This unfiltered photo was taken during one of my early evening walks this week, how beautiful is that light?

There are a lot of posts out there about relaxing and practising mindfulness, living in the moment and getting clarity. No matter how plentiful these posts are, I still think they're important, every time one pops up, it's a reminder of how important it is to take time for you, to relax and de-stress. So I've decided to write a post about what personally works for me. The little things I do each day to try and maintain my mental and physical health, to make me feel better within myself. Each of these things work for me everytime. So next time you're feeling overwhelmed, or exhausted, or your head feels like it's about to explode; try doing one of these things, and see how you feel.

Going for a walk.
No matter how crappy I feel, or how busy I am, I always make sure that I get out of the house and go for a walk every single day. It's easy to spend all day cooped up inside, whether you're in an office, school, or you work from home. I know that in the past, particularly during university or bad mental health periods, I've gone days without getting a breath of fresh air, and that can be really damaging. I can't even explain how it helps but getting your body moving and breathing in fresh air can change your whole mindset. On these autumn days, I'd suggest going around 5pm because that early evening sun gives the most beautiful light and makes everything look and feel better. It's also best if you don't take your phone with you, if this is something you can do with compromising your safety, so that distractions are minimal and you can just focus on what's going on around you, the sights, sounds and smells. Going for a walk is one of the best things you can do to feel instantly a little better mentally and physically, it's brilliant for clearing your mind and you might even find some inspiration as your mind is left to wander.

Colouring.
I know this adult colouring book trend is everywhere at the moment but there's a reason for that, it really does work. I have the Enchanted Forest colouring book by Johanna Basford and I find that even spending ten minutes quietly colouring, either in silence, listening to music or watching something on Netflix, really calms me down and clears my head. There's something about being absorbed in a simple creative task that helps to get rid of stress whilst feeling like you've accomplished something.


Cuddling with a pet.
This is the nicest way to cheer up a less-than-wonderful day, and your pet will appreciate it too. One of my favourite things to do is snuggle up on the sofa or in front of the fire with my doggles and have a big old cuddling session. They'll listen to your woes (they definitely understand) and their unconditional love and unbelievable cuteness will melt the steeliest of hearts. And if you don't have a pet, find someone who does and make an excuse to spend time with them, or head to Pets at Home and hang out with the adorable baby bunnies, I won't judge.

My handsome cutie, Kip.

Switching off and settling down.
I've always had a terrible sleeping pattern and a lot of trouble falling asleep, and staring at a screen and scrolling endlessly through social media when I'm supposed to be sleeping definitely doesn't help. Something I'm trying to do now is switch off from technology before bed and start to settle down properly, so by the time I'm trying to sleep my mind should be a bit more clear and relaxed. So about an hour before I plan to go to sleep I turn off my computer, put away my tablet and leave my phone on my desk on the opposite side of the room to my bed (if you have your own place, try leaving your phone in another room). I then turn off my main light, put on my lamp and fairy lights and just slowly settle down for bed. This might be pottering around putting things away, doing my skincare routine and reading a book before sleeping. It definitely helps me to get a better night's sleep and feel more at peace.

Taking a bath before bed.
This is one of my favourite things to do EVER. I know this is totally an obvious one and I'm sooo basic because I love using Lush products and having a candlelit bath but I don't care, it's not a cliché, it's a classic. My favourite bath product to use is the Lush comforter bubble bar, which smells like Ribena. It's a bit pricey but I cut mine up into at least six pieces, because you only need to rub a little bit under running water to get a beautiful scent and lots of bubbles. I personally love to read in the bath and find that I can easily while away an hour soaking in the tub and getting through a good chunk of whatever book I'm reading. This is a great thing to do after you've employed the previous tip of switching off from technology and head straight to bed after, to ensure a relaxed night's sleep.

Although some of these things are obvious, they're genuinely things that help me every single day, and I hope they'll help you too.

What's your favourite way to relax?

I got my first taste of Netflix in my third year of university (NOT good for productivity) and I've been hooked ever since. It's got such an amazing selection and I think it's definitely worth the money. I share the subscription with my boyfriend and we pay for two screens at once, but it still works out to be so cheap.

As a self-confessed Netflix addict I've often found myself overwhelmed at everything that Netflix has to offer and have found myself endlessly scrolling, trying to decide what to watch, until it's far too late to watch anything at all. So I've put together a short list with just a few of my Netflix favourites, depending on what you're in the mood for, to help you out on your next Netflix night in...

Documentary/Reality
01. Girlhood
This 2003 documentary follows two teenage girls separately over several years as they make their way through the juvenile criminal justice system in America. It goes in depth to explore the reasons for their incarceration and the nature of their very different personalities, and how the system ends up affecting them both in two very different ways. Such a brilliant and eye-opening film.

02. Louis Theroux
I love any and all of Louis Theroux's documentaries and there's a plethora of them on Netflix. His style is unassuming and he therefore manages to get into some incredible situations and get more out of people than a lot of other documentary makers. He's covered everything from prisons and brothels to hyponsis and dogs in Los Angeles. There's so many to get through and they're each as interesting as the next.

03. Ru Paul's Drag Race
This might possibly be my favourite show on the whole of Netflix. I mentioned this in my September favourites but I have to mention it again here because it's just the BEST THING EVER. If you're looking for some light relief but some serious entertainment then this is the one to go for. It's one of the only reality shows I've ever watched that I've truly enjoyed, it's not overly bitchy or dramatic, it's just brilliant. Basically, every season thirteen drag queens have to complete challenges to become America's next drag superstar. It features intense hilarity and some seriously amazing runway looks and performances - these queens have SKILLS. Please watch it now so we can discuss in the comments!

Drama
01. House
This medical drama is funnier and less melodramatic than Grey's Anatomy (though I still love Grey's) and packs just as much of a punch. It kind of holds that CSI appeal to me as in there's a medical mystery of the week and everything gets tied up neatly at the end of each episode, with some series long character arcs thrown in. I just love it's exciting medical drama and it's excellent snark (much of which is provided by the brilliant, and not-so-bad-looking Hugh Laurie - win!).

02. Pretty Little Liars
Unless you've been living under a rock then you've probably heard of these teen-suspense INSANE drama. But hopefully you haven't already been spoiled by the entirety of Twitter talking about it constantly. I haven't actually finished this series, I'm up to Season 5 but I'm taking a break right now because it's too intense and I can't cope. It's totally ridiculous and over the top but completely gripping and I love all the actresses. One to binge-watch for sure.

03. The L Word
Now this is one that I never hear people talking about but I've loved it since I was fifteen, what gives world? Why don't you recognise the brilliance that is The L Word? It has all the excellent LGBT-ness that you've been craving, with great writing and even greater characters. It's also shot really nicely, has some hilarious scenes as well as plenty of heartwarming moments and has a brilliant soundtrack to boot. Oh and also SHANE, that's definitely a reason to watch in itself. You need to get on this now (and tell me if you have as much of a crush on Shane as I do).

Childhood Throwbacks
01. Rugrats
I don't even need to explain this one. RUGRATS, on Netflix....RUGRATS. Go, now.

02. The Magic Schoolbus
Does anyone else remember watching this on the sofa on sick days? And wishing that Ms. Frizzle was your teacher? Actually thinking about it, she's a pretty irresponsible teacher, taking the kids on field trips every day into dangerous places like inside students' bodies and the bottom of the ocean. What was she thinking?! It's trippy and hilarious though so I still recommend this for sick days.

03. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
So this isn't technically a childhood throwback as it wasn't around when I was a kid, but My Little Pony was, and now there's an amazing show about it with awesome characters and cleverly integrated adult wit and humour. This shit is seriously addictive.

Cult Brilliance
01. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I remember watching this on Thursday nights on BBC2 after the Simpsons and seriously scaring the shit out of myself when I was younger. Especially the Gentlemen *shudder*. This is a definite cult classic and is so worth trudging your way through a shaky season one for some seriously epic later seasons. Amazing wit, wonderful characters and just general brilliance.

02. Charmed
In a similar vein to Buffy, this has a demon-of-the-week type element with season long character and story arcs. If you've ever wanted to watch a show about sisters, magic, ridiculous situations and dreamy guys (Leo...and Chris...*swoon*) then this is the show for you.

03. Arrested Development
I was a bit late to the game and only discovered this cult classic last year. It's definitely as good as everyone says it is and it's probably best to go into this one pretty blind but with an open mind (poet and I didn't know it). It's so ridiculous and hilarious, it'll bring a smile to your face every time.

So there we have it! Hopefully next time you head over to Netflix you'll check out one of these brilliant shows. Mind you, this is only a drop in the bucket of what Netflix has to offer and I haven't even started on the films! So maybe expect a few more of these posts in the future.

What's your favourite thing to watch on Netflix?

This isn't a book review per se, it's more my thoughts on The Life Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo and some discussions on things in the book.

This book is an odd one because it's definitely really helpful and motivating, but I also hate it at the same time. Well, hate is a strong word, but parts of this book definitely grind my gears. However, I think that it is a very useful book and I really do recommend that you read it, no matter who you are. That might sound strange with some of the gripes I have about it, but by the end of this post you'll see why.

I bought this book after hearing quite a few people on the internet talking about it and how it had helped them, and not just book people, I think I was really sold when my favourite beauty/lifestyle vlogger Lily Pebbles mentioned it a few times on Twitter. When book hype reaches non-bookish people that really says something to me.

It's basically a book on the author's self-designed 'KonMari' method of tidying, which involves discarding items that don't 'spark joy' and organising the rest in the most efficient way. Marie Kondo is a Japanese professional 'tidier', she runs a successful business helping clients to declutter and organise their lives, and this book is translated from the original Japanese. I've never been particularly bad at minimising things to an extent; in the past I have hoarded quite a lot but I've always enjoyed doing clearouts and organising my things. But before reading this book I still had far too much stuff for one person and it wasn't organised very well at all. One thing this book will do for you is motivate you to get started with clearing out and organising your things, no matter if you're a total messy hoarder or pretty minimalist and organised, Marie Kondo will make you want to tidy. That's one huge plus for this book: providing motivation.

A lot of the practical advice that Kondo gives in this book is very helpful, for example she recommends folding your clothes in a particular way and standing them on their edge instead of in a pile, because they take up less room, you can see them better and will therefore wear more of them, and they last longer that way too because they're not being stretched or crushed. I actually already did this but I was surprised and interested when she mentioned doing the same for socks, folding them instead of balling them up, to take up less room. This is actually a great idea, but this is not her main reason for not balling them up, and this is where the practicality seems to go out of the window and the craziness edges in. Kondo recalls visiting a client and opening her sock drawer, and I quote:
"I pointed to the balled-up socks. 'Look at them carefully. This should be a time for them to rest. Do you really think they can get any rest like that?'"
She claims that our socks take a 'brutal beating in their daily work' and that when they are in the drawer they are 'essentially on holiday', and that many of us are oblivious to the way that we are 'hurting' our socks. At this point I put the book down and produced an eye-rolling, exasperated 'WHAT?!'.

This isn't the first time that The Life Changing Magic of Tidying induced intense eye-rolling, I'm actually surprised that I didn't strain my eyeballs. For one thing, she doesn't believe in wearing baggy old clothes as loungewear. She recommends that for pyjamas, you only wear things that are 'feminine' or 'elegant' *cue furious breathing* and at one point she states that "if sweat pants are your everyday attire, you'll end up looking like you belong in them, which is not very attractive" *throws book across the room*. I'm not sure if something was lost in translation here but I mean, come on. If you work from home, or you're a student, or just y'know a human, then you'll know that there's nothing better than lounging around the house in comfy pyjamas or sweats. Kondo is definitely wrong on that one. She also completely unpacks her handbag and puts everything away every single night when she comes home, which is just totally unrealistic if you ask me.

Her idea of only keeping things that 'spark joy' isn't completely realistic because my potato peeler doesn't spark joy but I kind of need it. I also obviously don't agree with her opinions on discarding books, because books are something that I collect. I aspire to have a beautiful, organised home-library and Kondo isn't going to change my mind about that one. She also only mentioned 'discarding' items and referred to these items as 'rubbish' a few times, not once did she mention donating items. I really hope that this is also was lost in translation as I hate to imagine all her clients in Japan just throwing everything in the bin, that just screams of privilege and makes me cringe. With all my clearing out I probably gave at least ten bin bags (I completely lost count) of stuff to my local charity shop and gave a bunch of stuff to my sister who lives and works in Malawi and doesn't have a lot of clothes. If you're going to do a clearout, please PLEASE give your discarded items to charity.

But okay, I'll stop going on about the crazy things because I'm probably just putting you off. This book honestly is really helpful and contains some great ideas about tidying and organising that you probably won't have thought of. It will most likely change your attitude on a lot of things and if nothing else will motivate you to get started.

In the preface to this book, Kondo states that if you adopt the 'KonMari' strategy then you will never revert to clutter again. This is a pretty bold statement, but I have to say that since I read the book and implemented her strategy my space has been tidy, calm and peaceful every single day. I never find myself having to actively 'tidy', only putting things away once I've used them and I managed to clear out enough stuff to get rid of one of my wardrobes (so that I could buy another bookcase to fill with books, but that's okay because they definitely 'spark joy'). Okay it's only been about a month so I can't really say whether I'm never going to tidy again but for someone who was quite a messy person, it's working pretty well so far.

I never want to hear how I'm hurting my socks' feelings or the words 'spark joy' ever again, but the basic logical foundation of most of the things she says makes sense and can be applied to your life. You just need to take it all with a pinch of salt.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

October is the month of falling temperatures as well as leaves, and as the days get colder and the nights draw in I'm hoping to find myself more inclined to reach for a book and a blanket. So let's have a look at some of the books I'm hoping to be snuggling up with this month...

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling.
This re-read has been on my TBR for so many months now but I've just been so distracted by new books and I think I would have felt guilty for re-reading. But screw that, I need some comfort and warmth in my life right now and the Harry Potter completely symbolises all those lovely cosy feelings for me.

Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas.
I read Throne of Glass last month and really enjoyed it so I'm hoping to carry on with the series this month because I can't wait to get back into that world. I'm hoping for some more backstory, some serious Celaena badassness and maybe some more romance. I'm avoiding spoilers at all costs so please don't let me know what happens!

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.
This was my TBR jar pick for last month but I didn't get around to it, so I'm giving it a go this month. It's basically what it says in the title, a (not so short) history of the universe and how the earth came to be what it is. I've already started it and it's a little slow-going because it's quite intense with all the science, but I'm finding it really interesting and will probably read it throughout the month alongside other things to break it up a little.

So those are the books I definitely want to read this month, but as it's October I'm hoping to get some spookier reads in nearer to Halloween. If you've got any recommendations for creepy books then please let me know in the comments below!

What will you be reading this month? Let me know!

# of books read: 9.
Genres: 2 Literary Fiction, 2 YA Contemporary, 1 YA Fantasy, 1 YA Paranormal, 1 Non-Fiction, 1 Adult Sci-Fi, 1 Graphic Novel.
Total # pages read: 2,706.

Today I'm back with another monthly reading wrap up. September was another good month for me, with a total of nine books read and 2706 pages! That's pretty good for me. I read everything on my TBR for September except for the Bill Bryson book which I'm only a little way into, so that's really good. I'm also really pleased with the range of genres that I read this month, it feels really good to have some variety. I enjoyed every single book this month and I actually gave most of them top ratings, I've been on a roll lately for picking great books so I hope that continues into this month. So let's have a look at what I read in the month of September...

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli |☆☆☆☆☆
This YA contemporary was my first read of the month and was a recent purchase that I couldn't wait to start. It follows Simon, who is desperately trying to figure out who he is whilst exchanging emails with, and slowly falling for, the anonymous Blue. But when these emails fall into the wrong hands, things get complicated. I'm sorry to say that I haven't read a whole lot of YA featuring prominent LGBTQ+ characters but I can safely say that this is an excellent example. It was just how I like my contemporaries, funny and quirky with a side order of super sweet. I hardly ever cry whilst reading but this one nearly got me. It was a fun, quick read with all the feels and I definitely recommend it.

The Dumb House by John Burnside | ☆☆☆☆☆
I was desperate to read this book after hearing rave reviews from Jen Campbell and Jean of BookishThoughts and I wasn't disappointed. It's a creepy modern classic that follows a young man who is obsessed with the question of whether language is inherent, the age old question of nature or nurture. His obsession is taken to a new level when he decides to conduct an experiment on his own children. In a little over 200 pages, John Burnside manages to deeply explore a disturbed mind and create a haunting narrative that will stay with you long after you put the book down. I absolutely devoured this and you should definitely go and buy it now, October is the perfect month for this creepy novel so get to it!

Being Me by Pete Kalu | ☆☆☆☆
This is a YA contemporary which follows fourteen year old Adele as she navigates family difficulties, friendships and trying to get picked for the England football team. I was kindly sent this book by Hope Road Publishing last month in exchange for an honest review and I kicked off the blog tour on September 21st with a guest post from Pete Kalu about defying gender roles in YA, along with my review of Being Me, you can read that post here. I really enjoyed this book and loved it's realistic portrayal of teenage life.
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo | ☆☆☆☆
This is a non-fiction book by Marie Kondo about her 'KonMari' method of tidying, which is basically learning to go through all your posessions, discard what doesn't bring you joy, and organise the rest correctly and efficiently. I mentioned this book briefly in my September favourites, as it inspired me to start a clearout and finally get rid of a whole bunch of stuff and learn to discard and organise properly. I'll be talking more about this book in a post coming on Monday so look out for that!

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler | ☆☆☆☆.5
I bought this earlier this month as it was on offer in my local supermarket and I knew that it had been longlisted for the Man Booker prize (it's now shortlisted yay!), and I started reading it straight away. It's a family saga, which is one of my all-time favourite types of books, and follows a family over three generations. It begins the family in the modern day and unwinds back through the previous generations (like a spool of thread, get it, GET IT? HA! ok sorry). I was gripped from page two and by page seventy-five it was past midnight. I reluctantly closed the book and announced to the empty room 'God I want to read this forever.' This is just how I feel about family sagas, they get me in a way that no other kind of book can. It's something about being completely absorbed into the lives of these people, finding out why people are the way they are. Anne Tyler's writing is beautiful, sharp, hilarious and heartbreaking and I can definitely see why this was shortlisted for the Man Booker. The only reason that I didn't give it five stars is because as the book neared the end I began to enjoy it just a little bit less and it left me feeling slightly deflated, like I wanted more, like there was just a little something missing and I didn't know what it was. But it's still an amazing read and I'm still thinking about it weeks after finishing. If you've been thinking about picking this up then I encourage you to just do it, you won't be sorry.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas | ☆☆☆☆.75
I can't believe that it's taken me this long to finally read Throne of Glass. I admit that I was a little apprehensive after all the hype that this series has been getting and it did take a few chapters to really draw me in, but after that I was hooked. The story was exciting and fast-paced and I really liked the characters, particularly Celaena. I loved how she was more complex than the usual YA female protagonist; she stood her ground, she was completely badass (never once doubting her strength and talent) but also unashamedly feminine in certain ways and she was open about her sexuality. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this series develops and I've already bought the next two books so I'm sure I'll be finding out soon.

Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld | ☆☆☆☆
This is the third and final book in Westerfeld's Midnighters series, a paranormal trilogy that focuses on a town where there is a secret hour every night at midnight where everyone is frozen except for a group of teenagers with powers, and a whole bunch of dark creatures who want to attack them. It's such a great series, much better than the Uglies series in my opinion, and I'm pretty satisfied with how it ended. I just really like the concept and think that Westerfeld has executed it well with really interesting, well-developed characters. They were such immersive, quick reads and I'm sad that the series is over.

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton | ☆☆☆☆☆
This book...THIS BOOK. It was so much more than I expected. I expected it to be pretty good but to ultimately prefer the film because I mean, come on, Spielberg. But I was so wrong, I absolutely LOVED the book, and I'm pretty sure I prefer it to the film. The film is still brilliant, but the book is brilliant in a totally different way. It's just more science, more action, more dinosaurs, more character development, more EVERYTHING. I apologise for the overuse of capitalisation but I can't help it, THIS BOOK. I found the reading experience to be so completely immersive, which I think is due to the excellent descriptions and the wonderful discussions of science and technology. It's definitely still far-fetched, but Crichton goes so in depth into the science and the theory that it just almost becomes believable. If you liked the film, or just like dinosaurs, or science, or just really immersive fiction then I urge you to go and read this now.

Ethel and Ernest by Raymond Briggs | ☆☆☆.75
This is a rather unusual graphic novel by Raymond Briggs, who is most known for his book The Snowman, which you're probably familiar with, at least if you're from the UK. The graphic novel chronicles the lives of Briggs' parents, beginning when they first met in 1928. I love how it depicts the history and culture of twentieth century Britain through the lives of two people; through the war, tumultuous politics, the introduction of television and the swinging sixties. The story is sweet and it's a quick read, I loved poring over Brigg's illustrations to see all the tiny details. It's a graphic novel with a difference and I'm glad I picked it up.

So those are all the books I read in September! It was a really good reading month and I hope to be just as successful in October. My October TBR is coming up tomorrow so stay tuned!

Have you read any of these books? What did you think?

Dear October,

Welcome! You've come streaming in with clear blue skies, sunshine and unseasonably warm weather. Although it is odd, I do appreciate it. I appreciate having a few more days to sit outside and read with warmth on my skin. I appreciate still being able to go out with just a light jacket.

But your chill is coming, I can feel it in the early evenings, when the temperature drops and the blue sky has a hint of steeliness about it. The sun begins to set when I'm walking my dogs in the early evening, as I do every day, it's still blindingly bright but lowering swiftly and the wind has a bite to it.

You are the month of change, October; the temperature cooling, the leaves subtly changing colour and already beginning to drop. These changes bring exciting prospects; of cosy jumpers and boots, of spicy candles and soft blankets, of early nights with a bath and a book, and late nights with horror films.

Autumn is beautiful and I plan to soak up every wonderful minute, and you October, are the bringer of Autumn. So I thank you for that.

I'm excited to see what you have in store for me. Here's to us.

Welcome to Blogtober! This month I've decided to try and blog every day in October, that's 31 posts coming your way! Last month my blog hit it's six month birthday and after mostly consistently posting three times a week I've decided to step it up a gear and set myself a challenge.

The main reason that I'm doing this is because I feel like my content has been a little stale lately. Don't get me wrong, I still love everything I post and I put a lot of effort in to every single thing but I feel like my content isn't as varied or interesting as it could be. I've been thinking about this for a while now and I figured that blogging every day for a month would kind of push me to be more creative and develop my blogging style. I'm also hoping that it's going to connect me more to you guys, my readers, and hopefully develop more of an audience as you come back each day for a new post.

I'm going to be posting a variety of things, not just bookish posts, there's going to be lifestyle, maybe baking and in terms of bookish content I'm hoping to get to some reviews and discussion posts that I've been thinking about for a while. Some posts will be shorter and quicker than others, and there will be some photo diary and tag posts, just so I don't completely burn myself out.

This is going to be a huge challenge for me, both creatively and physically. As I've mentioned before on this blog I've been dealing with a lot of health issues this year and I really want to do this as a way of getting into a more structured routine and just to see if I've got it in me to complete this. I know it might be difficult at times but I'm not going to beat myself up if I fail and I'm going to remember to just have fun with it.

So here's to Blogtober! Don't forget to come back every day for a new post and if you've got any ideas about what kind of posts you'd like to see, please leave them in the comments below!