Books and biceps and Brrrr....

How fast has the temperature dropped of late? I'm not complaining. Those who have been around this blog for over a year will probably be well acquainted with my love for autumn and that little known event that follows after the leaves fall and everything is all eerie at night and spooky... Yep. Halloween. But, it's FAR too early to blog about my most favourite time of the year so let's move on past that for now and I'll revisit in a few weeks!

Back to the weather. I love it. Sunny mornings (mostly) and brisk air. I love the random rainstorms one minute and the glorious evenings the next minute. Is anyone else as in love with UK weather as me?! I love the randomness of it all!

Speaking of it being September I must bring up the hot topic of the month. School. Ah, back to school! This year I'm doing my 3rd year (but not final, it's a long story) - 2 courses towards my degree. One is Children's Literature, the other is Advanced Creative Writing. I'm looking forward to them both but I'm also nervous. Not of the work itself, but the fact that I'm working FULL TIME as well as doing them. I'm sure I'll be fine, but I worry for my (already almost none existent) social life. Bah. I'll figure it out. I have almost all my books now I think after a hefty spend on Amazon (well, I had vouchers, and I did get most of them from independent sellers to offset my book killing ways) - so far the stack looks like this:

Some good books in there - note, the actual children's picture books. I look at them and think they will be easy peasy, but then... I highly doubt it. Writing for children is notoriously hard so we'll see how it goes!

Moving onto other things, I recently purchased the Davina McCall work out DVD. Jeez, it's tough. I heard it was tough, but I didn't believe it would be too hard. I can honestly say that when putting my all into it I come out aching, but that's a good thing! It is... Soon I will be buff as anything. But not really. I'll try though!

I don't have much else to report. Recently been suffering for mild to severe stomach pains and think I might have some sort of ulcer or something so I'll be going to the doctors for some forced testing. I went last year and they told me I just needed to take those chalky tablets for indigestion. I told them then it wasn't indigestion and a year later I'm going back to tell them again. Ah, the joys of GP's offices!

Sam

ps. On a fun note I'm on something like book 37 or 38 of the year! Follow my progress on Goodreads if  you're interested in learning the names of teen fiction books! :P

Autumn - here again! AT LAST!

It's no secret that I love autumn. I love everything about it, even the chilly nights, the rain. What's not to like? The leaves all change colour and everything feels cosy!

It's funny how you associate certain things with certain times of the year. I always feel extra autumn-y when I listen to certain albums, or read certain books, watch certain films. It's hard to describe and it might sound cheesy, but I always feel like autumn feels like falling in love. Cheesy - ergh. I know, I can't help it. It was autumn time when my and my boyfriend said the 3 words we now repeat to each other a million times a day (because you should always say it, whenever you can!). When I read certain books it was autumn, and I fell in love with the character (which I often do). I don't know, call me a secret romantic, but the autumn months make me feel all warm inside. Just don't tell anyone because I like to pretend I'm a horrible grinch and if this got out my rep would be shattered!

I'm currently listening to an album, which made me want to write this blog. Vanessa Carlton, Heroes and Thieves. Something about the tinkling piano and strings and husky voice. Ahhh.

I was also running through some old photos from last Christmas and the cold looking days made me really crave wrapping up against the elements. Yes. I need to purchase some new scarves, jackets and gloves. I'm fine for hats because I got this cute hat the other day from Tesco's and I'm going to wear the life out of it;



Yes, the 'cat' pose was necessary - although I feel I look more like a mouse.


Speaking of photos - I finally updated my Flickr. It's taken me all year. Have a peak if you wish HERE

What reminds you of autumn... or makes you feel all wintry?

Sam

ps.

Autumn pictures to inspire you all! :D

Autumn

Yes.

I love it. I think most of my friends and colleagues know this quite well by now too. Whenever I remember its October next week I let out an excited squeal, as October is my new favorite month. And that's official.

I love the orange leaves, the pumpkins, any sign of autumn - hell, even the rain! It's just my season! I always plan to take advantage of such weather and sights when it comes around, but I always miss it, as months fly by so quickly these days, I won't be suprised to wake up tomorrow and be 10 years older, but this year I will try to make more of an effort.

Open university starts on Saturday, which I am dreading and looking forward to in equal parts. But that's going to be the start of me getting out of the house more. As I won't have any place to really study, bar the house, and we currently have builders in making a mess and lots of noise, I am going to have to force myself out of the warmth of my room and get out into the real world. Sitting in the library reading, or sitting in a coffee shop typing has become such a novel idea and I'm sure it won't be as exciting and sophisitacted as I imagine it... but still. It's going to motivate me to really appreciate the Autumn.

I'm almost officially over my cold. I was in work today and will be for the rest of the week and then next week I drop down to part time. Yesssss. I realised today that I don't even think the people I work with are enough to keep me in a job I hate. And I do hate it. We'll see what comes of this course I guess.

And Autumn.

Wrap up warm!

Sam

What? August has gone where?

*GASP*

It's September tomorrow. School starts! Well, not for me (mine doesn't start until October), but its officially that time again. I love this time. Apart from I always feel restless and nervous around the start of September because its when we would go back to school and that thought still terrifies me to this day. Even though I haven't been at school in... well, longer than I care to mention, I still get that same feeling. But then its followed by the nice Autumn feeling, which is one of the best. Don't know what I'm talking about? Go outside and take a whiff of bonfire air! That's autumn feeling summed up in one smell!

I got all my open university books the other day. Can't remember if I blogged about that. Anyway, there is a box full of them, which scares me, but it should be good to learn. I kind of like learning. I think... I haven't learnt anything that meant actual text book learning in a while. And that's the part I worry about most. Because as much as I love to read, reading to learn is something that my brain can't (or refuses) to do. Still, we will see what happens.

I'm currently flicking through my Spotify music to try to find a song that I feel like listening to, but can't settle on anything. I don't know what mood I am in. Apart from I have a lot of energy today, so I should probably stop listening to sad slow songs. I will have to work off this energy with exercise me thinks. Boo.

Speaking of music, I have a lot of new soundtracks at the moment, because I have caught up (mostly) on all the films out at the moment, and have to then listen to the soundtracks because they are always (mostly) good. I love soundtracks and scores. LOVE them!

This bank holiday weekend I have seen 6 films. 1 last week (it still counts as this weekend!), 2 on Saturday and 3 yesterday. That's right. I finally did it. a 3 film day! at the cinema! I was impressed with myself! I saw:

Salt - which was good. Lots of action and the back story was OK. It was a good all-rounder really. Sure if you pick at it you could find things wrong, but who cares? really? I don't know why people pick films apart. Just enjoy them for what they are already! OK. Rant over.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - was really great, but I don't know why! It was mental. I couldn't figure out if it was real or not. Set in the real world I mean. It was funny, and loud and bright and stupid, but genius at the same time!

The Girl Who Played With Fire - was probably what you'd expect. Really good film - great story, great shots, looked fantastic, was acted really well. Swedish films are really good, and they are paving the way for European films at the moment. It angers me when the US have to re-make foreign stuff so they don't have to read... lazy! Honestly, watch this one (if you've seen or want to see the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), because its brill!

Step Up 3D - yes, someone who likes foreign films can like these sorts of films! It was brilliant! the 3D was the best 3D I have seen so far, and the dancing was great. So what is the story wasn't technically 'the best' - Moose was back! Huzzah! Watch that little fella dance, so cheesy but still... He's my hero!

The Expendables - is actually good - it was a great action film, and those guys still have it if you ask me. I thought I would be bored. The boyfriend wanted to see it, so I went with him, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Lots of shooting, some good humour and predictable story line, but even so, its a winner in my book!

Avater: The Last Airbender - its one of those ones you have to really sit down and get into. Because I think if you didn't pay attention and just get into it, you wouldn't care about it. You would just think the acting is shoddy and its a kids film. But honestly, if you were to give it a chance you might be pleasantly surprised. The 3D isn't the selling point on this one, because it was only rendered after it was filmed, so its not the main focus, but the martial arts and the actual places it was filmed are amazing. Story is good if you get into it, even if childish, its a good escape from reality! Ain't that what we all need?

Jeez, didn't intend for this to be a review on films, but I guess it is.

I really have nothing more to say at the moment. Nope. I just thought about it and that's it.

Ciao for now!

Sam

Its so hard to be consiously creative

Grrrr.

Its been a while again. But not as long as before so its OK in my mind. HA!

Thinking of something in a creative manner has never been my strong suit. I mean. I would class myself as the artistic type, but its more of an accidental kind of creativity. I am so crap at planning something of value. Which is why I am having such a hard time trying to pick a business name for me and my sisters makeup business. Its driving me insane actually, because I can never stop trying to come up with a name. Even when I think I'm not doing it, I am... which is a pain in the backside, if you ask me. Which you didn't. But there it is anyway!

You see, the business mobile phone has been purchased. And the business cards are almost finished, design wise. So all we need is a business name... something make-up-y and beauty-like... but its so hard to come up with something that's not cheesy or just plain crapola!!! Once we have this name, we can print cards. Advertise. Set up a website. Set up the email address. So its a damn nightmare. Because so much stock is going to be put into this name. I need some help. Please. Someone just start suggesting something and maybe if we pool our inner thought demons, we can come up with something half decent!

In the mean time. When I'm not trying to think of 'the name', I haven't been up to much. Well. I went to London for a quick trip with some girly pals of mine. Which was nice, but exhausting, so it was lucky I took the following week off work. Which again, was exhausting. But still. SO worth it, because I got to chill out. But I have to admit, I have been a bit down the past few weeks, because my friends (even though they haven't said anything to me properly), think I am ditching them to spend time with my boyfriend. Which I'm not. Because I always try to see them when I can, its just when they do want to arrange something, I'm usually already pre-booked with something or someone else. Which isn't my fault, but I know they kind of see it as me consciously not spending time with them. Its a pain. Because that's what happened with one of my friends a few years back, and now we don't see her. And a passing comment was made the other day that there might be 'a similar situation' going on. Which I didn't even know about until it was said, and as soon as it was said, my mood hit an all time low. Its just a bit crap. Because I don't think people realise how hard it sometimes is to fit another person into your life and try to re-jig everything else to fit around that. I'm still trying to find the balance, and I'm a little upset that that hasn't been acknowledged. But Hey Ho. That's life.

I don't really like Facebook at the moment. I don't really like Twitter either. But with FB, its the constant updates of what people are doing on the Internet. Not what they are doing in general. Its more of an annoyance at the fact that everyday I get little updates saying someone has completed a quiz, and these are their results. OR someone has completed another level of this game... and THESE are their results. I don't care. Because it seems these people have way too much time on their hands, playing stupid games, and I'm both annoyed and grouchy... Its the classic feeling of feeling like you're the only person on the damn thing that only has time to do a quick wall post to someone for a catch up, and then naff off to do something real. In the real world. Like bake a cake. Or darn a sock. ha.

Its Autumn again and I love it. Although it makes me sad that this time last year I was in Paris. But... I love British autumn. I need to go taking photos before its all over. Its almost Halloween too, and I have been planning a kick ass party, with strobe lights, and fake graves, and... that's pretty much it, but it will be good. Now all I have to do is actually bring it all together somehow and make it happen. But, like they all say. It'll be alright on the night. I hope.

I'll keep you posted. You give me business name ideas!

Go.

Sam