This journal is now semi-locked.

(Graphics can be found at netherfield_x.)

I suppose it has been for awhile, but I guess this is just making it official. I'l still keep general posts, like fandom info, and memes and things, public, but my journal will be friends only.

At this time I'm not adding any more friends. Thanks for your understanding. :)

(I made this ages ago but never got around to posting it. I'm not sure why, except that I may have been planning to add more — though now I don't quite know what "more" was!)

A [very old] challenge from Weekly Geeks that I couldn't resist:

This week it's all about judging books by their covers! Pick a book--any book, really--and search out multiple book cover images for that book. They could span a decade or two (or more)...Or they could span several countries. Which cover is your favorite? Which one is your least favorite? Which one best 'captures' what the book is about?

My book of choice?


( I've turned it into a picspam of sorts )

My absolute favourite is this hardback by Penguin. (And I own it! &hearts)

My least favourite — aside from the awful e-book covers — is this one by Broadview. I hate how they've used such dark pictures from the entirely wrong time period (though apparently it was purposeful).

I think this Red Classic version by Penguin captures the novel, showing the two sisters and their dress... But it also doesn't hurt that those copies are also my favourite covers of Austen's novels... (I don't own that one — I have the Red Classics of Mansfield Park and Persuasion.)

Which covers are your favourites? Least favourites? Do you own one (or more) of these? Or would you like to?

Tags: books, books/miniseries: sense and sensibility, people: jane austen

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven... God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart.."
Ecclesiastes 3:1,11a (NLT)

I'm afraid I'm finding it very hard to enjoy the here-and-now and it's making me a little miserable. How does one keep perspective in the midst of midterms and papers and exams? Sometimes I wish I could skip the next couple of years... though I know I have a lot of learning to do during them.

I think we're spending our second class watching Pride and Prejudice (2005). We've already spent one class watching it, but... Not a bad way to spend a Friday. ;)

(I think it goes without saying that I could quote most of this movie, I've seen it so many times! I always love it.)

New layout @ ingenu0us

(Codes by nextuesday @ mintyapple. Background by me.)

I wanted a change from the other layout, and I wanted something autumn-like. Yes, this is a little too late, but I like it. It took awhile to find the right codes, though, but I finally found what I was looking for with the right colours. And dragonclouds's icon of Emma is so perfectly fall-like.

I've actually scanned some graphic cardstock/paper with autumn designs that I will probably be posting at netherfield_x. (One of them is the background I'm using. It's not a perfect pattern, but it was the best I could do and the only design I really liked.) They don't really translate into background patterns but are great textures. I just think they are so pretty!

I've also gone over my Photobucket bandwidth, so apologies for that. The good news is I believe it will refresh itself tomorrow. I think it's my fault, because I would be emailed every time someone commented on my picspam (which included all of the pictures) and then I used it to host my big background last night for my layout. Either way, it should be sorted for tomorrow!

P.S. Does anyone know where I can get the background pattern that looks like this, with the tree trunks/forest pattern in grey? I've seen it around but I can't remember where. Thanks, smelltheflowers!

Jenny & Tyler

Official Website | MySpace
Who: husband and wife duo

Sound Style: indie, alternative folk pop...

If you're a fan of: Nickel Creek, The Weepies, The Hush Sound
         (I find he sounds like Jack Johnson and she sounds like Stephanie Smith from the P&P 2003 soundtrack)

How I found them: Of all the ways, it was actually Facebook that brought them to my attention! (Because I've listed Nickel Creek as one of my favourite groups).

Sample: Nashville [hxxp → http]

Anything else: This video of them singing "God of Wonders" with Third Day. (I always get excited when favourite musicians are also Christians.)

Their latest album out is called "This Isn't a Dream" with a single of the same name, which I love. (That song actually reminds me of The Hush Sound!) I'm hoping it'll become available on Amazon.ca soon but NoiseTrade is offering an EP of their first album, so that's holding me over, as well as the songs on their site and MySpace.

I highly recommend checking them out, and if you like what you hear, NoiseTrade.com is offering a free legal download of portion of "A Prelude" in exchange for recommending it to five friends. I think they deserve getting their name out. :)


On another note, would anyone be willing to be on my list for Noise Trade? If there are any good albums that I think are worth checking out? Would anyone be willing to give me their email address? I promise I won't spam and it won't be very often at all.

The first episode has officially aired! It's quite entertaining to read people's reviews (i.e. at bbccostumedrama or AustenBlog.com) — it's either loved or loathed.
I find myself much too swayed by the opinions of others, but all in all I like it.
The fact that it has four hours — something neither of the last adaptations had — adds to its advantage but there are parts that are too modern for my taste. Dialogue, and modern body language... Though everything is very pretty and fun! I quite like Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller in the leads, too.

The BBC finally has the official site up, though it leaves much to be desired. It's more of a generic layout for any BBC program with less content than there used to be...

High quality promotional pictures are, of course, at Shootastic — definitely worth the registration!

And apparently Emma is featured in the Radio Times — you can find the scans here.

Official Promo:


Behind-the-Scenes:

My prof just started playing the 2007 Northanger Abbey film! And I squeed. Or said "Yes!" quite loudly and spontaneously.

(And I don't have an NA icon...) I remedied that.

I THINK WE'RE WATCHING THE ENTIRE THING.

I know, you guys are so jealous.

There's a little nagging voice that is pushing me to write in my journal. That urge is then overcome by the sense that there is much too much about which to write. And then I do nothing.

I shall defeat my avoidance tendencies and post at some point! I promise.

For now I will just say that I love that I'm studying Jane Austen. In school. Northanger Abbey, to be precise. At least there's one class that I don't have to worry about keeping up with the readings.

I'm sorry I've just gone MIA in the last few weeks but I've had no access to internet... For the most part it's lovely (except when I need to get school stuff organized.) Just wanted to say hi! And let me know what you guys have been up to! I'll read everything at some point and it'll be much easier than me gong through pages of friends-list archives. Which won't happen.

Camp is awesome and I promise I'll share later. God is just so great and I've grown so close to him!

The new Disney "The Princess & the Frog" official trailer!


I realize I love Disney movies way too much, and I might be too attached to all the princess movies, but I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS! And it looks really good! Both traditional and new, and I'm so happy Disney is returning to classic 2D animation! Now I just hope this does really well so they don't abandon 2D altogether.

The frog reminds me of the frog from The Princess Swan — I think it's both the style and the accent. In fact it almost feels like a Don Bluth film than Disney, but still, so good!

Here's the official Disney site

Random updates! We'll see how this goes.

I'm slowly transitioning back into work. It's mostly good since I have a tendency of turning into a couch potato at if I'm left at home. Why is it I never have energy no matter how much or little I sleep? Anyway, it'll be good to be in a routine — except that I wish I was getting more hours at the daycare. I'm only working there five days this month, so it's back to the farmer's market for me! Seriously, I can't escape that place, but it's nice to work with my mom, and I'm really grateful I have any kind of job at all right now.

I need the money! I definitely bought those two Penguin Classics books that I posted about previously. I had to hold myself back from getting them all, but I did decide (and it wasn't a hard choice) on Sense & Sensibility and Jane Eyre. Next, maybe Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Wuthering Heights... eventually Pride & Prejudice of course. I'm so excited to even have the two considering I thought they were lost to me forever! Seriously these are the top "collector's items" to me, methinks.

With moving back home, I've been organizing my room a bit and upping the decorative style. (This is, of course, completely coincidental with my deepening obsession interest in design blogs and shows.) Unfortunately I can't do as much as I'd like with my bedroom because it is partly a storage space for my dad's stuff. My family has always been poor at living "lightly" and now that Dad has moved his office home, there's even more random stuff. Like two or three old computer monitors that, really, no one is going to use. Anyway I've still made progress and I love the little touches that at least I can see. Pictures to come (if only to show off my lovely books and other favourite things). I found a handkerchief that my mom embroidered and put it in a cream frame that has been sitting on my desk (empty) for years. It looks really cute! And I've moved my Grandma's Royal Daulton figurine to a place of prominence on the end of my display shelves where it stands out. I always loved her "girls" and she gave this one especially to me. (Her name is "Heather" — lovely.) It was given in secret, sort of... so that makes her even more special.

Click here for an awesome review of Twilight (the books).

When someone reads Twilight, it is the literary equivalent of eating a circus peanut. There is nothing there but pure guilty indulgence. You want drama, you want sex (but we're Mormons here so its very tame...err...did someone just hear a headboard crack?) and you don't want anything to get between them and you. Especially not big words or fancy, thought-provoking ideas.

Now I don't mean this to be offending — just interesting. And possibly entertaining. ;)

soteria recommended singer Lisa Hannigan. She's got such a pretty, natural voice and whimsical style. Check out her MySpace!

That's all for now... I'm watching Grey's Anatomy. Who the heck goes to work — especially at a hospital — on their wedding day?!

Tags: books, journal, journal: work

Shared by poppytalk here


Shared by inishmaan — Francois Gerard, "Madame Recamier," 1805

They're available in Canada!!!



"Fine Books" from Penguin

I think it was the lovely lalumena who brought these books to my attention first. You can see the Penguin Blog/Interview with the designer here to find out more and see all the drool-rendering copies of classics.

I can't help myself — I've wanted them so badly. And up 'til now, they've been virtually un-obtainable for me! I was even hoping my boyfriend would be able to get some for me when he visited England this month but THEN Penguin discontinued them. Arrrrrrrrgh >:(

But now I can get them with no fuss and no conversion rate! I'm definitely getting Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility. Yes, I have them both, but those are my favourite designs and I could really use a prettier copy of Jane Eyre. (And S&S is just too pretty to resist. Not as crazy about the Pride and Prejudice design, which is just as well.

Why oh why must I be the annoying combination of all graphic designer, bookworm AND collector? Add lover of all classic novels and it makes for a very expensive hobby.

I'm all finished exams! I don't feel finished, though, because even though my exam was done at 11 this morning, I have to wait here at school 'til tomorrow at 9:30 am to officially check out of my dorm room. It's painful watching everyone move out because I'm so ready to be at home for the summer!

In the mean time, I'm occupying my time with a Life on Mars marathon. It's about time I watch this series, really. And while I probably wouldn't watch it over and over again, there's no denying it is good. I mean, John Simm + Philip Glenister? Definitely good watching. And look who Sam's parents are: ( Meet Ruth and Vic Tyler in 1973. )

I have to admit, I'm anxious to see how everything winds up. ( Read more... )

Can't wait to see Ashes to Ashes once this is finished. I'm very curious to see how that one is set up, and how it's connected to LoM, though I know the basics.

Anyone else watching these? I know there are definitely some of you! (*cough* Charlotte! /lulamena)

ETA: Did I forget to mention that I'm starting to think in a Manchester accent? I kid you not. Especially with long "u" and hard "-ng," etc. It's like listening to the lecturers at Capernwray for five hours a day and thinking in the Scottish accent, haha.

Has anyone seen this new show Being Human? It's about a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost all living together as they try to live as normally as [un]humanly possible. Russel Tovey is a main character — the werewolf, in fact — and lo and behold, who should appear as his ex in the pilot but Claire Foy! ( Visuals under the cut )

How cute is that? Except she's chasing him and he is trying to get away to protect her. I don't blame Amy for choosing Matthew Macfadyen in Little Dorrit but I still have a soft spot for Russel Tovey. I was hoping she would stay in the show but... oh well.

Also, do you know who makes the best picspams? three_nails. I've rediscovered them. The favourites: Casualty 1907 parts one, two and three, A Room with a View and JJ Feild.

I think you can tell how much I should be studying by the fact that this is my third post in one day. That, and I've started a Sophie and Frank/Cranford picspam.

( I was so shy that first night I saw him I wished I could disappear! )

I didn't want to neglect Lizzie and Eugene with all my Bella & John love, so they got their fair due! I don't think it's my fault that there are slightly less caps than those for Bella & John.

I hope you enjoyed these as much as I enjoyed making them. :)

( I was forcing myself to be constrained as required by our agreement. But there — Let's go on. )

One of my favourite things about Bella and John is that we get to see them as a married couple. It makes my fangirl heart happy.

And not to be forgotten: ( a second video summary )

Missed part one?

I can't deny I'm procrastinating from studying... but this is much more fun. It's no surprise that I love Our Mutual Friend and it never gets enough love. I felt like making a picspam a couple of days ago and this felt like an obvious choice! A little stupid considering how long this series is, but I hope you all enjoy it!



( We never could have pretended to harbour any true affection. I was hardly likely to like this John Harmon. )

Conclusion? Bella + John = love — they're very sweet with enough angst to compete with the more popular couples!

And because this is my journal this picspam would not be complete without: ( a video summary )

Go see this if you haven't already!

(More to come — Bella & John, Part II and Lizzie & Eugene)