Cozy Things for Fall

Over the last  few weeks, I’ve been indulging in all things cozy. With the weather getting crisp, I’ve been longing to do the things that make me feel all warm and fuzzy. I wanted to share some of these things in the hopes that it might inspire you to get a little cozy. 

Creating Ambience

On a recent trip to Ikea, I stocked up on a lot of candles. In my opinion, they are the absolute best candles around. They are long-lasting and they never drip. Every evening, I light several candles around my house. There is something so special about candlelight that makes eating a simple dinner or watching TV a magical experience. 

I’ve also been playing some cozy jazz music. There’s a lot to choose from on YouTube and some selections even have the sound of a crackling fire. I find that having some lyric-free, chill music in the background while I cook, clean or read very pleasant.  

And finally, I’ve been daydreaming about renovating and redecorating my house. Though I’ve always preferred modern and minimal design, lately, I’m finding myself drawn to more traditional design. Think rooms in rich jewel tones, wood paneled walls and overstuffed armchairs. I don’t know what’s going on but I’m trying to figure out if there’s a way to put a modern spin on traditional design. 

Focusing on a Hobby

After reading a lot of non-fiction over the summer, I’m getting back into fiction during these colder months. My favorite genre, hands down, is the cozy mystery. For those that don’t know what a cozy mystery is…think Only Murders in the Building in book form. Amateur sleuths, little to no violence, quirky characters. 

Not only have I been reading cozy mysteries, but after years of reading digitally, I made the big decision to build out a library of physical books. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and saw that scene in Beauty and the Beast. You know which one I’m talking about! 

For the last couple of months, I’ve been investing lots of time and money buying all the books (second hand) in my favorite and newly discovered cozy mystery series. I’ve fallen in love with the works of Ellie Alexander, Jenn McKinlay, Ellery Adams and many more. At this point, I have two bookshelves nearly full and my collection is still growing. 

Making Sweets

I have quite the sweet tooth so it would make sense that I would be a home baker. In actuality, I have zero baking skills so instead, I’ve opted to go down the baking mix route. I see it as a stepping stone to making sweets from scratch. Until then, I will enjoy all the cakes, cookies and muffins with the help of pre-made mixes and I am not ashamed. 

Enjoying Quiet Time

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting older or because I’m a hardcore introvert but I’m needing more and more quiet time lately. To me, there’s nothing more exciting than spending the day at home alone, enjoying all the things I mentioned above. My life these days doesn’t really allow for this but every once in a while, I get the opportunity and I savor it.