As I have stated in my previous posts, this past weekend was Bookcon! Bookcon is an event where authors, publishers, bloggers, and basically anyone who loves books, come together for a two day event that is directly after Book Expo America. With many exciting things to do, such as panels, giveaways, autograph sessions, and meet and greets, Bookcon is every booklovers dream! Sadly, Bookcon will take place next year in Chicago, Illinois for only one day (I know, I am angry too). On the bright side, it will return back to its home, New York, in 2017. Despite this disappointing change, you will still most likely find me at this event next year. I better start saving up! Anyway, to prepare for next Bookcon here are a few lessons I learned this year for next year!
HEY GUYS! As I have stated in my previous posts, this past weekend was Bookcon! Bookcon is an event where authors, publishers, bloggers, and basically anyone who loves books, come together for a two day event that is directly after Book Expo America. With many exciting things to do, such as panels, giveaways, autograph sessions, and meet and greets, Bookcon is every booklovers dream! Sadly, Bookcon will take place next year in Chicago, Illinois for only one day (I know, I am angry too). On the bright side, it will return back to its home, New York, in 2017. Despite this disappointing change, you will still most likely find me at this event next year. I better start saving up! Anyway, to prepare for next Bookcon here are a few lessons I learned this year for next year! 1.) BRING A ROLLER BAG Despite, what others may have said, I had received a lot (80+) of free books at Bookcon this year. Due to the fact many people said there wouldn't be many freebies, I neglected to bring any bags that could roll. I ended up having over six tote bags filled with books and other bookish stuff and that was only for Saturday! You would not believe the pain I went through while carrying these bags around the city! 2.) DO NOT PLAN TOO MANY AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS AND PANELS THAT ARE POPULAR Trust me, you will only come home with about ten free books if you spend most of your day in lines. For popular panels (if you are not a VIP) and autograph sessions, it is required you wait in line at least an hour and a half prior to the event. Leigh Bardugo's signing reached max capacity two hours before it even started! I received more ARCs and signed books by walking around booths than waiting at autograph sessions. Many autograph sessions are in booths anyways. 3.) WANT FREE STUFF? BOOTHS ARE THE WAY TO GO! Following what I had said before, booth walking constantly will get you at least thirty free books. Booths also give you the chance to promote your blog, get free ARCs, sign up for amazing companies, and meet hidden gem authors (indie authors who write amazing books)! 4.) BRING A FAMILY MEMBER FOR MORE BOOKS! In this case, bringing your parents is cool! You have an extra pair of hands to retrieve more freebies without having to worry about accidentally dissing your best friend in the process. 5.) DON'T CUT LINES OR HOLD SPOTS FOR MORE THAN ONE PERSON! No matter what your excuse is for cutting, I will still despise you until I receive whatever it is we are waiting in line for. Bookish people are extremely nice people, but the second you cut in line or hold spots for your entire friend group, we will come at you. Yes, I know we are all going to the same event, but you getting in front of me without waiting as long as I did may make me loose my chance of getting a free ARC. Honestly, whatever your motive is for cutting or holding an unreasonable amount of spots, it is rude and disrespectful to the other people in line. 6.) CHILL Do not spend an obsessive amount of time on your schedule, it will only leave you disappointed. Your best bet for having an incredible time at Bookcon is only writing down the things you absolutely need to see and spending the rest of your time going with the flow. 7.) DON'T BE AFRAID TO TALK TO OTHER BOOKISH PEOPLE! I can assure you that a vast majority of the people at Bookcon are super friendly. After all, they do share similar interests with you. While waiting in the extremely long lines it is quite enjoyable to mingle with people! If you are nervous, just compliment on something they are wearing that is book related or ask them what book they are getting signed by the author you are waiting for, it is a good way to rave over your favorite books and authors
Hi guys! Bookcon is in two days!! With this in mind, I decided to tell you my week preparation. A WEEK PRIOR I had put the finishing touches on my schedule and have made reservations! Also had talked to a few other bloggers of a potential meetup?! TUESDAY I had began planning my attire for Bookcon and events following it. WEDNESDAY I had joined a video chat with fellow readers and bloggers about meet ups and plans following the event! TODAY I have printed and laminated my badge and schedule. Also, I have began packing. TOMORROW (LAST DAY BEFORE BOOKCON!!) I will be meeting Jenny Han tomorrow, who I heard is an absolute sweet heart! I will finish packing and set my alarm for 5 am to go to New York City. Hi everyone! This is my second post about summer to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. Obviously, one of my favorites about summer is fun foods it has to offer. Knowing this, I have decided to talk about the various delicious summer foods I love! Please note that tomorrow I will be posting about the healthier foods for people who favor that. The foods will be put into categories to help keep things neat. SnacksChips and Guacamole Pigs in a Blanket Mexican Dip INGREDIENTS: •8oz of cream cheese •2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese •a can of chili •a shallow flat dipping tray like this: INSTRUCTIONS: •layer each ingredient in the order- cream cheese on the bottom, chili in the middle, and shredded Mexican cheese on top. •put in the microwave for four minutes or until cheese is melted •let dip cool for a few minutes and enjoy! MEALS Mexican Street Corn This is my go to meal in the summer. Not only is this delicious but extremely easy to make. Here is a good recipe for it here. Grilled Mangoes Mangoes are one of my favorite fruits and grilling them only makes it better! This delicious and juicy snack is perfect for a summer barbecue. Panzanella Salad As a big salad lover, this salad is by far my favorite. This flavorful salad is a tasty and healthy option for a summer day! Grilled Mangoes Mangoes are one of my favorite fruits and grilling them only makes it better! This delicious and juicy snack is perfect for a summer barbecue. Sushie I love sushi! I'm pretty sure I have ate sushi every year for my birthday. Sushi is the perfect light snack for any summer meal! DESSERT Gelatis I swear I go to Rita's way too much during the summer. I probably tried every flavor besides banana since I despised that fruit. Since I am a singer I try to refrain from ice cream so I love water ice, and the occasional gelati! Strawberry Shortcake Not only is angel food cake a heathier option compared to other cakes, it's fluffy texture is perfect for summer. Also strawberries are incredible while fresh in summer. Hey everyone! Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Since this holiday is the unofficial start of summer, I thought I would help you celebrate by writing summer-themed posts all week. To kick things off, I will be telling you what my summertime essentials are! 1.) HairIn the summertime, my scalp is a prime victim for sunburn. This causes my hair to become dry and flakey. Lush's Superbalm Scalp Treatment helps sooth my dry scalp and avoid flakes! Bed Head's Ego Boost: $16.49 http://www.target.com/p/tigi-bed-head-ego-boost-split-end-mender-leave-in-conditioner/-/A-14232013 With all of the sun and salt and/or chlorine water, your hair is destined to get dry. With this leave in conditioner, your hair will gain more life again! Batiste Dry Shampoo: $7.99 http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/batiste-dry-shampoo/ID=prod6153019-product In the summer, I tend to cheat my hair of its daily wash and for someone with natural oily hair, it makes a huge difference. This dry shampoo allows me to skip a washing and still look clean! Perfect for a day at the beach, this brush allows you to de-tangle your hair without damaging it! 2.) MakeupCovergirl's Waterproof Mascaras: $7.99 http://www.covergirl.com/beauty-products/eye-makeup/mascara/full-lash-bloom-mascara There is nothing I despised more than my mascara making me look like a panda in the water. With Covergirl's waterproof mascaras this problem never occurs! Also Covergirl's mascara is very voluminous, which help makes my eyes pop! Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream: $7.44 http://www.maybelline.com/Products/Face-Makeup/BB-Cream.aspx?gclid=Cj0KEQjwyoCrBRCl-aa97pKX_t8BEiQAbrs_9HshEET2-e-uRzvZexrxtXqX95-6wQ-kgDB8ncB6OoEaAkLK8P8HAQ This bb cream has everything you need and more! With sunscreen and moisturizer, this cream will definitely protect and hydrate your face! Maybelline Baby Lips and EOS Lip Balms: $4.49/$3.29 http://www.maybelline.com/Products/Lip-Makeup/Lip-Balm.aspx?gclid=Cj0KEQjwyoCrBRCl-aa97pKX_t8BEiQAbrs_9GW-Qm9yb_s68t_DMDMc1Eq1-fSOq2euBgcOIhhAaUEaAn5d8P8HAQ http://evolutionofsmooth.com/lip-balm/smooth-spheres/visibly-soft-coconut-milk.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwyoCrBRCl-aa97pKX_t8BEiQAbrs_9KOg_JQFVqy1ht-S83fM6IePEXafG54qle36YaijyIcaAjs28P8HAQ My lips have a tendency to get extremely dry and the only things that seem to soothe them are Baby Lips and EOS. By spending so much time in the sun, my skin constantly peels. With LUSH's face masks, my skin is able to revive and rejuvenate! Not to mention its all natural! LUSH BATH BOMB AND BUBBLE BAR After all the fun you have during the summer, it's nice to take some relaxation time for yourself! 3.) FashionIn the beginning of summer I am no where near bikini ready (who is?!), but with jes swim tops, I have the ability to feel a little more confident knowing that I am wearing a somewhat crop top, not something more like a bra! Not only will this cover the part of my stomach I am most self-conscious about, but also I think it is very flattering on all who wear it. There is something about vintage bathing suits that I admire! I have always admired rompers and how flattering they look on almost all sizes. Rompers are a great thing to wear at almost everything this summer and come in amazing styles! Not only do they protect your eyes, but also look super fashionable! Hiking Boots and Flip Flops As you may know, I am going to Yosemite, California on June 20th, so these are obviously necessities. 4.) BooksThe Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han Last year, I devoured this series. It was a phenomenal summer read and I cannot wait to read it again in the months to come. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen This entire book screams summer. Everything about it made me smile at the though of summer. Definitely going to read again soon. The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp This book is an amazing example of living in the moment and after all, isn't that what summer is about? Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick (and the movie) Silver Linings Playbook has been one of my favorite books and movie for a while. The entire book and movie make me extremely emotional because of my love for them! The Shatter Me Series by Taherah Mafi As you may be aware, the Shatter Me series is my favorite series. Everything thing from Kenji's funny remarks to Warner's hotness makes me explode into a puddle of feelings. Anything Written by Gayle Forman Yes, anything. Gayle Forman could write an essay on a whale's diet and I would fangirl over it. If it wasn't for Gayle, I would have never had this blog nor read a YA novel. Gayle Forman's novel 'If I Stay' had pulled me into the world of YA literature and I am forever grateful. 5.) Movies and TV ShowsNew Girl If you have never heard of New Girl, you are missing out on one of the most hilarious shows I have ever watched. Once Upon a Time OUAT has been my favorite TV show since it has aired. Combining my love for Disney and my love for hot guys with british accents (*cough, cough* Collin O'Donoghue), this how has me 'hooked'. 16 Candles In this eighties classic starring Molly Ringwald, it is a comedy about a girl on her sixteenth birthday. That is all I will say about this hilarious movie. But I will tell you one more thing, this movie will not be forgetful! Clueless
This movie has been my favorite since I was little. With it's fun-loving vibe, you will be certainly enjoying yourself! Hey everyone! About a week ago I had a few exciting announcements, and today I have a few more! I GOT A SNAPCHAT! After much consideration, I decided to get a Snapchat for my blog. As a good form of communication, Snapchat will give me the ability to keep up with you daily! To add to the excitement, I will be hosting a giveaway when I get my first 100 followers on it. I will be posting what I will be giving away later on. My Snapchat is marissarnicole. I FINALLY HAVE AN INSTAGRAM FOR THIS BLOG!
Like I had promised, I did make an Instagram today. Unfortunately, it has no followers yet. With this in mind, I will be hosting another giveaway when I reach 100 followers on the account. The way to enter is you must follow the account and repost a photo I will be posting on the Instagram account specifically for the giveaway. When you do repost the photo, please use the #marissarnicolegiveaway for me to notice you have entered. Like the snapchat giveaway, I will be awarding the giveaway to only one person and you can enter more than once. The prizes for the giveaway will be posted on June 10th. The winners will be picked the day I receive 100 followers and the winner will be notified immediately. Hey, everyone! This week has been a very eventful week, and most of the events that occurred during this week have to do with the future of my blog! As most of you may have realized, I have not had the chance to interact personally with many of you. This realization annoyed me since it is mostly my fault. I realized I did not have any type of social media where i could get to know you guys personally. With the mindset to change that, I have recently created a gmail [email protected] I can interact with you on Google Hangouts and Google+. Also, I have decided to create an Instagram for my blog as well. Unfortunately, the Instagram is still in renovation, but will be completed by tomorrow. Along with those social networking sites, I also have a Twitter for this blog, @marissarnicole. Secondly, I have decided to make and wear shirts advertising my blog at Bookcon. The only problem I am facing is that i still need a logo for my blog. Although, I think I might know what I want to use, I want to see if any of you have a better idea. If you have a good idea for a logo, please, send me a photo of it on whatever social media I have listed in the paragraph below and if I choose yours I will give you credit on all my social media sites! Lastly, I may be attending Teen Author Carnival on May 26th in New York. If you are attending this event or Bookcon, please inform me so we can try to meet up!
As many people take their negative feelings out on sports or shopping, I choose to neglect my negative thoughts by binge watching shows and movies on Netflix. Like reading, I use shows and movies as a type of therapy in times of distress. Here is my list of the top ten movies I watch on Netflix. NUMBER 10: LEGALLY BLONDE Unlike Legally Blondes or Legally Blonde 2, the original Legally Blonde is actually really good. With its fun loving vibe, Legally Blonde will automatically lift your spirits. NUMBER 9: 13 GOING ON 30 When I first watched this movie with my best friend, Grace, I thought it was another sappy romcom, but once you reach the end it completely messes with your emotions! NUMBER 8: DIRTY DANCING With music, summer, romance, and Patrick Swazye, this movie screams happiness. Seriously, how can you watch a movie with Patrick Swayze and not feel an ounce of joy! NUMBER 7: STARSTRUCK Yes, it's a Disney channel movie. And yes, the movie itself is not that good but it has upbeat feeling to it. And it has become my go to happy movie. NUMBER 6: CLUELESS Say what you will, but Clueless has and always will be my favorite comedy. With many hilarious events throughout the movie, you feel yourself become happy again. NUMBER 5: LILO AND STITCH Don't judge me, for this pick. As a fellow Disney nerd, the very thought of Disney makes me smile. Lilo and Stitch is one of my overall Disney favorites. I mean who doesn't love stitch! The songs in the movie are also incredible. NUMBER 4: FOOTLOOSE This movie is extremely stereotypical for teen movies, but believe it is an amazing movie to put yourself in a better mood. With amazing and upbeat songs, it's impossible to not want to dance. NUMBER 3: SHES ALL THAT Since I can easily relate to the main character, Laney, I find this movie very hopeful and relatable. NUMBER 2: HEATHERS No matter what people tell me, I will refuse to let people say that being obsessed to Heathers is unhealthy. The only thing that gets me through my long days of school is watching Veronica suffer through much worse parts of it. With the dark comedy it possesses, the movie will make you feel slightly disturbed while laughing hysterically. NUMBER 1: SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK I am a major Bradley Cooper fan and this movie only does him justice. With the message that sometimes ends in life are actually good and that you always have a shot at happiness. I honestly love this movie. In one of my reviews I had stated that I will be attending Bookcon in New York. For those who may not know, Bookcon is a convention, on May 30-31, for books. Bookcon offers a lot of fun things to do like autograph sessions, panels, meet and greets, and many more. Recently, Bookcon released their schedules for both days and since then I have been trying to find what I want to do and when. There are an abundance of things I want to see that overlap with other events. The convenient thing about this dilemma is that my mom is attending with me so I can get autographs for authors I would most likely miss if I was by myself. Another great helper to me, since I am a new Bookcon goer, is the Bookcon app. The Bookcon app helps you connect with other attendees before actually going. Also, the app gives you an easier way to view events as opposed to the website. Anyway, if any of you are going please contact me. I'll post my schedule for it next week! Everyone has those moments where you find it impossible to finish a book. Whether it be a more character driven plot or it just lacks action, there are ways you can finds way to finish the novel! 1. Take brakes within the novel. It is fine to admit that the novel cannot be completed in a short period of time. Sometimes, it may even take you a month! Just relax and focus more on enjoying the story than when it will be completed. 2. Read one chapter a night at the minimum. When I read a extremely slow story, I try to read atleast a chapter a night. This helps me complete the book in a somewhat timely fashion. 3. Start another book as well as that one. When you cannot bear to go any farther into the novel, get another book. This will help keep you from obtaining a reading slump. After all this, if your still not able to tolerate the novel, then it is beyond okay to diss it. Not every book you read is going to be your favorite. Life's too short to read books you have no interest in! |