Friday Five

1. Apparently it's GISHWHES time again, according to this awesome video posted today. I'm not sure where these crazy people come up with these ideas, but they make me laugh so I'm just hoping they continue to come up with them.
          

2. I loved seeing all of the world book day costumes from all over the world.  These kids and their parents created some of the cutest little costumes of their favorite book characters.  I'm not sure if this was an England only activity, because I don't remember ever doing this here in the states when I was in school.  But I'm so happy to see anyone celebrating reading and books.  In a world full of video games and technology, seeing kids dressed as Dorothy, or Harry Potter, is so exciting.  Here are a few, but there were hundreds more all over Twitter (including the kid dressed like Christian Grey - I'm not even going to attempt to understand the thought process behind that one...)

3. Heidi Swapp Color Shine: I've been seeing lots and lots of craft projects using these on Pinterest.  So when they went on sale the other day, I thought I'd give them a shot.  My second snow day this week, was the perfect chance to actually experiment with them. After some consideration, I can say, I think I'm going to like them.  They'll take some time to get used to the trigger.  The bright pink I tried, at one point, looked like blood spatter. But the gold was super cool.  Can't wait to try that one on black paper!

4. While I'm not totally on board with the picture on this shirt (I'm not crazy about wearing people's faces on my chest), it's hard to argue with the message and the story behind why he's created the shirt.  What's even more beautiful is that so many people have already bought the shirt, and shared their stories of overcoming depression.  It's fantastic that these issues are finally being addressed and talked about as opposed to being swept under a rug. Always Keep Fighting!

5. I've always been a tea-totaller but I don't think I've ever drank more tea than I have this winter.  It's the only thing that's keeping me warm and toasty during this ridiculously cold (Hello 5 degrees!) arctic patch we've had.  And thanks to Twinings Decaf English Breakfast (yum!), I'm not high on caffeine all day. 

I am a Reader.

I love to read.

At any given time, there are at least 5 books waiting in the wings on my bookshelf.

The book is always better. (Most especially in the case of Harry Potter.  The only time this wasn't the case is Wicked.)

I will always read books instead of tablets.  Tablets are not my friend.

I have lists and lists of favorite books.

I buy books instead of borrowing books - I like the way they look on my shelves.

I browse bookstores like some girls browse department stores - for hours on end and many dollars spent.

A sure fire way to my heart is to quote one of my favorite authors or favorite books.

Boys who read are infinitely sexier than those who don't.

I keep having to replenish my bookshelf stash because I keep running out of space.

I am a reader. And today is basically my Super Bowl : )

Happy World Book Day!!!

World Book Night

Yet another year has gone by, and I've missed World Book Night, again.  How is it that such a reader like me, misses this darn night each year?  If you're not in the know, World Book Night is the one night each year when everyone waits for people to give them a free book. This year they must have really wanted that book because it was freezing and snowing.  I love to read but honestly, I'd rather buy the book than wait while my toes freeze inside my shoes; just a personal preference : )

But as someone who missed getting a free book, I'm focusing on what free book I'd give away.  If I had World Book Night to manage and it was up to me to choose a book, I think I'd be a little stressed to begin with.  I read...A LOT.  There are so many books that I've loved and I'd need to choose from.  Also, I'd want to choose a book that lots of different types of people would like.  Something tells me that the pink books I gravitate towards, may not go over in some circles.  And let me re-iterate, my favorite book list includes almost 40 books so I could have chosen just about anything.  But nonetheless, I chose a pink book anyway. 

I've loved this book since I finished it almost 10 years ago.  It's just wonderful!  I'm fairly certain it will always be on my list of best books ever!  I'm not sure that guys or non-girly girls will love it as much as I do.  But they should really give it a try. They'd fall head over heals with the relationships and the humor.  Bookends was the first book I read by Jane Green, and because of this, I read at least 10 more by her.  She's fantastic!  

Now someone get on this giving Bookends away, because I just googled it and there are at least 6 more covers to this book that I don't have - you can never have too many copies of perfection! : )

Miss Reads Alot

Based on the few newspaper articles I've gotten a chance to read this week, it seems I missed a very important day and have officially missed my calling.  It turns out that this week was World Book Night.  How did I not know this?  Thousands of people got together and handed out their favorite books to complete strangers.  How cool is that?!  I'm sure it's a bit expensive in that I think I'd want to use that money to buy myself more books but if it gets more people reading I suppose it's an appropriate way to spend your paycheck.

In the media coverage of World Book Night, there were also a few articles on the many Literature prize competitions going on around the world. One specifically, the Best in Female Writing award, appoints one head judge each year.  It is this person's job to read all the books that are nominated and choose their favorites.  This year over 200 books are nominated.  You can see where this could be a full time job. I'd like to say, if anyone in power is listening, I will take on that difficult task...anytime, anywhere, you just say the word!  How bad a gig could it be?  You get 200 free books and you get the time to read them all.  Then you get to tell everyone which ones were your favorites and they have to listen.  It beats the heck out of what I did with my day!

So in the spirit of all things bookish, if you care (and if anyone who has the power to appoint judges for book awards is looking for new talent...), here is my Top 10 list (in no particular order).

1. "Bookends" Jane Green
2. "A Cook's Tour" Anthony Bourdain
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" J.K. Rowling
4. "Lunch in Paris" Elizabeth Bard
5. "The Littlest Angel" Charles Tazewell
6. "The Da Vinci Code" Dan Brown
7. "Stillwatch" Mary Higgins Clark
8. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" William Shakespeare
9. "A Moveable Feast" Lonely Planet Anthology
10. "Tales of the City" Armistead Maupin