TSS: Awesome Awards

In the past couple of weeks I have been given many awesome awards from some wonderful bloggers. I am ever so thankful and wanted to pass these on before I forgot. 

Sorry for taking so long to get to these! 

What a perfect time to showcase some wonderful blogs. BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week) starts Monday! So here is to all the great blogs I enjoy- some who have been nominated for BBAW Awards and others that have not, but all worthy of awards in my eyes. :)



Thanks go to Rebecca of Lost in Books for giving me this award. 

The Lemonade Award is a feel good award that shows great attitude or gratitude. Here are the rules for accepting this award.


• Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post.
• Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.
• Link your nominees within your post.
• Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
• Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

I pass this on to:

A Striped Arm Chair

One Literature Nut

Find Your Next Book Here

Books and Needlepoint

The Eclectic Reader

The Printed Page

Drey's Library

Books Love Jessica Marie

Boy With Books

The Book Smugglers

Heather of Gofita's Pages passed on the Superior Scribbler Award to me. Thanks so much!!

Here are the rules for this award:

1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
4. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

And these are the five blogs I'd like to pass this award to:

Pop Culture Junkie

Thinkgs Mean A Lot

Diary of an Eccentric

Beth Kephart Books

Should Be Reading


Bonnie of Redlady's Reading Room passed on the Your Blog Rocks Award to me. Thanks so Much!!! The Award itself rocks. Love the image.

The three bloggers I wish to pass this on to are:

The Literate Housewife

Books By Their Cover

Bart's Bookshelf

And last but not least, a really big thank you to the wonderful Black Sheep Books, who passed on the The Literary Blogger Award.

Here is what the award signifies:

The Literary Blogger Award acknowledges bloggers who energize & inspire reading by going the extra mile. These amazing bloggers make reading fun & enhance the delight of reading!

I pass it on to:

Devourer of Books

Bloggin' 'Bout Books

S. Krishna's Books

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Sunday Salon (8/30/09)

Happy Sunday! The last sunday of August actually. How did that happen?

So, I guess it is time for a bit of a review of the month.

A bit of a slow month reading-wise. I did manage to complete one challenge this month, though. Yay. I have also signed up for another despite being far from completing the others on that sidebar. I just can't help myself when it comes to challenges.

Here are my books read this month:

64. A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi
63. The Texicans by Nina VIda
62. Undercover by Beth Kephart
61. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
60. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin
59. Back Creek by Leslie Goestch

Only 6! Have to pick it up a bit if I want to make much of a dent in my TBR pile. Lots of books still to be read and so many more I want to get a hold of!

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Thanks to Lit and Life for bestowing upon me this great award. This one is a first for me. I love the panda. :) I feel like I have been a terrible commenter lately so I feel quite honored to get it.

I of course must pass this one on because I love comments, as most bloggers do. These lovely bloggers leave some of the best!

Black Sheep Books

The Zen Leaf

Violet Crush

Serendipity

Stacy's Books

Be sure to visit them and leave them some comments! :)

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I am going to leave you with a clip of one of my favorite songs that I got to hear live last night at the Depeche Mode concert in Dallas.  

Enjoy!

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Zombie Chicken Award

Thanks to Amanda of The Zen Leaf for passing on to me the Zombie Chicken Award. I love this one. 

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

For one, its zombies! And of course, it is given to those who believe in "excellence, grace and persistence". I do try for those, even if not always successful. :)
So, to avoid "the wrath of the zombie chickens" here are my five worthy bloggers to also receive this great award.
Natalie @ The Book InnGrace @ Books Like BreathingRebecca @ Lost In Books
Melody @ Melody's Reading CornerMarie @ Boston Bibliophile
Thanks again , Amanda! _________________________________________

Sunday Salon (7/12/09)

Thanks to Natalie of The Book Inn for bestowing upon me the Kreativ Blogger Award. In order to accept it I am supposed to list my seven favorite things and send it on to my seven favorite bloggers.

7 Favorite Things

The hubby

My kitty, Joey

My iPhone

The hubby's airline miles :)

My yarn!

My MacBook, despite how beat up it is already

-and of course-

All my shelves filled with books.

7 of My Favorite Bloggers

Liv's Book Reviews

Peeking Between the Page's

The Book Vault

Tracy's Book Bag

LiyanaLand!

What Was I Reading?

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Tuesday I am getting on a plane headed to the UK. I have books picked out to take with me but will probably have to purchase another for the flight home. I can't wait. We are meeting friends in Bath for a couple days then taking the train north to Scotland. We are going to rent a car to drive around for a few days then spend four days in Edinburgh. So Excited. I will take lots of pictures to share! Anybody have any must-sees?

In Bath I plan on going to the Jane Austen Center which will be one of the things I am doing for the Everything Austen Challenge. While there I plan on picking up a copy of Northanger Abbey. Perfect read for Bath, right?

Happy Sunday!

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Sunday Salon (7/5/09)

I hope you all had a great 4th of July. Ours was a nice and relaxing one. Tour de France watching in the morning, knitting in the afternoon, and relaxing by the pool with friends, ending with some fireworks. Very nice.

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Thanks to all that answered my question yesterday. I appreciate everyone's thoughts and advice. All very helpful and makes me more comfortable with my choice.

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I need to thank Grace of Grace's Book Blog for awarding me the Proximadade Award. I am very late in my thank you.

This blog invests and believes in the Proximity – nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award.

Here are some great blogs that I have recently found and enjoy visiting. Be sure to stop by and check them out.

Lost in Books

Just Jennifer Reading

Book Bird Dog

Books Love Jessica Marie

Burton Review

Karissa's Reading Review
Beth's Book Review Blog

Bibliophile By The Sea

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It is hard to believe that it is already July but since it is, here is what I read in June:

51. Here Kitty Kitty by Jardine Libaire
50. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
49. The Forest of Hands and Feet by Carrie Ryan
48. Persuasion by Jane Austen
47. Royal Blood by Rona Sharon
46. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
45. Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty
44. Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty
43. Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine
42. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

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I joined Twitter!

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Sunday Salon (6/7/09)

The first weekend of my summer vacation and I am sick. Full on cold-stuck in bed with a stuffed up head and snot-rags strewn about. Absolutely no fun at all. I should be out and about enjoying the freedom that comes after the last day of school, not holed up in my bedroom with fever and chills. 
Well, the only good thing about this is that I have all the time in the world to read. I have managed to finish three books in the past 48 hours. I have also consumed a whole lot of OJ and watched an entire season of Arrested Development on DVD. I am being quite productive. :)-
Well, that is about all for today. 
Do check out my current giveaway for 2 copies of The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. It ends on Tuesday. It is amazingly not as popular as I thought it would be. My theories: everyone who reads this blog either (1) already has a copy, (2) is not a fan of scary vampire books, (3) does not live in the US.  I am not the one sending out the books, so unfortunately it is only open to those of you who live here. 


One more thing, actually, I wanted to thank Rebecca of Lost in Books for awarding me the One Lovely Blog Award.  Rebecca has One Lovely Blog herself, so go and visit.
Happy Sunday. Hope you are all having a better one than me. 





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***Current Giveaway: The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. Open until Tuesday, June 9th at 7:00pm CST.

Sunday Salon ... on Monday

I have been a bit lazy the past two weeks about posting. I missed last weeks Sunday Salon and missed yesterday's! You get it a day late this week. 

The past two weeks have been pretty busy with the end of school coming quickly and the finishing up of books to read and review. I got all of them done and posted and am now reading books that have been on my night stand for years! I am reading a Douglas Preston book that I bought probably 2 years ago on sale at B&N. I am half way through it and wondering why I put it off for so long. It is the perfect book to get in the mood for fun summer reading.

Recent reviews (in case you missed):

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Afraid by Jack Kilborne

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich

Mailbox Monday:

Nothing! No books this week. I am off to Borders right now, though, to go and use my 40% coupon. What to get?

Awards:

Yvonne of Socrates Book Reviews and Jennifer of Just Jennifer Reading have given me the Lemonade Award. 

Thank you ladies! I will try to pass this one at a later time when I am not rushing to get out the door.

Hope everyone enjoys their Monday!

Sunday Salon (5/10/09)

Happy Sunday! 

It was quite a week for me. I started off enjoying the fact that I had the week unexpectedly off to being called back to work on Wednesday. Kids were back in school Thursday and by Friday all was back to normal. Oh well, I still got 4 days off. Can't complain too much. However, my reading plan for the week had to be changed. 

A few books to share that I read since May began.

An Obsolete Honor by Helena P. Schrader

Crossed Wires by Rosy Thornton

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

All quite different from each other, but all enjoyed and two counted towards some challenges for the year. May is starting off quite nicely. Regarding, An Obsolete Honor- would you file it under A or O? (for the AtoZ Challenge)

My problem- I still have not finished a book for the Classics Challenge! I really need to get busy on that one. I just haven't found the time or the desire to read a classic lately. 

What is a good classic novel that I should read to get me started?

 

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Once again Yvonne at Socrates Book Reviews has bestowed upon me another very cool award. This one started by the lovely, Naida. 

Isn't that little chihuahua cute? Love the little knit sweater. :)

Thanks, Yvonne!!

Let's Be Friends

Since beginning my book blog I have found so many wonderful, like-minded people. Just this weekend I was awarded twice with the Let's Be Friends Award! How sweet is that? I would like this to be a friendly place for you all to visit so thank you Harvee of BookBirdDog and Jessica.Marie of BooksLoveJessicaMarie! Everyone should go and visit their blogs!

"Blogs that received the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers."

Here are some really wonderful and friendly bloggers to go and visit.

Biblioaddict
Garden in my Pocket
The Eclectic Reader
Devourer of Books
Socrates Book Reviews
Drey's Library
Serendipity
She Reads and Reads

Be sure and visit all these great blogs!

I also received the "One Lovely Blog Award" from Jessica Marie. Thanks so much! I think yours is as well. :)

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link. 2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I am passing this one on to all of you listed above. Because as well as being very friendly you all have lovely blogs that I truly enjoy visiting daily. :)



Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

A Couple Thank You's

So many wonderful bloggers have been kind to me lately, giving me such sweet awards. I added a slideshow of them over in the sidebar. You have to click on it to see who gave them to me but please do and go visit them!

Today I found I had been given 2 more!

Sunshine of Garden In My Pocket has given me the "One Lovely Blog" Award. Thanks so much Sunshine! Go and check out the other bloggers she awarded it to.

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link. 2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Also, Teddyree of The Eclectic Reader has given me the Splash Award. Thanks, Teddyree!

The Splash award acknowledges alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive & inspiring blogs -Splashy blogs with that little something. I love visiting The Book Resort.

The Rules:1) Put the logo on your blog. 2) Nominate up to 9 blogs which allure, amuse, bewitch, impress or inspire you. 3) Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. 4) Let them know that they have been splashed by commenting on their blog. 5) Remember to link to the person from whom your received your Splash award. 6) Have F~U~N

I wanted to say thank you to Teddyree and Sunshine before the weekend. I am sorry to not choose individual blogs to give this to but I am going to say that everyone that visits and everyone I visit are all worthy of these awards. I give them to all of you. :)

Have a wonderful weekend and if you are participating in the Read-a-thon tomorrow, Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

My Blog is Enchanted!

Who knew? Yvonne of Socrates Book Review has once again been so kind to give me an award. This one, the "Your Blog Is Enchanted!" Award, is so cute. I love Tinker Bell. Thanks, Yvonne!

The only requirement for this award is that you share it with whomever you like, sharing the love is always a good thing. The blog has to show only one characteristic, caring. So, start sharing this enchanted award with five other bloggers. Let your bloggers know they have received this enchanted award. (Remember, fairies are fickle wee things, don't incur their displeasure by ignoring their gift.)

I would love to share this award with everyone. Really, I would, but I can't displease the fairies. :) So here are some very caring book bloggers. Please go and visit these really great ladies and their wonderful blogs.

Callista of SMS Book Reviews

Toni of A Circle of Books

Jenners of Find Your Next Book Here

Serena of Savy Verse & Wit

Mo of UnMainstream Mom Reads

Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

Sunday Salon (04/05/09)

Happy Sunday! I am spending my day recovering from a night out for a friend's birthday. Coffee, water and a Discovery Channel show on Nefretiti is helping. Hope you all are having a much more productive day.

This past week I reviewed two YA books with completely different reactions:

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
The Dead Girl's Dance by Rachel Caine

Now I am busy reading a couple other books for review.

I haven't finished this book quite yet. It is taking me a little longer than I thought it would. The style of writing has been a bit difficult to get used to. Now, more than half way through, I am getting much more used to it and the reading has become easier. Also, the story has picked up pace and become much more interesting. I am hoping to finish it this week and review it soon after.

I am also reading The Strength of a Sparrow by Tim Anders. A review of this is very overdue. I got this book back in December! Oops. Keep an eye out for this one as well.

It is now April ( in case you didn't know) which means the beginning of the Classics Challenge. I have yet to start a book for it. So many other books waiting to be read. I was thinking about reading The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer but may be changing that. You should see the size of the book! I think I need something shorter to start with.



One last thing for today. Yvonne of Socrates' Book Reviews has awarded me the very cool Zombie Chicken Award. Thanks, Yvonne!!

"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all…”

To avoid the wrath of the zombie chickens I am passing this on to some really great blogs that I have recently discovered.

Book Line and Sinker
Bermudaonion's weblog
Everyday Reading
In Search of Giants
Jenn's Bookshelf

Go and visit these great blogs if you haven't already.

End of March Madness (Sunday Salon)

It is hard to believe it is already nearing the end of March. The month has gone by so quickly. It has been a good month bookwise. I have read some really good books and have managed to get them all reviewed. Well, almost. I have one more to come.

March Books Read and Reviewed:

19. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
18. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
17. The Gifted Galbadón Sisters by Lorraine López
16. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
15. Schooled by Anisha Lakhani
14. Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce

Reviews to come:
21. Cry of Justice by Jason Pratt
20. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E.Lockhart 

You can disregard the numbers, they are just for me. Keeping track of the number of books read in 2009. I can't believe there are some who have already ready over 100 books! How is that possible? I thought 20 was pretty good. :)

How many books have you read so far this year?

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Mo of Unmainstream Mom Reads has given me an award. It feels like yesterday when I got my very first Premio Dardos Award. Thanks so much, Mo! You should all go and check out the other blogs she awarded it to. There are some really great ones on that list.

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his or her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values every day.

The rules to follow are:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

It is so hard to pick a few from my long list of blogs I read so once I again I pass this on to everyone who Follows me and to those I Follow! you are all worthy of this award.

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With the end of March comes the start of the Classics Reading Challenge hosted by Trish. I posted my list of books for this challenge a few weeks ago and now I must make a choice for what book to start with. I am thinking I will start right at the top and begin with The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. I received my copy through Library Thing's Early Reviewers and feel I should read and get a review up soon. It is a very nice unabridged edition and I love the cover.

Which classic will you be reading in April?

Sisterhood Award

Yvonne of Socrates Book Reviews has given me this really cool award. Thanks so much, Yvonne!

Here are the rules to spread the sisterhood spirit:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

I have been very blessed to receive so many awards lately that I would love to share it with everyone. Especially with every one of my "sister bloggers" right over there in my Followers widget. Also, if I Follow you...this is for you, too!

What a Week! (Sunday Salon)

This has been quite the busy and stressful week for me so I am quite happy it is finally Sunday. Report cards are due soon, changes at work are causing some stress, and other stress inducing factors that have come up recently have been driving me a little batty. 

Thankfully, I can lose myself in a good book once I get home or in my knitting even for just a little while and forget about it all. Coming online helps, as well, especially when you find out you have been given awards from some really great bloggers. These came from two of my own favorites so it made me smile and made me forget about all the crap I have had to deal with this week.

"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award."

A big thank you goes to Serena of SavyVerse&Wit for thinking of me when she read the above qualifications for this award.

Time to pass this on to 8 wonderful blogs:

Presenting Lenore
Confuzzled Books
The Book Zombie
Wendi's Book Corner
J Kaye's Book Blog
The Literate Housewife Review
Em's Bookshelf
kiss a cloud

Another big thank you to Yvonne of Socrates Book Reviews for giving me the "I Love Your Blog" award. You don't know just how much this means to me right now. :) This is so cool, right?

Here are the rules to keep the award moving:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!

And here are 7 of the wonderful blogs I love to visit. It was so hard to pick just 7 out of all the blogs in my Reader:

BookBath
In Bed With Books
The Compulsive Reader
Reviewer X
Blacklin's Reading Room Review's and More
Blogging About Books
Lost in a Good Story

Thank you Serena and Yvonne for making this week end on a good note. :)

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Today is the last day of the Book Giveaway Carnival that was hosted by Tracy at Book Room Reviews. Once again it was a lot of fun. I have one last winner to announce. The winner of Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman. Such a fun book. You are going to enjoy it. Don't forget about the Webacast tomorrow, too! Anyway, the winner is...

Kristi

Congratulations! Please email your address to marireadsATyahooDOTcom and I will get the book in the mail to you as soon as possible.

Friends Award

Jenners of Find Your Next Book Here has very sweetly awarded me the Friends Award. Thanks, Jenners!

So, time to pass it on. I am passing this one on to a few of you who comment regularly.


TheBlackSheep at Black Sheep Books
Dar atPeeking Between the Pages
Naida at the bookworm
Anna at Diary of An Eccentric

Thank you, thank you to all of you.

I know I am not the best at commenting regularly, but I plan on getting better at that. :)

Premios Dardo Award

My very first award!

I was very excited when Callista from SMS Book Reviews let me know that she awarded me this. You see these and others being passed around the blogs and wish (I bet I am not the only one) that someone would want to give you to one. Plus this gives me a chance to pass it on, which is always a great thing.

Thanks, Callista!

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.


The rules to follow are:
1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to at least 5 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are 5 blogs and bloggers I would like to pass this on to:

Natasha at Maw Books Blog
Alea at Pop Culture Junkie
Stephanie at The Written Word
Matt at A Guy's Moleskine Notebook
Ruth at Bookish Ruth

but I could go on. All the blogs I read are deserving of awards.