Her Blogging Debut

My sweet as pie niece Emily made her blogging debut yesterday with a review on The Friendly Book Nook. If you haven't read it yet, you should defintely stop by and check it out!

Major Upcoming Events in Blogland!

I really thought blogland would quiet down during the summer months, but the truth is it must be too hot to be out and about and it's really heating up around here. The next few weeks are going to be seriously busy. And that's not even counting all of the real life stuff I have to do! :)

So here's the scoop on the cool stuff coming up....

First of all, Strange Culture is hosting a very cool blogathon this weekend that I'll be participating in if I can get my act together. Let's celebrate Father's Day!

Next week, The Secret Life of Kat is hosting Summer Camp which is basically one long carnival week, capped off by a camp out that you can participate in via twitter. I don't know if I'll be able to do that (if I had a backyard maybe!) but it's cool that she is.

The Second Annual 40 Day Fast is going to start June 23rd and though it's going to be a little tweaked this year, it should be good. Definitely look forward to that.

Also starting June 23rd and running through June 27th we're hosting the Summer Reading Extravaganza at the Friendly Book Nook. Don't feel like you have to be a book-a-holic like me to participate, it will also be a carnival style week of all the best summer reading tips for you and your kids. There will be prizes to be had as well.

Then June 28th-30th we're hosting a group read discussion at the Friendly Book Nook of The Girl Who Stopped Swimming. I can't wait to get other's opinions on this book. Elizabeth, for example, didn't like it.

Also June 28th-29th is a Read-a-thon hosted by Dewey of the Hidden Side of a Leaf. I'm also thinking about hitting the ALA that weekend, it all depends on whether or not gas has gone up to 20 dollars a gallon.

On July 1st, Jen of Daily Mish Mash is having the second Movie Madness Carnival.

So hopefully out of all of that you were able to find something that you like and can participate in!

Some Newsy Stuff

Hey guess what? I have internet again! I have tons of stuff to blog about! I also have about 14 million emails to read and it might take me a very long while to catch up on everyone else's blogs. So if this blog is hopping this week, um enjoy! :)

First, I'd like to mention that Jen of Daily Mish Mash is hosting a Movie Madness Carnival tomorrow, and even having a very fun and cool giveaway! I would like the Snack Gift Basket Premium Deluxe. I mean really, I wouldn't have to buy snacks again for a long time! Or maybe The Country Inn Breakfast Gift Basket would be a nice choice. I do enjoy indulging in an unhealthy breakfast. So you should check out the giveaway for yourself and also participate in the carnival...looks like fun.

Secondly, I'd like to point out that Alison Kent is having a very cool giveaway as well. I have never read one of her books, but I've been reading her blog for awhile now, and just won a book last week. So as soon as it shows up in the mail, I'll be reading away, and very happy. She wants you to be reading her books as well, though, so if you head over to her blog look through her backlist of published titles and tell her which one you'd like to read, she'll enter you into her very cool contest for a 50 dollar gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble. By the way, she is a romance writer, so um, bear that in mind.

Thirdly, I have so many little bits and pieces I want to share about BEA. I'll probably do that over the week. I will also be blogging about the big stuff at The Friendly Book Nook. I'm so behind on blogging!

Fourthly, I am having a giveaway as well, with a measly six entries. And I'm giving away a book by Rene Gutteridge! Please enter! Don't delay!

Ok, I think that's it for the moment. Look for many more posts this week. :)

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming

I have all three of Joshilyn Jackson's books. Her other two books are in my TBR pile, but we're doing a group discussion of her latest at The Friendly Book Nook, so I read it this week.

I've always heard good things about her and now I know why. This book was absolutely fantastic. She is an absolute master with her pen--her prose is gorgeous and layered. Admittedly, there's quite a bit of crass language in the book, but if you see it as part of a whole of a story it doesn't bother you as much.

What I loved about this book, is that it wouldn't leave me. I just kept thinking about it afterwards. I can't wait to discuss it and get other people's opinions.

If you are interested in joining in our discussion we are hosting a giveaway for a copy of the book at The Friendly Book Nook. What annoys me is that this is undoubtedly labeled as women's fiction. Why do most men not read fiction that isn't fantasy? And why won't men read a book with a woman lead? Just wondering.

Hello Friends

I won't have internet at my new place until Friday, so if I don't answer your email right away or if the blogging seems slow, that's why. Most of it will probably be pre-scheduled posts.

I'm hoping to be at Book Expo America this weekend to blog it for The Friendly Book Nook. I'm really looking forward to that, that's how much of a nerd I am! :)

As planned, I slept a lot this weekend. I mean, a lot. And just relaxed in general. I love relaxing. Unfortunately, there's still more unpacking and settling in to do, because I relaxed a little too much.

Last night, I watched the movie The Lives of Others. I highly recommend this film. I think the previews made it look like it was a movie about voyeurism, but I read some positive reviews, and it's not about that at all. There is a little bit of naughty stuff in it, but that's really not at all the point of the movie. So if you are in a subtitle reading serious movie watching mood, than I recommend this one.

Ok, that's all for now..maybe more later!

My Brain is Dead

For real. But tonight all my stuff should be from point A to point B. Yay!

And then I'm going to sleep for three straight days before getting rid of half my clothes, because WOW do I ever have a lot.

Anyway, I don't think the writer's strike helped television much. I am just not feeling the tv shows anymore. For example, I lost interest in Ugly Betty, Bones had the worst twist ever (which I actually predicted based on one rumor I read that a certain actor was leaving the show), and I just couldn't get excited about Meredith and Derek being together. This means come next year, I'll have more time to read! Ha. Also, I'm worried about LOST. I'm hoping that it won't disappoint. At least David Cook won American Idol.

It rained here yesterday and we had tornadoes!! Isn't that weird????? It's 50 degrees outside and last weekend it was 103. This is the kind of stuff that makes you think....global warming.

And finally, I just finished a really great and heartwarming debut novel by Sherri Sand called Leave it to Chance. If you head over to The Friendly Book Nook you can see how you can win a copy of the book and a five dollar gift card to Starbucks.

I have a lot of blog posts in development, I really do, that are hopefully about a thousand times better than this one. Once my life is back to normal, i.e. internet is up and running and I've tossed half my clothes from the window, I'll be back for discussion!

Have a great weekend everyone! What are your plans?

Over at the Nook

My sister wrote a great post over at the nook about making time to read with your kids. Please swing by for a visit and add your thoughts!

Also, check out our March contest! Help us spread the word!

Just Some Housekeeping Stuff....

First of all, the winner of the Build A Bear ecard is Windy Cindy! I've emailed you!

I have another giveaway next Monday so please stay tuned.

Secondly, I'm pretty sure that I link to everyone who links here, but if I don't, please leave me a comment or use the contact form so that I can add you to my blogroll. If you don't link to me but would be so gracious as to do that, I'll add you as well. In short, if you are reading me, I'd like to be reading you. :)

Also, if you have a book related blog and would like to be linked to The Friendly Book Nook or would be so kind as to please link to The Friendly Book Nook, I would appreciate it so much. If you haven't checked it out, please do! I also have a button you can use on your sidebar to either blog.

Have a great day!

Announcing....The Friendly Book Nook

Blogging is one of my favorite hobbies. In some ways, I wish everyone would blog. I have friends that are amazing writers and I know I would love reading their thoughts regularly (I'm looking at you Flora).

I have also tried to get my family into it, and I'm very excited to announce that they've (well some of them) have agreed.

I know what you're thinking...I've tried a book blog before. But this is going to be different! Because my wonderful mother and sister are helping me!

I think we bring a lot to the table. My mom is a second grade teacher and a granny, and my sister is mother to three awesome girls and lives in Costa Rica. And I'm the single girl who teaches reading improvement and English language acquisition.

So, the blog is going to be a hodgepodge of things related to reading...book reviews, chat about out favorite authors, tips for reading with your kids, and naturally some contests and giveaways. So I really hope that you'll come visit and bookmark us (or subscribe!) and please leave us some comment love for encouragement. It's not much to look at now, just our introductions, but in the days to come it will be a wellspring of joy for the book lover. Thanks everyone!