Bonjour lecteurs! And just like that, summer seems to be long gone. I am now off to write my new monthly highlights and September 2024 was such a blast! If you have been following me for a while, you know how much I love going out. Whether it’s on my bike in the country or going somewhere glamourous in London, I am a true advocate that you should always live your life fully. It’s yours and only yours, so make the most of it. Well, last month was yet again l’exemple parfait of this adage.
Back To School & New Project
As always at this time of the year, it’s all about going back to routines for everyone. After a really lovely summer in the UK, we were quick to get back to it.
Stanley is now in year 4 and his first week back at school was un succés. He likes his class and his teacher, so happy days!
I also took on a new project as part of my freelance social media marketing services, which is so exciting! It’s something that I have been thinking about since the start of the year. I left my job in retail in March and I have been working on this since then, so it is just lovely to see it happening!
Our Trip In Surrey
While the first week of September 2024 was pretty uneventful as it was all about getting into routines, we went away that weekend.
Direction Surrey where we stayed at The White Horse In Dorking. Once more, I was reminded how much I love the UK and its beautiful countryside.
Not only we stayed in a beautiful pub hotel, but we also discovered a charming area and met some lovely people along the way.
Au programme, lots of yummy local food but also some good fashion and a walk in nature.
Work & Colleagues
Back home the second week and I had some fun locally with another show at the Marlowe Theatre.
It was also l’excuse parfaite to catch up with my friends from work. I will say that I don’t miss much my job, but I am ever so grateful that I made some fabulous friends there!
Ultimately, I don’t regret leaving my work in March. It was time for me to go and I had other projects to take on. I was getting bored and it was not as fun and exciting as it used to be and I made la bonne décision for my family.
But it is so true to say that your work colleagues make it all. I am now used to work freelance and pretty much solo most of the time, but my team was truly the BEST!
Paddington & Longboys Doughnuts
Once more, while the week was generally a quiet one with dinners at home, play time, reading once he was back home, we had a blast at the weekend.
I took Stanley up to London where we checked out the new Paddington Experience before heading to Longboys Doughnuts in Borough Yards and we had so much fun!
If your little ones are also fans of the fameux ours brun, you got to check it out. It was truly terrific. You go on a trail to help Paddington and his friends and you even get to get pictures on the famous road where he lives. It’s like being on the movie set, before you meet the famous guy en personne! Wow!
After such a thrill and a marmalade sandwich or 2, we walked from the County Hall to Borough Yards.
The newest space near London Bridge is simply beautiful and so modern! It’s one of my fav areas in town.
Joys In Hythe
It was only mid-September and we had already done so much! With the weather being a mix of rain and sunshine, we made the most of it when it was good!
I might love a good day out in London, but also, j’adore a day à la plage with the boys. Once more, we were back in Hythe for a stroll on the parade before enjoying some pizza and wine at Caffè Il Remo just opposite Waitrose.
What is there not to like? We picked him up from school on a sunny day, drove to the coast, went to the skate park and walked to town to get some yummy food on the terrace. No need to travel to Italy! It comes to you in the beauty of Kent!
Kalandra & Coal Drops Yard
After such great family time, it was all about partying just the 2 of us. While Stanley stayed at Nanny S, we made it to London to see the Nordic band Kalandra play live at Lafayette London.
We booked a studio in the City for the night and then tubed it to the cool area of Coal Drops Yard in London. I even went shopping and stopped by the new Uniqlo shop, which is totally awesome!!!
I mean regardez our awesome dîner at Fatto A Mano! Wherever I was going last month, it was all about Neapolitan pizza!
Lucky Cat In Mayfair
After some great musique and some good sleep, we made it to Bond Street area the day after.
Quick café in the heart of London before we headed to the Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay in Mayfair and it was another experience délicieuse for us!
I mean this was something totally amazing! I have always wanted to go there and it certainly did not disappoint.
Last Week Of September 2024
I truly lived my life fully! Looking back, we made such beautiful memories together. Life is always busy and I would never have it any other way. This is who I am and what makes me really happy. The last week of September 2024 was more chilled.
It was made of early walks in the morning before work, lots of time with Stanley and a good pub lunch with our cousins in Kent.
We went for more walks, we enjoyed seeing Nature changing and we relaxed. The perfect way to end a beautiful month!
September 2024 – Live Your Life Fully
September is probably one of my fav times of the year. It’s all about seeing nature changing and getting ready for winter.
You feel energised and happy after a relaxing summer and ready to conquer anything. It feels a bit more like a new year when you think about it. It actually makes more sense to follow the natural cycle.
I always take the time to reflect on the year. In the past, this month has proven to be challenging at times (2020 was really hard), but it was also the perfect time to start new adventure (a new job in 2022).
I can’t complain about September 2024. There was no drama, the return to school went smoothly and I got back to routines on my own at home.
Homey Me?
But I also had so much fun and so many beautiful opportunities. Looking back, I can’t believe how much we do thanks to my blog. I mean, we’ve always been like that. We’ve never been people who were happy to sit at home and relax or do DIY etc. Not that it is a bad thing! I grew up in a household where we did not do much, especially at the weekends.
My parents are both very homey and we did not do much outside school. So I suppose I am probably making up for it now. Bien sûr, sometimes, I wonder if it’s not too much and I should calm down.
But on the other hand, I am ever so proud of everything I have achieved. I am far from perfect, but I know for a fact that I have always been hard working and this blog is another proof that you can achieve anything you want if you put the effort into it.
What’s next?
As I said it before, I think that actually September is a better month than January to set up goals and reflect. It makes more sense when you think about it. So what’s next for us in 2024? October is going to be all about work. Both Grumpy Boyfriend and I have big projects in the pipeline and it’s going to be rather hectic.
There will not be much time for fun. On one hand, I am excited because we landed some amazing work oppotunités and we both worked hard to land them. On another hand, I am a bit dreading the amount of work that will be required, especially with half-term.
But we will manage! I live by the motto: ‘consistently, relentlessly happy’. I think it sums up quite well the way I want to be so that I can live my life fully at all times.
Plus, I also like to think that we are only planting the seeds for 2025. Yes, I am already thinking about next year 🙂 But we shall see!
What was your highlights in September 2024? What are your plans for the rest of the year?
Disclosure: This post might feature some sponsored content I recently published but it is merely a list of my highlights of the month! This a post where I share some reflections as a mum in the country and London. I hope it will inspire you to get on more family adventures.
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