Get Romantic...Ideas for Valentines Day Gifts

Valentines day is roughly 20 days away, that's plenty of shopping time, but just because you have time to shop doesn't mean you have any ideas.
There is, of course, always the fall back ideas of Flowers and Candy, and maybe a dinner out.  But face it, that's been done. To death.  So instead try thinking about your partner and their hobbies, focus on what you know they adore and you're gift will definitely light their face up.

Are they are Reader? Try this crazy adorable bookworm and a gift card to Barnes and Noble.

Total Music Junkie? Then try these earbuds, these headphones which are also in Mustard, Raspberry and Grass or even better this completely adorably amazing earbud splitter.

What about a hardcore Tea Drinker? How Sweet are these infusers? Seriously a heart or a robot, totally precious. Then there's also Tea for Two sets and a whole bunch of adorable, floral, buggy, and more tea cups.

Then there's the world traveler.  You could pick them up a cute, vintage, luggage tag or one of these toiletries travel bags.

Maybe your love is saving up for a Rainy Day, totally obsessed with Audrey Hepburn, or baking all about fashion, or wondering how certain dresses may have changed the world.

I know all those links except one link back to Modcloth.com.  No, they didn't pay me to write this blog post, I just really love the site and how versatile all the stuff on the site is. These are obviously just suggestions I also notice that most of these gifts are geared towards the ladies, that was kinda unintentional but the same concept applies.

There are tons of different kinds of people, and there are a bazillion different ideas.  Just think about all the things you remember your partner doing and chances are if you remember it then it's something they do a lot and most likely like. You can base your gift off of that.

Happy Shopping Ladies and Dudes.

I'm a reader not a writer

Okay so the title's not exactly true, but I've had the original phrase "I'm a lover not a fighter" stuck in my head for a couple hours and wanted to play off of it.

Here lately I've had the urge to blog, maybe it's because I'm still slogging my way through A Beautiful Mess and everything I see on it is really inspiring to me, or maybe it's because, surprise surprise, I'm ill, again. I've got some kind of upper respiratory thing that's been going around lately, but since I have it, it's nearly deadly since I've got lung issues due to bad decisions as a teenager.

None of that is the point of this post though.  My point is I prefer to read, and I love to buy books.  Something about owning a book, instead of borrowing it from the library makes a world of difference.  I tend to savor it a bit more.

This always wanting to buy books becomes an issue when you have a nook.  All the books are right there at your fingertips, you don't have to leave your house, and the only confirmation they need when you purchase a book is if you have a password.  And the sales are really good, 5 book box set for $2.99, sold.  So that's how I came to 'pick up' 25+ books this weekend.  It's probably a really good thing I'm sick, because I have a lot of reading to do.  The books were mainly series and one of them was from BN.COM's Free Friday promo, which is where every friday they give a nook book away for free.

One of the series was the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, which I started at MandaCann's recommendation, and since she's definitely my literary bestie, I always take her advice when it comes to books. The reason I picked up all of them was because she said they're quick addictive reads, and she's 100% right there, especially being able to picture Katherine Heigl as Stephanie made it that much better, because I adore her.  But I digress, they are extremely addictive, I finished One For The Money last night at around 3 am and started in on Two For The Dough before I went to sleep last night.  The reason I was up that late reading was because I couldn't breathe, the fact that I didn't start reading until 11 pm says a lot about how awesome the book was.

The others were High Heel Mysteries 1-5 on sale for $2.99 and The Samantha Moon books 1-4 also on sale for $2.99.  I will admit that I probably wouldn't have purchased the sets if they weren't on sale, but now that I have I kinda can't wait to read them.

So readers, what are you reading?

Now if you'll excuse me I've spent far to much time away from the burg and I need a fresh cup of tea and a change of clothes before I get lost there again.

10 Funny Habits and Guilty Pleasures

So for the last couple of days I have been lost in Elsie's blog A Beautiful Mess, and I am completely in love with it.  I found this post and decided to do one of my own.  So here we go my top 10 funny habits and guilty pleasures

1. My all time favorite show is Murder She Wrote.  I can't help it, it ran for 12 seasons so I'd guess that a lot of other people can't help it either.  My favorite episodes are from the first 2 seasons when Amos Tupper was the sheriff of Cabot Cove.  Also Fun Fact the later Sheriff of Cabot Cove Mort Metzger played by Ron Masak appeared in 2 other episodes as Lt. Meyer and Marty Giles
2. I buy nail polish based off the name about 90% of the time.  My favorite polish is Eyeko's Rain Polish, even though Sea Spray by China Glaze is a perfect dupe, I prefer Rain Polish because rainy weather is my favorite weather in the universe.
3. I prefer shopping online, and making wishlists.  I often joke that my husband would have to try to mess up a present for me, because he receives very detailed wishlists from me including a direct link to the item size and preferable color.
4. I love Blankets, and the more I can have of them the better.  I feel the same way about sweaters, pajamas, hoodies, scarves and slippers.  As long as it keeps me warm and cozy I am all about it.
5. I don't match my socks, I know some people don't match them because they think it's unlucky or because Matthew Gray Gubler doesn't match his, but the reason I don't match my socks is because having mismatched socks makes me happy. My favorite socks are the Valentines ones that I have.
6. I feel naked if I don't have a book, or my nook with me.  I have the nook app on my phone but it's just not the same.
7. I prefer Raisinless oatmeal cookies. I like raisins just not in my oatmeal cookies.
8. I'm kinda obsessed with most of the songs on Yourfavoritemartian's channel, but Club Villain and  The Stereotypes Song are my favorites
9. If I'm stuck on which shoes to wear with an outfit or what color to paint my nails, I make my husband be the tie-breaker 
10. I used to drink coffee like a Gilmore, but now I'm all about tea, and I prefer Earl Grey with Honey and sometimes milk.

Bonus: I'm obsessed with England and all things British. Jack Wills Clothes, Topshop, Eyeko Nail Polish, Tea, the Rainy weather, and the houses, the older stone ones. I don't know why but I adore it.

There's nothing I like better

I decided to wait until all the New Years Blogs died down before I got back into the game. Mainly because if I didn't then I'd have to resolve to blog more, and please I'm so bad at that.  I want to be better, I want to blog and film more, but I fail at it.  Hard.

But that's not what this blog is about.  This blog is about Rainy Days.  There is nothing I like better than a rainy day. I love curling up with my nook or another good book and my window open, and wearing my coziest sweater and my most comfortable jeans (which I have to admit are jeggings).  I usually toss my hair up into a bun and go with minimal and waterproof makeup if I have to venture out.  The best part about a rainy day, especially a chilly one is that dressing down, and being snuggly is nearly everyone's modus operandi. There are very few times in my life I've ever not wanted it to rain, such as my outdoor wedding with no indoor contingency plan. Other than that though I am all about Rainy Days...

and Rain Gear.  I already have the perfect Umbrella, that I absolutely adore and is unfortunately no longer for sale at Barnes and Noble online, but totally check your local store, because I've seen them in mine.

Next to a good Umbrella that makes you happy, the next most important Rain Gear is Wellies.  I adore these from Hunter.  I plan on investing in them soon, and then immediately testing them out by mud puddle jumping, even if I have to make the mud puddles myself.

I haven't settled on a Rain Coat I like, there are a few of varying prices that I'm completely in love with. There are these from Burberry: Classic Trench, Orange Trench, Yellow Trench with Detachable Hood, Yellow Fishing Jacket  or of course these from Anthropologie: Rain Dotted Anorak, Puddle Chaser and finally Modcloth: See You Schooner and last but certainly not least Pretty Slicker. 

The Burberry ones are of course pretty classic, and I have always adored Burberry, but the last one Pretty Slicker from Modcloth is currently my favorite.  I seriously adore it, it's so sunny and it gives me happy feelings.  Plus it's cheaper than the Burberry ones. What do you think peoples? What's on your must have rainy day list?


Side note: Modus Operandi's direct translation is method of operation and is not only used to reference criminal activities but is the origin of 'MO' which is commonly used to discuss why a criminal behaves a certain way and how you can link them to their crimes through those behaviors. *The More You Know

Side note the second: Hope Sopa doesn't get passed and then blogger gets taken down because I used *The More You Know in this blog post. Info on Sopa Here