The trees are feeling distressed in anticipation of the months ahead. Their leaves turn funky shades reminiscent of urine, blood, and rust as the nausea takes hold in their roots. Soon they will become too frail to physically handle the angst; and leaves will begin to shed from their stems onto the browning floor. Who could stand the devilish chill of the winter twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for months on end? They cry silent shrieks of agony, making desperate attempts to rub their branches together to start a fire. The poor saplings face their first frigid fall, ignorant of the season to follow. Maybe it is best for them to give in and become lifeless icicles. The sky will grow dim and our souls dimmer. The sun cannot penetrate the Earth’s cold shoulder, no matter how close it moves in. What an awful time of year. When will the fruitful blossoms show themselves once again?

A romantic man gazes through his window pane at the forest below. His eyes glimmer with joy when he notices the first leaf miraculously drift down to the ground. Joy pierces him through the heart as he daydreams of crimson and auburn colored leaves raining from the heavens above. Soon a crystal blanket of transcendent white will drape over their barren arms like a cashmere sweater. It’s a marvelous time of year. The sweltering summer bows before its audience as the curtain closes on its annual performance. Once again, the season has arrived to cozy up by the fire, nestle into the arms of loved ones, and devour heaps of sweet pastries and pies.

There are a few perspectives to take on the shifting of seasons. In the past, I have generally fallen into the categories of irritation and blues because I prefer to be warm and I love to spend time outdoors. These two things cannot transpire simultaneously during the cooler months. There is a feeling of imprisonment that develops inside of me during these seasons. I find myself longing for this half of the year to conclude. However, something feels different this time around.

All of a sudden I am enthusiastic at the start of this autumn. Maybe it’s all the chic, fall weather clothing I filled my closet with last year that I have been waiting to break out. Maybe it is that I am now the lead woman of my household and I feel a responsibility to create a sense of warmth and comfort in my home. Maybe I am just in denial about my emotions to come when the weather changes. Whatever the case, I have devised eight ideas to ring in the season and get everyone excited for Fall.

1. Set the mood with a Fall music playlist. Time to ditch the reggae and replace it with some soothing soft rock or jazz. There is nothing that screams fall like Billy Joel humming off the turn table on a chilly evening.

2. Heat things up. Fire and fabric are the focus here. Layer the couches with plush blankets and feathery pillows. Light candles, burn logs in the fireplace, and stick something delectable in the fiery oven.

3. Build the ultimate bath bar. I’m talking sumptuous soaps, soothing salts, and sudsy bath bombs. Get the candles lit, vaporize essential oils, and find a book that is one step below your reading level. It is time to unwind. Nothing warms you to the core like soaking in a steaming tub of water.

4. Stock up on tea and hot chocolate. My current preference is steeping a toasty cup of pumpkin spice tea with a splash of almond milk. I am currently drinking one now as I’m writing.

5. Create a Fall reading list, or movie list if you are not a reader. My upcoming reads are Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, and Educated by Tara Westover.

6. Invent a Fall cocktail. At my house we have been using ingredients such as apple cider, apple pie liqueur, and ground cinnamon to add a Fall flavor to our evening cocktails.

7. Update your wardrobe. Before going out and spending a thousand dollars, it’s a good idea to first evaluate what you already own. Donate items that no longer suit your style and rediscover the pieces that have been pushed down to bottom of your drawers, then go shopping. Fall is the best season for fashion because you can layer your unique pieces without sweating underneath and without covering them up with a bulky winter jacket.

8. Cook food that warms you from the inside out. This means soups, casseroles, and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.

Happy Fall! Cheers!