What's New?

Why is it so hard to jump back into blogging after just a few short months of poor blogging stride? It seems the longer you go without regular blogging, the harder it is to just get going again. Well, to get going again, I've thrown together a set of lists. One is a list of things that are bugging me right now--mostly relating to blogging or my lack thereof, and the other is a list of things I'm pretty excited about lately. Nothing Earth shattering on any front.. just.. well, life. It happens. Oh and I also threw in two of my favorite photos from last week (taken with my iphone 4S). I think they're super adorable and I hope they make you smile as they did for me. :)

I took this photo last Friday morning while out on an early weekday morning bike ride. It was the cutest, coolest blimp I've ever seen in my life! Just darling. It made my day. ;)

It's a Despicable Me Minion blimp!

Things that are bugging me right now: 

• Not blogging regularly OR keeping up with your blogs. 
• Admitting that I'm not very good at read-alongs. Anna Karenina, The Winter Sea, Stardust and now The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I've not kept up on a single one of them, although I at least eventually finished The Winter Sea and Stardust, even if not on schedule. Currently working on Wind-Up, which I am determined to finish this month. It's long. And weird. And of course the read-along is over already.
• I haven't written reviews for some really good books I've read lately. Unless you happen to visit me regularly on goodreads, you probably have no idea of what I've even been reading! 
• I've barely participated in weekend cooking at all this year. I miss it! 
• I've stopped chiming in with Joy's Reader's Workouts. I haven't even been logging my workouts on my little fitness journal blog, See How She Runs very well lately, either. 
• I still haven't written a post on my fabulous little trip to Iceland back in March. 
• It looks like I'm not going to get around to re-establishing my backyard vegetable garden AGAIN this year. And the deer are already munching the perennials that are barely a foot tall. Do I even want to battle them for a few handfuls of tomatoes? I don't know if it's even worth it. 
• Finally, I'm not happy with my body image lately. I exercise all the time and eat healthy foods. Unfortunately I also love sinful foods such as baked treats and ice cream. Even homemade and made with natural ingredients, these foods do not promote weight loss. Duh. I know this. I even know what to do. I just need to find the discipline to put my money where my mouth is and practice what I preach. I'm really tired of being in this place. 

My girls had haircut appointments one evening last week. By the time we got out of the salon, a few of the streets downtown were closed to traffic for a car show. As we walked to our car, we spotted this darling little girl walking her dogs. So incredibly cute! (Her mom is just outside the frame of the photo.)

Just out walking her dogs
at the car show downtown. 

Things that I'm psyched about lately: 

• Numerous exciting milestones for my girls this season--some have taken place already, but most are upcoming over the next several weeks. For Anna, my 14 year old: being awarded her Girl Scout Silver Award--the highest award a middle school aged scout can earn; her first semi formal dance; an overnight school field trip; her dance recital; and 8th grade graduation. For Maria, my 18 year old: her last school orchestra concert ever (she's been playing the violin since 4th grade!), senior prom, high school graduation and then off to college in September! 
• Our upcoming summer vacation to some very faraway places. Excited but also a little nervous. More about our destinations soon. 
• My Bingo card is filling up nicely (one of my 2013 Reading Challenges). I don't know why this makes me so happy, but it feels really good to check off those squares. I've checked off a few more since my update in April and the next update will be around July 1, but I'm making progress! Such a fun challenge. You guys should join in.. if not now, definitely next year. 
• Speaking of reading, I've decided to re-read a favorite series of mine. Well, re-read the first couple of books in the series that I already read several years ago and then catch up with all the other books before the final book in the series comes out in August. Any idea what this series is?
• I started using Feedly for following blogs. So easy to use, organized AND best of all? Everything is synced between my laptop and phone so I always know where I left off reading blog posts. I don't accidentally read stuff twice or miss anything! I mostly use it on my laptop, but it's the most fun to swipe and read on the iphone. What reader are you using these days? 
• Instagram love. I'm having so much fun documenting my days with daily photos and it's also become another social community through which I've met so many fun and interesting people from all over the world. You know how blogging has connected you with people with whom you have stuff in common but you would have never met otherwise? I'm finding the same thing through instagram. It's been great.      
• Spring has finally sprung around here! I love the warmer and longer days this time of year brings. More time to play outside.. for me this is primarily in the form of biking but also in yard work. I wish I could say I've been playing in the dirt planting and growing things, but at this point, it's mostly been more of the work variety--mowing the lawn and doing some residual clean up from last fall and winter.

So what's new with you? 

Go ahead and share something that's bugging you lately AND one thing that's got you excited too. 

I want to know!

Bloggiesta Finish Line

I participated in Bloggiesta over the weekend and wow! What a cool blog event. I finally made some blog-improvements that I've wanted to get to for quite some time, but simply never set aside the time to do. I learned a lot more than I expected and I even accomplished some tasks that weren't even on my list. Overall, I'm quite pleased with my first Bloggiesta experience.

What I did:

• Added social media buttons to my sidebar. There's one for email, twitter, goodreads, instagram and facebook.
• Added pages along the top of my blog under my header. I still have some editing to do with the page content including updating a lot of post labels so posts get sorted to the right places, but I'm pretty psyched I got this project going. I like how it gives an overview of the things I like to blog about.
• Backed up my blog content! My first time doing so in the nearly 5 years I've had my blog and really easy to do [on Blogger, at least]. The Book Vixen has clear instructions [with pictures!] HERE. I also backed up my template. FYI: I had trouble with the back up generating a .xml file onto my hard drive using Safari, but when I tried using Firefox, I had no problems.
• Added a Creative Commons license to the blog. Felicia with Geeky Book Girl's Blog has a great article on copyright info for bloggers. Mostly to do with photos and images, but also creative commons license. You can read her article HERE.
• I met some new bloggers! I had hoped to be even more social than I was, but I had a lot of work to do around here, not to mention all the regular weekend stuff at home with my family and so on. I'm still going to try to hop around to other participant's wrap-up posts to make some new acquaintances.
• Completed THREE Bloggiesta mini-challenges [possibly four]: 

1. 20 Discussion Post Ideas for your Book Blog hosted by Tanya Patrice at Girlxoxo.com
2. Grade Yourself! Use a Web Grader by Smash Attack at Smash Attack Reads.
3. Evernote mini-challenge by Joy from Joy's Book Blog.
4. I also wrote up a FTC disclaimer, a review policy and my contest terms and conditions. I haven't posted the two former yet, but they are written, and I already posted the latter in my Happy Birthday Giveaway post yesterday. Most of this I learned from Donna H. at Girl Reads Books. This might count as my 4th mini-challenge.

• I read through almost all of the other very informative mini-challenges even though I didn't get around to doing them. I learned so much last weekend. Even a bit of html doing those social media buttons. 

By the way, if you haven't visited my Happy Birthday Giveaway post yet, please do! I'm giving away a subscription to a cool magazine, ebook or similarly valued gift from The Book Depository.

Hope you had a productive Bloggiesta, too, if you participated! :)

The next Bloggiesta is March 29-31, 2013 so mark your calendars!

Bloggiesta: Starting Line

Bloggiesta is officially underway! This is my first time participating in Bloggiesta so I'm pretty excited to make some improvements, learn some new tricks and meet new bloggers in the process. I'm admittedly not so great at time management, so hopefully I'll be able to actually follow through with some of my intentions!

Bloggiesta is group blog event that brings bloggers together for a weekend of blog improvements, mini challenges designed to teach improved productivity and blog management and twitter parties. Of course you can make blog improvements any time you want, but doing it alongside other bloggers turns tackling your to-do list into a party!

Bloggiesta is hosted this year by Suey of It's All About Books and Danielle from There's A Book and takes place Sept. 28-30.

Sign up for Bloggiesta HERE.  More than 200 bloggers are signed up!

Starting line posts are linked HERE.

Mini-Challenges are posted HERE.

Twitter parties! Friday Sept. 28  9-11pm EST
                         Saturday Sept. 29  noon-2pm EST
                         Sunday, Sept. 30  5-7pm EST

Just follow @Bloggiesta and the hash tag #Bloggiesta on twitter for parties and general blogger interaction.

My to-do list is quite ambitious, but I'm listing it all anyway and hoping to accomplish as much as I can.  Honestly, I'll be happy if I'm able to check one or two things off my list by the end of the weekend.

1. Back up blog! I've never done this before.. 
2. Add those cute little buttons to my sidebar. RSS feeds, Twitter, goodreads, instagram, email, etc..
3. Create some pages. About me, On my bookshelf, In the kitchen, In the Garden, Health & Fitness, Travel & Adventures, Arts & Crafts 
4. Update photos. Remove and or credit photos not my own.
5. Add creative commons copyright thingy [need to figure this out] 
6. Consolidate my separate blogs See how she runs... [fitness logs] and The happily ever after... book archives [lists of monthly reads since 2008] into my main blog. Maybe their own page here? 
7. Start the process of making a unique, artistic header graphic. At least explore some options. My sources of inspiration: Angieville and Lurve A La Mode
8. Participate in a few of the mini challenges. Quite a few of them are even relevant to my to-do list!
9. Re-organize and update all the blogs in my feed reader. 
10. Meet new bloggers through Bloggiesta!!!! I love making new friends, don't you?

Unrelated to Bloggiesta, I've got quite a few other book and blog related things I'd love to get to by the end of the weekend:

1. Elemental Assassin Read Along discussion 
2. Read first three chapters of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book for The Graveyard Read Along that starts Monday! 
3. Finish reading this month's book club pick: Cold Fire by Kate Elliot 
4. Finish and post book review of The Rift Walker by Clay and Susan Griffith 
5. Weekend Cooking post 
6. In Death Series Reading Challenge: September 2012 post

I told you my list was ambitious. ;)


Is there anything about my blog that YOU think needs improvement?  Please let me know! I'm open to suggestions.

Signing Up for Bloggiesta

It's Bloggiesta Time!

What is Bloggiesta, you ask?

Bloggiesta is an annual blogging event co-hosted by Suey of Suey's Books and Danielle [1st Daughter] of There's A Book that takes place on the weekend of September 28-30, 2012. Basically everyone who signs up has decided to set aside time that weekend to do some 'home improvements' so to speak on their blogs and interact with each other while they do so.

Examples of things people do for Bloggiesta are change their blog layout, add or delete widgets, catch up on reviews, learn new formatting from other bloggers, anything really related to making changes to your blog. There will also be some mini challenges hosted by fellow bloggers and prizes, too.

Since I have a few ideas of some changes I'd like to make--mostly cleaning up my side bars and reorganizing some things, I decided Bloggiesta would be a great motivator to get some of it done.

Check out the sign up post at Danielle's blog HERE for more information and to sign yourself up. It promises to be a productive and fun blog event.

See you there!

 Olé!

Dear Blogger Friends,

If you blog with Blogger, please consider changing your comment settings to Embedded comments [if you don't already do so].

In case you haven't noticed, blogger changed the format of blogger comments about three weeks ago and now you can ONLY subscribe to replies by email IF AND ONLY IF the blog on which you are leaving a comment uses embedded comments. If comments are formatted on your blog any other way.. you [the blog owner] will get still receive replies by email, but your commenters won't. This means that people will not be seeing your reply comment or any other comments made on that post in their email inbox. The only way they will see any comments on that post is IF they come back and look at the comment section of that post again. I don't know about you, but I barely have time to visit a fraction of the blogs I follow every day, let alone have the time to click back to every post I've commented on in a day! I need to receive replies in my inbox so I can read what you or other commenters have said.. and to know if and when to come back and comment again on that post. I think this is likely the case for most people leaving comments on blogs.

This blogger change is very frustrating, making it really difficult to follow a comment thread on so many of the wonderful blogs I visit--like YOURS! We all love the sense of community we establish through the exchange of blog comments with our readers. Let's face it.. community interaction is a HUGE reason why we are all blogging in the first place. Let's not lose that meaningful connection to each other. Please consider setting the format of comments on your blog to embedded comments. Thank you!

Warm regards!


How to do it:
In the NEW Blogger Interface:
From your blogger home, go to your blog's Overview page by clicking on your blog name.
Select >>Settings on left column [wrench icon]
Select >>Posts and comments Under Comments,
Set comment location to Embedded.
Select >>Save settings [in upper right hand corner]

In the OLD Blogger Interface:
Go to Dashboard to Manage Blogs
Under your blog's name, select >>Settings
At top menu bar, select >>Comments
Next to Comment Form Placement, select Embedded below post.
At bottom of page, click on >>Save Settings

My 4th Blog Anniversary

So I guess I've been blogging for four years now! What started out as a book blog has transformed over the years to a comfortable place where I get to share my interests in books, fitness, cooking, travel and basically bits and pieces of myself! The happily ever after... has become one of my favorite creative outlets over the years, thanks to all of you who visit and leave comments or visit and never say a peep [I still appreciate your interest!] and a small handful of you who have connected with me privately via personal email. I appreciate all of you and your interest in what I have to say.

For fun, here are some stats:

Top 3 Most Frequently Visited Posts:
Cross (stitch) My Heart posted on August 21, 2008 with over 3400 page views.
And no... I still haven't finished either of those cross-stitch projects! 

Homemade Strawberry Daiquiris for Two posted on June 18, 2010 with over 1500 page views.  Yum!

A Volleyball Pumpkin Party posted on October 17, 2009 with over 1400 page views.  Really??


Should I try to learn something from these stats? Post more about cross-stitching and crafts? More recipes? Specifically recipes for two? I don't know what to get out of all those page views on Volleyball Pumpkin Party! It's so specific!

Top 3 Most Commented-on Posts:
Name Your Desert Island Keeper 339 comments on May 14, 2008 <--that was fun! :)
REVIEW: Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione  59 comments on March 28, 2009
REVIEW of Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas and.... 56 comments September 26, 2008

Authors who have left comments on my blog over the years:
Megan Hart
Meljean Book
Carolyn Crane
LB Gregg
Jaci Burton
Carolyn Jewel
Melissa Walker
Jocelyn Drake
Larissa Ione
Ann Aguirre
Lara Adrian
Lisa Kleypas
Lori Brighton
Margaret Mallory
Sarah MacLean
KT Grant

I hope I didn't forget anyone! Author visits are always so exciting. :)

Book Character who has left a comment on my blog:
Colin Ames-Beaumont, main character in Demon Moon by Meljean Brook's and present in other Guardian series novels. < ---that was so cool!


Anyway, thank you all for keeping me company here on the happily ever after ...  

Here's to another great year! :)

A New Look!

I sat down today to write a blog post, but instead I changed the whole look of my blog! I don't know where it came from, but I now have a new template, new background and new colors. It looks really different. Some of the things in the sidebar need to be moved around, adjusted for size and I think I might even delete some stuff just to make the layout less cluttered. I also updated my blog for mobile settings so everything looks nice and is easy to read on your mobile phone.

So what do you think of the new look?

Lost a Post? I might have it. Sort of.

According to Blogger on Twitter, and also as stated on Blogger Buzz, Blogger service was down for some time and in order to remedy the situation, all posts and comments made from 7:37 am PT on Wednesday May 11 through sometime yesterday had to be deleted. According to Blogger buzz, the removal of those posts is temporary and they have started restoring those posts. I trust that they'll follow through.

Interestingly, many posts from the blogspot blogs I follow made it into my RSS feeds and so I am able to read those posts even though they're gone from the blogs. So if you lost a post due to this service problem and you want to repost it, and are too impatient to see if Blogger will indeed restore it to you, I might be able to help you. Of course I can only help you if I subscribe to your blog by RSS feeds, which you'll only know if you ask me! Drop me an email and I'll copy your lost post from my feeds and email it to you. You'll have to reformat it for posting, but at least you can get your clever words back.

krauscakes [at] verizon [dot] net

Or you can email me at my other personal email address if you have it.

Or text me if your among the elite. Haha! ;)

My 3rd Blogoversary!

I started this blog three years ago today as a place to share my thoughts on bookish things, and while that intention has remained largely true, my blog has inevitably transformed itself from a book blog to a personal one. These days my posts now include a variety of topics that interest me such as adventures with my family, personal goals and achievements in health and fitness, an original recipe now and then and whatever else comes to mind.

I'm thankful for everyone who takes the time to read my blog whether you have been with me since the beginning or if you have just recently found me. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to leave a comment--blogging is so much more fun and rewarding when I can interact with my audience-- yet I'm also thankful for my regular visitors who rarely or never leave a comment. I'm forever flattered that all of you are interested in what I have to say. Especially since I find I talk about myself a lot. :)  

Cheers! :)

BEA Bloggers in NYC & A Weekend Road Trip

Last night, I went into NYC to meet up with some of my most beloved book blogging friends who were in town for the big Book Expo of America and Book Bloggers Convention. First, I met the sweet and energetic Michelle from the Red Headed Book Child Blog. Darling as can be, you can be assured that her charming and fun blogging voice truly matches her real life personality.

Then I met up with I my book smugglers, Ana and Thea of The Book Smugglers. And yes, I am claiming them to be mine and yes, you can love them too. Just visit their blog and you'll see how easy it is to love them. In person? Ana and Thea are smart, gracious, funny, energetic and just as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside. As in whoa baby, so gorgeous.

I also met up with one of my fun, sweet southern girlfriends, super blogger KMont of Lurv a la Mode. So friendly and attentive to what you have to say and really... talking with KMont for the first time in person was like catching up with an old friend. So comfortable. I lurv her. Oh! And Mr. KMont tagged along, too. What a cute couple. Hearts.

I also met Angie of Angieville. By now you may have picked up that Angie is one of my favorite book bloggers ever. She not only has fantastic taste in books, but she's articulate, creative friendly and so sweet. She's all that in person too. And adorable. More love.

I also revved up a few other online acquaintances with Janicu and Lusty Reader. Not only that, but I met several other really great book blogging people like Laura and Heather... as well as Kristen and Anastasia.

I had a really wonderful time meeting these friends face to face for the first time and talking about books and whatever else. What a treat this evening was for me! I think I just soaked them all in and now I'm wishing we could get together all over again so I can savor their company some more. :)

My teen daughter and I are going to a big volleyball tournament over the long weekend--she's playing volleyball and I'm playing cheerleader and photographer. It's being held at a major university about four and a half hours away. We're leaving this afternoon and don't expect to get home until late Monday night. Kind of puts the long in long weekend. I'm bringing four books along in case I have hours of free time as my daughter runs around campus with her teammates when they're not on the court. Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn (currently half way through now), Lover Mine by J.R. Ward, Witness In Death by J.D. Robb andEcstasy Unveiled by Larissa Ione. Hopefully I'll get some reading in and maybe, if I'm lucky and I can find some wifi, I'll get a post or two up while I'm away, including the May In Death Reading Challenge round up post. If not, look for it on June 1. Either way, have a great weekend!!! :)

What are your plans for the weekend?

Clowning Around with 2 Kids and a Dog + Giveaway

A few weeks ago, I was introduced to a new-to-me blogger and YouTuber named Alexia through Kwana of Kwana Writes. I then spent the better part of an hour watching Alexia's videos and literally laughing out loud. I think you would too!

Here's a little background. Alexia is an American woman who lives in Rome with her Italian Sicilian husband and their two kids and a dog.

Alexia and her family make fun, quirky family calendars every year for their family and friends and recently decided to entertain the world with behind the scene videos of their escapades in capturing the perfect family photo. So much fun!

Please meet Alexia:



And for some clowning around :o)

... and teamwork O_o





I won a 2 Kids and a Dog Calendar from Alexia over at Kwana's blog --it's VERY cute, by the way-- and would now like to pay the fun forward and giveaway a calendar to TWO of you. I know, I know ... you probably already have your 2010 calendar by now, but you gotta see this fun and quirky calendar for yourself. Hang it by the water cooler at the office and stimulate some fun conversation.

Just leave a comment and I'll select TWO winners at random next Friday, April 30.

Giveaway open to everyone. :o)


2 Kids and A Dog blog

2 Kids and A Dog YouTube channel

The Happy, Over the Top, Superior Scribbler Awards!

I have had the honor of receiving some blogging awards from two blogging friends recently and now it's my turn to spread the blogging love. And oh my goodness, it has taken me distraction and interruption filled days to put this post together. Days!

Most of us blog because we have fun doing it and we continue to do so because we enjoy the interaction we have with our readers. Why not let your favorite bloggers know that you love what they have to share by sending one of these fine awards their way?

Over The Top Award:

Michelle of The RedHeaded Book Child blog awarded me not one, but TWO blogging awards back in November. Okay, I admit that's not really so recent. The first is the Over The Top Award and is given to blogging friends whose blogs you consider over the top, in a complimentary way, of course. As in, they are "far more than usual or expected; extraordinary." Thanks, Michelle! :)

Before passing on the award, there is a fun survey I am supposed to do using single word answers only. I tried my best, but couldn't answer them all with single words.

Your cell phone? iPhone, lifeline <--pathetic, but true.
Your hair? curly
Your mother?
Your father?
Your favorite food? desserts
Your dream last night? forgotten
Your favorite drink? coffee
Your dream/goal? to be love and be loved forever
What room are you in? family room
Your hobby? reading
Your fear? losing my husband and kids
Where do you want to be in 6 years? anywhere my husband is (awww...)
Where were you last night? home
Something that you aren't? even tempered
Muffins? yes, please.
Wish list item? new wardrobe
Where did you grow up? New Jersey, USA
Last thing you did? made coffee
What are you wearing? jeans, a comfy long sleeved t-shirt, (fake) fur lined scuffs
Your TV? home theater
Your pets? 4 cats
Friends? diverse
Your life? memoir-worthy
Your mood? roller coaster
Missing someone? my mom
Vehicle? minivan
Something you're not wearing? makeup
Your favorite store? bookstore
Your favorite color? blue ... No, red! ... I mean, green? Definitely pink. Although, lavender is nice, too ... ;)
When was the last time you laughed? today
Last time you cried? today
Your best friend? supportive
One place that you go to over and over? grocery store
Facebook? rarely
Favorite place to eat? local asian fusion place

I'm passing the Over the Top Award to the following bloggers whom I think have blogs that are over the top in an extraordinary way:

1. J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog
For all the amazing and wonderful events and giveaways she offers the book blogging community. In fact, this week I was supposed to join her and another book blogger on Twitter as we did an online read along to Megan Hart's novel Deeper. Unfortunately, I didn't get around to reading the book on time, but if you've read the book and are on twitter, check out the tagline #DEEPER and join in on the discussion.

2. Kwana of Kwana Writes
Because she always has something interesting and thought worthy to share. She's smart, sassy, very creative and makes me think and sometimes laugh.

3. KIKA of KIKA.LA
Because she's sweet, upbeat and she writes such honest and passionate reviews and other posts about books. Her exuberance is contagious!

4. Tracy of Tracy's Place, the DIK (Desert Island Keeper) blog, AND Book Binge
Yes, she really does blog at all three of these blogs. Tracy's capacity to read so much, so fast and then write book reviews for both her blog and Book Binge is way over the top to me! And she's even recruited her mom into the world of book blogging and reviewing. How cool is that?

5. Jill D. of Romance Rookie.
Because Jill consistently writes succinct, informative, reviews for almost every single book she reads. And she reads a lot. Plus she's got great taste in romance novels.

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Superior Scribbler Award:

The second award that Michelle so kindly awarded me is the Superior Scribbler Award. Thanks, Michelle!

The rules are as follows:
Post the award on your blog, linking back to the blogger who gave it to you. Pass the award onto 5 of your blogging friends who you consider superior scribblers.

I'm passing this award to the following bloggers who are superior scribblers. They have a natural way with words that is informative and smart, but also fun and friendly.

1. Brandy of Book Mom
I don't know if Brandy is going to like me putting her and her blog in the spotlight here as she's quite shy, but she's definitely a superior scribbler in my book, so I couldn't not award her this fun award. Truthfully, I only know Brandy is panic attack shy because she tells me she is, but you'd never know that by visiting her blog. She's so friendly, warm, and so kind. Brandy posts daily on her blog that she keeps like a daily journal, as she shares the goings on in her world... her cats, her family, homeschooling her kids, daily little ups and downs, what she's reading, where she shopped, what she (or her husband) made for dinner, that sort of thing. I feel like I'm a real life friend with Brandy after just a few short months of following her blog and like a friend, I come back again and again to find out what she's up to and how she's been.

2. orannia of Walkabout.
orannia is another friendly blogger who posts mostly about bookish things on her blog. She always has something interesting to discuss and she's very smart, articulate and insightful. I love when bloggers make me think.

3. Shawn of doodle thoughts
Shawn is a new blogging friend who is a superior scribbler for REAL. She scribbles and doodles for a living creating really cool graphics. But that's not how we met. Shawn and I are relatively new blogging friends brought together by our mutual new found passion for running. Her posts on running are both fun and inspiring.

4. Angie of Angieville.
Another friendly blogger (like there's any other kind?) whose book reviews constantly expand my TBR and book wish list. Angie reads young adult fiction, fantasy fiction, general fiction as well as many classics. Every now and then she even reads romance! Angie's reviews are well written informative, but are splashed with her personal voice that I never tire of hearing. Even her rare posts about her personal world and her family are well written and have this ... flourish that I love to read.

5. Carolyn Crane of The ThrillionthPage
Carolyn is smart, sassy, very creative and has a great sense of humor. She's one of the first bloggers I ever started to follow way back in early 2007 and now I'd follow her anywhere. She has a debut urban fantasy novel coming out in March 2010! Go, Carolyn!

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Happy 101 Award:

The last and most recent award I received is the Happy 101 Award from Tracy at Sugarcrafter blog. Thank you, Tracy!!!

If you haven't visited her blog before, you HAVE GOT to pop over and visit Tracy at her blog. She has the most amazing food blog, where as you might have guessed from her blog name, her blog focus is on sweet stuff! Gorgeous photos, clear instructions, delicious recipes--everything she does is so inspiring. If only we were neighbors, I would so be one of her official taste testers. And then have to run an extra 10 miles every day, for sure! ;)

I lurked at Tracy's blog for a couple of months last year and found myself visiting more and more frequently. I didn't really think about it at the time, but now I wonder if I was a lurker because I felt I came from the book blogging world and Tracy and her visitors are almost all from the food blogging world and I felt out of my league or something. Eventually, though, I couldn't resist commenting on her mouth watering, creative recipes and so I started commenting. Now Tracy's blog is a regular stop for me. I guess that's how Tracy started visiting me. It turns out she likes me and my blog, too! :)

The rules for the Happy 101 Award are:

Copy the award image into a post.
List 10 things that make you happy.
Tag 10 bloggers who brighten your day.
Put in a link to their blogs.
Notify the award receivers.
Recipients should link back to the sender’s blog.

Ten things that make me happy:
1. My husband
2. Our children
3. Our four cats <-- when they're not throwing up somewhere or missing the litter box or trying to bolt out the door. *sigh*

4. Being healthy.

5. Having a comfortable, welcoming home.

6. Reading!

7. Running <-- I know. I can't believe it, either.

8. Growing things. <--Children, flowers, vegetables... Not mold in the bathroom.

9. Creating things. <--cooking, baking, photography, crafts, etc...

10. Visiting National Parks <--Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Arches, Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon...

This is crazy hard to do, because I subscribe to upwards of 150 blogs via RSS feeds and visiting each and every one of you is special and makes me happy. Just want to make that clear. ;)

I'm passing this award to the following bloggers whose blogs I probably visit most frequently these days. In no particular order,

1. Leslie of Leslie's Psyche
She reads a lot of the same books I'm interested in, writes honest reviews, occasionally throws in a personal post here and there, and she has actually tried one of my recipes that I posted on my blog! And no one in her family got sick. Well, at least she didn't tell me they did. LOL.

2. Hilcia of Impressions of a Reader
Hilcia had been a regular commenter in romance book blogging for a while, and finally started her own blog last year. Yay! She's reads books across several very diverse genres (not just romance) and blogs about them.

3. nath of Books, Books and more Books
Nath is a sweetheart. Always upbeat, even when she's ranting--gotta love that-- and I love the way she almost always includes a smattering of tidbits from her personal life in her posts. I like getting to know my fellow book bloggers like that.

4. Lori of Living in the House of Testosterone
With a blog title like that, you know you're going to be entertained, right? Lori blogs about living with her three boys (including husband) and her male dog! Poor Lori. LOL. Lots of funny anecdotes from her family life that will make you laugh and sometimes go "awwww..."!

5. Amy of Romance Bookwyrm
Amy has eased up on the frequency of her blog posts and even her blog hopping and commenting in recent months, but I'm always happy when I see she has posted on her blog. Amy's an avid fan of romance and fantasy fiction, and you can't help but 'catch' her passion and enthusiasm for the books she reads.

6. Lisa of Books, Lists, Life
I think Lisa and I found each other's blogs way back when we were both participating in Keishon's 2008 TBR Challenge, exchanging an occasional comment here and there. Then last fall, I don't know, we just started paying closer attention to each other. Now I visit Lisa's blog a few times a week and sometimes chat via email.

7. Natalie of Reading 2 Learn
Natalie started her blog just a few short weeks ago, inspired to do so upon joining the In Death Reading Challenge. She has already read the first few In Death books and has written some very insightful posts about the series. Stop by her blog and say hello to this enthusiastic newcomer to the book blogging world.

8. Michelle of Read Headed Book Child
Michelle commented on my blog one day last fall, we clicked and the rest, they say, is history. We're both love books, organic fruits and vegetables and the Spellman series by Lisa Lutz. LOL That's the foundation of our friendship, but we just clicked in a way like we've been friends for a long time.

9. azteclady of Karen Knows Best
When I see the an email from azteclady in my Inbox, it makes me happy. If it's an email notification for comment she's left on my blog, it makes me happy. If it's a personal email? Ecstatic. She's smart, kind, funny, and so supportive. She's a kind friend who always seems to know exactly what to say to make me smile, encourage me, or feel good about something.

10. Lea of Closetwriter
Not only does Lea write some of the best romance reviews out there (especially for paranormal, romantic suspense and erotic romance genres), but she is definitely one of the kindest and most generous bloggers I know. Generous with her time to help bloggers with their html code, generous with her time leaving comments on posts even if the topic is not her cup of tea, and generous with sharing books through giveaways. She's also one of the first ones likely to send me an email just to say "Hi, how are you," if (when) I drop out of the blogosphere for a spell. She's a sweetheart.

I could seriously keep listing bloggers who deserve the Happy 101 Award, but this post will turn into the post that never ends if I do that, so ....

The end. :)

What kind of blogger are you?

I saw this blog analyzer called The Typealyzer over at Jace's blog called Jace Scribbles. [Jace also has a second blog titled Jace Makes where she blogs about things she crafts such as beautiful book thongs, book marks, and other items made from paper, beads, and embroidery floss. She even opened an Etsy shop! Very cool.]

Jace's results indicated that she one of The Doers type bloggers: the active and playful type. She thought the description was a really accurate assessment, so I thought I'd give it a go. The easiest part is that it isn't even a poll. You just need to enter the url of your blog and the program analyzes your blog content.

This is what came up for me, and I have to say, I believe it is quite accurate for me, as well.




The Artists

The gentle and compassionate type. They are especially attuned their inner values and what other people need. They are not friends of many words and tend to take the worries of the world on their shoulders. They tend to follow the path of least resistance and have to look out not to be taken advantage of.

They often prefer working quietly, behind the scene as a part of a team. They tend to value their friends and family above what they do for a living.

What kind of blogger are you? Do you think your results are an accurate indicator of your blogging type? Visit The Typealyzer and find out! 

My Blog Anniversary!

I just realized that today is my one year blogging anniversary!!! I knew it was close, but actually had it in my head that it was on New Year's Eve. Good thing I was reviewing some old posts and noticed the correct date of my first post. 

I guess I just want to say that it's been fun blogging and getting to know readers from all over the world who share my passion for similar genres. I appreciate everyone who reads and comments on my blog. This venture wouldn't be nearly as much fun as it is if I didn't know there were people interested in what I have to say.

Cheers! :)