My Favourite Books: The Teenage

Excluding the Harry Potter and The Hunger Games series as well as any Nicholas Sparks book, I must talk about my favourite books of my teenage years. Although I am still a teenager (and will be, even when I'm not), these are the books I read, I would say from the ages of about 13 to 16. The majority of these are from the young adult section in a book shop and a few are where I found a deep love for authors of girly fiction.

















































To start with, I wanted to talk about my favourite girly, teenager series that is, of course, the Georgia Nicolson Georgia Nicholson diaries. I was completely in love with this series and the front covers were always awesome. As Georgia lives her teenage life, she falls out with friends and falls for boys. It's a fabulously funny account of her life.

The Airhead trilogy were just awesome. The books tell the story of Em Watts who is in the body of a teen supermodel and while she has to learn to live Nikki Howard's life, she can't help but think of her best friend, Christopher.

These years were the years where I branched out of just the young adult part and started reading Sophie Kinsella books. These were my favourites (although it's a tough call between the Shopaholic series); Sophie Kinsella always has beautifully unique ideas when it comes to storylines and that's what I love about her writing.

The Shopaholic series were an absolute treat and I spent all of my pocket money on them. I remember being on holiday and just finishing a book and so when we took a trip into the local town I bought the next one. The series is full of joy and humour, about Becky and her addiction to shopping and spending.

Remember Me is about Lexi; a woman who wakes up in hospital in 2007, thinking it's 2004. Her life is significantly different to how it was before and while she is now married and a boss, she learns a lot about how imperfect her new life is.

Twenties Girl is a book full of charm. The ghost of Lara's great aunt Sadie is insistent in staying in her life until Lara finds a necklace that Sadie needs. Lara may just become excited by the hunt for the necklace, with her life becoming all the more intriguing too.

























I Love the 80s is one of my favourite books I read as a teenager as it's fun and unique and a storyline that, as a big fangirl, I would like to live! Life hadn't been treating Jenna too well and so, as a result, she became entranced, once again, in the life of her (long-dead) idol, Tommy Seer. In a wonderfully excited turn of events, Jenna is back in 1987 and in Tommy Seer's life. It's truly fabulous.

























The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen is crowned with the title of my favourite book I read as a teenager. It remains one of my absolute favourites as the male in it, Wes is definitely in my top three boys in books. Macy is still drowned in memories and grief from her father's death and whilst she thinks her boyfriend is everything she needs and more, she meets artistic, mysterious and caring Wes and soon realises life has more to offer than she had been taking.

Have you read any of these? What books did you read as a teenager or what do you read now? I am incredibly tempted to start the Georgia Nicolson diaries again and I, as I do every year, will re-read The Truth About Forever as it's one of my absolute favourites!

Here are the other posts I've written for this series:
My Favourite Books: Before The Teenage
My Favourite Books: 2013

Guitars & Rockets,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

A Positive "But" | Carrie Hope Fletcher

Carrie's hair is my dream; Carrie's hair is one of her iconic features. Then there's a "but". Albeit a positive one.



Carrie Hope Fletcher is doing something that doesn't need to be sugar-coated by fancy words because its awesomeness is portrayed just by this: She's cutting off 7-13 inches of her hair that will go to The Little Princess Trust that you can check out HERE; her hair will make wigs for children with illnesses and then on her Just Giving page (HERE), all of the money raised will go to Great Ormond Street Hospital (HERE).

The Little Princess Trust is an incredible charity that offers wigs to children who have lost hair due to cancer as well as other illnesses. As I looked further into the charity, it was completely obvious to see the positive work they do and the amazing results they achieve.

Great Ormond Street Hospital carry out wonderful work in finding treatments for childhood illnesses as well as providing world-class clinical care and training in the process.

Although this is a short post, it is an incredibly important one. If you can, please donate money via her Just Giving page; she deserves to raise as much money as possible! If you can't give money, that is absolutely no problem. You could tweet a LINK to her video, tell a friend or send everyone you know a link to her Just Giving page (HERE, in case you missed it!). You could do a lot of things to promote such an awesome, charitable, benevolent action; it's just important that you do it!

Do something to that will make someone else smile today.

Hope & Happiness,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

My Little Experiment | 1st Blogging Birthday

Sat with her quilt wrapped around her, very scared but more excited, she pushed back her hair and allowed for the light of her laptop screen to be the isolated glow, battling against the darkness. She tapped her thumb against the corner of the keypad, allowing for it to go on until finally her heart told her it was time. "It's time to do something about this," she whispered.

Okay, so I overdid the drama of the evening but I've never felt so nervous and excited and I'm so glad that I channelled it into this blog. On the 27th January 2013, I made the silhouette of my dream live onto my little space on the internet. I never looked back.

Until now. A year on and I'm looking back with complete happiness and gratitude for giving myself the time to write THIS post where I introduced my aims to whoever wished to read it. Mostly, though, I introduced my aims to myself. A New Year's resolution, a few weeks late, but starting its journey for sure!

Happy 1st Blogging Birthday to me!

It's strange looking back at my first post. My blog is very different to how I assume I thought it was going to turn out. Almost immediately, my blog was a blog more so for my thoughts rather than my original aim. My blog is an example of what blogging can be about for some people: finding out what works for you! My little experiment.

I want to thank everyone and anyone has ever read a post of mine. I genuinely am delighted and humbled to receive any view/comment/member. Some people may roll their eyes but when I read others say it I know it's sincere because I feel such joy at someone taking the time to click on a link I tweet to my post or while they log in to see their reading list, think "let's have a look then" or however you have found my post - I thank you and appreciate you so much!

Writing has always been the most exciting thing for me. Whether it be exploring a topic or fangirling about something I love or creating a world through constructions I've formed, it's the thing that makes my heart warm. That's what life is for, right? My blog, for 365 days, has been the perfect platform for me. It has given me something to look forward to... all of the time. I feel like I'm never not thinking about my blog because it's my little thing; my little secret. I know that the feeling will continue too.

That's why anyone who comments on my posts, spreading positivity or anyone who messages me letting me know a post of mine is some kind of positive adjective, will always be a special part of my blogging experience. You're part of my writing experience with me and you probably have no idea you've taken the time to make me smile. One message I received last year said that a post I made had described them exactly and to know that there are people who are relating to a post of mine every now and then is heart-warming. Someone complimented the way I put things in words. Someone said they loved my words. Someone hoped I'd find a way to get my poorly blog (I was posting less than usual) better. This isn't me boasting because I'm so shocked when I get any lovely comment, but my point is this: I remember every single sweet thing someone says. Equally, if someone leaves a comment, discussing whatever I'm talking about and we have a brief share of thought with each other, that's amazing to me. We're talking, making a little conversation on my blog where we can discuss and build blogging bridges. I'll always be thankful for anyone taking the time to write something positive or something to spark conversation.

I know my blog hasn't technically speaking got an amount of followers that I can't physically picture, but 46 followers, to me, is incredible and even though I'd be doing this without any followers at all, you 46 people make it even more exciting. Success, some think is measured by a number. The success of my blog, however, is measured by the smile for ever on my face.

Thank you for being there for me, The Girl in the Moonlight; for being my escape when I'm happy, sad or lost and also, thank you to you, reading!

A Quilt Cover & A Laptop,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Carrie Says | Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

I am proud to say my New Year's Resolution of reading books recommended by Carrie Hope Fletcher is going very well and what's more, I am enjoying it so very much! The blog post series that goes alongside it is called Carrie Says and you can read more about it HERE. My first post was about An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell and I was so excited to read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli from THIS video.

Carrie says she read it and found herself "wanting to be Stargirl for months on end."

Doesn't the grass look healthy? Ha! It's er... symbolism for Stargirl being so awesome compared to everyone else being like... dead grass. Oh.

Where to start...

Stargirl is a girl who's far from lost in the crowd. With a ukulele, a pet rat and quirky ways, she often finds herself at the centre of attention that others may find unwanted. When Stargirl becomes the light beaming through a school full of "following the crowd" characters, a wave of non-conformity is evident. Only, with this came problems.

I have to talk about the cover of the book. It's so quirky. In my eyes, it reflects what Stargirl is like: exciting, bright, different. I have never tried as hard to preserve a book's beauty as much as I did when I read Stargirl (which may seem ironic as I have photographed it on grass). I really couldn't bare the thought of a creased page or a bent corner on the front cover. It's too sweet.

Leo's heart is captivated by the presence of Stargirl at Mica High; her lovely nature, her odd but wonderful ways, her faultless kindness and meaning behind everything she does sparks his interest. Yet, it is also everything that tears them apart. One moment the school is entranced by everything she does and the next they are not; one moment Leo is fascinated by her every move and the next he feels the pressures of normality.

I loved Stargirl because it is isn't like anything I've every read before. Although it is aimed at a younger audience, I've never learnt so much from one book. It felt very real and honest even if the actions of Stargirl were like nothing I've ever experienced; it's a refreshing read. Stargirl is a beautifully eye-opening novel. It is sweet and moving and I recommend it to all of my friends.

Porcupine Neckties & Magic,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

My 3 Favourite Nicholas Sparks Films

It has definitely been too long since my last post about Nicholas Sparks and his wonderful stories and so today is the day to talk about the products of the author that makes me smile, cry and understand all in one ending. The films that have been made from Nicholas Sparks novels are some of my absolute favourites and will always leave me feeling content, for whatever reason. As much as it feels like what a mother would feel like having to pick her favourite child, I will break my heart for the sake of a list - I love a good list!


























The Lucky One

Gorgeously romantic and based in a dreamily perfect setting (as Nicholas Sparks does so well), The Lucky One is the story of Sergeant Logan Thibault and Beth, a woman who, without her knowledge, may have just saved Logan's life in Iraq. Logan is strong but tortured by his time in Iraq and Beth is brave but also scarred by the loss of someone close. It's a film that has captured my heart with the sweetness of the relationship between Logan and Beth as well as the two of them and Beth's son, Ben.

Safe Haven

After reading the novel, I couldn't wait for the adaptation of Safe Haven. It's tense and raw but sweet and romantic. Safe Haven is about widower, Alex and Katie, a woman with a past. In the beautiful setting of Southport, Alex and Katie become closer, with Katie winning the hearts of his children. Yet, her secrets are closely shadowing her which builds a wonderfully I'm-sat-on-the-edge-of-my-seat kind of feeling.

The Notebook

Noah and Allie are, of course, very iconic. It's a tale of young lovers and the complications of class and family. Noah and Allie fall in love despite odds stacked against them. Only, it soon has its problems. Touching, heart-breaking and heart-warming, it's no wonder it's one of the classics. It's a film that I want to cry at and do so every single time.

Have you watched any of these films?

Books & Films,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

P.S. Nicholas Sparks tweeted me last night and I am so super happy! If you have seen some of my other posts, you may know that he is my favourite author. I thought I'd link my other Nicholas Sparks posts here: Safe Haven, My 7 Favourite Nicholas Sparks Novels, Noah, I could Be Your Allie, Dear John: The Ending, The Last Song: The Ending and My Favourite Books: 2013.

Photographs of Memories

Today I was browsing through loads of photos, remembering all of the funny times I've had with my family, the sleepovers I've had with my friends that I'm so grateful to still have and the days out I went on. The pictures made me grin: photographs of memories.

I loved remembering all of the games my friends and I made up, all of the terrible - terrible - dance routines we created and all of the adventures we had together. We'd eat and watch films and talk a bit too loudly due to our excitement which in turn would cause someone's mum to have a hushed, irritated, but I'm sure endeared, word. We'd plan some extravagant scheme to go and tiptoe quietly into the kitchen and retrieve some more treats. They're some of my fondest memories because we're still creating awesome memories together that will make me just as smiley in the future.

It was awesome to see the images of my brother and me growing up in ink: our holidays; our lazy days; our lovely little childhood. I sat laughing at photos that were taken of my mum without her realising and photos of my dad doing something silly. They were lovely to look at.

Photos from secondary school make me happy too. Looking back, I treasure every moment of secondary school. I have some of the best memories from those five years.

Because of this, I decided to go and get some recent photos developed. The best thing about looking at these photographs - old and new - is that it reminded me to make every day as good as I can so that I have more memories to make me smile in the future.

One of my favourite quotes is "take a lot of pictures and only regret the ones you didn't take"; it reminds me to take them because I always forget to do so. Do pictures mean a lot to you?

Quickly switching to something partially related, I watched THIS video yesterday and it reinforced how important positive things can be. These photographs were everything positive and I thought to finish this post I would link you to some things that I hope make you feel positivity!

Gay rights speech (Watch until the end!)
A student and a fear overcome
A speech that made me cry (This video isn't here for the religious content - although, feel free to take it that way! - but for the wonderful woman that is truly incredible.)

All of the videos above are taking something rubbish (humanity, as a complete whole not seeing that gay rights are completely right and an issue that shouldn't be argued and simply done, a person with a fear that is relatable to many and bullying) and making it something positive. I'm not saying "go out an perform a speech", it just turned out that each video was a speech, I'm saying that you are a person who deserves to feel positivity - embrace it! Each of the people in these videos are my heroes.

Petals & Ribbon,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

A Bit of Book Chatter | January

I may have (I did) given into the glowing iridescence of Waterstones this week with my book vouchers eager to be spent. This is the story of my Wednesday afternoon...

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult 

I have heard the best things about The Storyteller. Jodi Picoult does "take a serious topic and make it captivatingly beautiful" in the best possible way and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of this novel. From what I have heard and read, it's about murder, evil and justification of both. Yet, it seems to be about friendship too. I can tell already that it's going to be a whirlwind of emotions and I can't wait to get stuck into it.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I bought The Book Thief to read for my Carrie Says series that you can read about HERE. When watching one of Carrie's videos that triggered my series, The Book Thief intrigued me a lot. A book with a storyline about books... My kind of book! Narrated by death, it's about a girl and books in Nazi Germany. *Feels chills.*

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

I have gone into bookshops and supermarkets and searched online many times, always looking for The Husband's Secret, incredibly excited by the blurb. It's about a wife who stumbles across an envelope with her husband's handwriting marking the pages: "to be opened only in the event of my death". Marie Claire quoted for the cover of this novel, "Gripping, acutely observed, thought-provoking and funny". After having re-read the blurb many times, I finally have a copy! I feel like it will have everything I want in a book in one novel.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

I am craving a book series. The last series I read was The Hunger Games and one of my aims for my trip to Waterstones was to find a series to love. I felt drawn to The Mortal Instruments series. I haven't seen the film yet and so I thought I would read the books beforehand. Focussed around a teenage girl and the fate of the world, I believe this will be a "I am staying up until I have finished this" kind of series.

What books are you excited to read?

Stories & Bookmarks,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Happiness

Everyday I witness simple things that bring me happiness and they are the little, lovely things in life.

Happiness is sharing a moment with a friend during conversation involving loads of people. For me, happiness is watching a film with my family or reading a book after a long day. It's spending a Friday night blogging and listening to McFly. Happiness is sunshine and blue skies in January or rainfall after a hot day. Happiness is bumping into an old friend and having a good catch up; as if no time between the last meeting had taken place. Or it's having a long day with best friends, noting how easy our friendship is. To me, happiness is John Green's words and chocolate cake. Happiness is an early night. Happiness is a late night after finishing a book or watching a film. It's an unexpected compliment or enjoying something I dreaded. Equally, it's sharing an old memory with a loved one. It's remembering a good book, watching a forgotten film and finding old photographs. Happiness is music, lemonade and sunshine. Happiness is games, hot chocolate and scarves. Happiness is candles, bath bombs and books. It's new nail varnish and frilly collars. It's also sharing the bad and good times with best friends. It's listening to new music and finding new bands and artists and adding a new favourite author to the list in my mind. Happiness is being proud of something I've done. It's completing a piece of tough work and feeling relieved. It's spending a Sunday afternoon baking and delving into the worlds Nicholas Sparks creates. Happiness is the small things.

If I had my own definition for the dictionary, this is what it would be. What's happiness to you?

Sunshine & Rainfall,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Looking for Alaska - John Green

Cor blimey, gov'nor! Looking for Alaska... Well, that was an emotional journey.

When I wrote a review on The Fault in Our Stars (if you want to read it, I'll link it at the bottom because it comes with a big disclaimer), I found it difficult because I just wanted to talk about it; let out all of my feelings like I was in the support group in the novel. Hence, why again, I am finding it difficult to write a review like a review and not a huge text of my train of thought. However, this time, unlike my "review" of The Fault in Our Stars, I am determined to not have a large bit of text with the whole plot being covered!

Miles Halter seeks a Great Perhaps that he can't find at his school or at home or even with his memory of learning last words; so, he, after hearing stories about the boarding school Culver Creek from his father, knows where his Great Perhaps lies. Thrown happily into a world of pranks, friendship and the moments of drama and danger, Miles falls in love and learns about life.

Looking for Alaska is captivating, honest and raw: just how John Green does it. As per usual, he taught me something.

Alaska is quirky yet haunted by the past; Miles longs for a chance with this mysteriously beautiful girl. I spent the novel longing for them to meet in the middle, for Miles to banish Alaska's sadness and Alaska to show Miles that he is worthy of this Great Perhaps. I, like Miles, missed the whole point that John Green depicted to me through Alaska in true John Green Style. I'm not sure if that sounds cryptic, but, well, that's John Green for you! It's just not always about what you think it is.

A common attribute people will for other's to have and to share is honesty and this is both my favourite thing about John Green's writing and the aspect that saddens the part of me that hopes for complete harmony in plots. However, I am grateful for the way John Green can rip out of my heart and complete it all at the same time: I am always learning something important, just like the characters in his novels.

John Green puts me under a spell with his words; a spell I can't break. His novels are classics, they are beautiful and for ever haunting my heart.  I have done a review/long conversation about The Fault in Our Stars but before I link it, there are HUGE, unforgiving spoilers so please do not read if you've not read the novel: The Fault in Our Stars - John Green.

Have you ever read a John Green novel? Let me know!

Books & Pranks,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

The Freedom of Solace

Freddy paused at the gate, touching his forehead out of habit. He felt sweat cover the palm of his hand and was content at the touch of it. It was a relatively cool summer evening and he'd finished a ten mile run, feeling the motivated feeling he longed for at the end of the afternoon.

After drinking water, having a shower and eating dinner, Freddy sat down to read and wait.

He wasn't sure how other eighteen year olds spent their evenings, and although he wished the circumstances were different, he didn't envy the others. He enjoyed his own company. He liked to hear his thoughts; he enjoyed thinking. Sure, he had friends - well, acquaintances - at college, but he never felt comfortable when he occasionally decided to accept an invitation; he always found a way to end up by himself. The way he liked it. Tucked away, hidden in a corner, watching the night's sky through the window or sat at the table, mechanically shuffling cards. Though, at home, his loneliness wasn't normally absolute. With the company of books, air and the ability to hear his surroundings, Freddy knew he had a lot to be grateful for.

It was the silence that got to him.

Tonight, he ignored it, forcing himself to concentrate on the pages before him.

Hours passed before Freddy set aside the book and cringed at the memory of earlier that day. Absorbed by the thoughts his heart forced him to consider, Freddy wasn't taking any notice when he was placing a book about tectonic plates back, turned and walked straight into Amanda from his Geography class. He apologised and she smiled politely and carried on with her day.

Like he wasn't even there.

As the lunch break had carried on, he felt disturbed at the bother he felt. Most of him knew that he enjoyed the freedom of solace, but something was nagging him; his brain was trying to tell him something. What, he couldn't work out.

In fear of understanding, Freddy picked the book back up and drowned himself in the ink on the pages.

It wasn't long before the door opened and Freddy put down his book for the night, feeling numb and strangled by the silence.




One of my New Year's Resolutions is to post a creative writing piece (at least) once a month. *Smugly, ticks off an imaginary list before remembering there are eleven more months. Quietly, sets imaginary pen down and gets excited at the thought of at least eleven more stories created by my mind.*

Imagination & Motivation,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Daydreaming

*Throws hands up and sighs guiltily.* I am a daydreamer.

I'm sure people would probably believe there is an age where daydreaming as often as I do (probably the same amount as a toddler) should be banished from a living style; it's probably naïve, potentially ignorant to "real life" and well, in truth, it's distracting. Daydreaming is my worst form of procrastination. I'll be sat, pens and pencils at the ready and suddenly my mind will (and I will willingly let it) transport me to a world where Tom Hiddleston proposes to me and my job is to read books.

It's definitely not just me, right?

No, I don't suppose it is. The problem is, my mind can go into real depth with daydreams that are plausible (not that I want to label me marrying Mr. Hiddleston as "implausible") but aren't happening because I'm lying across my living room floor balancing the remote control with my feet instead of taking action and making daydreams reality.

I think I have my tendency to daydream controlled in situations where I really shouldn't be daydreaming (although I definitely need to sort out removing it from revision segments of my life) but the problem isn't that I want to stop daydreaming: I enjoy that sometimes I realise what I want because my mind is so desperate to explore the option. My problem is making sure I listen to my daydreams.

My blog, for example, was a product of a daydream that caused a big smile on my face. I'd thought about blogging before I started The Girl in the Moonlight but put it out of my mind, in fear of letting myself write and let my thoughts spill onto a computer screen but then I thought about it and imagined myself as happy as I am right now, writing these words, and I knew what to do.

Daydreaming can highlight ambitions and give you a big metaphorical push in the right direction. I, for one am thankful for my habit.

Do you daydream?

Chocolate Digestives & Tea,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

P.S. I wrote a guest post for the lovely Simona that you can read HERE, if you would like! I really enjoyed writing this post and was excited to do so when Simona asked me to write a guest post!

Carrie Says | An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell

*Breathes slowly and grins childishly.* It's the first post of my "Carrie Says" series and I'm so excited that all of my thoughts are making me confused as to what I should say. *Composes self.* I am reading every book from four of Carrie Hope Fletcher's videos that she's suggested or has chosen to read that you can read more about HERE and the first book I read was An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell from THIS video.

Carrie says it's "so good."

*Looks in the mirror and tells the reflection off for never reading a Jill Mansell book before.* I will be reading every one of her books and I can't wait.

Lola and Dougie were planning their lives together; uni and distance wasn't going to get in the way, but something else was: a mother who didn't approve of her son's girlfriend and an offer of £10,000 to be rid of the burden that was sure to eventually ruin her son's future. Two broken hearts and years later, Lola and Dougie are in each other's lives but feelings might just have changed.

An Offer You Can't Refuse is charming, funny, sweet and real. With an exciting storyline straight away followed by obstacles throughout the novel that are realistic and characters that aren't the protagonist but are endearing too, I didn't put the book down for just less than two days, when the final page had been turned. It really brightened the beginning of my January!

The story is told mainly through Lola's eyes but the key characters of the novel also have their thoughts shared; their endings being equally as important to me as Lola's. It's a story of first loves, friendship, family and the battle of moving on from that first love. I became very attached to Lola throughout the novel. She's positive, witty and ambitious - even if it was sometimes ambition that didn't fit right in other's hearts. Yet, that's what makes her so likeable. What's more, she loves books!

I loved this book as it's a charming and delightful read and after I recommended it to my mum, she's half way through and loving it, pestering me with questions about what will happen and although I'd never spoil it for her, her eyes widen in fear when I open my mouth as she exclaims, "DON'T TELL ME." An Offer You Can't Refuse really is so good.

*Clasps hands together and excitedly nods.* I know I'm only one book of the way into Carrie Says, but I'm enjoying this a lot and know I will continue to do so; it leaves me excited to start reading a book, excited to delve into the different world and then when finished, it feels like Christmas picking up the next book.

Pot Noodles & Magazines,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

P.S. I am not skilled with photography, as per usual!

My Blogging Bucket List | 2014

Today was actually supposed to be a post titled "New Year, New Blog" as I planned to have my blog looking very different but sadly, I do not. However I do feel  the need to show you my wit with the title I planned, ha! Anyway, on with the actual post!

Last year I wrote a blog post called "My Blogging Bucket List" where I set out some aims for my blog. Now, I want to see how well (as I'm writing this, I'm not entirely sure whether I've completed them so far - I didn't set a time limit on most of them) I have done with my aims and set some aims to hope to have completed by the end of this year, where next January I will do another bucket list post.

One of my goals was to take pictures for my blog posts and although I don't use pictures all of the time, I think I've become a lot better! I also said I wanted to be more creative. Since writing the post, I think I've allowed my creativity to spill slightly onto my blog - not overly, because I don't want to bombard you with short stories and letters and similar posts but I definitely have made it more creative. As my goal has been since the beginning of The Girl in the Moonlight, I am still aiming for 50 members! On my last Blogging Bucket List post, I wrote that I'd like to have reached in the next year (since the post was written) so fingers crossed!

I want to...

Post at least one short story/story a month. Writing creatively is my favourite thing to do in terms of writing and so 2014 shall be the year of creativity. However, a side note to this part of my aims is that I don't want to overdo it and need to stay true to other posts that I assign strongly to my blog.

Write a conventional "facts about me" post. I enjoy these post by bloggers so much. I wrote one when I first started my blog and I wrote a sort-of-facts-about-me post late last year. However, I really want to write another one!

Write more lifestyle posts. I really enjoy taking pictures for writing lifestyle posts, so this year, I plan to write a fair few.

Write a DIY post. I'm writing this because I know I won't do it and if I write it, the chance of doing so increase - only slightly though. I'd love to do a DIY post. I don't know what I would write one about but, I will work hard to find a way to do one.

Change the look of my blog. This is something I've wanted to do for a while but it takes time, effort and a lot of sorting. I cannot wait to sort it out, although I'm not sure when I will.

It's been a busy month and a bit on my blog but it's finally, after this post, back to my normal routine. I will be posting three days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I can't wait for this blogging year. I wish a big good luck to you and your blog! What's on your blogging bucket list?

Chocolate Sprinkles & Cream,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

P.S. How incredible was Sherlock?!

The Enjoyable Resolution: Carrie Says

Along with a few generic resolutions I've made (and assume I'll fail) and a few I plan on seeing through, I've decided to have another New Year's resolution that I will enjoy and will make sure that I succeed with. Last year my enjoyable resolution was to start a blog and that went well (in my eyes), so this year (drum roll please) I will be reading books that Carrie Hope Fletcher (itswaypastmybedtime) has recommended or spoken about in four of her videos then writing a blog post about each one! I have called this challenge "Carrie Says"!

The reasons for doing this are because I know I'll love it. I love to read and I love to write about books I've read so it's a win-win situation. In turn, whenever I've watched videos of Carrie talking about books, I've always said "I want to read them"... So I will! Lastly, when I'm busy but have enough time to sit down and do something for myself, I can be lazy and so instead, I'll read!

I'll be setting no time limit on when I read each book and I will have times when I'll be stupidly busy and won't be reading one of the books and although this may look like I'm not sticking to the resolution, it's just that sometimes I'll need to be focusing on something else and it would take the enjoyment away from it for me if I have a strict routine.  Despite this, it will make me more motivated to make time to read as I really am "asdfghjkl excited" about this.

It means I will be reading books that I may never have read without a push in the right direction, guided by Carrie. It will especially encourage to me to read books that I wouldn't have (mainly because I'm terrible for sticking to one author because I love them so much - although I've been getting so much better, I'll have you know) and this way, I can fall in love with loads of novels and authors.

This enjoyable resolution will probably carry on way into the next year and even the year after as I will still be buying books that I've wanted to read myself or have been recommended to read by others. I already, however, have reviews I wrote last year (oooo, it feels so odd writing "last year") that will be posted but even more postponed because of this, but that's okay! Considering written reviews, it should be mentioned that two books in these videos, I've already read and posted reviews about (Billy and Me and The Fault in our Stars) and so, they're not part of this!

These are the videos I will be choosing the books from:

Books and Cake
The October Club
"Finish Fewer Books"
Carrie's Book Haul

A new addition:

Dear Tom&Gi | The One When I Read Lots Of Books

I will be picking books from these videos randomly, in no particular order. I'm super excited to be joining two things I love together: reading and writing. I can't type how warm and fuzzy I feel about this. I'm feeling very motivated and that type of anticipation that makes my insides feel all gooey and my face all warm and red from wanting to get on with it.

This will take me ages to complete - especially considering I've got the busiest year coming up in terms of exams - but eventually, if it takes two/three years, I don't mind, I will complete this!


Words & Pages,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Happy New Year!

It's 2014. That feels weird to say... in a good way, though.

I am normally one to be sad when New Year's Day arrives (mainly because my favourite time of year is over) but this year, I refuse to be drowned in January blues. With a box of Cadbury's Milk Tray in front of me, an American TV box set ready to watch and my laptop in front of me, what could possibly go wrong? I've got a lot to be excited about this year!

First of all, there is my first blogging Birthday on the January 27th. I am so incredibly excited about it! I remember the evening I created this blog; the nervousness and excitement I was feeling and so, to think I will have been blogging for a year makes me smile a lot.

Something I am very excited for is a series for my blog that I shall be explaining very soon! I thought of it last year and it makes me childishly excited as I am incorporating two of my favourite things to do in one series! If you are one from the future after this mysterious post is published, I shall link it HERE. Oooo, I can't wait!

I am actually really inspired about my new year's resolutions this year. I know we all are at the beginning of January, and I hope you continue to be, but I am hoping with all of my might that I'll fulfil them! My New Year's Resolutions are these:

1) To carry on being excited by my blog; writing things I enjoy writing and making my blog a happy place for me to be whilst be daring with my posts - when I want to be.

2) To always be reading something.

3) To learn lots of new things.

4) To take a lot of photos.

5) To make this the best year so far!

What are you excited about for this year? Happy New Year! I wish you a lot of happiness and luck and for all of your aims to come true!

Happy Places & Photographs,

The Girl in the Moonlight.