Book Review: Doing It! Let’s Talk About Sex – Hannah Witton

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If you haven’t come across British Youtuber Hannah Witton, you’ve been missing out! Hannah is a fabulous vlogger who primarily discusses sex and relationships in an open manner. From her incredible ‘The Hormone Diaries’ documenting her journey coming off the pill, her collaborative podcast ‘The Banging Bookclub’ and body positivity Hannah is like an older Youtube sister.

I’ve only been watching Hannah for a few months and just found her to be positive and enlightening before seeing her book EVERYWHERE so I thought why not, I love her channel so let’s give the book a go, and I’m glad I did. Now, before reading I would recommend watching a few of her videos to get a feel for Hannah’s voice and personality to really understand the book.

Divided into chapters such as Healthy Relationships, Masturbation, Virginity, LQBTQ, Consent and more. What’s worth noting, however, is that why this is Hannah’s book and primarily her perspective, she understands and acknowledges that there are situations that she cannot talk about her personal experiences, because they don’t apply. Instead of creating blanket statements, Hannah has chosen to include the perspectives of many different Youtubers on their own experiences. This was so refreshing to read from own voices.

As Hannah addresses on her channel this book is for a younger audience, mostly teenagers. That said as a 22 year old I still learnt from it. I think this is an invaluable tool for younger people. There is so much in here that won’t be discussed in school or with friends as a young person. We are becoming more open but we need books like this available to all young people as something to reference more than from cover to cover. There really is something in here for everyone.

I absolutely loved Hannah’s book and felt that it was a great and informative read. It’s got humour, but at the same time,  there is clear and relevant information in an easy to read manner. I mean there’s even a section on consent but it gets the information across without scare mongering. I gave this four stars because I see it as a really great way to start a conversation. As I said, I’d definitely check out Hannah’s channel before reading just to get a feel and really appreciate everything she is doing to promote healthy relationships and sexual experiences, click here to watch!

The Truth About Being in a Long Term Relationship

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A lot of people in my life ask me about my relationship. Ali and I have been together for almost 9 years. We met at school and have been together since the ages of 13 and 14. This isn’t common and I only know one or two other couples who are in a long-term relationship in their early twenties.  There is this fascination whenever new people find out about us and there are a LOT of questions, so I thought why not make a blog post about them.

Do you ever feel like your missing out? 

No, not really. I’m in a relationship where we can do what we want to do. There’s no asking permission or anything like that. I’ll check we haven’t planned anything before finalising plans with friends, out of politeness. I can do what I like and so can he so I don’t feel like I miss anything.

Is it easier now you’ve met someone? 

I don’t have the same stresses in terms of relationships that my friends have, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without struggles. We’ve been together 9 years so of course, we have disagreements and arguments. I wouldn’t say it’s easier, it takes patience, time and love!

What’s the best part of being with someone for that long? 

We got to grow together. We’ve literally seen each other through our awkward teenage years, through becoming who we are at university. We’ve seen some of the worst parts and some of the best. That’s really special because I’ve seen him become the man he is today and I love it.

Do you have to compromise? 

Of course, we’re two individuals with different opinions.

Dude, why aren’t you married yet?

Do you know how EXPENSIVE it is to get married?! It’s something we’d like to do some day but right now we’re pretty chill living together.

Do you feel like you’re just part of a couple? 

People often think of us as ‘Chloe & Ali’ but I still feel like an individual. I know what I like, he knows what he likes. We have similar friends but different careers, different thoughts and opinions. I think that’s really important in a healthy relationship.

What advice do you have? 

Other people’s opinions can be the worst thing for a relationship. There’s no set way to have a relationship, no strict timeline. As long as there is trust, friendship and respect then you do you!

My Blogging Journey in 10 questions

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I get asked a lot about blogging once people find out about my website, so I thought I’d share my journey in 10 questions for my lovely readers. So, here we go.

Why did you start blogging?

My very first blog was to review my bookcase, as a reason to keep all my books. For this blog, I wanted to document my uni experience and it’s become so much more!

How has blogging changed for you?

My confidence, people read what I write. It’s made me realise I can write and it’s good enough for people to read.

What’s the BEST part of blogging?

Being able to connect with people, exchanging stories!

What’s the worst part of blogging?

Comparing yourself to others. It’s so easy to look and go why aren’t I at their level? It’s often a case of right place, right time added to hard work.

How do you schedule?

I used to be SO good at scheduling. Now if I can I try and schedule a week in advance but it doesn’t always go to plan…

Do you keep track of stats?

I have a spreadsheet (because I’m a total spreadsheet geek) to keep an eye on how I’m doing, what’s working and what’s not.

What makes you keep blogging?

Every now and again, I’ll get a message for a comment from someone about how my blog has been positive for them or helped in some way. It makes me feel good. That and I enjoy it!

What are your blogging goals?

  • To raise awareness of Mental Health
  • To work with some brands to promote something I love
  • To reach 5K Twitter followers
  • To use my blogging experience to write my own book

What do you want your blog to achieve if anything?

To raise awareness of Mental Health first and foremost.

What’s your top tip for new bloggers?

Keep going! Talk to other bloggers and push on through any writer’s block!

 

If you’d like to use these questions too then make sure to let me know! Leave links in the comments below 🙂

June Favourites!

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Books 

This month was a good one for books! It started with me picking up three new ones; The Gender Games by Juno Dawson, the Gryffindor edition of Philosophers Stone, Nutshell by Ian McEwan (SO GOOD), The Girl Who Beat ISIS by Farida Khalaf, The Wicked + The Divine vol 5 (finally!) and The New Girl by Rhyannon Styles. It’s been a really varied and awesome reading month, I’m really proud of myself.

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Watching 

I have become OBSESSED with Tyler and his show. Now I do hope there is more after life and just love watching the show.

Fashion & Beauty 

I didn’t catch many super summery outfits from the heatwave! That said, in the top corner are two of my work outfits for the rain and next up my gym outfit! That’s right I got back in the gym this month too with a new sports bra and top on top of that I’ve been drinking LOTS of vitamin water. In the bottom two pictures, there are two new outfits on the left an outfit from my Mum and the right from my grandparents.

 

Home 

When I got offered my new job I found this mug and it just spoke to me. I was also able to find the Harry Potter bedding for our bed! I’m lucky enough that Ali loved it too!

General

There have been so many great general favourites this month! I’ve hit 500 subscribers on this blog so thank you to every single one of you who take the time to read. It’s also been a great month for socials I’ve been to my second book club, had my friend Joe to visit and had my baby sister finish school! On top of that I was so thrilled by the amount of young people who voted in the General Election, even if it wasn’t the result I was hoping for. I also finally received my Harry Potter pop vinyls I ordered at Christmas (in time for Harry Potter’s 20th Anniversary)! They’re incredibly adorable and I still have so many to collect! I couldn’t not mention the extreme heat we’ve been having this month, it got up to an amazing 36 degrees, that said I’m not great in the heat! I also wanted to sneak in my favourite chocolate at the moment Raspberry Intense Dark Chocolate. So, so, good.

 

What were YOUR favourites this month? Let me know in the comments below!

Feminist Friday: We need to talk about gendered dress codes.

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If you live in the UK you can’t have missed the heatwave that hit this month. It was ridiculously hot and obviously that comes with health concerns for people. Naturally, you want to wear less clothing to cool down. This got me thinking about dress codes and how unfair they can be on both sexes.

Now, we’ve all seen sexism in the media about women being required to wear heels or encouraging short skirts in some job, while not being taken seriously in a suit in others. It’s not anything new and, of course, it’s incredibly unfair and annoying. That said, as soon as it got hot most of the women I new switched to dresses to get a little relief from the heat. The guys were under strict instruction though, no shorts and shirts still needed to be warm…despite it being 36 degrees!

Here in the UK a group of teenage boys decided that in sweltering heat they had enough of their schools no shorts policy and so turned up in skirts. I completely agree with them! There was no logical reason that shorts could not be worn in extreme heat. It was absolutely rediculous that the boys were being singled out because of their gender. There’s no point!

On both sides, there are so many issues with expectations in regards to gendered dress codes. Wearing a stuffy suit and tie doesn’t instantly mean respect, in fact, I’d rather meet with someone who is comfortable rather than boiling hot and feeling ill from heat, I think we all would!

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

Book Review: Nutshell – Ian McEwan

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‘So here I am, upside down in a woman. Arm patiently crossed, waiting, waiting and wondering who I’m in, what I’m in for.’

This is honestly one of the strangest, yet intriguing books I’ve ever read. Told from the perspective of a foetus about to be born with the mind of a middle-aged man. If you want the weird and wonderful this is definitely the book for you. In the past I’ve only read McEwans On Chesil Beach for my AS Level, I thought that was incredibly strange until I read Nutshell. That said, I have no doubt that it’s one of the best written I have ever read.  What struck me was how utterly unlikeable all the characters outside the womb were. Truly awful people but that just made it event better to read. You don’t want these people to succeed, you want the foetus to have a better chance at life and keep the

What struck me was how utterly unlikeable all the characters outside the womb were. Truly awful people but that just made it event better to read. You don’t want these people to succeed, you want the foetus to have a better chance at life and keep the intelligence he seems to have. Of course, this is NOT a realistic novel there aren’t babies who can formulate thoughts like this but you’re so absorbed in the story you don’t care.

I’ve been told since reading that this was based on Hamlet, a play I haven’t read. Whether it was or not the way in which the novel is written is incredible. There is a rhythm to it that kind of makes it feel like you’re reading poetry which is never a bad thing. McEwan also makes you think about the world around you with the things that the ‘baby’ hears and considers. It’s hard to explain more than that.

I gave this novel 4 stars, only for the fact that sometimes it can be quite difficult to follow. That said, I couldn’t stop reading and had it out at every opportunity I could. I would definitely recommend this to anyone with a curious mind or who is up for something new to read. I’ll definitely be picking up more of his novels too!

25 Get to know me questions

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My friend AshaOnline posted this a little while ago, I liked her answers so I thought I’d give it a go myself. Make sure you also pop over to Asha’s blog she’s just starting and has some really cool stuff!

Are you named after anyone?
First name, no, middle name yes after my aunt.

When was the last time you cried?

It’s a regular occurrence, I’m an emotional person

Do you have kids?
No, but I have a hamster who I love as much as a kid.

If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself?
I think so, I’m a good friend.

Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Noooooooo. Does that give you an answer?

What’s the first thing you notice about people?
Their personality

What is your eye colour?
Blue

Scary movie or happy endings?
Happy Endings

Favourite smells?
Chocolate, fresh washing, outside post rain

What’s the furthest you’ve ever been from home?
US of A

Do you have any special talents?
I can sing?

Where were you born?
Basingstoke

What are your hobbies?
Reading, Writing, Funko Pop collecting

Do you have any pets?
Just one, a hamster named Wickett

Do you have any siblings?One sister, she’s my fave.

One sister, she’s my fave.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Happy! That’s all that matters!

Who was your first best friend?

Kara
How tall are you?

5ft1. No, I’m serious.

Funniest moment throughout School?

Honestly, can’t think of one, school sucked

How many countries have you visited?

I want to say 6?

What was your favorite/worst subject in High School?

Favourite I was Drama, worst was PE and/or Maths

What is your Favorite drink? Animal? Perfume?

Tea, Hamster, Fantasy
What would you (or have you) name your children?

I have a few ideas but I’m not sharing them!
What Sports do you play/Have you played?

I’m not really a sports person, I used to ride but wasn’t on a team.
Who are some of your favourite YouTubers?

Carrie Hope Fletcher, Hannah Witton, Emma Blackberry, Cherry Wallis, Giovanna Fletcher, Cece from ProblemsofaBookNerd
How many Girlfriends/Boyfriends have you had?

Serious, 1.
Favourite memory from childhood?

Disney world!
How would you describe your fashion sense?

Comfortable but conscious of looking good.
What phone do you have? (iOS v Android?)

iPhone, always iPhone.

Tell us one of your bad habits!

Rushing.

Got any more questions? Let me know in the comments below!

Harry.

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As most of you know 20 years ago today a very special book was released. On the 16th June 1997 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone was released and little did I know it would change my life forever. Now, I have to make a confession. While I am a huge Potterhead now with a huge collection and love for everything Potter related, I wasn’t in the first wave in 1997, you see I was born in 1994 and couldn’t quite read at the age of 3. It wasn’t until after the films came out I got interested. I was too scared to see the film (the clip of Fluffy terrified me) and thought that only boys liked it (oh how wrong I was), instead, I started reading the books. From that point on it never stopped.

For me this was more than a book. This was something I loved so, so deeply. I remember my first pre-order, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2003. I needed that book but as a 9 year old I asked my Mum if we could go and get it as soon as it opened and so I went to WHSmiths handed them my piece of paper and was given my new book with release day goodies. They were so precious to me that I never used them, they currently live at my Mum’s house. For a 9-year-old little girl that was a BIG book, but I got through, I just kept reading and reading. I did the same for Half-Blood Prince and again for Deathly Hallows.

I always loved Hermione, because I felt like I was reading about myself. She was smart, a little bossy and a little annoying but with a good heart. She had messy brown hair and big teeth, I could see Hermione as a friend. I loved Harry and Ron and later Ginny became a firm favourite too. With each film, I would eagerly await what would happen, even though I knew just to see the magic again. I was lucky enough to go to America to see the theme park not long after opening and to go to London for the studio tour a few years later.

These books, these words spoke to me. They were a place I could fall into, books I could read over and over again and just be transported. I wasn’t bullied, I was a witch as smart as Hermione, as brave as Harry, as lovely as Ron. They were like good friends to me. Even now I hear the theme music and get goosebumps because it means so much to me. I’m even getting emotional as I write this. Everyone who knows and loves me knows there are few things in life I love more than Potter, hell even my first car was called Harry! And even though Pottermore doesn’t agree I always have and always will be a Gryffindor.

As I get older I’ll continue reading, listening, watching. Any extra books or information I’ll greedily take because I care so much about that world, the world that Jo has created for us to enjoy. I’ll make my wand collection even bigger, continue collecting until I don’t have the room and continue to live the lessons that Harry and his world taught me. This was so much more than a set of books for me, it was a childhood, a love, a lifeline and happiness.

Here’s to another 20 years of magic.

Sunday Seven: Reasons having a hamster is the best

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If you follow me on any social media you will know that I LOVE hamsters. I’ve had 3 dwarf hamsters and 1 Syrian in my life. I just find them to be loving, adorable and ah I can’t get enough of hamsters. So, here’s some reasons why hamsters are the best.

1. They’re adorable

Just look at them!

2. Each and every one has their own personality 

For such tiny creatures, they all have their own personalities that are so different. I’ve not had two hamsters the same and I doubt I ever will.

3. They’re pretty low maintenance as pets 

Food, Water, Sawdust and a reasonable cage and you’re ready to go. Exercise is also pretty easy, a wheel and an exercise ball is plenty!

 

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4. Watching a hamster eat something bigger than them is hilarious 

Seriously, just google.

5. Playtime is so much fun

Watching a hamster run around in their ball or on a wheel is fun! They get so excited by the simplest things.

6. They’re very affectionate 

All of my hamsters have had their own way of being affectionate from curling up in your hair, on your shoulders, dragging your hand to make a slide, or playing hide and seek.

7. There’s unconditional love

Like with most pets, they won’t judge just love and sometimes that’s all you need.

Feminist Friday: The ‘Girls’ in modern thrillers

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Have you ever noticed a trend in modern thrillers? The Girl on the Train, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl or the other couple of thousands I found when I typed in ‘The Girl’ into a thriller search. I can hear some, what’s the problem? Are you making a mountain out of a molehill here?! When this was initially pointed out to me I wondered the same thing but it goes deeper than that. In all of the books that I’ve read with a similar title, there is no ‘girl’, just a grown woman. So, why are publishers so persistent in presenting them this way?

Now, it could be as simple as this is a catchier title, but I’m not buying it. It seems to go further. When we hear the word girl as a society there are connotations of weakness, naivety and childishness. I know for a fact in ‘Gone Girl’ and ‘The Girl on the Train’ both of these characters aren’t seen as reliable narrators, which is only added to the fact that they are referred to as ‘girls’ in the title.  If we switch this, trying to find instances of men being called boys is incredibly low. Which just screams inequality to me.

I’m aware that this isn’t a huge issue, that this isn’t the most important thing that feminism should address but it is an issue. It just shows how there is a, sometimes unconscious, bias against women in our everyday language. I’m not a linguist but even I can see that by branding these women ‘girls’ we are doing women a disservice. If you’ve ever read Gone Girl for example, Amy is not a one-dimensional character, far from it, nor is Rachel from The Girl on the Train.

It’s definitely something I think we should be mindful of. Call these characters what they are, women! It’s just something that has been playing on my mind. As always let me know your thoughts in the comments below!