Sunday 29 March 2015

Reading Challenge 2015 - 40 Days of Dating


40 Days of Dating by Timothy Goodman & Jessica Walsh 

I followed the blog this book originated from whilst is was being released. I found it a really interesting idea that these two people were posting daily updates on their dating experiment and I would check it everyday to see the latest instalment. I can't tell if I was 'rooting' for them, because I honestly just found the very idea that these two friends could try it amazing.
The second time I read it, in the book, the self evaluations and honesty really made me think about myself as a person. I like to think I know myself pretty well, but maybe not?

I don't want to go on too much, but rather just suggest that this book is worth reading. The whole story is up online, but what the book offers is the reality of what happens next. There's a whole other set of journal entries after the experiment which details the events of what happens after the 40 days are over. It's a really interesting read, even if it doesn't do anything for you personally.

I'd like to point out that I've also read 2 other books from Maggie Stiefvater's series, but alas! I feel they don't count because they fall under the same category as before. This makes me feel like I'm not doing too great on the list, but I'm determined that it'll pick up again. I'm already onto my next and I've got a pile sitting lined up for when I'm finished.
I'm counting 40 Days of Dating as a book with a number in the title.

What I've read so far :

A Trilogy - James Dashner, The Maze Runner series
A Play - Shakesspeare, Love Labours Lost
A Book with Magic - Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven Boys
A Memoir - Amy Poehler, Yes Please
A Book With a Number in the Title - Timothy Goodman & Jessica Walsh


Wednesday 11 March 2015

Reading Challenge 2015 - Yes Please




Yes Please by Amy Poehler

I both laughed and cried at this book. I was a fan of Amy Poehler before reading and now I think of her as one of my role models. There are plenty of woman with strong voices out there killing it at the moment, and Amy is definitely one of them.
I'm a fan of any women who have the courage not to be ashamed of what they love. I try hard to project that myself and women like Amy Poehler help me and encourage that journey.

I could read a whole book of her just talking about her children. I could read another simply on her behind the scenes stories whilst working on SNL. I could have done with more Parks and Recreation related tales, but understandably thats the most recent chapter of her life.

Amy Poehler takes sense. I love people who talk sense.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves Amy Poehler and her work, but also to anyone who needs a little pick me up. She's great at giving you confidence, is funny as hell and passionate about her job and love of improv. I really enjoyed this book and hope others get the same feeling of love from that I do.

An update on what I've read so far:

A Trilogy - James Dashner, The Maze Runner series
A Play - Shakesspeare, Love Labours Lost
A Book with Magic - Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven Boys
A Memoir - Amy Poehler, Yes Please


Trams and Trains and Games, Oh My!

February 27th is my best friends birthday so I took a few days off work to visit her in Edinburgh! I arrived by train and met Fiona for a quick lunch at a place called The Edinburgh Larder. I'd been craving a full breakfast for weeks and weeks and we picked this place specifically for that. However we arrived just after twelve when they had just finished serving breakfast. I was gutted.
I eventually got to meet baby Dylan who is Fiona's sister in law's baby. He is the cutest little thing, though I'm pretty sure he gave me his bug. I had a bad case of sickness on Friday night, as did Fiona and baby's grandfather. Surely not a coincidence?
Even looking at these photos now I'm getting sickness memories!

I say this a lot whenever I go down to Edinburgh, but I love Fiona's family. They're the type of people that treat you like one of their own. I've only met Moira and Robert a few times, yet I can sit down and have lunch with them when Fiona goes to a meeting. It's comfortable and welcoming.
Moira gave me a piece of her famous beetroot cake which was warm and with cream.



On Thursday morning I'm pleased to say I finally got the breakfast I'd been craving. Mimi's bakery was the destination of our dream breakfast. Thick slices of french toast, syrup and bacon. Fiona's had sausages and tomatoes. It was breakfast heaven and we were stuffed for the rest of the day.




 We also headed down to The Game Masters exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland. You pay to get in and are allowed to play with all these retro and modern games freely until the exhibition closes. We ended up playing some old school Donkey Kong, Pacman, Asteroids, Space Invaders and I had a few rounds on Elevator Action. I think that and Pacman were my favourite from the older machines. I also played some Mario 64 and we both had a go at Super Mario Bros and Harry Potter Lego, which was harder than it looked! We couldn't get past the troll in the girls bathroom. Seriously, how do you get past that thing?!

There's was a rule about no photography which was a shame, but I still took a sneaky photo of Fiona. Those machines were too cool not too.





We had a little walk around the museum too and did some Chinese crayon rubbings like children. Classic Fiona and Cassie day out really.



All in All in was a fun day and I'm just kind of bummed that by the evening I was starting to feel nauseous. Think I'll stay away from sicky babies from now on!