The autumn agenda: fall books, rituals& more - Ep 119
There is an unmistakable crispness in the air, and with September officially here, it is time to celebrate the absolute best season of the year.
Autumn brings a unique invitation to slow down, build intentional daily rituals, and make everyday moments feel a little more special.
In this week's podcast episode, I am sharing my complete seasonal blueprint—a personal guide to everything I plan to do, watch, read, eat, drink, and enjoy over the coming months.
From upgrading living spaces for maximum warmth to sharing a packed reading list, fantasy football draft picks, and a fresh bucket list, consider this your inspiration to embrace the season and borrow any of these ideas for your own autumn plans.
Create & consume:
What Austen is creating: day in my life mini vlog
What Austen is consuming: The New Rules of YouTube for 2027 (Colin & Samir’s YouTube channel featuring Paddy Galloway)
In this episode:
Creating a cozy sanctuary at home
Before the colder weather sets in, I love transforming my home into a warm, functional haven for the season.
This fall, I am focusing on a few simple, high-impact updates that bring both comfort and organization to my living space.
I am currently hunting for the perfect storage bench so I can keep my extra throw blankets neatly tucked away, and I am swapping in a new coffee table to anchor my cozy evening hangouts.
Over in the kitchen, I am updating a few everyday details to refresh the space, starting with a brand-new seasonal utensil holder to give my counter a subtle autumn touch.
Daily autumn rituals to lean into
I truly believe fall is the ultimate season for leaning into daily routines that make workdays and weekends feel extra cozy.
I always kick off the season with my annual HomeGoods trip to pick out fresh autumn candles, a seasonal wreath, and a few subtle decorative accents for the house.
On Sunday mornings, I love sipping warm coffee from my favorite mug while getting lost in a good book.
Throughout the week, I pull out my favorite seasonal clothes—including my beloved Stars Hollow sweater—keep the windows open while I work to catch the crisp breeze, and unwind with cozy movie nights.
Whenever I get the chance, I take long coffee walks through Central Park to admire the changing leaves.
What I’m watching: new releases and nostalgic rewatches
As the days grow shorter, I look forward to unwinding with a great watch list every evening. This season, I am balancing exciting new reality television with my favorite comfort rewatches.
On the new release front, I will be tuning into Traitors: New Blood and the latest season of Love Is Blind, set in Boston.
For my seasonal rewatches, nothing beats returning to Gilmore Girls to revisit classic moments like Rory’s first days at Chilton and Yale.
I am also rewatching Gossip Girl, especially its dramatic Thanksgiving episodes.
The ultimate autumn reading list
Nothing feels better than curling up with a fantastic book when it gets chilly outside, and I built my fall reading stack to cover every possible mood.
For mystery and suspense, I recommend First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston and The Cloisters by Katy Hays.
When I want a cozy romance, I suggest for The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore and Battle of the Bookstores.
For a late-year productivity reset, I am pulling actionable insights from Laura Mae Martin's Uptime and James Clear's Atomic Habits.
I’ve also read contemporary fiction like The Correspondent and Emma Straub's This Time Tomorrow, which are perfect for fall.
This season I’m hoping to revisit some backlist classics like Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice and Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking because it’s been too long since I last read them.
Fourth-year family fantasy football
I am officially entering year four of my family fantasy football league, which means our friendly rivalry is back in full swing.
I talk more about my exact draft picks, walk you through the bold moves I made on draft night, and share the key game plan reminders I am keeping in mind this season.
Between managing my weekly lineup and tracking game-day updates, I am playing to win and taking my strategy very seriously this year. If you’re ready to embrace football this year, listen to this.
Fall flavors, coffee runs, and comfort food
I love fall food and drink culture, so I am making it a priority to explore local spots and do plenty of cozy home cooking.
I am visiting new neighborhood coffee shops to sample their signature seasonal drinks.
When it comes to fall flavors, I am leaning heavily into apple, cinnamon, and maple this year, while officially taking a pass on pumpkin and pecan.
On game days, I am trying out new recipes from Rebecca's small-batch bread cookbook—specifically her soft pretzels and garlic knots—and I am keeping big pots of homemade soup and chili simmering on the stove all season long.
The autumn bucket list
To make sure I do not let the season slip by without making great memories, I put together a mini bucket list for the months ahead.
I am hosting a Sunday football watch party packed with comfort food, planning a cultural outing to explore The Cloisters museum, and taking a weekend getaway upstate to enjoy the changing leaves.
Locally, I am participating in the Hoboken coffee crawl and shooting fresh seasonal fashion content featuring my favorite autumn layers.
Summary:
Grab a warm drink, light a seasonal candle, and enjoy all that fall will bring.
Hopefully, this seasonal agenda inspires you to craft your own fall rituals and make the most of this wonderful time of year!
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