Ups & Downs, Smiles & Frowns: March 2014

Meal Planning Monday #MealPlanningMonday

, by Sarah

#50books2014

March book reviews #50books2014

Hackney child by Hope Daniels & Morag Livingstone

"Hackney Child is about a resourceful child, whose parents are unable to cope. Hope is left to help her brothers survive poverty and the economic collapse of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Her mother is a prostitute whose clients come to the home, and the children are exposed to her profession, knowing it is wrong, but without fully understanding.

Despite the challenges, the compassion Hope shows towards her parents, particularly her alcoholic father shows the nature of the child. Her resourcefulness and determination to survive is shown as she tries to do all she can to support her brothers, by gathering and stealing food, until it all gets too much. Hope became a ward of court and remained in the care system until she was 18 years old.

Hope believes that if she had not been in care she would have repeated the generational pattern of her own and many families: prostitution, drugs, prison; growing up with an inability to positively contribute to society.

Without the support of professionals within and out of the care system she would, as an adult, have become a burden on the taxpayer, rather than the contributing individual she has worked hard to become. Despite popular belief, children in care are damaged before going into the care system, not always because of the care system. However flawed the care system may be, it is often better than home"

My thoughts - This book is based on Hope's childhood and is therefore a true story. Hope reflects on her childhood and how she grew up in very servire poverty. She ended up in care with her two younger brothers. It's an extremely sad story but is beautifully written. It saddens me to think how some children lived (and probably still do). This book really did open my eyes. I personally think Hope is a very brave lady (now a grandmothers) to share her story with the world.

I rate this book five stars.

I am Lubo by Lou Pechi.

"This is a true story of growing up, before, during, and after the Holocaust. It tells about his struggle, not only to survive, but also to keep his true identity throughout those difficult years. This is also an inspirational story that needs to be told. The story narrated through the eyes of a young boy, fascinated by the all the happenings yet unaware of the dangers that surround him. Despite all the fear, humiliation, difficulties of constant movement, changes of identity, separation from his parents, Lubo remains upbeat and positive. The German bombing of Belgrade, and the brutal prosecution of the Jews in Croatia that followed, shatter Lubo's pre-war idyllic life in Zagreb, Croatia. To save their lives Lubo's parents flee to Italy. Not knowing what awaits them, they leave seven year old Lubo with his aunt, married to his Catholic uncle. Two years later, at the age of eight someone informs the Nazis and he is arrested and ready to be sent to the concentration camp in Germany. Through intervention of friends and relatives he is released six hours before the scheduled convoy departure and smuggled to his parents in Italy. The family's relative safety in Treviso, Italy is broken by the German invasion that forces them to flee again to Rome, where the Allies eventually liberate them. After the liberation, Lubo returns to Communist Yugoslavia, emigrates to Israel, and finally arrives to the United States"

My thoughts- This is a different kind of holocaust book. It's write from a childs perspective which makes it a little different to other holocaust books I've read in the past. Lubo also doesn't understand the danger that he's in, during the holocaust.

It's sad in places but not as sad as other books of this nature. It's a very touching book. It's written really well and I really am glad I read this book! I'd give this book 4 stars!

Sarah xXx

1 comments

, by Sarah

candle review

Candlering Review & Giveaway

I was asked if I'd like to review a candlering from www.Candlerings.co.uk I of course said I would love to! I am totally addicted to candles, especially ones that are scented & contain a ring!

Image from candlerings.

As it says on the website:

"Inside every one of our handmade candles is a hidden ring worth at least £10 with the chance of being valued up to £1000. Enjoy the delicious aromas of a burning candle and let the excitement of finding out what ring you have build. Some people can't wait the 10-15 hours of burning time it takes to reveal the ring and have to dig it out - this is fine, the wax will melt back into place and hide the evidence. "

Before I lit the candle

The candles are 100% hand made and are made of soy wax. The candles burn for around 150 hours. The rings that are hidden inside the candle are individually wrapped in protective foil packaging, to protect them from any heat/fire damage.

I was sent the Vanilla Cupcake candle to review.

It arrived in a box, wrapped in plenty of bubble wrap to stop it from being damaged while being transported. As soon as I received the candle, I immediately opened it to have a closer look and smell. The candle is in a lovely thick, glass jar with a lid. I opened the lid to I could smell the candle. Before I had even lit I could smell the aroma, I could really smell the vanilla, it smells amazing! I could also spot where the ring was, inside the candle! How exciting!!

I couldn't wait to light my candle. After a little while, my front room was filled with the 'Vanilla Cupcake' aroma, such a sweet, sugary, vanilla smell! It smelled just like vanilla cupcakes, mmm.

Candle burning. Can you spot the ring? Hehe.

I left my candle burning for a few hours before digging out the ring. I'm just too impatient to wait. I couldn't wait any longer, after a few (about 5/6) hours the wax had melted enough for me to dig my spoon in and fish out the ring.

The ring was wrapped safely in a foil package & small plastic bag.

The ring in the foil package.

I couldn't wait to see what ring I had! I opened the foil packaging and then the little plastic bag. I discovered the beautiful silver ring worth £10! Awesome!! It's a very pretty ring and fits on my finger perfectly.

The beautiful ring I had in my candle!

The candle itself wasn't damaged after I'd dug the ring out. The wax melted right back into place and honestly, you can't even tell I dug the ring out!

The candle ring after I dug the ring out!

Candlerings are priced at £24.99 and in my honest opinion are well worth the money. Not only do I have a beautiful ring but I also have a lovely scented candle, too! These would make a lovely gift, too. I think I now have (another) new addiction - Candlerings, hehe.

There are many different scents to choose from, too.

For more information please visit the website. You can also follow candle rings on Facebook and Twitter.

Candle rings have also given me this 10% discount code - 10JACL off any order for anyone who wishes to purchase a candlering :)

Candlerings have also kindly given me the opportunity to host a giveaway.

For your chance to win a candlering of your choice, please enter via the rafflecopter below:

For your chance to win a candlering enter via the rafflecopter below:

UK residents only

aged 18+

T&C's are below the rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received this product for the purpose of this review. This review is my own, honest, personal opinion.

This post is linked up with Tried & Tested linky.

295 comments

, by Sarah

mothers day

Mothers day.

12 comments

, by Sarah

CUTE! #SilentSunday #MySundayPhoto

17 comments

, by Sarah

satcap

Monkey caption! #SatCap

7 comments

, by Sarah

age 10

Family...

7 comments

, by Sarah

Family

My reasons to be cheerful this week!! #R2BC

I have been suffering with headaches again a lot recently. I am so, so hoping I won't need another lumbar puncture. Right now it has eased off a little because I've taken some strong pain killers. Needless to say I have been feeling rather miserable this week. I'm scheduling this post in case my headache is bad again tomorrow. It's hard to concentrate on a blog post when I have a bad headache! The reasons to be cheerful blog hop is the perfect opportunity for me to remind myself of the positives and indeed, remind myself of the reasons to be happy! So here goes:

Kids - I am so grateful that I have good kids. I've had a headache a lot lately and they are quite understanding, they can be very helpful and considerate at times. They amuse themselves quite happily and will sit quietly with me watching films/DVDs. Don't get me wrong, they certainly have there moments (don't most kids?) but overall they are pretty good, especially when I don't feel my best. They are my whole entire world <3 li="" nbsp="">
A new arrival - I'm gonna be an auntie again (3rd time). My brothers girlfriend is pregnant! She's around 16 weeks, could be a little more. I am so excited! They've promised me I can go shopping for baby things with them. I love shopping for baby things, so I am really excited about, that! Ha, it's the little things in life that keep me happy (shopping for baby things).
Friends - I'm really lucky to have some amazing online friends who are there to offer me support, advice and just be there for me. I don't have many (what I can call real) friends in real life. It's nice to know that there's always someone there for me, I can either email or message on Facebook. Honestly, I don't know where I would be without those people. I also have a best friend in real life who is always there for me too. So yes, having a lovely group of friends online/offline is certainly a reason to be cheerful.
Family - I also have an amazing fella. Even though he lives 300 odd miles away, he is always there for me. I am very lucky. I was also lucky enough to see my mum, brother etc.this week. It was nice to see them. My mum is a little stressed lately, I really hope things calm down for her soon.
Charlie won a book, a book token and a certificate for dressing up in a creative way for world book day! I am so very proud of him. :)