getting that festive glow with Jolie Beauty
18 Dec 2020
*this post is in partnership with Jolie Beauty and contains gifted items*
local gifts that give back gift guide
9 Dec 2020
As we approach the festive season it's time to think about Christmas presents but as Christmas is notoriously a season of giving what better way to practice that than by purchasing some gifts from businesses that also give back! Obviously, with me being from Belfast I'm super familiar with some local social enterprise businesses and these are really the businesses that spawned this idea so I thought I'd stick local and share some of my absolute favourite businesses that also help you make a difference when you're purchasing gifts this Christmas season (or just whenever really).
Books I Read in November 2020
1 Dec 2020
I can't believe November is over, honestly where has the year gone! This was really not a good reading month for me. I'm in a bit of a slump at the minute which has been caused by a whole variety of things from finishing a beloved book series, other interests taking over and just general busyness but I have read over 50 books so far this year so this was inevitably going to happen at some time. I was actually a bit apprehensive about even making this post but sometimes you don't achieve your goals and that deserves to be documented just as much as the times that you do. I ended up finishing six books this month which although isn't as many as usual I'm still glad I got a little bit of reading done.
In this prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy, we follow a young President Snow as he grows up in the Capitol, how his life changes during the 10th Hunger Games and its aftermath.
I don't really know quite how I feel about this book. I didn't dislike it by any stretch but I just have mixed feelings. The character we were reading about didn't feel like the President Snow that we know from The Hunger Games at parts and you almost started to feel sorry for him but ultimately he showed his true colours and he is a rightfully detestable character. It's been so long since I read the Hunger Games but they were my absolute favourite books that I read as a teenager maybe this story would have hit a little harder if I was still at the height of my Hunger Games phase but I still enjoyed it I think. I did leave physically detesting Coriolanus Snow though so I feel like that was the desired outcome.
Marjorie runs her mother's laundromat following her death and she ends up befriending a ghost named Wendell who, being a sheet, just loves the laundromat.
I have an ARC for the sequel so I decided that it was about time I picked this up! This was quite simply one of the cutest things I've ever read. Wendell the ghost is ADORABLE and I just want him to be happy. I paid £8.50 for this in ebook format which was probably too much but as I said I really needed to read it before picking up the sequel so was it worth it? probably not, but I'm not mad about it either.
After Marjorie starts to hang out with a new group of friends Wendell starts to feel lonely and finds solace with another loner called Eliza who is a photographer who desperately wants to believe in ghosts and kind of wants to become one herself.
Obviously, I had to read the sequel as well and this was just as delightful as the first one and I still just love Wendell so much! If you're ever in the need for something heartwarming and not too taxing I definitely recommend picking these up, although Delicates doesn't come out until March, but definitely pick up Sheets while you wait.
Between life and death, there is a library and when Nora Seed finds herself in the library she had the opportunity to live as if she made different choices until she is truly happy with the life that she chooses.
I'd seen so many people talking about this book and knew I needed to pick it up. I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed? I think the hype for this one was so strong and so many people had told me that I would love it that when I didn't immediately fall in love with it I just couldn't be bothered. I ended up really enjoying this by the halfway mark but it took me over a month to read. I guess I just wasn't in the right headspace for it at the time but once we hit the Svalbard scenes I was sold! I think I just wanted to love this more than I actually ended up loving it.
Every time Ursula Todd dies, her life begins again. Born in 1910 in a Yorkshire village her various lives lead her down many different paths from dying as a child of the Spanish Flu, to surviving bombings in the London Blitz, to even working in Germany with Hitler himself.
I loved this book so much! I'm not always a fan of repeating timeline novels but I think the historical setting of this one won me over. I never really thought I was a historical fiction lover but with each book that I read in that genre, it grows on me more and more. I loved the start of this book a lot more as I loved the family dynamic and I grew to really love and care for the Todd family but as Ursula grows up they obviously make less and less appearances as she goes to live her own life in various different ways. There is a second book in the same word that follows Ursula's brother Teddy during the war and I absolutely loved Teddy as a character so I can definitely see myself picking that book up in the future.
Gemma Huang wants to be an actress so when she lands a part in a big blockbuster remake of Madame Butterfly she's obviously very excited not least because it means that she finally gets to visit China, her parent's homeland where she's been forbidden from ever going. While she's there she discovers a family secret and that maybe she isn't quite who she thinks she is.
I was so excited by the premise of this book but it just didn't deliver for me, I think it was maybe another one of those 'I have to read this because I have an ARC and it's due at the end of the month' books (similar to Meet Me In London from last month) and I wasn't in a real reading mood but I just couldn't really get into this. The writing just felt very amateur and childish, especially whenever all of the characters were over 18! The characters and plot were also a little lacklustre but I did really enjoy the main romance. This is supposed to be a series and I definitely wouldn't mind continuing because although I wasn't fully impressed by this first book I'm curious to see where the story goes next.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Suzanne Collins
In this prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy, we follow a young President Snow as he grows up in the Capitol, how his life changes during the 10th Hunger Games and its aftermath.
I don't really know quite how I feel about this book. I didn't dislike it by any stretch but I just have mixed feelings. The character we were reading about didn't feel like the President Snow that we know from The Hunger Games at parts and you almost started to feel sorry for him but ultimately he showed his true colours and he is a rightfully detestable character. It's been so long since I read the Hunger Games but they were my absolute favourite books that I read as a teenager maybe this story would have hit a little harder if I was still at the height of my Hunger Games phase but I still enjoyed it I think. I did leave physically detesting Coriolanus Snow though so I feel like that was the desired outcome.
Sheets
Brenna Thummler
Marjorie runs her mother's laundromat following her death and she ends up befriending a ghost named Wendell who, being a sheet, just loves the laundromat.
I have an ARC for the sequel so I decided that it was about time I picked this up! This was quite simply one of the cutest things I've ever read. Wendell the ghost is ADORABLE and I just want him to be happy. I paid £8.50 for this in ebook format which was probably too much but as I said I really needed to read it before picking up the sequel so was it worth it? probably not, but I'm not mad about it either.
Delicates
Brenna Thummler
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and OniPressAfter Marjorie starts to hang out with a new group of friends Wendell starts to feel lonely and finds solace with another loner called Eliza who is a photographer who desperately wants to believe in ghosts and kind of wants to become one herself.
Obviously, I had to read the sequel as well and this was just as delightful as the first one and I still just love Wendell so much! If you're ever in the need for something heartwarming and not too taxing I definitely recommend picking these up, although Delicates doesn't come out until March, but definitely pick up Sheets while you wait.
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig
Between life and death, there is a library and when Nora Seed finds herself in the library she had the opportunity to live as if she made different choices until she is truly happy with the life that she chooses.
I'd seen so many people talking about this book and knew I needed to pick it up. I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed? I think the hype for this one was so strong and so many people had told me that I would love it that when I didn't immediately fall in love with it I just couldn't be bothered. I ended up really enjoying this by the halfway mark but it took me over a month to read. I guess I just wasn't in the right headspace for it at the time but once we hit the Svalbard scenes I was sold! I think I just wanted to love this more than I actually ended up loving it.
Life After Life
Kate Atkinson
Every time Ursula Todd dies, her life begins again. Born in 1910 in a Yorkshire village her various lives lead her down many different paths from dying as a child of the Spanish Flu, to surviving bombings in the London Blitz, to even working in Germany with Hitler himself.
I loved this book so much! I'm not always a fan of repeating timeline novels but I think the historical setting of this one won me over. I never really thought I was a historical fiction lover but with each book that I read in that genre, it grows on me more and more. I loved the start of this book a lot more as I loved the family dynamic and I grew to really love and care for the Todd family but as Ursula grows up they obviously make less and less appearances as she goes to live her own life in various different ways. There is a second book in the same word that follows Ursula's brother Teddy during the war and I absolutely loved Teddy as a character so I can definitely see myself picking that book up in the future.
Heiress Apparently
Diana Ma
I received an advanced e-copy of this book from NetGalley and Amulet BooksGemma Huang wants to be an actress so when she lands a part in a big blockbuster remake of Madame Butterfly she's obviously very excited not least because it means that she finally gets to visit China, her parent's homeland where she's been forbidden from ever going. While she's there she discovers a family secret and that maybe she isn't quite who she thinks she is.
I was so excited by the premise of this book but it just didn't deliver for me, I think it was maybe another one of those 'I have to read this because I have an ARC and it's due at the end of the month' books (similar to Meet Me In London from last month) and I wasn't in a real reading mood but I just couldn't really get into this. The writing just felt very amateur and childish, especially whenever all of the characters were over 18! The characters and plot were also a little lacklustre but I did really enjoy the main romance. This is supposed to be a series and I definitely wouldn't mind continuing because although I wasn't fully impressed by this first book I'm curious to see where the story goes next.
I think I'm finally out of my reading slump now so I'm excited to get stuck into some more reading this December all being well! What have you been reading and loving lately?
three small steps to a more sustainable shower
24 Nov 2020
*This post contains gifted items and affiliate links*
My iDeal of Sweden Black Week Wishlist
23 Nov 2020
*This post is in paid partnership with Ideal of Sweden and contains gifted items and affiliate links*
If there are two things that go together, it's me and phone cases from iDeal of Sweden. They're literally the only cases I ever use and I switch them up with the season and they've got some incredible Black Week deals on this week so if you're after some cute new mobile accessories now is your chance to jump on it. Here is a selection of some of the pieces that have been catching my eye. Because it's Black Week there's a whopping 50% off everything and using my code* BFMOMJEANS you can get an extra 5% off up to €59 or 20% if you spend over €59. I have three cases already and they're all still in perfect condition after two years so I can vouch for the quality!
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| My current case of choice Midnight Blue Marble which I purchased myself although I have been gifted cases in the past |
'Tis The Season (For Netflix Christmas Movies)
15 Nov 2020
The festive season is absolutely my favourite time of year. I truly think I become the boss mode version of myself at this time of year. I love Christmas so much and one thing I absolutely adore about this time of year is Netflix original holiday movies. I unironically love The Christmas Prince, I watch it at least twice every year and I straight up sobbed the first time I watched it and since then I've just watched them all. I set myself the goal last year to watch them all and I shared updates on my Instagram stories with some thoughts on each one and I'm continuing the trend this year. It's slowly becoming my brand. If you want to hear my rambly Christmas thoughts make sure to follow me on Instagram so you don't miss them! But for this post, I just thought I'd let you know what's coming up this year that I'm most excited about as well as my thoughts on the ones that are already out! I know it's only November but after the year we've had in 2020 it doesn't hurt to start celebrating Christmas a little early!
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