2012 Aussie BFF Romance Novel

Everything Left Unsaid by Jessica Davidson

Review: There isn't much you need to know about this book before I recommend you go out and buy a copy. Everything Left Unsaid is such an addictive and refreshingly realistic novel that I feel it could be enjoyed by almost anyone.

Tai and Juliet have been best friends since kindy but only just discover a romantic fondness for each-other in their final year of school when graduation and uni are on the cards and a semi-adult life is about to begin. All of this comes to a sudden halt when Tai finally goes for a check-up on a reoccurring headache that has been bothering him for quite some time. It turns out Tai has a brain tumour and with a couple rounds of chemotherapy and a surgery, he may be able to live for a few more months.

I'm not usually one to be drawn to such a morbid sounding novel but I just couldn't resist the idea of this Aussie YA novel. I'm really glad I got a chance to read this book as it's such a quick and easy read with a roller-coaster of emotions and a few teary moments thrown in near the end. I even found myself bringing Everything Left Unsaid along on each and every outing in the hopes of getting stuck in a queue at some point during the day and having even more time to spend reading this book.

I especially loved how Jessica Davidson included lots of little Australianisms which made it an even more enjoyable novel for me. I'm sure it'd work just as well worldwide with such an addictive story-line.

Hosting An Exchange Student?

Have you ever hosted an exchange student or gone on exchange to another country? I've always loved the idea of going on exchange but for one reason or another, I just never went through with it. Whether that was due to a lack of confidence or purely because I didn't have the right contacts, I'll never know. I do know that at the age of twenty-two, I've finally come to the realisation that I'll never cross this item off my bucket list and instead tonight have found myself filling out an application to become a host family. 

Crazy, I know... I haven't even mentioned it to the other members of my household. It's actually rather daunting when you think about sharing your home 24/7 with a complete stranger and to make things worse, we're usually pretty quiet people so at this point we've opted for a teenage girl but have left the country of residence as open-ended. Hopefully, it'll be like having a temporary little sister, right? 

A friend of mine hosted a student on exchange a few years back and the poor girl was so shy that she spent the entire time in her bedroom and barely spoke a word to her host parents/siblings. For right now, we have to focus on acing an interview with the programme advisor then we'll be all set to host our first foreign exchange student! I'll keep you updated with my adventures as a host family. Wish me good luck :)

Q: Would you ever host an exchange student in your home?

Weekend Update // Web Design & Mummy Blogs

For quite some time now, I've wanted to commission a blog layout for Good Golly Miss Holly but for one reason or another, I just haven't got around to it. The instant I found Katelyn Brooke Designs, I knew I had to book in my blog for a makeover. Take a look at the early inspiration board below, doesn't it look divine! I can't wait to see the finished product in early August.

I'm hoping the new look will inspire me to write a hell of a lot more creatively and even come up with a few new brilly blog topics. It seems like I've been in a rut lately with both reading and blogging which I just can't seem to kick. It may have something to do with trying to fit in at a new workplace but luckily I'll have plenty of time to schedule for blogging down the track.

Is anyone else a little overwhelmed by the mummy blogger craze currently riding the wave in Australia? I've heard it happened a few years ago in the US and is only just making it's way down here. It's left me wondering where I fit into this crazy world of blogging especially since I'm lacking in the title of mother and/or wife. I guess it doesn't help that I've decided to slightly remove focus from my extremely reliable book habit so excuse the mess while I try to figure out where I belong in the blogosphere.

P.S. I know I'm always raving about my favourite new website (first it was weheartit, then pinterest and finally bloglovin) but I have only just discovered an extremely entertaining website for those of us who enjoy a good session of online shopping. Wanelo is like walking into a store full of quirky products you never knew you needed until now and I've already built up a list of stuff I need to buy ASAP!

Q: What are your thoughts on the new blog design and/or mummy bloggers?

Disclaimer: I mean no respect to mothers or wives who blog, I simply use the term to easily describe the current trend in blogging.