Books

lachatte_rouge

Calling all bookworms, booknerds and bookdragons! You're going to love this post! Firstly I should say happy Wednesday. Two more get ups until weekend! As you may have guessed, this week the spotlight is on...

#Books

When I initially set out doing these 'Instagram Favourites' posts I expected to stick at them for only a week or two. Now they've become one of my favourite posts to put together. Of course it helps that I've had some lovely feedback from GGD readers. Glad I'm keeping you lovelies happy! 
I got a little over excited for this particular hashtag. I wanted to feature every single book that I came across but that would have been near impossible. I hope I've picked a good mix for my final selection. There are several on here I've read and several still on my 'TBR' list. I do love a good recommendation so feel free to stop by and share your favourite reads! 

As usual, the Instagram handles are listed below the images. I say this EVERY week and feel like a broken record... :) But please do check out each IG account for more gorgeous photos and indeed more book recommendations.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Love Justine xxx

the.literary.omnivore * booksandjasmine * belumas * justcitoboutique

aurorbooks * epic_fiction * allylowe99 * taylors_adventures

comewithpia * ashwells71 * isabellasnb * bekkareads

faye.perry * karolyneoliveira * tsundokustories * mikalietzen

mumoo02 * marinesbooks * rachel_fusion * artikart

hanne.xx * jfondelier * books.upon.a.time * takenbyanufo

rapunzelsbooks * tlh_joshua * yuihoriana * anrigabooks

emmalovesbooks * boredmommy * piercebrownofficial * christina2227

aurorbooks * msvcharles * aurorbooks * learyness

brieflycrazyteenagers * lindalovesbooks * bookthirsty * live_audaciously

kates2091 * thereadingrebels * claudiafagadar * pardonmywritings

ritchiedana * feedi_mo * destielherondale * _frankiesayrelax

*Photos edited using basic PhotoCollage.

*If I've used an image that you own copyright on and you would like it removed please just ask.

IG Week Two

_season_blog_

Last week I shared my first ever 'Instagram Favourites' post with you all. So now we're onto week two and the lovely Marie chose this weeks hashtag which is...

#Pumpkin!

All the photos featured had the hashtag #Pumpkin on Instagram. There were SO many to choose from but eventually I whittled it down to this small collection... Hope you like them! 

Below each image is the Instagram handle from which I borrowed each photo. Be sure to check them out for more colourful and inspirational photos.

If you want the chance to pick the 'Hashtag Of The Week,' simply comment below or email me at jamachin07@aol.com 


Until next time... GGD xxx

nakedwithanxiety * nailsbycambria * cultureshockllc * countyprincess21

marsha_lingle * livingafrugallife * seasonz.xx * livinglifeunscripted

nbiegert * colorsbyllarowe * rezzyghadjar * stewartfam5

theduchesshazard * darraughjo * noboysaofficial * instamikka

*Photos edited using basic PhotoCollage

Instagram Favourites

onthewishlist

Hello lovelies! How is your week going? Good I hope?! 

So this is the very first post from what will be my 'Instagram Favourites' series. 

I absolutely love photos! I know quite a few of you do too. I'd go as far as to say that Instagram is my favourite of all the social media sites. I still find it astonishing that you can simply type in a word along with a hashtag and hundreds of photos will pop up taken from people all over the world. Amazing! 
When it comes to photography I'm still very much an amateur, most of my blog posts so far have probably included pretty boring pictures (sorry about that) but I assure you I am trying to learn as I go. One day I'd love to have one of those fancy DSLR cameras. 
I read an older blog post by Zoe Sugg just yesterday on how to take better photos. I shall add the link at the end of this post for anyone interested! :)

All the photos featured are my personal favourite picks from this weeks chosen hashtag... #FashionWeek. 
Below each image is the Instagram handle from which I borrowed each photo. Be sure to check them out for more colourful and inspirational photos! 
Now I'm off to curl up under my duvet with a hot drink...

Lots of love GGD xxx

P.s... Let me know in the comments section below which hashtag you would like to see featured in future 'Instagram Favourites.' Enjoy!

blooming_g_ny * comemag * blooming_g_y * newyorkstyleguide

noelle_designs * rukendemirer * saudi_elegants * saudi_elegants

d_art.it * mickaeldramaix * cloth.ing * xeniatchoumi

grgoryg * monikamotor_photography * grgoryg * fashionandstyleworld

Click on Zoe Sugg's photo below if you'd like to read her blog post,

'How To: Blogging Photography. Hints & Tips'

Until next time...

*Photos edited using basic PhotoCollage

Favourites follow up...

'Mucking about!' Me with one of my favourite people... My brother.

More of my favourite things!

Happy Friday people! I cannot believe that today is the very last Friday in May! Where is this year disappearing to? Hope you are all well!
A couple of weeks ago I shared some of my favourite things with you all. From the lovely response I got (thankyou to you all on Twitter and to those that emailed...) it would seem that you enjoyed that particular post. I promised a follow up if that was the case so here it is! 
By the time I've finished sharing all my favourites over the next few months you'll probably know me better than I know myself! :)

And off we go...

Blogging

Of course I had to include this! It's been a good few weeks since I began this little venture and I'm absolutely loving every moment. Sure my novel is suffering somewhat, (I haven't written any of it for weeks.) What with all the research, interviewing and feature writing I've been doing, I just haven't had the time to work on 'Surviving Isabelle,' but I wouldn't change it for the world. Blogging in itself has become such a unique experience. I had no idea when I started how many like minded people I'd get to interact with. And I'm truly blessed to have had the privilege of interviewing several published authors. The next of my interviews is with the talented Andrew Males, author of '26 Miles To The Moon' and will be live next Friday on GGD!

Christmas

Go ahead. I can almost hear the moans and sighs of dismay but I LOVE Christmas. In fact I'd go as far as to say it's probably my favourite thing ever! My family and friends are well used to me by now! I start planning about six months ahead and listen to Christmas music pretty much all year round!

Photography

 

I love photos. Whether it's one that's taken by a stranger or just an image I've captured myself, I love this particular art form. I guess you could say I'm the very definition of 'amateur photographer.' I snap pics at almost every given opportunity. 
If you're on Twitter then do look up Steve Davey who has an excellent eye and has taken some incredible photos! 

Face Powder

This is an absolute handbag essential as well as being a favourite of mine! Not just a face powder it also doubles up as my own version of 'dry shampoo' when I don't have time to wash my hair! I usually stick to Rimmel because it's pretty cheap. But if I'm having a splurge and want to look really good for an event such as a wedding, my 'go to' is Chanel! Pricey but flawless.

InTheFrow

 

I mentioned Victoria Magrath on a post a few weeks back. (When I was nominated for the Creative Blogger Award I chose her blog - InTheFrow as one of my own fifteen nominations.) Blogging was something I'd never really looked into until I read about Zoe Sugg in a magazine. But it was then that I started googling and finding out what these 'bloggers' actually did. Victoria's was one of the first blogs that I stumbled across in my search. She also has a YouTube channel and I'm totally in love with her makeup tutorials. If you love makeup and haven't seen any then please watch them! They're awesome! 

Quirky gift shops

Although I tend to shop online these days (again due to lack of time!) I do love mooching around unusual, or as I like to call them 'quirky' gift shops. It's usually in these places that I find a random notepad or a wall hanging with an inspirational quote. Kirkby Lonsdale, a small historic market town in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, has a couple of gorgeous shops which I always pop into whenever I'm there.

 

Twitter

 

 

I love Twitter! Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, since blogging I've been able to chat with so many like minded people and this is mostly down to social media. It's a great place to network and due to this I've been blessed to have been presented with some incredible opportunities. 
The following are people who I interact with on Twitter and who in one way or another have inspired me! Each and every one of these people has also been so incredibly supportive. For this I am truly grateful to you all! Some are writers, some bloggers but all are the most loveliest and genuine of people. When you have some time, go take a look at their pages and/or blogs. Links to their individual websites can be found in their Twitter bios!

  

Florence    

Sally

Kayla        

Aimee

Jessie        

Rebekka

Matt        

Brett

Polly       

Hayley 

Julia   

Ella

Rhea  

Bobbyanne

Adriana 

Becky

Kayleigh

Olivia 

Abbie 

Maddie 

Chris 

Jess 

Emily 

Isabel

Charlotte

Andrew Males 

Jennifer Niven  

Sarah Morgan

Emma Finlayson-Palmer

Kathryn Player 

Tony Parsons 

Matt Haig 

Marian Keyes 

                      

Random Acts Of Kindness

 

Okay so to be fair this isn't really a 'thing' but then so seems to be the pattern when it comes to the majority of my favourites list. 
I feel that it's hugely important in life to treat others as you would care to be treated yourself. Many a time a stranger has surprised me with a random act of kindness. It could be when someone has handed me their car parking ticket because they've still got a couple of hours left on it and they're leaving. Or when someone simply holds a door open to let me pass through. There are hundreds of examples. But needless to say it always makes my day and encourages me to pass this 'kindness' onto someone else. Who said one person couldn't change the world? Especially if one person starts a chain reaction! Try it... Do something totally random for someone. I guarantee you'll make their day and you'll feel pretty good for it yourself too!
  
I shall stop there for now.. More favourites will follow in the near future. As always, please leave your feedback below or catch me on Twitter. Have a fabulous weekend! Hope you've enjoyed tonight's read?? What are your favourite things? Until next week... Love and hugs! xxx

P.s Bloggers look out for this...

Coming soon! xxx

The Creative Blogger Award

 

 

 

 

The Creative Blogger Award

Hello once again! Cannot believe it's already been a week since my last post. Where does the time go?
So... Slight change of plan. This wasn't the post I had planned for, but just yesterday the lovely Adriana nominated me for the 'Creative Blogger Award.' On that note it seems only fitting that I push the original post back a week and instead share this one. I hope none of you mind. You will have to excuse the 'tardiness' as this is the fastest blog post I have ever had to throw together. Literally done in a couple of hours due to lack of time. I hope it still reads ok!
Firstly, thankyou so much Adriana! It was lovely of you to think of me. 
Apparently as part of my nomination I've to share five facts about myself with you the readers! 

So here goes, I shall try not to bore you all! 

Five Facts About GirlGoneDreamer!

1. I absolutely cannot swim. (Or ride a bike! Although I do plan to learn to do both of these things at some point!)

2. I originally qualified as a Hairdresser and Beauty Therapist in 2001 before 'falling' into a Dental Nurse trainee position. Fast forward 14 years and I'm still working at the very same practice. 
(Note. I have left and come back... TWICE!) It's a little bit like one big happy family... I work with the loveliest bunch of girls. 

3. I talk WAY too much! What can I say? I have several flaws and this is one of them! :)

4. One of the first stories I ever wrote was titled 'Pixie Magic Amazing!' I would have been about seven or eight and I can still vividly remember typing it up on my dad's old Amiga computer! Blast from the past!

5. I always root for the underdog... No matter what!

It's funny how hard it is to list just five facts about yourself when put on the spot. Try it and see what you come up with. (If you're not too shy then feel free to share them in the comments box below!)

The second part of my nomination involves me nominating 15 of my favourite bloggers!
So here are links to 15 blogs I love to follow! Please check them all out and see what you think. I must apologise to all the other lovely bloggers out there... I wanted to include you all but it would have been impossible!

So here are my 15 nominees in no particular order...

Charlotte Roberts 

 

 

Charlotte is an 18 year old Psychology undergraduate from Leeds. She describes her blog as more of a diary - documenting her thoughts and feelings. Totally on my wavelength which is perhaps why I love her blog, she loves to write! 

 

Kayla's Books

Studying to become a high school teacher, Kayla blogs about all things book related! She's 21 in July and lives in Sweden. 

 

A Little Freckle 

Emma is a Vet student and an animal lover just like me! She loves to write, drink tea, take photos and make things. Her blog doesn't have a specific theme, it's full of anything and everything that she's interested in.

 

Fashion Mumblr 

 

I love Josie's blog! A London based beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger, Josie graduated from 'London College of Fashion' with a fashion management degree. She previously worked for Mulberry and now works in PR and Marketing for a fashion software company.

Emsy B

Emsy is a London lifestyle blogger with a passion for fashion, beauty and baking!

 

InTheFrow

Victoria is a relatively well known blogger. A photographer, stylist, editor and writer. 'In The Frow' is a style, life and beauty blog. Victoria has a PhD in mobile fashion app design. She blogs full time in London and her trademark is her purple hair! 

 

AllThatB

Rebekka is mother to a gorgeous little girl, wife to be and blogger! She loves homeware, asos, watching netflix and tan handbags! Her main 'blog goal' is to express an opinion and to share with readers, the shiny things that make her happy. She also loves to write.  

 

LornaDeeEvans

 

Lorna has been running her lifestyle blog for about three and a half years. She started it when in her third year of studying Graphic Design at university. After graduating, fed up with Graphic Design, Lorna gained a job with the motortrade. She writes about all sorts, beauty, food, places. Co-founder of The City Girls... This is one blogger to watch!

TeaAndBlush

Holly-Lucy is the other Co-founder of The City Girls. She lives in a Northern city where it rains a lot! (I feel you!! Same here!) She's 29 years young and loves the feeling she gets when she publishes a blog post for all the world to see. Tea and Blush is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog.

BeckyBea

I have a special fondness for Becky purely because we chat via social media on a regular basis. She is loveliness personified! Still a teenager, Becky blogs about fashion, beauty, life and thoughts. She loves writing, cats and shopping!  

 

VeryBerryCosmo

Kayleigh is one talented young lady. A Graphic Design student at the University of Leeds. She is currently on her placement year and also works one day a week on the Waitrose cake counter! I fell in love with Kayleigh's blog the second I saw the bright header image. It just grabbed my attention as if her blog was demanding to be read. And of course read I did. She loves (amongst many other things...) Cath Kidston, her Macbook, nail polish and cheesecake! Kayleigh is another one to watch... Her vlogs also make for excellent viewing!

DungareesAndDonuts

Olivia Jade is a 20 year old university student. She's studying Film and Television Production. I have a lot of admiration for Olivia. Not just because she's a busy lady and still finds the time to blog but because she is vocal about her Mental Health. Speaking out is so important if we want to rid the world of stigma so I'm very proud of her. Of course her blog is full of other lovely things too such as beauty, fashion and lifestyle posts. Did I mention she created my gorgeous blog button?

Abbie

20 year old Abbie blogs about beauty, makeup, and fashion. She has a passion for writing which makes her a girl totally after my own heart! Abbie says she has formed friendships with so many bloggers. I can completely relate to this. Perhaps it's because we have a common ground but whatever the reason, I'm so grateful I have had the chance to encounter all these lovely people who I too consider friends.

MaddieBrooks
I adore Maddie! She is another book lover and blogs about her favourite reads. You'll also find she posts book reviews and in the future possibly some interviews too!

 

CurlyEssexBird 

 

 

 Kathryn and I started chatting when I initially discovered the world that is Twitter. An 'Indie' author who likes to make people laugh, Kathryn used to be a teacher but is now kept busy writing, blogging whilst running around after her twin girls. Oh and if you hadn't guessed, she has curly hair! :) 

 

Lastly. (This is mainly information for the nominees! To take part you need to abide by the rules set out below. Just be sure to have fun in the process!)

 

The Rules

*Nominate 15-20 blogs and notify all nominees.

(via their social media/blogs.)

*Thank and post the link of the blog that nominated you! 

(Very important!)

*Share five facts about yourself with your own blog readers.

*Pass these rules onto your own nominees. 

So that's the end of this week's post lovelies! A little different than the last two but hope you still enjoy the read. On a final note, I thought I'd share a glimpse of my new blog cards which I designed via Zazzle.com. As always, hope you have a fabulous weekend whatever you're doing! xxx

*Nominee photos taken from relevant blogs. Copyright remains with blog owners.