Book-shelf Challenge

First of all a big thanks to NuttiNetti for creating this wonderful background/template for me!

Today, I'm on goodreads. I'm trying to create a list of stuff to read. I only have around 8 or 9 books I really want to read, and 11 or so others I'm half interested in. So, I'm going to go through all the bookshelves in my house, {the study, my room, my sister's room}and read each and every blurb. This way, I hope to find at least 10, but hopefully more! I'll update you tomorrow with my findings :)

Feel free to do this yourself!

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part Two : Movie Review

*Warning* Contains Spoilers.

I was one of the lucky thousands to get to see Harry Potter on the 15th of July. It feels special seeing things on opening day, right? Anyway. I went with my cousins which was cool - it was a late birthday gift :)
 Anyway, when we arrived in the cinema I wasn't too excited. I mean, I thought Harry Potter was okay - a good movie, but nothing to be excited about. Though, when the movie began I sucked up every second of it with pure joy. The only thing I didn't really like was the ending. Too short and ending, not enough, not satisfactory.
 I'd probably give the movie 4.3 stars. Not five, I felt although it was a great movie, it wasn't the best so bye-bye .7.

My favourite scenes were nearish the end, now that I think of it. I liked some of the scenes with Neville in them because it was unexpected -but welcome- that he was a 'hero' instead of that useless little boy that kept doing things that made him look stupid he was in the earlier movies.
 I also absolutely adored the scene that goes as follows:

Harry: Come on Tom! Let's finish this the way we started!
*Grabs Voldemort by the face*
Harry: Together!

And if those lines weren't action packed enough, it looked like Harry was about to kiss Voldey in the face which added a little slice of hilarity in the middle of all that jazz we just saw. Death and what-not.
 I'm not great at writing reviews, at all really, and although this review may suggest I wasn't too pleased with the movie, I was thrilled. For seven days straight {a week!} all I've been thinking about is Harry, Harry Potter. I've made minature broomsticks, wands, capes, you name it - I've probably made it.
 I haven't read the books, so I've no idea if the movie goes well with it, though I do plan on it in the near-ish future.
 I didn't cry in the movie tho - just saying.
 I really recommend getting your dose of Harry Potter if you haven't seen it already.

If you have seen it, what was your favourite scene?

This morning.

This morning I had a lie in until a quarter to eleven.

This morning, when I got downstairs, I raced over to the calendar and couldn't get it off the wall fast enough.

This morning, as I turned the page at a speed at which I'd never done before, I gave the calendar a hug.

It's July.

 I'm so pleased with that. I smiled at the sunshine and ice cream sundaes in pictures. Later on today, I'll treat myself (actually, my grandmother's going to get me one) to an ice-cream. A Brunch to be precise. They're so tasty. What's your favorite ice cream?

 I'm also making these. I love Ashley Ann! She's amazing. :) And there's no sewing skill required, just glue. I've got glue. 

 Although the weather is kind of bad, I'm relishing this first day of Summer/July!

How are you celebrating?

Winner of the Giveaway

Isn't this exciting? I'm announcing the winner of the 'Beauty Design Studios' giveaway of a blog design package worth 80 dollars! Sadly, I couldn't enter, boo-hoo. But I will use random.org to get the winner! There were 18 valid comments in all, so here it goes!
The winner of the giveaway, was comment number 17!

It was from 'The Cluttered Thoughts of Ellie B." aka, Ellie. This is what she wrote:
My favorite thing about photography is the art of it. I love how a single photo can tell a whole story.

Congratulations! Email me at maeve.platinumdream@gmail.com, to officially expect your prize! Then I'll refer you to Hannah, where she'll begin the design process to your exact taste!

Photographer's week is nearly at it's end, but it's going really well so far. Hope you enjoy this interview I did with Iona from Life in my Eyes and Through the Lens.

 

{One of Iona's favourite photographs}

Tell us a bit about yourself and your photography: I can't say something like, "I've been into photography for a long time," or "I adapted to photography at a young age." Because I haven't. I got a small camera, ran on a battery, no memory card. Nothing. I was content and didn't even care that when it died, I lost all my photos. I decided to set that one aside and stick with doing videos with my mom's old video camera. Christmas 2009, I got my very first digital point-and-shoot. It wasn't very good quality, mixing with the fact I knew nothing about camera's. When I lost that camera my mom offered up for me to use her DSLR. I used it and thought my under exposed, blurry photos were amazing. I still use my mom's and I'm hoping to get my own DSLR later.I have improved so much since that day, and still improving every step of the way.

What was your proudest photography moment?: When I learned to shoot in manual. I was so happy and now I can take good photos in any shooting conditions. Without flash! It also could have been when I taught myself what all the dials mean.
What things, apart from photography interest YOU? I love art. Definitely art. I started an art joint blog, and the lovely Maeve here is a part of it. http://amateurartistblog.blogspot.com/ I am not very good at art, but just like with my photography, I am definitely getting better.

A couple of your favourite photos:
These are just a few recent ones that I am loving.

 

{side note, aren't her photos absolutely gorgeous?}

Do you have any tips for viewers?:Even though I don't prefer flash, sometimes it's necessary in low light conditions. Flash is also a really good filler for underexposed photos.If you are new to your DSLR or even point and shoot. Consider starting slow. Shoot with flash, in auto. As you progress, try learning what all the buttons do. Read the manual. Or go to iheartfaces.com It's really helpful.


If there was one thing and only one thing you could do to improve your photography (as wonderful as it is!) what would it be?I really want the 50mm lens. I am saving up for it, but it isn't exactly cheap. I also want to start selling prints on etsy.