I know I might seem a bit mean for sharing this, but I was really pleased to see the arrival of September as it meant the kids were going back at school.

As much as I’ve loved having some lovely family downtime over lockdown – and have created many a happy memory – for the kids’ mental health (and my sanity), they needed to get back to education. And I bet a million other mothers were thinking exactly the same thing.

At the very beginning of September I took a solo holiday to Margate for a few days. It’s something I’ve never done before. Leaving the kids and VIP at home, I didn’t know how I’d feel about going there alone. But it was one of the best things I’ve done – and I’d highly recommend it to anyone – have a read of why I came to that conclusion.

The #BCDiaries

Not a lot to report on the post-cancer treatment journey. My friend Lynsey did tell me that there is the possibility of having three-month Zoladex injections rather than monthly ones. It was the first time I’d heard of it and I decided that I’d ask the nurse while I was having my latest one.

She confirmed that there was a three-monthly jab, but that they are mostly reserved for men who have had prostate cancer – and suggested that I speak to my consultant if I wanted to switch. I’ve made a mental note to do that.

Blog life & business

As I’ve started to enjoy editing videos again, I put together a recent one reviewing one of my favourite magazines – Style At Home, It’s a monthly interiors magazine that showcases affordable interiors. Have a watch of the video here.

My friend Helen told me about a system called Screencast which enables you to record your screen to be able to show it to others. It’s a great idea for small businesses to use and you can also share and edit videos via the platform. I used it to show some of my friends how to set up posting for Facebook Creator and they loved it.  Best of all, it’s free!

Watching a video on how to do something is much easier than merely listening to instructions don’t you think? In fact, if there’s anything that I need to gen up on when it comes to learning about new systems, apps or programmes, I usually turn to YouTube to get the job done.

So September has given me the opportunity to get back to a routine of some sorts, even though the situation isn’t fully back to normal. Over lockdown I expanded my horizons a little by becoming a Tropic Ambassador (to highlight green and clean skincare) and I also started a new videography company called Luna Creative Media (named Luna because of the kids’ names mixed together).

I’m pleased to say both my new businesses have been a huge success – more than I could have hoped for to be honest.  I even surprised myself with how well they’ve taken off. The main thing is that I genuinely enjoy doing them; I love the idea that I’m making people feel better about themselves with great skincare that is kind to their body – and works! And I also love that I’m helping small business owners stand out from the crowd by producing promotional videos for them. I guess just the idea of helping people is enough for me. And if I can help pay the mortgage every month in doing so, even better.

My latest purchases

It’s all about clean living this month! First of all, my friend Pam bought me some EcoEgg bamboo towels this month. The idea of them is brilliant; put simply, no more paper towels for the kitchen! The pack includes 20 perforated washable towels and you can reuse each towel up to 85 times. So better for the environment and you get to save money. You can buy them on Amazon for just over £20.

They take a bit of getting use to – and it felt a bit strange chucking them in the wash after I’d used one to mop up a spilt drink, but I’m slowly getting used to them. They can be used for all sorts – spills, messes, cleaning, wiping, dusting – and even drying. The only thing I’d change about them is that they’d come in a box so that I don’t have to keep them loose on the side. Apart from that – they’re a brilliant idea.

I also spotted an aroma diffuser (£14.99) from Lidl the other week and picked it up. It came with sandalwood and lavender oils, but I used Tropic’s Signature Oil instead which smells amazing (light and lemony), only uses essential oils and costs £10.

I’m really pleased with the infusor too – it has mood lights and auto switch off when the water runs out so it’s safe to use. I use it to make the house smell lovely – and it works a treat. And best of all, it’s all non-toxic. No burning of candles needed.

Talking of burning candles, I feel I need to say this. When you buy candles, try to buy beeswax or soy wax if you can. They produce less soot and toxic chemicals than candles made from paraffin.

While we’re on the subject of clean living, I also need to tell you about some new eco-friendly baby wipes I’ve discovered. Did you know that a massive 90% of the wipes currently sold in the UK contain plastic and they can last over 100 years in landfill? But the vast majority of consumers don’t realise they are using wipes that contain plastic. Pura Wipes are 100% plastic-free, 100% biodegradable, 100% compostable and made from sustainable plant fibres. Each wipe also contains 99% water and organic aloe vera with no perfume, alcohol or chlorine, so they’re suitable for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. They’re also certified vegan and are accredited by the British Skin Foundation, Allergy UK, the FSC and the Soil Association!

Another fab buy came from Wayfair and it’s this Helen Wall Shelf that now takes pride of place in my kitchen. I’ve filled mine with a plant, cooking oil and vitamin B spray to encourage the kids to take it before they leave for school.

What I’m grateful for this month…

I’ve been out and about meeting a few friends this month – and it has been lovely! The main picture for this post shows me and a few friends at a café called Eat Well – it was brilliant, catering for all tastes and needs – vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free…you name it, they had it!

My goals from last month included…

1. Get either a FB page or a website for the new business – and order some business cards! Yep! I got some business cards printed and launched a new Facebook page – here I am!
2. Get some more blog posts written! Yes! Along with my 5 Reasons to Take a Solo Holiday, I also penned a piece on Coping As An Empath With Life’s Energy Sappers.
3. Have some downtime in Margate! (the easiest one!) Absolutely – and probably the best decision I made this month.

My goals for October include…

1. Upload my favourites to the blog – it has been far too long!
2. Start taking up regular exercise again
3. Keep on top (as much as possible) a schedule so I feel I can cope with the workload.

I’d love to hear how your September went – and what you’re looking forward to in October.

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