L.J. Higgins's Blog, page 14

I’m a Tough Mudder

Does an 18km course, where you are tested by over 20 obstacles, with names such as ‘birth canal’, ‘arctic enema 2.0’, ‘cage crawl’ and ‘mud mile,’ sound like fun to you? Well you may think I’m crazy, but eight friends and I thought it was a great idea.

Since late last year I’ve been making a huge effort to not only be healthy, but also to become fitter and stronger physically and mentally. With some persuasion from a friend of mine, I decided what better way to test my new found strength and fitness than to compete in Tough Mudder – Central Queensland. 

The event didn’t disappoint, I got muddy, frozen, I jumped off platforms into deep water, crawled through dark and confined spaces, and pushed my body to it’s limits, and I enjoyed every minute. With the support of my husband and friends, and the competitors around us, we managed to complete the course with a smile on our faces and a tremendous sense of achievement (albeit every inch of our body was aching, battered and bruised). I will admit there was one obstacle that I just couldn’t bring myself to do. It was called Electroshock Therapy, and it looked as terrible as it sounded. Being zapped while wet and covered in mud was beyond what I was willing to do, but I was proud to say I at least attempted every other obstacle on offer.

Tough Mudder taught me that I could push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of, it also taught me the importance of having and accepting, support from friends and even strangers. I took a huge leap out of my comfort zone and am so happy I did.

Have you ever competed in an event like this? What was the last thing  you did to get out of your comfort zone?

 

Book Club- We Need to Talk About Kevin

I finally got to attend a Book Club get together and it didn’t disappoint. Our lovely host made us delicious nacho’s and after devouring them, we settled in to talk about our latest read, We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.

Where do I start? I loved the idea of this book. Shriver let’s us ‘behind the scenes’so to speak, to help us see what it is like to be the mother of a child who does something unimaginable. I also liked the questions it raised. Are the kids who go on school massacres born evil, or do they become evil?

Where the story lost me was the fact that I couldn’t connect or even remotely like any of the characters. Eva is a mother who never really wanted her son, Kevin is the misfit who is only happy when doing something devious, and his father Franklin who doesn’t appear to support his wife, and has pulled the wool over his own eyes when it comes to Kevin. As well as not connecting with any of the characters, I became bored and struggled to get through the book because of the way it is written. Everything was over explained and a lot of the time I didn’t feel it added to the story.

This wasn’t the consensus around the group. It was actually a very interesting conversation with varied opinions. Many members of the group really enjoyed the book once they got into it.

Overall the average score we gave We Need to Talk About Kevin was 8.5 out of 10.

The next book we will be reading is The Pilots Wife by Anita Shreve.

Have you read either of these books? Let me know in the comments below!

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5 Lessons I learned before 30

Last year in April I turned 30 dressed in yellow neon tights and a neon pink tutu, dancing with my family and friends. Yes it’s true, here is photographic evidence!

But the every year I grow older I reflect back on what I’ve not only achieved in my life, but also who I have become. I’ve learnt many lessons along the way. Some I was more stubborn to learn than others, always being someone who seemed to learn for myself. And I thought I’d take a moment to share the 5 that I think were most important and life changing.

Try to see the best in everything. Yes, we’ve all heard it before. Send the positive vibes out into the world and you will get positive things in return. This may not feel true some of the time, but life feels much easier and less stressful when you see the best in things that happen. Like right now my 4 year old daughter is crying because she’s decided she doesn’t like her new dress. Positive side? She will tire herself and hopefully fall to sleep for an early night.
It’s important to believe in something… even if it’s nothing. I’m near here to start any type of religious or spiritual debate, but when I was pregnant with my son I had a sense of peace come over me I hadn’t experienced before. Why? Because I finally discovered what it was I believed. It took away the anxiety of my purpose in life and that I wouldn’t be here one day. I know I could never know for sure, but it has definitely helped ease my mind.
It’s okay to ask for help. This was a big one for me. Growing up I always hid and bottled away my emotions until I couldn’t fit anymore inside of me and I would explode into a terrible ball of teenager rage. The answer? Talking. Not only to family and friends that I trusted but also to professionals who wanted me to be happy and healthy. I am prone to Depression and Anxiety, and only last year I had bad bouts of both. Without talking to my husband, close friends and health professionals I wouldn’t have made it out the other end sane. Well as sane as a writer can be.
Do what you love. This for me is a given. My writing doesn’t only make me happy, it clears my mind and is great for my mental state. Doing what you love isn’t always easy in between family and work, but it’s something that’s important to make time for. My husband and I take turns giving each other the time to do what we love. Mine is writing, art and spending time with friends. His is fishing, fishing, and well fishing.
Look after your body and mind. Some of this stems back to my point on asking for help. But when you feel good in yourself, it shines through to everyone around you. In 2013 I changed my diet and dropped 15kg. Last year I decided to pair my healthy eating with exercise and I feel amazing and confident in my body. The exercise also helps my mental health which is an added bonus.

 

GIVEAWAY!

I have been lucky enough to team up with 5 Amazing Authors and we have put this Giveaway together for you!

Michelle Lynn – Author of Choices

Bethany Wicker – Author of Unexpected Alpha

Michelle Bryan – Author of Dawn of Rebellion Series

Kayla Howarth – Author of Losing Nuka (Litmus Series)

Kimberly Readnour – Author of Visions (Mystical Encounter Series)

Click HERE to find out more about these great Authors, their books and how to enter!

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A Gift for you!

Recently I had an Aunty stay with me for a few nights who enjoys doodling and colouring in. With her here, I dragged out my adult colouring books and my case of gel pens, and set out to colour in with her. Little did I know how much I would enjoy it, and just how relaxing it would be. So to pass this new found love and gift of relaxation to all of you, I have designed and hand drawn the below printable Dreamer Colouring In page for you!

If you do colour it in I would LOVE to see the finished product! You can either post on my Facebook page, tag me as @lj_higgins on Instagram or email it to me at ljhiggins01@hotmail.com. If you enjoy this one I will be drawing up more for you to do.

Download your FREE Colouring In page HERE!

Let me know what you think below in the comments.

 

 

 

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5 lessons I learned before 30

Last year in April I turned 30 dressed in yellow neon tights and a neon pink tutu, dancing with my family and friends. Yes it’s true, here is photographic evidence!

But every year I grow older I reflect back on what I’ve not only achieved in my life, but also who I have become. I’ve learnt many lessons along the way. Some I was more stubborn to learn than others. And I thought I’d take a moment to share the 5 that I think were most important and life changing.

Try to see the best in everything. Yes, we’ve all heard it before. Send the positive vibes out into the world and you’ll get positive things in return. This may not feel true some of the time, but life feels much easier and less stressful when you see the best in things that happen. Like right now my 4 year old daughter is crying because she’s decided she doesn’t like her new dress. Positive side? She will tire herself out and hopefully fall to sleep for an early night. That means more writing for me!
It’s important to believe in something… even if it’s nothing. I’m not here to start any type of religious or spiritual debate, but when I was pregnant with my son I had a sense of peace come over me I hadn’t experienced before. Why? Because I finally discovered what it was I believed. It took away the anxiety of my purpose in life and that I wouldn’t be here one day. I know I could never know for sure, but it has definitely helped ease my mind.
It’s okay to ask for help. This was a big one for me. Growing up I always hid and bottled away my emotions until I couldn’t fit anymore inside of me and I would explode into a terrible ball of teenager rage. The answer? Talking. Not only to family and friends that I trusted but also to professionals who wanted me to be happy and healthy. I am prone to Depression and Anxiety, and only last year I had bad bouts of both. Without talking to my husband, close friends and health professionals I wouldn’t have made it out the other end sane. Well as sane as a writer can be.
Do what you love. This for me, is a given. My writing doesn’t only make me happy, it clears my mind and is great for my mental state. Doing what you love isn’t always easy in between family and work, but it’s something that’s important to make time for. My husband and I take turns giving each other the time to do what we love. Mine is writing, art and spending time with friends. His is fishing, fishing, and well, fishing.
Look after your body and mind. Some of this stems back to my point on asking for help. But when you feel good in yourself, it shines through to everyone around you. In 2013 I changed my diet and dropped 15kg. Last year I decided to pair my healthy eating with exercise and I feel amazing and confident in my body. The exercise also helps my mental health which is an added bonus.

Are there lesson you have learned that you think are just as important if not more than mine? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

This post is dedicated to my amazing husband Tim who celebrates his own 30th Birthday today.

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REVIEW – Awaken (New Bloods #1) by Michelle Bryan

Set in the future, Tara lives in the Sandlands in a small community with her Grada. Although her friend Ben feels like there is more to the world they live in, Tara is happy living in her small corner of the world. But one day their community is attacked and the children are taken, leaving her alone. The final words from her Grada are all she has to hold onto, to find Lilly at Littlepass.

There wasn’t a dull moment in this story. And Tara’s accent made me fall in love with her instantly. Michelle Bryan created characters and a world that was easy to imagine, and I each time I picked up the book I disappeared into Tara’s world.

I can’t wait to read Ascension, Book 2 in the New Bloods series and highly recommend you read this book!

Buy your copy of Awaken HERE!

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Book Club – Room by Emma Donoghue

Once again I didn’t make it along to book club. But who can resist a child free night with their husband, going to the movies, eating Chinese and play sonic racing? I did, however, read Room and speak to some of the other ladies who made it to the meeting what they thought.

Room is narrated by 5 year old Jack who is fed stories and lies by his mother to make his existence make sense as they are trapped in a shed in someone’s backyard. As far as his mother knows they’re never getting out.

I enjoyed the unique perspective of Room. Most stories like this would be written from the mother’s point of view, but instead we got the chance to see what it must feel like for children who are born into these situations.

Although I enjoyed the different writing style I did find myself skimming over Jacks words waiting for the next big moment. In Emma Donoghue’s defense, there wasn’t too much that could happen in such a small setting. But the big moments were worth the read and gave us even more unique perspectives, ones that aren’t shown or revealed in the media.

I gave Room 4 out of 5 stars.

The book we are reading this month is – We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.

Have you read either of these books? Let me know what you thought in the comments!

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What kind of book heroine are you?

Do you think you have what it takes to save the world? Would you fight for the ones you love? There are many different heroes or heroines, in this case, in the world of books. There are those who dive head first into danger without a second thought, and those who strategically plan their attack on the enemy. One of the best parts about books is you can be either of these without putting yourself in any real danger.

Take this quiz to see if you are most like…

Gabby Nolan from the Dawn of Rebellion Trilogy. Skilled and athletic – allowing you to become the rebel that you are. Only following orders as long as they lead you where you want to go.

Amelia Bailey from the Dreamer Trilogy. Beautiful both inside and out, only you don’t see it. Passionate and willing to fight for your dreams and the freedom to think for yourself.

Allira Daniels from The Institute trilogy. Good at making yourself invisible in a big crowd able to blend in. Known to say the wrong thing at the wrong time on occasion.

Tara from The New Bloods Trilogy. Headstrong and stubborn. Not liking being told what to do, even if your decisions are much too impulsive.

Heather Reiner from the Mystical Encounters series. Have circumstances made you guarded, fearing rejection? Making you reluctant to share information or feelings and thoughts.

Lena from Unexpected Alpha. A werewolf with the leadership and stubbornness of an Alpha.

 

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