One of my favorite things to do is go to my local bookstore, that heavenly place called Barnes and Noble. Why is that my favorite place to go shopping? Why not American Eagle or Express?

Going to the bookstore is my happy place.

There is something so special about books. Each book is an adventure that takes the reader on a unique journey. I love to connect myself to characters and grow, cry, and love with them. I am sure that many of you find the same pleasure of being surrounded by thousands of novels that are full of hidden adventures just as much as I do. Some of you are probably also comforted by the feeling of a book in your hands.

Going to a bookstore is an adventure in itself. My experience of going to a bookstore can almost be told like a story. So, here's the story of my typical trips to the bookstore:

I find myself in my car driving to Barnes and Noble wracking my brain over what books I need to get. I ask myself dozens of questions like: Do I dive into classics? If so, do I go for poetry or maybe some mystery? Then I get distracted thinking about the last mystery book that I read. I ask myself, "Should I try a new Sherlock Holmes? But should I try that cool psychology book that someone recommended instead?" This goes on and on where I end up going through many questions and distractions. Before I know it, I arrive at the bookstore.

Have I figured out what I want? Ha. Absolutely not.

Finally, I enter the bookstore. I walk through those golden doors and am instantly drawn to the first display of the most popular book: "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." I begin reminiscing of the last time I read the series (my fifth time). After spending a couple minutes looking through the display, I walk towards the next display that draws me. I am like a little kid in a toy store: I literally want everything. The dangerous difference is that when I was a kid I had no control over money. Now, I have control and yes, that is a dangerous thing at Barnes and Noble.

I meander my way through the store, stopping at every single display. Of course, my arms are full of an assortment of books. Then I find myself at the beautifully bound books (the Barnes and Noble Collectible Editions). I always stop and drool at these classics. I can't help but wishing for my future library's shelves full of these dazzling editions. Then I begin to imagine my future library-dark wood shelving that climb two stories high (because, you know, my future house is a mansion-duh). There would be a big fireplace with two snuggly armchairs just perfect for reading. I imagine the smell of the smoky fire and me sipping my delicious black tea and... then I shake my head and realize that I am 19, don't have a mansion, and that I am standing in the middle of Barnes and Noble with drool literally coming out of my mouth. Typical.

After wiping the drool from my mouth, I grab my big stack of books and I set them down at the counter of the in-store Starbucks. I quickly go ahead and order my piping hot black tea that I was thinking of a few minutes beforehand. With my hot tea in hand, I make my way to the part of the store where they have armchairs and I snag one and start flipping through the books that I picked up. After what feels like five minutes, I check my phone and realize that I have been flipping through pages for an hour and a half. I quickly pick up my now cold tea and make my way to the checkout line.

When I walk up to the register I plop my sky-high stack of books up there, and the guy goes ahead and rings up my order. I begin handing him all of my gift cards from my past birthday and Christmas. Even after $100 of gift cards I still have a ton to put on my credit card. I swipe and I am pretty sure my card starts to smoke because I never spend that much on anything... ever. I get my two big bags full of books and make my way towards the exit and out back into my car with a big smile on my face. I can't help but smile thinking about all of the wonderful adventures I am about to embark upon through the glorious treasures sitting in simple bags next to me.