Saying Goodbye To Autumn

This time is always the saddest time of the year for me when the beautiful autumn leaves start to fall off the trees. I love being surrounded by brightly coloured leaves but it feels like such a short time before the trees are all bare and winter has really set in. This weekend we decided to make the most of the end of autumn before the real winter weather (including snow!) that's forecast settles in.

We were lucky enough to be given the most glorious sunny weekend and although Saturday was a busy day spent in London we were able to enjoy a bit of the weather and our local countryside on Sunday by going for a little walk in a local village.

I've said it many times but autumn is my absolute favourite season for fashion and I love to wear colours that match the leaves. I was lucky enough to win a £100 voucher from Thought and couldn't resist getting this gorgeous autumnal pinafore dress. It's made from such a soft cotton velvet fabric making it one of the warmest and cosiest dresses I own and I know I will get years of use out of it.

Hope you've all had a lovely autumn, can't believe Christmas is almost here!

What I wore...

Dress - Thought | Boots - Clarks | Top - Old 

Three Mindfulness Books You Have to Read

I started to read and practise mindfulness when I struggled with anxiety in my second year of uni. As a Christian, I was a little bit dubious about it at first, but I soon found that a lot of the principles of mindfulness and self-care were in fact in line with my faith.

I now practise what I call Christian yoga where I pray and worship during my yoga sessions, I meditate using the word of God as a basis and I take quiet time out to rest and spend time with God. I think mindfulness and self-care can be useful for everyone it’s just about developing what works for you. I apply my faith to everything I read and do and have found mindful living to be such a healthy way to live life.

I wanted to share three mindfulness books I’ve read recently that I have absolutely loved in the hope you might love them too and find them a useful resource.

Self-Care for the Real World by Nadia Narain and KatiaNarain Phillips:

This book was a birthday present and I loved it so much I read it within two days! It is absolutely jam packed with tips, tricks and knowledge from these two sisters. It is such a useful little book and a great introduction for anyone who is just starting on their journey into self-care or mindfulness. One of the things I really loved about this book was how they normalised self-care. In our culture we are often made to feel selfish for wanting to take care of ourselves, but this book helps to show you how normal and healthy it is to prioritise yourself a little more.

Forest Therapy by Sarah Ivens:

I loved this book so much! I read it on my holiday in Cornwall where I spent a lot of time out in the fresh air, swimming in the sea and soaking up sun rays. It was so great to learn about the positive effects nature and the outdoors have on our physical and mental health as I spent my days outside in the most beautiful scenery.

This book is packed full of information and science behind the positive effects of the outdoors. It is such an interesting and inspiring read filled with tips on how to maximise your time outdoors in any season.

The Art of Wellbeing: Joyous Living Inspired by Nature byMeredith Gaston:

This book is the most beautiful book I’ve ever had on my shelf. Meredith is a fantastic artist and it is full of beautiful illustrations throughout with bright colours and flowers on every page. It is a glorious sight to behold and worth reading just for the beauty of it. It is also, however, full of wonderful information on how to live life well, take care of yourself and live in harmony with nature. I loved reading this book and often find myself dipping back into it regularly for helpful tips and tricks. I especially love all the information on homeopathic remedies like essential oils and herbal teas.

This book is such a great resource for anyone learning about mindfulness or just wanting to take better care of themselves.

There are three books I’ve absolutely loved in the last few months. If you’ve got anymore you’ve enjoyed please do share them in the comments. I am always looking for more books to read!   

Thoughtful Autumn Fashion

Oh autumn you are just the prettiest! It seemed like such a quick turn around from long lazy summer days to suddenly the world draped in burnt oranges and golds but I didn't mind one bit. I love this time of year and have been relishing the cold crisp weather we've had here in Oxford recently. It has finally given me the chance to get out a few of my favourite autumn/winter clothes as well as a new item...

When I saw this gorgeous spotty skirt on the Thought Clothing website I fell in love. It was exactly the shape of skirt I was looking for and the bright orange colour was so autumnal I knew I wanted to add it to my autumn wardrobe. Luckily for me whilst I was on holiday in Malvern where my parents live we decided to pop into one of my favourite shops in Ledbury. I discovered Ethos a few months ago when I went shopping with my Mum and was so happy to see they stocked a huge range of sustainable clothing including Thought. I decided to go back during our holiday and found they had a whole collection of gorgeous Thought Clothing from this season including this skirt. 

It is honestly one of the most comfortable skirts I've ever had, it's warm, stretchy in all the right places and can be dressed up or down depending on you. I know I'll get so much wear out of it this season and in years to come. Definitely a new autumn favourite! 

Skirt - Thought | Top - Old | Boots - Clarks

National Quietness Day

Today is National Quietness Day and I wanted to share a few tips on quietness and why it’s important to be quiet once in a while. We live in a very busy, hectic and loud world where we rush from one thing to next never taking time out to breath and simply be. Over the years I have seen just how detrimental living life in this way can be and so I try to make sure I take time out to be quiet and to be still. I would really like to encourage you to do the same and I can promise you will find yourself in a better place mentally and physically.

Switch Off Your Phone;

This is the first tip for being quiet. We don’t have to be physically speaking to be a part of the noise of the world. The rise of social media has meant the worlds noise never switches off and I know I am guilty of using that noise to drown out what I am actually feeling. This is such an unhealthy way to live and I would really encourage you to take time away from your phone, away from social media and learn to be quiet and still within yourself.

Look Away from the Screen:

Just like phones, things like TV’s and laptops can drown out your thoughts and feelings. Try switching them off for a little bit and opt instead for a book. There is something so beautifully peaceful about sitting quietly in the corner reading and it will refresh you so much more than mindlessly sitting in front of the television.

Use Your Hands:

Do something that uses your hands like knitting, painting, colouring, cooking. Quietly focusing on a task can be so rewarding and also relaxing after a long day outside in the busy world. You also get the added bonus of creating something with your own hands.

Yoga and Meditation:

I love my yoga sessions. One of the most beautiful yoga sessions I have had was when I was on holiday recently. I decided to do my yoga outside by the water. It was silent accept for the sound of birds and water lapping at the shore. It was so peaceful just focusing on my breathing and movement as the world was quiet all around me.

Likewise, with meditation, just sitting calmly and quietly by yourself focusing on the present can be such a wonderful way to feel restored. Try using a mindfulness app or take yourself out to a beautiful spot in nature and watch the waves lapping or the trees swaying.    

Go Out into Nature:

I find it very hard to find quietness in the city. Going into nature can be so restorative and the beautiful stillness and quietness of a wood or a lake can really help to centre you in the present and help still your mind. If you struggle to stop thoughts buzzing around all the time I would really suggest a quiet solitary walk in nature or just sitting in a place of natural beauty and listening to the stillness of the world.

These are just a few ideas of how to enjoy quietness. I would really encourage you to try some of these today for National Quietness Day. If you have any of your own ideas I’d love to hear them in the comments.