Ahhhh! It Didn't Post!?!?!?!?!?

That's right! I did what I said I was going to do! I WON NaNoWriMo!!!!! Oh my god I was so excited! I even made a video.........that apperently failed to load........again....... I can't believe I didn't notice but, then again, I did take a long hiatus. It has been a whole month since I have done ANYTHING on the computer other than what needed to be done. Like, bills for example. I wrote my little heart out and it is way more exhausting than I ever thought possible! I needed the break though. I was so burnt out that I haven't even really read much this month either. I have just been watching tv and playing video games. I have loved every moment of it but, I am missing my books. January and February are even the "What Now" months for NaNo where we revise and edit our novels. I am considering doing that. I know my novel is going to need a shit ton of work done to it, not to mention the fact that it isn't even done yet. It will get there as long as I keep working on it.

Well, whatever the fate of my novel will be, one thing is for sure. My hiatus is over! Its time for things to get back to normal and I have goals for myself. Goals I really want to keep for the coming new year :)

Thank for reading! <3

NaNo Update! Finally!

Was having issues with YouTube so I am sorry that I am only now getting an update to everyone :( But here is a video finally!!!!!

Excitement!

So! I think I may have finally figured out a schedule to give a shot and see how it goes! Mondays will be my "what I am currently reading" days. I can normally read about a book a week so I think this will work out alright. Now, because I have been focusing on a rather larger book than normal, I am still reading the same books I posted about on Friday. They are Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling and Geek Girl by Holly Smale. I know, I know. It's taking me a while. I have let myself, yet again, get intimidated by the size of it which has put me in a bit of a slump. It's breaking though as I am getting to the more exciting parts of the book now. Action is my friend :) Those have been my main focus so far. I still have yet to get started on Eldest by Christopher Paolini again...... I need to do that.

Any who. That's that. I also plan to post on Wednesdays and Fridays. Wednesdays plan is just random life events. Anything non book related as well as book related if need be. It would include posts about just how my week is going, my family, any knitting or art I may have done or maybe the occasional start or finishing of a book as sometimes happens. Fridays I am leaving for any book reviews of books I finish that week.

Also, no matter what day it is, the first of the month, I will post my TBR for that month. The end of the month will be the books I finished that month and a book haul if I have one. They may both be in the same post or they may be in different posts. I haven't decided yet. We'll just have to wait and see how that one pans out :) I am probably leaning more towards one post since I don't get to go buy books very often. But, we will see!

So that is my plan as of right now. Hopefully it will work out all right. I figured it would be worth a try since these are the days that both kids are at school so I get a couple hours of alone time ;)

Anyway, that's it for this post! See ya Wednesday!

Thanks for reading!!!! <3

Realization! September TBR!

I just realized that I never really made my TBR list for September! Now that I think about it, I am not sure that I made one last month either...... Oh well. Focus on the now Amber!

Anyway, I am going to go ahead and make this list as I go! Teehee! Better late than never anyway!

I know that there are 2 books that I want to finish this month and they are; Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling and Geek Girl by Holly Smale. Both are very good that its hard to choose which one I want to read at times. As I mentioned before, I always have a physical copy and an ebook going at the same time. My method is physical copy during the day and ebook at night and travel. There are a lot of nights when the hubs is ready to go to sleep but I am not. So I like my nook which lights up so I can still read ;)

Another book I have yet to get finished is Eldest by Christopher Paolini. This one I have borrowed the audio book version from the library using the OverDrive app. I have this app on all of my devices and absolutely love it! Right now I have this book downloaded to my phone so I will be able to listen to it easily while I am cleaning or walking. Since this is a library book, I should probably make this one priority but, we will have to wait and see. I do have all four books as a hard book box collection so I could read it when ever I wanted but, they are so big and I thought the idea of audio books intriguing. I haven't listened to audio books before this and since I have a lot of days where I just don't get to sit and read much, I decided to give it a try. I am liking it very much though I do prefer reading it myself. I just absorb the story more when I read it myself.

So, getting these 3 books done this month would make me very happy. Only because 2 of the 3 are rather large books. Because of that, I am really not expecting to really start any other books this month except maybe another ebook. Geek Girl is pretty short and I am about half way done with it already. So, if that is the case, my next planned ebook is Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. Yes. I am just now jumping onto this band wagon. So, sue me. Just kidding, please don't! Lol! Anyway, I am very excited to get into this. I know I am going to love it and can't wait to be able to get the physical copies to add to my growing collection. Let's face it, the covers alone are gorgeous!

Well, that is it for this post. Talk to ya next time!

Thanks for reading!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Things have been crazy hectic around here the last couple weeks! My daughter started school last week and she has also had cheerleading practice the last couple weeks in the evenings. Then I had a doctors appointment and the next day, my son had one. The day of his appointment, he also had his preschool screening (he knew a lot more than they expected!). On top of all that, one of the hoses to the washer burst while we were at his doc appointment and I had come home to a flooded basement. I only had a half hour to get him to his screening and the faucets did NOT want to turn off so I had to shut of the water to the whole house. I took him to his screening soak and wet because I didn't have time to change. Oh! Did I mention that I have to walk the kids everywhere because we only have one car right now? Yeah. I am not complaining at all about that. Lets face it. I need the exercise and all this walking is putting me well over my goals. I feel good. The only downer is that by the time my hubby gets home from work and is ready for our time at the track together, I am too pooped. I need to just do it though because he pushes me to run, not just walk. I really need and want to run but, I am a wimp and can't seem to get past the pain it leaves me in. Something I need to get over. We will just add that to the "Need to Get Over" list I have ever growing.

So. besides all that, I have been knitting and reading when I get the chance to sit. I am either working, running kids everywhere, or cleaning (trying too sometimes). The last time I posted, I think I mentioned that I had signed back up for HPKCHC on Ravelry after about a year of sitting out. Well, I am happy to say that I made it back into my home, Gryffindor! I wasn't sure I would make it into a house this time because I have been gone for so long. But I am soooooo happy I did!!!! I still need to turn in a class and finish my Quidditch item but, my main focus has been my OWL. I am knitting a shawl I have wanted to do for a LONG time. It's the Color Affection Shawl by Veera Valimaki. I am in love!!!! It is so easy that I could work on it no matter where I am or what I am doing. So, needless to say, it goes with me to cheer practices and I knit on it while my Moira is practicing and Liam is playing on the playground. Nice and relaxing! 

When I am not really in much of a mood to knit, I read instead. This way I am always doing something! Right now I am still reading Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling. This is the only book in the series I never got to read. I am, of course, LOVING it. I am almost 1/3 of the way done with it so I still have a ways to go with it. That's fine with me though. I only need 1 more book completed before I finish this years reading goal! I may change it and add a few though. I am not sure yet. 

I am also reading Geek Girl by Holly Smale. It is a smaller book and also more of a contemporary instead of my usual fantasy. The only reason I have this one going as well is because it is an ebook. I have my ereader (Nook) with me constantly. I am never without it. I try to take Harry Potter with me but, I sometimes forget or just don't have enough room for it with everything else I have to take that time. My Nook goes no matter what though. I will NOT be caught without a book! That is just blasphemy! 

So, this has been my life the last couple weeks. Busy, busy, busy! I am working on making myself a schedule to post more regularly though. Which it will be easier now that I have an actual work space again. I have been packing up all of Moiras K12 stuff that needs to go back and getting that ready for shipping back. Don't get me wrong, K12 was wonderful! I just can't homeschool on top of work and everything else going on around here. At least her going to school is going MUCH better than it was last year. If she is happy, I am happy. That's all that matters :)

Well, I talk to you all latter!

Thanks for reading!!!! <3

Random Thoughts Of The Day

So, I just realized that I totally missed out on the first day of my favorite season, Fall. It was Sunday and I had to work. I am sad I missed out on going outside that day but, I am still happy too. The last couple days (including Sunday) have been wonderful fall temps all day and I have LOVED it! I just love this season so much. I am going to do my best to enjoy it as much as I can while it lasts!

Part of my way to enjoy it is knitting! I haven't knit much this year at all but I have been getting back into it more and more over the last couple months and I couldn't be happier! I have even signed back up for HPKCHC on Ravelry again! I am really happy and excited to be part of the knitting community again. Its helping me out a lot in many ways. Mostly not feeling so trapped at home because of everyone working during my days off and me working on their days off. I miss out on a lot because of that and really don't see much of anyone but my family. I love them to death and wouldn't trade them for the world but, I am a person who really likes to get out with friends every now and then to gather myself and kind of recuperate from the unending stress I have to deal with. So, work makes that hard but, Ravelry helps because of all the wonderful people I have met and talked to. It may not get me out of the house but, it gives me friends to talk to though out the day. I couldn't be more thankful for it.

Now, I need to go to bed. Have to be up at 6a.m. to get ready and take my hubby to work. He has to be there early and its about a 30 minute drive. I need the car for errands tomorrow. Oh the joys of only having one car! Hopefully I can change that in the next couple years at most :)

My Little Girl Is Growing Up!

Its just as the title suggests..... My baby girl is growing up. Today was her first cheer leading practice. I also see it as being the one to start it all. She is a very active little girl and her little brother is going to follow in her footsteps.

Moira has wanted to be in cheer leading since before she was even in school. She was so excited when I told her she was going to be able to one this year. I am very happy that she is happy and so proud of her for wanting to be so active. She wants to all kinds of sports now. As many as she can. I think her next big one is going to be track or cross country. She has loved going to the track as family every night so the hubs and I can walk and run. She loves us timing her runs. She can surly run circles around us, that's for sure!

Her brother is going to follow in her footsteps. He loves her so much and the 2 of them are inseparable. As soon as they are separated, they miss each other immediately. Liam is also wanting to start with sports. Baseball and football are definite with him right now. They thought it was cool when I said Liam would be the playing football and Moira would be cheering him on. He is too young still to be in anything but, I think he will be able to next summer. He starts preschool this year :(

*Sigh*.........Both of my babies are growing up. Happy, proud, and sad all at the same time.

Thinking

So, as I was sitting here watching my husband play his video games, I was thinking about reading more of my book. He got me Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows so I am finally able to read it! Now, I know what your thinking...... How have I NOT read this book yet!? Am I right? Well, I had originally had it when it first came out but, not a week later, it had been stolen. I was not able to get another copy either due to money being tight back then and our first child on the way. I just couldn't justify buying a 30 dollar book on the spot. The only reason I was able to get it in the first place was because I had pre-ordered it. It made it easier for some reason.... If I remember correctly, I think the place I had pre-ordered from had some kind of special deal. Its hard to remember exactly because it was 8 years ago and I had pregnancy brain!

Any way. I decided against it as I had blogging brought to my attention. It made me think of my seriously neglected blog on here. I am really wanting to blog more, not only because it is fun, but because it has been helping in many ways. So, I am looking and thinking through how I have things going (or lack there of) and any changes I may want to make. I even want to come up with some kind of "schedule" to stick to. Just because I do want to post more regularly. No, seriously, I really really do.

One change I am sure about making is that, I will not be posting videos for now. I really want to learn how to edit videos so I can focus more on having fun with them and less on trying not to mess up. Then they would be more enjoyable to watch! ;) That is my goal for that anyway.

I don't have any idea what, if any, other changes. I thought about maybe changing the blog look up a bit and I definitely will be making a list of everything to blog about and what not. I will still be blogging about books, knitting, and just life in general. Beyond that, we will have to see how things pan out. I, for one, am excited to get things rolling again and hope you will be too!

Random Thoughts

So, as I was sitting there for D&D, fighting a blasted Mithrill Gollom who was thoroughly kicking our asses, I had a sudden realization....... I have not yet actually WRITTEN a blog post. I am wanting to remedy that....... obviously :)

So, maybe by now, you have realized just how much I absolutely love books with my past videos. The only reason I say maybe is because I haven't really kept things updated regularly. Being a working wife and mom, life can sometimes make it difficult to record sometimes. I can assure you that I have a passion for books. So much so, that I really want to go to school to study all I can and someday work for a publishing company. I would even be happy teaching English or Reading  if I had the chance. I would love to share my passion.

I even enjoy writing from time to time even though I have never really considered making it into a career. I can write. I have even been known to write some pretty awesome short stories back in high school. One of my teachers even asked to keep a copy of one of my stories to use as an example to future classes. I was very happy that day!

Yesterday I had gotten the ball rolling for my future by talking to an admissions rep about the majors I was interested in and which one would be the best fit for me for what I want to do. I was very excited throughout our talk and very happy at how doable this all seemed for me as a working wife and mom. The whole experience was just very surreal but, in a good way.

I am not going to be starting right away even if I do decide that now is good time to start. There are things I want to make sure of first, of course. Like, I want to be sure that I will indeed have enough time to do everything I still have to do daily and add study time to it. Make sure I wouldn't be stretched to thin as my husband had said. Right now, I think I could definitely do it at least part time without any problems as long as I stick to the current schedule we have set up. The way the school is set up, I think I may even be able to study full time. I definitely plan on starting out part time though until I know for sure. I definitely don't want to mess up this opportunity!

So, this is what is going on in my hectic life right now! I did just finish a book too though so I am going to try and get a video up of that :)

OH! And we finally beat our pain in the ass of a Gollom ;) LOL!!!!!

Till next time!
Read on!!!

June Wrap Up!

Better late than never!.......

May Book Haul and Completed Books!

Defiance by C. J. Redwine
The Heir by Kiera Cass
The Queen Of The Tearling by Erika Johansen
Cardcaptor Sakura, Vol. 1 by CLAMP

Just A Little Update!

It has been a while since I posted! Sorry about that! Its been a crazy month with the school year coming to an end very soon and starting the job hunt! Its also my birthday this Saturday and we are kind of having a party and I went out to eat with one of my girlfriends and my sister. It was a lot of fun!

But on to what your here for! Here is a link to the books mentioned in this video!

Defiance by C. J. Redwine
The Heir by Kiera Cass
The Queen of The Tearling by Erika Johansen
Cardcaptor Sakura Vol. 1 by CLAMP
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Eldest by Christopher Paloni

Happy reading guys and see ya next time!

Planned May TBRs!

The books I hope to get through in the month of May!

The Queen Of The Tearling by Erika Johansen
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare

April Rap Up!

I think I am finally getting the hang of this! Definitely one of my better videos!

I read a total of 5 books in April and didn't realize it till I counted them up for the video! I am pretty happy about it! I read......

The Jewel by Amy Ewing
Spellcaster by Claudia Gray
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Forever Dark (Starfire Angel Chronicles) by Melanie Nilles
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

If you guys want to follow me so you can see even more goings on, I am on Twitter as @theartsybooknerd87 and I am @theartsybooknerd on Instagram and Goodreads as well! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Red Queen Review!

I LOVED this book!!!! A plot twist that I did NOT see coming! I am still working on making my videos better but, it's getting there!

See you all next time!

The Artsy Book Nerd 2: Sleep Is Overrated!

My second video is up! You'll get to see my reaction to seeing I was getting a call from my library that Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard had finally arrived! So of course, I am reading that right now ;) Sorry for the yawning here and there...... I stayed up late playing D&D and then finished the last of Tiger Lily...... Sleep is overrated anyway! ;)

Hope you enjoy and keep on reading!

Artsy Book Nerd 1

Finally giving the vlog thing another go! I am a bit awkward in it but hopefully it gets better! I am sure I will :) This is SOOOOO much easier than trying to type everything out with the little time I have.

I had forgotten to mention 2 books! I can't believe I forgot them either because I liked them so much.... I read The Jewel by Amy Ewing and I had finally finished the last book of the Starefire Angels: Dark Angel Chronicles by Melanie Nilles. Its called Forever Dark and was the 4th and final book. I'll talk about them on my next video :) They deserve it and SHAME on me for forgetting them! BAD book nerd!

See you all next time!

Keep on reading!!!!!!