Top Ten Tuesday Rewind: Top Ten Books in my Beach Bag

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish. This weeks topic is a rewind...or pick and old topic topic. Since summer is just around the corner for people who spend their days in schools (I am a substitute teacher/ wishing I was a real teacher) I decided to pick the topic: Top Ten Books that Should be in your Beach Bag. During the summer I am a nanny to two lovely little brats (I mean that in a completely endearing way, I love them with all my heart the oldest will be 11 and I have been watching her since she was born) and I take them to the pool (and am forced to carry way to many bags) and I read...a lot. So here is my list:

 1. Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. I just finished this book about an hour ago and I was in love with it. I read it in a day and I feel like it is a great beach read. It was very entertaining to read and if you haven't heard of it/ read it yet, I think you should give it a shot (and let me know what you think of it as well)

2. Anything Sarah Dessen. She is an awesome young adult writer and I have found quite a few adults who enjoy her writing just as much as teenagers. 

3. the Au Pairs by Melissa de la Cruz...what can I say, it's about being a nanny during the summer






4. Anything Sophie Kinsella. She is a great chick lit writer. Her books are fun and easy reads. Very relaxing.

5. Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar (I feel like I always spell her name wrong) 








6. Any of the "Holiday Books" by Kate Cann. It's been a few years since I have read these but I remember them being great beach reads.

7. Georgia Nicolson books = amazingness. I cannot wait until Anna is old enough for me to pass these books down to her...or maybe buy her her own set because I don't think I will ever be able to part with them. If she is turning 11 how old do you think she should be when I buy her these? 




8. the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares. These are such summer books, how could I not put them on the list?

9. And since I love me some mysteries, the Abby Cooper Psychic Eye series by Victoria Laurie


And last but not least:
10. some Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris





So what books might make an appearance in your beach bag this summer?

Top Ten Blogs/Sites that aren't about Books

For any newcomers...Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme featured at the Broke and the Bookish. This weeks topic is the Top Ten Blogs/Sites you read that aren't about books.

1. Never Seconds my sister just sent me the link to this blog today and I think I am in love. The blogger is a girl from the UK who writes about her school lunches. As a sub, I have had so many days in the cafe for lunch duty and I am always disgusted with the lunches (unless it's salad day, that actually looks edible). This girl, who calls herself VEG, is so funny. I can't wait to see what else she eats.
2. Lauren Conrad I loved LC on Laguna Beach, and then on the Hills, I enjoyed her books and I love this site. If I want to try something new to eat...I can go here. If I want to find cute outfit ideas/hair ideas...I can go here.
3. Elle and Blair...yes the Fowler sisters, I am a fan (you can call me a loser it's ok I've heard it before) This site is entertaining. If I am having a bad day and don't want to think, I can go here and well...not think.


these next 2 are gluten free blogs. I have been gluten free for 3 years now and it's nice to get some help with some ideas for holidays and parties and such.

4. Tartelette
5. Gluten Free Goddess

and now some just for fun (well there really all for fun aren't they?)

6.We Heart It this has some great things to look at I love it.
7. Pinterest who is't on pinterest now-a-days
8. Youtube...enough said

I could only come up with 8...but it was close. What's on your list this week?

Top Ten Books I Want to Reread

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted bythe Broke and the Bookish. This weeks topic was a little difficult, so luckily it was changed to a kind of whatever post, so I chose to do an old topic- Top Ten Books I Want to Reread. Most of these books are parts of a series, I don't know why, but I love to reread the books in a series before going on to the newest one. Especially if it has been awhile since I read the first one. So here is goes...

1. the whole Georgia Nicolson series by Louise Rennison- these books just make me laugh and laugh, I feel like they are the perfect read for when you don't have a lot of time. I can put it down for a day or two and pick it back up and it won't matter, I just laugh.


2. Any Sarah Dessen book- I love all of her books, I love the way she writes, and I absolutely love any...and all...her novels.

3. Shopaholic books by Sophie Kinsella- I haven't read the last 2 yet, so before I do, I want to go back to the beginning. These books make it easy to forget a bad day, what's not to love about that? Plus I am kinda a shopaholic- only when it comes to books...and shoes...and makeup...


4. Wherever You Go by Heather Davis- I just finished this book the other day and I absolutely loved it. I feel like I learned a lot reading it, and I can't wait to read it again and learn more. It's like one of the movies where you watch it a second time and see more than you saw the first time- know what I mean?

5. the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- I still have only read the first one, but I will read it again before I read the second. I think this will be an all time favorite for me for years to come. I think it has everything a books needs...action, suspense, love. It has something for everyone, I have yet to meet someone who has read this book and not liked it.


6. Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar- I think I missed reading the last one...so of course off to the beginning I go, but I don't mind, I love the drama these books give. It makes me think life isn't so difficult after all.

7. Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan- I have 1 and a half books to read before I finish the series, and then I am lucky enough to have another kid who will be old enough to read them with me soon. Not that I need a kid to read them with, but I enjoy getting the kids I babysit to read, and to hear how much they enjoy these books, it makes everyday better.


8. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares- I really enjoyed these books, I feel like they are a good summer read. Hmm...maybe I should reread them this summer...

9. Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle- this is one of my favorite Christmas books, it has 3 stories but they all tie in together at some point.

10. And last but not least, the A-List by Zoey Dean- I don't know what I love about these books really, I guess the drama. And I have always wanted to visit California, where the whole series pretty much takes place, maybe that is it...who knows.



What would be on your reread list?

Top Ten Favorite Quotes From Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the Broke and the Bookish. This weeks meme is the Top Ten Favorite Quotes from Books.


I love quotes...almost as much as I love books, movies and tv shows. I have always kept huge lists of quotes that I have found in books or heard in movies/tv shows. Unfortunately for me, I have no idea where I put my usb thingy with my crazy long list on it. But I do have some...and here they are (ahh I am so excited)

1. “Gossip... I’ve been thinking about how ugly gossip is. How it victimizes people, but how as much as we say we hate it, we still feed on it like it was crack.”- Book: Naked Heat; Author: Richard Castle; Character:Nikki Heat
   
2. “I thought guys were complicated. Maybe they are. But maybe they’re easy and it’s really me who’s complicated.” - Book: Fat Cat; Author: Robin Brande; Character: Cat
   
3. “I’m not much of a drinker. I’d long ago decided it was best not to muddy the waters of my brain with serious booze. I had a hard enough time making sense when I was sober.”- Book: Three to Get Deadly; Author: Janet Evanovich; Character:
   Stephanie Plum
   
4. “I make a lot of mistakes. I try hard not to make the same mistake more than three or
   four times.” Book: Three to Get Deadly; Author: Janet Evanovich; Character:
   Stephanie Plum
   
5. “Not that the path was smooth and pothole free. But still, it was my path, and like me,
   it was bound to be unique.”- Book: Untamed; Authors: P.C & Kristen Cast;
   Character: Zoey
   
6. “You must remember that magic is real; Zoeybird...It is dangerous to forget that.”-
   Book: Untamed; Authors: P.C and Kristen Cast; Character: Grandma Redbird
   
7. “Isn’t it odd how much fatter a book gets when you’ve read it several times?” Mo had said...”As if something were left between the pages every time you read it. Feelings, thoughts, sounds, smells...and then, when you look at the book again many years later, you find yourself there, too, a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you like a pressed flower...both strange and familiar.”- Book: Inkspell; Author: Cornelia Funke

8. “I have been taught that love is beautiful and kind, but it isn’t like that at all. It is beautiful, but it’s a terrible beauty, a ruthless one, and you fall-you fall, and the thing is- The thing is you want to. You don’t care what’s coming you just want who your heart beats for.”- Book: the Unwritten Rule; Author: Elizabeth Scott
   
9. “Oh no. I’ve just accidently paid a visit to the cakeshop of love. I haven’t put back my Italian cakey, but I have accidentally picked up a Dave the Tart.:- Book:Dancing in my Nuddy Pants; Author: Louise Rennison
   

10.“Shakespeare is just some bloke who keeps ranting “what light through yonder window breaks” its the moon for god sakes!”- Book: Dancing in my Nuddy Pants; Author: Louise Rennison 

Top Ten Books to be Made into Movies

Top Ten Tuesday is an original meme created by the Broke and the Bookish. I love lists, and absolutely could not resist joining in the fun.


This week was the Top Ten Books to Be Made into Movies. I really like this weeks topic, my 2 favorite things are books and movies and books that become movies, and since today is my birthday I felt like it was chosen for me, haha. So here goes my list:


1. Can I say the rest of the Percy Jackson books? I heard they were supposed to do a sequel, and I am trying to wait patiently, but unfortunately I am starting to get old (26, I know I am like crazy old) and they need to hurry up. Plus I really like the guy that plays Percy, I think he is adorable.


2. the Psychic Eye series by Victoria Laurie. They can make this into a TV series if a movie is too much, I wouldn't mind, I just really like Abby Cooper and I think it would be fun to be able to see her visions and stuff.


3. the Kid Table by Andrea Siegel. When I read this book, I fell in love with it. I think it would be equally as entertaining in movie form.


4. Graceling by Kristen Cashore. I would love to see what would happen if this was a movie. And of course they would have to do Fire and Bitterblue also (even though I haven't read Bitterblue yet, I don't even know if it's out yet). 


5. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner or any other book by Jennifer Weiner, I love her books and I think they did a pretty good job with In Her Shoes.


6. Devoured by Amanda Marrone. Its another Snow White type story, but it has a very interesting twist. 


7. Jingle Boy by Kieran Scott. I love Christmas movies and books and this one takes place in Bergen County NJ where I live, so I think it would be really fun. 


8. Huge by Sasha Paley. I know it was a TV show on ABC family, but they never actually had a real ending, it just ended and I need some closer.


9. The rest of the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. I actually really liked the cast in One for the Money, I love Sheri Shepherd as Lula and would love to see her do more.


10. House of Night novels by P.C Cast and Kristen Cast. I know that I should be so over vampire stuff, but this series has me hooked.


So there is my list, with way more than 10 books if you count each book in the series. What's on your lists?

Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original meme created by the Broke and the Bookish. I love lists, and absolutely could not resist joining in the fun.


This week was the Top Ten all time favorite characters in books. It was hard to choose, and hard to remember some, but I did it (YAY!)

1. Percy Jackson from the Lightning Thief and the rest of the series by Rick Riordan- He is so naive about being a Demi God, so it is like we are learning with him. But he is also very loyal to his friends, even people who aren’t his friends like Clarisse. 
2. Regan Reilly from all the Carol Higgins Clark books- her mom is a mystery writer, her dad owns a funeral home and she is a PI who tends to get stuck in a bunch of mysteries. I like that she doesn’t need anyones help, she can take care of herself, and a murderer or two.
3. Katniss Everdeen- I don’t know how anyone could not love her, she might be crazy serious and not very trusting, but considering how she has to live and losing her father and practically her mother, I don’t think I would be a happy go lucky person either. I look up to Katniss, she is a survivor and extremely brave.
4. Cinna from the Hunger Games- I have only read the first one so far, but I fell in love with him since he is so caring about Katniss, almost like a father figure. And he designs clothes, who doesn’t love a guy who designs clothes?
5. Georgia Nicholson from Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Lousie Rennison- she is just too funny and keeps me laughing. Reading her “journals” which are so dramatic help me realize that nothing in life is ever as bad as it seems to a teenager, or even a 25 year old.
6. Hilly Holbrook from the Help- it was hard to choose between her and Aibileen but the chocolate pie won it for Hilly.
7. Meggie from Inkheart- I think she is extremely brave during all 3 books and it’s hard not to love her.
8. Abby Cooper from the Psychic Eye Mysteries by Victoria Laurie- I just love that she is psychic and she solves mysteries using her gift. She also puts the people in trouble ahead of herself, even if she can get seriously hurt.
9. Stephanie Plum- I have only just started reading this series by Janet Evanovich but I love that she faces fears in every book she seems like she can be so real.
10. Peter Pan- he lives on an island in the sky and fights pirates while flying. He has been my favorite character for as long as I can remember.

After a major break....2012 Challenges

Ok, so I don't know what happened exactly, either I was really really lazy, or just way to into my books to even write reviews on them. So I have been gone for a whole year, wow I suck I know. I have decided that it is very hard keeping up with this blog while being a substitute teacher since my schedule is never the same. Although it will be even harder when I actually get a real job (cross your fingers for fall 2012, I need insurance!) But I am going to start up again and do my best to do all of my reviews. I know it's going to be tough because when I finish a book while in school I usually jump right into reading another one, and I end up getting so into my book that I don't want to put it down even for a second. 

But anyways, even though it is the end of April, I am signing up for some reading challenges. Better late than never, right? And here they are:

2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge hosted by the Eclectic Bookshelf :

Goal: Level 4/ Read 37+ Library Books

Last year I read over 50 library books, so I figure I should be able to do just as well.

Mystery and Suspense Challenge hosted by Book Chick City:

Goal: Level 1/ read 12 Mystery and Suspense Novels

I love mystery books, especially when it's a series of them. I am a sucker for following a character around and trying to solve the mysteries with them (it's like I can really help them, like I am a character in the books, am I crazy?)

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge hosted by Bumps in the Road:

Goal: the "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge- read 20 YA novels.

If you go back and look at the books I read in my 2011 challenges, I think the majority of them are YA books. Yes I am 25, but I still act like a kid when I can. Plus now that the oldest kid I babysit is going to a be a tween we can have a book club! (We actually started with Percy Jackson...amazing)

Ok so there are only 3 challenges this year...which means I should be able to ace all of them right? Last year I had 7 and I didn't even start one of them (oy) For any of you doing challenges this year, good luck and hopefully this year I will actually keep up with posting (that is a challenge in itself)