Here’s everything that you need to look for when shopping for a new reading light this autumn and winter season.

When shopping for new pieces of furniture, it’s often very tempting to opt for the cheapest available option - I know because I’ve been there! Although this can seem like an effective way to save money in the short term, it’s likely to result in purchasing items that are of poor quality and will not stand the test of time.

I explain why it’s so important to invest in a good quality reading light, and how reading before bed can be transformative for our mental health.

As the days get shorter and the nights draw in, a good reading light is essential when curling up with a good book. Reading in low, inadequate lighting can make it difficult for your eyes to focus and cause eye strain.

As the cold weather draws in, many people will be thinking about how they can keep themselves and their homes warm this winter without spending huge amounts of money. To help with this, my partner and I have recently invested in a few household items that we hope will make a big difference.

Here’s my honest review of the Nordace Siena Pro 17 backpack, which was kindly sent to me by the company for an honest review.

I decided that I liked this bag as soon as I tore through the packaging and held it in my hands. I received the Nordace Siena Pro 17 in the largest size, 17 inches, and found that it not only fit me well, but came in a pretty blue colour that matched my existing Tripp luggage.

Here’s everything that you need to know about the DrySoon Heated Airer from Lakeland.

We invested in the DrySoon Heated Airer after borrowing an older model from a family member. With the cold winter months quickly approaching, my partner and I knew that we needed a new one as it had become one of our essential household items.

I was keen to see how well this new heated airer measured up, and whether it was worth the high price tag.

When I first saw the Outin Nano Portable Espresso Machine, I couldn’t believe that something of this size could make decent coffee.

As my partner and I love to travel and are always on the go, I knew that I needed to try it for myself.

Here’s my full unboxing and review of AKT’s deodorant balm - designed for everyday use by two London West End performers.

I’m writing this review just after reading that AKT’s deodorant balm is being used at the Paris 2024 Olympics by the Team GB rowing squad. This product has an impressive clientele, having been publicly endorsed by swathes of actors, athletes and magazine editors, so I have been very keen to give it a try.

Many long time followers of mine will know that I love a book themed handbag. I have a sizeable collection, and my favourite is a gorgeous Vendula London Old Bookshop bag that I received as a Christmas gift in 2022.

So I’m sure you can imagine that I was very excited when I saw that Vendula were releasing a new Shakespeare themed collection, based around the play Much Ado About Nothing.

As a book lover, I’m always on the hunt for unique book themed jewellery, clothing, and household items to showcase my love of literature. So when Tatty Devine launched their World Book Day 2024 collection, I was very excited to get my hands on a few of their pieces!

In this blog post I will show you what their jewellery pieces actually look like, whether I think they’re good quality, and if they’re worth spending money on.

I’ve heard a lot about the impressive Scentaste technology that uses cutting edge science to create ‘flavour from thin air’. Essentially, these bottles use scent to trick the brain into tasting a variety of flavours in what is actually plain water.

This is the second generation bottle, which comes in a range of colours including two new shades, Red Poppy and Green Sage. There are also two sizes to choose from, either 600ml or 1 litre, depending on your preference. As you can see from the photos, I opted for the Sage Green 600ml version which came with three flavour pods: Red Berry, Lime and Watermelon. It cost me £34.99 for the bottle and three pods together, reduced from £36.99, with free postage.

When I saw that Crocs had released a Hello Kitty collaboration I knew that I had to get my hands on them. The range was released in January 2024 as part of Hello Kitty’s 50th birthday celebrations, with the adult sizes retailing at £64.99 in the UK and $69.99 in the US.

I started my Jellycat collection in 2023 after being introduced to the soft toys on TikTok, where they are hugely popular. In this post I will introduce you to the brand and walk you through my collection so far, answering the question: are they worth the price tag?

What Are Jellycats?

Jellycats or ‘Jellies’ are soft toys that are made from snuggly fabrics and with unique, often quirky, designs. The company was founded in London in 1999 and prides itself on being a premium toy manufacturer. According to their website, Jellycat toys are ‘softer, subtler and long-lasting’ than other toys, and that’s something that I’d agree with. I’ve owned a lot of soft toys in my life, but the softness of a Jellycat is next level. The quality of their materials also means that they’re safe for children and adults of all ages, including newborns, and can be enjoyed by all.

If you’re anything like me and you tend to really feel the cold over the winter months, then you’ll probably have seen lots of ads for Stoov. This company sells a variety of infrared heating products including dog beds, seat cushions and bottles, but I decided to keep things simple and invest in the original Ploov cushion.

As a self proclaimed ‘chilly billy’, I was wondering whether one of these cushions would help to take the edge off the cold and perhaps even reduce my heating use until it gets a bit warmer.

Here is my honest review of Stoov, how it works, and whether it’s worth the price tag.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.