Book Review: Picturehouse Poems

Last Updated: 14 September 2021

The variety of subjects is dazzling, from movie stars to bit players, from B-movies to Bollywood, from Clark Gable to Jean Cocteau. More than a hundred poets riff on their movie memories: Langston Hughes and John Updike on the theatres of their youth, Jack Kerouac and Robert Lowell on Harpo Marx, Sharon Olds on Marilyn Monroe, Louise Erdrich on John Wayne, May Swenson on the James Bond films, Terrance Hayes on early Black cinema, Maxine Kumin on Casablanca, and Richard Wilbur on The Prisoner of Zenda. 

Orson Welles, Leni Riefenstahl, and Ingmar Bergman share the spotlight with Shirley Temple, King Kong, and Carmen Miranda; Bonnie and Clyde and Ridley Scott with Roshomon, Hitchcock, and Bresson. In Picturehouse Poems, one of our oldest art forms pays loving homage to one of our newest - the thrilling art of cinema.

Bathroom Blinds with Make My Blinds

AD* | It's been over a year since we've been in our home together, yet there is still a lot of work left to do on the house! In particular, one of the areas that we've done next to no work on has been the bathrooms. As everything seemed to be working fine, pretty much all we did was add towel rails, toilet roll holders and light shades - and give everything a thorough deep clean, of course!

As we had to buy a lot of essentials (and pay for work on the things that urgently needed sorting) money has been tight in terms of spending on the house, so a lot has gone on the 'to sort in the future' list - including the bathrooms. However, when the lovely people at Make My Blinds kindly offered us a blind for our home, the bathroom immediately came to mind!

Book Review: Circle of Words by the Brussels Writers Circle

Last Updated: 13 September 2021

AD* | Founded in 1997, the Brussels Writers’ Circle now has about 200 members of many nationalities. The group meets and discusses works in English, and is open to both mother and non-mother-tongue speakers. It is indeed proud to count members from Spain, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Seychelles, Zimbabwe and to publish this sample of their work.

5 Ways to Increase the Natural Light in Your Home

Last Updated: 2 January 2023

Whether you're stuck inside working or doing chores or simply lamenting at the grey British weather, sometimes, this can get you down. There are many known advantages to natural light including improved mood and well-being, as well as physical health benefits, which is why it's important to get out when you can and soak up some Vitamin D.

Of course, natural light doesn't just mean spending time outdoors and feeling the sun on your skin. When you welcome increased levels of natural light into your home, you are opening yourself up to brighter, lighter rooms which will not only boost your mood but could also help to reduce costs on lighting and reduce eye strain caused by a darkened environment.

So, how can you increase the levels of natural light in your home?

Book Review: The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith

Last Updated: 13 September 2021

AD* | What happens when "happily ever after" has come and gone?

On the eve of her only daughter, Princess Raven's wedding, an ageing Snow White finds it impossible to share in the joyous spirit of the occasion.

The king is dead.

The queen has been in a moribund state of hopeless depression for over a year with no end in sight. It is only when, in a fit of bitter despair, she seeks solitude in the vastness of her own sprawling castle and climbs a long disused and forgotten tower stair that she comes face to face with herself in the very same magic mirror used by her stepmother of old.

It promises her respite in its shimmering depths, but can Snow White trust a device that was so precious to a woman who sought to cause her such irreparable harm? Can she confront the demons of her own difficult past to discover a better future for herself and her family?

Only time will tell as she wrestles with her past and is forced to confront The Reflections of Queen Snow White.

Book Review: The Demon Girl's Song by Susan Jane Bigelow

Last Updated: 13 September 2021

AD* | More than anything, Andín dal Rovi wants to escape her small-town life, helping her father in the store, watching her younger brother prepare to take the place at University she’d longed for.

Instead of escape, she gets a thousand-year-old demon stuck in her head, and she loses everything – her home, her family and her country.

In the quest to regain her identity, she finds herself racing against time to uncover the secrets of her world – and save it from utter annihilation.

5 Reasons to Try Scrapbooking

Last Updated: 20 April 2021

AD* | Scrapbooking is a great hobby, perfect for beginners and craft aficionados alike! Not only does it give you the option to reminisce on great memories and protect them for many more years to come, but it is also a brilliant outlet for your creativity.

I've recently started giving scrapbooking a go, and so far, I'm loving it. Although I'm still just at the beginning of my scrapbooking journey, I think it's a fantastic hobby and that's why I'm sharing just a few of the reasons why you should try it out!

7 Strategies to Help You Save for Your First Home

Last Updated: 3 June 2023

AD* | For many people, buying a home is a big dream. However, these days, it’s something that seems to be getting more and more out of reach. In this post, I'm sharing seven strategies that you can try in order to save for your first home.

Book Review: The Love Triangle by Nic Tatano

Last Updated: 13 September 2021

AD* | Public relations expert Lexi Harlow is the queen of getting her clients out of sticky situations. But can she do it for herself?

After an incendiary breakup (setting fire to her cheating boyfriend’s pants), Lexi decides to play the field for the first time in her life. Two suitors are vying for her affections: New York’s most eligible bachelor and pro quarterback Jake Frost, and sports agent Kyle Caruso. But when the athlete hires the agent, and both enlist her services to take care of public relations, well…

There’s only one way Lexi can get out of this love triangle before everything blows up in her face: choose one.

But when the candle she’s burning at both ends meets in the middle, the choice is no longer hers.

5 Laundry Money-Saving Tips

Last Updated: 30 March 2021

AD* | Since my partner and I bought our house and moved in together last year, it's been a steep learning curve for both of us as we've had to learn to properly 'adult'. From managing money and paying the bills to doing the weekly shopping, and keeping on top of chores and maintenance around the home, there's been a lot to wrap our heads around!

Luckily, for me, laundry is one of those chores that never really seems like a chore. Although needing to stand behind the ironing board for hours isn't much fun, washing, drying, and ironing clothes is an essential part of daily life (unless you're rich enough to buy new clothes every week - which I'm definitely not!)

On the subject of money, being on a tight budget has meant that we need to carefully watch our spending and keep track of every last penny. While laundry certainly isn't our biggest expense, we are always looking for good ways to save ourselves a little extra cash and make our household more efficient.

As a result, I've put together five of my top tips to help you save money with your laundry!