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September has been a great month here - the children went back to school and they have really been enjoying it. It's been good to get back into a routine; it's meant that I have more time to work and life is looking a little bit less crazy. Covid 19 cases seem to be at an all time high and I think my three eldest would all have to self isolate if the rules hadn't changed because they have all been in contact with positive cases. Literally just waiting for it to be our turn! So anyway, here are some things that I have been loving this September.
Reading
I have been re-reading The Handmaid's Tale book, I think I might have mentioned that last month. It has taken me ages to work through it, I'm not sure why. I have read it before but I wanted to read it again before reading The Testaments as I have been watching the TV version and I knew it was somewhat different to the book. I think with back to school being so hectic and all the children's after school clubs coming back on, I've just had so little time to read, and any time I sit down in the evening I tend to fall asleep! I have so many books that I want to read though so I need to work out how to carve out some time to do just that!
Watching
We are still working our way through vintage ER - we are coming up to the end of Season 9 now. I know that Season 10 is a goodie so I'm looking forward to carrying on. I've also been enjoying the new series of Chesapeake Shores. I find it's just a nice, gentle programme which I enjoy watching in the background when I am getting some work done.
We have also been watching the new BBC series Vigil which has been gripping. I think it's the 5th out of 6 episodes tonight and I can't wait! I'm going to have to do some ironing at the same time to make sure I stay awake!
We are also all very excited that Great British Bake Off is back on our screens. Luckily it is on the only night that we have free after school so we do bath time and get into PJs and snuggle up with some popcorn or a slice of cake to watch it. Unfortunately the curse of me sleeping as soon as I sit down hit last week and I fell asleep before the end and Miss J revealed the winner!
Listening
I have been listening to lots of podcasts, but not much new. We did finish His Dark Materials so we have started listening to The Secret Garden in the car through Audible.
Making
I haven't been making much sadly - work and life has got in the way. I have been making lots of yummy food though! Some of my recent recipes include Apricot flapjacks, Salted Caramel Bliss Balls and Spiced Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup.
We have also been making Hello Fresh meals every couple of weeks. They are really useful for those busy days where you don't have time to think about what you are cooking and they are all really tasty and delicious. We order a box every other week just to mix things up a little and to make life easier some weeks. My two daughters (aged 14 and 10) also like to follow the recipes and it's a great way of letting them loose in the kitchen and learning to cook.
I do have a discount voucher - you can get a whopping £46 off your first Hello Fresh order if you use this link.
Wearing
It's nearly time to bring out the autumn wardrobe which is really exciting! I think I need to pick up some new jumpers and trousers but otherwise I'm set. I recently picked up a new (to me) coat from Vinted for the winter too. It's from M&S last season, and I really wanted it last year but couldn't justify the expense of another coat so I was pleased to find it second hand online!
Until the autumn chill kicks in though I've been getting the most out of my summer wardrobe until it has to be packed away for another year. I had a couple of items from Femme Luxe which were great for those warm end of summer days - I love these distressed white denim shorts, they are perfect for styling up or down and add a great edge to an outfit.
This maxi dress is fabulous for those in-between days that we have been having a lot of lately. It's lightweight enough for warm weather but you can also dress it up with a jumper, jacket and boots for a more autumnal feel. I love white dresses - I think they look really fresh and classic and although this leans more towards cream than white, I think that makes it perfect for the summer / autumn transition.
Finally I'm looking forward to going out in the evenings more now that things are open and Christmas is coming and it is the season of little black dresses so I chose this off the shoulder, one armed number which is really flattering on the tummy area and just looks lovely and glamorous, especially when accessorised with jewellery.
Beauty
I have been making a real effort with my skincare recently - absolutely nothing at all to do with the fact that I turn 40 soon!! I have hyperpigmentation on my face as a result of sun exposure during pregnancy and I really hate it so I found an online company called Skin and Me where you can answer some questions and take some photos and a dermatologist will prescribe a custom cream for you. It gets delivered to your home monthly and has a month's worth of individual doses. I have noticed so much improvement in my skin after a couple of months of use. They can help you with all sorts of skin problems and you can try your first month for free.
I've also treated myself to some more luxury items from Beauty Pie. If you aren't familiar with Beauty Pie, they operate on a subscription basis and depending upon which level you are on, you can choose a certain value of products to order each month. I've been really impressed with what I got - if you are interested you can watch my YouTube video about it. Also if you want £10 off your first order use this link.
Finally, I succumbed and tried Wild deodorant as I have seen so many positive reviews. I have been trying to find a natural deodorant that works well for years. I need a strong deodorant and I hadn't found one that was brilliantly effective. But Wild lived up to the hype! The scents are amazing and I don't smell at all! They also have an offer of receiving a free case when you order.
If you want to see me chat about all my monthly favourites in person - including some others I haven't written about here, take a look at my YouTube channel.
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