What I read in August

I've been trying to read as much as possible recently and my aim is to get through at least three books a month. Today I thought I'd share with you what I read in August and what my thoughts were...

The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern (7/10)

Ireland's Cecelia Ahern has written another fantastic novel, but don't be fooled by the title, this isn't much of a love story! Jasmine, a business woman and workaholic, has lost her job and has to take a years gardening leave. The story follows Jasmine on her journey to find herself whilst building up an unlikely friendship with her rowdy neighbour, Matt, from across the road. Matt is a controversial radio DJ, who unknowingly offended Jasmine years back during a discussion on air about Downs Syndrome. Jasmines sister, Heather, has Downs Syndrome and naturally Jasmine is very protective of her. Matt gets fired from his job and his marriage crumbles as a result, leaving him in a similar situation as Jasmine. Can they learn to overcome their differences?

This is a beautifully written novel about creating and maintaining friendships and the power of forgiveness. The Year I Met you is an unconventional, humorous, feel-good novel.

Paper Towns by John Green (8/10)

If you've seen the Paper Towns movie this year, forget what you saw. The movie doesn't even compare to the book by a long shot. Quentin "Q" is in love with his mysterious neighbour, Margo. As kids the two were friends, until one day they stumble across a dead body (don't worry, that's not a spoiler!) and they drift apart. One night, towards the end of high school, Margo unexpectedly climbs into Q's window and the two embark on a late night journey around Orlando. Q, reluctant at first, has the time of his life and can't wait to see Margo the next day. But Margo doesn't turn up for school. She's not at home. No one knows where she is and no one seems to care. Q, convinced that their night together meant something more, discovers "clues"  left by Margo. He needs to find her. He needs to tell her how he feels.

I adored this book and will probably read it again this year. The mystery of Margo is intriguing and all I wanted to do was find out where she was, which meant I read the book in less than 24 hours. I fell in love with the characters, especially Q's friends who added a lot of humor to what is quite a deep story. I'd recommend this to anyone who's looking for a good read.

The Book Theif by Markus Zusak (9/10)

The Book Thief is by far my favourite book of the three. A word of warning though; it's a really long book and you will definitely shed a tear! The story follows Leisel who has been sent to live in Germany with the Hubermanns during World War 2. Leisel can't read but after stealing her first book at her brother's funeral, Hans Hubermann helps her learn. Leisel's best friend, Rudy, helps her steal books to read and they develop a love/hate relationship for each other.  What I loved most about this book is that Death narrates the story. Death has a very morbid sense of humor and will often wander away from the story s/he is telling to tell you about how a random character dies in the future. From the offset, you know that there's not going to be a happy ending. This is a gripping and agonizing tale of two Germans taking in a young girl, bringing her up in Nazi Germany whilst harboring a Jew in their basement. The ending is heartbreaking yet joyous, so make sure you have your tissues ready!

As I said, this book is incredibly long. I couldn't even touch upon everything that happens (not that I'd want to spoil anything for you anyway!) in such a small summary. This is, so far, my favourite book of all time.

Have you read any of these books? What where your thoughts?

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

What a summer it's been!  I've finally had a chance to chill out and look back at everything that has happened this season. I may have had the best summer of my life...

I spent two days at Hyde Park's British Summer Time and went to Wireless and V Festival. I saw so many of my favourite artists (my favourites being Taylor Swift, The Who and Stereophonics!) and discovered new ones (Charli XCX is by far my new fave!). I had such a great time regardless of the music and that's all down to the people I shared those moments with. It's also prompted me to purchase a weekend ticket to V Festival next year, whoops! (There's currently a discount on weekend tickets so head over to their website now). I'm hoping to go to Glastonbury and Download as well in 2016! 

I've lost myself in some great books, my favourites being Paper Towns and The Book Thief. If you haven't read either I suggest you do so! I was such a terrible reader before and would read maybe one book a year, if that. One of my friends, who is an aspiring writer, helped me rediscover the joy of reading (by letting me read the first drafts of his new book series. Trust me, it's going to be a hit!). I'm currently on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee which I need to finish soon so I can read Go Set a Watchman! 

Discovering my own style was another one of my highlights. What's better than feeling pretty and confident? Nothing! My wardrobe is all pastel, pastel, pastel! Please, fashion gurus, don't make me hide away my pastels for AW15! 

What about the amazing weather we've had? Although it's pretty bleak outside today, we've had some beautiful sunny days. I bought my dream car this year (a baby blue convertible Beetle, like the one on 90210!) so I spent a lot of my time cruising around with my friends, top down at sunset, singing our favourite songs. It's the little things like that that mean the most. We might even be lucky enough to get some more sun in the next few weeks! 

I don't know about you though, but I'm definitely ready for over-sized jumpers, hot chocolate, dark evenings and the best holiday of all time, Halloween! I cannot wait for Autumn!

Bootea 14 Day Detox Bundle

 A few months ago I discovered Bootea, a detox tea which claims to help you lose weight in as little as 14 days. Now, I know what you're thinking; how can that be possible? How can that be healthy? Well, I thought I'd give it a go for myself to see what the results would be for me. I chose to order the Bootea 14 Day Detox Bundle to try out all of their products in one hit, with hopes of seeing the best results.

Maybe I should give you a little background info on why I did the detox. I had been slacking at the gym and was beginning to feel as if I wasn't progressing. My eating habits grew worse, my workouts became shorter and my sleeping pattern was appalling. I needed a kick up the arse but needed a head start. That's where Bootea comes in. I needed to learn to cut down my portions and switch my glasses of wine and cups of coffee for something a little healthier.

*Before you read the following, please remember that these are my own personal views and experiences using these products and that I do not promote, nor agree with fad/extreme dieting. I am doing this for my health and wellbeing and do not believe that I can lose a significant amount of weight in a short space of time*

Bootea Daytime Detox

First thing in the morning, as soon as my alarm goes off, I jump out of bed (ok, more like crawl aimlessly whilst silently sobbing...) and rush down to the kitchen to pop the kettle on. Goodbye milky coffee, hello healthy! I look forward to having my morning Bootea brew each day now and I'll continue to drink it for the foreseeable future. The tea helps start your metabolism first thing in the morning, whilst providing your body with a digestive cleanse and suppressing your appetite. I like to reuse teabags where possible so I was delighted to know I could get two strong cups of tea from just one bag. You only get 14 teabags in the pouch so don't waste them! I strongly believe that the daytime detox is responsible for the majority of my success in this experiment! If you aren't keen on green tea, don't worry! This tea has a lovely taste to it, no where near as dull as a cup of green tea!

Bootea Little Oats

 Bootea have created a portion of healthy oats, full of protein and fibre, to kick start your day. It is incredibly easy to make, just add a little hot water and mix! This porridge is extremely creamy, so there is no need to add milk. It tastes delicious, but there is nothing stopping you from adding your own toppings! I covered mine in raspberries and golden syrup on several occasions. I ate the oats first thing in the morning, alongside my cup of Bootea Morning Tea obviously, and I was energised and full until midday! At only 148 calories per pack, this breakfast is bound to help you achieve your fitness goals.

Bootea Shake

This was my absolute favourite part of the bundle! This comes with a handy shaker so that you can have your drink on the go. The shake satisfied my hunger in between lunch and dinner and I made sure I drank it at least half an hour before heading to the gym (unless it was a rest day, then I took it to the movies with me!). I felt I could go 2-3 hours without eating anything as it was incredibly filling! The shake is full of natural ingredients and plenty of vitamins to keep energy levels up and to stop cravings for naughty food! The shake is so nice that the only problem I had with it is that I craved it ALL DAY until I finally allowed myself to have it. Proves how strong my willpower is though, clearly!

Bootea Nightime Cleanse

This part of the detox usually has everyone talking. So to start, yes, it does induce a laxative effect, but how strong the effect is is obviously down to each individual as all of our bodies function differently.  However, I do recommend that the first time you try the nighttime cleanse, ensure it's the night before a day off or something so that you can see how well your body reacts to it. Other than that, there are really no downsides. The tea cleanses your digestive system as you sleep, which left me feeling light and refreshed in the morning.  I noticed that I was less bloated in the mornings too, which was a huge plus for me as I'm so self conscious about my tummy! The tea itself has an acquired taste, but it's not horrendous.

Overall results

After two weeks on the cleanse, along with a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, water and exercise, I can honestly say I think this detox did me a world of good. I don't weigh myself so I can't guarantee I've lost weight, but I feel that my clothes fit a little better now! I think the main benefit for me is how I felt during and after the detox, which was fantastic! I think I'll leave it a short while before I go through this detox again, as it does take a lot of willpower, but it definitely helped me kick start my new healthy lifestyle. Like I've said before, I don't think it's healthy to think that this detox will help you drop a tonne of weight in just two weeks, but it clearly does good for your insides. 

Head over to www.bootea.com to order your own bundle!