Cozy Essentials Wishlist

I keep hearing the Danish word hygge, which is "a feeling or mood that comes taking genuine pleasure in making ordinary, every day moments more meaningful, beautiful or special," and it's officially the way I want to live my life. I mean, I'm already a lazy bum, who pretty much only lounges on my bed reading or watching Netflix, but hygge takes it to a whole other level of comfort by appreciating the coziness. The Danish clearly know what's important in life.

Hygge gained popularity because of The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking, so if you want to embrace the homebody life then this seems like a great place to start. Below are some cute cozy essentials that everyone clearly needs.

Are you all about the cozy life?

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Tea Lover's Wishlist

I just got a wonderful electric tea kettle from a Yankee Swap at work and now I want ALL THE TEA! I currently have enough tea to last me ten years, but you know what's great about tea? It never goes bad! So the more the merrier, right? So here are some delicious teas and cute tea items that are on my ever-growing Etsy wishlist. 

WISHLIST:
♥ Eve of Joy's Be The Change Hand-Stamped Spoon
♥ Pen and Favor's Mini Teapot Tea Strainer
♥ PRRINT's Vintage Teacups Poster
♥ Murdeko's Leaf Tea Strainer
♥ BeaTeaStudio's Lavender Earl Grey Tea
♥ Airaco's Tea Infuser Glass Tumbler
♥ Sullivan Tea Shop's Chai Tea Kit

♥ New Moon Tea Co.'s Goodnight Sleep Tight Tea
♥ Riddle's Tea Shoppe's Magical Tea Set
♥ Luna Tea Co.'s Moonlight Test Tube Tea
♥ First Edition Tea Co.'s Mumbai Chai Tea

Are you a tea drinker or a coffee drinker?

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Review: Wilfred Wax Candle Shop

My candle collection is getting way out of hand, but I don't even care! I'm obsessed with candles and I'm not afraid to yell it from the rooftops. My new candle obsession that I'm so happy to share with you is Wilfred Wax! 

If you like fandom-inspired soy candles with great packaging (I seriously love their no-fuss labels!), then you NEED to give Wilfred Wax's Etsy shop a look. I love candles that have a powerful scent, so that the moment you take off the lid the scent wafts up to you. To me, that's when you know it's an awesome candle and all of their candles do that. I have seven Wilfred Wax's candles and I can tell you that I 100% love every single one and burn one if not every day then every other day. I personally love burning a candle while writing. 

Of their candles, I have Dreamy Midsummer, In A Nutshell (Nutella-inspired candle, guys), Sweet Chai O'Mine, Steamed & Frothed, Halfling Hill, Won-Won (Ron Weasley-inspired!), and their new holiday candle Merri-Mint Mocha. They also have wax melt versions of all their candles in case you prefer that. 

Wilfred Wax is a new candle shop that just started in February of this year, but you'd think they've been in business for years because their candles and tarts smell fantastic, the scents are strong, their labels and packaging are professional, and the owners, Kenyon and Michelle, are wonderful and cool people. Their candles are made with all-natural, American-grown soy wax that produce a strong fragrance.

Want a candle or five of your own? Use my code SINCERELYSARA10 for 10% off!

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(P.S. -- Follow them on Instagram for giveaways and sales!)

Which of their candles do you want?

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Review: Frostbeard Studio Candles

My fellow book nerds (AKA you guys) know that us book lovers like to collect anything remotely bookish, whether it's bookshelf prints, pillows with quotes, Funko Pops (hello Harry Potter!) or cute jewelry. I'm also obsessed with collecting hoarding bookish candles and my favorite place to get them is from Frostbeard Studio. 

On my own, I've bought Reading at the Cafe (my favorite because it smells like chocolate and coffee!), Sexy Librarian, Winterfell, and three of their one-month-only candles: Divination Classroom, Wordsmith, and Sherwood Forest. Yeah, as you can tell I really, really love their candles, so I was thrilled when the lovely owners, Roxie and Tom, wanted to send me two more! I got Sherlock's Study and Pemberely Gardens. 

So why do I love their candles? The main reason is because they're so fragrant! Lit or unlit, they have a strong smell that fills the whole room. The second reason is because the scents are based on books and what book lover could refuse that? Certainly not me!

Plus, they have scents for everyone; candles that smell like tea or florals or coffee or books themselves. And they also have soy tarts if you can't burn a candle and sample packs if you're indecisive. 

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**Thanks to Frostbeard Studio for sending these candles. All opinions are my own.**

P.S. -- For more bookish pictures like these follow me on Instagram!

Are you a bookish candle lover?

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Mug Wishlist

I'm a total mug addict! So much so that in my future apartment, I want to hang up a wooden board with cute hooks to show off all of my glorious mugs. Something like this from abookishloveaffair's Instagram. I'm honestly not sure where this obsession came from, but I've loved collecting mugs for a few years now. And everyone seems to know it too because without fail I always get one or two mugs for my birthday.

I NEED that "Hermione Granger and The Year She Became A Rebel" mug!

{Mug Wishlist}

Are you a mug addict too?

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Inspiration: Floating Bookshelves

I've said this many times before, but if I had enough room I would have a whole wall of bookshelves. And all of my books would be alphabetized by author's last name and everything would look super cute with all of my Funko Pops and mugs and candles and maybe some twinkle lights. 

But alas I have no room for this wonderful dream of mine, so instead I have four floating shelves above my bed. But do they actually hold books? Not really. One does hold my Pride and Prejudice collection, but three shelves hold my Funko Pops. I'm really loving that vertical mint-colored shelving. Damn my lack of wallspace!

{via Style Caster, Vintage Revivals, Hub Pages, Style Caster, 

Refinery 29, Brit + Co, First Home & Anima Causa}

How do you store your books and knickknacks? 

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Review: Novelly Yours Candle Shop

I'm sure you all know this by now but Harry Potter is my favorite book series. But you might not know that my second favorite series is the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. Cinder is one of my favorite books ever; it's a fantasy retelling of Cinderella and it's wonderful, so when I saw that Novelly Yours had a Cinder inspired candle I had to have it. 

Firewood, storms, and white tea? Yes, please! It has a musky and lightly sweet scent that I really love and I've burned it three times now since getting it last week. The scent isn't overpowering while lit, which is nice because sometimes lighting a candle in a small apartment makes me woozy, but not so with this candle. 

Novelly Yours is a shop with candles inspired by popular young adult novels, like Truthwitch, Fangirl, and Harry Potter. The woman behind the shop, Brittany Smith, hand pours all the candles, which are made of all-natural soy wax. Get $4 off four or more 8oz tins with code STOCKUP4.

How perfect is this mug? If you've read this book, you know that it's totally what Cinder is thinking most of the time!

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**I received this candle for free. All opinions are my own.**

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Inspiration: Cool Bookshelves

What is it about beautiful, well-organized, and colorful bookshelves that just makes me swoon? I think I've always been obsessed with bookcases because I haven't had them since I moved into an apartment when I was 9 (that's 17 years of keeping my books hidden in plastic bins underneath by bed). Seeing cool bookshelves on #bookstagram makes me wish I had enough space for a whole wall of bookcases and Funko Pops! So if you have cool bookshelves, I'm officially jealous!

{via bookmarauder, interiorsbymarissallc, Fred Tougas, Pinterest, superspacechick, The Design Files, 

The Design Files, The College Prepster & berrededikyahu}

How do you store your books?

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Office Wishlist

Every time September rolls around, I feel like I need to get new notebooks, new pens, and new highlighters and to put them all in my new backpack and head to my first day of school. But since I'm no longer in school, I want all of these cute accessories for my "office" at home or my desk at work. That little dinosaur could keep me company while I'm working! 

{Gold Mesh Pen Pot, Amythest Tealight, Faux Grass, Highlighters, Squirrel Pen, Mini Organizer, 

Moon Phase Notebook, Stay Focused Notebook, New York Notebook, Dinosaur Organizer,

Brown Backpack, Pen Set & Wooden Organizer}

Does September feel like a new start to you too?

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Review: And She Blushes Candles + Giveaway

**I received these candles for free. All opinions are my own**

There are a few things that I have in abundance at my home: books, mugs, cute owl-shaped things, and candles. My mom is a hoarder of candles and of course I am too. When Kristina, the owner of And She Blushes, asked if I wanted to review some mini candles and wax melts I said yes. 

When I opened the box from Kristina, this sweet, delicious scent drifted into my room. I barely waited five minutes before I had lit one of the candles called Birthday Party. This candle is so adorable; it has colorful sprinkles lining the glass and smells like a super sweet cupcake. The other votive candle I got is a cute blue and white candle called Blueberry Cobbler with "blueberries" on top. It has a subtle sweet scent and kind of smells like Pez to me, which I love because I love Pez. 

She also gave me three wax melts, which I have yet to use because I don't have a wax melt warmer, but now I want one (maybe this one). The three wax melts she gave me are Cucumber Melon (strong melon scent, smells fresh and tropical), Watermelon Lemonade (subtle scent, smells like delicious sorbet), and Cherry Cheesecake (super sweet cherry scent).

All of the items she sent me smell great, are well made, look really cute, and are handmade by Kristina. All of her items are made with high-quality natural soy wax and are hand-poured. She's also constantly coming up with new candle scents, so you can sign up to try her new scents before anyone else.

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Kristina and Rachael (of Simply Chic Jewelry) are having a loop giveaway on Instagram tonight starting at 6pm Central Time. Kristina is giving away a Georgia Peach wax set and Rachael is giving away a peach druzy necklace, so go enter to win here!

Enter to win a set of wax melts -- you get to choose which scent you want!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Inspiration: Marquee Signs

I have a peace sign marquee that I love {see below}, but they're so cool that I want more! I really like putting mine on at night while sitting in bed to read or browse Instagram on my iPad because it creates the perfect soft glow. I'm debating between getting an "S" or an ampersand (&). Decisions, decisions. 

{via Slideshow Sign Co., The Everygirl, A Prudent Life, Liz Marie Blog, The DIY Playbook, 

The Rusty Marquee, Urban Outfitters, The Little Canopy, Homey Oh My & Pinterest}

This is the peace sign marquee that I got at Target that I adore.

By the way, Target has a great selection of marquee signs for a great price!

Do you like marquee signs?

Do you have any in your home?

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Inspiration: Reading Nook

Oh how I wish I had a cute little reading nook! It seems all I want to do during January, February, and March is sit and read with a hot drink while I wait for spring. When I get my own place one day, I'm determined to get a teal or purple tufted armchair with a footrest that will sit near a bright window with a pretty pillow and side table to keep my new books.  

{via The Inspired Room, Apartment Therapy, The Clueless Girl's Guide, Pinterest, 

Glitter and Goat Cheese, Apartment Therapy, Pinterest & Love Meagan} 

Do you have a reading nook?

What would your reading nook look like?

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Inspiration: Bedside Tables + Lung Leavin' Day

My bedside table is a plain wooden table that has a small pile of books, an small alarm clock, a small Bath and Body Works candle, a pill-shaped light, two pens, two lip balms, some notes, and a hard glasses case to keep my glasses in overnight. It's not the worst-looking table ever, but I was thinking of sprucing it up a little, so I turned to Pinterest for inspiration. 

I think some flowers, even if they're fake, would add some color, and moving my little macaron trinket box to my bedside table would up the cute factor. What's on your bedside table? Do you use anything unique as a bedside table?

P.S. -- I'm giving away $15 to Starbucks over on The Modern Austen's blog!

♥ ♥ ♥

Today I want to introduce you all to Lung Leavin' Day! 
This isn't a sponsored post, but I felt that this was something you all should know about 
and something you could participate in if you wanted to. 

Eight years ago, Heather Von St. James was diagnosed with mesothelioma; a rare cancer that kills most people within 2 years of diagnosis. She had just given birth to her daughter Lily, and was only given 15 months to live. After a life saving surgery that included the removal of her left lung, LungLeavin’ Day was born. On February 2nd, Heather celebrated 8 years of being cancer free.

The purpose of LungLeavin’ Day is to encourage others to face their fears! Each year, Heather, her husband, and her daughter gather around a fire in their backyard with their friends and family, write their biggest fears on a plate and smash them into the fire. They celebrate for those who are no longer with them, for those who continue to fight, for those who are currently going through a tough time in their life, and most importantly, they celebrate life! 

You can participate by "smashing" your fears into a virtual fire and spreading the word about Lung Leavin' Day! Learn more about Heather Von St. James and learn more about Mesothelioma. 

Lung Leavin' Day | Twitter | Facebook 

Did you "smash" your fears?

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(via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9)

Lusting: Owl Accessories

My spirit animal is the owl! (Find out yours here.) It's funny that my personality is most like the owl's because I've always loved owls and had a few owl objects around my room before I took the test. Now that I know I'm similar to the owl, I want more cute owl goodies! 

I recently got a plush owl, who hangs out on the bed, and my mom gave me an owl brooch with solid perfume in it. Although I already own a bunch of cute mugs, I think an owl mug would be the best thing ever. 

{Click here for item info}

What's your spirit animal?

What's your favorite animal?

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Review: Diamond Candles + Giveaway! [CLOSED]

If you've been in my apartment, then you know that there are candles of all sizes and scents in my living room and bedroom. My mom and I simply can't walk away from a pretty and pleasant-smelling candle! So when Diamond Candles contacted me to review a candle (and give one to one of my readers!), I just couldn't refuse.

Go to Diamond Candles and you'll see that there is a wonderful array of scents to choose from -- black raspberry vanilla, cupcake, peachy mango, ocean mist, honey suckle, rosewood, and many more. It's great that there are so many options in both "regular" scents as well as fun fragrances, like fresh cut grass, summertime, and vanilla lime. There are even scents for special occasions, like an anniversary candle, a birthday cake candle, and Valentine's Day candles.

I chose is the Orchid Meadow candle. It has a strong floral scent but isn't overpowering, which I'm really happy about because nothing is worse than getting a beautiful candle that smells like wax. This giant candle smells so lovely and fresh. Not only does the candle smell amazing, but as you can see the glass candle is also pretty to look at. It's sturdy, comes with a candle cover, the candle itself is a rich maroon color, and lets me know what kind of ring I might find and how to get it out.

Since the ring is near the top of the candle, it only took a few hours of burning to get to the foil-wrapped pouch. When I could see the gold foil, I blew out the candle, poured the liquid wax into a paper cup and used tweezers to pull it out. I unwrapped it and saw that it was a pretty silver ring with a red gem. Luckily it fits my middle finger! I really like my ring, even if it probably isn't worth more than $10, but you never know what you might get in your candle!

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Check out the story behind Diamond Candles:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This is a sponsered post, but all opinions are my own.**

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