This post features some affiliate links
Wow, how is this only the first of these updates this year? Where have the last two months gone?! Apparently they’ve sped by in a blur of books, stationery, nature walks, and film watching. Who’d have thunk it? Fancy a closer look?
New books
Actual new books! I bought very few new books for myself last year but had a post-Christmas haul, thanks to the money and vouchers I’d accumulated at the end of the year. I’ve already read The Flat Share and The Places I’ve Cried in Public and hope to get to the others soon. I’ve put myself on a book buying ban (apart from the new Holly Bourne and Jodi Picoult releases, which I’ve pre-ordered) and I also won’t let myself reserve any library books until I’ve tackled this pile!
I was also lucky to win a rather epic Wordery giveaway, which not only included these six new releases, but also included 13 bookmarks. I don’t know what I was more excited about!
The only book I’d previously heard of was Miss Austen but, after putting the feelers out on Instagram, I’m excited to get through the rest of this stack.
New stationery
A girl can never have too much stationery, and I’m a sucker for a desk pad. Martha Brook gifted me a couple of pads and they’ve already proved to be so useful.
I like to treat myself to the ‘occasional’ Cult Pens order and couldn’t resist this sparkly ink. I’ve yet to master it though, as I read that you have to keep the ink moving to make your lettering sparkle?
You’re never too old for scratch art, ammiright? I had a go with a set Jenson got for Christmas and ended up ordering my own pack!
Arts and crafts
With the recent storms, Jenson and I have spent a lot of time at home, largely building marble runs and making our own greetings cards. Here are some of my creations…
and here are some of his. I love how entertained he is by the simple act of cutting and sticking.
Mindfulness
I’m trying to spend more time ‘in the moment’ and appreciating the little things, like a beautiful sunrise on the way to work, or walking in the park and taking in my surroundings, rather than constantly rushing about and being tied to my phone.
I’ve gotten into mindful photography and have really enjoyed using the camera on my new phone. I upgraded to a Huawei P30 Pro at the end of the last year because Vodafone had a fantastic Black Friday deal. For the same price as my old contract, I was able to switch to a new phone with an unlimited data package – handy for all those Instagram updates on the commute! Not only that, their Rewards package is pretty awesome, as I’m regularly treated to a free Costa coffe. Bargain!
Forest school
Forest School is still my favourite thing to do with Jenson at the weekend. Not gonna lie, weekends are fucking hard. I get off a week of work to solo parent for two days while it’s Luke’s turn to work. But getting outside makes the world of difference and I really savour this time together.
Half term
I worked nearly all the way through half term, which was hard after spending the last half term and all of Christmas with Jenson. He didn’t seem to mind though, as he had quality time with Luke, going to the cinema, the park, and soft play.
I did have Wednesday off though, so we went up to the ice rink at Heartlands (not really an ice rink – they massively over-sold it) and hit the soft play, park, and McDonalds, so he was pretty happy. In fact, he even had a danger nap on the way home, which he hasn’t done in ages.
As I said, weekends are hard, and I’m all for finding somewhere which works for us both. Turns out the Heartlands soft play and On the Bay (a cafe in Penzance) are perfect. He can play safely in an enclosed space where I can keep an eye on him while enjoying a well-earned coffee. If only everywhere offered this service!
New clothes
I very rarely buy myself new clothes and treated myself to a couple of Joanie dresses at the end of last year. I love this bookish one. I also have this dinosaur one.
And I got the best new pair of shoes from Joe Browns! These popped up on my feed the other day and Luke bought them for me <3 I can’t wait to wear them all through the spring. I’ve got some new jeans and a cardigan to complete the outfit and might need a couple more tees…
Films
I’ve also been trying to watch more films, treating myself to an early night to watch Marriage Story (Scarlett Johansson is on a roll at the moment) and I had a couple of solo cinema dates, with more on the way.
How’s your start to the year been?