Reading Habits Tag

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I found this on the lovely Rachel’s blog and decided to give it a go too. Definitely go and give Rachel a read for some absolutely fantastic posts! I don’t usually get tagged for things I just pick them up and throw them on my blog for you guys so if you’re not tagged but want to give this a go then go ahead! 

1. Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

I like to curl up in my bed with a lot of pillows, if I’m feeling a little more social then I’ll curl up with pillows and blankets on the sofa. Pillows are essential to thought out reading time.

2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?

I’m trying to build up my bookmark collection but there isn’t one I’ll use anything I have around.

3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/ a certain amount of pages?

If I absolutely have to I’ll stop but I prefer to stop at a chapter or at an exact point in a book, like half way.

4. Do you eat or drink while reading?

Not really, I like just getting absorbed.

5. Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?

Not usually, I get too distracted.

6. One book at a time or several at once?

I’m usually reading at least 2 on the go.

7. Reading at home or everywhere?

Everywhere and anywhere.

8. Reading out loud or silently in your head?

Silently, I’ve never been someone who liked reading out loud.

9. Do you read ahead or even skip pages?

Only if I’m really bored of a book. When I was younger I used to get impatient and skip to the end.

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?

Keeping it like new, my family don’t like to borrow books from me because I’m so careful with my books.

11. Do you write in your books?

No! The only time I would write or underline was for uni but even then I’d buy a second copy to do it in 🙂

12. Who do you tag?

Getting the job.

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As of yesterday morning I am officially employed! For the past few weeks I’ve been having interviews for a Marketing position that I really, really wanted and the waiting has been driving me crazy. I applied for a job with a tech based company on Linkedin last month, I thought it looked interesting and had the attitude of ‘why not’. I knew it was a long shot, this wasn’t a small position, there was a lot of responsibility and over 80 people had already applied, but what did I have to lose? The worst they could say was no. So I sent off my Linkedin profile and didn’t think much of it until my email pinged about an hour later, it was someone from the company wanting to talk further. Later that evening he called and I had a phone interview there and then on the spot, an hour later I had my instructions come up with a social media plan example and come into the office in a week and a bit and let’s have a look. I was floored. Absolutely floored. Fast Forward to the first face to face interview, I fell in love with the location and got on with my interviewer before being invited back for another face to face interview with the head of the company. Score. So a few days later I met him and had another interview, alongside chatting about other things, no huge scary interview and lots of pressure, not only did it set the tone for the company but it excited me.

I’ll be honest I’ve been scared about finding a job, not so much because I thought I wouldn’t get one, but I was worried I’d just have to go somewhere I didn’t like to make a living. I spent a lot of my teenage years in a job where I was unhappy, then I came to uni and felt the happiness of having a job that I enjoyed and felt like I was doing something productive, not selling cheap clothes that fall apart. Finding Exonar was like a dream come true, they’re a smallish company, full of nice people (as I found out yesterday) and I can really sink my teeth into something without knowing I was on a years contract. I haven’t officially started yet but I’m excited and nervous and I haven’t felt like this since before I went to uni. I get to be in Marketing after a stack of rejections that I didn’t have enough experience.

It’s like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I know I’m going to be ok and hopefully be in a positive environment too! I’m trying to put into words just how excited I am but I don’t know how! All I know is I can’t wait for a new chapter to begin.

In The News: We Need to Talk About Sexual Assault.

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It’s hard to have missed two huge news stories in the past few weeks. While this might be an uncomfortable topic, I want this blog to be honest and unflinching. We need to talk about Sexual Assault. Late last month the world was horrified to learn that a 16 year old girl had been recorded being gang raped by up to 30 men, it was then uploaded onto social media. As if this wasn’t bad enough, this week the media gaze shifted to the United States after a young woman had been raped while she lay unconscious behind a bin. The rapist was found guilty, but still the media focused on what he had lost. They focused on his athletic career and even his own father wrote about how his life had been ruined by ’20 minutes of action’, with no insight into how the young woman’s life had been changed after her ordeal.

This isn’t the first time this year we’ve been talking about sexual assault. Kesha is still battling the man she accuses of raping her and has been blocked making music unless she works with him. Lady Gaga stood up and wrote the beautiful song Til It Happens To You (above), performing it at the Oscars surrounded by fellow survivors of assault. With all this talk in the media, surely it has to get better… right?

It wasn’t until I came to university that I fully understood the extent of women being affected by sexual assault. On nights out girls were touched again and again, even when they said no. Guys would come up behind me and try and dance against or touch me, something I’m deeply uncomfortable with. They would shout remarks on my way home or try and grab me and then laugh. I know too many people who’s drinks have been spiked or who have been so drunk they could hardly speak, but were taken home by someone and had sex with.

The worst thing though? The worst thing is when you’re told that you’re making a ‘fuss over nothing’. When you’re told it’s sports night and they’re just trying to dance close to you. When you’re told that boys will be boys. When you’re told that when you launch someone across a dancefloor for touching you in a club you’re the one who needs to lighten up and get a grip. It’s still made out to be your fault. I was made to feel bad by other people for being angry that I’d been touched by someone and I didn’t want them too. I was pressured by classmates in my teens not to report someone when they thought it was ok to slap my butt and make comments because I was the only girl in class and couldn’t I take a joke? When I was 11 and the guys told me to go ‘suck it’ or when one boy pushed me up against a wall and was inappropriate, or when he beat me up my school didn’t care. We reported it but we were just kids this didn’t mean anything, he was just a naughty boy. So I just got on with my life and shouted when I got mad, every time I got told by someone in authority that I needed to ‘calm down’. Luckily that’s not how my family raised me.

It’s hard sometimes because you feel like you’re fighting a losing battle. If I tried to report someone touching me up on a night out, nothing would happen. When we read about women getting attacked in the media the questions asked are ‘what were they wearing’ or ‘why were they alone at night’. When we read about a man getting attacked (because don’t forget, they do too) it’s made into a joke about how they should enjoy it. Recently a teacher was arrested for raping her 13 year old student, people were saying how ‘lucky’ he was. It was rape, he was a child and he was groomed and raped. That’s it.

While I appreciate that this is a heavy topic, it’s been tearing me up inside, reading all these reports. I don’t want to demonise men, not at all. I do, however, want to contribute to tackling the way rape and sexual assault are seen in the media, because only then will be get more convictions, more education and more support for the women and men who have faced such a terrible ordeal.

 

 

 

Where’s The Damn Book?!

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I’ve been wanting to write a book since before I started university. I’ve always written stories and the summer before I moved (3 damn years ago) I was working on my first novel. I was going to uni to do Creative Writing and I was going to be a writer. And then I started the course. I quickly realised I hated the course with a passion and spent a year of my life being told my work wasn’t good enough by older people. It always confused me because people my own age and one or two lecturers really liked it but there were some that were just hell bent on saying I wasn’t good enough. Now I’ve never had the strongest self esteem, I understand creative criticism but when you work so, so hard to get onto a course to be told by someone who has never read a word you’ve written that you’re writing is bad, you kind of take it to heart. Well, at least an 18 year old who’s just moved away from home and who’s walking around in an incredibly anxious state takes it to heart. I feel better now that it was just her opinion and truth be told after I refused to be caught by her after some catastrophic writing she’d put online (claiming that anorexia wasn’t real), I distanced myself from her and felt a little better about my writing. People liked reading what I wrote online, so why wouldn’t someone publish it eventually?

I’ve kept up my blog for almost three years now and had another before that, one of the main things people comment on when they search for me is the quality of my writing. So why isn’t that enough? This time last year I’d just returned from Athens on a week long creative writing course. Everyone was there because they knew to some extent what they wanted to write and I did too, something that my undergrad course lacked. Again I got positivity and some really great feedback but then the inevitable happened and I fell out of love with what I was writing and then I was there with ideas. Great right? I wish. I have all these ideas but self doubt is crippling. I write something, look at it a few hours later and can’t stand it. I get anxious that I’ll make spelling or grammar error and then be seen as an idiot. It’s deep in my heart that I want to be a writer, I want to see my name in a bookshop and see my thoughts on paper.

I know for a fact I can do it and I will, right now though my head feels so muddled and confused. What should I write about? Do I work on the non fiction piece? Do I try again on that old novel idea or start something completely different? Am I writing for Adults or Young Adults. All these thoughts go around and around in my brain and if I try and plan I get even more anxious because WHY IS THERE NO MANUAL THAT TEACHES YOU HOW TO BE AN AUTHOR. Which is silly, there’s no golden rule, not curse to break or magic formulae to make sure people will love what you’ve written. I know all this and yet I still want to delete pages of writing or worry about ever finishing something. I’m hoping these are rational fears.

It may sound like I’m complaining but I’m not, I feel like I have so much to give but it’s almost as if it’s trapped in my head and just won’t negotiate with my hands. I have ideas every night before I go to sleep and think they’re magical I wake up after scribbling them down and wonder how the hell I’m going to make something out of them. I don’t know, I thought I’d have a draft of a novel by now and I know, I know books can take years and years to just draft and then even more to get published. I’m just trying to get out of this rut where I just look at the page in anger because it’s just not doing what I want it to. My biggest critic is now myself, but I think with the voices of others inside, from the past who really shouldn’t be there. So I guess I’m going to have to work on kicking them out and working out what the hell I want to put on to paper, that might be a good idea. Oh and I might find the bloody book in my head stored away somewhere just waiting to come out.

 

Image from Pinterest

Sunday Seven: Seven of this weeks pics!

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I’ve spent most of the past week in Basingstoke, meaning I’ve been very snap happy this week, so for a little something different I wanted to share my top seven snaps of this week.

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Ed doesn’t like me shutting the door whenever I’m at home, he wants all the attention, no matter what time it is. I snapped this little pic while I wanted to sleep and Ed wanted to play.

IMG_7626 This week my little cousin and Godson turned 13. 13! Harvey and I are really close, he’s my little dude and I can’t believe he’s gone from this chubby cheeked baby to a really awesome little man. Also, check out the cake that my super awesome sister made!

IMG_7634 It was doughnut day this week so I popped to the shop and picked up these beautiful, scrummy pink ones. They tasted good, so good. IMG_7600

I was finally able to pick up my Illumicrate from my parents! I was not only surprised but loved every item in the box and can’t wait for my next one. If you missed my post, find it here.IMG_7627

Lottie is my shadow whenever I come home. This didn’t change this week, if you couldn’t find her you could guarantee she was on my bed fast asleep…even if it’s a choice between my Mum’s double bed or my single, she still chooses my bed.

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This is Betsy, my aunts puppy, she’s also known as Chewbacca by my cousins. I swear she’s like a little walking rug apart from she jumps up and wants cuddles and has a fondness for cake. Don’t you love this little smile too?!

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Another one of my little mischief maker in the evening.

If you want to keep up with more of my snaps, make sure to follow me on Instagram @chloemetz_!

5 Muhammad Ali Quotes to Live By

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As well as being a star in the ring, Muhammad Ali was incredible with words, and a poet too. While I’m not a boxing fan, he is a inspiration to me. Not only did Ali stand up for what he believed in, no matter what the cost (such as his stance against the Vietnam war), but he also wasn’t afraid to talk the talk. Here’s 5 quotes to live by from the one and only Muhammad Ali.

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A lot of Ali’s quotes were about carrying on, this one in particular sticks with me. Struggling sucks but trying to remember why you’re struggling and what the end game is makes it a lot easier to deal with.

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Again, you fall down? You pick yourself back up again. I completely agree with this, everyone goes down sometimes but it’s picking yourself up that shows strength.

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Ali risked so much when he opposed the Vietnam war and stood up to racism. IT could have ended his career but he still stood up for what he believed in. If this isn’t a reason to see Ali as an inspiration, I don’t know what is.

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Who doesn’t know this phrase?!

Right now Islam and the Muslim community need our support. We need to remember the peace that Ali reminded us of after 9/11 and people should know the ‘real truth about Islam’. One of the world’s greatest, and by all accounts nicest, men reminding us that it is extremism and hate of a minority that causes such devastation, not a book.

Rest in Peace Muhammad Ali.

All of these images and videos belong to the lovely people of Pinterest and Twitter.

Book Review: Lovey – Mary McCracken

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‘Me lovey’  – A remarkable story of a girl and a woman who refused to give up on her.

Working in a school for children with severe emotional problems and learning difficulties, Mary is often faced with challenging students but often puts a positive spin on things. On the first day of term, however, her well organised plans are thrown out of the window with the news she will be taking on a new student this year in her small class of four, a student no other teacher has been able to control. Before even setting foot in her classroom Hannah begins to resist, the child can only be likened to a ‘wild animal’ but despite all odds Mary manages to calm her down enough to get her into the classroom.

Although it sound cheesy, this book is a journey. I loved following the story and it felt like I was right beside Mary, Hannah and the rest of the boys in the class. The boys are also loveable and sweet, each with their own challenges and despite initial resistance to Hannah the boys become a key part in her recovery and the steps she takes.  As you’d expect though this is not a smooth transition of recovery, as well as being a teacher Mary needs to be extremely caring and attuned to each child’s individual needs. It takes someone very patient and very special to work with children with learning and emotional difficulties and Mary’s strength is an inspiration to us all.

Now I’m not saying the book is light, fluffy and an easy read because it’s not. Your heart aches for both Mary and the children. These children are so young but have been labelled and have been through traumatic experiences for their age but little by little Mary begins to build their confidence and deal with any set backs they have. Her use of calming techniques and focused attention mean these children get what they need and for Hannah being called ‘lovey’ by anyone makes her explode with joy.

As we move through the year with the children I doubt anyone could not marvel at the children’s response to Mary and the environment of the small school. It made me think about the facilities that are needed to help students like this get better and back into mainstream education, more as a transition stage rather than a permanent fixture.

I want to give this book 4 stars ****, I absolutely loved it! I initially expected a novel full of sadness and misery but was greeted with something very different. This is a story of hope, hard work and determination, although I warn you the ending is definitely bitter-sweet. It also spreads a wider message, even children with difficulties are so worth it and we should never give up on them. Mary is an extraordinary woman and the children had a place in my heart from the start. You’ll be pleased to know we do get to hear what they get up to later in life but you’ll have to wait and read to find out!

Illumicrate May 2016 Unboxing and Review

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Hello, hello, hello! I have finally been able to go back to my parents house and pick up my illumicrate which I literally missed by about 2 days the last time I was here. I’ve been waiting to get my hands on an affordable book subscription box, Illumicrate are based in the UK I believe, so I don’t have to pay huge shipping costs which are not my friend while I’m job hunting. So I may be a little late to the game but I’m hoping to try out more subscription boxes this year and give you guys an idea of what’s out there. Don’t forget that I’ve also done unboxing and reviews for MCM Collector Corps and Lootcrate too! On to the wonderful illumicrate…
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Bookworm Clip by My Bookish Mark and Readers Gonna Read Pin by Literary Emporium 

How adorable is this bookmark?! I’m always on the lookout from new bookmarks because I will literally use anything I can. Also the Readers Gonna Read pin is such good quality and it seems like it’s going to last. Love it. Love it. Love it.

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Ex Libris Stamp by Little Stamp Store

This is such an adorable little stamp and something that I didn’t expect at all and it has a fox on it!!! If you didn’t know I’m all about the foxes. Now I can go through and stamp all my favourite books if I want to WITH FOXES!

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Jenny McLachlan Badges

I’ve not heard of Jenny McLachlan before recieving these badges but they’re cute and in bright summery colours, I can definitely see myself putting them onto a tote bag! I’m also going to have to give Jenny a Google later on!

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When We Collide – Emery Lord 

I have wanted to pick this up on my last few bookshop trips and it’s been on my to read list since it came out so when ‘When We Collide’ was buried in my box I let out more than a little squeal, there’s also a set of postcards and a signed sticker from Emery (which has not been put inside the book). 10/10 for this book, very well done to the illumicrate team for finding this gem!

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Book Club Mug by The Art of Escapism and To Be Read List Notepad by Goodnight Boutique

I didn’t get individual pics of these two amazing items. The mug is a great size and is made of a strong plastic so you can use it inside, outside and it’s just got a really cute design on it too. The other awesome exclusive is this notepad! It had a to review list, a books to buy list and a currently reading list on it, I can see this becoming VERY useful.

Sunday Seven: Seven Reasons You Should Go to A Con!

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After yesterday’s post, how could I not give you 7 reasons to attend a convention!

A chance to geek out about the things you love 

I love Harry Potter, Star Wars and Marvel and I was surrounded by people who felt the same. If there’s a film, book or comic book of it I can guarantee someone else will share your love of a character.

It’s a chance to dress up and not be judged

You can dress up and you have a reason and no one will judge you when you do! Want to dress up as a character you loved as a kid? Go ahead. Want to be the 12th Kylo Ren at Con? Why not? Want to be a super cool variant of a character? Go you! There is no limit on what you can dress up as at Comic Con.

Artist’s Alley 

So many artists, so much talent. Just look at this beautiful collection of prints, bits and pieces I picked up!

You can meet great celebs

Although you have to pay, there’s a chance to meet some really awesome people you’ve long admired. London Comic Con had Warwick Davis (Star Wars and Harry Potter), Big Bang Theory cast members and more. Previously my friends have met a lot of stars from Doctor Who too!

You can have a GREAT shopping trip

I save up months before a con so that I can spend without worrying because there is SO MUCH I want to buy. My Funko Pop collection always expands, I pick up the art I already mentioned and clothes. There is SO MUCH you can buy though, food, toys, wigs, other costumes, collectables. I’d have to take out a mortgage if I ever went to the San Diego Comic Con.

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There are some truly lovely people in the community 

Obviously you won’t love all of the thousands of people at Con BUT I’ve met some lovely people. We go with Ben and Abbie each time but I also meet others. Yesterday I met two ladies who really stood out to me. The first was a girl in a wheelchair, we were both waiting to get in the disabled access toilet and had been locked out (I was using my crutch and SUPER nervous about it). We chatted about going to con with an injury/disability, annoying toilets like that one and just life in general, she was just so lovely. The second was  someone in a beautiful black dress, we saw each other again later and she just had such a lovely smile and seemed so excited that I liked her dress! Most people at Con are absolutely lovely!

There are Con’s all over the world! My next one will be London MCM in October and I honestly can’t wait.

Comic Con Summer 2016!

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Today I attended my second ever MCM Comic Con! This was the first time I’ve put together a costume and became a cosplayer! I’ve been sure I wanted to cosplay someone from Star Wars for a while and then I saw The Force Awakens *cough, three times, cough* I was sure I wanted to be Rey. Here was this absolutely incredible character, she was strong, she kicked ass and this was something I could make. So for the past few months Ali and I looked up parts for costumes, Ali’s took a lot more work than mine and is so realistic I can’t begin to describe just how awesome it looks. I was still stitching mine this morning (while Ali had fixed up my awesome hair do) and had to do a few adjustments at Con as well…hey, I’m still learning.

One of the things I love most about Con is how creative people are. You just look at some people and are in awe of their talent and creativity, I hope that one day I can do something so that someone might think that of me. Ali and I did get quite a few comments and smiles through the day. The best part for me though was when I saw kids who thought we were Rey and another Jedi. The kids in my building were left open-mouthed, whispering as we went past ‘They’re Jedi!’, it was so much fun just to see their faces. We were walking around with Ben and Abbie, just looking around, laughing, oh and buying…

 

Aside from the amazing stacks of Funko Pops around (yes, I have to be very careful with my spending and have saved up for Con for MONTHS before) there is also Artist’s Alley, a hub of incredible talent. I picked up so many different prints and pieces of artwork. It’s hard to explain how amazing it is to see and talk to these artists about their work and get customs done, things like that. You really never know what you’re going to find, it’s something Abbie and I get really excited about it.

It was nice to have Comic Con to look forward to after all the stresses of assignments last month, I just got to hang out with my friends, wear a costume I was comfortable in and just be the huge geek I am inside. Am I already planning October? You bet I am.