Real, Not Ideal

I don’t know about you, but it feels like February has flown by! I can’t say it’s been a busy month; it’s more like a month of sinking back into routine. Last month, I was so ready to get back to school. It’s been great so far. I’m loving my classes, and I’m doing well with keeping on top of readings. I went to watch The Superbowl with friends (we didn’t make it to halftime), took control of my own body, and I’ve made myself a solid group of friends. I’m really happy. Here’s what got me through the month: 1.        NetGalley     I’m sure you can tell based on the sheer amount of book reviews I’ve been posting, but I have been reading quite a lot. This is all thanks to NetGalley. I have been a member of the site for over a year, but I never really got into it until now. At home, I have an extensive bookshelf, but I couldn’t bring that to the UK with me. I turned to NetGalley, and I have been rewarded. As a member, I request book titles and...

              I’ve been realizing over the past few months in particular that the concept of “help” is different for everyone. At some point in everyone’s lives, we are all going to need help. The thing is, not everyone will actually get the help they need; some people will not have the capacity to look inside themselves and say “I am not okay.” I get it – inner reflection is terrifying. You could find out some pretty scary things about yourself, but when you reach for the outermost corners of your being, you could also find tools you never knew you had. In short, it takes a lot of strength and bravery to look inside yourself. It takes even more to realize when you are not okay and get help. At three crucial points in my life, I got help in the form of counselling. [source]               When I was in elementary school, I was bullied by exclusion. ...

If you have a busy schedule, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If being a little healthier was one of your New Year’s resolutions and you’ve already forgotten about it, consider this post your opportunity for a resolutions- reboot. The people at Nuts.com understand how hard it is to stay healthy in the workplace, and they have given me the opportunity to share my own tips with you. 1.        Pack your own lunch. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fallen into the issue where it’s just easier to grab a sandwich or muffin for lunch instead of packing my own. I’m the kind of person that will see the chocolate bar and get it just because it’s convenient. You’ll be a lot healthier in packing your own lunch. Giving yourself one option makes it easier to stick to being healthy in the workplace. Make sure you pack it the night before so you’re not rushing in the morning! 2.        Take time to yourself. ...

*I received this a free e-book from NetGalley , and all opinions are my own* I decided to request this book because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. Fragile and Perfectly Cracked: A Memoir of Loss and Infertility by Sophie Wyndham is the most shocking introduction to memoirs I possibly could have chosen. The thing about memoirs is that it’s true, and it hits you where it hurts. I am young, and I have no reason to be reading a book about infertility, but I’m glad I did. Wyndham’s story shows us about the new hope of a baby and the cyclical nature of infertility. The jumps in time are significant and reflect the way thoughts and memories are formed when we reach for the past. [source] It is written in a way that makes the author and the reader completely connected. We feel the heartbreak and disconnect involved with looking back on difficult times. Wyndham writes in such a way that gives us exact thoughts in her head as the events play out. I felt the tedious nature...

We live within a society that places an importance on sex. All you need to do is look at pretty much any ad to see an over-sexualisation of the human body. I read an article by Rashida Jones in Glamour magazine in January 2014 titled “Major Don’t: The Pornification of Everything.” The article goes on to tear down our sex culture and explain the implications of “pornification,” particularly on women. Take me for example. It is extremely difficult for me to look in the mirror and say that I’m beautiful . And by beautiful, I mean sexy. “Sexy” is not a term I would use to describe myself whatsoever. The reason for that is that I don’t know what being sexy means. Media tells me that being sexy means being promiscuous and skinny and revealing parts of myself that I’m not comfortable with. That’s just not who I am. So am I still sexy? [source] Apparently, I’m not the only woman to question this. Glamour did a study in 1993 that said 39% of women enjoy sex more if they lost weight. ...

I am back with another book review through NetGalley . I received the e-book for free, and all opinions are my own. 183 Times a Year by Eva Jordan tells the story of a tumultuous mother/daughter relationship between Lizzie and Cassie. It is another duo-narrated story that accurately represents the major differences between mother and daughter. Lizzie is the mom putting too much pressure on herself within all aspects of her life. She does whatever she can as a mother, which often goes unappreciated.   She has brilliant moments of sass that makes one smile. Overall, Lizzie is a positive character, and we feel for her when she realizes her mother/daughter bond dreams are dashed. I felt so connected to Lizzie when she was seeking moments of clarity and laughed when the truth about her younger years came out. Eventually, Lizzie starts to break under the tensions in her life and the appearance of a “black dog” in her mind becomes troubling. Cassie is the typical teenage girl. She is ...

Sorry for the day-late post! I was so focused on my school work yesterday that I completely forgot about the blog - just goes to show you how focused I've actually been. I'll also be posting on Wednesday instead of Tuesday so I can maintain space between posts. Just to keep you updated. I’m going to admit something straight up – I plagiarized this title from the article I was inspired by. The truth is, I can’t say it any more blatantly than that; it’s perfect. In the article found in Glamour magazine (I forgot to write the year down), the author Megan Angelo describes just how disappointed she is that female friendships are not portrayed on TV. I remember watching a documentary about how females are portrayed in media, and the reason we’re so misrepresented is because TV is a predominantly male field of work. We have shows like Sex in the City that show us accurate friendships: brunch, shopping, and dishing about the partners we’re into, but the higher Escalante isn't qu...

As I mentioned in my monthly favourites post , I had a lot of time in January. I ended up getting back into reading. I feel so much more like myself, and I have been flying through novels. I finished this one in two days,  started and finished another, and I’m on another that I’ll probably finish within the next couple days! Get ready for more posts! I received this as a free e-book through NetGalley , and all opinions are my own. The Death of Ruth by Elizabeth Kata takes on an interesting psychological view of a woman tortured by her own wrongdoings. Molly Blake’s life is set up as perfect compared to that of her neighbour Ruth Malston. When Molly confronts Ruth for her abusive actions towards her children, the confrontation will change the course of Molly’s life. Molly finds an unlikely partnership with Ruth’s husband who helps hide her secret. We see her completely deteriorate and find comfort in talking to spirits that haunt her mind. Meanwhile, the world around is moving o...