Instagram Honesty (4).

I enjoy social media; it's brilliant, clever and connects us all. It's also terrible, toxic and at times dangerous. I know a lot of people who go through phases of ‘detoxing’ now and again for self care reasons, and others who have actually deleted any themselves from every platform. Which is really quite sensible, when one thinks about it… 

Since being inspired by various bloggers, vloggers and encouragers (an alternative term the lovely Lexie invented to replace 'influencers', which I maintain sounds a little manipulative and menacing) who have been so open about their social media platforms being just a highlights reel and not always a clear view into their actual lives, I have written three posts like this one. You can read the others HERE. 

Now, let me be honest with you about a few of my latest Instagram uploads. 

Grace's Guide to Personal Hygiene (a book review + stories)

I recently read 'A Girl’s Guide to Personal Hygiene: true stories, illustrated', by Tallulah Pomeroy. It was gifted to me by the babes at Scribe, but that in no way affects my opinion that it is absolutely hilarious, and totally bang on in a lot of allegedly disgusting ways. 

'Women aren't as ladylike as people would like to imagine. Using secrets collected from hundreds of them, this exquisitely disgusting illustrated book rewrites our definition of femininity.

When artist Tallulah Pomeroy asked people to anonymously submit anecdotes about the weird, unruly things they did with their bodies, she was inundated. From tampons and trapped wind to ear wax and pubes, stories flowed in from a community of hilarious, radically honest women, who, by admitting to things they had thought were shameful, no longer had to feel ashamed. 

3 of the biggest wedding worries SOLVED!

*This post was written by a contributor*

Cool Auntie Grace!

Recently, an old Black Eyed Peas song came on the radio and I found myself singing as I drove along Hastings seafront; a flashback hit me suddenly, of me and some of my best friends at secondary school, dancing and singing along to this particular song. I let the memory fill me up and realised, as a smile stretched across my face, that those friends of mine – who I once sat with in English and Maths lessons, doodling all over our exercise books and sampling sachet lattes brewed by our beloved Drama teacher at break times – are now in serious relationships and have all very recently had babies. 

(Photo: Rebecca Brooker)

Yep. I can honestly say three of my close friends from secondary school – the ones I'd sing in the car with and wander in the park with and spill sugary coffee all over myself in fits of laughter with – are now happily engaged and each have a baby. How crazy is that? 

A quick Where and How? with Cat Clarke, author of 'Letting Go'!

I am delighted to be posting this cheeky little interview with the wonderful author Cat Clarke, about her latest publication. Let's not waste any time –  dive in!

Hey, lovely Cat! As you know, I am a certified Clarke super fan, so imagine my excitement finding out you made a novella with a publisher I truly love, Barrington Stoke!? I am jazzed af. Anyway, here are your quick fire questions about 'Letting Go'…

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Hello, I have a novella coming out in August with Barrington Stoke. It’s about a snarky lesbian who finds herself stuck up a ruddy big mountain with her ex... and her ex’s annoying new boyfriend. Nightmare.

A post shared by Cat Clarke (@catclarkewriter) on May 1, 2019 at 3:20am PDT

Using social media for good; chronic pain, invisible illness, mental health and MORE!

I am so thrilled to be giving a teeny talk at a social media workshop held by The Brain Tumour Charity today; it’ll be great to share my wisdom with the Young Ambassadors and the rest of the team – also, let’s face it, social media and that brilliant charity are equally enormous things in my life, so put the two together and OOOFFTT.

So, here’s what I plan on saying at the offices in Farnborough (we’ll see if I actually manage to deliver it coherently)…  I’m calling this little presentation ‘The Importance of Using Social Media for Good’. 

(Photo taken by Mama)

43.

Hi, I’m Grace.

(Photo: Rebecca Brooker)

I have a new found love for antique/second hand furniture and home wares, ‘Toy Story 4’ made me cackle and cry, days on the beach make me so happy and chill; throwing a frisbee, walking and swimming are the only means of exercise I really enjoy, I’m getting better at the whole eBay thing, my last tattoo for a while is in a few days, a G&T with strawberries in is quite magical, I now use biodegradable vegan condoms, I want to properly learn tarot, I recently posted my first ever AD on social media, I’m planning a big trip next year, I turn 26 today, and I am just about ready to tackle my mid-to-late twenties.

I love that people still read these, and want to know more about me. 

How, What, Where and When? with Sophie Cameron, on 'Last Bus to Everland'!

I am thrilled to welcome the lovely author queen Sophie Cameron back to the blog, this time for the new series How, What, Where and When! 

Sophie’s debut novel ‘Out of the Blue’ captured my heart, and now her second has been released, ‘Last Bus to Everland’ and, folks… it’s pretty epic.