Monday Nights

Okay, so I have a confession to make, I'm a 24 year old woman who still loves Disney movies, they are always my go to option when I'm feeling a little low. You can't go wrong, the singing and dancing makes me smile and I end up singing the songs for days afterwards.

So today Frozen came out on DVD in the UK, it feels like I've been waiting ages for it to come out, I only saw it for the first time when I was on the way home from America and I fell in love with it, apart from Tangled (which I love dearly), Frozen has to be one of my favourite Disney movies of the modern age. The relationship between Anna and Elsa is beautiful as is the soundtrack, I swear I've not stopped singing 'let it go' since I saw it. Plus its funny, I love how Disney are now making adult jokes in these films, things children wouldn't necessarily get.

And well this is my Monday night, a can of my favourite lemonade and a DVD. What are you up to?

Book Recommends: Dystopian YA

'A dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian, as characterised in books like Brave New World and 1984. Dystopian societies feature different kinds of repressive social control systems and various forms of active and passive coercion, often imagined as police states, with unlimited power over the citizens. Dystopias are often set in the future and involve technological innovations not accessible in actual present reality.'

I was first introduced to the dystopian genre a few years ago when I read the Hunger Games and I fell in love. I loved the idea of a society that was under some sort of control and a group of characters that rebelled against the social norm, plus dystopians often have strong characters who find an inner strength to overcome some tough obstacles, be it overthrowing a corrupt government or trying to survive in this bizarre world they've been thrust in to. Dystopian books are intelligent and fast paced stories with many twists and turns, they are dark and thrilling and often surprisingly emotional.

And so with that in mind these are my favourite dystopian YA books and ones I would recommend you read as well.

 

1 2 3

 

4 5 6

 

7 8 9

 

10 11 12

 

 

Have you read any of these? What would you recommend?

 

 

Four Simple Goals: April

Whilst I was browsing the Internet looking for some helpful posts on how to improve my blog, I stumbled across a blog 'FiveSixteethsblog' who has a monthly post in which she sets herself four simple goals to accomplish each month and I thought that this was a great idea and something I would like to do on my own blog, Now I don't know about you but I know I'm awful at fulfilling the goals I set for myself, I think I always go too big and then when I don't complete them I get a little disheartened and kind of give up.

But I think this will be good for me, a way to set little things for me to achieve each month, simple things that I know I can accomplish and go from there. Don't get me wrong I still have big goals and dreams I want to achieve but I think if I'm feeling good about completing the simpler goals I wont get so disheartened if the bigger ones aren't happening when I want them too.

So as its nearly April here are my Four Simple Goals for April:

Spring Clean my Bedroom
I'm getting ready to redecorate my bedroom but first I need to have a clear out, I have so much junk in my room. Clothes I am never going to wear again and books that I've been sent or have read and will probably never pick up again. I can have a slight issue with hoarding things sometimes. So April is time to clear all that junk out!

Apply for ten jobs
I know this may seem like a strange one. I do in fact have a job but I'm currently looking for something else, don't get me wrong I love my job but its not exactly going anywhere and I'm not getting any younger, I want to have a career. So I've set myself a long term gaol of finding a new job but for April I just want to apply for at least 10 jobs.

Keep up with blogging
I love blogging but it is an effort sometimes to put a post together, taking the pictures, editing pictures and writing my book reviews. One of the reasons I like having this new blog is because I don't have to focus on just one particular type of post (my previous blog was all about books) and its put the enjoyment back into blogging. Now I just need to keep up with it.

Be happy, try one new thing
I've recently had a bad couple of weeks, I've gone through a big change in my life and it wasn't something I wanted and so now I'm trying to make the best of a bad situation. So in taking everything one day at a time, I am trying to find the little things in life that makes me happy and bearing that in mind I want to try something new, just one little thing I've never done before. I don't know what I'm going to try but watch this space.

In My Bag #1

 

 

 

I thought it might be quite fun to do a 'what's my bag post' you know besides old receipts and such. I always carry a large bag around with me as I tend to carry a lot of stuff or junk as some people might think. I recently bought this backpack from accessorise, as soon as I saw it I knew I just had to get it, its the perfect summer bag and its fits all my stuff into it.

 

 

 So I always have staple items in my bag, a bottle of water (got to keep hydrated), my phone and I-pod because god forbid I don't have them on me and some reading material, I tend to switch between reading a book and graphic novel depending on what I'm doing and where I am. I'm currently reading When I was Five I Killed Myself by Howard Butler and Sandman by Neil Gaiman. Make-up, some powder (Maybelline Fit Me) and an everyday lipstick (Mac Speak Louder), my comb and bobble for those hair emergencies and of course my purse, keys, bus pass and passport because you never know when an opportunity to jet off somewhere new might occur and you should always be prepared.

 

And more recently I've added my sunglasses (the weather finally looks like its warming up), my Harry Potter notebook because you never know when inspiration my strike and some earrings because for some reason I can never last an entire day wearing them.

 

 

 

Oh, how I wish I had your wardrobe!

Kelly Osbourne has come a long way from the angst ridden teenager we saw on 'The Osborne's', over the years we have seen her evolve into a beautiful woman. I imagine it must have been so hard for her to grow up in the glare of the media, everyone scrutinizing everything from her weight to her fashion choices. I mean come-on we all had an awkward stage, I know I did and I've tried to destroy most photos of me from back then, I don't know what I was thinking, Kelly just had to go through hers with the opinion of everyone trying to put her down.


However Kelly has now become a trendsetter, her creative style and 'no care' attitude make her a celebrity to watch. I watch fashion police just to see what she is wearing, if there is one persons wardrobe I wish I could steal it would be hers. Her mix of prints and colours is amazing, she never fails to surprise with her innovative fashion choices and bold make-up looks and lets not forget her lilac hair which I just adore. I would love to be able to take more risks like Kelly does and I think I will. She not only makes great wardrobe choices but she has the attitude to match, she isn't afraid to say her mind, as proven by the many infamous arguments she has had over the years but that's part of why I like her so much. Maybe I'll take a leaf out of Kelley's book and start taking more risks, no matter peoples opinion.

It's the end of the world, what are you going to do?

I've been having a Walking Dead marathon recently as I've gotten a little behind on the series, well honestly its a lot behind, I'm currently watching season 3 (so no spoilers please) and I am loving it. The addition of Michonne was just genius, I love how dark and mysterious she is, you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of her, she definitely kicks ass with that katana of hers. Even though I'm nothing like her in real life if I was transported to the Walking Dead world I would want to be like her.

 

So as I've been catching up on the series this has sparked many conversations with my friends over what we would do in the case of a zombie apocalypse, where would you run too? What would be your weapon of choice?

Now if I had to run anywhere I think I would take a leaf out of the guys from the Walking Dead book and hide out in a Prison or at least somewhere that is already barricaded in some way, you don't want to risk being exposed in anyway. As I said before Michonne is my girl and I would follow her lead and use a Katana, its the perfect weapon, sharp and deadly for cutting off those zombie heads, I know a lot of people I've spoken to have said a shotgun or some similar weapon but what happens when you run out of bullets and get over run by zombies. See its not such a great choice. Someone else said what about using a crossbow like Daryl but that means that you have to go and pick up your arrows not exactly a safe option.

I know what your thinking what I strange conversation to have with friends but believe me you'll be happy that you had a plan if it ever happens.

What would you do?

Oh Harry How I Love You

Like most people of my generation, I grew up reading the magical Harry Potter series, these books made my childhood I was addicted to them, I can't explain how many times I re-read these books, I didn't sleep on release weekend and I had generally finished whatever the latest title was before school started again on the Monday.

 

I remember being introduced to the series during one of my lessons in school, we had to bring in whatever books we had been reading recently and do a presentation on the book and author and I remember one of my fellow classmates was telling us about a young boy, around the same age as we were and him discovering he was a Wizard and this magical world that existed all around us, I was hooked before he had even finished explaining and I knew I just had to have these books. I was lucky only a couple of weeks before my Nan had gifted my brother with the boxset of books 1-3 (number 3 had only just been released) for Christmas and so I finished school on the Friday and had finished book 3 by the Monday. I ended up re-reading these books continuously for months until the next book was released.

When I was younger I enjoyed reading but I wasn't and avid reader, Harry Potter changed all that for me, J.K Rowling is solely responsible for my current addiction to books and I can only say thank you. Books are my life, they pick me up when I'm down, they understand me when I'm going through a difficult time, they make me happy.

So as it has been many years since I have read Harry Potter I have decided that this is the year I am going to re-read them, I'm excited and I'm sure I am going to be transported to my childhood and to that girl that spent many hours sitting on her bed reading all about a world she wished she could be a part of it.