Making A Comeback

Hello my lovely followers,

I hope you had a wonderfully relaxing winter holiday and a fun-filled New Year! It's been a while, huh? I'll admit, I completely dropped the ball with blogging for the last few months. I really only meant to take off the month of October to concentrate on my college applications (I've gotten into two schools, by the way!), but that month quickly turned into three after I joined my school's theater department for the Christmas production. It was such a great experience, and I'm hoping to help out with our spring musical, but it did suck away a lot of my reading time. I apologize for being gone so long; I've really missed reading and writing and talking with all of you. (:

So, with the new year, I'm reading (and blogging again!) While I can't necessarily promise that my posts will always be consistent, I can promise that I'll do my best to get reviews and interviews and such up and running again.

Here's to an amazing 2011! Happy Reading!
<3 Cate

School, Layout, and YOU!

I don't know about the rest of the world, but for me, school started this week. This year I'm finally a senior (!), but whoever said that the last year of high school was the easiest LIEDLIEDLIED. It's been nearly impossible to tackle the giant pile of homework every night, forget reading for pleasure. It'll undoubtedly take me a few weeks to get into a rhythm of finding time to read and write reviews, and I honestly can't promise that things will be very timely until I figure that out. School has always come first and foremost, and although I ADORE my blog and my followers and all my blogger buddies, my posts may be slowing down a bit for the beginning of the school year. Hopefully, though, I'll get things sorted out very soon!

In other news, I won a blog layout makeover from Dumplin Designs!!! EEEK! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to have a fresh new look for Sparrow! Hopefully in the next month or so I'll have a brand new shiny layout. :D

Also, the part of this post that concerns YOU! You all know about my feature Under the Lamplight (more info on the tab above!)If you have any interest in being interviewed, I'd absolutely love to have you! Please just email me at sparrowreview(at)yahoo(dot)com

Thanks!
<3 Cate

Calling All Scrapbookers

I have a gift for you! Basically, a few years ago, I was very involved in scrapbooking, but fell out of it as school (and blogging!) took up more of my time. Now I'm trying to make more space for books in my room and am looking to see if any of you, my readers, would be interested in taking them off my hands! I have about a half a dozen books in very good condition that I am willing to send to you at NO CHARGE, not even shipping. (I'm in desperate need of space, as you can tell!) If you're interested, please email me at: sparrowreview(at)yahoo(dot)com
Please note that this is on a first-come-first-serve basis. The titles include:

*Scrapbook Page Maps by Becky Fleck
*Focal Point from the editors of memory makers books
*Out of Bounds by Jodi Amidei and Torrey Scott
*Papper Cutting Techniques for Scrapbooks and Cards by Sharyn Sowell
*Type Cast from the editors of memory makers books
*Dee Gruenig's Rubber Stamp Treasury- Original Ideas for Creative Sationery, Party Paper, etc.

Thanks so much!
<3 Cate

P.S. Also note that I cannot ship internationally, sorry!

Going off on Vacation

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that for the next week, I'll be going on vacation! Although I have a couple of scheduled posts, I won't be on the internet very much during the week. I'll be coming home next Sunday, August 1st, so after that most everything should be back to normal.

Have a lovely summer, and I'll see you next week!
<3 Cate

My Blogoversary Contest Winner!

With the help of Random.org, I have the winner of my Blogoversary/200 Followers Contest to announce!

And the winner is...

(DRUMROLL)

LYDIA PRESLEY!

Lydia, you've been emailed. Please contact me within 48 hours or I will have to choose another winner.

<3 Cate

Once Upon a Read-a-thon Wrap-Up

Let me start out by saying what I have learned from this read-a-thon experience, concerning myself, my reading habit, and things in general that I need to keep in mind for the next time I do this:


1) Choose books that are on the short side- you'll feel like you've gotten more accomplished
2) Do your best to block out those three days completely; I took a short break on Tuesday to hang out with some friends and ended up reading only a few pages for the day because I got so distracted ;P
3) I am a slow reader. That's just the way it is. Don't worry too much if you're like me- the read-a-thon is for your enjoyment, not something else to stress over. (Thanks to Sandy for helping me realize that!)
4) Have Twitter buddies! It just makes the experience a LOT more enjoyable.
5) Keep chocolate nearby. I don't think there's a logical reason for this, but I'd recommend it anyway.


In the end, I only read two books, but I ADORED both of them. I was amazed by the sheer imagination used in Brightly Woven, and Sisters Red was downright awesome. Chuck Norris would be proud. I can't wait to share my reviews with everyone!

<3 Cate

CSN Stores Review Teaser

Hi Everyone!

I've been given the awesome opportunity to review a CSN product from one of their 200+ stores for the ol' blog! While CSN offers anything from lights to recliners to bookshelves!(Can you guess which one I chose?) Recently, my books have been taking over my room, so I'm really excited to be able to try out a new bookshelf!


4D Concepts Hanging Corner Storage In Espresso



Nantucket Bookcase

Decisions, decisions. I'm excited. :)

<3 Cate

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer

I get goosebumps EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Four months, my friends. Four months.
<3 Cate

A Golden Book Adventure

Hi, everyone!

I know I've been MIA lately, but I've come back with gusto! This past weekend, I went to visit Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. (I'm a rising senior, and have begun touring colleges.) Anyway, it happens that they have a graduate program for YA Literature, and were holding several lectures for their students. One that I attended was Golden Books presentation held by Diane Muldrow, editorial director for the Golden Books branch at Random House.

First, I was very excited to meet a real editor- I've been interested in going into the publishing industry for the past few years, especially after I began Sparrow Review. I was very impressed with the sheer amount of knowledge she was able to share regarding the Golden Books- it seemed like she knew the background of every author and illustrator that contributed to a Golden Book. I don't know about the rest of my followers, but when I was a kid, I loved my Golden books. My favorite was Doctor Dan the Bandage Man, which came with two complementary Band-Aids.

I absolutely recommend that you check out a book that Ms. Muldrow edited, called Golden Legacy. It contains everything that I heard in the presentation with more detail, no doubt. Were you, like me, addicted to Golden Books as a kid? If so, which ones?

<3 Cate

....Knock, Knock?

Hi. :) Remember that one girl who was on her blog 24/7, posting her reviews of books? The one who chatted to fellow bloggers and actually checked her email?

She's been posting once or twice a week now, keeping the ol' blog afloat and trying to make good grades. She promises she'll be back in full swing soon. This Friday is her last day of school, and she'll finally be FREE from exams and tests and projects.

OH, and, she'd like to point you over to the sidebar, where you will see that Sparrow Review has broken 200 followers!! *happy dance*

Wait...what's that? Contest? SOON? Yep, I'm sure that's what she said...keep you're eyes peeled, my friends. :D

Thank you all for being so patient!
<333 Cate

An Amazingly Cool Blogger Event!!

Have you heard about the incredibly EPIC YA Bloggers Debut Book Battle hosted by Alyssa at The Shady Glade? That's right- we, the book bloggers, will be making the incredibly difficult choice of best YA debut book published between 2009 and early 2010!

How will it work? This comes directly from Alyssa:

"People will have a chance to nominate a book of their choice to take place in the battle. After nominations close, the books will be narrowed down and fit into brackets for our lovely volunteer judges to read. Starting in late April each judge will read two books and choose a winner. One will move on, one will not. It will all come down to two books in a epic book battle to choose the best!"

So, not only can you nominate books to be considered, but you could also judge! Click here to find more information!! I hope you'll participate; this looks like so much fun!

<3 Cate

Some Improvements...

Hi everyone! How was your Easter holiday? Here, I've spent all my time relaxing, as well as updating a few things on the blog.

The first thing you may notice is my nifty new navigation bar, equipped with several tabs including a new About section, as well as all my policies and archives. I hope everything is a little more accessible this way; it's much more space-efficient than the clunky tabs I used to have on my left sidebar.

Also, I now have a chatbox! Feel free to leave comments, questions, or anything else (besides spam)! ;)

Look forward to a review of Nina LaCour's Hold Still this week, as well as a few other posts.

<3 Cate

ANOTHER Cover Contest

Okay, so Princess Bookie is holding yet another cover contest! Since my last cover kind of flopped (didn't get any votes,) I decided to try again, this time with a more light-hearted book, Forgive My Fins, by Tera Lynn Childs. Hope you like it, and I hope you vote! :D


For some reason, Blogger makes the photo slightly blurry, so it may help to just click on the image. :)


Here's the original cover:
<3 Cate

A Bit of Exciting News

Hi everyone! I hope you're having a lovely Saint Patty's Day (did you remember to wear your green?) Anyway, I have some exciting news to share...

Yesterday, I found out that Sparrow Review is going to be featured in a book called Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens by Rachelle Rogers Knight. It essentially "offers more than 2,400 award-winning and notable reading suggestions in many genres, cross-referenced to help parents and teens chose the right books for them." Apparently there is also a section where YA book bloggers are featured. For me, you guys, this is amazing. I am so incredibly flattered to have been chosen for part of this project, and I thought I would share the news with you.

If you're interested in learning more about this reading guide, you can visit the website, where there's a more detailed synopsis as well as information on where it can be purchased.

So exciting!

<3 Cate

Cover Re-Creation

Princess Bookie is holding a contest to re-create a cover of a 2010 novel! I decided to go with Holly Schindler's release, A Blue so Dark. Here's what I came up with:




What do you think?

Library Trip :D

I'm back! I'm sorry I had to jet off like that, everyone. The homework has become manageable now, so no worries for a while! :)

This week I took a much-needed trip to the library, where I picked up a few good reads, including:




I actually really love to bake, and the cover of this one looks to die for. I'm hoping to get some delicious recipes! :)

Have a great weekend, everyone! Have you read any of these before. Recommendations?
<3 Cate

Contest Winner and a Very Brief Hiatus

Hi Everyone!

I'd like to announce the winner of my 100 Followers Contest! Drumroll please...

Debbie L. !!!!

Congratulations, Debbie! I'll be sending you an email tonight; please respond within 48 hours, or I will have to choose another winner.

***

Also, as you may have noticed, I haven't been around on the blog much this week. The homework monster is to blame. Unfortunately, the next few days are going to be extra busy, so I have decided to take a very brief hiatus. And by very brief I mean I'll be back by the middle of next week! Sorry, guys. :(

I'll be back!
<3 Cate

Pick-up/Put-down Syndrome

You may have noticed the lack of reviews lately...sorry! It seems that these past few weeks I have indeed come down with a case of Pick-up/Put-down Sydrome. Any of you had this experience? Lately all I've been doing is reading a few pages at a time of these three:



So far all seem to be really well-written, and the story-telling draws you in. For some reason I'm just not sucked into one in particular, so I'm just sort of cruising a long, reading a chapter here and there.

The cure? Not sure. Goodness knows I'd better get a review up soon! ;)

Hope your inner reader is feeling a little better than mine, haha! What are you reading these days? Any books to recommend? I'd love your suggestions!

<3 Cate

Awards and Such

Hi everyone! I've received a few awards recently, and I thought I'd pass them along...

The first was the Lovely Blog Award, passed on to me by the equally lovely Lucy at Delightful Reviews.
Accept the award, and post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link. Pass the award to 5 other blogs that you've newly discovered.

Here are five blogs that I've recently discovered:

Jenn from Books at Midnight
Melissa at i swim for oceans
Amelia at Imagination in Focus
Isadora at The Depths of Words
Brianne at Brianne's Book Blog


The second is also from the aforementioned lovely Lucy. It's the Blogger Buddie Award!
To keep the tradition, I'd like to pass this award along to anyone that follows this blog. Yes, that means YOU! You're all buddies in my book! :D




The third is from Sandy at Pirate Penguin's Reads, who passed along the Happy 101 Award! Here's a list of ten things that make me happy:
1)Family
2)Chinese Food
3)Books (of course!)
4)Watching old Disney Movies
5)Getting packages in the mail
6)Nature photography
7)Gilmore Girls
8)Tap Dancing
9)The Beach
10)Good Dreams

And ten blogs that make me equally as happy:
J'adore Happy Endings
Bookduck
Melanie's Musings
Pages
Rhiannon Hart
WORD for Teens
Red House Books
Sarcastic Humour and Chewed Up Pen Caps
The Book Cellar
Squeaky Books



And last, but certainly not least, the Who Loves You Baby Award from J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog! This award is designed with one purpose in mind. Pass this on to other bloggers who have awarded you in the past.

Thanks to:
Sandy at Pirate Penguin's Reads
Lucy at Delightful Reviews
Kathy at Bookworm Nation
Priya at Book Crumbs


One last thought...what do you think of signatures at the bottom of posts? Yay or Nay? I'm still trying to make a decision; I've even made a sample to see what it looks like. What are your opinions?

January: A Month of Tea and Books

So, did you know that January is both National Hobby Month and the month of Hot Tea? These two categories happen to fall under my favorite things. I love reading with a mug of tea nearby. As a matter of fact, my favorite tea is Bigelow's Early Grey. Delicious.

And, besides reading and blogging, I really enjoy playing the piano (I'm an amateur, but it's fun all the same,) and I'm a tap dancer. I also like to bake, and I would even consider my obsession with Gilmore Girls a hobby. ;)

So, my questions for you this week are:

1)Do you enjoy tea? While reading?
2)What other hobbies do you have besides reading/blogging?

Have a wonderful day!
<3 Cate