The lucky winners of “A Girls’ Guide To Hunting and Fishing” by Melissa Banks are….
Congratulations! Email me your address! Now on to the new contest…
In the sixth grade, I remember my quirky teacher with the thick British accent and love for Laura Ashley flowing dresses talking about the idea of what piece of art would best represent our world. More specifically (and far less lofty), we were talking about what we’d send to outer space in a care kit in case aliens stumbled across it. I remember being absolutely stumped.
Twenty years later, I have my answer. (Or part of it)
I’d send out “A Short History of Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson.
(via)
STAY WITH ME.
It’s a book that shows humans how we came to be and all the science that we’ve learned along the way. It’s filled with gorgeous photos, funny anecdotes and memorable comics. Every time I pick it up, I learn something new. Like the fact that 98% of everything that exists (in terms of the Earth) was created in the first 180 seconds of its existence. Or that “the term supernova was coined in the 1930′s by an odd astrophysicist named Friz Zwicky- a fitness fanatic, who would often drop to the floor of the Caltech dinner hall and do one-armed push ups to demonstrate his virility”. It’s far more clever than any book could attempt to be and it’s full of charm.
Even if you hate science, there’s funny stories and breathtaking pictures to make everything far more entertaining than your grade 10 Science teacher ever attempted to be. And even if THAT doesn’t convince you of the greatness of this book, isn’t it great to have a book like this around to impress those assholes who scan your bookshelves at parties looking for something to negatively comment on? They will be in awe of you owning such a kick ass book. It’s the one book I think everyone should own. In short, I have a crush on this book. Want to join the cool club and to look pretentious by having a fancy science book on your shelves?
Here’s how:
Leave a comment sharing who is your blogging crush/idol/inspiration. Share a link and name of someone who has made a positive impact in your life, who has inspired you, who has prompted you to start taking pictures of your food before you eat it, who makes you laugh, who has prompted you to try something new, whatever it is. Share their name and explain why they give your heart a boner. Contest will close next Thursday (June 30th) and I will pick TWO winners to receive this book and will be sharing one last giveaway (hint: It’s a book someone has mentioned in the “summer reading” comments!). Good luck everyone!
My blogging crush is probably Shreve from http://www.dailycoyote.net/ and http://honeyrockdawn.com/. She’s pretty much all around awesome. Lives in BFE Wyoming in a tiny cabin, raised an orphaned coyote, rode her vespa solo cross country, and she’s gorgeous to boot.
This book sounds awesome, I’m totally adding it to my list of books to look for. Sounds like a good one to have in my personal library.
I’m excited to have won ‘A Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing’! Thank you very much :)
Oh! My newest blog crush is Jessica at How Sweet It Is: http://www.howsweeteats.com/ I have a crush on her because she’s hilarious, she’s a sassy cook, and she loves the Bachelorette as much as I do. She cooks up amazing meals for her and her hubby daily, she makes me laugh, and she has good hair!
My blog crush is the Pioneer Woman – http://www.thepioneerwoman.com
I love that she is able to balance her family and her life. Also, she loves butter.
Oh, I would love this! I’m a science major after all. me me me! And people are always judging me for my bookshelf, I could really use this to build some cred.
One of my biggest blog crushes is natthefatrat.com. She’s one of the best, most captivating writers I have ever read and she is also the reason that I started blogging in the first place. She has the most adorable baby on the planet and he makes my ovaries react like whoa. Her ability to take the most simple of life’s pleasures and make it seem like the most amazing thing of all of the things is truly inspiring.
I met http://www.ironicmom.com at a writer’s conference and I have been following her ever since. She is doing a lot of different things to get her blog out there. She is also really personable. I email her questions all the time and she takes the time to answer them. She is also incredibly funny.
Ok, major cheese alert, but you are my blogging crush. I love every.single.one of your posts because you are so intentional and genuine in your writing and I can only assume in your life as well. I love it.
:)
I love Jenn at http://www.jennepper.com/ Becuase she is quircky and funny and awesome and I can’t imagine having a baby in the nicu after burrying its twin. And she is still funny
Other than you? Jessica (@HowSweetBlog | howsweetitis.com) is the BEST food blogger. She takes gorgeous photos, is hilarious, and is totally unapologetic about her disdain for veggies and love/obsession with bacon. So many others, but she’s the first one that popped in my head!
I just finished writing you an email about my love for Jessica at http://www.howsweetitis.com and Ceely at http://www.runningoffthereeses.com
From Jessica I’ve learned how to make fish edible and from Ceely I’ve learned how to eat paleo (kinda) and to call Kate Middleton K-Dutch.
Definitely Miss Drea & SkinnyRunner.
They are just both so honest. And so real. And absolutely hilarious. And all of the good things that make you want to high five them for just existing. And then tacklehug ‘em for writing about their existence online.
http://www.caffeinate-me.com
http://skinnyrunner.com/
Fun! Right now I love reading Ashley’s posts @ writingtoreachyou.com
I relate to a lot of what she posts, and she’s far more eloquent than I am.
My biggest source of blog inspiration is probably Clare at threebeautifulthings.blogspot.com. After all, I did pretty much steal her idea for my own blog :) Reading her blog has inspired me to slow down and look for the simple pleasures in life, particularly when things start to wear me down. When I look around and take note, there are actually tons of tiny things for which I should be thankful. Anything that helps me to stop moaning and get a smile on my face can’t be bad!
Well for starters I LOVE science and this book has been on my to-read list ever since I read his European travels books (Notes from a Small Country and Neither Here Nor There… I strongly recommend the second of those. Sneak preview: lots of confusion between beret and bidet!)
Anyway my blogging idol is Katie from http://robot-heart-politics.tumblr.com/ (she more famously is the blogger behind the tumblr mega-hit http://robot-heart.tumblr.com/, but I prefer her politics blog). She’s encouraged me to be more outspoken and to express my opinion even when I’m still figuring it out. It’s important to say no when you disagree, we all know that… but RHP has encouraged me to say no, loudly, proudly, and on my blog. Sometimes I want to shy away from being political because I know there are people who read my blog who disagree, but RHP has taught me that “politics” isn’t a dirty word… it’s your values, it’s who you are, and it’s really important to speak about.
My current blogging crush/inspiration is Caryn at http://www.carynlevyonline.blogspot.com/ because, after meeting her at BiSC, I’m determined that I need to turn more of my online friends into real friends. She’s inspiring me to reach out to other people who I click with and make real connections.
Smitten Kitchen! She’s amazing! A super tiny kitchen in NYC and a super cute baby and amazing recipes! I’ve been reading it for years and make quite a few of her recipes which are always amazing! I cannot wait for her cookbook to come out! My top three favorite Smitten Kitchen recipes: pear bread, homemade oreos and blueberry boy bait. Seriously amazing. I haven’t had a store bought Oreo in years. Deliciousness abounds over there! http://www.smittenkitchen.com
Hey, I didn’t know there was another Ruby floating around here.
Anywhooozles, my blog crush is totally Wendie from Mommytopia. Don’t let the blog title fool you, it’s not all about motherhood! Obviously, stories and pictures of her kids are included, but Wendie just writes in the most honest, raw, and hilarious way. I found her when she was an editor at a gossip website called Evil Beet and have followed her ever since. Please enjoy!
http://www.mommytopia.com
PS. Do I have to become Ruby #2 now?
My bloggy idol is Nicole (http://nicoleisbetter.com) – her blog is what inspired me to start blogging more and because of her, both directly and indirectly, I ended up at BiSC and have made so, so many friends from all over the country. And Canada. :)
I mean, I like you lots too, but I found you later. ;)
It changes on a daily basis! All time favorites, however:
1. You!
2. Nicoleisbetter.com
3. Alifeintranslation.com
4. Yesandyes.org
This one is easy. It’s Peter from http://www.peterdewolf.com.
Also, it’s not so much a crush (I know he’s taken, put your dukes down) as a great appreciation of knowing that there are men out there who are hopeless romantics and that they actually exist in the flesh and blood. And his writing is breathtaking and spine tingling.
His girlfriend is a very lucky lady.
I always get a giggle out of dooce.com. Heather is a hilarious mom who is a snarky, charming, silly writer, and she also has a style feature and some cute dogs!
My favourite blog crush is a blogger that doesn’t even blog anymore and hasn;t in a long time. I stumbled across her blog somehow and read it top to bottom (bottom to top?) and loved it, and her. Then I got the sads and wondered how she is doing today. Anyways, it’s Beth O at http://www.bethis.wordpress.com.
I’m not entering the contest (and not trying to suck up, but your blog has inspired me through tough times like nobody’s business) but I DID have to say that your post made me immediately order this book… and three others of his.
I’m in love, AND my super-wicked-and-quite-probably-smarter-than-me 9-year-old nephew has already asked to read it. Awesome on both counts. Thanks for the recommendation!