It's probably not obvious to anybody that I love Gilmore Girls. In case that wasn't obvious, the previous statement is laden with sarcastic undertones. Gilmore Girls is one of those shows that is just so nostalgic for so many of us. Its one of those programs that became a bit of a tradition to watch, dissect and debate the various suitors for Lorelai and Rory. It probably did Pop Tarts a deal of good and introduced many of us to a plethora of iconic pop culture moments. The humour was always there and the fast talking put it in a league of its own. Even now in the days of endless distractions you have to be paying attention to watch it, lest you miss some crucial piece of dialogue. Whether that be one of Emily's not so subtle digs or Lorelai's love for sarcasm. 

Unless you've been living under a rock you'll know Netflix is blessing us with four, ninety minute specials in November. It's just under three weeks away actually. In honour of that I decided to create a Gilmore Girls tag. There could've been heaps of questions here but I decided to limit it to ten. This was so fun to put together too. So have a read, sit back, get your IV's of coffee and Red Vines, cake or Pop Tarts at the ready and enjoy...

-What was your first introduction to Gilmore Girls? I remember Gilmore Girls used to be on TV here on a Sunday afternoon and I know it became a ritualistic thing for a lot of people. I was not one of them but I do remember it being on in the background at home. Some of my extended family love it though and one Summer afternoon, my cousin and I binge-watched three or four episodes in a row. Perhaps it's because we watched partway through a season that I didn't really connect with it. I liked it but for some reason I didn't pursue watching it beyond that. Fast-forward to the Summer holidays in 2011 and I changed that. The rest is history. 

-Who is your favourite character and why? Lorelai freakin' Gilmore, the cool Mom. The one played by Lauren Graham. Side note: Why am I explaining this...She's armed with a whole arsenal of pop culture references, she talks fast, she's witty, she's stylish. She's just awesome. Yes she's a fictional character but if she were real I feel like we'd totally be friends IRL. Seriously.

-Are you on Team Jess, Dean or Logan? Why? My answer to this question changes all the time. I feel like all of Rory's potential suitors have strengths and distinct flaws. For now though I am fully on Team Jess. Yes he had a tendency to up and leave and wasn't the greatest at communicating but he seemed to care the most about Rory. He also loved reading just like Rory and when he wanted to be he had that whole quiet intellectual thing down. 

-How many of the books have you read from Rory's reading list? For reference, here is Rory's reading list. There's 339 books on here so it's rather mammoth. With this list in mind, I have read a grand total of...27 books. Dismal I know. Let me know in the comments if you've read more than me.

-Would you rather; only be allowed to drink coffee, or never be able to eat Pop Tarts again? This is easy for me, I'd rather never be allowed to eat Pop Tarts again. C'mon, imagine if coffee was your only beverage. That would get bad, fast! Also I kinda think Pop Tarts are disgusting, with the exception of the S'mores ones. 

-Who is your least favourite character? This might be an unpopular opinion but here goes, Taylor Doose is my least favourite character. I know he serves a greater purpose as town selectman but he's just so annoying. I can't think of a character, with the exception of Kirk, who he doesn't enrage for some reason or other. He's just awful, and despite claiming he has the town's best interests at heart he just seems selfish and power-hungry. Sorry Taylor, you're just a pain. 

-Are you on Team Luke, or Team Christopher? Team Luke, always. Who cares that Christopher was Rory's Dad? Luke was always, always on team Lorelai and Rory. Even when they both made mistakes of their own. He makes a good cup of coffee too and is a genuinely nice guy. Team Luke forevs. 

-If you went to Stars Hollow, where would you most like to visit? The Gilmore Girls house, The Dragonfly Inn for one of Sookie's next level meals, Luke's for coffee (duh), the bookstore (whose name escapes me), the lake where Luke pushed Jess in for nostalgic reasons, the black and white cinema. So many places. I'd have to pass by Hartford to visit Emily though, even though that'd be terrifying af. 

-What would you steal from the Gilmore Girls set? Lorelai Gilmore's pink coat. There's just something about it. I'd also steal some stationery from The Dragonfly, a coffee cup from Lukes and maybe some books from Rory's room. Sorry Rory. 

-Finally, what do you hope happens in the revival? This is totally random but I would love to see a Hillary Clinton cameo. It seems unlikely but I'd love it. On a more realistic level I just want to see Lorelai and Rory happy. Going off the trailer it seems like they both hit a bit of a roadblock but I hope they resolve it. What else...I want to see Lorelai and Luke married, please. I have also discussed the idea of Emily moving in with Lorelai after Richard's passing and the inevitable chaos that ensues, that'd be hilarious. 

*I hope you all enjoyed this tag. I had a lot of fun coming up with it. I'm gonna tag some of my fave Gilmore Girls lovers to do this: Britney, Tara and Ellen, Amy, Temi and everyone else who wants to do this. Have fun!

Hi everyone and happy Wednesday! Today I have a tag for you all which was supposed to be a video. Unfortunately I am sick and currently look+sound like a goblin. Quite frankly, nobody needs to witness that. I still wanted to do this tag though as I'd seen it over on Jean's channel and thought it looked like a fun one. At least with writing it out you get less of my 'umming' and 'ahhing'. Anyway, here's the tag. Enjoy!

-What book(s) are currently in your bag? Truthfully there are no books in my bag right now. Although when there has been a book in my bag it's been The Girls by Emma Cline. My book club's read for July. 

-What is the last great book you read? Bonkers by Jennifer Saunders. This was a re-read, as I last read it when it came out three or so years ago. I seem to always want something funny to read or watch when I'm sick. Anyone else? Anyway, it was brilliant if not a bit too short for my liking. 

-What book have you gifted the most? Confession time, I don't give books as gifts all that often. I feel like there's a high risk factor involved, probably of my own making but I always get scared people won't like the books I gift them. When I do buy books as gifts I tend to get people different ones so there's not really a repeat-buy. 

-What's your favourite independent bookshop? Even though I hardly get to go there, Time Out books in Mt Eden. They have the most friendly, helpful staff. While the shop may be small, it's crammed with an impressive edit of books. The children's room out the back is pretty awesome as well. 

-What's been your favourite book recommended by a bookseller (or fellow Booktuber)? This wasn't a recommendation from a booktuber or bookseller per se but I did see this on someone's blog. Does that count? I'm picking The Versions of Us for this one though. I ended up enjoying this a lot more than I expected and loved Laura Barnett's writing style.

-What's your favourite bookshop memory? Epic trips into the city during the school holidays to go to Borders and always leaving with something. Sitting in their cafe drinking chillers and reading the magazines. I could've spent hours in Borders. I miss it. Tied with that has to be the mornings spent queuing up waiting for the new Harry Potter books to be released. The excited energy and enthusiasm in the air were always so infectious. 

-What do bookshops mean to you? What do you love about them? As much as online shopping is convenient, you cannot beat a browse in a physical bookstore. To me, bookstores are a place of comfort, relaxation and happiness. They're the one shop I can just zone out and relax in whilst I browse. I love, with the exception of the chainstores, that they all have something different to offer. Particularly the independent stores which are all so meticulously edited and curated depending on taste of the owners and their booksellers. Plus it's instant, no waiting around for your books to come in the mail. *cough NZ Post cough*

-What are the books that made you? What books have most affected or influenced you? The Harry Potter series hands down. They were and still are such a pivotal part of my life. While I was already an avid reader before I found them, they were and always will be a part of me. Another book that really affected me was The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. High school wasn't always a sunshiney, rose-tinted nostalgia filled time for me and I often felt like an outsider. This book made me feel better about that. It's hard to explain but it helped me come to terms with some of the things that went down during that time. I only wish I'd found it sooner.

-What book is currently at the top of your TBR pile? I don't own this book but I really, really want to read Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler. I've only seen positive reviews for it and while I don't know a great deal about its overall plot, deliberately obviously, it sounds right up my street.

*Let me know if you do this tag or how you'd answer these questions! Sorry it wasn't in video form but hopefully I'll be back filming very soon. x

Sometimes you just want to mix it up and do a tag. Well, when one of the tags is about books it gets me excited because there's so many makeup/life tags around but this is the first book tag I've seen, on a blog at least. Thanks Emma for doing this as it made me really want to do this post. It was fun too. Anyway, for more book banter keep reading...

Is there a book on your nightstand right now? *There are several, see photographic evidence down below. The two bigger coffee table-esque books are there mainly for aesthetic purposes but also because I want to read them. Otherwise there is currently Woolgathering x Patti Smith, Everyday Sexism x Laura Bates and How To Be A Woman x Caitlin Moran.

What was the last truly great book you read? *I've read a few goodies lately but the one that springs to mind, because I finished it this morning that I'm writing was Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar. It was a freakin' kids book and it made me cry about as much as Me Before You did. That fact did wonders for my confidence. Seriously though, it's a brilliant read and I highly recommend it.

If you could meet any writer, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you want to know? *Caitlin Moran because I love her and all her writings. I feel like she'd be an amazing person to have coffee with/have at a dinner party and I'd want to know her feelings on everything. It'd be a really long but satisfying conversation basically. 

What books might we be surprised to find on your shelves? *Selfish by Kim Kardashian is the first that springs to mind here. Although, if you know me you'll know that I unashamedly love the Kardashians so that's maybe not the most surprising. After that I'd say maybe The Clique by Lisi Harrison. This may seem bizarre but I keep it around for a number of nostalgic purposes and also because I was obsessed with those books growing up. 

How do you organise your personal library? *Ah funny you should ask that dear tag. I am doing a post on this very, very soon as it has been requested. There really is no major logic to it. I keep magazines down the right hand side of each shelf, most of my non-fiction loves are on the lower shelves...I'll save this for my post though.

Is there a book you have always meant to read but haven't gotten around to yet? Anything you feel embarrassed never to have read? *Hmm, I guess I should be embarrassed to be such a lover of literature yet a reader of very few classics. Other than the ones I had to read for English Lit at school there's very few I've read outside of high school. So with that in mind, books I have been meaning to read but never get around to; Pride and Prejudice (no zombies thanks), The Catcher in the Rye, The Secret Garden and Atonement.

Disappointing, overrated, just not good; name a book you feel you were supposed to have liked but didn't? Do you remember the last book you put down without finishing? *This Is Where The World Ends. It reminded me too much of Looking For Alaska and that really frustrated me. It just didn't feel original at all. A book I put down without finishing...How To Be Both by Ali Smith. This was before I'd read any of Ali's other writing but I'm used to the way she structures her work and her writing style now so I will eventually try it again. I just got really baffled+annoyed by it initially.

What kind of stories are you drawn to? Anything you steer clear of? *I guess young-adult contemporary and contemporary fiction in general are what I am drawn to. I like stories that are as visually pleasing to imagine as they are to immerse yourself in.  I'm not a huge fan of science fiction, especially dystopian fiction. A lot of the massively hyped YA series and authors really don't appeal to me for that reason. 

If you could choose a book that the Prime Minister had to read, which would it be? *I'd say Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran. I know Emma suggested Everyday Sexism but I feel like he'd react better to a book with a bit more humour in it. I'd hope that some of the messages about misogyny and women in politics+the depiction of women would get through to him. Withholding political opinions in 5, 4, 3....

What do you plan to read next? *I'm going to start an ARC of a book that's being released in May. I was sent it back in January and have held off reading it until now for many reasons so I'm looking forward to it.

I am often asked by friends, family and readers what products I'd recommend they buy from a range of categories. It's primarily beauty but I do get the odd outfit query via various messaging outlets as well. Now Lily of Lily Pebbles blog created the categories and this non-tag of sorts over on her blog and it was one I wanted to quiz myself on and see others answer as well so here you go. Here are my go-to beauty and fashion brands for a range of answers. Enjoy! 

Makeup brand to use: This is a tough one, and I cannot think of any makeup brand that does every single product to my liking. I'm a fussy one, not gonna lie.. If I did have to pick one though I'd go with Nars. I cannot think of a product I have tried from them that has disappointed me, with the exception of Orgasm blush. Their concealer, eyeshadow primer and newest foundation are my must-haves. 

Mascara to wear: Mascaras are something I alternate a lot but at the moment my favourite has to be the Covergirl Full Lash Bloom mascara. Not only is it relatively cheap and cheerful, it really makes your lashes look amazing. It holds a curl so well and it's one of those mascaras I can see myself repurchasing again. Special mention has to go to to Benefit's Roller Lash mascara as well. I am yet to repurchase it but I want to so badly.  

Skincare item to use: Pixi Glow Tonic. Thanks Caroline Hirons and all the UK blogging set for raving about this product. The first reason I love using this is the scent. There's just something about it that makes me want to bottle it up and wear it as a fragrance. It's also great at reviving the skin and leaving it looking ten times better. 

Highstreet store to shop from: We don't have a bunch of highstreet stores in New Zealand and I yearn for the day H&M, Zara and Urban Outfitters set up shop here. So with that being said I have to choose Topshop. Their Jamie jeans are my favourite jeans I have ever owned. They also design such versatile pieces that never seem to look identical to what other brands are releasing. Their collaborations are usually pretty on-point as well, like their Kendall+Kylie and Kate Moss collections. 

Makeup brush brand: Easy peasy, Real Techniques. Their brushes are designed with the average woman in mind and are so lovely to work with. They're synthetic, cruelty-free and such good quality. I've had a lot of my brushes for nearly two years now and they're still going strong. I love that their brushes are so versatile too and can be used for a range of purposes. 

Lipstick to wear every day: Definitely one of my Mac nudes. Yep, nudes plural. I have a lipstick problem okay? On a day to day basis I alternate between Syrup, Peach Blossom and Patisserie.

Eyeshadow palette: Urban Decay's Naked 2 Basics. My answer would've been my Mac palette but I've downsized it a lot lately. More on that another time... This palette is so versatile and the mattes work with virtually every single eyeshadow I try them with. It's such a staple if you love eyeshadow or want an everyday palette that is so user-friendly.

Haircare brand to buy from: Bumble and Bumble. Hands down. It doesn't have a lot of competition because once I find haircare bits I love, they don't tend to change too much. I have to give a shout-out to their Invisible Oil shampoo. I've been through two bottles of it and love the stuff. Their primer's pretty awesome as well.

*What would be your go-to beauty brands?

Well I'm back from another one of my extended YouTube hiatuses. I've filmed two videos and first up we have the TMI tag. I wasn't actually tagged to do this but thought it looked fun, and it was fun to film so that's a win for me. I guess. I don't think I overshared toooo much but yeah, give it a watch. If you're new feel free to subscribe. When I'm not MIA from YouTube I do post hauls, favourites, book videos and the like so there's a mix of content on my channel. 

Have an awesome Wednesday and I'll see you on Friday with another installment of The Week x

I've seen this tag over on the lovely Laura and Lena's blogs and thought it'd be a nice little life, update-y thing for me to do maybe once or twice a year. It's something a bit different but I guess it lets you learn a bit more about me and what I'm thinking and doing. Here's my insights..

Making: Journal pages for my gratitude journal and party invitations for my brother's upcoming birthday. *Side note: I say making invites, I'm sticking the information onto illustrated cards with double sided tape..

Cooking: As of this evening: spaghetti bolognese. It was good guys. 

Drinking: Water.

Reading: The Goldfinch by Donna Tarte and Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella. 

Wanting: Frends Headphones! I tried some on in Sydney and they were awesome.

Looking: At the clock.

Playing: The singles released from Florence & The Machine's upcoming album. Two days until it's out.

Wishing: To be overseas on holiday.

Enjoying: This week. Even though it's been relatively busy, knowing it's a long weekend makes it that little bit better.

Waiting: For Florence & The Machine's new album, just in case that wasn't obvious enough.

Liking: Copper detailing, particularly in stationery and home decor. 

Wondering: What to put on my pinboard when I redo it later today.

Loving: Colourpop eyeshadows. They're so cheap and such stunning colours.

Pondering: What life will look like in a month's time.

Considering: Getting a tattoo. I jest. No I am considering going to see Robbie Williams but I don't think I'd be able to find anyone to go with so it's not likely to happen..

Watching: New Girl, season 2. I'm nearly done with it but I'm a little obsessed with this show. It's crazy and a little bit over the top but it's so hilarious. 

Marveling: At pretty pictures on Instagram.

Needing: New pyjamas. I'm eyeing up those Toy Story ones in Peter Alexander. Once a Disney kid, always a Disney kid..

Wearing: My leaver's jersey which I think is ugly, but it's ridiculously warm so it comes out in Winter and trackpants (see above) but again, Winter wear and a Katy Perry concert tee. 

Following: readbyzoe, a booktuber, 'grammer, Good Reader and the rest. It makes me so happy that there's a book community online so whenever I find likeminded people it's the best.

Noticing: How little I miss people who I used to think the world of.

Knowing: That it's never too late to start over and be+do what you've always dreamed of. Happiness is so important and doesn't deserve to be shoved aside.

Thinking: About what I'm going to read next.

Admiring: Beautiful interiors on my Pinterest board

Sorting: Out my extremely messy desk. Papers, notebooks and miscellaneous things everywhere.

Buying: Some cute lil' things from Etsy. 

Getting: Excited for the weekend! I get to see Hannah and go to the movies.

Bookmarking: Nothing. I don't bookmark anything because I find it so annoying to do on Mac's. That's such a first world problem undoubtedly, but I just cannot be bothered. 

Disliking: The cold! As much as I like coats, scarves and boots weather, I could do without the unnecessary freezing temperatures. 

Opening: Mecca Cosmetica's latest catalogue and feeling shocked that the By Terry Ombre Blackstars weren't dubbed a beauty icon for the year. To be fair, there were no eyeshadow products but still, this surprised me. 

Giggling: At New Girl. Although not the last episode I watched because that was far too many feels. 

Feeling: Excited about things that are coming up.

Snacking: On Whittakers Sea Salt & Caramel Brittle chocolate. Too darn good. 

Coveting: Gold dotted cushions. Well, probably only one. I think Kmart have some.

Helping: Other bloggers and sharing my experiences.

Hearing: My kitty cat purring away in the background. 

-Congratulations if you made it to the end of this rather lengthy list! I hope you are all doing good. Let me know what you are up to in the comments-what are you reading? What are you coveting? x