Category Archives: books

Colouring Books from Ladybird

19th September 2016
I grew up on a diet of Ladybird books. I recall my Grandparents having a huge collection of them and as a bookworm from an early age I soon made my way through them or demanded to be read to. I was therefore super excited when two colouring books from this much love publishing house landed at my door, especially the “Well Loved Tales: Cinderella” one as it always has been (and still is) one of my favourite fairytales and I think the idea of being able to colour along as you read is just wonderful.
Are these not the most charming books? I think this are such a lovely idea and would make a wonderful gift for children and adults alike. They are the perfect size for stashing in your bag, perfect for keeping young and old entertained on a long train journey or for whiling away a rainy Autumn afternoon.

Mae seemed pretty impressed too, any excuse to get in front of the camera eh?

Which of your favourite childhood reads would you most like to colour in?

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Summer reading: “it” by Alexa Chung

05th August 2014
Summer is the perfect time to sit down outside with a book and lose yourself in another world. I don’t get an awful lot of time to indulge in this, which saddens me because it’s one of my favourite past times and on holidays I get through almost a book a day! I did manage to get a few hours last week to sit down with a nice little read, “it” by Alexa Chung comes out in paperback in just a few days time (August 8th) and to celebrate I was sent a copy to have a browse through.
I resisted the hype around this book when it first came out. I’m not really one to follow celebrities, or have famous style icons- but if I did have to choose one it would of course be Alexa Chung. I knew several of my favourite bloggers had really enjoyed this book but I still managed to hold off…clearly book fate has intervened as I now own a copy, and as much as part of me didn’t want to be lured in or love it I couldn’t help but devour it whole, hooked.
Taking you through all aspects of Alexa’s world, from her style icons to her beauty regime this book was written in a chatty, friendly manner. I confess I do not know much about Alexa, other than that she dresses very well and is exceptionally pretty but at times I found myself thinking “I could have written that” or nodding in agreement.
Despite my reservations I seriously enjoyed this book and I’m pleased a copy came my way else I would have missed out on something that has actually inspired me, the usually un-inspirable. If you don’t already own the hard back version you can pre-order the paper back for £6.99 from Amazon, I strongly suggest you do as this makes for the perfect hand luggage holiday read- or for having by your side in the back garden.
Have you read “it” yet? What other books have you enjoyed lately?

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How do you read yours?

26th October 2013

I remember when Kindles first came out and I was really against the idea. I’ve always been a bookworm and thought I’d never want to replace the smell and feel of a real book with a piece of technology.
Since then I’ve been forced to eat my words and take back what I said about the Kindle, especially now having recently acquired the new Paperwhite 3G version which makes reading on the go even easier.
My photo of my new friend doesn’t really show just how bright the screen is (and you can adjust the brightness to suit you), it means no more struggling to read in bed at night or on a gloomy bus or train. No more disturbing the person next to you with a bedside lamp or reading torch and with the 3G facility as soon as you’ve finished a book you can download another without needing to be connected to the wireless network.

My current read is Les Miserables, I’ve long been a fan of the classics alongside today’s literature and I’ve been itching to read this for some time now. My new Kindle has given the perfect excuse to take the plunge although it’s an epic of a book and with most of my free time after work spent blogging it’ll probably take me months and months to read…still I’m determined to plough my way through.

And what about those printed books that I swore I’d never replace? Well, I haven’t replaced them. I use my kindle most when I’m on the go- I take it to Ben’s and it really came in to it’s own on holiday (more luggage allowance for shopping!). It stops me getting bored and annoying fellow passengers on the bus too.
When I’m at home though I do like to curl up with a good old fashioned book though, the best of both worlds in my opinion!

What are your thoughts on kindles? Any books I MUST read?

Oh, and link me to the snazziest cases/covers you can find.

xxx

*post written in association with Argos*

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The Gloucester Road Cookbook

17th October 2013
Like most people I know in Bristol I love a good browse up and down Gloucester Road. With it’s quirky array of shops and vast variety of places to eat you could happily spend an entire day exploring the area away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
Recently I discovered that Gloucester Road was getting it’s very own cookbook and needless to say I just had to find out more.
Launching today, 17th October 2013 the Gloucester Road cookbook contains 50 recipes from cafes, restaurants and traders along the famous road.
“Created by the Gloucester Road WI (Women’s Institute), with members amongst those contributing to the recipes, the book is bursting with local and international influences. From British classics to Indian, Turkish and Swedish cooking, the cookbook perfectly reflects the diverse Gloucester Road community. 

Income from sales of the book will go to local domestic abuse charity, Survive, and to future Gloucester Road WI projects that benefit the local community.

The Gloucester Road Cookbook came to be in 2012 when project leader Katie Skuse wanted to create a book which merged the talents of the WI group with the incredible mix of businesses on Gloucester Road.

Katie commented:
“Gloucester Road has the longest stretch of independent businesses in the UK and the people who live on or around it are fiercely protective of it. In the face of the economic crisis and considering the new national WI resolution to protect our high streets, we felt strongly that we should create a book that the whole community can be proud of.

“Within our WI and luckily, within the group who wanted to get involved from the outset, were a graphic designer, a writer, a chef, a couple of financial geniuses, a couple of project manager/
logistics whizzes and a publisher. Between us, we have created a fantastic full colour, 196 page, hardback book.”

The Gloucester Road Cookbook will be available to buy for £15 (£10 to WI members) and can be bought online from The Bristol Shop and on Gloucester Road in Pearce’s Hardware, Fig and Grape & Grind, as well as other shops around Bristol (to be confirmed)”.
I’m really excited to see something like this come out of Bristol, it just affirms everything I love about the city really and it’s sense of spirit and supporting independent traders.
A copy will be swiftly added to my Christmas list and I’m looking forward to cooking up a storm.
xxx

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Audrey: The 60s

18th November 2012

I have long admired Audrey Hepburn, I can’t even explain why but her beauty and grace captivate me like it does for many others. When I was e-mailed about the release of this new book “Audrey: The 60s” from Aurum Press I didn’t hesitate in accepting the offer of a copy to add to my already substantial collection of books about Audrey’s life.

“Audrey: The 60s is a glorious photographic celebration of the ultimate screen and style icon: Audrey Hepburn. Pairing over two hundred stunning images with reflections and recollections from friends, photographers, designers, close collaborators and Hepburn herself, Audrey: The 60s is an unforgettable showcase of the actress’s timeless beauty and extraordinarily influential style. 

Highlights include: 
– Never-before-seen on-set photography from some of Audrey Hepburn’s most cherished movies, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady, How to Steal a Million and Two for the Road;
– Outtakes and rare images from fashion shoots, some not seen since their original appearance in Vogue;
– Previously unpublished work by photographers Bert Stern, Cecil Beaton, Douglas Kirkland, William Klein, Bob Willoughby and many others.”
This book is a delight to the eyes and a must have for any Audrey Hepburn fan. It takes you through her most adored films with photos, quotes and a behind the scenes glimpse at her life.

This gorgeous hardback book by David Wills and Stephen Schmidt cost £25 and is an absolute must own for any fan. As I’ve mentioned, I have several other books about Audrey Hepburn but nothing can quite compare to this.


Are you an Audrey fan? What is it about her that makes so many people fall in love?

xxx

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