twilight.

We've already come to the realization that I'll read anything. I actually started this book out of curiosity, we started selling merch for it at the store I work in. I had no intention to enjoy it, or even finish it for that matter. I just wanted to see what the hype was about and see if it could in fact fill the hole that "the boy who lived" left in my life last year.

I was pleasantly surprised when i couldn't put this book down. At all. I read it @ work, @ home, in the car, and anywhere else I could find a few minutes. It's not a literary masterpiece, Stephanie Meyer isn't going to be the Joyce Carol Oates or anything like that, but the god damned story is sooooooooo good. I'm not going to spoil it for everyone and talk about the story (but if you've read it and want to chat, leave a comment!). I finished it in a couple of days and started the next book in the series already.

and if that not enough for you knitters...

yarn in colorways named after Bella's hometown:

Forks-Twilight II @ Septembrina

Shades of Forks from the Twilight Saga.

"This is what I think Bella sees when she looks out her window in the mornings. Thick fog and dense shades of spruce. Better put on a nice pair of socks."



And Ravelry Groups:

Twilight Saga Fans

Twilight Saga Fans Book Club

But there's also a movie coming out:

so just go read it? okay?

<3

knitxcore.

MixTapeMonday!!!

1. Antony And The Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
2. Antony & The Johnsons - Fistful of Love (ft. Lou Reed)
3. St Vincent - Jesus Saves. I Spend
4. Au Revoir Simone - Sad Song
5. Tori Amos - Siren
6. Mono - Life In Mono
7. Sarah Blasko - Planet New Year
8. Bat For Lashes - Whats A Girl To Do
9. Gotye - Hearts A Mess

Enjoy!

<3

knitxcore.

Friday Faves!

I love that blog, howispentmystimulus.com, and since I haven't blogged in a while I'll show you where my extra cash went:


Screen Printed Wool Log Pillow @ myimaginaryboyfriend

Simple Oilcloth Lunchbag in Faux Bois @ RickRackQueen

Acorn Pillow @ littleredfox

I frogged the jaywalker again and a charade (sorry sandra!). I think my feet must be getting fat or something??? I dunno? I really need to make a new pair a socks or at least get to darning the old ones.

I've been really busy lately, hanging on Flylady's every word. It's pretty much an orgnizational/housecleaning program through e-mail. It tells you what to clean, when to clean it and why. The best part is, NOTHING TAKES MORE THAN 15 MINUTES!!!!! I know it sounds sort of crazy, but it works! We run a small e-bay business(thriftyfashion.com) from our spare room and everything just started to become sort of overwhelming until I found this. I feel so calm knowing a clean house is only 15 minutes away.

I've started a few new projects here and there, went to a few shows and bummed around for a little, but I'm alive. I swear.

---Let'sRideBikeS---

Bat For Lashes - Whats a Girl To Do



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knitxcore.

CleAning Day!

today is cleaning day!

i'm trying to be more of a morning person.

i like the quiet but hate getting out of bed.

i found the most adorable video this morning:



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knitxcore.

SPT: 070308

I know it's been awhile, but i decided to do it on the way home from work.



I walk to and from work a lot.
I live right across the street and it takes about ten minutes.
It's like a lil' adventure everyday.
I have to crawl through some bushes and climb through a hole in a fence.


(this is the lil' secret passage)

---JoniMiTChELLNeverLies---

Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi - Isle of Wight 1970

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knitxcore.

Hey LooK!

I knitted a sock...



and then frogged it...



Lessons Learned:

1. ALWAYS do a gauge swatch.
2. Just because you're really thin, doesn't mean you should just go for the smaller size.
3. Everyone in BloGLanD is telling the truth, Jaywalkers are really that tight.

I've been sort of busy, and it seems like not as many folks are reading my blog. Maybe if I write really trashy stuff about celebrities, or post pictures of political figures in scandalous positions more people will stop by??? Suggestions? anyone?

---IloveDuX---

City and Color - The Girl



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knitxcore.

7 things.

"The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer."

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was a freshman in high school. I watched romeo & juliet almost everyday, listened to Bush and Marylin Manson, painted my fingernails to look edgy, tap danced, stayed up late to watch sanford and son, never washed my hair, and made sandwiches to fund my adidas problem. I had it all figured out then.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?

I took a picture of my actual to-do list for the day:


3) Snacks I enjoy:

-Crackers! any type really.
-Nuts (cashews are my faves)
-Cheese, the lil' round ones dipped in wax...

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

I would buy a farm in France, put enough away to buy flour and soap and get rid of the rest. To live self sustained is worth all the money in the world.

5) Places I have lived:

Oh god, lets start at the begining:
-Maryland
-Virginia
-Northern New Jersey
-Central Jersey
-Virginia
-Central Jersey
-New York City
-South Jersey


6) Jobs I have had:

-Sandwich Maker
-Stockboy @ 5-7-9
-Stockboy @ Ross
-Tele-marketer
-Sales Associate @ PacSun
-Sales Associate @ H&M
-Keyholder @ The Body Shop
-KeyHolder @ Rack Room Shoes
-Co-Manager @ Journeys
-Asst. Manager @ Hot Topic

7) Bloggers I am tagging who I will enjoy getting to know better:

Flint Knits
Yarn Ball Boogie
Me, Myself and Kai
Subdue it with a Sweater
I May Be Knitting a Ranch House

and anyone else thats wants to...

---Music From 10 years ago---

Bush - Glycerine



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knitxcore.

the flickr game.

I've seen this on a couple of blogs today, I couldn't resist.

The concept:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

everyone should do this. just sayin.

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knitxcore.

FO: Uh-oh's.

I've been having the worst trouble the past weeks with my ISP!!!! Don't worry! I haven't run away and joined a cult.... yet.



I did, however, have some time to finish and old WIP. I bought the pattern from Mochimochi land about a year ago, the yarn more than 6 months ago during that yarn crawl, and started about two months ago. I'm such a slacker sometimes.

Pattern Particulars

Pattern Source: Uh-oh's @ Mochimochi Land

Needles: Fiddlesticks Size 4 Bamboo DPN's

Materials: Rowan Scottich Tweed $ p-ly, Felt, Plastic eyes with anchors, and fiberfill.

Time: way too long, not because the patterns was hard or complex, just because I'm lazy.

loved: how god damned cute they are.

hated: you'll see, if you buy the pattern (i don't want to give away the secret).


I've started some Jaywalkers (about 4 times!) and keep missing an important part of the math in the pattern. I'm going to go look on Ravelry and see if I can figure out what I'm doing wrong. I keep ending up with missing stitches.

It's been a billion degrees in my house all week, the air breaks every year. DH says it's a rite of spring. I can barely function in the heat, let alone sleep. I'm one of those folks who wraps themselves up in the comforter regardless of how hot it is. I just can't get comfortable without it.

I'm sort of procrastinating, Tuesday is cleaning day and I haven't even finished half of the to-do list. I guess I should go vacuum...

---AtdaHoP---

Devendra Banhart - At the Hop



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knitxcore.

SPT: 052208 Inspiration board.

i think it's time to shake things up.
it's been the same for quite a while.

---SmiTTeN!---

The Smittens - My Favorite Dream



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knitxcore.

SPT: 051508 wannabe

I tried to cut my hair to look like morrissey's used to.

close, but no cigar.

oh well.

---SmiTHAgE!---

The Smiths - I started something I couldn't finish



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knitxcore.

Spring Cleaning!

I need to get rid of some magazines but, i couldn't bear to throw these away. Maybe you want to make the Twinkle Shopping tunic, or that fancy cabled Michael Kors sweater?

I'm asking $3 + shipping for each one (they're originally $5.99), but all interesting trades will be considered....



VK Holiday 05 (ravelry) SOLD!



VK winter 05/06 (ravelry) SOLD!



VK Spring/Summer 06 (ravelry)



VK fall 06 (ravelry) SOLD!



VK winter 06 (ravelry) SOLD!



VK holiday 06 (ravelry)

Please get them outta my house!

<3

knitxcore.

H is for Hole

Believe it or not, this is first time this has happened to me!

I really didn't expect it from a pricey sock yarn. Maybe I wore them too much?

Either way, the situation gave a chance to learn how to darn. I found a video on YouTube of an old lady doing it, and that it looked simple enough. While I didn't move as quickly as her, or do as perfect a job, the hole has been patched up and the socks will live to see another day. (I, honestly was almost in tears, over a hole in a sock.)

You can darn socks to:



or just listen to good music, if darning isn't you bag:

Tegan and Sara - Speak Slow




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knitxcore.

G is for GroW!!!!!

You may remember last years garden, and that even though I had all the basil anyone could ask for I couldn't get a damn tomato to grow???? Yeah, that garden.
Instead of getting discouraged and throwing in the towel, I've decided to give this whole "growing food" thing another shot. Inspired by Jana's recession garden, I lurked a few gardening messageboards, I found what could be a perfect plant fot my tiny shady deck.
Tom Thumb Peas!!!!! (even their name is cute!) Apparently, it is a quite rare heirloom variety dating back to the 1800's. I had quite a hard time actually getting the seeds, though. I ordered from one website and they had sold out, others were in the UK and Canada and the shipping wasn't worth the cost of the seeds. I finally found some @ Trade Winds Fruit. They sprung up pretty quickly considering I didn't use an inoculant or even bother to freeze the seeds first. The lil' seedlings need to make it a few more days on the kitchen table before I'm comfortable putting them outside in their pots.

I still haven't made my mom a gift, it's obviously to late to knit anything fancy and I couldn't think of anyhing to sew :-( If anyone has any good ideas, lemme know? I have 10 days left and she really likes handmade gifts. If it gets down to the wire, I'm sure I could find something on Etsy.

I finished something for the shop!!!!! I know it's been empty for a while, but I have a plan and hopefully this time I can fill it up and keep it full. You all will be the first to know when it's ready :-)

---KatenaShcOre---

Kate Nash - Mouthwash



<3
knitxcore.

SPT: 041008

Out damned spot, I say!
It's cleaning day.

---GooDClEAn FUN---

Eisley - Come Clean (live @ sundance)



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knitxcore

SPT: 040308 hightea.

Drinking tea with an octopus is quite an intrigue.
Just don't raise your pinky, if your company is missing said digits it is considered quite rude.

---TeaPartYMuSiC---

Au Revoir Simone - Fallen Snow




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knitxcore.

F is for FO

I just finished a pair of socks I started in January, the sad part is that there just plain ol' stockinette socks. No cables, or fancy ribbing just generic toe-up socks. I\
]=mmediately upon finishing them I decided I wanted to take the FO pic outside, outside where it rained last night. I was pretty much standing in mud. Oh! The things I'll do for a good photo.

Pattern Particulars

Pattern Source: Wendy's Fingering Weight Toe-Up socks with Gusset Heel
Needles: 32" US Size 1 Addi Turbos
Materials: Hobbledehoy Merino Sock Yarn in Pop Quiz
Time: Longer than it should have ever taken. I started these in January.
loved: Not picking up any stitches for the heel!!!!!!
hated: I casted off sort of tightly, and I'm not going back to fix it.
Notes: I followed the pattern for the Large size, and did a 3X2 rib before casting off in pattern.




I need to make something new for my mom for her birthday. I started an apron and realized I cut the pieces out wrong, so that's not going to work. I know that Branching Out pattern is supposed to be pretty simple for beginner lace, and I have some raw silk hanging around it may look nice in.

---FeedtheTrEE---

Belly - Feed the tree



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knitxcore.

SPT: 032708

Thursdays are for:

-listening to records
-eating bean soup
-forgetting to take ur self-portrait until 7PM
-planting tom thumb pea plants
-folding laundry
-eating more bean soup
-petting kitty cats
-catching up on blogs

---IfeELJustLikeAChild---

most of time, anyway.

Devendra Banhart - Feel just like a child

E is for Etsy!

Everyone loves Etsy.com.

I've been sort of obsessed recently.



These lil' birdies came in saturday-ish? I put them up immediately. I'v been looking for alternatives to paint (we rent) to make it a lil' more exciting. These wall decals from VinylWallArt hit the spot. Check out the Quail, I love it :-)



Adrienne is quite the scratcher! She destroyed her old reflective collar. I had this lil' polka dot guy from theModernPet in my faves forever! I'm so glad no one else bought it before me. The collar is actually pretty well made, and most importantly has that safety clip that pops the it off if it were to get caught on something. (I know the picture is blurry but, it tooks few treats to get her to sit that still.)



Last, but certainly not least, we have BrainScan coffee. I bought a half pound to try it out first. I can be really picky about coffee, I know what I like. It seems Starbucks leaves a strange ashy aftertaste anymore, so I figured it was time to move on. Alex hand roasts organic fair trade beans for the tastiest brew on the block. I'm sort of addicted to her Small World blend (1/2 Sumatra, 1/2 Costa Rican). It's delicious and there is no coffee belly ache if I skip breakfast.

in other news:

-I'm just about finished a pair of socks! They should be done in a few days.

-I've planted some Basil and Parsley, and had an issue with some Tom Thumb pea seeds (cutest thing ever!). Luckily, I found some more and they should be here soon.

-I've been working on a reversible apron for quite a while, and just realized I cut a few pieces on the wrong side!!!!!! I don't have anymore of the fabric and neither does the place I bought it. I may just keep going and assemble a panel or two backwards.



---Miranda July Makes Buttons---

So, that's how buttons are made?
I had no clue until now! I'm not sure if I'd have the patience for that "ferberization" step.



<3
knitxcore.

HoppY Easter!

not completely relevant, but there is a scandalous bunny :-)

Motion City Soundtrack - My Favorite Accident



<3
knitxcore.

D is for dance parties.

(tilly and the wall: First Unitarian, Phila. PA.)


I'm so lucky!
my favorite band comes around once or twice a year.
this time they brought balloons.
maybe we hung out in a church basement.
maybe it was 300 degrees in there.
maybe the opening band had quite a hippie following.
it doesn't matter, i like patchouli.

Honestly, it was one of the best shows I've ever been to. Maybe it was the confetti, maybe it was the ballons? Everyone had so much energy! I've seen Tilly quite a few times, but last night the were at the top of their game.

I really need a nap today.


---LeT teh BeAT ContRol YoV---

Tilly and the Wall - Beat Control




<3
knitxcore.

SPT: 031308 abandoned

i walk past this lil' playground almost everyday.
it's right across from my house.
there's never anyone in it.
it makes me sad.

---Sad Song---

Sad Song - Au Revoir Simone (it's not really that sad)



<3
knitxcore.

I MakE UR DAy?

Everyone knows I'm a total slacker, so it's no surprise that when I was nominated (3 times) for the "You Make My Day" award that I never posted my thank you's or picked my 5 or 10 or however many I needed. Well, today is the day!

Thanks to James, Sandra and Marlena for being cool enough to read my blog :-) Seriosly, guys, it means a lot! Half of the time I wonder who cares about watching Beetlejuice or making Pom-pom bunnies and then I get a super cool blogtastic thank you from some of my favorite bloggers.



Now, I get to pick a bunch of people who make my day (in no particular order):

1. Steven's Happy Accidents is one of my new faves! His colorful photos caught my eye on Flickr and he paid homage to one of my super fun photos, just recently. I pretty much need everthing in his etsy shop :-)

2. Sandra's Blog is always one of the first I check. We have the same asthetic, and taste in music, and blahblahblah. I think we were seperated at birth, maybe? She just recently reminded how awesome living in the 90's was. Sandra also has a rad etsy shop.

you forgot this song on ur playlist:




3. Craig @ CubistLiterature is one bad ass mofo. Craig is pretty much a renaissance man. He can do anything. He listens to super awesome music you've never heard of. You can buy the stuff he makes too.

watch craig get low:


4. James!!!! Don't think I forgot you buddy! James and I found each other on ravelry. I'm pretty jealous of his fair isle skills. He writes like I talk, I like that.

5. Karen is an awesome pal! We started chatting about an apron quite some time ago and never looked back. She sent me a ton of knitting magazines and some crazy needles not to long ago for no reason at all!!!!! Karen, you rock!

6. Everyone else who comments my blog, or is in my blogroll!!! You all make my day! It's awesome to come home to tons of emails and comments! You're the only reason I bother with blogging at all :-)

On a side note, I'm part of that ABC-along you've been hearing about. You have to take a picture and write a blog entry. I'm stuck on D, any suggestions???


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knitxcore.

BEETLEJUICE!!!!!

is on! YaY!



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knitxcore.

First things first.

Remember this scarf from last weeks SPT?



For those of you that wanted to know...

It's one of my first knitted projects ever. This particular scarf is quite a few years old so, you'll have to bear with me.

Pattern Particulars

Pattern Source: Improvised. I used the stripe pattern from the Hot Head pattern in Stitch n' Bitch
Needles: Clover Takumi US size 10.5 straight
Materials: Lion Brand Homespun
Time: Just a few hours.
loved: the colors.
hated: i can't remember :-)

So there it is. I said it wan't too exciting. Buy some cheap yarn, forget what you know about gauge or drape and pop out a 2X2 ribbed scarf and you too can look as dashing as Engelbert Humperdinck (in his prime of course).

Now, on to more exciting things.

I had off today. Martha Stewart was switched to a new time on NBC. So, in order to get my fix, I had to visit the time-suck that is marthastewart.com. While browsing for about a half an hour I found the cutest easter decoration anyone could ever have. Even though mine isn't as cute as this, I couldn't fathom spending $130 on the real thing (though, you can buy reproductions for about $20). Anyway after a couple of hours worth of glueing, cutting and cussing I have this adorable bunny for my kitchen table.

I followed the tutorial exactly, just changed a few materials so i wouldn't have to go out. I used acrylic yarn, craft felt, and wooden beads. Her fancy pedestal is an upside down frappacino cap coverd in green fabric and mod podge. I'm so fancy! If I make anymore I may just use real wool ande felt, but the wooden eyes are so cute! I'm definitely sticking with those.

and I assume you all expect a video, so without further adieu...

---More Kate Nash!---

Kate Nash -Foundations

(I really can't get enough of her!!!)

<3

knitxcore.

SPT: 030608 Personal Party

Sometimes, I dance around the house when I'm alone.
Is that weird?

I swear I'll tell you all about that striped scarf on Friday (it's not as exciting as you think).

I'm working on those same socks still, but thinking of starting something else to break up the monotony of a stockinette sock. Maybe just a quick hat? I have a few balls of malabrigo left from the salad sweater.

---Have a Dance Party of Ur own---

Vampire Weekend - A-Punk (this is what i danced around to!)

<3
knitxcore.

SPT: 022808 swapcore

i made a ganomy hat for an awesome girl i never met.
she made me this super rad shirt.
we found each other on stylemob.
pretty awesome, eh?


(this is what she got.)

---current obsession---

Has anyone heard of Kate Nash?
probably the cutest video ever, and @ 33 seconds in she's knitting a scarf!!!!!!!



<3
knitxcore.

SPT: 022108 Snow Day!

I love precipitation!
It snowed most of the day today.
I walked home from work in it, and it took every ounce of self control I had not to flop on the ground and make snow angels.

---SnowDaySong---
this video stars an amazing director/writer/artist by the name of miranda july. i'm pretty much obsessed with her.

Blonde Redhead - Top Ranking




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knitxcore.

shop update.

buy this.




<3
knitxcore.

SPT: 021408

i finished my first toe up sock.
i gave up on shaving.
these pants have a hole in the crotch.

C is for Cupcakes!

I like to make a special treat every Valentine's Day. I usually bake sugar cookies and toss some royal icing on them, but this year I wanted to go just a step further. I bought this Martha Stewart cupcake kit at Macy's, and then searched all of my cookbooks for the perfect recipe. After looking through all of them and the creepy box of recipes from the seventies my mom gave me, I decided Martha could once again save the day. I went to MarthaStewart.com and there on the first page was exactly what I needed, not only was there a recipe but a video for those of us with little kitchen confidence.

---recipe---

Billy's Vanilla, Vanilla Cupcakes (Makes about 30 cupcakes)

1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Billy's Vanilla Buttercream
Colored Sprinkles, for decorating, optional
Alternate frosting: Billy's Chocolate Buttercream

Directions
-Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.

-In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat.

-Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about 2/3 full (I used about 2 tablespoons). Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.

-Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat process with remaining batter. Once cupcakes have cooled, use a small offset spatula to frost tops of each cupcake (I used the buttercream icing recipe above, and Wilton's Color Gel in Pink). Decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Serve at room temperature.



I know my pictures suck tonight, but it happens. It's been rainy and dark.

BTW... I finally have my crown!!!!!!! I forgot to let you all know. It's weird chewing on both sides now. I keep biting my cheek. lol.

<3

knitxcore.

SPT 020708: Knitting.

i look kinda crappy today. i didn't sleep well. it was raining and super windy all night. i thought we were going to die.
i got sorta half ready for work and decided i just wanted to knit.
i really should eat some breakfast.

<3
knitxcore.

B is for Books.

I've always been sort of book-ish. As a kid, we didn't have a lot of money. We didn't go many fancy places. My escape was the library. It was free, and I could check out a "ticket" to where ever I wanted to go. During vacations, while other kids were visiting Mickey Mouse or some exotic island, I was 20,000 leagues under the sea. I didn't appreciate it when I was younger, jealous of the other kids exciting stories. Now, as a grown-up, I love the person being bookish has helped me become.

I'll read pretty much anything (as long as it's not written by Dan Brown or Gregory Maguire); fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, zines, et al. I have tons of favorite books! My knitting and cookbook collections are insane. I'm not ashamed to admit I've read all of the Harry Potter series, and loved every second of it. Sometimes, I'll continue reading a horrible book, just because I have to finish it.

So, in conclusion, B is for Books.

---Today's Video---

Belle and Sebastian - Wrapped Up In Books



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