Etsy Wishlist #1

I love Etsy, there are so many beautiful things created by extremely talented people.  It's one of my go-to places for gifts and I could spend ages trawling through the pages looking at all the different goodies that I want!  I've started to make a wish list, y'know, just in case... 

Sylvia Plath Quote Bracelets CynicalRedhead £29.35 | 2015 Toodles Noodles Planner ToodlesNoodles £28.71 |  Beauty and the Beast inspired Red Rose in Cloche pendant VintageLightJewelry £22.33 | Peace Love Mickey T-Shirt LostBayTrader £9.57 | Back To The Future Movie Poster AWayWithWordsPrints £10 |  The Perks of Being A Wallflower Typography Print TheWrittenWordPrints £10


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Reaching my Goodreads target

In June (ages ago, I know!), I reached my very modest Goodreads target of twenty five books. It's a very small target to a lot of readers and to a certain extent, for me, but working in Mexico left me with a lot less free, reading time. Needless to say, I was very pleased when I hit my target half way through the year and have managed to get through a few more books since then. I thought I would share which books I have read so far, and highlight my favourites! 

1. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell 

I loved this book, I wish I had written a review on it. A beautiful, lovely story about an unlikely couple of teenagers in love. It was funny, sad, smart, observant, and I couldn't put it down! 

2. Forgive me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Reminded me a lot of The Catcher In The Rye - check out my review.

3. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbreith

A fine detective novel under JK Rowling's pseudonym. Despite a lot of disappointing reviews, I really enjoyed this novel. I love the detectives a la Harry Hole and Cormoran Strike was a fulfilling British equivalent.  The Silkworm was an enjoyable read too and I hope the series continues.  

4. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

I don't know why I hadn't read this book before. A moving novel set in rural Georgia that deals with racism, sexism and traditional gender roles. I love a book that makes you think and this book certain does that. 

5. The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp 

Another great coming of age novel; the movie is pretty good too!

6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I adored this book, I think it is one of my favourites. It's beautifully written and almost unique in it's narration. The second book to ever have made me cry! I can't recommend it highly enough. 

7. Horns by Joe Hill

I read this book because it was on a book to movie adaptation list and I was very pleasantly surprised. It was witty and made so many spot on remarks about life and religion. It had me laughing out loud on several occasions. 

8. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee 

Like The Color Purple, this book is on many English Literature syllabuses and I can't believe I hadn't read it before.  I loved this book; it addresses so many issues and themes that fascinate and sadden me.  Atticus Finch is literary hero and I can understand why. 

You can see which 40 books I have read so far on Goodreads and my other reviews here.

Have you read any stand out books this year?

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Winter Disney Style Inspiration | Cinderella

The window shopping continues!  This time, the inspiration was Cinderella, with her timeless and elegant style.

Tapered tailored trousers - £170 | Topshop // Lace panel jumper - £25.20 | Dorothy Perkins // Velvet headband - £2.69 | Gorgeous shop //  Nude pointed heels - £22 | ASOS

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Five things I'm looking forward to

As the days get shorter and the nights draw in, it can sometimes be difficult to stay in a positive frame of mind.  During the summer, you have days of sunshine and time to relax outside after a day at work.  During the winter, it's almost as if everyone holes themselves up after 6pm, and understandably so as the temperature drops and the days shorten.

Although I do like our contrasting seasons, I sometimes fall into the autumnal or wintery cycle of go to work - sleep - go to work.  I like to give myself little things to look forward to during these colder times of the year (I'm going to try and leave out the big December C word... for now!).

#1 Bonfire Night.  What's not to love about Bonfire Night?  A great British tradition that's steeped in history.  For me, Bonfire Night is a great opportunity to get together, wrap up in your scarf, hat, gloves, don those welly boots and watch a mediocre fire work display in a school playing field.  Everyone is in good spirits and is a perfect excuse to start eating wintery comfort food... Stews, sausages, root vegetables... Yum!  

#2 Jumpers.  A simple pleasure but for me, it's extremely satisfying to snuggle in an oversized jumper and a comfy pair of jeans.  No more goose pimply arms or not knowing whether to take a cardigan or jacket, from now on, I will have as much skin as possible covered up!

#3 Satsumas.  I know we can pretty much get any fruit or vegetable all year round now but I love it when wintery fruits and vegetables come into season (minus swede, parsnips and sprouts.. eurgh.) and satsumas really make me feel wintery, and they are so cheap at the moment.  A great way to stave off all those winter illnesses too!

#4 Autumnal sunsets (and the chance to see a sunrise that's not at 5am!).  Autumnal sunsets are beautiful, the past couple of evenings, the sky seemed to be full of burnt oranges, blood reds and the night draws in an intense black.  The colours seem more vivid and intense and the light throws spectacular shadows and fascinating silhouettes,  Beautiful!

#5 The weather.  This may seem like an odd one:  I haven't experienced a British winter in a while now and I still haven't forgotten the relentless heat of Mexico so I'm looking forward to being tucked away inside the house when it's windy and rainy outside, curling up with a hot drink and a good book.  Fingers crossed the snow holds off for a while longer...

What are you looking forward to?  

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Winter Disney style inspiration | Pocahontas

I don't really class myself as being any kind of fashion guru, I tend to just throw outfits together haphazardly, so these posts are just for fun really. Putting together outfits based on the Disney princesses is a great way of window shopping and imaginary retail therapy!

Here we have a wintery look based on Pocahontas:

Shift dress - £38 | Topshop // Arrow head long pendant - £7 | Accessorize // Spiral arm cuff bracelet - £8 | Accessorize // Fringe suede brown boots - £35 | Office // Wool blend cape coat - £775 | Net-a-porter

For me, Pocahontas is all about the earthy colours and textures!  

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Blogger Missing In Action...

Hello?  Is there anybody out there....?  It would seem that I have taken a bit of a "blogger break" recently and it really wasn't intentional!  Life has done what life generally tends to do and kept me busy and tired every day; time also has done what it tends to do, runs away with itself and I look back and say where has the past month gone?! 

I'm still managing to keep up reading my favourite blogs but I've neither been commenting nor writing my own posts.  The more time passed, the less I wanted to write anything but since it's something that I do enjoy doing, I've decided to try and get back into it and try and do one post a week, about something, anything.  

So here I am. My life is slowly settling into a routine during the week and weekends have been crazy busy the past few weeks doing different projects and catching up on errands etc, but here is what I've been up to over the past (two) months!

Eating : I'm still following the Slimming World diet and because it's such a well rounded, positive way of eating, I've discovered that I now have a much more positive and healthy relationship with food.  I've currently lost 1 stone 8 pounds and to be honest, I don't feel that I have deprived myself of anything.  I'm feeling good and eating well!

Drinking : Tea and Pepsi Max Cherry.  Since starting work at the Primary School, my tea  intake has increased dramatically!  I'm not sure if it's because of the early mornings or it's comforting warmth but I religiously take a flask to work with me.  Pepsi Max Cherry is my favourite 'treat' drink; it's replaced full fat coke!  I'm a sucker for fizzy drinks but since I'm dieting, full sugar drinks are off the menu and Pepsi Max Cherry tastes just as good!

Reading : I am pleased to say that I have been able to read a few books since I last posted, not as many as I would have liked, but I'm getting through them.  My recent favourite has probably  been Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington.  Has anyone else read it?

Watching : I'll admit it:  X Factor is one of my guilty pleasure.  It just entertains me so I was pleased when it began again!  I wasn't so pleased when it was on for three different nights (that's too much of a commitment in my eyes) but now we're back to two, I look forward to snuggling down in front of the TV.  I also saw Pride at the cinema - fantastic, simply amazing and I would highly recommend.  

Planning : Next year!  Things are still up in the air for my future plans but I'm looking into the different routes into teaching.  The application process seems pretty intense; literacy, numeracy tests, UCAS, personal statements are all super stressful!  

Anticipating : The next big 'thing' I'm waiting for is probably reaching my goal weight at Slimming World.  It's less than a stone away and I still have wobbly days but the beauty of the plan means you can adapt it to your life; it's for real life and people.  I'd love to be at target for Christmas but we will see!

Buying : Pennies are a bit tight at the moment so I'm trying not to splurge.  I did buy a new moisturiser for my skin - extremely dry cheeks, oily forehead and blemish prone - I'm trying Kiehl's Blue Herbal Moisturiser.  I've only been using it for a week but finger's crossed it helps.  

That's it what I have been up to... how about you?  

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