Seasonal Changes

As most of the country begins their slow decent into the autumn season, Minnesota tends to jump in full force the moment we have one day less than 70 degrees. The leaves are turning beautiful colors of orange, yellow and red, and the chilly weather is making it tough to leave my house in the morning without a jacket and scarf. I welcome the change of seasons and have already made updates to my wardrobe and living spaces. Here are some quick tips on how you can make some easy changes to embrace the autumn season.

1.  Stock up on baking items.  Do an inventory of your spices, baking ingredients, and tools to see what you need. I just picked up some new cookie sheets from Kitchen Window as my old ones needed to be donated. Baking is much more fun when I know that I already have everything I need, and then I can make my pumpkin bread during the week.

2.  Switch your bedding.  This is something that a friend of mine showed me, and I am determined to do it this year. Currently I have an all white duvet cover and it's perfect for spring/summer months.  However, this bedding would add such a seasonal element without changing the entire look of the bedroom.

3. Add some cozy to your living room. Slipcovers for pillows are the best invention ever.  It allows me to change the look of the couch without finding a space to store the old ones.  I love this pillow as I am change to darker colors and textured fabrics for the cooler months.  I have also pulled out my favorite throw and think I may have to buy this rug one to throw over a chair once the snow begins to fall.  Stock up on votive candles to scatter throughout your space to add a warm ambiance, especially if you don't have a fireplace.

4. Wardrobe transitions.  Pack away all of your shorts, mini skirts, and other summer items you won't be needing for a few months. Even though feng shui says not to keep stuff under your bed, these storage bins allow me to keep all my summer items clean and packed away until next year (or until a winter getaway). This is also a great time to donate all of those summer items you didn't use, and take inventory of what you will need this season (for me, I need some new black booties).