Under The Book Cover: #blogtober

Preparing for Blogtober 2020!

#blogtober 8:00:00 AM

Hi hello ghouls and goblins and welcome back! It's no secret that 2020 has been...difficult. I had a lot of plans for my blog this year but clearly, none of those things have come to pass. But tomorrow is the 1st of October which means the start of Blogtober! Just like last year, I'll be following the prompts from Two Book Thieves, and again, I'll have some of them changed to fit myself/my blog. Honestly? This is going to be exactly the same as my 2019 post. My energy level for 2020 is zero, but I also want to participate in Blogtober to the best of my ability this year. I believe it will just be easier to use the post from last year and I want to be honest about it! I'll be posting my very loose schedule for this month below and I'll link each post on this original post just in case anyone wants a list of all of the posts in one easy to find location. For those that don't know what Blogtober is, it's basically a month-long event where you make a post every day in October. Simple, right? Let's get spooky! _________________________________________________________________________________

October 1st: October TBR
It's officially spoopy season so let's read some spoopy books! I'll be sharing my tentative TBR for the month of October.

October 2nd: Why I love Halloween (1978)
What better time of the year than to gush about the horror film that started my love for all things spoopy! I'll be discussing just why I love the original Halloween so darn much.

October 3rd: Spoopy Review #1
It's exactly what it says- a spoopy review! I'll be sharing a review of a spoopy book!

October 4th: Favorite villains
A post all about some of my favorite villains in books!

October 5th: Jigsaw Book Tag
The Saw franchise is one of my favorites so let's do a book tag based on the movies!

October 6th: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue Release Day!
The day I've been waiting so long for is finally here and I don't plan on shutting up about it! Today is all about The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab.

October 7th: Book Line Poetry
This idea came from Jemma at Fantastic Books where she did book poetry with specific prompts. Unfortunately, the original post (and blog) is gone, but basically, I'll be attempting to make some book line poetry and hopefully making it spoopy!

October 8th: Spoopy Review #2

October 9th: The Season of the Witch
Wanna hear about some awesome witchy books? Then check out this post!

October 10th: The Horror Film Book Tag by Royal Reader

October 11th: Halloween Home Decor
My decorations have been up since September but I am so ready to share the spooky goodness that is around my house! And maybe even a surprise appearance from Sora the Corgi!

October 12th: Mystery Day!

October 13th: Nightmare Before Christmas Tag
I'll be doing the Nightmare Before Christmas tag because it's my favorite movie and why not, right?

October 14th: Spoopy Review #3

October 15th: Monstrous Recommendations
Vampires, werewolves, witches, fae, ghosts, sea monsters, demons- this is the post for book recommendations with spoopy monsters!

October 16th: Taking Autumnal Book Photos
I'm not much of a photographer, honestly, but I think this would be a great opportunity to take some Fall/Halloween book photos and share them!

October 17th: The Autumn Tag by Jenn @ Jenniely

October 18th: Spoopy Review #4

October 19th: October Bullet Journal Spread
I'll be sharing my October bullet journal spread! This is one of my favorite spreads in 2020 and I'm so excited to share how my bullet journal skills have grown since last year.

October 20th: Sora's Gotcha Day!
This is the day that Sora came home so obviously I have to celebrate him! I have over 700 photos of him on Instagram so I'm sure I'll have one or two to share here.

October 21st: Thriller Book Recommendations
Looking for some thriller books to read this month? Look no further! I'll be sharing some of my favorite thriller books that I definitely think you should pick up during spoopy season.

October 22nd: Spoopy Review #5

October 23rd: Horror Movie Recommendations
I'm a huge fan of all things horror, so I'm gonna share some of my favorite horror movies!

October 24th: Horror Game Recommendations
Remember the horror movie recommendations post? This is the same thing but with horror video games. Much creative. Such fun.

October 25th: Mystery Day!
I wasn't really sure what to put here so I'll keep it a mystery!

October 26th: Spoopy Review #6

October 27th: Favorite Cozy Reads
My idea of a cozy read in the Fall is a few different things- big and chunky and super scary. Let's take a look at some books I'd like to snuggle up under my Nevernight blanket and read this season!

October 28th: Favourite BOOkstagram Photos
Get it? BOOkstagram? Anyway, I'll be sharing some of my favorite spoopy photos from some of my favorite BOOkstagramers!

October 29th: Spoopy Review #7

October 30th: October Reading Wrap Up
I'll be sharing what I’ve read throughout October and hopefully, it's more than one book!

October 31st: Halloween Creatures Book Tag!
It's Halloween and what better day to do a Halloween book tag! I'll be doing the one I found from Keep Reading Forward!
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And that's about it for my preparations for Blogtober 2020! I'm really excited to be participating this year and I hope to see some of my wonderful fellow bloggers able to take part as well. If you're taking part in Blogtober, I'd love to know what some of your post ideas are going to be. Be sure to comment down below a link to your Blogtober posts so I can check them out! Also, I'll be linking every post I make this month back to this master post in case anyone wants an easy place to locate each post for the prompt in one place. Thanks for stopping by and I'll scare ya later!

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Blogtober 2018 Day Fourteen: Reading Treats!

#blogtober 2:31:00 PM

Hi hello and welcome to Blogtober! This is the first year that I'm participating and I'm so excited! If you don't know what Blogtober is, it's similar to Vlogtober (for YouTubers) where I'll be posting a brand new blog post every day in the month of October. I got all of my prompts from the fabulous Jenniely, so be sure to go over and check out her post if you want to jump in on all of the blogging fun. Today is day fourteen and I'll be talking about some reading treats. Let's get spooky!
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I know what you're thinking, donuts are sticky and might ruin your book pages! But these are such a perfect grab and snack treat to have while you're just sitting around reading. And besides, you could also read on a Kindle and just tap the screen, avoiding sticky book pages. But make sure to wipe your hands off first!

Cookies! I can't think of a better handheld treat to have while you're reading. There's such a huge variety of cookies you could have so you'll never get tired of one type! You could even make these cute bookish cookies and change them to fit the book you're currently reading!

Say it with me: edible cookie dough. Not wanting to spend the time waiting for your cookies to bake? Why not just eat the dough instead! Edible cookie dough is a new treat I've recently discovered and oh my goodness is it fantastic. Of course, in all of my 25 years, I've never gotten sick from eating actual cookie dough. Pretty sure it's just a scam our parents tell us to keep us from experiencing the wonders of raw cookie dough. But at least this way, you can assure you won't be eating raw eggs if that's a thing that bothers you.

Let's be honest, it's October, so you're gonna have candy lying around. If you're like me, you buy big bags of candy with the intention of giving it out but then you really just sit around and eat it all before Halloween comes around. In my defense, we live in the woods and never get trick-or-treaters. But this is also great to just sit around and munch on while flipping through your current read.
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And there are some of my favorite reading treats! If you couldn't tell, I'm a fan of sweets, and I love to snack while I'm reading. Are any of these some things that you like to snack on? Let me know some of your favorite reading treats! Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow for another Blogtober post! Stay spooky!

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Blogtober 2018 Day Thirteen: Bookish Pumpkin Ideas!

#blogtober 9:05:00 AM

Hi hello and welcome to Blogtober! This is the first year that I'm participating and I'm so excited! If you don't know what Blogtober is, it's similar to Vlogtober (for YouTubers) where I'll be posting a brand new blog post every day in the month of October. I got all of my prompts from the fabulous Jenniely, so be sure to go over and check out her post if you want to jump in on all of the blogging fun. Today is day thirteen and I'll be talking about some ideas for bookish pumpkins. Let's get spooky!
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(Still lazy, still using Google for images.)

Let's start off with an easy one. For those that may not want to gut and carve a pumpkin because icky, why not try painting a pumpkin? These are some super cute Harry Potter inspired painted pumpkins that are perfect for bringing some bookish flair to your Halloween decorations!

What's more perfect to carve into a pumpkin than the symbol of the Mockingjay with flames behind it? When you light the candle inside of the pumpkin, it will look absolutely fantastic and like your flames have come to life!

Queen Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, Lady of Dragonstone, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons. Need I say more?

Smaug from The Hobbit is a fire-breathing dragon. How could you not want to carve a dragon on a pumpkin?!

We started simple, so let's end simple! If you don't want to paint a pumpkin or sit down and spend hours cleaning out the guts of a pumpkin and carving it, why not try making a paper pumpkin? You could recycle an old book and make a couple of cute bookish paper pumpkins to keep forever!
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And that's it for some bookish pumpkin ideas! I really enjoy carving pumpkins (not so much the cleaning out of the pumpkin, though) but I definitely am nowhere near as talented as some of the amazing carvings I showed. I think I might stick with some easy book page pumpkins this year! What are some of your ideas for bookish pumpkins? I'd love to know so be sure to leave a comment with your ideas! Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow for another Blogtober post! Stay spooky!

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Blogtober 2018 Day Ten: Reading Slump Survival Tips!

#blogtober 7:50:00 AM

Hi hello and welcome to Blogtober! This is the first year that I'm participating and I'm so excited! If you don't know what Blogtober is, it's similar to Vlogtober (for YouTubers) where I'll be posting a brand new blog post every day in the month of October. I got all of my prompts from the fabulous Jenniely, so be sure to go over and check out her post if you want to jump in on all of the blogging fun. I skipped my first day yesterday but I'm really happy to be back! Today is day ten and I'll be talking about some tips to get out of a reading slump. Let's get spooky!
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1. Whatever book you're trying to read, put it down!
Obviously, whatever you're currently trying to read is not working. The best option is to put it down and just walk away. I know, I know, you don't want to give up and maybe you can make it through if you just push on and force yourself to read. Nope, sorry friend, not gonna happen. The first step to conquering your slump is to recognize what put you in the slump in the first place.

2. Don't read anything for a while.

It sounds insane, but anything you try to pick up as a rebound after your initial slump book is just going to end up exactly the same. Take a break, step back, and do something other than read for a while. You'll miss reading, for sure, but your brain needs to basically reset itself. Go catch up on a TV show or do some chores around the house. Give yourself some time to separate from reading. And I don't mean a few minutes or a few hours, I mean a few days or up to a week or more.

3. Change it up

What genre were you reading when the slump hit? When you're finally ready to read again, pick something completely different. Reading fantasy? Try a contemporary or maybe a horror/thriller! What about a Young Adult? Step outside the comfort zone and try an Adult Fiction book.

4. Change it up...again
I know, creative title. But I'm referring to the format in which you're reading this time. Were you reading a physical book when the slump happened? Try an e-book! Or vice versa. You could even try reading on the computer with a PDF or the Kindle app. Or maybe give audiobooks a try if you've never listened to one before. A change in format may help keep your brain fresh and may help you discover you like reading different formats than you're used to!

5. Try a new location
Some of my preferred places to read are in my computer chair at my desk or in the bed with a bunch of blankets. If you have one place you typically like to read, try changing it up and reading in a new spot. Maybe in the living room by the fire or just in a comfy reading chair. Changing your surroundings can help change your mindset and give you a fresh perspective on reading.

6. Graphic novels count, too!
This kind of relates to changing the format in which you read but is more about what you read than how you read. Graphic novels (or even comic books and manga) are a great way to reset your brain and make reading fun again. Having pictures to look at while following along with the story can help keep you engaged and want to read instead of feeling like you're just looking at words on a page. Putting faces to the names can help immerse you into the world that you're reading about and making you want to continue on with the story!
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I would love to know some of your tips for surviving a reading slump! I had an awful slump happen last year and most of the beginning of this year due to some personal things but now I'm back on my reading game and couldn't be happier. What are some things that you do when you get hit with a slump? Let me know in the comments and maybe your tip will help a fellow reader! Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow for another Blogtober post! Stay spooky!

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Blogtober 2018 Day Eight: Creepy Reads!

#blogtober 7:35:00 AM

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Starting this list off with a bang we have The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco! While this is easily one of my all-time favorite YA horror books (as well as the sequel, The Suffering) it is still pretty frickin creepy. I think the aspect of being inside Okiku's head and hearing her thoughts is what made the creepy factor in this skyrocket. But if you're not easily spooked and you're looking for a creepy book to pick up for the month of October, I highly recommend this one!

Damned by Chuck Palahniuk. I have read this book exactly one time and one time ever because it freaked me out and messed me up really bad back in the day. I say back in the day but I only read this seven years ago, honestly. It was amazing and fantastic, don't get me wrong, and Chuck Palahniuk is one of my favorite authors, but this book just...dang. It made me really think about my own mortality quite a bit and being 17/18 years old and thinking about that was not conducive to a positive mental state for me. So, yes, this book is definitely a creepy one for me, and I'd only recommend it if thinking about death and your mortality doesn't freak you out.

The Diviners by Libba Bray. While I haven't read this book (yet) I've heard nothing but good things about this! I've seen Booktubers and reviews on Goodreads talk about how creepy and sometimes terrifying this book can be and I am absolutely here for that.

What's a creepy books list without a good ghost story?! City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab is a fantastically creepy middle-grade book that's absolutely perfect to read this time of year! Nevermind the fact that Victoria Schwab has recently become one of my all-time favorite authors and her book Vicious is now officially my favorite book ever. She's just a wonderful author and this book has such a creepy vibe on every page but it's such a great book and I highly recommend it!

Last but certainly not least, Survive the Night by Danielle Vega. If you're claustrophobic, then this book will definitely freak you out! This book reminds me heavily of the film Catacombs which was quite creepy so if you liked that, then you'll really enjoy this book!
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And there you have it! Some creepy reads perfect for the Halloween reading season. Have you read any of these? Let me know what you thought of them if you have! I'd also love to know what some of your suggested creepy reads are so let me know in the comments. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow for another Blogtober post! Stay spooky!

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Blogtober 2018 Day Seven: Autumnal Bookshelf Decorations!

#blogtober 9:10:00 AM

Hi hello and welcome to Blogtober! This is the first year that I'm participating and I'm so excited! If you don't know what Blogtober is, it's similar to Vlogtober (for YouTubers) where I'll be posting a brand new blog post every day in the month of October. I got all of my prompts from the fabulous Jenniely, so be sure to go over and check out her post if you want to jump in on all of the blogging fun. Today is day seven and I'll be talking about some Autumnal bookshelf decorations. Let's get spooky!
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(I've lost count of how many disclaimers I've added to my posts. Too lazy, but Google is just a few keystrokes away from giving me what I want to share. Photos aren't mine, but they're cool anyway.)

I finally got myself a string of fairy lights and I definitely see the hype around them! My favorite way to display them is in a Mason Jar on a shelf. So pretty!

Pretty much as soon as September hits, I'm breaking out the Halloween decorations. I have a string of pumpkin lights I keep up year-round above my computer so it's almost like Halloween year-round!

Flameless candles! Because even at 25 I don't think I'm responsible enough to have actual candles sitting around my books. But also because I just like the look of them.

You know those random Halloween knick-knacks you can find at craft stores? Yeah, I have tons of those for everyday decorations and I love covering my shelves with stuff like this!

And last but not least, DIY potion bottles! I may or may not have an old jar I turned into a Deadly Night Shade jar for decoration. I just love the look of the creepy labels and the weathered look you can create with paint and rope or even covering them in more lights!
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I feel like this might have turned into a post about some of my favorite Halloween decorations...but oh well! I like using those as every day decor so when the Fall/Halloween season comes around, it's not difficult for me to find things to cover my shelves with. What are some of your favorite Fall/Halloween decorations to use on your shelves? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow for another Blogtober post! Stay spooky!

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Blogtober 2018 Day Six- Autumnal Drinks!

#blogtober 10:18:00 AM

Hi hello and welcome to Blogtober! This is the first year that I'm participating and I'm so excited! If you don't know what Blogtober is, it's similar to Vlogtober (for YouTubers) where I'll be posting a brand new blog post every day in the month of October. I got all of my prompts from the fabulous Jenniely, so be sure to go over and check out her post if you want to jump in on all of the blogging fun. Today is day six and I'll be talking about some Autumnal drinks. Let's get spooky!
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(Hey, look, another disclaimer! Still too lazy to take photos of things so I'm using the wonderful Google to find some photos. They're not mine, they're just super helpful and let me be lazy.)

Surprise, surprise it's a PSL! If you somehow don't know what one of these is, it's a Pumpkin Spice Latte. It's basic, and it's wonderful. But I'm not here to shame anyone for being "basic!" If you like your Han Solo outfit with UGG boots and a PSL, you rock it. I know I will!

Hot Apple Cider! Truth be told, I'm a bigger fan of apple cider than a PSL. Something about it makes me think of my childhood and always brings back really good memories. That and I'm obsessed with all things apple when it comes to food and smells.

Why drink bitter coffee when you can have hot chocolate and pretend it's coffee?! Just keep it in a thermos and when your friends ask if it's coffee, just say yes. They don't need to know you're secretly a five-year-old that can't drink coffee because it tastes icky.

My favorite kind of tea is vanilla chamomile with honey. My mom got me started on it years ago and I still love it! Also, I just recently learned you can put milk in your hot tea? What?
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Let me know some of your favorite Fall drinks! And how do you take your tea? Do you put milk in it or sugar and/or honey? Or maybe both? I never knew milk in hot tea was a thing and if I wasn't lactose intolerant (and just seriously disliked the taste of milk in general) I'd probably try it! Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow for another Blogtober post! Stay spooky!

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