My Little Pocketbooks: March 2014   
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Monday, March 31, 2014

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Bloggiesta 2014: Wrap Up

http://www.bloggiesta.com/ 
 Another Bloggiesta done! 
I have to pat myself on the back for this one.  I have to say I rocked it!  No really I did!!
Here is the low down.
Mini-Challenges I Worked On
1.  Amanda Shofner: How to Tackle Google+ (@amshofner)
This is still a work in progress because I have two accounts that I am trying to merge into one.
2.  Rebecca from Love at First Book: Twitter List Tutorial (@RebeccaScags)
I made a Twitter list called Book Events.  And that is where BEA and RTConvention will go.
Click here to see my new Twitter list (Work in progress)
3.  Stacy from The Novel Life: Conferences and Blogging Classes (@thenovellife)
I did my list of events for the state of California. 

Bloggiesta Spring 2014: My Progress (Day 3)

Posting this late but this is from Saturday.
Here is the latest and the greatest as of today.  I think I am procrastinating on clean-up my Feedly because it will take forever.  And I am not looking forward to it at all.  I have found out that my Disqus is not working 100% and I am reading up on how to fix it. 
Did you know if a person in Australia leaves a comment it will show up in an new URL with .au at the end of your blog URL?  I had no idea.  So all my international comments have to merge into the .com site.  ARGH!!  Really?

Sunday Delight: Getting Stuff Done

Today wraps up the last day of a perfect blogging event.  BLOGGIESTA!  I love this event because I get things done that I put off.  The yuckky things!  Like updates, back ups and general blog clean up.  I completed almost every thing on my list.  YEAH! ME!!   Getting stuff done!  I figured out (kinda) Google Plus.  Still trying to:
1.  Figure out why I need it
2.  How to merge two accounts.

Here and Now

Time: 4:18 pm (Saturday)
Drinking: Water and hot cup of green tea.
Eating: Garlic and Herb Laughing Cow Cheese with pita crackers (yummy)
Listening To: Jill Scott radio on Pandora
Watching: Going to the movies tonight. I have no plans on seeing anything in particular.  Just wanna go.  I'll tell you later what I saw.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Bloggiesta Spring 2014: My Progress (Day 2)

http://Bloggiesta.com
Yesterday I did really good and slacked today.  But there was a few things I did get done.  I checked out a few of the mini challenges and completed the ones that I really need to work on.  Tomorrow I think I will finish my to do list. Then that will leave Sunday for visiting other bloggers.
Mini-Challenges I Worked On
1.  Amanda Shofner: How to Tackle Google+ (@amshofner)
This is still a work in progress because I have two accounts that I am trying to merge into one.
2.  Rebecca from Love at First Book: Twitter List Tutorial (@RebeccaScags)
I made a Twitter list called Book Events.  And that is where BEA and RTConvention will go.
Click here to see my new Twitter list (Work in progress)
3.  Stacy from The Novel Life: Conferences and Blogging Classes (@thenovellife)
I did my list of events for the state of California.  Take a look.

Blogging Events from Mom Central Blog
Lifestyle Bloggers Conference
March 27-29, 2014
in Los Angeles, California
Big Traveling Potluck
April 25-27, 2014 in Temecula, California
Camp Blogaway
May 16–18, 2014 in Angelus Oaks, California
Alt Design Summit (Photography)
May 21-22, 2014 in Los Angeles, California
Digital CoLab Event
June 19-21, 2014 in San Diego, California
Type-A Bootcamp
July 12, 2014 at Disneyland - Anaheim, California
BlogHer '14
July 24-26, 2014 in San Jose, California
Blogging Concentrated
August 9, 2014 in San Francisco, California
Blogging Concentrated "2"
September 7, 2014 in Los Angeles, California
ShiftCon
October 2-4, 2014 in Los Angeles, California
TechMunch San Francisco
October 10

Book Blogger Hop: Favorite Book Blogs and Devils

 
Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer
HAAPPYYY FRIDAY!!!
Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!  No really it is!

This Weeks Topic/Question

What are some of your favorite book blogs? (submitted by Jack)

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Bloggiesta Spring 2014: My Progress (Day 1)

http://Bloggiesta.com
Today was a great start to my Bloggiesta to do list.  I got over half of the things I needed to work on done.  Mocha Girls Read book club blog is done completely.  (For now) I just have 5 more things to do for this blog and I think I can knock out half  one or two of those tomorrow. I think I will do a day of mini-challenges on Suunday.  The topics look like something I need to research and get more into. 

Bloggiesta Progress

- Visited and left comments on 20 blogs.

Mocha Girls Read website
1.  Add new Book of the Month to Widget
2.  Add new Newsletter to side bar and Newsletter page.
3.  Remove old read-a-long widget
4.  Remove old ads
5.  Prep May nomination and voting post 
 I also:
Updated the Wordpress Plug-ins

Thoughtful Thursday: The DNF List


Hosted by Reading Is Fun Again

Pam over at Reading Is Fun Again started this meme to get a book blogger thoughts on a few bookish things. You know how much I love sharing my thoughts/opinions on stuff, so I thought it would be perfect to add my two cents in too! And stop by Pam's blog to see her new and cute blog design.
I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! -From Reading Is Fun Again

Thoughtful Thursday Question

Do you DNF (do not finish) books? Do you call it that or do you call it something else? Do you tell people when you DNF a book or do you act like you never read it at all? How have your DNF habits changed over the years?

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

I Want to Know...About You

Today, I was thinking about you.  Yes!  You!  The readers that stop by My Little Pocketbooks.  The ones that keep coming back and those that stop by once in awhile, I was thinking about you today.  I am always blogging about me and talking about my reading habits, my likes and dislikes.  I know that can't be to exciting for you.  LOL!  So today I want to take a moment to get to know you.  I think I might do this more than once maybe monthly.   
Here is how this is going to work.  Below I will post ten questions for you to answer.  You can answer them in the comment section below or post the answers on your blog.  If you do that just come back here and leave a link in the comment section so I can stop by and read your answers.  This is not a hop or meme, just something that ran across my mind at 8 am on Monday morning in the office after my first cup of tea.  
Ready! It will be easy, I promise and hopefully fun!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

I'm Featured on Twinja Book Reviews

Twinja Book Reviews
Just wanted to let you all know the amazing bloggers at Twinja Book Reviews are celebrating their Blogoversary with everyone by featuring bloggers, readers and authors.  And lil ol' me got a day!  Yep, I am featured on their blog.  Check it out.  
(Book of Choice for International Winner)

Bloggiesta is Coming! Goals

http://www.bloggiesta.com/2014/03/bloggiesta-spring-2014-sign-ups/
Yeah!  Bloggiesta is starting this weekend!
I have a few million things I want to do this time around on both blogs.  I think I can knock out the first 5 in no time the other list might take a day or more.  I wish I could lock myself in my place to get this all done but I have several things going on this weekend as well.  Boot Camp early Saturday morning then in the afternoon Dancing at the Culver City Drum Circle.  Somewhere in there I am going to eat and shower too! 
(Click the banner to sign up)

If you have a ton of things to do to get your blog on point, perfect and presentable sign up here.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Sunday Delight: Never Enough Time


Last week, I was whining about Daylight Saving Time kicking my butt. Now that I have had a few days to think about it, I have a new solution about it. Honestly, it has nothing to do with an hour coming or going. I just have to much to do and there is not enough time. PERIOD! If I could function on 4 hours of sleep a day then I still would not have enough time. I think I would blog during the night when you all are sleep and that would only free up a few hours a week. I might read and that would get me ahead by two or three books a month. Hmm! From 8 to 4. Nope. I love sleep way to much. WAY TOOO MUCCH!!

Here and Now

Time: 1:32 pm (Saturday)
Drinking: Jasmine Green Tea with honey
Eating: Nothing
Listening To: Baby Boy Radio on Pandora. I made this station years ago based on the song Baby Boy by Beyoncé.
Watching: I have watched two episodes of +Resurrection so far and I am slight losing my love for it. The first episode was great. Number 2 was so-so. But then I saw the preview for tonight's episode and I am not as thrilled with it as I was before. But I will watch it and I think I will start the book The Returned next week as well.
I have also been watching a lot of make-up videos on +YouTube . I don't have much experience and these people (male and female) are doing some magic that I just have to learn. Watch this video. This is the one that started my newest addiction to make-up videos.  Simply amazing!  I love this video so much!

Friday, March 21, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: Favorite Meme and Angels

 
Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer
HAAPPYYY FRIDAY!!!
Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!  No really it is!

This Weeks Topic/Question

What is your favorite weekly meme? (submitted by Kisha)

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Thoughtful Thursday: Series Reading

Pam over at Reading Is Fun Again started this meme to get a book blogger thoughts on a few bookish things.  You know how much I love sharing my thoughts/opinions on stuff, so I thought it would be perfect to add my two cents in too! And stop by Pam's blog to see her new and cute blog design.
I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! -From Reading Is Fun Again

  Thoughtful Thursday Question 

How do you read a book series? (Do you read each book as it comes out? Do you wait for a few books to come out in a series before starting it? Do you wait until the entire series is out and marathon it? Do you reread all of the books that are currently out before you read the next one?)

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

New Reading Challenge: Sequel Spring

http://wordsinateacup.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/sequel-spring-%E2%80%A2-march-20th-june-20th-reading-challenge/
Hosted by Words in a Teacup

Yes, I have joined yet another reading challenge.  This one is short and will last for the Spring only.  As you may have read last year, I have started reading too many books in a series and I honestly need to finish at least some of them before I start another series.  That was last year and since that time I posted "My Incomplete Series List" the revelation with the un-Godly amount of books to be read I have added a few more, so this reading challenge is coming right on time for me.

Here are the rules
  • This challenge will run from the beginning to the end of spring: March 20th to June 20th 2014.
  • The goal is to read as many sequels as possible.
  • A “sequel” is any book that is part of a series, apart from the first one. So prequels and midquels would also count. Anything goes, the only restriction is no standalone novels and no first books in a series.
  • If we start a new series during the challenge period, the second (and third, and fourth…) book in that series will count for Sequel Spring.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Review: One Fifth Avenue


One Fifth Avenue
Author: Candace Bushnell
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:  Voice
Release Date: September 22, 2008
Hardcover: 433 pages

Source: Purchased from Borders Bookstore

http://amzn.to/QmOtWo

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Sunday Delight: More Sunlight

Daylight saving time kicked my butt. But I love the extra sunlight.  I just need to get outside and enjoy it more.  I am really looking forward to spring cleaning this year for some reason.  I want to clean EVERYTHING and throw out as much as I can.  I might host a giveaway of books on my shelf I no longer want but I want them to go to a good house. 

Here and Now

Time: 7 am
Drinking: Water
Eating:  I think I'll make a bowl of hot oatmeal when I finish this post.
Listening To:  Zero 7 on Pandora again!  This is my go to station for the early morning hours.  Around 10am I change it up. Here is a video of the song I am listening to now. "Destiny"

Watching:  I saw +Resurrection last week and I have to say that it kinda lived up to my expectations.  I am looking forward to watching it again tonight.
http://abc.go.com/shows/resurrection

Friday, March 14, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: Creative Books and Robots

 
Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer
HAAPPYYY FRIDAY!!!
Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!  No really it is!

This Weeks Topic/Question

What is the most creative thing you have ever done with a book? (submitted by Veronica

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Thoughtful Thrusday: Literary Tropes

Pam over at Reading Is Fun Again started this meme to get a book blogger thoughts on a few bookish things.  You know how much I love sharing my thoughts/opinions on stuff, so I thought it would be perfect to add my two cents in too! And stop by Pam's blog to see her new and cute blog design.
I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! -From Reading Is Fun Again

  Thoughtful Thursday Question

What are some of your favorite literary tropes?

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Free Listens for March 2014

After noticing most bloggers post a list of free or really close to free e-books, every week, month or just once in awhile I decided to post a few free audiobooks.  I love free books. I mean who doesn't.
Yes, there is a such thing as a free audiobooks, and they are not just boring old classics either.  I seem to run across a few new ones here and there.  Some of them are short and sweet while others are prequels to popular series. 
When I run across a couple of free audiobooks, I will post them for you to check out as well.
If you are new to audiobooks this is a great way to try one or two without spending any money.  All of these title are FREE at the time of posting.  Things could have changed. 

From Amazon.com and/or Audible.com

http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoirs/Agatha-Christie-An-Autobiography-Audiobook/B008L32W72/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1394345865&sr=1-1

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

February 2014: Wrap Up

March is here and so are a few days of rain.  To me rain, blankets, hot drinks and books belong together.  You can't have one without the other.  But on my day off to enjoy all of these things the rain has stopped.  Figures.  It's LA so rain days are few and far between.  It would have been nice.  February as usual was quick and I am now caught up on my reading, reviewing and posting of books but not other stuff.  I am aiming for some blog resolution completion this month.  

By the way I should have my black girl card revoked because I forgot to mention a ton of great Black History Month books and events last month.  Just to keep myself cool with the Black community I have to shout out The Brown Bookshelf.  Every year, during the month of February the blog features an African American Author every single day called "28 Days Later".  It's a great feature and I encourage all of you to check it out.  Most of the authors write children and YA books.  So it is a great resource to add diversity on your (and your kids) bookshelves.  

Now on to my February wrap up...
February Blog Stats: I posted 27 blog post
1 book bought this year

Monday, March 10, 2014

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Sunday Delight: Doing It on Sunday

I decided to sit down on a Sunday (and not Saturday) to write my Sunday Delight.  Most of the time I do a week of post on Saturday's.  That is the only way I can blog, read, and keep up with my life.  LOL! I started doing Sunday Delight to highlight whatever I wanted from the previous week.  Mostly I am just giving you a glimpse of me, my reads and a few things going on around the blogiverse.  (Is that how you spell it?)

Here and Now

Time: 12:55 pm
Drinking: Protein Shake
Eating: Protein Shake (LOL)
Watching: This screen.  I am going to head over to my parents house later.  I am going to make them watch the premiere of The Resurrection tonight.  I heard about the book The Returned at BEA13 and I meet the author, as well as read the three prequels.  Now I need to read the book.

Friday, March 7, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: Blogging Schedules & Fairytales Retold

 
Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer
Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!  No really it is!

This Weeks Topic/Question

  Do you have a schedule set for blogging and reading time? Or do you not have a set time and just let it happen? (submitted by Elizabeth)

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Thoughtful Thursday: What is a Classic?

Pam over at Reading Is Fun Again started this meme to get a book blogger thoughts on a few bookish things.  You know how much I love sharing my thoughts/opinions on stuff, so I thought it would be perfect to add my two cents in too! And stop by Pam's blog to see her new and cute blog design.
I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! -From Reading Is Fun Again

  Thoughtful Thursday Question 

What is a classic book in your eyes? Does it need to be printed before a certain year? Is the definition of a classic a moving target in today's age?

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books pt. 3

 
All of the participates of the Diversity on the Self 2014 Reading Challenge (aka D.O.T.S.) knocked out February and did as always an amazing job of reading, reviewing, and linking up books by People of Color.  
You can see the books and linky here
Every month I will be posting 12 more books in various genres and release dates that are...what I like to call "Diversity Approved Books"to promote books to you and the D.O.T.S. participants.  All of these books are by a person of color OR have a main character of color.  
Sometimes these books don't get the love they should and hearing about them is so very rare.
By the way, it's not to late to sign up.  Click the reading challenge button and link up your sign up post.  Non bloggers are welcomed too.
http://amzn.to/1l2YOoIhttp://amzn.to/NVsnxthttp://amzn.to/NVsqZW

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

March Reading Queue

I am back with my Reading Queue for the month of March. Reading Queue is hosted by Book Tasty and Books: A True Story.  Click the covers to read more about the books.  I might have to do a read-a-thon to get caught up.  I am feeling like I am not reading enough.  This new job is messing up my perfect schedule.
What is the reading queue all about?
Reading Queue is a monthly meme where you share what books you plan to read for the month. You can hop to other blogs and see what others are reading and maybe find someone reading the same thing as you! Or you can ask for people to vote on what you should read next if you can’t decide.
Book Club Pick for March
Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston
http://amzn.to/1geHNGR
A woman of enormous talent and remarkable drive, Zora Neale Hurston published seven books, many short stories, and several articles and plays over a career that spanned more than thirty years. Today, nearly every black woman writer of significance -- including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker -- acknowledges Hurston as a literary foremother, and her 1937 masterpiece Their Eyes Were Watching God has become a crucial part of the modern literary canon.
Wrapped in Rainbows, the first biography of Zora Neale Hurston in more than twenty-five years, illuminates the adventures, complexities, and sorrows of an extraordinary life. Acclaimed journalist Valerie Boyd delves into Hurston's history -- her youth in the country's first incorporated all-black town, her friendships with luminaries such as Langston Hughes, her sexuality and short-lived marriages, and her mysterious relationship with vodou. With the Harlem Renaissance, the Great Depression, and World War II as historical backdrops, Wrapped in Rainbows not only positions Hurston's work in her time but also offers riveting implications for our own.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Review: Guilt By Association

 
Guilt by Association
Author: Marcia Clark 
Series: A Rachel Knight Novel
Genre: Legal Thriller 
Publisher:  Hachette Audio
Release Date: April 20, 2011
Audiobook: 9 hours and 49 minutes
Narrator: January LaVoy

Source: Free from e-library
http://amzn.to/1e563eP

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Write On Review-a-Thon 2014: Wrap Up

 
 Hosted by The Book Vixen
I did it!  And I finished every single thing (only three things) on my goal list plus a few things more. In case you missed it here is what Write On Review-A-Thon is all about. 
The Write On review-a-thon is a monthly event created and hosted by Brianna at The Book Vixen. It’s 2 days dedicated to getting reviews done, whether you have one review to write or 30+. This edition of the review-a-thon takes place all day Friday, February 28th and Saturday, March 1st. Let’s get those reviews done! 

Book Blogger Hop: Stop Incoming Books and Fairies

 
Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer
Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!  No really it is!

This Weeks Topic/Question

Have you stopped accepting books from either authors or publishers to try to catch up? If not, do you think you would ever do that? (submitted by Elizabeth)

Sunday Delight: Another Month Done

Blogging has made me keenly aware of how fast time flies.  I am sitting here working on my February wrap up post and getting my March blogging calendar together. I feel like it was just January and I was working on my resolutions.  Hello March!  That was quick.

Here and Now

Time: 9:15 pm (Saturday)
Drinking: water
Eating: Mushroom pizza
Listening To: Gipsy Kings on iTunes
Watching: This screen.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Diversity on the Shelf 2014: March Review Link-Up

Inspired by POC Reading Challenge
Welcome to Diversity on the Shelf 2014 Reading Challenge March review link up.
Every month I will post a linky for you to add your reviews.  Please have a direct link to the book you are reviewing to the linky.  No links to blog home pages please.  If you don't have a blog, please link to your Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook, LibraryThing or other account where you are reviewing the books for this challenge.
Books that qualify for this challenge are by people of color or with a main character of color.  All shades and races of color are welcomed and encouraged here.  
If you still need more clarification on what a person of color is Click Here.
If you haven't signed up for the challenge yet, don't fret you still have time.  Just sign up here! 
If you need a few suggestions on what to read for this challenge check out the list of links to blogs, book list and more. Links here or the side bar menu.

We currently have 43 participates!  3 more people signed up!

Quicky Review #15: The Lowcounty Spirit

Welcome back to another Quicky Review.  
A lot of the time I like to read short stories, prequels and free audiobooks that are short and sweet.  But why do a full review on a story that is say...80 pages long.  So I do Quicky Reviews for the shorties and children books as well.  Basically, the short stories get short reviews.
Here is just a few sentences on an audiobook (about 2 hours or less) I got free from Audible.com
There are other Quicky Reviews for you to check out too and don't worry there will be more to come. I like short stories because most of them are FREE and I can get in and out of one in no time.
Previous Quicky Review
Quicky Review #14: Army of One

What I Am Listening To...