It’s already October, and the smell of Pumpkin Spice Lattes and vomit-inducing sickly sweet candles are lingering in the air.

Whether you’re planning on wholesome nights watching Gilmore Girls cradling a hot choc, or you’re going Brat Girl Autumn level feral with the return of club and gig season (I plan on a healthy dose of both), you can’t run away from the fact the seasons are a’changing.

Even though I’ve not been in full-time education for nearly a decade, I still get that back-to-school ‘September feeling’. It feels like a fresh start similar to the one you get in January, but without the blues. So, I normally try to harness that fleeting desire for self-improvement and a mini life overhaul when the autumn rolls around. This year, I’ve made commitments to exercise, be kinder to myself, trying not to say sorry every 2 mins (I’m down to every 5m as I type this now), and getting more organised in general.

I’ve done reasonably well, besides one wilder (but worth it) weekend I’ve barely drank, and managed to get myself in more of a routine. But moving forwards, I’m a big advocate of ‘life’s for living’ so I’m ready to find more of a balance between gym gal Em, and ‘drinking my bodyweight in rum sounds like a fucking good idea’ Em.

So, now I’ve caught you up on the general vibe of the last month in terms of my shift in gears and goals, I’m gonna share some specific favourites I’ve uncovered or rediscovered in the last month.

GIG SEASON IS BACK

October is gonna be all about creativity. I’m feeling incredibly inspired by the few gigs I’ve been to in the last few weeks, and am so ready for more. Last month I saw The Last Dinner Party for the second time, on a much bigger stage having had huge success with their debut album (when I saw them last October at The Cluny they only had three singles under their belt). I was reminded, as I always am, of the buzz and delight of live music. It also encourages me to pick up my own guitar and get writing.

CURRENTS – TAME IMPALA

I loved this album when it first came out, but (as you so often do) I forgot about it’s existence until a few months ago and have had it on repeat ever since. Maybe my neglect of it was an unconscious trauma response to getting Covid from serenading Night and Day Café in Manchester with ‘The Less I Know the Better’ on kazoo (spoiler: half the room sucked on the same kazoo). Or, maybe I was just spending too much time listening to Diet Pepsi (or both).

The record has come to soundtrack much of my Summer memories and connections with special people in my life, and despite it being released in 2015, it now defines much of my 2024.

In my opinion it’s a no-skip album, but my standouts are everyone’s favourite ‘The Less I Know the Better’ of course, as well as ‘Yes I’m Changing’ and ‘New Person, Same Old Mistakes’.

THE INBETWEENERS

I’ve just re-watched this classic from start to finish, and boy does it stand the test of time. You really can’t beat classic British humour, and a scarily accurate portrayal of coming of age.

BLUSHER AND HEATLESS CURLS

Blame Sabrina Carpenter and her delicious retro aesthetic. My attempts to be her brunette counterpart (who’s also 9″ taller and wears docs rather than skyscraper heels), may have been lacklustre from the outside, but I’ve been loving being on a slightly more glam vibe. I was styling my straightened hair with heatless curls using long socks, but earlier this month I bought some of the velvet rollers for heatless curls and the results are just bouncy and luscious. If I can’t be arsed to sleep in a whole head of them, I’ll just do my bangs/longer layers at the front for the perfect 70s flicky lil face frame.

Blush… well, I was scared of blush for years. I think it was a mix of the highlighter pink blush some gals would sport back in the day, and a bad throwback to when I used to ‘go red’ out of embarrassment back in School. But I’ve learnt that when applied properly (and not in a shade of illuminous tones) it can give you a sexy tint rather than a tomato flush. My go-to is the classic Nars blush in the shade ‘Orgasm’.

VIDEO GIRL

If you follow me on Instagram, you’re probably sick of my silly little reels. I don’t blame you, but I’m enjoying making them so I’m gonna keep them coming (albeit less frequently, I was a bit too keen at first). They encourage me to wear otherwise neglected elements of my wardrobe, and to generally make more of an effort day to day. I kickstarted the lil series because I was starting to get overwhelmed by the amount of clothes I have, and wanted to work out which are actually worth keeping. As a result I’ve managed to give two binbags worth to charity and sell a load on Vinted. So I’m well chuffed with that.

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I’ll stop there because my minds gone blank, and unlike in person (where I’d just keep chatting shit to fill the silence even though I have nothing of value to say) I know when to stop when writing…sometimes.

Hope you’re all settling into this (crap) weather, and staying as cosy as possible.

Em x