The Death of Google Reader

Yes, this is that post where I inform you all that the demise of GFC is fast approaching.

For those of you confused, Google Friend Connect and Google Reader will be discontinued as of Monday, July 1st.

But how will we ever follow our favourite blogs, you say?!?!  Ah, you have options my friends.

Many bloggers have already discussed alternatives that you can choose.  I've tested out both Feedly and Bloglovin'.  Both have options that allow you to transfer all the blogs you follow via GFC over.  For now, I am sticking with Bloglovin'.  I actually really enjoy the site, and it is extremely straightforward to use.  You can track stats, scroll easily through your reading list, and discover new and exciting blogs!

All you have to do to follow Reading-AndCoffee on Bloglovin' is CLICK HERE, or there is always the widget available on the right side of your screen.  

***If there is another way to subscribe that you are interested in me perusing, leave a comment and I will definitely look into it for you!***

This has been my obligatory post on life after GFC, and I hope to see you all on the flipside.  *cheers**clinks glass of whatever you choose to drink*

Much love, Samantha

2013 Blogger Resolutions!

Is anyone else in denial that 2012 is coming to a close?  I sure am.  It's been an interesting year, and I'm hoping 2013 proves to be a little more exciting!

A couple weeks ago I talked about some lessons I learned in 2012, and today I'm going to share my blogger resolutions for 2013!  On sticky notes!  Everything is more exciting with sticky notes!

I'm very good at ignoring anything else that needs to be accomplished, and reading instead.  This year will be about finding a balance.

I'm working on a facelift.  Stay tuned.

So that stuff still gets posted when I'm spending all my time at the hospital!

Finally, let's be honest.  My reviews generally turn out to be more of a rant.  Therefore, I need a system.  Or I could continue winging it.  Hmm...

Happy New Years Everyone!

Much love, Samantha

The Hiatus is Over!!

I'm back book lovers!

First of all, thank you to all of you that are reading this, for sticking around.  I feel refreshed and ready to blog once again.

I managed to scavenge what was left of my semester, and hopefully I passed everything.  One of my finals was so ridiculous, half of us were wondering if we took the right exam afterwards.  Like all good things though, the semester came to an end, and I now have a whopping 25 days to sit around my house and do nothing of significance.

During my hiatus, I did more reading than I should have.  I tried really hard, but Chapters had an awesome sale, and some great books were released, and textbooks are just boring.  What I'm saying is that I have a nice little stockpile of reviews ready for you guys, so be ready for that to start tomorrow!

I feel like my blog also needs a bit of a makeover, so hopefully I can do some of that this holiday season!

Much love, Samantha

Top Ten Tuesday: Or Not...?

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful ladies over at

The Broke And The Bookish!

This week, the topic is...
Top Ten Books To Get In The Halloween Spirit

I have absolutely no idea how to answer this question.  At all.  No clue.

I'm really not a huge fan of Halloween.  I never have been.  Pumpkins and fall, yes.  Halloween, meh.

Therefore, I'm not sure how to answer this question.  I was going to approach it from a perspective of "Top Books Written About Things Kids Dress Up As" approach, but decided against that too.  My Top Ten Tuesdays are becoming very repeatative, and my list was more of the same.

So here is my cheater's way of participating...

Top Ten Things I Would Dress Up As For Halloween This Year If I Didn't Have To Be At The Hospital For 7 AM The Next Morning And Actually Got To Have Fun

This is just sad to me... (Source)

1. A Power Ranger
2. An Assassin
3. Sailor Mars
4. A Ballerina
5. A Cat
6. A Baseball Player
7. A Hockey Player
8. A Referee
9. A "Puck Bunny"
10. A Pirate

Hope that wasn't too exciting for you guys.  What are you guys being for Halloween this year?  Or tell me about a super-awesome costume you had in the past!

Much love, Samantha

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to extend a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from good ol' Canada-land, or to anyone else celebrating anything this weekend!

2012 has proven to be a wonderful year, and I'm thankful for so many things.  I am thankful for my family, who have supported me through everything and been there every step of the way.  I am thankful for my friends that have stayed my friends, despite the distance between us.  I am thankful for my roommates, who are generally nothing like the horror stories you hear.  I am thankful for the ability to read and write, for without that I would be nothing.  I am thankful for the ability to dance, which saved me many years ago.  I am thankful for the opportunity to go to school and pursue a profession, so that one day I can be even half the mother mine has been.  I am thankful for the food I was able to enjoy this weekend.

And I am thankful for you guys.  When I started this blog, I just wanted a space to rant.  I may not be the best blogger in the world, but the fact that I continue to get page hits each day means so much to me.  So, thank you.

As a side note, I seriously want one of these...

And now that I've said that, time for more pie!

Much love, Samantha 

Coffee Talk: School Life and Learning Balance

I've mentioned it a few times, but I am a nursing student.  I'm in my third year and begin my latest hospital placement today.  I'm actually petrified, and it's only orientation...

Blogging was something I took up over the summer.  This was the first time in about 5 years that I was employed and/or attending University.  The amount of time I had was a complete shock.

I've grown to love blogging, and being part of this community of readers and writers.  However, I'm trying to learn the art of balancing blogging with the rest of my life.

This is an actual photo of one of the piles beside my desk.

I'm going to break down my life a little bit here.  I spend around 13 hours per week in class, plus however much time it takes me to do my readings, lab prep, seminar prep, assignments, and study.  Add another 12 hours a week in placement.  That's a lot of time spent on just school.  I'm the type of person who is useless without sleep, so add that.  What about social time with friends and roommates?  Driving home to visit my family?

Up until this past spring, reading (for pleasure) was pretty much cut from my life.  Frankly, I lack the time.  Up until that same time, I was miserable.  Reading was one of my ways of escaping, and I had abandoned it.

Okay, my point is that I am not abandoning reading, or this blog, but that I am still trying to learn some balance.  Posts may become somewhat less frequent, and I'm trying to come up with some other cool stuff to do.

So, thanks to all of YOU!  You guys are amazing, and I'm glad to be part of this community! *Cue virtual group hug*

Much love, Samantha

Coffee Talk #7: Nutella Cookies on a Friday Night

What do a pair of 20 year old University students do on a Friday night?  Apparently we bake cookies.

My roommate and I were sitting in our rooms, complaining about how bored we were.  I've recently rediscovered my love for Pinterest, and found a simple recipe for Nutella cookies.  Obviously I repinned that.  I didn't realize my roommate was also on Pinterest until I get a Facebook notification.

A few minutes later, the oven was preheating and I was digging out the Nutella.  A far as cookie batters go, this one ended up looking pretty darn disgusting.  We also found that we needed an extra egg in order to get everything to combine.

The batter is a lil' sticky

Being the pretty awesome person she is, my roommate put the dough on the cookie sheets in a manner that made them look like little piles of animal crap.

They turned out to be pretty delicious piles of animal crap!  Seriously guys, these are incredibly simple and taste like brownies.  They're also not as crazy sweet as Nutella can be.

Not pretty, but delicious!

Next Friday, Nutella cake?  Possibly.

Much love, Samantha

Coffee Talk #6: Ghost Adventures

Warning: this is a rant that I toned down A LOT when edited it.  Therefore, it may or may not make sense.

I've always loved the paranormal.  I've been watching paranormal shows since elementary school.  The idea that there is something beyond science fascinates me.

My latest favourite is Ghost Adventures.  In essence, the show follows three investigators who go into some of the most notoriously haunted locations (I'm watching the Waverly Hills episode as I type this!).  They go into these locations on their own, and are their own camera crew.  They're on to something with thing, and catch some crazy evidence in pretty much every episode.  I'm seriously hooked.  This is basically all I've done for several days.

I have one huge issue with this show.  These guys are all believers, and their is nothing wrong with that.  The problem is that, in my opinion, you still need to approach these investigations with a healthy dose of skepticism.  These guys approach their investigations with no skepticism, and it sometimes feels like they're pulling evidence out of nothing.  They can circle orbs and I still won't see them.  Some of their EVPs are questionable.

I love this stuff, and I do believe in ghosts.  That being said, a lot of claims can be disproved as other, natural things.  There are things beyond science that we don't understand.  I am a strong believer in science, but science isn't fool-proof.  Maybe someday we'll know what comes after death, but until then...

On to the Stanley Hotel episode!

Much love, Samantha

Coffee Talk #5: Clothes and Comfort

While running errands for my mom, I decided to stop at the mall and window shop.  Window shopping quickly turned into actual shopping, which turned into a crazy ordeal involving weird sizing but irresistible prices on neon tank tops.

Found on Tumblr

When I finally made it to the cashier, we had a lovely conversation about the versatility of colourful tank tops.  Then the conversation fell apart.  

I said something about wearing a lot of hoodies and tanks in the winter.

This was her response:

"Oh, well at least you dress nice in the summer."

Uhm, what?  I was wearing jeans, a tank, and a lace-backed cardigan.  But really, was that necessary to say?  I left the store wondering if I it was a compliment or an insult.

I am the type of person that will choose comfort or "fashionable" any day.  I don't think I dress bad, but I dress in a way that I am comfortable, which involves a lot of jeans, cardigans, sweaters and t-shirts.  When I am comfortable, I am my most confident.

How about you guys?  What makes you the most confident when it comes to clothing?

Much love, Samantha

Coffee Talk #4: Reunions, Movies, and Saving Lives

So lately I haven't been giving this blog as much attention as it deserves.  I try to respond to comments and check out other blogs, and have been doing a pretty crap job.  Honestly, I don't really have a good excuse.  I could say it's because I work everyday, but only work about 5-6 hours a day.

So, here is my pledge to you guys that I will get back to dedicating more time to the blog-o-sphere.

And I'll start with an update on my existance life.

Reunions
I was at work the other night, when a couple of my really good friends stopped by to surprise me.  Since I wasn't busy, I even got to sit and talk for a while.  Up to this point, my week had been going terribly, with the highlight of locking my keys in my car with a whole pile of ice cream earlier that day.  Anyway, they decided to stick around while I finished work, and we rushed to go see a movie.

How does anyone not love this man?

Movies
We saw Snow White and the Huntsman.  We managed to get there only a couple minutes late.  I liked the movie (Charlize Theron was creepy!), but I saw two distinct problems...

• Kristen Stewart.  I'm sorry, but could you not have shown even a little emotion?  And why was your dialogue so forced?  That was some seriously bad acting right there.
• The ending.  Why was the whole romance subplot left hanging?  Yes, it is implied that she ends up with The Huntsman, but really?  You're just gonna end it with no resolution whatsoever?  Plus, I was rooting for the other guy.  Thor is mine.

Fix those, and you've got yourself a movie.  

Random thought: Imagine Chris Hemsworth in Magic Mike?  Now that would be a good movie...

Saving Lives

Tomorrow, I get to recertify my CPR.  Again.  I have to every year.  CPR doesn't change all that much over the course of a year.  Neither does my routine of sitting there, eating snacks and pretending to pay attention. Maybe I will add planning blog posts to the list this year.  I think I choreographed a dance last year?

Okay, that sounds really bad on my part.  I promise that I do actually know how to properly perform CPR.

All this means that I am in for a particularly boring Saturday.  Just thought I would share that little factoid, and tell you all to enjoy your Saturday for me.

Much love, Samantha

Road Trip Wednesday: What superlative would you win?

It's Road Trip Wednesday, a "Blog Carnival" hosted by the lovely ladies over at YA Highway.  They pose a weekly reading/writing question, and through the comments, you can explore and find out everyone's take on the topic.

This weeks question is...
What yearbook "most" category (superlative) would your character win?

Me, just after Graduation.

Cheating time!  I am not really I writer (at least not right now).  So I'm just going to talk about myself!  Ha!

My high school didn't do superlatives.  I think it might be more of an American thing?  Chances are I wouldn't have won anything anyways, I kind of fluttered around the middle of the pack.  So here are some entirely random superlatives that I could have potentially won, under the correct circumstances...

Best Nickname (Presto-Change-o): I honestly don't even remember how this nickname started, but by the time I graduated, the whole school, including teachers and office staff, was using it.

Worst Hair:  I have thick, black hair that rarely cooperated.
Most likely to become a doctor:  I was smart.  Not really a cool story here.

Most likely to blog about books: I've always been the go-to person for book recommendations.  My friends actually blame me for obsessions, on occasion.
Most likely to fall down the stairs at graduation:  Yes, I am that kid.

Much love, Samantha

Happy Canada Day!

Source

To all my Canadian readers, Happy Canada Day!

I am truly proud to be a Canadian, and am thankful for all this land has given me.  There is no where else in the world I would rather call home.

I hope you all had a wonderful day, filled with loved ones and laughter.  I spent mine at work, continuing to perfect the art form that is gravy.  Tonight will be spent with my family, creeping on the fireworks that any of my neighbours set off!

Much love, Samantha
P.S. Happy Free Agency Day to all you NHL fans!  Hope no one's heart got too broken!

Coffee Talk #3: How Gravy Got Me Thinking

Source

You know those fry stands you see along the side of the highway?  I work in one of those.  It's a long story and I'll likely talk more about it later, but that is my summer job right now.

It's pretty chill actually.  I make food for people, and when it's not busy, I get to sit in the sunshine and read.  So at times, I'm getting paid to read.  Which I really like.

The one thing I hate about my job, other than constantly smelling like a french fry?  Gravy.

I can't get the shit to thicken!  My gravy always turns out like water.  It's not even that complicated of a process.  You heat the water, then gradually add the gravy mix, while stirring, until desired consistency is reached.  But do you think I could get it right?  Hell no.

Until yesterday, that is.

My first pot was just as crappy as all the others.  I was determined though, much to the entertainment of my coworker.  So I took a different approach on my second pot of the day, and I nailed it.  My gravy was perfect.  Third pot of the day worked too.  I have beaten the gravy.

So after I tackled that second pot of gravy, I got to thinking.  Making good gravy is such an insignificant little thing, but I took so much pride in being able to make a decent pot of it.  My customers didn't seem to care that the gravy in their poutine was watery.  I still felt bad though, every single time (and people were ordering a lot of poutine).

If only we took this much pride in all our little successes.  It's easy to congratulate the big things, but it is important to remember the little things too.  That spark of happiness can be enough to turn around a gloomy day.

I challenge each and every one of you to start the week off right, and celebrate something small today.  Who knows, those small things may begin to add up.

Much love, Samantha
P.S. Yes, I will keep you updated on my relationship with the gravy.

Road Trip Wednesday: Graduation

Source

It's Road Trip Wednesday, a "Blog Carnival" hosted by the lovely ladies over at YA Highway.  They pose a weekly reading/writing question, and through the comments, you can explore and find out everyone's take on the topic.

This weeks question is...
How did you spend/will you spend the summer after graduation?

I spent my summer after high school working.  My life wasn't as exciting as your typical novel.  I use this excuse a lot, but I'm going to blame living in the country.  Doing anything requires driving somewhere, which can get tricky.  

I have bigger plans for my  university graduation, in two years.  After finishing school, I have at least a month before convocation, and a bit longer before I can write my licencing exams.  So I'm going to Russia.  I've always wanted to go, and I can't think of a better graduation present to myself.  I don't know where in Russia I'll go, yet, or who I'm going with, but I'll be going.

Much love, Samantha

Road Trip Wednesday: Writing Retreat

This is my first time participating in Road Trip Wednesday, a "Blog Carnival" hosted by the lovely ladies over at YA Highway.  They pose a weekly reading/writing question, and through the comments, you can explore and find out everyone's take on the topic.

This weeks question is...

If you could go on a writing retreat anywhere, where would you go & who would you bring?

Not my photo.
I take zero credit.

Personally, I am more of the reader than the writer within my group of friends.  I would take my friends Keen and Leah, and I would act as more of a support system.  Maybe I could pull off a couple short stories, but, like I said, writing isn't exactly my strong point.

As for where we would go, I'm picturing a log cabin with a beach on one side, and a forest on the other.  This could pretty much be anywhere from Cottage Country to Sweden, as long as there is a beach and a forest.  Both elements are required.

Much love, Samantha

Coffee Talk #2: Dancing Queen

I'm on the right.  One of my all-time favourite photos,
taken backstage at my last show.
The three of us in this photo had danced together for all of my 11 years.

Fact about me: I did Ballet for 11 years.

I love it to death.  Dance became my life.  I struggled through my high school years, and nights spent at the studio somehow made everything better.  I suck with words, and the movement became a way to express myself freely.

I went to a small studio in the next town over.  It's a place where you can come and dance and be accepted, regardless of whether you fit the dancer mould or not.  I never have, and never will, fit that mould.  Yet I always felt like I belonged there.  Hell, I missed my senior PROM for my recital!

I had some great roles over the years.  In my first recital, I was Charlie Chaplin (moustache and all).  I played a crow in The Wizard of Oz, a candlestick in Beauty and the Beast, a Lost Boy in Peter Pan, among many other miscellaneous parts.  My biggest role was Drosselmeier in The Nutcracker.  I was always stronger at my jumps than my turns, and managed to consistantly score typically male roles, not that I ever would have traded them for anything.

One of my most treasured memories is my last dance: the Finale in a show we called rTunes (our spoof on an iTunes playlist).  The song was "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John.  I was front and centre.  I had never felt as important as I did in that moment.  Four of us graduated that year.  Three of us had been dancing together for all of my 11 years.  I was last to get my flowers (thanks for that, alphabetical order).

My dance teacher and I hugging as I received my graduation flowers.

Since May 2010, I have missed dancing with a passion.  I still dance recreationally, but it has never been the same.  However, dance is something that I will never give up.

This weekend is my old studios annual recital, called "Get Inspired".  Tomorrow, I get to go watch my cousin step onto the stage one last time, and receive her flowers.  And I will likely cry just as much as I did when that was me.  Maybe more.

Much love, Samantha

Top Ten Tuesday: Non-Book Websites

Not mine.  Found on Tumblr.  If I knew who to give credit to, I would.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish!

And this is my first one!

And it's not about books?

Well, it makes sense.  Bloggers typically know there way around the internet I guess.





So here we go... my top ten non-book related websites (in no particular order)

1. My University Page where I submit stuff, check emails, all that school related junk.
2. Facebook (no explaination required?)
3. Tumblr is actually addicting.  I am constantly checking my dash.
4. Twitter (have I hit all the social media outlets yet?)
5. College Fashion - just because I always dress in jeans and a T doesn't mean I know nothing about fashion.
6. I Waste So Much Time, the 2nd most used studying avoidance site
7. TSN because I'm a sports nut...
8. NHL.com ... and hockey is my favourite sport
9. YouTube where I watch too many beauty and kitten videos.
10. Texts From Last Night is the ultimate procrastination tool.

Much love, Samantha