& Juliet At The Manchester Opera House Review*

Some bloggers earn amazing amounts of money through their blog, some work with the biggest beauty brands in the world, and some just plod along doing okay, doing their thing and just seeing what comes their way like me. And I'm totally okay with that. But recently I've had a few opportunities which have honestly made my year. I'm not afraid to say that the first half of 2019 was quiet blog-wise, but because we'd just got our puppy Bear, I kind of didn't have time to go chasing opportunities so I reached a point where I was okay with it maybe just being a hobby again. Something seemed to change towards the end of Summer though and I'm so grateful for it because it's only made me even more motivated and made me realise how passionate I am about this blog. One of the amazing opportunities I was approached with recently was to be invited to go and see the new musical & Juliet at the Manchester Opera House, and as I'm sure you can imagine, being the huge theatre fan I am, I jumped at the chance! To some it might not seem like a huge deal, but to me, it's something I can be so so proud of and look back on one day and smile.

I've seen quite the variety of musicals now from Wicked to Kinky Boots, Hamilton to Heathers and most recently Come From Away and Waitress, but none of those are exactly BRAND NEW/never been done anywhere else before so with & Juliet I had very little idea what I was going to see. In case you haven't heard of & Juliet, let me tell you a little bit about it before I get onto my thoughts of the show though. 

'The most famous love story of all time. Remixed. What if Juliet's famous ending was really just her beginning? What if she decided to choose her own fate? Join Juliet on this sensational journey of self-discovery and second chances, told through some of the most glittering pop anthems of the last three decades. & Juliet is the hilariously irreverent new musical that proves when it comes to love, there's always life after Romeo.'

The first thing I have to talk about with this show is the cast. They are INSANE. As soon as Oliver Tompsett arrives on stage as William Shakespeare you feel his presence and he starts the show with a bang with 'Larger Than Life' by the Backstreet Boys. Yep, there's a lot of Backstreet Boys music in this and I AM HERE FOR IT. Not keen on the idea of Juliet giving up her whole life for Romeo, William's wife, Anne Hathaway played by Cassidy Janson who puts on a stellar performance throughout, arrives next and comes up with a new plot, what about if Juliet lived? From here we meet Juliet played by the AMAZING Miriam-Teak-Lee who steals each scene she's in and we see what her life might have gone on to become without Romeo in the picture. It's hard to really explain much else about the show without totally spoiling it, but it's a show everyone needs to see for themselves. Aswell as these 3 cast members, there's also David Bedella, Arun Blair-Mangat, Jordan Luke Gage, Melanie La Barrie and Tim Mahendran who all deserve a mention, but really the whole ensemble are outstanding. I was in awe of every person on the stage who clearly all adore the show and are so passionate about the story.

I've already briefly mentioned the music but this musical actually features many modern hits from Max Martin, I couldn't believe how many had been written by the same person! Domino by Jessie J, Overprotected by Britney Spears, Confident by Demi Lovato, Teenage Dream by Katy Perry, It's My Life by Bon Jovi and That's The Way It Is by Celine Dion, though there are of course loads more I could mention. I had no idea how these songs would make their way into the story but they do and it works! It's a classic jukebox musical but not overly cheesy. It's taken a story we've all heard a million times and added a really unique twist.

I also have to add the staging and choreography really make this show stand out too. The choreography was flawless, each member of the cast getting their chance to shine and no-one being overshadowed, and at times it really felt like a concert. Whilst the staging might not be the most complicated, the costumes and effects are some of the best I've seen in a show - the lighting, the double revolve, everything about it comes together to form one incredible show.

I honestly had the best night seeing & Juliet and I can't wait for it to arrive in London. I'm already just waiting for when I can book tickets, and I hope it's a show that runs and runs in the West End. I can see it being the next Kinky Boots, a fun filled show that leaves you feeling on such a high by the end that you can't help but keep going back. So many people have already made repeat visits and if I lived closer, I would have done the same. The soundtrack drops on November 20th so if you want a listen of all the songs included, keep an eye out for that, and the show is playing from the 2nd of November at the Shaftesbury Theatre if you want to see it for yourself which I really recommend you do. It's pure joy!

Have you got any musicals lined up? Do you think & Juliet is a show you'd enjoy?

*Gifted tickets but all views are my own

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My Slow Cooker Potato & Chickpea Curry Recipe

It's time for another recipe and this week I'm sharing how I make my slow cooker potato and chickpea curry. As it's a slow cooker meal, I'm sure you can guess it's a pretty easy, throw it all in meal but I thought I'd still share in case you're a fan of a good curry. I mentioned in my autumn blog post last week that I come alive in the kitchen in the colder months so that's why I've been sharing so many recipes recently and why there might be a few more to come over the next few weeks!

Ingredients: 2-4 people

2 large baking potatoes

1 onion, finely diced

1 tin of chopped tomatoes

1 tin of water

2 crushed garlic

1 tbsp curry powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp garam masala

A sprinkle of ginger powder

1 tin of drained chickpeas

Salt & pepper

Method:

1. First of all, peel your potatoes and chop into cubes, then chuck into the slow cooker

2. Add in your finely diced onion, along with your tin of chopped tomatoes. I then refill the tin with water and pour that in too

3. You can then add in your spices. So, I use curry powder, ginger, garlic, cumin, turmeric, chilli powder, garam masala and salt and pepper

4. Give it all a thorough mix and then leave on high for at least 4 hours

5. After 3 hours, add in your drained chickpeas, stir and leave for the final hour

6. When the curry is almost done, prepare your rice. I added in 1 tsp of turmeric to the rice while it was cooking too. It doesn't affect the taste I find but it gives it the stunning yellow colour

7. Serve your curry and rice, and leave any leftovers to cool before popping in the fridge

I've put that this recipe is for 2-4 people because obviously I only make it for George and I but there were enough leftovers for us both the next day so it's definitely one that could stretch to 4 people for one meal. I love having leftovers in the fridge though as it always makes a quick and easy lunch! 

This is a great choice if you're trying to cut back on meat which we are where we can, but because of the potato and chickpeas, it's still incredibly filling. Let me know if you give this a go, I'd love to know what you think!

Recipes - Autumnal chicken pie // Pizza pasta bake // Perfect roast potatoes

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Truth Hurts by Rebecca Reid Book Review*

I seem to be flying through thrillers at the moment! And surprisingly they've all been pretty excellent, which has just made me want to keep picking more and more up. Not good for the bank balance but I just can't resist sometimes. It's been a little while since my last book review - The Rumour by Lesley Kara so I really wanted to share my thoughts on Truth Hurts by Rebecca Reid.

'Poppy has a secret. It was a whirlwind romance. And when Drew, caught up in the moment, suggests that he and Poppy don't tell each other anything about their past lives, that they live only for the here and now, for the future they are building together, Poppy jumps at the chance for a fresh start. But it doesn't take long for Poppy to see that this is a two-way deal. Drew is hiding something from her. And Poppy suddenly has no idea who the man she has married really is, what he is hiding from her or what he might be capable of. Drew says he has nothing to hide. Drew is lying.'

My review

Truth Hurts has ended up being one of my biggest surprises of 2019 so far book-wise. As I said at the start of this post, I've read many, many, MANY thrillers this year so sometimes they can all sort of blur into one and it takes a lot for one to stand out but this has done more than that. And to be totally honest, I went into this not expecting a great deal. Like I said, a thriller has to be something really special now for me to think WOW but that just shows I wrong I was about this.

Right at the start of the book, we meet Poppy, a nanny for a fairly rich family, on holiday in Ibiza with them. After a few tense words with the mother after coming home late, Poppy is fired and thrown out on the street. With nowhere to go, she ends up in a random bar contemplating her next move, and then Drew turns up. He's a few years older than her, clearly well off and he's interested. It doesn't take long for Poppy to feel like her luck has turned and for them to fall in love. Soon after, Drew proposes...but there's a condition. They never talk about their past. Sounds suspicious? Well I'm sure this is when most people would call things off or at least have a discussion about it but Poppy with secrets of her own, says yes. After a few months of wedded bliss, things start to unravel though. Drew's friends make comments that Poppy doesn't understand, her best friend Gina doesn't trust Drew and Poppy is just desperate for a real family for once. It all starts to get a bit real and Poppy realises she might have let herself in for more than she bargained for. 

Whilst this isn't a book full of twists and it's not BAM, BAM, BAM, one thing after the other, it had just the right amount of suspense I think. There were little drabs of information dropped in now and again that made you question Drew and even Poppy at times and those little seeds were enough to keep you turning that page each time. We also occasionally go back in time to when Poppy used to nanny for another family, people she clearly doesn't want to talk about but why? And I liked that it took right up until the final chapter to really put everything together. I think Rebecca has written this in such a clever way because even though loads doesn't happen for quite a while, once you're invested, you just can't stop reading.

I don't want to give any spoilers away, I worry I've already dropped too many hints, but the ending is a shocker. I genuinely think I sat there speechless for a good while afterwards. It made me re-think EVERYTHING! I realised I didn't know some of the characters aswell as I thought I did and I could never have guessed what was going to come. I'm so impressed and I can't wait to read more from Rebecca in future!

Have you read Truth Hurts? Have you got a thriller you recommend?

Book reviews - Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich // Gone by Leona Deakin

*I was provided with a copy for the purpose of this review

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What Keeps You Up At Night? - My 5 Tips For Getting A Good Night's Sleep*

Ahh sleep. Me and sleep have a very turbulent relationship. Have done for a good few years now. That's not to say I don't love it, who doesn't? but the actual falling asleep bit? That's what I struggle with. I've said many times before on my blog that insomnia is something I've struggled with and whilst at the moment I seem to have managed to keep it at bay for a while (I think having a puppy helps!) that's not to say some nights I don't lie awake for hours on end. According to a recent survey by beds.net, it seems I'm not the only one either. 

Beds.net, a mattress and bed manufacturer based in West Yorkshire recently conducted a survey that revealed that the majority of Brits are being kept awake by stress, others because of an uncomfortable bed or mattress and a small minority are tormented by ghosts. Those aren't the only complaints though, others mentioned noisy neighbours and even escaping pets, so what keeps me up at night? Well a number of things! 

I find when I'm in bed, though that's the time my brain should be starting to unwind, it often does the complete opposite. Every possible thought runs through my mind! There's just something about the nightime that makes me re-think every embarrassing scenario I've found myself in and get anxious about things that probably won't ever happen. My brain just doesn't stop. If overthinking isn't the cause of my lack of sleep, then it tends to be a little pup named Bear running around the bedroom, wanting to play. He's cute so I'll forgive him but some nights I just want to get straight in bed and actually fall asleep when my head hits the pillow.

So, now let's get onto some of the things I do find actually help when I'm struggling with sleep. They're not mind-blowing ideas and I'm sure a lot of them, you already do yourself but for me when I'm in need of a decent sleep, and I want to give myself the best possible start, these are the things I reach for.

De-clutter Your Home

I can't quite put into the words the impact a tidy home has on my mind. Beyond many other things, a tidy home really makes for a tidy mind and if I can sit down and see that there's no more pots to do, no more toys to pick up etc, then I can really start my night off in the best way. I just can't deal with life when things are messy! It has a massive impact on my anxiety so I like to keep on top of cleaning and tidying my home as best as I can.

Pamper Time

When I get chance, I love nothing more than a pamper night. A hot bubble bath with a bath bomb, a refreshing face mask, and a good book can do the world of good. It might only be an hour or so to myself but it's often very much needed, and I come out feeling 10x better. It's amazing what taking some time out to look after yourself can do.

Practise Mindfulness

I'm definitely not the best at practising mindfulness, but it's something that helps SO many people and seems to be a great tool with clearing your mind and re-connecting with yourself. There are apps you can get now which tell you exactly what to do so you can just lie back, close your eyes and truly relax. Focused relaxation like this allows for you to really pay attention to your thoughts and become aware of what you're feeling, and whilst it might sound a little strange, it leaves you feeling so much better afterwards. It's upto you how long you do it for but even just 5 minutes while you're chilling in the bath can help.

Switch From Your Phone To A Book

When I'm having some self-care time, I always reach for a book. I often now try not to take my phone into the bathroom with me so I can just enjoy a hot soak with a good book. The same goes for when I get in bed, the phone goes on the bedtime table and I'll read a couple of chapters. I find if I'm still scrolling through Instagram or reading something pointless on Twitter, my mind just keeps whirring for ages afterwards, whereas reading a book - there's just something about it that always makes me tired and I often find I get a much better sleep if I've turned away from my phone for the evening.

All The Candles

Let's end with candles, because who doesn't love candles? Especially now Autumn is almost here and there is finally a chill in the air. I've stocked up on some autumnal scents and each evening I've been making sure all of the lights are off and just lighting candles instead. Not only does this make our home look far prettier, it also just makes me feel so cosy and ready to wind down. It's the perfect way for me to chill before bed.

Whilst some nights aren't perfect and it's not possible to practise all of these methods for a good night's sleep, the majority of the time, just one or two of these does wonders and I find myself having a more more peaceful night than I would have otherwise. I'd love to know if you've got any tips for a better night's sleep, or maybe you've got a funny story on things that keep you awake at night?

*This post is in collaboration with Beds.net

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