It's my BLOGIVERSARY (AKA 2 YEARS, Everyone! 2 YEARS!)

*Word of warning: this will be a tad bit of a ramble.*

A couple of mintues ago, I was sitting at my computer bored and trying not to think about the terrible day I had (A long story that I will not get into here, because it does not at all relate to blogging), when all of sudden I realized what today is, got in a way better mood, and decied that I must post about it and use a fancy font to go along with it.

So what is it you may ask? Well, today, May 28th, is my blogiversary! That means it's been exactly TWO YEARS since I made my first post here, and I simply can't believe it.

When I first started Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf, I had no clue that not only would I keep at for years, but that it would become such an important part of who I am. Going with the last part of that statement, I just want to say just how much I love blogging, because I feel that I don't say it often enough here.

I love and enjoy so many things about it that I've even decided to make a list. Because I love lists, as well:

So, I love blogging because: 

• I get to share my love of reading and talk about all the books I read from the fab to the truly awful.
• Comments. While I'm terribly bad at replying to them, I read each and every one, and they usually make my day in some small way. :)
• The people I've 'met' through this. All the bloggers/authors/ publicists/etc. I have 'met' have helped in some way make me a better book blogger each and everyday.
• I get FAN MAIL even once in a blue moon. I mean everyone loves fan mail, right?
• I get to read so many other great blogs also and hear about so many books (as well as TV shows like GLEE, which I have one huge obsession with)  that I would have no clue about it I didn't blog.
• The opportunities. From review requests to interview requests staring me .... it's endless, and they never fail to make me think, "They like me! They really like me!" lol. ;)
• And many other reasons that I can't think of now.

Now here's the part where I would link to my past posts and do a 'first' list, but I did that last year, and I really don't want you to read my early reviews. They make ME cringe, so I'm don't even want to think about what you would think about them.  XD

So in all, thanks to everyone who who has been a reader from the start to all the new ones who have joined me in this last year! I'm so glad that you read my blog, and let's get hoping that THIS year is even better than the last! :)

Lastly, people usually have Blogiversary contests (I even had one last year...), but I already have so many contests running, as well as new ones coming up this week, that I don't want to host a big shin-ding yet. Though, there will be one, and there's a 99% it will occur in August, just in time for my B-day! So keep an eye out for it! 

~ Lauren  

So I Kind of Got a Really Awesome Surprise in the Mail Yesterday...

Yesterday I had the pleasure of receiving a surprise package from a lovely publisher called Penguin (and creeping out the Fed Ex guy, but that's another story completely. All I can say is when you answer the door you should NEVER EVER wear the hideous blue robe your grandma got for you that is five sizes too big no matter how cold it is because it will in turn scare people. lol.)

Moving on, this was meet with the normal happy dance I do whenever I receive a package. And then when my excitement was drained, I opened the package and inside among two other books, which you'll be hearing more about on Sunday, was the most AMAZING thing ever:

But Lauren, you're probably saying if you've been a reader of my blog for a long time, you read and  reviewed that book last APRIL when it had a totally different cover and was supposed to come out on April 16; so why are you so excited about it?

Well, for that, I'll have to go back a bit. You see one day I was looking Penguin's Summer 2010 publishing catalog when I saw Plus with not only a new release date (August 2010!) but a new cover. And I was like, yay, it's finally being published! And then I glanced over section where it had quotes from reviews for it, and among ones from Kirkus and School Library Journal was one from my review from way back when. This in turn made me feel like a star! Though, it never crossed my mind that they would put my little quote on the new ARCs, until I saw this:

And then I freaked out and started jumping around since this is the first time I've know of that I've actually been quoted on an ARC!

So, yes that was my very awesome surprise of the week! And heres to hoping that maybe, just maybe, it'll end up on the final book in August. Though, I guess only time will tell. :)

The ABC's Of Me!

Since, I've been seeing this everywhere, I've decided to do it too. So, here it goes:

~~~~~

Available or single? Single, sadly enough, but in all truth don’t those words kind of mean the same thing?

Best Friend? Hmm, I don’t really do the whole “best friend” thing anymore, though I do have a lot of really great friends that I can always count on. Oh, and most of their names began to start with “A” which I always think is kind of strange.

Cake or Pie? Cake because most pies really gross me out, expect for pumpkin which I love.

Drink of choice? Water

Essential item for every day use? My computer and cell phone probably tie for most essential item for every day. Oh, and the basics to like a hairbrush, tooth brush, ex.

Favorite color? blue

Google? Of course!

Hometown? Somewhere in the mountains of Pennsylvania and I’m still there.

Indulgences? Books, clothes, and ice cream.

January or February? January, I guess.

Kids and their names? Nada, none, thank god! I’m only a high school student, so it would be scary if I did.

Life is incomplete without…? Hmm, love, happiness, and friends and family you can always trust.

Marriage date? Oh, good god, hopefully in the very very far future. Thinking of marriage always gives me the feeling of hives. Lol.

Number of siblings? In my opinion I’m an only child. Though, I do have 2 half siblings under the age of two, a step sister whose a few of years older then me and one of my best friends, and a step brother whose in his twenties.

Oranges or apples? Apples because they remind me of fall and I like fall.

Phobias and fears? I have fears about dying, falling of a very high object, and of snakes/ bats.

Quote for the day? " You go on and I'll be happier" It's one of the lyrics to a song I'm listing to as I fill this in. lol

Reason to smile? I’m off from school ‘till Tuesday!! :)

Season? Fall, definitely, since I love that while it’s not too cold it’s not too warm.

Unknown fact about me? Well, here’s some you may not know:

~ I play the flute.
~ I used to play field hockey, but didn’t do varsity. Though, I still love it and some of best memories of my seventh and eighth grade years come from that.
~ I really do love running since it relaxes me, though I don’t do it nearly enough.

Vegetable you hate? CORN! I really loathe corn.

Worst habit? I have a tendency to over obsessive about everything school related and be very OCD about all my papers, notes, ex. for school, too.

X-rays you’ve had? For my teeth are the only ones, I think.

Your fave food? Pizza. I mean seriously who doesn’t love pizza?

Zodiac sign? Leo!!!!!

~~~~~

Feel free to do the "The ABC's of Me", too. Oh, and don't forget to enter my contest here.

It's My Birthday!

As some of you may already know, today was my birthday or as I like to call it my bday. So, yes, today so many years ago, I was officially born! So, yay me! :)

Anyway, I thought I would share with you all what I got for my birthday over the past couple of days.

First off, I got three books, I've been dying to read:

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Yellow-eyed werewolves? I'm intrigued!

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. When a mysterious boy enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of nowhere, Deirdre finds herself infatuated. Trouble is, the enigmatic and conflicted Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin – and Deirdre is meant to be his next mark. Deirdre has to decide if Luke's feelings towards her are real, or only a way to lure her deeper into the world of Faerie.

Luke isn't her only problem. A sinister faerie named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Long-time enemies with a common goal, Luke and Aodhan carry the same assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is her best friend James whose devotion has been teetering precariously on the line between friendship and love for months – a feeling that Dee doesn't quite reciprocate. It's Luke she can't stop thinking about: Luke, who was supposed to kill her immediately but hasn't. Luke, who cannot refuse the Queen's orders without paying an unimaginable price. Deirdre ultimately must confront the Faerie Queen before she loses everyone she loves.

Yes, anther Maggie book! lol. Anyway, I can't wait to read this. Plus, I really love this cover more then the previous one, does anyone else agree?

Bite Me! by Melissa Francis

AJ Ashe isn't a typical seventeen-year-old vampire (as if there is such a thing as 'typical!') Her ex-boyfriend is now her stepbrother. Her two BFFs are in a huge fight and AJ's caught in the middle. She's totally framed for cheating on a Lit test. And now, apparently, the fate of humankind lies in her little undead hands. Like that's fair. What ever happened to the good old days when all a vampire girl had to worry about was the occasional zit and hiding her fetish for necks?

I love the whole "boyfriend turned step brother" thing this book has going on, it could make for a drama filled read.

Also, I got an assortment of clothes from AE as well as other stores, CDs, and some cash!

I was originally planning to have a giveaway for one of the extra books I have lying around, though I decided to hold of for a bit. Since, I already have a contest for Boy Toy going on ( link on the top of right sidebar). Though, I promise, I will be having an awesome one coming up shortly. :)

By the way, this is the THIRD time I posted today! I think that's a new record of mine.

OMG or the Post Where I Use Way Too Many Exclamation Points

It's official, I have 300 followers! You seriously have no clue how happy that makes me! Well, I would say that this calls for celebration, but as you all know I'm on vacation and don't really have the time to start up a contest! Though, I will hopefully be doing something for my B-day on the 17th! Anyway, thanks so much to everyone who follows my blog, I hope you continue to enjoy Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf!

Side Note: I have a feeling that I've used way to many exclamation points in this post! There, I go again. lol. By the way, has anyone read Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda? I'm reading it now and it's sooo good!

Going On Yet Another Vacation

I'm going to on yet another family vacation this upcoming week to a lake house my father's family rents every summer. So, I therefor probably won't be on the internet that much this upcoming week. But have no worries! Because I have a post sceduled from Monday-Friday leaving no lack of reviews and author interviews. I'm not sure how I'm going to do In My Mailbox for next sunday yet, since I will be getting back home some time in the afternoon. Maybe I'll do it a day late or combine what books I get the week I'm gone and the week after.

Also, I probably will be checking my email daily, depending if I have some kind of a computer to go on, so don't worry if you send me an email sometime next week. I'll reply ASAP.

Anyway, I hope I'm going to have a great vacation. Plus, I'm going to take A TON of books to read while there, which will mean tons of reviews for you all when I get back!! :) Oh, and if you would like to make a recommendation of what I should definitely read while away go to my To Be Read section on Goodreads here and leave a comment with your suggestion. Thanks!

* No that's not the lake I'm going to be staying on. It's just a pretty picture I found when I googled Lakes, because I wanted a picture to go along with the post. What can I say I have obsession with making sure every post has a picture to go along with it. =)

Winners and an Announcement!!

First off the winners are as listed below:

A Sweet Disorder: Emily ( That One Girl Emily)

One Lonely Degree: Steph Su ( Steph Su Reads)

After The Moment: Megan ( The Book Geek)

Congrats you three!! :) For those of you who didn't win, I've have a very awesome contest coming up, so be sure to look out for it!

Now for the announcement.

I'm going to be in North Carolina all of next week ( Sunday to Saturday). So, you'll be seeing little of me around blogging world. Also, for the winners I won't be mailing your books out till after I get back. Sorry! I will still be able to check my email on my cell ( providing that I have service), so I'll sure to reply if the email requires an immediate reply, if not it's waiting until I get home. Though, if there is some type of computer at the hotel I'm staying at I will be checking up on my blog and those emails I didn't reply too. Anyway, I do have a few posts planned ( and a surprise!) next week, though nothing too big.

So, goodbye for now! I'll shall see you all next week! :)

* Why yes that is Chimney Rock, which I will be walking up when in NC. What don't look so surprised. :) lol

Do You Know What Day It Is?

It's Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf's one year anniversary and I simply can't believe it! It has been exactly one year since I began the whole reviewing game.

So, to revisit the last year of blogging I've put together a list of firsts.

Lauren's Year of Firsts in Having a Book Blog:

On May 28th, one year ago, I posted this as my first ever post:

"I seen a lot of people start blogs. So, I decided to get one to but make it consist mostly of stuff relating to Young Adult Literature. I'll probably post at least 3 times a week during the summer but less during the school year. ~ Lauren"

Great post, right? Lol, I was so naive then, thinking that I would post less then 3 times a week. Pssh, now I post about 4 or 5 times a week.

My first review was of The Carlyles : A Gossip Girl Novel which was posted on June 2nd, 2008. Wow, what a long time ago.

I got my first ever comment form Steph of Reviewer X, who was an awesome person to get a first comment from. Here's what she said:

"I wouldn't necessarily call Stephenie Meyer one of the best storytellers of our times, haha, but she's certainly got her talent for making people fall head over heels in love with her stuff.

Thanks for adding my link to your sidebar! You're a star. I'm adding you to mine, too. Keeping an eye out for your reviews as well ;) Steph"

I completely agree with her now that I have read a bunch of different types of books. lol. Anyway, I do actually think Steph was the first person to ever check out my blog, just so you all know. :)

On August 14, I got my first comment from a real Young Adult author that goes by the name Melissa Walker! Here's her comment on my review of Undone by Brooke Taylor:

"ooh, i can't wait to read this one!"

On December 7th, I shared with you all the books I had a gotten from a Jillian at Penguin to review. They were my first actual ARCs, which I think is pretty cool.

On December 22, I reviewed first ARC, Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag.

On January 12, I had my first ever author interview with Nancy Werlin.

On February 5th, I held my first ever contest.

So there you have it my official lists of firsts!

Moving on, I have planned an amazing week filled with a handful of contests. So, I hope you will join me on Monday when I kick it off. Lastly, if you are an author and want to get your book in the mix just send me a quick email. :)

Side Note: I'm thinking of doing a biography like thing about me consisting of questions. So, if you have any, please leave them below in the comments or email them to me.

Myspace

I just got a Myspace page today for Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf. It's pretty much done, but there is still a few more things I'm going to add to it. So, you can go check it out here and tell me what you think of it. Also, you can always be nice and add me or leave a comment. :)

~ Lauren

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!
Happy Kwanzaa!!!!!
Happy Hanukkah!!!!
Happy Holidays!!!!!!

I hope everyone got a ton of awesome gifts and had a wonderful day. I certainly did.

Some of the gifts I received were:
Death by Latte by Linda Gerber
Love and Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
A new I Pod
(5!!!) Barnes and Noble Gift Cards
Amazon Gift Cards
Cash!!!
DVDs
CDs

You don't realize how hard it is to have a big wad of gift cards and cash in your pocket until Christmas, I am seriously dying to go shopping. Some of the things I'm planning to get this Saturday are Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers, Privilege by Kate Brian and more. Plus, some shirts from American Eagle and Aero. I can't wait.

Did you guys get anything get exciting for Christmas? I would love to know! :)

Vaction!!

Hi everyone,

I'm on vacation all week and I have limited Internet service. So, I won't be posting on the blog for a little bit. Though expect a lot of reviews when I get back next week because I brought a ton of books with me. Also, I'm going to think of some things that well make this blog more exciting like a contest!