Last year I joined a fabulous group of women for a global writing challenge—Gail from Is This Mutton (UK) Deb from Deb’sWorld (Australia), Jill from Grown Up Glamour, Mary Katherine from MK’s Adventures in Style (USA), Penny from Frugal Fashion Shopper (UK), Australian blogger Sue Loncaric from Women Living Well After 50, Leslie Clingan from Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After and Marsha from Marsha In The Middle.
Sadly, Sue has decided to take a break from blogging so will no longer be joining us, and we wish her the very best for the future! After that sad note, we have a wonderful one… Rosie Amber has decided to join us! Welcome Rosie!! Rosie writes mostly about books and gardening and her site can be found here: Rosie Amber.
On the third Thursday of every month we’ll respond to the prompt “Tell Us About XXX” which could cover any subject matter. It could be a blog post with opinions or memories; a poem, photos, anything at all. Last month, the challenge was HOLIDAYS & VACATIONS and was prompted by Mary Katherine. This month, Jill chose the brilliant prompt of… FAVOURITE THINGS.
So, let’s dive into some of my favourite things!
A Cup of Coffee in the Morning
There’s just something about that first cup of black coffee in the morning. Especially when the crispness of Autumn is in the air, and I can sit with the sun on my face. It’s the perfect way to start the day, bringing a sense of calm before the busyness begins. I’ve been taking my coffee black since discovering I was lactose intolerant years ago, which eventually led me (and Michael) to becoming vegan!
Cuddles with Luna, Myrtle, Shannon & Sadie
Nothing beats a snuggle session with my dog Luna and our three cats—Myrtle, Shannon, and Sadie. Each one of them has such a unique personality, and it’s the best feeling to be surrounded by their warmth and affection. Total pet parent heaven!
Travel Adventures with Michael
Michael and I are big on travel, and we love nothing more than hopping on a plane together. Some of our favourite trips have been to the US and Canada, where we spend several weeks on the road, taking in as much as possible. We’re also planning a quick getaway to the north of Portugal for a few days soon, and I can’t wait! We love exploring new places and seeing where the road takes us. With the house build taking up so much time (and money!) it’s been ages since we were able to get away.
Creating Quirky YouTube Videos
I absolutely love creating fun and quirky videos for my YouTube channel. Focusing on the supernatural and mysterious topics is a passion of mine, and I love the whole process—from the idea stage to sharing it with all of you. It’s such a fun and creative outlet, and it’s so rewarding to engage with my audience.
Watching Our New Home Being Built
It’s been exciting to watch our new home being built, even though it’s taking a while! Every day brings something new to see, and I’m constantly daydreaming about how everything will look when it’s finally done. Many people find choosing tiles, kitchens, etc to be overwhelming but Michael and I are in our element doing that kind of thing!
Dinner Out with Friends
Whether we’re at a restaurant, our place, or theirs, there’s nothing better than sharing a meal with friends. Add in a few beers or glasses of wine and some good old banter, and it’s the perfect evening. It’s the simple pleasures like these that make life so enjoyable.
Coffee & Chats with Dad
I always treasure the times I get to sit down with my dad for a coffee and chat. We often talk about what we’d do if we won the lottery, which is always a fun conversation. It’s the little things like this that bring me so much joy and keep me grounded. If you’re wondering why I didn’t mention my mum, it’s because she died when I was 13, but I often wonder what she would have been like had she lived past her early 30s.
YA Urban Fantasy & Pool Days
When it’s too hot to do much else in the months of July and August, you might find me floating in the pool with a good YA urban fantasy book in hand. It’s one of my favourite ways to relax and escape into a world full of magic and adventure. Although the last book I read wasn’t YA, it was still riveting! Find my review here.
Exploring by Car
One of the things Michael and I love doing is jumping in the car and driving somewhere we haven’t been before, just for the fun of it. It’s always an adventure, and you never know what kind of hidden gems you might discover along the way.
Shopping & Movie Days with Sarah
I love spending time with my best pal Sarah, whether it’s a fun day out shopping or catching up over a movie at home. It’s one of those simple pleasures that makes life brighter, especially when you’ve got your bestie by your side.
Catching Up with Friends Over Coffee
Meeting up with friends I haven’t seen in a while for a coffee and a catch-up is always something I look forward to. There’s something so special about reconnecting and sharing what’s been going on in each other’s lives. This is especially meaningful for me considering so many dear friends live in other countries.
Watching My Favourite YouTubers
I get so excited when my favourite YouTubers upload new content! Some of my go-to channels are Evan & Katelyn, Rachel Maksy, Sophie Louise, Mia Maples, Hope Scope, Rosie Tilley, Roxxsaurus, Jenna Phipps, Rachhloves, and Safiya Nygard. And there are so many more! It’s my version of binge-watching, and I love every second. This list is sadly lacking in over 40 YouTubers though, so if you know any that are particularly entertaining, let me know!
Visits from My Brother
Whenever my younger brother comes to visit, it’s always a treat! It doesn’t happen as often as I’d like, but when it does, it’s always such a fun and memorable time. We catch up, laugh, and just enjoy being together. And the best bit is that he and Michael and such good friends—both have the same wicked sense of humour which makes things even more fun! In fact, even though he is in England, and we are in Portugal, the two of them play Call of Duty (and other Playstation games) together several times a week!
Time to Myself
I really enjoy having some alone time to watch my favourite movies or TV shows. Whether it’s Wednesday, Practical Magic, or an old episode of Ghost Whisperer, I love kicking back with a cup of tea and some vegan chocolate biscuits for a cozy, relaxing afternoon.
Time with My Nieces
Spending time with my nieces in the UK is something I absolutely cherish, though it doesn’t happen often enough. They’re growing up so fast, and every moment spent with them is precious.
Snacks & Binge-Watching with Michael
At the end of a long day, there’s nothing better than kicking back with Michael, a glass of something nice, some snacks, and binge-watching whatever show we’re into at the moment. Right now, it’s Chicago Hope, and I’m loving every episode!
Taking Portrait Photos of My Friends
Photography is another passion of mine, and I especially love taking portrait photos of friends. It’s a wonderful feeling to capture moments that make people feel special and confident. I’ve not done it for ages, but I’ve had both my teenage neighbour Cass and my bestie pose for me and it was loads of fun!
These are just some of my favourite things! I’d love to know what brings joy to your days. Tell me all about your favourite things in the comments below! Now let’s see what the other members of this fabulous group have to say…
Rosie tells us about her love for walking and recalls 5 different walks from her recent holiday in Cornwall. Rosie Amber.
What’s something that’s a favourite of yours? In this post I update an earlier post summarising my favourite decades and how the next one is going so far. www.debs-world.com
It didn’t take Marsha long to narrow down her favourites! She’s talking about anosmia as well as her favourite things. Don’t know what anosmia is? Hmmm…guess you’ll have to check out her blog to discover that as well as her favourite things! She’s not giving any hints for that, either! https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Gail from Is This Mutton has a passion for lux stationery and fountain pens. Strange, considering she can’t read her own writing. Find out more: Isthismutton.com
Jill’s post is a bit of an eclectic mix of her favourite things from gardens and old roses, books of many genres and a few fashion bits and friendships. Grown Up Glamour
Leslie says LIFE is full of ups and downs, joys and sorrows and unexpected hiccups that catch us off-guard. But through it all, some things remain consistent. Her favourite things. https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.com/
Mary Katherine has SO many favourite things, she had a hard time narrowing down to a few to talk about, but see what she chose at: https://mksadventure.com/
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