These are a few of my favourite things #18

 

Books:

Guardians of the Planet by Clive Gifford

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.

Our Planet by Matt Whyman

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.

Alex and Lulu Mix and Match by Lorena Siminovich

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.

Stitched Textiles: Birds by Rachel Sumner

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.

Create Your Own Kindness by Becky Goddard-Hill

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.

Helping Our Planet by Jane Bingham

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.

Films:

Sand Dollar Cove (2021)

‘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.’

This was a lovely, escapist film that I would recommend. I thought the family dynamic in Brody’s family was portrayed well. 

Charlies Angels (2000)

‘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.’

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.

What Women Want (2000)

‘A cocky, chauvinistic advertising executive magically acquires the ability to hear what women are thinking.’

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.

13 going on 30 (2004)

‘A girl makes a wish on her thirteenth birthday, and wakes up the next day as a thirty-year-old woman.’

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.

Alice Through The Looking Glass (2016)

‘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.’

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. 

Music:

Lost and Found by Martine McCutcheon

This month I found I’ve been listening to music quite a bit. I stumbled across this 

album on my music app and liked it straight away as Martine has a lovely voice.

In The Zone by Britney Spears

I like the general vibe of this album, it’s mellow but with a good beat. 

What have you been reading this month?

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

Cinnamon Biscuits

 

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.

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.

Have you been baking recently?

Let me know if you like the look of these! :-) Xx

My Simple Skincare Routine

 

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…

Vitamin E Body Cream (Cruelty-free)

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.

Vitamin E Day Cream SPF 15 (Cruelty-free)

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.

Simple Cleansing Lotion (Cruelty-free & Vegan)

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. 

Simply Pure Eye Make-Up Remover (Cruelty-free)

I use this to get rid of mascara and although I don’t apply it every day, it’s a good staple.

Original Source Shower Gel (Cruelty-free & Vegan)

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.

Avon Bronzing Gel (Shade Light Bronze)

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.

The Body Shop Black Musk Fragrance Mist (Cruelty-free)

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.

Vaseline Lip Balm

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.

Do you have a simple skincare rountine too?

Have you tried the Vitamin E range before? :-) Xx

Magazine Review #3 (Oh)

 

Name of magazine

Oh (Issue 58/Early Spring)

Who is it aimed at?

Anyone who likes art and culture would like the magazine. 

It also seems to be for family oriented people.

The slogan

Mindful being – Mindful doing

What the magazine aims to achieve

The magazine feels like a comforting hug including escapist articles, and mindfulness tips. 

This issue was written during the pandemic, so topics for how to keep well are included.

Favourite articles

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.

Further notes

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.

Would I buy another copy?

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.

Any DNF (Did not finish) magazines lately?

Practical Mindfulness Book (Issue Six)

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.

Have you heard of Oh magazine before?

Do you read magazines in your spare time? :-) Xx

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