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

These are a few of my favourite things #15

 

Books:

The A-Z of Mindfulness by Anna Barnes

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.

Protect the Planet by Jess French

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.

Life Lessons from the Ocean by Richard Harrington

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. 

Create Your Own Happy by Becky Goddard-Hill

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.

Make Anything Happen by Carrie Lindsey

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.

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.

Circuit-Breaker #5 by McCarthy

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.

The Adventures of Luna the Vampire #1

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.

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.

Films:

Lucky Christmas 

‘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’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.

Gravity

‘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.’

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.

Lifestyle

A New Tea Mug

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.

Do any of these book titles appeal to you too?

Have you watched any of the mentioned films? :-) Xx

These are a few of my favourite things #14

 

Lifestyle:

Christmas Flower Arrangement

We bought some winter flowers to go in the conservatory

for over Christmas and they’ve been a lovely focal point.

Knitted Santa Grotto

We went on a winter walk, and admired someone’s 

amazing effort to make a knitted Santa grotto.

Christmas Jigsaw

I’ve been working on this jigsaw for a long time 

now. I’m hoping to complete it for New Year.

Films:

The Christmas Setup

'Hugo heads to Milwaukee with his best friend, Madelyn, to 

spend the holidays with his brother Aiden and his mum,

 who is in charge of the local Christmas celebrations.'

This was a really fun film with a great cast. 

A perfect holiday romantic comedy for the season.

Christmas Everlasting

'After her sister’s death, Lucy returns to her hometown 

to discover that she must spend 30 days there 

in order to claim her inheritance.'

This film was surprisingly poignant, I thought the 

lead actress did a great job. Lovely film.

The Christmas Contest

'Sparks fly between a former couple as they 

compete in a Christmas contest to win money 

for a charity of their choosing.'

This was a new release to television. It’s 

perfect escapism, and I enjoyed the humour.

Books:

The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy

A homeless boy discovers the magic of Christmas when he excepts an unloved 

little fir tree from a shopkeeper. People of all backgrounds gather outside as the 

boy lights the tree with candles on Christmas Eve. I loved the meaning behind 

this story, and the unexpected but beautiful conclusion. The illustrations are stunning.

Winter Sleep by Sean Taylor

This is a story about a boy, and his beloved grandmother who teaches him about animals, and 

nature. He finds as winter comes that the animals hibernate. This is a wonderful picture 

book, showing children about how animals survive in winter. The art work leaps of the page.

A Christmas to Remember by Anton Du Beke

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.

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.

My Friend Sleep by Laura Baker

This is the most stunning picture book about the magic of dreamland as 

you sleep. Perfect to read just before bed with a child, or even as an 

adult. The illustrations and narrative are so calming.

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra

This is a picture book story of a mobile library librarian who accidently drives into 

a zoo. The animals are very curious and can’t wait to learn about reading. I love 

books about books, and this struck me as one that could be a classic.

Stardust by Jeanne Willis

This is a story about a girl who wonders about her place in the world. Her Grandad teaches 

her wisdom about how everyone is made of stardust and the wonder of the universe. Ultimately, 

the meaning lies in the girl’s friendship with her Grandad. A great read set in winter time.

Clarice Bean: Think Like An Elf by Lauren Child

This is a book about a Clarice, her family, and the traditions they have over Christmas. Clarice 

really wants to keep the Christmas spirit so she tries to do as many good deeds as she can.

I’m only half way through this but I’m really enjoying it. It’s a lovely children’s book aimed at 

I would say 7-13 years old’s, written in a cheerful way, including plenty of gorgeous illustrations.

Let me know in the comments some of your festive highlights. 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! :-) Xx