Nerdy and fandom inspired gifts are probably my favourite to gifts to give (and recieve tbh) If I know someone is into something nerdy I always try my hardest to find a nerdy gift to give them because when you're into nerdy things, nerdy gifts are the best. If you're looking for some nerdy gifts for a special nerd in your life then you've come to the right place. I've complied a little gift guide and suggestions on where to look for all your nerdy gifts!
Forbidden Planet
Has anyone else made a purchase inspired by a fictional character? In my life, I have made multiple purchases 100% inspired by fictional characters I adore. I'm going to dress it up as combining my love for style with my love for fictional characters but in reality I'm probably just a super fangirl.
Inspired by Connie Maheswaran from Steven Universe
SPOOKY FILMS TO WATCH THIS HALLOWEEN
I have to admit, I really enjoy watching horror films all year round - it's not uncommon for my household to have horror movie nights at any given time. As a fan of all things horror, Halloween always seems like my time to shine and give some creepy and spooky recommendations for all levels on the creep scale. Whether you're a seasoned horror fan or you're just looking for some thrills this Halloween, here are some of my recommendations!
The Grudge
For A PETRIFYING GHOSTLY EXPERIENCE
The Grudge is the one horror film that left me petrified.
Maybe it’s because I watched it when I was 10 years old, or maybe it’s just a great
horror film? (probably a bit of both)
It’s a little bit like The Ring, with the premise that everyone that enters a specific house starts seeing ghosts and ends up dead. I’ve yet to watch
the Japanese original, but the American remake stars Sarah Michelle Gellar (let’s
be real, this is the reason I watched this film in the first place) and it's a great watch if you’re looking for something creepy and scary with a lot of jump
scares and creepy ghosts.
A Tale of Two Sisters
FOR A SLOW and CREEPY HORROR
This is one of my more recent favourites. I watched the
original Korean film and would highly recommended it. The story revolves around
two sisters, Su-yeon and Su-mi and their family, following Su-mi’s stay in a psychiatric
hospital. The film is quite subtle for the most part,
with few jump scares but there are so many creepy moments. The creepiness is so
intense and well done, it’s amazing to watch if you just want a slow,
mysterious and creepy film to watch.
28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later
FOR a FAST PACED and THRILLING ZOMBIE FILM
What would a Halloween watch list be without zombies? I’m a
huge zombie fan and have watched so many, but my favourite has to be the 28 Days
Later and 28 Weeks Later. Each film follows different sets of characters 28
days, and 28 weeks following a zombie outbreak in the UK. There’s everything
you would expect from a zombie film - action, violence, gore, unsettling and heart
racing situations and moments, as well as some likeable characters to get attached
to. The beginning of 28 Weeks Later is such a scary masterpiece and 28 Days Later has some amazing scenes of an abandoned London.
Nightmare before Christmas
FOR A FUN, ANIMATED HALLOWEEN film
I’ve seen the Nightmare before Christmas everywhere (especially
in emo days) but I have to admit, I only watched the film a couple of years ago.
If you’re not a fan of scary horror and want some cute animated Halloween themed
viewing, this is a good shout. It also doubles up as a film to get you excited and pumped up about all the autumn/winter festivities and Christmas!
SPOOKY TV TO WATCH (OR RE-WATCH) THIS HALLOWEEN
Stranger Things
I think this is a rewatch for most people! I'm sure everyone has heard of Stranger Things and at only eight episodes long it's a quick watch and honestly not too scary. It's quite creepy at times but even if your're not into super scary horror and thrillers, definitely give this a watch - it's more of a mystery with elements of sinister creepiness thrown in.Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy is one of my favourite TV shows ever and was my childhood obsession so it comes as no surprise that I'm recommending this. Buffy is quite a lengthy show at seven seasons but they're so addictive and easy to watch that it's super easy to fly though them. The first three seasons follow Buffy and the 'Scooby Gang' in highschool and have a more monster of the week format, whilst seasons four onward gets a bit darker and brings in some more serious issues. Either way, there are some delightfully creepy moments, some action, humour and just about a bit of everything in Buffy.
American Horror Story
If you’re not scared of creepy and
downright disturbing content, give American Horror Story a watch. Some of the things on this show are so creepy that I was kind of surprised they allowed it on TV? The characters and plot change each season which is pretty cool and unique for a show and also keeps the suspense high, so the mysteries aren't dragged on and on to the point of getting dull. Thus
far, Murder House and Coven are my favourite Seasons. The Sixth Season has recently started airing and the Halloween episode is always spectacular and creepy, so definitely keep an eye out for that.
Looking for some blog post inspiration? Since conjuring up and planning 31 blog posts for Blogtober, I've acquired a wealth of ideas for blog posts. Here are some which will hopefully give you some inspiration!
Lifestyle & Style
- Share your day in 24 photos or 60 seconds if you want to branch into video format! Or maybe even both if you’re up for a multimedia challenge
- Go on a date with yourself and document it
- Share your favourite things about blogging/being an internet babe
- Write the recipe for the perfect day
- A list of good things for bad days
- Write a post raising awareness for a cause you really care about
- Share some tips for productivity and time management
- Did you have any childhood obsessions?
- Share some inspirational quotes and why you love them
- A classic what’s in my bag or a what’s on my bag (for any badge, pin, and accessory fans)
- Share your favourite seasonal outfit
- Share your favourite lounge wear
- Share and outfit of the day and your thoughts on each piece/what it means to you, and how it fits into your personal style
- Share the evolution of your personal style, your taste in music, makeup etc.
- Write a posts sharing your collections- makeup, books, badges/pins, hairbands, merch etc.
- Spread some internet love and share your favourite bloggers and youtubers
- Share some dreams – from your childhood and your current dreams
- Write about the inspirational figures in your life (fictional or not)
- What are your hobbies? Write a post for beginners and how to get into it –where to start.
- A themed wishlist or current wishlist (because everyone loves a bit of online shopping)
Books, & everything else
- Recent reads and your thoughts
- Cosy reads for colder months
- Books you are determined to read by the end of the year!
- Reasons to be excited for recent releases/upcoming releases
- Share your favourite book quotes
- Pick up a newspaper/old book and create some blackout poetry + share the process!
- Your favourite books/films/TV of all time
- Create a themed playlist and share it (seasonal, by genre, the possibilities are endless)
- Apps that make life so much easier/ your essential apps
- Create a themed recommended reading list (eg recommended Halloween reads, recommend reading for nerds/for fans of …. etc.)
I hope you found some inspiration or just had a nice time perusing these ideas! Thanks for reading and have a lovely day!
PS. let me know if you're doing blogtober too!
G O O D R E A D S // T W I T T E R // I N ST A G R A M // B L O G L O V I N'
PS. let me know if you're doing blogtober too!
G O O D R E A D S // T W I T T E R // I N ST A G R A M // B L O G L O V I N'
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is without a dobut my favorite TV show. It's been such a is a huge part of my life, imbued with nostalgia, childhood memories and just a general feeling of happiness. To me it's a timeless tv show, I'll probably still be re-watching Buffy until old and grey and love it just as much as I did when I was younger. Over the years I've accumulated a lot of Buffy related merch and I thought it'd be fun to share my collection! Plus a good excuse to get all my old merch out and reminisce.
First up I have this Buffy Flannel, which I've never used and now don't want to break that cycle.I think I bought it from ebay around the time I was first allowed to go on the internet (makes me feel old.) I also have x2 Buffy Postcards and a Cordelia Postcard. Fun fact: Cordelia was one of my favourite Buffy characters, I seemed to overlook the fact that she was pretty mean, but I really admired her confidence and sass!
I'm pretty sure this Buffy mug came with an easter egg my parents bought me! It has a photo of Buffy and the quote 'I have a strategy, you're not in it' on the other side. The quote is said by Buffy to Wesley when he's interfering with her slaying! I've had the mug in storage for absolutely ages but I've just started using it for my makeup brushes. Yay for usefulness!
Also pictured is a witch pez. If you're a Buffy fan you might remember Oz gifting Willow a witch pez dispenser in season three. It's not the same one but it's similar and reminded me of that episode, so obviously I bought it! .I think I actually bought it whilst on a day trip to France during my Primary school days. You can totally tell I was obssessed with Buffy to extent that even abroad, I scouted out something Buffy related to buy! I also remember buying a Buffy magazine (in french) because I thought it was cool and I was sure that one day I'd learn to speak French (spoiler: that day has yet to come!) I guess it was a Buffy filled school trip.
I''m sure this Buffy Tin also came with an Easter Egg. It's a really pretty purple and silver colour and really good quality so I've been using it for a good few years to store bits and pieces in. Plus, it makes great decoration!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds, PS2 game. This game is so much fun and is definitely one of my favourite games from my childhood! You get to play as a different character for each level, and I remember playing the multiplayer mode with my brother and sister all the time! I also have this Buffy pencil tin which I store my Buffy trading cards in. I was always too scared to store my everyday pens and pencils in it because I was so scared it might get scratched! (and still kind of worried so I keep it hidden and safe!)
Ah my DIY Buffy stickers. I was a crafty kid, and I was so obsessed with Buffy, I would literally cut out photos of anything to do with Buffy case from magazines, and make them into stickers with my trusty sticker maker (which I still have and use!) Not sure what I was planning on using them for but I still have them in my sticker book, and look fondly at them from time to time.
I literally have a folder just full of Buffy related clippings from magazines, packaging and random other Buffy related bits. Again, I'm not sure what I planned on using them for? Maybe just to horde!? I also have the packaging for a lost Buffy mouse mat and book light (r.i.p.)
ONTO the objects which were once my pride and joy. There used to be a Forbidden Planet in my town, and every time my Mum would take me and my sister into town, we insisted on going to Forbidden Planet. And in Forbidden Planet, I would fangirl over all the figurines. I absolutely adored them and remember always being so so excited to add to my little collection. Above are figurines of Willow and Tara (two in one pack!) & Anya (from the iconic musical episode!)
x2 Two Wesley figures
I'm honestly not sure why I have two figures of him, because I don't remember having any particular love for him? Looking back he was a pretty entertaining character though. I guess I was subconsciously secretly in love with him!?
Buffy Trading Cards & Half a pack of Top Trumps. Because I was so young, and didn't have the money to buy a lot of merch, I often ended up just buying a pack of trading cards (despite having no one but my sister to trade with.) I even got one of the special cards, with a piece of the coat Warren wore in the episode 'Seeing Red' I was pretty stoked about that.
AND ALSO HOW COOL IS THIS!?!
At first it might just seem like a photo of a door, no big deal, but on the door I have the same poster Buffy and Willow have on their dorm room door, and even better, it's about all about CHOCOLATE. The poster has little images depicting different chocolate treats and even has some little facts about chocolate at the bottom. It's pretty snazzy.
Some things I know I have somewhere but couldn't find include: a Buffy bag made from purple velvet, a 12" figurine of Buffy and another of Oz, the Buffy Soundtracks 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album' and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Radio Sunnydale' as well as the 'Once More With Feeling' soundtrack. I also have a ton of Buffy magazines that I bought every time I visited WH Smith, and also the DVD box set! I distinctly remember being around the age of twelve and coming home, eating some food and then spending the evening watching a couple of episodes every day after school until I got through all seven seasons!
I have so many happy memories associated with Buffy and writing about all my merch and my strange but sweet childhood obsession with Buffy makes twenty one year old me happy.
I'd love to know if you had any childhood obsessions!?
or were a Buffy obsessed youth like me!??!
G O O D R E A D S // T W I T T E R // I N ST A G R A M // B L O G L O V I N'
or were a Buffy obsessed youth like me!??!
G O O D R E A D S // T W I T T E R // I N ST A G R A M // B L O G L O V I N'
Hey everyone! I've been watching anime for a few years now and one of my absolute favourite things about anime, is that there is just so much choice. So many genres and so many amazing stories and characters that are hard to find elsewhere. So today I'm sharing six different anime I really love and would recommend to everyone!
For friendships and slow burning romance
For friendships and slow burning romance
Kimi Ni Todoke
Kimi Ni Todoke is a cross between a slice of life anime, showing everyday life of characters with a comedy and drama undertone. It follows the misunderstood Sawako, and the friendships and relationships she develops, after an encounter with Kazehaya, a popular and energetic boy in her class. Sawako such a cute little cinnamon roll. She's kind to everyone, humble, and always tries her best, even in the worst of circumstances. Her shy and kind nature is often misinterpreted by her peers as creepiness, however she always does her best to be helpful despite her undeserved reputation. (Although some of her facial expressions are quite creepy… in a cute way). Some parts were a little frustrating (especially in the second season) but it’s just adorable and so lovely to watch.
FOR ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALWAYS TRY YOUR BEST
Love Live!
After hearing that their high school is closing due to lack
of student applications, Honoka, with the help her two friends Umi and Kotori and
decide to create a school idol group in an effort to boost the popularity of their school
and save it from closure! The series follows their failures and successes and all
the hard work they put in toward achieving their goals of competing and winning
the biggest school idol competition, Love Live! The whole cast of characters
have such dynamic and different personalities and its such a fun and refreshing
anime to watch. It’s all about always trying your best, and working hard to achieve
your goals and dreams with a positive attitude.
FOR LONERS AND OUTSIDERS
No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Unpopular!
Where do I start with this anime. It’s simultaneously entertaining,
comical, and uncomfortable to watch. The anime follows fifteen year old Tomoko
Kuroki, who spends her time reading manga, watching anime, and playing a ton of
dating sims, and is resolute that her life will change when she enters high
school and becomes a high school girl TM However, things don’t go to
plan and Watamote essentially follows the struggles of Tomoko as she tries to
figure things out. It's quite dark at times and might be a little hard to watch
for some people, (second hand embarrassment) but I think it's a very realistic
and sharp portrayal of social anxiety. The entire anime is from Tomoko’s
perspective and there are very, very few other characters, which makes it a
super interesting character exploration.
FOR ROBOTS AND A PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA
Neon Genesis Evangelion
This is the first anime I ever properly watched so it will
always have a special place in my heart. Apparently the Fightstar album ‘Grand unification’
was partially inspired by this anime, and as a huge Fightstar fan I had to
check it out. And boy am I glad I did! Set in a post-apocalyptic world
threatened by beings known as ‘angels,’ the story follows fourteen year old Shinji
who called by his father to pilot a giant robot, and battle the so called ‘angels.’
The fate of humanity hangs on Shinji and his fellow pilots and a whole host of
deeper and darker secrets are revealed. Whilst this anime is considered a psychological
drama, it does have some comical and light-hearted moments as well as deep,
psychologically dramatic moments. The ending is a little confusing but it’s all
about the journey really.
FOR ACTION, DRAMA, plot twists AND A LOT OF EMOTION
Attack on Titan
Set in a world where humanoid giants known as Titans roam
the world, humanity has barricaded themselves behind walls in order to survive.
After a hundred years of the walls existence however, one titan breaks through
the walls and sets off a whole load of drama, plot twists and action. The
series follows Erin, his adoptive sister Misaka, and their friend Erin as they
join the Survey Corps, a military unit who are trained to go outside the walls
and combat titans. Attack on Titan is one of those super popular anime that
have tons of hype surrounding it, and rightfully so. This anime was so amazing
I managed to watch the entire 25 episodes in two days. Needless to say it’s got
some super addictive qualities.
FOR a fun CHARACTER DRIVEN comedy
Himouto! Umaru-chan
Himouto! Umaru-chan is another slice of life anime, following the daily adventures of Umara, a high school girl who seems to be ‘perfect’ girl – kind, popular and an overachiever, however as soon as she gets home she transforms into a lazy otaku. As a slice of life anime, there’s not much in terms of an extensive plot - it’s more about the characters and their lives. It’s funny, lots of fun to watch and it has some cute moments. It’s a great anime to watch if you’re in the mood for something fun and funny, or something to cheer yourself up!
Do you watch any anime? or any of the above!? let me know + feel free to leave me some recommendations, I'd love to hear them!
Some Current Favourites
First up, I've really been enjoying experimenting with drawing and watercolours. I recently bought a pretty cheap set of watercolours (to add to my collection) because the colour range was so extensive and I am a little bit lazy (but seriously look at those colours.) I also made the magnets below from polymer clay and some paint. They were initially intended to be a gift but I messed them up a bit and I’m not convinced they’re up to gift standard. They got a little smudged and the drawing went a bit wrong so I had to abandon ship on some of my initial designs which was a little disappointing. I’m proud of them though and they still look kind of cute in my opinion. Plus I glazed them with glitter glaze, yep, glitter glaze.
Next up, I've been reading Battle Royale for the past couple of days, and man it's good. The size of the book (600 pages) was intimidating me for the longest time and I feel like such a fool because it's pretty addictive and great. It's quite gory and a very disturbing. The story is set in a dystopian Asia in which a class of middle school kids are forced to fight each other to the death. It's essentially the original Hunger Games and it's damn good so far.
And finally I just wanted to show how cute these little glass jars are. I picked them up from Wilko / Wilkinsons a few days ago and seriously, how adorable are they!? They have little pastel lids and contain pastel coloured pegs and clips. I use clips and paperclips a lot and the little pegs will come in handy for hanging things in an aesthetically pleasing manner! So cute I might just cry.
What are you guys loving at the moment?
And let me know if you're doing Blogtober too!
I've been neglecting this blog for a couple of weeks now (laptop troubles, it's a long and ultimately boring story) so I figured why not write a post that is pretty and lovely to counteract all my technical troubles. I also really admire my skills in making this title so long it could be mistaken for a Panic! at the Disco song.
A while ago, I decided my walls looked a little bare, so I made things happen and bought myself some art prints. My two criteria were pink and fandom related. Pink because it looks great against my turquoise walls, and fandom inspired because I’ve been super into my fandoms and fictional worlds lately and what better way to decorate my space than with aesthetically pleasing art of things I love.
I found some stunning art by super talented artists on Etsy and Redbubble. I ordered the Redbubble prints in ‘postcard’ size so they’re super cute and can fit anywhere! Take that limited wall space.
I’ve been a little Steven Universe crazy recently. A while back I wrote a post all about why you should give it a watch, and last week I even made some Steven Universe inspired clothing purchases. Needless to say, I'm in deep. I bought these four Steven Universe prints - dancing Pearl, Rose and Lion, the Crystal Gem squad, and the last one featuring everyone's favourite treat, Cookie Cat! They're all so amazing and visually pleasing, I couldn't be happier!
A while ago, I decided my walls looked a little bare, so I made things happen and bought myself some art prints. My two criteria were pink and fandom related. Pink because it looks great against my turquoise walls, and fandom inspired because I’ve been super into my fandoms and fictional worlds lately and what better way to decorate my space than with aesthetically pleasing art of things I love.
I found some stunning art by super talented artists on Etsy and Redbubble. I ordered the Redbubble prints in ‘postcard’ size so they’re super cute and can fit anywhere! Take that limited wall space.
I’ve been a little Steven Universe crazy recently. A while back I wrote a post all about why you should give it a watch, and last week I even made some Steven Universe inspired clothing purchases. Needless to say, I'm in deep. I bought these four Steven Universe prints - dancing Pearl, Rose and Lion, the Crystal Gem squad, and the last one featuring everyone's favourite treat, Cookie Cat! They're all so amazing and visually pleasing, I couldn't be happier!
As for other fandoms, I bought some Adventure Time, video game, and music inspired prints. The first Adventure Time print is so cool and mixes the characters with a video game theme! The next print is inspired by one of my favourite quotes from the game The Last of Us, and the third is inspired by the game Life is Strange! Video games are kind of a theme here. Lastly, I have a Melanie Martinez, 'Crybaby' inspired print and it's just perfect. Melanie Martinez is one of my fav female singers and I find her creativity super inspiring and this print always reminds me of that.
Finally, from Etsy I purchased these amazing portraits of Stevonnie from Steven Universe and Princess Bubblegum from Adventure Time. Stevonnie (and Connie) are some of my favourite characters and I absolutely adore the art style of these! This concludes my art print haul, I love them all so much and I'm super excited to put them all up!
Thanks for reading & have a great day!
Happy September everyone! It's no secret that I love badges and pins, I even wrote a post about my collection a while ago which motivated to expand my collection. So I've complied a wishlist of badges I would love to have in my collection and today I'm sharing them! Most of these badges are from Etsy as I'm a firm believer in supporting independent artists, and let's be real, Etsy is the best place for really unique and cute pieces!
I picked a bunch of cute badges that reflect the things I love and things that are important to me. A lot of Steven Universe, some Adventure Time, an adorable Life is Strange badge, a crybaby Sailor Moon, a cute little Pokemon badge (Buneary is one of my favourites) and a quote from Buffy! I also love the grl pwr badge, because feminism, and the fur club badge because body hair is not a crime + when I was younger I used to call eyebrows 'fur' so this badge is a perfect throwback!
I picked a bunch of cute badges that reflect the things I love and things that are important to me. A lot of Steven Universe, some Adventure Time, an adorable Life is Strange badge, a crybaby Sailor Moon, a cute little Pokemon badge (Buneary is one of my favourites) and a quote from Buffy! I also love the grl pwr badge, because feminism, and the fur club badge because body hair is not a crime + when I was younger I used to call eyebrows 'fur' so this badge is a perfect throwback!
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Which is your favourite!? Do you have any favourite places to buy badges from?
So, I've been watching Steven Universe recently, and I'm kind of obsessed. Steven Universe is a cartoon following the lovable adventures of Steven and the Crystal Gems, who are essentially space aliens protecting the earth. Steven, a half human, half gem spends his time navigating life as a kid, as well as saving the world, helping out with offical gem business and controlling his magical powers. Steven Universe is great, lovable and one of the best kids cartoons I've ever watched, I've come to adore it, so much so that I'm writing this blog post about it. Also, note how I skillfully incorporated a chunk of amethyst and a shooting star in the above photo, because Steven Universe is all about space gems. Nerd level intensifies.
Reasons to watch Steven Universe
Steven the 'Magical Boy' You've seen magical girls, now get ready for a magical boy! Steven is not the typical 'boy' character you'd usually find in cartoons. He's sensitive and naive but emotionally intelligent and kind. He possesses a lot of traits which are typically 'feminine' and which are often absent in the portrayal of male characters in cartoons. Steven's character is kick ass and magical in a new and different way, a way which disrupts gender conventions.
In fact the entire show scrambles and disregards plenty of gender conventions. Steven's father, the only other main male character on the show, is gentle, kind, and always has time for Steven. The Crystal Gems, are genderless but also very 'feminine' and use she/her pronouns. Steven lives with three gems, Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl, who are his mentors, teaching him how to use his gem power and have a close family bond. It's a break from the traditional cereal packet family and offers not just an alternative, but an alternative that is positive and shows how alternative family structures can work wonderfully. Steven Univere is also super inclusive, and one of the most open minded shows, normalising queer relationships, which is super important in a hetro-normative society! (especially through Garnet and Pearl, without spoiling anything!)
In fact the entire show scrambles and disregards plenty of gender conventions. Steven's father, the only other main male character on the show, is gentle, kind, and always has time for Steven. The Crystal Gems, are genderless but also very 'feminine' and use she/her pronouns. Steven lives with three gems, Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl, who are his mentors, teaching him how to use his gem power and have a close family bond. It's a break from the traditional cereal packet family and offers not just an alternative, but an alternative that is positive and shows how alternative family structures can work wonderfully. Steven Univere is also super inclusive, and one of the most open minded shows, normalising queer relationships, which is super important in a hetro-normative society! (especially through Garnet and Pearl, without spoiling anything!)
Well developed female characters
Pretty much all the main characters, with the exception of Steven and his Dad, are female or presented as female. This is super important for representation, especially for kids! Similarly, the characters are all different shapes, sizes and colours. All the characters have their own strengths and are amazing in their own ways, showing that no matter what you look like, you are awesome and can kick ass. The Gem's bodies are all different, but celebrated and accepted as great because they are what feels best for each gem. An important lesson we can all learn from.
Pretty much all the main characters, with the exception of Steven and his Dad, are female or presented as female. This is super important for representation, especially for kids! Similarly, the characters are all different shapes, sizes and colours. All the characters have their own strengths and are amazing in their own ways, showing that no matter what you look like, you are awesome and can kick ass. The Gem's bodies are all different, but celebrated and accepted as great because they are what feels best for each gem. An important lesson we can all learn from.
Voice acting
The voice acting is amazing and the cast features plenty of women of colour!! This show has my support 110% ALSO the music. Sometimes the characters burst into song and there are some really amazing songs. Stronger Than You was the first song that hit me in the heart, it's pretty damn amazing, just give it a listen. My other favourites include, Strong in the Real Way, Do It For Her, It's Over Isn't It?, Something Entirely New, and Tower of Mistakes. LISTEN and be amazed!
The voice acting is amazing and the cast features plenty of women of colour!! This show has my support 110% ALSO the music. Sometimes the characters burst into song and there are some really amazing songs. Stronger Than You was the first song that hit me in the heart, it's pretty damn amazing, just give it a listen. My other favourites include, Strong in the Real Way, Do It For Her, It's Over Isn't It?, Something Entirely New, and Tower of Mistakes. LISTEN and be amazed!
The story and overarching plot is clever and gets pretty intense! It reminds me a bit of a slice of life anime, showing the everyday life of Steven as a kid but also glimpses of Gem life and Gem adventures! It's upbeat and optimistic whilst dealing with serious topics. Steven never gives up and always sees the best in people (even when they're threatening to kill him.) It's so refreshing to see and watching an Steven Universe just makes me feel all warm and fluffy inside.
The Artwork is AMAZING
Steven Universe is set in a little beach town with magical goings on, and the artwork is super pretty. There are a lot of pinks, purples and blues and all the settings are so magical and visually pleasing!!
Peridot.
If none of the other reasons speak to you, give Steven Universe a watch just for Peridot. She's such a precious and hilarious character. She's a little gem from the gem homeland who gets stuck on earth, and has to adapt to life on earth. She's awkward, strange, and hilarious as she learns about humans and humanity. Also this gif:
The Artwork is AMAZING
Steven Universe is set in a little beach town with magical goings on, and the artwork is super pretty. There are a lot of pinks, purples and blues and all the settings are so magical and visually pleasing!!
Peridot.
If none of the other reasons speak to you, give Steven Universe a watch just for Peridot. She's such a precious and hilarious character. She's a little gem from the gem homeland who gets stuck on earth, and has to adapt to life on earth. She's awkward, strange, and hilarious as she learns about humans and humanity. Also this gif:
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Do you watch Steven Universe, or any other cartoons? Let me know!
I love badges. They’re cute, inexpensive and fun. They can symbolise literally anything - your interests, your passions, your favourite band to simply looking just plain cute. I've been a badge fanatic since my early teen years, (thanks emo phase) and my love for badges has never really faded. Badges are amazing because they give you an added level of customisation to your outfits and bags - you can pretty much pin them anywhere and curate a collection based on your personal interests and style. I love them so much I thought I'd share my small but meaningful collection!
The first two are my old school Paramore badges I bought way back when were still a four piece band. I’ve listened to them since I was a little baby teenager and even though the band has practically disintegrated, I still have a place in my heart for them. I bought a pack of four and two are pictured here. They’re pretty beat up but I like keeping them around as little reminders of my emo days. Plus, I still adore the 'Riot' artwork.
The first two are my old school Paramore badges I bought way back when were still a four piece band. I’ve listened to them since I was a little baby teenager and even though the band has practically disintegrated, I still have a place in my heart for them. I bought a pack of four and two are pictured here. They’re pretty beat up but I like keeping them around as little reminders of my emo days. Plus, I still adore the 'Riot' artwork.
The next three in the top row, are from when I apparently
got caught up in the keep calm and carry on trend. I’m not a patriotic person but
they remind me that sometimes things are beyond your control and the only thing
you can do about it, is keep yourself from freaking out and keep going. The
crown also came with the set and to be honest, I never really liked it, but
it could be kind of cute if you forget about it's association with the monarchy.
The badge in the second row is DOMO. Another teenage
purchase that I still love. I had a Domo obsession after seeing it on Nickelodeon
between programmes (probably SpongeBob) and bought another four pack of badges! I've got them all over the place because they're so cute and this is the only one I’m not currently using!
Then I have two badges with Joel and Ellie from the
PlayStation game ‘The Last of Us’ because it’s one of my favourite games in
existence! Seriously go and play that game if you’re looking for a great all round game- great story, characters, graphics, environment, gameplay +
zombies!!
I impulse bought the ‘will work for books’ badge from
Waterstones after triumphantly handing in some University essays last year. Apt
because I will work for (money to buy) books. Please hire me, Waterstones.
The final little blue badge is one that was gifted to me by
my sister, and has the initials AAR which stand for The All American Rejects –
probably the first band I ever considered my favourite. Ah nostalgia.
Next up are the badges I currently have on my backpack!, There are quite a few and it's a bit of a struggle to safely fit any more on!
Starting from the top left corner I have the sunglasses,
roller skate, and dreamer badge that I acquired at Dreamland in Margate whilst on a
trip. They are super cute and the most recent additions to my collection. I
thought the roller skate badge was hilarious because I went roller skating for
the first time and literally couldn’t get round the rink once without falling
over!
I bought the orange ‘masterpiece’ badge from the Tate Modern
gift shop on a school trip for my GCSE art class in 2010/11 (ages ago!) I stuck
this one on my bag a couple of months ago after stumbling upon it and deciding
that yes, I am a masterpiece, and so is this backpack.
And then I have a bunch of ‘The Last of Us’ badges and
another Paramore one, and finally another keep calm and carry on badge!
On the bottom section of my backpack I only have three badges because they always seem to get knocked off and lost! I have
yet another (really beat up) Paramore badge, another DOMO badge, this time adorably peeking out from an egg shell, and a peace badge because I am a peace loving fairy who wants a kinder and more accepting world.
And that's it! With the increased popularity of pins and badges, there seems to be more choice than ever, which means it's become so much easier to find something great! ! I want to buy some more from independent artists (etsy is a badge and pin goldmine) and some more with political slogans (feminism) and cute nerdy badges (steven universe at the moment!)
And that's it! With the increased popularity of pins and badges, there seems to be more choice than ever, which means it's become so much easier to find something great! ! I want to buy some more from independent artists (etsy is a badge and pin goldmine) and some more with political slogans (feminism) and cute nerdy badges (steven universe at the moment!)
Do you guys have any badges? + Let me know which badge is your favourite!?
I am a collector of quotes. I store them online, in notebooks, on long forgotten scraps of paper wedged between books and furniture. I keep them everywhere and anywhere. I am constantly in awe of writers who can translate thoughts and feelings and everything that makes us human into words. SO today, I’m sharing some of my most treasured quotes I’ve come across in my reading journey. I hope they speak to your heart the way they speak to mine!
1)
'We are not quite novels.
We are not quite short stories.
In the end, we are collected works'
- The Storied Life of A.J Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
I adore this book because it’s literally a book about books, and more importantly about how books can bring people together. It’s heart-warming and definitely a great summer read! This quote, is a bookish metaphor for life and there’s nothing I love more. I think it speaks for itself really, about how each chapter of our life can be so different, but collectively they are the things that make us who we are.
2)
'In new situations, all the trickiest rules are the ones nobody bothers to explain to you. (And the ones you can't Google)'
- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Cath, the protagonist in Fangirl, was the first character I truly felt I could relate to. And this quote solidified my love for Fangirl, and Rainbow Rowell. It’s one of those unspoken things that I think a lot of ‘quiet’ people, and over thinkers will understand.
3)
'Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.'
- A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
4)
'All Animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others'
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
George Orwell does a good job of depicting manipulative and deceptive leaders in Animal Farm, and this quote feels pretty apt at the moment. From an intersectional feminist standpoint, this seems to be an unspoken rule in politics and social issues. Whilst England has more equality than some other countries, it doesn’t mean everyone experiences that equality, especially when everyone is patting themselves on the back, under the delusion that systematic oppression and inequality don’t exist. Rant over, but seriously this quote makes me think about all the inequalities that are dusted under the carpet.
5)
'I'll never know, and neither will you, of the life you don't choose. We'll only know that whatever that sister life was, it was important and beautiful and not ours. It was the ghost ship that didn't carry us. There's nothing to do but salute it from the shore.'
- Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Stayed
I have to admit, this is from a book I haven’t actually read. But I stumbled upon it on goodreads and it’s a quote I think about a lot. Like a lot. It’s such a beautiful quote about letting go of ‘what could have been. It keeps me from overthinking and getting sad about all the lives I didn’t, and will never lead. Instead of dwelling, we salute to the paths we didn’t choose, and move forward.
6)
“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.'
- The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
I love Sylvia Plath and her only published novel The Bell Jar so much, I desperately need to give it a reread. This quote is so well known, and always reminds me to be grounded and present, that I exist in this present moment. It reminds me that I am alive right now and writing these words.
BONUS:
'You can never be overdressed or overeducated' - Oscar Wilde
I don’t know which work this is from, or it it’s even correctly attracted to him, but I live by this quote. READ BOOKS, LISTEN, LEARN, AND WEAR PRETTY CLOTHES ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
That's all the quotes I'm sharing today! I have about ten million stashed away but I manged to whittle it down to these! I hope you enjoyed this post, I had so much fun picking out these quotes. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
What are some of your favourite quotes!? I'd love to hear them!
52 thoughts is a weekly post featuring some of the messy and honest thoughts running through Rosario's mind. From serious issues, to lighthearted whimsical thoughts, each post is unique and thoughtfully crafted.
This isn't a beauty or makeup blog, but today I am admitting my honest and ardent love for blush, and showing off a couple of my absolute favourites!
A couple of years ago, my Mum gifted me an adorable set of makeup. Everything was packaged in matching pastel pink polka dot design and came in a bustier shaped bag (pretty amazing, am I right!?) And within that bag was my first blush. My first blush that I probably only used once, before casting it aside, because 1) I didn’t know how to apply blush properly and 2) Honestly, I was scared of being seen with badly applied makup. I didn’t want to try because I knew I’d have to go through the phase of getting to grips with applying it, and then wearing the unsightly results on my face. So I never wore blush, and stuck to simply foundation.
Fast forward a couple of years and I’m gifted another blush, but this time I use it more than once. I find some inspiration on Pinterest and YouTube, carefully apply it to my cheeks, and decide, ‘hey this doesn’t look half bad,’ and never look back. I’ve literally fallen so in love with blush, it’s become a makeup essential; If I’m wearing makeup, you can 100% bet I’m wearing blush, and probably a lot of it. Putting pink glittery stuff on my cheeks just makes me look and feel amazing. I stopped caring about applying makeup 'correctly' and decided that if I think I look cute, then I look cute.
My first love
This is the blush I fell in love with. Love at First Blush by Soap & Glory. It’s quite lightly pigmented but you can build it up. But my absolute favourite thing about this blush, is its highlighting qualities. It’s like blush that doubles up as a highlight and makes my cheeks look all glowy and radiant. It’s quite glittery, but I’m firmly in camp ‘wear glitter all day everyday’ to the extent that my everyday eyeliner is of the glittery metallic kind, needless to say, I adore the glitter. There’s just something about a super pink, glittery, and glowing cheek that makes me want to check myself out in every reflective surface available. It makes me feel all girly and lovely inside.
An old friend
After realising my mistake in so hastily casting blush aside, I dug out the only other blush I owned - that pretty little polka dotted one, which shares it's case with a bronzer. I’m aware that using old makeup is very questionable (very bad and never encouraged) but the pigmentation on this thing is amazing. What this blush can do in one stroke, it takes the soap and glory blush five strokes to achieve. I love it so much and pretty much use it every day. And to think that I once cast it aside...
I also purchased a blush from The Body Shop, hoping the pigmentation could rival my much adored polka dot blush, but sadly that was not the case (still a nice blush though, just have to build the colour up!) If you have any recommendations for any strongly pigmented blushes, I implore you to leave a comment! Thus, my journey into the world of blush continues.
I've had a lot of fun writing this post, especially as it’s a topic I’ve never really delved into before. I feel like I’ve gained a little insight into the charm of beauty blogging! Who knows. maybe I’ll write about my infatuation with winged eyeliner next!?
How do you guys feel about blush?
Do you love it? Hate it? Have no real feelings towards it? Let me know!
& please, please, please, leave some recommendations for very pigmented blushes!
‘Being
unhappy with what we are, or have may seem frivolous but it is inherently human’
I.D. begins mid-sentence of the three meeting for the first time. They don’t know the other’s backgrounds, and nor do we. We are introduced to the characters the same way the characters are introduced to each other. As the graphic novel is so short, little is revealed about the characters as the story progresses; however we are presented with a short snippet of their lives and their reasons for considering the body transplant. We’re forced to focus on the characters in that present moment, on the immediacy of their reactions, thoughts and feelings about their planned transplants, rather than extensive character development. It’s an approach that’s true to life, in the sense that you don’t get an automatic backstory for every person you encounter in life, you meet them at a specific time in their life and can only gather what they choose to reveal. It’s an interesting approach and definitely one to make you think.
The characters include Noa, a Trans man, Mike, an ex-convict, and Charlotte, a seemingly bored woman with a history of depression. They’re thrown together through their mutual consideration of the body transplant. Their interactions are humorous, as are their contrasting personalities. Whilst they are only together for a short time, we get a real sense of their personality thought their actions, which is emphasised through Rio’s amazing art and attention to detail.
The entire graphic novel is completed in shades of red. Whilst this is sometimes a little confusing during some of the few action scenes, it works well. The hues of red depict a sense of mystery and urgency, making this graphic novel feel really unique. If there’s one thing I absolutely loved, it’s the layout of this graphic novel. Rios overlays the wider image with smaller and cleverly placed boxes, often in sequences of squares and circles, depicting smaller details, especially facial expressions, through which we learn a lot about the characters. They give little inklings of their personality and inner workings that otherwise go unexpressed.
Whilst this graphic novel does not go into huge detail, it also throws up some questions about the ethics of procedures by big medical corporations and meshes a largely unexplained and unexplored dystopian and sci-fi setting with questions of identity. I.D is a brief but interesting read.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
The booktubeathon has come to an end. I read a total of three books, a total I am very okay with. It's not the seven I had planned, but when does life ever go according to plan? In fact, I'm pleased to have just finished a single book!
The books I read:
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
The Yellow Wallpaper (including two other short stories) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Old Nurse's Story (including another short story) by Elizabeth Gaskell
Everything started well, I started reading Saint Anything and got quite a lot read on Monday and Tuesday. Then I stopped reading for a couple of days mid-week (hump day is real + I graduated so that was a thing that happened and took up my time) and then I was hit by the realisation that I’m done with education for reals and spent the next couple of days eating copious amounts of chocolate, no regrets. On the final day, I powered through two short story books and finished Saint Anything, thanks to some twitter sprints, which were so much fun I was sad to have missed all the previous sprints! I will probably share my thoughts in more depth and write some reviews on them later, so keep an eye out for those!
For the reading challenges, I managed to read a book by one of my favourite authors- Saint Anything and a book that’s older than me – both The Yellow Wallpaper and The Nurse’s Tale are applicable! I’m slowly but surely going to continue with reading the books I had planned to read for this readathon. I’m super excited to continue making my way through these books and participating in the booktubeathon has definitely reignited my love for reading! I’m so pleased and excited for all the books to come! The booktubeathon may have come to an end but my reading will continue deep into the night! (and day)
The Old Nurse's Story (including another short story) by Elizabeth Gaskell
Everything started well, I started reading Saint Anything and got quite a lot read on Monday and Tuesday. Then I stopped reading for a couple of days mid-week (hump day is real + I graduated so that was a thing that happened and took up my time) and then I was hit by the realisation that I’m done with education for reals and spent the next couple of days eating copious amounts of chocolate, no regrets. On the final day, I powered through two short story books and finished Saint Anything, thanks to some twitter sprints, which were so much fun I was sad to have missed all the previous sprints! I will probably share my thoughts in more depth and write some reviews on them later, so keep an eye out for those!
For the reading challenges, I managed to read a book by one of my favourite authors- Saint Anything and a book that’s older than me – both The Yellow Wallpaper and The Nurse’s Tale are applicable! I’m slowly but surely going to continue with reading the books I had planned to read for this readathon. I’m super excited to continue making my way through these books and participating in the booktubeathon has definitely reignited my love for reading! I’m so pleased and excited for all the books to come! The booktubeathon may have come to an end but my reading will continue deep into the night! (and day)
Peace out xoxo
Today I'm sharing some secrets. The secrets behind how I made it to every one of my 9ams, on top of a two hour commute. And on top of that, I had another lecture at 10am, a break and then a one hour seminar. I’m not going to lie, it was pretty grueling. Some days (let’s be real, most days) I was super tired and running on less than six hours sleep, but I made it, and made it out alive. Here’s how I did it, and how you can to.
Some things you’ll need:
An alarm clock, the will to resist the snooze button, determination, motivation, perseverance, preparation, snacks and maybe some coffee or an energy drink (or two)
Motivation – You have to have the determination to do it. My motivation was essentially that I knew I had to stop myself from snowballing into bad habits. I knew if I missed one lecture, I could easily start making excuses for missing subsequent lectures and I didn’t want that to happen. I knew I could snowball easily, so I put in the effort to make it to every single one.
Alarms – DON’T press the snooze button. I know how tempting it is, especially when you’re waking up super early in the winter and it’s still dark outside. In my experience, snoozing just makes me feel even more tired, and makes it so much harder to fully wake up and get going.
Preparation – I feel like a mum saying this but prepare everything the night before. That means planning, preparing, and making your breakfast and lunch the night before, putting everything you need in your bag so you can literally just pick it up and go in the morning, planning what clothes you’re going to wear. Pack it all before you go to sleep so you can get as much rest as possible and so you don’t have to rush around in the morning whilst you’re tired, groggy, and probably sleep deprived. Pack some snacks to keep you going and some music to lift your soul and mood.
Get to sleep early and get ready for your early morning. I know I slipped up a couple of times experienced some regret whilst I was struggling to stay awake during my lectures and suffering through my day, but I made it out alive.
It’s not all bad though. One of the ultimate perks of being up early is seeing the sunrise. The amalgamations of pinks, oranges, purples and blues never cease to amaze me, it’s always pretty and pretty amazing to witness. After powering through such long days, I’m pretty sure I’m invincible, or at the very least, can do anything I set my mind to.
Peace out xoxo
This year, I've read about four whole books and started but not completed a countless number. Seriously, there have been so many. I miss reading and feeling enthusiastic about books, so I've decided to participate in the Booktubeathon!
The Booktubeathon, is a readathon with challenges, giveaways, twitter sprints and a whole load of other book related goodness, which celebrates books and discussing books on the internet (and also reading as much as possible in a week.) Ariel's video tells you everything you need to know, so check it out if you're interested because let's be honest, Ariel can explain it all better than me!
The readathon runs for a week, starting July 18th and runs to the 24th, and seems like the perfect way to inject some much needed reading into my life. Whilst I don't make booktube videos (or any videos for that matter... yet) I'm a pretty big fan of booktube and seeing all the TBR videos pop up has infected me with booktubeathon fever.
To make things interesting there are some reading challenges, which I of course, am going to try my best to complete. Challenge accepted as the memes would say.
The 2016 Reading Challenges:
1/ Read a book with yellow on the cover.
2/ Read a book only after sunset.
3/ Read a book you discovered through booktube.
4/ Read a book by one of your favourite authors.
5/ Read a book that is older than you.
6/ Read and watch a book-to-movie adaptation.
7/ Read seven books.
My very last minute to be read list for the booktubeathon!
Cell by Stephen King
This was perhaps my only unread book with yellow on the cover and since it is a horror, what better time to read it than after sunset? Not entirely sure what this book entails, but it has something to do with zombies, and as a bit of a zombie fan, I'm super excited to read this!
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
I remember seeing this series everywhere on booktube, and it definitely persuaded me to give it a chance. It's a young adult fantasy novel and apparently it's amazing!? Hope it lives up to the hype! Also, the author has pink hair. Pink hair you guys.
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
I have been intending to read this book for about a year, so it's got to happen this week. I'm going to read it! Dessen was my fav author growing up so this definitely counts towards a book by one of my favourite authors!
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The hype around this book has died down a bit, so it's time for me to give it a read. I'm also planning on watching the movie adaptation. Don't hate me but I actually really enjoy book to movie adaptations... *hides under a fort of books*
Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig
This book is everywhere. I've read The Humans by Haig and quite liked it so I figured why not give this one ago. I'm expecting a lot of honesty and I am very intrigued.
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
A Penguin Little Black Classic and short story with feminist undertones? Short and meaningful, what's not to like?
The Old Nurse's Song by Elizabeth Gaskell
I read North and South last year and absolutely loved it. This Penguin Little Black Classic is definitely older than me, and consists of two gothic fairy tales written in the 1800s. Short stories are definitely a reoccurring theme in this TBR, mostly to get me up to seven books, but also because I've really enjoyed short stories in the past, and they're a nice way to ease yourself back into reading.
And those are the seven books I'm going to be reading! To be honest, whilst I enjoy a challenge, I'm not sure how many books I'll manage to read. I'm graduating next week (eek) and then I have to get back to stressing out about jobs, and you know, figuring out what I'm going to do with my life. #graduateproblems I may not know what I'm doing with my life, but I do know what books I'll be reading next week!
Are you partipating in the Booktubeathon, leave your TBR videos, posts, or simply a comment below! I love reading TBR posts! Or simply leave me a comment about the next book you're planning on reading!
Peace out xoxo
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