True Love 101 discussion
Chit Chat
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Random Chat... What's going on with you?
hey I have a dumb question...I want to make my reviews more informative and thorough for potential readers. What system do some of you all use to review books and what is your star system? I fear my star rating system is pretty primitive because I just think if I love it 5 if I really liked it 4 if it had more hits than misses with me 3 and not too bad but wouldn't read again 2 and terrible 1. I just don't think my system is the best or very beneficial to a prospective reader.
Oh Regina...I'm sorry to hear that. I can't imagine getting 4 kids ready and yourself! How long have you been on this new routine? Maybe a little while longer will help you get the groove of things and then you can figure out the best times to sneak in your reading. Or maybe see if your husband can help with some of the homework time.
Regina I am sorry to hear that. You have a crazy schedule! My goodness! I hope very much you can find time to read! Good luck. :)
Regina...Sounds tough. lol...the other half should definitely be buying you a Nespresso machine. The best damned Nespresso on the market!
Vanessa wrote: "hey I have a I tend to summarise a book and then give my impressions. My summaries are more detailed than the book blurb but I'm very careful not to give away spoilers and I've been known to choose an untruth in the summary rather than give away a key plot point.
90% of my reviews are like that...I do occasionally use quotes but because a lot of the books I read are ARCs, and publishers don't want readers who receive advance copies to quote, not as much as I'd like.
On some reviews, usually for books I didn't much like, I try to bring in some humour but I don't see any need to be nasty and if I can review a book I didn't like and still get the author to like my review I'm pretty damned proud of that.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Some books are just awful and on a rare occasion I feel the need to preach.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A word about ratings...
I choose the books I read carefully. If I'm reading it, the chances are good that I'll like. Because of that you won't see very many 1 or 2 star ratings from me.
★ = Awful. Recycling is too good for it. Burn it. Generally only given to books I find offensive.
★★ = Not very good. Poorly written, derivative or clichéd.
★★★ = Good. Entertaining but not outstanding (or) good but not my thing.
★★★★ = Great. A book I can't fault.
★★★★★ = Something special. That 5th Star doesn't come from my mind it comes from my heart.
Vanessa wrote: "hey I have a Kristen KC's reviews might be worth a look. She does this round-up at the bottom which might work for you. I tried something like that but I gave up because I just couldn't get it right....but it's in my mind to try again.
I want to somehow talk about the cover (design) and whether it's right for the book and the synopsis and whether it's accurate in my reviews...but I want it to be attached to the review without being t a part of the review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Regina wrote: "So I think my reading lifestyle has changed forever. :(My husband started a new job several weeks ago, and due to the timing of the job (which is good for the kids and him picking them up after ..."
I'll keep you covered on the Netgalley alert front! LOL
Kay wrote: "Random question here...has anyone ever melted chocolate to make chocolate molds? I'm having problems and need advice. I'm making Lego chocolate for my son's Lego themed bday party in a couple of we..."Are you using reg chocolate chips? I've found that Almond Bark, found in the backing isle works great and you can microwave it very easily.
thank you Ian for the advice! I think I am going to edit a few reviews.
Regina wrote: "So I think my reading lifestyle has changed forever. :(My husband started a new job several weeks ago, and due to the timing of the job (which is good for the kids and him picking them up after ..."
Oh Regina, that sucks! It's so hard getting two kids out the door at 8am and we get to walk to school. It's going to take some transition for you and the kids. The only way I know how to help is give you some tips that help me with my 2 boys.
~ I always lay out clothes for the next day while the boys are in the shower. We have these baskets in their room and first thing they get dressed (including shoes :) and then come downstairs.
~Breakfast - I sometimes make the boys waffles and just make a ton, that way I can preheat them easily in the toaster oven. That and I always have cut up fruit. Plus i'm trying to get the boys to help more, we just put together a chore chart area, the kids picked a few ways they couldn help in the morning and night.
~ Lunches: I put most everything in the lunches the night before, then all I have to do is make sandwiches. I even have pre-packed veggie/fruit jars ready in the fridge (http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Freezer...). I normally get this all ready Sunday.
~ This year I put together a backpack area under our stairs, this makes our mornings so much easier.
Hope this helps and I'm totally understand your situation :)
Leea wrote: "Are you using reg chocolate chips? I've found that Almond Bark, found in the backing isle works great and you can microwave it very easily."I've tried hersheys and also the chocolate chips for baking. I went to Michael's during my lunch break today and found some melting chips for candy making. They have a whole aisle dedicated to dipping and making candy. I still have a couple of weeks to experiment so if these melting chips don't work, I will try the Almond Bark next. Thanks for the rec.
Those will work. Almond bark is super easy and cheep. I use it to dip strawberries or apples. That kind of thing. You can buys at any grocery store and it's huge! Good luck! I can't wait to see these lego treats, my boys still love legos :)
re chocolate ... my niece makes her own chocolates. You can't use a regular chocolate bar ( not sure why). you should be able to buy buttons of both white and regular cooking chocolate in the same aisle as cake mixes.
Almond Bark: (view spoiler)
I think you can use reg chocolate you just have to watch out not to heat it too much and don't stop stirring.
Ian...I realized I couldn't use the regular chocolate bar or the chocolate chips b/c it ends up melting at room temperature. I don't know why but it has to do with the chemistry of melting and molding that type of chocolate.Leea...I need to make goodie bags for 30 kids so that's a lot of chocolate! I will head to the store this weekend and get Almond Bark to see how that works. The melting chips weren't cheap so maybe Almond Bark will be a better choice.
These are the molds I bought: http://www.amazon.com/Building-Bricks...
Oh those are so cool. Yeah, almond bark is cheep, but it also says chocolate flavored (lol) but I can't tell a difference. It's maybe $3 for that huge chunk. Good luck kay! It's going to be awesome! Ethan's birthday is next friday, I didn't know our boys had close birthdays :)
How old is Ethan going to be? Are you throwing a party? My Ethan's 6th birthday is on November 10th but I'm just trying to prep and experiment before I have to make a big batch since I've never done this before.
Ethan's 8th birthday is next friday! I cannot believe my baby is 8... How did that happen? He's just taking some of his school friends, 4 boys to the movies and then dinner. Instead of a big birthday bash this year. Then our whole family is coming out to watch his last soccer game and we're going to have a picnic lunch at the field. Trying to make it easier this year.
Thank you everyone. You are amazing. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back here to respond. Leea, that is great advice. I have my kids pick out their clothes the night before. And I ready their backpacks the night before. We also walk too. But depends on my work schedule (how late I am there) if I have time to pre-pack the lunches or not. I don't think it will let up. I will definitely adjust to getting up early, but I don't think I will have more reading time. But time will tell. Thanks for all of your kind words.
Leea that sounds like a great party. I love that age of boys, just love it. My son just turned 10 - he and his friends are so fun. :) My oldest turned 14 today. I am so lucky to have her.
I cannot believe Gabriella is 14, such a beautiful young lady. Boys are just so fun! I was at a 8 year old boys bday party today at a laser tag place, they were so competitive and jumping around laughing. So fun!You'll get it Regina! Not that I have it all figured out, once you feel like you have a schedule something changes. haha! Like today, I didn't do my week prep. never made it to the store so i'm already behind. ugh!
Garrett has his first field trip to the pumpkin patch. He's so excited to ride the bus for the first time. BTW i've been to this same pumpkin patch 9 times - i'm not that excited. haha!
Leea, I couldn't find the Almond Bark @ Safeway. I looked in the baked goods and the candy section. Where do you usually buy it from? The chocolate melts I bought from Michael's set really well but would still like to try the Almond Bark esp if it's cheaper.
Walmart or Target. They even sell it on amazon, 2 day shipping. haha!
Kay wrote: "I couldn't find the Almond Bark @ Safeway."Do you know how to get an elephant into a Safeway bag?
You take the S out of safe and the F out of way.
how do you drop a group? I have so many I am not active on. I only use the app and I don't see an option for it.
Vanessa wrote: "how do you drop a group? I have so many I am not active on. I only use the app and I don't see an option for it."I think you'll need to go to the web page. In the group there is an option to edit membership, but it isn't included in the App.
if you felt unwelcome in a group would it be the right reason to leave or would you talk to the moderators about your issues first? I kinda don't want to do that because I know they are very busy and I don't want to seem likely a whiney baby.
Vanessa wrote: "if you felt unwelcome in a group would it be the right reason to leave or would you talk to the moderators" I guess it depends. Is it just one or two people who are making you feel unwelcome? If so it might be worth sticking around and just ignoring them.
If the group is a private party and you're not invited I'd say just leave, what you have to offer is worthwhile and if they don't want it, that's their loss.
I often find myself feeling a little isolated. I mean I'm a guy who reads books that are predominantly for women. I tend to be the only guy in most of the groups I'm in. I've had a couple of shunnings from people who didn't want a guy in their group. In the end, I guess it's their choice...I have plenty of stuff I lose sleep over without adding that to the list.
I have just not gone back to the group when I feel that way and chalked it up to dynamic and just not clicking.
I suppose I am just not clicking with the people in a particular group. I talk about books the way i talk to my friends in my reading book and we have fun! I feel like i am sometimes taken the wrong way on Goodreads and sometimes i take people the wrong way aswell.
I hate that feeling Vanessa. There is a group on GR that I love to read the posts, the books read are books I love, but despite having posted in that forum for several years -- nobody ever responded to any of my posts -- even though I also responded to their posts and I was friends with them. Sometimes it just doesn't happen -- it took my long enough LOL but I moved on. ;)
ah, your right. I will just look past it and go on...if all I have to worry about is a goodreads forum then I suppose I don't have any worries lol. thanks for helping me feel better about it!
I only belong to 3 groups on GR and mostly only post here and in Outlander. The other group is more serious so I go there just to get recs; True Love and Outlander have fun members and that's why I come here!Vanessa, stay where you feel most comfortable and don't stress on the others. Have discovered that on the inter-net is best to avoid or ignore unpleasant people!
Ian, don't feel isolated being the only male here. Hubby isn't a reader but when I was single I dated a guy who loved to read and he read Jane Austen and even some historical romances and authors that might be considered "feminine". His co-workers (construction!) gave him a ribbing but he was cool and certainly was fun to have book conversations with. Have never understood why it's ok for females to read "masculine" books and then society frowns on men reading "feminine" books :D
Peggy Z wrote: "His co-workers (construction!) gave him a ribbing"lol...yeah, I spent a few years in a job that was extremely male dominated. At that time I tended to read what guys read...stuff like Jack Higgins and Frederick Forsythe.
These days I teach a little self defense on the side and that's quite a male dominated area as well...one of my friends is a 9th dan black belt and he jokes about my reading proclivities (proclivities: word of the day!!! Use it in a sentence folks).
I get my revenge by sneaking books with the cheesiest love scenes onto his shelves, I write his name in it and highlight the love scenes. It's only worked once that I know of. His father was visiting and picked one up. Apparently he was making comments about him reading romance for weeks.
Ian wrote: "Peggy Z wrote: "His co-workers (construction!) gave him a ribbing"lol...yeah, I spent a few years in a job that was extremely male dominated. At that time I tended to read what guys read...stuff ..."
That's excellent! I hope you write his name in flowery cursive ...
Hey, not only fun here but learned a new word today! My sentence: I have a proclivity for Mexican food!
Mmm, me too Peggy :)Yeah, don't leave us Ian we need you here :)
Best invention ever for romance readers of any genre - ereaders. Hahaha!!
Ian wrote: "Do you know how to get an elephant into a Safeway bag? You take the S out of safe and the F out of way."
LOL
Leea wrote: "Walmart or Target. They even sell it on amazon, 2 day shipping. haha!"I will check out those places. Thanks!
Ian wrote: "Do you know how to get an elephant into a Safeway bag? You take the S out of safe and the F out of way."
It took me twenty four hours to get this...LOL
Angie wrote: "It took me twenty four hours to get this...LOL"Then you best change your profile pic to a giraffe...oh wait, that's something else.
Tellulah wrote: "That's excellent! I hope you write his name in flowery cursive ... "lol...I struggle with writing in english. My handwriting is such a mess.
Ian wrote: "Tellulah wrote: "That's excellent! I hope you write his name in flowery cursive ... "lol...I struggle with writing in english. My handwriting is such a mess.
"
As long as it is readable, it's good. :)
Ian wrote: "Angie wrote: "It took me twenty four hours to get this...LOL"Then you best change your profile pic to a giraffe...oh wait, that's something else."
What is the Giraffe thing about, spill Ian. A lot of my friends are changing their FB pics to one. Ha!
Ian, that's perfectly fine handwriting. My moms and RN and it's painful having to read her writing. ha!
LOL, the giraffe goes with a riddle. if you get the wrong answer with the riddle you have to change your avatar to a giraffe for 3 days.
Ohhh... Yeah, not doing that. haha! Facebook is funny!Kay, I took Garrett to the pumpkin patch monday for this class field trip, his first bus ride. Gladly I drove myself, i've spent too many field trips on a hot stinky bus. No thanks!
We didn't make it to the pumpkin patch this year. It's Lex's first year not apple picking and pumpkin patching, lol. I blame the abrupt turn in my living arrangements.
Did you move to a new town? Or just a new house? Does she have a new school? Moving is hard work. We never make it to apple picking or the pumpkin patch, just too many soccer games. I'd love to do it though.
New town. Our pipes collapsed in our house and our landlord couldn't' afford to fix it so basically said we could no longer stay in the house and had about 2 weeks to get our stuff out. We went into emergency mode and had to crash with cousins while we searched quickly for a good place to go.We're settled now and after tomorrow (Halloween) things should be back to normal.
True Love 101
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My husband started a new job several weeks ago, and due to the timing of the job (which is good for the kids and him picking them up after school), I am alone in the morning to get them ready -- getting lunch packed, preparing breakfast and getting 4 kids ready -- plus myself for work -- all in the space before 7:55 am is no easy task. I have to wake up everyday at 5:30 am -- which means I am asleep usually by 9:30 pm -- and putting 4 kids to bed, guiding their homework, etc. means I am often not alone and without the kids until 9:05 pm. Given my work schedule and that I have a short train ride (15 min to 25 depending on the train) -- I will likely not be reading as much as I have been for the past 5 years for a long time. :(