The Book Chat & Guest Posting.

Life has been so hectic that I’ve missed the last few installments of The Book Chat 😦

But I’m jumping back on the bandwagon today! This week’s prompt is to share your favourite reads of the year so far, as we are already half way through 2012! (Seriously, where have the last 6 months gone?!!)

Two things sprang to mind when I saw this prompt – apart from the ‘aaahh, life is moving too fast’ panic – and they were ‘Room’ (Read my review here), and the ‘Hunger Games’ series.

I was completely and hopelessly addicted to both of them! The first HG book in particular, I devoured in a single weekend! I love love love feeling that way about a book, and will quite happily cancel other plans/be a complete slob all weekend to be a bookworm!

Your turn! Favourite 2012 reads?

I am also looking for some guest posters to keep TTF alive when I hit Europe next month. I am very open to ideas on topic as long as it vaguely fits in to my space – goals, travel, books, films, food, university stories, exercise and healthy living would be at the top of the list!

If you’re interested, leave a comment or email me at leach_sophie@hotmail.co.uk.

❤

Sophie.

Summer Blog Swap: Chris @ Ink Spot Stories.

Hello lovelies 🙂
I hope you’re all okay – I know I’ve been a bit awol lately, and still really want to tell you about my weekend, but today is a little different as I’m taking part in the 20sb Summer blog swap!

So meet Chris, from Ink Spot Stories.

 

Timing isn’t my speciality, but this summer night I was living the dream and asked a hot girl out…at the worst moment possible. It was great timing for me but unfortunately not so great for her.

This happened to me while I was in high school – the awkward years when I hadn’t found myself but I had sparks of a confident and happy self.

It was a Friday night and one of the new friends I was hanging out with at my new high school invited me out to party with him and a couple of his friends. Dave talked the girls up and talked about how they were down for a good night out. I was just out to try and forget the problems within myself so I went along. The girls came and I knew that Dave wasn’t lying. The two other girls didn’t matter but Mandy was the one I wanted. Me and Mandy just started to click right away. She was smoking and drinking while I was just continued to drink my RC Cola. In case you’re curious, it’s a pool hall that we went to. They let kids in until 11pm then they ID anyone in the place.
Anyway, the group of us walked from the mall up the road towards the pool hall/bar. I was chatting up Mandy the whole walk. Hell, I tried to sneak a kiss but she blew smoke in my face! I nearly gagged but I shook it off and took my first step into this bar. There was Dim lighting and a bunch of pool tables. The smoke was everywhere. At times wanted to leave but this woman was something different and my heart pushed me on. A couple (as in six!) games of pool later, we got kicked out of the place. We all returned to the mall to kick it before I had to commute home. The booze flowed and drugs were smoked by everyone except for me that night. Finally, I decided after my nerves getting the best of me to risk it all and ask Mandy out on another more private date. She stumbled back a bit before grabbing my arm and walking away from the rest of the group. We walked around the corner and just stared at each other. The cold night air was pretty warm for a July night. I nearly jumped as she held my hand. There was a short but brief conversation about how we saw each other. I couldn’t wait much longer because the last bus was coming and I felt like there was enough of a chance she’d say yes that I asked her for a actual date. She giggled then answered with, “You’ve got the worst timing. I would so say yes but can you ask me again when I’m not so drunk.” And to add insult to the moment, she turned and threw up. I walked over, held her hair back then the tyre of the bus screeched. I couldn’t risk having to walk home from Kanata so I stuffed a piece of paper with my number on it into her pocked and ended my night barely making the bus.
Poor Chris! I’d love to hear how it all worked out in the end…..pop over and say hello at his blog!

I’ll be back tomorrow with Thursday’s Book Chat 🙂

❤

Sophie.

Blog Love.

As per the new ‘schedule‘, I know I don’t have a post planned for today, but just dropping by to let you know that I am guest posting today on Melissa’s blog – so go check it out and leave us both some love!

Hope you’re all well, threetimesf-ers, and I’ll see you on Thursday!

❤

Sophie.

Katie’s Guest Post!

Hello all you gorgeous people!

Today I have a little treat for you – a guest post from the fabulous Katie. The wonderful Katie blogs over at smallgirl towers, and is here to tell us all about her return to swimming today – so after you’ve read her post, head over to her blog and leave her some love!

When I was in my old job, I cycled 20 miles a week to and from work. A year ago, I quit that job to go back to my PhD full time and moved to a city with a) good public transport and b) a road system I have no desire to subject me or my bike (Rudy) to.

I love doing my PhD, but going from riding my bike everywhere and a job where I was constantly on the go to spending six hours a day sitting in the library (or, erm, avoiding sitting in the library by sitting in the postgrad coffee lounge) means the only exercise I was getting involved climbing the stairs of the Arts building when the lift was out of order.

So last month, my friend and I signed up for a year’s membership to the university pool. I love to swim, but swimming alone has always posed something of a problem for me, because as soon as I take my glasses off I am liable to trip/slip/wander into the men’s changing room by accident. (Having seen some of the middle-aged Speedo-clad specimens cluttering up the pool, believe me when I say it really would be a heinous accident.) But with swim buddy in tow, I’m finally getting in some serious exercise for the first time in months!

The first session was pretty tough, but since then it’s become a little easier every time. I’ve been keeping track of the number of lengths I manage every week (here), but I admit I haven’t set myself any solid goals as such. My main aim is to use the swimming as a kind of mental break, a spot in my day where I can switch off from all the academic stuff and just focus on slicing through the water. (I say slicing. If you’ve seen me, you might notice it’s more of a ‘meander’ through the water at times.)

So far, it seems to be working. In the couple of weeks since I started, I’ve noticed I’ve been sleeping a lot better. At night when I come home, I feel exhausted, rather than just lethargic. I have more focus when I’m working, and I’m hoping over time that it might reduce my stress levels, too!

The beauty of being a member of the pool right on campus means I can drop in for twenty minutes on my way home, or half an hour before I start research for the day, without really going out of my way (and without giving me any of those handy maybe-tomorrow excuses!). I’m hoping that this will help when it’s no longer July and the weather is wet and miserable, which is normally when my appetite for any kind of exercise diminishes.

I’ve even managed to brave the pool alone, and am happy to report no head on collisions (or Speedo-related incidents) at all… so far.