Blogiversary Spectacular Giveaway Winners!

A great big  thank you  from the ladies of Mrs. BG for making our Blogiversary Giveaway truly spectacular! We sincerely appreciate all the lovely comments and all of your help spreading the word.  

The response exceeded our wildest expectations and we are so pleased to have made so many new friends! 

Winners were chosen using Random.org. I will email all winners and each winner must respond in three days or another winner will be chosen. 

Are you on tenterhooks? Waiting with bated breath?  Here we go... 

Winners:

Winner of the $40 CSN Stores gift code:  Out of 149 entries--  number 18! Congratulations, Lisa Loves To Read!!

Winner of the international prize, a $20 or less book of choice from Book Depository:  Out of 111 entries-- number 71! Congratulations, Enbrethiliel!!

Good News! Mrs. BG gained more than 25 followers. In fact, we gained an extra 25! So not only will there be one lagniappe prize, there will be three! The $20 or less book of choice from Book depository as promised and two $10 or less book of choice prizes from Book Depository! All entrants are eligible to win.

First Lagniappe Prize:
Winner of the $20 or less book of choice from Book Depository: Out of 260 entries-- number 6! Congratulations, Teddy Rose!!

Second Lagniappe Prize:
Winner of a $10 or less book of choice from Book Depository: Out of 260 entries-- number 214! Congratulations, -Petit!!

Third Lagniappe Prize:
Winner of a $10 or less book of choice from Book Depository: Out of 260 entries-- number 52! Congratulations, KinnairdKath!!

Thank you again for participating in our blogiversary celebration!

How We Became Five

Have you ever wondered how Baja Geenawalt's Cozy Book Nook came to have five contributors?  Maybe you haven't but let me tell you anyway... besides, it is a set up to earn extra entries, so bear with me. :o)

Like everything else here at Mrs. BG, it occurred in a wonderful serendipitous whirl!  Of course, my hope was to have five bookish perspectives chatting here but I had no idea it would happen the first year! Gotta love those lagniappes!

Of the first three bookworms approached to contribute, only DeLynne jumped on board. We've been friends forever, so I was absolutely delighted! I so hoped our other book loving friend, from way back when, would join us so we could be a terrific trio but Karen was too busy opening  Spellbound Studio: Tattoo's and Reiki for Body, Soul and Mind.

A disappointment but Mrs. BG forged ahead with a dandy duo!

Then, in April, the insightful Izzy Rose accepted an invite and the terrific trio became a reality!

More hopes dashed as three lazy non-blogging librarians expressed excitement and interest but never accepted invitations to join in the fun. Oh well, I still love librarians.

July rolled around and Tracy, who not only kept me in stitches on Facebook but also fascinated me with her clever blog, jumped feet first into the cozy craziness that is Mrs. BG. 

And our cool and continually quirky quartet was born!

Just two months later, Leslie popped up on my radar chatting in the com-box and on Facebook. She engaged with such casual and clever good humor that I knew Mrs. BG had found the fifth-- and I only had to twist her arm a tiny bit! ;o)

Now we are a perfectly cozy quintet!

How fortunate to find a group of agreeable like-minded bookworms who also hang out on the silly side of the street and love to blog. Thankfully, they were all book-blog-free so up for grabs.  Really, I can't brag on my co-bloggers enough-- each one is amazing! The one astounding thing about them that I can not get over is the fact that they are all related.

Yep, all of my co-bloggers are from one family! What are the odds?! 

Did you know they were related?  Some long time bloggy friends may have suspected-- there have been clues in posts and in the com-box.

Here it is--  what you've been waiting for so patiently: extra entries for the giveaway!

Earn extra entries by guessing the relationships between my lovely co-bloggers: Tracy, Izzy, Leslie and DeLynne. They are all some combination of sister, mother, daughter and cousin.

Each correct guess gets you one extra entry so up to six entries available.  

Bonus Entry: At what age, grade or year did DeLynne and I meet? or How many years have DeLynne and I known each other?  This bonus is worth 3 extra entries.

Wild guesses are welcome and are certainly worth a gamble-- with so many chances you are bound to get one right. :o)

For dedicated puzzle solvers, there are scattered clues available almost everywhere. Possible places to look: here on Mrs. BG-- maybe in introductory posts and com-box discussions. Also, their blogs or profiles. 

There are clues to the bonus entry on Mrs. BG and on the wall of our facebook group.  

Good luck! 

Hmm, wonder if there are any other potential bookbloggers  hiding in a particular family tree...

*Closed* Blogiversary Giveaway Spectacular!

 Baja Greenawalt's Cozy Book Nook has officially been in existence for one fantabulous year! 

 This journey began with a lovely little found note in an old book written by a lady with a most intriguing name. So how did the note blossom into a cozy book nook?  Well, that note preyed on lingered in my mind for two entire months. I couldn't forget it-- and couldn't shake the feeling that a momentous mysterious 'something' was imminent.  

At the same time, my librarian friend moved to another state leaving me bereft for bookchat which resulted in way way too many bookish musings crowding my mind. Quite frustrating really, especially since I imagined eyes glazing and rolling if I siphoned my biblio-ponderings off on my everything else blog.  Then eureka-- planets aligned and this little bookblog hatched!  Inspiration is such an amazing and funny thing...

As a newbie to blogging in general, I had no inkling that there were blogs for every conceivable topic/special interest under the sun. Just think, I could've been biblio-babbling myself silly for years but it just wouldn't have been the same, would it. Thank you, Mrs. Baja Greenawalt! 

And thank you, dear readers and bloggy friends. Exploring the blogosphere revealed that I wasn't the only bookworm needing an outlet to talk about books.  So many wonderful little unexpected treats (lagniappes) occurred as a result of this blog-- Can you  guess the most delightful lagniappe of all?  It is you, of course!  

In appreciation, Baja Greenawalt's Cozy Book Nook is hosting a Blogiversary Giveway Spectacular with national and international prizes so everyone is welcome to enter!! Just pay attention to the particulars, please.  (no giggling, DeLynne)

Prizes

1.  A $40 CSN Stores Gift Certificate!  CSN Stores is offering this prize to be used by the lucky winner to purchase whatever their heart desires. How cool is that?! Heading to BEA? Check out the luggage stores.  Overflowing TBR? Check out all the bookcases.  Decisions, decisions, but that is half the fun-- believe me, I know.  

**This prize is for US/Can residents only. International shipping charges may apply on Canadian orders-- Canadians may choose to enter for prize number two instead-- not both prizes, mind, only one!

2. A $20 book of your choice from The Book Depository! No US residents please! This prize is available to international entrants only. If The Book Depository ships to your country, please enter! Canadians may enter for this prize if they do not want to enter for the CSN Stores prize.

3.  Bonus Lagniappe Prize: A follow is not required to enter this giveaway but if 25 followers are gained during this giveaway a second prize will be up for grabs.  Another $20 book of your choice from The Book Depository! No restrictions on entry for this prize--- All entrants for the previous two prizes will be automatically entered to win this prize. 

Particulars

1. This giveaway will close on January 31, 2011.

2. To enter, please leave a comment to this post. You must state which prize you are eligible to win and/or state your country of residence.  I can figure it out from the country of residence but Canadians you must specify which prize you are entering to win.  Please leave a contact email if it isn't available on your blog or if you don't have a blog. Nonbloggers are welcome to enter too!

3. Extra Entries:

a)  One extra entry per follow. Only follow if this blog is your cuppa-- public following is not required to enter this giveaway.

b)  One extra entry per membership in Mrs. BG's bookgroup  on Facebook. 

c) Three extra entries for promoting the giveaway in some fashion.  Help get the word out! Please, leave a comment with a link to your promotion of choice. 

d) Be a Top Ten Commenter! Up to 10 extra entries based on your ranking! Yep, as my friend Enbrethiliel at Shredded Cheddar says: It's a competition, folks!

e) Opportunities to earn extra entries will be offered at random intervals for the duration of the giveaway. You should've known there would be a few lagniappes along the way-- Check back so you don't miss out on the fun!

  Good luck to all!! 


Lagniappe: As a little thank you for entering, following and spreading the word, opportunites to earn extra entries will be listed here.   :o)

#1 How To Spell Colloquialisms

#2 How We Became Five

Shopping With Mrs. Baja

Let's go shopping!  All of Mrs. BG's gals love to shop but had no plans to promote products on this blog. The idea blossomed spontaneously during a weekend chat. Spontaneity might as well be Mrs. BG's middle name-- so far it has resulted in an impromtu readalong, a fifth co-blogger, a facebook group and now Amazon Affiliation.  No ruts for Mrs. BG!


Ads on this blog will only promote types of products that we either actually use and have blogged about or that we hope to receive as gifts. (hint hint dear hubbies)   For instance, DeLynne has blogged about the joy of gift cards,  the delights of tea and the beauty of  bookmarks. Tracy loves her kindle as she mentioned here and here.  And cookbooks-- Oh, we are obsessed with cookbooks. (click the cookbook label)


We are so excited to offer this service. Hopefully, browsing our favorite things will provide inspiration for the perfect gift for your next occasion-- or just enjoy a bit of window shopping.


Despite the term 'monetizing', this is about providing a service; a convenient resource for our readers to obtain more information about books and products--  whether they purchase or not.  If we earn enough for a little lagniappe every now and again-- a bookmark maybe-- that would be lovely too but we are not deluded-- none of us are quitting our dayjobs. ;o) 


Happy Shopping!

Just out of curiousity, since my opinion of ads has evolved over the last year: What is your opinion of ads on blogs? Do you ever click on them?  I did not click on many and never on Google ads but will now since Helen Smith explained here about cyber pennies -- such a cute funny post, check it out. 

I am sure there's been a mistake!

Somehow I gave off the impression that I have something interesting to say! I am sure this will be remedied and access denied, but until then, I will do my best to gain control and take over THE WORLD.

Hi! My name is Leslie. I am a work at home mom with 3 children under 10, a loud husband, two in-laws (another day), two hamsters, a dog that destroys everything, and fish (the only ones who don't complain, they are my favorite family members).

I love to read. Don't have much time for it, but I do love to read.

I have a friend with two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. I was watching the little girl be a little girl, racking my brain because she reminded me of someone I knew. Someone familiar.



Aha! A Little Princess, with some Secret Garden, and a bit of Anne of Green Gables.
Now her mother, my friend, actually taught literature in high school. Literature!
I was sure she would be delighted (as I would be) to have her daughter compared to these delightful girls! Right?

To my utter disappointment and shock, SHE HAD NEVER READ THESE BOOKS! And it gets worse! SHE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THEM!




My jaw literally dropped! Maybe I got the title wrong (I mean it's not rocket surgery, but maybe I mixed the names up?)?? Maybe she just forgot the title.
I summed up the stories. Nope. "Please email me the titles. I'll check them out." She actually said this a bit snobbishly. Like they were on par with "See Spot Run".

Well, a lot could be said, I guess for the educational system - a lit teacher, a self-professed lover of the classics, had never even heard of these. BI-ZARRE!



But my thoughts were that she missed a huge amount of joy and fun. I loved these stories when I was little, when I was a teen, when I was in my twenties, and now that I'm in my thirties, I look forward to reading these again. This time with my little princess, in our secret garden, pretending we are besties with Anne.

Many thanks for allowing me to be a part of this fun blog...at least until you come to your senses! ;)

The banjo, the side of my husband’s head, and the Kindle.

By way of introduction, I'm Tracy Cartmell and have been invited to contribute by the lovely ladies of Mrs. BG, two of whom happen to be my cousins: DeLynne by birth and Lesa, because my sister and I adopted her a while back and she hasn't had the good sense to block us. Being a book blog, you'd think I was going to talk about a book. Not so much.. I'm going to talk about 658,514 books. You might want to get comfortable.

Since my husband met a distant cousin who played banjo in a couple of local Irish bands, he’s been a groupie and I’ve tried to be supportive. The challenge has been that my idea of a good Friday night is a book, a glass of wine, and Ella Fitzgerald not watching him enjoy himself in a pub, with a pint, and Paddy Fitzgerald. A few weekends ago, I’d had enough and told him the only way I was going to be doing “this” any more was if I could bring a book. I love the man, but there’s only so much of the side of his head I want to see. Three days later I had a Kindle. He’d tried to “gadget” me earlier and I’d refused for the same reasons you’re resisting. You can find prices, pictures and operating instructions on Amazon’s website but they didn’t sell me. Using one did.

.

Pros:

· Feel. It feels like a book. If you read, you’ll understand how unappealing the idea of curling up with a slim laptop is. In my experience, there’s no comparison. It has the same heft, and hand feel as a paper back book.

· Access. They take care of the wireless connection to the Kindle store, but if I lived in a remote corner of the world, I’d check on coverage before I invested. What this amounts to is a bookstore at your fingertips.

· Tasting. I’ve never once bought or checked out a book without reading some of it first. Kindle allows you to download a free sample of the book before you purchase it. The samples are around thirty pages or a chapter. That’s plenty for me to know if I want to spend my money and more importantly at this point in my life, my time.

· Ease of use. I read, just not instructions. This wasn’t a problem with the Kindle because it’s ergonomic and intuitive. There’s a page forward button on both sides of the device that righties can’t appreciate until they’re reading in bed and want to turn over. Lefties will experience a more immediate happy.

· Abundance. At last check there were 658,814 books available and that doesn’t include newspapers, blogs and magazines that are now available in electronic form.

· Ecology. That’s a lot of trees that will keep holding birds and other wild life rather than print.

· It’s less conspicuous to bring into a bar than a stack of books.

Cons

· Cost. The model he bought is the smaller one, no bells no whistles and it sells for $199.00 US. The books are on average about 10.00. Reference books are more, but a lot of the classics are free and there is a large selection of other books at no charge. The only down side is you have to go to Amazon’s website to find them, then go back to your Kindle and search by title, or pay some guy $1.99 for “Free Kindle Books and How to Find them.” The library still wins the debate of economy

· Availability. Older books are often not available in Kindle form. I see that changing if these devices do what mp3 players did to CD’s.

· Ecology. Batteries and the devices they power don’t break down as quickly as paper, and one day, my Kindle will join my walkman.

· No back light, meaning, you’ll still need a light to read at night. Not a big deal unless, like me, you don’t like to keep your partner awake while you read.

· In the words of Frank Lloyd Wright, if technology “keeps up, man will atrophy all his limbs but the push-button finger.” There’s something to be said for the smell of aging paper and a walking meditation through a row of books.

Mrs. Baja Achieves Milestones!

This past weekend Baja Greenawalt's Cozy Book Nook achieved two notable milestones. First, DeLynne's recent post Deceptively Delicious was the 100th post published on Mrs. BG! Second, Mrs. BG now has seventy five followers and counting!

Congrats DeLynne on publishing the 100th post! Did bells and whistles go off when you posted? Sorry there isn't a prize except for my sincere appreciation and gratitude that you so graciously share your bookish perspective on this cozy little bookblog. You are the best co-blogger in the world!

Thank you so much Leslie (aka 'ChickWithAnAttitude) for becoming the 75th follower of Mrs. BG and many thanks to Brenna from Literary Musings for starting the countdown to 100 followers! DeLynne, Izzy and I thrive on all the cozy comments contributed by our lovely readers and we value each and every one of you. And isn't chatting with bookish kindred spirits fun?
These milestones are quite amazing (to us, anyway) especially considering our original goals for Mrs. BG. Last January when DeLynne became a co-blogger, we decided to aim for one post each per week. Ha-- should have known we would be more prolific than that-- we are chatterboxes from way back.
Also, I vividly remember sharing with DeLynne my dream of someday having between thirty and fifty followers-- so we might get a comment or two on most posts and not just end up talking to ourselves. Well, as a newbie with no idea the bookblog community was so friendly, I thought I was dreaming big-- isn't that funny.

Thanks again all for spending time with us here at Baja Greenawalt's Cozy Book Nook!

Hi. I'm. Izzy.

Hello blog readers.

I am Izzy, one of the lucky people who get to post here. Unlike the other ones, though, I am a mere pre-teen. Funny age, not much power. Shame, isn't it? But, if pre-teens ruled the world, well let's just say that many more people would be on Twitter. But no, I am not here to ramble on about the tweetings of hormonal rulers. Let's get back on the subject of me. I am currently a blogger/wannabe writer/ aspiring fashion designer. I just can't decide. But, if all else fails, I have my endless knowledge to fall back on. I enjoy reading very much, my all time favourite being Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (or Lewis Carroll for non-Alice fanatics). It is amazing to see the stories that authors make up, having the pleasure in seeing what happens next. It is also fabulous, that some amazing mastermind genius made up blogging. What better way to discuss these things? I mean really, what did people do before blogging? The slight thought of it boggles the mind.

Well, you will be hearing from me later.
tootalooo,

izzy.

Mrs. BG's New Look!

What do you think of the new and improved Mrs. Baja Greenawalt's Cozy Book Nook? I am so pleased and would like to send a big thank you to Sarah for sharing her know-how and so graciously answering questions. Check out her fabulous blog!

If you are considering a face lift for your blog, give The Background Fairy a look. Beautiful and elegant backgrounds for 2 column or 3 column templates. The background I chose is called French Vintage Newspaper. Perfect for DeLynne's blog post celebrating newspapers! Plus, DeLynne speaks french and we both appreciate vintage finds. Voila!
Sarah also brought The Blogger Guide to my attention. This user friendly site provides step by step instructions for how to change a blog template by editing the html code. Sarah switched from a 2 column template to a 3 column template with no trouble. I planned to do the same but I'm too thrilled with Mrs. BG's new look to upgrade at this juncture. Maybe later...

Hello, bibliophiles!

Well, I was beyond flattered when Lesa invited me to be a guest blogger for Mrs. Greenwalt (she’s even hinting at a more permanent relationship). We’ve been friends since seventh grade when she adopted me, the new girl. In the years since reading has been an important part of our relationship. I remember phoning her up and inviting her out in high school, only to have her respond, ‘I don’t know. I was going to read this book…’

My appetite for books is voracious and indiscriminate. I read at a furious pace at the beach, at the dining table, in the bath, online, waiting for my kids, during lunch at work, even at red lights on the way home from the library. My mother used to say, ‘No reading at the table!’ and now my kids beg to be allowed to read during dinner. I’ll read pretty much anything, from the cereal packet to academic tomes, self help books (not too many!) and, ok, even Harlequin/Mills and Boone. I will justify that later, don’t worry!

Just so you know, I am an émigré, having left the Southwest US for the antipodes over twenty years ago ( I was very young!). My spelling and turns of speech might seem strange to American readers, but I will try to be transparent. I’ll make an effort to highlight Australian authors and books that are available state side, but my tastes are catholic and universal.

Thanks Lesa and Mrs. Greenwalt for a new adventure!