Wake-up Call by Diana G. Gallagher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I MIGHT be too old for this book.
But nonetheless I enjoyed it. Mostly.
When Salem “pranks” Sabrina for April Fools by telling her that her aunts are getting her a cellphone, she decides that instead of waiting for their permission, she’d get her own Other Realm cellphone.
The cellphone is great…until it starts ringing non-stop.
What bugged me about this book is I thought it was such bad judgement of both Sabrina and her aunts to involve the Other Realm in their problems (which is why I think I might have outgrown these books).
But I was desperate to return to the nostalgia of my childhood so I enjoyed this books even if the characters annoyed me a little.
View all my reviews
Where to Find Stock Photos for Your Blog
categories: Blogging Basics, Blogging Tips
A great blog isn’t just about words- visuals play an important part as well. Whether you’re crafting an in-depth guide, a quick listicle or a product review, the right images can enhance your content, boost engagement and make your posts more shareable. But where do you find high-quality stock photos that won’t break the bank (or worse, land you in copyright trouble)?
Here’s a roundup of the best places to find stock photos for your blog:
1. Unsplash- Beautiful, High-Quality Images
Unsplash provides stunning, high-resolution images that don’t look like typical stock photos. Photographers from around the world contribute their work, making it a goldmine for aesthetically pleasing visuals. Bonus: all images are free to use for personal and commercial projects without attribution (though crediting the photographer is always a nice gesture).
2. Pexels- A Little Bit of Everything
Pexels offers a vast collection of free stock photos and videos, covering a wide range of themes. Their search functionality is great and the images tend to be modern, vibrant, and diverse. If you need professional-looking visuals without the price tag, this is a great place to start.
3. Pixabay- Photos, Vectors, and More
Pixabay offers stock photos, illustrations, vectors AND videos. With over two million assets available for free, you’re bound to find something that fits your blog’s aesthetic.
4. Reshot- Unique and Authentic Visuals
If you’re tired of generic stock photos, Reshot is worth checking out. It specializes in handpicked, unique images that feel more natural and less staged. This is especially great if you want to stand out from other bloggers using the same stock photos over and over again.
5. Burst by Shopify- Perfect for Business and Lifestyle Blogs
Burst, powered by Shopify, is designed with entrepreneurs and small business owners in mind. It offers high-quality images that work well for e-commerce, lifestyle and marketing-related content. If you’re running a business-focused blog, this is a must-visit.
6. Kaboompics- Stylish and Color-Coordinated Photos
Kaboompics is a fantastic resource if you’re looking for cohesive images. It allows you to search by color palette, which is a dream for bloggers who want to maintain a consistent aesthetic. The photos are high-quality and work beautifully for lifestyle, fashion and creative blogs.
7. Gratisography- Quirky and Fun Stock Photos
For those who want something a little less conventional, Gratisography offers fun, whimsical and sometimes downright bizarre stock photos. If your blog has a playful, lighthearted tone, this is a great place to find visuals that match your personality.
8. Canva- Stock Photos with Customization
Canva has an extensive library of stock photos, including both free and paid options. You can edit and customize images directly within the platform, making it easier to create branded visuals for your blog.
9. Adobe Stock and Shutterstock- Premium Options
If you’re looking for exclusive, ultra-professional images and don’t mind paying, Adobe Stock and Shutterstock are for you. They offer millions of high-resolution images, vectors and videos with advanced search features. These are ideal if you need highly specific visuals for your brand but I don’t recommend it if you’re still in the early stages with your blog.
Finding the right stock photos for your blog doesn’t have to be a challenge. Whether you’re looking for something sleek and professional or quirky and unique, there’s a platform out there that fits your needs.
Fiction Friday: Recommended Reads- Personal Finance
Managing money can feel like a game where everyone else got the rulebook except you. But the good news? You can catch up. You just might need to do a bit of homework first. Here are a few personal finance books that are both practical and actually engaging.
The Money Answer Book by Dave Ramsay
This book is a quick, no-nonsense Q&A-style guide covering budgeting, debt, investing, and saving. Ramsey’s approach is simple: live below your means, get out of debt, and build wealth the smart way. I loved that this book was so quick and easy to read. It’s just a bunch of relatable questions other people have asked.
Manage Your Money Like a F*cking Grown Up: The Best Money Advice You Never Got by Sam Beckbessinger
Basically the book, I wish I read in school. I felt like Sam understood life as a South African which is what made this so fun for me to read. Packed with humor, real-life examples, and a much-needed dose of reality, this is a book I go back to over and over again.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
I know there are often conflicting opinions about this book but what I really liked was looking at the way the two dads thought. My uncle made me read this book as a kid (I don’t know why) but until I reread it as an adult a few years ago, I had no idea how many ideas from this book, I still carry with me today. This is an entertaining read but I do wonder if it is still relatable today.
The Latte Factor: Why You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Live Rich
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this book changed my life. If you want a mindset shift that makes saving feels effortless, this is the book for you. Despite this title, this book has little to do with coffee. Instead it talks about how to save money in a way that won’t make you feel deprived.
Personal finance does not have to be overwhelming. These books break things down in a way that’s easy to understand and implement. Whether you’re looking to get out of debt, build wealth, or just feel more in control of your finances, there’s something here for you.
My Top 4 South African Beauty Brands
categories: Beauty
I am OBSESSED with good skin. I had horrible skin as a teen and in my mid-twenties developed horrible under eye lines (I worked Customer Care and it took it’s toll on my skin). Shortly after moving to Marketing, I discovered some AMAZING local beauty brands and lemme tell you they are doing all the things. Here are 4 South African beauty brands I’m obsessed with. If you love supporting local and are looking to take care of your skin, definitely try this brands out.
Switch Beauty
Switch Beauty offers a variety of make-up and skincare items as well as really cute merch. I love their quick delivery and how they made sunscreen effortless by creating a roll-on sunscreen!
Must-Try Items:
#MonoTint – universal lip, eye and cheek tint (This tint adds a subtle but gorgeous hint of colour)
#AirBalm – dewy lip tint (available in a variety of colours, this lip tint allows you to build the colour YOU want with each application)
Standard Beauty
Standard Beauty- available online and in some Clicks stores- offers products for your skin and your hair.
I credit Standard Beauty with my skin. Which is a weird statement to make but it’s true. After I overdid it with actives in my skincare and then had Oratane damage my skin even more, the Standard Beauty Customer Care team helpfully recommended a few products to help me heal my skin barrier. I’ve since pledged my undying loyalty to them.
Must-Try Items:
The mini range (a great way to learn which products work with your skin)
The green range (this range fixes your skin barrier and leaves you with super soft skin)
Silki
Silki offers products for your hair and your skin. What I really love about them is the super colourful packaging. IDK. It makes me happy. My favourite silki products are the serums and the sunscreen. Silki sunscreen was the first sunscreen that I used that didn’t leave me with a white cast and it feels super lightweight which I loved.
Must-Try Items:
SPF30+ Daily Defence Sunscreen (See above)
1% Bakuchiol serum (A plant-based retinol that reduces fine lines and improves skin tone)
Beauty on Tapp
My happy place! Beauty on Tapp offers tons of different skincare brands all under one roof (or website, if you don’t have a store near you). I visited their store recently and it was such an amazing experience I can’t wait to go back.
Must-Try Items:
Anything. Everything. (Might be a good idea to go with a brand you’re familiar with though).
5 Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health as a Remote Employee
Remote work is great. You can wake up late, skip the commute and work in your gymwear- but while it does come with its perks, the flip side is that all that alone time can take a toll on your mental health.
Without the usual office buzz or face-to-face interactions, it’s easy to slip into unhealthy habits that affect your well-being.
Here are 5 ways to take care of your mental health while working remotely:
1. TAKE YOUR LUNCH BREAK!
Yes, I am shouting at you. That is how strongly I feel about this point.
You might think that you don’t need a break because you’re working from home but this is a huge no-no. Just like you would take a break at the office, it’s crucial to step away from your desk. Use this time to eat something nutritious, relax, or even take a quick walk. Giving your mind a rest can boost your focus and productivity for the rest of the day.
2. Make Time to Go Outside
It’s easy to get stuck in the bubble of your home office, but stepping outside, even for just a few minutes, can do wonders for your mental health. Whether it’s a stroll down the street or just sitting in your backyard, fresh air and a change of scenery help clear your mind and reduce stress. The physical movement also releases endorphins, which are your brain’s natural mood lifters. Plus the longer you WFH, the easier it is to slip into a habit of little to no physical exercise.
3. Chat with Your Colleagues
When you’re working remotely, isolation can creep up on you. It’s important to make time to connect with colleagues, even if it’s just a quick check-in. These virtual coffee breaks or team calls provide a sense of community and help break up the monotony of working solo. Talking to others can provide both emotional support and a welcome distraction from work.
4. Set Clear Boundaries
One of the toughest things about working remotely is finding the balance between work and personal life. Without the physical separation of an office, it can be easy to work late into the night or overextend yourself. Set clear boundaries by creating a dedicated workspace, establishing a fixed work schedule, and sticking to it. When your workday is over, truly disconnect from your job to recharge and enjoy your personal time. Which brings us to our next point….
5. Make Time for Self-Care
Whether it’s doing a quick meditation, stretching, or diving into your favourite book, make time for activities that help you relax and recharge. Your mental health is just as important as your job performance, and taking care of yourself ensures that you stay balanced and productive in the long run.
While remote work offers convenience and several perks, it’s important to invest time and effort into managing your mental health to make the most of it. Taking care of your mental well-being while working remotely is essential for staying productive and happy. By incorporating these simple practices into your routine, you’ll find that remote work can be both fulfilling and sustainable.
Review: Beauty on TApp
I’ve known about the Beauty on TApp website for a while but never bought from them. I have my tried-and-tested skincare brands, and I never quite had enough in my cart to qualify for free shipping. So, when I heard they were opening a store in Durban, I was thrilled.
But then life happened, and I only just got around to visiting.
Walking in felt like stepping into skincare heaven—all my favorite brands and products in ONE place! The best part? They had testers, which meant I could try products before committing. Since I usually judge skincare based on how it feels on my skin, this was the perfect opportunity to explore new brands I’d been considering.
The Gateway store also offers skin consultations for R400, where you get a full skin assessment and product recommendations tailored to your needs.
But what I really want to talk about is the store itself- I was in LOVE! I tried on tons of things before finally settling on the product I came in for (Pastry body wash). I was ready to pay… only to get distracted by an assortment of face masks at the cashier—and then again at the door.
My only regret? I wish I needed more stuff! I overdid it during Black Friday and now have enough skincare to last me the whole year.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, now is the perfect time. Whether you’re looking to restock your staples or explore new finds, Beauty on TApp makes the experience feel like a dream!
Book Review: The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees
The Curated Closet: A Simple System for Discovering Your Personal Style and Building Your Dream Wardrobe by Anuschka Rees
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book changed my life.
Filled with super helpful tips that will help you declutter your wardrobe while building a collection of clothing that you will love (AND more importantly- actually use!).
I strongly recommend this book to anyone struggling with the dilemma of having “nothing to wear”.
There is a TON of work involved in this book but it is so worth it.
I have 4 cupboards…but mostly use gymwear or PJs (I’m a freelance writer). This book was the push I needed to get the closet I deserved and let go of clothes that I was keeping just because.
View all my reviews
Book Review: The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Samantha Sweeting wants one thing in life- to become partner at her prestigious law firm.
She’s worked overtime, birthdays, given up holidays. The partnership is almost hers..until it isn’t,
She makes a major mistake that costs the company millions. Unable to handle seeing her dreams die, Samantha walks out.
She ends up on a train and then in the middle of nowhere. When she stops to ask for directions, she’s mistaken as an interviewee for a housekeeper position. One thing leads to another and Samantha doesn’t correct the error. Instead, she starts working as a housekeeper.
Samantha has absolutely no domestic skills and this is made clear from the very start.
What interested me about this book is that I felt like I could relate to it. With absolute no domestic skills, the first thing I did when I faced a career setback was start cooking. So it was fun to see someone else go through that strange transition.
Like most of Sophie Kinsella’s books, this was a funny read. It really pulled me in and I couldn’t go to sleep until I had finished this book.
I would give it 10 stars if I could because it was that good.
The characters were lively and entertaining, there’s some small town vibes which I always love and of course a hot love interest.
What more could you want?
View all my reviews
Must Read Fairytale Retellings
categories: Books
Title: Alias Hook
Author: Lisa Jensen
Genre: Fantasy
Based On: Peter Pan
My Opinion: Before this book I couldn’t care less about Hook. I loved the character in Once Upon a Time but that was about as far as any nice feelings towards him go. But this book sucked me in and now I’m a fan. With great worldbuilding and fully fleshed characters, I was sad to finish this book. Send more Hook stories my way, please. Thanks
“Every child knows how the story ends. The wicked pirate captain is flung overboard, caught in the jaws of the monster crocodile who drags him down to a watery grave. But it was not yet my time to die. It’s my fate to be trapped here forever, in a nightmare of childhood fancy, with that infernal, eternal boy.”
Meet Captain James Benjamin Hook, a witty, educated Restoration-era privateer cursed to play villain to a pack of malicious little boys in a pointless war that never ends. But everything changes when Stella Parrish, a forbidden grown woman, dreams her way to the Neverland in defiance of Pan’s rules. From the glamour of the Fairy Revels, to the secret ceremonies of the First Tribes, to the mysterious underwater temple beneath the Mermaid Lagoon, the magical forces of the Neverland open up for Stella as they never have for Hook. And in the pirate captain himself, she begins to see someone far more complex than the storybook villain.
With Stella’s knowledge of folk and fairy tales, she might be Hook’s last chance for redemption and release if they can break his curse before Pan and his warrior boys hunt her down and drag Hook back to their neverending game. Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen is a beautifully and romantically written adult fairy tale.
Title: The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1)
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Genre: Fantasy
Based On: One Thousand and One Nights
My Opinion: Even if you haven’t read One Thousand and One Nights (I hadn’t), the premise of this book is too good to pass up.
With lush world-building and intense sizzling chemistry, this is a must-read for fans of fantasy romance or the enemies to lovers trope.
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph’s reign of terror once and for all.
Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she’d imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It’s an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid’s life as retribution for the many lives he’s stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?
Title: A Curse so Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers #1)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Genre: Fantasy
Based On: Beauty and the Beast
My Opinion: This is one of the best Beauty and the Beast retelling I’ve ever read (and I would know because I’ve read so many). This book stays very close to the original story with enough of a world built around it that you’re still invested in seeing the series through.
I loved this series. The characters are well-developed and there’s so much going on that you really feel like you’re in another world.
It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.
Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.
A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.
Title: Hunted
Author: Megan Spooner
Genre: Fantasy
Based On: Beauty and the Beast
My Opinion: This is another great Beauty and the Beast retelling.
The character of “Beauty”, Yeva is a skilled huntress which made for a fun twist.
The end had me a bit confused but besides that this was an absolutely incredible book.
Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. After all, her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering its secrets.
So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters out of their comfortable home among the aristocracy and back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman.
But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. The Beast.
Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange creature back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of magical creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin, or salvation.
Title: Cruel Beauty
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Genre: Fantasy
Based On: Beauty and the Beast
My Opinion: Listen…if a book is good, it’s good. IDK what to tell you. Beauty and the Beast retellings just work.
From the second the “Beast” is included here, it’s hard not to fall in love with him. He’s very charming.
The only reason why this book isn’t my favourite retelling is because the castle was magical and very confusing to me (obviously I am not meant for an enchanted castle)
Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom—all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.
With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she’s ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.
But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle—a shifting maze of magical rooms—enthralls her.
As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex’s secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.
On Letting Go of Friendships
categories: Uncategorized
As I draw closer to 30, I’ve been reflecting on the relationships in my life- the ones that have lasted, the ones that have faded, and the ones that, if I’m being honest, I held onto for far too long. And one thing has become clear: you cannot build healthy friendships with people who refuse to heal.
We all go through difficult seasons. We all have struggles. But there’s a difference between working through them and making them everyone else’s problem. Some people expect friendships to carry them through life without ever showing up for others in return. They crave community but don’t want to be part of one. They want support, but when it’s time to give it, they disappear- or worse, they project their pain onto the very people trying to stand by them.
I’ve seen how exhausting these friendships can be. The constant defensiveness, the inability to take accountability, the emotional weight of managing someone else’s unresolved issues. And the saddest part? Many of these people don’t even realise they’re pushing others away.
True friendship isn’t about perfection-it’s about growth. The best friendships come from people who are self-aware enough to work on themselves, who take responsibility for their actions and who don’t expect others to fix what they refuse to address.
At this stage in life, I want reciprocal, uplifting friendships built on mutual respect. I want people who show up- not just when they need something, but because they value the connection. You can have empathy for unhealed people but you don’t have to let them drain you. Some people need space to heal and sometimes, that means loving them from a distance.
If a friendship is built on imbalance, resentment or constant emotional labor, it’s okay to walk away. Because at the end of the day, the healthiest relationships don’t just take-they give. And those are the ones worth holding onto.