Hello, October

Happy October 1st! And welcome to the Feminine Fancy Guide to Autumn.

Yesterday afternoon as I sat at the dining table reading Paula Sutton of Hill House Vintage's book, Hill House Living, I felt a burst of inspiration. Her section on living with the seasons resonated so deeply, I jumped up out of my seat and decided to start playing around with fall tablescape ideas.

I picked some apples off of our tree, grabbed some of the deepest colored Zinnias in the garden that I could find, and created a beautiful table setting for an outdoor dinner.

Autumn seems to have become universally agreed upon as a favorite season, and I'm not surprised. It's cool weather gives us a break from the summer heat, without the harsh cold of winter. The warm colors of the leaves seem to paint the streets in golden hues that lift and warm everyone's spirits.

Simply put, Autumn is truly superior.

Today, I want to share with you the Feminine Fancy Guide to Autumn. Including recipes, activities, books, shows and movies that will have you feeling warm and cozy all season long.

Books

I consider October and November the perfect months for mystery and suspense novels. I'm knee deep in a thrilling page turner right now and there is truly no better feeling than being so entranced by a book that you simply can not put it down.

Podcast

While I don't usually base my podcast favorites on the season, there is one that I've listened to every October since it began; Full Body Chills. Brought to you by Ashley Flowers, the creator of AudioChuck and the incredibly popular Crime Junkie podcast. Full Body Chills tells chilling fictional tales that give scary story campfire vibes all season long.

Recipes

It's soup season people! Time to whip out those crock pots and dutch ovens to create delicious and cozy meals. I've been making all kinds of soup this season; autumn squash, zuchini soup, & broccoli cheddar to name a few. One of life's simple pleasures is to have a hearty bowl of soup while you watch a fun fall movie or show.

Here's a list of some of my favorite recipes so far:

• Autumn Squash Soup by One Lovely Life Blog

• Broccoli Cheddar Soup by Sweet Simple Vegan

• Buttery Breakfast Casserole by NYT Cooking

• Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos by Gathered Nutrition

• Cajun Garlic Butter Shrimp with Pesto Pasta by Half Baked Harvest

• Cider Pumpkin Waffles with Salted Maple Butter by Half Bakes Harvest

• Autumn Wild Rice Soup by Gimme Some Oven

Hobbies

As fall invites us to slow down a bit from the hustle and bustle of daily life, this is a great time to start a new hobby or pick up an old one. Some of my favorites for this season are reading, flower arranging, tablescaping and journaling.

A few more ideas:

🍂scrapbooking

🍂candle making

🍂drying fruit for decor

🍂knitting

🍂writing letters

🍂blogging

🍂gardening

🍂going for walks

🍂baking

Movies & Shows

By now, I'm sure you're all well aware of the the standard movies and shows that we all love to binge watch every fall. Usually Gilmore Girls and Hocus Pocus is somewhere on the list. But I've got a few more recommendations that I hope will put you in the coziest of moods.

1. Gossip Girl: Not your typical suggestion, but the Thanksgiving episodes are enough to get

you into the fall spirit. The fashion, the drama and the pies always get me in that autumn mood. Sing it with me now, "Mmmmm whatcha saaaaay."

2. Downton Abbey: While not necessarily a "fall show", Downton Abbey has the coziest of vibes. The old English decor, recipes, and candlelight brings a feeling of warmth to me whenever I watch it.

3. Great British Baking Show: There's something so comforting about watching Baking Show and seeing the delicious cakes and treats alongside the genuine camaraderie is so much fun to witness.

4. The Mindy Project: Another show with some amazing fall episodes. Not only is it great for a laugh, but there's something so whimsical about watching Mindy fall in love with a new guy every week amongst the auburn trees of Central Park.

5. The School for Good and Evil: This movie has a bit of a dark, spooky vibe which makes it perfect for Halloween. Based off of a fantasy, fairytale book series, it's sure to give you that magical, mystical, halloween energy.

---

Now that Autumn is officially here, I am so excited to dive into all things warm and cozy. If you're looking for more fall content, head to my Patreon and watch my latest video, "Refresh Your Life for Fall", and be sure to sign up on the blog to get access to more posts!

Thanks for reading!

xxx,

F.