It is not just myself I am planning on upgrading lately to improve my life it is also the items around me, the items I will use day to day to improve my routines and ensure I am working towards that life that I envisage. I have finally managed to compile a little list of the items I want to purchase to help with these upgrades and let's just say there is a nice little mix on here...

Well here we go we are finally into the 'ber months, my favourite months by far as football is fully back, the weather is changing for cosy nights and September is my birthday month. This September is going to be a busy one for sure but it is 100% going to be a productive one for a change as I finally get my act together and get things ticked off the to do list and get into a routine once more. The plan in September is to really knuckle down and get things moving in the right direction and the goals for the month are going to reflect that. So here are September's goals...

Fashion

Do my autumn clothing change over

I want to get my autumn clothing change over done as early in the month as possible so I am prepared for a change and not rushing around for warmer outfits when the weather changes like I normally am. The plan is to use one of my days off early on in the month to just block out some time to pull all the autumn clothing pieces I own out, try them on and only put in the wardrobe what I know I am going to wear. This will give me the perfect opportunity to do a bit of a wardrobe declutter as I go too as I know there are some summer items I am never going to wear again or are too big so whilst doing the change over I can build that Vinted pile and start curating a much better wardrobe for myself.

Put together my autumn footwear rotation

This year I have been a bit more prepared when it comes to autumn approaching and I have started purchasing some footwear for the autumn & winter months. To be prepare like I am being with my clothing I am also planning on getting my footwear rotation sorted early on in the month so I am not rummaging for more suitable pairs and ruining my summer shoes. For this I am going to go in the loft and get out the box of boots etc we have up there and sort through what we are keeping and what can go and then the keeping pieces will go into our shoe cupboard whilst shoes I know aren't going to be worn for a while due to the colour or material will be getting put into the box and taken up to the loft. I am actually really looking forward to doing this job as I have actually forgotten what we have in storage.

Buy more autumn pieces if needed

Once the clothing and footwear change overs have been made I will finally be able to identify the gaps that may need filling whether it is basics or smarter items. I am hoping that there isn't going to be too much needed as I am trying to stick to a budget so the plan is to really consider items before buying them and only buying what I really need rather than spending for the sake of it. I feel like a few pieces I have in storage may be a little big for me at the moment but I will only be replacing them if they look really silly on as I put together a nice little autumn rotation last year and would love to repeat it.

Sort the clothes rail in the spare room 

The time has come to finally use the clothes rail for the correct reasons and not just have it as a dumping ground. I am really debating whether to change the spare room into a dressing room full of wardrobes but I can't make my mind up so I am going to use September to trial using the clothes rail to keep the clothes for the week on to see if this helps the clothing situation or to see if I really do need to change the room to make things more practical. All my special football shirts will finally be going on the wall this month freeing up plenty of space on the rail so that I can put outfits together for all eventualities that are upcoming and take the guess work out of mornings and actually dress how I want to for a change rather than reaching for the first thing I see. I am looking forward to seeing how this works out.

Start listing items on Vinted

My Vinted bag is filling up and there is definitely money to be made which as I say can be put back towards building my perfect wardrobe so I need to stop delaying starting this little side hustle and get some space back into the house. Whilst I am off over my birthday period I am going to get as much listed as I can and hopefully make a big dent in the bag of items I have. Will stuff sell? Who knows but I just need to get moving with this and get that space back for new pieces. There is so much laying around I feel I could easily have a solid half a day listing things.

Fitness 

Get my 1 Km time back to 10 minutes

August was a busy month so I didn't really get the chance to work on my 1 Km time however, in September I am going to be zoning in on this little challenge and hopefully I can get it back to 10 minutes and if not a bit better. This is really showing me how my fitness levels are changing as I train harder and my weight is dropping so I am hoping that I can really see a difference in this one by the end of the month.

Push towards that 100 Kg mark

I hit my first target of 105 Kg in August and I am making good progress towards my next goal of 100 Kg even though I haven't been pushing myself as much as I usually would. The goal in September is to be consistent in what I am doing, implement good habits and really make some good progress towards this next bracket goal. It is going to be hard work but if I hit everything I should be doing daily I am really hopeful that I can get really close to this number, if I really zone in I think we might be able to hit it but I guess only time will tell with this one.

Stick to my daily calories

My daily calories have changed a little and I am seeing great results from this so I need to make sure I get back into the routine of tracking in September and log everything to make sure the calories I am on are still helping me towards my goal or if they need altering again. I am in a really good place with these with no hunger so I am hoping a solid month of hitting this target will see more scale movement in the right direction.

Meal prep every week

I have been living off meal deals lately due to being lazy but that changes this month. I am going to dedicate time each month to get some meals prepped for my lunches at work which should help me towards my weight loss goal as I will know exactly what I am getting and it should also help me when it comes to my money savings too as meal deals keep creeping up in price. The plan is to make filling, nutritious meals that are quick and easy so I am well prepared and stay out of the local takeaway or supermarket on lunch breaks.

Aim to be in the gym 3 times a week

I am determined to make good progress this month and to do so I aim to be in the gym 3 times a week hitting all my sessions so that I can build on the momentum taking place already. My football season is also starting this month so it is going to be busy however, I know that by hitting these 3 sessions in the gym each week I will be helping myself for my football season too as I will be strengthening my bad knee and improving my fitness levels. Let's hope this one gets ticked off as I could see some brilliant results from it. 

Life

Finish my book

My goal of reading 3 books this year isn't looking too good as I still haven't finished one. I am hoping though that as things start to quieten down a little I can use even just half an hour on an evening to work my way through my current book and have it completed at long last. It would be great if I could complete my current one and make progress on a second but let's see how this one goes for now.

Use the dining room as intended 

The dining room is done at long last and I am determined to make the most of having this space. We finally have a dining table again so the plan is to stop eating in front of the TV on an evening and just have some nice home cooked meals at the table. I feel like having this room is going to get us enjoying our home cooked meals at long last whilst also enabling us to invite people round for food which we haven't been able to do before. 

Make the most of a few days off work 

I have a few days off work for my birthday and my only plans are a shopping trip & drinks on my actual birthday. The plan with the other days off is to get that wardrobe sorted, work on some content and just relax for a change. All my other days off so far this year have involved been out of the house but this is changing this time around and the plan is to stay home and get things done for a change. I can't wait to see just how much I end up getting done over these days.

Get back on track with my websites 

Things have been on the back burner so far this year website wise but that changes now. I am going to be dedicating time towards each site on evenings and weekends so I can get plenty of content written and posted. I am hoping that I might be able to get ahead with content if it all goes to plan but I guess time will tell. This site is going to be a big focus and then I want to really start putting time into my football and gaming content too so let's see how September progresses for them all round hopefully plenty of new pieces will be being uploaded to each of them over the course of the month.

Start putting time into social media again

I have been missing posting on social media recently but I just haven't had the time to create the content to post. The plan is to create plenty of content on weekends to have enough to post for the following week so I can try get some form of consistency going with the accounts. I am really hoping to get this going so that I am creating more than I am consuming once more as I used to love posting and I want those days to come back. Let's see how this one works out shall we.

Home

Find a new kitchen

We have got to a point where thanks to the help of my parents we can get a new kitchen hopefully fitted by the end of the year. Septembers plan is to find our perfect kitchen, get the quotes and hopefully get it booked in to commence as soon as possible. Getting this space done is going to be a game changer and I can't wait to make it our own with the space we need to create the perfect meals over the cold weather season. I am really looking forward to seeing this come together but for now let's get planning.

Sort the cupboard in the hallway out

The autumn change over is taking place in the hallway cupboard where we are storing the coats and footwear. This is going to see a full overhaul with boots and thicker jackets being added and the summer items being taken out and added to storage. I can't wait to go through this as it has become a dumping ground these days and the space is well overdue a good tidy up. Hopefully I can get rid of pieces I am never going to wear too so that next summer I have space for new pairs.

Make few small changes in games room 

I am planning on spending a lot of time in the games room over the next few months so I want to make it the perfect space to spend time in. The majority of this room was sorted a few months back however, I want to add some more lighting to the TV unit and sort out or game storage so it isn't too overwhelming like it currently is. This room is going to be well lived in throughout the colder weather so let's make it the perfect space.

So there you go those are my goals for the month ahead I am determined to get all these ticked off to make the month productive and well spent but I guess only time will tell if they all get completed or not. Now where do I begin...

See you soon,

Lucy

Somehow my birthday is fast approaching yet it doesn't seem like two minutes ago I was celebrating my 30th birthday... my first year in my 30's has taught me a lot about myself and things have begun to change and I think that is reflected in this years birthday wish list. This year there is a focus on nicer items that are more suited to my life going forward that are going to be well used and practical. Here are the items that have made it onto this years birthday wish list...

M&S Merino Wool Rich Polo Neck 

At £55 this is certainly a lot more than I would usually pay for a top however, I had my eye on one like this last year and it sold out. This year though I don't want to miss out and I am adding it to my wish list with the aim of picking one up when I go on my birthday shopping trip. Last year I got a fair few M&S tops for autumn & winter and they were super comfortable and easy to style. This sounds really soft and will be great for dressing up or down.

Smart Trousers

I have lost a fair bit of weight and a few gaps have appeared in my wardrobe, one of which is smart trousers. I am trying my best to smarten myself up and I feel like some smart trousers will do the trick as they will go with the tops above and plenty of tops I already own. Again on my birthday shopping trip I will be looking for the perfect pair and at the moment I am gravitating towards the H&M cigarette trousers.

Chelsea Boots

My Chelsea boots need an upgrade and I am taking my birthday as the prime chance to try get a pair of black ones & brown ones from Liam on my shopping trip. I tend to just get mine from Primark or Asda as they look great, fit comfortably and are really reasonably priced. I really hope I can find some nice pairs again this time around as they will be perfect for a lot of outfits I have in mind.

New Balance

This style of New Balance keeps catching my eye but I have never felt like they would fit my style however, I absolutely love this colourway and all though they are pretty expensive they have made it onto my birthday wish list and I think these could be my present to myself. I have so many ideas now for how I would style these so it is time to brave it and make the purchase. 

Abbott Lyon Necklace 

It is time to upgrade my jewellery collection and what better way to start than adding this gold Abbott Lyon necklace to my birthday wish list. I am in love with this droplet one thanks to the small details on the chain, initial droplet and the birthstone. This necklace would go with a lot of outfits I have in mind for the upcoming months whilst I really upgrade my style with smarter items. It is about time I started having gold jewellery not just silver as I feel now gold looks a lot more elegant when done right.

Abbott Lyon Bracelet 

If I am getting gold necklaces I need some gold bracelets to go with it and I absolutely love these tennis bracelets that Abbott Lyon do. I feel that this will look great with the necklace about and one of my smarter watches which I really need to get wearing more often. I already have a silver tennis bracelet which I really need to wear more often so it is now time to add a gold one to my collection. 

YSL Perfume

Oh look another present I think I am going to get myself for my birthday and once again it is on the more expensive side of things. A YSL fragrance has been on my wish list for a while but the price has been putting me off. It is actually one of my goals for the year to buy a YSL fragrance so it feels like the perfect time to put the price to one side and make the purchase. 

Zara Fragrance 

I love the Zara fragrances and to be honest have tended to stick to the men's one in the past however, that is certainly changing after a recent Zara visit. I fell in love with some of the women's scents they had in store so I think this is going to be one of the ideas I give to Liam for a gift for me as he always gets me a nice fragrance. The Cocoa ones are definitely the top of my wish list though as these smell absolutely gorgeous.

Pure Sport Roll On

I have started working out a whole lot more and with the gym sessions alongside my football my knee is being worked over time. To make sure I stay at the top of my game this season I am taking recovery & prevention more serious as I don't want to be sidelined with injury like I was last season. I have heard great things about this roll on sporting wise so I think this could be a bit of a gift to myself.

Manchester City Away Shirt

I am hoping to get to plenty of Manchester City Women games this season and if you know me you know I always need one of the current season shirts. I am absolutely loving the away shirt this season as it looks smart and simple so I think I may be dropping hints to Liam for this shirt with our favourite player Alex Greenwood on the back.

Le Creuset Mugs

Home ware for my birthday who am I? We are getting the dining room done currently and we are having a coffee station in the room. I am fed up of the mix matched character cups and I would love to have some nicer, fancier mugs in this area. I have seen a few nice Le Creuset mugs in TK Maxx at a reasonable price so I will once again be directing Liam towards these to see if he fancies picking me a few up for my gift on my birthday shopping trip.

I am finally ready to enter my skincare era. For so long I have neglected skincare and I am starting to feel it now as I am fighting constant breakouts and dark circles, it is time to make the change now though at long last to really start to improve the condition of my skin overall and just feel more confident due to how my skin turns out after a bit of TLC. It is certainly time now to build a skincare routine for me to stick to and here are some of the items I want to pick up to add into that routine to hopefully see a difference in my skin condition...

I mentioned in yesterday's how I am saving up for my rewards when I hit my 65 kg goal (this number might change to 70 kg depending on how I feel when I get to that number) as this is when I will be going on my big goal shop to treat myself to those items I have been wanting for a long time. Since starting my journey I have been compiling a list of items I would have previously only dreamed of owning and this has spurred me on to make the changes and save to hit that target. My list seems to have settled down a bit now and I have a great idea of what I want to purchase when that goal shop comes around and here are the items that have made the list...

Fashion

There are quite a few fashion items on this list which makes sense as the wardrobe is going to need a full rebuild as my size is going to have massively changed from what it is now. This is going to allow me to buy the items I have only previously dreamt of owning and the fashion items on my list are...

Ralph Lauren Jumper

I have wanted a nice Ralph Lauren jumper for a long time now however, they have never fit right and for the cost I want to make sure it fits perfectly. The plan is that when I hit my goal I go to a local Ralph Lauren whether that is an outlet or normal store and try these jumpers on once again. If they finally fit perfectly and feel comfortably I am planning on adding a few of these jumpers in different colours.

Ralph Lauren Shirts

I know the style I am going for as I am slowly transitioning into it currently however, I am not spending a fortune on this until I hit that goal as this is when my size should stop changing. The style I am opting for is much smarter especially for work and when I go on that goal shop I will hopefully be picking up a few smart Ralph Lauren shirts in different colours for work. 

Hawes & Curtis Shirts

For a bit of a cheaper option I am planning on purchasing some Hawes & Curtis shirts as these look just as good as the Ralph Lauren ones I am wanting plus with certain styles you can add cuff-links which is just a little bit different and adds a little extra to the outfits I have in mind with these shirts. They will definitely add a smarter look to my outfits going forward.

Holland Cooper Stamford 3 in 1

This Holland Cooper 3 in 1 jacket has been on my wish list for so long however, I just couldn't bring myself to pay £350 for this as my size was changing. The plan once I hit my goal though is to pick one of these up as it is perfect for dog walks and days out. The coat is perfect for the cold Yorkshire weather where as the gilet and fleece will be perfect for the cooler days and lounging around. I feel like I would definitely end up getting my money worth with this jacket.

Barbour Jacket

I already have the money earmarked for a Barbour jacket as every time I see them in a store I go over and get tempted to buy one but again I can't justify the cost if I am not going to fit in it properly in a few months time. The Barbour jacket is a timeless classic that I have always wanted so the plan is to finally add one to my wardrobe, I just need to work out which style I want. This could easily be one of the first purchases I make.

Smart Jacket

The past two jackets are a bit more country style & relaxed however, for work and days where I am going out and wanting to make an effort I really need a smart jacket or two. The plan is to get a trench/driving style of coat and a thicker pea coat style of jacket alongside a few blazers to make sure I am covered for all occasions. I am not going overboard buying items like this now but when I hit that goal weight I will be making sure I am all covered.

Levis Jeans

There have been so many times I have tried Levis on however, they have never fit right and I have always said to myself that as soon as I hit my goal I will be buying myself a pair to show the hard work I have put in to achieving my goal. The plan is to go in store and find the best fitting pairs in styles that are going to work for me and I can't wait to see which I end up with. 

Smart Trousers

To go with all the smart tops above I am going to need to get some smart trousers to go with them. Once that goal is hit I will be beginning the hunt for the perfect trousers to go with the shirts and jumpers I am purchasing. There will be no wide legs, just tailored, well fitting trousers that are made to last. It will definitely be time to ditch the baggy outdated trousers and get that put together style at long last.

Quality Gym Fits

The plan is to get some good quality gym fits when I hit my goal as my current will be far too big by then. I am hoping I can get some nice items that all work well together, that are comfortable and will last me for a while. I love my Gymshark items so some will come from there however, I am also going to take a look at Lululemon to see how their items fit me as I have heard good things about them. I find if I have a good gym fit I feel more confident and smash sessions so the gym fits will be staying after the goal and will hopefully look better than ever. 

Footwear

On the goal shop I don't want to focus on clothing although that is definitely where most of my money will go as the wardrobe will be needing a complete overhaul. The new clothing will need great footwear to go with it so the footwear will be getting an upgrade too. Here are the footwear pieces I am hoping to pick up once those goals are hit...

Prada Loafers

These Prada Loafers have been on my wish list for a long time and I feel like they would be perfect for those smarter days and getting dressed up. These are definitely expensive for what they are but I am constantly drawn into them so the purchase definitely needs to be made. I am considering these to be a reward for all the hard work I have put in to reach the goal. 

Loro Piana Loafers

Another high end purchase however, it is another purchase I have been wanting to make for a long time now. The issue previously has been that they wouldn't have gone with the clothing items I wore but with the sort of style I am going to be aiming for these will definitely an essential for late spring and summer time. They are definitely going to be an investment but they will definitely be worth it.

Veja Trainers

I feel like my Nike Dunk & Jordan trainer days are over as when I go shopping now I am finding myself heading over to smart looking trainers which makes a change. If I am dressing smarter though the trainers are going to make or break the outfit if I am wanting to dress it down just a little. I love the look of these Veja trainers so they will definitely be a goal shop purchase to work well with the other items I plan on purchasing. 

Comme Des Garcons Converse

These shoes have been on my wish list for so long now and I have decided that once I hit that goal I will be finally biting the bullet and getting a few pairs of the hi-top version of these. I am thinking that the black and white versions will be being purchased however, I am also loving the grey ones, I don't feel like I need all 3 colourways but as it stands that could very well be the case. I guess I have got time to decide which ones I definitely want though. 

Accessories

There are quite a few accessories I am hoping to purchase on my goal shop too as it doesn't make sense buying some of these now with my size due to change, other items are just expensive so I want to use them as a bit of an incentive to hit that goal. So here are those accessories I am wanting to pick up...

Ralph Lauren Belt

This reversible Ralph Lauren belt has been on my wish list for so long however, I don't want to buy a specific size and then need to replace it not long after. This is certainly going to be one of my first purchases once I hit the goal as this is going to go so well with jeans & those smart trousers I am hoping to pick up. The logo on this is just big enough to add a little extra to an outfit without being too in your face.

Prada Sunglasses

I have two great pairs of sunglasses at the moment however, I want to grow that sunglasses collection with some different pairs. As a treat for hitting my goal I am going to be splashing the cash a little and picking up a pair of Prada sunglasses. This Prada pair is the pair I seem to be getting dragged towards no matter how many other pairs I look at so I think these are going to be a definite purchase as soon as I can.

Smarter Glasses

I am in desperate need of new glasses however, I really don't want to be buying the perfect pair until I have settled on my weight a bit. This might seem silly however, I know my face shape will change due to the weight loss so I will stick to cheaper pairs now and then I can treat myself to the perfect pair that suits my face shape when that weight has gone. 

So those are the items I am planning on buying when I finally get to go on my big goal shop, I will be doing much smaller rewards for the little targets I hit on the way to my overall goal. These will be mainly items that help me push towards that big goal and those are...

Football Boots

I am always in need of football boots (although people will tell you I have too many pairs) so when I hit my first goal I am going to get myself a new pair for the season ahead. I already know which ones I am wanting so I just need to hurry up and hit that goal to be able to purchase them.

This might seem like a silly reward however, I feel like a slow cooker is going to come in very handy over the colder months as we can have food cooking away whilst I am at the football and we can ensure we are eating fresh home cooked meals which are much better than ordering takeaways.

Gym Outfits

These will be purchased on a budget and I am going to make my current gym wear last as long as possible however, the items are going to need replacing as my size changes so the plan is to replace them on the cheap but only buy what I really need so I am not wasting loads of money. 

Gym Footwear 

As I plan to spend more time in the gym and working out in general a few rewards are going to be gym footwear related. One will be a pair of running shoes when the time comes to replace my current and the other will finally be a pair of Metcons as I will be doing more weight work going forward, these have been on my wish list for a long time now so they will certainly be purchased as a reward for the hard work on my journey.

As I say these goal shop treats and rewards are just a few ideas of what I would love to pick up and there is time for these to change as time goes on but we will see how that goes. As I get closer to that big goal I might do and updated version of this post to see what still makes the cut and what I have decided I don't want anymore. 

What items would you pick up if you was on this journey?

See you soon, 

Lucy