August Book Haul !

August has probably been my smallest book haul yet, that's if you don't count the pre-orders (which is hard to do when they are still months away). I started a new job this month, a three month contract, and also got my tax return so I've had some money this month.

First is a book I found in the opshop - one I have been looking for for ages.

 This book has been so expensive online and I hadn't seen it anywhere else, but it randomly turned up in the op shop so I was quick to grab it.

Next is a book I ordered from Book Depository,  

 I've been wanting to read this book for a while and heard that the publishers had shut down so wanted to get a copy before they ran out.

This next book I specifically went into my local Dymocks to grab.

 It's not the first book in the series but a collection of novellas set before the story starts.

I thought I would give it a go.

The next two are lucky op shop finds.

 After buying the first in the Harry Potter series and kinda loving it, I was seriously chuffed to stumble across the second book in the series. Last month I picked up the 4th book because it was there and then today I went for a walk and just nipped into the op shop for a quick look and actually stumbled across the 3rd book

 The third book is also a hardcover. I really like these older covers and at this rate seem positive I could get the whole series from the op shop, there always seems to be volumes at one or the other store.

So far I have

Philosophers Stone - $2.25

Chamber of Secrets - $2.25

Prisoner of Azkaban (hardback) - $3.25

Goblet of Fire - $4.25

Not a bag lot for the price.

 

And now... PREORDERS:

I got all of these with my tax return money from the Book Depository.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Box (Hardback) set

52 days to go

21.10.2014

 I read the first book on my kindle and the second one I got second hand from Better World Books  and while I''m really keen to read the third and last book, I really wanted a box set and thought that this series would be the right series for me.

 

Waistcoats and Weaponry

The third book in Gail Carriger's YA Finishing School series.

66 Days to go

04.11.2014

 These books are such pretty colours, I've read the first two and can't wait to read the next instalment.

From the same author comes a new series  The Custard Protocol.

This is the first book Prudence, which considering who her parents are I can not wait to read all about Rue's adventures.

199 Days to go

17.03.2015

Ok so this one has a pretty long wait time, but I'm hell keen to get into it and I'm glad that I pre-ordered it and will now be getting it no matter what March 2015 holds. 

My First Loot Crate Un-Boxing

 After watching a heap of Loot Crate and Nerd Box un-boxings on Youtube, I decided to give Loot Crate a go. I missed out on the Villains box, which I'm kinda still gutted about (I want that Joki t-shirt so bad), but made it in time for the Hero's box, which we were told would include a super exclusive Loot Crate Pop! figure that you would not be able to get anywhere else.

I signed up using a 10% off code for 3 month payments. So every 3 months I pay for the next three Loot Crates, which even at full price saves a bit of cash.

You can sign up here http://mbsy.co/lootcrate/9904925 and use the code GALACTIC to get 10% off your first order.

So being in Australia it takes a little more time to get here and I tried to stay away from all the unboxing videos until it did, however the box arrived on a Monday! Since I started my new job I wasn't able to get to the post office until the Saturday. So frustrating.

But it is here now, so lets look inside:

 

 Packaged nice and tightly, the first item is the exclusive pop figure

 Groot!

Covered in green moss and with a glow in the dark arm, that you will notice from the movie scene where he lets his spores go (if you haven't seen the movie, DO IT NOW!)

There is some sort of agreement between Funko Pop! and Marvel and all Marvel figures are bobble heads - even the mystery minis, so Groot is a bobble head too.

 Next are some novelty Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles glasses.

I got the orange Michelangelo ones.  

 Next representing The Flash are these lightning bolt shoe lace decorations.

They are kind of cool, but I seriously don't own any shoes with laces.

 Next I pulled out this month Loot Crate pin.

I think this started this year, you now get a pin in every box commemorating that months theme.

 Kidrobot make great toys, I have a heap of their Dunny's.

I got Michelangelo again.

 A mega man air freshener - Apple Cinnamon

 Deadpool cereal magnet.

There was also some game codes for virtual loot and the monthly magazine/pamphlet that explains what everything is and lists what you got that month, also some photos of people with last months crate and some articles and a game.

Lastly the box:  

 The box was decorated inside like the TMNT's home in the sewer, so it makes a cool little play set with your new turtle toy.

 

It was a pretty great crate and I can't wait to see what they have in store for September, which will be themed Galactic with 3 exclusive collectables inside (including one funko mystery mini) and will include items from Firefly, Star Wars and Star Trek.

http://mbsy.co/lootcrate/9904925

COWABUNGA DUDES!!

TAX TIME!!!! Shopping Haul

This year I actually got a bit of tax back so after doing the smart thing and putting a large percentage of it on my credit card I took the rest out for a bit of retail therapy.

Firstly I stopped in Minotaur because I knew they had these bendy Classic Batman toys and I had been eyeing off the Catwoman for ages.

I couldn't believe my luck when while I was in there I spotted a lone Valkyrie figure!

Of course I just had to get her, there was only one and though she was a bit pricey the female figures are really hard to find.

 I stopped off at Dan Murphy's to get a bottle of Aperol as I had fallen in love with Italian Spritzers over Christmas and wanted some at home to make them myself.

I also picked up a small bottle of Crystal Skull Vodka because... well.. LOOK AT IT!

 My new obsession is Lush so of course I stopped off in there, I picked up a shower gel because I heard such great things about them, and I really liked the scent of this one (Dirty Spring Wash), I also picked up a lip scrub because my lips really need as much moisture as they can get and a scrub would really help, Popcorn smells and tastes fantastic!

I also picked up another Lip Service lip balm for my bag, as I had found out the day before that I had just landed a new temporary contract and wanted to keep one on hand.

 I stopped off briefly in Big W to get a new bra (not pictured) and some new towels, being all sensible and grown up like, and found the cutest little pair of star shorts on clearance for 50% off.

I also (after months and months of trying to find her in every toy or department store I went in) FINALLY found Howleen Wolf. Clawdeen Wolf (from Monster High's) little sister.

 She originally came out in a two pack with her bigger sister, and I loved her orange Mohawk but didn't really like the version of Clawdeen. I also didn't really like Howleen's dance class look when she finally came out in a single pack. I loved her 13 wishes look but could never find the doll, then I saw people picking up this budget pack creepateria doll of her but again couldn't find her for the longest time. I also managed to pick up the Big sister Clawdia Wolf at the toy sales but there were no Howleens, so I was really happy to have finally found her. Now I just need the brother Clawd.

 

Although this wasn't with my tax money, I also finally got enough funds together to subscribe to LootCrate and will be getting the August box (my first one) some time after the 20th August.

 I really wanted this months as they have been promising a POP! Exclusive and as I love the POP! figures I can't wait to get my hands on whatever it is.

I'll put a review up sometime after I get it, but post from the US can take up to 4 weeks. 

All Star Comics Haul

I started a new job on Wednesday, YAY ME!

Also I received my tax return on Tuesday, so on Thursday is was time to head to the comic book store.

I picked up a couple of trades;

 Still reeling from the climactic events of "P.E.," the Glories find themselves lost in time and space, confronted by a new group of students who might be even more dangerous than the faculty themselves - the truants! Questions are answered and new mysteries emerge as Season One comes to a shocking end! Collects Morning Glories #20-25.

 It’s 1987. Marcus Lopez hates school. His grades suck. The jocks are hassling his friends. He can’t focus in class. But the jocks are the children of Joseph Stalin’s top assassin, the teachers are members of an ancient league of assassins, the class he's failing is “Dismemberment 101,” and his crush has a double-digit body count. Welcome to the most brutal high school on earth, where the world’s top crime families send the next generation of assassins to be trained. Murder is an art. Killing is a craft. At Kings Dominion School for the Deadly Arts, the dagger in your back isn’t always metaphorical.

Collecting the first arc of the most critically acclaimed new series of 2014, by writer RICK REMENDER (BLACK SCIENCE, Fear Agent) and rising star artist WESLEY CRAIG (Batman). Experience the 1980s underground through the eyes of the world’s most damaged and dangerous teenagers.

Collects DEADLY CLASS #1-6

 and I also picked up this cute childrens book;

 Two children, treasure map in hand, and their pet gazelle sneak past their father, out of their house, and into a world beneath the city, where monsters and pirates roam.

Will they find the treasure? Will they make it out alive?

The Dangerous Alphabet is a tale of adventure, piracy, danger, and heroism told in twenty-six alphabetical lines—although even the alphabet is not to be relied upon here. A delightfully dangerous journey from national bestselling author Neil Gaiman and the monstrously talented Gris Grimly.

 

While I was there I thought I would also check out their toy displays, still high from my previous Valkyrie find a few days before and found these lovely DC ladies.

 Catwoman is second hand and her leg was a bit dubious, but I glued it up and she's proudly standing over my desk. Poison Ivy is still in her packaging. I didn't think I really liked this version of Ivy but up close her face isn't as clownish as I originally thought and now I love her.

Also since this is my regular comic book store I picked up my last few weeks standing order, which didn't turn out to be too much but here they are.

Making Face Scrub, with three simple ingredients.

A little while ago I read an article that the microbeads that are in a lot of face scrubs these days are already causing problems in the ocean and the lakes that our drain water flows into.

Millions of those things are getting into the water and settling at the bottom, and sometimes being eaten by the water life there.

So I thought now was the time to try making some of my own at home.

I'm also trying to move towards a more natural household so this is just an extra push.

I found a lot of interesting recipes and how to's on the internet but this is the one I chose. 

 Ingredients:

Coconut Oil, Half a Cup, I got this 300g Jar for $6 at the supermarket.

Sugar, 2 Tablespoons, I'm using brown because that's what was in the pantry

1T lemon juice.

 Add half a cup of coconut oil to a bowl

(this smells fantastic!)

 Stir in your 2 Tablespoons of Sugar

 Then stir in 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice.

I cut the lemon in half and squeezed it into the bowl

I don't know what the exact measurement of that would be.

 And you are done!

It's really that easy.

I found a little container and spooned it inside and put this in the bathroom for my next shower.

Yes, I licked the mixing bowl after. This really does taste fantastic.

As you are using it, it smells wonderful.



POP! Vinyl Fingures

I've gotten a few more POP! figures since my last post in May, so I thought I would do another post about what I've gotten since then.

The 10th addition to my collection is Ajani

 Now I don't play magic the gathering but there weren't any other Pop!s that interest me and he is just so darn gorgeous! So I got him anyway and he is now sitting on my sci-fi and fantasy bookshelf.

A couple of weeks after that I was in Minotaur for something else when I found this guy

 FINALLY they had the new Horror Movie figures in and they had three Sam's. I chose the one with the best paint job and immediately texted my little sister that I had him.

In July I had to put somethings together for a birthday present and ended up ordering some stuff from Popculture in Geelong. I had just been paid and they had a heap of exclusives including this version of Lumiere

 I think it was the Hot Topic exclusive Glow in the Dark Lumiere.

I definitely wanted to get a Lumiere for my steampunk shelf and being that he is a candle it was really cool to get the glow in the dark one. Since we don't have a Hot Topic in this country is was cool to know that we could still get some of the exclusive items (though they don't carry everything).

 

On the subject of exclusives I was super excited to find out that they were also going to be stocking some of the SDCC exclusives (on the same weekend as SDCC!!)

They aren't stocking all the exclusives but they did have one that I really wanted  

 Game of Thrones Ghost, flocked.

He is furry!!

This one is actually in the Australia Post van right this minute and should arrive in 30-90mins time.

So I'm super excited about that. There were a few other SDCC exclusives I wanted to get my hands on but I really wanted this one the most, and though the exclusives are $4 more than the normal pop I just had to order him.

Get Yours Here 

As well as Ghost I thought this was a good time to get Grey Wind

 With postage being what it is in this country it's always better to get more than one thing if you can.

Though I was keen to get Glow in the Dark Slimer SDCC exclusive I thought it a better idea to complete my Direwolf POP! collection for now.

He is also currently on his way.

So in the two months since my last post my POP! family has expanded from 9 to 14.

I've moved the normal Ghost to sit on my desk awaiting the others as I already have a Shaggy Dog Funko Mystery Mini figure and the mini ghost is also on the way, making 5 Direwolves that just wont fit on a bookshelf without blocking off all the books.

I love these figures and can't believe the range of interests that they cover, it's amazing and am glad to say both my brother and sister are also really into collecting these figures.

I'm actually doing a POP! exchange with my brother and sister this christmas. We are all going to buy each other POP! figures for our collections. 

Book Review: White Trash Zombie #4

How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back by Diana Rowland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another crazy adventure with Angel and the Zombie Mafia against the Saberton Corp.
When the Tribes leader is abducted it's up to a Angel and the three other suspect zombies to head to New York and get him back. While the action is great we also delve deeper into characters and learn more backstories as each of the zombies becomes suspect as the insider for Saberton Corp.
Angel is also forced to think about her future and face a few personal challenges.

I hope this is not the end because the way to book ended means there is far more to come for poor Angel.

View all my reviews