Does everybody know what time it is?
No, it’s not Tool Time*, it’s time for Top Ten Tuesday! I haven’t done a Top Ten Tuesday for a while, so let me briefly explain for anyone who’s new to the blog. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they select a list topic, and encourage other book bloggers participate with top ten lists of their own. Click here to check out my other Top Ten Tuesday lists.
This week’s theme is Top Ten Best Bookish Memories. I was excited to take this one on as a way to share a little bit about myself with my growing readership. I’ve also included a few semi-embarrassing photos for your viewing enjoyment.
*Sorry for the 90s television reference, I just couldn’t resist.
Top Ten Seven Best Bookish Memories
Meeting John Green
In January of 2012, my good friend Ali took me to see John Green when he visited the Seattle area for his The Fault in Our Stars tour. He read from the book and discussed its conception, his brother Hank Green showed up for some nerdfighter fun, and afterward we got him to sign our books!
My first library card
When I was five years old, my family moved to the city of Mount Vernon, Washington, where I lived until I was 23. After we moved, my mother got a job at the public library and I got my very own library card, with MY name on it and everything! (Apparently this is not common practice in most libraries. I am willing to admit that my mom working there may have gotten me preferential treatment.)
July 15, 2011
For those of you who don’t instantly recognize this date, July 15th was the release date of the final installment of the Harry Potter film series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II. My friends and I waited in line to see the movie at midnight (for the fifth time, I might add) and I remember starting to bawl as soon as the movie began.
Harry Potter book releases
While some of my friends preferred to camp out at the book store all night to be the first ones to get their hands on a copy of Harry’s latest adventure, my book release philosophy came down to three little words: Amazon overnight shipping. To me, nothing was better than finding the new book on my doorstep on the morning of the release day. After all, I needed to be well-rested so I could read all day.
Borders Book Drives
As many of you know, I used to work for Borders (for more on that, check out my about page). While my primary titles were Assistant Store Manager and Children’s Department Head, I also held the title of Community Relations Manager (it was a small store with a small staff, so I wore many hats). One of the most wonderful and meaningful things that I accomplished in that position was organizing several book drives to benefit local public libraries and community organizations. My most successful book drive collected over 1,400 brand new children’s books for the shelves of the Burlington Public Library.
Alice in Wonderland Party
For my last birthday, I threw a party themed after one of my favorite classic books: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland! We had tons of Wonderland-themed treats, including these adorable cakes (which were decorated by my lovely friend Allie). I can’t wait to throw book-themed parties for my kids!
Making book report dioramas
Was this not the most fun thing ever? Or, at least, the most fun thing that could also be called homework. I know that a lot of elementary schools are doing away with dioramas in favor of more “traditional” book reports. Maybe they’re right to do so. Did I learn anything by building dioramas? I honestly don’t know. But the fact that I remember these projects so fondly so many, many years later has got to count for something.
So that’s my Ten Ten Tuesday! If you participated this week, leave your link in the comments so I can read your post!
Love the Deathly Hallows shirt! Boy, you do have quite awesome book memories.
Thank you so much!
Yeah, I agree Dioramas were fun and more teachers should continue to use them.
I hope they do!
Awesome library photo! Everyone’s first library experience should be that amazing. Great list!
Aww, thank you!
great list! love the library pic
Thanks, Daphne!
Those cakes are lovely! Thanks for sharing your memories, especially that awesome pic of the first library card. Love it.
Aren’t they adorable? I love having a friend who can decorate cakes.
I’m glad you liked my list!
I love your list! And how fun that you have pictures to go along with so many of your memories (LOVE the one of you as a little girl!).
Ahahah I love that picture of your first library card!!! LOL!
(and I thoroughly appreciate the Home Improvement reference up there! LOVED that show!) 
Thanks for stopping by!
Michele | TTT