And just like that, Christmas is here! Our tree is And just like that, Christmas is here! Our tree is up, the Santa hats are out and the first doors on our advent calendars are open.

I love this time of year. It is my favourite. And it’s one of the few times still full of magic even as an adult. I’m going to be soaking up every minute of joy the next few weeks bring and I hope December is full of moments of joy for you too.

Happy December! 🎄
AD | Christmas has arrived at @thelexiconbracknell AD | Christmas has arrived at @thelexiconbracknell and there’s so much to entertain the whole family whilst you do your Christmas shopping! 

Visit The Lexicon Glow Room for a magical light experience that will dazzle you with 20,000 LEDs. It feels like the room goes on forever! Then, take a dip in the Light Pool, a magical ball pool with golden balls to be found and prizes to be won!

If that wasn’t all, have a photo in the giant Christmas bauble ‘sparkling selfie station’ and follow the Twinkle Trail, spotting baubles in shop windows to collect the clues and enter to win fabulous prizes this Christmas. Plus, share your sparkling selfie station pictures, tagging #thelexiconbracknell or email them to marketing@thelexiconbracknell.com and you will automatically be entered in a competition for the chance to win a restaurant gift card too. 

There are also special performances from local choirs, bands and singers and even the chance to meet Bluey, Hey Duggee and Chase from Paw Patrol! You can be sure that a trip to The Lexicon will have something for everyone over the festive season this year. We loved our visit to The Lexicon last weekend and know we’ll be back again before Christmas!

Find out more on @thelexiconbracknell website.

#TheLexiconBracknell #Merry&Bright
AD - Press Trip | What a lovely evening that was! AD - Press Trip | What a lovely evening that was! We had our first Glow Marwell experience tonight - and we loved it. It may even be the best light trail we have been to.

We spent well over two hours at @marwellzoo, enjoying the light installations, indulging in the food stalls and cafe, toasting marshmallows and even meeting Father Christmas! 

Glow Marwell was such a nice way to kick off the festive season - and it’s on all the way through December! If you’re looking for a really nice festive activity the whole family can enjoy, this could definitely be it!
AD | Are you looking for gifts for the grandparent AD | Are you looking for gifts for the grandparents this year? @famileo_uk is a wonderful gift, giving the recipient a personalised gazette of family news regularly throughout the year - and it costs from just £5.99 a month. 

Multiple family members can use the same subscription, all posting messages to be added to one gazette - and sharing the cost of the subscription too! It’s great for parents, siblings and children to all share their news with grandparents each week, fortnight or month. 

We’ve been sending my dad Family gazettes for a while now and he absolutely loves them. It means we tell him all the little things that are happening and not just the big news you remember to mention in phone calls. The children get to upload their own messages to their grandad and it’s definitely made them feel closer, building a stronger relationship despite living far apart.

Find out more about Family over on the blog - link in bio - and buy a subscription for your nearest and dearest this Christmas. It’s a gift they will definitely love to receive.
Two weeks of Fred & George! I won’t be doing the Two weeks of Fred & George! I won’t be doing these updates every week but I like having somewhere to put all these photos!

They’re now three months old, super loving and happy, making biscuits and purring constantly.

They stay in ‘their’ room overnight but explore the house during the day, getting more confident as time passes. They even got to the point of relaxing on the sofa with us last night.

Fred & George are now very much part of our family and I can’t imagine them not being there now - even at 7am when they’re miaowing at the door for breakfast!
AD | Stuck for screen-free entertainment that your AD | Stuck for screen-free entertainment that your kids will love? Claim your FREE Banjo Robinson activity pack today!
 
Reading for pleasure is a key indicator of a child’s future success, but if your child doesn’t love to read, what can you do? We know it’s not always easy keeping kids entertained and away from screens, so we’ve partnered with the award-winning @banjorobinson to gift you a FREE activity pack, worth £9.99.

Here’s a little look at the Banjo Robinson subscription - Troy loves it! Travelling to world with Banjo is so much fun! You can read our full review over on the blog and claim your free activity pack too - link in profile.
A whole week of Fred & George. We weren’t meant A whole week of Fred & George.

We weren’t meant to get more cats just yet but sometimes the universe sends you things when you don’t expect them.

These little guys needed a home and a family to love them. And we had a home and a lot of love to give. We still miss Leia but this pair are definitely helping make me feel whole again.

They are both used to us now, and love us. They’re less nervous, give us cuddles and let us pick them up. They’re still living in our spare room but starting to explore the rest of the house under supervision. 

They play fight constant. Love toys, especially a crinkly feather thing on a string attached to a stick, and love being up high. They are an awesome pair and we are so glad to have them.

Thank you @millbrook_rspca @rspca_official for trusting us with ‘Lonestar and Starfish’. We could not love them more. 

#catsofinstagram #catstagram #catsofig #catsofinsta #catlovers #adoptdontshop #rspcarescuecat #kittensofinstagram #kittens_of_instagram
[AD - Press Trip] I’ve just finished writing abo [AD - Press Trip] I’ve just finished writing about our half term break at @pottersresort and it’s over on the blog if you want to go have a read.

I wanted to put some of my favourite photos on the grid too as the kids did so many fun activities - they had THE best time. 

Giant swing, segways, climbing, archery, laser clays… there was so much to do that we couldn’t fit it all in - we need another trip!
And there ends our October half term - well, apart And there ends our October half term - well, apart from Troy who has a bonus week off!

This half term has been pretty lovely. Troy had his school residential the first weekend and then we had a really lovely few days in Norfolk before heading home and picking up two new members of our family - Fred and George. 11 week old rescue kittens who have pretty much stolen our hearts.

It’s been so nice to have a chunk of quality time with this pair and now I’m looking forward to the Christmas holidays. These two are the best company and I really do live for the school holidays. 

How has your half term been?
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Books, Magazines, Music, Film and TV, Reviews · January 2, 2020

The Books I Read {2019}

This post contains affiliate links and I may receive commission if you visit a link and buy something. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra, and I only recommend products and services I trust.

Each year I aim to read more than the year before. I used to love reading before the children came along and so now I’m trying to make time each week – and most days – to read again. Here are the books I’ve read through 2019:

Turtles All the Way Down – John Green

This was a teen fiction book and the main characters were secondary school age children. The story is about an on the run criminal who they are trying to help locate but underneath that story there is so much more to this book.

Turtles All The Way Down gave me a real insight into mental health issues and the main character has quite a lot going on in her head to deal with every day. After reading the book I really felt like I’d had an insight into something I’d never taken time to understand before and I’m so glad I read it.

Little Fires Everywhere – Celeste Ng

This book was so sad in places, so emotive and so, so deep. I couldn’t put it down and although most of the book revolves around teenagers I could relate to so much of what the characters were going through. It covers first relationships and teenage issues but it’s definitely not a teen book – I won’t spoil it by giving away the huge unexpected twist and the story of where the main characters came from but I can guarantee if you pick this up you’ll not want to put it down. It was a really great read.

The Hidden Legacy – G J Minnett

Now this was a book that took a while to get my head around. It jumped from years ago to the present day and to so many years in between. It was written from so many different character’s viewpoints and had so many characters in it. But, once I’d made sure I was paying attention to what year we were in and who was in each scene the book flowed really well and I was gripped.

This book had so many twists in it and I was not expecting the ending at all. It was a book that kept me guessing and was just so satisfying to read.

Together – Julie Cohen

I’ll admit, I didn’t have high hopes for this book. I bought it from Amazon on a whim, hadn’t read the back and didn’t find the cover very inspiring. So I left it until the bottom of my pile to read. But I was so impressed with the story.

I had absolutely no idea where the book was going until the last couple of chapters and although it hinted towards things I had no idea what those things actually were. It was so well written and one that I was so confused by after reading it – but in a good way. It pushed me to assess my own thoughts, wonder what I would do in that situation and try and decide whether I thought the characters were right or wrong. I still haven’t worked that out. Definitely read this book.

How to Be Happy – Eva Woods

I think I really got a lot from this book. On first glance it looks like a self help guide but it’s actually a really emotive story about friendship, families, love and death. It was raw, heartbreakingly honest and just so sad. But, it was also uplifting, inspiring and aspirational – I feel like I’ll make each day fuller and be a touch more positive for reading it.

Her Name was Rose – Claire Allan

This book took a while to get into and a while to get used to the characters in it as there were quite a lot of characters with interlacing stories. But, as soon as we got to know the characters a bit better I really got invested in the story and invested in the characters – and I was quite sad and shocked by the end of the book. It was a great read but I wasn’t expecting the ending.

Still Me – Jojo Moyes

This is the third book in the Louisa Clarke series and anyone who loved Me Before You needs to read this book – after reading After You anyway. It’s another installment following Louisa’s life, this time across the Atlantic. It’s a book with a story that was incredibly loose in places and with characters that lack much depth – apart from Louisa and her unlikely companion that shares the second half of the book. But, that aside, I really enjoyed the book and I was really pleased with the ending. I’m sure there will be another book in the series before too long.

The Woman in the Window – A J Finn

I heard great things about this book and was really looking forward to reading it but I found it really hard to get into. The main character is a really strange one. She has mental and physical health problems and although the book is really well written to help portray that I found it hard to really get on with the character which stopped me fully enjoying this book.

I guessed a few of the twists in the book early on but the full story was pretty shocking and I hope that after the end of the book everyone managed to live happily ever after. It left me feeling quite empty afterwards.

Nine Perfect Strangers – Liane Moriarty

This book was such a disappointment. After Liane Moriarty’s other books I was really looking forward to reading this one but it was so hard to get into. With nine different people, and the story told from each of their perspectives, jumping from character to character I found it hard to really get into the story or find where it was going. It’s meant to be full of suspense and danger but I found it lacked any real depth. The story didn’t get going until quite near the end and it felt like the author just didn’t really know where she was going with it. One that I’d happily never look at again.

The Language of Kindness: A Nurse’s Story – Christie Watson

This book was not what I expected. After reading This is Going to Hurt last year I was expecting something similar – light hearted and humorous. Instead I got a really educational and insightful look at the world of nursing over the years. It made me laugh but mostly it made me think and it brought out a whole world of emotions. This was quite slow going and hard to read in places but I feel like I’ve learnt a lot from it.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Heather Morris

I had seen this book talked about so much and everyone I spoke to recommended I read it. But, it took me months to bring myself to actually open it and start reading. I always find any difficult topic turned into entertainment really hard to deal with – it just doesn’t sit right with me – but I always want to learn more and understand more about events in history. And I am so glad I read this book.

This really wasn’t an easy book to read. It was graphic and horrific in places but it was true. Horribly true. It gave such a stark account of life in concentration camps but it also had an underlying love story and a sense of hope that you can’t help but hold on to. The Tattooist of Auschwitz was a great book. It taught me so much and opened my eyes to so much too.

A Girl Called Shameless – Laura Steven

This book is actually the second in a series – but I didn’t realise that when I started reading it. However, it still works well as a standalone book. It’s a teen fiction novel but it is very heavily sex and relationships focused so not really aimed at young teens. It’s all about revenge porn and how in some parts of America revenge porn is legal and a fictional crusade to change the laws. It’s a really empowering book – feminists will love it but it doesn’t slate men either – it shows how both good and bad men and women can be.

The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read – Philippa Perry

This book isn’t my usual kind of book. It’s verging on being a self-help book but I felt I should read it. Having had issues with my own childhood and long term relationships with my parents as well as having children of my own it felt like a book I could really take something from.

This book definitely reinforced to me that we take a lot from our own childhoods into later life and life as parents and we need to make conscious decisions to either be that way or to move past it. It also showed me that so much of life impacts how we are as parents and it helped me to see new ways of dealing with situations. I’m really glad I read it.

Marly’s Ghost – David Levithan

This book wasn’t like anything I have ever read before. It was like a Christmas Carol meets Valentine’s Day and it was an incredibly sad book with what should have been a really uplifting ending. However, it just made me feel sad and unsettled. Not one I’d recommend.

Playgroups and Prosecco – Jo Middleton

This book was a perfect holiday read. It had really good characters in it, a few twists and a storyline that I could really relate to. It made me laugh so much and I think any parent would get something from this book and I really enjoyed reading it. It had real life, social media, parenting and even a love story in there too.

I Invited Her In – Adele Parks

This book was not what I was expecting at all. There were so many twists in the story and I’m not sure if I really enjoyed it but it definitely kept me hooked until the end. I love a book where all the loose ends come together and where people get their comeuppance. I didn’t really feel that from this book but it kept me turning the pages.

Right Behind You – Lisa Gardner

This book’s main characters are two orphans who grow up in the care system in America. That was eye opening for me and gave a really different perspective on the characters. This book is one where you think it’s all done and dusted within the first few chapters but then the pace picks up and it keeps you guessing until the end. A really great read.

Sweet Little Lies – Caz Frear

This book was so hard to read in places. It was mainly about a dark underworld that I’m sure exists but no-one really wants to know about. It’s was horrific, dark and scary but it was a story that kept me reading and left me feeling quite empty afterwards. It was a great but difficult read.

Copy Cat – Alex Lake

Oh my gosh. This book. Anyone on social media would feel some level of unease whilst reading this book. It brought to life the risk we take by sharing information about ourselves online – simple things like our date of birth, children’s birthdays or our jobs. The book spiralled from a bit of a what’s going to happen suspense into something a lot darker and more sinister. About three quarters of the way through the book everything came to a head and I found it so shocking yet a really well written book. It’s worth a read but I’d steer clear if you suffer from any level of anxiety.

The People at Number 9 – Felicity Everett

This was probably one of the hardest books to read this year. I spent the whole book trying to work out where it was going – and it ended up not really going anywhere! The characters were all equally annoying and grating, the storyline lacked any real substance and I felt quite sorry for all the children in the book. I’d definitely skip reading this again in favour of any other book.

The Working Woman’s Handbook – Phoebe Lovatt

Ignoring the sexist title, this is a fantastic book for anyone who works in the creative industries. It’s the best ‘self help’ book I’ve read related to my work and it really spoke to me like no other book ever has.

The book is a great read for people just starting out or people who have been in business for years. It’s aimed at freelancers or those starting businesses and has tips and ideas about every aspect of working life. It talks about setting up a business, how to keep momentum and find inspiration, tax and the importance of savings, having time off and how to manage your time to make sure your health is a priority too. The best book I’ve read this year.

And there you have it, a year of books and I managed 21 over the course of the year, two more than last year! Have you read anything good recently?

You can see the books I read over previous years here: 2018, 2017, 2016.

In: Books, Magazines, Music, Film and TV, Reviews

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Comments

  1. Plutonium Sox says

    January 2, 2020 at 2:41 pm

    Wow, you’ve read loads! I don’t actually know how many books I read but probably not that many. I’m going to read the working woman’s handbook on your recommendation, it sounds really helpful. Terrible name though!
    Nat.x

    Reply

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Hi everyone! I'm Donna. Mummy. Blogger. Social Media Manager. Traveller. Lover of stars, rainbows and gin. Firm believer that tea and cake can fix most things.

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