Oops, these aren't for eating

I mistook these for real cookies, but they're actually magnets. These tasty looking handmade cuties are from Scrumptious Doodle, an etsy shop that specializes in handmade minature food jewlery. These look good enough to eat, but I'm kind of glad they aren't because that means I can enjoy just looking at them.

So cute but too tight

Not long ago, I bought a pair of kitten heel shoes from Alieexpress.com. I loved them the second I saw them, but my feet didn't. They are a little too tight. Sadly, I have to give them away. I wish they would have worked out because they easily go with everything. They would have been comfy, if not for the size and they are so easy to walk in. They have a cute little heart on them to add to the shoes personality. That's the chance one takes when buying online, but I do recommend them for those with shoe sizes smaller than 8.5.

Tuesday Treasures

The trials of Tiffany Trott

I started reading this book while in the hospital and it turned out to be a humours destraction from my ailment. It's a bit like Bridget Jones' Diary (if you've ever read/seen it you'll know what I mean) and loaded with british humour. While it's not the most deep or provoking book, it's a good light read for the girly girl. Tiffany Trott is your typical London career woman, looking to settle down, and having very little luck at it. The author has a way of bringing all the characters to life to the point where I could recognize some of them in my own life. From her bad breathed dates, to her single friends who try to help, everyone seems alive as if they stepped out of the book and conversing with directly. It's a good book for a lazy sunday afternoon.

Red Embossed Heart Leather Journal - Lined


I have a red hardcover journal that I bought from a dollar store. It is different from this one, and I do love writing in it. But oh la la, look at how cute this journal is. It's so simple, and yet it looks as if it's calling out to someone to write some beautiful thoughts in it.

Lindt Gold Bunny Chocolates




The day after Easter, my mom bought this box of chocolates. I'm not chocolate fan, but the packaging of this box screams spring! It looks so vintage and sweet. I haven't seen a box of chocolate this cute in a long time. Even the flower, egg, and bunny shaped chocolate are adorable.

Pastel Rainbow Kawaii Kitty Kindle Cover

I don't own a kindle fire, but this cover is just about the cutest cover I've seen. One could use it to carry other items such as a small book, but even just to look at puts a smile on my face. I especially love that it's rainbow. This kawaii kity cover comes from an etsy store called Sugar Junkie Shop, which offers a colorful array of cute handmade items, from bright colored hair bows, to knitted cake rings.

Monster Friend Series: The Zombie

Misery loves company and your zombie friend would love a sad-sorry-for-themselves companion.   They are the negative friend who usually has a negative lifestyle. But other than trying to help themselves, they find people who are overcoming a similar struggle to latch onto. Your zombie friend will make you think you can help them, if you try. But what the zombie really wants is to bring you down to their level. They prefer to be friends with people who “understand” them. But rather than let you help them, they lure you into the same lifestyle you’re trying to escape.

They use emotional triggers like the vampire, and do little for their friends like the ghost. Zombies fear being judged and that’s one of the main reasons they’d rather have you sabotage yourself. To them, you can’t judge if you’re just like them.
 
They can be very clingy, and often take advantage of people. They fear being alone, so when they see you trying to "get back to the living" a zombie friend will bring you back down. They can be enablers or they can exhaust you into trying to think you can save them, which leaves you no energy to help yourself. They're a little like the gremlin, in that they don't want you to prosper. But unlike the gremlin, the zombie friend isn't envious. They're scared of being abandoned.

If you’re coming out of a difficult situation, you need to stay away from zombies who want you at your most vulnerable. They know you’ll be able to relate to them, and they will try to undo all the hard work you’ve done. They aren't looking to be saved; they're hoping to pull you down with them.

Common characteristcs of zombie friends

• needy
• clingy
• manipulative
• self loathing
• negative

Other monsters
The gremlin
The vampire
The ghost
The werewolf

Monster Friend Series: The Werewolf

The werewolf is the person who has a nice side, but when they get mad…beware. The trouble is werewolf friends often have overly sensitive natures. You begin to feel like you have to tip toe around them because anything can set them off. They often have anger issues and large egos.

Werewolf friends can be physically mean but they can also cut you down emotionally. They may make snippy comments or mock you in openly. They have no problem humiliating and belittling people.

Werewolves like to be in control and they will try to control their friends either emotionally by making you feel bad, or they can be physical about it. They often feel powerless and thus seek to maintain power in their friendships. In their group of friends, they seek to be leaders and often are the ones who dictate what’s going to happen and when. If you have an uncompromising friend who is always deciding what the rest of the group members are doing, they could be a werewolf.

Werewolves rarely ask for anyone’s input and in their minds any contradicting opinion you have is wrong. They do not take criticism well due to their overly sensitive natures but they love dishing it out.

The werewolf when tame can make you feel like they’re nice. They are often full of fun ideas, or surprise you in some thoughtful way, but no one should be emotionally or physically abused. Werewolves are bullies and you don’t have to put up with the brash tantrums just to have a friend.


Common characteristics of Werewolf friends

• Aggressive
• Tempermental
• Moody
• Sensitive
• Insensitive
• Demanding
• Controlling

Other Monsters
The Vampire
The Gremlin
The Ghost

Monster Friends Series: The Ghost

The Ghost. Have a friend who is always disappearing on you? Do you have a friend who expects you to be there for them but when it’s their turn they make excuses or ignore you. Ghost friends rarely put in as much effort into the friendship as their friends. They dump on people a lot but they don’t emotionally invest in their friendships. Similar to the vampire, they can manipulate you and use emotional triggers to do things for them.

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need the favor.”

“I really hope you can come because I don’t think anyone else will.”

When it comes time for you to ask a favor, they have a number of excuses for you. Ghost friends act as if doing anything for anyone is some big sacrifice. If they do help you out, you will hear about it when they again need something.

“Remember that time I helped you?”
“I’ve been there for you.”

They don’t do  anything out of their heart. What’s more they often show little gratitude for the things people do for them. But tell them no once, and they won’t forget it. They won’t remember your good, but they will remember the one time you couldn’t help them out.

Ghost friends rely on people, and usually pick people pleasers or push overs as friends. Stand up for yourself and say no. They don’t appreciate people’s efforts so there’s no point in killing yourself for them.


Common characteristics of ghost friends

• Manipulating
• Users
• Clingy
• Self absorbed
• Ungrateful

Other monsters
The vampire
The gremlin
The werewolf

Monster Friend Series: The Gremlin

The gremlin. These are your two faced back stabbers. Gremlins have two sides: the really sweet, cute, fun side and the mean, spiteful, side. Most Gremlins are users. They find people who have what they want and attempt to take it. They are never real friends. Even the vampire can make some effort to be a friend but not gremlins.

The major problem with them is that by the time you see what they’ve done, it’s too late. They are nice to your face, while they sabotage you behind your back.

 Example, they’ll tell you they’re so happy for you and your new guy, while they plot to take him for themselves.

Because gremlins appear loveable to most people, it’s harder to get people to believe you when you tell them they aren’t actually nice people. It’s also hard to see it for yourself, because everything they do on the outside looks so sweet.

For me, they are the worst type of monster friends because they play games with you and make it difficult to trust people after they leave. You start to wonder if a person is really nice or if they are just a gremlin who is stabbing you in the back. But a major difference between a gremlin and an actual friend is that gremlins don't do something for nothing. They either want something directly from you, or they do it keep up the illusion of them being nice people. A good friend won't keep track of the nice things they do for you, but a gremlin will.

The main reason is because all gremlins are users. They won't waste their time trying to be your friend unless they can get something from you. They have highly envious natures and often seek out people who they "admire" or feel they can use to get ahead in some way. Couple this with their dishonest core and you get a friend who is really an enemy.

This dishonesty also includes any compliment they give you. Gremlins often seem like flatteres. They often praise people, or pretend to act very sweet, but it's an act to get you to trust and like them. This makes it difficult to trap them but keep this in mind: because everything they do is an act, gremlins have no real regard for your feelings. They may say one thing, but do another. They cannot commit real emotions to their words of praise or their actions, so they will either over exaggerate or they will give away the fact that they actually want something from you... "I love your dress! Can I borrow it sometime."

Another tip is that gremlins often try to steal attention and credit for themselves. If you have a friend who always seems to be flirting with the guy you like, or acts as if she did all the work on a project, you may have a gremlin in your life.

They are liars whose main goal to sabbatoge you somehow. Everyone is fair game for gremlins, so don't think you're a special case when you befriend one. If they cheated one friend, they'll cheat you too.

This is perhaps the best way to sniff out the gremlin. Watch how they treat others. Are they overly sweet to a person's face, but gossipy behind their back? Do they often compare themselves to others? Have other people complained about them?

 The best thing to do when you find out you’ve been back stabbed by them is to call them on it. They can’t stand having people know their true selves so walk away from them but let them know that their little act is up.


Common characteristics of a Gremlin Friend

• Decitful
• Manipulating
• Boastful
• Slandering
• Users
• Pressuring
• Overly nice
• Selfish

Other Monsters
The Vampire
The Ghost 
The werewolf

Monster Friend Series: The Vampire

 

  The vampire. This is the most common type of monster friend. The vampire emotionally sucks the life out of their friends. They themselves are void and hollow of feeling so they entice others to feel for them. The vampire is the friend that makes everything a big deal. They are usually clingy, stating that they need you and they act emotionally unstable. Vampires provoke. They start fights or use emotional triggers on their friends. “I can’t handle things, I want to die.” “You know I need you.” Vampire friends are usually negative, but they aren’t all over dramatic. Majority of vampires are “sweet” people who hook people into over-feeling for them. Vampires can also make you feel guilty or bad about something good.

You: I met this great guy

Them: I hope he’s not like the last guy you dated

They take your emotions away because they lack their own.

Vampires often need to have people around. They don’t attempt to solve their own problems and they get a kind of high from people. If you hear the term “I need to be around people. I can’t be alone” You may have a vampire in your life. The vampire will suck out all your emotions until you have nothing left to give. Then they either replace you or begin quilting you for it. “I thought we were friends, how can you leave me?”  

The best way to handle a vampire is not give into them emotionally. Remember, they may act overly emotional but in reality they are hollow. Thus, they feed off of other people’s good and bad emotions. The more you give into them, the happier they are. Don’t do it. Help them within reason and don’t let emotional triggers trick you into pleasing them. If your vampire friend is going through a really tough time, help them find a resource but don’t be that resource.

Common characteristics of a Vampire friend

• Complaining 
• Manipulation
• Guilt baiting
• Sympathy seeking
• Attention seeking
• Provoking, usually in a negative manner
• Dishonest 
• Moody
• Self absorbed

Other Monsters
The Gremlin 
The Ghost 
The werewolf