Tag: Morning Meanderings

Morning Meanderings… A Few Of My Favorite Things and #BBAW Giveaway #4

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)42 Comments

Good morning!  It’s amazing what one night of nothingness can do to restore your energy.  Time to relax, enjoy a cup of tea and snuggle in with a good book is the best way to recharge my batteries.  I feel GREAT!

I can not believe it is already the last day of BBAW!  It went by so quickly and my crazy schedule did not help.  I am sure I will be spending part of the weekend still getting out to visit the great blogs that stopped by to visit me – new and old!  😀

Yesterdays BBAW winner for the Kate Atkinson books (using random.org) is:

Librarypat!!!

Woo hoo!!!  Congratulations Pat, I will connect with you for shipping info!


My BBAW giveaways have all been about my favorite things…. the week-long one (still going on) has a giveaway for a book I have loved for years and rave about, as well as a book that I have recently read and loved and now soars around my top reads of all time as well.  Then I gave away one of my favorite snack combos while I am reading, good chocolate and tea.  On day two I gave away one of my favorite things to receive, a gift card for books!  On day three I gave away my favorite gifts of all – BOOKS!  And now here we are on day four….  what is one thing that I really enjoy that I have not given away yet….

Oh yeah…..

oh course…..

coffee.

😛


So yes – today’s giveaway is going to be a combo package of many things I love:  Flavored Coffees, Great Chocolate, and a new advanced reader copy of Saving Max by Antoinette Van Heugten.  This book will be on sale in stores in October 2010 and my review of this book will be up later today. USA and Canada only please on this one due to the shipping.

To enter to win this package, please share with me three of your favorite things in a comment below.  I will use Random.org to choose a winner and announce it on the Morning Meandering tomorrow (Saturday).

Good luck and I will leave you with this song to enjoy while you ponder over your favorite things…

Morning Meandering… 2nd BBAW Mini Giveaway and… HOLY TURNIPS BATMAN!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)114 Comments


Good morning.  Yes my voice is scratchy and yes I am waking up tired even though I slept 10 hours.  Such is the life of a crazy person – however… book club last night.  Was worth it.  The books that bring out different opinions are always great discussions and this book – was loved…. AND this book was hated.  Do you remember what book we were reading?

Moving on – I mentioned yesterday that I had my Ted Dekker review going up yesterday as well and believe me I was thrilled when I discovered my tour date was today – not yesterday, thus saving all of you from the over kill of posts yesterday.  I love BBAW…. I have to participate.  😀

*pause for drink of coffee*

Ok…. so I mentioned a turnip.  You read that right.  My dear friend Becky brought me a turnip to work yesterday.  Yes.  A turnip.  You may wonder what I would do with one turnip.  Apparently… I would feed a family:


I know right?  We had a good laugh about this. I am not sure what I am going to do with it yet but I think it calls for a special recipe.

SO what is with my t-shirt?  Am I all “DEKKERed” out?  Hmmmm… I think there is a chance you can win it!  Well, not the one I am wearing – but one for yourself.  Your own.  😛  Really.  Watch for my book review later today for Immanuel’s Veins by Ted Dekker.  Oops!  Did I give too much away?  😳

Last thing before my coffee cup runs dry….  yesterday’s BBAW Random.org winner from the Morning Meandering was:

Michelle from The True Book Addict

Love Michelle’s Blog!!!

Michelle recommended Pillars Of The Earth, which actually several of you recommended so I guess that is a must read.  LOTS of wonderful choices from all of you that I need to take a day to look into.  Thank you.

Today’s giveaway is:

OOH!

SO to enter today – (and anyone who has access to Amazon can enter this one as I can email you the gift card), share with me one fictional character you would like to be friends with and why.

That’s it – have fun!  Cant wait to see what you come up with!  😀

Morning Meanderings: First BBAW Mini Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)74 Comments


Good morning!  I am still wiping the sleep from my eyes as I write this.  Today is not only a busy life day (work, work out, pick up my IHN guests and get them to place they are staying, BOOKIES book Club, and my hubby’s birthday), it is also a busy blog day (morning meandering, Immanuel’s Veins tour stop date, and my BBAW Interview Swap).

I feel like I should be popping Fred Flintstone vitamins and Red Bull.  😛

So it is early – but I need to get this party started.  I love BBAW!  This week holds within it everything I love about this book blogging hobby.

  • Recognizing other book bloggers
  • giveaways and celebrating
  • Wonderful bookish topics
  • Community! Community!  Community!

What I wanted to do this week was to ask a question each morning of BBAW along with my morning chat and Coffee Cup.  AND I am going to make the giveaways something that I really enjoy.

Today’s giveaway is for one of my guilty pleasures – really good chocolate and a great cup of tea.  Both are wonderful accomplices to a good book on a cool Fall evening.


To enter – please let me know in a comment what that one book is that you recommend time and again and you feel is a must read.  This giveaway is open for today only and the winner will be announced at tomorrow mornings meanderings.  USA or Canada addresses please.

Have fun – oh, and don’t forget to check out my week-long BBAW Giveaway too, your comment here also gives you an entry there.  😀

Morning Meanderings… is it Monday yet?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments


Morning.  I had no idea it was possible to wake up this tired.  Coffee Cup is trying to be supportive but you know…. it’s a cup.  How much can it do?

Yesterday was a whirlwind of events from the feed The Children event for Haiti which was a big success – our goal was 80,000 meals to be shipped and we reached that and went beyond it.  It was fun to see friends, family, and the community get together and make this happen.  My hubby Al, boxed up meals all day long.  So proud of him.  ♥

This is 2 of the 4 ingredients that go in each bag. The left is a soy mix, the right is rice. The other two ingredients are a dried veggie mix, and a seasoning part. All four ingredients are put in a bag and sealed. Each bag feeds 6 people.

We started set up for the Homeless who will arrive this afternoon and then went to church to hear and see the girls that were here from Honduras.  They were also at the food bagging event which was so emotional to see these kids who once lived on the streets of Honduras, now bagging food for kids in Haiti.   I tear up as I type this.

The highlight of my day: Left: Ava, me, Rita, and Sayda (three girls from Honduras who I met in 2004 and have seen every year since when I go to Honduras. They have never been to the states before)

I arrived back home around 8:30 at night.  I read – nothing.  I went through a few of the Blogfest blogs which was fun, and then talked to my college son on the phone for about an hour.  That was it – bed.

Today I am off to finish setting up for the Homeless and then a tailgate party at noon, then groceries and home for a couple of hours I hope before I have to get moving again.  By 6:30 tonight my duties should be all done and I can just come on home and relax….

until Monday morning….. but that…. is another meandering.  😉

Morning Meanderings of dreary skies and bagging food

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments


Its early and quiet around here.  And dark.  Another sign of Fall.  I am typing at the kitchen table Coffee Cup by my side and looking out the window I see a cloudy gloomy gray sky and very little light.  Good day to be inside that is for sure.

Yesterday was the last day at work for my Administrative Assistant Sandi.  She and I both knew it would be a tough day, we get along so well and have a lot of fun.  Right away when we were talking in the morning I teared up, she said stop that, and she teared up – and I laughed and said I would stay on my side of the office to avoid tears.  😛

We had a surprise going away party for her at 1:30 yesterday – that I could not mention here as she reads my blog.  😀  It went off pretty well and we did surprise her.  She will be missed in the office and it has been awesome getting to know her for the past two years.  We agreed to get together for lunch occasionally to catch up.

Sandi and I

Today, in about an hour Chance, Al, and I are heading out to help with the Feed The Children event for Haiti.  I mentioned this in yesterday mornings crazy weekend post.  We will be helping people get to bagging stations and showing them how to put together the mix of soy, seasoning, dried veggies and rice.  We will then weigh, seal, and box the bags to go to Haiti.  Its kind of exciting to be part of this.  We have done it three times before for Honduras.

And speaking of Honduras I get to see some of the kids from Honduras this afternoon.  Three of them are in the states and in my home town.  Crazy – but true!

Hopefully some reading time later tonight.  A little at least.  I tried last night and I lasted about 10 minutes.  Have a super day everyone!  😀

Morning Meanderings… Off To The Races… (I need an energy drink – or a cape…)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments


Confession:  I do not like a lot of structure.  That may not surprise some of you who have been reading me for a while.  I like the freedom of doing something … or not.  An over committed schedule makes my skin crawl.   I am what my friends refer to as an introverted extrovert.  I LOVE hanging out with people and experiencing life, but it exhausts me – zaps my energy and the way I restore “my power” is to be alone, unwind….

I know…. I should be on medication…..LOL  😛


This weekend is such an epic sized overcommitment time that I have to actually think about in pieces, like one step at a time to not get over-anxious but all I must accomplish before I hit the finish line of late Sunday.  Here is what I mean:

  • Today – I work until 2 pm.  I normally do not work Fridays but it is my assistants last day and I want to work with her as she has been so wonderful and will truly be missed.  Today will be a hard day.  Also – in our own company my husband owns, our longest employee (of 9 years!) is also having his last day.  Al and I are both having sad days.

  • This late afternoon I am doing Group Power because it is good for me – and it will help me relax.

  • AT 6:30 tonight I need to be at the Armory in town to help set up the tables for the Feed The Children Event tomorrow we are bagging a rice mix to be sent to Haiti.

  • Saturday I need to be back at the Armory at 6:30 am to unload the truck that brings the bulk food, and then I help greet people and take them to stations to work until 2 pm.

  • AT 2 pm I dash from the Armory with my hubby and we cruise about 10 miles out-of-town to a potluck where some of the kids I know from Honduras will be at and get time to hang out with them a bit.

  • At 6:30 we are going to the Saturday Church service as one of the Honduras girls will be sharing her story.  I know this girl well and can not miss this incredible event.  After going to Honduras for the past 6 years to see her – she is in my home town currently.  That blows me away.

  • Sunday morning  at 8:30 am I meet the trailer to set up the cots for the Homeless Program.  It is my groups turn to serve for the week.  I need to set up bedrooms for the 3 families that are currently in the program and then go purchase food for the breakfasts and lunches for the week.  I have volunteers that provide the dinners and stay overnight with them each night from Sunday until the following Saturday.

  • I race to the church parking lot by 11:00 am as it is out annual tailgate party and my vehicle is one of the tailgate.  Note to self – I need to have a tailgate food item to share…. hmmmm…. I think meatballs are quick and easy.  Leave there by 2 pm

  • At 4:30 pick up the guests that are in the Homeless Program and take them to where they will be staying the next week and give them their orientation.  Make sure my volunteers are feeling good and then by 6:30 pm go home and probably pass out.  😛


On the bright side – this weekend is filled with wonderful happenings and it is a bummer they are hitting all at once but they will make incredible memories.  I will have pics in my morning meanderings, and actually breaking this down into bite size pieces like I just did makes it feel like a “to do” list that I can conquer one step at a time.  😀

Enter here to see more details about this program

Hope your weekend provides some fun and down time!!!

Morning Meanderings…The “F” word is being dropped like a bomb over here!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)49 Comments

GAH!  (Probably not the best first word of the day… but, ehhhhh).  The “GAH” is because I did it again.  I said the “F” word.  ANd for some reason I keep on saying it like I have a problem or something.  Seriously what is wrong with me?

Fall.

(you knew that was where I was going right?)


Being a summer… I have to admit I am not a bit fan of the cooler mornings, the 50 and 60 degree temperatures, the longer leaved shirts and digging out the pants instead of Capri’s for work.  HOWEVER…. thanks to book lovers, there are some awesome happenings that kind of sort of make up a wee bit of ground with me.

Such as…


This weekend is the Blogfest.  I know right?  I must have just continuously been at the wrong place at the wrong time because I seriously missed out on all of this until the last couple days.  This takes place September 10-12.  I have linked to a list of participating blogs here so if you so choose you can stop on by.



AND then, of course there is Book Blogger Appreciation Week which is sooooo much fun!   And check out the super cool theme this year, A Treasure Chest of Infinite Books and Infinite Blogs.  SO COOL!  I love participating and saying “Hey!” to all my bloggy friends old and new by offering giveaways and fun posts right here during the very productive week on the blog, September13-17.



And (oh yes, there is more!!!!) Banned Books Week is coming up again and before you say I would never, could never read a banned book…. uhhh…. yeah, check out the list.  More than likely – you already have.  have you ever read a classic?  Chances are it was a banned book.  Have you ever read a Harry Potter book?  Banned! Banned! Banned!  Judy Blume?  Yup… her too.  Here is a list of banned books, but you can find lists and lists everywhere.   Check out the Banned Books site that is taking reviews of banned books.  I was invited to add my recent review of To Kill A Mockingbird to the blog.  Mark your calendars for September 25 – October 2 and maybe plan to read one or two during banned books week….bring out the rebel in you!



Then on October 9, the wonderful Dewey’s Read-A-Thon rolls out again for another fantastic 24 hour read a thon that includes great games and giveaways as well as a time to set aside and read and read and read…  check out the site.


For all you anti “F” word people such as myself, looking at these great events kind of eases the pain of fall right?  And even if you love fall… oh I know you are out there….  this is just a little icing on the cake then.  😀


Ok – for the record – I do not hate Fall.  BUT, in Minnesota, Fall is a prequel of what’s to come…. and if you think Fall causes me to sigh… wait until we get to Winter.  BRRRRRR!!!!!  😛

If I missed any events please let me know!  😀

Morning Meanderings… So chatty this morning… must be the coffee…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Morning all!   Yesterday I was going to post the books I discovered while checking out the Monday meme.  However with the Holiday weekend and scraping back  into town mid day on Monday, it did not happen.  Today, this morning, with Coffee Cup at the ready, I am reading to chat books with you.


Jill at Fizzy Thoughts was chatting about this book and I realized I have never read anything by Ray Bradbury.  Nada.  Nothing.   I think I would like to try this in audio and have already reserved it at the library.  I found some wonderful articles online about Ray Bradbury readings at coffee houses….  they had me at coffee.


Everything Distils Into Reading posted a review on this book recently.  I have heard so many good things about this book and I want to read it!  They are talking movie rights on this one and it looks like it is going to happen!


Cem’s Book Hideout has this little gem reviewed.  Now this one I actually have but have not read yet.  Yet.  And I heard the book has coffee quotes! 😀


This book that I discovered over at Amy Reads is probably the hit of the week.  I mean – look at this cover.  AND then after you are done cover admiring, go over and read the review.  I am looking for this one right away!


I received this award from Cheryl over at CMash Loves To Read and I am really terrible at doing awards and passing them on but the question that goes with this one was a bit too good to pass on so here goes.

If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

It’s funny as I was recently just thinking about this.  I would love to go back and spend more time with my kids when they were in their younger years.  We had our kids so young and we were both working full-time trying to get .  I wish I could go back and use daycare less and spend more times with my kids.  They are grown now and I feel I missed a lot of opportunities with them when they were younger.


Anyone who reads this is welcome to the Cherry On Top Award.  I could not possibly choose  just as so many of you have such wonderful book blogs that I enjoy reading.

Final thought, Wordshakers is up and running with its online book club read  for Sept – October 6.  Click here for details on the book and the fun we have lined up with the author including an author chat and a great giveaway!  😀

Have a super day!  I have a busy one – full day at work and then Group Power this late afternoon.  I am also prepping my volunteer list as our serving week with the homeless begins this Sunday.

Off and running!  😛

Morning Meanderings… Camp fires, diets, and REALLY BIG BOOKS

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)41 Comments


Good morning and happy Tuesday!  Initially my plan was to do the “Hit List” this morning which is about all the great finds I discover while reading the Monday What Are You Reading participant blogs.  HOWEVER… that’s just going to have to wait until tomorrow.

We arrived home yesterday afternoon from the cabin and when I finally sat down to answer emails and read the memes I realized there was no way I was going to finish them in one sitting.  SO, that will be continued later today and instead today I have a couple other “morning chat worthy” topics.

Camping for the weekend with friends was wonderful.  We watched a few movies, ate way too much food, played board games, searched for agates by Lake Superior, had a campfire and laughed a lot.  I even got in a little reading time so The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and I are moving along quite nicely.

Al and I at the campfire. I know - a rare sightling of my hubby but there he is. :D
Al and I at the campfire. I know - a rare sightling of my hubby but there he is. 😀

Inside the cabin playing a game called STARE. there are three of our guests: Amy, Morgan, and Chad

Upon arriving home and starting to unpack guess where I found my dog Elmo?

On another note, The Game On Diet is game on again!  I played in August and started out strong and then about the third week tapered off…. life got busy and yeah…..  however, a group of us wanted to continue and as I have not reached my goals yet I am on again and we start today.  I will get back to updating the journal (right side bar) as well.

You may remember my goal was to fit into these pants again.

AND finally – there were two book challenges I really want to be a part of and I have become behind on both but plan on catching up.  One was from Trish over at Hey Lady!  Watcha Readin’? She started a nicely paced challenge with The Handmaid’s Tale and I want to participate as this is a book I have meant to read like FOREVER!  I have to catch up but I will.  😀


AND Amanda from The  Zen Leaf has a challenge going for Charles Dicken’s Bleak House.  Uhhh…. yeah.  MONSTER read.  914 pages.  In fact I may need to drink Monster to get through this…. and I hate energy drinks.  😛   This is another one being read slowly so I want to give it a try.

So that’s what is currently happening over here.  Hope you all had a wonderful Labor day Weekend.  Cant wait to catch up with all of you!

Morning Meanderings… Mock -“YEAH!” Ing – “YEAH!”

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)29 Comments


Good morning.  A cloudy gloomy day here in central Minnesota.  Perfect reading weather that is for sure!  We are leaving this afternoon for the cabin for the weekend with friends.  It will be a nice break after this week and before the hectic week I will coming back to with work and training and my assistants last day.

Yup.  This calls for a cabin getaway.

I am hopeful the weather is a little more promising up north for the weekend.  The friends we are going with have two daughters ages 12 and 9 so they will want to get out and explore.  I don’t really care how much activity I am involved in – but I will be taking The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo with me as that is our September book club read.

I had mentioned that when I read Mockingjay I was following it up with to Kill A Mockingbird.  Mission accomplished.   So later today will be the review of To Kill A Mockingbird, and I am hoping to stop at the video store today and see if they have the movie To Kill A  Mockingbird as I have never seen it and now is the time.

I hope you will all have a wonderful weekend.  Posts will come up throughout the weekend as well as on Sunday the Monday, What Are You Reading post will go up as always.  Meanwhile,  I will leave you with this little mockingbird experience.  😀