Let’s be real here because it’s just you and me...you’re going to have to lean in to hear this...I couldn’t think of what to blog about this week, and I’ve been busier with schoolwork than usual, so this is my way out...HAHAHA. The good news is that I have been doing a lot of reading and writing in the past week (in the form of a research paper AND required reading. Hoo-ray). So, I figured this would be the perfect time to inform all of my beautiful readers out there Hi! on my life as it is at this very moment.

       ♬ You are the Dancing Queen,
       Young and sweet, only seventeen. ♬
       Happy birthday to me! I love birthdays because they're a time to celebrate yourself and celebrate life in general. So, I thought I would celebrate this year's big day with you guys, my lovely readers. I wouldn't be here today without you guys; thank you! Now, let the celebration begin as I share the top 17 books that I've read in the last year.* Click the purple titles to check out my full reviews.

       Books: They’re the love of my life. We have a great relationship; they exist and look pretty, and I can thumb through them whenever I feel like it. They’ve always been there for me, and to show my appreciation for them, I shout about their greatness to the winds (and anyone who will listen {like you. Hi there! [Look, I got to use those fancy squiggly brackets no one ever uses.]}). Unfortunately, over the years, I have morphed and changed into a better version of myself, and a result of that growth is a drastic change in my lifestyle. If you didn’t already know, I have

       If you have ever tried to listen to an audiobook, you have come across the problem of, "what to do now?". Here is a quick list of 6 things to consider when you find yourself asking that very question.

       Reading slumps are awful. Every reader can vouch for that, because we've all encountered the monsters that eat up our will to read, live, and breath. So, if you are currently in a reading slump, or want to prepare for the inevitable future, here are a few things to do and not do when a reading slump attacks you at your most vulnerable moment.

       1. Pick up a new book.
If you aren't interested in the book you are currently reading, you aren't going to want to read. Try picking up something you have been wanting to read for a while.​ If you can't get into that book, pick up something else. Don't force yourself to read something you aren't enjoying.
       2. Book-to-movie adaptations.
Movie adaptations of books are a great motivation to read. Find a movie you want to go see, and read the book first. This works especially well for movies that are in theaters, because you can only go see them for a certain amount of time. That way, you want to read the book, and you have to push through it quickly.
       3. Pick up a short story or a collection of short stories.
I love shorter reads, because they make me feel good about how much I've read. They are also great for keeping your attention, because you are constantly being presented with new stories, especially in anthologies. You are also more likely to set aside time to read one story, because you know it won't take you very long.
       4. Set aside a specific time to read.
Everyone has that time in the evening that they set aside to watch their favorite show, or do something for themselves. It's just as easy to set aside reading time! My favorite way to do this is to start my nighttime routine 15-30 minutes earlier. (My nighttime routine consists of showering and brushing my teeth. Not too extensive...) That way, when you would normally put on your pajamas and crawl into bed, you can curl up with a book and get in some more reading time.
       5. Grab an audio book.
If you just can't find time to read, audio books are a great alternative to traditional reading. You don't know when to listen to it? The easiest way to integrate it into everyday life is to listen to it whenever you would normally listen to music. Car rides? Done. Exercising? Easy. Cleaning? How fun. In the shower? Um.........I like to sing. But if you don't sing, that's a great place to listen to a story.
       6. Take your book everywhere with you.
When you take your book with you when you go out of the house, you will realize just how much time you have to read. A couple minutes on the bus here, a few minutes during lunch there. All of a sudden, you've read fifty pages throughout the day, but you didn't do anything different from normal.
       7. Make it a group event.
If you are finding that you can't stick with a book, try reading one with others. Start or join a book club, or pair up with a buddy to read. This way, you have a goal, a deadline, a friend with whom to chat, and it will be spoiler free. It's a quadruple win.

       1. Netflix and Youtube
If you turn on a internet video of any kind, you're doomed. You'll say, "One more episode," to Stranger Things one too many times, and look up at four in the morning and realize you've wasted your entire life doing nothing. (Sorry. That got a little dark.) Anyways, stay away from Netflix. It's a trap set by the reading slump monster.
       2. Push through a book.
When you force yourself to read something you aren't enjoying, you won't want to read. It seems so common sense as you read it right now, but I don't know how many people do it.

       I have not tried these ideas out for myself, I, either came up with them, or found them in the online crafty world. Please use caution when trying these DIY's.

       Being a nerd is a wonderful thing. You find something that intrigues you, you fall in love with it, and then you obsess over it with friends, either online or in real life. I'm almost positive if you're reading this, then you are here because you are a book nerd (like me). Since I'm always looking for more pop culture to obsess over, I thought I would share some of my favorite nerdy topics.

       If you haven't gotten around to Star Wars, first off WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN SINCE 1977? (No, I'm serious. Where have you been?) You could be like me, who only joined the Star Wars fandom about six months ago. Nevertheless, you are missing out on the king of all classic sci-fi movies. (Although, I can't vouch for Star Trek. I'm still trying to figure out where to start with that...)
       If you need some direction on the order to watch, I suggest the Machete Order, which has an in-depth explanation here. If you want to experience Star Wars the way I did, I watched in Release Order, except I skipped over Episode I and saved it for the end. The Machete Order link has great reasoning on skipping Episode I and other possible orders, so I suggest you go check it out for a more detailed approach.

       Marvel Movies are great for someone who really wants to get into superheroes, but doesn't want to have to figure out the comic book world. (I have tried, I promise. I just don't have the commitment to ALL the comic books.) The movies are great, the way they intertwine is really genius. Once you watch one, you have to watch them all. With these, I don't feel like there is a specific order you should watch. Here is a chronological order of all the MCU works. I have watched them all except for Agent Carter, Agents of SHIELD, and Jessica Jones, but I can vouch for everything else on the list.

       The Bourne movies are definitely my favorite crime/thriller movie ever. I watch them all the time, and they never get old. There is always something you missed the last time, and finding those little foreshadowing moments is so neat. These are movies that are great the first and the tenth time. (And early 2000's Matt Damon is super hunky. And he's beating people up. Let's be honest, who doesn't want that in their life?)

       I feel like this is a given, but I thought I would mention some of my favorite '80's movies, in case you've missed any.

• The Princess Bride
• Dirty Dancing
• Footloose
• The Outsiders
• Indiana Jones Franchise
• Ghostbusters
• Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures
• Rocky Films

       I know these are not all of the classics, but these are just a choice few of my favorites. Feel free to add your favorites to the comments below!

       Fanart is a bit of an uncharted territory for me personally, but I do make a little bit here and there. I'm sure there are whole communities surrounding fanart, and I enjoy recreating my favorite characters in my drawings. It's so much fun to put things you love into your own style as well.
       If you haven't, go to Google and search "fanart" with your favorite movie or TV show. The art that pops up is phenomenal.

       If you're in any fandom, you have probably seen or heard of cosplaying. It's basically taking your favorite nerdy Halloween costume and giving it nerd steroids. Cosplaying is a great way to express your passion for a character, and a fun way to create. There are no rules when it comes to creating your costume, so go get started!

       Merlin is a British television show that follows the story of King Arthur and the sorcerer Merlin in their younger years. It is very much a fantasy show over a historically accurate one, with lots of magic involved. I enjoy it for the action, story, and humor that's involved. Arthur and Merlin are always joking and picking at each other, which is so entertaining. I love the casting, as everyone does a wonderful job. It's definitely a great Netflix watch.

       Sherlock is probably the smartest television show I have ever seen. It is a modern version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes book series. The writing of the show by Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat, and Stephen Thompson is so amazing. Everything that happens either references to something that has already happened, or to something that is going to happen. It's everything you could want from a show of this genre, and I absolutely recommend it.

       Booktube is a great community if you are already into book blogs. It's a community of people on YouTube who talk about books. There are quite a few to choose from, and it's also a great place if you want to start a blog, but are more into videos over writing. A few of my favorites include:

• PolandBananasBOOKS
  JesseTheReader
• ArielBissett
• Katytastic
• Tashapolis

       These are just a few, so please comment your favorites!

       Theater is such an amazing and open community. It's also super easy to meet others who are interested in it. If you're still in school, almost all schools have some sort of drama department or theater group to join. If you're out of school, there are lots of community groups to go see or to join. Some of my favorite shows are:

• Shrek: The Musical
• Fiddler on the Roof
• The Wizard of Oz
• The Sister Act
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
• Into the Woods

       There is a show out there for everyone, though. Go and find yours!

       Every year, my parents and I go on a vacation during summer vacation. This year, the plan was to fly out to Seattle, drive down through Portland, and fly back from San Francisco. We spent a few days in each city, and while we were there, I wanted to visit some indie bookstores downtown. So, here are all of the bookshops I went to, along with the books I got there.