Xena Roberts

Most Anticipated Releases of 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 04:07:00 +0000

2019 is the year of amazing book releases and I cannot wait for them all! I love making these types of posts because books get me so excited and I love talking about them. In this post I have assembled a list of all the 2019 releases I am looking forward to the most. I have ordered them according to when they are going to be released and have included a summary of each and where you can buy them. I hope you enjoy this post and share your most anticipated releases of 2019 in the comments section below!

Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West

Release Date: February 5th 2019

Buy this at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Lacey Barnes has dreamed of being an actress for as long as she can remember. So when she gets the opportunity to star in a movie alongside one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, she doesn’t hesitate to accept the part.

But Lacey quickly learns that life in the spotlight isn’t as picture perfect as she imagined. She’s having trouble bonding with her costars, her father has hired the definition of a choir boy, Donavan Lake, to tutor her, and somewhere along the way she’s lost her acting mojo. And just when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, it looks like someone on set is deliberately trying to sabotage her.

As Lacey’s world spins out of control, it feels like the only person she can count on—whether it’s helping her try to unravel the mystery of who is out to get her or snap her out of her acting funk—is Donavan. But what she doesn’t count on is this straight-laced boy becoming another distraction.

With her entire future riding on this movie, Lacey knows she can’t afford to get sidetracked by a crush. But for the first time in her life Lacey wonders if it’s true that the best stories really do happen when you go off script.

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Release Date: April 16th 2019

Buy this at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel.

In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work. Daniel also shares her appetite for intrigue, and he’s stumbled upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell…discovering that most confounding mystery of all may be her growing feelings for the elusive riddle that is Daniel.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

Release Date: May 7th 2019

Buy this at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he's defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can't turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn't go as planned. Esme's lessons in love seem to be working...but only on herself. She's hopelessly smitten with a man who's convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme's time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he's been wrong all along. And there's more than one way to love.

The Paper & Hearts Society: Book 1 by Lucy Powrie

Release Date: June 11th 2019

Buy this at Book Depository

Summary:

Tabby Brown is tired of trying to fit in with her classmates. She doesn't want to go to parties at the weekend - in fact, she would much rather snuggle up on the sofa with her favourite book.

It's like she hasn't found her people ...

That is until she moves to a new town where a book club, The Paper & Hearts Society, is recruiting. Tabby might just be in luck. Enough of her old "friends" who only talk to her when they need something. It's time for Quidditch themed fancy dress parties, games like "shut up and Shakespeare" ... and LOTS of chocolate.

Maybe This Time by Kasie West

Release Date: July 9th 2019

Buy this at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

One year. Eight events.

Eight chances to...fall in love?

Sophie works for the local florist, so she's part of every big event in her small hometown, delivering flowers and making sure things run smoothly (which they almost never do). This year, Sophie has tons of events to get through -- including a wedding, a funeral, a Valentine's Day party, a Fourth of July cookout, Thanksgiving, and a New Year's Eve bash. And at each event, she runs into Andrew, the distractingly cute -- and annoyingly pompous -- guy working for the local caterer. As Sophie and Andrew deal with last-minute food disasters, romantic dramas, uninvited guests, and family feuds, they find themselves thrown together amid the chaos.

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

Release Date: August 27th 2019

Buy this at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.

Every autumn, all through high school, they've worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they're reunited every September 1.

But this Halloween is different-Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.

Josiah's ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn't ready to let him. She's got a plan: What if-instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut-they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he's been mooning over for three years . . .

What if their last shift was an adventure?

The World of Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Release Date: September 3, 2019

Buy this at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

The official guide to the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series complete with characters, creatures, new artwork, and more!

Everyone knows the story of the assassin queen. But now, fans of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series will be immersed in her journey like never before. From Adarlan’s dark past to Terrasen’s bright future, this comprehensive guide will bring the people, creatures, settings, magic, gods, and world of Aelin’s epic journey to life in stunning illustrations and descriptive portrayals. Complete with an expansive vocabulary and timeline of events, this is the must-have official companion to the Throne of Glass series.

Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff

Release Date: September 3, 2019

Buy this at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

The greatest games in Godsgrave's history have ended with the most audacious murders in the history of the Itreyan Republic.

Mia Corvere, gladiatii, escaped slave and infamous assassin, is on the run. Pursued by Blades of the Red Church and soldiers of the Luminatii legion, she may never escape the City of Bridges and Bones alive. Her mentor Mercurio is now in the clutches of her enemies. Her own family wishes her dead. And her nemesis, Consul Julius Scaeva, stands but a breath from total dominance over the Republic.

But beneath the city, a dark secret awaits. Together with her lover Ashlinn, brother Jonnen and a mysterious benefactor returned from beyond the veil of death, she must undertake a perilous journey across the Republic, seeking the final answer to the riddle of her life. Truedark approaches. Night is falling on the Republic for perhaps the final time.

Can Mia survive in a world where even daylight must die?

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Release Date: November 5th 2019

Buy this at Book Depository

Summary:

Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a strange book hidden in the library stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues - a bee, a key and a sword - that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to a subterranean library, hidden far below the surface of the earth.

What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians - it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also those who are intent on its destruction.

Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly-soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose - in both the mysterious book and in his own life.

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: November 19th 2019

Buy this at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.

I hope you enjoyed today's post and have a wonderful reading year! I will see you soon with a new post. Have a wonderful day and weekend ahead!

New Year's Book Tag

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone and Happy New Year! For today's post I really wanted to do a New Year's related book tag and I found two that I really liked (Heather from Bookables New Year's Tag and Char Frears's New Year's Book Tag). However, I did not have an answer for every question in each so I made a hybrid of both book tags. Feel free to answer the questions in the comments section below as I would love to know your 2019 bookish goals. If you are curious to see mine then keep reading!

1. Do you set reading goals? If so, how many books do you want to read in 2019?

I set reading goals every year and the amount of book ranges depending on how busy I think my life will be that year. Since last year, I have been cutting my reading goal in half because I am in college and I do not have as much time to read as I used to. For 2019, my reading goal is 12 books. I want to read one book a month and hopefully read more during summer break when I have more time.

2. An author you’d like to read that you’ve never read before.

I have wanted to read Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng for years and I finally bought it in 2018. I have also been hearing nothing but incredible things about her sophomore novel, Little Fires Everywhere. My goal for 2019 is to read both of her novels and hopefully love them as much as everyone else.

Everything I Never Told You

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet . . . So begins the story of this exquisite debut novel, about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee; their middle daughter, a girl who inherited her mother’s bright blue eyes and her father’s jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue—in Marilyn’s case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James’s case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the center of every party.

When Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together tumbles into chaos, forcing them to confront the long-kept secrets that have been slowly pulling them apart. James, consumed by guilt, sets out on a reckless path that may destroy his marriage. Marilyn, devastated and vengeful, is determined to find a responsible party, no matter what the cost. Lydia’s older brother, Nathan, is certain that the neighborhood bad boy Jack is somehow involved. But it’s the youngest of the family—Hannah—who observes far more than anyone realizes and who may be the only one who knows the truth about what happened.

A profoundly moving story of family, history, and the meaning of home, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, exploring the divisions between cultures and the rifts within a family, and uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another.

Little Fires Everywhere

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is meticulously planned – from the layout of the winding roads, to the colours of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.

Enter Mia Warren – an enigmatic artist and single mother – who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than just tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the alluring mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past, and a disregard for the rules that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.

When the Richardsons' friends attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town and puts Mia and Mrs. Richardson on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Mrs. Richardson becomes determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs to her own family – and Mia's.

Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of long-held secrets and the ferocious pull of motherhood-and the danger of believing that planning and following the rules can avert disaster, or heartbreak.

3. A classic you’d like to read.

I'm absolutely in love with this Puffin in Bloom cover designed by Anna Bond, founder of Rifle Paper Co. I have been wanting to read more classics recently and I decided that I wanted to start with children's classics. I bought all the Puffin in Bloom editions in 2018 and I look forward to getting to all of them but especially Anne of Green Gables!

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Marilla Cuthbert and Matthew Cuthbert, middle-aged siblings who live together at Green Gables, a farm in Avonlea, on Prince Edward Island, decide to adopt a boy from an orphan asylum in Nova Scotia as a helper on their farm. Through a series of mishaps, the person who ends up under their roof is a precocious girl of eleven named Anne Shirley. Anne is bright and quick, eager to please but dissatisfied with her name, her pale countenance dotted with freckles, and with her long braids of red hair. Being a child of imagination, however, Anne takes much joy in life, and adapts quickly, thriving in the environment of Prince Edward Island.

4. A book you’d like to re-read.

I read A Darker Shade of Magic back in 2017 and I absolutely loved it. I planned on reading the second book right after but that never happened. Now, I have the second and thrid book in the trilogy and I really hope to read both this year! I want to reread A Darker Shade of Magic to refresh my memory as it is coming up two years since I have read it.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Kell is one of the last Travelers-magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes, connected by one magical city.

There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, and with one mad King-George III. Red London, where life and magic are revered-and where Kell was raised alongside Rhys Maresh, the rougish heir to a flourishing empire. White London-a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London. But no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, ambassador of the Maresh empire, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.

5. A book you’ve had for ages and want to read.

The Nightingale is a book that has rave reviews since it came out and seems to be everyone's favourite book after they finish reading it. I have has this book on my shelf for over two years and I really want to get to it this year.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

In love we find out who we want to be. In war we find out who we are.

France, 1939

In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.

Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can...completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences.

6. An author you’ve previously read and want to read more of.

I read Helen Hoang's debut novel The Kiss Quotient and I fell in love with it. When I heard she was turning this into a series I was so ecstatic! I cannot wait until this book comes out because I am already hearing amazing things about it which I am not suprised about since her first one is amazing!

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.

7. A series you want to read from start to finish.

In 2017 I read Laini Taylor's most popular novels, the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. I really enjoyed them and after I finished them I planned on reading the Strange the Dreamer duology. I did not get to them in 2018 but I hope 2019 is the year I start and finish this series. I have heard nothing but AMAZING things about this series and everyone seems to give it a 5-stars so I am really looking forward to reading them both!

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around--and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old, he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the form of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? And who is the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams?

In this sweeping and breathtaking novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.

The answers await in Weep.

8. A series you want to finish that you’ve already started.

I have been reading the Harry Potter series since fall of 2017. I reread the first three books in the summer of 2018 and wrote detailed notes so I would not forget the events that took place within each book. I really, really, really need to get to the last four books in the series this year. It is going to be difficult during the school year because I like to write notes and the books get longer as the series go on but I will try my best! I'm really looking forward to completing this series as it has been on my bucket list for a while now.

9. What book did you not get to this year but want to make a priority in 2019?

I keep planning to read this book every year but I keep putting it off because as much as I love reading historical fiction, particularly WWII novels, they are really difficult books to get through. I really want to read this book this year as I have wanted to read it for the past three years.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously--and at great risk--documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives.

10. One word that you're hoping 2019 will be:

I hope you enjoyed today's post and it gave you some recommendations of books to read in the new year! Have a wonderful day and a fabulous week. I'll see you next week Friday with my Most Anticipated Releases of 2019!

Goodbye 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 20:00:00 +0000

This year has been a whirlwind! Moving on and gaining new experiences, finding new hobbies, spending time with friends and family, and making healthier choices. I hope you have had a wonderful 2018 and achieved some, if not all, your goals! Unfortunately, I did not follow through with one of mine: this blog. I have felt really bad about neglecting the blog this year and I want to change that in 2019. I am aiming to write one blog post a month and hopefully more in the summer when I have break. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the posts I was able to get up this year and look forward to my future posts. If you would like to see my 2018 year in review, then keep reading!

1) Goodreads Challenge:

I set my reading goal to 24 books in 2018 with the mindset that I would read two books a month and complete my goal. Well, the workload this year from school made it very difficult to complete this goal. If not for my Graphic Novels & Comics course I took in my first year of college, I would most likely not have completed my goal. I am happy to say I read 31 books this year and have expanded my reading into different genres like adult contemporary fiction and graphic novels and comics. If you would like to see my year in books click here. Did you set a reading goal this year? Did you complete it? Let me know in the comments section below.

2) Graduated Grade 12 and Completed First Semester of College:

This year has been a very special and memorable one academically. I graduated Grade 12 in June 2018 and started my college journey in September 2018. I have put in a lot of hard work this year to succeed and achieve everything I have wanted to and I feel so accomplished. I have grown and learned a lot this year, especially in the last four months. I am looking forward to achieving my 2019 academic goals and getting ready for my future career!

Books:

My reading this year drastically changed with the higher volume of work in both Grade 12 and college. I struggled to make reading a priority this year and as a result I read less than I had in 2017. With my struggle to read as much this year and rereading 5 books, I did not have as much favourites this year. However, out of the 31 books I read this year I absolutely loved these four. These books really stood out this year and I highly recommend you read them in 2019 if you haven't read them already. You can click on the book name to find out what the book is about and read my review by clicking on the links.

1) The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (review)

2) The Astonishing Colour of After by Emily X. R. Pan (review)

3) Beartown by Fredrick Backman (review)

4) The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (review)

Music:

I never have a bad music year and this year isn't any different. This year I have discovered new artists and rediscovered some old favourites. All the music I mention below are ones I still listen to everyday and have definitely been added to my all-time favourite albums. Click on the links to listen to my favourite songs from each album below!

1) Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves (Fave Songs: Slow Burn, Butterflies, Golden Hour, Space Cowboy, Love Is A Wild Thing, Oh, What A World, Lonely Weekend, Velvet Elvis, Wonder Woman)

2) Origins by Imagine Dragons (Fave Songs: Cool Out, Only, Bullet In A Gun)

3) On The Corner Where You Live by The Paper Kites (Fave Songs: Give Me Your Fire, Give Me Your Rain, Deep Burn Blue, Mess We Made, Don't Keep Driving, When It Hurts You)

4) Dan + Shay Self-Titled Album (Fave Songs: Alone Together, Tequila, What Keeps You Up At Night, All To Myself, Speechless, My Side of the Fence, Island Time)

5) A Star is Born Soundtrack (Fave Songs: Heal Me, Always Remember Us This Way, I'll Never Love Again, Is That Alright?, Hair Body Face)

TV Shows:

Of all the TV shows I've watched this year, these three are my absolute favourites. Outlander premiered its fourth season this November and so far it has been incredible. The plot continues to thicken and seeing Jamie and Claire together makes my heart warm. There are only four episodes left and I don't know what I'm going to do with myself after it's done. Another Droughtlander is fast approaching!
All American and Manifest are two new series that debuted in 2018 and my family and I are obsessed. With All American, I did not think I would be so intrigued in a show that focuses heavily on sports but this show is so addicting! If you aren't watching it, you MUST! The show returns January 16th, 2019 so now is your time to catch up on the first eight episodes. Manifest is also such an intriguing show because it has mystery and suspense and every episode leaves you with more questions. I cannot wait until it returns on January 7th, 2019.

Movies:

This was the year for Crazy Rich Asians and To All the Boys I've Loved Before. I absolutely loved both movies but Crazy Rich Asians truly takes the cake. It was extravagant, funny, and incredibly romantic. I cannot wait until China Rich Girlfriend comes out hopefully in 2019! To All The Boys became famous worldwide this year and I am so happy it did. I fell in love with Jenny Han's books in 2015 and when I heard it was becoming a movie I couldn't handle my excitement. Now, the sequel P.S. I Still Love You is becoming a movie! I loved rereading the books this year and I'm looking forward to watching the sequel!

I hope you enjoyed this last 2018 related post and look forward to some new posts coming very, very soon (a tag and a most anticipated reads of 2019)! I hope you all had a wonderful year and have a wonderful 2019. May you ahcieve your goals, have amazing experiences, and learn and grow as people in 2019. I will see you soon with a new post! Have a wonderful day and rest of the week!

Blueberries, Maple, and Pumpkin!

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 11:00:00 +0000

Happy Sunday, everyone! I recently made these absolutely amazing pumpkin pancakes, topped with maple butter and wild blueberry maple syrup. My mom found the pumpkin pancake mix and blueberry syrup at Winners and my aunt bought the maple butter when we took a trip to Niagara Falls this past summer.

Let me tell you, these pumpkin pancakes are incredible. The pancakes tastes just like pumpkin scones from Starbucks. The wild blueberry maple syrup adds a fruity sweetness and the maple butter makes each bite rich and decadent. It's the perfect autumnal treat and the best breakfast dessert!

As a bonus, if you want your house to have the permanent smell of this delicious treat, definitely pick up the Blueberry Maple Pancake candle from Bath and Body Works. It's also incredible and smells good enough to eat!

I hope you enjoyed today's little post. I wanted to keep it short and sweet and I just had to rave about these pancakes! I hope you get to try these pancakes for yourself. Have a wonderful day and week ahead!

love xena

Things That Have Made Me Happy Recently

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 11:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Long time, no see. I said in my last post that I wanted to post more frequently on my blog and that post was over a month ago! I failed to do what I said I was going to do! I'm so sorry. I need to start making more realistic goals, especially now that I am in college 😂! College is actually the main reason you haven't heard from me in over a month. I promise to post whenever I can and I hope you don't mind the sporadic posts. Today, I just wanted to talk about what has been making me so happy recently. With all the busyness of school, I am in definite need of some mood-boosters. Anyways, let's get into the post!

#1

As you may have read in this post, the movie adaptation for To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han came out on August 17th. I had been feeling the inclination to reread the first book before watching the movie to refresh my memory. However, I forgot how addictive this series is. After reading To All The Boys I've Loved Before, I immediately read P.S. I Still Love You followed by Always and Forever, Lara Jean.

Rereading this series was the best and worst thing I could have done to myself. It's the best because I loved it even more than I did reading it the first time--if that's even possible! It's also the worst because during and after reading Always and Forever, Lara Jean, I was sobbing everyday, multiple times a day (I'm not exaggerating). It literally left me an emotional wreck. I couldn't believe that after three years of reading the first book I was still so emotionally invested in these characters! Lara Jean and Peter's relationship is honestly the most beautiful love story I have ever read. Something about these two characters together resonates with me so much. By the third book...Peter, aka my dream guy, deserves all the applause 👏👏👏 Cue "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green and "If You Were Here" by the Thompson Twins (did you get the reference? btw I cried so hard during this part of the book 😭).

I'm so looking forward to rereading this series again in the future. If you have not read this book, please do. It's sweet, relatable, and emotional--in the best way.

Now, onto the movie. I have watched this movie three times now (just watched it for the third time a few days ago). As expected it didn't reach my high expectations because it would be nearly impossible to tell Lara Jean's story as well as Jenny Han, herself. However, that doesn't mean it was bad. It was super cute, totally rewatchable, and a definite mood-booster if you're in the need of one. I enjoyed it enough to want a sequel and if we were ever get an adaptation of the third novel...oh my poor heart...get the tissues ready. I would most likely die from crying. It seems that a sequel is very possibly as this movie blew up when it came out and the response has been incredible. So, fingers crossed!

#2

After rereading the To All The Boys trilogy--which has a ton of Harry Potter references--I had the urge to continue reading the Harry Potter series. I've only read the first three and that was a year ago. I tried reading the fourth book, Goblet of Fire, but I realized that my memory was a bit foggy on the events that took place in books 1-3. So, I reread the first three books! It filled me with joy every time I read about the adventures Harry, Ron, and Hermione embark upon. Also, it lets me escape the world for a little while. I'm 160 pages in Goblet of Fire now, but I have actually paused my reading as I borrowed some books from the library that I need to read soon. Hopefully, I will soon pick up where I left off and finish this series before the end of the year!

#3

As soon as I saw the first official trailer for this movie, I knew I had to see it on the big screen. As a romance fan, I have to say there has been a major lack of movies in the romantic comedy genre over the past few years. It really breaks my heart because they are my favourite movies to watch. Fortunately, though, Crazy Rich Asians might just be the revival of the genre that romance fans have been waiting for!

For those who were not aware of this book-to-movie adaptation, it is about Rachel Chu (right) who has been dating her boyfriend, Nick (left), for a while and he invites her to his best friend's wedding in Singapore. She soon learns that Nick is Nick Young, extremely wealthy and one of the country's most eligible bachelors. Rachel soon finds herself in the spotlight and has to deal with jealous socialites, his relatives, and his disapproving mother.
To put it simply, this movie is fantastic. It was funny, charming, endearing, and heart-breaking all at the same time. I cannot wait to watch it again and again and again. Dare I say it's become a new favourite! 😍 And I hear they are filming the second book, China Rich Girlfriend, so I am beyond excited!!

#4

As you have probably seen me mention in a few of my posts, The Paper Kites, one of my all-time favourite bands, has been releasing new music from their newest album, On The Corner Where You Live. Well, I am happy to announce that the wait is finally over--the album is here! AND. I. LOVE. THE. ENTIRE. ALBUM. Every song is so beautiful and the INSTRUMENTS, don't even get me started on the instruments.
Even though I love the entire album, I do have some favourite songs I rewind every time I hear them. Those songs are: Mess We Made, Don't Keep Driving, When It Hurts You, Give Me Your Fire Give Me Your Rain, and Red Light. Please check them out! They are absolutely incredible and their music is so soothing and I believe can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of which genres are your favourite.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read today's post. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and week ahead! I'll see you soon with another post!

love xena

July Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 11:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Today's post is a short one because I haven't done much this month. July has been a month of relaxation after a long and busy school year. It's been really nice to have my own agenda and wake up whenever I want. With that said, I hope to post more frequently because I have lots of new content that I want to share with you. Anyways, let's get into my July favourites.

Music:

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been anxiously awaiting Dan and Shay's self-titled album. The songs I mentioned in that post are still songs I love listening to but when the album dropped and I heard the other songs.... I fell even more in love. My top three favourites from their album are What Keeps You Up At Night, My Side of the Fence, and Island Time.

The Paper Kites is a group I talked about in a previous blog post and since then have released new music. They released On The Train Ride Home in April and more recently released the first single Deep Burn Blue off their second album, On The Corner Where You Live. I love every single song I've heard so far. They explore a new sound in these albums than their last, twelvefour. Twelvefour is more indie rock while On The Train Ride Home and On The Corner Where You Live is definitely more mellow indie folk. I can't wait until the rest of On The Corner Where You Live is released in September.

TV Show:

Dawson's Creek is a show I started four years ago and this summer I've finally gotten around to rewatching it. I'm currently on season 5 and I love this show so much. I love teen drama series and this one is so great. The friendships, families, and relationships are so touching. I'm excited to see how the story contiunes in season 5 and how it comes to a close in season 6.

Food:

I've been making what I call the Deluxe Egg Brioche most mornings. It consists of two brioche bread slices, spreadable Laughing Cow cheese, half a mashed avocado, and a fried egg on top seasoned with salt and pepper. It fills me up for hours and is wonderfully delicious and nutritious. It's done in under 15 minutes and is a really great way to start the morning.

My mom was dying to go to the Lindt store and the day we went they were having a promotion. We decided to try one of their new flavours, Blueberries and Cream. This. Is. My. New. Favourite. Flavour. It's creamy and melts in your mouth. The white chocolate and gourmand blueberry flavour is mouth-watering. If you haven't tried this, YOU MUST!

Candles:

I've been burning these two candles all summer because they are my go-to scents for summer. If you haven't read my 6 Things I'm Looking Forward To This August, I mentioned that I'm going to start making candle reviews on my blog. I'm very excited to share new content on the blog since candles are one of my favourite things.

Watermelon Lemonade is perfect for hot summer days and smells fruity and refreshing. The notes for this candle are Watermelon Ice, Sparkling Water, and Meyer Lemon. Summer Boardwalk is the perfect summer to autumn transition candle. It has the warm caramel smell of fall and the salty popcorn smell of summer. I burn this the most in August and September before whipping out the fall candles. The notes for this candle are Caramel-Glazed Popcorn, Warm Taffy-Apples, and Salty Sweet Cream. Summer is almost over but definitely pick up Summer Boardwalk for August/September.

New 'Do!

Yes, you are seeing right! I cut my hair a month ago and got rid of most of my heat damaged straight ends. For a year now I've been working towards this haircut by not using heat and using natural products. I'm so happy with my new curly hair. I've never felt so confident and happy with myself. I'm so happy I finally embraced the hair that God gave me. It's been the best decision I've made. If you are thinking about going natural, I would definitely say to take the plunge. It's such a fun journey figuring out what works for your hair. In this picture I used Lush R&B Hair Moisturizer, Camille Rose Curl Love Moisture Milk, Lush Hair Custard, and Jojoba oil. My hair feels soft and smells amazing for days. I'll definitely do a blog post talking about great hair products if you would like!

I hope you enjoyed today's post. I will see you soon with new content. Have a great day and rest of the week!

love xena

6 Things I'm Looking Forward To This August

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 11:00:00 +0000

#1: To All The Boys I've Loved Before Movie

One of my favourite books, To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han, has been made into a movie that is coming out on Netflix on August 10th! This book/movie is about sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song who keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They are love letters that she she has written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

It's such a cutesy novel and the romance is so fluffy. You need to read this series if you love romance. Recently the movie trailer came out on Netflix and I couldn't be more excited for August 10th. If you have Netflix, definitely watch it when it comes out!

#2: Fall Candles

There is no doubt that fall time at Bath and Body Works is the best time of the year. The best candles come out right at the end of July and early August. Out of the many candles they have created, I chose these eight, some of which are old favourites and some of which are new and I'm excited to smell very soon. I actually wanted to start doing candle reviews on my blog. So, when I acquire the rest of the candles that I like, I will do a review on each of them.

These are the notes of each candle:

Leaves: Crisp Red Apple, Golden Nectar, Warm Clove Spice

Marshmallow Fireside: Toasted Marshmallow, Smoldering Woods, Fire Roasted Vanilla, Crystallized Amber

Hot Cocoa and Cream: Decadent Milk Chocolate, Fresh Steamed Milk, Mini Marshmallows

Blueberry Maple Pancakes: Wild Blueberries, Griddle Fresh Pancakes, Warm Maple Syrup

Campfire Pumpkin: Fall Pumpkin, Nutmeg, Vanilla Bean, Smoky Cinnamon

Pumpkin Peanut Brittle: Crunchy Caramel Brittle, Salty Peanuts, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin Patch: Bright Orange Pumpkin, Autumn Spice Blend, Rich Molasses

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin: Warm Cinnamon, Fresh Ground Clove, Vanilla Cream, Brown Sugar

#3: August TBR

Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Borrow from the Toronto Public Library

Talking to other people isn’t Kate Bailey’s favorite activity. She’d much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school’s podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host. Now she’ll have to answer calls and give advice on the air? Impossible.

But to Kate’s surprise, she turns out to be pretty good at the hosting gig. Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is gorgeous Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend … until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego. Suddenly, Kate finds that while doling out wisdom to others may be easy, asking for help is tougher than it looks, and following your own advice is even harder.

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Borrow from the Toronto Public Library

Quinn and Graham’s perfect love is threatened by their imperfect marriage. The memories, mistakes, and secrets that they have built up over the years are now tearing them apart. The one thing that could save them might also be the very thing that pushes their marriage beyond the point of repair.

All Your Perfects is a profound novel about a damaged couple whose potential future hinges on promises made in the past. This is a heartbreaking page-turner that asks: Can a resounding love with a perfect beginning survive a lifetime between two imperfect people?

#4: Chesapeake Shores

Chesapeake shores season 3 if fast approaching--August 5th to be exact! The show is about a very successful woman, Abby O'Brien who divorces her husband and takes a trip back home to Chesapeake Shores, taking her two daughters with her. She is confronted with all the people from her past--including her high school sweetheart. She begins to realize that her high-pressure job is taking away a lot of valuable time she could be spending with family and considers moving back home. This decision helps restart relationships and gives Abby the break she's been needing.

Once again, the trailer for season 3 came out recently and I can't wait to see what happens in the upcoming episodes!

#5: Hotel Transylvania 3

I've watched the first and second Hotel Transylvania movies with my mom and when I heard the third one was coming out I was so excited! The film series is about Count Dracula, the owner of a hotel called Hotel Transylvania where the world's monsters can take a rest from human civilization. Dracula invites some of the most famous monsters to celebrate the 118th birthday of his daughter Mavis. When the "human-free hotel" is unexpectedly visited by an ordinary 21-year-old traveler named Jonathan, Dracula must protect Mavis from falling in love with him before the hotel's guests learn that there is a human in the castle, which may jeopardize the hotel's future and his career. Each sequel follows the story of this hilarious family and their monster hotel.
These movies are so adorable, funny, and great for the family. Hotel Transylvania 3 already came out but here is the trailer if you haven't seen it. I can't wait to watch this movie!

#6: Day Trip to Niagara Falls and Cookie Dough Fudge

Every year for my mom's birthday we go to Niagara Falls, her favourite place. I can't wait to relax with my family for the day and eat cookie dough fudge from Hershey's. It's deliciously sweet and so hard to savour because it tastes incredible!

I hope you enjoyed today's post and have a wonderful weekend! I'll see you soon with a new post. Goodbye!

love xena

Spring Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I know I haven't been very active on my blog recently (more like the past few months). School is so crazy this year. It's just assignment after assignment, test after test, and now ISU after ISU and exam prep. To say I'm exhausted and stressed is an understatement. However, blogging takes away that stress for a while and I really missed it so I decided to carve out the time to put up a post. Since I have missed March and April Favourites and it's now the last month of spring, I am doing a Spring Favourites to talk about all the things I loved between March and May. I hope you enjoy! I will post again probably early July when school is officially over!

Music:

Dan + Shay are my favourite country duo and they recently released their new singles Speechless, All To Myself, and Alone Together. I am so obsessed with all of them! I can't wait for their album coming out next month.😄😄😄

Bloom by Troye Sivan is a catchy, fun song that's perfect for spring and summer. I absolutely love Troye's music. If you haven't listened to him before, you have to check him out. You will not be disappointed.

I recently watched Forever My Girl which I talk about below in the movies section. When I heard the song, Enough in the trailer last year I fell in love. I couldn't wait to hear the full version. It's such a lovely country song sung by someone who doesn't even identify as a singer! Alex Roe has a voice like honey and I would love it if he released more songs.

Wafia has been a rediscovery for me this month. I've been loving Love Somebody with Ta-ku, Heartburn, and 83 days. Spotify recommended her songs to me and I'm so glad I stopped to listen. This is the type of music I love so much. I've heard of Wafia before when I listened to her cover of Let Me Love You and I was obsessed with her voice then just as I am now. Love her songs so much!

I have been hearing Mine by Bazzi played repeatedly on every single radio station. I was annoyed every single time I heard it. However, one day I stopped to listen and I actually liked it! He has a really nice voice and I absolutely love the chorus. I 've been playing it so much and humming it around the house. It's so catchy!

Another catchy song! One Kiss by Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris is a bop for the summer. If you have read previous blog posts of mine you would know I love Dua Lipa and this song is no exception. I have nothing bad to say about it!

Alina Baraz is an old favourite of mine. I noticed that she had released a new album while browsing the new music on iTunes. I am so glad I gave it a listen because I love her new album. It also made me become re-obsessed with Urban Flora, her album with Galimatias. My favourite songs from Urban Flora are all of them LOL! My favourite songs from The Colour of You are: Coming to My Senses, The One feat. Jada, Yours, and Electric feat. Khalid.

I had been listening to an R&B playlist on Spotify when I came across ELIZA. I had heard of Eliza Doolittle before but it seems she dropped the last name and is reinventing her sound and I love it. When I heard Livid I instantly loved it so I decided to check out Wide Eyed Fool and just...wow. I am definitely going to keep an eye out for her album because these two songs are incredible.

TV Shows:

The show is about a very successful woman, Abby O'Brien who divorces her husband and takes a trip back home to Chesapekae Shores, taking her two daughters with her. She is confronted with all the people from her past--including her high school sweetheart. She begins to realize that her high-pressure job is taking away a lot of valuable time she could be spending with family and considers moving back home. This decision helps restarts relationships and give Abby the break she's been needing.

When I was in Jamaica back in March I had American Netflix. Chesapeake Shores used to be on Canadian Netflix but they got rid of it before I could watch it. I finally got the chance to watch it and I loved both Seasons 1 and 2! I can't believe I finished it because I didn't think I was going to between doing homework and travelling. It is such a wonderful show and I can't wait for season 3 which they are filming right now in Vancouver!

Movies:

Liam Page, a country superstar, returns to his hometown of Louisiana after eight years. Liam left his high school sweetheart, Josie, at the altar for fame and fortune in the music industry. He tries to reconnect with those he left behind like his father and Josie. He begins to realize what he missed while he was gone and the price he paid for notoriety. However, a surprise is waiting back home that could change his life forever. This is a story about love, family, and second chances.

Forever My Girl has landed on my favourite movie list! This movie made me feel like I was on cloud 9. It's so cute and funny and the drama!! It was so excellent. And yes, the plot is not super original but it's a cliche I love and these actors portrayed these characters and told this story so beautifully. The country music aspect also sold me. If you are in the mood for a heart-warming romance, then Forever My Girl is the one for you.

Elle and Lee have been best friends since birth. Lee's older brother, Noah has constantly picked on Lee his whole life. Elle is the only person Lee has to himself since his brother always gets everything he wants. To avoid Elle being taken away from him, Lee and Elle make a set of rules that both besties must follow. The most important one is that Noah is off limits. However, Elle and Noah begin to like each other and they are not sure if they can keep Lee out of the dark much longer.

The Kissing Booth is soooooo cute! It's obviously another cliche: falling in love with the best friend's brother. But I still loved it! I already watched it twice and I'm contemplating a third time after I finish my exams LOL! There was TONS of drama, bouts of laughter, and cuteness overload!! I can't recommend this enough if you are in the mood for an awesome teen flick.

Beauty:

I went shopping with my parents a few weeks ago and we decided to go to the NYX store because it's my favourite besides Indigo. We were in there for so long looking and trying on their new collection. I just couldn't leave empty handed. I got NYX Shimmer Down Lip Veil in Sweet Mama (left) and the Duo Chromatic Lipstick in Bless (right). I am absolutely obsessed with holographic things and glitter so when I saw these my brain went into overdrive. They are GORGEOUS!!! I wear both to school everyday (lipstick first and then the lip veil on top). I think I need to go back to buy more colours from this collection! 😍😍😍

My mom recently bought this beautiful nail polish by Sinful Colours called Let Me Go. I kept this polish on for weeks even though I should have taken it off after a week but it was just so pretty! Right now my nails are coated with Essie's Viva Antigua but as soon as this week is up I am painting my nails with Sinful Colours. It is a gorgeous iridescent purple-y blue and makes your nails look holographic. Sensing a trend LOL! You have to buy this nail polish. It is truly the kind that looks good against any skin tone.

My bought Bath and Body Works' new fragrance Chamomile & Honey and we are both obsessed. The notes are steam-distilled natural chamomile oil, fresh bergamot, sweet honeysuckle & white cedarwood. It is the perfect spring smell. It's like you just took a visit to a local flower garden. I'm in love. I also wear Black Raspberry Vanilla on alternating days which is an oldie but a goodie. The notes are Vine-Ripened Blackberries, Vanilla Orchid, and Creamy Sandalwood. This one is a nice juicy and sweet and perfect for warm sunny days!

Thank you so much for reading today's blog post! Sorry for the inactivity. I'm hoping to rectify that soon since summer is fast approaching. I'll see you in late June/early July!

love xena

February Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed the month of February. It was super busy for me with 3 tests, and essay, and homework to do. However, amongst all the busyness of the month I did enjoy a lot of things I would love to share with you. If you want to find out what they are, just keep reading!

Music:

I came across Sabrina Claudio's music on Spotify because it was recommended to me. I have been listening to a lot of R&B this month and it is just the perfect music for relaxing and doing homework. I am seriously obsessed with her music. She has such a unique style and if you love Sade you will love Sabrina's sound. I have been listening to her albums Confidently Lost and About Time nonstop. My favourite songs from Confidently Lost are: Runnin' Thru Lovers, Tell Me, and I Don't. My favourite songs from About Time are: Belong To You (feat. 6lack) [Remix], Unravel Me, Wanna Know, Frozen, Wait, and Stand Still.

Ignite by RKCB was recommended to me on Spotify and I was immediately addicted to it. Like I said earlier I have been finding a lot of good R&B music and this song makes me want to find even more songs similar to this one.

The Launch is a new show on CTV where unsigned emerging music artists are mentored by a panel consisting of singers and producers to launch an original song. My favourite launched single and I think everyone's favourite is Ain't Easy by Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine. I have not heard a voice that sounds like Jamie's; it is so unique. I love their friendship and this song will definitely launch their career because it is so catchy and just plain incredible. Also, the live performance was great. It's always telling when an artist can sing well live and not just in the studio.

Four years ago I was obsessed with The Paper Kites EP, Woodland. I listened to it on repeat and since then I haven't listened to any of their new music. Well, after I finished The Hating Game by Sally Thorne--which is one of my all-time favourite books I read last month--I checked out her Spotify to find a playlist inspired by her book. I started listening to her Writing playlist to see what she listens to when she writes and 99% of it consists of The Paper Kites album, twelvefour. I am obsessed with this album. I listen to it when I study, read, write, or just want to relax. I absolutely recommend listen this album if you love indie folk and folk rock music. My favourite songs off the album are: Bleed Confusion, Electric Indigo, Revelator Eyes and Holes (this is an outtake from the album but I love it so much).

I heard The Night We Met by Lord Huron back when I watched Thirteen Reasons Why and it played during the school dance scenes in the show. I loved Ends of the Earth by Lord Huron in the past so when I heard this one I instantly fell in love. I love how soothing this song is and the beautiful lyrics. I love finding and listening to indie music so I will definitely check out more of Lord Huron's songs.

I really enjoyed songs from First Aid Kit's previous albums Stay Gold and The Lion's Roar and their new album, Ruins, released last month. I love this style of their music. I'm a fan of the indie folk genre and I love how the sisters' voices blend together and make each song sound so unique. They are a great duo and I hope they will get even more recognition. My favourite songs off their new ablum are Fireworks and Distant Star.

Books:

Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern has been my read for the month. Love, Rosie (the adaptation of this book) is one of my all-time favourite movies and out of the blue I just decided I wanted to read the book. This book takes place over the course of almost 50 years and I really feel like I’ve experienced so much with these characters. It was a wonderful novel that really reminds you to take advantage of each and every day and to follow your dreams despite all the obstacles in your way. I enjoyed reading it so much. Now having read it, I realize they did change some things in the movie but it's still my favourite. I recommend reading the book and watching the movie. The writing is so funny and the format of the book is so interesting as it is told through letters, instant messages, and emails. The actors in the movie portray the characters so well and it's such a joy reading a great book and it having a great adaptation because that is very rare.

TV Shows:

I haven been watching Grown-ish this month and it is seriously so funny. I didn't really watch Black-ish before watching this show but I kind of want to now! It follows Zoey who is navigating her way through college, friendships, relationships, and adulthood. I recommend watching this if you want to have a laugh.

My mom and I have been enjoying our weekends by watching the new season of Home Town. Season 2 has been on the air since January and I love it even more than the first season. Ben and Erin put so much love and hard work into the houses and really make them feel like a home. They announced that they have been renewed for a third season and I'm already so excited! I'm so happy for them and maybe Helen (their new baby girl) will appear in season 3. You need to watch this show if you love home renovations!

I binge watched The Fosters Season 5b over the long weekend and I'm just so sad this show is coming to a close. I have loved this show since I was 13 and and now I'm 17 and it is like I grew up with this show. It tackles so many different themes like family, friends, relationships, LGBTQ, and foster care to name a few. I highly recommend this to you if you haven't watched it. It is truly one of the best TV shows ever made.

Beauty:

My Aunt Gi bought this CND Vinylux Weekly Top Coat and I am obsessed. It makes my nails shine, keeps them well protected in the cold weather, prevents breakage and helps maintain my nail length. I love it so much and last week I paired it with Essie's Hi Maintenance. It made my nails look so clean and well-kept and I love long healthy nails. Definitely try out this out!

Food:

My mom couldn't find the usual chips she buys me from Costco so instead she bought Kirkland Sweet Potato Chips. I have had sweet potato chips in the Terra assorted exotic vegetable snack and from the brand Food That Should Taste Good but never from Kirkland. I love how salty and crunchy it is. I think it taste the most authentic out of all the sweet potato chips.

I hope you all enjoyed today's post! Have a wonderful day and rest of your week. I'll see you soon with a new post.

love xena

January Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful first month of the year. If you made any New Year's resolutions I hope you stuck with them. If not, don't worry you have the rest of the year! Anyways, it's that time of the month to show you my favourite things. If you want to know, then keep reading!

Music:

Kelsea Ballerini's most recent album, Unapologetically, has been my most played album this month. I love how she blends pop and country into her music. I am obsessed with this album! Also, the cover art...she looks gorgeous! My favourite songs are: Music, I Hate Love Songs, Get Over Yourself, Miss Me More, Graveyard, High School, Unapologetically, and Roses.

I've known about Jasmine Thompson's music for years now because of the covers she does. I was on Spotify radio one day and her most recent EP, Wonderland, started playing. Needless to say, I love it! My favourite songs are Wonderland, Drama, and Wanna Know Love.

I came across Harder by Oliver Riot when I was listening to a Spotify radio. It's very soothing and I don't usually listen to a lot of R&B/Soul music though I do enjoy it. I'm definitely going to check out more of their songs!

One of my favourite artists, Dan + Shay, released a new single this month and I could not love it more. It's called Tequila and it is everything I love about country. Shay has such a beautiful and soothing voice. Whenever I hear it I'm transported to when I saw them in concert (one of the best nights ever!). I hope this new single means an album is coming out sometime this year...*fingers crossed* Listen to this song! You will instantly fall in love.

Take Your Time by Sam Hunt has been my most played song this month, seriously. I am addicted. This is not a new song and I've heard it before but when I listened to it recently I just fell in love. He has such a unique sound; he kind of talks and sings in his songs and it's like country mixed with R&B. I really love it as you can tell.

Books:

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

Read: January 9, 2018- January 12, 2018

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar—where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester—Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.

It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.

My Review:

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren was such a fabulous novel. It deals with friendship, family, LGBTQ relationships, LDS religion, and writing books! I was beyond impressed with this story. If you want to hear more of my thoughts, I wrote a review on my other blog which you can view here.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Read: January 17, 2018- January 22, 2018
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 (4.5 stars)
Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:
Nemesis (n.)
1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome;
2) A person’s undoing;
3) Joshua Templeman.

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.

Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

My Review:
This book totally blew me away. As you know, I am a fan of romance and this had been recommended so many times for romance lovers. It's the perfect book if you also love this genre, witty banter, and hate-to-love relationships. I can't recommend this enough. If you want to read my full review click here to here me rave about this book.

TV Shows:

For the past two months I've been rewatching Friends on Netflix. I would watch it a lot when I was younger but never in order. So, one day I felt like having a laugh so I turned it on. Watching this show is like taking a happy pill. I die laughing in almost every episode. This show makes you totally forget about a bad day. As they say, laughter is the best medicine and I totally agree!

Beauty:

NYX Tame & Frame Tinted Eyebrow Pomade and Pro Angled Brush have been my favourite beauty products this month. It's so easy filling in my eyebrows now! It used to take me so long because I was using powder. With this, I have a light hand and get the shape I want within seconds. I have the shade Brunette which is an ash brown colour and looks very natural. I recommend buying this instead of the higher-end eyebrow pomades that do the same thing.

Food:

I love the regular Annie's White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese so I asked my mom to buy it for me. She accidentally bought me the gluten free version and I actually think I like it more than the original! I would actually recommend buying this version since it is probably better for you since it is gluten free.

I hope you enjoyed today's post. I'll see you soon with a new post. Have a wonderful day and wonderful weekend!

love xena

Most Anticipated 2018 Releases

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 12:00:00 +0000

It's that time of year again! It is 2018 and there are a ton of new releases popping up throughout the year. You all know I love books and I get so excited over them. I will be sharing all of the books that are being released in 2018 that I just can't wait to read. I did my Most Anticipated Books last year so you can check that out here if you are interested for more book recommendations. Without further ado, let's get on with the books!

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: December 4, 2018

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

(spoilers if you have not yet read the other books in the The Dark Artifices series)

What if damnation is the price of true love?

Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the blight that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love.

************

I am a huge Cassie Clare fan and I love the Shadowhunter Chronicles. She gets better with each book and The Dark Artifices is no exception. This series is so well developed and well written. Each of the books in this series is 720 pages but I finish them so fast as a result of her addictive writing. It's bittersweet that this series is coming to a close at the end of the year. After the tragic and shocking ending of Lord of Shadows I can't wait to see where Cassie leads the characters in this final installment.

Save the Date by Morgan Matson

Release Date: June 5, 2018

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster—all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.

The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.

There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.

There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.

Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractingly…cute.

Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future.

************

I love Morgan Matson books so much. They always put me in the best mood. Morgan is one of the best YA contemporary authors out there. I am so looking forward to this book because...Hello! Weddings!! I love weddings even though I've never been to one. I adored her last book, The Unexpected Everything, and the main male character is my favourite out of all her books. I have high hopes for this one. I also love how long she's making her books now (this books is 480 pages). Don't get me wrong I love short books. However, I find that when contemporary books (which tend to be on the shorter side) are longer they are more developed and also I get to be with the characters for a longer time! Can't wait for this! I hope it's worth the 2-year wait.

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Release Date: April 24, 2018

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Leah Burke—girl-band drummer, master of deadpan, and Simon Spier’s best friend from the award-winning Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda—takes center stage in this novel of first love and senior-year angst.

When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.

So Leah really doesn’t know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It’s hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting—especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.

************

I absolutely loved Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda which is also coming out in theatres next year!!! I am beyond excited. The trailer was released in December and I am just in waiting now for this to come out. I loved Leah's character in Simon so I am really looking forward to reading her story in 2018. Also, I love Becky's simplistic yet addictive writing. She talks about current things going on and doesn't shy away from being real and I love that about her. Super excited! ALSO, that cover!! That is the definiton of heart eyes 😍😍😍.

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Release Date: April 3, 2018

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

In this romantic dramedy from the author of Alex, Approximately, a teen girl’s way-too-ordinary life is driven off the beaten path when she’s abandoned in the wilderness with her worst adversary—the boy who broke her heart.

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.

And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

************

I fell in love unexpectedly with Jenn's 2017 novel, Alex, Approximately. It quickly became one of my all-time favourite books. That said, I am highly anticipating her new book. The title reminds me of Taylor's song Call It What You Want (starry eyes sparking up my darkest night). I also adore the cover for this one. I love the bold type font and gorgeous contrast with the light from the fire and the darkness of the night. Stunning. Can't wait to have it on my bookshelf and in my hands!

Always Never Yours by Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley

Release Date: May 22, 2018

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Megan Harper is the girl before. All her exes find their one true love right after dating her. It’s not a curse or anything, it’s just the way things are, and Megan refuses to waste time feeling sorry for herself. Instead, she focuses on pursuing her next fling, directing theatre, and fulfilling her dream school’s acting requirement in the smallest role possible.

But her plans quickly crumble when she’s cast as none other than Juliet–yes, that Juliet–in her high school’s production. It’s a nightmare. No–a disaster. Megan’s not an actress and she’s certainly not a Juliet. Then she meets Owen Okita, an aspiring playwright who agrees to help Megan catch the eye of a sexy stagehand in exchange for help writing his new script.

Between rehearsals and contending with her divided family, Megan begins to notice Owen–thoughtful, unconventional, and utterly unlike her exes, and wonders: shouldn’t a girl get to play the lead in her own love story?

************

I was actually pretty surprised that this book made this list. I had never heard of it nor the authors of this book. I stumbled upon it whilst on Goodreads and I clicked on the cover because HELLO! Gorgeous! A round of applause for the books coming out in 2018 because the cover artist's are really stepping up their game. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but it is really the cover that attracts the reader to the book so having a good one doesn't hurt. Anyways, after I clicked on the cover I read the summary and immediately clicked "Want to Read". It sounds cute and fluffy and right up my alley. I hope this one doesn't disappoint!

Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

Release Date: May 29, 2018

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

Talking to other people isn't Kate Bailey's favorite activity. She'd much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school's podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host. Now she'll have to answer calls and give advice on the air? Impossible.

But to Kate's surprise, she turns out to be pretty good at the hosting gig. Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is gorgeous Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend ... until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego. Suddenly, Kate finds that while doling out wisdom to others may be easy, asking for help is tougher than it looks, and following your own advice is even harder.

Kasie West's adorable story of secrets, love, and friendship is sure to win over hearts everywhere.

************

It's no secret I love Kasie West's books. They are always so cute, fluffy, and addictive in the best way. I know this book will make me smile and feel so giddy because that is just what she does. It's a talent! I also love the cover. Oh my gosh it's beautiful. Look at the stunning colour of the water! It's like they turned the saturation all the way up. I am so looking forward to this one. I'll probably finish it in 2 days and go back to dying for another Kasie West book as I always do.

The books I am about to mention do not have covers, one of them without a title and a summary.

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover

Release Date: July 17, 2018

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

Summary:

************

Colleen Hoover is one of my favourite authors of all time. Her last book, Without Merit, fell flat for me though. I did not enjoy it like I usually enjoy her books. However, I'm hoping that was just a one-time thing. This book sounds very interesting and I'm looking forward to reading it especially since her editor said that this is Colleen's “best novel yet"! Now that sounds very promising. I can't wait!

Throne of Glass 7 by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: September 4, 2018

Buy at Indigo and Amazon

This book does not have a summary nor a title yet but I am so excited/so sad to read the final installment of the Throne of Glass series. I have enjoyed this series so much and the previous book, Tower of Dawn, exceeded my expectations. Throne of Glass 7 was originally supposed to be Throne of Glass 6 but she felt so passionate about Tower of Dawn. I totally didn't mind because it just meant more Sarah J. Maas! I can't wait to see how she concludes this incredible series. I also can't wait to read her future works, especially the WIP's she created boards of on her Pinterest.

I hope you enjoyed today's post and have some new books on your radar. I'll see you at the end of the month with my January Favourites! I hope you all have a fabulous Friday and wonderful weekend.

love xena

Goodbye 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 05:00:00 +0000

This year has been quite the year. I have completed grade 11 and am almost halfway done with grade 12! I have been to some pretty amazing places, read some really great books, watched some amazing TV shows and movies, listened to some great new music, and just enjoyed this year in general. I have lots to share with you so if you want to see my year, then keep reading!

1) Goodreads Reading Challenge:
I set my reading goal to 45 books since I read 45 books last year and believed I could do it again. I'm happy to report that I sure did! In fact I read 49 books, exceeding my goal! I am so pleased. I have read some incredible books this year and I'll always be thankful for books for how they take me out of reality and enjoy life a little more. If you want to see my year in reading you can click here. Have you read any books this year? If so, leave them in the comments! Also, if you have a reading goal for next year, let me know! I'm very curious and love converting non-readers into readers.

2) Doing my own hair:
I have been attempting to go natural for 3 years now. I have tried and failed every summer and have gone back to heat styling again and again. This year July I stopped using heat tools on my hair and have started my natural journey. I have serious heat damage but after almost 6 months of no heat my hair has grown and I am beyond happy. I also could never do my own hair. I found it to be such a struggle so my Aunt Gi has been doing my hair since I was young. This year I started learning my own natural hair and with the help of natural hair videos I have been getting better and better. I am so happy with the hair I have and it's definitely thanking me for giving it a long-awaited break. I can't wait to see how it looks next year July as that will be my one year anniversary! I am excited to see how my natural hair will look in the future and just wearing and appreciating the hair God gave me.

Vacation:

This is hands down one of--if not the best--vacation I've ever had. Going to St. Maarten with my Aunt Gi was such a great experience. I went to the beach for the first time in years, explored both the Dutch and French side, ate great food, met a little kitten we named Luke, met some great people, and even went on a speedboat across the ocean to Anguilla. I still think about it to this day and would definitely go back. It was relaxing and fun, exactly what a vacation should be! If you want to learn more about my vacation I made a blog post which you can view here.

Books:

Bring on the books! I have read some really great books this year but these 7 really stand out. I also added a couple to my all-time favourite books. All of these are 5 star books for me and have made me felt so many emotions. I can't recommend these enough. If you want to learn about these books and see my thoughts on them then click the titles below! The ones with an asterisk (*) are a part of a series so if you haven't read the previous books then do not read the summary or my review.

1) Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett (review)
2) I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (review)

3) Always and Forever, Lara Jean* by Jenny Han (review)
4) Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley (review)
5) Lord of Shadows* by Cassandra Clare (I didn't make a review for this one because I was completely and utterly speechless).
6) Tower of Dawn* by Sarah J. Maas (review)
7) Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (review)

Music:

Music changes with the times and not all of it sounds very good. This causes me to miss the previous years and how good music used to be. These albums are an exception and will make you fall back in love with music. I was very surprised by Demi Lovato's, Tell Me You Love Me, and Maren Morris's, Hero, because I only like a few songs off Demi's previous albums and I had never heard of Maren Morris before. I am so happy that these albums exist because they were a part of my soundtrack of 2017. If you want to find out which songs specifically are my favourites from each album, click on the titles below!

1) Tell Me You Love Me by Demi Lovato
2) Melodrama by Lorde
3) Hero by Maren Morris
4) Divide by Ed Sheeran
5) Dua Lipa by Dua Lipa
6) reputation by Taylor Swift

TV Shows:

I started a few TV shows and said goodbye to some TV shows this year. I watched incredible shows this year that I love/enjoyed so much that I had to include them in this post. To watch the trailer, click the titles below!

Shows I started:
1) Jane the Virgin
2) Home Town

Continued series:

1) Outlander season 3 (the other half of my heart 💓)
2) Stranger Things season 2

3) Bachelorette season 13

Finished series 😭:
1) Baby Daddy season 6 (I'm going to miss this show so much)

Movies:

I have watched 21 new movies this year (I rewatched 5 of my favourite movies so technically 26) and these 5 are my favourite. I enjoyed a wonderful classic (Dirty Dancing), two incredible comic franchise movies (Spiderman: Homecoming and Wonder Woman), a spunky teen rom-com (10 Things I Hate About You), and a spiritual movie filled with wanderlust, food, and love (Eat, Pray, Love).

I hope you all had a wonderful year in 2017 and I hope 2018 treats you well. Have a wonderful day, incredible week, and overall amazing new year! Thank you for reading my blog and commenting on my posts. This blog is work but it's super fun and rewarding. See you in 2018!

love xena

December Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas break. I have some time to write some blog posts so that's what I'm doing! I've enjoyed a few things this month that I would love to share with you. If you are interested in finding out what they are, then keep reading!

Movie:

I watched Eat Pray Love this month since I am now on Christmas Break and it's my Aunt Gi's favourite movie. She always talks about it like it's the best thing ever so I decided to give it a try. I think it's now one of my favourite movies! It's so beautiful, simple, and uplifting. I loved that through Elizabeth's travels she was able to discover herself and enjoy life to the fullest. It was so nice seeing the culture of Italy, India, and Indonesia. I loved this movie so much and it's a great one if you are interested in self-discovery, travelling, and love.

Book:

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

Read: December 19, 2017- December 20, 2017

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 (4.5 stars)

Summary:

Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry Jones. The day before she moved away, she tucked a love letter into his favorite book in his family’s bookshop. She waited. But Henry never came.

Now Rachel has returned to the city—and to the bookshop—to work alongside the boy she’d rather not see, if at all possible, for the rest of her life. But Rachel needs the distraction, and the escape. Her brother drowned months ago, and she can’t feel anything anymore. She can’t see her future.

Henry’s future isn’t looking too promising, either. His girlfriend dumped him. The bookstore is slipping away. And his family is breaking apart.

As Henry and Rachel work side by side—surrounded by books, watching love stories unfold, exchanging letters between the pages—they find hope in each other. Because life may be uncontrollable, even unbearable sometimes. But it’s possible that words, and love, and second chances are enough.

Review:

I loved this book even more than I thought I would! I went into further details on my other blog which I created purely for posting book reviews. If you want to know my thoughts on this book, click here.

Music:

I've been listening to Carly Rae Jepsen for a while now and I loved her last album Emotion. I've been listening to Emotion Side B this month and I love it! My favourite songs are First Time, Higher, The One, Cry, and Roses.

I love Anne-Marie's song Alarm and when I went on iTunes I saw that she released a new song. I am obsessed with Then by Anne-Marie and I have it on repeat. She has such a unique voice and I hope she keeps making music like this.

I have been a fan of Bad Suns songs since their first album, Language & Perspective. I have been listening to Daft Pretty Boys also on repeat. It's so catchy and I just love alternative/indie rock music.

Candle:

Last year when Bath and Body Works released Hot Cocoa & Cream it was my new favourite candle. It still holds up. I bought another one this year as well as a wallflower. The new labels are so cute with the little squirrel on them. I just love the smell of hot chocolate and it just makes my room feels so warm and cozy. Definitely a must for this season.

Fragrance:

I was running out of perfume and I really love the smell of vanilla. I went to Shoppers to see if I could find a cheap body spray. I came across Body Fantasies which I've heard good things about. I am obsessed with this Vanilla Body Spray and wear it every day. I get a lot of compliments on how I smell and recently my Aunt has been sneaking in my bathroom to spray it on. I recommend Body Fantasies if you need a body spray and don't have a lot of money to splurge on an expensive perfume.

Body Care:

It's winter time and my skin is dry all year round but especially when it is cold. I've been loving Bath and Body Works' new formula of their body lotions. I love the scent of vanilla so I bought Warm Vanilla Sugar. It's so moisturzing and my skin feels soft and smells great.

I hope you enjoyed this month's blog post. I have two more on the way so stay tuned for those. Have a wonderful day and week ahead!

love xena

November Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 21:25:00 +0000

Hello everyone! November is over so it's time for my November Favourites. A lot of new things came out this month and I also discovered some things that I can't wait to share with you. If you are interested to learn what they are then keep reading!

Music:

reputation by Taylor Swift has been my most listened to album this month. After three years of no music, she has finally released her fourth album. It is amazing and did not disappoint. I love Taylor Swift songs and I really like the songs on this album because they are all so different. She experimented with different styles and I really appreciate how different the tracks are but go together so well. My favourite songs on the album in order are: Delicate, Dancing With Our Hands Tied, Dress, End Game (feat. Ed Sheeran & Future), Getaway Car, New Year's Day, Don't Blame Me, King of My Heart, Call It What You Want, So It Goes..., and Gorgeous.

I discovered Naked by James Arthur when I was looking through new singles on iTunes. I was immediately obsessed with this song and his voice. I like this style of music and his voice suits it very well.

Flume by Alice Kristiansen was recommended to me when I was listening to a playlist I made on Spotify. This is such a beautiful song and she has such a gorgeous voice. She also makes covers on YouTube if you want to hear more of her.

Beauty/Skincare:

I have been using Thursday Plantation tea tree oil since elementary school to get rid of my pimples. I noticed at a heath store that they also have a Tea Tree Thursday Plantation Face Wash for Acne and Medicated Gel for Acne. I love it! My face feels so clean and I have been noticing fewer pimples and if I do get a pimple they go away faster. I recommend this if you have oily, acne-prone skin.

Movies:

I've been watching W Network on weekends for the romantic Hallmark Christmas movies. I've watched a few in the past couple weeks and Christmas in Homestead and the next movie I mention below are my favourites. This movie is about when one of the most famous actresses in the world heads to the Christmas-obsessed town of Homestead, Iowa, to shoot a holiday-themed movie. She is thrown for a loop when a romance brews between her and local inn keeper and single dad, Matt. As she gets a taste of small-town life, she discovers the true meaning of Christmas.
It was adorable as to be expected and funny in some parts as well. Super cute Christmas movie for you romance lovers!

A Christmas to Remember is also another Hallmark movie that I really enjoyed. This movie is about Jennifer Wade, an emerging celebrity chef in NYC, who is having a meltdown on the set of her Christmas Homestyle show. Desperate for a break from the "stress of her success" she takes a spur of the moment vacation in a remote Colorado town. On the way to her friend's chalet she crashes and suffers amnesia. A widower with young children, still grieving for his dead wife, takes a dazed Jennifer to his home and they wind up having magical and healing holiday experiences that both transform and heals them all.

This sounds sort of cliche but it was really fun and cute. I loved the scenery in this movie as it was filmed in British Columbia. I recommend this if you want a cutesy, cozy, and lighthearted movie to watch.

TV Shows:

I loved Stranger Things last year and since then it has become one of the most talked about shows. Stranger Things season 2 came out around Halloween time and I watched it and loved it. I was really hoping it would be just as good as the first season and it totally lived up to my expectations. This is one of the best TV shows ever made in my opinion. So well-thought out with a great cast and plot. If you haven't watched it already, go and watch it right now!

If you saw my other posts I love Jane the Virgin. I've been watching and loving season 4. As usual, it is hilarious and unpredictable. This also has such a great cast and plot line. Watch this if you love romance, drama, and comedy!

Every Sunday, my mom and I have been watching reruns of Home Town and we are obsessed. We both love HGTV and saw ads for this show. It is about a couple, Erin and Ben Napier, who live in Laurel, Mississippi and are trying to fix up their town one house at a time. This couple is so sweet and hard-working and I love watching their ideas unfold into beautiful masterpieces at the end. Ben is a craftsman and Erin is the interior designer and they make a great team. If you love home renovation shows, check out this one!

Books:

Midnights by Rainbow Rowell

Read: November 19, 2017

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5 stars)

Summary:

"Midnights," takes place over five New Year's Eve parties, as two characters -- Noel and Mags -- meet, become friends, then become best friends, and then try to figure out whether they're supposed to be something more.

My Review:

Rainbow Rowell is a brilliant writer. This short story was incredibly sweet and even though it is only 22 pages, I felt so connected to the characters in such a short amount of time. Rainbow is so talented and I hope she writes more short stories in the future. As a matter of fact, this story and her other short story, Kindred Spirits, are a part of their own short story collection called Almost Midnight. It also has illustrations done by Simini Blocker who does a lot of art for Rainbow Rowell. I hope to get my hands on it soon so I can read Kindred Spirits.

Food:

Every Sunday morning, either my mom or I will make pancakes and eggs for breakfast. My favourite pancake mix is Aunt Jemima Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix and I have it with Mrs. Butterworth's Original Syrup. It's a delicious way to start the morning and a nice change from having cereal Monday-Friday.

Carnation Rich and Creamy Hot Chocolate is an annual winter favourite. This is the best hot chocolate and perfect drink for staying warm in the colder months. I have it almost every night with Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (I put 3 spoons in the milk because I like it super creamy and chocolate-y). Also, they claim that this specific bag of hot chocolate is more concentrated which is incredible because it is already a super concentrated mix. Love it!

My aunt Sue over at www.suzetteroberts.com made this amazing original chocolate ice cream. It is incredible. It's so rich and creamy, like the hot chocolate above! I couldn't get enough. Good thing she's making more!

Thanks you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this post. I hope you have a wonderful day and weekend. I'll see you soon with a new post.

love xena

September/October Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +0000

September and October have been really busy months for me so I'm sorry for the infrequent posts. During my Grade 12 year I probably will only be able to post 1-2 times per month instead of once a week. However, not to fret! I have a new post today all about my September/October favourites. I have been enjoying many things this month that I'd love to share with you. If you want to find out what they are, then keep reading!

TV Show:

After serving as a British Army nurse in World War II, Claire Randall is enjoying a second honeymoon in Scotland with husband Frank, an MI6 officer looking forward to a new career as an Oxford historian. Suddenly, Claire is transported to 1743 and into a mysterious world where her freedom and life are threatened. To survive, she marries Jamie Fraser, a strapping Scots warrior with a complicated past and a disarming sense of humor. A passionate relationship ensues, and Claire is caught between two vastly different men in two inharmonious lives.

I've been tuning into Outlander since last year when I read the first book (800 pages long!). It is so unlike any other show I watch. You know that I am a huge fan of romance and the book and the show do it so well. I'm also a huge fan of historical fiction so this is right up my alley. It's rare to find a show or movie that really follows the events that take place in the book. This show just brings the book to life because it does not stray far from the plot. I love the actors because they play these characters so well. The setting is breath-taking as well as the action scenes. I am currently watching season 3 which is showing live on TV every Sunday on W Network at 9:00 pm E/P. If I thought season 2 was good... season 3 has already surpassed it. Needless to say, IT IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! If you are not already watching Outlander, start now! You will not regret it.

Music:

I have been loving listening to Thomas Rhett's new album, Life Changes. It's catchy, smooth county-pop music that puts me in the best mood. My favourite songs off the album are Craving You, Marry Me, Gateway Love, Leave Right Now, and Kiss Me Like A Stranger <3.

I heard Demi's new single, Sorry Not Sorry, and I thought it was really catchy and fun on first listen. Soon after her next two singles, Tell Me You Love Me and You Don't Do It For Me Anymore, came out and I was really amazed. I listened to her whole album and my other favourite songs are Daddy Issues, Ruin The Friendship, Games, Concentrate, Only Forever, and Hitchhiker.

I love Demi's voice and these songs really showcase her talent. This album feels very personal. I watched her documentary Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated and was really shocked to find out everything she struggled with at such a young age. I was really young when she became famous and I loved all her movies and TV shows. I'm really glad she is in a much better place now and I highly recommend watching her documentary. It's very eye-opening.

Alongside those two albums I have been listening to my own playlist I put together. I love relaxing indie music, especially when I do homework or take a nap. They really put my mind and body at ease and allow me to focus on a task or to just relax.

Book:

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
Read: September 26, 2017- October 3, 2017
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

Summary:
Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

My Review:

WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW! YOU NEED TO READ THE THRONE OF GLASS SERIES BEFORE READING THIS BOOK!

This book was everything I was hoping it to be and more. I was a huge fan of Chaol in the first two books but I felt that after the third book his character lost his way a bit. I'm so glad Sarah decided to write this book as it really showcased Chaol in a different light. Seeing him struggle through hardship after hardship, face his fears and anger towards himself was something his character really needed.

I loved the setting of this book as we get to explore the Southern Continent which we have never seen before. I love history and the culture there and how they worship different gods. It felt like a lot of research was put into this book which I really appreciate.

Also, the different people we meet and revisit in this book were incredible. When I read The Assassin's Blade I really wasn't a huge fan of the healer story. After reading this, Yrene is now my favourite character from this whole series. Her character is from being dull. She is so strong, kind, and brave. The perfect, well-rounded female character.

I could tell from the very moment she walked into the sitting room that she and Chaol would eventually fall for each other. I love the development of their relationship. They argue and get annoyed with each other like a real couple and that was what made their relationship even stronger. Also, THEY GOT MARRIED. My poor heart can't take this. Ship ship ship. I love Chaorene to death.

Although at the beginning I found Nesryn's point of view to be a bit boring it got so much better when she accompanied Sartaq to the Eridun Aerie. So many incredible action-packed and nerve wracking scenes from her perspective. All the history we learn of the Valg--especially the part where Maeve is a Valg Queen!!! I honestly wasn't expecting that. I'm even more nervous for Aelin than I already was.

I also was totally not surprised that it was Duva that was the Valg hunting Yrene. She was the person that you least expected so I wasn't shocked. But when she almost killed Chaol...I was already starting to cry because of all the character development he went through and his beautiful relationship with Yrene. But he survived! But they share a life now...so we'll see how that affects them in the final installment.

All in all, I loved this story. I crave the last book but at the same time it's the last book. I'm so attached to this series and I really don't want it to end.

Beauty:

I went to NYX to look for a nice neutral lipstick for everyday wear which I mentioned in my August Favourites. I had not been able to try it out so it did not make it into my August Favourites. I have tested out this lipstick and have been wearing it almost everyday for the past two months now. It's such a natural looking pink-brown shade. It's just slightly pinker than my natural lips. It is the NYX Lip Lingerie in Exotic. It wears well during the day and really looks like you put a lot of effort into your makeup. Definitely check out NYX makeup products. They are affordable and great quality!

Clothing:

Aerie socks are probably my favourite socks to wear. They are so soft, cozy, and come in great colours and patterns. My mom bought me this pair for back to school since she knows I love socks and wear them during every season. I love wearing them at night because they keep my feet nice and warm. If you love socks like me, check out Aerie socks!

Body Care:

Oh my goodness.... The Body Shop's Vanilla Pumpkin Body Butter is the best body butter they have ever created. It's the smoothest formula and keeps my skin so moisturized for hours. It also smells incredible and I'm a fan of gourmand scents so this one is right up my alley. Check out The Body Shop's products because they are really fantastic, especially their body butters.

Candle:

My all-time favourite autumn candle is Bath and body Works' Leaves 3-wick candle. It smells exactly like autumn to me. Its notes are Crisp Red Apple, Golden Nectar, and Warm Clove Spice. It gives the room such a cozy atmosphere, perfect for reading and watching TV/movies. They are bringing in winter body care so grab it before it's gone!

Thank you so much for reading this blog post! I hope you enjoyed and got some new recommendations. Have a wonderful day and week ahead. See you soon!

love xena

End of Year Book Tag!

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Long time, no write. I haven't posted in a month since I just started my last year of high school. I've just been settling into the new routine with all my new teachers, homework, and tests (yes, I've already had tests). I found some time to put together this post since I finished my homework early. I saw this original Tag created by Ariel Bissett on YouTube and I just had to do it. I hope you enjoy this post. Share your reading goals for the end of the year in the comments below!

1) Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

Summary:

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

~~~

What I have read so far of Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor was amazing. I've always heard that her writing is so lyrical and that is so spot on. Her writing is full of intrigue and whimsy and so visually descriptive. It's so unique--unlike anything I've ever read before. I really hope to finish this as I am really enjoying this story.

2) Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

Summary:

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

~~~

I heard of An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson when I logged onto Goodreads and saw this review. I've heard this book be compared to A Court of Thorns and Roses and I definitely agree based on the summary. I love the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas so I have really high hopes for this book. It sounds very autumnal as Isobel is sent to the autumnlands. I love autumn so I can't wait to read a book that reflects the cozy atmosphere outside.

3) Is there a new release you're still waiting for?

Summary:

In the first book of the Shaw Confessions, the companion series to the New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer novels, old skeletons are laid bare and new promises prove deadly. This is what happens after happily ever after.

Everyone thinks seventeen-year-old Noah Shaw has the world on a string.

They’re wrong.

Mara Dyer is the only one he trusts with his secrets and his future.

He shouldn’t.

And both are scared that uncovering the truth about themselves will force them apart.

They’re right.

~~~

I read the Mara Dyer Trilogy back in 2015 and I just fell in love with it. It's what got me into fantasy books in the first place. I've been waiting for The Becoming of Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin since then and it's finally coming out 2 years later! Excited to read this and to see where this series goes!

Summary:

The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines, when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

~~~

I cannot wait to read Without Merit by Colleen Hoover. I love Colleen Hoover so much. She is hands down my favourite contemporary romance writer. This book sounds very mysterious and different from her other books. I just bought it yesterday and already am very intrigued. I'll most likely finish this in 2-3 days like all my other Colleen Hoover books. Super excited for this one!!!

4) What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

Cheating a little as there are four books but I really hope to finish Harry Potter this year! I've read the first three books and I have been enjoying them so much. I've heard the books start getting scarier and larger (in size) after the third book. It would be so great if I finished this before Christmas so I can spend some of my Christmas break watching the movies!

5) Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year?

I think Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas or Without Merit by Colleen Hoover could definitely become my favourite book of the year. These are two of my favourite authors so that's why I chose them for this question. I just finished reading Tower of Dawn and it is definitely a contender for first place. I guess we shall see but it will most likely be one of the two.

6) Have you already started making reading plans for 2018?

Of course I have a 2018 reading list! I'm hoping to read 18 books next year as next year is 2018 and it sounds fitting. It's a lot less than I normally read in a year but since I have school and the homework is inevitably going to get harder I decided to set an easier goal for next year. I've even started making a list of the books I'm hoping to read next year. I'm super excited, as you can tell. I'll share my list with you at the beginning of next year. Hopefully, I finish most of them--if not all!

Thanks for reading today's post! I hope you all have a great day and a wonderful week ahead! See you next time.

love xena

August Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 11:00:00 +0000

August has been a very busy month filled with lots of fun adventures. I am so grateful for everything that has happened this month. This summer has been so much fun and I'm so sad it has come to an end. I'm now entering my last year of high school...how the time flies. I've enjoyed a lot of things in August so I am sharing them with you today. I hope you enjoy scrolling through!

Beauty:

I am so happy that I found this Nyx HD Finishing Face Powder in Translucent. I have really oily skin and it's so hard to find anything that works to reduce the shine on my face. This works like a charm. I bought the translucent shade and since I have darker skin I really just hope these powders don't make me look like a ghost. That is not the case for this one at all. My skin tone stays the same and I stay matte for hours. Really impressed and definitely check this out if you have combination/oily skin.

I saw this Nyx #thisiseverything Lip Oil on their website and I was really curious to try it and see if it works. Ever since I was 9 my lips cannot go without lip balm for more than 5 minutes without getting so dry and uncomfortable. I have to put on lip balm as soon as I wash my face and before I put on any type of lip product. This oil has actually replaced my lip balm. It's so amazing. I was expecting to be more of an oily consistency but it's actually thicker and more like a super moisturizing lip balm. It hasn't irritated my lips like other lip products do and my lips feel so conditioned. I'll definitely be stocking up on this for the cold weather that's fast approaching.

Music:

Fifth Harmony's new self-titled album is so different and edgier than their previous albums--in a good way. As usual their songs are super catchy after one listen and have you playing them on repeat. My favourite songs from this album are: He Like That, Messy, and Deliver (gives me Ariana Grande vibes).

I have been loving to listen to Billie Eilish's album don't smile at me because it is so soothing and she has such a unique voice. My favourite songs from this album are: ocean eyes, idontwannabeyouanymore, and watch.

I was just scrolling through YouTube looking for new music and I stumbled upon LANY and I just love their music. I've been really obsessed with their song current location because it's exactly the type of music I like and it's so simple and catchy.

I have been obsessed with Harry Styles' self-titled album this whole month. I was never a Directioner and I really only liked a few of One Direction's songs. This album is completely different from the pop music he's done before. This is a blend of alternative and rock and I am so onbaord with his new style. This genre fits his voice so well. I'm really impressed. My favourite songs off this album are: Carolina, Sweet Creature, Kiwi, Woman, Two Ghosts, and Ever Since New York.

I've been watching The Bold Type and I heard this song playing and just had to find out what it was called. The song is Hurts So Good by Astrid S. I just love to sing along to this song even though I can't hit the high notes (lol). I know I've said this for every song I've mentioned so far but this song is extremely catchy and addictive. Check it out!

I heard this song in a Jess and Gabe video and I just fell in love with it. It's so catchy (I'm sorry I really can't think of another word). It's called I Like Me Better by Lauv.

Movies:

I have just been hunting for more teen movies to watch because I've watched so many at this point that there is nothing left. I haven't watched 10 Things I Hate About You (until now) so I decided to give it a go. This movie has definitley made my top ten favourite movies list. This is movie is about a new student Cameron who is smitten with Bianca and, in order to get around her father's strict rules on dating, attempts to get bad boy Patrick to date Bianca's ill-tempered sister, Kat. I'm probably going to watch this moive a thousand more times like I do with all my favourite movies.

I have watched most of Nicholas Sparks' movies but I had yet to watch The Choice. This movie is about Travis Shaw, who is a ladies' man and thinks a serious relationship would cramp his easygoing lifestyle. Gabby Holland is a feisty medical student who's preparing to settle down with her long-term boyfriend. Fate brings the two together as Gabby moves next door to Travis, sparking an irresistible attraction that upends both of their lives. As their bond grows, the unlikely couple must decide how far they're willing to go to keep the hope of love alive. As with all Nicholas Sparks movies this was emotionally draining. I really liked both the main characters even though I wasn't the biggest fan of how they got together. But despite that it was a really good movie. I recommend this for anyone who loves romance and drama.

I watched the first 10 minutes of this movie when it first came out in 2010 (I was 10 years old). I realized that I never even finished it to see what happened in the end. Since it was one of the last Nicholas Sparks movies I had left to catch up on I decided to give it a chance. The Last Song is about a troubled teenager as she reconnects with her estranged father and falls in love during a summer in a quiet Southern United States beach town. This was a beautiful movie and it was so nice to see how Miley Cyrus and liam Hemsworth fell in love for the first time. Great movie for romantics like myself.

I hope you enjoyed today's post. I've been loving a lot of music this month which is why it took up most of this post. Anyways, I hope I gave you some good recommendations. Have a wonderful day and a wonderful week. See you soon with a new post.

love xena

My Travels: St. Martin/St. Maarten

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 11:00:00 +0000

On the Plane

Waiting to board

Gi and I on the plane

Watching Beauty and the Beast for the second time

Up in the air!

Look at all the puffy clouds!

Opi Kitty White

Landing above Airport Beach!

Driving to the Hotel

On the bridge to get to the French side

We've arrived at the French Side!

The Hotel

Look at this light! Reminds me of the Marbella (Jane The Virgin)

My bed

View from the balcony

Entrance to the courtyard from the lobby

Lots of palm trees. We aren't in Canada anymore!

The beach!

Testing out the water on the first day. One of the best beaches ever!

Beach and mountains

Iguana in the pool! They are everywhere on the resort but especially in the Marina

Sunset by the beach

The sunsets are soooo beautiful here

Night time by the cabanas

We met the sweetest little cat at the hotel. We named him Luke and fed him at night. Such a sweetie pie! He runs like a puppy towards us and rolls over to show us his belly (a sign of trust). He loves to be touched. We miss him so much <3

Sunshine coming through our window

Outside the hotel. So beautiful.

The courtyard. You can see the different paths that will take you around the hotel.

On the Tour

Going souvenir shopping on the French Side

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wrap with Sweet potato Fries and Mac and Cheese with a Strawberry Daquri for lunch!

This beautiful shallow beach the tour guide took us to. You can walk all the way to that green area and the water still won't reach your waist.

Airport Beach

Last stop of the tour: Orient beach

Anguilla

My aunt and I decided to go on the Billy Bones Boatcharters after a couple we met at the hotel said it was amazing. We don't regret it one bit. If you go to St. Maarten/St. Martin this is something you should definitely considering doing. They take you to some of the nicest beaches in Anguilla and you also get a really great lunch at a restaurant at one the stops. It was the highlight of the whole vacation for me. It was truly amazing to be on a speedboat in the ocean with the water splashing you in the face (sit in the back if you want to get splashed). Our captain was Nicholas and his co-captain was Eric. They were so kind and helpful. They made the experience even better, honestly. One of the best things I've ever done in my life. Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend!

Arrived in Anguilla! The water is crystal clear. So beautiful

The speedboat also took us to Sandy Island which is surrounded by beautiful water and has pinkish sand!

Last Day

Saying goodbye to Lukey Pooky!

Cool camel in the airport's chocolate section

Goodbye St. Martin/St.Maarten

Reading Harry Potter on the plane ride home

We have arrived. Hello Canada!

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Tons of pictures and some cool videos! We had a really great time and definitely want to go back. We stayed at the Riu Palace St. Martin and it was so nice as you can see from the pictures. The beach was amazing and we felt so safe and relaxed. This is a great place to travel to if you want to go somewhere warm especially during the winter months. Anyways, I hope you all had a great day today and have a great week ahead. See you soon with a new post!

love xena

June/July Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Uh oh! July is over?! The summer months are moving way too fast. I have just been enjoying summer and going out doing fun activites. I can't believe in a month's time all the fun will be over. But, let's not think about that just yet. It's still in the future. Anyways, these past two months have been lots of fun (expect exams) and I have lots of things to discuss. So, if you are interested in finding out the movies, shows, books, and music I've been enjoying, then keep reading!

Movie Favourites

Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained warrior. When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny.

Wonder Woman was absolutely in-cred-i-ble. There aren't enough words to describe how amazing this movie was. This has been one of the best cinematic expereinces I've had in a while. Gal Gadot was perfect as Wonder Woman and I can't wait for more Wonder Woman movies! If you haven't watched this already, you MUST!

Peter Parker, with the help of his mentor Tony Stark, tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in New York City while fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man when a new threat emerges.

Spider-Man: Homecoming was so funny and Tom Holland was the perfect Peter Parker/Spider-Man. I love that they left the ending a little open so they can make more movies. I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel!

TV Favourites

Since last year summer I've been slowly making my way through Once Upon A Time on Netflix. I finished Season 5a (The Dark Swan) started 5b (Underworld) last week. I just love this show because it's perfect for everyone. It's based on fairytales but the show makes it so older audiences can also watch it. I'm really enjoying this season a lot and I just hope everything works out in the end. My goal is to finish this season before the end of the summer! Hopefully by then Netflix would have added season 6.

I've been wanting to watch Jane The Virgin since it was advertised but I was watching so many shows that I never got around to it. My aunt Gina loves the show so much and always tells me that I need to watch it. Since it's summer and I have the time I decided to binge-watch it. I just finished season 3 and I am in love with this show. It is absolutely adorble and hilarious! It has so many elements to it which I love. It's not just focused on Jane the main character but all of the characters. It has romance, mystery, comedy, and LOTS of drama. If you were not aware of what this hsow is about, it is about a young Latina university student who was accidentally artificially inseminated with her boss' sperm, Rafael Solano. That alone definitely tells you this show is super funny and filled with drama! Check this one out and binge-watch it on Netflix!

I have been a huge Bachelor/Bachelorette fan for years now and this season is probably my favourite. I really like Rachel so much and I hope she finds love this season. I have been Team Peter or "Pachel" since they first met and they have come such a long way since then. The episode that aired last week was when the men meet Rachel's family and it was very intense. Peter is not sure that in two weeks time that he can propse to Rachel and Rachel wants an engagement! I am very nervous he is going to be sent home next week but I still have hope. Can't wait to see what happens tonight on the Men Tell All!

Book Favourites

I finally read By Your Side by Kasie West which came out in January and was also featured in my Books I Want To Read This Summer post three weeks ago. Kasie West is one of my favourite authors and her books always make me smile. This book was no different! I loved, loved, loved it!

By Your Side is about Autumn Collins who gets accidentally locked in a library for an entire weekend. She soon realizes that Dax Miller--the troubled boy who went to juvie--is locked in there with her. She reassures herself that someone will notice that she's stuck in the library but...no one comes. Autumn realizes that she has to stay in the library for the next couple days and make small talk with Dax who really wants nothing to do with her. Even though there is more to Dax than most people realize. Soon, Autumn and Dax start opening up to each other and develop a connection. But will their feelings for each other last after their weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

I absolutely enjoyed this book. The reason no one realized Autumn was in the library was just so unexpected. I love how Autumn and Dax got to know each other and how their relationship blossomed. As usual, it was super cute and made me smile and super giddy. Read this if you need a short and sweet romance!

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour was a book I have been meaning to read for two years now and I've finally read it! It's about Amy Curry, who's responsibility is to get the family car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

Very heartfelt contemporary that deals with grief and self-discovery. The road trip aspect was very cool and I love how Morgan Matson books always include extra bits and pieces that make the reading experience even more enjoyable. This book was just so satisfying with all its funny moments and heartbreaking moments. Also, the ending was very hopeful, realistic and endearing. Enjoyed this one very much!

Music Favourites

I have been a fan of Imagine Dragons for many years now and I was highly anticipating their new album, Evolve, for months now. Needless to say it's amazing which is why it made today's post. I love that they have such a nice blend of upbeat and somber songs in their albums. All of their songs are so catchy and uplifting and make you want to dance. My favourite songs off this album are I Don't Know Why, Whatever It Takes, Start Over, I'll Make It Up To You, and Mouth Of The River.

Bored by Billie Eilish was in Thirteen Reasons Why and I just instantly loved it when I heard it. It's so soothing and Billie has such a unique voice. Check it out!

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Have a great day and a wonderful week! I'll see you soon with a new post!

love xena

Relax and De-stress

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 16:39:00 +0000

Hello there! Today's post is all about ways to reduce stress and letting yourself relax. I was just thinking about how stressed out I was getting because of all my school assingments and exams. I wanted to compile a list of a few things that help me when I feel stressed. I hope you feel these helpful and comment your recommendations for stress relievers down below!

Music is probably the thing I turn to most when I want to de-stress. It's so easy to just put on your favourite song and get caught up in the music and feel immediately relaxed. I love listening to instrumental music when I read because lyrics can get confusing and I get easily distracted. I love Sway, Sway by Heinali because it just instantly calms me. I find it's simplicity so soothing. Constantly hitting the replay button!

Tea is the most relaxing beverage besides hot chocolate. It starts your day, settles your stomach, can energize you as well as make you sleepy. Tea has so many benefits and I love drinking it every morning. In the past months or so I've been leaning towards Birthday Cake Tea by David's Tea. If you are from Canada then you know that David's Tea is basically like Teavana. They sell all different kinds of teas; the possibilities are endless! Birthday Cake Tea tastes exactly how it sounds. It's not overly sweet and is the perfect way to start the morning and end the day.

Something I love to do on Fridays or on the weekend is to put on a face mask. It feels so refreshing and makes my skin so soft and clean. I was trying to find good masks for acne since I tend to breakout on my face. I kept seeing Lush Mask of Magnaminty Face and Body Mask being recommended so I wanted to try it. Lush is a handmade cosmetics store that sells everything from shower gels to lotions to makeup. They use natural ingredients which is why I really like this brand. I've purchased from Lush in the past and have been very impressed and satisfied with their products. The Mask of Magnaminty is very refreshing (minty in the title) and I feel squeaky clean after I'm done. It makes my skin so soft and really helps with breakouts. Try this if you struggle with breakouts or want a nice face mask! Putting on a mask is so relaxing because you keep your face still and it make you feel so clean. For me, feeling clean is the best solution to feeling stressed.

I love to freshen my room and breathe in warm and inviting smells, especially while I'm reading. Candles are so relaxing because their glow creates a calming atmosphere and there are so many different scents to choose from. I've purchased so many candles this month (oopsie) but I've been leaning towards Berry Waffle Cone by Bath and Body Works the most. The notes in this candle are Sweet Summer Berries, Golden Waffle Cone, Creamy Vanilla. Doesn't that sound delicious? It smells incredible. The throw is so strong it fills up small rooms like mine in a few minutes and are also great for larger rooms.

Something I want to start doing more of is yoga and guided meditation. I've tried both of them previously and enjoyed them. I created a playlist of yoga and guided meditation videos to assist me since I do not know many yoga poes besides child's pose and downward dog. I really look forward to practicing yoga especially so I know how to do the different poses without watching videos. I recommend trying yoga and guided meditaion at home since it is very grounding, relieves stress, and calms your body.

In my Winter Esssentials post I talked about the Fireplace Channel. Since it is summer I decided to choose the Sunset Channel which is another favourite of mine. It is so relaxing to hear the the birds, the wind, the waves crashing on the shore and feeling like you're on the beach. I love taking a nap and listening to this in the background. If you have Rogers it is on channel 206.

I hope you enjoyed today's post and found these tips useful. Have a great day and wonderful weekend! See you soon with a new post.

love xena

My Co-op Experience at Novotel North York

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 11:00:00 +0000

At the end of September I started my co-op experience at Novotel North York. I was very nervous as it was my first time ever being in a workplace setting. I've known I wanted to work in the hospitality industry since Grade 10 and I was hoping this opportunity would give me some insight as to what I could expect in the future. I'm really happy that I got this experience and learned about the operations of the hotel that I did not know before. I'm really lucky because I got to expereince working with Alex Nurse (Accounts Receivable/Payroll Administrator) and Alena Miatlushka and Jason Abirafeh (HR Managers). Below are some pictures of the hotel and my co-op experience at Novotel.

This is a picture of one of the executive rooms in the hotel. I've visited all the different types of rooms: standard, executive, and superior. A lot of the rooms have been renovated recently and they look very nice and modern. The layout of the rooms make them look very spacious and the view from the balcony is also nice, especially as you go higher up. My favourite feature of the rooms are the lighting on the headboards which are a very nice touch and perfect for reading!

Setting up the Novotel booth.

Alena, Joseph, and Me.

A few weeks after I started co-op at Novotel, my supervisor Alex Nurse (Accounts Receivable/Payroll Administrator) invited me to go with him, Alena Miatlushka (HR Manager) and Joseph Mercado (Food & Beverage Manager) to Humber College for their job fair. I had a really great time and I broke out of my shell a bit more as I talked to college students about Novotel and how to apply. Above are the job applications I created for the college students to complete.

The picture above is my work area in the Sales and Administration office. This is

where I sorted, organized, and filed audit packs and invoices, worked on commissions, spreadsheets, as well as sent faxes and made photocopies.

I also worked in the HR office with the HR Manager (Alena Miatlushka and Jason Abirafeh) where I filed

documents and certificates into employee folders.

The Sales and Administartion team and I took a group picture together on my last day at Novotel 😔

Left to right: Bridget, Violetta, Alla, Michael, Zorica, Me, Denisa, and Jason.

Lastly is a picture of Michael Singer (General Manager) and I. I received a certificate for

my completion of 220 hours and a gift bag from my supervisor Alex and

the rest of the team.

I had a wonderful co-op experience at Novotel North York and I learned a lot whilst I was there. If co-op is available to you I highly recommend doing it as it really helps you to get an idea of what the workforce is like. Also, Novotel is a great place to do co-op if you are interested in the hospitality industry like myself.

I hope you enjoyed today's post! It was a little different but I really wanted to share this expereince with you all. I hope you have a great day and a great week ahead. I'll see you soon with a new post!

love xena

Books I Want To Read This Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Now that it's summertime there's more free time to read! I have a lot of books I want to read this summer and hope to finish. Most likely I won't finish most of these because I have a lot of stuff to do and I'm a mood-reader. With that said, I still like to make a reading list to give myself an idea of the books I want to finish soon. I hope you enjoy today's post and get some ideas for your own summer reading list. If you want a little challenge I recommend trying this reading list by POPSUGAR. Anyways, let's get into the books I hope to read this summer.

I have been meaning to read Amy and Roger's Epic Detour since 2014 and I STILL HAVEN'T READ IT. In the summer I really love to read contemporaries which you will notice is a trend throughout this post. I've read every book by Morgan Matson except this one which is her first. She always adds little interactive things into her books like playlists, emails, etc. It really makes the reading experience even better and it makes me so excited to read this book.

Summary:

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

I talked about Lucky in Love in my Most Anticipated Books of 2017 and it's almost here!!! I seriously love Kasie West's books and have read all of her contemporaries. It comes out July 25, 2017 and I can't wait. Her books are super adorable and perfect books to finish in one-sitting.

Summary:

Maddie doesn't believe in luck. She's all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment - She wins!

In a flash, Maddie's life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she's talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun... until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now, Maddie isn't sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn't seem aware of Maddie's big news. And, for some reason, she doesn't want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?

With tons of humor and heart, Kasie West delivers a million-dollar tale of winning, losing, and falling in love.

I also talked about By Your Side by Kasie West in my Most Anticipated Books of 2017. It came out back in late January and I never read it. I'm probably going to read it this summer or save it for the 2017-2018 school year because Kasie's books are quick pick-me-ups and perfect for when I need a light-hearted read.

Summary:

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn at first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

I have heard nothing but incredible things about The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. It's a hate-to-love story set in the workplace and is supposedly hilarious. I'm really looking forward to reading this. It sounds like the perfect beach read!

Summary:

Nemesis (n.)

1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.

2) A person’s undoing

3) Joshua Templeman

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.

Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

I have heard about Nevernight by Jay Kristoff on Goodreads a lot since the sequel, Godsgrave, is coming out later this year. It sounds kick butt and incredibly epic. I'm really looking forward to reading this and hopefully I like it so I can read the sequel when it comes out.

Summary:

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father's failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father's former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, a sixteen year old Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic - the Red Church. Treachery and trials await her with the Church's halls, and to fail is to die. But if she survives to initiation, Mia will be inducted among the chosen of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the only thing she desires.

Revenge.

Well, this is something I'm very sad to say but I've never actually read any of the Harry Potter books or watched any of the flims. The only books I wanted to read when I was younger were Geronimo Stilton and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I really want to read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and finish the rest of the series this year. I hope to finish it before Christmas break so I can spend that break watching all the films. So cozy!

Summary:

Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

I have read two other Jennifer L. Armentrout novels before and I really love the way she writes, especially the romance. I have heard great things about The Problem With Forever with most people saying it's their favourite book. I really hope I enjoy it just as much (I think I will). It sounds like it's full of drama, romance, and heart-break. I can't wait!

Summary:

Growing up, Mallory Dodge learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime. Now, after years of homeschooling, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at a public high school. But she never imagined she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet soon it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard.

I have read almost all of the books from the Shadowhunter Chronicles except for Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare. I love these books so much and this book follows Simon, one of the main characters from The Mortal Instruments, and the events that take place after City of Heavenly Fire. This book is a collection of 10 short stories and each story begins with a comic illustration by Cassandra Jean! I can't wait to read this as I need to read something by Cassandra Clare after finishing Lord of Shadows which made me so emotional.

Summary:
Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. The events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. Whomever this new Simon might be.
But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems. Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement. At least Simon’s trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D.
Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. Written by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, these moving and hilarious short stories are perfect for the fan who just can’t get enough of the Shadowhunters.

I read The Lightning Thief last year and The Sea of Monsters earlier this year and still haven't finished the rest of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. I really hope to finish the rest of the series as they are short books and I really enjoy them. Rick Riordan has written so many sequels and spin-offs for this series and I really want to catch up on them. I hope to finish The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Last Olympian this summer.

Anyways, that wraps up this post. I know it's a lot of books but it's good to have goals! I hope you have a great day today and come up with your own summer reading list. Leave you list below! I'll see you soon.

love xena

Weekly Favourites #7

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Happy Summer Everyone! School's out now so I have more free time to blog. I am so excited for this summer because I'm going to be busy—but the good kind of busy! Anyways, I have a few favourites this week that I would love to share with you. So if you are interested in finding out, then keep reading!

#1

Oh...my...goodness. This book. THIS. BOOK. I died after reading this. Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare is the second instalment in The Dark Artifices series. The first book in this series is Lady Midnight which I read last year. I thought Lady Midnight was absolutely incredible and her best book to date. That is until I read Lord of Shadows. It blew Lady Midnight right out of the water. If you have read and enjoyed The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series then you need to read this. It is an urban fantasy series that takes place in Los Angeles five years after the events that took place in The Mortal Instruments. The main characters were actually minor characters who made an appearance in City of Heavenly Fire. The characters are Shadowhunters, which are humans born with angel blood who slay demons and protect mundanes (humans). Every book Cassandra Clare writes is better than the previous one and Lord of Shadows is no exception. I was so emotional after reading it because THAT ENDING. I have so many theories for the next book, The Queen of Air and Darkness. Unfortunately, I have to wait TWO YEARS until its release. If you haven't read ANY of the Shadowhunter Chronicles then that's definitely something you should do this summer. I promise you will not regret it.

#2

Speaking of the Shadowhunter Chronicles...I bought The Official Mortal Instruments Colouring Book!! I saw Cassandra Clare talking about it on her social media and was immediately obsessed. The drawings in here are gorgeously detailed and made by Cassandra Jean, who is a freelance illustartpr and comic artist. She works alongside Cassandra Clare and draws the characters from her books. I love how there are quotes on the left side which correspond with the drawing of the scene on the right side. I honestly can't wait to colour this book. I've been watching some colouring book tutorials by Sendaria13 and it has made me so inspired. I need to get Prismacolor Premier® Soft Core Coloured Pencil Set 72 pack because they are very blendable and will work great for this colouring book. I highly recommend getting a colouring book as a fun activity this summer.

#3

My mom recently bought me The Body Shop Early-Harvest Raspberry Body Butter and Shower Gel because they were on sale. Last year I fell in love with the scent when I bought the Eau de Toilette. This range is perfect for summer and smells like you've been picking berries all day. I highly recommend you check out this scent and The Body Shop in general. It's one of the best body care stores ever.

#4

I love this show so much. It is such a great comedy about girl power and doing what you love. Girlboss is a Netflix original about Sophia, who discovers a passion for fashion and becomes an unlikely businesswoman in the process. As her business grows, she learns to navigate being her own boss and owning her own company. This show is very loosely based on the true story of Nasty Gal Founder, Sophia Amoruso who wrote #girlboss back in 2015. Britt Robertson plays the character of Sophia and this role suits her so well. I have been watching Britt Robertson since she was in Life Unexpected (which is a great show by the way) and since then she's been in so many great movies. I'm so glad she landed this roll because she is rocking it. I highly recommend if you need a little laugh and a little inspriation.

#5

Lorde's album, Melodrama just recently came out on June 16, 2017 and I love it. I talked about Green Light in another post and since then she has had two more singles: Sober and Perfect Places. I am soooo obsessed with both of them, especially Sober. The whole album is just so amazing. I have so many favourites it's hard to decide. I can't even describe her new style but I absolutely love Lorde and I am so happy for her comeback.

#6

I have been obsessed with Dua Lipa's music since last year after hearing Be The One, Last Dance, New Love and then months later Hotter than Hell. Since then she has released many more singles from her self titled album as well as collaborations with Martin Garrix and Sean Paul. After pushing back her debut album, IT'S FINALLY HERE! AND. I. AM. OBSESSED. I feel like I've said that word in this post so much but I really am. The whole album is so good but the ones I recommend the most including the ones I mentioned earlier are Garden, New Rules (which is going to be her next single!!), and Genesis (the acoustic version is also so beautiful). I highly recommend you check out her music. She's incredibly talented and deserves even more fans.

#7

I have loved Lady Antebellum's music since I heard Need You Now and Just A Kiss. After taking a year break, they are back with their new album, Heart Break, and I love it. My favourite songs on the album are You Look Good, Heart Break, Somebody Else's Heart, Big Love In A Small Town, and Home.

Thank you for reading today's post! I hope you have a great week filled with lots of fun. Have a great day!

love xena

April/May Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Happy June everyone! So much has happened in the past two months and I've just been so busy that I haven't been posting as much as I'd like to. As you can tell from the title I have combined my favourites from both months and you know what that means...today's post is going to be a long one. So, if you would like to know everything I have enjoyed in the months of April and May then keep reading.

Movie Favourites:

If you know me then you know I love Nicholas Sparks films. They're always so beautiful and emotional and this movie was no different. The Best of Me is about a pair of former high school sweethearts that reunite after many years when they return to visit their small hometown. It's tear-jerking and swoon-worthy and just one of my favourite movies of all-time. I highly recommend if you love romance!

“Me? I’m scared of everything.
I’m scared of what I saw, I’m scared of what I did,
of who I am, and most of all
I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life
the way I feel when I’m with you.” ~Baby

I had the time of my life watching this movie...(get it?). Dirty Dancing is just the ultimate classic. It's about Frances "Baby" Houseman, who spends the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, and ends up falling in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle. The steamy, beautiful romance and incredible dance moves were just a sight for sore eyes. This is the kind of movie you can watch a million times over and still need to watch it again. You probably have already watched this but...GO WATCH IT AGAIN!

Book Favourites:

Alex Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Read: April 22, 2017 - April 25, 2017

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

Summary:

The one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.

Classic movie fan Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online as Alex. Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new archnemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever it is she’s starting to feel for Porter.

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.

My Review:

New. Favourite. Book. It touched on the usual YA elements like family, friendships, and relationships―but it went so much deeper. It's definitely a more mature YA book though, as it discussed topics such as drugs, crime, and sex.

I instantly fell in love with everything this book has to offer. The California setting and beach-y town atmosphere was just so easy to visualize and it felt like you were actually there. I really loved the main character, Bailey, because she's so rational and mature, especially in her relationship with Porter (who is a great love interest by the way). Speaking of relationships, I love the hate-to-love relationship in this one. Their chemistry is through the roof and I also liked that they formed a friendship (unknowingly) through a common interest in old films.

Something else I really like was that Grace, Bailey's best friend, and Porter, brought some diversity into this novel, specifically their culture and the food they eat. It added a really nice feel to the book and I'm glad Jenn incorporated it.

This book was just so addicting and I couldn't put it down. It's become an all time favourite and I see myself rereading this in the near future. This is a must-read summer contemporary! Highly, highly recommend.

The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
Read: April 28 2017 - May 1, 2017
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 (4.5 stars)

Summary:
Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

My Review:
Beautiful writing, wonderful characters, heart-warming but also heart-breaking, star-crossed love story.

I love that this novel discusses culture and identity and I felt that it was done in such a profound way. I also took comfort in the fact that Natasha is Jamaican as I'm also from Jamaica. It was really nice reading about my culture from someone else's perspective.

Also, Daniel was just the sweetest guy. I love how even though he and Natasha didn't share the same views on everything they learned something from one another. They both realized that life is a combination of both fate and free will, God and science.

Seeing their relationship develop was the best. Nicola Yoon just wrote in their voices so well that it felt like I was actually reading from a teenager's point of view. Also, the way that she added random characters' perspectives who aren't really seen as important was also a really nice touch as you got to see how little things can affect someone's life so remarkably and with you being none the wiser. She took such heavy topics and made such a powerful story easy for young audiences to understand.

I really loved reading this book and I can't wait to read Nicola Yoon's future works.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
Read: May 3, 2017 - May 4, 2017
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

Summary:
(This is a part of a series so this will spoil the previous two books!)

Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding.

But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind.

When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

My Review:
I'm going to miss reading about Lara Jean's life so much. This book just made me feel so many emotions, as usual with a Jenny Han book. It made me feel so wistful and nostalgic like I was the one graduating high school and moving on in life. This book was everything I hoped it would be. After I finished the last sentence I just wanted to start the whole series over again. It's a bittersweet feeling that it's the end but I'm so glad to have read this series. It will always and forever be one of my favourites.

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
Read: May 5, 2017 - May 13, 2017
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

Summary:
(This is a part of a series so this will spoil the previous two books!)

A nightmare, I’d told Tamlin. I was the nightmare.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit—and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords—and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

My Review:
Loved it! Not as much as A Court of Mist and Fury but a super close second. Can't wait to read the rest of the series as there are some things left unresolved with side characters. 2018 can't come close enough!

Music Favourites:

I am so excited to watch this movie as you might have seen in my recent post that I went to the Everything Everything signing. I fell in love with the soundtrack for this movie and they just fit the story so well. Click on the links to have a listen!

How Did We by Skylar Stecker
Human Touch by Betty Who
Runnin' (Lose It All) by Naughty Boy, Beyoncé, and Arrow Benjamin

I just recently heard Cold to the Touch by Ralph as it was advertised on Youtube. I fell in love with the catchy beat and the simplicity of the song. It's such a fun summer song. Check it out!

Songs I Wrote With Amy by Ed Sheeran is an old favourite of mine. It has just been so relaxing to listen to while I do my homework as it calms me down and helps me focus. I highly recommend if you love Ed Sheeran or singer/songwriter music!

I hope you all had a great weekend and have a wonderful week. I'll see you soon! xx

love xena

Spring Has Sprung!

noreply@blogger.com (Xena Roberts) — Sat, 13 May 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han (I'll have a review for this book up soon. I loved it).

La Fleur Fine Fragrance Mist by Bath and Body Works (Makes you smell like a beautiful floral garden).

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve (Best. Lip Balm. Ever).

Italian White Sunflowers from Michaels

Gorgeous Storage Box from Winners

Garland from Dollarama

Twine from Michaels

Pictures from Pinterest.

Go Play Outside Art Print by thewheatfield on Etsy.

I love this print! The bright colours and fun doodles are so uplifting and really make me smile.

If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element

I've been obsessed with this pop rock sister trio since their first album Days Are Gone back in 2013. Four years later and they've finally released new music. I love their new sound. They just have a really nice style to their music that you just don't tend to hear that often. It's so refreshing and different (in a good way) from their previous record. Want You Back by Haim is my #1 most listened to song this week. This song is just the perfect song to sing and dance along to (which I've been doing a lot). I can't wait until their new album, Something to Tell You, coming out July 7, 2017!

I hope you all had a great week and have a great day today! I'll see you soon with a new post. xx

love xena