the.book.chat. {bookshelves}

I'm very sorry for having to cancel the book chat last week.  It was just one of those weeks when I needed a time-out to regroup.  Things are much better this week.  I'm starting to feel more comfortable and really feeling at home.
It's good to be back.



Okay, I know I wasn't the only little girl who watched Beauty and the Beast and was totally in love with that library he gave her.  They taught us young, love a man who gives you a room full of books.  Ever since that first scene when she sings on the library ladder, I have always wanted a book shelf with a ladder.  If you have so many books that you need a ladder to reach them, you must be doing something right.  Someday, I will have my own personal library.  Someday.

However...for now we are living in Cozy (the adorable apartment needed a name).

To be honest, I'm actually having more fun decorating a small space rather than a large space.  It's not so intimidating.  Large spaces scare me.  One of things I'm worried about though is what to do with all of my books.  We don't have a ton of extra wall space to put big book cases on. (No ladder book shelves here) So, we're having to get creative with our organization.  I've been scouring design books and blogs and coming up with fun ideas.

These are a few of my favorites I've found...

photo source
This adds such a cozy feeling to the room, doesn't it?  Why have I never thought of this?

photo source

I'm more free-spirited than my husband.  I have a feeling this would bother him, but I kinda dig it.  It makes the books look like they're actually read and not hidden away in the corner.

photosource
Can we say book shelf envy?  This would be great, but I have no clue how to install something like this.  But it would be lovely, wouldn't it?

I love this couple's tips on Styling a Bookshelf.  They don't have a ton of books on the shelf, but I really love the idea of putting more than books on the book shelf.  I tend to over-fill my book shelves.  If I only put a handful of books on each book shelf, let's be real, I'd need about a hundred book shelves.  (Wouldn't we all?)  But I love their tips on placing some items horizontal and some vertical.  In their book, they mention taking the book sleeves off and showing off the bare spine.  Why didn't I think of that!  That's why they're my favorite design blog.


Books make for great decor.  They're functional, entertaining and make your space look great.  I love the look of a room full of books.  I want a room literally spilling with books.  Walls covered with them. Books on the floor and on chairs and tables.  Books on the windowsill and in the kitchen.  Throw in that library smell and call it home.

What about you?  What does your dream book shelf look like?  Or do you have a book shelf you want to show off?  Any tips for this small-space first-timer?  Link up with me.

I chose not to include a co-host this week.  My internet connection has been, in a word, unreliable.  I didn't want to promise someone the spot, then never come through with details.


<a href="http://sweet-green-tangerine.blogspot.com/p/thebookchat.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/sweetgreentangerine/bookshelves_zpsbef740cf.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

To join in...
1. Please follow the host and co-host
2. Visit a few other book chat links and show some support.
3. Link back here in your post.  Or use the button provided.
4. Old posts are always welcome if you have blogged on the topic before.

Upcoming Book Chats...
May 23 - Wartime & Historical books with co-host It's the Journey
May 30 - Cookbooks with co-host Angie Eats Peace

The Search for the Elusive Internet

You know things are bad when I don't blog for a whole week.  You know things are bad when I don't read for days in a row.  You know things are bad when I haven't opened my Twitter app in four days.

Well, honestly, things aren't THAT bad.  I'm too superstitious to say that things are ever BAD in fear that the universe would laugh at me and then make things worse.  Even after Jonathan broke his arm two days in country, I refused to say how bad things were.  Even after dealing with tiny apartment anxiety and finding out only HALF of our things would be arriving (the second half later), I refused to say things were BAD.  Even after our car got a flat tire and a dead battery. Even after my husband's laptop broke.  Even after my dog was almost eaten alive by a German Shepard (touché).  Even after all of that, I wouldn't say things were BAD.

BUT...

When the internet company told us that there were not enough available DSL ports in our village and we would likely not be able to get a permanently installed internet connection, well that's when the words "THIS IS BAD" were about to come out of my mouth.  I'm in the midst of an online degree.  I was in despair over the thought of being exiled from the blogiverse.  Without internet, we couldn't skype with our parents or call them on our Vonage phone.  The best they could do was a limited data stick that we blew through in one week.

For anyone who has ever said that technology makes you anti-social, I say bull!  The internet and my phone are what make us MORE social.  I know, I've lived without it.  I can't talk to my mom.  I can't see photos of my nieces & nephews.  I can't hear what's new in the music world.  I can't read my best friends' blogs. My kids can't video chat with their grandparents.  This whole theory of anti-social technology has been disproven, as far as I'm concerned.

So, we actually considered moving.  We spoke to the housing office, we began to look up moving trucks and new places.  My quirky apartment and amazing views had nothing on the importance of internet.  But alas, that very day we received an email from the internet company saying that they had  began construction on a new DSL line.  Basically, I'm not holding my breath.  For now, I'll deal with the data sticks as long as I know that in 2-3 weeks, I will have something more reliable.  I'm still able to do my class online, just can't watch the videos.  And look at this, I'm blogging.

So, I'm sorry that I have been absent.  I'm not going to lie to you...I shed real tears over having to cancel last week's book chat.  But don't you fret, the book chat WILL go on this week.

I'm excited about this one too.  This week is all about bookshelves.  Here's a whole site called Bookshelf Porn.  Fun, right? I'm trying to design my books' space in the new apartment so I'm scouring the web for ideas.  I thought this would be a fun little prompt.  You can share photos of your favorite bookshelves.  You can design your own, or give us a mood board of what your dream library space would include.  Have fun with it.  Pinterest is a good start.

As for the internet situation, I will keep you posted.  Even if I have to blog by way of carrier pigeon, I will keep blogging.  I thought about it today and considered what would happen if I just stopped blogging.  If I never sat down to write another post again, and honestly, it would be easy to just stop, but my life wouldn't be as fulfilling, that much is true.  Essentially, I would be less me.

Moving to another country has taught me that it is very hard to maintain the life you are used to living when you are not surrounded by the same things, people, customs, comforts as before.  It is a bit scary to feel like you're not living the same life as before.  It's hard to maintain the same habits and hobbies and feel the same way about them.  Basically, everything in your life must evolve with the change of scenery.  Therefore, my blog will have to evolve too.  It won't go away, it will just morph a little bit to fit my new life.  Book reviews and charming pictures of Jude are two things you can definitely count on.

If you read through that entire post, you should be rewarded with cuteness.

April / May Recap

I appreciate all of the positive feedback from the last monthly recap I did. By request...here is what happened in April and what's in story for May...

• The Office of Mercy by Ariel Djanikian
• My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
• The Promise of Stardust (guest post by Looking to the Stars)

Children's books

Books set in Europe

Coffee table books

Strangest books

Top Ten Character Crushes

My All-Time Favorite Albums

Book-Lover of the Month: Brighton

Turning 30...

Guest Post: Travel Tips from Melissa

Our New Apartment

Khaled Hosseini, the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations

I LOVED The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. I cannot wait to read this one, and I have no clue what it's about.

Release Date: May 21, 2013

<a

• May 2nd: Book Hangovers
• May 9th: Best Moms of Literature
• May 16th: Bookshelf Porn
• May 23rd: Favorite Historical Era or War-themed book
• May 30th: Cookbook Review - Cook up a recipe out of a cookbook & share a review! Or just share your favorite cookbook.

I need co-hosts for all of the book chats in May! Leave me a comment or email me if you want to co-host! It's easy, fun & drives traffic to your site.

The National

Trouble Will Find Me

Release Date: May 21, 2013

This is going to be so good.

So that's what's going on in May. What are you excited about this month? Any new releases you are looking forward to?

Posted with Blogsy