What I have been watching on TV lately!

Lately I’ve been on an absolute roll with my TV watching. I’ve dipped into a bit of everything: twisty thrillers, Christmas movies and those reality shows that are pure chaos but you can’t look away. So I thought I'd round up a few favourites I’ve been loving and would recommend if you’re looking for something new to binge without too much commitment.

Squid Game: The Challenge - Season 2!

Inspired by the TV series Squid Game, real life contestants compete in a series of high stakes children's games in pursuit of a $4.56 million cash prize. Their strategies will be put to the test, while competitors are eliminated around them.

If you’ve watched Squid Game: The Challenge you’ll know it’s one of those shows that has you shouting at the TV one minute and sat there in shock because one of your favourites has been eliminated. The contestants this time are such a mix. Some are absolute stars and others feel like they accidentally wandered in while looking for the toilets. The alliances, the whispering the dramatic pacing around is just brilliant! The games are of course fantastic and had me glued to the screen. I got way too invested in people making terrible strategic choices, it wasn't quite as intense as Season 1 and I did not like how it ended but it is still great reality TV!

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox!

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is a series that follows American exchange student Amanda Knox after she is wrongfully accused and convicted of the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher in Italy. The plot traces her long journey of wrongful imprisonment, multiple trials, and eventual exoneration, highlighting the investigation, the misinterpretation of evidence and events, and the intense public and media scrutiny she faced.

I got totally sucked in to The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. It’s one of those shows that makes you feel like you’re right there in the middle of what is going on. I found myself flipping between feeling sorry for Amanda and frustrated with her choices. One moment it’s almost playful, the next it’s seriously dark! It was dramatic, intense and thought provoking in a way I wasn’t expecting.

Freakier Friday!

In Freakier Friday, 22 years after the original body swap, Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) and her mother Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) find themselves in another magical identity crisis, but this time it also affects Anna's daughter Harper and her soon-to-be stepsister Lily.

This wasn't as good as the first movie, Freaky Friday but I still enjoyed it. The four way body swap is bonkers, the grandma in teen body is weird but in a good way and Jamie Lee Curtis is of course fantastic! There are sweet moments about family, identity and aging. You just sit back and enjoy the ridiculous situations. For me it was the perfect Sunday afternoon movie.

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

A group of celebrities living together in the jungle in uncomfortable conditions with few creature comforts. Each member undertakes challenges to secure additional food and treats for the group and to avoid being voted out by viewers during their stay.

I love it! This season of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! is exactly as it is every year: funny, chaotic and cruel to the celebs. hehehe The trials are as gross and this is probably my favourite year ever as I know and like all of the celebs! Even Ellie is watching because she knows most of them too. My favourites this year are Angry Ginge who’s hilarious and Ruby Wax is just her brilliant self. Jack Osbourne has had me crying when he was talking about my dad, bless him and Ant & Dec are doing their usual thing which is fun. It’s addictive, full of laughs and my only complaint is that it doesn't start until 9pm which makes for a late bed time.

All Her Fault!

A thriller about a mother, Marissa who arrives to pick up her son Milo from a playdate only to find he's been kidnapped by a woman who denies ever meeting her. The story follows the ensuing investigation with suspicion falling on several women connected to the incident in their wealthy suburb. As panic and rumours spread the narrative explores the secrets within the community, questioning who is truly at fault for the child's disappearance.

All Her Fault hits hard from the first episode. I ended up really liking it way more than I expected, it’s one of those shows that pulls you in straight away and suddenly you’re three episodes deep. It was tense without being too heavy and I loved how it kept me guessing without making me feel like I needed a detective’s notebook. Definitely one of those series where you finish an episode and instantly want someone to talk about it with.

A Merry Little Ex-Mas!

All Kate and Everett want for Christmas is an amicable divorce and one last holiday as a family, but new flames and old feelings complicate their plans.

A Merry Little Ex-Mas ended up being such a fun watch and I went into it expecting something light but it actually had a nice bit of heart to it too. It’s predictable in the best way with all the usual Christmas movie things happening but it never feels dull. It’s one of those films that makes you smile, cringe and root for the characters all at once.

What have you been watching lately?

The best things about York Christmas Market 2025!

I did it again. I went back to York Christmas Market because after loving it so much last year I was determined to take the girls and let them in on the magic. Second time around it was just as good, maybe even better. This time I knew my way around and knew what was a bargain, which stalls had the best stuff, and most importantly I learned my lesson from last year and wrapped up extra well. There were twinkly lights, cosy smells and people wandering about with hot chocolates the size of their heads! It was an amazing day!

Here’s my favourite things about York Christmas Market this year! There was so much to love!

The festive atmosphere hits you straight away!

The moment we got into the heart of York and walked through the Shambles the festive atmosphere really hits you! The lights, the smells and then you turn the corner and see all the Christmas huts! It’s wonderful and puts you right in the Christmas mood!

York itself is the perfect backdrop!

York could stick a Christmas market in a car park and it would still look magical but the city really goes all out. Cobbled streets, the Minster peeking over rooftops, old buildings wrapped in fairy lights and all the trees too! It was beautiful! It’s one of those places where you can’t take a bad photo. I could have accidentally taken a picture of my shoe and it would still look festive. 

The food!

York knows how to feed you, they do not mess around when it comes to food! I had steak and chips last year and had been thinking about them ever since! The girls went for mac and cheese which had so much cheese, in the hut selling it there was a whole wheel of parmesan cheese. We also had apple crumble and custard! Yum! Other food highlights were the churros dusted in cinnamon sugar, giant Yorkshire puddings filled with roast dinner, German sausages the length of my arm and the most amazing brownies!

It's Family friendly!

There were loads of families with little kids running about but it didn’t feel overly kiddy so it is ideal when you’ve got older kids, teens or you’re just doing a grown ups Christmas day out. The queues moved fairly quickly, no one was shoving or stressed and there was enough space to browse without feeling like you were trapped.

Local traders make it extra special!

One of my favourite things this year was how many of the stalls were Yorkshire businesses. You can feel the pride people have in what they make: handmade candles, fudge, ornaments, gin, chutneys, wooden toys, soaps that smell better than my entire house and jewellery that looks far more expensive than it actually is! We spoke to loads of stallholders and every single one was lovely. They were happy to chat, explain what they made, give recommendations and even tell us where else to visit in York. There’s something extra Christmassy about knowing your money is going to real people and not an anonymous online cart.

It’s full of gift ideas and temptations!

I went with every intention of just looking and somehow came home with ornaments, fudge, pork pies, cookies and a few gifts for other people! There were so many unique finds: personalised baubles, handmade Christmas cards, knitted scarves, glass decorations that looked like they belonged in a stately home and those cute wooden signs that tell you to believe in the magic of Christmas!

The hot drinks situation is elite

There is mulled wine, spiced cider, Bailey’s hot chocolate, different flavoured hot chocolate and even coffee with festive twists. I always make a beeline for mulled wine. This year there were plenty of options with traditional red, apple & cinnamon and even spiced gin versions. It’s the kind of drink that makes you feel warm inside and out!

The fudge stalls are dangerously persuasive!

They always start with would you like a free sample and suddenly you’re ten flavours deep, sticky fingered and buying enough to fill a suitcase. I bought quite a few different flavours, it is my favourite sweet treat at this time of year!

There are great spots for festive photos!

Every corner is a photo opportunity waiting to happen! I took hundreds of photos, way more than I could ever put in blog posts.

We had a fantastic day and it wasn't as cold as it was forecast to be which was a real bonus! It worked out well getting the train there and the bus home even if we did get stuck in traffic and arrived back to Hull 45 minutes after we should have. I was just glad to sit down. The girls had a fantastic time too and I am so glad I took them, they are already planning a trip back to York in the summer to see all the sights.

Have you been to a Christmas market this year or are you planning to go to any?

24 Little surprises - DIY Advent Calendars!

Every year around this time I get a little excited when the shops start filling up with advent calendars. You know the ones: full of chocolate, gin, beauty products or random trinkets that make you go Ooh, I need that even though you absolutely don’t but there’s something extra fun about making your own advent calendar. It’s more personal, a bit creative and you can fill it with exactly what you like.

Here are a bunch of DIY advent calendar ideas that look great, don’t require a fine arts degree and most importantly won’t make your living room look like Santa’s workshop exploded!

The envelope string calendar!

This one’s simple, tidy and looks so cool. You just need 24 envelopes, some string or twine and a few mini pegs. You can use plain brown envelopes for that minimalist look or go for coloured ones if you’re feeling festive. Write numbers 1 - 24 on the envelopes, black marker does the job and string them up on your wall or across a window. Inside each envelope pop a little treat: chocolate coins, notes, stickers or small gifts. If you want to make it feel more thoughtful, you could include daily challenges like watch a Christmas film tonight or call a friend for a catch up. It’s a nice way to make December feel more meaningful rather than just counting down to stuffing your face with mince pies.

Mason jar magic!

If you’ve got a few spare jars lying around, this is such a cute way to make a reusable advent calendar. Line up 24 mini jars and fill them with small surprises: sweets, rolled-up notes, bits of jewellery or even mini candles. You can decorate the lids with bits of fabric or paper and stick numbered labels on top. Arrange them on a shelf or tray or if you’re really feeling crafty glue them to a wooden board in the shape of a Christmas tree. It looks surprisingly stylish once it’s done and you can reuse the jars every year.

The self care calendar!

December can be a bit of a mad rush so why not make an advent calendar that’s all about slowing down and treating yourself a bit! Instead of chocolates or gifts fill it with tiny self care ideas or little pamper treats including: A tea bag for a quiet cuppa break, a mini bath bomb, a face mask sachet, a handwritten permission slip to do nothing for an hour or a candle tealight for an evening soak. You can wrap each thing up in brown paper and tie with twine for that rustic, organised look. It’s basically a little reminder every day that you deserve five minutes to just breathe which is a gift in itself.

The for someone else calendar!

Instead of treats for yourself make an advent calendar focused on giving. Each envelope or box could include a small act of kindness like: donate a tin to the food bank, message someone and tell them why you appreciate them or bake something for a neighbour. It’s wholesome without being soppy and it’s a lovely thing to do if you want to get into the spirit of Christmas without the sugar rush. You could even get the whole family involved and make it a group challenge.

The hobby calendar!

This is one of my favourites because you can tailor it to whatever you’re into. If you love cooking you could do a spice of the day calendar with 24 mini pots or packets of different herbs and spices. If you’re more of a cocktail person fill small bottles with different mixers, syrups or recipes to try. If you’re a gardener do one with seed packets and small gardening tools. Into crafts you can pop in washi tapes, buttons mini cross stitch sets. It’s practical, but still feels like a treat.

Making your own advent calendar might sound like one of those Pinterest ideas that’s doomed to fail but it’s actually easier than it looks. So grab your envelopes, jars or boxes and maybe a mug of hot chocolate and get crafting!

Do you have an advent calendar in December?

Our weekly meal plan! 24th - 30th November! #MealPlanningMonday

Last week was a great week! Our meal plan couldn't really go wrong as there was a lot of eating out and eating from the freezer! I did cook corned beef hash, enough to last two days which served us well. We ate too much at the all you can eat place and lots of treats when we were at York Christmas Market including steak and chips, apple crumble and Yorkshire pudding wraps. Calories don’t count if you’re walking around while eating. hehehe. Later on in the day we were hungry but not hungry enough for a full meal from the pub so ordered a couple of sharing platters with chicken strips, garlic bread, duck spring rolls, cheese and potato balls and onion rings!

This week is all about getting back to a bit of normal before Christmas arrives but if this year is anything to go by Christmas will be here before we know it! This year has flown over! I don't have much planned for the week apart from a meal out with friends.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Stu is cooking!

It will be a surprise as Stu is doing the cooking. I am guessing it will include something with the leftover mashed potato from yesterday.

Tuesday - A help yourself evening!

I have a meal out with friends, our Christmas get together and we're having a full on Christmas feast with turkey and all of the trimmings and of course Christmas pudding! The rest of my family can help themselves to something to eat.

Wednesday - Sausage, apple and potato one pan roast!

I love a one pan roast and we all enjoy this one. The apples caramelise, the sausages brown up nicely, and the potatoes do their crispy little thing!

Thursday - Meat free sloppy Joes with potato salad!

We had this from Gousto ages ago and love it which sounds strange saying as my family are not usually keen on meat free meals.

Friday - Home made fish fingers with chips and peas!

A while ago I discovered how easy it was to make our own fish fingers through a Gousto recipe and they taste so much better than shop bought.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Hot Honey Bacon & Fried Egg Pancakes!

Breakfast for dinner, yes please! Buttermilk pancakes with crispy bacon, a fried egg and hot honey butter.

Sunday - Pie, mashed potato and vegetables.

We have pies in the freezer, I think mince and onion and steak one's so we'll have them with mash and probably carrots, peas and sweetcorn.

What are you going to be eating this week?