Guylian — Perfect For Mother’s Day

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Mother’s Day is coming thick and fast so get ready to treat your mother. We recommend Guylian chocolates. They are both tasty and pretty. A box of these beauties is the perfect way to say I Love You. 

Guylian Master’s Selection – If you’re looking for an extra special gift, hop online to find Guylian’s beautiful Master’s Selection boxes (200g), a premium assortment of Belgian mini pralinés filled with a variety of exotic flavours and topped off with the finest ingredients, making a box an ideal gift for discerning chocolate lovers. Guylian’s Masters Selection (200g) is available online from Ocado and Moonpig.

They are also perfect for Easter

Guylian’s scrumptious 285g Easter Egg features no foil, no plastic clam, and 100% recyclable card packaging, making it both eco-friendly and delicious! Available online and from most retailers including Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s and Waitrose for RSP £8. 

And of course, for those who love classic gifts, Guylian’s praliné Sea Shells – the first product Guy and Liliane created together – are ideal. Made using only the finest, hand selected Mediterranean hazelnuts, which are roasted and caramelised to perfection before being blended with premium Belgian chocolate, they’re a delight that makes life that little bit sweeter.  Available in a 250g box (22 pieces; RSP £5), or a 375g box (33 pieces; RSP £7.50). 

Second Spring – Kate Codrington Reviewed by Alex Bannard. Wellness and Wellbeing Editor

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Kate’s book grabbed me in the first few lines:

‘Menopause is transformative…an opportunity to evolve & grow. Menopause is a loud call to re-evaluate who we think we are, and to become our true selves with authenticity & grace.’

‘Yes!’ I thought & grabbed my highlighter, I knew I was going to like this book.

Kate Codrington  invites the reader to consider the seasons of our life like the seasons of our year: active & adventurous in Spring & Summer, quieter, more inwards in the Autumn & Winter, emerging, reborn if you like, into our Second Spring.

Peri-menopause is our Autumn phase, menopause our Winter stage. We are being called to slow down, turn inwards, take stock, re-evaluate. This is something I absolutely believe in.

Taking the time to nurture & nourish ourselves in our Autumn & Winter stages allows us to emerge again with vitality, vibrance & a lust for life.

Kate takes us on a holistic journey, exploring the psychological & physical issues as well as the emotional, mental, spiritual aspects of the separation encountered during peri-meno; surrender during the menopause & emergence of post-menopause.

It’s broken into short, really easy to digest sections, quotes, anecdotes, so it’s really easy to pick up when you have 5 minutes & just as easy to get lost in. I went through 3 highlighters reading it!

There are facts & figures, tips & advise & down to earth suggestions of a more traditional & more holistic approach.

In my own meno journey, I had very little experience of menopause until it was apparent I was up to my ears in it. As soon as I started talking to friends I realized I wasn’t alone. I started doing lots of research & doing the work: turning inwards, slowing down, making changes so that I could live my best life for the rest if my life.

But I had never really considered my peri-meno journey. Having been diagnosed over a decade ago with severe agitated depression, I had however begun to question this diagnosis, as I began to understand that many women are misdiagnosed with mental health issues in their peri-menopause.

Reading Kate’s own description of being peri-menopausal with babies resonated so profoundly with my own experience. Finally something made sense. I carried a lot of shame for being a bad mum, letting everyone down, unable to cope when in fact I was experiencing the peri-menopause. Wow that was powerful – such a relief, finally I could let go of all those old story lines.

Kate also offers practices to try out at the end of each chapter. In all honesty, I have a good solid self-care practice. I know what works for me & I’m unapologetic about claiming the time for this. So I definitely got more from the body of the book than these sections.

However, if you don’t prioritize yourself regularly, try not to be overwhelmed by the suggestions, pick one that resonates & give it a go. Nurturing & nourishing yourself through this transition is absolutely key.

At the end of the day, I always think if you come away with a couple of good ideas from a book like this it’s done its job.

So, what have I come away with? A great deal & can’t recommend this book more highly because even if you’re not menopausal, I bet you know someone who is – after all approx. 1/3 of the female population are estimated to be surfing their Autumn, Winter or Second Spring phase.

I love Kate’s vision for the menopause, it’s absolutely what I believe in;  embracing this life changing transition as an opportunity to create a life you absolutely love, because you are absolutely worth it.

Buy it, learn from it. I have.

Second Spring by Kate Codrington. Available from all good book stores and online too.

If you would like to find out more Alex Bannard and a creating your own self-care practices check out Alex’s FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessyoga4selfcare

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/

Incorporate short yoga sequences & meditations as part of your self-care toolkit with guided practices on Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

For more info check out www.alexbannard.com

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Having used her training & knowledge to navigate her own menopausal journey & create a life in which she is thriving, Alex is devoted in supporting other’s in this life changing transition.

Fantastic Books For International Women’s Day

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The Natural Menopause Method by Karen Newby (1st September 2022)

Women’s Health

Everything you need to know about achieving nutritional balance to support flagging vitality and celebrate the potential of your midlife.

Femlandia by Christina Dalcher (15th September 2022)

Dystopia

‘A compelling, fast paced read.’   Guardian

‘The queen of dystopia’          Nina Pottell, Prima

The Happy Vagina by Mika Simmons (4th August 2022 – Pavilion)

Women’s Health

‘Mika Simmons’s book is fun, relevant, and extremely accessible. Every home should have a Happy Vagina!’              Dita von Teese

Confident and Killing It by Tiwa Ogunlesi (7th July 2022 – HQ)

Self-Help

Confident and Killing It will help you master your mind, overcome fear and live life to the fullest.

You Are Not A Before Picture by Alex Light (9th June 2022 – HQ)

Self-Help

An urgent, enlightening and empowering guide.

Second Spring by Kate Codrington (17th February 2022 – HQ)

Women’s Health

‘A wealth of guidance to navigate and celebrate the mind body and spirit aspects of the menopausal journey.’                                     Tami Lynn Kent, author of Wild Feminine

Roaring Girls by Holly Kyte (3rd March 2022 – HQ)

Feminism

‘An extraordinary, vivacious account of eight remarkable invisible women whose stories were crying out to be heard.’ Paula Byrne

Menopausing by Davina McCall (26th May 2022 – HQ)

Women’s Health

Menopausing is more than just a book, it’s a movement. An uprising

Good Grief by Catherine Mayer and Anne Mayer Bird (3rd February 2022 – HQ)

Biography

‘One of the saddest things I’ve ever read but also the most powerful. It’s made me want to cling tight to the people I love while acknowledging their mortality and mine too.’     Marian Keyes

Make It Happen by Amika George (20th January 2022 – HQ)

Activism

‘A personal, powerful, passionate, pragmatic, punchy book from one of Britain’s most exciting Gen Z activists. A great guide to moving and shaking with joy, spirit and real-world results.’       Deborah Frances-White from The Guilty Feminist

Black Skin by Dija Ayodele (25th November 2021 – HQ)

Skincare

‘Timely and game-changing, Ayodele’s comprehensive guide to skincare for Black women busts beauty myths at the same time as dispensing invaluable advice.’                         Waterstones

Michael Rowan gets stuck into a hearty breakfast and a tasty dessert all thanks to Lizis Low Sugar Nuts and Seeds Granola -Lizi’s Breakfast Range

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If ever there was a time for comfort food, (as opposed to comfort eating,) it is probably now, battered by the elements, courtesy of various storms and stubbornly low temperatures, I want a healthy, but robust breakfast in the morning and a tasty dessert in the evening. Yes, even during the week.

Fortunately, Lizi’s Low Sugar Nuts & Seeds Granola is capable of fulfilling both of these demands

With less than 2g of sugar per 50g serving, this granola is perfect for anyone trying to keep their sugar intake low this Winter, without having to compromise on taste and texture. In fact, had I not read the label, I would not be aware of this, as it was so well balanced even to my sweet tooth.

Lizi’s Granola is full of pecans, almonds, toasted oats, and sunflower, pumpkin seeds and desiccated coconut, presenting a bowl full of flavour without sacrificing nutrition.

Bake it in the oven for a warming bowl of happiness on a dark morning, or simply top with a favourite yoghurt for a quick fix before the morning commute.

The versatility of this Granola really comes to the fore when making a quick and easy recipe for Maple baked Pears with Granola Crumb. Pears baked in the oven with Maple syrup, butter and topped with granola crumb can be prepared and on the table within 40 minutes and that includes the 10 minutes preparation time.

So, whilst the cold weather persists, and even when it gets better this hot dessert accompanied with crème fraiche or sour cream will certainly fill the gap.

Lizi’s Breakfast Range is available from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Ocado, Asda, Morrisons, Whole Foods, Co-Op, Booths and all good health stores.

Low Sugar Nuts & Seeds – RRP £3.89 for 500g.

CARIADS’ CHOICE: FEBRUARY 2022 BOOK REVIEWS

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Paula Brackston’s The Little Shop of Found Things reviewed by Georgia Hill

Paula Brackston’s The Little Shop of Found Things appealed straightaway. Xanthe and her mother escape a troubled past to open an antiques shop. Xanthe is able to ‘read’ objects and a silver chatelaine reaches out to her with its story. She is compelled to travel back in time to 1605 in order to solve a cruel injustice. Paula throws a lot into the book: time travel, psychometry, antiques knowledge, ley lines, some gentle romance and a truly terrifying ghost. The depiction of the turbulent early seventeenth century is gritty and unflinching in all its misogynistic, violent glory and some parts of the book aren’t for the faint-hearted. The historical detail is superb, and the writing is richly detailed. I galloped through it. Recommended, especially if you are interested in early seventeenth century history.

 

Amanda James’ A Secret Gift reviewed by Jane Cable

Now who can resist a bit of Cornish magic? I certainly can’t but when Amanda James’ heroine, Joy, is first given the secret gift she really thinks she can. But meeting a young homeless man on the verge of suicide changes that, and begins to change Joy too.

This is a colourful book with an engaging cast of characters and a Cornwall I recognise. And as a resident of the county, that is a rare thing to find. It’s a place where real people live, and for me that gave the story a fantastic grounding, an effective counterpoint to the mystical, magical elements. But hey, this is Cornwall after all, so they could very well be real too. Read it and find out.

 

Emily Blaine’s The Bookshop of Forgotten Dreams reviewed by Angela Petch

Like eating whole bars of chocolate with whipped cream, I read this book as a kind of guilty pleasure. But how ridiculous is that attitude?

We all need love stories brimming with frisson and impossibility. And as an author, having a heroine who “thought about books every minute of the day… and talked about them just as much…”, who owns a quirky bookshop in a little town in France, and is a feisty heroine, … what’s not to like? She wraps books up as little mysteries and sells them as little temptations. I want to go to her town and buy several.

Enter the dastardly hero – a man who is a film idol, a heart throb, “the mad dog of the movies…” unstable with a fiery temper – is masterful – but a bit too much… and who is exiled to Sarah’s town by legal requirement.  Will 1 + 1 = 2??? Highly unlikely. Sarah thinks of men as “a little bit like heights. I knew they existed, and they fascinated me, but as soon as I got anywhere near them, vertigo would throw me so off balance…”.

It’s a steamy book – oo la la! I had to fan my heaving bosom several times and it’s very enjoyable. A glorious escape.

 

Georgia Hill’s On a Falling Tide reviewed by Natalie Normann

This is my first book by Georgia Hill, and it won’t be the last. I absolutely loved this book, and couldn’t put it down. It’s a dual time line story, following Lydia in 1863 and Charity in the present. The changes between the two time periods works seamlessly. The story kept surprising me. Every time I thought I had figured out what was going on, there was another twist, and I did not see the last one coming at all. That’s some seriously good writing. Highly recommend this book.

 

 

 

 

The Girl With No Soul by Morgan Owen Book Review

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I always remember how much I loved YA books when I was growing up. They meant so much to me and made me the woman I am today. On the note I can confirm that Morgan Owen is a new outstanding YA talent. The Girl With No Soul is an exciting book. It takes an original and exciting concept, a glorious love story, and amazing world building all in once exciting novel.

The writing is flowing and engaging in that way that is so hard to write but makes reading it so compulsive. I may be older than the market for this book, but I will definitely recommend it to any teens that I know. You cannot beat this book for sheer imagination, passion and excitement. I loved it. Pre-order now, it’s out in March.

Perfect for fans of Alice Broadway and Leigh Bardugo

How can you find your soul mate, when you don’t have a soul?

Iris lives in a world ruled by The Order. Inspectors police the population by keeping careful watch over people’s souls. If they shine their lanterns on you, your soul is projected for the world to see… and judge.

But Iris has a deadly secret … she is a hollow, a person with no soul. She must hide from the Order at all costs, scraping a living in the shadows.

When she’s sent to steal a ring said to hold the memory of a soul’s destruction, she is reunited with her Spark – one of the five parts that make up her own missing soul.

Now she must rely on the help of a young scholar named Evander Mountebank to track down the other four missing pieces of her soul, all the while evading The Order.

Will she be able to protect her heart as well as find her soul?

 

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka Book Review

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The cultural obsession with serial killer’s, and the glamorisation of them has always sat uneasily with me. Add on the objectification of the victims and I start to feel angry. Women deserve better.

When I read the press release for Danya Kukafka’s book Notes on an Execution I was bowled over. A novel about a serial killer, told through the women left behind. It is a smart idea and the way she has written it is just superb. I was left in complete awe. I am not sure exactly how Danya Kukafka managed to write such a perfect book, but I will be reading it again to try and find out.

The subject is met with feminist delicacy and outstanding talent. What a combination. This is the book that women deserve. There is so much compassion in this book, and once you have read it you will not forget it. A completely triumph.

Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in twelve hours.

He knows what he’s done, and now awaits the same fate he forced on those girls, years ago. Ansel doesn’t want to die; he wants to be celebrated, understood.

But this is not his story.

As the clock ticks down, three women uncover the history of a tragedy and the long shadow it casts. Lavender, Ansel’s mother, is a seventeen-year-old girl pushed to desperation. Hazel, twin sister to his wife, is forced to watch helplessly as the relationship threatens to devour them all. And Saffy, the detective hot on his trail, is devoted to bringing bad men to justice but struggling to see her own life clearly.

This is the story of the women left behind.

Blending breathtaking suspense with astonishing empathy, Notes On An Execution presents a chilling portrait of womanhood as it unravels the familiar narrative of the American serial killer, interrogating our cultural obsession with crime stories, and asking readers to consider the false promise of looking for meaning in the minds of violent men.

 

Hive by April Doyle Book Review

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hive April Doyle

Every now and then a book comes along that feels timely, Hive is such a book. The bees are dying and the world is struggling. Food is scarce and people are desperate. Commercial bee farmer Victor Martin and research entomologist Dr Annie Abrams team up to stop people starving.

April Doyle takes a subject that is worthy and turns it into a brilliant book that is entertaining and riveting. I hated putting this book down to return to real life. I would have read it in one sitting if I could have. I want Hive to be turned into a film because what a film it would be. I did not see the ending coming, and how clever that twist is. I really loved this book. Hive is destined for classic status.

Near-future Britain.
Climate change has led to food shortages and civil unrest.
Pollinating insects are in steep decline.

Commercial bee farmer Victor Martin travels around the farms of Kent with his hives to pollinate fruit trees and crops.

Local research entomologist Dr Annie Abrams is devastated when she’s ordered to give up her captive bee colonies – her life’s work – to join forces with Victor and ensure a harvest.

But the bees are dying.

Their only hope seems to be an experimental alternative to insect pollination: robot pollinators called nanodrones. But why does the drone designer seem so familiar? And who is behind the shadowy organisation intent on sabotaging their vital work?

Can Annie and Victor win their battle to save the bees… or is it too late?