Walking on Sunshine!

Today I got my first glimpse into the upcoming days of spring and summer. There is just something about going outside and feeling the sun on your skin that instantly puts you in a good mood. I was able to not where a jacket today and it felt so great outside. I have always been a lover of the outdoors, despite my terrible allergies. One of my favorite things to do is read or study outside. On TV they always make it look so glamorous, someone is always just laying on a blanket or leaning on a tree. What TV does not show you is the bugs! It's a terrible feeling when you look down and find that there is an ant on your arm, because somehow you managed to sit on an anthill. You may be thinking there is no way I would sit on an anthill, I would be able to see it, but trust me you may not know one is there until it is too late! Despite this bug issue, the outdoors is something I love, although it can sometimes be a love/hate relationship. Today's perfect weather just excited me about all of the amazing sunny days to come!

Hang In There!

I know it has been a while since I last posted, but I have not finished another book yet. I am currently on the second book in the lovely My Blood Approves series. After being able to read anytime I wanted to the past two weeks, I have suddenly been thrust back into the real world. Now, I am still  reading, but who really wants to read about physics and organic chemistry? The missed days due to snow really got some of my classes behind schedule and we are now rushing around to catch-up. I keep telling myself, only one more week until spring break! If you are like me and need some inspiration to help get you through, enjoy these awesome pictures!

How Could You Do This Veronica Roth?

To Finish or Not to Finish...

Be aware, this is not a review, but instead a rant. Over Christmas break I read Divergent by Veronica Roth and thought that it was pretty interesting. After finishing, I quickly went over to my local bookstore and bought the second book, Insurgent. It has been a few months since that moment and I have actually still yet to finish the book. How did this happen you may ask? 

Well, it all started when I went to dinner with one of my friends. We started talking, and eventually are conversation ended up centered around books. I thought that this was great, hey I finally had someone to talk books with. Turns out she had actually read the whole Divergent series over break, and she decided to tell me all about it. Against my better judgement, I did not plug my ears or walk away. If you do not know how the series ends, all I'm going to tell you is that it does not have your typical ending. I really want to finish the series, but now that I know what happens, is it really worth it? 

If you are reading this, please I beg you, DO NOT tell people the ending of books, tv shows, or movies. I am currently sitting at a crossroads. Not only that, but Insurgent is just sitting on my bookshelf with my bookmark sticking out of it just taunting me. 

Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

A Book Nerd's Survival Guide to Winter

Winter is a season of short days, freezing rain, ice, and snow. Don't get me wrong, I do love building a snowman, but my one of my favorite parts of winter is staying warm inside and reading a great book. I know that winter is almost over, but somehow there is an upcoming wintery mix in the forecast for me...still. So, I thought that I would share one of my favorite parts of winter (better late then never, right?). This is a time where I catch up on a lot of movies and tv shows. In addition to that though, I also re-read some of my favorite books or discover some new ones.

So, here is my recipe for having the perfect winter day indoors reading:

1. First off you definitely need a good book! I like to re-read something I found really entertaining.

2. You'll also need a warm, fuzzy blanket

3. The perfect hot beverage (Hot Cocoa (with marshmallows), Apple Cider, etc...) 

4. If you find yourself lucky enough to actually read by a fireplace (that is actually lit), it is pretty awesome

5. You can stay in your pajamas!

I know everyone is different, but these are just a few things that make reading really awesome on a cold winter's day!

What Got You Reading?

That Initial Spark

I do not know the exact time I started to enjoy reading, but I do know the books that started it all. As a little kid, I was always asking my mom to take me to the library or to the bookstore. Even though I have grown a lot since then, both in taste.....and size, it's important to me to almost pay homage to what got me started.

So, without anything further here are the books that started it all for me:

Never forget the little guys that got you where you are!! What got you started reading?

Should You Go Digital?

E-Readers vs. Good Old-Fashioned Books

Pinterest is my go to place for DIY ideas, cute pictures, fashion, and so much more. I love to explore all of the different quotes they have on there also. I came across one that really irritated me. While the picture was great the quote said "Kindles don't have this kind of magic!" Do people really think this? 

I admit, when I heard about reading books on a screen I thought that was definitely not for me. The actual holding of a book and sometimes the smell of a book had always enhanced my reading experience. I eventually gave in to the hype and got me an e-reader. A few years later I still have the same e-reader with over 100 books on it. I still love the feel of actual books, but there are so many things that my e-reader can do that a book cannot.

Facts about e-readers:

1. You can get a book anytime and anywhere

2. Libraries have digital books that you can check out

3. Easy to take on the go

4. You can read sideways, without getting in an extra weird position

5. There are a ton of free digital books out there

This is purely just my opinion, but it's not books that have the magic. It is instead the words and how they flow together that make reading magical. You can get that experience from an e-reader or an actual book. Also, just because you have an e-reader does not mean you can only read digital books. I like to read, but I also like to save money. If a book is on sale and cheaper than the digital version, then I will purchase the book. I have a wide collection of both digital and paper books.