I'M ON SNAPCHAT!

Hello! Just thought that I'd let you know that I've made a Snapchat account for my blog. I'll be posting random happenings throughout the day and other bits and bobs.

Please add away. My username is  littlemortal1 

Hope to see you there!

Embrace Your Weirdness

I am a weird person. After almost 19 years this is a fact that I've learnt to accept. Wait no, this is a fact that I love. 

I think something that we all must learn to do is to embrace our weirdness or our quirkiness. After all, aren't these the things that make us unique? Not to long ago meeting new people would be a very suffocating thing for me (okay MAYBE it still is). I would shut down my weird parts that want to break into song at any given time, dance even with strangers around and make extremely inappropriate comments every once in a while. But this wasn't right. I wasn't being me. This wasn't something I could help. I would smile meekly during conversations, nod every once in a while and hope that the limelight wouldn't shine on me at all.

Now I know what you might be thinking, some people are just quieter than others. And maybe you're right but the thing is, I am not a quiet person. I am loud and weird and when I'm with my close friends and family, I never shut up and love being in the limelight. 

I'm tired of being known as the 'quiet one' when meeting new people. I want to scream and shout and dance and sing and be happy and confident with myself. I want to just be my normal weird self. Is that too much to ask? So when I hit the big smoke (Dublin) in September, I'm making a promise to myself that I won't hide that part of me that is slightly strange. I'll embrace it and step out of comfort zone and hope people like me for me. And if they don't, then there'll be many others I'm sure who are just as weird as me (I hope)..

Throughout the year gone by, I met new people doing my course. As usual I barely spoke and pretty much just said what I thought people wanted me to say. Whenever I did make some sort of a witty remark or inappropriate comment I was met with 'Oh my God I'm shocked!' and 'That's so unlike you'. Honestly, these remarks hurt. Did these people not know me at all? Why was it whenever I said something that I would normally say everyone was so shocked? 

I hid myself. And when I started to relax and show who I really was, it was a shock to those around me. I don't want this to be the case. I know it will be hard at first, not shutting myself off from new people but this is something that is holding me back in life. And I swear that I will do everything in my power to overcome this.

I hope I'm not the only one who has this problem when meeting new people. Leave comments below and I'll speak to you soon.

Top Book Picks

Hello again! So in case you didn't know, I am a complete bookworm. There is nothing like being sucked into a different world with intriguing characters and amazing stories that stay with you for years and years. In my opinion a good book will stick with you for your whole life. So today I thought that I would share with you my top book picks. Some I've read recently and others not so recently. However I would like to point out that I've excluded all the Harry Potter books from this list as it goes without saying that everyone should read these books at least once in their life. And with that, let's get started...

1. The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting by Holly Bourne

Now I did a review of this book last year on my blog and it's clear back then how much I loved this book. And let me tell you that my opinion has not changed at all. Even after reading so many books since then, this book is still one of my absolute favourites. The story is so unique and interesting, and a concept I loved reading about as it's something that I myself have thought about. I read it so quickly as well. Holly Bourne's writing was so infectious and made me not want to put the book down (which I hardly did!). I would highly recommend that everyone reads this book.

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

When I started reading this book I instantly fell in love. The main reason for me was the quirky narration of the book by death itself. When I first read that death was the narrator I wasn't entirely convinced that it would work or that I would like that idea. However this concept is why I love this book so much. I mean how many other books out there are narrated by death? Also, 'The Book Thief' is the book which introduced me to my favourite character in any piece of literature, Rudy Steiner. I won't say too much because I want you all to read this book and enjoy the wonderful journey that 'The Book Thief' is. Sometimes I wish that I hadn't read this book yet so that I could read it as if it were the first time all over again.

3. Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne

I swear I am no relation to Holly Bourne I just absolutely love her books. Once again this book deals with a really serious issue of OCD but tells the story in such a beautiful, eloquent way. I love the friendships, the narrator, Evie, and everything else in this book. I feel like this book made me laugh, cry and gave me a much better understand of mental illnesses and how relationships are affected by it. This book also shines a light on the subject of feminism, but not in an in-your-face kind of way just in a way that made me WANT to be called a 'spinster'. This is such an incredible read and I think that everyone needs to read it.

4. The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

This book makes me so happy! It is the sequel to 'The Bone Season' so definitely read that before you read 'The Mime Order' otherwise you'll be completely lost. These books are set in a dystopian future and follow Paige Mahoney (an Irish girl I might add!). One thing I would say is that it can be quite easy to get lost in this book. There are a lot of terms that may not make sense but luckily there is a glossary at the back of the book to help. I think dystopian novels are my favourite so that is why I loved this book so much. It's completely different to most other books of the same genre and has so many twists and turns that I absolutely loved. And that ending? UGH you'll have to read both books to find out what I'm talking about...

5. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare has only gone and done it again. I didn't think it could get any better than 'The Mortal Instruments' and 'The Infernal Devices' series but goodness me it has (please read TMI and TID if you have not already as they are the most spectacular books in existence. Also they must be read before Lady Midnight, in my opinion, to really appreciate it). This book, like all of Cassandra's books really captures the essence of each character. They are all so memorable and amazing in their own way. Even though this book was so big, I still wanted it to be longer. And once again, such an incredible ending. Love, love, LOVE this book!

6. Legend Series by Marie Lu

Okay, so I've included three books in one here; Legend, Prodigy and Champion. Even though I read these books so long ago, I still count them as one of my favourite series and dystopian books ever. For me I'm one of those people who is generally always disappointed with the ending of a book or series. I don't know why but that's just the way I am. Out of every book series I've read this one ended the best for me. I absolutely loved it! It's original and funny and sad and everything you could ever want from a book series. I love the characters as well. They were so memorable and exciting I could hardly close the book I was so captured by it. I've loved it for many years and will continue to love it for many more years to come.

Wow so that was quite a rant. There is just something about talking about books that really gets me going. I hope you enjoyed this post and love escaping into the pages of a book as much as I do. Leave a comment below on what your top book picks are because I'm always looking for new books to read. Also leave a comment if you've read one of these or plan to read one and let me know what you think. Hope you're all having a happy day. Talk soon.

My Bucket List

The 8th of December. That was the last date that I wrote a blog post. I'm so angry at myself. Typical me, I always start things and never carry them on. It's not like I've been busy or anything. I'm just L.A.Z.Y. 

Anyway, now that that has been addressed let's catch up.. AGAIN. Last time I wrote anything it was 2015. And now here we are half way through 2016. How crazy is that? I feel like my life is passing me by without me even realising.

Around the time of the New Year I decided to write a bucket list. It's not very long yet because I don't want to just add random things for the sake of adding them but wanted to have things that I genuinely want to do before it's too. I though that I would share that with you today (it's safe to say that none of these have been accomplished yet but there's still time.. I'm only 18!).

My Bucket List

  1.    Fall hopelessly in love

  2.    Travel the world

  3.    Have an amazing group of friends that I will know forever

  4.    Get a tattoo

  5.    Write a song

  6.    Have a song written about me

  7.    Write a novel

  8.    Learn to swim

  9.    Go to Harry Potter studios in London

  10.  Watch a West-End or Broadway musical

  11.   Go indoor skydiving

  12.   Learn to surf

I      So that's my bucket list so far. I'm sure I'll add more as I think of them and hopefully they'll get crossed off soon enough. What have you got on your bucket lists? And if you don't have one I challenge you to make one and post it. Thanks for reading as always. Leave comments, you know, if you want.

It's Been A While

So.. what's this site again? It's been so long since I've blogged and I actually am starting to miss it. You see, many things have change since we last spoke. And when change comes, I go into shut down mode until I feel comfortable again. I suppose I'm at that point now that I'm writing again? How about a quick catch up then? Here's what I've been up to since we last spoke..

1. Firstly, I started a PLC (a year-long course after the Leaving Cert) in Applied Science. I wasn't too sure in the beginning. I missed my old friends from school and the routine of school life, but now I am really happy. Don't get me wrong, I still miss my friends like CRAZY but it's getting easier. This year is so laid back and relaxed after the dreaded LC and I really think by this time next year I'll be much more ready to go to college.

2. Driving is going well. I reckon I'm stalling only half the amount I was and I'm half way through my lessons (WOOHOO!).

3. Still eating like a pig.. but at least now I feel bad afterwards.

4. I got my eyebrows threaded for the first time. Hurt like hell, but at least my eyebrows are slowly but surely improving (they were a serious mess)*

5. Completely obsessed with One Direction's new album and Little Mix's new album. And ADELE THE QUEEN IS BAAAACK!! Amazing time for music.

*NOTE: Never touch your own eyebrows! I wish someone had told me this when I was younger. I used to shave my eyebrows.so that there was no arch at all. My eyebrows are permanently messed up. So there is a lesson for you. Learn from my stupidity.

In other news, how excited are you for Christmas? It is without a doubt my favourite time of the year. Everywhere is so festive I can't help but smile. What do you love about the magical season? And what have you been up to the past few months?

Will I Ever Fall In Love?

A question that I've been asking myself recently is will I ever fall in love? And I don't mean obsessing over celebrities who I vow I will marry someday, I mean like a boy who knows I exist and who doesn't only exist in my mind.

I've been on this earth for 18 years now and not many people know that I've never had a boyfriend and I've only ever been kissed once (which doesn't really even count as it was just a silly game of truth or dare when I was 12 and it was more like a peck on the lips). Writing that down is actually quite embarrassing for me. It's hard not to ask yourself 'Is there something wrong with me?'.

I know I'm probably not alone is this problem. I wouldn't make such a big deal out of it but my biggest worry is that when it does happen with someone I care about, will I be terrible at it because I've had virtually no experience?

All the movies and books make finding someone who loves you look so easy. But it never is. I honestly believe it's because of these expectations that society thinks we have to find the one, fall in love and live happily ever after. These expectations are forced on us and now when we find ourselves without love in our lives we believe there's something wrong with us. It's crazy pressure from such a young age.

Maybe the best way to find someone is to stop looking (as Rachel Green told us in Friends). Growing up is proving to be a real pain. Any advice for a confused girl? Leave a comment below.

The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting

The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting is a YA book by Holly Bourne. Quick bit of information before I start my review: I started reading it at around 5pm yesterday and had it finished by 2pm today. That should give you an idea of how much I loved this book.

From the very first chapter to the last I was completely hooked by Bourne's offbeat and unusual characters and captivating storyline. While Bree is so different and an original character she is so relatable and stands for so many teenagers around the world today.

I think why I loved this book so much was because the story was so original. I had never read anything like it before and it was so addictive. I just wanted to find out was would happen so kept on reading.

This was my first Holly Bourne book to read and as a result I have bought her other novel 'Am I Normal Yet?'. She tackles serious problems in a relatable way that young adults can understand. I am blown away by her talent and can't wait to keep on reading her books in the future.

I would give it a 5 out of 5 stars. This book has changed my life. Is there any book you loved so much and would recommend? Leave a comment below.