This week my Word of the Week is: Books!! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

If you had told me this time last year or even this time last month I would be obsessing over books, I would have laughed in your face. Me and books haven't been a thing, not since I was a teenager. Life is busy and I could never sit still long enough to turn pages and get fully sucked into a book. For years I just gave up on the dream of being a reader but then Audiobooks happened!!

I don’t even remember what made me try one properly this year but once I did, that was it! Audiobooks are a total game changer. I don’t have to sit still, I don’t have to stare at words and give them my full attention, I can just listen and somehow that works with my brain in a way reading never did. I can be doing something else and still get completely pulled into a story.

The first time I properly got into an audiobook was when I was sorting out my wardrobe. I had my headphones in and while folding my clothes I had a story unfolding into my ears. It didn’t feel like I was doing a boring job that I had been putting off for ages. I started listening while cooking tea, while walking, while folding laundry and even while sitting at my laptop blogging. Instead of rushing through jobs I don’t enjoy, I am now looking forward to them because it means I can carry on with whatever book I'm listening to.

I’d been using Spotify for audiobooks because we already pay for Spotify Premium and I thought audiobooks were just part of the deal. I got through a few books fairly quickly and was feeling very pleased with myself. Then Wednesday happened! I was in the kitchen cooking tea, headphones in, happily listening to The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back by Fiona Gibson when the story suddenly stopped and I heard a voice say something about "You have reached your listening limit." I had no idea there was a limit but Spotify only gives you 15 hours of audiobooks a month and it resets when your bill is paid. Our bill goes out mid-month, which means I’ve probably listened to about 30 hours already in January without realising.

I wasn’t ready to give this up. I was enjoying listening to books far too much, so I did what I always do when something annoys me. I went straight to Google. There were lots of options for audiobook apps, most offering a free trial and then charging around eight or nine pounds a month. Which isn’t terrible but I really didn’t want to add another subscription to my life. So I started searching for free audiobooks and I found quite a few but not really the sort of books I wanted to listen to and then I came across BorrowBox.

BorrowBox is a free app that lets you borrow audiobooks and ebooks from your local library and download them straight to your phone or tablet with no payment, no subscription and no hidden limits. How did I not know about this before? I do wonder how many other people are missing out on this too?

The only thing that nearly stopped me was the thought of joining the library. The last time I even thought about it, you had to take ID and proof of address before they would issue a library card but I checked the website on the off chance and it turns out joining is now simple. I didn’t need to prove anything. I just filled in my name, email address, home address, chose my local library and that was it. So I went back to the BorrowBox app, signed in with my new library card details and suddenly I had access to so many books, way more choice than Spotify, too! New releases, familiar authors, books I’ve heard people talk about for years and never got round to reading.

The borrowing system works just like a proper library. You borrow a book for a set amount of time, which is around 20 days and when that time’s up it automatically returns itself. Some books weren’t available straight away, which confused me at first because it’s an audio file, but then I realised libraries work on licences, so only a certain number of people can borrow each book at a time. You can reserve them though.

I now have a list of about 15 books. I haven't reserved any apart from the one I'm listening too but they’re all new to me, which makes it feel exciting. So sorry Spotify Audiobooks, you’ve been dumped. Well almost. I’ll be back once my hours reset so I can finish the last hour of my current book and then we're through.

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m a reader now. Not in the way I imagined, I’m a reader while being busy and instead of reading the books with my eyes, it's with my ears!

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!

What I have loved this week! Week 5. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! It has been another wet week here and it has been chilly but I’m trying very hard not to complain because I’ve been keeping an eye on the weather reports from the US and wow! The snow, the ice, the temperatures all looks brutal. I really hope everyone across the pond has managed to stay warm and safe because just watching it on the news makes me want to put the kettle on and wrap myself in another layer. I am of course linking up with Erika and Andrea today to share the things which I have loved from the past week.

Lots of wrestling!

If you know me, you won’t be shocked that wrestling is top of the list again. It has been a big week in our house. We had an extra show on Saturday night and there’s another extra show coming up tomorrow night, which has made the whole week feel a bit more exciting than usual. The event is the Royal Rumble which is always one of my favourites. It’s the one that really sets all the storylines up for the next few months in the WWE. This year it’s being broadcast live from Saudi Arabia, which means we’re being treated to earlier start times. Tonight’s show starts at 5pm and tomorrow’s at 7pm! The Saudi shows are always impressive but this one has really blown my mind. A month ago the site where the arena is was flat ground and over the the last few weeks they've built a full-on custom arena. The speed they work at is unreal.

Hair dye!

Saturday afternoon was hair-dye day. If you dye your hair bright colours you’ll know it’s never a quick job. This was an all afternoon thing. First the bleaching, then washing it out, then the dye, then waiting, then rinsing again. By the end of it I was so sick of the process but happy with the result. I love having bright coloured hair, I always have and I probably always will. Despite what some people think it makes me feel like me and life’s far too short to be boring.

Slow cooker meals!

Every now and then I forget just how brilliant the slow cooker is. I’ll go a few weeks without using it and then wonder why on earth I stopped. This week it made a very welcome comeback. There is something nice about throwing everything in, putting the lid on and letting it do its thing while the house slowly fills with the smell of something delicious. On Tuesday evening, we had pork belly and winter veg pot roast. It’s an oven recipe but it works perfectly in the slow cooker. The meat was soft, the veg was full of flavour and it felt like proper hearty food which was just what we needed on a cold, damp day!

My monthly goals!

At the start of January, I wrote a blog post about my goals for the month. At the time I wasn’t sure if it would be a one-off or something I’d keep up with. As I’m writing this I’ve only got one thing left on that list that I haven’t done and I feel so chuffed with myself. Writing everything down really helped. It gave me that little nudge to actually get things done instead of thinking I’ll do them at some point. I’ve already started writing down ideas for my February goals, which feels like a good sign. I think this is going to turn into a monthly thing.

Harry Potter Hagrid's Hut Terrarium!

I’ve had this Harry Potter Hagrid’s Hut terrarium kit sitting around for ages and I finally got around to starting it last week. I did had to pause to let the plaster of Paris set but I cracked on with it this week and got it finished! I think I did a good job and it's so cute. In a few weeks it will look even better when the grass starts to grow.

Harlan Coben's Run Away!

A gripping 8-part Netflix thriller following Simon Greene, a father searching for his drug-addicted runaway daughter, Paige. After finding her in a park, a violent altercation with her boyfriend, Aaron, leads to a murder investigation where Simon is the prime suspect. The series dives into a dangerous underworld, revealing dark family secrets, betrayals, and the extreme lengths a parent will go to for their child. I am half way though as of writing this and I am enjoying it. There are so many twists and turns.

What have you loved over the last week?

My favourite mug cake recipe!

Sometimes life just calls for dessert! You know when it’s late, the house is quiet and your sweet tooth decides say we must eat cake now! You don’t want to make a whole cake but you are craving something warm, gooey and just a little indulgent. This is where the mug cake comes in. It only takes about 5 minutes to make and I have a favourite recipe which I want to share!

Mug cakes are the ultimate cheat’s dessert. They are quick, fuss free and best of all require minimal washing up. You mix everything straight in a mug, microwave it for a minute or two and voila you have a personal portion of cake ready to go. No mixers and no multiple bowls. The beauty of mug cakes is that you can stick with a classic chocolate, go for vanilla or get a little adventurous with peanut butter, caramel, berries or even a hint of coffee because it’s a single serving you can experiment without feeling guilty about wasting ingredients.

Here’s my go to recipe. It’s rich, chocolatey and comes together in no time. Perfect for when a sugar craving hits and patience isn’t an option!

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons plain flour.

4 tablespoons sugar.

2 tablespoons cocoa powder.

3 tablespoons milk.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil.

Method:

Mix the dry ingredients: the flour, sugar and cocoa powder in a microwave safe mug.

Add the wet ingredients, stir in the milk and oil until smooth. The batter should be thick but pourable. At this stage, if you’re feeling naughty drop in a few chocolate chips or a spoon of peanut butter!

Microwave on high for 70 to 90 seconds. Start with 70 and check. Keep a close eye! Every microwave is different, and you want it moist and soft, not rubbery. The cake will rise above the mug and look like a little chocolate volcano.

Let it cool for a minute, then eat straight from the mug!

Optional extras - Dust with icing sugar, drizzle with chocolate sauce or plop a scoop of ice cream on top.

I’ve tried dozens of mug cake recipes, some disastrous some OK and a few amazing but this one hits the spot. The cocoa powder and sugar ratio is just right, the oil keeps it moist. The best tip I can give you is to use a big mug! If it's too small it will spill over and you don't want to spend the evening cleaning the microwave!

So next time you need a dessert fix and don’t want to bake a whole cake grab your mug, whisk up my favourite chocolate recipe and microwave your way to happiness.

Do you ever make yourself a mug cake?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #40

I hope you are all having a good week? It's Wednesday which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. I live in the south so we're pretty much only talking about the weather right now. Give us a weather report from where you live. Does the kind of weather you're having today affect your mood in some way?

Right now, here in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, the weather is doing that very British thing where it can’t quite decide what it wants to be. I’m writing this on Sunday afternoon and we’re looking at a couple of grey, gloomy, damp days. The temperature is hovering around 5C (42F) which is cold enough to make you sigh when you step outside. Wednesday is apparently going to be sunny, dry and bright with temperatures reaching a thrilling 8C (47F). I know that doesn’t sound impressive but at this time of year I will take what I can get. The rest of the week is wet and grey! Ugh!

When it’s wet and grey out, I just feel a bit flat from the moment I look outside. My motivation disappears. I don’t want to start anything, I don’t want to finish anything and I definitely don’t want to be enthusiastic about laundry or housework but then when there is a bright day, like midweek, I will get a boost of motivation and I feel like I can take on the world which will hopefully see me through to the weekend when I don't mind it being grey and wet because weekends are meant for Pjs and cosy days at home.

2. Avocados, kale, cauliflower and cottage cheese have all had their time to shine. 2026 brings us the year of the cabbage. Is this a vegetable you like? If so, what are some of your favorite dishes that call for cabbage?

If you’d asked me this a year ago, I would have said absolutely not. I hated cabbage unless it was shredded into coleslaw. Then last year we were out for Sunday lunch at a pub and cabbage came with my roast dinner. Normally, I’d push it to the side of the plate and pretend it wasn’t there but for some reason I tried it and I loved it. It was green cabbage with bits of bacon and full of flavour, nothing like the cabbage I remembered from my childhood. The following week it was red cabbage and again I loved it too. I’ve tried making it at home since and it’s just not the same. I don’t know what pubs do with cabbage but whatever it is, my version is never quite the same.

3. Was a Cabbage Patch Doll a part of your childhood? Or maybe your children's childhood? What's a toy trend from your childhood you remember wanting for your own?

I remember being at primary school and someone brought a doll in to play Jesus in the school nativity and it was a Cabbage Patch Doll! I fell in love with it instantly. They were the ugliest looking things but all my friends seemed to have one but I never got one. Hmmf.

The toy I asked for every single Christmas and never got was Mr Frosty. If you grew up in the UK, you know, that little fella promised endless slush puppy drinks and endless joy. Looking back, my mum was probably imagining the mess and she was right. In a moment of madness I bought Ellie one about 10 years ago, the Frozen Olaf slush maker which was basically Mr Frosty in a different outfit. It was useless. It didn’t crush the ice, it didn’t make proper slush and it just made a mess! My mum was right!

4. Something you've spent a lot of time doing lately?

I’ve spent a lot of time decluttering lately and it’s one of those things that starts off small and suddenly takes over your life. I’ll go in to sort one cupboard and come out with three bags and a pile of "why do we even own this" items. I’m trying to take it slowly this time. I’ve learned that if I go too hard too fast I get fed up with it and want to avoid it altogether. So I’m doing bits here and there, stopping before I hit that wall and reminding myself that it doesn’t all need doing at once.

5. Somehow it's the last week of January...sum up your month in just three sentences.

January flew by instead of dragging, which feels like a small miracle. I started the month full of cold but now I feel better than I have in ages. It actually feels like I’ve got loads done, which is not the usual January I am used to.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Question number 2 has really got me thinking, mainly about how pubs and restaurants have some sort of secret power when it comes to food, especially vegetables. Things I would normally not eat at home taste amazing when I am out. Cabbage is a prime example. I am thinking when someone else has cooked it, served it to you and will handle all the washing up afterwards, it just tastes better. I feel the exact same way at home when Stu cooks. Even if he follows the exact same recipe I would, it somehow ends up tasting nicer and I find myself appreciating every bite. When I cook, I’m thinking about the mess, the timing, what still needs doing afterwards and whether I can be bothered to wash that pan straight away or leave it to soak. When he cooks, I just turn up and eat and there's no thinking involved. I think pubs do have a magic touch but I’m fairly sure the real ingredient to enjoying a meal fully is not having to be involved.

My favourite spot in my house: My armchair!

Every house has that spot, the place you automatically head to without thinking, the place your body just knows is home and for me, it isn’t my bed although that is tempting, it isn’t the kitchen as there's too much responsibility there and it definitely isn’t anywhere involving laundry. It’s my armchair! My chair, my spot, the throne. Hehehe

It’s not fancy, it doesn’t recline at the touch of a button or look like something out of a show home but it fits me. It was actually 2nd hand when we got it along with the sofa but it was like brand new. I've been sitting in it for seven years so I think it is holding up well. The cushions are perfectly squished, the arms are at just the right height and there’s a very specific dip where I sit that no one else is allowed to comment on. Everyone in the house knows it’s mine. They can sit in it but they know they shouldn’t and if they do, they’ll get the look.

It’s where I blog from most days with my laptop balanced on my knees and a blanket thrown over my legs even in summer, I think it is a comfort thing. This chair has supported hundreds of blog posts, half finished drafts and those moments where I stare into space wondering how on earth to word what’s in my head. All of my favourite posts started right here. No desk, no fancy setup, just me, my thoughts and my chair. There’s something about sitting here that makes the words come out easier, maybe because I’m relaxed or because I’m surrounded by the normal noise of home. This chair is my writing place!

It’s also my TV watching spot. Whether it’s rubbish daytime telly, something I’ve seen a thousand times or something dramatic that has me shouting at the screen like the characters can hear me. This chair has held me through laugh out loud moments and emotional ones where I pretend I’m fine while reaching for a tissue. 

It’s where I’ve had some of the biggest conversations with my girls. Now that they’re grown our chats are different. Sometimes more serious than I ever expected when they were little. This chair has been the backdrop for talks about life, relationships, worries, plans, mistakes and everything in between. Some conversations start casually. Me sat here, one of them perched on the sofa and suddenly we’re talking about something important without meaning to. Other times one of them will come and sit on the arm of the chair or on the floor nearby and I know it’s about to be one of those chats. It’s where I’ve learned to listen more and to talk with them instead of at them. I've laughed here. Proper belly laughs and I've also cried here, quiet tears, angry tears. This chair has held me while I’ve been strong for my family and then broke down when I am all alone.

When I feel like I’ve done enough for one day, I come here, sit down and breath. Sometimes I scroll mindlessly, sometimes I plan things and sometimes I do absolutely nothing. It’s where I sit with a hot drink and let it go cold because I forgot it was there, where I snack and where I tell myself I’ll get up in a minute and then don’t.

There’s something nice about having a place that doesn’t expect anything from you. I can just sit here and be. This armchair has seen every version of me. Tired me, motivated me, emotional me, happy me and overthinking me at 11pm when the house is quiet and my brain goes into overdrive. I think that’s why it’s my favourite spot, not because it’s the nicest piece of furniture but because it’s part of my life.

It might be just an armchair but it’s also my creative space, my comfort zone, my front row seat to family life and my little bit of calm in a busy house and if you’re wondering no, you still can’t sit in it.

What or where is your happy place in your home?

Our weekly meal plan! 26th Jan - 1st Feb! #MealPlanningMonday

Hello and happy Monday! Writing the title for this blog post did make me smile, at the end of this week we're into February and one step closer to lighter nights and warmer weather. I feel like I should complain about the weather. For once it hasn't been that cold here but it has been wet. I caught something on the news the other day saying we'd had a months rain fall in just a few days. Eek!

We had a really good weekend which always helps me head into a new week in a better mood. We were all home, which doesn’t happen that often anymore and I love it when it does. Saturday evening was simple, we all ate together and then we settled down in front of the TV. Sunday followed the same theme: very little effort, lots of movies and a fair amount of eating. Sometimes those are the best days, especially when the weather outside isn't great!

Last weeks meal plan went great! All the Gousto meals were of course fantastic but we did end up pushing everything back by a day as Stu and I ate out on Monday. The only meal we skipped was the pork stir fry which was no great loss as everything was coming out of the freezer and cupboards. I felt like I had won the lottery on Thursday when the food shop was delivered, there were no substitutions and unavailable items. It's the first time that has happened in about 6 months. What a treat!

I don't have any massive plans for this week. I have a little craft project to get on with, I started last week building the pieces I needed from Plaster of Paris. I’ll of course share it when it’s finished, assuming it all works out and doesn’t collapse in a pile. Fingers crossed. lol

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - A surprise!

Stu is on cooking duty tonight which means I get the evening off. I have no idea what we’re having which makes it even better. It could be something dug out of the freezer, it could be something he’s decided to make from scratch or it could be a combination of both. I love not having to think about it.

Tuesday - Gousto Meal - Oven Baked Pork Belly & Winter Veg Pot Roast!

This is proper comfort food. It says to cook it in a pan but I ignore that and throw everything into the slow cooker because I like to make life easier where I can. Pork belly, carrots and parsnips in a herby gravy, served with roast potatoes. Ellie usually turns her nose up at anything that comes out of the slow cooker but this is the one exception. She actually asks for it at least once a month which says a lot.

Wednesday - Gousto Meal - One Pot Baked Mushroom Stroganoff Tortiglioni!

This is one of our favourites which still surprises me a bit considering we’re a fairly meat-loving household. Mushrooms, onion and garlic cooked until everything is golden and smells amazing, then mixed with pasta and stock and baked together. It’s topped with soured cream and a sprinkle of paprika.

Thursday - Gousto Meal - Gochujang Beef Udon Noodles!

Gochujang is a thick Korean chilli paste made from red chilli peppers, fermented soybeans, rice and salt and it’s sweet, spicy and a bit savoury all at once. This dish is stir-fried minced beef with sliced carrot and udon noodles, all coated in a glossy sauce that clings to everything in the best way. It’s finished off with toasted sesame seeds which always makes a meal feel fancier than it really is.

Friday - Chippy tea!

We’ll order from the local fish and chip shop everyone will get what they fancy! I know my youngest will get a chicken wrap and fries, Becky will either get spam fritter and chips or a doner kebab and myself and Stu will stick with the classic fish and chips!

Saturday - Gousto Meal - Hot Honey Bacon & Fried Egg Pancakes!

Fluffy buttermilk pancakes with crispy bacon, a fried egg and lashings of hot honey butter for an extra kick. We've had this plenty of times before and really enjoy it!

Sunday - Toad in the Hole, mash and veg!

I’m planning on toad in the hole with mashed potato and veg. It’s easy, filling and doesn’t require much effort, which is exactly what I want on a Sunday evening.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 18th - 24th January! Week 4 of #Project365

I've had a good week. I've not really been up to much but at the same time I've been quite busy. I didn't even have enough to write about for my Word of the Week as it was such a normal, uneventful week, so I jumped on the 2016 trend, sharing some photos and what we were up to 10 years ago.

I was with my dad for two days this week, which was nice. I was helping him out with computer things one day and on Friday I went for my usual catchup but he was called off for a job, so I spent a couple of hours with my brother's partner and son and it was lovely! I always forget how loud and chaotic 5 year olds can be but he's a sweetheart and absolutely adores Ellie. When he wasn't trying to feed us play-dough, he was sitting up on Ellie's knee. Bless him. Hopefully my good week will finish off with a nice weekend because we are all home, well from last night we were. Yesterday, Becky was sleeping off a night shift, Ellie was busy and Stu was at work and by 7pm we were all sat in front of the TV ready to spend some family time together.

Now for a photo every day!

18/365 - 18th January!

The daffodils bloomed and I love them. I bought them over a week ago and they're still going strong. They are a reminder that brighter days are on their way, even if the weather hasn’t quite got the memo yet!

19/365 - 19th January!

Stu and I let the girls fend for themselves and we had a meal out. It was only at Wetherspoons which is cheap and cheerful. It was lovely. Sometimes it’s not about where you go, it’s about who you’re with and the fact you don’t have to cook or wash up afterwards.

20/365 - 20th January!

Hot cross buns! I know some people wait until Easter but Iike them the as soon as they appear on the shelves in the supermarket. Warm, toasted, lots of butter melting into them! Yum!

21/365 - 21th January!

I started a little craft project and was all gung-ho expecting to get it done in one day but no, I had things to build using Plaster of Paris and had to wait for them to set. Patience is not my strong point so this was slightly irritating. At least I have something to keep me busy next week.

22/365 - 22th January!

It rained all day. Miserable, grey, never-ending rain. It was the kind that made me so glad that I didn't have to go anywhere. I stayed inside, pottered about and enjoyed being dry and warm while the weather did its thing outside.

23/365 - 23th January!

The Traitors final. What a series! I was completely hooked right until the very end. The twists, the drama and the stress of it all. I don’t think there was a single episode where I wasn’t shouting at the TV. It’s one of those shows that gets everyone talking and I love that. I was so sure the Traitors would turn on each other so it made a very tense ending. 

24/365 - 24th January!

I chuckle every time I put this T-shirt on. Hehehe

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This week my Word of the Week is: 2016!! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

This week has been a good week. I haven't really been up to much, not anything that is worth writing about anyway. It has been all the normal, day-to-day stuff. Housework, running errands, all that boring stuff so I thought I would jump on the 2016 trend bandwagon. People online have kicked off this huge throwback trend where they’re revisiting life and memories from ten years ago, 2016. It’s being called "2026 is the new 2016" and has gone viral on social media.

2016 doesn't seem that long ago but at the same time, for me it feels like it was a lifetime ago. So much has changed in mine and my family's life. I was of course blogging in 2016 and you can see my top 10 blog posts from that year. My blog wasn't even called Life As Kim, I was Northumberland Mam back then because we lived in Northumberland.

My girls turned 14 and 9 years old during 2016 and life seemed so much simpler. I am guessing there were things to worry about but there was none of the big stuff. Our days were filled with trips to the park, arts and crafts, baking and just enjoying life. 

In 2016 Becky was finishing year 8 and went into year 9 at secondary school and Ellie was finishing year 4 and went into year 5 at Primary school. It was a school year when there were no big changes or much going on. It was the year before Becky started her GCSE's and the year before Ellie was in her last year of Primary school so it felt like they were happily plodding along.

One of the many things I miss from living in Northumberland are the beaches! We had one about a 15-minute bus ride away and another about half an hour away which we would visit all the time. There are of course beaches close to North Lincolnshire where we are now but they are a bit of a trek and the girls don't like the beach as much as they did 10 years ago.

Looking back on 2016 and I was shocked at how few photos there were of me! I know I used to blog post about the girls but there was less than a handful of me. I was always the one taking the photos, behind the camera. I had to go onto Stu's computer and look at the photos he took to find some of me. I am glad things have changed and show my face more now. I find it so strange looking back on old photos of me with my natural hair colour, dark brown! I've been dying my hair bright colours since around 2019 and can't imagine having a normal hair colour now and I can't imagine having a fringe either. Eek!

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!

What I have loved this week! Week 4. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you have all had a good week. I have had a great week. Just plodding along quite happily, busy but not too busy and there has been a lot of pottering about at home. I am of course linking up with Erika and Andrea today to share the things which I have loved from the past week.

Leaving the kids to fend for themselves.

This isn't as bad as it sounds. Stu and I were busy earlier in the week and it got to about 3pm and we realised we hadn't eaten since about 8am, so we decided to have something to eat while we were out. Stu said what about the girls and I felt a pang of guilt eating out without them but they're adults and it wouldn't hurt them to fend for themselves and make something to eat and that is exactly what happened. Stu and I had a meal out and the girls sorted their own food! I have to keep reminding myself that they are 23 and 18 years old and they don't need to rely on me as much!

Hot Cross Buns!

They're probably available to buy all year around but I don't seem to notice them until about now in the year when they bring out their special flavours. I got the girls the chocolate and salted caramel one's and me the triple berry ones and some of the apple and cinnamon ones, and I have been having a couple each morning for breakfast! They felt like a delicious treat!

Daffodils!

They are such a cheery flower and a sure sign that spring is on its way! I will be buying a bunch each week with the food shop until they are out of season again!

WWE: Unreal - Netflix!

A new season came to Netflix bringing fans back behind the curtain of WWE's creative process. The five-episode docuseries picks up after WrestleMania 41 and follows the company's journey to the first-ever two-night SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium in August 2025.

I watched this over a couple of days and loved it. Season 2 goes deeper behind the scenes in the build up to some huge moments and I loved seeing how storylines are shaped, changed and sometimes completely panicked over at the last minute. Watching the creative side wrestle with ideas was almost as entertaining as the matches themselves. What I enjoyed most was seeing the wrestlers as people, not just characters. There are some genuinely emotional moments mixed in with the boardroom chats and frantic planning and it reminded me just how much goes on that we never see on TV.

This Coca-Cola Light!

My eldest was at the pub late last week and was talking to the landlord, he was clearing out what he could as the pub was closing and he didn't have room in his new pub to take everything and Becky joked, saying she wanted the light, he was going to give her it for free but he has always been good to us. Making food that wasn't on the menu and giving us little extras, so she gave him £20 which I think was a bargain considering the size and weight of it. She now has it is in her bedroom. It could have been worse. He was asking if she wanted a dart board, imagine the chaos that would have caused. lol

More Audiobooks!

I finished my first audiobook last week and decided to try something new for me, a story instead of someone's life story! I had no idea where to start but kept seeing Sophie Kinsella books recommended to me, so I just picked the first one that came up and it was called Finding Audrey!

Audrey can't leave the house. She can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house. Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again - well, Starbucks is a start. And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable. Be prepared to laugh, dream and hope with Audrey as she learns that even when you feel like you have lost yourself, love can still find you.

Wow! I think I chose well, it is aimed at young adults but who cares! The topic was serious but there were so many laugh-out-loud moments. The mum in it is just like me, nagging the kids and trying to fix everything! I finished it mid-week and have started another Sophie Kinsella book, Remember Me? There was me aiming for one book a month and here I am on my 3rd!

Fun filters on my phone!

I don't know how it happened. I am guessing it came with an update on my phone but I now have fun Snapchat-like filters to add to my photos without having to go on to something like Snapchat which I am not a fan of. I don't usually use things like this but I did have fun with them for a few minutes.

Decluttering and tidying!

I have been busy over the last few weeks decluttering mine and my fellas bedroom and it's all done. It has all been deep cleaned too, which was long overdue. Everything that we've not used in a year has gone, the shoe rack at the bottom of the stairs has been sorted too. I'm a week ahead on my decluttering jobs and everything that was to be donated or taken to the tip has gone and the whole house much lighter now!

What have you loved over the last week?

The sneaky subscriptions draining your money!

We all want to save a bit of money in January, December is a whirlwind of spending, gifting, treating ourselves and accidentally signing up for things we don’t quite remember. By the time the new year rolls in half of us are staring at our bank statements wondering what has happened. So here's a reminder to have a little money tidy up, just a simple look at the subscriptions that are nibbling away at your cash every month. 

The mystery app you don’t remember downloading!

We’ve all got at least one of these lurking in the shadows. A random app offering premium features you’ve never used. Meditation apps, language apps, habit trackers and that random game you played once because an advert promised it would rewire your brain and boost your IQ. The worst part is these apps often cost a couple of pounds a month and we don’t notice.

Where to check:

If you’re on iPhone, go to Settings > Your Name > Subscriptions.

On Android, check Google Play > Payments & Subscriptions.

TV & streaming!

There are so many streaming apps now: Netflix, Disney+, Prime, Now, Paramount+, Apple TV and those are just the one's I can think of, there is probably more. We never watch all of them at once. January is a great time to ask yourself what you are actually watching! If you finished that big show on Netflix and haven’t touched it since, pause it. If Disney+ has been sitting there untouched except for that one time you rewatched Moana, pause it. None of them make you sign a contract for life so ditch what you’re not using and rotate through them when there’s something new you fancy.

The gym membership you’ve not seen since Autumn!

Gyms know exactly what they’re doing with those New Year, New You deals. They get you while you’re full of festive cheese and optimism but if your gym card hasn’t seen the light of day since the leaves turned orange maybe it’s time to be honest with yourself. Gym memberships can be pricey. If you love working out at home, switch to free YouTube workouts or a single, affordable fitness app you’ll actually use. If you prefer walking or running stick with that instead. Gyms often require 30 days notice so cancelling sooner rather than later helps.

Digital magazines & newspapers you forgot you signed up for!

These start out so innocently where you get 3 months for £1 and we think wow, what a bargain. Then January rolls around and suddenly it’s £9.99 a month for something you only read once because there was an interview with someone you vaguely recognised off Strictly. Take a little peek at your subscriptions and check if you’re still actually reading them. If not, wave them goodbye. You can always come back when there’s another cheeky £1 deal floating around, there usually is.

Those monthly little treat boxes!

Beauty boxes, snack boxes, craft boxes, stationery boxes, period boxes. There is a subscription box for absolutely everything and they’re fun! Opening a little parcel of goodies feels like Christmas every month but after a few months, the excitement fades and the products start piling up. Suddenly you’ve got six moisturisers still in their wrappers, enough fancy pens to start your own stationery shop and snacks you forgot to eat because you popped them in a drawer for later. If the box no longer gives you that excited little flutter when it arrives, it might be time to pause it.

Spotify Family!

The subscription we swear we needed because everyone in the house was going to use it. Cut to now and you're the only one actually listening, humming away in the kitchen while the rest of the family plan forgets it even exists. It’s such an easy one to overlook because it feels practical with six accounts and ad-free music but if you’re the only one logging in you’re paying premium prices for a party of one.

January is already a month of fresh starts, so trimming back the digital clutter fits right in. A simple sweep through the subscriptions you no longer use can make such a difference and it’s one of those jobs that feels good once it’s done. 

Do you have any forgotten things that you are paying for?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #39

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Ice skating, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, playing in the snow, or a snowy walk...which winter activity do you choose? Have you done any of these activities so far this winter?

It’s been a long time since I’ve done any of these things and it’s not even just because the girls are older now, though they definitely don’t need me to play in the snow any more. It’s mostly because we just haven’t had enough snow! The last proper snow day we had was back in 2021. We were all home because of the "virus" and being in lockdown, so the girls of course made a snowman!

For myself, I think I would choose ice skating! As a teenager, my friends and I would go to the local ice rink every Saturday where they would have a disco. It was such fun and I wasn't actually that bad at ice skating. I would like to give that a go again. In a dream world, I think Husky Sledding would be the ultimate experience. It looks like such an adventure, speeding through snowy landscapes with a team of huskies pulling you along!

2. Everyone is posting pictures from ten years ago on their social media sites so let's jump on the bandwagon too. Share one photo and one thought to go with said photo from the year 2016. And maybe everyone isn't doing this, but many are and we're going to be part of the fun.

Sticking with the wintery theme here, I’m sharing a photo from when we went to Disney On Ice back in 2016 when the theme was Frozen and we met the cast. I actually won a competition on a blog for VIP tickets and the prize included a limo to take us there and back. The girls still talk about it now as one of the absolute best nights of their lives! From the costumes to the skating, to the sheer joy on their faces. I will never forget it.

3. What's a trend you hope disappears in this new year?

Ohh! I have a list! Hehehe Clothes with fake pockets, overly loud hand dryers that scare the soul out of you, influencer morning routines starting at 4am, limited edition things that aren’t really limited, shopping apps sending notifications every 5 minutes, cushions with buttons that dig into your back, restaurants serving food on boards, slates or shovels, shoes with laces that never stay tied, instructions printed in a tiny font, supermarkets rearranging everything for no reason and anything described as quirky that’s just annoying!

4. 'They' say there's a day for everything and January 21st proves it. National Granola Bar Day. Do you like granola bars? How about just regular granola? Do you like bars of other kinds?

Granola bars are fine, especially when you’re busy and realise you haven’t eaten anything all morning. I definitely prefer the chewy kind, the ones that look healthy but are basically stuck together with honey. Granola in a bowl is not for me though. It's too crunchy, too dry and it rattles around in my mouth like a snack version of nails on a chalkboard. If we’re talking about bars of any kind, chocolate bars would still win every time for me but I think that’s not really the point here. I do like cereal bars, especially ones made from familiar cereals like Frosties, Coco Pops, or Rice Krispies.

5. A frozen lake, a trickling stream, a raging river, or a deep well...which one describes something about your life right now? Elaborate as much or as little as you like.

I’d say I feel like a trickling stream at the moment. Slowly moving, taking things at my own pace and not stressing about where I’m going. There’s a quiet flow and I’m happy with it. No drama, no sudden waves, just me moving along steadily and enjoying the little moments along the way. It feels nice to just plod along sometimes and accept that life doesn’t always have to be a roaring river.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

January can be a tricky month for me. Usually it feels like it drags on forever with the cold, dark days making everything feel slower and gloomier but this year has been completely different. It’s flying by! I think part of that is because I was under the weather recently and it forced me to slow down. I didn’t rush, I didn’t try to cram everything in and instead I’ve been taking things at a gentler pace. It’s funny how just slowing down a little can make everything feel so much more manageable, even with the rubbish weather. It’s a nice change and a reminder that sometimes we need to move like a trickling stream!