Let's Start With This One...

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Before I got ill, I could read books in a matter of hours. Then my anorexia took that joy away from me. I couldn’t read even a page. Recently though, I have found that my love for them has come back. In the last two weeks, I have read three. 

At the moment, I am loving the classics. I am going back to what I enjoyed as a child or never read then, but people say are classics. Flicking between them and more adult based ones have brought me a lot of joy. 

I thought it would be nice to share a few that I think you should all be reading or delving into. There is a right old mixture I have to say…

Matilda by Roald Dahl: I wasn’t sure if I read this when I was little, but I loved it this time around. Reading it made me want to finish it quickly and then delve right into the film of it. This will be happening soon aha! 

Cobble Hill by Cecily von Ziegesar: From the author of Gossip Girl, Cecily has made an intriguing book about the lives of those who live in the same neighbourhood. As secrets and lies are revealed, you will find yourselves more and more tangled up in their lives than your own. 

Notes On Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Having lost my dad during lockdown, I found myself connecting with the author and her story throughout this. She brought back memories of my dad through those of her own. The remembrance of his writing was a hard moment, but one I am grateful for. I’ve now saved a lot of my dad’s items because of how she reminded me about them.

The Witches by Roald Dahl: Another book I wasn’t sure if I read when small, the book is a quick childhood read. Yet, it is a gripping one. If I had been small it would have scared me. It thrills me now. Another book that has left me desperately wanting to see the new film. 

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary: A sweet and quick read, this novel will have you thinking about the people in your life you don’t really see but love. If you are looking for a summer romance to read by the beach, this ones for you.

Told you there was a right mixture aha! Currently I am reading Wonder by R. J. Palacio, which is really inspiring. I’ll let you know what I think of the full story as soon as I am done lovelies. What are you currently reading? Or what was the last book you read? Let me know! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

How do you like your coffee? Black? Milky? Decaf? Or on the go, made by an expert brewer? How about from a can? The way I found my regular taste testers being challenged thanks to Black Insomnia’s new Cold Brew coffee cans. 

Priced at £9.99 for four, the cans arrived at my home quickly, after I was offered the chance to review them. Something I kindly accepted, as I live with my mum who adores coffee. In all forms. 

Known and made to help boost moods and minds, the Cold Brew coffee isn’t like an iced coffee. Oh no, it is a coffee that has been made by being placed in icy cold water for hours to help produce an intense flavour. One that my mum couldn’t wait to put to the test. 

Pouring it from the van, you could smell the rich coffee aroma throughout our kitchen. It was, I have to say, heavenly. Filling up a latte glass, the brew was stirred, before my mum took a sip. A big one at that. 

I will admit now that my mum doesn’t really like iced coffee. However, this isn’t like that. This is a refreshing room temp coffee that she found herself really impressed by. Even stating that she would happily have one again on a hot day. 

The look of the cans can be intimidating but don’t let it put you off. There is nothing to fear. The smell is gorgeous, the taste equally so according to my mum and the amount you get makes it worth the money. Especially when you calculate the normal costs of a coffee brought from shops.

Available online and in additional forms, including pods and grounds, this cold brew is not to be missed. It is an intense enjoyment. One that I am sure our family will enjoy again. To find out more, head to their website. You will not be disappointed. 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Anyone else wondering how on earth we are already nearing the end of August? It seems like only yesterday that we were marking the start of the year. In the past eight months, life has had a lot of ups and downs. Round and rounds. Yes and no’s. But the past few have brought a lot of lovely changes. 

Since I last did a life update, I have been getting a little stronger. I’m still fighting my eating disorder daily and it causes me lots of problems, but I am still trying every day to overcome it. It is the little wins that lead to the big ones.

In June, I managed to have a meal out whilst on holiday. Something I booked and arranged. I had a meal of my choosing on my birthday, followed by my mum’s homemade apple crumble. I’ve tried higher calorie foods. Read more books. Applied for more volunteering roles. Accepted new radio positions. I have adventures too. 

My mum manages to take more breaks and my brother also moved into a new house. We are all doing little things to help us get stronger. To leave positivity throughout 2021. Something I hope that we are all doing. 

We all still miss my dad terribly, yet, we know he is watching us all and making the sun shine down. He knows when to do this to make our days better. However, when I got a new piercing recently the weather went cold, so I apologise for annoying him aha! 

In the words of Ferris, sometimes you just have to stop and take a moment to see what is around you. You have to pause and love the people helping you. The people beside you. Yourself even. There is only one of you after all and you are so important. 

Right now, that is something I am trying to teach myself. When I look in the mirror, something I struggle with, I always smile. It may seem strange, but I do it to try and show myself that I love who I am becoming. Even on my hardest days. 

Today, or this week, I want you to do the same. Smile at a stranger, but most importantly smile at and try to love yourself. And try to just keep remembering and reminding yourself how amazing you are. 

Oh, and one other thing. How are you? Let me know! I am always here for you if you need me! 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

For many years, the world of Saw dominated the horror film industry. It was a powerhouse of gore, guts and terror, with villain Jigsaw haunting us all. Now though, as the latest outing for the horror that it was, comes out on DVD, digitally and on Blu-Ray, it seems the only scary thing now is what the franchise has become. 

Taking on the lead role, Chris Rock plays a scared detective, who alongside his father, must find out what is really causing the deaths of those he works with. Unlike the previous features, the film slips in more ways than one. Leading it into more Scary Movie territory than the horror show it was. 

To be fair to the features creators, they do try to make and take the franchise into new lands. Yet, it just never seems to click in the way that many would hope. With most features, viewers would be hoping for a refreshing reboot. This one doesn’t deliver that. It makes you want to switch off a few times and not because of the gore either. 

This may come from the way in which the story tries to go deeper into the characters. There isn’t much need for a backstory here, but the plot tries to deliver one. Making it hard at times to give the horror element its full power. The script fails to keep audiences gripped and becomes silly. 

Ultimately, the film has been made to give those who loved the previous features something new. A part of the story that they have been missing. A story that sadly doesn’t hold the attention of all, but will provide a nice element to those who view the franchise as a horror film classic. 

The reboot could have been so much more and it is sad that it isn’t for them. However, fans and horror film fans, may find a small element of love for seeing the evil killer back on screen. Those who aren’t so keen, you can avoid this one easily though. 

2 Stars

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies,

Lockdown was a weird time for film releases to say the least. Especially when it came to children’s films. Whilst some families and features thrived, others failed to stand out. However, Peter Rabbit 2 managed to do both. Continuing to do so from today, as it is released digitally and on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Voiced by James Corden, Rose Byrne and Domhnall Gleeson reappear to tell a new story about the famous rabbit. When Byrne’s Bea’s book does incredibly well, she decides to embark on a tour of the country to meet book publisher Nigel Basil-Jones. However, Peter isn’t happy when her new book idea makes him put to be a villain and decides to runaway.

Director Will Gluck has been lucky here. The film is a sweet and fitting summer feature. It works with both the ideals of Easter and the need for comfort from a classic character. One many adore. The story thrives and is able to hop on to the green green grass of success easily from this.

It may not be or stick to the classic narrative of Beatrice Potter’s world, but viewers won’t mind. They will simply find a way to embrace it with ease. The characters easy movement from a not so likeable first feature appearance to the one in this sequel, ensures it works well. Something even younger audience members will find.

The film pokes fun at itself in fact, with many dogs at the reactions the first one got. Highlighting how Gluck and the team don’t mind hopping onto what was being said and using it to make something better. A very clever filmmakers choice.

Whilst the film is no award winning feature, it has a charm to it that will keep the whole family entertained. It is light-hearted, innocent and fun. Something cinema needs to be at the moment, easing us all in with its charm. Fans of Potter’s books may not enjoy it, but with the sun shining, anyone can find sweetness in it.

3 Stars

Joey X