Fit Friday

I joined this group last Friday in the hopes that it would motivate me. I have been watching what I'm eating but, I only exercised once this last week. I am down 2 pounds. I don't know how but, I'll take it. If you would like to join the group Click Here.

Winning at Reading

I'm signing up for a month long reading challenge.This challenge is for the month of February. I just happened to find it yesterday while browsing some book blogs. I'm excited about this one. All month the goal for the challenge is to read books given as presents or won. 

As I've mentioned before I have a lot of books given as gifts and I am working on getting them read. My kids are a little upset I haven't read them all yet. Seeing as they have given me quite a few in the last few years. If you would like to sign up you have until February 15.


My Goals

1. Read and review 4 books I won recently
2. Read 5 books given as gifts

Books Won I Will Be Reading

   

Gifts I Will Be Reading

March Take Control of Your TBR Pile

I can't wait for this event. I have a huge TBR pile and I plan on dedicating this whole month to taking a chunk out of it. Actually this whole year I am making an extra effort to read my TBR books especially those books that I received as gifts. My family don't understand why I don't always read them right away. If you would like to join in this event click here or to the left on the picture.



My goals

1. Finish 3 books on my TBR pile/week
2. 1000 pages a week
3. 12 books or 4000 pages

Seasons of Reading...Winter 's Respite

I joined another Read-a-Thon. I know big surprise. I only blog anymore when I'm getting ready or doing one.

I found this RAT on Novel Challenge. It is a wonderful website dedicated to nothing but Challenges and Read-a-Thons. I have a feeling this year is going to be one Read-a-thon after another.

This one is pretty simple, read what you can from January 26 until February 1st. If you would like to join in click the picture above.

My Goals
I have been reading a lot lately and I have some pretty big goals for this Read-a-Thon. I want to read one book each day for a total of seven.
Day 1-I've been a little busy and didn't accomplish as much as I wanted.

1. 34 Pages The Darkest Side of Saturn by Tony
2. 30 Minutes Eragon by Christopher Paolini
3. 90 Pages School's Out-Forever by James Patterson

Day 2-Still busy

1.  188 Pages School's Out Forever by James Patterson

Day 3

1.  132 Pages Of School's Out Forever by James Patterson. I'm Finished.

Day 4

1. 15 Pages of Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

Day 5

1. 390 Pages of Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson. I'm Finished

 Day 6

1. 70 Pages of The Final Warning by James Patterson

Day7

1. Absolutely no reading done.

My Wrap Up

 I had high hopes for this Read-a-Thon. I started out super excited and ready to accomplish a lot. My goal was 7 books. I was sure I would meet it. The books I chose were easy reads and I only worked two days this week.

However, life got in the way. I had basketball games to attend. Homework and housework to help with and do. I took my daughters to hair appointments and shopping. I also threw a birthday party.

The last day however was the worst. I forgot to bring a book to the football party we were attending. I accidentally grabbed one I had finished and I ended up watching the football game. I did enjoy it.  After the game all the kids went outside to play. My daughter bumped heads with her cousin and broke her nose. I spent the rest of my read-a-thon in the emergency room with out a book.

Total Pages Read-919
Books Finished-2

I didn't reach my goal but, I think I did alright with everything going on. How did you do? I hope you had fun and I will see you at the next Read-a-Thon.

HoHoHo Read-a-Thon

Just saw a post about this Read-a-Thon. I really want to participate. It started today and goes through the 11th. I'm hurrying and writing this post. I hope I don't make to many mistakes.
For this Read-a-Thon you must read holiday themed books or books with a winter setting. Other then that I don't know much else. If you would like to participate or learn more click on the picture.

My Goals

1. Finish 2 books

Enjoy your books and have fun.

Dewey End of Event Meme

My Favorite reading challenge has come to an end. I'm exhausted and ready to go to bed. I may check out more blogs after I have rested a bit.

 End of Event Meme:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?19 and 20
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I can't think of any now.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? None
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? The way cheerleading is organized is awesome. Makes it easy to cheer.
5. How many books did you read? Finished 1 and started another
6. What were the names of the books you read? Abrham Lincoln Vampire Hunter and Have a Little Faith
7. Which book did you enjoy most? If I wasn't so tired when I started Have a Little Faith. I would choose that one but, I didn't get very far. Otherwise I didn't have a real great book this time
8. Which did you enjoy least? My back is killing me from sitting at the computer to long
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? All I know is I am exhausted after cheering.
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I will participate again. I don't know that I will cheer again. I spent so much time at my computer my back hurts. It made me appreciate them so much more. Maybe I'll cheer 1 read-a-thon a year. Next time I think I will take the role of reader and only hop on the computer every once in a while.

Let's see how I did

1. Read 500 hundred pages. I read a total of 405 pages. I was close
2. Visit all the blogs I'm assigned to at least once. I would like to do it twice but, I my team was assigned 75 blogs. I want to get some reading done to. I visited all 75. A couple of them twice.
3. Read 12 out of the 24 hours. I have no idea how many hours I read.

I stayed up to finish this and forgot to add the link to the Dewey website.

Well I hope to see you all next time. Goodnight.

Dewey Challenge

I really like participating in the challenges that go on throughout the 24hour Read-a-Thon. I will be putting all the challenges here as the day goes on.

Challenge 1
Challenge 2


Challenge 3
Quotable Quotes Bibliophibian Inc.
 Comment with a quotation from one of today’s reads.

And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in
God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts
-Abraham Lincoln, in an address to Congress
July 4th, 1861

I'm reading Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Challenge 4
Book Staging On The Wings of Books
 The book staging challenge is all about staging your book with either something that is on the cover or with something that goes with the book and then taking a picture of it!


I have been having trouble with posting pictures. I don't care that this one should be rotated.

Challenge 5
Name Your Read-a-Thon Geeky Blogger 

1. Take the books either in your TBR or already pile for Dewey’s
2. Pick a word from a couple of the titles and come up with a name for your read-a-thon
3. Leave a comment or post a picture on your blog (fill out the rafflecopter) and you are good to go!

I came up with Vampire Hunters Unbelievable True Stories Read-a-Thon 

Challenge 6
Book Tower LookBook
In this challenge we are asked to make a tower with books. 

My kids just finished cleaning, while I read, and will not let me make a mess. I hope everyone else has fun building their towers. 

Challenge 7
Show it off DeadBookDarling
Show of a book your proud of

 






Challenge 8
On Food and Books Girl Likes Books
Share your best book inspired recipe.

I am reading Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. There hasn't been any mentions of food that makes me salivate. They did mention ham and seeing as I'm starting to get hungry. I came up with something.

My Recipe
Omelet with ham, cheese and mushrooms and a virgin Bloody Mary on the side.

Challenge13
Color cover mini-challenge Wishful Endings
Match 4 book covers
 
Challenge 15
Challenge 16
Random Page BettyLeeCrosby
Pick out a quote from the book you are currently reading.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
August 28th, 1963





 I just finished reading Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter and this quote headed the last chapter.

Challenge 17
Mad Libs! Nisaba
 1)pick a paragraph (not too long) from the book you’re reading
2) remove some of the nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs, and either
3a) get a friend (in person, over the phone, over the internet–whatever!) to fill in the words for you mad-libs style

My paragraph
 I grabbed the man nearest me by the hair and struck him in the face with my fist, rendering him insensible. The man nearest him caught another of my fists in his belly. I was quite content to whip the lot of them, one by one, and would have done so, had Jack not risen to his feet and called off his men.

My Mad Lib
I Ran the man nearest me by the Butt and Jumped him in the Head with my Foot, skating him Fat. The Walmart nearest him sat another of my arms in his Nose. I was quite cold to play the lot of them, 16 by 11, and would have done so, had George not risen to his eye and farted off his men.

Dewey Opening Meme and Updates

My favorite Read-a-thon is getting ready to start. I thought I would begin a little early, 4:30, and get my first post out of the way before the Read-a-Thon officially starts for me at 5am(This is my 4th time). I usually all my preparations and goals a few days before the event but, unfortunately life happened. So here are my goals at least.

Goals

1. Read 500 hundred pages. I'm starting out small this time. I signed up to Cheer! I'm excited.
2. Visit all the blogs I'm assigned to at least once. I would like to do it twice but, I my team was assigned 75 blogs. I want to get some reading done to.
3. Read 12 out of the 24 hours.

Opening Meme

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? I'm reading from Eastern Oregon.
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? I would like to finish my daughters book National Geographic Tales of the Weird by David Braun
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? It is so early 5:01am now(it started), nothing sounds good.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I have a hard time with this question every time. I think when I'm tired and first waking it up I just don't know what to say. I work part time. I love to read and play board games. I'm married and have four kids. I'm anxious to start reading. I'm easy going and have a lot of patience.
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? I have participated before and I signed up to cheer this year. I can't wait to get started.
Updates
Hour 4: 8:17am
Reading: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. I started reading Tales of the Weird to many big words for so early in the morning.
Pages Read: 67
Where: Living room couch and my bed
Food: Fruit loops, 1/4 apple, mini kitkat, and a handful of peach rings.
Feeling: Tired and frustrated. I am having trouble posting pictures.
Blogs visited: 8
Challenges  

Hour 8: 12:03pm
Reading: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith.
Pages Read: 56
Total Read: 123
Where: Mostly the bed
Food: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich and  a glass of milk.
Feeling: Sleepy and anxious to keep reading.
Blogs visited:14
Total Blogs: 22 

Hour 12: 4:27pm
Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? I'm reading Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
2. How many books have you read so far?I'm still working on the First
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? I have no idea what I will be reading after this.
4. Have you had many interruptions? Some how my house has become kid central. There are now 8 kids running around my house. How did you deal with those? I'm just starting to get annoyed
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? No surprises so far. I have cheered for bloggers without understanding a word on the page.

Pages Read: 94
Total Read: 217
Where: Bath and Bed
Food: Pizza and a Skor bar
Feeling: Pretty good with a slight head ache. The kids are loud.
Blogs Visited:15
Total Blogs:37

Hour 17: 9:16pm
Reading: Just finished Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter
Pages Read:126
Total Pages: 343
Where: Couch and Bed
Food: Bananas, Tomatoes. Now I know why I'm so hungry
Blogs Visited: 7 I think it's more.
Total Blogs: 44

Hour 23: 3:17am
Reading: Have a little faith by Mitch Albom. I picked it because it doesn't have a lot of pages and the chapters are small
Books Finished: 1
Pages Read:62
Total Pages: 405
Where: My bed
Food: guacamole, chips, and pizza
Feeling: Determined to see the end of this read-a-thon. I want my bed badly.
Blogs Visited: I lost track
Total Blogs: Around 68. 

If you want to know more about this Read-a-Thon and maybe participate click HERE.

Dewey Time

 I haven't published anything on here since the last Dewey 24hr Read-a-thon. I have been working a lot lately, running kids to practices and games, and other day to day stuff. I haven't even read a new book in over a month.

Anyway it's that time of year and my favorite challenge is coming up and I am getting ready to sign up.

For those who don't know. 

What is Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon? For 24 hours, we read books, post to our blogs, Twitters, Tumblrs, Goodreads and MORE about our reading, eating, and visit other readers’ homes online. We also participate in mini-challenges throughout the day. This wonderful Read-a-thon happens twice a year, in April and in October. 

The fun starts again on October 18, 2014.


If you would like to participate or find out more. Click on Dewey.

My last post for Dewey's 24 Read-a-thon

 

My favorite reading challenge has come to and end. I have really enjoyed the reading and the challenges. I didn't visit very many sights but, I plan on it once I get some sleep.

My goals and how I did

1. Stay up 24 hours. I did it. I wasn't sure I would when I woke up at 5am so tired
2. Finish 3 books. I finished 2 and listed to another
3. Visit 50 blogs: I think I got to 30. I hope to visit more in a few days
4. Try to read 30 minutes out of every hour. I think I did. I just don't pay any attention time after hour 10

End of Event Meme:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? 21 I didn't know if would be able to last the full 24 hours
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I did a few YA book this Challenge. I like that there fast to read and I can move on to my next selection.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I think a Calender would be good.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I can't think of anything right now.
5. How many books did you read? I finished reading 2 and about 4 hours on a audio book
6. What were the names of the books you read? Being Nikki and Runaway by Meg Cabot. I am listening to Toys by James Patterson
7. Which book did you enjoy most? Runaway
8. Which did you enjoy least? I would have to say Toys because, I'm not going to be able to finish it
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I will be participating in the next one. It's also a strong possibility I will be signing up to be a Cheerleader.