As we begin the final week of blogtober, I thought I would share some tips for romanticizing the season.

Those of us lucky enough to live where the leaves turn know that this is the climax of fall—the grand finale, the prime peak of color, moodiness and Halloween festivity. So what better way to celebrate this climax than romanticizing it?

If you are not sure what I mean, follow along and let me walk you through ways to romanticize this last bit of October.

1.) Leaf-peeping

It is of utmost importance that you get some quality outdoor leaf-peeping time in. Take a scenic drive with the windows down, a nature walk, go to a park, farm or forest and just TAKE IT IN!!!!! If you don’t live anywhere near changing foliage and can’t sneak away for a trip, turn on any fall leaves ambience videos on YouTube and pretend you are there.

2.) Ambience

Light a fall-scented candle, dim the lights, sit by the window or plug in some string lanterns for the best ambience lighting. I love to light a candle and turn on my orange, pumpkin string lights to create a cozy and festive mood.

3.) Aroma

You’ve got the pumpkin or apple candles burning, and that’s a great first step. But to take it further and really romanticize the season, I suggest throwing some pumpkin bread in the oven or lighting some DIY cinnamon potpourri on the stove. The smell will just FILL you with delight and all the feels.

4.) Tunes

I recommend jamming out to something slow and soulful, maybe some folk music, instrumental classics or french cafe. The Hound + The Fox has a neat Haunted Folk album on Spotify with some moody spooky covers.

5.) Sips

This one is up to you, as long as it’s a hot drink! Flavored lattes, seasonal teas, or even one of my DIY hot chocolate recipes is a great way to embrace hygge and romanticize the season.

6.) Snuggles

It’s that time of year to snuggle up with a cozy throw blanket and fluffy pillows, a furry pet or someone special to truly romanticize October. Bonus points of you hit all three (stuffed animals count)!

7.) Watch

Tis the season for movies! Whether you are hardcore and go straight for the horror, or prefer more “kid-friendly” suspense flicks like myself, now is the time to stock up on the yummies and start that movie marathon. Some movies I love to watch during October are The Addams Family, Clue, any of the Harry Potter movies, Hocus Pocus (duh), and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

8.) Wear

If you want to romanticize October the right way, then you simply must dress the part. Fall is the absolute best time of year for fashion because there are so many options available! You can layer dressed with fun tights, rock any array of boots or booties, sport light and fun jackets and pair any outfit with a cute hat or scarf.

8.) Taste

Time to hit that sweet tooth and taste the best of the best when it comes to sweets. Pumpkin pies, breads, muffins, cupcakes, cookies; caramel apples, apple slushies and apple bars; candy bars and candy corns; ginger snaps, festive popcorn and the list endlessly goes on.

9.) Activity

Apple picking, pumpkin carving or decorating, fall festivals, Oktoberfests, haunted hayrides, bonfires, nature picnics……I’ve got the list started so feel free to expand!

10.) Reflect

Because fall launches the final chunk of the year, I think it is a great time to pause and reflect on how the year has been going. Are there any areas you need to buckle down and tackle in the remaining few months? Are there any fun adventures you have wanted to try but haven’t gotten around to yet? Are there any people you have been meaning to reach out to and connect with but haven’t gotten a chance yet? This is a great time to rally your focus for the remaining portion of the year.

What About You?

I have given you some suggestions for how to romanticize October but I am so curious to hear your thoughts! Do you have anything to add to this list or some specific ways you spice up this time of year?