The Whimsical Mama

<3 Such is the life of a stay at home mommy and Army wife (:

Blogoversary! (And giveaway!) July 10, 2014

I am so blown away that it’s my blogoversary! Okay, it was actually yesterday. You know how in my confessions on Top Ten Tuesday mentioned either way ahead or scrambling on posts? Well, this week has been a scrambling one. I scheduled ahead for vacation, but only through the day we came home. I know, I know.  This year has been an incredible experience. Chock full of hard work and numerous rewards. I’ve said before, but I’ll say it again. This blog is older than a year old. I started blogging in 2011. Aspirations of becoming like Julie in Julie&Julia. That FAILED. Juggling a newborn and a new blog idea while hubby had a travel job just didn’t work. So this sat unused for ages. Then Mary started getting her blog off the ground. I debated jumping back in the blogging world for a long time before I actually committed. This time around, I was juggling a toddler AND a newborn, but hubby no longer traveled with work. Finally, I took the plunge and I never looked back.

The Whimsical Mama would never have been possible without all the support Mary’s given me. She is seriously my number one supporter in ALL THE THINGS. If you don’t know her, she blogs over at Mary Had a Little Book Blog. You should check it out. It’s incredible. Just like her! Mary and I go way back to my freshman year of college. Books have always been a big thing in our friendship and I love how close we are on and off the net. Still sucks that we live so far apart! Mary, you’re the best and I LOVE YOU!

This also wouldn’t be possible without you, dear reader. There are times when I feel like I’m blogging and talking to a wall, but when I see pages views and visitor numbers, it makes my heart soar. I could seriously talk to a wall about books, but knowing that someone, somewhere is checking out The Whimsical Mama, it reassures me that I’m doing the right thing. Thank you for sticking around even though I don’t get to do a lot of giveaways. I am happy that I’m going to be able to do more giveaways now. It’s killed me not to be able to share book love other than just publicity.

Thank you to all the publishers & publicists who have taken a chance on me. Especially Cassie McGinty at Disney Hyperion. She deals with my emails a lot and is always AWESOME! (: I’m so thankful for the opportunities you’ve given this lil ole blogger mama to share the book love. 

OBVIOUSLY ALL THE LOVE goes to the authors too. Let’s face it. They’re the true reason we’re here. Without their hard work, we wouldn’t have anything to gush about! I’ve had the chance to interact with one of my favourite authors (Melissa de la Cruz) and meet and build relationships with so many others. I love you all so much. Major shout out to Amalie Howard and Jodi Meadows. Last summer, many a night, there were hours long chats with Jodi, Mary, and Alex. So many fun times! Jodi took the time to drive down to meet me for lunch when I was up in the Northern VA area. She’s incredible. She’s a lovely lady and incredible author. Read her books. DO IT. Like I said yesterday, I stumbled across Amalie and I’m so happy I did. She’s super awesome and super talented. We haven’t had the chance to meet in person yet, but it will happen and it will be EPIC. I will forever more shout the recommendations about their books. Fo’ sho’.

Now, for the time we’ve all been waiting for! GIVEAWAY TIME! I have a ton of giveaways scheduled for this month and next, but this one is special for my blogoversary (plus the Infinite ARC giveaway). This is going to be a level giveaway. First up is a young adult book of choice (up to $15) from Book Depository! For every 300 entries, I’ll reveal another prize and add another winner. Prizes will be first come first serve if more than one is revealed. *** Prize #2 has been unlocked!!*** ARC of 17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen! (US ONLY) If you don’t follow my giveaway guidelines, I will disqualify you. Don’t make me do it, please. I’ve had to disqualify people from every giveaway I’ve hosted thus far and it’s so disheartening.

 

Giveaway!

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL (and only open to the countries where Book Depository delivers to) Entrants must be 13 years old to enter. Those entrants under 18 MUST have parental consent. Giveaway is open July 10th 2014 (12am EST) through August 10th 2014 (12am EST). I reserve the right to disqualify entries in violation of my giveaway policies. All entries WILL be verified. Winner(s) have 48 (FORTY-EIGHT) hours to respond to email/tweet. Good luck. May the odds be ever in your favor! (: For every 300 entries, I’ll add another prize & winner! Prizes will be revealed at each level! (Book Depository prize ONLY IS International all other prizes are US ONLY. Sorry!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Don’t forget about these giveaways!

 

Kiera Cass Giveaway!

This giveaway is open to US only ( Entrants must be 13 years old to enter. Those entrants under 18 MUST have parental consent. Giveaway is open July 6th 2014 (12am EST) through July 20th 2014 (12am EST). I reserve the right to disqualify entries in violation of my giveaway policies. All entries WILL be verified. Good luck. May the odds be ever in your favor! (: For every 100 entries, I will add another winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Jodi Meadows Giveaway!

This giveaway is open to US only ( Entrants must be 13 years old to enter. Those entrants under 18 MUST have parental consent. Giveaway is open July 1st 2014 (12am EST) through July 31st 2014 (12am EST). I reserve the right to disqualify entries in violation of my giveaway policies. All entries WILL be verified. Good luck. May the odds be ever in your favor! (:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Please Be Kind, Rewind: 15-28 June 2014 June 28, 2014

Started last week behind schedule and have worked my butt off to get back ahead of schedule. Alas, that didn’t completely happen. Camping trips with no internet access can do that. Plus, we lost my great-uncle at the beginning of this week. It’s been a hard week. Lots of time with the family, but not under the best circumstances. It was also my mom’s birthday this week! (: We’re having a birthday cookout at my grandparents’ today for her. I am working to get ahead again, though! Hubby is home now, so the kiddos aren’t as wild. Things are getting accomplished! Also rearranged some bookshelves. I’ll post before and after pictures once I’m done rearranging. I just got some new books this week, have some returning from Mary, and have won a few giveaways! (:


Completed:

Taken by Erin Bowman

Stolen by Erin Bowman

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (paperback & audiobook) 

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The Tailor by Leigh Bardugo

The Witch of Duva by Leigh Bardugo

 


Currently Reading:

The Everything Mother Goose Book by June Rifkin (yes, we’re still working on it!)

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (paperback & audiobook) 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling (audiobook)

Siege & Storm by Leigh Bardugo

 



Read to the Kiddos:

Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes

Pete the Cat Pete’s Big Lunch

Pete the Cat Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Pete the Cat Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses

Pete the Cat A Pet for Pete

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

That’s Not My Tiger by Fiona Watt

That’s Not My Train  by Fiona Watt


New to my shelf:

Seamonster by Amalie Howard (e-novella)

WARP The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer (e-book, on SALE!) 

Pete the Cat Pete at the Beach by James Dean (I promised Punk some new Pete books for the kindle for his birthday once daddy got home!)

Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses by James Dean

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (prepping for YALLFEST!)

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (replacing my missing for over a year one)

The Selection by Kiera Cass (YALLFEST prep!)

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (YALLFEST prep!)

Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo (Binge and YALLFEST prep!)

The Almost Girl by Amalie Howard (personal copy & future giveaway! Strange Chem isn’t going to be printing anymore so get your copies NOW!)

From the library:

as usual, more audiobooks! (:

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell 

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Siege & Storm by Leigh Bardugo

 

 
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