My year 2011

Although I only started my blog in May I did have some form of life before that!

I want to say thank you to all the lovely friends who have read this blog and a special thank you to the friends I've made through writing this blog.

Thank you to all my Twitter friends who read my tweets and don't find me too annoying!

2011 has been a very fun year with lots going on, which includes the following:

Passing my driving test and buying a car.

Going to one of my best friends wedding.

Getting to see my other best friend 2 times this year! (it's usually only once every 2 years!).

Becoming close to a friend I lost a while ago.

Graduating university.

Beginning to use Twitter and meeting such great bloggers and authors, while doubling my book collection!

Going to Amsterdam!

Getting engaged!!

Lots of great things and I can't wait for next year to see what that brings.

I hope you all have a great night and celebrate in style!

Love Steffikins x x

Merry Xmas!

Hello all!

Well today is my Christmas (my mums side of the family is Swedish so we celebrate on the 24th!) And tomorrow I will be celebrating English Christmas with ESPs family.

I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and can't wait to see all the sparkly new books people get! I already have a few I can't wait to share!

Love you all!

Steffikins

IMM (#16) 18/12/11

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren as a way of showing off our addiction to books every week. You can learn more about this here. 

The Winning Team

Last night was my friends great idea of "Pre-Christmas". This was started six years ago as a way for everyone to meet up, share presents and have a mini Christmas before the group split off to go home to their families, which involves lots and lots and lots of games and drinking!! Last night was my first time attending...and I am really feeling it today...However everyone there knows my love of books...so I have lots to share with you!!

Won
The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
Terminator Salvation - Greg Cox

I won the Hunger Games!! And already have 2 people at the party begging to borrow them once I've finished and that's purely off the blurb on the back of the first one! Mike won Terminator in pass-the-parcel and gave it to me as he is never going to read it...not sure I will either but I never say never!

Gifted (all by Nikki!)
13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson
Tweet Treats - Jane Travers (compiled and Edited)
A Modern Girls Guide to Getting Hitched - Sarah Ivens


Yey pretty books!! Tweet treats is really funny, plus our lovely Keris is in it! can't wait to read more of it and find some amazing recipes in 140 characters!

I may need to explain the last book...On Thursday night the ESP (Ever-Suffering-Partner) proposed! Using a giant sackboy toy and a very pretty Star Ring (we are big geeks...and it is defenitiley something memorable!)  =] So hopefully this book will come in useful as I have no clue where to start! Miss Raimy will also need to read this...She's going to be one making sure I get my butt down the aisle!

If anyone knows any wedding blogs let me know, will need all the help I can get!

T.G.I.F. Friday, Dec. 2nd - Writing Reviews 101

TGIF is hosted by Ginger from GReads!

Friday, Dec. 2nd - Writing Reviews 101: What's your process for writing book reviews? Any tips or suggestions you would recommend to other bloggers?

I don't really have a process per say...

If I'm on a reading streak and have read 3 or more books in a weekend (It has happened!!) then I will write mini post it notes with random words and phrases that have popped into my head while reading. I try to sit with a note book next to me as I read but then I find myself writing the review before I've even finished reading the book!

I try to just use the small little notes as prompts and mainly go off my main instincts and thoughts on a book. I try to be critical but sometimes you cant just help gushing about certain books and I know I'm the worst at it! 

Any hints people can give me so that I have a more organised reviewing process?

IMM (#15) 27/11/11

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren as a way of showing off our addiction to books every week. You can learn more about this here.


I'm bacccck!

So I've vanished this month...In this month I had a week in Amsterdam (lovely place!) and then I had my undergraduate graduation event (see pic...) and thennn my laptop blew up!

Currently writing this on the partners home office computer...it smells funny in this office and there is a lot of paperwork everywhere! He also doesn't use a mouse, and prefers a graphics tablet at pen...that makes it interesting trying to click, copy and paste!

On to the books!

So this is over two weeks:

Bought
Eve - Anna Carey
Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
Della Says OMG - Keris Stainton (not pictured because its been lent to the sister in law!!)


I've heard a lot about Eve, and it really excited me at first but I tried to read little reviews and so far I'm really enjoying it! Della was polished off in around 2 hours with lots of giggling very loudly and getting weird looks off the in laws!

ReaditSwapit
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (and other stories) - F.Scott Fitzgerald


So I always thought that Benjamin Button was an epic novel to make a 3 hour epic film in which very little happened (I didn't enjoy it!) but I now find out it is only 20 pages long! Neeedless to say a little miffed with ReaditSwapit as the person declared it was only that story and I feel a little cheated out of a £40 text book! But Oh Well,...Free Book!

In the entire laptop saga, I have been attempting to write posts on my phone, to then edit them at work or using Mikes computer so hopefully that will work till I get a new computer next week!

Can't wait to see what everyone else got in their mailbox! And if anyone can advise any graduation novels please can you let me know? =D

Love Always!

Steffi xx

T.G.I.F. Friday, Nov. 25th - When You're Not Reading

TGIF is hosted by Ginger from GReads!

Friday, Nov. 25th - When You're Not Reading: What occupies your time when your nose isn't stuck in a book?

Recently I have been doing a whole lot of nothing! Or at least it feels that way!! 

I've actually just been on holiday and before and after that I've been cleaning, packing, sorting out stuff at my office and then cross stitching! 

I am currently cross stitching Christmas cards for my nearest and dearest and then will begin to get on with all the cooking I do for Christmas (I make lots of chutneys and cakes as presents)!! 

Mainly I'd say if I'm not reading, I'm watching TV,  cuddling my cats, watching the partner play whatever new game he has, or cackling with my Girls...but I always come running back to reading!!

Poorly laptop

So I sat down today all ready to write 5 reviews (yes its been a while...)and smoke starts coming out my laptop...!

Hopefully I should be able to get some up tomorrow but I am very sorry I have vanished again!