WLW: Random Lovely Things

Hello lovelies! 

Renovations are complete, they were complete on Saturday, but I've been using the time to attempt to recenter myself and bring back the calming energy that seemed to have vanished for the duration of the time my house was in chaos.  So, let's get back into the swing of things! 

Anyway, today's wish list includes a few things that support fantastic causes, some books that I want, and also a few supplies for my bullet journal, because you know my wishlist wouldn't be complete without supplies for my bullet journal!

The #GirlLove Rafiki is high up on my wish list.  It was created by Lilly Singh, aka iiSuperwomanii.  This project, which began on her birthday last year, was inspired by her trip to Kenya.  Each bracelet sold helps to fund education for girls in Kenya.  At $15 it is super affordable, I just have to find the extra funds to get it.  I'm loving the design and the fact that it helps to give young girls an education that they so desperately need is just a bonus to owning this absolutely wonderful bracelet, that is actually handmade by a woman in Kenya.  If you want to purchase one for yourself, you can find them here.

I am by far and away in love with anything Studio Ghibli, but My Neighbor Totoro is by far my all time favorite (Sorry Spirited Away...just kidding you'll always be my #1).  I want a snuggly little Totoro to cuddle up with because he is just so totally adorable.  This one is $10 on Poshmark and I am seriously considering ordering him when I get paid.  If you want this lovable little guy you can find him here.

If you've seen my bullet journal or yesterday's video you know by now, that I am totally in love with Washi tape, and well...my WLW wouldn't be complete without some washi.  These are on my wishlist through AliExpress, and I totally love it.  I don't mind waiting a few weeks for it because usually, I forget that I've ordered from them until it shows up in my mailbox :D  If you want to see these patterns or other that are offered from them you can go here.

I think that's all I got for you this week! <3 

See you next time! 

Wish List Wednesday!!

I am a bibliophile.  There will always be books and book related things that I want.  This is just a fact of life.  If you've not gathered this fact then you are in for a somewhat harsh awakening.  However, I am much like Ariel with her want for gadgets and gizmos...I want more.  Loads more! 

Here are some of the books on my wish list :D 

 

  

Wish List Wednesday: Released This Week

Welcome to this week's Wish List Wednesday!  There have been SO MANY good books released recently, and so many good books that are coming out soon!  The books featured this week are books that I want to grace my shelves and further enrich my life, and the best part is they released this week!  Yesterday to be exact!  So, without further adieu, here is this week's wish list! 

Okay, I have to admit, this book grabbed my attention simply because of the cover and the title.  Like seriously, that title.  How could it not make you go huh?  Either way, this collection of stories by British author Helen Simpson is one that I would be proud to own.  Simpson writes with wit, candor, and warmth about the complexities of modern life and her collections have been compared to such authors as Flannery O'Connor and Alice Munro.  This book released 2/23 in paperback in the UK.  Its original release date was Nov 5, 2015 in Kindle format, physical copies were released this year.

Prose and I are good friends, as are poetry and I.  I love reading them. D.J. Taylor's The Prose Factory only logically would end up on my wish list.  This book is gossipy, entertaining and an all around fantastic read full of details and anecdotes about the great minds of the twentieth century.  It holds so many up for scrutiny.  I look forward to ultimately getting a copy of this book in my grubby little hands in any format.  Though hardback would be most appreciated...because look at that awesome cover! 

Of Love and Desire by Louis de Bernieres.  A collection of love poems that had been written over a lifetime and effectively capture love in its many forms.  There is rapture, infatuation, urgency, sorrow, heartache and disillusion.  This is de Bernieres' second collection and there are traces of many influence ranging from classical Persian poets, Neruda, Quintus Smyrnaeus, Brian Patten...and many others.  The illustrations, beautiful things, are done by Doland Sammut. 

Rick Riordan.  Percy Jackson.  Greek Gods.  Gods in general.  Synonyms.  Seriously.  I absolutely love the rich world that Rick Riordan created with the Percy Jackson series.  This book includes a full color illustration by John Rocco, who was a Caldecott Honoree.  In this particular book, the son of Poseidon adds his own magic - sarcastic asides - to the classics.  You get Percy's personal take on the Who's Who of the Ancients from Apollo to Zeus.  If you are expecting restraint from the son of Poseidon, you will be disappointed.  I love the cover on this book and I can't wait to see the pretty illustration from John Rocco! 

Okay, I've read some Gena Showalter before, namely Alice in Zombieland which I was kinda lukewarm on.  However, I'm willing to give her another chance with this new release.  Once I can get a copy in my grubby little hands...either through the library or purchase or gift.  Ya know.  With this book, it seems an interesting concept.  Life as we know it is a dress rehearsal...real life begins after death.  Yeah, you read that right.  Our heroine, Tenley "Ten" Lockwood is seventeen and locked in Prynne Asylum - not for the reason you might think (her obsession with numbers) but for the reason that she will not let her parents choose where she will live when she dies.  Yeah, that.  Two realms exist in the Everlife - Troika and Myriad...both want Ten.  It seems interesting and eventually I'll let you know how I like it! 

What books top your wish list for new releases this week, this month? 

Wishlist Wednesday!

With Christmas a short 2 weeks away (16 days not that I'm counting or anything...) the next few Wishlist Wednesdays will feature books that are on my wishlist and may just end up on your wishlist.  A couple of these I wouldn't mind in digital, but there are a couple on this list that I want in physical copy so I can have them in my hot little hands! Let's see if you can guess which ones..

I recently finished this one, on loan from my local library.  HOLY HELL! I am absolutely in love with Stephen King's work and this has once again proven to be a stellar group of stories that I've absolutely fallen in love with. I will not read a single one of these stories after dark or before bed because well, I have enough trouble sleeping.  Twisted dreams inspired by Stephen King's stories, yeah, I'll pass. There was a reason he was not allowed to tell his children bedtime stories.  I highly recommend this anthology, and it is well worth the purchase price! 

Fourth book in The Lunar Chronicles, and I hate to say it I've not read Scarlet yet, and I need to before I even come close to adding this to my current list of books I own.  Either way, I have been looking forward to this book for ages.  To know that this series came out of a National Novel Writing Month work, absolutely blows my mind and continues to provide me with encouragement to actually continue to plug away at my own writing and maybe I'll be awesome like Marissa Meyer. 

This one, previously featured in Rogues edited by George R.R. Martin, and already on my read list has been published recently (last month) as it's own stand alone novella.  I have found that I am hit or miss with Gillian Flynn's work, mainly because I've been left feeling kinda weird after finishing the last two books I've read by her.  However, I actually really, really liked this particular story and would be please to own this one. 

This.  Book.  Makes.  Me.  Happy.  Seriously! The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft! GIVE ME NOW! This anthology releases in TWO DAYS! December 11, the twelve deities of the Lovecraftian mythos are set free in these pages!  

Cthulhu (Adam Nevill) – Yog-Sothoth (Martha Wells) – Azathoth (Laird Barron) – Nyarlathotep (Bentley Little) – Shub-Niggurath (David Liss) – Tsathoggua (Brett Talley) – The Mi-Go (Christopher Golden & James A. Moore) – Night-gaunts (Jonathan Maberry) – Elder Things (Joe Lansdale) – Great Race (Rachel Caine) – Yig (Douglas Wynne) – The Deep Ones (Seanan McGuire).  That line up, it just makes me very happy! Besides, who doesn't love a little Lovecraft with their holidays? 

WORDS.  I NEED TO FIND WORDS. This book, much like the Gods of H.P. Lovecraft, makes me SQUEE like a good little fangirl.  Guillermo Del Toro...*swoon* I'm seriously addicted to this man's work.  His movies.  I've got at least 2 books of his on my wish list, among other things.  Seriously, I will love the person for ever who gets me this book...like not even remotely joking! 

What's On My Kindle? Dickens. Charles Dickens.

This week's What's On My Kindle? features books by one of my favorite classical authors, Charles Dickens.  (insert collective groan here).

No, seriously.  Dickens has always been one of my favorites, and I know most of his books are exceptionally long, and excessive on the description, however when he was writing and you were paid by the word...you wrote as much as you possibly could right?

I've several Dickens titles on my Kindle, all of which are free thanks to services like Project Gutenburg.  However, the ones I'm featuring are by far my all time favorite Dickens novels.

1.) Oliver Twist

Who didn't fall in love with Oliver?  Want to see him ultimately find a family?  Who didn't secretly like the Artful Dodger?

This book inspires all sorts of feelings, and ultimately has been labeled a "national institution" by George Orwell,   It is a morality lesson, a social protest, and a detective story all rolled into one package and has turned into several, successful movie ventures.  Most of which are musicals, featuring one of my favorite songs :)

2.) Great Expectations

This is most likely one of Dickens' best novels.  Orphaned Pip is apprenticed to the work of the forge, however he dreams of being a gentleman.  One day, he finds himself in possession of 'great expectations.'

This story includes such magnificent characters aside from dear orphaned Pip.  There is Magwitch - a fearsome convict.  Estella - haughty beauty.  A jilted bride - Miss Havisham, who is greatly embittered.

This is a tale of crime, guilt, revenge and reward.  Does it have a happy ending?

This is also another one of Dickens' stories that has made it onto the silver screen multiple times. 

What is your favorite Dickens' novel?