MY FAVORITE SEASON HAS ARRIVED!
All is cozy and warm!
Mornings are starting to feel brisk and the daylight hours are noticeably shorter.
Leaves are turning. We’ve received a bit of rain after soaking in the end of summer bright blue clear skies. Which I will greatly miss. The misty cloud cover will be the dominate view now as I take my morning walks.
This time of year I like to embrace lovely things that appeal to all my senses. Everything that is cozy, decorative, spooky, and fragrantly warm and spicy.
Undoubtedly we’re all experiencing a lot of uncertainty and worries about many affairs and the state of the world.
Setting the ambience in colors of reds, oranges, and browns, and embracing this season’s autumnal celebrations is a nice way to feel comforted, soothed, energized, and have a bit of something to look forward to.
I like to display fragrant cinnamon pine cones, candles, and mums. And bring out my winter pajamas, soft throws, electric blankets, and silk beddings.
I’m currently working on a few new recipes of scrumptious pastries, breads, cookies, caramels, and quiche.
Baking is that lovely creative outlet that I find incredibly relaxing. Pairing harvest fruits and vegetables that are in abundance. Early pickings of apples, blueberries, then onto peaches, corn, wheat, squashes, and in final, my most treasured culinary delight, pumpkins.
Here are a few things I’m enjoying and looking forward to most this time of year.
Be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
WARM UP
Tea Stash
I’m new this year to Steven Smith Teamaker Teas and have been building up my collection. The teas are so pure and delightful. I learned a lot about the different origins and flavor profiles from the tasting classes they offer.
Tea & Type
Dandy Detox
Wellness
Matcha
Green Tea
Peppermint Leaves
Herbal
Lullaby
Wellness
British Branch
Full Leaf Black
Mao Feng Shui
Full Leaf Green
FACE & BODY
Autumnal Scents
Warm, deep, and masculine.
Here are my favorites.
F’n Fabulous by Tom Ford, Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford, Ck One by Calvin Klein, Nirvana by Elizabeth and James, Cedar Violet by Aerin
Exfoliants & Oil
My skin changes a bit along with the weather. I find myself gravitating to more mechanical and chemical exfoliants, and masks during this time. Here are the new additions that I’m currently trying.
Kukui Oil is a mainstay for me and I love pampering my skin as the weather chills, following along with Lisa Eldridge’s Facial Massage Routine.
Resurface+ Glycolic and Lactic Acid Renewing Body Scrub by Skinfix, Nutritious Super-Pomegranate Radiant Energy 2-in-1 Cleansing Foam by Estée Lauder, Deep Exfoliating Cleanser by Caudalie, St. Barts Cleansing Scalp & Body Sugar Scrub by OUAI, Kukui Oil by Oils of Aloha, Kimono Jade Gua Sha
Smoky Eye
Bringing out the smoky shades, layered with matte, satin, and shimmer in deep tones of autumnal pinks and browns.
I got this palette and kohl recently. So far so stunning!
ALL DOLLED UP
Rouge & Polish
The High Gloss Shine in Chrysanthemum by Wayne Goss, Gloss in Sangria by Makeup Geek, Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo by M.A.C., Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Love by Selena Gomez, Rare Beauty Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick in Brave by Selena Gomez, Apricot Cuticle Oil by Essie, Caught in Camo Nail Polish Quad Set by Nails Inc.
LOST IN A BOOK
Maritime Read
I’m mesmerized by the sailors who scaled the oceans before modern day technology. The feats they endured. Hurricanes, white squalls, giant squid, and having to prepare every meal at sea. Sailing into open waters, through powerful air and ocean currents. Navigating by guide of the constellations.
The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor by Gabriel García Márquez
Banned Books Week
September 18-24
So many books from my childhood, many that were required reads, more and more keep getting added to the lists.
The American Library Association has documented 681 attempts to ban or restrict library resources involving 1,651 different titles through August, on pace to shatter last year’s record number of challenges.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, Animal Farm by George Orwell, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Beloved Toni Morrison
Spooky Read
I love a good creepy mystery as it gets gloom, and this one, lucky for me, happens to be the next in series.
Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House (Agatha Raisin #14) by M.C. Beaton
