1.) Fall Tablescape

Create inviting areas of interest using candles & textiles. The mesmerizing flicker of candles in patchouli & exotic spice says, come hither in a finger of vanilla smoke. Arrange them on a vintage vessel, such as this aluminum tray. Fall leaves are always lovely but spent blossoms & petals are timeless & romantic.

Bring some vibrant green into your home this fall. My personal favorites are a Rosemary Topiary & Angel Vine. Rosemary is both fragrant & purposeful. A graceful accent for the mantel or it’s lovely on the kitchen counter, snip as needed for a winter cocktail or an astringent & herby bite to roasted meats. Angel Vine, with it’s sprawling, heart shaped leaves, adds a charming touch to any room. Try using it in a vintage bird cage.

Create a cozy reading nook that beckons you to curl up with a book & cup of tea, coffee or warm brandy. Add a cashmere throw some inviting pillows & a stack of books on a bench near a window. The soft moonlit glow of the corner was created by placing a pink Himalayan salt lamp under the bench.

What are your favorites reads right now? Cookbooks, mystery, something that enlightens spiritually? Arrange a few vintage notecards & inexpensive journals with a good pens, tied with jute as take away gifts for whomever frequents there.

2.) Brew up a cozy cocktail…

Nothing fills the walls of a home with more warmth than a mulled cider simmering on a stove top. Citrus & spice balanced with vanilla bean makes this recipe truly special. Invest in some glass mugs for aesthetics & pleasurable sipping. Here is a lovely recipe for spiced cider served as is with a cinnamon stick & star anise garnish, or as a warming cocktail made a bit wicked with the addition of 151 rum & Italian Tuaca, Howl at the Moon. Shown above with a butter sauteed lemon slice & a sliver of vanilla bean.

3.) Bake Something Sinful…

Granted, these are not baked but ohhhh so enchanting. Apples drenched in caramel gives us all of the nostalgic feelings of a childhood carnival. For gifting we love these clear apple gift boxes, they make for an impressive presentation. The honey based caramel is decadent without the apples if you wish to make some individually wrapped confections there are recommendations at the end of the recipe... No. 151 Butterscotched Apples.

Baking is a bit art & a bit magic. When we bake or cook for others it is an extension of ourselves, a gift. My grandmother always taught me that one should never arrive empty handed. So whether its a hostess gift, or just a little something to brighten a friends day, bake one for home & one to give away. My new favorite quintessential for fall baking & gifting is this lovely combination of Baklava & Strudel, which I affectionately named; Strudel-Lava. It’s truly extraordinary.

4.) Practice the Lost Art of Letter Writing…

It is the lost art of the old soul, that of letter writing. The written word requires a different sort of reflection, both for the writer & for for the reader, engaging both an intellectual & creative part of the mind. You are gifting someone your thoughts & sentiments that can be reflected on & recalled.

Set the scene. Find a quite place with ambient light in which to write. Make a hot cup of tea, get some pretty or stately stationary & let the words flow. Take the time to compose something truly extraordinary. Not good with words? Look for inspiration in books of poetry, music can inspire the writer in you. Looking through old photos or even gazing out a window can flame the words.

5.) Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful…

How we feel about ourselves, in the kitchen & out is reflected in everything we do. So this little segment if about self-love. Be your own kind of beautiful.

Sweaters & boots are great but lets go for a bit of retro glam shall we? Take a lovely vintage dress, pop the collar, a little class, a little hood. I’m bringing pearls back. The messy bun gets a sophisticated edge by pinning some Marilyn style waves into place. Mac matte lipstick in Ruby Woo sets my mood. I wear it when I’m feeling confident, I wear it when I need to feel confident.

Find your signature scent, the one that defines you. Mine is Dolce & Gabanna, Light Blue. It’s clean with lemon notes & it makes me feel utterly sexy. Once in a blue moon I spritz on a bit of my husbands cologne, Yves Saint Laurent, Y, my chemistry transmutes it into something rather sultry.

Smile. It keeps them wondering.

6.) Wind Chimes & Whirly Gigs…

Add some rustic charm to your outdoor decor with a wind chime or metal art. They serve to remind us of the shift of energy with the change of the season. Giving voice to the way word wind that blows when & where it wishes. The delicate clash of crystals, the deep bong of bamboo, the clambering of copper pipe. We are loving the romanticism of the windmill, blades spinning in the breeze.

7.) Vineyards, Orchards & Lavender Farms

The grapes have been harvested & the process of winemaking is underway. Wineries will often give guided tours this time of year so you can experience the magic behind the scenes. The cooler weather offers a sit on the veranda of your local vineyard for some wine tasting.

Though the lavender blossoms are spent, the farms often have fragrant dried sachets, smudges, soaps & candles for sale. In a sleepy little town called Whitmore, we have a lovely lavender farm & vineyard called Lavineyard Farms which combines the charm of both a vineyard & a lavender farm.

In Northern California we have plentiful orchards. Apples, pears, nut trees, persimmon, citrus & olives. Put on a cozy flannel, grab your sweetheart or your girlfriends, pack a picnic & make a day of it. Picking your own apples & then baking a pie imprints a memory that stays with you long after the last slice is enjoyed.

Tell us how You Fall for Fall…(leave your love note in comments below…)