I'm Going on an Adventure....

Hey guys, well this is something I never thought I'd be typing about. I've always wanted to go travelling, especially around America but have never got round to doing it, I finished university and then went straight into getting a full time job.

But something happened a few weeks ago, after speaking to a friend who is going travelling round the West Coast of America I was instantly jealous and a light bulb moment happened... 'That's something I'd love to do I thought.' So me being me got straight onto the internet and began looking at treks around America and found the website TrekAmerica which pleased me throughly straight away. I spent hours looking at the different treks and routes which you could do and I was amazed.

The Coast to Coast North Trek caught my eye travelling from Los Angeles, up to Vancouver and then back into America through Seattle etc. then finishing in New York. I knew I had to do it, worked up finances and that is it. When I have a thought in my head and want to do something, I won't stop thinking about it until I have booked it and got a plan sorted in my head. So one night last week I did it, I paid my initial deposit and well that's it. Next summer I am going travelling around America for 30 days, yes a whole month away from my home, family, work and just life in general camping.

I am nervous to think of travelling on my own to America and back and being with a bunch of people I have never but I think it will be one of the best times of my life and I will come back with a different outlook on things. I will have so many stories to tell people eeeeeek, I'm so excited.

So now this blog WILL be updated with travel posts, lists, plans etc and a whole lot of tips on how to plan, prepare and pack!

First things first, do you have any tips for TrekAmerica travelling? Have you been on any of the treks?

xo

Jodie's Reviews| You’re The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher

Actress and freelance journalist Giovanna Fletcher has become one of my favourite authors after the release of two books which says alot. Her debut novel Billy and Me went straight to the top of the charts after its release last summer and this year she released her second novel You're the One that I Want.

Just a few pages into the book you instantly fall in love with the characters which is one of the things I love about Giovanna's writing. With this book you are emotionally invested with the characters right from the beginning until the end and after seeing an Instagram post with Tom from McFly crying at the ending I knew it was going to be a good read.

So now to the book itself:

As Maddy Hurst takes her first steps down the aisle, she seems her beaming husband-to-be Robert, waiting for her. Next to him is Ben, the best man and their best friend who would gladly give anything to swap places with the groom.

Growing up, Maddy had two best friends - cute and confident Robert Miles and the equally adorable Ben Gilbert. Since become pals at the tender age of nine, they have been inseparable.

Fast forward 10 years and the friends are as close knit as ever. Maddy is dating and in love with Robert and Ben has become her rock as they take on the student life together at Bristol uni. What more could a girl want?

But with two boys who adore her and protect her every move, Maddy realises things weren't as straight-forward as she thought... Love can play mysterious tricks on a young heart.

And now here she is, about to get married - but has she picked the right man? Maddy has to think quickly, who is it to be - the hot and loveable Robert or the quietly devoted Ben? It's decision time...

The verdict

The story is told from three viewpoints which made for some lovely insights into the characters and the way that they were feeling. I love that it follows the characters from their early years at school and into their teens and we are taken through all the their experiences throughout these times.

Having faced the seemingly unbreakable bonds of childhood friendship, first loves, second lives and those first daunting adult experiences as most of us have - it's hard not to feel every moment of happiness and heartbreak with Maddy, whilst also empathising with Robert and Ben as they unknowingly weave the most tangled web around her. Your heart with flutter at the possibility, race at what could happen and cry out when yet another tear is shed.

This book is an absolute page turner and one that you won't want to put down from the moment you start reading it until your heart is completely satisfied. I was in love with everything - the characters, the places, the heartaches and most of all the end. God. I definitely
can't wait to read more books from Giovanna Fletcher.

Another wonderful read by a wonderful author.

What are your thoughts on the book? Are you a fan of Giovanna Fletcher?

Life

Isn't life a funny thing, one minute you can be as happy as Larry and everything is fine, the next something unexpected happens and turns your life upside down. Well yeah that's what happened to me, 2014 has been a funny kinda year so far and we are only 8 months in, things can only get better right? 

In January, well the 1st January things changed alot and my whole life changed, I don't wanna get into this but maybe one day I'll grow a pair and will talk about it because others experience the same thing probably everyday. Then a couple of weeks ago, me and my boyfriend of 8 years split up, we had been on and off for 8 years but had been on for 4 years and this was a horrible thing to go through, but I then realised I had to man up and pull myself together. Life goes on and one person cannot define your life however much you want them in it, sometimes things aren't meant to be.

There is so much I want to do with my life and just in terms of my career and I've decided that now is the time to focus more time to myself and to achieve the goals which I want to set myself to help me become a happier human.

1. I want to find a new job - I finished university a whole year ago and I've been in a job that isn't what I want to do, but I've applied for others, had interviews and had many rejections but it just feels like it isn't meant to be. I need to stick to it and then there will be one job which will be perfect and I'll get.

2. Lose weight - I don't think anyone is 100% happy with there body and if they are lucky them. I'd just like to lose a few pounds and tone a few parts of my body.

3. Go more places, see my friends and adventure more - I have so many places I want to see but I think I need to again grow a pair and realise I can do these things alone. I'd love to go on an adventure around America and especially visit New York, this is the dream that I will one day make a reality. However if anyone would like to take me I'd really appreciate it.

4. Save money - there is no explanation needed here.

5. Blog more - I have tried this soooo many times and always failed but I'm gonna give it a good day because I have alot of things to say about stuff and who cares if no one reads it, it would be a nice place to see my photos and to document things in my life.

Well this turned deep, should have got my snorkel out! Also if you can't tell I'm a hilarious person. Now I'm going back to my book and to stay away from the sun after getting a tiny bit burnt yesterday at Thorpe Park oooops!

xo

Jodie's Reviews| One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

I thought I'd kick this series off with my latest reads which took place whilst stuck on the motorway in Good Friday traffic and also after an incident on the M1.

Jojo Moyes is one my favourite authors, despite not reading many of her books that ones I have read I have been drawn into and been left wanting more. My favourite has to be Me Before You, which is you haven't read it I'd definitely recommend it.

But back to the book in question, One by One, it is definitely a start-and-finish-in-one-day kind of read and it had all the right elements to be a very satisfying read. This novel provides a stark contrast between the lives of the 'rich' and the not-so rich.

Jess is a single mother, working two jobs to support her daughter and step-son on an English housing estate, whereas Ed is a computer software developer facing a crisis of his own making. When Ed reluctantly rescues Jess from the side of the road, the pair embark on a road trip to Scotland with two children, a large smelly dog and a chaotic 40mph drive to Aberdeen which has the potential to change all of their lives. 

It is told from different perspectives of Jess, Ed and the children with, a math genius Tanzie and a bulled Teen Nicky. The book explores a number of issues facing modern western society including the impact of bullying, family breakdown, anti social behaviour and the increasing divide the haves, and have nots. Jess and Ed are two very different people, with vastly different problems - in fact, the only thing they have in common is a wicked streak of bad luck.

The One Plus One is another triumph for an author who is and deserves to be top of her game. Bravo!

Do you have any book recommendations? I'm always looking for something new to read :)

My First Post

Hey there stranger, welcome to my little corner of the online world!

Let me start my introducing myself, my name is Jodie, I am 22 and I live in South Yorkshire. Yep I'm a Northern Girl born and bred. I have been toying with the idea of starting a blog for years now, I have started but I've never stuck to it but now I have been brave enough to make the leap and I'm determined to stick to it. 

I don't exactly what my blog will be or if it will fit into a specific niche, but for now I think it will be a glimpse into my life and the things that I love. Who knows, I certainly don't. 

So welcome abroad ladies and gents, I hope you enjoy the ride. I'm certainly looking forward to it.

I really hope you like it.