Why I Became A Book Blogger

Hello, readers! 

I just wanted to check in and give everyone an update on how things are going with this blog, and provide a light background on why I decided to become a book blogger in the first place. I know that I haven't been updating as often as I'd like, but I want to assure you that this blog is here to stay - I am just at a point in my life where I am making a lot of changes (including with this blog).

When I started this blog, I had just learned that book blogging was a thing, and browsing through books blogs for the first time had lit a spark in me that I hadn't felt in a long time. I used to be such an avid reader as a child, and breezed through Goosebumps and The Babysitters' Club books like other kids would breeze through an episode of their favorite cartoon.

I can't recall when exactly my reading habits had started to slow, but I only remember that it had dwindled somewhat in high school to the point where the only books I read where required readings or the occasional Dean Koontz novel, and then when college came it was almost nil. I was in a slump after college (and even during college, to be honest), getting bombarded with life events and family issues that felt like too much to handle. I knew that I had depression at the time, but my anxiety was so bad that I didn't feel that I could talk to anyone about it - in fact, I've had depression for well over 10 years, and it wasn't until a couple of months ago, in May 2017, that I finally was able to see a doctor for it, and get a proper clinical depression diagnosis.

But anywho, while I was going through all of this inner turmoil, I needed something to turn to, and so I decided to try book blogging out, since I felt it would give me a reason to read more. I always loved the comfort that I got from a good book, and challenging myself to read more for the sake of this blog kept my mind occupied and more often gave me that rare enjoyment that only comes when you've read a book that you truly love for the first time.

I'm very grateful for the book blogger community, and for this blog (especially for the numerous times that it has kept me in check with my reading!). While this past year I've been rather absent again due to unforeseen circumstances that have popped up in my life, I'm really hoping that things have settled down to enough of a standstill so that I can once again make a regular return to this blog. I'm going to be blogging again for myself, so that I can continue with challenging myself to read more, and to reflect more on my reading through book reviews and yes, memes (which are fun, and encourage me to think more creatively about the books I've read and hope to read).

Also, I'm not going to beat myself up about posting. I've always been relaxed with this blog, and will continue to do so - I've never kept to a regular schedule about having to post a certain amount per week or month, so I'm not going to start with that now. I always preferred posting when I felt a need or want to do so, and I feel no need to deviate from that path.

Thank you for sticking through this with me, and for taking the time to read this post. I look forward to seeing where this blog takes me, and I'm grateful to have you here with me! If there's anything you'd like to see more of from me, please let me know in the comments - I'd love to take your feedback into consideration when moving forward.

#TagTime: 15 Weird Questions, Answered

I saw this tag a while back on Christina Reads YA, and I've been meaning to do it ever since. I love tags, and this one is a nice way for you all to get to know me just a tad bit better. Here goes:

1. A nickname that you get called.

I don't really have any nicknames, unless you count "Kim." Though in high school a friend gave me the nickname "KitKat" for a little while, since my initials are K.K. (don't worry, my middle name is Elaine!). My 4-year-old niece calls me "Kimalee," since she can't pronounce my name properly yet. My younger sister (her mom) used to pronounce it that way too, when she was little.

2. A weird habit.

I constantly check in the middle of the night that the front door is locked. I also like to double (and triple) check that I've turned things off, or that I've unplugged things, etc. You just can't be too careful.

3. A weird phobia.

I have social phobia and social anxiety, which is why I prefer to communicate with people through the internet, lol. Though to be honest, it freaks me out to talk to people online, too. When I was little, I was afraid that It the Clown was going to eat me, so I used to tape a letter to my bedroom door asking him not to. Once in a while I still check my closet and underneath the bed to make sure nothing is there...

4. A song you are ashamed to like so you blast it in private.

I am slightly ashamed at the number of Joe Jonas songs that are on my iPod, but I can't say that I'm particularly ashamed of any specific song. Meh. I have songs on my iPod that are in Turkish and Hebrew, not to mention all of the K-Pop, J-Rock, and Mando-Pop songs that are on there. I don't care if people hear it. Ain't no shame in my game. I love music!

5. A pet peeve.

When people crack their knuckles or chew/talk with their mouth full - I can't stand it!

6. A nervous habit.

Bouncing my leg up and down when I'm sitting. Also, pacing back and forth while listening to music on my headphones (I do this in short bursts multiple times throughout the day - especially when I'm feeling stressed).

7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

All over. I tend to sleep in the middle, and I change the direction my head is at based on what I feel like that night. Yes, I have the bed to myself, so I can do what I want - mwahaha!

8. The name of your first stuffed animal.

I can't remember my first stuffed animal! I think the earliest one I can remember that had a name) was a yellow stuffed bunny I had received for Easter that I named 'Buster,' after Buster Baxter from Arthur.

9. What do you buy at Starbucks?

I like to mix it up, but my go-to drinks are:

• Peppermint Mocha
• Iced Green Tea Latte
• Mocha Frappuccino

All with Coconut or Soy Milk, and no whip. I like their teas, too, but even if you say "easy ice," they fill those f*ckers up, so it's not worth the cost, really.

10. Beauty rule.

Always floss.

11. Which way do you face in the shower?

I tend to move around, but my preference when I am freezing cold in the morning is to set the water to "scalding hot" and face towards the shower.

12. A weird body skill.

I have none that I know of. Though I suppose it is a weird sort of "skill" how my body is often falling or bumping into things as often as it does...it's insane. I'm surprised I'm still alive, really.

13. Comfort food.

Pasta. Or pizza. Basically Italian food. Yum!

14. A word or phrase that you say all the time. 

Scheiße (German; pronounced: Sh-eye-za). It's my go-to curse word. Variations may often include: Scheiße Minnelli, or Scheiße LaBeouf.

15. What do you sleep in?

Pajama bottoms & a comfy tee shirt. Though lately I've taken to wearing a cotton night-gown. They're just so...airy. And they make me feel like a lady.

So, do you feel like you know me better?! Haha. Ok. Now it's your turn! If you've honestly taken the time to read this post in it's entirety, then consider yourself tagged! Just do me a favor and let me know in the comments if you've completed it, that way I can check out your answers (or, if you don't have a blog, feel free to answer in a comment, instead!). 

Notes On My Unexpected Hiatus (or, Surprise! I'm Still Alive)

Wow. I never intended to go on such a long hiatus, especially without any notice to y'all, but I have really just been doing my best to keep myself together. I had an unexpected family emergency which suddenly left me caring for my young nieces, and took up all of my free time. I can't go into too many details, out of respect to the people involved, but I do want to apologize for taking so long to at least inform you of my absence. On the plus side, things have finally (maybe) started sorting themselves out in some areas, and I may once again finally have time to continue with this blog.

Between you and me, I normally read about 60 or more books in a year, but so far, this year, I haven't even read one. In fact, I am still at the beginning of a book that I actually started reading at the very end of 2015. Don't get me wrong - All The Light We Cannot See is an incredibly well-written and engrossing story, I've just had too much on my mind to concentrate on it, and too much to deal with to make the time to do so.

On a lighter note, I decided to read something a bit faster paced to see if I can at least get out of this slump, so this week I started reading Rainbow Rowell's Carry On. Also, thanks to a very long and tedious task at work this week that required very minimal brain function, I was able to get back into the Books on the Nightstand podcast, which excited me because it helped to ease me back in the book world, both by catching me up on the latest book-related news and by giving me some awesome new releases to add to my TBR.

Once again, I truly am sorry for leaving you all in the dust, but I've just had way too much on my plate. It is my hope that now that things have started turning themselves around, I might have more time to devote to this blog, and to my favorite pastime, reading.  Once a reader, always a reader...

Be on the lookout for some new content coming soon, as well as a giveaway (once payday arrives) to celebrate reaching 1,000 likes on Facebook! Yay!

Thank you all for sticking with me!

{Life Update} So, About My Recent Hiatus...

Hello, everyone! First and foremost, I would like to take the time to apologize for this unannounced hiatus that I have recently been on. It seems that I have been rather overwhelmed lately, and have had too much going on to truly dedicate as much time as I would have liked to this blog. 

Here are my excuses in a nutshell: 

• In addition to my full-time job, I have recently started attending a fitness boot camp at a gym that is located a fair distance away from both my job and home. It's been working, guys! The only downside is that I go straight after work and don't get home until 7:30 pm. Plus I give my mom a ride to work afterwards, which is another hour gone from my day.
• Also, my sister has recently had a baby, and I have been providing transportation to and from doctors' appointments and hospital visits. Just this past weekend, her baby was hospitalized to to severe jaundice!
• And lastly, I have been trying my best to de-clutter and organize my childhood home. It's been a lot easier since having read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, but there's still a lot to be done. It's bad, guys.

My newest niece, Kali Quinn

I feel terrible about not posting for over two months, and for not announcing my hiatus, but I was honestly too busy to really get around to it. It is my hope that now that I have become more accustomed to my schedule/routine, I will be able to continue updating this blog in a regular fashion. My sister's baby is also being released from the hospital today, so having her back at home will really give us a lot of peace of mind.  

And so, with that said, I'd like you all to know that I truly appreciate your patience during this time. I really enjoy both reading and blogging, and it is my hope that I will soon be able to find an equilibrium in which my personal, work, and blogging lives can coexist. For now, please know that I will be trying my best - I already have a few ideas for posts that will be coming up soon! 

My Resolutions for 2015

Happy New Year, everyone!

Welcome to 2015!!!

Already, I've been quite busy this year, so I apologize for the mini-hiatus I had to go on over the holiday - I do, however, have a lot of ideas for the upcoming year, and have been busy working out a blogging schedule for 2015. No more excuses!

I didn't like the fact that last year seemed so sporadic, as I focused too much on my work life to have much of a personal one - it's a resolution of mine to find a balance between the two, which is actually what  this post is about, as well.

I came across the 2015 Bookish Resolutions Challenge (hosted by Michelle @ Because Reading Is Better Than Real Life and Laura @ Trips Down Imagination Road) while perusing the feed on my Blogger Dashboard, and thought I'd join in, since I was planning on creating a resolutions post, anyway. I actually have a lot of resolutions for the year, and really had to narrow my list down to something that was actually do-able. Here's what I came up with:

Blogging/Reading Goals

1. Read at least 67 books in 2015.
I regularly participate in the Goodreads reading challenge and aim to read 50 books, but for some reason last year and the year before, I read 67 books exactly. I figured, why not? I'll aim to beat that number, of course, but for now, I'll set that as my target.
2. Read the books on my shelf.
I have a lot of physical books that I hope to get to this year - I really need to start reading what I buy, as I am running out of shelf space. I plan on making more space by donating any books I end up disliking.
3. Post at least 3 times per week.
Starting now, lol. I also hope to create more discussion posts.
4. Review more of the books I read.
Let's face it - I haven't actually posted a book review in quite a while. I'm aiming to change that this year by aiming to review all of the books that I count towards my reading challenges.
5. Complete my reading challenges.
I'm trying not to overwhelm myself this year by joining challenges that are a bit more "loose" with their rules (such as: read more diverse books, or re-read some old favorites) instead of having to read a set number. I love reading challenges, but would never want to dismiss reading a book because it doesn't fit into any of my challenges for the year.

Personal Goals

1. Get more sleep.
I really have trouble going to sleep, and for me, falling asleep by midnight is actually early, as I tend to stay up until around 2am, though I have to be up every morning by 6:30am to get ready for work. I know, right? My goal is to fall asleep before midnight each night.
2. Have more experiences (or, GET OUT MORE!!!).
I'm an introvert, and a bit of a shut in. I barely got my first car last year, and was proud of myself for using it to attend as many concerts as I did, even though I went to most of them by myself. This year, I'd like to continue concert-going, but I'd also like to see a bit more of what my city has to offer, such as going for a ride on the Wyler Aerial Tramway or having a beer at Rosa's Cantina.
3. Lose 20 pounds.
This one speaks for itself, really.
4. De-clutter our home.
It's really time to let go of all the crap we don't use anymore. I think this one will be more manageable if I tackle one room at a time.
5. Keep a journal to track my resolution progress.
I would really like to stay on top of my goals, and whether or not I do so, I'd like to track it in a journal and hold myself accountable.

I know that I've listed a lot of resolutions, but what's wrong with having goals? I specifically chose goals that are actually obtainable due to their vagueness, and have already started journaling out my plan. As long as I do my best to complete even some of these resolutions, I'll already be having a better year than 2014.

So, what do you think? Do you have any resolutions that you'd like to share?
Please do so in the comments below!

I'm Still Here: A Brief Explanation Of My Unexpected Hiatus

Hi guys! You may have noticed that I haven't updated my blog in a little over a month. Sorry about that, by the way! I'd like you to know that I've hit a major milestone in my life over this hiatus - I finally have a car! I know, I know, I'm almost 25, but this is my first car ever! No more riding the bus, or bumming rides to work from my co-workers - I have wheels! For me, the idea of having a car had always seemed so unattainable; I always felt that only people who had money could have cars, and that having one was a sign that you've "made it."

Don't get me wrong, I still don't think I'm anywhere near "making it," but at least I'm getting there. More than half of my income still goes toward my student loans, but it seems that I have enough left over each month to cover the cost of my car payments. And for those of you who are curious, the car I'm purchasing is a white 2006 Hyundai Elantra (sedan). Nothing fancy, but it runs well and gets me from point A to point B much faster than a bus ever could. Here's a pic (not my image, it's from the dealer):

Another reason for my absence is that work really takes a lot out of me. When I get home, I just want to relax, and this usually involves catching up on television rather than reading, which is not the best habit, I admit. I've also been working on my New Year's resolution to go out more, since I rarely do anything fun (I was never a party-person, and not having a car really limited what I could do for fun, since I had to time things to fit the bus schedule). 

So far this year, I have been to three concerts (Kris Roe from The Ataris, Dokken, and Blue October!), I purchased a ticket for the upcoming Neon Desert music festival, I've started bowling with friends, and I've even joined meetup groups (on meetup.com); this past Friday I went to my first meetup, which involved playing board games, and this weekend I'll be going to my second meetup, which is a lunch slash meet-and-greet. I even go to lunch every now-and-then with my coworkers. Trust me when I say that this is a big deal for me - I am insanely introverted, so already I've done more social activities this year than I've done in a long time.

At any rate, I am so sorry that I've been neglecting both my blog and my reading (I only read one book last month!) I will try my best to keep up with both my blogging life and my social life from this point forward - wish me luck!

New Blog Design! New Job!

Woohoo! Love YA Books has a new look thanks to Stephanie @ Hopeless Romantics! If you like what you see, please do check out her portfolio - she's done some great work on some fantastic blogs, and maybe you can get a blog make-over like I did! Thank you so much Stephanie for all of your hard work, and for providing this layout free of charge! There are still a few tweaks I have to make, such as updating my rating system to match the new look, but so far I'm really happy with the outcome. 

Also, for those of you that are curious as to what I've been up to, I've finally gotten a new job. I've been having a tough time finding a job now that I've moved back to El Paso, Texas after almost a year in The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Nevada. But now (with the help of a job fair) I have a great job as an administrative assistant for a local real estate company! If you don't see me post as often, it's probably because I'm busy with work, but I'll make sure that new posts still come out on a regular basis. It's nice not being unemployed! 

Thanks to each and every one of you for visiting and/or following my blog - you are all greatly appreciated. Looks like 2013 might be ending on a high note, despite starting off grim thanks to a family crisis. Yay!

{Blogtember} If I Could Do Anything I Wanted For 3 Months...

Today is the second day of Blogtember, and the prompt is as follows: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do? (bonus points for fun photos from Pinterest, but don't forget to cite the source!) 

*Click The Images To View Their Source*

I'd like to travel all over the world in my lifetime, but at the moment, if I could go wherever I wanted for three months, I'd go to India.

I would love to walk the streets of India, and go shopping at some street markets.

My favorite type of food is Indian food. I'm a vegan, so there are a lot of choices available, since a large portion of Indians are vegetarian. I love the spices and flavors that are found in Indian cuisine, and I especially enjoy eating curry - yum!

I'd also love to participate in Holi, the festival of color:

And, of course, I'd have to check out their attractions. I can't go to India without visiting places such as the Taj Mahal, now can I?

I know that three months wouldn't be enough time to see everything I'd like to see in India, but it would definitely be a good first-time visit. And of course, since this is a book blog, I'm throwing in a few books that I'd probably take on the trip:

  

So, if you could do whatever you'd like to for three whole months, what would you do?

{Blogtember} Where I Come From

It's the first day of Blogtember, and today's prompt is all about where I come from: Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are. I think that a big part of who I am has to do with the city I was raised in - El Paso, Texas. I grew up right on the border, with a Mexican mother (from Torreón) and a father from New Jersey (whose grandfather had emigrated from Ireland). El Paso is a very large, friendly, and laid-back city with a lot of culture and a strong sense of Hispanic pride. I'm always proud to say that I'm from El Paso, because it makes me feel as though I'm part of a special club. "Oh, you're from El Paso? I've been there once - I ate at Chico's Tacos."

My Mom & Dad

My family is pretty large - I grew up as number six out of seven kids, four boys and three girls (not counting two older half-sisters who live in a different city). That's a lot under one roof, especially when you only have one bathroom. Still, I always had someone around to talk to or fight with (and yes, with so many of us, we fight a lot), and my parents never had to worry that any of us would grow up spoiled, since hand-me-downs and sharing were the norm for us.

My father passed away the summer before my senior year of high school, so the photo on the right is the only photo I have on my computer of my parents together. Digital cameras were still new to me then.

Oldest To Youngest: Martin, Tommy, Bobby, Brian, Elizabeth, Me, Angelica

As soon as I graduated high school, I chose to go to college in San Antonio, as I wanted to experience life away from home for the first time. I had never really left El Paso at all before, so I really enjoyed exploring more of Texas. I even spent a semester abroad in London, England, and did some traveling to other European cities during the weekends. I think that being a part of such a large family and not getting to travel as a child really played a big factor in my wanting to go abroad - I yearned to do something independent for once, and experience new cultures (as well as learn more about the Irish part of my family tree since I was close enough to visit the country easily). I still hope to travel more in the future.

The home I grew up in - if you can see it behind all the trees...

But for now, I have graduated college and am back in El Paso. I don't know what the future holds for me, but no matter where I travel, I will always be glad to have my family and my city to return to.

This is my first Blogtember post.

If you're interested in participating in Blogtember, please click on the button below:

{Life Updates} I'm Back!

Okay, so you may have noticed that my blog posts have severely dropped in number (I haven't posted since March!). I just wanted to keep you updated, and let you know that I have been without internet for quite a while, but now it's up and running again! Hopefully I won't go so long without it again, but the apartment I'm in right now is only temporary, so I'm crossing my fingers that when I make the switch to my new apartment, it'll be easier to bring this internet with me. 

I've really missed blogging, and I'm looking forward to continuing. I want to thank you guys so much for sticking around - more posts will be coming soon!

{Life Updates} My Apologies

I just wanted to take to time to apologize for the lack of updates lately. I actually just moved from Texas to the middle of nowhere, Nevada, so I've really been devoting most of my time to my family and a job search. Thank you guys so much for sticking with me - I'll try and make sure to set aside more time for this blog soon, but I really am still worried about finding a job in time to continue paying my student loans. I'll keep you updated!

Domain Change

I am in the process of a domain change - from http://love-ya-books.blogspot.com to http://www.loveyabooks.com. Don't know how long it'll take for this to get updated, as I literally just purchased the domain about an hour ago, but I just thought I'd let you know, in case anything starts to go wonky (like GFC, which I hope will at some point reappear...and the comments pages, which seem to have migrated too soon...). Blogger will redirect you automatically once the domain updates, so you don't have to worry!

I don't know why I didn't get a custom domain from the beginning - I guess because I didn't know that it would only cost $10 per year, period (I had assumed their would be monthly fees, but I learned that blogger  will still host the site, so there aren't any.) Well, thanks you guys - bear with me!

Short Hiatus

Okay, so I haven't been posting as much as I'd like to, and the reason is that I recently got a new (temporary) job at the end of March. But starting tomorrow, I start working about 14 - 16 hours per day (and it's an outdoor job). This means that any free time I have will probably *hopefully* be spent sleeping, so I'm just going to take a break blogging for now. This job ends around May 26th, so by then I'll be able to start this up again. See you soon!