The Sunday Salon: 8-16-2009

Happy Sunday Everyone! I hope that everybody is enjoying what is left of summer. My middle daughter has her first day of high school on Wednesday, so we don't have much summer left here. (Be sure to check out the You Tube Video at the end!) It has been pretty gorgeous all week though so we have spent a lot of time outside! We went to a local festival the last two nights- Friday we got to watch Escape To Witch Mountain on a 40 foot screen in the park and last night we saw some awesome fireworks! Of course my son has been over-tired and sugared up, so he was usually completely wound by the time we got home. Tomorrow we end the weekend with church and then a parade. It is supposed to rain tomorrow though, so hopefully it will hold off until the parade is over.




Let's talk about comments - When you leave a comment on someone's blog do you like to get a response back? And if you do, do you look for that response in your email or back under the comments? I am always unsure as to whether I should leave an answer in the comments or email the person directly. I would love to hear what everyone out there thinks about this.




Ok - let's see. I want to take a minute to thank the Park Avenue Princess for the wonderful award she gave me awhile back. It is the Heartfelt Blogger Award. Thank you so much!

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you're relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know that feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt award is all about: feeling warm inside!

The Rules:

Put the logo on your blog/post. Nominate up to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside. Be sure to link to your nominees within the post. Let them know about the award by commenting on their blog. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

My nominees are:

Sheila from Sheila Deeth
Teabird from Tea Leaves
Sheri from A Novel Menagerie
Wendy from Caribous Mom
Kristi from The Story Siren
Marcia from The Printed Page
Tonya from Storytime with Tonya and Friends
Kathy from BermudaOnion

My list could go on and on and on! If you haven't checked these blogs out, make it a point to do so soon!


What is everyone reading this weekend? I am reading The Blue Enchantress by M.L. Tyndale - I lover the first book to this series The Red Siren and am gobbling this one up too! I have also started The Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London - It is about a woman who is told that her husband has been killed overseas - only to find out three years later that the army was mistaken - he had been a POW and had finally escaped. Only now she is remarried to someone else. Which love does she pick? Can you imagine having to do that? Having 2 husbands that you love and having to pick one? That would be a nightmare - but so far the book is really good!


I am going to leave you all with this YouTube video that they showed at my daughter's freshman orientation that we attended this week. It is an eye opener and really gives you a lot to think about!

Blog Awards

I have been honored to receive some awards this month - so I am going to take this opportunity to acknowledge them (I love getting awards!) and to pass them on!

I received the Humane Award from J.Kaye at J.Kaye's Book Blog. Her's was one of the first blogs that I discovered last year when I started blogging and it is still one of my favorites.

The Humane Award is to honor certain bloggers that are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it wasn't for them, my site would just be an ordinary book review blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. This award is to thank them for their growing friendships through the blog world.

J.Kaye awarded this to a great group of bloggers - some of which would have been on my list also, but I tried not to duplicate any of her recipients, so I am going to award this one to the following bloggers:

Bridget at Readaholic
Audra at Anonymously Uncensored
Tonya at Storytime with Tonya and Friends
Mary at Bookfan Mary
Alyce at At Home with Books
Teabird at Tealeaves

The Kreativ Blogger Award I received from Nightdweller at Bibliophiles 'R' Us. Thanks Nightdweller!!

The rules are:

Once you receive this award, you are to list seven of your favorite things and then nominate seven other blogs.

Here are my seven favorite things in no particular order:

1. Family/kids
2. Books
3. Cadbury Creme Eggs
4. Candy Corn
5. Sleeping late
6. Back rubs
7. Cross stitch

I am awarding this to these seven blogs/bloggers:

1. Kelly at The Novel Bookworm
2. Gwendolyn at A Sea of Books
3. Amy at Park Avenue Princess
4. Beth at Beth's Book Review Blog
5. Mari at Bookworm with a View
6. Kim at The Book Butterfly
7. Tina at Fantastic Book Reviews
   

I also received this Lemonade Stand Award from LuAnn at Reading Frenzy. Thanks LuAnn!

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

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


I have passed this one on before so I am only sending it on to 5 blogs this time:

1. Jonita at The Book Chick
2. Libby at Libby's Literary Library
3. Rhapsodyinbooks Weblog
4. Melissa at Booknut
5. Scrap Girl at Serendipity

I was also tagged by Rebecca at Lost in Books for the What's on My Desk meme. Here are the rules:

Grab a camera and take a photo of your desk! Or anywhere you stack your books/TBR pile. And no tidying!

Add this photo to your blog.

Tag at least 5 people!

Come back here and leave a link back to your photo in the comments section.

That’s it.

I have some built in bookshelves that I used to use, but they quickly became too full and so now I utilize the floor space under these built ins.

And to be honest - since these pictures were taken, I also have a large pile on my desk that are waiting to be "featured" as arrivals, as well as a stack next to the tbr shelves that were garage sale pickups!



So for this meme I am going to tag:

1. Marcia from The Printed Page
2. Linda Ellen at Bambi Reads
3. Jessica Marie at Books Love Jessica Marie
4. Yvonne at Socrates Book Reviews
5. Cindy at Cindy's Love of Books

Awards

I received this from Kristina over at Kristina's Favorites.

Your Blog is Enchanting Award from Marie at The Burton Review

Lovely Blog Award was received from Kristina at Kristina's Favorites,
Suzanne at Chick with Books
and from The Book Muncher

Zombie Chicken Award was received from Jessica Marie at Books Love Jessica Marie.

Sisterhood Award was received from Myza at Books and So Many More Books

Splash Award was received from Jennifer at Jennifer's Book Blog
and Rebecca at Lost In Books

Lemonade Stand Award was received from Jennie at A Bookish Mom
from Wendy at Wendy's Minding Spot from Jennifer at Just Jennifer Reading and from Kim at Page after Page.

I Love Your Blog was received from Mo at Unmainstream Mom Reads

Your blog is fabulous was received from Rebecca at Lost In Books,
Tonya at Storytime with Tonya,
and Sharon and Sharon Loves Books and Cats

Friends Award was received from Rann at This, That and the Other Thing
Audra at Seriously?,
and Vanessa at Today's Adventure

Well-worth Watching Blog Award was received from J.Kaye of J.Kayes Book Blog

Butterfly Award was received from Kim at Cloud 9
and Audra at Seriously?

Premio Dardas Award was received from Alyce at At Home With Books



I received the Heartfelt Award from Amy at Park Avenue Princess.

I am Honored

You have all made me feel the love this month! And I feel very undeserving of it the last couple of days. I have been fighting a terrible head cold that has pretty much kept me from visiting many blogs - it has been enough to just try to keep my normal posts going. I am still behind on my reviews, as I have two to write yet right now. But anyway! (I feel like I have forgotten to acknowledge an award - so if I haven't given thanks to someone, please please let me know!)



I am the honored recipient of "Our Lovely Blog" Award from 2 other bloggers this week. This came to me from Kristina at Kristina's Favorites (love her name - this is my given name also) and Suzanne at Chick with Books. These lovely ladies were well deserving of this award also, so please go by and check out their blogs!

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 you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

1. Cheryl at Adventures of a Somewhat Crunchy Mama or The Unadorned Book Review (I believe she has others too! I am envious of those people who can have more than one blog going!)
2. Michelle of Michelle's Bookshelf
3. Sandra from Fresh Ink Books
4. Ashley and Holly at Bellas Novella
5. Roxanne from Fang-tastic Books
6. Rachel from Grasping for Objectivity in my Daily Life (Don't ya just love this name?)
7. Marcia at The Printed Page
8. Avis at She Reads and Reads
9. LuAnn at Reading Frenzy
10. Bobbie at Book Reviews by Bobbie
11. Mary at Bookfan-Mary

That will have to be it - I need sleep - and to think, I sat down here tonight to do my Friday Finds for tomorrow morning and didn't get to it! My head feels like a balloon. . .

What a Super Blogging Community!

Everybody has been so good to me with awards lately! I love all of them! I have been the lucky recipient of three awards this month! Make that four awards now!


I received The Splash Award from Rebecca at Lost in Books. Thanks Rebecca!
The rules are as follows:
1) Put the logo on your blog/post.
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.

I just passed this one earlier this month, so I am going to decline from passing it on right now - I will make a list as I am reading blogs and send it along at a later date!

I received The Sisterhood Award from Myza at Books and So Many More Books. Thank you Myza!

The rules are:
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.

Here are my nominees, they were my biggest commentors during the 24 hour readathon! Thanks ladies!

Kathy from Bermudaonion

Staci from Life in the Thumb

Kailana from Historical Tapestry (as well as quite a few others!)

Teddy Rose from So Many Precious Books, So Little Time (as well as a few others!)

Dar from Peeking Between the Pages

Jessica.marie from Books Love Jessica Marie

Eva from A Striped Armchair



I received the Lets Be Friends award fromVanessa at Today's Adventure. Thanks Vanessa!


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.

My nominees:

Wendi from Wendi's Book Corner

Mo from Unmainstream Mom Reads

RAnn from This That and the Other Thing

Twiga from The Twiga Blog

As I was distributing the other awards - Jessica Marie from Books Love Jessica Marie gave me the Zombie Chicken Award! I must say I have been coveting this award because I wanted it for my sidebar! It is a hilarious picture!

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...

I will be awarding this to other blogs at a later date! My son wants me to play! See ya!

Please go check out all these wonderful blogs!

I Am Feeling Loved!

Thank you so much to all the bloggers who take the time to read and comment on my posts - and thank you even to you that I don't know about, but who just stop by to read. I would like to know about you though, and would love to add you to my blog roll.

I have been trying to add everyone whose little picture appears in my left side bar under the followers. If your picture is there, but you do not see your blog down below in the blog roll - please let me know and I will fix that!

If you would like to be added to my blog roll - but aren't in my followers yet, or maybe follow through a feed or email, just click on the little button and follow me. I will see you are new and get you added!

I have been given 3 new awards in the last few weeks! I love it when I see these pop up in my mailbox!





The first one was from Mo at Unmainstream Mom
Reads. She awarded me the I Love Your Blog award.

To keep this award moving, here are the rules:

Add the logo of the award to your blog.
Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
Add links to those blogs on your blogs.
Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

I am awarding this to:
Alyce - At Home With Books
Wendy - Caribou's Mom
Jaime - Confessions of a Bibliophile
Katrina - Stone SouP
Chris - Stuff As Dreams Are Made On
Jessica - The Bluestocking Society

Jennifer of Jennifer's Book Blog awarded me The Splash Award!

The Rules:
1) Put the logo on your blog/post.
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.

This award goes to:
An Iowa Mom
Kathy - Bermudaonion
Amy - My Friend Amy
Shelleen - Shelleen's Musings
Sweetsue
Tammy - Tammy's Book nook
The Book Muncher
Carey - The Tome Traveller's Weblog
Wendi - Wendi's Book Corner

From A Bookish Mom I also received The Lemonade Stand Award!

The Rules:
1) Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post
2) Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude
3) Link to your nominees within your post
4) Let the nominees know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5) Share the love and link to the person from who you received your award

I am giving this award to:
Jen - Devourer of Books
Jennifer - Just Jennifer Reading
Relz Reviews
Stacie - Simply Stacie
Peg - Sips 'n Cups Cafe
Sharonanne - Sharon Loves Books and Cats
Kim - Sophisticated Dorkiness
Tonya - Storytime with Tonya
Kelly - The Novel Bookworm
Jessie - Vanderbilt Wife

Please check out all of these fabulous blogs and maybe they will become your favorites too!

Award Round-up

I have been blessed with a few awards in the last month and have been very remiss in acknowledging them and passing them on! So now that I finally have a free minute I am going to try to do just that!

I received the Your Blog is Fabulous award from both Tonya at Storytime With Tonya and Sharon at Sharon Loves Books and Cats. You should go check out both of their blogs as they were awarded this Fabulous award also and they truly are!

The rules are to write 5 things that I am addicted to and then pass then on to 5 deserving bloggers -

So, in no particular order - my current addictions:

1. Cadbury Eggs - I am glad they only sell these a few months out of the year!


2. ARC's - I love getting these books! They have greatly varied my reading choices!


3. Twitter - I am just nosy that way!


4. Popcorn after school with my son - This is our alone time were we get to talk about what happened during the day and usually watch Spongebob!


5. My Honey - Without this addiction, none of the others would mean as much!

The blogs that I think are deserving of this award are (drumroll please)

1. Deena at A Peek at My Bookshelf


2. Melissa at Book Nut


3. Julia at Booking Mama


4. Zoe at Zoe's Book Reviews


5. Wrighty at Wrighty's Reads

So if you haven't visited these blogs you should really go check them out!

I also received the Premio Dardos Award from Alyce at At Home With Books.

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.

Wow - now for 15 other blogs -

1. Mari at For the Love of Books
2. Staci at Life in the Thumb
3. Rebecca at Lost in Books
4. Mo at Unmainsteam Mom Reads
5. Kitten at The Bookkitten
6. Mary at Books, Gardens and Dogs
7. Kim at My Book Reviews and More
8. Shannon at Confuzzled Books
9. Taylor at For the Love of Books
10. Sandra at Fresh Ink Books
11. Sheri at Bookopolis
12. Yan at Books By Their Cover
13. Amy at Passages to the Past
14. Mrs. Cuddles at Cuddles on the Couch
15. Stormi at Mystery, Suspense and God, Oh My!

These blogs also deserve a visit if you haven't been there yet!

(Please check out the giveaways in my sidebar!)