Sometimes, One Just Needs A Little Inspiration..

Today, I need that motivation to get my behind to the gym.

❤

Sophie

The Book Chat!

Today is Thursday, and we all know what that means – book chat day!! Today’s prompt is to talk about your favourite female characters, so here goes…

Rebecca Bloomwood, from the Shopaholic series – Sophie Kinsella.

I read these books when I was at school, loved them, and have since seen a few of the films. If I’m honest, I enjoyed them when I first read them because they made me feel grown up! Not many of my friends were in to reading (at least nothing that we didn’t study at school!) so I felt very grown up! As I did actually grow up though, I loved them because they were so easy to relate too. I mean what 20-something female has not gone on a mad shopping spree and then dreaded opening their bank statement?! Exactly!

Talking of relating to characters, I also love Bridget Jones (Helen Fielding!)

Katniss Everdeen, from The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins.

The Hunger Games is not the sort of book I usually go for, but it was Katniss’ character that originally drew me in. She is so well written and Collins does a really good job of giving us a glimpse in to her world in District 12 before she goes off to The Hunger Games. I felt emotionally invested in her character and was rooting for her throughout the book.

Thanks to Jessica for hosting 🙂 🙂

Woop, it’s official – I have posted every day this month!!

Weekend Recap

I had the best weekend in a very long time this week – especially as I was actually working!  (plus, if  my calculations are correct, it was actually my last working weekend this academic year -woohoo!)

Anyway, on Saturday I took a group of students on a surfing trip to Croyde in North Devon.  Somebody ran a similar trip a few weeks ago and the weather was gorgeous so I thought it would be just my luck that it rained this time, but it was hot hot hot!

It was lovely – the students got a 2hour surf lesson, while I got in some serious sunbathing time! And then we filled our afternoon playing beach games and eating fish and chips.

 

On Saturday night, we had a Eurovision Song Contest party at school. When I heard this was planned I didn’t know what to think, but it was actually so bad it was good, and with such a mix of nationalities in the room it was really good fun! When it gotto voting time, things got a little intense (think ‘ah I hate you, I can’t believe your country didn’t give my country any points!!’) but team Russia were relatively pleased with their final position 🙂

Sunday was my day off, so I went to Bristol to meet some friends. Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures but we lunched and drank and talked while we enjoyed an ice cream by the river. I hadn’t seen my friend Lou since New Year which is an age considering we used to see each other every day at university, so there was a lot of catching up to be done!

How was your weekend?

❤

Sophie

Olympic Torch Relay.

As I mentioned, last week I went to see the Olympic Torch realy – once in Plymouth (on day 1!!) with my Mum, then again in Taunton on a ‘school trip’.

Am I the only one childish enough to still find that sign hilariously funny?!!

The Taunton event was particularly cool as I was there with lots of friends, and Labyrinth (as in Earthquake) and Twist & Pule (as in Britain’s Got Talent) were both there, and I even spotted Will.i.am!

You can’t really see that well but that is the actual Olympic torch on stage!

It was such a cool experience, and has actually made me really excited for the Olympics to start…plus, any excuse to get out of school for the afternoon and drink beer!

May Goals: Read 4 Books.

If you cast your mind back to the beginning of the month, you’ll remember that one of my goals was to read 4 books in May.

I am a little disappointed to say that I haven’t completed this. In fact, at the moment I have only only hit about 2.5, but I am still working at it, and will be posting full reviews soon.

I hope you have all had a fantastic weekend 🙂

Ps – YAY, this is my 300th post! Thanks for sticking with me!

26.05.12

Been too busy having fun at the beach and cringing at the Eurovision song contest to post properly today….

The Book Chat

Aaaaahh, another hectic day – I’m glad I set myself the goal of posting every day this month otherwise I get the feeling I may have skipped this week’s book chat!

Anyway….my favourite male characters.

Let’s just get it out of the way, because we all know this is going to happen….Harry Potter (Sorry, Jessica!) I love everything about those series’, and they will always be a real reminder of my love for reading when I was growing up, and while we’re talking of favourite males, I was a big fan of the way that Rupert Grint grew up!

(Source)

Also on the list is Mr Darcy (I nearly wrote Mark Darcy [Bridget Jones’ Diary] there..not quite the same thing!) from Pride & Prejudice. P&P was one of the books I studied for A-level English Lit, and I have to say that although at the time it was pretty tough going, some of the lines really stuck with my and I have read it (and enjoyed it!) since. Let’s face it, we’d all like a Mr Darcy in our lives!

Finally, as I mentioned last week, I love To Kill A Mockingbird, and I think Atticus Finch is amazing. I love the way that he teaches Jem & Scout decent morals, and is so approachable and a fantastic role model to them. Again, I wish there were more people like him in my life.

“Atticus said to Jem, “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” 

Have a great Friday, everyone!

❤

Sophie

Currently:

Watching: I have just started watching the BBC series ‘Not Going Out’. It is already on series 5, but I’ve started watching old episodes online to pass the time at work in the evenings. I don’t know about you, but I love shows that are only 30 minutes episodes – they make for such easy watching!

Reading: The Hunger Games, still! I love it!

Missing: Maisie! I miss having dogs around when I’m at school – I get withdrawl symptoms from my nightly fur baby cuddles!

Wanting: a nap! The last few days have been hectic, stressful and lacking in sleep, and I have to work all weekend now, so would very much appreciate some shut eye!

Loving: Tinned peaches! I know how wierd that sounds, but I really can’t get enough of them. Better than stuffing my face with cakes I suppose!

Wearing: Today (and most others lately) it’s all about the leggings! Just about smart enough to get away with at school, but comfy comfy comfy! 🙂

Ps – I had sort of already half drafted this post for over the weekend, but haven’t been able to find the time to write up my book chat post yet…so check back tomorrow for my delayed linkup!

What’s going on in your world currently?

❤ Sophie

Top 10 Films.

Recently at school, we have been collating lists of the students top 10 films so that we can create a massive LoveFilm subscription order, and it got me thinking about my favourite films.

My Top 5 Favourites…

1. Big Daddy – I love pretty much anything with Adam Sandler, but this used to be a favourite of mine when I was a teenager. I watched it over and over, and probably knew 95% of the words at one stage! Who doesn’t love The Kangaroo Song?!

2. Definitely, Maybe. – I love this alternative take on a classic chick flick and telling of a love story. Plus, Ryan Reynolds is hot!

(Source)

3. Man On Fire – I’m a bit addicted to trashy girly films and love stories, so this always surprised everyone, but for some reason I love the story! Plus, Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning’s relationship is adorable!

4. The Lion King – Everyone has a favourite disney film (a guilty pleasure?!) This is mine, I’m not ashamed. I even went to see it in 3D at the cinema when it was re-released last year and it was just as amazing as I remembered!

(Source)

5. Harry Potter – specifically The Half-Blood Prince, and The Deathly Hallows, but any of them will do! ❤

And 5 that I would like to see…

6. One Day – I put off seeing this when everyone else was heading to the cinema because I like to read the book before I see the film, but now I have read it, loved it, and need to see it!

7. The Time Traveller’s Wife – Same reasoning as no. 6!

8. The Hunger Games – Same again. I didn’t automatically jump at seeing it at the cinema because I didn’t think it was my sort of thing, but I am hopelessly addicted to the books!

9. The Shawshank Redemption – This one’s simple – everyone has seen it (it seems) and has told me it’s awesome anknow have no idea what they’re chatting about!

10. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – We read this book at school and I really loved it – the love story part at least, but I just never got around to seeing the film.

What would make it on to your list?

❤

Sophie

Ten For Tuesday

1. I am loving the weather at the moment – we were out until 9pm last night and I was wearing shorts. After the ‘summer’ so far,  this is nothing short of a miracle!

2. We went out last night to the Olympic Torch relay celebrations in Taunton – photos coming soon, but it was very very very cool!

3. I am a bit addicted to tinned peaches at the moment – I know what you’re thinking, it could be worse, but seriously, eating anything in these quantities cannot be healthy!

4. I have just started reading ‘Room’ by Emma Donoghue. I don’t really know what to make of it yet, I like the plot idea, but am unsure about the writing style. It’s very clever, but difficult to get used to – I’ll keep you updated!

5. This week is craaaaaaaaazzy! Exam season is in full swing, and I am scribing for one of the students in all his exams. Such a skill, I really don’t think I’d be able to let anyone write my exam answers for me!

6. As a result of this super busy few days, I amstruggling to fit any gym or workout time in which worries me because of my ‘workout 18 times’ goal – so I’m making the most of walking everywhere and doing some sit ups…..sometime’s you have to make the most of a bad situation!

7. I watched a movie called ‘The Blindside’ with Sandra Bullock the other day. I won’t say much other than it was pretty darn good, andit’d you haven’t seen it yet, do it soon!

8. My little brother text me yesterday to let me know thJustin’s housemate had just found the advent calendar that I sent him last year under the doormat in his house – so postmen of Southend, please accept this as my apology for moaning about you for supposedly stealing my little brother’s package all this time!

9. I am verybehind on reading your blogs and commenting and tweeting and sending some love lately, so I’m sorry for this too! Hopefully things will calm down soon, and we’ll be back in business!

10. I have bought the hair dye, and booked the hair appointment – I am well on the way to looking ‘normal’ again! Ooh, I also bought a new dress for my summer ball the other day – remind me to share that with you all sometime soon.

Happy Tuesday!

❤ Sophie