Unpacking: September
A whirlwind month of work, staycays, fitness wins, and a little too much drilling
September honestly felt like it came out of nowhere. I was still catching up from August when suddenly the month was over before I even had a chance to think about how I wanted it to go. It wasn’t bad, just fast…like someone hit the fast forward button but didn’t tell me. There were highs, lows, a lot of work crammed in, and a few moments that made me stop and rethink how I want to pace things moving forward.
I’m not even sure how I expected this month to go because I barely realized September had arrived. I was so wrapped up in August that this month felt like it snuck up on me. It snuck up on me in a way that kind of took me by surprise. I don’t feel like I had a breather in between. However, as always, I wanted this month to be about getting ahead of things, consistency, self-care and productive.
My husband had to fly to the UK for his aunt’s funeral, which was obviously unplanned and unexpected. I stayed home to continue with work and was pretty much filming nonstop. Even though I was productive, I definitely overdid it and hit that wired but tired point. By the end of the month we made a new rule for ourselves: when work starts to feel hectic, we book a one night staycay. No drama, just a quick reset. It works. One night, good sleep, room service, pool and some perspective.
Event season has started in Dubai, and thankfully not as full force as last year. Last year it started with an event every other day with no gradual build up. This year it’s gradual….and in all honesty, I’ve already cancelled two events. I have the best of intentions, but I honestly don’t have the time to ‘mingle’ and I’m not desperate for a goody bag. I wish creator/brand events were fine tuned a bit more. The serious ones (like me) who run a business as an educational creator, don’t have time to go to a party for a brand every week (when in reality it’s the PR company who need to use up budget so that’s the best they can think of). Putting together events that allow creators to actually learn things about the brand (not the kind of info you can easily put on a leaflet), and meet the brand rep’s is far more useful than a dj, drinks and a goody bag.
Even though I pushed too hard while he was away, I’m glad I filmed as much as I did because I’m ahead now and it’s taken pressure off the next few weeks. I’m also happy I kept up with workouts on staycations. I actually prefer hotel gyms. There’s something about knowing a shower, robe, and zero chores are waiting that makes lifting feel easier and a bit more enjoyable.
I’m adding a fitness section because it’s not a phase anymore. I’ve gotten much stronger this year and I’m finally seeing clear changes in my muscle tone. I’ve done the PT phase, I’ve tried copying online routines, and here’s the truth: none of it sticks until you fix your food. Calories matter, but the biggest shift for me came from changing what I eat, not just how much. This month’s progress is really the result of a full year of consistent training plus smarter nutrition. Seeing results makes it easier to stay consistent, and that consistency is what’s paying off now. I’ll share the full breakdown soon.
The apartment two floors down has been renovating for six months and the drilling feels like it’s happening in my living room. I’m that person who doesn’t let things go when something’s not right, so yes, I’ve emailed multiple times. I understand people renovate (we probably will one day) but there needs to be structure. Loud work with drills shouldn’t be an all-week, all-day thing. Monday to Saturday from 10 to 5pm isn’t fair on residents who actually live here. Set days, set windows, and respect for the building would go a long way.
As I’m writing this, the apartment directly above me has started drilling. Its worse than the apartment noise from two floors down. I’m actually getting to the point where I’m not too sure what to do with the anger and frustration this is causing me. Do you ever get SO ANNOYED that you could scream? That’s me right now. Can you believe I have to wear my ear pods all day AND listen to music so drown out the drilling?! I don’t want to listen to music ALL DAY. I want to have complete silence. Rant over.
I found a few winners this month. The Zara linen barrel leg pants in chocolate are such a good fit…easy to dress up or down and they hold their shape. My star buy is an iPhone tripod from Amazon that collapses into a compact, slick little piece that fits into most handbags and extends up to 170 cm when fully set up…perfect for quick filming without dragging a full kit. I also grabbed cream ballet slingback peep-toe shoes from Zara; they’re simple, clean, and go with everything I’m wearing right now.
The Source Unknown caped trench coat keeps calling my name. It’s structured, layered, and has that elevated shape that makes a basic outfit look intentional. I’m also stalking the viral Zara leather jacket that sells out in minutes. I’m trying to decide if I keep chasing it or move on to something I can actually buy immediately.
I’m stuck on what to do with a few pieces that are now too big, especially the investment ones. My Loewe jeans could fit two of me at this point. I don’t want to sell because I love them, but I’m worried altering them will ruin the shape and the whole point of the design. If you’ve successfully tailored designer denim down a size (or two) and kept the original shape, tell me what worked!
The Louis Vuitton eyeshadow palette is impressive. It blends effortlessly, the color payoff is strong, and it wears well without fallout. It’s pricey, but the quality and ease of use make sense once you try it. I also fell for Patrick Ta’s Double Take Crème & Powder Blush in She’s Vibrant. It wakes up the face instantly, and the cream plus powder format gives you control over intensity and finish without settling into texture. I’ve also fallen back in love with the Sunday Riley retinol eye treatment. I never really fell ‘out of love’ with it, but I haven’t used it in a while. I use it around twice a week and my dark circles are drastically lighter after a week. Also the new Prada banana balm is in my bag at all times!
Love Is Blind UK has been a complete mess. It makes me wonder if people are taking marriage seriously at all. I know it’s a dating show, but saying yes when you’re not even close to 100% is hard to watch. On the other hand, I started Downton Abbey and I finally get it. You feel like part of the family, and it mirrors those little relationship snags we all deal with. It’s a reminder that the chaos and the closeness are part of the same thing, and that’s what makes family feel like home.
So that was September. Quick, slightly chaotic, but not without its wins. I ended the month feeling more balanced than I started it, which is all I can really ask for. October already feels like it’s gearing up to be busy, but if there’s one thing I’m keeping from this month, it’s the little resets…the staycays, the workouts, the small moments that make the chaos feel a bit lighter. Until next month’s unpacking, here’s to staying consistent and carving out more space for the things that actually matter.
Until next month…
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Who else feels like September went like lighting speed. What the hell. I had to cut my workout cause I had gotten a really bad hip pain that lasted almost a month. I’m going back at it now. Wish me luck.