Birthday Wishes | Books

Hey everyone!

Welcome to the third instalment in my Birthday Wishes series. This week is all about books! Even though I’ve been doing tons and tons of reading for uni in the past few weeks, there are still other books out there that I would like to read. Obviously, I don’t expect to get all of them for my birthday and, heck, I haven’t even finished reading the books I got for Christmas! I do have a massive break over Christmas time – from the end of November to the end of February – so I’ll get a ton of leisure reading done then. And I’ll probably find more books to want for Christmas this year as well!

The first book on my list is The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton. I must say, the first thing I liked about this book was the cover. The deep blue and the bright gold are just so pretty, you know? This book is about a girl name Ava Lavender (shocking, I know) who is normal in every way except that she has bid wings. She goes on a quest to fit in and understand more about herself, and meets someone called Nathaniel Sorrows (very clever name considering the title). That’s all that the synopsis really says, but I really like the sound of this book. I am a massive Potterhead and so love everything fantasy related, so this seems like an obvious choice for me.

The next book on my list also has a feather on the front, weirdly, and also has blue and gold elements. It is called Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley. I guess I have a thing for those colours (there’s nothing wrong with liking something thought, right?). Anyway, this book is about a girl, named Aza Ray, with a strange lung disease that makes living very hard for her. One day she looks up into the sky and sees a ship, and can hear someone calling her name. Only her best friend believes her; everyone else says that it was probably a hallucination caused by her medication. Then somehow (it doesn’t say in the synopsis) she is transported up into the cloudy world full of trading ships: Magonia. She can breathe up there and has powers as well. Aza discovers that Magonia and Earth are on the brink of war and she must decide whether to save Earth or Magonia. This book sounds like an adventure from start to finish and it is safe to say that I would enjoy this one as well.

The third book on my birthday list is Carnivalesque by Neil Jordan. This book is also blue and gold. Dang, I didn’t realise all the books on my list looked the same. At least this one doesn’t also have a feather on the front. This story is about a boy called Andy, who goes to a mysterious carnival with his parents. For all money, it looked like a normal carnival, but it wasn’t at all. Andy went into the hall of mirrors and walked right into the mirror, becoming a reflection. Another boy, who isn’t Andy, went home with Andy’s parents. The reflection of Andy is pulled (literally) by a girl name Mona into a carnival world where anything could happen. Wow, Nicky, what a surprise. A fantasy book again, I would never have picked you liking them. This book sounds really cool. I think all the time that there is a world behind my mirror, and now I can read about it!

The last two books on my list are Incarnate by Jodi Meadows and the 20-year anniversary edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. As a proud Hufflepuff, I would like the yellow one, and I think you all probably know how that story goes (if you don’t, then you are missing out!). I had Incarnate on last year’s Christmas list so I won’t go over the synopsis again because I already have. I would really like both of these books and I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter series and Incarnate sounds like a really good book.

That is my entire list of books that I would like for my birthday. I do hope you enjoyed it, and stay tuned for the final instalment of this series next week! Just between you and me, it’ll get a bit random.

Have you read any of the books on my list? Did you enjoy them?

Love, Nicky x

Birthday Wishes | Beauty

Hey lovelies!

Welcome to the second instalment of my birthday list, as my birthday is now less than a month away. This time I’ll show you the beauty related things I would like for my birthday. In case you’re new, I’m turning 18 on August 7. Unfortunately, I have uni that day and to top it all off it will be a Monday, but Mum said we’ll go out for dinner and get smashed. Just kidding, we’ll each have a wine or something with our dinner. I’m really excited for it, but as of yet, I haven’t started planning the party. I have loads of time, it’ll be fine! Anyway, on with the list!

The first beauty thing on my list is a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. The brush I use for foundation is falling apart a bit, so I feel that it is time for a replacement. I also have a blending sponge, but I find it a bit hard to use. I have heard great things about the Real Techniques brushes in general, but mostly this one in particular. The brush claims to be great for blending cream and liquid foundations, which is important. Also, I really like how it looks, aesthetically.

I did have foundation on my list, but I don’t know what shade I am and I don’t want people spending money on something I might not be able to use. Anyway, I have a BB Cream that works for me quite well. The thing on my list after that is a mascara, specifically the Tarte Lights Camera Splashes mascara. First off, I have watery eyes so waterproof is always a must. I have read that it doesn’t budge from anything, which is quite important with the Wateriest Eyes In The World™. Second, I have heard fantastic things about this mascara, which claims to lengthen, curl, volumise and condition the lashes. Even if it doesn’t achieve all those things, I think it will still be a good mascara. However, for the price-point of $29, I would expect it to do all the things it claims.

The final beauty related thing I have on my birthday list is a lipstick, MAC Faux in particular. I’ve trawled through tons and tons of websites looking for a shade that I would wear on a daily basis and I think this shade is that. I have heard many positive about the MAC lipsticks and Faux is said to be a ‘my lips but better’ kind of lipstick. It is quite expensive for a lipstick (around $36), but I think it’s worth it, especially for an 18^th!

And that brings my beauty wants to a close. There are still another two posts left in this series of birthday list, and next week I’m covering all things books, so keep your eyes peeled!

What do you want for your next birthday?

Love, Nicky x

Birthday Wishes | Fashion

Hey everyone!

As it is my birthday in a little over a month – August 7^th, to be exact – I thought I would share my birthday list with you. I am turning eighteen this year, which means I will officially be an adult! I am so looking forward to being asked for ID for the next ten years due to my height (note the sarcasm). I actually am really excited for my birthday, even though I do still have to organise some kind of party. I have separated my list into different sections including fashion, beauty, books and random. Today I will show you the fashiony things I would like for my birthday.

The first fashion thing I have on my list is wedge trainers. There are some really nice ones from Forever New that I really like. They are called Keisha Wedge Trainers and they come in both black and nude. I prefer the nude ones, personally. They are lace up shoes, also with a zip up the side and a buckle. On the buckle and down the side there are little studs. I don’t think I’m selling them very well, but I really like them. It goes without saying that it would make me a little bit taller, which would be quite nice.

It is a kind of tradition in my family to ‘go big’ on the milestone birthdays. When my mum turned 50, we got her some Swarovski earrings. Mum has said to me that she will do the same. We went into the Swarovski shop the other day to have a look around and see what I might like for my birthday. It was only a very short look, but I did like the smaller earrings with silver coloured metal and clear crystals (white?). I don’t know what they’re called, but I like them.

I would also really like some Ugg Boots. My feet get really cold in the winter and I don’t like that. My mum and dad both have Ugg Boots and I have tried on Mum’s on a few occasions and have loved them. I don’t know what else to say other than that I would like these for my birthday. I already have slippers, but they’re pretty crappy if I’m honest.

My final three fashion-related things are just clothes in general. The first is a nice top, or some nice tops, that I can wear to uni so I’m not wearing the same stripy top two times in one week. I would like some with different patterns. Maybe some floral, spotty, or unique in some way would be nice. The kind of top I don’t want is one with a graphic on it. Unless I support the band, TV show or movie on the top. I will not wear it for fear of being outed as ‘following trends despite knowing nothing about (insert band name here)’.

My next on the list of general clothing items is a jacket. Currently, I have one black button up cardigan with a missing button and a black zip-up polar fleece jacket that I bought for school camp three years ago. It is not stylish in any way, but if I want to be warm I will wear it. I would like a jacket that does have some essence of style. Maybe a denim one, maybe a leather one (let’s be real, it would be pleather), or maybe a cotton one. I saw a really nice one in Forever New a little while ago, but other than the fact that it was about $150, I reckon they don’t sell it anymore.

The final thing on my list is high-waisted jeans. I currently have high-waisted shorts that I bought for schoolies last year and I quite liked them. I do have jeans, but only one pair. If variety is the spice of life, then my wardrobe is flour. I would like to have a bit more variety so I’m not wearing the same jeans every day for a week without washing them in between, as I have been doing for quite a while. I don’t know if high-waisted is still a trend, but I don’t know if I care. I would like some high-waisted jeans because they would make me feel good about myself.

That is the end of this part of the list. I still have another three posts to go in this series of birthday list, so stay tuned, because next week we’re diving into the beauty pool of things I want.

What do you want for your next birthday? 

Love, Nicky x