March 2016 | Monthly Wrap Up

Wednesday 30 March 2016

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March has gone by in a whirlwind. I hope it’s been worth it!

Favourite part?

To be fair, not much has happened that’s been all that exciting. I’ve just been plodding through mock exams, coursework and tons of revision, so it’s been great when I’ve been able to have a break every now and then!

Oh, and hitting 100 Bloglovin' followers was pretty cool too!

Best read?

I actually haven’t finished a book this month - something that’s almost unheard of for me. However, I am part way through reading Caitlin Moran’s Moranthology, which is great and is ideal for anyone without much time on their hands!



Favourite tunes?

Basically anything by Regina Spektor! I just love her! Go and check out her music - it’s brilliant.

What did I learn?

Twitter is a great way of joining in with the blogging community and sourcing traffic and I need to use the library more - both for work and fun!

What’s happening next month?

One week left of the Easter holidays and then I’ve got my first exams. Exciting times.

What’s been on my mind?

Again, exams and trying to be more creative in the time I’ve got.



Favourite blogger/vlogger?

Nicole from Thrifty Vintage Fashion has posted some really great posts this month that cover a wide array of extremely important topics! Also I’m slightly obsessed with hannahemilygale.blogspot.co.uk - her design is so gorgeous!

Favourite post?

Why We Need to Talk About Our Periods without a doubt - so great to write and the response has been amazing!

Biggest inspiration?

To be honest with you, inspiration’s been a bit thin off the ground lately, but I’m trying my best to find some.

Any other favourites?

Twitter. I’ve had it for about a month (or slightly over that) and I think I’m obsessed. Probably not good with my exams fast approaching… 

I’ve also begun to have a real love for poetry - I’ve been writing more and more,reading more and drawing more inspiration from it. I can’t wait to see what this enthusiasm produces!

This month I’ve been rather obsessed with Lucy Worsely’s history documentaries. She’s done them on a wide variety of topics and I love them! I’ve been particularly interested in the Romanovs and British romance (which also happened to talk about Jane Austen, which was brilliant for me!).

Photo found at 'credit'

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My giveaway ends tomorrow so make sure to go over and enter here!

Jemima x



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If you liked this post you might like: February 2016 | Monthly Wrap Up


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I need a pensive | Life Update

Monday 28 March 2016

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Do you ever get that feeling that your brain is too full? Yeah, me too. I’ve got so much stuff crammed in at the moment and I feel like I can hardly breathe. I have half the French language, plays and novels, biology facts, physics facts, chemical equations, features of music set works, timelines of the American West, the whole history of medicine and maths problems in there, lined up next to unwritten poems, novels, short stories, blog posts and the want to do more with my life than  just study and study until there’s nothing left to study. (Well, not gonna lie, learning things until there’s nothing left to learn actually sounds quite appealing, but that’s not the point).

My life looks a lot like this at the moment: 



And I am honestly knackered from everything pressing down on me from every angle. And my well-being and mental health has to come first - which means that some sacrifices have to be made.

I’m sorry that I’m not going to be posting as often as I would like to. I have my exams coming up in a matter of weeks and then I’m off - away from school and with an extra long holiday which means more time to dedicate to my blog!

But for the time being I must say I’m really sorry, but I can only really do 1-2 posts a week now, which will be posted on one of the days I normally post on.

Hope you’re all having a great time right now!

Jemima x


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A Love Letter | A Poem

Wednesday 23 March 2016

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I used to write you letters
and throw them on the floor.
You never read my letters
They stayed behind my door.
I’d like to think 
you liked them
and read them over again.
But something in me
tells me
you’d have ripped up
all of them.
I don’t think you’d 
have liked them.
You weren’t a fan of
such displays -
Of poems and plays
and heartache -
a heart was just something 
you could break.




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Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed this poem! If you like my writing you can enter my giveaway for the chance to read the first 2 chapters of my novel-in-progress and one other piece of writing that has never been seen before.

Have a nice day

Jemima x


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If you liked this post you might like: My Nocturnal Paradise | A Poem


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Liebster Award

Wednesday 16 March 2016

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So last week I was nominated for the Liebster award nominated by Tiffany (giventheworld.blogspot.co.uk) and Kate (katey-adventures.blogspot.co.uk). Thank you girls - it means a lot! You should go and have a look at their blogs if you haven't already.

 As I've been nominated twice, I'm going to answer both sets of questions - some of them were the same, so if they were I have indicated with the numbering!


Liebster Award Rules:



Mention the person who nominated you
Answer the eleven questions this person gave you
Come up with eleven questions yourself
Nominate eleven bloggers
Let them know about the nomination

1.What's the one place you really want to travel to?


Paris, Edinburgh, somewhere really cool in Asia.

2/2. What's your favourite book you've ever read?


It’s a toss up between the Harry Potter series and Pride and Prejudice. I just love them both so much!!


3/11. What's your favourite blog post that you've written? (Provide a link!)


I love one of my most recent ones Why We Need To Talk About Our Periods and also I’m really proud of Look Into My Eyes.

4. Do people ever mistake you for being younger or older than you actually are?


I’ve had both. When I was in Year 9 (so 2 years ago) someone asked me if I was leaving for university. A 14 year old being mistaken for an 18 year old? Really? Yeah, that confused me a lot. Most of the time people think I’m younger than I am, which is good because it means that I can get away with child prices if I’m not wearing make-up!

5. What's your biggest pet peeve?


Stickers on books and volume on the TV not ending on an even number/5.

6. What's your go-to outfit at the moment?


A turtle neck top with either my black jeans or my black denim skirt with my Doc Martin’s boots and probably my red beads.



7. Share with us a blogger you've recently discovered and are really liking?


Hannah whole blogs at hannahemilylane.com - love her blog so much!

8. Coffee or Tea?


Tea. All the way!

9. Are you more of a morning or evening person?


Traditionally I’ve been an evening person, but lately I’ve become better in the mornings and have gotten up earlier to make better use of my time. It’s actually been great for me in many aspects, but I still love writing when everything’s dark. 

10. If you could meet anyone and spend a day with them, who would it be?


Carrie Hope Fletcher. I’ve followed her for years and she’s honestly one of my favourite people in the world. I’d be happy just to spend a minute with her, let alone a day.

Credit

11/11. What's your favourite (3) songs at the moment?


Us by Regina Spektor, I’ve just discovered her as this song was on the 500 days of Summer soundtrack but I love loads of her other stuff as well, I just haven’t known those songs long enough to distinguish a firm favourite. Friday I’m in Love by The Cure, which long time readers will already know, and How Long Will I Love You? (but the Jon Boden, Sam Sweeney and Ben Coleman version from About Time).

2.  How did you come up with your blog name?


It’s not a very imaginative story. I was thinking of starting a blog and had to come up with a name. I brainstormed with some friends mine for ages then Another Ranting Reader came into my head. I like ranting, I like reading, I am also a big fan of alliteration, so I used it.

3. What is your dream career?


Just to be able to make a proper living from writing. Preferably if I could have some books published that’d be great.

4. Favourite place you have visited?


This changes whenever I go somewhere new. So right now that’d be Nice in France. But I also love Lake Garda, London and the Italian Alps!

6. Describe yourself with 3 words.


Positive, bookish, determined.

7. What is your biggest fear?


Not making an impact on the world, drowning, giving birth and being replaced. Yeah.

8. Name 3 people you would love to meet.


(Apart from Carrie who I mentioned earlier) Lucy Moon, Dodie Clark and Hannah Witton. Yeah, there are more people I’d love to meet but these girls make me smile a lot so that’d be great. I feel like if I met someone like J.K. Rowling, who’s been a huge influence in my life, then I’d probably just end up crying and not be able to get any actual words out.

Hannah Witton's picture

9. Favourite TV series?


At the moment, it’s Agent Carter! I’m obsessed and if Sousa and Peggy don’t end up together by the end of the series I will write in to the scriptwriters and complain.

found at 'Credit'

10. Have you learned anything from blogging? If so, what?


That some things are worth juggling. I can write better than I thought I could and that, most of the time, people in general are lovely and supportive!

Here are the lovely people I’m nominating, make sure to go and check out all of their blogs (sorry if you’ve already got the award!):

Amanda (The Amanda Way)
Amber (Amber Love)
El (ZEKALIN)
Charlotte (written by a girl)
Alice (Girl Abroad)
(More Mindful You) (Sorry I don't know you're actual name!)
And here are my 11 questions for you guys to answer!

  1. What started you blogging?
  2. What’s your favourite creative outlet?
  3. Favourite school subject and why?
  4. Book you feel most sentimental about?
  5. What’s your favourite flavour of ice-cream?
  6. Any blog recommendations?
  7. What’s your lucky number?
  8. What’s the film that has most resonated with you?
  9. Do you have a positive catchphrase that you say to get you up when you’re feeling down?
  10. Hogwarts house?
  11. Go-to tea bag?


Thank you again to Kate and Tiffany for the nomination! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s answers to my questions!

Jemima x


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An Imperfection | A Poem

Monday 14 March 2016

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I’d like you to meet my lifelong friends,
Or perhaps I should refer to them as companions,
They’re not all that friendly, in the end,
They sit around all day, you see,
Wallowing in dark circles and purple thoughts
Looming under my eyes
Two ominous figures
Forever there -
My shadows of life
And my constant companions.
Some do not like their presence,
They say they make me look more tired
Like I haven’t had enough sleep
“You shouldn’t have these -
You’re too young.”
They make me feel insecure - 
It’s not a very heathy relationship, you see -
So I cover them up
And force them to wear makeup
As they’re seen as ugly,
Imperfections, if you will,
People look down upon them
They’re not the sort of thing you would expect to see
On a beautiful face, stereotypically,
Most of the time I try to hide them
But the truth is that I don’t want to
Or, at least, shouldn’t have to,
I’m going to present them to the world:
The friends who have stuck by me since
I can remember
And will stay with me
For as long as I’m able to remember
I may hide them at times,
But what relationship is ever calm and peaceful?
However, I will not disown them,
Instead, I shall learn to embrace them
Become at ease with them
Even though I shall never truly love them.
My companions have nothing to do with my tiredness,
Or my age,
Or even my mood,
They are simply there and always have been.
My companions ’til the last,
Always to be relied upon 
To be present in my day.
So,
What do you think
Now that you are better acquainted?

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Hey! What do you guys think of my poetry? I'd love to get some feedback if that would be possible!

Jemima x


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If you liked this post you might like: My Nocturnal Paradise | A Poem


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5 Sources of Inspiration To Get You Out of a Rut

Friday 11 March 2016

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Inspiration is one of the things that I find myself thinking about most frequently. So many things inspire me in different ways and they come in a really broad range. When there are times that I feel my inspiration has dried up then these are where I usually turn to to rectify that.

1. Coffee shops!


Coffee shops and tea rooms are some of the best places in the world to people watch. We humans come from all different walks of life, yet we all (most of us anyway) seem to go to coffee shops. There’ll like a hub for us and overheard conversations are basically what you’re agreeing to when you sit down. When I’m in coffee shops I’m usually either reading, working, writing or people watching and the main ones out of those are probably working and people watching. Character ideas and a ton of ideas flood my brain - ugh it’s so good!

Also there’s a great vibe to coffee shops. I love the hum of conversations and the sounds of drinks being made. I just can’t get enough of it!

sidenote: try not to look like a creep when people watching. 

2. Film Soundtracks


I LOVE film scores! Genuinely, if I love a film I’ll normally end up searching for the soundtrack on YouTube and listening to it non-stop. I also love soundtracks that aren’t just scores as well. I’ve recently been obsessed with the 500 Days of Summer soundtracks, and that’s mostly actual songs, and I love the About Time soundtrack, which is also mostly actual songs. 





Soundtracks are also great ways to discover new artists and composers. If there are any particular tracks that I love then I’ll normally look up the artist/composer on YouTube or iTunes and have a look at some of their other stuff, which has usually turned out to be great.

I often use this Buzzed article for soundtracks and other pieces of music (there’s wide range from songs to classical music as well).

3. Walks


Walks are a god-send. Whenever I’m stressed or feel a little empty inside I find that a walk can cure everything! Also, what’s better for provoking new ideas than landscapes and seeing nature in action truly inspires me. It sets my mind racing and I can’t describe how or why.




4. YouTube!


Once you look past the massive YouTubers that are known to everyone, there’s a community of smaller YouTubers who are really amazing. Some people who talk about topics that they’re obvs passionate about and have a love for and others who are really creative and lovely to listen to. I’ve lately found lots of smaller YouTuber who are great! If you want to start looking at smaller YouTuers I suggest you watch this person, this person and also this person. Look for videos entitled ‘My Favourite YouTubers’ or something along those lines. Search up videos about your interests to find people who share them. It’s really about discovery. 




5. Sitting down and creating


If I’m really stuck, I will force myself to write. I will just write and get words down on a page or Word document - even if they’re no good. By creating bad stuff something half decent will inevitably come along. Create something and you will get somewhere.


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Also go over to my friend Anna's blog, A Fabulous Feminist, where she talked about inspiration as well today!

Jemima x



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Why We Need To Talk About Our Periods!

Wednesday 9 March 2016

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There are some things that I’ve found that I talk about a lot more in real life than online. Obviously, there’s the day-to-day chitchat that makes the day flow, but I’ve realised that there are some topics that I haven’t yet touched on my blog but am actually really passionate about making sure they’re discussed in real life.

It was Hannah Witton’s video that I watched last Friday, that made me actually realise that. Hannah talked about periods and how they’ve become very tabooed in our society and I thought I would continue that discussion.


I’ve always been someone who’s been quite open about their period. When I was younger and first got my period I would talk about it with my friends. The 12 and 11 year olds who had been getting their period one by one. It was something new that we could talk about - those of us who had started would talk about it to those who hadn’t. It was a whole new part of growing up for us. 

There are so many things you can talk about with periods and they would usually come up in conversation quite often, particularly at events such as sleepovers. It’s something that felt natural for us to talk about.

And I think it’s quite important that we do talk about them - for several reasons.

A)  Periods are a natural bodily function that many people have become awkward about. Why?! 

One of the things Hannah said in her video was that “we are comfortable with seeing blood and gore in films and on TV but find period blood gross.” (Okay sorry about the paraphrasing but that’s basically it.)

 I can bet you that the average person who has periods will see period blood way more often than they will blood from, I don’t know, Deadpool taking out a whole gang at once ( both in real life and on screen). Why is one deemed gross while the other has been normalised - it’s all still blood at the end of the day!




B)  Sometimes periods can be harmful and actually really dangerous for the person who is bleeding. 

If we talk about our periods then it can become easier to spot when something isn’t right - you can mistake a pain in the abdomen for period pain when it’s not, bleeding could be caused from something other than your period etc. 

Make sure that you know what is normal for your period and stay safe, particularly if you get super heavy periods.

C)  It’s just really nice to vent about cramps and pains and all the horrible stuff that comes along with having a period. 

Seriously, I don’t want to keep it bottled up and feel awkward about mentioning how much pain I am in unless someone thinks I’m actually ill. I don’t want to be embarrassed when I’m feeling like I’m dying from cramps that paracetamol won’t help with. Let me complain when I need to, it oddly makes me feel a bit better.

D)  Everyone should be made aware of periods. 

They’re a massive part of half of the population's lives.

To watch Hannah's video click here




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There were many potential titles for this post - practically all of which involved period puns. Exhibit A: Stop Avoiding The Bloody Conversation! (Why We Should Be Speaking Up About Our Periods.) Period puns make me laugh and I'm sure they make you laugh too - please share your best period puns in the comments and spread the lols! 

Jemima x





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