In which I wish you all a Merry Christmas. (Duh.)

Merry Christmas, human-skeleton-possessors.

May your day be merry and bright. 

By bright I mean cosy and dark but also with Christmas lights and candles and by cosy I mean Christmas songs and familiar faces and maybe a Christmas jumper hug or two.

May you smell the scent of pine cones and crackers just being cracked. 

May you tell people silly Christmas jokes like: "What's the difference between a Christmas alphabet an a normal alphabet? The Christmas one has No L." (looooooool. Wow. Hilaaaarious.)

May you consider gifts a detail of the day rather than the highest moment of the day and may you avoid singing typos on Church service sheets like I did last year; singing 'did the wide men enter there' rather than 'did the wise men.'

May you have a great day and may you reread the Christmas Story.

And by reread I mean rethink.

May you eat chocolate, say 'Merry Christmas' and never 'Happy Holidays', may you light fires and may you end the day with a smile on your face.

Merry Christmas, girls and boys, Merry Christmas.

Twenty random reasons why I love The Blue Castle

The Blue Castle will be one of those books I will love forever. The kind of book I will want to introduce to my potential daughter (AND SON) (AND PET GOLDFISH) (AND GREAT-GRANDMA IN LAW OR WHATEVER)  as soon as possible and it's the kind of book I will always recommend to those poor friends of mine who have not yet dipped their young imagination into this jewel of a book. It's fantastic - filled with whimsy, Montgomery-ness, wit, sparkle and quirkiness. I've reviewed this book many times in my head, but here is a quickly-thrown-together, random list of things I love about this little, unknown-to-many, genius book called The Blue Castle. 

(Which, by the way, I know practically word to word because I've reread it so frequently. One must brag about these things. :-P)

Lovely collage I found

1. BARNEY. Let's be real here; first thing on the list. Barney Snaith.

2. Her green dress and hat. I love how she learns how to wear it and how nice she looks in it. It sounds like something lady Edith in Downton Abbey would rock, too.

3. When Barney puts his 'tobaccoey' leather jacket on Valancy in the car. AHHH. #Barlancy

4. "Ever thought of ballooning?" Never gets old. 

5. Valancy's reaction when Barney takes her to his little house on the island. (Can we all take a moment to appreciate where Barney lives? Actual house goals.)

6. "Piffle," said Barney.

7. Also, basically any time Barney pretends to hate John Foster's books. Also, basically any time Barney is in the book. Also, basically Barney. His eyebrows, his tawny hair, his grin, his laugh, his mysteriousness, his HOUSE, his wonderful Barney-ness... I love Barney.

8. The name Valancy is gorgeous. I don't care what anyone says; I love it.

9. Uncle Benjamin's stupid jokes. "What's the difference between a stamp and a donkey?" "One you lick with a stick and one you stick with a lick!"

10. When Barney says he's not a pup, but a middle-aged dog, actually.

11. Valancy's moonlight dress. And her Christmas pearls. And her little moments of adorable sass and cute happiness.

12. Obviously also when Valancy proposes and she tells him she loves him.

13. However, all that is cast underneath the beautiful scene where Barney professes his love to Valancy, and he says sentimental stuff like, 'Girl, you're the core of my heart!' and HE SO PULLS IT OFF. The scene is a mighty tearjerker. Gah, I love these two.

14. When they go to the movies together and eat at a Chinese restaurant.

15. Lady Jane. I love Lady Jane. (For those of you who haven't read it: Lady Jane is, in fact, a car. And I do generally not admire or speak of these iron objects, but Lady Jane is an exception.)

16. The poetic beauty of Montgomery's seasonal descriptions. I used to find them boring, but now I relish in their richness.

17. "True happiness is to sneeze when you want to." - Valancy

18. While yes, some of Valancy (NOT DOSS)'s comments were very much out there, I love love her bite-back commentary scenes to her stupid and insipid clan. I love their shocked expressions and their lack of understanding life. I love it when they insist she has gone 'batty' and when Mrs Stirling wishes she 'knew how to go into hysterics.' This book is hilarious.

19. Valancy's married happiness. Oh and their first kiss. Cuuute.

20. ALL OF IT OKAY. There is something magical about this book - it is a little gem of happiness, sparkle, and utter, gleeful whimsy. Don't blame for using an excess of metaphors. I just read The Blue Castle and I am intoxicated yet again. (PS. Barney Snaith belongs to me. Goodbye.)

Other Really beautiful collage I found of this book.

Have you read this book? If you have not I'm afraid we must postpone our friendship to a latter date when you can tell me that you have. And that you enjoyed it. Just kidding, but really, go and read it. It's charm personified.

Now go yonder and fulfil your daily - or, in my case, nightly - duties. (Which includes suddenly realising it's late and thinking wow, wow, let's get some sleep, shall we.) Read books in one sitting and get as much of the boring stuff done before Christmas and check out The Bible Project on Youtube, because it's my favourite Youtube Channel at present. Make ugly selfies. Roll your eyes now and then. Write two blog posts in one day. Wow. I give the best life advice since Don't Worry Be Happy; (you know, that song with the catchy whistle-y tune.)

Christmassy Thoughts

Two days ago it was Sunday and there was a beautiful Carol Service at our Church in the evening. The big, beautiful building was dark, and endless golden flames bobbed on the rows of little candles at the bottom of the stained glass windows. The organ, the orchestra and the choir filled the front of the Church while the rest of the building was so packed that people had to sit in the aisle and stand at the sides, the back, the hallway and on the stairs. People squashed together on the pews and had to share service sheets. There is nothing I love better than a full Church with Christmas Carols. 

My solo, O Holy Night, went well despite slight nerves and Hark the Herald blew the roof off with it's splendour. By the end, my throat hurt from singing; as well as my ears from all the cymbals. It was lovely, to say in the least. It must have converted many non-Christians. Man, it was beautiful.

Yesterday I heard the news that a girl I used to know several years ago died in a car crash in America. We used to go to Sunday school together. I remember her well; she was the bubbliest, cheerfullest girl of the group; she wore bright bracelets and cool trousers. Probably around the time I was innocently singing O Holy Night, she was laughing her last laugh, saying her last words before being tossed into a coma state by a car slipping into a van, bought to hospital where she died hours; minutes later. I didn't know this girl, Anna, well at all. I remember her; how the kids adored her and how good she was at sports. I remember her infectious smile. I remember her last time at Sunday school, before she left to America, and how we prayed for her. Despite those few memories, I don't know Anna at all, but my heart and prayers are with her friends (she probably had loads) and family. She was only eighteen.

Then I heard about the lorry attack in Berlin, at a Christmas market. People drinking Glüwine one second; dead the next. Twelve dead; fifty wounded. Not again.

Part of me sarcastically mumbles Merry Christmas. 

A Happy Christmas is obviously not attainable for all, to say in the least. I am everlastingly thankful that I will have a happy one, but I am keenly aware that I am one of the lucky ones. Part of me; no, in fact, everything in me is reminded of the fact that Jesus is the hope. Those Berlin attack victims, Anna - they are dead; gone. Their loved ones mourn and they will be reminded of their deaths, and re-mourn, every single Christmas. But oddly and ironically, this gives us all the more reason to celebrate Christmas. They and we are reminded that Christmas is not persé ladida and Christmas crackers and family love. God willing, it is, but the world is corrupt and it has been bruised and it will continue to be bruised till He comes.

But Jesus came and He will come again. He came to the world, died for our sins. We are set free. We have a hope and Christmas makes the hope ever keener and even stronger. We need, God knows, we need keen and strong hope in a world like ours. The world doesn't stop spinning around the 25th of December - in fact, 25th of December should ring the hope even louder. :-D

I know I shouldn't feel guilty, being excited for Christmas. I am excited! Grandma and Granddad are coming over from England, my Mum's side of the family will all be barging into our house on Christmas Eve, we'll sing carols and eat turkey and listen to the Royal Christmas speeches. We'll crack Christmas crackers and open gifts and play games and go to Church. A few days ago I got Emma's package in the mail and I got really excited - it's so square. I love square packages; they're so much more exciting than flat ones. It's going to be a wonderful day and I'm definitely looking forward to it. 

However, you know, I realise I'm lucky. I echo my earlier sentiments. :-)

What are you guys doing for Christmas? (I will refrain from saying Merry Christmas to you because it's still a week and I must waaaait. :-P) I shall finish this post with a cute little Christmassy emoji. Because one must do new things now and then, right-ho, deal ol' fellow human? Here ya go: 🎄)

Pentatonix is Ridiculously Amazing

I am obsessed with Pentatonix. I've been listening to their Christmas songs every single blessed day and I'm still so NOT sick of them. Of course I'm listening to them right now as I write. Probably also while you're reading this. I love them dearly. I quite rarely attach myself to bands and singers; in fact I will never say, 'I HAVE SOOO MANY' when someone asks me who my favourite singers are. I like a lot of singers, but I only have a few favourites. (Unlike books. Hahaha. I have so many favourite books it makes me kind of freaky sometimes.)

I love Pentatonix so much that... I AM DEVOTING A POST ON THEM. To proof my undying love and to seal it with official-ness, and all that.

(If you have never heard of Pentatonix PLEASE GO AND LISTEN TO THEIR CHRISTMAS SONGS. Leave right now and go to Youtube.They're basically a five-group acapella group which likes to blow me away with their talent and creativity and amazing-ness. The twists they put on songs is wow-factor-one-hundred-procent-wow.)

Moving on.

I think one of my favourite things about them is their pop/old-timey/classic/modern feel. It's modern music, but it's classic songs. But it's not modern music as in, every-single-song-sounds-exactly-the-same. Each song sounds so unique and different and beautiful.

As said earlier, all five members of the band are insanely talented. In case you were not aware of this, you know, I'm here to tell you the facts. You're welcome. 

First we have Avi's bass. OH MY WORD. It's like, Josh-Turner-level-ripe-bass-voice. (Just listen to the five first seconds of I'll be home for Christmas and you'll be swooning.) Then there's Kirstie's voice, which is amaze-worthy. I wish I had it. Also, she's so cute. Scott is the handsome blonde and his voice is soooo gorgeous. (His voice in 'Hallelujah' gave me shivers. As did the whole song, but that's beside the point.) And then there's Mitch's man-alto which sounds freakishly like a lady and which is seriously wow. Kevin is the beat-boxer and he's ridiculously talented; it's amazing. (I also love his smile.)

Their Christmas & Winter songs are what makes me love them. They are famous mainly because of it, basically, and no wonder. (I say Christmas and Winter because they're not all Christmas songs. Songs about Sleigh Bells and Santa Claus is Coming and even Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas aren't technically Christmas songs because there's nothing about Christ in them. (Peet Peeve of mine.) (#rantover.))

Here are my top five (CURRENTLY) favourite Pentatonix songs. (Because I need to showw you and FORCE them down your throats.)

Winter Wonderland / Don't worry Be Happy

THIS SONG IS SO SO MUCH FUN. Last year, I must have listened to it 10 thousand times and I still love it. Tori Kelly as a guest star is excellent and the creativity of putting two well-known songs together is just insaaaane. (I dare you not to smile while listening to this.) (I suppose it's humanly possible, but admit it... you wanted to smile. ;-P)

Mary Did You Know

Ahhhhhh THIS VERSION OF THIS SONG. *clutches heart and dies* I can't. Oh my word, it's so gorgeous and powerful and beautiful and it makes me want to cry. (When it goes, 'When you kiss His face, you kiss the face of God' I have so many chills. AND THE END.)

Go Tell it on the Mountain

This one fills me with HAPPINESS. It's so beat-worthy and it's so joyful and so clever. I love it when the bass goes 'go tell it on the mountain' on his little solo and I love the gospel-style beginning. One of my favourites.

Little Drummer Boy

This one is like a gust of fresh air. I mean. Ugh it's so stinkin beautiful I love it so much. Their 'ramramrapam's are so in sinc and the 'ohh's at the back give me that illness called The Goosebumps. Gorgeousness Alore.

Hallelujah

Last but not least, their rendition of Hallelujah absolutely gave me chills. Wow. They are amazing.

I also love their new song 'Coldest Winter', whiiich I've been listening to a lot these past days. This song gets pretty intense (like, creepy level) but woooow. It is GORGEOUS. I must mention it. :-P

There are some things I don't like about them - some of their songs aren't my favourite (I haven't listened to much non-Christmassy songs of theirs, and I didn't enjoy some as much as others) and I dislike some of the band's hairstyles. And fashion choices. (Cough Mitch Cough.) :-P Buuuuuut that's irrelevant. I WUVS THEM A GREAT DEAL.

You too?

10 types of Internet Bios

I'm starting to get sick of the word 'Internet Bios' buuuuut they're so much fun, so here's another post on them. Here are Ten Types of Internet (mainly Instagram) Bios that you will have seen at least one in your life. (Now I sound like Blimey Cow.)

1. The Organised Bio

Example:丨INTJ 丨Lover of books丨24 丨British 丨John 1:1 丨Happily Married丨

That person that loves how uncluttered and organised her/his (let's be real, it's a girl) bio looks in comparison to the unorganised ones.

2. The Emoji Bio

Example: →👗👫💗😻🍁👸🌺🍦🍓🎹←

That person that thinks everyone will take the time to unclue what kind of personality s/he has by staring at the individual emoji's for ten minutes.

3. The Link Bio

Example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sweetest-Thing-Elizabeth-Musser-ebook/dp/B004XM3WA6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481093686&sr=8-1&keywords=the+sweetest+thing+elizabeth+musser

That person who uses their bio to get traffic elsewhere. These are usually short-term, because in the caption of one of the pictures someone will say 'link in the bio.' Why, by the way, not just put the link in the caption? (Or maybe that's not possible?)

4. The Short Bio

Example: Born with peculiarity.

That person that thinks s/he just nailed it on the Bio-writing department.

5. The Funny Bio

Example: I have no clue what to write here, so I guess I'll just take a time to be real with you guys and tell you that.

That person that attempts to make their page looks really attractive by making his/her bio really funny. 90% of the time the joke is very lame, but the fact that s/he devoted the oh-so-important-bio for wit must mean it's a very witty person.

6. The Confusing Bio

Example: 25/mdays!! ANNABELLE💘ง♡↑阝↟🌲థΔ∢ youtubedotcomeslashsomething /🌘०be happy↠ i love @cooldude💜

That person that's trying so, so, so hard to be really cool. Their bio ends up looking like a wreched mess.

7. The follow 4 follow Bio

Example: My name is Janice follow 4 follow no haters plz

That person that wants to be famous so bad s/he does it the desperate way and begs for followers. This is the kind of bio that makes me lose hope in humanity.

8. The Christian Bio

Example: *insert a Bible verse*

That person that gets their priorities straight.

9. The trying-to-fit-as-much-as-possible-into-one-bio Bio

Example: BLOGGER heresmyblogblogspot.com/Lover of rain💦/homeschooled/Downton Abbey/my fam♡/I sell things on Etsy heresmyetsy.com/In Christ Alone/I love doing the laundy/one of these was a joke😀

That person who has so much to say and grabs the oppotunity in the bio. S/he makes sure to attempt to add a little bit of everything; a bit of humour, a bit of linky-love, a bit of emoji-love, a bit of personal info. (I would probably be this person.)

10. The Artistic Bio

Example: 🌒 S T A R T 🌓 L I V I N G 🌔 F O R 🌖 L O V E 🌘

That person that takes hipster to a whole new level, putting spaces (or full-stops) between letters, and using very mythical-looking emojis to make their deep living advice look deeper.

Which one are you? :-)

A Very Merry Tag

Abby (swell girl) at 'Lavender Spring' (swell blog) has this lovely, long Christmas-themed Advent-calender-days celebrations going on at her blog, and it includes a list of Christmassy questions! So yay, let's go and do this. (IT'S DECEMBRRRR!) (For the questions for yourself, go yonder.) (It's called 'A Very Merry Tag.' Does't that sound ridiculously adorable and cheery? GO AND FILL IT OUT yourself.)

1. Does it snow where you live around Christmas? (If it doesn't, you have my sincere sympathy.) How much? Any special snowy Christmas stories?

I accept your sincere sympathy, my girl. 

YEAH I KNOW. POOR SOUL ME. I knoww. *Weeps on shoulder* I can't remember the last time we had a white Christmas, unfortunately. (Well, I remember that Christmas when I was like, five, and we went to Switzerland and had tons of sledding and snow.) It generally cold here in December, but Mr Snow isn't a regular visitor during this month. January and February see more of Mr Snow, and December does too, but not as often. However, so far this December has been very frosty, so I have a chance. *goes away singing I'm dreaming of a white Christmas* 

2. Do you get a real tree or a fake tree?

Real. Cuz it smells better. And it looks better. And because the world needs more trees cut down, right?

3. What is your favourite Christmas movie?

I don't really know. I've often watched The Sound of Music around Christmas, but I don't classify that as a Christmas movie. Little Woman is very Christmassy, and I loved that.

4. Where in the world would you like to spend Christmas the most?

Home sweet home. Or in England, with Grandma and Granddad. Family.

5. What fictional/literary character would you most like to spend Christmas with?

Married couple Emma and Knightley would be lovely. They're Christmassy people. ;-)

What is your favourite Christmas song?

I have two. Well, I have millions, but my two favourites are O Holy Night and In the Bleak Midwinter. Both are deliciously beautiful and seem to give me a little sneak-peak of how beautiful heaven is going to be. And they both have gorgeous words as well as gorgeous tunes.

What is your favourite Christmas book/story (besides, ya know, the story)?

Besides, ya know, THE story. Hahah yes.

Well, I like The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - JUST KIDDING. I actually dislike that story. I don't get why it's a Christmas classic. 

When I was younger, every year, my mother read a short dutch story to us about these three rich boys who expected great Christmas presents. They got great Christmas presents but they weren't satisfied and just squabbled the whole Christmas morning. And then their father forced them to go and give it to this poor boy and it's just a really cute and lovely story. I love it.

Which do you prefer: multi-coloured lights or white lights? 

White. They're fancier.

What time period/decade would you most like to spend Christmas in?

This one is okay, I'm happy where I am. However, after watching Call the Midwife Christmas specials, a Christmas in the late 50's sounds divine too.

Which period drama has the best Christmas scene/episode?

Downton Abbey Season Two Christmas Special end of story bye.

The Life of Blogger-Person

(Note: this blog post is meant to be a joke. Don't take it seriously by any means.) (Also I had no people in particular (except myself in no.2) in mind while writing this. Just don't get offended by anything here, okay, it's all meant to be funny. It might not be funny, but it's meant to be. Ha.)

1. Blogger-Person Starts Blog

First there's an ugly header, a layout which wobbles and needs tweaking. But Blogger-Person is proud of her (let's make Blogger-Person a girl, even though I know there are guy-bloggers) blog and she spends sweat, blood and tears trying to make it as nice as *insert her favourite blog* which, after some time, she realises will never happen. The first post is written in a flurry of excitement and oh, gleeful is the day when the follower-box has more than one for company. The first follower, after all, was Blogger-Person herself, because it's so much fun to see your own posts coming up in your own dashboard, ammirite?

2. Blogger-Person posts. A lot.

The first year of blogging often occurs in the years of little schoolwork and responsibilities. Happy were the days when Blogger-Person posted every day, sometimes twice a day, sometimes thrice. Inspiration was never low and inwardly she scorned those other blogger-peoples who said that they 'didn't know what to write about.' Why! The notion to her was impossible. Not know what to post about? The idea. The blogging world was an adventure and a thrill... she had 30 followers and finally had a celebrity status. And she really has the hang of it now. Like, she's giving all the New-Blogger-People advice.

3. Blogger-Person makes friends with other Blogger-People

This is an important stage in Blogger-Person's life and wins many new followers for her gain. If she's lucky some of her own favourite Blogger-People start interacting with her obviously it's time it make all the followers jealous by writing loads and loads of posts on how much fun they're having on their epic meet-up and by making sure to mention tons of inside jokes in the comments. Because it's so fun to tease readers and to brag about how intimate blogger friendships are. 

4. Blogger-Person moves blog & gets a fancy layout

The old blog posts are just far to embarrassing. Blogger-Person has changed and grown so much since she started this blog. Really, it is time for a new chapter in her life. She will continue blogging but it is time to venture in a new Blog. This time it is modern, SO LEGIT and fancy-schmancy. The title is the name of Blogger-Person and the sidebar has a cool gadget to show off the Instagram pictures. The blog posts only have pics made by Blogger-Person, and gifs of famous people, because Blogger-Person is no longer interested in what she was very interested in when she started blogging. She has grown; changed; and she is so so thankful for her darling followers for sticking around on her journey. *

5. Blogger-Person disappears forever

...but she has an Instagram account which is 100% active, so it's not like she's dead.

The disappearance of Blogger-Person is always mysterious, sometimes just offensive because we can SEE that she has a LOT OF TIME on her hands just looking at the Insta Gram. Blogger-Person gets married, Blogger-Person disappears. That's how things work. Or Blogger-Person get's too high-and-mighty for her lil' blog, she now finally has real life friends. Or Blogger-Person simply is too busy, she will say. Sometimes, after two years or something, A-now-Older-Blogger-Person returns (waaaaaaaat *comment section turns ecstatic*) with the promise that she will post more often. But that post with that promise really was the very last blog post.

(*EMMA I PROMISE I DID NOT WRITE THIS WITH YOU IN MIND.)

If Period Drama Characters had Internet Bios #4

LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD

@Laura_Timmins Lark Rise girl on an adventure in Candleford. Love my Par and Mar, poetry, journalling and my boyfriend.
@DameDorcasLane Instagram is my one weakness.
@AlfArless Hard working lad looking for more work in order to feed siblings. Music is my escape.
@ThomasBrown Postman of Candleford! Married to my wife! Sunday is for Church!
@thatgirlMinnie not minnie mouse, minnie from candleford! int that ectraodaniry! alf sure is lovely but il be persisterance.
@CAROLINEArless HIII LIFE IS GOOD! Just keep smiling and don't WORRY about the bills! It'll fall into place somhow promise
@JournalistDanielParish I'm a journalist and I'm proud to call Candleford my new home.
@MissEllison married to Thomas Brown so now my name is Mrs Brown, not Miss Ellison. Yay!
@MrRobertTimmins I'm a carpenter. Huband. Pa. Proud Lark Rise-ian.
@EmmaTimmins_mama Mama to five lovely kiddos, wife to a darling rascal!
@TwisterTurril I try onest I do! But then I do love a good drink. and I play music. and the pig is mine!
@QUEENIE "What a person believes isn't what they think, isn't what they say, it's what they do." - Myself
@FisherBloom Irish watch-maker boy. There is more to life than it seems.
@Gabriel_Cochrane The past is sometimes hard to leave behind. Ringer of bells.
@PearlPratt ::: dressmaker and sister ::: frills and furbelows ::: writer of the poem 'fly little bird.'
@youngersisterRuby also a dressmaker and and a sister ::: family is is important! :::
@EdmundTimmins my ma doesn't know i'm online says i'm too young. But i'm not. i go to the pub.
@Sydney I'm Sydney and I wear glasses and I'm a very good actor.
@Jamesdowland own a hotel which is cool, but my heart is broken because someone refused me.
@LadyAdelade Wife // Mistress // Maybe one day a Mama? // Melancholy
@SirTimothyMidwinter hey remember that time when we wrote our initials on the tree. let's talk about that for the entire episodes the viewers will think it's so romantic.
@CinderellaDoe THE WIND DO BLOW
@thatboyfriendPhilip You know, the boyfriend in Season One.

GONE WITH THE WIND

@Queen_Scarlett Fiddle dee dee don't you go around messing with me. #rememberimthequeen
@Rhett_richButler Frank guy, extremely rich, not to mention intelligent. I generally get what I want in the end.
@Ashleywilkes Melanie is my wife. I love you! Scarlett I love you. Please look after her. God willing, I'll be back.
@Melanie_Wilkes Wife of my darling Ashley and Mother of the sweetest son in the world. The world is filled with wonderful people! There is good in everyone, especially @Queen_Scarlett!
@MrsEllen_OHara "When you do good deeds, do not try to show off" {Matthew 6:1}
@IRISHO'Hara Being Irish is great it means you can drive horses really fast! Owner of Tara
@MAMMY Some things jus aint fittin but people awe not gonna listen dey listen to the chile instead! jus aint fittin!
@Suellenthegreat I HATE MY SISTER SHE STOLE MY BEAU AND THEN SHE DIDN4T CARE WHEN HE DIED
@Careen_theyoungest // Rest in Peace, Brent Tarlenton // Isaiah 40:11 //
@BrentWoot Tarlenton Redhead, twin brother of Stuart, we're gonna have fun at the barbeQ right?
@StartWoot Tarlenton Redhead, twin brother of Brent, we're sure gonna have fun at the barbeQ
@official_account_of_TARA Account run by @Queen_Scarlett . Contact me for good deals .
@IndiaWilkes some people suck
@BonnieBlueButler Bonnie Blue is going to be the princess of the whole world (account run by her loving father)
@Belle_Watling am i good or bad you decide i dont care
@theservantgirlprissy i can help woman whos gonna have a baby! scared of the war!
@WillBenteen The war may be over, but we still all have duties to face. Let us go and face them with joy.

LES MISERABLES

@JeanValjean Look up. Help others. Number: 24601. Life advice: don't steal bread.
@Fantine I dreamed a dream and then I died. #cuttinghairdoesnthelp #sellingteethdoesnthelp #savecosette
@Sweet_Cosette I have a heart filled with love for @Mariusthepoet ! He is everything!
@Mariusthepoet I have a heart filled with love @Sweet_Cosette ! She makes my chairs and tables look less empty.
@Eponinegirl Pluviophile / Third wheeling forever. #onmyown
@The_Javert My name is Javert. I repeat: My name is Javert. Looking for 24601. Look down unless there are stars.
@ENJOLRAS_RED Duuude we can DO this! RED AND BLACK ARE COOL COLOURS. Specially red. #Yolo #noreallythisisserious
@Gavroche I love elephants. Yes @ENJOLRAS_RED we can do this! #Yolo
@Madamethenardier DARLING Eponine. Ugh Cosette. Mistress of the house. I collect gross things. Mwhaha.
@MonsieurThenardier MASTER OF THE HOUSE. That's ME!
@thebishop I have a very detailed house. The candles are pretty. Do good deeds!

5 Things on the Internet that annoy me

Happy first day of Advent. Happy National Craft Jerky Day. (No seriously, that's a thing.) Happy National Bavarian Cream Pie Day. (If you think I'm making this up, I'm not.) Today I'm going to complain about things on the Internet. Because it's fun. And because Internet can be extremely, extremely annoying. And yet, we're carried away by it and have patience for it.

1. Long intros on Youtube videos

UGH I HATE THIS.

This is probably the one that annoys me the most, and it's everywhere on Youtube. If you don't know what I'm talking about, well, let me elaborate. Many Youtubers, when they start a video, called say, 'DIY's for Christmas' they start the video with something like, 'wassup, guys!' and then they explain what they're going to do in the video. This I can manage. But then so often they just ramble on and on. Often they even say 'like this video!' in the INTRO. Like, NO! SO FAR THIS VIDEO HAS BEEN VERY BORING. And sometimes they say stuff like, 'Oh and one more thing...' and then finally after like a four minute intro, they say, 'Now let's get into the video!'

AS IF THE VIDEO HASN'T STARTED YET.

It HAS!

The video starts from 0:00. Duh.

So I get why people do intros, and short intros are fine. But really, even those aren't needed. Viewers aren't STUPID. They will get from the title that a video called 'DIY's for Christmas' is 'DIY's for Christmas.'  If it's a music video, they will get, okay, as soon as the video starts that it's a song. There is no need to explain. People can figure it out for themselves by just watching the video. And reading the title.

Rant over. Next rant.

2. Buzzfeed

Nuff said. Ugh.

The clickbait, the stupid useless-ness of it and the way it grabs time with meaningless articles about 'what cheese are you' and 'ten things that will make you say legit' or whatever. Buzzfeed makes me loose hope for humanity. Buzzfeed should read Ecclesiastes and realise how meaningless they are.

*insert random cute picture*

3. When ads don't even load!

Ads are an immense nuisance. Period. But what really takes the giddy biscuit is when they don't load and you have to WAIT FOR SOMETHING YOU HATE. *turns off caps* *turns off italics* You know what I'm talking about, right? When you're going to watch a video, and there's an ad before the video and then wifi gets bad and the ad won't load. Just... I WANT TO WATCH THE VIDEO. But there's an ad. And I have to go through the ad before the video - I accept that. But when the ad doesn't load... ugh, the way it plays on my patience. I'm quitting.

4. Serious 'sexy' selfies

WHY.

Serious selfies annoy me sooo much. I love selfies, I'm not one of those 'ughh teens with their stupid selfies' people - but SMILE PLEASE. THAT'S THE POINT. I don't get why people go all serious on pictures. It's not professional, or chique, or glam, or hot. It just looks plumb ridiculous. And then of course there are comments with like, 'OMG YOU'RE SO PRETTY' which makes me roll my eyes which makes the older generation turn around in their graves. (Duck-face selfies, of course, are terrible too. But I think we can all agree on that and don't need to talk about it. *shudder*)

5. Repost if you...

Repost if you love Jesus. Pin if you would stay up all night to convince out of suicide. Repost if your best friend is beautiful. Okay, these are all true and I've seen all of them, BUT I'M NOT GONNA REPOST. And that doesn't make me less of a human... I just don't want to repost it! I don't need to repost something to prove that this is true. This just bothers me because it makes me feel guilty about not spending some extra time posting something which will make other people feel exactly the same. Why is this a THING. :-P

(Also: We don't need another make-up tutorial. Or another cover of Let it Go. Or a duck-face selfie. And Instagram, I know legs exist. Stoppit.)

What are some things online that annoy you?

And I fully realise I sound like a very grumpy person in this post. Share if you agree. Like and subscribe and don't forget to comment! (Yeah, people say that way to much. If the post is good: You will get comments and likes and followers. But begging makes one sound so desperate!) (I find it hilarious when Youtubers with MILLIONS of followers say the 'Like and subscribe' thing. As if they're scared of not getting enough attention.)

My 4 favourite Christmas Albums + New Christmas blog look!

Thanksgiving is over, which means I can officially start posting Christmassy posts without getting a scolding from Emma. Although, I've got to say, I have a good influence on her cuz two weeks ago she admitted to me she was really looking forward to Christmas too. So yes. Really, honestly, no-one is complaining. It is starting to become the end of November (waaat? It was literally January yesterday, I'm serious I'm dead serious) and therefore DUH WHAT DO I DO?

I LISTEN TO CHRISTMAS SONGS.

ALSO. I AM SO PROUD OF MY CHRISTMAS BLOG LOOK. I will stop freaking out after I've reloaded the page about ten-thousand times and viewed it from all the different angles my neck can manage. It looks hashtag legit and I have snow. (If only I had snow in REAL life and that my real life was legit, but oh well. Online life is all that matters, haha. :-P) Tell me if you approve of this blog look or if you're sad that I'm becoming all fancy-shmancy and that my blog look no longer feels like 'the old one.' (The only thing *I* don't like is something about the comment section and the labels at the bottom. But otherwise I'm really happy with how this turned out. :-))

Back to Christmas Albums: Here are my top four-favourite Christmas Albums.

4. Michael Bublé

I have said it before and I say it again: Michael Bublé voice is velvet. Dark sateen burgandy velvet. Silky scarlett velvet. Whatever. IT IS VELVET. I love his voice to bits and this Christmas Album is top notch beautiful and feel-good. I approve most strongly indeed. (And now I'm going to use the new blogger emoticons to express my love.)
💗💗💗💗💗
(There.)


3. Libera

Slightly more traditional, this one, but there's nothing wrong with that! (Nothing.) This is officially the beautifullest boys choir in the entire world and their Christmas Album is SILVER. (I am so into metaphors, hadn't you noticed?) The voices are so pure and beautiful and just... zero glitches. How do these children do this.
👼👼👼👼👼
(Now I've started with the emoticons, I might as well find one to describe each album. ;-))

2. Celtic Woman

I used to be obsessed with this album. AND LET'S BE REAL: I STILL AM. Definitely my my most-listened-to Christmas Album (I'm only putting it on no.2 because my current favourite is the following one) and definitely GOLD AND TOP NOTCH. Their voices are divine and the versions are different, fresh and still really dignified and beautiful. And the violin. Ahh. I love this album to bits and pieces and I've listened to it so many times.
😍😍😍😍😍


1. Pentatonix

I discovered these amazingly talented people last year, and I was immediately hooked, from the first song I listened to. When I went back to them several weeks ago, I was re-gobble-smacked at the awesomeness of their Christmas Album. All the sounds are made by humans (so yes, the backing track at the back, is someone human) and it sounds amazing. I love the twist they put on the songs (a Gospel version of Hark the Herald, for instance! Yus.) and I just can't get enough of these.

👌👌👌👌👌

(This is actually the 'ok' emoji, but for me it's the 'wow that was soooo clever' sign.)

Okay, now you tell me! What is/are your favourite Christmas Album(s)? Are what emoji/sign would you use to describe it? (Answer this question in the comments. I can't hear you if you just whisper it to the screen.)

And tell me if I'm too early about the whole Christmas thing. I don't think so.

He is still here to take our breath away.

Jesus was popular. On re-reading the gospel of Mark, I now suddenly realise just how popular He was. It was crazy. It was amazing; this shows how huge of an impact He made. People from all over the place were filled with awe, amazement, wonder and curiosity for this man. This Man. Never forget the capital letters when you're talking about God, haha. This Man, who, for the record, kept his Identity secret most of the time. Jesus did miracles and told stories and preached the Gospel, and all these swarms and crowds to came to see Him.

"News about Jesus spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee." (And this was before emails, postal services, newspapers and telegrams. In case you had forgot.)

"When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon." (W O W. This is more than just random village people. Much more.)

In case you didn't get this yet, it got so crazy that Jesus couldn't even walk around in town openly and sometimes he didn't even have time to eat. He had to make an effort to be alone to pray, and I bet He had to make an effort too, to have some 'alone time' with Him and the twelve apostles. (The thought of this must make some of us introverts nervous!)

"Many ran on foot from all town and got there ahead of them."

"Jesus could no longer enter a town openly."

"And again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat."

(Sometimes the crowd forgot about food too. But then that boy with the five loaves and two fish came to the rescue and Jesus did something amazing.) Anyway, point made: Jesus sure had more than twelve disciples. He had millions of them. The reactions mentioned in Mark all all just filled with AWE. Again and again, phrases like these are mentioned:

"People were overwhelmed with amazement."

"People were overwhelmed with wonder for Jesus." 

"The whole crowd was amazed at His teaching."

"The large crowd listened to Him with delight."

Imagine if in that time, the Internet was a thing. And if Jesus had a Youtube channel or something. Imagine the comments. We could take them right out of the Bible - the comments that people gave Him.

"We have never seen anything like this!"

"Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"

"He has done everything well."

And of course:

"He is out of His mind."

... made by his own family. And we also have more nasty comments; enough to have Jesus killed later on. Enough for crucifixion. 

But about the huge amounts of awe. THE SAME AWE SHOULD STILL BE HERE. This is more than awe for a supermoon or awe for a movie or awe for an emotional fictional novel. Or awe for a family member or a spouse. Jesus is still here. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. We should still be filled with awe and amazement and wonder and curiosity, like those crowds in the time when Jesus walked on earth. We should yearn to learn more. God is here. He isn't gone. He hasn't withered under any dust. He is still here to take our breath away.

Books I'd love to read. (+ chocolate.)

Hello, my dear apples and potatoes and chocolate-chip loving human beings, how is life? What's your new favourite word and are you reading any book of the Bible in particular? (My answers would be 'crumbs' and the gospel according to Mark.) Can you say 'Irish wrist watch' five times at a fairly fast pace? (After a lot of practise, I have succeeded.) (Yesterday was national tongue twister day, did ya know?) (Also, my big bro became freaking twenty yesterday. I had chocolate cake. And Maltesers. And more cake. And then a carrot to make me feel good about all the sugar.)

Today I'm going to talk about books that I want to read very badly. Some of these, hopefully, will be gifts for Christmas (eek!) (squee!) (yay!) but ya know, it's fun to talk about books and to read your comments on them. Tell me if any of these are terrible, so I can change my mind about them and not buy them after all. I might not listen though, but these all look dang good. (Also, some I'm just so curious about. I must read them all.)

Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin

This is definitely the first in my list of BOOKS I YEARN TO POSSESS IN MY BOOKSHELF. So far all the reviews seem to be glowingly positive and the synopsis at the back seems so riveting. At first I didn't like the cover, but now I just want to hold it in my hands and GAZE at it.. bahhh I want to read this so bad. :-P I love the sound of it and I love the names of the characters and I love that the main character is Dutch. Also, it's Lynn Austin + historical fiction, which ultimately means excellent new favourite book. 

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

I've heard of this book a lot. Many bloggers have recommended it glowingly and many Goodreads friends have rated it five golden stars. I want to read this real bad. (Especially after the two bookish Mind the Gap episodes: 1 / 2 /) (Also, 'real bad' sounds so Southern American, ha.) I always love a good inspiring book and I've recently yearned to read a great faith-based book - sometimes I feel like I should read more than just fiction. ;-)

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

I don't want to read this BUT YET I DO. It's so deliciously controversial and so deliciously famous and I yearn for more Scout Finch. I feel like my bookish inside-self can't settle down peacefully before I can claim to have read this book. But, of course, before I do, I must reread the MINDBLOWINGLY BRILLIANT To Kill a Mockingbird which I will love till I die. Also, I love Atticus. And I don't want to not to.

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Someone recommended this to me after I once raved about The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society, saying that this book has a very similar concept, what with the letter-form and strangers becoming friends in random circumstances, and all that. Obviously, this makes me want to read this book because obviously and obviously. Oh and obviously. (Did I say duh?)

Steal like an Artist by Austin Kleon

The only thing that stops me from buying this darling (apparently ridiculously inspiring and drive-the-creative-ness-inside-you-mad-ing) is that it's not very LONG and therefore might be a disappointment. However, I still REALLY want to read this. I can just imagine how much it'll make me want to be crazy creative and judging from the amazon sneak peaks, it is adorable and darling and so inspirational.

The Complete Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery

I WANT TO READ THIS SO BADLY. A sneaky peak inside the life of my favourite authoress? More sentences and words spun by this beautiful writer? Yes please yes. Unfortunately it is SO expensive to buy though, so I can't see this being in my possession any time to soon. But it's definitely high on my to-read list.

(Also, all these books. Give them.):

Voilà, a couple of gems I wish to devour. Do you have any books on your Christmas wish list? Tell me about them. Maybe also give me some words of consolation because after I hit publish I'm going to go downstairs and watch Downton Abbey Series 3 episode 5 which is the episode where the nicest character under the roof dies. SOMEONE HELP ME. SOMEONE HOLD MY HAND.

I sincerely hope each and every one of you is enjoying this confusing and beautiful and bronze month, and that you're keeping yourself busy and inspired. I recommend making jokes about awkward things and keeping firm hold of the amazing word of God. God is amazing. I love Him. I also recommend Michael Buble songs and Doris Day songs and chocolate hazelnut bars and big sweaters. Have a great night darlings. Remember that you're sleeping under beautiful silver stars.

(It is evening as I write, so therefore it is evening for all of you. ;-P)

If Period Drama Characters had Internet Bios #3

(Back with this again. ;-))

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

@Cordelia_Shirley My life long sorrows include my red hair and people spelling 'Anne' without its last letter. I love long words and I relish in nature, kindred spirits and beautiful bedrooms.
@GilbertBlythe if I tease you, don't take it badly I was just playing around cuz you're awesome. // Major in English
@MatthewCuthbert Anne, what should I write here?
@Marilla Stop whining, be useful. Life is short, there is no time for useless furbelows.
@That_Rachel Yes, I'm the lady who knows. #secondjeeves Love knitting and chatting. Neighbours are my friends.
@Diana_Barry Raven black hair // Actually, it's slightly less black than the colour of ravens.
@Fredwright Hi.
@JOSIEPYE heyyyyy there i'm an aspiring actress and i have the best beau okay so i'm pretty much wonderful. follow
@Jane_Andrews_1999 Avonlea high school.
@RubyGillis5 Lyfe is short so be nice to everyone and have loads of beaux because duh!
@MoodySpurgeon i'm that kid with the mouse who laughed funny and with ginger hair. that's bout it.
@Charlie_Sloan @Cordelia_Shirely welcome to Avonlea! lol #crush
@PrissyAndrews I LOVE school. I'm really bad though and I kneed loads of help. But its ok!
@MrPhilips Ys I was that tachr and thn I lft. (Fill in the e's.)
@Miss_Stacy Honoured to teach in Avonlea. I love my children. Also, tea!
@MrandMrsAllan Working in the ministry. Whatever you do, do it well.
@Josephine_thegreataunt I live in the great city. I pay NICE girls for their music lessons. Nice girls do not jump on beds.
@Mrs_Barry Children must be not seen + not heard. Besides, the outside air is good for them.
@MinnieMay account run by my mother.

NORTH AND SOUTH

@Margaret_Hale Helstone girl stuck in the busy life of Milton. Be kind to ALL people, no matter how different they are from you.
@JohnThornton Mill owner. Stick to the rules or the whole system collapses.
@Mr_Hale Theology and language. Do you want to come to my class? Starts at 8:00 PM tonight, do join!
@MrsHale Life is hard, why did we leave Helstone?
@Thorntons_Mama My boy John is my ROCK and he does everything so well! #sticktotherules
@FANNY_thornton i can't live without a piano. i hate stickinthemuds. i am rich. am i?
@Nicholas_Higgins WE MUST MAKE OUR VOICES KNOWN. #NOGOINGBACK #STRIKE #NOGIVINGUP
@Bessy_Higgins Well, I suppose you can go through this thing called life with a laugh.
@Boucher I must give in bc i need to help my family. i have six kids; help plz!!!!!!!!
@Dixon12 I've got @MrsHale's back and I wish her the best. But I do need some help with the ironing.
@Fred_Hale Spain . Dolores . British boy . Innocent . Ssh .
@MrBell The godfather who had a more important role than people realise. I'm where the money is.
@HenryLennox London and @Margaret_Hale and that's it I think.
@CousinEdith Send letters to your loved ones! // Happy wife // Just became a mother!

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE

@MrIngalls_Charles Everything's gonna be just fine. My beautiful wife and daughters make me the luckiest man alive.
@Caroline_Ingalls Selling eggs for my living // Homestead Mama and Wife // Used to teach // John1:1
@MaryIngalls The saying blondes have more fun isn't exactly true when one has younger sisters.
@the.Laura.Ingalls If I had a remembrance book I would write about Jack, Pa, my own window, and the beautiful prairies.
@CARRIE_ifell running in prairies is harder than it looks. also, being the youngest is unfair!
@Albert_Ingalls Adopted son number one. Coincidentally, I look like @MrIngalls_Charles! Also, Laura and I have the best adventures.
@MrEdwards ol' dan tucker was a fine ol' man / tobacco + Santa and I are best buds!
@MissBeadle I love my pupils and I love a good doze of lemon verbina. It's the little things!
@HARRIET_OLESON I run the Oleson's Mercantile; without a doubt the best store anyplace near Walnut Grove. My children are DARLINGS and I love them.
@NelsOleson2 I run the Oleson's Mercantile with my wife. Father of two. Candy is bad for your teeth.
@THE.NELLIE.OLESON Town-girl through and through. Got a real doll for my birthday. It's like, the 20th doll I own. I have a remembrance book. #blondesDOhavemorefuninmycase
@WillieOleson55 pa, ma said i could be online so there! and candy is good. who cares about teeth!
@MrHanson I run the mill // Swedish //
@Reverend_Aldan I sometimes use metaphors in my sermons. Onwards Christian soldiers!
@Doctor_Baker I'm a dentist, an optician, a herbal adviser, a physician, a vet, you name it. (But not a farmer)
@Manly_Wilder dude, it's cool! I love horses and food and girls who call me Manly! (The name Almanzo sucks.)