Happy New Year

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick catch up post....Firstly Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and I wish everyone a fantastic New Year!

So..New Years Resolutions..... just one.... QUIT SMOKING..I'm on day 3 right now, and feeling very proud of myself for quitting. I am using patches at the moment, and I  always find I cave in when I stop using the patches, (have tried this routine many times before!) BUT I am more determined then ever to quit this year..because....

NEWS FLASH:....Ok so some of you may have noticed that my blog has been lacking in Beauty related posts...there is a reason. I applied for a Beauty Therapist Training course back in June. I've only just found out that I've been accepted on the course. YIPPEE ...

SO.....that's why I'm trying to quit smoking....I don't want to smell of cigarettes when working as a Beauty Therapist so, going to quit now before I ever go near a client! :-)

AND....I've decided that each week for the year while I'm training I'll put up a post ., including some of the tips and tricks I'm learning, as well as a little insight into what the course entails. At least then I'll feel some bit more confident and qualified to share my thoughts re Beauty topics with you all.

Sorry there are no fancy dan pictures etc in this post... that's something I really need to get my act together with too..but someday..I'm sure it will all come together for me!!!

So Happy New Year to everyone, here's to a great fantastic 2013 for everyone!!!
xxx

Favourite Books....Of ALL TIME!

I'm a massive Bookworm...even a bit of a geek... this post is gonna be about my all time favourite books...

#1 All time favourite is a trilogy..The Rose Series by Jennifer Donnelly

These books are tales of hardship, love, success & pain. They are fast paced and I couldn't stop reading once I started reading them. I plagued my local book shop for months to get me the final book in the series as soon as it was released in Ireland!

#2 A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

A harrowing tale of the lives of two women in Afghanistan. It made me appreciate modern day life in Ireland. Another page turner and one I recommend to all my friends.

#3 Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

A true story about a dying University Professor, who in the final months of his life details his views on life...sections include marriage/relationships, regrets death, ageing, forgiveness... Life changing is an understatement for the impact this book had on me. It made me take stock and appreciate the important things in life.

#4 The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

A romantic novel detailing Henry's time travelling, his love affair with Clare and all the funny situations his time travel lands him in.  Another page turner that I couldn't put down!

# 5 The Millennium Trilogy by Steig Larson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire and The Girl who kicked the Hornets Nest. I picked up The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on a whim and when I finished the first fast paced thriller I was kicking myself I hadn't gotten the other two at the same time. Mystery, danger, suspense, romance it's all there in these three books!

So there we have it, some of my all time favourites...now that I have these out of my system I'll be able to crack on and do some reviews of books I'm currently reading!

What are your favourite books??..I'd love some recommendations!

PS.. I'm also guilty of reading trashy stuff like 50 Shades!!! (come on...the whole world was talking about it!!!)

DE-Stressing...

Hello everyone....so we all have those ‘down days’ and stressful times of our life every now and then,The following is a list of things I do to help snap me out of those horrible moods and de-stress...

-Pampering- face masks, hair masks, & a long hot shower

-Going for a walk- no matter how long or short a walk, I find just getting out into the fresh air helps me. (I’ve even been known to do this in the rain and then follow up with pampering as above!)

-A Treat- I’m on a budget...so any treat does, a magazine, an ice—cream, chocolate....

-Listening to some of my favourite music

-Painting my nails. This might sounds silly for some but I find it very relaxing

-Talking to a friend. I’m very lucky I have several friends I can ring if ever feeling low- some are great to help me talk through my problems, others make me laugh...and i love them all.

-Watching Videos on Youtube of my favourite Volggers and Gurus.

-Cooking a really really nice dinner. I’m not ‘into’ cooking but there is nothing more comforting on a cold miserable day then a good stew, or homemade soup!...(please don’t ask for recipes...I’m crap at cooking!!) 

I’m lucky that days like this don’t happen me often, but when they do the above list are my weapons against feeling crappy!!!!!!

1 Year Ago Today...

I made a big change in my life!...It was hard..a VERY difficult decision to make...and it wasn't easy for a while!

BUT...

Through all the tears, hurt, anger & pain...

I LEARNED...

About myself...

I THOUGH ABOUT...

What I really wanted to be when I grew up...

I DID THINGS...

To make myself Happy

I MADE DECISIONS...

That will shape my future...

Sometimes the hardest decisons to make are the most important decisions we'll ever make...It's been a tough year but I am stronger, more determined and in a much better place now to...

MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE!


PS. Sorry I've been MIA lately, Mr.Blahblahblah works from home for a couple of months each year which means I have very little access to our 'shared' PC!

Martina Cole Book Reviews....

 

 

The Ladykiller Martina Cole

 

 

 

I absolutely love a good thriller, a book that I can't put down, a real page turner and The Ladykiller did not disappoint. This book is not for the fainthearted, it follows George a cruel and devious man, a serial killer who kills and then rapes random women. The best thing about this book is that the story is told from the perspective of everyone involved, George, Elaine his wife, the detectives investigating the cases,the victims and their families. It goes into George's history and childhood and gives us a real feel for what his life has been like.

A riveting read, once finished I immediately set about reading the other Martina Cole book in my possession....

 

 

 

The Business..Martina Cole

 

After reading The Ladykiller I was expecting a fast paced thriller, unfortunately this book is a slow burner right until the end. Right the way through I was waiting for the storyline to pick up. In reality I felt this book was without a main plot, there was no real reason to continue reading to find out the fate of the characters.

 

It follows the lives of three generations of a gangster family. Imelda the daughter of a crime boss becomes pregnant outside of marriage and all hell breaks loose, it results in the murder of her father and the father of her unborn child. The book then tells the tale of her life, her mothers life and the lives of her children. As with the Ladykiller the story is told through the voices off all the main protagonists. Themes such as drug abuse, prostitution, abuse, violence and neglect weave through this book.

 

This book was a disappointment for me, but if you enjoy reading about the lives of gangsters and their families this may be the book for you! 

 

 

If you would like more information about Martina Cole and her books her website is here

 



What to do when you have no Internet...

Hello Everyone!

I've not disappeared....I've been without Internet connection for almost a week! Living in the middle of nowhere and having no Internet can make for some real boring days! I felt as if my right arm had been cut off and I didn't know what to do with myself!

So here are a few things I did while I was without Internet....

Painted my Nails....

Read Two Whole Books... Reviews on the way...

Messed around with putting rollers in my hair (this was not a success!!)...

Took Polly on lots of Long Walks...

Read a magazine...something I rarely do when I have the world of the Internet at my fingertips, but something I actually enjoyed!

Life without Internet connection can be boring, and I did feel disconnected from the world, but on the other hand it was nice to spend sometime with Mr.Blah Blah Blah without Facebook,Twitter, E-Mail etc ....

Would I willingly go without Internet...NO....but maybe for a couple of hours a few times a week...!

Thanks for reading,
Cor
x

Puppy Love....

You may have wondered why there is a dog on my header...It's beacause of my beloved dog Polly.....

About a year and a half ago she came around my workplace, a hungry little stray..and a presitstent little thing... she stayed!!!..Of course everyone was feeding her so why wouldn't she!!!!

Late one Friday night I was leaving my work and found her bedding down in a ditch along the road as I drove home....My heart broke, so she came home with me. After prolonged attempts to find her owners I decided to keep her.. I'd fallen in love with her at that stage, and to be perfectly honest I wasn't too keen on handing her back to where she'd come from. She was skinny, starved, shy and nervous of humans...I suspect she had been abused.

Now Polly lives a charmed life...She sleeps at the bottom of my bed, eats as good as I do...loves meat, all things dairy and even Walkers Ready Salted Crisps! She hates the cold and is often seen lying up against the radiators in the house! She hates the rain but loves sunbathing in the little sunshine we get during the summer! She loves walks and understands when I say 'Do you want to go for a walk'..she goes beserk when I say those words! She goes EVERYWHERE with me...and sits in the front seat of my car happy as larry!!!

If we ever have to go away and she can't come, she stays at Mr.BlahBlahBlah's mothers house... she's got underfloor heating...Polly loves staying there!!!!

 

 

 

Life is always lots of fun now that I've got Polly to keep me entertained with her mischef every day!!!!