Hello and happy new month! What’s been going on? How was your Labor Day weekend? Ours was really nice. My family came in town and David’s family came over to hang out for a bit on Saturday, too. Family + family is my happy place so I was thrilled! Other than that it was a lot of walks, snacks, and football.

Then it came to a crescendo on September 1 as we joined our neighbors for a Harry Potter party kicking off the return to Hogwarts with themed food, drinks, and games. It was a blast! Helllloooo fall (I know, I know, September 22 and all, but in my book, it’s here).

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After Labor Day we really hit the ground running. Co-op, piano, musical theater, soccer, youth group, Hailey’s birthday, my birthday… you get the picture. September is also one of my favorite months because the mornings are starting to feel slightly cooler, it’s appropriate to light the fall candles, and (broken record alert) college football is back. It’s the intro into the ‘ber months (September, October, November, December).

It’s always nice to be intentional with this time of year. After a looser schedule of summer it can feel a little overwhelming to come back to a scheduled program. Couple that with special seasonal events that pop up and increasingly obligations, time can feel like it runs away from us a bit. So I spent a little time revisiting my priorities for this time of year and setting a few goals for myself. Here’s what I’ve come up with.

Cook seasonal foods.

Oh how I love this one. I love warm comfort foods like Shepherd’s Pie, curries, chilis, and soups. My girls love the pumpkin muffins I’ve (already) been making. I enjoy hot afternoon tea and making apple-based treats from our trip to pick (which I guess I need to get on the calendar soon).

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Keep up basic health habits of daily movement and proper bedtimes.

A boring but necessary goal if I want to feel good during the season. Daily workouts, some including weights, some including longer walks and hikes, but moving every day alongside going to sleep by 10:00 makes a huge impact on my energy levels. All the others are good too, like eating real food, staying hydrated, taking my supplements, but I really want to focus in on committing to movement and sleep.

Make the house feel cozy.

Seasonal touches, cozy fabrics, wafting aromas from the kitchen, flickering fall candles, and cozy jazz music playing in the evenings when I cook dinner. Romanticize the heck out of this season with me! I hope my home feels warm and welcoming to those of us that live here and those that come visit.

Striped Jute Rug // Hello Pumpkin Mat // Similar Wreaths Here and Here

Still need some pumpkins to finish it up!

Enjoy 2 date nights per month.

We’re fortunate this year that our weekly routine allows for a natural fit for a date night. A time for David and I to spend some uninterrupted time connecting and catching up on all the life things on a regular basis is something I’m really looking forward to prioritizing.

Host one ‘ber month gathering.

I think we’ve decided what it will be- a Christmas open house! I’m already a flutter with thinking about the details and welcoming friends and acquaintances to become friends into our home during the coziest time of the year.

Listen to a cozy book.

I just need to come up with one! Open to suggestions here. Do you have a book you love that feels like my favorite fall movies: You’ve Got Mail, One Fine Day, It’s Complicated, Julie and Julia?

Keep calm and savor.

With the help of our Skylight, an appropriate bedtime as often as possible, and a solid morning routine, I’m hoping to keep calm and savor the month by focusing on the day I’m currently in. Will everyday be a zen seasonal frolic? Surely not, but I will remind myself often how much I love this season and enjoy making it feel special for the people I love.

And trust me on this one, try turning on cozy jazz music in the evening and tell me that you don’t instantly feel like you’re smack dab in the middle of a cozy fall flick 😉