Christmas may still be 10 months away, however, that hasn’t stopped me from going all in on planning for it already! With so much to prepare for the best day of the year, you can never start the celebrations too early in my eyes! Find out what I did throughout January to get ready for the big event I'm so excited for here!
Anyone else felt like staying in and watching TV all day to beat the cold weather? Having been sick at the start of the year and needing a lot of comfort shows to get through it, I spent a lot of time watching some feel good features. Plus, a number of new thrills! Find out what lit up my January TV screen here!
Last year, I shared with you the work I do all year round to get ready for Christmas and I am so grateful that so many of you liked it! Therefore, I have decided to bring it back for 2026! Having made big plans for this year’s festivities already, December 2026 is already looking like it is going to be an exciting one!
With Christmas now over, the need to get comfy is essential! As we return to work, school and even our epic worldly adventures, we will all be wrapping up warm to beat the winter elements! A fact that the incredible brand Sherpa knows about, as they have created the most perfect set of fleeces to help us stay as toasty as humanly possible!
Books are the perfect medicine when it comes to getting through the cold days that January brings! It is time to snuggle up with a warming cup of tea, some leftover festive biscuits and snacks and a good blanket and enjoy these new worlds that I have collected for you all at Hertford Library! Find out what I have chosen for you here!
And just like that January 2025 is over! Whilst I am still morning the loss of our Christmas decorations, there have been many moments that are now some of my favourites. Whether it be regular podcasts or new beauty finds I’ve loved a lot in January! Discover what I absolutely adored about the first few weeks of the new year right here lovelies!
From booking my dream trip to sleeping in, I have found that the past month has brought with it a number of better life choices! Entering my fuck it I’m turning thirty era, I wanted to share to celebrate the little ways I have made my life better each month on the blog! Find out what made me happy this January right here!
Get ready because the jam is back! You know I love finding new ones and this month I found a great low sugar option, plus many more new foods and drinks to try! Discover what I have been enjoying throughout the last month right here lovelies, before heading to the supermarket to pick and try them out for yourselves!
Feeling like you haven’t had the greatest January? Don’t worry, I haven’t either! And that is completely okay lovelies! We have eleven more months to get through this year! Ones we can make lots better! Especially when we all come together to celebrate our highs and lows! Find out why it is okay to not have had the best start to the year here!
Reading is something that this year I want to do more of, whilst not worrying about what people think about the books I pick up! Reading is a fun and essential part of learning, so picking up any kind of book is good for everyone, whether they are young or old! Find out what I have enjoyed reading this month right here lovelies!
If my head isn’t in a book then you can be sure that it will be busy watching the latest TV releases! January is the best time to settle down with a cosy series that is easy to binge and luckily there have been plenty this month. Many that have hooked me in! Here are my top five must watch shows from January 2025!
The New Year is finally here and I am so thankful to all of you for taking some time out of the first day of the new year to pop on here! You are a real bunch of superheroes and I am so grateful to all of you who click and read these pages! I wish you all the most incredible 2025 ever!
Good Morning Lovelies,
January can often be a bleak month but having gone into 2024 with a fresh head, I feel like it is going to be a good year. Especially if it has such amazing things or happenings in it as January did.
I won’t lie it was quite hard to pick some of my favourites. But here are just a few lovelies…
My Favourite Read - A Nursery Rhyme for Every Night of the Year by Allie Esiri: I love Allie’s books. For the past few years, I have enjoyed her poems a day books. This year,I’m delving back into nursery rhymes. It’s so interesting to discover the ones from my childhood again. Plus, the book also includes how they came to be, which has been super interesting.
My Favourite TV Show/Film - Bluey: I’m not afraid to say that I love this show a lot! I think it is really made for adults! Every episode has a message behind it, ones that only adults understand, making it super special and thought provoking! Plus, Bingo is my spirit animal!
My Favourite Food Find - Bonne Marman Peach Conserve: After getting this in my Christmas Day food stocking, I can’t wait to try it by spooning it on to my cereal, stirring it into the warm milk and watching it melt to add some flavour. You can see this has been made with real pieces of fruit. Plus, I imagine the flavour is going to be incredible. Getting this in my stocking was definitely a motivation to try something new.
My Favourite Beauty Item - DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom Perfume: In my Christmas present recapping, I spoke about my love for DKNY perfumes after my dad got me one before he passed away. My neighbour, Casey, brought me this one and it has become a staple in my every day beauty routine. The smell is making me excited for all the spring flowers.
My Favourite Podcast - Parenting Hell: I think it was the Christmas recapping episodes that did it for me. My love for this podcast grows more and more each week. I love hearing about what has happened to Rob and Josh every time they upload a new one. Although, I’m not sure if I will ever want to be a parent after hearing their stories.
My Favourite Experience - New Year: Oddly, even though it isn’t an experience, I’ve found entering a new year very refreshing. Me and my mum have set about cleaning up and making our house how we want it to be. I’ve started a new diary and just felt happier. My brother got the all clear from skin cancer and we have already started to make plans for next Christmas! I hope 2024 is going to be a good one!
What were some of your favourite things from January lovelies? I would love to know!
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
To me, January is the month to eat up all the festive leftovers. An element that due to my condition I normally don’t get involved in. However, the start of 2024 changed all that. Having got a few bits to eat on the big day, there was a few bits left, so I enjoyed them all over again at different times.
Five of these items, were ones I either received as gifts or brought especially. These five have made my must try list for you lovelies. They are…
Bonne Marman Peach Conserve, £2.60: With gorgeous chunky pieces of sweet peach, this jam is going to be lovely on a plain bagel. Taking me back to summers when I was younger, this conserve reminds me of the peaches my grandad used to grow. I was a little worried about it, due to my asthma becoming a little affected by peach skins, but I’ve found this isn’t to bad it seems.
Tesco Crunchy Cookie Cereal, £1.60: Every Christmas morning, we wake up to a food stocking each in our house. The bits and bobs in them are to be enjoyed on the day or throughout the festive season and beyond. In my stocking this year, I was greeted by these beauties from my childhood. Although I don’t feel comfortable having them as just a bowl of cereal yet, I will be having them as a snack type biscuit instead.
Paxo Chicken & Bacon Flavour Stuffing, £2.65: I had this for the first time on Christmas Day, stuffed into a halved piece of butternut squash. It was truly delicious! With a taste a bit like Frazzles or the bacon bits you used to be able to get for salads in Pizza Hut restaurants, it’s so different to the normal stuffing varieties. Better in some ways!
Sainsbury’s Reduced Sugar Fine Cut Orange Marmalade, £1.05: I’m trying to be a bit more careful with sugar in 2024. Not because I’m going back into bad ED thoughts, but more so to protect my teeth. Still loving my marmalade coated crumpets, this reduced sugar kind is great for helping to cut down on the sweet stuff without losing out on the taste. Plus, there are no chunky bits of peel, which I am so grateful for.
Hartley's 10 Cal Piña Colada Jelly, 85p: For a pudding on Christmas Day, I had a fruit salad topped with this jelly. With a lovely coconut and pineapple taste, it really does have a Piña Colada taste to it. Something that went down perfectly with the fresh melon and grapes also in the bowl. I normally have to be in the mood for a jelly, however, this has reignited my love for them.
What have you all been eating this January lovelies? Have you tried any of the above? Let me know!
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
Anyone else wondering when the spring sunshine will be making an appearance? Don’t get me wrong, I love the rain when snuggled up inside, but when faced with going out, I miss the warmth.
With two health conditions that affect my body a lot when it comes to the cold, I have learnt many ways though to keep warm however. Ways that I wanted to share with you all, in case you were on the look out for some new bits and bobs to help you.
Everyday, you can find me wearing or using the following to help my mind, body and health stay as best as it can be…
Fluffy Socks: Head to Primark lovelies and get yourself a whole host of these socks! I always wear two pairs of socks. Even when I have my slippers on! One pair of ankle socks and then some long fluffy ones on top. My feet, which suffer badly from Raynaud’s, stay toasty warm throughout the cold weather by doing so.
Touch Screen Gloves: I almost always walk around with my hands in my pockets. God I love a pocket! However, in the winter, I protect my hands further with touch screen gloves. These allow me to check my phone without having to suffer from the frosty temperatures. Perfection!
Vitamin D, C and B Capsules: Mostly every day, I take a number of vitamins to help keep my immune system built up. My ED has meant that I am more fragile when it comes to cold and flu season. Taking these vitamins allow me to stay protected. I truly believe that they have stopped me from getting seriously ill since I started them.
A Beanie or Head Scarf: During the warmer months, I like to protect my head from the sun with light head scarfs. In the winter, I protect it further from the cold with a classic beanie. Forget ear muffs or over the top fancy hats. The beanie does it all and doesn’t cost very much at all! Currently, as I write this, I’m wearing a Typo x Friends one. My head has never felt better!
Cosy Sweaters/Cardigans: Winter is all about layering up! Grab a fluffy jumper, sweatshirt or cardigan and wrap up in it. I love a sweatshirt or cardigan best, as they make me feel a little bit fancy. Odd I know, but when something makes you feel good lovelies, go for it!
These probably all seem like quite normal winter essentials lovelies, but I wanted to share them in case someone needed a bit of help finding a new way to stay toasty and cosy this season! Oh, and another little thing lovelies, fluffy PJs for the win!
How do you like to stay cosy during the colder months lovelies?
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
January and February are often the months that most of us pick up a cold of some sort! I’m often the first in our family to get it, with most of my Christmas’ being spent nursing one out of my system. As I write this, it is only nine days until the big day in fact and I’ve treated an ear infection, which led to a congested runny nose. Oh the joys of winter!
Thankfully, I have tried many products and have now found the ones that have really helped me when battling a bug. From lip creams to soothing solutions, the following make me feel a bit more alive when my body screams zombie…
Aldi Pawpaw Ointment, £1.49: Do you ever find that your skin around your nose gets dry due to all the tissues you are using? Snap! This dupe of the famous brand is just as good, helping to return my skin back to normal. I apply it morning and night to help soften my skin again when it takes a battering from tissues and sick bug.
Asda’s Little Angels Vapour Bath, £1: The description on the product says to use this as a kind of bubble bath for your children when they are sick. I like to take it and place it into the corners of my shower. The steam hits it and the vapours come out, helping my blocked sinuses. I also use it as a kind of vapour rub shower gel, applying it to my chest, when I feel wheezing coming on. It clears it up right away.
Tesco’s Chewable Vitamin C, £1: I take two of these mostly every day to help build up my weakened immune system. Since starting them back in 2020, I have seen a very positive outcome. Apart from the odd head cold, I haven’t gotten seriously ill since being on them, which is a very good thing. Plus, with the added easy chewable element, they go down really easily.
Fisherman’s Friends Cherry Lozenges, 79p: Probably the most controversial one on the list. However, hear me out! My dad used these religiously to fight a sore throat and I’ve definitely come to agree with him. Whilst I’m not a big fan of the original taste, I don’t mind the cherry ones and will take one if needed when suffering from a cold or sore throat. They definitely do help hen it comes to breathing better.
EarCalm Spray, £8.79: Since I had my bad fall, I’ve had very bad problems with one of my ears. Often it will get blocked up or make my hearing weaker. Yet, when this happens, I simply use this spray and it heals it completely. My hearing comes back almost automatically. Any infections are gone and the wax buildup is broken down swiftly.
Otrivine Blocked Nose Relief Nasal Spray, £4.59: I use this a lot in the summer, when my hay fever gets bad, however, I have used it during colds and other nostril related problems. Getting to work super quick, I feel better in a matter of moments. I’ve even used it to treat migraines, which truly works in my opinion.
I’ve got a few other products I use which help lovelies. Yet, these are the ones that really make me feel better! Of course, everyone has different bodies, so these may not work for all of us lovelies, but if you discover that one of them does help I a, so glad. Just be prepared for those Fisherman’s Friends if you haven’t had them before aha!
What are some of your best cold busting products?
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
If someone was to ask me if I am an extrovert or an introvert, I would have to say I am probably a bit of an introvert. I tend to get a bit scared meeting new people or being in big gatherings now. Something I think has come from the mental health issues I suffer from. However, there are the odd times when I love being around people.
I adore doing things that bring the whole community together. Especially around the different holidays and seasons. During the Christmas period, I organised a living advent calendar, which introduced me to lots of people on my village. I’ve helped run school events, took part in festivals and fetes. I’ve even travelled around to make friends and meet new people. All of which leading to new connections.
Whether virtual or in real life, I love to make friends. I think that no matter where we are in the world we all need someone. It doesn’t matter what age, race, sexuality or gender, we all need friends. Many of which who end up making up families. It can be hard to make friends as an adult though.
We seem to forget the innocent ways we did it as children. I know I fear going up to new people at times though when I was younger get that was never the case. I wanted to be around people all the time. So, I have taken the decision to try and reproduce those younger years in 2024 by looking back at what I have done to make friends in the past. Gathering five of the biggest helps I have found, I wanted to share them with you all…
Find Your Group Online: Whilst many people put social media down, it can be a great tool for making friends. One of the most amazing people I know came from simply chatting online. I’ve reached out on Instagram, the blog, emails and Twitter to make friends. Some I’ve met and others I haven’t, however, it is amazing to know that they are there for me and I them when needed.
Reconnect With Old Friends: After I left sixth form and went to university, I found that I lost touch with many of the close friends I had at school. A lot of them went off to different parts of the country whilst I stayed at home. This made it a little bit difficult to stay in contact, a fact that has left me really sad over the past few years. In 2023, I decided to just message them all. I wanted to extend an olive branch so to speak. Now, we are rebuilding our friendships and I’m so thankful we can do that.
Speak To Anyone and Everyone: I struggled a lot during the worst stages of my depression and ED to connect with anyone. I was so low that I didn’t want to talk to people, even those on checkouts. I lost all emotion and sadly was preparing to die. As I’ve worked hard to get my personality back, I’ve found myself speaking to everyone and anyone about everything. I smile, laugh and interact with them in ways I couldn’t have done four years ago. Of course, I find it hard still a lot of the time, but when I do interact, I find it helps build me and my friendships back up. Next time you are at the checkout try to reach out and make small talk. I’ve found the more I do it the better my ways of making friends gets better.
Neighbours Can Become Good Friends: If you had told me three years ago that we would be as close to one of our neighbours as we are now, I would have called you a liar. Across the road from us, we have an amazing family led by my mum’s new best friend and work wife Casey! She has helped rebuild my mum’s strength in so many ways. Often on a Saturday night or during the week, you will find them chatting away over a cup of tea and biscuits. Simply by talking to each other occasionally, they have grown to be like sisters. Casey and her family are now a massive part of our family. I call her my surrogate sister and my mum’s new daughter. Just a simple reach out to those closest to you can really change your life, definitely for the better.
Organise an Event or Meeting: Always wanted to host an event or an idea you have had in your local area? Do it! By simply taking to Facebook and asking people if they would like to join in has led to many new friends. People have spoken to me more and my confidence has grown from it. By running the advent calendar, I saw and praised the creative people around me. Heading into my old primary school to host a plate competition, I got to connect with teachers and the children to help celebrate their talents. I’ve showcased local businesses and helped when I can. By doing this, everyone has had the chance to meet and connect with new people. Even if you don’t make a new friend, you might help someone else do so. A fact that is very very rewarding.
Believe me, I know how hard it can be to make new friends or connections. As I said, I still struggle with it daily. Yet, by following the above steps,it has got easier. I can see the old me coming back and I love that. I love knowing that I have a support network and so does my mum on the days we may struggle. 2023 was a very hard and emotional year for us. Our friends and the new connections we made though made it so much better though.
I hope that in 2024 you can make a whole host of new connections lovelies in fun, safe and happy ways! You all truly deserve that special person to make your days better!
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
January is the perfect time to have a clear out. When putting away the new items you got at Christmas, you can do a bit of a sweep at the same time, removing all you no longer need. Our house is currently going through a lot of changes and room makeovers. I’ve never seen my mum gut a house so quickly!
During the whole process, it has made me think about the best ways to clear out your space and restore calm, tidiness and a little bit of peace. Coming up with five simple ways to clear out the clutter, you will be loving your home even more by doing the following…
Start With One Thing Each Day: There are 365 days in a year, so not everything needs to be done all at once. Give yourself the task of completing one small thing every day and soon your house and mind will be more relaxed. Remember, Romebwasnt built in a day lovelies!
Be Brutal: When doing a big sort out, the best thing to do is to just be brutal. Really go for it. Think you will never use it again, get rid of it. Don’t actually know why you own it, again get rid. Try and sell new or good condition items and save the money for something else. By being brutal your home is cleared and your pockets could be filled.
Think About How Much You Have Used It: As mentioned above, when you aren’t sure if you will use a product, really think about its importance in your life. How many times have you used it before? Now you’ve discovered it again, will you use it more? If you are uncertain then it is probably certain you won’t use it again. That means it is time to toss it out lovelies.
Hire Services If Needed: If you are doing a huge clear out, hire a skip or removal service. When my mum wanted to clear our back garden, I purchased a skip. It was completely and utterly full by the end of it, as our garden was cleared from top to bottom. Whilst it wasn’t the cheapest of services, it really helped us. Especially when the skip and rubbish were taken away, due to us having no cars to take us to the recycling centre or tip.
Look Online For Inspiration: Pinterest and other places are great at helping to come up with ideas on how we may want a space in our homes. I love looking at YouTube DIY vlogs to see how hard or simple an idea is and then doing it. Well, my mum is more of the DIY person to be honest aha! But honestly, I find the ideas people place online help me a lot when it comes to seeing how throwing or selling old items can transform a room into something better.
Clearing up even the smallest of spaces makes me happy! Honestly, over Christmas, I couldn’t handle the mass of things in my cupboard,hiding from present seekers. Yet, when I had wrapped them up and put them under the tree, I felt so much better.
My first big project this year, which I know is going to be tough, is to clear out my DVD cupboard. Whilst it has been a huge part of my life, there are many films I no longer watch but have kept stored. They take up a lot of room, which could be used for other things. It will be hard and sad, but by making a better storage system, I know it will be for the best. Although, the Disney, Christmas and horror films are going nowhere aha!
What is your next cleaning project lovelies? Let me know!
Joey X