With launching our blog comes an opportunity to share and talk more with all of you, and I thought it would be fun to start a series where I share some of my favorite things with you each month! It could be home goods, it could be a recipe, it could be anything that I’m loving right this minute. I always find these kinds of round ups fun and helpful for me when I’m wanting to try new things, so I hope to do the same for you.
For me, September is all about breaking out my sweaters, lighting candles, and enjoying some cooler nights. We cook chilis and soups again, pumpkins and mums start to make an appearance on our porch, and it’s the perfect weather for my favorite wardrobe combination—a comfy pair of jean shorts and an oversized sweatshirt. So it’s no surprise that my favorite things are related to all of this!
- Fall candles
My taste in candles has evolved over the years to more mild and masculine scents. Candles gave me terrible migraines during my pregnancy with our son, and even now I can only tolerate gently scented candles. So if you’re looking for a strong pumpkin-y candle, I am not your girl! My very favorite is this Bookshop candle from last year’s hearth and hand line at Target, but it looks like they didn’t bring it back this year. The good news is that Magnolia sells a Library candle that is very similar. (I’m waiting on mine to arrive to confirm!) Some others I love are the Santal Rock Rose candle from Apotheke (use code Callie15 for 15% off your order!), and this spiced cider candle from Anthropologie (it’s HUGE but I bought mine four years ago and it’s still going strong!).
- Sweaters and sweatshirts with shorts
Okay, you can wear these pieces however you like, but September weather in Cleveland usually lets me bridge the gap between summer and fall by pairing my all time favorite Agolde denim shorts
(I go up a size for length and a looser, comfier fit) with a sweatshirt or a lightweight sweater. My Anine Bing Sweatshirt is pricey, but I feel so chic wearing it and the quality is great. But if that’s not your scene, I also like to stock up on cute and trendy H&M sweaters like this and this (both under $35!). I have the collared sweater in two colors! This Madewell cardigan is also perfect with shorts.
- Decorative pumpkins
I typically wait until the end of September to decorate with pumpkins (inside and out), and I like to keep things neutral indoors. Target has a great selection of affordable pumpkins that don’t overwhelm me. Here are a few of my favorites (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6).
- Area rugs
The easiest way to give your space a refresh is to swap your area rugs. I love Loloi Rugs because they’re so affordable, you can afford to have more than one for your space! I’ve recently put the Jules Lagoon/Brick rug in our family room (layered over a jute rug) and also just got this Jules Merlot rug for our dining room. To say these two are some of my favorite things this month is an understatement! Both are part of the Chris Loves Julia collection and are beautiful while being very low maintenance.
- Striped bed sheets.
I’m usually a purist when it comes to bed sheets and like them stark hotel white, but recently I’ve been loving the depth a pattern gives to styling our bed, so I’ve purchased a few striped sets to try out! These hearth and hand sheets are beautiful and affordable; Boll and Branch also has a great option for a reasonable price, and then these Cultiver linen sheets seem incredibly luxurious!
- Dried florals and stems
I’m also loving the dried floral trend right now and am filling my vases with pretty burgundies and neutrals. Dried German Statice and Burgandy Caspia are two different bundles I recently snagged and love!
- My all time favorite booties!
I have a healthy obsession with Marc Fisher booties and own this pair of Yale Chelsea Boots in two colors. They go with everything and are very comfortable—I’ve walked miles upon miles in them. Seriously. I can’t recommend them enough. I size up a half size to give room for socks!
- Whole30 recipes
Robert and I have been (mostly) adhering to a whole30-compliant diet this month and have had fun trying out new recipes. The Defined Dish Cookbook has been a godsend because it’s filled with compliant but still delicious recipes! We tried a similar dish to this chicken and broccoli stir fry dish from the book the other night and it was so good we didn’t even miss the rice!
- An end of bed bench
I’ve been searching for an end of bed bench for almost a year, and finally decided to buy one of those rustic wooden benches I’ve admired in so many others’ homes. I love to shop on Etsy when I can, and I found the perfect bench there! Each one is unique, so mine is sold out and the seller isn’t currently stocked with benches (but he typically does have them!), so I’m linking a few other options too. Try this, this, or this one!
- Coffee mugs
Is there anything better than a hot cup of coffee on a cool fall morning? These little mugs are only $3.99 and look so cute on our countertops at our coffee bar.
These pretty Rifle Paper Co. mugs are my other go-tos when you need more than just a little sip.
Questions or thoughts? Let me know in the comments! And if you want to pin this and save it for later, just pin the image below!