A is for Apples & Autumn

Over the weekend, my parents and I headed upstate (all of New York is upstate compared to Long Island) to visit my younger sister at college. I slept through most of the drive there, but my parents said the autumn foliage was great, although slightly past peak. While we were there we got to partake in one of my favorite fall activities, apple picking.

We went to Apple Hills, which is about 20 minutes away from my sister's apartment. When we drove up to the orchard area, it had a fantastic view:

There was a guy at the front of the orchard, explaining all the different types of apples they grew and which ones were best for baking or just eating. He was very helpful in directing us towards the apples we wanted, although everything was marked very clearly. He also encouraged us to eat apples while we were picking, in order to see which ones we liked best. We picked up some Crispins (my favorite), Red Delicious, and Jona Gold for eating, and my sister got some Cortlands for baking. Apple Hills also had a lovely little shop full of jams, apple goods and a small bakery. It seemed like there was also a spot for eating lunch out on their porch. Plus, there were some farm animals and Halloween themed activities for kids. All in all, we had a great time.

My all-time favorite orchard for apple picking is Becker Farms in Gasport, New York (near Buffalo). They also have a vineyard where they offer tastings of some of their delicious fruit wines. The Spiced Apple and Becker Blue wines are my favorite. I'm hoping to visit them again when I'm in Buffalo next month. They also sell jams, fudge, baked goods and apple cider (if I remember correctly). One of my favorite ways to drink apple cider is heating it up and throwing in a shot of cinnamon schnapps (I think cinnamon whiskey would work well too). I've already more than a few glasses so far this autumn. In college I would go through a gallon of apple cider a week, I was so in love with the stuff.

Booklist: Ten Years or Older

I've mentioned before that I keep a long, running list of all the books I'd like to read. Generally, any additions I make to the list are upcoming or recent releases. But there are plenty of gems out there that were released years ago, and I would benefit from looking at those more. If you fall into the same habits as I do, you probably will too. So here are my favorite books that were published at least 10 years ago. Some I read around the time they were released (I was 13 ten years ago, FYI), and others I've stumbled across more recently. I tried to stick to books and authors that I feel are lesser known, with a couple of exceptions. After all, the first Harry Potter book was originally published 16 years ago (15 in the USA), and I don't think you need me to recommend that to you.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

After the Dancing Days by Margaret I. Rostkowski

The Only Alien on the Planet by Kristen D. Randle (deals with abuse)

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan

Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister When Crazy by Sonya Sones (deals with mental illness)

The Hunter's Moon by O.R. Melling

Old Magic by Marianne Curley

Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

Never After by Rebecca Lickiss

Lust List: 10 Etsy Picks for October 7th

This is it, you guys. I have scoured my entire Etsy wishlist for the best of the best, and now I have run out of items. These are the 10 things I am most lusting over from the last third of my list. And that means, for the time being, I have run out of Etsy items for the Lust Lists. So I'm adding a poll at the end of this post, to get an idea of what themes you'd like to see next. Please answer and share any other suggestions you may have. That way, next week's Lust List will be equally awesome as these three have been (and you will all get a real picture of exactly how much time I spent online window-shopping. Which is a lot).

Cantaloupe Bowl from vegetabowls     $24
The Marauders Shirt from evietees     $21.50
Eiffel Tower Beaded Headband from bethanylorelle     $23
Antique Damascene Ship Brooch from Grace Paradise     $62
I Like You and Naps Card from sadshop     $5
Starfish Hair Clips by ShepherdoftheSea     $19
Sea Shell Necklace from seragun     $35
Brass Armor Ring from Olympias     $50
Create Your Own Reversible Peter Pan Collar from melissahojnacki     $20
Gourment Caramel Hot Chocolate Mix from tenoncocoacompany     $12

What themes would you like to see in the future?
	Autumn
	ModCloth
	Sweaters
	Dresses
	Asos
	Art/Prints
	Home/Decor
	Fandom Related
	Asos
	Other (leave a message in the comments)
pollcode.com free polls

Things I Loved in September 2013

I can't believe that there are only 3 months left in the year. I have not made nearly enough progress on my New Years Resolutions for it the be the beginning of October already. Unfortunately, my calendar is not lying to me, so here are some of the things I enjoyed this month:

This Fried Rice Recipe

I am in grad school, and I live with my parents in order to save money. I live rent free, but part of the deal is that I have to cook dinner once a week. This recipe is the only one to make multiple appearances on my dinner menu (I think I've actually made it 4 times). When I make it with the chicken, as in the recipe, I buy a pre-cooked rotisserie, shred it, and use that. However, I think I like it even better when I don't use chicken and just include more veggies (personally, I use a frozen carrot, pea, corn, and green bean medley). What's even better, is that it's a big enough recipe to leave me with leftovers for lunch the next day, saving me from yet another sandwich. I wish I'd known this recipe when I was in college, because it's easy, delicious, and still a lot healthier than most of what I was eating back then.

People and Things

Jack's Mannequin put out fantastic seasonal albums. Everything In Transit is perfect for driving with the windows down in the summer, The Glass Passenger is perfect for fall, and People and Things is my go to album for autumn. Andrew McMahon is my favorite musician, and this album, which was released 2 years ago, is full of beautiful songs. I love singing along to it as I drive to and from work/school. My favorite tracks are "Television," "Amy, I," and "Platform Fire."Also, check out the short films created for each song on youtube.

Sleepy Hollow

Fall tv shows are starting up again and, after three episode, I am in love with Sleepy Hollow. As I've mentioned before, I'm a sucker for retellings of famous story, and this is shaping up to be an excellent take on the headless horseman story. It has an eerie but gorgeous setting, complete with an interesting apocalyptic mythology and creepy creatures (which are amazing quality for a tv show). Normally, I shy away from all things horror, but Sleepy Hollow has the perfect amount of scary to keep me on edge without keeping from sleep afterwards. And the best part? That would have to be protagonist Abbie Mills. She's a competent police officer, confronted with the existence of the supernatural (and not for the first time). Abbie is complex, a compelling mixture of strength and vulnerability that you don't get to see in a lot of ladies on tv. I'm excited to watch see more of her, especially in terms of her past relationship with father-figure Sheriff Corbin, and in future interactions with her sister, Jenny.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight is the second book in Maas's Throne of Glass series. It tells the story of Celaena Sardothien, an assassin in a realm where the king has completely done away with magic. Celaena spent a year as a slave in a mine, which she had been sent to for an unsuccessful murder attempt. I can't tell you much more than that without giving away the plot of the first book, but I'll tell you a few of the elements I enjoyed. The world Maas has created is very vivid, and the circumstances regarding the disappearance of magic are revealed in an intriguing way. Celaena is a well developed protagonist, with realistic skills and faults. She has a grim job, but certainly enjoys the finer things in life. Her job as an assassin doesn't bog her down in darkness, although she has her own demons. She has loved and lost, and that has a huge impact on her mindset and actions in the books. The romance angle within the books is handled very well, with no one shaming Celaena for her past relationships. There is a love triangle, which I normally hate, but it's executed well, in a way that doesn't hurt the characterization of any of its participants. I will now be anxiously awaiting the third book in the series.

TopShop Lips in All About Me, Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera, Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

All About Me is a bright pink lipstick that adds the perfect pop of color for my work outfits. It goes on smooth and even, isn't too drying and lasts well on the lips. I usually touch it up once after lunch and again at the end of the work day, if I have plans for later. The Convertible Colors are hands down my favorite cream blushes (I own 4), as they aren't too shiny on my oily skin, are easy to blend, and last all day. Gerbera is a very subtle peachy color, which always pairs well with my beauty staple, the bold lip. Finally, I'm pretty sure that there's some sort of magic inside Oribe's Dry Texturizing Spray (which I mentioned purchasing in my first ever blog post). My hair is thick, heavy, and prone to being dragged down by its own weight. This spray gives it so much volume, without sacrificing movement. It gives me perfect second day hair, reviving my curls which have usually been flattened by a good night's sleep. I know it's expensive, but I'm so in love with it that I won't be hesitating to repurchase it when my travel size bottle runs out.

Booklist: Books That Made Me Sob Like A Baby

In the interest of full disclosure, I'll tell you this: it does not take much to make me cry. I cried while watching a cartoon the other night. I have cried over commercials (not just the ASPCA ones). I have cried over multiple Taylor Swift songs. And, of the last 20 books I read, I've probably shed tears over more than half of them. So this is not a list of all the books that have made me cry, we do not have the time or the space for that. Plus, it's a common enough occurrence that I don't even remember all of them. What I am going to share with you is the eight biggest offenders. These are the books that I vividly recall turning into a blubbering mess over. One of these books made me cry so hard that  the man sitting across from me on a train became visibly uncomfortable. Another one made me audibly sob at my desk at work (thankfully no one was around at the time to see or hear me). And a third made me cry so hard that I woke my parents up in the middle of the night. So I won't tell you to enjoy these reads, but rather to let them torture you in the best way possible.

The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Is there a particular book that made you cry more than any other? Let me know in the comments; I'm looking for some new books to read. Also, let me know what theme you'd like to see for next week's Booklist.

The Lust List: 10 Etsy Picks for September 28th

This week's Lust List is also from Etsy, but I will be branching out either next week or the week after. I'm seriously considering buying a few of the things on this list, but that's a couple paychecks away at this point. So sweep them up before I can get to them!

top to bottom, left to right

Windsor Castle Clutch from FABbyCAB     $52
Queen's Guards Earrings from LondonDesign     $11.61
Heart Ring from Twinklebird     $76.39
Nude Leather Lion Bracelet from BoutiqueMinimaliste     $32
Hermes Brooch from pinkneondesign     $22.97
Relax Mirror Wall Decor from StudioLiscious     $22
Edinburgh Map Pillow from mybeardedpigeon     $52.63
Bracket Bookends from DesignAtelierArticle     $47.22
Paper Heart Garland from CoutureByAyca     $8-$28 (depending on length)
Walt Whitman Quote Print from perfectlaughter     $20

I'd love to know what purchases you're thinking of making and what types of Lust Lists you'd like to see next (Specific stores? Seasonal? Specific items of clothing/accessories? Home stuff?). So leave a message in the comments section, you will be rewarded with my undying affection.

Internet Friends

Today's post is about friendships made over the internet. So before I get started I want to make this clear. No, not everyone on the internet wants to do you hard, but those people do exist. So be careful and use your common sense. Don't give out personal information to people you've met online and exercise EXTREME caution when meeting them in real life. I have always chosen to meet in crowded places where any I unease I may display will be noticed by those around me (as opposed to many crowded places where other people are too busy with what they're doing to notice strange behavior of those around them). Also, despite being in my 20s, I always let me parents knows my exact plans for meeting up with someone new (and they generally make me check in periodically while doing this).

Safety warning aside, the internet is a great place to meet new people. I have been fortunate enough to make so many good friends online. I joined micro-blogging site tumblr in September 2009 and that website has been so good to me, in terms of friendships. Just over 4 years later, I have more than half a dozen close friends who I met through the site, and that many more who are on their way to become good friends of mine. One of the best parts? These friends live all over, from a few towns away to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Do you know what that means? They all bring a fresh perspective to life (and to my problems, when I need advice). Despite our shared interests (more on that soon), we lead very different lives. We grew up in different towns, in different families, among different friends. Their choices and beliefs are informed by vastly different experiences. Which means when they talk about their lives, I sometimes get my own beliefs shaken up. We all form our own assumptions based on our experiences, but they aren't always right. Conversation with other people helps us shed those prejudices. One of my friends was home-schooled in rural Wisconsin. He was responsible for making sure he learned what he needed to know. I will be honest, I am not nearly self-motivated enough to be responsible for every aspects of my own education. I have let too many reading assignments slip through the cracks. And that's with teachers and professors there to keep me on track. But Blaine did it. I have another friend who is from Ontario, Canada. That's less than 3 hours from where I went to college (SUNY University at Buffalo, FYI), but the Canadian and American education systems are different, especially after high school. She completed a shorter, more career oriented program than I did. And despite the fact that most Americans have been conditioned to believe that 4 year Bachelors programs are superior to programs like yours, we both ended up with similar jobs. But she found employment in less time than I did, and her job is much more involved than mine. And that taught me that the path I'd always assumed was best (and I assumed a 4 year degree was the best option for everyone), wasn't necessarily so.

In high school and college (and even after college, I will admit) it can be hard to find people around you who love the same things you love do, and with the same intensity that you love them. The internet is handy for this. It might as well be a giant magnet for people who are really, really interested in specific things. It's home to so many message boards and website specifically for people who want to talk extensively about a particular thing (or many things). Long on there it is, a group of people who love what you love and will gladly spend hours talking about it with you. Are you still devoted to a band whose members have gone their separate ways? There's an online home for people still mourning that loss. Are you so into a book or tv show that you want to expand on that universe via fan fiction? There are multiple websites out there filled with people who do the exact same thing. Is your bathroom overflowing with beauty products, so much so that you can barely see the counter? There are people on youtube who make a living talking about makeup and skincare and hair products. There is a place for everything you could possibly want to talk about.

Around 2004/2005 my favorite band, Something Corporate, broke up. I listened to other bands, including SoCo front-man Andrew McMahon's new project, Jack's Mannequin. But Something Corporate was still my favorite. So in December 2009, when Something Corporate announced they would be reuniting for a festival in California, I was overjoyed (they would go on to play 2 more festivals and do a month-long reunion tour). But I didn't really have anyone to share that excitement with. So I turned to tumblr and tracked down a bunch of people who were as excited as I was. We talked about out favorite songs, watched old interviews, and counted down the days until the first reunion show. It was so much fun. Eventually, some of us even attended reunion tour shows together. And the excitement died down, we kept talking. We shared new music, talked about school. It's been 3 and half years since then, and those people are some of my closest friends. They know things about me that I haven't shared with friends from college. My life is so much richer and easier to navigate because I have them.

me, at the Something Corporate reunion tour, with the band's drummer (Brian Ireland)

In short, there are amazing people talking about amazing things on the internet. They have so much to offer. You have so much to offer. Go find them

Booklist: Fractured Fairy Tales & Story Retellings

I am a sucker for story retellings and fractured fairy tales. They're some of my favorite stories to read, and I've devoured them like mad over the years. I love seeing all the different takes on the same situations. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of my favorite movies, and I also enjoyed movies like 10 Things I Hate About You, all the Disney Princess movies and even Troy (although they took a lot of liberties with the story in that one). I decided that, since I feel so familiar with the theme, it would be a good place to start off for a booklist. I've included 7 of my top picks, as well as a series that I love. They cover Classical mythology, Arthurian legend, classic books and some of my favorite fairy tales. I hope you enjoy!

left to right, top to bottom

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Greek Mythology/Trojan War/Patroclus)
Quicksilver by Stephanie Spinner (Greek Mythology/Hermes)
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell (Arthurian Legend/The Lady of Shalott)
Ophelia by Lisa M. Klein (Hamlet)
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson (Peter Pan)
East by Edith Pattou (East of the Sun and West of the Moon)
Swan Kingdom by Zoë Marriott (The Wild Swans)

left to right

The Once Upon a Time series of retellings is an amazing and comprehensive series consisting of 19 books covering nearly all the standard European fairy tales as well as Arabian Nights, The Ballad of Mulan, The Last of the Mohicans, The Magic Flute, and Anastasia. I've read all but one of them (it's currently on it's way to me from another library), and there's something for everyone.

In the process of putting this list together, I realized that I have read an even larger number of story retellings than I realized. I've always known that I've read a lot of them, but the list was even longer than I anticipated. In interest of keeping this blog post manageable, I didn't include them all. However, I did put together a list on goodreads of the 49 books of this type that I have read (and remembered enough to put on a list). This will be an even 50 once interlibrary loan delivers to me that Jack and the Beanstalk retelling.

Do you have any recommendations of fractured fairy tales that I should check out? Let me know in the comments! I hear Robin McKinley is fantastic, but I don't even know where to start. Also, what is your favorite fairy tale/folk tale?

The Lust List: 10 Etsy Picks

I may or may not having an online shopping problem. My younger sister certainly likes to tell me I do. But I'm pretty sure, that if she saw the gorgeous items I've found online and not bought, she would admire my restraint. Etsy is one of my favorite places to browse, and I've certainly made more than a few purchases from their shops. Here are 10 items that have recently caught my eye:

top to bottom, left to right

Woman Wonder Metallic Sports Bra from SparkleBowsCheer     $25

Bee Specimen Ring from BoutiqueMinimaliste     $12

Fox Cub Brooch from IrenkaR     $32

Exercise Gives You Endorphins Tank from ActivateApparel     $29

Detox Bath Salts from Herbivore Botanicals     $18

Buttercup Lingerie Set from ohhhlulu     $79

Sea Urchin Ornaments from StarHomeStudio     $33

Swish Photo Locket from HeartworksByLori     $60

Ashum Ayn Hawa Silver Stackable Rings by gemagenta     $80.82

Burgundy Violet Velvet Leggings from DGstyle     $35

Book List: My 5 Most Anticipated Releases for September & October

I love books. Which is a good thing, because I intend to be a children's and young adult librarian. So I read a lot. I keep a series of wishlists on Amazon that are filled with nothing but books. Currently there are 172 books on those lists, 44 of which have yet to be released. There are some really promising books coming out between now and the end of October, and I'm especially excited for 5 of them.

Tomorrow, September 17th, is the release date for Maggie Stiefvater's latest novel, The Dream Thieves. It's her 8th young adult novel and the second in her 4 book Raven Cycle. I really loved the first book in the series, The Raven Boys. I've read all of Maggie's books, and it's my favorite so far. The series is based around a girl named Blue and four boys who attend a nearby private school. The book itself is moody, full of magic and mythology, and all of the characters are intriguing.

September 24th is the release date for Tamora Pierce's Battle Magic. It follows her characters Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy, all of whom have appeared in previous books set in her Emelan universe. This novel sees the three mages working to prepare for an impending war. I'll be honest with you, Tamora Pierce is, hands down,  my favorite author of all time. I have read all of her books and loved every last one of them. Her world building is fantastic and easy to picture, with rich details and a great multi-cultural element. She writes so many wonderful characters and her female characters are especially believable, with their own unique set of strengths and faults. I guarantee I will have this book in my hands on release day, and I'll probably devour it quickly. Tamora Pierce is that good.

Gayle Forman's Just One Day was one of my favorite books I read in 2013 (although it was released in 2012), so I'm very much excited for it's companion novel, Just One Year, which releases October 10th. The first books tells the story of Allyson, an American teenager visiting Europe before starting college. While in England, she meets Willem, a Dutch actor. The two spend a whirlwind day in Paris, but when Allyson wakes up the next day, Willem is gone. The book covers the year following that day, and how it effects Allyson as she starts college. I loved both of the main characters, and found the side characters (most of which Allyson meets at college) brought a lot to the story. The sequel follows the same timespan as its predecessor, only told from Willem's point of view. I'm definitely curious to see what he was up to during that time frame, and I'm especially interested in seeing the people in his life, who we only got hints about in the first novel.

There's another sequel on my list (what can I say, I love a good series), and it's Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund. It's the sequel to For Darkness Show the Stars (a favorite read of 2012), which was inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, but set in a post-apocolyptic world. Across a Star Swept Sea is set in the same world as it's predecessor, and also at the same time, but in a different location that responded to the "Reduction" in a much different manner than the first book in the series. This book was inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, which I admittedly am not as familiar with as Jane Austen's work, but am looking forward to nonetheless. Also, Peterfreund released a short e-book prequel to this upcoming release and reading it last month has definitely whet my appetite and made me even more eager for this latest book

The final book on my list, Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow, is the only non-sequel book on my list. This comes out on October 29th. It takes place in a world where the dead are very much a threat to the safety of the living and are kept in check by women who magically knot cords and yarn to repel them. These women are called Binders. Otter, the book's protagonist, is the daughter of a very powerful Binder, and takes for granted that one day she will be one too. When her mother's power turns inward and becomes a danger to herself, Otter finds she must rise to the occasion and accept responsibility and a power she no longer wants. There's so much I find appealing about this book, but the two big things are mother-daughter relationships and the failure and danger of power. I'm definitely excited to check it out.

These are the books I'm most excited to check out for the rest of September and October, but there are still other releases that I'm anticipating. Let me know in the comments what books you're interested in reading soon!