Painting A Door While Answering Your Questions! 

love the 'crazy book lady living in a rainbow house in a swamp with a flock of ducks' vibe. It's a character I've never seen but I already feel like I know.

i LOVE the green hallway but ngl I also think having every door a different colour is a super duper cool look. bc then if anyone's like "can i use your restroom?" you can be like "yes ofc it's the yellow door upstairs"

OHMYGOD, THE WINE ANALOGY. That was perfect and I will always use it. Thank you!

Your house is so cute. The colors. The ducks! Are you kidding me. You’ve truly made this space a reflection of you!

Agree about book buying. My library is a library! Libraries have books you’ve read and books you haven’t. That’s how I want my library. 🥰

I have a wall of yarn. I will not live long enough to use it all but if I want a certain color or texture of yarn for a project I need it to be there. Sometimes it's not and I must go shopping...and that's how I obtained a wall of yarn. As an aside I also have a wall of books and a wall of vintage Pyrex. All of my walls saved my life during Covid lock down and a cancer battle. Home bound for two years? No problem. My walls have me covered.

the duck flock at the end was simply enchanting thank you for sharing

You’ve got such an infections personality; I think it speaks volumes that we’re all here to watch you paint your door 😂

I would add: If you want an author to succeed, buy their book and suggest them to your library so they can buy it too, then MORE PEOPLE WILL KNOW ABOUT THEM

I’ve been here since the booktube era, when you were about 17. I’m now 28 myself so I feel like we’ve grown up together! So your content stayed relatable to me throughout 😄 I’ve recently bought a house too, waiting to get the keys and I can’t wait to get started on improvements 😊

The university question made me realize just how long I’ve been watching your videos! I still remember your study abroad videos - which really made me want to go to York (and I did end up going and had the chocolate shot 😁)!

Hi Ariel! I just wanted to say that your personality is amazing. You talk so casually and genuinely; it feels like we're friends having a real conversation. I love how you thoroughly express yourself and tell stories! Thanks for this video!

You may have done this all ready, but get a case of caulk and a caulk gun and caulk EVERYWHERE!!! Around doors, windows and anywhere you find a sneaky draft. It’s the big first thing I do when I move to a new place. It really helps.

Another gem! The railing looks great! Glad you took a break. I'm sure you've already realized with an older home you're NEVER really done unless you have deep pockets. It does seem to become an actual lifestyle. You're a creator, and it's another story to develop, plot, and unfold. Then there's those chapters that are soooo unexpected. Heating/cooling is a BIG one and good windows and entrance doors are not cheap but definitely worth buying the best you can afford. Makes a huge difference.

Fellow half Honduran here, I would love to here some more about the time you spent living there as it must have been a very different experience than living in Canada!

Yay, my question made it! It is a shame about the plants, but I'm just crossing my fingers you'll find some more draft-resistant house plants eventually 😬 So good to hear you took a well-deserved break. I love, love, love your house content, but it's even better knowing you're well-rested and not working yourself towards a burn-out.

You get me through the longest days. You paint your door and I’ll file. Thank you

Please consider the flood risk implications downstream of removing the beaver dam if that's what you are planning on doing!! I work as a flood risk officer in the UK and we're actually reintroducing beavers over here as a flood risk management solution (and also biodiversity). It's definitely worth getting a flood risk assessment done because moving the dam could increase flood risk to your house or your neighbours/others downstream, it can get complicated because of syncing up peak flows at confluences and things so definitely worth an assessment

thank god someone asked about the ducks love this video~ love all your videos!!!

Oh gosh the ducks are so lovely. Glad you took a break and got some rest!

You are absolutely one of my comfort youtubers and I am always so happy when you upload! Can’t wait for future house projects and book uploads!

If the door colour continues to bother you, you could always match the white paint on the walls. That would make the door blend in whether it's open or closed Alternatively, and this is something we do bc our cats are fundamentally opposed to closed doors, you could just hang a curtain in the doorway. Tbh, curtains instead of a bedroom door was the smartest thing I've ever done. We doubled up the curtains so there's a pretty blue set facing the hall and a black set facing the room. They are thermal curtains, so they keep the room warm, and they actually dampen sound better than the door does. 10/10 would recommend. 10/10 cat approved.

Loved hearing this Q&A as a newish viewer. I was curious whether you were half Hondureña! I've noticed y'all speak Spanish in some past videos and the wooden box in your bedroom video. My mom's from Nicaragua :) so I'm super jealous you had the opportunity to live in Honduras (and eat the food!!) for a year. I've only gotten to visit back home once.

My BFF has the Count Olaf eye tattooed on her ankle, and it IS super adorable!! Great minds!

could you recommend your favourite documentaries please? either in a video or on the podcast

Great Q&A Ariel, so happy you posted we missed you. 🥰 Also, the purple with the green is just darling! An explosion of colors!

I love your joy stood surrounded by quackers next to your vey own swamp. There be goals right there😂

I've been lerking for a while now. But had to comment on your colors you love...those two colors of blue and purple are pretty close to my wedding colors back in the 80s! They are timeless. Love your videos, you are cute, quirky and fun, I love watching, so much so that I even joined BOFM thanks to you!! ;) Thanks for your fun and informative videos!

I love the way that purple book on the lower shelf like exactly matches the purple paint!! It's so satisfying 😌😅💜

Girl you have no idea how inspirational the work you've done to your house has been to me, I absolutely ADORE what you've done to the place

pls pls pls film a duck update (duckdate) in spring, if there are ducklings!

Love your videos! Let me share a painting tip. Instead of painting out of the quart can, I pour the paint into a large plastic drink cup with a HANDLE. It's so much easier! I clean and keep the cup with my painting supplies. You're welcome. 😉

petition for subscribers to now be called “ariel’s duck flock”

My mom's house is of a similar age and insulation level. There definitely are plants that will take more of a beating than others. Pothos are pretty forgiving, and easy to propagate so you can have back up if you murder the first one. Spider plants also thrive on neglect and are hard to kill. Snake plants/mother in law's tongue, also hardy af. I don't know how, but we also have managed to keep a Boston fern alive, it's been in the family for.... over a hundred years now (it came from the original family farm when my family immigrated to Canada in the 1800's), though I suppose it makes sense that if you just bring a plant in from outside that it will have no problems dealing with the comparatively more comfortable environment indoors. My mom and I both are prolific murderers of plants, and all if those have managed to survive 30+ years in a household with varying degrees of ADHD and old house located in Canada's climate. Figured they are worth a try if you're interested

Wow, I loved how you talked about collecting books. Nobody really understands why I have so many books and for years that has led to guilt. So I feel instant guilt when I by a book and not read it right away. It was healing for me to hear you talk about it as a wine collection, thank you! ♥

ARIEL!!! A while back you mentioned God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut in one of your videos so I picked it up and as a result have been on a MASSIVE Vonnegut marathon since January. I had to tell you that because I'm truly having the time of my life 🥰 I believe I've already recommended Hocus Pocus to you under your Best Books of 2021 video, but now I'm CERTAIN you gotta check out Vonnegut's Bluebeard as well!! It's hideously underrated but so so good :))

I was literally JUST thinking about you and wondering when you were going to post again

the fact that you have a duck squad that clearly supports you is the coolest most badass thing!!

you don’t understand how much excitement i get when your video notification pops up XD

ariel: and now I'm here painting a door me: it honestly sounds great! Btw I started watching when I was 16 (I'm 19 now, almost reaching identity crisis 20s)! You are like the older sister type who does cool things that you would like to copy one day! And let me say that after all that academia, you deserve to have fun painting doors.

Oh to have wild ducks in your backyard... A dream honestly

You should take the doorknob and key holes off and strip them. I wonder if they’re brass! I bet they’d be beautiful!

I think Ariel should write about her ducks sort of like The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating type of book😊

I love your ducks, the drakes are beautiful. I was surprised that they didn’t fly somewhere warmer for the winter.

Hey Ariel loved the video! You may want to consider scattering your quack snacks over the water, they may find it easier to pick off your offering from the surface of the water than off the ground they can pretty easily get mud and sticks stuck inside their nose/billet.

I was nervous thinking a fleck of paint could end up on that gorgeous couch!

If you did a closet tour and showed us all your favorite pieces 👀👀👀👀 that would be soo rad bc I always like your clothes

I love goodwill for thrifting. Amazing books. Occasionally great books shelves. And great clothing options (if you look close enough)

The duck shot is so nicely lit and everything looks so satisfying. Amazing job!

The ducks are what we are all here for. And will keep coming back for because oh my gosh what if there are babies!!!

I love the hum of all the ducks quacking while they eat. It's so cute.

May I suggest the power of curtains for insulation? There are a lot of beautiful examples of portiere curtains between rooms and also basically curtain rods on doors just to create an extra barrier. I think some funky fabrics could really fit into your decor and be practical at the same time!

I have to pause the video to say I lOVE you. I didn’t know but I missed you 😂😘

I love the comparison between a book collection and a wine collection. That makes so much sense and really allows one to release the guilt over buying books and not setting any sort of deadline as to when they need to be read. Congrats on recognizing that you needed a break.

The white doorknob on that purple door looks so... nice.

I missed you! Thank you for your video. I am glad to hear you are feeling refreshed.

Do you have insulation at all? My house has seaweed insulation so they said it wouldn't be ideal for blown in insulation because it could get caught, but if your house has none then blown in might be an option that's a little more cost effective than regular insulation.

I'm from the maritimes, but don't live there anymore. The shot with the ducks looks so much like home ! it was really sweet

Wow. The ducks. What a life.

Your end screen is just too adorable

I know I'm coming to this video a long time after you originally published it but I was so amazed to learn you had (I do too) I was actually wondering back when you mentioned your mom bringing you your braces while you worked, and then in this video when you mentioned the paint can hurting your hand. But knowing that, I am ten times more amazed at how much of the work on this house you've done by yourself! My body would not be able to handle even a quarter of that work! Your continued physical, emotional, and financial investment in this house is really amazing.

What a blessing to have your home be a sanctuary to so many ducks through the winter!

i LOVE this style of q&a!! something about watching you paint a door is weirdly calming HAHA

I'm still waiting for a nail polish collection video 😭 you have the greatest taste on choosing tones... for everything!

you could do a greenhouse cabinet! they are super diyable and would allow plants inside!

Try getting a snake plant if you're having trouble with temperature and stuff. They're generally super difficult to kill. If I lived in Canada and didn't have to worry about customs, I'd send you one.

BEEN CRAVING SOME BISSETT CONTENT!

"I want it to be purple!!" Words to live your life by...I LOVE it!! Your content is always awesome. Thank you.

I would love to see a video where you explore the ~vibes~ in your book collection, and maybe that could be a cool opportunity to show off some fun clothes without making a fashion video per se? Like you create and outfit that goes with a particular vibe, and then talk about a book or two that match it. Whether or not you've read them, I think it could be really cool

12:53 those shoes are so cute 😭

Love the flock of Mallards! Keep your eye out for Wood Ducks! They are very intricate in feather design.

I’m fairly certain I thrifted the same ski jacket for my so. A couple years ago and HAD that ornate purple coat in the early 90’s 👌👌👌

GOODNESS! I never thought about the count Olaf eye on anyone's ankle! That's perfect!

As always, an amazing video!♥

I love the duck update!

Ohhhhh I needed this! Missed you 😉

I love your house, I love your channel, I love your personality, I love your words and the way you talk and gosh darn you are so pretty! I'm always so excited to get notifications that this aesthetic channel has posted!

Oh my gosh! I can't help but imagine all the little ducklings you might have visiting in a couple months!

I can't get over the t-shirt in the snow. Just how?

I love the color you chose!!!!

It's always fun when I see a new vid from you!

thank you so much for this video! i've been following you for several years now and seeing all the progress you've made and all the achievements you had in the past couple years means a lot to me! i give me hope about the rest of my twenties :)

i am obsessed

All the vibes I need

that video made me happy :)

Oh the ducks are just so adorable!

Omg, your coffee story is exactly the same for me, I never used to like coffee and could never see me liking it to be honest, until I found mocha which I was obsessed with and again now, for me, they are far too sweet and I now absolutely love and can’t go a day without one ☕️ 💕 x

you have such a bright personality

Came out adorable

Thank you so much for making these video's! I love the duck flock

Always love listening to your thoughts! Thanks for sharing!

I love books as well, you never know when you'll need a good story or to learn something new or to visualize somewhere you'll never get to visit. Not to mention there is no home decor more beautiful than bookshelves lined with books!

You're laugh is amazing!! Love your content!

hey. im irish living in germany and our apartment had to be brought up to a new energy standard. we had to insulate from the outside of the house. in german its called fassadedämmung. it made a massive difference. maybe it is something for you. maybe you could have plants! 😊

Love the Duck flock haha 😄

Great correlation between book buying/collecting and wine collectors. 👍

25:35 "Look at all those chickens"

Your videos just make me so happy in my heart! 🥰 Thank you for sharing! 💜🌻✨

So glad you're back and all rested! Can't wait to see the hall! ✌💜

Great door colour!!! 😊❤️👍