Book Love

Instead of doing Friday Five this week, I decided I jump on the end of 2011 bandwagon and bring you a few of my favorite books of the year! The list is ordered by release date because otherwise my head would explode from trying to put them in order of favorites.

Aw, here it goes!*

Initially I wasn't quite sure what Divergent by Veronica Roth would be like. I didn't read much about it beforehand and once I bought the book it took me a few chapters to get into it. Once I did though? It COMPLETELY sucked me in and this is one book I will HAVE to re-read in 2012. I loved this book so hard because Tris was an amazing leading lady and Four was just so swoon worthy. I've recommended it to countless people and bought copies as gifts for others. 

Sometimes people will ask me to compare and the closest thing I can think of is The Hunger Games. I know, I know but here's my reasoning for it. Tris kicks just as much ass as Katniss does and in some cases maybe even a little more. They would totally be BFF's if they ever met and then the world would have to watch the eff out.

 One of the books I couldn't wait to read was Michelle Hodkin's The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. I got a chance to read an ARC and even then, I really couldn't wait to own my own copy. The cover is gorgeous, the book is witty and it's a homerun from a debut author. Plus, there's Noah Shaw. I mean, the accent and hair alone make him swoon-worthy. Michelle is pretty darn cool too and I had a blast talking to her at YallFest. This is another book that I've purchased numerous copies for people, and if you come back soon, you might be able to win a signed copy of your own!

If I could be like ANY author (or have one as my BFF) it would totally be Stephanie Perkins. She's funny, smart, has blue hair (which I've always wanted) and writes books that are just so fabulous. The wait for Lola and the Boy Next Door was horribly long but well worth it. Just looking at the cover you can tell the pages will ooze awesome and I have NO idea how she only has two published novels. Regardless, I know Stephanie is going to have a long career and if it's possible, I'm just that much more excited for her next novel. 

All the characters in Lola were so real and I LOVED how she added Anna and St. Clair in as Lola's friends. I loved Cricket so much and I even liked Max (for a little while anyway) and her dads! I loved her dads! I thought it was super cool that one of them was a baker because the Crystal character would totally work in his bakery. What made me love Lola so much is that she was different. She wore her outfits/costumes and it was HER. I wanted to be like her in high school but I lacked much of the confidence Lola had. 

I don't even know where to begin when it comes to Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone. This book came as a complete surprise to me, especially when I heard that it was a little bit fantasy with a little romance, supernatural, and mystery sprinkled in for good measure. The writing was beautiful and it was just one of those books that I couldn't wait to talk about and talk about it I did. My talking about it made my co-worker want to read it so of course I got it for him for Christmas. To date, I've bought four copies and won't be surprised if I buy more for other people. If you haven't read this book yet, what are you waiting for?

What were some of your favorite books released in 2011?

*You're pretty darn awesome if you know what that's from

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and try not to be TOO jealous of me getting to work tonight. I leave you with a picture of SANTA KITTY who is NOT amused.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Friday Five (9)

Ok so I didn't get a chance to type up my Friday Five this morning, so please bear with me as I try out this blogger app for iPhone. Let's also pretend we don't see any typos, ok? Ok!

1. Friends of ours are visiting their families for the holidays and we got to have dinner with them last night. It reminded me just how much I miss living down the street from them like we did in Auburn (they now live in Florida). The majority of our friends live out of town so I love getting together whenever we get a chance to.

2. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I somehow got the day off. I'm not complaining because it'll make Christmas day SO much easier because we'll have a chance to visit Adam's grandparents then instead of Christmas. I would much rather spend the holidays at home before I go to work that night.

3. We drove by our lot yesterday and they've cleared it! I never thought I'd be so excited over a weedless area but I am and I can't wait to go back and take a picture (it was POURING when we went).

4. This weekend I will no longer be a Love Actually virgin! I finally saw it was going to be on tv, so I set my DVR for it and get to watch it tonight or tomorrow. The only bad part is apparently the cable rebooted itself and there's going to be about 5 minutes of the movie I miss. Oh well.

5. My work Christmas party was last night and I'm glad I went because OMG SAUSAGE BALLS! I love them things and plan on making them for the first time tomorrow night to go with my Christmas morning breakfast quiche. Hopefully the quiche turns out well because that'll be a first too!

Hope you all had a fabulous week!

Vloggity Vlog

Last week my lovely friend Tameka challenged some girls in my online book club to answer fifteen questions in vlog format. I originally wasn't going to post this but I figured this would be a good way for all of you to get to know me better.

I've also posted the questions below in case you want to do this as well.

Without further ado, I bring you ME.




#1. What's a nickname only your family calls you?
#2. What's a weird habit of yours?
#3. Do you have any weird phobias?
#4. What's a song you secretly LOVE to blast && belt out when you're alone?
#5. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?
#6. What's one of your nervous habits?
#7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
#8. What was your first stuffed animal && it's name?
#9. What's the drink you ALWAYS order at starbucks?
#10. What's the beauty rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice?
#11. Which way do you face in the shower?
#12. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'?
#13. What's your favorite 'comfort food'/food that's 'bad' but you love to eat it anyways?
#14. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say?
#15. Time to sleep- what are you ACTUALLY wearing?

Friday Five (8)

Now that things have calmed down a bit (no more exams to study for), I can finally start paying attention to my blog! Multitasking is apparently not my thing. I have updates coming from YallFest and a book giveaway but first I bring you my Friday Five!

1. JOHN GREEN IS COMING TO BIRMINGHAM!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think that's really all that needs to be said.

2. All this Hey Girl with Ryan Gosling makes me happy. HE IS EVERYWHERE and again, no elaboration necessary if you know me AT ALL.

3. Like I stated before, exams are over which means my first semester back in school in over 2 years has come to a close. I couldn't be happier with the end result, I passed all my classes and although I got a 78 in Stats, I'm happy because I got a "C" in Stats! I also got a "B" in Accounting 1 and have no idea how I pulled that off. YAY!

4. I'm so behind on my Christmas cookie making but I'll finally have a chance to catch up on that tonight and tomorrow. I had all these grand plans of making cookies for everyone and somehow it hasn't happened yet. Yesterday was my only time free so far though and I spent it lounging on the couch watching Crazy Stupid Love and Supernatural with my mom.

5. The husband and I went out with some friends Wednesday night to a Christmas concert and sometime during the night, my drivers license fell out of my back pocket. Don't ask me how it happened because I have no earthly idea. Last night when we were playing xbox, there was banging and incessant doorbell ringing happening and it freaked us out. It ended up being a cop checking to see if I still lived here because my license had been turned in. He gave me another officer's number and when I called him he said that last night a homeless man found it and flagged him down to give it to him. Thanks to that man, I now have my license back and don't have to waste time at the DMV. I am totally planning on paying it forward. Not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I have a few ideas.

How was your week? Anything good happen?