Now we’re sidling our way through September, I’m doing silly things like getting up at 7.15am on a Saturday just so I can experience as much of autumn as possible. ‘Experiencing autumn’ at that time of day generally just means relocating from my bed to the sofa to grin gormlessly out of the window as the occasional leaf flutters down from a tree, but why sleep the most beautiful season away?

As a self-proclaimed autumn nymph, I have this whole September thing down. This is what I’ve been up to in the last few days – and if you’re lamenting the end of summer and need a little pick-me-up for the months ahead, hopefully this will get you in the mood for bonfires, kicking through the fallen leaves and clear, crisp mornings.

Baking banana bread

Is banana bread autumnal? I kinda feel like it is – maybe because I replace some of the caster sugar with brown sugar and add a pinch or two of nutmeg for a spicier, more intense flavour. I recently had banana bread with butter for the first time, but usually my topping of choice is peanut butter – but because I’m absolutely ludicrous, I’m thinking I’m going to top my next loaf with crushed pecans. Is that autumnal enough for you?

The only drink you can possibly enjoy with banana bread is tea (hot tea for my American readers!). I usually go for a classic English breakfast tea, but if I fancy branching out I might go for Hoogly Tea’s Chocolate Brownie tea or Bluebird Tea Co’s Mowgli’s Fire Chai – but if you’re really going for it, Bluebird Tea Co also does its own Banana Bread Chai. Both Hoogly Tea and Bluebird Tea Co are based in my hometown of Brighton, which is an added bonus!

Appreciating nights in

I’m hardly a party animal at the best of times, but the second it hits midnight on 1st September, it feels like I have carte blanche to hang out indoors with a film and a candle or two. My favourite candles are from Bath & Body Works – they’re hard to come by in the UK, but occasionally a good one will pop up on Amazon (like the delicious Vanilla Bean) or eBay, so keep an eye out if you’re keen to try. I love the foodie scents – perfect for hygge!

I’ve also been switching all my cushions and throws for autumnal pieces (have you spotted my post about my little haul from JYSK?) and snapping up a few seasonal reads, such as Ali Smith’s Autumn (a beautiful read) and Karl Ove Knausgård’s Autumn from his Seasons Quartet. I’ve also followed this gorgeously lush Autumn Leaves playlist on Spotify for pretty acoustic tunes, and have been loving this mini Autumn home scenting set from The White Company.

Switching the wardrobe

I’m having a big ‘autumn clean’ at the moment, and have cleared out bags and bags of things for charity (I’m also selling lots on my Depop shop at the moment if you’re interested). I’ve also been rediscovering my autumn clothes, with all their burgundies, burnt oranges and deep, soothing blues. Danish life designer Lena Bentsen’s tips for decluttering the Danish way can be found here.

I was also recently lucky enough to receive a pair of Kyrgies slippers. Kyrgies are handmade in Kyrgyzstan using a centuries-old wool felting technique, and are designed to be super comfortable for wearing around the house. House shoes are popular in Scandinavia, and help mark the transition from the outside world to the comfort of home. I went for the Nordic Toe Kyrgies in Tawny Port, which is the perfect colour for autumn, and there’s nothing nicer than coming home from work and slipping into these babies for an evening of lounging around – especially in this rainy weather. They have also just joined 1% For The Planet, a network of businesses working together for a healthier planet, so every time you look at your cosy feet you can rest assured that you’re helping Kyrgies save the world – pretty sweet, right?

This weekend, I’m going to try my luck at Preston Park to see if I can find any conkers. Brighton friends, if you spot any around, please please please let me know! I’m also going to try my hand at this amazing chai tea loaf recipe (Immy’s blog is well worth a browse if you like food and beautiful photography), and I’ll be booking some excursions for my upcoming trip to Bled in Slovenia. If you’ve been, I’d love to hear your recommendations!

How have you been spending your first few days of September? Do you have any nice autumnal plans?

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