Guess what I got!? Ok, so the picture probably gave it away but my husband had to attend an event for work last week where he won a $50 Barnes & Noble Gift card. He immediately brought it home and gave it to me. Isn’t that sweet? I can’t believe that I am saying this but it’s been in my possession for roughly a week and I haven’t spent a cent of it.  I am currently backlogged on review books plus I haven’t had time to really mull over what I want. So, I am waiting. I will be sure and share my loot when I make a decision though.

In other news, it’s (finally)vacation time around here.  We are making our annual trek up north for camping, reading, resting and relaxing. No wi-fi up there , though I can check my email from my phone so feel free to give a shout if you need something. Otherwise, I will “see” you in about a week when I hope to have some reviews to publish.

I neglected my blog for a weekend and came back to find that three sweet bloggers were thinking of me while I was gone. Jenna, from The Hive, Kathrin from Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic and Allison from Allison’s Attic of Books all nominated me for the “Lovely Blog Award.”   Thanks so much ladies!

Here’s how this award works:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I need to be 100% honest here and say that I haven’t really discovered any new blogs lately because I haven’t had much time to blog-hop. However, I hope remedy this soon.

For now, I am going give this to every book blogger who toils away over their own private little labor of love and goes unrecognized. You’re all lovely!

Best wishes and best of luck to all of my blogger friends who are participating in the read-a-thon. I so wish I could have participated with you all since it seems like such fun. Maybe next time I can!

I have been checking out status updates and you guys are awesome!  Keep up the good work!

Carrie from Books and Movies was kind enough to give me the the Splash Award for “blogs that allure, amuse, bewitch, impress, and inspire me.” I’m honored. I love Carrie’s blog too.

Here are the rules:

1) Put the logo on your blog/post.
2) Nominate up to 9 blogs which allure, amuse, bewitch, impress, or inspire you.
3) Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4) Let them know that they have been splashed by commenting on their blog.
5) Remember to link to the person from whom your received your Splash award.

I haven’t had time to visit blogs lately and my reader is seriously backlogged. So if I award this to someone who has already been awarded, I’m sorry. Here are only a few of my truly favorite blogs (and if you’re not listed here, you’re still my favorite, I can only rack my brain so hard on a Monday morning):

Stephanie’s Confessions of a Book -a-Holic

Chris at Stuff As Dreams Are Made On

Suey at It’s All About Books

Kathy at BermudaOnion’s Weblog

Michelle at 1 More Chapter

I am still here…just suffering the physical blahs AND the book blahs. I have not been reading much lately at all. Part of this is due to the fact that I have been sick for the past couple of days but honestly, I have had time to read. It’s just that nothing sounds good.

Maybe once I am feeling better the book blahs will go away. Until then–TSR will still be blog-hopping and mostly lurking.

I’m still alive, still reading and almost ready to post some reviews. I just haven’t had a lot of time for blogging lately.

Stay tuned for reviews of The Moonstoneand The Fireman’s Wife when I come up for air.

Happy reading and happy blogging!

Unfortunately, with the end of year looming large and a stack of ARCs looming even larger, I am not seeing any way that I will be finishing the challenges that I have commited myself to. I’m sorry that I didn’t follow through but, on the other hand, I am really, really grateful for all of the wonderful ARCs and review copies that I have been reading and reviewing.

For my own sanity, I am going to wipe the slate clean for 2008 and give up on trying to complete all challenges. I will still be participating in perpetual challenges and I will be committing to far fewer in the next year in the hopes that I will be able to continue enjoying ARCs and review copies in 2009.