Thursday, May 1, 2008

YAY FOR YA MAY GIVEAWAY



Today marks the first day of my first contest. Here we go, the start of my de-cluttering and the end of my book hoarding. :) 

Since the end of May signifies the start of summer, I decided to giveaway two great beach reads, Alyson Noel's Kiss and Blog (set in Laguna Beach, California) and Claire Cook's Life's a Beach (obviously beachy). The only reason I can seriously part with these fantastic books is because I ordered another amazing Alyson Noel book on Amazon yesterday and I still have another Claire Cook book on my bookshelf. 

Kiss and Blog is a blast, filled with plenty of page turning conflict. I couldn't put this novel down and the copy I'm giving away is definitely loved. 

Life's a Beach is a hardback, sensational summer read that I received through my South Jersey Mom column, Chick Lit Pick

Since this month's Yay for YA! is all about summer, what's your favorite summer memory, moment, or vacation? Mine happened in June 2001. It involved a white dress and an amazing trip afterwards. :) 

Here are the rules: 
1. To enter, leave a comment and tell me about your favorite summer memory, moment, or vacation. 
2. The contest ends at midnight on May 31st and the winner will be posted on June 1st, 2008. 
3. This contest is open to everyone. Don't be shy, my writer friends! :)
4. If you post about the contest on your blog or on MySpace, you automatically receive two entries.


Good luck! 

52 comments:

MarjoleinBookBlog said...

My favorite summer moment happened in 2005. It was so funny..
We where going to visit my brothers girflriend family at the other side of the country and the same evening, my favorite theatre artist was going to perform in the same city. So that eving i went to the open air performance. A few of my friends where also there. This artist was performing in a sort of ''campy'' schlager act: i can not explain this further just look on www.heidiunddieheinos.nl. They sing very campy old schlager songs from heino. Every time they perform, somebody from the audience is the Victim and has to come on stage, and on of the guys is going to sing a love song for the victim Guess who was the victim that evening...*blush*

Rachael Stein said...

my best summer so far? maybe the one where me and my sister flew out to Virginia to spend a couple weeks with my cousins. it was really fun. and i also went to another program for a week where i met a lot of great friends. it was pretty awesome.

oh and thank you SOOOO MUCH for letting me know about your awesome contest :D i posted a link to it on my contest list:
http://thebookmunchercontests.blogspot.com/

toodles :D

PJ Hoover said...

I'm thinking 8 years ago on the beach in Aruba with a bucket of Corona knowing that as soon as we got back to the states, we were going to start trying to have kids!

ZONE F DG TEAM said...

Wasaga beach... best beach I've yet been to.

daldak01@yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

The first time we took 13 to the ocean (he was 1 at the time) and we tried to get his feet wet, but he refused to touch the water, so there I was, holding him under his armpits, trying to dip his toes into the Pacific, and he was holding his feet up, laughing. He thought it was a game. But he never did get wet that day.

Unknown said...

Ahhh, summer! So many great ones, but I guess the best would have to be the evening of July 3, 2001, when I had my first date with the man I was going to marry. :) Great contest! I love me some beach reads, even when I'm not at the beach. XO

Unknown said...

i love the picture on the cover of life's a beach. wish i were there now.

paperxxflowers said...

My favorite summer memory? The first time I traveled to see my dad's side of the family. They had seen me before, of course, but that was when I was a baby. I was so nervous!

blogged about your contest:
www.paperxxflowers.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

My favorite summer memory was from the summer of 2006. Me and my now husband were long distance dating and hadn't seen each other in 6 months. It was horrible. I flew in to Chicago to se him. It was the greatest feeling ever seeing him we both ran towards each other and couldnt let go for the longest time. Its a loving memory.

Alyson Noel said...

Thanks for plugging my book! You rock Keri!

Anna said...

Thanks for letting me know about the contest!

My favorite summer memory is last year when my family and I traveled from MIchigan to Conneticuit for my cousin's wedding. She lives in Mystic, Conneticuit, so we got to eat at Mystic Pizza (where the Julia Robert's movie was filmed), and we got to do a lot of sight seeing. There were a lot of battlefields and everything from the Revolutionary War, and I love history, so that was fun, too. And the wedding was really pretty! (I was in it too, so that's a bonus. :D)

hope.

SarahChristine said...

My favorite summer memory hmm... that was probably when my family took a road trip in 2002 going from: Texas to New York;New York to Massachusetts ;Massachusetts to Canada,Canada to Illinois;Illinois to Minnesota;then back to Texas(over a coarse of 2 weeks)

oh and i posted about your contest on one of my blogs

http://www.xanga.com/pinktooth2

Anonymous said...

My favorite summer memory actually stretches over my first two summers in college, when I moved out to Utah to work as a white water rafting guide. I was eighteen (then nineteen), single, and female in a male-dominated job. Not just any guys, either, but tanned, toned, outdoorsy ones. Lots of fun.

Hillary said...

my favorite summer moment was during soccer camp last year when we played against our rivals and won! It was wonderful! And it rained that day so it wasn't the 110 degree weather it had been the rest of the week! Yay!

I blogged about it too! http://onepageisnotenough.blogspot.com/2008/04/win-screwball-at-word-for-teens.html

Steph said...

Hey Keri!

Hmm, best summer memory would have to be when I was in sixth grade and I went to Portugal :) Godddd, such a beautiful place, it is! And lots of castles... Every girl wishes she were a princess, no? :P

Please enter me! I'll also be blogging about it tomorrow on my Young Adult Weekly link compilation! Check it out at www.reviewerx.blogspot.com

Steph

Andy said...

i think that my fave summer memory hands down was meeting my girlfriend before we started dating

Chelsie said...

Wow, a favorite summer moment? Too tough.

One of my favorite (and not so favorite) memories occurred last summer, when my first love asked me to kiss him... that was an amazing memory. And every memory of him last summer was amazing!

Sorry my memory isn't that exciting...

I'm adding a link to your contest on my blog's sidebar... www.bookloverreviews.blogspot.com

Te amo,
Chelsie

Breanna said...

My favorite summer moment, or well vacation in this case was the Summer of 2005, before my Senior year with my best friend Jasmine. We went to California to Disneyland and Universal Studios for a week. It was so much fun! Sure there was the occasional little girl fight between us but, that didn't make it any less amazing. The weather was beautiful and we had such a fun time being away from rainy Washington. It was my last real girl time before I had my girls, I still remember that week pretty vividly. =)

I'm also going to post about the contest on my blog on myspace at

www.myspace.com/johncusackrules

I'll post the link to it when I post it.

Yay for your first contest!

-Breanna
queenbloop@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

My best summer moment is a very fond one. I used to work at a historical museum when I visited my grandmother in the summers. They'd dress me up like someone from the old times and I would talk to visitors in a Ye Olde Book Reviewer voice.
But it was every day after work when I would walk down to the beach with my friend S. and we would attack the penny arcades. Soooo many rounds of Dance Dance Revolution (I conquered S. every time). And even more games of pick-up Ultimate Frisbee with new friends on the sand. Hopefully there will be more of both in the summers to come. :)

-sniff- Missing S.,
*Aella Siofra*

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Marjolein - Sounds like fun! Thanks for sharing.

Hi, Book Muncher - Virginia is nice.. :) Thanks for sharing.

Hi, PJ - What a moment and a LIFE CHANGING decision. :) Thanks for sharing.

Hi, Carol - I'm going to google Wasaga beach right now. Thanks for sharing.

Hi, Amy - And now he plays water polo.. :) What a fun summer memory. Thanks for sharing.

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Alexa - Me too! Thanks for sharing.

Okay, I have to stop myself from writing "Thanks for sharing".. I sound like a teacher.. :) Sorry, sometimes it sneaks out.

Hi, Virginia - I know.. It's a great cover. Check out Cook's newest, SUMMER BLOWOUT - so cute!

Hi, Paperxxflowers - What an exciting trip! My hubby just met his biological father's extended family two years ago. It was amazing. :)

Hi, Book Adorer - I can picture the scene... It's like a movie.

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Alyson - You're welcome. But, it was an easy choice because I LOVE your work! Can't wait to read Cruel Summer. :)

Hi, Hope - Was the pizza good? Sounds like a great trip!

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Pink Tooth 2 - Wow, what an amazing experience. I've always wanted to drive cross country.

Hi, Caryn - Yum! What a great summer.

Hi, Hillary - Yay! A sports memory and you won! I loved going to camps. :)

Hi, Reviewer X - Wow.. Portugal. What an awesome experience to travel to another country. I'm jealous. :)

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Andy - Awwww.. Make sure she reads this comment. :)

Hi, Chelsie - First loves! Definitely a summertime thing. :)

Hi, Breanna - Sounds like an awesome time! Did you go on the elevator ride at US where you drop (I can't remember the name)? I love that ride. Or, is it only in Florida? :)

Hi, Aella - What a great summer.. a fun job, arcades, and the beach. Perfect.:)

Ilissa said...

One time when I was camping...say probably atleast 6 years ago. I remember it being super cold and not being able to sleep so I went down to the lake (super clear night) laid on the beach, looked at the stars and watched the fog on top of the water. Just a very calm relaxing memory.

Cyndi said...

I think my best summer so far would have to be the one where I went to Canada with my parents. It was my favorite because it was the first time that I actually got to go somewhere. I had gone to Canada, instead of the usual places like Las Vegas, or San Francisco. It was not only my first real trip, but also the first time that I got to ride on a plane. I also got to stay in a really upscale hotel and got to see Niagara falls. To me it was a magical summer, although I did miss home, but it was definitely worth it.

Thanks for this awesome opportunity!

-Cyndi H.

Breanna said...

Well we went on the Hollywood Tower of Terror in Disneyland, or well California Adventure. But I don't think thats what you're talking about. I don't remember an elevator ride that drops in universal studios. I just remember the freaky Jurassic Park ride with the way steep drop at the end of it.

Here's my blog entry about the contest.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=5794430&blogID=389416989

If it doesn't show all the way up then just go to www.mypsace.com/johncusackrules
and its the entry titled "Win two great beach reads!"

-Breanna

Rachael Stein said...

ah, summer, i love it. my fav? when i got to hand out with my fav cousins of course :D

-Samantha

The Whirlwinds said...

Oh oh. It's me again. But I'd forgotten to tell you I posted a bulletin about your contest on myspace. Sorry.

We're the Whirlwinds, in case you want to check to make sure :)

*Aella*

Meredith said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Meredith said...

My favorite summer may seem a little wierd. It was the summer between my 8th and 9th grade years. My best friend and I basically spent all summer at her house, in her basement, playing video games on her nintendo systems (ah, the classics!) eating popcorn & drinking root beer, and going outside for an occasional swim! It was so awesome. Even though we are girls, we had a blast with those video games. And any guy that we tell that summer to, thinks that we are just the coolest girls ever!

Tali said...

My best summer memory... I have a lot. I love summer.
To sum it up I'd have to say sleepaway camp. BEST SUMMERS/memories EVER!

Nice contest!! Thanks

Rachel said...

My favourite Summer memory would have to be a sad one..unfourtunetly, but...it was when my very best friend moved to england...we hung out the day before she left for the last time. I cried all the way home...then. My mom told me that she knew when my friends flight was leaving the next day...and without warning...the next day we went to see her at the airport...I creeped up behind her, and yelled BOO! so loud, she jumped out of her seat - literally! That was the best time. When she had to leave and get on the plane...me and my mom followed the plane (I dont know it was hers) all the way until we coudlnt follow it anymore...yupp...that was the best memory!

And I linked your contest to my site.

http://cheeseandbooks.blogspot.com

Bunny B said...

Best summer? Well, I live where it's summer all year round! :) So I guess my best summer would be going to the pool and just chilling with friends and have a BBQ! Love those!!
Thanks for the chance to win :)

Bunny B said...

Oooo...please enter me again. I've blogged about it HERE! Thanks :)

Unknown said...

Meredith: I think you're the coolest, too! I love your favorite summer memory. Yay for best friends and videogames! :)

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, ihchicky - What a memorable night. I can picture the sky. (sigh)

Hi, Cyndi - You're welcome. Yes, Nigara Falls is beautiful, but I expected it to be bigger. You? :)

Hi, Breanna - That's it! Tower of Terror. Is it an elevator. My mommy brain is failing me again. Anyway, I love that ride! ;)

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Samantha - Sounds like the best summer!

Thanks, Aella!

Hi, Meredith - It's not weird. I had a lot of awesome summers hanging out with my friends doing stuff like playing video games, swimming, and hanging out. Thanks for sharing. :)

Hi, Tali - Thanks. Summer sleep away camps - lots of memories! :)

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Rachel - That sucks. Did you get to visit her in England?

Hi, Bunny B - Me too! Great stuff.

Hi, Alexa - I definitely agree! ;) Especially vintage Nintendo games!

The Compulsive Reader said...

My favorite summer memory...hmmm...

Well, last summer I went to camp. Biotechnology camp. Nerd camp. It was great. TONS of my friends went, and we all stayed in icky dorm rooms and trekked across the campus like 5 times each day. And for entertainment, we cat-called the 12 year old boys across the quad who were there for hockey camp. They thought we were some girl named Christina.

I don't actually remember if we did any work. But it was sure fun!

abscae said...

My favorite summer memory has to be the fourth of July celebration three years ago at a beach two hours away from home. It was simply amazing, we didn't go swimming, but the brightest memory I have of life is there. I just remember sitting huddled around family and friends, in the absolute pitch dark and watching bursts of fireworks cascade over us. Just gave me that ultra-fantastic feeling that's hard to come by.

Blogged here:

link

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Compulsive Reader - Camps are a blast! Wow, are you interested in biotechnology? That's a great field.

Hi, Sherry - What a great night.. I can't wait until 4th of July. :)

Breanna said...

ha, yes it is an elevator. I love it too, there were times that we went on it like 3 or 4 times in a row. Oh don't worry, my mommy brain fails me a lot. I'm a mother to 16 month old twin girls, so it fails me a lot, lol.

Keri Mikulski said...

Oh.. That's like double mommy brain. How do you do it? :)

Breanna said...

Ha well its hard, but they're pretty good girls. Except for when they're hitting each other, which they have discovered now, lol. They're kind of crazy at times. But I love them and they're the greatest thing to ever happen to me =)

robynl said...

Best summer was in '03 when me, my sisters' and sister-in-law paid for my Mom to go with us to Victoria, B.C., Canada for 4 days. Mom was dying from breast cancer and had only a little time left but was feeling okay. She had never been there and we took in many sights: horse drawn carriage ride in the evening, picking shells on the beach, watching the ships come in, shopping, rode on the Faery. We toured the Butchart Gardens.

Lenore Appelhans said...

The one that sticks out the most in my mind was the week I spent in the Galapagos Islands with fellow AFSers. It was a tight group of 6 of us that did everything together including this really cute guy from Finland (swoon!).

Anonymous said...

My favorite summer memory has to be last summer when I spent most of my time with the kids from ASB (stands for associated student body, like student council). It was one of my most fun summers ever, full of sleepovers, bonfires, culture nights, driving out to the pier in downtown huntington at 5 am to get Starbucks, and then going to ASB camp in UC santa barbara to end the summer in the most perfect way possible...full of laughter, love and fun. I'm just sad that I can't relive it all this coming summer...

Grace L

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Breanna - I know the feeling.

Hi, Robynl - What a wonderful memory. Thanks for sharing.

Hi, Grace - Sounds like bunches of fun. :)

books-a-lishious said...

my favorite summer was the summer of 07 cuz of field hockey camp! i got to know my whole team a lot better and we stayed in the dorms at unc.

Elainareads said...

My favorite summer memories happened last summer. Me and a few of my friends went to starbucks almost every it was so much fun. Everytime we went before the 7th Harry Potter book was released we brought this Harry Potter board game that I have and played. It was like a bunch of coffee and extreme awesomeness. =D

Great Contest!!

Keri Mikulski said...

Hi, Avni - I love going to sports camps! :) And UNC - Lucky! :)

Hi, Elaina - Thanks.. Sounds like a great time. :)