Feb 16 2012

When I’m Not Reading featuring Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf

I met fellow Honey Bee, aka Melissa, of Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf, through our love for read-alongs, and have been enchanted with her blog ever since. Like her blog title suggests, she read all types of books and is constantly introducing me to new-to-me authors. So, I just had to have her stop by so I could get to know her better!

Thank you so much Missie for inviting me to participate in this wonderful feature. Now I just have to figure out a way to make myself sound just a tad more interesting than I really am! Lol!

I’m a 30-something vegetarian, nature lover, animal lover, book lover, blogger & reviewer. I live with my fiancé and kitty Piper in central New Jersey. I fell in love with books at an early age and love to curl up with a cup of tea, my cat and almost anything printed that I can lay my hands upon. I love almost all genres and will read almost anything that catches my interest.

When not reading, the majority (about 10 hours) of each day is taken up by work and commuting. Right now, I do accounting for a Real Estate Development and Property Management Company. It pays the bills but I definitely need a change. I need to be doing something that I enjoy (where’s the book-related-job fairy?) Something that I can feel good about at the end of the day.

*looks around* Hope no one from work is reading this…

I started a personal blog (Melissa’s Meanderings) in January of 2011 and fell in love with blogging and the blogging community. By the end of the summer, I realized that I wanted to be able to talk more about books so I started my dedicated book blog (Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf) in late August of 2011. I confess though that I realized neither how time consuming it would be nor how rewarding. When not working on my blogs, I’m spending hours lurking (and sometimes commenting) on your blogs! I also participate in a monthly book club with some local girls which is loads of fun. I definitely recommend that everyone join a “real life” book club! Last year I attended my first “bookish” event – The Brooklyn Book Festival – and had a lot of fun. I hope to get out to more signings/events this year!

With Diana Gabaldon at The Brooklyn Book Festival 2011

My fiancé is a huge music fan so we attend a variety of concerts (including: Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters, Stone Temple Pilots, Joe Bonamassa, Daughtry, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban etc.) throughout the year.

The Foo Fighters in concert 2011

We both also enjoy getting out in the warm weather months as much as we can and frequenting fairs & wine festivals, checking out historical sites, and attending park events.

Topsfield Fair (America’s oldest agricultural fair) in MA

When not out of doors we spend way too much time watching movies and televisions shows including Castle, Fringe, American Pickers, The Mentalist, Grimm & Once Upon A Time. We also spend a portion of every day playing with our cat Piper who loves to chase and fetch his mouse. He would also make an awesome goalie–you’d be amazed at how high he can jump and what amazing paw/eye coordination he has!!!

A curious Piper looking out the basement window

I also spend as much time as I can with my family, especially my sisters, their husbands and my 3 nieces and 2 nephews. We try to have regular “game nights” and also “Girls’ Days Out.” I also have this dream of being crafty; over the past ten years I’ve bought supplies for candle making, knitting, stamping and card making, scrapbooking, baking etc. And well…to be quite honest…I’ve mastered none! (I do have quite a full closet though! Lol) I do love photography and though I’ve no training and only a standard digital camera that I can barely use…I love taking pictures and trying to capture the beauty around me! I have a particular fascination with dragonflies!

Dragonfly at Holmdel Park

For the next half year or so, I’ll also be very busy with wedding planning as I got engaged a few months ago and hope to pull together a garden wedding for September ☺

So, that’s what I’m doing “When I’m Not Reading” !

Melissa! Congratulations on your recent engagement! A garden wedding sounds lovely. I’m a big concert goer too. I’ve been to a Brad Paisley show and wow, that boy can put on a show! And, I love know that I’m not the only one who goes out and buys a ton of stuff to start new hobbies but never actually starts them. I tell myself that at least I’m a collector of pretty stuff. Piper is too adorable!

When I’m Not Reading is a feature used to spotlight book bloggers I follow. Missed a featured book blogger? No worries, check out past guest posts here: Featured on When I’m Not Reading.

38 comments

Posted at 6:00 am • Labels: 2012, featured blog, Guest Post, When I'm Not Reading

by Mimi Valentine on February 16, 2012

Awwwww, congrats on your engagement, Melissa!! That is SO amazing! And I can't think of a better place to have it than in a garden, especially since you're a nature lover and a vegetarian! (I've always wanted to refrain from eating meat too, but I'm not as strong-willed as you LOL!) I hope you'll be able to fulfill your crafty dream — as an artsy person myself, I have to agree that it's an awesome dream to have!

It's really nice to meet you, Melissa!

by Rummanah Aasi on February 16, 2012

I would love to see the Foo Fighters in concert! I really enjoyed going to a Coldplay concert a while ago, which was awesome. Congrats on your engagement! I hope your wedding planning is less stressful and more fun. Is should be fun, right?

Nice to meet you, Melissa!

by Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com on February 16, 2012

OMG chica I want to be crafty too.
The DIY section of Pinterest helps motivates me and find projects in my comfort zone. And luckily Mr. Whimsy is handy so when I'm struggling, he lends a hand.

You are SO cute!
I <3 the Foo! And Brad! The name piper. And Castle! (Wasn't that episode gooood?)And taking pictures! And Once Upon a Time.
In fact we have lots in common except for the vegetarian part and the warm weather part.
If you find the book related job fairy can you send her my way? I want something I can do from home, that pays awesome, and I can do part time.
So have you guys set a date?

by Tina~ on February 16, 2012

Hi Melissa (WAVES) I love your blog…but you already know that….:D

by Melliane on February 16, 2012

Congrats for your wedding and good luck for everything. It must be amazing to go to so many concerts, I would love to do the same.
thank you for sharing all of this with us!

by Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings on February 16, 2012

I love this feature Missy! I am going to head over and meet Melissa right now! I love her kitty Piper and the dragonfly pic is gorgeous. Congrats to Melissa on her upcoming wedding!

by Jenny on February 16, 2012

Oh my gosh YAY WEDDING!!!! Congratulations! September is a fabulous month to get married, it's when my husband and I got married as well:) And how cute is Piper looking out the window? I swear that's what my dogs do all day. They just survey their domain and growl at anything that dares set foot in it:)

Hope that book-related job fairy visits you soon Melissa!

by Melissa (i swim for oceans) on February 16, 2012

I love Melissa's blog, and we all know I'm biased because I, too, am a Melissa

As always, brilliant feature, and Melissa, congrats on your engagement! I got engaged in December, and I'm planning a Sept. 2013 wedding!

by Christy D on February 16, 2012

Congrats on the engagement Melissa! All of my closest friends got married in September. lol.

And great taste in music!

by Aurian on February 16, 2012

Nice getting to know you Melissa! Congrats on your engagement, and good luck with your wedding plans.

by Blodeuedd on February 16, 2012

Awwww what a cute kitty I want him.