Friday 16 January 2015

2015 Reading Challenge

Hello!

A new year means new books, and I have a feeling that this year will be a great year for discovering lots of new novels! This year I am determined to read many books, varying from old and new, happy and sad, and romance and thriller. At the end of last year I found an image on Pinterest of a 2015 Reading Challenge. I had a glance down the list and thought that it looked quite fun, finding new books and ticking them off as you go! So I edited the list slightly and set it as my own personal reading challenge for 2015.
In my very first blog post of this year I mentioned this reading challenge and hinted that I would be publishing a separate post on it shortly. So here it is! Take a look at my 2015 Reading Challenge...

This year I am going to read:
  • A book with more than 500 pages
  • A classic romance
  • A book that became a movie
  • A book published this year
  • A book with a number in the title
  • A funny book
  • A mystery or thriller
  • A book with a one word title
  • A book set in another country
  • A popular author's first book
  • A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet
  • A book written by someone under 30
  • A book based on a true story
  • A book that scares you
  • A book you can finish in a day
  • A book that came out the year you were born
  • A book set in high school
  • A book with a colour in the title
  • A book with magic
  • A book by an author you've never read before
  • A book written by an author with your same initials
  • A book you started but never finished
  • A book set during Christmas
  • A book a friend recommended
  • A book with antonyms in the title
So there is my 2015 Reading Challenge! I hope that you have enjoyed this new idea to challenge your reading list. Let me know in the comments if you are going to set yourself a reading challenge!

Links:

Keep sweet!
Bethany x

P.S.
My best friend Ellen (who you may know from her amazing blog Painting The Roses Red) has recently set up another blog called My Imagination On Paper. I know that this blog is going to be a huge success and I am very excited to see it grow. On the 2nd and 4th week of every month, Ellen will be publishing posts about books she loves, her opinions on social issues, short stories that she has written, poems that she like, etc. I really think that you all should go and check this beautiful new blog out as I know that it has been a long time coming and she deserves so much love and support. Thanks!

Friday 9 January 2015

2015 Disney Films

Hello!

Here it is, my first Disney post of the year! I am really looking forward to the upcoming Disney events of this year! One of things that I get very excited about is the new Disney films that are released throughout the year. 2015 is going to be a really good year for new releases and I can't wait to go to the cinema and watch all of them!! So, I decided that I would share with you all of the new Disney films of 2015. There are so many good ones so I hope you enjoy this post!


Descendants

Descendants is an Disney Channel Original Movie that is to be released in Spring 2015.

Synopsis:
In a present day idyllic kingdom, the benevolent teenaged son of the King and Queen (Prince Adam and Belle from Beauty and the Beast) is poised to take the throne. His first proclamation: offer a chance of redemption to the trouble-making offspring of Cruella De Vil, Maleficent, The Evil Queen and Jafar, who have been imprisoned on a forbidden island with all the othe villains, sidekicks, evil-stepmothers and step-sisters.
These villainous descendants are allowed into the kingdom to attend prep school alongside the offspring of iconic Disney heroes. However, the evil teens face a dilemma: should they follow in their nefarious parents' footsteps and help all the villains regain power or embrace their innate goodness and save the kingdom?

Directed by: Kenny Ortega
Produced by: Tracey Jeffrey and Judy Taylor
Written by: Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott


Frozen Fever

Frozen Fever is an upcoming short following the successful Disney film Frozen that was released in 2013. It is to premiere on March 13th 2015.

Synopsis:
It's Anna's birthday and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but Elsa's ice powers may put more than just the party at risk.

Directed by: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Produced by: Peter Del Vecho and Aimee Scribner

This short will also feature a brand new song!


Bad Hair Day

Bad Hair Day is an upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie to be released in 2015.

Synopsis:
Marano stars as a high school tech whiz who's bound and determined to be crowned prom queen. But on the big day, everything that can go wrong does go wrong, starting with her sudden and epically uncontrollable hair and her once lovely yet now destroyed prom dress. She soon comes to rely on a down-on-her-luck cop (Baker) who's in pursuit of a missing necklace that the teen unwittingly has in her possession. Prom day goes from bad to made as the pair is pursued by a dogged jewel thief on a wild ride across the city.

Directed by: Erik Canuel
Produced by: Muse Entertainment
Written by: Eric M. Gardern, Steven H. Wilson, and Billy & Matt Eddy.


Cinderella

Cinderella is an upcoming live-action fantasy film. It is scheduled to be released on March 13th 2015.

Synopsis:
The story of Cinderella follows the fortunes of young Ella, whose merchant father remarries after the tragic death of her mother. Keen to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother Lady Tremaine and her daughters Anastasia and Drizella into the family home. But when Ella's father suddenly and unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honour her mother's dying words and to "have courage and be kind." She will not give in to despair nor despise those who abuse her. And then there is the dashing stranger in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an employee at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears as if her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella's hopes of once again encountering the charming "Kit". Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rids apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand as her fairy godmother, disguised as a kindly beggar woman, steps forward and, armed with a pumpkin and a few mice, changes Cinderella's life forever.

Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Produced by: David Barron and Simon Kinberg
Written by: Aline Brosh McKenna and Chris Weitz


The Good Dinosaur

The Good Dinosaur is an upcoming Disney Pixar film that is set to be released on November 25th 2015.

Synopsis:
What is the cataclysmic asteroid that forever changed life on Earth actually missed the plant completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct?

Directed by: Peter Sohn
Produced by: Denise Ream
Written by: Enrico Casarosa and Bob Peterson

Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland is an upcoming science-fiction film. This film was first announced the film under the working title, '1952', until it was renamed. sharing its name with the science-fiction themed land found at various Disney parks. It is scheduled to be released on May 22nd 2015.

Synopsis:
A teenage girl, a genius middle-aged man (who was kicked out of Tomorrowland) and a pre-pubescent girl robot attempt to get to and unravel what happened to Tomorrowland, which exists in an alternative dimension, in order to save Earth.

Directed by: Brad Bird
Produced by: Damon Lindelof
Written by: Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird


Lava

Lava is an upcoming short described as a 'musical love story taking place over millions of years that is inspired by isolated beauty of tropical islands and the explosive allure of ocean volcanoes'. The story follows the love story of two volcanoes, Uku and Lele, featuring a song called 'Lava'. It is to be released on June 19th 2015.

Directed by: James Ford Murphy
Produced by: Andrea Warren

McFarland USA

McFarland, USA is an upcoming live-action sports drama film that is based on a true story of a Latin high school track team. It is to be released on 20th February 2015.

Synopsis:
Inspired by the 1987 true story, "McFarland" follows high school coach Jim White, whose job-hopping leads him to predominantly Latino McFarland High School, located in an agricultural community in California's farm-rich San Joaquin Valley. Jim knows he has to make this school his last stop - he's out of options, with both his career and his family and finds himself in a diverse, economically-challenged community that feels worlds apart form his previous hometowns. Admittedly, the White family and the students have a lot to learn form each other - but when Coach White notices the boys' exceptional running ability, things begin to change. Soon something beyond their physical gifts impresses White - the power of family and relationships, their unwavering commitment to one another, and their incredible work ethic. With grit and determination, Coach White's unlikely band of runners eventually overcome the odds to forge not only a championship cross-country team, but an endearing legacy as well. Along the way, Jim and his family realise that they finally found a place to call home and both he and his team achieve their own kind of American dream.

Directed by: Niki Caro
Produced by: Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray
Written by: William Broyles Jr. and Grant Thompson

Inside Out

Inside Out is an upcoming Disney Pixar movie. It is Pixar's 15th feature-length film and is to be released on June 19th 2015.

Synopsis:
Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it's no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. The emotions live in Headquarters, the control centre inside Riley's mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley's main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.

Directed by: Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen
Produced by: Jonas Rivera


I can't wait for these films! I think that I am most excited about Frozen Fever, Cinderella, Lava and Inside Out! I love Disney films so much!

Keep sweet!
Bethany x

Friday 2 January 2015

New Year, New Blog

Hello!

Happy New Year!
I think that we all established in 2014 that I wasn't able to blog every week like I said I would. The last 12 months were incredibly difficult for me as I was going through some personal issues that caused me to stop doing the hobbies that I love. However, it is now a new year and I am determined to make this year a great one!
One of the first things that I decided that I wanted to achieve in 2015 was to continue my blog and post something every week. My school life is becoming busier so I decided that I was only going to post once a week on Fridays, alternating between lifestyle posts and Disney posts.
As you may remember, I did publish a post back in November explaining how I was going to step back from mainly posting about beauty and fashion and write more about lifestyle topics, e.g. books, crafts, school-life and any holidays coming up.
As you can see I have completely changed the style of my blog with a cute new background. Of course I just had to keep the blog title the same but I wanted to change it up a bit!

So, now that I have explained my plans for the new year I am going to share with you my New Year's resolutions and my goals for 2015!

My New Year's resolutions:

  1. Read more! (I mean, even more!)
  2. Drink more water.
  3. Be super organised - especially with my school work.

2015 Disney goals:
  1. Become a D23 member.
  2. Watch all the newly released Disney movies of 2015.
  3. Have at least two Disney Days.

2015 reading goals:
  1. Complete my Goodreads reading challenge. (25 books)
  2. Complete my personal 2015 reading challenge. (blog post on this soon!)
    1. Read:
      • Before I Go To Sleep, S.J.Watson
      • This Is How, M.J.Hyland
      • The Story Of Beautiful Girl, Rachel Simon

    These are all of my main goals for the new year, but obviously I have a few smaller things that I would love to achieve in 2015. 

    I am so excited to blog more in the coming months and write all about my favourite things! I hope that you will come with me on my 2015 blogging journey and enjoy it as much as I do!

    Keep sweet!
    Bethany x