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maegan mariee



From princess to witch to cowgirl, I loved Halloween. There's a few other costumes missing from this collection, I distinctly remember being a geisha one year, but I think these are a good array of images. I don't do Halloween anymore, my last one dressing up was the eskimo, but it's definitely a fun and cherished pastime. My favorite? The pink princess with my ghoul/zombie mom!

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Hiya! If you've been here for a while, you might remember my bookshelf tour of 2015. It was a simple, small bookshelf, so I broke it up into two posts. Today, I have another bookshelf and a lot more books. So I'm going to cut this short and dive right in!

Please ignore the dust and overall messiness of my shelves. I have a lot of overflow. All links are to posts where books are reviewed or briefly discussed.



Bookshelf One; Top Shelf
♥Puffin in Bloom Collection including:
♥Little Women | Louisa May Alcott
♥Anne of Green Gables | L.M. Montgomery
♥A Little Princess | Frances Hodgen Burnett
♥Heidi | Johanna Spyri

Bookshelf One; First Shelf
♥Dissolution | C.J. Sansom
♥Dark Fire | C.J. Sansom
♥Sovereign | C.J. Sansom
♥Revelation | C.J. Sansom
♥Heartstone | C.J. Sansom
♥Lamentation | C.J. Sansom

♥Lovely Bones | Alice Sebold
♥Calm | Michael Acton Smith
♥Ugly Love | Colleen Hoover
♥Mary Boleyn | Josephine Wilkinson
♥The Five People You Meet In Heaven | Mitch Albom
♥yesterday i was the moon | Noor Unnahar
♥milk and honey | Rupi Kaur
♥Strange the Dreamer | Laini Taylor
♥Vicious | V.E. Schwab
♥The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid
♥Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe | Fannie Flagg
♥The Traveling Cat Chronicles | Hiro Arikawa
♥My Cousin Rachel | Daphne du Maurier
♥Rebecca | Daphne du Maurier
♥Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine | Gail Honeyman
♥Pachinko | Min Jin Lee



Bookshelf One; Second Shelf
♥eat smart | Niomi Smart
♥Tanya Bakes | Tanya Burr
♥Love, Tanya | Tanya Burr
♥Wilde Like Me | Louise Pentland
♥Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales | Jacob Grimm
♥Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | J.K. Rowling

♥Passenger | Alexandra Bracken
♥Wayfayer | Alexandra Bracken

♥Thirteen Reasons Why | Jay Asher
♥Everything Everything | Nicola Yoon

♥Madly | Amy Alward
♥Going Viral | Amy Alward
♥Royal Tour | Amy Alward

♥Anna Karenina | Leo Tolstoy
♥To All The Boys I've Loved Before | Jenny Han

♥Wars of the Roses: Stormbird | Conn Iggulden
♥Wars of the Roses: Margaret of Anjou | Conn Iggulden
♥Wars of the Roses: Bloodline | Conn Iggulden
♥Wars of the Roses: Ravenspur | Conn Iggulden

Bookshelf One; Third Shelf
♥Bearskin | James A. McLaughlin
♥Meddling Kids | Edgar Cantero

♥Stalking Jack the Ripper | Kerri Maniscalo
♥Hunting Prince Dracula | Kerri Maniscalo
♥Escaping from Houdini | Kerri Maniscalo

♥So Great a Prince | Lauren Johnson
♥Turtles All the Way Down | John Green
♥Starfish | Akemi Dawn Bowman
♥They Both Die at the End | Adam Silvera

♥The Perfectionists | Sara Shepard
♥The Good Girls | Sara Shepard

♥Fatal Throne | Candace Fleming & Multiple other Authors
♥The Bookshop of Yesterdays | Amy Meyerson
♥Furyborn | Claire Legrand
♥There There | Tommy Orange
♥Sky in the Deep | Adrienne Young
♥An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir
♥Children of Blood and Bone | Tomi Adeyemi
♥Heartless | Marissa Meyer
♥The Darkest Minds | Alexandra Bracken
♥Three Dark Crowns | Kendare Blake



Overflow

♥Circe | Madeline Miller
♥Vengeful | V.E. Schwab
♥The Book Thief | MarKus Zusak
♥Grim Lovelies | Megan Shepherd
♥Muse of Nightmares | Laini Taylor
♥I Have Lived a Thousand Years | Livia E. Bitton-Jackson
♥Night | Elie Wiesel
♥Psycho-Cybernetics 2000 | Bobbie L. Sommer
♥Carve the Mark | Victoria Roth
♥1Q84 | Haruki Murakami
♥The Diviners | Libba Bray
♥Women Who Run With the Wolves | Clarissa Pinkola
♥Cordially Invited | Zoe Sugg



My second bookshelf here is the original and looks similar to how it did in my first bookshelf tour. However, things have been moved around!



Bookshelf Two; Top Shelf

♥Harry Potter 2013 Edition Boxed Set | J.K. Rowling

Bookshelf Two; First Shelf
♥Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | J.K. Rowling
♥Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | J.K. Rowling (currently reading & missing from shelf)
♥Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | J.K. Rowling
♥Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | J.K. Rowling
♥Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | J.K. Rowling
♥Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince | J.K. Rowling
♥Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | J.K. Rowling
♥The Tales of Beedle the Bard | J.K. Rowling

♥Girl Online | Zoe Sugg
♥Girl Online: On Tour | Zoe Sugg
♥Girl Online: Going Solo | Zoe Sugg

♥The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins
♥Catching Fire | Suzanne Collins
♥Mockingjay | Suzanne Collins

♥Holding Up the Universe | Jennifer Niven
♥The Fault in Our Stars | John Green



Bookshelf Two; Second Shelf
♥Divergent | Veronica Roth
♥Insurgent | Veronica Roth
♥Allegiant | Veronica Roth
♥Four | Veronica Roth

♥All the Bright Places | Jennifer Niven
♥Looking For Alaska | John Green
♥Work in Progress | Connor Franta
♥Unreasonable Hope | Chad Veach
♥The Anne Boleyn Collection | Claire Ridgway
♥The Hemptameron | Maurgerite de Navarre
♥Mademoiselle Boleyn | Robin Maxwell

♥Le Temps Viendra: Volume I | Sarah Morris
♥Le Temps Viendra: Volume II | Sarah Morris

♥Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
♥Bring Up the Bodies | Hilary Mantel

♥Love Letters from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn | Henry VIII
♥The Tudor Treasury | Elizabeth Norton
♥The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn | Robin Maxwell
♥The Autobiography of Henry VIII | Margaret George
♥The Life and Death of Cardinal Wolsey | George Cavendish
♥Naked To Mine Enemies: The Life of Cardinal Wolsey | Charles W. Ferguson

Bookshelf Two; Third Shelf
♥Something Missing | Matthew Dicks
♥The Wild Things | Dave Eggers
♥Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter | Seth Grahame-Smith
♥Wuthering Heights | Emily Bronte
♥the perks of being a wallflower | Stephen Chbosky
♥The Boleyn Deceit | Laura Andersen
♥Henry VIII | William Shakespeare
♥Macbeth | William Shakespeare
♥Romeo and Juliet | William Shakespeare
♥Romeo and Juliet | William Shakespeare (yes, I have two copies)
♥Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl | Anne Frank

♥Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (UK 20th Anniversary Slytherin Edition)
♥Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (UK 20th Anniversary Slytherin Edition)

♥The Little Book of Hygge | Meik Wiking
♥Shakespeare's Works Volume 12 | William Shakespeare
♥Essays | Ralph Waldo Emerson
♥Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Lewis Carroll (Camille Rose Garcia Illustration)
♥The Illustrated Jane Eyre | Charlotte Bronte

 
You can see my 2015 Bookshelf Tour here and here!

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It's no secret that I have a TV watching problem.



 And by problem I mean that I have a hard time just sitting down and watching something new. I have a habit of re-watching... well, everything. I mean, if it's not broken, don't fix it, right?

It's something I need to work on. And because it's a never-ending problem, my list of things to watch has grown. And it keeps growing as more things are getting released. Here's my current list. Which is bound to change. Gah.

Netflix

  • Knightfall - Yes! I started watching this and then had to stop because the History channel wants you to log in after a certain number of episodes. Very excited!
  • The Office - I want to know the jokes. I need to be in the know.
  • Friends - Don't judge me. Finished the first season. Six to go.
  • The Good Place - Watched the first episode. Pretty funny, must continue.
  • Supernatural - I'm curious and haven't started.
  • Empire Records - Looks interesting.
  • Hilda - Looks so cute! And I love cartoons.
  • Stranger Things - This is a maybe. I finished the first season, so I'm trying to decide if I want to jump into the second.
  • Ella Enchanted - Hm. I've seen this, but not in a long time. A re-watch, but I don't remember much.
  • Sons of Anarchy - This is emotional for me. I finished the first season a while ago. I'm still not emotionally prepared to continue. I may have gone and read the episode summaries for the next seasons. Yikes.
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - First season down. Funny and light hearted show, must continue.
  • Lincoln - I like Abe Lincoln.
  • The Hollow - Recommended by a co-worker. Cartoon. Yes.
  • Young & Hungry - Not really sure about this one. Haven't started.
  • Mad Men - Sixties and designing? YES.
  • 13 Reasons Why - Finished the first season and it really fucked me up. Not sure I want to dive in for a second round.
  • Versailles - I love getting historical recommendations. 
  • Set It Up - Looks hilarious and I want to watch thiiiiiis. 
  • Call the Midwife - Two seasons down. Love this show, just need to get back into it.
  • The Duchess - Again, historical.
  • Roman Empire - 🤷
  • Mindhunter - Watched the first episode. Was pretty good, but I need to really motivate myself to sit down and watch.
  • Alias Grace - Can't even remember what this is about, but it's on my list.
  • The Borgias - More historical shows.
  • To The Bone - Might be too emotional for me.
  • Anna Karenina - I wanted to read the book first, but it's leaving Netflix soon, so I need to watch this first.
  • Steel Magnolias - Don't remember why this is on there, but it's leaving soon, so must get to work on this.
  • The Magic Pill - ???
  • GBF - haha, this still looks cute
  • Friends From College - There's a good chance I might not get to this, but we'll see.
  • The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - Salem doesn't talk, I don't know how I'll like this.
Hulu
  • Vikings - I'm in season four. I really need to push myself to sit down and watch.
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Started this and it's right up my alley.
  • The Handmaid's Tale - Again, want to read the book first.
  • The Last Man on Earth - Started this and need to finish.
  • Roseanne - This is actually on Amazon Prime, but I wanted to re-watch.
  • The Conners - And then I want to see where they're going with this after the whole Roseanne getting fired thing.
And that's it for now! I seriously have some work ahead of me.

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Today has been a particularly lazy day, so blogtober is going to be a little lazy as well. Hope you don't mind a little weekly summary.
  • Finished rereading Harry Potter one and started a new series on the blog. You can read that here.
  • Seriously lazed it up after my gym class Saturday and watched three movies in a row. So unlike me.
  • Bought some new, amazing bread. Yes, I said bread. Adulting.
  • Managed to get some laundry done.
  • Played the sims for the majority of the weekend.
And now back to it! Happy Sunday! 

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"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."




Does anyone remember the very last Harry Potter movie premiere, when J.K. Rowling said;

Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.


I mean, yes, you teared up when she said it, when you heard it, but I never really thought going back to Hogwarts would bring so much back to me. This is going to be a seven (duh) part series on my blog where I re-read Harry Potter, annotate my old books, and relive everything that made me fall in love with this series when I was seven years old.

This is something I've tried in the past and only got up to GoF (Goblet of Fire for those of you that might not have read the series yet), so I'm hoping that this project here will keep me accountable.

Going into this, my favorite characters ever since I can remember have been Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Sirius Black, Fred Weasley, Oliver Wood, and Hagrid. I've had some soft spots for Dumbledore and Snape, so I'm interested to see if my mind will be changed by the time the series is over.

The following annotations are just funny quotes that I'd forgotten and some really hilarious descriptors that I'm not sure would have made the final print if they were being written today. The 90's were WILD.



Chapter 1, pg 11 // "It's lucky it's dark. I haven't blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs." - Albus Dumbledore

Chapter 1, pg 14 // ...he had hands the size of trash can lids, and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins. - Describing Hagrid. And let me just tell you, that this messed me up. How did I not remember this descriptor? Have we all forgotten this?

Chapter 2, pg 25 // Harry supposed that the wind must have caught him in mid-jump. - A scene where Harry recalls how he ended up on the roof of his school after running from Dudley and his friends. Seriously, Harry?

Chapter 2, pg 29 // He'd lived with the Dursleys almost ten years, ten miserable years, as long as he could remember, ever since he'd been a baby and his parents had died in that car crash. - Would it really have been so bad for him to grow up with a wizarding family, Dumbledore? Maybe one that would have promised to live in the muggle world to keep him away from everyone that would know him? Poor kid.

Chapter 3, pg 40 // ...trying to knock in a nail with a piece of fruitcake... - Uncle Vernon sealing up the mail slot. LOL.

Chapter 3, pg 41 // "No post on Sundays," ... "no damn letters today - " - Vernon Dursley - Surprise, Vernon. Hogwarts doesn't mess around.

Chapter 3, pg 43 // "Daddy's gone mad, hasn't he?" - Dudley Dursley

Chapter 5, pg 77 // In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him, slipped a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the right length. - Our first Draco encounter!

Chapter 6, pg 92 // "I'm not Fred, I'm George," said the boy. "Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?" - Fred Weasley

Chapter 6, pg 95 // "Harry Potter," chorused the twins. "Oh, him." said Harry. "I mean, yes, I am." - LOL get on then, Harry.

Chapter 6, pg 100 // "His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up." - Ron Weasley - Wormtail spotting!

Chapter 6, pg 105 // She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of brown bushy hair, and rather large front teeth. - Hermione! What a beautiful character.

Chapter 7, pg 123 // "...I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" - Albus Dumbledore - Yes, hi, why wasn't this in the movie?

Chapter 7, pg 128 // "Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!" - Albus Dumbledore

Chapter 7, pg 129 // "Peeves," Percy whispered to the first years. "A poltergeist." - I still wonder why they didn't include Peeves in the movies. However, I'm only slightly glad they didn't, once I read more LOL

Chapter 9, pg 150 // But Wood turned out to be a person, a burly fifth-year boy who came out of Flitwick's class looking confused. - Oliver! I love him.

Chapter 9, pg 162 // "You don't use your eyes, any of you, do you?" she snapped. ..."I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed - or worse, expelled. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed." - Hermione Granger - Iconic.

Chapter 10, pg 170 // "I wouldn't be surprised if you turned out better than Charlie Weasley, and he could have played for England if he hadn't gone off chasing dragons." - Oliver Wood

Chapter 10, pg 171 // "You're saying it wrong. It's Wing-GAR-dium Levi-O-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long." - Hermione Granger - I have the mnemonic spelling of Leviosa on my ankle. This is literally my quote LOL.

Chapter 10, pg 179 // But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.

Chapter 12, pg 200 // "My mom. I told her you didn't expect any presents and - oh no," he groaned, "she's made you a Weasley sweater." - Ron Weasley

Chapter 12, pg 203 // Up at the High Table, Dumbledore had swapped his pointed wizard's hat for a flowered bonnet, and was chuckling merrily at a joke Professor Flitwick had just read him.

Chapter 12, pg 207 // Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. - To think, if Harry could read backwards, he'd have known what the mirror did.

Chapter 12, pg 213 // "The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. / It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. / However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, now knowing if what it shows is real or even possible." - Albus Dumbledore

Chapter 12, pg 214 // "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that." - Albus Dumbledore

Chapter 12, pg 214 // "One can never have enough socks." - Albus Dumbledore

Chapter 13, pg 218 // "You're worth twelve of Malfoy." - Harry Potter

Chapter 13, pg 219 // "I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading." "LIGHT?" - Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley

Chapter 13, pg 220 // "And no wonder we couldn't find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry," said Ron. "He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five, is he?" - Ron Weasley

Chapter 13, pg 221 // Snap was so horrible to Harry. - yet he sometimes he had the horrible feeling that Snape could read minds.

Chapter 13, pg 227 // "It'll be gone by next Tuesday," said Ron. - Talking about Quirrell not giving in to Snape about the Stone.

Chapter 14, pg 234 // "Wonder what it's like to have a peaceful life," Ron sighed. - LOL it's just getting started, Ron.

Chapter 15, pg 257 // "...I set myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes, with humans alongside me if I must." - Firenze - >Bruh.

Chapter 16, pg 262 // In years to come, Harry would never quite remember how he had managed to get through his exams when he half expected Voldemort to come bursting through the door at any moment. - Definitely foreshadowing. But it's funny how small this moment compares to everything else he'll have to go through.

Chapter 16, pg 263 // The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were tickling the tentacles of a giant squid, which was basking in the warm shallows. - Why wasn't the squid in them movies? Did I miss it?

Chapter 16, pg 264 // "I'm not ill," said Harry. "I think it's a warning... it means danger's coming..." - LOL his spidey sense is tingling!

Chapter 16, pg 266 // "Well - yeah - how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep -" - LOL oh Hagrid.

Chapter 16, pg 278 // "Yeah," said Ron, "and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in a crisis - 'there's no wood,' honestly." - Ron Weasley, after escaping Devil's Snare - Honestly, Ron had some gems, why did they give them all to Harry and Hermione?

Chapter 16, pg 287 // "Me!" said Hermione. "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things - friendship and bravery and - oh Harry - be careful!" - Hermione Granger

Chapter 17, pg 289 // "...All the other teachers thought Snape was trying to stop Gryffindor from winning, he did make himself unpopular... and what a waste of time, when after all that, I'm going to kill you tonight." - Quirrell

Chapter 17, pg 290 // "Oh, he does," said Quirrell casually, "heavens, yes. He was at Hogwarts with your father, didn't you know? They loathed each other. But he never wanted you dead." - Quirrell, talking about Snape hating Harry.

Chapter 17, pg 291 // "...There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it..." - Quirrell, explaining what Voldemort taught him.

Chapter 17, pg 296 // "...I believe your friends Misters Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a toilet seat. No doubt they thought it would amuse you. Madam Pomfrey, however, felt it might not be very hygienic, and confiscated it." - Albus Dumbledore - LOL I love the twins.

Chapter 17, pg 297 // "...After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." - Albus Dumbledore

Chapter 17, pg 298 // "Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases the fear of the thing itself." - Albus Dumbledore

Chapter 17, pg 300 // "...And then, your father did something Snape could never forgive." "What?" "He saved his life." - Albus Dumbledore - Wait. Explain. I forgot this, what did he save him from? HELP!

Chapter 17, pg 300 // "...You see, the only one who wanted to find the Stone - find it, but not use it - would be able to get it." - Albus Dumbledore

Chapter 17, pg 304 // "Sent owls off ter all yer parents' old school friends, askin' fer photos... knew yeh didn' have any... d'yeh like it?" - Hagrid, giving Harry a photo album of his parents. SO CUTE.

Chapter 17, pg 309 // "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer..." - Harry Potter



This was such a blast to the past and I can't wait to get on to the second. As funny as some of the descriptors were, the story is still so solid.

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Are you obsessed with history?




 I really don't want to reiterate how much I love history, and especially the Tudors, but this post is basically me doing just that. It was kind of a spur of the moment decision, this post, but I find that once I sit down and think about it all, I could write/talk for days about it. I think it's mainly because I don't have someone else in my life that I can gush over about this. Aside from the one or two that I chat with online, but it's not the same as getting excited in person. So I've been gushing about it on my blog. Which helps me release all my pent up historical nerd.

So what is this post really going to be about? All the embarrassing things I do in the name of history. Like:
1. Listening to Tudor era music, because I'm curious and whoa, they actually got down in the 1500's.
2. Watch The Tudors repeatedly throughout the year. I've honestly lost track of how many times I've watched it. But you know, skip the last couple episodes of Season Two, because I can't break my heart over Anne that many times.
3. Jonathan Rhys Meyers was a beast as Henry VIII. Full compliment.
4. I would be so down to dress up in Tudor clothes. Like, just show me what to do, I'll do it for the rest of my life.
5. I look up Tudor landmarks on Google Maps so I can feel like I'm there.
6. Definitely planning on getting a Tudor rose tattoo at some point. When I decide where to put it.
7. I read everything I can get my hands on when it comes to Tudor history. Fiction, non-fiction. Everything.
8. Tudor coloring book.
9. Still looking for the best Anne Boleyn sweatshirt. Haven't really found one I like. Would settle for one of just the rose or her Falcon badge.
10. There's a Tudor monthly box I want to get for the rest of my life.
11. Podcasts; a new discovery by me.

Want to be Tudor obsessed too? Just curious? See the links below for prime Tudor content.

English Renaissance Playlist
Springtime Renaissance Madrigals Playlist
The Tudors Coloring History
Tudors Dynasty Podcast
Monthly Subscription Box
My Tudor Bookshelf
My Anne Boleyn Post

Also, The Tudors is still up on Netflix as of right now! It's only four seasons, so go go go!

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The Autumn Tag!


I’d like to thank Naomi ( Room to Glow) for making the questions available on her blog!

1.What signifies the start of autumn to you?
When the trees start changing color, it's officially autumn! Our weather likes to vary in temperature, so we can't really say when it gets cold, it's fall, because sometimes it doesn't start getting cold until November! October has been pretty chilly this year, but the leaves changing lets me know that it's time.

2. Best way to spend a rainy day?
There is absolutely nothing better than turning on some fairy lights, lighting some candles, and settling down with a book. Sometimes I'll switch it up and watch a movie, but rain definitely means reading.

3. Your most fond autumn memory?
Raking the leaves. We used to stuff them in these bags that looked like pumpkins and would just scatter them all over the yard. It looked like we had grown and carved giant jack-o-lanterns!

4. Favourite fall scent?
The Leaves candle from Bath and Body Works. But also, when people have bonfires or are burning leaves/sticks, whatever they have in their yard. Smells so good.

5. What are you most excited for this fall?
Honestly, we still need to go on a hike. And quickly, since it's been getting very cold out lately.

6. Favourite autumn song?
FortyFive by Bootstraps.

7. Favourite autumn movie?
For now, I'm going to say Coraline, because I'm always putting it on. Mainly I just like it for the background noise while I'm doing something else, but I always stop and end up watching it. You can see all the other movies I watch here.

8. What TV shows are you looking forward to this autumn?
Oh man. I'm a bad TV watcher. I always say I'm going to sit down and watch something, and then never do. So unfortunately, I don't have an answer for this!

9. Favourite autumn colour?
A deep rust orange or a deep mustard yellow.

10. Favourite autumn fashion trend?
Scarves! They're both necessary and cute.

11. Your most loved outdoor autumn activity?
Taking walks, as boring as that sounds. It's nice to get out in the morning and allow the crisp morning air to wake you up. Plus the sun rising and making those trees look extra pretty? Perfecto.

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"To the men and women living in 1509 the future would not have seemed so certain."



At the beginning of the year, I sat down and read the book above, expecting a typical historical telling of life during Henry VIII's reign. What I got was so much more. As many of you know, I'm a little bit interested in the Tudor era of British history. Obsessed. So when I got to read first hand what commoners would do during specific holidays? I was over the moon.

The book focuses on two point of views; one from royalty/Henry, and the other from the everyday person living in medieval London during the first year of Henry VIII's reign. And what a glorious time it was. The young Henry was a completely different Henry from the one almost everyone knows about. The one with six wives under his belt, a notorious bad temper, and... well, the weight. This Henry was tall, handsome, energetic, and generous with his people and courtiers. He LOVED his wife, Catherine, and was more than happy to dote on her. This first year was critical for his career, because it would determine what kind of King he would be. Loved or hated?

On the everyday person's side, we see what they did to prepare for various holidays. Not everyone had the means to throw a massive feast like the court, so we get to read about a lot of humble gatherings. Practically everyone spent the holidays together, on the streets, with neighbors and friends. The author even gets in deep and describes some of the more horrible conditions for the homeless and those without. Winters were not kind, as you can imagine.

All in all, this is an informational book, heavy with detail. But the author makes it flow and I found myself getting through it easily. There was not one time where I needed to put the book down to recharge and refocus my thoughts. I was in this one hundred percent and would highly suggest this to anyone.

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Getting a perfect bath isn't hard.

And it's really all how you're feeling while you're deciding. On this particular day, I was out of bath bombs noooooo so I had to dig through a bunch of my other stuff.

Thankfully, I have a whole basket full of bath stuff to pick from. Today I did a mostly Zoella Beauty bath, because to be honest, I have a lot of their products to use up.



I always start off my bath with some bubbles, so I used the Merry & Bright bubble bath from the 2017 Snow'ella collection. I love this glass bottle and the smell. But it's huge so I'm happy I was able to use some more of it. I can't wait to make some use of this bottle when it's empty!



Next up, I used some bath milk from the Splash Botanics range that came out this past summer. Bath milk is really cool because it makes your bath look, wait for it, milky and your skin is extra super soft when you get out.



And finally, just to add some extra sparkle and moisturizing elements, I added this bath disk also from the 2017 Snow'ella collection. It doesn't have too much glitter though, so if you want to get this, don't worry! You won't come out looking like a disco ball.

After that, the only thing I suggest to make any bath a good one, is some music, a book, and maybe your phone. Watch a movie, catch up on YouTube, play some games. Whatever you need to make you feel the most relaxed.

♥
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I know, this sounds ridiculous.

Of course I know what exfoliating means. And I've used body scrubs in the past and loved the results. However, I've delved a little deeper into it recently and my mind is blown. How have I not been doing this before?


The first thing you need, which I've never bothered getting before, is a pair of exfoliating gloves. These are relatively cheap and give you the extra exfoliating power you need to really make it effective. I got these in a beauty bundle from Zoella Beauty's newest Christmas range. You can see everything I got from the collection here.



Please excuse all the yellow, whoever designed the bathroom was clearly colorblind. Anyway, the next thing is a body oil. Now, I've never used a body oil before. I was never told that this is something that is very important to your skincare because it just sounds like a bad idea, right? Oil doesn't sink in right away and you can get it everywhere. And what are the real benefits anyway? Well, I don't know everything, but the main thing that stuck out to me was that it helps your skin look younger than it is and keeps it healthy. I'm sure there's more science to it. I started using this body oil from Wal-Mart. It's cheap, works great, and it smells like cocoa!


And last but not least, I use some kind of exfoliant to top everything off. I do all of this in the shower, so this is used after the oil and it helps to get off any extra dead skin cells that may have been missed. I know, who can really tell, right? I just so happen to be using this Zoella Beauty sugar scrub from their core collection, but I also love Soap and Glory's Sugar Crush.

Now when I get out of the shower, I'm super soft and feel extra scrubbed down. Dry off and layer on some lotion and you're good to go! This routine is especially important in the winter months, when everything is extra dry and unpleasant. It helps!

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I'm constantly going through different hair care products.

I've actually lost count over how many different things I've tried in the name of banishing dandruff and getting volume. While I've done well with documenting my hair journey here on the blog, I still feel like I have a lot of discovering to do. However, my current hair care routine has been working really well for me. I also think it's due to the fact that I've been eating better and exercising more, but the following stuff has definitely helped!


I always start off my hair routine with some Suave Essentials Daily Clarifying shampoo. You can see my full review of it in this post here, but it's very important to start with a clarifying shampoo. IT helps to break up all the gunk and product in your hair, so when you come in with your normal shampoo, it doesn't have to work so hard and is more effective. Meaning if you have something that is for volume or to banish frizz, it'll work a lot better.

I've been using Shea Moisture's African Black Soap Deep Cleansing shampoo and it's been working wonders. You can feel the difference immediately. As soon as you wash it out, your hair has a completely different feel to it. It's amazing and you need to try this.



The conditioner I've been using varies, but I've been trying to get some length to my hair again, so I decided to try this Marc Anthony Grow Long treatment. I don't use it every time, so I haven't really seen any results, but I think if you're consistent with it, it'll work great.

If you're interested in my hair care journey, check out the links below to see the other products I've used!

THD: Battling the Flakes Part 1
THD: Battling the Flakes Part 2
THD: Volume
THD: Texture
Banning the Frizz

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The best thing about Hygge is that it's all about self-care.

And over here, we're really starting to dig deep into the self-care routines. So if you're new, welcome. If you're not, welcome back. I'm still on my personal journey of self-love and self-care. Hygge (hue-guh) is the Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness with associated feelings of wellness and contentment. I love that this word exists. I love that this feeling exists. And I love that you don't have to be Danish or Norwegian to put this into practice.


My first suggestion, but it's definitely not necessary, would be to get your hands on a copy of The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking. Whether you buy a copy or get one from the library, having this book on hand is... well, handy. First, the small size of it already does a good job of making you feel cozy. And the illustrations inside are particularly cute as well. Having this with you will give you the extra reassurance that you're getting into your Hygge zone right. Though, there is no wrong way to Hygge.



Get yourself a comfy corner. A cozy nook. Anything where you feel warm and happy. This could be your bed, your living room, a big fluffy chair in the den. A good spot would be near a window, but definitely not necessary. Light some candles, turn on some fairy lights and the mood is set! I like to alternate between my office couch, which is loaded with pillows and blankets and has a good view from the window, and my bed, which also has a good amount of blankets. It really depends on my mood at the time and really it's just where you feel the most relaxed.



Grab something warm to drink. Tea is a must for me, but this could be anything. It could even be cold! Tea, coffee, hot cococa, anything you fancy! Curling up with a good book or throwing on your favorite TV show or movie is a good start. What I love about Hygge is that you can basically do whatever you want, as long as you feel comfortable and happy.

This is also a perfect time to invite family and friends over for dinner or a game night. Indulging in your favorite comfort foods is highly suggested, even if you're dieting. Throw that out the window and enjoy. This is a time that's meant for you to be the most happy, the most carefree. And like I mentioned before, there is no wrong way to hygge.

Get comfy and be happy.

     ♥
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If you're a candle lover like me, then you know how important it is to always have some in the house. It doesn't matter what time of the year it is, I always have some candles on hand to burn. Scentless pillar candles are nice to have, but there is nothing like a seasonal scent wafting through the house that really makes it feel comfy. It gets you in the mood for the season, definitely!

For me, the best place to get candles is from Bath and Body Works, as they always have the best seasonal options, in my opinion. See some of the selections below and then get some yourself!

Sweater Weather - Fresh Sage, Juniper Berry, Aromatic Eucalyptus, Fresh Woods
Flannel - Fresh Bergamot, Heirloom Mahogany, Soft Musk
Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin - Warm Cinnamon, Fresh Ground Clove, Vanilla Cream, Brown Sugar
Autumn - Bright Red Gala Apple, Juicy Fig, Eucalyptus Leaf, Fir Balsam
Pumpkin Apple - Red Delicious Apple, Fall Pumpkin, Fresh Ground Cinnamon, Clove Buds
Leaves - Crisp Red Apple, Golden Nectar, Warm Clove Spice
Crisp Morning Air - Crisp Fall Breeze, White Oak, Golden Amber Wood, Saffron, Soft Sandalwood
Black Cherry Merlot - Dark Cherry, Black Raspberry, Sumptuous Merlot
Harvest Gathering - Fresh Picked Apples, Autumn Berries, Clove Buds
The Perfect Autumn - Fresh Cranberry, Spiced Pumpkin, Crisp Apple, Rich Clove
Blackberry Tea Leaf - Wild Blackberry, Bramble Tea Leaves, Hint of Sweet Orange

♥



*This post is not sponsored. All opinions and recommendations are my own, as always*
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The best soup is prepared in fall.



I think I've done it! I've found one of the best soups that you can make in the fall. It's comforting and has all the best ingredients. I love a good tomato soup when it's cold out, but the following is the best comfy chowder I've found.

Cooking time: 55 minutes. 

Grab this;
3 large carrots
3 celery stalks
4 ears of corn
5 garlic cloves
1 bell pepper
2 red potatoes
1 white onion
2/3 coconut milk
2 tsp cajun seasoning
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
3 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 tsp ground cumin
2 cups water

Do this;
1 | Cook your corn by boiling it in hot water until plump and juicy. If you want this to go faster, skip the ears and use corn from a can. However much you'd like.
2 | Cut potatoes and add to boiling water along with corn. Remove when soft.
3 | If you stick with the ears of corn, drain water and, using a knife, carefully cut the corn off of the cob.
4 | While potato is cooking, saute the rest of the vegetables and seasonings with coconut oil in a pan.
5 | Cook until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.
6 | Place half of your corn into a blender along with some of the potato. Blend until smooth.
7 | Add everything into a pot, including your blended mixture, and bring to a gentle boil.
8 | Remove from heat and taste. Add more salt and cajun seasoning as desired. Serve with chopped green onion, if you'd like.

Honestly, this is so so good. I found this recipe off of pinterest, where you can find the more detailed instructions. Also, if you LOVE tomato soup, check out this recipe I found to give it a little kick!

♥
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I love a good tea in the cold months.



 There really is nothing more calming and relaxing than tea. Honestly! Even the preparation of tea is relaxing for me, because I know that when it's done I can properly sit back and relax. Last year, I did an entire post on some beautiful teas with Adagio, which you can read here for some lovely recommendations.

Lately, my go-to tea has been peppermint. It wakes you up, it warms you up while giving you a cold, minty kick, and it's just a really invigorating flavor. I've been using Adagio's peppermint, but any brand will do. As with most teas, it doesn't really matter what brand you get. It's really hard to mess up tea.

To get relaxed at night, I've been leaning towards a wonderful Chamomile/Lavender blend. Both are good for helping the body to wind down and relax, so it's been really nice to have this on hand. Also, I won't lie, I've been a little obsessed with Lavender everything lately.

When it comes to something to snack on, I can't say I've been doing too much of it. But since it's autumn, those Pillsbury sugar cookies make a comeback and I love them fresh out of the oven. And apple crisp! Can't go wrong there!

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I know I'm a little late in the game for this, as we're already halfway through the month, but I think having a small list of monthly goals really helps. And personally, I love checking things off a list. It makes me feel so accomplished!

Blog-goals:
1. Always have something scheduled. I struggle with this A LOT.
2. Post to instagram more/daily. Also something I struggle with. But I think Blogtober is helping!

Personal:
1. Get control of my health.
2. Read 2 more books this month!
3. Pay off credit cards. Start November fresh.
4. Have more alone time.
5. Pay more attention to my skin care routine!

What are your goals for the rest of the month?

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Hello everyone!


When the fall mists come sneaking around the corner and temperatures drop enough that we can officially call it sweater weather, it's time to dig up some trusty sidekicks to help you through those long, cool, rainy afternoons.

Obviously you'll spend a lot of the fall season outside frolicking in the leaves, but let's face it, coming home to a mug of warm tea and a good book is probably one of the things autumn's known for.

So if you're like me, and need just a little bit of a nudge to some really good fall reads, look no further.

I tend to always have too many books to read, but this year I've fallen into a bit of a slump and didn't have ANY. Which means this blog post is as much for me as it is for all of you!

Let's start off with a classic:



The Hobbit. Oh, The Hobbit. This is the perfect autumnal read because a ) it has adventure, b ) you don't have to physically go on one yourself, and c ) it has a dragon and Dwarves and a Hobbit. Of course there's The Lord of the Rings, but The Hobbit is better-suited to begin with because it has a shorter narration span and also, autumn is for walking. Going there and back again. See what I did with that?



Pride and Prejudice. Honestly, any Jane Austen novel will do, but after rereading some of them this year I have to admit I agree that Pride is probably the author's best work. And I don't really know what it is, but Austen is the one you should reach for while you're sipping hot cocoa and watching the rain fall outside. Zombies count, too. Let Lizzie and Mr. Darcy have their verbal spats while you chill in warm socks and long sweaters! Not all of us have to be inches deep in mud.



Outlander. Something about Scotland just SCREAMS autumn, no offense to the Scots. But unfortunately the weather there seems just ready-made for a fall setting, so if you're feeling a bit like doing some time travel out of your favourite reading nook, this is the book I'd recommend. Hop along with our favourite Sassenach and see what 18th century Scotland was all about (hint: try and find out what they wore under those kilts). Make sure to say hello to Sam Heughan if you happen to pass him by.


A Discovery of Witches. I admit. I'm biased. I've watched the television show since it premiered and Matthew Goode makes for a very compelling vampire. All that aside, however, this is a story about vampires, demons, and witches, so if we're in October and Halloween is about to happen, what better way to start it off than with this? It's got an inter-racial love story and a visual representation on TV as well. And did I mention a house that magically creates extra rooms for visitors and sounds trumpets or a gong when it wants the inhabitants to listen?


Sherlock Holmes. Any old Holmes story will do, what with foggy London and running after cabs illuminated by gas lights, but I think I'd be remiss not to specifically point out The Hound of the Baskervilles. It's the quintessential read for any whodunit fan, not to mention nothing says spooky month better than a gigantic hound that glows in the dark and comes at you with red eyes and big freaking teeth. Am I right or am I right?


Dracula. I mean. There's no October read-fest without the King of Vampires. I think nowadays modern readers have sort of deviated and almost forgotten what bloodsuckers used to be like - myself included, if you'll look up to a certain mention above. But if you want something to REALLY get you into the Halloween spirit, look no further than the original Count. Bring your crosses and your garlic and have a stake handy. Van Helsing unfortunately doesn't use phones so getting him on the line might be dodgy.


Hallowe'en Party. If you're going to be reading mysteries and spooky tales, you might as well do it right - and the Queen of Mystery should always be a go-to. She really is a seasonal kind of read for me, because I usually devour most of her books during my summer vacation or, indeed, in autumn. This one in particular should be leafed through on the 31st, because what's better than a party is a party with a murder. Between you and me, however: if I were ever unfortunate enough to run into an egg-shaped headed, green-eyed, mustached little man, I'd book the first ticket out of there. Disaster follows Hercule Poirot like the plague!


And before I leave you to it, one last, honorary mention: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Because nothing, not even a murder, says Halloween more than sitting at Hogwarts with bats and floating candles while pumpkins dance around without anybody's help. Plus, no Halloween can ever be complete without a troll in the dungeons.
xx
*images not mine


*Thanks so much to Ami for posting on my blog today! You can find all her amazing reviews on her blog here, and on twitter here.*

♥
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Apple Cinnamon Muffins


It's time to bake! Autumn is the best time to start baking! Here's a recipe I've tried out recently and they came out pretty good!

Prep Time; 15 minutes
Cook Time; 20 minutes
Servings; 20 muffins (small tin)
Calories; 138 cal
Recipe from; recipegirl.com / adapted as needed

Get this;
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 large egg
1/3 cup milk I put more milk in as needed
2 medium apples (peeled, cored, & chopped)

Do this;
1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Mix together all your dry ingredients.
3. Add egg, oil, and milk. Mix until combined, adding more milk as needed.
4. Peel and chop apples. Add to mixture.
5. Grease muffin tins or line with cupcake liners.
6. Pour mixture into tin.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

♥
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Who loves Disney?

I certainly do and so when Colourpop announced their collaboration, I followed it religiously. I was SO CLOSE to getting the Belle lipstick, it was in my cart, but it sold out before I could check out. So sad, but I was able to get Ariel and the eye palette. Both are lovely and I absolutely love the lipstick. It's such a pretty shade!

I also got my hands on Urban Decay's original Naked palette, which they are discontinuing, if you didn't know. It's on sale for $27, which is a bargain. Try and get it while you can! I've been interested in the Elizabeth and James perfumes, but didn't want to commit to a certain scent. It's a whopping price for a bottle, so I was happy to get a mini sampler scent of each. Thank goodness I did, because some I thought I would like I didn't.

Everything will be linked below if possible!

It's a Princess Thing palette
Ariel Lipstick - out of stock
Urban Decay Naked palette
E&J Choose Your Nirvana Floral
E&J Choose Your Nirvana Warm & Spicy - out of stock

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About me

About Me

Welcome to the little part of the internet that I like to call my own. Come here to see what I'm reading and what I'm throwing on my face.

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