Happy December! I am aware that it is very nearly Christmas (already!), but this is my first post this month and therefore my first opportunity to wish you a lovely December and holiday season.

So, it’s confession time.

I haven't picked up a book in a month, and haven't finished one in so long, months maybe? I adore books and words and ideas so I’m compiling a very ambitious TBR list in the hopes of falling back in love with reading. And also falling back into the habit of reading, maybe on my commute (as long as I can keep my eyes open) or maybe before bed? Maybe just ten minutes a day, as long I’m getting some more reading done, I’ll be a little more content.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I mean it's about time really. I haven't watched the film because I haven't read the book yet. Makes sense to just read it, so many people love and recommend it so I feel like I'm missing out on something here. Gotta rectify this.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell and Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven

Some might call this style of young adult books ‘fluff’ but fluffy can be good for your soul. Young adult books are usually easy reads and a surefire way of falling back in love with reading. Eleanor and Park and Holding up the Universe have been on my radar for a while not. I’ve read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and absolutely adored everything about it, the writing style and characterisation was so amazing, so hopefully I will enjoy E&P just as much! I had mixed feelings about Jennifer Niven’s previous book ‘All the Bright Places’ but have decided to give her books another try (defo inspired by Aycan’s love for them!)

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

As I mostly read fiction books, I want to read at least one nonfiction book by the end of the year. When Breath Becomes Air comes highly recommended, and classic me, unable to resist a good book went out and bought it straight away. It’s written by a surgeon with terminal cancer before his death so it’s quite heavy but definitely seems like a necessary read.

And those are the books I'm planning on reading! It's a little ambitious but hopefully I will finish the year in literary style!

In an attempt to get myself back into blogging I've been visiting some blogs I absolutely adore, and today I'm sharing them. I don't always comment as much as I wish I did, to but these blogs give me so much inspiration and I'm always excited to read their posts, new and old. If you're looking for some new and exciting blogs to read, here are five I strongly and passionately recommend.

I love supporting amazing internet creators, especially when they are amazing but don't have the volume of support they truly deserve. I love the accessibility of youtube and I love small creators so I decided to compile a small list of some small youtuber recommendations! And by small I mean youtubers with like under 30k subscribers. They are the underappreciated creators I admire profusely and always get excited for their new videos. Hope you check them all out and maybe even find a new favourite!

My love for hot cross buns seems to be for life, not just for Easter. It's no surprise that I love hot cross buns. I've seen so many different flavour combinations in shops, and even tried a few, but they never seem to live up to my expectations (M&S I'm looking at you) So I've been collecting some interesting and intriguing hot cross bun recipes from creative bakers of the internet, and rounded up a few that seem particularly mouth watering.

When I was about twelve I watched a documentary about Primark. It was a documentary about the appalling working conditions in their factories, predominantly in Asian countries. It was my first time being exposed to the hidden realities of fast fashion and I remember being absolutely shocked. It effected me so intensely I immediately decided to boycott Primark. I can quite proudly say I stuck to that pledge. Boycotting one brand was progress, but it wasn't going to change the entire industry.

It's very easy to turn a blind eye to the hidden side of fast fashion are hidden and there is very little information readily available. I struggled to find ethical clothing companies I could afford to buy from, but then I discovered Fashion Revolution, the first easily accessible website I found challenging fast fashion.

A few years back I wrote a post all about my most anticipated video games in this post. Horizon Zero Dawn was the one I was most excited for and let me tell you, it does not disappoint. It feels like it's taken forever but I've finally recieved it (and spent an awful lot of time playing it) and it has quickly became one of my favourite games for a number of reasons.

Animal Crossing is one of my favourite games. I've been playing it since I was twelve and could watch town tours on youtube for hours! It's so fun to see how different, diverse and personalised other people's towns are. My town is still a work in progress, so I figured it would be fun to document the many phases of my town and how it changes over the seasons!

My town is called Skyrim because I started playing Animal Crossing New Leaf and Skyrim around the same time, and I clearly really loved Skyrim (with good reason, it's an amazing game)

On main street, I have unlocked T&T Emporium, Club LOL, Kicks, Shampoodle, and The Dream Suite. I don’t have the fortune telling shop yet, but I’m working on it by getting my fortune told every time Katrina visits town! My current neighbours are: Miranda, Curlos, Groucho, Bluebear, Kiki, Rocket, Jay, Keaton, Clay, & Cheri.

Loot I've picked up lately:

Over the past few months I have developed an intense love for hot cross buns. I don't remember how or where it started but I’ve been picking them up at every opportunity. At every food shop and bakery I found myself gravitating towards to hot cross buns, putting them straight in my basket, and buying them. I even joked about becoming a hot cross bun blogger. Turns out I was only half joking because here I am, ready to share my thoughts and love for hot cross buns, in what I'm titling 'The Hot Cross Bun Chronicles' A series of posts dedicated to hot cross buns!

So, I’ve been gone from this blog for almost the entirely of February. I would explain the reason for this but I’m not too sure myself. Regardless, I feel refreshed and ready for spring. Spring is the season of growth and rebirth, so this is me, stepping out of my winter rut and getting back on top. I also have lots of exciting posts lined up this month, so keep an eye out for them!

Evening coffee has become a part of my routine. Sipping coffee after eating a wholesome meal, it just speaks to my soul, and what better way to invite you into a catch up post, than to invite you into my evening coffee session? Not gonna lie, ‘evening coffee’ was totally inspired by Moose Blood, but anyway, here are some things I've been doing recently.