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Things to Include in your Travel Journal when Planning a Trip

Posted on May 1, 2021 by White Elorda

Hello my friends!

When planning a big trip I find it handy to write down as many details as I can in my travel journal. I’m going to share some of the things I like to keep jotted down in my travel journal when I am planning for a trip.

Why I use a travel journal for planning my trips

Honest answer? It’s just the most convenient for me. It allows me to keep all of my important travel information together in one place.

I also like that I can customise the look and feel, while also including the planning stages as part of my journaling for a trip.

This is my favourite type of travel journal to use: Black Voyager Journal (this link is not affiliated or sponsored.)

Flights/Trains/Travel Arrangements

How are you getting to your destination? Are you flying, driving or taking the train?

Write down all of the details of your flights/trains/travel arrangements:

If you’re flying: Airline + Flight Numbers
If you’re taking a train: Train Company + Train Number. Also the address of the train station.
Make a note of any layovers or breaks – the duration of the layover and where it will be occuring.

Some things to consider:
Will you be driving to the airport/train station?
If so, do you know where you will be parking your car? How much will the parking cost?
If you are parking away from the airport/train station, do you know how you will get to the airport/train station? Is there a shuttle.
These are all things to consider making a note of in your journal.

Other details to note for traveling:
What is the baggage allowance for your trip? (This can include how many bags you are allowed to bring with you as well as how much they can weigh.)
What time do you need to leave home/your hotel to get to your flight/train on time?

Hotel/AirBnB/Accommodations
Write out the detail of your accommodations:

Any confirmation or reservation numbers.
Address of your accommodations and directions (if needed)
Maybe a map as a cute addition.
Check-in and check-out times. Does your hotel have early check-in or late check-out?
Does your hotel serve breakfast? What time is breakfast served?

Write out any important phone numbers, especially if you are traveling internationally. Numbers like: your bank, your Embassy, your Hotel, Local Emergency Services.

Do some research on the area immediately surrounding where you plan on staying, make notes on anything interesting or important that is close by. This can include restaurants, grocery stores and coffee shops.

Weather

A quick point, but if you are traveling somewhere that is unfamiliar to you, make a note of what the weather is usually like at the time of year that you will be there. Of course this won’t be 100% accurate but it at least gives you an idea.

I’ve found that just having this helps when it comes to writing packing lists.

Local Transportation

Is your accommodation close to the local transportation?

Make a note of what the local transportation is – bus, train, subway, tax, or do you have to walk everywhere?

How do you get to this transportation from where you are staying? For example, can you walk to the local subway station, or would you have to take a taxi?

Is there anything that you need to take care of for the local transportation? E.g. If you plan in renting a car, do you need an international driver’s permit? Other things might include rail passes.

Make sure to download an apps you might need for local transportation before you leave for your trip. These might include directions, public transit schedules or maps. I like to make a note for myself in my journal – usually along with a checklist.

Make a Packing List

Make it as detailed as you can, include even little things that might seem really obvious or trivial. You’d be surprised at how often often those are the things that you forget, or leave behind.

I tend to include two check boxes in my packing lists so I can tick things off as I pack them for my trip, as well as for the trip back.

I will usually separate out my packing lists by bag and category – so for example, I will write out a list of clothes that need to be packed in my suitcase, then a list of the toiletries that need to be packed in my suitcase, so on and so forth until everything in my suitcase is accounted for, then I will move onto the next bag.

Itinerary Overview

This doesn’t need to be detailed. This is just a brief overview.

Write out the things you know you will be doing on your trip. Include any important information such as ticket numbers, confirmation or reservation numbers for meals or other other booked experiences.

I’ve found that this helps to find the holes in your trip that you can fill with more spontaneous activities.

Write down a list of places that may interest you to visit, so you have something to reference if you find yourself looking for something to do.

Detailed Itinerary Runthough

If you already have detailed days planned out, then I would write those out separately from your overview (which I discussed in the last section). This can include your travel days.

Things to note in your detailed itinerary runthough:

Wake-up times – this can be useful on days when there is a lot of traveling, or if you are on a specific time schedule.
Things to bring with you/pack in your bag.
Opening times (if applicable)
Places you’re planning on stopping to eat (include reservation info if you have them)
Brief directions (if needed)
Times of tickets/experiences/tours (if applicable)
Bedtimes
Meal times
Activities (Shopping/Games/Museum/Tours/Zoo etc.)

Other stuff you might want to include:

Make a list of important things that you need to do before you leave:

Do you need to call your bank?
Do you need to clean out your car?
Do you need to turn your cellular data off?
Have you printed out all of the paperwork you might need?
Have you downloaded all of the apps that you might need?

If you have dietary restrictions, or preferences – write down any restaurants that you know cater to your specific requirements.
– In this same vein, write down how to tell your server about any allergies that you may have in the native language of the country you are visiting, if this is applicable.

Write out any phrases that you might need to know – such as asking about the bathroom or asking for directions.

If it something that interests you, write out a basic currency conversion chart so you can have a basic idea of how much things cost.

Make sure you write out any reminders that you may need for yourself, such as picking up tickets or asking for information, for example, a reminder to call the airline to ask about vegetarian/vegan meal options.

And that is about everything that I like to include in my travel journal when planning a trip! I hope you found this little guide helpful!

Diolch am ddarllen! Thanks for reading and remember to stay kind and nerdy my friends!

White Elorda

Introvert, nerd and lifestyle blogger.
Check me out on social media: Instagram | YouTube | Patreon (Chibi Art) | My Resin Shop

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Get to Know Me: What I like to carry in my personal bag when I travel.

Posted on April 22, 2021 by White Elorda

Hello everyone!

When I travel, I like to make packing lists – so I thought I’d share some of the things that I like to pack in my personal bag.

What kind of bag do I use?

For personal use, I prefer to use a backpack, they have less chance of getting in the way of a suitcase that way. Sometimes, I will also use a small shoulder bag to keep my essentials in, if I need to access them quickly.

Wallet/Purse – I suppose this is kind of obvious, but it’s something that can be easily forgotten so I like to include it. I personally keep my cards and cash in separate wallets, but both of these stay together, and go together into a secure pocket inside of my bag.

Phone & Charger – Another obvious one, but as with your wallet, one that is easily forgotten if not accounted for. I like to keep my phone charger in my personal bag so I have access to it while I am traveling, especially if I am traveling by plane or train. It’s so much easier than having it in a suitcase, I’ve learned that from personal experience.

Portable Charger – Following on from my phone and its charger. I also like to carry around a portable charger in my personal bag. It’s good to have a backup if you aren’t able to get to an outlet for your charger. I keep my portable charger in its own little bag along with the “in” and “out” cables, so they are always together.

Metal Straw & Case – No matter how far am I traveling, I like to take my set of metal straws with me in their case. The set I have has 3 straws, one that’s perfect for thicker beverages like smoothies and milkshakes, a straight thin one and a thin one with a bend in it. These come in handy when I travel, because I can’t always get a straw and it’s useful to have a reusable set that I can pull out of my bag. They have their own cleaning brush so they are easy to wash out while you are on the go.

My set of metal straws comes from ByteSizeTreasure (link is not sponsored or affiliated.)

Travel Cutlery – Similar to the metal straws. I like having my reusable travel cutlery, as they are a good alternative to the single use plastic kind that you can end up getting when you’re on the road, or just out and about. My set contains a fork, a TSA safe knife, a spoon, and a set of chopsticks.

My set of travel cutlery comes from Outlery (link is not sponsored or affiliated.)

Nintendo Switch Lite – this is probably the latest addition to my personal bag when I travel. I was honestly on the fence about even getting a Switch Lite when they first came out. I really enjoy having some of my favourite video games in a handheld format. This includes Devil May Cry 1-3, and Darksiders. This is really handy for traveling long distances, as it’s an easy form of entertainment.

iPod – I haven’t been able to transition to using my phone for music, so I still like to carry my iPod with me when I travel. I didn’t include the charger on the list here as this uses the same charger as my phone. Music is a must for me no matter how far of a distance I travel.

Headphones – I suppose this one naturally follows along from the iPod, as I don’t want or like to listen to my music, or play games with the sound playing out loud. So headphones are definitely important. I haven’t upgraded to air pods or wireless headphones yet, so I like to use wired earbuds when I travel instead of over-the-head headphones. Currently I am using Minnie Mouse headphones that came in this super convenient little travel case.

Travel Journal – This one is probably also obvious given that ‘travel’ is in the name, but it is important enough to me to include. My own travel journals usually start one of two ways – either blank, ready for me to start chronicling my adventure, or they have all of my travel details and plans already laid out. I usually have a pen kept along with my journal, as well as a roll of washi tape and a sheet of stickers.

Notebook & Pen – As well as my travel journal, I like to keep a small notebook and pen in my bag, just incase I need to jot down anything important. I keep a separate pen with this notebook than the one I use with my journal. This one I carry around all of the time, not just for travel.

Small Plush – This will usually be a keychain attached to my bag, though sometimes I will have a small plush inside my bag for longer trips. I find that having something soft helps out with my anxiety from being around crowds of people.

Pouch of Essentials – I’m going to group this all into one thing as these are always kept together in a pouch in my bag. This pouch includes face masks, hand sanitiser, hand cream, feminine hygiene products, lip balm, hand mirror, compact powder, little face brush and phone screen cleanser.

Book – I suppose this one can also be considered obvious. Another form of entertainment that I like to have with me when I travel. I will usually pack a longer book for traveling so I don’t have to pack more than one. If I let myself pack more than one book, I won’t have space for anything else.

And those are all of the things I like to pack in my personal bag when I travel. What are your travel essentials? What would be your perfect trip when it is safe to travel again?

Diolch am ddarllen! Thanks for reading and remember to stay nerdy my friends!

White Elorda

Introvert, nerd and nerdy lifestyle blogger.
Check me out on social media: Instagram | YouTube | Patreon (Chibi Art) | My Resin Shop

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Tag Questions: Cottage Core Edition

Posted on April 21, 2021April 21, 2021 by White Elorda

Hello my friends!

I’m coming at you today with some soft and cosy cottagecore questions.

Now I’m not actually a part of the cottagecore aesthetic myself, though I do borrow inspirations from it from time to time. I have a great deal of appreciation for everything that goes into cottagecore, whether it be the aesthetics or the actual lifestyle.

I got these questions from CozyKitsune’s YouTube video.

What is cottagecore?

Before I get into the questions, I just want to give the Wikipedia definition for what Cottagecore is:

Cottagecore is an Internet fashion aesthetic, also described by some sources as a Generation Z subculture, that celebrates an idealised rural life and developed throughout the 2010s until being named on Tumblr in 2018.

Let’s jump right into the questions!

A scent you love?

I couldn’t pick just one, so here’s a quick list:

Black Tea
Roses
Fresh Cut Grass
Petrichor (Rain on porous rock)
Tobacco

Road trip or camping trip?

Definitely road trip. I love the idea of going on an adventure in the car – packing a bag and just going places. It’s honestly something I’ve missed in recent times.

Question for you guys though – what is the shortest amount of time for a drive to be considered a road trip – in your opinion?

A song to lull you to sleep?

The “Total Result” music from Devil May Cry 3. It’s a really sombre piece of piano music that I find so soothing.

I also like Aerith’s Theme from Final Fantasy VII and the piano version of Musician from D.Gray-Man.

Three flowers you need in your garden?

I honestly need 4. English Tea Roses, Gladiolus, Daffodils and Pansies. I couldn’t so without a single one of these flowers.

River or Lakes?

I’m going to be difficult and say neither, I prefer the ocean.

If you could have a mini version of any animal, which would you choose?

If I could choose a supernatural creature, I would have to say dragon, what with them being the symbol of my country and all.

If not, I would have to go with either an albino Raven, or a European Magpie.

Cloud-watching or Stargazing?

I honestly really like both, but if I had to pick one, I’d have to go with cloud watching. I just love all of the different shapes that you can see as they float by.

If you could only have one artistic talent, what would it be?

I would have to say either photography or drawing. One of those two.

Pressed or dried flowers?

Pressed flowers. I just think there’s something oddly romantic about them.

If you could be any fictional character for a day, who would you choose and why?

A tough question honestly – though I’d probably have to say the player character from Pokemon Sword and Shield. Not only would I get to catch adorable Pokemon, I’d also get to meet Piers.

Boots or Bare Feet?

Boots.

Marble Statues or Wood Carvings?

I honestly couldn’t pick. I don’t have a clear preference, they both have their charm. One just doesn’t win out over the other for me.

If you had the ability to play any instrument, which would you choose?

Either the piano or the violin – basic, I know.

Lace or Linen?

Lace, definitely – there are just so many beautiful and delicate patterns to admire.

What is the last thing you sewed?

A journal cover for my wife.

Power to talk to animals, or talk to plants?

As much as I would love to talk to trees, I would also love to talk to my cats.

Stone Walls or Wood Fences?

Having grown up in the Welsh countryside, I have to say stone walls. There’s just something lovely about them, especially when they have moss growing on them.

And that is all for these cottagecore questions!

I hope you all enjoyed this little tag post, I’d love to see your answers to these questions if you are interested in answering them!

Diolch am ddarllen! Thank you for checking out this post, and remember to stay kind and nerdy my friends!

White Elorda

Introvert, nerd and lifestyle blogger.
Check me out on social media: Instagram | YouTube | Patreon (Chibi Art) | My Resin Shop

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20 Questions About Me

Posted on April 6, 2021 by White Elorda

Good Morning My Friends!

How are you all doing today?

Today, I thought I’d answer some tag questions about myself – I found these questions to be a little bit random, so I thought they would be fun to answer! I found this list of questions on Pinterest, but was not able to track down the source of them.

Let’s just jump right into it!

#1. Thing you cannot leave the house without?

My keys. My anxiety will go through the roof if I don’t have my keys with me. I am somewhat paranoid about getting locked out of my house. Also currently, one or two face masks, even if I don’t plan on getting out of my car.

#2. Favourite Brand of Makeup?

Besame. Everything that they make is vintage inspired and absolutely stunning.

#3. Favourite Flowers?

English Tea Roses, Daffodils and Gladiolus. Honourable mention to Poppies, and Orchids.

#4. Favourite Clothing Stores?

Hot Topic and thrift stores. Also Box Lunch, though I’m not sure if that counts as a clothing store or not. What do you think?

#5. Favourite Perfume?

My own custom scent that I created at a local shop called Paisley & Company. I do also enjoy the Bone Daddy cologne from Box Lunch/Hot Topic and Saint by KVD Beauty.

#6. Heels or Flats?

Honestly, combat style boots, such as Doc Martens. If I absolutely had to pick I would say flats, though I do enjoy a cute heel every now again, though it is rare.

#7. Do you make good grades in school?

I did while I was still in school, but that was a long time ago.

#8. Favourite Colours?

Not to be completely basic, but red and blue. If you want a more artistic description, I like Crimson and Cobalt Blue.

#9. Do you drink energy drinks?

Not at all. They either give me heart palpitations, or nightmares. Sometimes if I’m really unlucky, both.

#10. Do you drink juice?

Every now and again, yes. Grape juice is my favourite, though I do enjoy Apple and pulp-free Orange Juice.

#11. Do you like swimming?

Very much so. I take to water like a fish. I don’t like swimming in the ocean without goggles though.

#12. Do you eat fries with a fork?

Sometimes. Sometimes I eat fries with my hands. It honestly depends on the fries.

#13. What’s your favourite moisturizer?

The Goats Milk Mousse from Paisley & Company. They make it in custom scents and it is absolutely amazing!

#14. Do you want to get married later on in life?

I’m actually already married. I have been since Halloween of 2020.

#15. Do you get mad easily?

Not really, no. It doesn’t take a lot to irritate me, but there is a difference between that and actually being angry. It takes a lot to make me full on, seeing red, kind of mad.

#16. Any phobias?

Arachnophobia, Coulrophobia, and a mild fear of the dark.

#17. Are you into ghost hunting?

I enjoy watching the shows, even if a couple of the really do make me kind of mad (looking at you Ghost Adventures), but actively ghost hunting for myself, no.

#18. Do you bite your nails?

Yes, for many years – though I am trying to break myself of the habit.

#19. Have you ever had a near death experience?

Not yet, not as far as I can recall.

#20. Do you drink coffee?

On occasion yes, though I honestly prefer drinking tea. My favourite way to take coffee though, is as a latte.

And those are the 20 Questions About Me! Did you find any of my answers interesting? I don’t really like tagging people to answer things like this, but if you want to answer, feel free to!

Diolch am ddarllen! Thank you for checking out this tag post, and remember to stay nerdy and kind my friends!

White Elorda

Introvert, nerd and lifestyle blogger.
Check me out on social media: Instagram | YouTube | Patreon (Chibi Art) | My Resin Shop

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20 Book Tag Questions

Posted on March 19, 2021 by White Elorda

Good evening everyone!

Today I’ll be answering 20 Book Tag Questions that I found on Paperfury’s Blog.

I want to start doing more of these tag type posts, and we’ve all got to start somewhere!

Let’s jump right into the questions!

How many books are too many for a series?

I don’t necessarily think there is a set number that would count as ‘too many’. Most of the book series that I enjoy tend to have 2 or 3 books to them, e.g., Six of Crows Duology or the Nevernight Trilogy; though I also enjoy the Discworld series, which has 41 books.

I think a series has too many books when it isn’t enjoyable to read the series anymore – when additional books don’t really add anything or the series is just being dragged out to make more money.

How do you feel about cliffhangers?

I don’t mind cliff hangers is they have a satisfying build up and payoff.

I don’t care for them when it is just an obvious ploy to sell the next book, but maybe I am just cynical.

Hardcover or Paperbacks?

I like to read paperbacks; though if I really enjoy a book, then I will try and pick up a hardcover edition for some added durability. A couple of examples of this in my collection are the Six of Crows Duology, which I originally read in paperback, and Gil’s All Fright Diner.

They honestly both have their pros and cons, and I don’t explicitly prefer one over the other.

Favourite Book?

This is impossible to give a singular answer, so I will give you a list of 5:

Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett.
Gil’s All Fright Diner by A Lee Martinez
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
The Inferno by Dante Alighieri

Least Favourite Book?

I don’t really have a least favourite book. I try to find something I like in everything that I read, but if I can’t, they all get added to the same list. So there isn’t one book that really stands out at all.

Love Triangles, Yes or No?

No. Mostly because all the ones I have read personally have not been written well. Even if they were, I probably still wouldn’t like them.

The Most Recent Book You Couldn’t Finish?

I don’t remember. I do my best to finish everything that I start reading – though if I would have to take a guess, I would say Pretties by Scott Westerfeld.

A Book You’re Currently Reading?

I’m currently reading two:

Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche – because I really enjoy reading heavy philosophical classics.

And Audacity by Shoi, a self-published work of Eruri fanfiction.

Last Book You Recommended to Someone?

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff – which I recommended to my wife.

Oldest Book You’ve Read by Publication Date?

I’m pretty sure that it’s The Inferno by Dante Alighieri, which was initially published in 1472.

Newest Book You’ve Read by Publication Date?

I think it is Final Fantasy XV: Dawn of the Future which was published on 25th April, 2019.

That will be changing soon though with Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo which is set to come out at the end of this month. I’m really excited for that!

Favourite Author?

Terry Pratchett – hands down without a shadow of a doubt.

Buying Books or Borrowing Books?

Honestly, buying books. I have nothing against borrowing them, I did myself quite a bit as a teenager. I just tend to buy most of the books I read now.

A Book You Dislike that Everyone Seems to Love?

Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. I just couldn’t get into it – her writing just didn’t seem to hook me the way it seems to with everyone else.

Bookmarks or Dog Ears?

Bookmarks – so much so that I will pick up random pieces of paper or other such items to mark my place so I don’t have to dog ear my pages.

A Book You Can Always Re-Read?

Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett, I read that at least once or twice every year, and The Inferno by Dante Alighieri. Oh, and also Gil’s All Fright Diner most recently. I actually have a video up on YouTube about this very subject.

Can You Read While Listening to Music?

Yes I can. The fact that I can read and listen to music through headphones actually freaks my Dad out a little bit.

I actually really like to listen to video game soundtracks while I read.

One POV or Multiple?

I can honestly go either way, as long as it is well written and engages me with whatever POV I am presented with. I don’t have an explicit preference one way or the other.

Do You Read a Book in One Day/Sitting or over Multiple Days?

I usually read books over multiple days; mostly because I only have so much time to read in a day (usually only at night before I go to bed.) There has been times however when I have been so captivated by a story that I’ve finished it in a single day. The most recent example I can think of is DarkDawn, which I finished in a single day.

Who do you tag?

Anyone who wants to answer these questions for themselves!

And that’s it for this little 20 Questions About Books Tag! I really enjoyed answering these and look forward to finding some more tag questions to answer for you!

I’d love to see your responses if you decide to answer these for yourself!

Diolch am ddarllen! Thanks for reading and remember to stay nerdy my friends!

White Elorda

Introvert, nerd and wannabe blogger.
Check me out on social media: Instagram | YouTube | Patreon (Chibi Art) | My Resin Shop

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Friday Faves: Top 10 Songs from Devil May Cry series

Posted on February 26, 2021 by White Elorda

Bore da everyone!

Happy Friday to you all! I hope you have a relaxing and pleasant weekend ahead of you!

Following in the same vein as last week’s post, this week I will be sharing my top 10 songs from the Devil May Cry series of video games! I like way more than just 10 songs from the soundtracks across the 5 games in this series, so picking just 10 will be a fun challenge for me.

As usual with these lists, these are in no particular order.

Let’s get right into it!

Devils Never Cry – Devil May Cry 3. This is the main theme of Devil May Cry 3, and Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition and is probably one of my favourite songs with vocals. The inclusion of the Dark Choir just makes this song so haunting to listen to.
Baroque and Beats – Devil May Cry 4. This is the background music that plays whenever you fight the Angelo enemies in DMC4. I love this way this music combines organ music with a EDM/Dubstep style beat.
Total Result – Devil May Cry 3. This is probably my favourite piece of music across all of the games. It’s a simple piano rendition of the Dark Choir, and I just love it. I’d sit on the Total Result screen where this music plays, just to listen to the whole song.
Flock Off! – Devil May Cry. This is essentially Griffon’s theme and battle music from the original game and is the song I listen to the most frequently from this soundtrack.
Bury the Light – Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition. Vergil’s theme from the Special Edition of Devil May Cry 5. This is by far my favourite of the 4 character songs from that game, not to say that I don’t enjoy the other 3. This acts as a nice counter balance to Subhuman, which is Dante’s theme.
Shall Never Surrender – Devil May Cry 4. This is the main song from the Devil May Cry 4 OST. This has a cool rock vibe to it, which mellows into the final vocals; it really reminds me of Nero and Kyrie.
Sworn through Swords – Devil May Cry 4. This is essentially the theme for Nero and Dante’s battles throughout Devil May Cry 4 and is probably my favourite song from this game’s soundtrack.
Legacy – Devil May Cry 5. The main theme of Devil May Cry 5 that uses some absolutely gorgeous vocals.
Lock and Load – Blackened Angel Mix – Devil May Cry 4. This is Dante’s theme in Devi May Cry 4. It’s a cool homage to his theme from the original game, remixed to fit the tone of DMC4.
Vergil Battle 3 – Devil May Cry 3. Easily the best fight music in the entirety of the third game. Fits perfectly with the final battle with Vergil, as well as the final Boss of the game.

And those are my Top 10 Songs from the Devil May Cry Game Series. Are there any songs that you like better? What other game soundtracks could you listen to on repeat?

Diolch am ddarllen! Thanks for reading and remember to stay nerdy my friends!

White Elorda

Introvert, nerd and wannabe blogger.
Check me out on social media: Instagram | YouTube | Patreon (Chibi Art) | My Resin Shop

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Friday Faves: Favourite Video Game Soundtracks

Posted on February 20, 2021 by White Elorda

Good evening everyone!

I hope you’ve all had a good week and have a fun and/or relaxing weekend ahead of you!

It’s been a little while since I posted a Friday Faves, so I thought I’d get back to it with something simple – a list of my favourite video game soundtracks.

The OST can often really enhance the experience of a video game for me, either adding to the atmosphere of a scene or providing a kickass back score for a boss battle. Sometimes I will like those pieces of music so much that I’ll listen to the songs outside of the game.

Let’s dive right into the list:

Devil May Cry (All Games)

If I had to pick a favourite soundtrack from this series of games, then it would be the OST for Devil May Cry 3, though 5 is a close second. My favourite song from that soundtrack is the Final Results piano piece.

There’s just something beautiful about the pieces of music produced for all of the Devil May Cry games, with some fun hard rock style action pieces thrown in for good measure.

Darksiders

Similar to Devil May Cry, the OST for the first Darksiders game has a haunting beauty to it, with choir-like voices and sombre violin pieces. The action tracks have a gothic charm to them, with deep bass lines that feel right in an apocalyptic setting.

Metal Gear Solid 2

Though I also quite enjoy the soundtracks for MGS3 (gotta love that Snake Eater) and MGS4 – the OST for the second game will always be my favourite. For me, this soundtrack contains the most iconic version of the main theme of MGS, as well as a really fun metal cover that is featured in a weird skateboard mini-game.

Dishonored

I’m a big fan of the end credits song from Dishonored, called Honor for All. I also really enjoy Corvo’s theme, as well as the background music for the Outsider and in the streets of Dunwall. Like Darksiders, there is a charm to the backing music that really adds to the atmosphere and setting of the game. A rustic, almost gothic steampunk quialty.

Silent Hill (1-4, Downpour)

I think one of the most iconic parts of the Silent Hill games are the music. I honestly wouldn’t be able to choose a favourite out of these, as they all perfectly match the vibe and setting of their games perfectly. Mostly I listen to the songs that usually play at the start of the games, though I do enjoy certain backing pieces like Promise from Silent Hill 2.

Final Fantasy VII

I love both the original version of the OST for this game and the updated version that was created for the Remake. I got to hear One-Winged Angel performed by an Orchestra at a Distant Worlds concert and it was simply stunning. There are just so many beautiful and iconic themes in this soundtrack.

If you asked me my favourite piece now, it would be Rufus Shinra, the track that plays behind your battle with the Shinra VP in the Remake.

Final Fantasy XV

My other favourite Final Fantasy soundtrack. This one has some absolutely epic full orchestral pieces. Even the extranded OST released with the DLC is amazing for this game. I couldn’t pick a favourite song from this. Most of the music in this game either has a cosy, friendly feel to it, or this grand, magnificent feel and the two vibes compliment each other well.

Final Fantasy XV has by far my favourite boss fight music of any of the soundtracks I have listed.

Kingdom Hearts 2

Last but certainly not least, the OST for Kingdom Hearts 2 is by and far my favourite soundtrack for any of the Kingdom Hearts games, mostly because it has Axel’s theme I think.

Not that I don’t like the other Kingdom Hearts OSTs – this one is just the best in my opinion.

And that’s it for my favourite video game soundtracks! Are there any OSTs that I listed here that you guys like to listen to, or is there one that I didn’t mention that you would recommend?

Don’t worry, anime soundtracks will be getting their own list sometime soon!

Diolch am ddarllen! Thanks for reading and remember to stay nerdy my friends!

White Elorda

Introvert, nerd and wannabe blogger.
Check me out on social media: Instagram | YouTube | Patreon (Chibi Art) | My Resin Shop

Get to Know Me, White Elorda's Nerdy Lifestyle, White Elorda's Nerdy Lifestyle Blog

Get to Know Me: Things I like to do to Relax

Posted on February 18, 2021 by White Elorda

Good evening everyone!

I hope you have had, or are having a wonderful day so far! Are you looking forward to Friday and the weekend? Do you have anything fun planned?

Today I’ll be sharing some of the things I like to do to unwind, whether it’s been a long day or a stressful week over all. Let’s get right on into it!

Reading a Book – This one very much sounds like a cliche, but there is honestly nothing better than picking up a good book. I particularly enjoy fantasy novels and books that cover military history. I find it very cathartic to lose myself in a riveting story, whether it is something new that I have fallen into, or it is a favourite that I have read a hundred times before. My favourite way is unwind before bed is to spend some reading.

Do you have a book that never fails to help you relax?

Listen to Music – Another cliche that is a tried and true method of relaxation for me. I can’t say that I really care that it’s cliche. I also can’t say that I listen to any specific style or genre of music to relax – it honestly depends on how I’m feeling in the moment. I would say that one of my most frequent go-tos are video game soundtracks.

What is your favourite thing to listen to in order to relax? Do you enjoy those lo-fi playlists?

Doodle – this is something that I usually do when I’ve had a really stressful day, or when my thoughts are running a mile a minute and I need to slow them down. Most of the time I’ll just put pencil to paper and draw whatever inane things enter my head; or something that might be influenced by whatever I am watching or listening to at the time. I usually only doodle in pencil in these moments, and the drawings rarely get attention outside of the session that I drew them in.

Play Video Games – Another cliche I suppose. Now I’m not going to say that I’m a hardcore gamer girl or anything like that, but I do enjoy playing video games when I’ve had a rough day. My favourite kinds of game to play are hack ‘n’ slash styled titles that let me vent my frustration on a variety of enemies. My go-to games for this are Devil May Cry and Darksiders, though I do also enjoy Berserk and the Band of the Hawk as well.

Do you like to play video games to relax? Do you prefer calmer games, or more action based ones?

Writing – I love to write, sometimes without it necessarily having a point. In order to relax, I find it useful to write out rants, especially if there is a particular subject that is frustrating me. Other times I’ll write little vignettes of fanfictions, or involving my OCs to cheer myself up. Sometimes, I’ll even try my hand at writing poetry.

Take a Shower – Just like picking up a good book – there is nothing better that a warm/hot shower (even cold depending on your preferences) to wash the stress of the day away. It’s especially lovely when you have shampoo/body wash in a scent that you really enjoy. For me personally, I enjoy scents with rose, or really citrusy scents.

What is your favourite scent of soap? Do you like to take bubble baths to relax? I would love to if I had a bath tub.

Meditation – I don’t mean this in the traditional sense, but I don’t really have a better word so this is what I am going to go with. What I mean is, I like to sit in a quiet room, usually with one of my plushies/stuffed animals, and just let my mind go blank. I won’t really think about anything, and either try and focus on relaxing my body, or on the softness of whatever plushie I am holding.

Do you have a favourite stuffed animal that just makes you feel better when you hold it? If so, what kind of stuffed animal is it?

Crochet – Crochet is wonderful for helping me relax because I can let myself settle into a slightly mindless pattern that will eventually fill my mind with white noise. I’ll usually pick up a small and simple project to work on, nothing that involves too much brain power, that would kind of defeat the point. I will then find myself somewhere comfy to curl up and then off I go.

And those are my favourite ways to relax when I’ve had a rough day or a stressful week. Do you have any different ways that you like to relax?

Diolch am ddarllen! Thanks for reading and remember to stay nerdy my friends!

White Elorda

Introvert, nerd and wannabe blogger.
Check me out on social media: Instagram | YouTube | Patreon (Chibi Art) | My Resin Shop

White Elorda's Nerdy Lifestyle, White Elorda's Nerdy Lifestyle Blog

My Ita-Bag Collection

Posted on January 26, 2021January 26, 2021 by White Elorda

Good morning pawb!

I hope everyone is have a good day so far!

As the title suggests, today I will be making a post about my current itabag collection!

What is an itabag you might ask. Well an itabag is a handbag, backpack or other kind of bag that is covered in badges, buttons, figurines and other merchandise pertaining to anime and manga fandom.

I use the term a little bit more loosely as not all of my itabags are related to a fandom, but they do all follow themes!

I started using itabags about 5 years ago – the main reason being that they are a wonderful way to show off your pins and keychains without worrying about them getting lost – thanks to the handy windows the bags have!

With all that being said – let’s get into it!

First off we have my Shark Itabag! I’ve been a shark nerd pretty much my whole life, so it is only natural that I have an itabag dedicated to my favourite animals!

This bag is from Amazon

Next up is my Piers Itabag! This is probably the bag I have put the most effort into collecting pieces for! I actually want to create an insert for this bag so I can fit even more Piers in it!

This bag is from Amazon

The latest addition to my collection is this adorable Magpie Itabag. This one doesn’t have a definite theme yet – so for now it just has the 2 bird pins that came with it!

This bag came from Ohayou Clothing

This is my Foxy Itabag! This bag is themed around autumn and Halloween!

This bag came from Sleeping Wolves Art

Next up is my Nocturnal Itabag! I like to keep my spooky and/or witchy pins in this bag! I love the bag wing style bow on the front of this one!

This is a great bag to match with Lolita Co-ords

This bag came from LoveAprilMoon

Last but certainly not least is my Isabelle Itabag! Eventually this will be a Celeste/Blathers/Animal Crossing Itabag, but right now it hold all of my cute/nerdy pins!

This bag is from KityCrylics

And that’s it for my current itabag collection! Which is your favourite? Do you have an itabag, if so what theme is it? What would you most like to make an itabag with?

Diolch am ddarllen! Thanks for reading and remember to stay nerdy my friends!

White Elorda 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🎀

Introvert, nerd and wannabe blogger.

Get to Know Me, White Elorda's Nerdy Lifestyle, White Elorda's Nerdy Lifestyle Blog

My Favourite Video Games

Posted on October 7, 2020October 9, 2020 by White Elorda

Bore da pawb!

Today, I’m going to be doing a round up of my favourite video games! Some of these will be entire series, some will just be individual titles!

Let’s not waste time, and dive right into it!

Devil May Cry Series

While the rest of this list won’t be in any particular order – Devil May Cry definitely sits at the top of my favourite games list! It is by far my favourite series of video games. My obsession with this series can be traced back to my brother and I renting the first game from our local video rental store (not a Blockbuster, but very similar.) Just saying that sentence makes me feel old – tell me quickly, do you remember Blockbuster?

I immediately fell in love with the style of the game, the sassy protagonist, and just the entire vibe of the game in general. Naturally, we picked up the second game after the first, and I really enjoyed that one too.

My love for this series was well and truly cemented with the release of Devil May Cry 3 in 2005, and the proper introduction of Dante’s (the aforementioned sassy protagonist) twin brother Vergil. (I say proper introduction because he is mentioned in Devil May Cry 1.) I remember this game coming out at around the same time as the original release of Resident Evil 4 on the Gamecube.

This was honestly the point where Vergil took over as my favourite character in the series, though Dante will always be a close second.

Just a note because I feel I should mention it – I do not include the DmC reboot game as a part of this series. It’s a reboot. While I did like DmC as a game, (it had some interesting elements) I hated it as a Devil May Cry game. It had none of the charm of any of the other games until this point. That is all I will say on that.

My least favourite game in the series is Devil May Cry 4 – mostly because I hate Nero. I will take Dante from Devil May Cry 2 over Nero any day. I still don’t really like him after Devil May Cry 5, but I do appreciate that they developed him into his own person in that game.

My favourite game in the series is Devil May Cry 3, with 5 coming a close second. The 11 years of waiting for that game was well worth it.

Silent Hill Series

What started as Konami’s attempt to make a Resident Evil clone became so much more – a true cornerstone of the Survival Horror genre in video gaming.

I love the Silent Hill series as a whole – especially all of the thought that went into the lore of the series. It’s deep and rich, and a really fun rabbit hole to find yourself going down. The monster design, especially in the second and third games, is also exceptional. Pyramid Head, or Red Pyramid Thing, is an icon for a reason.

I will admit here that I have only played the second and third games, as well as Silent Hill Downpour, myself – though I am aware of the stories and mechanics of all of the games.

My favourite of the games from the Team Silent era (covering games 1 though 4) is definitely Silent Hill 2, a shocker, I know. I enjoy all of the characters, and all of the monsters are creepy and well thought out in their symbology. I also really enjoy the voyeuristic nature of Silent Hill 4: The Room.

My favourite game of the post-Team Silent games, and actually my favourite from the whole series is Silent Hill: Downpour. This is the latest game to have been released, and came out in 2012. I am not counting PT as that was only a demo, an amazing demo, but a demo nonetheless, and the full game was never released. Back to Downpour, I really like Murphy, the main character, and the slight subversion of the games. At least that is my theory about it – but that’s a post for another day.

Resident Evil Series

In addition to Silent Hill, I am also a fan of the core series of the Resident Evil games, and also Code Veronica. I don’t really care too much for the spin off games, though I do enjoy the way they expand the lore sometimes.

As ridiculous as they are, I love the over the top stories that are the later games in the core series ( looking at you 5 and 6.) I appreciate the more subtle horror of the first games – that initial zombie sighting, looking over its shoulder at Jill, is still kind of chilling.

I don’t really care for the shift towards the more action-based game mechanics of Resident Evil 5 and 6, but I do still enjoy the story-lines.

My favourite game in the series is probably Resident Evil 4, followed by the remake of Resident Evil 2. (I only ever got to play the original 2 once.) In 4, I like seeing how Leon has come into his own after his experiences in Racoon City. I also really enjoy seeing the game that Devil May Cry 1 could have been.

Fun Fact: Devil May Cry was originally developed to be Resident Evil 4, but was changed later on to be something original. That’s something else I will probably dedicate a post to later on.

If you hadn’t already guessed, my favourite character from the Resident Evil series is Leon S Kennedy. My close second favourite is Billy Coen, a character I wish got mentioned more. Can you tell me which Resident Evil game features Billy Coen?

I will be bringing up Resident Evil again when I post about my favourite video game tie-in novels.

Darksiders Series

This one is a more recent series that I am extremely fond of. There is something about games focusing on the Apocalypse and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I’ve always been fascinated about the lore of the Horsemen, so naturally these games had me from the get go.

One of my favourite aspects, as I played through each of the games, is that each of the Horsemen has a unique personality, and they have a believable relationship with each other. For context here, the Four Horsemen are War, Death, Fury and Strife.

I also really enjoy the poilitics of Heaven and Hell – they are not portrayed as black and white, good and evil. The races that appears in the games are also cool, I especially like the Makers, and the denizens of the Kingdom of the Dead (another area with great politics involved.)

My favourite of the four games is the first one. I don’t have a favourite of the Four Horseman, though I really enjoy Michael Wincott as the voice of Death. If you haven’t heard him, I do recommend that you check him out. Two other characters that bring me a great deal of entertainment are Samael and Vulgrim.

Little bits of the whole story are slowly being revealed, so I do hope that we get enough games to get the full picture of what is happening. I also hope for a true sequel – games 2 and 3 happen parallel to the first, and the fourth game is a prequel to the main series.

Pokemon Sword and Shield

I specifically played Shield.

I’ll be honest here and say that I haven’t actually played a Pokemon game since the original Silver, and I actually ended up enjoying this one a lot more than I thought I would.

The entire reason for me playing this game is Piers, the Dark Type Gym Leader of the Galar Region. I caught a glimpse of him while watching other people playing the game and I immediately loved his aesthetic. After actually playing the game for myself, I love his character too.

I’m currently working on filling out the Pokedex in my game.

I have to say that I really like the new Pokemon designs – Corviknight and the Galarian form of the Zigzagoon especially. I will be doing a post of my favourite Pokemon at a later date.

What are some of your favourite Pokemon? If you played this game, did you play Sword or Shield?

Dishonored Series

I have not played these games myself, but I have watched complete walkthroughs for all of them.

This series of games is one of my favourites entirely because of the storyline. I greatly enjoy the way your morality and the choices you make factor into the ending you receive, as well as the way you actually play the game. I also like how your choices affect how the characters interact with you, their behaviour towards you as you proceed through the story.

The lore of the series is fantastic, especially the Overseer and how his influence may have affected history and events within the world of the game.

The characterisation of the assassin Daud, is another fascinating high point of the story. Within the DLC of the first game, we get to see what goes through his mind after he kills Empress Jessamine. I enjoy that he isn’t just a heartless killing machine. The dynamic he shares with the member of his gang is equally fascinating.

Favourite character of the series if by and far Corvo Attano, whether he be silent protagonist or chatty mentor. Daud and the Outsider are also up there among my faves.

Berserk and the Band of the Hawk

This is one of my favourite games to play when I need to blow off steam – I cannot say enough how much I love the story of Berserk being combined with the hack n slash game mechanics of Dynasty Warriors.

That’s exactly what you get in Berserk and the Band of the Hawk by Koei Tecmo.

I haven’t played Guts’ Rage, which is the Berserk game for the Dreamcast, so I can’t speak to that one – but the Dynasty Warriors game mechanics are perfect for a video game based on Berserk. Cutting through swathes of enemies with Guts’ giant sword, and later on, the Berserker Armour, is a pretty good representation of the series – at least from a video game stand point. You really get the feeling of being the “Hundred Man Slayer”.

Having said that, I would love to see a Berserk game made by Miyazaki, of Dark Souls.

The storyline of Berserk and the Band of the Hawks covers the beginning of the manga up to the beginning of the Boat Arc.

You get to play through a variety of well known moments from the series including the Battle of Doldrey, the Eclipse, and the Fall of the Spirit Tree Mansion. You also get to interact with all the popular characters from Berserk, and experience the hell once more of most of the dying in the Eclipse.

Up until the end of the Eclipse uses footage from the 2012 set of Golden Age animated films, which act in part as cutscenes for the game. The only language available in the game is Japanese, but there are English subtitles.

And that is all for my favourite video games! Do you enjoy any of the games or series that I have mentioned? What are some of your favourite video games?

Thank you everyone for reading, and remember to stay nerdy my friends!

White Elorda

Introvert, nerd and wannabe blogger.