Awww autumn how I love thee!  I’m just adoring all the beautiful colours on the trees and getting my cosy knitwear out, it’s just such a great season.  I’ve had one hell of a month with lots of good stuff going and big changes to adapt to. October has been pretty life changing for me and I actually think that it has been pretty fantastic!

My word for October was EMBRACE and with all the changes that have happened around these parts I think I have done pretty well.  Change can be such a scary word, but staying in positive mind frame has certainly helped me come to terms with things.  Although I’m far from feeling settled just yet and I don’t think I really will be until our new home is set up properly, I’m happy and enjoying exploring our new town.

As I just mentioned, the massive event that happened this month and documented a lot on the blog over the past few weeks is our relocation to Dorset.  It’s such a stunning part of the country and we live right by the sea, its such a massive culture shock for us.  I’m still getting used to everything and settling in, but I’m getting some good vibes about Dorset, I can feel it in the pit of my stomach. 

I’m loving autumn for all the bobble hat cuteness!

Not only did we celebrate Aiden’s 1st birthday earlier this month, but it was also Alfie’s birthday which meant double the amount of cake – no complaints here!  I can’t believe that I’m now a mama to a one-year-old, my one year update post will be on the blog soon. 

My first green smoothie in the new house after unearthing my blender on day 3 of unpacking!

To be perfectly honest, October has completely been taken over by our house move.  Unpacking boxes, house admin, picking out new furniture and home furnishings, finding our feet and getting to know the area has been keeping me so busy this month that there hasn’t been any room for much else.  I’m hoping that next month we will settle into a comfortable groove so there is more time available to actually enjoy or new home instead of trying to organise it. 

On the blog I shared my recipe for this Sweet Cherry Vanilla and Chilli Smoothie the chilli definitely gives the smoothie a kick!  My Thai Butternut Squash Soup is the perfect belly warmer on a cold day and my Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Crunch Bars are the perfect treat to make with the kids. You’ve all been showing the love for my Sausage, Fennel and Squash Courgetti recipe on Pinterest and I’m hoping that it becomes a family favourite in all your homes.  

FAVOURITE LINKS FROM AROUND THE WEB

• 4 Ways to Use Beets in Your Beauty Routine
• The 5 Thing You Must Do Before You Can Get Your Best Body – and it doesn’t mean spending hours in the gym!
• How To Break Out of Your Workout Rut
• How 8 New Mum’s Learnt How To Love Their Bodies
• A Seven-Step Prescription for Self-Love – a great reminder that self-love is based on actions and is not a feeling.
• Busting the Biggest Nutrition Myths
• Getting the Best Workout From Your Fitness DVDS
• 10 Healthy Chocolate Recipes – like I needed an excuse to eat any more chocolate!
• 50 Tangible Ways to Practice Self-Love
• How to Create a Capsule Wardrobe on a Budget
• A Cosmo reader bravely poses naked to celebrate her amazing body: “I no longer aspire to be skinny, I want to be strong.” – such a strong message for positive body image. 

MOMENTS THAT MADE MY HEART SING

• All things autumn
• Long walks in the fields behind our house
• Buying cute baby winter clothes
• Pumpkin spiced lattes
• The stunning view of the sea from our living room window
• Watching Alfie and AJ play together, they have the cutest relationship!
• Buying home furnishings for our new home
• Adding the finishing touches to my first ever e-guide that will be launching in the next few weeks!
• Aiden getting more confident on his feet – I’ve got a feeling that he’ll be walking soon!
• Family lunch by the sea
• The leaves changing colour on the trees
• Our little man taking his first wobbly steps

Now that we’re heading towards the end of the year, I’m determined to put more focus on myself because with everything that has gone on, particularly in the past 2 months I feel that I’ve neglected myself a bit.  At this time of year, I think we all tend to feel tired and worn out and I’m all about the festive season and want to enjoy it as much as possible without feeling burned out.  I’ve already started on mission ‘me’ by discovering a great new hairdresser to sort out my hair and this week I bought myself to a gorgeous new lipstick as a treat.  My word for November would have to be RECONNECT, showing some kindness towards myself and reconnecting with my body heading towards the new year so I’ll be well equipped and feeling my most awesome to start it with a bang.  

How has October for you and what were the main highlights?

What word would you choose for November?