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Donna Hodds

@what.donna.did.next

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Reading One True Loves felt like coming home to a typical Taylor Jenkins Reid story, in the very best way. Beautifully written, full of emotion, and packed with characters that felt so real I could imagine being friends with them.This book has everything: love, loss, hope, heartbreak, and all the messy moments in between. At its heart is an impossible situation, but it's really a story about learning how to live again after life changes you.What stayed with me most was the reminder that we are the sum of all our experiences. Every joy, every mistake, every heartbreak shapes who we become, and that's okay. We aren't meant to stay the same person forever, and we don't have to bend or change ourselves just to make other people comfortable. The right people, the ones who truly love us, will love us for who we are, not for who they want us to be.Taylor Jenkins Reid has such a gift for making you feel every emotion alongside her characters, and this book was no exception. It made me reflect on love, identity, and how sometimes moving forward doesn't mean leaving the past behind, it means carrying it with you as you become someone new.A beautiful, thought-provoking read that will stay with me for a long time.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Have you read it? What did you think? by @what.donna.did.next

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18 days ago

Shopping my worries away. by @what.donna.did.next

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18 days ago

Come with me to Marylebone High Street I've been meaning to visit for a while but never quite got round to it. It's a short walk from my office but when in London, it is all work, work, work! We hopped on the train to Liverpool Street and caught the Circle Line to Euston Square. The General wanted to see my office. We then did a short walk along the front of Regents Park to the top end of Marylebone High Street. I was in shopping heaven. You forget that you're in Central London as you take in the boutique shops and independent cafes. It's a much calmer shopping experience. I perused Ganni, Lululemon, Rixo, Farm Rio, Varley, WNU, Sezane and more... Not forgetting to pop in to Daunt Books - which really is the prettiest indie bookstore. We walked the length of the High Street before heading on to New Bond Street. by @what.donna.did.next

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20 days ago

June moments... by @what.donna.did.next

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25 days ago

Weekend snapshot. What a full on few days. Rolled in to friday with a "SLAMS LAPTOP SHUT" moment and straight to my local library to grab some new books. Saturday was all about @weareflatout - dont let the photos fool you. This was tough. Took on the womens relay with some other members from @hyfit____ , before my first attempt at the Women's Open. Did I love it... not at the time. But I'm so glad I did it and super proud to have a 2nd place flag to take home from the relay. Sunday was more about chilled vibes. We headed in to Norwich to grab a few things, before some lunch in @waringsathome and a glass of wine from The Wallow. by @what.donna.did.next

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a month ago

Relay 2nd place finishers... then straight back out for more! We kicked off @weareflatout at Trinity Park with a 2nd place relay finish and that was only the warm-up!We went in with a game plan, but that changed just 5 minutes before the start. We thought the relay would be a straightforward podium finish... how wrong we were! 😅Tje competition was tough. For the first half of the race, we sat in 4th place and had to dig deep, work together, and fight our way up to 2nd.Every member of the team gave absolutely everything to make sure we crossed that finish line and brought home that finishers' flag. 💚Next up was taking on the Women's Open.And if I'm honest, I had every excuse imaginable running through my mind to get out of doing it...More on that in a separate post. by @what.donna.did.next

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a month ago

I've been a long-time fan of Jane Fallon's books, and Welcome to the Neighbourhood reminded me exactly why.I'll admit, I almost swerved this one. The cover was a bit *meh* for me and not Jane's usual cover style, so it didn't immediately grab my attention. Proof that you really do judge a book by its cover... except sometimes you absolutely shouldn't!Set on Ashdown Close, where life is usually pretty quiet, things get a lot more interesting when new neighbours Sian and Rich move in next door to Kitty. What follows is a funny, relatable story packed with gossip, secrets and all the drama that comes with neighbourhood WhatsApp groups.The characters were likeable, the humour was spot on, and it kept me reading right to the end. It felt light-hearted and entertaining while still being incredibly relevant to modern-day community life.A really enjoyable read and another @janefallon2 winner for me.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Have you read this one yet? Or do you have a favourite Jane Fallon book? by @what.donna.did.next

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2 months ago

If you've been here for a while, you'll probably remember when this feed looked very different. It was full of plants and pictures from my shop. In 2023, I made the decision to return to the corporate world after being self-employed for a number of years. It was a big step, leaving behind something I had poured so much of myself into, but I was ready for a new challenge.That journey led me to Bauer Media Group, where I joined in April 2023 as a Senior Digital Executive. I was excited, eager to learn, and determined to make an impact within one of the UK's most iconic media businesses.Before stepping in to the role of Customer Engagment Manager in 2024. And fast forward to today, and I'm incredibly proud to have been promoted to Head of Customer Engagement.I have the privilege of leading an amazing team of marketers, web developers, content creators, and customer engagement specialists across B2B and B2C channels, performance marketing, commercial insight, and more for radio brands such a Hits Radio, Kiss, Magic and more.The reality is that achievements like this are never individual successes. They happen because of the people around you. I'm fortunate to work alongside talented colleagues who challenge, support, and inspire me every day.Looking back, a few lessons stand out:- Taking a chance on yourself can open doors you never expected.- Sometimes you need to step away from your comfort zone to unlock your potential. - The best opportunities often come from the most unexpected decisions.- Great things are always built by great teams.From running my own small business, to returning to corporate life, it's certainly not been a straight line - but I wouldn't change any of it.I'm excited for what comes next. by @what.donna.did.next

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2 months ago

I need to stop reading Taylor Jenkins Reid books on public transport, because here I am again, sitting on a train with tears streaming down my face.I wasn’t fully on board with the astronaut concept at first, and I’ll admit I went in a little unsure… but I was completely wrong.Set in the 1980s, this is so much more than a story about space. It’s about bravery, courage, family, friendship, love, and self-discovery. It explores what people are capable of when they choose courage, even when they don’t feel brave.What I loved most was how the book shows that courage isn’t always about big heroic moments, sometimes it’s about being honest, taking risks, loving openly, and choosing the life you truly want despite the fear that comes with it.It’s emotional, powerful, and one of those stories that stays with you long after the final page.A beautiful reminder that courage doesn’t mean being fearless, it means moving forward anyway.Would absolutely recommend. by @what.donna.did.next

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3 months ago

@weareflatout Saxon Air, Norwich 2026… well, we did it! Still waiting on the official times and splits, and I’m pretty sure the run was a little short 🤣 I’d love to believe I ran 500m in 1 min 30… but that would mean I’m capable of a 15-minute 5K, and let’s be honest, I’m definitely not a runner!That said, it was such a good event. This was their third one now, and you can really tell the organisers have taken on board participant feedback and made improvements each time. The event photos were brilliant too. Thank you @riseportraitsukNext challenge… taking it on solo in June at Trinity Park Oh… what have I signed myself up for?! by @what.donna.did.next

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3 months ago

Toboggan run in Funchal… well, when in Madeira! It’s one of those things you just have to experience. The Monte toboggan run dates back to the early 1800s, when locals used wicker sledges as a fast way to travel down from the hills into Funchal. Today, it’s steered by skilled “carreiros” in traditional dress, guiding you through the streets, no engines, just pure technique (and a bit of bravery 😅).What a fun experience! Equal parts thrilling and slightly chaotic, but 100% worth it! by @what.donna.did.next

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3 months ago

Consider Yourself Kissed — book reviewIt was… okay.I actually found it quite tricky to read at first. The writing style felt a bit backwards at times, like sentences started vague and only made sense at the end. I spent a lot of time slightly confused, having to re-read bits to get my head around it.That said, I did get more into the story as it went on. The overall concept is interesting, and it definitely pulled me in more towards the second half.But Coraline… I really struggled with her. I found her quite hard to like. She was often pretty harsh on Adam, and you could tell how much he genuinely loved her. At times it just felt like she was being selfish.I get that Adam kept putting things off to focus on writing his book but that was his job. Meanwhile, Coraline being frustrated about not writing hers felt a bit misplaced… especially when she’d hidden that side of herself and stopped pursuing it. If you want to be a writer, you have to actually write.Overall... an interesting read, but not one I’d rush to recommend. by @what.donna.did.next

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3 months ago