…Okay, Mortal Instruments fans, we’re getting veeeerrrrrrryyyyy close to the the next book in the series, City of Lost Souls.

The last book, City of Fallen Angels, ended on a bit of a cliffhanger–and that’s a bit of an understatement. I mean, I don’t want to spoil anything, but it was more of a jaw-dropping, game-changing, OMG-what’s-going-to-happen-NOW kind of a cliffhanger (and I think we can all agree that those are the BEST KIND.)

I mean…what’s going to happen to Jace? And Clary? And Simon? And Magnus and Alec and Isabel and Maya and…well…what’s going to happen to all our favorite characters? We’ll find out when City of Lost Souls is released on May 8th.

While we wait, you can always reread (or just…read them, if you haven’t already. Why haven’t you read them? Do you not know they’re made of awesome?!) Aaaanyway, the first four books in the series are City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, and City of Fallen Angels.

And you can also check out this brand new book trailer (and from the looks of it, City of Lost Souls will have some jaw-dropping, game-changing, OMG moments itself.)
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It is ALMOST HERE, Bits and Bramblers. In TWELVE HOURS, you can go to a The Hunger Games and see read the book on the big screen. Are you excited? Come on…you’re pretty excited, right?!

But if it still seems too far away, here are a few things you can do to make the time go a little faster.

• Want to know what fashions are popular in the Capital these days? Check out this Capital Couture page. Do some digging, and you’ll find pics and info on some of your favorite characters, like Effie, Cinna, and Katniss.
• Speaking of the Capital, are you registered? Click here to do it officially…you’ll be assigned a district, and then you can upload a pic and put your “ID” on your Facebook or Twitter page!
• You’ve still got time to head to your faaaaaavorite library and play Hunger Games Trivia for your chance to win fabulous prizes (like movie passes to a theater near you!)
• After you do that, well…you could always read the book again. This way, you’ll get a refresher on the story, and you can pick the scenes you hope you’ll see in the movie (or the ones you definitely don’t want to see in the movie…)
• Aaaaand you can watch the trailer again, of course…just one more time…

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Okay…we’re about twelve hours away now, Bits and Bramblers. Hang in there, have fun, and…(wait for it…) “May the odds be ever in your favor!”

Ahhhh, winter. The snowy windy days get old quick…don’t they, Bits and Bramblers? Still, there’s an upside. When it’s cold and icky oustside, that makes it the perfect weather to wear PJs all day, curl up on the couch with some snacks, and watch some DVDs that you checked out from your faaaaaaavorite library.

And if you’re looking for a good TV show to watch…haaaaaave you tried Doctor Who? The show is sort of legendary, considering that it’s been on and off the air in the United Kingdom for nearly fifty years. So…how great is this show? Seriously…I don’t even like SciFi all that much, and I’m trying to come up with actual words to describe it’s complete and total awesomeness.

But you know what the coolest part is? I would never have watched the show if a few of your faaaaaavorite librarians hadn’t recommended it. I was all, “Yeah…I don’t know if it’s really my kind of thing,” but they wouldn’t give up until I’d tried it. So when I showed up a few days later blubbering, “TARDIS! Daleks! Sonic Screwdriver! WEEPING ANGELS!” They fully understood.

And now it’s your turn…head to your faaaaaaavorite library, and check out Doctor Who. Even though the show started back in the sixties, I recommend starting with Series One of the latest “reboot,” and sticking around for Series Five, and the Eleventh Doctor, who’s my personal favorite (What can I say? Bow ties are cool.) Seriously…check out the show, and WATCH IT NOW.

…After all, if you love it? You can always talk about the show with your faaaaavorite librarians.
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So, Bits and Bramblers…remember awhile back when I told you that you had to drop everything and read Maureen Johnson’s book, 13 Little Blue Envelopes RIGHT NOW?!

Well, now that you’ve read it (…wait, you have read it, right? Well, if you haven’t…why not? Didn’t I tell you to drop everything and read it? What are you waiting for?) Okay, assuming that you’ve read it, now I’m telling you to drop everything and read the sequel right now, The Last Little Blue Envelope.

Seriously, NOW. Read it NOW. Well, maybe not right now. First, watch this book trailer for The Last Little Blue Envelope. And THEN read it. READ IT VERY SOON!
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It’s winter, Bits and Bramblers! Kind of, anyway. I mean…we may not have a lot of snow and subzero temperatures (hurrah!) but the days are still short, and you have to wear a coat. So…in my opinion? Perfect movie watching weather. Take a look at these movies, which are coming soon to a theater near you!

First up, Big Miracle. The movie, about three whales trapped behind solid sheets of ice in Alaska, is based on a true story. It stars Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski, and you can catch it February 3rd:
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Next up, it’s The Lorax. Honestly…who wouldn’t love a movie based on an awesome Dr. Seuss book you loved as a kid? Especially when you’ve got people like Ed Helms and Zack Efron doing the voices? You can catch this one when it opens March 2nd:
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Last but not least, it’s Mirror Mirror. The Evil Queen is played by Julia Roberts! In my opinion, you should avoid apples and stick to snacking on popcorn when this movie opens March 16th:
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Okay, Bits and Bramblers…we are definitely in the season. Have you done your shopping? Decked your halls? Baked your gingerbread? ‘Cause like I said, it’s definitely the season. And it’s the SEASON OF GIVING!

Because while you’ve giving gifts to all your friends and family, it’s always good to give a little to those in need, right? And it’s easier than you think. You can…

• Go to FreeRice. All you have to do is answer some easy trivia questions on English vocabulary, math, geography, and lots of other subjects. For every correct answer, ten grains of rice will be donated to the people that need it the most. And you get smarter. That’s what we call a win-win
• Check out FreeKibble (because animals need our help, too!) This site is a lot like FreeRice, with one minor difference–it doesn’t matter if you’re right or wrong. All you have to do is answer a trivia question, and ten pieces of Kibble will be donated to animal shelters to help feed hungry dogs. After all, nobody deserves to be hungry over the holidays, not even our furry friends.
• Head over to the Bread Art Project They give you a piece of virtual bread, and you decorate–or toast it–any way you like. Submit your bread art, and if it’s approved, the Grain Foods Foundation will donate a dollar to Share Our Strength, an awesome organization dedicated to ending Childhood Hunger. And what’s not to love about turning bread into art?!
• Shift your gift! It’s pretty much exactly like it sounds. Try Shift My Gift! After you get your parents’ permission, you can create a profile, picking different nonprofit organizations that are important to you. Then your friends and family can make donations…and shift your gift!
• Give back to the Mansfield community. Get your parent’s permission, and make a donation to the Richland County United Way. Every year, the United Way has a holiday fundraiser to help throughout the year. So far, they’ve raised about 57% of their goal…and you still have time to help them reach it, and make a difference here in Richland County!

…See? Told you it was easy. And nothing makes you feel quite so good as helping another person, right? But no matter who you help, or what you do…have a safe and happy holiday season, Bits and Bramblers!

…and all through the (NOUN) not a (TYPE OF ANIMAL) was stirring, not even a…

You see we’re going with this, right?

Good. Because let’s be honest, Bits and Bramblers, fill-in-the-blanks games are awesome. And always, always funny. It might be the only thing in the universe that makes adjectives and adverbs fun. Next to old school School House Rock, obviously.

And because fill-in-the-blanks games are so awesome, we’ve created the ‘TWAS THE __________ BEFORE CHRISTMAS CONTEST!

Thaaaaat’s right, all you have to do is pick up an entry form at your faaaaaavorite library during the month of December, fill it out, and turn it in to your faaaaaaavorite librarian. Not only does that automatically enter you to win FREE GIFT CERTIFICATES TO CINEMARK, but you might see your very own Fill-in-the-Blank story here @ Bits and Brambles!

So…what are you waiting for, Bits and Bramblers? Head to your (ADJECTIVE) library in December and grab a (NOUN) and get writing!

Oh, and…not that you need it or anything (because you, Bits and Bramblers, are all wicked smart,) but just in case you don’t have your English book with you, here’s a refresher course in the parts of speech, so you’re not getting your adverbs and action verbs all tangled. Okay, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I think you’re ready. So get ready to fill in the blanks for your chance to win!