Double-Stacked Bookshelves

Bout of Books 15  I'm totally getting a late start on signing up and getting organized for the next round of Bout of Books, but I will definitely be participating!  There is still time to sign up, if you're interested.  Here's the link you'll need. What is Bout of Books, you ask?  Well, here's a little blurb from our esteemed hostesses: The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal.  It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 4th and runs through Sunday, January 10th in whatever time zone you are in.  Bout of Books is low-pressure.  There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional.  For all Bout of Books 15 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. --From the Bout of Books team It's such an exciting event and really low-key, which is something I am definitely in the mood for! Here is what's

Sorry for the lack of posting these past two months, dear Readers.  I spent the entire month of November, and the majority of December, out of my office doing high school recruitment events for the university I work and, wouldn't you know it, my laptop decided to take a vacation at the same time!  So...no office time and a lack of computer doesn't really help in the consistent posting department.  Also, I worked quite a bit of overtime and didn't want to look at a computer or think very much once I plopped myself down on the couch.  Ha.  Regardless, I received a shiny new HP laptop/tablet thingy (clearly technology is my forte), on which I'm typing away, for Christmas.  This should significantly help my posting habits!  Word.  Things to look forward to in the future:  Getting back into posting in conjunction with other blogger memes/events More book reviews Visiting bloggers.  WHAT!  That's right :) Some original writing And anything else that strikes my fan

I grew up in the country...in a pseudo-farm house that had been built in the early 40s by distant relatives, one of whom still lived next door in another house he and his father had built together when he was younger.  When we moved in, the previous owner (not related to the family in any way) claimed that she would wake up in the mornings and cupboards in the kitchen would be open, the coffeepot would be on, and the toaster would be down.  My parents thought nothing of it.  I, on the other hand, am convinced that the house was definitely haunted based on several personal experiences.  Footsteps in the upstairs hallway were a constant occurrence when everyone was downstairs; everyone said it was just the house settling, but I knew different. Incident 1 Fast forward a few years and my sister and I were probably in late elementary school; I was about 10 or so and she was 8.  It was summer and we were sitting at the kitchen table coloring when all of a sudden we both felt like we had

Teaser Tuesday:  Furiously Happy:  A Funny Book About Horrible Things Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn @ A Daily Rhythm . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's today's teaser: "That's the moment when I realized how incredibly lucky I am to have spent eighteen years with a man who can laugh at bad gun-control jokes while a severed bear head is lying on his pillow" --page 76           Furiously Happy:  A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson I have been eagerly anticipating Lawson's second book since she announced it was in the works and I have not been disappointed!  And I'm super stoked that she doing a book tour and actually coming to Powell's in Portland.  Yeah, buddy!  If you've never heard of Jenny Lawson, I highly recommend her blog, The Bloggess , and her first book, Let'

Teaser Tuesday:  Shadowgirl Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn @ A Daily Rhythm . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's today's teaser: "Anger rolled up inside her and heat pulsed from her hands to her feet.  She tried to calm down, tried to break its hold, but the image of fire flashed in front of her eyes and all at once, it exploded out of her." --page 54           Shadowgirl by Kate Ristau I'm really enjoying this little nugget of awesome from a PNW author.  I'm normally not very into fey stories or the like, but this one's pretty good! Happy reading!

This week's topic:  The Worst Movies I Have Ever Seen Oh man, oh man!  I love movies.  Like, love them!  But, boy, have I seen some doozies!  Here are a few that rank among the absolute worst I've seen: Fantasia Maybe I would appreciate this film more now, but when I first saw it as a child I hated it...with a passion.  Parts of it scared me.  Parts of it were so freakin' boring.  I didn't like it one bit.  Because of these reasons I have yet to bring myself to watch it again. Michael I don't know why I hate this movie, but I do.  Maybe it's Andie MacDowell...or John Travolta in this particular role... Shallow Hal I like Jack Black.  I dislike Gwyneth Paltrow.  Plus, this movie is so offensive on so many levels that I just can't take it.  Bad movie! Meet Joe Black A lot of people love this movie and, while it has some great scenes (peanut butter), it's overall pretty bad.  It's awful that I find the bus scene hilarious. 

Fall is definitely my favorite season of the year.  That honor used to belong to Spring, but it's all about Fall now.  I just love it!  Here are a few reasons why: Crisp, Cool Weather I am not a fan of warm weather, so Fall is the perfect foil for the horribleness that is Summer.  I love stepping outside and breathing deeply of the fog filled morning.  It's refreshing and feels oh-so-good on my lungs. Pumpkin Everything I have yet to order a Pumpkin Spice Latte (from anywhere...basic?), but I love all things pumpkin.  Pie, candles, pumpkin pie spice, lotion.  If it's pumpkin, I'm game.  Mmmm Changing Leaves Ah, science.  It's so beautiful! Halloween! Only the BEST holiday of the entire year!  I love spooky things and what better time to partake in things like that than Halloween.  Scary costumes, candy, scary movies, little kids dressed up so cute!  And I absolutely love carving pumpkins!  I love it all. Snuggly, Cozy Blankets Curling up in a cush

  “Don’t you trust me? “No.” “Smart man.” Peter quickly cleared his throat.   Sitting would be a disadvantage in this situation.   Instead he shuffled around the chair, placing his hands on the back, before returning his gaze to Jenny.   She stood across from him, coolly watching his every move. “I’ve been thinking, Peter,” she started, examining her nails.   “When you brought your story to me, I’ll admit that I was intrigued.   Nobody accuses the Grahams of embezzlement and extortion.   Nobody.”   Jenny eased herself down into the chair behind the desk facing Peter, smoothly crossing her legs.   “This is a serious accusation and I don’t know if I’m prepared to give you free reign for the kind of investigating it would require.” “It’s my scoop, Jenny.   I’m not backing off.” Jenny chuckled.   “Oh, of course not.   Who said anything about backing off?” Confusion entered Peter’s eyes.   What was Jenny playing at?   “So, I can do the story?” “Yes,” she said.   “But don’

Teaser Tuesday:  If I Stay Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn @ A Daily Rhythm . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's today's teaser: "They are rough and hurried, like they don't consider eyelids worthy of gentleness.  It makes you realize how little in life we touch one another's eyes.  Maybe your parents will hold an eyelid up to get out a piece of dirt, or maybe your boyfriend will kiss your eyelids, light as a butterfly, just before you drift off to sleep.  But eyelids are not like elbows or knees or shoulders, parts of the body accustomed to being jostled." --page 63           If I Stay by Gayle Forman Been meaning to read this for a while now...finally getting around to it. Happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  Top Ten Bookish Habits I Want to Quit/Have Quit .  I have a lot of book habits...and habits are hard to break!  Here are some I'd really like to work on: 1.  Dog-earring pages!  I am horrible at this and always manage to lose bookmarks, so I find that dog-earring a page works best.  However, I ONLY do this with books that I own!  I used to do it to library books and then I felt horrible, so I stopped.  I NEVER do it to books I borrow from friends because I am of the mindset that you return it in the EXACT same condition as it was lent to you.  I am now adopting this with library books, too.  I have recently been using a beer sticker as a bookmark (haha) because it's the perfect size and only has printing on one side (that's how

Teaser Tuesday:  Code Name Verity Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn @ A Daily Rhythm . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's today's teaser: "It had been used recently, blood still on the blade.  We stood tied together mutely, and I thought, They will make me watch.  They will kill her first and make me watch.  Then they will kill me." --page 195           Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein I am loving this book!  Happy reading!

Teaser Tuesday:  At the Water's Edge Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn @ A Daily Rhythm . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's today's teaser: "Her wool coat floated, an absurd umbrella, first resisting and finally wicking water, puller her deeper.  She looked back at the landing, suddenly desperate.  If only she had a hat, she could throw is back onto the thorny gorse.  If she'd had anything that would float, maybe they'd think it was an accident and let her be buried with her daughter." --page 8           At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen I am so excited for this book and am rather enjoying it so far! Happy reading :)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR .  Well...let's be honest...my Fall TBR is really a life-long TBR and (hopefully) some books I can get accomplished soon.  Regardless, here are the books that are on my immediate radar to read: Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things   by Jenny Lawson (Released today!!!)   In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad #1)   by Tana French (Currently on my coffee table) The Fate of Ten (Lorien Legacies #6) by Pittacus Lore (Released September 1) Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (Release Date: October 6) Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #3) by Ransom Riggs (Released today) Everything, Everything by Nicolas Yoon (Released September 1) The Girl in the Spider'

  This week's topic is:  Favorite Foods and a Recipe to Share Mmmm...food!  Let's be honest, this list could (literally) go on forever.  You could easily subcategorize several different foods, whether by ethnic traits, sweets, savory, spicy, and so on.  So, to keep things simple, I'm breaking it down like this:  Things I Like to Snack On and Main Dishes! Things I Like to Snack On Jalapeno Cheddar Cheetos Blue Diamond Rice Crackers (in a variety of flavors) Chili Cheese Fritos Hummus Dark Chocolate String Cheese Kit Kats Main Dishes Zucchini Bake BBQ...pretty much anything Fish Tacos (my uncle makes the BEST!) Soups...I love a good soup And A Recipe! This has become my go-to dinner recipe when we have company.  It's so good, really easy to make, and a crowd-pleaser.  It may look like it takes awhile, but it really doesn't! Creamy Chicken Enchiladas (mmmm) 1 lb Chicken Breast (cubed or shredded) 2 Cups Chicken Broth (roughly one 14 oz ca

Teaser Tuesday:  Hausfrau Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn @ A Daily Rhythm . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's today's teaser: "The longing for diversion was a recent development; her pining to be hungered for was decades old.  But both rose from a lassitude born of small-scale grudges and trifling, trivial injuries, the last ten years of which she blamed on Bruno.  From that rose boredom and from boredom particular habits were born.  This she could not blame on Bruno." --page 45           Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum Not sure how to categorize my feelings on this one yet...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  FREEBIE .  Yay!  So, because I missed last week's Top Ten, I am going to go with that topic... Top Ten Complete Series I Have Yet to Finish . Here they are: Inkworld   by Cornelia Funke Finishing School  by Gail Carriger The Chemical Garden by Lauren DeStefano Contours of the Heart by Tammara Webber The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman Edilean by Jude Deveraux The Tudor Court by Philippa Gregory Wildwood Chronicles  by Colin Meloy The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff Some of these I've only read one book in, while others are nearly complete!  What are some series you need to finish? Also, look for next week's top ten:  Top Ten

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  Top Ten Characters That I Just Didn't Click With .  Oh...a doozy!  Here are mine: Rosemary from Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin I didn't not feel bad for Rosemary at all.  I felt her character was weak and so wishy-washy.  Ugh.  This could, undoubtedly, be due to the fact that the book was written in the 60s...alas. Emma from Emma by Jane Austen Oh, Emma.  My least favorite Austen character, and book, by far.  She's whiny, manipulative, and snooty.  She didn't deserve John at all! Celia and Marco from The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern I just couldn't bring myself to believe or really even care for either of theses characters.  While I did like Marco more than Celia, neither impressed me too much... Eadly

Teaser Tuesday:  The Paris Wife Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn @ A Daily Rhythm . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's today's teaser: "His letters came crushed and strangled, full of deliciousness, sometimes two and three times a day.  I tried to be more reserved at first, vowing to write only once a week, but that fell apart immediately.  Before long I found myself in a real bind." --page 37           The Paris Wife by Paula McLain I am loving this book so far...such beautiful prose! Happy reading!

Bout of Books 14 Progress and Challenge Tracker I will be keeping track of my progress for the Bout of Books 14 Reading Challenge on this page, updated daily. Day 4 Challenge Stats: Currently Reading:   Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes Pages Read:   118 Challenges:   None Thoughts:   Reading-wise, day four was a real gem for me.  I really felt like I read more than I actually did, so I'm counting it as a victory.  I was so bummed that I didn't finish my book because I'm so close!  I should finish it this weekend, probably tonight.  Day five shall be a reading extravaganza :) Day 3 Challenge Stats: Currently Reading:  Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes Pages Read:  34 Challenges:  M.A.S.H. hosted by Sarah at Rocky Top Real Talk Thoughts:  Though not a super successful reading day, I did really enjoy participating in the mini challenge (such a fun throwback)!  I'm hoping that today is a little more productive in the reading department as I would really l

  This week's topic is:  Favorite Games Games...who doesn't love a good game?  I am a huge fan of games in general, but these are some of my favorites: Board Games Trivial Pursuit:  I freaking love Trivial Pursuit like there's no tomorrow.  I know a lot of random, useless trivia, so I am pretty good this game.  Not to toot my own horn or anything, but "toot, toot"!  Scrabble:  I like words and this is my jam :) Scattergories:  A creative game of list-making.  It's great to play with a group. Card Games Apples to Apples:  A great way to have some family fun.  Cards Against Humanity:  A dirty version of Apples to Apples...for adults.  This game is perfect for me because I am an awful person... Nerts:  Hands down, one of my favorite card games.  It's a combination of Speed and Solitaire and you compete/use other people's piles to finish your stack first.  It can get super violent! Computer/Phone Games Trivia Crack:  Ties in to my lov