Awesome Gifts for Book Lovers (Guest Post)

May 9, 2017 by Angie Leave a Comment

Hey friends. Who hear is a blook-lover? I’m raising my hand right now… Today I’m bringing you a rad guest post by Ashley over at Happy. Pretty. Sweet. regarding perfect gifts for book lovers… Give it up for her, and make sure you follow her because she rocks.

I love buying gifts, but buying gifts for readers is my favorite. As a bookworm, I’m always on the lookout for bookish goodies to give… and, also, to keep. Etsy never disappoints when it comes to handmade gifts, and I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite book themed items.

This post does contain affiliate links. Anything you purchase through these links may result in a small compensation to me at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting this blog!

Awesome Gifts for Book Lovers

LitttleBits Tea Time With Mr. Darcy

What Jane Austen fan would say no to tea with Mr. Darcy? This organic tea blend is a combination of orange, rose, lavender, Cinnamon Clove, and Earl Gray.

TeaSoapBooks Jane Eyre Bath Salts

Stressed out friends will appreciate unwinding after a long day with a hot bath and the soothing white tea fragrance of these Jane Eyre Bath Salts.

CarrotTopPaperShop Anne of Green Gables Bookmark

I’m constantly grabbing bits of paper to use as bookmarks. This hand-drawn Anne Shirley bookmark is adorable and would be a great gift along with the Puffin in Bloom edition of the first book.

IceyDesigns Books are my Happy Place Hand Lettered Enamel Pin

Enamel pins are having a moment, so why not take advantage of it and shout your book love to the world? Stick this on a book tote bag for an extra special gift.

FictitiousFragrances Hobbit Hole Lord of the Rings Inspired .3 oz Perfume Oil

While a trip to Middle Earth may be out of the question, the comfort of the Shire is within reach with this Black Cherry Pipe Tobacco and oakmoss scented perfume oil.

Frostbeard Rainy Day Reads Book Candle

Your friend who enjoys a rainy day will love this Frostbeard candle. Rain water, lavender, and ginger saffron come together to bring that rainy day smell indoors.

PemberleyPond Pride and Prejudice Postcards

These adorable postcards inspired by Pride and Prejudice are a sweet way to send a birthday greeting or a note to say hello. Of course, the set would make a wonderful gift for any snail mail loving friend.

DragonHatcheryArts Harry Potter Grim Tea Cup

“My dear, you have the Grim.” Some days just call for a little Professor Trelawney. Create a gift basket with a selection of tea and coffee. Don’t forget to add a dream journal!

Like these gift ideas for book lovers?

Angie

Angie is a coffee-fueled writer, artist-wanna-be, and over-worker who currently resides in a tiny fixer-upper near Salt Lake City with her boyfriend and 70lb rescue pittie. She works full time in Customer Service/Computers, part-time in retail and fashion, goes to school part-time on and off, maintains this and another couple of blogs, as well as volunteers with rescue dogs. In her free time, what little of it there is, she likes to read, play nerd games, craft and create art, and spend time with all of the awesome people in her life.

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

5 Fall Outfits for Autumn-Loving Curvy Girls + Suggested Books

September 16, 2016 by Angie Leave a Comment

Oh Autumn! September has come and the air is starting to smell crisp and spiced. Soon leaves will turn and the mountains around me will be filled with color. I can’t wait for bundled-up people carrying their cups of coffee between their chilled hands as the sound of leaves crunching under cute boots fills the air. Can you tell that Fall is my favorite? It definitely is, and with this cooler season comes the need for more fall outfits.

One of the best things about Fall outfits is how stylish you can look while being mostly covered up. You can bundle your arms up in thick sweaters and slip into soft leggings that eliminate the need for leg-shaving. Perfection! Finding great fall outfits as a curvy girl can sometimes be hard, but finding any outfit as a curvy girl can. I’ve got a couple of super-adorable fall outfits here that will satisfy every autumn-loving curvy girl’s pumpkin-spice scented soul.

This post does contain affiliate links. I may receive a small compensation for anything purchased through my links at no extra cost to you. This compensation helps me keep providing fabulous posts like this one. Thanks so much for your support-it truly means a lot to me!

Fall Outfits: Rainy Day Reader

Doesn’t this outfit just remind you of the cute girl curled up with her cat in her lap, a cup of hot tea, and one of the classics? Perhaps she’s wearing thick cat-eyed glasses and has an adorable bob swirling around her round cheeks. Well, even if you’re not that girl, this outfit is SO dang cute, and just about anyone can rock if they want a cozy retro look.

Get the Look

Happy Hosting Dress in Marigold via ModCloth – Sizes 2-30
Mix Stitch Fit and Flare Cardigan via Torrid – Sizes 10-30
ViV Collection Charcoal Plus Leggings via Amazon – 2 “one size” options: Regular (0-12) & Plus (14-24)
Gotta Heart Somewhere Flat via ModCloth – Sizes 6-10
Handmade Zipper Cross-Body Bag via Purple Flower Purses on Etsy
Leaf Pendant Necklace via Torrid
Vintage Rotary Telephone Phone Case via Casetify

Suggested Book: Dead Poets Society by N. H. Kleinbaum

Short Synopsis: Todd Anderson and his friends at Welton Academy can hardly believe how different life is since their new English professor, the flamboyant John Keating, has challenged them to “make your lives extraordinary! ” Inspired by Keating, the boys resurrect the Dead Poets Society–a secret club where, free from the constraints and expectations of school and parents, they let their passions run wild. Learn more…

Fall Outfits: Brazen Boho Betty

Who says leggings can’t be pants? Heartless people! Actually, I used to be one of those people, but with the right leggings and the right tunic-style top, I think I can get behind this leggings as pants thing.

Get the Look

Open Stitch Tunic Sweater via Torrid – Sizes 10-30/li>
Geo Print Full Length Leggings via Torrid – Sizes 12-30
Faux Leather & Scuba Strappy Knee Boots via Torrid – Wide Width & Calf, Sizes 6-13
Brass Wire Wrapped Black Obsidian Arrowhead Necklace via Chelsea Den Jewelry on Etsy
Blue CZ Set of Brass Bangles via Sylviato Jewelry on Etsy
Scrapbook Ending Bag in Ink via ModCloth
Arrowheads Phone Case via Casetify

Suggested Book: The Physic Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

Short Synopsis: While clearing out her grandmother’s cottage for sale, Connie Goodwin finds a hidden parchment inscribed with the name Deliverance Dane. And so begins the hunt to uncover the woman behind the name, a hunt that takes her back to Salem in 1692 …and the infamous witchcraft trials. But nothing is entirely as it seems and when Connie unearths the existence of Deliverance’s spell book, the Physick Book, the situation takes on a menacing edge as interested parties reveal their desperation to find this precious artifact at any cost. Learn more…

Fall Outfits: Tough Chick Chic

Sometimes I want to be a tomboy, sometimes I want to be a girly girl, and sometimes I want to be a combination of the two. Mixing a tough color, like an olive or military green, with a soft color such as a blush pink or peach can accomplish that goal… At least when it comes to outfits! Plus, olive green is SO fall, and making some fall outfits with some olive and a touch of feminine pink sounds logical to me, doesn’t it to you?

Get the Look

Studded Military Shirt Jacket via Torrid – Sizes 10-30
Chiffon Grommet Tank Top via Torrid – Sizes 10-30
Premium Stretch Bombshell Skinny Jean – Dark Wash via Torrid – Sizes 10-30 (Size up one size in these!)
Side Zip Wedge Booties via Torrid – Wide Width, Sizes 7-13
Vintage Tan Leather Bucket Bag via Shop the Reserve on Etsy
Sparkle Choker Layered Necklace via Torrid
Gemstone Pavé Ring Set via Torrid – Sizes 8-12
Tropical Wanderlust Phone Case via Casetify

Book Suggestion: Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth

Short Synopsis: An exquisite rendering of the story behind the Rapunzel fairy tale. Charlotte-Rose de la Force has been banished from the court of Versailles by the Sun King, Louis XIV, after a series of scandalous love affairs. She is comforted by an old nun, Seur Seraphina, who tells her the tale of a young girl who, a hundred years earlier, is sold by her parents for a handful of bitter greens… Learn more…

Fall Outfits: September Sunflower

As the heat of the Summer sun fades into the crisp warm tones of autumn, one flower seems to bloom at it’s strongest and stand out from the rest; the sunflower. Just like the sunflower, boss babes know what it’s like to take charge and stand out bright and bold amidst the changing times-showing us exactly what they’re made of. Strong stuff. This September Sunflower outfit is adorable, but also professional and brilliant for the girl in charge of her life and probably more no matter what the seasons throw at her.

Get the Look

Autumn Leaf Festival Dress via ModCloth – Coming soon!
Cut Away Blazer via Torrid – Sizes 10-30
Microfiber Tights via Torrid
Exam Day Elegance Heel in Sunflower via ModCloth – Sizes 6-10
Mustard Yellow Mini Crossbody Bag via Angela Valentine Bags on Etsy
Sunflower Infinity Necklace via Nikush Art Studio Jewelry on Etsy
Sunflower Stud Earrings via Nikush Art Studio Jewelry on Etsy
Bright Yellow Sunflower and Honey Bees Phone Case via Casetify

Book Suggestion: Mariana by Susanna Kearsley

Short Synopsis: When Julia Beckett moves into the beautiful old farmhouse, she soon discovers she’s not alone there.”Tread lightly, she is near.” She encounters haunting remnants of a beautiful young woman who lived and loved there centuries ago. She finds herself transported into 17th-century England, and into the world of Mariana. Learn more…

Fall Outfits: Casual Cutie

Sometimes you just need to keep it casual… But that doesn’t mean you don’t want to still look like a million bucks too. Here’s an outfit that you can wear anywhere sneakers and jeans are allowed, and a few great accessories that compliment the look.

Get the Look

Floral Sleeve Raglan Tee via Torrid – Sizes 10-30
Torrid Jegging – Olive Wash via Torrid – Sizes 10-30, Varying Lengths
Faux Leather Wedge Sneakers via Torrid – Wide Width, Sizes 6-13
Faux Leather Zip Mini Satchel via Torrid
Long Oak Leaf Necklace via Sula Cole on Etsy
Etched Copper Bracelet Cuff Roses and Thorns via Metal Me This on Etsy
Squirrel and Acorn Mismatched Stud Earrings via Fripparie on Etsy
Cat Beanie via Torrid
Roses and Dots Phone Case via Casetify

Book Suggestion: Menagerie by Rachel Vincent

Short Summary: When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger’s Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus black-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she’s forced to “perform” in town after town. But there is breathtaking beauty behind the seamy and grotesque reality of the carnival. Learn more…

What are your favorite Fall outfits?

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Reluctant Readers Make Reluctant Lovers + Page à Vu Giveaway

October 5, 2015 by Angie 2 Comments

Do we have any book lovers in the house? Oh I know I do… I know you crazy fools are out there and I LOVE you for it. Well GUESS WHAT?!? Let me tell you a story…

Once upon a time there was a blogger named Angie, and she blogged here at My So-Called Chaos. Now, Angie made lots of fantastic bloggy buddies out there and one day, one of the fairest of them all reached out to her for assistance. That blogger was the lovely damsel Kenzie from Chasing My Extraordinary. You see, Kenzie was a book-a-holic and she knew her good friend Angie was, and when the idea struck her to start a blog dedicated solely to books she knew just who to email. Then the two book nerds decided to add a third host, and knowing that host’s proclivity for all things bookish-Beth from Printcess became the third partner.

And thus was born…

That’s right, Page à Vu, your new favorite blog for all things bookish! And to celebrate, the three lasses decided to host a giveaway. A BOOK GIVEAWAY. Duh!

I’ve read Yates and Hemingway
Maybe in our time it’s liars in love
Then you call out my name like lines from a page
Feel my sins washed away, feels like I’ve been saved
I don’t wanna die heartless in the heartland

Reluctant readers make reluctant lovers
Reluctant readers make reluctant lovers
So baby I’m yours

I’ve read Joyce, I played Heller’s games
No matter your age the portrait’s the same
Yeah, no matter the place the plots never change
Grow old in a flash of face, lust is a young man’s game
I don’t wanna die heartless in the heartland

Reluctant readers make reluctant lovers
Reluctant readers make reluctant lovers
So baby I’m yours, baby I’m yours

Reluctant readers make reluctant lovers
Reluctant readers make reluctant lovers
Reluctant readers make reluctant lovers
Reluctant readers make reluctant lovers
So baby I’m yours, baby I’m yours, baby I’m yours

Musical Mondays is a weekly link-up (with a month-long linky) for anything music related. I hope you can join!

→ Write and publish a blog post sharing music or something music-related.

→ Include the Musical Mondays button-the code is above.

→ Link up in the month-long linky below.

→ Visit other participants and show support.

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Join us for the Books ‘n’ Bloggers Swap!

August 20, 2015 by Angie 8 Comments

Okay, how many of you out there are readers? You? You? You? ME! Definitely me. I don’t get to read as much as I’d like to, but I’m definitely a reader-and I LOVE owning books. I have a really hard time parting with books, which is why I rarely use the library… lol

Some of you may also know that I co-host a blog called Chaotic Goddess Swaps which is dedicated solely to blog swaps. Well, it’s time for our third annual Books ‘n’ Bloggers Swap! Previously we’d only done two a year, but it’s so well-loved that this year we snuck a third book swap in! Yay!

How it works:

You sign up to participate in the swap here.

We (the admins) match you up with another blogger who has similar interests or we think you might like.

You put together a package with three books-One you’ve read and liked, once from your partner’s wishlist, and one that you haven’t read but thought sounded interesting. Along with the three books you can (optionally) fill it with goodies that are book related-treats, bookmarks, etc. Basically a package that you yourself would love to receive.

You send your package to your partner, they send one to you. You send us the tracking confirmation so we know you didn’t flake out. (Anyone who flakes is blacklisted).

Important dates for this swap:

Sign-Ups Close – Monday, August 24th
Partners assigned – Wednesday, August 26th
Packages must ship on or before – Saturday,September 5th
Show off Linky post live – Wednesday, September 9th

What are you waiting for?
Head on over and sign up!

Want to see examples of things I’ve received in the Books ‘n’ Bloggers Swap? Look at the related posts below!

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Book Review: The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

June 11, 2015 by Angie 9 Comments

Some of you might remember I received The Lace Reader from my partner in the January Books ‘n’ Bloggers Swap.

Look into the lace? When the eyes begin to fill with tears and the patience is long exhausted, there will appear a glimpse of something not quite seen… In this moment, an image will begin to form? in the space between what is real and what is only imagined. Can you read your future in a piece of lace? All of the Whitney women can. But the last time Towner read, it killed her sister and nearly robbed Towner of her own sanity. Vowing never to read lace again, her resolve is tested when faced with the mysterious, unsolvable disappearance of her beloved Great Aunt Eva, Salem’s original Lace Reader. Told from opposing and often unreliable perspectives, the story engages the reader’s own beliefs. Should we listen to Towner, who may be losing her mind for the second time? Or should we believe John Rafferty, a no nonsense New York detective, who ran away from the city to a simpler place only to find himself inextricably involved in a psychic tug of war with all three generations of Whitney women? Does either have the whole story? Or does the truth lie somewhere in the swirling pattern of the lace?

I wanted this to be better than it was. I mean, don’t get me wrong-it was a good little read, it just wasn’t as good as I was hoping for by the description.

The character and the story-line are definitely intriguing. The main character has a sordid past filled with tragedy and rich paranormal history, and the concept of coming from a long line of “lace readers” (women who can read fortunes in the lace that they create),while living in/near Salem MA which is thick with magical history is definitely what sucked me into the book at first. There are disappearances, and bad guys, and crazy cults-all with a couple of different romance entanglements that complicate things a bit.

But the book as a whole feels very disjointed. It starts with the narrative changing based on the character or the memory, and as soon as you get used to that it just starts feeling a bit confusing in other ways. There’s a chance it’s meant to seem jumbled, so you can understand where the main character is coming from a little bit better, but you aren’t aware that the disjointed feeling has any kind of plot application until the very end-and then it feels like it’s just kind of thrown at you and you’re sitting there going “what?”

Not “what?” as in “wow that twist was so unexpected!”, but “what?” as in “no really, I don’t understand… Can you re-explain it?” I mean, I think I understand what she meant to do there-and I definitely understand the basis for the twist, but still… There’s a second book, and part of me wants to follow up on it to see if it clarifies things, but the other part of me doesn’t want to bother just because I’m afraid it’ll be as disjointed and hard to follow as the first one.

So this book definitely gets an A for originality, but a C for execution.

Rating: ★★★★★

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Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Books ‘n’ Blogger Recap (+ Mug O’Comfort Recap)

May 8, 2015 by Angie 10 Comments

Hello friends! I’m in Canada now, but I wanted to share my latest Chaotic Goddess Swap participation. We just hosted our wildly successful Books ‘n’ Bloggers Swap-and I was matched up with the amazing Jessica from Writing Pearls. Guess what? She’s a real life writer! I’m so excited to know her-and she’s already inspiring me to go on and start writing more-which I’ve wanted to do since I was a child.

Jessica was also extremely patient as the Universe seemed stacked against me sending her a package. I went to package it up and send it and found that one of the books I’d bought used had whole pages whited out (UGH-That makes me livid that someone would do that to a book) and that I’d forgotten to actually place the order on the third book I was sending. So I got on Amazon and had an order shipped directly to her, but it was lost/damaged in transit so they refunded me and made me start all over! Then somehow she ended up with duplicates. See what I sent her HERE.

She sent me All the Light We Cannot See and This Whole Golden World which were both on my wish list, Just Pru, and also a book of her own poetry-how cool is that? The extras she added were so sweet too. A soft blanket, some dark chocolate, sesame sticks for healthy snacking, some Mary Kay, and a little plant pod for when I get a house. She’s such a great bloggy friend!

As for Mug O’Comfort… I’m going to start by saying I got totally caught up in school, work, house hunting, etc. and completely forgot to post this recap. I feel bad, because I was paired with Stephanie of In Her Wonderland and she is AMAZING-so here’s what she sent me! See what I sent her HERE.

I love this mug. When you poor hot coffee in it the face changes to awake! She also sent some Tea, a cute necklace, some toys for Emma (who loved those fishes), and the book The Diviners which was on my wish list! Thanks so much Stephanie! Sorry this took me forever…

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Semi-Charmed 2015 Summer Book Challenge

April 29, 2015 by Angie 10 Comments

So the amazing book blogger Megan from Semi-Charmed Life, who was the winner of The Bookish Babe award in my 2015 Best of Blog Awards, is hosting a summer reading challenge! I figure since I’m taking time off from school I should totally jump in on this and try to get some good reading done. I have so many books to finish!

General Rules:

The challenge will run from May 1st, 2015 to August 31st, 2015. No books that are started before 12AM on May 1st or after finished August 31st will be counted.

Each book must be at least 200 pages long. Audiobooks and large print books are fine, as long as the regular print version meets the page requirement.

A book can only be used for one category, and each category can only be completed once. If you want to switch a category for a book later on, that is fine, just make sure to account for it in your points.

Rereads can be used for a maximum of 3 books in the challenge. This rule is meant to encourage you to try new books while still allowing you to revisit books from your childhood or young adulthood that you might get more out of now. Please reread the entire book within the time frame of the challenge in order to count it; no simply finishing old books or partial rereads.

The highest possible total for the challenge is 200 points, and the first five people to finish the challenge will be invited to contribute a category for the next challenge.

Challenge Categories:

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that fits the general rules.

10 points: Read a book you have never heard of before. (Just go to a shelf and pick a book based on the cover, the title, whatever you want!)

10 points: Read a book that has been on your TBR list for at least two years. (If you’ve had a Goodreads account for 2+ years, this will be easy to figure out. If you don’t, do your best to pick a book you’re pretty sure you’ve been wanting to read for years.)

10 points: Read a book that won a Goodreads “Best Book” Award in 2014.

15 points: Read a book by an author who is completely new to you.

15 points: Read a book by an author you have read before. (No re-reads for this one.)

15 points: Read a book with “light” or “dark” in the title. (Or “lightness” or “darkness.”)

20 points: Read a book with the name of a city, state or country in the title.

20 points: Read a book with an animal on the cover.

25 points: Read a book that is part of a series with at least four books.

25 points: Read a book that is longer than 500 pages long. — Submitted by winter finisher Kristen from See You in a Porridge.

30 points: Read a book with an alliterative title. (All words in the title must begin with the same letter; no exceptions for articles or prepositions. Examples: Gone Girl or Nicholas Nickleby. Yes, this is tough, which is why it’s worth the most points!)

What I Plan on Reading:

Freebie: Close to Home by Lisa Jackson

A book I’ve never heard of before: We’ll see!

A book that’s been on my TBR list for 2 years: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

A book that won a “Best Book” Award: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

A book by an Author that is completely new to me: The Good House by Tananarive Due

A book by an author I have read before: Egg and Spoon by Gregory MaGuire

A book with “light” or “dark” in the title: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer

A book with the name of a city, state, or country in the title: Hamlet: Prince of Denmark by A.J. Hartley

A book with an animal on the cover: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

A book that is part of a series with at least four books: Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

A book that is longer than 500 pages: The Diviners by Libba Bray

A book with an alliterative title: Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

How to check in:

Megan will post a check in post on the first day of each month, starting with June 1st, on which you can comment with your current pitons/reading. She will also keep a scoreboard of the previous months points on the posts.

How to join:

Create a preliminary post (like this one) and post it on your blog, then head on over and link it up with Megan’s original post to sign up. The preliminary post is mandatory. You can always change your list of things you plan to read, but it’s fun to see what people are thinking for the categories. See the rest of the rules over in the original post.

What are you going to read?

Don’t forget to link up any April reading/book posts with our April Reading Challenge!

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Review: The Universe Verse by James Lu Dunbar

April 16, 2015 by Angie 17 Comments

I received the product in this post for review via Tomoson.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was very excited to get the chance to review The Universe Verse by James Lu Dunbar. I love a book that can take Science and make it interesting for kids, and this one does just that. It’s a wonderfully illustrated little book that shares all sorts of science and interesting information related to the Universe. I honestly can’t wait to give a copy to my godkids this Summer, what a great gift idea to help them expand their knowledge and keep them entertained at the same time!

Did I mention that the science is accurate and that the book is told in rhyme? How much more fun can you get? James Lu Dunbar is a very creative individual and has been able to share that creativity and his knowledge with us on these wonderfully detailed pages. There are so many interesting facts in the book that honestly, it’s not just for kids. Any lover of science, rhyme, and art could very easily enjoy everything this quality hard-cover book has to offer-which makes it a perfect gift idea!

If you’re looking for something lovely and engaging, either for yourself or your favorite science-lover. I highly recommend you pick up your copy of The Universe Verse by James Lu Dunbar today!

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

April 12×30 Challenge: Reading Challenge

April 1, 2015 by Angie 19 Comments

April 12x30 Challenge: Reading Challenge

Holy cow it’s April-and my birthday is coming up. How exciting is that? Well, I love reading, so I’m happy that the April challenge (which overlaps my birthday) is a reading one. Are you ready to dig in? This challenge is a year-long challenge with a new theme each month hosted by myself and Chasing My Extraordinary. Read about the entire challenge HERE.

Set a reading goal.

Read, read, read! (or listen, listen, listen! if you’re into audio books)

Talk about books.

Review books you have read.

Talk about other things you read-blogs, magazines, newspapers, etc.

Share book reviews of books you’ve read this month.

Share lists of your favorite books.

Write about things book lovers and readers love.

Talk about why you read or why it’s important.

Share a fun reading experience.

Share your reading wish list.

Join us for the Books ‘n’ Bloggers swap over at Chaotic Goddess Swaps!

I’m challenging myself to focus more on reading and less on the TV I watch and other distractions. I want to listen to at least three audio books and read at least one physical book off my TBR shelf (yes, I have a literal TBR bookshelf with probably about 50 books I’ve purchased but not read on it!) I also want to finish my eBook, the second Outlander book I’ve been dragging out way too long.

Link up any related posts with us this month hear. Don’t forget that Kenzie and I will be featuring our favorite posts at the end of the month. Check out my features from last month HERE. Don’t forget to include the button with the code above.

Check out the previous month’s here:

January’s Love Yourself Challenge.

February’s Get Organized Challenge.

March’s No Spending Challenge.

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com

Saturday Spotlight: Alphabet of Fantastic Beings by Patric Bates

March 14, 2015 by Angie 11 Comments

Some of you may recall me mentioning Patric Bates’ art on the blog before, and for good reason. One day last year, Shawn and I made the trek out for lunch and down to Orem to go to one of our favorite sandwich places called Bailey’s. Bailey’s also happens to be attached to a little coffee shop which sometimes displays art or photographs from local artists. On one particular day they were showing art by Patric Bates, and Shawn and I immediately fell in love with it and added the artist on Facebook.

Patric and I started working together and had a few collaborations last year, so when he released his new book called Alphabet of Fantastic Beings, I was so happy to snag a copy and review it for you here. This book is SO fun!

Patric took the time to make a wonderful piece of art for mythical creatures, one for each letter of the alphabet, and then compile it into a wonderful collectible art book. There are so many creative characters in this beautifully documented mythological collection.

This book would be a perfect coffee table book, or something decorative to put out where visitors to your home can admire it. Or it’d be a great children’s book to get and look through with your little ones! You can teach them all about the different mythologies presented on the vibrant pages PLUS practice their ABC’s.

You never know, you might learn about a few interesting mythological beings you hadn’t before!

But there are always the ones you know and love still waiting for you to turn the page and love them all over again.

You should definitely pick up this book for yourself or as a gift! It’s magical, and Patric’s art is intricate and beautiful! You’ll love all the detail he puts into it and you start to see all his textures as you look at it longer and it comes to life more. You can buy it, or another piece of his lovely art, HERE.

Angie

http://www.mysocalledchaos.com