Let's Start With This One...

It is officially summer! Wimbledon is underway and the scores and wins are already happening. Something that Amazon are very excited about, as they have released all their foodie summer essentials to help us to celebrate the greatest tennis tournament in the world. 

Wimbledon would not be right if we didn’t have the famous strawberries and cream that we mark it with. Thankfully, by Amazon has everything you need, with a fantastic selection of fresh berries, meringue nests and cream, which can be enjoyed on the hill or at home. 

And the best bit about it is that even after the tournament finishes on the 10th July, by Amazon will continue to have fresh on-the-go snacks and cupboard essentials, as well as fresh meat and veg for you to enjoy. 

For me, it is all about the strawberries and cream, which were super delicious and made my family's afternoon. Especially my mum, who hasn’t been very well recently. The cream was super rich according to her, but perfect with the sweetness of the strawberries, which I loved, as the flavours really popped through. 

Wimbledon can officially be celebrated with all of these tasty delights to hand! Who else will be tucking into some strawberries and cream to celebrate? 

Joey X

It's been a while since I posted a baking blog, so I thought I would get back to it today. This one being a super easy and fast one to complete. It is a fabulous brownie recipe! You can even make them smaller by turning them into brownie muffins if you would like. 

Big or small, you will be making them a lot. I promise you all that: 

Ingredients

• 100g Plain Flour
• 350g Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
• 2 Large Eggs

Tools

• Brownie Baking Tray
• Mixing Spoon
• Mixing Bowl

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180c and grease a brownie baking tray, leaving it to one side.
2. Taking a large mixing bowl, add the flour, chocolate spread and eggs into it, combining it all until well mixed. 
3. Pour into a brownie pan and place into the oven for 12 minutes.
4. Allow the mixture to cool in the pan before removing and decorating if you would like to. 
5. Enjoy!

What are you all making today lovelies? Let me know! 

Joey X

Sometimes I just feel the need to scream. I want to run off into a field, a bit like Maria in The Sound of Music, and let it all out. Over the past few years, I have been through a lot. I left the hospital, witnessed the sad passing of my dad, had health issues and heard people talk about me, as if I am not there. 

And I am so sick of it all. I am sick of the things that drag people down. Since the pandemic, surely we should be keeping each other up. We should be praising those doing well, even if it is in something small. We should be making the world a better place after all the doom and gloom. Hearing about negative stuff, especially about myself really angers, upsets and frustrates me. All of which, caused me to write this post. An electronic scream if you will.

I know that I am ill. I know that my illness was made worse by my dad’s death and a broken jaw. I am working every DAMN day to get better though. So, please do not speak about doctors, hospitals, therapists and even me behind my back. Don’t make my anorexia and anxiety the first thing or the only thing you talk to me about. I am sick of it. Absolutely sick of it. 

How am I meant to get over my illness or feel normal again, when it is all anyone wants to ask or talk to me about at times? Honestly, I would rather talk about Kanye and Kim, Love Island, YouTubers, the wildest stuff in the world. I want to feel normal, so please don’t make me not appear or seem normal. I AM!

I am not part of a system. I am not a medical document. I am Joey Tamburello. I have worked and still am working hard to be better. I am fighting every damn day. Yes, I have bad days. But it doesn’t mean that I have a bad life. I am stronger mentally. I am getting stronger physically. I don’t want to hear about support or doctors. I have had enough and seen enough of them that I know when to go to them if I need them. 

What I really need is for people, even family members, to treat me like a normal person. I understand they are concerned. I understand that they love me and are looking out for me. I love them for it in fact, in many different ways. But just treat me like normal please. Like how I was before all this. Maybe then I can find easier ways to return to those days if people just did this. Instead of questioning, judging or talking about me as if I am not even there.

I am not going to go to a doctor, a hospital or a therapist, unless I really need it. I am proud that I have got to a place where I was able to be discharged from them all. I am fully able to decide and would definitely go back to them if I needed to. I can’t praise them enough for helping me get to this place and making me better in many ways. But, I don’t want to live with them anymore, if you get me? They don’t live in my home, so please don’t talk about them and invite them in like they are roommates. 

Sorry to rant and rave, but I just had to write this. I had to get it all off my chest if you will. I had to scream into the blogging void. I had to say how I felt and then I can hopefully let it rest. Especially, when today is a bit of a struggle. It is being able to write stuff like this that makes me feel a bit better. Please know that I love everyone around me. I love them for many reasons and for asking me this stuff out of concern. But for now, can we just talk like normal people, doing what normal people do please. Even the mad, crazy stuff. It makes me feel human. It makes me feel better. It is the perfect medicine if you will. 

Right, I am feeling better now. Who is for a gossip about Kate and Will’s then? 

Joey X

Happy Birthday Mum! 60 years and still as fabulous as ever. As many of you know, my mum is my best friend. She is my hero in many ways. She gets up every single day and looks after me and my whole family. She always has done. Jane Davison is a legend and she is turning sixty today (don’t kill me for saying your age mum!). 

Mum, I want you to know that you are incredible. From lifting me out of a cot to lifting me up every day now. You know how to make us all smile. You know how to make our family survive. You have been a rock to us all. You know what to do, say and how to behave with us all. Each in our own ways. You smile in the hardest of times. You have become both a mum and a dad to us all in the past two years. 

As someone who shares my love of Disney, you couldn’t have been happier when I said I wanted to start embracing my inner child again. When I can’t handle a certain day, you snuggle up with me and make sure that I get through it. In fact, I keep battling my illness because of you. The past few years have been some of the hardest for you. 

You have lost the love of your life. You have had to see me in the hospital. Visiting all the time. You have accepted your son back into your home. You have been a grandmother to all of your grandchildren, helping them all as much as you can. I honestly can’t thank you enough for everything you do. I can’t give you enough to say thank you. I honestly can’t celebrate you enough. 

Yet, I can shower you in love. I can make sure that you are well looked after. I can make sure that people know that you are brilliant. You never truly see what happens behind closed doors, but I will give you all a little inside look into our home. I try every single day from the moment I get up to help my mum as much as I can. I know for a fact I can be hard work. Especially if it is a day in which my illness and anxiety takes over. Yet, she never moans. She never allows me to give up. She tells me the truth, because we made a promise we always would, but she never makes me feel small. 

My mum is the real backbone of our family. For years, no one has done and still does as much as her. She gets up at 4am every day, goes to work, comes home and cares for us all. She does odd jobs for those around her, always offering to help others when she can. I know the change happening is worrying for her too, but she is trying to not show it. I have witnessed her get angry at the treatment that has caused it all. I have seen her smile then cry about it. Yet, she is seeking the good in all of it, because she only wants to see the best for us. Something she has done for years and years. For me, my grandad, my dad, my niece and nephews, my brothers and more.

People who try to put her down never will. She is too strong and we will not let them. Yes, it is easy to say that my mum is the best there is. Because she is. But what I really want to say is that she is a superhero. A real one. We praise the people we see on screen, failing to thank those who are actually there for us. 

Therefore, I am thanking her today. I am thanking her for her love, patience and kindness. I don't care if it is cheesy. I don't care what people think. If the past two years have taught me anything, it is to tell people that you love them, because you never know what is around the corner. I love you mum and am thankful for everything you do! I hope you have a fantastic birthday and turn sixty in style. 

Love you forever and always! 

Joey X

Do you remember the 90s? Maybe even the early 00s? Weren’t they the best of times! I am a 1995 baby, which makes me feel very lucky that I got to experience the best of both worlds. I was someone who had the classic McDonalds parties, with sweetie cakes galore, but also Bratz, My Scene Dolls and more. I absolutely adored everything about my childhood. Yet, there is so much I have forgotten from it. A very sad fact. 

Recently though, I have decided to start embracing it again. I want my inner child back. I want to enjoy what I used to. Things I now think I was forced to give up on too early, due to friends saying they were childish, making me feel like I had to give them up. Now, as an adult, turning 27 in a few weeks, I can now make the rules and that means Barbie is back. 

My inner child is finally embracing what I have always loved. This includes the following brands, toys and categories that I am super happy to have back, including: 

Barbie and Bratz: Barbie and Bratz are absolutely amazing to me. I used to collect the dolls, but when I got older I got rid of them all. Now, I am welcoming the queen and princesses of dolls back into my life. PJs, clothes, dolls, LEGO versions, beauty finds and more. They are back in my home and I am so grateful for it. 

Me To You Bears: For years, I was someone who also collected Me To You Bears. I had them all over my room. From cuddly toys to ceramics, I even had a signed one. That will is still around in fact. Clinton Cards was like a dream for me when we used to go. Therefore, having the little grey bears back in my life is something that makes me so happy. Although I don’t have the cuddly toys anymore, I do have PJs, keyrings and other little trinkets that make my home feel complete.

Nintendo DS: Whilst I have a Switch, I have always loved the older consoles more. Growing up, I was someone who would play on the Wii or the Nintendo DS. A fact I know is very fortunate. Both consoles are still in our home and I refuse to part with them. My DS is next to my bed and I still go looking for games for it around charity shops and online. If I find myself really anxious then I will break it out and play for hours, without getting bored. It is still the best console in my opinion.

Disney: For a long time, I felt like I had to give up Disney. I couldn’t celebrate it enough. It is now back. It is back with a force in fact. Not a Star Wars force, but a pretty close one. I have been trying to collect the Disney DVDs since I accepted it back into my life and arrange yearly trips if I can (damn you Corona!). Disney is everything to me and now always will be.

Childhood Holidays (Butlins and Clacton): Clacton was the place that made up my childhood holidays. We used to have a caravan there, spending all summer long in it. It is the place where I met my best friend and I will forever love it for that. Recently, we have been visiting it again. As well as Butlins, which was the first place that we went to after selling our caravan. I love these childhood holiday places so much and it makes me appreciate being little a lot. Even if they have changed, it shows that the memories haven’t and never will. 

Car Boots: When I was little, my parents would go all over the UK to car boots. Yet, when I reached my teenage years and my friends made out that it wasn’t cool, I stopped going. Something I will always regret. Now, I beg my mum to take me to them. I simply love delving into boxes to see what treasures I can find. Especially book wise. You can find some real bargains at them and I am so sad that I didn’t go with my parents. Especially my dad, who struggled to walk around them in his final years.

Whether you are someone who has given up their childhood finds for good or you want to remember it, then this is me giving you all the permission to embrace it all over again. Life is too short to worry about what others think and if you want to collect dolls, watch old films or find the toys and items that made you happy then do it. I couldn’t be happier for you to do so. Just make sure to invite me round if it involves LEGO. 

Joey X

Podcasts are fantastic! For me, there is nothing better than sticking one on and potting around my home or sitting down for dinner too. To me they are a sense of comfort. Especially when my anorexia is getting bad. It can really take my mind off it, even if for a little bit. 

I am someone who enjoys funny podcasts. I like to hear what people have had going on in their lives. I think it is me being noisy aha! However, I also love podcasts that inform me or remind me of something in my past. A few years ago, I shared what I was listening to, but it has changed a lot since then. 

Therefore, I have decided that now is the perfect time to update you all on what I have been listening to:

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Parenting Hell: I don’t know what or how I found this podcast, but I absolutely adore it. It is my favourite one out of the bunch. So much so that I have booked tickets to see it live next year. I look forward to Tuesday and Friday mornings, when I can hear the new episodes. Since around February, I have also been listening to old episodes and have now reached the first season. I don’t know what I will do when it all comes to an end and I have to wait for the episodes weekly. I may have to start binging them all over again. 

The Twilight Effect: Growing up, I was a huge Twilight fan. I mean huge. Picture big posters on the wall. Having to go and see the films on opening night. Watching them over and over again. Reading Breaking Dawn in one day. You get it. This new podcast, which has only been running for a few months, sees old cast members reuniting to discuss with Ashley Greene, who played Alice, as well as super fans, to rewatch and discuss the films and characters. It will have you all falling in love with the series again.

Table Manners: I have listened to this podcast for years. I think it is the one that made me fall in love with them in fact. Jessie Ware, who is an amazing singer, and her mum Lennie, interview guests every Wednesday, from all over the world and industries, to see how they became famous, what their favourite meals are and what would be the last meal they would ever eat. It is really interesting to hear, especially when it makes you fall in love with someone new. 

The Disneyland Paris Show: As someone who can’t get enough of Disneyland Paris, I love the news that this podcast and YouTube show brings me. With a weekly rundown of all the latest information, I am now always prepared for a trip. One that this show makes me want to do each and every day. 

Alan Carr: Life’s A Beach: I don’t listen to this all the time, but if I need to have something to laugh or to make me smile and I have listened to all the others, then I will listen to Alan Carr. He is one of my comedy heroes and this podcast is funny and informative. 

What are your favourite podcasts to listen to? 

Joey X

A few of you may know that a while ago I used to work for a money saving website. I would create content that would help people to save money on their everyday spending. As the cost of living rises, something that is worrying us all, myself included, I thought I would share some tips and tricks that have been helping me recently to keep the pennies in my pocket. 

Use Your Bonus Cards

When making purchases on medicines, beauty products or everyday essentials, I have been using my rewards cards as much as possible. I decided to treat myself to some new perfume in the middle of May and saved money using my Perfume Shop card. £5 off in fact. I save around 15% every time I shop in Superdrug too now, using my Superdrug Beauty Card, making my medicine and health purchases cheaper. I also use my student discount card wherever I can to make cheaper purchases or even to get freebies. 

Buy Yellow Stickers and Store

My mum is someone who happily looks for discounts with me. So, when we go food shopping we look for the discounted items. I have a good eye, if I do say so, for reduced or yellow sticker finds. This makes it easy for us to save money, but also to fill up our freezer, which has meant that meals can be made easily for less. With leftovers also being created and kept for other meals during the week or later in the month. Plus, we are also keeping food, if safe to do so, later than the best before date. This includes yogurts, milk, eggs and bread. 

Donating To Our Local Food Bank/Neighbours

If we have made purchases or found food that we know we won’t eat in the end, we will donate it to our local food bank to help others. We have also given food to our neighbours, who give back to us, which has meant nothing is being wasted, money is being saved and we are all helping each other in these troubling times. 

Checking For The Cheapest Deals

Wherever I can save money I do. Like many of us do. I am constantly looking at the moment for the cheapest deals. If I can afford to do so, I am paying off contracts and seeing where I can lower costs if possible. I am seeing what is happening with the electricity, gas and wifi costs at the bottom of the lists. This makes the money go further. 

Turning Off What I Don’t Need 

For a long time, I was bad at turning off my Alexa system’s. I liked to hear the radio or a sound when going around my house for comfort. Yet, to help cut costs I have been turning it off when I leave a room and only having it on if I am in a room. I have also been doing this with the TV and lights too. I am not sure how much of a difference it is making yet, but fingers crossed it is. 

What tips and tricks have you been following to help save money lovelies? 

Joey X

Recently, I was watching a video and heard someone mention that they were working with their children to help achieve the goals they have or want to complete by a certain age or within their lifetime. This made me think about what I wanted to do, so I have decided to make monthly goals. I won’t punish myself if I don’t complete them all or feel like I can't do them, but I want to be able to do a few of them to make my life a little bit better. 

I know though that if I just keep them in my head I will forget them, so I am writing them here each month to remember them. Hopefully, I will complete the following throughout June: 

• Reach out and finally email the Parenting Hell podcast
• Make sure my mum has an amazing 60th birthday on the 21st June and find her the presents she wants
• Celebrate and enjoy seeing Elton John on the 24th June, without the worries I had years ago when I first saw him
• Plan my birthday and book the tickets for the train to see my brother (Fingers crossed costs go down)
• Start a new course at the charity shop I volunteer in

These goals are ones that I keep thinking about and want to crack on with as soon as possible. They are quite nice ones to start the months and ones that I think I can achieve. I will let you know how I get on next month. 

Joey X