tag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453Regan LeanneRegan LeanneRegan Leanne2016-04-09T21:47:33Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:11275reganoutloud @ 2016-04-09T22:47:002016-04-09T21:47:33Z2016-04-09T21:47:33Zstressedpublic0<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-219" src="https://reganoutloud.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/hiatus-2.png?w=640" alt="hiatus-2" width="640" height="244" /><br />Things are seriously <em>INSANE!</em> I've got my exams in a few weeks so I'm totally stressed out right now. It's all just revision revision revision and my brain is bleeding out of my ears. It'll all be worth it after the summer when I ace those exams and start university though!<br /><br />I <strong>will</strong> be back soon, I <font color="#e94e77"><strong>promise</strong><em>!</em></font><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=11275" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:11109Ip Man2016-04-03T20:41:24Z2016-04-03T20:41:24Zsurprisedpublic0<img src="https://reganoutloud.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/ip-man-movie-poster-2008-1020698460.jpg" width="208" height="300" align="left"><b><i>Ip Man</i></b><br /><b>The blurb:</b> A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the successful martial arts master who taught the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun to the world.<br /><b>My rating:</b> 4/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> action, biography, drama<br /><b>Date I watched this movie</b> 03/04/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b>I really wasn't sure what I was going to think about this. Martial Arts movies, although I do karate, have never really appealed to me, but I agreed to let Faisal pick a movie and this is what he chose!<br /><br />I will still say that this is definitely a slow starter, you have to wait a bit before you really get into it and you have to overlook the bad acting at the beginning. Once the movie kicks in, literally, then you really begin to appreciate it.<br /><br />I think it tells a decent story of the life of Ip Man and the occupation of China by the Japanese at that time. Obviously I'm not sure how true to real life the movie is because I'm not familiar with the time period but it does add background to the character of Ip Man, so the movie wasn't just about kicking ass and taking names. <br /><br />As far as the fighting scenes are concerned, Donnie Yen does do his art justice. I just loved the way the story make him seem invincible and you root for him when he fights the baddie who beats all the other masters.<br /><br />Surprisingly good and I'm actually looking forward to seeing the rest of the series<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=11109" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:10691reganoutloud @ 2016-03-27T21:15:002016-03-27T20:20:31Z2016-03-27T20:20:31Zembarrassedpublic1Hello!<br /><br />Sorry I've not been around. I kind of went and got myself grounded. Such a teenage thing to do, I know, and so embarassing because I've not been grounded in like 2 or 3 years. I did deserve it though - I was an awful horrible brat of a bitch to Jade Rachel and said some vile things. None of which I really meant, not at all - they all just came out in the heat of the moment. <br /><br />We've sat and talked and everything and I know she knows I didn't mean it. But she also says she knows why I said them and stuff. So we're cool again. I'm mostly just embarassed. <br /><br />I'm just getting my phone and internet and computer back again now. Oh how I missed them!<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=10691" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:10396My month in music - February 20162016-03-04T17:17:59Z2016-03-04T17:17:59Zpublic0<span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='https://badfalcon.dreamwidth.org/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png' alt='[personal profile] ' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://badfalcon.dreamwidth.org/'><b>badfalcon</b></a></span> wrote a post the other day about the music she'd listened to in February and how eclectic it was. <br /><br />I thought it would be quite cool to look at what I listened to last month. I know my music taste isn't particularly varied - I like pop music - and my top artists I listened to in February 2016 are:<br /><ul><br />5 Seconds Of Summer<br />Justin Bieber<br />One Direction<br />Meghan Trainor<br />Shawn Mendes<br />Mideau<br />Shannon Saunders<br />The Vamps<br />Rita Ora<br />Ariana Grande<br /></ul><br />See, like I said - I like pop music. It's fun to listen to and easy to find. 5SOS, Justin and 1D are definitely my favourites at the moment, although I'm surprised that Miley Cyrus isn't on the list because I <b>love</b> her! <br /><br />My most played track was <i>Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass</i><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7PCkvCPvDXk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><br /><br />If you're on last.fm, you should totally add me as a friend too! <a href="http://www.last.fm/user/reganleanne/" target="_blank">http://www.last.fm/user/reganleanne/</a> is me :)<br /><br /><b>What have you been listening to recently?</b><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=10396" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:10023Goals update2016-03-01T01:56:20Z2016-03-01T01:56:20Zpublic0I started 2016 with two sets of goals - <b>7 Things In 2016</b> and <b>101 Things In 1001 Days</b>, and since we've reached the end of February, I thought it might be an idea to check in and see how I'm doing.<br /><br />My <u>7 Things In 2016</u>:<br /><b>Learn how to write calligraphy</b> I haven't even looked to see if there's any books in the library or youtube tutorials. This may have to be a task to pick up once my exams are done<br /><b>Start blogging regularly</b> Yes! I think I've done this really well. I'm quite happy with my blogging.<br /><b>Stop biting my nails</b> :(<br /><b>Take a vacation to Rome</b> I will be going in the summer!<br /><b>Find a way to be more organized</b> I've managed to keep both my bedrooms tidy all year so that's a start<br /><b>Try sushi</b> My Aunt Emily has promised to take me but we've not made it yet<br /><b>Be more patient, especially with myself</b> I'm still working on how to do this<br /><br />As for my <u>101 Things In 1001 Days</u>:<br /><b>Completed - 7</b><br />Write a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days! <br />Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find <br />Buy a lottery ticket <br />Hug 10 people in one day <br />Hug someone on National Hug Day <br />Send a handwritten letter <br />Bake a chocolate cake <br />Keep my room tidy for a month <br /> <br /><b>In progress - 7</b><br />Graduate college <br />Donate blood <br />Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind" <br />Watch 26 movies I've never seen starting with each letter of the Alphabet <br />Read 26 books I've never read starting with each letter of the alphabet <br />Read 100 books <br />Start University<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=10023" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:9826Preparing to give blood2016-02-29T12:42:52Z2016-02-29T12:42:52Zpublic2I have an appointment tomorrow to give blood for the very first time. I'm scared and excited and nervous and feeling kind of <img src="http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww173/prestonjjrtr/Smileys/AfraidScared01.gif"><br />It can't be <i>that</i> bad... hundreds of people donate and the nurses who do it are professionals and stuff but it's still a little overwhelming to think about it. <br /><br />I just got an email from the Blood Donation service to remind me about my appointment and to give me some tips. <blockquote>Preparing to give blood<br />Follow our tips to make your blood donation experience pleasant, safe and straightforward.<br /><br /><b>Eat</b><br />Eat regular meals to help you avoid feeling lightheaded.<br /><br /><b>Sleep</b><br />A good night's sleep will boost wellbeing.<br /><br /><b>Drink</b><br />Drink plenty of fluids 24 hours before donating, but avoid alcohol.<br /><br /><b>Wear</b><br />Put on loose and comfortable clothing, avoid tight sleeves.<br /><br /><b>Distract</b><br />Nervousness is normal, come with a friend or bring along a book or MP3 player so you can relax during your visit.<br /><br /><b>Know</b><br />Knowing your medical, body piercing and travel history will save you time.<br /><br /><b>Exercise</b><br />You can still exercise, but don't do anything more strenuous than usual: this applies before and after donating blood. Also ensure you are fully recovered and well hydrated before you donate blood. </blockquote><br /><br />My appointment is at 3:50pm tomorrow... <b>wish me luck?</b><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=9826" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:9515Always be yourself... unless you can be a unicorn2016-02-26T02:25:07Z2016-02-26T02:25:07Zaccomplishedpublic0One of my <b>101 Things In 1001 Days</b> goals is to <i>Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find</i><br /><br /><img src="https://reganoutloud.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/reganote.jpg" alt="" width="388" height="388" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-188" /><br />Today, I left this note inside a copy of Me Before You @ Waterstones in Kensington, London<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=9515" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:9470The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong2016-02-25T12:14:46Z2016-02-25T12:14:46Zpublic0<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1281551624l/7989500.jpg" align="left" /><b><i>Kelley Armstrong - The Gathering</i></b><br /><b>The blurb</b>: Maya Delaney has always felt a close bond with nature. The woods around her home are a much-loved sanctuary and the pawprint birthmark on her hip feels like a sign that she belongs. But then strange and terrible things begin to happen in the tiny medical-research town of Salmon Creek!<br /><br /><b>My rating:</b> 4/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> young adult, paranormal, urban fantasy, supernatural<br /><b>Date I started this book:</b> 21/02/2016<br /><b>Date I finished this book</b> 24/02/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b> The Gathering is the first in a new young adult trilogy set in the same universe as Women of the Otherworld and is similar her The Darkest Powers trilogy. The small town where Maya lives is run by the St. Cloud family and she believes they're working on top secret medical research. There's a good chance that's exactly what they're doing, but established fans will know who the St. Clouds are even though they've not featured heavily in her other books.<br /><br />The plot is fairly slow and I'm not sure if it will appeal to readers new to Kelley's world. Personally, I love trying to make all the connections.<br /><br />Sadly, the book doesn't really finish. It's designed as part one of a trilogy and it's obvious at the end that there's still much more to tell. I don't mind this so much because I've already started book two<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=9470" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:8992Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind2016-02-21T21:19:55Z2016-02-21T21:19:55Zimpressedpublic0<img src="https://reganoutloud.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/eternalsunshine.jpg" width="203" height="300" align="left"><b><i>Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind</i></b><br /><b>The blurb:</b> When their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a procedure to have each other erased from their memories. But it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with.<br /><b>My rating:</b> 4/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> drama, romance, science-fiction<br /><b>Date I watched this movie</b> 21/02/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b>I watched this movie with my dad and Jimmy - my Dad's a big Jim Carrey film and I'd never heard of this movie until now. <br /><br />The movie basically tells the story of Joel and Clementine, they had a relationship that did not end well, luckily for both, there is a doctor who offers an alternative to suffering from heart breaking: erase all the memories related to a person. While the premise sounds a little too weird, it establishes a very interesting possibility, what if you could do this? It makes you think about it for a while; yes, we do all have memories we would wish to go away, but would we do it? Is it better to forget than to face and learn from the experience? The `memory deleting' situation is definitely one of the best moments of the film.<br /><br />And it is because in Joel's `memory deleting' process (which takes the most part of the film), we get to see all their memories together... tender moments that make you realize what a wonderful relationship they had. It is in this moment in which Joel faces the fact that he may not want to delete Clementine from his head. There are other subplots related to the characters who perform the `memory deleting' which are ok but do not add anything of value to the central story of Joel and Clementine.<br /><br />While it has some funny moments the movie is not a comedy, actually Carrey's acting is superb in his character of quiet and indecisive Joel, Kate Winslet performs great as supporting Clementine in Joel's brain while his memories are being deleted.<br /><br />Do not be fooled by the premise of the film, it is a very serious movie about relationships and what we learn from them.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=8992" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:8704The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong2016-02-21T13:53:20Z2016-02-21T13:53:20Zpublic0<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327154591l/6468666.jpg" align="left" /><b><i>Kelley Armstrong - The Reckoning</i></b><br /><b>The blurb</b>: Chloe Saunders is fifteen and would love to be normal. Unfortunately, Chloe happens to be a genetically engineered necromancer who can raise the dead without even trying. She and her equally gifted (or should that be 'cursed'?) friends are now running for their lives from the evil corporation that created them.<br /><br />As if that's not enough, Chloe is struggling with her feelings for Simon, a sweet-tempered sorcerer, and his brother Derek, a not so sweet-tempered werewolf. And she has a horrible feeling she's leaning towards the werewolf...<br /><br />Definitely not normal. <br /><br /><b>My rating:</b> 4/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> young adult, paranormal, urban fantasy, supernatural<br /><b>Date I started this book:</b> 17/02/2016<br /><b>Date I finished this book</b> 20/02/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b> Chloe, Derek, Simon and Tori have escaped the catches of the Edison Group with the help of Andrew. A former employee of the Edison Group, and a friend of the boys' dad, he and a small group of other ex-employees want to stop the experiments the EG are performing and feel the kids may just have the information they need to do so. But Chloe and her friends are cautious. They've been through a lot, escaped and been caught repeatedly, and betrayed by those they trusted completely already, is Andrew's offer of help too good to be true? And even if it is, do they have a choice about staying with him?<br /><br />I liked the previous two books in this trilogy, but I didn't love them. I always felt like they were lacking something. But this one I liked a lot more. It felt smoother, like the series really hit its stride. It's well-paced with a fair bit of action and some good twists and turns. A couple of things along the way I really didn't see coming.<br /><br />The love triangle between Chloe and the brothers, Derek and Simon, played out really well and I love how it worked out. Chloe grew up a lot through this book and it really showed. Not to mention she finally learned to stand up for herself. Aside from Chloe, I felt Derek and Tori grew a fair bit through this last book as well making them that bit more 'real' to me. Simon is pretty much the same, but his character serves his purpose just fine, without being forgotten.<br /><br />Aside from the romantic entanglements, the plot is not so cleanly wrapped up. The biggest things are dealt with, but not everything. Why? Because while this is a trilogy, it's the first part of a series. The second trilogy is titled 'Darkness Rising' and follows different characters, subjects of a different Edison Group project. I'm just starting the first of them, The Gathering, and hope we do get to see more of Chloe and her friends. <br /><br />Back to this book. While there are certain things left open-ended, the majority of plot threads are tied up in this book, or at least enough to give a satisfying conclusion. I would have liked a little more in some ways, but given this is actually the start of a series, which has at least three more books to go, I can't really expect it to be all tied up.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=8704" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:8688How To Be Single2016-02-19T23:14:28Z2016-02-19T23:14:28Zpublic1<img src="https://reganoutloud.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/how-to-be-single-poster.jpg?w=202" alt="how-to-be-single-poster" width="202" height="300" align="left"><b><i>How To Be Single</i></b><br /><b>The blurb:</b> New York City is full of lonely hearts seeking the right match, and what Alice, Robin, Lucy, Meg, Tom and David all have in common is the need to learn how to be single in a world filled with ever-evolving definitions of love.<br /><b>My rating:</b> 2.5/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> comedy, romance<br /><b>Date I watched this movie</b> 19/02/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b>At first I thought I was going to really hate this movie. It starts out force feeding us these opinions on what it means to be single and the dialog that the actors spit out is just so dry and formulated that I just wanted to shoot myself.<br /><br />Luckily, I didn't because the film took the turn for the OK, as we get to know the characters a little bit better. Give it up for some good acting and decent character development that causes you to feel something for everyone in the movie. Even the smallest character had a story to tell, some were interesting and others were touching and well done. <br /><br />It's a strange movie about letting relationships take their course without showing all that stuff, because the main story is about the relationship you have with yourself. <br /><br />It wasn't a brilliant movie, it wasn't as funny as I thought it would be but overall it was just a good film to sit through<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=8688" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:8411You're Never Weird On The Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day2016-02-19T15:58:32Z2016-02-19T15:58:32Zpublic1<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1440565049l/23705512.jpg" align="left" /><b><i>Felicia Day - You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)</i></b><br /><b>The blurb</b>: From online entertainment mogul, actress, and “queen of the geeks” Felicia Day, a funny, quirky, and inspiring memoir about her unusual upbringing, her rise to Internet-stardom, and embracing her individuality to find success in Hollywood.<br /><br />The Internet isn’t all cat videos. There’s also Felicia Day—violinist, filmmaker, Internet entrepreneur, compulsive gamer, hoagie specialist, and former lonely homeschooled girl who overcame her isolated childhood to become the ruler of a new world... or at least semi-influential in the world of Internet Geeks and Goodreads book clubs.<br /><br />After growing up in the south where she was "home-schooled for hippie reasons", Felicia moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and was immediately typecast as a crazy cat-lady secretary. But Felicia’s misadventures in Hollywood led her to produce her own web series, own her own production company, and become an Internet star.<br /><br />Felicia’s short-ish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Now, Felicia’s strange world is filled with thoughts on creativity, video games, and a dash of mild feminist activism—just like her memoir.<br /><br />Hilarious and inspirational, You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is proof that everyone should embrace what makes them different and be brave enough to share it with the world, because anything is possible now—even for a digital misfit.<br /><br /><b>My rating:</b> 4/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> humour, iggleworms, memoir, non-fiction<br /><b>Date I started this book:</b> 16/02/2016<br /><b>Date I finished this book</b> 18/02/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b> This isn't the type of book I would normally read but I read it for <a href="http://geekgirlpenpals.com/" target="_blank">International Geek Girls Penpals Club</a> Bookworms February 2016 Book Of The Month. And I'm really glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it. <br /><br />I first found out about Felicia Day when I she started guest-starring on Supernatural and didn't really know much else about her other than that she's a really big geek.<br /><br />Her memoir is an honest insight into all the wacky and wonderful that has made her the person she is today. From her unconventional upbringing that allowed her to be as weird as she wanted to be, as she was homeschooled and didn't face the same social pressure kids and teenagers generally do to fit in, to her struggles as an aspiring actress in Hollywood with a seemingly useless double degree in math and music. And from developing a serious World of Warcraft addiction, right down to using the knowledge she gained spending all those hours lost in a fantasy world to create something that startkicked her career in the geekverse. She wrote The Guild, which focuses on a group of people playing a similar game to WoW and was too niche at the time to be picked up by an established television network, but it was perfect for the Internet; the web series was born.<br /><br />It is not an easy road though and Felicia doesn't gloss over the more difficult parts of her life, which makes this not only an incredibly relatable read for those of us who have grown up with the internet, but also genuinely inspiring and insightful for both existing fans of and those who picked up the memoir because they're interested in one of the TV-shows Felicia has been a part of or the change the Internet has brought to the world; it has fundamentally changed the way we communicate with each other. Forming relationships with someone on the other side of a screen can be both a blessing and a curse at times. Yes, it has become easier to find like-minded people anywhere in the world that we feel that connection with, but it has also become so much easier for the human race to let their worst side flourish, hiding behind the safety of fake personas and made-up screen names - and Felicia has faced some of the worst examples of this herself.<br /><br />Many of Felicia's stories resonated with me. I may not have grown up becoming as invested in video games as her but I had similar experiences online. I vividly remember the feeling of wonder at having the world at my fingertips and losing hours - sometimes days - when completely engrossed in something on the Internet, usually Youtube or Tumblr. It was interesting to read about how 'back in the day' it was the rare excitement of connecting with someone who was as much into a barely known fandom as you were and using existing characters in role-playing games or fan fiction that made those hours disappear.<br /><br />You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is an insightful and honest memoir about one woman's journey of growing up and finding her place in the world, both online and offline. Felicia's witty and self-aware humour shines through on every page, even the ones detailing low points in her life. She does so unashamed of being different, instead highlighting that she is proud of the quirks that make her unique and, well, her. We could all do with some reassurance every now and again that it is okay to completely be yourself, whatever shape or form this may take (as long as you don't hurt someone by doing so), and this book provides just that, while at the same time being an incredibly funny and fascinating read that was just addictive as the Internet itself can be.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=8411" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:8122Accepted2016-02-18T18:11:40Z2016-02-18T18:11:40Zpublic2I am <b><i>so</i></b> excited! I found out that I've been accepted into university! My first choice university and the course that I really really really REALLY wanted to do! <br /><br />For as long as I can remember I've wanted to be a sociocultural anthropologist. I know, probably a really strange thing to want to be and I don't even remember what started it. And, in case you're wondering, because a lot of people do, sociocultural anthropology is studying what it means to be human, how we calculate who we are related to, how we make a living, how we organize the world, and all of the beliefs that are part of religion, science, and the arts. <br /><br />I'm in college right now, doing my A2s in English, History, Psychology and Sociology. I've got my exams in a couple of months and I mentioned the other day how I'm all stressed. Well, it's all going to be worth it. <br /><br />As long as I pass my exams with a BBBB or higher, I am going to The University Of Aberdeen in September to study Anthropology and Sociology. <br />I'm predicted AABB so hopefully hopefully I should get it. <br /><br />I'm <b>SO EXCITED</b><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=8122" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:7740The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong2016-02-16T22:58:37Z2016-02-16T22:58:37Zdisappointedpublic0<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1299032261l/6615018.jpg" align="left"><b><i>Kelley Armstrong - The Awakening</i></b><br /><b>The blurb</b>: You don't have to be alive to be awakened.<br /><br />Chloe Saunders is a living science experiment—not only can she see ghosts, but she was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. She's a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control, which means she can raise the dead without even trying. Now Chloe's running for her life with three of her supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and they have to find someone who can help them before the Edison Group catches them.<br /><br /><i>Or die trying</i><br /><br /><b>My rating:</b> 4/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> young adult, paranormal, urban fantasy, supernatural<br /><b>Date I started this book:</b> 10/02/2016<br /><b>Date I finished this book</b> 16/02/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b> The Summoning was so exciting and I was really looking forward to reading The Awakening. I've now read it, and I'm feeling a little disappointed.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, the book itself wasn't bad; the characters are just as awesome as they were before, the writing as just as good, there's no fault there. I think my problem is with the plot. I haven't read the third book in the series, The Reckoning, yet, obviously, but it felt to me like Kelley knew how the series was going to end, but couldn't just start The Reckoning after The Summoning, so needed The Awakening as filler to bridge the gap. Not an awful lot happens for a book of its length. Before I knew it, I was over half way through, and still waiting for something important to the actual plot line from The Summoning.<br /><br />I love the way Kelley writes; Chloe's voice, thoughts and fears are just so fascinating, you don't want to put the book down. I want to get to know Chloe, and the others, better because their lives and what they're going through is just so clever. Chloe learns a little more about her necromancy ability in this book, and it's kind of freaky just how far she can go. Tori has to face some harsh truths, and I can't help but feel sorry for her, even when she is being a cow. Derek is so awesome, I swear; he's strong, he's brave, he's self-sacrificing, he's just brilliant! Simon is lovely, but he annoys me sometimes with just how nice he is. I know he likes Chloe, but he shouldn't be so happy-cheery all the time, it's grating. Liz is still one of my favourite characters, she's just on the right side of quirky, and I love her! I am liking the hint of a love triangle that weaves its way throughout the book, though I know who I would choose.<br /><br />They find out something huge about themselves in this book, and it puts them all on edge a little, though I can't really go into why without spoiling a major plot point (which I would like to point out we find out at the beginning of the book). There is a fair amount of action, of the creepy ghost/zombie kind, dodging baddies kind, and fighting kind, and it's all suspenseful and will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Quite a bit of a thrill roller-coaster.<br /><br />I'm really looking forward to reading The Reckoning<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=7740" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:7646Carrie (2013)2016-02-14T19:31:18Z2016-02-14T19:31:18Zpublic0<img src="https://reganoutloud.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/carrie2013.jpg?w=200" alt="carrie2013" width="200" height="300" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-161" /><b><i>Carrie (2013)</i></b><br /><b>The blurb:</b> A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White, a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother, who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.<br /><b>My rating:</b> 3/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> drama, horror<br /><b>Date I watched this movie</b> 14/02/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b>Carrie White is regarded as a loser, a loner, a social outcast. She is the daughter of an obsessively religious & overbearing mother. She also possesses the ability of telekinesis, and when Carrie gets upset or angry things around her tend to break, smash or get damaged, so when some vicious school bullies cross the line with their "fun", Carrie can't help but get a little angry. This causes Carrie to unleash her full fury at anyone who gets in her way.<br /><br />Filmmakers can obviously achieve a certain level of effects now that they couldn't way back in 1976, and there are some pretty impressive effects here. It's not an effects-laden extravaganza and quite rightly it shouldn't be as Carrie is story-pushed and not effects-pushed, but some of the effects in the movie are well done and pretty cool to watch.<br /><br />Chloë Grace Moretz does a really good job of playing Carrie bringing her own believability to the character, and Julianne Moore performs equally as good as Margaret White, Carrie's mother. The members who played the bullies - especially Portia Doubleday as Chris Hargensen - were also believable in their parts, and when it came to their time I had absolutely no sympathy. I cheered inside when they really got what they deserved.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=7646" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:7410Deadpool2016-02-14T13:22:40Z2016-02-14T13:22:40Zpublic0<img src="https://reganoutloud.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/deadpool.jpg?w=158" alt="deadpool" width="158" height="300" align="left"><b><i>Deadpool</i></b><br /><b>The blurb:</b> A former Special Forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopting the alter ego Deadpool.<br /><b>My rating:</b> 4/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> action, adventure, fantasy<br /><b>Date I watched this movie</b> 13/02/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b>I thought this was an 18 and I was going to have to try to sneak in but it was a 15 so I was all good and legal in attendance!<br /><br />This movie is completely mad. Thanks to the brilliantly funny, no-holds-barred brand of comedy that is absolutely everywhere from start to finish, Deadpool is a consistently hilarious comedy, made even better by a very well-written plot, excellent performances, and amazingly directed action.<br /><br />Deadpool is a movie made for the fans. In comic book lore, he's the ultimate foul-mouthed, wise-cracking rogue superhero, and the movie takes that character and places him on-screen in exactly the same form. Therefore, rather than the more family friendly, action-oriented superhero movies that dominate the box office nowadays, prepare for something completely different.<br /><br />Although the story and action are great, it's the humour that's the real stand-out of this movie. There's so much bad language, and so much adult humour, but in this movie, it works like magic.<br /><br />I didn't think Deadpool was the funniest movie ever, but I was laughing on a consistent basis right the way through this movie. The shock value of the swearing, extreme violence, self-referential humour and countless fourth wall breaks didn't wear off at all, which is testament to just how brilliant a script this film has. Even if you're not into the world of superheroes, Deadpool can still be a fantastically enjoyable movie just because it's so funny.<br /><br />But don't think that this is just a comedy, because it does shine on the story and action front too. Whilst tying into the X-Men Universe, Deadpool is a very unique superhero movie. It's not all about saving the world, it's just a story of a guy who wants to get revenge on a man who completely ruined his life. And because of that, you can actually relate to this guy more so than any other big blockbuster superhero because his determination is so simple and real.<br /><br />As well as revenge story, Deadpool is also a bit of a love story. It's the revenge that drives the film, but the relationship between Wade Wilson and his old girlfriend is a genuinely believable one (helped by the fact that Reynolds and Morena Baccarin work so well together), and is yet another brilliantly-written plot point that allows you to get more invested in what is a hugely entertaining film.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=7410" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:7058While you and I are running out of time2016-02-11T23:07:45Z2016-02-11T23:07:45Zstressedpublic0Sometimes I really wish I had a time-turner so I could get more stuff done. More hours in the day would be great. Of course, I bet that if I <i>did</i> have more hours I still wouldn't get the chance to do the things <b>I</b> want to do in them. <br /><br />I miss doing all the extra-curricular stuff I could do before. I miss having the time to ride, to swim, to do gymnastics, to practice karate, to see Chelsea play. Even just the time to play with Caden Bryce or read with him. <br /><br />I get up. I get on the tube to college (and read). I go to college. I get on the tube home (and read). I do homework. I do extra reading. Sometimes I get time to come online - although often it gets done on a few minutes between classes, or on a free period. And then it feels like it's time for bed before it all starts again. <br /><br />It's not even a lack of time management. It's just the time of year. I'm only a couple of months away from my A-Level exams. Coursework is all due. All of my teachers want all of my time, all of my effort and I have a couple of really heavy workload courses.<br /><br />I always make time on a Friday night though to go to the cinema. Sometimes with friends, sometimes with Jade Rachel and Erin and Dad and Jimmy (and sometimes Caden Bryce) It all depends on what's coming out. Tomorrow my BFF Georgia & I are going to see either Deadpool or Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. <br /><br />Weekends seem to be filled with sleep and coursework. And then I have to be very particular about what I do because there's only so many hours in the day. Usually I go swimming because that's a lot easier to fit into a spare moment than having to schedule around the gymnastics or karate classes. I always try and have Sunday afternoons free so I can just chill, watch a DVD, do some colouring... just properly relax before everything starts again on Monday morning. <br /><br />I possibly didn't schedule the start of the 101 Things In 1001 Days at the best time, because there's also fitting in the things I want to do there. <br /><br />I don't mean to sound ungrateful or like a whiney little bitch, I really don't. I love everything that I'm doing, I love being in college, having the opportunity to study etc etc. I guess I might be a little stressed and I know I'm tired. I just miss doing some of the things I love, some of the things that I feel define part of who I am.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=7058" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:6749The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong2016-02-10T21:34:04Z2016-02-10T21:34:04Zpublic2<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327890699l/2800905.jpg" align="left"><b><i>Kelley Armstrong - The Summoning</i></b><br /><b>The blurb</b>: My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.<br /><br />All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost - and the ghost saw me.<br /><br />Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House... before its skeletons come back to haunt me.<br /><br /><b>My rating:</b> 4/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> young adult, paranormal, urban fantasy, supernatural<br /><b>Date I started this book:</b> 03/02/2016<br /><b>Date I finished this book</b> 06/02/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b> I thought The Summoning was a really thoroughly enjoyable read and am very much looking forward to reading the next two in the series.<br /><br />The first chapter (which is a prologue featuring a young Chloe) had me hooked from the first page. It sets the tone for how this book is going to be, a bit creepy with lots of ideas left for you to get your head around. I really liked how it takes a while for the reader (and Chloe for that matter) to really grasp what is going on in this book. There is so much that is teased out slowly as the book goes on and Chloe gets so many mixed messages that she starts to doubt herself which means you as the reader do too.<br /><br />Another thing I loved about this book was the characterisation. Chloe was a fab leading lady and enjoyed following her story but I also loved all of the other teenagers around her, even Tori was was a complete bitch to everyone. I loved the dialogue between them as it was often witty and amusing.<br /><br />Once the book kicks off the action is fast paced and exciting. I loved finding out about the supernatural potentials of the main characters and delving more into the whys and wherefores of how they all ended up at Lyle house and why the place was built in the first place.<br /><br />The ending was jaw dropping. I was stunned about what happened between two of the characters and when the book ended I wanted more straight away.<br /><br />All in all an excellent start to a trilogy that I can't wait to continue.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=6749" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:5802Most Gods throw dice, but Fate plays chess2016-02-04T19:38:31Z2016-02-04T19:38:31Zfrustratedpublic0I cannot play chess. It makes no sense to me. It doesn't matter how many times I try and learn how to play the game, it just escapes me. It makes no sense. This piece can only do this and that piece can only do that. There's all these strategies and a ridiculous amount of forward planning.<br /><br />And how seriously people take it! Isn't it supposed to be a game, supposed to be fun?<br /><br />I can't do it. I can't play chess. Or, well, I can't play chess well. Or remember the rules. I'm not destined to be some grandmaster. I'm probably never even going to ever win a game. All my pieces fell to the dark side. You'd think by now I'd have learned my lesson by how many times I've failed and given up trying. <br /><br />I bet I won't. I bet next time Devin challenges me to a game I'll accept. <br />And lose. <br />And sulk.<br />And rail chess. <br /><br />Which makes me wonder. Which is worse: doing something and sucking at it or never trying it in the first place?<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=5802" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:5546Old soul2016-02-03T21:35:07Z2016-02-08T13:16:02Zthoughtfulpublic0Sometimes I feel a lot older than 17.<br />Sometimes I feel a lot younger than 17. <br />I get people tell me I should act my age, to stop liking stuff I'm too old for, to stop doing things I'm too young to do <br />I've never been 17 before so how am I supposed to know how to act and how feel?<br /><br /><span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='https://www.dreamwidth.org/profile?user=imaginerireann'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png' alt='[profile] ' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://www.dreamwidth.org/profile?user=imaginerireann'><b>imaginerireann</b></a></span> tells me I'm an old soul, that I'm much more mature than most of my friends. I've asked her what she means and she says it's because I'm not afraid to be on my own, because I love to learn, because I think before I do things and have everything all planned out. <br /><br />I guess that's true. I mean, a lot of my friends still don't really know what they want to do when they finish college and I've got this big plan for everything. I like having tangible goals that I can work towards, it all makes sense to me. <br /><br />And no, a lot of my friends laugh at some of the stuff I love to do. They don't read for fun like I do. They think it's weird that I enjoy baking - they eat what I make though! I get told knitting or doing wordsearches is for old people. <br /><br />But... I don't feel like I'm old. Sure, I feel like I know who I am and what I like. I do get distracted by new shiny things too though. I feel like my mood swings and 'teenage angst' are more controlled, and I'm calmer than I was, even a year or so ago. <br /><br />In other ways though, I'm a pretty typical teenager. I worry about getting good grades in school and fashion and make-up and boys (and girls) and if I've got any zits and if I look fat. I love pop music and going to the cinema with my friends. I love sleeping.<br /><br />Who makes the rules though? Who says that I can't like certain things because I'm too young for them. Or too old for them. Why do 'they' say that I can't have goals for the future and enjoy knitting and love Disney and Miley Cyrus and vampires and dinosaurs and pirates and dolphins and superheroes and baking and supporting my football team and doing wordsearches and like spending time with my friends <i>and</i> being alone?<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=5546" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:3360National Hugging Day2016-01-21T17:12:37Z2016-01-21T17:14:20Zpleasedpublic0Today is <i>National Hugging Day</i> which, according to <a href="http://www.nationalhuggingday.com/" target="_blank">nationalhuggingday.com</a> is <blockquote>National Hugging Day, occasionally shortened to National Hug Day, was first widely celebrated in 1986 after being published in Chase's Calender of Annual Events. Since that time, National Hugging Day has continued to grow internationally leading some to suggest the observance be renamed International Hug Day or International Hugging Day. <br /><br />National Hugging Day was initially created for family and friends to hug often and freely with one another. Celebrate National Hugging Day Every Day </blockquote><br /><br />Definitely an annual event I can get behind. I'm a very tactile person and I'm always hugging my family and my friends. So a whole day for celebrating hugs is definitely something I'm a big fan of!<br /><br />I was even able to tick off two of the items on my <b>101 Things In 1001 Days</b>: <br />Hug 10 people in one day <br />Hug someone on National Hug Day<br /><br />I was back in college today, feeling much better so took the day as a good excuse to hug <i>everyone</i>. I was almost tempted to do 'Give a stranger a hug' but figured since I've had such a bad cold this week it wasn't a good idea. I couldn't quite bring myself to wear a free hugs sign either. Those two are both on my list as well but they'll wait for another time. Maybe National Hugging Day 2017 - my 1001 days continues on til October 2017<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=3360" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:3261The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey2016-01-21T16:42:40Z2016-01-26T10:27:58Zpublic2<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361797381l/17415470.jpg" align="left"><b><i>Rick Yancey - The 5th Wave</i></b><br /><b>The blurb:</b>After the 1st wave, only darkness remains.<br />After the 2nd, only the lucky escape.<br />And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive.<br />After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. <br />Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave. <br /><br />On a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, until Cassie meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan may be her only hope for rescuing her brother and even saving herself. Now she must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. Cassie Sullivan gets up <br /><br /><b>My rating:</b> 4/5<br /><b>Tagged:</b> dystopia, science-fiction, young adult<br /><b>Date I started this book:</b> 21/01/2016<br /><b>Date I finished this book</b> 26/01/2016<br /><br /><b>What did I think?</b> Overall I really enjoyed The 5th Wave, even though it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I haven't read many books that shift perspective between several main characters and so at first, I found it somewhat difficult to get into. The flow just seemed to falter for me when the point of view initially shifted from teenage heroine Cassie, since I already felt invested in her story. Given that the others were not as charismatic and endearing to me, I found myself always hoping the attention would soon return to her. When the characters began to cross paths and their stories moved closer together however, it really picked up.<br /><br />I liked how he didn't gloss over the minutiae of living in the wild and the little details of the complexities of surviving by yourself, on the run with little experience was a welcome breath of fresh air (hello tampons anyone? Nice to know someone remembered!)<br /><br />It's a strong, compelling work that handles a subject easily prey to the ridiculous in a capable and intelligent manner that makes you think about whether we really are alone in the universe and if not, do we even have a hope?<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=3261" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:2998101 Things In 1001 Days2016-01-20T19:10:05Z2016-01-20T19:10:05Zhopefulpublic4<b>The Challenge:</b><br />Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.<br /><br /><b>The Criteria:</b><br />Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).<br /><br /><u>Writing</u><br /><s>Write a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days</s> complete January 20 2015<br />Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind"<br />Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find<br />Tie a note to a balloon and let it go<br />Identify 100 things that make me happy<br />Send a message in a bottle<br />Write a message in a public bathroom<br />Send a handwritten letter<br /><br /><u>Career & Education</u><br />Graduate college<br />Start university<br />Learn to identify 10 constellations<br />Expand my vocabulary by 100 words<br />Take a First Aid course<br /><br /><u>Health & Fitness</u><br /><i>Donate blood</i> in progress. Appointment booked for Tuesday 1st March<br />Find out my blood type<br />Get a massage<br />Stop comparing myself to others<br />Take a Yoga class<br />Go rockclimbing<br /><br /><u>Fashion & Body</u><br />Get a tattoo<br />Improve my posture<br />Dye my hair<br />Clean out my closet<br />Stop biting my nails<br />Get a facial<br />Get a manicure<br /><br /><u>Travel</u><br />Go on a roadtrip<br />See the Northern Lights<br />Ride in a hot air balloon<br />Go skydiving<br />Go to the zoo<br />Go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival<br />Spend a day at the beach<br />Go to 5 different museums<br />Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art<br />Visit Italy<br />Ride a gondola in Venice<br />Visit New York City<br />Visit every London Underground station<br />Visit Stonehenge<br />Go on the London Eye<br />Visit Buckingham Palace<br />Visit the Colosseum<br />See the Eiffel Tower<br /><br /><u>Movies</u><br />Watch 26 movies I've never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet<br />Attend the BFI London Film Festival<br />See 10 classic movies I've never seen<br />Spend a rainy day watching films in my PJ's<br />Ask 20 friends to suggest one movie, and watch them all<br />Watch every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer<br /><br /><u>Books</u><br />Read 26 books I've never read starting with each letter of the alphabet<br />Read 100 books<br />Attend a book reading at the Oxford Literary Festival<br />Read 10 classic books<br />Ask 20 friends to suggest one book, and read them all<br />Read every Shakespeare play<br /><br /><u>Friendship</u><br />Make a new friend<br />Reconnect with an old friend<br />Meet an online friend in person<br />Adopt a pet that needs rescuing<br />Buy a house warming gift for a new neighbor<br />Wear a free hugs sign for a day<br />Hug 10 people in one day<br />Give a stranger a hug<br />Hug someone on National Hug Day<br /><br /><u>Food & Drink</u><br />Go on a picnic<br />Eat no fast food for a month<br />Have dinner by candlelight<br />Host a dinner party<br />Go vegetarian for a week<br />Bake cupcakes<br />Eat pizza in Italy<br />Eat pasta in Italy<br />Eat Gelato in Italy<br />Eat sushi<br /><br /><u>Volunteer</u><br />Help someone carry their bags to their car at the grocery store<br />Send a card or flowers to someone going through a tough time<br />Volunteer at a homeless shelter<br />Plant a tree<br /><br /><u>Things to make</u><br />Build a snowman<br />Bake birthday cake for someone<br />Knit a scarf<br />Bake a chocolate cake<br />Cook a meal for my family<br /><br /><u>Money</u><br />Buy a lottery ticket<br />Give money to a street performer<br />Buy something from Etsy<br /><br /><u>Art</u><br />Find a personally inspirational quote and work it into a piece of art or home decor<br />See the Mona Lisa<br /><br /><u>Dance</u><br />Dance in the rain<br />Learn to burlesque dance<br /><br /><u>Sports</u><br />Go ice skating<br />Watch a tennis match at Wimbledon<br />Run a half marathon<br /><br /><u>Hobbies</u><br />Complete a colouring book<br />Fly a kite<br />Complete a Sudoku puzzle<br /><br /><u>Personal Development</u><br />Say yes to everything for a day<br />Say "yes" to something I would not normally do <br />Keep my room tidy for a month<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=2998" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:27287 Things In 20162016-01-20T13:59:10Z2016-01-20T13:59:10Zdeterminedpublic1I've come across a website called <a href="https://dayzeroproject.com" target="_blank">Day Zero Project</a> which is home to the <strong>101 Things in 1001 Days</strong> challenge and I signed up. They have an 'alternative New Year's Resolution' challenege which is <i>Seven prompts to get you thinking about what you want to achieve in 2016.<br />A fun way to come up with goals for the New Year - sometimes the first thing that comes to mind is the thing you most want to do.</i><br /><br />I've set myself these goals, based on their prompts:<br /><b>Learn how to</b> write calligraphy<br /><b>Start</b> blogging regularly<br /><b>Stop</b> biting my nails<br /><b>Take a vacation to</b> Rome<br /><b>Find</b> a way to be more organized<br /><b>Try</b> sushi<br /><b>Be more</b> patient, especially with myself<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=2728" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2015-08-08:2431453:2516Why am I blogging?2016-01-19T13:28:18Z2016-01-19T13:28:18Zdeterminedpublic0I've tried to keep a blog going a few times before but I've always stopped after a couple of weeks. I think it's because I've not really had a purpose behind starting. This time, I do. I read a lot and I love to talk about them. No-one in real life really cares so I don't have anyone to talk <i>to</i> about the books I'm reading. So, I said to myself, why don't I start bloging about the books? <br /><br />And I go to the cinema regularly, at least once a week so why not post what I think of movies? <br />It makes sense to me. <br /><br />I've also thought about goals from blogging, what I hope to get out of it. <br /><b>Learn new things</b> I want to share what I'm seeing in the world, and this will involve learning how to do so. And hopefully I'll learn new things about books and movies so that I can keep sharing<br /><b>Think clearer</b> The process of putting my thoughts down on paper will help me learn to stop and think deeper, think more critically. I also hope to learn to reflect more on my life, my relationships and the world around me. <br /><b>Write better</b> Practise makes perfect, after all and along with the critical thinking will help me outside of blogging too. <br /><b>Challenge myself</b> It's easy to <i>start</i> blogging, to have something to say to start with but coming up with new ideas will, linking again back to the other goals, will force me to keep learning and growing. <br /><b>Meet new people</b> All the bloggers I've come across so far are so <i>friendly</i> and I can't wait to meet more new people and make friends online :)<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=reganoutloud&ditemid=2516" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments