Week in Review (6)

sundaypostThe Sunday Post is a weekly meme by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer in which bloggers are able to share news and happenings in their lives from the past week on their blog.

This past week has been super busy and incredibly exhausting. I have attended a bunch of wedding events, worked on creating some YouTube content, went to job interviews, among other things. It’s so relaxing to sit down right now and just unwind. I’m working on a meditation colouring book right now, so that’s going very well. I’m going to watch some Suits on Netflix in a bit, as well as catch up on some YouTube videos before I go to sleep.

Plus, I found two more books to read when I go on vacation soon. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell & The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. I’m super excited to be reading this books very soon, stay tuned for possible book reviews. 😃

Final thing, I have started a YouTube Channel a few weeks ago and I would love for you to check it out. I’ll be uploading every Monday & Friday, so be sure to subscribe if you would like to.

The following are two of my latest videos and it’d be great if you could check it out when you have time.

Thank you so much for checking out my post, and please comment a link to your Sunday Post as I would love to check it out as well. Thanks again 💗

Week in Review (5)

sundaypostThe Sunday Post is a weekly meme by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer in which bloggers are able to share news and happenings in their lives from the past week on their blog.

It’s been an interesting week this past week! I’ve relaxed a lot, that’s for sure, since it’s the summer break! One of the books I ordered finally came in the mail. It’s called The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan. The following is a picture of cover as well as the summary of the book from Goodreads:

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“For centuries, fame and fortune were to be found in the west – in the New World of the Americas. Today, it is the east which calls out to those in search of riches and adventure. Sweeping right across Central Asia and deep into China and India, a region that once took centre stage is again rising to dominate global politics, commerce and culture.

A major reassessment of world history, The Silk Roads is a dazzling exploration of the forces that have driven the rise and fall of empires, determined the flow of ideas and goods and are now heralding a new dawn in international affairs. “

I will be reading this novel on vacation, so stay tuned for a review that will possibly be coming up soon. It seems like a great book for history buffs, judging off of the summary., but also for those who are interested in learning about history. I fall in the latter category!

Moreover, I have an interview coming up next week for a job at my university, so I have also been prepping for that this week.

I’ve also started watching Suits, and it’s honestly too good! I’m so excited to get into it since I’m still on season 1! 😃

Final thing, just as a little update, I’ve started a YouTube Channel a few weeks ago and I would love for you to check it out. I’ll be uploading every Monday & Friday, so be sure to subscribe if you would like to.

The following are three of my favourite videos that I’ve uploaded so far, and it’d be great if you could check it out when you have time.

Thank you so much for checking out my post, and please comment a link to your Sunday Post as I would love to check it out as well. Thanks again 💗

Cannot Wait Wednesday!!! (5)

Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely Wishful Endings! This is where bloggers discuss the books that they’re excited to read, as well as those that are not yet published. This meme is a great way to inform others of books that are yet to be released, and to hype the books up!

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With the start of summer break, I have been looking for some new books to read and I thought that this one seemed quite intriguing. Hidden by Kelli Clare has just recently been published, and I have not seen it in my local bookstore as of yet, but look forward to hopefully finding it very soon. The following is a short excerpt of the novel from Goodreads

“Small-town Connecticut art teacher Ellie James finds the intense connection she’s longing for when she meets Will Hastings, a seductive Englishman with an alluring darkness. But just days later, her sister and grandmother are murdered and she must confront the unthinkable: is Will a man she can trust, a killer—or both?

After surviving a near-fatal attempt on her life, Ellie makes a desperate move: she takes her young niece Lissie and runs to England with Will. There, fiery passion becomes possession, London paparazzi call her by another name, and assassins of a secret society close in after the stunning truth about Ellie’s family is exposed. When Will suddenly disappears after putting a ring on her finger, Ellie must find the strength to elude assassins, disentangle herself from the haunting lies she’s lived for twenty-seven years, and answer one pressing question: who is Ellie James?”

What do you all think of this one? I personally love mystery / crime novels, so this one definitely sparked my interest. Let me know what you think of Hidden and leave a link to your CWW post below.

Week in Review (4)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer in which bloggers are able to share news and happenings in their lives from the past week on their blog. 

My past week has been super relaxing, and nothing much has happened. I borrowed a new book from the library called Think Like a Freak by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt and the following is the summary of it from Goodreads:

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The New York Times bestselling Freakonomics changed the way we see the world, exposing the hidden side of just about everything. Then came SuperFreakonomics, a documentary film, an award-winning podcast, and more.

Now, with Think Like a Freak, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner have written their most revolutionary book yet. With their trademark blend of captivating storytelling and unconventional analysis, they take us inside their thought process and teach us all to think a bit more productively, more creatively, more rationally—to think, that is, like a Freak.

Levitt and Dubner offer a blueprint for an entirely new way to solve problems, whether your interest lies in minor lifehacks or major global reforms. As always, no topic is off-limits. They range from business to philanthropy to sports to politics, all with the goal of retraining your brain. Along the way, you’ll learn the secrets of a Japanese hot-dog-eating champion, the reason an Australian doctor swallowed a batch of dangerous bacteria, and why Nigerian e-mail scammers make a point of saying they’re from Nigeria.

Some of the steps toward thinking like a Freak:

First, put away your moral compass—because it’s hard to see a problem clearly if you’ve already decided what to do about it.
Learn to say “I don’t know”—for until you can admit what you don’t yet know, it’s virtually impossible to learn what you need to.
Think like a child—because you’ll come up with better ideas and ask better questions.
Take a master class in incentives—because for better or worse, incentives rule our world.
Learn to persuade people who don’t want to be persuaded—because being right is rarely enough to carry the day.
Learn to appreciate the upside of quitting—because you can’t solve tomorrow’s problem if you aren’t willing to abandon today’s dud.
Levitt and Dubner plainly see the world like no one else. Now you can too. Never before have such iconoclastic thinkers been so revealing—and so much fun to read.

It seems like a super eye-opening book, so I thought that I’d give it a try. Stay tuned for a review that will be uploaded on my blog soon. 

Other than that, I’ve been looking for a new job for the summer, and the search is going quite well. I just had a phone interview this week, and I thought it went well, so now I’ll be waiting for an email about the next steps that I need to take in this job journey. 

On the other hand, I’ve been kind of sick this week and I just cannot wait until I feel better so I can enjoy my break. I went to Nandos for lunch with my family this week (they have some pretty decent food), as well as watched Hereditary.

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To be honest, I’d give this movie a 7/10 as I found the ending rather confusing and henceforth frustrating. Overall, quite suspenseful with a TON of jump scares! 😂 What movie have you watched recently? 

Thank you for reading my post, and please feel free to leave a link to your Sunday Post below! 

Stacking it up

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews where bloggers discuss the books that they have borrowed from the library or bought to add to their shelves. I personally think it’s a fabulous idea as you are able to learn about books that may not even have been of interest to you!

I have added a few books to my shelf this week, mostly from the library, but nonetheless I plan on reading these books very soon! The following three books are the ones I’ll be reading.

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Please leave your ‘Stacking the Shelves’ post link below. ⬇️

How I Study for Exams

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I guess it’s a little late to be writing this post as finals season has essentially ended, but I hope that this post helps you in some way this semester. I will be talking about how I study for my final exams because we all know how much content there is to understand for final assessments and doing so can be quite overwhelming at times. Personally, this past finals season was incredible stressful for me and I felt so overwhelmed at times. I’m just so glad that it’s over and I’m totally ready for the new semester to begin in which I will apply what I learned this semester.

  • Begin compiling your study notes as early as possible

Have all your lecture notes, readings and any other notes put together, in some sort of binder / folder, way in advance of the time during which you wish to begin studying. Doing so will ensure that once it’s time to study, you won’t be wasting time and procrastinating finding your notes but rather getting right down to studying. I’m guilty of compiling my notes really last minute and then having to rush when studying, but the few times I have taken this advice on board proved to make my studying experience rather relaxing (surprisingly).

  • Take regular breaks

Have a set time to take breaks (i.e. 45 minutes of studying then take a 15 minute break). Obviously this is easier said than done, but if you consciously make the effort to stop what you’re doing at the 45 minute mark, and do something that you genuinely enjoy during the 15 minute break, be it watching some YouTube, reading a book, eating a snack, getting a short workout in, it’ll make a world of a difference when you get back to studying.

  • Have snack(s) & water with you when studying

I’ve found that having to get up from studying to go and get some water / something to eat can be quite distracting and it may take you some time to get back into that studying mode. So have a snack / water bottle handy before you start studying. I usually have a granola bar and some ice cold water, these two things just help me concentrate.

  • Understand concepts, don’t memorize details

This tip depends on what you’re studying for, to be quite honest. But when it makes sense to understand greater concepts rather than details, go for it. Although it may take longer to understand concepts, it helps so much in the long run. Once you understand the concept, the little details will just come together. This piece of advice is probably the most useful advice I’ve ever gotten during my university career thus far. 

And that’s all I have for now. I will periodically add to this list once I come up with more tips that seem relevant, so keep coming back to check. Hope this post helps in some way!

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What I Learned in 2017

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2017 has been a pretty significant year for me. I have started to rethink what I want to do with my university degree, I’ve struggled a little closer to the end of the year, however I have also learned a ton this year. This short post will concisely go over what I’ve learned this past year, and a follow up post will be uploaded later which will outline my hopes and plans for 2018.

Importance of spending time with family and friends.  I’ve realized that family and friends should always come first and work / school should come after. I feel so at ease when I spend time with them and doing so just makes those stressful times all the more bearable. Time is truly valuable, and you won’t get that family time back in the future.

Have a designated time in the day to do something you enjoy. Some things that I enjoy doing is reading, watching movies / tv shows and spending time with family and friends. I’ve found that doing something I enjoy allows me to take a break and recharge for what’s ahead. It’s okay to take a break and gather yourself.

When it comes to university, I realized the importance of understanding concepts rather than little details. Although understanding concepts may be incredibly time-consuming, everything will come together in the end. Chasing good grades is not the way to go. Rather, chasing genuine knowledge and understanding what you’re learning is of utmost importance because the good grades will follow and you’ll have increased knowledge at the end of the day. 

School is important but your health is far more important. When you feel yourself getting stressed, take a break because there’ll always be one more test or assignment that you can work on to improve your mark. One bad grade won’t ruin your life. It has taken me a while to realize this and I’m so glad that I finally did. To take care of my health, I relax with family and friends, read a good book, go to the gym for a good workout or just totally disconnect from social media and meditate. These methods have proven to be incredibly effective in me taking care of my health.

Hope you enjoyed reading this post and I also hope that your 2017 was full of life lessons and self-improvement. Stay tuned for my post on my plans for 2018. Here’s to 2018!

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Cannot Wait Wednesday!!! (4)

Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely Wishful Endings! This is where bloggers discuss the books that they’re excited to read, as well as those that are not yet published. This meme is a great way to inform others of books that are yet to be released, and to hype the books up!

As I have been looking for a variety of books to put on hold at the library for the new year, I thought it was fitting to write a quick post on a book that I’m looking forward to read in the near future. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn is one book that I’m super excited for! The following is a short excerpt of the novel from Goodreads:

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What did she see?

It’s been ten long months since Anna Fox last left her home. Ten months during which she has haunted the rooms of her old New York house like a ghost, lost in her memories, too terrified to step outside.

Anna’s lifeline to the real world is her window, where she sits day after day, watching her neighbours. When the Russells move in, Anna is instantly drawn to them. A picture-perfect family of three, they are an echo of the life that was once hers.

But one evening, a frenzied scream rips across the silence, and Anna witnesses something no one was supposed to see. Now she must do everything she can to uncover the truth about what really happened. But even if she does, will anyone believe her? And can she even trust herself?

This summary is giving me creepy, thriller type vibes, and definitely sparked my interest.  I really like the cover of this book too, but I know that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. What do you think of this one? Link your CWW posts below too!

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Stay Up-to-Date with Current Events

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Keeping up with current events is an unwritten part of our role as global citizens. Current events shape what goes on around us, and how we function in society. These events shape our decisions as well as inform our perceptions of the world. An easy way to stay up to date with current events is through reading or watching the news.

Now how do you access the news / stay updated on the happenings around the globe?

We have a plethora of accessible resources right at our fingertips, yet we rely on the most unreliable sources for our news. This is not to say that platforms such as Facebook and Snapchat are inherently bad for staying updated, but rather that these sources do not always provide the full, accurate context or story of events. Use Facebook and Snapchat as a starting point for your information, and be curious. Turn to other platforms such as Twitter, news websites or even your TV news to find out more.

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Personally, I like to read the news on Flipboard (this post is not sponsored by Flipboard, I just felt the need to inform others of its’ usefulness). Flipboard is an incredible app that compiles news from various news outlets into a board-style layout, similar to the pinboards that you find on Pinterest (see the three screenshots below). Flipboard allows you to choose the news topics (i.e. Politics, Business & Tech, World News, etc.) that you’re most interested in reading about. This app allows me to read the latest news wherever and whenever I feel like doing so. It has never given me any problems, crash / bug-wise, and is the most convenient app to use.

I also like how Flipboard compiles articles from various news outlets as it tries to mitigate the bias that is so prevalent in news broadcasting. You need to read stories about the same event from a variety of articles to get a better sense of what occurred. Many news agencies have political ties, so evidently their articles will be skewed in favour of a certain ideology or political party. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read an article that was clearly so biased that I just stopped reading it because I knew I wasn’t getting the factual picture of what actually occurred.

That’s about it! There is a part two for this post, which will be uploaded soon. I hope you enjoyed this post, and let me know how you stay updated with current affairs.

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Mystery Blogger Award

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Hey everyone, it’s El! I finally finished my major exams and tests, just one more to go in around two weeks, but I decided it was time for me to finally upload a blog post. I have been nominated for this award by the amazing Rachel, be sure to check out her awesome blog! I truly appreciate you nominating me for this award, thank you very much. 

Now, a little bit about this award. It was created by the very talented Okoto Enigma, who describes this award as being an;

award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion.

The rules for this award are as follows:

  1. Put the award logo/image on your blog.
  2. List the rules.
  3. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  4. Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well.
  5. Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
  6. You have to nominate 10 – 20 people.
  7. Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
  8. Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).
  9. Share a link to your best post(s).

Three Things About Myself

  • I’m in the midst of rethinking what I want to do with my university education and future career for the millionth time.
  • I have watched The Office series a total of 6 times, with no intention of stopping.
  • I would love to travel to Bali in Indonesia.

Rachel’s Questions For Me

  1. What is your favorite hobby?

My favourite hobby would have to be hiking. There are always so many places to see and pictures to take. Not to mention, it’s excellent exercise too. There’s nothing better than a good hiking workout. 

  1. How long have you been blogging, and why did you start to blog?

I have been blogging nonstop for around 6 months now, I’d like to say, however I started my first book reviews blog in 2015 but then I took a long break from it. Now, I am back for good!

  1. What would your dream job be?

My dream job would include anything to do with travelling, and being paid to do so. Maybe I want to be an entrepreneur. Or a YouTuber. Or a lawyer?!? Who even knows at this point.

  1. What is your favorite movie or book?

My favourite movie would have to be Inception. I can watch that movie multiple times and still find something that I missed the first time around.

  1. (Weird/Funny Question) If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning medal for?

Probably watching Netflix. I mean, everyone would win gold, right?!

I Nominate…..

My Questions For You

  1. What is one thing that you’d like to tell your future self?
  2. What is one country you’d like to visit in Europe?
  3. [Weird / Funny Question] What is one food that you could eat everyday?
  4. Are you a coffee or tea person, or maybe even both?
  5. What is your favourite book-to-movie adaptation?

Also, my best post can be found here.

I’m looking forward to reading all of your posts 😀

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