2016 accomplishments

Needless to say, 2016 has been pretty dreadful. Politically and socially the world seems an increasingly unstable place. Between Brexit, Trump, and further escalation in the middle east, it’s not been a great year. Fascism and racism have gone unchallenged in the mainstream media and it's really disappointing and frightening.

Personally, 2016 didn't go according to my (very loose) plans and has been full of ups and downs. It felt like an impossible year, and has gone by in a bit of a blur.  I spent the first half of the year trying to write two dissertations in a very sleep deprived and stressed out state, and the rest slipping in and out of a void, trying to keep my head above water. It's been hard and slow and challenging but I've been trying to spark some positivity and optimism back into my December bones. Following in that spirit, here are an assortment of things I accomplished this year.

how i journal

There is no right or wrong way to journal. You simply open your journal and create. My journal is a bit of a combination of daily life entries and art journal pages. Sometimes I'll go all out with my art supplies, and other times I'll simply pick up a pen and write. Sometimes I'll spend time planning and journal at my desk, but most of the time I just sit in bed and journal.

being a crybaby and seeing melanie martinez live!

A couple of months ago I tried out a Melanie Martinez inspired makeup look. I haven't worn eye shadow since my emo days (felt cool at the time, in retrospect not so much) so this was a pretty momentous occasion for me. I find Melanie Martinez a very inspirational figure. Her style, her creativity, her music, it all inspires me greatly and makes me want to be more creative in absolutely everything I do. So I pulled together a couple of outfits that fit the crybaby aesthetic. My crybaby colour palette consists of white for hope and innocence, pink for kindness, red for passion, and blue for those crybaby tears.

a pop punk peach playlist

nerdy gifts!

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 

fictional character inspired purchases

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

autumn essentials

Autumn isn’t my favourite season, it's cold and dark and not much fun. So I decided to put together a little autumn survival guide, my autumn essentials, if you will. The things I think are nice to have in autumn and kind of counter all the cold and darkness.

favourite apps & a digital detox

Recently, I’ve been on a bit of a digital cleanse. I’ve been riding my phone and computer of all the apps and programs that I have no real need for. I'm a fan of technology and really believe that when it's used right we can do so many amazing things. But I also feel a bit over-saturated with apps and junk that I don't necessarily need, that don't enrich or add anything positive to my life. They just waste my time but not in the good relaxing way. So I got rid of them.

And so I'm sharing the good ones, the apps that I find the most useful and helpful in everyday life, productivity and creativity.

a witchy ootd

I've always admired fashion bloggers but honestly never though I would make an ootd post myself, even though I am super into personal style. I adore the feeling of crafting an aesthetic and vibe that makes me feel empowered and amazing. There's something about the act of putting different articles of clothing together that really appeals to me. For me, personal style is an act of creativity. So, I figured why not make an ootd post?

The only thing holding me back was my camera shyness. I grew up so super camera shy and I'm not even exaggerating here. At one point during school I literally cried because I didn't want to be in a school photo. Pretty extreme, pretty dramatic. I guess whilst I'm never going to be a fashion blogger, this is like a little triumph for me, a little victory over any appearance and photo related issues I've had in the past. Go me!



This is one of my favourite outfits to wear and it coincidentally has a real witchy vibe to it. I will pretty much wear this outfit anywhere and everywhere, so I guess I'd consider myself witchy all year round. It's the perfect combination of comfy and cute.

Ingredients for the perfect witchy outfit:

this is halloween: a halloween playlist

I'm a general fan of all things creepy, so as a music obsessed individual I extend that to music as well. The songs either have creepy titles, creepy sounds, creepy lyrics, or just overall creepy vibes. I personally love this playlist and think it may be one of my favourites, I hope you discover something to get you into the creepy Halloween mood!

The Spotify playlist is below! I've had it on repeat all week!

Have a great day and a happy Saturday! 

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'

spooky tv and film to watch this halloween

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. 

30 lifestyle and book blog post ideas!

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

1. 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
2. Go on a date with yourself and document it
3. Share your favourite things about blogging/being an internet babe
4. Write the recipe for the perfect day
5. A list of good things for bad days
6. Write a post raising awareness for a cause you really care about
7. Share some tips for productivity and time management
8. Did you have any childhood obsessions?
9. Share some inspirational quotes and why you love them
10. A classic what’s in my bag or a what’s on my bag (for any badge, pin, and accessory fans)
11. Share your favourite seasonal outfit 
12. Share your favourite lounge wear 
13. 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
14. Share the evolution of your personal style, your taste in music, makeup etc.
15. Write a posts sharing your collections- makeup, books, badges/pins, hairbands, merch etc.
16. Spread some internet love and share your favourite bloggers and youtubers
17. Share some dreams – from your childhood and your current dreams
18. Write about the inspirational figures in your life (fictional or not)
19. What are your hobbies? Write a post for beginners and how to get into it –where to start.
20. A themed wishlist or current wishlist (because everyone loves a bit of online shopping)

Books, & everything else

1. Recent reads and your thoughts
2. Cosy reads for colder months
3. Books you are determined to read by the end of the year!
4. Reasons to be excited for recent releases/upcoming releases
5. Share your favourite book quotes
6. Pick up a newspaper/old book and create some blackout poetry + share the process!
7. Your favourite books/films/TV of all time
8. Create a themed playlist and share it (seasonal, by genre, the possibilities are endless)
9. Apps that make life so much easier/ your essential apps
10. 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'

my buffy the vampire slayer merch collection

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'

✨ anime recommendations ✨

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  

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!

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'

A grrrl playlist

I haven't posted a playlist in forever, so today I''m sharing a Grrrl themed playlist. It's essentially a playlist containing empowering songs by some of favourite female musicians.

It's a playlist inspired by the Riot Grrrl movement which was essentially women taking music into their own hands and making music by themselves, for themselves, and challenging the male dominated music scene. Very feminist and very much my kind of thing. 

I divided this playlist into two parts - hard and soft. 

The hard songs to me, are songs that motivate me to get up and go, to challenge everything, and feel tough. They're about being angry, remaining strong and being true to yourself. They remind me that women can do and be anything. 

The soft songs are equally as strong and remind me that there is strength in being soft. They're very introspective and are comforting reminders that it’s okay to take your time. Most of them are soft in tone and sound, and the lyrics are some that I find uplifting or comforting in some way. 

GRRRL PLAYLIST

Tracklist

HARD

1. Gangsta- Kehlani
2. Rebel Girl – Bikini Kill
3. Glory and Gore – Lorde
4. Hurricane – Halsey
5. It’s My Life – No Doubt
6. Anklebiters – Paramore
7. Baptism – Crystal Castles
8. What You Waiting For? -  Gwen Stefani
9. Bad Reputation – Joan Jettt
10. Typical Girls – The Slits
11. Bad Girls – M.I.A
12. Oh Bondage, Up Yours! – X-Ray Spex
13. My House – Pvris
14. Gimme Chocolate!! – BABYMETAL

SOFT

1. Crybaby – Melanie Martinez
2. Eau D’bedroom Dancing – Le Tigre
3. I Am Not A Robot – Marina and the Diamonds
4. Lions! – LIGHTS
5. Before the World was Big - Girlpool
6. It’s My Party – Lesley Gore
7. Sugar Water – Cibo Matto
8. Super Rat - Honeyblood
9. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
10. What’s Up? - 4 Non Blondes

 Hope you enjoy and let me know which artists and musicians you have been listening to recently! I'm always looking for more great music from great women so definitely share some recommendations in the comments! 

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'

Some current favourites

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!

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'

✨ A very pink and fandom inspired art print haul ✨

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.

Pearl's Dance // Rose and Lion

The Crystal Gems // Cookie Cat 

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!

New High Score // Endure and Survive 

Max Caulfield // Crybaby

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. 

Stevonnie & Princess Bubblegum from NuitBlachnes on Etsy

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! 

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'

✨ a badge/pin wishlist ✨

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!

1) Steven Universe 'I Believe In...' // 2) Life is Strange // 3) Fur Club 

4) Sailor Moon Crybaby // 5) Eat Sleep Read // 6) Adventure Time

7) Adorable Buneary // 8) Buffy 'I'm a Slayer, Ask Me How' // 9) Grl Pwr

10) Adorable Steven Universe // 11) Twin Peaks 'Damn Fine Coffee' // 12) Steven Universe Assortment

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? 

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'

reasons to watch steven universe

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!)

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.

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 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:

Thanks for reading and have a great day! 

Do you watch Steven Universe, or any other cartoons? Let me know!

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'

✨ Badge Collection ✨

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 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!)

Do you guys have any badges? + Let me know which badge is your favourite!?

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'