Some books that I've enjoyed recently - June 2025

I decided it's time again for another post about some books that I've loved recently! I track all the books that I'm reading over on Goodreads, and these are books that I've awarded a five star rating. 

First up are a couple of re-reads:

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is one of my favourite books, and I've read it several times. It's set mainly in Saint Malo in occupied France and follows the story of Marie-Laure, a young blind woman and Werner, a young German man. Their stories are told through flashbacks as they grow up, and their stories collide when Marie-Laura begins to work for the resistance using her radio and Werner is enlisted to use his talent with the devices to track them down. It's really well written and I enjoy seeing the very different stories come together.

I also re-read Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler. Delia is a 40-something woman who, when out at the beach one day with her unappreciative family, goes for a walk and doesn't come back. She starts a whole new life, finding her own place to live, a job and new friends, which is something that I think many people have fantasised about! There's a lot to unpick about her relationship with her husband and how she has found herself at that point and although I don't find the ending particularly satisfying I do find it an enjoyable read

Next a couple that I picked up in charity shops:

The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly was a book that I had never heard of, but I was interested to read it because it is inspired by the puzzle book Masquerade by Kit Williams which I remember reading about when I was younger. Masquerade was a picture puzzle book which contained clues leading to a buried golden hare. In this book, the narrator's father has created a similar book which contains hidden clues to various parts of a golden skeleton. Over the years people have become obsessive about finding all the pieces, in particular the final missing pelvis, and some even believe that they need to kill her in order to complete the skeleton. I did find the book a little long and rambling, but the excitement of the story was enough to keep me caught up in it!

Then I spotted The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré which I was keen to read. Set in Nigeria, it tells the story of a teenage girl called Adunni who longs for an education but instead is married at the age of 14 by her father, after her mother has died. She manages to run away and finds work as a maid, and although her situation there isn't much better she is determined to improve herself. It's a difficult read in terms of the content, but it's very well written and kept me hoping that Adunni would find her escape and have the happy ending that she deserved.

Finally a couple that I've inherited:

My copy of The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy belonged to my Grandma, and I retrieved it recently when visiting my Mum. It contains all three novels and two interludes and it's a long read - it took me several weeks! It was a little difficult to get into at first because there are many characters (often with the same names) and complicated relationships, but I'm glad that I stuck with it because once I got going I really enjoyed it. It follows the members of an upper middle class English family at the beginning of the 20th century. I enjoyed it for the well-written and fleshed out characters, the descriptive settings, and how it reflected a changing society.

Hurricane Force: The Story of the Storm of 1987 by George Hill was one of my Dad's books, a non-fiction account of the Great Storm which hit mainly southern England in October 1987. It was a few days before my 8th birthday and I do have some memories of that night - hearing the roaring wind, a tree falling down on the main road, my poor Dad's greenhouse being flattened - but it was really interested to read about the wider events in both my area and further afield, as well as across the Channel. The book was written soon after the storm and it is rather pessimistic when it talks about the long-term impact of the storm. I do remember the huge uprooted trees in the forest, but I feel like the recovery from the storm wasn't as bad as was predicted, for example Chanctonbury Ring near me was significantly damaged but it was replanted and is now pretty much regrown. Although of course it has been nearly 40 years, time flies!

Quite a varied selection of books this time I think!

Photo credit Josh Hild via Unsplash

Things I need to do by the end of the month

We have a lot on at the moment. Harry is in the middle of his GCSE exams which he's coping with marvellously, Mia also has end of year exams, and we have a lot of house projects which we are slowly working through. In late July we are going on an amazing holiday which has crept up rather quickly, and so I have lots to do before we go away. 

The most important thing is of course planning for the holiday! We are going to some countries which are new to us, and although we know for certain some of the things that we want to see and do there is plenty to research. We are visiting one country in particular which is quite different culturally and requires some organisation when it comes to planning which apps we will be able to use to translate and find our way around. I'll be writing all about it when we get back!

Photo credit Toa Heftiba via Unsplash

I definitely need to put some thought into which books to take away on holiday with me. I've become a little behind with my reading lately so I have a few books on my pile and I've also stacked up a lot of Kindle books from the Amazon First Reads and Prime Library selections. 

Harry has his prom coming up and then the next day a taster day at his new college, both big events for him. Luckily boys aren't too difficult to sort out for prom. He recently needed a black suit so he will be wearing that, brightening it up with a coloured waistcoat, a maths themed tie and some dress shoes.

Mia still needs to get to the end of term which is always a slog, but she's looking forward to saying goodbye to the subjects that she won't be taking for GCSE. 

As soon as we get back we are going to be having some decorating done in the house. Harry's room will be carpeted and painted, so we need to clear the room before we go. I usually do a big sort out in the kids rooms over the summer anyway so it's not too bad, but there are lots of things that can be decluttered and tidied up a bit so that he has a clean slate ready for college.

Photo credit Callum Hill via Unsplash

Over the last few weeks we've taken on the job of moving Mia into one of our larger rooms upstairs, so her old room will become the guest room. That will also be carpeted and painted over the summer, and while it's mostly empty of her personal things now, we do have a rather large Ikea loft bed which will have to go. It's a shame because it has served her brilliantly over the years, but we can't really expect our mothers to sleep up there when they come to stay! Hopefully we can find someone to disassemble and remove it because it's a big job.

Finally, I really want to get back into blogging properly again. I've taken a bit of a break because things have been full on since the start of the year and I've just not had the headspace for it. But I have lots of things coming up that I want to write about, so I just need to get back in the zone and back on track!

Photo credit Nic Rosenau via Unsplash

Timelapse video of our orangery build and garden landscaping

The dust has finally settled on our orangery extension, and now that the garden is really taking shape we feel ready to share it properly with the world through the medium of time lapse video!

My husband worked very hard on putting the video together, not just the final editing but the constant positioning and checking of cameras as the work was carried out, downloading hundreds of video clips, and planning the best angles to fully showcase what was going on. We even used a drone for the final shots.

The building work started in August 2024 and took just under four months, finishing just before Christmas 2024. Then the garden landscaping began at the end of March 2025 and took just over a month. The garden is still a work in progress - we've been making regular visits to the garden centre and slowly filling out the borders. I'll be sharing a few pictures once it gets going!

So if you enjoy a good time lapse, click below to watch as our house is pulled apart and then put back together to create something amazing that we are so pleased with.

Ten smart money moves for families looking to build more with less

This is a collaborative post

Let’s be honest—family life gets expensive. From school supplies and rising grocery bills to kids’ sports, clothing, and unexpected car repairs, it sometimes feels like your pay check disappears the moment it lands in your account. Add in the desire to save for the future, and it’s no wonder families often feel financially stretched.

For families living in North Dakota, these challenges hit especially close to home. The average household income is around $76,000, but many families report having only about $5,000 in savings. That doesn’t leave much room for error—or opportunity. If you’re looking to build more without adding stress, these smart, simple strategies can help you get there faster and feel more in control along the way.

Photo credit Jakub Żerdzicki via Unsplash

1. Rework the Family Budget with Real-Life Goals in Mind

Budgeting doesn’t mean giving up what you love—it just means being more thoughtful. Start by tracking what you’re actually spending each month. Are you spending $200 on takeout? $50 on unused subscriptions? Shift those dollars toward things that truly matter to you—like a home project, family outings, or emergency savings. Budgets are more likely to stick when they support your values, not just restrict spending.

2. Tap Into Your Home’s Value for Bigger Plans

When a big expense comes up—like a medical bill, home upgrade, or school costs—it can be tough to cover with cash. Instead of piling on credit card debt, some families use the value built into their homes to move forward more confidently. A great first step is checking home equity loan rates in North Dakota. It’s a flexible way to fund major goals without taking on unpredictable interest or multiple new payments.

3. Save on Everyday Expenses with Smarter Shopping Habits

You don’t have to stop buying the things your family needs—you just need to shop smarter. Use coupon apps, track weekly sales, and stick to a grocery list. Buy in bulk when it makes sense, and plan meals to reduce waste. Little shifts in shopping habits can free up more room in your budget for fun, savings, or paying down debt.

4. Rethink How You Fund Home Projects

You don’t need a massive remodel to make your home feel fresh and functional. Instead of big-budget upgrades, focus on small changes with big impact. Paint a room, upgrade lighting, or improve storage. Break projects into phases, shop sales, and consider secondhand items to cut costs while still creating a space you love.

5. Consolidate Debt to Save on Interest

Keeping up with multiple loans or credit cards can be overwhelming. Consolidating debt into one payment may lower your interest and make budgeting simpler. One due date, one interest rate—it’s easier to manage and may even help you pay things off faster without adding stress.

6. Set Up Automatic Savings for Big and Small Goals

Saving isn’t always easy—especially when you’re managing a busy household. That’s why automation can be such a game-changer. Set up small transfers from your checking account into a savings account each week or month. Even $20 or $50 at a time adds up. Label each account with a goal, like “family vacation,” “home upgrades,” or “emergency fund,” so you always know what you’re working toward. When the money moves automatically, you don’t have to think about it—and you’re less likely to spend it elsewhere.

7. Take Advantage of Tax Credits and Family Perks

Tax season may not be exciting, but it’s full of opportunities for families to save. Look into benefits like the Child Tax Credit, Dependent Care Credit, and deductions for education expenses. These can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in savings each year. Also, if your employer offers flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for health or childcare, consider using them. Planning ahead and knowing what’s available can make your annual tax return a little brighter—and help you put that extra cash to good use.

8. Plan for Seasonal Expenses in Advance

If you're not ready for them, expenses like back-to-school shopping, holidays, birthdays, or summer camps can sneak up on your budget. Try setting up mini “sinking funds” throughout the year to prepare. For example, if you know you’ll need $300 for Christmas, saving just $25 a month starting in March gets you there with no stress. Planning ahead also means taking advantage of sales and spreading out the spending, rather than relying on last-minute credit cards or dipping into your emergency fund.

9. Find Fun That Doesn’t Cost a Fortune

Family fun doesn’t have to be expensive to be memorable. Local events, free museum days, nature hikes, beach afternoons, library programs, and movie nights at home can all bring smiles without straining your budget. Get the kids involved in planning weekend outings with a “fun jar” full of free or low-cost ideas. You'll spend quality time together and teach your children that you don’t always need to spend money to enjoy life. It’s about connection—not cost.

10. Teach Kids the Basics of Budgeting Early On

Talking about finances as a family doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it can be empowering. Give kids small allowances and let them practice dividing them into save, spend, and share jars. Encourage older kids to help plan meals or track family grocery spending. Use simple apps or games that teach money skills in an age-appropriate way. These early lessons can help kids grow into confident adults who understand how to manage what they earn, plan ahead, and make smart decisions.

Smart financial habits don’t happen overnight—but they start with small, thoughtful changes. Whether it’s setting up savings, cutting daily expenses, or talking to your kids about budgeting, every effort counts. These strategies aren’t just about spending less—they’re about making more room for the things that matter. By taking control of your finances and being intentional with your choices, your family can feel more secure, more flexible, and more focused on building a better future—together.

Using AI to create images for blog posts - an update

A couple of years ago I wrote a blog post about using AI to generate images for blog posts. I had forgotten about it until recently, when I suddenly started getting lots of spam comments on it. It must have ended up being favoured by search engines for some reason!

Things have really moved on when it comes to AI and image generation since I wrote that post. You can now use ChatGPT to generate images, although there is a limit to the number that you can create in a day using a free account - I think it's officially three although I managed to make five in one session.

I was thinking about how much I'm looking forward to sitting in our newly landscaped garden with a book, so I decided to ask it to generate me an image which would be a suitable illustration for a blog post on that subject. And yes I know, being polite to ChatGPT makes it cost more...I just can't help myself!)

My prompts are in italics.

The blog post is about how I'm looking forward to reading in my new garden. I want a landscape image in a photographic style. No text in the image. The image should be of a lovely new garden with clean fencing, patio etc. There should be a comfortable chair which is suitable for using outdoors with lots of cushions, then a small table next to it with a pile of books, a blanket and a hot drink in a mug. No people in the picture.

I was really pleased with this result! The garden looks fairly realistic, the chair and table aren't bad (I think the table might be missing a leg but it's not too obvious) and the pile of books is pretty good without any attempt at text on the spines.

I decided to amend the image to portray a more realistic British summer:

That's perfect! Now can you create the same image but it's raining?

Again it's not bad! It's a little dark, but it's clearly raining. So I decided to cheer things up a bit. I was interested to see whether asking for changes would make them to my first image or to the amended image.

Thank you! Now can you make it a little more colourful, make the blanket striped and add some colourful cushions, make the mug blue 

It changed the second image which was what I was expecting. This image is probably my least favourite from the set because the colours are just too bright. But I wanted to see what it would look like on a nicer day.

Can you make it sunny again in the image?

This image is so colourful that I think it does look very fake. A leg is now visible on the table though, and it's interesting how the length of the blanket has changed. So I wanted something a little more subtle...

Thank you! Can you tone down the colours a little, make them pastel shades

Although I like the colour scheme for this image a lot more, I do feel that the further I went with amending the image the more fake it looks. This time it has randomly added some extras - I quite like the paints on the table and the open book but you don't typically find decorative globes in a garden, and certainly not two of them! And where did the suitcase come from?!

The quality of the images is definitely an improvement on the ones that I created two years ago. I would happily use the first image in a blog post, and I think that it could easily pass for a real image, especially when scrolling quickly. 

I'm starting to notice images like this more and more, both on social media and on business webpages, and I know that it won't be long at all before it's impossible to identify an artificially generated image. It's really important to be aware that you can't trust anything you see!

The things that I love about our orangery extension

I know that I keep going on about it, but our extension has made such a huge difference to our home and our lives. When we were in the very early stages the company that we used told us that it would change how we used our home, and they were quite right. I do still spend time in the rest of the house of course, but the vast majority of my time at home is spend in the orangery.

We have a beautiful big kitchen island which is where we eat all our meals. It's the perfect size for food preparation and eating, and I keep it as clean and as clear as I can. After a few meals we had all chosen on our favourite spot and this is mine, with a view out over the kitchen and towards the hallway. Then I can enjoy the garden view while I'm cooking dinner.

Our go to for furniture is always Ikea but when we were looking for a sideboard we just couldn't find one that matched what we were after. So we splashed out a little on this one from The Cotswold Company, along with a matching coffee table. I really love it, the wood is such a lovely shade. There are some electrical items that seem to have to live there, but it looks best with a plant and some fresh flowers.

Our new lemon tree is thriving, and we have plenty of new flowers appearing. Every time I see it it makes me feel happy, I just love the colours and over the last few days it has started to smell wonderful.

Finally our gorgeous Ikea sofa is a great place to sit and look out into the garden. The view is improving every day as our hardworking landscapers are busy working away! It's going to be amazing when it's finished and when it's warm enough to have the bifold doors open.

I was always a bit hesitant about taking on such a large project, but I'm so glad that we went ahead with it!

If you want to see how the project progressed, you can watch a time lapse video of the orangery extension build and subsequent garden landscaping below:

Things that I'm looking forward to this summer

It wasn't an easy start to the year for me. I have found that I've been struggling to get back into my old routines, especially when it comes to taking care of myself with healthy eating and exercise. But I have plenty to be grateful for, I've been enjoying the sunshine and I'm really looking forward to the coming months. 

We have some exciting things coming up, and these are just some of them.

A beautiful new garden - work is well underway and I can't wait until we are able to use our new outdoor space. Fingers crossed for a lovely warm summer!

Seeing my plants grow - my tomato seeds have become seedlings, I have some new houseplants from my Mum which are flourishing, and our new lemon tree is flowering beautifully.

It's a year of concerts - we've cut down on the holidays this year to save some money, but we have managed to secure tickets for some amazing live music. Having started off the year with the fantastic Jason Donovan, over the next few months we are lucky enough to be seeing Supergrass, Kylie, Pulp, Oasis, Blackpink and Coldplay. Buying the tickets for all of these was pretty stressful at the time, but of course it's forgotten quickly in the excitement!

An exciting holiday - we do have one holiday booked this summer which is mainly funded with Avios points and my husband's hotel reward points. We are spending a few days in both Seoul and Shanghai which are both new and exciting destinations for us. 

The end of the school year - I know that we have a way to go yet, but once the summer term starts it always seems to finish quickly. Even quicker for my son, who only has one week back after Easter before he leaves school to begin his study leave for his GCSEs! It will mean a change in routine for all of us with only one to take over to school and back, and things will change even more when he starts Sixth Form in September and makes his way under his own steam - it will be a really exciting new start for him.

What are you looking forward to in the next few months?