Click here for all of the challenge information!

I was catching up on my blog reading and came across the 2012 TBR Challenge from Once Upon A Wanderer.  Go read about the challenge here or sign up here!

I'm joining the challenge AND putting myself on a "buying ban" for at least the month of January.  That way I'm not enticed to read anything new, which causes the novel to not count towards my goal.

If you are a blogger, love to read and want to be entered to win cool prizes... join the challenge!! Keeping in mind, this challenge goes on for an entire year!

My Goal: A Sweet Kiss

Levels:
1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children

For a list of the rules go here.

Hosts:
Evie from Bookish - http://www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com @SeoEvie
Nicole from All I Ever Read - http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/ @Nicoleabouttown
Bonnie from Hands and Home - http://www.handsandhome.ca/ @HandsHomeBlog
Donna from Book Passion For Life - http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/ @BookPforLife
Caitlin from WatchYA Reading - http://whatchyareading.net @caitlingss
Rie from Mission To Read - http://missiontoread.com/ @missiontoread
Vicky from Books, Biscuits & Tea -http://booksbiscuitsandtea.blogspot.com/ @alouetteuette
Christa from Hooked On Books - http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com @ChristasBooks
Jenna from Fans Of Fiction - http://fansoffiction.blogspot.com/ @fansoffiction
Angel from Mermaids Vision - http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com @mermaidvisions

Wrap-up Post Schedule:
January - Donna (Theme: Let It Snow + Book Cover Challenge)
February - Nicole (Theme: Un-requited Love/Love Gone Wrong + Advice Column Challenge)
March - Rie (Theme: Green or Pinched + Green Cover Challenge)
April -  Bonnie (Theme: Easter + Mini Challenge)
May - Christa (Theme: MayDay - Disaster Books! + Cover Disaster Challenge)
June - Jenna ( Theme: Camping + Sentence Challenge)
July - Rie (Theme: International Day + Cover Comparison Challenge)
August - Angel (Theme: Summer Memories + Send Your Fav Character On Vacation Challenge)
September - Nicole (Theme: Life Changing Books + Mini Challenge)
October - Caitlin (Theme: Thanksgiving Theme + Share-A-Book Challenge)
November - Vicky (Theme: Spooky Halloween + Book Puzzle Challenge)
December - Evie (Theme: Xmas Bliss + Book Bachelor Challenge)

Think you'll join the challenge?  Even if you're not a blogger, this is still a really fun challenge!!  Happy Challenge Day!!

I want to know!!

Well my friends, 2011 is about to end. It's been a very crazy year and next year promises to be just as crazy! With the new year, comes new material to write on. With that said... I want to hear what you want to read about.  I don't just want your suggestions... I NEED them. heh. I'm good until Jan 4th, aaannnndd that's it.

Of course there will be more reviews, because I'm still reading like crazy. What types of books are you interested in? Specific titles or authors or genres?

I'm hoping to continue the How To series, but I only have a Kindle Keyboard. Are you interested in that still?

I'll still continue sale alerts or freebie alerts - letting you know when I find a good deal or chunk of freebies worth while.

Do you want to hear about my "To Read" list? I started doing that a while ago, but didn't really seem to get much response on it. Basically I'd let you know what books I've added to my list each week, if any that week at all, and where to get them.

A new little series I'm considering is Author's Corner. With a way better title, that one is lame. Maybe Tweeps or Super Authors! or Authors Who Rock! or Seriously? You haven't heard of --- yet? or LOOK WHO I FOUND!!.... I'll stop. haha. I would tell you about any authors of books, blogs, etc. that I have met on Twitter and where to find their stuff. Hmmm. I like that one. Maybe I'll just write it anyway. (smirk)

So. Many. Ideas!!! Help? Happy Last Three Days of 2011!!

How To: Get the Most out of Your Gift Card

Since ebook gift cards make it much easier for friends, family, coworkers, etc. to get you a *gift* that keeps on giving... they are super popular.  But, like most things, they do eventually run out.  Here are a few tricks I've found that help me streeetttccchhh my cards out.

1. Budget Buying - instead of just buying the first book on your *wish* list... go through it and find as many ebooks as you can that are middle to low end prices (under $7) and buy those instead.

2. Buy only what you want right now.  If you found a book you just kinda like... but it's not under $7... then maybe you should pass on it for now.  Go for the ebooks you know you will read first.

3. Sales and Discounts and Coupons - double (or triple.. or quadruple?) up! *Try* to wait (super hard to do sometimes) for sale events or check out the discounted monthly deals or even the daily deals. Read the back of your card or details from e-gift cards to see if "valid with other offers" is or is not on there. Use coupons (search Google for some even) to help boost the discount.

4. Make two lists - one for the books you *must have* and one for the books that are just *eh... sounds good but...* Buy from the must haves list first!  Pair this with tip 2.

5. Bargain Hunt - Look around at other sites to find better deals! Shop 'til you drop....or until you get carpel-tunnel... heh. Shop the "after Christmas" sales!

6. Don't buy something just because you have a gift card. Wait to use the gift card, especially ones that do not expire, to get something you actually want.

7. Know the expiration date of your gift card. For in-store gift cards, use it within the year. Many online stores' gift cards never expire (Amazon and B&N for example) soooooo..... refer back to tip #6!

What do you do when you get a gift card to make it last?  Happy Holidays!!

Kindle How To Recap

With over 5,000,000 Kindles sold as gifts this year alone, I thought I would recap all of the How To posts I have written. These posts are for the Kindle Keyboard (Kindle 3) but can still help for Kindle and Kindle Touch users.  Sorry Kindle Fire owners, I can't help you yet! Starting out with an eReader can be very confusing... need to know how to do something that I haven't talked about? Want me to explain something in more depth? Leave a comment and let me know. I'd be happy to help!

Here are all of the How Tos I have written so far:

1. Download Ebooks
2. Ebook Lending
3. Create and Use Collections on Kindle
4. Recover Archived Items
5. Quick Fixes for Kindle Errors
6. Pick out the Perfect Case
7. Use the Aa Menu
8. Cleaning Your Device
9. Buy Ebooks on a Budget
10. Preview First Chapter
11. Ebook Gifting on Kindle
12. Pick Out eReader Accessories
13. Use Twitter to Find New Ebooks

Good luck and enjoy your Kindle!!