Hello and happy September! I always think September is a great moment for a fresh start and I'm always feeling motivated with a plan and high ambitions! I think it is a throwback to my school days - I just love getting organised, sorting my desk, getting new stationary and being productive.
I haven't shared a Little Loves post for a while but now my youngest has gone to full time school I'm planning on them being a much more regular thing (monthly Ali - they are supposed to be monthly!!)
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I'm including some books here that we have read over the summer - when I wrote it all down I was surprised that we managed to read so much!
This book is about a 12 year old girl who buys a pen from a market stall and it ends up being a magical pen! Ruby draws cartoons and whatever she draws actually happens. However when the pen's magic takes a sinister turn what will happen?
My 12 year old really enjoyed reading this book and we are about to pass it down to my 9 year old. It has a great plot and great themes for children of this age, struggling with fitting in and issues with school. Definitely recommended!
This is a beautiful story and picture book with beautiful illustrations. Meet Mim takes you to the world of the sandy seabed to observe the clever transformations of a very tricky sea creature. Can you guess what creature Mim is? The purpose behind the story is to educate children in a fun and engaging way about the problems of debris in our oceans and the affect that it has on ocean life.
The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page
I will admit to finding this book a little slow to get into but I am really glad that I persevered. The characters are just so real and you form a real attachment to them as the book goes on. It is a lovely, warm-hearted book which left me with a good feeling, and inspired that good can be done in the world.
The Forgetting by Hannah Beckerman
I was a little disappointed with this book as I thought it was very average and predictable. It is a story of a woman who wakes up unable to remember who she is, and what follows is what she discovers as she tries to remember her identity. My verdict - don't bother!
We Were Liars by E. Lockheart
This is technically youth fiction but I have loved so many youth fiction books so that doesn't put me off! It follows a dysfunctional family who holiday together every summer. You will find love, mystery, societal commentary and drama, all in one book! I can't wait to read the follow up!
Shamefully I have been really poor at making anything new all summer - largely because we were travelling for a big chunk of it. That is another post completely! I have however started to try knitting an outfit for N's jellycat rabbit which has seen better days, although he is only 4! I bought the pattern from Etsy, but can't wholly recommend it yet as the dungarees are still only one leg!!
I have however been getting organised and that has meant new stationary - one of my favourite parts of September! I've gone all Barbiecore with pink pens and notebook from Pen Heaven. I love writing with a fountain pen - it makes my writing look beautiful and it's gorgeous for writing handwritten notes to people and in greetings cards. The notebook has come in very useful for making daily lists and the ballpoint pen is really smart and so smooth to write with. I am a bit of a stationary addict - if you are too you will simply love Pen Heaven!
Writing this has made me think about just how much TV I have watched lately - no wonder that I haven't made anything!
Manifest - I have been wanting to watch this for a while and I have just finished season 1 - I must say that I am completely addicted (and a little bit in love with Jared!) Available on Netflix.
Luther - The Fallen Sun - I loved the Luther series but for some reason it has taken me ages to get around to watching the film. Although I missed Ruth Wilson and her character Alice Morgan terribly, the film was really good and had me wishing it was just an episode in a series so that I could watch more! Available on Netflix.
The Missing - This BBC drama is enthralling and a little bit like a car accident that you can't help but look at! We watched the first series a while ago and it took a little bit of time to summon the strength to watch the second. If you aren't a fan of stories about children going missing this isn't for you. That said I really enjoyed it! (available on BBC iPlayer)
Sweet Magnolias - I just love this sweet American drama, it is really easy watching, nothing particularly clever or spectacular but I love the Christian thread than runs throughout it and I can't help but want to move to a small town and be part of the magic.
I have been loving buying things on Vinted - so much so that I have had to put a stop to looking at it! I bought lots of denim shorts on there for the summer and am planning on stocking up my holiday wardrobe from there for our upcoming Caribbean holiday.
I LIVED in my Saltwater sandals all summer, yet again. Actually so much so that I wore the soles out! The children have a pair each which I pass down as they grow out of them and I am now wearing my eldest's old silver ones she grew out of - the benefits of having children with bigger feet than you!
Although soon it will be time to pack away the sandals in favour of winter boots! I'm going to brighten up my days still with these gorgeous rainbow socks gift box from We Are Thought. These socks are made of soft bamboo and come in gorgeous bright colours. There are so many other designs of bamboo socks too - and wouldn't these make the perfect gift.
I have also discovered a new brand of clothing that I really like. Lighthouse Clothing has the most practical, high quality and yet stylish clothing which really suits my busy lifestyle. I need good, warm, strong and good looking clothes and their garments really fit the bill.
This dress is a lovely thick fabric, and is the perfect length. It looks great with a denim jacket. (Linked similar but shorter version here).
I have lived in this jumper since I was sent it. It is so comfortable, warm and yet not too thick and I love that it is a bit different to the usual navy and white stripe!
We continue our audiobook journey and are working our way through the works of Roald Dahl at the moment. I download them on the BorrowBox app for free but if there are ones that aren't available then I use my audible account. We have listened to Fantastic Mr Fox, Billy and the Minpins, Dirty Beasts and The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me so far and are thoroughly enjoying them!
The girls are loving listening to Melanie Martinez at the moment. J is going to her concert in November and has made it her mission to learn all the words to all her songs!
While we were away on holiday I downloaded The Frost Goblin audiobook for the evenings. It is only short but I thought it was a really sweet little story.
So there you have it - a lovely little list of my little loves for September 2023. Take a look at my previous Little Loves posts too.
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