Goodreads

Hey Y'all!

So, once again I'm late to the party on this internet goodie, but I'm sharing anyway because this is fun, and I wanted to see if any of you are there too, maybe we can be chums! I have no personal ties to this website, other than it's neat. 

Who's on Goodreads? I just joined a day or so ago, and it was fun going in and finding a good chunk of the books I've read over the years and rating them. I've always wanted to keep a list of those books, but for one reason or another, I could just never make it happen, with Goodreads, I've created a list that I'll never lose, and can add to and take around with me all the time because they have apps for Androids & Apple phones, sweet! So what is Goodreads? I've borrowed this blurb from their About Us page.

A Few Things You Can Do On Goodreads

• See which books your friends are reading.
• Track the books you're reading, have read, and want to read.
• Check out your personalized book recommendations. Our recommendation engine analyzes 20 billion data points to give suggestions tailored to your literary tastes.
• Find out if a book is a good fit for you from our community’s reviews.

Sound good? You can also follow your favorite authors in a more bookish environment than say Tumblr or Facebook, and read their own reviews of other authors. Pretty cool. 

I know a lot of you are also book lovers, so we should share because great minds think alike! So, here's me! Come find me, pretty please! I want to be your friend and snoop through your bookshelves! Teehee!

Bookclubs. Let's discuss! Who's in one? I'm in one active one with my girlfriends that's been going consistently for years, and another one that was meant for a couple of other close friends and family that's kind of fallen by the wayside... I've been debating reviving that one and opening it up to you guys, is that something any of you would be interested in? I'm thinking a very loose format, one book every two-three months, because hey, as much as I love reading, and I really do, there are only so many hours in the day for each of us, and we've all got a pretty full plate as it is. So tell me what you think in the comments, maybe we can set something casual up, I think that could be fun!

So what else? Oh, just this!!

This may not be a big deal to a lot of other bloggers, but I think it's pretty dang cool, my blog has now had over 100,000 views! Actually, as of writing this, I'm at 100,221! Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my pink, fuzzy little heart!!

Let's talk books, ready, set, go!

oxo,

Lisa

Handmade Book Mark Swap

Hi everyone! Ready for some more swapy goodness? I'm really growing quite addicted to Swap-bot! This here is another little swap I recently did, this was for a handmade book mark. Here's what I sent to my partner...

Similar to the ones I made my book club friends back at Christmas.

(I stitched these little flowers at a baseball game :o)

It's true... we're ALL worth hand made.

Magnetized so it clamps down on your page and won't fall out. I hate it when that happens.

Here's what I got in swap!

My generous partner sent me not one, but two handmade bookmarks!

Both very pretty.

Live~Laugh~Love

I've never had a book mark like this, I think it's called a "thong". It's so pretty & delicate, I love it!

This one is simple and pretty, silk ribbon woven through plastic grid and beaded at the ends. I think they're both terrific.

Now, if I could just find the time to sit and read a bit more... I better get to it, we have a book club meeting in two weeks, and I'm hosting because it was my turn to pick the book. I've only read about 20 pages, yikes!

I have several more swaps in the works, all of them embroidery based. I'll be sharing more with you guys as my partners receive their packages. I never like to post anything before then, I'm always afraid my swap partners might stumble into my blog and see their surprise here before they see it with their own eyes in the mail. I like to be extra careful because I myself LOVE a surprise.

Speaking of surprises! I arrived home night before last and found a box on my porch...

My best friend bought me a new Vespa for my birthday!!

It's a 1:12 die cast model, isn't it adorable?!? I love it! I took it to work, it now lives on my desk

(so I can drive it over my paperwork when I get bored).

My birthday isn't until Monday, the 16th but this was a great way to start the weekend, thanks Melissa!

I hope you're having a great weekend too!

Lisa

Beautiful Blog Award

Well Hello Y'all!

We're busy as ever around these parts, and I have lots to share with you, but check it out! I was tagged for a Beautiful Blog Award, woohoo! Have you ever checked out Felt Like Stitchin? If you haven't, mosey on over there, it's a comfy friendly place!

 Now I'm supposed to share 10 interesting things about myself... hm. Let's see what I can come up with... I'll try not to be a bore, and I'll try not to ramble, but you know how I can be sometimes... 

1.  Year before last, I'd had enough of looking the way I did and feeling bad about myself, so I set out to change something only I was able to. My weight. I lost (although "lost" isn't the right word... "forced off" is more like it) 100 pounds. No magic bullet. A lot of sweat and a lot of very careful choices. This last year has been very challenging for me physically & personally, and I've slacked off my healthy habits. I've gained a little back. Losing is easier than maintaining. Getting back on track is a struggle, but I'm getting there :o)

2.  In my early 20's, my greatest ambition was to take a year off and follow the Grateful Dead with my brother and a couple of our buddies. Ahh... good times. I still go see the remaining members whenever I possibly can. Great music. Their reputation overshadows their talent, which is vast. Need any recommendations? I'm your girl.

3.  I could take down an entire carton of mint chip ice cream if left to my own devices. But not just any mint chip. It has to be Thrifty's Mint Chip. Don't even need a bowl. Just a spoon... dangerous. Might have been a contributing factor to #1, ya think? Chocolate Malted Crunch comes in a close second. Close.

4.  I sort of have an obsession with teapots and Jadite Glass. I'm running out of space. Scratch that. I'm out of space. I'm secretly afraid I'm going to end up like one of those ladies on Hoarders. *shiver*

5.  I love geocaching! Have you heard of it? It's a fun hide & seek game played with GPS all over the world. I'm still new at it, but it's really addicting. I've gotten a couple of friends addicted too.

6.  I'm related (distantly) to Sherriff Pat Garrett. He is famous for killing Billy The Kid. My mothers maiden name is Garrett, and he's her great, great uncle. Cool, yeah?

7.  I ride a scooter whenever possible. I'm like, literally in love with my Vespa. I bought a pack of fabric baby diapers to polish her with. If I worked in the same town as I live in, I think I'd be tempted to sell my car.

8.  All my life I've been a serious night owl. However, recently I can't keep my lids open past midnight or so... some people say that is late. On contraire mo fraire... 3am. That's late. I still do it on the weekends, but I pay dearly in the mornings. Especially work day mornings.

9.  I'm the only one in my family that doesn't have tattoos. Including my mom. She started getting them on her 50th b-day. She has three now... they're all really pretty. I love beautiful tattoo work, I'm just too indicisive. I can't commit. I want to though... someday...

10. I love to read, I'm in two seperate book blubs. One meets every month, the other meets every other month. I don't watch much TV, it's on, but it's like background noise.

11. BONUS!! I have something REALLY cool to share with you tomorrow. Seriously cool. I can't believe I've managed to keep it under my hat actually.

Well hey! I managed to name not 10, but 11 things that you may not have already known about me that are (hopefully) mildly interesting! That's a feate considering what a blabbermouth I am.

Ok, so stay tuned because tomorrow I'm coming back with something timely and cool. Did I mention it was cool??? Oh yes... it's cool allright, and it concerns you, Twihards!!!

See you on the flip side!

oxo,

Lisa

p.s. Oh! I almost forgot, I'm supposed to pass this award along by tagging 10 more Beautiful Bloggers...

1. Two Boys and a Beagle

2. Tea With Friends

3. Roxy Creations

4. MafiosaGrrl

5. Little Nest Studio

6. My Cup of Tea

7. Tea and Talk

8. Vegkat's Yarns

9. Giggly Mama

10. Sew Lovely Embroidery

Have fun you crazy kids!

First Fall Forray, Hooray!

Hello Everyone~
I don't know how the weather where y'all are is behaving, but today was the first day in Northern California that it's begun to feel a little like fall, yipee! I love the fall, its my favorite season. My wedding was in the fall...*gazing dreamily into space* Thinking of the fall always makes me feel happy, like a new beginning... a left over from my school years I think.

I whipped up this little bookmark over the weekend, it's kinda cute, no? I'm thinking of making a few more for my new bookclub peeps. I just started a new group and our first meeting is in mid October, this would be perfect. Yes, I think I'll do that :o) That book it's resting on is our first book club pick if anyone is interested, it's called The Magicians by Lev Grossman. I'm only about 150 pages in, but so far, so good!

It got me wondering what craf~tea fall things my bloggy buddies were up to, I'd love to hear all about them!

oxo,
Lisa