I Need a Dollar, Dollar, a Dollar is all I Need...

I've always wanted to go to America, so when my very best friend told me she was off to Florida for 3 weeks, jealous face did make an appearance. She had a wonderful time, marvelled over the flavours of Ben & Jerry's. Poptarts and M&Ms (we don't get many flavours here in the UK), saw Frank the Pug from Men in Black and many more things that I am very envious of.

A week after she got back, a big, fat, squishy parcel landed on our doorstep. Filled with American goodies, and here is what I got...

I know, I know, yarn. Lovely variegated yarn. But that is not what I like most from this parcel, my favourite present is my $1 note.

My petty goal is to go to America, sit on a yellow bus, eat pancakes & bacon in a diner, buy a yellow pencil from Walmart and finally, get myself a dollar. Now you'd think I'd be constantly taking it out and looking at it, but no, I'm worried I'll rip it so I haven't looked at it since Saturday. I am though, going to put it in a frame and hang it on my wall once we have finished decorating my bedroom.

My second favourite present is (you guessed it) my skein of yarn. When I think of American yarn, I always think Worsted, I'm not sure why.

She bought me I Love This Yarn! (very fitting title! Stripes by Hobby Lobby in the Gelato colourway. Abby was worried I wouldn't like the colours, but I love them! I originally thought of making a beret with the yarn, but then it suddenly hit me, socks! So I've decided to make the 5 Stitches per Inch Sock by Ann Budd. I saw 2 projects made from this yarn, so I know it definitely suits the pattern (you can find them here, and here)

She also got me a packet of Coconut M&Ms, a flavour we don't have in the UK, and they were deeeeeelicious.

I also got given a Buzz Lightyear keyring and Toy Story comic (one of my favourite movies ya see!) and a Rex coin from Disney land.

So I want to say, THANK YOU ABBY!! xxx

My lovely friend Amy also gave me a gift last Thursday... an iPhone 3GS!! My sister videoed me as I opened it, my face was quite a picture of confusion and happiness.

So if you follow me on Instagram I apologise for the influx of photographs on my account. It will calm down... eventually :P

Thursday Book Challenge: Week 11

I really want to apologise for not doing this meme for a while, there are a lot of things going on at the moment. I'm sick, we're trying to decorate the house, having family problems.. yahda yahda. Anyway, the important thing is that it is back!

I have hardly read since I took part last, I've finished Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver. The first book was great, but the second (pandemonium) was such a let down. I just don't understand why Young Adult books require a Love Triangle, the book would have been a lot stronger without it.

The next books I read were the Ask & the Answer and Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness (books 2 & 3 of the Chaos Walking series). I could sum them both up in two words: EPIC WIN!! Especially the third and final book, Monsters of Men. The ending was simply genius, and I really suggest you read it.

The final book I finished was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I really didn't think I'd like this book, especially after the first couple of chapters, but once I really got into it I suddenly understood what all the hype was about, and was sitting on the edge of my seat for most of it. I found myself taking a sharp intake of breath whenever something went wrong, or someone died (I don't want to name any specifics incase you haven't yet read it), and getting a little sad when a certain young girl passes away.

I've moved straight onto the second book, Catching Fire. If I'm really honest, I think I like this one more than the first. I know people complain that not much happens in the beginning, but I thought that it was a good thing. It gave us time to get to know how the characters (and districts, actually) are coping now they are out of the arena and for the love story to really develop. The victors being sent back into the arena came as a real surprise, but I'm looking forward to meeting Finnick in a few chapters time.

So now it is your turn, what have you been reading this week? (and if you don't have time to write a post this week, feel free to tell us in the comments section!)