Blogtober Wrap-Up | The Halfway Mark
10/15/2017
So we have successfully made it halfway through the month of Blogtober. Phew. To be honest, I'm enjoying this a lot more than I initially thought I would and my desire to interact more with fellow bloggers has been going well. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and tweet someone first, ya know? Here is the run down of all the posts I've uploaded so far, have you missed any? Now is the perfect time to catch up!
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When I was over in the States, me and my partner (the dashingly handsome @BilliamSWN) picked up the hobby of Library hopping to check out their book sales. Now, sounds lame.. I'm aware of that. But it was both romantic and darn fun, if I do say so myself. If you're a book lover you'll know the rush that you get when you find a book you've been looking for on sale. It's great, so why not get that feeling multiple times a day? The only down point of our newfound hobby was the dreary realisation that I would have to part with our many, many, many finds for who knows how many months (Engagement visa issues). It took me a long darn while to decide which ones would be returning home with me, but after some pro-con lists, realistic thinking, Popsugar reading challenge consideration, NaNoWriMo, and weight allowance.. I settled on a modest fifteen paperbacks and one hardback. No bad going, aye? I may of had to leave half of my wardrobe there, but who really needs Summery clothes in Wales?
So what were my finds? What have I already read? Let the scrolling commence!
hub by Premier Inn is a new style of compact staying with the rooms being predominately controlled by either the hotel's app or the controller on the wall - we're talking the lights, air con, heart, do not disturb, the lot. Having hub's only in Edinburgh and London, you can definitely say it's a city thing. This is the type of hotel that you only want to stay in if you will be spending most of your time exploring your surroundings, as the rooms are snug and you have to waddle all the way downstairs for a tea/coffee. However, if you're on a budget and don't mind the small walk every now and again (or every 10 minutes if you're staying with my mother), this is an ideal pick. When researching hotels to stay at on our recent two-night getaway to Edinburgh, we found the hub to be at a shockingly lower cost than most places situated in the heart of the city. We had a few complications during our stay but nothing to put one off staying there again in future. Read on for more information.
Let's start with the good stuff, food and drink. On the first floor of the hotel they have a counter offering an array of baked goods to buy - a few toasted sandwiches (smoked bacon, cheese, or ham and cheese). muesli and oatmeal. Drink wise, you can help yourself to an unlimited amount of black Costa coffee and teas, 24/7. There is also a fully stocked bar and sodas that can be purchased. Not too bad. I understand why there is no kettle in the room, but I do feel as though it's the one aspect of the hub missing. That could be the social anxiety speaking and most others wouldn't blink an eye having to go downstairs to get drink, but alas, I'm a shy bean. (Heh. Or am I a... coffee bean? I'll leave.)
48 Hours In Edinburgh || Photo Diary
10/13/2017
We all take a lot of photos when on vacation, right? My recent two night trip to Edinburgh with my mother was no exception. The city is gorgeous, so excuse the many photos of buildings. If you enjoy blog posts with more words, check out the overview of my first trip to Edinburgh: Edinburgh: Ghost Tours, National Museum of Scotland, Serrano Manchego.
When a mother of three teenagers decides to pull the plug on their connectivity for 6 months, it sends an eruption of change throughout their family life. No IPhones, no laptops, no TV, no PlayStation. But as the time wears on, the mother starts to see the positive of what the change has brought them. Written by journalist and author Susan Maushart, this a true story and almost a day-by-day following of the time.
10 TV Shows You Need To Rewatch
10/11/2017
From a young age, I've always been the kind of person to favour a TV show over a movie. I like the prospect of delving into a world for more than 2 hours and I enjoy the investment you can put in to the characters and story. My mum hasn't had the best of health when I was growing up, and as I seemingly stepped into the role of her carer at an early age, we needed ways of occupying the duvet days and what better way is there than a boxset that offers you over 23 hours of pure distraction? With that, we have watched a lot of shows together, and I mean, a lot. But we're creatures of habit and seem to have a certain few that we rewatch continuously, it's a comfort thing and I think being brought up with that mentally has had quite a large affect on my relationship with fictional worlds and characters that wound up feeling more like friends (I know, sad. But true.).
With all of that being said, choosing a list of just 10 shows that will now officially classed as my favourites was quite the challenge. There isn't an order to this - I'm way too indecisive for that - but I hope you'll find a few that you're interested in, or at least have a blogstyle reminder to marathon that show you used to love.
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Solvang is a city in southern California's Santa Ynez Valley. It's known for its Danish-style architecture and romantic setting aka: fairy-lights galore. Me and my partner took a little road trip to spend a night in the beautiful town a month or so ago, and it will forever rival any romantic getaways we take. You know those places you see on lists such as "Top 10 Hidden Getaways You Never Knew Existed", usually on Facebook, and you sigh with the overwhelming wanderlust? This is somewhere that'd be on that list. It feels like you're entering another world when you take a stroll around the town, especially at night. I think the photos speak for themselves.
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Finding Myself With Online Roleplay
10/07/2017
When I say "roleplay" you will probably thing of something sexy, right? Your mind is entirely in the gutter right now. I hate to let you down, but my experience isn't with /that/ kind of roleplay. No, I'm talking about the mass online roleplaying world that isn't really discussed outside of it's realm. No, not D&D or anything like that, this is far more simple and is usually done on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram. Yup, right under your nose. Saying that, it's been a few years since I was an active player, so there could be a heap more options nowadays.
To quickly summarise, you roleplay by portraying either a fictional character from whatever type of entertainment you want (shows, movies, books, games, etc.) or make an original character. These can be plain humans or have a multitude of abilities, anything is possible. Then you write. As simple as. You write your characters story, whether that be in a chapter-by-chapter basis, or an ongoing story line that you can include other players in. If you aren't interested in anything ongoing, you can just take it day-by-day and write whatever you feel like. Tweets, statuses, anything. In theory, it's the same as having any normal social media account, only you're free to express yourself in any way you like, without the judgement of anyone in your real life. It's online freedom, and far safer than chat-rooms or whatnot as you're all hidden behind masks and it is rare for players to trade a whole lot of information about their real selves. Heck, I've been friends with one player for 7 years and only recently traded photos.
May The Fourth Book Haul Be With You
10/06/2017
Big Little Lies
by Liane Moriarty
Jane hasn't lived anywhere for longer than six months since her son was born five years ago. She keeps moving in an attempt to escape her past. Now the idyllic coastal town of Pirriwee has pulled her to its shores and Jane feels as if she finally belongs. She finds friends in the feisty Madeline and the incredibly beautiful Celeste, two women with seemingly perfect lives - and their own secrets.
But at the start of a new term, an incident involving the children of all three women occurs in the playground, causing a rift between them and other parents. Minor at first but escalating fast, until the whispers and rumours become vicious and spiteful, and the truths blur into lies.
It was always going to end in tears, but no one thought it would end in murder.
Forrest Gump
by Winston Goom
Meet Forrest Gump, the lovable, herculean, and surprisingly savvy hero of this remarkable comic odyssey. After accidentally becoming the star of University of Alabama's football team, Forrest goes on to become a Vietnam War hero, a world-class Ping-Pong player, a villainous wrestler, and a business tycoon -- as he wonders with childlike wisdom at the insanity all around him.
In between misadventures, he manages to compare battle scars with Lyndon Johnson, discover the truth about Richard Nixon, and survive the ups and downs of remaining true to his only love, Jenny, on an extraordinary journey through three decades of the American cultural landscape.
Forrest Gump has one heck of a story to tell.
Unappreciated Stores: Shoe Zone
10/05/2017
With the likes of ASOS and Topshop hitting the big time, other stores are being overlooked. I'm a proud shopper at those clothing stores we pass by on the high street on a regular basis, never going in as surely nothing that's "in fashion" will be there. Stop walking past! (Walk, shoe related post.. there's a pun there somewhere) You can find some fashion gems in these places - especially on their online sites. Not only that, but most are way more affordable simply because they don't have the shiny Topshop price tag. I'm hoping this will become a new segment for this blog as it's never a crime to shop around a little, and as the Autumn has taken us over, we are all looking to spruce up our wardrobe, right?
Photo by the lovely @jessskate_ - Check out her YT channel HERE!
Shop the boots HERE.
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Today we're going to be concentrating on shoes. More specifically, boots. We all depend on our one pair of trusty boots come Winter but they can be expensive. More often than not, we just want something that'll keep our feet warm and something that's durable enough to survive a thousand dog walks (just me?). I adore Shoezone shoes. I've been buying from them for years and have not yet had one pair that has broken, so that's pretty darn good going. Stocked up with fur lined boots and styles that are currently hot in the press, you can't go wrong having a browse on their site. They even offer free standard delivery!
2017 Book Wrap-Up [June - September]
10/04/2017
If you're catching up, be sure to check out Part 1: 2017 Book Wrap-Up [January - June]
Originally there were only going to be two parts to my yearly book wrap-up, both posts covering 6 months worth of books. But I've been a little Matilda lately (what's new?) and have not only completed my goal of 50 books in 2017, but have managed to read a total of books in the last 3 and 1/2 months. Figuring that may result in one hefty post if I waited and stuck to the original plan of 6 months, I present to you part II of what now will be a trio of posts. Enjoy!
Side-note: I stopped wrapping-up after the 30th book, the others that I read in the later part of September will be in the third and final post.
Massive
by Julia Bell
A realistic portrayal of a young girl's struggles with an eating disorder. Read my full review HERE.
8/10
The Martian
by Andy Weir
Stranded on Mars, yeah, Mark Watney isn't having the best work trip. You've probably either heard of this or seen the movie based off the book starring Matt Damon. I really enjoyed this read, it was actually one of the funniest books I had read in a while which doesn't seem right given the storyline but alas, Mark is a hoot and you will fall for his boyish charm as you delve into his new living situation.
9/10
Ready Player One
by Ernest Cline
Wade Watts is a angsty teenager with only one thing in mind: to find an 'Easter egg' hidden inside the OASIS (A virtual reality game.. I guess) by its Sheldon Cooper regent creator. If you've seen the trailer for the movie and are now interested in the book, keep in mind that it looks completely different and the cast is way off. But don't let that put you off the book. This isn't usually something I'd pick up, so I will a little apprehensive going in. But my fear was for nought, and I wound up enjoying it.
7/10
Side-note: I stopped wrapping-up after the 30th book, the others that I read in the later part of September will be in the third and final post.
Massive
by Julia Bell
A realistic portrayal of a young girl's struggles with an eating disorder. Read my full review HERE.
8/10
The Martian
by Andy Weir
Stranded on Mars, yeah, Mark Watney isn't having the best work trip. You've probably either heard of this or seen the movie based off the book starring Matt Damon. I really enjoyed this read, it was actually one of the funniest books I had read in a while which doesn't seem right given the storyline but alas, Mark is a hoot and you will fall for his boyish charm as you delve into his new living situation.
9/10
Ready Player One
by Ernest Cline
Wade Watts is a angsty teenager with only one thing in mind: to find an 'Easter egg' hidden inside the OASIS (A virtual reality game.. I guess) by its Sheldon Cooper regent creator. If you've seen the trailer for the movie and are now interested in the book, keep in mind that it looks completely different and the cast is way off. But don't let that put you off the book. This isn't usually something I'd pick up, so I will a little apprehensive going in. But my fear was for nought, and I wound up enjoying it.
7/10
Before we start, let me say that I know I'm way late to this party. This book came out years ago and everyone and their Mum who likes YA has read it. I never planned on writing an individual review for this, but I was typing up my book wrap-up for the last few months, and I realised how much this book bugged me. So, let's call this a book rant rather than a review.
Everything, Everything has practically blown up after the movie came out. You've likely heard of it but if not, this story follows Maddy, a teenage girl who is housebound due to her extremely rare genetic disorder, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a hereditary disease which weakens the immune system and makes her most prone to infections. Because of this, she lives her life to the fullest at home, just her, the nurse that visits each day, and her mum - her father and brother having died in a tragic accident when she was younger. But they make her life worthwhile, with scheduled game nights and movie watching. She's always accepted her fate, but when a hot guy moves in across the road, she wants out. Basically. That wasn't the most literary way of explaining it, but I type the way the book reads. That's my biggest grip, and bear with me.
Everything, Everything has practically blown up after the movie came out. You've likely heard of it but if not, this story follows Maddy, a teenage girl who is housebound due to her extremely rare genetic disorder, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a hereditary disease which weakens the immune system and makes her most prone to infections. Because of this, she lives her life to the fullest at home, just her, the nurse that visits each day, and her mum - her father and brother having died in a tragic accident when she was younger. But they make her life worthwhile, with scheduled game nights and movie watching. She's always accepted her fate, but when a hot guy moves in across the road, she wants out. Basically. That wasn't the most literary way of explaining it, but I type the way the book reads. That's my biggest grip, and bear with me.
A Photo Per Day || September
10/02/2017
September has been a rocky month. Leaving my better half, yet again, was agonising. If anyone in the history of the world thought goodbyes get easier with time, they're wrong. I know it may not be the healthiest concept to feel half of a person without someone you love beside you, but yet that is how my heart is choosing to take this. I know we'll be fine and that we just need to wait for fate to do it's thing, and put a lot of work in to the middle, but alas, it's difficult. Alongside that, readjusting to be home has been a somewhat odd transition. I'm not yet used to the newfound silence that is lurking at the corners at night, nor am I equipped to busy myself with enough oomph to make time move quicker. It's all been a little.. blah, to be honest. Next month I had my two night trip to Edinburgh with my mum (expect blog posts as I do Scotland for the 2nd time), and you know, Halloween and all the pumpkin carving. But for now, let's put September behind us.. well, after this post.
Why I'm Partaking In Blogtober
10/01/2017
When I've told people that I'm thinking of joining in with the shenanigans that is Blogtober, the main response I've been getting is "Jesus, why?". Valid question. If you don't know, Blogtober is essentially a month of blog posts. You upload at least one blog post, every day in October. It is quite the undertaking, I know, and when you factor in my usual schedule of one post a week.. yeah, quite the change of pace. There are many factors why I wanted to join in with this torturous fun, so let's list my main three..
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