The cheap little things that make me happy!

You know when someone asks what makes you happy and you feel like you should say something really meaningful like spending time with family, living in the moment, all that lovely stuff. Don’t get me wrong, that is all important but if I'm being properly real for a second, it’s often the tiny, cheap little things that actually make my day better. Not the big holidays, designer handbags and not even those fancy coffees with swirly cream and a caramel drizzle that cost half your weekly food shop. I’m talking about all those small, budget friendly bits that somehow bring way more joy than they probably should.

So here are a few of my favourite cheap little happiness boosters.

A Greggs sausage roll!

I don’t care how fancy anyone claims their taste is, a Greggs sausage roll just hits the spot every single time. Flaky pastry, hot filling and slightly too greasy in the best way possible. You know it’s going to burn your mouth and you still go in for a big bite anyway. It’s still one of the cheapest little treats going. Proper proof that happiness doesn’t need a big price tag.

A new mug (usually under £3)!

Do I need another mug? Nope, but I will still buy a new one if the price is right. There’s something satisfying about starting your day with a cute mug of tea or coffee. It somehow makes your morning drink taste better!

Fresh bedding!

This one doesn’t cost extra but it deserves a spot because it feels like a total life reset. Fresh sheets and clean PJs after a bath or shower feels amazing and such a treat to get into bed.

A chippy tea!

There's nothing quite like it. Hot chips, salt & vinegar and eating it straight from the packaging that it came in. All while sitting on the sofa in front of the TV. It's simple, messy and the best tea!

Supermarket flowers!

Give me a £4 bunch from Tesco and I’m happy. I don’t need anything fancy from a florist. Something pretty on the fireplace really brightens the room up and makes it a bit more cheerful. It’s such a small thing but it really lifts my mood!

Cosy socks!

Those fluffy socks you grab in Primark for a couple of quid are the best. They may not last more than a few months but they make your feet feel like they’ve checked into a luxury hotel, forget spa days. I’m choosing socks!

Candles!

There’s something magical about a candle, even when it costs next to nothing in a bargain shop. I light one and suddenly my house feels like I’ve made an effort. Never mind the washing pile, or the dinner I’ve forgotten to cook. The candle here is a mood booster which makes me forget all my problems.

Stationery bits!

A new notebook or a fresh pen somehow makes me feel like I'm about to become organised, even if that feeling only lasts a couple of days. There’s just something about blank pages that feels full of possibility.

Maybe happiness isn’t always the big shiny stuff we’re told it should be. Maybe it’s the candle, the last chip or that new mug I didn’t need but had to have anyway. Those things manage to turn an ordinary day into something a bit better!

What cheap things make you happy?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #64

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. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." Sam Keen. Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January? Elaborate.

I definitely feel less guilty about relaxing in July than I do in January. It feels OK and acceptable to slow down in the summer, the days are longer, the weather is usually nicer and over the last month or so here it's been too hot to do anything majorly productive. The less I move, the better. hehehe Tea over the last couple of weeks has been quick and easy instead of standing in the hot kitchen and sitting outside feels like I am making the most of the nice weather instead of wasting my time. January feels different with the new year, new start mentality. January is all about being busy. You see reminders to get organised, eat better, lose weight and exercise more. I always feel like I should be busy in January, ticking things off my to-do list and it's exhausting compared to the summer months.

2. What's a telltale sign you're upset?

I go quiet! I keep everything to myself and overthink it all. The people who know me best can usually tell something isn't right as soon as I am giving one-word answers. I sometimes think that it would be better for me to get it all out by shouting and screaming and have it all done with instead of me dwelling on things!

3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposely used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative?

My thoughts on AI are a bit mixed. I use it almost every day now and I probably use it more than Google. If I need ideas for a blog post, want help fixing something around the house or have a random question pop into my head, AI is usually the first place I go instead of searching through lots of websites trying to find the answer, I can ask one question and get a straightforward answer. It saves a lot of time. I also use AI to create images for the top of my blog posts and random things like the image of the trifle below.

On the other hand, AI worries me! It is scary what it can do and how realistic it can be when it comes to creating photos, videos and voices. I have seen videos of people doing or saying things that they would never do and things like that could be so dangerous if they are used in the wrong way! It's sometimes so hard to tell what's real and what's fake. Ellie has been applying for jobs and AI is used a lot in the process for some companies. She had a conversation with AI who decided she wasn't suitable for a job but I feel that if she had been talking to a real person she would have been able to explain that, yes, she wasn't great at a certain thing but still had so much to offer. I always think back to watching the Terminator movies where AI took over, became self-aware and sees humanity as a threat. I know it is just fiction, it's just a movie but I feel like that is where we are heading. AI is going to take over.

4. You're invited to a summer pot luck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing?

I would choose dessert. There will always be people who say they're too full after the main meal but somehow they'll still find room for dessert! I think I would bring a homemade trifle.

It's one of those classic desserts that always reminds me of family get-togethers. I'd make it with layers of sponge cake, strawberry jelly, custard, whipped cream and a sprinkle of chocolate flakes on top. Trifle is a fun dessert, it's colourful, easy to serve and always looks way more impressive than it actually is.

5. It wouldn't be summer without___________________.

Me complaining about the heat! Every single year, in winter, when I'm wrapped up in a blanket, wearing three layers, I convince myself that I would happily live somewhere hot all year round. Now here we are in the summer and it has been hot here, much hotter than what we're used to and it has felt like all I have done is complain about it. We don't have air conditioning so it feels like the house is a greenhouse and I am being slow cooked. I've not able to get comfortable in bed no matter how many times I turn the pillow over, so I am moody because of the lack of sleep! The other week, when it was a really hot day, I went to get dressed, putting 3/4 length leggings on and I was that done with the heat and being sweaty I said no and put loose fitting pjs on. I've been having 3 showers a day some days just to cool off and we have gone through so many ice cubes.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

England are through to the semi-finals of the World Cup and they play tonight against Argentina! Eek! We've not had much luck against them in the past. There was the infamous 1996 Hand of God goal, where Maradona punched the ball into the net and the sending off of David Beckham in 1998, where we lost on penalties. During this tournament, I have seen favouritism being shown to Argentina, especially when they played against Egypt and Switzerland. I don't hate Argentina, they have an amazing team, it just feels like they are the chosen ones and referees have been easy on them!

Share our Lives - Favourite room in my house!

It's that time of the month again to share some of my life and join in with the other Share Our Lives bloggers. This month the prompt is: Favourite room in our house!

If you asked me to pick my favourite room in the house, I wouldn’t even pretend to think about it. It’s the living room, the lounge, the sitting room or whatever you want to call it. It is the heart of the house, the place where life happens and the room that knows all our secrets, seen us at our best and worst and in our pj's at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon. This is where I spend most of my time. If I’m home, chances are I’m here. The other rooms of course get visited but this one gets lived in. It’s comfortable, nothing is too perfect, it's cosy and very us!

First things first there's my armchair! Everyone in the house knows it’s mine, I don’t even need to say it any more. If someone’s sitting in it, I just stand there until they move, they know. lol It’s comfy in the exact right way. That chair has supported me through tired evenings, early mornings, lots of blogging, emotional TV moments and many snacks that were meant to be shared.

The TV is on the wall and I have a good view from my armchair. It brings us together and sometimes causes debates that get way too overheated for a programme we’ve all seen before. Some of our best laughs have happened right here in the living room in front of the TV, usually because someone’s said something daft or we’re all losing it over something that isn’t even that funny to anyone else. Saturday evenings in this room are my absolute favourite. There's no rushing and nowhere we have to be. It's just us together with snacks, laughing, talking over the TV, pausing to tell stories and rewinding bits because we missed something while laughing at something else.

The living room has heard the serious stuff too. The big conversations, the ones where we talk things through, share worries, make plans or just listen. It’s where opinions get shared, advice gets given and feelings are allowed to exist.

When guests come round, this is where they sit. This is the version of our home we share with the outside world. It shows who we are without trying too hard. Family photos on display, ornaments I love, even if they don’t match or don’t follow any kind of theme, each one has a little story attached, even if no one else knows it. Those family photos are another one of my favourite things here. They are everywhere you look, quietly reminding me of moments, memories, holidays, birthdays and random days that somehow became important.

Then there’s the view outside. From my spot I can see the world going on. People walking past, cars driving by and the weather changing its mind every five minutes. I love being tucked up inside while life carries on out there. In the summer, this room is the coolest room in the house and in winter it flips completely and becomes the warmest, cosiest place to be.

What I love most is that this room doesn't need much from me. I don’t need to tidy it perfectly to enjoy it, I don’t need to be productive, some days it’s noisy and full of life and other days it’s quiet and just me and my thoughts.

So yes, the living room, the lounge, the sitting room or whatever you want to call it is my favourite room. It’s our family hub, our comfort zone, our go-to place. It holds my favourite things, my favourite people and some of my favourite moments and if I’m having a rough day or a brilliant one, this is where I want to be.

What is your favourite room in your home?

I am linking up with:

Adrienne from Mom Life with Adrienne.

Dara from Not In Jersey.

Jen from Show me & Sweet tea.

Joanne from Slices of Life.

Our weekly meal plan! 13th - 19th July!! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Ours was a good one with lots of family time, we watched football, spent time together and that was pretty much it, apart from watching some movies and the usual boring chores which appear every weekend! Hmmf.

Last week's meal plan went pretty well. We managed to stick to most of the meals but by Wednesday it was just too hot to stand in the kitchen and cook. We ended up having leftovers and random things out of the fridge, which worked out quite well. I always think leftovers are a great way of using things up and saving a bit of money too. I've looked at the weather forecast and this week is set to be a little cooler. Phew! All winter I wished for warmer weather and now it's here I want colder weather. lol

This week I don't have anything planned for myself, which is quite nice. The rest of the family have lots going on but I will be doing my usual job of keeping everyone organised, making sure people are where they need to be and reminding them about things they have forgotten. On the meal plan, there are a couple of requests from the girls this week which makes my life easier. It's so hard coming up with what to feed everyone, every evening! The slow cooker will be getting plenty of use too, partly because it makes life easier and partly because it helps keep the kitchen cooler.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - BBQ pulled pork in buns with potato salad.

It has been ages since we had pulled pork and Ellie requested this meal. It is one of those meals that feels like a treat but is actually really easy to make. I have found the simplest recipe and it will be cooked slowly throughout the day in the slow cooker. We will have it in buns with BBQ sauce and a side of potato salad.

Tuesday - Sausage pasta!

Tomato, onion and garlic pasta sauce with sausage chunks for a bit of substance. I might add some peppers and we will of course have it with a side of garlic bread!

Wednesday - Chicken curry, rice and naan bread!

This is Becky's choice and she has asked for chicken curry. She loves a korma, so that is what we will be having. Nothing too spicy, just a nice creamy curry with rice and naan bread on the side. I will be making it the lazy way in the slow cooker and using jars of sauce.

Thursday - Carrot & coriander soup with mango chutney pastry twists!

I know soup isn't usually a summer meal but this carrot and coriander soup is light, fresh and doesn't feel like a heavy winter soup at all. I will make plenty so we can have some for lunch the next day too. The mango chutney pastry twists are great as a side, they're just puff pastry with mango chutney spread on. I always make a few extra and have them for lunch on the day I make the soup.

Friday - Chippy tea!

Friday night and we're back to having a chip shop tea! No cooking, no fuss and the biggest drama is deciding what we fancy.

Saturday - Burgers in buns with fries!

Simple beef burgers on brioche buns with fries and probably some salad. Burgers always feel like a Saturday meal in our house. They are easy to make, everyone can add their own toppings.

Sunday - Toad in the hole, mashed potato and veg!

I am cheating and have bought ready-made toad in the holes which just need popping in the oven. Thanks Aunt Bessie! hehehe We will have it with a creamy mash and probably peas and carrots with lots of gravy over the top!

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 5th - 11th July Week 28 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend. I am writing this on Saturday evening before the big England match, so by the time you're reading this we'll all know the result. I am really hoping we won but after seeing a lot on social media, it feels to me, it's all set to be Argentina and France in the final.

Yesterday was the first Saturday in weeks that felt like a proper Saturday. It had cooled down from what it was and we did all our usual Saturday things. I spent most of the day catching up with housework, doing washing and getting a few blog posts written, Ellie was out doing her own thing, Becky slept off her night shift and Stu was at work. Once everyone was home, we had tea together and settled down in front of the TV. We have no plans at all for today. I think I am going to watch some movies and have a lazy day!

Now for a photo every day!

186/365 5th July

I had a sort out of all the things I bought from the country show and found homes for them. I got myself some bargains, a frame with glass art in which had a little scratch on it for £10 instead of £15 and this Harry Potter wall plaque. It only cost £2 which is great because you don't often find Harry Potter bits and pieces that cheap any more.

187/365 6th July

A sort of salad for tea! There was ham, lettuce, sweetcorn, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, beetroot and new potatoes. Nothing fancy but exactly what we all fancied, especially after all the hot weather we've been having. It was nice not having to cook. I left Stu to watch the ham as it boiled and he cooked the new potatoes too, so when I got in there was nothing left to do apart from put everything on a plate!

188/365 7th July

My tomato plants are doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing and I have tons of little tomatoes growing. I'm hoping we get a really good crop this year as I have plans for them. Usually I end up picking them, washing them and putting them into a bowl in the fridge where everyone just grabs one every time they walk past but this year I have plans to make home-made pasta sauce, bruschetta, salsa and chutney!

189/365 8th July

Stu knows someone who was lucky enough to go to the British Grand Prix last weekend and he asked if they would mind picking up an extra programme for Ellie. They did, which was so kind of them. When I saw the price I was shocked, it cost £20 but once we started looking through it though I could understand why. It's absolutely packed with information about Formula One, the teams, the drivers, statistics, interviews and loads more. Ellie was so pleased with it and I know it'll be something she keeps rather than just flicking through once.

190/365 9th July

I spotted these Minecraft ice creams in Tesco while doing the food shop and I couldn't resist buying them. The girls used to be crazy about Minecraft and still play it now and again. They thought they were brilliant. Of course I had to try one as well. They tasted OK but nothing amazing. They're more exciting to look at than they are to eat but kids will love them!

191/365 10th July

Blue skies, sunshine and another stupidly hot day. There was no escaping the heat on Friday. I walked to my dad's and it wasn't too bad, as there was a bit of a breeze but as soon as I stepped inside it felt like walking into an oven. He had fans going but they didn't seem to make much difference. They were just moving hot air around rather than cooling anything down. I got home and went straight into a cold shower, which helped for about 10 minutes. Ugh!

192/365 11th July

I used to love the Feast ice creams, not any more! What have they done to them! They used to be chocolate ice cream on a stick with a chocolate coating and a solid chocolate centre. Now the chocolate ice cream is vanilla and the hard chocolate centre is basically a blob of Nutella. They're too hazelnutty and are not nice at all.

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

This week has had a lot of the unexpected and has been full of little surprises. From the weather changing, to football results, to Ellie making plans for the future and to random flying visitors in the bedroom.

The week started with us going to an agricultural show and it was a fantastic day out (I have a post coming about it). The weather was perfect, although not quite in the way I expected! Throughout the day it was sunny and bright for 10 minutes, then the clouds came in and we had a chance to cool down. When we left the house, it was grey and overcast and I thought it was going to stay like that, so stupidly didn't bother with sun cream. By the time we got home, my shoulders and back were starting to sting a little. I slathered myself in after sun lotion and thankfully, it helped. I peeled a little mid-week but it could have been worse and at least I have a nice tan to show for it, even if it wasn't gained in the most sensible of ways! It's a reminder that you can never fully trust a cloudy day.

Did anyone stay up and watch the England match on Sunday night? I didn't but did catch up the next morning. Everything seemed stacked against England, with Mexico not losing many matches, not losing at their stadium and our boys playing at altitude but they did great and we got the win! We had a day without football on Wednesday and it felt strange after having so many matches over the past three weeks or so. I didn't realise how much I had got used to having a match to look forward to. It became part of my evening routine. Tonight it's the England match and I am part excited and part nervous! All I've seen on my TikTok over the last couple of weeks is Erling Haaland. He is quite the character and it's quite scary how fast he can run! I know a little about football and my thought is Dan Burn needs to start the match to deal with him. I've seen them play against each other in the past and if anyone can stop Norway scoring, it's Big Dan Burn! Football is full of unexpected moments, which is probably why we all love watching it.

At the end of last week, I felt like there was no routine to my life. I like routine. I used to have Tuesdays and Wednesdays by myself when Ellie was at college but now she is home more and I was starting to feel I had no time to do my own thing. I don't think it helped that Stu had a couple of days off work and Becky had the whole week off so everything felt strange. This week was just what I needed. Becky and Stu were back at work and Ellie has been here, there and everywhere this week doing her own thing. She met up with friends, had a visit to college to sort some paperwork out that she should have done before she left college and went shopping for something to wear to a job interview. She hasn't got an interview yet but she wants to be prepared as she has been applying for a lot of full-time jobs. She applied for a dream job during the week: it's local, dealing with one of her favourite things and something sort of to do with engineering but not the typical engineering job. I don't want to say too much yet but it has made me smile how she is following her dreams in a round about way.

I can't have a Word of the Week post without talking about the weather. It has been another warm one. I am sitting here at half past 10 on an evening and it's still 21C (69F). It's going to be fun trying to sleep tonight. Last night I was lying in bed and heard what I thought was rain. I thought surely not, so I got up to look and it wasn't raining. I turned my head back to the bed and could still hear the noise and figured out it was coming from a plastic bag. I was brave, picked the bag up and looked inside and it was a fly which must have crawled in and couldn't find its way out. Somehow, I managed to keep it in there, tied the bag up and threw it downstairs. I swear the bugs are terrorising me! Just the other week I wrote in my Friday Favourites post how a bug had found its way into my laptop and was crawling around behind the screen. It's still there but hasn't moved and I don't notice it any more! Phew!

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 28. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a good week. Mine has been a good one. We've had lots of family time, days out and plenty of time to relax. Over the weekend we went to a local country show which was a favourite but I have a whole post coming about that, these are just the little things which I have been loving and I am of course linking up with Erika and Andrea to share.

The Sheep Detectives!

Every night a shepherd reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand. When he is found dead, the sheep realise at once that it was a murder and think they know everything about how to go about solving it.

I love movies with talking animals and this was just brilliant! The Sheep Detectives on Amazon Prime was such a fun and easy watch, although there were some moments when I felt myself tearing up. The sheep all have their own funny personalities and I got way more invested in them than I expected. It's a mystery but it's not too serious, so you can enjoy it without having to think too hard and it has Hugh Jackman, which is a bonus!

Fudge!

Of course I got some fudge from the country show that we went to over the weekend and I have been eating it slowly, as I know I won't get any more until next year. I got Turkish Delight, Skittles, Baileys, Eton Mess and Malibu coconut rum flavour!

Project Hail Mary!

A science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing Earth's sun, and realises that an unexpected friendship may be the key.

I finally watched Project Hail Mary on Amazon Prime. I'm not usually someone who gets excited about films set in space but this one, I enjoyed. It had me laughing, it had me worrying about what was going to happen next and I didn't want it to end. Ryan Gosling was great but Rocky stole the show for me. It wasn't all serious either, there were loads of funny moments mixed in with all the drama.

Horse Art!

Last year, at the show, I held off buying things until the end of the day and a lot of what I wanted was sold out. I ended up buying a little horse thing in a frame made of feathers but really wanted one made from shotgun cartridges. This year I got one to go with the feather one from last year.

England!

We're through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup and I think if we can get past Norway tomorrow night we might get to the final. I didn't stay up and watch the England v Mexico match, the 1am start was too late for me and then it got put back until 2am because of the weather. I did catch up on it when I got up and it was one of the best matches of the tournament and I'm not just saying that because I am from England. I shouldn't laugh after Jordan Henderson was injured but he did something special, getting a yellow card and being stretchered off without even playing a second of football. lol I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Things growing in my garden!

Last week in my Word of the Week I mentioned my garden is doing well and this week it has got even better. The corn silk has started growing on my sweetcorn plants, which means there are ears of corn growing. I noticed my pepper plants have mini peppers on and my tomatoes are growing too! My flowers are blooming and the weeds are not actually taking over. I feel so pleased with my garden this year!

What have you loved over the past week?

What I listened to in June!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time, so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening to. All of my audiobooks come from my local library through the app BorrowBox. I know lots of what I listen to might be considered old but they are all new to me!

This is what I listened to in June:

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella!

Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed. OK, so the truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn’t really hers. But one day her dreams are bound to come true, aren’t they? Until her not-so-perfect life comes crashing down when her mega-successful boss Demeter gives her the sack. All Katie’s hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business. Then Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams or try to get her job back? Does Demeter the woman who has everything actually have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have more in common than it seems. And what’s wrong with not-so-perfect, anyway?

There’s something about Sophie Kinsella books that make me smile and feel happy. The chaos in this story felt over the top but at the same time believable and I loved every moment of listening. There’s romance running through it but it never takes over the story, it's like a little bonus rather than the main event. There is a lesson to learn from this book. Nobody has it all sorted and everyone’s just winging it in their own way. I really liked how Katie changes and grows into herself throughout the story. She’s not perfect, makes some very questionable choices, overthinks things but I ended up rooting for her anyway because she feels real. I found myself laughing, cringing and nodding along all through this book!

This Bright Life by Karen Campbell!

Gerard is twelve. He hates his name, but loves flying round the streets of Glasgow on his bike, or mucking about with his gang, the Broncos. He's a bright kid, but trouble seems to follow him. No one really knows what it's like at home for Gerard; he's used to carrying a lot on his small shoulders. Gerard doesn't always make good decisions. And on one April morning, in the blink of an eye, he makes a very bad one, one that will upend his whole world. Now, he faces a bewildering stream of concerned adults clutching files, unfamiliar streets to navigate, a strange bed to sleep in, and the very real chance he won't see his wee brother and sister again.

This book is not trying to be flashy or full of shocking twists and that’s exactly what makes it work so well. It's about everyday life and explores the realities of social and foster care. It doesn’t rush through the difficult bits and with each word you feel the emotion. The start was pretty bleak but it does get more hopeful as it goes on. It is a thoughtful story that focusses more on people than big plot twists.

Bad Apple by Alice Hunter!

Becky Lawson’s life has been shattered. When she discovered her husband, John a trusted policeman was a monster, she reported him. But her faith in the system was crushed when it didn't lead to any charges or consequences. Now, John lives freely with a new girlfriend and her young daughter, while Becky battles guilt over missing the obvious signs. Determined for justice, Becky hunts him down. But John wants her silenced at any cost. Becky knows only one of them can survive, and she’ll do anything to make sure it’s her. Becky must tread carefully though, because John isn’t the only bad apple lurking in the shadows.

If you’re looking for an audiobook that grabs you straight away and keeps you guessing right up to the very end, you need to listen to or read this. From the very beginning, its full of suspense and it doesn’t stop. It has so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I spent most of it trying to piece things together only to realise I was wrong again and again. What I really enjoyed was how it made me question everyone and everything. I was so suspicious and was constantly changing my mind about who could be trusted and who couldn’t. There was even a point where I thought maybe the main character was imagining things. This book plays with your head in such a clever way. I felt so much frustration for the main character because of everything she goes through. Then there’s the ending! I didn’t see it coming at all.

Welcome to the Neighbourhood by Jane Fallon!

Kitty thought moving to London would spice up her life. Unfortunately, she ended up on Ashdown Close, where the hottest topic of gossip is a missed bin collection. That was before the arrival of Sian and Rich at number 8. They are cool and glamorous, and Kitty is perfectly willing to be dazzled by their company. But when she spots a mysterious woman furtively leaving their house, she realises they might not be the magnetic couple she thought. Aided and abetted by best friend Grace, Kitty feels she needs to investigate. Do Sian and Richard really have something to hide, or are Kitty and Grace just being nosy neighbours? And if they are, perhaps they are not the only ones. Because on this street’s nobody’s business might just turn out to be everybody’s business.

I went into this expecting a who done it, murder mystery, and it really wasn’t that at all. That threw me at first, but in a good way. It’s more of a funny, messy, nosey neighbour kind of story where everything happens and you don't see it coming! The characters felt like people you could actually bump into on a normal street and I liked most of them too well, apart from one. hehehe It’s light, a bit silly in places and it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is probably why it works so well.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke!

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them. Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children, they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn't her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

There is a lot of hype about this book but I don't know how I feel about it after listening to it. I thought Natalie the main character would wake up in 1855 and be forced to live the real lifestyle that she tries so hard to show on her social media but that was not the focus of the book. Instead, there were lengthy chapters dedicated to her past. I feel cheated. It is more about mental health issues that get deeper and deeper as the story unwinds. On one hand, I was hooked. Natalie was such a horrible person, I couldn't stop listening as I wanted to know what happened. She was cruel, unlikeable and unkind but on the other hand, I felt annoyed as I felt it was pushing a political view down my throat and trying to make me swallow it. If I had to describe this book in one word, it’s icky.

What have you been reading or listening to lately?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #63

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. What's something you enjoy now that your younger self would never have appreciated?

I thought grown-up things were dull, boring when I was younger but now it turns out I love those things and do appreciate them. Sensible shoes, now I am all about comfort over fashion. A quiet night at home in my pyjamas is another one. There was a time when I thought staying in was a bit of a waste of a weekend. Now it feels like a treat! Gardening is something I thought I wouldn’t have the patience for but now I enjoy it. I can’t forget things like matching towels, fresh flowers in the house, and watching documentaries on TV. I enjoy calm, simple things now and younger me would be confused by it all.

2. What was peaceful about today?

I am writing this on Sunday evening after a pretty busy week. Today everything seemed peaceful and like life slowed down a little! There was no alarm clock going off waking me up. I had a long shower and changed into clean PJs for the day, I watched The Sheep Detectives off Amazon Prime, the British Grand Prix, Project Hail Mary and then of course some football. Lots of tea was drunk, I enjoyed some delicious fudge and Stu cooked tea. Everything about today is so calm and relaxed. Nobody really asked anything of me, I didn't have to be anywhere and it was just a lovely day!

3. It's National Blueberry Day (July 8). Will you celebrate? You can have one of the following right now-a slice of blueberry pie, a warm blueberry muffin, or a stack of blueberry pancakes...which do you choose?

This or that-blueberries or raspberries? blueberries or strawberries?

Nope, I am not celebrating. I have never liked blueberries, no matter how I eat them. I've tried them lots of different ways: fresh by themselves, baked into muffins, in pies, on top of pancakes and mixed into yoghurt and every time I end up thinking no, they're not for me. I will always choose raspberries and strawberries over blueberries but strawberries are my favourite berry. I could eat a whole punnet by myself.

4. Do you need a break? From what?

I don't feel like I need a break from anything at the moment, life is pretty good and quite manageable. A break from all the day-to-day chores would be a bonus. There's always another load of washing to do, pots to wash, meals to cook, cleaning to do and my family to keep on track and then the next day doing it all over again. I can't complain though, if I didn't have all those day-to-day chores I think I would get bored. Those jobs give me a routine in my life.

5. What has surprised you most about getting older?

It’s how fast time starts moving! When I was younger, a year felt like a lifetime, birthdays felt miles apart, school terms dragged and it felt like a week had more hours in it. Now I feel like I blink and 6 months have passed but the best surprise has been how I have just stopped caring about the nonsense. I spent so much of the first 25 years of my life worrying about whether people liked me, what people thought of me, what I was wearing and trying to keep everyone happy. Now I am older, I've realised that those things don't matter. If someone doesn’t like me, so what, I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s fine. People are always going to have an opinion of me and that is fine too but sometimes their opinions are wrong. Take my hair, for example. It's bright pink and people assume because of that, I am argumentative, confident and a little bit crazy but that is not true at all. I am probably the opposite of those things. Now I dress for comfort, not approval and I don’t feel the need to impress people and finally, trying to please everyone is exhausting and now I use that energy on things and people that do matter to me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Going back to question 2. I had a lovely lazy day on Sunday and Stu cooked us pies, mashed potato, carrots and peas and it was so good. I love it when other people cook for me. I am not the worst cook but there’s just something about food when you haven’t made it yourself. It always tastes better, every single time! My dad made us bacon sandwiches on Friday for lunch and it was exactly the same bacon we buy, same bread, same kind of pan, nothing fancy or different at all and it tasted miles better than when I make them. I sat there eating it and really enjoying the fact I didn’t have to do anything to have a meal apart from turn up. I enjoy cooking but I like it more when other people cook for me! hehehe

365 Days Of Gratitude. In June I was grateful for....

I have seen many people on social media list something every day that they are grateful for and thought I would join in. I have done this for the whole of the last few of years and it has really made me realise that even on bad days I have something to be grateful for.

Another month has flown over and what a month it was! We had a lot going on, I've watched a lot of football with the World Cup being on, we survived another heatwave, celebrated the dad's with Father's Day and my youngest left college and full time education!

Day 152 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that it's the first of the month and all the bills were paid!

Day 153 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for an exciting little trip out this afternoon, viewing a house! Not for me but for Becky and her partner! Eek!

Day 154 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for spaghetti Bolognese for tea and leftover Bolognese for tomorrow.

Day 155 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful Ellie has found something new to watch on TV. New to her anyway. She came in and said she found a show on BBC iPlayer which is like Grey's Anatomy and The Pitt but it's English! It's Casualty!! I couldn't help but laugh, that show has been on TV for most of my life!

Day 156 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for lunch at my dad's. It was just Becky and I visiting as Ellie was sitting her last English exam.

Day 157 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful Ellie reminded me that the F1 qualifiers were on TV. I had forgotten it was a Grand Prix weekend.

Day 158 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for an afternoon in front of the TV watching F1! What a race!

Day 159 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that all the washing is done, all sorted and folded too. Putting it away is a job for tomorrow!

Day 160 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for Costa Coffee and my favourite Chocolate Fudge Frappe!

Day 161 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a nice tea! Sesame Pork & Mushroom Udon Noodle Stir Fry!

Day 162 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful the World Cup has started! Almost 40 days of football! Yay!

Day 163 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a lift home from my dad's when it started chucking it down!

Day 164 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a huge prawn salad for tea. (I did want to say football but I can't say that every day during the World Cup)

Day 165 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a nice lunch out with family.

Day 166 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Stu did the cooking tonight.

Day 167 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful Stu had an early finish from work today. I knew he was finishing early but the girls didn't, they were so confused.

Day 168 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that England won their match! Phew!

Day 169 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful Stu got a bonus at work! It's enough to pay for the girls birthday presents so that's fantastic!

Day 170 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that my dad was very happy with his father's day gift.

Day 171 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Becky tried to let me have a lie in. She was as quiet as a mouse sneaking around but I was awake anyway.

Day 172 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Stu had a fantastic Father's Day. The girls did spoil him!

Day 173 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for help with the weeding. I am not grateful for all the weeds!

Day 174 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a trip to the cinema to see Toy Story 5! It was brilliant!

Day 175 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie a fantastic last day at college!

Day 176 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that my dad gave us a lift home from his. I might have melted on the walk back.

Day 177 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful Stu could email me from work because the silly so and so left his phone at home.

Day 178 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for rain! It has just chucked it down and watered the garden for me. Shame it hasn't cooled down any.

Day 179 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful my plants in the garden survived the latest heat wave! They were looking a bit unwell on Friday but they've perked back up now!

Day 180 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Becky is home and we could watch some wrestling and the football together!

Day 181 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for an extra mouth to feed tonight. Becky's partner was here for tea!

What were you grateful for in June?