Why It’s Important to Take Pleasure in the Little Things

It’s Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, so I thought it was the perfect time to talk about some of the things I’m grateful for, and why I think it’s important now more than ever to take pleasure in and be grateful for the little things in life. I’ve talked before about how the last two years have been difficult for my family and me, and I don’t think I need to go into details about the state of the world. Through all the crap that’s happened, though, I’ve learned to be even more grateful than ever for what I do have.

Lately, I’ve seen many people online talking about feeling a lot of guilt over talking about simple or ‘frivolous’ things, or promoting their books/businesses/blogs while the world seemingly falls apart. I understand that guilt and feel it myself, but the sad truth is, there’s something happening almost daily anymore. It’s easy to get bogged down in the negative, scary things in the world, but we can’t stop living or loving. It’s important to acknowledge the things happening and to fight for change, spread awareness, and show sympathy, but it’s also important to at least try to continue living a somewhat normal life. To take pleasure where you can get it, find the light in all this darkness. There’s nothing wrong with needing an escape from reality and a break from the seemingly never-ending stream of bad news. It doesn’t mean you don’t care about the state of the world.

Here are some of the things I’m grateful for this year, the things I’ve been using as an escape and taking pleasure in when the real world becomes too much.

My family

My mum is my best friend, and she’s the greatest friend anyone could ask for. She’s my sidekick, my confidante, and my favourite person in the world. I’m so blessed to get to spend so much time with her. I also spend a lot of time with my youngest nephew and niece, AKA The Littles. They’re with us most weekends, and we’re all about adventures, tea parties, movies, fun photo shoots, and much more. Every single week they teach me more about patience, unconditional love and understanding, and the importance of having an open mind and being flexible. My 4-year-old niece is a serious badass - strong, fierce, sassy, funny, imaginative, incredibly intelligent - and I’m fostering all of that in her as much as possible because it’s more important now than ever to raise girls to become strong women.

Books

Books have always been an escape and a constant companion for me. Currently romcoms are my jam, and I can’t get enough. A few of my recent favourites: the Castle Calder series by Brenda St John Brown, The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters by Jaimie Admans, Mister Hockey by Lia Riley, and Ten Days With the Highlander by Hayson Manning. I also love books set in my favourite places, especially London. A few of my recent favourites are London Belongs to Me by Jacquelyn Middleton, London Belongs to Us by Sarra Manning, and Act Like It by Lucy Parker.

Friends

Besides my mum, my closest friend is Krista. We’ve been friends since first grade, and have been through so much together. We’ve drifted apart a few times over the years, but we always come back together, leading us both to believe we’re meant to be in each other’s lives. I’m grateful for our talks, ranging from philosophical to silly to all things nerdy/fandom-related and everything in between. I also have some wonderful online friends, who I’ve met through blogging, writing, Twitter, and most recently Bookstagram and Instagram. Speaking of Instagram, I’m also thankful for the creative outlet it provides; it challenges me to be more creative and up my photography game, and it brings me so much pleasure. The community, especially the bookish community is so warm, welcoming, and supportive.

A few recent small pleasures

U2’s new song and music video (basically a love letter to NYC) You’re the Best Thing About Me. Taking up knitting again after many years away from it and starting by making a present for a friend. Rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the first time in years.

No matter how bad things are, it’s important to find positive things, things to be happy about, things to celebrate. Continuing to live your life doesn’t make you a bad person and it doesn’t mean you don’t care about people’s suffering. Something else that’s important to remember: it’s not selfish to practice self-care or take social media breaks if it means maintaining your sanity. You don’t need to be ‘on’ all the time. Take pleasure where you can get it and be grateful for all the good things in your life and in the world.

What are you grateful for this year? What small things have you taken pleasure in lately? Do you ever feel the guilt I mentioned?

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  ☆4 Ways I’ve Practiced Self-Care Lately

  ☆An Afternoon With an Old Friend and Some Thoughts on Self-Care

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6 TV Series to Watch This October to Get in the Halloween Spirit

I don’t know about you, but the minute the calendar flips from September to October, I’m all about Halloween. Give me all the creepy, spooky things! I love rewatching old favourite TV shows and movies, as well as discovering new ones. With its shorter, cooler days and darkness falling so early in the evening, autumn seems like the perfect time to curl up and find a new favourite show or rewatch an old favourite. If you’re like me and you’re looking for things to get you in the Halloween spirit, here are 6 TV shows that are perfect for October.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy is a classic for a reason. With a literal kickass heroine, a great cast of side characters, hilarious dialogue, and real emotion, this show has it all. It has a variety of monsters to satisfy those looking for a creep factor, and it also has a lot of real-life lessons about love, family, friendship, and life. 2017 is the 20-year anniversary of the show’s debut, which makes me feel ancient (I was 13 when it started, and I can still remember being obsessed and talking about it with my friends), and also makes it the perfect time to start watching it if you’ve never seen it, or to do what I’m currently doing: a series rewatch.

Supernatural

This is another show that blends scary monster real-life issues. The first couple of seasons have some downright terrifying, gruesome episodes that deal largely with urban legends. As the show continues, the Winchester brothers deal with various creatures that go bump in the night, but there are also running problems that last for several episodes or even a whole season. Supernatural is also the perfect show if you like complex sibling relationships. There’s a lot of pain and heartache in this show, but that’s part of what makes it so irresistible - it's impossible not to feel for the brothers and their issues.  

Charmed

“The power of three will set you free, the power of three will set you free.” I’ll admit I never finished watching this series because I stopped getting the channel it was on (UGH), but I loved what I saw of Charmed, and I adored the Halliwell sisters. I have a soft spot for sibling relationships, plus I loved the girls’ magical abilities and watching them struggle with their powers as well as all the supernatural circumstances thrown their way.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Another 90s classic. This one is completely different from the other shows I’ve mentioned in that it’s geared toward a younger audience and is much cuter and fluffier. That’s not to say Sabrina didn’t deal with her share of real-life issues. I just rewatched this show year before last, and I had a whole new appreciation for it as an adult. It’s funny and sometimes silly, which makes it perfect if you’re looking for a lighter, family-friendly show that’s perfect for Halloween.

Ripper Street

Unlike the other shows listed above, Ripper Street deals with monsters of the real-life variety: murderers, thieves, and a whole host of other criminals. The show is set in seedy, post-Jack the Ripper Whitechapel, London, which is what drew me to it initially. Like many other people, I’ve had a sick obsession with Jack the Ripper for years, and I find that time period in London (late 1800s) truly fascinating. It was like a whole different world, and many of the things that happened back then were horrifying, gruesome, and downright depressing. I also love seeing the advancements in science and medicine during that time; one of the main characters is a medical examiner, and he’s always experimenting and making interesting discoveries.

Pretty Little Liars

Like with Ripper Street, Pretty Little Liars is all about the real-life monsters. So many things about this show are wonderfully creepy, right down to the theme song. PLL is full of twists and turns, secrets and lies, and there are some episodes that will just about scare the pants right off you. Two years ago before I had Netflix, I was apartment- and cat-sitting for a friend and I stayed up until 2 or 3 every night binge-watching as much of the show as I could. It’s seriously addictive, and now that the series has come to an end, it’s the perfect time to watch it. So much happens in the show, it’s a good one to binge-watch so you don’t forget things.

Shop this post - Buy these TV series on Amazon:

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-Buffy the Vampire Slayer (7 seasons)

-Supernatural (12 seasons on DVD, season 13 is about to start airing)

-Charmed (8 seasons)

-Sabrina the Teenage Witch (7 seasons)

-Ripper Street (5 seasons)

-Pretty Little Liars (7 seasons)

What are you watching this fall? Have you watched any of these? Have any recommendations for shows you think are perfect for getting in the Halloween mood?

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Stacking the Shelves + What's Happening November 30th

 

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews

SWAGGY GOODNESS:

Signed If Only We postcard from Jessica Sankiewicz (Jess is one of my besties, and I designed the cover for If Only We)

Horseshoe keychain from Sourcebooks Fire for pre-ordering Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally

Signed The Secret Diamond Sisters bookmark from Michelle Madow

WON:

 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 2014 calendar from Rachelia at Bookish Comforts from her awesome Sunnydale Project week

FOR REVIEW:

 
The Offering by Kimberly Derting {GoodReads}

Graffiti Knight by Karen Bass {GoodReads}

EBOOKS BOUGHT:

Brooke: An Under the Never Sky Story by Veronica Rossi {GoodReads}

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep {GoodReads}
Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickison {GoodReads}

If the Shoe Fits by Megan Mulry {GoodReads}

**Thank you Jessica Sankiewicz, Sourcebooks Fire, Michelle Madow, Rachelia, Simon & Schuster Canada, Pajama Press**

 

Sia by Josh Grayson {GoodReads}
*watch for my review next week*

 

 Full Ride by Margaret Peterson Haddix {GoodReads}

Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickison {GoodReads}

• I was part of the blog tour for These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I reviewed the book and gave it 4.5 stars - THIS BOOK, YOU GUYS. If you like sci-fi and haven't already pre-ordered, go do it!
• I signed up for the 2014 Ebook Reading Challenge
• I signed up for the 2014 Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge
• I reviewed The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black and gave it 3 stars
• I talked about (and shared pictures from) the 3rd annual Ontario Blogger Meetup in Toronto at the beginning of the month
• I reviewed This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E Smith and gave it 4.5 stars
• I did a Top Ten Tuesday and listed the ten things I’m most thankful for
• I talked about 'winning' NaNoWriMo 2013, shared a bit about what I was writing, and posted the very first teaser!
• I posted a recap of November, which has been a truly fantastic month

Normally I talk about everything that's happened since the last Stacking the Shelves/What's Happening, but since two weeks have gone by and a lot has happened, I decided to do a November recap a bit early so I wouldn't clutter up this post with pictures and stuff. 

Wondering whether to take the time to read my November Recap? Here are the highlights:

NaNoWriMo, the Ontario Blogger Meetup, professional pictures of my nephews and niece, a surprise joint birthday party for my brother and me, The Day of the Doctor, About Time...

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm away for the weekend (a bunch of friends and I are in the States shopping...please pray for me that I survived Black Friday lol...it's my first time and I'm TERRIFIED. I'm not a big shopper and I'm not aggressive, so it should be interesting. I'll be doing the rounds of visiting and commenting early next week. 

How was your week? Did you get any new books? Have you read any good ones that you'd recommend? Tell me in the comments below or post a link to your Stacking the Shelves/Book Haul/In My Mailbox/Showcase Sunday, etc. Happy reading! <3

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More Than Books #1: Weekend Away

Last year I started a personal blog. I wanted a place I could talk about things other than reading and writing, plus share some of my (very amateur) photography. Even though I kept telling myself it didn't matter that only a handful of people were actually reading it, it seemed like a waste of time to put all kinds of effort into posts that didn't get read. Granted, I don't have a very exciting life, so posts were sporadic and probably a bit boring. So I decided every once in awhile I'd share some personal things here on Ramblings of a Daydreamer. I know I love when my blogging friends and acquaintances share little bits of their lives so I get to know the person behind the blog. We're more than just book lovers, and although talking about books is one of my favourite things in the world, sometimes I'd like to share other things. I still have my personal blog, but it's on hiatus until I have more exciting things to talk about! ;-)

In high school, I had two best friends, Suleena and Krista. I'd been friends with them since the beginning of elementary school, and we stayed friends all through the years. I don't know where we fit in the hierarchy of high school - we weren't nobodies, but we definitely weren't popular. People generally knew who we were, but we sort of flew under the radar and we liked it that way. Krista and I were both total nerds but we never admitted it to anyone, even to each other. I've talked about this before, but being a nerd is something I didn't admit to until recently.

Anyway, after high school, Krista and I drifted apart. We had a bit of a falling out when she started her first year of university and I started my second year of college. We'd been best friends until then, even though she'd gone to college for a year and was several hours away. As soon as she started university, she started making new friends and got a boyfriend and I was jealous and possessive and my feelings were hurt because I didn't feel like a priority anymore. I'm sure a lot of people have been there. When you're 19 you don't necessarily make the smartest choices or have your shit together, and you're still at that point in life where every problem seems like the end of the world.

If my memory is correct, we saw each other a total of four times in the last ten years. We Facebook messaged a few times but things were never the same between us. There were a lot of hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and a few mutual 'friends' exacerbating the situation. Then a few months ago, Krista messaged to tell me she'd just finished a rewatch of Buffy (*our* show during high school) and she thought about me a lot. We started messaging back and forth, and discovered not only did we still love the same things we loved as teens, but we even loved the same things as adults. We both have lives that are a bit lonely, our families are our top priority, and we're both unapologetic nerds and introverts. A lot had changed, and yet in some ways, nothing had changed.

After a few conversations, we made plans for me to come up to visit her for a weekend (she still lives in the city where she went to university). I looked forward to this for several reasons: 1) I couldn't wait to see and reconnect with my former best friend, as an adult (and therefore with a completely different outlook on life than I had 10 years ago); 2) 2013 has been a rough year for me with several health issues that have prevented me from doing a lot; 3) I haven't seen a single one of my real life friends this entire year, and the only people I really talk to are my family and my online friends (without whom I know I'd completely lose my mind).

Because I don't drive and because the bus schedule is ridiculous and nonsensical, I asked my sister-in-law to drive me. We decided to make a family outing of it and have a picnic by Lake Ontario. So, my mum, sister-in-law, nephews Noah (11) and Logan (3), niece Maddy (11 weeks), and I met Krista for our picnic. We were in a park near a tourist attraction that kept drawing the boys' interest, so Krista very generously paid for us to go inside and take a tour (she says she's lived in the city for 10 years but has hardly done any of the many touristy things because she doesn't have anyone to do them with). The boys were so excited, and we all had a lot of fun (even Maddy who got strolled around the main level by my mum while the rest of us toured the downstairs then the upstairs).

When we parted ways with my family, Krista and I went back to her apartment and spent hours talking about everything and anything. The last ten years completely melted away and I felt like a teenager again. I can't remember the last time I laughed so much. I literally gave myself a headache from talking and laughing so much. We went out for pizza then I took her Doctor Who virginity and IT WAS AMAZING *snickers*. I feel like I've now done my part as a fairly new Whovian since being recruited by another of my besties, Molli, several months ago. After two episodes of DW, we went to a pub for a drink (such a grown-up thing to do and so novel for me since I have no one to do that with, plus there are no places around here to do it anyway), then wandered around downtown and then down by the water before going back to her place to talk some more. The next morning, we had pancakes and leftover pizza, and she took my Firefly virginity. We decided that during my next visit (next visit!) we're just going to lay around and do nothing but watch Doctor Who and Firefly since neither of us has anyone to watch those shows with (although I 'virtually' watch Doctor Who with Molli and a few other Twitter friends).

It was hard saying goodbye, but we did it knowing we'd recaptured something amazing and special. Childhood friendships often don't last, but I figure when you've known someone for almost 25 years, and have a boatload and a half of shared history, memories, and secrets, that's pretty damn special and you should hold onto it with all your might.  

Now if you've managed to read this far, thank you! Also, I'm going to reward you with some cuteness. ;-)

 

They had SO much fun. As soon as we got in, the guy asked how old Noah was and said if he were a year older, he'd have been signed up for the British Army in the 1800s and sent to fight. Isn't that insane?!

The kids got to dress up in British Army clothes, hold a 35-pound canon ball (which a 12-year-old would have had to carry and load himself in the army), and carry around wooden guns. The only picture that really needs explanation is the bottom right one: Noah aimed the gun at Logan, said 'bang' and Logan automatically fell down dead. Poor kid's been trained well by his older brother lol

There's just something about this picture that's so evocative to me. The colouring, the stone wall, the uniform and gun, the serious expression on Noah's face. It looks like he could really be one of the poor children who were forced to join the army back in the 1800s.

Have you ever had a situation like I did where you lost touch with a friend and then reconnected after a long time? If you moved away for college or had friends who moved away, did you lose touch or stay in touch?

 

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Follow Friday Fun (17) & TGIF @ GReads (13)

Weekly recap - what's been going on at Ramblings of a Daydreamer:

Reviews:

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Christopher Meeks Blog Tour - Review of Love at Absolute Zero + Giveaway

Memes:

In My Mailbox Week 10

Tune in Tuesday Week 5 - Soundtrack Edition: Rattle & Hum

Waiting on Wednesday (7) and WWW Wednesday (17)

Other:

My Bookworm Santa

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Blue Sky Days: my very first author spotlight & info about excerpts 

Author Guest Post – Christopher Meeks

*On Obsession With Book's blog: Author Spotlight / Book Trailer - Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry

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Follow Friday Fun Week 17: This weekly meme is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.  Check out their blogs for details/rules, and to join!  Also, be sure to check out this week's featured bloggers on each of the girls' sites!

This week's question: If you could have characters from a particular book meet and form an epic storyline with characters from a particular TV series, which would you choose and why?

Mmmmm, Spike <3

I'm having a lot of trouble with this one...I've been sitting here forever wracking my brain, but none of the combinations I'm coming up with would really work. I have vampires on the brain because my two current favorite TV shows are Vampire Diaries and True Blood, but I'm not nuts about the book versions for either...and I keep thinking about Buffy, which is my other favorite vampire show...maybe a combination of Buffy and the Southern Vampire/Sookie Stackhouse books? Sexy, bad-ass vampires, werewolves, shifters, demons, all kinds of other creatures, and a slayer thrown in for good measure? Buffy and Sookie as BFFs? Hmm...how about you, what would you choose?

*****

TGIF at GReads Week 13: TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads - be sure to check out her blog and join in the fun!

This week's question: Show & Tell: Where do you grab a book and get lost in it? Show us your favorite spot you like to read at.

<--- This is my favorite chair in my library. My library is beautiful - just 5 years old (as much as I loved the history of my old library, the place was literally falling apart, so a new one was built 5 years ago right across the street. It's extremely modern looking - you'd never know it was a library from the outside, but it's really nice inside), and filled to the brim with books. There are huge floor-to-ceiling windows along two walls, and there are chairs like the one in the picture all the way along one wall. There are also chairs at the end of the stacks near my chair, a gas fireplace, and a gorgeous grandfather clock. That chair is my favorite - it's in a corner between two windows so I get tons of natural light, and it looks out on the street, so I can watch people coming and going. I love being surrounded by all those books, it makes me a very happy girl. You can find me there almost every Saturday immersed in a book with a pile of books at my feet. 

I just happened to take this picture on my phone back in April so I could tweet it, so I don't have pics of my other reading spots, but they are: my corner of the couch for long reading stints since it's comfy; my bed, where I sit to read before going to bed; and my computer, where I read all my ebooks. I was going to take pictures, but they all just happen to be horrifically messy right now, so you'll have to be content with my library pic lol. 

Where's your favorite reading spot?

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Happy Friday, book lovers! I have a giveaway going on right now for a copy of Love at Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks. The link to that is at the top of the blog under my header. Tomorrow, I'm going to be posting another giveaway, this one for a signed copy or ebook of Being Human by Patricia Lynne, so be sure to come back for that!

If you participate in either of these memes (or even if you don't), I'd love to hear from you, so please leave a comment and I'll be sure to visit you in return. :-) Have a great weekend!