Getting To Know You... (7)

...Through Pets

So I have three cats that basically rule my life. My husband says I'm bordering on crazy cat lady and I have to admit... I don't think it's a bad thing. I love my cats so much and would totally get more if I could.

My favorite thing about having pets (besides, you know getting to spend time with them and love on them) is naming them. It's always the most important part of the adoption process and shapes how you and the rest of the world are going to view your animals. So here are my babies in order from when I got them:

Kikyo

She's the most spoiled cat alive. Being my first, she truly did get the most affection and she is a momma's girl because of it. She's not very active but when she does decide to stop sleeping, she enjoys playing fetch (yup, you read that right) with bread ties. We named her after a character in Inuyasha because I liked the pet name Kikers. She's a grey tabby.

Cairo

This little lady is exactly opposite of her sister. She's energetic, curious and a bit of a trouble maker. People tend to like her the best because she's beautiful but she's very skittish and has to warm up to you. Once she does, she's the sweetest little thing in the world. She's uber skinny and uber fast. She doesn't meow. In fact, when she opens her mouth the only thing that comes out is a high pitched breathy squeak or nothing at all. She's an orange and grey tabby.

Dexter

This tuxedo wearing little man is the newest addition. We found him snuggling a little kitten like a teddy bear and he went home with us that day. We had a hard time naming him because there were so many cool boy names. We settle on Dexter after the t.v. show because he is the "dark passenger". He's probably the most affection cat we have an is usually always in my lap while I'm at the computer or on top of my chair waiting for me to lean back so he can snuggle. He's a tuxedo cat!

So there is my brood. I love my cats so much and my house wouldn't be a home without them. So what about you? What pets do you have?

Getting To Know You... (6)

... Through Favorite Fictional Heroines

I figured that since I did best fictional guys last week, that I ought to follow up with their counterparts this week. This post is crazy hard to do because there are seven that come to mind right off the bat. It makes it even harder because women are usually the narrators in YA and I tend to love most of them! So in no particular order, here we go!

1) Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games- Of course I've chosen the lovely girl who was on fire! When it comes to girls that can take care of themselves, Katniss is so on top of this. She could walk into the woods tomorrow and disappear forever only to be found as a little old lady as healthy as can be still setting traps. She can hold her own in a fight, is amazing with a bow and arrow and really takes what she does seriously. She's not so silly girl flouncing around not doing anything. When she decides to take control, she does so actively. For that,  and many more reasons, I love her!

2) Yelena from Poison Study series- This girl is SMART. She knows how to survive and she's willing to fight for it, even with all odds against her and with a lifetime of torture under her belt. I love her acrobatic skills and how well the author (Maria V Snyder) puts them to use in the novel. She is fiercely loyal and can get through anything if put to the test. I also loved these novels for their murder mystery quality and enjoyed Yelena's ability to put together who-dun-it. She's my kind of girl!

3) Gemma Doyle from The Gemma Doyle Trilogy- Confined to an era that wouldn't allow her to be who she was, Gemma was one of the most powerful women I've read about in fiction. Being a witch, she allowed her powers to be enough to feed her through the rest of her everyday life. She wasn't afraid to go on an adventure but she wasn't a fool either. She knew when the danger was too great and she also knew when to listen to her gut. I'll never forget the girl who got locked in the church after going there on a dare by the mean girls.

4) Astrid Llewelyn from Rampant- The science nerd that will knock your skull in. Hello, Astrid is awesome. She doesn't even realize how awesome she is until the last quarter of the book but when she finally embraces it and busts through all the expectations everyone (read her mother here) has for her, she becomes a fully realized bad ass. Worse, she's a bad ass with a level head and a plan to change the future. She's fair, impressive in her hunting skills and * SPOILER* can talk to the most deadly and beautiful unicorn in existence.

5) Bea Szabo from How To Say Goodbye In Robot- I wanted to add a normal girl to this list because there are a lot of great heroines in contemporary fiction that tend to get overshadowed by the more kick ass females in the fantasy/paranormal genre. Bea, for me, is a modern day hero. I think she is because of her ability to really feel which is ironic because her mother calls her a robot. When reading this novel, I was amazed by how nonjudgmental Bea was. If you were nice to her, she was pretty nice to you and even when she made an unflattering observation, she said it more as a fact than to actually be mean. She also really cared what people said and really thought about the observations people made. She strong in a completely different way and by the end of the novel, I was so glad to see her have that strength. Bea's awesome!

Some runner's up:

• Maerad from The Books of Pellinor series
• Caitlin from Hold Still
• Tamsin from Once A Witch
• Jessica from Jessica's Guide to Dating On The Darkside

So what about you? Which ladies do you love from YA fiction?

Getting To Know You... (5)

... Though Fictional Boyfriends

I was trying to think of a fun post this week and this is what I came up with. With YA fiction exploding with swoonable guys, it's seems appropriate to have some major man crushes. So I wante doth share with you who'd I'd take from the predictable onwards. These guys are in no particular order and each have things I love about them.

1) Edward Cullen of the Twilight Saga- But I want me a very specific Edward Cullen. I want Edward Cullen from beginning to middle of Eclipse. I loved the Edward that fought with Jacob but respected Bella enough to let her wander off on her own. They've already been through the whiny "if you love them, let them go" stage and are now both happily a couple. I don't think there was a time when he was sexier in the novels. I'm not too proud to admit that I thought it was hot when he'd fight for Bella. Plus, I'm a sucker for the gentle giant and the whole I want to have you but I have to control myself thing is pretty great.

Other things I like about Mr. Cullen: His old fashioned tendencies (i.e. opening doors, jewelry with history, respect), his ability to run really fast, his strength, his paternal instincts, his composed manner

2) Peeta Mellark of The Hunger Games Trilogy- What's not to love about the boy with the bread? Peeta is everything I could want in a guy all wrapped up into one adorable blonde package. I like that he's the quiet thoughtful love interest that bursts onto the scene and can hold his own with the girl on fire. I also love that he's an artist and think it's prefect considering his time in the bakery. The best thing about Peeta is his heart. Time after time he shows that he not only pays attention but that he's one of the most caring individuals ever. I can't wait to see this crush come to life on the big screen!

3) Taylor from Hold Still- I wasn't kidding about really liking this kid. The fact that we met him skateboarding to school and that he doesn't talk to Caitlin, just merely keeps her company on the way even though they've never spoken had me glued to the novel, dying to see what he was going to try next. He knew she was hurting and was okay just being with her. Later, we find out he has a car (this was so funny!) and he lets Caitlin drive it even though she doesn't have a license because it will make her feel better. He's got a great sense of humor with is "Will work for sex" shirt but he's got enough humility to be embarrassed when he realizes he's accidentally won it in front of Caitlin's parents. He's thoughtful, sweet and willing to figure out who Caitlin is while she tries to figure it out too.

4) Gabriel from Once A Witch- this crush swept up on me and knocked me off my feet (like the best of crushes). I'll have a review on this soon but I'll just say now that I wasn't expecting this book to be amazing and it was more than that. I loved the the main love interest Gabriel. I always find stories where the love interest was friends with the MC first and then moved (or whatever else) and came back hot. This was Gabriel and he came back sure of himself. His dialog with Tam is witty and hilarious, his dark black hair and dark eyes are alluring and oh yeah, he's a flippin' powerful wizard who can find your lost keys or long lost relative you didn't know you had. Plus, he's a talented musician. 'Nough said.

5) Lucius from Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Darkside- Oh man was this guy smooth. He was conceited, rude, and stubborn but that's what made Jessica and Luc's chemistry so right. From the moment he walked into the bar, nose up in the air and pants perfectly tailored to show his frame, I was in love. I guess I have a thing for vampires but this guy was so smooth talking, who wouldn't? Not only that but throughout the book, his true personality starts to show and he's revealed to not be as rude as he first seems. Every conversation, every biting bit of laughter, every intense glance had me ripping through the novel's pages and wishing there were about a million more.


So what about you? Which guys or gals always make you smile when you read them?

Getting To Know You... (4)

... Through T.V. Shows
So this one is difficult. The reason why is because I don't watch much t.v. but I watch a lot of t.v. shows. I'm obsessed with buying seasons or using Netflix to keep me updated on all the latest and I follow a lot of shows... Going to try to keep it down to the basics and there are sure to be shows left out. These are in no particular order.

1) Glee- So you've probably heard of the show unless you've been living under a rock. It's basically my high school experience minus the great hair, great clothes, and all the all-star singers and dancers. I was in chorus before Glee made it hip. But let me tell you, I love watching them do it. All of those "kids" can sing. I mean, we've got Matthew Morrison who plays Will Schuster and was the original Link in the Hairspray broadway cast. Then there is Lea Michele (Rachel Berry) who is hilarious, can sing like there is no tomorrow (and if she is sining telling me there isn't, then I believe her who starred in Spring awakening on broadway. The greats like Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel from the original Wicked broadway cast. You can't go wrong with this show. Don't get me started on how funny Jane Lynch is as Sue Sylvester. If you haven't watched it, do yourself a favor and do that NOW. Great music, great singers, great plot, funny and heartwarming characters... what's not to like?

2) Supernatural- As I'm typing this I can hear the dvd menu screen's music in my head. I was blown away by this show. Not only do I dislike scary things but I hate male leads that are all tough and rugged and grumble when they talk. But this show makes it all work. I take it all back. Every single thing. They made me like a genre I'm terrified of because of great character building, an intensely fascinating relationship between the two brothers, awesome story telling with a plot that was all leading up to something big over five seasons AND delivered and with pacing, intensity and humor up the wazoo. Looking at these two helps a little too. Seriously though, this show gives me nightmares in the best way and it respects it's main characters. Basically, we aren't following around two idiots who don't get the Big Picture until it's too late. They are smart. As soon as I've figured out (or sometimes before) what's going on, so have they and they can work under pressure. I can't say enough good things about this show and do it justice. I love it because it's funny, scary as all hell and really understands the leads.

3) The Office- Dunder Mifflin and I are down. I love this show and it's so odd because at first, I couldn't stand it. I think the biggest thing about this show is you have to watch a few episodes to get what it's about. This is what I have gathered-- it's about a wacky caring boss who's a little off all the time and coined the phrase "that's what she said". It's about a guy who really loves a girl he works with and she loves him too. It's about a crazy sales associate who is by the book and also owns his own beet farm. It's about an odd mesh-up of people coming to work everyday and making it their through hilarious stunts in games. Micheal Scott, Jim Halpert, Dwight Schrute, Pam Beesly and everyone else who works there is the office and they are great. I love figuring out what this show is going to do next. My favorite line of all time was spoken by Michael Scott on the roof of the Scranton branch talking about suicide... "Dwight, you ignorant slut...". Truly words to move a nation.

4) Dexter- Yup, it's time for everyone's favorite serial killer. Again, I don't like scary things and I can't stand blood and gore. So I should hate this, right? All logic points that way and yet, I can't get enough of this show. Seriously, you could wheel it in by the truckload and butt would stay glued to that couch in front of my t.v. I thought I'd hate being inside Dexter's mind, listening to his running dialog and justifications for doing what he does... and then he doesn't give any. He knows it's sick and not normal but he also knows killing is a part of him and he must do it. The ONLY reason he kills other killers is because his father (a cop) told him that's how he was to fulfill his "urges" (I also think that tracking a killer is more interesting game for him even though it's never actually said). The best part is Dexter works for the cops as a blood specialist. Seeing him on scene, gathering clues only he'd know because of what's going on inside his head is so fascinating and you end up rooting for the guy. Another show with great characters that pushes you just to your limit as far as plot goes and then races over that line.

5) Inuyasha- This one comes out of nowhere, I'll admit. I'm actually a closet anime buff but the thing about that is I'm very limited in my selection. I fell in love with the story of a girl who could cross the border of time into a past that was filled with demons and monsters and one very sweet dog-demon who also sort of loves her in his own way. The show was great a giving the right amount of action (with awesome fight scenes and beautiful deaths) mixed in with a little bit of romance, beautiful scenery, a funny cast of interesting characters and the right amount of tragedy (who am I kidding, Kikyo is all the tragedy anyone could need). Plus, you wanna pick a team-- try Team Inuyasha vs. Team Kouga. Now THAT's a choice(ironically, one's a wolf demon).

Some shows I didn't fit:

• True Blood
• Scrubs
• My Name Is Earl
• Dollhouse
• Vampire Diaries

So what about you? What keeps your eyes glued to the tube?

Getting To Know You... (3)

... Through Favorite Authors
My last post was about favorite novels so I want to take this chance to explain that obviously my favorite books are written by my favorite authors. For the purpose of this post, I will be picking other authors so we don't get more of the same. There are so many good books/authors out there to limit myself to five of the same! Again, these are my authors in no particular order.

Libby Bray's author photo

1) Libby Bray (author of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy & Going Bovine)- I read the Gemma Doyle trilogy before I knew they were YA. The cover of the book drew me in and Bray's writing swallowed me whole. I was completely enchanted. Then I found her website...

She was a completely different person than the lady that wrote this epic historical paranormal romance. She was hilarious and within about five lines into her posts I was literally snorting. Anyone who is willing (and comfortable) walking around New York City in a cow suit to advertise their newest novel is okay by me. Her web video with Maureen Johnson going into the American Girl doll store might have been one of the funniest things I've seen. For her awesome writing, great personality and all around hilariousness, Libby Bray is definitely one of my favorite authors!

2) Maria V. Snyder (author of Poison Study trilogy)-  I stumbled upon this series before it was considered YA (though I was delighted to see it was moved there later on). I was captivated from the first page and had NO IDEA how Yelena was going to get herself out of the situation she found herself in the beginning of the novel. The series continued to stay strong, getting better with each installment.

Snyder knows how to write characters that stick with you. I cared about each one by the end of the series and I had every confidence that the character would not only continue to make smart decisions but would also be able to take care of themselves (this isn't to say I didn't worry about them, I just knew they weren't going to go all flakey on me at the end). She's also marvelous at world building and her magic system was great!

I was lucky enough to meet her. I'm the one in the green and blue

3) Mari Mancusi (author of Gamer Girl & Boys That Bite series)- I've only ever read Gamer Girl by her and I really enjoyed that novel. What I loved most was it was about an audience that doesn't get much recognition... a girl obsessed with anime and slightly addicted to an online game. This is a rising majority in school's today and I never see novels about them. I liked getting snippets of her game playing along with her everyday life.

I pop by her blog often and she's always so pleasant to read about. Mancusi does the coolest things-- cosplaying at signings and visiting vampire cafes in Japan. Sign me up for an adventure with her any day!

4) J.K. Rowling (author of the Harry Potter series)- Yup, Miss Harry Potter herself definitely makes my list of things to do today (sorry for the Fall Out Boy references but I don't get many oppurtunities to use it and I'm taking this one).

What's not to love about a woman who literally made an entire generation want to read again? I was a little late to the Harry Potter craze but when it hit me, it hit me hard. When I decided to finally wander on over to buy the books the fifth novel had just come out. I bought the first one, read it one sitting and immediately (actually I begged my mom to immediately) went back out to get the next two books. It was a week of Hogwats and by the time I got to the last book out  I was hardcore. So hardcore, that for the next two books I helped my local bookstore for the midnight release by dressing as Trelawney and running houses. The last year I wasn't even working there.

I don't think I need to explain why I love this series so much. Basically Universal made an entire land out of it, so yeah.

5) Megan Crewe (author of Give Up The Ghost)- I really enjoyed reading Give Up The Ghost. All of the characters were great, the MC was believable and strong, and the plot kept me guessing. What I really liked about this novel was the fact that the paranormal and reality were expertly blended for an easy, interesting red. Not only was this novel wonderful to read, she's so generally nice!

Don't believe me?

Check out the interview and giveaway I posted on my blog. She was really responsive to my e-mails and seemed generally interested in what I had to say. Not only that but she gives a great interview that, for me at least, really enhanced my reading experience.

I can't wait to read what she's currently working on!

There are a bunch of other authors that could go on here and I'm sure many more will join this list but for now, this is it! So what about you? Who are some of your favorite authors and why?

Getting To Know You... (2)

...Through Favorite Books
Most of us have a little common ground to stand on. Pretty much every single blog I follower or who follows me blogs about books. It's odd to me that I visit sites everyday, read reviews and posts and don't really know too much about anyone. That's why I started these posts. So on to that common ground. Here's a list of my top 5 favorite books (in no particular order)!

1) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer- Some people love it, others hate but there's no doubt about it, this book sparks some pretty powerful feelings. I understand both sides and I get the flaws of this book. But all of those terrible things people say don't change one thing and that's the way I felt when I was reading this book. Going back to 9th grade, I can remember wanting someone so bad it hurt. I can remember my whole day being ruined because He didn't wave to me in the hall. Bringing that back today, most of my days are ruined when my husband says something rude to me or ignores me. So I get that crazy, do-anything-for-the-other person love Meyer's was striving to create. I traveled up to Seattle to see her on her Breaking Dawn Concert Tour and walked through the woods she describes in the novel. The thing I've always loved about walking through the woods is that feeling that anything can happen right beyond that tree. She brought that feeling back for me and whispered into my ear "yes, all those daydreams are true". By God, I want to believe her. Love them or hate them, this is one of my top favorite novels. Even now her characters stay with me and after the last page was turned I was still thinking about them.

2) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- (A.K.A. The Lottery and Most Dangerous Game tied into one amazing bow.) I still sit up at night thinking about the horror Cato (and Katniss and Peeta) went through at the end of this first novel. I hate novels with little to no dialog, The Hunger Games was paragraph after paragraph, page after page of nothing but Katniss's thoughts. This novel told me what I liked and what I didn't like and by the time it was over, I believed it. Everything about the story, the characters and the writing pulled me. The moment I'm sure things can't get any worse, they deteriorate even further. It only took me one chapter to care about Katniss and her cause. The best thing about these books is they are all on the same par as the first one. Catching Fire is just as powerful, just as mind numbingly horrifying as the first installment and Mockingjay has already made me almost break down a few times. I worry about these characters not as fiction printed on a page but as real friends.

3) Rampant by Diana Peterfruend- So it's this book about killer unicorns. That's the part where I lose most people. But let me say, this novel is incredible. I loved being whisked off to Rome with Astrid and seeing the hidden beauties just under the citizen's noses. It was also great to watch this girl grow into a kickass heroine. In the beginning of the novel, you can tell it's there and by the end, she screaming it at the top of her lungs while cutting off your head. Yeah, she's that good. The writing is what really impressed me with this one. Everything felt so effortless, and page after page, this book kept getting better. I love when author's aren't afraid to ask the hard questions and this author doesn't shy away from the dicer subjects!

4) Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater- I'd heard a lot of things by the time I got around to buying this novel. I was not expecting to be blown away by the icy, fast paced mood of this novel. Everything about it felt cold and desperate which really fit the story well. Stiefvater has such an amazing way with the written word and I loved being in both perspectives. I have to admit, Sam was more fun for me. I loved all the characters, and they also stuck with me. Another awesome thing about this novel is how Stiefvater turned the werewolf legends on their head a bit and made them her own. Instead of sticking safe and playing by the rules, we get this really imaginative reinvention. I was also impressed that she allowed the wolves to actually be wolfish in that form. They did some bad things and while they are wort of sorry about it, they own up to it. Stiefvater did an amazing job of letting the reader for their own opinion from there. It gave me that sense of danger without out right stating "I'm dangerous".

5) If I Stay by Gayle Forman- I can't say enough about this book. I knew going into to expect something horrible to happen but I had no idea how heartbreaking this novel was going t be. It gave me moments of pure joy, watching her evolve, but they was always this underlying urgency pulsing through them. I loved spending time with all of the characters, My favorites were Adam, Grandpa and the parents. But the lovely thing about this novel is all the characters feel three dimensional and I was interested in hearing their stories. The writing was so smooth with some of the most beautiful lines I've ever read. I wanted to laugh, I wanted to cry, I wanted to yank Mia out of the novel to make sure she makes the right choice. This novel stuck with me long after I was finished reading and I can't wait for the sequel!


Honorable Mentions: Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray, Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey, The Books of Pellinor by Alison Croggon, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi, and Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

So what about you? What are your favorite books? If you decide to use this to write a post of your own, link it in the comments so I can read it! Happy reading!

Getting To Know You...

... Through Music!
As a writer I am constantly on the prowl for new amazing music to inspire me. I've always been a huge music fan. I was in choir back in high school (and part of college) before Glee made it cool (I LOVE that t.v. show!) and am singing almost every second of the day. When my husband and I discovered Rock Band, I even taught myself to play the guitar and sing at the same time. It sounds silly but it's a great party trick and makes me feel like a "serious musician" (who plays a fake instrument while looking at the t.v. to give me the right buttons to play, but I digress).

What I'm getting at is, I draw on music for all my inspiration and feel like my music tastes say a lot about me. For this reason, I wanted to post my top 6 favorite bands (not in any order, I love them all equally).

    1.  Incubus- I like to joke with my husband that this band is my first love because I've loved them longer than I've even known my husband (which is saying a lot since we've been together for 7+ years and considering I'm only 23...). Everything about their music is right for me. The moment I stopped and listened to their lyrics I fell in love. Brandon Boyd (the lead singer) has such a way of seeing the world at its most basic form and writing lyrics that encompass it. Their albums Make Yourself, Morning View and Light Grenades have been on my playlist on repeat since they came out and each song still speaks to me. I mean, check out these lyrics from "Monuments and Melodies":

"My past is perilous

But each scar I bear sings

Monuments to where I've been

And melodies to where I am going...

You make me happy

You magnify my better half"

Those lyrics set behind the slow, swaying music and rolling drumbeat as Boyd crones how happy his lover makes him is enough to set the room on fire. Most everything they sing is poetic and beautiful and as simple as saying "you make me happy". You probably know them best for: "Drive", "I Wish You Were Here" and "Love Hurts"

     2.  Jimmy Eat World- I call these guys the poor man band. My reasoning is because most of their lyrics speak to middle class America and the experiences everyone has growing up. Like Incubus, Jimmy Eat World has this wonderful way of making deep and complex observations about the world and then cutting away the excess fat to make incredibly effective and simple lyrics for their songs. Unlike the band in my number spot, Jimmy Eat World always has this amazing almost 50's sock hop sort of feel to their music. Every time I hear them, I feel like I should be hanging out with my guy at a diner, drinking milkshakes. You probably know them for their songs: "In The Middle" and "Big Casino"

    3.  Paramore- I stumbled across Paramore through good old fashion work. I'd been hoping to find some pretty great Panic! at the Disco songs and downloaded one that sort of sounded... like a girl singing. Completely in love with the song, I typed in the word that came up the most in the song "Emergency" and came up with a picture of a petite orange-haired pixie with lungs the size of Texas. I downloaded a few more songs and i was hooked! Since I found them, they've released a bunch of new stuff and their music keeps evolving. It's upbeat, fun and thoughtful. Their newest album Brand New Eyes has been out for a long while now and it's still a favorite on my playlist and in my car. They also happen to have one of my favorite lyrics ever in a little song called "Playing God":

"If God's the game that you're playing

Well, we must get more acquainted

Because it has to be so lonely, to be the only one that's holy

It's just my humble opinion but it's one that I believe in

You don't deserve a point of view

If the only thing you see is you"

Because of their great rock sound, Haley's amazing vocals and awesome lyrics, Paramore is definitely part of my top 6. You know them best for: "Decode", "Misery Business", "Ignorance" and "Only Exception"

   

   4.   Mutemath- So, you know those guys that are always tucked in the back of the music room, actually studying their craft? This band is comprised of them. These guys are musicians first and foremost. I want to one of their concerts and they blew me away, switching instruments, providing long instrument interludes and even improvising during songs. It was incredible. I realize that this band (perhaps the most out of all the bands I list here) is an acquired taste. They put singing on the back burner for the music but when they do, it's SO good. All of their songs are incredibly basic but they still are able to capture such wonderful emotion. Check out Lost Year:

"'Cause nothing's a breeze, we suffer, we bleed

For two hearts to beat as one

We learn as we go, at least now we know

Something we can't become, become"

It's a song about a couple breaking on but holding on to the years it was good. It sounds depressing but my husband and I used this as the last song at our wedding. Coming from divorced families, we both know how easily things can crumble but it can still be happy. You know this band best by: "Typical"

    5.  Flyleaf- As I'm typing in this band's name, I'm already singing a song from their newest album. When I first heard Flyleaf, I thought Kittie was making a comeback. "I'm So Sick" is heavy and features little Lacey (the lead singer) screaming her voice out at some parts and I still found a way to fall in love. Their newest release has strayed away from their heavier roots to tell an amazing story. At a concert, Lacey explained how most of their newer songs are loosely based on people they met while on tour who told the band their stories. Every song on Memento Mori is heartfelt and beautiful and Lacey voice always sounds so desperate like she's trying to reach out from the speaker and warn you even though it's too late. You know them best for: "I'm So Sick" and "Again"

    6.  The Material- So you want a band that rocks, with a singer so awesome she'd give the rest of the popular bands today a run for their money and with lyrics so great I'm completely jealous I didn't think of them? If so, then you are looking for The Material. I stumbled across them while playing Rockband and knew i could take on their song. I'm ashamed to say I failed out the first time but just kept trying. With every listen, I feel deeper in love with their song "Moving to Seattle" and had to find out who this awesome band was. Then I discovered that they are still trying to make it into the business and that I was lucky enough to be one of the few towns they were coming to play in. I met the band, bought a few c.d.s (which sadly only had 6 tracks) and had a great time. If you get a second, seriously consider looking into this band. They are incredible!

Colleen from The Material and I

So those are the bands that dominant my playlist and always leave me wanting more. I've always felt that art inspires art and these bands really do the trick for me. I hope you've learned a little something and maybe found an awesome new band to check out!

What about you? Which bands can you not get enough of? Let me know in the comments below or if you do your own post, link it here!