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We’re getting closer to the holiday season, and a productive October is just behind us. Blogtober brought reflection, creativity, and a few lessons worth carrying forward. Here’s what’s on my mind as we step into November:

🍂 October Takeaways

- Planning ahead really does make seasonal content more enjoyable.

- Flexibility matters—some of my favorite moments came from spontaneous ideas.

- Cozy visuals and playful formatting helped me stay inspired.

🎄 November Intentions

I want to stay ahead this season so I can fully enjoy the little things:

- Decorating for the holidays

- Baking Christmas cookies

- Holiday shopping (with less stress!)

- Visiting festive events—maybe even enjoying a snowy white Christmas?

And of course, I almost forgot the Christmas calendar! In my household, it’s tradition to fill a calendar with hand-picked little gifts. It’s a ritual I love and plan to keep alive.

📦 But First

Before diving into December prep, I need to tidy up and organize the boxes I brought home from my parents’ house. I ended up with a little more than expected—letting go can be hard.

But that’s for next week. Today, I rest.

Cozy Vibes & Creative Sparks

October has been a whirlwind of cozy vibes, creative sparks, and pumpkin-spiced inspiration—and my final three Blogtober entries wrap it all up with a flourish.

Each October, I treat the creative output as a bonus. What really drives me is the chance to step outside my comfort zone, shake up my routines, and remind myself to enjoy the challenge. Blogtober becomes a gentle nudge toward growth—one cozy post at a time.

This year, though, I leaned into softness. I wanted to savor the season, embrace fall’s slower rhythm, and stay present in the little things. It was less about pushing boundaries and more about doing what I love—finding joy in creativity and sharing that warmth with others.

From reflective journaling spreads to a behind-the-scenes peek at my seasonal workflow, each post celebrates the magic of making something every day.

As the curtain falls on Blogtober, these last entries offer a warm hug of gratitude, a dash of spooky charm, and a nod to everything I’ve learned along the way.

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🍂 Fall Bucket List Check-In

Before we dive into the final takeaways, let’s revisit my Fall Bucket List and see how things stacked up:

• 🍂 Fall Roadtrip / Vacation Had an awesome trip—check my YouTube for a glimpse!
• 🍂 Visit a Haunted Attraction Did a haunted attraction the Sunday before Halloween (if you follow on Snapchat you will have seen it) 🎃
• 🌕 Try Fall Recipes I did one, but not quite as described…
• 🍂 Horror Weekend Not just one, but a horror movie and horror game weekend!
• 🌕 Fall Walks & Photography I went on at least one route, but the goal was three.
• 🕸️ Pick a Cozy Day of the Week for Fall-Inspired Rituals Still a work in progress!

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🍁 Reflections & Takeaways

I realized the need for better planning, smoother creative process execution, and time management.

But all in all, I’m pretty happy with what I did. I set out to learn, to try, to be consistent, and to challenge myself.

It’s a celebration of growth, creativity, and the joy of showing up—one cozy post at a time.

Thanks for joining me on this journey, and from my little corner of the internet to yours…

🎃👻 Happy Halloween!

Today’s Bullet Journal Highlights:

- 🍰 Savored a slice of cheesecake at a cozy café

- 🚶‍♂️ Took a chill stroll down a city street

- 🍲 Cooked soup from scratch for dinner (photo-worthy!)

- 🎥 Filmed the next YouTube video

- 👻 Got hilariously mad at a spooky game

Halloween is practically knocking—maybe you’re prepping a costume, maybe you’re just vibing with the decorations, or maybe you’re all about the thrill of trick-or-treaters at the door. Personally, I’m hyped for that part. But I’m also celebrating something extra special: tomorrow marks my two-year anniversary as a Twitch affiliate! 🎉

To celebrate, we’re diving into more fright fest video games and continuing a little tradition—Halloween hunting on Roblox. But that’s tomorrow. Let’s rewind to today.

I started with a peaceful stroll through the city, soaking in the crisp autumn air. Then I treated myself to a slice of cheesecake at a café, watching the world rush by through the window. Later, I got hands-on in the kitchen and made soup from scratch—it turned out pretty great, and yes, I snapped a photo for proof.

That cozy dinner also gave me some fresh material for Vlogtober’s final YouTube video. Now it’s editing time… cue the coffee and the late-night grind.

That’s a wrap for today. Check back tomorrow for the grand finale of Blogtober 2025—and maybe a few jump scares too.

Today felt like stepping into a postcard—if that postcard had muddy trails, the scent of decaying leaves, and the occasional sheep bleating in the distance.

I went for a walk. Not a power walk. Not a “content mission.” Just a walk. The kind where your breath fogs up in the cold air, but the sun sneaks warmth through your Timberland vest like it’s trying to apologize for October’s bite. I alternated between brisk and slow, letting my Merrell boots crunch through mixed terrain—gravel, grass, the occasional squish of something that used to be a leaf.

The trees were showing off. Reddish-brown leaves clung to branches like they hadn’t decided whether to fall yet. I stopped once or twice to snap a photo (because of course I did), but mostly I just tried to be present. To listen. To notice. Somewhere out there, birds flapped off the water and a sheep made its opinion known. I didn’t argue.

There’s something oddly comforting about the contrast—cold air, warm sun, decay and color, movement and stillness. It reminded me that I don’t need a big plan or a perfect moment. Just a vest, some boots, and the willingness to wander.

I should do this more often.

It’s still officially National Pizza Month, so I’m sticking to the diet for the rest of the month 🍕. Commitment looks a lot like extra cheese and fewer regrets.

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Car update

Quick car news: the amber “water in fuel” light wasn’t as critical as I feared — NAF and the garage mechanic both say it’s not urgent for now. I’ll still take the car in tomorrow for a check. Fingers crossed.

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Vlogtober Week 4 panic

Mild panic mode engaged: I haven’t shot or edited anything for Vlogtober Week 4 and Friday is the last day of October. Time to invent productivity via adrenaline.

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Coming events

- Friday is Halloween — and for once I already bought candy to hand out. Small victories, huge satisfaction.

- Also coming up: my Two-Year Twitch Affiliate Anniversary. Whoop whoop — celebrations and maybe some chaotic stream energy incoming.

- Bonus: I ended up doing Fright Fest on Twitch. It was oddly fun, despite me not being a big horror fan.

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Short and sweet

That’s about all I had to report today. Sometimes a post doesn’t need to be a long autumn essay or a nostalgic novella — this one’s just a snapshot.

I’d still love to hear your favorite fall foods or recipes over on Pinterest or Bluesky.

Thanks ✌️

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Looking ahead

Yes, I’m already thinking about Holiday Season content. Come December I’ll probably be just as gloriously underprepared as I was this month 😂.

Today a little warning icon lit up on my dashboard and, honestly, this wasn’t a post I planned to write. I hit Google Lens out of habit and let the AI give me the translation: water in the fuel filter. That’s the sort of sentence that makes you go very still and immediately start memorising tow company phone numbers.

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What the light means

The warning indicates water has accumulated in the fuel filter. That’s most common on diesel engines and it’s serious. Water in fuel can corrode parts, foul injectors, and wreck the fuel system if ignored. The light is specific and urgent. Do not treat it like a decorative dashboard sticker.

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How water might have got there

- Condensation in the tank after temperature swings between a hot day and a cool night.

- Contaminated fuel from a dodgy pump or bad batch.

- Compromised seals or a loose filler cap after a rushed fill-up while tired.

- Heavy rain and weird luck making an already unlikely chain of events happen to you today.

I had the car serviced a month ago so I’m leaning toward either condensation, a bad fill, or a dodgy sensor. Of course I also briefly blamed my sleep-deprived, half-screwed-on gas cap hypothesis because that’s my specialty.

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Immediate steps (what I’m doing)

- Don’t drive it if the manual says not to. The filter should be drained and inspected.

- I’ll call NAF tomorrow for roadside advice and, if needed, a tow to a shop. NAF is basically Norway’s answer to Triple A and also very patient with people who panic about lights.

- YouTube reconnaissance revealed that draining the filter on compact cars like my Yaris is fiddly and not exactly an inviting weekend project. This one looks like a mechanic’s job unless you enjoy crawling under low cars with tiny hands and a lot of swearing.

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Troubleshooting and likely outcomes

- Best-case: there was a bit of water in the filter from condensation or a dodgy pump, they drain it, check for contamination, and I’m back on the road with a story for Blogtober.

- Middle-case: they replace the filter, check the seals, and bill me a modest amount while I fume about being careless.

- Worst-case: sensor or wiring issue or deeper contamination that requires fuel system work. I’m hoping that’s not the case.

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Preventative moves I’ll take (and you might want to too)

- Keep the tank reasonably topped up to reduce condensation space.

- Use reputable fuel stations and avoid obviously grubby pumps.

- Check the filler cap properly after refuelling. It’s the tiny ritual that saves you grief later.

- Park sheltered when a storm is forecast.

- Schedule filter checks at regular service intervals and ask the mechanic to inspect seals.

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Quick verdict

Water in the fuel filter is a small problem with potentially big consequences if ignored. I’m calling NAF tomorrow, probably embracing a slightly humbler mechanic, and promising to report back with the drama and the invoice. If you ever see that light, stop, don’t drive, and get help.

I’ll update you as soon as I know whether this was a five-minute drain or the beginning of an automotive saga.

Usually I got the time down to the second, this year as I walked into the kitchen and looked at the wall watch I was a little confused though, how was the time already this much – then I looked at my phone and realized it wasn’t…

Fall back, yes. Two times a year it’s the same thing. But why?

🕰️ A brief, slightly cheeky history lesson:

Daylight Saving Time was first pitched by a British builder in 1907 who wanted more daylight for his evening bug hunts. The idea caught on during World War I, when governments realized they could save fuel by syncing human schedules with the sun. Fast forward through decades of debate, clock confusion, and sleepy Monday mornings — and here we are, still springing forward and falling back like it’s a national sport.

Does it make any difference today? I don’t know. Time will tell.

So it’s fall backward…

In Europe it’s the last Sunday in October, and in the States it’s the first Sunday in November. So now you know.

from my pinterest

🧠 Bonus thought while sipping coffee and staring at the wall clock:

Time is weird. It bends for daylight saving, stretches during road trips, and shrinks when you’re editing a video at 2 AM. But maybe that’s the charm — it’s not just about the hours we gain or lose, it’s about how we fill them. And if you’re lucky, you fill them with stories worth telling.

In the heart of the dark woods, where gnarled branches twisted like skeletal fingers against the moonless sky, I trudged along a narrow path, my flashlight casting a feeble glow.

Keep reading

Indoor Adventures, Indie Digs, and the Elusive Concept of Rest

Autumn is allegedly happening. Leaves are probably turning, squirrels are probably hoarding, and somewhere out there, someone is sipping a pumpkin-spiced something. I wouldn’t know. My seasonal exposure this week has been limited to brisk walks to the grocery store and the occasional glance out the window while waiting for my coffee to brew.

Instead, I’ve been deep in the digital trenches of NextFest Q4, Twitch-streaming my way through the indie underbrush. My mission: uncover the rough gems, the glitchy charmers, the games that make you go “wait, this is actually brilliant.” I’ve been tracking my playthroughs like a proud librarian of pixelated potential—does that count as daily blogging? Let’s pretend it does.

Sunday was a full-system shutdown. I slept. Not the cute kind of nap where you wake up refreshed and ready to conquer the world. No, this was the kind of sleep that hits the reset button on your brain and leaves you buffering until Tuesday. Maybe it was overdue. Three weeks of nonstop content creation will do that to a person. Or maybe I just needed a break from pretending I know what I’m doing.

I did manage to finish a show I started on Saturday, which feels like a small victory in the land of half-watched series and abandoned watchlists. And while I didn’t exactly conquer my to-do list, I did stare at it meaningfully, which is basically step one.

Next week’s goals include:

• 🧹 Tackling the housework I’ve been artfully ignoring.
• 💡Figuring out what to do for YouTube (open to suggestions, carrier pigeons, or divine inspiration).
• 🗓️ Attempting to invent a time management system that doesn’t involve panic and post-it notes.

November is creeping up, and with it comes the annual sprint toward holiday content. I can already hear the distant jingle of deadlines. But for now, I’ll take a breath, sip something warm, and remind myself that worrying is just my brain’s way of doing cardio.

Today was one of those “did a lot but still feels like I forgot something” kind of days. Let’s roll the highlight reel:

• 🚶 Walked to the grocery store (movement = motivation, right?)
• 🎬 Finished editing (finally!)
• 🎙️ Finished voice over (my mic and I are back on speaking terms)
• 📺 Uploaded to YouTube (🎉)
• 🏬 Went shopping for some clothes (more on that in a sec…
• 🎮 Played some delightfully weird game demos on Twitch

🎬 Editing Notes from the Trenches

CapCut is powerful, no doubt. But why—why—does it wait until export to tell you a feature is locked behind a paywall? That’s like baking a cake and only finding out at the end that the frosting is extra. Also, I miss color-coding and labeling clips. My brain thrives on visual chaos with structure, and right now it’s just… chaos.

🏬 The Shopping Bug Bites Again

I think I’ve got enough new clothes to last the season. Which is good, because I really didn’t want to catch the shopping bug again. I used to be a notorious clothes-and-shoes spree-er. Like, “just popping in for socks” and leaving with a new personality. But hey, at least I’m warm and stylish now.

📺 Now Playing: Slumber + Screen Time

Time to wind down with some TV and maybe brainstorm tomorrow’s post. Oh—and I need to update the NextFest Q4 post too. But that’s a problem for Future Me. Present Me is horizontal and not taking questions.