Book Blogger Hop ~ Collections ~ 11/30/12

HAPPY FRIDAY, EVERYONE!

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This week the BBH is being hosted by Anglers Rest.

Q.  Apart from being readers, many of us collect books on a specific subject or by a particular author. What books or which author do you collect?

I don't really keep the books that I read.  I usually will pass them on through a giveaway or through www.paperbackswap.com .

So, if you look at my "keeper" bookshelf, you will mostly see books that were my husband's as a child, devotionals, Bible Studies and craft books.

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Have a great day!

Christmas Books Giveaway Hop ~ Ends 12/7

This blog hop is hosted by

 I'm a Reader, Not a Writer and Laurie Here

I love Christmas books! I will usually start reading a few the weekend after Thanksgiving to get into the Christmas spirit.

I also start listening to Christmas music around the same time.  I have an aunt in Florida who will always call and sing "I'll Be Home for Christmas" to us.  I think of her when I hear that song and get emotional every time it says "if only in my dreams..."

I knew this would be the perfect book to giveaway for this hop:

"I'll Be Home for Christmas"
 by Julie L. Cannon

To enter the giveaway:

*Mandatory-  Leave a comment telling me if you will be going home for Christmas.  Or maybe you'll have people coming home to you.  I'd love to hear about it!

 

*Extra-  Follow my blog and leave a second comment telling me that you do :)

The giveaway will run until 11:59pm EST, December 7, 2012.  The winner will be emailed on December 8th.

For more chances to win great bookishness,

check out these other giveaway hoppers :

Coffee Date ~ HS Memories ~ 11/30/12

Won't you come meet Alissa (above), me and the girls for a coffee date,

or in my case, hot chocolate with whipped cream or maybe a chai tea?

~Well I missed our Coffee Date AGAIN last Friday!  The hubby and I spent the whole day out and about together.  We dropped the girls of with my parents it the morning and then hit the stores.  We had a very successful shopping trip and basically got everything on our Christmas shopping list.  We took a break in the afternoon to get something to eat and rest for a bit while we watched "Red Dawn".  At the theater!  Do you know how long it had been since we'd been to the theater just the two of us?   Because I don't remember.  It had been that long.  After the movie we finished up a little bit of shopping we had left then headed home and crashed.  It was a very fun day spent together connecting.

~I finished up my 30 Days of Gratitude 2012 today.  I made it the whole way through and was so very blessed by it.  Tomorrow I will start participating in "I Remember Christmas!"  It looks like a fun way to focus on Christmas every day of the month and not get so caught up in the busyness.  Come join me!

~My days have been ALL mixed up this week!  I thought Monday was Saturday.  I thought Tuesday was Monday and wore tennis shoes on my Kindergartner because I thought she had Gym.  I think I'm finally getting my brain back on schedule.

~I wanted to tell you that our Etsy shop was featured on www.disneybaby.com again!  So exciting!  They featured our Santa Baby Outfits.  You can see them up on my sidebar widget.

~OK.  Now for my High School memory.  Can you tell I've been putting it off?  Well, not really.  I loved school.  I loved starting a new school year.  I loved (and still do) new tablets and pencils.  I loved getting my new textbooks and new class schedules. 

Our school was very small and my graduating class only had 27 students.  We were all very close and my friends and I had all our classes together.  I loved study hall because my BFF and I were in the National Honor Society which meant that we could get a pass out of study hall and basically go anywhere in the school to hang out. 

I loved playing volleyball and loved going to other games and cheering on our team.  GO HORNETS!  I have so many great memories and really missed the feeling of family after graduation. 

Now my oldest daughter is in Jr. High.  It makes me feel a bit old but it is also so amazing to see her doing the same things I did.  In the very same school.  I love living in a small town :)

So, how was your week?

I Remember Christmas! 2012

I had so much fun participating in the 30 Days of Gratitude and it helped me to focus so much more on my blessing than I would have otherwise.

I just found the "I Remember Christmas" Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories.  For each day between December 1st and December 24th, there is a prompt to help you remember Christmas traditions and memories.

You can click on the button above to go find out more and to get the prompts.

I look forward to reminiscing and having fun participating in this event!

Let me know if you decide to participate so I can check out your answers ;)

30 Days of Gratitude 2012 ~ Day 30

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I am grateful for:

You!

1.  For reading my blog.
2.  For commenting.
3.  For being my bloggy friends.
4.  For teaching me the ropes.
5.  For being a special part of my day :)


I thank the Lord for YOU!!

Dream Cast ~ Last of the Seals ~ 11/29/12

Du Livre is hosting Dream Cast Thursday where participants can showcase which actors/actresses they would pick for the movie equivalent of their current read! Anyone can join, click on the button above and go link-up!

My current read:

Mystery, romance and baseball in 1957 San Francisco. Sam Slater is a lifetime minor league baseball player for the San Francisco Seals. The Seals have just one more season left as San Francisco is about to become a major league city. Sam has come to the end of his baseball career and is going to join the private detective agency of his best friend. When Sam's partner inadvertently sees something he shouldn't have, he is brutally murdered. Sam must go it alone and try to find out why. Along the way he is swept off of his feet by a beautiful, Elvis-obsessed TWA stewardess named Amelia Ryan. Sam and Amelia try to unravel the mystery together. On dark and foggy San Francisco nights, trouble is lurking just around the next corner. 

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Amelia Ryan: 

Margot Robbie
(Pan Am)
Source:  Yahoo Images

Description:  Blonde, blue-eyed and gorgeous.

Sam Slater:

Alex O'Loughlin

(Hawaii 5-0)

Source:  Yahoo Images

Description:  Tall, dark and handsome with greenish eyes :)

 

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Leave a comment telling what you think about my dream cast. 

If you have a dream cast post, make sure to leave a link so I can come visit!

30 Days of Gratitude 2012 ~ Day 29

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I am grateful for:

Teachers.

1.  Their patience.
2.  Their understanding.
3.  Their calling.
4.  Their kindness.
5.  Their knowledge.


Thank You, Lord, for Teachers.

Waiting on Wednesday ~ 11/28/12

 Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Breaking the Spine,

 spotlights an up-coming release that I'm eagerly anticipating.

"The Tutor's Daughter"

Series:  N/A
Author:  Julie Klassen

Release Date:  1/1/2013

Publisher:  Bethany House

Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?
The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.
When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor's daughter figure out which brother to blame... and which brother to trust with her heart?

I've loved every single Julie Klassen book that I've read.  This book sounds amazing!  And look at that cover!  I want to go there :)

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Waiting Until Next Wednesday,

 

 

Chats on the Porch ~ 11/28/12

This week's questions:

1. Do you still write letters (snail mail)?

I love, love, love stationary and writing letters and receiving letters.  Sadly, it is so hard to find someone who will actually correspond through letters.  Because I love it so much, I will send out letters even though I know I won't get a response.  I would LOVE to have a good old-fashioned pen-pal!


2. Do you sing?

I do.  Of course, I sing all day long to the radio :)  But I also sing with our Church's Praise Team.  We lead praise songs every Sunday during the service and are currently also practicing a few Christmas songs.


3. Did you participate in Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday?

Yes.  Friday we went out shopping AFTER the mad dash had ended.  Saturday we shopped at a local hometown store and Monday I ordered a book.  I was really more focused on my Etsy shop for Cyber Monday and was more a store owner than a shopper.


4. How many guests can you have spend the night at your house? Could Wendell fit?

There's always room for Wendell!  If people don't mind crashing on the floor we could have as many people as we could fit.  If you mean "comfortably", approximately 8 but that would entail some bunking together and our girls sleeping with us.  The more the merrier!


5. Have you ever gone fishing?

We love to fish!  It is one of our family activities starting with the first day and lasting well into the fall.  The girls love to fish.  I won't touch a worm or a fish so either have to have the hubby tend to my tackle or use fake bait.  My oldest always picks a worm to be her "pet" for the day. 
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Have a great day!

30 Days of Gratitude 2012 ~ Day 28

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I am grateful for:

Chocolate.

1.  Hot Chocolate.
2.  Chocolate Chips.
3.  Melted Chocolate.
4.  Chocolate Stash.
5.  Chocolate Brown Eyes :)


Thank You, Lord, for Chocolate.

30 Days of Gratitude 2012 ~ Day 27

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I am grateful for:

Modern Medicine.

1.  Cancer treatments.
2.  Antidepressants.
3.  Antibiotics.
4.  Vaccines.
5.  Multitudes of other life sustaining meds.


Thank You, Lord, for Modern Medicine.

Teaser Tuesday ~ When Love Gets In the Way ~ 11/27/12

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title &; author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Here's my teaser for this week:

~Her mama once said that men thought with their hands long before the reaction reached their brain.  Now, with this scowling fellow pointing a gun at her, Grace Bradley had to agree with the voice of wisdom.~

"When Love Gets In the Way"
Series:  Colorado Runaway Series Book 2
Author:  Janelle Mowery
Page 5

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Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Gratituesday ~ November ~ 11/27/12

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

November is winding down.  Only 3 more days and it will be December.  Only 34 more days and it will be the year 2013.  Unbelievable!

This month has gone by quickly.  Thanksgiving vacation went by even faster.  Doug is back at work and the girls are back in school leaving me to struggle with trying to get back into MY routine.  But that isn't really what I want to talk about today.

Let me come back to the month of November and, therefore, the "30 Days of Gratitude" that I've been participating in.  I'm actually impressed with myself for sticking it out and not forgetting half-way through like I did last year!  Maybe I'm being a bit premature, seeing that I still have 3 more days to post, but I think I'll make it. :)

Each day, I posted about something I was grateful for.  Then I described or elaborated on that subject with 5 points.  Not only did this challenge help me to stay focused on being grateful and thankful this month but it also made me dig deeper into WHY.  Why was I grateful for that particular person, gift or blessing?

Some were easy.  A few were hard.  Some were funny.  A few were sad.  It ranged from my dear Grandparents who are no longer with me to my favorite foods.  From the new babies in my family to dancing music.  So many things to be thankful for and for so many different reasons.

Digging down deeper and really contemplating my blessings brought emotions to the surface.  I cried and I laughed as I typed.  I loved that I was feeling!  I wasn't just making a list.  I was looking at my life a little closer.  I was looking at my loved ones a little closer.  I was remembering the past, appreciating the present and looking forward to the future .

I guess I could say that I've been blessed by counting my blessings.  One by one.

Dreaming of Summer Blog Hop ~ Ends 12/2/12

This blog hop is hosted by

 I'm a Reader, Not a Writer and Me, My Shelf and I

Even though it is only 30 F here in Pennsylvania, it seems as if summer were just yesterday.  How does the time go by so fast now that I'm an adult?

I guess it IS time to start planning for NEXT Summer's vacation.  The girl's are already asking about it.

The following book is full of Summer travel and seems perfect for this giveaway:

"A Summer in Europe"
 by Marilyn Brant

To enter the giveaway:

*Mandatory-  Leave a comment telling me what you did this past summer.  Did you take a vacation?  or  You can tell me what your plans are for Vacation 2013!

*Extra-  Follow my blog and leave a second comment telling me that you do :)

The giveaway will run until 11:59pm EST, December 2, 2012.  The winner will be emailed on December 3rd.

For more chances to win great bookishness,

check out these other giveaway hoppers :

Listicles ~ Name Game ~ 11/16/12

"10 Names I Considered for My Children"

 

"Kenneth William" was without a doubt the name we were going to use if we had a son.  Both names have a very special meaning to my husband and I so there was never any doubt.  However, we ended up with two GIRLS!  Girls names were so much harder!

I'm going to give you the top 5 names we debated on for each girl.  No judging!  lol

Kaylee Ann:

1.  Gabriella
2.  Annalise
3.  Emily
4.  Jasmine (now our dog!)
5.  Lindsay

After we thought of Kaylee Ann, the other options were out the door.  Kay is my middle name; Lee is Doug's middle name; and Ann is my Mom's middle name.  From there on we knew that the reason it was so hard to pick a name was because they weren't "special and meaningful" to us.  Kaylee Ann felt right :)  Then there was an outburst of Kaylee's and various spellings but that is alright, we were one of the first in our area :) 

Laken Amelia:

1.  Audrey
2.  Kenzie
3.  Kenna
4.  Melody
5.  Kendra

We knew that we were having a girl and wanted to go with a combination of our father's names:  Kenneth and Melvin.  Melvina was out of the question!  lol  I was also debating "Audrey" in honor of my grandmother who had passed away shortly before but it just still hurt too much if that makes any sense at all.  So, we decided to stick to the father combo.  I came across Laken and that was it for me.  I loved it.  Amelia soon came into place for us as well.  There are still no other Laken's in the area, so I'm good!

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I think picking out the names of our girls was the only pleasant thing about being pregnant for me!  At least it took my mind off my misery...  Yeah, Kaylee was almost an only child!

Happy Monday!

A Musing ~ Book After Movie ~ 11/26/12

Each week Miz B at Should Be Reading asks a bookish question to muse over.

Q. "Have you ever read a book after watching the movie/television version only to find that you don’t like the book as much as the adaptation?"

I've never read a book after seeing the movie.  If I've already seen the movie, I move on.  I won't spend the time reading a book that I semi-know what is going to happen.  There are too many other books out there to read.

I do, however, like to read the book before seeing a movie adaptation.  It doesn't take nearly as long to watch a movie that I might now what is going to happen and I enjoy picking out the differences.

Musing along,

30 Days of Gratitude 2012 ~ Day 26

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I am grateful for:

My hobbies.

1.  Reading!
2.  Crochet!
3.  Blogging!
4.  Baking!
5.  TV!


Thank You, Lord, for hobbies.

CYBER MONDAY SALE!!! ~ 2012

AT

FOR 20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER

USE CODE:

CYBERMONDAY20

HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES:

Scripture Sunday ~ 11/25/12

 

"But the LORD is in His holy temple;

let all the earth be silent before Him."

Habakkuk 2:20

   

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 Hide these Words in your heart and they will be with you always.

     

30 Days of Gratitude 2012 ~ Day 25

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I am grateful for:

Music.

1.  Cleaning music.
2.  Dancing music.
3.  Worship music.
4.  Romantic music.
5.  Christmas music.


Thank You, Lord, for Music.

30 Days of Gratitude 2012 ~ Day 24

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I am grateful for:

Snuggling .

1.  Giggles.
2.  Warming-up cold feet.
3.  Reading together.
4.  Planning.
5.  All 4 of us plus the dogs just hanging out :)


Thank You, Lord, for Snuggles.

30 Days of Gratitude 2012 ~ Day 23

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I am grateful for:

Our Annual Black Friday Date.

1.  Just me and Doug all day long!
2.  The girls are staying over at Mamaw and Pap's!
3.  Shopping for others!
4.  Teamwork!
5.  We sleep-in and miss all the craziness!


Thank You, Lord, for Our Date.