Self care is essential to keeping stress in check. Most of what you hear is around meditating, healthy diet, exercising and other boring stuff. Don’t get me wrong. That stuff is valuable, it is just, well, sometimes, boring.
What I think is hands-down most important about self care is that whatever you’re doing should give you energy. Lots and lots of energy. Warm and fuzzy energy. Run around the yard energy. Goofy smile energy.
Fall gives me that energy. To say I love fall is an understatement. I’m a bit fanatical about fall. I cannot wait for summer to be over so that I can unpack the fall decorations and go to town.
Decorating for fall is my self care. To be in a warm, candlelit house with leaves all around takes my stress away, even more than walking a mile or eating a salad does.
We had a very late summer this year. It was hot well into October. I know that fall does not technically start until September 21st, but the unofficial beginning in my mind is Labor Day weekend. I have been known to put up decorations that early. Considering that it was 90+ degrees out, I waited a bit this year. They still went up before the 21st. I’ve got stuff in the bathrooms, bedrooms, inside and out. Here’s my favorite selection…
On the family room fireplace.
Front entry gate. Our dog, Emma, is in the background.
These pumpkins are my absolute favorite. They were a wedding gift from a cherished friend who knows just how nuts I am for fall.
On the kitchen island.
I made the wreath below during one of many craft hours with my mom. It was a tedious exercise in trying not to hot glue my fingers to the wreath along with the wheat.
On the kitchen window.
I boosted this centerpiece later with some candles, I’ll post about the prompting for that at another time. The branches were from a rose bush out front that I trimmed off in early spring. They’ve been sitting on our table ever since. I’ve played all year with different flowers/adornments to create an elegant/rustic vibe.
Our table centerpiece.
The pumpkins below are candles. I found them at an Octoberfest craft fair. I love the creamy color.
On the coffee table.
Here’s my other craft project. Another battle with the glue gun. Both wreathes are simple to make. Buy a wreath form and a bunch of fall foliage at the craft store and start gluing in concentric circles until it’s full. It takes a while, but is a good opportunity to catch up with someone you love who is also having a battle with a glue gun.
On the family room wall.
What is it that gives you want-to-hug-everyone-around-you energy?