Let's Start With This One...

Good Morning Lovelies,

Going to see a show in London is one of my favourite things in the world. Especially if it is able to immerse you into it. Something The Choir of Man does incredibly well. 

Set inside the walls of a pub, the show follows a group of men, all struggling with different mental health issues, as they explain their situations through well-known songs. 

From Adele to Queen, the show is packed with hit after hit that not only have you singing along, but also dancing in your seat. Even when they are used to explain some tough subject matters. 

It is a clever way of highlighting how important it is to get men to speak up about their feelings. The words of the songs fit to the moods and the close intimate setting of the theatre make your heart reach out to them. Many times in fact whilst watching. 

Having been nominated for an Olivier Award, The Choir of Man is a superb story that needs to be taken well into the centre of London. It needs to be turned up and shared further. A story like this is one to enjoy and learn from. An element that not all West End shows can do. 

Suitable for the whole family, it is a feature that I am sure will come back time and time again to delight more audiences. As well as to get them talking. Definitely go and see it if you get the chance to. You will not be disappointed! 

4 Stars

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Tetris has recently been reborn, with the release of a new film dedicated to its introduction into the world. The game has gone on to continue to inspire many creators and players, including the ones behind the brand new Crazy Tower board game. 

Mixing Tetris with Jenga, Crazy Tower sees one to four players going head to head to get rid of all their blocks on the floors, by building up a tower. All whilst trying to not let their structures fall. Something that is made harder by one player’s traitorous ways. 

Kindly, I was gifted the game to play and automatically I wanted to get stuck in. I am a big fan of Jenga, so the game was automatically right up my street. Setting out the brightly coloured pieces, me and my mum went head to head. 

Concentrating hard, we both gave as good as we could, with both of us having to replay each other before admitting the winners of each game. We lost a lot of time to the game, as it was so fun, we didn’t realise how long we had been playing. 

Perfect for all ages, especially those who remember the iconic games mentioned before, everyone will love it. It has that classic feel good factor about it, which will be perfect for after dinner on Christmas Day. Or in a staycation property on the table. 

I loved how easy this was to understand and can’t wait to introduce more players and family members to it. I know my nephew is going to go wild for it once he has a go. 

Thank you so much to the team for allowing me to enjoy it. I can’t wait to play another round already. Fancy one? 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Many of you will know from my monthly favourites that I am a big, BIG, fan of the podcast Parenting Hell. When Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe announced that they would be taking the show on the road, I was beyond happy. I went from stiff neck to loose neck party vibes in a matter of moments. 

Buying tickets as soon as they went on sale, I prepared for the big night - 21st April 2023 - by listening to the two shows a week religiously, buying their book and books and making sure that I was the ultimate fan. Even as someone with no kids. 

Last Friday, the day arrived to see them and so I put the person I have put through parenting hell with me, to enjoy the show. Heading to The O2 Arena in London early, we looked around the Icon Shopping Centre, full of outlet stores, grabbed a drink and wandered around until it was time to take our seats. 

Sat right at the front of the crowd, on the floor in block A1, we had an incredible view of the stage. Made up full of bits from the show and the two comedians lives, we were immersed instantly. Along with also being provided the chance to text and be in the show, you could also spend the time waiting reading the epic programme, which was also an activity book. Great for parents and maybe older kids aha! 

After a bit of a delay, the show began at 8:15pm, with the two comics coming on and making an incredible start. Joking about their lateness, heading into the crowd and making phone calls and introducing us to the iconic set pieces, Josh then led Rob into a preplanned slideshow of stiff neck proportions. 

From there everything went smoothly. A couple with a newborn baby were forced to lie in a bed and stay awake, in the hopes of winning a grand prize. Lou and Rose, the pairs wives were tested in a Mr and Mrs format. 

Then a special guest was brought out. Ours was the amazing Katherine Ryan, who perfectly explained why it is harder for women to be parents. Whilst also tackling the subject of Jo Swash’s epic sex skills! 

The show was perfect in every way. I had never been to see a podcast live, but with the way that these two handled everything, I already want to go again. I even debated booking to see the Wembley show on Sunday. It was full of epic moments, such as Rob Beckett introducing us all to his children and classic old school photos and videos of the pair.

I can safely say that Parenting Hell is still my favourite podcast out of them all. Even as someone who doesn’t have or want kids. These are just two sexy and relatable guys, who you will want to listen and see live! It is a safe and solid seven out of ten!

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

With the coronation just around the corner, the idea of gathering everyone together for a party is in the air. From classic sandwiches to the new quiche, there is lots that can be made. 

However, it is always good to make something a little sweet and unexpected. Such as this marshmallow, which only uses three ingredients. Get ready to make this recipe time and time again…

Tools

• Baking Tray
• Greaseproof Paper
• Spatula
• Saucepan
• Measuring Cup
• Mixing Spoon
• Handheld Whisk/Electric Whisk

Ingredients

• One Packet of Jelly Crystals - Any Flavour
• One Cup of Boiling Water
• One and a Half Cups of Icing Sugar

Method

Start by lining a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Set this aside until later. 

Taking the cup of boiling water, place into a saucepan, then pour your chosen packet of jelly in as well. Turn the hob onto a high setting, bring to the boil, before lowing to a medium temperature. Allow the mixture to simmer for five minutes.

Once ready, allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. When ready, add in the icing sugar and beat with a whisk or electric beater until really thick, like thick cream. This will take around eight to ten minutes to get perfect.

Grab your baking tray and pour the mixture onto it. Smooth out the mixture with a spatula or the back of a spoon into one big square. Now is the perfect time to decorate with chocolate chips or sprinkles if you would like to add them in. 

Place into the fridge and allow to set for at least three to four hours. When ready, take them out and cut into squares to enjoy or gift to others! 

What are you making this weekend? Let me know! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

It’s been a long time since I did a post like this, however, I thought it would be interesting to share a few up to date facts and figures about myself. Especially when I have some amazing new readers! 

Here are some little bits about me, which I hope you like…

What is your middle name?

I have a really interesting middle name! It is made up of the name my mum actually wanted to give me, which is Alice Davison. Davison is her surname, but I use my dad’s. 

What was your favourite subject in school?

I was very lucky to be able to do film studies when I was in secondary school. Every minute of those lessons made my day and it is the best subject choice I made. If I could encourage everyone to do it, I would!

What is your favourite drink?

I am quite simply and I love juice and squash. I’ve never been a fan of alcohol, giving it up nearly ten years ago, and I find fizzy drinks horrible. Although, I did used to love a Dr Pepper!

What would you (or have you) name your children?

I don’t want children, but if I was to ever have them, I like the names Archie, Henry and Harry for a boy. For a girl, I like the names, Grace and Olive.

Have you participated in any sports?

When I was in school I used to love basketball and was on the team for a little while. I was also quite good at trampolining and volleyball.

What is your favourite book?

Silver Linings Playbook is incredible and I recommend it to everyone. I read it when I was ill with pneumonia and it left me feeling so much better and motivated. 

What is your favourite color?

Royal blue! It is such a gorgeous blue! Although, I am also a sucker for a pastel colour and a deep green at the moment.

What is your favourite animal?

I love turtles, ducks and pandas. Take me on a trip somewhere where I can see them and I am a pile of mush.

What is your favourite perfume?

Perfumes are my guilty pleasure in life and I can’t stop myself buying them. I’m a huge fan of Marc Jacobs ones. I don’t think there is a scent I don’t like. However, I do have a very emotional connection to the DKNY green apple perfume, as it was one my dad brought me.

What is your favourite holiday?

It has to be either Disneyland Paris at Christmas or Dublin for my 21st, both with my mum. I have such incredible memories from both of them. 

Do you have any siblings?

I have four brothers, but I only really see two of them. They are technically all half brothers, as two came from my dad and two from my mum, yet I don’t see them that way. They are simply my brothers through and through. 

What is your favourite store?

Oddly, I love The Perfume Shop aha! Nothing actually odd about that! It’s a place that I have to limit myself in. The same with ShopDisney when shopping online. Literally, they could take all of my money. 

Who are some of your favourite YouTubers?

Currently, I am obsessed with Crazy Middles, Crazy Pieces and Brummy Mummy of 2. I also like to watch the live stream from 37 Disney Street every Sunday night and will spend hours on the Bluey YouTube page. 

What is your favourite movie?

Oooo it changes all the time, but I am still head over heels in love with Edward Scissorhands and Walk the Line. However, it all really depends on what mood I am in. Romance and comedy are my two favourite genres. 

What are some of your favourite tv shows?

Again, this changes all the time, but currently I am obsessed with The Bear, Friends, Miranda, Peaky Blinders and easy to watch shows, such as reality TV. 

PC or Mac?

I am a Mac person now, although I have no problems with a PC either. Both have done me proud. My Mac was a big purchase, yet I am so happy I made it. 

What phone do you have?

My phone is the iPhone 13 Pro and I love it. However, it can be hard to find cases for at times. Typo is a hero for them though. 

Do you have any pets?

We do! We have a goldfish called Janet and whilst she likes to freak us out and play dead, we love her lots. 

If you would like to do this tag lovelies, feel free to take the questions! I would love to hear your answers to them! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

For a while, I was writing what I had read in a whole month posts. However, March was filled with magazines and therefore, I didn’t read that many books. Yet, I managed to change this month.

Deciding to change up the posts, I have made the decision to pick one book a month to discuss. A bit like a book club selection. This month, I have chosen Stepping Up by Sarah Turner.

I had seen this book on a number of supermarket shelves but never picked it up. Honestly, I wish I had sooner. From the first paragraph I was gripped. Not like anything else I had read before, it was a new genre that reminded me of the film, Raising Helen. 

The main character Beth is relatable, as she comes to terms with being the sole caretaker for her niece and nephew, after a tragic family event. From fish finger sandwiches to swimming galas, everything seems new to Beth, in a refreshing and emotional manner. 

As a reader, the chapters take you through each month, as Beth seeks to discover her real self. I loved how much she connects with being imperfect. To the point she is perfect. Not everything goes to plan. In fact very little does. Yet, that is what works so well within the book. That is its hook. And hook me in it did.

I picked this book up on a book exchange library slot and I’ve donated it back to one. I hope it brings joy to others like it did to me! You should all definitely keep an eye out for it and have a read if you can lovelies. It’s simply brilliant and a perfect all year round read. 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

Summer is finally upon us! Okay, so technically it is still spring, but with the sun in the sky and the warmer temperatures already starting, it has put me in an excited mood. One that wants to get out there and go exploring. 

However, with everything costing a little more nowadays, it can be hard. Yet, there is so much that you can do for free with the whole family or friends. In fact, you can even do my list on your own! The possibilities are endless with my top free things to do during the summer, which are…

Build A Fort: Like Ross and Joey in Friends, there is nothing better than getting cushions, cardboard boxes or anything that you have to spare to make a tent. Spend time reading in it or having fun. The childlike nature of it will make you so happy. 

Visit The Sea or a Local River: Whether you live close by or have to take a little journey, go and visit a local seaside resort. Or head down to your closest nature reserve and spend time near a pond or river. Just the sound of water can be so refreshing for the mind and soul. 

Find A Free Local Event: With so many places offering free events, not just at the weekend, now is the perfect time to uncover a hidden gem. Plus, many of them allow you to see places you may have to normally pay for for free! A little added bonus! 

Host An Outdoor Cinema: Grab the family or your closest friends and host an outdoor cinema. Take an old sheet and project the film onto the big screen or take your TV or laptop outside. Watching a film under the stars is truly magical. 

Binge Watch Your Favourite Shows: When the weather does get too warm, you may not want to head out. Something that is perfectly fine. Grab your best snacks and embrace a classic or new summer series and spend the time binging on it. 

Get A Pen Pal: Summer is the time to connect with people. Yet, they don’t have to be in or near to the place you live. Write a letter to a friend who has moved away or find one online who lives in another country. Facebook has some great pages to meet people. 

Summer comes with endless possibilities for free fun! What do you like to do during the warmer months? 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Recently I was asked about my surname. Where did it come from? Is it translated into anything else? Why did it sound familiar? How do I spell it? 

For me, I have always been asked to spell out my surname, but never really taken in what the letters really mean to me. Since losing my dad, it is the only thing, other than blood, which truly connects me to him. A fact that makes me so proud. 

I’ve always loved how original my surname is. I made a decision long ago that I would never change it. Even when I got married. It is so original that I don’t want to lose it. I don’t want to ever not be a Tamburello. 

My family is connected to the Senna motor racing accident. They’re our ties to Sicily that run deep. My dad always told us that when we walked out the door we were representing the Tamburello name. It is his legacy and I will never lose that. 

I’m someone who also has my mum’s surname in my name too. However, it’s the Tamburello in my name that I love the most. There so, I wanted to speak out about the pride in a name. The love for who you are. 

It doesn’t always have to be about loving your body or your emotions. Self love can be about the badge of honour you wear when people call you by it. Something I truly have and hope to never loose. Once a Tamburello, always a Tamburello! 

Do you love your name? What is it about it that you like? 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

Maybe it was the Spring air or the clocks changing, but I felt a little bit more motivated this month to make some food changes. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t an easy process. There were a few tears. A few arguments. And a lot of indecisiveness from little miss A in my head. However, I managed to make some good process this month. 

Some things have stayed the same, but I have introduced new vegetable based dishes again that I haven’t had in years! Discover what I ate in April below: 

Monday: Asda 25p Stuffing, Sweet Potato Slices, Asparagus and Lighter Mayonnaise - The new food here is the introduction of asparagus, which I can’t get enough of now. 

Tuesday: Homemade Vegetable Shepherds Pie - A completely new meal for me, this was a big bit of progress. Normally I have to be around my mum when she prepares my meals, but because this makes me so nervous I can’t watch her do it. Changing a few of the traditional elements, I mix bulgur wheat, Bistro Vegan Vegetable Gravy, mixed vegetables, extra peas and a topping of butternut squash together to make this. I am a bit savage once cooked as well, as I like to add ketchup on top! I am so proud of myself for being able to enjoy a meal I used to love so much when I was little. Even with all the changes! 

Wednesday: New York Bakery Plain Bagel with Tesco’s Set Honey, Apple and Haribo Sweets - The new element here was a change in the sweets, as I found some Easter themed Haribo eggs in Poundland to test. 

Thursday: Roasted Cauliflower, Tiny Carrots and Sugarsnap Peas in a Bake in a Bag spice mix - I have been trying different brands of bake in a bag mixes. The first one was sooo hot, so I have been going for the sweeter kind over the past few weeks. 

Friday: New York Bakery Cinnamon and Raisin Bagel with Aldi Apricot Conserve, Apple and a Biscuit - Nothing new on this day at the moment. 

Saturday: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding or Stove Top Irish Porridge with Honey - I have been trying to mix up the two, as I love them both. It is my cosy Saturday night delight, whichever one I pick, due to the oozy honey on top. 

Sunday: Sliced Potato and Broccoli with Bisto Vegan Vegetable Gravy - With the introduction of the new gravy, I have been adding it to this meal now. Plus, I have been trying different potatoes too. Red ones are actually the best so far. 

What have you been enjoying during April? Let me know your latest food finds! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

A very Happy Easter to you all! I hope that whatever you are doing today is calming, relaxing and full of festive cheer! I’m sure lots of chocolate will be involved as well! 

If you are like me and struggle with celebrations like these and the food surrounding them, I wanted to also say that I am here for you. I understand. We will get though these next few days. If you need someone then please do reach out. Even if it is to me. 

Today is a time to celebrate and we must go forth and do so! With Easter eggs filled with chocolate, lots of hot cross buns and crazy egg and spoon races. Come on, it’s time to make the Easter bunny proud.

Hope you all have a magical Easter lovelies! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

Easter is finally upon us and with it comes lots of excitement and lots of chocolate! Whilst many of us will be delving into those incredible hollow eggs that have been capturing our attentions for months now, you may be seeking something more. Some Easter cookies perhaps? 

Super simple, quick and easy to make, these Mini Egg filled chocolate spread based bakes, will fill your home with even more chocolate goodness. Let the baking commence…

Ingredients

150g or One Cup of Plain Flour

240g or One Cup of Chocolate Spread

One Large Egg

One Pack of Mini Eggs

Tools

Two Baking Trays

Greaseproof Paper

Large Mixing Bowl

Two Tablespoons 

A Fork

Cooling Rack

Method

Start by preheating your oven to 150(C). Then grease and line the two baking trays with greaseproof paper and place to one side. 

In a large mixing bowl, add all of the ingredients together and mix until a dough is formed and fully combined.

Either using your hands or a tablespoon, roll out the mixture into balls of the same size and place onto the trays. 

Carefully use a fork to press down onto the cookies to form their shape. Then place the Mini Eggs on top of each cookie, pressing gentle to make sure they are secure within the mixture.

Place into the oven and cook for eight minutes. Do not let them cook any longer, as they will loose their chewy texture.

Once baked, remove from the oven and leave on the trays for five minutes. Then place them on a cooling rack to cool completely or enjoy whilst warm. 

What is your favourite Easter chocolate? What eggs did you get? Let me know! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

Many of you know that when it comes to trying to change up my diet, I find it really hard. However, this month I have managed to make a few changes. My anorexia hated me for it, I was really body conscious because of them, but I did it. And I am proud of myself for doing so. 

Not a lot of changes were made, but the small additions were important to me and my family. This is something I am definitely trying to think about more. Not punishing myself for not changing a meal, but celebrating the little wins. Slow and steady definitely won the race in March with this meal plan…

Monday: Sweet Potato, Brussels Sprouts, Asda Essentials Stuffing and Hellman’s Mayonnaise -This has been a bit of a regular meal for me, but I love it. The stuffing changes a bit from time to time, but this 25p bargain find is lush and I am really liking it. Plus, I have changed brands of mayonnaise, after the Aldi one went missing for a while. This was a big step for me. 

Tuesday: A Slow Cooker Meal - During the week, I have taken to making a slow cooker meal. This has been shared with my mum very often. Something I wanted to work on doing more of. From rice pudding, vegetable risottos and stews, we have enjoyed a few creative dishes on a Tuesday now. 

Wednesday: A New York Bakery Plain Bagel with Tesco Set Honey, an Apple and Haribo Sweets - To me, this meal is a bit like a school lunch box dinner and it has become one of my favourites. Over the past few weeks, I have tried lots of different set honeys on the bagels, as the Aldi one has disappeared. This is my favourite one of all the supermarket own brands. I’ve also introduced apples back into my life. God I love them so much! I have missed them a lot! I smear a bit of honey on top of them too. As for the Haribo sweets, the addition of one of the little bags I had at Christmas for my advent calendar are lovely. 

Thursday: Cauliflower and Vegetables Bake In A Bag Dish - This is the biggest change to my normal meals. I used to have these a lot, but I got scared of having them and so cut them out. After talking to my mum about wanting to try them again, she has been helping me prepare and enjoy them for the past few weeks. Using the spiced bake in a bags from the supermarkets, we put in a whole cauliflower each and mix up the vegetables every week to try something new. This has widened the vegetables I am having again, including carrots, sugar snap peas and more. I’m so proud of myself for this big change. 

Friday: A New York Bakery Cinnamon and Raisin Bagel with Aldi Apricot Conserve, an Apple and a Go Ahead Fruit Slices Biscuit - Another lunch box type meal, I really love this one too. Cinnamon and raisin bagels are the best in my opinion and no one does them like the New York Bakery ones. Topped with a new conserve I have found from Aldi, I have been braving the apricot flavour this past month. So flavoursome and tasty, I adore it. Again I slice up an apple to go with it and add the conserve to the top of that too. I then add in a Go Ahead Fruit Slices biscuit to finish it off. My favourite kind are the apple ones, but I do love the forest fruit kind as well! 

Saturday: Porridge with Honey - You must all know by now how much I love honey! If it says Rowse on the bottle, I probably have it in my home. Saturday nights are still big bowls of porridge night in my house. I love it thick and chunky, then topped with honey, often the Rowse Dark and Rich kind, which I honestly buy a bottle of every week. The honey is also a great topping for rice pudding too! Watching it run around the bowl is glorious. 

Sunday: Potato and Broccoli Bake with Marigold Vegetable Gravy: Another new addition to my meals is the introduction of gravy. Whilst I don’t feel comfortable having a Sunday roast, I feel like I am having my own version with this bake. My mum preps this for me and I have been loving it since I started enjoying it again at the start of March.

I’ve definitely found March to be the month that I have added in a lot more vegetables. And I’m loving it! It’s made me excited for the spring and summer salads that my mum makes, as I would really like to conquer them this year. She always makes lovely potato ones and I’m hoping to join her in enjoying them. 

What new foods or meals did you try in March? What is your ultimate comfort food lovely? Whatever you enjoyed, I hope that you have it again and again! Now pass me the honey! 

Joey X