Sunday, September 7, 2014

MY FIRST BLOGOVERSARY CELEBRATION + GIVEAWAYS!!!!



I cannot believe it has been one year since I accidentally created this blog trying to authenticate a Rafflecopter entry for one of author A.G. Howard's giveaways. Let's CELEBRATE and have some cake!!


I was like, "Huh, wha... I have a blog?" I figured as long as I had it, I would use it. It was one of the best decisions, ever!!



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This was my first blog post...

"I am well into a Words With Friends (Strangers) addiction, and I am letting it cut into my reading time; someone please help me ..."

This was my first gif usage..


Which by the way, weirdly and coincidentally, fits my gif theme today.
(I always have a theme for my post gifs) 

This was my first masthead...


Yeah... I know, blergh.
The second one was much better.



My antique book background has been the same since day one.

*About the "strange cookies" quote that appears both here and on my current masthead. Once I bought really cheap cookies, you know, the kind that come in a large cardboard box (and taste like the box). My son, who was four at the time, told me never to buy those "strange cookies" again.
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Because the wonderful A.G. Howard was the reason I had this blog, I made sure my maiden voyage book review was for the first novel in her Wonderland trilogy.


See the 4 1/2 STAR review, HERE.

A.G. figures into a lot of my bookish pursuits, so in honor of this, she, Wonderland, and her Splintered books will be a large part of my Grand Prize Package!
(A.G. has even contributed an audiobook of the second Splintered novel, Unhinged)

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This next book and author were my first experience with a blog tour and interview.


The author Joe Kipling (who is a lovely lady, btw) is a fellow Potterhead and Ravenclaw I met through a friend on the internet, so when I heard she had written a book, I bought it in support of my Hogwart's housemate. I was thrilled (and relieved) this YA Dystopian was fab, and unique from other dystopian stories. You can view the character interview, HERE, which also contains a link to my blog review. Funny enough, A.G. also had her fingers in this blog event, too. She gave me the idea for doing a character interview, and I stole one of her character interview questions, "What makes life worth living?"

I am honoring Joe and Blinded by the Light with a "Brit Pack" giveaway, which includes her novel in paperback, and a BbtL bookmark. Thank-you for the book donation, Joe!


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My first six months of blogging felt like this...


But despite Blogger, and Fhkeindle the Kindle demon, I feel pretty well settled now. This is all due in part to Octavia from Read.Sleep.Repeat., answering my newbie blogger questions, (mostly via Twitter), and my fellow Skullblogger, Brittersweet, from Please Feed the Bookworm, buddying up with me to take on the quest of unraveling the mystery of successful book blogging (by any means possible). SKULLBLOGGERY!!!! Again, another A.G. connection; I met Britter through the Splintered fanclub boards on Goodreads.

*wuzzies*
(warm fuzzies)

There is also a SKULLBLOGGERY prize pack, up for grabs, to honor my BBB,B (Best Blogging Buddy, Brittersweet). It includes a copy of the *wuzzies* tote I made for her.




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THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED

1. I wanted at least ten followers before I did my first review. I waited and waited for ten followers, so I could review Splintered in good conscience, but I won an ARC of the second novel, Unhinged, and needed to get it reviewed before I reviewed Unhinged.

2. I wanted 10,000 blog views before my blogoversary. As you can see I fell short of this number by about 600 views. I don't feel too bad though because at current rates that is less than one month's views and I have never done any giveaways before this one.

3. I wanted to do a guest post on another blog. I know, I know, Britter... you asked me to do a guest post on your blog, but because you are my bestie it doesn't count.


THINGS THAT DID HAPPEN

1. I was included in a blog tour.

2. I received a Liebster Award.

3. I started a feature. I co-host Tell Me TuEsDaY with my clever Skullbloggery buddy, Britter. She came up with the idea after a brain-frying Armchair BEA Twitter party. We even have one feature follower: Pili from In Love with Handmade, as well as several bloggers who comment regularly.

4. I have made tons of bookish friends. I have met 100s of wonderful bloggers, authors, and readers because of this blog. 



THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN

1. I need to get all of the four and five star rated books, I have read in the last year or so, reviewed here on the blog.

2. I need to do a review index.

3. I need to do an archived post content index.

4. I need to do more giveaways.

5. I need to fill out my "about" page. It is an empty space.




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Okay, now let's get on to the GIVEAWAYS!!!!


First I want to say that somehow all of the givie packs ended up having some kind of tea in them, but I guess this is apropos seeing that the Grand Prize package is Wonderland themed and we also have the Brit Pack.


The first givie is only for international followers.
(Includes tea for two of my two favorite teas)



The Skullbloggery prize pack is open to both US and Canadian followers.
(Includes tea for two of the two teas I suggested for Britter, the non tea drinker)


As soon as I get around to it I will replace this with a photo of the prize pack items.

THE BRIT PACK - US ONLY
(includes a box of Joe's favorite tea)


* Just so you know... the holographic Scholastic collectors' Harry Potter bookmark in this pack is going for $16.00 on eBay.
HERE IT IS... so pretty.




GRAND BLOGOVERSARY PRIZE PACK
*US ONLY*

Assorted Wonderland swag that includes a bookplate signed by A.G. Howard


I will also be adding one or two surprise items to this Wonderland swag.

A box of A.G.'s favorite tea.

A ribbon bag of my favorite reading tea.


I was introduced to this tea by a The Leaky Cauldron Harry Potter social site, friend, Xyra, via her American Girl's Doll blog, Tea Time with Melody Q. She occasionally reviews books and regularly taste tests teas (say that ten times fast). Xyra is quite a tea purest, and I love knowing I make her squirm when I say I make this blackcurrant tea with sugar and HALF & HALF!! Prepared this way it tastes like liquid candy. Yum.



A.G. introduced me to my new imaginary boyfriend Miles Mcmillan. Now, she did have him posted as a possibility for Morpheus, and we all know I am a die-hard Jebutaunte. However, she now seems settled and content with Ezra Miller (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) for the mothy guy, so I have stolen Miles for my skaterboy Jeb.


Anyway, because of dream boy Miles, I am in including a paperback copy of Dream Boy.




A $10.00 Amazon giftcard with which I hope you will buy Splintered by A.G. Howard if you don't own it already.



And last, but certainly not least, 
an audiobook of Unhinged, the second book in A.G.'s Wonderland trilogy. Thank-you bunches for adding this to the giveaway, Anita!! *wuzzies*


You can read my review of Unhinged, HERE.

*THE GIVIE RULES*
1. You must be 13 years of age or older.
2. NO CHEATING!! I will check every entry. If you cheat you will be immediately removed from all of the giveaways.
3. Only one contestant per household.
4. Prizes will not be sent to P.O. boxes.
5. I will not be responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen items. The larger packages automatically have tracking and insurance, so be sure to inform me of missing or damaged items.  
6. You will have 72 hours to claim your prize after notification, or another winner will be chosen.

*ALSO REMEMBER*
The Skullbloggery prize pack is US and CANADA. I forgot to put that on the Rafflecopter.

*THE GRAND PRIZE IS US ONLY*

ATTENTION: If you already follow by any of the options, or have the featured books on your Goodreads shelves you are entitled to those entries, just leave the authentication information.

I HAVE ADDED EXTRAS TO THE SKULLBLOGGERY PACK 



a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner of the GRAND PRIZE is Lupe B. This being my first Rafflecopter experience I accidentally hit disqualify on her Random.com announcement, so it is not showing up on the Rafflecopter. Congratulations to all the winners!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

DID YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT MY GIF THEME IS?




NOM NOM NOM



50 comments:

  1. Happy first blogoversary, La La! And many happy returns!
    ~Litha Nelle

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    1. Thank-you so much. When I first started I didn't know if I would continue, but I love the book blogging community with all of my heart. Thanks for dropping in. :)

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  2. I am so proud of you!! Congrats on your first year ( u look great for a year hehe) cheers to many more skullbloggin adventures to come!!! *wuzzies*

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  3. Happy Blogoversary and, might I add, your place looks MAHVELOUS. <3

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    1. Thank-you A.G. I have you to thank for all of this, ha ha!! Also, If you weren't such a sweet and fan-involved author I probably wouldn't have hung out at the "Splinteted Clubhouse" as much on Goodreads and I probably would not have met Britter. She is my blogging soul mate, we have so much in common, and Kaleb has brought me so many smiles. Lotsa luff and *wuzzies*

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    2. Yay! I'm so happy I had any hand at all in bringing together two such awesome ladies and that they became besties is just icing on the cake. :)

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  4. YAY!! HAPPIEST OF HAPPY BLOGOVERSARIES LA LA!! So happy to have met you and count you as one of my bloggy friends! I cannot wait till we meet in BEA 2015!!

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    1. Luff you Pili!! You are such a brave follower of our TMT feature. I know, BEA is going to be brilliant with all three of us there. If A.G. and Bethany are there, my head will explode, well maybe my heart first, and then I won't have to worry about losing my mind. *wuzzies*

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    2. I might just die of happiness at BEA meeting bloggy friends and awesome authors or maybe just have an emotional breakdown and cry all over everyone!! *squishes*

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    3. I have started a BEA packing list on my notepad, I will add lots of travel size tissue packets to it. :)

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  5. Okay. I love you even more. Splintered is my favorite book of all time! I love love love A.G. Howard. I'm afraid we're on different teams though. I'm totally on Team Morpheus. Haha! And I totally approve of Ezra Miller being the moth. XD And I have been quite a small blogger too when I reached my first year. I think that you accomplished a lot. And I think what's important is that you're happy. Plus I can see that you've made a lot of friends. A.G. Howard is just the sweetest, isn't she? I wish I was in the US so that I could win stuff from her. Haha! But anyway, happy blogoversary. This is certainly a wonderful celebration. And I'm sure we can arrange a guest post of some sorts. Contact me. ;) Haha

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    1. Thank-you Francine, you are one of my fave bloggers and I am happy I have connected with you through the bookish community. I think because of the way my blog started I am more relaxed and freeform with it, and that is why I am still happily blogging. Yes, Anita is a doll and she is so helpful, too. She has answered many of my author interaction questions and saved me from making a fool of myself more than once. Lol. I will get in touch about guest posting. How exciting! Thank- you for dropping by. :)

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    2. I've missed you Francine! So nice to see your pretty face. :)

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  6. Happy blogversary!!! I think you've done awesomely well! I had like 5 followers by the time my blog turned 1. ;-) And I had noooo idea how to write good reviews or even use gifs. So you're just amazing!

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  7. Aww... thanks, Cait!! Well, you've made up for it because I look up to you and your blog. I absolutely love your sense of humor. I don't like being serious around here either. Thank-you for stopping into the celebration. :)

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  8. Thank-you so much. I was noticing that myself. Maybe the back-to-school atmosphere spurs people to think about books. Thanks for the visit. I love seeing new faces. :)

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  9. Stumbled on your blog thanks to A.G. Howard herself posting about this! Just had to say happy first blogiversary!

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  10. Thank-you so much! I love stumble ins. Come back and visit, again. :)

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  11. I read your first review. It's awesome. I would say I'm probably a mothling- I think. Congrats on all your success!

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    Replies
    1. Morpheus is very mesmerizing to a lot of readers! Thanks for stopping by. :)

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  12. She learned there are gray areas in life. Things are not always black and white. Happy Blog anniversary!

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  13. theme is classics? XD or childhood movies? :D

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  14. Hmmm... :D Thank-you for stopping by the celebration.

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  15. MaryAnn answered family and friends. Peter said he has no family, so just friends. Congrats on your blogoversary!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank-you! Yes, and that would be my answer, too, if I was asked that question. :)

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  16. I accidentally entered the International Only giveaway!! I swear, I don't know what is with me lately; I seem to miss all the words in CAPS!! I don't know where my head is at :( Anyway, I hit "edit" and changed my email address to an explanation of how I accidentally did this and please ignore my entry into it, but I just wanted to make sure that it does not count as cheating!! I'm sorry.

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    1. I could not figure out how to delete my entry, hence the explanation.

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    2. Ha ha, that is perfectly fine. My feature co-host and I are always doing those oops Rafflecopter entries, too, so you are not alone. :)

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  17. My loved ones make life worth living (and this includes my animals!!). And books. Can't forget books :)

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    1. Yes, I would add books to my answer, too. Thank-you so much for stopping in to celebrate. :)

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  18. I'm a new follower, and just started following this blog because of this giveaway, but looking at your stuff I CANNOT BELIEVE I haven't heard of you before! Everything looks lovely! Congrats on your first blogoversary!
    ~ Natasha @ Natasha's Little World

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  19. Welcome! Thank-you for dropping in to celebrate. I have enjoyed hearing from everybody. :)

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  20. Happy Blogoversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    *chucks confetti into the air*
    In response to A.G Howard's interview question, family friends definitely, but on the other hand, books. XD

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    Replies
    1. Everyone wants to add books!! Ha! Thanks for stopping in. I hope you will come back and visit again. :)

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  21. Happy Blogoversary!!
    Awesomeness!
    Statement; "Leave a comment on the Splintered by A.G. Howard review post telling us if you are a Mothling, a Jebutaunte, or on the fence." I'm a Mothling most definitely. Don't even need to think long. Yes, I like Jeb. but I LOVE Morpheus so much more.

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    1. The link to the review is under the image of the Splintered bookcover right here in this post. :)

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    2. Thank-you for visiting, btw. Come back soon. :)

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  22. Hm, that's a difficult question, but for myself what I would consider having made my life worth living is if I change the world positively in some way and have moments within my life that I can enjoy for myself.

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    1. Wow, that's wonderful. I wish I had been thinking of that. We all need to take the time to think of others, too. Thank-you for stopping by and I hope you will come and visit again. :)

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Thank-you for dropping by! I love to chat, so comments get a lot of love.