I’m usually an indie coffee shop girl, but there are two occasions in the year where I will spend out on a Starbucks. The first is for a Pumpkin spice Latte in the Autumn, and the other is an Eggnog Latte at Christmas.
Now, I would honestly have pumpkin spice all year round, I love it that much, but there’s something special about waiting until the first signs of autumn to have it again. The days feel a little cooler, the sky gets a little greyer, and the world starts to change colour, telling us that it’s time to slow down.
It’s all about the Cosy!
I think Autumn may be my favourite time of year.
Don’t get me wrong, I love those long summer evenings, swimming in the sea and being able to leave the house without thinking about a coat. But by September, I’m usually ready for things to get a little cosier. Suddenly, staying at home with a good book and a cup of tea feels like a perfectly acceptable way to spend a Saturday night.
And I think there is something to learn from the season itself.
Everything around us is changing. Plants are dying back, trees are dropping their leaves and nature is preparing for Winter. Yet we seem to expect ourselves to operate at exactly the same pace all year round.
For me, ebracing cosy season isn’t just about candles and hot drinks and rewatching The Gilmore Girls for the 50th time … although there will be plenty of all three.
It’s about allowing life to become a little smaller and a little slower for a while. Utilising the time indoors. Cooking proper meals. Reading more. Practising self-care. Spending evenings at home without feeling like I should be doing something more exciting.
Basically, all of the things The Cosy Chapter was made for.
✨️ Some cosy moments from last year ✨️
Autum Intentions 🍂
I hesitate to call these goals, because I know myself by now. Give me a new season and I’ll somehow turn it into a 30-step self-improvement plan, buy a new notebook, and then wonder why I’m overwhelmed and unaccomplished two weeks later.
So we’re calling these my Autumn Intentions instead 🙌🏼
1. Cook with the season
I want to make more hearty, warming meals with seasonal vegetables, and bake endless loaves of bread! I am determined to finally perfect the art of sourdough this year!
2. Get outside, even when it’s cold
I don’t want colder and darker to mean no time outdoors. I love the beach and the mountains and intend to continue my outdoorsy adventures even through the drizzly Welsh weather. I may even keep up my cold dips if I’m brave enough😆
3. Create more
Crochet, baking, writing, sea-glass art, homemade products…whatever I feel like doing, I want to make time for it. Less scrolling and more creating.
4. Read more
Now this feels like the easiest one for me, as my favourite thing in the world is books. But I do often feel guilty for reading so much. I could easily get lost in a book for hours at a time and forget about important tasks or places I need to be.
I want to be more intentional with what I read. Try to avoid impulse-buying the tiktok trending rom-coms and thrillers, and clear my TBR shelf before spending unholy amounts of money on new titles. Maybe add some non-fiction into the mix, for educational purposes!
5. Keep working on The Cosy Chapter
I want to keep experimenting, adventuring and documenting it all, here and on my other platforms. Consistency for me is something that I massively need to work on, and finding joy in what I’m doing instead of creating pressure for myself.
I would love to create a YouTube channel one day! Though I’m not the most confident person on camera😅 I imagine day to day vlogs, cosy recipes, book recommendations, thrifting finds, self-sufficiency, house renovations, travel content…the list is endless to be honest. I have a lot of hobbies and don’t really have a niche to focus on. But hopefully that is a goal that I can think about in future.
6. Self-care
More yoga. More water. More sleep. Proper food. Time oudoors. Pamper nights. And less guilt for allowing myself to rest.
Nothing groundbreaking. Just the things that make me feel more like myself.
I’m trying not to romantacise Autumn to the point where I expect every evening to involve a freshly made meal, candlelight and a perfectly organised evening of cosy activities..
There will be rainy commutes, laundry that refuses to dry, mornings where it’s still dark when my alarm goes off for work and days where dinner comes out of the freezer.
But that’s life.
And I don’t think living is about making sure that everything is content-worthy and picturesque.
I think it’s about living in the moment as best we can, even when things are messy or unpractised, and embracing the good parts a little more.
Like that first cold morning. Finding conkers on a walk. Putting on your favourite knitted jumper. The smell of something cooking in the kitchen. Sitting by the fire when it’s raining outside.
And obviously, that first pumpkin spice latte.
So, let’s settle in and say hello to Autumn 🍂
So let me know in the comments…
Are you a Pumpkin Lover, Trend Follower or not a fan at all…? 🎃
What are your intentions for this cosy season?
And what’s your favourite thing about this time of year?
Leave a Reply