Cuppa Cozy & Other Fall Favorites
I'm collaborating today with my childhood friend, Rachel, and her lovely new blog over at The Coziness Curator. We're two old friends sharing our favorite ways to celebrate and enjoy fall. Please share your favorite in the comments!
If you're a mother or love little people in your life, use the Five Senses section of this post to help little hearts lean into the season. Keep a record in a nature notebook, scavenger-hunt-style!
Please enjoy browsing and remember – everyone’s seasons look different. I barely decorated for fall one year when we had a lot going on. I want to encourage you to embrace that challenge and don’t put pressure on yourself for an aesthetic that creates more stress than joy. Do what brings you joy in this season of change, and let the rest go!
From Rachel:
Fall is a season of change, and for me, how I embrace it looks different every year. This year, I’m in the middle of a changing life season, and my fall activities are reflecting it. I’ve been doing more of the old and familiar, grounding rhythms that have beat in the background throughout my life. Remember, sometimes the simplest things are the ones that make the biggest memories. Don’t try to live up to someone else’s traditions (or that adorable bucket list you found on Pinterest). What is best for them is likely not what’s best for you. You’re allowed to take it slow, one step at a time, and make your own memories along the way.
Books for the Mood-Reader
Rachel's Recs:
Trixie Belden #5 - Mystery off Glen Road
Persuasion - Jane Austen
Bleak House - Charles Dickens
Wives and Daughters - Elizabeth Gaskell
Who Gets the Drumstick? - Helen Beardsley
Children's Books:
Bear Feels Sick - Karma Wilson
Bear Says Thanks - Karma Wilson
Little Blue Truck - Alice Schertle
Counting Blessings - Eileen Spinelli
Caroline's Recs:
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Books by Katherine Reay
Movies and TV Shows for Chilly Nights
Rachel's Recs:
Hallmark All of My Heart trilogy
Little House on the Prairie (season 5 especially has a lot of fall foliage)
vintage Chip & Dale (Food for Feudin’, Winter Storage)
Winnie the Pooh
You’ve Got Mail
Caroline's Recs:
Sound of Music
Downton Abbey
Gilmore Girls
Pumpkin Pie Wars if you’re a Hallmark movie person!
Victoria
The Crown
Quality-Time Activities
Rachel's Recs:
opening the windows
visiting a local coffee shop and curling up with a book
decorating the house for fall (see list below)
Decor Tips:
old books
unscented taper candles
layers and layers of throw blankets
Caroline's Recs:
Borrow a small person if you have one handy and take them to a corn maze, apple or pumpkin patch, or some other seasonal activity.
Bake something! Joanna Gaines' Magnolia magazine and Southern Living are great resources or the Half Baked Harvest blog.
Pick up heirloom pumpkins + mums at your local nursery. Bonus points if you bring a friend along!
Find a local fall festival!
The Five Senses of Fall
For more tips on embracing the five senses of each season, check out Welcome Home by Myquillyn Smith!
Sight
Rachel's Recs:
leaves swirling down onto the road
long walks in the fall colors
Caroline's Recs:
Fall foliage: bring it inside if you can! Kids can create leaf-rubbings to decorate with.
Heirloom pumpkins
Sound
Rachel's Recs:
old jazz records and playlists
Caroline's Recs:
Smell
Rachel's Recs:
Caroline's Recs:
Candles
Simmer pot with cloves, cinnamon sticks, oranges
Diffuser
Touch
Rachel's Recs:
crocheting an afghan
jigsaw puzzles (especially fall-themed)
Caroline's Recs:
Bath accessories if you love unwinding in a hot bath on chilly nights
Fuzzy blankets
A new cardigan, because cardigans solve all problems. Especially these from H&M.
Taste
Rachel's Recs:
local apple cider
pumpkin bread (with cream cheese icing)
pumpkin pie with whipped cream
Caroline's Recs:
We all know and love cinnamon, but here are some others to add to your repertoire!
Cardamom
Allspice
Cloves
Curry and turmeric for savory dishes
P.S. from Rachel: Want more hygge in your life? I’ve got just the thing for you! With idea lists and plenty of space for you to create your own, this little booklet will inspire you to incorporate cozy into every season of the year. You’ll find ideas for activities, getting your home ready for the season, journal prompts, and more! All I want in return is a chance to share more coziness with you. When you invite me into your inbox, I’ll share new blog posts, simple recipes, and encouragement to slow down and give yourself grace to live in a rhythm that’s natural for you. Click here and I'll send it to you!