Santa Baby

Disclaimer: Christmas music is my least favorite kind of music. Bells drive me out of my mind. I don’t enjoy high pitch noises. Any other music similar to that is out of the question. The only exception to this hard-and-fast rule is 90s R&B holiday jingles. Without. Bells. For the love of the Almighty, without the bells.

There are so many snazzy things out there, babe. From me to you, let’s talk wishlists. I suck at making them. I can make every other type of list, but wishlists leave me stumped. When in doubt, get me chocolate and fuzzy socks. Honestly, just do that and call it a day. I also like cards. I have every card I’ve ever received since I was in Kindergarten. Grinch Onesie: I want it. Who doesn’t want to be the holiday’s favorite hater? It’s my destiny, I can feel it. Elf shoes: Why don’t I have elf shoes already? Honestly. I mean slippers. Preferably candy cane striped with point. I’m being serious.

To go ice skating: Can I ask for that? Even though it’s not, like, a thing? I want it. I mean I don’t really enjoy being chilled, but I’m here for the aesthetic. I’ll wear my best red coat. Chocolate: I’m not joking. Get local stuff. Support the people who want to give back to the community. In Seattle that’s Joe Chocolate, Seattle Chocolates, Theo Chocolates and so many more. Give me the candy.

An adventure: So the idea of just renting an airbnb for the weekend sounds amazing. I want to go somewhere close, somewhere new and just sit back and relax and eat. Mwahaha. So I told you my holiday wishes. What are some of yours? Tell me in the comments. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Pictures via Unsplash

November Wrap-Up

Y’all it is nice to be back.

So what can you expect from my writing going forward?

Shorter posts. More pictures. More variation in what I’m writing about. For real this time. I have plans, and I’m making a calendar. More personal stuff. A wider variety of product reviews. More adventures.

I’m excited and I hope you are too!

For the first month wrap-up post, let’s talk music and changes. First, here are the songs I was jamming to in November 2018.

 

Like always, I’m a complete sucker for romantic shit and smoooooth R&B vibes.

It’s just my thing, babes.

Now, onto changes. 2018 has been full of them. For one, I’m legitimately dating a whole human being. Second, I have a whole paid internship in the field I want to work in. Third, I’ve decided that I want to go to grad school. Fourth, WE GOT A PUPPY and she has an Instagram which you should follow.

I also got mono and had to drop the semester. I did a post on that a couple weeks back. Talk about CHANGES.

My looooove. Tell me about your changes in the comments. And don’t forget to subscribe.

Fall 2018 Changes

Now, I would just like to start that I live a life of privilege that not many in this world can afford. It is because of this that this little metamorphosis thing was possible. Now, let’s move on with the story.

I can with a completely honest heart recommend that you never get mono. That feeling of complete, debilitating exhaustion along with the nasty chills, nausea and swelling lymph nodes was the worst sickness I have ever endured. The week that I was at my worse, I was in Houston.

I has just moved into my apartment for the Fall 2018 semester and I was READY. Sadly, my body was not. That week I regularly called my mom sobbing about how tired I was. That week, I lost nearly seven pounds. And when that week was over, my grandparents made the 4 hour trip to come get me from campus. I had withdrawn from the semester.

I’ll leave out the I was sick (blah, blah, blah) and go to when I started to not feel like the grim reaper sat at my doorstep.

I realized something (you know, it’s amazing how much time you have to think when you have literally nothing else to do) about myself. I never take a break, I’m always moving because if I’m not I think too much. I don’t mean like make a big discovery think. It’s more like wow existential crisis on the daily.

Being with my family and just resting let me take a step back and really wonder what I was doing with my life- in a healthy way. It wasn’t “Jesus I’m going to die without doing any of the things I want” or “Oh my goodness who is going to hire me” or ever the usual “I’m so going to fail this class.”

Being able to think about what I wanted after getting my undergraduate- and even where I was going to get my undergraduate- was liberating. Where do I want to work? To live? What do I actually want out of life? What are the tools I have to work with?

In the short, paid sabbaticals need to be a thing that’s mandated everywhere. For those like me who overthink and obsess and can’t turn their brain off, this is something that could work to alleviate stress and increase productivity.

What about you? Tell me what you think about taking a step back. Hell, tell me about your dreams, love. Don’t forget to subscribe.

Pictures via Unsplash

ARC #REVIEW: THE GIRL KING BY MIMI YU

The Girl King by Mimi Yu
Published Jan 8, 2019
Goodreads || Amazon

Rating: 4 Stars
ARC from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review



Sisters Lu and Min have always understood their places as princesses of the Empire. Lu knows she is destined to become the dynasty's first female ruler, while Min is resigned to a life in her shadow. Then their father declares their male cousin Set the heir instead—a betrayal that sends the sisters down two very different paths.

Determined to reclaim her birthright, Lu goes on the run. She needs an ally—and an army—if she is to succeed. Her quest leads her to Nokhai, the last surviving wolf shapeshifter. Nok wants to keep his identity secret, but finds himself forced into an uneasy alliance with the girl whose family killed everyone he ever loved…

Alone in the volatile court, Min's hidden power awakens—a forbidden, deadly magic that could secure Set's reign…or allow Min to claim the throne herself. But there can only be one Emperor, and the sisters' greatest enemy could turn out to be each other.

BEAUTY BUZZ

Y'all I love makeup. I'm lucky to have friends and family who get the not-so-subtle hints of the wants and need and everything in between.

(btw, listening to So Cold by Tank and wow I forgot how much I l o v e this song amazing)

DESSERT SHOPS AND MUSIC&BOOKS IN HOUSTON

I have zero intention of writing an actual introduction for this post...so...just enjoy the words to come! 

SELF CARE SATURDAY WITH MOTIVATIONAL CATS

Those golden rays are beaming through your blinds, you're staggering into the kitchen for the first cup of coffee, and you pulled up this article to read while that life-saving (other people's lives, too) brew is getting all fixed up. I'm flattered, really, that I'm a part of your morning routine. 

SEATTLE'S RAIN & B-DAY HAIRCUTS

Good morning, love of my life. I hope the summer is treating you well and that you're accomplishing all the things you set out to do. I also wish amazing sleep upon you all, that's something I am in desperate need of currently.

LATINX AUTHORS AND BEBIDAS COFFEE

Hello my darling little readers. Coffee drinkers. Tea sippers. Sandwich eaters. Sunny day lovers. Music fanatics. How are you today? Are you getting that internship/job/perfect apartment? Hopefully you answered yes to all the questions that applied to you.

"TRAVEL AND LEISURE" POSTS PAIRED WITH YA BOOKS

Wow.

Travel and Leisure. The publication that proves to me just how little money I actually have. It never ceases to amaze me the extent to which society sections off accessibility to relaxing things, like travel. That being said, I do freaking adore going through the online posts and planning for when some rich relative comes out of the woodworks and leaves me a disgusting amount of money and tells me that it must be used to go see the world. 

HOUSTON COFFEE SHOPS & BOOKS TO READ

As a self-described Houstonian, I know more coffee shops than the majority of other humans on the planet. Over the past few semesters, me and some of the loves of my life began doing Friday Adventures.

BOREDOM AND COUNTRY MUSIC MONDAYS

So, I've got a crush and it's terrible. I would not recommend it to anyone. Ever. Just stop that crazy train before it reaches the station. Lucky for me, I'm also fantastic at cutting off emotion entirely. That, my lovely followers, is exactly how I've decided to address this terrible, horrendous, no-good situation.

NIGHT ADVENTURES

Hey there all you dark-as-night lipstick wearing, neon sign-loving, R&B enthusiasts. It’s me, your local early-as-possible bedtime going soft rocker queen. My aesthetic follows me much like how I leave the scent of sandalwood and vanilla in my wake. The other night I went out on an adventure with one of the loves of my life and, let me tell you, it was much needed. I’m still looking for that paid internship, and I’ve got less than ten days before I need to either be out of my apartment or have the summer lease signed.

Just a Heads Up...

So this is just going to be a quick heads up as to why some of my posts are super-super wonky.

I noticed this a couple days ago, but it looks like Polyvore was bought up by some other company. Either that or they've restructured their HTML randomly. No matter what happened, all the Book Looks are a mess, and I have yet to figure out how to fix it.

If you've got a suggestion, feel free to comment. In the meantime, you're more than welcome to swoon over the books and the clothing counterparts on Pinterest.

Thanks for your understanding!

COACHELLA 2018 || SZA

COACHELLA AESTHETICS

So y’all. Coachella is going to be better than ever before this year. Not only are there more black women performing than any year previously, but some of those women include the likes of Beyoncé and SZA.

Please pardon me while I legit lose all menial control over myself because I can literally not contain my enthusiasm.

Louis Tomlinson may be wondering where the bands are, but, as for myself, I’m debating how doable it could be to sneak myself in. I could make it happen…right?

Spring Break 2018 Reads

HAPPY MONDAY. 

And this Monday is actually HAPPY because, y'all, THERE ARE NO CLASSES. At least not for me. Is it like this all over the country?

WAIT. It's not. My sister is still in class...well...HAPPY MONDAY TO ALL Y'ALL OUT OF SCHOOL! To those who still have a couple weeks until the sweet taste of freedom, we're here for you; hold on just a little while longer.

#CURRENTLY

#BookLook || The Bourbon Thief by Tiffany Reisz

the bourbon thief by nobentspines featuring glossier makeup

My Two Cents

Honestly I think I'll see these boots in my dreams tonight. I'll be taking over the world in them. Probably sporting a crown. 

Re-Reads of 2018 SO FAR

Well hello there beautiful reader folk. Life has been all kinds of hectic lately. From papers to write, internships to apply for, and sleep to have, it's safe to say that I'm only slightly overwhelmed. It's fine! Since I need this reminder sometimes, I thought maybe y'all would as well: Self care is important.

Drink water. Read a book for the hell of it. Go out and get coffee with friends and talk about nothing and everything. Go exercise. Make sure you get good sleep. Take a moment to stop and listen to music.

(for music suggestions: 6LACK, One Way and Victor Oladipo, One Day)

#BookLook || A Cathedral of Myth and Bone by Kat Howard

myth and bone by nobentspines featuring handbags totes

My Two Cents

The dress...the BOOTS...the lipstick. I'm not sure if an outfit could be more me. Maybe a lower neckline. I'm not a huge fan of stuff creeping up like a turtleneck, but I'll made an exception this one time because this dress is GORGEOUS. 

*swoons*