Friday 29 December 2017

Life Update

Hey team,

Thanks for stopping by, I know things have been a bit quiet around here.

Life has been changing over the last year, my study journey to become a qualified librarian hit full-bore in the middle of the year when I got a casual job at a library. I was juggling both work and full-time study, as well as the normal parenting and (trying to) keep the house liveable (no one said anything about presentable!).


I made it through that with good marks and am now on the home-stretch with only 1.5 papers to go! I am not sure what next year will hold for me but I am looking forward to it!

Addison is 3 and a half now and is very talkative and curious. She has a great imagination and has picked up an interest in crafts. She loves to go out to Daddy's Shed and make things in there and is coming up with some great projects.

Our house renovations are sort of paused at the moment while we try and carve out some time as well as slowly, slowly save some money to fund the bathroom reno as well as a fair few dump runs. We have plans though!

I am still crafting, although documenting it seems to comprise of a single photo, usually in terrible lighting because I only craft late at night these days. I have been sewing a lot, collecting woolen blankets to use to make winter jackets and vests. I am hoping to extend this a bit next year and open up a few custom order spots as time allows. I haven't done as much crochet this year, just a few projects here and there. I post regularly on Instagram as @inthefoxsden if you want to see my goings-on.


Dave and I celebrated our 8-year wedding anniversary a few weeks ago and it feels like that time has flown by. Dave has been busy with his day-job as well as heaps of custom woodworking requests which he somehow manages to get through.

So to sum up, we have been busy. Hopefully next year we can settle into a bit more of a routine and find time to take a break or two and relax. We aren't very good at being still!


Thanks for sticking around and following me as my craft blog is slowly turning into a book review blog. I do still love my little space here so I will try to make more effort in documenting the things that keep me busy.
xx

Book Review - Year One by Nora Roberts


When you think of Nora Roberts you generally think of romance novels, the kind that you take on holiday to read on the beach or on the plane. You may also know of her crime writing under the pseudonym J.D Robb, but the Dystopian genre isn't one you would normally associate her with. But Year One is just that, a dystopian novel, still with some romance mixed in mind you, but this is the beginning of a new three-part series that I will definitely be following.

Year One begins in Scotland where a pheasant is shot down on a standard hunting trip. The blood from the bird begins a plague called The Doom which wipes out a very significant chunk of the worlds population. As you can imagine, chaos ensues and as those who remain fight to survive, others become dark and violent. Among this, people with powers - magic - start to manifest in both dark and light forms, and a new fight for power begins.

Arlys Reid is a news reporter who survives the plague and escapes New York with some friends. Max and Lana have practiced the Craft and now their power has grown as they find themselves in charge of a very special light. Both groups combine as they attempt to create a safe haven, a New Hope, but the darkness is hunting the light and will stop at nothing to extinguish it.

It is tricky to write a synopsis without giving away some major plot details so I will leave it at that and if it peaks your interest then find yourself a copy! If plagues and magic aren't your thing then give this one a miss.

I am a big lover of the dystopian genre, though I tend to stick with YA novels. The maturity level of Year One is definitely a step above YA. I found that the tone of the book changed about 1/3 into it but I could look past that. I was also a bit annoyed with how some of the characters were left, although I'm hoping they still play a big part in the next two novels. The book is clearly setting the groundwork for the rest of the series and working up to some sort of epic showdown. Now to wait until the end of next year when Book 2 is due to be released!

Year One by Nora Roberts is available now from bookstores and libraries. Thanks to Hachette for my review copy of this book.

Wednesday 27 September 2017

KIWI AUTHOR Book Review: Broken Silence


Broken Silence is a brand new book by NZ author Helen Vivienne Fletcher.
I won this book at her online Book Launch on Facebook, I don't know how I ended up there but I am glad I did!

This is a YA novel about seventeen-year-old Kelsey who is having a rough time, her mum is very sick, and her dad doesn't want anything to do with her. She ends up staying with her older brother at his flat and on top of all these issues she has an abusive boyfriend. It makes for a big downward sprial in Kelseys life. She begins getting stalker-esque prank calls which have a dark undertone to them. Soon Kelsey is fearing for her life and those of her friends and family too. Who is it on the phone and what do they want?

I must admit, this book sat on my drawers for a good long time before I picked it up. Life got busy, but I wish I had read this as soon as it arrived. Although I do not personally relate to Kelsey on most of these issues, they are very present in society and having a front seat to the train wreck was confronting yet compelling. Helen has managed to craft a character that I really cared about by the end, despite her whingy 'tantrums' throughout the book.

I love that it was set in Wellington but apart from the odd reference here and there such as Manners Street, it could have been set anywhere. I had some great images in my head of the setting of this book.

There were some very good twists and turns as we try to identify the caller, I thought I had it a few times before being proven wrong again and again. The ending works well and everything felt resolved, although it got darker than I expected towards the end.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who like a good psychological thriller and don't mind themes of violence and abuse. As I said before, they are more common than we think and having an inside perspective shines a light on some of the mental health issues that many suffer.

Please support our hard working Kiwi writers and find a copy of this book (or I can lend you mine!), then leave a review on her Facebook page! This is not a sponsored post - I just really enjoyed this book and think that our local writers deserve a shout out now and then!

Tuesday 19 September 2017

Book Review: The Pool House by Tasmina Perry


The Hamptons - summer playground for the rich and mega-rich. Jem and her husband Nat can't believe it when they are invited to share a house beach-side in the Hamptons one summer. Style editor Nat has made massive connections since moving over from England a year ago, and this well-planned schmoozing has meant that the summer will be one to remember.

Jem has been at a loose end since moving to New York and has big dreams of running her own food blog. She tolerates her husband's cutthroat career and sees the summer as a way of making friends and spending time with Nat. But it turns out that the reason that the spot opened up at the house is that last year one of the wives - Alice - drowned in the pool on the property. It was ruled as accidental - she had been drinking after all, but gut-instinct tells Jem that there is more to it.

As she delves deeper she finds out that a lot went on last summer that no-one wants to talk about. The housemates do well hiding their secrets but with the help of a surprising new friend, Jem finds the cracks in their stories and finds out the truth about Alice.

The novel is written in two alternating sections - 'this summer', written from Jem's perspective, and 'last summer', written from Alice's perspective. The timing of the jumps is perfect for making you want to keep reading, each section ends with a massive cliffhanger or revelation and leaves you wanting to know just a little bit more before you put the book down.

FYI- there are a decent chunk of raunchy scenes, they are not too over-described but are definitely a bit part of the storyline, especially in Alice's story  - I was unprepared for the stark change from Jem to Alice!

The plot is well written and well thought out and having a small pool of suspects makes it interesting to guess what really happened. The characters are well drawn and not always likeable which is a refreshing change. As well as the whodunnit, there are also some much deeper issues that affect the main characters which are worked through as the novel progresses.

I really, really enjoyed this book! I will definitely be reading some more of Tasmina Perry's work - despite the cheesy covers. The look of this novel seems to stray from her usual so it will be interesting to see how the others read.

Available now!

Thanks to Hachette for the review copy of this book!

Tuesday 12 September 2017

Book Review: Oi Cat by Kes Gray and Jim Field


The third hilarious book in the series with Oi Frog!, Oi Dog! and now Oi Cat!

Poor Cat has been instructed that cats sit on gnats - it's the rules! But Cat doesn't enjoy the gnats biting his bottom - perhaps HE can change the rules like Frog and Dog have done? What else can a cat sit on?

This brightly coloured and wonderfully illustrated book is full of animal rhymes that you wouldn't expect: Racoons and macaroons, armadillos and pillows, alpacas and cream crackers. So many animals, so many rhymes. You would think by the third book of essentially the same premise, that there would be no rhymes left but nope they keep on coming. It helps introduce new animals to children (and adults - what is a lark?!), and adds the odd bit of classic potty humour.

We love this series and I think they will bring a smile to your face.

Available now.

Thanks to Hachette for the review copy of this book!

Friday 8 September 2017

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Playscript

Not the actual cover - changes exclude the words 'new' and add PLAYSCRIPT

Don't worry guys, I'm not super behind the times here, I know this has been out for ages but Hachette have been releasing a few special editions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The specific edition I got my hands on to read and review is the Playscript.

"This revised paperback edition updates the 'special rehearsal edition' with the conclusive and final dialogue from the play, which has subtly changed since its rehearsals, as well as a conversation piece between director John Tiffany and writer Jack Thorne, who share stories and insights about reading playscripts. This edition also includes useful background information including the Potter family tree and a timeline of events from the wizarding world prior to the beginning of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."

Having not read the original script when it was first published, I can't compare the 'subtle differences' but I did enjoy the extra timeline and family tree. The conversation piece I could give or take, it didn't really add to anything for me.

If you haven't already read it, this story is set 20ish years after the 7th Harry Potter novel, and Harry & Ginny's middle child, Albus Severus Potter, is headed off to Hogwarts for the first time. Albus has big shoes to fill and ends up befriending Draco Malfoy's son and they get involved in something they shouldn't and mess everything up. All with good intentions mind you.
That's pretty much all I can give away from the plot.

I enjoyed the storyline. I'm not a diehard Potterhead but I have read and loved the HP series. I can take this story as it comes and look past the things that others didn't like about it. There is plenty to read if you Google it!

After already reading a script-as-novel before with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I quickly re-oriented myself with the script format of the book. Also not for everyone, but you kind of get used to it and it adds a different dimension to how the characters act and think.

Overall a good read as an addition to the Potterverse and this version may be up your alley - it is also a paperback edition.

Available now!

Thanks to Hachette for the review copy of this book!

Tuesday 8 August 2017

Book Review - Thank You, Mr Panda by Steve Antony


Mr Panda is a stickler for manners. In this book, Mr Panda has presents for his friends. But will they be thankful for their gifts, even if they are not what they are expecting? Lemur features as Mr Panda's sidekick - will he remember his manners too?

The expressions on the animals faces are priceless. Mr Panda is so deadpan, you can do the best voices while reading this book aloud.

This is the third book Steve Antony has written featuring Mr Panda, with a fourth due out in October. I had just gotten out Please Mr Panda from the library when this book arrived to review so Addison was familiar with the characters. I recommend starting with Please Mr Panda, then I'll Wait, Mr Panda, then Thank You, Mr Panda. Donuts also feature in all the books which is always a winner in my eyes!

These are the kind of books that children find hilarious and adults really love the humour too. I rate these books highly for the 2-4 year age group.

Published by Hachette and available in paperback now.

Thanks to Hachette for my review copy of this book!

Monday 7 August 2017

Book Review: Friend Request by Laura Marshall


Louise Williams has been sitting on a terrible secret since high school involving the assumed death of a fellow student - Maria Weston. Now 25 years later a friend request from Maria appears on Louise's Facebook account. But she's dead, isn't she? The request is followed by increasingly mysterious and chilling messages which force Louise to re-live that night, and an upcoming school reunion makes matters worse. Who really knows the truth about what happened that night? To what extent will they go to keep it a secret?

This is Laura Marshall's first novel and it really holds its own in the thriller genre. I liked that it centres around social media and highlights some of the dangers about what we put out on the internet.
Louise is suitably anxious, paranoid and messed-up from her past which has weaved its way into her adult life. She is a solo mother of a young boy and the references to the early days of parenthood which affected the relationship with her then-husband are easy to relate to. There is a twist as usual and I definitely didn't see it coming. The pacing was a bit slow to start with but once past the halfway point it was all go until the end.

A great read, without a romance plotline or gruesome details, which is pretty rare these days! I will definitely keep my eyes and ears peeled for Laura Marshall's next offering as this was right up my alley.

Available now!

Thanks to Hachette for the review copy of this book.

Thursday 27 July 2017

Book Review: Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed


Let me just start by saying that this book won't be for everyone. However if you, like me, have been intrigued yet horrified with 'The Handmaid's Tale' then this runs along the same lines. It has also been likened to 'The Giver'.

Set in a patriarchal dystopian world, most of the earth has been ravaged by fire and a small group of 10 men and their wives managed to create a settlement on an island. These men called themselves the Ancestors and set up a cult-like society complete with their loose version of a bible with 'shalt-nots'. The men tend the land. Women are wives and housekeepers, who may only have two children to ensure the population doesn't grow too quickly. Girls are married off as soon as they hit puberty but before that are there to 'comfort' their fathers when they can't go to their wives (if you get what I mean. Gross. It's never described though - only alluded to). In the heat of the summer all the children are sent off free to roam the island and fend for themselves to keep them from rebelling for the rest of the year.

Obviously inter-breeding becomes an issue with lots of 'defectives' which troubles the men of the island. The story is told by four girls on the brink of puberty, one is older than the rest because she starves herself to keep puberty away. The girls have grown up in this messed-up society but some have begun to question the why's and what-ifs. But can children change anything?

As I said - not for everyone. I chose this book to review because the blurb said that it was about a cult on an island. Would I pick this off the shelf for myself? No. Should I? Maybe. With all the hype surrounding The Handmaids Tale where women are oppressed and men teach false religion, it casts an eerie shadow on a future that may not actually be too far off these fictitious stories.

The writing is beautiful, the characters are well-drawn and the island comes to life in your mind. Although the topics that are alluded to are worst-of-the-worst, they are tiptoed around and treated with sensitivity. But then there is some graphic violence that undoes this.

Clearly I am torn with this book, it is very haunting but well written and it has made me think, which not many novels do -I tend to consume then forget.

So if my patchy review has made you curious then Gather the Daughters is available now. This probably won't be the last you hear of it.

Thanks to Hachette for my review copy of this book.

Wednesday 7 June 2017

Book Review: From Cradle to Stage by Virginia Hanlon Grohl


As soon as I saw this book was about to be published I had to have it. I usually struggle through non-fiction, especially biographies but this book is different.

From Cradle to Stage is written by the mother of rock-legend Dave Grohl (the multi-talented musician of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame). His MOTHER. Imagine all the hilarious stories she must have, the perspectives of Dave (or David, as she calls him) that she has seen from the trenches. You don't have to imagine. She delivers.

Along with tales from her own past, Dave's childhood and his early career, Virginia decided that she wanted to hear other rock-mother's stories. Others who have navigated that crazy lifestyle that she had never thought possible for her son. It turns out that there were plenty of other mothers that were willing to share their stories including Dr Dre's mother, Pharell William's mother, Amy Winehouse's mother, Adam Levine's mother and Josh Groban's mother. These stories are told by Virginia from the visits she had with each of these amazing ladies. Interspersed through the individual stories are vignettes of reflection and even some snippets of the early Nirvana years.

There is a familiar trend that runs through most of these musicians: school was not always the place that nurtured the creative spirit, much to the dismay of the mothers. Each story describes the moment when the musician realized that music was an achievable goal, and when their mother finally accepted this revelation. Often times their family is their biggest cheerleader, becoming manager/roadie/merch seller in the early days.

Some stories tell of pain, sorrow and heartbreak on the journey, others highlight the toll that this life can take on a family but every mother is so darn proud of their children that they would do it all again in a heartbeat.

I have picked up and put down this book, the stories are short, just enough to sit down with a cup of tea and read for 10 minutes. It means that it has taken me a while to get through but I think there is nothing wrong with that. It is well written, Virginia has a lovely storytelling style and is very humble. I love that there is a picture of her with each mother she meets and you can just imagine them sitting down and chatting the afternoon away. The stories are raw and real though and they don't gloss over the realities of the lives that have resulted from the fame. This makes each mother so much more relatable and you realize that behind every rock star is a mother who loves, cares and worries.

If you have ever dreamed of being a rock-star, if you have a mother, if you ARE a mother, or if you are just curious about the lives of some of these big names then get your hands on this book.

Available from April 26, 2017 in paperback and e-book formats.

Thanks to Hachette for my review copy of this book.

Thursday 25 May 2017

Testing the Tui Pinafore by Below the Kowhai


My gorgeous friend Sophie has spent the last year or so learning how to create and draft patterns. I think that is pretty dang amazing! She has started up her brand called Below the Kōwhai - named after the huge Kōwhai tree in her backyard, where her two girls love to play. This pinafore is her second offering, her first is the Bellbird dress, a beautiful dress with optional loose, puffy sleeves.

I have been lucky enough to test both patterns for her and I really love the process! Sophie sends me (and a few others) her draft pattern and we run through making the item and pick up any changes that need to be made, give feedback on what works or doesn't, and make sure the sizing fits our models!

This process has made me a better seamstress already, I follow the pattern to the letter and when it says to iron, I do! This is far removed from my usual guesstimate sewing. I know that I can and should do better and this is definitely helping - thanks Soph! I also attempted her step-by-step embroidery on the pocket, I have only ever done basic embroidery before so it was fun learning new skills.

You can purchase the pattern over at the Below the Kōwhai website - Check out the beautiful photos of the Bellbird while you are there!

I had to tempt Addy into modelling the dress for me, she cannot sit or stand still hence the hilarious photos.

Details:
The Tui Pinafore
Model Wears Size 3
Material: Chambray
Curved Bodice and Straps
Patch Pocket with Embroidery













xx Amy

Sunday 23 April 2017

Book Review: But Then I Came Back by Estelle Laure


But Then I Came Back is written as a companion book (not a sequel as such, but the same characters, different protagonist and different story) to This Raging Light. I think it stands pretty well on its own without having read the first book, but the intro is a little washy and confusing and without the backgrounds of the characters it is hard to understand why the accident happens in the first place.

Eden slips off a rock by a river and ends up in a coma for a month. But then she comes back. Before, she was a ballet dancer with dreams of the big time in New York. Her life was organized, planned. While she was in the coma she experienced some crazy-weird stuff in the InBetween or the afterlife if you will. Now that she is back she tries to get her head around what she experienced, as well as having a totally different view on life. She also feels a connection with another girl, Jasmine, who is in a coma and resides down the hall from her in hospital. Eden feels like she can somehow reach her but realizes how weird that seems to everyone else. There is also Joe, Jasmine's best friend who becomes part of Eden's recovery too. Eden's family also play a big part in the story.

Now this is Young Adult Contemporary Fiction. I knew that going in, I felt like I would enjoy something lighter after a couple of darker, intense reads. I was conflicted with this book. I was not a huge fan of the narrative written as Eden's thoughts. She is obviously a teenager and thinks like one, but she didn't seem very likeable, or maybe I am just getting old. It didn't stop me from finishing the book though, the content pulled me through. Another thing I wasn't a fan of was the magical, otherworldly elements. A cool concept, but I thought some of it was a bit over-the-top.

On the plus side, I really appreciate the fact that Laure tackles the tricky issue of 'what happens after we die/are in a coma'. She did a lot of research into the medical side of things and the realities of recovery. In the Q & A in the back of the book, Laure talks about her very close friend who committed suicide just before she wrote this book. She didn't get to come back, but Laure found similarities between her and Eden and used the book as a sort of goodbye for her. I find this so heartbreaking but I praise her for dealing with death and tricky topics in a way that makes you end with feeling that life is meant to be lived well. I also enjoyed the fact that there was a love interest but it didn't overwhelm the story.

Overall, I'd read both This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back together. It is not a light, fluffy YA book but it deals with real issues. Thought provoking, funny and an interesting journey of self-discovery.

Available from 11 April 2017 in both paperback and eBook formats. 

Thanks to Hachette for my review copy of this book.

Friday 21 April 2017

South Canterbury Camping Trip


This past week Dave, Addison and I went camping with two of our good friends Roanna and Stephen. We headed south of Christchurch to Timaru, where we picked up the Chiles family's caravan and headed about 30 minutes inland to a farm on the edge of the Pareora River. The farm is owned by a family friend and Dave's parents have been camping here for years. It is such a beautiful place, a secluded gem of solitude mixed with the occasional farm bike and dogs moving sheep around the paddocks.


It is currently autumn and pretty darn cold, we were hitting 6/7 degree lows overnight which is pretty chilly when you are sleeping in a tent! Thankfully we had the caravan for Addison to sleep in which was probably the best move we made because a) it was warm(er) b) it was enclosed and c) it was sound proof enough that we could still be up late chatting away and she couldn't hear us but we could still hear her when she woke.

We headed down on Monday and stayed until Thursday which was 3 nights and that felt like a long enough stay. There was no running water at the site so we had a chemical toilet and zero showers because the river was freezing! Thanks to the wonders of merino and deodorant we didn't smell too bad but the first hot shower after coming home was bliss.

The campsite has a well-used fire pit which we immediately got to finding and chopping wood. There is also a pizza oven which we tested out and had great success with.

It got dark around 6pm and we let Addison stay up and cook marshmallows with us then put her to bed. The magic of dark nights! It felt way later than it was and I think we ended up heading to bed around 9.30/10 most nights.

We spent the first two evenings hanging by the fire to keep warm but the last night it started raining so we retreated to the semi-enclosed dome tent that Ro & Stephen had brought. We had a Primus gas cooker for most of our cooking and the caravan also has a small gas stove. We had a 20 litre container of water and took some store bought bottled water too after our second container sprung a leak. We also had a chilly bin with a couple of bags of ice to keep our food cold. There was still ice left after 3 days so that seemed to work pretty well.

Menu:

Monday
Dinner - Bacon & Beans with Toast
Tuesday 
Breakfast - Bacon, Eggs, Hash Browns, Toast
Lunch - Sandwiches with Salad and Deli Meats
Dinner - Baked Potatoes with Creamed Corn, Bacon and Sour Cream (cooked in the embers of the fire!)
Wednesday 
Breakfast - Pancakes, Bacon and Maple Syrup
Lunch - We did a supply run into Timaru to get more water (and chocolate) and had lunch there.
Dinner - Pizza in the pizza oven!
Thursday 
Breakfast - Bacon, Eggs, Hash Browns, Toast
Lunch - Instant Noodles

Snacks were fruit, chips, chocolate and s'mores.

We took a plunger and coffee as well as hot chocolate and herbal teas which were on high rotation with the whistling kettle.

While we were camping we did a lot of exploring with Addison. She loved to help us with the general set-up and wood gathering. She got to work finding 'treasure' which were just old beer caps from previous occupants. We threw stones in the river, found some interesting looking ones, talked to the sheep, splashed in puddles and she took Roanna on a bunch of interesting adventures around the campsite. The toys we took to bust out when boredom finally arrived were playdough, bubbles, her dolly and a colouring book. We also had a couple of books for bedtime as well as her duvet, white noise, light lamp and cuddly toy. She quite took to the chemical toilet because it was in its own little tent and was just the right height for her. She was such a trooper in the cold mornings - we had to teach her to put her hands in her pockets and put her in multiple layers of merino to stay warm. She ended up with pretty dry lips so next time I'll make sure we have chapstick with us.

Dave and Stephen took a walk down to the Pareora Dam which was about an hour round trip on an overgrown path. It was a bit far for Addison so we stayed at the campsite with her while the boys went adventuring.




Roanna and Stephen were such awesome camp-mates. They had just spent the weekend camping in the rain at Eastercamp and still managed to be enthusiastic about coming to an unknown spot with the three of us. Addison loved having some extra attention and got quite attached to them. We made a pretty good team and had just the right amount of gear between us to make it an adventure. They didn't even bat an eyelid when the tantrums happened. Thanks guys!


We had so much fun on our trip and despite all my reservations about taking Addison camping, she well and truly proved me wrong and had a great time. We plan to make this a relatively regular occurrence now that we have figured out how it all works. Thanks to the Chiles' for the use of the caravan too!


Wood gathering

Addison discovering the toilet tent

Handing out snacks




Adventuring - Gumboots essential

Dave whittling a knife


I promise I was there!

Blowing bubbles

Jacket potatoes and walnuts we found drying by the fire

Morning fog



Balancing by the pizza oven

Getting the pizza oven nice and hot

Pizza!

Addison helping wash up


Arty shot


xx Amy