2019 First Quarter Check-In

Anyone else find it hard to believe we’re already a quarter of the way through 2019? January and February moved along at a slow but steady pace for me, while March flew by. I wish I could say the weather was spring-like in my little corner of Ontario, but considering we’ve had snow on and off the last few days, we’re not quite there yet. 2019 has been a great year for me so far. I’ve made some big changes in my life, especially pertaining to my physical and mental health. I’ve created a morning routine - 30+ minutes of exercise, followed by yoga and meditation - that I’m really proud of. I’ve been working away at my current work in progress (a contemporary romance), I’ve been reading as much as I can, and I’ve succeeded at my goal of having one new blog post each week. Here’s a closer look at what the first quarter of 2019 looked like for me: *I wrote 50,000 words on my current WIP. I’m so close to being finished the first draft!
*It’s been a weird reading year for me. I’ve completed 11 books, but have had 10 DNFs. Ten! Of the books I’ve read, my favourites have been: -Happy New You by Brenda St John Brown, Cassie-Ann L Miller, Ceri Grenelle, Elizabeth Lynx, Jami Albright, Julia Wolf, Laura Lee, Marika Ray, Mya Martin, Nikky Kaye, and Sylvie Stewart -Hold Me Today by Maria Luis -The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane -At the Mountain’s Edge by Genevieve Graham You can see all my 2019 books (both read and DNFs) here. *On the blog: -Thoughts on How You Want to be Known in Life and How You Want to be Remembered -Spring Cleaning Isn’t Just For Your Home. Here’s How to Spring Clean Your Life Too -7 Books to Satisfy Your Ireland Wanderlust -2019: The Year of Big Life Changes -Experiencing Jealousy as an Author And How To Turn It Into Something Positive -One Day in December by Josie Silver: Did it Live Up to the Hype? -2018: A Year in Review *TV shows I’ve watched and loved: I haven’t been watching much TV this year, but I did watch Bodyguard and Medici: Masters of Florence in March (and I’ll admit both were 100% because Richard Madden was the star). I particularly loved Bodyguard and talked about some of the reasons why here.

Looking ahead at the next quarter of 2019:

*I’ll be finishing and publishing my WIP. I have a title and a publication date in mind, but I’m keeping quiet about both for now. Stay tuned for more details! Once that’s finished, I have a *secret project* I’m excited to work on. I can give you a few hints: it's a series of three books, probably novellas, and they’re romantic comedies.

*I’ll be doing some not-too-far travelling. Next month I’ll be spending a weekend with my bestie in my favourite Canadian city, Kingston, along with the Nation’s Capital, Ottawa. We’re planning to do a day at the Tulip Festival. I love Ottawa and I haven't been there in over a decade, plus I've always wanted to go to the Tulip Festival. In June, I’ll be spending a weekend in Toronto with another friend, attending a 90s Nostalgia Dance Party. If you know me at all, you'll know I live for 90s music. So much so, in fact, that in my last book, Only You, the main character Ivy was obsessed with 90s music too. I’m excited beyond words about both these things!
*I’m going to continue focusing on my health and wellbeing. My body craves movement now, and I love the changes I’m seeing in my body, and how much better I feel. Meditation and journaling have also led to a vast improvement in my mental health. I’m much calmer, less anxious, less stressed, and I find it easier to just roll with things.

How were the first three months of 2019 for you? Do you have anything big planned for the next quarter of the year?

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6 TV Series to Watch This October to Get in the Halloween Spirit

I don’t know about you, but the minute the calendar flips from September to October, I’m all about Halloween. Give me all the creepy, spooky things! I love rewatching old favourite TV shows and movies, as well as discovering new ones. With its shorter, cooler days and darkness falling so early in the evening, autumn seems like the perfect time to curl up and find a new favourite show or rewatch an old favourite. If you’re like me and you’re looking for things to get you in the Halloween spirit, here are 6 TV shows that are perfect for October.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy is a classic for a reason. With a literal kickass heroine, a great cast of side characters, hilarious dialogue, and real emotion, this show has it all. It has a variety of monsters to satisfy those looking for a creep factor, and it also has a lot of real-life lessons about love, family, friendship, and life. 2017 is the 20-year anniversary of the show’s debut, which makes me feel ancient (I was 13 when it started, and I can still remember being obsessed and talking about it with my friends), and also makes it the perfect time to start watching it if you’ve never seen it, or to do what I’m currently doing: a series rewatch.

Supernatural

This is another show that blends scary monster real-life issues. The first couple of seasons have some downright terrifying, gruesome episodes that deal largely with urban legends. As the show continues, the Winchester brothers deal with various creatures that go bump in the night, but there are also running problems that last for several episodes or even a whole season. Supernatural is also the perfect show if you like complex sibling relationships. There’s a lot of pain and heartache in this show, but that’s part of what makes it so irresistible - it's impossible not to feel for the brothers and their issues.  

Charmed

“The power of three will set you free, the power of three will set you free.” I’ll admit I never finished watching this series because I stopped getting the channel it was on (UGH), but I loved what I saw of Charmed, and I adored the Halliwell sisters. I have a soft spot for sibling relationships, plus I loved the girls’ magical abilities and watching them struggle with their powers as well as all the supernatural circumstances thrown their way.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Another 90s classic. This one is completely different from the other shows I’ve mentioned in that it’s geared toward a younger audience and is much cuter and fluffier. That’s not to say Sabrina didn’t deal with her share of real-life issues. I just rewatched this show year before last, and I had a whole new appreciation for it as an adult. It’s funny and sometimes silly, which makes it perfect if you’re looking for a lighter, family-friendly show that’s perfect for Halloween.

Ripper Street

Unlike the other shows listed above, Ripper Street deals with monsters of the real-life variety: murderers, thieves, and a whole host of other criminals. The show is set in seedy, post-Jack the Ripper Whitechapel, London, which is what drew me to it initially. Like many other people, I’ve had a sick obsession with Jack the Ripper for years, and I find that time period in London (late 1800s) truly fascinating. It was like a whole different world, and many of the things that happened back then were horrifying, gruesome, and downright depressing. I also love seeing the advancements in science and medicine during that time; one of the main characters is a medical examiner, and he’s always experimenting and making interesting discoveries.

Pretty Little Liars

Like with Ripper Street, Pretty Little Liars is all about the real-life monsters. So many things about this show are wonderfully creepy, right down to the theme song. PLL is full of twists and turns, secrets and lies, and there are some episodes that will just about scare the pants right off you. Two years ago before I had Netflix, I was apartment- and cat-sitting for a friend and I stayed up until 2 or 3 every night binge-watching as much of the show as I could. It’s seriously addictive, and now that the series has come to an end, it’s the perfect time to watch it. So much happens in the show, it’s a good one to binge-watch so you don’t forget things.

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-Buffy the Vampire Slayer (7 seasons)

-Supernatural (12 seasons on DVD, season 13 is about to start airing)

-Charmed (8 seasons)

-Sabrina the Teenage Witch (7 seasons)

-Ripper Street (5 seasons)

-Pretty Little Liars (7 seasons)

What are you watching this fall? Have you watched any of these? Have any recommendations for shows you think are perfect for getting in the Halloween mood?

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The Monday Musts #2

The Monday Musts is a new weekly meme hosted by Lovin' Los Libros, where you share what you consider a must-read book, a must-listen song/album/artist, and something that's a must see (TV show, movie, blog, pictures, etc). 

My musts for this week:
~ Must read ~

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway. I'm a contemporary romance junkie, and this book had everything I love about the genre, especially in YA: friendship, humour, romance, family relationships, and lots of real emotion. It made me giggle like crazy, plus I even cried a couple times. If you're a fellow YA contemporary lover, I highly recommend Emmy & Oliver.

 

 ~ Must Listen ~

Hold On by Walk Off the Earth. I absolutely love this song. It's so catchy, plus I love the lyrics.
 

~ Must See ~

Frasier. The Complete Box Set was a daily deal on Amazon a few months ago (something like 60% or more off), and since I've always loved the show, I splurged and got it for myself as a birthday/Christmas present. I'm so glad I did - January was a pretty hellish for my mum and me, so we've been binge-watching the show, and I swear it's saved us from going crazy. It's familiar, it's hilarious, we love the characters, and it's the perfect way to shut off our minds for awhile. I know it's not for everyone - I imagine some people would have trouble getting past Frasier's personality (I mean, he can be insufferable, there's no denying that), but I guess since I watched Cheers when I was little, and then transitioned into Frasier, I find it more amusing than anything. Plus Niles and Daphne are one of my OTPs. <3

What do you think of my musts? What are your musts for the week? Tell me in the comments, or if you participated in The Monday Musts this week, feel free to leave a link and I'll be sure to check out your post!

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The Monday Musts #1

The Monday Musts is a new weekly meme hosted by Lovin' Los Libros, where you share what you consider a must-read book, a must-listen song/album/artist, and something that's a must see (TV show, movie, blog, pictures, etc).

My musts for this week:

~ Must read ~

Every Breath and Every Word by Ellie Marney. I'm obsessed with all things Sherlock, and I've read a ton of Sherlock-inspired books, but these are my favourites. They're popular in Australia, where the author is from and where the books are set, but have sort of flown under the radar here in North America, which is a shame. They've got great characters, lots of action and mystery, plus feels, swoons, and humour. The third book, Every Move, will be available in North America next month, and I can't wait to read it, even though I'll be sad to say goodbye to Rachel and James.

~ Must Listen ~

Thursday's Child by David Bowie. This song was when I really discovered Bowie as a musician. Before this, I only knew him from Labyrinth (which has been one of my favourite movies since I was 5 or 6), but this song came out when I was 15, and I loved it. When I discovered the guy singing it was the Goblin King from Labyrinth, I loved it even more and started listening to more of Bowie's music. I was surprised when some of the songs I'd been hearing on the radio for years - China Girl, Changes, Let's Dance, etc - were him, too. This remains one of my favourite songs of his (As the World Falls Down from the Labyrinth soundtrack is my favourite).

~ Must See ~

Like I said in my 'must read', I'm obsessed with all things Sherlock, and I love the BBC's version with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. The Abominable Bride special that aired on New Year's Day was amazing - a complete mindfuck in all the best ways. I loved the Victorian-era setting and the nods to the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock. If you're a Sherlock fan but haven't seen the special yet, get on it! Or if you haven't watched Sherlock but have thought about it, the whole series is amazing.

What do you think of my musts? What are your musts for the week? Tell me in the comments, or if you participated in The Monday Musts this week, feel free to leave a link and I'll be sure to check out your post!

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Fantastic Friday #5: Ripper Street

Fantastic Friday is a new feature here on Ramblings of a Daydreamer. Each Friday I'll showcase fantastic things from the past week - could be things I've done, places I've gone, a new song I like, a movie I've seen, books I've read, blog posts from around the blogosphere - anything at all!

What I'm finding fantastic lately: Ripper Street.

I am so obsessed with this show. I was browsing the DVDs at my library weekend before last and these caught my attention. Like many other people, I have a bizarre fascination with Jack the Ripper, so the title piqued my interest and I grabbed both seasons. 

While the show doesn't actually have to do with Jack the Ripper, the first season is set shortly after the Ripper's reign of terror in Whitechapel, and features the police force (division H) who tried to hunt him down. The main characters are Inspector Edmund Reid (Matthew MacFadyen), Sargeant Bennet Drake (Jerome Flynn), and American doctor/ex-Pinkerton Captain Homer Jackson (Adam Rothenberg). These three make a dynamic trio and have such great chemistry on screen. The characters are very different, but they have several core values in common: they're passionate about their jobs, want to help people, and are protective of those they love. Plus they're easy on the eyes, especially Mr. MacFadyen. ;-)

I love historic fiction, and Ripper Street is fascinating to me because it shows the seedier side of London in the late 1800s - dirty streets, poor people, prostitutes, mob mentality regarding several issues. While I've seen plenty of movies and TV shows set during the late Victorian era, part of what's so interesting to me is how this show doesn't hold back. A good portion of the show deals with prostitution - Captain Jackson lives in a brothel, and there are a few regular characters who are prostitutes - and they deal with issues surrounding religion, politics, homosexuality, and infidelity. Another fascinating aspect to me is that they don't just focus on the police work; we see a lot of Captain Jackson at work, examining dead bodies, performing autopsies, and doing a fair bit of scientific work. He's basically a one-man CSI unit using 19th century methods, and the work he does is really interesting. 

There's a lot of violence and quite a bit of gore in Ripper Street, but there's also a mixture of everything else you can imagine - romance, intrigue, drama, humour, heartache. I've been recommending the show to all my friends over the last couple of weeks. I'm almost done the second season and I'll be sad because I know it'll be awhile before I'm able to get my hands on season 3!

  

Do you watch Ripper Street? What shows are you currently obsessed with? Tell  me in the comments below or chat with me on Twitter. Also, feel free to link me to blog posts, articles, pictures, songs, videos, or whatever you thought was fantastic this week that you want to share!

   

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Remembering Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe

I was one of many little girls who grew up in the '80s and '90s wishing she lived in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea were staples in my house. Anne Shirley was a kindred spirit, Gilbert Blythe was one of my first fictional crushes, and I felt like I was meant to live in Avonlea and be part of the King family.

 

On Saturday when I heard that Jonathan Crombie, best known for playing Gilbert Blythe in the Anne movies, had died, I was heartbroken. Obviously Lucy Maude Montgomery gets credit for creating such a wonderful character, but Jonathan brought him to life on the screen. He was beautiful and boyish and charming and perfect. He could do it all - earnest, funny, cheeky, flustered, frustrated...and when he looked at Anne with so much yearning and affection and wonder, I dreamed a boy would look at me like that someday. In so many ways I grew up with Anne and Gilbert - the original movie aired in 1985, so I've been watching it my whole life. Then Anne of Avonlea came out in 1987, Gilbert made an appearance on Road to Avonlea when a beloved character died in 1992, and finally the Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story movie came out in 2000.

Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe has been part of my life forever, and now he's gone. My heart aches for his family, friends, and loved ones, and for the many fans who are mourning the loss of someone they probably never met, but who they've loved for so long.  

Thank you, Jonathan Crombie, for your messy-haired, sparkling-eyed, ridiculously charming portrayal of my dream man. Thank you for making me laugh, making me swoon, and making me believe that I'd get my own love story as epic as Anne and Gilbert's.

I went through four tissues watching this 6-minute video. That wink! That smile! The way he looks at Anne. His pride in her, and his patience despite her stubbornness. Oh Gilbert. <3

   
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What Happened in January

We made it through the first month of 2015! How is everyone doing? Are you kicking butt with your goals/resolutions? Making plans for the rest of the year? Easing into something new?

January was a bit of a mixed bag for me - mostly good, but I didn't get quite as much accomplished as I'd hoped. I felt restless and unmotivated a lot, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I had too much to do, and I didn't know where to begin and felt overwhelmed in a lot of ways. I was busy, always working away at stuff, but felt like I didn't get far with any of my projects. I'm hoping to turn it around in February, though, and really start working in earnest on my goals.

Here's what January 2015 looked like for me:

BLOG HIGHLIGHTS

My very first blog post of 2015 was reflections on 2014 and a look at the year ahead, including some of my main goals. I spent a lot of last year feeling stuck, being negative, and letting things (and people) who didn't matter have way too much of an impact on my life. I'm working hard to change that.

I celebrated my 3-year publication anniversary. I can't believe I've been a published author for 3 years! I talked a bit about my decision to self-publish, how it led me to make some amazing friends, and how I haven't regretted my decision to go indie.

I wrote a post about writing the types of books you want to read. I want to read more f/f LGBTQ books, particularly New Adult ones, and especially ones where same sex couples get a happy ending, so I wrote one. It wasn't easy - in fact, writing Take Them By Storm scared the shit out of me, but in the best ways possible. I want to continue challenging myself to write books with diversity, and hopefully fulfill a need for the types of books others want to read. This was also my first post for the Dive Into Diversity challenge.

WRITING

My 6th book came out on January 6th! Take Them by Storm is my first LGBTQ book, and the third book in the Angel Island companion series. I had a release day blitz, hosted by YA Bound Book Tours, and there's still a giveaway going for a $10 gift card. You can also win an Angel Island swag pack on Reading is My Treasure. 

Waiting for the Storm {Amazon || Kobo || Barnes & Noble}   
After the Storm {Amazon || Kobo || Barnes & Noble}

Take Them by Storm {Amazon || Kobo || Barnes & Noble}

I've been working away at my next book, called Something in the Air. I'm hoping to finish writing it in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I've added it to GoodReads, so add it to your TBR if it sounds like something you'd like to read. ;-)

LIFE STUFF...

I kicked off the month with a movie night with my friend Molli Moran. This was our second one - the first one was in December, and we watched The Santa Clause, and we did our third one last night, when we watched 13 Going on 30. If you'd like to join the next one, watch our hashtag on Twitter -#MolliAndMarieMovieNight. It's a lot of fun!

One of my few local(ish) friends came to visit on the first Saturday of the month. I hadn't seen her since last July, and even though the weather was terrible and she had an hour-long drive each way, she still came and spent ten hours with me. We talked, watched The Avengers (and drooled and squeed and fangirled over Tom Hiddleston), had a yummy dinner and ate a bunch of chocolate. It was exactly what I needed, and it was a great way to kick off a new year.  

My biggest news of the month is that I'm going to Europe this summer! I'm going with the friend I just mentioned. We'll be gone for two weeks, and we'll be visiting England, France, and Italy. The first three days and the final day we'll be on our own, and the other nine days we'll be doing a Contiki tour. I've been dreaming of this my whole life, and I still can't believe it's actually happening! Plans are coming together nicely - the trip is fully paid for, the flights have been booked, and by next week we'll have our insurance, plus a day trip booked, which I'll talk more about next month.

Books Read

*links lead to my review

Thornhill by Kathleen Peacock

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Leave the Window Open by Victoria Schwab

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

My True Love Gave to Me ~ holiday anthology

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios  

Between Everything and Us by Rebecca Paula

Every Breath by Ellie Marney
Rebound by Noelle August

Watched on TV

Basically the only thing I watched all month was How I Met Your Mother. I started watching about two months ago when my friend Jess sent me season one on DVD, and then I binge-watched the rest on Netflix. I loved this show so freaking much. It's only been a few days since I finished, but I'm already in major withdrawal. I have a lot of thoughts on the show in general, and the finale in particular, so I'm thinking I might write a blog post about it eventually, especially since I've been trying to  branch out from just book talk. Any other HIMYM fans out there?

   

That's my month in a nutshell. How was January for you? Did you do anything fun? What was the best book you read? What are you watching or listening to? Let's talk here or on Twitter!

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Blog Tour ~ If Only We by Jessica Sankiewicz ~ The OC Playlist

Click here to see the whole tour line-up

I'm super excited to have debut author author, and one of my best friends, Jessica Sankiewicz on the blog today to kick off the If Only We blog tour. Jess has an awesome playlist from the TV show The OC. The show plays a special part in the book because it brings Adrienne, the main character, closer to her stepsister. Since I loved The OC back in the day and used to listen to the soundtracks all the time, I'm pleased to present...

Jessica Sankiewicz's The OC Playlist

(may contain spoilers)

 

     1. California by Phantom Planet ~ On a list of favorites, it would be IMPOSSIBLE to not include this one. It's one of the best songs of the whole series. When my brother and I first watched the show, we decided that it was just wrong to skip the opening credits because it was THIS SONG.
     2. Honey and The Moon by Joseph Arthur ~ Oh, feels. Sandy taking Ryan back home, watching Marissa getting picked up by Luke...and everything else entailed in the beauty of getting attached to the show.
     3. Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley ~ The funny thing about this song is that I wasn't a huge fan of it at first. It felt like one of those songs I'm SUPPOSED to like because of the reason why it's included in the show. After some time, I became attached to it, especially when it got used throughout the series. It really gets to you after awhile.
     4. Into Dust by Mazzy Star ~ This is another one used more than once on the show. I swear, it's because of this song that I start choking up during the scene. I mean, the scene it's included on is one that brings on tears, but this song makes it so much harder to keep it together.
     5. Paint The Silence by South ~ Ferris. Wheel. Kiss. NEED I SAY MORE? No, really. Do I? I hear this song, I picture the scene. That's just the bottom line. I'll never NOT associate this with the ferris wheel.
     6. Strange and Beautiful by Aqualung ~ There's something just so gorgeous about this song. The melody is so beautiful and the singing and words, just amazing.
     7. We Used To Be Friends by Dandy Warhols ~ All I can picture: Seth dancing down the hallway. I love this song so much.
     8. Dice by Finley Quaye and Beth Orton ~ New Years Eve and the race to the finish, sitting on the edge of your seat, hoping everything will work out the way it's supposed to.
     9. Come Into Our Room by Clinic ~ Oh my goodness, this song. The beat, the music. Chills.
     10. Wonderwall by Ryan Adams ~ Seth and Summer and a beautiful moment between them. It was a turning point, in my opinion.
     11. If You Leave by Nada Surf ~ Every time I hear this song, I get teary-eyed. When I watch the scene on the show, I WILL cry because there is something real about that whole scene and it gets to me every time. The friendship between Seth and Anna was awesome. I hated to see it end.
     12. Maybe I'm Amazed by Jem ~ Now, I am and always will be partial to Paul McCartney's version with Wings, BUT, this one is still pretty good version.

They say all it takes is one wrong move and you lose the game. One false step and you’re trapped. One slip-up in your choice of words and you ruin a friendship forever. That is what they say. They say I lost.
I do not believe them.

At the end of the summer after graduation, Adrienne wonders what happened to cause her life to be in ruins. She isn’t getting along with her mom, her stepsister isn’t talking to her, and, to top it off, the boy she’s been in love with doesn’t want anything to do with her. She believes the turning point was a choice she made at graduation. When she wakes up the next day, she has been transported back three months to that moment, the one where everything started to fall apart.

Adrienne realizes she has been given a second chance—and this time she doesn’t want to mess anything up. Reliving the entire summer, though, turns out to be a lot harder than she thought. As the same days and weeks go by, she starts to see how simple decisions can make a huge impact on the world around her. Despite knowing some of what lies ahead, there are some things she didn’t anticipate. She thought she knew what mistake led her to where she ended up the first time. She was wrong.

And by the time summer is over, she discovers what was really at stake.

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Jessica is the 28 year old author of IF ONLY WE, a YA contemporary coming out in October 2013. You can often find her either reading or marathon watching TV on DVD, her favorites being Castle and Veronica Mars. She frequently mismatches her clothes and giggles uncontrollably. She knows almost every Billy Joel song by heart. She collects books and toys, and she has an intense love of cats and lemurs. Currently in the midst of her quarter-life-crisis, she is still takin' names and getting very close to reaching an epiphany.

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