Box O' Books

Awhile back I came across an idea that Dara had put together called Dara's Box of Books.

Excited about the opportunity, I signed up and patiently waited.

Dara recruited a list of great bloggers who would like to do a book swap on a bigger level.

She started a cardboard box filled with 13 books that she was willing to part with and then sent it to the next person.  I was third on the list and received mine a few weeks ago.

Here's what I found in my box of books:

I looked at all 13 books, read their summaries, and even checked the reviews on Amazon and here are the four that I picked:

I chose Lady in Waiting, The Radleys, Juliet, and The Postmistress.

Room was also a selection in the box and I loved the book but I already own a copy so it's off to someone else who can enjoy its storyline.

For every book that you take, you replace it.  So if you liked all 13 books, then you replaced those with 13 more. I chose four but when looking at my extensive book collection, I chose these:

The River Between Us, The Red Tent, Water for Elephants, Making it in the City, and The Five People You Meet in Heaven

If you're keeping count, you'll notice I put in five books when I only took four.  I had an extra copy of Water for Elephants in which either me or my freshman year roommate accidentally spilled coffee on.  I didn't want to put in a book with a stain on it, so I added another book to even things out.  It's still in great condition so I'm hoping someone can enjoy it or donate it to a charity that can enjoy it. 

 

Overall I thought it was a decent experience.  The idea is really fun and one that I enjoy, however, there's the risk that you'll get a box filled with 13 books that you don't like and you'll have to spend the money on media mail to send it someone else.  I liked the four books that I picked and am interested in getting the opportunity to read them.  However, I had zero interest in the other books that were in the box so that's 4 out of 13.  I had really hoped to see a Sophia Kinsella book because I haven't purchased one of her chick lit books.  I would like to try one especially after reading the summary for The Wedding Night.  The books that I did put in are often given really good reviews and a plethora of reading styles could enjoy them.  I would probably give the overall experience 3 out of 5 stars because the ladies were great, but I wasn't all too keen on what was put into the box.  I did however get 4 books out of the process and that's always a great thing. 

P2S Book Care Package Ideas

I hope you all are having a fantastic week!

Earlier this week I posted about some tips and tricks in approaching a book swap.

Sometimes you never know how these swap things work, 

so don't be afraid to ask us if you have any questions.

I have had so much fun reading your responses from the registration.

All of you sound like so much fun and we have so many different personalities, I love it!

Some of you are moms, runners, bakers, crafters, career women 

(who the run world...Beyonce shout-out), students, and people who have a nerdy side.

It got me brainstorming on what type of care packages I would make if any of you fantastic women were my partner.  So I created some book care package collages and you can see them below.  Some of the ideas were from Pinterest and others I got from shops like Fred Flare or Urban Outfitters.  I highly recommend checking out your local craft store or Target because many their dollar bins often have really cool items.  Last time I checked Target they had glass terrariums which are usually way more expensive than $1.  Some ideas from Pinterest actually have tutorials, so if you feel like getting a little crafty, why not?

For the fans of chick lit, I was inspired by the fun whimsical covers of many of the books considered "chick lit."  I found authors similar to the writing style of Sophie Kinsella on Goodreads.  From there, I chose two different books, one from author Jane Green and the other from Lindsey Kelk.  I figured this would be a good tactic to find authors that my partner would be enjoy and maybe she hasn't read yet.  I also included a fun pattern infinity scarf, which is perfect to wear on cooler summer nights, heart-shaped sunglasses because of the romance found in chick lit books, and flowers in a can.  These items I found on Fred Flare, however, you can find similar items at Target.

For fans of traveling, I tried to find items that would fit into the love of exploring new places and even staying within your resident abode.  I found this French "bonjour" nametag wallet on Fred Flare for those who have traveled to France or enjoy a little humor.  The Russian doll is actually a manicure kit, also from Fred Flare.  It's small, portable and really cute, perfect for the global traveler!  I also chose Eat, Pray, Love as the main book for the care package and a copy of Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Experiences.  To capture memories from local travels or far abroad, I included a travel stub journal.

For the Pinterest-inspired book lover, I headed to the site to find some great tutorials and of course, inspiration.  I chose two popular books from different genres because I figured Pinterest lovers usually like best-sellers and sometimes going outside of their comfort zone.  I found a few tutorials on how to make cute necklace charms and of course Etsy sites that make tons of different book necklaces.  I also found tutorials on how to make different style bookmarks, including these cute peek-a-boo Dorothy ones.  You could also include a mug and several different items.  This type of care package is usually great to put together at book stores.  You could also provide the supplies and instructions for your partner to make the bookmark or necklace and it can be a crafting experience as well!

For the athletic book swap partner, there are so many different ideas I had but I also felt like this was a solid care package, one that any fitness-oriented person would enjoy.  I chose Wheat Belly because all of my fitness/personal-trainer friends have been recommending it and it's an educational opportunity for any healthy lifestyle.  I also chose Tuesdays with Morrie because I figured if someone is going through a difficult time with weightloss or their fitness goals or is simply exhausted after a long day, this book is inspirational.  I also included a Runner's I.D. bracelet which is a great resource to have if you enjoy working out in the great outdoors.  It's a safety precaution that can also be fashionable.  I also chose a pair of running shorts and a water bottle because both can help your partner achieve her fitness goals!

We have some awesome Mommas signed up for this swap and although I don't have any kids, I can only imagination how difficult and wonderful life can be.  So I turned this care package into a little bit of a relaxing experience for all our sweet moms out there.  I picked 50 Shades of Grey and The Art of Racing in the Rain.  One dealing with the sexy Christian Grey and the other with dogs, I thought two completely different books to help moms relax ;)  I also thought that moms deserve a bit of relaxation but don't always have the full time to go to a spa or nail appointment.  So I included a copy of People Magazine, the new style manicures that are easy to apply, and a statement necklace so mommas can put together a great outfit while on the go.

What are some great ideas that you have?

Weekend Recap

Weekend Shenanigans consisted of several things, one of them being a wicked fight with my husband which ruined most of a perfectly good weekend.  Oh poop on a stick.

I did, however, learn how to poach an egg to make Eggs Benedict, as well as learned how to make French Toast.  It helps when of my AF besties has a husband who is also a professional chef.  If said professional chef creates a cooking club, which he has, you know I'm already an earnest student!

Elle (Lynn) from WishinGoodLuck, sent me a book care package as part of a swap that I participated in, and it was fabulous.  It was part of the Sip, Read, Swap book swap (sorry, that gets a little redundant) and I had a great time.  Lynn is an awesome blogger and I highly encourage readers out there to check out her posts.  She was kind enough not only to send me a Tervis Tumbler mug, but also TWO books.  I scored with an awesome swap buddy. #wootwoot

Last weekend I came across this really amazing church that I've just fallen madly in love with.  In my past, there has only been one other church to create such an emotional reaction from me that was even remotely close to what I felt last Easter Sunday.  I really want to dedicate an entire post to this feeling of strong faith, so who knows I may end up doing several posts this Sunday.

I've also become really enamored with the idea of physically writing more in my life, whether it's through cards, letters, journaling, etc.  My friend Karla shared with me an organization called Operation Write Home that makes cards to send to our deployed military members.  This gives the men and women of our armed services the chance to send home decorative cards for special occasions.  Since I'm all about crafts, you know that I loved this opportunity!  I wrote in and received a special stamp to add their logo to the back of the cards that I make.  I'll share a few of them on here once I get to making them.  When my husband was deployed, receiving letters and cards from him made my entire week so I know that making these cards will truly bring joy to so many families.

To celebrate the art of writing beautiful letters, I recently became a member of the Letter Writers Alliance, based out of Chicago, IL. 

Source and Photorights: Letter Writers Alliance

It's an organization that celebrate the art of writing letters.  Totally up my alley, I signed up for the membership which was really inexpensive at $5.  I received a welcome letter, badge (which I plan to put on a cardigan), membership card, and instructions as a member on their website.  They put together letter writing socials and have fun benefits for those who become members.  It reminds me of old school cereal box memberships...kinda like getting a decoder ring ;)

A dear friend, who also was a sorority advisor of mine while I was in college, sent me a copy of a book in the mail.  It was a good week for mail folks!  I love receiving mail and packages so I'm all about being the sender and recipient of fun things through postage.  Regina sent me a copy of a novel written by a friend and I received Saturday.  I'm so excited to read it and pass it forward to another friend who may feel inspired by it.

In speaking with my sister Dwana for hours the other day, she filled me on the novel she is writing and I am so excited for her!  I may or may not have peer pressured her into publishing it- even if it's in an eBook format on Amazon.  I really want to read it and after hearing the entire plot thus far, I think it's going to be incredibly successful.  Talking to her inspired me to at least get to writing a couple short stories and I'm debating on sharing them here.  Maybe I'll make it into a biweekly sharing opportunity on my blog.  

The other day I spent a solid two hours in Barnes and Noble contemplating books, as well as journals.  I've become fascinated with the concept of doing a line-a-day type of journal.  The idea is to reflect on your day in one sentence and these books focus on the process spanning five years.  Barnes and Noble didn't have any that I liked and in Kim fashion, I opened my Amazon app to read the reviews.  That's when I saw this beauty:

 

A Jane-a-Day, 5-year journal and I quickly added it to my virtual cart.  I received it this week and am excited to start participating in daily sentences.  I'm trying to do more in "living life" and recording memories, whether it's through Project Life scrapbooking, a line-a-day journal, or simply writing letters.

 

This week I also received my pre-ordered copy of Bloom by Kelle Hampton.  It's a bestseller so I'm sure many of you have heard of it.  Kelle is a blogger over at Enjoying the Simple Things and so far I'm really enjoying the book.  She received a lot of heat when it came to the Amazon reviews so I'm excited to put together a post talking about how I felt about the book and maybe some of the risks you take being a blogger who is consistently in the public eye and then putting together a memoir.

I've saved the best for last because tomorrow we, as in my awesome team, are announcing the giveaway for Preview to Summer: A Blogger Book Swap!  I have spent probably two months planning this swap with the help of five other fantastic bloggers.  Registration will start Sunday, April 14th but if you're impatient like me, the giveaway will provide you with all the more reason to come back for more.  By "blog-hopping" you have the chance to win five different books.  I'll be giving away an eBook copy of The Great Gatsby.  It's one of my favorite books and with the movie coming out soon, you'll definitely want to read it before setting eyes on Leo DiCaprio as the notorious Gatsby.  This Blogger Book Swap is going to be incredible and we're implementing ways to make sure that you make the most out of your experience and meet other great bloggers.  I am so excited about this and I know y'all will just love my team of kick-a bloggers!

Sip, Read, Swap: A Book Swap with Lynn from WishinGoodLuck

 

I always a love a good swap and that's probably why I am so excited to host Preview to Summer: A Blogger Book Swap. However, I don't host a book swap every month and in my "downtime" I like to explore the Blogosphere and discover other bloggers who love to read. Being a blogger has probably made my book addiction worse, but I think that's a bad habit I can live with. Blogs can range from being book-themed, writer-themed, or even lifestyle blogs, but you can still find a blogger who loves a book (or eReader in her hands). 

I'm part of the Literary Junkies Bookclub, again another opportunity I found by exploring the blogging community and coming across other people who love to read. Jen from That's What She Read, shared with us an opportunity to connect through a Blogger Book Swap (my favorite!). I quickly signed up and was excited to discover that I partnered with Lynn (otherwise known as Elle) from:

 

She is one of my favorite bloggers! In college I wrote a research paper studying the art of crafting and how the DIY world has become so relevant today with the development of sites like Ravelry and Pinterest. It's like this girl is my blogging soulmate with her recent post on The Dark Side of Pinterest: Perfectionism and Feminism. You may have read one of my prior guest posts on when Pinterest turns on you, but we can all relate to the love/hate relationship we have with the site.  As if that post didn't make me excited enough to propose with a virtual engagement ring (ironically a pin from a Pinterest board, most likely), she wrote a post on The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a webisode series that I came across when looking up GIFs to celebrate my love for Pride and Prejudice.  She is somehow connected to my mind and I am lovin' it. I also really want to check out the show. Have any of you seen it yet?

Lynn is currently tackling grad school/law school and has found time to be a part of a law school comedy show. Performing in shows, preferably musicals, was one of my favorite aspects of college. If I could perform in shows today, even while balancing an Air Force career, I would be in heaven. We've e-mailed back and forth, especially with my search starting on finding quality online grad school programs that can work with my specific work schedule.

If you couldn't tell, I am really excited to be paired up with her. 

So today I went to the post office with book swap items in tow and of course the post office was open for 3-4 hours today. With my luck, it closed at 1 and here I was showing up at 2. Oy vay. I drove home and checked the mail to find that I had a package from Lynn! 

This was Lynn's first book swap and she did an amazing job! 

Loved these Tiffany blue notecards with the signature "L" on them- so cute!

Notecards are one of my absolute favorite things about swaps. This might sound silly but the art of writing a notecard or anything handwritten is so rare these days. I love writing out personal notes and Lynn is just a lovely person.  I so wish we were neighbors so we could grab coffee, or in my case my new obsession, Chai tea :)

A Tervis Tumblr- perfect for hot and cold drinks, plus I ♥ Tervis Tumblrs. I've been wanting to buy one so to see this as part of the "mug" portion of the swap put a big smile on my face.

Lynn spoiled with with not just one, but two books.  The first, The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman, is about a couple who runs a lighthouse that comes across an abandoned baby.  It's been recommended so many times and I've been dying to read it.   

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert is about an isolation island in Hawaii that was used for people diagnosed with leprosy.  It follows the story of a girl who is diagnosed, separated from her family, and continues life on this specific island.  It follows her life and how she develops into a young woman with a family of her own.

I am so excited to read both of these amazing books and I am so lucky to have had Lynn as a swap partner.  She was so kind to put together this wonderful care package of books and an awesome Tervis mug.  If you haven't seen Lynn's blog, go check it out.  She is one of my favorite bloggers because she covers unique, quality content. I know I'm always harping on that but it's always refreshing to see that.  Lynn is one of those young women that I would love to meet in person and hope we stay in touch in the future.  I love book swaps, but I would love to create lasting blog friendships where I can just send things randomly because I want to.  Blogging helps connect us, no matter where we are geographically or within the journeys of our lives.

Thanks for Reading!

Lucky Leprechauns

I love a good swap and for March, I could not resist the Lucky Leprechaun Polish & Book swap.  Nail polish and a good read- why that sounds right up my alley.  I had the pleasure of meeting Hollie, and she blogs at Analyzing Sunshine.  We got to know each other a little bit through e-mail and sent each other a list of books that we've been dying to read.  I swear my top 10 keeps switching and is a never-ending list but I was so excited when I received a package in the mail containing the awesome things she sent on over.  

 We discussed what types of nail polishes we would like and being in the military, I have to wear very neutral colors that look professional in uniform.  Hollie picked out such a cleverly named shade from Sally Hansen Salon Manicure line.  "Commander in Chic" is a darker, mauve color with hints of deep purple.  I sent her a soft lavender shade from Essie and you can see how it looks by visiting her post!

I was so pumped to see that this was the book that Hollie chose for me! Jujitsu Rabbi and the Godless Blonde is truly a fish out of water tale as Rebecca Dana (the author) dreamed of moving to New York City.  She enjoys the glamorous lifestyle that she sought, until she is forced out of it and moves to Brooklyn with a 30-year old rabbi as a roommate.  The summary itself sounded so hilarious so I put it in my top ten and I can't wait to read it.

I sent Hollie a copy of Safe Haven and I was actually able to see it in theaters yesterday as part of a weekly lady's night.  We had so much fun and I'm a sucker for anything Nicholas Sparks.  I thought the movie was great and the actors were gorgeous (in true Nicholas Sparks fashion).  Tomorrow I'm tackling some Irish recipes and maybe going on some adventures with friends.  Have a great weekend and many thanks to Hollie for a great swap!

Thanks for Reading!