How to read more in 2023

I love to read, and I read a lot of books. I don't like to set myself reading challenges because I enjoy shorter and longer books, but I do keep track of all the books that I've read on Goodreads. 

A New Year is always a good time to make some resolutions, and many people decide that they would like to do more reading. If this is you, here are some tips!

Have a big to be read pile. Reading doesn't need to be an expensive hobby - borrow books from friends and family, visit the library, buy second hand online and in charity shops or download free Kindle books. Make sure that it's a pile of books that you definitely want to read and is filled with different genres and lengths, so you always have something to choose from depending on your mood. 

Seek out book recommendations. Find books that appeal to you and that you really want to read. You can browse libraries and book shops, keep an ear out on social media for books that people are enjoying or ask fellow readers. Look for other books by authors that you've enjoyed, follow new releases and find books which have been shortlisted for major awards. There are also plenty of curated lists of books, for example this one of books you've always meant to read.

Don't get hung up on a particular reading target. Some books I can read in a day, some take several weeks. I don't want to feel as though I need to get to a certain number read over the year or a certain number of pages each day, I just want to be reading.

Don't persevere with a book that isn't gripping you. Even if it's one that a friend loved, that you spent a lot of money on, or were really looking forward to reading. There are so many books out there that it's not worth wasting time on one that doesn't grab you, and it will put you off reading if you don't want to pick up your book. You'll notice on my Goodreads that the vast majority of books I've read are rated four or five star. This doesn't mean that I've not picked up books that I don't enjoy, I've just not finished them!

Photo credit Sandy Ravaloniaina via Unsplash

Carry a book around with you. I take a book with me for school pick up and any time that I might find myself waiting around.

Plan holiday reading. Whenever I have a holiday planned I always spend time carefully choosing the books that I take with me, although some types of holiday have more reading opportunities than others. If you are lucky enough to be going away think about when you might have some reading time and plan accordingly. Sometimes a change to the usual routine means that you can find that extra time.

Always have a book close at hand. I carry a book around the house with me during the day to read during those odd spare moments - while I'm making dinner, brushing my teeth, or whenever I find myself with a few spare minutes, before it comes up to bed with me at night.

Just take the time to sit and read. I like to put my phone in a different room to avoid distraction and then I just settle down with a book. My favourite time of day to read is just before bed, although sometimes I do find that it makes me sleepy! If you are lucky you will find that other people in your household will copy your behaviour, and you can all sit and enjoy some peaceful reading time together.

Update on my ten craft projects to complete by the end of the year

At the beginning of September I set myself a crafting challenge - a list of ten craft projects to complete by the end of the year.

With the end of the year firmly in sight, I thought I'd do a little update!

Felt Autumn leaves - I was really pleased with my embroidered felt Autumn leaves. I displayed them in a small bowl by the fireplace and they looked really pretty. Next year I might string them up into some bunting for a bit of a change.

Felt sugar skulls - My embroidered felt sugar skulls were another great way to work through my felt stash. I loved making these, and coming up with all the different colour combinations for the felt and embellishments. Next year I'm planning to make some more, perhaps using different colours of felt for the skulls.

Cross stitch Christmas hanging - This project idea was always a bit vague, and it changed somewhat in the making! I had three mini Christmas cross stitch kits that I wanted to finish and find some way to display. I ended up framing each one in a mini Christmas embroidery hoop that I painted and added glitter. 

Three Christmas wooden shapes to decorate - I had bought a blank wooden sign, a sleigh and a gingerbread house from The Works.

My first craft was a Christmas wooden sign which is now proudly hanging in the hallway to welcome guests. I was very pleased with my attempt at brush lettering!

Then I decorated the wooden sleigh with red paint and embellished with metallic pen. I made a little sack from some festive hessian fabric and ribbon and wrapped up some pretend presents. I was originally going to make the wooden house into a gingerbread house but I changed my mind and made it into a sort of Scandi inspired house instead with red and dark yellow.

Stretch beaded bracelets - This was a new craft for me, and so I was delighted with my ocean themed stretch beaded bracelets. They were really easy to make and I love wearing them. I'm definitely going to be making some more bracelets using different colour schemes.

A sea themed fabric project - This was another project idea that was quite vague as I had some lovely fabric but didn't know what to do with it. I decided to make an ocean themed fabric tote bag and I was so pleased with the result that I went on to make several more to give as gifts. 

A Christmas mini cross stitch designs craft - I wanted to do some sort of craft using my free mini Christmas cross stitch motifs and so I decided to make some cross stitch gift tags. They were really quick and simple to make and a great way to use up some odds and ends of embroidery thread.

Finally, there is one craft on the list that I didn't get to, and that was the Wooden READ sign, a wooden sign spelling out the word 'read' which I wanted to display on my bookshelf. Not for lack of time or lack of ideas, I just decided that for the time being I quite like how it looks in its natural state! I may come back to this in the future but for now I'm happy with the way it is.

I found this way of listing out my craft projects really motivated me to get on with them. Next year I want to make an effort to work through some of my crafting stash, and making a list of the things that I want to complete is definitely going to be a big help.

Catching up with the unwatched television

Now that the children are older and staying up later it's really cutting into our television viewing time. My husband and I used to easily watch a film during the evening, but now we struggle to even fit in an episode of a television show once the children are in bed! Many things that we watch aren't very suitable for younger eyes, so we have to wait until they are out of the way.

There are also lots of new shows that we want to watch as a family, but it can be tricky to fit in an episode after dinner during the week when the children have homework and other things to be getting on with.

So we have decided this Christmas to make an effort to get through some of the series and films that we have stacking up on our 'to watch' list, as well as making room for for any seasonal programming that catches our eye.

Photo credit Tomás Evaristo via Unsplash

We've made a start already, and we just finished watching the adaptation of The Essex Serpent. I did enjoy it but I really liked the book, and I think that perhaps I would have been better just reading the book again! It's not the first time that I've watched an adaptation of a favourite book and felt that the book was better, so I'll be more mindful of that in future. However we have just started watching the new series of His Dark Materials and I'm finding this series to be an excellent adaptation of some of my favourite books, so I'll have to keep an open mind too!

Another book adaptation that I enjoy is The Handmaid's Tale, and we need to get started on the latest season of that along with Bridgerton. I've not read the Bridgerton books but I enjoyed the first season.

Watching with the family, we've just finished The Rings of Power which wasn't as bad as I was expecting, it was quite watchable although the episodes felt rather long. We've just started Andor which is a Star Wars spin off, it had a slow start but we are sticking with it for now in case it ups the pace a bit as the episodes are quite short.

Finally being fans of Monkey World we need to get through the rest of the new Monkey Life episodes and I also want to watch some more Malory Towers with Mia. I spotted that there is a Christmas special so we will start with that!

We also have quite a few films to get through as well, some festive ones and some that have been on the to watch list for ages. Luckily quite a few of them are family ones so we can all watch them together! We definitely have lots to keep us busy over the holidays!

Home improvements for later in life

This is a collaborative post

As you get older there are lots of changes that you can make to your home to adapt to your needs. It's also a good idea to think about whether there are some improvements that could be made to your house if you regularly host elderly visitors. 

Here are a few things that you could consider to help make your home safer and more convenient: 

Grab rails - This could be an extra bannister rail alongside the staircase or fitted rails around the house, for example in the bathroom, to help avoid slips and falls.

A walk in bath or shower - For example a walk in shower means that you don't need to worry about climbing in and out of a bath. If  you still want to keep the bath you can look for options which have a side opening or a moulded seat which allows you to sit up.

Photo credit Hemant Kanojiya via Unsplash

Non slippery flooring - Make sure that all hard flooring has a non-slippery surface and that any rugs are secure in place.

A Stairlift - Having a stairlift fitted will make getting up and down the stairs much easier and might mean that you can stay in your own home for longer. You can browse some stairlifts and find advice on stairlift prices here.

The front entrance - If you have steps leading to your front door you could consider a ramp. Even if you don't use a wheelchair it will still make your home easier to access. Make sure that the area around the front door is well lit so that you can find your keys and easily get through the door. You might also want to think about having a video doorbell fitted so that you can screen visitors before opening the door, and answer the door from your phone if you are out of the house.

A key safe - There are of course security implications to consider, but if you have regular visitors like relatives or carers then it might make sense to give them the means to let themselves into the house. 

The garden - If you have a large garden which requires lots of maintenance you could think about replacing hedges with a simple fence, or removing border planting areas and grassing them over to save on weeding. You could also consider making the garden all one level to avoid slippery outside steps. If you have wooden decking then make sure that it is regularly cleaned and maintained so that it doesn't become hazardous to walk on, and make sure to have any fallen leaves cleared away.

What is Psoriasis and seven useful tips to keep it at bay

This is a collaborative post

Psoriasis can be tough to manage, especially if you are just beginning treatment. The autoimmune disorder whose primary symptom is itchy, scaly skin. Psoriasis is a result of a certain white bloody cell triggering the production of immune markers when it becomes overactive. Although no cure exists for the disease yet, you can cope with it through treatments. Besides the topical creams and ointments used as treatments, you can try other management methods to alleviate symptoms.

Use Gentle, Fragrance-Free Products

Avoid abrasive skin care products that can aggravate the scaling. Gentle ointments, moisturisers and body creams can significantly decrease itching because they don't contain harsh perfumes. Gentle skincare of natural origin, like the Blue Lagoon treatment products for example, is perfect to include in your psoriasis regimen. Also, don't forget to consult a dermatologist about the most effective skin care treatments for you.

Avoid Hot Water

Soaking in water is a guide way to handle the scaling. However, avoid soaking in hot water, regardless of how good it feels. Lukewarm water produces better results. It will help soften the skin without increasing irritation. You can add oils, milk and salts to your bath to smooth the skin.

Get Natural Vitamin D

Light therapy is a highly recommended treatment for psoriasis. For unknown reasons, exposure to ultraviolet light reduces skin lesions from psoriasis. So, sending time in the sun can do wonders for the affected areas. Be careful, though, not to expose yourself to too much sunlight.

Always Moisturize after a Shower

The number one rule of treating psoriasis is moisturisation. Dry skin is more susceptible to flare-ups. A moisturiser seals in the moisture in your skin and prevents excessive scaling. The best time to moisturise is right after a shower when your skin is still damp. You should apply a moisturising cream at least once a day.

Take Supplements

Even though psoriasis manifests on the skin, it begins from the inside. Dietary supplements help manage symptoms by reducing their severity. Fish oil supplements are some of the best for treating the condition because they ease the rash. Oregon grape, milk thistle and vitamin D are others you can include.

Photo credit Carolina Heza via Unsplash

Try Aloe Vera for Flare-Ups

The itching that psoriasis comes with can make life unbearable. So, finding effective ways to soothe the skin is a big part of managing the disease. Aloe vera can help with that. The right aloe gels and creams can ease inflammation and scaling, consequently, reducing itching.

Use a Humidifier at Home

A dermatologist will always recommend avoiding dry skin as much as possible if you have psoriasis. Dry skin can crack and bleed, increasing the risk of infection. You can prevent dryness by using a humidifier in the house and the workplace. Keeping the air moist in the spaces where you spend most of your time helps maintain skin suppleness. 

Consulting with a dermatologist who specialises in psoriasis is critical. Besides getting an accurate diagnosis, you need to know the best way to manage your condition, depending on how severe it is. Additionally, you must have routine checkups to monitor the disorder. 

Things that I only do at Christmas time

Go up into the loft. Twice in fact - first to get the decorations down and then to put them all away!

Buy a paper television guide, leave it open on the coffee table and refer to it daily.

Worry what the Elf on the Shelf is going to get up to each night.

Watch the adverts on television - it's the only time of year that I watch live television!

Put a heap of marshmallows in my morning hot chocolate.

Leave an open box of chocolates on the table in the living room and help myself to it throughout the day.

Wear my Christmas dress.

Eat mince pies, cheese and biscuits, breadsticks, gravy and Brussels sprouts.

Photo credit Daniel Morris via Unsplash

Consider cheese and biscuits alongside Pringles and dips to be a balanced meal.

Forget to make sure that the children have a wash because I'm too busy enjoying the post-dinner snacks.

Have the television on in the background rather than just turning it on to watch something.

Use all the trays in the oven for cooking and still run out of room.

Get out my pinking shears (for cutting up the Christmas cards to make gift tags!)

What do you do differently over the Christmas period?

Four car care resolutions to follow in 2023

This is a collaborative post

The beginning of the New Year is the time for fresh starts and taking on new resolutions for the year. We tend to take on resolutions concerning all areas of our lives from healthy eating habits to being more organized to working harder but the one thing that never makes it to our list is car maintenance even though our car is one of the most crucial asset in our life. We use them to get from our home to work or school and practically everywhere else. It directly concerns our safety and therefore should be kept in a spick and span condition no matter what. So, this year we bring you four simple and easy tips that will help you not only keep your car in a more efficient condition but will also make you more handy with your car and less dependent on your local garage.

Learn how to change a tyre:

Learning to change a car tyre is such a basic skill that always benefits you. Every car owner should make this a part of their resolution to learn this skill if they don’t already know it. Sure, you can always call roadside assistance but there can be situations when this skill really comes in handy say when you are on a road trip far away from the city or when your phone’s battery dies down or on a snowy night when the roadside assistance will take some time to get to you and you don’t want to freeze to death. In all such situations you’ll find this skill very useful.

Checking your fluids regularly:

More often than not, most drivers don’t know the importance of maintaining optimum levels of car fluids. Get routine oil changes and check oil levels frequently, preferably every month. Changing oil regularly is important; otherwise you can risk permanent damage to your vehicle.

Regular MOT & Car Servicing:

Yes! Yes! MOT is a government imposed requirement for every vehicle owner every year anyway. But many people think of this as an expense that they don’t want to bear. But in all honesty, it’s for our own benefit. Think of it as a cycle, if you maintain good car health all year round by regularly getting your car serviced say after every six months then it is highly likely that you will pass the MOT test every time with flying colours. A contrary approach, will result in a lot of expense as failure in passing the test will result in the hassle and expense of getting your car fixed and then taking the test again. A good car health will rid you of all such worries associated with MOT test failure. So, take out time from your busy schedule and book MOT today at Elite Direct London before you receive a penalty for driving without MOT. 

Photo credit Laurel and Michael Evans via Unsplash

Learn how to check Tyre Pressure:

Spend some money and get a dial gauge. It is extremely easy to use. You can get them from your local auto parts shop. Refer to your car’s manual for optimum tyre pressure. This gauge comes in handy; periodically keep checking tyre pressure to avoid over or under inflated tyres. Optimally inflated tyres will give you a much smoother drive.

These car care resolutions if followed religiously will save you a tonne of money and hassle in the long-run.