Hello hello, and welcome to Episode 97 of Life On the Brink!
The weather is finally starting to (slowly) cool down and I couldn’t be more excited. Autumn comes with a state of mind and I am already there, so today is all about welcoming that sweet, spicy, autumn season. This summer was quite a difficult one for me, so even as I can feel myself shifting into a new season of life I’m very ready for a shift in the annual seasons.
I’m used to mild autumns as here in coastal Virginia it won’t get truly cold until near December, so this autumnal list is less about the cozy layers and falling leaves; we’ll all enjoy those as they come. Though I won’t be using my fireplace anytime soon, I do always keep a cardigan nearby this time of year, it just feels yummy.
Today is more so about the things you can enjoy from the start of fall (or even now!) no matter what the weather is doing. In this episode I’m sharing all the books, teas, recipes, and little cozy extras that I’m enjoying this autumn.
What’s in my teacup? Twining’s Spiced Apple Chai
Here we go, here are all the things I’m looking forward to this fall!
(Note, I speak more in depth about each of these in the podcast audio, so check it out in the player above or read the transcript here.
BOOKS:
-The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman
-The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
-Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
-The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
-The Only One Left by Riley Sager
-The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
TEAS:
-Harney and Son’s: Hot Apple Spice
-Trader Joe’s: Harvest Blend Herbal Tea
-The Republic of Tea: Cardamom Cinnamon Herbal Tea
-The Spice and Tea Exchange: Banana Nut Muffin Herbal Tea
-David’s Tea: Maple Chai
-David’s Tea: S’mores chai
-Jolene’s Tea House: Banff Breakfast
-Jolene’s Tea House: Maple Rooibos
RECIPES:
-Overnight Baked Apple Oatmeal (A Beautiful Mess)
-Brown Butter Maple Glazed Cinnamon Apple Scones (Half Baked Harvest)
-One Pot Stove-Top Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (Half Baked Harvest)
-Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Chili (Life On the Brink!)
-Nutmeg Ginger Apple Snaps (The Live-In Kitchen)
COZY ACTIVITIES:
-Crochet: As with each fall, I’m back on my crochet game, and I’ve got two projects in mind for this fall.
-I’ve been drawn to all these patchwork cardigans that have popped up recently, and this pattern is fairly easy to follow. I plan on making a big cozy one in warm neutral shades.
-I now have a fireplace (!!!) this fall, and I’d like to crochet a garland of autumn leaves to hang. I really like this pattern as it incorporates lots of colors and leaf shapes, and though I might stray from it a little I plan on using these leaf patterns to come up with something this autumn.
-The Autumn Garden: also known as “bring home a mum.” I’ve kept a few pots on my front porch all summer, filled with simple summer annuals. They got a little crispy and neglected, so it was time to swap them out with a few colorful mums ($4 at Aldi) to give the front door a little pumpkin spice. Where I live, mums are annuals, so come springtime I’ll find a place for any survivors in the ground.
-This is also a great time to start thinking about plants that need to spend the winter underground like garlic, onions, tulips, narcissus, etc.
-Once the weather isn’t deadly hot, it’s nice to get out in the garden to just give a little refresh for the next few mild months.
-Think ahead to Christmas: This is by no means meant to put a damper on your autumn spirit by skipping ahead. It’s simply a nice way to reduce stress later. I’ve got the whole guide for this process here: *Podcast 69: Reducing Holiday Stress (Part One): planning ahead*
There you go, my friend. I hope this gives you plenty of ideas for this coming cozy season and has made you as excited as I am for all this fall will bring!
For more cozy episodes, feel free to check these out:
This Week’s Little Joy: After a late night gig, my bandmate Jeanette and I found ourselves at the Taco Bell drive-thru at 12:30 am., and were so touched by the man working the drive-thru window. Treyvon (he introduced himself) had such a sense of humor and was helpful and wonderful, which is the last thing we expected on a post-midnight Taco Bell run. It was a nice reminder that even as we go about our normal lives and jobs, we have the chance to really make someone's day.
What I’m Listening To: A playlist of my own that I'm sure I've shared before, but I've since added more tunes to. It's “Kinda Cozy," and it certainly is. Full of Harry Connick Jr. and Charlie Brown Halloween vibes, it's got all the Autumn jazz staples. I've been listening to it over and over this week, it's just the right cozy atmosphere.
Thank you so much for listening! Feel free to leave a comment, or head to Apple Podcasts to leave a star rating or review. If you have any suggestions for future episodes, send an email in the contact form on this site. I’d love to hear from you, and I'll be back in two weeks!