via someecards.com

I love shopping. It has to be one of my favourite things to do. Searching for new things, finally getting things that you've been longing for, getting amazing deals, there's nothing else like it. Especially for a country bumpkin such as myself, actually getting to a large city center and wandering down a busy street filled with cute shops or going to a shopping center or mall is magical. The one thing I hate about shopping, though, is that I have to spend money. The horror.

Ever since I was little, I've always liked saving money. Looking back, I was never saving up for a new toy.
I was just saving for the sake of having money. Even now, spending over $20 on a single item is a scary idea. I don't know why I think that way, but I do.

Sure, I will blow through $100 while shopping easily. But I will get a lot of stuff for that $100. I won't just get a few items. If you check out this recent post you will see that I bought quite a few things including five tops, a wallet, a bath thing from Lush and a pair of sunglasses for about $70. I will walk away from something even if I love it because it's a few dollars more than I am willing to spend. (Sorry future kids. You might end up with a house in a ghetto because the nice house in the nice area was $5000 to much.)

Some people may see this personality trait of mine as a bad thing because I'm no fun or I'm cheap. But I think that though this is a bad trait for someone who likes to shop, it's a wonderful trait for living in the real world outside of malls. It means I won't be blowing money on unnecessary things, I will always pay my rent on time and I will make sure to get good deals on important things like wedding dresses, vacations, cars and houses (not that I'm planning to get married more than once).

So while my peers all waste their money on their first cars and trips they can't afford in the next few years I will be sitting on my very small amount of money that I have saved from working all the way through high school and college. Plus, I will not be going through the next twenty years of my life in debt.

A few weeks ago I found a recipe for Overnight Chai Oats here. When I first pinned it, I didn't realize that it was a recipe for oatmeal. I don't like oatmeal and was looking for a recipe for granola when I found this. The idea of chai sounded so alluring and exactly what I was looking for in a granola recipe- sweet with warm spices and not anything chocolate. I decided to try making this recipe, with some modifications and in granola form.

Personally, I think cooking is a very personal matter. How you want things to taste depends on what you like and the tastes of those you are serving. That's why I don't measure unless I have to scoop stuff and I try my own ideas and modifications so that I like the taste of what I cook for myself and loved ones. Therefore, I don't measure. And this recipe could be incredibly inaccurate and might not work if you try it. I have warned you. Now for the recipe:

Ingredients: *All Approximate Measurements. (See above paragraph.) 
1 1/2- 2 cups quick cooking oats
1/2-1 tsp. almond extract
1/2-1 tsp. vanilla extract
Sprinkle of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg (I put a bit more cinnamon on than the other spices)
~ 2-3 tbsp. maple syrup
~ 1 tbsp. brown sugar
~ 1/4 cup shredded coconut
~ 1/4 cup pecans

How To Make It:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Prep baking sheet by placing parchment paper on it.
3. Evenly distribute oats, coconut and pecans on baking sheet.
4. Pour maple syrup over it in zig zag patterns. Evenly pour/sprinkle almond and vanilla extracts, spices and brown sugar over oat mixture. Gently swish around mixture with wooden spoon to evenly distribute flavours. Pour a bit more maple syrup over it in zig zags so that they stick together and make bunches.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Keep a careful watch on it. I baked mine for about 18 minutes.
6. Cool and keep in mason jar. Serve on top of Cornflakes or Cheerios with a sprinkle of brown sugar or with fruit.

This recipe makes for such a flavourful and healthy breakfast. I think it would be good with chopped apples and cinnamon or brown sugar.

Granola + Corn Flakes + Tiniest bit of brown sugar

 

If you didn't read my January Blist you wouldn't know that I have been obsessed with missglamorazzi and beauty videos in general. Because of this I've been craving to just wander around a shopping centre/area/mall of some sort and buy and look at pretty things. Living in the country I can't just go shopping on the weekend or one day after school making this dream impossible to become a reality. Therefore I was really glad to hear that my family and I were going into a nearby city for the weekend and that I could have the whole Saturday for myself to meet friends at the mall. Obviously I bought stuff and tried (and failed) to be a typical white girl for the day. And obviously I restrained myself from buying things but am telling you to go check out and/or buy because I regret not buying them/wish I had the money to buy them. 

Stuff I did buy:

 

 Blue wallet- Bentley

Denim clutch with stars- given to me

Sunglasses- a random kiosk in the mall

Imagine sweater + Emerald green top- Smart Set

Tank tops- Bluenotes

Green Bubbleroon- Lush

 

Adventures at Lush, Sephora, Bath & Body Works, etc:

I always love looking around Lush but the only thing I've ever bought was a tiny thing of their Sexy Peel soap which I loved but whenever I go in there I restrain myself from buying things. This time, however I went a little cray cray and bought a bubbleroon. (I know, insane.) As I was paying for it, I noticed they had samples of their lip products at the cash. I had heard such good things about them that I had to test one. I tried their Latte lip tint and I now wish so badly that I bought one. In fact, every time my lips felt a little chapped throughout the day, I found my way back to Lush just to use more of their sample. 

Also, I tried their Shine On Split End Treatment and now I want that as well. Next time, I swear I won't restrain myself (too much.)

I also went to Bath & Body Works. Once again, every time I go there I smell all their candles for like 30 minutes and then don't buy anything. Frankly, because I don't like spending $22 on most things, let alone a candle. That said, they did have a few $10 3-wick ones. Anyway, all their spring scents are out (which seems really early, does it not?) Of their travel collection I really liked Cheers to Capri. If you don't like lemon you won't like this because it smells like a delicious lemon cake, but a really strong one. As for their spring scents I loved Oceanside, Beach Cabana, Espresso, Sicilian Orange and Bellini Cafe. All of them were really fresh, tropical scents except for Espresso which is an extremely intense chocolate and coffee scent. I liked it but the friend I was with did not.

Another stop was American Eagle because they had some sales. Generally, I'm not crazy about them because once again, I'm cheap and don't like spending $50 on a hoodie. They definitely had some nice things. Unfortunately, all the things I liked were from their spring collection so they were full price. They had some beautiful tank tops and a gorgeous white lace top and headbands. If you don't mind spending a bit of money, I suggest looking in there. 

Already being such a typical white girl by wandering around the mall with a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from Starbucks and spending like a good 45 minutes overall smelling candles that day, I had to stop by Sephora. (Seeing as I don't like spending money and all.) Naturally, I was drawn to the Naked Palettes because I had only seen them virtually. Oh man, they were glorious. Of course I tested some of the colours on my wrist. Surprisingly, I wasn't drawn to any of the colours in the third palette, but I loved the ones in the first and second. Don't get me wrong, I love rosy eyeshadow, a lot, but I think because I wear a lot of pinks, I didn't want it. I wanted the browns and golds from the first two because I don't always wear those colours, but really like them. 

Overall, I had a wonderful day at the mall. The next day we drove home and I cleaned my room. Of course, I ended my sufficiently girly weekend with a bubble bath (where I tried my new Lush product which I fell in love with), a face mask and painting my nails. Now I'm breathing the lotion scent and nail polish fumes from hands as I eat chocolate and type this. A perfect end to a sufficiently girly weekend. 

I guess that will have to hold me over for a month or two until I can get another girly shopping, candle smelling day or two. I hope you all had a good weekend. Cheers!

 

Reading. Putting your mind into the mind of someone else. Books make us laugh, cry and anger us. Reading is irreplaceable. There is nothing like it. And that is why this week's #2014BloggerChallenge is about our favourite books.

I have read many good books. I like your typical teenage girl rom-coms of the book world. You know, the cheeky summer romance books where a girl has some issue and somehow through solving this issue she falls in love or the issue is falling in love. In other words, every Sarah Dessen book. But I like a little bit more substance than Sarah Dessen has to offer. I like a twist or something to keep me entertained and remind me this isn't just like every other book for teenage girls.

Despite what I just said about substance, I do really like Sarah Dessen's books. They're light and make you happy and sappy. Similar to that, one I really liked  Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton. I liked it so much that I've actually read it multiple times.

via janasbooklist.blogspot.com

As for romantic reads with twists I've really liked Beautiful Creatures and the Delirium series. They were both such chilling and mesmerizing fantastical love stories. They both have senses of reality, especially Beautiful Creatures. They are both good quality, stunning works of literature.

I also like a bit of fantasy. I tend to lean towards books in the fantasy genre that have a quality of relatability and being realistic. I read a few of the Harry Potter books when I was younger but now I'm trying to get through the entire series and have been absolutely loving them. They're just so charming (isn't that punny) and witty. I also loved the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce when I was younger. They are about a girl that wants to go to an all boys knight school and has to disguise as a boy for four years. The story seems very real and historic but actually takes place in a mystical kingdom.

A few other YA books I've loved is It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, Swim the Fly by Don Calame and Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell.

via ladykazumi.blogspot.com

It's Kind of a Funny Story is an in-depth, fiction look at a teenage boy's life with depression. He ends up going to an adult psych ward and is all about how he got there and all that happens while he is there. The author actually spent time in a psych ward and I think gives a pretty authentic view of life in that sort of establishment. It's also a movie which came out in 2009 and costars Emma Roberts.

via squigglymookster.edublogs.org

Swim the Fly is a hilariously raunchy novel where 3 adolscent boys about fourteen years of age have a goal to see a real naked girl by the end of the summer. Definitely the funniest novel I have ever read. Carpe Diem is a book about an extremely smart and driven girl who ends up on a summer long adventure with her crazy, creative minded grandma in Southeast Asia. Full of crazy people, culture and a bit of romance, it's a perfect read. The main character's intelligence and surprise plot twists provide enough substance to make it more than your typical beach read. This book really makes you want to "Carpe Diem".

I hope you all now have a few more books to add to your reading list. What are some of your favourite books? I would love to hear in the comments!