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.

My Couch to 5K Experience

Three weeks ago I completed my final run of Coach to 5K. I could not be prouder, or more shook.

To give you a bit of background - I've literally never been a runner. Even when I was small. And let's not even go into the absolute tragedy I'd be if I had to run for the train in the morning. At the beginning of lockdown I made an extremely optimistic running playlist and tried to run around the block but didn't even make it that far. 

Couch to 5K is something I've heard people talking about for years. It's like when more than one person recommends a TV show - you know you'll like it. So one day I decided to just try it.

What's Couch to 5K?

For those of you who don't know, the Couch to 5K app is a running programme which takes you from couch potato to being able to run 5K in 30 minutes, 3 times a week. It takes 9 weeks. 

Autumn iPlayer Recommendations Part 2

Hello friends and welcome back to my new fave kind of post which pretty much consists of me gushing about the TV I've been bingeing lately. 

If you haven't already, check out my previous posts 4 Must-Watch iPlayer Recommendations Autumn 2020 and 5 TV Shows You Should Watch on BBC iPlayer.

By the way, it has dawned on me - now I'm 3 posts deep in iPlayer recommendations - that you may be getting concerned that I don't know other channels or streaming services exist. To be honest, I just really like the fact there's no adverts and it's free. No shame in my game.

The Bridge

From the show's premise, this is the last thing I'd expect to be obsessed with. It's a subtitled police drama based between Sweden and Denmark. When a body is found on the bridge, one half in Sweden and one half in Denmark, two police officers, Saga and Martin, have to work together to figure out why.

4 Must-Watch iPlayer Recommendations Autumn 2020

Looking for some thrilling dramas to sink you're teeth into this autumn? Look no further. 

Since my previous post, 5 TV Shows You Should Watch on BBC iPlayer, I've been searching for even more great content. And let me tell you, I've found it. So much so that this is actually going to be a 2 part post. Expect another 4 incredible recommendations next week. I'm mixing it up a bit too so whether you're looking for dozens of episodes to keep you going or just a one-off fix, I've got you covered.

I've worked my way through the good, the bad and - let's face it - the awful, to find the absolute gems on BBC iPlayer. I'm talking truly mindblowing tele you can't turn off. Because as the evenings draw in and restrictions tighten again, one thing I really look forward to is sitting down to an episode of my current fave programme every night with some tasty treats. 

Also, since iPlayer is free, I find more people tend to be watching the same thing at the same time. That means even more enjoyment because you can talk about it and gasp at the same parts.

I May Destroy You

Without a word of exaggeration, this is the best TV show of 2020. 

Millennial writer Arabella pulls an all nighter to finish a creative project she's working on. She breaks to get something to eat and meet friends. Then blank. She comes to, back at her desk writing, with no idea what just happened. The series follows Arabella as she pieces together the horror of sexual assault, and how she begins to deal with it. 

The show deals with issues of consent from multiple angles. Angles I hadn't even thought of, let alone understood before. 

It also depicts our hustling, swiping, validation seeking, woke, hedonistic generation and it's vulnerable underbelly. And it's not just the issue of sexual assault which is explored, but the fine line we all tread in maintaining our mental health and relationships.

Autumn is in the air

Usually when this time of year rolls around I'm just 

not ready 

to say goodbye to summer. 

I'm a summer baby and love nothing more than long days and light nights. This hasn't been a 'usually' kind of year though.

Even though it seems like we've been in Julember for months, I also feel like spring and summer have had their time. I've been out walks (and now runs!) almost every day since April, so for the first time ever I've noticed nature and the transition through the seasons. Now the leaves and pine cones are starting to fall and I couldn't be more excited.

The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod | Book Review

I am absolutely not a morning person. I never have been. I'm pretty much a demon until 11am. I know that the early bird catches the worm and all that and because I start work at 8am I do need to rise early out of necessity. Honestly though, I'd rather not.

I'm just finishing an online course called The Science of Well-Being by Yale University. It sounds obvious, but one of the most essential factors in people's happiness levels, studies have shown time and time again, is sleep. While I may falter in some of the other contributory factors like exercise, meditation and gratitude, sleep is something I can't not prioritise. When people say to me 'I only got 4 hours sleep last night' I'm like 'HUH?! How are you still functioning?!' I'd literally collapse. So, whether its been before exams, stressful times at work or after a night out, I always get the amount of sleep I need. I think that's why, until now, I've classified mornings as time which would be better spent unconscious.

Therefore, even though I've heard The Miracle Morning recommended time and time again over the years alongside books I have loved, I prematurely judged it as 'not my thing'. However, when my cousin dropped her copy at my house in the middle of a pandemic saying it had changed her life, I kind of had to take notice. And I'm super glad I did.

What is The Miracle Morning?

The book begins with testimonies about how The Miracle Morning has transformed people's lives. From losing 25 pounds to quitting smoking to attaining top grades to finding true love to improving relationships to having more energy to accomplishing long term goals to having every day 'feel like Christmas' - this book can purportedly help you do anything.

The Existence of Amy* by Lana Grace Riva | Book Review

Trigger warning - this book contains depictions of OCD, depression and suicidal thought patterns.

This is a no spoiler book review.

Hello you lovely folk and happy Saturday! I hope you're having a swell weekend. As I mentioned in my last book review, for a few months now I have been really struggling to get into a book. Only a tiny fraction are cutting it. I've currently got three books on the go and they're all very mediocre. So, I was delighted to read 'The Existence of Amy'* by Lana Grace Riva last weekend because it gripped me straight away and I finished it within a few hours.

What's the story?

From the outside you'd be forgiven for thinking Amy was normal (whatever 'normal' actually means...). She has a great job in digital marketing, brilliant work friends and a nice house. However, we are privy to Amy's perspective, and from the inside her life is a constant struggle. The title pretty much sums it up: she's just existing, not living.

Amy's whole existence is dictated by her OCD (and subsequent anxiety and overthinking) and bouts of depression. She fights with herself to keep up appearances and continue the charade of a normal life but its exhausting.

The Sunday Post #19

Good evening one and all. I come to you live from the heart of hayfever hell, with a face that feels like it's going to fall off and probably a tree equivalent of used hankies (ew). It's not all bad though, as I'm working my way through some Cadbury's Heroes and it's still lovely and light outside. Have you all been basking in the beautiful weather this week?

What Have I Been Doing This Week?

Doing the 7 Day Thigh Challenge

This week I completed Blogilates 7 Day Thigh Challenge. I couldn't believe how difficult the simple-looking exercises were and I was so proud of myself for following through. A couple of months ago I would have given up after Day 1. While I haven't transformed into Miss Stick-Insect Legs, I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly I improved over the week. What absolutely killed on Monday and Tuesday was totally doable by Friday. It just goes to show - 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference.

The Sunday Post #18

Happy Sunday folks! I've had a lovely evening consisting of Line of Duty, an online book club chat, a Harry Potter quiz and Neapolitan ice cream. Not too shabby at all. I took the above photo today when I went a bit on a candle rampage. Does it feel inception looking at it?

The Week

I finished the SEO work I've been doing piecemeal for weeks on Julz Obsessions. None of my photos had alt text so going through 300 posts and adding it was pretty laborious. I did love re-meeting old me as I went back in time though.

This week I wrote my first article for Quite Literary, a new online magazine called 'Books to Read in Your Early Twenties'. Give it a read and let me know what you think. Writing is exactly what I want to be doing more of in the months and years to come so I feel like this is the first step of a fabulous journey. 

It looks like we're finally going to start coming out of lockdown. Is it just me or has everyone else lost all sense of time? It's as if we've been like this for 2 years, but also 2 minutes. While I'm very much looking forward to doing things like going to my fave restaurants, seeing my friends and family, going to the pub and shopping when we can, I also think I'll emerge on the other side changed. It's like the reset button has been pushed on my life and I can see clearly what's important, what I want, what I should be doing more of and less of. 

The Sunday Post #17

I've been going through old posts fixing some technical aspects (lack of alt text, broken links etc) and very happily stumbled upon an old series I wrote in 2013 called 'The Sunday Post'. Each week on a Sunday evening I'd write a short blog post about what was going on in my life that week and what I'd been enjoying. Honestly, for the most part it was me gushing about One Direction and calling into the online abyss for friends who shared my Pretty Little Liars obsession. But I have completely loved reading these back. They're such a vivid reminder of a very specific time in my life where I was completely immersed in Higher exams and, as cheesy as it may sound, I was finding myself and my voice. Incidentally, reading through the number of posts I managed to produce back then, I'm in awe at how I managed to find any time for studying at all. I'd just got my first proper part time job in Wetherspoons and my favourite song was Avicii Wake Me Up. I ended up working in spoons for 3 years (maybe one day I'll write a book about the fun and games that went on in there). Funny enough, I've been listening to Best of Avicii on Spotify the whole lockdown. I guess we don't change that much even though our circumstances might.

So, I thought I'd dive back in - 7 years later - and write The Sunday Post #17. Even if no one reads it, I absolutely love looking back and catching a glimpse of myself in time.

'The Husband's Secret' by Liane Moriarty | Book Review

This is a no spoiler book review

The Husband's Secret has been on my to-be-read pile for well over a year after I got it at a jumble sale 3 for £1 (bargain!). 

For such a book-loving gal who usually roars through novels alongside working full time, since we've went into lockdown and I've had so much free time, I've been finding it so difficult to get into a book. I don't know if it's because right now our brains are constantly distracted by the enormous threat of a pandemic. Anyway, while other folk have been using this time to whittle down their TBR pile, mine has been slogging along almost untouched. 

Have you been feeling the same difficulty in settling into reading lately?

I'm a big believer in 'feeling' what to read next. I need to be in the mood for a particular genre or type of book. For every few fiction books I read, I'll throw in a non fiction between to change things up. The diversity is the beauty of reading: having such variety to choose from means I never get bored.

Let's leave all the hard hitting science and canonical literature for later. My brain just can't deal. Right now? I need something light with a great story which hooks me in immediately. 

Cue The Husband's Secret.

Great Home Workouts For People Who Hate Exercise

I've always been a fully fledged member of the lazy gals club. My base instinct is to sloth. Give me a phone, a TV or a book and I'll beat records for time spent sitting.

You can therefore imagine my sheer incredulity upon discovering that lockdown has made me somewhat of a fitness fan. I know right?! 

Hear me out.