Bookworm.com: new site and 30% off.

I found a new website yesterday: Bookworm.com.  It's part of the Diapers.com family, which is now owned by Amazon.com.  Diapers.com has been introducing new sites over the past year, including soap.com (household), yoyo.com (toys) and wag.com (pets).  They now have three new sites; bookworm.com (books), vine.com (wine) and afterschool.com (sports).

Okay, enough background, back to bookworm.com.  First of all, it's adorable. Very eye catching, appealing, yet clean. I found it to be very inviting.  Take a look at the home page:

Second of all, they have a great introductory offer: 30% off on up to three books. Use code: BOOKWORM30.  First order only.

Third of all, while I LOVE Amazon dearly (and buy from there WAY too much), it's nice to have a focused site to search for books. Almost like going to a little book store.  Since it's new, they don't yet have the extent of customer reviews like Amazon, and not as many "If you like this, you may like...." options, but that will come with time.

However, they do not offer free shipping like Amazon does.  Well, they do if the order is $49 or more. But how often do you spend $50 at one time on books? But it's a flat $4.99, so not TOO bad.  Plus, the 30% should definitely offset the price of shipping ... so it's worth a try.  I'll let you know how things go once I place my order.

Gotta go and pick some books for the little guy now!

ps - please share your favorite books for your kids, we're looking to stock up on some new stories.

Summer Reading Challenge.

I like this. It's a reading challenge from a blog I just found, A Cupcake Love Affair. The challenge was created and is hosted by Megan at Semi-Charmed Kind of Life.

This sounds fun. But, I haven't exactly been reading a lot lately.  Don't get me wrong, I love reading. I can put away a 300 page book in one night if I get really into it, but I just haven't a) found the time or b) felt a strong pull towards that many books lately.

The Happiness Project

There have been a few - five to be exact - that I have read this past year and have really enjoyed and recommend:

-Happy Chaos (Soleil Moon Frye)
-Bossypants (Tina Fey)
-MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend (Rachel Bertsche)
-The Happiness Project (Gretchen Rubin)
-Sippy Cups Are Not For Chardonnay (Stephanie Wilder Taylor)

cute covers!

And my choices have definitely changed; I used to be VERY into chick-lit. Especially with really cute covers, ie, all of the Shopaholic books, Jennifer Weiner and Jane Green books....

Now I'm choosing books that are either autobiographical/memoir-esque, but they still have that light-hearted vibe (and they also happen to have cute covers!)

Ok, back to the challenge. Here is the list of types of books you have to read:

•  One chosen for the U.S. 2012 World Book Night
•  One you were supposed to read in school, but either bailed on or Cliff-Noted
•  Memoir or narrative nonfiction book
• Examples: Friday Night Lights, When the Game Stands Tall, The Devil in the White City
• One in one calendar day (at least 150 pages)
• One you've always wanted to read but haven't gotten around to yet
• A pair of books that have antonyms in the titles
•  For example: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Boy in the Suitcase, or The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Heart of Darkness
• One set in a place you've never been but want to visit
• One written the year you were born and later made into a movie. 
• Read and then watch the movie; compare. Or find a movie released the year you were born that was based on a book and do the same
• Go to a bookstore or library and pick any bookshelf. Read the third book from the left on the fourth shelf from the top. (If it's not at least 200 pages, pick the next book to the right)
• One about which you’ve heard bad things
• A trilogy (or any three consecutive books in a series)

For full rules and information, visit here.

Sounds fun! I think I shall give it a try. Truth be told, I really don't need to be on the computer THIS much, right?

oh, and ps - I LOVE Danielle Steel. Always have, always will.  Can't beat a good Danielle Steel book!  What's your favorite?