Resolution Roundup

Hi everyone! Sorry it's been so long since my last post, the world outside of blogging has been pretty intense and I was forced to take a break for a little while. But I'm back today hoping you'll all forgive me, and with a little Resolution Roundup for you all!

This time last year I set myself some New Year Resolutions, and to be honest I haven't really revisited them since. So we're well overdue a progress up date on them.

To get fit and healthy

This was definitely a very cliche resolution to make. I wonder how many other people made this resolution and how many actually achieved it?

I must admit, I probably didn't do too badly with this. I had spells where I was really good, kept up exercising regularly and ate healthily, but there were other spells where I was really naughty. I suppose that happens to even the best of us. I can't complain though, I did loose weight and drop a dress size, and I do feel a lot better in myself because of it. Just need to get back into my good spell again and keep it up for as long as I can.

Pass 4 more CIMA exams

Woo, this one I achieved! But it wasn't easy by any means. I finished off my final 2 management level exams by May 2015 and sat the first of my strategic level ones in September. All passed on the first attempt. The second strategic one I sat I wasn't so lucky with. I failed on the first attempt. BY ONE MARK! I still haven't got over that even if it was over 2 months ago. But on the second attempt I passed.

In total now that's 9 exams down (4 in 2015) and only 2 more to go! My aim of completing my qualification before turning 25 and ticking it off my list is on track.

Make more effort on my blog and in the blogging world

For the most part of the year, I did quite well on this. I was post regularly. I give my blog a whole new look. I came up with some new content ideas. I did more promoting and interacting through social media. I participated in some blogger chats. I worked with a few brands. I was getting there. And then work and exams became overpowering and blogging took a major back step. This is the one thing that isn't on my 25 before 25 list that I'd like to carry forward into next year. Make more effort with my blog. Even if it's just regular posting (once a fortnight at least) and keep my social media going. Then I don't feel as bad if work does get too much and I have to take a break. Lets see how it goes.

Read more books

Not including college books, I read 12 books this year. I achieved my goal!!!! The books I've read are: My Side of Life by Shane Filan, Now and Then by Brenda Rothert, Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank, The Homecoming Masquerade by SpencerBaum, The Festival of the Moon by Spencer Baum, The Rose Ransom by SpencerBaum, The Bonding Ritual by Spencer Baum, Looking for Alaska by John Green, Off Balance by Terez Mertes Rose, GoneGirl by Gillian Flynn, Paper Towns by John Green, Turning Pointe by Katherine Locke. I really need to learn to start doing my book reviews as soon as I've finished reading something. I did a few, and I've linked them above if you're interested, but I didn't get round to the others. I should really catch up on them all.

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I'm not setting myself any resolutions for 2016 as I'm still working my way through my 25 things before 25 list. But there will be a new post within the next week or so welcoming in 2016 and detailing some of my plans for the New Year. I hope you'll all stick around to enjoy them with me.

Happy New Year to you all, and thanks for putting up with my recent absence.

Love Sarah x

Book Review - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girls is a thriller novel based around Nick Dunne, a former New-York based writer, and his perfect wife Amy. Portraying the happy blissful marriage to the rest of the world, it comes as a shock to everyone when Amy goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary. With suspicions rising, it's not long before Nick's unusual behaviour places him as prime suspect in her disappearance. With increasing pressure from the police and the media documenting every step of the case, it seems Nick and Amy's relationship isn't as it seems, and they may not be who they say they are.

Gone Girl was first brought to my attention when I was sat in the hairdressers one Saturday morning. My hairdresser was talking to another client about how good the film was and I was eavesdropping whilst my colour set. It sound interesting, like something I'd enjoy, so I added the book to my Summer reading list. I'm so glad I did!

This book had me from the offset, within the first few pages I was hooked! It's full of twists and turns, you're never quite sure what's coming next. I honestly couldn't put it down.

This book is so well written that you find yourself questioning everything you read. Every little detail becomes significant and you start analysing things as you go. With every turn of the page you'll have a new set of unanswered questions, you just have to keep reading to find out what next, and your opinion on where Amy is and whether Nick is involved will change constantly. It's a gripping read.

I didn't expect the book to progress the way it did. As a thriller book I thought it would be investigating where Amy was and who would want to take her, but it's so much more than that. This book explores the deepest parts of their relationship, Amy's history, the influence of her parents, Nick's guilts and desires. It's much more than just a 'who done it?' book.

I think the only kind of disappointment is the end. Whilst it's still a really good ending, I'd have liked things to work out a little better for Nick, but I can totally understand and appreciate why the author has done what she's done.

I made my Mum read this book while we were away too. I don't think she was keen at first, she complained it was slow to get into, but it wasn't look before she was asking questions wanting to know more and more. I just kept telling her to keep reading and just smiled when I saw her face at the end. I think she enjoyed it nearly as much as me.

Since returning home, I've watched the Gone Girl film. I must admit, I was a little bit let down. There is a lot of twists, turns and detail missing out of the film that you don't get to enjoy. It's a good watch, but the detail in the book makes it so much better. I definitely recommend you try and read the book first!

Gone Girl was my first Gillian Flynn read, I haven't been able to speak to anyone else who's read her other books, but I'll definitely give them a go in the future.

Rating: 9/10

Sarah x

Book Review - My Side of Life

My Side of Life

by Shane Filan

Having been a massive Westlife fan since I was little, when Shane Filan announced his first solo UK tour I had to get tickets. It was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. When he announced his book I had to read it. It was a Christmas present from my Mum, and I've finally finished it. So here's my book review.

I was only 7 or 8 when Westlife started to get noticed, at that point I was never particularly interested in how they got to be famous, and I've never really thought about it since. This book gave a great insight into how the band got to where they are and the difficulties they faced. I never knew about the original band members who were kicked, and how close Shane was to being kicked out. I was really interesting to read and finally understand the history behind a band who'd played a big part in my life.

Compared to other autobiographies I've read, I didn't think this was written as well, but he's a singer not a writer so I'm not going to dwell on that too much. He's given everyone access into his life and thoughts, and I respect him for that. After what he's been through, it was a very brave thing to release.

The book opened my eyes to not only how life was in Westlife, the struggles they faced at different points in their careers, and their relationships with each other, but how the business world was working just before and during the financial crash.

I've studied the economic crisis of 2008/2009 as part of my degree, and I've understood how it happened, the effect etc. But it wasn't until I read this I realised how bad it got for some people. To work hard to get the life you want for your family, and see it all pulled away from you must have been heartbreaking for Shane.

I felt very sorry for the whole family towards the end of the book. They hadn't been stupid and wasted their money away on flash holidays, drugs etc. They'd tried to be sensible and invest but everything came down around them. They lost the castle they'd built in seconds. No one should have to go through that.

At the end of the book Shane talks about his solo career, and how loosing everything actually was good in some ways. It was great to see that despite everything, he's seeing the positives and using his own experiences to build a new career.

A brilliant read if you're a Westlife/Shane fan, but I think it would be interesting to hear from the other boys and compare stories to see what everyone thought of their time together.

Sarah x