Love-A-Thon: High Five!

Here's the deal. I don't know if I'm interpreting this challenge right. Do I list one thing for each of the five categories? Or 5 things for each category? Then I decided that it's my post and I can do what I want. So I'm going to list 1 thing for each category.

My "High" Fives:

Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. THIS BOOK YOU GUYS. The lovely Sarah over at What Sarah Read loaned me her copy last month. I devoured this book in hours. Yes hours. I'll be buying a pretty finished copy when it comes out in May.


Genre: YA retellings. I've read some AMAZING books already this year (including the aforementioned ACOTAR which is based on Tam Lin a/k/a Beauty & the Beast). 2 other favorite retellings coming out this year are Lion Heart by AC Gaughen (sooooo good!) and of course Winter by Marissa Meyer. I can't wait to read Winter when it's released.

Author: Sarah J. Maas. I just can't even pick anyone else. From ACOTAR in May, to Queen of Shadows in September, to The Starkillers Cycle she's writing with Susan Dennard on Tumblr, the girl can do no wrong. Also her hair is glorious and I wish mine looked like hers.

Blogger: A tie between Sarah & Kristina. These two have become "real life" friends. We've engaged in many texts about all kinds of things that aren't even book related at this point. They're my "fairy book-mothers" and have loaned me some awesome books the past few months. Kristina even sent me a baby gift before my little guy was born a few months ago! I absolutely adore these two women.

Bookish Merchandise: I'm IN LOVE with the bookmarks from CraftedVan. I've been using the Guardians of the Galaxy set (particularly Rocket & Baby Groot). Sadly they're currently out of stock, but there are a ton of other bookmarks right now, and they're constantly updating and adding more.

Because dancing Baby Groot is the best thing ever.

Any of your favorites make my list?

Love-A-Thon: Snapshots

Here's the deal. I'm actually more of an e-reader since I have two kids and I always have my phone with me (meaning I always have my books with me). So I really only have this one bookshelf. Sad, I know. But it is home to a quite a few books for such a small bookshelf.

Up on the top of the bookshelf, under the letter "S" are my special edition copies of Pride & Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and Little Women. They've all been gifts from my husband over the years. He knows me well. ;) The bottom shelf is all of the books I have physical copies of on my TBR. The top shelf is books I love. What you can't see is my collection of classic books (which includes, but is not limited to every book by Jane Austen, my well-loved copy of Gone with the Wind, and the entire series of The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit). They are on the top shelf, but behind my series books and favorite books. My next house WILL have more room for my books.


And each of my boys have a bookshelf (or at lease a place to keep books as is the case in the baby's room).

Older son's bookshelf:

(Plus more stacked in the top of his closet that he isn't old enough to read yet).

Baby's book bucket:

(I LOVE children's books. He has a whole shelf full in the armoire in his room, plus a HUGE box full in the garage that I'll get out when he gets older).

Thanks for stopping by!

Love-A-Thon: One Can Only Quote!

It's quote time! Both Sarah & I selected quotes for this post. I picked a quote on friendship and Sarah picked one about love, so we have all the bases covered. ;)

Lindsay: I should really get better about marking quotes in books that I like, but I'm usually in too big of a hurry to keep reading to make that happen. So for my quote, I went way back to one of my favorite childhood books, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.

Image is from the book. Text was added by me.

Sarah: Leo Tolstoy was a wise man. This quote could not be truer for me.

 

 

 

What do you guys think of our quotes? They're both good ones to remember & to live by!

Love-A-Thon: Book Valentines!

Sarah here! Park (from Eleanor and Park) is my book valentine. He's the exact type of boy I would have fallen in love with in high school. He's the embodiment of my teenage self's perfect guy. I adore him. I did some shopping and this is what I got Park for Valentine's Day. Enjoy!

Love-A-Thon: Book Spine Poetry

Both Sarah & I decided to weigh in with book spine poetry this year. Check out both of our "poems" below!

Lindsay: So here's the deal. This is soooo not my strong suit. In fact, I made Sarah do it last year by herself. But I figured, what the heck, I'll give it a go. Here's what I came up with:
 

Dear Mr. Knightley,

Speak / An Echo in the Darkness.

Return to Me / All Our Yesterdays.

If I Stay / I'll Give You the Sun.

I was Here,

Don't Look Back,
Emma 

Sarah: I love this challenge. It was my favorite from last year so I'm super stoked that it's back this year! Here's what I came up with:

Daylight Falls

Behind the Scenes

Under the Lights 

Bright Beyond

The

Dark Expanse 

Of

Broken Skies

And 

Shattered Stars 

*Daylight Falls series by Dahlia Adler
** Bright Beyond series and Broken Skies series by Theresa Kay 

Love-A-Thon Kickoff! An Introduction Post

Hi everyone!
We're so excited to be participating in the Love-A-Thon once again this year! There's so many fun posts planned, we can't wait for you all to see them. Since Sarah & I do this blog together, we'll both be participating in the challenges. So you may have me doing a post, Sarah, or both of us!

First up is the questionnaire! So here's a little bit about me!

1. What’s your name? Lindsay :)

Me. And my no-longer-this-tiny littlest boy

2. Where in the world are you blogging from? The thriving metropolis of Amarillo, Texas.

3. How did you get into blogging in the first place? My friend Sarah & I were constantly sending books back and forth and talking about them, and I was also frequently bombarded with questions from friends about what books to read, etc. So one day I texted Sarah and asked if she would want to start a blog with me, and here we are!

4. How did you come up with your blog name? We like books. Books cost money. So we are broke because of books. Simple as that.

5. What genre do you read and review the most on your blog? I read YA epic fantasy the most, but I've been reading a lot more contemporary since I just had a baby 3 months ago. Contemporary doesn't require nearly as much focus from me, so I'm able to read it in the middle of the night when I have to get up with the little guy.

6. What other types of posts do you do on your blog, apart from reviews? Well.... since it's been a while since I've done any actual posting, it's hard to say. I do like to make cookies based on books, so let's go with that.

7. Best blogging experience so far? The epic response we got from our March Madness Book Boyfriend Edition last year! We're planning on doing it again this year with a few changes.

8. Favorite thing about the blogging community? The friends I've made! Seriously though, I don't know what I would do without Kristina, Sarah, & Emily.

9. Name the 5 books you’re most excited for this 2015! ONLY 5?!? Okay then, off the top of my head:
A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas (I read it already and it is AMAZING), Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas, Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson, Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner, and The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May.

ETA: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo & Winter by Marissa Meyer

10. What’s an underrated book or series that you think everyone should read? Not nearly enough people have read Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta. Get on it people!

11. Which book boy or girl would be your book BFF? Ohh tough question. The guy I would love to be friends with is Roar from Under the Never Sky. I loved his relationship with Aria. The girl is Francesca from Saving Francesca & The Piper's Son. I love how fiercely loyal she is.

12. Apart from reading, what are your other hobbies or interests? I'm a cookie decorator! You can see some of the cookies I've done here.

13. Apart from book shopping, what else do you like shopping for? I love shopping for stuff for my kids-clothes, books, toys. It's so much fun.

14. At a party, the DJ suddenly changes the song – and it’s your song. What song would be playing? I love classic rock, so I'll have to go with Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi. More recent would have to be Shake If Off by Taylor Swift (I'm not even sorry. That song is freakishly addictive).

15. Pick out either a book you want turned into a film/TV show, or a film/TV show you want turned into a book. Hands down, I would LOVE to see The Lunar Chronicles made into a tv/mini-series. I feel like that's the only way to do it justice. I don't think a movie would be able to encapsulate everything that story would need.

Thanks for stopping by!

Love-A-Thon Cookie Cover Sweepstakes!

Now that the Love-A-Thon has come to a close, it's time for a cookie sweepstakes!

Remember these Rainbow Rowell Book Cover Cookies I showed you earlier today?

Well now's your chance to win them + a copy of Attachments (my favorite of her books)!!!

**Due to the fact that these are actually edible cookies, and I want them to remain delicious for you to enjoy, the giveaway will end on Thursday morning & I'll ship them as soon as I receive your mailing address**

Open to ages 13 & up. US Residents Only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

(You can find all of our posts from the Love-A-Thon here) 

The Love-a-Thon Awards!

Check out all of our Love-A-Thon posts by clicking here!

Our votes for the Love-A-Thon Awards!

(I had really planned on making this look SO much better and adding links, but time, and cookie decorating interfered. Oops.)

Best Weekly Feature:
1. Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke & The Bookish
2. Waiting on Wednesday by Breaking the Spine

Friendliest Blogger:
1. Gillian Berry (@mizgillianberry)
2. Jamie M (@brokeandbookish)
3. Judith (@paperiot) 

Favorite Author Blog:
(Does Tumblr Count?)
1. Rainbow Rowell
2. Leigh Barudgo

Favorite Author Twitter:

1. Tahereh Mafi
2. CJ Redwine
3. Leigh Bardugo 
4. Rainbow Rowell

Favorite Bloggers To Fangirl With: 
1. Gillian Berry
2. Blythe Harris
3. Debby (Snuggly Oranges) 

Love-a-Thon Letter to Yourself!

Check out all of our Love-A-Thon posts by clicking here! 

Dear my 19 year old self,

   Nineteen wasn't our best year. This is the year that we started out at the top of a very slippery slope. Where do I even begin?

   Ok. Here. You met a boy. You think he's hung the moon. He makes you feel all "creative" and "dark" but in all actuality, he's making you depressed and a total pain in the ass to be around. Those poems you're writing are lame and your painting sucks. Your poems are making people worry and no one can see what you're painting when you only pain in black and red. Get a grip. He's not "interesting" and "different." He's a douche and treats you like dirt. Get rid of him and run far, far away. Trust me. There's someone better waiting for you and he'll give you the greatest gift on Earth. 

   You love to write, so write everything down! Every idea that comes to mind, write it down. No matter how inconsequential it seems, you may need it later on. Keep a journal and pen handy. Cause one day you'll be walking trough Barnes and Noble and you'll see a book with the EXACT same title and plot you concocted some eight years ago and you'll be kicking yourself for not writing it first.

   Also keep writing your music and poetry. It may not go anywhere but it'll make you feel good. As long as it's not that crap what's-his-name brings out of you. *cringe* And painting! Don't stop painting. You're actually pretty good. And it makes you happy, genuinely happy. Especially when bright, happy colors are involved. You're incredibly creative and ridiculously talented. To stop doing what you love would be a waste. These things are a part of who you are. Don't lose them. 

Read, read, read. That's what Dr. Seuss recommends and I would agree. Don't stop reading, ever. Keep every book you buy and start buying books you would want to read to your future child. 

   Don't smoke. It's gross and ten years later you'll wonder why in the hell you even started. Don't get that tattoo on your back. Don't start dropping the "F" bomb. Ten years later you'll still be saying it, only then you'll have to worry about it becoming your child's first word. (Though, you can always blame your husband.) 

   Lastly, Be who you are. Don't try to be someone you're not ... Especially for that A-hole, what's-his-face. You're bold, adventurous, creative, and fearless. Those are traits you love about yourself. Don't stop being those things! Be happy and the rest will follow. 

See you soon,

SJ 

Cookie Covers: Rainbow Rowell Edition ( #LoveAThon Mash Up)

 Check out all of our Love-A-Thon posts by clicking here!

As soon as I saw on the schedule that there was going to be "Mash Up" of books & a hobby, I knew immediately what I was going to do. 3 years ago I started decorating cookies to provide a little extra income for my family (and to support my book buying habit!). For the past year and a half, I've started decorating cookies to go along with some of my favorite books either for my book club or movie premieres. More recently, I've started recreating book covers as cookies. The first set of cookie covers were made for the releases of Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi and Cress by Marissa Meyer; they can be found here. 

So for the Mash Up and my next set of "Cookie Covers", I decided to take on some of my favorite covers by one of my favorite authors, so here they are:

Attachments, Fangirl, Eleanor & Park, and Landline

by Rainbow Rowell. 

(Make sure and check back later tonight at 8 CST  when I'll be giving away these 4 cookies + one of the corresponding books! 
Post is now live! Click here!)

 You can see more of my cookies based on books below!

Ignite Me and Cress cover cookies

Faction cookies from the Divergent Trilogy

Quarter Quell & Mockingjay cookies for the movie release of Catching Fire

Hunger Games cookies for the first movie

Did I make you hungry?!

Love-A-Thon Mad-Lib!

Check out all of our Love-A-Thon posts by clicking here! 

Okay this was a blast to do! I debated between being serious and making it more like a real story, but then decided what's the fun in that and decided to go completely ridiculous. Enjoy!

One day, I was PARASAILING with STURMHOND. Out of the blue, a MANATEE came out of nowhere! It was so WOBBLY, CERULEAN and GINORMOUS. At first, we were afraid, we were petrified, but we SKIPPED. We hopped on A JETPACK to make our getaway. 

As we escaped, we turned up the radio because CALL ME MAYBE came on and made me VOMIT. Everything was extremely smooth sailing until an ANTEATER appeared in the middle of the road. We swerved to avoid it, but while STURMHOND stayed on THE JETPACK, I got thrown onto my side in the woods.

I couldn't get up, and felt LACHRYMOSE as I lay there staring up at the trees. What was I going to do? I heard a CHORTLE among the leaves, and felt GIDDY. Surely, this was going to be my end. As my eyes fluttered shut, the last thing I saw was a head of AQUAMARINE hair and BURNISHED BRONZE eyes.

When I woke up again, I was on a FUTON. My body hurt a whole lot less, and I could sit up. There was a WALRUS and NINJA in the room, along with EGGPLANTS and KOOL-AID. The door suddenly opened to reveal CHAOL, a concerned look on his face. I blushed and averted my gaze, but he DANCED and said, "Don't be shy. It's okay."

He came over to sit by me, and we started talking after I told him my name. We chatted about CURLING, TAXIDERMY and WOODWORKING and realized we had a ton in common! I thought he was FLOPPY and couldn't help feeling a little swoony. 

Just as he reached out for my hand, the door crashed open and in came HECTOR. "Don't let him charm you away, my love!" He yelled, running at CHAOL. They each had WHISKS in their hands and began to fight. "Stop!" I yelled, feeling so FLABBERGASTED. They didn't listen to me. Before I could intervene, CHAOL fell to the floor and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"What was that?" I asked, staring at the empty space. HECTOR dropped his weapon, and came over to me. "Magic, but you are safe now, PUDDING POP." He hugged me close, and I suddenly knew that this was the real deal and not just a dream.

Just as YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND started playing in my head, I woke up. I cursed my REVOLTING luck. Why had it only been just a dream?

Love-a-Thon Book Valentine

Check out all of our Love-A-Thon posts by clicking here! 

I chose Jamie Fraser as my book valentine. I mean, hello, Jamie Fraser! Anyway, please enjoy my love letter to Jamie. - Sarah

Dear Jamie,

   Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ you are sexy as hell! Those cat like baby blues burn into my soul. I want to run my fingers through that gorgeous red hair while you to wear me like a kilt and call me Sassenach. I love you, James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser. Please ravage me.

Love,

Ready and Willing 

P.S. You can spank me if I'm naughty.  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Since the art of letter writing is rarely seen anymore. I decided to send all of my book boyfriends tweets. (Yes, I'm a dork). --Lindsay

Told you I'm a dork. But I had SO much fun doing this!

Love-A-Thon Book Spine Poetry

Check out all of our Love-A-Thon posts by clicking here!

Due to the fact that Sarah & I read most of our books on either the Nook or Kindle, we didn't have a lot of books just laying around to choose from for this challenge. The titles are all ones that either one or both of us have read, so we do own them in some capacity. ;)

So without further ado, here's Sarah's Book Spine Poetry!

Shatter Me

Under the Never Sky

Fracture Me

Across a Star Swept Sea

Unravel Me 

Among the Nameless Stars

Destroy me 

Where the Stars Still Shine

Ignite Me

For Darkness Shows the Stars