their "payback?" Or maybe they just are so naturally oblivious they seriously don't realize what they're doing? Whatever the reason is, everyone should take a good look at themselves and what they do on a daily basis and ask themselves "am I being a courteous person?"

Here are some of the common courtesies that people forget to practice every day:

1. Elevator Etiquette: Always, always let the people that are on the elevator get off before you get on. It is so rude to try to jam your way into the elevator before letting people off. It forces the people in the elevator to awkwardly try to turn and weave around you while you make the elevator more full and congested than it would have been if you had just stopped for 5-10 seconds to let the people off. 

-And a side note, keep small talk in the elevator to a minimum. A simple "good morning" or "have a nice day" is fine. I don't need to hear your life story while I'm forced into this claustrophobic space with you. 

2. Driving in the 3rd Lane on the Freeway: I've discussed this in a previous blog post, but if you haven't read it, here you go. If you are driving 65mph or under, THERE IS NO NECESSITY FOR YOU TO BE THERE. Also, the third lane is the passing lane. Therefore, stay to the right unless you are passing other cars. And if you are stagnant in the third lane and someone is behind you flashing their lights, by law you are to move over the second lane and let them pass. You heard me right. BY LAW YOU MUST MOVE OVER! The reason? Because it is illegal to pass on the right. Passing of cars must be done in the lane left of the car you are passing. Therefore, if you are in the third lane, THERE'S NOWHERE TO LEGALLY PASS SO GET OUT OF THE WAY! By making the person pass you on the right by you being stubborn and not getting out the way, you are causing that person to do something unsafe and illegal and you are the one who will be ticketed, not them. Cops can and will pull you over if they witness this occurrence so STOP IT!

3. Sneezing and Coughing: If you have the need to sneeze or cough in a public space, DO IT INTO YOUR ARM! Please do not cough or sneeze into your hands. That's disgusting!! You're just getting your germs all over your hands which you use to touch everything and spread your icky nastiness to other people. Or even worse, don't cough and sneeze just out in the open without making any effort to cover your mouth/nose with anything. People are disgusting... EWWWWW

4. When You're Driving in the Rain: PUT ON YOUR DAMN HEADLIGHTS!!! And if the sun is going down, PUT ON YOUR DAMN HEADLIGHTS!!!! Enough said.

5. When You're Sick: Don't come to work or school sick. The teacher will understand if you miss one class, and that's what you have sick days for. Please do not come in and infect the rest of us. It is so effin disgusting and not courteous at all, and SOOOOOO selfish when you decide that you getting to class or work is more important than the health of the people around you. Eff you, if you're one of these disgusting and selfish people.

6. Be on Time: UGHHHH So many people are late. I feel like I'm constantly waiting for people because they never have the decency or courteousness to show up at the time we agreed upon. Get your busy life together and learn how to be on time!!

7. Turn Your Phone on Silent: When you are at a wedding, in class, at work, at the movies, etc, TURN YOUR DAMN PHONE ON SILENT! You don't understand how rude you are being when there is a crucial moment occurring and your lame-ass ringtone starts going off for all to hear and interrupt. RUDE RUDE RUDE!

8. Cologne/Perfume: If you are going to be in a public place in close proximity of people for an extended period of time, i.e. school, work, movie theater, etc, please do not use too much cologne or perfume. You might think you smell great, but to the rest of us, you're making us want to barf. This last point I'm making I decided to bring up because I was in one of my law classes at school and a fellow student walked by and reeked of his cologne and for about 5 minutes, I thought I was going to start upchucking in the middle of class. Such a distinct smell should not be legal. And I feel bad for the women who had to sit near him for the entirety of class. Poor ladies...

Okay. I'm done with my ranting for today, but if you have any other common courtesies that you believe people should be practicing, feel free to email me and I'll try to make a funny rant about it in another post. jessica_panza@yahoo.com 

The Explanation

The reason why I haven’t been posting on the blog as much is because several weeks ago, my grandmother was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has been undergoing chemo therapy and radiation for 4 weeks now. This has been a very stressful situation on my family and I. She is 81 years old and we understand that things like this happen, but that doesn’t make it any easier realizing that we are going to lose her and not knowing when exactly. My grandmother made the decision to do the treatment in order to have a chance at extending her life. Her doctors were confident that because she was so healthy that doing the treatments were her best option because she would tack on more time. More time with her family, more time here on Earth. But the treatments are definitely taking their toll. I’m sure you can imagine how rough it is, especially if you’ve gone through it yourself or have had a loved one go through it. Sadly, the tumor is never going to be gone. They are just trying to shrink it in order to extend her life. And when I see her going through this is makes me wonder things.

Death is something that nobody can control yet everybody has to deal with. We have to watch loved ones pass away, never to see them again. And everyone, in the end, is going to die. It’s unavoidable and it’s depressing. So what do you do when you see a loved one suffering like this with no way to make it better? What do you say?  Is it really worth her going through this at her age? Is she going to be okay? Will I be okay? Will my family be okay? What will life be like without her? What is it going to be like to have no more living grandparents? Who am I going to call with my good news that’s going to say ‘you’re mine and I am so proud of you!’?

I really feel as though out of all her grandchildren, her and I are the closest. I am the most like her and always made sure to call to talk, to see her as often as I could, to write her letters to let her know I was thinking of her. We share many of the same attitudes toward different aspects of life, and are both so family based and love to love. Her and I have a certain type of bond that I will never have with anyone else because nobody will ever be able to replace her.

Some may say that I should not be putting my business out there, but I want to because you all deserve to know the truth. Maybe by me sharing this, there will be someone out there going through the same thing as me and be able to understand how I’m feeling, and we will be connected by those mutual hardships. And I also want to know what a great person my grandmother is. She doesn’t get the recognition that she deserves. She’s a truly phenomenal grandmother and mother who has always been there for everyone through thick and thin. She has gone to the ends of the Earth for her family and has created such strong and lasting values in our lives and directed us down a path where we have the opportunity to be successful and smart.

I hope that wherever I end up in life, I always make her proud. I want her always to look at me and say ‘that’s my granddaughter and I’m proud of her.’ Even when she’s not here anymore physically, I hope she does it in spirit.  I am so thankful for all of the wonderful memories I have of her and the time that I have been blessed with to spend with her.

Veterans Day

Sorry that I have not been keeping up with writing on my blog. I have been dealing with some things that I will explain in another post. But today is not about me, it's about the brave and courageous veterans who have served our country, in all branches of our military. 

Thank you to all the brave women and men

Who have served our country honorably

There were so many days and darks nights when

Bravery, your duty and honesty

Kept you far away from your families

And your loved ones missed you more than ever

When people are home watching the Grammy's

You are embarking on a great endeavor

You protect this, our country night and day

While everyone sleeps and counts jumping sheep

You are sacrificing your lives away

Nobody will ever stand up to you

You are appreciated with all you do

Poem by Jessica Panza

Terry Ford Rooney November 13,  1930 - August 24, 2007

Joseph Panza, Sr. September 10, 1923 - February 24, 2014

Today is a day that I honor my two grandfathers who bought fought for the USA. My grandfather on my mother's side, Terry, was a Korean War veteran; and my grandfather on my father's side, Joseph, was a World War II veteran. Both were brave men who did not like to speak about their time in the wars, but they loved us grandchildren more than we could ever ask for and we were so lucky to have them. I know that their spirits remain with us every day and I am so blessed to have been given the time I was to share with them. As long as our family is alive, their memories will be carried on with us. 

We all know someone is a veteran or serving our country. So don't forget to say thank you and show them that we care for and appreciate them! 

Happy Veterans Day! God Bless America!

Pressure

I thought you all would enjoy reading this poem that I wrote last night. I wrote it about how I've been feeling lately. It describes the immense amount of pressure I've been feeling lately. I am currently getting certified to be a paralegal and next semester I have to do an internship, so I've been searching for a law firm to do it at. With that, I need to pick one that has people who are going to be able to give me a wealth of knowledge about being a paralegal and prepare me for a career. In May, I will be finished with my certification and will be looking for a job and with that, an apartment. I will finally be moving out of my parents house after sucking money out their wallets like leaches do blood from a body. My head has been spinning because of all of the pressures that I feel are on top of me right now, endless decisions need to be made. I want to do what's right to ensure a good future for myself so that I am not living paycheck to paycheck and unhappy. 

At times I feel every nerve in my body

They all pulsate as my body grows tense

Rushes of anxiety and fear creep through me

What is the next step twenty years from now?

I feel like I always need to have a plan mapped out.

Part of it is the nurture I have learned

The man who raised me who has a routine

A routine for every inch of his waking life

He has engrained into my brain to plan, always plan

Part of it is all the people on the outside

Constantly taking a big gulp every time I say I'm 23

Yes I am still in school and living at home

Yes I still rely on mommy and daddy financially

Stop the pressure that constantly surrounds me

It makes me feel like everything I do has to be perfect

Bills, loans, marriage, kids, dog, salary, work

Everything life brings seems so filled with pressure

But please, pressure, stop bothering me. 

I know it's nothing much. But it's how I can turn my feelings into words on a paper. I know it's not 100% "poetic" in its format, but it's how it came out of me, in a natural state. 

Reading is Glorious

Reading is such an entertaining thing to do. If I could, I would read for a living. It's so much fun and I love diving into the minds of other writers and exploring their imaginations. Or if it's a non-fiction book, sometimes it can be a great learning experience. Here are some books that I've read recently that you might enjoy.

Novels:

The Beautiful Disaster series by Jamie McGuire:
These include Beautiful Disaster, Walking Disaster, the novella Beautiful Wedding,
and the blog post Mrs. Maddox. There is a third novel entitled Beautiful Oblivion that I have not read. However, the others that I mentioned of the series are simply powerful. They're a great and easy read for women. These are not the typical romance novel. Jamie McGuire puts a twist on the main story that follows Travis Maddox and Abby Abernathy. The first book is told from Abby's side of the story, then the follow up (Walking Disaster) is told from Travis' point of view. These books are true page turners and very hard to put down. The main novels are available in libraries if you are trying to save money, but also can be purchased online for Kindle or in book stores. 

(Image from: www.goodreads.com)

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini:
This book changed my perspective on life and the middle-east. This story follows Amir, the son of wealthy man. He grows up living with his widowed father in Afghanistan during the dying years of the Afghan monarchy. Amir is best friends with Hassan, his servant's son. Amir struggles to decide what is right and wrong in his years of growing up wealthy being friends with a rejected outcast, servant's boy. This book is full of life lesson, action, heartbreak, war, etc. And when you are done reading, there is a movie based off the book. 

(Image from: www.goodreads.com)

Teen:

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin:
This book was written for teens, but I believe a person of any age could enjoy this novel. Zevin takes a unique outlook on the afterlife through the eyes of Liz Hall, a teenager who has passed away after being hit by a taxi while riding her bicycle. She struggles to accept her death and longs to be back on Earth. Follow this heartwarming story as Liz makes her journey to Elsewhere. 

(Image from: www.goodreads.com)

Autobiography:

Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler:
This book is hysterical. You may know Chelsea Handler from being the host of "Chelsea Lately" on E!, which recently ended its final season. Chelsea, for those of her taste, is a comedic genius. She has a powerful, say anything personality. She isn't afraid to be herself and enjoy life to the fullest. In this book that she wrote, she tells several short stories from her past starting from childhood, going to adulthood. They are funny, crude, and down right entertaining. 

(Image from: www.goodreads.com)

History:

Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement by Sally G. McMillen:
This book tells the story of Seneca Falls, the revolutionary convention that changed the history of the women's rights movement in America. I actually read this in one of my history classes at UCONN and thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommend it highly to all interested in history or women's rights. 

(Image from: www.goodreads.com)

If you have any books that you want me to read/review, email me at: jessica_panza@yahoo.com 

My Harry Potter-ish Room

Anybody who knows me, knows that I have a bit of an obsession with the Harry Potter books and movies. If you read my previous post about my tattoos, you will see that I have the Deathly Hallows symbol tattooed on my back. I have always been interested in magic and witches and wizards. I loved watching movies like The Craft and Practical Magic growing up. My favorite season so far of American Horror Story was "Coven." So clearly, I was bound to get hooked on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling created a series that any young adult could get into. I remember being in 5th grade and playing with a fellow classmate at recess pretending we were in a wizarding duel. We imitated different spells like "expelliarmus" and the dreadful "avada kadavra." We used sticks as our wands and probably looked like two idiots, but we didn't care. We were having fun and no matter how much anyone made fun of us, we shared an interest in the magic and loved letting our imaginations explore during our free time. I often wonder if that girl remembers playing with me, pretending we were witches. It would be quite the story to laugh at together. 

This fascination of mine has continued into adulthood. I have enjoyed reading all 7 books, plus the supplement books and am now reading a book about the making of the 8 movies entitled "Harry Potter: Page to Screen, the Complete Filmmaking Journey." It's so good. It's a giant book that might take you a while to read. I'm sure it's expensive, so I checked it out from my local library. It is filled with amazing pictures of concept drawings, the actors at work, the locations they filmed at, and more. You should check it out if you're a HP fan. 

I am also a member of Pottermore. I was proudly sorted into Ravenclaw house. If you are a HP fan and are not part of Pottermore, you need to get on it. It is so much fun. It's a site run by J.K. Rowling and a team of graphic designers and web designers who have created moments for each chapter of the books. Every few months they release new moments. They are currently up to Book 4. Also, you can brew potions, duel students from other houses, and explore Diagon Alley and read some posts from the Daily Prophet. 

Anyways, let me get to what I intended to show you today, my bedroom, filled with Harry Potter things. I don't have nearly as much as other people out there, but I definitely have more than the average person. 

First up, I have 3 1,000 piece puzzles on my wall

Next, I have an autographed picture of Dan Radcliffe

And of course I have all 7 books, 8 movies and 3 supplement books on one of my shelves

I was gifted this HP Xmas Ornament that stays out all year round

And last but not least, I have the art projects:

A poster with "Muggle" written on it and the deathly hallows symbol

and the 4 house crests below it

And then I have a painted wooden block with my name and the deathly hallows symbol

And there you have it... My nerdy, Harry Potter room. Might have to get HP bedding next!