Confessions of a Night Owl Living on a 5 AM Schedule

 

 

"Bittersweet October. The mellow season of the year, when the earth seems to pause, and rest, and be satisfied." (Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne's House of Dreams)

Hello, my lovely friends!

    First off, I am so sorry for missing my posts on Tuesday and Thursday. Life got a little chaotic this week, or maybe I should just say my alarm clock started ringing at an ungodly hour. Mike started his new job on Monday, which means he has been up at five in the morning every single day. Now, as most of you know, I am strictly a night owl who thrives in the quiet midnight hours, but I’ve been dragging myself out of bed right alongside him to pack his lunch and kiss him goodbye. Afterward, I usually wander back to my room, attempt to get a few small things done, and then crash right back into bed. It’s safe to say I desperately need to figure out a new routine that works for me, because trying to go to sleep early just results in me staring at the ceiling and tossing and turning all night.

On the bright side, Mike is absolutely loving the new role so far. He’s working in the warehouse for Ethan Allen furniture, where he spends his day loading and unloading trucks and even assembling some of the pieces. It’s a small team of just three guys, and the workplace is a quick ten-minute drive from our house, which is such a nice treat. Plus, he gets weekends off and just found out they get a four-day weekend for Thanksgiving next month. Seeing him enjoy what he does makes those painful five-in-the-morning wake-up calls completely worth it.

Hopefully, over the next couple of weeks, my body gets the memo and adjusts to this new morning rhythm without me needing a mid-day collapse back into my blankets. Thank you all for being so patient with me while I navigate the sleepy adjustment period.

    Fall and Halloween decorating around here is in full swing, and honestly, my mom has completely taken the reins and run with it. She is in absolute cozy season mode, which makes the whole house feel so festive. I’ve been meaning to get around to setting up the coffee bar, so that’s on my schedule for today or tomorrow. I’ll definitely take some pictures and post the final setup for you guys as soon as it’s put together.

We ended up making the call to skip the outdoor decorations this year, mostly because we’re still working on trimming down the yard and getting everything cut back for the season. But I can't leave the front completely bare, so I think I’m going to do something cute with the front windows to give it a little cozy glow from the street. We did make sure to stock up on candy for the big night, so at least that part is taken care of.

Now we are just keeping our fingers crossed that this gorgeous weather decides to stick around through Halloween night. The last couple of years have been a little quiet on our street, and everyone around here keeps complaining that there aren't nearly as many trick-or-treaters out on the actual night anymore. It seems like everyone goes to the big Trunk-or-Treat events the weekend before instead, so we ended up buying a little less candy this time around. Here’s hoping we still get a good crowd of kiddos showing off their costumes.

    We had these big, grand plans to head downtown this weekend, but let's be real—Prime Day got the best of us. After a little too much late-night add-to-cart action, we now need to actually be home so we can rescue all those cardboard boxes from the front porch before the local squirrels claim them. So, the city will have to wait, and honestly, staying put isn't the worst thing in the world.

Instead of wandering around shop windows, it turns out to be the perfect excuse to step outside and get some good old-fashioned yardwork done. My tomato and bell pepper plants are still somehow holding on for dear life, bless them. I have been obsessively checking the weather forecast every night like it is my full-time job, and so far, the temperatures are playing nice enough to keep them alive. Every single day they keep producing feels like a tiny, triumphant victory over the season.

At the same time, we had the guys come by to blow out the sprinklers, which always feels like the official end of summer. Now the rest of the yard just needs to be put to bed for the colder months ahead. It is a bit bittersweet pulling up the old vines and raking up the leaves, but there is something so cozy about tucking the garden in for its long winter nap. Here is hoping that next year's crop comes back bigger, sweeter, and way more abundant, but until then, I am going to enjoy every last little harvest we can squeeze out of this one.

Thank you for being here. It’s always a treat to share this space with you. May your day be sweet, calm, and wrapped in comfort. See you in the next post!

Hello October

 

Top Ten Favorites: Autumn Cozy Movies

"There are some things I know for certain: always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can." (Sally Owens, Practical Magic)

Hello, my lovely friends! 

    There is a very specific kind of magic that happens the second the air gets crisp enough to justify a giant sweater and an unnecessarily large mug of tea. It is like an unwritten rule of nature that as soon as the leaves start turning into those gorgeous fiery reds and golden yellows, our collective brain chemistry completely shifts toward total indoor cozy mode. We swap out our lightweight summer routines for thick knitted blankets, candlelit living rooms, and the absolute comfort of rewatching movies that feel like a warm hug. If you are currently buried under three layers of fleece and trying to decide what to put on tonight, I have put together the ultimate list of comforting fall flicks that will instantly make your apartment feel like a sanctuary.

    We obviously have to start with Practical Magic, because nothing sets the early autumn mood quite like two witchy sisters dancing around a gorgeous Victorian kitchen in soft cardigans. It has everything you could ever want in a October movie—a seaside town wrapped in golden light, endless cups of midnight margaritas, deep sisterly love, and just enough spooky energy to feel like autumn without actually scaring you. Right alongside it in the hall of fame is You’ve Got Mail, which is practically an homage to New York City in the fall. Hearing the crinkling leaves on the pavement, watching Meg Ryan wander through cozy little bookstores in knit scarves, and listening to Tom Hanks talk about buying fresh school supplies just hits a nostalgic nerve that makes you want to immediately order a warm pumpkin drink and start a journal.

    If you are craving something that feels a bit more like a rainy, moody afternoon in the late eighties or early nineties, St. Elmo’s Fire brings all the dramatic, moody group-of-friends energy you need when the weather turns chilly. There is a whole dynamic of early adulthood confusion wrapped up in trench coats and stormy city streets that feels oddly comforting when you are wrapped in a blanket. And speaking of moody weather, we simply cannot ignore the sheer atmospheric perfection of the Twilight Saga. Say what you will about the romance, but those perpetual rainstorms, the endless green pine forests shrouded in thick fog, and that soft blue tint over every single frame are the exact embodiment of a gray November weekend spent indoors.

    When you want your cozy movie night to come with a side of pure sensory comfort, Chocolat is an absolute necessity. Watching a sleepy, French village get swept up in warm spices, melt-in-your-mouth confections, and rustic winter coats will make your entire living room feel five degrees warmer just by having it on the screen. For a little more quiet drama mixed with timeless longing, The Lake House delivers that quiet, crisp autumn sunshine that makes you want to sit by a window with a hot drink while watching light filter through bare trees. It has this calm, slow-paced rhythm that forces you to just slow down and breathe out the stress of the day.

    Of course, no crisp-weather movie marathon would ever be complete without Pride & Prejudice, specifically the version that leaves you daydreaming about walking through misty, dewy fields at dawn in a long coat. The sweeping piano score, the golden candlelight in historic countryside homes, and the dramatic rainfall make it the ultimate romantic escape when the wind is howling outside your window. Then there is When Harry Met Sally, which practically invented the cozy autumn aesthetic with its iconic strolls through Central Park under a canopy of falling leaves. The snappy, affectionate banter feels like catching up with an old friend, making it the kind of film you can leave running in the background while you bake something delicious.

    Rounding out the ultimate chilly-weather lineup are two absolute classics that hit every single emotional chord. Stepmom brings all the hearty late-nineties fall fashion, warm family kitchens, and deeply tender moments that remind you what really matters as the year begins to wind down. And finally, Mystic Pizza gives us that perfect coastal autumn vibe, complete with oversized sweaters, small-town warmth, and the nostalgic comfort of simple days spent with your favorite people. So go ahead, dim the lights, light that warm vanilla candle you have been saving, and let yourself sink into the sweetest season of the year.


Top Ten Favorites:  Autumn Cozy Movies
1. Practical Magic (1998)
2. You’ve Got Mail (1998)
3. St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)
4. The Twilight Saga
5. Chocolat (2000)
6. The Lake House (2006)
7. Pride & Prejudice (2005)
8. When Harry Met Sally (1989) 
9. Stepmom (1998)
10. Mystic Pizza (1988)    

Thanks for checking in today! I hope your morning, afternoon, or evening is wonderfully cozy and bright. Wishing you the absolute best, and looking forward to next time.

 

Cozy Sweaters and Autumn Magic

 

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."
— (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

 

 Hello, my lovely friends!

    Finally, it is officially the season of fall. I have been waiting and waiting for this exact time of year to arrive. I love every single feeling this season brings up, from the warmth of a steaming mug of tea to getting wrapped up in the softest cozy blankets and settling in for all those wonderful comfort films. Mother Nature must have gotten the memo that we changed seasons because late Tuesday night it got super windy out of nowhere. The next thing you know, it was thundering and the rain started pouring down. Waking up to temperatures in the 60s was pure, unadulterated magic. There is honestly nothing better than opening the bedroom window just a crack to smell that fresh, chilly rain while you are buried deep under three heavy layers of quilts.

This whole shift in the air just makes me want to slow everything down to a crawl. It is finally time to swap out the breezy summer wardrobe for big oversized sweaters, soft leggings, and those worn-in socks that feel like a giant hug for your feet. It is the ultimate excuse to stay indoors, leave the chores for tomorrow, and just exist in a nice, quiet space without feeling an ounce of guilt about missing out on the sun. I am already curating my ultimate autumn movie marathon list, full of those classic old favorites that feel like catching up with a dear friend. Add a sweet candle flickering on the coffee table, a pet curled up and snoring at the end of the sofa, and maybe a baked treat straight out of the oven, and I am completely set for the foreseeable future. Fall just knows how to soothe the soul in a way no other time of year can pull off.

Yesterday was officially our first full day of fall, which means my internal seasonal clock immediately shifted into high gear. I do not know if you are the kind of person who needs an entire elaborate performance to celebrate the turn of a season, but I absolutely am. I take these little moments ridiculously seriously. For breakfast, my usual go-to is pumpkin spice waffles or pancakes, but this year I had a box of sweet potato pancake mix sitting in the back of the pantry calling my name. I ended up pouring it into the waffle iron and dusting it with a heavy hand of pumpkin pie spice, because why not. The sky was gloomy and gray, which made the whole house feel extra cozy and gave me the perfect excuse to kick off the morning with a steaming cup of hot apple cider in my favorite autumn mug. It was the absolute cherry on top of a slow, sweet morning.

Of course, the morning routine was only the beginning of our festivities. A quick trip to Dunkin was non-negotiable because grabbing a box of pumpkin doughnuts on day one is an absolute rule in my book. What I really wanted, deep down in my soul, were those fresh, warm apple cider doughnuts, but they are nearly impossible to track down around here. I am determined to find some before the season ends, even if I have to hunt down every single local farm stand in a fifty-mile radius. Once back home with my caffeine and sugar fix, I dragged Mike into the action and had him start hauling the Halloween boxes up from the basement. I originally wanted to start decorating weeks ago, but life got crazy and I kept putting it off. Honestly, it has been so long since we went all out that I completely forgot how much spooky stuff we actually own, plus we have a few brand new treasures that I cannot wait to show you.

By late afternoon, the big question on everyone's mind was what to make for dinner. I had already made a proper farewell-to-summer meal the night before, so I needed something that felt like a warm hug for our very first chilly autumn evening. It was raining a little bit outside, so soup immediately came to mind, paired with some crispy, gooey grilled ham and cheese sammies. We turned off the television, completely banned the news for the night, and put on a playlist of old classic autumn tunes to set the mood while we ate. It was simple, warm, and totally perfect in every way.

If you thought the day ended after dinner, you clearly do not know me at all. The evening is always the absolute main event, and I had been counting down the weeks for this exact ritual. After popping a huge bowl of popcorn, we settled onto the couch for our non-negotiable first-day-of-fall movie, Practical Magic. Truly, there is no better way to welcome the crisp air than hanging out with the Owens sisters and dreaming about midnight margaritas. To make things even better, I have been secretly recording autumn movies on TV for a whole month now, just waiting for the right moment to start my marathon, so I squeezed another one in right after.

So go ahead and pull out your favorite mug, pour yourself something warm, and let yourself sink right into the chill. We made it through the long summer heat, and now we get to enjoy every single cozy, rainy minute of it together. It was such a fun start to my favorite time of year, and now I want to know all about your kick-off traditions. Did you do anything special to welcome the new season, or are you still clinging to the last bits of summer?

 Thank you for being here. It’s always a treat to share this space with you. May your day be sweet, calm, and wrapped in comfort. See you in the next post!

Welcome to Autumn!