KeepCup full of soya flat white and a dark chocolate Bounty by my side, it’s time to take some time out and reflect on my week. After a summer packed full of going away almost every week or weekend (catch up with this summer’s travel content), this week has felt deliciously slow and long. I’ve revelled in drawn-out mornings, savouring precious time working on incredible projects for clients and even booked in some paid work for Daisybutter.

I’ve squeezed in birthday brunch for Papa Daisy, begun the arduous task of fixing eight years’ worth of broken links, got on top of admin and accounting, made some plans for what I want to cover next on the blog and, well, I can’t complain really. Right now, Harvey is taking a nap and I couldn’t feel more content, snacking and writing away.

Back to the gym!

First and foremost, I’m back in full force at the gym. Three weight training days, one Barre class and some cardio alongside it. It feels amazing to treat my body kindly again after an indulgent summer! I was absolutely blown away by how popular my review of the Get Gorgeous guide did and cemented what I’ve thought to be true: you guys are really enjoying my fitness and wellness posts.

My main aim in sharing my gym journey on Daisybutter is to show how attainable it is to integrate fitness to your life.

While you might not be into weightlifting, it could be that Barre classes become your jam. Or if you’re not into yoga (I’m not either!), perhaps Pilates is your thing. Either way, it’s been SO fun to document everything and share how much I enjoyed following Carly’s plan. When you’re busy with work, personal lives and balancing relationships, going to the gym or ensuring you’re maintaining everyday levels of fitness can fall to the wayside but Get Gorgeous helps you along by giving you the tools – all you need is just under an hour.

To answer some of your questions:

Yes, it can be done at home and was designed to be done so! You’ll just need a mat, resistance band and some weights (a kettlebell or dumbbells).
I’d recommend the bundle if you want to use it at home AND at the gym. Or just the physical copy if you’re using it from home.
It’s 100% worth the money. To put it in perspective, the 12-week program/guide costs the same as my monthly gym membership.
Weights are optional and it is definitely suitable for all levels from beginner to advanced. I completed it at the intermediate stage.
I personally saw physical and mental differences in my body. I have, however, lost my ‘before’ photos hence why they didn’t feature in my post!

Slower mornings

I am SO into slower mornings right now.

A couple of weeks ago, I started worrying that should I ever decide to go back to full-time employment, I wouldn’t be able to cope with getting up at 6.30am. So I tried to train myself to do so. Turns out, that was pointless because it meant I couldn’t cope with my ‘new’ (well, new-ish) routine as a business owner.

This week I’ve been waking at 8am, reading in bed for 30 minutes, getting ready and having breakfast in the garden, and then starting work nearer 10am. And it’s been bliss. I can focus on my tasks with razor-sharp acuity, feel much less lethargic (bloomin’ anaemia!) and work smarter instead of harder. More soon, after a little research…

Podcasts, this week

After spending much of last weekend talking about true crime and grisly murders with Carrie and Ghenet, I finally listened to Death in Ice Valley in its’ entirety. The podcast was incredibly detailed and so captivating, yet left just enough for me to spend most of my evenings doing a little self-research. It’s an 11-part podcast broadcasted by the BBC World Service and I’d absolutely recommend giving it a whirl.

This week, I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed listening to Anna and Lily’s At Home With… podcast episode in which they visited Clemmie Hooper (@mother_of_daughters on Instagram), a books and reading-focussed episode of Let’s Discuss where I ended up adding even more titles to my ever-growing ‘To Be Read’ list, and the Rachel Khoo episode of Is It Just Me?

What are you listening to at the moment? Send me your podcast recommendations in the comments!

The Daisybutter September Survey

Lastly, I’ve finally finished compiling my annual reader survey! I’d really like to know your thoughts on the direction of Daisybutter and its’ connected platforms. As a committed (I hope!) reader, it’d be great if you could take 5 minutes out of your Sunday or Monday or Tuesday (…!) to complete the Daisybutter September Survey, just in time for a new school term.

Links I’ve Loved:

My friend Hannah shared her 2018 flat update. Her home has been a total treat to ‘follow’ as she furnishes and decorates it.
Fellow plant Mamas, you’ll enjoy Jaye’s simple guide to easy-care houseplants.
Growing up, I constantly dreamt of being a twin and would pray to have a The Parent Trap style situation one day. However, that was never the case and instead I rely on articles like this one on The Everygirl, written by a twin sister to tide me over instead.
The UK release of Crazy Rich Asians has been brought forward to September! I’m hungrily digesting anything I can about this much-anticipated film premiere and this Teen Vogue article about working with South East Asian designers for the costumes sung to me.
I’m currently in the throes of house-hunting, and found this feature on A Beautiful Mess SO handy. It lists the best low budget renovations you can do to increase the value of your home.