Autumn is undeniably the season that has my heart. While September feels like a gentle introduction to the season, October is when it truly beings to step in. Where I currently live, the temperatures don’t begin to drop until this month so the crisp air, golden sunsets, and piles of leaves feel like a long-awaited arrival. So in lieu of a recap, here is a guide to the season.
My loves, I have a feeling this october will be very good.
Summer always feels like a blur—so bright, busy, and endlessly full. So September offers a chance to catch our breath and begin slowing down. As the beginning of the fourth quarter, October feels like the perfect invitation to turn inward, to nurture ourselves, and to create space for rest before the whirlwind of the holiday season sweeps us away.
Autumn is a season meant to be savored, not rushed. It a busy world, sometimes we need a little reminder of all the ways we can fully lean in.
With type-a, eldest daughter for my credentials, consider this your ultimate framework for the best fall.
prepping & setting the scene
We are not living through another season passively. This season we are setting ourselves up and grounding by prepping with intention. Think of it as a gentle reset for a new quarter.
-Create a moodboard
Get a vision for the season and what you want it to feel like. Set the tone for the season before you do anything else. It’s a visual compass that gathers together the colors, textures, and feelings you want to lean into. And you’re inviting the season to take shape in your daily life.
-Clean & clear the clutter
It’s the moment to reset your space. New season. New quarter. Start now by clearing out the things weighing on you so you can fully enjoy the rest and holidays. That means we’re clearing out the clothes we never touched this summer, and donating them. We’re clearing out junk emails, random screenshots in our camera roll, and any lingering clutter laying around. Friendly reminder that now is also a good time to do some seasonal cleaning for A) basic health purposes, and B) preparation for colder months and holidays. Some things to focus on instead of tackling it all at once:
-change out HVAC filters if you haven’t done so recently
-dust light fixtures, fans, curtain rods, blinds
-wipe down window sills
-Plan autumn events now in your calender
Put those things you want to do in the calender. You don’t need to cram the season full of activities and events, but pick the things you are most excited for. You are more likely to follow through when something is planned rather than making it an “i’ll do it later”. Put that fall picnic, homemade spooky pizza night, orchard date, etc in your calender now so it becomes a tangible event.
-shift the season in your home
There are so many ways to bring the season into your home without buying new decor and candles. Pull out your coziest blankets and give them a good wash to refresh them. Opt for warmer and softer lighting from lamps and candles. Beeswax candles can double as a budget-freindly craft. Make a simmer pot with warm spices. Use apples, figs, and nuts in place of flowers.
things to do
-set a good routine
Everywhere you look there is a trend of winter arc, lock-in, personal curriculum, and the list goes on, but these all have one thing in common: bettering self. This autumn we’re taking the time to focus on ourselves, our dreams, and how we present ourselves to the world. Establish a routine now for when the mornings get colder and the days get shorter to make it easier to stay with good habits.
-harvest moon
I was was mesmorized seeing the harvest moon unexpectedly in september and there’s another chance to see it this weekend on the evening between 6 and 7 of October. It’s best viewed on the evening of the 6th just as it peaks over the horizon! This will also be a supermoon as well meaning the moon will appear brigher and bigger than usual due to being at it’s closest point to the earth. There will also be another similar supermoon in November known as the beaver moon ocurring the 4th/5th. These are 2 of 3 supermoons of 2025 with the last one being in December.
-cinema at home
Nothing brings back childhood nostalgia and adds simple joy to life like spicing up movie night by turning it into something special. Create your own little home cinema. Pull out the air mattress or pile on cushions and blankets. Bake the halloween pilsburry themed cookies or a classic chocolate chip. Pick a film that feels like autumn (there’s some options below). And get comfortable. It’s simple, but it turns an ordinary evening into a memorable moment.
-autumn journal
Get a new journal or clearly define an existing one to mark a new season. Write each day. It can be random stream of thoughts, personal column, reflections, just write. I saw it called messy minutes and I think that is the perfect way to describe it. Here are some prompt ideas:
-what did younger you love that you abandoned? why?
-what’s one thing you want to achieve before the end of the year? what do you need to do to accomplish it?
-how do the cycles of seasons reflect cycles of your own life?
-if autumn were a character, what would they be like? what would they wear? how would they speak?
-What natural details have you noticed lately (shifting colors, cooler winds, falling leaves) that remind you to pause and be present?
-make a list of small pleasures that bring you comfort this season
-imagine you’re at the end of autumn looking back, what do you hope you’ll remember most?
-do the thing you have been wanting to do
This season we are not waiting for someone to do the things we want. Life is such a fleeting, fragile thing that will pass you by if you don’t take time to do the things you want for yourself. Not only will you do more, but you will also build confidence and courage in yourself. Go to the new restaurant alone, take the ballet class you have been too scared to try, talk to strangers at the cafe. Life has so much to offer if you show it you are open and willing to try.
-start cozy hobbies
With temperatures beginning to shift, it’s a great time to pick an indoor hobby for this season. Knitting is a favorite option of mine (and also is perfect for homemade gift giving). There are some really great videos on YouTube to walk you step by step through projects. This is the video I followed to make my first pair of mittens last year. Puzzles can also be a great activity to get off electronics and relax. Piecework has fun designs that are also aesthetically pleasing.
closet staples for capsule wardrobe
Fall/Winter are my favorite seasons for fashion. I love layering. I love the neutral colors. I love the textures. It is also so easy to rotate through basic items.
Having a capsule wardrobe makes it east to mix and match pieces then add pops of color or personality depending on the event/day
capsule staples
light and dark wash of denim jeans, black/dark brown mini skirt, white tee, neutral color long sleeves, oversized jumper, cardigan, neutral jacket, heavy weigth neutral long coat, purse with pop of color (deep red, olive green), simple gold jewelry, belts in both black and brown, casual sneaker, deep red or brown heels, black boots
how to have the perfect autumn day
we’re starting the day by waking up a tad early. we need time to get ready and grab a pastry before sunrise. we’re channeling our inner princess Diana to get dressed. pull on your comfiest oversized sweatshirt and your softest biker shorts or leggings. we’re letting our skin breathe, no makeup for now.
out the door we go. we’re headed to our favorite coffee shop. we’re getting a hot coffee or tea and a breakfast sweet—a croissant, a muffin, whatever you fancy. the sun should be peaking over the horizon by now. we’re going somewhere we can walk, ideally a park. we’re taking our coffee and our treat and we’re walking, no music. this is intentional and present. notice the crunch of the leaves as you walk, notice the way the warmth of the sun on your cheeks contrasts the bite of the air, admire the way the sunlight slips between leaves casting a golden hue. it’s just you and the morning. let your thoughts wander.
once we’re done walking, we’re heading back home and we’re getting ready. we’re taking our time, making sure to enjoy our skincare routine. the makeup stays light and fresh, a swipe of mascara, some lip liner, lip oil, and a smudge of blush. keeping it simple. next we’re putting on a cute but comfortable outfit, layers are ideal. a spritz of perfume.
then we’re out the door again and we’re heading for the local bookshop, maybe wandering into a vintage store. there is now rush. just browsing and getting lost in the day. at some point, we’ll find a cozy spot for lunch. nothing fussy, just a warm bowl of soup or a seasonal sandwich, something that feels nourishing. maybe we’ll sit by a window and people-watch. maybe we’ll read or journal. the afternoon is meant to be unhurried.
after we meet with a friend. walk around a neighborhood and admire the homes. or just stroll through town aimlessly. we’re soaking up the days. we’re taking in the changes of the season all the way to the tiniest details.
next, we’re stopping by the grocery store. just a few things—ingredients for baking, something warm for dinner. nothing overwhelming, only what will make the evening feel special.
back at home, we’re heading straight to the kitchen. we’re baking—maybe a batch of cookies, maybe banana bread. something simple, cozy, and sweet, something that makes the whole space smell like autumn. while that’s in the oven, we’re putting together dinner: a warm soup, maybe a nostaglic chicken noodle or a creamy squash.
once everything is ready, it’s time to slow down. we’re showering and putting on our most comfortable pajamas. then it’s to the coouch to curl up with our bowl of soup, a blanket thrown over our legs, and put on an autumn show or movie. gilmore girls? harry potter? something comforting, something we’ve seen before or something we’ve been saving for a night just like this.
when the soup is gone, we reach for our baked treat, maybe pour a cup of tea, and let the evening drift. we might read later, or we might put on another episode. the point is not to rush, not to squeeze in more, but to savor the way the day closes gently—warm, full, and completely our own.
media to consume
read
Katabasis - R.F. Kuang
Blood Over Bright Haven - M. L. Wang
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna
Dark Matter - Blake Crouch
Little Women - May Alcott
Venus and Aphrodite - Bettany Hughes
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
Bunny - Mona Awad
The Quiet Tennant - Clémence Michallon
watch
the house of guinness
harry potter
it’s the great pumpkin charlie brown
practical magic
little women
you’ve got mail
jumanji
the adams family
topics to research
-hauntings reported in salem, massachusetts since the witch trials
-jane goodall’s research of the chimpanzees
-the history of halloween
-exploration of macbeth
-witchcraft and the royals of 15th century england
-history of the pumpkin’s cultural significance for the season
-gothic architecture
meals to try making
miso-ginger butternut squash soup
cinnamon rolls
stewed cinnamon apples with breakfast
baked brie
sweet potato gnocci and sage
sweet potato galette
fig cake
cranberry chicken grain bowl
cardamom chai scones
homemade coffee syrup
seasonal produce
Fruits: pomegranates, persimmons, pears, apples, cranberries, figs, grapes, plums
Veg: brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, root veggies, winter squashes, kale, chard, broccoli, mushrooms, cabage, celery, pumpkin, aubergine/eggplant, zucchini
playlists for the season
The season will slip by quickly, as it always does. But when you take time to prepare, to notice, and to savor, hopefully you’ll find that autumn lingers.
what is on you ideal fall itinerary? leave a comment and let me know!
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Loved everything about this! Would love something like this for every season!
Soup! Really drawn to your miso ginger idea. Also excited for the trees changing colour. Some around me have started already.