Hello to you, dearheart!
Generally speaking, I write a lot about friendship in books and on Instagram. Having said that, I also want to be a friend to you by putting a good thing or two on your radar that could bless you. So, from books to bakes, from clothes to shows and everything in between, these are a few of my favorite things that are on the cozy, snuggly side. After all, isn’t that what so many of us are craving right now?! If what I share doesn’t fit within that, well…it’ll help you look and feel good as you snuggle in this fall!
Alrighty, here we go!
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: A Cozy, Snuggly Fall
Chicken, Mushroom, and Wild Rice Soup: When fall arrives, so does my unmitigated desire to eat soup all the time. Thankfully, David doesn’t mind, as long as the soup has meat in it. This one is DELICIOUS.
Vegetable Red Lentil Soup: I made this for my man and myself, although I did add bacon to it (see above for reason). It’d be good with ham, too! I also made some of these biscuits to have with it.
Maple Chai Cookies: I made these for care packages for my kids, and they were a unanimous hit. (I’ve shared this recipe before, but I felt it couldn’t hurt to share it again!) I made them without the icing, and still our offspring raved about them. Also, I added the Pioneer Woman’s Chex Mix to those care packages. In my book hers just can’t be beat, and it’s doubly delish to munch on while you’re watching that football game.
3 Ingredient Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins: I originally received this recipe decades ago from one of my dearest friends, Sherri. It’s the EASIEST recipe, and the muffins taste wonderful. Note: I added the entire bag of chocolate chips because I believe that when it comes to chocolate, more is better. This is my favorite brand to use. Second note: Sherri’s original recipe called for cinnamon chips, but those can be hard to find beyond specialty baking shops. (I did find them online here and here though.)
Cowboy Rider Dog Costume: Last year we bought this as a Christmas present for our daughter’s dog, Rafa, and THE JOY IT BROUGHT US!! I thought I’d share it with you in time for Halloween (I think??) for your own pup, too. Watching Rafa run around in it is a hilarious bit of entertainment that delights us to no end. Rafa is about 25 lbs, and we bought him size medium.
The Stories We Live By: Seven Cultural Myths that Fail Us and the Story that Never Will by Timothy Keller and Michael Keller: The late Pastor Tim Keller and his son, Michael, worked on this book together before Tim passed away in 2023. This book offers a compelling analysis of the stories our culture tells us (or tries to tell us) and how these narratives, as the book’s description says, “make promises they can’t keep.” When his father passed away, Michael found himself needing a story that met his grief with a hope that held more than ever before. As the back cover tells, this book “…is an invitation to embrace a story big enough to make sense of both the beauty and the brokenness of the world. And it is a story that offers a hope able to sustain us through suffering–grounded in a story bigger than death itself.”
Charlotte Tilbury Liquid Eyeliner: I recently switched to this eyeliner cuz my previous one repeatedly and annoyingly ran onto my upper eyelids. This one works like a dream; it goes on smoothly and stays put. I wear the brown, too, cuz that’s in my color palette and looks better on me.
Down Alternative Comforter: I bought this for my mom for her birthday because she needed a new comforter and because I was wowed by all its positive reviews. It comes in a bunch of colors, too!
Cozy Bonnie Ankle Boot: Big thanks to Melanie Shankle for introducing these to me! I snagged a pair because the next closest thing I have to them are some Uggs I bought when we moved to Colorado in 2010. While I still wear those, they’ve seen better days. This pair from Target is cozy and so very comfy!! Plus, at $40, you can’t beat the price, They’d make a great Christmas gift, too!
Battery Operated Pillar Flicker Candle: When fall rolls around, I become obsessed with adding as much candlelight to my house and porch as possible. I usually buy the cream ones, but I also bought this red one for the top of my secretary hutch in my office. I love how it looks like it has a real flame even thought it’s flame free. (At least it does for my 50+ eyes!) It takes 2 AA batteries to work, but work it does beautifully! It comes with the timer option and a remote to control how many hours it’s on as well. There are multiple size and color options!
Black Taper Candles: These are the old fashioned kind of candles that do burn! I do love a black taper candle at this time of year I have my eye on these spiral taper candles, too!
Custom Ribbon Bundle for Wreath: Last year, I stumbled upon a particular shop that makes beautiful ribbon bundles for seasonal wreaths. I reaaaallly wanted one, but at 100 bucks a pop, I couldn’t justify purchasing one. This year, I found this darling Etsy store that customized one for me for a fraction of the cost, and I LOVE IT. Mine in the picture above is a bit hard to see, I know, and it looks nothing like the one from the link. But like I said, the shop owner was so kind and added ribbons that reflected the three colors I wanted (green, bright orange, and maroon for our family’s three alma maters). I smile every time I look at it!
Fall Instrumental Playlist: I love me a mellow instrumental playlist! I believe this one that I’ve curated over time fits the bill for adding instant, cozy vibes!
Good Fall Television: My husband and I finished Ted Lasso a few of weeks ago. While we found the first episode iffy, it quickly made up ground, and we thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the series. This week, I’ll be watching The Terminal List through my fingers because I’ll expect it to be as intense and as good as the first season. The Gilded Age is one of my most favorite shows (the elaborate sets! the costumes! the unparalleled sarcasm of Agnes!), and I can’t wait to dive into it this Sunday. Oh, and I can’t forget The Great British Baking Show! There’s a new sheriff in town, or rather a new judge in the tent this season: Nigella Lawson. The writer in me is plumb enthralled at her artful use of adjectives when she describes the bakes. While I miss Prue, Nigella is a delight.
AG1 Power Greens: This month marks the 3rd year I’ve been using AG1, and I continue to love it. What is AG1? Well, it is a green daily supplement powder you mix with water that provides vitamins, prebiotics, probiotics, and other good stuff into a single scoop. Honest to goodness, it gives me a solid boost of energy in the morning, and I can feel the difference when I forget to take it (like when I’m traveling). Since using it, I don’t get sick as often, either! This gets my day started on the right foot, one hundred percent.
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