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My New Year’s Resolutions ft Serious Readers
It might be the last week of January, but there’s still plenty of time to reflect on what we want out of 2024.
This year I’ve decided to set some goals so that I can orientate myself towards the things that are meaningful for me. I’m calling them goals rather than the traditional ‘resolutions’, as these are things that I can work towards during the year and adapt if necessary. Resolutions feel very set in stone, and I don’t want that for 2024.
Today’s post has been sponsored by the lovely people at Serious Readers, and I have an amazing discount for you at the bottom of today’s post. If that’s why you’ve clicked on this blog, I totally understand, and feel free to skip down to the bottom of the page for my discount code.
For the rest of you, thank you for sticking with me - here are some of the goals that I’ve set for 2024.
12 Cosy Craft Ideas for Your Serious Readers Light
It’s November. The clocks have gone back, the days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder. It’s time to retreat into our homes, cosy on down with our books and crafts, and wait out the winter in the comfort of our own homes.
A Serious Light is the perfect accompaniment for anyone who enjoys crafting. Its specialist Daylight Wavelength Technology maximises your ability to see detail and colours, minimising the risk of damage to your eyes that can be caused by standard LED lights. The light is also fully adjustable, which makes it easier to maintain good posture
Willoughby Book Club Subscription Review
Book delivery boxes are all the rage nowadays - available in any way imaginable, for big budgets and small, it can be difficult to decide which ones to spend your money on.
Today I want to introduce the wonderful Willoughby Book Club, a book subscription service owned by Marianne Chala that specialises in individually curated book deliveries. The process is simple. When choosing a subscription for yourself or a loved one, take a browse through their menu of personal book subscriptions. Here you can choose from a wide variety of genres, from the broader ‘fiction’ subscription to more specialised crime, non-fiction, young adult, food and drink, wellbeing, natural history, or home and garden subscription. They even have categories for different demographics of readers: whether you’re shopping for a baby, toddler, child, couple or mum and baby, there really is something for everyone. They even have a bespoke subscription available if your reading tastes don’t fit into any these categories.
Why are Serious Readers’ Lights so expensive?
I understand why you might be skeptical. In a world where you can order a £30 floor lamp from IKEA, why would you spend £300 on a reading light? It seems expensive, and I get it - we work hard for our money, and want to spend it wisely. It doesn’t seem sensible to spend hundreds of our hard earned pounds on, well, a lamp.
That’s normally what I’d think too, but soon after my brand new Serious Readers’ reading lamp landed on my doorstep, I was convinced. As part of our collaboration, the Serious Readers team sent me two of their lamps to try out, before I agreed to promote their product. The first was the showstopper: the High Definition Floor Light and the second, the High Definition Compact Light, which complimented it perfectly.
8 Recipe Book Holders for Your Kitchen
Calling all foodies: here’s an affordable kitchen gadget that you need for your home, and will make trying out new recipes SO much easier. No longer will you be losing your place or splashing your latest meal on the pages of your most beloved cookbook. With these stylish stands you’ll easily be able to prop up your desired recipes, making them much easier to follow, and keeping your countertops more hygienic too.
Review of Aldi’s Hanging Egg Chair (2022)
Is it worth the hype?
I’ve had my eyes on Aldi’s popular hanging egg chair since they were all the rage last summer, and for good reason too. Not only is it the cheapest hanging egg chair out there (garden furniture is expensive!) but it’s also good quality and looks fab too.
7 Bedtime Reading Lights for your Bedroom (2022)
In the market for a new book light? This is the post for you.
From stylish bedside lamps that emit a soft, warm glow to small clip on lights that are perfect for travelling, there’s a huge range of options out there to make your bedtime reading as comfortable as possible. Read on to find the perfect nightlight for your bedtime reading setup.
Review: Should I Buy From Patch Plants?
So you’re thinking about buying some new plants, and you’ve seen a few people mentioning Patch Plants online. Should you purchase your new blooms from them?
Patch was launched by their founder, Freddie in 2015, shortly after he began his own journey into the world of gardening. Freddie’s desire to make plant keeping an accessible activity for all really propelled Patch, and they were the first plant company that I ordered from when beginning my own journey in 2020.
Reviewing the Nespresso Vertuo (Plus) Coffee Machine
Our Nespresso Virtuo is the kitchen gadget that I didn’t know we needed.
I’ve always been a builder’s tea kind of girl: strong, no sugar and with a splash of milk. When it comes to coffee, I generally prefer the kind that comes from Starbucks with whipped cream and a serious sugar rush (pumpkin spice anyone?!) So when my partner turned around one day with the Nespresso Virtuo in his hands, I was sceptical to say the least.
A few weeks on, and I’m loving having my own personal coffee machine. It’s so easy to use - you just pick up your Nespresso pod of choice, pop it in the top of the machine, press start and machine will turn it into warm, delicious coffee.
Ikea’s Strandmon Wing Chair Review
If you’re looking for a comfy armchair that works for a tight budget, then Ikea’s popular Strandmon Wing Chair is the chair for you.
First released by Ikea in the 1950s, this is a classic piece that adds a bit of class to a modern home.
How to sell on WeBuyBooks.com
Have you ever wondered how to make money from your unwanted books?
Perhaps you thought about setting up an Amazon shop, or selling your old books on Depop? There are lots of different options out there, but today I want to tell you about WeBuyBooks – which is the service that I use and can highly recommend.
Tripp Suitcase Review: The Holiday 6 Case
I remember the first time that I saw a piece of Tripp luggage on Instagram. It was a banana yellow ‘Holiday 6’ case, with a hard shell and four wheels. It looked so freaking stylish! And once I’d invested in one myself I felt like I was part of a secret club - I saw them everywhere. In the airport, on the train, and even just being wheeled around London.
Review: The Old Bookshop Grab Bag by Vendula London
I can’t quite remember when I first stumbled upon Vendula London’s beautiful bags, but I do know that once I set my eyes on their Old Bookshop Grab Bag, I just had to have it. Fast forward to Christmas day; I’m ripping off the wrapping paper and there it is, just as wonderful as I’d hoped. The best bag that I’ve ever owned.
Welcome to the Viking Skaga - one of Viking Cruises’ noble river ships. She takes her name from an ancient Norse myth, where the Valkyrie Skaga rode into battle and escorted the dead to Valhalla, before preparing them to fight in the epic battle of Ragnarok.
A relatively new ship, the Viking Skaga only entered the fleet in 2020. At just 410 feet and carrying 168 guests and 48 crew, she was built specifically to sail down the Seine in France, although the specific itinerary will vary depending on the time of year. I was fortunate enough to join the ship for her week long Christmas on the Seine cruise, which starts and ends in Paris, calling at Vernon, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Honflour (via an excursion) and Les Andelys along the way.