4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster

Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize last year, ‘4 3 2 1’ by Paul Auster consists of four different versions of the life of Archibald Issac Ferguson, born in Newark, New Jersey in 1947 (the same year as Auster). Descended … Continue reading →

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Rathbones Folio Prize: Q&A with Richard Lloyd Parry

Today I’m very pleased to host a Q&A with Richard Lloyd Parry who has been shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize for his brilliant book Ghosts of the Tsunami – one of the best books I read in 2017. It is a … Continue reading →

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Why I’ll give myself a deadline…but not an expiration date.

Hey guys,

One of the things that keeps me always striving to accomplish my goals is my habit of setting deadlines. Setting a due date for myself gives me the structure I need to push myself forward. It puts me in a “no excuses” mindset to GET. THINGS. DONE.

Plus the feeling of making a to-do list and then getting to check the items off as I go is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world! I mean, right!?

I’ve been goal planning since I was a kid. I had big dreams and I wasn’t going to let anyone or anything stop me from making them happen! I knew I wanted to have an impact on the world. I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer. I knew that one day I’d be the CEO of my own company.  
The crazy thing is…because I never gave up, those things are happening RIGHT NOW. I kept trying. I kept pushing. I kept setting goals and CRUSHING THEM. And I am so grateful every single day that I get to live my dream.

However, of course, there are things I wanted so bad that never happened. Things that I “expired” out of.

Growing up, one of my biggest dreams was to be named Top 25 Under 25 by one of those business magazines – like Forbes. Inc., or Entrepreneur. As I crept closer and closer to 25, I felt more pressure (from within) to hurry up and start making a name for myself! I applied every year that they opened up applications. But I never heard back from any of the editors. 

When I turned 25, I felt like I had done something wrong. Like I was a failure. Like I was too old and too unsuccessful. I started doubting myself. Like, was anything I had accomplished thus far even any any good? Sigh.

Do you see the problem here? I was letting someone else tell me what the definition of success was supposed to looked like. I was letting a publication who didn’t even know me dictate the definition of everything I wanted to be. I was letting a stranger control my happiness and my “shelf life”. And you know what? That’s absolutely absurd! 

BECAUSE WHO CARES.

If you’re feeling any pressure right now to be someone or do something by a certain age, I urge you to stop feeling like you’re going to run out of time. You’ve gotta watch “The Expiry Date” by SK–II. It’s all the feels.



This video illustrates the intense pressure for Asian women to get married by the age of 30. If you don’t have a husband by then, you’re considered too old, unwanted, and no good. And the worst part is, just by being born a girl, you’re ALREADY considered a burden to your family. In the Asian culture, boys are typically seen as more valuable than girls.

Luckily for me, my parents did not pressure me to get married by a certain age. BUT they did intensely pressure and scare me into a career path I did not want for myself. In both cases, the parents are trying to secure financial stability for their children. Now that I am older, I see their intention. However, that doesn’t make the shaming and the judging okay. Not by our parents and definitely not by society. I loved Chloe Bennet’s interview talking about the topic.

You’re never too young, too old, or too ANYTHING to do ANYTHING! I want you to keep being you regardless of what other people think. Not to be morbid, but I suppose the only expiration date we have is the one that is engraved into our tombstone. But even then, you can still leave a forever impact on this world if you live positively, passionately, and choose to serve others.

Love, 
Cassey

The post Why I’ll give myself a deadline…but not an expiration date. appeared first on Blogilates.

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Why I’ll give myself a deadline…but not an expiration date.

Hey guys,

One of the things that keeps me always striving to accomplish my goals is my habit of setting deadlines. Setting a due date for myself gives me the structure I need to push myself forward. It puts me in a “no excuses” mindset to GET. THINGS. DONE.

Plus the feeling of making a to-do list and then getting to check the items off as I go is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world! I mean, right!?

I’ve been goal planning since I was a kid. I had big dreams and I wasn’t going to let anyone or anything stop me from making them happen! I knew I wanted to have an impact on the world. I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer. I knew that one day I’d be the CEO of my own company.  
The crazy thing is…because I never gave up, those things are happening RIGHT NOW. I kept trying. I kept pushing. I kept setting goals and CRUSHING THEM. And I am so grateful every single day that I get to live my dream.

However, of course, there are things I wanted so bad that never happened. Things that I “expired” out of.

Growing up, one of my biggest dreams was to be named Top 25 Under 25 by one of those business magazines – like Forbes. Inc., or Entrepreneur. As I crept closer and closer to 25, I felt more pressure (from within) to hurry up and start making a name for myself! I applied every year that they opened up applications. But I never heard back from any of the editors. 

When I turned 25, I felt like I had done something wrong. Like I was a failure. Like I was too old and too unsuccessful. I started doubting myself. Like, was anything I had accomplished thus far even any any good? Sigh.

Do you see the problem here? I was letting someone else tell me what the definition of success was supposed to looked like. I was letting a publication who didn’t even know me dictate the definition of everything I wanted to be. I was letting a stranger control my happiness and my “shelf life”. And you know what? That’s absolutely absurd! 

BECAUSE WHO CARES.

If you’re feeling any pressure right now to be someone or do something by a certain age, I urge you to stop feeling like you’re going to run out of time. You’ve gotta watch “The Expiry Date” by SK–II. It’s all the feels.



This video illustrates the intense pressure for Asian women to get married by the age of 30. If you don’t have a husband by then, you’re considered too old, unwanted, and no good. And the worst part is, just by being born a girl, you’re ALREADY considered a burden to your family. In the Asian culture, boys are typically seen as more valuable than girls.

Luckily for me, my parents did not pressure me to get married by a certain age. BUT they did intensely pressure and scare me into a career path I did not want for myself. In both cases, the parents are trying to secure financial stability for their children. Now that I am older, I see their intention. However, that doesn’t make the shaming and the judging okay. Not by our parents and definitely not by society. I loved Chloe Bennet’s interview talking about the topic.

You’re never too young, too old, or too ANYTHING to do ANYTHING! I want you to keep being you regardless of what other people think. Not to be morbid, but I suppose the only expiration date we have is the one that is engraved into our tombstone. But even then, you can still leave a forever impact on this world if you live positively, passionately, and choose to serve others.

Love, 
Cassey

The post Why I’ll give myself a deadline…but not an expiration date. appeared first on Blogilates.

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The Butchering Art by Lindsey Fitzharris

My final Wellcome Book Prize shortlist post is also part of the final day of the blog tour showcasing each book before the winner is announced tomorrow. ‘The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian … Continue reading →

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28-Day Bridal Bootcamp Workout Calendar

For all my Blogilates Brides out there, I have created this 28 day Bridal Bootcamp Workout Calendar that you can do the month leading up to your wedding! Don’t worry about hiring an expensive personal trainer or getting a fancy gym membership. You can get super fit right at home with my Bridal Bootcamp. And the best part? It’s absolutely free.

So here’s how it works:

#1. Choose the day you want to start your 28-day Bridal Bootcamp. Then STICK TO THE CALENDAR. Do not stray in order to see your best results.

#2. Five days out of the week we will target a new muscle group. On the sixth day, you stretch and rest. The seventh day is optional but highly recommended if you’re really looking to challenge yourself and burn more fat and build more muscle.

#3. Do each video once through and check off as you go. You can actually click on the videos in the PDF!

Here’s your calendar:

Download high res calendar

I hope my Bridal Bootcamp helps you to feel your best on your big day! If you find the calendar helpful to you, please share it with another bride! Word of mouth really helps this community thrive! Also…I’d love to see you in your wedding dress! Hashtag #BlogilatesBride and #BridalBootcamp so I can see!

Ahhh I am so excited for you! Good luck with the wedding planning and the workouts. Remember, the most important thing throughout all of this is to ENJOY THE JOURNEY! Take a deep breath…and let’s do this!!!

The post 28-Day Bridal Bootcamp Workout Calendar appeared first on Blogilates.

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At Home Barre Workout for Taurus Goddesses

Hello and Happy Taurus season!

It’s been so fun creating these cool horoscope workouts for you guys. I really do believe that everyone can love working out…it’s just a matter of finding the one that gets you excited! The one that makes you happy. The one you can’t stop thinking about. Ha – I feel like I’m talking about a guy!

Anyway my Taurus goddesses, here’s your sweat horoscope:

You like to be efficient. You don’t like to over exert yourself, so sometimes exercise can feel exhausting instead of energizing. The fix? Choose a graceful workout in a relaxed environment that still delivers results. This at-home barre workout is for you.

Today’s barre workout requires a stable chair. There are 6 moves. Do each rep with control. Follow the GIFs to see how to execute the exercises with proper form! Do 1 round if you’re just trying to sneak in a quick workout. But if you want to challenge yourself, see if you can repeat this set 3-4 times through!

#1. Relevé Lift x 1 20

Toes together, knees together, heels up. Keep your chest lifted and back tall as you squat down on the balls of your feet.

Works: calves, thighs, butt, foot arch

#2. Attitude Curl x 25 each side

Relax your forehead on your arms as they lay crossed on the top of your seat. Back flat. Lift one leg to about hip height, then press and point your leg straight, then curl it back in towards your butt.

Works: Butt, hamstrings

#3. Arabesque Lift x 30 each side

Holding on to the top of the chair, eyes looking at the floor, plant one foot down firmly and then raise the other leg high in the air. Keep the legs straight and point the toes on the upper leg as you pulse up.

Works: Butt, lower back, hamstrings

#4. Side Squeeze x 20 each side

Squeeze your leg and your arm together with one leg planted on the floor. Make sure to squeeze your obliques as you crunch sideways.

Works: Obliques, outer thighs

#5. Front Leg Lifts x 15 each side

Standing tall, lift one leg up as high as you can in front of you as you keep the planted leg as straight as possible. Try to also keep your chest tall and do not hunch forward as you lift your leg.

Works: abs, thighs

#6. Diamond Pulse Squat x 30

Begin in first position with heels together, toes diagonally pointed out. Lift to relevé. Then squat down while keep your chest up and open, back tall. Never let your heels touch the floor!

Works: calves, thighs, butt, foot arch

If you want to see the entire printable, check out my Pinterest!

Whether you’re a Taurus or not, give this workout a try anyway! Let me know what you guys think! Have I done your sign yet or are you still waiting?

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