In The Bloggers Studio Ft. Belle's Bookshelf

In The Bloggers Studio is done every Thursday, and it is where I ask some Random ?'s for Blogger's To Answer, So we Can get to know them better! = )

This Weeks Guest Is....

Belle  from Belle's Bookshelf

Belle is an Australian Blogger, with a wicked awesome Book Blog and a cute feature called Pash,Pick or Pass where she chooses 3 book characters who she would Pick to keep, Have Passionate Affair with or Pass altogether and in the comments bloggers can play along too. Check Her Blog out and Follow her on Twitter (@Bookish_Belle)

1. How do you do it all?! Juggling your life and blogging?
I'll admit I have difficulty with this - blogging takes up A LOT of time. But I enjoy it, so it's worth it. I'm yet to find the perfect balance - if anybody has any advice, I'd be glad to hear it!

                                                                2. What do you do besides reading books and blogging?

I'm a pop culture junkie, so I love reading magazines, surfing the Net and watching TV shows like True Blood, Chuck, Mad Men, Community, 30 Rock, Gossip Girl and Vampire Diaries. I also adore watching movies, whether it be going to the cinema or having a DVD night. I'm a particular fan of trashy '80s and '90s flicks; The Princess Bride, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Clueless and Heathers are some of my faves. Aside from being entertained, I love spending time with my fiance, friends and family!

3. How did you become a book blogger?
I'd been toying with the idea of blogging for awhile, although I wasn't really aware of any book blogs aside from Forever Young Adult. Then when I found myself in a bit of a reading slump, I thought that blogging about books might inspire me to make the time to read, plus help me to keep track of the books I came across. I also hoped to connect with other book lovers - little did I know what a wonderful reading community I'd find! In terms of actually creating my blog, I'd probably been thinking about it for a couple of weeks, and then I read a book that made me soooo angry I just had to express my feelings - and my first post was born!

4. If there was a book about your life what would it be called?

Hmmm, that's such a tough question. Maybe... The Inner Workings of a Chronic Over-thinker. Not very catchy, is it? 

                  5. Do you have a book-ish quirk that some people might find weird? (Usually, people who don't read find it more weird)

Well, I love to smell books! Old, new, glossy, matte - I'm compelled to sniff those pages! My fiance thinks that it's super weird and shakes his head whenever I pick up a new book and take a whiff - especially if we're in the middle of a bookstore when I do it. He just doesn't understand!

           6. If you could swap lives with one person,place or thing for one day, who or what; and why?

I'd want to swap places with Emma Stone, because I think she's totally awesome, has the coolest friends and is rumoured to be dating Andrew Garfield and/or Ryan Gosling. I'd makeout with either of those boys (or both!).

7. What book to movie adaption is your favorite and what is your least favorite?

My favourite would definitely be The Princess Bride by William Goldman. It's my all-time fave movie and one of my top five books; each is brilliant individually but they're both also great in relation to each other. Goldman wrote the screenplay for the movie, so it makes sense that it's an awesome adaptation!
When it comes to my least favourite, the first one that springs to mind is the 2005 Pride and Prejudice adaptation starring Keira Knightley. I know a lot of people love it, but it was just NOT Pride and Prejudice to me.

8. If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It's a toss up between sushi or ice-cream. Sushi probably has more nutritional value, so I guess I'd lean towards that.

                                                                   9. What is the weirdest dream that you have had? 

I once had a dream that my dad murdered my mum by hitting her over the head with a block of cheese. I found it hard to look at cheddar the same way for about a month. Or my dad, for that matter (though he's totally not the murderous type!).

10. Favorite Color and Least Favorite Color?
My favourite colour is pink! As Shelby says in Steel Magnolias, "Pink is my signature colour." 
As for my least favourite... You know when you paint, and wash your paint brush in a glass of water between colours, and after a while the water turns a yucky, murky colour? That's my least favourite.

11. If you could live anywhere, where would you live and why?

My favourite city in the world is probably Paris. It's just absolutely beautiful. If only I could speak the language! I'd also like to live in London, because I love the history and culture of the place. It'd also be great to be so close to Europe and be able to travel there with relative ease! (Relative to the 24-hour-plus trip it currently takes to get there from Australia).

                                                               12. What book character have you related to most?
This is such a difficult question! Growing up, I think the one I was drawn to most, because I saw myself in her a little, was probably Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables. The red hair, freckles, love of books, clumsiness, passion and slight weirdness were all things I could (and can still) relate to.

13. Book you feel everyone MUST read..

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It's beautiful, stunning, amazing... I can't rave about it enough. It's set in Nazi Germany during World War II and narrated by Death, which is not something I thought I'd enjoy at all, but the language is so lovely and the characters are all so wonderful, it's not as morbid as it sounds! I treasure it.

Say the first thing that comes to your mind when you read this word...

Rock - And Roll

Social - Network

Halloween - Party

Box - Car

Woof - Howl

Big - Tom Hanks

Heart - Soul

That Concludes this weeks In The Bloggers Studio, Thank You Belle for stopping and I will see you all Next Week!

In The Bloggers Studio Ft. Makeshift Bookmark's Jen

In The Bloggers Studio is done every Thursday, and it is where I ask some Random ?'s for Blogger's To Answer, So we Can get to know them better! = )

 This Weeks Guest is...

Jen From Makeshift Bookmark!

If you guys don't know Jen and her blog I suggest you do! Jen is a talented blogger, whose bubbly personality and hilarious sense of humor come through in her posts. Being as busy as she is, it is a miracle she finds time to keep up the blog while making us all laugh on twitter. (@makeshiftjen)

How did you start blogging?

This is going to sound absolutely nuts, but I used to creep on bloggers all the time. Like, read their sites everyday and was FASCINATED that they had so much to say about books. (Namely The Story Siren and Good Books & Good Wine.) They did videos and reviews and hilarious posts and I was in awe of what a fabulous community it was. I wrote some reviews on GoodReads and thought that'd be enough, but NAY. It wasn't. I needed to infiltrate the blogging community and make my own space. It was scary at first because I had the "omg everyone hates me" syndrome, but it was actually a really great experience.

 

Did anyone think you were crazy to start blogging?

Not really. But not maybe people know about it. I try to keep my personal life and blog life relatively divided. Just close friends and family. And my husband. I work second shift, so he sends me photos of the books I get in the mail and laughs at me when I text him back ecstatic keysmashes.

 

When did you discover your love for books? 

I read a lot as a kid. I loved the Babysitter's Club books and Goosebumps. OH, and Fear Street. Those books pretty much dominated my preteen years. I stopped reading from about 1998 - 2008. It's good to be back.

 

Do you have any weird talents or quirks?

I can touch my tongue to my nose.

 

What is your biggest bookish pet peeve? 

Lack of chemistry. WHERE IS THE EFFING SPARK? How am I supposed to believe that you're in love when your cheesy, forced interactions make me want to gouge out my eyes and sell them on the black market?

 

One book you could ALWAYS read?

 

Twilight. Nope. I'm not over it yet.

 

How does Mr. Jen, feel about Your Blogging Success and popularity?

Well there's not too much blogging success and popularity to talk about, but I do keep him informed :) He's supportive of it and that's pretty awesome. But I still don't think he "gets" it.

 

Why did you decided to become a Nurse?

When my great-uncle was in the hospital with lung cancer, the nurses treated my family like crap. It was infuriating. I am going to be the supportive, empathetic nurse. Just to prove that they're not all bitter, hateful people.

 

When you were little what did want to be when you grew up? 

Astronaut. I was going to live on Saturn.

 

What Author do you wish you were BFF's with? 

Jeri Smith-Ready. Wicked taste in music and I would totally make her write me into her books as a ghost so Logan and I could be together forever.

 

Do you have a favorite local bookstore? 

I have many. There used to be 3 Borders (RIP). Now we have two Half Price Books, a Books a Million and like 3 Barnes & Nobles within about 30 minutes of my house. People in Kentucky READ, y'all!

 

What is your favorite holiday and do you go crazy when it comes to decorating for the holidays?

Thanksgiving. I practice eating in preparation for it. Not so much with the decorating. I'm way too busy (see: lazy) for that.

 

What is your guilty pleasure?

Britney Spears' music. God, I love that crazy woman.

 

How many pets do you own and what are their names?

2 cats, Bo and Bella. They're everything to me. If I'm this crazy about my cats, I'm quite afraid to have children.

 

If a genie granted you 3 wishes, what would those wishes be?

Teleportation. Flight, just for kicks. MORE WISHES.

 

What book have you read recently, that you didn't end up liking? 

Fateful. I just didn't BELIEVE in the book.

 

 

The Next part is to answer the first thing that comes to you mind when you see these words...

 

 

Beach - Sand

Elf - Cookies

Love - Game (Lady Gaga!)

Kangaroo - Pouch           

Pink - underwear

MAC - truck (I'm so not a girly girl)

Grapes - wine

Italy - Pauly D

Besides Cracking Me Up Throughout this whole Questionnaire my favorite answer by is her Italy, Pauly D - Jersey Shore Connection.. Oh this girl!

Alright, Well That Concludes This Weeks In The Bloggers Studio, Thank You Jen Very Much and I will See You All Again; Next Thursday!

In The Bloggers Studio Ft. Bookaliscious

This is the Beginning of a Blog I am going to do every Thursday  called In The Bloggers Studio (get it?) where I will ask some of My Favorite Bloggers random question so That we can get to know them better!

The Blogger who will be kicking this blog off is Pam From Bookaliscious!

Pam is all sorts of awesome! Really. If these questions don't prove it, then you need to start reading her blog, following her on twitter(@bookalisciouspam) or and maybe watch her YouTube Musical Debut .

How did you begin Blogging?

I read Inkheart and wanted someone to talk to about it. Then I thought, oh oh I will make a blog about books. I then later found out there were a few bloggers already doing that. I will never forget asking them what an ARC was :)

Did you ever think your blog would be as big as it is?

I don't consider my blog really huge. I like I am now. I have been working hard on Bookalicious for three years solid, and I hope that shows.

When did you discover your love for reading?

When I was in first grade and we made a trip to the library where the librarian read me The Wild Swans. I fell completely in love with the story and the rest of the tales, I last year found the EXACT copy that the librarian read to me for my children.

How do you find the time to blog and read books, while being a Mother and Wife?

One kid goes to school, the other to daycare. I streamline my cleaning in the morning, I do the same one hour routine Mon-Fri and add in laundry and minute cleaning like baseboard washing on the weekend. My husband is a fantastic chef so he cooks. We generally don't watch television but recently we do watch one episode of either Torchwood or Doctor Who at night. After that I read for two hours.


What is Your Blogging Pet Peeve?

For me it is remembering when to post for book tours. I am really incredibly bad at that.


What Is Your Reading Pet Peeve?

When the author's name or book title is at the bottom right of the page and every time I read it as part of the text. It is jarring.

Favorite Color?

Light blue.

If you could choose one book to read for the rest of your life, what book would it be?

This answer would change almost yearly but right now The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.

Are there any books you absolutely despise?

Yes, Jennifer's Body. 

What is your biggest fear?

Spider's I think. I can handle anything but spiders.

If you could 3 bookish people, who would they be and what would you guys do?

I think Shanyn from Chick Loves Lit, Maureen Johnson and John Green. We would make the most epic vlog ever made.


Tell us why Hicklebee's is SO awesome and how did you discover Hicklebee's?

Hicklebee's was founded the year I was born which obviously was the best year in history. They have a fantastic children's museum inside their kids only store and the store is so colorful and magical on the inside. The owner is a picture book author herself and knows how to put on a great event. I found them via two employees who kept showing up at the same bookish events I was attending and we always ended up in the signing line together. It was kismet. 




When you are not blogging or doing anything book related, What are you doing?

I am painting horrid pottery or playing blocks with my toddler. I am traveling and being a SAH tourist, and taking classes on jewelry making or how to cook Egyptian food.


Favorite Actor and Actress?

Actor: (again this changes yearly) John Barrowman

Actress: Always has and will forever be Juliet Styles.


Least Favorite Actor/ Actress?

Actor: Steve Buscemi

Actress: Juliet Lewis


Book that everyone must read RIGHT now?

As soon as it comes out: SHATTER ME by Tareheh Mafi

Most recent book that you expected to love but ended up not impressing you?

Shadowfever by Karen Moning, I didn't even finish it.

Favorite Holiday?

Halloween!

Guilty Pleasure?

                                      Dutch licorice. 

Say the first thing the comes to your mind when you see these words.

                                                                      Love - Marco

Music- Gorgeous

Fire - Hot

Book - Love

Dog - Jackie

Rainbow - So Intense

Travel- Always

Police - Safe

President - Obama

Up- Down

And That Concludes This Week's In The Bloggers Studio, Thank You Again Pam and See You All Next Thursday!