Hello!

I am not active on this blog anymore, however, you may find more content from me at cloudpaintings!

See you there! ♡

Bookish Bundle

As some of you may know, I'm a bit of a bookworm. That said, I know a lot of others are, as well. This is why I decided to work with Bookish Bundle, a bookish subscription box full of fun and surprises!

For those of you who don't know, Bookish Bundle is a service that sells boxes with a mystery book, as well as a few goodies inside, following a theme! The theme is different for each box, and there's one box available for purchase every 3 months, for RM75 including postage to West Malaysia!

If you'd like to know more, visit their insta page. I know you bookworms won't regret treating yourselves to this!

Sephora Haul

This year, I found out that I am, in fact, still illegible for the great luxury that is duit raya. Needless to say, I was overjoyed! I honestly thought I'd get the 'you're an adult now', comment, so this was such a pleasant surprise.

As I was put on a book ban, and have thusly left the bookstore empty-handed many times as of late (and surreptitiously sneaking reads from unwrapped books), I decided to spend my moola elsewhere.
Sephora.

I've never spent so much for makeup, as I'm more of a drugstore girl, so this is a first. I've received high-end cosmetic products as gifts, but never thought it actually worth splurging for them myself, until now. Just thought I'd treat myself to a different kind of retail therapy. And boy, am I happy.

I've no idea why some of the products are named so suggestively, but damn, y'all need to chill.

A small poem

A home is not
A building
Or a place
Nor is a home
A property or an address

Home is where your heart belongs
And where you always return
Home is where you always feel loved
Or so they say

And up until now
I know not
Whether it was more foolish
To make a home of four walls and a roof
Or two arms and a heartbeat.

BB1M Haul 2016

It's nearly halfway through the year, and it feels as though it's just been a blink of an eye. All of it.
This is also how I feel about me holding the BRIM vouchers. I quite literally spent my vouchers the very next day after getting a hold of them. Obviously, I am the epitome of self control (ha ha).

I made my way to Bookalicious, and found Leon behind the counter, who helped me pick out some books. By help, I mean making it precisely a billion times harder to make a choice, because all the books I wanted were there!

So anyway, without further ado, my BRIM book haul for 2k16!

The very first thing I did after getting the vouchers was texting the friendly indie bookshop owner and asking him if he still had the book set I'd wanted in stock since I'd last asked for them the previous month. When I came to, he'd told me it was the last one! What luck!

The said magical bookset is no other than The Puffin in Bloom, which is a beautiful set of classics I'd had my eyes on for a while! I've since picked up A Little Princess, and cannot wait to get into these. Could not be happier finally getting them!

I also bought the book I'd been anticipating since last year, when I read Winter! I read it the same day I bought it and I was thoroughly amazed and satisfied! I haven't been this obsessed with a book series since Harry Potter!

 

I also decided to invest in a non-fiction book, as per my promise to my father, who believes in living in the real world (unlike his daughter, who would've preferred having been born a wild she-wolf princess living in a space hovercraft somewhere). I chose this gem, because I thought I'd had enough psychology and self help books; and because let's face it, you can never go wrong with a nice spiritual book!

Taking these books home felt like adopting kittens - not that I'd know from personal experience (yet!) but, I would imagine bringing home furry little bundles of joy is similar to bringing beautifully binded worlds home. I've placed them in their new home, i.e., my bookshelf, and hope that it doesn't look too messy.

Welcome to the family, babies!

Reading Resolutions

Last year, in 2015 (wow, that felt odd to say), I read 155 books, of the 150 I set at the beginning of the year.

This year, I intend to keep the goal at 150, but I wouldn't be too crushed if I don't reach it. It's just something to keep in mind when I suffer from an awful bout of a reading slump.

Another challenge that would be fun to try is the one put up by Popsugar. I'd done the 2015 challenge, and it was thoroughly thrilling to see just how many books I'd read that I could tick off from the list!

I hadn't done too badly, scoring 45 of 50 (The books I haven't read being a banned book, a book I was supposed to read in school but didn't, a classic romance, a play, and a book that came out the year I was born). I do intend to up my game, though. Bring it on!

This year's challenge seems to be a lot more diverse, and even challenging, but I guess that's the idea. Wish me luck, and join in!

What was left of '15

After some reflection; an honest one, 2015 was not all that bad. In fact, some of the times might've been the best I've ever had.

For one, I've had the immense privelage of becoming friends with amazing people! Internship really changes you, I tell ya. 

I also met two bookish little things that broadened my knowledge and joy of bibliophilia! One of them, Raihan-san, introduced me to a group of cool cats, and from there, we were one big, diverse family, whom I've known for nearly a year! #mybbm

I also went on vacation again (as some of you MYBBMs went on a field trip), to a quaint hotel in Johor that doubled as a waterpark and beach resort. Since the slides were more for the wee ones, I busied myself by inconspicuously (or so I claim) picking flowers, taking polaroid shots, and collecting shells and acorns.

Clearly, I am the least nerdy person you know (not nearly true, I know, shhhh).

 Also, as for where I left off from the previous post, I did have fun meeting Lang Leav! It was such a humbling, terrific experience, getting to meet the sweet person from which such beautiful and striking words came.

My friend and I waited in line, and were the second group in line, so we got to meet her within the first few minutes (thankfully!). Don't ask us how early we had to stand there to be one of the first people in line. It was painfully awkward.

In any case, it was well worth it. Lang Leav took questions; which included where she got inspiration from, and which of her poems she herself loved most. Then, she read a few of her poems, as per request of the audience.

I did manage to take a polaroid with her, and also a quick picture from Siti's phone. Fortunately and unfortunately, it came out blurry. Also, Leav closed her eyes, which I find adds to her quirkiness somehow. I also got two signatures from her, which is, to me, almost as cool as having Robert Downey Junior's (I said almost).