Romanticizing my life is basically my favorite hobby, aside from drinking wine, photography, and writing for By Nica Lina. Because seriously, who can resist being the main character? I know I can’t. In so many ways, fall is the perfect backdrop for this. The crunching of leaves while you’re out on an evening stroll, the smell of fresh coffee at your favorite local cafe, and slipping into a cozy sweater on a rainy day (after taking an everything shower) just perfectly set the stage for a romantic day in my life story. Life is a movie when you think about how truly magical this time of year is. If you’re just like me and love to live life like you’re Lorelai Gilmore, here are 30 ways to romanticize your life this fall.
What does it mean to romanticize your life?
Well, for starters, it means to look at the beauty in all aspects of your life. It means staying present and taking in all of the smallest details, like having coffee or walking down a leaf-covered path, and making it extra special and magical. It’s about loving your life, one moment at a time, and making it all feel like a big, beautiful story.
How does one start romanticizing their life?
Pretend you’re in a Hallmark movie and there’s a camera following you around. Take a look around and find the magic within everything you look at. If you see a tree, think about how perfect it would be to sit underneath it with a plaid blanket reading a book that you can’t seem to put down. Or if you’re going grocery shopping, think about how great it would be to finally start those recipe cards you’ve been meaning to start. Then you can start designing them on Canva and make them super cute and have them laminated and such. I could go on, but to put it in short:
It’s making the ordinary parts of your day, well, extraordinary! As cliche as that sounds, ha.
30 Ways to Fall in Love with Life this Autumn
- Host a Vintage Wine Tasting Night: Invite some friends over for a fun wine tasting night! Encourage your friends to bring a vintage wine, and pair each bottle with an assortment of cheeses and chocolates for a intimate and fun experience.
- Curate a Fall-Themed Reading List: What I love about autumn is that it gives you that well needed downtime from summer and helps you recharge your energy right before the holiday season. This is the perfect time to sit down, get cozy, and start a reading list! Choose books where they’re taking place in cozy, autumnal settings or embody that homey feeling of fall. Or perhaps pick up a couple of self help books or some books about topics you’re interested in learning more about such as Greek mythology or the history of a certain country you’re dying to visit one day.
- Visit a Vineyard: Take a day trip—or better yet, a weekend getaway—to explore local vineyards. I’m really grateful to live right by Sonoma and Napa, where I can escape the city and indulge in some fine wines, warmer weather, and gorgeous views of vineyards!
- Attend a Harvest Festival: Nothing screams fall like attending a local harvest festival. Enjoy the festivities, yummy foods, and activities that celebrate the abundance of fall!
- Plan a Cozy Cabin Getaway: Something that I really want to do for myself and at the top of my fall bucket list is to book a small cabin and have a “think week.” If this is something you’re up to doing alone or with some friends/your partner, I recommend booking a cabin in the mountains where you can enjoy a change of scenery and crisp air. Make it an intentional and mindful retreat with books, wine, and a no electronics rule.
- Create a Signature Fall Scent: Something that I really enjoyed doing this fall was creating my very own perfume. Mix essential oils to create your own signature scent for the season. Think warm spices, vanilla, and woodsy notes. You can either order these yourself or go to a local shop that offers these services. Feel free to bring a girlfriend or two or make it a fun date night with your partner. That way you can always smell this scent to think of all the memories you’ve made in the fall.
- Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride: If you’re all about special experiences and don’t have a fear for heights, I totally recommend taking a hot air balloon ride! This is a great way to experience the breathtaking beauty of fall from above. Perfect for a romantic adventure or a special treat for you and your girl friends!
- Experiment with Fall Recipes: Channel your inner chef and take some time to try out new fall recipes. Think hearty stews, pumpkin treats, and spiced beverages. You can even buy a binder or a special folder, and print out recipe cards that you designed all by yourself on Canva!
- Attend a Calligraphy Workshop: It’s never too late to learn a new skill, so why not learn the art of calligraphy to add a personal touch to your holiday cards, invitations, or journal entries?! It’s such an impressive skill to have!
- Host a Themed Autumn Dinner Party: Get your close friends all together on one table and host an autumn dinner party! Think ‘Autumn in Paris’ or ‘Harvest Moon’ as themes. Decorate accordingly and prepare a menu that celebrates the flavors of fall.
- Wardrobe Refresh: Fall is when I do the bulk of my shopping, and my favorite time of the year to shop! This is the best time to invest in key pieces for your fall wardrobe. Think sustainable brands, vintage finds, and items that effortlessly blend style and comfort.
- Collect Leaves & Flowers for DIY Decor: Take a nature walk to collect beautiful leaves and flowers, then press them so that they’re ready to use for gift tags, gift boxes, and personalized cards. I personally love to do this all year round.
- Go on a Solo Travel Adventure: Pick a destination you’ve always wanted to visit and plan a trip. Fall is great for enjoying places with fewer tourists. As I mentioned earlier, I really want to go on a “think week” in a small cabin, but I also want to do a solo trip up to the Pacific Northwest if time permits. Going on a solo trip is the best thing you can do for yourself, and you can act like the main character to your own movie all you want!
- Enroll in a Wine Appreciation Course: As mentioned earlier, it’s never too late to learn something new. How about expand your knowledge of wines by taking a course at the local college or through an online teaching platform! This can also be a fun activity to do with a group of friends. That way, by the time winter rolls around, you know exactly what bottle of wine to bring to your holiday gathering!
- Picnic in a Botanical Garden: Pack a gourmet picnic and spend an afternoon in your local botanical garden. This is such a romantic thing to do, solo, with friends, or with your partner. Plus, what a great way to spend time with nature!
- Start a Gratitude Journal: Fall is all about slowing down and practicing gratitude. I recommend making it a daily habit to jot down things you’re grateful for. It’s a simple practice that can dramatically shift your perspective and enhance your lifestyle. I love to write at least 10 things I’m grateful for every single day. Even though most days it’s the same things, it just makes me sit down and realize how lucky I am to have the things that I have, and the life that I have. We often get so carried away with the busyness of our lives or sometimes find ourselves comparing our lives to others. Practicing gratitude always reminds us of the now.
- Plan a Foodie Exploration Day: Spend a day trying out new restaurants or cafes you’ve never been to before. Focus on places known for their cozy ambiance and seasonal menus!
- Indulge in a Luxury Spa Day: Treat yourself to a spa day! You can swim in some mineral waters or take a dip in a mud bath or indulge in an hour long massage! Look for treatments that use seasonal ingredients like pumpkin, apple, or cinnamon for some added fall vibes.
- Craft Your Own Wine Labels: Channel your inner winemaker and create your own wine label! That way when you gift your loved ones a bottle or wine you have a personal touch to the bottle. Or – if you want to, you can partner with a winery and literally make your own wine label. Totally depends on how far are you willing to go! I would love to create my own wine label one day.
- Discover New Playlists or Create your Own: Curate a list of fall-themed playlists. Share your finds with your audience or play it in the background for your next dinner party.
- Organize a ‘Shop Local’ Day: Spend a day shopping at local boutiques and artisans’ markets. Not only is it a way to find unique items, but it also supports small businesses. You can also use this as a day to start shopping for gifts for the holiday season coming up. Better to start early rather than cram it all a weekend prior to Christmas Day! I know we’re all guilty of that…
- Capture Fall Through Photography: Consider creating a photo series of the changing leaves, cozy corners of your home, or autumnal still-life compositions. You can make a cute coffee book out of it or create a darling photo album that you can have on your coffee table for guests to look through.
- Host a Craft Night: Invite friends over for a craft night focused on creating fall decor. Think pumpkin carving, wreath making, or autumnal candle crafting!
- Watch the Sunrise with a Warm Cup of Coffee: Find a cozy spot in your home to welcome the day. You can make this into a morning ritual, where you have your special cozy blanket, your comfort mug, and fuzzy slippers!
- Redefine Your Wellness Routine: As the season changes, so should your wellness routine! Incorporate seasonal foods into your diet, adjust your skincare routine, and find new ways to stay active indoors. This is a great way to beat the winter blues as well as keep your skin from looking dull!
- Take a Scenic Drive to See Fall Foliage: Plan a route that’s known for its breathtaking autumn views. I live right by the Pacific Coast Highway, and there’s nothing like driving north to see the mysterious coast, surrounded by huge redwood trees. It’s truly magical.
- Plan a Movie Marathon Night: Bring the girls over and have a movie marathon night. Choose movies that have a cozy fall vibe, like Good Will Hunting or Hocus Pocus, or are set in locations where fall is prominently featured. Pair with gourmet popcorn and themed cocktails for a memorable night!
- Create a Fall Scented Home: Use candles, diffusers, and natural elements like pinecones and spices to fill your home with the scents of fall! Makes your house even more cozy!
- Decorate with a Sustainable Focus: Refresh your home decor with items that are either handmade, eco-friendly, or promote sustainability. I personally love to buy ceramic pieces (like mugs and plates) from local artists, creating a flower garland with dried dahlias, and adding handwoven textiles to my apartment!
- Set New Seasonal Goals: Reflect on your year through journaling and take the time to set new goals for the remaining months. Focus on personal growth, lifestyle changes, or new projects to undertake!
There you have it; 30 Ideas to Embrace and Celebrate Life This Fall
I hope this helped you gain inspiration and ideas for romanticizing your life this fall!
