2014 has been a bit up and down for The Girl in the Moonlight. Completely unintentionally, throughout the year - and in this very month! - I have had little time to follow any schedule. This can happen though and I have tried to not be glum about it, even if it has disappointed me sometimes.
The issues I have had with finding time to blog have taught me a lot though. I figured out last year that a certain level of planning works for me! I claim to not have had time and although this is true, it is also not. I will simply be making time in 2015. This may mean long periods of time where I am completely inspired and a few posts being written and sometimes a few minutes worth of jotting. It all counts! I really want to follow a schedule again but I'm not going to commit myself to one just yet.
I kept making promises to myself this year, claiming to post a certain amount of times in a week (or however long) and simply not fulfilling them. Making promises to myself and not completing them sucks, because it's down to me and the intention is full of meaning- only lacking something. I've learnt to attach something else to these promises. Although I cannot pinpoint what it is exactly, I simply will. I have also learnt to stop writing these promises online. It only makes it that bit more stressful that makes it even harder!
However, I have, as always, adored my blogging adventures of 2014. It's been awesome.
A few highlights:
- In March I set myself a little challenge. I posted seven days in a row with a little plan of what sorts of posts I would write. It brought a few different kind of posts onto my blog, including the fact that I had always wanted to write a DIY post and I did so in these seven days (HERE, if you wish!). Having a vague plan for those seven days was really exciting and got the creative juices flowing!
- Posts that I am most inspired by are ones when I am discussing an issue close to my heart. I have been very happy with the posts I have written this year that are about subjects like that. I wrote a post about body image in February HERE, and also, in February I wrote about how important everyone - of whatever sexuality - having rights is HERE. I've written about the importance of gay rights again HERE, I've written about feminism HERE and HERE and shared a few opinions on make-up HERE. Most of the time, these are the posts where I am sat at my laptop, typing all of my thoughts, ignoring any thoughts of being coherent- simply being wrapped up in the moment of me and my thoughts.
- Carrie Says! I shall leave a link HERE explaining what "Carrie Says" is and why it has been awesome this year!
- I shall also leave a link HERE and HERE about all of the short stories I have posted this year because I have adored writing them all!
I can't wait to experience The Girl in the Moonlight's 2015. It's going to be a good'n!
Happy New Year everyone!
Skies & Seas,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Tuesday, 30 December 2014
Wonderful Words | 2014
Blogging isn't simply gorgeously wonderfully fabby-fabby- fab (which, oh my golly, it is) because of the writing and the sharing of thoughts (it makes me feel so sunshine-y) I can put across, but because of the reading of other peoples' writing and sharing of thoughts too. It all makes me so excited. I am always reading posts that make me think or smile or laugh or reflect and I simply want to write about a few I have loved this year!
THIS post, called "Fear", came straight to my mind when I thought of this post. This blogger summed up how I felt when I was thinking about starting my blog and how I felt when I did. They concluded their text in the post saying, "But here I am giving it a try" and hip-hip-hurrah to this! This post gave me butterflies and a want to belittle this fear we experience as much as I can.
Amanda's blog is one of my favourite blogs because I can rely on her for awesome book recommendations, I can see her different adventures life-wise and book-wise and other-wises, I can adore her lovely photography and become excited by her other colourful posts. Her blog is sunshine to me. THIS post is one which struck me as particularly wonderful when thinking of her blog and how it should be mentioned in this post. It's about how to stay organised with blogging, and simply put: she's right! It was posted at a time where I wasn't attempting or being organised with my blog and it set out exactly what I should be doing.
There is nothing more exciting for me than talking about books. Especially favourite books of mine. One of my awesome blogger friends, Simona, read and reviewed The Fault In Our Stars HERE. As this is one of my favourite books in the whole world, I was delighted to see this review, and enjoyed her view of it. I feel like reading other people's views on books can be a friendly conversation simply because we're sharing a love of the same book, even if we are not talking about it!
Giovanna Fletcher's blog has brought me a lot of joy and thoughts this year. What I have particularly loved about her posts is the homeliness they make me feel. I enjoy following her life, seeing pictures and reading her wise words. One post that is stuck in my mind is THIS one. It portrays this message that lights up my heart with warmth: "My external self will change, it's a fact we'll all have to face at some point, but what's outside will never define me."
Please feel free to leave some links below to your favourite pots of 2014! I would love to read them!
Chocolate Selection Boxes & Lemonade,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
THIS post, called "Fear", came straight to my mind when I thought of this post. This blogger summed up how I felt when I was thinking about starting my blog and how I felt when I did. They concluded their text in the post saying, "But here I am giving it a try" and hip-hip-hurrah to this! This post gave me butterflies and a want to belittle this fear we experience as much as I can.
Amanda's blog is one of my favourite blogs because I can rely on her for awesome book recommendations, I can see her different adventures life-wise and book-wise and other-wises, I can adore her lovely photography and become excited by her other colourful posts. Her blog is sunshine to me. THIS post is one which struck me as particularly wonderful when thinking of her blog and how it should be mentioned in this post. It's about how to stay organised with blogging, and simply put: she's right! It was posted at a time where I wasn't attempting or being organised with my blog and it set out exactly what I should be doing.
There is nothing more exciting for me than talking about books. Especially favourite books of mine. One of my awesome blogger friends, Simona, read and reviewed The Fault In Our Stars HERE. As this is one of my favourite books in the whole world, I was delighted to see this review, and enjoyed her view of it. I feel like reading other people's views on books can be a friendly conversation simply because we're sharing a love of the same book, even if we are not talking about it!
Giovanna Fletcher's blog has brought me a lot of joy and thoughts this year. What I have particularly loved about her posts is the homeliness they make me feel. I enjoy following her life, seeing pictures and reading her wise words. One post that is stuck in my mind is THIS one. It portrays this message that lights up my heart with warmth: "My external self will change, it's a fact we'll all have to face at some point, but what's outside will never define me."
Please feel free to leave some links below to your favourite pots of 2014! I would love to read them!
Chocolate Selection Boxes & Lemonade,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Monday, 29 December 2014
My Favourite Books: 2014
These kind of posts are hard for someone who claims a lot of book are their "favourite." Yes, I am one of those. Today I want to round up my favourite books of 2014. This is going to be seriously difficult as I consider more than the books below my favourite books of 2014 but I decided I would talk about my top five, and so, here we are!
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Pages into this novel and I knew this would become one of my favourite books for the rest of my life. About a travelling circus, this book is filled with magic and darkness, and a dangerous but beautiful love story. It's a gorgeously descriptive novel with sentences that simply made me feel magic.
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
The Book Thief is a novel that I feel warm when I think about it. I learnt a lot from this novel; about a girl who steals books, the warmth a Jewish man in hiding brings to a family, and the concept of death, The Book Thief is awesome. It's a very unique book, with quirky ways of adding detail and a narration that makes me feel both haunted and comforted.
Thirteen Weddings by Paige Toon
To use the word "adore" to explain my love for Thirteen Weddings simply doesn't cover how excited I get thinking about this novel. Bronte is the protagonist of this novel; a very strong and admirable but endearingly vulnerable character. All I wanted for this lady was to find the path she felt was most sunshine-y. I more-than-adore this novel.
How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran
"Ahhhh, this book!", I want to sing when trying to describe it. It. Is. Wonderful. About feminism, How To Be A Woman is incredibly funny, honest and eye-opening. Finally, it seems to be becoming more and more acceptable (although it should simply be common sense) to be a "feminist", and this book is my first port of call as to why.
You're The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher
I couldn't wait for Giovanna Fletcher's next novel after reading Billy and Me. When You're The One That I Want kept me company in May I was so excited by its endearing presence. About three best friends and their two different love stories, it's not a clear-cut novel. I love it. It opened my eyes a lot and made me question a lot. It is a very sweet novel.
What have your favourite novels been this year?
Winnie-the-Pooh & Piglet,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Pages into this novel and I knew this would become one of my favourite books for the rest of my life. About a travelling circus, this book is filled with magic and darkness, and a dangerous but beautiful love story. It's a gorgeously descriptive novel with sentences that simply made me feel magic.
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
The Book Thief is a novel that I feel warm when I think about it. I learnt a lot from this novel; about a girl who steals books, the warmth a Jewish man in hiding brings to a family, and the concept of death, The Book Thief is awesome. It's a very unique book, with quirky ways of adding detail and a narration that makes me feel both haunted and comforted.
Thirteen Weddings by Paige Toon
To use the word "adore" to explain my love for Thirteen Weddings simply doesn't cover how excited I get thinking about this novel. Bronte is the protagonist of this novel; a very strong and admirable but endearingly vulnerable character. All I wanted for this lady was to find the path she felt was most sunshine-y. I more-than-adore this novel.
How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran
"Ahhhh, this book!", I want to sing when trying to describe it. It. Is. Wonderful. About feminism, How To Be A Woman is incredibly funny, honest and eye-opening. Finally, it seems to be becoming more and more acceptable (although it should simply be common sense) to be a "feminist", and this book is my first port of call as to why.
You're The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher
I couldn't wait for Giovanna Fletcher's next novel after reading Billy and Me. When You're The One That I Want kept me company in May I was so excited by its endearing presence. About three best friends and their two different love stories, it's not a clear-cut novel. I love it. It opened my eyes a lot and made me question a lot. It is a very sweet novel.
What have your favourite novels been this year?
Winnie-the-Pooh & Piglet,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Sunday, 28 December 2014
Carrie Says | 2014
One of my New Year's Resolutions of 2014 was a reading challenge. Explained in more detail HERE, "Carrie Says" is my blogging series focussed around books that Carrie Hope Fletcher has recommended in her videos. I have, so far, read four of these books and I have ADORED them. To round off Carrie Says in 2014, I thought I would dedicate a post to them!
I will link my reviews to each of the books below:
1) An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell
2) Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
3) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
4) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
One of the main reasons I have adored my Carrie Says series is because all four of the books I have read so far have become some of my favourite books of all time. An Offer You Can't Refuse is one of my favourite sunshine-y, heart-warming books and Stargirl is my favourite little book full of exciting meaning, The Night Circus is so gorgeously unique I know I will read it many more times, making it my favourite magic book alongside the Harry Potter series, and The Book Thief is my favourite war-time novel. I hold each of these books very tightly to my heart everyday (metaphorically and sometimes literally!).
When I set up this series for myself, I promised myself that I would put no pressure on it. And I haven't! The second half of this year has brought no Carrie Says posts and I haven't made that a "thing" in my mind. Reading is one of my favourite hobbies and an activity that brings me only excitement and happiness so I love buying books specifically for this series because it brings an extra burst of anticipation as they are based on recommendations (whereas I normally buy a book because I've been driven to by my own excitement).
Carrie Says has meant I have opened my eyes to different kinds of books. Although I, before, enjoyed reading books that weren't by my favourite authors (all I used to do was become attached to one author and then read all of their books only!), Carrie Says has meant I have been always reading a different genre of book. It has, in turn, lead me to finding other different genres and changed my perspective when book-browsing and buying!
Below, because I am deliriously excited, are a few books that are already waiting for my 2015 Carrie Says adventure, while my mind is excitingly listing others I plan on reading for Carrie Says next year!
I am so excited for each of these books: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom and One Day by David Nicholls. I am quite far into Happily Ever After by Harriet Evans and I am loving it. I am feeling very "asdfghjkl" about reading these and the rest of the books recommended by Carrie Hope Fletcher for my series. I can't wait.
Favourite & New Books,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
I will link my reviews to each of the books below:
1) An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell
2) Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
3) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
4) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
One of the main reasons I have adored my Carrie Says series is because all four of the books I have read so far have become some of my favourite books of all time. An Offer You Can't Refuse is one of my favourite sunshine-y, heart-warming books and Stargirl is my favourite little book full of exciting meaning, The Night Circus is so gorgeously unique I know I will read it many more times, making it my favourite magic book alongside the Harry Potter series, and The Book Thief is my favourite war-time novel. I hold each of these books very tightly to my heart everyday (metaphorically and sometimes literally!).
When I set up this series for myself, I promised myself that I would put no pressure on it. And I haven't! The second half of this year has brought no Carrie Says posts and I haven't made that a "thing" in my mind. Reading is one of my favourite hobbies and an activity that brings me only excitement and happiness so I love buying books specifically for this series because it brings an extra burst of anticipation as they are based on recommendations (whereas I normally buy a book because I've been driven to by my own excitement).
Carrie Says has meant I have opened my eyes to different kinds of books. Although I, before, enjoyed reading books that weren't by my favourite authors (all I used to do was become attached to one author and then read all of their books only!), Carrie Says has meant I have been always reading a different genre of book. It has, in turn, lead me to finding other different genres and changed my perspective when book-browsing and buying!
Below, because I am deliriously excited, are a few books that are already waiting for my 2015 Carrie Says adventure, while my mind is excitingly listing others I plan on reading for Carrie Says next year!
I am so excited for each of these books: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom and One Day by David Nicholls. I am quite far into Happily Ever After by Harriet Evans and I am loving it. I am feeling very "asdfghjkl" about reading these and the rest of the books recommended by Carrie Hope Fletcher for my series. I can't wait.
Favourite & New Books,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Saturday, 27 December 2014
A Little Blog of Stories | Part Two, 2014
Yesterday I posted THIS post about each of the short stories I posted in the first six months of 2014. This post is dedicated to the last six months of story-posting in 2014. Welcome to my story-writing adventures.
July
I will briefly talk about the short stories I posted in July as it seemed to be the month of the short stories. The first was When She Reads. I wanted to write a story about the escapism involved with reading and the willingness to open up a tin of feelings that comes with reading too. So I tried! I also posted A Summer Story about a summer love. I posted the next part to my January story (HERE), Too Many Words, Too Little Time. I really felt I got know the characters better in this story; it made me very excited to carry it on. Lift and Fall was the fourth and final story of July. I knew I wanted to write a story involving running, but I didn't know where I was going with this story until I sat and wrote it; I didn't think... I just hoped for the best!
August
In August I posted my short story, The Box. Simply put, I wanted to to portray that "don't judge a book by the cover" lesson. About a plain box, I wanted to show how something can be seen as gorgeously important because of the memories it holds.
September
I posted a story called Pops in September. Following on from my story, The Chrysanthemum, I wanted to show how everyone viewed the man who is the protagonist in The Chrysanthemum.
October
Well, This is New, is a very short story. It's a bit of a vulnerable one.
November
November 5th was my November story. It's about living for the day, and treasuring moments all the time and the painfulness of hindsight.
December
Following on from July's story, Too Many Words, Too Little Time, came the first part to my Christmas story (which will be carried on next December) about Freddy and Amanda. A Christmas Star, so far sets up Freddy's life a little since the night he and Amanda became close. They are two of my favourite characters and I adore them a lot; I just can't let them go.
I hope this post isn't coming across as a CLICKONALLOFTHELINKS kind of post- it's simply a round up of my works this year!
New CDs & Books,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
July
I will briefly talk about the short stories I posted in July as it seemed to be the month of the short stories. The first was When She Reads. I wanted to write a story about the escapism involved with reading and the willingness to open up a tin of feelings that comes with reading too. So I tried! I also posted A Summer Story about a summer love. I posted the next part to my January story (HERE), Too Many Words, Too Little Time. I really felt I got know the characters better in this story; it made me very excited to carry it on. Lift and Fall was the fourth and final story of July. I knew I wanted to write a story involving running, but I didn't know where I was going with this story until I sat and wrote it; I didn't think... I just hoped for the best!
August
In August I posted my short story, The Box. Simply put, I wanted to to portray that "don't judge a book by the cover" lesson. About a plain box, I wanted to show how something can be seen as gorgeously important because of the memories it holds.
September
I posted a story called Pops in September. Following on from my story, The Chrysanthemum, I wanted to show how everyone viewed the man who is the protagonist in The Chrysanthemum.
October
Well, This is New, is a very short story. It's a bit of a vulnerable one.
November
November 5th was my November story. It's about living for the day, and treasuring moments all the time and the painfulness of hindsight.
December
Following on from July's story, Too Many Words, Too Little Time, came the first part to my Christmas story (which will be carried on next December) about Freddy and Amanda. A Christmas Star, so far sets up Freddy's life a little since the night he and Amanda became close. They are two of my favourite characters and I adore them a lot; I just can't let them go.
I hope this post isn't coming across as a CLICKONALLOFTHELINKS kind of post- it's simply a round up of my works this year!
New CDs & Books,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Friday, 26 December 2014
A Little Blog of Stories | Part One, 2014
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!
2014 for The Girl in the Moonlight was the year of the short stories. I made it one of my aims of 2014 to post a short story a month. *Grins.* I succeeded! I wanted to dedicate two blog posts to it (the first six months today and the last six months tomorrow!), because they have been my favourite posts to write! I hope it doesn't seem self-absorbed to talk about my own pieces. I am simply writing this for myself, and for anyone who may be interested.
January
In January of this year I posted my short story, The Freedom of Solace. I have quite the attachment to this story, which has meant carrying it on throughout the year. I adored writing this because I get into the head of a quiet, thoughtful and awesome guy- of which there are many in the un-fictional world. Freddy is one who is more than comfortable with his own company; yet there is something haunting him too. I like this story (and the ones that have followed) because he's a modest type; one of my favourite characters.
February
It Will Be Over Soon was my February short story, It is from the point of view of three different characters: Jasmine, Sophie and Jack. All suffering from a little heartache on Valentine's Day, they find a little warmth from each other; a little salvation. I enjoyed writing this story because it felt hopeful.
March
I think March brings my favourite story I wrote this year. The Chrysanthemum made me 100% lose myself in Oliver's story. I may be trying a little too hard to be pretentious with symbols and whatnot but I enjoyed formulating each sentence in this piece.
April
A Refusal of Rain was April's short story. I simply wanted to focus a story around a beach... So I did!
May
I wrote a short story about the frustrating pressures that can be attached to gay people when it is a circumstance where they are realising that they are gay, as well as the stereotypes that simply shouldn't exist. One Minute Past Nine is a short story I wrote to portray injustice.
June
June was where I wrote In That Moment, a story to make me feel a little tingly and see sweetness. It's one of my favourites because it's simple. I may have been pretentious with words, but I wanted to portray a particular, happy feeling. Delicate, but pretty.
This may seem like a post where I am simply wanting you to click links. However, I merely want to gather one place to sum up my attempt at creativeness of 2014. Tomorrow I will be posting the second part to this. I have enjoyed writing these stories a huge amount.
Pink & Yellow,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
2014 for The Girl in the Moonlight was the year of the short stories. I made it one of my aims of 2014 to post a short story a month. *Grins.* I succeeded! I wanted to dedicate two blog posts to it (the first six months today and the last six months tomorrow!), because they have been my favourite posts to write! I hope it doesn't seem self-absorbed to talk about my own pieces. I am simply writing this for myself, and for anyone who may be interested.
January
In January of this year I posted my short story, The Freedom of Solace. I have quite the attachment to this story, which has meant carrying it on throughout the year. I adored writing this because I get into the head of a quiet, thoughtful and awesome guy- of which there are many in the un-fictional world. Freddy is one who is more than comfortable with his own company; yet there is something haunting him too. I like this story (and the ones that have followed) because he's a modest type; one of my favourite characters.
February
It Will Be Over Soon was my February short story, It is from the point of view of three different characters: Jasmine, Sophie and Jack. All suffering from a little heartache on Valentine's Day, they find a little warmth from each other; a little salvation. I enjoyed writing this story because it felt hopeful.
March
I think March brings my favourite story I wrote this year. The Chrysanthemum made me 100% lose myself in Oliver's story. I may be trying a little too hard to be pretentious with symbols and whatnot but I enjoyed formulating each sentence in this piece.
April
A Refusal of Rain was April's short story. I simply wanted to focus a story around a beach... So I did!
May
I wrote a short story about the frustrating pressures that can be attached to gay people when it is a circumstance where they are realising that they are gay, as well as the stereotypes that simply shouldn't exist. One Minute Past Nine is a short story I wrote to portray injustice.
June
June was where I wrote In That Moment, a story to make me feel a little tingly and see sweetness. It's one of my favourites because it's simple. I may have been pretentious with words, but I wanted to portray a particular, happy feeling. Delicate, but pretty.
This may seem like a post where I am simply wanting you to click links. However, I merely want to gather one place to sum up my attempt at creativeness of 2014. Tomorrow I will be posting the second part to this. I have enjoyed writing these stories a huge amount.
Pink & Yellow,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Wednesday, 24 December 2014
A Bit of Christmassy Chatter | 2014
IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE.
With my Christmas tree sparkling nearby, finished advent calendars on the wall, I can almost see Christmas Day. I am feeling rather festive-y indeed.
I'm going to start off this post by discussing Blogmas, and, well, my failure. I kept promising to get it back on track, and, well, I didn't. It's frustrating because I was so excited and determined and bursting with ideas. It simply didn't happen. I'm going to transfer my ideas to next year. Therefore I will be finishing THIS Christmas story next year and I will restart a new Santa's Reading Sack challenge next year, where I will read and review a certain number of Christmas novels. All the same, I have enjoyed posting quite frequently!
However, it is Christmastime, so I shall not be glum.
I have a lovely Christmas Eve ahead of me; a day I can't wait to enjoy. It makes me very thankful.
I've been home for about two weeks and it's been awesome. I've eaten a lot of Christmassy treats, bought presents, wrapped them excitedly and been excited for every day.
I hope everyone reading this (and everyone else!) has a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous new year.
Merry Christmas Eve!
Warmth & Sparkles,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
With my Christmas tree sparkling nearby, finished advent calendars on the wall, I can almost see Christmas Day. I am feeling rather festive-y indeed.
I'm going to start off this post by discussing Blogmas, and, well, my failure. I kept promising to get it back on track, and, well, I didn't. It's frustrating because I was so excited and determined and bursting with ideas. It simply didn't happen. I'm going to transfer my ideas to next year. Therefore I will be finishing THIS Christmas story next year and I will restart a new Santa's Reading Sack challenge next year, where I will read and review a certain number of Christmas novels. All the same, I have enjoyed posting quite frequently!
However, it is Christmastime, so I shall not be glum.
I have a lovely Christmas Eve ahead of me; a day I can't wait to enjoy. It makes me very thankful.
I've been home for about two weeks and it's been awesome. I've eaten a lot of Christmassy treats, bought presents, wrapped them excitedly and been excited for every day.
I hope everyone reading this (and everyone else!) has a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous new year.
Merry Christmas Eve!
Warmth & Sparkles,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Santa's Reading Sack | Let It Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson
As a part of my (failed) Blogmas I decided to read three Christmas books. I have only read two (this Blogmas really has gone wrong) but I have finished the gorgeous Let It Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson. I ADORED it.
Let It Snow is a Christmas novel focussed around three different Christmas love stories.
Maureen Johnson writes the first section. Jubilee, after a few complications to her Christmas, is on a train on Christmas Eve. Only, because of a horrendous storm, the train is stranded and Jubilee finds herself with a bunch of strangers, no way to get the Christmas she was travelling to, and hours until December 25th. A Noah and a Stuart are involved, as well as a heart-warming ending to it all.
The second story, written by John Green, follows a group of best friends on a journey to reach a Waffle house crowded with cheerleaders that were on the same train as Jubilee. In a midst of all of this, feelings are emphasised and my heart begins to glow with snow and excitement.
Laureen Myracle writes the third story. Jeb and Addie are no longer together. Reminiscing about the Christmas before, Addie's regret is an obvious feeling throughout the story. Only, she learns through friends that maybe this Christmas is one for changing; one for becoming less self-absorbed.
The stories interlink in a gorgeously lovely way that left me feeling very tingly and teary as I closed the novel. It has set me up very well for Christmas.
The novel, as a whole, teaches Christmas magic and hope and a lot of feeling.
Shortbread & Tea,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Let It Snow is a Christmas novel focussed around three different Christmas love stories.
Maureen Johnson writes the first section. Jubilee, after a few complications to her Christmas, is on a train on Christmas Eve. Only, because of a horrendous storm, the train is stranded and Jubilee finds herself with a bunch of strangers, no way to get the Christmas she was travelling to, and hours until December 25th. A Noah and a Stuart are involved, as well as a heart-warming ending to it all.
The second story, written by John Green, follows a group of best friends on a journey to reach a Waffle house crowded with cheerleaders that were on the same train as Jubilee. In a midst of all of this, feelings are emphasised and my heart begins to glow with snow and excitement.
Laureen Myracle writes the third story. Jeb and Addie are no longer together. Reminiscing about the Christmas before, Addie's regret is an obvious feeling throughout the story. Only, she learns through friends that maybe this Christmas is one for changing; one for becoming less self-absorbed.
The stories interlink in a gorgeously lovely way that left me feeling very tingly and teary as I closed the novel. It has set me up very well for Christmas.
The novel, as a whole, teaches Christmas magic and hope and a lot of feeling.
Shortbread & Tea,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Friday, 19 December 2014
Blogmas Confession Time
*Breathes steadily and closes eyes. Opens them again.*
*Stands up.*
My Blogmas has not been going to plan.
I have been a type of busy that has meant a lack of writing and a neglected, sad blog!
Simply put, I've kind of sucked at Blogmas this year. Last year, I made time and made it happen. This year, not so much.
I've missed a fair few days now and tried to make up for it by posting twice one day. Now I've missed two days in a row, but I'm still going to try and make it so I have posted 24 times before Christmas Day. I am a little disappointed but I still plan on completing it- it all counts!
However, my plan to read three Christmas books and post reviews is not going swimmingly. I simply don't have the time. I will try and finish Let It Snow, but if not I will finish it as soon as possible after Blogmas, and doing a similar thing next year, whether that be for Christmas or just during the year.
I am wishing a lot of luck to myself right now!
Oh well- it's Christmas!
Fairies & Dreams,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
*Stands up.*
My Blogmas has not been going to plan.
I have been a type of busy that has meant a lack of writing and a neglected, sad blog!
Simply put, I've kind of sucked at Blogmas this year. Last year, I made time and made it happen. This year, not so much.
I've missed a fair few days now and tried to make up for it by posting twice one day. Now I've missed two days in a row, but I'm still going to try and make it so I have posted 24 times before Christmas Day. I am a little disappointed but I still plan on completing it- it all counts!
However, my plan to read three Christmas books and post reviews is not going swimmingly. I simply don't have the time. I will try and finish Let It Snow, but if not I will finish it as soon as possible after Blogmas, and doing a similar thing next year, whether that be for Christmas or just during the year.
I am wishing a lot of luck to myself right now!
Oh well- it's Christmas!
Fairies & Dreams,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
A Few December Loves
As a one off for Blogmas, I thought I would write a favourites post seen as I have been enjoying a lot in December!
Firstly, I must talk about McBusted's album. It came at a time when I needed it. I didn't have long until I was home for Christmas and I was really wanting to be home then. McBusted, the album thoroughly cheered me up. Good and proper. The album is uplifting, fun and exciting. It's everything I wanted it to be. Picking my favourite songs is really hard because I genuinely adore each track, but the ones I have played the most are Hate Your Guts (featuring Mark Hoppus), Sensitive Guy, Beautiful Girls Are the Loneliest, Back In Time and I See Red. It's a lively, fun and sweet album.
Recently, I went to the cinema to see the final (*wipes a tear away*) installment of The Hobbit, The Battle of the Five Armies. Very gripping, the film was the definition of "action-packed" with many traces of emotion. It was awesome. I liked that I felt that it wasn't focussed particularly on one character but it also rounded up Bilbo Baggins's story very neatly.
I have been more than enjoying Mr. Kipling's Frosted Fancies. The month of December has brought me many packets and a lot of demolishing-food-sessions where I have a box full of snowy Christmas delights in front of me and half an hour later, they are all gone. Oops?
December has meant CHRISTMAS NOVELS! I have read Christmas with Billy and Me and it was a gorgeous book. I am currently half way through Let it Snow, which I hope I will be reviewing very soon before I start Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe. The novels have made me feel very Christmassy, warm and in love with words.
What have you been enjoying so far this month?
Cakes & Books,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. Yesterday's Blogmas post is HERE!
Firstly, I must talk about McBusted's album. It came at a time when I needed it. I didn't have long until I was home for Christmas and I was really wanting to be home then. McBusted, the album thoroughly cheered me up. Good and proper. The album is uplifting, fun and exciting. It's everything I wanted it to be. Picking my favourite songs is really hard because I genuinely adore each track, but the ones I have played the most are Hate Your Guts (featuring Mark Hoppus), Sensitive Guy, Beautiful Girls Are the Loneliest, Back In Time and I See Red. It's a lively, fun and sweet album.
Recently, I went to the cinema to see the final (*wipes a tear away*) installment of The Hobbit, The Battle of the Five Armies. Very gripping, the film was the definition of "action-packed" with many traces of emotion. It was awesome. I liked that I felt that it wasn't focussed particularly on one character but it also rounded up Bilbo Baggins's story very neatly.
I have been more than enjoying Mr. Kipling's Frosted Fancies. The month of December has brought me many packets and a lot of demolishing-food-sessions where I have a box full of snowy Christmas delights in front of me and half an hour later, they are all gone. Oops?
December has meant CHRISTMAS NOVELS! I have read Christmas with Billy and Me and it was a gorgeous book. I am currently half way through Let it Snow, which I hope I will be reviewing very soon before I start Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe. The novels have made me feel very Christmassy, warm and in love with words.
What have you been enjoying so far this month?
Cakes & Books,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. Yesterday's Blogmas post is HERE!
Monday, 15 December 2014
Paper Towns - John Green
A thought has been lingering in my head for a while, but it hadn't reached the surface until I closed the book of Paper Towns and I let myself listen to the voice: To be in John Green's creative mind would be a wonderful place to be.
Quentin (Q) always adored Margo; Margo, the popular girl; the mysterious girl. The girl next door that isn't quite the girl next door you imagine.
After a night full of adventure with Margo, Q is more than confused when she isn't around anymore. In a trance of love and confusion, Q sets out to find her; the girl that no one can understand; the girl Q wants to understand.
Through using traces Margo seems to have left behind, Q becomes besotted with the idea; addicted to finding the girl he loves.
It's true that every John Green book is famous as a piece of art; Paper Towns is the novel I had been intrigued to read for a very long time. It, naturally, didn't disappoint.
Paper Towns is a melodic book; a book that made me think a lot. It made me wander about Margo's intentions and the force behind Q's actions. It made me think about friendship and love and all that is in between. I understood the craze created around Paper Towns straight away. I could use Paper Towns as a metaphor for everything awesome about books and literature and stories.
Paper Towns is awesome.
Maps & Road Trips,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day up until Christmas for Blogmas! You can read my most recent post HERE!
Quentin (Q) always adored Margo; Margo, the popular girl; the mysterious girl. The girl next door that isn't quite the girl next door you imagine.
After a night full of adventure with Margo, Q is more than confused when she isn't around anymore. In a trance of love and confusion, Q sets out to find her; the girl that no one can understand; the girl Q wants to understand.
Through using traces Margo seems to have left behind, Q becomes besotted with the idea; addicted to finding the girl he loves.
It's true that every John Green book is famous as a piece of art; Paper Towns is the novel I had been intrigued to read for a very long time. It, naturally, didn't disappoint.
Paper Towns is a melodic book; a book that made me think a lot. It made me wander about Margo's intentions and the force behind Q's actions. It made me think about friendship and love and all that is in between. I understood the craze created around Paper Towns straight away. I could use Paper Towns as a metaphor for everything awesome about books and literature and stories.
Paper Towns is awesome.
Maps & Road Trips,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day up until Christmas for Blogmas! You can read my most recent post HERE!
A Christmas Star | Part One
For Blogmas I am writing a four part Christmas story. Although this is the first part, I have written two other parts to Freddy and Amanda's story that you can read HERE and HERE! You are welcome to read my most recent Blogmas post HERE!
Part one
It's December 12th and Freddy is sat in a coffee shop, drifting into a gaze that would hold its focus on the starry Christmas tree outside of the window for a fair while.
Not much longer than half a year before Freddy had the best five hours of his life. Followed by the worst moment of his life. Followed by six months and twenty five days worth of regret.
It was the middle of May. A Saturday, Eight o'clock.
He stared at the front door that smiled before him and he tried to calm himself. He was nervous. Freddy was about to go on a date with Amanda. Amanda who shone under any lighting and whose eyes felt like a sunny afternoon when they looked at Freddy.
Freddy spent so much of the day worrying about making the night perfect that he hadn't considered how he should react when Amanda stood in front of him. Dressed in tights, a navy blue skirt and a white, flowery top, Amanda grinned at him, her auburn hair sparkling, her eyes twinkling like stars. "Hello," he managed.
The night was the kind of night you picture in films.
Since that evening, Freddy feared he would forget any detail. But he didn't. Then again, he didn't forget the five hours after going on a date with the girl he knew he would fall in love with.
If he was given the chance.
Freddy was very aware of Amanda beside him and how close their hands were and how she kept looking at him, trying to hold his eye contact. When he found it in him to catch her eyes, he found it difficult to keep them. His heart told him to stay, but it also told him to go. Nerves created the melody pumping round Freddy's body.
They spent two hours at an Italian restaurant. They fell easily into talking about university and summer. Amanda offered amusing stories about her family and her best friend, Nancy.
As they walked out of the restaurant, something inside of Freddy made his hand reach for Amanda's. At the feel of her fingers fitting into his, he sighed and with all of the nerves in him, locked eyes with Amanda and returned her smile.
It may sound like just a pleasant evening in words but the easy way they could talk allowed for Freddy to muster as they reached Amanda's door, "Do you fancy an ice cream?"
Amanda said yes.
Freddy knew a place that was open at ten o'clock. A small cafe with unique and bright bunting and decorations hanging from the ceiling. After ordering their dessert, Freddy and Amanda wandered down to the nearby beach, sitting on a hill overlooking the sea. Freddy enjoyed the juicy raspberry sauce mixing with the creamy ice cream, the warm night, and the magic transferring from Amanda's shoulder to his.
"You don't seem so sure about university," Amanda said, immediately seeming embarrassed. Freddy feared she thought she had overstepped the boundaries. Quickly he smiled easily with a nod. She relaxed.
Freddy tried hard to not give anything away. "It's just not my thing."
Amanda nodded, seeming to understand something. Although he wasn't sure what.
Freddy relaxed more and more as the night went on, and when a few more hours passed and they realised they were talking well into the early hours of the morning, Freddy's heart sunk at the thought of returning home and not laughing and joking with Amanda for a while longer.
Their hands had found each other some way through their talking and he rubbed his thumb over hers . Something intensified in the most wonderful way and Freddy turned. Amanda's eyes smiled back at his and he brought his hand to her cheek. She grinned a little and a small nod she nodded caused Freddy to experience something beautiful in his stomach; something that told him he was facing a girl he would adore to get to know even more; a girl he'd love to fall in love with. Slowly, keeping his eyes on hers, Freddy moved a little closer. As she closed her eyes, Freddy closed his and felt her lips reach his.
Now, as he heard children dream of a white Christmas, Freddy dreaded his Christmas. Him and his mother doing everything to ignore the festivity.
Very quickly Freddy remembered the horrifying moment five hours after Freddy picked up Amanda that May evening.
As Freddy walked Amanda home, a tranquil quiet fell upon them.
Only, it didn't last for long.
A piercing scream attacked the air and a chill shot through Freddy's body.
Before he could even think, Freddy ran, following the continuing scream.
Up against a wall Freddy saw what he dreaded: his mother, head in her hands, bruised arms exposed.
"Mum," he shouted, completely unaware of Amanda behind him. "Mum, what has he done?"
~
Snowmen & Songs,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Part one
It's December 12th and Freddy is sat in a coffee shop, drifting into a gaze that would hold its focus on the starry Christmas tree outside of the window for a fair while.
Not much longer than half a year before Freddy had the best five hours of his life. Followed by the worst moment of his life. Followed by six months and twenty five days worth of regret.
It was the middle of May. A Saturday, Eight o'clock.
He stared at the front door that smiled before him and he tried to calm himself. He was nervous. Freddy was about to go on a date with Amanda. Amanda who shone under any lighting and whose eyes felt like a sunny afternoon when they looked at Freddy.
Freddy spent so much of the day worrying about making the night perfect that he hadn't considered how he should react when Amanda stood in front of him. Dressed in tights, a navy blue skirt and a white, flowery top, Amanda grinned at him, her auburn hair sparkling, her eyes twinkling like stars. "Hello," he managed.
The night was the kind of night you picture in films.
Since that evening, Freddy feared he would forget any detail. But he didn't. Then again, he didn't forget the five hours after going on a date with the girl he knew he would fall in love with.
If he was given the chance.
Freddy was very aware of Amanda beside him and how close their hands were and how she kept looking at him, trying to hold his eye contact. When he found it in him to catch her eyes, he found it difficult to keep them. His heart told him to stay, but it also told him to go. Nerves created the melody pumping round Freddy's body.
They spent two hours at an Italian restaurant. They fell easily into talking about university and summer. Amanda offered amusing stories about her family and her best friend, Nancy.
As they walked out of the restaurant, something inside of Freddy made his hand reach for Amanda's. At the feel of her fingers fitting into his, he sighed and with all of the nerves in him, locked eyes with Amanda and returned her smile.
It may sound like just a pleasant evening in words but the easy way they could talk allowed for Freddy to muster as they reached Amanda's door, "Do you fancy an ice cream?"
Amanda said yes.
Freddy knew a place that was open at ten o'clock. A small cafe with unique and bright bunting and decorations hanging from the ceiling. After ordering their dessert, Freddy and Amanda wandered down to the nearby beach, sitting on a hill overlooking the sea. Freddy enjoyed the juicy raspberry sauce mixing with the creamy ice cream, the warm night, and the magic transferring from Amanda's shoulder to his.
"You don't seem so sure about university," Amanda said, immediately seeming embarrassed. Freddy feared she thought she had overstepped the boundaries. Quickly he smiled easily with a nod. She relaxed.
Freddy tried hard to not give anything away. "It's just not my thing."
Amanda nodded, seeming to understand something. Although he wasn't sure what.
Freddy relaxed more and more as the night went on, and when a few more hours passed and they realised they were talking well into the early hours of the morning, Freddy's heart sunk at the thought of returning home and not laughing and joking with Amanda for a while longer.
Their hands had found each other some way through their talking and he rubbed his thumb over hers . Something intensified in the most wonderful way and Freddy turned. Amanda's eyes smiled back at his and he brought his hand to her cheek. She grinned a little and a small nod she nodded caused Freddy to experience something beautiful in his stomach; something that told him he was facing a girl he would adore to get to know even more; a girl he'd love to fall in love with. Slowly, keeping his eyes on hers, Freddy moved a little closer. As she closed her eyes, Freddy closed his and felt her lips reach his.
Now, as he heard children dream of a white Christmas, Freddy dreaded his Christmas. Him and his mother doing everything to ignore the festivity.
Very quickly Freddy remembered the horrifying moment five hours after Freddy picked up Amanda that May evening.
As Freddy walked Amanda home, a tranquil quiet fell upon them.
Only, it didn't last for long.
A piercing scream attacked the air and a chill shot through Freddy's body.
Before he could even think, Freddy ran, following the continuing scream.
Up against a wall Freddy saw what he dreaded: his mother, head in her hands, bruised arms exposed.
"Mum," he shouted, completely unaware of Amanda behind him. "Mum, what has he done?"
~
Snowmen & Songs,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Sunday, 14 December 2014
A Little Writing Chat
I am just over half way through Blogmas and after missing out one day and posting twice on another day to make up for it, I have done it again. I had no time to publish a post yesterday and so I will be posting two tomorrow! I have a bunch of ideas for Blogmas but haven't had the time to be super prepared. I am going to try my very best to complete all of my tasks (reading and reviewing two more books before Christmas and posting a four-part Christmas story) but if I don't, I will forgive myself. Following my own advice in THIS post, as I haven't got time to create the post I wanted to post yesterday, I want to simply talk about writing!
Writing is one of those things that has always been a hobby of mine. For some kids it was football or dancing or singing, but the one hobby I had when I was younger and never dropped, was this: creating sentences to mold a bunch of sentences into a piece I wanted to see in front of me.
I love writing because, for me, it's unique. I create stories that I imagine in my head, sentences I haven't said aloud before and elaborate on a subject in one place; a subject I've not sat down and collected all of my thoughts about before.
I believe that we do all have a voice; a voice that's worth hearing. In any form. For me, writing-form is one I am most confident in using.
I suppose to be successful a professional writer must captivate others; I write (and I am sure professionals do too) to captivate myself.
I feel like I talk about the act of writing so much that I can't think of another way to put it (ironic, I suppose). For now I'll settle with the truth of it: I am in love with writing.
Films & Books,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. You can read my most recent post HERE!
Writing is one of those things that has always been a hobby of mine. For some kids it was football or dancing or singing, but the one hobby I had when I was younger and never dropped, was this: creating sentences to mold a bunch of sentences into a piece I wanted to see in front of me.
I love writing because, for me, it's unique. I create stories that I imagine in my head, sentences I haven't said aloud before and elaborate on a subject in one place; a subject I've not sat down and collected all of my thoughts about before.
I believe that we do all have a voice; a voice that's worth hearing. In any form. For me, writing-form is one I am most confident in using.
I suppose to be successful a professional writer must captivate others; I write (and I am sure professionals do too) to captivate myself.
I feel like I talk about the act of writing so much that I can't think of another way to put it (ironic, I suppose). For now I'll settle with the truth of it: I am in love with writing.
Films & Books,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. You can read my most recent post HERE!
Friday, 12 December 2014
Santa's Reading Sack | Christmas with Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher
As a part of Blogmas, I decided to read three Christmas novels and review them on the blogaroony! I started with Christmas with Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher, and the sweet burst of festive romance is enough to make me yell, "IT'S CHRISTMASSSSSSSS" at the top of my voice.
*Contains traces of spoiler about Billy and Me*
Billy and Me (which I reviewed HERE) is Giovanna's first novel. Billy and Me oozes magic and sweetness. Sophie, a homely girl working in a teashop, in a fairytale-like turn of events meets Billy; an adored actor. In Chrismtas with Billy and Me time passes to Christmas where Sophie and Billy are in love, and they are part of someone else's fairytale adventure. An anonymous romantic contacts Sophie hoping to use the teashop as a Christmassy, romantic setting for their proposal.
It is a gorgeous song of Christmas. I read it in one sitting with a thick jumper on and a tea by my side. It made me feel festive and all gooey inside. I adored having Sophie and Billy back in my life and to see the progression of them and the other characters since Billy and Me. It was lovely to see everything fitting together like a gorgeous patchwork quilt; a like to this sweet novella.
It's a book of Christmassy magic that will always make my heart smile warmly when I think of it.
Festive Posies & Mistletoe,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. HERE is yesterday's post!
*Contains traces of spoiler about Billy and Me*
Billy and Me (which I reviewed HERE) is Giovanna's first novel. Billy and Me oozes magic and sweetness. Sophie, a homely girl working in a teashop, in a fairytale-like turn of events meets Billy; an adored actor. In Chrismtas with Billy and Me time passes to Christmas where Sophie and Billy are in love, and they are part of someone else's fairytale adventure. An anonymous romantic contacts Sophie hoping to use the teashop as a Christmassy, romantic setting for their proposal.
It is a gorgeous song of Christmas. I read it in one sitting with a thick jumper on and a tea by my side. It made me feel festive and all gooey inside. I adored having Sophie and Billy back in my life and to see the progression of them and the other characters since Billy and Me. It was lovely to see everything fitting together like a gorgeous patchwork quilt; a like to this sweet novella.
It's a book of Christmassy magic that will always make my heart smile warmly when I think of it.
Festive Posies & Mistletoe,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. HERE is yesterday's post!
Thursday, 11 December 2014
The Magic of Christmas | 2014
Last year, for Blogmas, I wrote THIS post where I included a bunch of Christmas videos that very much put (and are putting) me in the Christmas mood. I am feeling incredibly festive-y and here are a bunch of videos that are exciting me a lot!
All of the above are making me feel very Christmassy! What's making you feel the festive gorgeousness?
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
A Hopeless Romantic Does Christmas
I am, as is well known to my blog, a hopeless romantic. I am one who gets sucked up into films and books and the love stories alongside them. Naturally, this attribute of me will shine through when watching the John Lewis Christmas advert.
I, for some reason, hadn't watched the John Lewis 2014 Christmas advert when it first came out. After watching it for the first time the other day, I can't think of much else.
*Contains traces of spoiler.*
The video involves Monty the Penguin and a boy. As they go about their lives like best friends, it is clear that Monty is taking part in the search for love. As he endures the sight of couples in love, Monty has dreamy eyes at the thought of finding his love. Aka he breaks a blogger's heart. As the video ends, it shows Monty's love being revealed under the Christmas tree.
I cried. I really teared up and let them fall down my cheek for the sake of Monty and his penguin-friend.
Whenever I think about it, it makes me think of Christmas and the music we listen to, the films we watch, and the books we read. We fall in love with love and everything it relates to.
What I adore about this video is the friendship and family values that are also portrayed. Christmas is also about appreciating those close to us, and that this boy (this is how I take it anyway!) wants Monty to have what he wants at Christmas, makes my festive heart sing very loudly.
Ultimately, Christmas enhances the values that we should always appreciate. We should feel promise from Christmas. Hope for what's to come. Appreciate everything we've got and know that the future will bring us happiness, despite sadness.
Penguins & Love,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
I, for some reason, hadn't watched the John Lewis 2014 Christmas advert when it first came out. After watching it for the first time the other day, I can't think of much else.
*Contains traces of spoiler.*
The video involves Monty the Penguin and a boy. As they go about their lives like best friends, it is clear that Monty is taking part in the search for love. As he endures the sight of couples in love, Monty has dreamy eyes at the thought of finding his love. Aka he breaks a blogger's heart. As the video ends, it shows Monty's love being revealed under the Christmas tree.
I cried. I really teared up and let them fall down my cheek for the sake of Monty and his penguin-friend.
Whenever I think about it, it makes me think of Christmas and the music we listen to, the films we watch, and the books we read. We fall in love with love and everything it relates to.
What I adore about this video is the friendship and family values that are also portrayed. Christmas is also about appreciating those close to us, and that this boy (this is how I take it anyway!) wants Monty to have what he wants at Christmas, makes my festive heart sing very loudly.
Ultimately, Christmas enhances the values that we should always appreciate. We should feel promise from Christmas. Hope for what's to come. Appreciate everything we've got and know that the future will bring us happiness, despite sadness.
Penguins & Love,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
DIY: Banish Blogger's Block
Since my last DIY post (you can read it HERE if you wish), I've been so excited to write another and as blogger's block can be such a frustrating experience, I thought I could share my tips on banishing it!
Blogger's block sucks.
It's as simple as that.
When I have blogger's block, I take myself away from Blogger and focus on something else. I don't ever want blogging to become a chore and so I know that when I need some space, like Rachel and Ross, I must take a break.
There is, however, a "but."
That "but" is this: What if my posts aren't up to the standard I am wanting and so I'm even more reluctant and unable to produce content? It has lead, in the past, to me, not sticking to my schedule... and I hate not sticking to my blogging schedule. It, in each circumstance, was needed, though, and I don't regret it. In the days I didn't post I wanted to find a way to get back into happy blogging. I have had similar occasions where, although I've not ignored my schedule, I've known I've needed some kind of inspiration to get my posts to the quality I wanted again. Today, I'm going to compile all of the subjects to write about that I've found useful to consider when I've been finding it difficult to write a post, either at all, or not to the standard I wish.This is a DIY post to my future blogger's blocked self.
♡ Take a picture or think of something simple ♡
I remember being out last year, while the sun accompanied a beautiful scene. As I sat I thought that somehow the whole situation would make a post I'd be proud of. So I took pictures of my surroundings and I wrote one of my favourite posts. I love writing about everyday, simple things. I often take pictures of the sky and write about it. Could you take a picture of some pebbles on a beach and write about a memory it reminds you of? That time you dropped your ice cream or when you spent a whole day with pebbles as your seat and the sea as your soundtrack. Could you take a picture of the sad sky outside your window and talk about a rainy experience that taught you something that now keeps you safe from the rain? Could you take a picture of your own hand or your kitchen cupboard or the pavement? Something simple might spark a million thoughts.
♡ Talk about something you love ♡
It could be a fandom you're in or a sport you play or something you know a lot about and enjoy. I adore writing about music I love and books I adore. Anything that is a way which I indulge myself in happiness with when I am just in my room or at home, is something I can write a blog-sized post about! I find my fingers typing as happily as my smile at the thought of McFly or superheroes or books. Talking about something I love means I always have thoughts flying around in my brain that can be formed into sentences to fill a blank page.
♡ Talk about it! ♡
I've simply spoken about any blogging ponderings when thinking of a subject to write about; these posts are some well-viewed posts, I have observed after posting- it makes me proud to have written them. A lot of bloggers can think about things wrong with their blog when there isn't actually anything wrong! I figure this out during my posts. It's not necessarily that I'm worried, but that I want to portray something about my blog without any readers having to figure it out- for example, in Writing Woes and Wonders I speak about how I sometimes want to be really honest about something a little more vulnerable than I am used to and I conclude that sometimes I will write things I may not say and in Who Is Your Blog? I make it clear that my blog has no niche- I write what I want!
Talk about any issues you're having! You're not alone.
♡ Talk about yourself ♡
Let's have some vanity on our blogs, please. After all, your blog, I imagine, is about you- even if it's not obvious! I simply talk about myself sometimes, since I do know a lot about the subject. Throw a few facts about yourself at the page, or talk about something about yourself that you like. Blogging can be very personal and I know I love getting to know bloggers that little bit more so why not!?
♡ Back to basics ♡
Write about your day! I've spoken many times about witnessing something I've seen or explaining my feelings in a day or an experience I experienced. Did something happen that made you smile? Did something happen that made you think? Or, has something stuck with you for a while now?
I've had a few random breaks from blogging out of need for revision and being too busy this year. Lately, I've had no excuse. Now I am very much back into the swing of it! Do you have any tips for the curse that is blogger's block? I would love to know as you can't have too many ways to cure it!
Warm Jumpers & Pyjama Bottoms,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day for Blogmas; you can check out yesterday's post HERE!
Blogger's block sucks.
It's as simple as that.
When I have blogger's block, I take myself away from Blogger and focus on something else. I don't ever want blogging to become a chore and so I know that when I need some space, like Rachel and Ross, I must take a break.
There is, however, a "but."
That "but" is this: What if my posts aren't up to the standard I am wanting and so I'm even more reluctant and unable to produce content? It has lead, in the past, to me, not sticking to my schedule... and I hate not sticking to my blogging schedule. It, in each circumstance, was needed, though, and I don't regret it. In the days I didn't post I wanted to find a way to get back into happy blogging. I have had similar occasions where, although I've not ignored my schedule, I've known I've needed some kind of inspiration to get my posts to the quality I wanted again. Today, I'm going to compile all of the subjects to write about that I've found useful to consider when I've been finding it difficult to write a post, either at all, or not to the standard I wish.This is a DIY post to my future blogger's blocked self.
♡ Take a picture or think of something simple ♡
I remember being out last year, while the sun accompanied a beautiful scene. As I sat I thought that somehow the whole situation would make a post I'd be proud of. So I took pictures of my surroundings and I wrote one of my favourite posts. I love writing about everyday, simple things. I often take pictures of the sky and write about it. Could you take a picture of some pebbles on a beach and write about a memory it reminds you of? That time you dropped your ice cream or when you spent a whole day with pebbles as your seat and the sea as your soundtrack. Could you take a picture of the sad sky outside your window and talk about a rainy experience that taught you something that now keeps you safe from the rain? Could you take a picture of your own hand or your kitchen cupboard or the pavement? Something simple might spark a million thoughts.
♡ Talk about something you love ♡
It could be a fandom you're in or a sport you play or something you know a lot about and enjoy. I adore writing about music I love and books I adore. Anything that is a way which I indulge myself in happiness with when I am just in my room or at home, is something I can write a blog-sized post about! I find my fingers typing as happily as my smile at the thought of McFly or superheroes or books. Talking about something I love means I always have thoughts flying around in my brain that can be formed into sentences to fill a blank page.
♡ Talk about it! ♡
I've simply spoken about any blogging ponderings when thinking of a subject to write about; these posts are some well-viewed posts, I have observed after posting- it makes me proud to have written them. A lot of bloggers can think about things wrong with their blog when there isn't actually anything wrong! I figure this out during my posts. It's not necessarily that I'm worried, but that I want to portray something about my blog without any readers having to figure it out- for example, in Writing Woes and Wonders I speak about how I sometimes want to be really honest about something a little more vulnerable than I am used to and I conclude that sometimes I will write things I may not say and in Who Is Your Blog? I make it clear that my blog has no niche- I write what I want!
Talk about any issues you're having! You're not alone.
Let's have some vanity on our blogs, please. After all, your blog, I imagine, is about you- even if it's not obvious! I simply talk about myself sometimes, since I do know a lot about the subject. Throw a few facts about yourself at the page, or talk about something about yourself that you like. Blogging can be very personal and I know I love getting to know bloggers that little bit more so why not!?
♡ Back to basics ♡
Write about your day! I've spoken many times about witnessing something I've seen or explaining my feelings in a day or an experience I experienced. Did something happen that made you smile? Did something happen that made you think? Or, has something stuck with you for a while now?
I've had a few random breaks from blogging out of need for revision and being too busy this year. Lately, I've had no excuse. Now I am very much back into the swing of it! Do you have any tips for the curse that is blogger's block? I would love to know as you can't have too many ways to cure it!
Warm Jumpers & Pyjama Bottoms,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day for Blogmas; you can check out yesterday's post HERE!
Monday, 8 December 2014
A Christmas Memory
Excitedly, I knock as quietly as possible on my brother's door.
Almost six hours before I had felt very awake, very full of Christmas cheer and anticipation, feeling as though I wouldn't ever fall asleep. As quickly as I had thought it I must have drifted off into festive dreams.
Now, five hours and fifty minutes later, I am standing at my brother's door. It's 05:17, and with my stocking in my hand, I'm not sure it's physically possible to wait any longer for Christmas to begin. The door finally clicks open and my brother tiredly grins, but his eyes say everything I want them to: IT'S CHRIIIIIIIIIIISTMAS.
We sit on his bedroom floor, our stocking presents swimming in Christmassy excitement. We don't open them; we simply look- inspect. It is rare when there isn't a minute where the words, "it's Christmas" are muttered.
We giggle as quietly as possible and I adore every moment.
We pack away our stockings and show each other the wrapped up gifts for the other sibling. Before we know it, it's six o'clock and our parents admit defeat and acknowledge our noise.
Simple, and the replica of a childish Christmas Day morning (that would be repeated every year afterwards), I feel the delicious Christmas magic create an endless smile on my face.
~
I am very aware that I am very lucky to have the awesome Christmases I have; the kind others miss out on.
Christmas is a time for acknowledging everything we have; everything we have to be grateful for. My family and friends are top on this list. We must not, as ever, forget those suffering; those without this picturesque Christmas.
I'd like to end this post with a few links to charities that would benefit from our love this Christmas:
* Alzheimer's Society
* Teenage Cancer Trust
* Together for Short Lives
Help others to create their gorgeous Christmas or raise the issue as you so can.
Good Thoughts & Smiles,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day up until Christmas for Blogmas! You can read yesterday's post HERE!
Almost six hours before I had felt very awake, very full of Christmas cheer and anticipation, feeling as though I wouldn't ever fall asleep. As quickly as I had thought it I must have drifted off into festive dreams.
Now, five hours and fifty minutes later, I am standing at my brother's door. It's 05:17, and with my stocking in my hand, I'm not sure it's physically possible to wait any longer for Christmas to begin. The door finally clicks open and my brother tiredly grins, but his eyes say everything I want them to: IT'S CHRIIIIIIIIIIISTMAS.
We sit on his bedroom floor, our stocking presents swimming in Christmassy excitement. We don't open them; we simply look- inspect. It is rare when there isn't a minute where the words, "it's Christmas" are muttered.
We giggle as quietly as possible and I adore every moment.
We pack away our stockings and show each other the wrapped up gifts for the other sibling. Before we know it, it's six o'clock and our parents admit defeat and acknowledge our noise.
Simple, and the replica of a childish Christmas Day morning (that would be repeated every year afterwards), I feel the delicious Christmas magic create an endless smile on my face.
~
I am very aware that I am very lucky to have the awesome Christmases I have; the kind others miss out on.
Christmas is a time for acknowledging everything we have; everything we have to be grateful for. My family and friends are top on this list. We must not, as ever, forget those suffering; those without this picturesque Christmas.
I'd like to end this post with a few links to charities that would benefit from our love this Christmas:
* Alzheimer's Society
* Teenage Cancer Trust
* Together for Short Lives
Help others to create their gorgeous Christmas or raise the issue as you so can.
Good Thoughts & Smiles,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day up until Christmas for Blogmas! You can read yesterday's post HERE!
Sunday, 7 December 2014
Loving Yourself
"We accept the love we think we deserve," - Stephen Chbosky
All too often the love that is accepted by one person is too little. Maybe none at all. We deserve to see and enjoy and accept the amount of love that we want to love; that we dream of deserving... Because we do deserve it. This same amount is an amount of love we should all create by ourselves. We really deserve to love ourselves.
Below is a video I adore. This post isn't simply appearance-related but it definitely can be related.
Although I understand, I wish I could rid the world of this thing where we drag ourselves down, insult ourselves and believe we're not the awesome people that we are.
I want to establish a conclusion now through an utterance stated in the video: "Our self-perceptions are generally, kind of harsh, and unbecoming... When really, that's not how the world sees us."
The way we view ourselves is too often derogatory and too focused on things we convince ourselves are true or a bigger deal than they are. Boys and girls, and men and women are all affected. We over analyse and over penalize.
The Dove video above shows an artist who cannot see the person in question. The person in question describes themselves and the artist draws this character. Another person describes this person in question and the artist draws this version. Whilst the person in question is overly critical, the other person (I hope you are following!) describes a more accurate version, as seen as a result in the drawings. The person in question creates an image (through the artist) of all of their bits and bobs (if you will) that they clearly don't like and overemphasize which evidentally does not to look like them. On the other hand, the other person portrays an image (could you say literally?) that is much more like the person themselves.
Self-perception, I believe, more often than not, needs to change. Let's love ourselves!
Personality-wise, the situation is upsettingly similar.
We're all something wonderful. We're kind or funny; sensitive or sweet; passionate or confident; loyal or adventurous. We're also a lot more. We're all a lot, and just because we're not some things, it doesn't make our other things insignificant. It makes them us.
I told someone the other day the things I liked about them. It wasn't a moment full of anything lovey-dovey or with intention, just a statement about their gorgeous personality, because they, like everyone, must firstly acknowledge their wonderful attributes and then love them. I told them I like how they don't pretend they're anything that they're not; that their honesty is refreshing; their kindness is exciting; their humour is tickling; their passion, their hard-working nature and their considering of others' feelings is admirable. More than anything, their nod is something I admire. They accepted that I view them like this because the sincerity was there. Maybe they don't believe it yet, but I will show them the way. Because they will.
A year or so ago, in both departments spoken about here (appearance and personality), I decided to positive (I'm making it a verb today) myself. I do like myself. I really do. And we all should. It's not arrogant to appreciate ourselves like we appreciate others, and like others appreciate us.
Let's all love ourselves please.
Smiley & Bright People,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day until Christmas for Blogmas. You can read yesterday's (it was posted today. I'm very sad about it so can we not dwell, please?) post HERE!
All too often the love that is accepted by one person is too little. Maybe none at all. We deserve to see and enjoy and accept the amount of love that we want to love; that we dream of deserving... Because we do deserve it. This same amount is an amount of love we should all create by ourselves. We really deserve to love ourselves.
Below is a video I adore. This post isn't simply appearance-related but it definitely can be related.
Although I understand, I wish I could rid the world of this thing where we drag ourselves down, insult ourselves and believe we're not the awesome people that we are.
I want to establish a conclusion now through an utterance stated in the video: "Our self-perceptions are generally, kind of harsh, and unbecoming... When really, that's not how the world sees us."
The way we view ourselves is too often derogatory and too focused on things we convince ourselves are true or a bigger deal than they are. Boys and girls, and men and women are all affected. We over analyse and over penalize.
The Dove video above shows an artist who cannot see the person in question. The person in question describes themselves and the artist draws this character. Another person describes this person in question and the artist draws this version. Whilst the person in question is overly critical, the other person (I hope you are following!) describes a more accurate version, as seen as a result in the drawings. The person in question creates an image (through the artist) of all of their bits and bobs (if you will) that they clearly don't like and overemphasize which evidentally does not to look like them. On the other hand, the other person portrays an image (could you say literally?) that is much more like the person themselves.
Self-perception, I believe, more often than not, needs to change. Let's love ourselves!
Personality-wise, the situation is upsettingly similar.
We're all something wonderful. We're kind or funny; sensitive or sweet; passionate or confident; loyal or adventurous. We're also a lot more. We're all a lot, and just because we're not some things, it doesn't make our other things insignificant. It makes them us.
I told someone the other day the things I liked about them. It wasn't a moment full of anything lovey-dovey or with intention, just a statement about their gorgeous personality, because they, like everyone, must firstly acknowledge their wonderful attributes and then love them. I told them I like how they don't pretend they're anything that they're not; that their honesty is refreshing; their kindness is exciting; their humour is tickling; their passion, their hard-working nature and their considering of others' feelings is admirable. More than anything, their nod is something I admire. They accepted that I view them like this because the sincerity was there. Maybe they don't believe it yet, but I will show them the way. Because they will.
A year or so ago, in both departments spoken about here (appearance and personality), I decided to positive (I'm making it a verb today) myself. I do like myself. I really do. And we all should. It's not arrogant to appreciate ourselves like we appreciate others, and like others appreciate us.
Let's all love ourselves please.
Smiley & Bright People,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day until Christmas for Blogmas. You can read yesterday's (it was posted today. I'm very sad about it so can we not dwell, please?) post HERE!
Progression
You know when you're given a task at school to reflect on a piece of work you've done? What's good about it and what needs improving. Sometimes, I think this should be applied to life. Today I want to focus on the progression I've made; the way I've progressed and the want to better myself all of the time.
I was thinking about my blog today; about its content and how it's changed since I started this blog last January. There are styles and ways of writing that I still use and types of posts that I still write. There are others I simply don't use or write anymore. In this way my blog has progressed and aged, if you like. Not in a bad way. I'm changing it because I'm improving it in my own way. I'm simply molding my blog into everything I want it to be. I really adore the place my blog is at right now. I adored my original way of blogging too. I will adore anything to come.
We progress too. Differently. With myself, I can easily see the ways I've changed over the last, for example, six years. I can also see how different parts of my personality that I feel have always been there and parts that I feel are new have contributed to my life in different ways. Some characteristics are gone now; tried and tested. Gone for a reason. Like, my fear of competing (I still get nervous but I can deal with it better- it helps that I have always wanted to quietly do really well!). More will go, as time goes by and I work on things I want to work on. Progression, ey.
I have really seen how I have progressed with running. I have always enjoyed it and liked to push myself, but my enjoyment for it has increased a lot; a lot like how much I'm pushing myself a bit more. I have more of a strategy to improve more quickly whilst being careful about it too. I love my runs and I can't wait to progress further.
Autumn is moving aside for winter and as it does so, I'm excited to continue progressing the 2014 me until 2015 arrives and I progress into the me that will change slightly over the course of 2015. While I hope I improve myself, I think it is crucial to appreciate my current self- addressed in the next post of Blogmas! You can read my last Blogmas post HERE!
Photos & Noticeboards,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
I was thinking about my blog today; about its content and how it's changed since I started this blog last January. There are styles and ways of writing that I still use and types of posts that I still write. There are others I simply don't use or write anymore. In this way my blog has progressed and aged, if you like. Not in a bad way. I'm changing it because I'm improving it in my own way. I'm simply molding my blog into everything I want it to be. I really adore the place my blog is at right now. I adored my original way of blogging too. I will adore anything to come.
We progress too. Differently. With myself, I can easily see the ways I've changed over the last, for example, six years. I can also see how different parts of my personality that I feel have always been there and parts that I feel are new have contributed to my life in different ways. Some characteristics are gone now; tried and tested. Gone for a reason. Like, my fear of competing (I still get nervous but I can deal with it better- it helps that I have always wanted to quietly do really well!). More will go, as time goes by and I work on things I want to work on. Progression, ey.
I have really seen how I have progressed with running. I have always enjoyed it and liked to push myself, but my enjoyment for it has increased a lot; a lot like how much I'm pushing myself a bit more. I have more of a strategy to improve more quickly whilst being careful about it too. I love my runs and I can't wait to progress further.
Autumn is moving aside for winter and as it does so, I'm excited to continue progressing the 2014 me until 2015 arrives and I progress into the me that will change slightly over the course of 2015. While I hope I improve myself, I think it is crucial to appreciate my current self- addressed in the next post of Blogmas! You can read my last Blogmas post HERE!
Photos & Noticeboards,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Friday, 5 December 2014
Butterflies
Swooping and swimming; singing and dancing; chatting and giggling.
Butterflies are a feeling that, as a child, I didn't particularly like most of the time. I mostly felt them when I was really nervous. When I was competing in competitions or when I was scared. They felt intrusive and they would start of a flurry of unwanted thoughts. It would mean a really sudden fearing child, thinking the worst.
Since, I have felt the gorgeous side of butterflies and the want to feel them. When I succeed in something; when I'm proud; when I'm surrounded by people I'm closest with; when I want a moment to last for ever but know there will be many more butterfly-inducing moments to come. An endless list of happy situations where I feel warmth and not seclusion from the delicately happy metaphors in my stomach.
This summer was one I will never forget. Full of happiness and full of butterflies, I appreciated the butterflies that were caused by anticipation; the butterflies that were caused by good company; the butterflies that were caused by a lot of contentment. I could never resent them now.
Without knowing whether her footsteps are ones part of a nightmare, she listens out to know she is still breathing. Her stomach on fire with nerves, her eyes forget to blink. Steadying her posture, she looks forward and hopes for the best.
* * *
Remembering every detail so that when she tells the story again, every picturesque feeling is replicated in word-form, her eyes glisten at the night. Her stomach alive with firework-like tranquility, her eyes cannot look away. Her hands enjoy the melody; the harmony; the chorus of butterflies in her stomach. Steadying her heart, she nods in happy anticipation.
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I'm blogging every day up until Christmas for Blogmas and you can read yesterday's post HERE!
Butterflies are a feeling that, as a child, I didn't particularly like most of the time. I mostly felt them when I was really nervous. When I was competing in competitions or when I was scared. They felt intrusive and they would start of a flurry of unwanted thoughts. It would mean a really sudden fearing child, thinking the worst.
Since, I have felt the gorgeous side of butterflies and the want to feel them. When I succeed in something; when I'm proud; when I'm surrounded by people I'm closest with; when I want a moment to last for ever but know there will be many more butterfly-inducing moments to come. An endless list of happy situations where I feel warmth and not seclusion from the delicately happy metaphors in my stomach.
This summer was one I will never forget. Full of happiness and full of butterflies, I appreciated the butterflies that were caused by anticipation; the butterflies that were caused by good company; the butterflies that were caused by a lot of contentment. I could never resent them now.
~ ♡ ~
* * *
Remembering every detail so that when she tells the story again, every picturesque feeling is replicated in word-form, her eyes glisten at the night. Her stomach alive with firework-like tranquility, her eyes cannot look away. Her hands enjoy the melody; the harmony; the chorus of butterflies in her stomach. Steadying her heart, she nods in happy anticipation.
~ ♡ ~
Days Out & Songs,The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I'm blogging every day up until Christmas for Blogmas and you can read yesterday's post HERE!
Thursday, 4 December 2014
It's Kind of a Long Story | Chapter 4
I have been writing my own novel. It's an endeavor I am musing only for me as I have always dreamed of writing my own story. One day it clicked that, why shouldn't I write my own story? Nothing's stopping me!
Recently, for a reason I honestly can't explain, my writing of every kind had virtually stopped. It's not because I have writer's block or a lack of desire to write, or even a lack of time. I just haven't been doing it. I have been getting back into the swing of blogging, and with this, I want to really start to push forward with my novel. To inspire me, I have decided to create a plan of when to write for my novel. I want it to be a loose outline so I can not worry if I don't meet a target (I am writing this book for me, after all!), but I can, of course, write more if I wish! As a result of this, I thought I would share my plan with you!
A week's novel-writing schedule
♥ One hour novel-writing-session where I build up the creation of my characters
♥ Three hours planning for my novel
♥ One hour of writing 1,000 words (whether that be mere ideas or sections or whatever)
♥ A read over all of my little ideas here and there each week
I really plan on sticking to this, with the hope of making a lot more time to indulge myself in my own little novel.
Bunting & Daisies,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day for Blogmas and you can read yesterday's post HERE!
Recently, for a reason I honestly can't explain, my writing of every kind had virtually stopped. It's not because I have writer's block or a lack of desire to write, or even a lack of time. I just haven't been doing it. I have been getting back into the swing of blogging, and with this, I want to really start to push forward with my novel. To inspire me, I have decided to create a plan of when to write for my novel. I want it to be a loose outline so I can not worry if I don't meet a target (I am writing this book for me, after all!), but I can, of course, write more if I wish! As a result of this, I thought I would share my plan with you!
A week's novel-writing schedule
♥ One hour novel-writing-session where I build up the creation of my characters
♥ Three hours planning for my novel
♥ One hour of writing 1,000 words (whether that be mere ideas or sections or whatever)
♥ A read over all of my little ideas here and there each week
I really plan on sticking to this, with the hope of making a lot more time to indulge myself in my own little novel.
Bunting & Daisies,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day for Blogmas and you can read yesterday's post HERE!
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
I Missed My Train
It's seven twenty and I'm cold and my shoes are sodden. I'm hungry and tired, but more than that, I'm excited. So I deal with all of the attributes with class (I trip over my own foot and my open bag is dropped on he floor; its chocolatey and sugary contents peeking out of the top. But that's okay. You're okay. You're still alive. You're about to get on the train, ready for a wonderful weekend.)
I'm about to pass the man surverying the putting-the-ticket-in-the-slot-hoping-with-fear-that-it-will-pop-out-of-the-top-again-and-let-me-through-to-the-platform and smile with glee. Only I have so much stuff that my ticket goes into the slot, out the other, the doors open and I don't pick up my stuff in time to get through the entrance. But the kind man uses his magical ticket and lets me through. All is okay. You are okay. My hair may be stuck to my face and I may be very pink, and I may have made a strategic error through wearing tights and a dress, but I'm good- verging on brilliant! I don't rush up the stairs to the platform. I'm here in plenty of time. Well, plenty, as in ten minutes. Reaching the top of the stairs, popping out into a magical land of trains and people and excitedness, I triumphantly smile.
I love train stations.
There, on my platform, I watch a train depart from the station. I laugh to myself, "Imagine if that's my train." Then my eyes dart around.
I hate trains.
I sit on a platform bench and stare at my hands. It was a new adult adventure and I blooming messed up.
I retrieve my phone, and as I see the time on my phone strike seven thirty I remember adjusting the time on my phone the previous night in order to wake myself up earlier.
As I hear rain violate the ground, I nod. Solemnly.
A Train Trip & A Book,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
I'm about to pass the man surverying the putting-the-ticket-in-the-slot-hoping-with-fear-that-it-will-pop-out-of-the-top-again-and-let-me-through-to-the-platform and smile with glee. Only I have so much stuff that my ticket goes into the slot, out the other, the doors open and I don't pick up my stuff in time to get through the entrance. But the kind man uses his magical ticket and lets me through. All is okay. You are okay. My hair may be stuck to my face and I may be very pink, and I may have made a strategic error through wearing tights and a dress, but I'm good- verging on brilliant! I don't rush up the stairs to the platform. I'm here in plenty of time. Well, plenty, as in ten minutes. Reaching the top of the stairs, popping out into a magical land of trains and people and excitedness, I triumphantly smile.
I love train stations.
There, on my platform, I watch a train depart from the station. I laugh to myself, "Imagine if that's my train." Then my eyes dart around.
I hate trains.
I sit on a platform bench and stare at my hands. It was a new adult adventure and I blooming messed up.
I retrieve my phone, and as I see the time on my phone strike seven thirty I remember adjusting the time on my phone the previous night in order to wake myself up earlier.
As I hear rain violate the ground, I nod. Solemnly.
A Train Trip & A Book,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
A Real Life Book Character
I remember the first time I spoke to this one person. We spoke with no agenda; no hidden meaning. An sincere, uneventful conversation. But it was eventful. Much like the second time we spoke. This person was never someone I forgot; but we weren't introduced properly yet. We all have magic running through our veins, I think. This person's magic stuck with me. I didn't particularly notice it. Yet I did, too. At the time of these two conversations it struck me what a humble person they are.
They deserve a story written about them. A protagonist in waiting.
Months passed and we had our third conversation.
Before I go on, I want rid of any opinions of what kind of relationship this person and I had or have had or have at any point. It was and is simply, a sincere one. One I appreciate. It's the kind of relationship that makes me want a story written about them. I won't plead to be in it, I merely beg that they are the awesome character I witness every day on every single page.
Undramatic. Modest. Kind.
They portrayed this in one welcoming smile. They continued this in every utterance they have communicated to me since.
This relationship; this thing. This appreciation of this person's being and aroma is one that makes me know they would make a book character that everyone would cling onto. Everyone would adore them. Everyone would cherish each word they said, and each action they would perform would leave readers in a wonderstrucked daze.
There would be one tragedy in their novel, if it were to be written right now. Only one. They are a person who doesn't complain; doesn't feel the need to complain; so what I am about to explain is unnoticed by them. They are a person who is thought of highly by everyone they meet. Yet, without knowing it, they do not realise the adoration many feel for them. The tragedy is this: they are an unnamed treasure.
I want them to have all of their favourite stories wrapped up in one. I hope they write the most awesome, number-one-selling story.
I'd do anything to show them this post; make them know for sure what an incredible and thoughtful, lovely and endearing person they are. I just wanted to write a little bit of their story. Yet, I will always let them know, when necessary but most importantly, when it is not necessary, what an inspiring person my best friend is.
I like to think I make everyone I adore know in a number of ways that I do adore them and everything they stand for, and here is just a little post to encapsulate a kind word's importance. I was wondering if a few bloggers (and anyone else, naturally!) would like to write a post about someone they think is a real life book character, for their blogs are ones I adore! (You are welcome not to, of course! There are no rules!) I would love to hear about a real life book character Simona, Amanda, Noelle, Shirley and Isabell know!
It must not be forgotten, though, that we are all real life book characters. Other people would love to write our stories, but we can also appreciate what a wonderful story others could make. I'm part of other people's stories and their part of mine. There are people I adore watching write their own, and here's to writing mine!
Modesty & Humbleness,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day up until Christmas for Blogmas! You are welcome to check out yesterday's post HERE!
They deserve a story written about them. A protagonist in waiting.
Months passed and we had our third conversation.
Before I go on, I want rid of any opinions of what kind of relationship this person and I had or have had or have at any point. It was and is simply, a sincere one. One I appreciate. It's the kind of relationship that makes me want a story written about them. I won't plead to be in it, I merely beg that they are the awesome character I witness every day on every single page.
Undramatic. Modest. Kind.
They portrayed this in one welcoming smile. They continued this in every utterance they have communicated to me since.
This relationship; this thing. This appreciation of this person's being and aroma is one that makes me know they would make a book character that everyone would cling onto. Everyone would adore them. Everyone would cherish each word they said, and each action they would perform would leave readers in a wonderstrucked daze.
There would be one tragedy in their novel, if it were to be written right now. Only one. They are a person who doesn't complain; doesn't feel the need to complain; so what I am about to explain is unnoticed by them. They are a person who is thought of highly by everyone they meet. Yet, without knowing it, they do not realise the adoration many feel for them. The tragedy is this: they are an unnamed treasure.
I want them to have all of their favourite stories wrapped up in one. I hope they write the most awesome, number-one-selling story.
I'd do anything to show them this post; make them know for sure what an incredible and thoughtful, lovely and endearing person they are. I just wanted to write a little bit of their story. Yet, I will always let them know, when necessary but most importantly, when it is not necessary, what an inspiring person my best friend is.
I like to think I make everyone I adore know in a number of ways that I do adore them and everything they stand for, and here is just a little post to encapsulate a kind word's importance. I was wondering if a few bloggers (and anyone else, naturally!) would like to write a post about someone they think is a real life book character, for their blogs are ones I adore! (You are welcome not to, of course! There are no rules!) I would love to hear about a real life book character Simona, Amanda, Noelle, Shirley and Isabell know!
It must not be forgotten, though, that we are all real life book characters. Other people would love to write our stories, but we can also appreciate what a wonderful story others could make. I'm part of other people's stories and their part of mine. There are people I adore watching write their own, and here's to writing mine!
Modesty & Humbleness,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am blogging every day up until Christmas for Blogmas! You are welcome to check out yesterday's post HERE!
Monday, 1 December 2014
Glove Weather
Misty-air-breathing-dragons; a chilly white feel; a cheeky trickster blue sky.
It's officially glove weather time.
It may have been glove weather for longer than I have realised (I think probably for a few weeks seen as my hands are more than grateful when I slip on my warm hand protectors), but the day has come for me to become best friends for a good few months with my gloves. My lovely, friendly, warming gloves. They smile at me, and I smile at them. I let them be happy in doing their job and I adore the hugs they give back to me.
And what comes with glove weather? The promise of giggles and smiles, memories and *whispers excitedly* Christmas.
Glove weather is knowing looks and a belly full of the excitement of making wintery plans and snuggling to the warmth as if it brings in money. It's the excitement of present-buying and too-many-hot-chocolate-evenings and movies with a quilt.
Glove weather, and coincidentally, December brings me a lot of excitement:
* My Christmas jumper
* My Christmas hat
* Boxes of chocolate
* Present-buying
* Christmas music
* Blogmas
Today marks the start of Blogmas and my fingers are typing to the melody of Michael Bublé's Christmas album, of course! It also marks the start of me mentioning Christmas a LOT on my blog (festive hi-5s all around please!)! Christmas is one of my favourite things, and I love not being alone in this. It means a sense of unity and excitement and a buzz that is unique and magical. I am so excited!
Christmas Albums & Singsongs,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. This is part of the Blogmas challenge that I am taking on!
It's officially glove weather time.
It may have been glove weather for longer than I have realised (I think probably for a few weeks seen as my hands are more than grateful when I slip on my warm hand protectors), but the day has come for me to become best friends for a good few months with my gloves. My lovely, friendly, warming gloves. They smile at me, and I smile at them. I let them be happy in doing their job and I adore the hugs they give back to me.
And what comes with glove weather? The promise of giggles and smiles, memories and *whispers excitedly* Christmas.
Glove weather is knowing looks and a belly full of the excitement of making wintery plans and snuggling to the warmth as if it brings in money. It's the excitement of present-buying and too-many-hot-chocolate-evenings and movies with a quilt.
Glove weather, and coincidentally, December brings me a lot of excitement:
* My Christmas jumper
* My Christmas hat
* Boxes of chocolate
* Present-buying
* Christmas music
* Blogmas
Today marks the start of Blogmas and my fingers are typing to the melody of Michael Bublé's Christmas album, of course! It also marks the start of me mentioning Christmas a LOT on my blog (festive hi-5s all around please!)! Christmas is one of my favourite things, and I love not being alone in this. It means a sense of unity and excitement and a buzz that is unique and magical. I am so excited!
Christmas Albums & Singsongs,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. This is part of the Blogmas challenge that I am taking on!
Friday, 28 November 2014
Blogmas Strikes Back
Last year I took on the challenge that was Blogmas! And I LOVED it. The idea is to blog every day until Christmas Day, and it gives me Christmassy happy shivers thinking about it. I enjoyed it so very much last year- even when I was sat on my sofa in the evening tapping my fingers, thinking about what to write about. I was so inspired by the Christmassy adventure, inspiration came eventually!
I want to add two fun post kind-of-series to this Blogmas; a story challenge; a reading challenge.
♥ A story challenge
I have an idea for a - and have started sorting out - Christmas story that will last for four posts. I adored writing my Christmas story last year for Blogmas (you can read it HERE), and the idea popped into my mind a couple of months ago to write a few "instalments" (if you will) to make a Christmas story for Blogmas and I couldn't imagine not doing it, so I'm so very excited.
♥ A reading challenge
Reading has been very much associated to my blog, and so I've decided to read three Christmas books in between now and Christmas and I will review them in Blogmas! I will be reading Christmas With Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher, Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Miracle and Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan! I shall, from here on, declare this mini series, "Santa's Reading Sack"!
I am very excited about Blogmas. Last year I managed to blog every day. I think it will be more of a struggle this year but I am even more motivated because my blog has slipped into silence every now and then this year and it has made for a very sad blogger. Blogmas is going to sort this out! I am a little nervous and have made a promise to myself that if I don't post a blog one day, I will post two on a day to make up for it etc! It shouldn't be a stressful process!
I will link each post down the bottom of this post once each day is up!
Good luck to anyone else doing this- I hope it is a relaxing, warm ball of Blogmassy delight for you all!
Christmas Jumpers & Hats,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
♥ Day 1 ♥ Day 2 ♥ Day 3 ♥ Day 4 ♥ Day 5 ♥ Day 6 ♥ Day 7 ♥ Day 8 ♥ Day 9 ♥ Day 10 ♥ Day 11 ♥ Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 ♥ Day 15 ♥ Day 16 ♥ Day 17 ♥ Day 18 ♥ Day 19 ♥ Day 20 ♥ Day 21 ♥ Day 22 ♥ Day 23 ♥ Day 24
I want to add two fun post kind-of-series to this Blogmas; a story challenge; a reading challenge.
♥ A story challenge
I have an idea for a - and have started sorting out - Christmas story that will last for four posts. I adored writing my Christmas story last year for Blogmas (you can read it HERE), and the idea popped into my mind a couple of months ago to write a few "instalments" (if you will) to make a Christmas story for Blogmas and I couldn't imagine not doing it, so I'm so very excited.
♥ A reading challenge
Reading has been very much associated to my blog, and so I've decided to read three Christmas books in between now and Christmas and I will review them in Blogmas! I will be reading Christmas With Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher, Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Miracle and Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan! I shall, from here on, declare this mini series, "Santa's Reading Sack"!
I am very excited about Blogmas. Last year I managed to blog every day. I think it will be more of a struggle this year but I am even more motivated because my blog has slipped into silence every now and then this year and it has made for a very sad blogger. Blogmas is going to sort this out! I am a little nervous and have made a promise to myself that if I don't post a blog one day, I will post two on a day to make up for it etc! It shouldn't be a stressful process!
I will link each post down the bottom of this post once each day is up!
Good luck to anyone else doing this- I hope it is a relaxing, warm ball of Blogmassy delight for you all!
Christmas Jumpers & Hats,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
♥ Day 1 ♥ Day 2 ♥ Day 3 ♥ Day 4 ♥ Day 5 ♥ Day 6 ♥ Day 7 ♥ Day 8 ♥ Day 9 ♥ Day 10 ♥ Day 11 ♥ Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 ♥ Day 15 ♥ Day 16 ♥ Day 17 ♥ Day 18 ♥ Day 19 ♥ Day 20 ♥ Day 21 ♥ Day 22 ♥ Day 23 ♥ Day 24
Friday, 21 November 2014
Air Guitar - McBusted
Flashback to last September and McFly's 10th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall shows: McBusted come on stage performing Year 300, Air Hostess and Shine A Light. Childish excitement written in each of their smiles, their happiness was undeniable. This excitement is mirrored in everything the six of them are doing right now.On 23rd November, McBusted will release their first single: Air Guitar. I really super-ly duper-ly love it! It is everything you'd expect from McFly plus Busted plus a supergroup that are having the time of their life. It's fun and quirky, and it is everything McBusted should stand for.
You can pre-order it HERE on iTunes or order the CD bundle HERE.
Above is the video for Air Guitar, mixed in with the definition of McBusted. It's all very refreshing.
Karaoke & An Air Guitar,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Thursday, 20 November 2014
November 5th
Darkness. There was a lot of brightness. Brightness while there was darkness. Then there was darkness again. Even when there was brightness, the shadow accompanied the yellows and oranges and greens and pinks. A reminder. A reminder of the darkness. A reminder that the brightness really counted. Every single burst of colour should be cherished. Indulged in.
Looking back to November 5th 2010, Annie saw where she went wrong. Before she knew, happiness was taken for granted. When she knew, happiness was a blur of panic; a will to remember everything, enjoy everything; a fear of what was to come. That was what November 5th was. The final bright day.
Two weeks later and the memories that were made were memories of only darkness. A blur of "I'm sorry for your loss" and tears and old photographs.
Old photographs of genuine happiness. Selfish happiness. The kind that wasn't appreciated.
Not like it should have been.
The day of the funeral brought a clear blue sky and a smiling sun. A contradiction Annie should have despised. But she didn't. She saw darkness and she felt darkness but the sunshine was something she knew her mother would have only loved. It didn't bring Annie comfort or joy. It didn't turn on a fairy light in her vision of darkness. But she let her mother have something to glorify and make into something much more than it was.
Like when she was five and Annie was the only child in the class to have ruined the Christmas card she made. When Charlie Dawson reached over to get the glitter, Annie misread the situation and made a sudden movement that lead to glue being spilt all over the fairy she drew on the front.
"It's ruined," Annie had cried into her mother's arms.
"It's modified."
"But I made it for you. The fairy was supposed to be you."
"And do you know what the glue stands for, Annie, baby?"
Annie looked at her mother with hopeful eyes.
"It's for me and you. Stuck like glue."
Annie knew it was actually just an accident and it didn't mean that at all, but she sucked it up like her mother wanted her to. The thing is, the woman believed every word she said.
Two years after her mother's death, Annie stood, on the 5th November, with her head tilted towards the sky. Every piece of darkness was there to glorify the brightness. She knew it now. Maybe she spent the time leading to her mother's death from cancer panicking during happiness, but now, she cherished even these memories, and knew there were smiles and laughs and knew to relax from now on.
Her shoulders smiled and she took photographs of the fireworks with her eyes; her smile telling every wonderful story ever written.
It was all just a reminder of the brightness. A promise of the brightness.
Everything.
~
Glitter & Felt,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Looking back to November 5th 2010, Annie saw where she went wrong. Before she knew, happiness was taken for granted. When she knew, happiness was a blur of panic; a will to remember everything, enjoy everything; a fear of what was to come. That was what November 5th was. The final bright day.
Two weeks later and the memories that were made were memories of only darkness. A blur of "I'm sorry for your loss" and tears and old photographs.
Old photographs of genuine happiness. Selfish happiness. The kind that wasn't appreciated.
Not like it should have been.
The day of the funeral brought a clear blue sky and a smiling sun. A contradiction Annie should have despised. But she didn't. She saw darkness and she felt darkness but the sunshine was something she knew her mother would have only loved. It didn't bring Annie comfort or joy. It didn't turn on a fairy light in her vision of darkness. But she let her mother have something to glorify and make into something much more than it was.
Like when she was five and Annie was the only child in the class to have ruined the Christmas card she made. When Charlie Dawson reached over to get the glitter, Annie misread the situation and made a sudden movement that lead to glue being spilt all over the fairy she drew on the front.
"It's ruined," Annie had cried into her mother's arms.
"It's modified."
"But I made it for you. The fairy was supposed to be you."
"And do you know what the glue stands for, Annie, baby?"
Annie looked at her mother with hopeful eyes.
"It's for me and you. Stuck like glue."
Annie knew it was actually just an accident and it didn't mean that at all, but she sucked it up like her mother wanted her to. The thing is, the woman believed every word she said.
Two years after her mother's death, Annie stood, on the 5th November, with her head tilted towards the sky. Every piece of darkness was there to glorify the brightness. She knew it now. Maybe she spent the time leading to her mother's death from cancer panicking during happiness, but now, she cherished even these memories, and knew there were smiles and laughs and knew to relax from now on.
Her shoulders smiled and she took photographs of the fireworks with her eyes; her smile telling every wonderful story ever written.
It was all just a reminder of the brightness. A promise of the brightness.
Everything.
~
Glitter & Felt,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Friday, 14 November 2014
New Things
I've recently started university, and with the new atmosphere, routine and experience, comes a lot of new things, feelings and emotions.
New things can be scary; daunting; exciting. I experienced all of these feelings before coming to university and once I got here, I experienced them all over again. I've never feared new things, but once they have passed the "approaching" stage and are actually in front of me, ready to begin, I can begin to become nervous.
I decided a couple of years ago to embrace the nerves and swap them for an open attitude and a willingness to embrace a new thing. Despite the excitement I was feeling for university, I had an attachment to things I associate with home (really, it was the people that surrounded me) and it made me spend a long time just wanting to be home. It made it hard to embrace university completely, but I did try my hardest all the same.
I didn't feel homesick, I felt peoplesick.
I missed so many people, and alongside that, the routine of seeing those close to me.
However, being surrounded by other people experiencing a similar or the very same experience, was more than comforting.
More than that, I had some sort of routine again. Okay, my uni experience isn't the 9-3 school/college thing, but it's also not the summer "dowhatIwant" (within reason) routine. This new routine, along with looking after myself, has been something I have been enjoying (despite how nostalgic I am about my previous summer). Going home was an awesome time. Home made me feel homely and people made me feel homely.
New things are a lot of feelings and emotions mixed up it one. I hope to embrace new things as much as I can in a moment where I'm thinking of other things.
Yellows & Greens,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
New things can be scary; daunting; exciting. I experienced all of these feelings before coming to university and once I got here, I experienced them all over again. I've never feared new things, but once they have passed the "approaching" stage and are actually in front of me, ready to begin, I can begin to become nervous.
I decided a couple of years ago to embrace the nerves and swap them for an open attitude and a willingness to embrace a new thing. Despite the excitement I was feeling for university, I had an attachment to things I associate with home (really, it was the people that surrounded me) and it made me spend a long time just wanting to be home. It made it hard to embrace university completely, but I did try my hardest all the same.
I didn't feel homesick, I felt peoplesick.
I missed so many people, and alongside that, the routine of seeing those close to me.
However, being surrounded by other people experiencing a similar or the very same experience, was more than comforting.
More than that, I had some sort of routine again. Okay, my uni experience isn't the 9-3 school/college thing, but it's also not the summer "dowhatIwant" (within reason) routine. This new routine, along with looking after myself, has been something I have been enjoying (despite how nostalgic I am about my previous summer). Going home was an awesome time. Home made me feel homely and people made me feel homely.
New things are a lot of feelings and emotions mixed up it one. I hope to embrace new things as much as I can in a moment where I'm thinking of other things.
Yellows & Greens,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Saturday, 8 November 2014
To My 16 Year Old Self
You're sixteen and happy, lost and nervous too,
You're giggly and silly, looking forward to who,
You'll become, but, I'll tell you one truth,
Right now you are who,
You must look forward to,
Right now really counts,
Remove any doubt,
Carpe diem, 16 year old me, carpe diem,
If today is a day you wish for another,
Please know that tomorrow will always be better,
Tomorrow, I'll tell you, has no measurement,
It could be a day or a year, but it's coming so soon,
You aren't one for pressure, yet you don't reject work,
You thrive and you drive, but the panic, it lurks,
It's hard and it sucks,
But whenever you're stuck,
Clear your mind, take a breath,
The answers are left,
In your head, they're right there,
See, you know it, be fair,
To yourself, please,
You may be sixteen,
But the world is all yours,
Don't be scared anymore,
You're happy, you smile,
But just for a while,
You get sucked up in sadness,
The crazy school madness,
While sunshine is shining,
You're blind for a moment,
But the yellow is calling,
That new day is dawning,
The brightness is smiling,
All upon your arriving,
Welcome back.
~
I watched THIS video by Carrie Hope Fletcher and it made me want to do the same. I cried watching hers and felt like it'd make me happy to reflect.
Sunshine & Brightness,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
You're giggly and silly, looking forward to who,
You'll become, but, I'll tell you one truth,
Right now you are who,
You must look forward to,
Right now really counts,
Remove any doubt,
Carpe diem, 16 year old me, carpe diem,
If today is a day you wish for another,
Please know that tomorrow will always be better,
Tomorrow, I'll tell you, has no measurement,
It could be a day or a year, but it's coming so soon,
You aren't one for pressure, yet you don't reject work,
You thrive and you drive, but the panic, it lurks,
It's hard and it sucks,
But whenever you're stuck,
Clear your mind, take a breath,
The answers are left,
In your head, they're right there,
See, you know it, be fair,
To yourself, please,
You may be sixteen,
But the world is all yours,
Don't be scared anymore,
You're happy, you smile,
But just for a while,
You get sucked up in sadness,
The crazy school madness,
While sunshine is shining,
You're blind for a moment,
But the yellow is calling,
That new day is dawning,
The brightness is smiling,
All upon your arriving,
Welcome back.
~
I watched THIS video by Carrie Hope Fletcher and it made me want to do the same. I cried watching hers and felt like it'd make me happy to reflect.
Sunshine & Brightness,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Friday, 7 November 2014
An Autumnal Scene
Today I went for a run, and the autumn-ness was so beautifully, blindly obvious, I had to absorb every little orange and red and brown detail; whether it be the actual autumn features, or simply the autumnal feel that I was indulging in- and by the looks of it, other people were too!
As my feet took on a slightly quicker dance to the slightly chillier afternoon compared to afternoons I had become accustomed to over summer, they became friends with the plethora of leaves becoming friends with each other on the ground. Red, orange, yellow, green, brown. As my eyes grinned from autumnal detail to autumnal detail, I found my excited seeing-machines look to the sky. It was blue. Simply blue. If I were inside and had no knowledge of seasons, and the heating was on, I'd think, "Hey, what a gorgeous summer day."
But no, the chill. It's not a nasty chill; a bite from a bully's mouth. It's warming, somehow. Not in a literal way, but in a friendly, gorgeous way. The pavement was also a little damp. But not too damp. It glowed a little under the sun; like the ground was smiling up at the sky, wishing it a good day. Around me people were smiling. Autumn was their friend too.
And all around me were joggers; walkers; cyclists. All going about their lives; either conscious of or oblivious to the pleasant day that was autumn. Either way, people seemed happy; smiley. In love with the day and its offerings. It was good company to a run that made me calm and happy. I saw other people in good company; with actual people, or autumn itself.
It did, though, rain. I actually laughed. For so long I had admired the summery-esque feeling of the day, and it rained. "Of course," I thought. But I couldn't resent it. I actually liked it. It was a light shower. A little reminder of its uniqueness to winter, spring and summer. But autumn smiled while it proved its point.
Running to surroundings such as these was a calming experience. Sweet, too. It made me want my run not to end- but it did, of course. Yet, it has made me excited for my next one- and the one after that. And all of the ones until winter will well and truly become my friend.
Magic & Cake Decorations,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
As my feet took on a slightly quicker dance to the slightly chillier afternoon compared to afternoons I had become accustomed to over summer, they became friends with the plethora of leaves becoming friends with each other on the ground. Red, orange, yellow, green, brown. As my eyes grinned from autumnal detail to autumnal detail, I found my excited seeing-machines look to the sky. It was blue. Simply blue. If I were inside and had no knowledge of seasons, and the heating was on, I'd think, "Hey, what a gorgeous summer day."
But no, the chill. It's not a nasty chill; a bite from a bully's mouth. It's warming, somehow. Not in a literal way, but in a friendly, gorgeous way. The pavement was also a little damp. But not too damp. It glowed a little under the sun; like the ground was smiling up at the sky, wishing it a good day. Around me people were smiling. Autumn was their friend too.
And all around me were joggers; walkers; cyclists. All going about their lives; either conscious of or oblivious to the pleasant day that was autumn. Either way, people seemed happy; smiley. In love with the day and its offerings. It was good company to a run that made me calm and happy. I saw other people in good company; with actual people, or autumn itself.
It did, though, rain. I actually laughed. For so long I had admired the summery-esque feeling of the day, and it rained. "Of course," I thought. But I couldn't resent it. I actually liked it. It was a light shower. A little reminder of its uniqueness to winter, spring and summer. But autumn smiled while it proved its point.
Running to surroundings such as these was a calming experience. Sweet, too. It made me want my run not to end- but it did, of course. Yet, it has made me excited for my next one- and the one after that. And all of the ones until winter will well and truly become my friend.
Magic & Cake Decorations,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Monday, 3 November 2014
TOURPLAY!!!!1!1!!
NB: I'm about to fangirl all over the screen.
McBusted's film, Tourplay follows the six guys on their 2014 tour. It has golden snippets of backstage-ness and plays certain songs from one of the O2 performances and their summer Hyde Park concert. The film is gorgeously fun and warming to the heart to see the guys and their bond; their hard work and want to perform and enjoy their job.
The only way I can describe McBusted's friendship is by thinking about when I used to go on sleepovers and my friends and I were in our element; having ultimate laughs and giggles and a fab time. McBusted are showing themselves to be living this excitement every day. And they portrayed it beautifully when I saw them live; easily reflected whilst watching Tourplay. Honestly, when the performances were shown, it felt like they were there. (In an awesome flux-capacitor-transporting-me-from-one-concert-to-another kind of way.)
Tourplay gave me a wonderfully homely feeling. It made me super proud to be a supporter of the guys because their excitement just makes them completely worthy of success. I loved re-living the tour and seeing the work that went into it; the friendship of theirs; their ridiculous talent.
You can pre-order the Tourplay DVD which also includes McBusted live at the O2 HERE which is released on 24th November.
Blimey, I am craving a McBusted concert.
Flux Capacitors & Doodles,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
McBusted's film, Tourplay follows the six guys on their 2014 tour. It has golden snippets of backstage-ness and plays certain songs from one of the O2 performances and their summer Hyde Park concert. The film is gorgeously fun and warming to the heart to see the guys and their bond; their hard work and want to perform and enjoy their job.
The only way I can describe McBusted's friendship is by thinking about when I used to go on sleepovers and my friends and I were in our element; having ultimate laughs and giggles and a fab time. McBusted are showing themselves to be living this excitement every day. And they portrayed it beautifully when I saw them live; easily reflected whilst watching Tourplay. Honestly, when the performances were shown, it felt like they were there. (In an awesome flux-capacitor-transporting-me-from-one-concert-to-another kind of way.)
Tourplay gave me a wonderfully homely feeling. It made me super proud to be a supporter of the guys because their excitement just makes them completely worthy of success. I loved re-living the tour and seeing the work that went into it; the friendship of theirs; their ridiculous talent.
You can pre-order the Tourplay DVD which also includes McBusted live at the O2 HERE which is released on 24th November.
Blimey, I am craving a McBusted concert.
Flux Capacitors & Doodles,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Friday, 31 October 2014
A Bit of Book Chatter | October
Being a university student should mean a budget on books right (as in buying no books at all)... Well, has that gone all too well so far? See below for more details.
Love, Rosie (Where Rainbows End) by Cecelia Ahern
I have seen the film adaptation of Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern called Love, Rosie advertised a lot recently, and each time I have seen the trailer I have immediately grinned, excited at the thought of seeing it. I was browsing through some shops today and was delighted to see the book ins store, knowing straight away that I must read it before I see the film. I have heard never ending buckets of good things about Cecelia's writing and after reading the blurb, I know this book is going to keep me very warm as the nights are a little colder. About Rosie and Alex, two best friends, Love, Rose (Where Rainbows End) looks more than charming. Will their friendship be threatened by Alex and his family moving to America? I will see very soon!
The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is one of my absolute favourite novels, and this gorgeously big book full of Jojo Moyes' words just makes me want to cry with happiness. It looks like an honest novel that's going to make me be told about a scenario I've never thought about, and see something wonderful through it. It follows the life of Jess who has two jobs and two children, and Ed, who has made a mistake but wants to put it right. I love how little I know about the story from the blurb and how I will soon know when I delve into the lovely-looking novel.
You Had Me at Hello by Mhairi McFarlane
I have seen this novel all over the blogosphere for a long time, with positive words attached to every review I've read... I'm excited. Rachel and Ben were once "partners in crime and the best of friends." Life changed. But they are back in each other's lives, and I can't wait to see what this means!
These novels excite me no end! What have you bought this month, or what will you be buying? I'd love to know!
Shiny New Covers & Untouched Pages,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Love, Rosie (Where Rainbows End) by Cecelia Ahern
I have seen the film adaptation of Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern called Love, Rosie advertised a lot recently, and each time I have seen the trailer I have immediately grinned, excited at the thought of seeing it. I was browsing through some shops today and was delighted to see the book ins store, knowing straight away that I must read it before I see the film. I have heard never ending buckets of good things about Cecelia's writing and after reading the blurb, I know this book is going to keep me very warm as the nights are a little colder. About Rosie and Alex, two best friends, Love, Rose (Where Rainbows End) looks more than charming. Will their friendship be threatened by Alex and his family moving to America? I will see very soon!
The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is one of my absolute favourite novels, and this gorgeously big book full of Jojo Moyes' words just makes me want to cry with happiness. It looks like an honest novel that's going to make me be told about a scenario I've never thought about, and see something wonderful through it. It follows the life of Jess who has two jobs and two children, and Ed, who has made a mistake but wants to put it right. I love how little I know about the story from the blurb and how I will soon know when I delve into the lovely-looking novel.
You Had Me at Hello by Mhairi McFarlane
I have seen this novel all over the blogosphere for a long time, with positive words attached to every review I've read... I'm excited. Rachel and Ben were once "partners in crime and the best of friends." Life changed. But they are back in each other's lives, and I can't wait to see what this means!
These novels excite me no end! What have you bought this month, or what will you be buying? I'd love to know!
Shiny New Covers & Untouched Pages,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
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