Friday Favourites – Fall Things

It’s been a crummy summer, but somehow I’m still looking forward to the fall. I love this stunning season almost as much as I love the spring, and even though I loathe the long, frigid months that follow, I still enjoy the lead up, the anticipation of fall. 

Here are some of my favourite fall things:

Hibernating begins. And I’m not talking about the bears. I’m eagerly awaiting things to slow down, to catch up on some sleep, to rest for a while.

TV! Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, Parenthood, and Survivor! 

Long, lazy nights.

The gorgeous fall colours – I could drive around and stare for days.

Turkey and everything Thanksgiving. Particularly pumpkin pie.

The smell of cool, crisp days.

Diminished concern over donning a bathing suit.

Knitting, which is something my fingers itch to do as soon as the nights turn cool.

Stews, soups and roasts.

Cuddling up under cozy blankets.

No pressure to be out ‘enjoying the weather’ so I can curl up and write – or read – without guilt.

Curling up in front of the fireplace.

 What are your favourite fall things?

Friday Favourites – Reading Things

I love to read. Here are my favourite reading things:

A fabulous book, obviously.

My comfy reading spot is my bed, although I’ll read pretty much anywhere.

My iPad which I love for its bookmarking and note-taking capabilities and sometimes the social media distraction when the novel I’m reading isn’t that great.

A quiet spot to read. I still covet this even though my commute has conditioned me to read in loud, cramped, and sometimes icky spaces. I do become distracted and irritated during loud, obnoxious conversations, particularly first thing in the morning. HERE’s what I have to say about the subway.

Goodreads! I love checking out what other readers think of the books I’ve read when I finish reviewing them (I really try not to peek first.) I also love seeing what everyone else is reading and finding new suggestions to add to my to-read pile.

Book Blogs – Obviously! HERE are some of my faves.

SNACKS! Chips please! And yes, I often munch these in bed while I read. And no, I never make a mess. Sometimes.

Something to sip on: Water and sometimes often a cocktail.

Something to read by when darkness descends, unless I’m using my iPad.

Another fabulous book to pick up as soon as I finish the last sentence. I often barely skip a beat between books. And no, for some reason I don’t find this confusing. I do, however, find myself forgetting books though. But I do this with movies too, so it’s just me and my memory issues – it says nothing about whether I loved or loathed a particular novel.

What are your reading things?

Friday Favourites – Childhood Books

This week’s Friday Favourites is all about the books that fostered my love of reading. Here are some all time favourite reads of my youth:

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

A classic that I absolutely adored and read repeatedly. “I must, I must, I must increase my bust.” And no, I never did the exercises. Maybe.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13, 3/4

I loved this book and also read it several times. It encouraged scribbles in own my secret diary. And I probably definitely loved the insight into boys.

Anne of Green Gables – The Series

Two words: Gilbert Blythe. Canadiana at its best.

Trixie Belden – The Series

There was no Nancy Drew in my repertoire. My bestie, Andrea, and I devoured Trixie Belden instead and between us accumulated most of the series in our youth.

Sweet Valley High – The Series

Sigh. Need I say more.

Flowers in the Attic  – The Series

All V.C. Andrews novels, really. I devoured them.

What were your favourite childhood reads?

Friday Favourites – Chick Lit Book Bloggers

It’s National Book Day! I already celebrated with my favourite books (so far) of 2013 but have decided to go one step further and post next week’s Friday Favourites one week early to celebrate all the wonderful bookish people that share their love of books – particularly chick lit – by book blogging.

Not only do I adore these sites and frequent them often to find great reads, but many of them have either reviewed, will be reviewing, or have featured Redesigning Rose! All the ladies – and one adorable gentleman – are such lovely people and are a joy to work with.

Favourite Chick Lit Book Blogs:

Chick Lit is not Dead

Chick Lit Central

Chick Lit Plus

Novelicious

I Heart Chick Lit

Chick Lit Club

Chick Lit Reviews and News

Chloe’s Chick Lit Reviews

I Heart Chick Lit

 Novel Escapes

I just had to throw that last one in there! I co-founded Novel Escapes for any newbies out there and we have fabulous book bloggers who not only review for us but have their own bookish blogs: Kaley at Books Etc. and Jen at That’s What She Read.

What are  your go-to book blogs?

Coming Soon:

August 16th – Friday Favourites – Childhood Books

August 23rd – Friday Favourites – Writing Tools

August 30th – Friday Favourites – Summer Stuff

Friday Favourites – Books of 2013

Introducing Friday Favourites,  a quick and dirty list of my favourite things, because what better day to celebrate fabulous things than a Friday!

This week I’m combining all that is fabulous with the giveaway winner I forgot to post last week in my haste to rush up to the cottage and enjoy the long weekend! Whoops! So, without further ado…

Congratulations to Kaley Stewart who TOTALLY deserved to win for her blog post dedicated to suggestions on where to snap your cover shot with Redesigning Rose. Kaley reviews for us over at Novel Escapes, she’s completely lovely, and she absolutely adores books as much as I do. Not that you’re not all deserving. And this was all randomly done over at Rafflecopter. Promise.

Kaley wins my favourite book (so far) of 2013! There has been much speculation surrounding what it is and here goes…

Favourite Reads (so far) of 2013:

#1:  Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

#2 The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Milay

In random order: 

Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman

Forever Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 Confessions of an Alli Cat by Courtney Cole

The Promise Of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

Dearest Rose by Rowan Coleman

The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A.Tucker

The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby

The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman

Shake Down the Stars by Renee Swindle

I KILL ME: Tales Of A Jilted Hypochondriac by Tracy Tucker

If Kaley has already read Me Before You, she can choose any one of the above. And because I know she has an ereader, she also wins Confessions of an Alli Cat by Courtney Cole, my favourite Indie Read of 2013 so far!

What are you favourite books of the year so far?

Coming soon: 

August 16th:  Friday Favourites – Book Blogs

August 23rd:  Friday Favourites – Childhood Books

August 30th:  Friday Favourites – Writing Tools