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Going natural seems to be the theme of the year. I’m cutting out the hair dye and letting my hair breathe for a bit, bleach free. I’m trying to reduce the amount of plastic-wrapped goods I buy in the supermarket and signed a petition to eradicate it from our grocery aisles. (The one I signed was a UK .gov one and it’s since closed but you can sign this Greenpeace one.) And I’m teaching myself to embrace a new normal as we head into autumn, in which a walk to the playground in torrential downpour is the norm.

In order to facilitate this, I bought J some special birthday presents; namely, a new coat, two puddle suits and an inner fleecy onesie to keep him warm as the weather getting chillier. With his Gruffalo wellies to complete the look, he was nature ready, but unfortunately, I was not. After a couple of weeks putting up with the wet socks and jeans that absorb all the rain that runs straight off my waterproof jacket, I have dug out the shower-proof trousers that I bought in the Lake District last year and took myself off to Cotswolds to buy a pair of wellies that actually fit (as much as wellies ever actually fit.) I’m still looking into a decent waterproof coat to replace the huge hand-me-down jacket of my dad’s I currently sport at the playground.

This year I was also given a lot of money for my birthday from various family members and I’m thrilled with my purchases so far.

I bought this lovely Bobo Bird watch, which has a strap and face made of beautiful different colours of wood, and I’ve bought myself a litter picker! I’ve wanted one for a while- it’s hard to enjoy a stroll with the pram when there’s trash staring up at you everywhere- and today I tested it out. It’s just so darn satisfying! The action is very nice- it’s easy to pick up even small bits of paper. It’s light and extra long because I’m rather tall. I honestly don’t care if I look weird or whatever, wandering around grabbing at bits of foil and wrappers. I filled up a carrier bag in no time and there was still more for tomorrow’s walk. In the end I had to make myself leave it because J was getting fussy in the pram and wanted to get out, but next time, rubbish, you are mine!

I’ve also bought a couple of books off my wish list that I’ve had my eye on for a while; At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider and Out of Our Minds by Sir Ken Robinson. As soon as I’m done reading them, I’ll post reviews, but they look really good so far. There’s just something so pleasurable about curling up with a new hardcover book (and a cup of tea of course). I’m not sure I’ll ever be a Kindle person.