April 30, 2009

My lucky week

I am either getting luckier, or I am entering a ton of giveaways. I won two more books. One from Goodreads, and another from LDS author Jennie Hansen. Notes from Jennie's desk has giveaways twice a month, and I enter every time. I am super excited. You know what I've noticed though? I never win if it's a book that I am dying to own. Go figure, but hey, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I am happy to win any giveaway. While I'm thinking about it, what would happen if you looked a gift horse in the mouth? Would it eat you? Who came up with that phrase anyway?

What's the best thing you've ever won in a giveaway?

Look deep in that mouth.
Did you find anything there?
Empty Pinata.

Giveaways

I just wanted to alert you to a new addition to the left sidebar. I'm keeping links to current giveaways I'm entered in. Featured now is Melissa's Bookshelf 100 followers giveaway. Go enter!

Coolest Phobias

I left a comment last Sunday on the Normal Mormon Husbands blog about my fear of the Bishop sitting in on my Sunday School lesson (which he happened to do last Sunday as well). Now I am in a poll against other Normal Mormon Husbands commentators for the coolest phobia. I am up against a Muppet phobia, parallel parking phobia, getting killed in the shower phobia, and an underside of the wrists phobia. Please go vote for me!! The poll is in the sidebar. I also have a fear of losing on polls. Seriously, who gets scared of the underside of their wrists? I think I can relate to the Muppet phobia. Has anyone ever seen The Dark Crystal? It was freakish.

Frightful Phobias -
Things that turn men into mice.
I'm afraid of mice.

What are you afraid of?

April 29, 2009

Classics Update

Just an update on my Classics Challenge.

I have now finished Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. The review is up over at The Joy of Reading book blog.

I have started Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I am on page 143 of 403 pages (Barnes and Noble books New York). I have until May 5th to finish this book, as it is due back a the library. I better get reading.

Oh shoot, unfortunately no haiku this time. I am needed elsewhere at the moment. Thanks for playing, thanks for staying. I don't know what that really means, but it rhymed.

P.S. Go watch the movie, 17 Again with Zac Efron and Matthew Perry. It is flippin' hilarious.

April 24, 2009

We'll Miss You Cousin Tim

Cossacks, Clowns, Dancers,
Trapezers, Daredevils, All-
We will all miss Tim.


Our family recently had some sad news. My mom's cousin, Tim Holst, passed away while talent scouting in Brazil. He was a long time employee of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. While I didn't have too many memories with Cousin Tim, I did have a special memory of hanging out with him at a family reunion in Lava Hot Springs, ID. Those were a few magical days where he treated a few of us cousins to a good time. I think that is what I most remember about him, how generous he was. In fact, this past Oct. when the circus was in Salt Lake City, Tim organized a huge party for the family members in the area. We had a decorated Suite with a luncheon, and the circus clowns did a meet and greet and pre-performance for us. Not only that, but we all had tickets for the show, and the seats were really good. It was an awesome time, and we always get excited when Tim and the Circus come to town. We are surely going to miss him. Glenn Collins wrote an article about Tim in The New York Times, if anyone wants to read more about him click the link.








The Obituary:
Timothy J. Holst
Oct. 9, 1947 - April 16, 2009

Timothy J. Holst of Sarasota died April 16, 2009.
A public memorial service is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Hyatt Regency-Sarasota, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota. A public viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Farley Funeral Home, Venice Chapel. A private funeral service for his family and LDS community will be held on Monday in Sarasota.
Interment will follow in the Venice Memorial Gardens in the "Garden of the Cross" area.
Timothy J. Holst died April 16 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Born on Oct. 9, 1947, in Galesburg, Ill., the second son of Francis Paul and Constance Lindbloom Holst, Tim Holst graduated from high school there in 1965. He studied as a drama major at Ricks College (Brigham Young University-Idaho), where he won honors for leadership and acting while earning an associate degree.
Serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Holst spent the next two and a half years in the Stockholm, Sweden, Mission.
In 1969, Holst resumed his studies as a theater major at Utah State University (USU) in Logan, Utah. While earning acclaim for major roles performing at a summer playhouse, Holst was encouraged to apply for admission to the famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in Venice.
Following graduation and a successful audition, Holst began his long 37-year love affair with the circus as a performing clown, singing ringmaster, performance director, production coordinator and, most recently, vice president of talent and production for all circus productions of Feld Entertainment, the show's owner, a position he held at the time of his death.
It was a personal source of pride that he ultimately earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from USU. A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Holst was currently serving as executive secretary of the Lakewood Ranch Ward in Sarasota.
A beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Tim is loved and missed by so many.
Holst was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Constance Holst.
He is survived by his three children, Megan Holst of Marblehead, Mass., Adrienne Holst of Dallas and Matthew Holst of Dallas; brother Thomas (Holly) Holst of Luanda, Angola; sister Sandra Cordon of Salt Lake City; nephew Paul Cordon of Miami; and grandson Benjamin Holst of Marblehead.

April 23, 2009

I'm still kickin'

What do you know, this post isn't about a giveaway (well, a new one anyway). Actually, I felt the urge to post, even though I have nothing much to post about.

I have been sewing today. I'm making a twin sized quilt for my son. It is Wall-E and Cars themed. I have finished sewing the blocks together. The next step is to find some fabric for the backing and a border around the front. I also will be needing some batting and some yarn to tie it. It will be super cute when it's done. I'll post pictures too, when all is finished.

I am still trying to catch up on my library books. I have quite a few checked out right now, and I haven't been making myself read as much. Bad girl! I have finished City of Glass by Cassandra Clare, and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I have yet to get my reviews written though. I read Little Women for my Classics Challenge. Yippee! The book I am currently reading is Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke. So far our victim has died. Now to find out how, who, and why.

Entering giveaways paid off for me this week. I won two ARCs from The Bluestocking Society. They arrived in the mail today. Oh the joy! They are titled Rainy Day Rescue by Inda Schaenen and The Quarter Horse Foal by Inda Schaenen. They are part of the Saddle Wise series.

Saddle Wise: Rainy Day Rescue

Saddle Wise: The Quarter Horse Foal

The other giveaway was given by The Epic Rat. It was her Wicked giveaway, and I chose to receive a Wicked Green Elixir Bottle. I think that's the one, but her link wasn't working. That's the only bottle on the site that I could see. Pretty darn cool, right? Hm, maybe I'll take a picture of it when it comes. Woohoo, like I said, I love me some giveaways.

I guess that pretty much wraps it up. Now for a haiku.

Amy, you lazy!
Get to your books, they miss you!
Delay your blogging.

April 20, 2009

Let's Be Friends


I got the Let's Be Friends Award from Britt of the Confessions of a Book Habitue blog. Thanks Britt.

"Blogs that received the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers."

I am honored. Now to pass on the torch. I Choo-choo-choose these bloggers.

  1. Cecilia from The Epic Rat. This is one of my new found favorite blogs. Not only does she blog books, but musicals too. I also am excited to be a winner of her Wicked contest. More on that later. Go check her blog, it's amazing.
  2. Jen aka Ladytink from The Movieholic & Bibliophile's Blog. Aw, two of my favorite things, movies and books. She puts a lot of insight and time into her posts. Plus she's a Disney enthusiast.
  3. Sally, Amy and Leah from The Friendly Book Nook. Their blog is so cutesy. For reals, I love their template. I love their book reviews too. Amy also blogs on her own book blog - the My Friend Amy blog. You see, the thing is, my name is Amy too!! So I have an automatic kinship to anyone named Amy.
  4. Now, I'm not trying to aggrandize myself or anything, but I have to thank Rachel from The Joy of Reading book blog. I am a contributor on her blog, but there are other great contributors as well.
  5. Sharon from Shermeree's Musings. She's a librarian and knows her stuff on children's and teen's books. So if you need advice for a good YA book or series, she'll have some recommendations.
  6. Trish from Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? I follow Trish on Twitter. Check out her vlog with Natasha from the Maw Books Blog and Amy from My Friend Amy. It's all about why they became book bloggers.
  7. Mrs. B Roth from The Mysterious Mrs. B Roth. She is one sassy lady, and I like it! She's a mom, and LDS, and a Pepsi drinker. We have so many things in common. Now for your enjoyment is a Youtube video of her home teacher, who happens to be a comedian. You have to watch it, it's seriously funny.
  8. Melissa from One Librarian's Book Reviews and Natasha from The Maw Books Blog. I know you ladies were already given this award from Britt, but I had to mention you again. You see, Natasha's blog was my first dive into book blogs. I had no idea there was a whole community. I just love Melissa's blog. It's fun, and I like her book rating system. It works well for me. Thanks ladies!
Wow, I'm tired from thinking of bloggers to honor. Really, I don't know that many. For more great blogs you can check out my left sidebar. Now for a little something extra...

Friends, Romans, Bloggers..
Lend me your blogs for awhile
Thank you, come again.

April 17, 2009

Classics Challenge 2009

I found this Classics Challenge, which is great, because I had already challenged myself to read more classics this year. The challenge starts April 1, 2009 and ends October 31, 2009

So here is a tentative list of classics I will be reading.

  1. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
  2. Little Men - Louisa May Alcott
  3. Jo's Boys - Louisa May Alcott
  4. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
  5. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
  6. Agnes Grey - Anne Bronte
  7. The Scarlet Pimpernel - Emmuska Orczy
Like I said, this is just a tentative list. It might change depending on my mood. You just never know. If anyone would like to join the Classic Reading Challenge, there is a button on the right sidebar. Now, time for a haiku!

Fitzwiliam Darcy,
You are the man of my dreams-
Rich, handsome, devilish.

April 15, 2009

Saddle Wise Giveaway on Bluestocking

I know, I know, I am posting about another giveaway. I just know I'm bound to win something. Well, that's the plan, but so far no luck. Here is another great giveaway over on The Bluestocking Society blog. It is for 2 books in The Saddle Wise Series, by Inda Shaenen. Go over to The Bluestocking Society to enter.

Books, books, books, more books.
I like giveaways so much.
Can I enter twice?

April 14, 2009

Wicked Awesome Giveaway on Epic Rat

Sorry, there is nothing to say, but I love giveaways. I will enter any giveaway I can get my hands on. So over on a new found blog, Epic Rat, is a Wicked Awesome Giveaway. Go check it out!!! This giveaway ends on April 17th, so hurry! Also, you can get extra entries on the Spamalot post.

Green skin is wicked
Elphaba is a strange name
Glinda is stuck up

Book Giveaway on Epic Rat

There is a book giveaway on Epic Rat. It is for 3 books from the Raine Benares series. I haven't read them before, so go check Epic Rat for info on them. Sounds pretty good right?? This contest ends on April 28th. Ready, Set, Go!!!

Sorry, I don't have a haiku to accompany this giveaway. Does anyone else want to contribute?

April 13, 2009

What do you think?

I've been learning new little blogging secrets. Today's secret is how to create your own favicon. Don't know what a favicon is? Well, I'm no expert. Look up above in the address bar. See the little symbol that used to be the ugly, orange, block with the white B (aka Blogger's favicon)? Now it is a black and pink letter M. I did have a animated favicon, but it's not animating on my browser....so if it is animating it should flash back and forth from Amy Btw to the afore mentioned letter M. What do you think? I was wondering to myself if I liked it.

Unique Favicon
Let the web know who you are
With a small graphic

***UPDATE***
I made a new favicon. It is now black and red and says Haiku Amy.

***UPDATE #2***
Want to make your own favicon?? IconJ can help you.

April 8, 2009

Ranger's Apprentice Giveaway

If any of you are into The Ranger's Apprentice series, then this is the giveaway for you. Over on One Librarian's Book Reviews is a giveaway for an ARC of the 6th Ranger's Apprentice book, The Siege of Macindaw. All you have to do is go post a comment about your favorite YA fantasy series. You can blog about the giveaway for an extra entry. Go check it out! NAOUW!!!

The Siege of Macindaw (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 6)

Here is a funny haiku for Ranger's Apprentice. Just because I can.

Halt: "Who goes there? Speak!"
"It's Will, your apprentice, duh!"
"Will - work on your stealth"

April 4, 2009

Are you kidding me?

Fluffy April snow
Covers Spring's first signs of life.
A wintery shroud.




Photo Link

April 1, 2009

The Secret is Out


It's not what you think.
I couldn't resist some fun.
Happy April Fool's!