All The Fall Things 2020
If you don’t sing the title of this post in a Blink 182 voice, I’m not sure we would get along IRL.
It’s fall, y’all. Well. Not yet, but soon. Then again, with the way 2020 has been going for the general population, I wouldn’t blame fall if she never showed up. Who wants to come to this sad party? But I hope she does because we’re ready for her. She has the opportunity to turn this year around if she so chooses, and if she’s the kind of woman I think she is, she will.
Fall is my favorite season, which I realize is a weird favorite season to have when you live in a southern state with no seasons. However, I DID grow up in Connecticut until I was 10, and we had real seasons there so I know what’s it like. I’m not trying to brag but I’ve jumped in a SEVERAL piles of fresh leaves and have been on REAL hay rides in REAL pumpkin patches. Fall is just perfect. Temperature-wise, nature-wise, fashion-wise, overall vibe-wise. There’s so much to be basic about when it comes to fall, which is why I put this post together—to pay a very small ode to everyone’s favorite upcoming season. So what am I excited about come fall time? Well.
Rewatching Gilmore Girls for the ??? time
A few years ago, when Gilmore Girls was released on Netflix, it became a tradition of mine to start it from the top at the onset of the fall season. When it was on live TV back in the year 2000 or so, I was too young and too distracted with frivolous bullshit (like navigating my curly hair I hated, strategizing on how to get a guy to kiss me (this wouldn’t happen for another few years), starring in school plays because *theatre*) to really grasp or understand the show and its intricacies. However, when I was fired from my first agency job back in 2015? 2016?, I had ample time to kill and Gilmore Girls had just joined Netflix, so I blew through all 7 seasons (with 21, hour long episodes EACH) in about a month or so. It’s highly rewatchable and Stars Hollow is basically the season of fall personified, so I can’t recommend enough adding it to your rotation.
PUMPKIN AND GENERALLY FALL-SCENTED CANDLES
It’s that time of year where Bath and Body works will have to employ a medical professional on-sight to see to any sniffing overdoses that occur when the fall candles are rolled out. No, not really but it’s a funny thought. Even though our gorgeous face masks are going to make smelling all the smells to the point of making ourselves sick difficult, we can dream. My absolute #1 BBW fall candle is simply their Pumpkin Patch, which I realized they renamed this year as Pumpkin Vanilla Créme. But there are so many incredible pumpkin candles out there to fill your fall-obsessed nostrils, and these are just a few I’ve found:
The first three are from Target, and I can confidently say I’ve never bought a candle I didn’t love from Target. NEST makes incredibly strong and long-lasting candles, and Ellen loves the Pumpkin Chai so, like, that’s a no-brainer. I love Homesick candles and am unwell that they have a pumpkin patch one?! Take me back to Connecticut, baby (JK please don’t)! Also, Voluspa has a SPL candle?! When did this happen? I’m intrigued and out of sorts.
HOME DECOR
There are two types of people: those who decorate for a holiday or season the very earliest they possibly can so they can enjoy it for months on end or those who wait until the night before Christmas Eve to get a tree. I, as you probably could’ve guessed, am the former. I grew up in a house that was decorated for every holiday well in advance of the holiday itself. Not only that, but the decor was (and still is) incredibly tasteful. I’m not into big, gaudy seasonal decoration, but I am into the perfect touches here and there.
A lot of the fall decor I have was passed down to me from Ellen and found at random, independently-owned craft stores throughout the states. However, I’ve picked up a few of my own pieces along the way to add to the spread. When I think of fall, I think of pumpkins, warm tones, cozy blankets, etc. So here are some things I’ve flagged across the internet for the upcoming fall season:
PUMPKINS
I honestly and truly am going to get every single one of these. I am obsessed. All from Target.
LEAVES & LIGHTS
I love the gold lanterns very much, AND they work aesthetically through Christmas which is great. Don’t bother with real candles, especially if you’re going to keep these outside. Go with electronic LED candles like the ones I shared below, which are also waterproof so fall and winter weather has nothing on them!
Ellen taught me the importance of a door wreath from a young age, and I fully believe every front door needs one that reflects the current season. I love these two options from Target so much (I’ll probably get the mustard yellow one because 😍).
Consider buying some fall garland to dress up your home. I LOVE this garland from Amazon with the little pumpkins and pinecones. You can display it on a countertop, a mantle, spilling out of a basket or vase—WHATHAVEYOU. Same thing with the fake leaves. If you use them wisely (just here and there), you avoid them looking ridiculous or campy. Small touches go a long way, guys and girls.
BLANKETS & BASKETS
You’re probably due for a new throw blanket, right? I had a feeling. I have the last one, am contemplating the middle one (its reviews are insane), and the first one is just a perfectly colored fall blanket to boot.
If you’ve yet to invest in a blanket ladder, let me encourage you to do so. This one from Amazon is great quality and I LOVE the light wood color. Blanket ladders are such a fantastic home decor piece with the ability to look both rustic and chic and organize the shit out of some blankets. Also, if I know you at all, you probably need baskets. My favorite local boutique, Beatnik, has incredible banana leaf baskets in all shapes and sizes, and of course, Amazon has tons to choose from (the ones I’m showcasing are my absolute favorite).
Also, this doormat is adorable.
FOOD
Last but not least, one of the best things about fall is the food. Not that it differs much from your typical offerings, but the fact that eating warm meals is delightful again is enough to make it magical. Plus, pumpkin spice everything which call it basic but YOU KNOW YOU LOVE IT. Maybe not the actual PSL, because that shit is truly gross but pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake, pumpkin cupcakes, PUMPKIN CHILI OR STEW? There’s no denying how fantastic it all can be if you just give in. Here are a bevy of recipes I’ve made over the years during the fall, each more delicious than the last. And I plan to add to that list this year!
Chicken Sausage, Butternut Squash, and Brussel Sprout Foil Packets
Chicken Tortilla Soup with Quinoa
Sweet Potato Chicken Noodle Soup
Butternut Squash Tacos with Black Beans
Vegan Quinoa and Sweet Potato Chili
Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
This post has felt manic and chaotic, but honestly? That’s how fall makes me feel so it’s par for the course. I hope you’ve enjoyed, and I hope you make at least one of those recipes in the coming months. I’m gonna go put some soup on and fire up Gilmore Girls.
xox,
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