The Ultimate Fall Reading List

It is finally my favorite season, so I thought that I would take a stab at creating my first reading list! I've gathered over a dozen reads that I think are great for Fall, ranging from some spooky favorites for Halloween to a few that just me those autumnal vibes.

Since a list of over a dozen can seem pretty intimidating, I have divided the list into some different sections: The Classics, Witchy Reads, Monsters, and Other. Also, in the interest of keeping this list as spoiler-free as possible, I am only going to describe the specific aspects of each book that say "Fall" the most to me.

The Classics

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

There's a certain kind of lonely vibe to this novel that fits with late fall.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Spooky moors, unrequited love. 'Nuff said.

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe

The King of Chilling Stories. Murder, ghosts, you name it.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

The Godfather of all vampire stories.

Witchy Reads

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

As soon as Harry has to go back to Hogwarts, I want to re-read the series. Halloween scenes and butter beer.

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

The best story about sister witches on the planet probably (also obsessed with the movie).

Sweep Vol. I by Cate Tiernan

The perfect coming-of-age witchy story, parts are predominately set in the Fall.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

The three witches alone would make this a perfect Fall/Halloween read, but the other themes really tie into the season as well.

Monster

Dracula by Bram Stoker

You knew it had to show up here, too. It's way too much of a classic to not show up in this section too.

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

An absolute favorite of mine, one of the most popular modern telling of the vampire (unlike Practical Magic, this movie was terrible).

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Where there are vampires, there are also werewolves. Though not as classically "scary" as some of the other popular monster novels, this one is still a thrilling read.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

There's absolutely no shame in my game. A fun, easy read with love and vampires.

Misc

Godblind by Anna Stephens

Dealing with magic, opposing forces, and gods, this is great for Fall. 

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Similar to other books on the list, while there isn't something about this one that screams Fall, it just has that autumnal vibe when you start reading.

What books are on your Fall reading list?

Living My Truth - Bi Day of Visibility 2019

Today is the Bi Day of Visibility and it's a day that I hold dear to my heart. It's an important day to share our stories, to refuse to be invisible, and to, maybe, help someone who might need it.

I came out as bisexual in the Spring of 2012. 

For months leading up to it, I remember feeling a mixture of confusion and shame. Confused because I was having feelings I couldn't recognize, thoughts that would pop up seemingly for no reason. Ashamed because once I could recognize those feelings, I didn't want to. I tried to rationalize them away, to ignore them, but as I am sure other queer people could attest, it does not work that way. Eventually, I had to face the fact that there was something different about me. I had to face the fact that I wasn't just attracted to boys and men, like I assumed, but I was also attracted to other girls and women.

I slowly started coming out to my friends, one or a few at a time. I can remember being so nervous at first that I could barely tell them, and then being relieved when they reassured me that my coming out wasn't going to change anything between us. Eventually, I came out to my family and was open about it on social media. In all, the people around me have always been supportive of me no matter what. There were a few that I could tell were unsure if I meant it or not, a few that maybe didn't think bisexuality is real at all. At first, those people infuriated me, but as I got older, I learned that as long as I know who I am, their opinions on my sexuality don't matter.

Seven years later and there are honestly still moments where I feel a bit of that residual guilt, but those moments are few and far between. Now, I would say that I mostly feel peace, at finally accepting myself and living my truth. I don't feel like I have to hide anymore and that is one of the greatest feelings I have ever experienced.

I hope that you feel that, too, that you feel able to be your most authentic self - regardless of your sexual orientation.

If you are confused or struggling, please do not hesitate to reach out to a loved one you trust. If that feels too hard, my inbox is always open.

Happy Bi Day of Visibility, friends!

Lettering My Way to Relaxation

Hobbies as an adult are hard, y'all. It just seems like there is always something that comes up that gets in the way of your hobby time - grocery shopping, some family function you have to go to, that giant mountain of laundry you've been ignoring, and way more.

That being said, however, I actually had time over the long Labor Day weekend and I got to get back to one of my newer hobbies that I really enjoy: hand lettering.

Words and art have always gone hand-in-hand for me. I can't draw (and I am not patient enough to learn), but I have always been able to write well. Quotes from movies or books and song lyrics are constantly going through my head in much the same way I would imagine an artist gets an idea for a painting or sketch, so learning to hand letter felt like a natural extension of that.

With lettering, I get to take those quotes in my head and put them down on paper in a creative, artistic way. And for those times when I am not sure what I want to create, I turn to my copy of Hand Lettering for Relaxation by Amy Latta. It is packed full of lettering workshops that are perfect for someone just starting out.

Ultimately, I would really like to get to the point where I feel confident enough to create great pieces for friends as gifts, invitations for any events, and more. 

But even if I never really get there, the peace of mind that I have gotten back has been a reward in and of itself.

I mean, isn't that what hobbies are all about anyway?

What hobbies do you like to do? Let's chat about it in the comments!

Book Review: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Alright. Let's chat about A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

To put it simply, I LOVED this book (I know, so original - but I don't care!). Reading this book gave me that same excited feeling I got when I read my favorite fantasy series, The Belgariad by David Eddings. I just did not want to put the sucker down - I'm not sure how many nights I read well past my bedtime. I'm sure part of my love for the novel comes from my love of the HBO series based on the books, but I have to say that getting to experience the story in book form has been even better than the show.

Martin is able to grab the reader with his writing style in a way that I haven't been gripped by a book in a long time. He is descriptive without it feeling like he is spoon-feeding the reader and the switching perspectives from chapter to chapter keeps the story from getting stale while reading.

Ultimately, however, it is the incredible characters that have me coming back for more. They are complex, well-written, and most importantly - believable. Jon, for example, is a fourteen-year-old bastard son of a noble lord who has left everything he's even known to join The Night's Watch. 

Once he arrives at the Wall, he struggles with leaving behind the boy he used to be and embracing the man that he is trying to become. Through all of this, George R. R. Martin is able to tap into how a young boy that age would actually react in the same circumstances - it doesn't feel too over-the-top, just for effect dramatics. It feels real and genuine, and I love that as a reader. 

I have heard from some that the books go a little downhill after A Game of Thrones, but I am optimistic to keep reading!

Have you read A Game of Thrones or any of the other books in the series? What'd you think? 

Let's chat in the comments!

Plants Make Me Happy

Penny the Sago Palm

I think I have officially become a crazy plant lady. They say it all starts with one plant, and that is 100% TRUE! While I can say that I have always liked plants, this recent obsession started with the beautiful Sago Palm pictured above, Penny.

She was given to me as a gift from my boyfriend for our third anniversary back in March and up until just a few weeks ago, we weren't seeing any new growth. Since we live in Michigan, the weather here is not as warm and humid as a cycad loves all the time, but we've finally had lots of hot, sunny weather! As a result, Penny has five definite new fronds with a sixth one starting to poke its way through!

Alfred the Aloe

 Since then, we have added four more plant babies to our little indoor jungle: an aloe plant, a lavender, and two ferns - one rabbit's foot and one ostrich. We also have some vegetables growing that are coming along rather nicely!

 More importantly, we've added some extra peace and a little excitement to our house. I find the routine soothing. Each morning I check on them all, see who needs some water and how everyone is growing. I know it sounds totally nuts, but I talk to them a bit too.

Oscar the Ostrich Fern

And anyone who has ever had plants can attest, there's no better feeling than when you see one of your babies growing, especially if that particular plant has been giving you some problems before.

Lisa the Lavender

Lisa, here, has been a challenge, but trust me she looks so much better than she did a few weeks ago. It took some trial and error, but after re-potting her in a larger clay pot and adjusting her watering schedule (aka me not over-watering), she is bouncing back and looking greener than ever!

Frannie the Rabbit's Foot Fern

Now I am constantly thinking about plants - which ones will need a new pot soon, which ones I want to get next, where I can put them all in my house - and I ain't even mad about it. Plus, I'm sure it has made gift-giving for my family and friends a lot easier!

Are you plant crazy too? What are some of your favorites? Any tips and tricks you want to share?

Currently Reading: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Wow. I think I might actually be getting the hang of this whole blogging thing. *knocks on wood*

I have really been enjoying popping on and sharing my thoughts with you guys, so thank you for sticking around with me.

Let's chat about my current read: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, the first novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series that inspired the hit HBO series "Game of Thrones."

I am a big fan of the HBO series, so when I finally found out that it was based on a series of books I was even more elated. Unfortunately, I was already pretty far into the show and didn't want to accidentally spoil anything for myself, so I put off reading the books until now that the show is officially over.

I am just under 200 pages in AND I AM LOVING IT!

I know part of my excitement has to be coming from how much I loved the show, but another part of it is at finally being able to imagine it all for myself. Plus, there are things in the books that never made it to the HBO series which is going to make this read-through like a treasure hunt almost! 

Now that I am reading the books, I definitely get the hype. I am a huge fan of the fantasy genre and A Game of Thrones fits the bill perfectly. There's believable world-building, strong characterization, and slightly flowery, descriptive language. 

I am also a huge fan of switching perspectives between chapters. It allows the reader to get a unique insight into each of the main characters' minds, but it also allows the author to tell more, even better stories within a single novel.

So far, I would have to say that my favorite chapters are the ones from Jon's perspective, but seeing as he is my favorite character from the HBO series, I'm not surprised.

Have you read A Game of Thrones or any of the other books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series? What did you think? Who was your favorite character?

Let's chat in the comments!

Sometimes You Need to Unplug

You guys. How in the heck did we get so lucky that Nature is a thing? I feel even more blessed that I live in a place that has amazing sights like these just a few hours away.

A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to take a few days off and spend the weekend camping with my best friend who made the drive all the up from Texas to spend time with me! We have been friends since we met in the fourth grade and we stayed friends when she moved away in high school, so it is very special to me when we do get time together.

She brought her dog, Rocko (the floofy boi on the left), and he and Dempsey (my lil pip squeak on the right) became fast friends and adventure buddies!

Crossing the Mackinac Bridge for the first time was definitely something I will not forget. I have lived in Michigan my whole life, but it's taken 25 years for me to finally get across that dang bridge and into the Upper Peninsula. As you can see, Dempsey was not quite sure how she felt about the whole driving over a nearly five-mile-long bridge over two of the Great Lakes, but she did great! 

I absolutely love camping. I am not really sure why, but the stuff that usually bothers other people about camping - the bugs, sleeping on the ground, no showers - doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I say the more rustic the campground the better!

So I was especially pleased that we were able to find the perfect spot at Monocle Lake Campground, just an hour away from Tahquamenon Falls. It's a beautiful, horseshoe-shaped site in part of the expansive Hiawatha National Forest and is definitely a nature-lovers dream. Our site was directly across from the lake and it was gorgeous at sunset.

The best thing about camping has to been how everything is forced to slow down. Suddenly, tasks that are quick and easy at home become more laborious and have more steps. Making coffee in the morning or cooking dinner in the evening now takes an extra hour or so depending on how well you can build a fire and if the coals stayed warm.

And did I mention the fact that also means technology slows down too? Turning my phone onto airplane mode and disconnecting from our loud, chaotic society even for a few short days is rejuvenating.

As a person who already loves camping and getting outdoors (when I'm not busy being an introvert homebody), I didn't think I would be able to enjoy it more. And then we got Dempsey. If you are one of those people on the fence about camping, I really recommend you take your furry friend with you on your next camping trip.

Watching Dempsey get to constantly explore and experience new things while I do too is everything. She gets to go on hikes, swim in lakes, and chew on lots of sticks. But more importantly, we get to have these shared experiences that are so much more rewarding and fulfilling than if we just left her at home with a dog sitter.

What about you? Do you like camping? What are some of your favorite camping activities?