BLOGGING UPDATES

August 11, 2017August 2, 2017 ~ Ellyn ~ 15 Comments

THE QCS TEST (AKA. MY DOOM)

Okay, I just want to cut to it because I’m supposed to be studying right now (even though all I want to do is watch ncis la). The point of this post is to basically pre-warn you guys that this could be a pretty shaky month for me. Not only is this term 3 of my last year in high school, but this month my grade also takes the QCS test.

It’s a pretty big deal because it basically determines my future in only 2 days worth of tests.

WILL I BE AROUND?

Yeah, so anyway. the point of this catch up post is just to let you guys know that I really don’t know how this month is going to go. I’m writing this back in May (I am prepping for August so to de-stress myself as much as possible) so I expect all I’ll be doing is stressing about my 3 social science assignments, exam block and the QCS.

Basically what I’m trying to say, is that I really don’t know if I’m going to be around the blogging community much. August is probably going to be the worst school month of my life so far and I just don’t know if I’ll be able to fit it in between classes and studying.

ALL UP

Anyway, all up – I’m sorry if it takes me ages to get back to you with comments or check out your blogs. It’s not anything wrong on your part it’s just all down to the fact that I won’t have time or I’ll be absolutely too exhausted.

SEND ME GOOD VIBES + I’LL SEE YOU ON THE FLIP SIDE!

asdas

2017 SO FAR – Goal Updates, What’s Up With Me, My Reading Life

July 7, 2017November 15, 2022 ~ Ellyn ~ 8 Comments

GOAL UPDATES

In January this year I wrote about my hopes and goals for 2017, you can read my blog post here!

My Main Goal for the year was to be more laid back with my reading. So, how am I going with that so far? Well, I actually think I’m doing pretty well. Aside from ARCS I’ve definitely been more laid back, I’ve been re-reading a bunch of books. Although, I must say that I really wanted to read bigger books this year but unfortunately I just haven’t had the time to dedicate to big books.

As for my re-reading goals basically my goal for the year was just to re-read a series that isn’t Harry Potter.

As of now I haven’t fully re-read a series but I have started re-reading The Raven Cycle and the Alex Rider series. I am hoping to finish both of these series this year, I’ve been really enjoying re-reading them, and would totally recommend that you guys give them a go!

I also just noticed that I made other series goals (lol, what).

01 Finish at least 3 series/trilogies I started prior to 2017.

-I mean I technically started Steelheart on December 29 and then I finished the trilogy in January, I’m counting it fight me.

-Oohh I know, I know! I also read the Fifty Shades trilogy ( I know, I am ashamed) (also, read my rant reviews of book 1 and two here and here!). I technically tried to read Fifty Shades of Grey a few years ago but DNF’d it because it was gross and Christian Grey is a creepy-ass man.

I haven’t totally finished this challenge but I’m pretty darn close!

02 Start and finish at least 1 series/trilogy in 2017.

Lol, nope. I haven’t started any series that are completely finished this year. I will probably be able to complete this challenge before the end of the year, but at this point I don’t really know what series I would start. Do you guys have any suggestions?

As for any specific books that I wanted to read this year, I have totally failed.

~~Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel~~ 1/7 COMPLETE (read my review here)
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
The Flash Vol. 6: Out Of Time by Robert Venditti
The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Lol, my shame is out there for anyone to see. I know that I should be able to read at least some of these but it all really depends on my mood, so we’ll see!

WHAT’S UP WITH ME

I think I’ve done pretty well reading-wise so far this year, but I have to say school is kicking my butt. So far, I’m doing pretty well but as always, I could be doing better. I don’t really know what else to say here, I guess for context I should probably mention that I’m currently in my last year of high school.

Actually no, I know what I can talk about. For anyone who is actually in high school, what I’ve found really helpful to balance blogging and school – schedule your posts. I am currently writing this post in April to go up early July. I know I will update it over the next month or two because it’s an updates post but honestly, I’m also half-way through August’s posts. This is mostly because I really love being ahead with my blog but also because I know that I will be really busy around this time in the year. Because it’s my last year at school I have to do the QCS, which is basically 3 tests that will decide whether or not I have a career or live under a bridge for the rest of my life. Sounds fun, right? Nope, not at all actually.

Anywayyy, basically queuing your posts can be really helpful around exam time.

MY READING LIFE

How am I going reading-wise so far? Meh, I’m going at my own pace this year and I’m loving it but I do still like having a lot to talk about at the end of the month. I’m finding that one month I’ll have 10 books to talk about and then the next month theres only 4 or 5. But I guess I just have to get used to my reading modd swings.

Has my reading life been affected by the reading changes I made at the start of the year? Definitely, my reading choice is definitely everywhere. For example, in February I basically spent the whole month reading one book, and I loved it! I was soo engrossed in Eating Animals, that I didn’t even care that I hadn’t really read anything else! So yeah, I think it’s definitely done a 180 on my stress levels and my mental health.

How are you guys going with your reading goals? Are you keeping up with your challenges?

asdaA

I’M CHANGING MY BLOG LOOK

June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 ~ Ellyn ~ 14 Comments

A couple of months ago Mikaela over at the well-thumbed reader did a total blog re-do and it got me into a blog frenzy. Naturally, I then had to do a total re-do also. I’m pretty happy with it, and I had a hell of a lot of fun doing it.

MONTHLY TBR AND WRAP UP

TBR NEW LOOK

Initially I wasn’t going to change anything about my tbr or wrap up look but then as I was writing my May TBR and my April wrap up I started getting really tired of the set out. So this is what I came up with ⬆ , I’m really happy with it and I much prefer the set out to what I used to have.

WRAP UP NEW LOOK

I’m also really happy with my new wrap up style – I’m really enjoying the TBR Check In feature which helps me keep track up how well I actually did tbr wise for the month.

HERE ARE A FEW OF MY NEW FEATURES

In the past few weeks I have made all new features for my blog posts, they’re all really floral which is kind of nuts for me but oh well, I think they look cool.

Link to flower wreath

Link to clock and books

Link to tv graphic

NO LONGER PUSS IN BOOTS?

When I first made my blog I needed to have an icon picture but I didn’t really have anything prepared so I just used a random pictue from my laptop however, it’s been over a year so I thought it was time for a change!

A NEW ADDITION TO MY POSTS

I’ve seen these on soo many different posts and I love them so I decided to add my own versions. I will also have a few other little aditions to some posts but these are what I’m most excited about.

SOCIAL MEDIA ICONS

Link to social media icons on Freepik