Book Review: The Flavours of Love – Dorothy Koomson

Pages: 440

Published: 2013

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is probably the fifth or sixth book by Dorothy Koomson & it felt a little different to the others.

DK writes about a family hit by tragedy when Joel the father of two kids is murdered & leaves behind a wife Saffron to deal with the aftermath.

Like all of Koomson’s books you start after the tragedy & are given very little information what has happened. The more you read you naturally find out. However, in this instance I feel like too much was given away too soon leaving you with very little secrets to discover.

I found the book to be frustrating & the main character Saffron to be relatable as a mother but also completely un-relatable at the same time. She’s not just dealing with the death of her husband but how this impacts her children.

As a whole, the story could have been much more captivating but instead I found myself questioning the motive of the story & anything that was revealed lacked any ‘punch’.

I’m disappointed in this book, it’s been sat on my kindle for quite some time & whilst I’m glad I’ve read it, it’s not one I’d recommend.

Have you read this book? What did you think? Let me know in the comments 🙂

Hogwarts Express

It’s September 1st & all that reminds me of is that its time to head to King’s Cross Station to get the train to Hogwarts at 11am. How exciting! I can’t wait for another year at school. 

Oh wait, I’m 30 years old & I never got my letter!

haha. As I’m absolutely certain you know, I love Harry Potter very much & I will forever associate September with the month of going back to school & wishing I was a Witch!

So, now I’ve got over the disappointment for another year it’s time to crack on & just accept that we are as close to christmas as we are my birthday (in June) & that another year is coming to an end! I’m always looking forward to the fact that Autumn is approaching… which to me, means Pumpkin Spiced Lattes, Reading on rainy days/nights, blankets, hats & scarfs. All the best things 🙂

I also need to accept that later this month Percy will be 6 months old. I know every mama says this, but where the hell has the time gone? I vaguely remember a life before Percy when I could lounge on the sofa watching Netflix all day without interruptions. but that is becoming a distant memory. I mean, I’m still sat on my sofa now with Netflix on… but it’s 6am. I’ve been up since 4:30 with Percy *Crying Face*. I’ll also admit that I get a little annoyed at this because it’s Sunday & I really. I mean, REALLY like my sleep. I’m sure I’ll write something soon about sleep & the lack of it but i feel like now isn’t the time… so more on that later 🙂

SO yes, new month… for a lot of people September continues to symbolise the start of something new. What does September mean to you? 

This month I am restarting my online book club now I’m starting to find my new normal. My book club is called ‘Tale Away with Me’, Each month me & a bunch of my friends I know from various places over the years vote on a few books & pick one to read & discuss. The whole group is a working progress & has been on pause since just before I had Percy. But I’m ready to get going again & really want to try & make it as fun as possible, the more people involved the better! 

This month we have voted to read ‘The Turn of the Key’ by Ruth Ware. Check out Goodreads to see what the book is about. I’m looking forward to this one, I hope it’s good & sounds like the sort of book that will spark conversation which is what every book club wants! If you have read the book, or would like to join in then please do! The more the merrier! 

Thankfully from a cross stitch perspective I’ve just finished a piece for my friends 30th birthday which I was finally able to give her yesterday. I was pretty nervous about it but she seemed to like it. Currently I’m just stitching a small card for Luke’s granddads 95th Birthday & then I can start something new. I’m debating starting some Christmas stitching…I probably need to finish what I was stitching for Percy’s nursery as it won’t be much longer until we have finished painting his room & he’s ready to go in there. Another new thing this month which is a little scary & exciting. 

On that note, I’ve got Percy staring at me out of the corner of my eye trying to get my attention so I should wrap this up now. 

Have a good day & let me know what you have planned this month?

Kim xx

Whoops…

well well well…

5 months later almost to the day & I FINALLY get the motivation & energy up to write again. Ive been toying with the idea for a few weeks but all sorts of things got in the way… I couldn’t find my mac charger, I potentially wanted to write on paper rather than typing, Percy wasn’t sleeping well… you name it, I’ve had the excuse. but ultimately, I’m back & it seems i can still just about remember how type haha

Reading back over my last two posts definitely makes me smile! (Click here for my last post) I remember being so so frustrated that Percy wasn’t here yet & didn’t make the most of those weeks leading up to him arriving as much as I should have.. I knew that would always be the case. I can’t believe I’ve been off work for about 6 months & I have a 5 month old baby! So much to talk about & absolutely no structure in this brain of mine to do it!! It’s all a little chaotic.

Let’s start with the basics first…

I’m now a mama to a beautiful smiley boy called Percy

He’s 5 months old

It’s everything & also nothing like I expected it to be

I’m tired all the time (original I know right?)

I’m bored but also not most days…

The days & weeks are going very fast but sometimes the day feels like it will ever end

Naturally, I wouldn’t change a thing 🙂

Over coming days no doubt I’ll share more with you all about my labour, being a mum & general updates about my cross stitch & reading. Bonus of not writing for quite some time is that I’ve got plenty to talk about.

I hope this post finds you all well & i’m looking forward to catching up & seeing where you are all up to!

Kim xxx

 

 

He’s here!!

Finally! My beautiful baby boy arrived on 21st March 2019 weighing a big 9lb 4oz.

I actually can’t believe he is here! My perfect little bundle of joy. I’m a mummy 🥰!

Baby Percy.

In a week or so when we’re more settled I’ll post an update on my labour/child birth.

I hope you’re all well xxx

41 Weeks

41 weeks today & still waiting for this beautiful baby boy to arrive.

I’m booked in for an induction on Friday afternoon – which happens to be exactly what I didn’t want. (Bar a C Section!)

My emotions have been all over the place during the last week in particular. I’ve gone from excited that this baby will arrive imminently, to frustration when nothing happens! Questioning every ache & pain…

I went for a sweep on Friday. I honestly went in trying to manage my expectations that only 24% successfully start labour. (Can’t remember where I read this stat, it may not even be right) I picture myself as a fairly unlucky individual when it comes to stuff like this so I kept telling myself the chances of anything happening was unlikely.

I hate being right!!

After a very uncomfortable process I stupidly got my hopes up. 24 hours passed with lower back pain, stomach cramps (all good!) 48 hours pass & I start to loose my mucus plug & get excited. Another day passes and again I go through a full night of period like cramps and then… nothing 😭

I’ve had a pretty easy pregnancy thankfully with minimal nausea, aches & pains. But no one prepares you for how frustrating this part of the pregnancy journey is! When will it end? Why can’t babies just been on time like everything else is?! I can track my period but yet it’s not so simple when waiting 10 months for a baby to arrive 😣

Last night, after getting upset & sulking for a bit, I’ve decided none of this is worth getting so worked up about. I should be making the most of my last week of freedom. I’ve accepted there really isn’t anything I can do to encourage this baby to arrive so my new plan is to try & just ‘go with it’. I’ve banned myself from googling early signs of labour along with posts about other people being late… they aren’t helping & it’s causing me to obsess.

After I made this decision, I had a bubble bath, did a face mask, listened to my audiobook & ultimately just tried to relax.

So, I don’t really have a point to this post other than to share my frustration & get it out on paper so to speak. Here’s hoping that this time next year, or even next month I look back & smile at this post. I know the best is yet to come!!

Any tips or suggestions to get through the next 5 days before I go in for my induction? Have you been induced? Please share any positive stories you have 🙂

Kim xx

WIP Wednesday

Hi all,

Happy Wednesday! This weekend just gone I managed to finish my only working cross stitch project.

Take a look:

The design is from a kit I purchased in Aldi in January as part of their baby event. The intention has always been to frame the finished project & put it in the babies room when it’s done. I LOVE how the backstitch always makes the design pop! ❤️

Admittedly it’s not quite finished yet…The chart does have some french knots which I’ve avoided doing as I’ve got a short temper & don’t think I’ll be able to do them at the moment. (It’s been a while since I’ve completed any) I’m debating picking up some small beads instead to give it some sparkle 😁

If I do pick them up again I’ll need to watch a ‘How to’ video on YouTube first to refresh my memory!

Is it just me that struggles with French knots?!

For now, I’ve moved on to the second chart that was included in the kit. Two reasons for this, it’s using the same set of threads I’m using, so if I don’t complete the chart I’ll probably end up binning the threads because it’s so messy! It’s really not my cup of tea having the threads like this.

Previously I’ve always purchased threads individually & put them on to bobbins & build the kit up myself.

The last reason I’ve started this chart straight after is because I’m honestly just trying to keep busy. I have plenty of cross stitch charts/projects etc at home but since we moved in December I haven’t got round to sorting out my stash… one day I’ll get round to it!

Later this week when there’s more to it, I’ll share my progress on my new xstitch.

What are you stitching at the moment? Have you stitched anything for your little one before? Share a picture or link to your posts in the comments so I can take a look!

Happy stitching!

Kim xxx

Maternity leave woes

Hi all,

I’ve just strolled past my due date yesterday without anything exciting happening & still have countless days until baby is due to arrive. 😬

Bar labour I’m guessing…(I’ve obviously not experienced it yet being a first-time mum) this seems to be the toughest bit…Sat at home waiting & wondering when the baby will make an appearance. Questioning every little twinge or movement you get… that being said, I have so much spare time on my hands at the moment that I thought it would be therapeutic to write down parts of this wonderful journey I’m on that annoy me a little 😂

(Yes, I’m well aware I sound cranky & that people just mean well)

1.Sleep is a distant memory. Previously you’ve had the odd night you can’t sleep but now it starts to ramp up & you feel like you don’t sleep any more than 2 hours at a time – someone said that it’s your bodies way of preparing for when the baby is here. To me, it seems like some sick joke haha

2.You get so bored. Remember when your alarm clock used to go off & you would count the days/hours to your next lie in or day off?! There’s only so much you can do to keep yourself entertained whilst waiting for your baby to arrive.

Side note- what did people do before Netflix?!

3. As much as you appreciate people asking how you are, it gets a bit tedious being asked how you’re getting on & counting down the days until baby arrives.

4. On that note, the question of ’have you get everything ready?’

’I should hope so Patricia. This baby is due to arrive imminently.’

5. You think you’ll be dead productive with your time off, you’ll go for long walks, clean the house, do batch cooking but in fact you have zero energy to do any of this. I’m starting to imagine by baby boy as a vampire. It’s not healthy lol.

I’m constantly experiencing an internal battle with myself about taking time to relax & rest up Vs. Getting things done in the house & not feeling like I’ve wasted a day or been lazy.

What did you do with your time off before the baby arrived? Is there anything you wish you did more or less of?

Kim xx

Reading challenge March 2019

Just a quick update on my PopSugar reading challenge of 2019.

I’m pleased that I’m picking up momentum with the books I’ve read year to date. Currently on 8/25. (of course, it may have something to do with the fact I’ve been off work for 2 weeks waiting for the baby to arrive!)

You can find out more about this reading challenge by clicking the link here.

Click on the links for the book reviews I’ve written so far. I’m very behind on my reviews so watch this space, I’m hoping to catch up.

What I’ve ticked off so far…

A book becoming a movie in 2019

A book that makes you nostalgic

✓ A book written by a musician – Eve of Man by Giovanna & Tom Fletcher

A book you think should be turned into a movie

A book with at least 1 million ratings on Goodreads

A book with a plant in the title or cover

A reread of a fave book

✓ A book about a hobby – The Marble Collector – Cecelia Ahern

✓ A book you meant to read in 2018- To all the boys I’ve lived before- Jenny Han

A book with Pop, Sugar or Challenge in the title

A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover

✓ A book inspired by mythology, folklore or legend – Time’s Convert- Deborah Harkness

A book published posthumously

A book you see someone reading on tv or in a film

A retelling of a classic

A book with a question in the title

A book set on a college or university campus

A book about someone with a superpower

A book with multiple character POVs

A book set in space

A book by two female authors

A book with a title that includes salty, sweet, spicy or bitter

A book set in Scandinavia

A book that takes place in a single day

A debut novel

A book published in 2019

A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature

A book recommended by a celebrity you admire

A book with Love in the title

A book featuring an amateur detective

A book about family

A book written by an author from Asia, Africa or South America

A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title

A book that includes a wedding

A book by an author whose first and last name start with the same letter

A ghost story

A book with a two-word title

✓ A novel based on a true story – The Innocent Man – John Grisham

A book revolving around a puzzle or game

Fave prompt from a past popsugar challenge —— (to be confirmed)

So, a few ticked off! I have one book I’ve read that I can’t make fit into the challenge, but that may change the further I get into the challenge as each of them are open to interpretation.

Are you part of this reading challenge? Or even a different one? Tell me about it! How are you getting on!?

Kim xx

Did you know…

Just a bit of fun so you can get to know me a little better…

5 random facts about me

I split my Big Mac burger in half to eat it. So it’s genuinely like eating two burgers. (It’s also the only burger I do it with)

I have heterochromia iridis (a variety of color within a single iris) it appears as if I have two different colour eyes if you look closely. One is greenish/brown, the other blueish green. Not noticeable unless you’re making a lot of eye contact with me.

I have two cats. Sophie & Misty. We’ve had them for about 5 years. We got them off gumtree for £20(?!). We were asked to take them together but still to this day can’t understand why. They aren’t friends.

I used to do Baton twirling from the age of 4 to 13. It involved taking part in competitions & carnivals around the south of England. I still have dreams about it now.

I’ve been to a lot of gigs. My favourite being a band called Walk off the Earth who I’ve seen 4 times

Check them out on YouTube here. They’re awesome.

Can you relate to any of these probably not-so-interesting facts about me?

Share a random fact about yourself in the comments 😁 don’t be a stranger!

Kim xxx