Love-A-Thon: Mash-Up – Books and Tea

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon 2014

For the mash-up post I thought I would share some yummy teas to coincide with some of my favorite characters from novels! I scoured Etsy for the perfect blends so some of the names of the teas are perfectly matched (ahem, Nightwatch tea) and it was so fun to do! 

 

il_570xN.479261483_dlbdSybella from Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Black Forest Tea – This blend is dangerously dark and delicious. Subtle but rich, the sweetness from the vanilla and cherries is balanced by the nutty bitterness of cacao and tangy raspberry. It is a great balance between dark and light, sweet and bitter to match Sybella’s conflicting characteristics.

 

 

 

il_570xN.547118694_hiwaJon Snow from A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin

Nightwatch Black TeaA Ceylon based blend with a heady mint scent and a dark, mellow flavor. The mild, earthy flavor along with its refreshing mint bite contains Ceylon Black Tea, peppermint, and spearmint. A good mix of mellow earthy flavors mixed in with the mint makes a perfect blend for Jon while he takes refuge from the cold on The Wall.

 

 

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Princess Cimorene from The Enchanted Forest Chronicles

Dragon Lady Exotic – Dragon Lady is a superb Tea blend with lots of character, with a variety of exotic spices and the sweet touch of Chamomile the flavor is warm and satisfying. This tasty Tea blend contains: Green Tea Leaves, Chamomile, with Ground Cinnamon, Chicory, Vanilla, Ginger, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Cloves, and Nutmeg. Look at all of those spices! A perfect blend for Princess Cimorene who is feisty enough to live amongst dragons! (Note: this would also be a great blend for Seraphina!)

 

 

il_570xN.544681905_125uDorothy from The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Strawberries & Cream Dream Tea – Our infusion is specially crafted from real strawberry pieces mixed with hibiscus, rosehip, and infused with natural strawberry and vanilla flavouring. A stunning Strawberries & Cream Infusion that is naturally sweet and very fruity with a tangy taste. Perfect for Dorothy while she is visiting Ozma in Oz, back home on the farm she is more likely to drink some southern sweet tea!

 

 

 

 

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Kvothe from The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss

Red Head A tangy, red zing tea blend! It features mellow red rooibos tea, but with a vitamin C kick of hibiscus, rosehips, and red rose petals. For an added bit a spice (You know redheads!), we’ve added some cinnamon chips. Excellent, spicy and smooth, just like Kvothe!

 

 

 

Don’t forget to check out Alexa or Katelyn’s blog for more info on the Love-A-Thon and use the hashtag #LoveAThon on Twitter!

Love-A-Thon: Book Spine Poetry (2)

Hello friends! Like last year, I decided to put together some book spine poetry to celebrate the Love-A-Thon! Check it out, let me know what you think and click for more info on the Love-A-Thon or follow the hashtag #loveathon on Twitter! Share the love!

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Songs of Love and Death:

Anitgoddess

lies beneath,

a curse as dark as gold.

Through the ever night

we hear the dead,

lost

rags and bones.

Sunshine,

when she woke

(in the)

fathomless

shadow and bone.

A little take on Sleeping Beauty, perhaps? Quite fun to write! I hope you enjoyed my attempt at book spine poetry!

Love-A-Thon: Interview Swap

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon 2014
Hello fellow Love a Thon participants! Today we are kicking off with a fun interview swap! I had the pleasure of interviewing Regina from The Sunflower Pages! Regina is an English Creative Writing major and she loves teas and cats, sounds like I found a new friend!! Let’s get into the interview, share some love for Regina in the comments and go check out my answers to Regina’s questions here!

I read your “About Me” on your blog and I have some questions:

I have my Bachelor’s in English with a concentration in Elizabethan Literature (YAY, Shakespeare!) how are you enjoying your Creative Writing major and what do you want to do with it after college? Sounds like you are on the path to be an author!

I’m really enjoying my major! I’m so glad I get to learn more about subjects I already love. You are correct, I am hoping to one day be a published author. It’s been my dream since I was a little girl and I’m working hard to make that dream a reality!

Tea and cats are two of my favorite things IN THE WORLD, please tell me more about your love of tea and your crazy cat!

Yay for having favorite things in common! My love of tea runs deep. I drink tea in the morning to wake up, I drink it during the day, and sometimes before I go to sleep. Honestly, I drink tea whenever I feel the need to. Luckily my boyfriend shares my love of tea! We own two teapot sets, a teacart, and a huge selection of tea. I even tried to make green tea ice cream before, but sadly that didn’t work out very well.

Ok, so my cat is pretty hilarious and crazy. When I got her she was super hyper. I ended up naming her after my favorite wake boarder, Danny Harf (a guy). She’s a girl, so it’s spelled Dani. It turns out it was the perfect name for her because she started running up trees and doing back flips off of them. Then she would climb up the fence and just jump off. Since she’s gotten a little older she’s not as acrobatic, but she still runs around and does silly little things. No matter how old she gets she’s always going to be my baby!

Let’s move on to the book related questions!!

Do you have a literary boyfriend? (Mine changes weekly)

I do have a literary boyfriend! He’s kind of my main one that only gets pushed to the background when a new one comes along. He doesn’t go away, he just waits for my new boyfriend to go away. lol Ok, so who is this mystery literary boyfriend? It’s Marcus Flutie from the Sloppy Firsts series by Megan McCafferty. Every time I re-read those books, I fall in love all over again. Especially when he says the things he does. Example: “You. Yes. You.” I could gush forever, but there it is. My literary boyfriend who may never go away.

If you could have dinner with any three people (real or fictitious, dead or alive), which three people would you choose and why?

1.) Ron Weasley, because he’s Ron Weasley! Seriously though, he was the first character I ever truly had a crush on. Then, when Rupert Grint made him come to life I just fell in love with him even more. I also love that he hates spiders (I hate spiders), has an accent, is sweet, and I just loved watching his character grow throughout the series.

2.) Eminem because I’ve been a huge fan of his since middle school. I used to have the biggest crush on him, which led to me fantasizing that we’d meet and instantly connect. I love how raw his music is; it’s honest and it got me through a lot of hard times (as cliché as that might sound). To have dinner with him would be pretty amazing.

3.) Amelia Earhart because she was the first female to fly over the Atlantic Ocean, which is pretty amazing. She was such a courageous woman and a great role model. She wanted to prove that men and women were equal in “jobs requiring intelligence, coordination, speed, coolness and willpower.” I think she did a very good job at proving that point. I would love to have a conversation with her so I could hear all of her stories and words of wisdom.

What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

I could tell you the craziest thing I’ve ever done, but then I’d have to…just kidding. I honestly can’t think of the craziest thing I’ve ever done. My brain is having a moment. How about I share one of the craziest things that has ever happened to me? I have a lot of those stories.

I was driving my ex-best friend home when I saw flashing lights far away in my review mirror. I thought they were going in the opposite direction, so I didn’t pay much attention to them. A few minuets later I saw a cop on the side of the road throwing something down onto the opposite lane from me. Once it was rolled out I realized it was a spike strip. At the same time I came to that conclusion my ex-best friend grabbed my arm and said, “Regina pull over!” I quickly looked up and saw a van flying down the road right at me with about a dozen cops tailing him. He saw the cop throw down the strips so he veered into my lane and we were basically playing chicken.

I had enough time to look up, see him, and then yank myself into the ditch to avoid a head on collision. As I steadied my car in the ditch, I saw my life pass before my eyes. The van and the cops flew by us, while the lights that were behind me had caught up and joined the chase. I still can’t believe I was caught in the middle of a car chase, especially in the small town I live in. I feel extremely lucky I did not get in a crash that day because my car was a Chrysler Sebring Convertible that did not have a roll bar. If we had gotten hit, I don’t think we would have been ok. There was definitely someone watching over me that day.

If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?

I would really like to be present at the Olympics while they are happening. Whenever they are on, like now, I am always glued to the TV. Watching the Olympics shows you first hand where hard work and dedication can get you. It’s the same for writing. If you discipline yourself in the art, steadily working at it, you can go far. Seeing all of these people living out their dreams pumps me up! I have a lot of respect and admiration for every one of them.

I have yet to read His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, but it is on my definite TBR for this year! What is your “spirit animal,” OR if you could be best friends with a mythological creature, what would it be?

I haven’t read that one either. I would without a doubt, be best friends with a Unicorn! They are just so majestic and beautiful.

If you could be any fictional character, who would it be?

I’d love to spend some time as Veronica Mars. Veronica Mars is one of my favorite shows and I just love her character. How fun would it be to investigate and bust some people? Not to mention, Logan Eccles being my love interest. I’d be ok with that. Plus I love how witty she is. I’d love to be able to come up with witty remarks on the spot like she does.

Up until last year I have had a hard time naming a favorite author and I’m still not sure that I can say with conviction that I have one favorite book. Can you name a favorite author and title? Why are they your favorites?

I think for any book lover that is an extremely difficult question to answer. Although I don’t have one particular favorite book or author, there are a few books I can re-read over and over again. One of these books is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book is beautifully written and one that has touched my heart. It deals with a difficult topic while also adding some humor in as well.

What is one of your favorite quotes? Is it literary? Why is it your favorite?

One of my favorite quotes is “An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail” by Edwind Land. It’s not necessarily literary, but I definitely use it towards my writing. This is such an important thing to remember because it’s easy to get frustrated at what you’re creating. Especially when you read an amazing book then look at what you wrote. Suddenly your work feels insignificant. It’s a good reminder that author’s started out in the same place as you did and it takes a ton of editing/re-writing to get to that final published victory.

I love your choices for who you would take to dinner! Such an interesting bunch, I would like to talk to Amelia and find out about that whole “Bermuda Triangle” business! Readers: don’t forget to check back here later today for some other Love a Thon related posts and if you are tweeting, use the #loveathon to chat with us!

Blogger Love-a-Thon Mini Challenge (3)

love-a-thon

Welcome to Blogger Love-a-Thon! This is a 24 hour event that helps us bloggers take some time to show love to one another! If you are so inclined, head on over to the Announcement Post! This event is hosted by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books and Katelyn from Kate’s Tales of Books & Bands! This Mini Challenge is to create a bookish playlist!

Years ago, I was working at Barnes and Noble and was “lucky” enough to work the midnight party for the launch of Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. Though I was disgruntled and annoyed at all of the tweens, I was in my glory because I adored the music that we had going on that night. Come to find out, our music manager had found playlists for the books on Stephenie Meyer’s website! I know many of you will be like “um ew…” over 1. Twilight (and I might agree) and 2. some of these songs are a little cheesefest (okay, emo), and there is a lot of Muse (who I just so happen to love). Nonetheless I made you a playlist for The Twilight series with with my own insight and some help from Stephenie Meyer! (Admittedly this playlist could really go for any angsty YA romance novel…ahh love)

might have had this on repeat for the past few days…

Blogger Love-a-Thon Mini Challenge (2)

love-a-thon

Welcome to Blogger Love-a-Thon! This is a 24 hour event that helps us bloggers take some time to show love to one another! If you are so inclined, head on over to the Announcement Post! This event is hosted by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books and Katelyn from Kate’s Tales of Books & Bands! This Mini Challenge is to create some book spine poetry! Due to things I decided to improvise! 

Friends, I have to be honest, I recently moved back home and therefore all of my books are packed in boxes and stored in our barn. Since they would take hours to dig out I decided to go through my Goodreads lists and write a little poem based on books from my TBR pile. I hope this isn’t going against the rules and, more importantly, I hope you all enjoy it. Here we go! (Links will take you to Goodreads)

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Kleopatra,

Raised by Wolves.

Crave,

Tender Morsels.

Possess,

Monstrous Beauty.

Echo.

Blood Will Tell

The Space Between

Falling Kingdoms.

Fateful,

Queen of Kings.

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I had a ridiculous amount of fun “writing” this, my English major brain was in overdrive!! I especially liked the metaphor of Cleopatra being raised by “wolves” and her fateful lifetime, like I said, I am a sucker for these kinds of things! I can’t wait to read everyone’s posts and continue on with our love-a-thon!

Blogger Love-a-Thon Interview Swap

love-a-thon

Welcome to Blogger Love-a-Thon! This is a 24 hour event that helps us bloggers take some time to show love to one another! If you are so inclined, head on over to the Announcement Post! This event is hosted by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books and Katelyn from Kate’s Tales of Books & Bands!

To welcome everyone to the event, bloggers all over have been paired up and have swapped interviews to go live at midnight. I was lucky enough to swap interviews with Lettie from Above Average Below Special! Read our interview, my comments at the end, and come back later in the day to read some really fun posts, including some bookish poetry!

So here we go…

I saw that your blog didn’t start out as a blog dedicated solely to books, what prompted you to start blogging? Why did you decide to change and focus on book reviews?


I don’t really know why I started blogging I think reading so many blogs encouraged me to start my own! Once I started my mixed blog I found so many book blogs and started doing reviews or memes which was the best part. When I ‘relaunched’ my blog I decided to focus on books because I had the most interaction and fun with my book blogging!

Do you have a literary boyfriend? (Mine changes weekly.)


I don’t usually do book boyfriends but I think I would love Roar from Under The Never Sky because he is so witty and caring, Adam from If I Stay for his loyalty and talent and Lucas from Easy for his everything!

If you could have dinner with any three people (real or fictitious, dead or alive), which three people would you choose and why?


I’m going for fictitious otherwise it’s too much choice! 
1. Chinky for the Adventures of the Wishing Chair by Enid Blyton, I spent so many years imagining him flying into my room for adventure that he had to make this list!
 2. Sirius Black because he must have some brilliant stories to share around the dining table!
 3. Last but not least Aria from Under The Never Sky because I really want her to explain her world and tell me all about Perry!

What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?


I lived with 6 easily bored boys and 5 wildly fun girls at Uni so life was pretty exciting 24/7! From all night all inclusive parties to going out all out fancy dress style every week to throwing printers out of a 4 storey house to ‘see what would happen’ to walking out of a nightclub as the employees were setting the alarm….. Life with them was full of crazy- my life is so quiet now!

If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?


I would have been at the Palace of Versailles for the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and the Crystal Palace Exhibition. I would have loved to witness every event for ‘Super’ Saturday London 2012. While I’m on a roll I would also love to witness the Roanoke Colony to see what happened to them and to have been in Kenya when Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II!I tried to limit myself a bit!

I have yet to read His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, but it is on my definite TBR for this year! What is your “spirit animal,” or if you could be best friends with a mythological creature, what would it be?


I’ve tried to read Northern Lights so many times- I’m sure I should love it! I think I would have a lion or a tiger for my spirit animal! Mythological creature would have to be a Sphinx or a Griffin just because they were my childhood favourites!

If you could be any fictional character, who would it be?


As I’ve just finished Through The Ever Night I have to say Aria, I love the world building and I want to be best friends with Roar!
 Other characters I would also love to be would be Hermione Granger, Alanna of Trebond and Lucy Pevensie!

Up until this year I have had a hard time naming a favorite author and I’m still not sure that I can say with conviction that I have one favorite book. Can you name a favorite author and title?

Why are they your favorites?
I couldn’t even name one favourite author! At the moment I would have to say my favourites are Veronica Rossi for her amazing world building and Gayle Forman for her beautiful and deep relationships! But it changes every time I read an awesome book!

What is one of your favorite quotes? Is it literary? Why is it your favorite?

Oscar Wilde is the author of loads of my favourite quotes but this one is one of the best! “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”~ Oscar Wilde. I love this one because it is so true and I am also the overdressed person at gatherings but I’d rather be over dressed than under dressed!

This one was stolen from a friends blog, I saw it and couldn’t resist: “You find yourself in front of seven identical doors, these seven doors lead to seven places: Narnia, Neverland, Wonderland, Hogwarts, Camelot, Middle Earth and Westeros. Which door do you go through? Why that door? What happens?”


Hogwarts because once I finished school I would be part of the Wizarding world and I could fulfil my childhood dream of becoming a Weasley!

Excellent answers! I recently bought Under the Never Sky and have heard amazing things so I can’t wait to read it! Also after reading your answers it seems like the characters were pretty awesome! Sirius Black would definitely be on my list because I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! He might be one of my literary boyfriends as well! Your time at Uni sounds like it was epic, I bet there was never a dull moment, I can imagine a lot of naps happening during that time! To be honest, as I was thinking of my own answers I still don’t think that I can come up with an event that I would love to witness! How strange! I would definitely go with a feline spirit animal though dragons would be my mythological creature bff, for sure – a Sphinx is also amazing! I have yet to read Gayle Forman but I have heard amazing things, I need to read her books for sure! Finally, who doesn’t have a dream of becoming a Weasley!

Thanks for stopping by, Lettie. I looked forward to learning more about you! Readers, make sure you check back throughout the day, there is sure to be some fun posts!

Happy reading!