New Years Resolutions 2016

So I thought I'd post my list of resolutions here just so I've got a digital record. Dunno why, just thought I would. :)

Personal/Appearance

1. Get my right ear re-pierced
2. Get my septum pierced
3. Get my ears pierced at least once more
4. Start stretching my ears (once healed)
5. Get an industrial piercing
6. Get my cover-up tattoo
7. Dye my hair purple
8. Dye my hair with henna
9. Lose at least 2 stone - more like 1
10. Refine/establish my personal style

Finance Related

1. Learn to drive
2. Get a dog (preferably a Borzoi)
3. Buy a laptop
4. Buy an iPod Classic
5. Get Netflix
6. Upgrade the car - battery changed
7. Buy a new camera
8. See Mamma Mia on stage
9. Get Amazon Prime
10. Buy a new phone

General Goals/Aims

1. Read at least 100 books
2. Read A Song of Ice and Fire series
3. Watch at least 100 films
4. Discover 2 new shows
5. Discover 2 new bands/singers
6. Blog at least once a month
7. Do more book reviews
8. Improve my equine art
9. Improve my human art
10. Learn to draw dogs
11. Learn to draw cats
12. Draw a self portrait
13. Finish the first draft of my novel
14. Go on a date

Naturally some of these are more achievable than others. For example the 100 books and films. My challenge history on Goodreads has me at over 100 every year but one where it looks like I didn't set a challenge. In 2013 I even read 213 although it looks like it was a year for short books like my Animal Ark collection (which I did finally let go of last year, at 25 I guess I'm a little older than the target market).

Go on a date seems unlikely but I still wanted to add it. Upgrade the car currently means fix it since the battery appears to have died so depending how things go that may count as that goal being completed.

Oddly things as easy as getting pierced seem to slip furthest down the list. Get my septum pierced has been on my resolutions list since at least 2013 (can't be arsed to check my older diaries) yet I still haven't got round to it. Mum may be tricky regarding the stretching. She's fine with me punching a ton of holes in my ears (almost encourages it) but she hates stretched ears that you can see through. Luckily I wasn't planning on going that big, an 8 or 6 maybe and the only reason I'd actually wear tunnels is so I can still wear my other dangly earrings, unless I just wear them in the next hole up.

Also while it does say about losing weight up there it's not my highest priority. I do want to lose some and I know I need to - my blood pressure has been up my last two nurses visits and while it may be stress related (old awful job the first, starting a new job on Christmas the second and cuffs/machines not working both times) it may also be weight related since I have put some back on. I don't want to be taken of contraception I know works thanks to weight (that happened before at my old surgery). And also I want to wear nicer clothes. I want to fit into Joe Browns main range and all the cool Gothy brands I see around. I want to find the right stuff to be able to wear Dark Mori without looking like I'm wearing a sack. I'm not doing any diets or anything. I'm just walking to and from work and I hope to set up a swimming membership at some point. Possibly around March. Finances should be more free by then. I have a list of books as long as my arm for January and hopefully a laptop for novelling in February. Course it all depends on how much I get and how much mum needs for household stuff.

Pre-Update Update.

I will do a proper update maybe Monday with New Year's Resolutions etc but for now I thought I'd do a quick bullet pointed list of recent stuff:

• Bought some skinny jeans from Simply Be - the Lucy's - they fit perfect.
• Bought a basic black satchel from Zatchels - full review to come when I can be arsed to take photos.
• Changed job at the tail-end of November - I've now been at Sainsbury's for 5 weeks. It's a much better atmosphere, the full story will come in a separate post.
• My aunt blackmailed us into taking on another cat. His name is Tigger and he's a 9 year old tabby.
• I finally got my provisional license last year, now for driving lessons... Eventually.
• I failed my 2015 Goodreads book goal. I only did 125 of 150. I did beat my resolutions goal of at least 100 though. This year because of some longer books in my goals both are 100.
• I currently have a horrendous cold and I almost lost my voice.

Am I Normal Yet? Book Review

Owned Or Library?

Own Kindle Edition (it was on special offer for 99p)

The Cover

Hard to see on Kindle but the Goodreads photo (above) shows it to be very striking and hits the point well.

Synopsis

Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne is a gritty, realistic story about one girl and her struggles with mental health issues. Add in some boy drama, great new friends and a dose of feminism and stir it up into a strikingly relevant book for the times.

Characters

Evie struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and General Anxiety Disorder yet despite this (or maybe because of it) she is a smart, nice, strong character that I relish getting to know.

Jane is Evie's former best friend who's life now revolves around her boyfriend Joel.

Amber and Lottie are the two new best friends Evie makes at college.

World Building

Set in the UK (mentions of pounds, the way college is set up and a characters wish to visit the US) which I really like and connect with. Everything seemed so realistic and really well researched, I love Evie's film obsession and the trio's feminist group the Spinster Club is awesome! Especially loved the mention of the tax on feminine hygiene products despite them being a necessary evil. It's very current since this is an issue being discussed right now.

Conclusion

An amazing book that had me hooked from the start, I love Evie's narrative voice and the characters are amazing. There was one pleasant surprise for me, when it was mentioned that Jane knew about Evie's illness I kept expecting her to somehow reveal it out of spite but she didn't which I loved! I wish they could have explored more why she attached herself so strongly to Joel and changed her image to match/please him. I also wish we could have had more about Oli and about her sister Rose's issues but I do understand that it's not their story.

The back of my copy mentioned that this is the first book in a kind of trilogy each focussing on a different member of the Spinster Club and I will definitely seek them out.

Rating 5/5

The Quest For Dungarees...

I have wanted dungarees for years. There's just something about the look of them that I love. But for many years the options for fat girls were basically non-existent. You either had basic maternity, really cute Vintage reproductions in a maximum size of about 18 or the only ones big enough: the boring "work wear" style.

Then came fatshion and the rise of cool clothing for bigger people. There started to be more options but alas still no dungarees... Until last year! I'm not sure what triggered it then but they were available! I just didn't have the money to buy them :( Roll forward 12 months or so and 90's revival is in full swing and that means Grunge and that means more dungarees! And this year I happen to be working and have the money to buy them.

At that particular moment only these from Simply Be were available. A re-release of the ones that got my heart going last year. And then... Well it was a bit of a fail. I ordered my normal size 24 (which was proved correct by some jeans I bought from Yours Clothing later) and they would not go up my legs. I thought OK maybe they're a little small, I'll return them and reorder a 26. The 26 came and still no go on the legs. They are just so narrow! For reference my calves are 22 1/2 inches round. Reading the most recent reviews it appears I'm not the only one having the same problem and of course it eliminates people with larger legs from wearing them.

At this point I was feeling disheartened but then I remembered I'd had a leaflet in the post from Curvissa (not actually sure why I had the leaflet but minor detail) and there were a pair of dungarees in there. When I looked them up at the time they weren't available yet so I forgot about them until all these sizing issues so I looked them up and they were available and looking at the composition they mentioned Elastane a useful addition with the leg worry.

I took the plunge and ordered in my usual size of 24 keeping my fingers tightly crossed and I must say I was very pleased with the service. I didn't pay extra for next day delivery yet they arrived next day! And as to fit? Perfect! My legs are very happy. If I have one tiny criticism it's that the bib appears shorter than the photos and I would prefer it slightly higher but it's not a big deal. I do also plan on getting mum to shorten them slightly as I am a bit short (5 foot 4) and they are slightly longer than my preferred. I could cuff them but that's a lot of hassle to get right each time.

Sadly no photos at the moment but I hope to wear them out soon so I will try and remember to get one then.

The One Dollar Horse Book Review

Owned or Library?

Owned

The Cover

Simple yet effective. The horse is lighter in colour than the one in the book but that's not a big deal. My copy also has bright pink page edges.

Synopsis

The One Dollar Horse by Lauren St. John is an uplifting story about refusing to let your dreams die even if the seem hopeless. There are also side themes about trust, putting your faith in a near stranger, trusting that someone is making the right decision and how to overcome setbacks.

Characters

Casey Blue is a very vibrant, real character. She's determined, loyal and doesn't want to give up on Storm.

Mrs Smith is a very elegant character and I like that we weren't given her whole story in one go. She also has a determination that I admire.

Roland Blue is very sweet and kind but very misguided and too easily lead. Hopefully things will stay good for him but judging by the preview for the next book it looks not.

Peter is really sweet and kind and doesn't seem to have any bad points... Except maybe not being open with Casey earlier.

World Building

I really believed it all. From the misery and run-down feeling of Hope(less) Lane (I feel bad for the horses that live there considering how bad London's air quality is and the fact that it doesn't sound like there's much in the way of grazing/turn out) to the energy and atmosphere of the shows, it all seemed so real and very effective.

Conclusion

A great, realistic book who's main flaw is the rushed ending. The epilogue could have been another full chapter easily and I was disappointed that we didn't get a resolution with Mrs Smith unless that's being saved for book 2? One I own and I'd like to own the sequels.

Rating 4.5/5

The Fearless Book Review

Owned or Library?
Library

The Cover
A good representation of what the characters are facing. The girl is a little too clean but I love that she's wearing combat boots, much more practical for fighting.

Synopsis
The Fearless by Emma Pass is about what happens when scientists create a drug to reduce PTSD in soldiers, it develops an unexpected side effect: the soldiers feel no fear, no love, no empathy. Cass's family is torn apart by the events and now 7 years later she must find her brother who has been kidnapped by one of the fearless.

Characters
Cass is very single-minded. She's strong, smart, loyal and reliable. Sometimes she's too loyal and her upbringing has made her a tad naive, she doesn't question things enough.
Sol is a manipulative asshole and the very picture of male entitlement.
Myo is very likable but he needs to grow a spine and be a bit more reasonable. Of course Cass hates the Fearless, they killed her dad and took her brother!
Jori is a sweet kid, we don't really see him enough to get to know him.

World Building
I liked the fact that it was set in England, it's always nice to find countryside descriptions that are familiar. I found it interesting that it was set in the present, it felt like a Dystopian book from the future like Divergent. There was a nice variety of characters but some felt under-developed. Myo's crew were interesting but the constant hints and half-sentences were annoying and even when we got an explanation it seemed a bit incomplete and under-explained.

Conclusion
A really interesting fast-paced books with a great slow-built, real relationship. One I'd probably buy.

Rating 4/5

Thoughts on 'Lady'

So my job is a retail assistant which means I get called a lady quite a lot e.g. mothers to their kids "give your toy to the lady" and for some reason it makes me feel uncomfortable.

I am a cis woman - for those who don't know cis or cisgender is when a person identifies with the sex they were born, I was born female and I identify as female. Someone who doesn't may be Trans*, Genderqueer, Agender or any other variation. At least I 99% identify as cis, some days I feel a bit more masculine or fluid but on the whole I am woman hear me roar (but not really because roaring in public sounds terrifying).

I think part of the problem is that I feel too young to be a lady, the usual term is old lady. It's also to fancy. It also to me sounds a little sexist and condescending i.e. "hey, little lady" usually said by some vaguely pervy looking geezer in old movies.

One way to get round this is for people to use my name but I HATE that because the ones who do use it are always way too familiar and "do I know you?" about it.

I have the same akwardness around pet names. Babe - never, Love - depends who it is and how it's said, Hun - maybe from young females it sounds more matey then, Pet - quite sweet especially from older people.

So in summary I don't much like being called a lady but I don't have much clue as to any alternatives.

P.S. Book reviews may be becoming more regular as I seem to have a format that works. I probably won't review every book I read as it will rather overwhelm this blog.