Title: Barbie: Dreamscape
Author: Alex Aster
Publisher: Mattel Press
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 304
My Rating:

Buy this book on Amazon

Barbie Dreamscape

Barbie lives in Heartland and is basically the perfect student. During graduation, you get to hear your fate, meaning you find out what kind of job or future you’re going to have. But when it’s Barbie’s turn, nothing happens. She is fateless.

Of course, she isn’t happy about this. She is the only one without a job or a clear future. So, she decides to find the Fates and maybe convince them to change their minds. She goes on a long, crazy, fun, and sometimes dangerous adventure. Along the way, she slowly discovers more and more about her mom and, ultimately, herself.

Review

I saw this book suddenly everywhere on social media, and it piqued my interest. I mean, the cover is absolutely stunning, and I thought I would make my inner child happy and read this book. I had absolutely no idea what to expect.

Honestly, I didn’t hate the story. I mean, it’s not the best story I’ve ever read. It’s just okay, but I still had a lot of fun reading it. My inner child was definitely happy while reading this book. I played with a lot of Barbies growing up, so reading about Barbie was pretty cool.

After Barbie finds out that she is fateless, she goes through a lot and decides to go on an adventure. She has to get to Dreamland, but to get there, she has to travel through several other lands first. And they are all crazy, fun, and interesting. A lot of interesting things happen along the way.

Barbie doesn’t have a lot of personality at first, since she basically only wears pink because her mother loved the color. But I think this adventure was really good for her. She finally gets to know herself and discovers the truth about her mom and herself.

I also thought there were a couple of beautiful messages in this book, such as there is light in the darkness and you are never too old to play. But my favorite one was: rock bottom is a pretty solid place to start a new life. It shows that life isn’t perfect, but just because you’re feeling bad right now doesn’t mean it has to stay that way forever.

But I also want to say that, even though this book was marketed as Young Adult, I would say it’s more of a book written for younger teens. The writing style wasn’t my favorite. It didn’t bother me that much, but it might be a dealbreaker for you.

Overall, I still enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was a fun and magical read, and I flew through it pretty quickly.

The post Barbie: Dreamscape – Alex Aster | Book Review first appeared on Bettie Toon.

<p>The post Barbie: Dreamscape – Alex Aster | Book Review first appeared on Bettie Toon.</p>

I think fall is the perfect time to reflect and see if there’s anything you want to change in your life. I did that recently, and I realized one thing: I’m always rushing. I’m never really slowing down, not even on the weekends. And I think it’s time to change that.

I think it’s time to slow down this fall and create a healthier, more balanced lifestyle for myself. In this blog post, I’m sharing the ways I’m slowing down this fall.

Ways I am slowing down

1. Spending more evenings at home

Honestly, I’m the kind of person who already enjoys being at home, but I want to be more intentional about it. I want to make my home feel extra cozy. I’m adding some pillows, blankets, and candles, and then I can simply sit down and read a book or two. I’m not staying home just to watch movies or TV shows all day. Instead, I’m creating a safe and cozy space where I can relax after a long day or a busy week.

Sometimes, I’m the kind of person who feels like she has to be productive all the time. But there needs to be balance in your life. So, I’m basically forcing myself to slow down and give myself permission to relax without feeling guilty about it.

2. Taking my time in the mornings

They always say that the way you start your day sets the tone for the rest of the day. I know a lot of people will recognize this when I say that everything seems to go wrong when you have to rush through your morning. So, instead of rushing through my morning routine, I’m going to do things completely differently this fall.

I’m actually going to slow down and take the time to enjoy a cup of tea in the morning. And instead of looking at any screens, I’m just going to sit down and maybe read a chapter or two of my book. I’m also going to take a few minutes to do some breathing exercises and meditate. I want to start my days feeling calm and relaxed instead of immediately feeling like I have to rush into everything.

3. Going on more walks

It’s something I’ve been doing for the last two months now, and it feels great to start my mornings with a morning walk. It’s so relaxing, and it’s nice to get some fresh air after sleeping for a couple of hours. It helps you slow down, and it’s also beautiful to notice all the little things around you before the rest of the neighborhood wakes up.

And I love walking during the fall because it’s not too hot but also not too cold. Sure, it might rain, but raincoats and umbrellas exist for a reason.

4. Cooking more slowly and simply

One thing I always do is not take enough time for my meals. I just throw something together and then eat so quickly that I finish the whole meal before you can even blink. It’s not healthy, and it’s not very enjoyable either. I don’t hate cooking—in fact, I kind of love it—but for some reason, I’m always rushing.

I want to be more mindful when I’m making my meals and maybe even try some new recipes. I want to enjoy the whole process instead of thinking of cooking as just another task I need to get through. I want to slow down, actually enjoy preparing my food, and take the time to sit down and enjoy my meals too.

5. Reading instead of scrolling

Doomscrolling is something I’m very familiar with, and I hate it. It’s so interesting how I keep scrolling when I would much rather read a book instead. It’s just so addictive. But I’m trying to break that habit, and instead, I want to have more time for myself and slow down.

Seriously, when you stop scrolling on your phone, you’ll realize how much time you actually have. You’ve just been wasting so much of it on your phone. I don’t hate social media, but you need to be more mindful of how you use it before it starts using you.

6. Leaving more space in my calendar

My workdays are always planned out until I basically go to bed, and even on the weekends, I constantly make plans. Every Saturday, I make sure I have something to do, and honestly, I don’t remember the last time I just stayed home on a Saturday. I want to do that more often.

Maybe I’ll go outside for a walk, then come home, make myself a cup of tea, and read for a little while. I don’t always have to be somewhere or do something. I want to make more time to do nothing, simply relax, and slow down.

7. Paying more attention to the little things

Maybe you can relate to this, but when you’re always busy and rushing through your days, you miss a lot of beautiful moments. I’ve had days when I was doing nothing, and suddenly, I started noticing all those little beautiful things around me. I also started to enjoy the present moment a little more.

It’s kind of sad when I think about it. I was always rushing around and so focused on getting things done that I missed so many of those beautiful little moments that make life amazing.

Foto door Şeyda Efe

The post Ways I Am Slowing Down This Fall first appeared on Bettie Toon.

<p>The post Ways I Am Slowing Down This Fall first appeared on Bettie Toon.</p>

Title: Autumn at the Cat Café
Author: Kathleen Fuller
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Romance
Pages: 304
My Rating:

Buy this book on Amazon

Autumn at the Cat Café

Via Dalton is the proud owner of a cat café in Pecan Corner. Her neighbor, Earl Brewster, owns Second Chapter Books, and the two of them are close. When Earl passes away, Via expects to inherit the bookstore because Earl had promised it to her. Unfortunately, he forgot to update his will before his death.

Instead, the bookstore goes to his nephew, Leo, a wealthy hedge fund manager from LA. Leo has no intention of keeping the store. He wants to sell it and move on with his life. He didn’t even know Earl very well.

But there’s a catch. The will has a few stipulations, and Leo has to stay in Pecan Corner for 30 days before he can receive his inheritance. Slowly, he starts to grow more fond of the charming little town, and of his neighbor, Via.

Review

It’s September, and the weather literally said it’s time for fall. So, obviously, I got into the fall vibes, and this book was screaming at me. I mean, I love cats, so a book about a cat café? I’m sold. I’m a very simple woman in that sense.

And you can bet that I was immediately romanticizing the small-town vibes and the idea of owning a cat café and a bookstore. This was the perfect book to start the fall season with. It literally has everything I wanted: romance, cats, lots of chemistry, small-town vibes, and fall vibes. It was honestly perfection.

The main characters, Via and Leo, were extremely likable. I loved them together. The chemistry between the two of them was off the charts. Sure, they’ve had terrible relationships in the past, their lives aren’t perfect, and they make mistakes, but who doesn’t? The romance (and the heartbreak) made me feel so many things. I loved it.

And Via’s cat, Sir Meow, is just adorable. He immediately falls in love with Leo, which was absolutely adorable. The other cats also play their part, and it honestly melted my heart. It was so cute.

The story never got boring. There were constantly sparks between the two of them. As you can tell, I fell in love with this book and all of the characters. Via has a fall bucket list, which gave the book the perfect fall vibes for those cloudy and rainy days. And I kind of want to create a fall bucket list now too.

Honestly, there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about this book. I could keep this review very short and simply tell you that I loved this book. If you’re looking for a cozy and romantic story with cats, this is the one.

The post Autumn at the Cat Café – Kathleen Fuller | Book Review first appeared on Bettie Toon.

<p>The post Autumn at the Cat Café – Kathleen Fuller | Book Review first appeared on Bettie Toon.</p>

I’ve been trying to drastically reduce my screen time. Basically, I am now allowing myself to use my phone only when it’s necessary. This means I suddenly have a lot more free time, which is obviously great. But it can also happen that you get extremely bored. When you’re so used to scrolling on your phone and suddenly stop doing it, you might have no idea what to do instead.

So, I made myself an Anti-Doomscroll Menu. And since I’m sure I’m not the only one who is trying to reduce their screen time, I’m going to share my list with you.

The Anti-Doomscroll Menu

Cozy Vibes

• Watch a movie: Pick a movie you love, grab some snacks, and settle in for a cozy movie night.
• Read a book: Get comfortable with a good book and let yourself escape into another world for a while.
• Take a nap: Get under a cozy blanket, set an alarm if you need to, and give yourself permission to rest.
• Make hot chocolate or tea: Make your favorite warm drink, add some extra toppings if you want, and enjoy it slowly.
• Have a cozy breakfast: Make a delicious breakfast, grab your favorite drink, and take your time enjoying a slow morning.
• Light a candle: Light your favorite candle and enjoy the warm glow and cozy atmosphere it creates.
• Get cozy under a blanket: Grab your softest blanket, get comfortable on the couch, and simply enjoy some quiet time.
• Listen to an album from start to finish: Put your phone away, press play, and enjoy the entire album without skipping any songs.
• Rewatch a comfort show: Put on an episode of your favorite comfort show and enjoy that familiar feeling of watching something you already love.
• Have an early night: Get into bed a little earlier than usual, put your phone away, and give yourself a relaxing evening before going to sleep.

Creative Vibes

• Color: Pick up your favorite coloring book or some colored pencils and spend some time coloring without worrying about being perfect.
• Journal: Write down your thoughts, feelings, ideas, or anything else that’s on your mind.
• Draw or paint: Get creative and draw or paint whatever comes to mind, even if you don’t consider yourself artistic.
• Bake something: Pick a delicious recipe, spend some time baking, and enjoy the amazing smell while you wait for your treats.
• Try a new recipe: Find a recipe you’ve never made before and have fun experimenting in the kitchen.
• Make a playlist: Create a playlist filled with your favorite songs or make one for a specific mood, season, or activity.
• Do something crafty: Get out your craft supplies and make something cute, fun, or completely random.
• Take photos: Grab your camera or phone and go around taking photos of little things that catch your eye.
• Write something: Write a short story, a poem, a blog post, or simply put your imagination onto paper.
• Start a little DIY project: Pick a small project you’ve been wanting to try and spend a cozy afternoon making something yourself.
• Make a vision board: Collect pictures, quotes, and ideas that represent the life you want and create your own little vision board.
• Try a new hobby: Pick something you’ve always wanted to try and give yourself some time to see if you enjoy it.

Fun vibes

• Do a puzzle: Pick a puzzle you like and spend some quiet time putting all the pieces together.
• Play a board game: Choose one of your favorite board games and enjoy a little friendly competition.
• Do a crossword: Challenge your brain with a crossword puzzle and see how many clues you can figure out.
• Play cards: Grab a deck of cards and play a classic card game by yourself or with someone else.
• Build something: Get creative and build something with LEGO, a model kit, or whatever you have at home.
• Do a quiz: Find a fun quiz online or grab a trivia book and see how much you know.
• Learn something random: Pick a completely random topic that interests you and spend some time learning about it.
• Organize your bookshelf: Rearrange your books, organize them by genre or color, and rediscover some old favorites.
• Make a bucket list: Write down all the things you’d love to do, places you want to visit, and experiences you want to have.
• Try something you’ve never done before: Pick something new and exciting, even if it’s just a small activity you’ve never tried before.

Reset Vibes

• Have an at-home spa day: Turn your home into a little spa, light some candles, put on relaxing music, and spend the day pampering yourself.
• Take a long shower or bath: Take your time, use your favorite shower products, and enjoy a long, relaxing shower or bath.
• Do a face mask: Put on your favorite face mask and take some time to relax while it does its thing.
• Wash your hair and use a hair mask: Give your hair some extra love and turn your hair-washing routine into a little self-care ritual.
• Change your bedsheets: Put on some fresh, clean bedsheets and enjoy that amazing feeling of getting into a freshly made bed.
• Declutter one drawer: Pick one drawer and get rid of anything you no longer need or use.
• Clean your room: Put on some music and give your room a good clean so you can enjoy a fresh and tidy space.
• Decorate your room: Add some new decorations, candles, flowers, or anything else that makes your space feel more like you.
• Rearrange your space: Move some furniture around or change things up to give your room a completely different feel.
• Do your nails: Give yourself a little manicure or paint your nails in a color you love.
• Put on your comfiest clothes: Get into your softest pajamas, sweatpants, or favorite cozy outfit and get comfortable.
• Have a slow morning: Don’t rush out of bed; take your time, make a nice breakfast, enjoy your coffee, and ease into the day.

Go outside Vibes

• Go for a long walk: Take your time, enjoy the fresh air, and let yourself wander without worrying about getting anywhere quickly.
• Explore somewhere new: Visit a neighborhood, town, park, or little spot you’ve never been to before and see what you discover.
• Visit a bookstore: Take your time browsing the shelves, discover new books, and maybe treat yourself to a new read.
• Go to a café: Find a cozy café, order your favorite drink, and enjoy some quiet time by yourself or with a friend.
• Go thrifting: Browse through thrift stores and see if you can find some unique clothes, home décor, or little treasures.
• Visit a farmers’ market: Walk around the stalls, discover local products, and pick up something delicious to take home.
• Get a coffee to go: Grab your favorite coffee and take it with you while you go for a walk or explore somewhere.
• Go to a museum: Spend a few hours looking at art, learning something new, and enjoying a change of scenery.
• Take yourself on a little date: Get dressed up, go somewhere you love, and treat yourself as if you were taking someone else out.
• Go for a drive: Put on your favorite playlist, grab a drink, and go for a relaxing drive with no real destination in mind.
• Sit somewhere outside and people-watch: Find a nice spot, grab a drink, and simply watch the world go by for a while.

Friends/Family Vibes

• Have dinner with friends: Cook a delicious meal together, order your favorite food, or simply enjoy a cozy dinner and catch up.
• Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while: Reach out to an old friend or family member and spend some time catching up.
• Have a sleepover: Stay up late talking, watching movies, eating snacks, and enjoying each other’s company.
• Bake with a friend: Pick a fun recipe, bake something delicious, and enjoy your homemade treats together.
• Cook dinner together: Choose a recipe you both want to try and turn cooking dinner into a fun activity.
• Have a movie night: Pick a few movies, grab some snacks, get cozy, and enjoy a relaxing night together.
• Play games together: Bring out your favorite board games or card games and have a little friendly competition.
• Go for a walk and talk: Take a relaxing walk together and use the time to catch up and talk about everything and nothing.
• Invite someone over: Have a friend over for coffee, dinner, a movie, or simply a cozy afternoon together.
• Have a phone-free hangout: Put your phones away and focus completely on spending quality time together.Foto door Polina

The post The Anti-Doomscroll Menu: 50 Things to Do Instead of Scrolling first appeared on Bettie Toon.

<p>The post The Anti-Doomscroll Menu: 50 Things to Do Instead of Scrolling first appeared on Bettie Toon.</p>

Manifesting should be a fun process, and I think a lot of us who are trying to manifest certain things put too much pressure on ourselves. I have to admit that I do this sometimes too. Nobody is perfect. But I think life and manifestation should be a fun journey, and it can be. That’s why I created a manifestation game to help you create your dream life.

I’m not lying when I tell you that playing this game has helped me a lot. Every time I catch myself in a bad mood, I play this game, and within a short amount of time, I feel better. I can be a totally different person within an hour.

In this blog post, I’m explaining why this manifestation game could change your life and how to play it.

Why this manifestation game could change your life

If you’re familiar with manifesting, you know that thoughts create your reality. So, when you think about things you don’t like, you will attract more of that, and when you think about things you do like, you will create more of that in your life. Your feelings are simply showing you what you’ve been thinking. If you’re feeling good, then keep going. If you’re feeling negative emotions, then you’ve probably been thinking negative thoughts.

So, as soon as you notice that you’re having negative thoughts, you can start playing the manifestation game. But honestly, you can play it all the time if you want. It’s actually kind of fun to play! It’s going to put you in a better mood, which is always great. And you’ll start thinking about the things you like, which can then help you manifest more of those things into your life (depending on how often you do this).

What is the Manifestation Game

Step 1: Start Small

The first step is very easy. I would recommend taking a couple of deep breaths. This can already make you feel a little bit better. Then, instead of forcing yourself to think about your dream life and pretending that everything is perfect, start extremely small.

I like to start with things that I already have in my life. I start thinking about the little things I love. For example, how much I love my reading chair and how much I enjoy reading in that chair. Maybe I’ll name something I ate that day and really liked. Maybe I saw something pretty. I just start thinking about those things non-stop.

At first, it can be a little hard to get that positive momentum going, but after a while, it gets easier and easier to name the things you’re grateful for. What can also help boost your mood and build that positive momentum is thinking about why you love something.

For example: I love my reading chair so much because it’s so comfy. I feel so relaxed when I’m sitting in it, and I think the chair is so pretty.

Step 2: Dream big

The post A Manifestation Game to Help You Create Your Dream Life first appeared on Bettie Toon.

<p>The post A Manifestation Game to Help You Create Your Dream Life first appeared on Bettie Toon.</p>

Title: Summerween
Author: Joss Wood
Publisher: One More Chapter
Genre: Romance
Pages: 353
My Rating:

Buy this book on Amazon

Summerween

This book is about a small town called H’town, which is short for Halloweentown. They basically celebrate Halloween every single day of the year. The two main characters in this book are Wren and Dane, and they have something in common: they are both taking a break from their lives and trying to figure out what they want.

Wren is a professional dancer, and she now teaches kids how to dance. Dane ends up joining her class, and they start hanging out and having fun together, which eventually grows into something more.

Review

The main reason why I decided to buy this book was the cover because it is so pretty and colorful. It was screaming at me, and I couldn’t resist it. It was the end of August when I read this book, so it was still summer, but at the same time, I was already getting into the fall vibes. So, this was the perfect book for me to read as I transitioned from summer books to fall books.

I love Halloween, and this town celebrates Halloween all year round, which sounds pretty fun. It also attracts a lot of tourists. Not everyone in the town agrees with the whole Halloween-every-day thing, though. But the fact that they celebrate Halloween all the time isn’t the only reason why this book has spooky vibes. I mean, it’s not scary at all, but there are also ghosts living in this town. Almost nobody can see them, but they’re there. They do ghost things and talk about everyone who lives in the town.

The main characters, Wren and Dane, were okay. There was a little bit of chemistry between them, and they have something in common: they’re both taking a break from their lives to figure out what they actually want. But honestly, they weren’t my favorite characters in the book. I mainly enjoyed this book because of the ghosts. They were kind of funny, trying to get Wren and Dane together, while one of the ghosts was definitely not okay with it. That ghost was very old-fashioned.

And even though I liked this book, there were also a couple of little things that I didn’t like. First of all, the chapters were long. I prefer shorter chapters. Each chapter was also divided into three parts: Wren, Dane, and the ghosts. I think it would have been better if each section had been its own shorter chapter.

The last thing I struggled with in this book was the number of characters. This is probably a very personal thing because I already have a hard time remembering people’s names, let alone when there are so many characters. In the beginning of the book, I was so confused. But eventually, it got easier.

Overall, I actually really enjoyed it. It was the perfect book for me to read as I transitioned from summer reads to fall reads. I would still love to read the other book(s) in this series, which I want to do soon. I think this book, and the other book(s) in the series, are just perfect for this time of year.

The post Summerween – Joss Wood | Book Review first appeared on Bettie Toon.

<p>The post Summerween – Joss Wood | Book Review first appeared on Bettie Toon.</p>

I know, I know. It’s only September, and here I am already talking about winter depression. Summer is (almost) over, the darker days are coming, and even though I love the cozy months, they can also be a struggle for me and many others. The colder months also mean a lot of dark days without much sunshine.

A lot of people struggle with winter depression, so I thought I’d write a blog post about this topic and focus on preventing it rather than waiting until the winter depression starts creeping in.

How to Make Winter Feel Less Miserable

Create Your Ultimate Cozy Ritual

One of the reasons why I can still appreciate the colder and darker days is because they’re the perfect time to get cozy and enjoy all those little cozy things. And you can start now! Put some blankets and pillows on your couch, buy some candles, and stock up on cozy drinks like tea or hot chocolate.

Every day, make a little bit of time (or a lot!) for some cozy time. Put your phone away and eliminate other distractions. Just focus on yourself and enjoy the moment. Turn it into a little ritual that you can look forward to every day.

Go on a Daily Sun Hunt

Okay, the sun might not be shining all the time, but going outside during the day is still important. So, if you have time in the morning, go for a walk. I started doing this a couple of months ago, and I’m honestly loving it. It’s nice to get some fresh air early in the morning, and it doesn’t have to be a long walk. Mine is usually around 15–20 minutes, but it still makes me feel a little better.

There’s also something really nice about going for a walk when everyone else is still inside and/or sleeping. It’s so quiet outside. But you can also go outside during your break at work or school. Just find a little bit of time during the day to get some fresh air and daylight.

Make Winter Food an Event

The colder months also mean hearty meals like soup, stew, and all kinds of comfort food. But it’s also a great time to start baking more often and trying new recipes.

Soup is something I could eat all the time, and I love finding new recipes to try. You have something fun to do, and in the end, you get a delicious comfort meal to cheer yourself up. Make cooking and baking an event rather than just something you have to do.

Stop Hibernating, Just Make Socializing Cozier

When winter depression starts to hit, you might want to stay home all the time. You’re most likely not in the mood to go out and meet your friends. But seeing your friends and family is important. Socializing can help you feel happier and less lonely.

If you’re really struggling, ask your friends for a low-effort hangout. You don’t have to go out and do something exciting. Have a dinner party, play board games, or have a movie night. Sometimes, you just need people around you without having to put in a lot of effort.

Pick a Winter Hobby

You’re probably going to spend more time indoors during the colder months. If you love spending time outside, this can be difficult, but the trick is to find a hobby that makes you feel good and helps you forget about the time, and the fact that it’s cold and dark outside.

For me, that’s reading. It takes me to another world where winter depression doesn’t exist. But your hobby can be anything: building LEGO, journaling, watching movies, baking, gaming, painting, or whatever makes you happy.

Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To

During the colder and darker months, the days can sometimes feel endless, and you might wonder when things will get better again. One thing that can help is planning at least one fun thing each day, and it doesn’t have to be anything big.

When you don’t have much time, it could simply mean getting your favorite snack and enjoying it completely. When you have a little more time, maybe you can watch your favorite show. And when you have a whole day to yourself, you could plan a fun reading day with your favorite snacks, meals, and drinks.

Just give yourself something to look forward to, something that brings a little excitement to your day.

Lower the Pressure

I also feel like a lot of people see the colder months as the perfect time to get fit, learn a language, read 100 books, start a new hobby, and completely reinvent themselves. I’m not against self-improvement, but sometimes we put way too much pressure on ourselves, and it’s completely unnecessary.

Do what feels good to you. You don’t have to follow every trend you see on social media. You don’t have to become the “best version of yourself” this winter. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is simply make your life as easy and comfortable as possible.

Give Your Body Some Love

And, of course, don’t forget to take care of your body, too. Try to eat nutritious meals, although there’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying some junk food from time to time. Move your body, get enough sleep, and talk to a healthcare professional if you think you may need vitamin D or other supplements.

Most importantly, listen to your body and give it what it needs. Sometimes you just need an extra nap. Other times, going for a walk or moving your body can help you feel more energetic. There’s no perfect routine—just pay attention to what makes you feel good.

Photo by Shashi Chaturvedula on Unsplash

The post How to Make Winter Feel Less Miserable: Fun Ways to Beat the Winter Blues first appeared on Bettie Toon.

<p>The post How to Make Winter Feel Less Miserable: Fun Ways to Beat the Winter Blues first appeared on Bettie Toon.</p>

Title: Thief
Author: Cassie Mint
Publisher: Black Cherry Publishing
Genre: Romance
Pages: 64
My Rating:

Buy this book on Amazon

Thief

Tabitha is a thief, and she steals from rich people. This time, she is planning to steal a very expensive sapphire from Spencer. She has planned everything carefully and manages to get into his apartment by hiding inside a suitcase.

Spencer isn’t supposed to be at the apartment that night, or at least, that’s what Tabitha thinks. But when she opens the bedroom door, she finds Spencer in his bed. He has already called the police because he heard someone in his apartment.

Tabitha mentally prepares herself to be taken to jail, but to her surprise, Spencer decides that he likes her and doesn’t want her to go to jail. Instead, he wants her to stay with him.

Review

I was looking for short romance stories. I think this was listed under dark romance, but honestly, it wasn’t dark at all. It’s more of a romance with comedy, I guess, because it actually made me laugh.

This review is going to be short because the book is literally only 65 pages. This is the first time I’ve heard of Cassie Mint. I read some of the other reviews of this book, and apparently, she writes a lot of short romances like this. So I’ll definitely keep her name in mind because sometimes I just want to read something short that I can finish in an hour or so.

I’m still not sure how I feel about this book. It was very easy to read, and you fly through the story. I finished it before I even realized it. That’s usually a good sign. This book also made me laugh, which is usually a very good sign. But this time, I’m not 100% sure if I was laughing because the story was actually funny or because it was kind of ridiculous. But maybe that’s a me-problem because apparently Cassie Mint is the queen of insta-love novellas. Apparently, I’m not the kind of woman who believes in love at first sight because I rolled my eyes so hard while reading this.

I think Spencer was an interesting character because he is a rich man who gets robbed, and he obviously doesn’t like that. But when he sees the burglar, Tabitha, he suddenly changes his mind because she is gorgeous. I’m not sure if I would have the same reaction to a handsome male burglar.

On the other hand, it was just a very short love story with an interesting setting. She is stealing from him, and he falls in love with her. It still made me laugh a couple of times. Maybe I thought it was kind of ridiculous that they fell in love at first sight, but I was still entertained.

Overall, it wasn’t that bad. I think it was good enough for a short story. It felt a bit rushed, but this novella is only 64 pages, so what else do you expect? It was an interesting book that could make you laugh, whatever the reason may be.

This is the first book in the Sweet Little Sinners series. Apparently, the other books are going to be about different characters.

The post Thief – Cassie Mint | Book Review first appeared on Bettie Toon.

<p>The post Thief – Cassie Mint | Book Review first appeared on Bettie Toon.</p>

Title: The Third Gilmore Girl
Author: Kelly Bishop
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 244
Genre: Biography
My Rating:

Buy this book on Amazon

The Third Gilmore Girl

This book is all about the life of Kelly Bishop, best known as Emily Gilmore in Gilmore Girls. In this book, Kelly Bishop tells her own story, from her earliest memories to how she started dancing and acting. She also talks about her relationships and the different experiences that shaped her life.

Review

I’m a huge fan of Gilmore Girls. It is my favorite show ever and my comfort show. I love watching it every year during the colder months. I love all of the characters on the show, including Emily, so it was time to read her biography and learn more about her.

And I learned a lot! To be honest, I only knew her from Gilmore Girls. I thought I had never seen her in any other movies or shows. I just didn’t know much about her. But this book tells you all about Kelly’s life. Did you know that Kelly isn’t even her birth name? That was so surprising and interesting to me.

Kelly started out as a dancer, and she was incredibly talented. She eventually went to Broadway and even won a Tony Award. Funny enough, the actor who played Richard Gilmore, Edward Herrmann, also won a Tony that exact same day. That was just mind-blowing. And when Kelly got older, she started acting more and appeared in a lot of shows and movies, including Dirty Dancing. Yeah, so I have watched that movie so many times over the years and never recognized her?!

She also talked about her time on Gilmore Girls, and when she described certain scenes, I immediately knew which scenes she was talking about. I guess I’m a Gilmore Girls expert now. She talked about how everyone was so relaxed and friendly behind the scenes. I think that is part of why Gilmore Girls became so successful. You can sort of feel the good chemistry between the actors. She is still friends with the writer, Amy Sherman-Palladino, and Lorelai, played by Lauren Graham.

I also got the sense that Kelly was a genuinely good person. She was supportive of other dancers and actors. And apparently, Kelly Bishop is really good at manifesting because whenever she wished for something, opportunities seemed to show up. She was also quite spiritual.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this biography. I don’t read books like this very often, but sometimes I want to know more about a person. If you’re expecting her to only talk about Gilmore Girls, you will be disappointed. Her time on Gilmore Girls was just a small part of the book. But honestly, the rest was pretty interesting too. I discovered so many things because I had no idea she had won a Tony Award or that she played Baby’s mother in Dirty Dancing.

The post The Third Gilmore Girl – Kelly Bishop | Book Review first appeared on Bettie Toon.

<p>The post The Third Gilmore Girl – Kelly Bishop | Book Review first appeared on Bettie Toon.</p>

We all know what hormones are, and you’ve probably heard that there are a few happy hormones that can actually make you feel better. These hormones are serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. And the good news is that you can boost all of these hormones naturally, which can help you feel a little bit better. In this blog post, I’m going to explain what these four hormones actually do, and I’ll give you a few examples of how you can boost them.

Serotonin

Serotonin plays an important role in mood, emotional well-being, sleep, appetite, and digestion. A healthy serotonin system helps regulate many processes in your body and brain. Serotonin is often associated with feelings of calmness, stability, and contentment. It isn’t as simple as saying “more serotonin = more happiness,” because the relationship between serotonin and mood is much more complicated.

Interestingly, most of the body’s serotonin is actually found in the gut, where it plays an important role in regulating digestion. So boosting your serotonin starts in your gut. Eat the right foods, get enough daily sunlight and move your body.

Dopamine

This is the most known hormone at this point. Dopamine is strongly connected to motivation, reward, pleasure, and learning. It helps your brain recognise when something feels rewarding and encourages you to repeat behaviours that you find satisfying.

For example, when you accomplish a goal, eat something you enjoy, receive a compliment, or complete something you’ve been working toward, your brain can release dopamine. It can give you that feeling of “Yes, I did it!” and motivate you to keep going.

Dopamine isn’t simply the chemical that makes you happy. It’s also heavily involved in anticipation and motivation, the feeling of wanting to achieve or experience something. But make sure you get the right dopamine: Setting goals and achieving them, massage, Learn something new, listen to your favourite music.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is often called the “love hormone” or “bonding hormone” because it’s strongly involved in social connection and bonding. Your body can release oxytocin during experiences such as hugging, cuddling, physical affection, childbirth, breastfeeding, and positive social interactions. It can help strengthen feelings of trust, closeness, and connection with other people.

Oxytocin isn’t only about romantic relationships, either. It can also play a role in friendships, family bonds, and social connection.

Endorphins

Endorphins are chemicals produced by your body that act as natural pain relievers. They can be released in response to things like exercise, laughter, excitement, and physical stress.

This is one reason you might feel amazing after a good workout. Your body releases endorphins in response to physical activity, which can help reduce your perception of pain and create feelings of pleasure or even euphoria.

That post-workout feeling people sometimes call a “runner’s high” is partly associated with changes in endorphins and other brain chemicals.

And these are your four happy hormones. If you start naturally boost them, you will feel a different.

Photo

The post Meet Your 4 Happy Hormones: Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin & Endorphins first appeared on Bettie Toon.

<p>The post Meet Your 4 Happy Hormones: Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin & Endorphins first appeared on Bettie Toon.</p>