tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34262237353587700672024-03-13T03:36:15.606+00:00Helen’s Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle BlogHelen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.comBlogger755125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-27841516817638370532022-06-18T17:42:00.000+01:002022-06-18T17:42:51.423+01:00These are a few of my favourite things #20<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNm_blf24Ix3fIvmxTsXYFCbA1M3IAfY7U2l8j-8kTG1z3L2b9Jllk4LWaetMN7sds_K68pT0IvN71_2aEEhB-Vw_mLlsN8I5kZmsyEp6CVA4UwM56hsOjvdtnRkDsPtzmHY19E6l1PzUpGu_KGEOF8tXPgBS77q5AbGKYrS0ikbV3hrmD1k53xhbEg/w426-h640/favourite%20things%2020%20043_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5471" data-original-width="3647" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguksJuRNk0gcNk6jeyxG1QzK7Ua05tkv8zEK_5rAvNnkPZPc5noxP8lUtV17bEi-OFJEIjmO2nxUH0ktvhsF15weyLsBaRW_YXzJrTlj7RwzHNtMXcl0nuEYcTE7dJmhC9i5H7Bh50iw0BIdQeGea8XbPnzqK2H8YB4dIm72phRrjbRHrhpkDInr3KUg/w426-h640/favourite%20things%2020%20023_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Books:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Crafty Ideas: Print by Hannah Tofts</span></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div>Here are some great ideas for making personalized gifts and having fun with painting. Packed with lots of beginners’ printing projects for paper as well as fabric, including some tips for making printing blocks and stencils. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Making Winter by Emma Mitchell</span></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>This is one of the cosiest, hygge craft books I’ve come across, including simple projects, warming recipes and ways to beat the winter blues. The writing style and overall feeling of the book is beautifully evocative of the season; a perfect gift idea for someone interested in craft who might need a bit of cheering up.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Book Love by Debbie Tung</span></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>This book has been on my radar for a good while now, but recently one of my favourite book influencers shared this title and reminded me I’d not yet read it. We follow a bookworm in a series of short comics capturing what it means to be head over heels for books. The author perfectly captured this, making me smile ear to ear with her witty humour; I can’t imagine any book fanatic not loving it.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG3_811MvSUJTvBuJR3sU33fXJnB_dCl3ybyUsKEFUW0NhnBB6tSKBdnORtsiWFXdQfPuYG2Go4LAVQl-TGp1vWKwNZBmZCyLrkNuTxUNSz2Zb5LM2Jj9oyL-VsQ_-WuOYL--sw5jYRetslkW7i_Iy4LBzFaJXXvja9tBVg8Ib_oh7vKtjvVKrnnOYA/w640-h426/favourite%20things%2020%20007_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Too Small Tola by Atinuke</span></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Tola lives with her family in a crowded flat in Lagos, Nigeria. Whether it’s market day or a no-water day at home, Tola proves that though she may be small, she is mighty. We follow a determined young girl in three short stories, each showing a different part of her daily family life. A book written with a lot of spirit; I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Unconscious Bias by Annie Burdick</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a brilliant starting point to learn about our hidden prejudices. I wanted to read material outside my comfort zone as I was interested in educating myself. It’s actually a tiny little book but crammed with information on why our biases matter, how to identify your own biases, biases in society and becoming consciously unbiased. I had a few uncomfortable moments when my biases were challenged, so for me the author achieved her aims. I plan to continue reading about the topic.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UYMl9hUmJ6aOh1aoL879JSEZaRV_a976qoILwhb0dWdggAi5Byjj_9YNVYI-YThhUQoEIlksTCXpQV_WvL1wPfVAgZgBc3Q891NFoSdVOhQSCc96HDVGtriC-RSnqvhdK6bmT_jIiW3otqfzG8E8cZueZcXri8gUpBX3FCoT_u1T8jPR68JmCw0xRw/w640-h426/favourite%20things%2020%20006_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Perfect Fit by Naomi Jones</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a charming picture book aimed at teaching young children how to accept the differences in everyone while making new friends. Illustrated through the use of shapes, and a little yellow triangle who learns to celebrate diversity in others. I thought the message was very thought-provoking, and worked well with the illustrations.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwD_ss2YLLDXMJi2UbO2glIxOikRW8zhfFHSc70AFx8xGPpqTrL-DVK5aynN7yDfI226wka_LKs2M0p-B7dra82n-C68QSxlszVmLCG9wuUdRoqM_aPJ5mhMT5vkqwR2DG9FxrCEb90heAWiXHKDCTdZZonx4GejCa1K1ZKqlFOSGQzvRxOZAPa47aw/w640-h426/favourite%20things%2020%20014_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Solo: The Joy of Cooking for One by Signe Johansen</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I saw this title in the library catalogue, and I was intrigued by the concept straight away. In the prologue, she talks about self-care/mindfulness as well as making the most of your leftover food. The recipes are quite fancy, and the book is beautifully laid out. My Nan has read similar books in the past, so I think she would be interested in it too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Garden Cookbook by Rob Rees</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This bite-sized children’s book showcases food produce that can be easily grown in your garden and includes straightforward recipes such as soups, salads, dips, smoothies, etc. I’ve been growing my own fruit and veg for a few years now, so the book provided relevant inspiration. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFCZLuEJHcCpcuJ3Ng531rDqWd83CEMd3_ExDo4MgmtrczckXqnfSTAgkHE4F3cY5IYKbeT6enHkpBfS8ijimLVOTrUJOvVlqfwqtUPk13A3fzN1FytQLzHFV5_dOSBfQD-1aHxLg_aREuappLqgteanHqULUOiWIkSSrSIot7Db7dp4UOILLW6CBYA/w640-h426/favourite%20things%2020%20016_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lUXSFLAKQxTFDtUgTjQvKFb_wTWpUsburNgKCUIcWUFgSljYfe3G3xLuYp36QReoCk_87Gz8MLKryknQVm30sCoc-mZLrJbzqACUVjlqKr1FusMMunLjqG4ux9Y1x6BsDkoV_OGJ97eSwbqgRR5P8qDJGTPApGNmx0rfpKwUu7ly8NVTcDGhVXfG7g/w640-h426/favourite%20things%2020%20017_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Films:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Love, Bubbles & Crystal Cove (2021)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>‘Skye is preparing for another great year of her business ‘Lather and Luxury’. She sells colourful and fragrant bath products, face masks, you name it! When her childhood sweetheart Gavin arrives in town to help improve her business model, she initially refuses.’</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This film had a cosy, homely way about it. I also felt it was well cast, particularly the lead couple. Overall, I enjoyed it for a bit of escapism.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Love’s Sweet Recipe (2021)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>‘Talented chef, Mandy Preston’s life has been turned upside down ever since the passing of her father, who was the master chef of her family’s famous restaurant. Now her family business is failing, her love life is in shambles, her passion for cooking has died and her childhood best friend and fellow chef Jake Turner has left town to find work in the big city.’</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What made this film for me was the emphasis on good quality cooking and it was also nice to get a sense of how a family bistro is run. The main characters weren’t your usual choice but that’s why I liked them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Sugar Plum Twist (2021)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>‘After failing to get the coveted role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in this year's production of The Nutcracker, Vivíana Serrano joins forces with Natalia, to create a surprise reprise of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy...with a Latin twist.’</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was a gorgeous Christmas film with a very festive feel to it. I liked the cast, and each person brought something special. The theme of dance was well executed as there were a lot of talented performers.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61X0p2i0NU9OCG7Lb6JA5u2YCIvmmyvTjOEdK1eg_1j0zPsabEgpETdo34zphgb-MdB00by4CgaPmer5jQJA8dEy-mC5mBi46_-9zHMUw0eE2E2vDM7e2WImdAb803NZPokwnTVHCfxCh993rIyHqcD3sKTMvHjhbsC-gpzuAhjx2jJuqmUYjpJKEUg/s320/Love%20bubbles%20film.jpg" width="221" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLQleIdNCdYsT4UdUL54KXVN2PWHC2WCwnhQrj0dPYDS9722xmFtlpHdsKLrjcVVDvr4JlGOsFVC9oGU0RAytjTJDMXuz-aylX5xMkTz9jg8j7X0dw95lUIz6e4cQkZimEklq9-R7Y2lULJIuRbE7PnTOvrtoS_FImJ04lJ71Oav9YaH6dh2dFF6IqQ/s320/Loves%20sweet%20recipe.jpg" width="213" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07usBm4qMyZ7AXLiWXi3xxyuBGxHu9IDGN3dj3KXgDn7oIPVAQM3PwMPGycOdeO6Jv1Ny7NexNqAAlHjOzEqViJjPgusnLMHYN6ZhQLAtcGVSz0S2cdYZZE4Rd3vbw-Ik5IpKNyz6qd2fJNOEIJ0W-3ZfztPtO92omXkpXiIlEX6rkEg-rNFX6UoHZA/s320/Sugar%20Plum%20Twist.jpg" width="240" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Podcast</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Call of the Wild with Cel Spellman</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I’ve been listening to a few episodes of this podcast hosted by an ambassador of the Worldwide Fund for Nature. There are insights into how, as individuals, we can make lifestyle changes to help the environmental crisis. So far, I’ve learned more about topics such as plastic pollution, the food industry, and deforestation.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QiHD87VessZm88fixd7RXaOuIYGku38pgYVpC-c3uHWdbQbkLfGxtioSRA1P1RQWOfMufKK5zRdIjUUgBj6ZAXSdYK6s5iQGR70qlDynrXA1NJztRt-FPdTBODaUURdyzQs5ZFhoP_qU8H6KsONmfMZy5KBtOSO6ILPyh9fBRtK62LseAoggptjzPA/s320/Call-of-the-Wild.jpg" width="320" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How has your month been?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Did you find any of these reviews interesting? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div></div></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-35463273783771096642022-05-30T18:53:00.000+01:002022-05-30T18:53:04.439+01:00Jigsaw Log #10<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWuHIuYOALgZo3gzCpfXyX3k5aTt5mrinIAIQ2vzjyaZs2PPnjD5JirmtKEUMyraEX17_JtF5hqRnRUOznTyqLjjPxI09EvAgUJx580aGritB3zzi8MPejdMrLkzplIRONydtZYouhV6_2u0WNN1-uU3Bk3nKh-KO0fCuzf2amzCMD9meSloFiVcXFg/w426-h640/Sewing%20Jigsaw%20007_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-RKVT5KRdytIXtcBM05G3wssd1SLphP9PBIK0PRvK5ZCWG_p5gn5thK_hQ5ePKA7nxh86bU2VT1151Bqmm_aZ6vg4WsFNtg614s8OOoAaPweMOvdiI6d3FZHL1X2CTWAxDujy-ImPrN6AldxI5p4DBBYdym5fHe87Waqwvhq5bS5KXgPCR0SavQoPQ/w640-h426/Sewing%20Jigsaw%20004_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbFINGhz1kRGPgdznd36GVH4yItO8AXNyyymtalc8MJ5MBxGz_LKy4PoCxm2dSLSZlEf7aGCz_GqopAwMVi8WiObWYh4yy7HCTryk9dkMGheFgQonFRCbzgVjXjEMuwrgdC2RsPL3dmdUmlWeW1FgtR5He7HUvNxYX7Kr_pL5J84C8DH2l1XZFFPDAw/w640-h426/Sewing%20Jigsaw%20012_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Welcome back to this jigsaw series; today I wanted to share a sewing-themed five-hundred-piece jigsaw I completed earlier in the year. It wasn’t too challenging, particularly compared to ones I’ve done in the past with twice as many pieces. The picture is really pretty, and caught my eye when I saw it reduced on sale. This is another one by The Works brand which I keep going back to for quality and reliability. There was just the right amount of detail and a gorgeous colour palette.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Are you drawn to this design too?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you been working on anything lately? :-) Xx</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavMh31d9gnS6KsXu5g0STzEYTT8v-g0fFffmtVZy5SuQsNQaPygnn3bhhLmsMlDI7E3WfhtUWChlhVznOAgqJc8Xdkt--wD5ePv8oAYG6zETjA3Rf30HItadPU_Cp6drUVVji25LuTDTKZ_tYYE6i640LgMP7Lx4Q5BMvqX8ubvbbm4A2F8jRCMDBWw/w640-h426/Sewing%20Jigsaw%20006_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc5M2H0rsyZFlT4ZLwFQQxc84gGEg4X23AxRLGvA98JoswtUdiG0qG6y9UReVK5_Bl166aMDV_eg9kxidc3akXBetFPgFBaFyIpkzeKPk4AF-1m9RllvyJixj6rf_QIRkBxi3CYY0d-begVl5jUmHxSK-kb9_yw8RkepUsFw6s-TlpQxJn2MNZyY90w/w640-h427/Sewing%20Jigsaw%20019_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk-C0w2ZmPk5ULvUKezDKhNGdQiNo4qHkt1Gf-yhgrHotwFqr_NBtEVnS25yj8kzDErZ7LJFlLwFTClQPmujgtjTLZOfNtgg58arlEmFRxiWIqc6vhUvVJt6Y7_ZpijS_WW-jKvDeWhZJM8xZbg-lNAIz4MF2l6ePx3bzGI9si6KcqOK1J-gd_2Q75w/w640-h426/Sewing%20Jigsaw%20001_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKpv8kZTtdSeaNp83wkWiTKSmJPogZxlRFp2xy0uvTfOdjaLzGoDlGQrQZ-mIWJlf9axhIk-oYKpYmw_5ulw6vfPu8-xcTGjhCzKcrAd4788HmeWYR2jKE08nStBEmjVQrJqN_UZhp9o5xNBjmbgV4563Z7ZJo7JfywdD47wJn2wh1YIWqB-r9rGt8Q/w426-h640/Sewing%20Jigsaw%20009_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><p></p>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-54301902363450347502022-05-24T14:02:00.000+01:002022-05-24T14:02:06.150+01:00These are a few of my favourite things #19<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1fNkGOvTAd0gXs1xE8xVjwNhw1ZMRXXUkEIt4L_aPdYQ1I3cg6ZjykNCoYSAtT26hywv2Z-_7ROwxpUmDlkTMPeYyrx2SgoieIQRfXu3bhoOyf9yxnmpARQ0ChgkWjQmIXU5aYp3a6zaEG1hh22tlD2eAsTINjQGkNeKsw2r7yZKe1zw9l8OGXCBsA/w426-h640/Kirkleatham%20Forest%20023_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31qWU7F9U-S9yk03jIyTWtj1Ik9sMTBtbROvez1UHSpoBJeYQO_xHkni7SP9mCxlLZ4enWIaknUY_nh6l0zNf8ozAi5MKluAXKU6_UuUGGyojMDBGFEclYtyJ2jy6yiFNMzXVM59G-AYysRgyvKfrnSkaiLtNmX76-rMprGQ0b2ok4RyorbhJ-AeBvA/w426-h640/Kirkleatham%20Forest%20010_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtyvqMVhgj6dac0lV3CMi-aN-UmkriQ3dDHEp6jOFD6obcYsGeiV2dECF8kZ_hNsNwYYgh4kuYP3ZrWJ6UWYIExBmCxRxq5MwWExI-TSXVG5jefW2md64Vqqd1a866IHoeQV3qrowHwGP3pyV991odCQ8NP_5fgKF_Ty1UVKWgM2v0JG9k8QQ_ljEOQ/w640-h426/Kirkleatham%20Forest%20015_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lifestyle/Other:</span></b></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Forest Walk</span></b></p><p>I had a natural break from taking photographs to pursue other hobbies but recently my family introduced me to a woodland I hadn’t explored before. At just the right moment, there were some lovely light effects coming through the trees, and nearby were lots of wild plants growing. I chose to go quite close up with my camera, and these photos were my favourite.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Z5r7mxmebdoxRAU0n9zuWhj05JcoG11xFZ4ZpgZD4sjjFEJkXhzo-8GRVEsJUeKrW9O-TMfrr0CK95yJc7_yeiXlFyecuU16JENLZ-10_FJxS6vGLNbggKJoEUGwPBzUlUXM9VZA0fpQnfRwRfzJK1q2fggwvM64NEw2Iry4SaTXxLqhZjgT9dQHRA/w640-h426/favourite%20things%2019%20004_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Books:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Best Friends Bakery Cupcakes & Contests by Linda Chapman</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We follow Hannah, aged ten, and her love for baking as she takes part in a TV baking contest. I mostly do healthy baking, so when this book delved into how to make bread, I was really excited. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There’s a strong sense of family, friendship and enjoying your passions. Part of the conclusion surprised me but left me thinking about my own similarities to Hannah. This is the third in the series, but I had no problems reading it as a standalone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">How to Reset by Vicki Vrint</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When looking in my local The Works store, I always gravitate towards the self-help section. I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author, so knew I wanted to give ‘How to Reset’ a read.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Some of her ideas are very interesting, and I found myself using little sticky tabs several times. The words on the front of the book summarize things perfectly: ‘Simple tips to help you rediscover yourself and live life to the full.’</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>How to Be Awesome by Sophie Golding</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I picked this one up as it looked like a fun read. I gravitated towards the typography, bright colours, and charming quality. I’ve read other books by Sophie Golding, so I had a good idea that this would be the same sort of thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The tone of voice was upbeat, while supportive, offering simple tips to tweak your routine. I felt it would make a good gift for someone going through a change in lifestyle. It might best suit people in their late teens or early twenties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiV8YZmyT4H-W1tMOnT-aMIluYFxsWI-pHHJ8vLUhjaeDiwm7_EbXnVwxlxai58Na9flVl3eeq7IDUaPBNjb6kpuJpELNYYvxbeHi0XaL9fIIbeiHk-7DOPQyVh9Hn8h-x2m_zJIldMpQalCWra5UYgakOGjlK6bmg_Wb2kVlA_cXxNyc66uuaoweVFg/w640-h426/favourite%20things%2019%20007_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Splash! By Flora McDonnell</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Splash is a bilingual picture book written in English and French. We learn about how animals keep cool in hot climates, and I felt it was a good way for children to familiarize themselves with another language. The story and illustrations had a beautiful sentiment to them; it was such a pleasant experience turning each page.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A Polar Bear by Mac Barnett</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love when authors and illustrators use simplicity with picture books, and this one showed a lot of skill in how it was executed. We follow an average day for a polar bear, with a play on words, and the use of collage to illustrate the snow and setting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Dogs in Disguise by Peter Bently</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If you have an affection for dogs, I think you would enjoy this one as much as me. As you turn each page, it’s nice to take your time looking through the artwork. The humour, rhyming, and memorable illustrations make this a wonderful picture book.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPj-xRgu8tZOy0JvIB2mKooS_27kmtz0x61IUJEDhlF9HiCNMa_Q7T_bNHYO7P1sgTUEZHSWKKeT3N08PkqJcHueRaRPC2OP8Rvr4QHTHxsYwwVeyoUHHT-Q5ErodzB4_mS7a3bbSxDM73aWSmg7QuVXVtZx8a_sjJf8PS4JjJNdY-Fai1ZtqEAnjFOQ/w640-h426/favourite%20things%2019%20011_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">How to Grow a Unicorn by Rachel Morrisroe</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div>This isn’t just a book about unicorns, but also about a little girl’s relationship with her grandma and their connection through gardening. Along with the magical elements, it was a really great allrounder.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">13 Modern Artists Children Should Know by Brad Finger</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div>This book does what it says on the tin, introducing children to the top artists that are worth knowing about. It was well laid out, easy to read, and a great choice for children who have an interest in art.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgloQpSTkVES3cDatvy5IHNUEV3maHPvnwRcMhFWlJOCrnSd53NfZBu5M4pyls70DzdypFmYqtFMPne-RSDBK0ox9TrfKM-q_gKkhPqarhlaA8fj1ryxEOy1-N9CfeGz9VRnQ8IoM4Qwf_oYwmQ7KfHjlnI-fEz6ysxqjBWIZywpqcyfjOc4KRkDY-zA/w640-h426/favourite%20things%2019%20014_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Films:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div><i>‘This updated adaptation of the classic fairy tale tells the story of Danielle (Drew Barrymore), a vibrant young woman who is forced into servitude after the passing of her father.’</i></div><div><br /></div><div>There’s just something about this film that I enjoy coming back to every so often. The original story of Cinderella has always interested me, particularly as a child, and I felt the retelling was done well.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="351" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq5VwvZyfy4ogWBRNrnV7KrcW3nYXBZfxXhAQ6cagxCJtAuGhqeVzqt3rNJQ7OZ-SLOEvCjuOpoQv5w6n5uNhTaDNISeR_sd_Wgx_ul_EDi3F8YX7wNn-d0LQnWpWHkyKT4R3q7TOgWW0hrxnuNppdBi6Ye5UjGpDs-WP0-WfvWb2vmAXEy8Fsa8m5Q/s320/ever%20after.jpg" width="225" /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How has your month been?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Have you found any recommendations? :-) Xx</span></b></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-54796362869802119252022-05-09T13:03:00.000+01:002022-05-09T13:03:58.483+01:00Bookish Experience Ideas<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5111" data-original-width="3407" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqrRyTi2sjDNY_LQ4p0cpPagTue3rg5tW10xCifOYsc4i6D-9eWSUs7zp1Z2Bbyv5LF2zPFQZ9g20NiU3K_W7NXywiHYaaEPn7qszRlprRUDXlhQ1hcN8AduhOVuN2vkGJJCUWkb4VYIYUNpP9o8a-It6LUcx7WPsMRCXoHEC6akWv_w20ONQ-1OTqg/w426-h640/Book%20Experiences%20043_EDIT_2.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdoTFc_6nI-CtBZnnxVaE5nTSlimuJXrly0kFr1WFWxWfuKmytW76TOu-tpori60aURMQUfBw_fAuDQ250vIsWbuSq5kcAMGs43seXFx8XlWSJLihOcP4JTE8-fq88k7pEr_P13iFPLrODOJU4mMhgwCHLq3SLeVF1AdFQ_mOqBSwpe4tSv3dqWy_MA/w640-h426/Book%20Experiences%20002_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><p></p><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Reading doesn’t have to be a solitary experience. In my opinion, there are lots of ways to connect with people through the love of books. Here are some of the ideas I have collected…</span></b></div><div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Support Independent Bookshops</span></b></div><div>If you are lucky enough to live near one, you could make it a weekly thing and some have cafes. You could also try visiting bookshops on holiday, which I have done in the past.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Buddy Reading</span></b></div><div>I didn’t even know buddy reading was a thing until I started watching booktube videos. For those of you who don’t know what it is, you pick a book to read at the same time as a friend and share your thoughts as you go along.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ask for Book Recommendations</span></b></div><div>You could do this in a library or a bookshop for the experience factor, but online you could try asking your favourite YouTuber or blogger.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Visit Beautiful Libraries</span></b></div><div>Libraries can be very architecturally beautiful and some are even famous. This could be something you could try to incorporate into a holiday or daytrip. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Blind Date with a Book</span></b></div><div>If you are unsure of what this is, you can find pictures on Pinterest, but the idea is to gift wrap a book with some key facts about it on the front. You could make these yourself as a gift or sell them, otherwise search eBay/Etsy for yourself. I’ve already shared my experience <a href=" http://helensfashionblog.blogspot.com/2018/02/blind-date-with-book-for-valentines-day.html">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Read a Book Aloud</span></b></div><div>This could be to a younger family member, a spouse or you could volunteer to read to folk in an old people’s home.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1NF-cjZRud6mVVelg7Gi2XkSo7N5nP4AXwfL8R8j6g42sWBD04OmpI0xW7tKjhcMQJH_IHKIOMJK6D5OnwIYxMv5bR50cK6lBZTB_du5tWZRDWQa4wNYSVPjJJwgaoQn1iGLdC79wG5LyfGDVU8j7kWC91nOQNJUmlZqskJmfEo_kc38ZKzeSewoJg/w426-h640/Book%20Experiences%20040_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFaKyD6e-PUkTexONe9uM13KDuQqPsg9APp3iOv5UjFmv1rUmIPD9yDQ2dZSOesB17g78iQi3zaKqcojRGDCkAL4NvxHr9dbkBnKJ2c3gckCaMvnwHn6K79BX2jSPK_x4IxH9b8GHkHT55taSbK3uV3g5-6kXIX4mc_aGw6n_nZmqxw-dPTmj_9aqFg/w640-h426/Book%20Experiences%20017_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Donate used Books to a Charity of your Choice</span></b></div><div>So, there are two steps to this, the first being to go through your books and decide which ones you don’t want to keep. Then, you can choose where to donate. Maybe you live near some charity shops or you could have a stall at a church fair and donate the profits to a charity that means something to you.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Join a Book Club</span></b></div><div>This could be face to face or online. I’ve never done this because of my specific tastes but I like the idea of it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Go to a Book Signing</span></b></div><div>I feel this would be a cool one to do. They often advertise these events in bookshops, libraries, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Go on a Charity Shop Book Crawl</span></b></div><div>I have done this in the past and it’s pretty fun going to different charity shops. You’d be surprised about the things people donate; I have picked up some incredible book bargains.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Make your own Bookmarks</span></b></div><div>I’ve already done this, but I like to be more creative each time. You can use old greetings cards, or paint/collage.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Visit a Library Book Sale</span></b></div><div>I’ve never been to one of these but would like to try. They sound interesting and I’ve heard books are sold very cheaply.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know which of these you have tried or would like to try!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have any of your own ideas that I have missed? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4oXSVp80Jv_4nQUsOwauLwXC8DxEsKzPL7TskivegQquwdsERqavAlNfzlNwwn2ZZnNAU552r-crcko7yEkEl4QjG8OxFlWuwxDTnPqTDycsDXXqbBdz9lCsrthVsEeyJ2a5uLq6zP3iJF0wjSxeKmw5Ji-CDCTwWQIyyRdt6DSKo49Vf8JYAQKiMw/w426-h640/Book%20Experiences%20027_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrN2Kz1OgVhpfvfbvRTP3gS4Cj3mJzTapCHzqdVg4z4dC-aV6mymuPhDuTPSVocjZUN53O0eOkQKIcuct2al5kwYhI8oI1LK87ys9ngEPaLfZ7wt0AsGIIQIH1oCZKIMQ3AF0NUt4cBGLKRiCc6zCpAzOQyTQOFRd6U1THZZ16haf0LtZaAkMhRuAU1g/w640-h426/Book%20Experiences%20003_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-84845790969292488382022-04-30T13:36:00.000+01:002022-04-30T13:36:46.240+01:00These are a few of my favourite things #18<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x_0Q0U5UQnWs3kDNaGVXxGNGKCHE_LvxgPNg8OuaYJ9ktvWEaP3PQRr1gg_nxvMd4Hz015iKNSns-f-hD6uXJN46DFJI1uiu3F4GxXDrw2TdXYAdbUQeu9XoPitk-MEkA43cUVQXaMEDwL78EPT1oylP7w3SJ72SDSMcA3ueYBmPuHd6zwoPFua8zA/w426-h640/Favs%20p18%20009_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Books:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Guardians of the Planet by Clive Gifford</span></b></p><p>This is a thorough and well researched book aimed at children who want to be eco-warriors. There were some really helpful practical tips which gave me a few ideas to try. Some of the statistics shown were pretty hard-hitting and left an impression on me. It was an informative read showing that caring for our planet can be fun; one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Our Planet by Matt Whyman</span></b></p><p>This is beautifully presented, oversized book showing children the wonders of the natural world. It is predominately about hope in preserving what we have, but underlying this is a message to be aware of the struggle’s animals are having due to the climate crisis. I found it educational, even reading it as an adult.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE8Db49aOcCIL12rqbDTFiEOlfIUpQSxhvo2yloDgnGk_hiIcpj4ocnz2lbPJzK3zgDekRSWYeGGwd_mz3h9nmtOl6nTSylvWaxJdcsZqd_IkmiH6S2d-sRFIsd5Az9TO-wE5oMMvGEybjszq_w0T0WEGZvyQjHOkDo-uTDB5a4CWafq9RkpM4JChmQ/w640-h426/Favs%20p18%20027_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Alex and Lulu Mix and Match by Lorena Siminovich</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>We follow friends Alex and Lula who love art collaging. The story develops around Lula’s latest project; she can’t seem to get the right colours so the pair go on an outing to get inspiration. The picture book leads to a discovery about mixing colours, and as an educational topic I think it’s great for budding artists.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Stitched Textiles: Birds by Rachel Sumner</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>The author is a textile artist who’s subject focuses on birds in their natural habitat. She provides step by step instructions on a number of projects. Her art work is stunning and it was fascinating to discover her creative process.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzlIW0G0fvJ9c49DX2E91X8h6xX-ScteYxQz134DhgXIeuskjcQYZDcBFIaq_TxlVG0GDK0s1DlWAEuCN6BqLNAmqKhzvi-4ZDyk5PXjcQjC1WO8wkt4zTpszUYT662k2cZTnN02PwSn7ItGtHGggJT42ocfAWCEeePIjtYXxvQT9lzjX_7t9eNnq_g/w640-h426/Favs%20p18%20025_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Create Your Own Kindness by Becky Goddard-Hill</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>In this children’s book we learn about all aspects of kindness, being kind to yourself, others and the world. It includes the mental health aspects on why we should be kind, and delves into emotional intelligence a little bit. The author has done other books that I would also recommend in a similar style, with slightly different themes.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Helping Our Planet by Jane Bingham</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I’m working my way through as many environmental books as I can, as I have a passion for the subject. I found that this one was one of my favourites for the target audience of children. I really appreciated the in-depth information about renewable energy as well as clever, everyday tips for families to try for themselves to reduce their carbon footprint.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZg-JschBi8dnZF66jXoiO0i7CaooRhOWlb5wdbk2RHIQgmSzdU59cpbZHDcPvnEVQqQ_M3GjVQLmuDUbkDNCrvYTpjtMiHdIsVbKsWypJkxaktg-YmcJdO-y6VH33eGtWVm7Boyzc90ZPBilfX25PUTaiWbA5bUwjKwP1kwefs_awHCiCn9SyRiuEw/w426-h640/Favs%20p18%20030_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CozPKHPY_hHm0YlC1bOB0xEYANteDszxwLxX4tMNwaaA1nCPfCnrbfiNqeOSLUkTmD4d74PDn16y3q5gQ8zX2mTfpAPv77rToeXyHrfuxduTX_FJLGWtNfWXEI6oqSYsBcqNoCalhIZ9fwKVZcg2ae-rhZxBCIOEGYf9CtnGNaUqj8L3aByUV8zPaQ/w426-h640/Favs%20p18%20021_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Films:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Sand Dollar Cove (2021)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>‘Real estate development project manager Elli is sent by her company to seaside Connecticut town of Sand Dollar Cove to acquire the beachfront property they've chosen as the site of their new resort. Brody, the charming local who holds the deed, wants to make sure the town's beloved pier - where many memories have been made over the years remains intact. Elli and Brody spend time together while she tries to figure out a way to make the deal work and the undeniable connection between them grows.’</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was a lovely, escapist film that I would recommend. I thought the family dynamic in Brody’s family was portrayed well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Charlies Angels (2000)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>‘They're beautiful, they're brilliant, and they work for Charlie. "Charlie's Angels," is a sexy, high-octane update of the original '70s action-comedy TV series.’</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was a re-watch for me, and didn’t regret coming back to it. There was some serious girl power, and found myself enjoying the action sequences.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxJm5RePamLwfZ3t-86JPFmSbhULUakMDoGkFzFBfXwsX4y31afIbcysv7dAAej4GB2DUVm4KVJtvG1Fl9WTEhQvCnBEqYJfRiBXVr-7EggkyTFXbN25i-k1N1ttU2X-6GWTlGxfIrlCRuA2obu1nxXIiP9to7wtMxSn5oHZ3eApMr8jtAV8FHSZciQ/s320/Sand%20Dollar%20Cover.jpg" width="213" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn16a08C0LH7SGRWMbvGGxZUfSRRe39uEIK6syFYbhsvA9RVePwQepFuNbsLT8CAVUooCUfHZ9aUwoPF2EAQSgp81OOqGu8-5v3wEolK-T9719UvSSE4jk0xHDqoM608Ko5dr4aw-hSYhU_y40tpzw7DIXPcCa_Tx4S0CTTUD0wq-kAEwEavIrxZH-g/s320/Charlies%20Angels.jpg" width="213" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What Women Want (2000)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>‘A cocky, chauvinistic advertising executive magically acquires the ability to hear what women are thinking.’</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I like to come back to this film every once in a while, as it’s one of my favourites. The acting is great, there are some really endearing moments, and I like the focus on the graphic design industry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">13 going on 30 (2004)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>‘A girl makes a wish on her thirteenth birthday, and wakes up the next day as a thirty-year-old woman.’</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I forgot how much I love this film. The dual timeline works nicely, going from Jenna as a teenager to her working as an editor at Poise magazine. The cast is great, and it was fun to see how a fashion magazine is run.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="584" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1CXqozCpzno49-pW2XbMpOvWb6cs4BJQQFamiI2SZpbrAFKEApRg3gZn_f4f9i5u0pTHwDv0mmwcmCMIIdfGuFyhfHSreGpSNm6m8JtDK9dxVuf1El4So80Unc3103b2q3n8zsNlfW3fVBwRYysN8L3CBdhbivzfZbYdq0u-nvPdEhd_cLz0p5P94A/s320/What%20Women%20Want.jpg" width="228" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRtDbbTMC6zdVak0wEfdM4HQw6exINdn4msUNU19uW4lqJ124y5zEf_XEm3ejFhDtDrvuFtQHQCqxlmA-5mucrRJhg-q6KMjBnCaBgzYgpeokflVBToCO-DUiHi_CnMUeL0RpaEcVQ4Th4XzXQve9Pij4krzAoukzBmUbMs8GAlCN9IeKtHBrm9Ml5Q/s320/13%20going%20on%2030.jpg" width="214" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Alice Through The Looking Glass (2016)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>‘Alice is appointed to save her beloved Mad Hatter from deadly grief by travelling back to the past, but this means fatally harming Time himself, the noble clockwork man with the device needed to save the Hatter's family from the Red Queen.’</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This one was something a little different for me, and found there were elements that I really liked. The themes of how precious time is, and what we do with it resonated. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKe3V8t2PdAMQ_ghnC_4xoZ2MwetmycebEqEt-p2YOKIKMWhb-E5tm2M8jZDTwa1cXhfIJIYKWjH7K3NnWkonfmFIfu7krUQSH_1LWCV1UZUTCkh2OIyjZ7_3czyuRLLoSNHoFuz-3ctEJV8pxpkHaOLOsc3T8SgQrjJcz2Ge47woYJz3Fr76Ady1Og/s320/alice%20through%20the%20looking%20glass.jpg" width="216" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Music:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lost and Found by Martine McCutcheon</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This month I found I’ve been listening to music quite a bit. I stumbled across this </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">album on my music app and liked it straight away as Martine has a lovely voice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">In The Zone by Britney Spears</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I like the general vibe of this album, it’s mellow but with a good beat. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="294" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BkptE9ZNmZERq6RzO48XDPV1yB_Ac5NFlxymZFfUwrK4Kl_Oesw7_uuYpPv2c4OkAAEm6y7JBZfFBiF6vb4bbDyb3URsxfs0X2q7eVPcI4Dm2Cfm43TthwggZ-kCbuwdWPXpybAj5Q-4MKSvKEq_0kixIkjrUIIoKqTWm5zIC3aKMXpt3ENNV20bIw/s1600/martine%20m%20cd%20cover.jpeg" width="294" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBs4kf6fU0y5C8ZMupzcj7krHV1pa4rJ9GdUtzWXbI8a9gTo-p8D42inYjsLQjuX5XwXwPQEVsS70LpQ6V_MLorVNNEQML07hL3mg7qk9fR20xNxlkKjc3ZdHx72k58Jke_cF-vBEQSZUsR16ixrsXi-CbO3wcG8w68WggZldOWLf_ho5e0vfiPcTIMQ/s1600/in%20the%20zone.jpg" width="300" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What have you been reading this month?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you watched any of the films mentioned? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-10492811840923092422022-04-17T18:40:00.000+01:002022-04-17T18:40:11.970+01:00Cinnamon Biscuits<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeeCJnaY7ty6OD4Vi7d9QGGf478o1ZGOMfe5rIFP4wjvZ_74AhOewlDrLMXL5-LTuYfjQ2R5nQ48jnEgyHfYwD97aXtiWFtVGBu3ckXkN3xbtjURl-746a9s9s0QMyaAy0GM57c8jLPwvtGF33mgewxVFMwA_0DVWR3LnOrfaP5NFLo9fvYYh6fKBXA/w426-h640/Cinnamon%20Biscuits%20004_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJlQlxBWcnXlHtK2V5Aim6Dj52ScsOkTyjjjTz71Ow9hZvJrbSBVH-1T383yTAP3_cA9ur6G3U6oOUcRhwZ2VaVoTafwg0BAcVaKaKtxWMb4lytJwKOFCbTliwAd8sVoLpqsYkBipd-CWNI_2m1evxuHzZBRU1hbrO-KjuxFVYupLOhR13fcOHZDyTg/w640-h426/Cinnamon%20Biscuits%20008_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I’ve been doing some more baking recently and thought I would share it. I used a recipe from ‘Mary Berry Fast Cakes’ and would recommend both the recipe and the book. Page 210 if you have a copy. I was quite pleased with the results, and my brother made some positive remarks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I’d been looking for a cinnamon biscuit recipe for a while and I found these had a lovely flavour without being too sweet. I would bake these again as I enjoyed making and eating them. I’m slowly making my way through the baking books I own trying to complete as many recipes as possible. I might revisit these in autumn as cinnamon is perfect for that time of the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you been baking recently?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know if you like the look of these! :-) Xx</span></b></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuneUpMeFkoVKism9uqRUxmWmiaKfo9vl9YYSYJKZWmzY6crFTqMLgFbhQxv21xYGsMpQV7oMwnU3J0ggCF3wpR6C2Tm0wNBKrG8Ow1St8aENN56QItNJaxh8u5X1ySqA6vQAQZuy0rNqWHBsi_6tlpfHcelew1GwE4ns7lcI9NgOZPArEo5SnghShw/w426-h640/Cinnamon%20Biscuits%20002_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHTTOH5BMlTaw9glNOjMrzSJVllG1-sMPMKZrpjTPi3Vuirn-ikRqwxnVNzrSJ1BVf1VcoudGpVmCKJQqcpfLu1w3_216thIAITQK5e2QJBiG1CPFkQe8ujStAT0xnCnkEaW5PeBtkiPX0qZ19YPgrySFlkafl0Lg1ukxuaI8jSFEEC4mgcvBkGuZwA/w640-h426/Cinnamon%20Biscuits%20006_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><p></p>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-29607596881959725282022-04-17T12:57:00.000+01:002022-04-17T12:57:22.393+01:00My Simple Skincare Routine<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaujLqekQ49eC3D9XQPtYSAKC8nqPMVw4zbhYS6eTbCucU_SDkX-Km1T82Y4gG01_cVqHEQwfpw9PhfBqoDBuzJJDZ9uFPR1E8nGyRFITWzFiBwhiCFQPd_o2n0RnS4dX0nJ2weJ4q5pPmgnqqYj7fbYThve_k7rsFgmNeftrlhMkuSSrBaY3fhIaffg/w426-h640/Simple%20Skincare%20021_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7-jPDx3uXv4OOMpLun1C_k02lRqh50gjjVqjd9p_0oPu3wqbDr6-mgbk_yJYGUmocRbMe8zXXNlj1sfBKuuAGwWCA-1m9SVfQJnh-Ioe2Q6_Wnffv0e8JMZhvgQIY3Ddlmv3xesaxGUovwc0zkJh1WDy36wf4fcF6lgAsoY4_-bTEb273fbaHB0TFw/w426-h640/Simple%20Skincare%20013_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><p></p><div>Today I wanted to share some of the skincare products I have been using. I sometimes get sensitive skin so tend to use quite basic, just do the job products. So let’s begin…</div><div><div><br /></div><div><b>Vitamin E Body Cream (Cruelty-free)</b></div><div>I’ve been using this for the last couple of months as it’s gentle and effective. There’s a subtle floral scent to it as well as leaving my skin super soft.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Vitamin E Day Cream SPF 15 (Cruelty-free)</b></div><div>This is one of my favourite products in my routine; I use it on my face to keep it soft and smooth. The vitamin E range is very affordable and good for sensitive skin.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Simple Cleansing Lotion (Cruelty-free & Vegan)</b></div><div>I couldn’t get hold of my usual cleanser one month so went on a search for something else suitable. I was delighted to see this brand had gone cruelty-free and vegan which is great as the product works nicely on my skin. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Simply Pure Eye Make-Up Remover (Cruelty-free)</b></div><div>I use this to get rid of mascara and although I don’t apply it every day, it’s a good staple.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11CN_qeQJoqD_KINJJScd1vUk4pYpvUkirRVJvnkic9uRgzAgUfTy7wJ2SwMOqELTAPjdJS9ebKON50fu4ucokQqKHcq-AO6yZ-XZ3j1Vj21ACPbF3laLylUsK8tax01hudCE5rTq8otON0P2GDnAEWp-DsZUY8q8Fz9DMYfOJNXb4QbCvgyV1rB18g/w426-h640/Simple%20Skincare%20029_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vHex8QX0HD3_hyvpVckD_w8XSMT8F2hbCKKQwzkjXHrsmq29nkyBbMt8fJyGB7tpMsfO4-KuiYdi9Rkv3WdiPHI3aCD-CGofNQKHzywSu0ylnG_CVRdz7b5DLpqKAf7ImLnK9FRsmpoFGzqHCNL7Jmosjiwye2I9dbDeeEEcUSbGvT-vHmwYYLKgUg/w426-h640/Simple%20Skincare%20034_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Original Source Shower Gel (Cruelty-free & Vegan)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My all time favourite shower gel brand is Original Source. I’ve been using them on and off since my teens and love the zesty smell of the lemon or lime scent.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Avon Bronzing Gel (Shade Light Bronze)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I first started using this product last summer to add colour to my legs. It has a natural tan look to the skin and I would highly recommend it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>The Body Shop Black Musk Fragrance Mist (Cruelty-free)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took quite a while picking out my current fragrance with the help of my local BS rep. I feel this was a lovely choice as it’s very feminine and classy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Vaseline Lip Balm</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After being outside when it’s cold my lips tend to chap. I have started applying Vaseline lip balm most days to keep them in top condition. It’s a great all round product in my opinion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_KXfiL9fX3GJCMzIKh30ijF63APtIS8xG9Qq2o1W8RkRE_5BhIMFuBkDkUAqIRCLyQjReaMTicSv4VN-HEk48C2oNyNRfOITGxjdfNXiimQoW5zehtdbC9jp4tqhGmPgM6AhdrQ9qZqaiT-xJ0LBdYUEfNKvKZu3m8sXjHfJm9SEymKVaJLvCS-Maw/w426-h640/Simple%20Skincare%20039_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5GJ-Sidlnxyg3xuLxPBLMG0-u3DtLXBarkWYSJAnQ3QiOaZKmEzKa88Q9nWbivzq1r9J0liZ57eLN_GzVHW9ZmVYdI-xJ-QKanO5gD7CTSndGt7tsH4qr8vwRIqb1OrQk3NErise4oVTet-ZcpU4TNQ0tMS5tEajbdDJnGjt9Bobo9a8iP3dfbieyQ/w426-h640/Simple%20Skincare%20042_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have a simple skincare rountine too?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you tried the Vitamin E range before? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-41350383944239610052022-04-12T08:08:00.000+01:002022-04-12T08:08:44.085+01:00Magazine Review #3 (Oh)<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnErzZ6mO5gF8SkUi-803MPOIEs77klpDFhumNa9NCwm9V-XLgE_6TfR1UxG8u_Udd2guPgP8aOKUvA02R-evW5s3sBLtpgD6VZ_Cjs0cF-kdUWbhwF0KEZ_7UHEHHpolUzOww2ZzsRTELVlICVncUzyUpg4PEEIK_u6oORScooqBIrg0BAWdw4A2kug/w426-h640/magazine%20review%203%20009_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFwUZn7HGb3BxPza_kgY5tp_pmQcOdpjo8N0ROZ0wm_XqddTvU8bKI4T8Y6jiXeooHe2MmXvtYzjBOAmTBiUImuN4MQS7tf9vDKly4NdCmZIFAYFVvCzwZEqAxED8wEmrUllub55MraH7k0PrenKT9b8JNt0YdA7ejueg3XaOEOOTlV2EZTFk7a3mGw/w640-h426/magazine%20review%203%20022_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-xguC7HYomHvNV_FaHab43HNS-ny6eituieNEa-PEnm4gvuogkk91sTgMRRwR6VVsUJ9Y0oG-cr8SlARpQm1_bX67qfzNjp8humoAhpgtNfViacLi0AiKf0f_24sDE3nEoLMp4_4bcBByINplb8PCPaZThsUIW9uS4qhwvD5jkfzFJoV14YA6SHg8A/w640-h426/magazine%20review%203%20025_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Name of magazine</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh (Issue 58/Early Spring)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Who is it aimed at?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anyone who likes art and culture would like the magazine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It also seems to be for family oriented people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The slogan</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mindful being – Mindful doing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What the magazine aims to achieve</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The magazine feels like a comforting hug including escapist articles, and mindfulness tips. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This issue was written during the pandemic, so topics for how to keep well are included.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz8Mni6ZbkE6YZh5VuVN79AoYYKMGREdQSfrFI49J41-MBntebkyTZ3Hj7j_BPXpnXw_7egP_FGzm8WPUOa1C7Hol2wRr0EFrKRI6H_-JsHOl1o3zqIkX3CmZXDhiAHS4pSUThGVIipIcSxjtRZ3B5dk79sUtg3LWDDdigYBuTOWaE7GiwI2t6CvwLw/w640-h426/magazine%20review%203%20005_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq9lRyREOhPwkHpRCi1GgSEHKn9SOE8HaT9VnF0sDAGB2rFJhR9PV46G1yrFgVcV9Fi2FpT3tLDwgGyWP_uKOGtGlVLkEuK5myicJLZmhRvUVkKVmkI4xpuSIl09xyAEwkPwjWeA-qazRSyaWBxp8jXlGS04RQ7vwZFfXfudxoYZY4fEk7LG17p44cg/w640-h426/magazine%20review%203%20008_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLr6L_0py8merwJm4YeeOlUaIcUbjRnDjiUkiaEjF_EqOyEjmRpwNwtLLygAQI71vslPMEMw7YUUGImBe-kelMX46qMnbVI2ZON0lmNJ07r8d-rDU_vHB5fSF4qPuo8Ec2733BnPUNa5jNCiu1PyNNb5p7agfmkn8s-Uo0EHj_POg6yv2cGtU-kQ2rqw/w640-h426/magazine%20review%203%20019_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Favourite articles</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I read this cover to cover and I enjoyed all the articles. My tops were ‘Sisterhood’ an exploration of family ties, ‘In the flow’ about why we swim, ‘Green economy’ living life sustainably, and ‘How to be still’ the practice of acceptance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Further notes</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reading this magazine was one of my highlights of the month. Sometimes I feel with certain magazines that they are just not aimed at me but with this, I was fully interested and inspired.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Would I buy another copy?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, without a doubt I would order another issue. ‘Oh’ is more widely available to buy online than other titles I have read in the past.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNck7e-71rgdKlIwuv4vwR4UFYGsuArw-HnHh9ClU7TUhg0RJi-jiRiusokAFDkUjx4MYz68CTHmsIsv3f0BmWCMetkeWK-FCWf4dLKrD3r14Hepiep4BJLNS5AEMaK2Fie901BQLZLcr1tlvq81gv7hVG3ReKf-O7X6fHujnirw2nyIoDEZSC64uUjw/w640-h426/magazine%20review%203%20001_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Any DNF (Did not finish) magazines lately?</span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Practical Mindfulness Book (Issue Six)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I thought I was going to thoroughly enjoy this one, but because it was too technical and jargon was used I felt overwhelmed. I didn’t find it accessible.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you heard of Oh magazine before?</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you read magazines in your spare time? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-59448127661106259972022-03-25T08:39:00.000+00:002022-03-25T08:39:04.264+00:00Magazine Review #2 (Recharge)<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8LtkaebzLrn41pgDLox-tmwfUcD7uHgvf0iVKbj7BfylWXWpslJm6Myzr2QNCsMg30veEc6jEitoWg94FjhiVFMo_oj2nQKUtatNv5dNU05VsUV7YX3fizxZR4JgY5yV0GxVERQk11q_25LOT1oVAMn1R7YsF5UxF7naTRo7vTGVtlZwtSy5LaFFtw/w426-h640/magazine%20review%202%20001_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQqr6JXF0iSqWgBz-Y82nYdmmAI1b_w0kHqxygXu8UouUd9_HCbqJyXGnlca-ulrmeh_PKSW9lgxaal-5NTzWPlTkPWLEH_xwGV1lUDXc0T_K3YuUBl-Q7eDsJH8LW8Z2Lb3A0fYV0Lpd6NVU-nV7VSsTIpbJLF1V2uC7YlYG0ap7lYFl_iIpY0ffpw/w640-h426/magazine%20review%202%20008_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrXDH-_NvKZy743Z9hpHM24vcwxIe3aLt9yj_W7oe2IIZYEioH7B6LdFtbCgqemrprNAw3JRJDBiV1dXsEQG9Wc_3xj16cvRxp97eHINkKRee6C6f7GL7WsdXRerfrOHqUwjj3AfcjbT_jSBxZ1V0p419QW2oY1dGoP2y1_zYeX22yv_f4l-nQTVCIQ/w640-h426/magazine%20review%202%20012_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Name of magazine</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Recharge (Issue 3)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Who is it aimed at?</span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;">I could imagine the magazine appealing to a broad range of people </div><div style="text-align: center;">but if I had to pin it down, I would say mid-20s to mid-30s.</div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The slogan</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Inspiration to start living more mindfully today.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What the magazine aims to achieve</span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;">The magazine is lovely to dip into when you need some self-care time. Topics </div><div style="text-align: center;">cover mind and body, lifestyle, travel and nature as well as creativity.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7AdZxchrvhQ9IUsS87w72qyo07CIlnAl8iej9i4YfRfW3g7OHO0aS7TdvAiIDyF9V8wm7kPt9X5gc0KgSArNgKJT7_E77rvJCy4GHtKtwhk_O9dbYZi7g7Bv2f5BSXnvAb5kNGZBYtFdYj-xlOGhoRGpPv80rhqV99AhWNuAF7YYBjLy8tLsu-hWpg/w640-h426/magazine%20review%202%20016_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhNWw_TBKGWPqjVsXuZkRam6_pLBc6--I4JQnYxB8hDXDSagKJtZWQrX1pb74DclJ1qvX1K6ltPcbevXmqmadnHeQ4iG3AJyb2w8eSiWrjGK1ObYREZPgjfM4gTmMwPZzBeGCmRZvcOpgO7pMvvW3_FR7EfYSYA6sGD0liV5vbpztwgjAFFzdzl4Kkg/w640-h426/magazine%20review%202%20019_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ74HuCy0gODjsVORXhQuESI0pJN-NelwiZVsMWpROl4scMgCdnLLaWiiJBXpmx0axqX1Zt76gENwio1q3Aybu08B5e4z0j34Hjr5Un2voo5uvsYat46gdlF-qhNipdLJNPkIj1mLotSS31LOJ49YKa78AWOE3rEVhjFCl-iKZhU8xeUdfT6cq0cbwfA/w640-h426/magazine%20review%202%20021_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBT0QjXowhNU2Bfqow8pXE3-MU9-eBrRdrNTCDfWLcfBTJhhpruMup19nDljeRuKk-pp3wyy_LdkpUjy56_bQGFyfpcnKAdXqn4q4Q3dwBBmSr0YY9MRZBe7bnJ_IMJp6w7uaeWD9TmXMFz_us-awEDm6CdMP0TbUkGZHfrjPsTOFxRIDQFjuHiTKwRw/w640-h426/magazine%20review%202%20023_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Favourite articles</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I read this cover to cover and I enjoyed all the articles. There were some highlights though such as ‘Natural beauties’ including some excellent natural make-up reviews, ‘Gratitude and wellbeing’ as well as ‘Living in the moment’ were great mental health articles. ‘Create an eco-friendly wardrobe’ and ‘Ditch the tech’ were inspiring too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Further notes</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a beautiful magazine that I couldn’t fault. The first half was my favourite including chapters mind and body then lifestyle. The quality of the paper and illustrations make it feel luxurious. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Would I buy another copy?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I couldn’t get hold of any other issues online but this issue is available on eBay pretty easily. I thoroughly recommend it if you are looking to treat yourself or a friend.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACXttOZQt1vD-8ud-Z3Adr2JGy4lk5L_w00gytMbS2IJbQlByXEU0SFCUe54WG3DQvaeQ8mL8A-xvz9budggC-2PBDQTN_6PnXNE_pAbU_in3h36CYkRMsfXI63FJWeOXytCfNv0dCaBMYR001WpFvu4sWwYf7oBIl5hK_1wFG7GJwJ0VKgD-fNRlCA/w640-h426/magazine%20review%202%20029_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Any DNF (Did not finish) magazines lately?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Mindful You (Take a mindful moment.) Issue one.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I bought a pack of three magazines but was disappointed by Mindful You. The cover </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">is so promising but there were too many medical articles with unattainable beauty shots.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Does Recharge magazine appeal to you?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What kind of topics in magazines do you like? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-27411998595384764102022-03-24T09:21:00.000+00:002022-03-24T09:21:06.894+00:00These are a few of my favourite things #17<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh157WPvI8Ak5fH-LHfNdR7Lm_QiFM7qSc3ZHmh2QnDv32FEs9GgDoh6iIey4Ba17cRfw9ChDjOqjxTcv4YMipFHe1wCD0U5ahw2xGUUDldJzvDOknqcgyRr9Lab-U-xFSLZrl9KPRExEIoqgr8KygQunlZAVPypuDNNVb1jhJZU-B9Gz646eRjONIDGw/w426-h640/fav%20things%2017%20016_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Books:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Forgive my fins is the first in the series and we follow Lily who is half-human, half-mermaid and her experiences living mostly on land, attending a regular high school. She gets herself into a complication when she kisses the wrong guy, in mermaid terms they are bonded for life and we follow the story from there.</div><div><br /></div><div>The author incorporated mermaid related descriptions into her writing style, and this made the experience for me. Most of the book takes place at Lily’s school, and those scenes represented teenagers in an authentic way. It was a fun read that I would recommend.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicedf39JRLtxUkc7YVgQTECr7amXNPLssoYUuMFTvmLBAcKNqGQSCCvC991TDODPKyZoNi0WgVdTTskVfecV4u85NgjwdSMSz6wxkd5qoPFI9TUqn-IN__dvT8M0BrT96SEdOW3_V2Bz6tbnBEHlGrWQlfSK6bdOpeqscmSq6iC6MJY62G6ILe0yUZTQ/w640-h426/fav%20things%2017%20040_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was one of my favourite books of the year so far. I went in with a bit of courage, as the themes and page length were very much outside my comfort zone. The writing style is captivating, and we as readers are swept into the magical world that is The Starless Sea. It’s the kind of book I would recommend to those who like experimental writing, I would describe the genre as contemporary fantasy but it’s best going into it without any prior knowledge of what it’s about.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivij4GAy85C2GpwY1duR0vLbJDviHSZ234dRC1iAYk7k7uoRbXVRIsywiwuLIqKv2rMD8OVpQu9eJJu-kaRKo43cgma-czSArBBxDf8NAUUFMwsYyObZ_m27klzhJXX95Pj5TDhSurNoirg_X60Sl4-lmIfOqFChwPw6CApBPhRWaxDmqNLwAlz-ua4w/w640-h426/fav%20things%2017%20043_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Mrs Bibi’s Elephant by Reza Dalvand</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a heart-warming tale of friendship between an eccentric lady and her beloved pet elephant. A beautifully presented picture book, the illustrations are a delight and I particularly loved the way the people were drawn, each one so unique. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3SVdb_dRB89EnLb0BDQ1t_AWpWi30wamMAnPCa-iUYeal82ww-n6tCNLFa8AOmszzCpkI2pc91Q6nTNH7keNRlxFdmY9w3UFm5xzBISjgNkbYQudpi_8_9uaTOjZxlKdoX4fYRT3DIlrKg4LNzRuhDI2Omwvlfgq2PLyTQgbM8I3jqfnBmYlDOMzhQ/w640-h426/fav%20things%2017%20031_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Whale Who Wanted More by Rachel Bright</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Humans have been consuming way too much and it’s threatening our earth’s resources. In this children’s book I loved how the author flipped the role of the whale and made him want nice shiny new things. There was a clear lesson that friendship not things is what really make us happy and felt it was a clever way to present the global environmental problem to young children.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPl6QmPgESHA3hBfCTZWA7s41jqWDFmKErujyrjN9bGKu4UqYLy4FmZIwSXKNnivgHlqREtMZL0HKvz70RCDFC1LB8Uh4rr7kg8b3gdx9AlTmbxVFm83UQiF1-Cf_n69t4JjEoyI4uD2HqmF0iGn-aMPmY0O4dE8kUJWJ3BSSlbxhhkwNR3rW69gutA/w640-h426/fav%20things%2017%20036_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Usborne Book of the Moon by Laura Cowan</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a non-fiction book, in a graphic novel format illustrating how people through history viewed the moon. It has fascinating stories, such as the landing on the moon, the development of technology and much more. One of my favourites on the topic of space science.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhluk_fqQZgivYnaCcCyy89qMVgRdoeOozck9Ln5bmy-FKUJPNPMh-8R8xQmftrZhO-UwWF2JL98KO8i3Lx75qjNDvzXW2USoKXQ5zLzLVTgngcOZ96V09Vmlf7tdWwzr58qWACdpwMd_iRvWTSTNd8uIyZ2aSxrhEtGuPf6EI-rVrUkx_-RipF1a72g/w640-h426/fav%20things%2017%20035_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Films:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMdveDHwySx9P1qt5JYTX5x8eyV9K4S-erobaSWpsKQeUTZi_K179cAyeP7k3K02h6ZATYP82kWZuZdztv2owbAD1igT_1AAdnPgo9a99MnQJID0SCU7F27GORM3PHve6_3RklVtf91P9aJHVpd1uAP0_ZFt_LTttB9Ta5Z-DlcJWDXt364gNnFf4-A/s320/Fashionably%20yours.jpg" width="213" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fashionably Yours (2020)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>‘After years of organizing fashion in the city, Lauren decides to move home. In exchange for her organizing services, mover Rob makes it his mission to help her see the beauty of Seattle.’</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was one of those films where you can just switch off and not think too much. The lead couple had a lot of chemistry and the fashion aspect was fun to watch as well. If you are after a fluffy romance, I would certainly recommend it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggukHRc2K607FMBgvFjlTvjJFCqIl4UBcKXUddEndjBmuWFxe6hl-cHl3JX7GkI4EBjn2eXSwSxsy-Uj6mkDvynG0qQlG_Q_7UyePGXiwsdG0dz-ViJc4t-VufDoJHpFCir-dFOUbvIPW7Z_U_XnVEzPSDG-uUu4zCQ7EijMXD7xjZYGfh_Lh7mM9U3Q/s320/a%20brush%20with%20love%20(2019).jpg" width="213" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A Brush with Love (2019)</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>‘Jamie is considering giving up on art until she paints a vision board which brings her success. But the mysterious man who appears in it is a real-life Prince Charming and Jamie embarks on a whirlwind romance with him.’</i></div><div><br /></div><div>This film was a pleasant surprise and ended up being one of my favourites from the year so far. There were some lovely poignant moments, particularly when the artist finds herself again through her love for art; it encouraged me to rediscover my creative side.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBRswBnh4SENAMklGJ24iqJXpLZeRsDpKT2qQyWcBIokvjm5SWQoXlQTH5Xyq0p1UBa4TBxqwRjNI1D9vIGBW4rVhCbzLRs3e83XGE-PcjZdNtrZjFuFo8-Y_oj8jqKOmGMq5-nnxRhsj3tCQTbyDpdLsi-5d_GEp5SvXqclIF7ikJYlF9t0NT3yvBw/s320/designed%20with%20love.jpg" width="213" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Designed with Love (2021)</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>‘Clothes designer Skye goes mobile with a “fashion truck” – but she can’t drive the truck and run the business alone. Help comes in the unlikely form of handsome entrepreneur Kevin. As they work together, Skye and Kevin find they have more in common than they thought… could it be love?’</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I loved the premise of this film; the overriding theme of fashion interested me and watching Skye’s fashion truck business develop was really fun. It was refreshing to see the main character talk about style as a way to express yourself, instead of following trends or fast fashion.</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Podcast:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYIA-xEjMa5g0GT1QjWPbxhgGYJKuauk3MQeG2abNdMzGUZc84c2daW5SxCGcizVLeGfiswzNTLq4nJ960kSeLiClUu2thMzZJ7VT8ROLnzQC1htItB7HV4EYWfQnvG0yX_HzELQgrBOyOjGij03h39qKGKWvl-a8UfAGcV8OW-vsbqIO0ccFCoUk_A/s320/online%20offline.jpg" width="320" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Online: Offline with Bianca & Brogan</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>My Spotify page recommended me this podcast so I thought I would give it a go. Created by online content creators, Bianca and Brogan, they have some refreshing conversations to share on many topics such as self-care, embracing our quirks and much more.</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Music:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="679" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xd74p_We3q0TLZN-GkNN499shgcXvdf3PswY4Q2Y_u7EVFVcf8doAKAe18Pn3qfUqiGOoYNR1YJSwX7g_Y-pFuf-Aob_Y4uYKNmlJsdfN61IH3IzEh9iwJjoZv-4hSKJKNesAEBwJd0LjVMBJjn4tfg7krvCp8_XdOYBTSEN7sFRstMl3eqXLyd-QA/s320/Keys%20album.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">KEYS by Alicia Keys</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I got back into Alicia Key’s music after coming across her recent YouTube content. The new Keys album has a soulful, classy, contemporary sound which I could imagine appealing to a wide audience.</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lifestyle:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z8JGr3mDDWl0cLbCCJ7hJsuWw9n8-KDKyf_5m462SZdF0sPw88zTFoYDL0UTQVTxnBK7tfwNBfxgyIcYryXrwRDLM5O_iwIbL-z7X4WD3l_62y-u6gA5jWqQEF1DOrxV8RymT7HfWJzja0Xk32EIEkJ0CiCeauXqJIwygc9RWhlvCQG3U_uOs_dVnA/w640-h426/Kirkleatham%20Early%20Spring%20020_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr84_lwVQAQSJoBMb8KpvWiIWc4oXrHUGnALSUsingFvzJBM7xMGbGW0sn04G9Kv88CiPRoXyWqp4kwmmRnrQgafGHa8n7XpSvDb1WJAbFcKl68zP0XWh9ynOYy9wQSGVRFtObFqiFlBLN1eQkTaAJdiJLYnwIef2jInQfD_fxDfttj23OfwD8-lz1g/w640-h426/Kirkleatham%20Early%20Spring%20004_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Snow Drops & Daffodils</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Spring is here and I’ve been loving seeing things pop up. I took photos of some snow drops and daffodils as they brightened my day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Out of these reviews which was your favourite?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What kind of genres in books do you </b><b>normally </b><b>gravitate towards? :-) Xx</b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-19673662459187111832022-02-28T15:32:00.000+00:002022-02-28T15:32:07.075+00:00Zesty Cookies<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW4-vpmXOlk94_0n2pvZruL8cFlkKKW-heKGKFR5exJX_fZP1UfeTCW1rb79r7v5B_7YsOsZnUKB3J5cVCE7uryx8JvImhuW_a1gIwIzCxTZDsojPN9ai9CXr88UfQ64BLHltcqSNWRc3bvaX4t87px1o6EIuX3rVwrAawhIh3brkNW8W2tSyyEO4CSQ=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4fQDgNOZzImkXEVlgyVDJbeID6-o3uCcfeeuqfSl8bBNKej5NDUKI5VWbTII8qw32jk36ew6DaBbDD4TmZy8nJh5vzUf_RBZwpn0GiLRcdftEgKj5CwdEwrK7RZH3rc05HEINw2cSVbmU0mRpLNx0OHeY6_jqIb2EuT8tUhpfelPWHLsduveJRfp5lQ=w426-h640" width="426" /></div></div></div><p></p><p>Welcome back, today I wanted to share some baking I’ve been doing. I find baking therapeutic and would love to dedicate more time to it at some point. I used a recipe from The Hungry Student Easy Baking book by Charlotte Pike, it’s great for cookies, traybakes, cakes and much more. (Page 91.)</p><p>I edited the recipe a little, for example I added sultanas instead of chocolate chips for a healthier option. Because of this change, I think these would be a suitable breakfast snack. The sultanas add a touch of natural sweetness, along with the zestyness of the orange peel.</p><p>There was an extra step to the recipe which was leaving the dough in the fridge for an hour before cutting out shapes with cookie cutters. This gave me a chance to wash up and have a sit. I used a drinking glass for a perfect circle but you could opt for other shapes if you wish.</p><p>The zestyness of the orange and sweetness of the sultanas came though in the end result. They had a lovely texture, just a little bit crumbly. If I feel like using the recipe again, I might mix things up and try lemon zest and nuts or something.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What do you like to bake? </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have any baking book recs for me? :-) Xx</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigmYPkkYY1T5KzCNaGsniFRWTwlEMI7WESpPY5eCRKi0m93gLo-6bRY95dwmLy6dNKaxaLLwCDHyvOiKv1ZyZN3kOWw9ToRF-WOHQnB8kHYUZIwx-fYkj9ll1w2PZ1in2Et-e4SkV-7LLJGL2Y28dC67AAQ4fRVd7XywBaGARZ7aBYINHn4d03PpcV_A=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPRxR8aaDGUmDdse2VANgYrdj0RpXFNLreXhCqndfajtRmD7ayAWXAJ-q5jbiJEt8cXtT6le1smCW-lSlm6ZC6hXPNJrLNDmB5Vrd_PIoZRJ1GpwTfO6k-2pWKSn2N-8X2D5U1tX34GW8EjGWMSZwUtsSstTZAe0pGFrEsQSHmEPtPj0MLCyMIsnR6Gw=w640-h426" width="640" /></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-89607425951636388522022-02-27T16:36:00.000+00:002022-02-27T16:36:58.123+00:00These are a few of my favourite things #16<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5353" data-original-width="3569" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4J4P7jP0F_Iqi5YOvRL2azAA7EkeVx1OAPBEnO-MPUl3V5Ap6z9v6YxLr5C0s6BRodb2uyblYKpx2keff4IhABOmAWphntOeaUvILD0P3eVtDnq06H11Tq5PPdIX4LT7mrhebwRaQYB6pefObibojyV7kP-omSywTUaYjVZwjvPLbl6i9TiBcfGpo0w=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBPp-qj0N5fpmR2dXIsrg0UOTiATV81lQEVQsQ-jHPjkdaxCbf8Tvh6c02pxINeZ35JPr-INcTK-UYSyFmHs-yRDjU6wtimoV5YtaIPtmR1tH_b-CNsX-xgwJZ79Ubs72kc5jMWdQ9QDIlrvNraU8txubCRJv8xn9YQhBXG7RQZQ2DyCmgwJ7kWvtLvQ=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Books:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Save Your Planet by Ben Hoare</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>This book aims to educate children about the global environmental crisis. Chapters talk through topics such as climate change, food and farming, pollution, energy at home, etc. It also tells the story of many activists already making a difference to inspire new voices. The book is presented beautifully with striking illustrations.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Great Food Bank Heist by Onjali Q.Rauf </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a story about Nelson, and his family who visits a food bank once a week. It brings up a very important topic, while they solve an important mystery at their local supermarket donation drop off. This book was new to me, and a fairly new release; I would recommend it whole heartedly for its message of empathy and friendship.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT_9kMuGAq2jkWS7WeaUb4TQca2JpyxDp1Ynz8pjvWbcArCWEWGZs3QpE0r_CTViba_ihr2ygbdXT3_kluKXGIrMjJYHQxgZQPg4uqjGhj1UALvGS0lQl3Iz2qPVGKbzL7l_CO9JFdOeiKJM-aU-xPMPf6E5tDNKSj4Dm1Xi2aACyde87LY0JKG4Ascw=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Break the Mould by Sinead Burke</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a book about the power of being different, and celebrating your uniqueness. Written by Sinead Burke who is a well known activist and also a little person. We are taken through chapters such as to dream, to be curious, to be kind, to find your words, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I appreciated the memoir section of this book, and learning more about the authors experiences. Throughout there are also tips and advice for those who also want to break the mould. It’s beautifully written with a strong message about being true to yourself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">101 Morale Boosters by Gael Lindenfield</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I first heard of this author after listening to one of her audiobooks from the library. I really resonated with her words so decided to read more of her works. I found this one secondhand, it discusses morale boosters and came at a time when this was helpful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh93PHhvGyX6NwvWNOyUxgXn1Yu0ziPwamNAqjAc8Wnf7NnjjVTWDZ5iZd5NAn2nwf8UkXs9P7E_j2Jur-xNdVNnbzHEVcf90LKyxIymZlhx5lS-9Pkzi65UJsMNfNvH3QsFtPDzP5NLxZ3wXlIHmseheYAaO-sgH4dkoL517C-8beQTTD99r1sPJGQ4g=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Get Fit Walking by Sam Murphy</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I picked this up from the library to get some inspiration for walking and I found it to be a surprisingly interesting read. It covers most bases such as training know-how and sticking with it, etc. It would be a good one to pick up if you are just starting with walking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Our Rainbow Queen by Sali Hughes</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here we are invited to learn about Queen Elizabeth’s colourful style, going through the colours of the rainbow. I thought this might be a bit novelty, but I was pleased to see the idea being executed very well. I learnt plenty about the queen’s looks through history, and insightful things about the royal family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The queen has an eye for bright colours, and it was lovely to see how to style those vivid hues. I also appreciated how the queen thinks carefully about her choice of clothes to make sure it’s appropriate for her event. It’s a beautifully presented coffee table book, with pictures and text along side them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirtoJzsTKoukH-FHBh_tEvrd-E82KYqvy4tG0Tvth-lXwK-7RpOQd50uDZhqs4S3U5nEHTB02EPt5SIORqKc9y5UsoMGPINllqZBJuHBQnR5Oc49G_0jEgIlOfwR3GwvIyAhPWX4OPeJ0ifkLa1K0UDLyCow0dU9AREVZBb862YjQmycqJi06tjxrLDg=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A Dictionary of Dream Symbols by Eric Ackroyd</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I’ve read up on the topic of dreams previously, and wanted to revisit this interest. This book includes an introduction to dream psychology, and then a dictionary of dream symbols. I just dipped into this instead of reading it cover to cover and found it enjoyable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Lost Spells by Robert Macfarlane</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Lost Spells is a beautifully illustrated poetry collection for children about the wonders of nature, and how animals go about their day. It’s very aesthetically pleasing to peruse as well as educational; I loved the images and text in equal measure. I actually attended one of Jackie Morris’ art exhibitions, which featured her amazing illustrations from her previous book The Lost Words, and note she is very talented.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGXH5iSt980_aDdibTRxCuq29qMxwvDso_pOTle5XXOdxlAGK-tIdpm7hb0Tfh4HGctnu_klkVPYsnEkk2RDlBPDVVN_9dMxraNq_1rpV77osOw6YJCKrcNk8BwnGUP8k9nAtv0tftPIkdR0aAB1Klw7prlJIgSuWDRTy63SUPGl2EGmzVY7zSS7wA8Q=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipBl_rEpomAQmpsn4JB0Gsq9WoVdVWaPNlxYR1B7w_gWp35Z5QZ9lTc--1ecJqE0d5Fz0bmj8Tom-8u2-t0C7JS8aeqZ8bcg8SOMKYpoXhtdL0E8G-of94lXbixiRV-Y00pkdU0I8EGMOEQCOOsfYvw3Wb7aL0kWRVnXraHy5IARmFxwXRok0HtOOACQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Films:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Bewitched (2005)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div><i>‘A producer remaking the classic sitcom ‘Bewitched’ unwittingly casts an actual witch in the lead role.’</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Originally Bewitched was a TV series in the 60’s but never knew much about it until recently. This film adaption is more current, featuring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. It was a bit of fun, and found myself enjoying it.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Moonstruck (1987)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div><i>‘Loretta Castorini, a bookkeeper from Brooklyn, New York, finds herself in a difficult situation when she falls for the brother of the man she has agreed to marry.’</i></div><div><br /></div><div>This one was more outside my comfort zone, because of its era, and some of the themes. Loretta is played by a young Cher (the singer), and this was what made me curious to watch it. My favourite part was when Loretta gives herself a makeover.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div><i>‘A young New York socialite becomes interested in a young man who has moved into her apartment building, but her past threatens to get in the way.’</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Out of the recent films I’ve watched, this was a solid highlight. I’ve seen clips of this film around Christmas time, but wanted to watch it all the way through. I loved Audrey Hepburn, and could see why she is a fashion icon.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijs-zwStk80b52Gy_preO5MOzM3r8zhEfyDpeNzhUE_TcnTgvjn7gvBkRnDzOFlRycydYZhGVExH3d-lBob3r0YqbqahLyINjRouopFYgy3d7iRNriVl4Ii5-w-m0Uv8t1hk3sZgijBuSBCWNe9GxwkCZzbm1dGfGwwA3Fj_sjW5Ceoqe7m1BNGYOgaQ=s320" width="213" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPVDiR2zumKmTnhZACRklDeAcxVbuxd_QoQXUbw84yj77W1lfBezirK27FnR4Og5og9jOBXUW7M7vXZKdNjd68QsjvGwI4bMRfIqmWKYjThGjzrbJHg2gGFTVkZwa3zvw_yMhVaq_G9KsEZ5q82_oTmi6URI8fC4S50n4gCg4zV03NdjE2UBJlQpsJLA=s320" width="218" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2154" data-original-width="1525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilxzRncDHqnc7-njDi5AZp_RhXkCaU0OPMmG4SPUGxK4B5XX2PrccpbKy_PFRbRWl_7yVytwZKwGcX3afxTRK011jPsuodTzJPUzk5eywaauTBB6m6ALx_oqSF0CfBAfow8lPZdWXU-HcMSOnbZWY6rxBOzV5OUM8uc_8YHpBlLgecbmONfkgmN4T1-w=s320" width="227" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you read any of these books?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do any of these films interest you? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-2454686555936979382022-02-12T09:35:00.000+00:002022-02-12T09:35:29.933+00:00Magazine Review #1 (Teen Breathe)<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYyQLvOq9m6q-sTpLyHwnBLlD6bZIFV1jv3j0S4Bnpc_SbXhdv30qXDsrrvaEtnJqarJdVnrDb9YjHUwiMh9hycCtgL-ZRnR6q5WcvSGe3WB4Z5a8E0u4Pz7yS0HronxG3fs8UXnoi_ARdLj9zv6NMY_dCKZWFmgNoqTCrbnnAoTjDg-rwZh8Q8sQKpw=w426-h640" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxi5KEzZPSUaXotcAc5Pw_du7etCxp32OnxmqReTaQd3CeoaLHJATnk6gDnE07D8eTz4nLEm1QDvrrZn2fKlqltOMut8sijU_AluoTTM77s5TDLqmc8k5Vel4bdLPYIAQminfZiR1NYdjwrf8Lc9zjg3dpB88bFT1szS5htkqranWRyRF65RTbitiizA=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5te8RkvzPi_OumzpzlZpfMVuxDtIjFYyLV8jC0_aLSQS8shl4u2VbN0eAd4EVoLN_4kYdHxkpbEDl_G7EpdGj7iEme_VdC8CsJnevhjtHMeq_zHMXPTP_sOWOlNyAZVgwRYbBTwZYp2yqXZ1Ufzs40p41EfzqpcR5N0n0AkMnt7J7lwGn-J6cNOvr9A=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Name of magazine</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Teen Breathe (Issue 6)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Who is it aimed at?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the name would suggest it’s aimed at teens, so 13-19 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">year old’s. But I am an adult and got some enjoyment out of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The slogan</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Be inspired, be brave, be kind, be yourself. I really like </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this, and it was what made me pick it up to read.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What the magazine aims to achieve</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As the slogan mentions, it encourages teens to be brave, kind, inspired and yourself. I can see a lot of parents buying this magazine for their children because of the positive values. Some of the topics include mental health, and career goals.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbguuE-lTkgVcdp_DyeumAVzK6qhhtCqqH8JRNqiJDWwzVm724A1xM2jYEIaaGHSPOlhxC2EMBICRFKIFrtytmBSJXKKGGd0hCoiu8A6JmQJuK2HklBVERcGWkY-DVX7SnJkhIfndhPPa8zafKGeU1p6EBS5rQse-RIsPyo4eC8fnB2BOs6mW-PEM7dw=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghocH2_pkLNcEjBGt5sId53cjPXeFT7Ythi-LrcLMs3aFZVRCMk5fUP6TsJILKlxQRoBWqZuFRu7xpfc2wQG07nRfJqlBtTddc0hOKqBfqeeu-t8OfdERyrJnuiZ661eMsejMf5ZllA4h-yk4yd-NUaOYp1Ac9UAn-JMgVXlLcHnbmwZPufqcHHwhYbA=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDHb5Fq6KAVl1GWlbOkMirjBwPNdulhbutaNSaORAQtZp4wRugTtBHGFHMUEff9BaXN5RhahCOy0BkX6kv3A2PKRRPkFjur7TJmoC9rK8NbLHOjZz-UxO7HOHFXPhygHF10t-MgsDiUBef3rThIu4uMGP3KEDn7wYZYzP5u5r1NBkkdkfq8t0XVGsYwA=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Favourite articles</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The don’t be sorry article struck a chord with me, talking about how we say sorry when really, we don’t need to but it’s a very British thing. It gives tips for ways to take a different viewpoint in communication.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The sense and sensitivity article talks about how sensitivity can be a gift. I’ve read a little a bit about this subject before but it covers some good starting points if you are interested to learn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Further notes</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The illustrations are absolutely stunning, particularly the ones on the front cover. I think Teen Breathe is still running, if you are interested in picking up a copy. They also have an adult version which is called Breathe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Would I buy another copy?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It’s a possibility, but I have lots of other magazines I want to try. I’m curious about trying Breathe, aimed at adults. If you are after buying this magazine, I would try eBay, a good newsagent, WHSmith’s or supermarkets.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0VawJDR8LRFskbFTq5JUuR6qAvoMUCPJCVjzzihDxZKF8dih5ZQtHjsIPjIPZeeFJE9DcCguiKW5n_f87aLnn0Iup9wVIOEPHUTrd8w5mv1s3vuBd9k7BlHM-H15HfePoWaslt1Rlo5-bNbwk_ld6a7kxzDdBVxjh-fBiwr1Rn5PKqrqLCvO-xZAVRA=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8BjLHnVGiVFzfX3SpHiZ7G4K8DKMe0zzNVzqLir_T_Ut2hghV06CwMtZUX9NHYbxgHfatd9UsQ5quYo_IPEsCpWckTUITJA6v1Q22gV4MBAiqs8ro1d-a3MjK11S1FU6VR-7I_V_cWQ-8U42jU4_Mb2sFenRK8OC5zcdkQzdEw5_5749aiRxi4EhlKg=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you read many magazines?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have any recommendations for me? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-54187208923683947252022-01-30T12:50:00.000+00:002022-01-30T12:50:37.940+00:00Jigsaw Log #9<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizlqOVbrl9uEhHspLZQewa5RhD2afqqh2m6TNUQx2SA8r6UX260nZJ-bJn2i3vu6stn1eVZ0Ko2Q7M2tcLIE4sujC1j6-eQ9smpGRamfoUc6jHx7pU4T6mnkhlCLe2JNhPTaLBkKfK1seoSGrx_o9Pcwibh33KBmpVHB9xjkvTI4GWqvAFm4jqbqZ2Nw=w426-h640" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDIq1BHhmVfx-x9a6vfVd7vnmpKRhxWM0fzMAgvzQ_rz3ifOvRAQznuXByEvjsNN9nzAwZPMs57HawpSpu3FiX34llAdwEz5eNO_HqU9Rvyz9JnLwbpFvL1R9nrCtZisGKX3Sw1OmH02d3jChKzZTPpequVL4nmoFCkxC8g9BWfCOOE51_mSaRtmUbbQ=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhxkTrnOkjgBhxfZows2rziDWr8C7F56ysAN30TNnBjvmj-YUnPEkg_jqoQTVNbfUFYCQXuWig5VbloohixnuvgW-K3ROe6Cdnqwvlt7GOOSrV6fk7L6Set4uy3qbmW7ymx52hOLGkwLljzA_YvIhKPbUwJj8BgG9PGRN3wQolWBKkiS0HjaNx90EvyA=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Welcome to a new jigsaw log; hope my readers are doing okay. I have been working on this jigsaw since about November time last year, adding to it here and there. I normally stick to five hundred pieces but decided to challenge myself to one thousand pieces. This one came from The Works, and overall, they are a great place to shop for quality, affordable puzzles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Christmas carousel design appealed to me as I wanted something that would feel festive over Christmas time. There’s some lovely detail, making adding different pieces quite interesting, and felt the scale of the picture was just right. After doing this puzzle, I was inspired to learn more about old fashioned fairground rides, such as the carousel featured as well as the time period of the picture. If you are interested, I have recently done a blog post on the history of fairground rides (<a href="http://helensfashionblog.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-history-of-fairgrounds.html">visit here</a>).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Are you working on a puzzle? </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Or do you have a different pastime you want to share? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT48U4gdfz09F0SNPUpbxHJO4C8vNr-DJhip0cDklkTOEFf23HkqdiqMOtapfKYG8V5K7u7i21u2cGwCT-YgzaYeveeRnO4oIYPML40KcUThXJltbzPuMH2JWXTfNtj3d1fLE2RBNEDheqBSBBqclJHzTWeHrLPKBPHWSmx8-fjh7FbNe5F1XtUDuQug=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv07Mp7gcWVuZ9nNeVNcVYn7A7_EsoLFICmVX3dlMcJYLaQ4yjblZfhDNq-Vne9LbhVkN6yNEzKZCOZjCTOWjOqS9ctLlGg0O8VzbWj-Z1HIwUpbfqBSW5DPgqPztAXBLoUAfEo-RcA5nc5jub_bCN9iwzg8bqcNy35l_e5hDp_oZitPNthZnf0d1rLw=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjH9k_6UOm0nK06sf3zVzAwfa8C6syMaKfS-Dqy224yWQMtYyzekKPBlH7Svz81gYMnUztEUKuDXwAZSUFRYi-oqEP62tQzCJle44SNLa9dnfFbGq6Sx9o0inlXYhWeCgU8_NJVLWQ9iOsNxFrSzm20h1kqj76wrj7WPDo49UWLuzNtqsjEBl8XQx8VMA=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><p></p>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-68847841826742950892022-01-29T13:22:00.000+00:002022-01-29T13:22:54.937+00:00The History of Fairgrounds<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVbMmsyIhzHgo4DAY_HNIuSm7j40-5lezdPKAC_qxkHIL1WBvZNlfwMUvIEIiShgn0PjGhOotGfzyaQeyc7b1C35gz8hArtIG-bvYAlsyu7uOEa9oQllS-UuRmWQovbwaK90QtKbxItUhyL8gUQSO162qS5nak_Ulo63ODPgPngiKZ4gLtNJ9OJXxaUg=w640-h480" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1832" data-original-width="2442" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-zKGCjWT8jq1gqaBMGdwHbCw_MXxdPaxuT5NKdV0cEorXIpY7d4GwLC4AhCa38CPMJTbrcVgtKL1xJFIUgCeYAPdWl7XVFo1UC6li_KAkTHW8Q0sdMfPUNStHUqSRW5IDzA56MBdc0D7yHv1W8LDDBU0DNVB2nw69fqUhYA3n6TZxNoCiCHvy-f3NNQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="2136" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwDmwkr2G4MVCegLwUBAlgTvqfKUgHTYoVlR2fEH3uf4501nXIsjLegUVA_l0ptU7pS1A1cG6t934LbK00CPNYY2_tISZaY4ftBr6KOCqk_i6oES6OuOf79wxA9qU_KdD2N5H_J1sH5ze1tpj-CSD5RrCE6n3o1ziQXvEQwRcQ4WwgA17Ad3CsPkfJ-w=w480-h640" width="480" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stumbled across an interesting article of this topic, and began reading further into it on the web. I have included what I learnt, as well as some links and info for further reading, if you find it interests you too.</div><p></p><p>I found a few fascinating photographs online which I have shared below. I wanted to add some context, so included some photography I took myself back in 2011 when I visited Scarborough funfair. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Ways fairgrounds have evolved:</b></p><p>• Through the application of steam power and later with the use of electricity. </p><p>• Dodgems evolved into what they are today using an electrical pick-up linked to roof nets above.</p><p>• The carousel began with horses that were still; it was only later that engineers found a way through a crank-action the horses appear to gallop.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>When the first rides were engineered: </b></p><p>• The scenic railway was an important development before the first world war.</p><p>• The caterpillar was introduced to Britain in the early 1920s.</p><p>• The dodgems as we know them today were introduced in Britain in 1928.</p><p>• The big wheel with its basic design principles has been around since swings and roundabouts.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Some of the references I found most significant:</b></p><p><i>‘Giant Wheels have lost their appeal as a thrill ride in the modern fairground. However, they have been sprouting up in every major city in the world, marketed as tourist attractions and geared towards sightseeing; The London Eye is a fine example of this new concept.’</i></p><p><i>‘Just before the war a few new American novelty rides found their way into Britain. The British showmen quickly adapted these rides to give them unique identities to indicate the thrills on offer through artwork…Sometimes these were inspired by blockbuster films and pop music hits such as Ghostbusters and Thriller.’</i></p><p><i>‘For many people the fairground is now defined by the thrill and spectacle of the riding machines. These rides have a complex history defined by mechanical capability and cultural and social trends.’</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="300" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGpkTlCoC5L5FdPw6XbspA4J3S_UJX9davq-556pMOWxkXCEH7izp4YEtacz0ZHs5wcJe8OHZbVpMfiHHawvINrJcSYtMqNpAx437mHAvRe2e9k8WhiYofKpmFD_IDzrcSryPoQWgz_w5XD2708rbq9y422nvE5KRHht8ixCb9DW7WNNfAuNY1MyieoQ=w320-h238" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVu4RJWEaYDe9jnqN27UwC3SS8ndHuDzGFH6e8WzVTj4tPv_tXC2zBBSngb79BaTC0EOZJ-WCwyeV3IRhQq51A1qygVVyCaJ5mcZjlnaYAczockSTttnSWVzGnaffRr-W4KFuxHXOXAiL4zEnfPlQNA8JJursO1J9GVVYiBhGh1J_biN8N_Y-qbUuZAQ=w320-h320" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="244" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNXTj-aAytqSYOREVR3Uq6vF9FZ5v5i1Ge30lyTgKw6DPNXtS1MAX1yqnYnp6UhL63BcdaAZ3rYQWzV3ocGgcIsSo2xIMZkwR0icWFVrv8mliP_b30Rd01gUM83yJv0wBKTUjdaWJhkw8t2RDc7XWppVzGfISp6gNSBpXL5x2BG7IvFYNN9H0d1YeX0A=w320-h240" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Search term suggestions:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">History of the first fairgrounds</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">List of fairground rides</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Vintage fairground rides</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Vintage fairground ride artwork</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Big wheel Blackpool</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">History of the dodgems</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Articles I used and recommend for further reading:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca/researchandarticles/fairgroundrides</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/iha-historic-amusement-parks-fairground-rides/heag057-historic-amusement-parks-iha/</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>https://www.amounderness.co.uk/big_wheel_blackpool_viewed_from_the_tower_c1902.html</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>https://www.fairground-heritage.org.uk/learning/british-fairground-rides/</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>https://ezinearticles.com/?A-Brief-History-Of-The-Travelling-Funfair&id=399743</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>https://www.joylandbooks.com/category_fairs.htm</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca/researchandarticles/pleasuregardensamusementparks</i></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyz5b941e4gdyU5ZfWc4fw8N94o8nQ9kECSrNRdk91XWWi1ksLBb9CtrXGoWB7fU0455UR3FA0JzwqJon_Le1vdKaZC2Zq78gkcd_wO-1zV7pq4cXlB7YcTIS5j3aLOyMYwO7nrSwgCzfEDpa8LpinX1gFlz69VXqTkcbs4RwKd0UqkAogdRbFTdEhrA=w640-h480" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPYRNGGDbJGoCgK7fLLjTrYYLSc5hcoJphoDeI_-aH4nx3eAPlxptdLOkkScJfP8353SnZCKGOAXt_Nq1l9xyRTL1fU6mXiyLAmn6LLshxolD_H9yVP8593KJ6IktuwLC_m8lnS8BJUWBScPF3eOaFj5qklAkMSEBAm86x1p57gPOGwZXDyy9Wv2-C0w=w640-h480" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQuaO1RFOGADIzbvQurf1mtepjck3YWKnr98iv7etvWm4K0IrmrdxPE5TeoVp7MAcV4AgSFsucX3sYP39O5WcxThgK98-7hB-jXL20iY5C-MdvhHKYFtvjb_azib9jFuns0zEWFortbGgtSIoae3pOOZ5dLrnZYkSVuGN1sETzxCbyxbTtAug2321OUQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Did this topic interest you?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have any of your own thoughts around this subject? </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">:-) Xx</span></b></div></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-65678795924204580852022-01-17T13:12:00.000+00:002022-01-17T13:12:35.810+00:00These are a few of my favourite things #15<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1nXcluYDDCueIzsDsWg7tFzstV0s9aMN9JNXyum7jCxOcSGLWiuKAQUxoOxH8ha_fLdlsyP6L4vrbzLXdPw71EfzUQ5RaF6D8D8n59ilic7LMY37_jxwNOS3xZcjkrk9FFbi_xuAipmrpQXKhOQIorHmXrMRC80aPErbVDoOP7_VduwI5DTc4zoviPA=w426-h640" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Books:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The A-Z of Mindfulness by Anna Barnes</span></b></p><p>This is a small coffee table book going through the benefits of mindfulness using each letter in the alphabet. I’m a big fan of Anna Barnes, and she’s done a whole series of mental health books I’m making my way through. There are a few interactive pages in this, one of my favourites include drawing your own imaginary tree, letting new roots grow each day. Some of the topics she covers include walking, nature, kindness and health. It’s a feel-good book that can be read in one sitting.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Protect the Planet by Jess French</span></b></p><p>This book is one of the world book day releases, they are concise books given out on this special event to encourage new readers. I’ve read a couple now, and would say the content has been great overall. Protect the planet is an introduction to learning about the environment, and the impact humans are having on the earth. I liked that they touched on fast fashion, as well as buying with kindness and other relevant topics.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHGV0o0NNAatexSnnlrtJmhuqUpdtHefT3o3kuq-9NgJqOLcoRnVZrqzpbde94btWUGhfEW7KE01Gicv7WUjXQWYFw_eIWSvLR0c38rsd7gXmGWbM7Suk3ELvs_2unaxj6B9WAKQXGoq1Brcx3PA6fhLRh8YAWO3fKzzaDRHTTsWUiaXDDOXQ8ZGCq7Q=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Life Lessons from the Ocean by Richard Harrington</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>This book describes itself as ‘soothing wisdom from the sea’, written by a marine biologist who takes his knowledge of the ocean to educate and inspire. He has included all sorts of creatures I’ve never heard of, and describes why they are so great, as well as emphasizing the importance of sea life and biodiversity. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Create Your Own Happy by Becky Goddard-Hill</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>After reading create your own calm by the same author, I decided to give this one a go and ended up quite enjoying it. The idea behind it is to provide tools for children (and adults) to learn what makes you feel happy and guide you to build on some appropriate skills. I would recommend this book to anyone seven years or above.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYYJnJlbzNwEKiAqHn_94LAPD0qa-NQyGT7S6sAqxqx8GiSWyl_OmmHIz74kfoHCMRKR-nT6lncXVeZWro3XeqocmNrHMLcN3WHEnII2b_HhJluQrVk4Gsp6zcBR7ibcCLEbNli9sNcbVnVIR3v6qavue87aWzrPcOK1stee_7HQoCDeGKGC0XszysjA=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Make Anything Happen by Carrie Lindsey</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was excited to read this one, after giving it as a gift to myself for Christmas. The book covers vision board ideas, goal setting, and a pep talk to help discover what you want to achieve. The ideas on how to create a mood board included specific styling advice as well as showing examples the author had made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The book is beautifully presented, and I found the layout inspiring. The author delves into her own dreams, and talks the reader through what things worked for her. I love light memoirs, and I felt this is what it was in parts. I enjoyed hearing about her stationery business and her love for horses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9n3R6BKN8Tm73GmGK98tr1dyqys0maS0270x9p-PKrSHJEoZ8FQVegB7unIVk2WloV8syVl0skq16LUqys7OUOPLxP7qBbQZpFUICcwVqmu0xVUB-FueHCu7DJbVb5p5eKfd27wX3krw_H35POqY2Fn1b7MWOfo3oeHDjuUkZsPT41TRSai_57i2iIw=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Circuit-Breaker #5 by McCarthy</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was the finale of the comic series; I enjoyed it, and it’s cast of unusual characters. I liked how the writers played with the idea of how humans view artificial intelligence/robots and the story was something different for me. I appreciated the illustrations and colour palette too. Overall, there was some imaginative writing and character design. This was one of the series that got me into comics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Adventures of Luna the Vampire #1</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This comic includes short, humorous stories about Luna, a very peculiar vampire. I would say the target audience is adults, as children might just not get where the author is going with this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It’s not something I would normally pick up, but I found I was enjoying it, and can see myself reading the next in the series. I liked the modern illustrations, and the way the makers of the comic broke the mould a little.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAds3-hr5gJ-5uSsX-g1eFymG6jDVa2cmlSPPLjEd4KnBBDEov5vzc4rygcuY_lNn1TpBH_DKt-dYL_fDsx0V11N7wwKNsE-I0WfjaM7prcaf-3heiE3Erao0_Z2gKtxvjg4dEfQHygfSBZOgS8w7beCMYPVRsK1QElQiLY6OesPbDX4qaXiMDNd48Fw=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGoE3wor58OQNxy8MncR25TI9DA9Fw5XD6Lw2NdqQSnLROjFjvirXuub1t_I2RYOsDIWFsJGVzhLoijVlAz-Z-ADISk-WozFMaI1pfV2EutY8vXkYG-KnrCTeoXnvWrPqAZgHwsSWuFPJsCOS123bHKLPhjsrhxh8SmK4e48fAcHI3MDrRFRd0ZKQdoA=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Films:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lucky Christmas </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>‘A single mother is devastated when her car is stolen with a winning lottery ticket inside. When she suddenly meets a charming man, her luck may have returned.’</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I’ve been on a bit of a Christmas chick flick kick, and wanted to finish with this one. I didn’t realise until later that the main actress originally stared in Saved by The Bell if you can remember that TV Programme. Lucky Christmas is really wholesome, and one of my favourite festive films I watched last year.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Gravity</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>‘Dr Ryan Stone and Matt Kowalsky are stranded in space with no way to contact Earth after their shuttle is destroyed in the midst of a routine space walk.’</i></div><div><br /></div><div>To some this film up in one word, I would say wow! Sandra Bullock does a great job of acting as an astronaut stuck in space and there were some exhilarating moments. One of my favourite films of last year.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQTuD7ILbU6uIaRKkN8h1508cu9m0JSKHvPPdZozuH-JwpCxL-JNVpi_ZASli7pRr6ucCONxqHBEVsDw-xae2gwyXVNOh42ZrwcoQ3MBS3KgaWqGPE1cMWeYcsagoZDL4F3D9zvuASEMEp6jgoURrODyOvFAzQYbKN0tu-8wtrcKflyXF9ksAcIoxa4A=s320" width="213" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4I5FCfLkBEIDjU4pAANRIbNrwx6pi446ldh-QwcFXFL0ktkdfZMHfEKOrpfBNGCtO4bdh5_l6NFUwD0-dUxjAA5w4UyuWRn19M6QV-tzlbTv5MVIeibLMdIzx9DkX0CvTYY3nRIcify2P665_vYSilP-lVIWSndjaWMv1J4VkjagsCia0slOlC8vg0w=s320" width="225" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lifestyle</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A New Tea Mug</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For Christmas I asked for a new tea mug and my Dad bought this one with special quotes and a rainbow inside. It gives me joy every time I use it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidpkKJy917vnhgNMHDUWF01kwjgOV-7x5LX3qPUJisVhuqkLFVPrGgdbcyrEWWNZ9HZoIZE-bsX0OK_GVsM-9YWARJBWSJ84JRBJjDd2Y-ut_J1hqr2f9Ca155NOypP7f6Hp1t36yXramAnNUwUdJkt_8hoSmgICmt-EJD1yAR0qXv0v4pueTFPqBBNw=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do any of these book titles appeal to you too?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you watched any of the mentioned films? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-43931080152283357942021-12-28T16:16:00.000+00:002021-12-28T16:16:59.157+00:00These are a few of my favourite things #14<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBEr3v9G5elwbzuj3mIqxycaxbzEZVPuilhhzN8xqX99kTvsiWt_p8pDguhI6iys0XAk3kq6uy9wQc1hpg1PZ5BpG4D30SgmqWCEQLQUUrODslw4R8Hju6MAJIQ_SqFYydGZ9efPCNXsrMmzIBlFgxyWYtV9P8o0wA_1SR7A0pTkvB6_j7ChRIqKnWfg=w426-h640" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZj3ZfaoyT120ZPKrHAZYEZnvSC0mOHHXN84IsGuA9UsmLk7po9UPYbkv_9mu55CDEMtAyyfYAAZ629RzgO4h6eabY3YoTcIrPSfS92FInx01zCkthtTJcw6gBgu2320hPm6xte6onkP3-4LiTouRkbTppo3a8cI6QSsW2U_NthGLZ0dCV3haHIWS3Lw=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpgM4e5mqgbCtPCBC9hUWFlKZGefpwteeXpTfy10LHQq3uQkKbpEDlqUBVwPLrIAIbA-zwuTZ5g631YoQE5qRDPrdpruUlZo4Bo_K0PpTOMuOa6_cTxZhnEtBNnLKmTG6R8gqzmIeMx6_Ypky07eJ8OTO2pjfwl-oFBRchBoQ5vtulanxcbcoC7arUUw=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lifestyle:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas Flower Arrangement</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We bought some winter flowers to go in the conservatory</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for over Christmas and they’ve been a lovely focal point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Knitted Santa Grotto</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went on a winter walk, and admired someone’s </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">amazing effort to make a knitted Santa grotto.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas Jigsaw</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I’ve been working on this jigsaw for a long time </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">now. I’m hoping to complete it for New Year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkXAlcUcekCJhHa6_pMR3SQHWhEFGuqQiM8IUm1EhzXffwyTR_HnRnhN90yUPryDi-WudYdyHz1-fNKMX5_xc6AqCHxOlEAz6pyaw7dXDq113t0Kb1R_Tz5DYmwy5NUV_Iz1SEBt45hItGzx3dGS1pO8UH8NU6lthPrtEOxEiKvKQaC77ALRFe_L7bOg=s320" width="213" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8ILbYvY7MuPnCcUlQTBxlCkPkU-2-10LnWVO2P7yAXiYxuRPQmabHJV5ZgBRpzZK3pgefoWMc_fB3uT7RH_-E-Re4JMljSaaVR5rmFt1_s8kXeZt52qP3F6WAFWM8UvgJRD3KRjuk7LVstTpm7cJ9eGf5tQdFzhun4mh0Aqz0Wm4VnAGpS1VbCd067w=w245-h320" width="245" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy9cx4UImTg4FwNhlxhrEIpqPsPSxKZonwv7Qm-jgmjeJz206zYqJyNo_T1IVEVTZGrpyj1Pdih7Opb2j2uXhPrWYFGdPFDinNDzlgHZw-sxtHG7rkvX38BwJ3XN1TmMkL5UHkAqoINNhTCSzmtjEktjnvcYwqmon06TSr0m0LeaSH4Mge2NYdzUX-BA=s320" width="213" /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Films:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Christmas Setup</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>'Hugo heads to Milwaukee with his best friend, Madelyn, to </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>spend the holidays with his brother Aiden and his mum,</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i> who is in charge of the local Christmas celebrations.'</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was a really fun film with a great cast. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A perfect holiday romantic comedy for the season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas Everlasting</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>'After her sister’s death, Lucy returns to her hometown </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>to discover that she must spend 30 days there </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>in order to claim her inheritance.'</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This film was surprisingly poignant, I thought the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">lead actress did a great job. Lovely film.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Christmas Contest</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>'Sparks fly between a former couple as they </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>compete in a Christmas contest to win money </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>for a charity of their choosing.'</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was a new release to television. It’s </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">perfect escapism, and I enjoyed the humour.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-V1y1TToCVAqQw-gQbd9pGjSmk6hObjepugHl2-sGzwMYppG_EzNP4neZ_KidBFlyBqtqZTN7O_K88IWox8WvmxP_-EmW1aA3an25-93ysHEa8vj7SeGOqewROR_b5PJAggbhDwfCbcLdykqhGTQlEF7tspl1BBURZMkBSlrKSUDkXF5_xug4KVPy0Q=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEWaf0x8cW4cwyvEiEOH4Ixlc6ZUzXCxdyMadGyRlwZ81E1MApLBpMBzoMf1tq5oYzxVujVXdh_DtY3CsyiEScdEkk1Ezkib2rDlVEhZtgemHHmKlNcUW0Ze0YyaEYtafNwKmj1R7k-ScYIaV6zlfpeVnEipWrMDNArfBwwGKe9GCni6sjHAWhwwFg2g=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Books:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A homeless boy discovers the magic of Christmas when he excepts an unloved </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">little fir tree from a shopkeeper. People of all backgrounds gather outside as the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">boy lights the tree with candles on Christmas Eve. I loved the meaning behind </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">this story, and the unexpected but beautiful conclusion. The illustrations are stunning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Winter Sleep by Sean Taylor</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a story about a boy, and his beloved grandmother who teaches him about animals, and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">nature. He finds as winter comes that the animals hibernate. This is a wonderful picture </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">book, showing children about how animals survive in winter. The art work leaps of the page.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A Christmas to Remember by Anton Du Beke</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Set in London, 1938 in the Buckingham hotel we get to know the staff, and guests as well as the ballroom dancers who are there to entertain. Nancy Nettleton, a chambermaid falls for one of the dancers Raymond de Guise and we follow their preparations and buzz about the upcoming wedding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I thoroughly enjoyed following all the characters at Buckingham hotel, and experiencing that time period. It’s a whopper of a book at nearly five hundred pages, but it’s paced well and kept me interested throughout. There were some beautiful, endearing moments between the characters as well as some exciting plot twists.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaBR0lhb3wACTr06BiwkORVJInNTNQrFKgBLtSZF0G6X9gU1BpycqLqsvhsAYkqqD5ZjZJqBqm_gdc1u1sjnD53-rdCUz9NuJZGWmBIWDRfO7mPm5OpAFFyFKDLbzNYN_1tO-fRgV1d9TEHnfB0ZI81M1kAASamXe_Z0WV3iAjWYwy8AbdsGing1l_qg=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT_DMQ4aXV6R317bAPkpPK6wc_2E9KEV083rNDOe1r9tpmVkgNvs8WFhb2nrjE69jZj9s8Rvte7TjLaPTavDp1CnhuAW6vnf8eYrFc5kYApG4ag4aLWMPCY2yAl-FaaYMAmYNZOFzTUtI0jzj82XGdMJjd5qvKypoPaDGhzsBEPRE3l3PR0VVxhdctOQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My Friend Sleep by Laura Baker</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is the most stunning picture book about the magic of dreamland as </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">you sleep. Perfect to read just before bed with a child, or even as an </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">adult. The illustrations and narrative are so calming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Wild About Books by Judy Sierra</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a picture book story of a mobile library librarian who accidently drives into </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">a zoo. The animals are very curious and can’t wait to learn about reading. I love </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">books about books, and this struck me as one that could be a classic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Stardust by Jeanne Willis</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a story about a girl who wonders about her place in the world. Her Grandad teaches </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">her wisdom about how everyone is made of stardust and the wonder of the universe. Ultimately, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">the meaning lies in the girl’s friendship with her Grandad. A great read set in winter time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Clarice Bean: Think Like An Elf by Lauren Child</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a book about a Clarice, her family, and the traditions they have over Christmas. Clarice </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">really wants to keep the Christmas spirit so she tries to do as many good deeds as she can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I’m only half way through this but I’m really enjoying it. It’s a lovely children’s book aimed at </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I would say 7-13 years old’s, written in a cheerful way, including plenty of gorgeous illustrations.</div><div><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know in the comments some of your festive highlights. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Wishing you all a Happy New Year! :-) Xx</span></b></div></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-76590637574524214712021-12-23T09:47:00.000+00:002021-12-23T09:47:12.446+00:00Christmas Tree Scones + A Merry Christmas<div style="text-align: left;">Themed scones are one of my signature bakes and recently I made Christmas tree scones. I like using cookie cutters to make different shapes, on this occasion they seemed a little more festive as Christmas trees. Scones are pretty easy to create, and there are many recipes out there. I used a recipe from a baking book called cookies and cakes for beginners. I added sultanas to the mixture, for a little extra sweetness. On another note, I just wanted to take a minute to wish my readers a lovely Christmas. Hope to connect with you in the new year, write to me in the comments any time.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know if you have been baking. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have a recipe you keep coming back to? :-) Xx</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuLNp3LgvcQXgMmjqua4xuIzBI3395QFi7YW1q5_KcLaBQkr7hr7Qi_bK9aGTtVYpquYLt0N8xn2qNLkNx59L48-bsUIu4B7vNd0DAsLg9gmtbuzB8RRwQrvQkwl61hYfPsoUlXfZW8-dpZprVBzI0T9dUA3tDBCrb4fovTmaTOvKec7VvUiTkQSAjRQ=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1aExrDhwII1MwKMQ6l1Hz1LeEBqFhOfprrBnqH4SdYlAXcBUBbK4qW2wPhasYWpPOLG4z0t0qWEvz52rxUE_LuvW0p_EDSBB5sXTeSFd0LUlM3v_YSsBde0Z3n1DcIn3H7uO6WQYk9wGCJfnlYRwf940MyK3tYHPLt1b4U6ZiKiaMkSQDaEJsBJ7C7A=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi36ObafLDBjOa_e0cfda_XmGJB1OL1SG8Pd6oguZ1nyMLEK_4_VgjEX0e4MuZsN6YWJO0xfuIiwMN8-p2q79qdHgO_C7FPPs8KT91mL_wXUOjwT1yaxvp1aNpEc5Vovho3MUFN5Fthcqo6gNOuj_wdO7ZKX6AdjEF2IO3IQ4nJNkXlL187SYI2LTnTGg=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5yMyLk9TrU_PBSs-x-NQqzXr2eRwhGWHQMUWd-36FZuw8zBrnfDGfpSLp92FfN485BDVAVdfiC5e5WONPxNy-PBCFbpl-dHOYRWqYfeUZR3qGxlFUDypsAcR3Gk4FF8IrTEPIPxYesvzSKHdgJHJWtKeZVQ5aFEFowXRckDFPwmAbarrOyGCrcdW6ng=w426-h640" width="426" /></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-54331116085653954752021-12-18T11:16:00.000+00:002021-12-18T11:16:04.208+00:00Green Christmas Ideas + A Book Review<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5439" data-original-width="3625" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz4D9y9RLsxgRamtet81kEQtegu41l58mERRaW6DRIgAaY6fQxW-Xl7ofzzlfG6kCSuLtpid8cOshVPq2PnKxFqlH3NIzzWKwKpj-sI4jKbsBmHAw42Zo8_JSX5iG9aq3uiJsHApi4-OP2LrRs1TlvrMvUs-MzLqfCkMBnrPHdAAo2Xg_4mbk164Sokw=w426-h640" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><p></p><p>I’ve been reading a really interesting book called The Christmas book by Sheherazade Goldsmith. I was impressed with the authors ideas, and would recommend the book to those who would like a simpler, greener Christmas. Being more eco-friendly was at the heart of the book. The pages are beautifully presented and I came away with some valuable inspiration.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuYfJ7ASnAUzDNHT04vcZiAG4qrGKPu3jpG6M4pGtotF9SiF_xkgaF8oGAfsay_XfuLKk6jDEpKpOscd1klztdUI_qzMJnqY7K9zVgpAKdVgl3fkLz0TX45BAlcbBF_6aou3eKp287Xq1IineyP6-Eti65_YZpQcTqqEtkBs4Lr2pVenn9_Beo5SjDLw=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I jotted down some of my favourite ideas that I would like to try for myself:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Plant A Winter Garden. </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“Scented plants, and scrubs with richly coloured berries and leaves keep </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>a garden looking interesting during the long winter months.”</i></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I liked this idea because it’s outdoors, and just shows you can garden any time of the year!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Gift Plant Cuttings.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“Cuttings taken from your favourite plants and potted up as</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> gifts in decorated pots will always be appreciated.”</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I would be really pleased to receive this as a gift, and it’s one of the best eco-friendly options.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhitTOBZKYNEoDzOUwt8dls-tV0kbjRfLCTeJHsjlO54urLVzFa0UpEju8lJlUvp33Ig1FaPQJfwyw3nXconMWUmfr4FlCx9i6morG0QWMLPu73FLQUZgpirsNI_qGZMIn85Ws9fFqRoR36Li8czEGuf8-xhlkJw4vqZgoQaVcqVwpK8jKhkjYOEcifUw=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBUV_zttBQ7yvJB7Fz-Z4DpIKj-HJL27sqRB2MIV1ZmmpZ2suYHANYJxa4Fs5Op6mZ7qakZB8WxKcu-NIVVfCxadiFv7WcLIN-ickbHI5ZNzYKcxBmlPP1WTJ-XgWZ_VKt1oGCBTu4PoFo7HmsdOwpf1q9xuymcqioT3jcGielpfC-sm8kWZaFaYMVcg=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Make Pot Pourri.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>“Delicately scented rooms are somehow more inviting, and the </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>subtly uplifting aroma of a pot pourri will make the home seem cosier.”</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I’ve never made pot pourri but I would love to try.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Make Edible Bird Decorations. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>“A garden full of wildlife is always uplifting sight on a winter’s day.”</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this idea and would get enjoyment from seeing the birds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Make Natural Christmas Cards.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The author gives some examples of cards you can make using natural materials. She uses cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, etc. It’s possible to make really effective designs relatively easily. I already make cards, using mostly recycled or gifted materials but I have found some new ideas here. If you are all set for cards now, you could make something similar in the form of gift tags.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5489" data-original-width="3659" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8ISxkYzF-bCdx3T_kOGG8WljMx6FJQQ4eQE30wRMjjxWaHRWGSbL7vk8hyOZDvTbyA4D89xhQhDX1x2iI1_Jd5m6RvfITMmbeg1M_oetEdTI0QLk5vwBBY66yhqSMbGb95J7JEiTgn_Vcj0u5gqxs-TTfEElT9OiujTkTQYXHxO2XO4LlpKkfFUFvSw=w426-h640" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ5ETI65T4t5I2v9Mso8qjkZXC18__3TofE9VrRdQa7yDgJWheMhjS_rUooNgQVmqsWjGoK688wciIFzXxL1lAgil5yj2HqRd1aJcrZjZ68rSjtSX4Gedt596xyKeeN3-aUOmffwh6gYEowN5NX8Q4Rfh7o1YvdNMieoZvS-6UGw5uOJBx2xPltp-Y9A=w640-h426" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is one of the best eco-friendly related Christmas books I have come across, as it’s a comprehensive guide, focusing on activities, making things for yourself, and getting outdoors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I had a go at making my own Christmas crackers, as I wanted to cut down on excess packaging and plastic. These ones were very simple to make, I used toilet rolls, recyclable paper, left-over ribbon, and a few stickers. Inside each I included a riddle and a Christmassy question.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know if you are opting for a greener Christmas. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I would love to hear if you have any ideas or traditions.</span></b></div></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-35933628097714872862021-11-28T10:25:00.000+00:002021-11-28T10:25:41.866+00:00These are a few of my favourite things #13<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXC71VO_iDYJ1OWja0WdX3vKRFneGC6PsLCXE5pB9qwrHjictEIbXUUXz2PXwwPL0Vzcyq40IErEErN-iQozgzFeXs95yzy16HBJ3f30-D5qFSE-bF-BnCUCUnav-Nkkb7eNDChPSQoi2/w426-h640/Favourite+things+13+003_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Books:</span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and a Vision for the Future by David Attenborough</b></div><p>I really enjoyed this book. It had a nice balance of the nitty-gritty and a vision for a more hopeful future on planet earth. As an autobiography I found his experiences really interesting. In his words for the future there were some significant concepts I hadn’t heard a lot about such as demographic transition, marine protected areas, ocean forestry as well as some other terms.</p><p>I would say this book is a starting point and it’s good to read up on climate change from all angles. The book was very accessible which is great because I think people will be more likely to read it. David Attenborough’s narration was a treat and listened along to it while reading the book. I found it easy to digest.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBjYWWvVnKquEuBqgGPYC6R5vA3Slx5znzsx9ja964PHXaDJkt4B1Gmkh7sXORj5P7aK_XYxROOpZnNG8y7g23o1vxoBkxfZi3ccqNn3rXmwDwQMyCEw_i4JAp0q2N5TtZVE5H9DfOXHy/w640-h426/Favourite+things+13+020_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Create Your Own Calm by Becky Goddard-Hill</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>This is a children’s self-help book, giving tips and advice to manage stress or down thoughts. I felt this would be a manageable read for seven years or above. Reading it as an adult, I still gained some insights. Words such as cognitive distortions, emotional ‘anchors’ and feeling ‘hangry’.</div><div><br /></div><div>I consider children’s self-help books to be still quite niche. I can’t remember coming across a book like this before. I would imagine it triggers some interesting talking points. The writing was straightforward and kind. I also liked the way it was set out.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1_ErqlrO7r8wnQoj2PA5fU0DE11kRPZL1mRqULYdlIk5nEGGiSt-rfhL7nQaLHH0Dd0BUAY_Pm-VIa8O9x7jZPSdfgx7Ab8PckpeVHlubHIMJ_0sjOw-2nXPEOA4SUlI6zUWh-xx1YAZ/w640-h426/Favourite+things+13+025_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Gizzi's Season's Eatings: Feasts & Celebrations from </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween </b><b>to Happy New Year by Gizzi Erskine</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a recipe book for the A/W months and the gear up to Christmas. It’s beautifully presented, including lots of aesthetically pleasing photos. I did gain some inspiration but I don’t think I’m the target audience. I can see the appeal, although I think my Christmas would look very different to the authors. It would make an appealing coffee table book.</div><div><br /></div><div>My favourite recipes included curried eggs, clementine and ginger trifle, and the French dip Christmas left over sandwich. I liked the advice sections covering things like how to set a table, how to organize a fireworks night and when to prepare food for the festive season. I would recommend this book to 20-30 year olds who adore going all out with Christmas, or anyone with an eye for food photography.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLjQtpD9OGBFeD3rmKBeGbfEZybCQwunnTeTIQGBO_5_dyuUB4RpXPhjbruVOdgHUIWiIrXAbX-2lC1AiJT2aHfWsB5ZkiVcW4HpFEhdgQU4Z18GDsx9J_joNnaxLZ-fBOZILyCIZyhNG/w640-h426/Favourite+things+13+031_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A Really Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>This book asks some really big questions about us, the cosmos, and life itself. It’s a science book that is accessible for children or adults. Some of the remarkable things I learnt include how space curves in a way which allows it to have no actual edge or boundary, but at the same time allows it to be finite.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mind-bendingly, according to some scientists we may be only one of millions of advanced civilizations. I enjoyed revising my knowledge of atoms and some of Einstein’s famous ideas. I couldn’t recommend this book enough as it certainly piqued my interest. It’s one of those topics that fascinates me.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The premise of this was really fun. Cassie wants to find a perfect match for the holidays. She hires Simon, professional matchmaker to find her ideal partner. The Christmas tasks that she had to do made the book for me, for example being a charity bell ringer, being Santa’s elf, and hosting a Christmas meal. </div><div><br /></div><div>The side-characters are well written and the humour was lovely throughout. I read the book in two days; I glided through it. If you are after something Christmassy, I would recommend this. The story was perfectly festive and cheesy, pure escapism.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="895" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPJZbQAyk0SUsvyNi2CSzxdfemYzhC_-zpXJCE6FN20yck-N7ACfASEStp_e63q9B1P2jtBeJA7oa03paHpuynC2LfvD54Raxy6WfkogntqgBo9Farzlhm_lOcKqsswyTCK4m5YwSGtAN/w400-h320/An+Audience+with+Adele.jpg" width="400" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">TV:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>An Audience with Adele on ITV</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>There’s been a big buzz around Adele lately. I’d been mostly watching video clips on YouTube and listening to her new album on Spotify but my Dad mentioned a TV programme called An Audience with Adele and I thought I would give it a go.</div><div><br /></div><div>Adele performs songs from her new album, along with some old favourites. In the audience, there were a mixture of celebrities and fans. The music paused occasionally for the audience to ask questions, and for Adele to chat. My favourite songs are hold on and easy on me, and they were performed beautifully live.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkCVG5HDF6fPZch9AAjhYFu2AWP0SpIUQcqOpW-xsrOEehTtNuiUucKd9HfFTWoiHPKdl9l-fR_pSXCNvrj3xsjsJ7denfeX4EIP-byo6w__mmjcu7EHMUfI4PXd1-Wftjc7AAJvLklQ3/s320/living+smart+podcast.jpg" width="320" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Podcast:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Living Smart Podcast</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I’d been trying to find some engaging environmental podcasts to listen to and stumbled across this one. It’s based in Australia covering topics such as getting creative with rubbish, solar panels, circular economies, sustainable neighbourhoods, and much more. Most of the podcasts are around 20 minutes long, so pretty bitesize. It’s run by an Australian city council, and I’ve been enjoying making my way through the episodes.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGooKp6zeX6I1Nky1Xr9c4KcRCz-4h1FsXB0TIS1r2HaJy42BfkJCJjH7y5e9tQgVCBamRrz2is3Qq-W_sliUNdUKqcOZH7FaW-ezFqt0oBOJn7AeO-FgbIJCdFjPJHlQkTmYWflg9kWz/w426-h640/Favourite+things+13+044_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Beauty:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Body Shop Black Musk Fragrance Mist</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I asked my local body shop representative for a Christmassy fragrance recommendation and she mentioned this one. The scent is perfect for winter, the mist lasts a long time after spraying and I would recommend it to others. This product is vegan, has the cruelty-free leaping bunny logo, has 95% ingredients of natural origin and the packaging is recyclable. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Top notes:</b> Pear, pink pepper and bergamot.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mid notes:</b> Liquorice root </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Base notes:</b> Black vanilla and black musk. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have any christmassy book recs for me?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Did you catch An Audience with Adele on TV too? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-67245741019844790732021-11-13T10:54:00.001+00:002021-11-13T10:54:12.125+00:00These are a few of my favourite things #12<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtI1jIURHt5y7JV5qQ9Mn9CdMzPc1Aha2Z-S5eehB8PZmV2PfSV8Xlr_Qm1L2Q4A5qGSKX0PpW0CzrGThFz2ehJeBbp_JzuYzJPzTvFO9PyoXOSHkGZIG4-T-NL1PXU8uHi17WR6ZrT9h/w426-h640/favourite+things+12+006_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Books:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton</b></p><p>Wabi Sabi is a Japanese concept that is very difficult to define. Beth does a great job of teaching her readers about what is means, including philosophical ideas about life and imperfection. She breaks down her thoughts and experiences into chapters such as living with nature, acceptance and letting go, cherishing the moments and more. </p><p>Her beautiful journal describes the customs of Japan and she includes advice to live a perfectly imperfect life. I found many of her ideas very moving and the authors experiences of Japan jumped off the page. If you are looking to tune back into yourself, and simplify while learning what’s important, I would recommend this book. A truly sensational read.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZafTaRM4TLmEtxAcbbRWKfrJk3qT5vJHJn2rJZ2rFzfQx0l_RSWgossi4T_t7Ny-a4-VkTQB5Fbysmfo4rXkLlUhdffCdkx6gwyLDh7cdTfjsMh_tpWhci0w-joE1s6Tr7enwfmT1OfPU/w426-h640/favourite+things+12+013_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Cinnamon Spice & Warm Apple Pie: Comforting Baked </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Fruit Desserts for Chilly Days by Ryland Peters Small</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a baking book covering autumnal bakes and desserts. Examples include crumbles, cobblers, puddings, pies, etc. The recipes looked really promising and I’m now buzzing to make a crumble or pie. The pear and chocolate crumble looked amazing in particular.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Thoroughly enjoyed this and it was something a little different for me. Sylvie and Dan are working on their marriage, they have two beautiful girls but need something to respark the magic between them. I really warmed to the characters and humour.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5osRABdoQtigmhBQhR_qpehWWzW-3Xftl1PNLIb2vgQ4VRYGM-L9J1BbKMaW3Ct4EzoPZI_Nf7XlsayG3UpTpz6RgThc2VHynsILwGFy-mrsLKc8DYi6U-IIGkx5oJQxE6VgWoZqzc3pT/w426-h640/favourite+things+12+011_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>100 Top Games Apps Made Easy by Julian Richards</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I picked this up to get some ideas on what games I could play on my phone (or a tablet). The book had a range to suit different preferences such as arcade, adventure, puzzles, trivia, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Each page was laid out well and included all sorts of relevant and helpful information. I mostly looked at the free games, and there was a good number of options.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmU_UNcEd8odHJI6_chRmXxF7kVqzfb-la8VDL1Q5PbYZk-usHrPApqwGtGoc6ERI4gnaJsQ1gXSHuaAcAyx5m3dikaFJ_L3t5SSXWugQbu0uf8GXTaZA6fm8NLpb8w9b7Ys4lcE7RbePV/w426-h640/favourite+things+12+017_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle by Alison Inches</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is an excellent children’s picture book, educating its readers about recycling in a fun and engaging way. The story is told like a diary from the point of view of a character going through different stages of plastic, starting as crude oil and ending up as a recycled plastic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, we can’t rely on recycling. Planet earth is running out of resources but I learnt some new terms such as polymerization which is the change that happens to crude oil when it’s being made into plastic. I liked the authors perspective and can see children learning a lot. I think it’s important to look at problems from all angles so read other books too!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by Rebecca Rissman</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This wonderful book puts a positive spin on how waste is affecting our planet. There are lots of interesting ideas and stories of people making an impact. Some of my favourite ideas include giving employers their own mini bin to make their consumption of waste more apparent. </div><div><br /></div><div>Encouraging paperless schools, using tablets instead. Educating people about reusables as well as upcycling. This book was great and I would recommend it to those interested in making a difference. The pages were set out nicely, making it pleasing to read.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR15E2bGpW3ysU6brrCFN_3TKWIyjb2BAEZ45c8J3je199y7I5Lk_LCiiFJXCehfkYKnl0B6B_61w0aBsi9Xmzmk-Sr_fzgO49p1tUNLJLs-qd-a_7NKy1xSf73K3Wi41jItaehEyJFPsO/w426-h640/favourite+things+12+020_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The House at Pooh Corner by A.A.Milne</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the second book in a series. The story of Pooh and his friends is a so quaint and adorable. It was first written in the 1920’s and you could feel while reading that it’s a classic that has stood the test of time. I found myself laughing at the characters humorous moments.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Lifestyle/Miscellaneous:</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Non-Fiction November on YouTube</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I’ve been really into following some book youtubers who are taking part in non-fiction November. If you don’t know what this is, it’s a month of reading more non-fiction throughout the month. It’s like a book club, with prompts, and many book enthusiasts have been sharing their reading. Type it into YouTube to see for yourself.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Autumn Photography</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This autumn I’ve been particularly prolific with my photography, capturing some autumnal scenes. Click <a href="http://helensfashionblog.blogspot.com/2021/10/autumn-walk-photo-diary.html">here</a> to view one of my photo diaries. I might make a part two.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Which of these books did you find most interesting?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you been following non-fiction November too? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div><div><br /></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-9555651257834379022021-10-30T10:38:00.000+01:002021-10-30T10:38:48.343+01:00Jigsaw Log #8<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeOfgYcA-9HaEt89TgaOAUSSOzH5BepA7YJHSi_vl0TrwgtXgKpst_QIhQr8vqEWEV9sO_vcac9QlP4u7yFxHFwmoRdKAe02Wd-PS67wvevLd6BxtqfKRfhleqaA-reGyDZMPzz0w-s8x/w426-h640/Italy+Jigsaw+Oct+007_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><p></p><div>Welcome to a new jigsaw log. I’ve been working on this jigsaw for a while now, and I completed it earlier this week. The image features Positano, Italy, famous for its iconic views. I originally bought this puzzle with my Grandma, she seemed to think it would be a good one to do, with its varied colour and detail.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>My Mum and Gran completed it before me, but I decided to come back to it, after their positive review of it. Compared to other 500 piece puzzles, the difficulty level was fairly easy and I felt the jigsaw pieces were well made. The brand is Trefl and we bought it from The Works.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj2_btLLQmhMGeV6x7FPmRO9fE7BcrdtQLFu4UL77_Lz7urFIt-kkgu5Q563PGkbiMo5VtDagTRUAgzTxL_2mTHzSQX-DQfV8m58hKjnqhXAo5zqCOG0pWsrr4csHiQVDi6Z41OXtcAj5/w640-h426/Italy+Jigsaw+Oct+013_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMc8AIzagpdoC5kPib6hBtPOREF1VK0xUoGFADaw9l32wXiHS1mB40X9Fwf6Iv0PSuIe6YLGT36_JjhFM1mBKZXJSaruL683M468A-hWo51FYpYyS64jLeWsEfFznIL2xxUxJzfWgPrZc/w640-h426/Italy+Jigsaw+Oct+015_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some tips if you are interested in jigsaws:</span></b></p><p><b>1.)</b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When choosing a jigsaw, go for colours and designs that appeal to your personal taste, this will add to your enjoyment.</p><p><b>2.)</b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Start easy and work your way up. 500 pieces or less are a good starting point.</p><p><b>3.)</b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Have something to listen to in the background, such as music, a podcast or audiobook.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUY-da2Mcudz4OmyWPzo7uzWriS-u6hrgnb126WFgintprFaGytBp6CwCLva_8_HX1GzNrJTaxExp-ntsYT_ceDBcjmFFWY6hTKr5_vaQKTU6P4GIfyDw2A_sjtIYz3F0KhGfUU_ryG0Ge/w640-h426/Italy+Jigsaw+Oct+012_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsvzUUQ6AbRImpIgl0DD0ept68cMhxuLVcv40DVGCzknHAfIrKOK_-pDmqGtE5CtGG4mV3wsmN6C5YUgFlO5Soe973UP0JPn0DDH_LJob808I6ZMYuEkk1KVO7zFnT4MBhyphenhyphenRQJnhzXmYG/w640-h426/Italy+Jigsaw+Oct+005_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBq51DgRhHQtUlp5IkmnWY-R2bzmc2iDZuMi-_XO9s909tbETaVIx36MkZaGwNuWsiyp9B7cCglnq9rUGkmhVE9o2UnFVxzNF6W1hBFkk3lJH58z1rfOuFXwazabAOUVDr46EKqkpfayZ/w640-h426/Italy+Jigsaw+Oct+002_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have any jigsaw recommendations or tips?<br /></b><b>Also, do you listen to </b><b>anything </b><b>while you are jigsawing? :-) Xx</b></span></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-51125376706699396842021-10-27T15:26:00.000+01:002021-10-27T15:26:15.599+01:00Autumn Walk Photo Diary<p>I recently went on a walk with my camera and found some interesting things to photograph. I love this time of year when the leaves fall, and the beautiful colours. The light can be worth noting too. Let me know if you enjoyed my photos, and leave a link if you have done a photo diary recently.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxDAugX5ZvOAR5_Vq8jVm1Q6h4eSBFvurvkOOOXGl3miwJroguExHSbW1j_EzsE9X3RTa2Pjek8_UgXR13AvzlpIlk6V5v3wwfjEIVatJSlHONgJz868OPE1oUs_4A364GQTjJsdJV8zb/w426-h640/Kirkleatham+Autumn+017_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtRoAbvypV17rW0rRsfKqKPuoNhaOrkedaqEz4oSzvno0EYczJDNo2j9Gc8Oww5DDqNzGgk8c_bFNpjyh8Afj2m-020XOnB4PMB249nCni_KyBDmxCTwn2ijIEBmDpHDyt9PPJAmOeSBk/w426-h640/Kirkleatham+Autumn+025_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3u2XGHjp838tHDJsqe_vt_uwnugYTzOOERUhlG_PfRdCVpdf7bOLoEp542PdFXeqCAa8UBR0oBL0oRGKoprFBNKd2BQaQYom1woadtw2yuvfXk8xKQKdZvN9aEDsiS3-MWhXd3UkSl4s/w426-h640/Kirkleatham+Autumn+018_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKDSBb6N5ClbemWlg1YHJtMmdyMD3gH7vp5j1p3kEF67vkR0rE8yPOlZkqr27_MCpe7qL9CRv4x55dGMlS6uENO6Ev0liwwv_6D7r3ZepCkW4aKe_Xi1jANos1AEFs-wOQ4nuCQW8iHX9/w426-h640/Kirkleatham+Autumn+031_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HarIFz0Duodo4OWY4RVcHIDb3xMGnQhXxr0lLLIo6ToNnvA3s-qLQ7ESHHUvnQRKcF4ekkaHLE4BRtgepL1I_LynV6Gf4XKS-SPIwKS2BICpxcadj-pmq54v4BTTf7qzMa5RfVtaWJ3R/w426-h640/Kirkleatham+Autumn+053_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijw38RbpMilvcHY2jnkjofqM59cukSC4InQcQkq_e54wYuMeZaVOt-2vVmG4h4xHuMCVlnx9jxemnRN79absGRx7Za2s8E8qQNENzkEGAG0h-hlrAr2z5cFgGfL8VAAtvlpI48SAenw8hU/w640-h426/Kirkleatham+Autumn+050_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijODeb0zFctCkulPyLLwquJhxgEChzqGqtnLJsOZlUKRbTN_PL_jcClIciwyq2gUUunMIsib8La1VaC8D3cPGEcijO1OIT-MdM5LiZtJnNaEEVAdM29BXqB4lFmLVd0XHPVUMmz1g_B8Lw/w640-h426/Kirkleatham+Autumn+005_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzPWqbtajwD_d6uKncp2Y3ktoU4EtTFUZV4Bhs_FVrgT_hoKBq-4ns_Yj_Qq42ThrdHaj1cxV0YJbhlhYRjXPU69oXw2abGhpZlFt8KnByvgGz-qFwObGfpkKf8Virbv213X9P30s6kVb/w640-h426/Kirkleatham+Autumn+002_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KddTVS3oa9xPCbdvzK_qhbrwCzbLNPWzSguTo5bQjfJoRo7W0pupdK7t9U5CROKxR8oebYZO_YV8CAoi11O83F0ZwQ7l9hpqY9a7qFdrJPFykSUrmvRaNlDrk7g6MOL2vFnF_xpA1YgY/w640-h426/Kirkleatham+Autumn+022_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloPG077q6wMu1T2_3XPSJg7SqOoTDKZS39m8uJ4yBprZzAuJMOKvj6ochqWppS_rOp0fAzfT3lm-rLrCGIehbG9GnkHro-uwiyqU8ddG9oh5AkpHA5nGecIVdp3pKWWeP7hRsR3RPXSz2/w640-h426/Kirkleatham+Autumn+009_EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxiJToBfaL3oey6_buXa8Gb0lTzlz7qn1qBWOh3X8tF_D6ZWoJsewo2cgBiuxxAf5dzm-_MMe4Vwr0ZaGEqfZ-CjvC61lJ25qY09VSmqtntizbKnG23YaemoYbzF1FloEUNV7U6lJj8yk/w426-h640/Kirkleatham+Autumn+007_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVS94SkbPGdGPWf2vWIzokj0UCCCejgf1rbEzX7j8EiaB85oGLFfZpLXUmzhz6k0wZSKEE10A_qJxdaQjWZDNyQ_CesaCeZNk40ganm8rJed-4DbV_OZEatZ2UgEBn4xPbrJuOGqEwzMHu/w426-h640/Kirkleatham+Autumn+004_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by. :-) Xx</span></b></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-80349986793484839572021-10-11T14:16:00.000+01:002021-10-11T14:16:52.742+01:00Stationery Update - 2022<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWY9mGJ-J82HqtNBpsEqDZeAoP3lPzrLHQLKo9Kmuj7-MAUbNTEDRGS6cHHdMpe8cGf_VsROo_4WD07zZDT6mM-Krol3p8Yq2JQ1xeKwrsdljkHmQT2VC2GUAaZ46sfjPvyHC5URMhOak/w426-h640/Stationery+Update+2022+006_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Floral 2022 Diary</b></p><div style="text-align: center;">This diary is A5 with a floral background and rose gold type on the front. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It’s a page a day making it perfect to write lots of notes. It’s part of The Works range.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lriQH2trqHZUCHSgmaCbu1yiQN-NO9VLF6yErfORAVsIrU_bq8D4stEmlsO5LawdHMGGAXXv3gWNqA6s1HYHFT0IDZSEiCtF_7E-EBNrbjLXMY5F590vX0Kq3ILPnADODcnTJGJQp0FM/w426-h640/Stationery+Update+2022+005_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mindfulness 2022 Calendar</b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This calendar appealed to me because of the mindfulness quotes on each month. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It’s something a bit different for me. Again, it can be found at The Works.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYm77ZvFN7gEnlsjVlE6xTUnn0ZXGOtFhxaMlHA3X1Qv5VEZZpmAz_4BoFgyZKEjLZxqMOsh0WfSFTNGMPHoL7fjqzxK7RHRwvVHGeg18hv6lvMtU9ylPsleSbsQQ5Y8w10SYT5dA9AOnf/w426-h640/Stationery+Update+2022+003_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bird Design Notebooks</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I loved the stunning nature illustrations on the front of these, making them perfect for autumn. They feature birds and plants on the design mostly. I bought a small yellow design with lined pages as well as a bigger blue one with plain pages. They are by a brand called Roger La Borde.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFuzjLCdDIUdEr0Hzq8cC_E8nMI9J4W_uoukUweR-b-48wVMQ_MCVoz6PO9MKN2f2oPJFEJUIJcJTDeS1COMuzHHp7KI9NUqf6q_r4Eowdvb68pZvZAzji2Q3Hy7d5beUsgGTnZcv24_T/w426-h640/Stationery+Update+2022+015_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bird Design Gift Wrap</b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The gift wrap was my Mums idea, she said I could use it as </div><div style="text-align: center;">a backdrop for my blog photography. I love the colours.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQc0IQSn-c-VkdGCYv6BvlP5Nsu1XpDDyiNszJsIfXUrzxuM7089gJoqk6-xik-rZwv3_nZtmtdr_dYPBrhpKx4nzNTLZCig_1yrc-G34kYzE5EztJPh8o9LUJeG0WTjig1R8c6pRv1HY/w426-h640/Stationery+Update+2022+010_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Are you interested in stationery too? </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you keep a yearly diary or calendar? :-) Xx</span></b></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426223735358770067.post-40074055708136815482021-09-30T12:01:00.001+01:002021-09-30T18:20:04.486+01:00Tips for buying secondhand books on eBay<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKybJQuGDjDvv1ZrA6OXPT9mMWMs2oi6OSiEf0cIltjdtOUsKZumn0Y_PlsWjXSj6MLQT7XmhV7tNRMRMOf5Sn2AxMwPk2L7hbTBHh6rA8TTNuOaC_o0fd3qRGU9ArIBmYymsHrXobwArV/w426-h640/eBay+books+007_EDIT.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="426" /></div><p></p><p>1.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Book sellers will mention the condition of the book. Have a think about how important this is to you. I mostly buy in ‘very good’ condition, but you may feel ‘good’ condition is okay is you are only reading a book once.</p><p>2.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Have a think about how many times the book might be read. You may feel like paying more or less depending on this.</p><p>3.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Be aware some sellers do offers if you buy more than one book together.</p><p>4.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If you want to cut down on packaging, you could purchase a number of books in bulk.</p><p>5.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Check before you buy that your library doesn’t have a copy of the title.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvTgmBZn7pOH4YpRBTgcIKyGzoB5QdLaRR5_OjbOz9zHgTWp5sYnavgNVYPKN0W4RZIGVR3XwBFIpB3nBf9uliFAUuxt9te0wEkNp3R4IDb06hoe9uuKCxO8VqTCTwCt9fTIUyqrOsoSn/w426-h640/eBay+books+010_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">6.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Be patient when searching for a particular title, sometimes it’s a bit of pot luck if a book is a little less well known.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">7.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Have an idea of the kind of reading experience you are after. Do you read lots of short books which</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> are cheaply available or savour more special reads?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">8.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Creating a wish list can be fun and there are a few platforms this can be done on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">9.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This might seem an obvious one but be sure to check out reviews of books you are interested in. I look for key words or thoughts that spark my interest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">10.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If you are a keen reader, have a seasonal or monthly budget and keep to it. If you run out of budget,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> try other ideas like using the library, reading/rereading books you already own.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2uvWK_fBrGrhIp2w-SSBHZgdFdNeMesawicn2LeL9CTcIIS0cqtdFLToAPNQsW97zX7En1wLDSyIYYRJzEb_fe9du1H0X9-2ZhEE9IuJSFx_2MDU5u8EraXFNSHfSkfa1cFuX9wfcO3n/w426-h640/eBay+books+002_EDIT.jpg" width="426" /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for reading. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know in the comments your ideas or </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>which</b><b> of my tips was your favourite! :-) Xx</b></span></div></div></div>Helen Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995732974206547850noreply@blogger.com4