Friday, February 17, 2012

The Secret World of Arrietty-Opens TODAY!

{Amy Poehler, Bridgit Mendler and Carol Burnett in Los Angeles to promote the film}


 If you've been a follower of mine for awhile, you know my absolute FAVORITE director is Hayao Miyazaki and I adore Studio Ghibli movies; Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle.....I love them all!!

So you can imagine my pure, girlish delight when I hear about the new movie coming out, The Secret World of Arrietty-opening TODAY as a matter of fact.

A little about the film:

"Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all.  From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”
 
"Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom."


Enjoy this little sneak peak video clip::







Like The Secret World of Arrietty on Facebook!

Don't forget to see it in theaters because it's out as of today, Friday 17th, 2012! :D




**Disclaimer:: I was provided the above information for the enjoyment and benefit of my readers courtesy of Walt Disney Motion Studios**


Aloha Friday #51


From Kailani of An Island Life:


"In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer."

I'm going to follow her lead, kick back, relax and see what you all have to say on this lovely Friday!

**************************************************************

Today's question is:


 Have you been out of the country before? Where did you go?



I've caught the travel bug yet again (probably from stalking the interwebs and entering too many vacation sweepstakes) and I'm just itching to see the world. 

Can I live vicariously through you?!





Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!







Thursday, February 16, 2012

Jake² Thursday(2/16)


I have not 1, but 2 Jakes in my life-Jake the Dog and Jake the Boyfriend (and yes, that IS how they are identified in real life). They bring me so much joy in my life daily, that I thought to myself one day, "Why not share them with everyone?!"

Hence, Jake² Thursday came to be :)

Each week, I'll share a new picture of both of my Jakes doing what they do best: bringing me joy!

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My baby looks so classy in B&W!




"You uh....you gonna let me in?"








Health Update Thursday(2/16)


I have no good news to report to all my friends and readers today.

I know I left you with the knowledge that Tom was closing in, and boy did he leave quite the lasting impression this month's visit; a fearful and agonizing lasting impression to say the very least.

This was probably one of the worst one's I've experienced before-Usually the intolerable pain lasts for a couple hours at the very least, but this time around, it lasted for a good 10+ hours, not only including the horrendous cramping that I normally get, but also incredible left-hand side ovary pain that I've been dealing with since late November.

That being said, I'm still out of commission.

Our M.I. has said that the spirochetes that cause my Lyme Disease have all congregated in my 'lady junk' region and have built 'houses' (cysts), so with all the stuff that I'm doing to kill them off and rid them from my body, well, it's pissing them off.

Hence my 2 day herx reaction.

Currently, there is a great deal of pain, walking is very, VERY minimal, I'm dealing with a 2 day headache, and I generally just feel like crap, which hopefully means what I'm doing is working!

Tomorrow we're going to try for an apple cider vinegar bath to rid even more toxins from my body, and possibly make me feel even worse O.o

Mentally things are rough, but I'm doing my best to deal with that, too.

Sorry to disappoint you guys, but no new or good news to share :(
Until next time, head held high, onward and upward and all that jazz.







The Legacy of Eden *Book Review & Giveaway*


Author: Nelle Davy
ISBN-10: 0778329550
ISBNN-13: 978-0778329558
Page Count: 384 pages
Publisher: Mira
Publish Date: 1/24/12


Synopsis:

Have you ever loved something so much, with such ferocity, that you put every ounce of passion, dedication, and as the old adage goes, blood-sweat-and-tears into it until it becomes your crowing glory; a symbol of your stature around town and in society? This can be said for the Hathaway family and the farm they've loved throughout generations: Aurelia.

Aside from hard work and determination, however, family secrets, greed, and tragedy also play a much stronger role in Aurelia's upbringing...

Laviana Hathaway grew up unwanted in her own family, and the first chance she had, she escaped that life to something she thought was better. All she ever wanted was to be loved. To be loved and to show everybody who knew her tragic past that she could make something of herself, no matter what it cost.

Taking that line of thinking, she ran with it-Marrying a man whom would give her all she ever wanted and more. With determination and a cold, calculating manor, Laviana Hathaway lied and manipulated her way to the top, building Aurelia's reputation along the way.

*********************************

Years after most of her family has died, Meredith Hathaway (now known as Meredith Pincetti) thought she had escaped her scandalous, ghost filled past, having moved to New York City seven years ago to become a sculptor.

Until she gets a letter in the mail one day that brings it all back.

Will she be able to do what needs to be done to put the family secrets and Aurelia to rest? Is she strong enough to go back to her rural roots and face what she left behind?


My Thoughts:

I'm not normally drawn into this type of book; mystery, thriller, and murder are my cup of tea when exploring the bookstore shelves, but the book description that was sent to me immediately captured my attention and I had to read it for myself.

It was a little slow going at first, but I really got into it after the story put the two main characters of the past together. Once that happened, I couldn't put the thing down!

I really love Nelle's writing style and how powerful her writing comes off-It's like your watching a dramatic soap opera unfold before your eyes (leaving out all the cheesy I might add), but instead of watching, your reading and soaking up all Nelle's words like a sponge. You can't seem to get enough of her strong writing style.

The back and forth of the past and the present could have been a little more pronounced in my opinion because a few places I got confused, but none the less I think it added a lot of depth and dimension to the story of the Hathaway family and their family farm.

That's a really good way to describe this book-powerful with a lot of depth and dimension!


Don't forget to follow along on The Legacy of Eden Scavenger Blog Hunt! You can follow all the blogs who are participating HERE.


About the Author:
(Taken from the back of the book & her website)




Nelle Davy was raised in London, England, in an Afro-Caribbean household. She is an undergraduate of Warwick University and has a master's degree from Trinity College Dublin in creative writing. She is married and still lives in London, where she works in publishing.

The Legacy of Eden is her first novel and she has finished writing a second novel based on the civil rights movement in Louisiana in 1963.





{The Giveaway}

A Copy of The Legacy of Eden by Nelle Davy!!
{The Rules}

1. You MUST include a way to reach you whether it be an email or blogger URL.
2. Each comment, mandatory and or extra, has to be separate.
3.
This contest is open to US and Canadian residents only--Sorry Internationals!



{Win It}

Tell me why you would like to win this book?



{Extra Entries}


1.) What is one thing you learned from Nelle Davy's Q&A Page?(1 extra)

2. Follow my blog through GFC(1 extra)

3. Subscribe to Me(2 extra)
*Located on the right-You can't miss it.

4. Add me to your circles on Google+(1 extra)

5. Follow me on Pinterest(1 extra)
*If you need an invite, just let me know

6. Follow Me on Twitter(1 extra)

7. Tweet this giveaway(1 extra daily)


 Enter to #Win a Copy of The Legacy of Eden by Nelle Davy!! {Ends 3/1} @TheEclecticE  http://bit.ly/tScGKK #giveaway

8. Blog about this giveaway and leave a link(3 extra)



That's 1 mandatory entry + 24 possible extra entries which = 25 entries total!
Good Luck!






The Eclectic Element Disclaimer:: I received a free ARC of The Legacy of Eden by Nelle Davy in order to facilitate this review-All thoughts and opinions expressed in the above post are 100% mine and mine alone unless otherwise stated. This contest is open to US and Canadian citizens only and will run from Thursday, February 16th, 2011 12:01 am central standard time until Thursday, March 1st, 2011 11:59 pm central standard time. The winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be contacted within 24 hours of the drawing. You have 72 hours to claim your prize and send me your shipping information-If I haven't heard from you within that time frame, I will choose another winner.


Wednesday, February 15, 2012

SpaFinder Gift Card *Winner*


Congratulations goes to....

#256

LAMusing!





*Note:: Even thought the number in the above capture says 56, it really is 256.


Thank you to all my readers who entered and thanks to Tropicana for such an awesome prize! I will be contacting the winner soon and they have 48 hours to get back to me, or I will be forced to choose another winner {don't make me do it!}.








Win It Wednesday(2/15)


~*!*~Win It Wednesday~*!*~



Win 4 Full Size Bags of Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips!!


Ends February 15, 2012







Win a Pair of White Freshwater Pearl Stud Earrings from Pearl Paradise!!


Ends February 23, 2012






Win a Wüsthof Classic 3.5-inch Paring Knife!! 


Ends February 18, 2012








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Link them below!!














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