A 'Great Little Newsletter'

Complete with my latest recommendations and a POLL, no less! Oh, by the way, it's only really long because of the fabulous pictures! 😉

Hello Lovely Readers!

Welcome to the first ever edition of my newly structured and cleverly named ‘Great Little Newsletter’, see what I did there 😉, which will be a monthly feature and FREE for everyone to read/share, etc... I will also continue to write random essays/articles/listicles as and when I feel the urge (but with no regular schedule, to allow for flexibility in my life – which is unfortunately dominated by a chronic autoimmune condition – yawn! 🙄). Anyway, onwards with the newsletter… yay! 🤩

How are you? How was your Christmas/New Year… bla bla bla… Are you (like me) a tiny bit very glad it’s over? I don’t mean to sound all negative, but I’m afraid Christmas is fast becoming my least favourite time of the year 😒 and these are just some of the reasons why…

The heaving shops, excessive spending, parents scrambling to get their kids the latest trending toy/game/device, the guilt that comes with not being able (for whatever reason) to get said toy/game/device… The pressure to go to every event, teamed with the guilt and inevitable FOMO that descends if you can’t. Then there’s the expectation to spend an inappropriate amount of time with the people you try to avoid most of the year (yep, there’s a reason for that)… the arguments that then ensue (for obvious reasons)… the excessive eating and/or drinking, which then propels you into a pit of shame and self-loathing… which is all perfectly timed of-course for the barrage of the “New Year, new me” marketing tactics of money grabbing companies worldwide… delightfully taking full advantage of your semi-depressed, sad and useless state, as we enter the most depressing month of the year.

So, if (also like me) you are looking to avoid the highly predictable, and quite frankly tiresome, influx of suggested resolutions, goal setting and instructions on how to shed one’s skin and “get back to the real you” – now there’s an image.. bit random.. sorry about that, I type as I think 🫣 Longest sentence ever!

Anyway, if you are that person (and even if you are not that person) you might be interested in a few of the fabulous, easy-going, refreshing and alternative starts to the New Year that I have attached towards the end of this Newsletter (Complete with the previously popular little emoji guide). Enjoy! 😊

So, what have I been up to?

A bit of reflection/journaling

Well, actually (quite ironically after my little rant) I have genuinely been enjoying

Selina Barker

’s beautiful “Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025” diary/book/journal thingy… It really is FAB! I’ve only filled out a small section, but in the interest of taking things SLOW this January (as Selina has advised in her lovely article – ‘SLOWanuary’)I am not putting any pressure on myself to “get it done” by a fixed date. Yay me! 🎉

Vision Boards

I’ve been very inspired recently by

Lisa Bolin

and her fabulous ‘Flucking Flourishing’ Newsletter – Do check it out if you haven’t already, she is really great and such a good laugh. 🥰 Anyway, she did a lovely little workshop on making a vision board in Canva, and I couldn’t resist getting involved – Any excuse to create something – Canva addict! 🙋🏻‍♀️ Just me?

My Vision Board - I love it! 🥰 Thank you Lisa! 👍

You might notice I’ve made sure there is lots of room for rest and healing in my year ahead, the reason being, I have been denying myself getting enough of these things for far too long, in the exhausting on-going attempt to prove my worth and get external validation from the answer to that dreaded question… “What do you do?” Urgh! 😏 I will be discussing this along with ‘what success means to me’ in my next article, so look out for that.

Loving gifts that bring me joy

I’ve been taking the time to gradually take a look at the lovely gifts I received at Christmas and slowly appreciating each one individually. I love to take my time finding just the right spot for a gift and in doing so, I noticed how many little gifts I have around me that bring me so much joy and remind me that I’m loved.

I know that sounds so cheesy, but I spend a LOT of time at home (due to that long-term illness I mentioned)and it really lifts me to have these little reminders around me. So, if you’re ever thinking (oh, it’s only a little thing) please be sure to give it anyway… you never know how much of a positive impact your “little thing” could mean to someone. ♥️

Oh, and this little guy👇… which was bought for me by my “delightful” children, who were absolutely beside themselves with excitement to be able to buy me a teddy who encapsulated the essence of ‘sleeping mummy’ – Yes, this is “Dino-Pig” – a name inflicted on me due to a very nasally year or two, during which my snoring could be heard from ANY part of the house/garden! 🦖🐷🤣

Snow, Pad Thai and Hot Chocolate – Yum!

A strange combination I know, but bear with… (does everyone else immediately think of Miranda when saying “bear with”?)Anyway, the other night we had some snow!! This is extremely exciting for us Southern Brits, as this happens so rarely and usually when we do get it, it turns into dirty sludge within hours because of the rain that swiftly follows. Therefore, as SOON as it started to hit the ground, the girls shrieked with excitement and started ransacking the hallway in search of the right kind of coats, gloves, etc… and ran into the garden to enjoy it.

It was dark, it was late, but it was wonderful! They got me out there too and I instinctively lifted my face towards the sky and breathed a sigh of contentment, as the freezing delicate flakes landed on my face like a refreshing gentle hug I didn’t know I needed. Snowballs were thrown, a small snowman (named ‘Bob’ apparently🤷🏻‍♀️) was made and there were delightful shrieks and giggles wafting in from the garden until 10pm – when I suddenly realised that the neighbours might get pissed off, so I called out to their bright red, drenched little faces to “come on in now please”.☃️ (Bob was a blob by midnight 🥺)

Not ingested at the same time, don't worry! 😆

Pad Thai and Hot Chocolate (with a double Bailey’s, no less)😋 – Made by my “personal chef” – aka Mark (the boyfriend)🫠

What I’m Currently Reading

‘I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You’ by Miranda Heart… absolutely bloody brilliant! I feel a detailed book review and/or an entire article on its way, inspired by the awesome “Treasures” she discusses in the book. Honestly, life changing! 🥰

I’ve also just started ‘Tender’ by

Penny Wincer

… on my shiny new kindle, yay! 🎉 Two chapters in and I’m totally gripped already, I think I’m going to enjoy this one… and also feel I may shed a few tears at some point 🥺

Right, That’s enough about me

One of my Substack goals this year is to get to know my readers better. So, in order to get the ball rolling with this, I will be needing a little help from you guys on what you’d like to hear about. I’ve got a basic idea of the topics, which I’ve outlined below, but I would LOVE it if you could please let me know if there is anything else you’re keen to hear about – I’ll meet you in the comments👇 In the meantime, if you could answer the quick poll below I would really appreciate it. Thanks! 😊

Monthly Newsletter - Rough Structure

• “News from my life” – As above

• “Writing life” updates – Plans for my non-fiction and two children’s books (more about this next month)

• “My Reading Recommendations” – Book reviews… list of Substack articles (as below)

• “Menopause moments” – Random musings/mishaps/rants from me, plus interviews/guest articles

• “Parenting Topic” – Any little nuggets I’ve collected, as I navigate parenting a teen and a tween 🥴

• “That’s a bit sketchy” – My sketches and/or anything creative I've been doing

I’ll also be initiating some more random “Chats” in the lovely little chat space Substack have created – Think private WhatsApp group, but less ‘pingy’ and annoying 👍 Do come and say hello if you see a message from me… there is nothing worse than that excruciating sound of crickets 🦗😳😆

This Month’s Recommendations

There are only a handful this month, as I took a break from all things Substack over the Christmas period, to help keep me present with Mark and the kids. Yes, it did work and I very much enjoyed reading my more of my books instead. Oh, and I got given a kindle for Christmas (thank you Mark), so I’m looking forward to loading that up with 99p books from Amazon – Steady now 🤪

So, without further ado (is that how you spell that? Looks weird 🤔), here are my favourite Substack articles (and one fabulous podcast) from the month so far… complete with LINKS and handy little emoji symbols to help you choose what you’re in the mood for 👍

Symbols "Menu"
From the heart: 🧡
Seasonal: ☃️
Thought-Provoking: 🤔
Funny: 🤣
Mental Wellbeing: 😌
Family Life: 🏠
Short and Sweet: 🍬
A bit ‘sweary’: 🤬
Useful Tips/Ideas: 💡
Podcast 🎙️

My Favourite Substack Reads

1. The S is a 5 by

   Stevie Martin
   – Spreading Joy at 2:30am 🤣🤔

2. Raising Good Humans with

   Dr. Aliza Pressman
   – Instead of Resolutions, Try for Intentions 🤔🏠

3. Another Way with

   Selina Barker
   – Welcome to ‘SLOWanuary’ – The warm-up month of the year 😌

4. No Fucks Given by

   Sarah Knight
   – What if There is Nothing Wrong with You? 🤬💡🤣

5. Slower Space by

   Jodie Melissa Rogers
   – An Alternative to New Year Goals and Resolutions 🍬😌☃️

6. All Grown Up by

   Fiona Gibson
   – What I Did at Christmas 🤣☃️🏠

7. Flourish & Fare by

   Aimée Francis
   – A Could-Do List for January 😌☃️

8. Flucking Flourishing by

   Lisa Bolin
   – New Year, New Labels – Choosing Words That Lift You Up ☃️😌🤬

9. The Gathering by

   Allegra Chapman
   – Success is None of the Things I Thought it Was 🤔😌🧡

One Fabulous Podcast!

The Bibliotherapists Podcast with

Toni Jones

&

Tanya Lynch

– The Bibliotherapists Ep #8: Tamu Thomas 🎙️😌🤔 Discussing toxic productivity/positivity – A refreshing start to the new year! 👍

And One Short Book Review – ‘Tis the Damn Season’ by Fiona Gibson

I had a wonderful time right before Christmas getting stuck into this gorgeous little tonic, which really actually got me in the mood for a cosy festive season. This brilliantly written book is so expertly delivered that I could imagine it as a movie! Highly gripping, funny, refreshing, heart-warming, relaxing and cosy – A Christmas (or any time of year) must read! 🥰 I can’t wait to read another of Fiona’s books (of which there are many)… Next up… “The Woman Who Ran Away From Everything” – Perfect escapism… see what I did there.. 😉😆

The gorgeous little fluff ball is our cat Monty 🥰

And That’s a Wrap!

Ok, that’s it! The first of my new-style monthly Newsletters done! I hope you have enjoyed reading it and I will probably come back and add an audio recording at some point – because I did promise myself I would do more of that this year 😬 Oh, and I’ll be starting a podcast in February too, so look out for that – I can’t wait! 🎙️🎉☺️

Links to my latest – In case you missed them

1). I actually did get a bit brave during “Betwixmas” and recorded myself reading a little poem I wrote, so you can listen to that here if you like…

Betwixmas

2). My first article of the year was bit of a “cheat”, as I re-hashed my own article from the beginning of last year. But it is still so relevant and I stand by everything I said. So in the interest of taking it easy this month, I thought fuck it, why not…

Biscuits for Breakfast

Thank you so much for reading - I hope you’ve enjoyed my little Newsletter. Do let me know by hitting the little ❤️ as this helps other people find it, apparently 😉

Oh, just one more thing… A WARNING!

Take care ladies 🤣🤣🤣

Until next time,