Magazine Review #2 (Recharge)

 

Name of magazine

Recharge (Issue 3)

Who is it aimed at?

I could imagine the magazine appealing to a broad range of people 

but if I had to pin it down, I would say mid-20s to mid-30s.

The slogan

Inspiration to start living more mindfully today.

What the magazine aims to achieve

The magazine is lovely to dip into when you need some self-care time. Topics 

cover mind and body, lifestyle, travel and nature as well as creativity.

Favourite articles

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.

Further notes

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. 

Would I buy another copy?

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.

Any DNF (Did not finish) magazines lately?

Mindful You (Take a mindful moment.) Issue one.

I bought a pack of three magazines but was disappointed by Mindful You. The cover 

is so promising but there were too many medical articles with unattainable beauty shots.

Does Recharge magazine appeal to you?

What kind of topics in magazines do you like? :-) Xx

These are a few of my favourite things #17

 

Books:

Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

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.

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.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

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.

Mrs Bibi’s Elephant by Reza Dalvand

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. 

The Whale Who Wanted More by Rachel Bright

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.

The Usborne Book of the Moon by Laura Cowan

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.

Films:

Fashionably Yours (2020)

‘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.’

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.

A Brush with Love (2019)

‘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.’

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.

Designed with Love (2021)

‘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 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.

Podcast:

Online: Offline with Bianca & Brogan

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.

Music:

KEYS by Alicia Keys

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.

Lifestyle:

Snow Drops & Daffodils

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.

Out of these reviews which was your favourite?

What kind of genres in books do you normally gravitate towards? :-) Xx

Zesty Cookies

 

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.)

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.

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.

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.

What do you like to bake? 

Do you have any baking book recs for me? :-) Xx

These are a few of my favourite things #16

Books:

Save Your Planet by Ben Hoare

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.

The Great Food Bank Heist by Onjali Q.Rauf 

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.

Break the Mould by Sinead Burke

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.

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.

101 Morale Boosters by Gael Lindenfield

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. 

Get Fit Walking by Sam Murphy

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.

Our Rainbow Queen by Sali Hughes

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.

 

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.

A Dictionary of Dream Symbols by Eric Ackroyd

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.

The Lost Spells by Robert Macfarlane

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.

Films:

Bewitched (2005)

‘A producer remaking the classic sitcom ‘Bewitched’ unwittingly casts an actual witch in the lead role.’

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.

Moonstruck (1987)

‘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.’

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.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

‘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.’

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.

Have you read any of these books?

Do any of these films interest you? :-) Xx

Magazine Review #1 (Teen Breathe)

 

Name of magazine

Teen Breathe (Issue 6)

Who is it aimed at?

As the name would suggest it’s aimed at teens, so 13-19 

year old’s. But I am an adult and got some enjoyment out of it.

The slogan

Be inspired, be brave, be kind, be yourself. I really like 

this, and it was what made me pick it up to read.

What the magazine aims to achieve

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.

Favourite articles

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.

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.

Further notes

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.

Would I buy another copy?

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.

Do you read many magazines?

Do you have any recommendations for me? :-) Xx

Jigsaw Log #9

 

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.

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 (visit here).

Are you working on a puzzle? 

Or do you have a different pastime you want to share? :-) Xx

The History of Fairgrounds

 

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.

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. 

Ways fairgrounds have evolved:

• Through the application of steam power and later with the use of electricity. 

• Dodgems evolved into what they are today using an electrical pick-up linked to roof nets above.

• 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.

When the first rides were engineered: 

• The scenic railway was an important development before the first world war.

• The caterpillar was introduced to Britain in the early 1920s.

• The dodgems as we know them today were introduced in Britain in 1928.

• The big wheel with its basic design principles has been around since swings and roundabouts.

Some of the references I found most significant:

‘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.’

‘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.’

‘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.’

Search term suggestions:

History of the first fairgrounds

List of fairground rides

Vintage fairground rides

Vintage fairground ride artwork

Big wheel Blackpool

History of the dodgems

Articles I used and recommend for further reading:

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca/researchandarticles/fairgroundrides

https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/iha-historic-amusement-parks-fairground-rides/heag057-historic-amusement-parks-iha/

https://www.amounderness.co.uk/big_wheel_blackpool_viewed_from_the_tower_c1902.html

https://www.fairground-heritage.org.uk/learning/british-fairground-rides/

https://ezinearticles.com/?A-Brief-History-Of-The-Travelling-Funfair&id=399743

https://www.joylandbooks.com/category_fairs.htm

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca/researchandarticles/pleasuregardensamusementparks

Did this topic interest you?

Do you have any of your own thoughts around this subject? 

:-) Xx