Liked & Loved {June 2025}

*Some of the items mentioned in this post were provided for us to feature however all opinions are my own.

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A few years ago I used to write a monthly Liked & Loved roundup where I would share snippets of the month, things we’ve done, things we’ve enjoyed and anything else that came to mind.

Since my dad died I am really trying to savour the joy in our lives and all the small things that make us happy. It’s nice to look back on and see how much there is to appreciate in life. So I am starting the Liked & Loved series again.

So here are the things we have liked and loved in June:

Father’s Day

I knew that this year Father’s Day was going to be harder for me than it usually is and so I organised a big day in London for Dave, the kids and I. We started off at the Imperial War Museum, somewhere we have never been before. We spent a few hours there are we all enjoyed it. Some of it was hard to see and read about but some parts we loved – like seeing the old vehicles and planes.

We then went for a wander across London to Borough Market, saw some more of the Harry Potter filming locations and Bridget Jones’ flat and then went to the Sky Garden. This was fantastic! Such great views of London, from a perspective we hadn’t experienced before, and it was free!

Little Man then asked if we could go to the Lego shop so we hopped on the tube, went shopping and then walked back to Waterloo via Covent Garden, grabbing Humble Crumble on the way. It was a perfect day.

Xander Kostroma

We were sent some lovely gifts from Xander Kostroma this month. The first was a beautiful amethyst necklace, featuring five amethyst balls on a 14ct gold chain. The balls are all different, having their own natural colours and lines, making each piece unique and lovely to wear.

We were also sent a womens pashmina shawl that will be getting a lot of use on holiday in Dubai over the summer! The scarf is made of 100% linen, making it lovely and soft. It’s such a versatile product that can work alongside any outfit. Plus, Xander Kostroma have pashminas in a wide variety of styles and colours.

The Gym

I have started going to the gym this month and it’s the first time in my life where I have gone to the gym because I am enjoying it and really want to see a difference because of it. I’m not going just because I feel like I should, it’s what everyone seems to be doing etc. And it feels good! I’m in a really good routine, I work day to day life around my morning gym visits and I am working through Couch to 5K as well as rowing and using the weight machines. I’m really enjoying it.

Couch to 5K

I think this is the first time I have done Couch to 5K seriously, with the hope of actually completing it. I am currently on Week 4 and I’m now running in 3 or 5 minute intervals which seemed impossible at the start of the month. At the end of this week I’ll be halfway through the Couch to 5K programme and I’m excited to one day actually run 5K. I’ve never done that before and it now feels like an achievable aim. If you’re looking to start running too, the NHS Couch to 5K app is great – I have Jo Wiley cheering me on!

Preparing for our summer holiday

I am full steam ahead getting things ready for our summer holiday to Dubai. It’s the first country we’ve visited with a dress code outside of our hotel and so I have been organising outfits that cover my knees and shoulders, planning to dress more modestly than I typically would on a beach holiday abroad.

This summer the Cotton Traders new collection is full of surprises, giving people the confidence to crack on with their day and feel great at the same time. One of my favourite new outfits will do just that. A light and airy blouse, floaty kimono to cover up and add an extra layer in the evening and comfortable sandals that I can easily wear through the day and into the evening too. I now cannot wait for our holiday!

Reading

I am reading so much this year and I’ve been trying to read a real mix of books. This month I’ve read The People on Platform 5, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas and the sequel, All the Broken Places, The Alice Network and the eleventh book in the Chesapeake Shores series, The Christmas Bouquet.

The Alice Network was fantastic! Really well researched and informative about both the first and second world wars, with really deep characters and a story that kept me gripped throughout. Well worth a read if you like historical fiction. You can follow me on Goodreads if you want to see more book recommendations as I read them.

Audiobooks

I have also started listening to audiobooks whilst at the gym – and they are life changing! I love a real, physical book so I’ve decided to listen to books that I don’t think I’d ever read as a physical book. I’m getting through about 20% of a book each time I go to the gym so this will really increase the amount I read each year. Plus, I’m listening to audiobooks through our local library service and the Borrow Box app, so it’s free as well!

Perfume

I was sent my first perfume from Dossier to try – Floral Rose. Dossier perfumes are inspired by high end familiar fragrances but at around 70-90% cheaper than the brand name versions. With 20% off and free shipping, it’s worth taking a look if you’re looking for a new scent or running low of your favourite one! You can see the full Dossier range here.

Giving blood

I gave blood this month and it was one of the easiest donations I have had in recent years. I often have low iron levels and am used to be turned away as soon as I arrive at the donation centre but this time it all went smoothly. It was my 23rd donation and I’ve already booked in my next donation. Do you donate? Blood levels are always lower during the summer and the NHS Blood Service would love your donation. Find out more here.

Little Man’s bedroom upgrade

At the start of the month we had a big IKEA delivery and tweaked Little Man’s room. Until now he’d had a little wardrobe that he first got as a toddler. It was time he had more space and better organisation. So we switched his old wardrobe and storage units for a big IKEA PAX wardrobe and Billy Bookcase, making his room work for him as he gets older. That should be the last room update that we ever need to do!

Baking

This month I have really tried to get back into the habit of baking and cooking. It’s something I really enjoy but I find that if I don’t plan things to make when I do the food shop I just don’t think about it. But this month I have started to get into it again – making Bakewell Tart Flapjacks, Treacle Flapjacks and our favourite Banana Nut Muffins that remind us of Florida!

Gardening

Anyone that follows me on Instagram will know how much I’ve loved spending time in the garden recently. I’ve been buying plants from the clearance bins at the garden centre and love seeing them brought back to life. I’ve been trying to make our garden less low maintenance, somewhere inviting to wildlife and somewhere that brings me joy and I have definitely been finding pockets of joy there so far.

Snacks

Because I’ve been going to the gym more, exercising and eating better, I have been looking for healthier snacks to enjoy as well. We were sent a lovely package from Truly Nuts which immediately looked like the perfect snacks for me!

Truly Nuts are the first company to successfully flavour Brazil nuts and have created a fantastic range of nut snacks – with flavoured nuts, mixed nuts and, my favourite, chocolate covered brazils! But, that’s not all, Truly Nuts are doing all they can to be sustainable and to give back as well. They are paying women in their Amazon-based Brazil nut factory 50% higher wages than the minimum wage as well as giving 25% of all their profits from Truly Nuts sales back to the Amazon rainforest plus so much more to help the environment where they source and manufacture their snacks. You can find out more about Truly Nuts over on their website.

And that’s our June. I can’t believe it’s going to be July in just a few days time – and the end of the school year very soon after that. This year is flying by! I hope you’ve had a lovely June as well, full of lots of things to like and love!