December Update: Counting Down To Christmas (Part 2)

Hi readers,

It's another update post today and probably my last before Christmas, though hopefully not my last before the New Year! This last week and the weekend have been a bit stressful though and I still can't wait for Christmas to be over and done with as it just feels like that will solve most of the problems! Anyway, I've hardly had time to think about that today because I've been at work all day and evening. Which is why I'm super glad I decided to get ahead yesterday and write up some of the parts of this post!

Kicking my post off today is an update of what's going on at my other blog. I've just written a nine part fantasy story, which people have seemed to be enjoying. I can't decided if I want to carry on writing or not. This week though it's all about the next six parts of my Trust novella. Yeah, my vampires Brook and Fern are back and this time I decide to bring in a new plot that I've been thinking about and adding in some new vampires. Of course, there are other stories all Christmas/winter themed still available to read and new ones will be up later this week. Here's the link; https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/ 

The only thing I made last week is peppermint bark. I've never made it before and it doesn't seem to be that bigger thing in the UK compared to USA. I found a real simple recipe that called for milk chocolate, white chocolate, peppermint oil and candy canes. I melted the milk chocolate first and also a bowl in the microwave- I thought it was heat safe, turns out it wasn't! I then poured that into a silicon tray, added some peppermint oil and let it set. I melted the white chocolate, added the oil to that and poured that on top of the milk chocolate. Then and really I should have done this before- I smashed up some of the candy canes with a rolling pin and sprinkled them on top, I pressed some of the bigger pieces down then I left it over night to set completely.

It turned out okay, though it did need some more peppermint oil! I shared some of with my friends from D and D and they all agreed it reminded them of Areo chocolate (which is mint flavored chocolate, for those that don't know). and they liked it. I've still got some in the fridge and might take some with me on Christmas eve.      

Last week, I decided to make small felt stars with the young people at the youth center. I made this one and had this idea of making more and having a string of them on my bookcase. I've just not had the time to do that though, but it would be a great way to use up some of my scraps of felt. The kids once we had thrown away the yellow silk, which wasn't good for this project, did enjoy making them, so I'd say make felt/fabric stars is a good craft for the kids to do. 

My second thing which I made on Saturday, is this stocking. I found the gingerbread man pattern at http://www.dreamalittlebigger.com/post/distressed-gingerbread-man-felt-stocking-pattern.html and it reminded me of the gingerbread men I made the other week. I know I didn't get it perfect, but I really like it. I wanted to give it ago as on Wednesday I'm running an craft activity at work and thought that getting the kids to design their own stockings would be a great idea. To save time and issues, I've spent time over the weekend and properly some more tomorrow cutting out the stockings, gingerbread men and a few other shapes. I really hope the kids like making them.

Christmas is just a great time to do lots of arts and crafts with kids and there's so many different things they can have a go at making. Today, I made Christmas cards and paper plate wreaths with two different age groups; juniors and seniors all of whom had additional needs. They seemed to have a great time and so did I!

This week I'm still burning Christmas themed Yankee Candles and it's one of my favorite set; Hot Butter Rum, Winter Garden and warm Chestnut. I think they were new and limited from a shopping channel and I've not really seen them around. However, I love the rich warm butter and rum scent which really fills the house. Warm chestnut has this hot earthy/outdoor nut smell to it, which to me is better then real chestnuts! Winter garden smells just like a frost covered evergreen garden. I can't decided my favorite out of them to be honest!

It doesn't feel like I've got any new music to share today. I've been listening to my normal things and some natural sound videos on YouTube. I've been listening to Christmas songs -who hasn't?- but due to them being mostly played in shops and at work, and the fact my mum keeps putting them on the TV music channels, I've not really been listening to them in my own time. Though I had to hear Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer a few times because that's one song I just don't hear anywhere else. I just makes me laugh a lot and it far better then some of the depressing Christmas songs. 

I've been getting lots of nice things in my advent count down sack, as the photo shows! I've got a few more things knocking about to, but this week it's mostly been about chocolate. Can't wait to tuck into that! I'm sad I've only got like three more presents to go now, I'm going to miss opening a present a day. Still though, I'll have lots to open on Christmas day! 

Lastly, here's my dog snugging in her new blanket. She's so cute!

Photos:

Christmas house and trees lighting up from: http://giphy.com/gifs/pretty-christmas-bHSCxaHfjZYwE
Yankee Candles 
All others; my own

Book Review; The Bone Season

Hi readers, 

I'm finally posting up my review of The Bone Season! I'm currently reading the second book, though I've only read like two chapters, just not had the time at the moment due to writing lots of stories and working. I also found out that this is a series of seven books and the publishing dates for the others have been released. I thought it was a trilogy and now knowing there are more books coming, I am not sure if I will read them all. I guess it depends on how the plot develops and if the characters start developing probably. As normal, I'm going to try and stay away from spoilers, but there might be some due to what I want to talk about. 

I'm not sure how I found out about this novel, but it was like around the time it came out last year, but I just couldn't fit it into my reading stack. I believed it was a dystopia novel and I did add it to my list. Then I found it in a very cheap bookshop around March/April and brought it, thus breaking my vow not to buy any books this year! However, it's only now that I've read it. For me it's more a book that boarders a lot of genres; science fiction, supernatural and alternate history, but I wouldn't say it was dystopia because it doesn't feel in the same vein as says 1984 or Wool or The Hungry Games.  

The plot of The Bone Season is that nineteen year old Paige Mahoney is a rare type of clairvoyant, a dreamwalker which allows her to get into peoples' minds and effect them. She lives in London 2059, where clairvoyants are banned and have to live in secret. Paige works with a group of others in order to survive, but she captured after visiting her father and wakes up at Sheol I. There she learns that the government has been sending clairvoyants to an alien race which are training the clairvoyants to defend them and the plant from another alien race. Paige, of course, sets about trying to escape.       

The novel opens with a huge exposition about the world and clairvoyants and what's happened in the past. That alone would put most people off and unfortunately, there are other 'exposition dumps' and repeated facts throughout the novel. I get why Shannon has done this though and that's because it's the easiest and fastest way to give the reader information that they need to understand the plot. However, for me its a sign of lazy writing and a weak point in the novel. I understand that this is her first novel, she is under the age of thirty and the audience is teenagers, which might be the clues to the way this book is written. 

The other downsides to this book are that it feels a lot longer then it needs to be, it's over 400 pages long. I spotted parts that could have have been shortened or cut out and if there was less exposition that might have helped too. Paige seemed a bit static and I didn't connect with her like I would have liked too. The background characters and there seems to be too many of them, didn't develop well enough for me. Also, I read somewhere that there was meant to be a starting romance between Paige and her capture Warden, but this didn't come across for me, if it was intended, but it was probably more like Stockholm Syndrome and also the fact that Paige sees she can't escape without his help. Lastly, the aliens can drink blood and auras which they use to strength themselves and to me that just reminds me of vampires. I know there are other blood drinking creatures out there, but I didn't feel this was needed, just having them drink auras would have been fine. 

With all that said, I did enjoy the world building and the plot overall. I found it different to other things I had read. Though other reviewers say it's not different from books they've read, so I guess that depends on you. There is enough character development from the main characters, but for me it feels very plot led. I was fine with all the supernatural stuff to and I didn't mind the science fiction parts either. I can also understand with this being the first book in the series why it's been written the way it has and I just hope the next book is a bit different and more focused on the characters. It does seem like this book is dividing reviewers, so I'm going to leave it up to you to decided for yourselves, but I would recommend giving it a try.   

That's all for now and next week I'll be back with another December/Christmas Update. 

December Update: Counting Down To Christmas

Hi Readers,

I can't believe it's December already or that it's almost Christmas or that another year is about to end! Everything feels like it's gone too fast, but a part of me can't wait for Christmas to be over with. It always feels like it starts earlier every year. All the shops sweep Halloween away like it didn't happen and start slotting Christmas themed things up. Come the middle of November this just explodes and everything has to be Christmas! Then it's about the decorations, the presents, the food, the final plans. The word is on everyone lips, Christmas songs - old, new, classic, strange ones- are blasting everywhere and the only way to escape is to go and live under a rock for the next few weeks.

That makes me sound like a 'Scrooge', but I actually love Christmas! It just feels so commercialised now, like every other holiday or maybe it's been like that all my life, but as a child I never noticed? I think also this year because I'm finally moving away my family's traditional Christmas I'm feeling more stressed. I was trying to see if I wrote about the Christmas we have in my early posts. I found this one; http://hailscrazyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/a-traditional-christmas.html though it doesn't go into the full details, but you can see how close my family is.

So, the move is that my boyfriend invited me over to have Christmas at his. After lots of thinking, arguing with my mum, doing the pros and cons, I decided to accept. I know I'm in for a very different, much quieter and less chaos/fun time, but the chance to finally say I spent Christmas with a boyfriend out weighs that. And who wouldn't want a quieter/peaceful Christmas day? Anyway, with that very mixed introduction out of the way, here's what's becoming my normal list of things on writing these update posts;  

At my other blog, The Story Files, you can find winter/Christmas themed stories for today, the rest of the week and last week. I've found a very interesting trend on there too and that is that people seemed to enjoy my flash fiction and shorter stories a lot more then the long single stories or part ones. I guess because they are fast to read and more to the point? I don't know, because some of the ones I wrote last week I wasn't too keen on, but people have really been liking them. The link is;
https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/ and you can also found it on Facebook, which I've included the link to at the end of this post. Also, if you've written a story and fancy submitting it -I'm still looking for Christmas and New Year themed stories- you can go to my guidelines page on that blog.

Tonight as I write this, I'm busy finishing painting and fake snowing a glass jar lantern. Remember the ones I made at Halloween? Well, that same person who came up with that design did a Christmas one too. I really liked the idea as giving them as extra gifts to people. So I made one for my best friend and forgot to take photos! So, I've now made this one to give to my mum. Even though its' not finished you get the idea. I've included the link to the website is; http://www.adventure-in-a-box.com/magical-christmas-lanterns/

They are really simple, cheap to make and effective. Once again, I had trouble with the drawing, so I blew up the image and that was easier, though the thickness of the glass and roundness of the jar made it harder so I free handed a lot of the roof tops! I just need to do another coat of paint, put on some fake snow and add the sand and candled to the inside.

The other thing on my list to make is this;

A sugar plum fairy felt socking. Which I thought would be easy to make, but the instruction seem to make it really complicated. I think this is a job for mum and me to do. We didn't get a chance this weekend so maybe next? I've got a few other things to get making, hopefully it'll put me in a Christmas mood.

This morning I made Gingerbread men. I've had a mad craving for them over the weekend, but hadn't had the chance to go and buy some, so I made my own today. I was a bit worried after my problems with all the stuff I made over October. However, these guys turned out fine! I followed this simple recipe; https://www.homemadebyyou.co.uk/recipes/baking/gingerbread-family , which I have in my favorite cook book. I stuck with it and took my time over it too. Unlike last time I also stayed in the kitchen the whole time and made sure they didn't burn!

I didn't have a whole family like the recipe calls for and I could only find two cookie cutters. So  I made a big and small gingerbread man. I also decorated them with ice writing pens, because that was all I could find. I can't wait to eat them with my parents later!

One of the smaller ones did have an accident though....I dropped one of the big ones on him when I was transferring them to the rack and his arm snapped off! I was going to leave him undecorated and eat him as my 'tester' but I just couldn't resisted doing this instead....

Halloween is still lingering in me!

This month I'm burning some new Yankee candles. I've had Cosy By The Fire melting in my burner this weekend. It smells really nice, though it is strong. It's like burning wood and warm mulled wine spices. I've also got Winter Glow and it smells piney and just like a winter garden soon after the snow has stopped falling and the sun has come up. That's the only way I can describe it.

I've smelt the other two new releases, Bundle Up and Berry Trifle. I wasn't too keen on the first one because it smelt too piney, but I did like the second one because it was very fruity and I got for the food candles more then the other categories.

At the minute I'm burning a big jar Fireside Treats. I love the smell of toasted marshmallows and a wood burning.   

Music time! With winter coming, I love listening to howling winds and fire places. Here's my current favorite of a winter storm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrg9E2YBgsI This is perfect to listen too whilst burning a candle and reading a good book.

Lastly, I want to share my advent calendar bag with you. My mum heard of this idea about three years ago now and you buy a small present for every day in December and open one per day as you would an advent thing. This is the inside of my bag. Look at all those presents just waiting to be opened!

These are the things I've gotten so far:

The purple thing is a detangle hair brush, a notebook is next to it with a chocolate bear and a Yankee candle behind it. Also some fluffy socks and some jelly babies. I also got a bracelet that my mum made me which is in my jewelry box so it didn't get lost. I wonder what I'll get tomorrow?

Thanks for reading and please check out my blog.


Links;

https://thestoryfiles.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thestoryfiles/


Photos:

Falling snow scene; https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBK8HyMhaJ0x2FwNgj9o348fcQkm6gw9a2q5WJY7USMxOA5_T-uwGrn1h93uYzRJV2-tATh9Y7RfQ-hGZQLXMMti68nRwxHTQzWdWgMbBYqqBLR8snvL2AvT6oS5r4MJ7vm7-HDkufsaI/s1600/tumblr_myvfv4s4Ec1r3t8ico1_500.gif

Yankee Candles; http://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/

The rest; all author's own.

Leeds Steampunk Market and Christkindlmarkt

Hi readers,

I'm slotting this post in before my first December update to bring you my day trip out to Leeds! Though to be honest I'm feeling really tired and I just want to snuggle in bed with a book. The weather has been rough today- very windy and rainy. Driving on the motorway was difficult (I didn't drive by the way, not insured yet) and scary as the wind was really blowing the car around. My actually day out was good though, but I didn't get to visit the cemetery and the Thackray museum still scares me. It's dedicated to the history of medicine, hospitals, doctors, nurses and patients, which for someone who has a big issues and a slight phobia of hospitals and medical stuff isn't good.

The Steampunk market made it worth it though! If you don't know anything about Steampunk here's a post I did on it awhile back; http://hailscrazyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/steampunk-introduction-to-genre.html I've written about Steampunk and the market at the mill before. It was from there that I found out the Leeds one was worth a visit. They have four throughout the year and this was the last one for 2015. There was a lot of interesting stalls, a few of which didn't seem that steampunky to me, but I enjoyed seeing things I wouldn't be able to see anywhere else, like for example the guy who made robots out of recycled metal things and give them each a background story, he could even make a personalised ones.

There were some stalls selling clothes, which I always love looking at even though I can't fit in anything and it's expensive. I didn't go dressed up by the way. The hour traveling and the fact I wanted to be warm and comfy for the day saw to that. I've got a picture of me dressed up from the Mill market though. I was actually just looking for my post about the Mill and I can't seem to find it. I'm sure I did one though!

There were a lot of stalls selling jewelry, most of which was of course Steampunk and fantasy styled. I didn't see anything I really liked though, other then different versions of a pendent which my best friend had actually brought me for Christmas! I saw the dragon love necklace my boyfriend got me for our first year together. I'm excited to see what he's got me from Christmas at the moment. There were hats stall too and I so would love a hat, but I don't have a lot of things to wear one too!

There was also a glass etched stand, which had some cool designs printed on the beer glasses. There was a woman selling fairy like wings and other stuff, who had a pet skunk. I've don't think I've seen one in real life before and I do have to admit I thought it was fake the first time I saw it! Someone else was selling old army uniforms for reenactors and there was this man who made like Victorian style props. My mum brought this device which is meant to turn people having a secret conversations in a public place invisible! She said it'd be handy in the office and also she liked the flashing lights.  

I meet three authors who were selling their own published books. I connect with two of these and brought their books. I also told them about my blog and writings. I feel inspired to put together that collection of short stories I keep saying I'm going to do and have another go at trying to actually earn some money from my stories. Both of their books seems interesting and I've added them to the review list, though it won't be till next year now. I've got the second book of The Bone Season and another book to read first before anything else.  

There were two other stalls my mum and I got things off. The first was a beauty/bath one that was all like home made things. I got some cooling liniment for my back (I pulled a muscle last weekend and I'm still in pain) It smells like mint and I put some on before I sat down and it does seemed to have helped! I got some chocolate sugar lip scrub, mainly because it was in the sale items and I've always wanted to try some. The ones at Lush are too expensive and I've not got the time to make my own, though I've read it's very simple. Anyway, this one was really nice and my lips do feel better, less dry and chapped. I also got an apple and cinnamon scented bath fizz which also has popping candy in it. That smells so nice and reminds me of autumn - which I'm missing already! My mum got a few others things; a mint lip scrub, some massage oil and lavender oil. I picked up a card too and so in the future we can order more things. Here's a photo;

The other stall we got stuff off was a mixture of little gift like things. To be honest I can't remember what else was on it because I was so distracted by the clay dragons. There were four different sizes, lots of colors and characters. I picked out a large blue one for mum because I liked the fairy style wings and he seemed like a dragon with attitude. I picked out a light purple one then a darker baby one to go with it. Mum got the other two small ones, because they need friends! They are so cute though and I've got mine on my desk right now. The photo really doesn't show their full cuteness! 

I got everyone's business card too. I've included the links at then end if anyone fancies checking then out.

  

We then left and drove a few minutes into the Leed's center. There we walked around the Christkindlmarkt or German Market. The wind and rain picked up when we arrived though, but the market was only small and in one area - unlike the Manchester Christmas market and I do plan to write about that when I go maybe next weekend of the one after. The place was more packed then the Steampunk market had been and as the afternoon got later more people arrived. We didn't buy anything other then some hot potato cakes/ rostis to share. Mum was tempted by a dragon which when you burnt an incest stick inside let the smoke escape out of his nose and mouth, but it was expensive and we don't have anywhere to really put it.

I did try to take some photos, but the weather, the dying light and the horde of people made it hard. I always end up feeling embarrassed too. I'm not sure why when people use their phone cameras and selfie sticks, because it's not like my camera is that big anyway. I don't know, maybe because I've been told off before and I really don't like that. I'll have to try harder at the Manchester one if I go.

So that was my day. What have you been doing today? Let me know in the comments and add anything else you want me to see in there too. I reply back to everyone, so don't be shy. Come back Monday for my Update post and please check out The Story Files. Thanks for reading.


Links:
https://www.facebook.com/thestoryfiles/
http://www.thackraymedicalmuseum.co.uk/
http://www.leedssteampunkmarket.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/CraigHallamAuthor/?fref=ts
http://carliemartece.com/
http://www.bimble.eu/
http://www.beckettstreetcemetery.org.uk/

Photos;
Google maps
All my own.