As we head into a new month, we are turning back the clock again on the blog, with our nostalgic Time Machine! To celebrate her new album, Beltane, coming out at the end of October and the first song from it having been released already, I spoke to musician and actress Liana Cornell all about her favourite blasts from her music filled past!
LatestFreeStuff is the website of dreams, as it helps us discover the latest pieces that we can all get our hands on. To celebrate their incredible deals, I asked their social media legend Daisy to come and take a trip in our time machine! And she absolutely delivered! Come and discover everything there is to know about her and the freebies website here!
It’s that time again to celebrate all the best things from the past, as we step inside my time machine! This month, I am celebrating the wonderful memories that the incredible Scottish author Julie Shackman has to share with us! And boy, does she have some good nostalgic moments that you will all love reading about! Discover the wonders of her childhood here!
Only a matter of days ago, it seemed like the month of June started. However, as it draws to a close, I have fired up the time machine to head on an exciting journey with the incredible children’s author, Jane Huddleston! Prepare to be reminded of some of the best things that ever happened to us, whilst falling in love with some dragons!
Oh who remembers the good old days of pink custard on classic school cake? Gillian Harvey does! The world famous author has kindly stepped into my time machine this month to transport us back to when Neighbours wasn’t an Emmy nominated show and the sponge was the highlight of any school day! Get ready to travel to a better time and place here!
Disney is well known for being full of Easter eggs in their films, however, I have an even better one to give to you all right now! Running a super successful YouTube and podcast series, Chris from 37 Disney Street, took a trip down our Main Street memory lane to discuss everything from his childhood. Enjoy this magical step back in time right here…
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,
About a month ago, I stated that I wanted to bring my love of all things nostalgic to the blog, whilst promoting local businesses or creators. For me, there is nothing better than the 90s and early noughties. To me they were a time of pure wonder and joy!
Today marks the official start of the new series, which I will be bringing to you all at the end of each month. To start the big event off, I asked my wonderful friend Sarah Cook, who wrote and released her first book, Diary of Murders, last summer!
It’s absolutely brilliant and topping the charts all over the world. Honestly, I couldn’t recommend it enough. It’s dark, devilishly raunchy and gripping! You will finish it in one sitting. So, what better guest to start us all off with. It’s time to step into my new time machine and find out all about Sarah’s favourite nostalgic moments and items…
Let’s begin by letting you introduce yourself to us? Tell us your name, age and the year you were born!
Hi I am Sarah Cook, I am 34, and I was born in 1989
Now, let’s step back in time! What year would you love to go back to and relive all over again?
Oh my gosh, a year in my life? That is tricky! Is it too gauche to say 2023? I published my book and it was just a really special year.
Okay, now picture this, you have started school and it’s lunchtime! What foods do you always associate with either your packed lunch or canteen?
Dairylea Dunkers, cheese sandwiches, orange juice, and Frubes!
You’ve got to go into your last lesson of the day! What are you hoping it will be and why?
I really liked Maths. I liked solving equations and figuring it out.
Schools over, you have rushed home to watch TV. What is it you are turning on? Why this show in particular?
Fun House! Omg I loved that show..it was so much fun. It was just a fulfilled game show with the most absolute rocking theme tune.. I remember once I got grounded, and I wasn't allowed to watch it, and I could hear my old sister listening to it and I was DEVASTATED!!!
You’ve reached the weekend and you’re going to the cinema! What film do you remember seeing the most when you were younger or associate with your childhood? Why is this one such a classic to you?
Hook. Apparently it was my first film ever in the cinema but I can't remember BUT it is the film I associate most with my childhood. It is just a great magical story and never growing up with Robin Williams, it is incredible and even now it makes me emotional. Though I think as an adult it hits different.
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?
Omg a number of ones. I can remember wanting trolls and barbies because my older sister wanted one. I was definitely heavily invested in tamagotchi craze and i got so many ha ha ha..I was obsessed with them.
Is there anything you still own from your childhood that you simply cannot bear to part with?
Oooomph probably not. I moved around a lot when I was a teenager so I don't remember bringing a lot of stuff around.
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?
Princess Diana dying. Even as a child, I remember that being a huge thing. It took over TVs and everything. It was such a tragedy.
Finally, would you go back and do your childhood all over again or would you change it? And how much has it impacted you as an adult and what you do now?
I would change it. Lots of personal reasons why but a huge decision at like 11 impacted my whole life and I'd go back and see what the other route was like. I guess.
To read more about Sarah and to find out about her book and where to buy it from, head to her website now lovelies! See you next month for another time travelling treat!
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
It’s not everyday that you get the chance to speak to the cast of Geordie Shore! With some of the biggest names in British reality TV reuniting for another series, cast members James, Sophie, Nathan and Holly, spoke to me about what we can expect from them in the new series, plus I got a little exclusive from James, which is very exciting!
The crew also had a bit of fun with a quick fire round that will leave you a little bit shocked to begin with! However, all four of them were lovely and as funny as always. So, sit back and enjoy this exclusive little chat, before heading over to Paramount+ and MTV to watch the new series. It’s going to be a wild one…
Season 24 of the show is on MTV and Paramount+ now lovelies, so make sure to catch up on all the latest happenings to find out what everyone is talking about if you haven’t! It’s true Geordie goodness!
Joey X
Marnie Simpson and Chantelle Connelly Talk To The Blog About All Star Shore Series Two!
All Star Shore 00:00:00
Good Morning Lovelies,
For years, I have adored Jersey Shore! I love everything about it, especially the stars within it. So, when I heard that a few of them would be uniting with the stars of Shore’s around the world in the second series of All Star Shore, I was invested!
With Vinny from Jersey Shore taking part and many other familiar faces, I spoke to two big names from Geordie Shore about their experiences. Marnie Simpson and Chantelle Connelly tell us everything we need to know about their time on the show and what we might all be playing this Christmas…
Firstly, what was it about All Star Shore that made you want to appear on the second season?
Marnie: It was just so different for me to what I’ve ever done before.
Chantelle: For me it was just to get my foot back in the door! It was opening another door for us, [so] it would be stupid not to. I’m a single parent, it opens doors. And it looked amazing! I watched clips and it looked so fun, it would [have been] stupid not to take that. And it was in Colombia, see a different part of the world, why wouldn’t you? You’d be mad not to.
Can you tell us any secrets or things we should look out for on the show that may surprise viewers?
Chantelle: Fake bitches!
Marnie: Yeah!
Chantelle: Fake, snaky, slimy, slithering, little snaky bitches.
The show was set in Colombia, did you get the chance to explore it whilst there? If so, would you want to take your fellow show mates there for a vacation series?
Chantelle: Yeah we got to see bits of it, like Cartagena, so beautiful. We’ve actually all arranged, with the ones we got on with, to meet up in Tulum in Mexico! We thought the show was airing earlier, so we were going to meet up last month. We had all arranged to go to Tulum and meet up with Isa and Xavi, but we couldn’t really do it.
Marnie: We actually were gonna meet up, but maybe in the New Year we will, won’t we Chantelle?
Chantelle: One million percent. We were all up for it, but again, we couldn’t be seen together, or have snaps with each other, so it has to be when the show has aired. If it had been out by now we probably would have met and done Tulum, but they’re definitely people I would love to see again. Friends for life, absolutely, will never forget them!
The competition can get quite intense! Was there any moments where you were really proud of yourself for how you handled a situation?
Marnie: There were a few incidents in there where I was being accused of different things. That was really hard because I’ve never had that happen to us before and I was really proud of the way that I handled it and I just kept my cool. And I feel like some people in there would try to get certain reactions from you by antagonising you and I feel like we did a really job not to fall for it.
Chantelle: Marnie, a proud moment [for me was seeing] how much you’re so hard on yourself at tasks, and [yet] you absolutely smashed them all. She put her head down so much, she had achieved so much, every task she absolutely killed it, but yet you put yourself down constantly about it.
Marnie: I did always put myself down! Chantelle would always bigs us up and I would always be so negative about myself, but it was a proud moment, especially as I got further into the competition [by] how well I was doing! I was just so proud!
You are away from your family for a long time. How did you find being away from them?
Chantelle: I missed my little boy, of course she missed her kids. I missed my little boy, but again, we’re parents and we just tried to keep focusing. There were days we’d be a little bit upset and really missing the kids, but because we were that busy, it was non-stop, we kinda just enjoyed the moment.
Marnie: Yeah, if you were going to take a break, it was the best type because we learned so much. We had the best experience, it was just nice to take some time for us. Obviously, we’re full-time parents normally, so it was nice to take some time out for us.
Many of us have a favourite location based version of the show! I am a big fan of Jersey Shore! Which series would you have liked to have been on if you hadn’t been in yours? For example, Jersey or Rio etc.
Marnie: Definitely Acapulco.
Chantelle: Jersey, or Acapulco with Xavi and Isa.
Christmas is coming up, which means party season! What game from the show do you think people should or could recreate this year at home to have some fun?
Marnie: What was that game, there was a lot of drinking games, but the one you could recreate would probably be –
Chantelle: The card game?
Marnie: Yeah, or the coin.
Chantelle: Or the coin game yeah, so hard! Easy, but so hard.
Marnie: The games were amazing weren’t they?
Finally, I wanted to end on a quick fire round. Answer with your favourites out of…
Jersey or Geordie Shore
Chantelle: Geordie
Marnie: Geordie
Vinny or Angelina
Marnie: Angelina
Chantelle: Yeah
Newcastle or Colombia
Marnie: Newcastle
Chantelle: Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle!
Pandebonos or Stotties
Chantelle: Stotties from Greggs, you’ve got to say Stotties, you’re a Geordie
Marnie: Stotties!
Guaro or Newcastle Brown Ale
Marnie: I’m gonna go the Guaro, because it just sounds more exotic.
Chantelle: I’m gonna go Brown Ale coz I’m a Geordie, I gotta stick to my roots.
You can catch the new series of All Star Shore now lovelies on MTV and Paramount+ every Monday at 10pm! Will you be watching to see who wins?
Joey X