Pinch Punch October

September absolutely flew by and I can't quite believe we're in October already! What with going on holiday and the weather still proving to be a delight in Essex it has felt like the longest Summer ever. So I am now fully ready for Autumn/Winter and everything that comes along with it. I am already starting to relish the darker mornings and evenings and with each and every day that passes by I am becoming more and more cosy. I love the smell in the air at the moment of other peoples fires burning away which always greets us on our evening dog walks. Walking the dogs also becomes more of an event with wellies and jackets being thrown on and a clean up when we get home!

I have to say that I am wincing slightly at the moment at any mention of Christmas on social media because I adore October and November so much and, although we are now quickly approaching the end of the year, I hate the idea of people wishing away the next two months in order to be in December already. We still have Halloween and bonfire night in my house before there's any mention of festive activities! And as much as I love to be super organised I am going to refrain from any Christmas shopping until the end of November. I really want to be able to enjoy and feel the Christmas spirit this year which means not ruining it by stressing about it now!

October is set to be an exciting month with lots of plans in my agenda. This weekend I am planning to have a day in London with my Mum as we're off to the theatre and I am hoping to pay a visit to the Vegan hotspot Tibits for a spot of lunch. Next weekend I have tickets to attend London VegFest which is the highlight of any Vegan's year and a must visit if you're Vegan or considering moving over to a plant based diet. Next weekend is also the Crafty Fox Market in London so I am also hoping to stop along there and pick up some quirky homeware and stationery.  On the 18th I am hosting my very first Vegan Essex Social which has me all excited and nervous at the same time! I am really looking forward to socialising with other Vegans who are based in Essex and hopefully this event will be the first of many more to come. And I am sure, like all of you, I shall be gearing up for Halloween at the end of the month which is a favourite time of the year for me. No doubt we'll be getting some pumpkins in and lining up some horror movies to snuggle up to!

My hopes for October are to get myself back to my exercise classes and continue to keep fit and feeling good which has been put on the back burner the last couple of weeks of September due to going away. It's always so hard to get back into it after any kind of break but I am determined to keep going with it! And that also goes for diet too. I have been using the 'My Fitness Pal' app for the first time over the last couple of months and have found it to be really effective, although a little bit tedious having to track everything on my phone. But needs must! I would really love to start 2016 in a great position physically and mentally opposed to having a long list of resolutions which is always pretty depressing.

I would like to continue to practice and improve on my new crochet skills which I'd like to apply to making myself a contemporary granny square blanket for my living room. I don't know about you but whenever I get crafty I always end up making things for other people, which don't get me wrong is a lovely thing to do, but I think it's time to fill my own home with some of my pretty creations.

Whilst I was away it made me realise all the people I want to spend more time with and I'd really like to be more pro-active this month in making plans with friends and family. My best friend has also just given birth to a beautiful baby girl so I am looking forward to plenty of meet ups with them and who knows maybe some maternal feelings may start to kick in!?

I also have some plans for my blog and I hope to post more often with more regular weekly slots which aim to be more personal and lifestyle focused. That doesn't mean less Vegan and cruelty free posts, but I have realised over the past few weeks that the blogs I enjoy the most tend to really let me into a persons life and personality so I aim to inject some of that into my own writing. I already started with this on yesterday's post where I talked about my struggles with anxiety which received such an amazing and heart warming response. This has now confirmed in my mind my decision to make my blog more personal going forward so I hope you all enjoy whats to come.

The main item on my wish list this month, and I mentioned them earlier, is a wood burning fire. We have a functioning fire place in our front living room which has been sat empty waiting for a wood burner for over a year now and where other things have got in the way, it has continually been put on the back burner (no pun intended!). So Mr K and I are on a mission to get our fire place fully installed this month as we keep dreaming about us and the pets all huddled around it on a cold evening together. It's an expense but one I know we won't regret.

I really hope you all have a great October and enjoy lots of quality time with those closest to you, and of course your fur babies! This is a great time of year to slow down and spend some time on yourself, your hobbies and the simple things in life that make you happy.