THINGS I LOVED OVER SUMMER

We're almost into the middle of September already and boy does it feel like it! The weather has definitely got a tad chillier and I'm even wearing a roll neck jumper today. But before I begin to embrace autumn wholeheartedly (it is my favourite time of the year!) here are some things that I loved over summer.

Ireland - What a country!

It most definitely touched my soul. I felt so at ease and 'at home' in Ireland and loved it so much, that I now think about our time there almost every night when my head hits the pillow. We flew into Cork and hired a car so we could spent most of our time exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, the South West of the Country. It was one of the most magical holidays we've ever had as a family so if you've never been, all I can say is you're missing out! We found it to be such a special place.

The beaches are incredible, the scenery is breathtaking (all you would hear in our rented car were gasps of awe and delight!), the people are warm, down to earth and friendly and there is colour and joy everywhere to be seen! I particularly loved how most houses and shops are painted in vivid colours and the country's apparent love for flags.

Bar the expected hustle and bustle of Cork City, we found it to be a beautiful, calm and relaxing country that enabled us all to truly relax and succomb to a much slower and - dare I say it- more enjoyable pace of life. Oh how I miss it.

Getting jobs done - The summer holidays are really the only time in our family when we get actually get time to do some of the jobs we've been wanting to do all year.

You know those jobs that you never seem to find the time to do? Well for us, bar going on holiday and spending time together, summer is about getting sh*t done! For us, this year, it meant a huge kitchen clean out, sort and reorginasation plus some heavy garden work, not to mention smaller jobs like clearing out drawers, bagging up toys for charity and getting organised for the new schoool year.

It may sound odd, but I absolutely loved doing them and my head feels a bit clearer already.

Lazy Susans - Tying in with my last point, I have discovered the joy of a Lazy Susan!

No more rummaging around in the top shelf of the fridge to try and find something and no more digging around to get to something in the kitchen cupboards. A couple of these snazzy devices have transformed our kitchen. So much so, that even my husband is now a fan! Try them if you're small on space like us.

Doll Smash Cosmetics - At the beginning of summer, my 12 year old daughter and I were very kindly sent a lovely box of makeup from this female owned brand and I have to tell you, I am super impressed with the quality of the products. I don't want to fully reveal all now as I will be posting soon about my favourites, but let's just say that since they arrived, they're pretty much all I've used on my face.

Planning my autumn/winter wardrobe - Yep, I have already begun! As a style consultant, I know that the key to looking and feeling great often lies in getting organised. 1) Because it encourages you to actually give your personal style some consideration which is so important and 2) It enables you to consider any gaps that you have in your wardrobe for the upcoming season so you can plan and shop accordingly!

For example, did you know that now is the BEST time to shop for a new autumn/winter coat?

It can feel strange to look and plan so far ahead, but it is one of the secrets to great personal style. The shops always work ahead of time so that we can too! So if you're still looking at your summer wardrobe with loving eyes, try to change your gaze and consider what you'd like to wear, how you'd like to dress and what you may need to purchase for the chillier months ahead.

Spending quality time with my family - Whilst admittedly I may have been tearing out my hair a little at the end of the summer holidays (!), spending quality time with my kids and husband over the summer really did feel like a gift. My kids seem to be growing up super fast now (how does this happen?!) so just being able to be all together and to enjoy each other's company - without the constraints of day to day life and routine - really was wonderful. I always feel quite wistful when the summer holidays come to an end and even though I adore this time of year and the excitements of the 'fresh start' feeling it offers, I do wish the summer holidays hadn't gone quite as fast as they did.

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What did you enjoy or love over the summer? Let me know in the comments below. I'd love to hear.