I LOVE a festive read. I fully read festive books throughout December and this year is no exception… infact I’m trying to read even more than usual this year to really get me into thr festive spirit.
Thought I would share with you some of my favourites, as well as ones that are on my tbr (to be read) list
🎄 Some • of • my • favourites 📚
Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market by Heidi Swain.
Coming Home to Glendale Hall by Victoria Walter’s
A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan
The Secret Santa by Trish Harnetiaux
Sleigh rides and Silver bells at the Christmas Fair by Heidi Swain
Dream a little Christmas dream by Giovanna Fletcher (Novella)
Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at the Winter Wonderland
Christmas with Billy & Me by Giovanna Fletcher (Novella)
❄ On • my • TBR • list 📚
A Christmas Wish by Lizzie Lang
The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan
Dash & Lily Series by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
One more Christmas by Sarah Morgan
The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
The Winter Garden by Heidi Swain
The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine
🎅🏻 Current • Festive • Read 📚
Hopefully Hearts at Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters
One of the best parts of Christmas is putting up your tree, so here’s ours!
I love putting up the tree, christmas jumpers on, christmas tunes blaring out… perfect!
From Disneyland Paris ’19So pretty ❤🌟From Universal Studios, Florida ’18Our 2020 decoration from Mum Bought at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park ’19Our tree topper ☆
I love the traditional red, gold and green of our decorations.
Based on the movie written by Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale.
Illustrated by Kim Smith
This book is basically just a simplified, child friendly story book version of the brilliant ‘Back to the Future’ film.
‘After time-travelling to 1955, Marty Mcfly finds himself stranded in the past. The time machine he used doesn’t work anymore, and he needs to help his parents fall in love… or else he’ll never be born! Can he make things right before it’s too late?’
Back to the Future is one my of favourite film franchises so I was super excited to pick this up.
The illustrations are lovely and it adapts the story really well for a younger audience.
I wanted to update my reading corner recently. I am happy with the theme and colour scheme, as it fits well into the lounge where it is….
… I did however, need more space!
As I mentioned on my Instagram (RoseannesBlog) page, me and my husband recently went to Ikea and there is where I found my new bookcase! As well as a few other little bits to finish off the area
So, let’s take a look!
The new addition to my bookcase is the slim one nearest the wall. This is the Billy Bookcase from Ikea.
This bookcase is from the Billy Bookcase range and is just like my original case (also a Billy), but it works really well as a little case for a small space, or a add on to create a little extra space.
This was perfect for the space that I have for my reading corner.
I can’t wait to fill up my new shelves properly.
Here are some of the little bits that I’ve bought to add to the area.
I bought some plants to decorate the shelves, a cute pink lamp for my desk and a new swivel desk chair.
I’m really happy with the extra book space thats been created, without ruining the area that I have already prepared.
Its still super cosy too…even more so! And I can’t wait to enjoy my books in this area.
As I have said many times, Autumn/Winter are my favourite seasons!
I know its chilly but hey, its England, we were made for this weather.
Plus, it’s so pretty 😍
Theres nothing like a crisp autumn walk, frosty, leaves crunching under foot, trees fire bright against a pale sky, wrapped up in cosy jumpers, a hot beverage in hand.
Now tell me that isn’t a delight!?!
Here are some of the ways I’ve been enjoying the Autumn so far!
• P U M P K I N • P I C K I N G •
Me, my sister and my nephews had a great time pumpkin picking, at a local patch 🎃
We went early Oct to get the most out of our Pumpkins.
I’ve used them to dot around the lounge to create a cosy, autumn vibe. Some will of course be carved on Halloween.
• A U T U M N • W A L K S •
I definitely have a new appreciation for walks since the lockdowns and the pandemic in general.
Theres alot of enjoyment to be had in the fresh air, amongst the trees and pretty plants. I loved our sunny summer walks but in Autumn it’s an even more beautiful experience.
• C O S Y • R E A D S •
…because I could read anywhere… but, theres nothing better than in my little reading corner, in autumn and winter, because it just feels even more cosy.
• H A L L O W E E N • F U N •
I am a big horror film fan so I enjoy the spookiness of Halloween.
Lockdown no 2 was announced this Halloween (Horror!) So I wanted to make it even more fun, because if you can’t enjoy the little things, (even when stuck at home) during a global pandemic, when can you!?
Over the weekend I ended up watching eight different horror films!
•Nightmare on Elm St (New) •Friday the 13th • Psycho (New) •Anabelle • Freddy Vs Jason •Nightmare Before Christmas •IT (The Original) •Hocus Pocus
We like to carve a pumpkin each year, because its just some harmless seasonal fun, and since I had a few from our picking spree, I carved a few.
As well as the films and pumpkin carving, we also listened to some Halloween tuness (until the X-Files theme freaked me out 🤣😱) we had Spooky, mummy sausages and jacket potatoes for dinner (because why should kids have all the fun) and Halloween Hot chocolates to round off the evening.
And a spot of Halloween Animal Crossing!
It was really good fun and it made us forget about the pandemic a bit, a fun weekend/evening spent together.
• P U M P K I N • C A R V I N G •
Because you have to do one of these every year! Come on now.
‘Parry’ By me & Tim My slight fail, HP lightening scar and glasses attemptThis was really flippin’ hard 🤣 Yes, I’m that cool.
… and yes I am indeed wearing a Bat onesie in this picture, my traditional Halloween costume/pumpkin carving outfit! 🦇
Don’t hate me cause you ain’t me!
• A U T U M N • N A T U R E •
• H U N T •
As a fun little pre lockdown 2.0 activity with my nephews, we went on a Nature Hunt.
They love running about in the park and exploring and they enjoyed it even more than I thought they would (so did I!!)
• B A K I N G •
I spent another lovely pre lockdown day with my niece 😊
What’s more cosy (and delicious) than baking!?!
We had a lovely time together ♡
Gotta love a Unicorn Cupcake 🦄🧁
& finally…
• B O N F I R E • N I G H T •
Again, due to Lockdown (thanks Rona!) we won’t be seeing people for a bit, but its timing did coincide with Bonfire Night and so we resurrected a Byford tradition, and got together to celebrate.
Outside, wrapped up, enjoying other peoples fireworks, sparklers, s’mores, soup, jackets, bangers, log burners and catching up!
A great evening! We missed this tradition last year as there was alot going on, so it was great to do it again.
It’s been a little while (probably the Summer hols) since I’ve done a little ‘life’ update and I love capturing memories on here. I think I forget to use my blog this way sometimes when I get carried away sharing about my hobbies.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Working in education, in a early years setting, means that I am constantly surrounded by Childrens books. I also have two nephews and a niece who I love reading stories too.
I love childrens books and they are a brilliant way to engage, excite and capture a childs brilliant imagination.
So, I thought that each week I would do a ‘Weekly Feature’ of a children’s book, to share with you some of the beautiful books out there.
2020 has shone a light on the reality of racism, in all its forms.
Sparked by the Black Lives Matter protests, which stemmed from horrific injustices such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor (to name a few) we are informing and educating ourselves on the wrongs of a nation, (well I hope you are) with regard to black lives and their treatment. People are educating themselves on black heritage and culture… and learning all about black history is such an important part.
‘A genuine change must first come from within the individual, only then can he or she attempt to make a significant contribution to humanity.’
Dalai Lama
This is why educating and informing ourselves is so important and Black History Month is the perfect opportunity.
Black History Month began in 1987, in order to celebrate and bring a focus to the history and contributions that black people have made to the UK.
Black history is almost completely forgotten in most traditional history curriculums.
One of my favourite mediums of information is of course print & books.
I have been purchasing some books over lockdown and in the recent weeks. These books were recommended by many people that I follow on my blogs Instagram page.
They touch on the stories and injustices of black people and they are certainly eye opening.
I would particularly recommend ‘Just Mercy’ by Bryan Stevenson, (although this is focussed on the American Justice system it is still such an important read)
Amazon have a great Black History section that offers book suggestions for both adults and children.
These include:
•Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga •Black British History: New Perspectives, Edited by Hakim Adi •Black Poppies: Britain’s Black Community and the Great War by Stephen Bourne •Black, Listed by Jeffrey Boakye
& for children..
•Bedtime Inspirational Stories – 50 Black Leaders who Made History: Black History Book for Kids by L A Amber. •Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison •Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A by Arlisha Norwood. •Coming to England: An Inspiring True Story Celebrating the Windrush Generation by Baroness Floella Benjamin.
I have also been listening to Podcasts on Spotify, a brilliant resource. There is a Black Lives Matter & Black History Now playlist.
This playlist is brilliant and I’m enjoying the ‘Inspirational Black Life Stories’ And the ‘BLAM UK: Black History Bites.’
I did a spot of baking this weekend after a busy week at work. I find it quite relaxing (as long as the recipe is simple!)
I made a Banoffee pie for a family BBQ (Link to my blog post recipe here ) & a banana bread cake. This one is for my mum. I had plenty of left over, very ripe bananas!
Roseanne Byford 