Well hello to you my reader chums! 2024 has been an incredible year; one full of dream-worthy holidays, business success, many special moments with my loved ones and plenty of lessons learned. I've adored 2024 with all the amazing highs and memories I'll never forget. I'm exceptionally grateful for the year I've had and everything I've been able to do - I honestly cannot believe it when I look back.

I always love to reflect on the year as it's a way to appreciate my favourite moments and achievements. 2024 has been everything, and here are my overall highlights of the year.

UK city breaks including Bath, Cambridge and Edinburgh

I've had the pleasure of exploring more of the UK this year, enjoying some city gems, including a winter break to Bath, a summer weekend in Cambridge and a spring weekend in Edinburgh. I feel very grateful to have soaked up some gorgeous gems the UK offers. I loved the architecture and overall charm Bath offered, with sweet cafes, cobbled walkways and independent shops. I loved the dated buildings, rivers and countryside around it. Edinburgh equally had that gorgeous charm and wandering those cobbled streets was everything. I couldn't get over the diversity of its different areas, the architecture, quaint shops and cafes and surrounding woodlands - so much to offer. Cambridge was what I imagined it to be; academic and striking with its impressive colleges, small city centre and the dream of punting along the river.

A gorgeous holiday to Italy and Switzerland

As many of you know, I'm obsessed with Italy and visit the country most years (I try to go somewhere new in Italy every year if I can). It's hard to pick my favourite area of Italy as I adore pretty much everywhere I've visited, from northern cities like Bologna and Verona to Tuscany and Sicily. This trip to my favourite country was extra special though as it was an interrail adventure through a couple of Italian locations and Switzerland. We explored Parma, Modena, and Lake Maggiore and then got the train to Switzerland, to visit Spiez, Brienz and Zurich. Every location was a mountainous dream and I adored every minute of soaking up landscapes, enjoying Italian food and seeing the beauty of Switzerland for the first time.

A dream trip to Canada 

I've wanted to visit Canada for the longest time and in autumn this year, we had the DREAM trip to the country. It began exploring the beautiful city of Toronto with a day trip to Niagara Falls and then, a road trip through the Canadian Rockies, exploring the wonders of Banff National Park, Jasper National Park and Yoho National Park. I don't know how to express my gratitude for this trip and seeing the wonder that is Niagara Falls and also, the impressive mountainous views of Canada's national parks. Banff is a place that will always leave a gorgeous place in my heart, I'm obsessed with Lake Loise and Moraine Lake and all the other hikes and lakes we experienced on our visit. Gorgeous waterfalls, walking on a glacier for the first time and driving through Icefields Parkway are a couple of highlights from the trip.

A successful year of my freelancing business

This year has been a memorable one for my freelancing business and I'm incredibly proud of myself for the success I've experienced. After a difficult year last year trying to build up the business, all the hard work I put in has paid off and this year, I've been blessed with some fab retainer clients and copywriting projects. I've worked with local digital marketing agencies, led marketing meetings for clients, demonstrated my copywriting skills through website content and blog copy, and connected and collaborated with various businesses. I'm proud to feel like I've made it and established myself as a business owner this year with continuous projects and retainer work. I can't wait to see what next year brings for the business!

Reading 25+ books

I love to read; it's no secret I'm a massive bookworm and have always aspired to be a published author. I've prioritised reading again this year, as part of my morning routine and whenever I have spare time as I adore it so much. I've read over 25 books this year, getting closer to 30 and hope I reach that by the end of the year. I've read many amazing thrillers, murder mysteries, light-hearted reads and some inspiring non-fiction books.

Making progress on my 6th book

My goal this year was to complete writing my 6th book this year and as the business has been so busy, I haven't given the book as much attention as I liked. However, I've nearly finished the first draft and I loved writing this tale this year, leaning into writing a different genre and sharing some of my experiences as a twin in the plotline.

Developing existing friendships and finding new ones

I will say friendships this year was an interesting topic as I've had many realisations about some friends, helping me set better boundaries. Due to this, I've found the room to search and grow friendships with new people and meet people that really get me. I've developed existing friendships that mean a lot to me and created new memories and connections with new friends.

Meeting my new baby niece

I am blessed to have such a gorgeous connection with my nephew; he means the world to me and I love being his auntie. When my sister told me at the beginning of the year she was expecting, I couldn't believe it and come the summer, I was blessed to meet my beautiful baby niece for the first time. I love seeing her grow so far and can't wait to make more memories with her.

Spending quality time with family and friends

Quality time is the most important thing to me and throughout 2024, I've prioritised spending as much time as possible with my family, best friends and partner. Whether going to their house and chatting, going on an adventure for the day, having dinner out or a walk, having deep chats and spending time is everything to me. I'm grateful for the continuation of beautiful deep connections with loved ones.

Another amazing year with my partner

I genuinely feel like the luckiest girl every single day to have a partner that just gets me, loves me deeply and makes every day memorable, and joyful. In 2024, we've had some phenomenal experiences together, travelling the world, delicious meals out, insightful chats, concerts together and the little moments of every day, loving each other's company. 

Seeing some amazing shows and concerts

I love watching live music and theatre shows; it's magical to see music and dance come to life in front of your eyes. Some highlights of concerts and shows this year include Noah Kahan, Joy Oladokun, Wizard of Oz, Girls Aloud, Choir of Man the Sausage and Cider Festival and the Nutcracker ballet.

Falling in love even more with my hometown and the community

I love where I live. I've always lived by the sea and the seaside town I live in has such an independent and positive community of creatives, and I have many amazing friends within that community. I've loved trying out new restaurants, meeting more people in the community and discovering more favourite spots.

Feeling more fulfilled in everyday life

The older I get, the more I appreciate the little things in life and learn how to slow down each day, be present and enjoy it more. This year I've gotten better at setting boundaries with other people, protecting my energy, focusing on my needs and giving time and energy to the right people.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What are your favourite moments of the year?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! One lie we're often told, especially as women is we have to achieve everything before the age of 30. We must find the love of our life, get married, have kids, buy a home and have our dream career. We're meant to smash life in our first decade of adulthood - and to this day, we all believe the lie, and we all try to live up to these unlikely expectations. How can we achieve all of life's successes in one decade as well as learn to be our true selves and live wild and free lives? IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

If you're in your twenties and feeling the pressure, here is my guide to the beauty of ageing and how you don't need to achieve everything in your twenties. 

These are some reminders to hear today:

Ageing is a beautiful thing

The number of people my age or younger always dread the idea of turning 30 and getting a year older but as I grow, I realise what a blessing that is. How lucky we are to age and become wiser, stronger, more successful and make incredible memories. Ageing means experiencing more love, connection, the joy of life and achievement. It's everything; your skin shows years of laughter and experience and encapsulates what your existence is all about.

You're never too old to achieve a certain goal

I'm so tired of the 'twenties pressure' and being told I need to do it all and have it all or I'm not successful. It's the biggest lie I've ever been told. You are never too old to achieve a certain goal. You can find love in your 50s, you can go backpacking in your 60s, you can have your dream job in your 40s, you can learn a new life skill in your 70s. Life doesn't stop when you reach 30.

Your twenties are incredibly young

I'm 28 now and the closer I get to 30, the more I realise how young I am. When I look back over the last decade, how my twenties are so young. It's the first decade of adulthood - how am I meant to have it all figured out? How can I learn all the life lessons and achieve everything when I've had no proper life experience?

Life doesn't stop at 30

Absolutely not. Repeat this a thousand times, please. The minute you turn 30 and your 'wild and fun' years of your twenties finish, it doesn't mean your life is over. You have so much more to live and do - a whole lifetime to experience.

It's a blessing to see a new decade 

Ageing is the biggest blessing. Many people die young, way too young, whether through illness or tragedy. Sometimes, we should remind ourselves of the blessing it is to age and experience all the things we'd like to do in life.

You don't have to achieve the normal society expectations to live a fulfilling life

The normal expectations we're told to be happy include getting married, buying a house, having kids and living the perfect nuclear family life. But that dynamic doesn't work for everyone and that's okay. You don't need to aspire to the 'normal societal expectations', you need to create a life for yourself. This could be travelling full time, living in a remote cottage in the countryside or a stable job with little moments of joy each day. 

You get more beautiful every single year

We constantly compare ourselves to our younger selves, especially in terms of our looks. But this is just a reminder - you get more beautiful with age. Your face is full of wisdom, stories and your life journey.

You can always start over, whatever your age

Sometimes life doesn't go to plan and it can feel like the world is over, especially when we're young, in our twenties. When things break, we can fix them. When things don't go to plan, we can start again. Whether it's a job, relationship or healing from a difficult situation, you can do this.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What's the biggest life lesson you've learned?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! As my first ever blog post (nearly 12 years ago) was about Miranda Hart's first book, it would only be right to write a review of her latest book, 'I Haven't Been Entirely Honest with You'. As you can tell from my opening blog statement, I've been a Miranda fan since I was a teenager and started writing blogs with that opening phrase at the age of 16 - and I've never stopped. It would be weird writing the blogs without a 'reader chums' starter!

The show 'Miranda' has been a comfort to me since my teens, and I always found so much joy in watching it over again and quoting the show with my friends. I loved how the show always taught me the power of being my true self, loving who I am and how as a woman, I can do anything I put my mind to. 

Miranda Hart has always been an icon to me and still is, with her joy and showing the world the fun in life and how embracing your inner child is incredibly important, even as we get older. This book encapsulated everything I thought it would be and more - and was an uplifting, refreshing and insightful read of Miranda's personal journey.

Synopsis

'I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You' is Miranda's personal story of her journey through chronic illness and navigating the tools that worked for her. It's a personal tale leaning into the basic keys of wellbeing, learning to be your true self, embracing the little treasures in life and learning what's right for you and your life rather than what society tells you to be.

Overall thoughts

Miranda's novel was like a nice warm hug, reassuring me and all the other readers that everything will be okay. The core and heart of the book share the importance of being yourself and living authentically as you - and how that can do wonders for your mental health and everyday life.

I love how the book was the heart of who Miranda is, even with simple quirks and phrases in how she says things, and adding her favourite songs in each chapter. I love how incredibly vulnerable this book is and how Miranda opened up about her lowest moments, the simple pleasures she found and the connections she made which brought her out of herself and made each day a little better. 

This book was everything I needed to read. As a people pleaser and someone who struggles to relax or not be productive, it gave me the reality check I needed. It shared the importance of slowing down, being present and how the little things in life are the most important. Many of these lessons I've heard before but the way Miranda wrote it and her vulnerability meant so much more than any life coach or wellbeing manual I've read. It felt like Miranda's heart was on the page and I could experience her journey from the start to the current day. It's honest, vulnerable and open - which I can imagine took so much courage to write and share.

I felt somewhat lighter reading this book. There's something so powerful to hearing someone else's journey and not feeling so alone. I learned the term 'highly sensitive person' in her book and it hit me - that's me. For one of the first times in my life, I felt seen and that there are people like me who feel things incredibly deeply but also can only socialise in intentional situations, with smaller crowds of people.  

Overall this book warmed me in so many ways. I felt seen, loved and special and finished it knowing I deserved to show the world me and live fully as I should. It helped me realise how important it is to set boundaries, rest, slow down, not always be productive and not always chase success. This book taught me how special life is just by existing. Miranda poignantly shares a tale about a dark and difficult period and how moving away from her true self made her struggle more. Living authentically made life magical again.

A 10/10 read and one that'll stay with me forever.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What's next on your to-be-read pile?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Niagara Falls is a glorious sight we all should see in our lifetime (if we have the opportunity) as honestly, it's gorgeous and everything you imagine it to be. You can visit Niagara Falls in many ways depending on where you're staying and how you want to see it.

Niagara Falls is in Canada and America, providing you with two opportunities to visit the incredible Falls and embrace the beauty from two different perspectives. I recently visited Canada and part of that trip was Toronto where we took a day trip to the Falls.

If you're visiting Toronto, here's all my advice on a day trip to Niagara Falls.

Book your transport in advance

It takes around 2 hours to reach Niagara Falls from Toronto, depending on traffic. You can visit the Falls via a bus, private tour or hire a car and make your way there. The cheapest and easiest way for me was via a bus. If you're staying in Toronto, you can book a bus through Flixbus (or other bus companies) and hop on the bus at the central bus station.

Buses run quite often; you can find all different price options, some with stops and some that go directly there, suiting your time and budget. Our bus took around the 2-hour mark and cost around £45 return for two people. You can book seats, ensuring you're next to each other and bring luggage with you too. I found it incredibly simple and the journey was super quick; a lot of it is on those giant Canadian highways. 

Private tours will be a lot more expensive but usually, if you want even less stress, a tour does everything and all the thinking for you, helping you see Niagara Falls in a private group.

Buses are widely available, however, if you're planning to travel in peak time, such as summer, I would especially consider booking the bus way in advance. We were lucky to visit in early autumn (end of September) and only booked the bus a few days before, and we had plenty of buses to choose from.

Book your activities to the falls in advance

Similar to buses (and other modes of transport), I would recommend booking any tours you'd like to do at the Falls in advance. When you arrive at Niagara Falls, you'll learn they offer many tourist activities you can join and have the opportunity to book them there and then. However, by choosing your activities in advance, you'll have more space and time to map your data at the Falls. We only booked the boat tour in advance, however, as it wasn't too busy, we got to go on an earlier tour.

Activities can vary in prices and timings so it's all dependent on how you want to spend the day. The boat tour has to be the most popular choice and a must in my opinion. I had the time of my life being soaked by Niagara Falls as we sailed through. It's only 20 minutes long but a joyous and memorable time.

Other activities can include 'journey behind the falls', and the aero car.

Give yourself enough time to explore Niagara Falls

When you're at Niagara Falls, you'll realise it isn't a massive area and there isn't loads to do. You can spend your time wandering around the Falls itself, mooching in the gift shop and grabbing some lunch at the various restaurants and cafes. There's also Clifton Hill which is a juxtaposition to the Falls themselves with brightly coloured arcades, restaurants and amusements for families. You can find all the classic restaurant chains, cafes and endless activities to keep everyone occupied.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you planning to visit Niagara Falls?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! The older I get, the more I realise that not everyone has the same priorities in life as me and that's okay. Being an adult is busy; we all have relationships and responsibilities whether it's a demanding career or a family to look after. Staying friends with people or keeping strong family connections can be tough, and take a toll on your mental health overall.

I love to give so much to others, spend quality time with people and help in any way. However, I realised how much this takes out of me, especially the time and energy I was giving to toxic people or those who didn't really appreciate me and my time. It's a hard pill to swallow but once I learned about the 'let them' theory, everything fell into place.

If you're a people pleaser, here is my take on the 'let them' theory and how I've embraced it in my life.

What is the let them' theory?

I originally saw the 'let them' theory from Mel Robbins and it's about 'letting them' do whatever they want to do to create more control and emotional peace for you and your life. It also can help you navigate and create better relationships with people in your life.

If you have a friend who never puts in the effort or a family member you're always going to the lengths of the earth for and doesn't appreciate or respect you, this theory can do wonders in your life.

How have I embraced the 'let them' theory?

Embracing the 'let them' theory hasn't been an easy one, but over time, I'm getting better and better at putting it in place. 

The biggest way I've embraced is stopping texting people first, which may sound silly but I realised how I'm the sole reason why a lot of relationships in my life have continued - as I was always the one reaching out and making plans to see that person or check-in.

I realised by stepping back from different people, I had more energy to put into the people who were making the effort with me and growing those relationships further. It also gave me the time and energy to care for the most important relationship: the one with myself.

I think growing up as a people pleaser, keeping friends or trying to help everyone, thinking about their needs, instead of my own has had a detrimental effect on my mental health - and why 'the 'let them' theory is the best thing to happen to me. 

Embracing 'let them' theory has:

• Allowed me to work on my own personal boundaries
• Reduce the 'people pleaser, in me
• Learn who the negative influences in my life
• Learn who reciprocates my energy
• Learn how different people work with communication
• Prioritise myself and my needs
• Understand more about the power of friendships and who has my back
• Understand more where my priorities and life goals fall
• Gain more respect for myself and my time

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Canada is a dream-worthy location with mountainous landscapes, friendly folk and diverse experiences. During my trip to Canada, I visited Toronto, and Niagara Falls and spent a week exploring the Canadian Rockies. Both parts of the trip were completely different and taught me plenty of tips. 

If you're new to visiting Canada, here are my best tips on what to know before planning a trip to Canada.

Canada is incredibly vast

One thing that surprised me in Canada, especially when travelling the Canadian Rockies was the sheer vastness. It's not like the UK where everything is near each other. When you're outside of a city, towns and villages aren't that close together. If you're driving, roads are long and can be 20 miles apart before you see a petrol station, shop or restaurant. With that in mind, if you're going on a road trip or travelling around, always plan for long distances and prepare with food, water and petrol.

Also, if you're planning on visiting one big destination across the country, often it's a long drive or you may have to fly between destinations. For example, I visited Toronto and the Canadian Rockies on one trip, including a flight from Toronto to Calgary and hired a car, to visit places like Banff.

Be wary and respectful of wildlife

Canada has beautiful and diverse wildlife and if you're out of a city, near the countryside or exploring the wilderness, be wary of wildlife. Bears, elks and other mammals are incredibly common across country areas, such as the Canadian Rockies and it's important to be prepared for them - and respect them. You're in their territory, their home and should be respectful. Learn the best way to travel safely, be wary and buy items like bear spray to keep you secure.

The roads are huge

I'm used to small country lanes, small parking spaces and average-sized dual carriageways in the UK and I was shocked at how wide and long their roads are. This is why you'll often find people in four-by-four cars rather than the smaller cars we have here.

Tipping culture in restaurants

One thing that surprised me was the tipping culture in Canada. It's standard to tip around 18% on each food bill (at restaurants). There's no mandatory rule of course, but it's always important to be respectful of their culture and offer the waiting staff a tip for their hard work. For service-counter restaurants, you don't need to tip as much but overall, tipping is essential.

You can split bills more easily in restaurants

Something they need to have in all countries is the ease of splitting the bill in restaurants. Across Canada, we noticed how they already have the bill split so everyone can pay their fair share of the meal, without doing the awkward, 'Shall we go halves?'.

Plan accordingly, especially in the countryside

Due to the vastness and how spaced out many amenities are, whatever you're planning to do in your day, whether it's a hike or explore a new town, research where petrol stations, food and rest stops are. Plus, be wary of distances; and how to get from A to B, as it'll make your life easier. I even found on some routes in the countryside that there was no phone signal for 30-plus miles. 

Paying with a card is the norm

I always like to learn the common way to pay in each country and like the UK, Canada was very much a paying-by-card place but accepts cash in most places too.

Don't compare Canadians to Americans

This is a polite tip to not mention when talking with Canadians. It's not friendly to compare Canadians to Americans and sometimes, you can offend them. As British people, we generally put Americans and Canadians in the same group but they are separate countries. I guess it's the same when people all assume English people are friends with the royal family. Just a light note to remember!

Look at Visa/ETA requirements

Visa/ETA requirements are essential to look up before visiting any country. If you're from the UK and visiting Canada for a short amount of time, you will only need to apply for ETA. You can do this online a few weeks before the trip so you don't need to worry about it when the trip arrives. You won't need to print anything out as it's all sorted online.  

Pack for all weathers

Canada experiences extreme weather, from freezing cold, and snowy climates to hot summer days. It all depends on where in Canada you're visiting as the country is incredibly vast, however, I'd recommend researching the average weather for the time of year you're going. For example, we visited Toronto and the Canadian Rockies at the end of September or early October. Toronto was summer weather (mid-twenties Celsius) and the Canadian Rockies were colder (5-10 Celsius). We were lucky it was pretty much sunny on our trip, however, there was some rain and temperatures varied throughout the day so layers are essential.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you planning your trip to Canada?

Thank you for reading <3