Watched, Read, Loved: November 2016 – Most dramatic month ever?

What a month! It’s been crazy. I wrote this long ass post about all my opinions and then I was like eh, don’t need it, not my country, not my cheescurl. So let’s just go on with the usual here and do the rundown of what I was up to this month as usual, shall we?

I finished exams – YAS. So far I’ve passed everything with one result still pending. I’m darn pleased with myself, to be honest. So close to being done I can smell it. I’ve been rather irritated with some things at work, but my eyes have been opened a bit – I am so fortunate to be employed by a stable company where there is a 30% unemployment rate in South-Africa right now, and I should really be more thankful about that. I also broke plates at a Greek restaurant, and I now fully understand why the Greek people are so joyous – it is therapeutic! I also managed to be caught in rain storms quite a few times, and as I’m writing this I have a disgusting head cold going on – sneezing, coughing, basically being the person I’d generally want to murder.

Watched in cinema:

Dr. Strange(2016)

I enjoyed this film quite a lot. It really IS Iron Man on drugs and has the exact same story, but I liked it nonetheless. Benedict Cumberbatch truly is the definition of the term strange, and works superbly in this Marvel film. (and he WERKS that cape)

 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them (2016)

I made no secret in my review that I had zero time for this film. What a precious waste of my time and abuse of the Potter world. Ugh.

 Watched at home:

Aliens (1986)

So much epic. I am so glad I sat down and watched this, my 2016 blindspot series has been quite the disaster and I’m scrapping it off the menu for 2017 completely. However, I did enjoy a whole bunch of the watched films, and this was one of them. Ripley is so badass man, so badass.

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

As mentioned above, I’ve been kicking and screaming trying to finish my Blindspots while totally not in the mood, but this turned out to be so beautiful and heartbreaking. Totally worth the time and paying attention to the English subtitles.

 

Series:

Vampire Diaries Season 5

It’s good, but definitely lacks a bit in terms of my favorite – season 3. However, Elena isn’t the world’s most annoying vampire ever, which can only be an improvement. Review will hopefully be up soon 😀

Books read:

The Dressmaker– Kate Alcott

Despite this being the title of THREE DIFFERENT NOVELS – which lead to a variety of confusion -I have all the love for this book. It is definitely not the same story as the movie that I want to watch with Kate Winslet and Liam Hemsworth, but I am so happy I took a chance. What a lovely, interesting and thought provoking read this was!

The Power of Six – Pittacus Lore

The second book in the Lorien Legacies is also turning out to be a fantastic read. It is well written and well thought out, something most of these dystopian/alien/teenage books lack completely.

I am Number Four – Pittacus Lore

I reviewed this over HERE, and it was one of the better books I read this year. Very impressed!

Love by Design: Loving Jack and Best Laid Plans – Nora Roberts

I’ll never really review this – it has little to no story line and is essentially just some smooch smoochy stories. Even in my bedraggled study brain mode this was too dumb for me, and I probably skipped quite a few pages because there are only so many scorching kisses that can be read.

Reread:  Convincing Alex – Nora Roberts

A reread that won’t be seeing another review. I find these books fun and vacant, and having met real Ukranians I can assure you that they are not Mikhael and Alexi Stanislaski, ladies.

Reread:  Luring A Lady–Nora Roberts

Same as above. It was fun while it lasted!

Reread: The Obsession (Nora Roberts) – I have so much love for this book and author (as you all know), and I’m enjoying it the second time around – I borrowed it to a friend shortly after finishing it the first time, and I must say, it is as good as my first impression of it.

What have you been entertaining yourself with? Tell me in the comments 🙂

December 6, 2016December 2, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2016, Books, Movies, movies, Nora Roberts, Series, UncategorizedTags: 2016, Aliens, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Damon Salvatore, Dr. Strange, Eddie Redmayne, Fantastic Beasts and where to find them, Guillermo Del Toro, Harry Potter, I am Number Four, Ian Somerhalder, JK Rowling, Kate Alcott, Lorien Legacies, monthly rundowns, Nina Dobrev, November, Pan's Labyrinth, Paul Wesley, Pittacus Lore, politics, Rachel McAdams, Sigourney Weaver, The Dressmaker, The Power of Six, Tilda Swinton, Vampire Diaries 7 Comments

Thoughts 1.2

Happy Wednesday!

“thoughts” posts will now be labelled 1.2 as per month (1 = January) and number of post within that month (.2 is the second one in January so far)

Some completely (and very random) thoughts for this week

I am nearly twenty four. Getting older and older, and I still barely have an idea where I am going in life. I have a basic outline of things I want to accomplish, but that is it

Decent phones are way too expensive! Where were the days when you spent 60 bucks a month for your Nokia 3310?

Speaking of which, exploring phones and specs and what I want. I want a big phone but I also want a laptop, so I need to find the best deal out there.

I have a good layout idea for my blog. So excited!

I finally started rebuilding my book challenge list. Will post it on blog and save three times in different locations to prevent any file losing again. TRIPLE MEH

Kicked the book-block in the ass and started reading again. Finished the Great Gatsby and started another Nora Roberts. Next book will be some Galaxy book thing. I just can’t remember the name (ever).

My war on mosquitoes is still on. I hate them.

It is getting closer and closer to buying a car time. I am excited and terrified in equal measure.

I sometimes feel that the world and I are not friends. Like we move at different speeds and never fully understand each other.

If my family were the leads of Two Broke Girls, I would be Max and my sisters would collectively be Caroline. We are broke too so we are following the plot. Just wish I could date Johnny as part of being Max 😉

And there comes a time where you just have to finally admit that something won’t work out no matter how much you want it or how good the idea was.

I really wish for winter now. I will likely moan about winter three months into it, but this oppressive heat is getting to me.

Getting in shape is a daily struggle. I keep needing to remind myself on why I want to lose weight (I have three holidays planned this year and it helps you live longer). I am cautious about becoming obsessed. I have read way too many articles about weight obsession this year. What people don’t understand is that it isn’t only an obsession when you are bulimic/anorexic/overeater, but also when you constantly obsess and fail and then hate yourself for it.

Some hope for the residents of the Central African Republic I hope.

And a motivational for the week.

What is on your mind?

January 15, 2014 by Natasha Categories: BooksTags: 100 books, Birthday, Contracts, Laptops, Nora Roberts, Phones, politics, Reading, Weight loss, Winter Leave a comment

5 Things Friday: 5 Things happening right now

South-Africa’s multiply disordered government

Our President put his foot in his mouth – Again

E-tolls is a new tolling system on the roads in Johannesburg that the South-African government hopes to implement. It is angering motorists because it is going to be ridiculously expensive, we are already paying an astronomical amount of tax and fuel prices are already so high nobody needs extra expenses.

Mr. Jacob Zuma released a statement saying plenty of unsavoury things about the anger directed towards E-tolling. Read it here. Great job, sir. We know you can’t run for President again but I’m sure your political party is super chuffed with you calling their primary voters backwards. GREAT JOB. I am actually imagining the Democratic Alliance (another political party in South-Africa) hosting a party in your honour.

Watching

I am currently watching Suits now. I expected it to be good, really, but was surprised at how much I am entertained by it. It is cut-throat, fast paced and high powered, and the characters are incredibly sarcastic and driven, and I love that.

Movies

There are finally good movies being released. I love the whole experience of the movie – going to the cinema, getting popcorn, sitting in the dark and watching something come to life on a huge screen. I haven’t been the movies for a bit – mostly because I was broke, very busy and there weren’t any great movies on. THAT is why I am so excited. I’m going to make some time soon and go see at least one or two the next few weeks.

On the 8^th of November, Thor: The Dark World is being released here in South-Africa. I can’t wait to see what Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman have done as Thor and Jane again.

Next on my watch list is Catching Fire which will be released on the 22^nd of November. Part of the Hunger Games series focuses on Peeta and Katniss when they get sent back into the arena only a year after they won the Games together. Katniss knows President Snow hates her, but will she be able to be victorious again? I am skeptic about the actor cast as Finnick Odair, but I am willing to be open minded and see if they bring the second book justice.

Excited

In a month’s time, I am traveling to Cape Town, South-Africa, to go to the WSPID conference. Cape Town is one of the places I haven’t visited in my own country, and I am honestly excited to go there.

Desperately in need of:

A car,

A new haircut.

Time: For studying, Reading, Relaxing, Sleeping and Watching Series. All these tasks are crammed into the little time I have in the evening, and it is exhausting me. Luckily I am on study leave next week, so I have time then to study.

What’s happening in your life right now?

xX N

October 25, 2013October 24, 2013 by Natasha Categories: Five Things Friday, MoviesTags: Cape Town, Car, Catching Fire, Chris Hemsworth, E-tolls, Five Things Friday, Gale Hawthrone, Hunger Games, Jacob Zuma, Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen, Movies, Natalie Portman, Peeta Mellark, politics, Series, South-Africa, Suits, Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Time, Travelling, Wishes, WSPID conference 3 Comments

Weekend 11-14 October 2013

Friday

Friday night I babysat my friend’s daughter. She is six months old, and an absolute sweetheart. I am sure that she is the sweetest, most well behaved baby on this planet. She may be the reason that will convince me to have one of my own one day. Sneaky little thing, I tell you.

Saturday

Saturday we went to Gilroy’s brewery. It had the most wonderful atmosphere. The place was packed, and it was enormous fun. It is sadly too far away to go frequently.

I am really enjoying summer. The weather has been great – it is not scorching yet.

Watching

My new obsession at the moment is Friends. I am now at season two. I have seen bits over the years, but have never made a real effort to follow it. It is so amusing.

Reading

The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. It is good, but I find myself vacantly staring into space sometimes. Perhaps it is one of those books who would have been great had it been better edited. Finished the second book last night, Frostbite, and took out Shadow Kiss to start on if I have time today.

Eating and Exercising

I have mostly gotten my outrageous need for food under control. Mostly. Some people tell me it is the heat; some tell me it is the frequent exercise. But the truth is, I need to plan my meals better then I won’t be hungry all the time. Starting today, I am eating better, and keeping up with the exercise, which is going great.

Studying

Exams are getting close – my first one is the 1^st of November. It is chemistry, so I am stressing and studying to the maximum. I try to put in at least an hour each night, and have so far been {mostly} successful.

Irritating

Men. In general. I’m sorry, but dating and relationships are just frustrating. Contemplated giving it up permanently, then remembered that I don’t want to be old with fifty cats and a bad attitude (I already have a bad attitude, just scared of the fifty cats)

Religion

Not a huge blogger on religion, but I have thinking about all the different types and what it means a whole lot lately. Am told that it is normal with my current age to question everything. So at least I am normal in the sense that I question everything. Will let you know my conclusions.

Charlie Hunnam is not Christian Grey anymore

He dropped out. I am happy because I love that man, and I loathe those books. Yes, Charles, you do not want to lose your badass persona from Sons of Anarchy because of this. No, you don’t

Block

Not feeling the writing bug today, which is weird since I had it the past two weeks.

Nearly voting time

In South-Africa, we vote around April. A relatively new democracy, SA hosts a bunch of the most ridiculous political parties you can imagine. The latest one now is the EFF, started by the suspended ANC youth league president Julius Malema. I cannot accurately describe the antagonism I feel towards this man. I have very ugly thoughts about him and his ideas. Read about the joke of the DECADE here.

To sound off, here is a motivational pic, because we all need it on a Monday.

(image source)

October 14, 2013 by Natasha Categories: Books, Reviews, Unisa, WeekendsTags: 100 books, Bloodlines, Book, Books, Charlie Hunnam, Dating, Democracy, entertainment, Exams, Fifty Shades of Grey, Fitness, healthy lifestyle, healthy-living, Inspiration, Julius Malema, literature, Men, politics, Reading, Relationships, Religion, Review, Reviews, Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy, vampires, Voting, Weight loss, Writers block Leave a comment

Friday things

I am so happy it is Friday. This week has flown. I am so busy right now I barely have a concept of time. It saddens me, it feels like life is moving past me and I am barely noticing. But there are some happy things happening right now.

Happy things

I am helping plan a dear friend’s baby shower. I can’t wait to see the beautiful baby finally (begin April). My friend will be such a good mommy.

The planning for my sister’s wedding and bachelorettes. It is going to be so awesome.

Our little puppy at home curling up next to you and sleeping. It is just so damn sweet.

My baby steps to getting out of debt seem to be working effectively, if very slow.

Being able to read again – I was in such a reading rut.

Listening to music, and discovering new artists.

Listening to the one true boy band – Westlife

Watching the Mentalist. My happiness is complete.

My boss bringing me homemade cookies because I work too hard. She is really awesome.

Winter is coming along. I am completely over this intense heat.

Amusing things.

The South-African parliament. Minister of women, children and disabilities (seriously, why group the three together?) claims White Afrikaans Christian men are the most abusive in this country. It is pretty much discriminating and racist towards three types of people in this country. I was much impressed when she was chased out of parliament. Now she has withdrawn her comments, but honestly, the damage is done.

What is making you happy right now?

*Image from coolfreeimages.net

March 1, 2013 by Natasha Categories: UncategorizedTags: baby-shower, bachelorettes, Friday, happy, music, parliament, politics, South-Africa, The Mentalist, wedding, Westlife 1 Comment