Wednesday 27 January 2016

Readathon Wrap Up - Seasons of Reading 'Winter's Respite'

I did the Seasons of Reading readathon - this one was the Winter's Respite which runs from 18 - 24 Jan. Actually managed to make another video, so this is my wrap up - you can see what I read and how I did!


Seasons of Reading Links:

-Blog
-Facebook group
-Twitter

Books mentioned:
'The Road' - Cormac McCarthy
'On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft' - Stephen King
'Wuthering Heights' - Emily Bronte
'The Bone Clocks' - David Mitchell



Sunday 17 January 2016

My Reading List - Seasons of Reading Readathon 'WintersRespite'

I'm trying to do the 50 book challenge this year, so I'm taking part in several readathons throughout the year. I didn't manage to complete the January AYearAThon as I started so late. But, I managed to blast through The Road by Cormac McCarthy - which may not be such a good thing as it's pretty depressing to say the least.

Seasons of Reading hold four readathons throughout the year (one for each season) and I believe they do an extra one at Christmas. I'm taking part in the Winter's Respite which runs from 18 - 24 Jan. If you want to see how your fellow participants are doing, the hastag on twitter is #WintersRespite.

The rules are very relaxed and there isn't a theme for this season. They have a big giveaway at the end of the readathons but you have to sign up on the site and link your wrap-up at the end, as winners are chosen from that.

I'm still busy getting back into university, finding motivation in this miserably cold month and I'm travelling across the country this week to visit friends, so it's hectic but train journeys are perfect for reading. Also, this is why I'm writing a blog post rather than trying to plan, film, edit and upload a book video. I might do a wrap up video, but we'll see.


My list consists of:
- On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. This is a rollover from the AYearAThon, as I could only get halfway through.
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. It's a classic that my friends are obsessed with, and it's been so cold and windy recently that it's perfect.
- The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. I only got halfway through when I first read it, so this is a great excuse to finish it.

If you want to follow my progress, I'm here on GoodReads.

Anyone else taking part? Let me know what you're reading!

Wednesday 13 January 2016

Lush 'Honey I Washed My Hair' Shampoo Bar Review

This is amazing.


The 'Honey I Washed My Hair' shampoo bar' is a little round bar and looks tiny (mine's 55g) but it's fantastic. I can't get over how good this smells - it's like caramel and sweet without being overpowering. Before I used it, it gently filled the room with the amazing scent and now my bathroom smells great.

Sunday 10 January 2016

AYearAThon #1 & New On Booktube

YouTubing has begun. No more am I just a viewer, I make things now. I've been on YouTube as a viewer for five years now and want to feel like I'm actually part of it, rather than just taking it other people's work.

The booktube community is very small which I like. People say they miss the old YouTube, how it was back in 2009-2011 when it felt like a shared secret. I like how the smallness of it means we all have to work together because we need each other, and it's interesting to engage with that.

Also none of my friends are that into YouTube culture so I'm hoping to find other people who are.


My links:
-Goodreads
-Youtube
-Twitter
-Instagram

Friday 8 January 2016

New Years Resolutions 2016

Let's make some goals! And yes, this is published late so it wouldn't get lost in the flood of other bloggers's lists. I previously looked over some random old goals I made in the past and here are my new ones.

I love setting out targets - it gives me a focus for the year and it's interesting to look back and see what past you wanted. This year I'm not setting any exercise goals because I just won't do them. I'm healthy and I always walk to wherever I need to be. There's a tiny child inside me throwing a tantrum every time I tell myself to exercise, so I guess I'll do it when I want to, not when I'm told.


Writing
There are a lot of project ideas that have been lying around for YEARS but no more! Currently I want to work on:
  • Two theatre script ideas
  • A short story
  • Six poems ideas
  • Finish off three poems
  • A novel - outline the plot, characters and world
  • Finish going through and editing a novella I wrote four years ago. 
  • Work on a radio play series to hopefully be released later this term

Wednesday 6 January 2016

Steak 'n Sushi, Exeter Review

Is there a better way to end the term than having a nice meal with good friends? I think not.

Steak 'n Sushi is one of Valentina's favourite places (I mentioned her in my Tea on the Green post - we're totally cafe/restaurant buddies now and I no longer have to eat alone). It opened in 2010 and apparently is Exeter's first Japanese restaurant. It claims that all the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced - judging by the food, I have no reason to doubt this.

The food was SO. GOOD. I can see why Valentina loves it, we have to go again.

Saturday 2 January 2016

Commentating on 'Out of the Woods' by Taylor Swift

This came out on New Year's Eve and it's quite a visually impressive music video to be fair. But I'm still going to provide some sarcastic commentary.


All images are screenshots from Vevo


0.00 "She lost him."
     There is more to life than finding/breaking up with romantic partners and I'm really bored of the same romance storylines. It's 2016. You can't keep telling the same story with different characters.

0.08 Trees start sprouting
     What the.
     Is this a Sleeping Beauty reference? You know, with the rose forest growing around the castle as she sleeps?