Category Archives: Book Blogger Loveathon

#LoveAThon Mini Challenge #5: Letter to Myself!

Posted in Book Blogger Loveathon by

Book_Blogger_Love-A-Thon_2014

Mini Challenge #5: Write a Letter to Myself

For this challenge I am supposed to write a letter to my future self about this blog and where I want to see it go in the future. Kind of awkward, but I do have a vision for this blog and want to see it happen!

Dear future Lesley,

So after 8 months of blogging I have some goals and wishes for the future of Literacy Love. I’m sharing them with you in hopes that we can make them happen! Here’s what I’m thinking….

Goals 

  • Write 3-4 book reviews every month.
  • Keep writing ICYMI and TTT posts at least every other week.
  • Keep trying out new weekly/monthly memes like Random Reads and Epic Recs
  • Bring back Literacy Loot posts – they are fun!

Advice:

  • Don’t be so critical about your writing by deleting unfinished posts when you get stuck. Give them a few days to sit and then come back with fresh eyes to finish them.
  • Share more about what happens in the classroom on a daily basis, and not just when we do huge projects or activities.
  • Try to connect more with publishers and authors to review books.
  • Continue connecting with other teachers and book bloggers! You learn so much about blogging just by reading other blogs. Make more book blogger friends by commenting on posts too.

**************************

So nothing earth shattering here, but I really do want to make my blog into something really, really cool. I have so much fun with it but also stress out way to much while writing posts. I am my worst critic and need to get over it!

Thanks for reading!

#LoveAThon Mini Challenge #4: Mash Up!

Posted in Book Blogger Loveathon by

Book_Blogger_Love-A-Thon_2014

Mini Challenge #3: Mash Up!

For this challenge I am mashing up my bookish life with a non bookish passion. I have a lot of things I like to do besides read – and traveling to new places is probably my favorite. We’re going to Toronto over spring break and are really excited. I also like trying new things, and I planted my first garden last summer and it was a great learning experience. We had the ingredients for fresh salsa all summer long, too! When the weather is nice, I love to be outside. We ride our bikes on the local paths and are planning a lot of hiking trips this summer.

I am also a pretty good cook.  I enjoy trying new seasonal recipes and my husband is a great taste tester!  Because I love to cook and try out new recipes, I’ve decided to create two lists – first, my go to blogs for recipes *and* my ultimate guest list of authors I would love to host at my very own author dinner party!

My go to food blogs:

All pictures link to blogs.

logo-home

My number one go to for recipes. I have never been disappointed with a recipe from this website. Great quinoa and orzo recipes. I tend not to eat a lot of red meat, but my favorite on this site is the Beef Stew recipe and it is perfect for this ridiculous winter that we have had in the midwest.

pioneer woman

Ree always has delicious food featured on her blog and her photography skills are stellar! I love following her on Instagram to see all of her Oklahoma sky pics!

amy bites logo

I’m obsessed with the recipes on this blog! I just wish she would post more often. Great stuff here! I mean, the chocolate cake?! Are you kidding me?

My ultimate author dinner party guest list:

All book covers link to Goodreads.

John Green

tfios

Lauren Myracle

shine

Benjamin Alire Saenz

dante

Elizabeth Eulberg

prom and prejudice

Libba Bray

diviners

Maureen Johnson

name of the star

Jo Knowles

see you at harrys

Sarah Dessen

just listen

Ransom Riggs and Tahereh Mafi

hollow cityshatter me

Leigh Bardugo

shadow and bone

Marie Lu

legend

Veronica Roth

divergent

Rainbow Rowell

fangirl

and all of their significant others!

This will be one rockin’ party! Cheers!

#LoveAThon Mini Challenge #3: Mad Libs

Posted in Blogging Event, Book Blogger Loveathon by

Book_Blogger_Love-A-Thon_2014

Mini Challenge #3: Mad Libs

I tried very hard to do this randomly and in true Mad Libs style. Confession – The first thing I wrote down for “pet name” was “Rover”, thinking that it meant for an animal and not significant other. I almost left it in there…  Fun times!

One day, I was eating with Warner. Out of the blue, a bird came out of nowhere! It was so loud, stringy and silly. At first, we were afraid, we were petrified, but we swam. We hopped on our bikes.

As we escaped, we turned up the radio because Yankee Doodle came on and made me sleep. Everything was extremely smooth sailing until an orangutan appeared in the middle of the road. We swerved to avoid it, but while Warner stayed on his bike, I got thrown onto my side in the woods.

I couldn’t get up, and felt yelllow as I lay there staring up at the trees. What was I going to do? I heard a trickle among the leaves, and felt gracious. Surely, this was going to be my end. As my eyes fluttered shut, the last thing I saw was a head of blond hair and green eyes.

When I woke up again, I was on an ottoman. My body hurt a whole lot less, and I could sit up. There was a popsicle and lamp in the room, along with nachos and chai tea lattes. The door suddenly opened to reveal Levi, a concerned look on his face. I blushed and averted my gaze, but he laughed and said, “Don’t be shy. It’s okay.”

He came over to sit by me, and we started talking after I told him my name. We chatted about sang, cooked and swam and realized we had a ton in common! I thought he was pretty and couldn’t help feeling a little swoony.

Just as he reached out for my hand, the door crashed open and in came Four. “Don’t let him charm you away, my love!” He yelled, running at Levi. They each had rolling pins in their hands and began to fight. “Stop!”, I yelled, feeling so scary. They didn’t listen to me. Before I could intervene, Levi fell to the floor and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

“What was that?” I asked, staring at the empty space. Four dropped his weapon, and came over to me. “Magic, but you are safe now, darling.” He hugged me close, and I suddenly knew that this was the real deal and not just a dream.

Just as “My Love” started playing in my head, I woke up. I cursed my blue luck. Why had it only been just a dream?

 

#LoveAThon Mini Challenge #2: Book Valentines

Posted in Blogging Event, Book Blogger Loveathon by

Book_Blogger_Love-A-Thon_2014

Mini Challenge #2: Book Valentines

For this challenge I decided to use pre made Valentine’s Day cards instead of writing long winded, sappy love letters that would make all of us uncomfortable. Just kidding. Kind of.

First, for Cath from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, who I not only adore, but who would have been my best friend in college. Picture two besties sitting in their door room typing away at their respective keyboards. All weekend long.

xyou-auto-complete-me.jpg.pagespeed.ic.89RmNcQ1MG

Second, for Don Tillman, from The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, who would probably turn around and give it to Rosie, which is so perfect. If you haven’t read this book, please do so immediately. Ultimate love story. Cannot wait for the movie… crossing my fingers for Bradley Cooper to be cast as Don!

stat vday card

And lastly, to my book boyfriend Warner, from The Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi. I could go on and on about how much I adore him, especially from everything that happened in Ignite Me. I had a blast looking for cards that were capable of declaring my reader-to-character love in an appropriate and suitable way. Trust me, there are a lot of crazy Warner worthy cards out there, but I managed to narrow it down to two that pretty much do the job.

83bad__obsessed-with-you

words can describe

This was so fun! I can’t wait to read all of the other Book Valentines out there – from the spine poetry I have read today, you all are very creative and talented!

**All cards are linked to their original sources, except for the last one, which I could not find anywhere. If you know its source, please share and I will add it. Thanks!

#LoveAThon Mini Challenge #1: Spine Poetry

Posted in Blogging Event, Book Blogger Loveathon by

Book_Blogger_Love-A-Thon_2014

Mini Challenge #1: Spine Poetry

I am so excited that this is our first challenge because I love Spine Poetry! It is a favorite activity during April with my students and we have a lot of fun with it. In hindsight, I probably should have better prepared because these are the only books I have right now in my house.  Seriously, all of my other books are at school or in storage. Since I do only have six, I felt I couldn’t leave any of them out either…

Anyway, without further ado, here is my sad little quirky & nonsensical spine poem.

photo (4)

Books used: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, Doll Bones by Holly Black, Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi, Hollow City by Ransom Riggs, More Than This by Patrick Ness, and Evertrue by Brodi Ashton.