New(ish) Features & Some Good News!

Greetings again! So things seem to be moving right along on Blogger, thank goodness. I'm extremely excited about a couple newish features that I'm testing out. I have decided to do a weekly quote in the sidebar. The quotes will be pulled from books, songs, movies, famous people, not so famous people... you name it! I'm a huge quote lover, so this is very exciting to me; hopefully somebody else will enjoy it as well. I am also going to do a song feature (located in the sidebar under the quotes, naturally). I haven't decided if I want it to be a weekly feature, a daily thing, or just a whenever-I-feel-like-it kind of deal. Currently, it's the last one. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a HUGE music fiend, so there will be no shortage of awesome music to share with the world, I assure you. Music makes me so happy. *sigh*

Another thing I'm excited for is a new Page! Some might not consider it a big deal, but I find it very helpful for me personally. To go along with the song and quote features, I have created a Quote Archive page where I'll post items previously featured. Man, I have to find another word for "feature!" Anywhoozle... So, yes. I have added a link to this new page on the bottom of the sidebar. As I am an organized(ish) person, I'm going to keep them in order of the date they were featured. Now why am I doing this? First of all, it's my blog and I want to. So there. Secondly, I sometimes find random quotes or get a song stuck in my head & I want to share that with others. Thirdly, I have an absolutely AWFUL memory. Seriously. They should write a book about how awful my memory is. One day I may be like, "what was that song I posted last week? I can't for the life of me remember the title and I wanted to check out the rest of the album. Curse this awful memory of mine!" With this handy new page, I'll be able to go to the archive and look it up. Tada! Problem solved.

Now that I've shared some of my excitement for new features (there's that word again!), I wanted to share some fun and totally awesome news! Remember when I posted that I won a prize pack from Cynthia Leitich Smith? Well, I got my package on Valentine's Day! How sweet is that? Everything is so awesome and cute and I can't wait to read the books. Another item of total awesomeness came today when a FedEx guy knocked on my door. No, I didn't meet the man of my dreams. Sheesh, people! He gave me a white puffy envelope. My first thought was that the package was for my sister, since I wasn't expecting anything. Then I saw my name on it. I grabbed my handy dandy scissors and sliced that surprise package like it was, well, a surprise. What do you think I found inside?? A book! And not just any book, but a personalized, autographed copy of *pause for effect* Across the Universe by Beth Revis! And and and... some super sweet little buttons from the Breathless Reads book tour! I have absolutely no idea how I got this awesome gift, but I'm not complaining. My guess is that I won it in some sort of giveaway, though I don't remember entering one for this particular book. However, that's not saying much since, as I've said before, I have an awful memory. I did win a signed Galley (Advanced Reader's Copy) of Across the Universe earlier this year (which I posted about on my other blog)... maybe that's how Penguin books got my address? Hmm... Regardless of how I came into possession of this awesome book, I am so ridiculously happy that I finally have a finished (and autographed!) copy of Across the Universe. I can't wait to dive into it and see if it's all different from the ARC. Want to know why I'm so excited about winning a copy of this book? Check out this trailer and find out!

Man, what a good read!

Well, that's it for announcements. I suppose now is as good a time as any to get going. G'night!

 To purchase a copy of Across the Universe, simply click on the gorgeous cover or go to a bookstore near you!

Happy Val Day!

I know quite a few single people who see Valentine's Day as a day to wear black, grumble about all things love-related and hide away inside their houses waiting for it to end like it's some kind of plague. Some call it Singles Awareness Day. Those from Arizona may celebrate Arizona's birthday/Arizona Statehood Day. I used to be one of those single people who would watch romantic movies or read Jane Austen novels to remind me of how I'll "never have that" or so I can live vicariously through the characters; and then I'd drown my loneliness in Ben & Jerry's. Kind of pathetic, huh?

Though I'm single on this day of love, I don't feel the same way I did a few years ago. Maybe it's because I am no longer surrounded by bitter, single people. Maybe it's simply because I don't think you need a "significant other" to celebrate the wonder of love. I have a wonderful family, adorable pets, fantastic friends and I live in an absolutely gorgeous area of the world. I believe that love is certainly something to celebrate! I still watch romantic comedies and eat sweets - this year it's red velvet cupcakes! - but it's not to wallow in self-pity. I choose to watch romantic comedies because I like them and they always end happy. I love to see people in love. One day, I too shall be in love and then I can do silly romantic things with my very own significant other. Until then, I refuse to be angry or sad on Valentine's Day!

To show how serious I am about actually enjoying Valentines' Day, I've decided to make a playlist dedicated to all things lovey. Enjoy!

Win!

I am ridiculously excited. I mean it. I won the Blessed Grand Prize Giveaway from author Cynthia Leitich Smith! Woo hoo! Wanna see what I won? Well tough! I'm going to show you anyway.

Pretty impressive, no?

This giveaway offer was for the release of Blessed, which brings together the cast and characters from her other hit novels, Tantalize and Eternal. Actually, today was the release date of Blessed, making this the perfect time to post this announcement! Go me! Anyway... Not only am I super happy to win this awesome prize pack, I'm really excited to read the book.

Are you curious about it too? You're in luck, then! For your reading (and viewing) pleasure, I present a little information about Blessed...

"Quincie Morris, teen restaurateur and neophyte vampire, is in the fight of her life - or undeath. Even as she adjusts to her new appetites, she must clear her best friend and true love - the hybrid-werewolf Kieren - of murder charges; thwart the apocalyptic ambitions of Bradley Sanguini, the seductive vampire-chef who “blessed” her; and keep her dead parents’ restaurant up and running.
She hires a more homespun chef and adds the preternaturally beautiful Zachary to her wait staff. But with hundreds of new vampires on the rise and Bradley off assuming the powers of Dracula Prime, Zachary soon reveals his true nature - and his flaming sword - and they hit the road to staunch the bloodshed before it’s too late. Even if they save the world, will there be time left to salvage Quincie’s soul?" (got this from Cynthia's website, just so's ya know)

 And now for a book trailer to draw you in further!

Pretty epic music, isn't it? I hope you're now as curious about this book as I am. Will I update this lovely blog when I receive (and read) my super awesome gift? Heck yes, I will! Don't forget to purchase a copy of Blessed, now in stores!

Gotta Love Anberlin!

Anberlin is one of my favorite bands of all time. They recently (well, in September of 2010) released another album, Dark Is the Way: Light Is the Place. Seeing as I'm currently unemployed and have no money, I wasn't able to get the album as soon as it was released, like I normally do. I was so sad. I wanted to cry. Or not; I don't cry. Anyway... Thankfully, I have an awesome sister and she got the album for me. Thanks, sister! I love you! I love (and own) every single one of their albums and this one is no exception. I think my favorite songs from this album are You Belong Here, Art of War, Pray Tell and Impossible - though I love them all, naturally. Simply fantastic.

So to celebrate my love for all things Anberlin, I'm going to post this little surveyish-type thing that I found. If that made any sense at all. Anyway, here it is. Feel free to click the links to become more acquainted with the fabulousness of this awesome band!

Rules: Using only song names (not necessarily the meaning of the song) from one artist, answer the following questions. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think!

Pick your artist: Anberlin
Are you a male or female? Adelaide
Describe yourself: A Heavy Hearted Work of Staggering Genius
How do you feel? You Belong Here
Describe where you currently live: Haight Street
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? Everywhere In Between
Your favorite form of transportation? The Unwinding Cable Car
You and your best friends are...? Closer
What's the weather like? Inevitable
If your life was a TV show, what would it be called? The Undeveloped Story
What is life to you? Time and Confusion
Your last relationship? A Day Late
Your fear? Hello Alone
What is the best advice you have to give? Breathe       
Thought for the day: Change the World (Lost Ones)
How I would like to die: Burn Out Brighter (Northern Lights)
My soul's present condition? There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
My motto: Take Me (As You Found Me)

Click here to buy the album!