The Best Reader:
sunday salon

I beat the storm home last Saturday and have spent the week at home. While it seems like I haven't gotten a lot accomplished, I have. I successfully reattached my 'enter' key and reinstalled Word. I lost most of my music (about 8GB) while trying to transfer music from my iPod to my PC (I've come to terms with said loss) and had a pick me up by having Santa bring me a new iPod Touch (not that I know how to use it yet). I have seen three movies in theaters since last Sunday including: "A Christmas Carol" (let down), "The Princess and the Frog" (surprisingly amazing), and "Sherlock Holmes" (slight let down). Last Sunday my phone broke and they were sending me a new one. It was supposed to arrive on Wednesday. It is now a week later and I still do not have a working phone — but again, I've come to terms. As you can tell, I had a pretty rough week (in regards to technology). Slowly (but surely) things are starting to look up.

This week I reviewed "Inside Out, " "The Source of Miracles, " "Elmer the Christmas Elf, " "A Christmas Carol: Special Edition, " "I Used to Know That, " and "Cracked Up to Be. " As a result, this has probably been one of the most productive weeks (in regards to blogging/recreational reading) that I have had since August. I'm SO enjoying it. "The Source of Miracles " was one of the best books I've read in such a long time! I can't shut up about it! I did read/finish "Love You, Hate You, Miss You" as well — the review is coming. I did have to abandon two books that have been hanging over my head all semester. I've had both of them for months and I've continually tried to pick them up and read them — but I was forcing myself to do it. And I can't condone forcing myself to read when I have such an awesome bunch of books to read. So, I'll be passing them on (hint hint). Stay tuned.

Sadly, part of the 8GB of music lost included "Confessions of a Shopaholic." I wasn't too far into it though so I'm not too upset about it. I'll probably look for it at the library. I also didn't do an "In My Mailbox" post as I haven't received anything (not even a phone)! But I do know that I have a book or two waiting for me back at school that I will get sometime this week when I head back for New Years.

Cassie was this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of City of Bones. Please share some book love and visit her at Happy Book Lovers.

My new holiday campaign to collect Guest Reviews has been a great hit — we've acquired 44 reviews! Thanks to everyone who has donated! Campaign ends January 4th and is open to absolutely everyone! I have four more Guest Reviews to post (scheduled) but those are only the ones that I received via email. Many people only left a link on Mr. Linky — which I guess is okay and it is still appreciated. I just feel more like I'm plagiarizing then — but reviews are reviews and the more the better.

I gained three followers this week and now have 34 amazing followers. Welcome and Thank you!

My list of books to read/things to do during break:

• Read "Inside Out"
• Read "Elmer, the Christmas Elf"
• Post all the Guest Reviews I've received for My Holiday Book Review Campaign
• Finish "The Source of Miracles" (Review)
  
• Read "Lucifer Rising" (Review)
  
• Read "Comfort Living" (Review)
  
• Read "I Used to Know That" (Review)
  
• Read "Some Girls Are" (ARC — Goodreads Winner)
  
• Read "The Van Alen Legacy" (Library — Momma Remmers)
  
• Read "Love You, Hate You, Miss You" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Truly, Madly: A Novel" (ARC — Goodreads Winner)
• Read "Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Sea Change" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Jumping off Swings" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Before I Die" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Embellish" (Review)
• Read "Gone" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Cracked Up to Be" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "How to Buy a Love of Reading" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Oh.My.Gods." (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Dark Places" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Nothing But Ghosts" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Isabelle's Boyfriend" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "The Grand Sophy" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Shelter Me" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Ransome's Honor" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Poltergeist" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Girlfriend Material" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Wicked Lovely" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "According to Jane" (Library — Momma Remmers)
• Read "Catching Fire" (Library — Momma Remmers)

What did you finish this week?

Monday morning, the day after I spent all that time updating my Mac, I get an email from the Tech Center saying my PC is fixed. Well you can just imagine, I am so excited. I go pick it up, start it, and it works great! EXCEPT, my enter key is missing. MISSING! I make a phone call and they tell me it was missing when I brought it in, but if I'd like, I can bring it back in and they'll see if they can fix it. My initial reaction is this: "You've had my computer for three weeks and it's had a MISSING enter key and you didn't just think, 'hm, maybe we could fix this for her'!" Ok, not a big deal, I'm still breathing. So I continue working on my Mac — I have a paper due Tuesday morning at noon. I'm up until 5am on Tuesday working on it, I go to bed, get up at 8am and continue working on it. Ten minutes before class, I save the document to a flash drive, take said flash drive to my newly fixed PC to print it on my HP printer — and, Oh My Gosh, they deleted WORD from my computer!

It was a rough day.

Anyway, my last final was on Tuesday and I've officially finished my last week of finals (until grad school). Wow. I don't know how I managed it with a broken computer — but I did it. I got home yesterday and am enjoying every minute of it. I plan on getting a lot done during break in regards to catching up on some reading and enjoying my life a little — it was a very rough semester. Below, you will see a massive "To-Do" list in regards to break.

Again, sadly, due to finals week, I didn't get around to reviewing anything for the second week in a row (gasp! gasp!) But, I spent five hours on Saturday listening to "Confessions of a Shopaholic" on my way home to Northern Minnesota and I will finish "The Source of Miracles" tonight (my review is coming up tomorrow). I did post my review policy, please check it out (feedback is appreciated). Plus, I had a quick giveaway of "Mr. Darcy's Dream" that Joanne won!

Gina was this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of And Tango Makes Three. Please share some book love and visit her at Book Dragon's Lair. .

My new holiday campaign to collect Guest Reviews has been a great hit — we've acquired 43 reviews! Thanks to everyone who has donated! Campaign ends January 4th and is open to absolutely everyone!

I gained one follower and now have 31 amazing followers. Welcome and Thank you!

Like I mentioned, I am so excited to be home for break. I plan on spending a lot of time reading and doing blog related things to recuperate before next semester. My "To Do" list for blog related things — not just reading:

• Finish "The Source of Miracles"
• Finish listening to "Confessions of a Shopoholic"
• Read "Merry, Merry Ghost"
• Read "Inside Out"
• Read "Elmer, the Christmas Elf"
• Read "Lucifer Rising"
• Read "Comfort Living"
• Read "I Used to Know That"
• Read "Death Beauty"
• Read "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much"
• Read "Some Girls Are"
• Read "The Van Alen Legacy"
  
• Post all the Guest Reviews I've received for My Holiday Book Review Campaign
  

What did you finish this week?

Well, my computer is still down — STILL! It's extremely aggrivating.

I somehow managed to survive last week. I'm almost done. Tomorrow begins finals week and I have it pretty easy, I have my final HP paper (that should be a lot easier than all the rest) due on Monday and my Senior Thesis Paper on Milton and HP due on Tuesday. Wednesday I leave to represent the University at the Board of Regents meetings in Madison, SD — so I'll be gone the rest of finals week!

Sadly, due to pre-finals and what not, I didn't get around to reviewing anything (gasp!) I wont even lie to you, I haven't picked up "The Source of Miracles" since last week. Furthermore, I am no further along on my audiobook "Confessions of a Shopoholic" — but Christmas break is almost here! I did, however, get an award and I posted my first Project Blog post, featuring my Guest Reviewers post. I even posted a somewhat new bookshelf post.

Jasmyn was this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of Dragon's of Autumn Twilight. Please share some book love and visit her at Jasmyn's Stuff.

My new holiday campaign to collect Guest Reviews has been a great hit — we've aquired 40 reviews! Thanks to everyone who has donated! Campaign ends January 4th and is open to absolutely everyone! If you are interested in helping out — tomorrow would be a great day to start (HINT HINT!)

I still have 31 amazing followers. Thank you!

On going bit of fun: Register to win a Kindle!

My "To Do" list for blog related things — not just reading:

• Survive finals

What did you finish this week?

Well, my computer is still down. While on choir tour I received a phone call from a Tech Fellow in the Tech Center on campus saying that my computer needs to be "rebuilt" — whatever that means! So, I purchased an external hard drive (was going to do that anyway) and hopefully (please cross your fingers) all will not be lost.

Choir tour went okay — it was just a long time to devote to something that isn't my major two weeks before finals. Then, on Saturday night I had a an ugly sweater/bachelorette party — that, again, as okay. I would have had a lot more fun had it not been for these three huge assignments I have due before Tuesday. Yesterday I was literally at the library from open to close (10am-5pm) — they had to kick me out! Now I'm here (they just opened at 1pm) and I'm pretty sure I'll be here till they close (11pm). Oh, the life of a college student.

Lately, in the blogosphere, I've been feeling extremely overwhelmed by all the new 2010 challenges. It seems my reader is full of them every day. While I see the fun in them, I'm not sure which one I should do. I don't want to do more than one because it makes me feel as though I'm restricted in what I should read. Plus, I need to look at 2010 as a whole. I will be student teaching in the spring and graduating in May. Beginning in May I begin a summer worth of weddings (right now I'm at six — but ask me again after Christmas). There's my all school reunion the last week of June and a huge family reunion the last week of July. Then there'll be looking for a real job (gasp), moving, and beginning planning out a years worth of lessons. Things won't slow down after that, I'm expecting next fall to be a pretty busy time as a first year teacher.

Do you see my dilema? While I'm positive I will find time for reading next year (not reading as an English teacher isn't an option), I'm just not sure what to do in regards to all of these challenges. Any advice?

But anyway! This week I reviewed Da Cajn Critter. I am no further along on my audiobook "Confessions of a Shopoholic" — but Christmas break is almost here! I also posted my November 2009 Wrap Up Post.

Gina was this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of The Summer of Cotton Candy. Please share some book love and visit her at Book Dragon's Lair.

Last week I revealed my new holiday campaign to collect Guest Reviews and this week I posted a generic Guest Post that I welcome anyone to use. If you'd like a more original guest post — please email me and I'd love to write on up for you. We have already collected 33 reviews! Thanks to everyone who has donated! Campaign ends January 4th and is open to absolutely everyone!

I still have 31 amazing followers. Thank you!

On going bit of fun: Register to win a Kindle!

My "To Do" list for blog related things — not just reading:

• Survive the next two weeks before finals
• Finish this ridiculous Harry Potter Paper (no, it's not as fun as I'd had hoped) before Monday
  
• Start/Finish my final linguistics paper (oi, hot mess) before Tuesday
  
• Start/Finish my entire UNIT (lesson plans and all) before Tuesday
  

What did you finish this week?

Well it's my first Sunday Salon in... let's just say months. Not that I have anything particularly interesting to say... just felt like posting (and beware, this has nothing to do with books).

After reading this scrumptious post at Book Journey (not to mention, but I kind of miss Sheila — I called her a few days ago completely forgetting that she was out of the country), my mouth couldn't help but water at the sight of these Hershey Kiss Cookies.

I immediately went through the ingredient list and realized the only items I was missing were the mini-chocolate chip morsels and the Hersheys kisses. Within fifteen minutes I was out the door and at the grocery story getting the rest of the supplies. Now, my cookies did definitely not look these in the photo. First of all, two of the three batches burned... but that's mostly due to our stove.

Being the cook I am, it took me a while to realize that I had to get my hands dirty in order to make the dough... doughy. Once I figured that out, it was pretty much easy going. The first two batches I didn't cover the bottom of the cookies/Hershey's Kiss with dough and so it sort of burnt.

But I learned my lesson (finally), and the final batch worked out so much better: golden brown and and completely edible.

I did accidentally get "normal" size chocolate chip morsels instead of the mini (whoops) so they are a bit strong — about a bite is enough chocolate for me.:)

It definitely made a great Sunday afternoon activity! Mission accomplished.

Original recipe from Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness:

Hershey Kiss Cookies 1 cup butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup mini chocolate chip morsels
14 oz bag Hershey’s kisses Cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Add vanilla. Add mini morsels. Stir in flour. Take approximately 1 tsp of dough and wrap around 1 kiss. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

First off, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!

A lot has happened since last week's Sunday Salon. Most recently, like in the past three hours, my computer has, once again, crashed. I clicked on something to connected to Tweet Cloud to generate whatever and before I knew it several viruses were being pushed onto my poor computer. It's only been a few weeks since the last time this happened and I'm not sure how much of this I can take, so I may need to look into purchasing a new computer for Christmas. Exciting, but expensive. I've been looking online at Walmart to see what kind of deals I can find and it looks as though a new laptop goes for a little over/under five hundred dollars. I think I can make that happen — maybe. Unlike last time when I didn't really have anything due — this time, I do. I've continually mentioned the four research papers I need to work on along with other papers — but it could be worse, I could have lost all my work (I live via my flash drive).

But besides my computer woes, there is still a lot going on at Miss Remmers' Review.

This week I reviewed Thanksgiving at the Inn to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday. While I had hoped to make substantial progress on the audio book "Confessions of a Shopoholic," because I took someone home with me for the Holiday I didn't get to listen to it. But hopefully this week more progress will be made.

Leslie was this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of Blood Promise. Please share some book love and visit her at That Chick That Reads.

At this point, you may be thinking to yourself, "Yes, Reagan — so what's NEW!" And this is what is new — this holiday season I am going to be collecting book reviews! I know, it's very exciting — I've already collected 28 reviews! I'm so excited — this is going over way better than I thought it would! Thank you all for your outstanding support and dedication! I am very excited to begin putting these Guest Reviews together. Because of the enormous support — I'm going to try to give out some random 'thank you' gifts to Reviewers to who take part in this campaign, whether they be books or other random book swag. Stay tuned for exciting things to come! Campaign ends January 4th and is open to absolutely everyone!

On that topic, Sheila from One Person's Journey Through a World of Books, has upped the ante (if you will). Sheila is also going to be giving away a gift card — check out what you have to do. Thank you Sheila for your awesome support!

Happy Thanksgiving my 31 amazing followers (and guests!)

On going bit of fun: Register to win a Kindle!

My "To Do" list for blog related things — not just reading:

• Survive the next two weeks before finals
  

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

Progress is still being made in relation to last week's Sunday Salon.

Winners of "Thanksgiving at the Inn" were Sheila and Esme!!

This week I reviewed Prince Harming Syndrome and The Recipe Club. This week I am listening to "Confessions of a Shopoholic" and reading the ridiculous amount of books I have checked out for my final papers.

Sheila was this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of Viola in REEL Life. Please share some book love and visit her at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books.

I lost a follower: ( I feel that I should say a prayer or something. Oh well, back to 31 wonderful followers.

On going bit of fun: Register to win a Kindle!

My "To Do" list for blog related things — not just reading. I finally started making a dent. I accomplished all this throughout the week:

• Rewrite/hone my Guest Reviewer 's post.
• Create a Privacy Policy
• Create a Contest Policy
• Create a Review Policy
• Rewrite/hone my Mission Post
  
• Create an About Me page

• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "A Circle of Souls "
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "A Vengeful Spirit "
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "Audrey, Wait "
  

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

I'm finally beginning to make some progress (right before finals, ironic?).

It is your LAST CHANCE to win "Thanksgiving at the Inn." This is is the perfect book to read before the Holiday. I loved it! The deadline is TONIGHT at MIDNIGHT!

This week I reviewed Lighting Their Fires — it's an absolutely phenomenal book and I highly recommend it. Okay — so maybe I didn't accomplish as much as I thought, but I am halfway through "Prince Harming!"I am also taking part in an awesome Thanksgiving Challenge. So if you've noticed a "What I am Thankful for... " introduction before my posts — that's why. I highly suggest everyone trying this, it does get harder as you go on. But I think a valid point is raised, what if you wake up one morning and what you weren't thankful for yesterday isn't there today? Crazy! So today, I am thankful for my love of literature. Without it — I'm not sure who I'd be.

Leslie was also this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of Bloodroot. Please share some book love and visit her at That Chick That Reads. This is her second week in a row! Thank you Leslie for your amazing support.

I gained two followers and now have 32 amazing followers.:)

Crazy enough, I don't have anything DUE this coming week. I have a few final papers to begin working on that will be due during Finals week, but I can put those off a LITTLE bit more.:) One paper is a linguistics paper — my chosen topic is the Northern Minnesota Dialect. My senior thesis paper (that must coincide somehow with Milton's "Paradise Lost") is going to be about how J.K. Rowling makes 'good' attractive. If you've read "Paradise Lost," you're aware of how Milton struggles to make Christ/good seem appealing. So I'm going to parallel "Paradise Lost" with the Harry Potter series. Then, for my actual Harry Potter class, I'm going to do a character analysis of Draco Malfoy. Thesis is TBA. On Wednesday I take my Exit Exam — not too excited about that. Wish me luck! Where was I going with that mini-rant — oh yea, because I don't have anything immediate to do, I hope to spend a lot of time reading, visiting blogs, and working on my own.

Tomorrow I will announce the winner's of "Thanksgiving at the Inn" and by the end of the week I hope to have TWO reviews up!

On going bit of fun: Register to win a Kindle!

(Again, for the third week in a row...) Also, each week I'm going to start making a "To Do" list for blog related things — not just reading. It's soon to be the time of year when I'll be sending the HTML address for Miss Remmers' Review out to prospective school districts and I want to make sure it is "spot on". if you have any ideas as to how to make this blog more awesome — please let me know.

• Rewrite/hone my Guest Reviewer 's post.
• Rewrite/hone my Mission post.
• Update Layout
  
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "A Circle of Souls "
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "A Vengeful Spirit "
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "Audrey, Wait "
  

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

Like last week, this week I've accomplished next to nothing in regards to the blog. I have, however, somehow stayed one step ahead of homework. It was a crazy week at school; I had TWO Harry Potter papers due on Monday, THREE presentations on Tuesday, ONE LARGE (12 pages) Harry Potter paper due on Wednesday, a presentation and a test on Thursday, and Friday I left for the Cities to attend "Beauty and the Beast" with my mom. I ended up starting that large HP paper on Tuesday night at 8pm and SOMEHOW finished by 3am. Like I said, "one step ahead".

I am still hosting a contest — "Thanksgiving at the Inn" is the perfect book to come out of the Halloween season with. I loved it! AND I decided to extend the deadline until November 15th! I am slightly disappointed that more people aren't interested in it — only one so far! And I have TWO copies to giveaway! Pity... (hint hint).

This week I reviewed a grammar book, posted my October Wrap Up post, photos of my bookshelf, and a Halloween Recap post.

Leslie was also this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of Perfect Chemistry. Please share some book love and visit her at That Chick That Reads.

Still at 30 amazing followers.:)

My goal for this week is to, again, stay ahead of the homework AND focus a bit more on my recreational reading and this blog. Hopefully next week my Sunday Salon will be a bit more exciting.:)

(Again, for the third week in a row...) Also, each week I'm going to start making a "To Do" list for blog related things — not just reading. It's soon to be the time of year when I'll be sending the HTML address for Miss Remmers' Review out to prospective school districts and I want to make sure it is "spot on". if you have any ideas as to how to make this blog more awesome — please let me know.

• Rewrite/hone my Guest Reviewer 's post.
• Rewrite/hone my Mission post.
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "A Circle of Souls "
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "A Vengeful Spirit "
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "Audrey, Wait "
  

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

This week I sort of lost my great pacing of last week, but to my credit it wasn't entirely my fault. I blame Amazon. I finished a great novel last Sunday ("The Pledge") and then figured I should wait until "Crossed"comes in the mail as I preordered it so that the book that I would have started didn't get neglected.

Did that make sense?

Well, I waited and waited and "Crossed" didn't come and I didn't start anything new. And then, on Thursday, my life changed. I received a copy of "Pandemonium!" So, needless to say, I'm pretty sure "Crossed" is in my mailbox but I have yet to go check. What I thought would happen, did happen! But with a different book and a different circumstance.

Since I don't have a lot of book news to talk about, I thought I'd sum up the rest of my life as it is currently being led. This week and last week my life has changed quite a bit (no, I'm not pregnant). First of all, I decided to coach hockey this year. It will be my first year coaching but I grew up playing the sport and feel like I'm ready to get back on the ice. I'm just coaching 10U girls, so nothing too competitive or over the top (so I need to keep reminding myself not to take it that far haha).

I'm also registering for my first grad classes that begin in January and, due to the cost of higher education and the class load, I'm beginning to freak out.

And then there is NaNoWriMo. I was so excited to participate this year. I got about ten kids to join a club at school and we all set our own word goals (mine was 30,000). I knew that I wouldn't have a lot of time to write during the week so I planned "write-a-thon" parties at the public library with my students during the weekend. So, confession time, yesterday was the first time I sat down to work on my WIP. I know, I'm a complete slacker. Then I got frustrated with my WIP because it wasn't going anywhere (probably due to my lack of preparation). So today, I'm meeting my students in an hour, I'm filing that WIP away and taking out an older one that I feel like I have a better idea of its direction. So we'll see how that goes. I'm loving reading everyone else's progress and reading the Twitter feeds of all the committed participants. I think my biggest struggle is the number one rule of NaNoWriMo, throw away your inner editor. It's extremely difficult. So my personal NaNoWriMo perspective is to use this time to write more and hopefully create a habit that will be possible the other eleven months of the year.

I feel like my life has changed due to added commitments so much in the last few weeks. I'm so excited to begin all of these new life endeavors.

Now, if only it would snow.:)

Happy Sunday everybody!

Last week was a doozy, I didn't get anything accomplished that I had set out to do. But in my defense, on Monday I woke up with a 104.5 temperature, went to the doctor and tested positive for Influenza A and was suspected to have H1N1. So you can about imagine how fun my week was. I was so delirious I couldn't even spend those days at home with a book! But... now I'm back. I can't promise I'll get a whole lot accomplished this week either though. My professors were pretty lenient when it came to extensions — but now I have last week's homework and this week's homework to do before Monday. Oh boy.

I am still hosting a contest — "Thanksgiving at the Inn" is the perfect book to come out of the Halloween season with. I loved it! AND I decided to extend the deadline until November 15th! I reviewed a GREAT book — really, it is phenomenal -" A Duty to the Dead." And to make the week complete, I received an award from Laura at Laura's Reviews.

Sharon was also this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of The Time it Snowed in Puerto Rico. Please share some book love and visit her at Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews.

I have decided to give up "Mr. Darcy's Dream." I just cannot force myself to finish it. I will think about doing another contest or perhaps a quick — someone send me a review and I'll give you the book — type of thing. Stay tuned this week.

Still at 30 amazing followers.:)

My goal for this week is to get 100% better and do my homework — sorry guys, this week is going to be a bit boring.

(This if from last week — I'll try to do this) Also, each week I'm going to start making a "To Do" list for blog related things — not just reading. It's soon to be the time of year when I'll be sending the HTML address for Miss Remmers' Review out to prospective school districts and I want to make sure it is "spot on". if you have any ideas as to how to make this blog more awesome — please let me know.

• Rewrite/hone my Guest Reviewer 's post.
• Rewrite/hone my Mission post.
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "A Circle of Souls "
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "A Vengeful Spirit "
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "Audrey, Wait "
  

Don't forget about my awesome giveaway!

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

Wow — I'm slowly but surely getting back on track to being a better blogger. Check out my last Sunday Salon.

This week I put up my very first ever book trailer — I am extremely proud of it. I am hosting another contest — make sure to check it out, "Thanksgiving at the Inn" is the perfect book to come out of the Halloween season with. I loved it! I reviewed a GREAT book — really, it is phenomenal -"The First Thirty Seconds." And to make the week complete, I received an award from Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Speaking of Sheila, she was also this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of Dreaming Anastasia. Please share some book love and visit her at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

I still have not touched "Mr. Darcy's Dream," I may have to give up on it. There's no point in reading a book that I don't find compelling or interesting. But I'll give it one more day. Last Sunday I started "A Duty to the Dead" and I finished it yesterday, GREAT book. I would have finished it earlier if I didn't have this whole school thing to devote myself too. This week I want to either finish or give up "Mr. Darcy's Dream" and start another book — TBA.

Still at 30 amazing followers.:)

This week I have a lot fun things planned! On Monday check back to see a book trailer that I created for an education class. I have never done anything like this before so it took me a lot of time and I'm very proud of it! On Tuesday look for a contest! Ohhh exciting!

My goal for this week is to finish "A Duty to the Dead" and "Mr. Darcy's Dream".

Also, each week I'm going to start making a "To Do" list for blog related things — not just reading. It's soon to be the time of year when I'll be sending the HTML address for Miss Remmers' Review out to prospective school districts and I want to make sure it is "spot on". if you have any ideas as to how to make this blog more awesome — please let me know.

• Rewrite/hone my Guest Reviewer 's post.
• Rewrite/hone my Mission post.
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "A Circle of Souls "
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "A Vengeful Spirit "
• Proofread/Professionalize Review: "Audrey, Wait "
  

I found out this week that a new professor (the one teaching the Harry Potter course) is planning a Harry Potter trip to England for this Spring break. I really want to go, but I'll be student teaching.: ( So to make myself feel better I am determined to remind myself that if i do go abroad I don't want to only see Harry Potter things — I want to Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Chaucer things (among others). I know — it's a sad substitution, still.

This weekend I participated in the Haunted Forest as a guide. I walked over 24 miles and lost three pounds (also sad). But overall, I just love it. I love Halloween and I wish that I would have planned further ahead and had fun Halloween reviews — but I didn't have time this year. Hopefully next year I'll be more on the ball. What am I going to be for Halloween you ask. Oh, I have no idea. I really want to go as Little Red Riding Hood (here in the midwest we have to plan our costumes around the weather, and a hood would be nice next weekend). But I've yet to find the costume — not that I've gone out looking yet.

Whew — this was a long post. I miss you all! Don't forget about my awesome giveaway!

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

I know, I haven't done a Sunday Salon in... well for sure all of October! My last Sunday Salon was Sept 27th — I know, I can't believe it either!

This week I reviewed Lost in Austen for the Everything Austen Challenge. I spent most of my day yesterday reading blogs and doing some 'house keeping'. I caught up with a huge to do list; I wanted to read "Mr. Darcy's Dream," but I'm having a really hard time getting into it. So I started "A Duty to the Dead," which is a phenomenal book! I'm already half through! My Everything Austen Mini Challenge ended on Friday — congrats to the winner, Jennifer from Between the Lines.

I gained a follower and now have 30! Thank you!

This week's Guest Review was "Candor " by Kristen, from Bookworming in the 21st Century. If you're interested in submitting a Guest Review — please find out how.

This week I have a lot fun things planned! On Monday check back to see a book trailer that I created for an education class. I have never done anything like this before so it took me a lot of time and I'm very proud of it! On Tuesday look for a contest! Ohhh exciting!

My goal for this week is to finish "A Duty to the Dead" and "Mr. Darcy's Dream".

School has been going great. This Harry Potter class is a lot more work than I had anticipated; I find myself writing two pages a week, one on half of a book and the other on a movie. It's a bit tedious. I want to start spending more time reading and devoting to this blog, and if that means I need to get up a bit early... I also want to put more time into my reviews. I write them right after finishing them, which works for me, but I think that I need to spend more time thinking about them and start adding more things to them. So that's another goal.

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

This is what happens when you try to fit everything on you "to vlog" list in one video.:) But it makes for the perfect Sunday Salon post!

Wow — I ALMOST missed this post! But... I made it!

This week I reviewed Frozen Tears. I finished "Everything Sucks" and began "Mr. Darcy's Dream". Yes, I still need to finish "Lost in Austen". This week I also put up two awards — the Zombie and Chicken Award and Sharon's Rose Petal award! Make sure to check them out!

Still at 29 followers — Thank you!

Yesterday was the beginning of Banned Books Week 2009. To celebrate I am offering 15 (now 10) "I Read Banned Books" buttons in exchange for reviews. Super simple — check it out!

This week's Guest Review was "Chin Up, Honey " by Sharon, Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews. If you're interested in submitting a Guest Review — please find out how.

My goal for this week is to finish "Lost in Austen", "Mr. Darcy's Dream", and start "A Duty to the Dead".

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

Compared to last week... I have finally stepped up!:) Thank you all for remaining so patient with me — I'll definitely require this patience until May. I reviewed The Night of Flames. I finished "The Lovely Bones" and "Thanksgiving at the Inn" and have just started "Everything Sucks" and I'm currently an hour into "Lost in Austen". So I hope to get a lot accomplished tomorrow. AND — this week I received TWO awards! "Let's Be Friends" from Sharon at Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews and "Who Loves You Baby" from Gofita's Page s. What a great week for awards! Thank you!

Still at 29 followers — Thank you!

To celebrate Banned Books Week 2009 I am offering 15 (now 13) "I Read Banned Books" buttons in exchange for reviews. Super simple — check it out!

This week's Guest Review was Northern Lights by Scarlett, From the Heart! If you're interested in submitting a Guest Review — please find out how.

My goal for this week is to finish "Lost in Austen", "Everything Sucks", and start "A Duty to the Dead".

This week I'll be taking off for a Texas Wedding on Thursday, but I'll try to get some posts scheduled so no one thinks I've given up on them!:) Thank you all so much! I miss our late night talks!

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

This week was much better than last week. I got my August Wrap Up (late — but still)! I finished "Frozen Tears"! Amazing — btw! Look for a review next week! I am currently half way through "The Lovely Bones" and it is phenomenal! Hopefully I'll finish this week!

I put up the first pictures of my new bookshelf!

This week's Guest Review was The Miles Between by Cassie from Happy Book Lovers Blog! If you're interested in submitting a Guest Review — please find out how. I reviewed Aurora of the Northern Lights.

I apologize for this being late — it is now Monday evening. My bad. Classes are going well — in the process of catching up (as always). Dorm is doing awesome! Loving the girls on my floor. Harry Potter course is going. We finished up talking about Trauma and today started the first movie. We are going to spend six weeks (I know! Can you believe it!) watching and talking about the first three movies and then we will begin to talk about the last four books (which we are reading).

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

I have an announcement (obviously). While I just graduated from college in May of 2010 and will probably be paying off those loans for (what seems like) a decade, I've decided to begin pursuing my masters in Library Technology and Information this spring! I am so excited to return to the classroom as a student — although technically I'll be taking online classes through Valley City State University. I miss being the student and simply charged with attending class and doing homework. Teaching seems to take so much more out of me!

So that's the big news on the home front. On the reading front I started "Drink, Slay, Love" but after 190 pages I decided to put it down for the simple fact that I just hadn't connected to the characters or plot. I started to think, "If I put this book down, will I ever think of the characters or plot again?" And the answer was no, so I put it down and moved on to "The Juliet Spell." I'm really liking it and enjoying the plot, albeit a bit cliche. Early today I posted about the importance of the hook, and "Drink, Slay, Love" just didn't have that hook for me. Plus, when I did my book talk on it to students and I mentioned the whole unicorn and vampire bit, my students almost laughed me out of the classroom.

So anyway, that's my life in books and just in general.

Have a great Sunday night everybody!

Like last week, I still haven't finished "Night of Flames". I've got to finish this book. It's not that it's not good — it's just classes have started. Soon — I promise!

I was awarded two awards this week — "Let's Be Friends" award from Sharon and "The Who Loves You Baby" award from Gofita's Pages. Thank you SO much! I also have been given this awesome opportunity from CSN Stores to review a bookish item!

I'd like to welcome the 28th and 29th followers! Thank you so much!

This week's Guest Review was "Eyes Like Stars" by Cassie from Happy Book Lovers Blog! If you're interested in submitting a Guest Review — please find out how.

Classes started on Tuesday. I am very excited to be back in the world of academia. I'm reading "Paradise Lost" by Milton for my senior seminar class and the last four Harry Potter (rereads) for my Harry Potter class. So expect (before the semester is over) some reviews. This week I AM GOING to finish "Night of Flames." It's going to happen.

All of my contests ended this week. Cassie and Leslie won copies of "Dancing With Ana" and Laura and Megan won copies of "My Name is Will". Alex and Lauren won a copy of "Boy Toy".

Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?

UPDATE 9/6: I finished "Night of Flames!" Look for the review on September 15th!

This week was definitely worse than last week — yes, it's possible. I didn't finish a single book. But hopefully by Monday evening I will finish "Night of Flames" and start in on The Vampire Academy.

It was a big week for awards for me. I was nominated for three Zombies and Chickens awards and a "Let's Be Friends" award (look for mid week). Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate it! Makes my day!

I'd like to welcome the 27th follower — how exciting!

This week's Guest Review was "Now and Then" by Sharon from Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews as by Momma Remmers! If you're interested in submitting a Guest Review — please find out how.

Freshmen moved in yesterday and returners move in today. I'm loving that the hall actually has people in it — even if I do have to share the bathroom. Today I have to sit in the office from 10-4pm waiting for residents to check in so I hope to finish "Night of Flames." This week I'd REALLY really like to at least start/finish "The Vampire Academy" and "Frost Bite."

Please note that all three of my contests end this week. On Monday:"Dancing with Ana" and "My Name is Will". On Saturday: "Boy Toy".
Happy Sunday everyone!

What did you finish this week?