Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan | Book Review

This is a spoiler-free review of Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan.

You will like Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery if you’re looking for a cosy Christmas book with plenty of spirit and a great story that keeps you hooked.

Set in a harsh coastal winter, it’s the perfect book to read under blankets, drinking a warm hot chocolate. There are even recipes at the end.

It has an almost whimsical feel, with exotic characters from across the globe whose lives converge on the small seaside village of Mount Polbearne.

Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery has:

• lavish decorations
• a pet puffin
• freezing cold weather
• wrapped-up villagers
• drama
• secrets
• more Christmas baking than you can imagine
• romance
• reunions
• a Christmas fayre· 

This Christmas chick lit is guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit.

Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop by Jenny Colgan | Book Review

 

This is a spoiler-free review of Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop by Jenny Colgan.

You will like Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop if you’re looking for all the festive feels wrapped up in one cosy novel.

This book is a brilliant Christmas read. It’s bursting with everything you’d want at this time of year including:

• carols
• excited cute kids
• sweets galore
• a puppy
• snow
• family reunions
• romance
• Christmas shopping

It’s perfect for reading while sipping a hot chocolate in the cold dark evenings, wrapped up in a warm blanket.

Autumn vibes

 
I always get a wee notion to blog around this time of year. Something about the nights drawing in, the autumnal colours and of course, the pumpkin spice lattes, makes me feel all cosy and nostalgic. 

In my Autumn is in the air post last year, I was already fully ready to embrace the new season by the beginning of September. This year I'm grateful for a slower transition out of summer because it seemed to go by in a flash. We've had some serious sunshine over the last week (unheard of in Scotland) so I'm dipping my toe into autumn without the darkness and freezing-ness. 

I'm a creature of habit, and many of the exciting things about autumn I mentioned last year still apply. What I'm most loving about autumn right now is:

• pumpkin spice lattes - but this year skinny and decaf - they taste just as good 
• gold glitter nail polish - cos I've finally stopped biting my nails
• autumn makeup - red eyeshadow and Velvet Teddy
• cropped camel jacket - third hand #lovetheplanet
• taking photos of nature and other gems while out running
• burning candles
• chilli con carne for dinner
• pinning to my autumn board on Pinterest
• my new matching white hoodie and joggers - channelling Molly Mae

And now restrictions are mostly lifted, I'm thoroughly enjoying doing fun things again and savouring every second. A real highlight was last weekend when I went to see Chicago. It was the first show back at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow and it was incredible. 

What do you think is the best thing about autumn?

5 easy swaps to be more sustainable

 
It's a sunny Saturday evening and I'm blogging. Ah, feels like 2012 again. 

A lot has moved on since 2012 though.

I've learned how the things I buy (or want to try) affects not only my purse, but the planet too.

As much as possible, I try to be minimalist and:

• don't buy stuff I don't need
• use what I've already got
• repurpose things

However, there's always going to be things I need to do like wash my face. I now try to go for more sustainable options.

I should probably note here, by way of disclaimer, that while I'm definitely eco conscious, I'm no expert. There are plenty of other people much further down the road than me. However, I know there are also a lot of people who are just taking tentative steps towards being more sustainable, or maybe haven't considered it yet. I know because that was me a few years ago. 

Being a bit more eco conscious doesn't have to be a massive lifestyle change though. 

So,  I want to share 5 easy ways you can be more sustainable. 

These are the things that've worked for me and were a painless swap from my earlier planet-damaging alternatives. 

ffs smashes it again... this time with fake tan*

Believe it or not, we're teetering towards summer. I know, blows my mind too. Other than the one day of sun we've had here in Scotland, the rain has been near biblical.

However.

The second I get a sniff of sun I'm diving head first into the fake tan bottles. 

After four months of lockdown, being a wallflower has no appeal. It's go hard or go home.

Glitter nails? Yep.

Pink head to toe? Why not.

Straight to dark tan? Of course.

After how much I loved the body care products from ffs, I jumped at the chance to try their Deluxe Glow Tanning Set.*

List of Lists | Daily Edition

Way back in 2013 I wrote a post called My List of Lists and even now it's one of the most popular posts on Julz Obsessions. Guess it just shows how many list lovers like myself are searching the web for list-spiration (?) 

Back then, I realised lists weren't just scraps of paper for to dos but could:

• be an alternative to journalling
• help me set goals
• let me reflect
• keep me motivated
• help prioritise what's important
• make me feel in control
• organise my life when I have a lot on
• mark myself at a certain point in time
• reduce stress

ffs Natural Deodorant Review*

Following on from my rave review of their razor subscription box, today I'm sharing my experience of using natural deodorant from ffs.* There's a lot of reasons to get onboard, its:

• organic
• vegan
• handmade in the UK
• paraben / aluminium / BPA / petrochemical / palm oil free

I really care about the planet. Over the last few years I've educated myself on the impact of fast fashion and single-use plastic on the environment. So, I've tried to cut back on my consumerism and buy thoughtfully.

I've been meaning to make the switch to natural deodorant for months. 

But, probably like many people teetering on the edge of 'what I've always done' and ethical alternatives, I worried natural products wouldn't be as good or effective.

I was totally wrong.

ffs Review: Shaving and Beauty Products with the WOW Factor*

When it comes to shaving, I've always done what you absolutely shouldn't do. Despite being part of the beauty blogging community for nearly a decade, I didn't invest or care about it at all. 

I feel like I'm confessing my sins here but... I bought the nastiest, cheapest, disposable plastic razors. To make myself feel better about the disposable part, I'd probably use them more times than you're supposed to. I would occasionally exfoliate before, but more often than not it was simply a case of - cringe - hacking my poor legs. They'd be irritated and dry. Definitely not a nice blank canvas for the fake tan I love when it's legs out season.

With summer just around the corner (hooray!), you can imagine how delighted I was when ffs got in touch asking if I'd be interested in trying their razor subscription box.* One look at their website and of course I said yes. 

• Real bodies? Check. 
• Aesthetically pleasing? Check. 
• Cruelty-free? Check. 
• Rave reviews? Check.
• Kind to the planet? Check check check check check. 

I'm so here for sustainable beauty products.

Spring it on!

The clocks have just gone forward, daffodils are shooting up everywhere and the days are finally getting longer. Hooray!

In winter, we can get bogged down in our routines, bracing ourselves against the weather, and - after Christmas - just getting through the daily grind. I'd never appreciated the phrase 'bleak mid-winter', but I think the lockdown has really brought home its meaning this year. Staying ok can be a daily effort. 

Spring makes me excited about the future. 

There's something fresh and inspiring in the air.

It's a new chapter.