“I am made for autumn. Summer and I have a fickle relationship, but everything about autumn is perfect to me. Wooly jumpers, scarves, thick socks. The low slanting light, the crisp mornings, the chill in my fingers, those last warm sunny days before the rain and the wind. The moody hues and subdued palette punctuated every now and again by a brilliant orange, scarlet or copper goodbye.” – Alys Fowler

I don’t have a favourite season. Every time a new one starts, I am excited. In love.

I adore sparkling snowfall & balsam air. I am happy surrounded by springtime blooms. I bask in hot summer days, reading in the grass.

But with autumn, there is always something special. I think this quote by Alys Fowler captures it perfectly. It’s that slow new beginning, a time of change, a time to start again.

Every time Autumn comes around, I feel I’m almost taken by surprise. I look out the window one morning and it’s foggy and the leaves have changed colours and I go, ‘Oh, autumn is here. Hello.’

This year, I am prepared. I have anticipated. I think it was because Britain had an actual summer with hot weather and plenty of beach days. Autumn arriving is almost like a treat, a pumpkin spice latte in itself.

So I’ve been thinking. How do I make this autumn more magical than it already is?

I put together a list of lots of ways that you & I can celebrate autumn.

1. Long lies.

I’m not one for sleeping in. It makes me feel unproductive, like I’ve wasted time. So I have to plan when I’m going to have a long lie. How sad is that?

But… if you are someone who loves a long lie, autumn is the perfect time to do so. With the late sunrises and crisp morning air, staying cosy in bed is just lovely.

Make yourself a cup of tea, grab a book and snooze until the afternoon.

2. Reading spooky books.

This is the one I’m most excited for this Autumn. I’ve been reading seasonally this year so I can’t wait to set aside a whole month (hopefully!) of scary reads. On my list: Vicious and Vengeful by VE Schwab, The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo, and Lullaby by Leila Slimani. Other books that are perfect for October reading include:

1. Any Harry Potter book.
2. The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn. A middle-grade ghost story!
3. Bring Me Back by BA Paris. A psychological suspense with some twisted romance.
4. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware. Things go wrong during a hen do? That’s what I get from the blurb!
5. The Cabin at the End of the World. A horror story that happens in a hidden away cabin. Spooky!

There are so many amazing scary stories out there!

3. Pumpkin Spice Latte

Basic, I know. But delicious. Especially with oat milk.

4. Visit a pumpkin patch

I don’t think I’ve done this since I was really young, if ever. I have told my husband that it’s happening this autumn. I can’t wait!

5. Fall decor

There are tons of great ways you can decorate your home for fall. Some ideas:

1. Candles. Obviously. Lots of candles.
2. TK Maxx – they always have affordable seasonal decor.
3. Autumnal wreath on your door.
4. Pumpkins. They make great centerpieces, real or fake!
5. Throw cushions. Get 2 or 3 autumnal throw cushions. It’s such a small task but can really create a great autumn vibe.

6. Bake cookies

Or cake, or bread, or whatever else you like to bake. Some great autumn flavours are:

1. Apple & Cinnamon. YUM.
2. Gingerbread.
3. Pecan.
4. Caramel.
5. Pumpkin.
6. Orange.

So many possibilities. Thank you, Pinterest.

7. Collect and press leaves

I love the bright burning colour of the leaves during these months. I wish I could have them all over my house. But that’s just not practical.

Someone suggested picking & pressing leaves and I thought: what an awesome idea!

This article shares a few ways to do it well.

8. Walks at dusk or dawn

This is possibly one of my favourite things about this part of the year. I love that I don’t have to rise super early or stay up super late to see the sun doing its thing. I just have to go outside at normal times. I’ve already enjoyed some sunrise walks.

The air is crisp, fresh. It smells how it should, unpolluted and wild. No one else has really risen yet, you can see your breath, your cheeks go rosy. It’s just the best.

9. Write poetry

This was another one suggested to me. I wouldn’t have thought it myself but when I looked up autumn quotes, I realised how easy it is to write about autumn. So, take a notebook & pen to the park and write about what you see. It’ll truly be an afternoon to remember.

10. Apple picking

This could go along with visiting a pumpkin patch! This is another thing I never do that I’ve always really wanted to. Apples just scream autumn. I know it will really get me excited for the season!

11. Toast marshmallows

Yum. Yum. Yum. S’mores!

We have a fireplace in our home so this has been on our radar for a while. We’ll definitely be lighting a fire and enjoying s’mores very soon.

12. A weekend away in the mountains

This is a little more adventurous but it’s such a great idea. If you can escape for a weekend, why not? We’re going this weekend up north to be amidst the beautiful landscapes of Aviemore. I’m so excited to get be cosy by night and outside by day. Plus, we’re bringing the dog.

13. Watch scary movies

Last but definitely not least: Scary movies! It’s not autumn without a little fear, right? Here are some of my top picks:

1. Orphan. A twisted psychological thriller about an adopted girl. There’s something wrong with Esther.
2. The Univited. This one is WAY too scary for me to watch. It’s a horror movie with lots of secrets and plot twists.
3. Hocus Pocus. A little less scary but still great.
4. Monster House. Again, a kids movie but has that classic Halloween feel to it.
5. When a Stranger Calls. One of my all time favourite scary movies! It’ll give you goosebumps.

And that’s it. I do hope that you have a lovely autumn & can enjoy all things spooky and delicious. Let me know what else you recommend doing over these months 🙂