These first few months of Autumn have felt so orange to me.  And I’m not just talking about Taylor’s « The Life of a Showgirl »  ( My fav song is Eldest Daughter ) 

But also because I got out my about warm wooly cognac sweater, it’s the coziest. I have also been eating many smooth squash soups and roasted sweet potatoe fries. I spent time carving jack-o’-lanterns, and peeling juicy clementines. We also of trimmed the last colourful christhanemums in my flower garden, walked on crusted dried leaves, and starting the first golden fires in our wood stove. I told you, life has been very very orange lately. Plus, I cant not stop dreaming about rusty coloured foxes.

These are all some of my favourite things about Autumn, but now that November is here, the days are getting even shorter, the winds oh so strong ( biking gets real hard this time of year ) , even I the biggest lover of Autumn, start to get the blues.

So here is a little list ( yes I have a list problem ) reminding you of what November is all about. How to embrace the cozy moments and how I keep busy and sane this November ( Yes I truly only believe in starting holiday prep & festivities in December )

I turn to hot meals with family & friends, cozy books, long musical albums, gripping films and series’ and lots of sleepy time in bed and on the couch. But also to yoga time, long walks for vitamen D, and fresh air and hot baths.  Maybe even a cold dip in the nearest body of water ? Read about my favourites below, and maybe you will find some inspiration for enjoying these last days of Autumn before the frost & snows & holiday mood starts into full swing.

1. COZY FIRES in wood stoves, a bonfire in your back yard, or the glow of your coffee table candle, golden light on a long evening changes everything !
2. ROAST all you can. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, red beets, carrots, turnips, chicken. Keeping your oven on, keeps your home cozy and your meals simple. If you need some inspiration check out my ebook HERE !
3. Get OUTSIDE during daylight hours. Especially if you work indoors, getting outside 1-2 times a day in the daylight is so important. I try to give myself a morning and afternoon activity to keep my eyes and brain busy and looking to the sky, trees, and waves.
4. Get DOWN LOW. My 2 year old lovessss looking for mushrooms! Take the time to bend down to see what is growing on your local forest floor, the design of a colourful fallen leave, or touch the soft lush moss green.
5. YOGA! Or general stretching, however you do it. My body gets so stiff this time of year when it slows down after busy summer movement and preps for Winter. Keeping to a regular yoga routine helps me so much. I have a Tuesday night date out of the house with my local teacher Morgane and this works perfect for me.
6. SLEEP as much as you need. Early nights in bed, long naps on the weekends, sleeping in when possible. Give yourself the time to rest! There is a reason why the sun sets so ealy this time of year. We actually need more sleep !
7. GATHER with friends and family. Host a dinner, or drinks, or plan a walk with friends, this is the best time to get around the table together and laugh and smile and discuss. It not only fills our mouths but also our souls.
8. WOOL socks, underwear, tshirts, blankets, cushions. Wool is really the way to go. It warms the most, dries the fastest, and breaths through changing temperatures! I love the brands, Finisterre, Icebreaker, and Dillig.
9. Drinking TEA does such wonders to cleanse our internal system. Herbal teas, fresh ginger tea, green teas, white teas. Check out your local supermarket to discover a new favourite for this fall.
10. LISTEN to a new album by your favourite artist ( there are so many lately ! ) , and to the winds blowing on your face, or to the birds migrating overhead. Closing your eyes and listening brings one into a beautiful moment of stillness and reflection.
11. WATCH a good series or film. I just started re-watching the Canadian series Anne with an E. And it brings me so much joy. This is the time to enjoy all the good media and stories others have made !
12. And last but of course not least. READ! I am finishing up The Yoga of Parenting ( the only parenting book I have officially read ) And it does not disappoint. The written word is so inspiring !

“Fear not November’s challenge bold. We’ve books and friends, and hearths that never can grow cold. These make amends.” 

~ Alexander L. Fraser

Portrait Photography curtesy of Katja Broemer from 2020