12 Things I Wish I'd Known At Sixteen

Looking back at any of my journals, you'll see just how naive I was as a teen. The long lists of dreams now seem ridiculously over ambitious and some down right impossible. Even more so when I remember just how fearful I was of life back then. Goodness knows how I planned to do half of the stuff when I wouldn't even say boo to a goose. Many years have passed now so I thought it would be interesting to write a list of twelve things I would tell my sixteen year old self if I could.


Dear Justine


1. You won't be married before the age of thirty and that's okay. Hell if you never get married that's okay too!


2. Stop being so afraid of boys. They're not an alien species although some might argue with that. Try talking to one once in a while. They don't bite.


3. The world isn't as scary as you think. Sure it's a scary place at times, but there's also a lot of good going on. Try and have a little faith in humanity. People will often surprise you.


4. Just because you argue with a person, that doesn't mean the friendship/relationship is over. People do row and it's completely normal.


5. You're not going to be able to change the world by yourself. Although changing the world frequents most of your goals lists, you need to accept that you can only do your bit.


6. Pretty soon you're going to be diagnosed with GAD. Later on down the line you'll also be diagnosed with OCD and depression. This doesn't mean you're a crazy person or a psycho. Ignore anyone that makes you feel as such. Yes you're going to have a really tough seventeen years ahead of you but once you come out on the other side you'll be stronger for it. Do not give up. Likewise, when someone tells you to 'snap out of it,' I'd advise stamping on their foot and running away! A joke obviously but I would indeed consider cutting anyone out of your life that brings you down. You don't need that shit.


7. You're going to start a blog. You don't even know what one is right now but trust me you're going to love it. It's going to give you a much needed confidence boost and you'll also get to know many like minded individuals. Some of whom will become really good friends.


8. Sadly, you're never going to be a Spice Girl (or any other pop star for that matter.) Sweetheart you just can't carry a tune! Do the world a favour and give that dream up.


9. You are not going to become a millionaire by writing a best selling novel. In fact you're going to have a love/hate relationship with your writing for many years to come as you battle with your mental health. Although writing has always been cathartic for you, don't force it. It will come naturally when it's ready. Oh and there are much quicker ways to get rich than writing a novel. Sorry to burst your bubble.


10. A bespectacled young boy called Harry is going to take the literary world by storm. Words like 'muggle' will become a part of daily life for a while. As will running at walls in the train station. Do not try this at home unless you're a descendant from a witch/wizard! :)


11. You'll make mistakes as you go along in life but you're only human. Treat them as a lesson learned and move on. Don't beat yourself up.


12. You're not going to be a teacher. Although you're going to college next week to enrol for your A-levels you'll panic and change your mind last minute. You'll end up doing a hairdressing and beauty course but this won't be your career path either. By some fluke (or maybe fate) you'll end up working for a dental practice where you'll stay. There you will grow and learn more about yourself and life than you realised was possible. You'll also meet some girls who will become your friends for life. Helen, Zoë, Dani, Tracy and the rest... :)



If you got this far, I hope you enjoyed reading. What do you wish you could tell your sixteen year old self? I could have carried on this list forever but that would make for a very long blog post. Have a fabulous week. I'm off for pizza!




Lots of love Justine xxx





Image via Pexels

Progress Not Perfection

After uploading last weeks blog post (click here to read) I spent the following hours re-reading it, mentally tearing it to shreds and generally wondering how I could have written it better. 
We all do this right? It's that annoying little voice inside our heads called 'The Perfectionist!' 

August Favourites

Summer Delights!

 

Hello lovelies! Did you all enjoy the book review from Murphy's Mother last night? Today it's my turn to share a post. (Long overdue I know.) Sorry for being so terrible of late. However on a positive, I've been working on several new blog pieces and I plan to stick to weekly updates once more. Which brings me to two other pieces of good and rather exciting news! A publishing house contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I would review a book from a rather well known author. I cannot reveal anymore than that but what I can say is that the lovely MM is currently reading said novel and will soon be working on the review so keep a look out!
My second piece of good news is that I am now officially a permanent columnist with brand new UK based quarterly lifestyle magazine... 'LoveFrom.' I feel like I can actually 'legitimately' call myself a writer now. I'm super excited about it and feel lucky to be part of Flo's team.
If you would like to order a copy then please email the editor/founder, Florence Matthews at lovefrommag@gmail.com.

Now I've updated you on all that, I'll get to what this post is about... My August favourites. Sit back, grab a cup of tea, put your feet up and enjoy!

First up...

 

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

 

*Please note possible spoiler alert

What's it about? 

They say everything changes in a moment...

Rachel catches the same commuter train into Euston every day. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She's even beginning to feel as if she knows the couple who live in number fifteen. Their life - according to Rachel - is perfect. She wishes her life could be just so. But then in one fleeting moment, Rachel sees something and everything changes. She now has a chance to become part of the lives she's been watching from afar... But will she end up embroiled in more hot water than she can handle?

I'm going to be straight with you all. I thought I'd hate this book. After being hugely disappointed in 'Gone Girl' I expected to feel the same about this. Afterall, comparisons have been made between the two. I'd read plenty of rave reviews on the internet but some of my friends had said how poor it was. That said, I decided to give it a whirl. I was initially a little bored and confused with the plot. The constant back and forth in timescale added to the change in narrative meant I had to keep flicking back pages just so I didn't feel lost. (Granted it could just have been exhaustion on my part to blame.) But fifty or so pages in, things started to get exciting. Tess Gerritsen described this novel as thrilling and tense and when the second main character - Megan - disappears, it does become an altogether more tense and thrilling read. Yes in honesty I did work out who had killed Megan long before the big reveal, but I was still pleasantly surprised with the novel as a whole. 
It's safe to say that when I stay up all hours gripped by a novel it must be good. So all in all I'd recommend you give this one a go. 

Movie of the month... Disney Pixar's Inside Out

 

They say kids tell it like it is. Well if my eight year old nephew is anything to go by he described this movie as 'Awesome!!' and I heartily agree. Being a big kid at heart myself, it wasn't exactly a hardship to see this at my local Odeon. (But the ticket prices!!?? So expensive these days!) 

In a nutshell the story revolves around 11 year old happy-go-lucky Riley and the five emotions who are 'running the ship' that is her mind... Anger, Disgust, Joy, Fear and Sadness.
When Riley is faced with a huge life change - a move from the rural midwest to San Francisco - everything starts to go wrong. Unbeknown to her, the five 'emotions' are also having difficulty adjusting to the move. The story reaches it's peak when Joy and Sadness get accidentally thrown from 'headquarters.' 

With neither Joy or Sadness now in the driving seat, Riley no longer has the ability to feel these two major emotions. Her life begins to unravel as she struggles to express herself to those around her. 
I won't spoil how the movie ends but needless to say turmoil unfolds as the other three emotions - Anger, Disgust and Fear - try to fix things and there are life lessons learned aplenty! (Note, take tissues if you tend to cry at movies!) It's by far one of the most vibrant, colourful and feel good movies I've seen in a long time. Perfect for both adults and children alike.
Novelist and junior psychiatrist, Rosie Claverton wrote an interesting blog post about this movie titled, '5 Mental Health Truths From Inside Out.' It's well worth a read. She says ALL the words! It was my favourite blog post of the week. Click here to read.

Useful pretty things...

I'm currently in the process of organizing and am always on the lookout for useful items such as box files and tins. Whilst out in Lytham shopping with Murphy's Mother... (We had so much fun discussing future blog posts!) we made a beeline for what can only be descibed as 'my kind of place.' I used some of the birthday money I had left to buy this gorgeous tin and notepad from shop 'Something Special.' Aren't they pretty? Note the two Lucy Diamond books too... Both gifts from MM! Cannot wait to read them both. If you also recall, MM reviewed 'The Beach Cafe' a few weeks back. Click here if you missed it.

Perfume

Another empty perfume bottle sitting on my bedside cabinet... Armani White Diamonds is now another firm favourite! My sister gave it to me as she wasn't so keen but I loved this scent. I think I've said this before but I find that a good perfume always makes me feel that little bit more glam and confident.
Fragrance notes include Lychee, Rasberry, Rose, Lily Of The Valley, Patchouli, Freesia, Vetiver, Amber and Vanilla.

Birthday Gifts

I was fortunate to get lots of lovely gifts for my birthday this week. But this notepad pictured lower left has to be hands down my favourite of them all. Again a gift from my sister, (Thankyou Joelle!) it's made of actual wood. One of the most robust notebooks I've ever come across! Engraved with my details this will be one keepsake that I'll treasure for years to come. I'll be doing a 'birthday haul' next week to share with you all the new goodies and books I received!

And that's it for now...

Hope you've all had a fantastic week. I'd just like to take a moment to thank you all for your kind messages, tweets, emails and cards. It really did help me during a difficult time. Obviously I miss my Nanna so much but your love and support really pulls me through on my not so good days. 

Sending you all lots of love...

GGD xxx

P.s... If you don't follow me on Twitter but would like to enter this international competition to win both Girl Online and Girl Online On Tour by Zoe Sugg, simply email your details to jamachin07@aol.com. Closing date 1st November. Winner drawn at random.

*Photos taken from the following

The Girl On The Train http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-girl-on-the-train-by-paula-hawkins-book-review-suburban-noir-goes-native-9984287.html

Inside Out Header http://m.disneystore.co.uk 

Inside Out Sub-Header https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/blog/disney-news-week-inside-out-trailer-released-frozen-fun-coming-disneyland-resort-watch-disney-b

Chatting with friends...

I've named this 'chatting with friends' because that's exactly how I feel when writing these posts. You have all been so amazing. I've genuinely appreciated all your kind words and messages over the last few difficult weeks. It has helped me hugely.

A week ago today we lost a great lady. Such a strange expression. It sounds like we've simply misplaced my Nanna in the supermarket or something. I wish we had because at least then I'd be able to see her again. She is missed terribly by the whole family. 
It's safe to say it's been a peculiar week. I've been walking around half the time in a bit of a daze, feeling lost somewhat. The girls at work have been incredible. I couldn't have got through this week without their love and support. 
I think loosing someone who was such an enormous part of your life makes you take stock of things. It's certainly made me question the direction in which my life is going. There are so many things I thought I'd have done by now and yet in reality I've barely scratched the surface. So, I've decided to become a little more proactive. I'm going to make a list of goals, (attainable ones) that I will have to achieve by a particular date. For instance, I must get a passport! I've never been abroad yet! And I'm also going to learn how to swim! There are obvious bigger goals that will take time and money to achieve, (bridal shop for one!) but in the meantime I'm going to also work extra hard on finishing my novel. I've even made a mental list of literary agents that I'd like to send it to! Fingers crossed!
I hope that this post inspires one or two of you to try the same thing. Maybe do something you've always wanted to do but for whatever reason you've been putting it off. 

Have a fabulous weekend/week. I'll catch you all soon.

Justine xxx

New Book Review From Murphy's Mother

 

 

Book Review...

'Die Again' by Tess Gerritsen

Happy Friday people! Hope you've all had a pleasant week? Today's post is another from my resident book reviewer, Murphy's Mother. As you all may remember from her previous posts, she loves crime fiction and is a HUGE Tess Gerritsen fan... And on that note here is her review of Tess' latest novel.

Dear fellow readers...

Today's review is of Die Again by Tess Gerritsen. This is an amazingly gripping novel from start to finish. 

In Boston, Dectective Jane Rizzoli and Forensic Pathologist Maura Isles are investigating a bizarre murder. A man has been found gutted and hanging in his home. When the remains of another victim are found, it's clear that this murderer has been at work for years and not just in Boston.

Maura connects the case to a number of seemingly unrelated deaths where the victims have all been found hanging upside down, the hallmark of a leopard's kill.

Rizzoli follows the puzzling trail all the way to Botswana where she uncovers the unsolved mystery of a deadly camping safari six years before. When she realises the two cases are connected, Rizzoli must track down the sole survivor of the tragic trip to discover who or what is behind these gruesome deaths. 
 

This is another outstanding thriller in Tess Gerritsen's series featuring Detective Jane Rizzoli and her friend and colleague, medical examiner Dr Maura Isles. 

I love the characters of Jane and Maura, Tess portraits the warmth of the two women really well and this novel carries on adding depth to their relationship.

I can't wait to read Tess Gerristen's next novel.

Until next time... MM  xxx

Thanks as always to the lovely Murphy's Mother! Hope you all check out her latest recommendation. Should any of you want to know more about the author, I did a little bit of research...

Who is Tess Gerritsen? 

Tess worked for many years as a physician. It was while on maternity leave that Tess first began to write fiction. 'Call After Midnight' her debut novel was published in 1987. Now living in Maine, Tess has retired from medicine and writes full time.

Click here to read more about Tess' novel 'Die Again.'
 

'Detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are back—and they're going into the wild to find a killer. Die Again is the latest heart-pounding thriller in Tess Gerritsen's New York Times bestselling series, the inspiration behind TNT's hit show Rizzoli & Isles.' (Excerpt taken from tess.gerritsen.com)

Contact Tess via Twitter: @tessgerritsen or via email: tess@tessgerritsen.com

 
That's all for now... Thankyou once again for all your lovely tweets, emails and messages. I never tire of hearing from you all! I also just want to share a glimpse of this beautiful card which I received this week from one of my readers... Huge thankyou for this! It really did make my day! 

I'll be back on Sunday with part two of my post on author Andrew Males! Until then, have a fabulous Friday night and weekend! GGD xxx