Lights up! because I bought a whole bunch of decoration lights for my room during July✨ As always, I spent a tad too much, but it had been the most fun month nonetheless. I bought the best things, and they light up my world ♡

1. Light Box


With assorted alphabets! For the longest time, I've been dying to have one of these pretty light box. Pinterest and Instagram pictures make them look so gorgeous, so it was no surprise I wanted one of my own. The ones that I found previously were always too pricey (especially Typo's), so when I found this light box in SNJ Gift Shop for quite an affordable price, I had no hesitation at all. It was the last one in the shop too, so I got lucky.


I normally just display it with "MERMAIRD" on it in my room, but sometimes I'll change it randomly when I feel like it. It definitely makes my room a lot prettier ♡

— Purchased from SNJ Giftshop, Setia City Mall

2. Star-shaped String Lights


The second light decor! I love fairy lights and string lights a lot, and since I'm really into dreamy kind of things, and would like my room to be in that concept, I decided that this star string lights would be a perfect addition. Just look at how lovely the stars are when they light up!

— Purchased from Kaison, Setia City Mall

3. Ghost-shaped Lamp


This has got to be the cutest lamp that I have ever had! It's shaped as a ghost, fitting my personality of loving horror genres, but at the same time, still looking cute. Yes, I'm shameless admitting that I am cute.


I use this lamp a lot, every night before going to sleep, I'll turn it on to accompany me for a while. When I'm finally actually dozing off, then will I only turn it off. It gives off a warm light in the dark, making me feel comfortable to go to sleep. I got it for a cheap price too, only RM7!

— Purchased from Kaison, Setia City Mall

4. Light Filters in Poems by Caroline Kaufman


The moment I first laid my eyes on this book, I immediately loved it. The book cover is absolutely lovely; black with a touch of pink, flowers and the moon. I looked up Caroline Kaufman's poetry page even inside the bookstore, and when I read her poetries on Instagram, I fell more in love with it. Her words are so powerful that some of it even brought me tears. I'll have to write a proper review for it once I've finished reading the book.


This is one of my favourite prose from the book ♡

— Poetry book by Caroline Kaufman (@poeticpoison), purchased in MPH Bookstore

5. Bookmark from MPH Bookstores


I think I'm going to start collecting more bookmarks (even though I always end up using anything else other than bookmarks to mark the book pages 🤦). MPH Bookstores have this wide collection of pretty bookmarks, and it was so hard to choose! I end up taking this one because I love the roses and the quote. I'd love to be the reason for someone to smile ♡

— Purchased from MPH Bookstore, Setia City Mall

6. Mermaid and Unicorn Sticky Notes


I swear Mr. DIY have the cutest stationery! I was browsing through their immense collection of cute notebooks when I found these mermaid and unicorn sticky notes. They're only around RM5 each. I knew I had to get them no matter what.


The inside of the mermaid sticky notes. Absolutely loving the ocean theme!


Love love love the unicorn sticky notes, they're in my favourite colours!

— Purchased from Mr. DIY

7. Zebra Mildliner Double-Sided Highlighters


Finally got my second set of Zebra Mildliner Highlighters! I still prefer the colours from the previous set that I bought though. 

— Purchased from MPH Bookstore, Setia City Mall

8. Flamingo Wooden Clip Set


Will you look at these flamingo wooden clips? They're so adorable! I can't wait to use them to hang picture in my room.

— Purchased from Mr. DIY

9. Inecto Naturals Argan Nail & Hand Cream


Didn't exactly bought this, but my older sister gave it to me because she didn't quite like the texture of the cream. It is a bit runny too, in my opinion, but I'm fine with it. I love the sweet scent of argan of it.

10. Washi Tapes


I can't even remember when I actually ordered these. It had been so long, and I thought the parcel had gone missing, but they eventually arrived to my mailbox. I only bought the thin pink washi tapes, getting the blue bird as a free gift.

— Ordered from Shopee

11. Makeup Organiser


It's about time I finally get myself a makeup organiser. The glass container that I used to place my lip products were too full, so I decided to get new one. I got this one from Daiso, and it's quite convenient.


This looks like a mess hahah but trust me, it was worse before. At least my makeup dresser looks neater now.

— Purchased from Daiso

12. Large-sized Dreamcatcher


This dreamcatcher is actually really huge; the hoop is twice the size of my head. Another decor meant for my dreamy room theme! The feathers are soft coloured, making them soothing to look at.

— Purchased from Kaison, Setia City Mall

13. 21st Century Girls - A4 BTS Poster by Refrainbow


A huge thanks to my sweet friend, Joe, for buying this for me during Penang Anime Matsuri 2018. I have always loved Refrainbow's fan arts, they're always adorable. I'm so happy to be able to have this poster that screams for 21st century girls! 🔥🔥🔥

— Poster by @refrainbow

14. YNWA Print Set by Refrainbow


Another merch by Refrainbow, this time featuring YNWA era, which is my favourite era out of all BTS eras. Once again, thank you for buying this for me, Joe! I love the colours of these prints, they're so bright and it's easy to distinguish between the members. Will hang them like a garland on my wall soon ♡

— Prints by @refrainbow

15. Duality Box July '18 Edition: Why I Dream


Lastly, the July '18 edition of Duality Box! It also included another star string light, which means I bought a total of four decor lights this month. More deets on July Duality Box here ✨

— Ordered from Duality Box (Instagram / Website)

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This haul post took a longer time to edit and compile compared to my previous haul post, despite the fact that the previous one was actually for two months. I'm relieved that I finally completed this post; gosh, I have so many reviews queued already! Thank you for reading, that's all for July's haul post!

Till next time ♡ Love, Aishah Humaira'


Resources:

PSD Colouring (base) - PSD 18 by Moon2k2

Background/border - Pinterest

Fonts -



Title: The Edge of Everything (The Edge of Everything #1)
Author: Jeff Giles
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal/Supernatural
Format: e-book
Publication Date: January 31st, 2017
Pages: 368

Synopsis (Goodreads): For the perfect love, what would you be willing to lose?

It’s been a shattering year for seventeen-year-old Zoe, who’s still reeling from her father's shockingly sudden death in a caving accident and her neighbors’ mysterious disappearance from their own home. Then on a terrifying sub-zero, blizzardy night in Montana, she and her brother are brutally attacked in a cabin in the woods—only to be rescued by a mysterious bounty hunter they call X.

X is no ordinary bounty hunter. He is from a hell called the Lowlands, sent to claim the soul of Zoe’s evil attacker and others like him. X is forbidden from revealing himself to anyone other than his prey, but he casts aside the Lowlands’ rules for Zoe. As they learn more about their colliding worlds, they begin to question the past, their fate, and their future.

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My rating: 3 / 5 ★

I made three mistakes when I chose to read The Edge of Everything. Firstly, I judged the book by its cover. It made me think that I'm diving into a contemporary romance. Secondly, I did not bother to read the synopsis on Goodreads. Big Mistake. I got so confused and almost freaked out when I realised that this is no ordinary love story—it involved inhuman supernatural elements that came from Hell. And thirdly, I didn't bother to check whether this one is a standalone or a series. I had thought it was a standalone, yet I was proved to be wrong.

The story revolves around Zoe's family, who recently just lost their father. During one blizzard, while the mother was stuck in the traffic, Zoe's little brother had ventured a little too far from their home. Scared of losing another family, Zoe went out to look for Jonah. The search didn't went well, and when their lives were at risk by a stranger who wanted to murder them, a man suddenly appeared out-of-nowhere to save the day. Because the man had no name, Zoe decided to name him X, and then things got worse when they learned the truth about X's life.

Okay, let me get this straight. If you were on the verge of losing your life to a stranger, and then another stranger of the same gender pops in to "save" the day, would you actually trust the second stranger blindly? Not, maybe not. But Zoe did. From the first moment of their meeting, Zoe was having little-to-none wariness over this new stranger, who does not appear to look normal, and even has the quest to kill a man. Say, would you give your full trust to a bounty hunter? I doubt it.

Yet, that did not seem to be the case for our Zoe here. In the first half of the book, I truly loved Zoe. She seems to be this strong girl that will do anything for her family, and she does not give a damn to other people; she had her own thoughts. And I adored her for that. But I guess the insta-love probably ruined everything. In less than a day, Zoe got so drawn towards X that it seemed almost ridiculous, now that I think of it. X returned her feelings silently, and from his perspective, I'm not surprised that he's attracted to her. In his situation, she would be the nicest thing to ever happen to him. But after loving Zoe's headstrong character, her "I'll-do-anything-for-him" attitude irks me a little.

X warned her that it would be dangerous if he stayed, but Zoe and Jonah (oh sweet little, Jonah) insisted, despite the mother constantly telling them that X should not be trusted. I got so baffled that Zoe kept on wanting him, even when clearly he's not a normal human being and he may bring danger to the whole family. I'm normally okay with insta-love, but there has to be a valid reason for it. I could not see the reason how both of them are so in love with each other. Love does not need a reason, of course, but let's keep it realistic, there has to be something.

And who even names a person, X? It made the character sound more shady than he already is. Is it that hard to come up with a proper name, like Henry or even John? Well, putting the weird name aside, I had no hate towards X. He's simply... different? I have no idea how to describe him; at some point, he is rather cute for someone who actually came from the Lowlands, but on other times, I just wish he would stay in his own world for good. His birth seems to be as shady as the name given by Zoe, which did not make me like him more than I already can. Both Zoe and X are okay characters, but not more than that.

I probably could enjoy this story more thanks to Jonah, and X's friends in Lowlands, Banger and Ripper. Especially Ripper. Other than that, it was not as good as I hoped it will be, like when I saw the cover. I could see the twist coming at the end, and I could not believe that there had to be a second book over this. It could have ended with just one book. The story had a potential for something bigger, but I didn't end up loving it. Jeff Giles way of writing is just not for me. I'll probably only try to read the second book for Ripper's sake.


;

“If I do not return,” he said, “it is only because not one but two worlds conspired to stop me.

Till next time ♡ Love, Aishah Humaira'



Resources:

PSD Colouring (base) - PSD 18 by Moon2k2

Fonts -


Title: A Map for Wrecked Girls
Author: Jessica Taylor
Publisher: Dial Books
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller, Adventure
Format: e-book
Publication Date: August 15th, 2017
Pages: 368

Synopsis (Goodreads): We sat at the edge of the ocean—my sister Henri and I—inches apart but not touching at all. We'd been so sure someone would find us by now.

Emma had always orbited Henri, her fierce, magnetic queen bee of an older sister, and the two had always been best friends. Until something happened that wrecked them.

I'd trusted Henri more than I'd trusted myself. Wherever she told me to go, I'd follow.

Then the unthinkable occurs—a watery nightmare off the dazzling coast. The girls wash up on shore, stranded. Their only companion is Alex, a troubled boy agonizing over his own secrets. Trapped in this gorgeous hell, Emma and Alex fall together as Emma and Henri fall catastrophically apart.

For the first time, I was afraid we'd die on this shore.

To find their way home, the sisters must find their way back to each other. But there’s no map for this—or anything. Can they survive the unearthing of the past and the upheaval of the present?

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My rating: 4 / 5 ★

I have always loved reading stories with sisters bond in it. I love exploring how other sisters are with each other; a close-knitted relationship, or even a toxic one. I myself have the closest relationship with my own sisters, so I have soft spots for characters with good sisters relationship. Sadly, A Map for Wrecked Girls definitely is not about that. 

A Map for Wrecked Girls tells about two sisters, Emma and Henri, who end up being stranded on an isolated island with another boy, Alex. Each of them with their own set of secrets, it was not the greatest way to bond. I have never read anything like this before; I'm used to characters figuring out they have hidden powers, or characters simply in search of what's true for them. But I've never read about survival. Actual survival. The kind where it makes you ponder, if you are ever in the character's shoes, would you survive, or die? I love that their survival sounds realistic, I can almost feel the heat and pain that the characters were going true. That is what makes this story most interesting.

I liked Emma very easily, even though she's the typical Plain Jane clouded by her sister's presence, I think she had her own charms. I like her soft character that always gives in to her sister's demands, but at some point, I wished she would just think about herself. And at one point, she did. Her character development is good to follow. As for Henri, she was quite... difficult. She infuriates me with her selfishness, but it was obvious that she had her own problems to face. Fear made her bitter. It seemed pointless when Emma kept trying to mend their relationship when Henri refused to, but in the end, sisters will always stay sisters. It was a long way to go, and Emma is very brave not to ever stop fighting for it.

I quite like Alex as easily as I liked Emma. From the first chapter, he did not try to fake being strong and cried when they got stranded on the island. A boy not afraid to cry? Sign me up! Just like the sisters, Alex has his own secrets to keep. Despite assuming the worst of him, I always end up liking Alex again. I read some reviews questioning why Alex is needed, because the story might have been better if it was just about the sisters. I beg to disagree, because Alex's presence created a lot difference in the sisters' relationship. Without Alex, Emma and Henri could have drifted way apart. 

Overall, I loved this story a lot! The island really had a lot of surprises, and I even screamed at one part where Emma was bitten by an animal. I like that the chapters alternated between present and past; it may be a bit harder to keep up but it makes the story more interesting because you would have to figure out what happened in the past that makes the present. If you love reading about adventure, and mending a broken family bond, then this book is the right one for you.

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Nobody could hold the same place in your heart as your sister. Love or hate her, she was the only person who grew up exactly like you, who knew the secrets of your household—the laughter that only the walls of your house contained or the screaming at a level low enough the neighbors couldn’t hear, the passive aggressive compliments or the little put-downs. Only your sister could know how it felt to grow up in the house that made you you.

Till next time ♡ Love, Aishah Humaira'



Resources:

PSD Colouring (base) - PSD 18 by Moon2k2

Fonts -