It has happened: it is okay to wear tights and boots again!
Already, mums and gourds are being promoted in all the surrounding farms, and the stores are inundated with offerings of faux pumpkins and gingham bows.
I'm also feeling the urge to stockpile yarn and knit for hours...
That's how I know Fall is here.
Fall is one of my favorite things, and I always worry that it will end too soon, or that I'm not celebrating it extravagantly enough. Isn't that a weird thing to worry about? In any case, my tendency is to mark the season in a more subtle way, to embrace the small changes and shift gears.
I've been trying to resist the allure of the cinnamon-scented craft stores, where harvest and halloween decorations lie in wait, commingled. Instead of buying my seasonal decor, this year I will be making it from the stuff I have laying around... and keeping it very simple otherwise.
Is your home ready for Fall?
If not, these 5 simple tricks can get you into the spirit of the season!
Let Nature Decide
Keep your eyes open for cool-looking branches and strange organic shapes. Bring home colorful leaves and acorns; repurpose vases and bowls to display Nature's bounty on mantles and tabletops. As the season progresses, a centerpiece made of Fall branches can be stripped of its old leaves and rearranged for a more wintery look.
I'm definitely looking forward to adding tiny pumpkins to my year 'round decor!
Once you have your natural materials, get in the DIY spirit! Pinterest has enough ideas and inspiration to get you through a thousand Autumns.
Better by Candlelight
While I don't have a fireplace, I get to enjoy the flicker of fire all the same. Just wrap or "dress up" your votives and candle jars to add a seasonal twist.
Let the Crisp Air in!
One of my favorite things about this time of the year is that for a few precious weeks we get to open the windows and let our home be acclimatized by the cool fresh air. We are lulled at night by the sounds of crickets and the rustling of the trees outside, and our energy bills go down.
Tickle Your Senses
I don't think it would truly be Fall without the warm embrace of spices.
I've fallen in love with the simplicity and resourcefulness of simmering stovetop potpourris. They're a natural, healthier alternative to scented candles and store-bought air fresheners. It also allows you to use ingredients that already exist in your pantry, and you get to feel like an alchemist while doing it!
This Fall, I am determined not to rush through the season, but to let my senses indulge in it. To celebrate it with the creative work of my hands and appreciation for the small things: the twinkle of a light in the windowsill, the occasional rain of acorns.
How are you celebrating this Fall? Do you find that this time of the year fosters reflection?
Anabel Bouza insists there's powerful magic in the action of creating something out of a vague vision, a chill of inspiration. She is an illustrator with a passion for nature, paper manipulation, and pointing her camera at things. Her appreciation for simplicity dates back to a former life in Cuba where she refined the ability to see the alternative uses of common objects, and the enchanting side of things.
You can find her blogging as Weird Amiga, hard at work in her sunny studio, or staring at things as if looking at them for the first time.
Connect to Anabel via facebook and twitter.
Anabel Bouza insists there's powerful magic in the action of creating something out of a vague vision, a chill of inspiration. She is an illustrator with a passion for nature, paper manipulation, and pointing her camera at things. Her appreciation for simplicity dates back to a former life in Cuba where she refined the ability to see the alternative uses of common objects, and the enchanting side of things.
You can find her blogging as Weird Amiga, hard at work in her sunny studio, or staring at things as if looking at them for the first time.
Connect to Anabel via facebook and twitter.
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