Oh dear.

The last term of school was absolutely insane for me and I've neglected my blog, my reading list, my everything basically. -cringe!!!!- My Christmas break started about two weeks ago and I was granted a whole three days before coming down with the death cold. Knocked me out for a good week and half. I think it was my body's way of paying me back for the good month of stress the train wreck of a project I had.

I've missed blogging about things and I've so many drafts sat being waited to typed up it's honestly pathetic. I promise times a million to post regularly! It's one of my New Years resolutions! [Future post, hint hint ;)] I want to document my Christmas of things I purchased for my family and friends as well as what I was given because I'm more than thankful for all the amazing things I was given. I'm hoping to take photographs of the things and if I can find the products I gave away online I'll be sure to link them. :)

Holiday Question Themed Tag

I feel very very over due for a post so here's a Holiday Tag because I'm feeling holiday-ee.. if that is even a word. :) 

1. When do you usually know and feel that it's finally the holidays? 

It's kinda hard not to know because of all the retail excitement, but for me it really feels like the holiday begins on Thanksgiving. Going over to family members house just to enjoy the food and company really kick starts the holiday feeling. Though I will admit, I'm already in the mood for Christmas trees and such and it's only mid-November.

2. What do you want for Christmas this year? 

This Christmas all I'm really asking for is a Wacom Tablet because it's sort of a necessity for my career choice and will make my life 10x easier with projects. Little things would be Lorde's album, clothing, and just stocking stuffers. My stocking has always been my favorite part of Christmas morning present opening. 

3. Do you go all out with decorations? 

Not really. I hate the thought of putting it all away. I help decorate the tree and the front window but usually I get bored decorating very quickly.

4. What are you doing Christmas Eve? 

Traditionally, I'm usually baking cookies with my mom and then we go to church. We have a tradition usually to open one present on Christmas Eve but I've skipped that the last 3 years because it's just more fun to wait. 

5. What are you doing Christmas Day? 

Most of it will be spent in my PJ's around the house, then dinner is planned with the family later. 

6. It's Christmas time. What are you reading? 

Sales Ad's of course!

7. Favorite movie to watch during the holidays? 

My favorite holiday movies are going to get a groan from everyone because they're such main stream movies but I don't care. Elf, The Holiday and The Grinch. I'm also quite fond of A Misers Christmas on ABC Family. Nostalgic reasons.   

8. Favorite Christmas song? 

Oh... I don't think I have a favorite. Silver Bells maybe if I really had to choose. Or All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth? 

9. Favorite holiday drink? 

Peppermint Mocha. I'm a peppermint fiend during the holidays. Peppermint hot chocolate, peppermint bark, cookies.. ect. 

10. How is your Christmas shopping going? 

I've done none of it. I find it so hard to pick good gifts out for people. And the whole time it sits wrapped under the tree, I debate on if they'll like it or not. I know that's not the point of Christmas gifts but I'm a worry wart. 

11. If you could spend Christmas Day anywhere else, where would you spend it? 

Other than with my family, I don't think there's anywhere else I'd rather be!

12. Any holiday traditions? 

I think the only true holiday tradition I still do is put, "From Santa" on gifts because it's fun to still  pretend to believe. 

13. Favorite thing about the holidays? 

Honestly, the crisp air and the family is my favorite part of the holidays. It hate how everything now is about gifts and buying the perfect gift for family. That's not what it's about.

The Scariest things

Question 1#: Scariest real-life experience.
 
I've never had a scary experience that could be classified as traumatizing or anything. When I was I think, six or seven, I was almost hit by a car. I remember it pretty clearly still to this day. I was crossing the street by a corner that is hidden for the driver, there was no cars coming down the street I was crossing so I stepped out onto the road and a car flew around the corner in from nowhere. It happened so fast though, it didn't really register what could have happened until a few years later when I thought about it.


Question 2#: Scariest paranormal experience?

I would just call it creepy. There have been times in my house when you can hear the distinct food steps of someone heading toward the room you're in, and when you look around the corner nothing is there at all. And usually when it happens all the animals are asleep in plain view so it's clear that it wasn't them. I've also been home late at night in my room, with all the windows shut and the distinct smell of cigar and baking goods. Just in my room. When I went downstairs to see who was smoking or cooking it's never down there. I've even opened my windows to check outside and nothing. It did give me the creeps at the time but it never scared me. Still doesn't to this day.

Question 3#: Have you known anyone convicted of a violent crime?

Nope. And if I do and they're in jail, I think I'd rather just stay blissfully unaware.

Question 4#: Are you afraid of the dark? why are why not?

Yes. Even in my early twenties, I still sleep with a light source on. Be it my tv, bed lamp, or even the outside lamp that shines up into my window. I need a light. The slightest noise creeps me out when I'm attempting to sleep. I really should learn to get over the fear but I don't think I will. I'm fine if I have someone else in the room with me but if I'm by myself. Nope. Lights please.

Question 5# Does your home-town have any scary legends?

Um, well there's this legend close to my home-town. There's a place called 13 Bends near where I live. The legend goes that there was an orphanage in the 1800s that burned down years ago and you can still hear the footsteps and children if you go up the the bending hill toward the top. It's been said that if you park on the bends, childlike handprints appear on your vehicle. The spookiest park I think, is that if you count the bends going up the hill there are 13 but as you come down the hill there are only 12. It's said that it's the playful children trying to trick you.  


Question 6#: What's your favorite urban legend?

Bloody Mary, though I would probably never actually try it cause I'm a chicken shit. I remember being at a birthday party and we where all going to go into the bathroom separately to do Bloody Mary in the dark. I chickened out. I sad in the bathroom with my eyes closed for about 5 minutes before running out. Hah! 



Feel free to answer these in the comments! I'd love to hear some of your answers! 

Ramblings..

I read a tweet a few days ago, a guy calling his ex out for cheating, then saying he wished her the best. If you had wished her the best you wouldn't have aired your dirty laundry that should stay between you and her. Another, a Facebook status from a girl posting about how her boyfriend broke up with her over text, how horrible he was as a boyfriend and ect. 

Those are romantic forms I've seen lately, but I've never ever understood this in any form of relationship; be it friend.. love.. even family. If something happen between two or three people why blast it on a social media site? Yes. Even I'm guilty of posting my thoughts or feeling, we all are, but they're in a way no one, unless they're a close trusted friend, would understand. I'm talking about when people find the need to make themselves seem the better person to people who are only seeing one side to a personal situation that was made public because of social media. Posting details of the situation and making the other seem like the shitty one. No. That just makes you feel better in the now. And it shows how immature the person is. It forces that person to stand up for themselves publicly sometimes. It's unfair and frankly, stupid. 

Social media is too open and made life less personal. It allows people to instead of working out the issues with the person or even to just move on, they vent in vengeful ways when angry or hurt. Our generation is so disassociated with each other. We're so social media driven we think it's okay to post whatever, air our problems out for the world to see and comment on. It will never be okay. Never.  

Elements Book Cover Tag

So yet again I've "borrowed" a tag from another site. This time from a Youtuber named, MsVeeBooks. I'd seen this tag around Youtube for a while now and I found it so intriguing. I didn't actually think it would be hard to find the requirements but boy did it turn out to be the opposite. 

The Tag:

To represent Water: 

• Find a book with water on the cover.
   
  Nicholas Sparks, A Night in Rodanthe

• Find a book with blue on the cover.

Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights 

To represent Fire:

• Find a book with fire on the cover.

J.K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

• Find a book with red on the cover.

J.K Rowling, The Casual Vacancy

To represent Earth:

• Find a book with something related to the earth on the cover.

Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember

• Find a book with green on the cover.
  Louise Rennison, Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers
  

 

To represent Air:

• Find a book with wind on the cover.

Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

•  Find a book with white on the cover. 

Sandra Brown, A Kiss Remembered

Colors of the Elements:

• Find a book with blue, red, green and white on it to bring all the elements together.

Johanna Spyri, Heidi

 

So that's my Elements Book Cover Tag. I challenge you all to do it. I cheated a little bit on the element of Air. I had no book that had anything blowing on the cover. Shocked me. I know the green book cover is the smallest amount of green but that was my favorite series in high school and I had to include one. And the fact that the Fire element books both had been written by Rowling gave me a laugh. 

Photos are all my own.

Autumn Tag!

Pirouetting Autumn

by Mark R Slaughter

The tree blushed - a rude blast of air

Betrayed a shapely bough.

My saddened heart aware

That Nature's clock was chiming,

I froze upon the twelfth

Clanging tone, caught alone,

Staring at a creaking door -

Left ajar for dancing, coloured Autumn,

Pirouetting in her leaves,

While agitated summer creatures
Backed away resignedly,
Sighing in protracted breves.
I turned; gave company;
We stood together, watching
Summer slowly blow away.

In honor of Autumn being here finally and the air around us cooling down to crisp winds and sweater weather I decided to do a little tag I found on Tumblr. It's meant to be a daily challenge but hey, why not just make it a Autumn tag?

1. Your favorite fall drink?

My favorite drink during this time of year is Pumpkin Spice latte or just regular tea. At home I drink tea regularly and the cooler weather allows me to indulge in it. But when I'm out, I always go for a pumpkin spice latte. No matter where I am. It's an acquired taste but I love it. 

2. Your favorite fall food?

   

Favorite fall food was actually hard to choice...I went with  vegetable or tomato soups. They're my go to meal when I'm cold from the walk home from class or work. It's such a filling meal and it warms you up!

3. Your fondest memory of fall?

 

Going to pumpkin patches as a kid and going on hayrides. I can't remember the places name but we went every year until I was 11 I believe. I just remember it being such an overwhelmingly fun experience every year even though it was always the same thing.

 

4. Your favorite part about fall?

The weather is honestly my favorite part. I like bundling up in sweaters and scarves, it's a comforting feeling. And the beauty of the leaves changing colors makes the world seem like such a colorful place.

 

5. Your favorite fall tunes?

I don't have a specific song for the fall season, but one song I'm in love with recently is Supersoaker by Kings of Leon. I've been a fan of KOL since day one and I couldn't be more excited that they're back with new music.

 

6. Your favorite fall outfit?

       

My favorite outfits during this season always involve boots and scarves paired with skinny jeans or leggings and skirts. Comfort and warmth are my main top priorities when dressing during the brisker weather.

7. Your favorite Halloween movie?

Hocus Pocus hands down. It probably sounds incredibly lame because over all the scary movies out there I choose a Disney film. But come October 1st when it begins playing on television I will watch this movie repeatedly. It never gets old to me and it holds a sentimental value for me. 

8. Your favorite Halloween candy?

 

Reese's Peanut Buttercups are my addiction. Most people for this would say candy corn. I think that's the standard answer because it's the only seasonal candy really but I'm not the biggest fan. 

9. Your favorite fall activity?

Just taking walks I suppose. I don't have much of a choice for this. I live in the city. Very little trees so I can't even say jumping in leaves or things like that.

10. Do you prefer Halloween or Thanksgiving?

Besides the family time, I've always preferred Halloween. I like scaring myself with a good spooky movie and seeing people dress up and release their inner child. 

11. Apple cider or hot chocolate.

 

Apple Cider all the way. It's silly, but I reserve hot chocolate for the winter time. When the air is so chilly and peppermint is in season. A nice cup of hot chocolate and peppermint just oozes Christmas. 

12. Candy corn or regular corn?

This seems like such an odd comparison just because they both have corn in their names? Corn. Corn on the cob is a staple meal when it's in season. 

13. Your favorite fall scent?

 

I bought this last year during a trip to Bath and Body Works and I fell in love with the sent. It's a musky kind of scent that just smell amazing. I've yet to go back this year and see if it is a reoccurring sent or if it was limited addition. 

14. Your favorite fall candle?

 

The scent of the candle just makes your house smell like the holiday seasons are approaching. Really any of Bath and Body Works candles for each season smell amazing. 

15. Your favorite fall sweater?

My favorite sweaters during the season are slouchy, over sized sweaters that I can pair with scarves. I don't actually have a specific favorite or I'd picture it above. 

16. Do you go to corn mazes, pumpkin patches or both? 

I don't anymore but I used to go to a place about an hour away from where I lived that had pumpkin patches and mazes as well as hayrides.

17. What are you going to be for Halloween?

I wish I knew! I'm always so last minute when I decide on a costume. I'm thinking maybe buying my costume from the Harry Potter website and being a Hogwarts student. Or just using my fall back costume of putting in my vampire teeth and painting my face with a pale foundation.

18. Do you go trick-or-treating?

 

Not anymore. At the age of 16 I stopped going because greedily the people in the town where I lived stop giving candy out to the older kids. It was a bit of a let down getting dressed up to go get candy and not getting any. 

19. Do you go to haunted houses?

Very few. I don't like the intensity of them anymore. Small haunted houses are fine by me, but the last time I went, the level of scare was far more than I could handle. I'm a bit of a chicken.

20. Do you watch scary movies? If so what are your favorites?

Yes I do! I watch way too many when October comes around. My favorites are Carrie (I'm so excited for the new remake with Cloe Grace Moretz), Trick 'r Treat, Dracula, Sleepy Hollow, Psycho and Poltergeist.  

21. Do you prefer roasting marshmallows around the campfire or cooking sausages? 

Roasting Marshmallows. I don't ever eat the s'mores I make because I'm not a fan of marshmallow but I love making them!

*Images courtesy of Google images. If you see an image that is yours and would like it removed or credited, please kindly let me know.