The Twelve Words of Christmas - Nativity Scene by Alba

Nativity Scene

by Alba

First of all, I'd like to thank Simona for hosting me in her Christmas Feature. When she first told me about her idea for her feature "12 Words of Christmas" I found it a fantastic idea. But what word could I choose to focus on? Obviously, when you think of Christmas a lot of words come to mind, starting with family, joy, decorations, lights, presents, food... But I wanted to choose one a bit more special for me and then's when the word (words in this case) "Nativity Scene" came up to me. I don't know popular these scenes are in the UK or in Switzerland but here in Catalonia they are quite a big thing. Everyone has one in their home and some are just ginormous. There are contests you can enter or some people even let you go into their homes so you can admire their creations.

But for me it has a more special meaning. In my home we have always set up a Nativity Scene in our living room. Since I was little I remember that the first weekend of December was always reserved for this task. I would help (and play) with all the figurines, we would go fetch some plants and earth to add the the scene and then we would admire our work and take lots of pictures with it. Over the years the scene just got bigger and bigger. We would go to Christmas Markets (it was a tradition to go to the biggest one in Barcelona at least once) and buy more figurines. I remember one year my dad decided we needed a Roman army in our scene so we got some Roman soldiers and the army has been growing since. 

Even when I moved out of my parents' place. I would almost every year return some weekend in December to help my mum and sister setting the scene up with hot chocolates and cookies near us. At our place we only have a small wooden set my grandma got me some years ago but I'm sure that when we have kids we'll set the most wonderful one with them!

So here is why I picked this word, because of all the memories it evokes in me but also because it's a tradition we enjoy every year at our home. It brings together our family and we always enjoy going to places to check their scenes. 

Alba on Twitter: @albainbookland Alba's Blog:  http://www.albainbookland.com

The Story of My Book Corner - Alba

Signed Books

I have always loved reading so at my parent's place I have a huge collection of books, all my children and teen books are there. Actually, there's a room at my parent's where there's a huge bookshelf (it covers one of the walls completely) and I'd say three quarters of all the books are mine. But when I started university, I moved to Barcelona so I had to leave all my book behind. From that moment, my life became a bit chaotic. I lived in Barcelona for a year, then Liverpool for six months, then Barcelona again for three years, then London for a year, then Barcelona again for two years and finally I've been living just outside Barcelona, in Tarragona for the last two years. All this with changing flats every time or more than once every time, so as you can imagine I couldn't take all my books with me.

For some years, especially after getting my kindle, I didn't buy many physical books because I never had enough space. When I moved here in Tarragona two years ago with my boyfriend, I started building my collection again. And since becoming a book blogger it has spiralled a bit out of control. The problem is we don't really have a big bookshelf in the flat so I have book scattered everywhere. Most of them are in the living room. But a lot of them are hidden in a cupboard, not because I'm ashamed of them but because I don't have anywhere else to put them! 

I actually follow no order in storing my books. I just leave them where they fit. But I do have my special bookshelf where I keep all my signed books. I love looking at them. 

And given that we are moving again in two months to Munich and I cannot take all the books with me, I have been trying (and failing) to get less books these past few months. But! The boyfriend has agreed to get me a huge bookshelf in the flat we get in Munich and I cannot wait to make my own reading space there.

There are so many amazing reading corners I've seen on the internet. Actually I need to get a pinterest board going to get ideas, but I will try to finally have a nice and cozy corner there. Now I usually read on my bed or in our couch, but mainly our bed. There's something about reading in bed that cannot be beaten. 

Thank you so much Simona for inviting me to this lovely feature. I love reading about other people's bookshelves! ;)

Blogger Q&A - Alba from Lost in ChickLit

Hey my lovelies

Hope you all had a fab weekend and a good start of the week today. It's time for this month's blogger Q&A.  The wonderful Alba from Lost in ChickLit has agreed to answer my questions. Thank you SO much sweetie for answering all my questions, I know there were a lot ;) xxx

Hope you're going to enjoy this everyone, I can guarantee you: The answers are worth reading. 

1. Where were you born and where do you call home?

I was born in a small town in the south of Catalonia called Amposta. I lived there until I was 17, but when I moved to Barcelona I totally fell in love with the city and right now I couldn’t think of a better place to call home than this wonderfull city.

2. How long have you been blogging and why did you start doing it? 

I have been blogging since February, so only for a few months. I have always been a reader but when my boyfriend got me a Kindle a couple of years ago, I started devouring books. I was always on Goodreads checking new books and reading lots of reviews. And then, I discovered some great blogs, like yours actually, and really loved the idea of sharing my thoughts about books so I decided to start my own and I have to say that it is an amazing experience.

3. What is the name of the book you most recently blogged about?

I posted a review of The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion: http://addictivechicklit.blogspot.com.es/2014/04/the-rosie-project.html

4. What did you think about the cover?

I loved the cover. It is so original! In the cover, there is a lobster and at first you just think that it is weird but then when you read it and find out the link between the main character and the lobster… it’s genius!

5. If you could ask the Author 3 questions what would they be?

Mmm… I guess I’d ask him where he got the idea of this book because it is quite different from anything else. Then I’d ask him if he knows somebody like the main character, Don, and because everybody says that Don is like Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory (me included) I’d like to know if he actually was thinking about him writing this book and if he gets asked a lot if he likes TBBT.

6. What is your most favorite character and why?

As a Potterhead, I would have to say Harry Potter but ok, I’ll be more original and choose a different one! ;) I’ll go with Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) of the Shopaholic Series. She is so lovable and we’ve been through so much together that she feels like family! There have been rumours that a new book of the series is coming out and I am so excited already! I hope it’s soon!

7. What genre is your favorite and why?

Chick Lit! I could get lost in a Chick Lit novel for hours (since the name of my blog: Lost in Chick Lit). I really enjoy different genres like mistery, crime, historical fiction and romance, even some fantasy, but for me there’s nothing like Chick Lit, it always makes me laugh and leaves me with a warm feeling!

8. If you were shipwrecked on a desert island what 3 books would you want with you?

Can You Keep a Secret? By Sophie Kinsella because it’s the book that I have read more times and I always enjoy it like the first time, then I’d probably chose something by Lindsey Kelk because I love her. I guess About a Girl would be a good choice because it happens in an island. And then a Harry Potter book. I can’t decide though if the first or the last one…

9. Is there an Author that you would really like to meet?

I’d love to meet so many! I cannot choose only one: J.K. Rowling, Ken Follet, Dan Brown, Sophie Kinsella, Aven Ellis, Lindsey Kelk, Ali MacNamara, Marian Keyes… I could go on and on but I’ll stop!

10. Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover?

A couple of years ago I would have said paperbacks because hardcovers even if they are gorgeous, they are way too heavy and difficult to carry with you. But now, I have to admit that I read more ebooks than paperbacks.

11. Where do you prefer to buy your books?

I do love bookshops but not the big chains, I love getting lost in the traditional bookshop where you can find treasures and have a talk with the staff. There are some in Barcelona that I love, but they don’t usually have a lot of English books so when I want (or desperately need) a book in English I usually buy it on Amazon.

12. Have you ever read a book more than once?

Yes, lots. Starting with HP, I really enjoy rereading books. You always discover new details or realize that you missed some things the first time.

13. What book are you currently reading?

I have just started Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley.

14. What book are you about to start reading?

Next one is going to be Desperately Ever After by Laura Kenyon for a Blog Tour. As a Disney fan I can’t wait to read it!

15. Have you read a book that you would like to rewrite the ending of?

Probably most of Nicholas Sparks’ ones. They are all so sad! When I read Message in a Bottle for the first time I was 16 (I think) and got really angry with the ending! Why oh why?

16. Do you have a favorite book cover? Chose up to 3 if you like.

The first 3 that came to my mind are Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella, The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes and the new book by Ali McNamara that is going to be out on October From Notting Hill with Four Wedding… Actually (I love the movie Notting Hill and the bench in the cover of this book is just perfect!) 





17. If you could plan the perfect holiday, what would it be?

I already live on the beach so a beach holiday is not my thing. I’d rather visit cities. I’d love to visit Sidney. (I loved Paige Toon’s book Lucy in the Sky)

18. How often do you blog?

I try to blog twice a week.

19. What’s your favorite color?

I don’t have a favorite color… I like turquoise quite a lot though.

20. What are 5 items you never leave home without?

Keys, purse and mobile phone obviously but also my Kindle and a notebook just in case I want to write something down.

21. Favorite book character crush.  Yes you can pick 2 :)

Harrison Flynn from Waiting for Prince Harry by Aven Ellis. He’s just perfection! And Alex from the I Heart Series. I’ve always had a thing for musicians. Actually my boyfriend plays the piano, the guitar, the accordion, the harmonica and the ukulele. So yep, I like musicians! ;)

22. Sleep in or get up early?

Sleep in. I’m not a morning person at all.

23. Summer or winter?

Summer.

24. White wine or red?

Can I say beer? I’m not a big wine drinker.

25. Coffee or tea?

Tea. I don’t drink coffee…

26. Where can we find you?

My blog:  http://addictivechicklit.blogspot.com.es/

My facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/addictivechicklit

My Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/28692624-alba-forbe

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LostIn_Chicklit

Other: http://www.pinterest.com/albaforcadell/

Thank you sweetie :)