Out With A Bang Mini Challenge/Giveaway 2

Okay, are you ready for the second mini challenge? For this one I will be giving away sweet swag from the hosts, The Bookish Type and Book-Savvy, as well as a copy of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

Another one of my favorite reads from 2010 was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

When we first meet 14 year old Susie Salmon, she is already in Heaven.  This is before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn't happen.  In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place she finds herself.  It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets.  With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief, her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor and begin in the difficult process of healing.  In the hands of a brilliant novelist, this story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching story about family, memory, love, heaven and living.

The Challenge:
 If you could pick one book that you read in 2010 and turn it into a movie, which book would that be?  Who would play the main characters?


Giveaway Rules & Entry:

• You must be a participant in the Out With A Bang Readathon - Click to Sign Up
• Answer the above question in my comments section.  Please include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.
• To be eligible you must live in the US
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on 12/31/10.
• I will use Random.org to select a winner.

Happy Reading & Good Luck!

Out With A Bang Mini Challenge/Giveaway

Well hello fellow read-a-thon-ers.  I hope you are enjoying the Out With A Bang Readathon as much as I am!  I've got some great swag to give away as well as two of my favorite books read this year.

Mini Challenge

I will be giving away a copy of Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson, as well as some fantastic swag from the hosts of this readathon, The Bookish Type and Book-Savvy.  

As a little girl, Jane has no one.  Her mother Viviene Margaux, the powerful head of a major New York theater company has no time for her.  But she does have one friend -- Michael -- and no one can see him but her.  But Michael can't stay with Jane forever, and on her eighth birthday, her imaginary friend must leave her.  When Jane is in her thirties, working for her mother's company, she is just as alone as she was as a child.  Her boyfriend hardly knows she's there and is more interested in what Viviene can do for his career.  Her mother practically treats her as a slave in the office, despite the great success of Jane's first play, "Thank Heaven".  Then she finds Michael - handsome and just the same as she remembers him, only now he's not imaginary.  For once in her life, Jane is happy -- and has someone who loves her back.  But not even Michael knows the reason behind why they've really been reunited.  

The Challenge:
The entire time I read this book I felt like I had one song just running on a continuous loop.  What book did you read in 2010 that you would consider your favorite?  If you could only use one song to describe this book, what would it be?

Giveaway Rules & Entry:

• You must be a participant in the Out With A Bang Readathon - Click to Sign Up
• Answer the above question in my comments section.  Please include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.
• To be eligible you must live in the US
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on 12/31/10.
• I will use Random.org to select a winner.

Happy Reading & Good Luck!

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end" - Semisonic

Can you believe that we are just a few days away from 2011?  It seems so crazy, but I feel like 2010 FLEW by.  There were plenty of ups and downs throughout the year, but overall I think it was a successful and happy year.  I'm hoping for a fantastic 2011 filled with tons of reading, blogging and spending time with friends and family!

Let's recap on the highlights of 2010:

1

Obviously, number one on the list of awesomness of 2010 is starting this blog!  It seriously has been the best thing in the world for me.  I wake up in the middle of the night sometimes with ideas on what to blog about next, or what book I should read/review next.  It is crazy.  This blog has helped me to meet some great new people as well!  I hope you are enjoying reading my blog as much as I am enjoying writing it!

2

My parents purchased a house in Florida!!  They moved down there a few years back to be closer to my mom's side of the family, and have been hoping to build their dream house ever since.  Well, everything is finally done, and they are all settled in their brand new, custom made house!  It is gorgeous, and I cannot wait to head down there to see it all!  (I think my favorite part is that two of the walls in the house are RED!)

3

I got a whole bunch of new responsibilities at work, and I'm loving it!  I am now helping to train all of the new people on our staff!  I love the interaction with them, and I love the challenge of learning about each person.  I'm starting to get lots of new ideas about how to train and I'm hoping to start implementing my ideas in 2011!

2011 has some promising things on the horizon.  I'm extremely excited to continue working on my blog!  For 2010 my goal was to read 100 books -- I'm still not sure that I'm going to make it (only how many hours left?  So many books, so little time!)  I can't be upset that I haven't reached my goal, because life happens.  There were plenty of times that I would have rather been reading, but I had to take care of my other responsibilities. Wouldn't it be nice if we could just read all day and never have to worry about anything else?  

Well, I'm aiming for 100 books this coming year, and hopefully I will be more prepared this year.  I've got the support and motivation from my blog, so I'm hoping that will help.  I've also got enough books to last me until the next century, but who's counting...

I've also decided that this year I want to set realistic resolutions that I actually have a chance of keeping.  Year after year my resolution is just like everyone else's -- lose weight.  Now we all know that I never stick to it and I don't end up with that and by the end of the year instead of a six pack of abs I've got a six pack of beer.

1. Family/Friends

As I'm sure you've probably figured out, my family and friends are the most important things to me.  In 2010, I let a lot of things get in the way of spending the time I should have with everyone.  I am going to make sure to set aside time for my family and friends this year, even if that means not reading that one book that I just can't put down.

2. Me Time

In the same breath, I want to make sure that I set aside me time.  I'm always rushing around to help everyone else, and I need to just stop, step back and take a minute to myself.  I'm not going to be extremely selfish about it or anything, I'm just hoping to get 20-30 minutes a day for just me.  Whether I spend that reading, painting or just staring at the wall...it will be ME time.

3. STOP Stressing

I tend to spend more time stressing over things than I do trying to resolve them.  This year, I'm going to keep with my bosses new mantra "Keep it moving".  I love that!  So instead of fretting over everything I will realize that things happen, and I just need to keep it moving!

4. Leave the work AT work

I tend to bring a lot of my work home with me.  I don't mean physical things that I have to do (because I can't change that).  I mean events that occurred throughout the day, etc.  Instead of bringing it home, as soon as I am done with my shift I will be done with it, and I will start fresh the next day.

5. Get Creative

I am such a creative person.  I love painting, jewelry making, really just anything artsy.  Along with making time for my family/friends and myself...I need to make time to be creative.  I miss painting, and I really want to get back into it.

I'm really hoping that I can stick to these this year -- I tried to set realistic goals because I have a much better chance of actually keeping these.  Do you have any resolutions for 2011?

Happy Reading!

Out With A Bang Readathon Update

So the readathon started yesterday, and I was stuck at work all day -- I didn't have a lot of time during the day to read, and we had plans last night with some friends.  

I started A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks last night, and finished it earlier this morning.  I had a lot of errands that I had to get done today, so now that I'm officially done with them, I'm on to book number two.  

Today I stopped by my local Borders store.  I received an email that they were closing and there was now 75% off almost everything.  Of course, I've said many times in the last few months that I need to stop spending so much money on books, but 75% off---who could resist?  I scoured the entire store and got some great finds!  14 books for $15!! I know, I felt like I was in heaven.  Here's what I got:

Pretty awesome huh?  So I'm pretty sure you can tell that I think my list from yesterday is going to be tweaked a little for the readathon...but that's okay.  

Anyway, don't forget to stop by The Bookish Type and Book Savvy's blogs to see who's hosting mini challenges today!  I'll be holding mine tomorrow so get ready!  (Don't forget -- in order to participate in the mini challenges you must sign up to be a part of the readathon.  You can do that on either The Bookish Type's blog or Book Savvy's blog, so head over there now and join the fun!)

Happy Reading!

Out With A Bang Readathon Kickoff!

YAY!! The readathon has officially begun!  I hope you have the last few books on your TBR pile up and ready to read!  Grab a coffee or hot cocoa, and get started!

Keep your eyes out for great giveaways from the participating bloggers.  For a complete list, check out The Bookish Type's posts each day. 

Here's a quick mini-list of the books I hope to finish.  I'll be working today, but as soon as I get off work tonight I will begin my reading! Now keep in mind, I make these lists all the time, but change my mind depending on my mood.

Happy Reading!