I still can't get over the fact a virus stopped the world dead in its tracks for about four months now. I just find that absolutely bizarre. Sometimes I have days where I look back on life pre-coronavirus and I honestly can't remember what we did. Even reading books and reading that people shake hands or hug or pile into packed trains is something I cannot comprehend. I realise that is probably an exaggeration but I just find the whole thing absolutely mad! I'm well aware we're not out of this yet but as lockdown has been eased a little bit more over the past week I thought I would list 10 things I am looking forward to post lockdown/quarantine.

1. Seeing Friends and Family

I'm quite lucky in the sense that I actually live with my parents and my younger brother still but I still miss seeing my friends who don't live relatively close to me and certain members of my extended family like my little cousins and my aunts and uncle etc. I can't wait for the day when I can see everyone I love again. Like majority of other people I am more excited about this part and actually being able to hug them than the pubs reopening if I am being totally honest. *cough Boris cough*.

2. Going To The Theatre Again

The theatre is somewhere I consider to be my happy place. A place I go to laugh or cry or do both. A place where I can escape from all my troubles and worries and be totally absorbed into a new world, a new story and beautiful music. I've met some of my closest friends through theatre and music. It's no big secret that Covid has had a major affect on this industry. Whenever it recovers I will be there front and centre and I cannot wait. I've made it my goal that when the theatre opens I won't just go to my favourite shows but I'll also broaden my horizons and visit all the shows I haven't seen before. Supporting this industry and helping it to bounce back better than ever is definitely high on my priority list. 

3. Travelling

It wouldn't be right to leave this off the list. The industry I work in is solely based on travel and being able to get on a plan and fly to a new destination is something that I am really looking forward to, obviously depending on the government guidelines and advice. I may do a staycation this year and just travel domestically within the UK as it's something I've not really done before and I think it may be quite nice. I am lucky enough to have friends and family all around the country so just need to wait and see what the government advice will be. If you haven't seen the post where I spoke about all the places I want to visit when all this is over then click HERE. 

4. Going Back To Work 

On the 23rd June it marked 5 years since I started working for British Airways. I can't believe how quick it's gone. 5 years is quite a big deal within my company as it's when we get our annual concessions and it just makes the whole 5 years of hard work worth it. I absolutely love my job, not just for the reason that it allows me to travel a lot but I work with so many amazing people who I've not been able to see for months and even though we still speak occasionally it's just not the same. I can't wait till I'm back in work doing what I love with the best team.

5. Getting My Eyebrows & Nails Done 

I got my nails done about a week before we went into lockdown and my eyebrows way before then. My gel nails came off about 2 months ago and I did let my nails grow a little bit before anxiety crept back in and I started to bite them again which isn't good however I'm making it my goal to not bite them from now onwards. My eyebrows have never been something I've touched myself. I've always got them waxed or threaded as I'm scared I'll do a Georgia from 'Angus, Thongs & Perfect Snogging' and shave half of them off. I have recently bought a little epilator type thing from Ella Glow recently which is helping keep those pesky little hairs at bay which makes me feel a bit more human.

6. Shopping For New Clothes 

I know the shops have recently opened up and I know that I can order online however being on furlough I've made it my aim to save as much money as I can so that I can revamp my wardrobe when it's safer than it is now to do so. I don't really like the idea of queuing for hours on end just to browse a shop. I also prefer to have a look and feel of what the item is like before I buy it and ordering online to send it back if it doesn't suit me is just super time consuming and I am just not about that life.

7. Look For A New Place 

I turn 29 in August and even though I'm not embarrassed (although I have been made to feel like I should be) I have lived at home with my family for years. I moved out when I went to university and then moved back in and have been here ever since. I have a brother with learning difficulties and both my parents did shift work and because they worked on the same day, at the same time it meant that I often had to be here for my brother so it just made sense for me to stay home. Now that my Dad is retired it just seems like the perfect opportunity to find my own place and finally gain that independence I so desperately need because there will always be someone home for my brother. 

8. Join A Gym/Get A PT 

I'm sure it'll come as no huge shock to you when I say that throughout this lockdown and quarantine period I have definitely gained a pound or two as I'm sure most of you reading this also have and losing weight is definitely something I need to do. I just want to look and feel my best self and currently I do not like or enjoy how I feel or what I see when I look in the mirror. Probably a tad dramatic but I'm sure a few of you reading this will have felt the same at times. Focusing on my health is going to be a big part of the next six months. 2020 will be a success yet! 

9. Keep Up The Lockdown Reading Habit 

Throughout lockdown I have read over 30 books. I know that might seem a bit excessive to some but reading has always been something I loved to do. My Dad & Late Grandmother were also big readers so I guess I developed this love for them. Obviously working a lot and socialising with friends meant that I didn't really read as much as I could have done and by joining a book club and discovering some old favourites in my house it is definitely something I want to keep up for good. It's just the perfect remedy for reducing stress and escaping reality for a bit. 

10. Appreciate Life More 

Another thing that this time has taught me is just how much I have taken for granted. From going on day trips with friends, to being able to hope on a plane and travel anywhere I wanted these are things we never, ever had to think deeply about before but now it is all we do and the things that didn't used to matter before now matter so much more. We only get one life after all. Living it to the fullest should be top of the priority list.

There you have 10 things I am looking forward to post lockdown/quarantine etc. Don't worry I am not under the illusion these things will happen soon. I'm well aware we are talking about end of this year, possibly beginning of next year before we will be able to live our lives the way we want to but there is nothing wrong with hope and having something to look forward to. Right now I'm still going to keep that 2 metres distance, wear a face mask when I'm out and about and try and enjoy this time off that the vast majority are having because let's be honest; we won't get this downtime again until we retire. 

What are the things you are looking forward to when this is all over? 

Hugs and Kisses

Summer in my opinion is the perfect time to grab a bikini or swimsuit, head out into the garden or on the patio or even by the pool on holiday (although we all know we won't be doing that in Summer 2020) with a lovely light-hearted book. Even if you are not a huge reader sometimes a light hearted romance/chick-lit novel is the best way to go as they are always just so easy to read and follow so I have listed 9 of my favourite light hearted books below if you are looking to get into reading or just want a good light hearted book recommendation for your Summer 2020 reading list. I hope you enjoy this post.

Where Rainbows End (Love Rosie) - Cecelia Ahern 
This book was originally called 'Where Rainbows End' but was then changed to 'Love, Rosie' a couple of years ago and I must admit that I actually prefer the original title as I think it's more unique. However the whole book in itself is definitely a unique writing style. The book centres around two childhood friends Rosie & Alex and follows their lives and story right from childhood. The story is told in the style of letters, emails, instant messages and other forms of communication and I absolutely love that as I think it is such a unique writing style. You may have already seen the film but I highly recommend the book as I think it's just so much better.

PS I Love You - Cecelia Ahern 
I've just realised I've picked two Cecelia Ahern books but she is honestly such an incredible author. I absolutely adore this book. The story follows the lives, past and present of Holly and Gerry especially after (spoiler alert) Gerry sadly passes away. Gerry however didn't part in silence. He left Holly a bunch of letters that slowly guide her into her new life all whilst helping her to grieve. This book is just absolutely incredible. You may have already seen the film and if you have I recommend you read the book because then you'll see just how incredible the story and Gerry both are. The film is definitely good but it is definitely not as good as the book. A must read for everyone who has seen the film.

The Flatshare - Beth O'Leary 
One of my fairly recent reads but definitely up there with one of my favourite chick lit/rom coms of all time. It is just a lovely book. The story follows Tiffy as she looks for a room in London after splitting up with her boyfriend. She finds an advert for a 'flatshare' and following some debate between her and her friends she decides to take the room - but there's one catch - she'll be sharing a bed with Leon. Not a big deal though because they will never be home at the same time and therefore won't ever bump into each other...or will they? I just loved this book I thought the concept was so unique...obviously I knew flatsharing was a think but I never really thought of two people living together who would ultimately never really see each other and it just added to the overall charm of the book. I definitely recommend giving this a read. It's a fabulous debut from Beth O'Leary and definitely a book I would love to see be made into a film one day.

Our Stop - Laura Jane Williams 
I won't lie when I say what drew me to this book was the cover. That combination of pink and yellow is just so gorgeous and even if I saw it in a bookshop it would definitely one I wouldn't leave behind. It's stunning. The story follows the lives of Nadia and Daniel. Nadia gets on the same train every day without fail. However....so does Daniel. Then one day she spots an advert in the 'Missed Connections' section of the paper describing Nadia and asking her out for a drink. Thus the love story begins. It follows a series of messages between the two as well as VERY near misses but it is just such a lovely story and again just another unique concept.


The 'I Heart' Series - Lindsey Kelk 
I read most of these books years ago when I was younger but I only recently found out that there was three I hadn't actually picked up or even knew about before so of course I placed an amazon order and have decided to re-read the series again which is just brilliant. The story follows Angela and her life after she finds her boyfriend cheating on her in their car at her best friend's wedding. Of course she then decides to pick up her stuff and head straight to New York that very night. Thus begins an adventure of Angela making new friends, meeting Mr Right and trying to stay on her own two feet. It's one of the most brilliant series of books and I highly recommend if you're in the mood for something light and fluffy. This will definitely do the trick.

Me Before You - JoJo Moyes 
Now I won't lie here so I'll just tell you now that this is probably the saddest book of the bunch. Lou Clarke is a 26 year old who has started to work for a quadriplegic, Will Traynor, after losing her own job in a café. Will sadly became a quadriplegic after a motorcycle accident. This in turn through away all the desire he had to carry on in his life. He already has plans however is unaware of how Louise Clarke will burst into his world in a riot of colour. Neither of them are aware that they will change each other's lives for the better. I just cannot put into words just how incredibly beautiful this book is. You may have already seen the film starring Emilia Clarke as Louisa & Sam Claflin as Will and honestly they could not have been more perfectly cast. If you haven't seen the film then please read the book first THEN watch the film. Thank me later.

Dream A Little Dream - Giovanna Fletcher 
The story follows the life of Sarah who has been single for the last two years, spends the majority of time with her ex-boyfriend and new girlfriend as they have a bunch of mutual friends and she is also a PA to a man who isn't the most pleasant of human beings and it's that career that is the biggest disappointment to her Mum. However every night Sarah falls asleep and dreams about a very handsome stranger and it's one of the highlights of her day. Then one day this handsome stranger makes a real life appearance. How could this be? This book is honestly so lovely, warm and romantic and Giovanna Fletcher is just such an incredible and in my opinion very underrated author so this is a book I definitely recommend you pick up this Summer.

How To Keep A Secret - Sarah Morgan 
This is another book I have recently read and I absolutely adored it. This book follows the lives of four generations of women, all from the same family but at very different stages within their lives. They all have one thing in common and this is that they have kept secrets from each other for their whole lives. Then one day an unexpected event brings them altogether forcing this secrets to come to the surface. Could this change the course of their relationship forever? This book is so beautifully told and is told from the angles of all the women in the story so you know how each of them think and what they are feeling. It's a story about trust, honesty and family and I just adored it so much.

Lucy In The Sky - Paige Toon 
I didn't photograph this book as at the time I took photos for this post I was still reading it at the time but I couldn't not include it in this post as it's officially one of my favourite books. The story follows Lucy as she's about to leave London and head off to Sydney, Australia for her best friend's wedding. However before she set's off she receives an unexpected message that could be proof her boyfriend has cheated on her but the plane she is on and she doesn't know what to do so just heads off to Australia thinking the worst. In Australia she meets bride and groom whom she has known since childhood as she used to live in Australia when she was younger. She then meets Nathan, the grooms brother and he is not quite how she remembered when they were kids. The two rekindle their friendship but could Lucy be feeling more? And what about her boyfriend back in London? Honestly this book is just incredible and I highly recommend it. It's the first in a whole series of books by Paige Toon and I'm definitely going to be reading them all.

As you can tell from this list of books I am a bit of a hopeless romantic but I just love a good love story and this is definitely the best in my collection at the moment. I have been dabbling into a lot of thrillers and crime lately so if you have any recommendations please let me know below. Also let me know if you have read and loved/hated any of the books I've included in this post as I'd be very interested to know your thoughts. 

Hugs and Kisses

Working for an airline has meant that for the past five years I have been able to travel to some absolutely incredible places and it has been one of the most incredible things I have been able to do. However obviously with the C word it has meant travel has changed forever and for the next year at least there are going to be a lot of restrictions in place for different countries around the world and of course the UK too. However that doesn't mean we shouldn't have something to look forward to when we eventually hear travel will be allowed again so this is why I wanted to write a travel themed post and list all the places that I would like to travel once all this is over.

Mauritius 
This is number one on my list right now for the sole reason it is where my Grandma lives and I am terrified that all this means I will probably never see her again so as soon as all this is over that is where I will be jetting off to.

New York 
I visited New York back in 2014 and I absolutely loved it however I was only there for four days and even though I did see a lot I can't really remember much of it and as I am turning 30 next year it is the place I really wanted to spend my 30th. Sadly with all the recent news from America away from Covid I have been put off but hopefully by next year things will have improved.

Los Angeles 
The City Of Angels is another place that I have wanted to visit for the longest time. I know it's extremely overrated and I know there isn't a lot there and it's difficult to get around but you know when it's just one of those places that you know you have to see at least once in your lifetime? That's LA for me. I also really want to go to Universal Studios. Along with New York this was also somewhere I wanted to go to celebrate my 30th but I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens.

Australia 
I visited Sydney back in 2018 as it was my Dad's retirement year and he just needed a break so we went there to see my stepbrother and it was so lovely however there are so many other places like Queensland etc that I really want to see. I also want to visit some of the other cities like Melbourne as well so hopefully I get to do that sometime soon.

Rome & Sicily 

I could have just put this under Italy but as I've already been to Venice (this time last year) I thought I'd include two other places in Italy that I want to see. Rome has been on my list for the longest time. I know obviously with Coronavirus this beautiful country was one of the worst affected but when it is a lot better I'll definitely be heading back. During lockdown I also watched the Godfather films and part of it is filmed in Sicily. It just looked absolutely gorgeous and is a place I really want to go and explore. Also pizza? Pasta? Gelatos? Yes please and thank you! 

Morocco 

This was somewhere I wanted to visit this Summer. I've heard so much about this place from the food and culture, to the amazing sights and weather and I really hope I get to go there within the next couple of years. 

Dubai 

I'm going to be honest when I say this is a place I've never really been keen on visiting in the past. It just sounded incredibly overrated however a couple of years ago when I flew back from Sydney via Dubai is just looked absolutely stunning. One place I really want to go here is the Miracle Gardens as it from seeing photos it just looks so incredibly beautiful. 

Greece/Greek Islands 

Greece is somewhere I have felt like I needed to go ever since I watched The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants films all those years ago. It just looks absolutely stunning and two places in particular I have wanted to visit are Mykonos and Santorini. I think on every single travel post I've done on this blog since 2013 I have mentioned these two places and they are slowly but surely creeping up the list to the top. 

India 

Growing up with in a Mauritian household it has meant that I have grown up with a hell of a lot of Bollywood in my time and India has always been a place I've wanted to go. I'm well aware that India is a place that can be beautiful but also absolutely horrendous in parts in terms of poverty and crime but it's still a place I want to see and experience for myself. One place in particular I want to go to is the beautiful Taj Mahal which is definitely on my bucket list and I place I want to go to before I turn 30 if I can. 

Cappadocia 

You know those photos that you see on pinterest and instagram with all the hot air balloons and the beautiful sunsets in the background? These aren't edited in the background to look pretty! That is the beautiful Cappadocia in Turkey. If you have been here since the beginning of my blog back in 2014 you will know that I worked in the country for six months with Thomas Cook. Unfortunately I never knew about this place if not I would have definitely gone before I came back home as it's so incredibly beautiful. It is definitely a place that I have added to my never ending travel list. 

So there we have it, just 10 'little' (note the sarcasm) places that I would like to visit post Covid-19. Obviously with the UK having the highest fatality rate within Europe I appreciate that it may be a while yet until we are fully allowed to travel and explore other countries. However I wrote this post because I feel like it is important to have something to look forward to when we all eventually come out of this lockdown/quarantine period. I hope you are all keeping safe and well during this time. 

What places are on your travel wish-list when this is all over? 

Hugs and Kisses

Today I thought I would share with you 75 different black owned business that I've spent the past week discovering. I think it's so important, especially at this time, that we support these businesses as well as add a lot more diversity into our everyday lives. One thing that I noticed whilst doing this research is that absolutely none of the main stream, popular brands that we use and see on other blogs and videos etc are actually black owned and that really did shock me. I can guarantee you that the vast majority of the brands I have listed below you would not have heard of before. I know I didn't and it really shocked me.  Just before I get into the post I thought I'd do a little disclaimer to say that I have googled and researched a lot of these brands and I am in no way associated with them at all. They are all brands I've come across through my own research and this post is in no way sponsored by any of them. I hope you enjoy discovering these different brands just as much as I did. Happy Browsing!

Home, Lifestyle & Design 

• Bespoke Binny - Home Accessories Brand 
• Prick LDN - Cactus & Plant Brand 
• Chloe Ainsley Creative - Stationary & Wedding Invitations 
• Dorcas Creates - Prints & Photography Brand 
• Our Lovely Goods - Skincare, Candles & Homeware Brand 
• Fade Candles - Candles & Wax Melt Brand 
• Me By Amma Gyan - Men & Women's Handmade Bags, Purses & Leather Jewellery 
• Freya Bumble Carter - Ceramics & Glassware Brand 
• Dar Leone - London Based Online Homeware Boutique 
• Kazvare Made It - Pop Culture Influenced Prints, Homeware & Books
• New Maroons - Greeting Cards & Gifts Brand 
• Creative Curls - Portraits & Prints Brand Focusing On Ugandan Heritage 
• Copper Dust - Luxury African Home Décor 
• Tribal Unicorn - Organic Soy Wax Candle Brand

Beauty, Skincare & Haircare 

• Puriskin - Bespoke Cosmetics, Skincare & Body Care 
• Moor Hair - Natural Hair & Skincare Products 
• Brown Coconut Oil - Handmade Organic Coconut Oil 
• 516 Polish - Vegan Nail Polish
• Nice Nails Baby - Nail Salon Providing Nails, Waxing,  Tinting & Eye Beauty 
• Sunu Ker - Natural, Plant-based Beauty Products & Handmade Accessories 
• Bekura Beauty - Haircare & Body Brand 
• Beneath Your Mask - Luxury Skincare 
• The Afro Hair & Skin Co - Award Winning Natural Hair & Skin Beauty Brand 
• Over The Top - Afro Hairpieces 
• Soapsmith - Bath & Body Company 
• The Lip Bar - Cruelty Free Vegan Make Up 
• MourMourCreme - Homemade Hair, Beard & Body Products 
• Eyoko - Healthy Hair Growth Brand 
• Beauty Bakerie - Desert Inspired Beauty Brand 
• Afrocks - Number 1 Online Service For Natural Hair & Afro

Food & Drink 

Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories 

Books, Magazines & Blogs 

Children Brands 

• Amédéé - Children's Clothing & Accessories 
• Nia Ballerina - Children's Musical Jewellery Boxes 
• Colour Celebrations - Card Company That Celebrates Kids Milestones Of All Colours 
• Coco-Pie Clothing - Children's T-Shirt Brand
• Philly & Friends - Children's Book & Motivational Wall Art Brand 
• Muffin Sisters - African Inspired Baby Accessories 
• Grow With Me - A Baby Subscription Box 
• Sheni and Teni - Traditional African Educational Puzzles 

Whatever your tastes there should be something in this list for everyone and I think it's super important to support them in whatever way we can. If you can make a small purchase then obviously that will be amazing but obviously just giving them a follow on any of their social media platforms will also go a long way as well. Don't forget that with Covid 19 a few of these shops might be taking longer to deliver or be closed all together until further advice from the government is provided so if you do get into contact please be kind and patient. Maybe you could also make a list of the places you're interested in and in the future when things are improved look into them again. I know this is something I'll definitely be doing. 

If you can think of any other brands owned by the black community please leave their links below. 

Hugs and Kisses

A few weeks ago a musical challenge was doing the rounds on instagram and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to everyone's different music taste and just getting to know people a little bit better through the songs they picked especially people that you don't actually know that well but still follow. There prompts for that challenge (see below) were all so amazing so I thought why not bring this challenge to my blog as well and also give you a brief description as to why I've chosen this song. Just a little disclaimer that obviously I did not create the challenge or the photo prompts below and have no idea who did it so I can't credit them but whoever you are you are amazing. Right now that that's out of the way enjoy getting to know me better through my dare I say it questionable at times music taste!


I thought I would place a photo of the challenge above so that if you wish to recreate this post or do the challenge on your instagram you can. I've also posted this photo on my twitter too should you wish to maybe find it easier to save from there.

Day 1 - Fields Of Gold - Just a classic song that I used to play a lot when I was younger. It always made me feel happy despite it probably being one of the saddest songs out there. Does that make sense?

Day 2 - 99 Times - I chose this song purely because I've been watching One Tree Hill recently and for those of you who have watched it, you will know that Mia is played by the incredible talented Kate Voegele so it was really a no brainer when it came to choose a song for Day 2.

Day 3 - She's So Lovely - This song will forever remind me of Summertime. Anybody else just picture a girl in an olive costume running down the street when they hear this song or just me?

Day 4 - Attention - I used to love this song and then I had a bit of let's just say boy drama and this song was constantly playing on repeat back then and the words were just so relevant to what was happening at that time. I still like the song but it will forever remind me of that little bit of drama I had going on back then unfortunately.

Day 5 - Mr Brightside - I don't really need to say much more about this song do I? I mean, who listens to it quietly anyway! You need to turn it up loud like Amanda in The Holiday and sing to it at the top of your lungs!

Day 6 - Crazy In Love - I mean, come on - who doesn't dance to this when they hear it? I even do a little car dance sometimes when it comes up on the radio! You can't stay still to this song.

Day 7 - A Thousand Miles - Driving on a summer's day with the window down, your hair blowing in the wind, this song playing and you singing along loudly. It's just the ultimate road trip song.

Day 8 - The A Team - At first I wasn't sure if this was a song about drugs but then I thought back to the video and listened to the words and it just seemed like a perfect fit! Plus, is it really a playlist if you don't have at least one Ed Sheeran song on there? I think not!

Day 9 - Love On Top - Two Beyoncé songs in one playlist - who am I? But seriously who doesn't smile when this song comes on? It's just incredible!

Day 10 - See You Again - This song always makes me super emotional and I can't explain why. Charlie Puth's part always makes me a little emotional.

Day 11 - I Wanna Dance With Somebody - There are numerous places I could have put this song throughout the playlist but I honestly never get tired of it! It's just the ultimate party song!

Day 12 - Torn - God I loved this song growing up. I used to sing it into a hairbrush (you know those tiny ones with the mirror at the back) around my house all day every day and it drove my parents made. Fast forward 12 or 13 years and I do the exact same now just with a bottle of gin...oops.

Day 13 - December 1963 (Oh What A Night) - I gotta be honest this day would have been so much easier if it was referring to 60s music instead because I am obsessed with all things 60s related. HOWEVER I absolutely love Frankie Valli and when I saw this song was from the 70s I just had to include it...I am obsessed.

Day 14 - From This Moment On - 1...who didn't love Shania Twain growing up and 2...it's one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard and in my top 3 first dance songs. Now just to find a man....

Day 15 - Only Love Can Hurt Like This - Now I absolutely love the original but last year my favorite musical theatre band, Collabro, released this song on their new album and it was played on repeat for quite a long time - I think it's done so well and I am obsessed.

Hugs and Kisses

If you follow me on twitter or instagram then you would have seen that throughout May I became a little bit of a bookworm and read quite a lot. 11 books to be exact. Being furloughed from work means that I have all this free time that I definitely wouldn't have under normal circumstances and reading is something I have thoroughly enjoyed doing so today I thought why not talk to you all about all the books I read in May. Grab a cuppa and be sure to have a pen and paper/phone/kindle ready because I'm sure you'd be interested in a lot of these books. I'll try not to give too much away of each of the stories but I can't promise that I will be able to achieve this. I will also provide my own personal rating of the book at the end as well. Enjoy! 

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

I absolutely loved Queenie. Queenie is the main protagonist in the book. She is a journalist and the story evolves around her recent break up with her boyfriend. The story focuses on the importance of family and friendship whilst also focusing quite strongly on the theme of racism throughout the book. Queenie is an novel that made me laugh out loud from page one and I definitely struggled to put it down in places. I also found it was incredibly cleverly written in parts tackling sex, race, family, mental health in places and even friendship all whilst still being humorous. Considering everything that is going on in the world at the moment this is definitely a book that I would say is an essential read. It's very eye opening to what black people do go through on a daily basis and definitely gave me a lot of perspective. 

Rating: 5 Stars 

Blood Orange By Harriet Tyce 

At the beginning of May I couldn't escape this book. It was absolutely everywhere and for good reason too. It's just so good. The story follows Alison who is a barrister in a very toxic marriage and from the extremely risky prologue you know that there's going to be references to auto-erotic asphyxiation which is definitely something I personally never really knew a lot about before stumbling across this book. The first half I thought was quite slow paced for a thriller but because Alison is so hellbent on self destruction it definitely kept me reading more.

Alongside Alison's personal life she is also working on a murder trial which is one of the main focuses on the first half of the book and it's crazy how this and her personal life sort of interlink in a way. It's definitely a storyline that I loved throughout the book and one that could have been a novel in itself as it left the reader wanting more. The second half the book was absolutely incredible and when I had finished it I was absolutely gobsmacked and could not stop thinking about the book for a good couple of days after I had finished. The ending is just absolutely incredible. Despite all this I must say that not one character was likeable throughout this book apart from Alison's daughter which sometimes did make it quite difficult to continue.

This book is definitely an incredibly heavy and can be a quite triggering read due to themes of sex, alcoholism, gas lighting, rape and a lot of emotional abuse throughout the story so it is definitely one to think about before picking it up as it definitely will not be for everyone.

Rating: 3 Stars 

How To Keep A Secret By Sarah Morgan 

I came across Sarah Morgan's books earlier last year and I absolutely love her style of writing. Her books are so light hearted and easy to read and it just kept me wanting to read more. I found 'How To Keep A Secret' in my book cupboard and knew it was something I had to read. The story follows the journey of four woman all part of the same family, The Stewart Family; but from different generations. Each of these woman are at different stages of their lives and all have their own secrets that they have kept from each other for most of their lives which quite often has contribute to them drifting apart rather than bringing them together however as with most books like this they have no choice when an unexpected crisis brings them all together, thus the story of each of their pasts begins to unfold. Despite being told from 4 different angles there are no gaps as to what happens. It all slots in quite nicely and there was never a 'but what about this person' as I was reading it at all.

I thought the story was beautifully written and centres around the strong importance of family, love, trust and honesty as well as the importance of being brave and strong. It was quite an emotional read in parts but definitely one I would recommend to everyone.

Rating: 4 Stars

Guilty by Laura Elliot

This book was actually sent to me by a friend when she was doing a book clear out at some point last year and I only got around to reading it last year and I don't know why I put it off for so long. The story is told over a six year period and is split over four different parts. The story follows the story of Karl Lawson and his journey when he is falsely accused over the disappearance of his 13 year old niece, Constance, who one day just goes missing. Over this period he has constantly got the attention of the media on him and the attention of one reporter in particular, Amanda Bowe, who as it happens knew Carl right at the beginning of her career. Not only is the media against him, but so are the general public and his family who also suspect that Karl is involved with the disappearance of Constance.

One thing I loved about this book was how it was split over four different parts and the narrative was told from both Karl's and Amanda's point of view which I thought was interested. One thing I will say is that I thought the book went on for longer than was necessary especially the last part of the story. I thought it would have been better as a three part story. I also absolutely hated Amanda too. But what I found interesting about this book was how Laura Elliot explored the theme of the last couple of years 'fake news' and just how destroying it can actually be. This book is enjoyable but you may find it quite long winded in parts.

Rating: 3 Stars 

The Cactus by Sarah Haywood 

I won't lie, this book is probably my least favourite of all 11 I read. It is a good read but I just found it so incredibly difficult to get into and really didn't connect with the main character, Susan at first at all which actually spoilt the book for me in certain places. I just found her quite irritating but the more you read the book the more you start to realise that she is more than likely on the spectrum. She is definitely super prickly, hence the name of the book, super organised and very awkward.

The story follows the life of Susan and her brother after they find out the death of their beloved Mother and realise they need to figure out who will get the estate that has been left behind. Tensions begin to rise as to who will acquire the property and who should rightly get it. Their Mother did leave it in the care of one of her children but is it the right one? This was a story line but one that you realise is incredibly important for Susan. Along the way Susan finds love and strong friendships in incredibly unlikely places. It's a very nice little story but not one I would pick up again personally.

Rating: 3 Stars 

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Oh I absolutely loved 'The Nightingale'. The story is based during the war, but unlike most war books that have a male focus, this book is told purely from a woman's perspective. The story focuses on sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, during occupied France during the Second World War and how they go about their day to day lives. They are both incredibly different. Vianne, the oldest has a young daughter and has to think about her life as her husband has just gone off to War. The youngest, Isabelle, has always had a bit of a rebellious side and wants to add something of value to the war. This difference between them ultimately tears them apart due to their different passions and circumstances.

I cannot, cannot express just how beautiful and incredible this book is. It is told from the start of the war right through to the end of the war. It is a beautifully told story, not just about war, but about family, about womanhood and about the strong mother/daughter relationships and sisterhood too. It is so moving and so beautiful and I lost count of the amount of times I cried at this book. It is one everyone has to read. It's recently been announced that 'The Nightingale' will be hitting the screens in December 2021 and I for one, cannot wait. I really hope it's done the book justice.

Rating: 5 Stars 

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary 

I adored the Flatshare and it's definitely in my top 5 favourite rom-coms of all time. The story follows the lives of Tiffy and Leon. Tiffy has recently broken up with her boyfriend and has had to move out and look for her own place in London. She does have a budget and unfortunately what she does come across in London is pretty awful. She stumbles across an advert from Leon where he is looking for a roommate, however they have to share a bed. No problem because they will never be in the house at the same time as Leon works nightshifts. In order to communicate they leave post-it notes, food that they have left over for each other.

This book is incredibly funny, warm and you are definitely rooting for both the protagonists however it isn't as light and fluffy as I thought it might have been for what you'd assume is a chick-lit novel. It does have a theme of an abusive relationship throughout the novel but this is done so sensitively that you never really feel the novel is that dark because of it. I just loved this book and thought it's an incredible debut novel.

Rating: 5 Stars 

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano 

This book is just so beautiful and another one of my top reads from May. It follows the life and story of 12 year old Edward after he was involved in a plane crash. He is the sole survivor and unfortunately lost his Mum, Dad and brother. The story is told from two different angles which is something I loved about the book even though it did make me sad in parts. The story alternates between the hours on the plane through to just before it comes down and Edward's journey through life after the accident.

What I loved about this book is that it is such a gentle read. It's not a book that is full of twists and turns but at the same time you're still wanting to know more about what happens and how Edward develops the longer the story goes on. Obviously the book deals with a lot of sensitive topics like loss, grief, trauma and what happens when life goes on. It is just such a beautiful story and I honestly have nothing bad to say about it. It's not as sad as you may think and I found I was really rooting for Edward and was so proud of him. It's definitely a book I would recommend.

Rating: 5 Stars

I Heart New York #1 by Lindsey Kelk 

The 'I Heart' Series is a book series I started ages ago but only recently discovered the books again and also realised that there are two books I didn't actually have so of course I picked them up and decided that I would start reading them all again because ya know, who doesn't love a good rom com series. The story follows the life of Angela Clarke after she finds her boyfriend cheating on her at her best friend's wedding. She also finds out that all her friends knew and didn't mention it to her so not only does she get incredibly angry, make the bride cry and break her best friend's new husband's hand but she gets on a plane and moves to New York that very same night with nothing but the clothes on her back, money, phone and laptop. There she means the lovely Jenny and starts dating not just one but two gorgeous men and gets a job blogging for an online magazine. What could possibly go wrong? Well, for that you'll need to keep reading.

I just loved this book so much and realised just how much me and Angela actually have in common, the main one being we are literally both walking disasters. I absolutely love her. This is the first book in the series and I would highly recommend reading it. You'll laugh out loud.

Rating: 5 Stars 

Half A World Away by Mike Gayle 

Oh I absolutely adored this book. I was a bit sceptical of picking it up at first as I heard so many mixed reviews but when I asked people which book I should read next they all said this one and I'm so glad they did.

The story follows the life of single mum Kerry Hayes who is not only an incredibly hard worker but also lives on an incredibly run down estate in London. She was taken into care as a child and separated from her brother Noah Martineau who was adopted by a fairly well off family however Kerry can not forget what happened in her past. She reaches out to Noah, who she knew as her brother Jason and sets in motion a chain of events that will change their lives forever. I won't lie I first got the impression of a Parent Trap-esque story line from the description but I honestly couldn't have been more wrong and it was such a unique story to read.

The book explores certain themes throughout the novel such as race, cancer (which can be quite triggering), different social class, and obviously adoption which is one of the main themes at the beginning of the book. All these themes are done so sensitively. Ultimately the book is about family and knowing where you truly belong and I absolutely sobbed when I was finished. Would I pick it up again? Probably a not as in some places I did feel like it was aimed more for young adults but if you haven't read it it's definitely one I think needs to be read.

Rating: 4 Stars 

I Heart Hollywood #2 By Lindsey Kelk 

In the second novel of the 'I Heart' series we join Angela and Jenny in Los Angeles where she has been assigned the very exciting task of interviewing one of the hottest Hollywood stars at the moment, James Jacobs. In this story Angela is more clumsy than the first novel. One thing I don't like about Angela is just how much of a big drinker she is and this is how she's introduced to James Jacobs by throwing up on his doorstep. Angela definitely underestimates his popularity and even though his generosity extends to showing her all the non-tourist hot spots of LA little does she knew that the paparazzi are following their every move and soon she's splashed all over the internet and in magazines and is considered to be the new love of James Jacobs life which isn't good when she has a boyfriend back in New York. Will their relationship be able to pass this test and will Hollywood win Angela's heart?

In some ways I preferred this book to the first and I love seeing how Angela develops and grows over the course of the books. Like I said above, I just couldn't recommend this series enough.

Rating: 5 Stars

So there we have it, all the books that I have read during May. I hope you find something here that rmeets your tastes. Unfortunately a lot of these book are rom-com/chick lit type novels which may not be for everyone but if you're looking to get back into reading and are after something a little more light-hearted then a lot of these books will be absolutely perfect for you.

What have you been reading recently? 

Hugs and Kisses

Happy Wednesday Everyone. Hope you are all having a lovely week so far. I think we can all admit that right now is a little bit of an odd time. I realise that sentence is probably the understatement of the year so today I wanted to just write a slightly positive post purely to make myself feel a little bit happier. With everything that is going on in the world right now it is completely understandable and justifiable as to why everyone's mood has just taken a beating at the moment but I also think it's okay to be positive and upbeat too which is why I wanted to write this post. Today I thought I would talk to you about five things I am loving at the moment.

1# Not Wearing Make Up. I'm not going to lie I haven't worn make up since I was put on furlough back in March and my skin is breathing so much. However, despite the make up I have had quite a lot of spots appear on the side of my face, neck and chin but I think that might have more to do with all the chocolate I've been eating. Woops. At the moment I am due to go back to work at the start of July and even though I am excited, because I do shift work, I am dreading have to put make up on at 3/4AM. That is definitely not going to be easy and way to much effort. I definitely have to stock up on make up too because at the beginning of quarantine I did a huge clear out and a lot of my make up is now in the bin. Oops.



2# Reading. If you've followed me on social media for the past couple of months then you will have seen I've basically been reading none stop. My job is one where I can't work from home and being furlough means I've not really had much to do with the company other than a little bit of online training that I had to do. I've read about 12 or 13 books since the beginning of May and honestly with everything that is going on at the moment it is so lovely to have that little bit of escapism and not have to worry about what is going on for a couple of hours. I've recently bought the entire Harry Potter box collection and I am so excited to actually read the books in order at long last. I've also recently read 'Our Stop' which is top of the pile in the photo above and it's such a cute chick lit novel. I highly recommend everyone reads it. It's funny, it's cringe worthy and it's oh so romantic. I loved it!



3# Chloe Perfumes. I absolutely adore Chloe perfumes and I received a box set full of minute Chloe perfumes at Christmas and it's only taken me till now to actually open them up and use them and I am obsessed. Yes I'm not going anywhere and yes nobody but my family (who I live with by the way) can smell but it's one of those things that actually makes me feel quite put together.

4# Grey's Anatomy. So I discovered this show last year at some point after seeing so many people talk about it on twitter and it was on quite a lot of people's instagram stories so I thought I would give it a shot and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. The medical profession is one I have always been intrigued by purely because my Mum is a nurse and when I was younger I wanted to follow her footsteps into that profession. Unfortunately school was something I struggled at and I soon realised it wasn't meant to be but that's okay. This show follows the lives of a group of doctors as they work their way up to be fully qualified surgeons. There is a lot of heartache, character development, cast changes etc but it is just incredible and a show I would highly recommend. However, if you are squeamish or don't like blood stay far away!



5# Long Walks In The Park. At the beginning of lockdown/quarantine I was super scared to even leave my house to go for a walk but then the government made it loud and clear that this was allowed so I started going every single day and I am so glad I did. Right next to my house there is a park and I have been there a few times but only recently have I realised just how big and incredible it actually is and how many hidden gems are there. I've discovered little rivers, I've seen so many different types of birds, as part of the park is a nature reserve and just discovered how incredible this place truly is. Not going to lie though I'm pretty sure I've seen every single inch of that park now and I am getting a little bored of walking around the same place every day BUT if it wasn't for this period I wouldn't have known about it at all so in a way I'm grateful to this time. It's also been the perfect time for me to catch up on new music and most days I will message a couple of friends asking for any recommendations and it has been an absolute joy coming across new artists over this period.

Obviously there have been other things such as baking banana and apple muffins, having house party dates with my best friends etc, that have also made me extremely happy over this period as well. One thing I will add to this blog post is to please not feel guilty about feeling happy or enjoying yourself over this time. The world is an incredibly scary place right now and yes we do need to pay attention and educate ourselves more on it all but at the same time it's okay to have a laugh and take time for yourself so please don't feel guilty about it. Your mental health has to come first. 

Hugs and Kisses
Fleur xo

Source

The news of the murder of George Floyd in America in this week has shocked and angered not just myself  but also the rest of the world. On social media people are expressing their own anger all day, every day and rightly so. However whilst reading all these tweets and posts it got me thinking about things I am actively doing to stop this and the answer is not a lot. Two questions came to mind. How diverse am I being with the books I read or the films and TV shows I watch? Do I speak about it on my social media channels? There is one answer to these questions. A resounding NO. I've said I'm not racist but really is this good enough? Again, no. Saying those words simply isn't acceptable if I am not being actively anti racist. I know it isn't a lot but today I thought I'd write a blog post about the different sources we can use to educate ourselves on this topic. I believe that a stepping stone into actively being anti racist is by being more inclusive with the books we read and the films and TV shows we watch. I am not black but I am not white either. I am mixed and I accept that I am extremely privileged as I go about my every day life as opposed to other people of colour within our communities. Today I thought that I would combine a list of all the books, tv shows and films that I am using and have come across over the past few days that have and will continue to educate me on this important subject. 

Books 

Below are a list of 25 books I have come across that are not only from BAME authors but within their books highlight the very often inhumane treatment of black people and other communities amongst our society. If you are looking to educate yourself I would say this is a very good place to start as these voices need to be heard. 

As well as the above books I've also come across a website that has a lot more information on the 'Black Lives Matter' Movement with a lot of information about how it all started and what their goal and mission is. On the website it also has a lot of other resources that are linked along with different ways in which you can support them. If you are interested please click on THIS link.

Films/TV Shows 

Below are 25 films and TV shows that not only represent the BAME community but are also extremely educational. I have combined both film and TV programmes into this section because trying to find 25 for TV and 25 films separately proved to be quite difficult. These pieces of media are not necessarily made by someone in the BAME community but they do hold a theme of racism/race throughout the story and are just as educational and eye-opening. 

The world right now is a horrendous place to live in, not just because of the virus, but because we are seeing videos of people abused, getting falsely accused and killed on the streets on near enough a daily basis because of the colour of their skin and it has got to stop. I don't have a huge following. In fact I barely have a following but what I do have is a platform and a voice that I will use at a time like this. I hope this post has made you realise that what's going on today is NOT okay. I've seen a lot of tweets asking people of colour to tell them more and I'm sorry but it is not their responsibility. It is yours. There's google and as you can see from this post plenty of books, films and TV shows to use. There is also instagram and other social media where you can find out more information for yourself. If you do message someone asking them for help please be respectful and mindful. 

Right now the majority of the country and in fact the world is in isolation/lockdown/quarantine. This time will not last forever and it is time we will probably never get back again during our lifetimes. There really is no better time than the present to use these resources and learn as much as we can to stop this awful battle going on around the world. All of us, me included, have so much work to do and I hope these sources help you understand a lot more. I know they will help me. 

Use your voice. Challenge your friends and family. Educate yourselves and use the information that you find to educate others. Online there are lots of petitions you can sign, as well as donations you can make. By using your own social media you can begin to raise awareness yourself by tweeting, retweeting and posting about things you find. If you have missed the link above for donations and petitions to sign I will link it again HERE. The main aim of all this is to remember that black lives matter. This is not ignorant towards other lives because of course all lives matter but this is about systemic racism and violence against black people that is becoming increasingly worse as time goes on and should have never ever have existed in the first place.

Fleur xo 

Both images used in this blog post were found on pinterest with no link to any other source.