Well hello to you, my reader chums! Last year, I read nearly 30 books, and I'm aiming to keep to the goal this year as I loved that I could dive into the world of that many stories. My favourite types of books are crime thrillers, murder mysteries and historical fiction, with the occasional romance or non-fiction thrown in.

If you're looking for book recommendations, here are the best books I've read this year. 

The Wrong Sister  by Claire Douglas

This book follows two sisters, Tasha and Alice. Tasha is married to her childhood sweetheart and lives in a suburb with their twins, and she has always felt in the shadow of her older sister. Alice has a different lifestyle, married to a wealthy entrepreneur with a high-flying career. She realised Tasha was struggling with money and losing her identity and offered a life swap for a week, where Tasha and her husband could stay at their holiday home whilst Alice and her husband watched their children. Things go wrong, and Tasha receives a phone call that Alice is in hospital and Alice's husband is dead after a break-in. They think it's a burglary gone wrong until a note lands in the letterbox.

I adored this book for many reasons. I loved learning about the complexities of the sisters' relationship, and how much they care and value each other despite their differences. However, the best part was the incredible number of twists and turns. At one point, I thought I solved the mystery, and then the author added more layers and characters, including the knowledge their younger sister went missing as a baby.  

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help is a classic novel following the lives of three ordinary women. Skeeter has returned home from university, and her mother is insistent on her finding a husband. She would usually chat with Constantine, the woman who raised her, but she has disappeared, and nobody will tell her why. Skeeter has the idea to tell the stories of 'The Help' in a novel, and two brave women, Aibileen and Minnie, share their experiences alongside other maids to start a movement and change how everyone views each other. 

I wanted to read this book for a long time, especially as I saw the film many years ago. This novel was a 5/5 read and a book which moved me, inspired by the lives of these women, mistreated and segregated due to the colour of their skin. I loved learning about each character's journey, and the delivery of the tale was pure genius.

The Audacity by Katherine Ryan 

I'm a massive Katherine Ryan fan because I admire her confidence, defiance and bold persona. This book highlighted that energy, sharing her life story, journey and many life lessons that gave her the confidence and freedom to express her honest opinion today. I loved this book because it shared how to have that self-assurance, how we all deserve to love and celebrate ourselves and that not caring too much about what people think is the best way forward to be happy.

The Last Flight by Julia Clark

This novel shares the lives of two women with two completely different lives. Claire Cook seems to have a perfect life, married to a politician and living this fancy lifestyle, but life is not what it seems. Her husband has a temper, and his staff tracks Claire's every move. Claire has spent months planning to vanish, and luckily, at the airport, she meets Eva, and the two of them decide to trade plane tickets. However, when the flight Eva got on crashed, Claire had to assume Eva's identity and the secrets Eva had taken so long to hide.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it shared the vulnerability and rawness of two women in a difficult and hard-to-get-out-of situation and what they had to do to save themselves. It's a challenging read, but that adds to the book's addictive nature and hope that both characters end up okay. This book is fast-paced, with lots of loopholes I didn't expect.

So As Long As You Write: Women on Writing by Kerry Ryan

This book was an uplifting and highlight moment for women as it shares many fiction pieces from different women, explaining honest experiences and life events in short stories or poems. I loved reading the diversity of voices in this book, including the author who compiled all the pieces together, Kerry Ryan. Between the stories, there's also honest and actionable advice for budding writers and those looking to make it in the industry, which I found very helpful.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What's your favourite book of the year so far?

Thank you for reading <3

 Friends. Besties. Unbiological siblings. Friendship is everything.

Friends are there because they choose to be in our lives, our chosen families; those we decide to share life's greatest and most tragic moments with. Friendship paves our path, supports our choices and lifts us up when we need it.

Finding good friends isn't easy. The type of friends who stay around no matter what, are there to cheer you on, wipe a tear and support you through the biggest life changes. If you are lucky to find a true friend, the beauty of life gets better and better.

What does friendship mean to me?

Friendship has evolved as I've grown older. As a teenager, it was about finding people who listened, understood you and still wanted to hang out even if you weren't cool and weren't doing 'cool things'. Friendship was about fangirling over favourite boybands and celebrities, sharing the stresses of exams and having sleepovers, playing games and eating as much chocolate until our stomachs hurt.

When I became an adult, I thought friendship was the same, but it grew harder, harder to maintain. It's easy to stay friends and have fun with someone every day when you know you have to see them at school. In the adult world, life isn't that simple. Friends change; you meet new people and connect with others older and younger than you in the workplace, when travelling and at events. You learn and discover more about who you are through others' eyes and in your world.

Friendship breakups happen. You distance yourself from certain people as life gets too busy, priorities change, and you no longer want the same things. Things aren't easy, they're different, that's all.

Real friends make plans and stick around even when you move away from your small home town of all you've ever known. They continue to message you when you get into a relationship or backpack around the world. They make plans, dinners out, brunches, holidays and weekly calls. Friendship is easy for the ones who choose to stay in your life.

Friendship is joy, creating fun memories and crying with laughter; it's finding the people who match your energy and elevate you. Friendship means being your true self and not feeling embarrassed about it, it's feeling understood, seen and valued for who you are. It's about showing up, being present and making the other person feel empowered when they're with you.

What friendship truly means is having people by my side to do life with, to sing our hearts out to our favourite songs, dance the night away, cry at our favourite films, go on road trips, chat until the sun goes down and do the wild things that make life ever so magical.

I'm blessed for the long-term friends I have and for the new friends who come into my life, adding their shine and joy, making my daily life a pleasure.

Friendship is connection, family, love and wonder. It's knowing, you'll never be alone.

 Well hello to you, my reader chums! A morning routine has revolutionised my life and made me more motivated, focused and refreshed as I start each day. I've seen many people talk about the 5am club and long lists of things to do in the morning, and that's not what I mean by a normal routine. My version of a morning routine is doing three things to make you feel joy and to start your day off right.

What do I include in a morning routine?

A morning routine means making choices that make you feel positive and good in your body, and start your day off in the best direction.

Something fun 

Everyone has something that can bring them joy first thing, whether it's a book, journal, music or a lovely coffee. I always pick up my book on my bedside table when I wake up, as it's better than choosing my phone and means the first thing I do is an activity that makes me happy: reading. Choose your fun thing; you could also be a reader like me, or want to start the day with your favourite playlist. 

Everyone has various amounts of time for a morning routine. Depending on when I wake up, I usually read for about 15 minutes to 30 minutes.

Movement

Movement is key to waking your mind and body up. Some people don't enjoy exercise, but movement doesn't necessarily mean joining the gym. Movement can be whatever is accessible for you and your body, such as a walk, dance routine, Pilates or yoga, a run, and the gym is another option. Getting your body in the right flow will alert you and help boost your endorphins overall. 

I change my movement based on how my body is feeling that day. My weekly goal is going to the gym 3 times, running once a week and the other days, either Pilates/stretching or walking.

Good food

Breakfast is incredibly important, as how will you begin your day without fuel, especially after some type of exercise? Eat what feels good for you and your body, as we all have breakfast preferences. I usually go for scrambled eggs on sourdough with sunflower seeds or a yoghurt bowl with granola, seeds and fruit. It's best to pick an option that's nutrient dense, including fibre and protein, and a drink of water to go with!

The benefits of a morning routine 

• Starts your day on a positive note
• Gives you direction for your morning
• Can boost your mind on dreary days
• It's simple enough to change based on how you're feeling
• It'll boost your overall mental health and perspective in the morning
• Increase your energy and productivity
• Help with stress management and  support better sleep patterns
• Make you look forward to the mornings, especially if you're not a morning person.

 Well hello to you, my reader chums! I'm shocked that I've been typing away at this blog for 12 years; that's my biggest commitment. My blog is the greatest gift my younger self ever gave me, and I'll always be thankful to 16-year-old me for signing up to Blogger and creating Della Loves Nutella.

When I was that young, I never knew what this blog would become. All I knew at 16 was I wanted to be a writer, and blogging was a popular thing to do, so I created mine. And, 12 years later, I'm still typing my thoughts away on my internet space, with more knowledge and life experience than at the beginning.

Stopping this blog was never an option, as I've loved it for so long. This blog has been the heart of my marketing career, helping me create blog posts, learn about SEO, develop skills around influencer marketing and social media, and build an online profile for myself. Granted, over the last few years, I've stepped away from that profile; this blog is now a space where I continue what I set out to do: share my personal experiences, advice and tips to hopefully help others.

Why do I still blog?

I debate this a lot because my audience is different from what it used to be; blogging has lost its popularity, and long-form content has certainly altered since AI came into play, but it's not stopped me.

I never set out to build a massive audience or become what we now call a 'content creator'. I blogged because I love to do it. I love to write and share my thoughts, experiences and words. It's a blessing and a privilege to me that I'm able to do that and have people who still read those words to this day.

I blog because I love to learn, develop my skills, and share advice and help for others, whether they're reading my more personal posts or interested in a travel guide I've shared. I blog because researching, writing, and editing are my favourite things to do; they bring me joy every day.

I'm lucky enough that as a freelance writer, I do write for a living; I work on people's websites, blogs and social media platforms, sharing gorgeous words and captivating stories with their audience. Without this blog, I wouldn't even have realised that's what I wanted to do or know that type of job existed. I always wanted to be a book writer, but didn't know content writing was a thing at 16. I thought you had to be a journalist and write about the news. Blogging has opened my world for the last 12 years, and it keeps on giving.

I've been lucky to receive PR mail and collaborate with other bloggers. I've been blessed to attend certain blogging events, meet like-minded people, and share my honest thoughts.

Reflecting in April every year is a gift. I've read many blogs over the years, and only a few people started their blogs at the same time as mine.

Thank you to anyone over the years who has read my blog, shared a nice comment or connected with me; it truly means the world. My teenage self would never have imagined the kindness I've received online and how blogging brought opportunities in my adult life.

Here's to the next 12 years and many more of Della Loves Nutella!

I hope you enjoyed this post. How long have you been reading my blog for?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you, my reader chums! I'm in love with Lake Bled; I was lucky to visit the lake over a long weekend, exploring its magic and nearby sights. The lake, as you imagine, is picturesque with gorgeous hikes and lots of things to see and do.

If you're visiting Lake Bled soon, here is my guide to everything you need to know and prepare for. 

It's 30 minutes from Ljubljana airport

You'll fly into Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, when visiting Lake Bled (unless you're taking a bus or driving from another part of Slovenia), and there are a few easy options to reach the lake. For something direct, you can get a taxi, although this can be a little expensive or hire a car if you're taking a road trip across Slovenia - both options will take you around 30 minutes drive.

The easiest option for tourists and those on a budget is to get the bus. There's a bus station directly outside the airport which offers buses to Lake Bled and Ljubljana city centre, and each destination takes around 30 minutes. You buy your tickets on the bus, which are 4.10 euros each for one way, and the buses come every hour. You can check the Arriva's website for a complete bus schedule. 

Lake Bled is walkable

I love to walk around on holiday as it's the best way to explore a destination. You can easily walk around the lake to see the main sites, including the castle and the various points for hopping on the Pletna boats. The lake takes around 1-2 hours to walk around, depending on whether you stop off and visit sites along the way, and the main town of Bled is very walkable too. 

The lake can be expensive

Lake Bled is a popular destination and can be expensive, depending on what you get up to. For example, the Pletna boats over to the island cost £20 each and going inside the church on the island was £12 each. Restaurants aren't crazy pricey, but I've visited many more European destinations which are a lot cheaper. If you plan and research prices for attractions, you can pick a budget suitable to cover your trip. 

Cash is essential for certain attractions

Not many places need cash anymore, however, Lake Bled was an exception. I used cash to pay for the buses, the Pletna boats and public toilets.  

Accommodation can be pricey

I stayed in the off-season, and accommodation was expensive. You'll need to make the decision to pay more and stay central or be a little further out and save yourself some money. We stayed in an Airbnb about a 20-minute walk from the lake and half an hour/40 minutes from the main town. I'm a big walker and we didn't mind it, but if that's not for you, staying central is the way forward.

Buses are easy to use

Buses were a lifesaver in Lake Bled for the airport, excursions, and to visit another lake - and were incredibly cheap too. As Lake Bled is such a popular destination, I assumed the buses would be pricey, but they were honestly the opposite. The most expensive bus was to the city (around 5 euros each), whilst the airport was around 4 euros and to Lake Bohinj, around 2 euros. The buses do a loop from the airport, through to Lake Bled and then to Lake Bohinj and loop back to that exact route, making it easy to find your way.

Going off-peak means fewer crowds

I visited Lake Bled in mid-March, and the lake was rather quiet. We did see some tour groups, and there were people around, however, it was very quiet compared to other popular tourist places I've visited off-peak. I can imagine in the summer, it would be very busy and jumping on the hourly bus to the airport would be a mission. Also, when we visited Lake Bohinj (a 45-minute bus ride from Lake Bled), we saw about 5 people the entire time around the lake. If you want peace and don't mind bad weather, visit off-peak in winter.

Be prepared for the weather

You may be incredibly lucky with the weather; however, if, like me, you visit in winter, you should prepare in case the weather isn't in your favour. We did have rain and clouds for the entire time at the lake. Even though it didn't stop us from doing anything, it was good to be prepared as it made the experience more comfortable. Pack suitable walking/hiking shoes, waterproofs and practical clothing.

Explore beyond the lake

I adored every part of Lake Bled, but I have to say, Lake Bohinj was a massive highlight of the trip, and I'm glad we visited that lake too. Explore beyond the lake, such as visiting Lake Bohinj, the main city, or if you're hiring a car, drive around the local villages.

Supermarkets and shops can be closed on a Sunday

If visiting on a weekend, be wary that supermarkets and some shops may be closed.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you visiting Lake Bled?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you, my reader chums! Visiting Lake Bled felt like a dream come true; the scenery, the mountainous landscapes, and the walks were a peaceful escape, and I loved every minute. 

As a sought-after destination, planning ensures you fit everything you'd like to see. As Lake Bled isn't overly huge, you could squeeze this into a 2-day trip, but an added third day means you can take lake life at a slower pace. If you're planning a trip to Lake Bled, here's my 3-day itinerary of what to see and do.

What to see and do

Day 1 - Get your bearings around Lake Bled

Day 2 - Lake Bled attractions and excursions

Day 3 - Soak up Lake Bled and head to the city

Where to eat