I was recently nominated for the Liebster Award by Anna! Thank you!
If you want to see the previous versions of this award, you can click here: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7
The Liebster Award Rules
Acknowledge the blog that gave it to you and display the award
Answer 11 questions that the blogger gives you
Give 11 random facts about yourself
Nominate 11 blogs and notify them of their nomination
Give these blogs 11 questions to answer
11 random facts about me:
It’s May and I’m wearing Santa pajamas.
I turn 30 this weekend!
I recently got a hamster and his name is Bread.
I’m growing chives on my balcony!
I’m a huge planner (see my post on planning) and it is absolutely killing me to not be able to plan my wedding right now because everything is closed! (I mean… I get why, but still.)
My cat is screaming at the door because she wants to go outside (it’s raining and late as I type this) and it sounds like she’s saying “hello.”
I will be working from home for at least another month, but probably longer, and I’m not really sure now how I feel about going back to the office.
Last time I did this tag, there were 75 books that I owned but hadn’t read within my line of sight. I have now expanded to two bookcases just in this room and I don’t even want to know how many I’m up to.
I’m not actively cross-stitching anything right now, but I recently bought two patterns on Etsy: Ghus from Saga and Tina from Bob’s Burgers.
I’ve been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift while I drive lately. This week it’s been 1989 and Reputation.
My best friend has a very unusual name and I found an Etsy store that makes custom name keychains, so I’ll finally be giving her something with her name on it for her birthday in a couple weeks.
11 questions from Anna:
What is your favorite series?
I don’t generally read a lot of series, but I’ve been really into Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series recently!
Do you have a favorite magic system? If so, what is it?
I always thought the magic in V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series was pretty cool.
Would you rather only read physical books, ebooks, or audiobooks for the rest of your life? I mean… physical, I guess? Otherwise I spent a lot of money to make my guest room look pretty.
Is there a movie that you like better than the book? What is it? Not that I can think of, but I don’t watch a lot of movies.
What are you currently reading? Well, I just finished Once and for All by Sarah Dessen this afternoon, and I’m still slogging through my ARC of The Last Hope by Krista & Becca Ritchie.
Where is your dream house located? On the beach in Costa Rica!
Would you rather have a gourmet chef make all your food or have a fully stocked fridge that you get to cook with? It would be nice to have the extra time, but honestly, I think I’d get sick of having someone cook for me all the time. I’d much rather cook for myself.
What is your favorite or funniest bookmark to use? I usually just use whatever’s on my nightstand! It could be an actual bookmark or a piece of paper or really just about anything. My favorite used to be a wooden bookmark that I got in an Uppercase box, but I’m not sure what happened to it.
Are you more of an early bird or a night owl? I’m just tired.
Have you ever stayed up all night reading? I have stayed up very, very late reading, but I’ve never not gone to bed after.
What is your favorite hobby? (Besides reading if that is typically your favorite 😉) Probably cross-stitching!
I’m not tagging anyone specifically, but feel free to answer these questions if you’d like! Are you an early bird or a night owl? What’s your favorite series? Let’s talk in the comments!
I love doing these Q&A kind of tags, so I was really happy to see that I’d been nominated by Susan for another round of The Liebster Award! Then, to make things even better, I was nominated a couple days later by Daniel! Thank you both! ❤
If you want to see the previous versions of this award, you can click here: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6
The Liebster Award Rules
Acknowledge the blog that gave it to you and display the award
Answer 11 questions that the blogger gives you
Give 11 random facts about yourself
Nominate 11 blogs and notify them of their nomination
Give these blogs 11 questions to answer
11 random facts about me:
The socks I’m wearing right now have cats and books on them (my two favorite things) and they were a gift from my boyfriend. ❤
I have the most affectionate cat I’ve ever met. I chose her from the Humane Society (or, really, she chose me) when she jumped on my shoulders as soon as I walked in the room. Fifteen years later, she still loves to sit on people’s shoulders.
I’m going to a bunch of concerts this year and I’m really excited about it! Coming up in the next couple months are twenty one pilots and Billie Eilish, and then I’ll also be seeing Sigrid this fall. I’m really hoping for a summer Bleachers show to be announced, too.
I hate the taste of coconut but love the scent of it.
Speaking of songs, every morning my best friend and I text each other the first song we heard when we woke up. Today my song was Buddy Holly by Weezer.
My go-to music when I need to cheer up is really old Taylor Swift songs. I can’t even listen to Our Song or Mary’s Song without smiling.
I’ve reached the point in my life where I’m just widely known as a crazy cat lady, so my boss will come up to me in the middle of the day and ask me for advice about his kitten and my coworker will send me pictures of every cat she crosses paths with.
I’ve never been a big soda fan, but I really love drinking seltzer.
Just within my line of sight right now are 75 books that I have to read.
11 questions from Susan:
Your favorite book/comic turned movie/TV show?
It’s pretty rare for me to both read and watch something, so let’s see… The most recent book I’ve read that’s been turned into a TV show was You. I absolutely loved that book even if it completely creeped me out. I haven’t seen the show, though.
What book /comic you want turned into a movie or tv show (that hasn’t already been announced as being in production)?
I would love to see The Hating Gameturned into a movie, but I’d also be terrified that they’d ruin it.
What character do you most love to hate/hate to love?
Have you ever read a book where the bad guys win at the end (and I don’t mean if you are in the second book of a trilogy- they would have to win at the end of the trilogy or a stand-alone)? I ask because I have, and it is so rare and so remarkably brave for an author to do, in my opinion. I’d love to know if any are out there I don’t know about.
I don’t think so!
What authors have you tried and tried to read but decided just aren’t for you?
The one that I can think of off the top of my head is Penny Reid. I did enjoy one of her books, but none of the others. I think that’s more a case of “it’s not you, it’s me.”
Favorite Indie bookstores that everyone should visit (doesn’t have to be where you live- maybe you found them on vacation).
Two lesser-known bookstores that I really enjoy in NJ are Labyrinth Books in Princeton (I love their final copies sale section and the used books downstairs) and Booktrader in Hamilton (it’s so overwhelming but in a good way).
What was your “homerun book” aka… the book that hooked you into being a life long reader?
Oh, I’m not sure! My grandma used to read me a ton of Golden Books when I was really little, and that got me started on my love of books. I don’t think there was one single book that started it all.
Who is your reading companion (who is usually, if anyone/anything by your side when you read)?
This little lady. 🙂
What book OR TV show have you read/rewatched the most?
It’s pretty rare that I re-read books, but I have re-read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret a few times. The TV show I’ve seen most is probably Freaks and Geeks since I’ve forced multiple people to watch the whole thing with me.
What book have you recommended the most to others?
What book do you inwardly roll your eyes at when others say it is their favorite book?
I try really hard not to do this! I don’t like judging people based on their reading preferences. That said… probably Fifty Shades of Grey. I only made it through the first few chapters of this book (though I think a hate-read might be interesting) and I can just tell you that there’s much better-written erotica out there.
11 questions from Daniel:
Cake or non-cake donut?
For a normal breakfast donut, I’ll go with non-cake. But if I want more of an indulgence, there’s nothing better than a Brooklyn Blackout cake donut from the Doughnut Plant in Brooklyn.
What is you preferred milk type (two percent, whole, almond)?
I don’t really drink a lot of milk aside from half and half in my coffee, but if I’m getting something to put on cereal, I like unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
What’s the last book you checked out from the library?
I’ve never met anyone who’s, like, Taylor Swift-level famous. But I did meet Broods last weekend and that was probably one of the most exciting things that’s ever happened to me.
What’s the last thing you’ve cooked or baked from scratch?
I believe that would be the pot pie that my boyfriend and I made for Easter. If we’re talking something that I alone made from scratch… I think that’s chicken and dumpling soup.
Biscuits or bagels?
Give me a bagel any day.
baby boi or BIG BOI? (refer to and include one above picture)
This is the hardest question I’ve ever been asked in my life, but I think I have to go with baby boi. He was just so tiny!!
If you could have dinner with one author that’s alive, who would it be?
Jenn Bennett! She seems so nice.
What is your most anticipated release of the year?
What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year?
Which book that you already own are you most looking forward to reading?
Which upcoming release are you most excited about?
What’s your favorite TV show right now?
What’s the last movie you watched and how was it?
Are there any tropes that you just can’t resist?
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
What’s your favorite dessert?
Do you have any pets? If so, please feel free to share pictures!
What kind of job could you never do?
Coffee or tea, and how do you take it?
Please feel free to do this tag even if I didn’t nominate you! I’d love to see your answers! ❤ What’s the last thing you cooked or baked from scratch? Who is your reading companion? Let’s talk in the comments!
I just wanted to send a big thank you to Ally for nominating me for The Liebster Award! If you’re not already following her blog, you’re really missing out. ❤
If you want to see the previous versions of this award, you can click here: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5
The Liebster Award Rules
Acknowledge the blog that gave it to you and display the award
Answer 11 questions that the blogger gives you
Give 11 random facts about yourself
Nominate 11 blogs and notify them of their nomination
Give these blogs 11 questions to answer
11 random facts about me:
I’m currently wearing cactus socks.
I love kombucha and right now I’m drinking a Superberry from Brew Dr.
Sometimes I just look at my cat and make an actual 😍 face.
I’ve had six cats in my life. I really like cats.
I’m in the process of moving right now and I’ll be living alone for the first time in about seven years. I’m pretty excited.
I think I read more graphic novels than actual books these days.
I have a permanent bracelet on my left wrist.
I don’t really think I’m that interesting of a person, but my life is often the topic of discussion at our weekly staff meetings at work.
I use a different app to talk to everyone in my life. (Example: Snapchat for my boyfriend, regular texts for my best friend, Facebook Messenger for my mom, WhatsApp for my work bestie) I don’t do this on purpose, but it means I always know who’s trying to talk to me.
I absolutely love coffee but I’m trying to cut down on how much I drink.
11 questions from Ally:
If you could acquire any ability, what would it be?
Well, my boyfriend lives 950 miles away and my mom and my best friend live 1,000 miles away. I’d like to acquire the ability to teleport.
What’s your perfect breakfast?
Oh my god, I love breakfast. My favorite breakfast is currently a ham and cheese crepe and cup of coffee from a restaurant downtown. My all-time favorite breakfast is stuffed french toast from a restaurant I lived by in college, but I moved and it closed and it’s my dream to recreate it someday.
What’s your phone background?
A picture of my boyfriend being cute. ❤
Who was your first favourite author?
I think I’d have to go with Tamora Pierce!
If you could use any spell from Harry Potter, which would it be and why?
Accio would be pretty useful for when I want something but don’t want to move.
If you could only name your children (or pets if you don’t want children) after the characters in a book series, which series and names would you choose?
I’d probably go with V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series. I just really like the name Holland.
What’s something you’ve recently been obsessed with? Gush about it.
Lush! My obsession with Lush comes in waves, and it’s definitely in full force right now. I’ve been using their bath bombs for a few years now but recently I’ve gotten into their other products. I absolutely love their Bohemian bar soap (it smells like fresh lemons!) and their All Good Things solid perfume. I think I’m going to buy their Magic Crystals shower scrub and a massage bar the next time I’m there. I love Lush so much.
If you could require everyone to read one book, which book would it be?
I think I said Between the World and Methe last time I answered this question. I’ll go with something different this time — On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder.
Hot or iced coffee?
I’m usually good with just a cup of hot coffee with half and half. But in the summer, I really like an iced latte from time to time.
What was your favourite subject in school?
Very predictably, my favorite subject was English. I took double English classes my senior year of high school just because I could and I took a lit class as an elective almost every semester in college. For a less predictable answer, I also really loved band.
If you could tell your 15-year-old self one thing, what would it be?
Probably to calm down. Honestly. I was very worried about a lot of things that I didn’t need to be worried about and I’d probably just tell myself to calm down and have fun.
Since this is my sixth time doing this award and I’m not feeling particularly creative, I won’t be nominating anyone or coming up with a list of new questions. That said, please feel free to consider yourself nominated and answer Ally’s questions! What superpower would you choose? How do you take your coffee? Let’s talk in the comments!
Many thanks to Andy for tagging me for another round of the Liebster Award! My previous Q&A sessions can be found here: one ✰ two ✰ three ✰ four.
Rules:
Answer the 11 questions you’ve been asked
Nominate 11 other bloggers
Ask your nominees 11 questions
Let them know you’ve nominated them!
11 questions from Andy:
Which book have you re-read the most often?
I hardly ever re-read books, but I think I’ve probably read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume at least ten or fifteen times in my life. It was one of my favorite books as a child and I still loved it so much when I re-read it a couple years ago.
What was the first book you ever fell in love with?
Hmm, good question. I’m not sure what the very first book I fell in love with was, but I remember being head over heels for Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce when I was younger. I thought that was the coolest book ever.
Which book do you think is either extremely underrated or overrated?
Extremely underrated: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. This book is amazing. It satirizes so many things, it’s hilarious and important and I loved it so much. I’m not sure why so many people hated it.
Extremely overrated: The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. I had to read this in a Russian lit class in college and I hated it so much. It’s basically the bane of my existence. I’m not sure if it was the book or the terrible professor or just the fact that I was forced to read it, but I couldn’t stand it.
What’s your favorite book quote?
I’m not sure that I could possibly answer this question with just one quote, so I’ll direct you to all of the quotes I’ve shared in the 3 Days, 3 Quotes tag!
If you could meet any author (living or dead), who would it be and why?
This is another difficult question! I think I’d most like to meet Jenn Bennett just because she seems so nice and I love her books so much.
What book are you looking forward to reading most next year?
Well, given my answer to the last question, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that my most anticipated book for 2019 is written by Jenn Bennett! I can’t wait to read Serious Moonlight.
If your life had a book title, what would it be?
I am always embarrassing myself and doing things that make future me cringe, so something like Jenny Lawson’s memoir (Let’s Pretend This Never Happened) would be pretty accurate.
Which book has left the strongest impression on you?
I really have no idea! I guess you could say that any book I’ve rated five stars has left an impression on me. I think I’ve read too many books to choose just one.
Which fictional character do you identify with the most?
Tangled Like Us isn’t out yet, but it’s main character, Jane Cobalt, is a minor character in several of Krista & Becca Ritchie’s other books. I relate to Jane so much since I’m also a crazy cat lady who likes to read.
Which book is next on your to-do-list?
This is always a question for me. I think I’ll go with My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows.
What are your reading goals for 2019?
I’m actually doing a post about this tomorrow! I won’t spoil it, but I will say that in addition to the five goals I’m sharing tomorrow, I’m hoping for more bookish interactions on my blog in 2019. I already have a couple buddy reads planned (and maybe a collaboration and/or guest post) but if you would be interested in doing something, please let me know!
I am not feeling very creative today, so I’m not going to tag anyone or come up with any new questions. But if you haven’t been nominated for this award before (or even if you have) and you feel like answering some questions, please consider yourself nominated! (And don’t forget to link back to this post so I can see your answers.)
You can see the previous versions of this award here: one ☆ two ☆ three
The rules:
Link to Global Aussie’s Award blog post. Comment with a link to your Award post. And put the official Liebster Award stamp on your blog.
Acknowledge and link to the blogger who nominated you.
Answer the 11 questions your nominator asked.
Nominate 11 more bloggers and spread the ‘new blogger’ love.
Ask them 11 fun questions of your own.
Let them know on their blogs that you have nominated them.
11 questions from Mandy & Sha:
1) Where is the last place you travelled to (that took more than two hours)?
TENNESSEE, where I met my favorite person in the whole world!! It was a ten-hour drive but it was totally, totally worth it.
2) What is the last book you read that made you laugh so hard your stomach hurt? My Lady’s Choosingby Kitty Curran & Larissa Zageris. Some of the choices I had to make in that book were just hilarious.
3) What is a book you loved … but are sometimes ashamed to admit you read? I don’t know that I’ve ever been ashamed to admit that I read a book! There are books that I don’t necessarily want to discuss with people like my boss or my mom, but I post a review on my blog for everything that I read. I might be a little ashamed to admit that I once spent $7.50 on glorified Taylor Swift fanfiction, but I’m not ashamed that I read it.
4) How long does it usually take you to finish a book? It varies so much! I can usually power through a cute contemporary romance in a day or two. Non-fiction can take me a week or two. Other books are usually somewhere between two and four days. It really depends on how much I’m into it and what else is going on in my life.
5) How many pictures do you have on your phone? What kind of photos are they?
Photos I take on my phone all automatically back up to Google, so I don’t have that many on my actual phone. There are definitely several thousand photos backed up and most of them are of animals (and most animal photos are of my cat). There are also a lot of photos of the various children in my life.
6) Do you write reviews for every book you read? Why or why not?
Yes, and I guess it started out as a way for me to remember what I thought about each book. Now I just like having conversations about all the books that I’ve read.
7) What is your favourite thing to snack on?
I’m actually not a very snacky person. Actually, that’s a very inaccurate statement. I am a very snacky person, but I try not to keep snacks in my house because I’ll just eat all of them even if I’m not hungry. I like sour things most of all, so something like Sour Patch Kids is probably my favorite.
8) Do you believe in symbols/portents of good luck?
Yes! I really do! I don’t know that I can really give you a good example because it’s not things like lucky pennies or whatever, but sometimes something will happen to me and I’ll just be like… today is going to be a good day.
9) Could you go a day without your phone? Computer?
Could I? Yes. Would I really want to? No. Most of my friends and all of my family live very far away from me and my phone and computer are the only way to talk to them.
10) What is a surprising thing you did?
I’m the world’s most boring person. I think that, honestly, the most surprising thing I’ve ever done was go out for breakfast at 2am with one of my favorite local bands when I was 18 years old. And it’s not even surprising that I did it, it’s surprising that I had the opportunity to do it.
11) What is your pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is probably when people don’t have awareness of how they’re impacting other people (or they just don’t care). Like when you’re in the grocery store and the guy walking in front of you just stops and leaves his cart blocking the whole aisle while he calls his wife to ask exactly what brand of olive oil she wants. Or when you’re on a really full train and someone has their stuff taking up three seats instead of putting it on the shelf. It’s a little thing but it drives me crazy.
11 questions from Siobhan:
1. If there is one trope you could get rid of, which is it?
Miscommunication just for the sake of drama. I hate it so much.
2. Which is a problematic book/series you love?
I can’t think of one in particular, but I know that I’ve enjoyed a lot of books that have problematic aspects.
3. Which character do you despise the most?
Probably Scythe Goddard from Scythe.
4. What series do you want to see adapted?
I would love to see an adaptation of The Raven Cycle!
5. What is your most anticipated read for 2018?
My most anticipated book was What If It’s Us. Now it’s probably Vengeful, which I own and really need to get around to reading.
6. Which book do you wish you can read for the first time again? THE HATING GAME.
7. Which pet in a series do you love the most?
Mister Kindly in Nevernightisn’t so much a pet as a snarky collection of shadows, but I love him so much.
8. Is there an author you can’t stand?
There are authors I don’t really care for, but authors I can’t stand? I don’t know about that.
9. What is your favourite bookish merchandise?
My favorite bookish merchandise is a book scarf that I got in my last Uppercase box!
11. If you could do a crossover series, which two series would you combine?
This is the hardest question! I have no idea! I’m sorry!!!
11 questions from Larissa:
1. Which fictional character would you most like to bring to life?
Maybe Joshua Templeman, otherwise Michael Phan.
2. Has there ever been anything in a book, film, or tv show that was so intense/hurtful to you that you had to put the book away or stop watching (like a character’s death)? And if yes, what was it?
There are some animal torture scenes in A Conspiracy of Starsthat were really hard to get through. They were important to the plot, but I definitely had to set the book down and hug my cat a few times.
3. What is your current laptop/desktop/tablet background?
Nothing exciting, sorry!
4. Do you have any other creative hobbies besides blogging (like painting, guitar playing, knitting, etc.)?
Well, back in the day of like 2008, I used to love playing the piano. Sometimes I like to sew, but only when I feel like it. And sometimes I can get crafty, but that only happens about once a year and I’ll make a ton of homemade bath products like bath bombs and bath salts and moisturizers and lip balms.
5. Name three characteristics that you find most important or attractive?
A sense of humor. If you can’t make me laugh, then what’s the point?
Similar interests. Otherwise, what will we talk about?
Some loyalty. Friendship or relationship, loyalty is so important.
6. Which fictional character resembles you the most?
Jane from Krista and Becca Ritchie’s Like Us series!
7. You’re only allowed to listen to three songs for the rest of your life. Which songs do you choose?
Ahhh, hardest decision ever!!! This will probably change by tomorrow, but as of this moment in time…
8. Which celebrity do you think is most down to earth?
I’m not really sure who’s the most down-to-earth, but I think that Jack Antonoff seems really great. I didn’t actually meet him, but I was at a festival a couple years ago and he was just walking around and talking with his fans and taking selfies with everyone.
9. Describe yourself in five words.
I had this question in another tag! AWKWARD, AFFECTIONATE CRAZY CAT LADY.
10. Who do you admire the most?
I honestly admire anyone who can write. Like, you just pulled a whole book out of your head. That’s amazing.
11. Do you have a favourite quote or maybe a motto? If yes, what is it?
I have a million different quotes that I like. My motto is basically just to treat people the way I would want to be treated.
I’m not doing any nominations this time around, but all of you deserve this award, so if you haven’t been nominated, please consider yourself tagged! Feel free to answer any of the questions, or all of them!
The Bibliophagist 