Life Update April 2019!

Hi everyone! So much has happened so I really wanted to write a life update post. 

Health

If you have been here for a while, you may know that I have anxiety, depression and OCD. I am so happy to say that for the first time ever, I have made so much progress in this area! I used to be so anxious because of my OCD about going on a bus and I had not been on a bus in years and guess what? I took a bus. I had a job interview which meant that I had to get a bus. I was very nervous but I did it! And then, I took a train. And another one. And another one. I travelled far on my own and had an amazing time. 

Additionally, I have now been in a pretty much full-time job in education for a while. I will talk more about my career goals below but with my depression and anxiety, there were times when I didn't work and I struggled working part-time. I still have symptoms and I still get bad times but those bad times are a lot shorter and I am able to deal with them better. I feel like these improvements are due to a few factors. I went to a specialist and finally got the right medication for me. I have been taking part in regular therapy. I have been regularly blogging. And I have been fortunate enough to have an amazing support circle. I still have a way to go but rather than thinking about where I want to be, I am trying to think more about where I was and where I am now. 

And for anyone reading who is where I was; severely depressed/anxious, unable to do anything and nothing seems to work: things can and do get better. Seek professional help and keep trying until you find a doctor/therapist that you gel with. This can take a lot of tries but believe me, it is so worth it. I know that not everyone is fortunate enough to have people that support them but please do not give up. Things can and do get better. You never know where the future will take you, usually to places you never dreamed possible or even thought of. 

Dinosaur Cutout Silhouette Framed Poster From Chris and Christine's Crafts Review!

I recently discovered Chris and Christine's website, where they sell handmade cards, decor, jewellery. Their decor range features watercolour prints, embroidery hoops, wreaths, cut out artwork and clay hangings. Chris and Christine were kind enough to send me a cut out artwork to review! I loved so many of their designs but being a huge dinosaur fan, I absolutely had to review this dinosaur cut out silhouette framed poster. Chris and Christine provide this design with a range of colours. The dinosaurs are cut out on the front page and different colours laid beneath. The names of the dinosaurs are also included.

The first thing that I have to say is how beautifully wrapped the package was! The poster came in a large cardboard package with an adorable pattern drawn around the address. Chris and Christine's wonderful label was also included. The poster was wrapped carefully in paper sheets and it arrived in perfect condition. I was really pleased with how this poster was both well-packaged and individually designed.

Why It Is OK to Procrastinate Sometimes

Some of you may know that I have dealt with anxiety and depression for a number of years. One issue that I have is with relaxing. My mind is constantly thinking so when I have spare time it can be difficult for me to just relax and not think so much. I tend to think about all of the things that I could and 'should' be spending my time doing. 

Recently I have realised that I am too harsh on myself. Using words such as 'should' is not helpful and I need to eliminate such words and be kinder to myself. There is not much that I HAVE to do. It is OK to spend my spare time watching boxsets and YouTube videos. Instead of feeling bad about all the things I feel like I 'should' do, it is better to just calm down and go with the flow. I don't need to have completed a bunch of tasks and be 'productive'. It is enough to work and spend time with loved ones. The rest of the time can be spent however I like. It is much better to be more relaxed about things rather than spend my time thinking and feeling bad. 

Keeping Track of the Books I Want to Read!

I recently discovered Book Depository's wishlist feature. I love Book Depository, they sell books typically at a discounted price and they provide free delivery, perfect for when you want to buy one or two books at a time. 

Book Depository is also a great place for getting books as presents. I was planning on asking for some books for my birthday and rather than creating a list, I have started adding books that I would like to my Book Depository wishlist. This means that I can send a link to my friends and family members and they can choose whatever book/s they would like. 

Mera: Tidebreaker Graphic Novel Book Review

Pokemon Clothing & Accessories Wishlist

Lately I have been wanting to get some new clothes for my wardrobe, including ones based on some of my favourite fandoms such as Pokemon. I had a look on Amazon and found several items that I find super cute and would love to add to my collection.

Socks

Who doesn't love a pair of socks? I wear trainer socks around the house and to sleep in. These Pokemon socks are absolutely adorable and I would love to have them in with my supply of socks.

Gloves

These gloves are so cute! They are fingerless so you can still use your phone etc. but they will also keep the rest of your hands and arms warm at the same time. 

Purses

I found two Eevee purses! For those who love pink, this pink Eevee purse is perfect. It is so cute! The comic strip themed Eevee purse is also sweet and I feel that both of these would reach a wide audience. However, if I had to choose one, it would definitely be the pink purse!

Current Reading, Gaming & Anime Plans!

Hi everyone! I wanted to do an update post with my current reading, gaming and anime plans. Let me know if you have read, played or watched any of these!

Reading

I am currently listening to the audiobook for Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. This is Brandon Sanderson's latest release. It is a YA sci-fi, following Spencer, a girl whose father was in the flight squad that protect the people from the enemy known as the Krell. He never returned from a mission and people deemed him a coward, leaving a stain on the family. Spencer wants to become a pilot like her father and at the beginning of the book she is to take the test for flight school. I'm about a quarter of the way through the audiobook. It is narrated well by Sophie Aldred. The story so far is interesting and very character-driven.



I was kindly sent a copy of Mera: Tidebreaker to review. It is written by Danielle Paige and illustrated by Stephen Byrne. I read Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige and quite enjoyed it. This graphic novel is a retelling of the DC ocean Princess, Mera which is so cool!

Bonus free book: Audible Spring Sale!

     

Amazon are currently running a Spring sale from 8th-15th April. This sale includes an offer for UK customers. As someone who loves audiobooks, this is a great offer. I tend to listen to a lot of audiobooks through Audible as they have a much larger selection of audiobooks than my local library does. There are also some audiobooks that are exclusive to Audible. A free trial of Audible is a great way to get a free audiobook, and now thanks to this offer, two free books. You can cancel the membership at any time so if you do not wish to pay anything, just cancel before the free trial ends.

The deal:

Audible UK are providing an additional free audiobook with a free trial of Audible from 8th-15th April. This means that instead of getting one free audiobook, you will get two whilst this deal lasts. Audible US already offer two free audiobooks with a free trial, so if you live in the United States, you can get your free two books here at any time.


Why I love audiobooks: 

I have been listening to audiobooks a lot recently. I am currently listening to the audiobook for Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. I typically listen to audiobooks on a faster speed that is suitable for me. I find them a great way to read a book whilst doing other things, such as blogging, travelling, cleaning and sewing.

Some of the audiobooks that I have listened to:

Do you DNF? Opinions on the movement of not finishing books

DNFing appears to be a relatively new term to describe when someone does not finish reading a particular book. It seems to have become more popular in the recent present. I wanted to look at the arguments for and against DNFing, so I asked people on Twitter for their views. Here is what they said:

What I have been reading, playing, watching & making

I haven’t been very well lately but I have managed to do some things which I wanted to talk about here!

Reading 

This week has been an odd week for reading. I finished a graphic novel I was sent to review, Pilu of the Woods. I also DNFed more than one book due to issues I had with the writing or character development. I feel like there is a mixed response to not finishing books but in my opinion if you are not enjoying a book there is no point in wasting your time just to say that you have completed it when you could be doing something else that you enjoy.

I currently have three books on the go. I have been reading Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson between review copies but yesterday I did not feel like reading a murder mystery so I picked up The Surface Breaks by Louise O' Neill. This is a little mermaid retelling and I instantly fell in love with it. The Little Mermaid was one of my favourite TV series' when I was younger and you can definitely see its influence in this book. However, in this book, the author also adds an additional dimension, a mystery that makes me want to keep reading; the main character's mother left to go to the world above. She is rarely mentioned and people say that she is dead but her daughter wishes to know the truth and intends to ascend to the surface in order to discover it.

I have recently picked up sewing again (more about that below) so I thought why don't I pick up an audiobook to listen to whilst I sew? I found Zenith by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings, a book that has been on my shelf for a while. I have heard mixed reviews of this book but I have got to say that so far I am really enjoying it. I would really recommend the audiobook, I only had minimal issues with the way some things were said but other than that I have found the audiobook a great route to consume this book. Zenith follows a crew of three females, they are space pirates, each seemingly running away from their pasts. The main character, Andy is really fascinating. There is a *potential* love interest and I can't help but want to see what happens. Andy has an emotional background and she is offered a deal which relates to her past. This book so far has been fast paced and engaging and I can't wait to find out what happens next.