One of the main themes this season for me has been ‘comfort’.
Much of Autumn has been revisiting comforting stories and elements from my past.
Seems fitting since Autumn is the season of cozy, cuddles and candles.

Succession Theme

It will probably take many rounds of revisiting this piece before I feel as if I have mastered it. That being said, every time I pull it out I feel a bit more confident with it. Succession is a gritty and edgy series about a media mogul family. Its musical compositions that play underneath the drama are unparalleled. Nicholas Britell is a master at creating these high-end yet very questionable vibes.

Canon EOS RP

A second-hand camera we were using bit the dust and over the course of the months following I contemplated what it would mean to invest in a new one that better suited my documentary needs. When I was about to pull the trigger a colleague and friend instinctively pointed me towards the camera that I would not regret investing in. His intuition and quick research saved me more than just regret. I have so much to learn in film/videography, but at least now I am one less step away from whipping out a camera, pressing record and capturing a moment.

Okanagan Fall Candle Sampler

I love candles and am working to find my favourite Canadian soy brands, despite the costs. Getting this sample pack allows me to get all the scents, and learn which candle is worth my future investment once I’ve burned through the packs. Did I mention I love candles?

At Home in Mitford | Jan Karon

While going through various waves of the pandemic I have been reminded of previous comfort reads and watches. At Home in Mitford was first given to me by my grandmother as a late teen. I remember reading it, enjoying it, but not falling down the rabbit hole that this series can cause. Being reminded of its small town and soothing plot recently, I picked it up again and am enjoying a slow, calming re-read of it.

Gilmore Girls

Another comfort watch, which many know and love. Gilmore Girls is a timeless series with so much heart and soul. Womanhood, motherhood, daughterhood and community all wrapped up in a quirky, quote-filled town called ‘Stars Hallow’.

Top Centre - Clockwise : Fraiser Fir | Hammock, a.k.a. Thornbloom, Grateful, Thankful, Blessed Tea Towel | Winners, Tan Knit Sweater | H&M, Gold Tray | IKEA, Wine Glass | IKEA, Seeing Stars Essie Nail Polish | Shoppers Drug Mart, Glasses | All About Eyeware Optical, Glossier Highlighter | Gift for my 30th Birthday from Jasmine Alexander, Autumn Anthology | Amazon, Brown Silk Shirt | Suzy Shier, Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati | Lend from my Aunt

Frasier Fir Aromatic Candle

I first found this candle with my mom last Christmas. We both entered the Hammock store and stopped instantly in awe at the way this candle smells exactly like a real Christmas tree. This year I had to buy one. Especially knowing their business was suffering due to storm damage affecting their access to their flagship store downtown Halifax. It was a small thing to buy, yet I made sure to purchase this candle from them.

Grateful, Thankful, Blessed Tea Towel

With a newly renovated kitchen comes the desire to decorate it. That being said, I am always careful with decorations. I realize that personally, I tire of them easily. Focusing on seasonal decorations is a great way for me to enjoy decorating without boring too fast. I adore this set which reminds me of what Thanksgiving and the preparation for Christmas is all about.

Tan/Brown Knit Sweater

Mid Autumn, I was on the hunt for good deals. When I saw this sweater at H&M I was hooked. It was exactly what I wanted in a knit sweater. Loose, warm, complimentary and a muted tone. It is so warm. A luxury.

Wine Glasses

During our kitchen renovation this year, for some odd reason, we ended up breaking multiple water & wine glasses. I decided to look at what IKEA had to offer and was so pleased with this line. Previously I had stemless goblets. I adore those and still have three left, but there is something about these stemmed goblets that just speak to me.

Seeing Stars Nail Polish

Simply put, I am embracing brown this year and this nail polish color is making it happen for me.

Glasses

Getting my prescription updated this year led me to get a new set of glasses. I have a newer black pair that look similar to my old ones and this pair which I am enjoying wearing for a less aggressive look. I love that I can pop these on at a more formal event and feel that they are not taking away from my makeup / overall look.

Glossier Highlighter

Jasmine gave me this highlighter for my 30th birthday and I am still loving and using it. I love the way it adds a slight brightness to the face without being overt.

Autumn Anthology

Just as the last anthologies, I enjoy having each book in this series to read the natural rhythms of the seasons as the seasons unfold. I am a woman of seasons if you haven’t already gotten the hint….

Brown Silk Blouse

I am learning to re-love brown this year. I find it a comforting warm color to wear and the silk itself which is just so darn sexy.

Into the Wilderness - Sarah Donati

A lend from my Aunt in PEI this past summer. A good distraction while I wait for Outlander series season 5 to come out so that I can read book #5 The Fiery Cross.

Top centre - Clockwise: Tiger Sweater | Find from @littlethriftedcloset, Marie Cat | Gift from Auntie Heidi, Denim Long Sleeve | The Gap, Unicorn Headband | Freebie from Indigo, Cat Ears Headband | Joe Fresh, White Flower Long Sleeve | Old Navy, Pens | Gift from Auntie Jasmine, Artwork | From preschool, White long sleeve & pants | Old Navy, Reading is fun Frame | From Pre school, Jeans | Old Navy, Green Long Sleeve | Old Navy, Blue Flower Long Sleeve Blouse | Find from Auntie Nicole, Flower pants | Find from Auntie Nicole, Doughnut Pants | Carters & Gift from Mimi & Yeye, God Gave Us Thankful Hearts Book | Gift during an Autumn outing with Grandma & Grandpa, Gold Flats | Carters & Gift from Auntie Heidi, Little Wild Flower Pyjamas | Old Navy, Grey Sweater | Old Navy

Autumn started slowly. Many warm days in September and October early and it has only been during November that I have realized that we need to get more long sleeves and pants for the winter.

New to Her

The Tiger Sweater found by Little Thrifted Closet has been by far the staple item of her Capsule wardrobe for this season. It is big on her but will grow with her and allows for an extra coziness for her outfits when going about the autumn activities.

The Headbands were fun additions due to Halloween and a random giveaway we came across. For Halloween she was Marie, the Aristocat and having the simple white long sleeve & pants from Old Navy along with the headband from Joe fresh was a perfect minimal way to create the look.

Jeans from Old Navy are perfect. She is in a sweet spot right now, where Old Navy pants generally fit her width and lengthwise.

Still Going Strong

The green Old Navy long sleeve top from last winter which is a 4T still works great.

The Denim long sleeve from Auntie Heidi for Zoe's birthday is still the perfect addition to those preschool or days out and about!

Time to Go

There are t-shirts & a few long sleeves not pictured here because although she has worn them they have been outgrown in the course of the season.

The Blue blouse from Auntie Nicole is about to be one of those outgrown tops and I am so sad about it. It’s so precious on her.

Flowered pants now have a hole in them and we are so sad to see them go.

Thanksgiving comes early in Canada,

which has always slightly bothered me. In part, because I do like the idea of celebrating Thanksgiving closer to Christmas as our neighbours in the States do. Almost as if it was marker for the start of the holiday season.

Thankfully we are blessed to be Canadian and thus we cannot change the early nature of our thanksgiving long weekend.

A few traditions we have been working on as a family each year.

1. Write a list of 100 things we are thankful for.

2. Have a autumn themed brunch.

3. Do an age appropriate thanksgiving themed activity (colouring pages this year)

4. Take an autumn walk (if weather allows)

Within those activities there are the obvious spend time with each side of our families and generally, enjoy quality time together.

This year we were sick, so our plans had to shift a bit. We gave thanks for how 2019 has been growing and challenging us. No matter what trials we have journeyed through the year, we have so much to be thankful for. Seeing how quickly Zoë was able to rhyme off all the things she was thankful for brought us into a place of centred-ness, reflection and celebration for everything we have.

Even if we do have an early Thanksgiving, I believe it is the perfect heart, mind and soul preparation for the Christmas season to come.

Thankfulness is the beginning of everything.
Like a prayer before a meal.
A donning of a jacket,
lacing up of boots before a walk of exploration.

Thankfulness is a precursor.

2019 has been seasons full of upheaval in our home.

Coming towards the end of the year we are finally starting to see normalcy again. It’s delightful.

That being said, it’s impossible to go from ‘high stakes stress’ to ‘calm and zen like’ overnight.

I have been learning what it means to embrace that my body may not have registered yet that the stress is ‘over’.

Using what I have, I am embracing Autumns little extravagances to welcome peace back my into home, spirit and body.

Candles

An autumn scented candle triggers pleasant and warm thoughts.

Blankets

Nothing is more comforting than a warm and cozy blanket that is big enough to cover ones whole self.

Warm Drinks

Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate slides down so much more enjoyably when the autumn chill sets in.

Books

Taking the time to read a chapter or two of an interesting read welcomes in pleasure for pleasures sake and has a way of giving the brain something else to ponder during the in-betweens of a day.

it’s just a start, but finding the simplicity in the season before me to encourage peace is a practice that is necessary for me to hone for the sake of my health and all that I am called to be doing.