LIKES & LOVES| JANUARY 2023

Some of the items featured in this post include affiliate links. I’ve added a * next to those items for reference. Purchasing via these links does not cost you extra.


January has dragged and I'm more than ready for it to be a fresh new month. I've had an infection so wasn't well for just over a week this month. We've not really gone out and done much as it's just been too cold and Blake has been too tired. We've got a few things to share this month that we have liked and loved though.


Disney Plus

Strange World

The Clades are a legendary family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission into uncharted and treacherous territory. 


Netflix

1899

Immigrants on a steamship travelling from London to New York get caught up in a mysterious riddle after finding a second vessel adrift on the open sea. I found this to be a gripping series.


The lost patient 

After waking up from a coma with no memory of the night when his entire family was murdered, a young man and his psychiatrist try to untangle the truth.


Don't say a word

A film from 2001 that I've not seen before. A psychiatrist strikes a desperate — and possibly deadly — bargain with criminals as he tries to unearth a valuable secret locked in his patient's mind.


The Wonder 

Set in The Irish Midlands in 1862, the story follows a young girl who stops eating but remains miraculously alive and well. English nurse Lib Wright is brought to a tiny village to observe eleven-year old Anna O'Donnell. Tourists and pilgrims mass to witness the girl who is said to have survived without food for months.


God's crooked lines

Private investigator Alice checks into a psychiatric hospital feigning paranoia to collect evidence for a case she's working on: the death of an inmate under ambiguous circumstances. The reality she faces in her confinement exceeds her expectations and casts doubt on her own sanity.



*Steam train bedroom door sign
We got Blake a sign for his bedroom door (trains of course)  The flying Scotsman is his favourite so we are glad we found this one. It's great quality abs very sturdy.

2023 READING CHALLENGE | WHAT I'VE READ IN JANUARY

 I've lowered my reading goal this year to 60 books and so far I've made a great start with 5 books read this month. Let's jump in to what I've read this month.




The Winter Killer by Alex Pine
I started off the new year with the third book in the DI James Walker series. I like that each book can be read as a stand alone if u want to. The author is really great at throwing red herrings into the mix so that you can't guess who done it.

Christmas has arrived in Cumbria, and wedding bells are ringing.
But an ice-cold killer is waiting in the fells…

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, DI James Walker receives a phone call that puts paid to his Christmas break. During the wedding of the year at a lakeside hotel, the bride’s sister has vanished.Before the wedding night is out, the lake is being searched for a body.

IDEAS FOR MODERNISING A BUILT IN WARDROBE

*This is a collaborative post 


We have quite a few DIY projects planned for our home this year and one of them is to modernise our built in wardrobe.  It's definitely looking tired and dated, especially the interior. We decorated our bedroom last year and the built in wardrobe is one of the last bits we need to do to finish off our room. Today I wanted to share with you some ideas in case you are like us and want to give your built in wardrobe a refresh. 



How to Stay Active to Prevent Heart and Cardiovascular Disease

 If you want to keep your heart healthy, the best way to do so is to stay active. Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your heart and cardiovascular system.





How to stay active while working


If you have a 9 to 5 job, it can be difficult to find the time or energy to stay active. Here are some tips to help you stay active and prevent heart and cardiovascular disease, even if you have a 9 to 5 job. 


1. Get up and move. During your breaks or lunch hours, take a quick walk or do some stretching to get your body moving. 





Take the stairs. Instead of taking the elevator or escalator, opt for the stairs. This is an easy way to get some physical activity in during the day. 


Bring an exercise ball to work. Sitting on an exercise ball instead of a chair can help strengthen your core and improve your posture. 


Walk or bike to work. If you live close to your workplace, try walking or biking to work instead of taking public transportation. 


WHY YOU NEED A FAMILY BUDGET

Have you ever got to the end of the month and wondered where all your money has gone?  Do you find yourself living paycheck to paycheck? Or even have managed to get yourself into debt? Having a budget is important for everyone but especially so for families. Today I am sharing with you why you need a family budget along with some handy advice on making a budget.





What Will My Child Learn at Nursery?

*This is a collaborative post 


Nursery offers parents a break and can help ease many back into work. Whilst they’re under their professional supervision, your child will be working on activities which help them in their growth and development. It can help get them ready for school and ensure that they are where they should be for their age with regards to their understanding of the world and communication. If you’re considering a nursery for your child and would like to learn more about what they’ll learn, this post is for you. It contains information that we’ve gathered from speaking to a nursery in London and we hope that you find it helpful.




How to Raise a Hardworking Child

 *This is a collaborative post 


As parents we can sometimes fall into the trap of doing everything ourselves. We’re too scared to delegate and get the children involved. Either we don’t have the patience, are scared and are doubtful of whether they will be able to do the jobs correctly. However, it’s key to teaching them the importance of hard work. Nothing in life comes easily and they will need to learn to persevere and be patient. As they do, they will become more resilient and develop a good work ethic which they will need for the future. Start by setting small chores and gradually build up. You can even start when they’re a toddler by getting them to pick up and tidy away their toys. 


Below is some guidance that we’ve put together with a senior school in Devon on how to raise a hard-working child.





A Parents' Guide to A Levels

 *This is a collaborative post 

If your child’s thinking of going to university, they will need to think about what they will need to study in order to get there. That might be a specific BTEC or a series of A Level courses. If they’ve chosen to go down the A level route, they will have the choice of up to 4 to study. Around 20 hours of scheduled study time is expected and outside of that, independent study is a must for good grades. Unlike GCSE’s, the qualifications themselves are much more demanding and there’s increased individual responsibility which can be good practice for the future when at university. If you’re new to A Levels and want to learn more, here’s a short guide that we’ve created for you with an independent school in Somerset.


The Importance of Sensory Play in Early Child Development


*This is a collaborative post


Sensory play has a heavy focus in EYFS (the early years foundation stage). It focuses on the five senses of smell, sight, taste, hearing and touch as well as the connection between mind and body. As children are introduced to sensory input, the brain receives a message, and the body responds which helps them with balance in addition to many other day to day activities. If you’re a new parent and are looking to learn more about sensory play, we’ve outlined the benefits and provided a few activity ideas below for inspiration. 


This post was created with the help of a preschool in Worthing.




Solar energy is a growing source of electricity

*This is a collaborative post


Solar energy is a growing source of electricity in the UK, with numerous benefits for rural communities. In this article, we will explore the ways in which solar energy can benefit rural communities, including cost savings, financial incentives, environmental benefits, and the potential for selling excess electricity back to the grid.



Cost Savings One of the primary benefits of solar energy for rural communities is the potential for cost savings. When a community installs a solar panel system, it is able to generate its own electricity, which can significantly reduce energy costs. The amount of electricity that can be generated depends on the size of the solar panel system and the efficiency of the panels. The more electricity that can be generated, the less the community will need to purchase from the grid, which can lead to significant cost savings.




WIN A £10 AMAZON E-Voucher

Throughout 2023 I plan to have at least one giveaway running each month. So to start that off I'm giving away a £10 Amazon E-Voucher.

With Amazon being one of my favourite places to buy near enough anything I wanted to share the love.

MONEY SAVING CHALLENGES TO KICKSTART YOUR 2023 FINANCIAL GOALS

With a fresh new year here, you may have decided on your financial goals for the year ahead. If not than you may find my post from  last January about making S.M.A.R.T goals helpful. Savings are something that we all should have, but isn't always possible. In fact alot of us have no savings at all! 


There is always a good reason to put a little money aside each month. Maybe you are wanting to save for a holiday, for next Christmas or start an emergency fund. To get you motivated I'm sharing some of the money saving challenges that are around that can get you started on your saving journey.



My 2023 GOALS

Happy New Year!  It's time for me to share with you my goals for the year ahead. Setting goals for the year ahead is something I've shared on this blog near enough every year. This year I'm setting goals for myself for different areas of my life you can find out more below.