BBAW – Setting Goals

Write in 50 words or less…what do you like best about your blog right now and where would you like your blog to be a year from now?

This is a difficult one for me (I’m horrible at sticking to word counts so I’m going to totally ignore this one!).  As you all know, my blog is really new and I feel like it’s developing and changing so much.  There are a lot of things I like about my blog and a lot of things I’m really looking forward to seeing my blog becoming the future.  I love my  header for my blog: my boyfriend created it for me when I insisted that I needed a custom header “because everyone else has one.”  Luckily, he is much more artistic than I am and decided to help me.  Love that guy!  I love all the comments that I get from my blog – I’m not always the best commenter but all of you who read my blog leave great comments that always cheer me up.  Thanks for that.  A year from now, I hope to be a more established blogger; someone who has figured out what works and what doesn’t.  I’m hoping to have more weekly memes so that people can get to know both my library and me better.  Although I find it slightly overwhelming now, I hope to have more followers and to follow more bloggers.  I am a full time student carrying two jobs: I’m an RA and I work part time at the library.  Still, making time for blogging and being part of this wonderful community is totally worthwhile!

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BBAW – Reading Meme

Happy Day THREE of BBAW.  Hope you all are doing well.  Here’s the answers to today’s topic questions.  Thanks for taking the time to learn a little bit about me – I am very much looking forward to learning more about you!

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?

Usually no.  But when I do, it’s usually popcorn.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

For school: always.  For personal reading: sometimes, but usually no.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?Laying the book flat open?

I have a wonderful bookmark that my boyfriend made for me.

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?

Both.

Hard copy or audiobooks?

Hard copy.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?

I like to read to the end of chapters, but I can put the book down at any point.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?

No, I make a list of words to look up later.

What are you currently reading?

Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women

What is the last book you bought?

My school books.

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?

One book at a time unless I’m in school (then I don’t have a choice in the matter).

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?

At night and in my bed.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?

Don’t really have a preference.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?

Margaret Atwood.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)

My books aren’t really organized at all right now.  Shame on me.

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BBAW Interview

Happy BBAW to everyone!  Interview swaps are a great way to meet new people, learn a little bit about blogging, and share what you’ve learned with everyone else.  I was paired up with Carrie from Reading to Know, which is a great blog (I encourage you to check it out if you haven’t already!).

Without further ado, here is the interview:

You have a great blog! How did you get started? What resources really helped you? What difficulties did you have to overcome? Any advice for newbies like myself?
Thank you. I started the blog for myself back in 2006. The reason I started it is very simple, really: I have a bad memory. I can read a book and completely forget the characters, main points, etc., within a very short period of time. I discovered that if I hashed through “issues” of the book by writing out my thoughts afterwards, I remembered it.  I’ve always blogged for myself, really and truly. If I didn’t like doing it, I simply would stop. I continue because I love it. As for difficulties, I can’t think of any other than not receiving as many comments as I would like sometimes! (Shallow! Shallow! But I admit it!)  Advice for newbies? Write about what YOU love and about what YOU are passionate about. People will be interested in the things you are interested in. If your enthusiasm doesn’t show, it’s likely that no one else will really be drawn in to what you are talking about.

How much time do you spend blogging a week? Is it difficult for you to find that time?
I probably average 2-3 hours a week blogging. Maybe? I preschedule a great number of my posts because I’ve discovered that I can get more reading accomplished if I don’t stop in between each read to write out my thoughts. Lately the challenges of motherhood have kind of dictated that I sit down at appointed points in time and blog a lot in one sitting.

How much time do you spend reading a week? Is it difficult for you to find that time?
I probably spend around 10 hours a week reading – at least. No, it’s not difficult for me to find the time. I love reading and so it just happens.

What elements are important to you when you’re reading and reviewing a book?
I’ve taken on a lot of review books lately and I’ve learned that I don’t need to accept every book offered to me for review. I’ve been far, far more discriminating of late, choosing only to read books that I think a.) I will enjoy and b.) I will learn something from.

What are five of your favorite blogs?

• 5 Minutes for Books (which should come as no surprise!)
• Hope is in the Word
• Library Hospital
• Stray Thoughts
• Lisa Writes

When you aren’t blogging or reading, what do you like to do?
When I’m not blogging or reading I’m busy being a wife and a mother – which is indeed what I love to do and be!

Besides books and the internet, what are five things that you couldn’t live without?

1. My God.
2. My husband.
3. My children.
4. My close friends, who are family to me
5. Starbucks Iced Chai Tea lattes

I’m definitely with her on the Iced Chai Tea Lattes – I gulp those down all the time!  Sometimes, I swear they are the only things keeping me sane in my hectic life.  Anyway, thanks for taking the time to learn about another awesome blogger!

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BBAW Meme

1)  What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?

So far I have loved being able to reflect on books after reading them.  I love having a place to share my excitement about reading.  Also, its nice to have a place where I can dump my thoughts and get feedback!  I haven’t met too many other bloggers yet, but I’m working on it.  I look forward to expanding my blogroll and learning new things from fellow bloggers.

2)  What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?

Haven’t had too much of that yet.  So far writemeg has largely been my only supporter/commenter/ and possibly even reader.  But I know that starting out can be slow so I’m not giving up!

3)  What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

I don’t really have any specific questions yet.  Any advice anyone has is definitely welcome though.  I’m sure as I continue on my journey, I’ll have more questions, but right now, I’m just trying to absorb as much information as I can.  I’m enjoying the opportunity to meet new people, read amazing books, and learn new things!

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