Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Highlights of 2014






Boy, what a year!

Here are the highlights of 2014:





• Last year, my niece, Sadie Lorraine, was born 2 months premature, weighing only 3 pounds. 













Tomorrow she turns 1! 



She is a very happy and a perfectly healthy kiddo! 



I'm grateful that she is doing so well!















• I graduated from college! 











• I started an Etsy shop!

















• I attended a prestigious writing workshop at Interlochen and have made great strides with my manuscript!















• I read some great books and discovered new and amazing authors! Kasie West, Morgan Matson, Stephanie Perkins, Tahereh Mafi, to name a few. 







Looking ahead to 2015:

• I'm planning to remodel my sewing room! I'm so excited about this!!!

• I have so many ideas for new items for my Etsy shop and I need to restock some of the most popular items. I was fortunate to sell out of many of the items in my shop this holiday season! 

• There are great books coming out on 2015! The one I'm most excited about: Liars Inc. by Paula Stokes. Oh, and, of course, Kasie West's new book, The Fill-In Boyfriend. And the sequel to Sara Shepherd's series, The Perfectionists. And so many more!





Let's Chat!


What were your favorite moments of 2014? 

What books or authors did you discover this year? 



Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Books people say you MUST read

Top Ten Books People Have Been Telling You That You MUST Read (whether because they think it's a "you" book or it's just been generally recommended so often)


1

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

I will probably never read this book. I generally don’t enjoy reading books that cripple you emotionally, but EVERYONE (and their brother, sister, cousin, roommate, etc.) is recommending it.


2

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Tiger Lily has been recommended a lot in general because it is apparently beautifully written. I may read this at some point in the future. 


3

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Everyone who is lucky enough to have read an ARC or has already received their copy (mine should be coming in the mail soon!!) is recommending this book. I WILL be reading this one because Anna and the French Kiss is just about the greatest book ever (Lola was pretty good too). 


4, 5, 6, & 7

Eleanor & Park, Fangirl, Landline, & Attachments

The majority of the bookish community seems to love Rainbow Rowell and thus, her books are always being recommended to me. I actually own three of her books (Fangirl, Eleanor & Park, and Attachments), but I haven’t gotten around to reading them yet. 


8

Divergent by Veronica Roth

I’ve read Divergent, but because of the movie hype, everyone seems to be recommending it. Although, I’m not surprised because V. Roth is amazing!


9

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Several people have recommended this book to me personally. I agree that I would like it and it’s nearing the top of my TBR pile. 


10

Heist Society by Ally Carter

I loved the Gallagher Girls books, but have been weary of the Heist Society series. Everyone who has read both series’ by Ally Carter have been insisting that I read Heist Society. I bought a copy a few days ago and it’s nearing the top of my TBR pile. 



Monday, August 18, 2014

Welcome to the Shelf

Welcome to the Shelf

Firecracker by David Iserson


Let's Chat!
Have you read it?
Did you love it?


Welcome to the Shelf

Welcome to the Shelf

Heist Society by Ally Carter


Let's Chat!
Have you read Heist Society?
Have you read the Gallagher Girls books?
Which series is your favorite?


Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'm Not Sure I Want to Read

August 12: Top Ten Books I'm Not Sure I Want To Read (books you may have bought but aren't sure if you are into it anymore, books you wanted to read but heard mixed things about, hyped books you aren't sure about --- basically any book that has you going, "TO READ OR NOT TO READ?"



1

Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

The cover is adorable and everyone seems to adore the author (who I, embarrassingly, had never heard of before). 



2

Heist Society by Ally Carter

 I loved the Gallagher Girls books by Ally Carter and I’ve been a little afraid to read her Heist Society series. I finally broke down and read a sample chapter and I loved it! I ordered the book last week and I’m pretty sure I’m going to read itsoon


3

Fracture Me and Ignite Me

I’m a little terrified to read these two books, considering the fate of James and others at Omega Point is unknown. (I would be totally okay seeing a spoiler about this. DM me on Twitter @ashleyrnorris or leave a comment on this post (I moderate all comments and will NOT publish spoilers). 


4

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

 I feel like I need to read a Sarah Dessen book. I read a few of the descriptions and Lock and Key sounded like it had a good premisebut...it seems like this is every Sarah Dessen fan’s least favorite book.

5

Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike

 This books sounds interesting, but also a little strange. I loved The Lying Game books by Sara Shepherd and Life After Theft seems to be told in a similar way...butI”m just not sure if I’d like it. 

6

Top 8 by Katie Finn

I started reading Top 8 a really long time ago (more than a year ago). Now that Morgan Matson has been revealed to be Katie Finn as well, I think I want to give it a second chance.


7

Tease by Amanda Maciel

I really wanted to read Tease when it first came out (I suspect because of it’s amazingly shiny cover). Turns out, the story isn’t too shiny.  Lately I haven’t wanted to read books with heavy subject matter. Maybe I’ll read this some day as it is said to wonderfully cover an important and difficult topic.


8
Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell

The cover of Dear Killer is spectacular, but I haven’t heard great things about this book. The author is so young and the storyline is intriguing, which makes me want to read Dear Killer. I’m just not sure if this one is for me, but I will keep it in mind (and on my Amazon wish list). 

9

The List by Siobhan Vivian

 The premise of this books sound interesting, but it, like Tease, covers a hefty topic.


10

Something by John Green

I've already decided that I do not want to read The Fault in Our Stars, but I (kind of, sort of, maybe, not sure,) probably should read something by John Green. 



Thursday, June 12, 2014

Stumbled Upon #1

Stumbled Upon is a new series I'm starting on my blog. There are so many amazing books. Since I can't read them all at once, I like to here what other people think about the books I'm considering. 



Lately, I've been very curious about Where'd You Go, Bernadette. I was originally drawn to the cover because it's amazing! I've read the back cover copy and the story sounds interesting, but I haven't read any reviews yet. 

What have you heard about it? Have you read it? What did you think?



Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

It seems that a lot of people really loved Open Road Summer. It showed up on several Top Ten Books I've Read So Far This Year posts this week. Besides the blurb on the back cover, I haven't read much about this book. 

What have you heard about it? Have you read it? What did you think?


Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

I love the cover for Biggest Flirts! I'm a little embarrassed to say that I've never really heard of Jennifer Echols, especially since she's written so many books. Anyway, based on the blurb on the back, this sounds like a really cute story. 

What have you heard about it? Have you read it? What did you think?



Any Recommendations? 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Bookish Surprise: Reveal!



I've been talking about getting a few things to hang up on my walls for nearly a year, but nothing I saw seemed good enough.

Until a few weeks ago…

I was searching for cool and unique bookish things on Etsy when I stumbled upon Blue Poppy Gallery. Blue Poppy Gallery acquires pages from old books and dictionaries and then prints awesome, creative, and often bookish quotes and/or images overtop of the (8.5 X 11) pages.

There were three prints that I absolutely loved:

Go Confidently in the Direction of your dreams - live the life you've imagined


Becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear. And how to be free from it. That's the point. 


I am selfish. I am brave. 


In addition to these three prints, I also placed a custom order. Creating a custom order was really easy and the owner of Blue Poppy Gallery was very helpful and friendly. If the owner likes the quote you choose and would sell it in her store, she does not charge extra for the custom order (this was the case for me - $7.95). If the quote you choose is something personal (that she wouldn't sell in her store), the custom order is $12. 

Also, after I gave her the quote I wanted for the print and paid for your order, she promptly sent over two typography options (the same day)! I liked the first option she created for me. However, she said if I didn't like either option she could makes changes (no charge, of course). 


Books are easily destroyed, but words will live as long as people remember them. 


My writing space:










The Blue Poppy Gallery was offering a buy three get the forth print free sale so I only ordered four. However, there are several more prints I would love to display on my walls. Here are some that I think you would all like as well:


It's when you're acting selflessly that you are your bravest. 


I cannot live without books


Fear doesn't shut you down. It wakes you up. 


Okay? Okay.


We believe in ordinary acts of bravery - in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another. 


I have a theory that selflessness & bravery aren't that different. 



There are over 260 options, all only $7.95! (frames not included)

Plus, you can easily request a custom and choose whatever quote you want. 

If you are looking for wall art, I highly recommend the Blue Poppy Gallery



Let's Chat!

Do you have any bookish art on display?
What are your favorite quotes?