Pre-Boxing Day Sale and Project For Awesome

Pre-Boxing Day Sale

My Etsy shop, Lively Loops, is holding a Pre-Boxing Day sale this week ONLY! It's an exciting sale where every in stock item I have is up to 50% off AND you get a free macrame or arm candy bracelet with every purchase. If you purchase a bracelet, you will get a second free. If you don't specify in the notes of your order which bracelet you want, I will choose one at random for you.

What are you waiting for? Head over to www.etsy.com/shop/livelyloops right now and get yourself some cool  discounted knitwear. 

*Not familiar with my shop? I sell knitted accessories for all kinds of people. From a retro Rosie The Riveter headband to bibs, to Harry Potter and Game of Thrones inspired items. There's something for everyone.

Project For Awesome

Project For Awesome has officially started, and even though I made a video for it (above), I encourage you to go to their website, projectforawesome.com and check out as many videos as you can.

Every comment is a penny that New York Times Bestselling Author, John Green, will donate. Every vote toward a video is a vote toward getting that charity a cut of the final amount of money raised.

On top of that, there are great prizes to buy where all proceeds to straight to charity. 

Support Small Business Owners This Holiday Season - Great Etsy Shops

It can be so easy to think about all the large corporations you want to buy gifts from, what with their easy to access locations, advertisements and notability, but the more you buy from Etsy, the more you'll come to love it. As we near the end of 2014, I wanted to give you my top five Etsy shops of 2013.

1. The Great North


Yes, you're seeing that right, this shop has recreated Katniss Everdeen's vest from the new movie, Catching Fire. If you're as obsessed with this movie (and particularly this vest) as much as I am, you know that this would be the perfect gift for a fellow fan, or the perfect investment for yourself. It's just as perfect as Jennifer Lawrence, am I right?

Currently this shop also features cozy scarves and vibrant boot cuffs. Here in Canada, we're going to have pretty much 137 more months of winter, so you might as well be warm and fashionable while surviving it!

2. ZEnful Naturals


ZENful Naturals is a shop that sells everything you need to pamper yourself. I recently purchased three bath bombs and am eagerly awaiting their arrival. With bath bomb scents like Dragon's Blood, White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake and Lumberjack, this is truly a shop you need to experience for yourself (several times).

Currently this shop is on vacation as they catch up with orders, but keep an eye out for them. ZENful Naturals also sells lotions, perfumes and lip balms. Once you get your order in I suggest you take a "sick day" from work and enjoy a bath or two. You've earned it!

3. Molly Hatch


As the cup states, you and this shop belong together. With delicious tea flavours and adorable mugs, this shop will warm any tea lover's heart (and tummy). Look at that mug, seriously, do it. Don't you want to be that woman riding a bike in yellow pants? I know I do. I'm not sure if there would be anything more glorious than that.

This shop currently has the tea flavours Apple and Fig, Maple Sugar and Spiced Pomegranate. My keyboard is covered in drool just typing this...so moving on!

4. Honey Pie

This shop sells nothing but the cutest hair accessories I've ever seen. They are guaranteed to make you feel like a woodland elf and fairy tale princess hybrid. These headbands would be perfect for spring weddings, general mischief and glorious selfies.

Currently this shop sells a variety of floral headbands and a variety of bows. You can attempt those DIY tutorials, but nothing compares to the craftsmanship of this shop.


5. Dramatique Designs
 

Dramatique Designs sells all kinds of upcycled goodies. Not only are you creating a better world by choosing upcycled products, you look so good doing it! All of these products have a very theatrical, lively feel to them which will make you want to sing from the rooftops. Who wouldn't love that? It's the season for caroling anyway!

Currently this shop has an array of items ranging from headbands to gloves, shirts to hats.

Winter Has Come

On November 1st my new collection, Winter Has Come, was released to my Etsy shop, Lively Loops (www.etsy.com/shop/livelyloops). On top of my collection, SevenSeas Productions created my fashion film for it, seen below. 

http://vimeo.com/78321809

Now here's a little back story, and my thought process in creating these items.

Margaery Tyrell

Margaery's gloves were inspired by the left picture's long sleeves, as well as some fan art that had a long sleeve with a yellow stripe close to the hand. Since her dress has that amazing pattern on it, and her family is so associated with flowers, it seemed only right to have an intricate cabled pattern on these cuff gloves, like a trellis.

Arya Stark

Arya's hat is modeled after her helmet and fur collar.  It is knit with two strands of yarn instead of one which makes the whole piece warmer and more wind resistant.

Tyrion Lannister

This pocket square was particularly challenging to design. I was trying to incorporate the mesh in his vest (picture on the left) and the colours of his house to create a pocket square that fully represents the Lannister name, plus it was crucial to design something that despite using double the yarn, did not look bulky.

Daenerys Targaryen

The key element to her hood was the colour, and I lucked out in finding the perfect hue on my first shopping trip. The rest of the hood was fairly straight forward. She has no design, however her unique feature is that the hood is held together with a celtic broach.

John Snow

It seems as though he's never seen on the show without his furry cape. This scarf mimics the wild fuzz by using two different types of yarn. One is a subtle loose looking wool, while the other is more predominately shredded. This not only creates more realistic layers of faux fur, but makes the piece thicker and warmer.

Hogwarts Scarves Based Off Of Cho Chang, Cedric Diggory, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter

I've seen many variations of the Hogwarts scarves, but I hadn't seen one as an infinity scarf. I decided this was the route I wanted to take and I knew that instead of keeping the stripes evenly throughout, I wanted to emulate the scarves from the later films, where the stripes are small, in groups of two and far apart from each other (which is why I decided to only have two stripes off to one side).

The Dementor

The Dementor plays such a crucial role in the series that I thought it would make a great fifth item for the Harry Potter half of the collection. As someone who wears a black, hood-less pea coat, I always find myself wishing I had a hood during the winter. Similar to a Dementor's hood, I knew I wanted it to be deep, simple and have a scarf portion that not only creates a seamless transition between one's coat and the hood, but also could be pulled up over your face, emulating the dark, faceless Dementor.

How to Pokemon For Free

     Lately I've been seeing posts upon posts about the new Pokemon game. Not only does this make me reminisce about my childhood glory in this virtual world, but it makes me crave playing a new installment. I know there are places online where you can go to play the old Pokemon games, but this just won't do right now. I'm looking to be the very best, and also the very current Poke Master.

     As surprising as this may sound, all I needed to do to quench this thirst was to download a few free aps that have my favourite elements of the original series. My must haves? Cute things, breeding cute things into different cute things, cute things evolving into new cute forms and capturing cute things. What defines cute for me? Fuzzy, big eyed, cat like, bunny like, fox like, puppy like, and tiny.



     Tiny Monsters, Tiny Castle and Tiny Village are three free games that will cover you on breeding, evolving, and collecting tiny little cute things. I play all of these games at once to get a more rounded cute hit. Despite them all having the same sort of concept, there are subtle differences between them. These games are great if you love playing god, if you think you are a god, or if you aspire to one day be a god of your own religion.



     Monster Galaxy is the other crucial element. I don't believe you can evolve your creatures, but in this game you can battle monsters and catch them, expanding your collection. What breeding aspects you lack in this game, you make up for with the previous three. Word of warning, if you are an Aquarius like me, it seems like you have a crap selection of cute monsters under your constellation. It's desperately sad, but at least you can still catch the cute monsters from other collections, and feel like you've accomplished something with your day.

     The last step is to ignore any screen caps, or comments people make about the new Pokemon game. Remember, you can't afford it, so play these free games to make you feel included with the popular kids who can afford it. Also remember that high school never ends, then cry. Then after your cry, play more of these games, and continue the cycle.
    

Things I'm Into: September

1.
 

      Breaking Bad...Is there anyone who doesn't like this show? If you haven't seen it, you should give it a go. Breaking Bad has the best writing and acting I've ever seen on television. If you have seen the show (up to the last episode of the 4th season) make sure you check out this interview with the cast and Conan O'Brien. It's an hour and seven minutes of pure bliss.

2.


Apple cider, specifically with whipped cream, is a delicacy I look forward to year round. Now that it's officially fall I'm already regretting not inhaling this treat as often as I could. Here's a really cool article I found on Pinterest called Apple Cider History and Pimped Fall Cider Recipes. Oh, and try not to drool on yourself. You might want to wear a bib as a precaution.


3.


Pumpkin spice lattes are beyond description. They electrify the senses. Yeah, I think that's really all I can say on the topic without drooling onto myself. I found this really great recipe on Pinterest for a homemade pumpkin spice latte!


4.


The Social is a new show on CTV where four women (and a guest host for the first segment) discuss the hot issues of the day. The twist of this show is that you can get involved through social media and get your input on tv! It's a highly interactive show, and the best part is that these women are highly intelligent and delightfully sassy.


5.

This skirt from Ruche. The picture is huge. Partially because this skirt is larger than life, and partially because Bloger wasn't letting me make it smaller... I love the retro, and classy feel with this skirt. The layers add some cute volume on it too, and if it wasn't 50 bucks, it would be in my closet right now.

If anyone knows where I could get a knockoff of this skirt, let me know in the comments or on twitter!

Falling Hard

My fall collection, Falling Hard was recently released on Etsy, so today I wanted to write a piece on what inspired each item, and a little story about each accessory. If you're interested in purchasing the items, click on the title and it will take you to the item's listing.

As you can see, the colour scheme is grey, red, orange and violet. I chose these colours because they represent autumn leaves, but I also wanted a mix of vibrant pieces with neutral ones. In another sense, I created for pieces that one would wear throughout fall. In early bits, you don't need anything too heavy, so I created some fashion headbands, but for the later months, with bitter winds, there are gloves, a hat, and a headband.

Cat Ear Hat
 
Inspiration: I love the longer bunny eared hats, and I also love the fuzzier cat ear hats, but I wanted to create something a little more refined, with an adjustable cuff.

Story: I actually made one for myself first to figure out the length I wanted, and I loved it so much that I added it to the collection. In both cases (the one in my shop and the one in my closet) I used two strands of yarn to make it thicker, then made sure the cuff rolled up past the ears so it would act as a headband. Trust me, no wind will get through this one!

Retro Rosie The Riveter Headband
 
Inspiration: I knew I wanted to try the knotted headband with the retro feel, plus I have a friend who inspired this look.

Story: I don't remember the conversation, but a really good friend of mine once talked about Rosie The Riveter being awesome with me. When I knew I wanted to make this piece, I kept her in mind and tried to make something I thought would look stunning on her.

Bow Headband
 
Inspiration: I have a lot of thick, outdoor headbands in my shop, and I knew that I wanted to try creating another fashion headband. I've seen this style around and loved the texture of moss stitch, so I combined the two and was happy as a cat getting scratched behind the ears.

Story: I've never tried the bow with the knitted middle bit (the part that cinches the bow in). I like the look of both, but I figured I should have that alternative middle option for those interested in custom orders. I quite like the outcome and think I'll be using it more in the future.

Grey, Red, and Violet Headband
 
Inspiration: I can't remember where I saw this, but it was on the internet, and I believe it was the first piece of the collection that I made. I wanted this piece to set the tone, colour-wise, for the rest of the collection.

Story: I was SO worried that I would make it too big. It's an infinity headband, so if I did, it would just slip off my head like a slippery snake. Luckily, it all turned out fine, and I love it so much that I might just have to make one for myself!

Cuff Gloves
 
Inspiration: I was working on some cuff gloves for my winter collection (I actually finished my winter collection before my fall one because of possible time constraints and the fact that I knew I was going to re-release my old products for the fall anyway), and I loved them so much I wanted to make them for the fall with a different pattern.

Story: This was the first time trying this kind of cabling, and it definitely took some getting used to. I wouldn't say that the pattern was confusing, but sometimes I confuse myself and have to start my projects over and over and over again.
I like the concept of cuff gloves because they're so versatile. You can wear them over or under your sleeve, you can pull them over your hands or keep them at your wrists, you can wear gloves underneath or you don't have to. Cuff gloves are my new favourite kinds of gloves.



Tweet me @JackieAmodeo what your favourite item is and why, and you could receive a 50% off coupon for my shop!
   *this contest ends October 1st and the voucher will expire November 1st

Movie Review: Bottle Shock

 

     Bottle Shock is a movie starring Alan Rickman and Chris Pine. It's based on a true story about a British man in Paris setting up a blind wine taste to compare French to American wines. Chris Pine plays Bo, whose father owns a Nappa Valley vineyard hoping to break free from their bad luck streak and make a their humble business into a success.

    

     I must admit, I chose to watch this movie tonight in part because Alan Rickman is in it. It looked like the sort of fun and lighthearted movie I could get into, but alas, I found it very dull. There wasn't even as much Alan Rickman in it as I was expecting, which is highly disappointing.

     The movie really had potential, but I found the plot to be incredibly weak, the characters weren't fully developed and Chris Pine wore a distractingly bad wig. It wasn't horrendous, but I would not advise watching this movie, even if you love wine.

     Personally, I feel like if the character's stakes were higher, and the transformations were emphasized closer to the middle of the film, it would have turned things around for me. Bottle Shock played the same beat for much too long. 

     On the other hand, the landscapes were stunning, and Alan Rickman was in it... 

I give this movie two vikings crying rainbow tears. 

 

Things I'm Into: August

1.

Peace and quiet is my top favourite thing in August. If you are living in Toronto, you know just how much construction is going on in the city right now. If you aren't familiar, see this article. It can be actually exhausting for me. I won't complain about it, however, I will say that the quiet moments are spectacular in comparison. Tranquility is my passion right now, just like this chilled out frog.

2.

I recently craved more purple options for my eyes, then caved and bought some Body Shop Shimmer Cube Palette in purple. I love it. I personally find it very subtle, yet very shimmery. As a hazel eyed gal, it does a nice job of bringing out the green in my eyes. I really want to try their green and brown versions now!

3.

The other day I went to Dollarama to pick up some writing supplies and bought rainbow pens. Now, I couldn't see the ink like you can in the picture above, so I assumed that all the ink would be blue or black. To my delight, that was not the case, and in fact all the ink matched the outer shell of the pen. I've felt nothing but pure joy about it since. For some reason, that sort of spunk is really going to encourage me to write, you know, because the ink is fun.

4.

I tried a white chocolate cream cake this week. Oh man, it was heaven!  White chocolate is my favourite kind of chocolate so this was perfect for me, but it was more delicious than I imagined was possible. If you are a lover of cake, and white chocolate, go to Fresh Co and grab yourself a slice of your own heaven.

5.

This is an exciting little treat I had recently (*drink responsibly and when of age* Am I dork yet?). I love Somersby Apple Cider, so I was pretty interested in trying other flavours, and this did not disappoint. It was very light, and very tasty. I have to say, for some reason it tasted like strawberries to me, but that's not a bad thing in my books.

6.

I grabbed a can of Jaw Drop's Squeezing Melons one day when I went into the LCBO and tried to get the Somersby Blackberry Cider (*responsibility with the things going into your facial crevices at specific times in life*). It was delicious! I definitely plan on grabbing another sometime and trying other flavours. I mean, their can alone is so freaking rad that I'd likely try the other flavours even if it sort of sucked.

7.

I realized recently that I've paid a lot of attention to the side careers of Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton, but not so much Rupert Grint. Weird, right? I don't know why either. I like Grint. Anyway, recently I decided to fix that an I've been watching a lot of his films. I like him more as an actor for doing so! I thought he was especially brilliant in Driving Lessons. If you haven't already seen that movie, go and watch it. I really think you'll be surprised at how much you love that film. I know I was. I thought he was so subtle with his acting and I have to say, I really plan on continuing to follow his career because of this movie.

8.

I am obsessed with Wonderly's Youtube channel. They have so many wonderful women who create content for their channel, as well as a web series called Edge of Normal where six young women face the odds and learn how to control their super powers. Their website is also crazy wonderful, so check it out. Oh, yeah, and check out the blog I wrote for them while you're at it.

9.

 

Monster Life is too adorable. I think I used that word a lot here today, but I guess I'm having an adorable month. That doesn't sound too bad, eh? This is a game where you take tiny cute animals, train them, feed them and fight them. It's sort of like a free Pokemon with little creatures that look like they've been origami projects.

10.

I honestly think this background spams my phone, so I'll likely remove it soon, but it's totally cute, and you can interact with it. Everything that floats by in the background can be popped if you tap on it. How lovely is that? I would suggest getting it for a brief period of time, but keep the spam thing in mind in case you want to delete it. Don't get committed to this if you choose to install it!

Movie Review: Wild Target

    Tonight I specifically watched a movie to review it for you! How fun! Since I've been having a bit of a Rupert Grint (of Harry Potter fame) kick lately, I decided to check out his 2009 flick, Wild Target. This film also stars Bill Nighy (Pirates of The Caribbean Love Actually), Emily Bunt (Looper, The Devil Wears Prada), and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Office).

     Despite getting a rating of 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, I thought this movie was wonderfully quirky and thoroughly enjoyable! I would highly recommend it on a night you want to kick back, relax, and get taken away on a fun adventure. In this interview/trailer, the cast talks about having fun on set, which totally shows when you're watching the movie (not in a bad way, in a "ohhhh, I love their chemistry" kind of way).

     I loved how each character, in a very human way, have these quirks. Freeman's character has this half menacing, half cheesy smile that perfectly accents the intensity of the situation. Nighy plays up the stiff, uptightness for his character, while Grint and Blunt have these delightfully chill personas amongst it all. In comedy, it can be easy to overdo the wacky, and underplay the story. I felt that with Wild Target, you had the best of both worlds. You recognize traits you've seen in people you know, and you accept that they're a little over the top because the story plays out so realistically.




     I give this film four mustachioed pugs (out of five).



     Got a film you want me to review next? Leave a comment below and maybe I'll do this again!

Beauty Confidence and Changes

     This is just a blog on my personal beauty journey, and not social commentary on beauty standards for women because I could just go on and on about that, but I won't today. I wrote two other pieces on my fashion journey and my hair journey, so this is my little way of "rounding out the series."

     When I started making notes for this piece, I considered my journey starting around 13 or 14 years old when I started wearing make up and plucking my eyebrows. Truth be told, I consider applying nail polish to be a part of my beauty regimen, and I likely started playing around with nail colour when I was 8 or 9. That's so young, isn't it!? I surprised myself when I realized I've been playing around with beauty and possibly feeling self conscious about baring natural flesh since before I was a decade old.

     Now, I wouldn't necessarily say I was self conscious at that point, or at least aware of it, and that's because I hardly remember what my opinions on make up and fashion were back then. I'm sure if I did, they wouldn't be opinions that really bring something to the table anyway.

     Instead I want to start this story from the 13 or 14 year old perspective. I remember feeling a lot of pressure, mostly put on by myself, but encouraged by my peers, magazines, and media in general. I remember feeling this impossible task of plucking my eyebrows, shaving my legs and applying just enough make up, without going overboard. I needed to perfect everything on the first go, otherwise everyone will think I'm an idiot, or a slut or worst of all, ugly. Needless to say, I over plucked, I constantly cut my legs while shaving, and my make up application was not very skilled. I still felt that pressure though, and felt like my worth resided in my beauty, or lack thereof.
   
     When I got into the later years of high school, I really started liking back eye shadow and heavy eyeliner (on the bottom only as I didn't know how to apply it on my top lash line at the time). There was something pretty freeing about putting too much make up on and not giving a damn. That was the point where I started gaining confidence in my personal beauty style, and not caring about what everyone else might think. That's really a quality I try to hold true today.

     When I got to college, I sort of tuned down my make up. I wouldn't say I was experimenting with my techniques in anyway and I can't say I remember thinking about beauty a lot at that point. I just remember starting to find colour fun, and enjoying the process of changing things up a lot. Since I don't have much to say, I will tell you that my favourite nail polish colour at the time was chocolate brown. I still love the colour as I think it's just really unique.

     After I graduated, and got an office job, I knew I needed to tone down the intensity, and keep things professional. I still wore bold colours on my nails, and decided to try to learn how to apply eye liner. This is a process that I'm still working on, but am really glad I took a leap and made it work. I was at a stage where I was really keen on learning new application techniques, and YouTube definitely helped me on my way.

     Now I am at a really fun and experimental point. I play around with my eye liner thicknesses, and I play around with colour - not only on my eyes, but even lipsticks now! I'm a really big fan of playing up the eyes with smokiness or with vibrancy, but now I am also a fan of playing down the eyes, and playing up the lips. I think subtle colour, with voluminous eye lashes and with bright lips. This makes for such a cute, feminine look.

     I think, like every woman, I still feel some pressure to constantly look my best. I need to always go out with make up, I always feel insecure when a zit pops up onto my face, and I always feel I could look better. These days, that's just a tiny voice that's easy to dismiss, but it's fairly sad all the same. These days, I mostly focus on beauty because it's fun, because I can play around with colours I love, and because it's something fun I for myself.

Winter Has Come - Casting Call

     I have been working on my winter collection all summer, and not only have I finally completed it, but the fashion film is starting to come together! Basically, it's about ordinary people who put on these fandom inspired pieces, then realize they've become their favourite characters.
    
    The collection will be coming out in November, but if you're in the Toronto area and would be interested in being a part of this magic, please see the link below! If you aren't, stay tuned. Things are about to get fun in here.


http://www.mandy.com/1/cast3.cfm?v=55828163&terr=caon

Top 5 Fashion Trends for Fall/Winter 2013/14 For The Everyday Woman

5. Emerald

     Emerald was all over the runways. This colour has proven to be versatile, bold, and a little bit in your face. Emerald Green just like that person who can stop talking about themselves. She enters the scene, and at first you foolishly think she'll ask you what's going on in your life. Three seasons later, she's still going on about her jealousy for  Mint Green. Suddenly you're thinking, man, I wonder what happened to Mint Green. We should hang out, Mint Green an I. Prediction: Mint Green will be the colour for Spring/Summer 2014 because everyone is sick of Emerald Green's attitude.

4. Blazer

      Nothing says, "I've put my life together" quite like a blazer. Even when you're crying on the inside, a blazer blocks out that negative energy from leaving your body, making people see a young, successful woman who is confident with herself and life choices. The next time you find yourself lying in bed too traumatized to move because you just looked at your latest phone bill, put your blazer on, Instagram a selfie and let the compliments roll in as you eat out of a tub of ice cream with your hands.

3. Gray Scale

      You know how amateur photographers think gray scale makes everything better? This is now going to be a concept you can wear on your body! Now you too can look like you take yourself more seriously, even if nobody else does. If that fails, a grey scale wardrobe will scream out your personality. Because nothing will quite make your personality shine through, than clothes that say, "I wish it were raining," "my cat just died," and/or "I feel fat today, can you tell?"

2. Accents of Fuchsia and Maroon

     Everyone likes accents on people, why not have accents on your clothes too? Wearing a touch of Fuchsia or Maroon will make everyone think, "wow! What an exotic thing I see with my eyes." Everyone likes feeling exotic. Everyone would also love to go to France, but take what you can get. Throw some maroon, matte lipstick on and call it a day.

1. Texture

     Say what you will, but what you want to achieve over the next couple of seasons is to make it seem like you are a delicate woman who only has the strength to wear light material, but also a woman who slays animals. That's why you need to wear light lacy, silky things under big, heaping fur coats, tough leathers or just take some of the cat claws you can naturally find around your house (if you're a cat owner of course) and throw those onto a necklace (a great option if you're a vegetarian and poor). The mixture of the two dynamics will create a look so confusing, it's fashion forward.

Things I'm Into: July

1.

Jigidi is a website where you can do a puzzles online for free! What's great about Jigidi is that it's an environmentally friendly way to enjoy a good puzzle, you can choose from various sizes and you can choose from tonnes of different pictures.

I've been using this website for the last three days in a row because I find it so nice to play some music, do a puzzle and unwind. Typically I go for the pictures with lots of pinks and purples because they're just nice to look at, but there is such a variety on there that if you like puzzles, you'll find more than a few that are your taste.


2.

Life is Magic is a game for your phone that combines your real world with the world of magic. You can battle monsters that plague your neighborhood, battle other users, learn new spells, and accept challenges from shop keepers. The best part? It's free too!

I think I've been playing for about a month now, and what I love most is that under the same account you can have a profile in all available characters without it affecting your other accounts. I love that I can go to "Tim Horton's" in the game, and it looks like this otherworldly cafe. It's a great game for a wide range of people, and it's very addicting.


3.

Harry Potter Illustrations by Mary GrandPre are absolutely stunning. They have a likeness to the American covers of the series, but the scenes portrayed seem fresh and new again. With vibrant colours and wonderfully accurate character representations it brings to life all those memories of reading all day long all those days ago.

I have to say, lately I'm on a bit of a Harry Potter kick, so it's especially nice to see all my favourite moments as I scroll down. It makes me want to open up The Philosopher's Stone and start all over again.


3.

12 Reasons Why Hufflepuff House Is Actually Badass is the perfect list to get you feeling differently about the least appreciated house of all.

When I was first sorted into Hufflepuff on Pottermore, I was like, "What?! Aren't I a Gryffindor? What does Hufflepuff have to offer besides idiocy?" That's why this article connected with me so much. Hufflepuff definitely gets a bad rap and yellow is a great colour for me. I tend to see Hufflepuff as the Canada to Griffindor's America, so I guess I'm actually a perfect fit.


4.

Pottermore keeps tweeting about their upcoming additions to the website, and things are looking tantalizing. Get ready to finish your third year at Hogwarts! Let's hope there's a magical patronis segment.

Right after I was sorted, I knew the next step I cared about was the patronus. I'm so hoping there is an exensive quiz or magical way for me to know what my true shape for this spell would be. If they skip it entirely, I might just cry tears from my eyes.


5.

Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion by The Body Shop and Blemish Fighting Cleansing Cloths by St. Ives smell so good, are gentle on your skin and are simple additions to any routine.

If you read my previous blog, you know I'm currently having a bad breakout and trying to figure my life out. Isn't that what Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' all about? Anyway, these products seem to be working out for me so far, and the smells are overwhelmingly spa-licious.

6.

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino from Starbucks is a must have. It's literally a drink version of cake. Whoever came up with this recipe deserves a nobel peace prize because this drink alone could bring nations together.

If you follow me on Twitter, you should know I recently discovered this, and couldn't handle it. This is my new summer favourite, and I strongly suggest you try it too (if you haven't already). I just can't believe nobody told me about this drink before! I mean, I can't believe I had to discover it on my own without ever encountering someone going berzerk about it on Twitter like I did.

7.

Live From New York by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller is a fantastic read where you can take a look inside of this fascinating world. The way the book is designed, it's easy to pick up, put down, and pick up again no matter how long you have to sit and read. 

I love reading this on my way to work because I can start and stop at any point. The book is set up with the interviewee's name and a paragraph or two underneath with their comments. That makes it easy to start and stop when you're not focusing on finishing the chapter or finding an adequate place to stop. With Live From New York, I tend to just stop after the first entry on the left hand page.

8.

GlenAran Irish Market is a highly organized website where you (if you're at least part Irish) can find the tartan and crest associated with your family name.

I was doing some research for an upcoming wardrobe inspiration pin, and I found this amazing website. Since I'm part Irish, it was just so incredible to me that I could find specific information like what tartan goes with my family name. Even if you aren't Irish, I think this website is work a look as this is just a fascinating concept.

9.

Cat eared beanies/hats are likely going to be a trendy item this autumn/winter. It seems like these originated from fuzzy versions and have been altered to a knit for the western style.

I made one of these adorable little beanies for myself, and now am making a version for my fall collection. I seriously can't wait to release the line because of this piece. I think it's so cute, and trendy in a simple, warm way. Dare I say it might be making me excited for the fall too?

10.

Infinity scarves with a lace trim are simple and sophisticated. This will be the perfect autumn accessory as it is light, yet warm.

I love these scarves. I used to have an old dress, pillow and shirt lying around that I was waiting to try this out on, and recently I decided to learn how to use my sewing machine and take a stab at it. Unfortunately, the old shirt didn't work out, but alas, I will try again. Updates are sure to come.

Honorable Mention

Put simply, Derek is a British dramedy written, directed by and starring Ricky Gervais. It's a touching story about a man working in a retirement home alongside a cast of goofy, but kindhearted characters.

I didn't even know about this show, but once I started watching it, I finished it in the same weekend. This is such a beautiful story and funny in a smart way that I haven't quite seen before. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something new to watch as they wait for Game of Thrones (or whatever you watch) to come back on. This is now one of my all time favourites, and I promise you, it will be yours too.