What's In My Backpack!

Hello, everybody! I hope those of you in school are having a fun and exciting Spring break! It's been pretty busy for me these past few days as I've been dealing with A LOT more customers at work taking advantage of their Spring break to do a little shopping. One of these days I should write a whole post about what it's like to work in retail during holidays and school break because YOWZA, it's a doozy. ANYHOO, today I thought I'd put together a fun little post for you guys on what is in my backpack! You know, totally basic, not at all original.

And yes, you read that right, I'm doing a "what's in my BACKPACK" post. I've become addicted to carrying my backpack around because it's such a perfect size for me and holds just the right amount of stuff while providing a lot of room should I need to stuff a bunch of unnecessary crap inside. I'm not against purses, I have quite a few of them and have some new ones I really want to carry around but I just can't get over how much my backpack makes me happy. It's the kind of bag I can just literally grab and go.

So, let's get this post started shall we? I quite like seeing what other people carry in their bags and purses as I think it gives a nice insight to what kind of person you are. Is that a little emo of me? Yes? Maybe? Whatever, I'm a self-titled emo bunny. LET'S MOVE ON.

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Behold, my backpack. Isn't it pretty? I obviously had to have my Hatsune Miku keychain hooked to the front. I've yet to carry a purse without it on so it's here to stay. Maybe the little bear plushie is a bit much but who cares, it's my backpack and it makes me happy on the inside.

First up, we have my wallet and checkbook. Duh. I seriously am obsessed with my wallet since once again, it's just the perfect size for me. It's also oddly such a satisfying thing to hold in my hand. The material is a soft leather and oddly enough, my phone fits perfectly in the bill holder. So if I ever get lazy and don't feel like carrying my phone AND my wallet, problem solved. Yes, I'm weird, let's move on.

I also like to carry around a little travel sketchbook should I find myself having to jot down a quick note or need to kill time my sketching something. I like to sketch with a ballpoint pen I keep in my checkbook and the little travel sketchbook is a great size for really any purse. I don't really ever reach for it if I'm out and about but I like having it with me just in case.

Of course, I have to carry a couple of makeup products since I don't like carrying an actual make-up bag with me. I've tried to carry one in the past but noticed I literally NEVER reached for it nor needed it at any point in my day. It only ever got in the way so I decided long ago not to carry it anymore. I do, however, like to carry a couple of things that I think are the most needed which is lip-gloss and lip balm. And maybe some tic-tacs that I don't actually care for but I have it just in case. 

Okay, now THIS is probably my most important item I carry next to my earbuds, which is my spearmint gum. I freaking love spearmint gum and go through packs of this every month. I usually buy the five packs so I don't really have to worry about running out. I know, it's kind of an addiction at this point but it's so good!

I also carry a little bottle of lotion with me even though, again, I don't ever reach for it but you never know, right? I also have a second stick of lipbalm I like to have with me only because it tastes like Pocky. I love Pocky. Pocky is amazing. You should have Pocky.

And then there's my keys which actually is an illusion because I literally only have one key on the thing, the rest are keychains. As you can see, I have a LOT of keychains. Plus a lanyard that holds it all. I have a weakness to cute keychains, OKAY?

Okay now onto the actual important stuff that's practical. I always have a pair of sunglasses with me in a little carrying sleeve since it often gets very bright and sunny where I live, which is a no brainer but I also have a sensitivity to light so I kind of rely on my sunglasses to help me, you know, not go blind.

And I literally NEVER leave the house without my all important earbuds. NEVER. I didn't use to carry my earbuds with me but once I started realizing how often I found myself bored without anything to at least listen to when I was out and about, I was quick to buy me a pair of earbuds with a carrying case. I keep my favorite ergonomic earbuds neatly inside the metal tin and often reach for them on a daily basis when I'm running errands or shopping and want some music to jam out to. It's beautiful.

And last but not least, I carry a book with me. I usually only ever carry a book with me if I know there's a small chance I'll be able to read it when I'm out for the day, not so much if I just plan on making a quick run to the store or something.

I like taking a book with me if I know I'll be getting a longer lunch break at work or am taking a drive somewhere that will give me a good half hour of reading time. Often me and my mom will go thrift shopping and our favorite one is about thirty minutes away so I like to read in the car on the way there.

I'm obviously reading "Ready Player One" at the moment since the movie comes in NEXT WEEK and I couldn't be more excited about it! I actually meant to read it last year but didn't get around to actually doing that so I'm currently trying to read as much and as fast as I can and so far, I'm really loving it!

So that's it for what I keep in my backpack on a regular basis. I didn't show a picture of my phone but that's a given. I really hope you guys enjoyed this post! I want to start posting more diverse posts like this that have to do more with lifestyle and such. Don't get me wrong, I love talking about books and coffee, but I also like talking about little seemingly unimportant things like all the crap I keep in my purse. It's real-life. It's random. And so is my bag. Anyhoo, read on, bookworms! See you all in the next chapter!

5 Non-Fiction Books I Want To Read In 2018!

Hello, everyone! I hope you're all having a great week so far! Mine has been a little busy so I apologize for not being active as of late but things are starting to calm down which is nice and means more blogging and Instagram time for me. I'm happy to finally be catching a break as Spring starts rolling around so I'm sending good vibes to everyone! Anyhoo, I want to get right into this post because it's a bit different.

I've been thinking about reading more non-fiction books especially since there are a few that have caught my eye in recent weeks that I would really love to read. I decided to write a post showcasing all the non-fiction books I plan on reading this year. I would love to read a non-fiction book every month but quite honestly, I don't have that many non-fiction books that I want to read. It's not my favorite genre but I do enjoy a good biography every now and again and I do have my favorites.

Anyhoo, here are the top five non-fiction books I really want to read in 2018!
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1. Columbine by Dave Cullen

Goodreads
Synopsis:
What really happened April 20, 1999? The horror left an indelible stamp on the American psyche, but most of what we "know" is wrong. It wasn't about jocks, Goths, or the Trench Coat Mafia. Dave Cullen was one of the first reporters on scene, and spent ten years on this book-widely recognized as the definitive account. With a keen investigative eye and psychological acumen, he draws on mountains of evidence, insight from the world's leading forensic psychologists, and the killers' own words and drawings-several reproduced in a new appendix. Cullen paints raw portraits of two polar opposite killers. They contrast starkly with the flashes of resilience and redemption among the survivors.

I really love stories about survival and redemption so this book caught my eye as soon as I found it at the bookstore one day. I know I'm probably one of the last people to read this book but I have good reason for it. The story of Columbine is one I've always been interested in learning more about and I've seen plenty of documentaries and specials on the subject. However, since the recent school shooting in Florida has dominated the news across the country, I think it's important that we start talking about the issues we face and finally take the first step into changing the way we do things in order to protect schools, kids, teens and young adults from having to face the fear of simply going to school. It's an incredibly important subject that the young generation refuses to sweep under the rug and I want to learn more about what I could possibly do to make myself more aware.

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2. Project Semicolon: Your Story Isn't Over by Amy Bleuel

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Sara Sargent at HarperCollins has bought Amy Bleuel's Project Semicolon: Your Story Isn't Over. This book from suicide-awareness organization Project Semicolon chronicles the global phenomenon of the semicolon tattoo, combining photos of individuals' tattoos with their stories about struggling with suicide and mental illness.

I just recently bought this book for no real reason other than that it looked interesting. I haven't heard many things about this book so when I researched a little bit about this book, I grew more and more excited to read it and see all that it contained. I love books about mental health, whether non-fiction or not, as it's also a very important subject that is continuing to be talked about more and more as the years go on which is great. I've always been a supporter of Project Semicolon so I'm excited to dive into this book.

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3. Shades Of Blue by Amy Ferris

Goodreads

Synopsis:

The silent epidemic of depression affects millions of people and takes dozens of lives everyday, while our culture grapples with a stigma against open discussion of mental health issues. Editor Amy Ferris has collected these stories to illuminate the truth behind that stigma and offer compassion, solidarity, and hope for all those who have struggled with depression.

Shades of Blue brings the conversation around depression and sadness into the open with real, first-hand accounts of depression and mental health issues, offering empathy to all those who have been affected by these issues.

It’s time to scream out loud against this silent annihilator: We are not alone.

This book was one I stumbled upon while researching the Project Semicolon book. This one I was very interested in reading and ordered online as soon as I read about it on Goodreads as it seemed like a book I needed to have in my library. This one is a bind-up of various stories by various contributors to create an anthology of discussion for those dealing with or wanting to learn more about depression and suicide. I think this book will end up being a favorite just based on the synopsis but I guess we'll see.

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4. What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen by Kate Fagan

 

Goodreads

Synopsis:

If you scrolled through the Instagram feed of 19-year-old Maddy Holleran, you would see a perfect life: a freshman at an Ivy League school, recruited for the track team, who was also beautiful, popular, and fiercely intelligent. This was a girl who succeeded at everything she tried, and who was only getting started. 

But when Maddy began her long-awaited college career, her parents noticed something changed. Previously indefatigable Maddy became withdrawn, and her thoughts centered on how she could change her life. In spite of thousands of hours of practice and study, she contemplated transferring from the school that had once been her dream. When Maddy's dad, Jim, dropped her off for the first day of spring semester, she held him a second longer than usual. That would be the last time Jim would see his daughter.

WHAT MADE MADDY RUN began as a piece that Kate Fagan, a columnist for espnW, wrote about Maddy's life. What started as a profile of a successful young athlete whose life ended in suicide became so much larger when Fagan started to hear from other college athletes also struggling with mental illness. This is the story of Maddy Holleran's life, and her struggle with depression, which also reveals the mounting pressures young people, and college athletes in particular, face to be perfect, especially in an age of relentless connectivity and social media saturation.

This book was one I currently plan on reading within the next few weeks and I'm really looking forward to reading it. This book was one I found just days after one of my favorite singers from one of my favorite singing groups had passed away from suicide. I was a really huge fan of his so the news really hurt at the time and still does, especially when I listen to his music. I guess you could say that I was wanting to better understand the thoughts of depression in young people since it's a subject that adults and parents are now having to learn more about. It's sad that it's a subject many people are having to become more aware of but I think the more we learn, the better we can understand and figure out better ways to keep more lives from ending too soon.

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5. Dare To Be Kind by Lizzie Velasquez 

Goodreads

Synopsis:

When Lizzie Velasquez was 17 years old, she came across a video online titled "The World's Ugliest Woman"--only to discover that the 8-second viral video featured her. Born with a genetic condition that makes it impossible for her to gain weight, Lizzie had always known she was "different," but after her online bullying went public she decided to stand up on behalf of victims everywhere. She also made it her mission to help create a kinder world.

Today, her popular YouTube channel has half a million followers and her massively popular TED talk has been seen more than 10 million times. In this daring and revelatory book, she draws on her experiences overcoming bullying--from the schoolyard to the Internet--to reveal the hidden forces that give rise to cruelty, and how we can redirect them to unlock empathy and kindness. Lizzie shows how each one of us can use everyday acts of empathy to create a kinder culture and a better world.

I've been a big fan of Lizzie for years so when this book came out I was really excited to read it. I've watched Lizzie's YouTube videos and have become a big supporter of her movement of just simply daring to be kind in a world that doesn't have nearly enough love. I've always believed that treating people with respect no matter where they come from or what they are or choose to be is the only way to treat people. I love people simply because they're human and deserve to be treated with love and respect, which is why Lizzie is one of my role-models. Seeing how she's changing the world in small ways by just encouraging people to be nice is really refreshing and I can't wait to read her book!

So those are all the non-fiction books, (well, five at least) that I REALLY want to read this year. If anyone has any suggestions on other non-fiction reads I should take a look at, please leave them in the comments! I would love any and all suggestions that anyone has for me! Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

I WROTE A BOOK!!

So . . . yeah, I wrote a book. As if the title of this post didn't tell you enough. Allow me to further get into the details about all of this excitingness! I can't stop thinking about how impossible it is that I actually have a book of my own creation that I now own two physical copies of that people can actually BUY! Like, what?! I'ts been a dream of mine since I was a young girl to be an author one day and I guess I technically am now. Yay for indie authors! I'm not entirely sure what to do now other than continuing to write new stories that are bouncing around in my head and tackling more books on my TBR but for now, let's just move on to the next part of this post.

LOOK IT ------------------------------------------------>

So, back in November there was this little thing called NaNoWriMo where people all over the world took to their laptops and pens to write an entire novel (50,000+ words) in thirty days. Now while that may seem like a lot (IT IS) it's actually not that bad once you get into the groove of writing every single day which teaches discipline to those writers out there who don't make a habit of writing crazy word counts every day (I write like three words a day). I've won twice and both times I was literally winging it with no concrete story-line so if I can make it out alive two years in a row then you have a pretty darn good chance of winning!

Anyhoo, after November, I took to editing my story which I have to say is a lot more fun than actually writing a story from scratch because, you know, it's already there for you. The only thing you have to do is read over everything and make a few changes to "sharpen up the edges" if you will. It took about two months before I had a semi-final draft that I was ready to print, part of that is because I've been binge watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S on Netflix and I'm very self-critical towards anything I create . . . Anyway, within a couple of weeks I had a physical copy of my book as well as a link to share with people so they can purchase it. Yay for blood, sweat, tears and whole lot of coffee.

So let me tell you what this book is about! This book is a story that consists of three of my all-time favorite things: Photography, coffee, and Frank Sinatra. There you go. Doesn't it sound like a bestseller?

Just kidding! But seriously, I love all of those things so much that I decided to write a story based around them. In the books I read, I find that there aren't a lot of weird or peculiar characters. By that I mean it's hard to find unique characters such as Lola from Lola and the Boy Next Door or even The Baudelaire Orphans from A Series Of Unfortunate Events. 

I LOVE unique characters like that because it's just so cool to see them go about their everyday lives, acting like their personalities are completely normal to everyone around them. I wanted to add some of that into my book as well so . . . I did! (the synopsis is down below).

SYNOPSIS: 

Evie Montez is a young photographer with an eye for the world around her. But with her sister Nora's wedding only a few weeks away with lots of planning still left to do and many other things to deal with like school and work, things start to take unexpected turns. Throw in a really cute guy who looks like he just stepped out of the 1920's and things can't get any more strange. Evie is used to keeping her feelings hidden but as she goes through twists and turns and many ups and downs, she realizes that some of the best moments are those that leave you more confused than ever.

Even though she's helping Nora plan for the future, Evie can't seem to shake things from her past that continue to haunt her. She's forced to come face to face with her secrets and pain when she starts to discover that second chances don't always come in normal packages. Like a photograph, the past never fades. But like the future, there's always something new.

So that's pretty much all there is to it! Really long post but whatever. Click the linkedy link below if you want to check out my book!

Purchase "Dressed To The Nines"

And if you want to read some of what I've written in the past for FREE, click this link:

Wattpad!

So I hope you all enjoyed this post! Read on bookworms! See you guys in the next chapter!

Most Anticipated November YA Releases!

It's the beginning of a new month and that means even more awesome books coming our way. I'm really excited for this month because of the variety of genres that will make this month an interesting one for reading. So here are the releases I'm most looking forward to!

Title: The Anatomical Shape of a Heart

Author: Jenn Bennett
Release Date: November 3, 2015
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Fiewel & Friends
Add It To Your Shelf!

Synopsis: Artist Beatrix Adams knows exactly how she's spending the summer before her senior year. Determined to follow in Leonardo da Vinci’s footsteps, she's ready to tackle the one thing that will give her an advantage in a museum-sponsored scholarship contest: drawing actual cadavers. But when she tries to sneak her way into the hospital’s Willed Body program and misses the last metro train home, she meets a boy who turns her summer plans upside down.

Jack is charming, wildly attractive . . . and possibly one of San Francisco’s most notorious graffiti artists. On midnight buses and city rooftops, Beatrix begins to see who Jack really is—and tries to uncover what he’s hiding that leaves him so wounded. But will these secrets come back to haunt him? Or will the skeletons in Beatrix’s own family’s closet tear them apart?

Title: Need
Author: Joelle Charnonneau
Release Date: November 3, 2015

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Add It To Your Shelf!

Synopsis: "No one gets something for nothing. We all should know better."

Teenagers at Wisconsin's Nottawa High School are drawn deeper into a social networking site that promises to grant their every need . . . regardless of the consequences. Soon the site turns sinister, with simple pranks escalating to malicious crimes. The body count rises. In this chilling YA thriller, the author of the best-selling Testing trilogy examines not only the dark side of social media, but the dark side of human nature. 

Title: The Lies About Truth
Author: Courtney C. Stevens
Release Date: November 3, 2015
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: HarperTeen
Add It To Your Shelf!

Synopsis: Sadie Kingston, is a girl living in the aftermath. A year after surviving a car accident that killed her friend Trent and left her body and face scarred, she can’t move forward. The only person who seems to understand her is Trent’s brother, Max.

As Sadie begins to fall for Max, she's unsure if she is truly healed enough to be with him — even if Max is able to look at her scars and not shy away. But when the truth about the accident and subsequent events comes to light, Sadie has to decide if she can embrace the future or if she'll always be trapped in the past.

Title: Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) 

Author: Marissa Meyer

Release Date: November 10, 2015

Genre: Dystopian, Retelling, Science Fiction

Publisher: Fiewel & Friends

Add It To Your Shelf!

Synopsis: Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend–the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

Title: The Game of Lives (The Mortality Doctrine #3)

Author: James Dashner

Release Date: November 17, 2015

Genre: Science Fiction

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Add It To Your Shelf!

Synopsis: Michael used to live to game, but the games he was playing have become all too real. Only weeks ago, sinking into the Sleep was fun. The VirtNet combined the most cutting-edge technology and the most sophisticated gaming for a full mind-body experience. And it was Michael’s passion. But now every time Michael sinks, he risks his life.

The games are over. The VirtNet has become a world of deadly consequences, and Kaine grows stronger by the day. The Mortality Doctrine—Kaine’s master plan—has nearly been realized, and little by little the line separating the virtual from the real is blurring. If Kaine succeeds, it will mean worldwide cyber domination. And it looks like Michael and his friends are the only ones who can put the monster back in the box—if Michael can figure out who his friends really are.

Music Matching Monday: New Segment!

Hey people of books and all things reading! I recently took to social media to ask you guys what y'all would like to see on this blog and I got some really awesome Ideas from people! I want this blog to be about books and reviews but I also want to include things that are book related to add something fun to my blog but also keep the theme of books going. So, without further typing, here's a brand new segment for you guys! I'm calling it "Music Matching Monday!"

Here's How It Works:

 

Every Monday, I'll choose a book and pair it with a song and tell you why I think they go together so well. It's pretty much like giving a book your own personal soundtrack. I have PLENTY of books and songs that I've paired together in my mind so I'm super excited to share my pairings with you guys! This idea came from one of my friends on Instagram @bookishmelissa (whom you should follow). Since my account name on IG is @books.music.life, she suggested I combine music and books together which I think is a brilliant way to interweave my account and blog :)

So, here's the first pairing I have for you guys!

 

 

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

 

I've paired this book with one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite artists! This pairing has actually been one for almost a year now and every time I play this song, I still can't get it through my head how the song somehow didn't make it into the movie or official soundtrack. Like, what even?

Like A Star by Britt Nicole



January Wrap-Up and Book Haul 2015

Hey bookworms! So this month was really good to me both with reading and book buying! There is a lot of both so let's just get started!

Wrap- Up

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Bang by Lisa McMann

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (reread)

Evermore by Alyson Noël

Love Of The Undefined by Amelia Louise Carter

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards

The Edge Of Falling by Rebecca Serle

Memoirs Of A Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

(Reviews available for all the books above)

 

Book Haul

 

How Rude! by Alex J. Packer, PH.D - Library- $1

Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas -Half Price Books- $4.99

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin - Half Price Books- $8.99

Eragon by Christopher Paolini -Library- $2

The Help by Katheryn Stockett -Library- $2

The Edge Of Falling by Rebecca Serle -Half Price Books- $4.99

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han -Half Price Books- $4.99

Fairest by Marissa Meyer -Target- $14.95

All Fall Down by Ally Carter -Target- $14.95 (signed copy)

Good Girls by Laura Ruby -Thrift Shop- $0.50

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot -Thrift Shop- $0.50

Uglies by Scott Westerfield -Thrift Shop- $0.50

Little (Grrl) Lost by Charles De Lint -Given book-

October Baby by Eric Wilson and Theresa Preston -Mardel- $5.00

Avalon High by Meg Cabot -Thrift Shop- $0.50

The False Prince by Patrick Nielsen -Thrift Shop- $0.50

The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan -Library- $1

Marked, Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed, Hunted by P.C Cast and Kristin Cast -Thrift Shop- $3.00 total

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern -Library- $1

The Maze Runner movie (Blu-ray Collector's Edition) -Target- $19.95

Divergent Official Illustrated Movie Companion- Half Price Books- $7.99

 

Phew . . . that was a lot of typing.