2016 Book #5 (+ 5.5) (Review): 'Dream a Little Dream' (+ 'Dream a Little Christmas Dream') by Giovanna Fletcher

I know I know, my blog has been abandoned for almost two months which is ridiculous! The thing is, the first 5 weeks of summer were pretty quiet, and then July began and I've bee non-stop busy since then!

I started July with 8 days of relaxed time in one of my favourite places, Donegal, Ireland. My mum, Gran and I stayed at my Uncle's lovely house and I spent most of the time going on walks and reading on my kindle. I decided to take the time to catch on the books of the lovely Giovanna Flecther, as they are pretty easy holiday reads.

I loved how this book was based around a pretty simple idea! Basically,The main character Sarah begins to have dream about a boy she met in her past, and then he shows up in her real life. Each chapter begins with a new dream recounted. As a rule, I usually find these opening parts of chapters, always in italics, kind of boring, but for once I thought it really worked.

As I have found previously with Giovanna's books, sometimes the way things are worded can be almost cringey. I don't really mean this as a criticism, because it is still well written and reflects the type of Young Adult Genre its aimed at, but as someone who enjoiys reading such a wide range of material, these 'girly reads' can come across as quite childish sometimes. What the language did do, however, was give me confidence that one day I really could publish my own novel one day. Giovanna is a won derful writer in terms of her ideas and the characters she creates, but she doesn't need to use lots of complicated words to get her point across, and that has been my writing style in the past too.

Speaking of characters, all the characters in 'Dream a Little Dream' were likeable, and really made you root for them in some way - this makes 'Dream a Little Christmas Dream' even more of a satisfying read, as you get to see how everyone's lives pan out and where they end up. Sarah is part of a cute, and very realistic, we group of friends, which as a young uni student I feel I can identify with.

Actually, I felt I could identify with Sarah in more than one way. She wants to prove herself as a creative talent, and most of all she's looking for love, a relationship, anything romantic really haha. Like me, she's not desperate, she's a strong lass with career goals, but its always nice to feel loved!

Overall, think both books are lovely romatic reads and I was pretty gutted when I finished them!

2016 Book #4 (Review): 'The Secret Life of Bees' by Sue Monk Kidd

So, the great  "new year, new me" ideas of a book a week didn't exactly happen then haha. I honestly can't believe we are now officially over half way through this year and I am only on review number 4, that is shameful,. My current excuse, mostly to myself, is that, at uni, my course is made up of so much reading that throughout the semester I didn't really feel like reading in my down time. And that isn't a lie. However, I am now 6 weeks into my summer break and, yes, I have been working just about full time, but I've also only managed to read one book, so I'm really hoping to increase it, because I really do love to read!

The one book I have managed to read since retuning home is one recommended to me by my parents. It was given to my Dad as a birthday present and both my parents read it so I thought I'd give it a go. This wee review is also going to have to be written in a bit of a hurry, because I am exhausted from my 6am start at work, but want to get this up before I leave for holiday on Thursday!

Brief Summary: Lily is a young, intelligent, curious girl who lives with her abusive father and is cared for by her black nanny, who herself can be very outgoing, even when it puts her in danger. In one eventful day, Lily and her nanny run away from their hard lives and, along their way, meet wonderful people with whom they make very special bonds. But can the pair's new friends help Lily discover the truth about her dead mother's past?

Despite its rather misleading title, this book is not a non-fiction manual about caring for bees. In fact, I think the theme of bee keeping acts as a symbol for passion, love and teamwork throughout this novel.

The book is narrated by Lily, and this is very effective in the 'coming of age' style and target audience;  her young mind, difficult upbringing, innocence and vivid imagination keep the book exciting and lively.

In fact, the characterisation was excellent in general - all of the characters were completely unique and for this reason felt real, as opposed to another version of someone I have read about previously. There were so unlike characters in every other book I've read and that is a difficult thing for an author to achieve.

I also liked how the book was about relationships, but not only romantic love or young love. It was about relationships between people of all ages: gossipy friends, strict father, kind old woman, sister, peer ....

The book was also set in a time of black voting registration in the USA and so, without going on and on, very successfully dealt with the topics of race and racism and integration, which I appreciated.

My one main criticism of this novel would probably be the pace, as I did feel that action moved very slowly and I think this was one of the reasons that it took me so long to get into it, and that it didn't really give me that 'hooked' feeling we crave when we read. However, that said, it is not to say that loads needs to happen for a book to be thought provoking, and this novel proves that.

I was also very slightly disappointed with the ending of this novel. Without disclosing any 'spoilers' I would just say that I don't know what I expected, which meant that I would have accepted any ending, and I suppose it means that it needed more of a spark to it, for me. In other words, the ending was fine, I wasn't annoyed or let-down, I just didn't feel as though any of the tied up pieces of the story were extraordinary either.

Overall, I think it's a really well written book and I'm glad I read it as it is almost definitely not one I would have chosen myself, but enjoyed. My Mum has recorded the film, so I look forward to watching that too!

Film Review: 'Me Before You'

Firstly, I apologise once again for my 2 month blogging break. This was partly due to exams/moving back home from uni/getting back into work routine etc., partly because my tablet was out of action for a while (thankfully has now been replaced with a lovely new one, hurrah for warranties!) and partly because for a while now I've not been satisfied with my blog name, and wanted a chance to rebrand and re-inspire myself (see yesterday's post, 'A Lick of Paint...')

While in the middle of exams, I did watch a fair few films on Netflix, but didn't review them. However, nearly a fortnight ago I finally got to go the cinema for the first time in ages with one of my gorgeous friends and we saw this film, highly anticipated by me since I read it earlier this year (Check out my review here)

I had been trying to make arrangements to see this since it's release, but unfortunately plans fell through until one Wednesday afternoon.

It is very difficult for films to live up to books. There are, in my opinion, a few reason for this, but 2 key ones:

1) They have to miss out lots of things for the screenplay

Despite the chunky size of the book, very little was missed out from the original tale in the film version. This was possibly because author JoJo Moyes also wrote the screenplay.

2) The actors' portrayals of the characters are either unrealistic or just very different from how you imagined them

An all-star cast headed by Emilia Clarke as Lou and Sam Claflin as Will, along with some familiar faces I hadn't expected such as Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter), Jenna Louise Coleman (Clara in Doctor Who) and Brendan Coyle (Mr. Bates in Downton Abbey), honestly couldn't have been more perfect in their roles. Possibly Lewis, in the role of Lou's boyfriend Patrick, was a little different than I pictured, but overall everyone was pretty perfect AND down to earth.

I think the beginning of films often come across as pretty staged, well for me they do. I suppose it's because you're brain needs time to accept the actors as the characters and the story as true. As soon as I relax and settle into a film suddenly it can draw me in.

One thing I must note is the absolutely beautiful soundtrack of this film. Many of the songs were well known but the versions and combination played an absolutely crucial role in swaying the viewers emotions. I don't make a habit of listening to film music on its own but that is one soundtrack I must revisit.

Talking of emotion, this film is a definite tear jerker. I don't tend to cry at films, and in this case I even knew what was coming, how the storyline would unfold. However, even I was welling up, more so than I have for any film in a while, including TFIOS. I wasn't full on balling, but this film did an excellent job at achieving what I reckon was it's goal, making you think. Making you appreciate your life and everyone and everything in it.

Overall, I would thoroughly recommend, I honestly can't wait to get the DVD!

A Lick of Paint ...

... and a whole new name!

As some of you may have noticed, my blog has had something of a rebrand! The design is not totally set in stone, I like it for now but there is definitely room for further personalisation. However, I didn't want my blog out of action for much longer, and my main focus was my new blog name!

I never knew how tough picking a blog name would be! I have been running my blog for two and a half years now and at the time I used a quote I loved. But I've wanted to change it for ages because, let's be real, it was far too long for a blog name.

Last night I finally decided it was time to act on my intentions, so I sat, in a flurry of late night motivation, for ages with a notebook and tried loads of different word combinations. But I kept drawing blanks- everything I liked the sound of was either already the name of a blog, or kind of cheesy! Eventually, I stripped back all the fluffy adjectives and tried to think of what my blog is, what my aim is.

Picking a name and branding your blog is especially difficult without a theme, and although there are some patterns to my blog (positivity posts, book ad film reviews etc.) I am not ready to limit myself to one theme. Many of my friends with blogs have just used their name, but to be honest I don't think may name is catchy enough for that!

When people come across my blog what I want is for them to see an 'aspiring writer', but not think of that term, because I strongly believe that all those who write are writers. I want to stay true to the type of blog I began with when it was headed with my Ernest Hemingway quote, a place where I publish (mostly!) uncorrected thoughts and opinions, an informal practice space for my personal writing.

And so, welcome to 'Draft One', a starting point, a beginning, a journey. One student informally logging life.

Wee Gems

So this post is about something I've thought about a few times over the past few years. There's only one person I've ever really talked to about it before, and that's one of my closes friends who I went to school with. I think this will be a nice, happy wee Sunday post which I don't suppose will be very long as I haven't all that much to say about it, I was just curious as to whether anyone else felt something similar....

We all have friends and we like them for who they are. We know they have good qualities, and bad ones, and we get along with them because often we share or can relate to some of these traits.

But do you ever meet/get to know someone, and you just feel as though that person is 100% wonderful? I don't mean stereotypically perfect looking, with an amazing job and a gorgeous family, necessarily. What I mean is someone you can't imagine having a bad bone in their body, who is just lovely through and through.

These people aren't necessarily your close friends, in fact they often have a great many friends because they are so kind and therefore well-liked, but you can't help but to be drawn to them when they're around. It doesn't mean that you value other people less, because you expect people to have a few flaws, it's normal! But its just this rare kind of person who just seems truly good to the core.

I've been lucky enough to come in to contact with a handful of these people in my life, some of whom I'm sure only come across like that to me, but most of whom I think others would agree with me about. And the only way I've come up with so far of concisely describing them is as Wee Gems. Little nuggets of the best side of humanity, who inspire you to be the best version of you that you can be!

It's weird, because I don't feel jealous towards these people- I don't think of it as a superiority, just as part of their natural characters. But I wanted to try and somehow get into words how I feel about certain, amazing individuals.

To all those people, who will never know it is about them because that's part of what makes them gems, I wish you the best luck in the world in your every endeavour... I can't ever begrudge you anything because you deserve it!

Film Review: 'Begin Again'

So, on Monday evening I travelled back to uni with my parents, following a lovely chilled weekend spent at home before revision truly began. They came and saw me play a Spring Concert with my orchestra, and then dropped me back at my flat where I got ready for bed and snuggled under the duvet for my last few hours of 'guilt-free' freedom.

Having made a promise myself the previous week not to start a new series on Netflix until after exams, I decided to pick a film at random, and that's how I stumbled across 'Begin Again'.


Brief Summary: Greta is a young singer-song writer who has always lived in her musician boyfriend's shadow, while Dan is an alcoholic, declining music producer evicted from the label he jointly founded. When the two meet in a bar following Greta's performance, an unlikely friendship begins, and turns into a project which will get both of them back on track, both in their professions and personal lives.

The story was simple, but feel-good and inspiring. It felt relatable due to dealing with very real issues of failure, heartbreak, addiction and family relationships, as well as the constant struggle to find what you're good at and have the confidence to share that with the world.

Mark Ruffalo, as Dan, and Kiera Knightly, as Greta, were an excellent combo. I'm not always a big fan of Knightly as I think she can sometimes come across as a bit wooden, but the stand-off-wish, mysterious character of Great was a perfect role which highlighted her abilities. Supporting parts, such as that of Dan's daughter Violet, played by Hailee Steinfield (Pitch Perfect 2) , and Greta's ex-boyfriend Dave, played by Adam Levine of the band 'Maroon 5', really helped to shape the film as a whole. Plus James Corden was his usual hilarious self and brought the comedy factor, causing me to literally laugh out loud at points.

While perhaps a little unrealistic (I mean who really happens to meet a music producer who needs you as much as you needs them before extending their stay in NYC to randomly record an entire album on a £0 budget which then sells 10,000 copies overnight... sorry for the spoiler!) in practice, 'Begin Again' helps you remember never to give up because the next big opportunity could be around the corner and hard work and luck can equate to miraculous results... which to be honest was exactly the message I needed before 3 weeks of exam study! Definitely one to catch while it's on Netflix.

Bath&Shower Goodies! (a.k.a. LUSH haul)

 

I recently learnt in an anthropology lecture that vloggers and bloggers who do 'hauls' are considered their own category of society labelled 'haul girls'. I had not realised this was a thing!! This post is totally different from anything I've ever done on here before but hey, since the rest of my blog is a mash-mash of ramble and opinions with no constant theme or organisation I figured I may as well dip my toe into the beauty blogging world. I mean, why not?

For my 18th birthday 2 of my very good friends, who also happen to be twins, bought me a gorgeous gift box of LUSH bath goodies. Prior to then, I don't think I'd ever even been in that shop, far less been obsessed...

Since then, I have spent a fair bit of money in there- but their selection is just incredible! It smells so good! Not too sure how I'll set this out yet, but let's just role with it.... at least half of the stuff is from Christmas (when I was supposed to write this post, but didn't) so hope you all get a nice festive feeling... in April! And yeah, I won't exactly be following a 'beauty blogger' style because, well I wouldn't know where to begin! Also haven't done a post with pictures in a while so I'm a bit rusty on layout... this could go interestingly....

Bath favourites

Bubble bars are my absolute favourite, more so than bath bombs because a) you can get at least 2 baths out of them instead of 1 and b) you have the satisfaction of feeling them dissolve between your fingers under the running water haha. I've tried all 4 currently stocked by the wee LUSH store in Aberdeen and here they are, ranked in order of my preference!

4)  Blue Skies

Blue skies is my least favourite, just because the smell wasn't as much to my taste as the others! It does however have quite a calming, relaxing scent suited to chilling you out, and it's pale blue colour isn't too harsh on the eyes after a stressful day!







3) Brightside

This fiery bubble bar is really great to use before you go out for the night/day, because I find it gives you loads of energy! It makes the bath bright orange (duh), smells like Fanta, and just generally puts a smile on your face. What more an you ask for?!









2) Ultraviolet



Best things about this beauty? It smells like parma-violets and makes the whole bath the best colour in the world. Enough said.














1) Comforter

My absolute favourite, this bubble bar was the first I ever tried as it was the one included in my birthday gift box. I can't even properly describe the scent in words, you'll just have to try it! I think it is officially a blackcurrent scent, but to me it just smells like home, happiness and relaxation! Amazing after a day working outdoors in the rain!










Despite my preference for the bubbles, I have tried a couple of LUSH bath bombs too:





'Sakura' is my Spring/Summer pick due to its light, fresh smell and pastel colouring!   












The 'Yoga Bomb' is awesome at any point throughout the year, but I will make it my Autism/Winter pick due to it's warm, homely scent and cinder-toffee outer colour (purple on the inside).











I'll just slip this wee Easter bath bomb in here too. It was the only LUSH Easter product I indulged in this year and smelled awesome! Like spring and happiness haha! There were a few to choose from, think this one was called 'Fluffy Egg'.














Shower favourites

Don't worry, this section will be significantly shorter as I have only tried two of LUSH's many body washes.

2) The Comforter Shower Cream

Bought this for uni because was gutted that I wouldn't have a bath and would therefore miss out on my favourite smell ever! It was very expensive, for body wash, but worth it for the scent! However, I have been disappointed with the runny consistency of the shower cream, which makes a mess and hardly makes it onto my body, and how you have to shake it or it separates in the bottle. Nothing against the scent but would like to see LUSH make a shower gel version, won't be buying again as a bit of a waste of money for me.




1) Snow Fairy Shower Gel


Technically, this should go in my Christmas section as it is a limited edition festive product, but I loved it so much it deserves a proper review. I was given this as a secret Santa gift from a uni friend and absolutely fell in love from the first whiff! Smells like candyfloss but also somehow like Christmas! And its all glittery and shimmery! Still got a wee drop left as left it at home as my holidays treat, but it better be back this Christmas!


Festive favourites

Between treating myself to a fair few items in a day of much festive excitement, and receiving even more (different ones!) as gifts, I collected so many Christmas LUSH products in the 2015 merry season that I literally used the last one at the weekend just past! For that reason I do not have time to comment on them all, but suffice to say they were all fabby! Here's some wee picks for you to enjoy...

Father Christmas Bath Bomb

Bar Humbug!






 

Secret Santa Gift Box





 

Snow Angel Bath Melt
 

(front and back)

Skincare Saviours

 

My last section I promise. I'm aware this blog post has become rather long (believe me, I've been working on it for 2 hours +) but wanted to end by letting you know about my favourite LUSH skincare products, even though they don't quite fit in with the post title. The staff in LUSH are so good about helping you find something you need, that it makes it feel worth the extra money. I use these products to supplement doctor prescribed skin products, having always suffered with acne and eczema.

 

 

'Pumice Power' Foot Scrub

 

 

 

 

 I've always suffered from awful dry skin on the soles of my feet, so I enquired in LUSH about a remedy and this is what they suggested. It's not perfect, but if you use roughly every second day it definitely makes a difference! I personally use it in the shower, and I can really feel the pumice working its wonders and excoriating my feet. Have even got my mum using these now!








'Let The Good Times Roll' Facial Cleanser

This face wash is made with real popcorn, causing it to both smell and feel amazing! It really excoriates your face without being overly harsh and helps get rid of dead cells on the surface! Would recommend using 3-4 times a week if possible.







Tea Tree Toner Water

LUSH stock lots of different toner waters which are kind to skin. I mostly just picked this one because I adore the smell of tea tree! You can use immediately after cleansing, or first thing in the morning, before bed and as many times as you feel like in between!! I tend to use 4-5 sprays in my (clean) hand, rub my hands together and then onto my face, but you could also apply using a cotton wool pad if you preferred.






'Enzymion' Facial Moisturiser

I apply this moisturiser immediately after my toner water every time, using the classic 5 spots and then blend technique. It contains lots of wonderful natural ingredients including avocado and Aloe Vera. I still use my doctor prescribed moisturising cream elsewhere on my body, but prefer this for my face because I only have to use a tiny amount and also its very light, meaning it is less likely to clog my pores.






'Don't Look At Me' Face Mask

What a colour!! LUSH do LOADS of different face masks, but my main aim was to find on which addressed acne scarring, hence my choice of one which includes lemon juice, known for its benefits in that area. Despite looking like a smurf, I really enjoyed using this product! The one negative thing I would say is that it has a relatively short shelf life (3-4 weeks) for the price, and I didn't manage to use all mine. However, if you make a point of using it every day you're not using your facial cleanser, it should get used up! Plus you get a free one when you return 5 LUSH pots!





Well... considering a year ago I hadn't even set foot in the shop, didn't use shower gel and wouldn't have considered myself a bath person, I quickly became addicted! I even tweet out my LUSH love from time to time (@catrionaa15). Must love it, as just spent over 2 hours on this post. Hope it was useful, and please let me know your LUSH favourites! Back to my normal posts now, enough of this beauty stuff for a wee while! Xx