Celebrating The Little Things Tag!

Hey everyone! It’s time for another amazing tag! I’ve seen this on a couple of blogs. I was browsing through the tags  on My Tiny Obsessions blog and found this. A huge shout out to her for her amazing book posts and blog 😀

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1. Who Was Your Very First Follower (if you can find out) Tag Them And Give Them A Shout Out!

Digga3k was my very first follower. They unfortunately don’t have or never had a blog. A shout out to them anyway!

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2. What was the last milestone you reached?

I literally just reached 300 followers a few days ago. I’ve already gained five more followers since then. Thank you guys so much!

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3. What was the very first post you posted on your blog? Share it with us! If you can find out.

My very first post was an introduction to my blog. It’s pretty terrible but here it is:First Post

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4. Who was your most recent follower, tag them and give them a shout out!

My most recent follower was Mugilian Raju @ Narotic Words. Thank you so much!

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5. What was the last post you posted and who was the very first person who took their time to click the like button? Give them a shout out!

My last post was 300 Followers!! The first person to like it was Emma @ Book Geeking. Thank you for the like!

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6. How many months have you been blogging for?

I’ve been blogging for 19 months or 1 year and 7 months!

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7. Do you have any bloggers you’re friends with? Give them a shout out.

I’m not really sure who considers me a friend but I talk to quite a few people. A couple of them being Donna @ ChocolatenWaffles Blog and Cris @ My Tiny Obsessions. Go check out their fantastic blogs! You guys are amazing 😀

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8. Who originally created the last meme or tag you participated in? Give them a shout out!

The last meme I did was Book Traveling Thursday and it was created by Cátia @ The Girl Who Read Too Much. Kudos to her for creating such a fantastic meme!

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9.Have you any social media related to your blog? 

Not really. Just a Google+ page with very few followers. I should really get something for my blog!

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Last but not least …. Just give thanks to all your followers

Thank you guys so much! I can honestly say it enough. You guys have no idea how much you’ve changed my life. You’ve made this blog possible. Without you, this blog wouldn’t have come as far as it has. I love how close the blogging  community feels. It’s so accepting and kind. I love you guys 😀

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I’m not going to tag anyone specific. Actually, I tag EVERYONE! You can do this tag if you enjoy it. It’s definitely a fun one. As always, no pressure to do it.

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That’s a wrap! I loved doing this tag. It’s really showed me how far my little blog and I have come. What are some little things you celebrate? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more tags!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

2016 In Review!!

Hey everyone! It’s New Years Day!! Happy New Year! I can’t believe it’s already 2017 🙂 Only time will tell what happens next year. For now, let’s take a second and look back on 2016 on Random Reads. Happy New Year’s Eve. Take some time to remember what you accomplished this year too!

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Stats:

Views: 4,573

Visitors: 2,636

Likes: 1,849

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2016 Accomplishments (Blog and Personal)

• I posted 175 posts. That’s actually way more than I thought I did.
• I reached 200 followers and am almost at 300.
• Elizabeth Dahl, an author, found my blog and  gave me a Twitter shout out!!
• I started High School
• I read so many books that I lost track and failed my Goodreads challenge.
• I made so many amazing blogging friends and friends in real life.
• I finally got a Snapchat! (It’s my only social media okay?)

There was so much more that happened. These are just a few highlights.

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Thank you guys so much for a fantastic 2016. My blog Random Reads grew so much. I learned and changed a lot. My blog content and style has changed too. Though most say stats don’t matter, mine have been wayyy down. I’m not too worried. I just hope people know that I am back and haven’t given up. Happy New Year once again. I hope everyone has a fantastic 2017. No matter what happens, 2016 is in the past now. That’s something we can be happy about.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for:

1. A 2017 Goals Post
2. Another Library Book Haul (Finally!)
3. A Anticipated 2017 Books Post
4. A 2016 to 2017 themed tag and so much more!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

300 Posts…

Hey everyone!! I’ve done 300 posts as of right now. Thank you to everyone who has continued to read, comment and like my posts. Whether you’re a new follower or been here since the beginning, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Here’s to another 300 😀

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more celebrations!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

 

217 Followers Q&A!!

 

Hey everyone! Since this is so late, I have decided to make it a 217 follower Q&A inside of 200 since I am so late. I couldn’t think of anything for this week’s Book Traveling Thursday so this will be the post for today 🙂 Enjoy!

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@Marie @DrizzleandHurricaneBooks asked: 

–What would be your ideal job?

My ideal job would probably be something book related. Most likely an author! If I can’t do that, I’d love to do something with weather. Since I was a young child (I’m only a teen now XD) I’ve been fascinated with weather. If either of those don’t work out, something animal related.

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-What is the best thing about blogging for you?

There are two things: the amazing blogging community (love you guys!) and all my outstanding  followers. It’s great to feel loved and appreciated by so many people. I love and appreciate you guys so much. You’ve changed my life so much and given me something to look forward to.

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-If you had to recommend ONE book to one person who doesn’t read, what book would it be?

I think I’ve answered this before. I honestly don’t know. I think Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone because it’s a pretty easy read.

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-If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?

There are a few places I’d love to go. London is at the top. I just love London for so many reasons. Ireland is another. I’m some part Irish and would love to see where my ancestors once lived. I live in the United States but I’ve never been to Los Angeles, New York or Washington D.C. I want to go to those places too!

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@Kendra:

-What is one thing on your bucket list?

To travel to all the places I mentioned below and to meet an author I love. I’ve already met Erin Hunter but I want to meet John Green, J.K. Rowling, Rainbow Rowell and more. I know it probably won’t happen but I can dream!

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Okay so this next person is my best friend Maddie who I go to school with.

@Maddie:

-Do you like actual books or electronic books better?

I discussed this in my most recent Friendly Discussion Friday. I am a huge physical book fan. If you want to hear more and see what others think, go here.

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-Are there any books you had a hard time getting through? If so, why?

Maybe Divergent and Insurgent? I’m quite a scaredy cat and those books can get pretty intense. I couldn’t get through them as easily because I’m a scaredy cat XD

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-What do you think was the saddest character death?

I knew you were going to ask this… I’ll answer it but first:

*If you haven’t read the whole Harry Potter series, SKIP this question!!*

If you’re still reading and you haven’t read the whole series, you can’t say I didn’t warn you. The saddest death was Dumbledore. When he died I almost got emotional. I couldn’t believe one of my favorite characters was gone.

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@Càtia @ The Girl Who Read Too Much:

-What book characters do you relate the most to and why?

Hmm.. I definitely relate to Cath from Fangirl because we both love to write,  Cath and I can be pretty shy but we open up when we get comfortable. I relate to Ginny Weasley because I am a ginger. Those are the only two that come to mind right now.

credit to GoldenPhoenix75 @ Devianart.com

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-What are some of your favorite bloggers?

I have quite a few. I’ll just do 8 so nobody is overwhelmed. Don’t feel left out if your not on here. These are most likely the bloggers I read the most. These are in no particular order!!

1. Michelle @ The Writing Hufflepuff

credit to Michelle. This is 100% her own picture

She is such a great person. Her blogs revolve around books and writing. Michelle does her own headings that are so creative and unique.

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2. Catia @ The Girl Who Read Too Much

Yes, Catia is one of my favorite bloggers. Her blog is so organized and I love it so much. She’s also one of the creators of a meme called Book Traveling Thursday which I absolutely adore.

 

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3. Claire @ Art and Soul

Claire’s blog is unique. She does weekly memes, book reviews and writing related posts. She also does detailed recipes that never fail to make my mouth water.

Credit to Claire (This is her personal picture)

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4.James @ Filling My Blanks

This is a organized blog about daily life and what goes on. James has been daily blogging for a long time. He doesn’t have many followers so you definitely need to check him out.

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5. Josie @ Josie’s Book Corner

This is a great book/writing blog by a girl who’s obsessed with books just like most bookworms are. She’s very creative and though she’s not on as much, it’s definitely worth it when she posts again.

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6. Kendra @ Reads and Treats

Kendra blogs about mainly books but she is an avid baker as well as reader. You definitely need to go check her colorful blog out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit to Kendra. This is her personal pic

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7. Cristina @ My Tiny Obsessions

This is quite the blog! Christina blogs about everything from her TV show obsessions to her travels around the world. With over 1,000 followers, she’s a popular blogger who really knows what she’s doing

 

 

 

 

Credit to Christina. This is her personal blog logo

 

 

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8. Katt @ Afternoon of Sundries

This is a blog all about Katt’s life. Whether it’s about her life as a teacher or a mom, she doesn’t hold back. And that’s a good thing. She’s genuine in every post she puts out to her followers. She’s such a strong and busy person.

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 Last Question!!!!!

-What book do you think everyone should read?

This is a tough one. Everyone has different tastes and opinions. I’d say:

-Harry Potter if you love magic, fantasy and suspense

-Fangirl if you love contemporary, fan fic and action

-Eleanor and Park if you want a story about teenage love, differences and plot twists

-Everything, Everything if you love an adorable couple, a MAJOR plot twist and secrets

-The Book Thief (I just started this!) if you want a book from an interesting POV

-The Hunger Games if you love action, suspense and a little bit of love.

I guess that’s more than one but these are a few of my recommendations.

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That’s a wrap! This was my first Q&A and I enjoyed it a lot. It would’ve been better if I got it out on time. If you guys have anymore questions be sure to leave them in the comments. Maybe I’ll do another Q&A just for the fun of it.  Kudos to you if you’re still hear after around  1,180 words.

 

Thank you guys so much for 217 followers and counting. Each and everyone of you has changed my life and given me the motivation to do something I love. I love you guys so much 🙂

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more Q&As to come!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

1 Year Blogiversary!!

Hey everyone!! Yesterday (June 23rd) was my 1 year blogiversary.  Thank you guys so much for being on this journey with me. Whether your a new follower or have been with me since I started learning the ropes, you all mean a lot to me. Without you guys, I wouldn’t be here right now. To celebrate, let’s look back on what I’ve learned and achieved through out this past year.

 

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All Time Stats: (As of 6/23/16)

Posts: 263

Views: 4,051

Visitors: 2,076

Best Views Ever: 45 on May 15th, 2016

Followers on WordPress: 195

Followers on email and WordPress: 2oo!

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How Did It All Start?

It was June 23rd, 2015 and I had just finished reading a book called Genie Wishes by Elizabeth Dahl. It’s about a girl who is appointed as the class blogger. She blogs around a theme and what’s going on. It was a great book. For some reason, it really motivated me to start a blog of my own. I had always loved reading, writing and books so that’s what my blog ended up being about. If you were here at the beginning, you probably remember that Random Reads wasn’t the original name. Just like the URL, it was readersandmore. I later realized that that name didn’t suit the blog. It was too simple. That’s how Random Reads got started.

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What Are Five Things I’ve Learned?

I’ve definitely learned more than five things in this last year. These will be the five most important things.

1. Don’t feel like you have to blog everyday.

At first, I felt like I had to blog every single day. If I didn’t my followers wouldn’t like me and then I wouldn’t gain followers. Those were my thoughts at first. Now I know that that’s not true. True followers and fans of your blog will stick around. Whether you have a schedule, randomly post, or rarely post, the true followers will stay. Even if you go on a hiatus for a lengthy amount of time, don’t feel ashamed or worried. Blog as much as you want.

2. Don’t blog if it feels like work.

If blogging ever feels like work to you, take a step back. Do you need a bit of a break? New content or ideas? Is this just not what you want to do? Ask your self those questions. Blogging should be a fun thing. Whether it’s a huge part of your life or not, don’t let blogging become a stressful chore.

3. Communicate with bloggers!

This is a huge thing that has really made my blogging experience. Interact with bloggers around you on WordPress. Find people who have the same interests as you. I have so many amazing book blogging friends who have made me smile and made me inspired. If you don’t communicate, you won’t learn new things and make new friends.

4. Stats Don’t Matter

Yes, I still look at stats pretty frequently. In reality, stats don’t matter. It doesn’t matter how many views you got that day. It doesn’t matter how many visitors you got. All that matters is that you enjoy what your doing. If you can look at the stats and feel motivated to continue and become better, go right ahead.

5. Scheduling is your friend!

Going away on vacation? Busy the next day? The scheduling option will save your life. I’ve learned that this option can seriously save you. All you have to do is sit down and crank out posts. It will save you the stress of wondering when you will have time to blog.

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What’s Next?

Since I’ve reached 1 year of blogging, I’m obviously going to look ahead.

– I’m not quitting anytime soon 🙂

-More book reviews

-I will continue to do memes (ex. Top Ten Tuesday)

-More amazing things!

-Reaching 200 WordPress followers

-Reaching 1,000 followers!!

-2 years of blogging

-So much more!!

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I know I’ve said it so many times but thank you for following me. Your love and support is what really keeps me going. I love you guys 😀 I hope this post wasn’t too long. I wanted to keep it as short and sweet as possible. On a side note, I REACHED 200 FOLLOWERS!! Well, including email followers. WordPress doesn’t seem to count that though. When I officially reach 200 though, I will be doing a Q&A. You can find the post here. Don’t forget to drop me any questions you want me to answer. I don’t have many yet and want a nice big post to celebrate the milestone.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more to come on Random Reads!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

 

 

Get In The Know: April 2016 Edition

Hey everyone!! It’s the beginning of May and that means it’s time for another Get In The Know. I haven’t done one of these in absolutely forever. I always procrastinate and end up being too late. This month is a different story. If you have joined my blog since the last one of these here’s a quick run down. This post normally happens once a month the last couple of weeks or so of the month. The purpose is to basically wrap up the month and tell you what’s been going on. It’s just a monthly wrap up with a different name.

Without further ado, here we go!

Stats For The Month:

415 views

263  visitors

151 likes

35 comments

Readers from all over the world! 34ish places to be exact 🙂

Thank you so much guys! I love you all so much 😀

Posts This Month:

I talked about some amazing book bloggers in a Top Ten Tuesday

I talked about what I read in a WWW Wednesday

We flew around the world in Book Traveling Thursday

You found out what I thought totally should’ve happened with a book tag

We celebrated Beverly Cleary’s 100th birthday!

I reviewed Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez

Prince passed away

I reviewed Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar

There were several Top Ten Tuesday, WWW Wednesday and Book Traveling Thursday posts. I didn’t want to link them all here since they all have the same idea behind them.

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Personal:

-This month we started doing three hours of testing for 4 weeks at school. At this point we are only halfway thru 😦

-I’ve been looking forward to summer. I’m also not too. I’m moving on to the next school and some of my friends will be going to different schools. I’m hoping we can still stay in touch.

-I started reading Eleanor and Park recently!! I love it so much and can’t wait to review it when I’m finished.

Overall April was filled with lots of reading, testing and not much drama.

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Sorry this was late! I hope you guys had a great April and will have a great May. If you’re in school, keep powering through. It’s almost over and you’ll be on break. If you aren’t in school anymore, don’t let anything bring you down.

Thanks for reading  and stay tuned for this month’s Get In The Know!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get In The Know: November 2015

Hello everyone! It’s already December 1st! I have decided to do my monthly Get In The Knows on the 30th-1st of month. That way It’ll be near everyone else’s Monthly Wrap Ups. Quite a bit has happened this month. Let’s see what went on on Random Reads.

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Monthly Stats:

Views: 283

Visitors: 146

Likes: 120

Comments: 49

Current followers: 111

*This month, Random Reads reached 100 followers. You can check out my post about that here. Thank you so much guys 😀

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Book Reviews:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The Swap

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The Sorta Sisters book review will be published by the time this goes up.

Ask Amy Green Dancing Daze should be up as well 🙂

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Life:

It was my birthday on November 6th! You can check out my birthday post here.

I of course had school.

The Turkey Trot for my school was on the 20th. The Turkey Trot is a food drive and fundraiser for people in need at our school and in the area.

I had my Thanksgiving break from the 23rd till the 27th and am back to school now.

I participated in NaNoWriMo and didn’t do very well.

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Other:

I am on the fourth book in the Harry Potter series and saw the Sorcerers Stone (the first movie) I will eventually do a movie review for that.

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Coming Up:

-The Holiday Assembly at School!

The Holiday Assembly is the assembly right before Winter break. The band plays holiday music and the choir sings.

-Winter Break from Dec. 21st till January 4th.

-Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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That’s a wrap for this month’s Get In The Know! What were some highlights this month? Let me know in the comments 😀

~Makayla the Bookworm 🙂

 

 

100 Followers!!!!!

Hi everyone!

I’m sorry for not blogging all week. I am now on Thanksgiving break and will most likely be doing 2 posts every day next week 😀 Random Reads has reached 100 followers after almost 4 months of blogging. I couldn’t have done it with out all my amazing followers and fellow bloggers who have been supporting me all the way from June 23rd, 2015. Thank you. Here’s to many more milestones like this one 🙂

~Makayla the Bookworm ❤

 

Get in The Know: October 2015

Hey everyone! I can’t believe it’s already time for the monthly get in the know newsletter. Without further a do…

This Month:

-177 overall views this month!

-89 followers total 🙂

-Reached 1,000 views overall

Thank you guys so much for the three things above. It couldn’t have happened without you!

-Joined NaNoWriMo

Honestly can’t wait for NaNoWriMo to start 😀

-Started doing WWW Wednesday.

I love this weekly meme so much!

-What I’m Reading Wednesday’s ended 😦

-Officially gave up on Writing 101 and Blogging 201.

This was a major bust! I was way too busy and got very behind. I might try to participate in these again separately when I’m not so busy.

-Started posting original poems.

You guys really seem to like my original poems so I’ll go ahead and write and post some more ASAP.

-I started the Harry Potter series!

I am on book 3 and am loving it so much! I have no idea why I didn’t read them earlier.

Coming Up:

-Spirit Week is this week at school!

So excited, I love spirit week. Today  is pajama day 🙂

-My birthday is in less than a month.

I can’t wait and will be giving you guys a treat on my birthday 😎

-NaNoWriMo starts soon!

As you have seen, I am super hyped. If you are participating in this event and want to become writing buddies, go here: @Random Reads.

-Halloween is on Saturday!

Do you guys still dress up for Halloween? Comment below!

-School has been busy

This is the main reason I’ve been busy. That and family and homework. I try to post as much as I can and will be continuing that.

That’s  all! I hope you enjoyed this month’s Get in The Know.

Stay tuned for next month’s edition 🙂

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

Blogging 201!

Hello! As some of you know, I participated in Blogging 101 towards the beginning of the year. Blogging 101 was designed to help me get going, learn the basics of blogging, and start gaining an audience. For the next two weeks I will be participating in Blogging 201. As you may have guessed, Blogging 201 continues on from Blogging 101. In this course I will learn more and advanced  techniques, continue to expand my audience, and learn to make more audience engaging content. I have received my first assignment and will be posting that shortly. I will still be participating in Writing 101 and will do the 3rd day (I’m behind) ASAP as well.

Thanks for reading and Stay tuned for more 🙂

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀