Kanken Backpack Review

Today I'm posting something a little different: a product review! Specifically, I'm going to be talking about the Fjallraven Kanken backpack, which I've been using since December. I'd wanted one for what felt like ages and now that I finally have one, I'm happy to say that it's as great as I thought it'd be!

I think I should start by saying that I have a bit of a backpack obsession. I just love them so much! I can't really explain it, but backpacks are just one of those things that are so much fun for me to buy. I also love looking at everyone else's backpacks while I'm walking or biking to class.

Over my many years in school, I have had lots of different backpacks, but I think this one takes the cake. It's more unique than your basic JanSport backpack and comes in so many fun colors (granted, mine is gray so it's not like I went too crazy).

My Top Five Favorite Teas

One of the things I love about winter (perhaps the only thing!) is how much more I enjoy drinking tea during it. I mean, I drink tea year-round, and always enjoy it, but I enjoy it even more so in the winter, when it's dark and dreary and cold outside. It warms you up from the inside out, hydrates you (seriously, I think all of my water intake in the winter is from tea), and is super healthy! Now that I'm in college, I spend a lot more time in my room at my desk than in class, so I have access to tea pretty much whenever I want! (I even set up a tea station!)

So since I love tea so much, I thought it only fitting to share some of my favorite teas. These are five staples that I keep in my dorm room and totally love! Three of the five are black teas, one is green tea, and the fifth is an herbal tea. 

Trader Joe's Spiced Chai Tea: Chai tea will always be one of my favorites. But I have run into some chai teas that I don't like, believe it or not. This one, though, is the best I've come across. I love my spices, and this tea has so many -- cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, star anise, black pepper, nutmeg, roasted chicory, and vanilla bean!! Makes me want to go make myself a cup of it right now!
Harney and Sons Vanilla Comoro Tea: This one has the best vanilla flavor! And it's decaffinated, which is another plus. I love it so much, I got two tins of it for Christmas!
Downton Abbey Christmas Tea: This one is probably the priciest tea of the five, but it's so good! It tastes (and smells) so lovely. It's made of mulling spices (cinnamon, cloves, allspice, etc.) and is similar to orange spice tea, if you've ever had that before. Unfortunately this tea is seasonal and is only available starting September 1st for the holidays, but be sure to snatch it when it becomes available!
Costco Green Tea with Matcha: This one has been a favorite of mine for a while now. The matcha powder makes it a very satisfying green tea.
Trader Joe's Ginger Turmeric Herbal Tea: When I first tried this tea, I actually didn't like it, which I can hardly believe now as it is one of my all-time favorites! Plus, it's decaffeinated so you can have it at any time of day. If you decide to try it, give it a couple chances before you give up on it. It's a strong, unique taste, but I totally love it now and probably drink it at least once a day!

Printable Hagrid Quote

 

Is it really February already?? I can't believe we're in the second month of 2017. I just finished week 5 of winter quarter, which means I'm halfway done with freshman year! College flies by much faster than high school did. Yet somehow so much has happened!

I really liked creating my last printable quote so I decided to do another one! This one is one of my favorite quotes from the Harry Potter series! Worrying about the future does not help. The best thing to do is let it go and deal with whatever it is if/when it happens. This quote reminds me of another quote I saw in a shop once: "Worrying works. 90% of the things I worry about never happen." I worry about things that don't even end up happening! And even if they do happen, they usually aren't nearly as bad as I'd made them out to be in my head.

So if you are anything like me and worry way to much, take this wise advice from Rubeus Hagrid. (Find the printable version of this quote here.)

My Recent Quilting Projects

One of my New Year's Resolutions (and probably the one I'm most excited about) is to make a quilt. Before this year, I had never quilted before. I've been sewing for a couple years, but quilting is new territory. My family and I have a few quilts that have been passed down to us as family keepsakes. They are so beautiful and we treasure them so much! Quilts take so much time and love to make. It's so cool to hold a quilt and think about the person who made it and all the hours they spent on it, cutting, ironing, sewing, washing, etc.

I'm not planning to preserve my quilt so it can be a family heirloom or anything. I want to use it. But wear doesn't necessarily make something less valuable. You can tell that when something is worn, whether that thing is a book or a kid's stuffed animal, it has been loved. It will be so special to keep this quilt for my whole life.