Sometimes we forget that in the big world of business there are small businesses that are just as great if not better to shop at! Today is small business Saturday! Many may not even know that there is such a thing. Well, there is and I am here to share two small businesses that I support wholeheartedly! Small businesses can be much easier to work with than those huge ones who are only after the money and care little about customer service.
It has been my experience with not only the two I am sharing below, but with all small businesses, that they care more about the customers all the way around. They really make you feel like they care that you chose them to buy from. They add extra special touches that you just can't get from a big company. They do small things for customers that mean more than they even know. Handwritten thank you's for buying from them, special coupons from them to use later, special packaging that you know took time they didn't have to spend on you, and much more make small businesses great. They may be small, but that doesn't mean they are any less busy and yet they still do that extra special touch that makes them more than other companies. There is something to be said about being personable and genuine.
So on this Small Business Saturday I encourage you to check out these small businesses that are on Etsy!! There are lots more too on Etsy to check out that take great pride in being small and being able to hand-make you something that you just won't find anywhere else.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Quirky A to Z Reading Challenge 2014
I'm not into challenges that feel too much like school, so I wanted one that would be just for fun. I created this one to accommodate my somewhat quirky personality. Join me if you're a little quirky, too. (Tweak as needed.)
Any books used to complete this challenge can be used for any other challenges you may be doing, but each book can be used for only one of the categories in this challenge.
Below are the fun a to z options. I put my review for each under the option for that letter. I can't wait to do this fun and unique way to read from a to z!!!!
A is for April (the month in which you read the book)
A~ Dakota Gold by John Anderson
B is for Bathing Suit (this book takes place at least partly in hot weather months)
B~ Bluegrass Undercover by Kathleen Brooks
C is for Children's book
C is for Children's book
C~
D is for Doctor (one of the characters)
D is for Doctor (one of the characters)
D~ Green Lake by S.K. Epperson
E is for Ever (in the title)
E is for Ever (in the title)
E~
F is for Family (book is about a family or family relationships)
F is for Family (book is about a family or family relationships)
F~ A Red, Red, Rose by Susan Coryell
G is for Geography (the story takes place in at least two different countries)
G is for Geography (the story takes place in at least two different countries)
G~ The Princess of Sparta by Aria Cunningham
H is for Heart (it's a love story)
H is for Heart (it's a love story)
H~
I is for Ice (the setting is cold - snow, ice, rain)
I is for Ice (the setting is cold - snow, ice, rain)
I~
J is for Jokes (the book is humorous)
J is for Jokes (the book is humorous)
J~ Right Click by Lisa Becker
K is for Keyboard (at least one character plays a musical instrument)
K is for Keyboard (at least one character plays a musical instrument)
K~ The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine
L is for Lamp (the book takes place before electricity was discovered)
L is for Lamp (the book takes place before electricity was discovered)
L~ Silver Lady by Linda George
M is for Mom (one of the characters)
M is for Mom (one of the characters)
O~
P is for Pilgrims (the story involves moving someplace new)
P is for Pilgrims (the story involves moving someplace new)
S~ Four To Score by Janet Evanovich
T is for Time (the book travels time, moves through time quickly or flashes back)
T is for Time (the book travels time, moves through time quickly or flashes back)
U~ Betty White If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't) by Betty White
V is for Veteran (at least one character is/was a member of a military force)
V is for Veteran (at least one character is/was a member of a military force)
V~
W is for Wind (the book blew you away)
W is for Wind (the book blew you away)
Z~
Reading Outside the Box Reading Challenge 2014
I’ve been working on an event for the Tweens at the library for a while. The idea is pretty simple. I know kids kind of get ‘stuck’ with they’re reading. They have an idea of what they like to read and they just stick to that. There isn’t a huge problem with that other than they might be missing out on many books that they just don’t know exist. For the event, I’m getting a bunch of different books from many different genres. Everyone is going to get ~5 minutes with each book to read and look over it. Hopefully they find a new type of book to try for a while!
I then realized that I have that problem as well. I decided for the new year to branch out with my reading a bit. That’s how the Reading Outside The Box Challenge was born. I’ve made a little chart with a bunch of different types of books to ‘sample’ on it. The challenge is open to any and everyone who would like to spice up their reading life.
Please feel free to use the chart on your posts. Just link back here!
Participating is pretty easy.
- You have all of 2014 to read a book for each square.
- A book can only count for 1 square. There will be 25 books for this challenge.
- The books read for this project can come from other projects you’re participating in: school, review books, other challenge or events, books for fun.
- If you blog, keep a post/page for the challenge. Update the post/page when you read a book for the challenge with a link to your thoughts/review of the book. Make sure to state which square the book counts for!
- If you feel like it, write check in posts every few months. Update us on how you feel about the ‘new’ books you’re reading.
- I’ll keep a page here for people to add review links to. It would be nice to see how others are feeling about the challenge.
That’s it! Hopefully by the end of the year we will be more adventurous in our reading.
Sign up here:
*Most of the categories are pretty self explanatory. Here are the details for the ‘questionable’ ones:
- Read a Chunkster: Read a book with 600+ pages.
- Reading by Ear: Listen to an audiobook
- Accidentally Watched the Movie First: You didn’t realize the movie was based on a book until after you watched it. Ideally you haven’t read the book yet.
- Relive the Magic: Reread a book you really enjoyed as a kid but haven’t touched it since then.
- Gathering Dust: You’ve had this book for years and you still haven’t read it.
- Loved By Others: Other people really love this book but for whatever reason you haven’t read it yet.
- Lost in Translation: This book was originally written in another language.
- Second Chance: You read this book a while back and didn’t enjoy it, didn’t finish it, or were on the fence about it. Time to give it another try!
My Progress in Reading outside MY box!
Read a Chunkster~
Reading By Ear~ Four To Score by Janet Evanovich
Gathering Dust~ Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
Science Fiction~ The Rainbow Man by P.B. Kane
Picture Book~
Graphic Novel~
Poetry or Novel in Verse~
Young Adult Fiction~ Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
Loved By Others~ Bloodstorm by Amber Kallyn
Second Chance~ The Day of First Sun by Sheryl Steines
Mystery~ High Five by Janet Evanovich
Accidently Watched the Movie First~
Try a Classic~
Historical Fiction~ Yellowstone Heart Song by Peggy L. Henderson
Contemporary Fiction~ Friends With Partial Benefits by Luke Young
Middle Grade Fiction~ Dakota Gold by John Anderson
Fantasy~ The White Aura by Felicia Tatum
Award Winner~
Lost in Translation~
Non Fiction Book~
Self Published~
Relive the Magic~
Biography or Memoir~ Betty White If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't) by Betty White
Romance~ Bluegrass Undercover by Kathleen Brooks
Adult Fiction~ Silver Lady by Linda George
Eclectic Reader Challenge 2014
In it’s third year, the aim of The Eclectic Reader 2014 Challenge is to push you outside your comfort zone by reading up to 12 books during the year from 12 different categories.
- The challenge will run from January 1st to December 31st 2014. Participants may join at any time up until December 1st 2014
- Create a blog post committing to your participation in this challenge.
* If you don’t have a blog you are still welcome to sign up. You can create a shelf for the challenge at Goodreads or LibraryThing or a similar site Just include your name and a link to your shelf.
- Post your name, blog name, and the direct link to your challenge post in the Linky using the link below
- Select, read and review a book from each genre listed below during the year for a total of 12 books. A book may be in print, electronic or audio format.
* You can choose your books as you go or create a list in advance. You may combine this challenge with others if you wish.
* Where a book is identified by more than one genre eg historical romance, it may only count for either the historical fiction or romantic fiction genres – not both.
* You can read your chosen titles in any order, at any pace, just complete the challenge by December 31st 2014 to be eligible for the prize drawing.
- Award Winning
- True Crime (Non Fiction)
- Romantic Comedy
- Alternate History Fiction
- Graphic Novel
- Cosy Mystery Fiction
- Gothic Fiction
- War/Military Fiction
- Anthology
- Medical Thriller Fiction
- Travel (Non Fiction)
- Published in 2014
If you need some ideas for what to read in the above categories I suggest you search Listopia at Goodreads for example click here for a list that includes Alternate History titles
- Each time you read and review a book as part of this challenge, make sure you identify it by adding either a direct statement and /or the challenge image badge to the post. If you tweet use the tag #eclecticreader or @bookdout
- Share your review with other challenge participants by posting your name/blog name and title of the book with a direct link to your review in the Linky.
Download the challenge badge
All participants that complete the challenge by December 31st 2014 will be eligible to win a book of their choice to the value of $15AUD from bookdepository.com or a $10US Amazon gift card or paypal funds of US$10 to be drawn via random.org Jan 2015.
Please CONTACT ME if you have any questions, I hope you will play along!
Play along I must!! Below will be me progress!
- Award Winning~
- True Crime (Non Fiction)~
- Romantic Comedy~ Right Click by Lisa Becker
- Alternate History Fiction~ Yellowstone Heart Song by Peggy L. Henderson
- Graphic Novel~
- Cosy Mystery Fiction~ Four To Score by Janet Evanovich
- Gothic Fiction~ A Red, Red, Rose by Susan Coryell
- War/Military Fiction~
- Anthology~
- Medical Thriller Fiction~
- Travel (Non Fiction)~
- Published in 2014~ The White Aura by Felicia Tatum
Full House Reading Challenge 2014
- Challenge will run from Jan 1st to December 31st 2014
- Write and publish a post stating your intention to participate. In the post please include the Challenge graphic and a link back to this post. Then link your intention post at the bottom of this post. Make sure it is the actual post and not just a generic link to your blog.
- Entries will be accepted up until the end of November 2014.
- Add your reviews here. At the end of every two months there will be a U.S. $10 prize with a book of your choice from the Book Depository or Amazon voucher, (International) for the entries. There will be a new list then for every two months until the end of November.
- Each review can only be linked up once in the year.
- Books may cross over from other challenges that you are doing.
- On the 22nd of November a post will go up to link a summary post for the challenge for those who have completed a full house. This will close on the31st of December and a winner will be chosen using random.org for a U.S. $50 prize which again can be used at the Book Depository or go as an Amazon voucher.
- If someone completes a full house and would like to complete another, that is fine too, and would mean two entries at the end of the year.
The Challenge:
- Complete the card below. You can do it in any order you wish. You are allowed "one free exchange", if there is something on the square you really dislike you may change it to something of your choice. Once you have played this free card that is it. Mention the exchange in the final summary post.
As I do the squares I will highlight below the ones done and link up a review to each book.
From the Local Library~ Submarine Outlaw by Philip Roy
Best Read So Far In 2014~ Maze Runner by James Dashner
From Your Wish List~ The Brown House by Christy Sloat
Set in Different Country From You~
Published in 2014~ The White Aura by Felicia Tatum
Theme/Issue You Think Is Important~
Setting You'd Like to Visit~
Suspense or Crime~ Glory In Death by J.D. Robb
Contemporary~ Bluegrass Undercover by Kathleen Brooks
More Than 400 Pages~
Re-read~
Review Persuaded You To Read It~ Dakota Gold by John Anderson
Free Choice~ Friends With Partial Benefits by Luke Young
Published Before 2013~ Four To Score by Janet Evanovich
Book With Animal In It~
Won or Borrowed~ The Crimson Key by Christy Sloat
Historical Fiction~ Yellowstone Heart Song by Peggy L. Henderson
Less Than 200 Pages~ Black Woods by Laura Wright Laroche
Non Fiction~ Betty White If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't) by Betty White
Author New To You~ Bloodstorm by Amber Kallyn
Book From A Series~ High Five by Janet Evanovich
Free or Bought Very Cheaply~ Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
Published in 2013~ A Red, Red, Rose by Susan Coryell
Paranormal or SF or Dystopian~ The Rainbow Man by P.B. Kane
You Love The Cover~ Divergent by Veronica Roth
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge 2013 Wrap Up
Yippy yippy joy joy!! I completed my Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge!! I have now read, not only all the books for my challenge, but also the entire Sookie series. Yippy!!
Below are my review links and the original post.
Welcome to the 2013 Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge hosted by Darlene's Book Nook!
Although I hosted this challenge for 2012, I did not make any headway in this series. So, I'm going to host it again for 2013!
The books in the Sookie Stackhouse (aka Southern Vampires) series by Charlaine Harris are:
- Dead Until Dark (Book #1)
- Living Dead in Dallas (Book #2)
- Club Dead (Book #3)
- Dead to the World (Book #4)
- Dead as a Doornail (Book #5)
- Definitely Dead (Book #6)
- All Together Dead (Book #7)
- From Dead to Worse (Book #8)
- Dead and Gone (Book #9)
- Dead in the Family (Book #10)
- Dead Reckoning (Book #11)
- Deadlocked (Book #12)
- Dead Ever After (Book #13) - expected publication in 2013
Please read below for the challenge guidelines.
2013 Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge
Here are the challenge details:
1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Books must be read during this time-frame to count.
2. You can join the challenge at any time! All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.
3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.
4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.
5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks (as long as they are unabridged).
6. There are four levels for the challenge:
a. Level 1 "Just A Drop":Read 1-4 books in the series.
b. Level 2 "A Small Bite":Read 5-8 books in the series.
c. Level 3 "So Thirsty": Read 9-12 books in the series.
d. Level 4 "Hungry For More": Read all 13 books in the series!
7. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up but you cannot go down!
8. There will be a separate linky for your reviews, which will be posted onTHIS page.
9. There will be a linky for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
10. Create a sign-up post and link back to this post. Sign up with Mister Linky below! Be sure to use the direct url to your sign-up post and not the url to your blog.
11. Grab the challenge button and post it in your sidebar. Copy and paste this HTML code into an HTML gadget for your sidebar:3 Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ7mNXoKtBxKRFnAhobJf_0hmTI25Mou-k0-3KcWSqu977eWV_jYJ9a9ppNKgr-4b9cyBaIkqJPSLDX96wpriNmgSDdARAZZ_VC1etCGW7laHot7e8sk-oFKWjNcgbrYLBoCCkSURVaWS/s320/2013+Sookie+Stackhouse+Reading+Challenge.jpg" width="190" />
I am going to do this! Lol, I made it through much of the series in 2012, but failed to finish it, SO...this is a perfect challenge to help me do so.
I will be shooting for "A Small Bite" for finishing 5 books, as that is how many I have left to read in the series after the new one in 2013 comes out. :-)
1. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
2. Dead In The Family by Charlaine Harris
3. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
4. Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
5. Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Book Review: Dead Ever After
Author: Charlaine Harris
Pages: 338
Publication Date: 2013
Version: Hardcover
Genre: Adult Fiction/Paranormal Mystery
Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"There are secrets in the town of Bon Temps, ones that threaten those closest to Sookie—and could destroy her heart...
Sookie Stackhouse finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clearcut. He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.
Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime.
But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough..."
My Review:
I have read all of the books in this series and I must say I am glad I continued, but am sad to see them end. I found this book to be exactly what it was meant to be...a book that wraps up almost everything that has been going on in this entire series. It also was the only book of the entire series that I can say you really needed to have read the other books to fully understand. There were lots of past references that you only could understand completely if you have read the other books. I did enjoy this book, but at the same time I can see why some people may have not liked it. I found that I didn't like some of the endings to some things, but that doesn't mean I hated the book. The book was well written and just as interesting as any other book that Harris wrote, in my opinion. This was a book full of "what?!" moments for me. I wouldn't call it a bad book, I would call it a "not what I had expected" book. This book wraps up many things with the characters and where they are going in their lives and relationships. As I read it, I really could feel the "end of a series" feel to the book. I just felt the ending of it all through the writing. I liked the book and am glad I read it. Did I love it like the other books in this series? Maybe not, but it was worth the read. I would recommend reading this book if you have read the rest of the series or many of the books in this series, so you can put some "closure" to things in the way of Sookie Stackhouse. It surely has the adventure, drama, and trouble that follows Sookie!
4/5 Stars
Friday, November 22, 2013
Book Review: The Wizard of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
Pages: 199
Publication Date: 1899
Version: Paperback
Genre: Children's Fiction
Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Join Dorothy Gale, Toto, and all of her friends as they explore the incredible land of Oz. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is American's most enduring fairy tale. From the moment Dorothy puts on the silver slippers (changed to ruby slippers by MGM to take advantage of their new advance in movie making: color) until the moment she clicks her heels and returns home to Kansas you will be swept away and captivated by her extraordinary story. This lavishing illustrated edition has more than one hundred and fifty of the original W. W. Denslow illustrations."
My Review:
Oh my gosh! I loved this movie as a kid and I loved the book as a child too, both for different reasons. Reading this book again as an adult, it brought back wonderful memories of my Grandma and I reading this together when I was a child. How could any reader, young or old, not like this book?! This wonderful classic takes the reader on a wonderful journey to far away lands full of magic and wonder. With a wonderful plot and such classically wonderful characters this is an instant love for any reader. The wonder of the plot of being swept away to a far away land and trying to find a way home is great for the imagination. The characters only add to that love and wonder. With characters like Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy, Toto, the witches (good and bad), and the wizard there is a character for each and every reader to love and to dislike. The pictures are perfect in this book as is the writing. It's a book so fantastic and magical any reader gets lost in the pages and before they know it, the end of the book is upon them. A great book to create great memories with!!
5/5 Stars!!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2014
What’s your reading goal for 2014? If it’s to read more books, then this is the reading challenge for you! There have been 500+ readers who have wanted to outdo themselves so far. Are you up for the challenge?
Reading Challenge Details:
- Runs January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2014 (books read prior to 1/1/2014 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before 9/30/2014. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
- The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2014 than you did in 2013. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down.
- Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio).
- Books can be any genre (fiction, nonfiction, romance, mystery, etc.).
- Novellas that are at least 100 pages in length, as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
- Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
- To join the challenge, grab the 2014 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, LibraryThing, BookLikes, Libib, etc., so as long as you have adedicated shelf for the 2014 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge and your profile is not private. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.
I have decided to forgo the review link-up for 2014. If you plan to review the books you read for this challenge, link them up in your 2014 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge post.
Levels:
Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books
Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books
Ok, so I have read a LOT of books in 2013, so I better shoot low for outdoing myself or I may not ever stop reading in 2014. Lol! I am going for the Getting My Heart Rate Up Level of 1-5 more books.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
eBook Reading Challenge 2014
The 2014 Ebook Challenge.
Encouraging readers to expand past just physical books to embrace ebooks in all forms.
Encouraging readers to expand past just physical books to embrace ebooks in all forms.
Challenge Guidelines:
- This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2014.
- Anyone can join, you don’t need to be a blogger. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
- Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
- You can plan your books in advance or as you read them.
- When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
- Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2014, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
Levels:
- Floppy disk – 5 ebooks
- CD – 10 ebooks
- DVD – 25 ebooks
- Memory stick – 50 ebooks
- Hard drive – 75 ebooks
- Server – 100 ebooks
- Human brain – 150 ebooks
At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you to add your reviews for that month. The linky will remain open for the remainder of the year, so if you forget, feel free go back and add them when you remember.
I have found that I love my Kindle Fire, but love the "real" books best. However, I am going to shoot for the CD Level in 2014 anyway.
1. Black Woods by Laura Wright Laroche
2. Friends With Partial Benefits by Luke Young
3. A Red, Red, Rose by Susan Coryell
4. Green Lake by S.K. Epperson
5. Yellowstone Heart Song by Peggy L. Henderson
6. The Rainbow Man by P.B. Kane
7. Bluegrass Undercover by Kathleen Brooks
8. The White Aura by Felicia Tatum
9. Bloodstorm by Amber Kallyn
10. Silver Lady by Linda George
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