After finishing my granny sqaure cardigan I felt like I was on a crochet roll and decided to apply to be a pattern tester for this wonderful looking jumper by Yarn by Beck. She stated it was begginer friendly and I ended up being chosen to test her new Floret Pop Pullover pattern, which I was chuffed about.
As summer was approaching I thought I’d try and make a loose and lightweight version of the jumper and, after some deliberation, went for a lovely multicoloured recyled cotton yarn in wonderful warm shades.
The beginning was the hardest. After getting used to working in squares, it took a while to adjust to building up a pattern in a linear fashion. I also wasn’t quite sure how big to make it and continually worried I’d accidentally increase or decrease stitches. However as I got used to the pattern I slowly got comfortable and managed to retain a straight shape.
I spent many an hour listening to an audiobook and building my first jumper row by row. As I’m still a relative newbie this stich combination was not known to me but I absolutely love how the pattern comes together and the overall look of the Floret Pop Pullover.
At one point I was off to Sheffield to visit my best frind Emily from Peak Knits, and of course I had to take my crochet with me. We explored a beautiful local garden and spent some time sitting in the sun working on our projects. It’s also a great activity to keep you occupoied on the train whilst listening to an audibook.
I was really happy with how the front and back panels came together but I did feel somewhat stressed towards the end as I knew I wouldn’t have time to finish the sleeves before the deadline, and thus decided to make a t-shirt version by only adding short selves for the time being. They weren’t amazing as I winged the pattern, but I knew I’d be able to go back and add long sleeves later down the line.
And voila – my first finished pattern test! The Floret Pop Pullover by Yarn By Beck. If you want a beginner friendly pattern to make a jumper tailored to you, please make sure to check out the pattern here!
Completing my first pattern test was a big learning curve for me and although it had it’s challenges I loved the experience. I’m not 100% sure on the colour of the yarn on me personally, and the neckline and jumper in general ended up a tad too big, however, the recycled cotton has created a very loose fitting and airy version of this jumper which is perfect for summer and exactly what I was after.
I do love this pattern and am hoping to make another Floret Pop Pullover with a thicker warmer yarn for winter. Do let me know if you decide to buy this pattern and have a go – I can highly recommend!
I’m back after having to take a bit of a blogging break recently due to work commitments having been a bit hectic. So here’s an extremely belated and long round up of my March and April reads. I managed to tick some more books off my initial to read list plan for the year, but also picked up some new books through the Audible 241 sales. March and April were decent reading, or should I say listening, months as I was busy crocheting most evenings trying to finish a pattern test, or often out and about getting my steps in with my spaniel Maya. Thus, I spent a lot of time primarily listening to audiobooks over reading physical hard copies. I only picked up one actual book and it took me 2 whole months to complete! So my goal for the next two months is to pick up more physical books!
Here’s what I’ve read so far and what I thought:
The Outrun: A Memoir – by Amy Liptrot (audiobook)
At the age of thirty, Amy Liptrot finds herself washed up back home on Orkney. Standing unstable on the island, she tries to come to terms with the addiction that has swallowed the last decade of her life. As she spends her mornings swimming in the bracingly cold sea, her days tracking Orkney’s wildlife, and her nights searching the sky for the Merry Dancers, Amy discovers how the wild can restore life and renew hope.
3 STARS: Having seen the trailer to the movie of this book released late last year and being intrigued by it, I wanted to read the book first, before watching the adaptation. There are some beautiful depictions of rural life on the Orkney Islands and vivid descriptions of finding solace in nature. However, Liptrot’s narrative as she navigates her road to recovery from addiction, jumps backwards and forwards too much for my liking and with a lack of intrigue and fluidity becomes a bit boring to listen to. I wanted to like it, but it sadly wasn’t for me.
Disorder – by Rokia (audiobook)
Meet Olivia, Sia, Derek and Edgar. Four young people scarred by various mental health illnesses and each of them searching for a way to heal. Brought together by an unorthodox doctor, they’re pushed to battle their respective demons through a series of increasingly demanding challenges deliberately chosen to make them face their pasts. As their relationships grow, the past is never too far away and with wounds constantly being re-openedtheir friendship becomes instrumental in learning to process their pain
4 STARS: I didn’t know what to expect from this book’s blurb and it took me a very long time to get into it. The fairytale element of the story was extremely confusing and almost made me want to quit at times as it was so odd; but I rarely give up on a book and I’m glad I didn’t. Once it clicked, I realised just how much I rated this book. It’s not an easy read, but an insightful rollercoaster of feeling. It’s filled with equal parts despair and hope; it’s dark but also beautiful. A story friendship and resilience and overcoming one’s demons.
*Please note: this book includes descriptions of mental illness, death, child abuse, violence, domestic violence, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, miscarriage and substance abuse.
The Married Man – by K.L. Slater (audiobook)
Everyone thinks my husband is dead. Just like we planned…
Eleven years ago, my husband disappeared. Eleven long hard years I waited, my heart breaking for our son, who didn’t know his father was coming back.Today, my hands shake as I try to understand what I’ve just learned: my husband has a new wife. This wasn’t part of our plan.
Eleven years ago, my husband made a terrible mistake. I sacrificed everything to help him fix it. But now he’s put our son and me in danger again.We had a plan. He broke the rules. But who will pay the price?
3.5 STARS: A mysterious weave of points of view that kept me guessing until the end. Well narrated with good intrigue and an exciting enough narrative. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t grip me as much as Colleen Hoovers Verity which I read the month before, son it’s only getting a 3.5 stars from me. Not a bad easy read to switch off though.
The Crimson Moth (Crimson Moth, #1) – by Kristen Ciccarelli (audiobook)
Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. She decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – an unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can’t help but find herself falling for.
Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but to gain intel, he pretends to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?
4 STARS: I think I struggled with the first chapter or so but it didn’t take long after that too get hooked. Who doesn’t love a good old enemy to lover’s plot. It’s an easy story to follow and rather predictable when it comes to the romance side of things, but that doesn’t deter from it being an enjoyable read which has you rooting for the protagonists to figure things out. Although elements were predictable there were some unexpected surprises that kept things interesting and I’m already eagerly anticipating the next book now.
When The Moon Hatched (Moonfall, #1) – by Sarah A. Parker (audiobook)
Raeve’s job is to kill. To complete orders and never get caught. When a renowned bounty hunter is employed by The Crown to capture a member of the Ath, Raeve’s world is turned upside down. Blood spills, hearts break, and Raeve finds herself at the mercy of the Guild of Nobles – a group of dual-beaded elementals who intend to turn her into a political statement. Only death will set her free.
Crushed beneath a mourning weight, Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to assuage the never-ebbing ache in his chest, his hunt for a moonshard lures him into the belly of Gore’s notorious prison where he stumbles upon something that rips apart his perception of reality. A shackled miracle with eyes full of rage and blood on her hands.
The echo of the past sings louder than the Creators themselves, and even Raeve can’t ignore the truths blaring at her from a warmer, happier time. However. There’s more to this song than meets the eye, and some truths …They’re too poisonous to swallow.”
2.5 STARS: After seeing this book mentioned multiple times across BookTok, I finally went ahead and purchased it without even listening to a sample – big mistake. The narrator just didn’t do it for me, which made an already difficult story even harder to get through. I continually felt lost and like I was missing parts of the story. I had no idea what moonplumes, saber… or various other creatures where and was only able to hazard a guess due to the fact that the word dragon is mentioned like once? A map or index of creatures etc would dreally be helpful and I’m assuming physical copies had these additions.
It’s also the first time I kind of caught myself drifting occasionally whilst listening and thus feeling even more lost because of it. The whole experience was sadly such a let down and a real struggle to finish.
However, saying that, I do feel like it had potential and that it essentially wasn’t made to be an audiobook. Had I picked it up as an actual hard copy I think I would have enjoyed it more as I’d have been able to skip back easier and go over areas, I felt unsure of.
A Touch Of Darkness (Hades & Persephone, #1) – by St. Clair Scarlette (audiobook)
“Persephone is the Goddess of Spring in title only. Since she was a little girl, flowers have only shrivelled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hoped to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. All of that changes however when she sits down in a forbidden nightclub to play a hand of cards with a hypnotic and mysterious stranger.
Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favourite bets are rumoured to be impossible. But nothing has ever intrigued him as much as the goddess offering him a bargain he can’t resist.
After her encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead, and his terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows―a love that is both captivating and forbidden.”
4 STARS: Another good romantasy, even if predictable. I love romantasies for their usual easy escapism and thus they also tend to receive quite high scores for me. A Touch Of Darkness had a decent plot and good character chemistry but we’ll see how the story continues over 3 books.
Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2) – by Tahereh Mafi(book)
“It should have taken Juliette a single touch to kill Warner. But his mysterious immunity to her deadly power has left her shaken, wondering why her ultimate defence mechanism failed against the person she most needs protection from.
She and Adam were able to escape Warner’s clutches and join up with a group of rebels, many of whom have powers of their own. Juliette will finally be able to actively fight against The Reestablishment and try to fix her broken world. And perhaps these new allies can help her shed light on the secret behind Adam’s—and Warner’s—immunity to her killer skin.”
3.5 STARS: I was going to give this book 3 stars originally, same as the first in the series, as it took me forever to finish due to the start of this book just being a bit meh, however, it was the ending of the book that upped my rating in the end. I feel like characters and their development were just a bit slow and uninteresting; that is until Warner came into play towards the end of the book. I’m most intrigued by his and Juliette’s interactions and am looking forward to seeing how their story develops.
Have you read any of these? If so, what were your thoughts – I’d love to know. Also, if you want to stay up to date with my current reads why not give me a follow on Goodreads – I love seeing what everyone else is reading too!
We hadn’t planned on updating the carpets straight away and were going to make do with the rather funky green carpet in the living room. However once we got the keys to the empty property we realised just how manky the bedroom carpets really were and decided to replace some of most of carpets straight away. We went to the local Franks Carpets round the corner from us and picked up a few samples. There wasn’t too much choice in line with our 0 budget and we ended up choosing 2 different styles, one for the living room and a different one for the bedrooms.
To save money we got rid of the old carpet ourselves, but due to time restraints we left the installation of the new carpets to the professionals.
Having removed the carpets and falling in love with the look of the wooden floor boards, we were a little sad that we did not have the time or finances at that point in time to restore the floor / put new wooden floors down. I suppose that’s a dream that can still be fulfilled in the future and for now the new carpets were a much needed and welcome improvement.
We had a good week overlap between getting our keys to the new house and having to hand back the keys to our old rental. Although it was nice to not have to move in 1 day and feel like we had a bit more time, it still ended up being an extremely stressful week especially when we decided we needed the carpets replacing and ideally before we moved all the furniture in.
But we ended up being really lucky, as Franks Carpets managed to squeeze us into their schedule on the Thursday, the day before we’d hired a van to move all the large furniture across. This was great as it meant the house was still pretty much empty allowing for a quick and easy carpet installation.
Here’s the after shots – such an improvement.
Living / Dining RoomMaster BedroomOffice / Art Studio
I thought it’d be nice to recap my reads so far. It’s been a good start to the year for me, in terms of ticking books off on my to read list. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying quiet evenings snuggled up on the sofa with cups of tea and a book or getting stuck into my crochet projects whilst listening to an audiobook.
Here’s what I’ve read so far and what I thought:
Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2)– by Rebecca Yarros (book)
4.5 STARS: I couldn’t wait to dig my claws into this much anticipated sequel and it didn’t disappoint. However, whereas Fourth Wing got a 5 Star rating from me, I did knock this one down 1 star because, in comparison, it just didn’t grip me in quite the same way. Perhaps it’s because in book one, the initial relationship building between characters held a lot more sexual tension and was new and enthralling, whereas in book two I felt it flatlined a little. If I’m being harsh in my comparison, I also wasn’t quite as captivated by the storyline in book two. Although I know a lot technically happens I suppose, on reflection, it just has more middle book filler vibes, if that makes sense. Anyway, not sure why I’m only pointing out the negatives here cause all in all I still totally rate this book, it gets a 4 star and I am eagerly awaiting for Onyx Storm to be released in paperback so I can finally continue with this story.
Verity – by Colleen Hoover (book)
4.5 STARS: After being stuck on a train of romantasy novels for what feels like a very long time, it was nice to finally pick up something different. I hadn’t read any Colleen Hoover books yet but had seen multiple book covers cross my screen over the past year, and so was eager to jump on the bandwagon and see what all the fuss was about. It did not disappoint – I wolfed Verity down in 2 days I think. Great tension building throughout and I love that it’s all kind of ambiguous and you’re left in the dark suspecting but never truly knowing what’s true or not, right until, and even past, the very end!
Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1) – by Tahereh Mafi (book)
3 STARS: I didn’t know what to expect from this series, but it definitely wasn’t this. The dystopian / post-apocalyptic kinda vibe totally took me by surprise. I don’t know why, but I’d envisioned more of a fantasy world from the blurb, thus it took a while to settle into the story. But it was nice to read something a bit different. It’s a relatively short book, but a fair amount happens and the story progresses quickly. As a reader you’re also very much in line with the protagonist’s point of view and knowledge base. Because she’s been locked away and thus shielded from learning what has transpired in the outside world, you’re on a journey of discovery alongside her. I did enjoy it, (and am currently on book two) just not as much as other books I’ve read and thus it’s only getting a 3 stars from me.
Sunburn – by Chloe Michelle Howarth (audiobook)
4 STARS: Poignant and heartfelt. A slow burn that beautifully portrays the turbulence, intensity and tragedy of first love and finding and accepting one’s true self within a very conservative community. Can only recommend.
Playing With Fire – by L.J. Shen (audiobook)
3.5 STARS: Playing with Fire was an interesting story. It has a predictable hate to love narrative, but adds a bit of thrill and mystery through the backstory of the two emotionally scarred protagonists. This deeper element of the narrative explores trauma, and the journey to recovery and self growth.
Nocticadia – by Keri Lake (audiobook)
4.5 STARS: An unexpected favourite. My initial thoughts were what on earth have I got myself into as I’m not really used to gothic narratives and it took me a while to settle into the vibe of this dark academia world. However, great storytelling with plenty of mystery, intrigue and a chemistry between protagonists that got to me, ooft – I was soon engrossed in this novel which had me hooked until the end. Keri Lake was a new author to me and I now need to check out some more of her books.
Have you read any of these? If so, what were your thoughts – I’d love to know. Also, if you want to stay up to date with my current reads why not give me a follow on Goodreads – I love seeing what everyone else is reading too!
After the success of my first crochet project I was eager to take on another, and once I came across the hexagon crochet cardigan I knew this would be it. I popped to my local Boyes to browse the yarns and decided for a chunky marble in a greeny blue shade.
This design still followed the basic granny square pattern I’d already learned, but instead of going round in a square, you add two extra sides, making a hexagon which will eventually folded in half to create one sleeve and side panel.
Once I had both sides made to the same size (which I almost managed, the tensions was slightly off), I went on to sew up the sleeve seams and decide how to connect the two at the back.
I decided to make a series of smaller granny squares in a lush deep blue for the joining back panel and then also went on to add a border on the sleeves and bottom of the cardigan. I’m so happy with how well the dark blue compliments the green / blue marble yarn.
To finish off the cardigan I made 2 larger granny squares with a mix of the deep blue and green / blue marble yarns. These two granny squares I then sewed on to be pockets at the front of the cardigan.
And voila – there you have it – my first ever hexagon granny square cardigan! I am so so pleased with how it turned out and it really is quite satisfying being able to say I made a cardigan from scratch! I love how it all came together, the pattern, the colours and the fit!
For now it’s a finished project. However, in future I might still experiment with making the cardigan a little longer. Generally speaking, I prefer my cardigans a bit longer, sitting below the bum, so I might still add a few rows to the bottom one day.
Finishing my second crochet project has been even more rewarding than my first. There’s something so satisfying about making your own clothing.
My next project is a jumper. I’ve been chosen as a pattern tester for the Floret Pop Pullover by Yarn by Beck and I’m super excited to get stuck into this new crochet project. I’ve already started and it’s such a lush stitch I can’t wait to see how it all comes together!
Have you been busy with any craft projects or learning new skills??? Do let me know in the comments below!
On a random day at the end of 2024 I decided to follow a crochet tutorial by one of my favourite YouTubers by Helen Anderson. Managing to pick it up pretty quickly, I instantly became hooked – it’s such an addictive hobby.
Early in January, after completing 3 large granny squares as practice, I decided to embark on my first full project. One of my oldest friends was coming to visit from France with her baby and as she had just moved house I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to make her a cosy blanket for a housewarming present.
I browsed the yarn section in my local Boyes for forever, trying to decide which colours to go for and how to combine them. Eventually I made my choice and got started as soon as I got home, eager to see my vision come to life. I had chosen a mustard yellow, a pinky red, a light blue and a white to create two different designs by inverting the order of colours used for the squares. I also went for a darker blue to border the squares and be the join colour.
As the pile of squares grew, so did my excitement – the squares were looking soo good. A little niggle of worry did cross my mind too though as the tension wasn’t always 100% equal. I just hoped they’d all join together nice and evenly. Working every evening after work, I managed to get all my squares completed in about 2 weeks.
The joining of the squares was another new learning curve as I’d never done it before. I had a look online at a few different methods before settling on one that seemed simple enough. It was a little confusing at times and I accidentally joined the wrong sides once or twice and had to back track, but seeing the squares gradually transform into a cohesive blanket was very rewarding.
Crocheting my first granny square blanket has been such an enjoyable and rewarding experience and I can’t wait to make more – who knows, perhaps I’ll make everyone a blanket for Christmas this year aha!? The success of my first project has spurred me on to learn more and also try some more challenging projects.
Next stop – a granny square cardigan!
I’d love to know if any of you also crochet or knit??? Do let me know in the comments below!
I have always considered myself a bit of a bookworm; admittedly, however, the reading bug has ebbed and flowed a bit more as an adult. It was reading ACOTAR last year, that sparked my excitement to get lost in new stories again and re-kindled my love for reading. I’ve ended up buying so many new books last year, on top of already having a huge ‘To Read’ list in the first place, and even splurged on a new Kindle. I’m well and truly set up for choice with this years reading challenge and have given myself the goal of reading 35 Books. I only managed to read 17 books last year, but I’ve got so many on my bookshelf I can’t wait to dip my toes into, that I think I’ll achieve my goal for 2025. I’ve also signed up to Audible again as my new favourite hobby is crocheting, and I’d like to start listening to some audiobooks instead of watching tv, as I work away on my projects.
In no particular order, I wanted to share which books I’ve chosen so far for my ‘To Read’ list this year. If you count along, you’ll realise there are more that 35 books mentioned, but there were just too many to choose from. I’ve been drawn to all these books for different reasons and as the year goes on I’ll be interested to see which ones I gravitate to first. I’d love to hear if you’ve read any and what you thought (no spoilers though please) or what books might be on your ‘To Read’ lists. If you’re on Goodreads – let’s connect!
Standalone Books:
Babel –by R.F. Kuang Cleopatra and Frankenstein – by Coco Mellors My Dark Romeo –by Parker S. Huntington The Elephant Girl – by Henriette Gyland Becoming Molly-Mae – by Molly Hague The Foundling – by Stacey Halls Ugly Love – by Colleen Hoover Verity – by Colleen Hoover
Poetry:
May I Come Home – by Christopher Tapp Home Body – by Rupi Kaur
Series:
Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #3)– by Rebecca Yarros Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3)– by Rebecca Yarros
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) – by Sarah J. Maas Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #1)– by Sarah J. Maas Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #1) – by Sarah J. Maas Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #1)– by Sarah J. Maas Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #1) – by Sarah J. Maas Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #1) – by Sarah J. Maas Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #1) – by Sarah J. Maas
Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1) – by Tahereh Mafi Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2) – by Tahereh Mafi Ignite Me (Shatter Me, #3) – by Tahereh Mafi Restore Me (Shatter Me, #4) – by Tahereh Mafi Defy Me (Shatter Me, #5) – by Tahereh Mafi
Sword Catcher (The Chronicles of Castellane, #1) – by Cassandra Clare
The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1) – by Carrisa Broadbent The Ashes & The Star Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia, #2) – by Carrisa Broadbent
King of Scars (King of Scars, #1) – by Leigh Bardugo Rule or Wolves (King of Scars, #2) – by Leigh Bardugo
Audio Books:
Sunburn – by Chloe Michelle Howarth The Outrun – by Amy Liptrot Playing With Fire – by L.J. Shen A Touch of Darkness– by Scarlett St. Clair The Virgin Suicides – by Jeffrey Eugenides He’s Gone – by Rebecca Collomosse
Books I still want to purchase:
Milk Teeth – by Jessica Andrews Butter– by Asako Yuzuki Kalo – by Colin Walsh Want – by Gillian Anderson Goddess With A Thousand Daces – by Jasmine Elmer Think Again – by Jaqueline Wilson By Any Other Name – Jodi Picoult Frida –by Hayden Herrera
Happy (Belated) New Year, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s. We enjoyed a lovely, quiet Christmas followed by a wonderful week with Luis’s parents. While it was fantastic to have them visit, it left me little time for reflection and planning ahead for 2025. The lack of daylight and continued freezing temperatures at the roastery haven’t exactly boosted my motivation either since starting back at work!
Despite feeling a bit lost and longing for spring, I am feeling pretty excited about the possibilities this year holds. To combat the winter blues and stay inspired, I’m continuing my annual tradition of creating a Bucket List for the new year. This isn’t about setting unattainable goals, but rather a gentle nudge towards a more fulfilling life – exploring more, embracing creativity, prioritizing my well-being and being more present in the day to day.
Looking back at my 2024 list, I’m proud of what I accomplished, even though plenty of items remain unchecked. It’s about enjoying the journey and not just ticking off goals for the sake of it. (You can find my 2024 reflections in my previous blog post here.)
As I’ve been pondering my 2025 goals, I realise many are similar to last year’s. Some are repeats as they are likely to become yearly wishes, while others are carry-overs from 2024 that I’ve yet to achieve. I’ll probably also continue to add to this list as new ideas emerge. Here’s what I have so far…
Finish My Patchwork Blanket: I’m slowly but surely knitting my way through a patchwork blanket. It’s my first big knit project but much less daunting than tackling something like a sweater as it’s just square by square.
Conquer a Patterned Hat: I want to develop my pattern-reading skills and have started with a supposedly easy enough hat project.
Knit a Sweater (the ultimate challenge): I want to step outside my comfort zone and eventually take on the challenge of knitting a sweater, although this will probably be done later on in the year once I’ve built up some confidence and practiced pattern reading some more.
Crochet A Blanket:I have just finished my first granny square blanket, and I’m so in love with it, I am eager to make more. I think I might like to make a few for Christmas Present this year.
Granny Square Cardigan: I keep coming across these beautiful granny square cardigan patterns and I can’t wait to give one a try.
Derwent Reservoir: Luis has wanted to take me for a walk there for ages. It’s only about a 35 minute drive, but I’ve always let my anxiety get the better of me as I know there’s no proper facilities there. However, it was his birthday the other week and I finally pushed myself to go.
High Force Waterfall Family Trip: Although I’ve been before, it was quite a while ago and we’ve not yet been as a family, so that’s one for this year.
Camping Getaways: We went camping near Holy Island last year and I loved it so much I’d like to make this another yearly tradition, starting with at least one family camping adventure.
Grow The Orchid Creative: I would like to be more organised this year, develop mu creative skills further and increase my Etsy offerings and sales.
Tattoo Time: I’ve been itching for some new ink for ages and would like to add some new finger tattoos to my collection this year.
Start A YouTube Channel: This has been something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time, but have always felt too overwhelmed to do. However, I want to let go of the nerves, finally learn some new creative skills, and just enjoy the process of video editing and documenting for fun.
A Holiday Abroad: I’d like to push myself again this year and overcome my travel anxiety to enjoy an overseas adventure.
Coastal Caravan Retreats: We’ve had a few lovely relaxing long weekends in a caravan in Cresswell up the Northumberland coast over the past year or so and love it so much that we want to make this another yearly goal.
Reading Goals: Although I only managed 17 books last year, I’m setting myself the same goal of 24 books this year.
Cultural Experiences: Attending at least 3 concerts, shows, or theatre performances.
Dance Lessons with Luis: This one’s been on my list for ages. I think learning to dance together will be a good laugh and a fun way to exercise together.
Learning Portuguese: I finally want to start learning Portuguese properly so that I can communicate better with Luis’s family.
A Holiday with my Bestie: Another yearly tradition and one I treasure – having a small getaway and some 1on1 time with my best friend!
National Trust Explorations: We’ve got our membership till May and I’d like to make the most of it. We’ve already visited Gibside and Crook Hall multiple times, but I’d still like to visit the places in the North East which we haven’t seen yet, namely: Cragside, Seaton Delaval, Washington Old Hall and Wallington.
4. Crochet a Blanket5. Visit Derwent Reservoir19. Visit Gibside
Have you also set yourself some goals for this year? What are your top 3 Bucketlist items? Do let me know in the comments down below – I’d love to know!
I’ll keep coming back to this post throughout the year ticking off what I’ve achieved, so if you see something stroked through , it’s been completed.
We’re half way through the year already and so I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the goals I set myself for 2024. At the beginning of the year I wrote a list of things I would like to accomplish this year, no stress. I wanted my goals to feel attainable, to encourage myself to get out more, to be more creative and work on my physical and mental health without getting too overwhelmed.
Having bought our first doer-upper house last year, I also have a long list of house goals, but that is a post in its own right, so for now here’s my personal 2024 Bucketlist and what I’ve accomplished so far:
Go camping with Luis and Maya
Get The Orchid Creative (my creative side hustle) more established and ready to sell things for Christmas.
Get a new Tattoo
Have a holiday in the Peak District
A coastal mini-getaway
Read at least 30 books (managed 17 books + one almost finished audiobook)
Go to at least 4 concerts/shows (Saw Half A Penny and A Sixpence)
Start dance classes with Luis
Start therapy
Start an exercise class
Begin learning Portuguese
Make the most of our Joint National Trust membership – aim for 10 trips together (managed about 7 which I’m happy enough with): 1. Fountains Abbey 2. Wentworth Chapel Gardens 3. Crook Hall 4. Crook Hall 5. Gibside 6. Gibside 7. 8. 9. 10.
Cresswell BeachFountains AbbeyStanage Edge, Peak DistrictWentworth CastleCamping near LindisfarneCrook Hall
If you had to pick only one item on your bucket list to complete this year – which would it be? Do let me know in the comments down below; I’d love to know!
Well it really has been a while since I last took to WordPress and my blog. I’ve missed it and I’ve finally taken the plunge to get it up and running again. I’ve updated my site and plan to ease my way back in slowly. I’m hoping that starting my hobby again will encourage me to get out more, explore, make memories and give me a way to let my creative juices flow.
So brew yourself a coffee and let’s catch up!
A lot has happened since I first began this blog in 2017; here’s a whistle-stop tour. At the time I was crashing at a friends and working part time in a cafe in Durham as well as part time for my dad’s coffee house. I then moved into a house share round the corner and was lucky enough to find a great friend in Jess, the other girl who moved in.
After a couple of years I was able to join my dad full time at his cafe and we also began planning a new business venture together – roasting our very own coffee. Time ticked on, and as much as I loved Jess, I started feeling like I was ready for my own place and thus, after some searching, moved to a wonderful townhouse on the other side of Durham. The move also meant I was closer to work and my parents as although I had finally started driving lessons, I still hadn’t got my license yet and was relaying on dad to scoop me up to and from work.
Not long after I moved however, and just as dad and I were ready to launch our new coffee roasting venture, the dreaded C word took over the world. I went through a somewhat tumultuous time. In some ways I had a great furlough time setting into my new house and enjoying many a sunny afternoon in my lush big new garden, but at the same time I also fell into some extremely unhealthy habits and routines being suddenly all alone. It was a yo-yo of emotions of highs and lows.
Eventually though, things slowly began to open up again and the road to normality seemed unveiled. We opened the cafe on weekends for take-out coffees and cakes, whilst running our coffee roasting business Durham Coffee during the week, primarily launching as an online platform. As things continued to return to normal, we soon realised however that it was going to be too much to run the cafe and roastery at the same time and we came to the decision to sell the cafe and concentrate on roasting.
During this time I had also put myself back out there hoping to make new connections. And one day, when restaurants were open again and meeting up was allowed again a Hinge date with a wonderful guy named Luis forked a new path in my journey. What was supposed to just be lunch ran into a lovely evening out and was soon followed by date no.2 in my garden drinking wine, playing Banagrams and cooking dinner together. Although in many ways we were very different, we also just worked. He made me feel at ease, loved and accepted and was especially patient and understanding with my anxiety; it was no surprise that a few dates led to us already moving in together about nine months into our relationship.
Not long after our first anniversary we got the cutest addition to our wee family, a gorgeous little show cocker spaniel pup who we named Maya (you can check our her adventures on Instagram at @mayatheshowcocker). A year later we also unexpectedly (as it hadn’t been in our immediate plans) ended up buying our first house together which we are now in the process of slowly renovating as it was/is stuck in the 70’s.
And there you have it; a whistle-stop tour of my main life events between 2017 and 2024. Coming back to blogging now I don’t want to tie myself into a specific blogging category, but rather narrate, as my name Simply Carina xo aims to suggest, the simple everyday of my life. From renovation blogs to favourite recipes and travels with my family. Thank you for reading, it’s nice to have you along for the ride!
simplycarinaxo.co.uk 