Real, Not Ideal

Before we  get into this  post  I need to preface it: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING. Do NOT take my word for bible truth. Do NOT trust a thing I say because I am simply a young adult with her first job that is open to screwing up but is also terrible at routine. I’m making things work for me. I’m creating my own sense of what home means and I’m going to share that on here in hopes that it makes someone else feel a little better about where they’re at in life. You can learn from me and maybe I can learn from you at some point.   Got it?   I’m slowly starting to get a work/life balance. Now that I’m spending more time at home (and not working through it), I have an urge to make it seem more homely. My first big step was sparked when  Ozeri  reached out to me and offered some of their products to try out. These products were all gifted, but all views are my own.    My favourite wine requires a corkscrew and I wasn’t adult en...

I am now 24. I know I’ve mentioned my birthday in a couple posts already ( here and here), but I feel the need to reflect on the past year of my life. I think it has been the most monumental.  I finished the hardest year of my life. PGCE kicked me to the curb. I was miserable, and in a dark place that I haven’t really told people about. I got through it. I came out as a teacher - my life long dream.  I returned home for surgery and the worst goodbye yet. I had such a hard time leaving home this time around. I think it was because I did not know when I would be coming back. For all I knew, this was the last time I would be home for an extended period of time. As every other time has helped me grow, I know I am stronger because of it.  I started my first ever career. Being a teacher has been my dream since I was eight. I have a classroom with my name on it, I have strong relationships with students and staff, and I am doing a good job. I can see where I h...

This past month has been a very exciting one full of adventures and lots of good people. As enjoyable as my March in pictures post was to write, this one was equally as enjoyable. I truly love reviewing my month and picking out the best parts ( see my first ever post here seeing as it has officially been five years since I started this post) ). It adds a little positivity to the end of the month and allows me to look forward to what I have coming up in the next month.  Cardiff Visit One of the things I miss the most about living where I do now is that I do not have close friends around. In Cardiff, I used to visit Ellie and Esme often with a bottle of wine and ready to complain about our PGCE. I miss that. I cannot begin to tell you how much it meant to me to be able to see them for a weekend. I also got to see Portia and go shopping at my favourite places. I came back to Leeds refreshed and feeling fulfilled.  Birthday What would a March post be without m...

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan was an absolute favourite last year. The first novel as part of a trilogy turned into a major film. As I was reading, it was clear how it could be turned into a movie. The novel starts with Rachel and Nick’s relationship. As far as Rachel knows, Nick is a normal guy who is just not open to discussing his family and upbringing.  Little does she know that meeting the family puts her in the throes of the highest echelons in Asian society. Don’t let the blurb on the back of the book fool you; although Rachel and Nick’s storyline is the one that loops everything together, numerous characters are introduced through various storylines. Kwan slowly lets the pieces of this family drama out which leads to a wonderful exploration of this family’s life. It can be difficult to keep the relations between the characters straight and that almost put me off reading, but it is worth it for the surprise twist at the end that hooked me in for the next two books! ...

True to my word from last month , I have certainly done more in March. However, it certainly feels like this month has dragged on. I was utterly shocked when a co-worker made me aware that it was only Tuesday today. This post was really fun to make. I’ve been sitting here thinking I’m tired because of work, but maybe it has something to do with how much I’ve actually been up to this month! One of the best parts of this month has been the increase in light. I find my mornings are going so much better because I’m not getting up in pitch dark night. It is a small thing that makes the biggest difference. Not going to work in the dark and coming home from work in the dark has been a lot easier on my mental health. At the beginning of the month, I took a visit to see my good friends in Cardiff . It was the most wonderful weekend away. I have a weird relationship with Cardiff. I love it so much as a city. To me, it feels like home. I absolutely hated the physical spa...

I had an incident happen last week that I would like to share. This is not coming from a place of anger or fear or discontent. It’s coming from a place of disappointment and understanding. Upon reflection, I can only think about my own actions and hope that I can be better in the future. I also hope that I’m never in this situation again, but I know that’s not a possibility. Preface: I’m not going to name companies. They are not responsible for the actions of their employees. However, I can assure you I’ve brought the issue to customer service, and I’m grateful for the seriousness they have approached this issue with. It was Friday night. I was waiting for a food delivery from a greasy food chain. I was with my sister and my boyfriend, and I was wearing sweatpants and NOT a bra. When I got the call, I put a sweater on to make the braless situation less obvious. I went downstairs and got my food from the courier, who seemed nice. Since I’m a Canadian living in the UK, I’m used...

It has been a while since I reviewed a book. I miss doing this. I got on a bit of a thriller kick after reading one of Gillian Flynn’s first novels (I’m writing this quite out of order so there is no review for you), and I wanted to keep reading more. So here we go! Dark Places starts off instantly with extreme mystery. The introduction of the novel is clothed in secrets. When Libby comes back to her hometown years after the horrific murder of her mother and sister, she wants answers. Her brother, Ben, was initially blamed for the murders, but Libby is now sucked into a group determined to prove his innocence. The novel places the family at the forefront of the reader’s mind. We connect with Libby more as we realise she is so much like her own mother. As the events unravel, we are like everyone else – we do not know the details of the case. The fantastic use of dramatic irony directly draws in the reader and makes them question the events as they happen. It is interesting to see ...