Listen To Your Body

For a long time I never really understand the importance of sitting down, taking the back seat from a busy lifestyle and really having some well deserved 'me time'. In fact it wasn't until I started working a full time job, and I began to try and balance this alongside managing a my social life and getting a sufficient amount of sleep that I realised that I was running myself into the ground and it really began to have a negative affect on my mental health.

For me, taking some well deserved me time often includes leaving my house as little as possible for 24 hours, submerging myself in a good book, wrapped up in one of my favourite blankets, and perched in one of my little reading nooks. It also includes early nights on those nights that I feel particularly tired, and not forcing myself to stay up late trawling through social media. It's avoiding social media when I'm feeling the need for a detox. Me time is taking a Lush filled bath, listening to a playlist of soft relaxing music. It is not working yourself to the point of exhaustion. It's not neglecting how you feel in order to meet the needs of others. It's not feeling so low and warn out that you can't look after yourself.

Most of us don't release that we aren't indestructible until it's too late but I can't stress how important it is is to listen to your body. So take some me time, listen to your body and look after yourself.


the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016

The Goodreads Choice Awards are published every Novemeber, and encourage readers to vote on what they believe the best books of the year to be with the awards being separated into 19 different categories:

  1. Fiction
  2. Mystery & Thriller
  3. Historical Fiction
  4. Fantasy
  5. Romance
  6. Science Fiction
  7. Horror
  8. Humor
  9. Nonfiction
  10. Memoir & Autobiography
  11. History & Biography
  12. Science & Technology
  13. Food & Cookbooks
  14. Graphic Novels & Comics
  15. Debut Goodreads Author
  16. Young Adult Fiction
  17. Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction
  18. Middle Grade & Children's
  19. Picture Books
I did not vote in all of the categories listed above, this was because for some categories I had not read a book that fell within them. Therefore I chose to leave them out. But listed below is the categories I voted in, and what I chose to vote for.

  • Fiction: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
  • Fantasy: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by 
  • Humor: Dan & Phill Go Outside by Danisnotonfire and AmazingPhill
  • Memoir & Autobiography: Buffering by Hannah Hart
  • Graphic Novels & Comics: Saga, Volume Six by 
  • Debut Goodreads Author: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
  • Young Adult Fiction: The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
  • Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
  • Middle Grade & Children's: The Land of Stories: An Author's Odyssey by Chris Colfer
So there we have it, my votes for 9 out of 19 of the categories in this years Goodreads Choice Awards. Have you voted? If so, what did you vote for? I found it particularly difficult to pick one for the Young Adult Fiction section. Did you?

Let me know in the comments below, I'd love to hear what you thought of this years categories.

                                                     bye for now my little pumpkins


The Great Book Store Debate

I thought I would share what I believed the pro's and cons of high street book stores such as Waterstones, versus independent book stores and second hand book shops to be.

Pro's of the high street stores:

  • the convince: for example, you can preorder and check availability of books that you are interested in without leaving your home.
  • wide variety: there is always a variety of books within these stores, and there is the almost guarantee that there will be the latest releases available in store.
  • rewards systems: there are rewards systems, like the ones at Waterstones where you can collect points, and stamps which in turn lead to receiving money off your later purchases.
Con's of the high street stores:
  • prices: the prices of high street stores are often higher than those of independent book shops, and second hand book shops.
  • busy: during peak times the stores are often busy which for me can really affect the time I spend in store, which can also affect the number of purchases I make and the quality and enjoyment of the time in store,
Pro's of independent stores and local charity shops:
  • prices: the prices are typically lower in the stores, in particular local charity stores. 
  • location: I live in an area of the North East of England called Northumberland, and there aren't many accessible high street stores within a short distance. However, the number of charity stores and independent book shops that are easily accessible for me is substantially higher.
  • support: when purchasing book from independent stores and charity shops you are supporting a charity, or a local business. There is a drive to support these smaller business as apposed to those high street stores, as supporting the smaller non-high street stores can mean you are supporting a local cause, a family business or a charity. And that is something I am more than happy to support.
Con's of independent stores and local charity shops:
  • limited stock: there is limited stock within these particular types of stores, and it may be more difficult to find a particular book that you are looking for, however you may be pleasantly surprised.
Now this is just my opinion around the pros and cons of each type of store, however I do favour independent stores and local charity shops over high street stores. Where do you prefer to shop for your books? And are there any pro's or con's that you think I have missed? Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear you opinion on the matter.

                                                     bye for now my little pumpkins

the Tea Library


After over a month off the blogging scene due to a whole lot of stress and lack of free time, Shannan, the Queen of all things books has asked me to feature here on TSDD and what a way to make a come back!

As an aspiring tea blogger, Shannan has asked me to merge our two blog worlds together and I have come up with the Tea Library. Today I am going to pair up these fabulous teas from Whittard of Chelsea with some of my favourite books!

Number 01 English Breakfast:

This is a quintessentially English taste, best served with a splash of milk. I have decided to pair this tea with Lady in the van by Alan Bennett. A great English tale of the eccentric Miss Shepherd - both funny and touching, and perfect for a morning read along side a cup of English Breakfast.

Goodreads rating: 3.69 / 5

Number 04 Afternoon:

This tea is a fabulous blend of both black and green tea with flavours of bergamot. I am pairing this tea with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. A classic tale that follows Alice's adventure down the rabbit hole, first published in 1865; the perfect read for a free and lazy afternoon.

Goodreads rating: 4.01 / 5

Number 09 Jasmine:

This is a green tea flavoured with dusk-blooming jasmine. I am going to pair this tea with the book, Spilled Water by Sally Grindley. Based in modern day China, after being sold to the highest bidder Lu Si-Yan starts on an epic journey to make it back to her family. A truly moving read, best served with the true taste of China.

Goodreads rating: 4.07 / 5

Number 12 English Rose:

This is a black tea with delicate flavours of glorious rose. I am pairing this tea with the book Victoria by Daisy Goodwin. A beautiful tea to match a beautiful story of the blossoming relationship between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Goodreads rating: 3.99 / 5

Number 33 Earl Grey:

The quintessential British blend of black tea and bergamot. There are hundreds of books that could be paired with this tea, however, I have chosen to pair Earl Grey with the quintessentially British Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling (only because this is my favourite series, ever!).

Goodreads rating: 4.74 / 5

Number 40 Russian Caravan:

A classic blend of Chinese teas with a delicate smokey hint. I am pairing this tea with the book Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. This is a love story that comes with its fair share of hardships and a hint of affair (smokey flavours). This book was recommended by my mum who thought the tea and book would be paired perfectly. Mother knows best as they say!

Goodreads rating: 4.05 / 5

Number 212 Marrakech Mint:

This is a green tea with strong peppermint flavours. I am pairing this tea with the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The cool mint flavours echoing that of Gatsby's cool personality. Also, I have paired this because the green/mint colour reminds me of the "green light" that could be seen on Daisy's dock, which represented Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future.

Goodreads rating: 3.88 / 5

Number 765 Tippy Assam:

This is a golden tipped tea with a sweet and malty flavour. I am pairing this tea with the Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. A family favourite that follows Mowgli the "man-cub" as he is raised by wolves and taught by Baloo about living life in the jungle. This book is best served with Tippy Assam as it gives authentic flavours of the Indian Jungle.

Goodreads rating: 3.95 / 5 


What are your favourite reads, teas, and pairings, leave a comment below!!

If you like what you have read today, then head over to The Damn Good Tea Blog to have a read of my previous posts before I start back up again next week!! Hope to see you then!!

Connor
The Damn Good Tea Blogger.

Top 5 Main Characters

For me to really submerge myself into a new world within a book, I must feel some sort of connection between myself and the main character. And after a long think, and a quick browse through my book shelves I was able to decide on my 5 favourite main characters. 


  1. Alaska Young from Looking for Alaska - John Green
  2. Charlie Kelmickis from The Perks of Being a Wallflower -Stephen Chbosky
  3. Eleanor Douglass from Eleanor and Park - Rainbow Rowell
  4. Madeline Whittier from Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon
  5. Hermionie Grainger from the Harry Potter series - JK Rowling 
So there is a rundown of my favourite main characters, do we share any of the same favourite characters? Let me know in the comments below.

                                                       bye for now my little pumpkins

Top 5 Book Series

Honestly, I am not a massive fan of reading a series, but this is all my fault. I can loose interest very quickly because I am reading about the same characters, but I also get a little bit stressed out when I am reading a series and then the next novel is not due to be released for another couple of months. If this happens I tend to put the series on hold, but then I never get back it. It's horrendous. But all that aside there are number of book series that I have read from start to finish, and therefore I thought I should share with you my 5 favourite book series that have managed to hold my attention.

  1. the Harry Potter series - J.K Rowling
  2. the Gone series - Michael Grant
  3. the Divergent series - Veronica Roth
  4. the Hunger Games series - Suzzane Collins
  5. the Mortal Instruments series - Cassandra Clare
so there we have it, there is my my 5 favourite book series now I know some of them are pretty obvious such as the Harry Potter novels, however I thought the Gone series by Michael Grant were a little bit different. 

What are you favourite series of books? Have I included any of them on my list? Why don't you let me know in the comments below.

                                                     bye for now my little pumpkins