Hi everyone! This is my first year participating in Armchair BEA, I'm pretty excited to see what it's all about. The organizers have asked that we answer five questions, so here we go:
1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? I am a wife, a mom, a crafter, a blogger, and a life long reader. My husband was transferred shortly after the birth of our third child and I've been a stay at home mom ever since. I have three kids: The Pirate is 7, the Bug is 4, and the Princess is fast approaching 2. I have a small Etsy shop, a twitter acount, a Pinterest account, and blog sporadically over here. We live in a small town in the middle of nowhere- Pierre, SD. We do not have a Starbucks, a chain bookstore, or a Wendy's. I was born and raised in Alabama and graduated from Auburn University but I've been in South Dakota for ten years this summer, so now it feels like home. I started blogging five and a half years ago as a place to talk about books. As time has gone on, I've written fewer and fewer book reviews, but I keep blogging.
2. What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012? I am currently reading The Stand for Trish's Standalong. I am incapable of reading just one book at a time though, so I'm sure that any minute now I'll start something to go with it. Every Friday I post a bunch of random stuff about my week that ends with a section on what I read that week. Feel free to page through them.
3. Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. I am a complete slob about my car. It is disgusting how full of trash and toys and papers and other crap it is. I want to care, but I just don't.
4. Where do you see your blog in five years? Pretty much right where it is now. I'd love to have the time and energy to make it into something successful, and if I'm honest, I'd like to make a little money on it, but I just don't seem to have that drive.
5. Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How? I've done pretty much the opposite of everyone else. I read less literary fiction and "serious" books and more romance and young adult. I find with three small kids I just don't have the attention span for books that make me think. I don't mind this at all, I've always loved romance, and I assume that one day I'll branch out again.
I have to laugh, my van is a mess too. In fact we had a friend of my youngest's over for the night and he said "my mom said her van was a garbage can, she would call yours a dumpster" out of the mouths of babes (he's 7). Made me feel terrible for about 5 minutes and then I moved on. And now I feel a kinship with you and you are halfway across the country :)
ReplyDeleteI'm also new to your blog but will definitely be back! Hope you enjoy the Stand. I read it about 15 years ago and loved it, keep wanting to read it again, but too many books demand my attention. Have a great Armchair BEA!
Mine would be a dumpter. It's SO awful, but there's always better things to do with my time than clean out the car.
DeleteI read The Stand in high school, but since Trish asked, I'll read it again.
Oh, girl we have a lot in common! My car is usually a mess. With two children and no time to breath between daycare, work, daycare, home it's one of the lowest priorities on my list!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't read books that make me think either! I read to escape the norm. I like your weekly catch up post. I wish I had the urge to do those too but it would never stick. :)
Here's my Armchair BEA post for today!
Books are supposed to let you get away not make you think :) I've never been into literary fiction and feel guilty for a second when someone mentions classics, then I get over it.
ReplyDeleteI don't drive but my chauffeur (sister) is a slob too. She has been planning on moving for a year and keeps her possessions in boxes in her car.
ReplyDeleteMy car is also a disaster area. I blame the kids ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I also definitely gravitate more towards the YA, even though I'm an adult, for exactly the reasons you mentioned!
Pleased to meet you! Here's my Armchair BEA Intro Post.
Oh it's totally the kid's fault! Thanks for stopping by, I'm off to check yours.
DeleteThe Stand is one of my all-time favorite books, I hope you're enjoying it even if it is a huge beast of a book!:P
ReplyDeleteNina
My introduction post
I am so excited about Armchair BEA because it helps me find blogs like yours. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I was writing my post for Wednesday, but now I am back to visiting other BEA participants!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!!
I'm also leaning more towards romance and YA as I encounter enough 'serious' stuff in my line of work! Reading for me can be total escapism and I love that! With 3 kids asking for your attention I can totally get why you'd read those 'lighter' genres :)
ReplyDeleteI recently 'spring cleaned' my car. It looks much better now. The guys son informed me it smells funny, though. I should have left it dirty, I guess. I do get annoyed with how people in the backseat tend to kick the mats under the front seat and make all the mess on the carpet, though. It sort of defeats the purpose of the mats in the first place!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree about the fun books... I mean, I read more serious ones now than I have in the past, but I still really love the lighter ones because I find they're easier to concentrate on.
ReplyDeleteI'm a car slob too. WE're in good company together. OH, and I totally called you out in my vlog today. Huzzah! :-P
ReplyDeleteNah--I've seen several people mention they read more YA these days than they did before. I guess I do, too.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that you aren't a book monogamist! I guess I probably should have known that because you always have so many books going at once. Ha!
Slobs in the car, UNITE! I found some old ranch packets the other day in there and trust me, no idea when they migrated out to my car. Totally embarrassing and definitely not ok for human consumption. :) HA!
ReplyDeleteIt was so nice to meet you! Armchair BEA @ the Brunette Librarian
Hey we started out in a tent. A pop up sounds great. Thanks for visiting. I hope you have a great BEA. Looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. I'm actually a book behind in The Hollows right now plus I want to read The Hollows Insider. They are sitting on the bookshelf in my bedroom mocking me along with all the other books that I don't have time to get to.
ReplyDeleteI have never been able to read more than one book at the same time! When I worked and listened to audio books while driving, I could have one print and one audio going but that is it.
I adore your Etsy shop! It is always wonderful to meet crafty bookish bloggers!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, I'd like to make some money from my blog but don't have the drive either.
ReplyDeleteI used to be really good at keeping the car clean but since having The Girl it's not a priority.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog! I don't know if I could survive without a Starbucks. I'm a sorry excuse for a human being. Thank goodness I got a Keurig. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to check out your Pinterest page too!
I think everyone is answering they want their blog right where they are now! I think I have enough work as it is ;-) Thank you for stopping by the blog!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that you are reading The Stand!! That is my favorite book of all time!! I did not know about The Standalong! I think I will probably reread it every 10 years or so. I hope that you love it!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand about reading more YA and romance books! I am the same way. Other bloggers just get the word out there and open me up to so many great books and most of them are YA! I know what you mean about having kids and not wanting to have to read books that make you think, I feel the same way!
Nice to meet you! The Stand is one of my favorites, I should check out the readalong (why are there never readalongs when I actually want to read something?) Enjoy Armchair BEA!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you. Like you, this is my 1st year participating and loving it. So many new bloggers and blogs.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy THE STAND! I listened to it on audio earlier this year - it was my first Stephen King - and absolute adored it!! I want to read it again, and that's saying something for such a large novel!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of the week!
I still don't read a lot of heavy literature, although I occasionally try to slot one in. I think having children causes a massive loss of brain cells, not to mention all that running around sucks away your time. :)
ReplyDeleteI guess I haven't been here in a while! I had no idea your Princess was so close to 2, already! Wow! And, you went to Auburn? Cool. That's maybe a 3-4 hour drive from us. Lots of friends have sent their kids to Auburn.
I did go to Auburn. I'd love to take my husband and kids down to visit but I think it's changed a lot. And yes, she'll be two at the end of August.
DeleteHi, thanks for stopping by my blog! There is nothing wrong with reading more YA, that is basically all I read now! ;-D
ReplyDeleteWhen you have three little kids are there are so many times they have to eat in the car and there is so much gear that has to be hauled around with them, who has time to really care? Someday when they're all grown up!
ReplyDeleteMy car was looking REALLY bad for awhile there but I finally took the time to clean it out. Made me feel less like a hoarder as that is what the car was starting to look like (kidding..kinda). Yay for reading The Stand (and being behind on it together)!!
ReplyDeleteMy car is a huge mess too. I always pledge that I'm going to keep it clean... but I never do.
ReplyDeleteAbout the car thing... I am fine with stuff being in the car all week and then I tidy it up on the weekend, but my future husband is a neat freak so I've gotten a lot better about keeping the car tidy. It's hard work when all I want to do is throw that candy wrapper on the floor of the back seat, but I know that he will get frustrated to see it there. LOL
ReplyDeleteThough the car does get very messy during long car trips... it's inevitable. :)