Here’s a full review of my Sirocco Alta Colorblock shoes from HeyDude.
When HeyDude first contacted me, I’d actually never heard of their shoes before. In need of some new trainers for everyday use, I took a peek at their website and really liked what I saw.
HeyDude was founded in Italy in 2008, before being purchased by Crocs in 2022. Their brand is known for being comfortable and versatile, and are popular around the world. They describe their shoes as ‘some of the cushiest, comfiest, airiest, featheriest, lightest shoes on Earth’, which definitely caught my attention!
Here’s my review of June’s Journey - a compelling mobile game that’s perfect for book lovers and true crime fans.
I’m always on the lookout for a good mobile game - something that I can play while waiting for the kettle to boil, but won’t take up too much of my time.
Enter June’s Journey, a hidden object mystery game that’s set in the glamorous 1920s. Launched by Wooga in 2017, new chapters are added to the story every week, meaning that there’s always something new to uncover.
As someone who is new to long haul flights, I knew I had to up my game when I booked a cruise from Bangkok to Hong Kong.
I’m based in the UK, and with two upcoming flights totalling 12 and 14 hours each, I knew that I had to be prepared.
This is where trtl comes in. Widely considered to be one of the best travel pillows on the market, trtl promises to give you ‘the most comfortable sleep you’ll ever have travelling’. With more than 2 million sales to date and nearly 1000 five star reviews on their website, their product really is tempting.
If you’ve read my previous review, you’ll know that my Nordace Siena Pro Backpack is my favourite bag to take on a trip.
Not only is it a great size, it also has lots of handy pockets, fits perfectly under an airplane seat and looks cute too. So I’m sure you can imagine how delighted I was when Nordace wrote to me and asked if I’d like to try the Siena backpack’s matching tote bag!
Did you know that you can grow your own oyster mushrooms using some of your favourite books?
Usually found growing outside, oyster mushrooms typically feed on dead and dying trees. As book pages are essentially a type of wood, they make tasty food for growing oyster mushrooms, and provide a great way of reusing any unwanted books.
And yes, you can eat them too!
As a novice when it comes to cooking my own food, I’m a big fan of meal delivery kits like Hello Fresh.
I’ve found that they make it much easier to cook new food without any previous understanding or skills (of which I admittedly have little). I’ve had Hello Fresh delivered before so I was excited to receive one of their boxes in return for an honest review.
Here’s my review of Readly - the app for magazine fans and travellers who like to read on the go.
As an avid reader and freelance writer, I’m a big fan of a glossy magazine. It’s always fun seeing my writing in print, and I’ve found that a good mag can be a great way to learn new things. I particularly like reading travel magazines for inspiration for my future travels!
While I do really love the feel of physical magazines, buying lots of them can get quite expensive. That’s why I like Readly, which provides a way to read lots of different titles for an affordable price.
When it comes to literary themed clothing, Joanie is one of my go-to brands.
Whether you work as a bookseller, librarian, or just want to show off your love for books, you’ll find something you love in Joanie Clothing’s Book Lovers edit.
To celebrate World Book Day, Joanie have sent me some of their favourite pieces from the collection to try. With options ranging from floaty book print dresses to cosy cardigans, oversized jumpers and soft shirts, I was spoilt for choice, and had so much fun styling them.
Here’s my review of the Well Read Company’s stunning book themed bags, with an exclusive discount.
Regular readers will know that I’m a big fan of a book themed bag. I love any way of adding bookish whimsy to an outfit, and when I first saw the Well Read Company bags on Instagram, I knew I had to have one.
Specialising in book themed gifts, Well Read’s signature bags feature covers of well known literary classics. Imagine a large book with a beautiful cover that you can store things in, and on a strap so you can wear it too.
Here’s my review of Yoshi Goods and their range of book themed leather products.
Yoshi Goods are a small, family run business who specialise in creating quality leather products in a range of unique styles. I love how quirky their designs are and, being a book lover, I adore their extensive Bookworm collection.
I’ve been using Yoshi’s products for years and love how their distinctive designs add an element of bookish whimsy to my outfits.
Here’s my honest review of the book streaming service Book Beat - plus an exclusive discount code.
The online audiobook streaming service, BookBeat, was launched by Bonnier Books in 2015. The brand expanded their service into the UK in 2017, after initially seeing success in Finland and Sweden.
According to BookBeat’s CEO, the UK was Europe’s fastest growing audiobook market, which made it an obvious choice for their expansion.
Here is my honest review of Loop Earplugs
First launched in 2016, founders Maarten and Dimitri wanted to revolutionise the way that we experience sound, inspired by their desire to enjoy concerts without damaging their hearing.
Nearly a decade later, Loop has now sold more than 4 million earplugs around the world for reasons that go beyond attending concerts, with products for different purposes and preferences.
Today they’re particularly popular within the neurodiverse community, as a way to help people who have a sensitivity to noise.
Having somehow reached the age of 30 and only ever used a manual toothbrush, I was excited to change things up and give Suri’s sustainable electric toothbrush a try.
Looking after my teeth is something that’s important to me - I hate having dental work done and try to avoid needing it as much as possible. So, one of my resolutions for 2025 was to start using an electric toothbrush, which is thought to be more effective in removing plaque and improving general oral hygiene.
I was so excited when Suri offered to send me one of their lovely electric toothbrushes in return for an honest review.
Here’s everything that you need to look for when shopping for a new reading light this autumn and winter season.
When shopping for new pieces of furniture, it’s often very tempting to opt for the cheapest available option - I know because I’ve been there! Although this can seem like an effective way to save money in the short term, it’s likely to result in purchasing items that are of poor quality and will not stand the test of time.
I explain why it’s so important to invest in a good quality reading light, and how reading before bed can be transformative for our mental health.
As the days get shorter and the nights draw in, a good reading light is essential when curling up with a good book. Reading in low, inadequate lighting can make it difficult for your eyes to focus and cause eye strain.
As the cold weather draws in, many people will be thinking about how they can keep themselves and their homes warm this winter without spending huge amounts of money. To help with this, my partner and I have recently invested in a few household items that we hope will make a big difference.
Here’s my honest review of the Nordace Siena Pro 17 backpack, which was kindly sent to me by the company for an honest review.
I decided that I liked this bag as soon as I tore through the packaging and held it in my hands. I received the Nordace Siena Pro 17 in the largest size, 17 inches, and found that it not only fit me well, but came in a pretty blue colour that matched my existing Tripp luggage.
Here’s everything that you need to know about the DrySoon Heated Airer from Lakeland.
We invested in the DrySoon Heated Airer after borrowing an older model from a family member. With the cold winter months quickly approaching, my partner and I knew that we needed a new one as it had become one of our essential household items.
I was keen to see how well this new heated airer measured up, and whether it was worth the high price tag.
When I first saw the Outin Nano Portable Espresso Machine, I couldn’t believe that something of this size could make decent coffee.
As my partner and I love to travel and are always on the go, I knew that I needed to try it for myself.
Here’s my full unboxing and review of AKT’s deodorant balm - designed for everyday use by two London West End performers.
I’m writing this review just after reading that AKT’s deodorant balm is being used at the Paris 2024 Olympics by the Team GB rowing squad. This product has an impressive clientele, having been publicly endorsed by swathes of actors, athletes and magazine editors, so I have been very keen to give it a try.
Many long time followers of mine will know that I love a book themed handbag. I have a sizeable collection, and my favourite is a gorgeous Vendula London Old Bookshop bag that I received as a Christmas gift in 2022.
So I’m sure you can imagine that I was very excited when I saw that Vendula were releasing a new Shakespeare themed collection, based around the play Much Ado About Nothing.
As a book lover, I’m always on the hunt for unique book themed jewellery, clothing, and household items to showcase my love of literature. So when Tatty Devine launched their World Book Day 2024 collection, I was very excited to get my hands on a few of their pieces!
In this blog post I will show you what their jewellery pieces actually look like, whether I think they’re good quality, and if they’re worth spending money on.
I’ve heard a lot about the impressive Scentaste technology that uses cutting edge science to create ‘flavour from thin air’. Essentially, these bottles use scent to trick the brain into tasting a variety of flavours in what is actually plain water.
This is the second generation bottle, which comes in a range of colours including two new shades, Red Poppy and Green Sage. There are also two sizes to choose from, either 600ml or 1 litre, depending on your preference. As you can see from the photos, I opted for the Sage Green 600ml version which came with three flavour pods: Red Berry, Lime and Watermelon. It cost me £34.99 for the bottle and three pods together, reduced from £36.99, with free postage.
When I saw that Crocs had released a Hello Kitty collaboration I knew that I had to get my hands on them. The range was released in January 2024 as part of Hello Kitty’s 50th birthday celebrations, with the adult sizes retailing at £64.99 in the UK and $69.99 in the US.
I started my Jellycat collection in 2023 after being introduced to the soft toys on TikTok, where they are hugely popular. In this post I will introduce you to the brand and walk you through my collection so far, answering the question: are they worth the price tag?
What Are Jellycats?
Jellycats or ‘Jellies’ are soft toys that are made from snuggly fabrics and with unique, often quirky, designs. The company was founded in London in 1999 and prides itself on being a premium toy manufacturer. According to their website, Jellycat toys are ‘softer, subtler and long-lasting’ than other toys, and that’s something that I’d agree with. I’ve owned a lot of soft toys in my life, but the softness of a Jellycat is next level. The quality of their materials also means that they’re safe for children and adults of all ages, including newborns, and can be enjoyed by all.
If you’re anything like me and you tend to really feel the cold over the winter months, then you’ll probably have seen lots of ads for Stoov. This company sells a variety of infrared heating products including dog beds, seat cushions and bottles, but I decided to keep things simple and invest in the original Ploov cushion.
As a self proclaimed ‘chilly billy’, I was wondering whether one of these cushions would help to take the edge off the cold and perhaps even reduce my heating use until it gets a bit warmer.
Here is my honest review of Stoov, how it works, and whether it’s worth the price tag.
It might be the last week of January, but there’s still plenty of time to reflect on what we want out of 2024.
This year I’ve decided to set some goals so that I can orientate myself towards the things that are meaningful for me. I’m calling them goals rather than the traditional ‘resolutions’, as these are things that I can work towards during the year and adapt if necessary. Resolutions feel very set in stone, and I don’t want that for 2024.
Today’s post has been sponsored by the lovely people at Serious Readers, and I have an amazing discount for you at the bottom of today’s post. If that’s why you’ve clicked on this blog, I totally understand, and feel free to skip down to the bottom of the page for my discount code.
For the rest of you, thank you for sticking with me - here are some of the goals that I’ve set for 2024.
It’s November. The clocks have gone back, the days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder. It’s time to retreat into our homes, cosy on down with our books and crafts, and wait out the winter in the comfort of our own homes.
A Serious Light is the perfect accompaniment for anyone who enjoys crafting. Its specialist Daylight Wavelength Technology maximises your ability to see detail and colours, minimising the risk of damage to your eyes that can be caused by standard LED lights. The light is also fully adjustable, which makes it easier to maintain good posture
Book delivery boxes are all the rage nowadays - available in any way imaginable, for big budgets and small, it can be difficult to decide which ones to spend your money on.
Today I want to introduce the wonderful Willoughby Book Club, a book subscription service owned by Marianne Chala that specialises in individually curated book deliveries. The process is simple. When choosing a subscription for yourself or a loved one, take a browse through their menu of personal book subscriptions. Here you can choose from a wide variety of genres, from the broader ‘fiction’ subscription to more specialised crime, non-fiction, young adult, food and drink, wellbeing, natural history, or home and garden subscription. They even have categories for different demographics of readers: whether you’re shopping for a baby, toddler, child, couple or mum and baby, there really is something for everyone. They even have a bespoke subscription available if your reading tastes don’t fit into any these categories.
Here’s my full review of OutIn’s portable electric coffee grinder - read to the end for a 10% discount off your purchase.
As a big fan of the Outin Portable Coffee Machine, I’ve been very excited to get my hands on their new electric coffee grinder.
With the same sleek design and 28 size settings to choose from, the new OutIn coffee grinder is able to grind beans for a variety of drinks - all while on the go.