Santa Cruz County Fair, September 2026. || Photo Diary

9/19/2026

I love a good photo diary, so here's some snapshots of my day out to the Santa Cruz Fair, 2026. We went on Friday, September 19th. It was fairly (heh) quiet which was wonderful as it gave us the opportunity to browse the Harvest room and Art Gallery. I took some photos of my favourites. People are incredibly talented. Here's one for the memory books. 

The room of flowers was a highlight for me. The colors and smells tickled all my good senses. I especially found the cowboy boot fun, it reminded me of my Granddad. 

We got a tour of the Rodgers House which will be another post entirely, but I wanted to say how much I love when community events like this offer free tours of things you'd otherwise not experience. It makes the price of entry for the fair seem reasonable. It shows you can have just enough money for entry and still have a blast.

What's a fair without over the top food? We picked a potato stand for lunch and indulged in a biscoff cinnamon roll which was as good as it sounds. There was also a stop for coffee which was much needed. 

I really wanted to get my face painted but when I saw they were doing henna, I went for both. To be honest, it didn't really take on my skin tone. But it was a fun experience.

The rose garden is also a fun stop, as are the tractors. My husband's Grandpa actually donated a tractor and it once led the parade. It is a must to stop by and say hi to the vehicle. 


We got a lesson on how to make a flower corsage, and my husband won me a cute dollar store plush for $10. Classic.


Lastly, here are some of my favourite pieces of art in the gallery. I'm thinking of entering next year with some poetry. 


So, that was my day through a lense. Do you enjoy a fair? Let me know. 

- Anne. 

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Dollar Tree/Store Haul || August, 2026

8/23/2026

 


So, I ventured to the Dollar Store and found some beauty items I wanted to try. For context, have combination sensitive skin, with some dry patches. Here are the products I picked up and my overall review of them. Enjoy! 

Who doesn't enjoy trying a new mascara for cheap? I flip between brands constantly, not yet finding the perfect one. This interested me because of it being a Serum Infuaed Mascara with Peptides and Vitamin E. I enjoy the brush itself as I've never had success with plastic ones. You can really build this one up and it doesn't smudge too easily. It can clump if you aren't careful applying it. 
Solid 7/10 for me.  

I'm an oils girl through and through. This GlobalBeautyCare Vitamin C Facial Serum gives a light shine to my skin in the morning, non-sticky nor oily. My skin drinks it up. I've been applying this to the scars on my neck in a bid to fade them over time, and have noticed a healthy glow to my skin since using a few drops each day.
Cheap and cheerful, 8/10.

I need a good primer. This product is a tiny tube but perfect from traveling or keeping as a back up.  B°Pure Gel Grip Face Primer with Hyaluronic Acid sits nicely without a tacky feel. I don't see my make-up sitting any better with it, though.I need something more hydrating. 
Worth a shot, 5/10.

My skin has always liked Retinol, so this Retional Renewing Double Serum by GlobalBeautyCare is right up my street. I apply a few drops before moisturizing and I adore the softness it brings to my skin. It is quite watery, which is unlike other serums I've used. I've seen other people say that regional can dry out the skin, but for me, that has never been the case. 
Silken skin for 9, Alex. 9/10.

Personal Care have come out with this duo of a Moisturizing Shave Oil and Moisturizing Post Shave Setum in the scent Wild Flowers. I adore these products. I've only ever used shaving gel or shower cream to shave, but this oil has changed the game. It leaves my skin bump free and glowy. Due to my recovery, I can only shave in the bed with a towel under me so having something that I can apply on dry skin to shave is ideal. The Post Shave Serum is almost a thick gel that spreads with ease. The scent isn't overly strong, which was a worry I had. It is subtle floral with notes of strawberry. 
100% recommend, 10/10.


The GlobalBeautyCare Collagen Cleansing Cloths have surprised me as upon first feel, they seemed overly dry. However, they have been great to remove stubborn mascara without having to rub my eyes. If you were to use this for removing a full face of make-up, you'd need 2-4 wipes, making them not the best value. I personally love the Averno wipes more.
Good in a pinch, 6/10.

The entire reason for this blog. I wanted yo recommend this Leave-In Conditioner Brazilian Mist by PowerPoint Stick. I looovvvee this product. I'm on a hair growth journey since I had to cut it all off in the hospital. I lost about 11 inches of hair. This product has undoubtedly helped my hair recover. I've been using it to help wispys stay down for when my hair is up.

Smooth & Lift Collagen Eye Cream. I'm iffy with eye products as my eyes are easily irritated. This cream from GlobalBeautyCare has a very lightweight feel. I've been enjoying using this on my eyelids and a more heavy duty gel for my under eye circles. Currently I'm using the Yerba Marte on that area which is good but sticky. I want to find something in between so do let me know of any recommendations you may have!


I'd been seeing this Spa Luxury Brazilian Sol Body Butter pop up routinely in online dollar store hauls and with good reason.  This is a thick non-sticky butter that rivals some that I have gotten from Lush. It absorbs quickly and leaves a little shine to dull skin. The packaging is also very cute. 
Wish the smell was stronger, 9/10. 

And we end on a complete fail. This B°Pure Glow Up Serum Blush is 100% not the color ypu expect from the bottle. It is giving Oompa Loompa. No, thank you.  Even if it was the right color, it does not blend easily and is uneven in tone. 
Skip, 0/10. 


So there's my haul. Some wins and some losses. Have you found any Dollar Store gems? Do let me know. 

- Anne. X
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PT, OT, and Stairs, Oh My!

8/20/2026

 Today I went up four steps and back down, multiple times. That is the first time I've done that in over 10 months. So, with that under my belt, I figured what better time to talk about my OT/PT experiences.


After my health decline (which you can read about HERE) I had some extensive nerve damage to my body. I couldn't lift my arms, grab anything, sit up, let alone, walk. It was as though I woke up and my body had turned to stone. There was no way of moving myself without extensive help from nurses and doctors. We'd do hourly rolls in the hospital in a bid to prevent bed sores, and I found myself sobbing through it 99.9% of the time. It felt like torture. It is difficult recounting how I felt at this time period as I was drugged up to my eyeballs most of the time. Dipping in and out of consciousness became a given.

When I got a bit more stable we started to partake in physical therapy. To start with, it was merely a 30 minute session on just trying to get my fingers to move. I was as weak as a stray kitten and my limbs showed it. I lost a lot of weight when I was unconscious so naturally my muscle mass went away. I was stone and jello and I'm still trying to figure out how that was.

But as with anything, time moved forward and I gradually found myself being able to hold a hand, turn my neck, move my jaw. I was mute for a decent while, a tracheostomy blocking my voice. I hated that. Me and my husband tested and trailed various methods in a bid for me to communicate with him. It started with some looking up or looking down for yes or no. Then once I could get a bit clearer in the head, he would hold up a sheet of letters and go line by line, letter to letter, trying to figure out what I was asking or saying. I'd be lying if I said it was probably the most frustrating experience of both our lives. I would end up getting upset at myself and throwing in the towel, leaving him feeling helpless. If you're ever in that situation, I can't stress enough that both of you have to show a tremendous amount of patience. It is vital.

And again, time moved forward and I started to get more control over my body. This was months of work so forgive me tor jumping ahead to now, but I want to document where I was upon returning home in June 2026 to now.

PT at the hospital was vital to my recovery and I can't show enough thankfulness to the ARU in Dominican Hospital in Sequel, California, for all their help. I had two regular physical therapists who got me from A to B in a matter of weeks. It took effort on all our parts, but as I'll continue to say; I am my Mother's daughter. Stubbornness is in my genetics.

Coming home had an element of shock. It was like traveling alone for the first time, you were solely responsible for your well being. I kept and do keep a solid routine with moving my body beyond the two sessions of at-home physical therapy I get each week. I've found setting a timer and listening to an audiobook whilst doing my reps helpful as it distracts me well enough and I'm doing something I enjoy whilst pushing myself. So, if you're getting PT and struggle to motivate yourself, I recommend that. Even a 20 minute sitcom could be an option. Move for every minute of that show and then take a rest. Got it in you for another episode? Do it.

I find there's a balancing act of being in control of your own PT. It's very easy to keep putting it off in a bid to do something more enjoyable and not as exhausting. But you have to put in the work to reach your goals. I had the goal of being able to bridge for literal months until I could, but it was there. My finish line. So I worked towards it. Now I bridge everyday when I'm dressing myself.

OT has been a great help in showing me how to safely do daily tasks that offer me more independence; dressing, showering, cooking, etc. There's something about independence that helps you mentally when going through health issues. When I put on a cardigan for the first time without help, I cried. It felt monumental. Cherish those small victories. Nothing is too silly.

So, yeah. Today I walked up four steps which gives me the option of watching TV in a different room. Will I? Probably not as I never did before, but I have the option and that's a reward in and of itself.

I'll update you soon,
- Anne. X

 Oh, cute workout clothes help too. Just FYI. 
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It's All River by Carla Madeira || Book Review

It's All River by Clara Maderia is a translated work of fiction about a destructive love triangle and lost love. I did not know what to expect going into this beyond "oh, pretty cover". It was a complete win. Very much in the style of Sayaka Murata this involves a women's desent into madness as she desires a man who does not want her. He is dealing with a crippling loss that shattered his dynamic with his wife. We jump around their timeliners to learn how they ended up.

The writing is sharp with some beautiful prose scattered in there. I could not put this book down.  




It was a difficult read in the sense of sickening at times, so do be cautious before picking this up if any of these things trigger you:
- Death of an infant
- Cheating
- Abuse
- Violence

If you think you can handle that, I'd recommend this book. It had me in a choke hold from the first abrupt sentence of "Whore. There was no other way to describe Lucy." sets the tone for a novel of passion, pain, and love.

Though dislikeable at times, I thoroughly enjoyed the unapologetic way the author wrote each character. Nothing felt glossed over to seem pretty. 

All in all, a solid 4 star read.

- Anne.

Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC.

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Losing 7 Months of my Life. Life Support, Heart Attack, and Stroke.

8/16/2026

"I don't appreciate clouds enough", words I said today whilst sitting in my wheelchair under the puffs of white decorating the blue sky. I spent the better end of 7 months in the hospital. You know in that Buffy part in 'Once More With Feeling' when she sings "hey, I died twice"? Yeah, I did that three times. Not to start a competition, but hey, I'd win. I just don't have the nifty slayer powers. 




It started with some poor judgment on my side (which I'll get into in a future post as I have yet to find the right words) and a bipap vomiting situation. But for context let's start with my initial hospital stay. I went in on November 11th, 2025.because my body was losing strength. I could not hold down food, my body was swelling uncontrollably which was causing my kidneys to be a risk due to my illness of acute intermittent Porphyria. My stomach was loaded with acid and I was overall not doing well. I had been hospitalized earlier in the year for similar symptoms but not half as as bad as this time. The only option was to put me on a ventilator to promote oxygen. My nausea was a constant battle I'd been facing for close to a year but it was getting to the point of me being unable to eat or drink anything. Did I mention I was seriously weak? Enter here the bipap machine. I was left unattended and threw up into the thing, causing it to shoot the fluid back down into my lungs causing sever damage.



This all led to them putting me on life support, hoping to restore some of the damage caused to my lungs. Then I had a heart attack. My body was under too much stress turning it into a lethal weapon to itself. I got through it. Once seen as stable enough, they pulled me off sedation. 

The rest is fuzzy to both me and my loved ones. I remember celebrating when I could finally hold a spoon to feed myself soup. The pain and misgivings of learning to walk again, as my body had detreated from being put under. Regaining the strength felt like a long process. I wish I knew that'd be the easy part.


 I was two days before getting released, on Christmas eve no less, when I  could a cold. Given my immune system not being up to par, it immediately turned into pneumonia. It felt like a snap of the fingers and I was backtracking again. My scans were gradually getting worse. I was desatting. My oxygen levels were getting alarmingly low again, but my husband vouched for no bipap machine given the first time. I was moved from the ARU back to the ICU. I was getting worse and worse so they put me back under in the hopes that it'd give my body time to recover. So here I was again, back on ventilator, back on ECMO (Extra Corporeal membrane oxygenation), and playing the waiting game.


I don't remember anything when I was under, I know some people do and others don't. I think I'm fortunate to be the latter. My Mother went through a similar medical experience and remembers every minute of being locked inside her own mind. How she isn't without sanity for that is beyond my understanding. It takes a lot of strength.


They did their best working on my lungs, but with no avail. So the next plan of action was looking for a lung transplant, but most places were declining. Weeks past and they were unable to find anything. Some might say it is miraculous but my scans were starting to come back a bit better; spotted compared to the white out of the initial x-rays. I was healing. After some discussion they decided it was time to ween me off off of sedation, but alas, I was taking too long to wake up. That had happened on the first go around so they somewhat brushed it off as "normal" for me. Then upon request from one of my doctors, who remains to be a Godsend in this, they did a scan of my head. I had suffered a really bad stroke. 

They didn't think I'd make it. All the hard questions were being asked of my loved ones, as in, when to stop fighting and letting me go. It's difficult for me to think about the hardship that fell on their shoulders during this time. Especially my Mother who lived across  the world with no way of getting to me. My husband stayed by my side and is still coming to terms of what happened. I will forever be grateful for the love that was sent their way, whether that be friends checking in or the hospital staff for being there beyond just professionalism.

Slowly over time, I started to come to. My eyes would flicker and my husband was trying to find any inkling that I was still me. Strokes are terrifying and kill vital parts of you. They did test after test which involved various painful methods that were necessary to see if my body was responding. I remember flashes of this time. The odd memory comes randomly to me but overall I lost at least 4 months of memory. 

It took a few weeks, then months, but I recovered. I'm still recovering.

I lost my ability to talk, move, communicate. I was a shell of a body but still me inside. It was isolating and incredibly frustrating. We had to come up with a letter system so I could attempt to ask questions. I was drugged up most of the time which led to a lot of confusion. I wanted to go home, whether that be in America or the UK. I just wanted out. I wished I had died, often. It felt too hard to continue on like I was. Nothing was working right and I couldn't control it. 

Time moved forward, as it does. I was transferred between hospitals and rehab centers due to insurance problems. Don't get sick in the US, dear reader. It is a clusterfuck. In June of 2026 I was finally home. Things have been rough but we're managing. I have a nurse, occupational therapist, and physical therapist visit me weekly at home. I go to a dialysis clinic four times a week to routinely clean my blood and remove fluid that my body remains to retain. I suppose I'm still losing time if you factor in the hours I spend doing these things weekly. But, I'm lucky. Beyond lucky. 

I've grown up with a hatred for my body but after this whole story, I have a decent amount of respect for it's strength. Against all odds, I shouldn't be here typing this. I should be gone. There is no conceivable answer as to why I chose to keep fighting. My loved ones, obviously. But I'm a weak person. I always have been. I wear my heart on my sleeve and even Fibromyalgia (you can read about that HERE) makes my body frail. I don't believe in subjects that most people would coin this as, but I do believe in fate. I think almost losing my life made me have a life. Hence the appreciation of the clouds today and the strength to write this out and return to online journaling. 

I'm now 30 years old. You'll find me journaling like crazy so I don't forget anything, reading to escape into other people's minds, going on weekly outing to experience the world, and writing to find solace in words again.

Hi, it's me. Anne. Let's look up at the stars next. 


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Unappreciated Christmas Movies

11/27/2022


My household is a strong believer in hoarding Christmas movies. Throughout the month of December me and my mum marathon all of our festive flicks and force the cheer onto ourselves. The only problem with this is that we have come across some questionable movies (Christmas Angel comes to mind), but.. yeah, you guessed it, go you! We have also come across some gems that were hidden behind the classics such as Home Alone and Elf. Here is a speedy list of my favourites, be sure to let me know of yours in the comments below!
-

Christmas Cottage

We all love a cheesy movie that is both inspiring and wants to make you want to weep in the corner, right? Starring Jared Padalecki (yup, little Sammy), Peter O'Toole, Aaron Ashmore, and Chris Elliott. This pick follows the story of two brothers who visit home for Christmas only to realise that their mother is in a bit of money trouble and could lose their home; the cottage. With the help of his ailing mentor, Sam Winchester... I mean, Thomas, hopes to find his artistic voice and help the town rediscover the holiday spirit. A truly beautiful story that is based off true events.

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The IT Girl by Ruth Ware | Book Review [spoiler free]

8/29/2022



Premise: April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford. Taking the timid Hannah under her wing, April introduces her to a whole new world of glitz and glamour. Together they form a close knit group of friends – Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily – but not everything is as it seems. Being the IT girl seems to go hand-in-hand with toxicity for April. So it's no surprise that by the end of the school season, she's found dead. 

Now, a decade later, it has been brought into question whether the man who was convicted of April's murder was actually innocent. Being the main witness to the crime, newly pregnant Hannah begins questioning her own memories and sets on a mission to once and for all find out who killed April.


In the past I've had good experiences with Ruth Ware's books. For me they've always fallen into the category of junk food reading. They aren't exceptionally written and usually fall flat in some areas, but are nevertheless fun to read. And I always devour her books within a short time period. However, The IT Girl didn't do this for me. It instead resembled a dry granola bar that was marketed a fun flavor.

It's hard to explain what felt different about this book without giving away minor spoilers, but a large part of it was most definitely the university setting and Ware's lack of ability to write younger characters. You could quite honestly stick this book in the YA mystery section of a bookstore and it'd fit right in. But while saying that, the 'current day' chapters of the book felt more adult. It often seemed like Ware wanted to go the dark academia route but was instead told she had to make it a domestic thriller. It simply had no cohesive vibe. 

If you've read other Ruth Ware books you'll already know that her protagonists are usually duller than dull. But Hannah took that to another level. She was such an infuriating character to read from, and not in a thrillery 'ooh, she's mysterious' way. She was simply bland. You'd think reading from younger her and adult her would be interesting as surely she's matured even a smidge, but alas, nope. Her character continued to be dumb in any decision making and somehow became more whiny with age?

April, however, was interesting. While yes, she was a very stereotypical IT girl from a thriller standpoint, she did have layers and I was interested in reading more about her character. All the other characters, you ask? One of the same. Think The Secret History character list but without the eerie atmosphere surrounding them.

But what is a thriller review without a non-spoiler discussion on the twist? Well.. it was something. The ending of books has never been Ruth Ware's strong point (unless you're talking Turn of the Key, which I did wholly enjoy), and The IT Girl sadly continues that trait. It was lackluster and seemed to drag on without it needing to.

Basically, if you tend to read Ruth Ware's new releases, you may as well pick this up. It's more of the same. However, if you aren't that familiar with Ware's writing and are just looking for a fun thriller to pick up this Summer, skip this. It's not going to be a memorable read.



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The Cupid Book Tag | Valentine's Day 2022

2/14/2022

I've just finished watching Noelle Gallagher's video The Cupid Book Tag and I was immediately sold on answering the questions. Today is the day of love, and boy, I do love books. And tags! How could I possibly pass this up? If you've been along for my journey of discovering romance, you'll know that I'm still quite a novice of this genre. Though saying that, I've gone from cutesy rom-com's to Dana Isaly's smutty novellas rather quickly. But you know what, good for me. My brain needs the serotonin. I'll relink Noelle's video down below alongside the questions if you're interested in doing this yourself! 



What's the perfect candy to eat while reading?

I won't lie to you, I'm most definitely more of a chip type gal when reading. Harvest Snap Pea Crisps in Ceasar? Addicting. Incredibly addicting. *Homemade Guacamole and Sour Cream and Onion Pringles? Nom. (Trust me, Pringles have the ability to become the new Doritos) Candy wise, I do enjoy a good chocolate covered gummy bear but I just know that melted chocolate would get on the pages. 
 
*Avocado, red onion, red pepper flakes, and more lime than you think is necessary. You're welcome.

What's a song that reminds you of your favorite romance (or just your favorite romantic song in general)?

You ever hear someone tell a story and it unlocks a memory of your own? Maybe one that you kind put in a locked room to save yourself the self embarrassment of remembering? Yeah? That was me when watching Noelle talk about her New Moon/Evanescence pairing. Only for me, it was New Moon and Sia's Breathe Me. Yeah, I fully gave into sad girl vibes. A less embarrassing answer would be Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper which instantly makes me think of Poppy and Alex from People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. This was one of my favorite books of 2021 and I think it makes a perfect pairing with this song of familiarity, love, and confusion in a relationship when time just doesn't seem to sync you both together.


If you were to go on a perfect reading date, where would it be? it could be somewhere across the world, or something more general like the beach, the forrest, etc! the skies the limit!

I have two answers because I'm indecisive. Me and my husband have a "our spot", which is super corny but lovely. It's a small cliffside area that looks out on the ocean. It's incredibly peaceful (as pictured), but the benches are undeniably uncomfortable. I'm working on caring less about what people think and taking a camping chair there to sit and read one Summer evening, but ya know, anxiety. My second choice would be in the village Beddgelert which is close to my hometown in North Wales. We visited in January and it's such a peaceful town that I think it deserves to become a coveted reading spot. A beer garden in Summer with a good book and beautiful views? Sign me up now.




What's the best friendship you've read in a book?

Easy. Satoru and Nana from Hiro Arikawa's The Travelling Cat Chronicle's. Is Nana a cat and Satoru a human? Yes, but read this book and try arguing with the fact that this duo is the most wholesome form of friendship you've ever read. This is a glorious story that has so much heart. I don't hear enough people talking about it, and that's a devastation. 



Create the perfect bouquet for your favorite book or character

I'm going to go with Eve and Jacob from Act Your Age, Eve Brown for inspiration as can you answer a romance tag without mentioning Taliah Hibbert's books? That'd be a sin. Given that this is the epitome of a sunshine/grumpy romance, I'd go with a bouquet of sunflowers and thistle. With some eucalyptus throughout to give it a bit more volume, and to be a symbolic representation of what Eve and Jacob bring out of each other. Did I put way too much thought into this? But I have a vision, do you see it?


What romance do you not necessarily need a whole sequel for, you just want to check in on them and make sure everything is going well?

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. Yes, I usually don't use the same book for more than one question but com on.. a fun short story of another vacation? Maybe Honeymoon? I think the characters could easily make a short story feel full with their larger-than-life personalities and immaculate banter. I need more banter, please. 

What date in a book (or movie!) do you wish you could go on yourself?

Like Noelle, I can't remember a single date in a book that wasn't either accidental, or extreme in the sense of sports or travel. I wouldn't mind Holly and Nick's date near the end of Dipped in Holly by Dana Isaly. I mean, they literally just go to a diner for pancakes but.. that'd whoo me. Movie wise, I have to go with the entirety of Before We Go starring Chris Evans and Alice Eve. This is one of my favourite movies of all time. The entire movie is set over one night wherein the two main characters meet and walk around New York, talk, sing karaoke. Though not necessarily a romance movie, it's definitely got the vibes of what I'd envision as a perfect date. If you haven't seen this, go watch it now. And thank me later.  

What is your favorite nickname from a romance?

I mean, does my heart melt whenever Josh calls Lucy Shortcake in The Hating Game by Sally Thorne? Yes, yes it does. 

What are your most anticipated romances of 2022? (could be new releases or just romances you're excited to finally get to!)

Book Lovers by Emily Henry is high up on my list! Not The Witch You Wed by April Asher came out just last week and I was lucky enough to read an eARC on Net Galley but it was so incredibly fun and I this is me pushing it on you. Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley looks incredibly sweet and the cover is immaculate. Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson is also high on my list.



There you have it! This was a super fun tag to write out and it definitely resparked my love for blogging. I hope your Valentine's day is going well/went okay, and remember that self love is just as important as romantic love. What's your favourite romantic read? 


Watch Noelle's video HERE

Questions: 
-what's the perfect candy to eat while reading?
-what's a song that reminds you of your favorite romance (or just your favorite romantic song in general)?
-if you were to go on a perfect reading date, where would it be? it could be somewhere across the world, or something more general like the beach, the forrest, etc! the skies the limit!
-what's the best friendship you've read in a book?
-create the perfect bouquet for your favorite book or character
-what romance do you not necessarily need a whole sequel for, you just want to check in on them and make sure everything is going well?
-what date in a book (or movie!) do you wish you could go on yourself?
-what is your favorite nickname from a romance?
-what are your most anticipated romances of 2022? (could be new releases or just romances you're excited to finally get to!)
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Making Cocktails For The Sanderson Sisters

10/19/2021


Let's ask the age old question, What would the Sanderson sisters order at a bar? 

In 2019 I did a post on some Halloween Cocktails which was really fun, so this year I thought I'd do something similar but with more of a theme! Hocus Pocus is the ultimate witchy family movie so let's make it adulted. I have a drink for each sister (one being a mocktail and one that's easily made alcohol free for those of us who drive), so let's get into the recipes. 



Mary Sanderson - CranMary Bliss

Personally, I think Mary Sanderson would order a mocktail unless she was making an exception for a frozen Pina Colada. So I was aiming for something sweet but Autumnal. Thus the CranMary! 

INGREDIENTS

  • 4oz Strawberry flavored Seltzer 
  • 2oz Cranberry Juice
  • Dash of Grenadine
  • Rosemary Twig 
Pour your wet ingredients over ice, shake well, and pur into a tall glass. Add a sprig of rosemary to give it a stir and a Fall-like herby taste. I know the herb element seems odd, but it truly adds to the drink. 

Sarah Sanderson - Lavender Mojito 

Sarah is romantic while being sharp, so I think this is the perfect drink to match her style. Though I'm calling this a mojito, it's really adaptable dependent on your taste. I used gin for this one, but white rum or vodka works great too. Same goes for the seltzer, I personally favor tonic water, but I know that's not to everyone's taste so I'm going to veto that for the point of this recipe. 

  • Club Soda
  • 2oz gin (or white rum)
  • 4 springs of Mint
  • 1/2 oz simple Syrup
  • Lavender Bitters (to taste)

Muddle some mint with a few dashes of the lavender bitters before adding the soda, gin, and simple syrup. Pour into a stemless wine glass, add plenty of ice, and enjoy! 


Winifred Sanderson - Nutty Brandy

This is the most basic of these cocktails but it definitely screams Winnie. The sweet mixed with the woodiness of the brandy makes for the most well rounded spirit forward cocktail. I imagine she'd like something strong with a feminine twist. 

  • 3oz Brandy
  • 3oz Disaronno 
  • Glazier cherries (and a splash of juice)

 Mix together the two liquors, add a splash of the cherry juice from the jar, load up your drink of cherries. Add a single ice cube and enjoy! 



I hope you found something in this post that intrigues you or inspires you!
Which Sanderson sister do you favor? 

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Books I've Recently Loved!


Well, hello there strangers. I've been rather MIA the past few months as my mental health took a spiral downward. But I'm back! In an attempt to talk about something cheery, I thought it would be fun to discuss some of the 5 star books I've recently read. We have romance, a short story collection, and some modern fiction. Let's get into it..


Malibu Rising
Taylor Jenkins Reid

Four siblings. A party. A fire. Dramaramarama, Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit are throwing their yearly party to mark the end of Summer. It's a lavish affair that everyone wants to attend. But this year will be different, everything is about to go wrong. From failing marriages, estranged parents, sibling rivalries, and flames. 

The synopsis is vague, but I think it needs to be to add to the reading experience. It's no surprise that I devoured this book in one sitting and gave it a radiant 5 stars. For me, TJR's books have been consistently good.  I adored Nina as a character, she was definitely my favourite. I appreciated how gradual her story was told, making us (as the readers) work to understand her. Her ability to write a large cast of characters while still managing to keep them all feeling individual is remarkable. The reviews for Malibu Rising have been varied, and I think that is partly down to the pacing. Though we mainly read from the day of the party, we do get flashbacks of the past to build up the story. I personally enjoyed the 'all over the place' feel as it added to the build-up of the fire that we know is coming. All in all, TJR doesn't miss and this is a huge contender for my favorite book of 2021. 


People We Meet On Vacation
Emily Henry 

Poppy and Alex used to be the perfect definition of friendship goals. Since their days at university they'd taken a yearly vacation together, scrimping and saving throughout the year to make it happen. Memories were built, career's blossomed, and friendship remained. But nowadays they barely speak. Poppy is struggling with her life, she feels aimless and decides that the only thing that could possibly restore her zest for life and travel would be to recreate those vacation days with Alex. But when he agrees and everything starts to go wrong for the duo, they are forced to face the vacation that broke them apart.

This was such a fun read. I read Beach Read by Emily Henry a few months ago and loved that too. She has a knack for writing romance that are build around a more serious topic without losing the fun of banter. Poppy and Alex were a great dynamic, they were the epitome of the sunshine&grumpy trope which I adore. There were a few steamy scenes and a slow burn that made the pay off more than worth it. If you enjoy The Brown Sisters series or Sally Throne's books, give this a shot. 


Honey Girl
Morgan Rodgers 

Grace Porter is a 28-years-old woman, a PHD student, and just drunkenly got married to a girl she doesn't know in Vegas. Can they make it work? And is Grace's time at her unfulfilling job nearing an end?

The character growth in this book is flawlessly done. I adored Grace as a character, she was messy while still showing a vulnerability that kept her feeling real. I really enjoyed how Grace's career was the main drive for her story. Her love for science translated well off the page and I even learned a few things! There is a podcast element to this story that worked great if reading this as an audiobook. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this! It was an authentic look at a 20-something woman struggling to find her footing in life. Also.. how gorgeous is this cover?


Indelicacy
Amina Cain

Too cautious to pursue her passion of art, Vitória instead works as a cleaner at an art museum. When she meets a man who can offer her more, her entire world gets turned upside down. But the artist soon learns that having it all can quite easily feel like having nothing. 

Though the main plot of this 2020 release is centered around a marriage, at heart Indelicacy follows in the footsteps of Convenience Store Woman opening a discussion of loneliness, feminism, and dreams. I adored this mere blimp of a novel (it's 112 pages) way more than I thought possible. The writing flowed like poetry while maintaining a grit that the story needed. Though at times dislikeable, Vitória had a complexity to her that kept me invested in her story. If you enjoyed books such as My Year of Rest and Relaxation and The Bell Jar, pick this up. Definitely one of the best books I've read in 2021. 


The Invisible Life of Addie Larue
V. E. Schwab

Though marketed as a love story between a forgotten girl and the devil, the complexity of this novel is impossible to be summed up in a mere sentence. In 1714 Addie Larue made a deal with the devil to escape the life she was being forced into. She lives until she wishes to give up her soul, but on the condition that everyone she meets forgets her within minutes of being apart. Lonely, unable to lay down roots, and craving intimacy with another human, Addie goes through her day-to-day life as a ghost. That is until one day a miracle occurs: someone remembers her. 

Firstly, this truly isn't a love story between Addie and Luc (the devil), so I felt a little conned about that. However, have you ever read a book that gave off such a haunting atmosphere? That's how I feel about Addie Larue. This is my first Schwab book, and I was honestly blown away by the writing. It was flowery, but in just the right sense. I grew to love Addie as a character, and felt the loneliness that riddled her. Some negative reviews I've seen are mainly about the length, which yes, this was a tome of a book. But when a book has to rely on you bounding with such a small character list, I think it needs the slow burn. If you're easily bored or go into this expecting a fast-paced fantasy, it'll disappoint you. It gave me We Have Always Lived In The Castle vibes, but in a romantic setting. I can't stop thinking about this book. 


How to Pronounce Knife
Souvankham Thammavongsa

2021 has been the year of me discovering my love for short story collections, but boy, are they hard to summarize. In this debut collection, there are themes of immigration, sexuality, youth, love, family and that's just to name a few. I have yet to read another collection that captured my heart the way this one did. I could very easily give each story a 4 or 5 star rating (there was only one that I felt meh about). The thing that I found remarkable was how Souvankham Thammavongsa managed to keep each individual character unique. Nothing bled together in this collection. Beyond that, the writing was exquisite. It's hard to believe that this was a debut. I look forward to seeing what the author does in the future. 

What books have you been recently given 5 stars to? Lemme know in the comments! 

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Survive The Night by Riley Sager || Book Review

9/19/2021

If you would've asked me this time last year to name some of my favourite thriller authors, I would've had Riley Sager on that list. Now? Heck no. Have you ever read a book that's so bad it makes you debate whether you want to give up on an author all together? Survive The Night did that to me. 

Side-note: The brunt of this review will be spoiler free, but I am including a paragraph at the very end to discuss the ending. It will have a spoiler warning beforehand. Enjoy!



After her best friend gets murdered by the Campus Killer (yup, that's what they call them), Charlie decides that she's had enough with school and wants to go home to live with her Grandma. Needing a ride, she agrees to accompany Josh Baxter, a man she's never met before. But during their roadtrip, Charlie starts to suspect Josh of not being who he says he is. Is she stuck in a car with a possible murderer? 


 I have so many problems with this book, but where to start? 


Let's start with the protagonist. Charlie's entire character was the epitome of the 'not like other girls' trope. She was insufferable, cliché, and a complete dumbass. I could feel my brain cells die from reading her POV. Charlie has a problem with seeing movies inside her head (?? I know.), making it hard for her to know whether what she sees is reality or not. I get that Riley Sager was going for the unreliable narrator trope, but this seems like the stupidest way of doing it. It didn't add anything to the story besides making it hard for us, the readers, to grasp what was going on. 

Being a film student, Charlie likes to flaunt her knowledge of movies, such as Hitchcock, Star Wars, Jaws. You know, the movies basically everyone with a TV are aware of. If you say "You're gonna need a bigger boat" she'll instantly know what movie it's from! Eye-roll. It made Charlie seem even stupider, which was no easy feat given her entire personality. Based on the premise of the book, I assumed that her movie knowledge would end up coming into play with the cat/mouse dynamic of Josh and Charlie. But that didn't even remotely happen, which is such a wasted opportunity. 

My other main issue with the novel, was the writing itself. It was just... bad. It felt like a first draft that badly needed editing. Some paragraphs had a word repeated dozens of times. It had a major case of telling rather than showing. Huge info dumps of things we really didn't need to know. Extremely poor dialogue. The plot twists didn't make sense. And it had the one thing you absolutely can't look past when it comes to thrillers.. plot holes. Huge ones. Just about everything in this book was unrealistic. 

If this book was instead a parody, I could maybe get on board. But this was actually meant to be taken seriously..? I'm flabbergasted how someone wrote this, let alone how it got published. I've read better Twilight FanFiction (not trashing on FanFiction, I read way too much of it). It's actually quite sad, as I think Survive The Night had the protentional to be great. Good idea, absolutely terrible execution. 



!!!! S P O I L E R   W A R N I N G !!!!


So, the heck was with that ending? If you have no interest in reading this novel but want to know the plot twist, I've got you. So.. Josh actually isn't the Campus Killer (shocker, I know) but he has been hired by the mother of Charlie's dead friend to basically kidnap Charlie and take her to the diner where the woman works. The woman blames Charlie for the death of her daughter as Charlie left her at a bar the night she was murdered. Charlie, not yet knowing this, stabs Josh and runs to the diner for help but naturally gets drugged, taken to the home of the woman, and beat up. Meanwhile, Charlie's boyfriend from college is trailing Charlie as he thinks she's in danger from Josh. Plot twist! Charlie's boyfriend is actually the Campus Killer. It ends with Charlie and her boyfriend (well, I guess ex-boyfriend by that point) driving off a bridge into water and Charlie drowns him. Extra plot twist! Charlie sells the movie rights to her experience and ends up married to Josh. Yup, the guy who essentially kidnapped her. How romantic.

Need I actually say anything about this? It's dumb. So dumb. I saw the twist of Charlie's boyfriend being the Campus Killer in roughly the first 20 pages. But I talked myself out of it because surely it wouldn't be that obvious/stupid, right? Wrong. I don't know what I hated more, the entire plot twist or the fact that Charlie wasn't murdered by her boyfriend when they first met because he could tell "SHE WASN'T LIKE OTHER GIRLS'. Face-palm. Why Riley Sager, why?

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