from my commonplace book ♥ quotes for . . . autumn

from my Commonplace Book to yours...

a collection of quotes for A U T U M N ♥

May these words bring delight to your heart and a bit of magic to your days.

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I just remembered it's the first day of autumn and my soul melted into a chorus of hallelujahs and this picture here seemed a fitting way to mark our entrance upon the season of mighty trees and falling leaves and child-hearted awe at all the change and beauty. Let us rejoice in the most soulish and vivid of seasons. Let the cider making, cake baking, hill walking, boot wearing, scarf swathing, leaf collecting, storytelling, fireside kindling, candle lighting, soup making, berry collecting, pumpkin piling, and long novel reading days begin.

~ Sarah Clarkson ~

Fall: bright flame before winter's deadness; harvest; orange; gold; amber; cool nights and the smell of fire. Our tree-lined streets are set ablaze, our kitchens filled with the smells of nostalgia: apples bubbling into sauce, roasting squash, cinnamon, nutmeg, cider, warmth itself. The leaves as they spark into wild color just before they die are the world's oldest performance art, and everything we see is celebrating one last violently hued hurrah before the black and white and silence of winter. Fall is begging us to dance and sing and write with just the same drama and blaze.

~ Shanua Niequist ~

Tonight I'll be venturing into the attic, pulling down our sweaters and blankets, and preparing the house for the colder months. Homemaking is like embroidery; small stitches come together to create a beautiful piece of art. Every homemade meal, hand-picked bouquet, or second-hand find is another detail woven into our home's tapestry. The change of seasons always reignites my love of all things home.

~ Samantha Lindsey ~

For as long as she could remember, she had the thought that autumn air went well with books, that the two both somehow belonged with blankets, comfortable armchairs, and big cups of coffee or tea.

~ Katarina Bivald ~

A wood cook stove burning, a good kind of clutter that fills the rooms with abundance and life, the kettle always ready for hot drinks, cozy colors and decorations...it's cold outside, but the warmth of the home is inviting and rich, bringing joy and comfort to all who gather.

~ Homespun and Harvest ~

October is cinnamon embers, earl grey tea slowly steeping into swirls of amber, sunshine kissing the edges of braided clouds lined with purples bruises, confetti leaves, crushed wild apples slipping under your boots, and an ageless giddiness that leans in deep and lingers in your hair like spidery tendrils of smoke. November is fog peeking from between groves of skeleton trees, frost nibbling your fingers, film noir and Victorian novels piled on your bedside table, brewed coffee swirled with dark chocolate, heavy wool rainstorms, and burning greyscale photographs.

~ The Wandering Rose Child ~

 Autumn inspires so much hope and optimism. Here we are, another year, teetering on the cusp on seasonal change, the late summer sweetly clings on until the autumn arrives to duly allay her of duty. The fall offers those who are willing to embrace- contentment, encouragement, compassion, and solace. She is a gentle soul, a comforting blanket with a familiar scent, a patchwork of deep crimson and gold; every stitch, heartfelt and affectionate. She is a fine tapestry, a mosaic of homespun wonder, draped tenderly between two worlds, gifting endless opportunity to repair hearts and atone mistakes. She is calm and subdued yet still provides a sense of spirited liberty. Each year with a loving heart, she relinquishes all our feats and grants us the strength and courage to start over again.

 

~ The Little Wildflowers ~

Autumn evenings are drawing in. It's that time of year when we light the fire and enjoy our teatime together listening to the crackling of logs and watching that warm glow.

~ Remembering the Old Ways ~

I am made for autumn. The low slanting light, the crisp mornings, the chill in my fingers...moody hues and subdued palate punctuated every now and again by a brilliant orange, scarlet, or copper goodbye.

~ Alys Fowler ~

I'm so, so, so ready for autumn where everything is covered in brown sugar and cinnamon. The air smells of woodsmoke and the leaves fall like glittering jewels. A mosaic of red and gold leaves, brisk October nights, pumpkin pie and apple cider, and Halloween scenes of jack o' lanterns and grinning children dressed as ghouls and ghosts and beasties.

~ Poems for the Moon ~

I love the chill of October days, when the brown leaves lie thick and sodden underneath your feet...the evenings in late autumn time, when the white mist creeps across the fiends, making it seem as though old Earth, feeling the night air cold to its poor bones, were drawing ghostly bedclothes round its withered limbs.

~ Jerome K. Jerome ~

The crackling of the fire, pull up a seat, and warm yourself. Sunday roast with friends. Late afternoon countryside walks. Long shadows at golden hour. Breathe in deep. Crisp air and rich earth. Changing leaves and windfall apples. These are a few of my favorite autumnal things.

~ Kyle Campbell ~

Those chilly mornings have been so soothing to my soul. Pulling on my coat and hat for the morning's walk, watching the windows fog around the edges as I wash up the breakfast dishes, hot cups of coffee of which chilly fingers wrap. I could wax on, but I think my point has come across...I'm a cool weather person.

~ Sarah Dockery ~

October, baptize me with leaves! Swaddle me in corduroy and nurse me with split pea soup. October, tuck my candy bars in my pockets and carve my smile into a thousand pumpkins. O autumn! O tea kettle! O grace!

~ Rainbow Rowell ~

The magic of autumn to winter - my absolute favorite thing about these seasons is the way it feels like being a part of a grand celebration surrounded by dancing fairies.

~ Poems for the Moon ~

October is crisp days and cool nights, a time to curl around the dancing flames and sink into a good book.

~ John Sinor ~

The sudden chill in the morning air tells me that fall has arrived. It's time to move my coziest clothes to the front of my closet and light a few of my most delicious smelling candles. Soon, dinner will be simmering on the stove all day while countless cups of tea will be sipped.

~ Christen Hammons ~

 

nestling in & cozying up . . . inspiration for the longer nights of autumn & winter

As autumn marches on, the golden light of afternoon and early evening slowly fades a bit earlier each day, bringing the darkness of night sooner than the day before. Soon, the time will change and we will turn our clocks back, and of course, that means that we get an extra hour of darkness each night. Where I live, that means that come late autumn and early winter, it will be completely black outside shortly before five in the evening. Some places in the world experience even less daylight and see their nights come as early as three in the afternoon, and yet other places are even earlier than that whilst still, there are other places that experience near total darkness for a particular time each year.

As autumn gently rolls on, the nights are coming earlier as the sun sets earlier and earlier with each passing day. The curtains are drawn earlier in in the evening and we find ourselves settling in for long winter nights ahead. Some folks really struggle at the time of year, and yet others thrive at this change. I happen to be in the second category. As some folks struggle with colder weather and longer nights and rainy and snowy scenes out their windows, I am a person who absolutely thrives in that sort of weather. In the summer, however, with the heat and intense sunlight and such, I find that to be a real struggle. I honestly hate summer with a passion! The fact is, we are each unique and different, when it comes to this sort of thing, no way is right or wrong. It's simply a matter of preference and taste as well as how your body is wired. I would much rather it be freezing cold outside and rainy or snowy and overcast and grey for days on end than spend one day with bright sunshine and warm to hot temperatures. Maybe you can relate, maybe you're the exact same, or maybe you think I'm crazy. But that sort of moody, cozy weather makes me come A L I V E ! And I never feel more like myself than on days like those.

 One thing that is true is that, no matter what, the days are going to get shorter and the nights longer as the autumn comes and tiptoes along, whether you like it or not. And the best thing to do is enjoy it as best you can. After all, those of us who despise summer must find ways to enjoy it as much as we can as well. Complaining only makes it worse, for you and for those around you. 

So, how do you enjoy these longer nights of autumn and winter? Well, coming from someone who absolutely adores this time of year, I have a few ideas and thoughts on the matter.

 

I am of the very, very firm belief that you must make your home into a haven. You need a cozy and safe and nurturing space, at any time of year, but especially when it's colder outside and you find yourself indoors earlier and more often. Bring out the blankets and throw pillows and layer up your bed and sofa and chairs. Every single sitting space in our home has at least one throw blanket draped over the arm or back of it. Our beds become like lasagna at the time of year...we layer it up. A flannel sheet, one or two blankets, and a thick comforter. And let me tell you, I never sleep better than I do in the cold months with all those cozy layers. Make sure any blankets you are setting out are soft and comfortable to use...there's nothing worse than a scratchy blanket. Be sure to make your pets' corners cozy, too. Our kitties love laying on our beds and the sofa just as much as they love their little cat corners. We add blankets and layers to their beds and baskets, too. After all, our home is their home, too, and they need to be as comfy and cozy as possible.

 Choose cozy and warm over white or beige and minimal and sparce. There's nothing homey or cozy about minimal, colorless, airy, empty spaces. You don't want your home to feel sterile, stark, and bleak. Decorate your home with personal touches and add color as much as possible. You don't want your home to be depressing, so have fun with it! Turn off that overhead lighting and instead, choose soft lamplight and candles or lanterns or fairy lights. My goal is to make our home feel as much like a hobbit hole as possible, and I am often inspired by the illustrations of favorite children's books, such as Brambly Hedge, when it comes to getting ideas for making a cozy home. Open your curtains, even if it's grey or cloudy out. I love seeing the beauty of nature's passing seasons outside my window...our cats love it, too. You can even string some lights outside and get to enjoy them in the evenings as well.

There's no such things as bad weather, just the wrong clothing. I really believe and stand by that statement. Try to get outside every single day, even if it's just for 15 minutes. Taking a stroll down the street or through a park is a way to breathe in that fresh, clean, crisp air this time of year. I just love the way the air smells when it's cold outside; it's so much better and way more refreshing and invigorating than the stinky, heavy, stale air of summertime. Just sayin'. Make sure you are dressed properly, with enough layers to keep yourself warm. I've read that the best way to keep warm is to wear multiple layers, and I find that to be true.

As for daily clothing, I believe in comfy, cozy, casual and simple. I want to wear clothes that feel good against my skin and make me feel comfortable, both figuratively and literally. Sweaters and sweatshirts and dresses with cardigans over them, leggings or jeans, and a favorite pair of boots with thick, warm sock are my favorite outfits. Give me all the cozy clothes, I just love them! Just as you make sure your bed is comfy and soft, you need to choose pajamas that are comfy and soft and warm. Flannel pj pants and a cotton T-shirt or sweatshirt (depending on how cold it is) are my favorites. And yes, I do love sleeping in socks. Oh, don't forget a comfortable and warm pair of slippers to wear around the house. And then enjoying the relaxation and calming benefits of a warm shower (unrushed!) is also a perk to the colder months.

  

In the colder months, making sure to warm yourself from the inside out is also important. Drinking plenty of warming drinks, such as hot herbal teas or heathy hot chocolate with nourishing marshmallows (yes, such things actually exist!) are my two favorites. I'll have a couple of posts later this month all about my favorite warming drinks, so keep your eyes out for that. (One is coming tomorrow!) I also do not believe that when it's cold outside is the time to be eating cold meals. Bring on the soups and stews and pot pies and roast chicken dinners and all the foods that are both nourishing and comforting. I hope to share recipes along those lines (nourishing and comforting) throughout the autumn and winter months, which I'm excited about. 

Make fun and magic abound in ordinary days and nights when it's cold and grey outside. Read books. Flip through magazines. Bake something scrumptious. Go for a walk. Take a drive and bring your camera. Watch a movie. Have a marathon of your favorite TV show. Redecorate or rearrange a room. Draw, paint, sew, knit, crochet, embroider. Sing, dance, play an instrument. Make a special dinner by candlelight with just your family. Have a tea party. Build a snowman or make a snow angel. Journal or write. Do yoga. Clean out your fridge or that junk drawer or a closet. Reorganize areas of your home. Play with your pets. Go to the library or peruse a bookstore. Go to a coffee shop and get something yummy. Attend a concert or a play or a musical. Build an indoor fort with blankets and pillows and string twinkle lights inside it...whether or not you have children. Read picture books. Read some poetry. Have a game night. Sit around the firepit outside and make smores. Go out late at night and stare at the moon and stars and say "hello" to them...your nighttime friends. Make hot chocolate and serve it in a pretty mug. Have a soup and bread night. Take a warm shower or bath...and take your time. Buy some fresh flowers and breathe in their scent. Go jump in some puddles on a rainy day. Smile. Laugh...especially at yourself. Lighten up. Have fun and make fun. Recognize life's magical moments. Follow Mary Oliver's words of wisdom and never stop being whimsical.

Slow down and rest. Nature is life's wisest and gentlest teacher...follow the example of Mother Nature and hibernate. Even humans need a season of resting and slowing down and of hibernating, just as the plants and creatures of earth do. We, too, are nature, and we need that just the same as other parts of nature do. This needs to be a priority during the autumn and winter months. Make sure you are getting enough sleep each night, and taking naps when or if you need them...and not feeling guilty for doing so. Eating healthy, nourishing, comforting and warming meals and sipping drinks that warm you from the inside out. Getting fresh air daily and moving your body in gentle ways. All of these things, along with slowing down and resting (which doesn't just mean sleeping) also help to prevent colds and flus and other seasonal illnesses from bothering you. 

This time of year invites us to be gentler, kinder, and softer to and with ourselves. And to show ourselves compassion and patience. Making sure your evenings and mornings are slow and gentle, without stress and unnecessary speed are ways to start and end your day in a soft way. Bring some bits of beauty and delight to your days...Not every day or night has to be grand, but even just a small thing such as having a cup of tea before bed in a favorite mug can bring joy where before you might have been down on the weather.

Each of these things, whilst in and of themselves don't seem special, when done mindfully and in harmony with one another, they can transform your autumn and winter and those longer, colder nights. It's kind of like magic...the more you do these things, the more you'll find yourself enjoying this time of year and maybe even craving it, too. There's not a one-size-fits-all to this; simply take what works for you and add to it. The main thing is that we need to transform our thoughts of dread and boredom and blahs about this time of year to those of excitement and anticipation and wonder and magical creativity and imagination. A time to love home and celebrate coziness. 

So, dear ones, light those candles, bake that bread, ladle those bowls of stew, get out those fuzzy socks and cozy on in...these earlier nights are the time to bring some delight and beauty and magic to our homes...and have fun whilst savouring every bit of it!

autumn notes from home ♥ an october series for the home-loving heart

October is finally here, dear readers. The air is slowly cooling down and there's a distinct scent of autumn as the breeze blows. Pumpkins are gracing front porch steps and the inspiration to cook meals that simmer low and slow, for hours on end, has taken over. I'm an autumn (and winter) girl, so this is my time of year. I love everything about it...I could ramble on and on about all the things that make this season so special, but I'll spare you. As soon as I turn the calendar to October, I long for that day when a sweater and boots and thick, warm socks are needed, when I can take a walk outside and admire the crimson and golden leaves on the trees, and breathe in the fresh, crisp air of an autumn day. Oh, how that delights me to absolutely no end! And on that note, I am so very delighted to announce this October's blog series...

Autumn Notes from Home. 

This series is simply a celebration of some of my most favorite things...the glimmers in my everyday life, things that delight me and bring me happiness, all centered around my belief in living a life rooted in home and nature, and most definitely inspired by the hobbits. {{smiles}} I have a feeling that if you are reading this, you love those same things. October on my blog always means a month-long series, and for the last handful of years, I have written about coziness, in many different regards. The cozy life is something I am a very firm believer in. And this series is no different. The hobbit life, to me, exudes coziness, and I think that hobbits are some of the biggest connoisseurs of coziness. And I am inspired by the hobbit life for this month's series. 

You are warmly invited to join me this month for 31 days of brand-new posts celebrating autumn, coziness, and life's simple pleasures from one home-loving heart to another...

 Autumn has always been a time of gathering in, of cozying up, and of nestling into all the comforts of home. From warming and comforting meals prepared with love laid out on a candlelit table to adding touches of autumnal delight to the mantle and bookshelves and placing a few pumpkins on the front porch steps to greet those passing by to tucking ourselves in a bit earlier and losing ourselves in the pages of a book. It's all these little things and more that make autumn such a special time of year. It truly is the time for home, and that's exactly what I plan on celebrating this month through this series. I am taking notes from the hobbits whose homes meant comfort..."good food, a warm hearth, and all the comforts of home."

It is my hope and desire that this series sparks inspiration, hope, happiness, and the excitement in creating the life you love, all inspired by the hobbit life. Take my words and ideas and make them your own, make them personal to your own heart and soul. Simply let my ramblings and musings be the seeds that will be planted through this series and perhaps a bit of the rain that encourages them to grow.  To encourage you to truly notice, savour, and enjoy life's little magical moments. Then you go from there and watch them grow. I genuinely believe that's where life's richness lies, and yet so few actually see and feel and breathe and taste and know it. My hope is to inspire you towards exactly that. To do what Tolkien said and celebrate a simple life. My heart with this series is that you'll be able to come here each day in October and find something that sparks beauty, magic, and whimsy in your day.

Along with all the daily posts, The Cozy Wallflowers Book Club will be going on. I'm a firm believer that one of the best parts of a hobbit-inspired life, at autumn or any other time of year, includes lots and lots of reading and huge piles of books. So a book club throughout this series just seems fitting. We will be reading In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace and the discussion for that book will be on Thursday, October 24th. I do so hope you'll be joining me! ♥

 

This is a series truly from my heart to yours, my dear reader. 

I'd like to imagine us having a warm, heart-to-heart conversation on a gorgeous front porch, on a wicker hanging swing and Cracker Barrel rocking chairs, mugs of steaming herbal tea warming our hands, blankets draping over our laps as a chilly breeze blows around us. There's a carpet of colorful fallen leaves in front of us and the sun is gently setting, the sky a watercolor masterpiece of soft reds and golden orange. Cafe lights strung on the porch ceiling and candles are lit on the table giving all the cozy autumn vibes. And we chat until the moon and stars are our companions. It's super casual and comfortable...just having a heart chat about the things that make the fire in your soul come alive a bit more.

That's what I really, really hope this series is for you...and for me.

Be sure to come for a visit all October long, with a warm drink in hand. To catch up on the posts in this series, you can either click on the page link at the top of my blog, or you can click on the series button on the sidebar of my blog. Either one will take you to a page that has all the posts linked there, in order, and I will be updating that list every few days with the newest posts.

(Do let me know if you'll be joining me this month for much autumnal fun!)

I'll see you tomorrow...♥ ♥ ♥

🎅☃️✨❄️🎄a collection of my christmas favorites 🎄❄️✨☃️🎅

"Paddington found that Christmas took a long time to come. Each morning, when he hurried downstairs, he crossed the date off the calendar, but the more days he crossed off the farther away it seemed...

The excitement in the Browns' house mounted, until it reached fever pitch a few days before Christmas, when Jonathan and Judy arrived home for the holidays. But if the days leading up to Christmas were busy and exciting, they were nothing compared with Christmas Day itself...

The Browns were up early on Christmas morning-- much earlier than they had intended. It all started when Paddington woke to find a large pillow-case at the bottom of his bed. His eyes nearly popped out with astonishment when he switched his torch on, for it was bulging with parcels, and it certainly hadn't been there when he'd gone to bed on Christmas Eve...

When he made his way up to bed later that evening, his mind was in such a whirl, and he was so full of good things, he could hardly climb the stairs- let alone think about anything. He wasn't quite sure which he had enjoyed the most. The presents, the Christmas dinner, the games, or the tea- with the special marmalade-layer birthday cake Mrs. Bird had made in his honour. Pausing on the corner half way up, he decided he had enjoyed giving his own presents best of all."

- an excerpt from More About Paddington by Michael Bond -

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A collection of my Christmas favorites...

Festive Things to Watch:

♥ Our List of Favorite Christmas Movies ♥

🎄Home Alone

🎄Home Alone 2

🎄Home Alone 3

🎄Home Alone 4

🎄The Santa Clause

🎄The Santa Clause 2

🎄The Santa Clause 3

🎄Eloise at Christmastime

🎄Christmas with the Kranks

🎄To Grandmother's House We Go (with the Olsen twins)

🎄How the Grinch Stole Christmas (with Jim Carrey)

🎄Holiday in Handcuffs

♥ Our List of Runners-Up Favorites ♥

🎄The Christmas Card

🎄The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

🎄The Christmas Gift (with John Denver)

🎄Samantha: An American Girl Holiday

🎄A Heartland Christmas

🎄Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas

🎄Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

🎄Christmas Vacation

♥ Our List of Favorite Non-Christmasy Movies that Still Feel Very Festive ♥

❄️Snow Day (kinda cringey but nostalgic)

❄️The Sound of Music (this time of year calls for musicals)

❄️Newsies: The Broadway Musical 

❄️Little Women (1994)

❄️Harry Potter movies (especially the first one)

❄️The Hobbit trilogy 

❄️The Lord of the Rings trilogy 

❄️Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

♥ Our Favorite Festive TV Shows & Specials ♥

🎄Call the Midwife: Each season begins with a Christmas special, and they are just that...very, very special. I adore them all!

🎄The Middle: Each season has a Christmas episode. And each one is hilarious, heartwarming, and such fun!

🎄Downton Abbey: I love the Christmas special from season 2. The most memorable moment, of course, is when Mary finally accepts Matthew's proposal!

🎄7th Heaven: The Christmas episode in season 3 is one of my absolute favorites of all time! I must watch it every year! There are a couple more in the later seasons, but Season 3's episode has my heart.

🎄Agatha Raisin: The Christmas episode on this show is downright crazy, but it's all done in true Agatha Raisin fashion. And I just think it's so much fun!

🎄Gilmore Girls: I will mention the Gilmore Girls' Christmas episodes from seasons 1 and 7. However, I must say that they don't feel particularly Christmasy to me. But I'm including them, because I do love the show...I must say that I do really wish they had more truly holiday-themed episodes.

Festive Things to Listen To:

Seth MacFarlane's Christmas albums: I'm absolutely loving these this year...it's pretty much the only Christmas music I'm listening to. I'm just really loving them! The songs are some of my most favorites, too....and they all just feel so Christmasy and nostalgic and wonderful!

I'm rather particular about the kind of Christmas music I like. I've learned that I prefer music that feels super nostalgic and am usually not a fan of the more modern stuff and especially the modern Christmas songs that singers come out with. They don't feel Christmasy to me at all and are just really missing that "feel" that festive songs should have in my opinion. (For example, Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You". If I hear that one more time, I feel like my ears will fall off!)

So, with that said, Seth MacFarlane's albums hit the target perfectly. I also adore Andy Williams, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Burl Ives' Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer soundtrack, The Carpenters, Johnny Mathis, Josh Groban, and Michael Bublé.

I'm also a lover of Celtic Christmas music...obviously. Celtic music is where my heart lies. Some of my favorites are Orla Fallon, Celtic Thunder, Emmet Cahill, and Celtic Woman. (I'm still dreaming of a Christmas album from The High Kings one day!) And in recent years, I've learned that I absolutely love instrumental music. Like, I just cannot get enough of it. My two favorites for Christmas are: An Irish Country Christmas and the Fiddlers' Christmas. We play these two CDs all the time! Finally, I adore soundtracks any time of year, but at Christmas, there are a few that I especially enjoy. The top one being the Home Alone soundtrack. It's nearly all instrumental and it's all remarkably glorious! It sounds like pure heavenly bliss!

 

Festive Things to Read (& Festive Cookbooks):

❤️Christmas From the Heart of the Home by Susan Branch

💚Christmas Teas of Comfort and Joy by Emilie Barnes

❤️Christmas Joy by Susan Branch

💚Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon

❤️A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh

💚Merry Ex-Mas by Courtney Walsh

❤️A Match Made at Christmas by Courtney Walsh

💚Finding Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

❤️Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

💚Kissing Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

❤️Any Gooseberry Patch Christmas cookbooks

💚Any Taste of Home Christmas cookbooks

❤️An Old-Fashioned Christmas by Ellen Stimson

💚A Quilter's Christmas Cookbook

Festive Things to Do (Our Favorite Traditions):

✨ Take our favorite hot drink in a travel cup and drive around looking at Christmas lights.

✨Have a big cookie/treat baking day and make baskets or boxes to take to our neighbor and friends.

✨Have homemade pizza on Christmas Eve whilst watching movies.

✨We don't purchase a ton of new Christmas decorations each year, because we love using the ones we've had for literally decades. We love a nostalgic, traditional, memory-filled Christmas opposed to an on-trend, aesthetic Christmas, so we don't change our entire Christmas decorations out each year. But we do enjoy adding a few things to our collection each year and allowing it to slowly grow. 

✨And we do always have a tradition of getting a few treats each December. We each get a new Christmas mug; a new Christmas ornament for our tree; and in the last couple years, we've loved getting a light up or musical gingerbread house to display. Those three little treats really make the season extra special, and we love adding them to our collections each year.

✨Add some handmade decorations to our home each Christmas/winter.

✨New Christmas sweatshirt to wear on Christmas Day...we prefer casual, comfy and cozy over being dressed up.

✨New matching Christmas pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve...and matching fuzzy socks, too.

✨Turkey dinner with all the sides on Christmas Day with a special dessert.

What are your Christmas favorites, dear readers?

the cottage library ♥ daisies for innocence

I am ever so delighted to share this book with you, my reader friends. This was my very first official cozy mystery book to read and I do believe I have since fallen in love with this genre. Since finishing this book, I have read an Agatha Raisin mystery (which I loved) and am currently working on a book in a different series by the author who wrote today's feature...

Daisies for Innocence 

Ellie, a young woman who has a special touch with plants and flowers and aromatherapy and such. Maybe not so much of a special touch, but a magical touch. Her best friend who bakes cookies everyday to bring into her shop, Scents and Nonsense. A handsome guy who's just come back to town who she had a crush on when she was a teenager. A corgi and a cat. A charming small town setting. Fun side characters with a bit of quirkiness thrown in for some spice. Oh, and an enchanted garden. And, of course, murder. 

  

Seriously, what more could you ask for in a cozy mystery?!?!

This book grabbed me from page one. I was immediately drawn into the small town of Poppyville, the aromatherapy shop, the enchanted garden. And I also really enjoyed following Ellie, the main character, as she sought to clear her name as a suspect and solve the murder of her employee, who just so happened to be dating her ex-husband. Which she only found out the day before the body was discovered outside Ellie's shop.  

  

I loved every minute I spent reading this one. It was such a fun book! I did suspect the killer as I read the story, but it was fun to see if I was correct and to see how it all played out. This book also had similar vibes to the "Good Witch" movies on Hallmark, which also made it extra fun.

This is the first in what I believe is a series of three books. And I will most definitely be looking for those as I can't wait to read more of Ellie's story and join her in more mystery solving.

 5 stars from me!

the coziest ideas list

Here are just a few ideas to add some coziness to your everyday life. These are neither difficult or extravagant, and can be done on any ordinary day. Choose one or two, here and there, to bring beauty, whimsy and fun to your cozy days...

♥ watch a cozy movie by candlelight under a snuggly blanket

♥ cook a meal that needs to simmer all afternoon long on the stove

♥ have a family game night with tasty snacks

♥ no screens for one night...light candles, read a book, hang out with family, chat, play games, craft, etc.

♥ hang twinkly fairy lights in your bedroom...or any other part of your home, for that matter

♥ make hot chocolate and top it with lots of marshmallows or whipped cream and serve it in a pretty mug

♥ make your couch or comfy chair extra cozy with blankets and throw pillows

♥ eat dinner by candlelight

♥ go on a nature walk or drive and take photos of the seasonal beauty

♥ read a novel, perhaps a seasonal story

♥ enjoy a cup of hot tea whilst curled up in bed

♥ have a soup and bread night by candlelight...even better if it's homemade and cooked together with your dearest ones

♥ create a cozy diffuser blend with essential oils to enjoy

♥ make a spicy scented room spray if it's autumn or winter (or earthy, floral scented one for warmer weather)

♥ wear cozy clothing...always

♥ bake homemade cookies

♥ listen to soothing music

♥ have a tea party, however simple or grand you wish

♥ wear your warmest, softest pj's 

♥ make homemade popcorn

♥ knit a cowl or scarf for the season

♥ light a candle while you go about your daily tasks

♥ journal your thoughts or favorite quotes

♥ wear fluffy slippers or thick socks...or both!

♥ bake seasonal breads

♥ wear knit scarves or cowls to stay warm

♥ add layers to your bed with blankets, comforters and extra pillows with pretty pillowcases on them

♥ use a dainty teacup for your nighttime, before bed cuppa

♥ display knickknacks on shelves and dressers 

♥ make your mantle extra festive with seasonal decorations

♥ create a seasonal recipe notebook full of comforting foods to enjoy during the colder months

♥ have a marathon of your favorite TV show or movies one day

♥ take a slow shower or bath and don't rush

♥ find essential oils that work for your own wellness and use them daily

♥ read a favorite magazine in your coziest spot for half an hour 

♥ rake leaves and then come inside for a warming meal

♥ collect acorns or pinecones and display them in your home

♥ make seasonal crafts to decorate your home

♥ have a hot chocolate, spiced cider, herbal tea and flavored coffee corner...well stocked with all your favorites, including pretty mugs (an electric kettle is perfect for this!)

♥ make a reading basket filled with a selection of novels or other books you want to read soon

♥ spend some time reading a children's storybook...no matter how old you are

♥ wear an apron while you bake or cook

♥ add paper or fabric bunting to any room you can...you can never have too much bunting!

♥ put fresh flowers in a vase to add some cheer to your home...even in the wintertime

♥ if it snows, go outside and play!

♥ and if it's rainy, go jump in some puddles...you're never too old to be silly!

♥ make a stovetop potpourri with orange wedges, cinnamon sticks, a splash of vanilla and water...simmer all day long, adding water as needed.

🎃👻🦇 the coziest halloween 🎃👻🦇

{{an autumnal photo from a few years back}}

There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight.

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October greetings, dear friends!

My heart is filled with such happiness as I look out my window to a tree filled with golden goodness. Autumnal beauty is slowly creeping up all around us...our nights have been so cool and crisp, and the leaves are surely becoming all the more beautiful because of it. Driving through town and running errands becomes a feast for the eyes as so many trees are boasting gorgeous shades of gold and crimson red and bright orange pumpkins are on front porches and doorsteps everywhere. Halloween decorations are out in full swing, too. Autumn is really, truly, finally here and I couldn't be more grateful for this season and all the beauty, coziness and fun it brings.

Halloween has been a favorite holiday of mine since I was a little girl. Dressing up each year and going around the neighborhood with friends (and our parents, for safety) is one of the most wonderful memories of my childhood. I was a black witch for many of those years, simply because I loved the costume so much. However, I did also dress up as a bride one year and as a nurse another. And even though I'm "all grown up" now, I still love celebrating Halloween and enjoying some festive spooky fun all month long.

Throughout October, I love popping in a spooky movie every few nights. I grew up with all of the titles I'm going to share, so they truly are perfect timeless movies for anyone of any age to enjoy. I don't do anything horror-related, so no need to worry about scaring the bejeebers out of yourself. These are just good, festive movies with a touch of some spooky fun and oodles of Halloween vibes.

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Halloweentown

Halloweentown 2: Kalabar's Revenge

Halloweentown High 

The Halloweentown series has been a favorite in our house since the movies debuted when I was a little girl. We have watched them most years since and they remain a tradition that cannot be missed. Halloweentown is one of the coolest fictional towns and I just love how festive everything about these movies is. There is a fourth movie in this series, but we didn't care for it, so we just stick with the original three.

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

Okay, so I grew up in the era of the Olsen twins. I've watched literally every single one of their movies at least a handful of times. And their Halloween one is definitely a Top 3 favorite for me. It heavily evokes nostalgia and memories of my childhood and it's just so darn fun to watch. Again, a yearly tradition in our house that we can't miss!

Hocus Pocus 

I'll admit that I watch this one purely for nostalgia and all the festive Halloween vibes. Personally, I don't think it's the best movie out there and I much prefer the storylines of the other titles I've shared. But this one is just so Halloween-ish that I enjoy watching it for that reason. And no, I haven't seen the newest one...and I'm not going to. I don't like messing with classics and all that.

Harry Potter

So, Harry Potter for me is perfect for all the cozy months and holidays...autumn and winter alike, Halloween and Christmas equally. So, I love just watching them sporadically and slowly throughout these months of early evenings, cold weather outside, cozy home comforts and warmth inside. They're about as perfect as it can get...but I'm sure most of you already know that much.

Casper

These movies from the 90s are ones that I remember watching during my childhood. These are just fun and perfect for the entire family. And the best part is that there are a few movies in this series.

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Another way I love to spend my evenings in October is by watching all the Halloween episodes of a couple favorite shows. There aren't too many shows that have lots of seasonal episodes, especially nowadays. I really love the way certain shows make a point and have a festive Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine's Day episode, and even better are the shows that follow a seasonal or yearly pattern. The Middle and Home Improvement are two shows that do these festive episodes wonderfully. In the entire series, there are a handful of Halloween episodes and every single one is unique and different and just as fun and festive as the others. Some other shows that have a couple Halloween episodes are Full House and 7th Heaven. Oh, and Reba has one of the best Halloween episodes E V E R !! These, too, have been favorites of mine since I was very young.

Finally, when it comes to watching festive things, we love cozy mysteries in our home. Hallmark does a few of these series so well. And October, as well as all these autumn and winter months, just call for a good cozy mystery in the evenings with a snack and mug of tea alongside trying to figure out "who done it". Our favorites are...

Aurora Teagarden

Garage Sale Mysteries

Chronicle Mysteries

Murder, She Baked

Mystery 101

And we absolutely adore Agatha Raisin, a new-to-us favorite that we discovered earlier this year. It's such a fun and quirky one!

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As far as Halloween reading goes, I've not yet found many stories that I love enough to share. However, a real favorite of mine and one I never tire of sharing about is First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen. It is the most perfect October read, as it goes through nearly the entire month and ends on Halloween night with a special party to celebrate the first frost. It's not entirely Halloween-ish, but I still think it's the best. Magical, enchanted, mysterious, and lots of small-town charm and autumnal festivities make this book even more of a beloved favorite of mine. Seriously, if you haven't read it, you simply must. And one can't forget the Harry Potter books. Again, perfect for all these cozy months. Mystery books just seem so suitable for this time of year, too. I've enjoyed slowly gathering a collection of cozy mysteries over the past year...nothing too scary or gory for this gal. 

And, fellow book lovers, if you have any Halloween novels that you've enjoyed, please let me know. I'd love to add some to my list to try out next year. I love middle grade books as well as just general adult fiction. Not too much into the YA books, personally. 

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And finally, our October concludes on Halloween night with a cozy meal and festive seasonal dessert. Chili is always a go-to and some sort of apple or pumpkin home baked treat. We just hang out at home, enjoy a yummy Halloween feast, and watch movies or some festive episodes of a show whilst we munch on our dessert and hot tea or hot apple cider. It's casual, comfy, cozy and lots of fun.   

When I was little, my mom would always prepare a cozy meal, usually chili or something along those lines, and we would eat before going out trick-or-treating. I'll be honest, though, and say that I remember my sister and I not eating more than just a couple bites of dinner. We were so excited to meet our neighbor friends and join them and their parents in trick-or-treating, as was our yearly tradition. Just as soon as it was dark enough, we would set out with one of our parents, with the other one staying back at home to give out candy. They usually took turns every year. Our friends' parents did the same. Earlier in the evening (before my dad got home from work and before it got dark), my mom would us to my both sets of grandparents' houses to show off our costumes and trick-or-treat at their homes. And one year, we went to my aunt and uncle's house for the same reason and my uncle took us around his neighborhood, which was way bigger than ours, and we racked up big time in the candy department! Then we'd come home, put a Halloween movie on TV (usually), and go through our candy, always with our parents begging for a piece or two of their favorites. Ha! It was so much fun!

Oh, and we always carve a jack-o'-lantern. Usually, we like for our pumpkins to last until Thanksgiving, so we usually just carve one of our pumpkins. Last year, we bought a mini pumpkin to carve and it was the cutest. But when I was younger, that was a yearly stand-by. An absolute must! My dad would carve out the designs my sister and I drew on and then we'd place a candle inside, turn out the lights and all stand around and admire the glowing faces of our pumpkins. Halloween night was literally the best fun ever growing up...second only to Christmas and waiting for Santa to come and seeing all the surprises under the tree. Utter magic!

(You can read about our cozy, homey Halloween last year HERE.)

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Well, that's all my Halloween favorites, dear readers! I would love to hear your traditions for Halloween and any recommendations you have for festive movies, shows, books, activities...so do please share in a comment or message.

May your day be magical and filled with delight...  

autumn through the senses

I notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.

~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~

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Have you ever pondered just how amazing our five senses are? The ability to experience something through taste, sight, touch, sound, and scent. The ability to experience something fully. To experience something's fullness. This is a completely awesome gift that we have everyday and we don't even realize it most of the time.

Autumn is a season filled with so much to experience. And our senses allow us to experience this glorious season in all its beautiful fullness.  

Autumn's Tastes

Autumnal tastes are warming and comforting, to put it in the simplest words. Soups and stews simmering all day long filled with fresh veggies and seasonings that bring a delicious flavor. Pot pies and breads of all sorts...sweet and savoury, family favorite recipes that we only make when the weather turns cold. All of these are part of experiencing autumn through taste. Seasonal spices make desserts and treats and breads stand out as extra special and extraordinary. Pumpkin pie, or apple pie, is often a featured dessert in the center of tables this time of year, especially with Thanksgiving celebrations. Hot drinks, at least for me, are most enjoyed when the temperatures drop. Herbal teas with fruity or spicy flavors, hot chocolate made with vanilla almond milk, vanilla lattes or spiced cider. These all just speak autumn to me. Their taste is distinctly autumnal to me, and even when I do have a mug of something warm in July, I am transported to an October or November eve for those moments whilst I grasp that warm mug in my hands and sip the comforting liquid that it holds. 

Experience autumn's tastes...

Compile a recipe notebook of seasonal recipes that speak autumn to you. Collect family favorites and new recipes to try this season. Make seasonal desserts or treats to enjoy randomly through the autumn months featuring spices or other ingredients that are full of fall flavor. Keep ingredients on hand for soups that you love and perhaps start a weekly tradition of homemade soup and bread...we love our Sunday tradition. Create a cozy drink corner filled with pretty mugs and seasonal drinks to enjoy in the mornings or evenings...or anytime, really. Hot chocolate mixes, spiced cider, things to prepare your favorite cup of coffee and a variety of teas are what you'll find in our drink corner.

Autumn's Scents

This time of year is bursting with all sorts of happy smells. In our house, the scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, ginger and allspice are often wafting in the air as seasonal breads are baking and coming out of the oven. The scent of soups or stews simmering on the stove and the scent of freshly baked bread fill the air on Sunday evenings around here. And sometimes it's the spicy scent of chili. And that's just the food part of autumn.

The air smells distinctly different this time of year than at any other. Summer's air has a scent that is filled with humidity and a sort of stink from the heat, if I'm honest. But autumn's air smells fresh and clean and new again. It is literally a breath of fresh air when you step outside. Oftentimes, the scent of firewood fills the air, especially as the nights get colder. And the way the earth smells after an autumn rainfall is blissful.

Candles and essential oils also fill the air with autumnal scents. We love using warm, spicy scents in our diffuser as well as with the candles we light this time of year. My mom often has a stovetop potpourri simmering all day long when the weather turns cool. Cinnamon sticks, vanilla extract, orange slices and water make for a magical potion of coziness and warmth on a cold autumn day and night. Our house smells delightful all season long with these various scents...whether from baking, cooking, candles, oils diffusing...or even when we step outside and enjoy a campfire or simply breathe in the scents of the earth in all her autumn glory.

Experience autumn's scents...

Gather essential oils and/or candles that have autumnal scents and make it a point to diffuse or light them each evening whilst you are settling in...and during dinnertime. Walk outside and breath in and notice the scents of autumn. Pay attention to the air at different times of day, it smells different in the early part of the day compared to nighttime after dark. Notice how the scent of the air changes as it gets colder. Fill your kitchen with cozy scents with the foods you prepare. And maybe pop a pan on the stove filled with a few simple ingredients to make a stovetop potpourri to enjoy all day long.

Autumn's Touch

When I think of touch in relation to autumn, I think of all kinds of cozy textures. The warmth of a comforter after crawling in bed at night. The softness of a sweatshirt on my skin on a cold day. The way a handknit scarf feels on my neck. The thickness of socks on my feet as I slip on my boots. The way flannel sheets feel so warm on chilly nights and worn pajamas feel so familiar and comforting. In my opinion, autumn should feel comforting and cozy and warm and homey...and as much like a hug as possible. Those are the words I would use to describe autumn's touch. 

Nature has its own touch in autumn. Pumpkins are smooth to the touch and gourds are bumpy. Leaves crinkle like confetti when you touch them and the ground is crunchy under my feet. Autumn in nature also means piling in firewood to the campfire in the evenings and feeling the texture of the dry wood in my hands. And sometimes, it's the way the earth feels soggy and soaked with autumn rains and leaves clumped together as if they are all one.

Experience autumn's touch...

Slow down and notice how autumn makes you feel when you touch it...in the clothing you wear, in nature, and pay attention to the textures around you. Make sure your are surrounded with soft, warm, cozy, comforting textures, and savour the way they wrap you up like a hug.

Autumn's Sights

In autumn, there are colors bursting forth on trees all around...if you're in a part of the world where you are able to enjoy seasonal changes in their proper fullness. In my corner of the world, we get to see a bit of color here and there,  but mostly the leaves just turn brown and that's about it. But we do get to enjoy a host of color with pumpkins of various shapes, sizes and even colors on porches all over town. Pots of mums grace many front door steps too, and they are some of my favorite. Squirrels are running around through the trees and acorns are literally everywhere. Not to mention the leaves...hundreds of thousands of them it seems. Autumn's golden light streaming in through the windows and then as night falls, soft lamplight filling the room. Twinkly fairy lights gracing bookshelves and windows and fabric bunting on the mantle.

 Seasonal decorations are in homes and gardens galore and it makes for the most wonderful sights...both when you're in your own home or driving through town. The flannel sheets and blankets and cozy clothing and seasonal mugs and dishes also make their yearly return. And every year, we add a few new decorations, usually a few bought at the shops and a few handmade. Really everywhere you look, there isn't a doubt in your mind that it is, indeed, autumn.

Experience autumn's sights...

Go outside and LOOK. Really see what's around you and savour the sights of autumn in nature. Come inside and add autumn to your home...in the comforts of home and the decorations you add for beauty and fun. Then, perhaps, make a few new decorations to add some autumnal vibes to your home. Use softer light for a gentle atmosphere in the evenings as the nightfall comes earlier.

Autumn's Sounds

The sounds of autumn...the whistle of a kettle, the bubbling of simmering soup, the instrumental music that fills the air as I work and play, leaves crunching underfoot, the whirling wind outside, rain tapping against the window at night, the gentle whir of the diffuser as it puts forth spicy scents into the air. Squirrels chasing one another on the roof and hearing the pitter-patter of their feet from indoors, the sound of pages turning in beloved novels, scissors cutting as crafts are being created, birds singing their morning chorus. All of these are just the start of the sounds of autumn in my home. 

Experience autumn's sounds...

Once again, go outside and LISTEN. Pay attention to the ground you walk on and how it sounds as you move. Notice the squirrels and birds and other critters. In your home, make an autumn playlist or have music that is extra cozy and delightful to listen to as you go about your daily activities.

As I mentioned above, in our home, we love adding new decorations for every season and we love making some of these ourselves. A few years ago, a favorite blogger of mine shared the cutest autumn craft and I marked it as something that I wanted to make sometime. Well, that "sometime" came last month. It was an easy project and was the perfect thing to work on whilst I watched Gilmore Girls one night (the perfect cozy show!). I chose wooden buttons and a variety of red buttons as my "leaves" for the tree and added a few tiny beads here and there as well. I am so pleased with how it turned out and am thinking I want to make a tree for each season with leaves in colors to match that time of year. A rainbow of pastel colors for springtime, green for summer with a few bursts of color here and there and for winter, I'm thinking purple and blue to sort of resemble an icy look. I love having this cute decoration hanging in my room...and another one in our family room...and I love it even more because it was a fun project that I got to enjoy one evening.

Why not choose your own project to work on and add a little autumn to your home?

What are your favorite ways to experience autumn's fullness with all your senses? Share below! 

the art of creating a cozy homely home

 ~ Some simple ideas to make your home cozy ~ 

♥ change out your lamp lights from white to amber, and use a lower wattage as well

♥ invest in an oil diffuser and always have some blend diffusing

♥ make a warm, spicy scented room spray...here's my favorite

♥ make dinner time special by lighting candles and dimming the lights

♥ keep calming music playing in the background...for us, this doesn't always mean soft, slow music, but rather, uplifting Irish/Celtic tunes

♥ take every opportunity you can during these cooler months to allow your dinner to simmer on the stovetop all afternoon...soups, stews, chilis, etc., or even roast a chicken

♥ make comfort food often (it doesn't have to be unhealthy!)...pot pies, homemade bread, etc.

♥ drink lots and lots of hot tea and cider and cocoa and coffee...have fun making different homemade recipes similar to the ones you find in coffee shops

♥ games nights, movie nights, marathon nights of your favorite TV shows

♥ have plenty of blankets and quilts handy...keeping them out makes them easy to grab and they add such a cozy, homey look to any room 

♥ keep your coats, scarves, hats and gloves easily accessible so you will be encouraged to go outside more often

♥ purpose to enjoy nights of crafting...whether it be painting, knitting, sewing, crocheting, paper crafting, scrapbooking, journaling, etc.

♥ or enjoy family game nights and try learning new games as well as playing old favorites

♥ purpose to broaden your horizons when it comes to cooking and baking from scratch...I can't think of a better time to learn a new kitchen skill than this time of year, or simply enjoy a skill you already have practiced

♥ read, read, read...curl up with a good book and be transported to another place...and learn something new, too

♥ set up a drink corner in your kitchen with an electric kettle, mugs, sugar, and a variety of teas, coffees, hot chocolate and spiced cider

♥ decorate for the season and holidays...decorations are not clutter

♥ hang twinkly fairy lights and bring a bit of whimsy and magic to a room

♥ have a seasonal tea party

♥ we often enjoy having our TV on in the background, but don't always want the distraction of dialogue, so we have found the perfect alternative. if you go to YouTube and search any kind of ambience videos (example: cozy autumn ambience), you will be met with a huge selection of choices. we pick one that we enjoy, and it serves as a peaceful background for us. some have music in the background, but we prefer the ones with nature sounds like breezes blowing, rain falling, crackling fire logs, etc. it creates the most peaceful, relaxing and oh-so-cozy atmosphere in a room!