Happy New Year!!!

To All Who Visit, 

Have a Happy New Year!!!!!  May 2011 bring you happiness and good cheer!!!

My New Years Resolutions/Follow Friday

Follow Fridays asks, "What are you New Years blogging resolutions?"

I meant to write a post about this sometime this week, so I figured why not participate in FF while posting it. :-)

Brooke's Box of Books New Years Resolutions for 2011

Goal 1: To get at least 6 reviews in per month. Currently, I've been trying to review something once a week. That's pretty much due to procrastination on my part. :-) As this is a book blog, I feel that I should try to get a few more reviews in each month.

Goal 2: To increase traffic and comments. I'd love to reach 200 followers by Dec. 31st, 2011 and to get a few more comments on my posts. I'm going to try to reach this goal by creating more interactive and exciting posts. 

I also plan on participating in some of the big blog giveaway meme's.  I'll be participating in a big giveaway meme in January.  I like being able to share books and things with people who might like them.  Also, I know how good it feels to win things and I like to pass that feeling on to others!

Goal 3: To host a few authors. This resolution has been underway for a while. I have already scheduled two blog tours for February. In the past, I was a bit worried about doing these because I didn't want to read something I wasn't sure I'd love. The two authors I'll be hosting in February are semi-self published and have some books with interesting concepts. I look forward to posting my reviews and their interviews in 2011! I've already reached out to a few authors in hopes of adding to this list!

Goal 4: To continue to keep on doing my best here on the blog! I've loved meeting all you bloggers this year, as well as learning the ropes of what it takes to be a blogger. If anything, 2010 taught me that things are possible if you stick your neck out there and try.

And that's it. There are my four main goals for BBOB's in 2011. I wish everyone luck in achieving their own resolutions set for the year to come!

bollywood stars without clothes

bollywood actress without dress, kareena kapoor, Katrina Kaif,....

Celebrities without Cloths, Clothes of Celebrities, Stars without dress, Celebrity without Underware, Sexy Celebrities, Bollywood Stars without Bra, Wallpapers, Pictures and Images without clothes

Six months later----Cardinal Climax and weather

Besides the issues surrounding economy, currencies, corporations and government (among other things)--I had an eye on another player in the cardinal climax of 2010 summer--Weather. I wondered about our strange weather last spring and summer. If you have forgotten, it was pretty hot Some say one of the hottest.

And then I read about a huge part of Greenland's ice melted right in the middle of the cardinal climax----in early August.

A piece of ice four times the size of Manhattan island has broken away from an ice shelf in Greenland, according to scientists in the U.S.

The 260 square-kilometer (100 square miles) ice island separated from the Petermann Glacier in northern Greenland early on Thursday, researchers based at the University of Delaware said.

The ice island, which is about half the height of the Empire State Building, is the biggest piece of ice to break away from the Arctic icecap since 1962 and amounts to a quarter of the Petermann 70-kilometer floating ice shelf, according to research leader Andreas Muenchow

And now here we are with more extreme weather. I was very surprised to see a 7 day rainstorm here in Los Angeles make it clear across the United States to the East coast and then move northwards and become this winter snow dump on New England. Normally, "our" weather hits the Rockies and then heads south out to the gulf or north. My understanding is it does not usually trek straight across like it did this month. Then this month there was a weird summer snow storm in Australia

For me a lot of this speaks to Uranus. Uranus got all the way to Zero Aries this summer and then retreated to Pisces. On the Sag New moon earlier in December it turned direct and is now heading for Aries where it will stay for about eight years. The last time it was in Aries was during the Depression and the Dust Bowl Days. No surprise to me that Uranus tiny move into Aries and we lose a big ol' chuck of ice. What is to come? Who knows? But I would venture a guess that the tension that was evident in the cardinal cross between Uranus/Jupiter/Pluto and Saturn planted some seeds in our weather's future.

2011 New Year Pictures

My best 2011 New Year Pictures collection. Free 2011 New Year Pictures - Download Now.

Happy New Year 2011

I wish you the Happy New Year 2011, all your dreams come true in 2011. Have the best health and wealth.

Happy New Year 2011 !!!
Happy New Year 2011 !!!
Happy New Year 2011 !!!
Happy New Year 2011 !!!

Wallpaper New Year 2010

Here are some fantastic Wallpaper New Year 2010. I am sure you will love it.

kareena kapoor phone number address filmoghraphy and biography

Date of Birth
21 September 1977, Bombay, Maharashtra, India

Birth Name
Kareena Randhir Kapoor

Nickname
Bebo

Height
5' 5" (1.65 m)

Mini Biography

Kareena was born to Sindhi-speaking Babita (nee Shivdasani) and Punjabi-speaking Randhir Kapoor on September 21, 1977 in Bombay, India. She has an elder sister, Karisma.

She is born in a family that have been actors for generations, including her paternal great-grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor; her grandfather, Raj Kapoor; her paternal uncles, Shammi, Shashi, Rishi, and Rajiv; as well as aunt, Neetu Singh, & Jennifer Kendall, the wives of Rishi and Shashi respectively. On her maternal side, her grandfather, Hari Shivdasani, and aunt, Sadhana, have been actors in their own rights.

As a child she studied in Jamnabai Narsee School in Juhu, Bombay, and thereafter was enrolled in Dehra Dun's prestigious Welham Girls' Boarding School. Then she re-located to Harvard for approximately 3 months to take a course in Information Technology and Microcomputers. Upon her return to India, she joined the Government Law College in Churchgate, Bombay, but left it after one year, to enroll in the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting School.

Her dad, Randhir is very protective towards his daughters and wanted both of them to keep away from acting, get married, and settle down, as per the Kapoor family tradition. This led to irreconcilable differences between her parents, ultimately leading to a divorce, with both sisters leaving their dad to live with their mom.

Her film debut was in the year 2000 with 'Refugee' along with the debut of Amitabh Bachchan's son, Abhishek. She went on to appear in 31 other Hindi movies, and has thus far won four awards for her performances in 'Refugee', 'Chameli', 'Dev', and 'Omkara'.

She is one of the most sought-after actresses in Bollywood, considered bankable, with an enviable A-listing and as of June 2007 is to appear in 'Tashan', 'Lajjo', 'Kismat Talkies' amongst others.
IMDb Mini Biography By: rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)

Trade Mark

Her lips

Trivia

Younger sister of Karisma Kapoor

Granddaughter of Raj Kapoor, great-granddaughter of Prithviraj Kapoor and great-great-granddaughter of Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor

She is the second daughter of actress Babita Kapoor, and actor Randhir Kapoor. They have broken the taboo of Kapoor family girls acting in movies.

Loves horseback riding and cooking

Turned down a role in _Bride and Prejudice (2004)_.

Did not attend her cousin's (Riddhima Kapoor) wedding with Bharat Sawhney that took place in Bombay on Wednesday January 25, 2006. Also absent was her sister, Karisma, and mom, Babita.

Her great grandfather (Prithviraj Kapoor), her grandfather (Raj Kapoor) and his two brothers (Shammi & Shashi), her mother (Babita), her father (Randhir) and his two brothers (Rishi & Rajiv) have all been film stars over the last fifty years and her sister (Karisma) have been acting in Bollywood flicks keeping it all within the family.

Listed as number 6 of 'Top Bollywood Actresses' of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25- 2006)

She is best friends with fellow actress Amrita Arora.

She befriended Konkona Sen Sharma on the sets of 2006 movie Omkara.

Good friends with actress Esha Deol.

Although Kareena's prescribed diet includes paranthas, momos, cheese, pasta and bananas, which are mostly considered fattening, it is her daily practice of yoga that keeps her fit for her role in Tashan (2008).

Has lived secretly with Saif Ali Khan. At the Lakme Fashion Awards in October 2007 they made their liaison official.

Personal Quotes

Life is full of happiness and tears, be strong and have faith.

I want a man I can keep for myself. I wouldn't ever share my man with anyone else.

I am not a home breaker and I can never be. I haven't been brought up to create havoc in other people's homes.

If I found out that my man is unfaithful, there'd be no tears, no shor-sharaba, I'd just slaughter him.

Men are gutless. Why can't they own up to the women they love?

A lot of guys try to mingle with me because of who I am. If I encounter a guy with a clean heart, I will go by my instincts. I guess my man won't be from the film industry.

I am a hell raiser. I do my own thing. And I believe what I do is the right thing.

I wouldn't be able to turn a blind eye to my husband activities like other star wives. I will be screaming down this throat, demanding an account of every minute of his. So you see an actor won't be good for my peace of mind.

The most shocking part of the articles linking me with Hrithik Roshan was the insinuation that I was willing to give up my career to run after him. Please! Not for a man, never.

My co-stars call me selfish. They say you are only interested in yourself and what you are only interested is yourself and what you are doing in front of the camera. I reply, I can't help it; it's what got me where I am.

The one thing I like being in a relationship is that we get to share things. Our experiences about life, comparing notes about things that have happened to us. Then you get companionship, which is great. You laugh, you talk, you fight. There's a mazaa in that. I like everything about being in a relationship. I like feeling secure. I like the companionship, making the other person happy. And if you're in a good relationship, there's nothing you don't like about it.

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance, Action, Adventure
Perfect for: Readers who are looking for a light fairy tale
Star Rating: 3/5

Taken from Goodreads, "Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face… and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart."


I had the great honor of winning this book from a fellow blogger. I went into this book with high expectations because of the fan base it has. While this book didn't let me down per se, it didn't live up to expectations.


'The Iron King' is a fun read. Simple as that.  It's lighter than the typical fey stories that have been out in past years (ie: 'Replacement', 'Tithe'). Funny, the book I can most easily compare it to is 'Twilight'. It had that same sort of feel. The story flow is very light, jovial-- even in times when the characters are in mortal danger. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, just different from what I expected.


The romance is cute, even if it's totally predictable. At this point, I've gotten used to having instantaneous romances in my YA fantasy reads and 'The Iron King' is no exception to this trend. The romantic ties between the characters are formed fast. Thankfully, even with those quick love ties, main character Meghan doesn't fall into the trap that other YA heroines fall into. She keeps her cool and direction, even as she begins falling in love with a certain character. She keeps her eye on the mission at hand, while occasionally oogling the males in her party.  (The end has a bit more of oogling, but I can forgive that!)


Pushing the storyline aside, I do enjoy the characters in this series. They all have at least one attribute that I latched onto. Puck, for example, has some great sarcastic lines that verge on snarky. Ash and his incessant need to battle Puck was entertaining, because you know neither one really means to do anything other but injure eachother.   (It helps that he actually does come off as pretty darn hot on paper!)  Meghan's 'go with the flow' attitude about her being part fey was refreshing. And Grim, well, I adore Grim. His Cheshire nature made me adore him instantly. He's the character I wonder about-- what are his intentions and what deals might he be calling in in future novels?


'The Iron King' is one of those reads that you should look at. It is a light story that sucked me in without me even knowing it.  One of those reads where you'll find yourself rooting for the characters and even feeling bad for some of them!


This book gets 3/5 stars from me.  I had to take off a few stars because I felt it was a bit over hyped. Still good, but just not as fantastic as expected.  'The Iron King' is on bookshelves online and in stores now. Take a peek!

2010 Highlights-- A Year in Review

2010 has been quite a year, hasn't it? Who would have thought this little blogging adventure would become what it is today? It's kind of amazing. 2010 has not only been a year of discovering new hobbies, but also a year of some great reads and some excellent opportunities.

Here, dear readers, is Brooke's Box of Books 2010 Highlights-- A Year in Review.

First Book Read in 2010:

'The Seven Rays' by Jessica Bendinger

My Favorite Debut Novel or Stand Alone Read of 2010:

'Hex Hall' by Rachel Hawkins

Runners Up:

'Knightley Academy' by Violet Haberdasher

'The Grimm Legacy' by Polly Shulman

'Birthmarked' by Caragh M. O'Brien

'Tigers Curse' by Colleen Houck

'Nightshade' by Andrea Cremer

'Matched' by Ally Condie

Best New Book in a Series of 2010:

'Empire of Night' by Justin Somper

Runners up:

'Guardian of the Gate' by Michelle Zink

'Spirit Bound' by Richelle Mead

'City of Ships' by Mary Hoffman

'Mockingjay' by Suzanne Collins

Most Irritating Read of 2010 (aka The Book I Read Like There Was No Tomorrow, but Wanted To Ring the Characters Necks Half the Time):

'Torment' by Lauren Kate

Runner up:

'Spells' by Aprilynne Pike

The 'At Least I Tried To Like It' Book of 2010:

'Shiver' by Maggie Stiefvater

Runner Up:

'The Dark Divine' by Bree Despain

Last Book Read in 2010:

'The Iron Queen' by Julie Kagawa

And there you have it-- my favorite and not so favorite reads of 2010.  In total, I will have read 63 new books this year, which is roughly a book a week.  Geez Louise!  That's quite a bit, I think!

Now that you've seen my list, I want to know what you think of the slew of books that came out in 2010...  What was your favorite?  What was your least favorite?  Share your comments below!

Mercury Turns Direct---December 30th

Mercury turns direct December 30 2:20am EST

Just a few more hours to go and Mercury will be flying straight. And together we say "Phew". I know I said back in the beginning of the month that I didn't believe this was going to be an extraordinary awful retrograde. And I dared to say that I think I might 'like' this retrograde.

“How much do things really cost us?” This is part of the dialogue that we will be processing the entire time Pluto is in Capricorn (18 years) but whenever we have a Mercury retrograde in Capricorn we will get a gift of a personal experience. Watch what comes up during the retrograde? How is your inner CEO going to fix it? What does your brain tell you is the smartest solution? How can you think on your feet and come up with strategic solution? I dare say, this could actually be a ‘fun’ retrograde as you learn how to be a CEO of your life. Yeah, there will be eff ups. Yes, tickets will be purchased and no one will have a record of it, yes, you’ll leave a message for your friend to meet you on the corner of this and that and she will have sworn you said to meet at the other this and the other that. But how you successfully navigate these bumps will teach you how to have the life of a successful executive. Isn’t it time?

How did you come out of it? Were you an executive in charge of your life or did you feel like a flotsam and jetsam being pushed by the winds around you? I hope you were able to rise above those feelings. Not because I am judging it but more to the point is that Capricorn speaks to getting up to a higher, loftier position. Did you do it? Did you think like a Capricorn?

As we all know, this retrograde was rife with weather issues, not just the US but world wide. And with weather problems comes a lot of changes in plans and schedules and a certain amount of mental fluidity is necessary. Luckily, fluidity is perfect for a Sag lunar cycle so we were in good hands with that timing. What we did as individuals with last minute changes speaks to our ability to be a great CEO. Even if we don't see ourselves as CE Os.

I saw it in effect when I watched the local news in Los Angeles the day of the big huge snow dump in the East, the local reporter was at LAX interviewing people affected by the flight cancellations and one couple, interviewed were newlyweds who had just wrapped up their honeymoon in Maui. They were suppose to fly from Hawaii to their home somewhere on the East Coast. The airlines called them and told them that they could fly them to Houston and put them up at a hotel there for two days and then send them on their way to the East Coast. The husband told the reporter, "I asked the airlines if they would send us to Los Angeles instead so we could stay with our friend and sight see in the good weather." They bride said, "It is like we got an extension on our honeymoon!" Right then I thought, "good for you guys getting the benefit of this retrograde!"

Of course when you are in love and happy it is easy to fly high and turn something lame into something good but still to the point is we should all have tried to do that during this retrograde as it will be a new skill we can call upon later.

And with that in mind, the 20th degree of Sag where the Mercury is stationing direct has the following sabian symbol

20º Sagittarius: In winter people cutting ice from a frozen pond, for summer use.


Doesn't that say it all? Doing something now that will serve later in the future. Ask yourself what skill did you learn or finesse or refine that will serve you later? And if you did not, can you learn from it now and the end of the month when Mercury crosses its shadow point?

I can see you from the other side of the screen that you are nodding your head, 'yes'. Great.

Xmasss

Joulu alkaa olla jo ohi, toivottavasti kaikilla oli kivaa. :)
Ite vietin ihan perinteisen joulun, eli perheen kesken kotona. Kuusen koristelin jo edellisenä päivänä, joten aattona ei ollu mitään varsinaista ohjelmaa. Söin vaan koko päivän suklaata, katoin Simpsoneitten uusintojen uusintojen uusintoja, ja rentouduin. Illalla oli vuorossa joulusauna, ja ai että oli mukavaa saunoo uudessa saunassa, jonka iskä remontoi. :) Halusin säästää ekan saunomiskerran just aattoon. :D

Joulukynteni, eli punasta lakkaa jonka päällä kultasta glitterlakkaa. =)

Saunan jälkeen jaettiin lahjat. Koirat on aina lahjojen jaon aikaan ihan sekasin, oottavat vaan omia pakettejaan aukastavaks. :D Mömmö myös aina vahtii lahjapusseja, ettei kukaan vaan vie niitä. =D

Tykkään siitä että joulu on menny oikeestaan aina melkein samalla kaavalla, ja että koristellaan meiän talo vanhoilla joulukoristeilla. Tuikkuja, kynttilöitä ja jouluvaloja pitää olla paljon, kuten myös koristeita.

Mulla ei oo ollu ainakaan neljään jouluun suklaakalenteria entisen karkkilakon takia, mutta tänä vuonna sain sellasen pitkästä aikaa. Sain myös jossain puolessavälissä joulukuuta ihanimman joulukalenterin ikinä, nimittäin Hello Kitty -kalenterin. ♥ Voi sitä intoo kun löysin ton 2€-alekorista, normihinta kun oli 20€!

Sisältönä oli söpöjä HK-figuureja, sormuksia ja pinssejä. :))

Lahjoista osan sain jo ennen joulua, kuten tämän Allun antaman. Suu vähän loksahti auki kun näin tän,tossahan on vaikka mitä! :D Ja kuten näette kortista, se on selviytymispakkaus Britteihin! 8)
Korin sisältöön kuulu vähän muutakin, kuten esim. suklaalevy, mutta voitte varmaan arvata sen kohtalon ennen kuvan ottamista. :D Mut tossahan oli mm. minisanakirja, laastareita, nenäliinoja, välipalapatukoita, huulirasva yms.

Lisäks tää söpö alkoholiton miniskumppa. 8--P Eihän Allu nyt välittäjäks ala.. ;)

Muitakin lahjoja riitti. Kiitos serkuille tuosta ihanasta mini Marilyn-taulusta!
Suklaata sain enemmän kuin kuvasta näkyy.

Pientä sälää..

Mummo neulo villasukat. :)

Serkuilta lisäks tää älysöpö Hello Kitty aaaaw. ♥__♥ Toivoin tollasta ja ne sit hommas, thanks!
Taustalla pehmoiset ihanat pyjamahousut.

Voisin sanoo pari sanaa tästä kuvanlaadusta, mutta en taida enää jaksaa urputtaa, huoh.. New camera pleaseee.

Viimeisenä muttei vähäisimpänä, kannettava. Sain sen jo marraskuussa, ja se on joulu/synttärilahja porukoiltani. Kyseinen laite on HP Compaq Presario CQ56, on niitä numeroita enemmänkin muttei voi muistaa. :D

Entinen koneeni ei suinkaan kuollut, mutta tarvitsin todella läppäriä, koska mun pitää ottaa se mukaan kun LÄHEN 3.1.2011 HUDDERSFIELDIIN ENGLANTIIN TYÖSSÄOPPIMAAN WOHOO! 8--) Oon asiasta kyllä jo kertonu, mutta en oo sitä kunnolla hehkuttanu. Ja tosiasiahan on, että lähen matkaan viikon päästä sunnuntai-iltana. Siispä panikointi voi alkaa millon vaan. XD Tää asia varmistu marraskuun alkupuolella, joten lähemmäs kaks kuukautta oon tehny valmisteluita. Niin ja mainihinko jo, että oon siellä kaks kuukautta? Lento tulee takas Suomeen 28.2, mut kotona oon 1.3. Ja oon ollu pisimmillään poissa kotoo jonkun viikon haha, enkä oo matkustellu oikeestaan ollenkaan. :---D I'm screwed.
Vielä pitäis ainakin käydä hoitaa Kelajuttuja argh, Soneralla, pakata loppuun (alotin ties miten kaun sitten.. 8)), nähä vähän tyyppejä ja toivon mukaan viettää mahti uus vuos. Ja mitähän vielä.
Lähen Englantiin siis siks, kun meen yhteen vaatekauppaan työharjotteluun. Kaupunki on Huddersfield, joka on Pohjois-Englannissa. Asun kahen muun tyypin kanssa jossain asunnossa, toinen on suomalainen jota kävin tapaamassa, ja toinen on hollantilainen. Tiiän itekin asioista vielä suhteellisen vähän, mut toivon mukaan kaikki selkeytyy. Ja toivon todella että se harjottelupaikka on mukava ja että selviisin siellä!
Iik.

Eilen oli vika mahis nähä Vilua ennen matkaa, joten kinusin sinne kyydin ja menin yöks. Yökyläilystä tais muodostua kahdenkeskiset läksiäispartyt mulle, ainakin niin haluun aatella, ja oli kyllä hauskinta pitkään aikaan. :DD

Kohta lähen saunoo sinne uuteen saunaan, sitä tulee ikävä. :( Kerron ja valitan sit Englannissa et mitä kaikkee mahollista kaipaan, lista saattaa olla pitkä. XD Oonkin vitsaillu että tuun kuitenkin ekalla lennolla takas, toivottavasti se jää vaan vitsiks..
18v synttäreinä saatan olla aika apeana.

P.S. Mun työt kassaneitinä loppu tiistaina, oon aika happy, olin siellä heinäkuusta asti.