Let's Start With This One...

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Last month, I introduced the new series, Joey T’s Memory Lane, highlighting small brands and businesses, as the creators and myself take a trip back in time. With love still in the air, I wanted this month’s feature to be someone whose work I absolutely adore. And I’ve found the perfect person! 

After spotting her prints, designs and gorgeous creativity on Instagram, I asked designer Holly Murray if she would be the star this February and she kindly agreed. Creating digital illustrations and custom designs, Holly features daily posts, which are full of positivity, fun and relatable content. The colours and patterns burst off the screen! 

If you are following me then you will often see her posts shared onto my stories because I love her content so much. It’s been so good to read her daily messages for my mental health that I can’t help sharing the positivity with you all. And Holly is just as lovely and positive in this interview and real life too! There so, it’s time to step into our nostalgic time machine to find out a bit more about her…

Let’s begin by letting you introduce yourself to us? Tell us your name, age and the year you were born…

My name is Holly, I'm 32, and I was born in 1991!

Now, let’s step back in time! What year would you love to go back to and relive all over again?

2007. I was 15 and it was the year I really first gained a sense of freedom I think - I got my first boyfriend too. After school and school holidays consisted of cycling with my bff to meet up with friends, at the beach, just hanging out, no responsibilities, not a care in the world, just having the best time of our lives! Everything just felt new and exciting and life was good. Best music too! 😍

Okay, now picture this, you are at school and it’s lunchtime! What foods do you always associate with either your packed lunch or canteen?

Apples. I never ate from the school canteen, always a packed lunch, and for some reason all I associate with my packed lunches are apples! Green golden delicious ones were my fave! 😅 Primary school lunch time memory - I'm certain I had a blue lunch box with a hippo on but I could be wrong 😅 Yoghurt bursting open in those was the worst!

You’ve got to go into your last lesson of the day! What are you hoping it will be and why?

Double art - fave subject, and I even remember it was on a Tuesday at the end of the day! 

Schools over, you have rushed home to watch TV. What are you turning on? Why this show in particular?

One show I remember being excited to get home and watch was Lost when that was on! I remember my parents recorded it on a video, the night before, then we had to rewind it etc, so old school! Younger than that, me and my sis were Nickelodeon kids! 

You’ve reached the weekend and you’re going to the cinema! What film do you remember seeing the most when you were younger? Why is this one such a classic to you?

When I was a teenager and the first Mamma Mia came out - that was a bit of me, that became my happy dvd that I'd watch all the time! Younger than that some personal faves were Toy story, Aladdin, Beauty and the beast, The Little Mermaid!

You are back home and it’s time to play with your toys! What was the toy you most wanted when you were younger and why? Did you get it in the end?

I think the Woody and Buzz from Toy Story my parents got me and my sis when we were younger were a pretty big deal. We always talk about our Sky Dancers too! And we loved a Polly Pocket.

Is there anything you still own from your childhood that you simply cannot bear to part with?

Still have that Woody toy and don't think I'll ever get rid of him! He has a red felt pen stain on his chest, he looks like he's been shot 😅 I also have Scat, a grey TY beanie baby cat that I won't get rid of, with glittery nail varnish painted on his tail. Oh and a dog Tamagotchi too.

What moment in history do you think defined or stayed with you from your childhood? Can you explain why this left such a mark on you?

There's definitely a sad one that's made me the anxious person I am today. But keeping it light - my childhood best friend coming in to my life when I was 8 or 9 was a massive positive game changer for me. I'd never felt like I'd had a friend properly until I met her, we just vibed! And she made me feel like I could be the version of me I wanted to be! 

Finally, would you go back and do your childhood all over again? Would you change anything about it? And how much has it impacted you as an adult and what you do now?

I had a pretty perfect childhood I'd say, I really can't complain. My parents are the best. My sister is the best. And the impact it has had is that I'm so happy and grateful for where I am now. So I wouldn't redo it. However - if I could have it all on video to watch and relive in that sense whenever I wanted - yes that I would do ❤️

Holly is honestly such a kind, caring person, who goes out of her way to share the designs and prints that people long for. Head to her Instagram lovelies to discover all of her content and the ways to get in touch with her. She will help you as much as she can, whilst you help support a brilliant small business! One that will always brighten your day! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

As we approach the start of March, we only have a little amount of time to go until Easter is upon us. Therefore, it only seemed right to get baking a festive tradition early enough to perfect them in time for the big event. 

Hot Cross Buns are said to have originated in St Albans in Hertfordshire, the place I am from (Hertfordshire not St Albans), which makes them super special to me. I grew up having them and now bake them for the family. Using this super simple, no rest needed, recipe. I hope you all enjoy these delicious buns lovelies…

Ingredients

Three Cups of Plain Flour

One Packet of Instant Yeast

1/4 Cup of Granulated Sugar 

One Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon 

1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Nutmeg 

1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Cloves

1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

One Cup of Warm Milk 

1/4 Cup of Melted Butter

One Egg

1/2 Cup of Raisins/Currants

For The Cross:

1/4 Cup of Plain Flour 

Three/Four Tablespoons of Water

For The Glaze:

2 Tablespoons of Apricot Jam

1 Tablespoon of Water

Tools

Baking Tray

Greaseproof Paper

Teaspoon

Mixing Spoon

Two Large Mixing Bowls

Piping Bag

Scissors 

Two Small Mixing Bowls

Pastry Brush

Methods

Start by preheating your oven to 190°C. Then line your baking tray with grease proof paper. Place to one side. 

Next, take a large mixing bowl and add in your flour, yeast, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Leave to one side. 

Take another mixing bowl and mix together the milk, butter and egg, before adding the wet ingredients to the dry. Stir together to form a dough. 

Once the dough has formed, add in the raisins or currants and knead until well blended into it. 

Taking the dough, separate the mixture into 12 equal balls and place onto your baking sheet. Again, place to one side. 

In the small mixing bowl, place the flour and water ingredients for the cross shapes together and mix until a paste forms. 

Pour the paste mixture into a piping bag or plastic bag and snip a small hole into the tip of it. Pipe a cross over the top of each bun. 

When ready, place into the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown and cooked throughout.

As the buns cook, take the jam and water and heat together in the microwave in short bursts until melted and combined. 

Once the buns are out of the oven, quickly brush the tips whilst they are still warm with the sticky glaze. Serve right away or store for around a week! 

What do you like in your hot cross buns? I used to love lots of butter, as does my mum. However, I hear chocolate spread is a winner too! What ever you eat these buns with, I hope you enjoy them endlessly this Easter season! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

With only a few weeks to go until it is Mother’s Day, there is not a better time than now to start preparing! Starting with the most perfect chocolates to present your mum with! 

Whitakers Chocolates kindly gifted me a number to try in the lead up to the big day, so I had to gift them to my mum to trial them for me, seeing as they are designed for people like her. Arriving in a big brown box, we found a huge tub of pink foiled mini heart chocolates in a plastic tub, a Mother’s Day chocolate bar and a very fancy chocolate truffles selection box. All of which got my mum very excited. 

We decided to start with the chocolate bar to begin the trial. Wrapped in a beautiful floral designed paper, the bar has Happy Mother’s Day written on it, giving it a personal touch that my mum was really appreciative of. Unwrapping the foil coating, the bar was squared off, making it easier to break off a piece. Even after it had been in the fridge for a while, as my mum prefers her chocolate super cold. 

Instantly, my mum told me that it was silky smooth, melting away in her mouth easily. So much so that she had to go back for another bite. Before long most of the bar was gone, which was a very good sign. However, my mum decided to hold back to give the mini pink heart chocolates a go. 

Again, these had been placed in the fridge, yet my mum found the exact same thing as the bar. It oozed gorgeously flavoured chocolate upon touching her tongue. It melted perfectly and my mum stated that the mini hearts would be great on top of brownies or a hot chocolate. 

Something I really liked about the hearts was the amount of them. For me, they would be perfect to make little presents for all the amazing mothers you know or even as Easter egg hunt alternatives. There was so many of them that we did give them out to other people in fact. All of whom loved them too. 

Finally, we moved onto the luxury assorted chocolate truffles box. Filled with milk, dark and white based truffles that come in a mix of flavours including rum, rooftop caramel and many more, there was a taste for everyone. We waited to enjoy these later in the evening and when I say that they were the best delight to have on a cosy night in its true. My mum did not want to share them, tucking into the box as she watched Call The Midwife. 

Matching the wonderful Mother’s Day bar, the team have also made a great milk chocolate slab to enjoy at Easter. Beautifully decorated, these would be perfect placed onto plates as a gift on the big day. That’s if you can bear to part with them. 

Ultimately, the chocolates were a huge success and I couldn’t recommend them enough. If you are looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift then Whitakers is the place to go. With so much to offer, head to their website to find the best present for your mum or the mother figure in your life! I promise you that you won’t be disappointed, as they will be picking you as their favourite child for years to come! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Today marks the start of Eating Disorders Awareness Week. As many of you know, I suffer from severe anorexia. It started around ten years ago and has ruled my life ever since. However, I continue to try and fight it as much as I can. 

With other illnesses on top of it, every single day is hard, however, I want to be here with my family, to enjoy life again, which is why I keep going. Even when I have a Wobbly Wednesday or a Sad Sunday, as we call them, I try to be kind to myself. That dickhead voice in our brains can’t take all of our joy. It can’t win. 

Since my diagnosis, I have been very open and honest about the way the illness has impacted my life. Through early discussions about therapy to talking about my time in hospital, I have used my voice to tell you all about it. I do this because I want to help. If one person reads what I ramble on about and gets help then it is worth it. 

I also talk about my illness, as I want to help those suffering to know that the little things can make a whole difference to your day. Take just five minutes, breathe and do something you want to do and not the illness. It will make you feel better, even if it is only a tiny amount. 

To mark this week, I wanted to share some more of those little moments with you all. The things I do when the voice, panicking and sadness becomes a bit too much. I hope that even just one of the following suggestions can help you lovelies…

Hug Someone: The power of a hug off someone you love is incredible. In our house, I often suffer from Wobbly Wednesdays and Sad Sundays. This is normally due to me having bigger meals on Tuesdays and Saturdays, when I like to try new foods or have a good bowl of something hearty. My head becomes a knob the days after though. Often I find myself unable to even look down at my body on the days mentioned above. This is where my mum steps in. Her hugs could cure all wars. She is the best carer and hug giver ever. As soon as she wraps her arms around me, I feel safe. I’m not a massive fan of being touched, however, I do strongly believe that no matter how you are feeling, a hug is the best form of medicine.

Pamper Yourself: Believe me when I say that I know this can be tough. I am not a fan of a mirror. Place me in front of one and I can find a whole load of faults in very little time. Yet, there is a lot that can be said for having mini pamper sessions. In my house, these include cleaning my teeth properly, washing and looking after my hair, sorting out any pimples, micro-blading my face and eyebrows and exfoliating my body. Little actions that take no time at all but make me feel human. When you don’t have a lot of appreciation for your body it can be hard to care for it, however, these little steps can go a long way in making you love it again. 

Do Something Creative: I’ve always loved to be creative. I like to put my hands and head to use and make something. Whether it be a pom pom or a blog post, I try to distract the racing thoughts in my mind by doing something. Currently, I am very into diamond art, as slotting the little gems into place makes me focus all my attention on that and not the voices. Find something you can do that will distract you. Counting coins, painting by numbers, reading a book, the possibilities are endless.

Meal Plan or Prep: Since I came home from hospital, I have used a whiteboard in our kitchen to highlight to myself and my mum what I am going to eat that week. By doing this, I can slowly adapt and get my head around any new foods or meals I wish to try. My mum can also be prepared, knowing what we need to buy and how she is going to make my meals. It’s made my life a whole lot easier and whilst it doesn’t differ in choice a lot of the time, when it does I feel proud. 

Rest or Take A Break: Something I have been aiming to do is rest more this year. Before the start of 2024, it wasn’t an odd thing for me to be up way past midnight, allowing myself only a few hours to sleep, before I was back up at 4:45am. Since January, I have now been going to sleep at around 10:30pm every night, giving me more time to rest my body. I didn’t realise how much I needed to do this until I started doing so. I know how had it can be to just rest though, as my brain likes to tell me I am lazy and should be doing stuff all the time, however, by taking those few hours back, my body is very thankful. I am sure yours will be too lovelies.

If you need help with an eating disorder or believe that you may have one, please do speak to someone lovelies! I was told a long time ago that I would never fully heal from my illness, however, by talking to people about it, I feel better, especially on my down days. Today, when I write this, it is a Sad Sunday for me, however, writing this has spurred me to keep going forward. 

Please remember this week, and beyond, that you are important and the illness is not you! You are kind. You are smart. You are worth every fragment of this earth. And as I have always said from the start of my journey, “Slow and Steady Wins The Race!” 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Every month, I am trying to prepare for the big day, which will be here in just ten months time! Christmas will always be the winner of the festive calendar for me, so being prepared and planning for it is really helping to keep the joy alive.

In February, I have already made a big step in being prepared for the holidays, whilst saving a ton of money. Here are a few things I have done to get ready for Christmas 2024…

Marked in my diary when the train slots should be released first Christmas 2024. Booking earlier allows for the best prices to be found. As well as the best seats! 

I have created a box which has everything we need in it for the big feast on Christmas Day. Hopefully, we will be away for it this year, with plans to go to my brothers. However, this doesn’t mean that we haven’t started getting the dinner table prep sorted still. In our box to take to his, we have brought crackers for 19p a box, packed table cloths, napkins and paper plates we never used in it to use this year and sourced Yankee Candles to place around the dining room for only £1.80. 

The 2024 Christmas dinner has already begun being prepared. For just £4, my mum got a turkey in the sales. She will be having that when we return from my brothers, storing it away safely in the freezer until then. 

Our big toy donations have already begun being prepared. This year, we are going to be making the items instead of buying them to help cutdown on costs. The idea we have come up with is really lovely I feel. I’ll reveal more nearer the time. 

I feel like we have been really productive this year so far in preparing for the big day. I’m actually wishing away the next 10 months to get there aha! Have you already started planning Christmas? What have you done to help get ready? 

Joey X