365 Days Of Gratitude. In September I was grateful for...

I have seen many people on social media list something every day that they are grateful for and thought I would join in. I have done this for the whole of the last few of years and it has really made me realise that even on bad days I have something to be grateful for.

September was another month which flew over. I think it's because we were so busy here. Becky had her birthday, Ellie started full time work and we had lots of things going on. It was a good month but like I keep saying it went too fast!

In September I was grateful for:

Day 244 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Becky brought me candyfloss back from the beach!

Day 245 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie's latest job interview went well. She said it's the best one she's had yet!

Day 246 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino! Tis the season!

Day 247 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a walk out and lunch at my dad's.

Day 248 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I could catch up on the housework! Had the music blasting to help me along!

Day 249 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a day of watching sport. Football and F1!

Day 250 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that the grass has been cut in the front and back garden! It's grown so much over the last week!

Day 251 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Becky had a day in the kitchen! Made lasagne from scratch and a cake for after!

Day 252 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie helped me wrap Becky's birthday presents.

Day 253 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Becky had a great birthday! I think it's time for bed now!

Day 254 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for Costa for lunch! I just had my usual Chocolate fudge frappe, bacon bap and lemon muffin!

Day 255 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a day with just Becky and me at home. We had a nice day, I even convinced her to watch some Harry Potter!

Day 256 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a proper roast chicken dinner cooked by me! We have leftovers for tomorrow too!

Day 257 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a few hours with my dad and brother. It's always fun to spend time with them.

Day 258 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Becky brought me treats home from her shopping trip! A fancy doughnut from M&S and some Percy Pigs.

Day 259 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie takes everything in her stride! So far this week she's had appointments, a job interview, phone calls to deal with which she struggles with because of her hearing loss, things to organise, important forms to fill out and there she is just getting on with it.

Day 260 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for help bringing the food shop in. I stocked up the cleaning cupboard so there was a lot to carry to the kitchen.

Day 261 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for lunch at my dad's. Who'd have though bacon and pear sandwiches would taste so good! The pears were freshly picked off his tree too!

Day 262 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a fun night out! Food, drinks and lots of dancing!

Day 263 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a lazy day! I have done nothing productive and have hardly moved! Perfect for a Sunday!

Day 264 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie got on OK at her job induction. I was stressing all morning but she did great! The biggest excitement was that she was given a proper name badge.

Day 265 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a hot chocolate with marshmallows in!

Day 266 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a whole day in the house by myself. It felt so strange but good at the same time!

Day 267 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful my documents were returned from the DVLA and my Provisional licence is on its way!

Day 268 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a bag of treats from my dad. A pack of bacon, a bottle of coca cola, some black pudding and randomly some beetroot!

Day 269 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I had company all day while Stu was at work, Ellie was out and Becky was sleeping for work. It was nice to spend the day with someone different.

Day 270 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I've made plans with my girls. Got a day with Ellie tomorrow and Becky on Tuesday!

Day 271 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Stu came shopping with me and I got a big chunk of the Christmas present buying done!

Day 272 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a woolly jumper. It has been quite chilly today!

Day 273 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a hot chocolate with a squirt of Bailey's cream in it!

What were you grateful for in September?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #76

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Let's embrace it shall we? What's something you recently forgot to do? Is your memory these days more like a sieve or an elephant?

I forgot I was supposed to be at my dad's on Monday. We had talked about it on Friday and I said I would pop over to help with some of the admin for his business. He rang me at lunchtime wondering where I was. Oops! I got my shoes on and rushed over. There was no actual rush but I felt bad for forgetting!

I have a memory like a sieve these days. Things can go into my head and then disappear five minutes later. I can remember random things from years ago that I probably don't need to remember at all but if you asked me on Monday morning what I was doing that day, my memory had given up. lol. I think part of the problem is that there is always so much going on. Even when I'm not really busy, there's always things to remember. Appointments, things that need buying, jobs that need doing, people I need to get back to, things I need to take somewhere and those little everyday things don't seem important until I forget them.

2. Share a trick/strategy you have to help you remember things you need to remember.

I write everything down! If it's really important, I write it on the whiteboard in the kitchen. That way I can't miss it because I walk past it all the time. I also leave notes for myself and I put things in the calendar on my phone and I always get a notification the day before to remind me. If I need to take something with me when I go out, I'll put it by the front door or somewhere that I know I'll see it. I think I've accepted now that I shouldn't rely on my memory for anything important. I could tell myself I'll remember that and there's a very good chance that I won't. Writing it down saves a lot of hassle!

3. What's your favorite fall vegetable to cook with? Do you prefer your fall veggies roasted, blended into a warm soup, or fresh in a crisp autumn salad?

My first thought was parsnips! I had to Google if they were an Autumn vegetable and they are. The peak harvest time is between October and February here. I love them roasted with a bit of honey on. I could easily eat a full plate and when I am making them for say a roast dinner, I always make extra so I can snack on them. I also love Brussels sprouts on a roast dinner at this time of year. They were something I hated as a child but I love them now but only ever eat them between now and Christmas!

I'm more of a roasted vegetable person and I do like soup, especially when it's cold outside but if I had to choose between a bowl of soup and a plate of roasted vegetables, the roasted vegetables will always win. The poor crisp Autumn salad doesn't even get a look in!

4. October 5th is/was National Do Something Nice Day. Did you? If so tell us about it. Or maybe someone did something nice for you, and if that's the case please share.

I went to my dad's and helped him with a few things on the computer. He used to be great at getting these things done when they could be done over the phone or in person but now everything is online and he is not great with technology. Everything seems so complicated needing to use an email address, remember passwords and the dreaded verification codes sent to your phone! He doesn't do text messages. lol It didn't take too long to get the admin done and it was nice to be able to help my dad and save him the frustration of trying to work it all out for himself.

5. Nathaniel Hawthorne is credited with the quote "I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."

Do you tend to spend more time outside this time of year?

Do you actively pause to soak in fleeting moments of beauty in your daily routine? Elaborate.

I don't spend more time outside in autumn but I do try to make the most of those days when the sun is shining. I like to potter about in the garden and of course make the most of drying the clothes on the washing line. There's something satisfying about getting a load of washing on the line instead of putting it in the tumble dryer. I know that's not exactly what Hawthorne had in mind when he wrote his quote but we all appreciate autumn sunshine in our own ways!

I do try to pause and notice the little things too. There's always something to do so it's good to stop for a minute and look around. At this time of year, I'm noticing the changing leaves, the pretty sunsets and how nice it feels to be outside when the weather is behaving itself. It won't be long until the colder weather comes and I am not a fan of that.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Before I saw the questions for today, I already had in mind what my random thought was going to be. It was going to be about me forgetting to go to my dad's on Monday so now I have to think of something else. lol I had a funny moment last week when I was in town which shows I have a really bad memory for faces. I was walking around a shop and a woman said, "Ohh, hello there. I've not seen you in ages". I had no idea who she was, she knew me though. She asked how my dad and brother were doing, so I narrowed it down a little and then had a little chat about them, the weather and it was only when she was walking away that I realised who she was. I must have come across as so stand-offish. Oops! In my defence, I hadn't seen the woman in about a year and she looked so different from when I used to see her in the place she was working. Oops!

The problem with getting dressed in October!

I have a problem with getting dressed in October. Actually, I have several problems with getting dressed in October because this is the month when I never seem to know what I am supposed to wear. I can look out of the window in the morning, check the weather, have a good think about it and still get it totally wrong. It might look freezing but can be quite warm or it might look lovely and sunny but then the wind will be horrible and cold wind that makes me wish I'd put a proper coat on. October really does make getting dressed much harder than it needs to be!

In the morning I wake up and it is cold. Not freezing where I am thinking of putting the heating on but definitely cold enough that I don't want to get out of bed. The duvet becomes my best friend and getting dressed feels like a chore. If I had my way, I would change into my fleecy PJs and stay in them all day. Over the last year or so, I have realised I can't sleep in them any more as I wake up in a hot sweat, thanks to peri-menopause. I will get myself dressed and usually put a jumper on as it's cold when I am out of bed but half an hour later I wonder why I bothered as I am far too warm.

You need to dress for the temperature at 8am but you also need to think about what it is going to be like at 1pm. Then you need to remember that by 6pm it could be cold again. So really, you are trying to dress for three different days while only actually getting dressed once. October is the month when I rely on a T-shirt underneath a jumper so at least I can take a layer off.

The coat is another problem. I have the same argument with myself at this time of year about whether it is finally time to get the big coat out. I will look at it hanging there and think it's not time for that yet and then I will go outside and realise it is actually quite cold and wish I had brought it. So I go back inside, put it on and feel pleased that I have finally accepted that autumn has arrived. Five minutes later, I regret it.

That is the annoying thing. You can leave the house in a coat because it looks cold and then suddenly the sun comes out. Now you are walking around carrying your coat over your arm for the rest of the day. You are trying to hold your handbag, your phone, whatever shopping you have bought and your coat and you are thinking why did I need to bring it? Then the next day you decide you don't need it and that's the day you freeze!

I also don't know when we are supposed to officially stop wearing summer clothes. Is there a date? If it is a mild October day, I am quite happy to wear a T-shirt or a summer dress. I am not ready to suddenly start dressing like it is December just because the calendar has changed. There are still days when the sun is shining and I look outside and think it's not too bad, so I put on a lighter top and head out. Then see somebody wearing a big coat and I start wondering whether I've made the wrong choice but then I see somebody else in a T-shirt and realise that maybe nobody actually knows what they are doing. We are all just guessing.

October has this strange middle stage where my summer wardrobe is still there but I don't really want to wear most of it and my winter clothes are sitting there waiting for me to admit defeat. I don't want to get all the big winter jumpers out too early because once they are out, I feel like summer is properly over. I like autumn but I am not ready for winter quite yet!

I have a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear! None of it is right. A T-shirt? Too cold. A jumper? Probably too warm later. A cardigan? Maybe. A thicker jumper? Too much. A dress? No idea and after trying to work it out for far too long, I will usually end up putting on the same jeans and jumper I wore a few days ago because at least I know where I am with that outfit.

In winter, you know it is cold. You get your coat, your warm clothes and your boots and you get on with it. In summer, you know it is warm and you can put on something light without having to think about it too much. October is somewhere in between. You don't know what you are going to get. Getting dressed should not involve this much decision making!

I think I am just going to accept that I will probably get it wrong quite a lot this month. I will keep my summer dresses out because there will still be mild days. I will keep the jumpers close by because the mornings are definitely getting colder. I will probably continue to argue with myself about the big coat for at least another couple of weeks and I will keep looking at my wardrobe every morning as though the answer is going to suddenly appear. It won't and I will still have no idea what to wear.

Do you struggle to get dressed at this time of year?

Our weekly meal plan! 5th - 11th Oct! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a lovely weekend! We had a great one. There was a night on the town, housework done yesterday and lots of catching up on TV shows. We had a bit of family time, which was nice too. There's good about going into a new week with all the jobs done around the house, it doesn't happen often so when it does I feel very pleased with myself.

Last week's meal plan went well. We ate everything and mostly on the day I had planned it too. We ended up not getting a takeaway on Friday night and just helped ourselves out of the fridge and cupboards. We ate out on Saturday evening, just at the local Wetherspoons (a cheap and cheerful pub chain). I had a Tennessee burger. I had to Google why it was called that. It's because of the Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey sauce that comes with it. You learn something new every day! We ended up having the peanut satay chicken burger on Sunday! I think that's enough burgers for me for a while.

We have another Gousto box this week which I am looking forward to. I do love having Gousto boxes because it takes some of the thinking out of meal planning and I get all the ingredients for the meals sent too. We have a new meal to try and two of our favourites.

I don't have any plans for this week, nothing at all and I am looking forward to it. I have some craft things that I can be getting on with and I want to do a bit of baking too. My family are all at work, so I get to be home alone and potter around doing my own thing after I have finished all the boring things like tidying up and cleaning!

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal -Thai Style Peanutty Pork Udon Noodles!

This is a new recipe to us. We love a noodle dish and the peanutty sauce sounds right up our street. It's got pork, udon noodles and a Thai-style peanut sauce which sounds like a great combo. It looks like a simple meal to make and that is just what I want for a Monday!

Tuesday - Gousto meal - BBQ Pork Belly With Apple Slaw And Chips!

We've had this one before and really enjoyed it so when I spotted it on the Gousto menu we had to have it again. There's BBQ pork belly, chips and apple slaw and it all goes together really well. This apple slaw is the best and so simple to make! It's simply chopped spring onion, grated carrot and sliced apple with mayo and white wine vinegar! I have made it lots of times, even without having the Gousto meals.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - Lamb Mince & Buttery Tatties With Minty Peas!

This is proper comfort food! It's one of those meals that I know we're going to enjoy and I think I've chosen to have it on the chilliest day of the week when it will be appreciated. There's the lamb mince with buttery mashed potatoes and minty peas, so it's simple but full of flavour. Usually I won't eat peas as a side dish but minty peas are different. I love them!

Thursday - Something out of the freezer!

I have no idea what yet but there is always plenty in there to make a meal and there are, of course random things in tubs, like Bolognese, sausage casserole or some sort of curry.

Friday - A takeaway of some sort!

Friday night is an easy night for me. I don't cook and we order takeaway. It could be pizza, Chinese or Indian food or even ordering from the fish and chip shop. We will decide on the day what we fancy.

Saturday - Pizza!

Homemade, shop bought or just frozen ones out of the freezer, I am not too sure yet.

Sunday - A help yourself evening!

I have no plans for Sunday at all. Everyone can help themselves to whatever they fancy and use up bits from the fridge, freezer and cupboards. There is always something that needs using up.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 27th Sept - 3rd October Week 40 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend. I am planning on having a lazy day today as I had a night out last night so I think I have earned it! I have Strictly Come Dancing to catch up on, the wrestling to watch and then I am going to watch the movie Armageddon. Over the last week, a few times when I was just about to turn the TV off, I kept seeing Armageddon being shown. I watched about 10 minutes earlier in the week and it got me in the mood to rewatch it properly!

Week 40 sounds so close to the end of the year! Eek! September flew over and I have a feeling October and November will too. We have quite a few things planned for the upcoming months which I am very excited about and then it will be Christmas, which I am feeling organised about at the moment because of buying some presents this week.

Now for a photo every day!

270/365 27th September

The sky was so moody looking on Sunday but off in the distance it was quite bright! I love taking photos of the sky and probably take too many but each time it looks so different. This one looked like we were about to get some awful weather but it never came.

271/365 28th September

We had to take the lift in Primark as the escalator was out of order. I hate lifts, every time I walk out of one I feel dizzy. I thought I would take my mind off it by snapping a quick photo!

272/365 29th September

It is a tradition that when I am watching The Great British Bake Off I have to eat cake and I got some fancy ones from M&S. I tell myself every week that I don't need to buy cake especially for it and then somehow I end up buying cake especially for it. hehehe

273/365 30th September

I was in town and saw these Fried Egg flavoured crisps in a shop. How odd! I have seen lots of flavours in my lifetime but not fried egg. I didn't buy them because I wasn't sure I was brave enough but now I've thought about them again, I am starting to regret leaving them behind! Next time I will get them and try them!

274/365 1st October

Ellie's main Christmas present arrived. A Red Bull F1 top! It cost a stupid amount of money, more than I would spend on a T-shirt for myself but Ellie is really into F1 and I can justify the price by saying it's for Christmas.

275/365 2nd October

I was at my dad's on Friday and he has the best trees for seeing the change in seasons. The leaves are starting to turn brown and it won't be long until he is spending his days raking them all up!

276/365 3rd October

I was quite surprised to see another flower in the garden. I thought we'd be getting to the point where most of the flowers had finished for the year but no! The Cornflower was definitely worth a photo!

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This week my Word of the Week is: Balanced!! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

I keep saying it but if time could slow down a little, that would be great! Where did September go and this week too? One minute it was Sunday and I was thinking about everything I needed to get done and now somehow it is Friday again, well it was when I was writing this. The week has gone by in a blur but it has been a good week. I think sometimes the weeks where nothing exciting happens are the ones that make you realise just how much you have got done. I have been busy getting on with normal life and for once normal life feels quite good. That is probably why my word this week is balanced!

I've been trying to find a bit more balance in my days over the past week. The last few months have been busy and stressful for various reasons. Nothing bad but I've been out of my usual routine and it has felt hard to get it back again. This week I've been getting up earlier and going to bed earlier, moving more and staying on top of things. I think I am finally getting back to a point where everything feels a little more even and normal.

I've had a busy week. Housework has been done, meals have been cooked, Christmas presents have been bought, I've remembered to reply to texts and messages, made sure everyone knew where they were meant to be and made sure they got there, planned some fun stuff for my family, blog posts have been written and I've done plenty of other stuff which at the moment I can't think of. I know I've been busy because I've barely sat down but at the same time I haven't felt like I've been running around like a headless chicken. I've had plenty to do but things have felt more under control, well apart from the grocery shop, I forgot to order that on my usual day but it's coming today so no harm is done.

The highlight of my week is getting a good chunk of the Christmas presents bought. I am trying to be organised this year. I'm not saying I'm going to have everything bought, wrapped and labelled by the end of the month but it's a start. I always say I am going to be organised for Christmas and every year I somehow end up Christmas shopping right up until the last minute. Maybe this year will be different.

Balanced feels like the right Word of the Week for me. I want to carry that feeling into the next few weeks too. I don't want to go back to trying to do everything at once or feeling guilty if I haven't ticked every single thing off my list. So I'm going to try to keep things balanced. Get the jobs done but have a sit down. Look after everyone else but remember myself too. Be organised but don't beat myself up when I forget something.

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!

What I have loved this week! Week 40. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you've all had a good week. We have had a really great week with lots going on and it feels like it has gone really quickly. I have a few things that have made me smile this week and of course, I am linking up with Erika and Andrea to share what I have loved this week!

The Gentleman!

I've started watching The Gentlemen on Netflix this week and so far I am enjoying it. My brother recommended it and I am glad he did. It is a British crime comedy/drama created by Guy Ritchie. The story follows Eddie who inherits his family's huge country estate after his father dies, which sounds lovely but soon discovers that the estate is also home to a very profitable illegal cannabis business. Before long, Eddie finds himself mixed up with criminals, gangsters and people who are definitely not the sort of people you'd invite round for Sunday dinner. It's a crime story but it's also really funny. There's plenty of violence and some pretty dodgy goings on but it's mixed with dark humour, ridiculous situations and some great characters. I like the fact that I never quite knew what was going to happen next. There are plenty of twists and turns and just when you think someone has got everything under control, something else goes wrong.

These cakes.

Do you know what makes shopping more enjoyable? Cake! We had a little cake and coffee stop halfway through a shopping trip this week and it was very much needed. I had a lemon muffin and my fella had a mini pecan loaf. It was a reward for all the shopping we'd already done.

Christmas shopping!

I am feeling pretty proud of myself this week because I have got a good chunk of my Christmas present buying done. I hadn't even planned to get so much done. We were just out shopping and then I spotted something for my eldest which she has always wanted. It was reduced in price too, so I had to get it. I also found some Funko Pops which my girls collect at TK Maxx for £6.99 each. We had seen the same ones somewhere else for £12.99 each, so I was very happy with my bargains. While we were out, Ellie also mentioned a F1 Red Bull racing top. I had absolutely no idea these even existed! Apparently they are basically like football tops but for Formula One, so when I got home I ordered that. The main presents for my girls are now sorted, which is a huge relief. All that's left to get is stocking fillers, chocolate and PJs. Now I just need to remember where I've put everything when Christmas actually arrives!

Autumn weather!

It has been perfect Autumn weather this week! Chilly on a morning and then warming up throughout the day but not so warm that I am sweating by lunchtime. I've been able to wear pretty dresses with tights, my boots and even a jacket on some days. I love being able to start wearing my Autumn clothes again. I am not ready for the really cold weather yet though, I hope that holds off a bit.

This air freshener!

I am loving this Febreze Vanilla Butterscotch air freshener. It smells amazing and it has been fantastic in the bathroom. It's just a winter edition, so I might have to buy a few more to keep enjoying it.

Celebrity Traitors!

I am writing this yesterday afternoon before the new series of Celebrity Traitors has started but I am looking forward to it! I am really looking forward to seeing all the celebs not trust anyone. lol There are two comedians going in Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan who are best friends and I am hoping one is a Traitor and one is a Faithful but I think that would be too obvious!

What have you loved this week?

Things to watch in October - Films, TV shows and Halloween favourites!

I always seem to watch TV more at this time of year. It is so nice to get comfy and cosy, the darker evenings make it so easy and it is a great way to spend the evening. There are so many different things to watch at this time of year. You can go down the full horror road if you enjoy being scared but you can also watch something funny, nostalgic or just a little bit spooky without spending the rest of the night wondering what that noise was downstairs.

If you’re looking for something to add to your watch list this month here are some of my favourites!

Hocus Pocus!

We have to start with Hocus Pocus! This is one of those films that always makes me think of this time of year. The Sanderson sisters, the black cat, the costumes, the candles and all the decorations just work so well together. It's also one of those films that doesn't take itself too seriously. There are witches, spells and plenty of silly moments but it's not going to have you hiding behind the sofa every five minutes. I've watched it so many times over the years and I still enjoy it. I also think it's one of those films that changes as you get older, you notice jokes and little details that probably went straight over your head when you were younger. You can of course watch Hocus Pocus 2 if you fancy keeping the Sanderson sisters going for a little more time!

Wednesday!

If you fancy watching something a little darker but don't actually want to sit through a full on horror film, Wednesday is a good one to put on. I love that it has that creepy feel without being too scary, so you can enjoy it without spending half the episode hiding behind a cushion! Wednesday Addams is such a good character for this time of year and I really like what they've done with her in the Netflix series. Her sense of humour is so dry and completely straight-faced, which makes some of the funniest moments even better. She can say something that is actually quite funny while looking like she hasn't made a joke at all. She's at Nevermore Academy, where there are strange students, creepy corridors, mysterious deaths and, of course, a few monsters thrown into the mix. I also love the mystery side of the show. Trying to work out what is going on and who you can actually trust gives you something to think about while you're watching. There's enough going on to keep me interested without it becoming too complicated.

The Great British Bake Off!

Bake Off might not be the first thing you think of when you think about October viewing but sometimes you need a break from ghosts, monsters and people making terrible decisions in horror films. There's something about watching Bake Off with a cup of tea that just works at this time of year. I also like having something completely different to watch and there's something very comforting about watching someone calmly make a Victoria sponge while Paul Hollywood looks slightly concerned. It's also perfect background TV if you're blogging, doing some housework or scrolling through your phone while pretending you're watching.

Beetlejuice!

Beetlejuice is another October classic. It's strange, funny, weird and just creepy enough without becoming a full horror film. Michael Keaton's Beetlejuice is also one of those characters you can never really forget. The whole film has that classic Tim Burton style, with unusual characters and a story that feels completely different from most films. It's definitely worth watching again if you haven't seen it for years. Then after it there's also the newer Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice to add to the list.

Gilmore Girls!

Not everything you watch at this time of year needs to involve scary stuff. Sometimes you just want something wholesome and cosy! Gilmore Girls is one of my favourite choices when I want something easy to watch. Autumn leaves, jumpers, lots of coffee, a small town setting and Stars Hollow make the whole show feel very autumnal. It's comfort TV at its best. You can put it on while you're doing other things around the house or you can sit down and properly get into it. It's one of those shows that makes you want to drink far too much coffee and live in a small American town where everyone knows everyone else's business. Even if you have watched it before, there's something nice about going back to a show you already know when you don't want to think too hard about what to watch.

The Nightmare Before Christmas!

Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween film or a Christmas film? I refuse to get involved in that argument. At this time of year it is a Halloween one. With Jack Skellington, Sally, Halloween Town and the songs all make it such a fun film to watch. It's also one of those films that feels different from everything else. It's creepy but it's also sweet, funny and charming. It's only a couple of months until Christmas, you can always watch it again later and decide it's suddenly a Christmas film. Hehehe

Stranger Things!

If you want something with a bit of everything, Stranger Things is a really good one to put on! You've got horror, mystery, monsters, friendships, strange things happening and of course loads of 1980s nostalgia thrown in. I love all the old bikes, clothes, music, hairstyles and the way everything looks. It really does make you feel like you've gone back in time and there's something about watching them all riding around on their bikes that makes me want to get on one myself although I'd probably last about five minutes! I also love the group of kids and how they all end up getting dragged into things they definitely didn't ask for. You'd think after everything they go through they might decide to stay at home for a change but nope! There's always another mystery to solve or something strange going on. You get the friendships, the arguments, the funny moments and all the little stories going on at the same time. If you've already watched it it's definitely worth a rewatch. I always think I remember everything and then realise I've forgotten loads of little details. The only problem with Stranger Things is telling yourself I'll just watch one episode before bed. We all know how that ends. One episode turns into another, then another and suddenly it's far too late. Oops.

Harry Potter!

As soon as September hits, I always get the urge to watch the Harry Potter films! You could work your way through all eight films over several evenings or spread them out a bit. I am doing one a week on a Sunday afternoon at the moment. What's not to love about the Harry Potter films? The films get darker as the story progresses, so you can start with something fairly light before gradually getting into the more serious ones later in the month.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

If you fancy some 90s nostalgia, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is another one to add to your watch list! You've got vampires, demons, monsters, witches and plenty of ridiculous situations but there's also loads of humour and characters to follow. It's one of those shows where you can settle in for a proper rewatch because there are so many episodes. There's also something very entertaining about watching a show from the 90s now and seeing the clothes, hairstyles and technology. Some of it has aged well and some of it really hasn't but that's part of the fun.

Corpse Bride!

If you like Tim Burton, Corpse Bride is definitely worth watching! It has the gothic look you'd expect, with a slightly strange story and some brilliant animation. It's spooky without being terrifying, which makes it a good option if you want the atmosphere without spending the evening scared of every creak in the house. I also think it's quite a sweet film underneath everything else. It's not just about being creepy for the sake of it. It's another one I'd happily watch with a hot drink and a pile of snacks.

What do you like to watch on TV in October?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #75

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. When you think of autumn what sounds come to mind?

The crunchy leaves when you are walking on them, rain tapping against the windows, fireworks banging well before Bonfire Night, the kettle boiling because I drink more hot drinks at this time of year, radiators clicking and pinging as they heat up and me shouting shut the door, it's cold. I've just got everyone into a habit of leaving them open during the summer now I have to train them to shut the doors again.

2. Is a trip to the mountains something you enjoy? What's your favorite mountain?

A trip to the mountains is never been something I've particularly thought about doing. Where I live, we are more about the hills than the mountains. There are plenty of lovely hilly areas around us but there's no looking out of the window and seeing huge mountains in the distance. I do like looking at photos of mountains, sometimes when I start my laptop there are some on the logging on screen covered in snow which look pretty amazing.

I don't really have a favourite mountain but f I had to pick one I'd probably say Ben Nevis. It's the highest mountain in the UK and it seems right to pick that one.

3. What's something that once felt like a mountain, but is now just a molehill?

A lot of the things that has came with parenting my girls felt like mountains at the time but turned out to be nothing but molehills. When they were little everything felt important. A forgotten PE kit could feel like a disaster, someone not wanting to go to school could turn into a full morning of stress, a friendship problem could have me lying awake wondering how it was all going to work out and even things like homework, school letters and remembering what day they needed to wear something could feel like a full time job and don't even get me started on them being teenagers! There were arguments over clothes, phones, bedrooms, homework, going out, coming home and pretty much anything else you can think of. At the time those things felt massive.

Now that my girls are older I can see that most of those little mountains were just molehills. They grew up, they figured things out and we all survived the arguments over things that seemed so important at the time. Of course we are still dealing with mountains which I bet in about 6 months are nothing but molehills.

4. Let's play this or that-fall foods edition. Yes you have to choose.

Pumpkin spice latte or Chai latte - Pumpkin spice latte! I only found out what a Chai Latte was the other week when my youngest ordered one in Starbucks, it's her favourite hot drink at the moment. I tried it, it's quite nice but not for me.

Apple cider or Hot chocolate - Hot chocolate! I have never tried apple cider, well I have the alcoholic version but I don't think that is the one that is meant here.

Stew or Chili - Stew, a nice beef one would be nice right now, it's a bit of a grey and gloomy day.

Sweet potato casserole or Green bean casserole - Sweet potato casserole! I haven't tried either but I know I don't like green beans.

Butternut squash soup or Creamy mushroom soup - Butternut squash soup! It just seems right at this time of year.

Cranberry sauce or Gravy - Gravy every single time! We have gravy on everything here.

5. Sum up your September in a sentence or two.

September has been a busy month with a lot going on. We've had appointments, a birthday, nights out, lots to do and plenty filling up the calendar so it definitely flown by. There have also been some exciting new starts, including my youngest getting a job. It's been one of those months where I've always seemed to have somewhere to be or something to sort out but it's been a good kind of busy.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm writing this on a Sunday and it feels like a proper autumn day here. I am sitting under a blanket while it's grey and chilly outside, I reckon it won’t be long before we cave in and finally put the heating on. It's funny how 16C/60F can feel like two completely different temperatures depending on the season. Back in the spring going outside into 16C weather felt wonderful after months of winter and cold weather. I didn't even bother with a jacket but now at the exact same temperature all I want to do is throw on a thick jumper and start hibernating.

My October goals & plans!

I’m carrying on with my monthly goals and plans because writing things down really gives me that little kick up the bum to actually get things done. I always feel more motivated when I have a list to look at instead of just thinking I should probably do that at some point. When it’s written down it feels more official, like I’ve made a little promise to myself.

I did pretty well with my goals in September and ticked a lot off my list. There were some things I never got around to but things have been so busy here!

Celebrate Becky's birthday - Yes! Easy, peasy! We had a lovely meal out and stopped off at the pub on the way home for a few drinks.

Get ahead with my blog posts - Yes but not as much as I would like. I will work on this again in October!

Go to TK Maxx - As of writing this blog post no but I am hoping I went yesterday.

Sort my wardrobe out - Yes, I did that last week!

Start shopping for Christmas - I might have bought a few things yesterday but I do have things in my online baskets to order.

Have a proper Sunday dinner - Yes! We had one in the middle of the month and I actually enjoyed cooking it. It was nice to have the leftovers too the next day in a pie.

Go to Hull Maritime Museum - No, we just couldn't find the time.

Watch the Harry Potter movies - Yes! I started them and I am limiting myself to one a week!

Sort out photos from the summer - I sorted them but didn't get any printed out!

Give the garden a good tidy - Yes but more work needs doing.

In October, I want to:

Make plans for my birthday!

It's my birthday in November and I always like to have a day out. The last couple of years I have been to York Christmas markets but this time I fancy something different. It will still have to be themed around Christmas as my birthday is at the end of November and it is a great way to kick off the festivities.

Make an apple crumble!

This feels like the perfect October goal. Apples, crumble topping and custard! What's not to like? I haven't made one for ages and October seems like the right time. I love proper old-fashioned puddings and apple crumble is one of those. What makes it even better is that I will get the apples from my dad's trees. Hand picked fruit is way better than stuff bought from the supermarket.

Get back into a proper morning routine!

When Ellie left college we both got a little lazy, sleeping until we woke up and not rushing around until about ten. There's nothing wrong with having a slow morning now and again but I feel like I've slipped out of my usual routine and I want to get back into it. Up by 8am, get my jobs done around the house, tea prepared if I can, a load of washing on and whatever else which needs doing by 11am. Maybe then I will have more time to get ahead with writing my blog posts.

Work on my end of year blog post!

The lovely Lindsay gave me the idea of writing an end-of-year blog post by updating it every month and I was mostly keeping up with it, writing about the big things which happened each month until the end of June and then I forgot. I need to get back to it and write about things while they are almost fresh in my head.

Have a hot pumpkin spiced latte!

I have had quite a few iced ones since they have been back in Starbucks and I bought the ready to mix sachets from the supermarket but they are not the same. I want to sit in the coffee shop and enjoy a hot one, preferably on a cold day!

Light some candles!

I love candles, it's no big secret! I need to work my way through some of the ones in the cupboard if I want to buy new ones. I have a whole cupboard full in the living room. Eek! I have a habit of buying candles because I like the smell or the jar and then keeping them because they are too nice to burn. October feels like the perfect time to start lighting them more often!

Make it through October without buying every seasonal food item I see!

This might be the hardest goal on the list! I am a sucker for new foods, especially at this time of year. It's not even just autumnal things, it's the Christmas things that are released into the supermarkets early too! I need to hold off for at least the next month.

Use the slow cooker at least once a week!

It's time to get the slow cooker back out properly! I always love using it because you can put everything in early in the day and then forget about it until tea time. It makes those busy evenings easier when you already know there's something cooking. I want to make more than just the usual stews too. Maybe October might be the month I try a few new recipes!

Start a new TV series!

Or one that is new to me! Stu said I should try Supernatural as it's a lot like Buffy the Vampire Slayer which I loved and it seems pretty good for this time of year. My brother says The Gentlemen is great and I keep meaning to watch The Witcher. So, hopefully by the end of the month I'll have started something new.

Have a pumpkin day!

I want to do something with pumpkins! Maybe pick up a couple of pumpkins, make something with them or just have a look at all the pumpkin displays that start appearing in the shops. I also want to try something pumpkin related that isn't a pumpkin spice latte. Although I'll probably have another one or two of those too!

What do you have planned for October?