*Thank you Weiser Books for sending me a copy for review*

The title of this book explains everything this book IS, in JUST five words! Goddess Spells for Busy Girls, is just that! The entire book is filled with short and sweet spells for everything.

Broken heart? Not enough money? Sick or stressed? Need a boost? Goddess Spells and at least of one (if not more) of the twenty five goddesses featured in this book will have something for you. Every spell is super quick and easy to do! All you need are a few small items, which you’ll most likely have laying around at home, and each spell comes with easy to read and follow instructions.

I haven’t read a non-fiction book in a long while, and haven’t reviewed one at all. So Goddess Spells is the first one. When I was asked to review Goddess Spells for Busy Girls, and I had no other choice but to accept, by purely seeing and LOVING the title of this book!

Goddess Spells for Busy Girls has no main character, has no twists and turns, and no cliff-hanger ending; it’s completely straight forward. Goddess Spells is a book filled entirely with  spells, descriptions of twenty five different goddesses, and even small glimpses into the author’s life at the beginning of each chapter.

It doesn’t matter what you might need a spell for, there are so many different types of spells for so many different types of situations. Each needed only a small list of household items  and can be done anywhere and any time!

Not having the items needed to fulfil a spell was my biggest worry, but I soon realized that all the required ingredients can easily be found in a grocery store, or local speciality store.

Some of the spells include:

Spell to Spark Creativity (page 27)

Spell to Promote Power (page 35)

Spell for Tough Choices (page 49)

Spell for Peace (page 81)

Spell for Protection (page 124)

I enjoyed not only learning about goddesses and the author but also performing some of the spells myself! They don’t take long, don’t make a mess and results can be seen very quickly!

Goddess Spells just hit the stores’ bookshelves at the beginning of February, so make sure to pick up your own copy soon! And start casting some spells!

This is a new one for me, but one that I’ll definitely be making again. Without the icing it freezes really well, so it’s a good dessert to put away for when it’s needed.

Cake

• 2 (about 300g) grated carrots
• 1/2 cup self-raising flour
• 1/2 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup golden syrup
• 3 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
• Roughly chopped walnuts

Icing

• 250g spreadable cream cheese
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 2 tsp orange or lemon juice

Preheat oven to 170°C. Sift the flours, bicarbonate of soda, walnuts and cinnamon into a large bowl.

Put the brown sugar, oil, milk, golden syrup, eggs and vanilla in a separate bowl. Mix until well combined.

Pour the oil mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined. Stir in the grated carrot.

Grease a cake pan lightly with oil, and line with non-stick baking paper. Pour the mixture into the pan and bake for 1 hour. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before icing.

Icing

Place the cream cheese, icing sugar and orange or lemon juice in a bowl. Mix until well combined.

It’s hard to squeeze ten years of experience attending conventions into a list, but we’re going to try and do it anyway! Here are 5 things you need to know about your next convention~Ruth and Mel.

1)      Is pop culture your thing?

Many people are dragged to conventions practically kicking and screaming. Sometimes this is a good thing; they’re introduced to a world of wonder. But I’ve seen many sad faces in these happy places. If you’ve read the website and you don’t think there is going to be a single thing that can entertain you for a day (or a weekend), don’t go.

2)      Is it local or out of town?

It makes a big difference to your time, budget, and preparation where you will be based for the event. If you’re at home then less planning is required (cause you have your stuff). However, if you’re staying in a motel or with a friend, you need to do a bit more work to ensure you have everything.

Pre-Con Must Haves: tickets, maps, Cosplay (finished), money, and accommodation.

EXTRA!  Never leave your packing to the last minute for out-of-town Cosplaying. Be hyper-organised and you’ll have a smashing weekend.

 3)      Photographs

Pictures are one of the best parts of a pop culture convention. You have to take them otherwise people are not going to believe what you’ve seen! But please, for the love of Cosplay, smile! A melancholy Cosplayer is a downer, especially when dressed like Wonder Woman. Get into character; if that means you’re perky – smile. If that means you’re neutral – bring it!

Never feel shy about asking for a photo. Be polite, walk up to your person of interest, and say, “Hey, I love your outfit. May I please grab a photo?” They would be the biggest a*** ever to turn you down.

DANGER: Some people use photos as an excuse to be offensive. Don’t excuse this behaviour, tell them off, and walk away. If they continue to harass you, see staff immediately. Family-friendly conventions have a zero tolerance policy for people like this. They will throw ‘em out faster than you can say, “Look! Another My Little Pony Cosplay!”

 4)      Manners

Some people don’t know when to zip it. It’s wrong to say something about someone’s weight or appearance, whether you assume they can hear you or not. Keep your opinions to yourself and have a post-convention debrief over drinks.

5)      Things you might see: The Weird, The Wonderful and The Warped.

Scar from The Lion King said it best: “Be prepared!” You’re going to meet all types at your convention. Here are just 3 examples of what I mean.

The Weird: If you like anime/Japanese pop culture then you might have heard the word Weeaboo. A Weeaboo is someone who is not Japanese but acts stereotypically Japanese. It’s essentially an offensive term, so use it wisely. They may only speak to you if you speak to them first in Japanese. (This actually happened to me a few years back.) They’re okay, just strange. No need to panic.

The Wonderful: Cosplaying superstars are always around in droves. Feel free to fawn over them, just don’t get creepy.

The Warped: People often emerge from the depths of I-don’t-know-where to attend conventions. Just be ready to see some non-Cosplay fashion that you’ve never seen before.

6)     Enjoy! Conventions are our safe zone!

But you don’t have to take it from us! Here are the top tips for first-time Cosplayers from some of the greats themselves (we picked a couple of our faves)!

Chibinischan as Grell Sutcliff from Kuroshitsuji, photo by Tanja Konrad

 Chibinischan says:

“Make a checklist. Nothing is more frustrating than working on your Cosplay for hours and miss a piece of it at the convention. Make a checklist for everything you have to pack and check it off after you put it into your suitcase. That way you won’t leave any important things at home.”

Middle Earth Barbie  as Mad Moxxi from Borderlands 2, photo by DreamCoat Photography

Middle Earth Barbie says:

“Come prepared! Bring deodorant, hand sanitiser, sunscreen, and a water bottle. The crowds are massive and can be overwhelming, but don’t be afraid to make new friends. Chances are the people you’re queuing with have similar interests to you!”

The Artful Dodger as Crysta from Fern Gully, photo by Jessica K Photograph

Artful Dodger says:

“My first ever convention I was super nervous because all I could think about was how ridiculous I must look to everyone! Took me a few hours to relax and get into it but I don’t regret anything actually! I regret not bringing a camera, as there were so many incredible Cosplays. I was gobsmacked! Don’t be intimidated by experienced Cosplayers. They’ve all had to learn and start from scratch too! Just get into it and have fun. That’s what it all comes down to.”

Major Sam as Poison Ivy from DC Comics (original design), photo by Steven Brown

 Major Sam says:

“My first convention, I made a Cosplay I couldn’t sit down in. Small regret there. But the best advice I can give you is – make sure you DRINK WATER. Can’t stress it enough.”

That’s a wrap for us this week! Hopefully we’ve soothed some of those convention nerves for you!

Only he can bring what they need to survive.

In the year 2250, water is scarce, and those who control it control everything. Sixteen-year-old Luca has struggled with this truth, and what it means, his entire life. As the son of the Deliverer, he will one day have to descend to the underground Aquifer each year and negotiate with the reportedly ratlike miners who harvest the world’s fresh water. But he has learned the true control rests with the Council aboveground, a group that has people following without hesitation, and which has forbidden all emotion in the name of keeping the peace. This Council has broken his father’s spirit, while also forcing Luca to hide every feeling that rules his heart.

But when Luca’s father goes missing, everything shifts. Luca is forced underground, and discovers secrets and mysteries that cause him to questions who he is and the world he serves. Together with his friends and a very alluring girl, Luca seeks to free his people and the Rats from the Council’s control. But Luca’s mission is not without struggle and loss, as his desire to uncover the truth could have greater consequences than he ever imagined.

The Aquifer is deep below the ground and controlled by the Rats: people who, years ago, decided to leave and maintain the drinkable water for those above. Without water, everybody will die. A yearly contract is maintained between the Rats and those above by the Deliverer. He is the only one who knows how to find those below and only the apprentice, usually a descendant of the deliverer, has the information handed down to them.

We are introduced to the story just as the Deliverer, Luca’s father, is about to make his yearly trek. But times are hard and the rulers are becoming greedy and ruthless in their pursuit of power. When Luca’s father goes missing, it is Luca who must make the dangerous trip by himself if he wants to save everyone.

Aquifer is set in a futuristic Australia: a world in which emotions have been abolished and the fewer ‘wrinkles’ you cause the council, the better off you’ll be. As Luca’s life suddenly changes, his emotions are running high and becoming harder to maintain. He has to grow up fast, and that means learning new things—secret things. Suddenly no one is who they seem to be.

The story is a non-stop adventure that takes us through the school system, the history museum, and the aquifer itself. For me, the saddest part of the story was the people who become ‘undone’. Those who cause too many wrinkles are cast away—undone. It’s gruesome and sad, but something that Luca and his father have to deal with on a daily basis.

Aquifer was a fast-paced and thought-provoking read and I recommend it to those who enjoy dystopian stories. It was a nice change to read about a young boy finding love for the first time, and the friendships he gains throughout the book with both the old and the young. Despite his age, Luca stands out as the strongest character in the book.

Joelene Pynnonen reviews the movie version of Markus Zusak’s novel.

In 1938, as Germany faces the Second World War, a sick young boy dies on a long train ride. When Death takes the child, it is his sister, Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nelisse), who captures his attention. Liesel has lost far more than any young girl should; her brother has died and her mother, a communist, must leave her with a German couple to keep her from harm.

Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and Rosa (Emily Watson) Hubermann are about as different as can be in temperament. He is kind and empathetic, while she is short-tempered and sharp-tongued. In beliefs, however, they are closely matched. Neither agrees with Hitler’s views and both are willing to defy them as much as they are able, even to the extent of hiding Max, a Jewish man, in their basement. They and Rudy Steiner, the neighbour’s boy, come to be as much a family to Liesel as her own. The war is drawing closer, however, and the danger is never far away.

The Book Thief, while depicting a horrific era of cruelty, differs from many Holocaust stories. Rather than focusing on Nazis and Jews, it offers a slice of humanity. Using Liesel’s point of view gives the film scope to focus on what German families endured during the war, as well as giving insight into the barbarism of the Holocaust.

Based on the novel of the same name by Australian author Markus Zusak, The Book Thief is aimed at a young adult audience, so the horror is subdued rather than overt. A sense of fear, poverty, and hunger permeates the film, made more poignant by Hans and Rosa’s refusal to join the war effort to gain more food. Throughout, Liesel and her foster-parents struggle to balance safety with morality.

The actors’ performances here are amazing. All characters speak with a German accent, adding authenticity to the setting. Nico Liersch, the actor who plays Rudy, is German, but Sophie Nelisse is not, and the fact that she can manage such a difficult accent at her age does her credit. She has a presence on screen that makes her compellingly watchable. Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson also excel in their parts. Their characters bring a sense of gravity to the film; much of the fear is felt through them as they are old enough to understand consequences.

The Book Thief is a wonderful way to introduce children and young adults to the Holocaust. More than that, it’s a story that speaks to humanity: not choosing sides but acknowledging that everyone has the capacity for kindness, even in difficult times.