Sunday, October 11, 2015

The Weekly Lowdown #3

Hello October and let's take a short trip back to Hogwarts.

Firstly, how is it October already?! Where has the time gone? It's October 2015 (well duh you must be thinking) but the date holds significance for me. 5 years ago I sat my HSC exams. 5 years ago I was one of many students in NSW stressing about a series of exams that I thought would ultimately define my future. Looking back, maybe I could have studied a little harder and gamed a little less - button mashing is a great stress reliever. I think I tried too hard in Years 7-10 and by Year 11 and 12 I was just burnt out and gave up lol. What's done is done and I'm in a pretty decent place now. I wish I could go back to my 17 year old self and tell her not to worry so much, that the HSC is not the "be all and end all" as my maths teacher used to try to tell us, and that everything would be ok. But then if I hadn't tried so hard would I be where I am today? Either way, I want to wish all the students sitting their HSC/VCE (OWL/NEWTs?) the best of luck. Don't stress, just do your best and it'll be all right!

This week's wrap-up is a short one from me. Sadly no new food places because I had so many meetings this week, I was running between them and stuffing in a short 10min Maccas/Subway lunch.


  • The Girl With All the Gifts by MR Carey - I was bumming around in Kino on Friday and ran into one my favourite sales assistants there and he recommended this to me. It looks so intriguing so I was like yup I'm going to pick this up
  • Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan - I was contemplating buying the US hardcover (I still might) when I got this in the mail on Friday! Thank you so much Penguin Teen Aus for sending me this finished copy. You can read my gushing review here.
  • Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Illustrated Edition - YEWWWWWWWWWWWW HOGWARTS. It's beautiful inside. BEAUTIFUL I SAY. Expect the page with all the spiders. That one isn't beautiful. Nope.

Currently Reading: What We Left Behind by Robin Talley - I am struggling so hard with this book I started another - Angel by LA Weatherly. I still haven't finished In the Afterlight either ;____;
Tunes: My trance favourite this week is Restless Hearts by Mark Sixma & Emma Hewitt // Reset by Tiger JK feat. Jinsil my friend introduced to me and is the OST for a drama which I decided to look up and just started watching
Watching: Quantico is an addictive new American TV show. Seriously go check it out // Who Are You: School 2015 a K-drama mystery about high school life



10 comments:

  1. The Illustrated Harry Potter is SO PRETTY!! I got mine this week, too! (I preordered it months ago...like, back when they first announced it).

    Ooh, you're reading Angel! I have mixed feelings about that book...I mean, I liked it, but I sure did feel like slapping those characters a few times. Also, I think the sequel introduces a love triangle, so I've been avoiding it.
    ARGH! You must finish In The Afterlight!! I loved it so much!!

    And, wow, 5 years since the HSC? It's been four years for me...still feels like yesterday.
    And, yeah, I probably could have tried harder...I mean, my ATAR didn't even get me into my uni course...but I took an alternate route in which, looking back on it, was probably better for me. It got me into the habit of doing part-time uni, which is way better for me than full time.

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    1. I can't say I enjoyed Angel all that much. A bit overhyped for me. I'm stll struggling to finish In the Afterlight :/
      I'm so happy to be done with uni. I did full time so I could get in and out ASAP lol.

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  2. Oh man, the Illustrated Harry Potter is so freaking gorgeous! I flicked through when I was at dymocks the other day, it would be the perfect keepsake for your kids. I loved Magnus Chase, going to read your review now!

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    1. It's a perfect keepsake for ME thank you very much Jeann. LOL. YES MAGNUS!

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  3. Currently I've finished my two English exams and can I just say THANK THE LORD. Of course I put effort in for six years and decide I couldn't care less the week before HSC, but meh, que sera.

    I think I'm going to buy myself the Harry Potter illustrated as a post-HSC present to myself :)

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    1. SO CLOSE EM. NEARLY THERE.

      I think you need a WHOLE MASSIVE stack of books as a post-HSC present to yourself (:

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  4. The Girl with all the Gifts! That one is a GREAT Halloween read! <3

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    1. Oh man it's scary? :o I don't deal well with scary stuff :( It looks really good either way hehe.

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  5. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER EITHER. I could have sworn just yesterday it was just August. Time really does fly! And I'm so glad to hear you liked Mangus Chase so much, as that's one of my most anticipated reads for this month. And I really hope you like The Girl With All the Gifts - it's absolutely incredible and unique. Thanks for sharing Jaz and, as always, fabulous recap! ♥

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    1. ZOE. Girl your comments are always so thoughtful and lovely. I hope you enjoy Magnus as much as I did. I'm so excited to read The Girl With All the Gifts now!

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