Month: Sep 2025

New Year’s Resolutions 2025 – 9 Month Check In

It’s hard to believe, but we’re now approaching the final quarter of 2025. Back in January, I made a list of New Year’s Resolutions for 2025, with a variety of goals, ranging from fitness to crafts and education. I’ve already shared a post with my 3-month progress and a 6-month check-in. Today, I’m returning with a 9-month report, the final one before the end-of-year summary. As expected, there have been some ups and downs, but the crucial thing is that I’m still working on this year’s resolutions, and haven’t given up.

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Mini Botanical Cross Stitch Designs – RHS – July, August, September

Earlier this year, I bought a box of 12 mini cross stitch kits – one for each month of the year – all with botanical designs, inspired by the plant collection of the Royal Horticultural Society. I had seen that set in various shops, usually priced around £20, which – in my opinion – is quite a lot for a cross stitch set, even one with several designs. But one day, I found that same set in TKMaxx, for just £9.99. Now that’s a bargain! I decided to complete each design in its designated month. I already shared the completed mini projects for the previous quarter. Today, I’m bringing you the next trio: designs for July, August and September. I enjoyed cross stitching the rose, sunflower and dahlia and I think they all turned out pretty cute!

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A Day In West London – Marble Hill, Ham House, Richmond Park

Saturday day trips are one of my favourite things in life. I love visiting new towns, but I also like to explore new places in London. Although I’ve lived in the British capital for over 6 years now, there are still many places I haven’t been to. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to spend a day in west London. Living on the east side of the city, I don’t often go all the way to the other end. I decided to visit two beautiful estates: Marble Hill and Ham House, and then had a walk around one of my favourite parks in London: Richmond Park. If you’re looking for things to do in west London, here’s how I spent a day there.

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London In Photos – Summer 2025 – Parks, Exhibitions, Wildlife

This year, we’ve been blessed with an amazing summer here in London. Stereotypical English weather, with rain every day? Forget about it! It’s been sunny and warm pretty much since April, with very few showers and several heatwaves. In fact, I feel like it’s been one of the longest summers in my life, and I’m actually ready for autumn. Because of the drought and hot weather, dry leaves are already falling from the trees like crazy. The weather took a bit of a turn within the last week, and I don’t even mind the cooler days. So, it feels like the perfect time to look back at the summer of 2025. Here are some photos from London and other parts of the UK!

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DIY Crocheted Cherry Bookmark Set – Learning To Crochet

One of my New Year’s resolutions for this year was to learn to crochet – or at least learn the basics, for now. I’ve managed to make really good progress over the last few months, successfully completing several projects. Most recently, I crocheted a bookmark with cute cherries and a tassel. I used an assorted kits for this project, but frankly – you can easily replicate it yourself if you know the basics of crocheting. I will include some tips for that. Unfortunately, the kit itself wasn’t great and I had to make some adjustments. For that reason, it turned out to be a bit of a challenge for my beginner skills, but I managed to figure it out, and the final result is quite cute.

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Mini DIY Cross Stitch Set – Peacock

My cross stitching journey continues, with no end in sight. Who would have thought that a tiny cross stitch kit that I bought a couple of years ago – and found immensely confusing at the start – would turn into a huge hobby of mine? Despite dozens of completed projects, I still enjoy cross stitching. I find it relaxing, and love seeing the designs come to life. This time, I finished a small design featuring a colourful peacock. The pattern and all of the supplies came from an assorted cross stitch kit, and the project was a success.

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A Long Weekend In York, England – Magical, Haunted Medieval City

Today, I’m taking you on a weekend trip to York – a beautiful, medieval city in the north of England, filled with charming roads, quirky shops and interesting landmarks. I went to York during the bank holiday weekend at the end of August, and spent three days in that stunning city. I tried some local food, visited lots of museums, and even joined a ghost tour. But most importantly, I strolled along the medieval roads, admiring the architecture. Join me on this trip, with dozens of pictures!

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Potato Bake With Broccoli, Ham And Sweetcorn – High Protein

Today, I’m bringing you a recipe for an easy, comforting, nourishing meal. It’s perfect for meal prepping – I usually freeze portioned leftovers for quick weekday lunches. This potato, broccoli, ham and sweetcorn bake is high in protein thanks to the careful choice of ingredients, but you can adjust the recipe to use easily accessible items. Cooking time might be a bit too long for a weekday meal, but if you have spare time on your hands on a weekend, I highly recommend it for meal prepping.

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DIY Cross Stitch Set – Bookmark – Shelf With Books

Over the past nearly two years, I’ve completed numerous cross stitch projects. Today, I’d like to share with you the most recent one – a cute bookmark! This vibrant design was fun and easy to sew. Usually, my completed cross stitch projects end up in a storage box, but this time, I made a functional item that I can actually use. I followed a pattern from an assorted DIY kit, but you can use this idea to inspire your own cross stitched bookmark.

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