Thriving on Witchcraft and Wizardry

Posted on June 12, 2018 by Jen Eden under Random Share

A bit of fun for today! I spotted this tag over at Sprinkle and Dreams, and the lovely Lily was kind enough to invite me to join in. Being a lover of all things Harry Potter I, obviously, accepted!

https://giphy.com/embed/FaLhiZQHrBIYwvia GIPHY

When you’re done here, you should all go and follow this lovely literary blog. Thanks for the tag, Lily! 😉

Are you a Pure Blood or a Half-Blood?

According to this test, I am a half-blood. And proud!

Which wand chose me?

Did you take a cat, owl or toad with you?

It would have to be an owl. Not only do I love those beautiful, intelligent birds but they are SO useful!

Where did the Sorting Hat put you?

It put me in Gryffindor, repeatedly and to my eternal surprise. I’m really a Gryffinpuff.

What lessons are your favourite and least favourite?

I love Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts (especially when taught by Remus Lupin). I love potions as a subject but Snape scares the nargles out of me as a teacher! My least favourite would be Divination and possibly Herbology (I do NOT have green thumbs…)

What does your Boggart look like?

A Dementor. 100%.

Do you partake in any magical hobbies or school sports?

I would obviously read all the magical books and I may partake of a little broomstick flying but I don’t know if I’d be up to Quidditch.

Where would you spend your spare time?

In the castle, probably mainly in the library, although I’d also like to explore the kitchens and just wander the halls. I’d also love to explore Hogsmeade!

What would you most likely get detention for?

I do not get detentions. I am a model witch! If I were to get one it would probably be for reading under the table in class instead of paying attention to the lesson… 😉

So there you have it: a little Hogwarts Tag for a gloomy Tuesday. If you’d like to join in, consider yourself tagged!

Raindrops On Roses

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Jen Eden under Personal, Random Share, Recommended

Hello lovelies. It’s been a hell of a few weeks. It’s been busy, tiring, stressful, emotional and I’ve had this post in the back of my head for probably a month now without doing anything with it. As it happens, a post focusing on a few of my favourite things is just what I need right now. Sometimes it’s good to take a step back from all the busyness and negativity that can wear us down and spend a bit of time recognising those little things that make our days brighter. I’m also coming back to my word for 2017, Nourish, and looking at the things that I invest in (aside from the obvious of spending time with my favourite people) to help me take care of myself.

Before I start my raving I should just clarify that I have no affiliation with any of the products or sites listed, and I’m promoting them purely because I love them all and they make my days brighter!

Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my latest loves:

1. Book Subscription Boxes – Illumicrate

Anyone who knows me even a little bit will know of my eternal love for books. Just over a year ago I signed up for my first ever book subscription box and it is honestly one of the best things I’ve ever treated myself to. I signed up with Illumicrate, which is UK based and quarterly – great for my bank balance because a) the delivery is MUCH cheaper than many of the other boxes that are based elsewhere in the world, and b) it’s a 4-times-a-year treat rather than every month (which I would feel less able to justify). I have had one offs of other boxes but Illumicrate is my favourite and my joy. It is the MOST exciting thing to have this bright box appear at my door, stuffed fit to bursting with books and bookish goodies. There have been jewellery items, stationary, tote bags, bookmarks, lip balms, candles, socks, mugs – the list is endless. Every single box has been amazingly curated. There hasn’t been a book included that I haven’t loved. It’s like a little box of sunshine every season. Daphne, who runs the whole things whilst also working full time and looking after a little one (hello Wonder Woman!), is super lovely, interacts with her followers on social media and is really helpful if you need to get in touch about anything. In short, Illumicrate is just fabulous. I can’t recommend it enough. If you want to subscribe (which you should) then pop over to the website and sign on up. (If you head over to Instagram you might also be able to find yourself a discount code from one of their reps!)

2. Nomatic Planners

Every year I get a new planner. I could just put everything in my phone but I’m a sucker for pen and paper so I like having a pretty planner to put my appointments and notes in. I’ve had Moleskines for the past few years but, whilst I still love their notebooks and planners, when I saw the Nomatic I couldn’t resist. I’m terrible for having several notebooks on the go at once, all for different things, but this year I’ve been able to cut that down massively because this planner is so flipping versatile! I love it! The whole thing is undated so it can be started at any point; 12 months of monthly spread calendar pages with 5 week-to-view double spreads between each month; a section of lined pages and a section of plain pages, both of which have some perforated sheets; a pocket in the back with mini whiteboard sheets for erasable notes; space for goal setting each week and month; three page markers; opens to flat lay; two elastic closures to keep everything secure or to hold pages open; lovely quality paper with very little show or bleed through; space between the top page edge and elastic closure for your pen to sit tucked away comfortably.

ALL the things in one place. It’s such a beautifully put together planner and it’s so lovely to use that for the first time ever I have actually filled it in consistently. And when you buy the Nomatic BASICS planner you get a code to give you a 20% discount for LIFE! I am one happy Nomatic customer. It you want to explore their planners and notebooks and buy one for yourself, head over here and treat yourself.

3. Graphik Linemaker Pens

To go right along with my lovely planner are some lovely pens. I have been so pleased with the Graphik Linemakers from Derwent: various nib thicknesses, different colours/sets, perfect for line drawing, doodling, and writing. They’ve been great for the combination of notemaking, writing, doodling, hand lettering, and illustrating that goes on in my planner and can’t recommend them highly enough as a good all-round creative’s pen. Easily picked up from arts and craft stores, amazon, or direct from Derwent.

4. Paperfury – Blog and Bookstagram

Not a favourite thing, rather a favourite place/person. The Paperfury blog, Twitter and Instagram feeds are currently some of my absolute favourite places to spend time on the internet. Cait’s bright and bubbly blog speaks to my bookish soul and never fails to bring a smile to my face. Her bookstagram photos are stunning, her recommendations excellent, and her insights into bookworm/writer life are hilarious and relatable. Her contributions to twitter are also wildly entertaining. She’s super fun to chat to and interact with in her comments or on social media. Perfect if you’re into fantasy (especially of the stabby/dragon based variety), cake (who isn’t into cake?), and world domination. Seriously, go make friends. Or, alternatively, do what I do and lurk in the shadowy corners of her rainbow space, occasionally retweeting and commenting with all caps because you just can’t contain the ME TOO feelings…

5. Literary Pins

I am an absolute sucker for literary accessories and have a particular weakness for literary pins. These are just some of my favourites from my ever growing collection. Some of my favourite shops for literary pins include Nutmeg and Arlo, The Literary Gift Company, and The Literary Emporium. They currently live on my work lanyard and they make me smile every day. Perfect small gifts for book lovers!

6. Polaroid Zip Instant Printer

I have wanted a mini photo printer for ages. One that would link up to my phone so I could quickly and easily print some of my photos to use in my journaling or just for keepsakes. I’d looked at the Polaroid Zip on and off and was a bit wary as it had mixed reviews. I found a second hand one going cheap and decided to give it a shot and I’m so glad I did. I get why it has mixed reviews: the photo quality isn’t amazing, the paper isn’t cheap and the app can be a bit clunky…but for what I was looking for it’s great! The photos print quickly and the quality is good enough for small prints (I like to think of them as having a kind of retro vibe – think Instagram filters!). The printer is a really neat size and I love that the photo papers have sticky backs! Super easy to print off a snap from the weekend and stick it straight into my planner. I was able to put together this mini album spread from our trip to Prague in just a few minutes. I’m really enjoying being able to print some of my favourite photos at the click of a button rather than leaving them sat on my phone.

7. Trollbeads

A few years ago everyone suddenly started wearing charm bracelets with bead style charms rather than the traditional clip on/dangly ones. I was ahead of the game. I’d already had my Trollbeads bracelet which was, and still is, one of my favourite pieces of jewellery. I absolutely adore Trollbeads. They have such original and quirky designs, beautifully made and with a whole host of different metals and stones to choose from, as well as their gorgeous glass beads. After years of collecting (and mostly being bought beads for birthdays and Christmases by my dad) my Trollbeads bracelet really tells a story. There are beads that reflect significant moments in my life, beads that were given with true sentiment, beads I treated myself to in celebration or comiseration. It’s me in charms and I love it. They’ve increased their range and offer other jewellery as well as charm bracelets – I have a beautiful pair of earrings and one of their fantasy necklaces which I also adore. Their service is always excellent – on one occasion I managed to get one of my beads stuck in the clasp (don’t ask me how!) and by sending my bracelet off to them they kindly rectified the problem for me. Their glass and silver beads also start at really reasonable prices. I love wearing my Trollbeads and I honestly think their charms are more beautiful and original in design than those from other charm retailers.

8. Bellabeat Leaf

In an attempt to keep track of how active I was being and encourage myself to do more exercise I had been tracking my steps and activity using apps on my phone. That was fine but I couldn’t always have my phone on me and some of the apps were real batter drainers. So I started looking at fitbits and pedometers. They seemed useful and did what I wanted them to do but they were quite pricey and were just not attractive to look at. I could see myself buying one and not wearing it all the time because it would look too clunky with my outfit. I’m not a fashionista or anything but I do like my accessories to look good and match what I’m wearing. Enter Bellabeat leaf…

I LOVE this fitness tracker. Yes, that beautifully crafted piece of jewellery is in fact a fitness tracker. It counts my steps, I can add other exercise, it measures my sleep, has meditations in the paired app to help you engage with and track mindfulness activities, it will track my menstrual cycle and it looks gorgeous! I most often wear it as a necklace but it can be worn as a bracelet or just clipped to the edge of a top or pair of trousers. It really is a stunning piece of smart jewellery that I am more than happy to show off with my day to day or going out outfits, or if it’s not quite the right piece for what I’m wearing, I can clip it to my waistand or bra so it’s neatly tucked out of sight but still measures all the things I want it to. The app it pairs with is really user friendly and also beautifully designed. It is not really any more expensive than other fitness trackers (especially when you consider you get a versatile piece of jewellery out of it too). You can also customise I with different necklaces, bracelets and even change the metal section so you can choose between silver or rose gold. LOVE. It is one of the best investments I have made for myself and I wear it every. single. day.

9. Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer

You may or may not have picked up but I’m a bit of an aspiring writer. I don’t write as often as I’d like and I can’t really decide if I’m actually any good at it, but I enjoy it and I like to dream that one day I might actually knuckle down and write something that people want to read. I love dipping into different website and books for inspiration, I love finding writing prompts and activities to try. One of my absolute favourite discoveries for writing inspiration and motivation is Jeff Vandermeer’s Wonderbook. This. Book. Is. AMAZING. It is stunningly illustrated, beautifully written, full of interesting insights and anecdotes, unusual writing prompts, and with contributions for writers of varied genres and walks of life. It’s great for dipping into or for sitting and reading in big chunks. Highly recommended for writers (aspiring or otherwise) – a perfect addition to your shelves.

10. Flow Magazine & Flow Specials

I have told of my love for Flow magazine before. In fact, I wrote a whole post gushing about the wonder that is Flow over here. I’m going to gush again. Flow remains the only magazine that I have ever read cover to cover. I eagerly anticipate its quarterly release and still marvel at the beautiful content that the wonderful team at Flow put together. The articles are varied and interesting, layout gorgeously designed, the activities excellent for promoting well being and reflection, the extra freebies perfect for paper lovers and creatives. I’ve also been really impressed by the Flow specials and paper books. The paper books are crammed with paper goodies and I love using their wrapping and writing papers, and have a whole wall covered in Flow posters and postcards next to my desk at work. The Flow specials are relevant and so good for helping refocus, recentre, and live a balanced and meaningful life. I’ve found their mindfulness special great for helping me manage anxious periods and have recently bought their latest special on love and friendships which I can’t wait to dive into. I can’t recommend Flow highly enough and it’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of every day life. Find your me-time in between the pages.
There you have it. Mini-reviews of some of my favourite things. I hope you enjoyed seeing a little of what I chose to spend my time (and money) on and maybe saw something you’d like to try for yourself. What are some of your favourite things?

National Poetry Day – Sharing a favourite

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Jen Eden under Random Share

A rather late post but I’ve still made it (just) inside National Poetry Day.

I couldn’t let today pass without sharing my favourite poem: Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. This is my favourite for a number of reasons. It gets the top spot partly because I just love the nonsense and the rhythm and the language of this poem. I never tire of hearing it or reading it. More significantly though, I love it because of the memories I have associated with it. I first heard Jabberwocky from the lips of my much loved grandpa. He loved poetry and had many memorised (in fact that’s how he wooed my gran!) and this is one I clearly remember him sharing with me. I thought it was wonderful and he took the time to teach it to me. It is, to this day, the only poem I have ever managed to memorise and I think of my grandpa every time I hear it, read it, or recite it.
Jabberwocky

By Lewis Carroll
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!”
He took his vorpal sword in hand;

Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree

And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.
“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

He chortled in his joy.
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.
Happy National Poetry Day! What’s your favourite poem?

Something Bookish This Way Comes…

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Jen Eden under Book Love, Life, Random Share

There’s something exciting coming in the world of book subscription boxes… something that takes the magic of travelling by book one step further, by bringing a little bit of those bookish places straight to your favourite reading spot.

Fernweh Fiction is a brand new subscription box from @thetravellingreader. Inspired by trips around England, and using the recommended fiction book of the month, The Travelling Reader will visit the place in which the book is set, to gather locally crafted, book- or place-related products, before parcelling them all up to send out to you. When all that bookish goodness arrives you can take a captivating journey from the comfort of your own armchair.

Fernweh (n.): an ache for distant places; the craving for travel; being homesick for a place you’ve never been

Fiction (n.): the class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration, especially in prose form
I’m so excited about this box because reading and travel are two of my favourite things. I was enchanted first by the name (fernweh is one of my all time favourite words), and then by the concept. It’s so unique and I have no doubt it will bring the experience of reading even more to life (and will probably give me plenty of ideas for my next trip!).

I’m even more excited to have been chosen as one of their reps! This news absolutely made my day and I can’t wait to support this fabulous new bookish endeavour. I’m also hoping this will be the kick I needed to breathe some life back into my blog – my little corner of the internet has been sorely neglected recently.

If you’d like to learn more about the Fernweh Fiction box, visit fernwehfiction.com for 10% off your first box and the chance to win a lifetime subscription. You should also mosey over to The Travelling Reader to explore some wonderful place and book reviews.

Happy bookish travels! 🙂

Random Meme

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Jen Eden under Random Share

Random meme swiped from Get It All Down

Do you need to write down things to remember them?

Generally, yes.

Do you keep a diary/journal?

Of sorts. I have a day to day diary for appointments and stuff which gets filled up with doodles, quotes and random musings, as well as a visual journal which I only really add to when I’m feeling inspired.

Are you scared of thunderstorms?

Not especially; I think they’re amazing to watch so I enjoy seeing/hearing them from a safe distance but I do get a little twitchy if there’s one happening right over me.

Do you have any unusual fears or phobias?

Nothing specific. I find that when my anxiety rears its ugly head I feel really afraid of nothing in particular, which probably seems quite unusual to most people but I guess not so much for anxiety sufferers.

What’s your favourite Disney movie?

Oh my goodness, why would you ask me that?! As if I could pick just one! Some of my favourites are definitely Beauty and The Beast, Sleeping Beauty, The Sword in The Stone, Robing Hood, Big Hero 6… you know what? If I carry on I’m just going to list them all, so I’m going to stop.

Have you ever painted a house?

What an ambiguous question. A whole house? The inside of one? The outside? Or are we talking about painting a picture of a house? I’ve certainly painted rooms within a house if that’s what you mean. Painting the whole house seems a little excessive.

What’s the tallest tree you’ve ever climbed?

Are you asking for a measurement? Because i have no idea. Probably one of the horse chestnuts on the park behind the house where I grew up.

Do you always wear identical socks?

No. Weirdly, I go through phases of wanting to wear matching socks or purposefully mismatched socks. There is no middle ground.

Do you live by any motto or philosophy?

Many.

Do you lick the yogurt or dessert lid?

Of course.

Do you lick the spoon clean after making something sweet?

Who doesn’t?!

Have you ever played the bongos?

I feel like this is something I should have done but I don’t think I actually have.

Have you ever handled a snake?

No. And honestly this does NOT feel like something I should have done.

Have you ever assembled furniture by yourself?

Abso-flippin-lutely I have! I sort of feel like its a badge of honour for a bookworm to build her/his own bookshelves. I have also built a desk.

When did you last go to the beach?

Far too long ago. Probably on honeymoon which is nearly 2 years ago now. Happily there are beaches in my not-too-distant future.

When, if ever, did you last go to London?

That would be the week after Easter this year.

What do you do to cool down when its hot?

I eat ice lollies and read a book in the garden. Reading helps with everything.

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?

I’m not generally one for unusual food so it’s probably something like squid. I also ate fresh figs pulled straight from the tree in Greece…which is unusual since it’s not something that would be readily available to me. Does that count?

Do you have a favorite mug?

I have two; one with Winnie the Pooh and friends beautifully painted on it and one that says DON’T PANIC in ~~big~~ small friendly letters on the side.

Do you know any self-defense or martial arts?

Not technically but I reckon I can kick pretty hard…

Who’s your favourite movie action hero?

Never really thought about it…thinking…still don’t know.

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?

Nope.

Do you collect anything?

Books, notebooks, washi tape, stationary in general.

Is there anything you wished would come back into fashion?

Nothing specific but I occasionally wish hats were more of a ‘thing’ in general. I love hats.

Do you stick to conventional fashions or like to try and be original?

Neither, I wear what I want regardless of whether it is ‘fashionable’ or ‘original’ – I’d rather be comfy and feel like me than be ‘cool’.

Have you ever given someone a handmade present?

Yes indeed. Many people in fact!

Lovely Links

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Jen Eden under Random Share

Hello fabulous person! Here, have some lovely links to brighten up your day:

– If, like me, you are a lover of words, you should have a gander at these Japanese words you need in your life.

– Struggling to decide what to get your dad for father’s day? Here are some handmade gift ideas for inspiration!

– I could spend a ridiculous amount of time staring at this gorgeous moleskine artwork by Rebecca Blair. Seriously, look how incredible it is!

– Fancy a quick read? How about one of these books you can read in an hour!

– I don’t know if I’d call myself an ‘aspiring writer’ (I don’t have that sort of ambition…or talent!!) but I am trying to write more. With that in mind, I find this Manifesto for Aspiring Writers is just the way I want to go about it. In fact it’s just the way I want to go about life!

– I adore the latest philosophical ponderings from Hello, I am a bear.

– I love cooking and I always want to eat fresh healthy food…however I am also a ridiculously lazy cook. Which makes Hello Fresh one of my new favourite things!! All the ingredients for fresh, yummy, healthy, varied recipes delivered to my door with the instructions for throwing it together? Yes please!

Random Round Up

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Jen Eden under Random Share

It’s been a while since I shared some random loveliness discovered elsewhere on the web so without further ado here is a collection of links to keep you occupied and entertained on this soggy Sunday:

– We all need a reminder now and then that the allusive idea of the ‘perfect’ body is NOT the same as keeping ourselves healthy.

– Sometimes we need to elevate our thinking as individuals in order to begin to address the imbalances in society. “The social problems and entrenched patterns at the source of global issues are too vast and complex to be solved at the personal level, yet, paradoxically, the personal transformation of the individual offers a lonesome opportunity to avert the catastrophes we are engineering for ourselves” Have a look over here for more.

– Are losing the language of nature? What does language mean to you? Check out this lovely video promoting Robert MacFarlane’s new book Landmarks.

– Ever feel like you deserve a reward for getting out of bed or doing a ‘big shop’? Here are 55 small victories we should be getting Blue Peter badges for.

– This ballet routine is simply beautiful. I could sit and watch it again and again and again…

– If, like me, you’re a bit a of a book addict and your favourite way to treat yourself is with a new read, then you should definitely check out these book subscription services; Owl Crate and Uppercase Box both bring you the latest and the best of young adult books right through your letter box every month!

– How long will it take you to get through your To Be Read pile? Find out here!

– Finally, everybody needs an amusing cat video to brighten up a gloomy day. This one is my current favourite!

How are you passing the time this weekend?

Beating the January Blues

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Jen Eden under Random Share

We’ve already established that January is hard. Post-festive blues set in along with the realisation that you have eaten too much and now some of your clothes just don’t quite fit. It’s back to work, early morning alarms and instead of reading all the books, playing the games or watching the films you got for Christmas there are suddenly boring things to do.

So instead of us all struggling through the greyness I thought I’d help break up the dull January days with some links to make you smile.

1. If you have a little look here you can find some highly amusing lists. Who doesn’t love a good list? Some of my favourites are Ten Things to NEVER Say to a Stay-at-Home Viking, Famous Inspirational Quotes Take Naps, and Grammar Gossip.
2. In case you didn’t get enough books for Christmas and are in search of some recommendations here’s a handy list.
3. If you’re hoping to make 2015 a happy year (who isn’t?!) then have a look at these 10 Proven Ways to a Happier Life and have a go at the Action for Happiness 7 Day Happiness Challenge. Go on, embrace the happiness!
4. In case you have managed to get this far into 2015 without a calendar/diary (Really? How have you managed that?) here is a lovely blog post with some pretty printable ones.
5. If you haven’t already you should definitely watch this guy challenge Gaston to a push up contest. Do it for the lols.
6. Sick of your left over turkey? You should give this venison in port sauce a go. Or if you’re looking for something a bit healthier (and veggie!) then whip up this veggie and rice dish. Yummy!
7. If you like reading thought provoking writing and looking at pretty things you should check out Lionheart and/or Flow magazine. (Lionheart’s latest issue is on sale at the moment and you can now subscribe to Flow international. Hooray!)
8. If all else fails you could just go and browse round my Pinterest boards where there are lots of pretty and random things.

You’re welcome.

How do you beat the January blues?

Back to School Wishlist

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Jen Eden under Personal, Random Share, Recommended

Anybody else feeling baffled by the fact that it’s September tomorrow? I mean really how did that happen?

On the plus side it means that it’s time for buying back-to-school supplies. Yay! All that lovely stationary and bags and loveliness. So since I’m currently pining after bouquets of sharpened pencils and all that malarky I though I would share my little back to school wish list with you all…

1. First up is this lovely little mug which oh so accurately describes one of my daily dilemmas.

2. Who wouldn’t want this completely adorable rucksack? I mean it’s a fox. That will carry your books.

3. As summer draws to a close and it starts getting colder and the central heating starts coming on, I think a girl is entitled to some fancy pants facial products, and this silky toner by Decléor is one of my faves.

4. If you have ridiculous hair like me that wants to be a dragon all the time, then cute and funky hair accessories are a must. This gorgeous leather hair pin is just what the wildly-out-of-control hair ordered.

5. I think this smart yet quirky printed skirt is just the sort of thing a new English mentor should be wearing, don’t you? I thought so. That’s going to be my first pay check’s first purchase right there!

6. It should really be compulsory for everyone to have pencils that tell them they are totally magical.

7. This, quite frankly, is genius. A wearable USB stick?! Now that’s handy! You can even get it with different coloured leather cord bracelets, and they do necklaces too.

8. Now I realise I already have a bag on here but this is for those more sophisticated days, you know meetings, training days etc. This beautiful satchel has lots of pockets and compartments, gorgeous herringbone lining, and it’s just the right size for an iPad.

9. I already have an Alice in Wonderland brooch like this one, in the shape of a rabbit, but it is absolutely one of my favourite accessories so I’m looking to add a few more to my collection. This brooch is from Of Mice and Men which is perfect since it’s one of the texts I will be teaching/mentoring on. If you’re a book lover there’s bound to be one of these lovelies just waiting for you.

10. I don’t really need any more notebooks. Except that you can never have too many notebooks. And these beauties just happen to have my favourite poster series on their covers…a couple wouldn’t hurt surely?

11. Bare Minerals makeup became one of my new favourite things after I treated myself to some for my wedding makeup. So so lovely to wear because it feels like you’re not wearing it and looks really natural. So I’m a bit excited by their compact sets in a handy case. Very useful for touch ups before parents evenings!

12. My beloved long black leather boots have died a death after many years of faithful service. So OBVIOUSLY I need some new boots. These ones to be precise. I love love love Reiker boots because it’s like wearing slippers. No really. It is.

So there you have it, my back to school wish list. What are you crushing on for the new term??

Breathe and Stretch…

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Jen Eden under Life, Random Share

Yoga seems to be everywhere at the moment. Really everywhere! Lots of people I know, both in ‘real life’ and through various places on the internet, have taken up this ancient practice and are seeing changes in body, mind and spirit.

Dancing has always been my preferred form of exercise but I have done a teeny tiny bit of yoga before and enjoyed it. I was just never disciplined enough to keep at it. So I thought I’d give it another go.

Now I don’t really have the time (or money) to attend a regular class but as Che, aka indieBerries, points out in one of her yoga type posts (which you should totally go and read!) that is NO EXCUSE! So I had a look at some of the yoga challenges and tried a few poses, which were good but I wanted something with a little bit more of a routine to it, and some sequences I could have a go at. So my lovely sister and mother-in-law pointed me in the direction of the Yoga Studio app. Hello fabulous!!

This little app is great for beginners or experienced yogis alike. It has individual poses, classes from15-60 minutes long, focusing on strength, flexibility, relaxation or combination, and the option to create your own classes and combinations. It has a lovely simple interface and clear step by step instructions, is a super flexible option for enhancing your yoga practice and the app costs less than a cup of coffee!

Also the 15 minute relaxation classes are perfect for starting or ending your day with. So why not have a go? Stretch…and breathe.

This is not a sponsored post and I am not affiliated in any way with yoga studio…I just think it’s a pretty great app! 🙂