Shout-out to all them reviewers.

Today I’d like talk about one skill that I lack incredibly while others make it so simple and also, let this be a reminder post about the fact that just because someone makes it look so easy, it most definitely is not so, at least not for everyone.

Reviews. You might say that it’s not that hard, right? You buy, watch, read or whatever other activity you might find to do with a thing and then you express your opinion on it. Sounds simple enough, especially if you are one of those people who can talk about everything, right? Well, if that’s so, then I must be an exception.

For this specific post let’s make an example of reviewing a book that you’ve just read. For a review to be a good one you must include other things as well, for example, the author, and perhaps once in a while there will pop up the names of some characters. Simple enough, but for me? I remember the story and I will do so, but if life gets in a way and I would be about to write a book review a week after I finished it, there is a pretty big chance I would have already forgotten the main characters names. Authors name? Most of the time when I read a book, I don’t even know it, afterwards, 99% I will never be able to name it for you. (And that can get awkward when somebody who has acknowledged that I love to read asks for my favorite authors and I can barely name one.)

Let’s move on. Beautiful expressions. For example, you’ve bought yourself some ear buds. All good. But then in the review you go on and on about how the sound is splendid, the cord is ecstatic. You know, if somebody would ask me to review something like that I believe my first response would be: “well what can I write? They work great, five stars, thank you, next?’’.

You’ve got yourself some new running shoes. They are great. What do you write? They are beautiful, went for a run, feeling fantastic, I’m sweaty as fuck right now but the shoes fit perfectly. Great seller, great shop, they will have a discount next Friday. Thank you, next.

It’s good to express your opinion, but this is not enough for a good post, well at least in my own subjective opinion, so what do I know. But that is exactly why I always read review posts with quite an admiration, because yes, for some people it’s way easier than for me, but I still think that it’s a different kind of writing skill so shout-out for all of you reviewers out there and I’m just going to try to improve that skill myself as well. It’s good to have it and if you have it naturally, don’t take it for granted.

Sending you my cheeseballs and love always,

Dana

App Of The Week

As a person who might have spent a bit too much time on her phone I have come across some applications that has made it on my “let’s suggest this to random strangers” list.

Ironically enough I’m not actually that active on this app at the given moment but I’d still like to tell you a little bit more about this app called ‘Level Up Life’.

This is the ‘About’ part.

This app was released in 2016. It has over 500 000 downloads and its average rating is 3.9

So long story short; the name of it is pretty self-explanatory. Level Up Life is an app that has been created to help you improve the quality of your life and to help you stay motivated by accomplishing all sorts of quests that will give you points for one or more of the 6 given categories (strength, culture, environment, charisma, talent, intellect), as well as getting XP, leveling up and unlocking new interesting goals.

Internet connection : needed.

And here comes my opinion.

I can’t say that I’ve tried them all so if you have any other suggestions, please do tell, but as far as I can tell, this is one of the best general lifestyle motivational phone applications I have used.

Especially for someone like me for whom, to be honest, the simple goal of being a better person ‘just because’ sometimes isn’t enough.

There are plenty enough goals to choose from, so if you don’t want to do a specific task, it does not mean that you will get stuck in this so called game.

It has quite interesting old-schoolish design but I wish for it to have a bit more freedom of communication. Either way if it’s to have an easier and wider access to this games society and if not then to make it optional if you’d like for others to see your posts or not, since you can attach photos that maybe you do not want the whole world to see.

Overall this app has a great thought and quite simple yet beautiful representation.

Even though I think that for me this will end as one of my seasonal entertainments I do advise everyone to give it a try. A little boost never hurt anyone, right?

But what about you? Have you ever heard of this app or anything similar? How do you remind yourself to improve your life?

With the warmest hugs ever,

Dana

Guess what – What? – My computer died.

Just when I finally got myself writing every week and posting every Friday (yay me for sticking to a schedule) my computer decided to wave a white flag and after all the suffering, it finally gave up.

Since I am not friends with writing things on my phone, especially long things like grammatically correct posts for blog, it had to wait. So next time I went home to visit my parents, I took the computer with me for my dad to check out if there is anything that can be done, but seems as if my baby and all of my files, pictures and, well, everything is gone now. Ironically, enough I was planning to save everything outside of my computer for occasions like these exactly the day it happened. Just my luck as they say. So besides that, dad sent me home with his old computer, which is way better than nothing although I can’t feel truly free with it.

In addition, I consider dropping that living alone idea for now. Of course, everyone’s first question is if I realized that I couldn’t pull it off. No, it’s not that I can’t. Actually, there is a bit of a back story to that but skipping all that I decided that I really want to save up some more money, I am not happy with how little goes into my savings while I’m living here and if I have such opportunity then why not use it, as my savings can get up to more than 8 times bigger than they are now per month. Really starting to hate the idea of renting an apartment, topic for another post tho. Also, I am really home sick.

Actually I hadn’t yet decided because there are pros and cons as well of course, everything to be considered, but once I even mentioned the idea to my mom she got so excited and happy, that it actually would break my heart a bit if I’d say no since I’ve already given her such option.

January at work started amazing and then it spiraled down extremely fast. I’m surviving, but I am changing my shifts to night ones, so, hah, good luck with that as well, since I’ve always been a fan of morning shifts, and always been the first to explain why every other shift is not as good…

Also been thinking about changing the way I do things, or to be more precise, perhaps stop doing some of them at all, since my productivity ended up not really being productive, but maybe that’s for another post, if you’d like to read about it after all.

Overall, it’s been a bit stressful and really tiring, but I’m a survivor. Really mixed feelings about everything and everyone in my life right now. Just need to get my shit together and it is going to be fine. Seasonal depression started acting out again, so going home and spending some time with family will also be very useful, so future looks a bit brighter if we try to see it that way.

Are you feeling okay lately? or maybe the winter is getting to you as well, since a lot of people i’ve talked to has mentioned changes in their mood lately.

Either way, apologies for my absence, but back I am and of course going to try my best to upload yet again on every Friday, but maybe, just maybe, even more.

Best Regards.

P.s. picture by Rachel Moenning

Life Update On…

So the most wonderful time of our years has passed and I’m quite relieved even if there are things that needs to get done related to it.

As every year, we start with Christmas first.

Yes. I did visit Mr. Demon’s family. Long story short; brothers liked me, especially the youngest one, but the parents? Not so much. Or at least it was very unclear. Overall it was a really weird and hard to explain kind of experience, but when alone or with brothers, we did spend wonderful time together. Especially when alone. We drove around, everything was so pretty, we got caught, we got cold, and we were just in our own little bubble. And we had quite a lot of “real conversations”, weirdly enough we both had a mood for those in those two days exactly. And he gave me this incredibly beautiful silver bracelet with hearts so that I wouldn’t forget about him while he’ll be in San Francisco. That was all so amazing…. Except for the fact that I didn’t have anything to give him. Yeah, that’s right. I think some kind of bad karma is following me this year because the thing I ordered and thought he could enjoy got canceled, then ignored me and then said the would be ready by now(04.01. yes) even though I made my purchase more than three weeks before. Still nothing. So that sucks.

Speaking of the boy, so yeah, he went away on, well, let’s call it a business trip, and he will get back only on 04.02. because of my birthday on 5^th. Loneliness, my good old friend, back I am. On the bright side, I can practice being a broke person as I really am and you know, save some money, stay home, and eat one thing for 30 days. But of course it is a bit hard, and we just got together ( he left literally the day our relationship had the one month milestone) and now he is going to be away for technically longer than half of our relationship. (I calculated, alright?)

In work, I did not get the raise I was going for because I messed everything up right in my last shift of 2018, but you know, new year, new quarter, new opportunity. The year at work has started worse, since it’s been 3 shifts so far, and in every single one of them the people have been rude or accused me of cheating, which is getting ridiculous at this point, but at least I haven had any mistakes and so on, so let’s just make sure to keep it this way.

Did make some goals for 2019, not sure if I should post them. Do people really care about other people goals?

Planning to finish We Were Liars by E.Lockhart. Today or tomorrow, either way soon. That will be my first book read in 2019. Aaaaaaa.

Why do people sometimes make such a big fuss about New Year? It starts every day. Just looking at a different count down. Why wait for a special thing? Do you really think that on the 1^st of January bunch of people woke up as different person? Just find the motivation elsewhere and you’ll be good to go on any day.

Having some trouble sleeping, so always with love,

Grumpy Dana.

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

The Grown Up List

So yeah, everybody got that I moved out, but everyone is also aware that I’m still a little kid, so how to change that? Act like you are an adult. You know, as the quote that my friend loves to spread says; fake it ‘till you make it.

I believe that once I already mentioned it as a joke, but actually yes, why not make a grown up list, where you put down everything you thing a grown up does or should do, especially for it to be an adult. Idea might be silly, but it’s not like it can go terribly wrong, right?

So here it goes:

• Workout at least once a week.
• Pay all of your bills on time.
• Spend less than you earn every month.
• Clean more every day – less on the big cleaning day.
• Cook proper meals.
• Visit your parents and grandparents.
• Make a stronger schedule, try to stick to it.
• Work hard, eyes on the goal.
• Don’t forget to socialize
• Drink water, Dana, drink that water!!!
• Take care of your health.
• Take care of your looks.
• Try to address the hardest things at first, for example, get your driver permit, Dana, for fucks sake, is it really that hard.
• Become more minimalistic.
• Work on your relationship with others.
• Read more and more. Hopefully, something educational as well.
• Listen to podcasts, find out new things every day.
• Don’t give up. Never give up. You are a grown up. You don’t have that option, so just be a strong soldier.
• Don’t let your inner kid die.

Anything to ad? Anything to remove?

with love always,

Dana.

P.S. Photo by Sofia Sforza on Unsplash

The mattress has not moved and I left my book

So I’ve been lacking some quality posts, I know, just so much to catch up on, but I will. Sooner or later. Not that my previous posts was much better, but you know, at least something.

Since I quit my job though…. My last day was Friday and whilst the weekend just felt like any other weekend, when I have those days off, but now it slowly starts hitting me where it hurts, that no more salary… I mean, not that I need it, my parents takes care of me (yes, yes, I’m a grown ass baby, I know),but still it’s a cut in my budget, you know. Always feels good to have some extra money for safekeeping.

But, that also means that I will have my days to be spent whichever way I please, and when normal people would run around trying to go on as many adventures as possible… Nop, not me. I’m going to stay home as much as it is possible and going to try to slip in a routine again. You know, wake up, do the cleaning, workout, shower, study, phone time, movie or tv series time, reading time, bed!

I know, I know, it sounds awful to a lot of people, but I’ve been getting the feeling like I need this reset button on my life right now, and it is quite productive. More reading, more learning, something I had trouble finding time for all these months. (sacrificing my nights for it doesn’t count) And even if I am not actually going to university, or anywhere else, in fact, I do study from online courses, actually taking notes on paper and so on. Now, with that much time, also want to start this tradition of reading at least one “good for my tiny brain” article each day.

Speaking of reading and books. I have mentioned my second, book review, blog where I’m going to post reviews of books of the month and some others along the way, but now I need to figure, how to make it work since I was so amazing to leave my copy at my boyfriend’s friends place, whom I most likely ain’t gonna see that soon, at least not before the end of this month. So since I’ve been reading another book on my kindle app and actually feeling more attached to it, I was thinking about maybe, just maybe switching books and make The Devil Wears Prada as my book of March or something. What would you do in this occasion?

And for those who felt my pain in the previous post about my bed and it’s long lost mattress? Yeap, you guessed it. Still hasn’t been moved and it has been already two and a half weeks. Already contacted the seller, they said they will try to remind those guys about my order, but since nothing happened after that, a bit more and I’ll go into my crazy mode on their asses, which is going to be a great new experience since I’ve never done that.

And at last, something my boy recently reminded me, that I actually forgot. I need to change the banner because I’m older now and stuff, so maybe new look coming up.

What about you? What can you tell me about your life adventures?

-Dana.

January Favourites

Ok, so it seems like every self-respecting personal blog owner does these kinds of posts and although I never really consider myself doing it, here is my a bit late post that mentions my last month’s top choices in movies, tv series, songs and books.

Since I watched only 3 movie this month (more that couple of previous months together) and one of them doesn’t count because it was a re-watch, the choice would seem to be easy, right? Wrong.

One movie is definitely out of the contest, since it was literally the dumbest parody I have ever seen in my life and I’ve seen enough of those. So I was left with that re-watch, a lovely, heart-warming romantic comedy that I’ve seen hundreds of times, or a movie on a more serious note, with some really interesting views of one really scary subject for me – robots (sorry, I’m traumatized), but I guess this tim I’ll go for the old love of mine…

MOVIE | All’s Fair In Love

Hadn’t seen it for years until stumbled upon it in my pc while my boyfriend was over so when he agreed on watching it with me and at the end admitted that it was not the worst movie he has ever seen… oh what a wonderful night that was.

 

If I’m going to keep it up with these type of posts I already know that tv series part Is gonna be huge pain in the ass. Naming just one? Seriously? Do I look like a normal person who watches only 1-3 tv shows a month? Have you seen my list???? But alright. I’ll try.

Maybe along the month I felt like recommending some other shows but right now the winner for this nomination is going to be this amazing show, that would make typical guys roll they eyes.

TV SERIES | Good Witch

I can’t tell you how happy I am to have found this! I’m actually watching the 11^th episode right now… So when is Grace and Nick going to kiss? Please, tell me that this is going to happen! Ok,ok, I will come down, but damn, this tv show is made in that good old-school’ish family show vibe. You know, more like “Charmed” and less like “Modern Family” if that makes any sense.

 

As for the music, although I’ve been listening to NF more than just for a month and you might have noticed since I have mentioned him in one of my previous posts right here… with him I realized that lately I’ve been listening more rap songs again and somewhere in the middle of those songs you would find…

SONG | Futuristic ft. NF – Epiphany

           Either you like this genre or hate it even, listening to this song you must admit that the two of them are talented young men who are fine as hell (can I say that if they’re both religious?) Plus, have you seen them? Those are some good genes there.

 

And as for the reading challenge on goodreads? Yeah, it’s not really proud of me, since I basically read for 6 days this month. I read my book of the month and then life kind of happened, oh boy how I wish I’ll manage to do more this month… But as for the book favourites, as I doņ’t have anything else to choose from, this title goes to…

BOOK | Schizo by Nic Sheff

                Good book, interesting story, and a cookie for reminding me a movie that is based on another movie, no but really, I loved that movie, but if you are not scared of the dreadful spoilers (whoo, shivers) then THIS is my review on my book review blog.

 

SHORT UPDATE | 07.02.2018

I am quitting my job because it didn’t really fit me. I mean it did, but it took up all of my time so I actually lost my driving schools contract for good, because had no time to attend the test, let alone study and now I’m growing really sad about that. Anyways, 2 more days in this week, they said max 2 more in the next and I’m free, which I celebrate by looking for a new job, which is kind of stupid, because the plan was to enjoy freedom before I start my hardcore studies in the autumn… But we shall see. Who said anyone would hire me, right?

This was a hard moth, hard to tell anymore because most of it I spent confused about me, myself and my life in general. But what I can tell you is that first of all, I finally bought a bed, I wanted to do that for years… Also, that is more of a February news thingy, but I had my 20^th birthday two days ago, so maybe all the confusion is because of some ironic mid-life crisis.

Until the very next post, dearie.

Dana.

 

Paper or computer Writer?

There is this rumor going around that there are two types of writers when it comes to how exactly they are making their words physical. Most people say you are usually one of the two, either you prefer writing on a paper, no matter if just a blank page, sticky notes or notebook, but with an actual paper and pen etc. or you are sort of say the blogger, a person who prefers doing their creative writings on a computer.

I’m the kind of gal who finds good and bad aspects of both of these methods, just as well as the good side, so I really prefer both, just sometimes depending on where I am or what exactly am I writing.

Modern people chose computer and technologies because of their purpose – to make our lives easier, which is also true for writers and readers like ourselves. Authors can write, edit, color, spellcheck, research and do all kind of stuff when they write using, for example, Microsoft word, not even mentioning the fact that in that case you can easily share the parts you want with others and let them make some kind of corrections or make advising  notes right then and there. It saves up a lot of energy, resources and time. And speaking of time, if you are good with your keyboard, you tend to write faster on computer that with your hand on a piece of paper, which can come quite useful in more pressing situations, for example, at lectures where you have to put down a lot of new information fast, for your own sake.

But within this world made of everything technical, there are still some old school souls who prefer writing on a piece of paper, for example my grandfather – even though he rewrites everything on the computer, for him the first draft will always be on a piece of paper. Of course, older people may not trust technologies as much as the next generation, which is understandable, but there are a lot of young adults as well, and I can’t speak for all of them, but sometimes it just helps you focus more on what you are doing at the moment, no options to switch to something else is less than a second by just one click.

For me, I always loved to write with hand, because, first off all, when rereading I was more aware of mistakes than when written on pc,  also, I have always had a not-so-normal addiction to school supplies, so I loved to use so many different pens and notebooks and all that stuff. And let’s face it, the feeling when your ball pen rolls smoothly against a soft paper… uhhh, now that is one of those “what I live for” things.

But then came my teenager days and realization that Sex and The City is a great tv show that I enjoy very much, and of course, Carry Bradshaw, the inspiration. I had started writing blog before I found this series, but this surely gave me a big motivation boost… and more stressful nights for my lungs as every time Carry took a cigarette I felt inspired to do so as well, hah.

But honestly, yes, that is my image of a blogger in my mind for many years now; small apartment, cigarette in fingers and laptop on desk in front. And judge all you want, I like that image, that image really inspires me, so whenever I’m all alone and feel like I want to write but have no inspiration, I create that vibe for me, create that scenario and then just let the inspiration follow.

So that is me and a bit about my writing methods – stories or essays and school works; mostly on paper, but blog posts and articles straight on my pc.

What about you? How or when do you write? And what or who inspires you?

Dana.

OPINION : sex? Internet? my thoughts in general

So while ago I found this amazing youtuber Hannah who makes videos that catches more women attention than men, because a lot of those videos are about quite feminine subjects, for example periods.  I’m new to her channel but I enjoy it so much! Also, planning to order her book in the future, because 1) a lot of info 2) it’s a book, I read those 3) she is really good at this and I want to show her that by adding at least one more bought copy on that list.

Anywho, So I was just looking at her latest video about resources for sex nerds and it got me thinking about a really old subject in my mind and that would be sex as a taboo thing in a lot of people minds, and how bad that is.

You see, no, by saying this it doesn’t mean I support those people who have no respect for others what so ever and just simply do inappropriate things in the middle of the street, but I do think that maybe, just maybe, talking about it, sex itself I mean, is not as inappropriate.

Sex is a natural thing, most of us do it at least once in our lifetime, although usually it is much, much more. Even the most judgmental ones of us. So as long as I’m not flashing my boobs or jumping on every second guy I see on the street, I don’t see the big problem in talking about this.

Yes, of course, maybe it is not a conversation starter, but I also think it is quite unnecessary to shove it so far up to such personal conversations… Yes, you can do that with your fetishes if you’d like to keep that as a secret, but in general, since that is such a common thing in each of our lives, I think we should talk way more about it, we should educate ourselves and each other because sex is nothing to be ashamed about and at the end of the day it is a need.

There is so much that can be said about this subject, I’m just talking in general in this post, probably will get in more details in the future, but I am so happy to find more and more pages on the internet that are filled with useful information about sex rather than just pornographic photos and videos that quite often are far more different from the actual thing, but that’s yet another subject.

And seeing people making videos about this, educating and making it sound like it’s yet another casual subject are the ones who makes me happy because it truly is just a subject and learning about it can only bring good to us in a sense on safety and pleasure. We should not fear it. We should not avoid talking about it.  The more we talk, the more we know, the more mistakes we avoid.

And based on the questions I’ve seen on the internet? The people who are wondering if they’re or their partner could be pregnant but can’t even spell the word? I think sex education is crucially needed.

But more on that some other time.

Have a great day.

• Dana