Last year I created a series called "Ross's Recommendations", where I aimed to share regular updates on some of my favourite things - from books, to TV shows and music choices.
Fast forward 18 months and here we are with the sequel... sorry about that!
I love it when people recommend new things for me to check out, especially now that we're all spending that little bit more time at home.
I have never been one to sit down and enjoy reading a book, however since the UK went into lockdown back in March 2020, I made it my mission to change.
Prior to this, I could probably count on one hand the amount of books I had read in my entire lifetime.
With that being said, I committed myself to the challenge and have never looked back since. I am shocked at how quickly I attached myself to this new hobby, and I'm proud of how many books I have already completed. Here are a selection of my favourites from the past few months:
It's safe to say that I've definitely found my type of genre, as I seem to be attracted to real-life medical journals surrounding life & death... should I be worried?!
My friends even chipped in together and bought me a kindle for my birthday, which I am absolutely loving.
One book in particular that I wanted to give a special mention to, is a book called "Good Vibes, Good Life" by Vex King. I only started reading this yesterday afternoon and have already completed it in less than 48 hours.
I don't think I've ever committed to something so much in my life haha.
Unlike the stigma attached to many other "self-help" books, I didn't find this one patronising at all. Despite the many challenges life has thrown my way, I always like to think of myself as an incredibly positive person. However, at times my anxieties still manage to come out on top.
This book has reminded me of the importance of self-love, and how surrounding yourself with positive people can impact your life.
It's probably one of the most famous films out there, but I only recently discovered 'The Shawshank Redemption'. WHAT A GREAT FILM THAT WAS! I would definitely recommend it.
I also really enjoyed ITV's latest drama 'Des', which was a three-part series based on the 1983 arrest of Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen. As you can probably tell from my book and TV choices, I love a good crime / mystery. Who knew I was so dark, hey?!
In contrast to this, I have also been making use of my Amazon Prime membership by enjoying a more light-hearted series called "This Is Us". Without giving away any spoilers, the series focuses on the lives & families of three siblings who go through unique personal struggles at different intervals of their life.
I'm currently on season 3 and so invested in each character. Although the show has been out for a while, it is definitely one of my new-found favourites.
Overall I think it's very cleverly written, and I love how the story continues to evolve from different perspectives / time frames.
Whilst I'm sure we're all missing going to concerts and live music events, there have still been plenty of new tunes to enjoy.
One of my favourite artists at the moment is a guy called Alec Chambers, who often uploads acoustic covers to his YouTube channel. One of my personal favourites of his is his recent lyrical version of WAP - famously twerked by Cardi B.
TikTok music is everywhere right now and I'm obsessed! I could easily write a full post sharing my recent playlist - so narrowing it down to just one or two hits has been tricky.
My friends and I love sharing new discoveries with each other, so if you have any music suggestions you'd like me to check out, please let me know!
I hope you guys enjoyed this post. Let me know if you'd like me to share more recommendations over the coming months - and if so - I'll try not to leave it so long since my last update!
I hope you're all keeping well?
Speak soon,
Ross x