Wednesday, March 8, 2017

So Obsessed... (21)



It's time for an Obsessions update!!  I get obsessed with a lot of things and they're constantly changing, and I want to share :)


5th Blogoversary






Guys!!!  Last Thursday was my 5th Blogoversary!  AND I forgot!!  If it wasn't for Nicole at Feed Your Fiction Addiction, who knows when I would have realized it (PS-- you should go over there and sign up on her blog birthday calendar and maybe someone will remind you!!).

Last year I told you my whole blog/reading story, so this year I'm just going to keep it short and sweet and share some of my journey and memories over the past 5 years:


  • THIS was my first post (I always share this on my blogoversaries and I probably always will because WOW)
  • Reflections: I know when some people start blogging, they slide really easily into the book blogosphere, find really good friends right away, and it all goes smoothly.  Well that was not my journey.  
  • It took me a long time to really find my place in this book community.  There was never really a point where I wanted to quit, but I definitely went through some times where I didn't understand why I couldn't fit in and find my "people" as easily as others.
  • In fact, I don't think it all actually clicked until like 2 years ago.  I felt like I was just a lone wolf throwing words out into the void for the first 3 years of my journey, and then I finally figured it all out.
  • Who knows how or why I was finally able to be less of a loner, but I'm much happier in this new place.  Now, there are a ton of you that I talk to on a regular basis-- and a ton more that I'm not nervous to start talking to.
  • One of the biggest factors for me was joining my book club.  It's an FYA book club here in Pittsburgh, and meeting those friends made me realize that my bookish love should be more social.
  • Also, going to BEA and other bookish conferences and signings, introduced me to a lot of bloggers IRL.  Only knowing people from the computer was something that I had a hard time getting used to.  I didn't grow up in the era where internet friends was a THING.  So, when I started my blog, I think I kept a lot of my online life at arms length.  Not for any other reason than it was foreign to me.
  • Then I met Cassi (who lives close by) and she introduced me to this whole crew of people that I went to BEA 2016 with-- and man, ever since that trip, I've just felt way more comfortable in my little corner.
  • Memories:  My fave memories are stupid things like-- the first time an author liked or replied to a tweet of mine, the first time I received a physical ARC in the mail, the first time I went to BEA and met so many of the authors that I'd been DYING to meet (like R.L. Stine, Lauren Oliver, Sarah Mlynowski, Jandy Nelson, A.S. King), collaborating with my friend Emily to do really fun discussion posts, and so much more.....
And now I'd like to do a GIVEAWAY to say thanks to everyone who has stuck with me-- and all the new people that are just now finding me.  You guys are the best!  I'll post it at the bottom of this post.





Fear Street Podcast




About a year ago, I posted on here about maybe starting a podcast with one of my book club friends.  Well, we finally got our shit together and are doing it!!  We also added a 3rd member to our talkfest-- Cassi from My Thoughts Literally!!!  It's called We Know What You Did on Fear Street, and we're going to be reading all the original Fear Street books and discussing.

The first espisode was just recorded earlier this week, so it should be ready to listen to soon-ish.  I'll obviously be shouting about it when it does.

In the meantime, I've been listening to a few other bookish podcasts:




Frequency




  • I started watching (and became massively addicted to) the TV series Frequency when it was released on Netflix last month.  The movie on which it's based has always been one of my all-time favorites, so I was excited to see that it was coming to Netflix (I'm not good at watching primetime shows on the major networks).
  • It has the same premise as the movie, but made some changes-- like the gender of the m/c, the updated time periods, and the dad is a detective, not a firefighter.
  • I was about 5 episodes in before I realized MEKHI PHIFER!!!  He looks the same, but SO DIFFERENT!!  It made me feel old-- and really excited because I love Mekhi Phifer!  It made the 90's parts that much more better because he is SO 90's???
  • So, it's about a girl that communicates through a ham radio to her dead father-- before he died obviously.  Through this communication, they change things-- the dad DOESN'T die when he's supposed to, and also a serial killer called the Nightingale has killed a lot more people than before.  Something they did altered the killer's path-- and now Raimy (the m/c)'s mom is dead, a victim to the Nightingale.  Now it's up to them to set things right!!
  • It's totally thrilling and super interesting.  I know it wasn't doing well on The CW, but I hope it gets renewed-- or moved to Netflix permanently.  It's not a good sign that I love it since all the shows I love usually get the ax.


Felicity




  • I got the entire Felicity series for Christmas and the last 2 weeks I've been working my way through them.  It's my first ever rewatch, so I was super excited to see how I felt about this show after seeing it so long ago.  And let me tell you, I have FEELINGS.
  • I'm only through seasons 1 and 2, but wowwww!
  • First thing, I knew that she cut her hair and that it was a big deal, but I forgot that it was so early on in the series!!  At the beginning of season 2, she cuts it ALL off.  And it's terrible.  She looks..... not good.
  • I really liked season 1.  It was the whole Ben or Noel dilemma and I was still firmly TEAM BEN just like I was back in the 90's.  I couldn't wait for the Simon Rex episode because I had the biggest thing for him back in the day-- and it was a little bit of a let down.  Felicity does this thing where she makes sex into this HUGE deal with people she cares about, but then has sex with a rando she doesn't even know.  Hey, you do you girl, but why make it such a big deal then??
  • Season 2-- I became even more TEAM BEN but way less TEAM FELICITY.  I started missing the unsure and charming Felicity that first came to New York, and not liking how everyone was treating her like she was a genius supermodel.  I mean, she's pretty, but ?????  Plus the hair!
  • Also, I couldn't talk about this show without mentioning that it is super stalkerish to follow a guy you don't know to college (or any guy for that matter).  Just no.



FFBC Blog Tours




  • I got a really fun opportunity to be a co-blogger at The Fantastic Flying Book Club, and of course I said YES!!
  • So now I'll be helping with their blog tours!!  I couldn't be more excited!
  • Are you a host yet??  If not you should totally SIGN UP.  I've been hosting stops for them for at least 3 years and they've been some of my favorites.  They always have really exciting books!


March Books





March is an exciting month for YA books, and I'm super excited to get into some of the books that I received for review!

I'm reading Just a Girl right now and WOAH!!  Carrie Mesrobian totally goes for it with her gritty descriptions and brave topics.  I'm loving it so far.  What books are you reading this month?

Giveaway



  • I'm giving away a Book Depository YA book of your choice
  • INT as long as you can get books from there
  • Be 18 and stuff, unless you have parental permission



a Rafflecopter giveaway






Now let's talk!!  What books are you reading??  Have you seen Frequency?  Did you ever watch Felicity?  Do you have favorite podcasts to share?


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25 comments:

  1. Congrats on 5 years, Michelle! That's amazing and such an accomplishment. I know what you mean about finding your people. I was lucky enough to start this blogging thing with people, but they've all moved on now. So sometimes I feel like I'm trying to find my place again.

    The podcast sounds so fun! I'm going to check out the blog tour page too.

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    1. Thanks!! I'm so glad I got to know you through blogging!! I definitely know what you mean about people moving on-- it seems like all the "big" bloggers that were around when I started are gone now.

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  2. Happy blogiversary<3!!!!! I'm so happy that our blogging lives collided and we ended up becoming friends<3! And, how fun that we've been blogging for almost the same amount of time!

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    1. I didn't realize we'd been blogging for the same time!! That's awesome. Also, I'm really glad I got to know you through blogging. I met you right around the time when I was starting to find my way and it really helped!!

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  3. Wow, five years, happy blogoversary! And ooh, you're starting your own podcast? That's so awesome! And your favorite memories aren't stupid, all of those things are exciting the first they happen!

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    1. Thanks!! I'm super excited about the podcast-- mostly because I like talking about nostalgic things!

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  4. I plan on watching Felicity! Never seen it actually. Trying to think on how to do it, I guess I have to see if the library has it or buy the DVDs.

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    1. Yeah Felicity seems like it's not on any of the streaming places!! It's why I ended up asking for the box set for Christmas. I was really curious to see what it was like after almost 20 years of not seeing it.

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  5. WOW 5 years!! Happy blogoversary - that is awesome!! That podcast sounds so cool. I used to LOVE Felicity. Maybe i should rewatch :)

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    1. Felicity is super fun to watch so many years later!! The clothes!! The drama!! I'm loving it even if I am kind of annoyed at her being a stalker. I'm super pumped for the podcast-- I love FEAR STREET!! I'm also super nervous that I'm going to sound like a SPAZZ!

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  6. Happy 5th! I'm so jealous that you're in a FYA book club, there isn't one near me =(

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    1. Thanks!! And BUMMER. My FYA book club is the best time. We've done so many fun things-- outings, trips, dinners, scavenger hunts, etc. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

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  7. Congratulations on 5 years. That is an awesome accomplishment. I think you're doing a fantastic job. Keep up the amazing work.

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  8. Congrats on five years! I met a lot of great bloggers at BEA last year - including you!!- and it was great. I feel like the bloggers I used to know and meet up with aren't blogging anymore, so it had been a bit "lonely" on that front.

    -Lauren

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    1. I feel like BEA 2016 was my most social and best BEA year!! I was so glad to meet you!

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  9. I'm glad I could remind you of your blogoversary, Michelle! LOL! I love that you found your place in the blogging world, even if it took you a little while to do it. I wish I had some local blogging friends that I was in contact with more---I think that would be awesome!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. It is really fun to have a blogging friend in the area. It's definitely made my blogging experience more social and better :) Thanks for the awesome reminder!! I so owe you!

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  10. YAY! Congrats on five years. And thanks for the shout out (a few times). I am so excited about the Fear Street Podcast. It's going to be so fun.
    Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally

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    1. LOLOLOL, I guess you've become a big part of my blogging/bookish life!! You might be getting the short end of the stick on that deal-- sorry!! WOO to Fear Street!! I'm so happy you're reading them for the first time!!

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  11. Congrats on 5 years of blogging, Michelle. That is awesome. I haven't seen Felicity in forever, but I remember when it was on the WB. The memories. :)

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    1. LOVE the WB!!! I was obsessed with allll the shows! Thanks!

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  12. Happy blogaversary!!! That's so exciting and I love the moments/memories you shared. I still get excited interacting with authors and remember my first ARC vividly! I've actually never seen Felicity or Frequency but your enthusiasm has me wanting to check out both. Isn't it SO weird to recognize an actor you love looking/just knowing they are older!! Really trippy.

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    1. Thanks!! It's SO WEIRD to randomly see a 90's or early 2000's actor show up in something and not recognizing them at first!!! So strange! Frequency is on Netflix, so I hope you watch it!! IT'S SO GOOD!

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  13. CONGRATS on five years, Michelle. This is awesome! I like how you shared some milestones and/or memories. BEA is one event I think would be super fun to attend, but I've never pursued going - for a few reasons.

    YAY for Frequency. I watched the pilot and loved it, but don't think I've watched more. *gasp* Best remedy that soon. :)

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