Category: blogging

BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge/ House of Bradbury Spotlight

Posted on by Cindy

Title: House of Bradbury
Author: Nicole Meier
Pub Date: May 10, 2016
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Spark Press
Pages 280

Debut Author

About the book:

Mia Gladwell’s life is going nowhere. The media has skewered her debut novel, her fiancé Carson, a successful Hollywood producer, has jumped ship, and now she’s living in her sister’s carriage house―unattached, unemployed, and uninspired. Then she learns that the Los Angeles estate of iconic author Ray Bradbury is up for sale, and she feels an immediate urge to buy the wonky old house, convinced that moving into the late author’s home will inspire her to create her best work yet.

Life in the Bradbury house is not what Mia imagined, however. Soon after moving in, to fulfill a debt she owes to Carson, she agrees to take in a pill-popping young actress as a tenant, and suddenly she finds herself in a balancing act between her needy ex, an unpredictable starlet, and her disapproving sister, who’s keeping a close eye on her. Add to this a series of mysterious sketches left at her doorstep by a stranger, and Mia’s life is more complicated than ever. As she searches for clues, though, Mia discovers insights into her own life. Maybe moving into Bradbury’s house was a big mistake―but maybe not.divider4.png

When I read the description for this I knew I wanted to read this. I am hoping to pick this up today.

What do you think of the book description?

If We Were Having Tea.... #27

If We Were Having Tea…. #27

Posted on by Cindy

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If we were having tea… I would tell you:

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If we were having tea… I would tell you that yes even though its mother’s day I am still up extremely earlier because I just couldn’t sleep. Everyone else is still sleeping.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I have no idea what is planned for today but I am hoping to go out for lunch and I was thinking of driving to Hawkesbury to hit up the dollar tree and dollarama there in hopes of finding some planner decorating items

If we were having tea... I would tell you that yesterday I got to meet up with Tina from Bookshipper for breakfast and then we head to Costco.. man was that a huge mistake. Getting into the parking lot and store was no problem but exiting was awful. I think we waiting in line for about 20 minutes until I switched lanes and did the loop and came back and it was still another 15 minutes to leave that street..

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I am okay this week with not going to BEA 16 in Chicago. I ain’t gonna lie I miss not being able to go but I have justified it by saying it wasn’t worth it for me especially if I need to ship books back to Canada. To all those going have fun..

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I am in the midst of planning Michael’s confirmation. It happens the weekend of the 21st so we are just doing family nothing big and the cake has been ordered.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that it was great seeing you again this week and that I can’t wait until next week.

If We Were Having Tea.... #26

If We Were Having Tea…. #26

Posted on by Cindy

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If we were having tea… I would tell you that I was hoping it would be a quiet week but it turned into the exact opposite. With dentist appointments. faith first classes and hockey it was busy this week. If that didn’t make it busy enough my washing machine went kaput on Tuesday so we had to rush out to buy another one that will only be here is week.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that Michael enjoyed the past week because he was off Monday (the elementary schools were visiting the high schools they will be attending this fall) and Thursday the academic plus students went to Ottawa for the day visiting a war museum and a Canadian History museum.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that this past week I started to get a lot of my etsy orders in and I am loving everything I have ordered.

If we were having tea... I would tell you that I am slowly discovering some Canadian etsy shops that do the planner decorating so I will be ordering from them this week. If you happen to know of any Canadian etsy shops please let me know.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I have started working in my planner and I have a few things set up and now that I have the majority of my orders in I can’t wait to dig in and decorate. I am thinking of perhaps making this a Monday weekly feature.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that today is our final team event of our regular season hockey. Our party is this afternoon and the kids gifts have been purchased as well as the coaches gifts.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that it was great seeing you again this week and that I can’t wait until next week.

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April 2016 Book Unhauling

Posted on by Cindy

BookUnhauling

Good  Monday morning everyone. Its that time of the month where I show what books I am unhauling this month. I had so much success last year unhauling books that I thought I would continue this again for 2016.

I decided way back in  January (2015) that I wanted to document how many books I was giving away each month to see if I was making any kind of dent in my book collection.

I know last year I probably brought in more then I was actually giving away so this year I am trying to be cautious with my book buying and I am giving myself a budget each time I go shopping in hopes that it will curb my spending.

So each month I will be posting about what books I am unhauling and then another monthly post will be what books I physically bought in the month.

Are you a constant book buyer? Can you resist buying books on a weekly bases? Please tell me I am not alone in this?

I am doing a little bit of spring cleaning mostly to the bookcases in my living room and switching things up with organizing and then gradually starting to go through the boxes in the basement so more will be unhauled this upcoming summer.

Take a look at what I unhauled this month:

  1. The Widow by Fiona Barton
  2. When Angels Sing by Turk Pipkin
  3. The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson
  4. United we Spy by Ally Carter (sampler)
  5. The Prenup by Beth Kendrick
  6. Easy on the Eyes by Jane Porter
  7. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
  8. Prom Kings and Drama Queens by Dorian Cirrone
  9. My Grandma Follows me On Twitter by Craig & Marc Kielburger
  10. Croak by Gina Damico
  11. Glee Summer Break
  12. The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
  13. Lost Boy by Brent W. Jeffs
  14. Vermont travel book
  15. Hungarian Phrasebook & Dictionary
  16. The Diviners by Libba Bray
  17. Stirring the Pot by Jenny McCarthy
  18. The Longest Holiday by Paige Toon
  19. Anna & The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
  20. To Sleep..Perchance to Die by Donald R Grippo
  21. The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman
  22. The Bronze and the Brimstone by Lory S. Kaufman
  23. The Loved and the Lost by Lory S. Kaufman
  24. Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
  25. Daily Dishonesty by Lauren Hom
  26. Perry’s Killer Playlist bu Joe Schreiber
  27. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
  28. The Young Elites my Marie Lu (chapter sampler)
  29. The Santangelos by Jackie Collins
  30. The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere
  31. Death’s Excellent Vacation (anthology)
  32. Positive by Paige Rawl with Ali Benjamin
  33. The Awakening of sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie
  34. Star Darlings #8 Astra’s Mixed up Mission

Unless otherwise noted these are books I have read and I am passing them along to another book loving home.

So for April I am releasing  34  books this month.

Total for 2016 is 63
Total for 2015 is 211

If We Were Having Tea... #25

If We Were Having Tea… #25

Posted on by Cindy

hotcoffee_2

If we were having tea… I would tell you that this was a quiet weekend. We had no hockey or other commitments. It was still a do something weekend for us as we went summer clothes shopping for Michael as he needed shorts, tshirts and sneakers (hopefully he will get to wear the tshirts and shorts soon) and groceries.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that this week was Michael’s 13th birthday. Where has the time gone?  He is an amazing young man who is caring and compassionate.

A photo posted by @cindysloveofbooks on

If we were having tea… I would tell you that this past week I spent alot of time on etsy looking at people who were selling planner decorating kits. If you know of any Canadian etsy sellers who sell planner kits/stickers can you please let me know as I am on the hunt.

If we were having tea... I would tell you that I did order a few (perhaps I went a little over board) kits from various etsy sellers and I have to say that I am a little nervous that I will be hit with duty when it arrives at my door. Fingers crossed it won’t be that bad. Do you decorate your planner?

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I have started working in my planner and I have a few things set up. I am hoping to share that with you some time this week.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I am in the final stretch of the party planning for the hockey team. We ordered the end of year gifts for the kits and had certificates made up as well. It should be a fun party for the kids.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that it was great seeing you again this week and that I can’t wait until next week.

If We Were Having Tea... #24

If We Were Having Tea… #24

Posted on by Cindy

hotcoffee_2

If we were having tea… I would tell you that this is the first weekend we had no hockey or any other family commitments.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I ended up buying a new pair of sneakers yesterday. I really needed new ones since the last pair I had were from my first BEA trip in 2010. They have gotten plenty of love, three trips to NYC (and when I go to NYC I literally walk everywhere) plus a trip to Europe (walked alot there) and so much more.

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If we were having tea… I would tell you that I am going back to taking advantage of the library now that the weather is nicer. I picked up these two books to read this week:


 

 

 

 

 

 

If we were having tea... I would tell you that I think the weather is starting to finally be spring like which I can’t wait for because I am tired of the cold, rain and blah weather. I need some sun and warmth.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that this week is Michael’s 13th birthday. Its hard to believe that he is already 13. Where did the time go?

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I am in the midst of spring cleaning. Friday I managed to purge a ton of books (you can see that list next week) and I started cleaning the bedroom. I already donated two full bags of clothes that no longer fit myself or Michael. Feels good to tackle that task.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that it was great seeing you again this week and that I can’t wait until next week.

If We Were Having Tea… #23

Posted on by Cindy

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If we were having tea… I would tell you that our hockey season is officially over. I wish we would have ended it on a better note. Our last tournament game was brutal. One of our players got a one game suspension that she will have to serve in the fall should she choose to play. Once again refs turn a blind eye to the other team and nail us for everything. Which is not fair!

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I wish Hockey Quebec would impose the same rules with each association because this is getting ridiculous where we follow the rules and every other association doesn’t.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I have to admit I am happy we ended our season because I was turning into that hockey parent that I didn’t want to become. I just think that it was way to much hockey in March and it got the best of me.

If we were having tea... I would tell you that I heard we are suppose to get some much nicer weather this upcoming week which is much needed because I am looking forward to being able to get out more.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that next week is Michael’s birthday and he will officially be a teenager. Its hard to believe how fast the time is going.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I found out this week that BEA will be back in NYC in 2017 and I am going to make sure I get to that because I love NYC and what better reason to go then when BEA is happening 🙂

If we were having tea… I would tell you that it was great seeing you again this week and that I can’t wait until next week. I am late in getting this up as well because this morning Michael finished all her volunteer hours he needed for school this morning at the arena and then he had a confirmation retreat this afternoon that I skipped and stayed home to relax and unwind from this crazy hockey weekend. I hope you have a good week.