And now I feel all inspired and happy and just lovely! I hope you do too.

I'm having such a cosy September evening. We were both back at work today, but we both got away early. Last night's crockpot chicken was turned into fajitas with spelt flour tortillas, red peppers stirfried with smoked garlic, and a flax-enriched tomato salsa. Immediately after dinner the rain started.

I got my first book block stitched for Julie's journalling class. We're making our own journals for the first two weeks of September and then working on the insides for the last two weeks. You can see the journals we're making here. Tomorrow I'm going to paint up some gorgeous cover papers for and bind it.

I've also been doing a class over at Big Picture Scrapbooking with Jenni Bowlin. The class is Re-think, Re-purpose, Re-invent and it's all about finally using the little bits and pieces you've picked up at flea markets and yard sales. I have a beloved stash of keys, watch parts and flashcards that I don't know how to use. I would much rather be using them than keeping them precious and shut away. One of the key things in the course is building an inspiration board and this is mine - empty for now.

One of the things I treasure and protect in my own make up is positivity. When that falters, I know that something is out of kilter somewhere. At other times, I get a little jolt of joy when I realise anew that my default setting tends toward silver linings and gratitude.

A new month, a new season, a new school year - all reasons to reflect and renew. For the past couple of years we've both struggled with how to live better. For us, that means all kinds of things.

• living in line with our values
• protecting our relationship and building our home
• building connections with friends and family
• managing the stress and challenges of our careers in a positive, motivating way
• seeking our authentic selves: in bliss, in spirit, in being

This autumn we are committed to improving our health, living well so that we can live well. This isn't a new thing, I've always been a label reader, and I love to cook. We both love to walk. We both want to reduce our negative impact on this earth. Running along at the pace of modern live though, we've found ourselves unable to live the way we want to. Over the past two years we've tried to get that back, with mixed success. Our plan for the autumn goes something like this:

• making time for exercise in everyday life
• planning ahead so that we can eat what we want to eat and not get stuck with last minute choices which are usually less than ideal
• drastically reducing our intake of refined sugars and starches, as well as food additives
• getting our 5 a day, our necessary water intake and our essential fatty acids

Of course for me, it also means making time for art work and creativity. More on that later in the week.