Mark Wahlberg's latest movie, The Family Plan, was one of action, hilarity, romance and family, and I loved it so much that I thought I'd share my opinion on the film with you all. Last week I wrote a blog post reviewing the movie Lift. The film starred Kevin Hart and was an action-comedy involving a mid-air heist. At the time, I thought this film was the best I'd watched all year. However, things have now changed and Lift has been bumped down the order to second. The reason is because last night I watched the film The Family Plan. My mum suggested it as a potential movie to watch for the whole family and we all loved it. Throughout the entire film, we were smiling, laughing and really enjoying the action. Having now seen five movies in total this year, The Family Plan is definitely at the top and I'll tell you why. Synopsis The basic premise for The Family Plan is: "A former top assassin living incognito as a suburban dad must take his unsuspecting family on the run when his past catches up to him." Mark Wahlberg plays Dan Morgan, a car salesman. He drives a mini-van, is married to Michelle Monaghan's character, Jessica, and has three kids, Nina, Kyle and Max. Dan may seem a bit predictable and a bit boring and to his kids, rather strict when it comes to social media and technology. Little do they know, it's for their safety. But things go awry when a photo surfaces online of Dan and Jessica, resulting in his former colleagues hunting him down. What follows is lots of action, fights, comedic moments, and eventually the climax when his family find out. Review Now, let's get into my thoughts on The Family Plan. First of all, it has a lot of famous faces with the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Maggie Q and Ciarán Hinds. As someone who loves action movies, Mark Wahlberg is an actor whose movies I enjoy. I loved him in Transformers and Deepwater Horizon, so I was pretty confident I'd like The Family Plan. And I did. Immediately, we're introduced to Dan's character in his status-quo world as a car salesman. The first scenes we're shown are snippets of Buffalo and then Dan talking to a customer and trying to sell him a car. There is a voice-over before we actually see Dan that has two purposes: persuading the customer to buy the car and also giving the audience an insight into Dan's mind, revealing there's more to him than one would think. The film's opening shows the family in their everyday lives and we get a good sense of who their characters are. I liked the development of the characters because you do get attached to them as a family and you hope that when they find out about Dan being an assassin, they're not too mad. Throughout the entire film, there are lots of action sequences, which one would expect when the protagonist is a former assassin. But I thought they were well executed. There's one scene in particular that involves Maggie Q and Michelle Monaghan, towards the end of the film, and I loved it. I've always wanted to learn self-defence and do some kickboxing and this film only made me want to learn more. Whilst The Family Plan is an action movie, there were lots of comedic moments throughout. Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan's characters provided a lot of hilarity throughout the film with their arguments and their banter, but it was really Max who stole the show. Max is a toddler in the film and straightaway, before we even started the film and had just seen the preview photo on AppleTV+, I said that Max was so cute. And as the film progressed, he became even cuter. During The Family Plan, there were moments when Max was the only Morgan child to be aware that his dad was actually an assassin, which resulted in a lot of laughs. I think Max's character added a lot to the film and if he wasn't in it, then in my opinion, The Family Plan would be less entertaining. However, with the family of five on the run, travelling from Buffalo to Vegas, The Family Plan is certainly a worthwhile action movie. Personally, I will rewatch The Family Plan this year because I love it so much. And it may seem early for me to say it's one of my favourite movies this year given that we're only 21 days into 2024, but I'm confident that The Family Plan has every aspect of a movie that I love. So if you have access to AppleTV+ and you enjoy action comedies, then give The Family Plan a watch. If you do watch it, let me know in the comments what you think. Until next time...

My goal for 2024 is to read 100 books and there are quite a few books already on my reading list for the year ahead, so I thought I'd share some books I will be reading. We are over two weeks into the new year and Christmas feels like ages ago. So far, 2024 has been a rather busy year for me, but I've enjoyed it nonetheless. With a new year, of course, comes new books. As someone who will never have enough books, reading is a big part of my life. Ever since I was younger and forced to read at school, I've enjoyed slipping into a fantasy world and meeting new characters. However, it can be overwhelming at times because, like a lot of my bookish friends, our reading lists can get so long and be filled with lots of books that we don't know where to start. This morning, I attended my book club's first gathering of the year. There was only a small group of us but it was a great way to start off my day by catching up with everyone there and discussing the books we've read since our last meet-up. But coming away from book club meant I have more books on my TBR list, so I thought I'd share some of the books that are on my reading list for 2024. Chestnut Springs Series by Elsie Silver First up is a series I will always recommend. The Chestnut Springs series is a small-town country romance series comprising of five interconnected standalones. I have read the first three but still need to read Reckless and Hopeless. To be honest, I'm not sure why I haven't read books four and five yet because I know they're going to be so good, but 2024 is the year I will definitely read them, especially with Elsie's new book, Wild Love, being released too. Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher For Christmas, I was gifted Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher by my sister. It's the first book in Lauren's latest series - Lakefront Billionaires - and I've been very excited to read it because I haven't read a book of Lauren's that hasn't made me smile. However, I do actually have Final Offer by Lauren to read beforehand, which gives a sneak peek into the couple that Love Redesigned is about. The Happy Hour by Cressida McLaughlin When Cressida writes a book, it's a must-read, so it's no surprise that when her new book, The Happy Hour, comes out later this year, I'll be reading it. It is a contemporary romance with the premise of: Can they fall in love, sixty minutes at a time? The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan Sarah Morgan is another author, whose books I love and she also has a summer read being released later this year. The Summer Swap is a summery romance that is about friendship as well and I know that I will thoroughly enjoy reading Sarah's latest book. Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton I received this book for Christmas and it is actually a non-fiction book. Everything I Know About Love has been promoted on social media for a while and I kept seeing reviews of it saying that it's a book every girl in their 20s should read. And so I have it and I will read it. Happy Place by Emily Henry Previously, I have read two of Emily Henry's books and I rated them highly. Then I saw Happy Place and desperately wanted it, but it isn't out in the UK in paperback yet. But when it is released in paperback, I will be buying Happy Place. It is another romance and it's about a couple who have broken up but make a pact to pretend to still be together for the sake of their friends as they all go away on their annual holiday. It's giving fake-dating vibes, which is a trope I love, so I will probably love this book too. Crescent City by Sarah J Maas Sarah J Maas is a master at writing fantasy novels and I have been dying to read her Crescent City series for a while. I read ACOTAR and loved it and everyone keeps telling me that Crescent City is just as good. Sarah is releasing the third book in the series this year - House of Flame and Shadow - so I would love to read the first two books beforehand and then read book three once it's released. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller The Song of Achilles is one of those books where I haven't seen a single person dislike the story. From what I understand, it's a Greek Mythology retelling of the Trojan War. My friend gave it to me and I can't wait to read it, but I know it's probably going to be an emotional read. Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman This murder mystery series is one that's been read by my book club, but not me. It's on my reading list for 2024 because at my book club, it's caused some differing opinions. Some people love the books and some people dislike them. So 2024 is the year where I find out which side of book club I'm on. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern The Night Circus is a fantasy book that has been deemed "intensely imaginative". It's been on my bookcase for quite a while and I've never gotten around to reading it. But this year, it will be read because the plot of the book has always intrigued me and I love fantasy novels, so I have a good feeling about it. So there are 10 books/series that I will be ticking off my 2024 reading list. Are any of these books you've read or want to read? If so, let me know in the comments. Until next time...

Kevin Hart's latest film, Lift, was one of surprise but it was entertaining and worth the watch. This weekend, for movie night, my family and I decided to watch the new film Lift on Netflix. It's an action-comedy that stars Kevin Hart, Sam Worthington, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D'Onofrio and many more. As a family, we enjoy action movies and whilst we find Kevin Hart funny as a comedian, his movies aren't always our cup of tea. However, we liked the sound of Lift and thought we'd give it a go. I am glad we did watch Lift because out of the four movies I've watched this year so far, it's perhaps the best one I've seen, although Knight and Day is always a great film to watch. But because I enjoyed Lift so much, which came as a surprise, I thought I'd write a film review of it. Synopsis Lift is an action-comedy film that follows a master thief, Cyrus portrayed by Kevin Hart, and his crew as they team up with Abby, an Interpol Agent played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who just so happens to be Cyrus' ex-girlfriend. With Abby onboard, Cyrus and his crew plan to steal $500million in gold from a notoriously bad billionaire, Lars Jorgenson, who is cast by Jean Reno. However, it's not a simple heist but a seemingly impossible one. The gold is being flown from London to Zurich and within that time, Kevin Hart's character and his crew have to steal the gold to stop it reaching its target. Review Now, Lift could be seen as a typical Netflix action-comedy movie that's star-studded, has a good plot but doesn't really have much depth. And for some, that may be the case. However, for me, I actually really enjoyed watching Lift. Yes, it has outlandish plotlines - stealing gold in mid-air, for one - but with films nowadays, you expect that. Especially action movies because a lot of movies are completely out there and have a protagonist who never gets injured or just so happens to be able to avoid every bullet and take down all the bad guys. But in Lift, there were moments of realism and for me, the best part about the film that was a surprise was Kevin Hart. I love him as a comedian and I have liked some of his previous films, such as Jumanji, The Man from Toronto and Think Like a Man. Kevin Hart's films usually have him playing a wacky character, who likes to swear a lot and is rather unfortunate and often incompetent. Lift was different though. Kevin Hart played an intelligent, competent and skilled thief, who was respectable and a leader - not a sidekick. This type of character wasn't one I expected from Kevin Hart and it made the film more enjoyable because there weren't swear words in every other sentence and there weren't stupid moments of forced comedy. I liked his character and also the others. Yes, there wasn't as much depth with the rest of the crew as there is with Cyrus and Abby, but they were still great characters to watch. The screenwriter, Daniel Kunka, obviously did a good job because my sister and I became attached to the characters, not wanting any of them to die towards the end of the climax. So Kevin Hart's portrayal of his character and the general characterisation was a great aspect of the film. But another thing that stood out to me was the director. F. Gary Gray directed Lift and he's also directed the likes of The Italian Job, The Fate of the Furious, Straight Outta Compton etc. With Lift, I think it was clear that the experience of directing The Italian Job and The Fate of the Furious influenced this movie because it is very much the other two combined. It's about a heist (that does have scenes in Italy) but this time it's in the sky. It includes chase scenes, much like the scene on the ice in The Fate of the Furious and it has some a-bit-out-there plot points, also like The Fate of the Furious. But combining the two and creating Lift worked really well. It was an action film with plenty of action and it was a comedy film too, even with a little bit of romance for those who like a romantic sub-plot. There is tension and there is suspense. Watching a crew of thieves, all with their own roles (the boss, the pilot, the hacker, the engineer, the safecracker, the disguise expert and the Interpol agent) may not seem like it's worth the watch and it may seem predictable. However, in my opinion, Lift is definitely worth the watch and there is plenty to keep you hooked until the very end. So if you fancy a new movie to watch, try out Lift and if you do, let me know your thoughts in the comments. Until next time...

Productivity can be difficult to maintain, especially if you have a lot of things in life to juggle, but here are some tips to help you be more productive each day. January is never the best month for a lot of people. It marks the start of a new year, but it's filled with January blues, cold weather, and having to get back to work after the festive holidays. However, whilst January can be a month where people struggle, it can also be the month where you start the year as you mean to go on. For me, January has gotten off to a great start. We're in the second week of 2024 and I feel good about the year ahead. In the past week and a bit of the new year, I've carried over some lessons and habits from 2023. These all help me in my work/uni student/personal life. But I've also created new habits that I do daily to help too. All of the habits I'm doing allow me to be more productive and I think, especially at this time of year, we could all use some help to feel more positive and get things ticked off our to-do lists. I'm no expert in productivity, but I wanted to share 8 things I do daily that help me be more productive and allow me to look back on the week and feel happy, and proud, of what I achieved and completed. Write a daily to-do list I've mentioned this habit before in previous posts, but it is one I stand by. I like to think of myself as an organised person; I thrive off organisation and I love lists. And a to-do list is one of my favourites. Each morning, I sit at my desk and take a post-it note or my to-do notepad. I then write down all the tasks for the day ahead. Now, these aren't just work-related tasks or exercises for my degree; I include things such as Facetiming my grandparents, Replying to a specific email, Sorting out the Tesco order etc. Adding each task not only helps me focus each day but it also gives me a sense of accomplishment when I have completed a job and can tick it off. Journal each night For Christmas, I asked for a Wellbeing Journal. I wanted something that would hold me accountable and make me reflect on my days and mindset. I've struggled with burnout in the past and it's something I'm trying to get better at avoiding this year and the wellbeing journal is one of the ways I'm doing this. So each night, just before bed, I write about my day and fill out the prompts, which include: Today I'm grateful for..., Today I achieved..., My self-care for today was..., My positive self-affirmation..., and My mood today has been.... This helps me reflect on my day and remember the things I've done and it also calms my mind before bed, allowing me to fall asleep quicker, setting me up for the following day. Go for a morning walk 2024 is the year I'm determined to become healthier and fitter. Therefore, each day of the year so far, I've gone for a morning walk. Last year, I did go for daily walks, but it wasn't at a set time and sometimes if it was really cold out, or really hot in the summer, I stayed inside. But in the first week and a half of January, I have committed to my daily walks and maintained them. I go after my breakfast, so before I start any work, and my aim is to increase the distance little by little each week. Going for a walk in the morning, whatever the weather, has made such a difference, I think. Not only does it allow you to get fresh air (and it has been very fresh recently), it gives you that boost of energy from exercise for your working day, and gets the blood pumping. When you return home, you made be a bit out of breath or a little bit sweaty, but having started the day with exercise and being active sets you up to be more productive and determined to continue being active by completing tasks. Drink your water Now this habit is rather new to me. I've never really drunk as much water as I probably should have. In school, I always disliked the toilets and so tried to avoid using them, meaning I didn't drink much. And last year when working at home, I would just sit at my desk and think, I'm in the middle of a task, I'm in the flow so I don't really want to go downstairs and refill my water bottle. However, that mindset has gone out the window for 2024. This year, I'm using a different water bottle that holds one litre of liquid and it has the times of day marked on the side. I'm trying to be more aware of how much I drink because whilst it means you'll need to go to the toilet more, drinking water is incredibly important for your health. Getting your water content for each day will not only help your body function better, but it can help you feel better in yourself because you'll feel refreshed and it energises your muscles, which will help you be more productive. Habit stack Habit stacking is a term I learnt from Media and Content Strategist Shelby Sacco. Essentially, it means to combine habits and do them at the same time. For example, if you're going for a walk but like to listen podcasts, why not listen to the podcast on your walk. This year, I've tried to habit stack more so I'm not spending time doing tasks that could have been done earlier in the day or more efficiently. For me, I find when I'm having breakfast, that's a good time to habit stack. So I either read the news, check emails and text messages, check out the ERIC app, or simply, look at social media, which I know if I did in the middle of the day, I'd probably waste a lot of time on it. Habit stacking combines tasks and gives you extra time later on to do something else. It allows you to do the things you want to do but in a more efficient and productive manner. Read part of a book As a bookworm, I love to read, so it's no surprise that I read daily. However, even if you're not a book lover, reading each day can benefit you. It can be fiction or non-fiction - whatever your preference is - but you have to make sure you do read. Reading can help you be more productive because it sharpens your mind, exposes you to different topics, and boosts communication skills. Plus, it also lowers your cortisol/stress levels. Having lowered stress levels will make you be more productive because you'll approach the tasks on your to-do list in a calm manner, meaning you'll most likely complete them more efficiently. Have your diary visible I have a diary for 2024, which gives me a monthly and weekly overview of the whole year. On the first couple of days of January, I filled out my diary with all the events/birthdays/deadlines that I knew of so far. As each week goes on, I fill it out with more tasks and have even had to colour-code it this year to make it clear what is what. But one thing I do daily for productivity is having my diary open on my desk. I don't write in it each day, I simply have it there for me to look at. And this may sound a bit strange, but I've found that having my diary accessible to me, even for a quick glance, helps me feel productive because it gives a sense of organisation. Organise your workspace This is perhaps one of the most important daily habits you could do. Organising your workspace can have such a big impact on how you work and function throughout the day, so it's imperative that to be as productive as you can, that it's tidy. I love organisation, as I mentioned above, and this year I'm determined to keep my desk clean, tidy and uncluttered. Each morning, I set up my desk with everything I need. I have my stationary tools on one side with a stand for my phone, I open my diary but so it's out of the way if I need to write or bring my laptop forward, and I set up my water bottle, lip balm and hand cream on the other side. Having a set place for the essential tools that I need, and having a clean desk, allows me to be more productive because I'm not stressed when working, I can easily find the things I need and it calms my mind. As the saying goes: Clear your space, clear your mind. I hope these eight tips help you in becoming more productive or perhaps give you ideas on what you can do daily to increase productivity. If you have any other habits or tips, feel free to let me know in the comments below. Until next time...

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score was a gift for me at Christmas and I am so grateful I received this book because...wow! I love books. You readers all know that I'm a bookworm, so it was no surprise when I received some books for Christmas. One of the books I was gifted was Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score. I started the book on Boxing Day 2023 and finished it a couple of days ago, so it is officially my first book of 2024. I loved Things We Never Got Over so much that I was trying to put off finishing for as long as I could because I didn't want the story to end. But my TBR (to-be-read) list is so long already, I did finish it. It is the first book in the Knockemout series by Lucy Score. Recently, it was also announced that a TV series based on the book will be produced, which made me even more excited whilst reading. And because I loved it so much, I wanted to do a review here on my blog to spread the word about just how amazing a romance book it is. Review of Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers: 9/10 Found family: 8.5/10 Small-town romance: 9/10 Grumpy/sunshine: 9.5/10 Fake dating: 8.5/10 Overall Rating: 5 Stars Towards the end of last year, I felt like I was in a bit of a reading slump. However, Things We Never Got Over has most certainly put an end to that. This book was the best way to start 2024 - a year where I'm prioritising myself and trying to be an improved version of me. Things We Never Got Over follows the story of Naomi Witt and Knox Morgan. Now let me tell you, these two characters are some of my favourite fictional characters that I've read about in a long while. Knox is Knockemout's resident grumpy barber and bar owner, who everyone knows and respects. Having come into some good fortune, Knox has tried to pay it forward to those he cares about, including his brother, Nash, but he likes to keep himself to himself. He's tattooed, gorgeous, a little possessive (but morally grey is the trend of fictional guys) and all-around charming. He comes across as an insensitive bloke, but in actual fact, he is sweet and pays attention to the little things. But Knox's solitary life gets disrupted when Naomi comes into town. The brunette runaway bride has come to Knockemout to help her estranged twin sister, Tina. Little did Naomi know that Tina is somewhat of a hated person in town and at first, Knox thinks they're the same person. But when he sees the differences between the twins, he just can't help himself from trying to help Naomi. With a grumpy barber insistent on being in her life and helping her, Naomi juggles having her perfectly planned life turned upside down, especially when her sister left her an eleven-year-old niece she didn't know she had. Things We Never Got Over hooked me from the first page because of the sparks between Naomi and Knox. It wasn't an enemies-to-lovers where they pretend to hate each other; in the beginning, they literally hated each other, which made the whole development of their relationship even greater. Naomi was a character I related to quite a lot - not the runaway bride or unexpected aunt part, but her personality. She's a planner. She writes to-do lists and schedules her weeks, has a tendency to follow the rules and not put a toe out of line. She's also a people pleaser and incredibly selfless. These qualities are very much instilled in me and I loved seeing Naomi transform from a too-selfless woman to someone who learnt to prioritise herself more. Her transformation as well as Knox's character development, I thought were really good. Lucy wrote them as flawed characters that overcome their weaknesses and face harsh truths, Knox especially, but they also learnt to embrace their flaws, which I think is an important lesson we can all learn. The side characters of Waylay (the niece), Nash, Lucian, Sloane and the Honky Tonk girls were also well-written. I liked seeing Waylay and Naomi's relationship develop throughout the story, and there was a line in the third-act breakup from Waylay that nearly had me in tears! Also, the characters of Amanda, Lou, Stef, and Liza J (as well as Waylon the dog), were good minor characters because they added to the humorous aspects of the story, but also helped convey the theme of family too. Nash and Lucian have their own stories (books two and three in the Knockemout series) and I am so excited to read them. I loved both of them for different reasons in Things We Never Got Over and the hints of who their stories will include were great. Things We Never Got Over is an emotional book (the ending nearly had me in tears as well), heart-warming, swoon-worthy, spicy, and just overall fab. The scenes with Tina and the mystery element of the story really added to the tension and suspense, creating another layer to the plot, making it not only about romance, but also family, crime and secrets. It was the first book of Lucy's I've ever read and I will be going to read the next book in the series, I guarantee you. I really enjoyed reading Naomi and Knox's story, I think it's a book that has definitely had a lasting effect on me as a reader, but also as a writer. And some of the quotes from it, I love. If you like contemporary romance novels, you should 100% give Things We Never Got Over a try. Intrigued? Check out Things We Never Got Over, book one in the Knockemout series, on Amazon here. Until next time...

The new year of 2024 has begun and it is a time when people make resolutions and set goals, but how can you create goals and actually stick to them? Each new year, you often hear the phrase 'New Year, New Me'. Many people try to reinvent themselves when a new year comes around because it is a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. In the past, I've made lists of resolutions that I wanted to stick to each year, and for a while I did, but eventually, life got in the way and I became too busy that I forgot about them. And in the past three or four years, I didn't get round to writing a resolutions list. However, 2024 is different. My Vision Board This year, I do want to try and become a better version of myself. I don't want to reinvent myself but build on the foundations I've already got from previous years. To do this, I made a 2024 vision board, which is something I've never done before. But I kept seeing TikTok videos all about creating vision boards - some content creators even made an evening with their friends out of it. Having seen the videos, I was invested. I turned on my laptop, opened up Canva and Pinterest and got to work. For those of you who aren't certain about what a vision board is, it is essentially a board/poster of all your goals for the year ahead. You can use anything to create your vision board whether that be song lyrics, photos, quotes, sayings etc. Personally, I used Pinterest because I love the social media platform and you can almost always find what you want on there. Setting your goals Before I began searching for the images I wanted for my vision board, I got an A4 notepad, split it into four sections and wrote down some goals I wanted to achieve this year. The sections I used were: Professional, Personal, Lifestyle and Health & Wellbeing. I tried to jot down at least five goals in each category, which then made it easier to tailor my search down to specifics for my vision board. It was difficult at first thinking of some goals, but if you search on social media and Google, there is lots of inspiration for new goals you can strive to achieve. Some goals I wrote down included: Read 100 books, drink three litres of water each day, complete my novel manuscript and set aside time each week without my phone. Once I'd got all the photos I needed, I put them into Canva and voila...vision board complete. If you don't want to create a vision board though, another way of goal-setting is creating your own bingo card of 25 goals you want to do this year. Either way will help you visualise your goals. But how do you stick to your goals? The above question is a good one I often think about because I'm quite an ambitious person and have a lot of goals and things I want to achieve in my life. However, it can be difficult to achieve what you want. Creating a vision board is only the first step. Having the images and quotes you want to channel this year is a good beginning, but you can go further. Life tends to get in the way. Work becomes too stressful, you're juggling family relationships, friendships, and maybe a partner, and sticking to the goals you set in January can fall off the priority list. But if you take your vision board a step further, you can stick to the goals you set. My complete vision board was great to have but it wasn't a constant in my daily life. So on the first of January, I made it my desktop background. And I also made a portrait version to have as my phone's lock screen. Now whenever I'm on my laptop, or my phone screen lights up, I will see my 2024 vision board and the goals I want to achieve. Having the goals you want to achieve visually in your life daily is a massive help because it will keep reminding you of them, and hopefully, keep you motivated to strive for them. I know it has for me. If you have a specific goal in mind or changes you want to make to your life in 2024, maybe think about creating a vision board, or something similar. It is the third day of January but it's never too late to strive for something better and to do something for you. Creating a vision board has honestly altered my mindset these first few days of the year, so I'd definitely recommend it. Any questions or comments, let me know down below. Until next time...

Today is the final day of 2023 and what a year it has been. The New Year of 2024 has arrived with tomorrow being the first of January. The past year has felt like it's flown by despite each day being 24 hours. But it has been a great year. Looking back, I don't have many regrets in life and I can safely say that I have no regrets from 2023. This year has been filled with happiness and success but also challenges and obstacles along the way. The beginning of 2023 wasn't a great start to the new year as I was very unwell but once I got January out the way, it turned out to be a much better 11 months than I anticipated. As it's the end of the year, I wanted to share my yearly round-up full of highlights from the 12 months. So here goes... My professional highlights Finished Level 1 of my degree My degree is quite unusual compared to the traditional university route as I'm studying part-time online. For my degree, there are three levels I have to complete with numerous assignments and formal assessments. But earlier this year, I finished Level 1 of my degree. Currently, I'm nearing the end of the first course for Level 2, but I'm really proud of how I've done so far because I passed each course within Level 1 with good grades and also a new love for scriptwriting. There is still more for me to do but I'm really happy so far and I've met lots of amazing people along the way too! Interviewed two authors For WriteWatchWork, I was able to interview two authors this year, Cressida McLaughlin and Chelsie Hart. Cressida is one of my favourite authors - all her books are so good - and Chelsie is actually a new author for me this year, but I loved her debut novel. Interviewing Cressida and Chelsie meant a lot because I'm an aspiring author and I just felt very grateful to be able to talk to them both about their careers and the craft of creating a novel. Reached over 350 articles for FormulaNerds This year marks two and a half years since I joined FormulaNerds as a journalist. Since October 2021, I have not only written lots of articles, but been a part of the podcast and am now the Deputy Editor-in-Chief. But 2023 is a great year because whilst I never attended a race, I did write lots of articles which means I have written over 350 articles for FormulaNerds. These include features, news articles, race reports and exclusive interviews. Interviewing the F1 Academy Champion F1 Academy began this year and I have been lucky enough to be a part of the drivers' journies, speaking to them before and after race weekends. But a highlight has to be when I interviewed Marta García, who became the first-ever F1 Academy Champion. My personal highlights Turning 22 2023 saw me turn 22, so I'm officially in my Taylor Swift era. My birthday is always a highlight of the year for me because I get to celebrate with family and friends and it makes me realise just how lucky I am to have such special people in my life. A Trip to Dublin My sister and I went away for a couple of days with our cousins to Dublin. It was the first time we'd been to the city and it was lovely. We explored some of the culture, saw some of the sights, did some shopping and just had a great time as a family. We'd never been away somewhere like that before, so it was really good to just spend time together. Reunited with family I have family that live further up north and I have family who lives on the other side of the world in New Zealand. But this year, I was able to see them all. Family is the most important thing to me so to be able to reunite with those I haven't seen in a while just makes me smile and it's definitely a highlight of my year. Brands Hatch As someone who works in motorsport and loves racing, I've actually only ever been to two race tracks. One is Silverstone and the other circuit to is Brands Hatch. I went in April with my motorsport-loving friend, who runs IntoTurn1. We watched the BTCC there and it was so much fun. It absolutely poured it down and we were soaked, but it was a highlight of my year. Reached 30k words of my novel This year I completed NaNoWriMo and whilst I didn't reach the 50,000 words of the challenge, I did manage to write each day of November. Some days I wrote only 200 words and others I wrote over 1000. But in total, I now have over 30k words of my dystopian/fantasy novel. I can't quite believe I have that much so I'm very happy to continue adding to the word count in 2024. Karting with my Dad My dad and I went karting this year at Teamsport Harlow. It my first time getting into a kart and I'd say that's probably the most difficult part of karting - getting in and out of the kart. The racing was so much fun and I'm thankful to have videos and photos of our time at the track. It was such a good day and I loved it! London Christmas Lights Now this is the most recent highlight because it happened about two weeks ago. My sister and I visited London to go to the Christmas markets and see all the Christmas lights across the city. We had such an amazing time and really enjoyed ourselves. We were very tired afterwards but it was worth it. We'd never done something like that before so to spend a day together in London, just exploring was really fun. And with my main highlights of the year listed above, I wish you all a Happy New Year and thank you for sticking with me throughout this past year! Until 2024...

Books are one of my true loves in life, and when we reach the winter months, there is nothing I love more than a Christmas book to read. Christmas is exactly a week away. December is passing by rather quickly, but there's still time to enjoy festive activities before New Year. For me, one thing I love to do in December is to snuggle up with a hot chocolate and a good Christmas book. In fact, I have a whole shelf on my bookcase dedicated to books set at Christmas time. A Christmas book can not only help you get in the festive spirit and feel the holiday cheer, but it can also help you escape if you're finding the build-up and organising a bit stressful. So because I love Christmas books, I thought I'd share some of my favourites. First up is... That Festive Feeling by Heidi Swain Released this year, That Festive Feeling by Heidi Swain is just one of my by Heidi that I have on my shelf. I received this book as a gift for my birthday and I desperately wanted to read it before Christmas. I finished it last week and absolutely loved it! The story follows Holly, who is recently divorced, as she house-sits for her friends in the small Norfolk village of Nightingale Square. Whilst house-sitting over the holidays, Holly's determined to hunker down and not get involved in the community activities. But after meeting Meg and having her eyes opened to other ways of life, Holly falls back in love with her job, herself and what life could be. That Festive Feeling is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. And I'd definitely reading it. A Christmas Tail by Cressida McLaughlin This book actually follows the four seasons and has a part set in each. But the front cover, the title and the general feel of the book are very Christmassy. A Christmas Tail is about Cat, who becomes a dog-walker whilst finding her feet in a new community where she's living with friends. Part four is the part set at Christmas and it honestly made me smile so much. There are lots of different festive activities in the book and Cressida's descriptions are perfect. This will be a book that I definitely will read more than once because I loved the story and the happiness the book brings. The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan Now, this book is similar to Heidi Swain's one above in that it was released this year for Christmas. And of course, I also got it for my birthday. I started reading The Christmas Book Club the weekend just gone and I am loving it so far. I'm just under halfway through. It follows the story about a young woman who is struggling with life decisions and three women, who are long-time friends but have their own issues and secrets. I have a feeling I am going to reread this book again next year because currently, I'm loving it! Lakeside Mountain Rescue Series by Sarah Morgan You know those books that you love so much that you reread them every year? Well, three books from this series are that to me. The books - Wish Upon a Star, Once Upon a Christmas and Angels in the Snow - are so good, every December I read them and some of the print has even started to fade. Each book follows two couples in their own short story and of course, they come with a happy ending. The story of each couple is different so it's not a regurgitated plot, they are all individually good, but I do have my favourites. They are easy to read, heart-warming and most of all, festive! A Festive Feud by Maren Moore A Festive Feud by Maren Moore is a Christmas novella that is perfect for readers who fancy a quick, spicy holiday read. It's an enemies-to-lovers novella that is about Emma and Jackson. A Festive Feud is a take on Romeo and Juliet as Emma and Jackson are from rival families, who try to outdo each other in terms of Christmas festivities every year. But when things take a turn for the worse and Emma and Jackson are forced to work together one year, they discover that each family isn't actually as bad as it seems. I haven't read much by Maren, but I did really enjoy A Festive Feud. It's a quick read so is perfect for a busy December. Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison Lovelight Farms is the first book in the Lovelight series. It follows Stella, who runs a Christmas Tree Farm, and her best friend, Luka. Times are tough on the farm so Stella enters a competition but says she runs the farm with her boyfriend, prompting Stella and Luka to fake date. Lovelight Farms was a festive book that drew me in straight away and kept me intrigued throughout. I loved the Christmassy feel of it and the fake dating tropes with friends to lovers! It was such a good book that is easy reading and will make you fall in love with the festive season! Some other good recommendations: Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan I'll be Home for Christmas by Karen Clarke A Cornish Cream Tea Christmas by Cressida McLaughlin Underneath the Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain Murder at the Theatre Royale by Ada Montcrieff If you fancy a festive read in the build-up to Christmas next week, give one of the above a go. Until next time...

The new year of 2024 will soon be upon us and a new year means new opportunities. When Covid-19 arrived and the UK went into lockdown, I didn't know what my future would hold. I had successful uni applications but wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to go to university to study with the pandemic. I also wasn't sure whether the degree I'd applied for was the right one for me. And so, utilising all the free time we had during lockdown, I completed several online courses. Eventually, I stumbled across OCA - Open College for the Arts - and found the perfect degree for me. It was scary beginning an online degree because it requires a lot more self-motivation and dedication than a typical degree. But what made that time in my life even more adventurous was joining FormulaNerds as a journalist and then becoming a podcaster as well. The point of the brief history of the past few years of my life is that when I was faced with new challenges and opportunities, I welcomed them with open arms. A bit like when I started writing this blog. Writing is something I've always loved doing but at university, I had the opportunity to study scriptwriting. I'd never studied scriptwriting before, so when I had the chance, I took it. And now, I absolutely love it and have written the opening to my feature film idea, the beginning of a thriller TV series and also a radio script. At FormulaNerds, being a journalist was a comfortable job. I knew I was good at it because I could write and had done journalism before. However, joining the podcast panel was something so far out of my comfort zone, as was becoming an editor. Now, two and a half years later, I love being on the podcast and being an editor, attending press conferences etc. I wouldn't have thought I would enjoy these things, but when the opportunities came, I said yes. So, here's why you should accept any opportunities that come your way with open arms. You will grow as a person New opportunities can be scary. After all, not everyone loves change. However, accepting new opportunities can allow you to develop as a person. When faced with change, people can either run away or accept it and when an opportunity comes knocking, you will no doubt discover things about yourself that perhaps you didn't know before. It can help you progress and achieve what you dream of achieving. For me, being on the podcast has made me much more confident with my job but it's also increased my self-confidence, and the same could happen to you. It can lead to bigger and better things Sometimes an opportunity can be presented as one thing, but if you accept it, it can lead to hundreds more opportunities that you may never have considered. Accepting opportunities can spark an idea in you, increase your love for something, or simply open your eyes to what else is out there. If you take an opportunity, it might not always work out. But that doesn't mean it was a failure because it could just as well lead to something much bigger and better, you just don't know it yet. You can increase your social circle Nowadays, people say it's more about who you know rather than what you know. And to some extent that is true. When faced with new opportunities, it's a good idea to take them because you never know where they could lead. One opportunity might introduce you to individuals and experts in another industry or field that you decide is more suited to you. You could also meet and make new friends in your personal life, not just your work life. Accepting opportunities can introduce you to new people who can be beneficial for you in the future. It can give you great stories for the future Most people in life when they're older will look back and think about what they've achieved and what could have been. So embracing new opportunities could mean you'd have fewer regrets in life and could have many more great stories for the future. We all have the potential to drive and generate our own success and taking new opportunities can be a part of that. And who knows where each opportunity could lead. Looking back on what you've achieved, on risks you've taken, are both good reasons to not let life pass you by and to welcome change. So with 2024 only a couple of weeks away, don't be afraid to embrace new opportunities in the new year. Until next time...

We are officially more than a week into December and Christmas is not far away, so it's only right to watch some Christmas movies in the build-up to the holidays. December is my favourite time of year because whilst it gets cold and rainy, the festivities of Christmas just make me smile. And this year is no different. Whilst work and university studies continue, I'm trying to enjoy the build-up to Christmas this year, doing lots of Christmassy activities. One of these is, of course, watching Christmas movies. Last year, I shared a blog post with festive films to watch. Some of these included The Holiday, The Polar Express, Arthur Christmas and more. So with Christmas only a couple of weeks away now, I thought I'd share some more Christmas films to get you into the spirit of the holidays. In last year's post, I recommended some of my favourite Christmas movies. But luckily for you, I love lots of Christmas films so there will always be more recommendations. So if you fancy snuggling up on your sofa with a hot drink and some advent calendar chocolate, maybe give these movies a try this December. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey A Christmas film that is also a musical? Say no more. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story is a musical that takes you on a journey with a toy-maker and his granddaughter. This movie is a fantasy film where an imaginary world comes to life with music and dancing and family love. This is one of my favourite Christmas films - and not just because I love musicals! I remember absolutely loving it and really enjoying and becoming absorbed in the story of the film. So if you love musicals, magic, and families reuniting, then this film is for you. A Christmas Carol This is an absolute classic of a Christmas movie. Based on the novel by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future to help him get rid of his bah humbug ways. I loved this book when I first read it and I do enjoy the film. It's such a heartwarming tale to have at Christmas and the transformation of Scrooge is also just great to see. If you want a family-friendly classic festive tale, this one is for you. The Holiday Calendar The Holiday Calendar is technically a romance film, however, I think it teaches you a lot about embracing life and recognising what you have. It stars Kat Graham as an aspiring photographer, who receives a vintage advent calendar from her grandfather. The story goes that the advent calendar has some magic, but at first, Abby is sceptical to believe. But when things start to happen and relationships begin but also become complicated, she embraces the calendar and what it is trying to tell her. Now I don't think we can have an advent calendar quite like the one in the film, but it's good to relax and watch it unfold on screen. Love Actually If you ask any British person to list Christmas movies, I'm pretty sure Love Actually will be on the list. It's a classic British holiday film that combines the stories of eight different couples set in London as they navigate their relationships and the stress of Christmas. Personally, this isn't one of my top Christmas films, but I love it nonetheless. It teaches you about relationships and is full of top-notch actors including Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, the late Alan Rickman and more. If you fancy a romantic comedy this December, give Love Actually a watch. Angels Falls Christmas If you like romcoms or heartwarming movies of the Hallmark variety, this film is for you. It's on Netflix and it tells the story of Ally and Josh as they navigate the holiday season. The two are a couple at the beginning but things take a quick turn when Ally struggles to give up working at the hospital over Christmas. But as the saying goes, you never know what you had until it's gone. And this happens to Ally and Josh, but with the help of some angels, they both find their way back to each other and Ally finally learns to let the past go and embrace everything about Christmas. My sister recommended this film to me and I watched it the other day whilst wrapping Christmas presents and it made me smile. The Christmas Chronicles With Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, you'll be sure to enjoy this family-friendly film about two siblings, Kate and Teddy, as they go on an adventure with Santa to save Christmas. Kate hatches a plan to capture Santa on Christmas Eve to see if he is real or not and persuades her more-than-sceptical brother to join in. But things go awry and the two have to join forces with the Clauses and the elves to save Christmas. There is a sequel to this film as well, which is just as good as the first. My family and I watched this the year it was released and I remember loving every second of watching it. With these recommendations, I hope you find some Christmas magic this December. And if you give any of these films a try, let me know what you think about them. Until next time...

As a writer, it can be challenging to get yourself into the right mindset to be able to sit down and write what you need to write. But there are ways to help get yourself into the writing zone. Today is the first of December. NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month - officially ended yesterday and if you've read a couple of my previous posts, you'll know that I've been participating in NaNoWriMo this year and trying to stick to it. And I can proudly say that for the entire month of November, I have written at least 100 words of my novel each day. There were some days were I nearly forgot or I didn't have the time, but I quickly got my phone out, opened Padlet, and wrote for five minutes. Sticking to this habit of writing each day has been fulfilling and rewarding, but it wasn't always easy. From my experience and from talking to other writers, it can be hard to get into the writing zone. Sometimes the words are just there in your mind bursting at the seams to get down on paper, but often, you can find yourself sitting at your computer or with your pen in hand and nothing to write. So, with the weather now turning colder and the final month of the year here, I wanted to share some tips on how to get into the writing zone to help motivate you and also to help you find that spark to get the words written. Write anything Earlier this year, I interviewed the best-selling author, Cressida McLaughlin. One of the questions I asked Cressida was how she gets into the writing zone and one of the things she said was that she would 'Hello computer'. Cressida said that writing some random words, whilst not fitting with her story necessarily, helps get her into the zone of writing. And it's true. If you've sat down and are ready to write but don't know where to start, writing anything can help. It's like freewriting - writing whatever comes into your head. In fact, I know that this works because for my university course, I was given the task of freewriting and I didn't know where to start, so I wrote the same boring words over and over again until I then had a spark of inspiration and could write a full scene. So tip number one is to just get words down on the page. It doesn't matter what they are but writing anything can kick-start the creative juices and get you into the writing zone. An aesthetic board Now, I know a lot of authors follow this tip and for aesthetic boards, Pinterest and Padlet are your best friends. I am a huge lover of Pinterest, I use it for all sorts of things, but one of the main reasons I use Pinterest is to create aesthetic boards. On my Instagram, I create edits for different books I've read, which are essentially an amalgamation of different photos that fit the aesthetic of the book. I loved creating aesthetic boards so much that I've created one for my novel. And as for Padlet, I use it to store any kind of inspiration or things relating to the world of my novel that I want to remember. When I find myself stuck or struggling to get into the writing zone to write the next chapter, I'll open up the aesthetic boards, and scroll through the different pins and items on there. It doesn't just have to be photos, it can be quotes, songs, videos etc. Immersing yourself in the aesthetic of what you're writing, helps you focus and embrace the world you're creating. A dedicated playlist Music is one of my favourite things in life and there are songs for everything out there for you to listen to. So, it's only right that music can help you get into the writing zone. Again, Cressida mentioned that she likes to play some background music, mostly classical or instrumental, to help focus on her writing. But not everyone works well to music. However, if you're struggling to get into the writing zone or you have writer's block, having a dedicated writing playlist can help. It can be a playlist of songs you find it easy to write to, for example, some soft, mellow music like Lewis Capaldi; or it can be a playlist of songs specific to your writing. I have created a playlist titled 'My Novel' - imaginative, I know - and all the songs on the playlist are ones I associate with my story and the characters I'm creating. During NaNoWriMo, when I'd sit down and write some of my novel, I'd always put on those songs and it would instantly aid me in getting words written because it transports me to the world of the story. A writing space If writing isn't your full-time job, it can be difficult to have a specific area of your house where you go and sit to write. But having a writing space can be really beneficial. For me, my writing space is in my bedroom where my desk is. It's nothing special, but when I sit down at my desk, open my notebook or my Word Document, it's easier to write and focus there than it is, say at the kitchen table. So if you're struggling to get into the writing zone, create a space in your house that conveys calmness and tranquillity where you can focus and start writing. Read the previous page More often than not, it can be a challenge to remember what you wrote the day before. I found that during NaNoWriMo. But one solution I had that helped me focus the next time was to read through the previous scene or chapter I'd written. This allowed me to remember what had just happened, but it also put me into the characters' heads, making it easier for me to write the next section. Reading the previous page can also help iron out any continuity errors and things that don't add up because you know you've already written it and won't end up writing something different. Take a break If you're finding that you really can't get into the writing zone despite trying lots of the above, that doesn't matter. Sometimes you have to remove yourself from the situation entirely. So instead what you can do is take a break. Getting up from your desk and going for a walk, or going to a coffeeshop, something that will take your mind off your writing, can help you get into the writing zone. It allows you to enjoy life away from work so that when you return, you have a fresher mind and won't get bogged down by sitting at your desk and staring at a blank page when the words don't come. Remove distractions One of the biggest things I've found can pull you from the writing zone and stop you from fully immersing yourself in it are distractions. Now these can be of any kind but the most common one is your phone. Having your phone on your desk can be very distracting because anytime you get a notification, the screen will light up and will pull your attention away from your writing to your phone; we all know how easy it is to then get spend ages scrolling through different apps. So to keep yourself in the writing zone, remove anything that you think may distract you. Have fun Now this is probably one of the most important tips I could share. Writing, whatever it may, should always be something you're passionate about and something you find fun. If it's tedious and you're not really feeling the story, then maybe try changing direction. But if you can't wait to sit down and write, then it will be easier for you to get into the writing zone and get those words down on the page. Happy writing! Until next time...

Music is an aspect of life loved universally, but when it comes to working with music, it can go one of two ways. However, I'm going to share why I think music is a good thing when it comes to work. I was having a conversation the other day with my sister about working to music. It came about because we both work from home and our offices are next door to each other. During a typical working day, we both work in silence in the morning, unless our work requires us to listen to an audio. However, after lunch, I tend to open up Spotify and play some music in the background to work to. For some reason having music playing in the afternoons makes me work more efficiently as opposed to working in silence. I've always known silence is not something I prefer, so music always makes an appearance. But it's not the same for everyone. My sister shared a post about working to music on LinkedIn and it got a big response with varied answers of some people having to work in silence and some working with different kinds of music in the background. Those who said they didn't mind working to music mentioned the types of music they had in the background, which typically included instrumental musical or classical music. One of my sister's LinkedIn friends even admitted that she sometimes puts on a TV show that she's seen lots of times before because she knows she doesn't have to concentrate on it. It's "Brainless Activity Distraction". For me, in the build-up to Christmas, I play some festive music including songs such as Angels We Have Heard On High or Little Drummer Boy. But the songs I play tend to be quite mellow and slow in tempo. My go-to artists are James Blunt, Lewis Capaldi and Dermot Kennedy, but sometimes I do mix it up a little. However, this November, as I've been completing NaNoWriMo, I made a playlist of songs that I can relate to my characters and the plot of my novel. So, each day when I'm writing for NaNoWriMo, I'll play that playlist and it'll help get me in the zone and embrace the world I'm not crafting. Because I'm someone who thrives with music in the afternoons whilst I work, I wanted to share some benefits of listening to music whilst you work to inspire you and maybe help as well. Affects your cortisol levels - for the better Music is such a powerful tool in our lives that I don't think some people realise. For me, I have a playlist for nearly every emotion because music can affect how we feel. And for some, it's a way to release stress. But whilst you're working, if you play some soothing music - it doesn't have to have lyrics, it could be Experience by Ludovico Einaudi - it can help calm you and lower your blood pressure, which in turn will lower your cortisol (stress hormone) levels. And nobody wants to be stressed at work because then we don't do our best job. Reduces burnout This point kind of relates to the one above. Having music on in the background engages your brain whilst working, which can result in you feeling more satisfied and more productive. With the feelings of satisfaction and wanting to be more productive, it can reduce burnout - and stress - meaning that you work more effectively, but also take care of yourself so you aren't doing too much. A beat for your work Depending on the work you do, it can be useful to have a rhythm or a beat to work to, especially if you're job is a physical job. But I find this works for me even when I'm at my laptop. Soothing, mellow music helps calm you, but some upbeat, funky music can give you a burst of energy, get that blood pumping and provide a beat for you to work to. But be careful you don't choose songs that make you want to abandon your tasks to get up and dance the night away. Distracts from other distractions When you're working surrounded by colleagues, or even if you work in an office by yourself, there are so many things you can easily be distracted by. For example, there may be building work being done nearby, colleagues talking on the phone, or things happening outside your building that are drawing your attention. But if you have music playing, with or without headphones, then it can help you refocus because it'll draw your attention to your work, stopping you from getting distracted by other less important things. If you can't work with music in the background, then thank you for taking the time to read my post. But if you do sometimes work with music, or are thinking about trying it, then I hope these benefits have inspired you to give it a go/continue listening. Until next time...