So as quickly as it arrived, it looks like the British heatwave is over - for now at least! And while some people remain optimistic and continue to wear their summer sandals (hoping it might encourage the sun to come back), more and more of us have been forced to dig out our Autumn wardrobes again. Families who are flying abroad for their holidays can still enjoy some sunny, hot days around the Med thankfully, but even there the weather is nothing like what it was only a few weeks ago! So is it already time to pay your respects to the end of the British summer?

The drop in temperatures has not been drastic, but it’s happened so quickly it's harder for our bodies to acclimatise. You might find yourself feeling cold at 20°C! But before you start shopping for cosy jumpers, there are a few tips you can follow to wrap up warmly and enjoy your day out. For a start, you might want to keep your wellies in the boot - it might not rain, but it’s best not to take any chances when the sky is grey. Make sure to add some spare clothes too, so that if you get soaked you can change into dry and warm clothes easily. This is definitely important if you're going out and about with puddle loving children.

The end of Summer usually means heading to the shops for back-to-school wardrobes too. The choice for children is usually easy - school uniforms and quality shoes. But why not add a little something to put yourself in the mood too? You’ll find more inclined to forgive the cool temperatures after you’ve updated your collection of autumnal women's blouses, for instance. When the weather gets cold and rainy, it's the perfect time to update everyone's wardrobe!

The end of Summer if the best time to prepare your garden for the change in weather too. If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid the thunderstorms and intense rain in your area for now, you may need to keep an eye on the weather forecast (The East Midlands, East Anglia, Yorkshire and Humber regions have all been placed under a weather warning for risks of flooding). After several weeks of drought, you can expect the soil to be too dry to absorb the water, so you should prepare your garden for what there is to come. A compact soil will increase flood potential. Improve soil drainage and add a layer of gravel to take the pounding from the rain.

After such an intense heatwave, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the sudden weather change. But I find it gives me more motivation to think of the next few months. Back to school, Autumn wardrobes and before you know it, the Christmas season will be upon us!

This is a collaborative post.

5 Amazing Pregnancy Milestones

Pregnancy is the most wonderful journey, but my goodness is it hard. Your body goes through so many changes and you go through lots of new experiences. Towards the end of your pregnancy, you might start to get fed up with all of the back pain and sleepless nights, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get excited about it.

There are plenty of amazing things to look forward to though, and you will honestly never have another experience like it in your life. If you’re expecting for the first time, these are the pregnancy milestones that you can look forward to!

The First Positive Test 

Getting pregnant can be a struggle, and it can take some people a long time before it happens. That’s why the first positive test is such an incredible moment! After so many months of trying to get pregnant, it’s amazing when it finally happens. There’s no other feeling like it in the world when you see that positive test for the first time. And I'm sure if you're anything like me, the second, third and fourth with be just as exciting too.

The First Symptoms 

You wouldn’t think that you would celebrating those first yucky symptoms of pregnancy, but it is a good moment really, promise! It’s different for everybody, you might get morning sickness, constantly need the loo, or feel insationably hungry. Whatever it is though, it will probably be the first time that the pregnancy starts to feel real. And it's usually a positive sign that things are developing with the pregnancy.

The End of the First Trimester 

Most people keep their exciting news a secret for those first few weeks. But once you reach the end of the first trimester, you can start shouting about your pregnancy and buying all of the bits that you’ll need. Most people will tell you that this is the best period of pregnancy, because you aren’t too big and uncomfortable yet and the early pregnancy symptoms start to subside.

The First Scan 

Things will really start to feel exciting when you go for your first scan! Up until now, you haven’t been able to see your baby, but this is your first chance to get a look at your new baby, and maybe even listen to their heartbeat. It’s a momentous occasion that you will definitely remember forever. And the picture is so special some people even pop them in a personalised baby scan photo frame. 

The First Contraction 

After 9 months of strange symptoms, waiting and preparing, it’s finally time to meet your beautiful baby! Feeling that first contraction can be can scary, especially as you don't know what's to come. But you'll be wanting to do it a million times again to meet that baby of yours.

What are you most looking forward to? Congratulations and good luck!

This is a collaborative post.