Best Valentine's Day Gift? A Hidden Blade, Of Course!

Hey everyone!

Happy (late) Valentine's Day! 

I haven't been around very much again, and I'm sorry for that. I've been keeping myself busy lately with Rune Factory 4. (Which, by the way, you should own if you have a 3DS, because it is amazing.)

There are so many interesting video games coming out, that I'm going to have to make an effort to visit my blog and other blogs this year I think. Between Thief, Dying Light, Titanfall, Elder Scrolls Online, Dark Souls, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Evolve, Weapon Shop de Omasse, Super Smash Bros. 3D, Disney Magical World- Okay, I'm just going to stop there or this list will go on for a while. Anyway, between all those games, my other hobbies, like blogging for instance, might suffer a little. But I'll do my best to keep in touch with you all on here.

(Hopefully better than I did this month, anyway.)

Anyway, as the title states, I did indeed get a Valentine's Gift this year that was a little different than normal. Technically it was sort of a Christmas gift too, but I got it on Valentine's Day, so I'm calling it my Valentine's Day gift! (I got my favorite flowers too, but more on that later.)

So this year for Valentine's Day, I got this:

An Assassin's Creed IV hidden blade! I saw it at Gamestop forever ago and mentioned to the boyfriend that I really wanted one. I had no idea he would actually buy one for me though! I was, obviously, incredibly happy to receive this.

This is the top of the hidden blade. And no, it's not very comfortable, haha. But I feel awesome wearing it, so the stiffness is just something I'll have to get used to.

And the underside, with the blade extended. (please forgive the mess. When I go to my boyfriend's, I tend to just throw my things on his bed and make a mess of his room...)

The blade is plastic, so don't worry. Even though I'm incredibly clumsy, I don't see myself ever managing to get hurt by this thing. Unless I go completely insane and point it at my eye. Which I'm at least 99% certain will never happen.

You can see my flowers in the background of this picture. Stargazer lilies, my absolute favorite. Unfortunately, most never bloomed. Me and the boyfriend have debated why this is. Our conclusion was that it was just too darn cold and dark in his room for them to survive. Poor flowers.

And now, for a cute bonus picture!

My puppy thinks he is a little person sometimes. Of course, this was right before I went to bed, so I felt terrible having to move him out of the way when he looked so comfy. He didn't seem to mind though, since this generally happens every night with us.

March is just around the corner (and that means spring is too!) and I'm so glad for it. It rained today, instead of snowed, although I think it's suppose to snow later tonight. It was so nice hearing rain and thunder again, I missed it. I think the puppies forgot what rain sounded like, because when it started down-pouring, they both looked very freaked out. Poor Zoey ran to my side and curled up under my arm, even.

March is going to be hectic/expensive though too. A few different games are on my wishlist for that month, and the boyfriend's birthday is on the first of March, and then our anniversary is on the 30th of March. I already know what I'll be getting him for his birthday, which I'll show all of you guys soon too, but I have no idea what to get/make for the celebration of our four years together.

Ideas would be appreciated. I like making homemade things, but I've already made him little things like a fairy tale book, list of why I love him, a scrapbook of us, a video game, A-Z of our relationship, and things like that. Any other ideas would be super awesome if you creative ladies (and lads) have any!

So, have you ever gotten an unexpected Valentine's Day gift?

My Goals for a Fantastic February

Hey everyone!

Time to link up once again with three wonderful blogs and bring you my recap and renewed monthly goals!

January Recap

1. Lose 2 lbs. I'm hoping if I lose 2 lbs a month, I'll be down to my goal weight by July/August. Success! (I actually lost 3! Yes!)
2. Finish reading Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick. (Been renewing it repeatedly from the library for the past month with no progress.) Fail! (Spartacus & Once Upon a Time kept me too busy. Agh!)
3. Save $30 for Anime Iowa. Success! (Definitely $30, maybe more. Depending on the trip to the mall this weekend!)
4. Figure out how to style my new corset with an outfit. Fail! (I have yet to master this yet. I think I need more ivory things with ruffles!)
5. Finish the DLC for Mass Effect 3 and Dishonored. Fail! (I am really bad at finishing these things.)
6. Alter my armoire to fit my Xbox One inside, with my Xbox 360. Success! (Now I just need a bookshelf for the things that were where the Xbox One now sits!)
7. Start The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Success! (Beat within a few days! Amazing game!)
8. Buy more Essie nail polish. (Seriously in love with this brand now.) Fail! (Have not had a chance to pick another color up yet. Next month for sure!)
9. No fast food at all! (except an occasional healthy, veggie-filled sandwich from Subway.) Success! (Really proud of myself for this! Now I just need to cancel out all the ice cream I've become addicted to. )
10. Buy a sweater for my other puppy, Meeko. He always seems so cold (and jealous of his sister's sweater!) Success! (Got him a sweater, and he's pretty darn handsome in it too!)

6/10 isn't bad right? Well, it's like getting a D. But that's not an F, so I'll take it, and be happy! I'm pretty proud of losing 3 pounds, and having no fast food but Subway this month! (But I'm pretty sick of subway now. It doesn't help that the last couple times I went, either their toaster was broken, or the bread was so hard it hurt my teeth..)

Alright, moving along!

1. Lose 2 pounds this month! Keep the weight-loss going.
2. Actually finish Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick. I can't keep getting distracted!
3. Figure out and make/buy Valentine's Gift and the boyfriend's birthday gift!
4. Finish at least 2 drawings my friends have requested from me.
5. Buy a new wallet for my new purse.
6. Figure out a cosplay idea for Anime Iowa.
7. Create outline for novel idea.
8. See either Frozen or Winter's Tale. Or both!
9. Get a new pair of sneakers.
10. Beat Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney!

Well, there we go. Pretty simple goals this time. I'm going for 10/10 this time, wish me luck!

If you decide to do this link up too, leave me a link the comment section below and I'll definitely check it out!

What are your goals for February?

Butterbeer and Shopping

Hey everyone!

So this week, I experimented with something my friend told me about called Butterbeer Latte.

For those of you that don't actually know what Butterbeer is (I feel so bad for you), Butterbeer is a drink from the Harry Potter books/movies. It's described as tasting "a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch". They serve it down in Universal Studios in Florida, in their Harry Potter themed park. I want to try that drink so badly, you have no idea.

But until I go back down to Florida again, I have to make my own Butterbeer.

I really love the way I make Butterbeer, even though most people that try it complain it's too sweet or rich or something (to which I inform them that they are insane, because I do not like sweet things and I freaking love my Butterbeer. ) And I promise, I'll show anyone interested once I actually go out and get the correct ingredients again.

But since I was lacking in the needed ingredients, and I really wanted some Butterbeer, my friend suggested to me a recipe for Butterbeer Latte. It was made completely differently from how I made my version, but she insisted it was good. So I tried it!

I made enough for the boyfriend too. My final verdict? I drank about three sips from it before I had to stop.

It's not that it was bad or anything. I think, for me, it was just that it had too much of a butter flavor, along with the fact it tasted very sweet. Which I don't really like. But, it certainly appeals to some people, because my boyfriend downed his glass, and then helped himself to mine as well!

If you're curious about how to make Butterbeer Latte, continue to see the recipe. If not, go ahead and skip down to below that to see cute things I am really happy about now having.

Butterbeer Latte Recipe

Picture not mine. Picture from haydenrodgers.tumblr.com

I doubled the recipe, since I was making it for two people. And after gathering all necessary ingredients...

I followed the directions, and waited for it to boil.

It appeared pretty yellow on top when it wasn't being stirred, because the butter rises. So don't let that alarm you if you give this recipe a go!

And then it turned out like the first picture you see in this post. The very next day, my boyfriend asked when I was going to make it again, since I apparently got him obsessed with it. But I don't really plan on making it again anytime soon. I think I'll stick to my normal vanilla-caramel latte.

Yummm.

So, moving on...

I went shopping! I wasn't really planning on getting much. I actually only went out to pre-order a video game. Which video game?

The Elder Scrolls Online!

Yeah, I'm excited. I even got the special Imperial Edition, which is only $100. I don't even know how long I'll play the game for, since it's a pay-per-month deal, but I desperately wanted that statue that comes with the Imperial Edition.

My boyfriend was sweet though, and once we got to Gamestop, he insisted that he would pre-order the game for me. So yeah, I'm pretty excited for June 30th.

Then we went to Kohl's, and I found something I've desperately been needing. A new purse!

I'm a huge fan of both bows and floral designs, so when I saw this purse, I knew I had to have it. I'm not a huge fan of zippers, but the other stuff was so cute, I got it anyway. You can get it here, if you're interested too! It's originally $40, but on sale for $25. (Also available in black, which I really want too!)

Now I just need a wallet.

I also got a pair of shoes. I wasn't going to, since I've been wanting to get a pair of shoes at a different store. (Just waiting for a sale!) But these shoes were 90% off, from $75 down to $7.50, so I decided I needed them!

I'm beginning to have an obsession with shoes I think. Younger-me would be so confused, considering in high school I had pretty much one pair of shoes and was perfectly happy that way. Now my closet is full of them. I'm becoming an addict.

And quick pictures of me and my lovely boyfriend. (He was so nice being my photographer, and my model, haha!)

First time wearing my shrug from Steampunk Couture! I'm so crazy in love with it.

Have you ever tried Butterbeer?