- The New Years resolutions I didn’t make for 2026
How are your New Year’s resolutions going? Genuine question. We’re over halfway through January now, so this feels like a safe point to check in. The popular consensus seems to be that January lasts approximately six months; that it’s a bleak, endless stretch of darkness, budgeting and diet apps, and people pretending to enjoy early… Read more: The New Years resolutions I didn’t make for 2026 - December 2025: In which Fran watches far too many awful Christmas movies
Welcome to 2026! 2025 is officially old news. December was, predictably, a lot. It started with good intentions and a vague sense that I would ease gently into the festive season. It did not end that way. I was ill for approximately three quarters of the month, and somewhere between school deadlines, end-of-year admin, dark… Read more: December 2025: In which Fran watches far too many awful Christmas movies - Love Hard film review: Flying 3,000 miles to be catfished at ChristmasI rewatched Love Hard a few years after first seeing it, largely because a suspicious number of people insisted it was something I wouldn’t hate. In Christmas-film terms, I think we’ve established that this is a glowing recommendation. Natalie, our protagonist, is young, hot, child-free, and looking for love on an app. She’s having a… Read more: Love Hard film review: Flying 3,000 miles to be catfished at Christmas
- A Very British Christmas review: I watched it so you don’t have toI have survived A Very British Christmas, a film which promises festive British charm and instead delivers (exactly) ninety of plaid, mediocrity, and subtitles that appear to have been generated by a man in a hurry with a poor grasp of English. Call this a bonus review, if you will. I promised that tomorrow’s scheduled… Read more: A Very British Christmas review: I watched it so you don’t have to
- A Christmas Karen review: Dickens with an I Want to See the Manager haircutAlthough it has bitten me before, I let my boyfriend take the wheel again. He could choose any Christmas film to watch, and he chose… A Christmas Karen. A Christmas Karen is a low budget take on A Christmas Carol, but starring a Karen. Much like The Knight Before Christmas, it’s possible someone came up… Read more: A Christmas Karen review: Dickens with an I Want to See the Manager haircut
- Red One review: A Marvel film, but festiveBored to tears of formulaic, beige Straight-to-Netflix Christmas romcoms, I thought I’d see what else there was on offer for my Christmas film review marathon. One film that was repeatedly recommended was action movie ‘Red One‘, staring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Let’s be clear up front: We cannot compare Red One to a Hallmark Christmas… Read more: Red One review: A Marvel film, but festive
- Christmas at home with Very: Making the house feel festiveThis post was written in collaboration with Very.co.uk. There’s a very particular moment every year when the feeling of Christmas sneaks up on you. For me, it was the first Saturday in November after the clocks changed; the sky was… Read more: Christmas at home with Very: Making the house feel festive
- Review of the Inoviva 2L Slushie Maker: Must-have kitchen gadget or brief summer love affair?This Slushie Maker review is a collaboration with Inoviva. All opinions and pictures are my own. You can buy the Inoviva 2L Slushie Maker on Amazon here. It has an RRP of £319.99 but if you use the code 10INOVIVA… Read more: Review of the Inoviva 2L Slushie Maker: Must-have kitchen gadget or brief summer love affair?
- Keeping cool, waking up fresh & garden discos: My summer at home tech essentialsThis post was written in collaboration with Very.co.uk Look, I love the idea of summer. Sun, long evenings, drinks in the garden, maybe even brushing off the BBQ if I can remember how to light it. But in reality? British… Read more: Keeping cool, waking up fresh & garden discos: My summer at home tech essentials
- Are we nearly there yet? (No. No we are not) + WIN A YOTO MINII wrote this post in collaboration with Yoto who have provided me with a Yoto Mini to give away, and gave us some free Yoto cards too. I love Yoto and you can see a bunch of reviews I’ve done… Read more: Are we nearly there yet? (No. No we are not) + WIN A YOTO MINI
- Bed Kingdom: Flair Loop Midsleeper Bed Storage Set ReviewWell we finally moved house, and one of the great joys was putting lots of stuff in a skip. Honestly, if you love someone, don’t get the smellies for their birthday – get them skip hire. Very cathartic. One of… Read more: Bed Kingdom: Flair Loop Midsleeper Bed Storage Set Review
- How to get the right school shoes for your children with Start-RiteThis is a collaborative post – I received the shoes featured for free from Start-Rite As the end of the school year approaches, one of the essential tasks for parents to do over the summer holidays is to go out… Read more: How to get the right school shoes for your children with Start-Rite
- Why I can’t wear black anymore: A Labrador owner’s memoirContains affilaite links Once upon a time, and long after my brief goth years were over, black was a wardrobe staple. Elegant, slimming, practical; black is a classic choice for the tired mum with no energy for fashion but a… Read more: Why I can’t wear black anymore: A Labrador owner’s memoir
- A last minute dog friendly holiday in Cornwall: Haven Perran Sands, Perranporth reviewNote: This Perran Sands review is entirely my own words and in no way connected to or sponsored by Haven. It got to Sunday afternoon before the last full week of the holidays, and the kids were due back from… Read more: A last minute dog friendly holiday in Cornwall: Haven Perran Sands, Perranporth review
- Izzy tests out the PAJ PET Finder 4G GPS tracker for dogsDisclaimer: This is a collaborative post. I was sent the PAJ PET Finder 4G GPS tracker for dogs to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. See more information here. It’s no surprise then that GPS trackers for… Read more: Izzy tests out the PAJ PET Finder 4G GPS tracker for dogs
- How to spend a long weekend in Marrakech, MoroccoIn an attempt to keep the January blues at bay, my boyfriend and I booked a weekend trip to Marrakech. We left Gatwick early on Thursday afternoon and got back on Sunday, which doesn’t seem like enough time to visit… Read more: How to spend a long weekend in Marrakech, Morocco
- Locked and liquored up: A boozy afternoon at Alcotraz, LondonWe received tickets for the Alcotraz London prison cocktail bar experience in exchange for this review but words and pictures are my own. After lunch on Saturday (and a brief recovery period from some spicy Goan monkfish and excellent lentil… Read more: Locked and liquored up: A boozy afternoon at Alcotraz, London
- A last minute dog friendly holiday in Cornwall: Haven Perran Sands, Perranporth reviewNote: This Perran Sands review is entirely my own words and in no way connected to or sponsored by Haven. It got to Sunday afternoon before the last full week of the holidays, and the kids were due back from… Read more: A last minute dog friendly holiday in Cornwall: Haven Perran Sands, Perranporth review
- December 2025: In which Fran watches far too many awful Christmas moviesWelcome to 2026! 2025 is officially old news. December was, predictably, a lot. It started with good intentions and a vague sense that I would ease gently into the festive season. It did not end that way. I was ill… Read more: December 2025: In which Fran watches far too many awful Christmas movies
- November 2025: Theme parks, music and people that don’t get the jokeAnd just like my washing machine eating my favourite pyjamas, December arrived with zero remorse. November in my experience is largely rubbish – cold, wet, dark and uninspiring. But this one was alright! Let’s get straight into it, shall we?… Read more: November 2025: Theme parks, music and people that don’t get the joke
- October 2025: Day trips, comedy, gigs and best of all: A new vacuum cleanerOctober has been and gone and now – without wanting to sound too negative – we’re being launched headfirst into the worst months of the year. It’s cold, it’s miserable, it’s too dark to do anything after 4pm apart from… Read more: October 2025: Day trips, comedy, gigs and best of all: A new vacuum cleaner
- Review: Women’s Bamboo Pyjama Set from British BoxersThis post is a collaboration with British Boxers and these PJs were free. I’ve been on the hunt for decent pyjamas for a while now, something that feels like actual loungewear luxury rather than old band t-shirts I should be… Read more: Review: Women’s Bamboo Pyjama Set from British Boxers
- Embracing the spring transition with a new midsize wardrobe from Very.co.ukThis post was written in collaboration with Very As the seasons shift and the days begin to lengthen, there’s a certain magic in the air: brighter mornings, blooming flowers, and the promise of new beginnings… And what better way to… Read more: Embracing the spring transition with a new midsize wardrobe from Very.co.uk
- How to get the right school shoes for your children with Start-RiteThis is a collaborative post – I received the shoes featured for free from Start-Rite As the end of the school year approaches, one of the essential tasks for parents to do over the summer holidays is to go out… Read more: How to get the right school shoes for your children with Start-Rite
- Ten signs you’re in perimenopause (and everyone needs to get out of your way)Perimenopause almost sounds like something soft and wafting; a gentle prelude to a whimsical hormonal fade-out. It is not. It is a hormonal rave in your uterus while your brain quietly packs up and moves out. Officially, it’s the stage… Read more: Ten signs you’re in perimenopause (and everyone needs to get out of your way)
- Biird Lumii clitoral sucker sex toy: Review & discountDisclaimer: I was sent the Biird Lumii clitoral sucker and some other bits and bobs to review free of charge for this post, but words and pictures are mine. This post contains affiliate links. See more information here. You can get a… Read more: Biird Lumii clitoral sucker sex toy: Review & discount
- Biird Namii vibrator and clitoral stimulator/sucker review & discountDisclaimer: I was sent the Biird Namii vibrator and clitoral stimulator to review to free of charge for this post, but words and pictures are mine. This post contains affiliate links. See more information here. You can get a 10% discount on… Read more: Biird Namii vibrator and clitoral stimulator/sucker review & discount
- Christmas at home with Very: Making the house feel festiveThis post was written in collaboration with Very.co.uk. There’s a very particular moment every year when the feeling of Christmas sneaks up on you. For me, it was the first Saturday in November after the clocks changed; the sky was… Read more: Christmas at home with Very: Making the house feel festive
- Review: Women’s Bamboo Pyjama Set from British BoxersThis post is a collaboration with British Boxers and these PJs were free. I’ve been on the hunt for decent pyjamas for a while now, something that feels like actual loungewear luxury rather than old band t-shirts I should be… Read more: Review: Women’s Bamboo Pyjama Set from British Boxers
- Keeping cool, waking up fresh & garden discos: My summer at home tech essentialsThis post was written in collaboration with Very.co.uk Look, I love the idea of summer. Sun, long evenings, drinks in the garden, maybe even brushing off the BBQ if I can remember how to light it. But in reality? British… Read more: Keeping cool, waking up fresh & garden discos: My summer at home tech essentials