Listography

I've always loved the idea of keeping a journal or diary. Having something to look back on in later life and see what you were doing and how much you have changed over the years has always appealed to me. However keeping a diary is something I stuggle to do, I'm sure everyone can relate with keeping a diary for a few days and then slowly losing interest. I think it's hard to keep a diary of day to day life because at the time it seems trivial and dull, you forget how interesting you'll find it in later life.

Recently I found a way to record your life without the pressure of keeping a diary everyday. I was browsing Waterstones when I stumbled across Lisa Nola's Listography books and fell in love. There's a book for every different aspect of your life from music to books to films to travel. Inside are gorgeous illustrations and questions on every page asking you to list things based on the subject of the book from your favourite characters to your favourite actors. What I love about the books is that they don't just ask the usual questions, but are full of funny and unique questions that you'e never thought of before but find you have a answer for. Some of my favourite questions were 'List love songs you'd want to be serenaded with', 'List advice that you follow from lyrics', 'List controversial books I've read', 'Historical periods I vicariously lived through', 'List your so-bad-it's-good movies', 'List film quotes you'll never forget.'

As you can see these Listography books are really fun ways to record what you love and hate about certain subjects. I love that you don't need to fill it all in as soon as you get it, just when you please. I've only just started filling them in but think they'll be a really fun way to look back at things that meant  a lot to me over the years!

Do you have any listography books? Have you tried keeping a diary before?

Liebester Award

I was nominated by Mafer (who has the most incredible blog I'd totally recommend you check it out!) for the Liebster award- which is essentially an award to help new bloggers get recognition, and it helps to connect new bloggers. Mafer asked me 11 questions, then I have to tag new bloggers and to ask them questions to answer. It's a great way to find new blogs and reach out to bloggers.

Here are the questions Mafer asked me.

1. What country do you crave to visit the most?

I want to visit so many countries but I'd love to visit Italy!

2. What makes you happy?

Knowing everyone I love is happy and healthy and small things like Taylor Swift's music and Tulips.

3. What's your favorite tv show?

Sherlock!

4. What inspires you?

The fear of failure

5. If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be & why?

Taylor Swift- she's my hero, I adore her.

6. What's your guiltiest pleasure?

Dancing to cheesy pop music

7. What was the last film you watched? & what did you think of it?

I watched Gone Girl last night, after reading the book I was intrigued to see how the film would live up to the book and I loved it! It was such a good adaptation of the novel and such a tense film.

8. What's the best advice you have received?

Do the your best because thats the best you can do.

9. If you could have any superpower which one would be?

Invisibility

10. What's your favourite quote?

'You could be the juciest peach in the world but there'll always be someone who doesn't like peaches'- it helps remind me that there's always going to be someone who doesn't like you no matter what you do so stay true to yourself.

11. What inspired you to start blogging?

I love watching youtube videos and started reading blogs last year and thought it looked like fun.

I nominate:

Karis-Eleanor-Nicole-Claire-Lizzie

My questions for you are

1. What's your favourite Disney film?

2. If you could live in another time period, where would you live?

3. Tea or Coffee?

4. What's one album you could listen to on repeat and never get tired of?

5. What's one thing you'd love to achieve in the future?

6. Favourite childhood memory?

7. Tumblr or Pinterest?

8. Favourite subject in school?

9. Who's your celebrity crush?

10. Favourite book?

11. Which 5 people would you invite to a dinner party, dead or alive?

The rules are simple link the person who nominated you and the people you nominate in your post. Notify the people you've nominated and thank the person who nominated you. Make up your own 11 questions and have fun spreading the blogging love.

I can't wait to read your responses!

Top 5 books from the last year

Reading is one of my favourite pastimes-  I tend to get through books pretty quickly so I thought I'd look back at the books I read last year and share my favourite ones with you.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
This was one of the first books I read last year and fell in love. Set in America it tells the story of Cath and her first year at College.As the novel progresses you're introduced to new characters and new struggles Cath has to face from getting drunk for the first time, to her first serious relationship.  I quickly related to Cath, she's an introverted girl that prefers writing fanfiction to socialising with people in her college. I love that she is so relatable and completly different to the generic heroines in other YA novels.This is a perfect book if you're starting College or University in the future, or if you are bored of the predictible dystopian novels that are the hype right now. 
4/5 stars

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
I was looking for an easy read one weekend and based on how much I loved Fangirl I decided to buy Attachments on my Kindle and devoured it in two days. Set in the nineties, Attachments tells the story of Lincoln, a man hired to moniter emails in a large company. Over time he becomes attached to Beth and Jennifer- two friends that email eachother during their working day. As he finds out more about them he finds himself falling for Beth, but doesn't know how to approach her. Attachments is a fresh outlook on romance, I found myself falling in love with Beth and Lincoln and hoped they'd end up together as I read the book.
4/5 stars 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Definetly the most talked about book of 2014. Gone Girl tells the story of Amy and Nick Dunne, a seemingly perfect couple but are left questioning everything when Amy goes missing on the morning of their fifth wedding anniversay. I don't want to say any more as I think this book is best if you go in knowing nothing. What I will say is that I was gripped the whole way through- I ended up taking the book to school with me when I started reading part two as I couldn't put it down. This book has so many twists and turns that leaves you questioning everything and everyone as you find out what happened to Amy. Read it!
5/5 stars

Paper Towns by John Green
I adored The Fault in our Stars so wanted to read some more of John Greens novels. Paper towns tells the story of Q- an average boy who loves his neighbour Margot. One night she knocks on his window and takes him on an adventure to get revenge on the people that have hurt her. However the next morning when Q wakes up, Margot has disappeared and Q makes it his mission to find her. This book kept me reading as I wanted to find out what had happened to Margot- I loved the scene when Q and his friends go on a crazy roadtrip against the clock to get to Margot. As always this book is filled with beautiful, tumblr-like quotes- it's beautifully written and is a great story about friendship and growing up.
3.5/5 stars

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
I bought this book on a whim and within the first few pages realised it was the book that inspired the 2007 film with the same name. A fantasy novel- Stardust tells the story of Tristen and his quest to find a fallen star in exchange for the hand in marriage of his love Victoria. While the story was captivating, what really stood out for me was the way Neil Gaiman writes. He has a bewitching, fairytale like way of telling the story that kept me engaged and reading the whole time. Definetly one to read if you love fairytales. 
4/5 stars

What have you been reading and loving recently?

Films to watch on Valentines Day

Valentines day is just around the corner and I've chosen a selection of my favourite films that anyone would enjoy, whoever you're spending Valentines with!

For the loved-up couple
About Time- I would go so far as to say About Time is my favourite film of all time. Set in England, it's a beautiful story of Tim Lake when he is told on his 21st birthday that all the men in his family can travel back in time. At first Tim doesn't know how to use his time travelling to his advantage, until he meets Mary, a young american girl who he believes he is destined to be with. The film follows Tim and Mary's relationship and the ups and downs that comes with being able to time travel. Written and directed by Richard Curtis, About Time is a beautiful rom-com that will make you happy to be alive.

For the group of friends
If, like me, you'll be spending Valentines Day with a group of friends rather than a loved one this year 10 things I hate about you is the perfect film to watch. Loosely based on Shakespeare's 'The taming of the Shrew', 10 Things tells the story of Cameron Jones trying to win a date from the high school sweetheart Bianca, however Bianca can only date when her older dates which proves to be a problem when it turns out Kat has no interest in dating boys. Set in the late nineties, this is a funny light hearted rom-com thats perfect to watch with friends. It also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Heath Ledger in their teens, so what's more to love!

For the anti-romantic
Whether you've recently split from a partner, or have no interest in Valentines Day 500 days of Summer would be great for you. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, it tells the story of Tom and the 500 days he knew Summer Fin. While it does centre around their romance- it's more than a rom-com, it shows a true reflection of the ups and downs of a real relationship, and how it isn't really how it's portrayed in the films. You have to watch this movie- if not for the perfect soundtrack alone.

For anyone and everyone
Silver Linings Playbook is one of those films that's perfect for any ocassion. So whether you're spending Valentines with your other half, friends or alone this is the film for you. Starring the gorgeous Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper it tells the story of Pat trying to get back in contact with his ex-wife, however all this changes when he meets Tiffany. This film has comedy, romance and some hard-hitting themes. It also has an incredible dance scene towards the end of the film which is not a reason to watch it I don't know what is!

I hope this helped some people who were looking for films to watch on Valentines Day, or just new films in general! What are your plans for Valentines day this year? 

A Month in Review : January

The first week of January consisted of finally eating the last of the Christmas chocolate and slowly attempting the work I'd been set over the break. I'd had a quiet New Years Eve with my family, eating chinese food and watching Jools Holland. I also took my first photos on my new polaroid camera and became instantly obsessed with polaroids- I have 14 shots left and I can't wait to take more!

On the 17th we took a family trip to London. As it was my birthday on the 19th I chose to go to the Sherlock Holmes museum at 221b Baker Street. 

Ever since I started watching Sherlock I've become a little bit obsessed with the character of Sherlock Holmes. I love his quirky but charming personality, and his ability to solve just about any mystery. While the Sherlock TV show sparked my love for the character, I started reading the books and watched the film adaptations of his adventures. Visiting the house was one of the best experiences of my life, there's nothing like seeing the house where one of your favourite literary characters lives in the flesh. The museum itself was a wonderful experience- being let in in groups of around 40 your allowed to explore the house at your own pace while museum workers are on hand to answer any questions you may have, This was perfect as it allowed avid fans to explore on their own, while new fans of Sherlock were able to have their questions answered when they wished. It was such a fun experience and one I'd reccomend to everyone, not just Sherlock fans!

Whilst in London I also wanted to visit the Shakeshack in Covent Garden. It was one of the best fast food restaurants I've eaten at in a long time! With fast service, friendly and helpful staff and views on Covent Garden it's a great place to eat if you want something quick and delicious. Whilst I wasn't a huge fan of the cheese sauce on the fries, the burger was delicious and i'll definetly be going back when I'm next in London. 

Monday the 19th was my birthday and I spend it with friends and family and a meal at Nandos. You can't beat mango and lime chicken with double creamy mash! I also ate at Prezzo on the 24th with my closest friends. It was one of the nicest evening I've had in a long time, and made me realise how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends in my life. 

So that was my January summed up in one blog post for you! It was fun, eventful and crazy busy. I wouldn't have changed a second of it but am looking forward to a quieter February!

What was your favourite moment of January?