Autumn Equinox

Happy Autumn Equinox! 🍂 🍁

The autumn equinox marks the transition from the long, bright days of summer into the darker half of the year. From here, the days continue to get shorter until we reach the winter solstice. While I’m never quite ready to say goodbye to summer, I love what this season invites us to slow down, turn inward, spend more time at home, gather with the people we love, and prepare ourselves and our spaces for winter.

Celebrating the autumn equinox can look completely different for everyone and it doesn’t have to be an elaborate ritual or celebration. For me, it’s simply noticing that the season is changing and choosing to be present for it. I spent a lot of time outside today getting our home ready for fall (and eventually winter ❄️).

I planted my mums and decorated outside with pumpkins, then started tackling the less glamorous parts of the seasonal transition. I did some minor raking (I like to mulch everything up with the mower later on), put away the summer decorations and flower pots, cleaned out the old plants, and started getting everything settled before the cold weather hits.

Once everything outside was cleaned up, I came inside to finish homework, lit my fall candles, made the house cozy, and ended the day by cooking a warm autumn harvest bowl filled with some of my favorite flavors of the season.

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My Autumn Harvest Bowl

- Apple chicken sausage

-Apples

- Brussels sprouts

- Red cabbage

- Red onion

- Sweet potatoes

- Wild rice

I roasted the vegetables until they were tender and slightly caramelized, prepared the wild rice, cooked the apple chicken sausage, and piled everything together into one big cozy bowl, topping it with diced apples fresh from my grandma's tree.

My favorite part of the dish: Maple Vinaigrette

Whisk together:

- Apple cider vinegar

- Olive oil

- Pure maple syrup

- Dijon mustard

- Salt

- Freshly cracked black pepper

-Dash of cinnamon

Flavor to taste- everyone likes their dressing a little different! All of the flavors combined tasted like fall in a bowl 😋

Settling Into the Season

I never like seeing summer come to an end because the season simply goes by too quickly. However, we must face reality and accept the change.

I am excited for the coziness that the colder weather brings. I missed the autumn scents that fill my house (pumpkin, apple, and cinnamon), the jack-o-lantern lights that my mom used to hang up in our home as a kid, fluffy blankets, and of course autumn pillows from TJ Maxx!

I've already watched Practical Magic and can't wait to see number 2! Gilmore Girls are a staple this time of year, and I love watching some of school movies with my step daughters, like Hocus Pocus and HalloweenTown 🎃

It is a time to settle in, be creative with your space, and have fun with the changes! How are you celebrating?