December.

It's finally December, my favourite month of the year! Not only is winter my favourite season, but

it's nearly Christmas time!

Now, I have compiled a list of things which I love about this time of year:

♥ There is snow

♥ Hot Chocolate is in

♥ Skiing

♥ Giving Gifts

♥ People are merrier

♥ Holidays

♥ Decorations going up

♥ Warm baths

♥ There are festive carols

♥ Watching holiday movies

♥ Scarves, hats, and boots are in

♥ There are so many festive activities

♥ Families come together

and of course....

♥ Christmas!

I hope that this December will be great, and that I will be able to accomplish a lot of things. Lately everything has just been weighing me down, so I hope that everything will get brighter. I will try to have a more positive outlook on everything, and work my hardest at everything I do. Let's see if I can also get my Christmas shopping finished more than a week before Christmas... As well, I will try to be more organized. This actually poses quite a chore to me! I can be quite disorganized.

Let this be the best month of the year! Bring it on December!

What are your favourite parts about December?

♥

A Wonderful Concert

Hello lovelies!

I know that it has been such a long time since I last wrote, but this week has been super crazy! I'm glad that it is almost over.

I very recently went to a concert of one of my favourite bands of all time-Bastille! They were on their Bad Blood: The Last Stand tour, in a medium sized venue a little while away from me. I gathered up my friends, and we all bought tickets to see Bastille. Bastille has been my favourite band for such a long time, and I have listened to their songs over and over. I basically know all of the words to all of their songs. When I found out they were coming to my city, I was so pumped and ready to go!

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After an intro from the band Grizfolk, Bastille came out. The roar and cheer from the audience was deafening. Bastille was a little late, but that was forgotten as soon as the band commenced playing.

They sang so many songs, and each of them were special in their own way. There was always some magic that they seemed to add into each of their songs, whether it was "Icarus" or "Laura Palmer." It's super important that a singer sounds good when they perform. I can assure you, that Dan sounded absolutely fantastic. His voice is just beautiful to listen to, and amazing at concerts.

@Paatch on twitter takes amazing photographs!
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Bastille also played some of their unique covers which initially made them popular. They created interesting covers of many different songs. Even thought these songs were not created Bastille, they somehow managed to make it sound new and original. It is absolutely amazing.

Bastille, with the lead singer Dan, captivated the audience's attention. During "Of the Night," Dan instructed everyone to crouch down near the ground, then jump up once he called out, and dance. Before one of Bastille's slower songs, "Oblivion" began, Dan intructed the audience to turn the flashlights on their phone, and wave them back and forth as he sang. This created such a magical effect. During "Flaws," Dan put up his hoodie and dropped off stage into the crowd. Then, he made his way through the crowd singing the hit song. It was super interesting because one never knew where Dan was, and before you knew it, he was right in front of you!

This is what they played!
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Overall the concert was just magical. I had such a great time, and the energy from the band is phenomenal. Each and every song was perfect, and seeing some of their new songs was so amazing. They ended the concert with the song which made them famous, Pompeii. It was great to see that they invited Grizfolk back onstage to join them. I highly recommend this concert, for everybody. Whether you are in love with Bastille, or don't even know who they are, if you hear about a concert, you should go and see it. It will seriously convert you to being a Bastille fan.

What have been some of your favourite concerts?

Have an amazing day!

♥

Midweek Motivation

Hello lovelies!

It's that time of week again. Last weekend has come and gone much too quickly in my opinion, and next weekend seems so far away. Everything seems to be dragging you down, and you are left with a pile of paper, books, or a bunch of work. One way or another, the stress of the week is really catching up to you. Unless of course, you are currently on holiday. If that's the case, I am insanely jealous of you.

I think that at this time of week, everybody just needs a little motivation. It's just a little push to get this week out of the way. Personally, I have so many of these quotes saved on my phone, and while in a newly opened shop in my city, I found the cutest little book of happy quotes. Please sit back and maybe grab yourself a cup of tea. I hope that you find these quotes helpful in some way as I did.

You have to remember that nobody is perfect, and everybody has their talents, along with things that they are not good at. Not every day will be perfect, and this can sometimes be hard to accept. However, one of the things about surviving the rest of the week that we have to accept is learning new skills. You can't win every time! Use every opportunity as a learning experience.

Each day, we can start fresh and make a better impact on our lives, of the lives of others. A good night of sleep can cure anything! You mostly find that in the morning, things that seemed awful and positively horrible the previous day are fixable. Sometimes all you need is a good night's sleep. It's mother nature's magic! Every day you can start afresh, and approach things with a clear mind.

I have had many things that have scared me in my life. There have been many cases where I have been scared of getting injured, or afraid to voice my own opinion or tell the truth. In any of these cases, it's always good to tell the truth. As well, if something seems unreachable or non-conquerable, that usually means that you should try. Someday you may even surprise yourself!

Will is such an important word. My dad always said "There's no such word as can't." No matter how hard I tried to combat this, I found it to be very true. If you say you can't, you are shutting down so many possibilities which you are subconsciously thinking about. This can lead to lost opportunities. However, if you just change your word to will, it will not only make you feel more positive, but also open your mind to many more possibilities.

Sometimes people overthink. Everything can become too overwhelming, and it feels like the world is falling apart. Believe me, I know. However, there are some instances where we just need to calm down and breathe a little. Trust is an important concept, and also letting go the things that have dragged you down in the past. Tomorrow is a new day. Just go out there, see what comes at you, and keep your thoughts positive.

I will now leave you will one of my personal favourite quotes. This quote helps me have very high standards, which sometimes seem outrageous compared to other individuals. However, in the end, aiming high can really help. Even if you don't get exactly what you were hoping for, you at least came a long way. The moon may seem like a long way away, but remember that there are billions of starts, which are more than enough for our whole world.

Goodnight!

♥

Classic Novels

Hello lovelies!

Lately, I have been finding that I been reading quite a few books. Ever since I was young, I have enjoyed reading, though lately I have grown extremely busy. I mainly enjoyed adventure and mystery novels. There are so many novels out in the world, with genres to suit everybody's taste. However, there are also a lot of classic novels out there in the world which I find many people avoid. I have been finding classic novels really interesting lately, and recently read quite a few, including Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, and Sense and Sensibility.

I absolutely love these books covers! Source

After seeing these Anthropologie "Mr. Boddington's Penguin Classics, I really fell in love with their covers. I just love those books with new mixed with old. You can tell that they were created recently, but they still have that vintage charm.

I love reading classic novels because they give us such an insight into times past. Many of our novels nowadays are somehow related, or inspired from these classic novels. There's a reason why these books were, and still remain very popular! They must be good.

Classic novels are timeless, with an old-fashioned charm. Source.

I know many people don't like reading classic novels, or it doesn't really seem like their thing. The flowery, confusing language puts many people off. Some people were even forced to read classic novels for English class... However, I would highly recommend picking up a classic novel, which somehow you feel like you would connect to, and just go for it. Here are some reasons why I personally love reading classics: 

♥ You are able to learn more about the English language, and where many of our expressions and words come from.

♥ It can be quite challenging to understand some authors, so you will feel accomplished after you have finished the novel.

♥ Pretty much every classic novel has been remade over and over again, so once you have finished the novel, you can reward yourself with a film.

♥ It's interesting to see how much society has changed over the years, and novels reflect the lives of people.

♥ It gives you a chance to connect to characters, experiences, and emotions from past times. These things are still very much relevant today. 

♥ Books are such a human legacy. It reflects our cultures and beliefs, while showing how powerful language can be. It is one of the most important forms of communication, and books can really change our outlooks on life.

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Now, I will recommend some classics that you would maybe like to pick up. Remember, everybody enjoys different genres of novels, so perhaps these books will not be for you! There are so many choices out there, but these are some of my recommendations:

Pride and Prejudice

Anna Karenina

The Great Gatsby

Wuthering Heights

Treasure Island

Jane Eyre

Great Expectations

The Hound of the Baskervilles

I have heard a lot about many of these books, and there are mystery, adventure, and romance novels all mixed together. I really would like to read more classics, and next I would like to read the Hound of the Baskervilles. Remember to give classic books a chance! You may be surprised at the gems that you find.

Do you have any favourite classic novels or reviews about any of the books mentioned above?

♥

Review- Andalou Naturals Shampoo & Conditioner

Hello lovelies,

I know that I have never reviewed anything before, but I really felt like sharing this one product that I have been loving now for a little while. It's the Andalou Naturals Shampoo and Conditioner in Lavendar and Biotin.

Here's a bit of background about me. I have super duper thick hair, which can be such a hassle sometimes. When it comes to washing out shampoo and conditioner, if it is not done right, everything could go wrong. I generally have normal hair, not too oily and not too dry either. However, the buildup of dead skin and dirt over time can lead to bad things for me. I have had a few problems with some products which used to leave my head very irritated. Bleh, that was awful.

That is until, I discovered Andalou Naturals Shampoo & Conditioner. It is in the scent lavender and biotin, which I personally love. I have always loved the scent of lavender. The lavender scent can be surprisingly hard to find in shampoo & conditioner, so I was thoroughly pleased when I was able to find this while in the shops!

This duo is a dream when it comes to massaging it into your hair. With these products, less is actually more! It lathers quite well, and I was very surprised when I only needed the smallest amount possible in my hair. Actually, I was quite shocked when I discovered this, because generally, I need a whole ton of shampoo and conditioner in my hair!

Many products leave your hair feeling weighed down, or sometimes even oily. This shampoo & conditioner claims to "nourish and moisturise normal to dry hair for soft, smooth, shiny results." This actually lived up to all of my expectations and I was very pleased with the result. My hair feels clean, and has been left with the lovely scent of lavender. It has really refreshed my hair, and actually has added some noticeable life, body, and shine.

Sometimes, shampoos and conditioners dry out my ends, but the Andalou products have actually added more moisture to my ends, which I am really loving! As well, my scalp also feels very nice (as my scalp can get very irritated and is sensitive to products), and definitely more nourished than it was before. My hair is shiny and also very soft, and people even commented how nice my hair looked the day after I washed it! ;)

I hope this post has given you a bit more insight on a product which many of you probably had not heard of before! I definitely recommend this to all people who prefer a more traditional scent, and who want their hair to have a big boost. (Now my hair is actually manageable! What a shocker!)

Enjoy your evening!

♥

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Days are getting colder, nights are getting longer, and fires are turning on. The perfect way to celebrate is a little chocolate. I mean, who doesn't love a little chocolate in their life? Especially when chocolate is baked into cookies. One of my personal favourite kind of treats are chocolate chip cookies. Though they should usually be homemade because those are the best kind!

Ever since I was young, I have been exposed to baking and working with food. Part of that is because half of my family is Italian. Yes, that means delicious Italian food that never ever runs out! As well, my older sister used to always bake amazing things, but when she left for Uni, her baking sadly went halfway across the country. You can check out her blog HERE!

Today, I will show you a recipe which I, along with the rest of my family, have found very delicious! It is from the website the Kitchen Magpie, and though I am sure there are many other yummy recipes out there, this is just one that I have enjoyed very much.

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups of flour

1 tsp. baking soda

 ½ cup of butter

1 tsp. salt (if using unsalted butter)

1 cup of packed brown sugar

½ cup of granulated sugar

1½ tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1½ or 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions 

1. Kick the tires and light the fires to 350 degrees fahrenheit. 

2. Cream together your butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. Add in the eggs and vanilla, mixing thoroughly. Beat in the flour, baking soda and salt.

3. When that is done, fold in the two cups of chocolate chips by hand, and prepare to put them on some parchment paper lined cookie sheets.

4. Drop by rounded teaspoonful onto the baking sheets.

5. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown and slightly underdone.  Cool on the sheets completely.

This recipe is perfect for a crummy day, when you are not able to venture into the great outdoors. It doesn't need that much butter, and is a fairly easy recipe. I highly recommend it; even my younger sister admits this is one of her favourite recipes (that means it is a huge success!) I mean, who doesn't adore the scent of freshly baked cookies while the rain is pounding on your roof?!

Have a fantastic day!

♥

Hiking

Many people choose not to hike. Whether they prefer to do other things, or just plain don't like to walk for extended periods of time is completely up to them. Personally, ever since I was a little girl, I have been on endless amounts of hikes. There have been short ones, long ones, steep ones, and easy ones, you name it!

The place where I live has some beautiful scenery, and also some nice hiking trails. It is always nice to rediscover some of your favourite places, along with finding some new ones. 

Recently, my German friend was inquiring about how to get up to a certain lake which she had seen on the Internet. I recalled that my parents had been there in the past, and told her that I am sure we could take her up there and walk around. She is quite an avid sportsperson and loves hiking (lucky for me to have her as a friend!) and was very excited about going on it.

The hike was quite long, around 9.5 km one way, and most of it was through the trees. Along the way, there were markers which told you how many kilometers far you were, so every kilometer we felt more and more accomplished.

The lake itself was very beautiful, and my friend was thoroughly impressed by the beautiful scenery here.

Now, here are some reasons why I, along with many other people enjoy hiking!

♥ You can get to very interesting places which you sometimes can't reach with a car!

♥ Once you reach the top of a hike, you feel so very accomplished.

♥ You get exercise along the way, isn't that great?!

♥ It is such a great way to discover new places.

♥ You can share the hobby with friends.

♥ Who wouldn't want to see such a spectacular view?

♥

Charming and Elegant: Audrey Hepburn

When I hear the words "charming" and "elegant," my mind thinks of the lovely actress, Audrey Hepburn.

She has always been a big style icon for young ladies. Even when I was a young child, there were traces of Audrey in my home. I remember my older sister used to have this picture in her room, which I would always see when I entered the room.

I recently read an article about Audrey, which you can read here, and it really made me think about how big of a role model Audrey is to young women. She did many amazing things in her life, which I learned about, and let me regard her in a different light. This post will talk about her influential style, along with her Humanitarian work.

When I first think of Audrey, I think of her amazing fashion. She has become quite an icon to me recently. Her elegant, charming, classy style is one that I really admire. Audrey could rock anything! She really stuck to the style which she liked, and did not change her trend based on each season. She had such a feminine style, but sometimes chose a different style, where she would rock men's clothes! Who says women can't wear "men's" styles too, or play golf in a dress?!

She has worn collared shirts, which I think can make an outfit look adorable, and give it a cute style. Audrey also wore some fun, prints, which just gave her a more feminine look. She was always able to pull it together with her amazing, yet SIMPLE accessories. I also recently saw a picture of Audrey in a dress cinched with a belt. This not only completed the outfit, made really accentuated her lovely figure.

Of course, you always have to have the classic sunglasses, everybody knows them. Audrey was not afraid to take a risk with her fashion, and wore what she considered comfortable, with her individual style. I always make sure that I am comfortable with what I am wearing, as confidence will always shine through.

Not only was Audrey such a great style icon, but she was very empathetic. She was a humanitarian, who even journeyed to Africa in order to care for children in the war there. Audrey did some UNICEF work, which I really admire. She must have been such an amazing woman to venture all the way to Africa to volunteer there! Though many people expected Audrey to be a figurehead of UNICEF, she was very hands on. 

She was always ready to lend a helping hand, and ease children's suffering. Audrey hoped that the rest of the world would learn more about these poor children, and it worked! Many people became more aware of these poor areas, some they had never heard of before. She even set up a children's fund!

You can also see more about Audrey's caring nature through her son. Audrey had quite an amazing career, and could have kept going bigger, but she decided to stay home and raise her son properly. One of her worst fears was being a bad mother. Her son wrote a book, which I am intending on reading soon, titled, "Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Spirit." 

Audrey Hepburn was such an amazing person, and I hope to follow her example. Not only her fashion ideas, as I have my own individual style different from hers, but also her caring personality. I might even watch Roman Holiday again tomorrow... :)

If you would like to donate or learn more about to the Audrey Hepburn fund, click here.

♥

She Who Lives Sees, but She Who Travels Sees More

Ever since I was young, I have been exposed to many different cultures and countries due to my family taking me all over the world. Most of the time, this was due to visiting family, though sometimes, we would take holidays just to see more of the world. This was very exciting for me, as a young child. I have inherited my love of traveling from my parents, who have journeyed from European cities to the great plains of Africa. Okay, that just totally reminded me of this song... Anybody remember that song that their parents always used to play?

Maastricht is such a nifty little city, with cute cobblestone streets and old buildings.

Anyways, recently I ventured into Germany, without my family or any sort of group. It was just my friend and I. We went to Germany and also the Netherlands in order to gain a new cultural experience, as well as visit one of our friends who had been an international student at our school a few months earlier.

It was such an amazing experience for two teenagers who really want to see more of the world, and it was cool to pick up some German, and build on what we already knew!

Köln is such a cool city! The gondola ride over the city was simply amazing. The Cathedral snuck into this picture (in the distance on the left.)

I have known, ever since I was young, that I wanted to one day be able to speak many languages. I have family and friends from around the world, so I have always thought it would be super amazing to be able to speak to them in their native language! So far, I can speak English (reeallyyyy?!) fluently. The others are a work in progress. I mean in school, I am learning French, and recently started Spanish, but I think you really need to experience it. I really improved my German, after being in Germany and being forced to put together sentences in order to be understood! Finally, I would like to learn Italian. Which is quite ironic, because my mother is Italian and it will be the last language I learn.

If you ever go to a home-made German food place, please try the Waffles! They are absolutely scrumptious. Lecker! (Delicious!)

Traveling and seeing new places is such an amazing thing to do! I really miss Germany and everyone from there, (Hey German friends reading this!) and I wonder where I will end up next.

♥