Recently Read

Recently since the start of the year I've read 5 books, a little ahead of my Goodreads challenge of 30 books but a little behind my Mum challenge where I want to beat her and she's on 9. I thought I would share some thoughts on these five: 

Bossypants - Tina Fey 

7/10

'Tina Fey's Autobiography' I read this because I thought it was going to be funny, but I think it might have been a bit better if I'd actually watched more of her shows, or like any of her shows. I did enjoy it though I won't say it wasn't funny it just probably would've been more funny if I had.

Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell

8/10

'Two misfits, one extraordinary love.' Although this was a very cheesy teen love story I did enjoy it and I have written a longer review on this one so check it out if you're interested. 

You're The One That I Want - Giovanna Fletcher 

7/10

'A story about a love triangle between three childhood best friends.' I admit I only picked this one up because it's written by Tom from McFly's wife. Also it was recommended by his sister Carrie Fletcher who's YouTube is here. I went into this book with some low expectations but this little love triangle was much better than the crappy one over in Twilight. However I did have hopes the entire book that the prologue actually didn't happen and she would end up with the other guy, spoiler alert the prologue comes true. 

Penelope - Rebecca Harrington

8/10

'Harvard freshman's story of her first year; full of parties, exams, and boys.' I really enjoyed this book and was thoroughly disappointed at the ending. It was an awful ending. Can Harrington just rewrite the ending and then I will give it a 9 or a 9.5 out of 10. 

Trouble - Non Pratt 

5/10 

'A pregnant teen learns the meaning of friendship - from the boy who pretends to be the baby's daddy.' Yes another recommendation from Carrie and I do not continue this recommendation. A teenage pregnancy book aimed at tweens is not a great book for an almost 21 year old. I should have seen this coming if I actually read the blurb or looked at the cover... 

So there we go! There's the first few books of the year and hopefully I continue to read at this pace and manage my 30 book challenge but I also have been stuck on the same book for 15 days now and I'm probably about 3 chapters in. Ya know the feeling?

Anyways I'm looking for a few better books to read so if you have any recommendations chuck us them in the comments! x

The Bloody British Tag

I found this on Elish's blog and as she tagged everyone I thought it was perfect for myself to fill out as I'm always questioned about some of these things. Having moved to New Zealand from the UK just over 7 years ago I still retain a lot of my 'britishness' so on with the tag!

How many cups of tea do you have a day? How many sugars?

I drink tea a lot but it all depends on the day, sometimes I can't be bothered waiting for water to boil and tea to steep but sometimes I can have around 5 cups! Milk and one sugar please! 

Favourite part of the roast?

Definitely the yorkshire puddings! When at home my dad makes a roast every sunday and I crave them yorkshire puddings so much he gives me extra. 

Favourite dunking biscuit?
I actually can't remember what my favourite dunking biscuit was back in England as I didn't drink too much tea when I was younger. My favourite biscuit however is an orange club biscuit. (I do love a chocolate finger to dunk now a days in NZ so probably that would be the same in UK) 

Favourite quintessentially British past-time?
I would probably have to say reading, that's classed as 'british' isn't it?

Favourite British word?
Bloody.

Cockney rhyming slang?

I don't have one, never used them at all. 

Favourite British sweet?

Oh god I have so many! Um probably Maoams though they're the best 

What would your pub be called?

The Drum and Monkey - we had one near where I used to live and it used to make me laugh as a kid whenever we went because of the name. 

No. 1 British person?
Ed Sheeran ♥♥♥

Favourite shop/ restaurant?
Nothing can beat Thorntons sorry - maybe Woolworths with their pick and mix selection before they shut down. Although I did really like WHSmiths and their stationary selection. 

What's the first British song that pops into your head?

I'm not sure.. maybe an Ed Sheeran song? or a Lily Allen song.

Marmite- love or hate?

Hate hate hate hate! 

I spent way too long thinking about sweets for this post and drooling instead of actually writing but I tag any of my readers with any British blood in you to have a go! Let me know if you do and I'll check it out :)

Lunch with the classics

The holidays are getting really close to the end and Mum and I decided to take her last day off while I'm here to head out and have some Mother/Daughter bonding time (unfortunately for the bonding Dad tagged along for lunch). We went along to the local pancake house and had a blast, well had a pancake. I have a habit of going for the classics instead of one of their fancy concoctions and opted for the lemon and sugar with ice cream. Can I just say this is a regular and its flippin' massive (see what I did there), I didn't manage to finish it unfortunately but I got so very close! Along with that I stuck with the classics and got some tea, cuz I luuuurve my tea and it came in this gorgeous teapot that I just wanted to smuggle away under my coat. 

Along with lunch we strolled around town and as my mum's an avid card maker we splurged along the craft stores and I came away with some really awesome stickers and almost a load more but ya know student poorness. The amount of stickers I wish I could buy but don't is amazing, I'm pretty sure if I had loads of money I'd be swimming in stickers... among other things!