Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Nominated for the Liebster Blog Award



On behalf of Katrina @ Chased By My Imagination, I was nominated for the Liebster Award. The purpose of the Liebster Blog Award is to recognize blogs with fewer than 200 followers that deserve a look. In other words, Newbies in the blogoshere! LOL that would definitely pertain to me.


First, before I get started with the rules, I'd like to thank Katrina for taking the time and nominating my wee little blog :) I really appreciate that she took that time out to mention me and get my blogs name out there. I've only been doing this for probably two months now

The RULES:
  •  Make Sure you thank and link back the person who nominated you
  • List 11 Facts about yourself.
  • Answer the 11 questions put forward by whoever nominated you.
  • Ask 11 new questions to 9 bloggers. They must have less than 200 followers on Bloglovin' (or there preferred method). You cannot re-nominate the blog that nominated you.
  • Go to their blog and inform them that they have been nominated!
Here we go!

11 Facts about Myself:

1.) My name is Michelle with 2 L's. My mother named me from the Beatles song, Michelle my Bell and the funny thing about that is when I get married this time next year, my name will become Michelle Bell, for real. So the nick name I had my entire life, Michelle Bell, will now be my permanent name. Pretty Cool, huh!

2.)When counting, I still use my fingers.... I have no shame in that!

3.) Actor/Singer Dean Martin and I were both born in Stuebenville, Ohio, on June 7th. Different years entirely but still very cool!!! That's Amore ;)


4.) I have to sleep with a fan on to hear the noise and feel the breeze, ALWAYS, if not I can not sleep. Also no socks on and feet out the covers. I get hot easily and Hot equals uncomfortable.....blah!!

5.) I have anxiety. I hate it. It sucks! Mostly it occurs in traffic, Wal-mart and in busy lines. Please don't stand on top of me and breath down my neck, that's all I ask ;)

6.) I'm a sucker for reality t.v. Especially shows from the Food Network/Cooking channel and Travel channel. I would totally eat weird and fowl things and travel the world with Andrew Zimmern! "If it looks good, eat it!"









7.) I love owls. Friends and family know this, which is awesome, they always know to gift me w/owlish things on



 my B-day and X-mas 'OvO'


8.) I always have polish on my toenails. I've been painting them for so long that if they're not, they just look....Weird!! Abnormal lol.... C'mon ladies, I know at least one of you agree with me on this!?!?!! NO NAKED TOENAILS hahahaaa


9.) I have 8 tattoos and want plenty more :) I'm always itchin' for more ink!


10.) I no longer drink alcohol anymore. Instead I drink entirely too much coffee.....with too much sugar and too much cream. AND I LOVE IT ♥


11.) I will be getting married this time next year and honeymooning in Disney World :)


11 Questions from Katrina:

1.) If you could be a book character, who would it be?
I would be Deeba Resham from China Mieville's Un Lun Dun. She really starts off to be the secondary character and quickly becomes the main character, heroine, of the story. She kicks butt and saves the day. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that!!??!!??


2) Which country would you most like to visit?
Italy...or Ireland! You know what, how about all of Europe lol! I would love to just take a month or so and just travel all over Europe and eat all the delicious foods and learn all about the countries history. The many reasons why I love watching the Travel Channel.

3) What is your favourite food to eat?



If I could afford to eat this everyday it would be crab legs with melted butter. Mmmmm My mouth is watering just thinking about it.







4) What about blogging do you find the most challenging?
Feeling obligated to blog everyday. I know I don't have to but when I don't blog I feel like I'm missing out on something. Which is totally absurd and is just part of my anxiety and worrying "funk" I always have. A problem I wish I could kick >:(

5) Who is your favourite author?
Well that's just hard to answer because I, of course, have more than one. Soooo for now I'll just name 3: 
Neil Gaiman, Alice Hoffman and Melina Marchetta

6) What is your proudest achievement?


Besides giving life to my children, lol! When I quit drinking alcohol. I was a total lush, drank every day, from sun up to sun down. I was crashing and crashing hard. Until one day, I picked up a book and put down the bottle....My life is now brighter






7) Do you have any pets? If not, would you ever want one?




Oh yes! We have a dog. He's 5 years old, a pit bull, great with kids and his name is Ozzy Pawsborne Bell







8) What do you do in your spare time other than blogging?



I'm a stay at home mom so I'm always doing something with my younger kids who are not in school yet (3 years old and 8 months old)
♥ Lily and Leia ♥






9) What sort of films, if any, do you enjoy?

I dig all types of films just not horror. NO THANKS, I'm a wuss! I can read horror, just not watch it. If I'm watching T.V. I watch the Food/Cooking and Travel Channels. And always watching some Adventure Time! ALGEBRAIC!!






10) When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone?
When I quit drinking alcohol and went and hung at with a bunch of friends....at a bar! I was not comfortable. At that time I had a lot of social anxiety b/c I was re-learning how to be around people, but sober. I didn't have the "liquid courage" that made me the crazy, spunky, girl I used to be. But even though I was all those things I was also drunk and a mess. I like shy Michelle a lot better now....and really, so does everyone else!! :)

11) What is your current occupation?
I'm a Fantabulous Wife and Mother!!! I take care of our house hold and finances and what I says goes :) On the side I read books and blog about them but that's really for enjoyment than an occupation!!

11 Questions for the Nominated Bloggers

1.) What was your first bookish blog post about?
2.) What is a bad book habit you have?
3.) If you could write letters to the dead, who would you write?
4.) How many books are on your TBR list?
5.) What is your favorite scent/perfume/lotion?
6.) Where would you want your next vacation destination to be (it can be anywhere)?
7.) If you could be a Disney Princess/Prince, who would it be?
8.) What is your favorite season of the year?
9.) If you could have a super power, what power would it be?
10.) What was the last movie you saw (in a movie theater)?
11.) If you could go to any concert in the world, whose would it be? (dead or alive)

9 Nominated Blogs:

1~ Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
2~ Monique @ Mo_Books
3~ Jackie @ BiblioBrat
4~ Amanda @ Little Miss Reader
5~ Katie & Krish @ Inkk Reviews
6~ Amanda Gray @ Book Badger
7~ Adelena @ A Page of Heaven
8~ Chrissi @ Chrissi Reads
9~ Danica @ Rainy Tree Reader


This is such a great reward and way to get us "Newbie blogger's" names out there in the huge ol' blogoshere. I'm honored and I hope the blogs I nominated get a smile on their face like I did!!! I look forward to, hopefully, chat with y'all on our blog comments!
Til then.......

Happy Blogging and Reading Y'all!!!
♥ xoxo ♥

Waiting on Wednesday: Sea of Shadows


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme, 
hosted by Breaking the Spine,
that showcase upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. 

Today's Book:


Expected Publication: April 8th, 2014

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned. Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

This sounds like a High Fantasy that's dark and eerie and something right up my alley!!! I'm super excited to get my hands on this book. I'm not even sure if this is the final cover they chose for the book. This one is pretty kick ass...so hopefully if they change it, the next one will be just as good or better. I mean what can be better than kick ass.....


Hopefully some of y'all are anticipating this ones release. If you haven't heard of it before, I hope by sharing it, you'll be intrigued and add it to your TBR list ;)
Can't wait to see what y'alls W.o.W's are today....
Til Then......
HAPPY READING Y'ALL!!!
♥ xoxo ♥



Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Popular Authors I Have Never Read


Top Ten Tuesdays is a meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish that features a new topic each week where we have to put down our top ten of it.

Today's Question/Topic is:

Top Ten Popular Authors I Have Never Read


Author: John Green

Books Include: The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, I mean the list goes on.


I feel like everyone in the bookish world has read at list one of this man's books. The reason why I haven't is b/c I tend to shy away from contemporary/realistic fiction, which all of his books seem to be. One day, Mr. Green, One day......




Books Include: Fangirl, Eleanor & Park, and Attachments

Same reason behind John Green is the same with Ms. Rowell. She also writes contemporary/realistic fiction which, hopefully, one day I will read. In fact, I just check her book, Fangirl, out from the library on Sunday, so there 

Soon Ms. Rowell you will be off this list, very soon :)





Author: Marissa Meyer

Books Include: The, "Oh so Popular", Lunar Chronicles

I feel like the only person in the entire bookish world that has not read this series. What the hell am I waiting for!!! Luckily my slack ass put a hold on book 1, Cinder, at the library. I'm first in line so hopefully I'll be getting my hands on it soon. 

I'm hoping I like this series enough to add the books to my bookcase.
FINGERS CROSSED!!




I love this author's name, Richelle Mead, kind of like mine, Michelle Reed :)
Why I haven't read her books yet, I don't know. When it really comes down to it, I guess it's because it's about vampires and b/c of the whole Twilight invasion, I haven't really been interested. I've been recommended the VA series but quite a few people, so maybe.....




Please tell me there are others out there that haven't read this author's books!!! ANYBODY??

I'm always seeing reviews and blogs on the series. I don't even know what it's about. Maybe it's about time I look into it. Maybe......





Books Include: Twilight Series and The Host

Yes! That's right, I haven't read anything by this author. Not that I wasn't interested, it's just the whole "vampire explosion" thing didn't do it for me. 
But I do want to read The Host and I bought the book on sale at the library, in great condition for only a buck! WOO HOO!



Author: Jodi Picoult


Haven't read her books but I have seen the movie, My Sister's Keeper, starring Cameron Diaz, which is based on her book. I also own one of her books, Harvesting the Heart, which I got out of the free bin at a bookstore. I just haven't the urge to read her work, possibly because it's in the contemporary/realistic fiction genre, the genre I never read. Man! I really gotta do something about this, LOL!!!


Author: Jane Austen

Books Include: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and so many more classics 


This is actually an author I'm quite disappointed in myself with. I can not believe I have let life slip without reading a single Jane Austen classic. I also find myself telling white lies, saying that I have read Pride & Prejudice when I have not. But I have seen the movies often enough to know what takes place. It happens to be one of my all time favorite films. Luckily I have three of her books in my bookcase, which I do intend to read. She will not be on this list forever!!

Author: Rick Riordan


I know I missing out...BUT.....I have the complete Percy Jackson series in my bookcase so I know I will be reading it sometime in the future.

 I PROMISE MR. RIORDAN!!




Books Include: The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, Message in a Bottle...OMG the list goes on!

I feel awful for not reading this authors wonderful books because I've seen all the movies that are based on them! I mean... ALL OF THEM! Love them too, so I know the books got to be Incredible, RIGHT?!?!
( He lives in North Carolina and most of his book's settings are there as well, which I find to be AWESOME b/c that's where I live ♥)

All of these Authors I listed I have never read. 98% of them I want to read and I will read, some day, in the future. Until then I'll continue to go with the flow. If I read one of these authors, I sure there will be just another popular author that I have read, that will make this list. It's like a TBR list, a PATBR list :)

Can't wait to browse around and read y'alls Top Ten lists
Til Then....
HAPPY READING Y'ALL!!!
♥ xoxo ♥

Monday, March 3, 2014

Review: Shadow and Bone By: Leigh Bardugo



Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, #1)


My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Okay, so I finally read this book and I found it to be just...Ehhh, O.K.!


It was well written and original but for some reason I didn't find it quite as compelling as I thought it would be. I appreciated Bardugo's world building and found the Russian culture and background to be refreshing and intriguing. My favorite parts of the story was the ideas of magical elements and Genya's character. I actually was more intrigued with Genya and David's characters more than the actual main characters, Alina and Mal. Good thing there's a novella about them that I can read later;)

I loved the beginning and the end but everything in between I found lack luster and kind of, well, boring! It was just Alina finding out what and who she is and what guy she likes. Maybe I found the story line to young for my taste. It took me back to high school when girls got together and talked about who was popular and whose appearance was "up to par", the kind of things I avoided while in school.



I did find the ending entertaining enough to want to read the next book. Hopefully there's more action and romance that will keep me interested. Shadow and Bone was a good book but definitely not one I would find myself re-reading or quickly recommending to others. We'll see if Siege and Storm can change my mind about sticking with this series.

I checked Siege and Storm out from the library yesterday but I think I'll wait to read it til May, that way when the 3rd book, Ruin and Rising comes out in June, it'll be fresh on my mind. What did you guys think of Shadow and Bone?

Happy Reading Y'all!! 
♥ xoxo ♥


Sunday, March 2, 2014

The Sunday Post ft. a late night Stackin' the Shelves

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Also showcasing Stacking the Shelves

Hosted by: Tynga's Reviews.





Starting with the books I received over the last week:

Library Books:


Siege and Storm By: Leigh Bardugo ~ I just finished the first book in The Grisha series last night so to prepare for the release of book 3, Ruin and Rising, I check this one out. When I got home though, I thought, I might just wait a little bit longer to read this one. You know, until it gets closer to the third book's release date, which isn't even til June 17th :(

Fangirl By: Rainbow Rowell ~ Okay, so I've been wanting to read a book by this author for a while now, FINALLY, now's the time to do it. First up is Fangirl. I've had the ebook version in my Kindle since the book came out (I know right!!) but I just HATE reading from that thing. I mostly let my daughter play on it, it's has this great Kindle Free Time thing for kids, which in all honesty, is better than a babysitter ;) 

Poems by Walt Whitman: Edited by Harold Bloom ~ I was inspired to read some of Whitman's work because of a book I'm currently reading, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, where one of the character's quotes Whitman's poems. I thought it was profound and I just had to learn more.

Books I Bought:


The Museum of Extraordinary Things By: Alice Hoffman ~ So I checked this book out from the library last week and fell so IN LOVE with it that I just had to buy it, all $28 bucks of it!!! I only got through, maybe, 20 pages or so, before I was convinced that this had to be in my life and on my bookcase's shelf! Now I can take my time reading it, absorb and enjoy every beautifully written word.

Book I Won:


Days of Blood & Starlight By: Laini Taylor ~ I was super surprised to receive, in the mail, a package from Little, Brown and Company. On behalf of them and Goodreads I won this beautiful paperback book. Just in time for book 3's release on April 8th!! I already have the hardback because after reading book 1, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, I had to immediately go out and buy this one. I'm one happy Reader :)
LET'S WIN MORE GIVEAWAYS!!!!

Speaking about, filling up bookshelves, I tried to reorganize my bookcase again over the weekend and I'd have to say "It looks pretty darn good!"

Before

After

Last week on my blog I did a lot of memes. The usual like Top Ten Tuesday, Waiting on Wednesday and Feature & Follow. I've been a little slack on my reading lately so some reviews are way overdue. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I'll get some posted on here for y'all!

This week you'll of course get a dose of bookish memes, as always, and so far I have at least one review up my sleeve ;)


Hope everyone's month of February was a lovable one! Here's to the month of March and to the Spring season. Let's hope for sunshine, flowers and no allergies!!! 
Til next time.....
HAPPY READING Y'ALL!!!
♥ xoxo ♥