And I slept in last night’s clothes and tomorrow’s dreams

On the first of February twentysixteen, I shall be twenty six years of age. If you have read my previous post you will understand why twentyfive wasn’t my best year. I have written of birthdays past before, but for this year I have decided to set myself some achievements to unlock.
Here is my list:

Read 26 books. I was in a major reading slump last year, I couldn’t concentrate for long enough to get into a story. I believe I read a total of only four books last year, which isn’t like my usual bookworm self. So this year I have set myself a goal on Goodreads to try and keep my nose deeply buried inside of those delicious smelling pages. I have just started my third book and I am loving reading again.
Survive five days at a festival. I have never been to a proper festival before. I hate camping and having dirty hair. Send help.
Write. Last year I let my blog slide a little because I just didnt have the concentration or the oomph to be bothered. I am trying to change that now and write often. I find it incredibly cathartic and enjoyable. So prepare to become even more acquainted with my inner tumultuous monologue. In the same vein I would like to get myself more involved in the blogging community. Collaborations, entering my writing to contests and publications and events are on my agenda; network, network, network.
Learn to like myself more. I often write about being a plus size woman and how most of the time I am content with this. However, somedays I am not okay to be in the body I am in and I would like to stop being cruel to myself. The aim is to be more accepting of me and my body, to treat myself with kindness.
Sing in public more. I love to sing all the time, I always have. Yet, I have never really had the confidence to put it out there for others to judge. There’s been the odd karaoke session but I would really like to give an open mic night a whirl.
Procrastinate less. I am the absolute best at procrastination, I can put things off indefinitely but I want this to change. In order to be braver and write more I need to stop putting things off and deal with them when I can. Sometimes I have to postpone things due to anxiety, but sometimes I just need to kick start the gremlins in my head to start working.
Stroke more dogs. I am one of those crazy dog ladies that will find a dog anywhere to coo over. I love them. I will talk to dogs I have just met only to be startled the owner is talking to me instead…excuse me sir, I was actually speaking to your adorable puppy! I have been told that I can’t really put this on my list as it’s not an achievement. But I really like dogs and they make me happy, so it’s staying. “How many dogs did you stoke last year?” “Not nearly enough”.
Okay, so some tasks are a little more serious and focused than others, but I know that if I can achieve all of these, even twothirds, this year will be awesome.

(I do not own this illustration).

all those used up clichés, well they’ve worn enough in the wind

As I haven’t done a GUY FRIDAY for ages, I present to you some of my favourite men you can find on Netflix!
Brendan Hines  – Lie To Me. Unfortunately there are only 3 series of this program which I became slightly obsessed with. Brendan plays a character called Eli Loker, who at the start never tells a lie, although he still has difficulties getting along with his boss. Its witty, pseudo intellectual and written by the same people that write the Mentalist. In my books that makes it a winner. Plus Brendan Hines looks a little like Adam Brody.

Penn Badgley – Gossip Girl. Okay, so Penn’s character Dan Humphrey was never my favourite character, but then no one could really compete with Chuck Bass for me. However, when Penn is not being Dan, he is rather beautiful. Plus, I have been a huge Gossip Girl fan since the beginning.

Hunter Parish – Weeds. Now, I am not usually one for blondes, but you can’t deny how pretty Hunter is. I am desperate for Netflix to add the newer series of Weeds. A) because that would mean seeing Hunter/Silas Botwin as a grown man rather than a teenager and B) more Guillermo Diaz!

Zachary Quinto – Heroes. I have just started watching Heroes from the beginning again as it was so long ago since I last watched it and I didn’t get to see any after series 1 because our tv wouldn’t record it. But I am looking forward to watching them all, especially as I needed something the fill the void of Lie to Me/White Collar and Weeds. And who can deny that Zachary/Sylar isn’t lovely to look at (and Milo Ventimiglia).

Ross McCall – White Collar. I have just finished all 3 series of White Collar that Netflix currently provide (although there are 2 more series) and oh boy was it a cliff hanger! Ross plays a con artist called Matthew Keller who is the main character, Neal Caffrey/Matt Bomer’s, arch rival. I didn’t realise that Ross was Scottish until I looked him up for this post, but it only makes me like him even more.

Kristoffer Polaha – Life Unexpected. I liked this series when it was on e4 and was pleased to see that it was on Netflix, so I can rewatch it if I feel the need. Kristoffer plays a bartender/father called Baze. He is the comic relief of the show although he does have a deeper side too. If you like teen dramas and Britt Roberson its worth a watch.

Aaron Paul – Breaking Bad. I mainly signed up to Netflix to watch Breaking Bad as everyone had been raving about it for so long! However, because my sister wanted to watch it too and she is never in, we haven’t even got through the first series yet. But I may just have to leave her to watch it on her own time and fully get into this series. Aaron plays Jesse Pinkman and although his jeans are ridiculous, he’s pretty hot.

Tom Hughes – Silk. This legal drama originally aired on the BBC and I was hooked instantly. It is brilliantly written and as well as Tom it also stars the lovely Rupert Penry-Jones. They are currently making another series apparently, which I am very excited about. The only sad thing is that Tom Huges is only in the first series as Nick Slade, a trainee lawyer. Never fear though, he has been in many other things such as Cemetery Junction and the newest episode of Miss Marple.

David Dawson – Secret Diary of a Call Girl. I never fancied this series when it was on the tv, but I needed something that was a light a fluffy to watch one day and though I would give it a go. I loved it and watched all 4 series in only a couple of days. David plays an affluent eccentric called Byron and I loved him in this. He has been in so many things but hasn’t yet been given a main role. I first noticed him as a dandy news paper reported in Ripper Street and fell in love with him and when I discovered he was in this series I was most pleased.

Tim Roth – Lie to Me. As I said at the beginning of this post I became obsessed with this series and in no small part because of the amazing part of Cal Lightman that Tim Roth plays. An odd man with an incredible brain and interesting people skills. Please go and watch it, I absolutely loved it. Roth is a firm favourite with Quentin Tarantino and is in films such as Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs as well as so many other programs and films. I love him.

So that is my list of noteworthy men on Netflix. Enjoy. x

 

(I do not own these images.)