Homeware Wishlist: Autumn/Winter Edition

I don't know about you, but ever since I moved into my own apartment, I've been obsessed with homeware. I literally cannot walk past a store's homeware department without looking for new pieces to decorate my apartment with - you can never have too many candles, prints or pillows, right?

But do you know what's even better than going shopping for new decor? Shopping for it online. You can check out so many stores at once and order all of the products you desire without having to carry all the heavy things home. It's a win-win situation, right?
As I've been eyeing up all kinds of dreamy pieces lately, I decided to share them with you guys!

1. Framed artwork (24,95€)

For some reason, I really, really like this artwork, even though I can't quite put my finger on why I do. It's rather simple but still catches the eye, and as the walls in my bedroom are a light blue, this would go perfectly with them!

2. Chocolate print (3,99€)

I feel like this print was made for me. Well, I actually don't eat chocolate that often, but when I do, I devour it. Nothing beats a good bar of Milka or Kinder chocolate - and those are always there for me when I need them. They'd never leave me. I need this print to celebrate my relationship with chocolate. Now.

3. Brilliant Cushion (14,99€)

So I have this thing for cushions/pillows. Whenever I find a cute or unique one, I get it. And because I can never throw things out, I've accumulated quite the collection.

However, I don't have anything like this cushion. It's covered in sparkly sequins and because its grey, it would go well with my light grey sofa. That's a good enough reason to get it, right?

4. Fastening clips for polaroids (15€)

I don't have a polaroid camera yet, but I'm thinking about asking for one for either Christmas or my eighteenth birthday because I love the look of polaroids.
This would be perfect for displaying your favorite photos, so whenever I'll have taken some, I will need to get this!

5. Cacti tealights (12€)

I love candles, and I love plants, especially miniature ones - so what could be better than plant shaped candles? These adorable cacti tealights look so neat, it would actually hurt me to burn them, so I'd probably just use them as decoration on my windowsill.

6. Yankee Candle in 'Fireside Treats' (29,90€)

For a candle lover like me, Yankee Candles are heavenly. I got the "Christmas Cookies" one last year, and I've already started burning it even though Christmas is still two months away because I love the scent and how it fills my entire apartment so much.
I'd love to get another one that isn't Christmas

7. Sheepskin Rug (49,99€)

When I came across this rug downtown, I instantly fell in love with it. It doesn't only look pretty, it's so incredibly soft! I also don't have a single rug in my entire apartment, so this is basically a staple I'm missing, right?

8. Scratch Map (32€)

I travelled a lot this year and now that the travel bug has truly bit me, I'd love to have a scratch world map like this one to track all the places I have already visited - if only they were a little cheaper. This will probably be a nice extra when I've got all my necessities covered.

9. Zoella Pottering Around Decorative Storage Pots (~11€)

These are the most adorable pots I've ever seen! They come in copper and marble and can be used for storage or even for tiny plants - and I want like ten of them. Pretty please?


Have you recently come across a decor item you really want? Tell me about it in the comments!

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15 Thoughts You Have When You're Sick

It's happened you guys - I've caught a bug. Now, I'm not one to get major colds often, usually once a year or less, but when they do come, they're coming on strong. This means that for the past week, I've been coughing and sneezing, drinking litres of tea to help against the burning pain in my throath and spent the majority of my time wrapped up in blankets in bed or on the sofa.

But I don't want to bore you with all the gory details. The most important thing about me being ill is that while I had all the intentions to write, I just couldn't do it. I have several unfinished blog posts sitting in my drafts that I started but couldn't finish because my brain was too mushy.

Not putting any content out for you guys has made me feel horrible as I basically dissolved into thin air for a week - but now that I feel a little better, I finally managed to sit down and write - and what's a better topic than the one that has dominated my past week?
I cannot be the only one who has very similar thoughts every time I'm ill, and while some of them are downright whiney, some are also funny - and maybe some of you might be able to relate as well!

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1. What was life like before I was cursed with a blocked nose?

2. It's suddenly really chilly in here. Better get another blanket.

3. And now it's really hot in here. Thanks, fever.

4. I feel like going for a walk to get some fresh air would make me feel better, but even getting out of bed makes me dizzy, so that's a no.

5. *checks phone* Look at all of these people enjoying themselves. They don't appreciate the fact that they are able to do all of this fun stuff. Why didn't they catch this damn bug?

6.  At least it's now socially acceptable for me to snuggle up in bed with books and my laptop.

7. I'd love to concentrate on this episode of my favorite show right now, but my brain's so mushy that I'm basically staring at the screen and trying not to fall back asleep.

8. How many cups of tea a day are too many? Certainly this has to be healthy, I mean, at least I'm staying hydrated. *pours fifth cup of the day*

9. I want all the comfort food right now. Greasy fast food, sweets, chips - give it to me. I know I will probably feel even more horrible afterwards, but I really want it right now.

10. What have I done to deserve this cold?

11. Would it be too much to call my Mum and whine to her? Maybe she'll pay me a visit later.

12. ... and hopefully cook me some hot soup.

13. *checks symptoms on Google* ... maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

14. I've been coughing non-stop for a good thirty minutes and it's in the middle of the night, surely my neighbors in the flat next door are either going to call an ambulance or the police pretty soon.

15. I'm so exhausted that I can't even sleep anymore.

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Poetry That Has Stayed With Me

If you've been with me on this journey I call my blog for a while, you will know how much I adore books and reading. There's nothing I love more than snuggling up with a blanket, hot tea and a book and just getting lost in a different world for a few hours. I also talk about my recent reads on here every second Wednesday and keep you updated on books you should definitely check out.

But why haven't I ever talked about poetry on my blog?
Poetry is a topic that is really close to my heart, but for some reason, I find it difficult to talk about, especially about the poetry I write myself. It's hard for me to explain why certain lines touch me, how they move something so deep inside of me that I didn't know it was there.

But still, I am obsessed with it. I keep a little notebook filled with all my favorite poetry lines and look at it whenever I'm feeling something very strongly - happiness, sadness, anger, fear, loneliness. There's words for any situation in my life, and because sometimes we all need to hear certain words, I wanted to share some of my favorite poetry lines with you.

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1. Somewhere ages and ages hence: 
Two roads roads diverged in a wood, and I -
 I took the one less traveled by, 
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken.

2.  Look deeper through the telescope and do not be afraid when the stars collide towarss darkness,
because sometimes the most beautiful things begin in chaos.
- R. M. Drake, Keep Looking.

3. Now you understand 
Just why my head's not bowed 
I don't shout or jump about 
Or have to talk real loud.
 When you see me passing
 It ought to make you proud.
 I say, 
It's in the click of my heels, 
The bend of my hair,
 the palm of my hand,
 The need of my care, 
'Cause I'm a woman 
Phenomenally. 
- Maya Angelou, Phenomenal Woman.

4. If I stand there at water's edge,
 I swear I can hear you, 
and feel you, 
although I have nothing
 to compare 
that feeling to.
- Erin Charlotte, The Water. (Erin is an insanely talented fellow blogger, fyi.)

5. Und meine Seele spannte / And, oh, my soul extended
Weit ihre Flügel aus. / its wings through skies to roam:
Flog durch die stillen Lande, / O'er quiet lands suspended
Als flöge sie nach Haus. / my soul was flying home.

- Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorf, Mondnacht. (original in German)

6. But our love was stronger by far then the love 
Of those who were older than we- 
Of many far wiser than we- 
And neither the angels in Heaven above 
Nor the demons down under the sea 
Can never dissever my soul from the soul 
Of beautiful Annabel Lee.
- Edgar Allen Poe, Annabel Lee.

7. You are only as free as you think you are and freedom will always be as real as you believe it to be.
- R.M. Drake.

8. All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players. 
- William Shakespeare, All the World's a Stage.

9. I am not yours, not lost in you
 Not lost, although I long to be 
Lost as a candle lit at noon, 
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.
- Sara Teasdale, I Am Not Yours.

10. You may shoot me with your words,
 you may cut me with your eyes, 
you may kill me with your hatefulness, 
But still, like air, I'll rise.
- Maya Angelou, Still I Rise.

Do you have a favorite poem or a favorite line?

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At the Bottom of My Bag...

I like to carry big handbags because I always need to have what a wide range of things with me - glasses, sunglasses, hand sanitizer, tissues, a liter of water, the list goes on. Most of the time I take the make uo I'm wearing that day with me as well in case I need to touch it up throughout the day.

While I suppose it's fairly normal for us girls to have a make up bag with us, I do something that cannot be the norm. I'm a freaking lipstick hoarder. And I don't mean owning more lipsticks than I could possibly use, I mean carrying half of my collection around with me at times.
As I chuck the lip product I used into my handbag before leaving the house very single day, they tend to pile up at the bottom of my bag - last time I checked, there were so many of them that it inspired me to write an entire post dedicated to the lippies that I appear to love so much that I take them everywhere with me.

Because there's such a big amount of lippies to be talked about, let's work through this from left to right.

KIKO's Smart Lip Pencil in '' is one of my all-time favorite lipliners. If you apply some lipbalm beforehand, this glides on smoothly and gives some amazing color pay-off. The shade is also amazing for fall - it's a brown shade with red undertones.

There cannot be a blogger who hasn't heard of the infamous Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in '107'. It's a lot of people's favorite red, and I absolutely stand with that. I find that, for pale people like me, it is still very wearable even though it's quite out there and dark. It's ideal for nights out or festivities during fall or winter, or simply for days when you're feeling a little bolder. The only downside of this is that, as it has a matte finish, it can be quite unforgiving on the lips, so I always make sure to exfoliate and mosturize them before applying the lipstick.

It really shouldn't be any secret to people who know me or my blog that there's so many MAC lipsticks to be found in my bag. As they offer such good quality, amazing pay-off and let's be real, smell heavenly, I always seem to fall back on them. 'Twig' is an ideal mauve-y shade for me as long as I'm still sporting my holiday tan, but tends to look more like a red/purple-ish shade when I'm pale - and 'Velvet Teddy' and 'Viva Glam II' are by far my most-worn nudes and also go-tos on days when I need a reliable lippy.

Another blogger favorite I've been dying to try for myslef are the NYX Lingerie Liquid Lipsticks. They became available here in Germany a month or so ago and quickly sold out. It was a hard fight, but after I managed to get hold of the shades 'Exotic' and 'Push Up', they seem to have been living at the bottom of my bag. 'Exotic' is the shade I reach for when I feel like a bold, but not quite Rimmel Kate Moss '107' shade, and 'Push Up' is a very unique nude that looks like an almost gray-ish shade with slight pink undertones on me. What's so great about these is that they dry to a very matte finish while not drying out my lips at all!

You know what NYX also does well? Their Matte Lip Creams. The shades 'Abu Dhabi' and 'London' are both very different nudes - one with pink, the other with orange undertones - but they're both equally great in quality. They're super soft on the lips and last for absolutely ages. Even though I love both of the shades, I feel like 'Abu Dhabi' is more wearable for everyday use, especially now that I like to rock more darker shades.

The last lipstick I dug out from the depths of my handbag is the H&M lipstick in '003 cream chestnut' - granted, it must've been there for a while because it used to be my favorite nude to wear during the summer holidays as it was super creamy and looked absolutely tanning with dark skin. I guess it'll live in my drawer until spring comes out to play...



Now, do you also tend to find beauty products at the bottom of your handbag? If so, please tell me about them!

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Recent Reads #13 - Eleanor and Park

If there's two things I'm head-over-heels in love with, it's got to be literature and music. Those two things are omnipresent in my life, always there to catch me, to make me forget, to make me remember, to inspire me, to make me feel something. So, how come I hardly ever read books that are based around music?

Granted, I didn't pick up Rainbow Rowell's "Eleanor and Park" because it included music. I actually didn't know about that at all. I didn't know about it because I tried to avoid as much information on this book as possible before actually reading it, because there are so many people who are in love with it and so many people who aren't and I wanted to steer clear from all those discussions and just experience the ride for myself.

As the title suggests, Eleanor and Park follows the story of two teenagers. Eleanor is chubby, poor and a ginger - and when she arrives at her new school, she is instantly disliked by all of her classmates. Park is Asian, really into music and tries to stay under the radar at school.

When the two of them have to sit next to each other on the bus, they take an instant dislike to one another as Eleanor starts drawing the other kid's attention to Park, who thus tries to stay away from her.
Over time, however, the two of them start to approach eachother. Park starts lending Eleanor his comics, and eventually, his mp3-player and mixes he has created for her. Over time, the two fall in love the way you do when you fall in love for the first time - in a very sudden, confusing, messy way.
Park would do anything for Eleanor and cannot imagine ever being parted from her again - but Eleanor's situation at home starts leaving its strains on their relationship.

I don't even know where to start with this review. This book literally took me by suprise, swept me of my feet and then, eventually, slammed me into the ground, no lie. In no way, shape or form did I expect this book to be such an emotional rollercoaster.
I loved that the plot wasn't your typical YA lovestory, it's not about the bad guy and the shy girl, it's not perfect. It's raw and realistic and rough at the edges, and that's what makes it so much more beautiful.

The characters in this were incredible. Especially Park was so well-written that he seemed so incredible realistic and relatable, like you'd want to reach into the page and give him a squeeze. I also liked the way he thinks and how fiercely he loves. There's so much depth to him. I also loved the way his family was portrayed.
Eleanor, however, was a different story. She's definitely a very strong character and my admiration for the way she held herself and handled her horrid situation is immense, but sometimes I found it a little hard to comprehend her actions; she was often quite stubborn and didn't look at the big picture. It wasn't completely out of character because of the situation she had to face at home, but it was, at times, still unnerving.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was that it's set in the eighties. Most of the books on my shelf are either set in modern-day time or in the future, so it was really refreshing to find yourself in a world without mobile phones and the internet. It really fit the story as it complicated the relationship between Park and Eleanor further as the latter doesn't have a landline, which means that the only way they were able to communicate was through letters or in person.

Overall, this was a fantastic read. Eleanor and Park is one of those stories that takes your breath away and stays with you, even after you've closed the book. It makes you think and it makes you laugh and it might tear you up a little, and mostly it'll remind you what it feels like to fall in love.

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So You're Not a Beauty Blogger Anymore?

I've thought about writing this post multiple times. I even opened the draft once or twice, but I wasn't able to find the words to express what I had been feeling back then. What I was struggling with so much, the thing I felt like held both my blog and my passion for it back.
Two months have passed ever since the thought resurfaced and just refused to go away, and now I feel like I finally have the words and courage to say out loud what I've been thinking about.

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When I started this blog back in Januray 2015, I thought of it as an outlet for everything I was passionate about, everything I wanted to speak up about or introduce others to. I mostly blogged about life as a high school student and all things beauty, And while I'm still sharing my struggles as a now senior with you guys, I feel like the beauty posts on this blog have become less and less frequent.

That's not because I've suddenly lost all interest in make up. I adore doing my make up, I love experimenting and going to town with it and I love finding out about new products. I just don't feel like I have that spark to come up with new, fresh ideas that could add anything to the community and serve its readers.

With so many beauty bloggers out there, I've been finding it really hard to do things that are unique and different to what others were doing, to try and stand out by at least a little. It's not that I have the urge to always stand out, that's really not the case, but I'd hate to only be writing the same posts everyone else is doing, let alone copy anyone. 

I think that while I adore everything that has to do with make up, I just might not be creative enough with it to constantly produce interesting posts. And that's okay.

As I started to invest more and more of my time into writing for this blog at the beginning of this year, I've realised that there's things I enjoy writing about even more than beauty, which I would never have guessed.

I always thought that I was way too boring to be a lifestyle blogger, but now I feel like those kinds of posts are the ones that come to me most naturally, the ones I don't have to force myself to write. I love telling you guys about stories from my life and giving you advice regarding topics I've struggled with myself. I still enjoy writing about life as a student, as a form of therapy for myself and to make other students laugh. It's like we're all having a mini-breakdown together, right?
I'm super passionate about reading and books, and I'm so happy that I've been able to integrate that aspect of my life into my blog more and more.

What's new is that I've also been sharing recipes on here more recently, especially new baking recipes that I discover, try and test. It always warms my heart when I get good feedback on these because while I enjoy baking and cooking in itself, hearing that others tried your recipes and liked them makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

So yeah, now that I've chewed your ears off, let's come to the important point here.
So, you're not a beauty blogger anymore? No, I wouldn't call myself that anymore. The beauty aspect has been thinning out and is hardly prominent on this blog anymore, so it would be wrong to use that label.

I will still blog about beauty, if there are things that excite me, things I'd love to share with you guys because I feel like you'd get excited about them too, not because I feel like I'm supposed to. But I'm mostly going to cover the topics that ignite my love for writing, for one because I do not want to put out content that comes across as forced or bored under any circumstances, and also because I feel like you guys have always supported me and thus deserve work that I'm 100% confident in and happy about.

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How to Bake: Cinnamon-Apple Cupcakes

If you've read my latest baking post, you will know that I've fallen head over heels for cupcakes. I used to be more of a cake or muffin kinda girl, mostly because those are easier to make and don't leave the kitchen looking like too big of a mess. However, ever since I've baked my first cupcakes I've been craving new ones constantly, which means that I've been baking them pretty much at least once a week.

Now that we're well into fall, I wanted to try out a new recipe that goes perfectly with the new season as it uses both apples and cinnamon - two of the things I immediately associate with fall.

Even though I had never tried this recipe out previous to this attempt, the cakes still turned out amazing - so they're both super easy to make and extremly yummy!

To make these, you will need:

Cupcakes: (12)

- 120g soft butter
- 120g sugar
-120g flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon cinammon
- 2 apples


Frosting:

- 100g cream cheese
- 60g soft butter
- 1 teaspoon cinammon
250g powdered sugar
- 1 apple


Method:

1) Preheat the oven to 170 degrees celsius. Mix butter and sugar until the mixture appears to be soft, then add eggs, flour and cinammon and mix until everything is well-combined.

2) Peel, quarter and core the apples, then cut them into small squares. Add the apple squares to the mixture and mix for another minute.

3) Add your mixture into twelve muffin tins evenly and bake the cakes for around 25 minutes.

4) To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese and butter. When the mixture is soft, continue to add cinammon and powdered sugar and mix until well-combined. Fill your frosting into a piping bag and add it onto your cupcakes.

5) Cut the leftover apple into small slices and place them on top of the forsting. And you're done!



Do you have any favorite fall recipes, baking-related or not? If so, please feel free to share them with me!

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