adventures in post, books, crafty stuff, fun stuff, happy mail, lifestyle boxes, stationery

Fun Stuff in this week’s post 

Crafty Creatives #paperhaul this is a great box for stationery nerds like me. Every month you get a themed box of notecards, stickers or washi tape, notepaper, a notebook and postcards or wrapping paper. 

I ❤Homes #happymail box is a monthly box full of lovely little bits and bobs. There’s a theme and always a selection of things for you, your home and gifts. 

Prudence and the Crow send out a vintage paperback and other book related goodies including library cards, stationery, tea, sweets and stickers in pretty printed envelopes. 

books, fun stuff, tag posts

Rapid Fire Book tag 

E-book or physical book? – Physical, let’s get physical. 

Paperback or hardback? – both, although paperbacks hurt less when you drop them on your face. 

Online or in-store book shopping? Book shops are my crack but I do use the old interwebs as there are no bookshops near me (and Smiths doesn’t count).

Trilogies or series? – Depends on the book, some writers need a series to develop the story, others not so much.  

Heroes or Villians? – unreliable narrators. 

A book you want everyone to read? – Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman.  Damn does she perfectly capture teenage girls and their crazy. 

Recommend an underrated author? – Tamora Pierce. Go, read everything she’s written. Do it now.  

The last book you finished? – Too Close for Comfort – not the best thriller I’ve read but ok. 

Weirdest thing you’ve used as a bookmark? – A dollar bill.  

Used books: Yes or no? – yes. 

Top three favourite genres? – Fantasy, crime thriller, literary fiction. 

Borrow or buy? – these days buy, but only because my library card won’t let me in and the librarians are now all robots. 

Character or plot? – you need both. 

Long or short books? – totally depends on the story. 

Name the first three books you think of – Danny the Champion of the World- Roald Dahl, The Bees – , The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde – Robert Louis Stephenson. 

Books that make you laugh or cry? – Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books – I can’t read them anywhere public, I laugh until I cry. 

Our world or fictional? – Fictional – our world is a mess and I need an escape. 

Audiobooks: yes or no? – I have an Audible account, I should really use it more…

Do you ever judge a book by its cover? – of course, we all do, whatever we claim. 

Book to movie or book to tv? – No.  Although Series of Unfortunate Events the series trumps the movie. 

A movie or tv show that you preferred to the book? – this has not happened. 

Series or standalones? – depends on my mood.  

Please join in and let me know in the comments if you’re playing. 

adventures in post, art, crafty stuff, fun stuff, lifestyle boxes, reviews

Box of Lame 

I keep seeing bloggers sharing their Box of Lame snaps on Twitter and Instagram, so I took advantage of That Lame Company’s post-Christmas sale to pick one up and see what all the fuss is about. 

I have to say I’m impressed by the speed of delivery – two days after ordering  (on a bank holiday) and it arrived. 

I was a bit disappointed by the packaging, just a plain brown box. But I guess it’s what’s inside that counts. 

Wax melts, Yankee candle, tree decorations, candle holder. 

Tea bags, sweets, hot chocolate reindeer and marshmallows. 

Art prints

Budget notepad, resolutions worksheets

To do list, motivational postcards. 

This is a really fun cheerful box of goodies. I haven’t bought anything from That Lame Company before but I definitely think 2017 will contain more purchases.  

books, fun stuff, hygge, Illumicrate, lifestyle boxes, reviews

Illumicrate Review 

It’s Illumicrate time again, I am very excited. The box is huge. That means lots of goodies inside. 

This box taps into the current trend for the Danish concept of  hygge with this cute printed coffee cosy from Sparrow + Wolf, candle from Meraki Candles and funky socks from Happy Socks. 

This Evil Plans notebook designed by House of Wonderland taps into my secret desire to take over the world….

I love all the little bookish extras – my favourites are the cute Christmas gift tag and the Six of Crows Oyster holder. 

This month’s book is The Diabolic by S. J Kincaid. A dystopian fantasy set in a future where humanity is ruled over by the galactic empire. There’s a letter from the author, signed bookplate and bookmark. I’m looking forward to getting good stuck into this one. 

adventures, fun stuff, geek out, life

Feel The Force

On Saturday we hopped in the car and went to Peterborough for the third annual Feel The Force Day. A comic con designed for disabled people. 

Batmobile

There were lots of cos players, including most of the cast of Star Wars, a few Disney princesses, most of the previous incarnations of the Doctor, and several Harry Potters. There were also several cats, from my favourite musical as a kid; Cats. Meow. 

Convention Cats

My favourite was a little boy dressed as Matt Smith’s Doctor whose wheelchair had been turned into a Tardis – it was imaginative and fun. 

Chewie & Leia

There were stalls to buy collectibles from – including Funko Pops and other figures

Dancing Baby Groot

The convention centre was huge and I think I probably missed a few rooms because I kept getting lost. A sense of direction would have been useful. 

Batbear with Bat signal

I had several nice chats with people in costume and at several stalls. Everyone was friendly and warm. 

Some lost Confederate time travellers

Even though it was pouring with rain there were so many people there, and according to the Mr the longest queue for was for the disabled loo. 

K9 in the Doctor Who room

We were there to promote the Peterborough Phantoms – a sledge ice hockey team, the Mr is a team member and it’s one of the only fully integrated sports – for disabled and able bodied players of all genders. 

Wall-E

I also cuddled a gorgeous Alaskan Malomout assistance dog, who were so chilled out despite all the people and chatted to a man with an owl. Because animals are better than people. 

BB8

Mr Oogie Boogie gave me a hug and later a high five, he’s not so mean. 

Baymax hanging out with Tink and Swamp Thing

The Mr’s beard was very popular, mostly with men including Jack Sparrow who asked to stroke it. Beardmance is real. 

The Mr & Barf from Space Balls
The Mr & Jack – Beard friends for life
The Monsters Inc crew
Movie cars

There was some yummy food (the hot food was a big yes in the cold and wet) and musical entertainment. You could listen to a wizard reading stories, there were craft and art activities, and a few (very) minor stars signing autographs.

R2D2

R5 Astromech Droid
RC-1262(delta62) Scorch – Star Wars
Creepy Doctor Who villain
The Doctor and friend
Department of Ability

One of the things that I was really excited about was the Department of Ability – a comic where the superheroes disabilities are their superpowers. Due to be published soon, Stan Lee is a big fan. 

Are you my mummy?
I collect Venetian masks but these ones are creepy
Another beard lover – U.N.I.T soldier

All in all it was a really enjoyable day and really interesting to explore. 
I may have been a little naughty with my pennies and as well as adding Dancing Groot to my growing collection (he may just be my favourite hero) I also picked up two Totoro themed cushions for the flat. I love Studio Ghibli very much. 

The many faces of Totoro and soot sprites
books, fun stuff, lifestyle boxes, reviews

The Bookish Box – Literary Ladies 

September’s Bookish Box has arrived and it’s all about the ladies. 

LeviosA earrings from J&Co Jewellery – silver feather studs

Kimmy Scmidt magnet from Jar of Buttons “Females are strong as hell” 

Pride & Prejudice tea from First Edition Tea Co – citrus and roasted mate tea

Katniss Arrow Pen & Highlighter holder from Nonies Custom Creations 

Thrones of Glass watercolour bookmark from Lexy Olivia 

The Bookish Box Bookworm highlighter & Matilda sticky noted

Appraising Pages Hermione t-shirt 
Chapter sampler from The Call by Peader O’Guilin 

Some really lovely things in this box, really impressed at how the team behind this box find so many lovely literary things every month. 

adventures in post, fun stuff, jewellery

Happy Flair – plants are friends

Happy Flair is a super cheery box of bits and bobs from the team at Punky Pins, one of my favourite indie jewellery and accessories companies. 

You can opt for pin only or full flair, which obviously is very me.  Each month’s box is themed and slipped through the letterbox by the postman. 

This month’s is full of all things green. I love my plants, mostly cacti and succulents, and clearly the Happy Flair team have the same taste in plants. 


Inside the box are stickers, a postcard, pin, necklace, patch and a note card. Each box is different but this may just be my favourite. 

fun stuff, gardening, happy mail, lifestyle boxes, reviews

Buddy Box – Plant Life

This month’s Buddy Box from The Blurt Foundation has arrived and it’s a green fingered box. 

I love growing things, I’m just not very good at it. 

There’s a clever little grow your own kit, adding that to my windowsill garden right now, a cute pot plant pin, cactus shaped rubber, vanilla scented soap, herbal tea and postcards. 

Although summer is drawing to a close my plants are still blooming so this feels a timely little treat as the evenings begin to get longer. 

fun stuff, life

30 Years Young

Happy Birthday to me.  

Thank goodness my mum dropped the tradition of ringing the birthday person at the time they were born – 6am in my case. I would not be pleased. 

Despite this being a ‘big’ birthday, I’m keeping it low key – dinner with the Mr and Sunday lunch with my parents to come. No wild parties, too old now, way past my bedtime. 

Do you have any birthday traditions? I did but since I moved out of my parents’ house a few of them have fallen by the wayside.  Like birthday breakfasts – my mum used to buy pain au chocolat for birthdays. I also didn’t have a cake, mostly because I forgot to buy one. 

challenges, charity, exercise, fun stuff, refuge

#Walk4Refuge 

Sunday saw me hobbling around London raising money for Refuge. Here’s some photos. 

Tower Bridge
From the modern to the ancient
Tower of London
City Hall, Walkie Talkie, Gherkin
Shakespeare’s Globe
Tate Modern & Millennium Bridge
City of contrasts
Goodie bag
Number
The route
Medal

You can still sponsor me (all money goes to Refuge) here: https://walk4.everydayhero.com/uk/madeleine