Wonderful Wednesday 42

Short and sweet again this week unfortunately as I'm hurriedly typing this on Tuesday evening in between the internet cutting out - why on a Tuesday, internet o'mine?! As well as cutting short my Wonderful Wednesday-typing, it's also meant that I haven't had a chance to respond to some recent comments, which I always feel very guilty about. I will do so as soon as I can but without further ado, bring on the snippets of wonderful...

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♥ Getting excited for Autumn... I know I know, August isn't even over yet and we've still been having some surprisingly warm and sunny days amongst the cold and rain. But it is feeling a little chiller at night and that makes me feel happy every year - despite being a summer baby, I am without a doubt a lover of the cold and crisp over the sun. I'm already looking forward to embracing my dresses, tights and boots, and digging out my scarf again.

♥ Long overdue catch-ups... Life really does get in the way sometimes and not always in the best way. We went out for dinner with one of my friends and her boyfriend on Saturday night - I don't think I've seen H since last year and her boyfriend since our wedding, almost two years ago. How does that even happen? It doesn't feel like that much time has passed. It was such a fun evening - lots to catch up on, unsurprisingly, and a lot of laughing, which is always the sign of a good night...that and curry. Yum.

♥ Quiet weekends... Apart from our dinner plans on Saturday night, I had nothing else planned for this weekend and it was bliss. I do enjoy having visitors but it's also so wonderful having the place to yourself again afterwards, and on top of our visitor last week was hugely busy at work - I kept feeling like the week just wasn't long enough, which is something that I never usually think...usually quite the reverse. On Saturday I cleaned cleaned cleaned, did two loads of laundry and changed the bedsheets, which left the rest of the weekend stretching in front of me with nothing else planned apart from catching up with some blog reading, my book and occasionally foraging for food. I wouldn't have changed a thing.

♥ Instagram... I know it's frustrating, with the algorithm throwing everything on its head meaning that you don't see things half the time and your posts aren't seen the other half of the time, but I'm really enjoying snapping photos to share at the moment and browsing lots of lovely photos on my feed. I'm trying to be a little more creative with the photos I share, with my usual rambly comment accompanying it, and loving all the imaginative pictures that other people share - my favourites are usually a good mix of the creative with the every day, country life inspiration and dogs. Do let me know if you have any favourites to recommend and send me a link to your feed too!

♥ Sunday me-times... If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I tried to engage in a spot of meditation on Sunday morning. This is something that I keep coming back to but also completely struggle with as I just can't . turn . my . brain . off. I try ever so hard to focus on the words but then before long, I'm thinking about something entirely unrelated and my brain has gone off on a whole new tangent before I drag myself back again and focus. I do keep coming back to it though because when I am able to concentrate, I find it very helpful and relaxing, and it was a really calming and peaceful start to my Sunday. I also got a few messages reassuring me that I'm really not the only one whose brain does that and it's the 'coming back to it' that counts. 

And then, what better way to round-off a relaxing Sunday that began with a spot of meditation? Why, with a little face mask time, of course. I slathered a lovely nourishing and moisturising oat and avocado face mask on for 20 minutes while packing my bag for the next day and doing a spot of tidying in the kitchen. Somehow it felt so much more relaxing than just doing the same tasks and rushing to bed 10 minutes later, and my skin was wonderfully soft afterwards too. It's something I always say to myself I should find a little bit of time once a week to do but I never usually manage it. Make some time for yourselves on a Sunday, my lovelies, it's a wonderful way of easing you back into the working week...

♥ Do let me know what's made your week a little rosier by leaving me a comment below or dropping me a tweet (I'm @happygoluckycat) or better yet, why not join the fabulous bunch of #WonderfulWednesday bloggers? Pop over to their blogs for a dose of mid-week happiness - Sally, Michelle, Helen, Kate, Jo, Samantha, Kerri, Laura, Sarah, Peta, El, Laura, Sarah, Mimmi, Martina, Lynsey, Katie, Debbie, Kelly and Em (I think that's everyone - shout at me if you're not on the list!) - and then join me in counting down the days until the weekend. It's in sight! ♥