Friday, June 24, 2011

Changes.

As I roam around I'm in awe of all the other book bloggers I come across. Especially those like me with small children in the house (I have two boys ages 8 & 4). These bloggers inspire me in so many ways. I can't thank you guys enough for doing what you do. That goes for all the book bloggers.

My blog didn't start out as a book blog, therefore it was given a generic name and a thrown together look. Not that I don't love my hot pink zebra striped strawberries, but it's time to make some changes. I've thought up some new names and I think "The Lolarific Bookshelf" is in the lead for new blog name.

As far as backgrounds and templates go I've been browsing and have seen a ton I like, but not many that I love. For me it's love or none. So I'll keep looking for now, and I believe over the Independence day holiday you'll see changes here. I hope that you all love them, or at least can tolerate them well. ;)

(I'm hoping to have all the frills when I do make these changes, including an "About Me" section and a section where I can share some of my favorite blogs to read.)

Also I've been winning a few books here and there and will start sharing reviews on those and pics of my actual bookshelves as they fill. Friends and family keep telling me to open a bakery, husband says said bakery will end up having a library. (He's probably not far off with that idea....I'd snack there!)

So hopefully that gives the few of you who do follow something to look forward to.

Have a great weekend ya'll!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Choosy moms choose books.

I've been venturing around the Midsummer's Eve blog hop and I had a quick question for the few followers I have. I'm super curious as to whether you'd rather win a gift card prize or a book prize? For me it's a book prize. Why? Because as a reader everyone has different tastes and different realms of writers they follow. It's always interesting to be introduced to a new book by someone you've never read or have heard about. Or to a book you normally wouldn't give a second glance at. I've come across several that have me thanking the person hosting for showing me something new. Gift cards are a nice prize and all but I'd rather be shown some piece of the blogger's literary personality by a book of their choice.

Which do you prefer?





Friday, June 17, 2011

The sickness.

So I was totally expecting to be knee deep in a book this morning and then I woke up to the sickness. Both my husband and my youngest are stomach sick. Which leaves mommy to take care of them both. So no thon-y reading for me today. I may squeeze in finishing a book I had already started, but my main goal is to not catch whichever virus happens to be roaming about my house. Cant't wait to see how well ya'll are doing with it though!

Monday, June 13, 2011

My First Read A Thon!




This post is to announce to the world that I'm participating in the Spring into Summer read-a-thon hosted by Enna Isilee of Squeaky Books!

This read-a-thon is going to be so great! It's two days where you try do NOTHING but read. It's a great chance to get rid of some of those books that have been sitting on your TBR pile forever.

But that's not all! There will also be awesome mini-challenges and a TON of giveaways! In fact, just for signing up you are entered to win a $25 gift card to Amazon! SO GO SIGN UP! And if you say that Lola @ Lolarific Life sent you, you'll get 5 extra entries to win that gift card! CLICK HERE to enter to win, and know all there is to know about the read-a-thon.

Here's my goal:

I plan to participate on: BOTH DAYS
I plan to read: 3 books
I hope to read: My Favorite Countess by Vanessa Kelly, The Heir by Grace Burrowes and Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant

Well, have you signed up yet? DO IT NOW!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Learning.

So for those that haven't noticed I'm still really new to the whole blogging thing. When I started I thought I'd rant about my crazy life. Then I realized my life might be crazy but there's not much to rant about. So I thought about where to go from there. About the same time I learned the joys of blog giveaways, in particular blog giveaways. I follow the fabulous Anna Campbell on Facebook and she's always posting different blogs that are hosting interviews with her and other authors. I hadn't really ever done more that just lightly stalk and read what the bloggers or writers had to say about this book or that book that was being promoted. That is until I entered my first giveaway and followed that blog through here. I didn't win that one but I started following those authors that would be guested and from there I found more blogs to follow. Soon after I started leaning all my blogs towards books. When I'm on a tangent I will read non stop until I finish a book. I'm in love with all things books and have a very strong book addiction that this whole blogging world is feeding. Totally nothing wrong with that. I immensely enjoy reading other blogs as well as adding to mine. Often as I've stated before this is where I find inspiration for my blogs.

So it seems as though Lola's blog has taken a literary direction and I only hope that I do well with it. I've found lots of new book blogs to follow this past week through what's called a "blog hop". I stumbled upon one and I'm in love. I suppose I should explain what a blog hop is first, since I didn't even know what it was until a few days ago. A blog hop is where a blog or two hosts a giveaway that includes several other blogs doing individual giveaways too as a way to promote themselves. For me not only am I being able to enter said giveaways, but I'm getting to discover all different types of book blogs. Some are author blogs, some are simply review blogs, and some seem to be just for fun. The just for fun ones are like me I think. Sometimes when you come across an excellent book you want to share your knowledge with someone, anyone! And if you're like me not many people around you read a lot or have the same type of literary appetite as you. I only have a few friends in real life who will tolerate me going, "Oh my gosh I just read THE most incredible book! You have to read it nowwwwwwwwww.".  Some will reply that they'll check it out when they get a chance and then said chance never arrives and I'm still left wanting that discussion with someone who's read the same book.

It's amazingly awesome to find such a community on here where so many of us have common ground. I've thoroughly enjoyed each and every blog I've come across.

I'm ready for summer and the chance to read more and hopefully venture into the reviewing world also. I hope I do well, but most importantly enjoy the books I read and have some fun with my new blogging hobby.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

All I wanna do...

........is READ!

This time of year is the worst time of year for me to start a new book. There's planning a birthday, school getting out for the summer, and all sorts of other "summer is here!" activities. I was lucky enough to sneak in a whole book over the span of a little over a day. I'm dying to get back into my habit and can't wait for things to slow down enough for me to indulge some.

I've got a ton of new author's I'm finding and can't wait to dig into each and every book I've read about these past few weeks. I know I'll get there but I have no patience for waiting to read.

I think I'm going to try and sneak in another book this weekend to last me until next week.