And just like that, we’re in to August!
Oh this is a strange time isn’t it? In a lot of ways it feels worse than the start of lockdown – this limbo period where we’re not really sure what to do. I’ve not left the area where I live in Glasgow in almost five months, isn’t that crazy?
I see so many people going to pubs and even jetting off on holiday and I just… I’m really not sure what to do! It was easier when we were told to simply stay home!
Anyway, I thought I’d put together my usual monthly roundup because I have a little more on than usual this month! I can slowly feel some aspects of my life shifting back towards how things were, albeit in a very “new normal” sort of way.
01. Get ready to shoot! I really thought we wouldn’t be able to shoot Scotland’s Home Of The Year this year, we usually set off mid August so even though the show was recommissioned by the BBC a while back, it was a bit up in the air whether or not it could be done. Thankfully, some of the restrictions that would have made filming impossible were lifted and we’ll be able to head off next month.
It takes me a bit of time to get ready for all the travelling and filming; I need at least 14 outfits to wear – one for each of the 10 episodes, another for the show home filming, and then a few extra as backup. Plus a few comfy outfits for travelling too. It’s really tricky to find cute, comfy outfits that I feel good in, that aren’t black, white or will strobe on camera (anything like gingham etc.). Sometimes for the Islands episodes the homes are so far away from each other that we spread the filming over three days – which means wearing the same outfit for the whole time we film! So I really have to feel comfortable in whatever I wear. I’ve been searching my favourite online shops for comfy midis and jumpsuits, and I think I’ll buy a super warm jacket for the ferries and shooting on the Islands because the weather can be seriously cold and windy!
There’s also all the other bits; finding my suitcases and packing for a month away, getting prepped so I can post while I’m away, stocking up on a months worth of makeup etc, as well as finally getting my hair and nails done! So, lots to do but I’m excited to head off.
02. Work on renovation blog posts. Of course, I’ve got a whole spreadsheet of renovation blog posts I’d love to do, it’s just a problem of finding the time to get them all done. Renovation posts are tricky because it’s hard to know how much information to include, obviously I’d like to include as much as possible but I never have the time and then it just gets pushed further and further down my list. But it must be done, so I’m trying to make this a priority at the moment – fingers crossed I have something to show you soon.
I hate that when I leave to film the show, I basically go quiet for two months while we shoot because the days are so long and tiring. I’m really telling myself I’m going to get ahead with content this year!
03. A guest room makeover. We’ve done so well with getting this flat unpacked and looking good in just a few weeks of living here, but the spare room needs some serious TLC! The bedroom and office were easy to put together because we had everything from our old place, but we’ve got an extra bedroom now and we weren’t sure what to do with it. We don’t have a lot of overnight guests (like, ever!) because everyone lives nearby, but I think having a semi-guestroom setup will be handy for when our family come to visit. We plan to get a daybed and create a sort of relaxed room – somewhere we can retreat to for a cosy movie night for a change, plus extra storage for clothes etc.
I have big plans for the room so I’m hoping I can get it off the ground soon…
04. Our first gallery wall. I love that this is a goal for the month, but gallery walls are tricky to pull off. You might have seen in this post that we got a bunch of prints back from the framers so we need to find places for them, as well as put up a gallery wall above our dining table. It’s one of those things that takes forever to plan and psyche yourself up for, but it’s so worth it when it’s done. It’ll finish the whole room off perfectly.
So that’s my month in a nutshell. I’d love to squeeze a quiet little trip away in there somewhere but I’m not sure it’s doable. How does everyone else feel about this? It’s a tricky one isn’t it!
What’s new with you all?
