Come in! Welcome!
I have to admit something to you all. I completely stressed out trying to figure out what my FIRST 31 Days of Autumn Bliss post should be.
What can one say to properly invite you all into the most wonderful season of all? What will inspire you to want to relax here, feel comfortable and at home and then come back again for 31 days in a row?
How do I explain why I will I be writing on the topic of Autumn for 31 Days in a row? Oh, the pressure.
We all live in different countries, states and parts of the world. Some of us are sweltering in 100 degree heat, some of us have never fully experienced an Autumn season.
Why do I find Autumn so inspiring?
If you are a reader of this blog, you will hopefully understand what I am about to say.
In my mind, Autumn is not reliant on the temperature of the air outside. It is not dependent on a turning of the leaves. It is definitely not just a precursor to a long cold winter. It isn’t about pumpkins and black cats on a mantel.
Autumn is A Season of Contentment
I look at Autumn as a season of embracing the life I always dreamed I would have as a homemaker. Do I have to have the perfect life or home I dreamed of back in the day in order to be content right now? Of course not. I have a life worth being grateful for every day. But do I embrace it? Do I savor it? Or am I saving that contented life for some other season? (when I buy that new house, when I have more money to decorate, when I don’t have to work or when I have more time to stay home and enjoy my life?)
Autumn is a time for me to create a sense of peace and contentment RIGHT NOW with my home and my life. That feeling of contentment is not something that is always handed to us on life’s silver platter of gifts. It is a feeling we can easily lose sight of in the midst of life’s challenges and disappointments.
Autumn is a time to slow down and embrace the home and life we have.
Do we need the perfect temperature or fall colors on the trees for that? I think not.
Embracing the blissful season of Autumn is a choice.
For the next 30 days, we are going to do more than just dream wistfully about Fall, we are going to get off our rumps and do some nesting!
We’ll consider how to embrace Autumn in each room of our home, find practical ideas to inspire us, and we’ll have fun sharing fall homemaking rituals along the way. I’ll share some of my very own fall favorites around my house!
Oh, and I’ll share Autumn treats and go on some Fall drive by’s too (you can’t fully embrace Autumn without tasty treats and Fall drives, right?) Some posts will be super sort, one image or thought of inspiration, some will be long like this one, but all will be filled with things I love about fall and hopefully will inspire you too!
I’m so excited! Tomorrow I’ll show some more awesome entryways, so stay tuned!
Are you with me? 31 Days of Autumn Bliss!*
PS. I got a new FALL BANNER on my blog!! Did you see it? Click over here if you are on a reader or facebook! Made by my friend Jamie @ JYL Creative, he created my original banner and fall-i-fied it for me this week!
Meanwhile, please visit the other wonderful and inspiring ladies who are contributing to this collective 31 Day series, each with their own topics! They are all amazing ladies with great hearts so enjoy each and everyone of them this month! Find the whole list of bloggers right here!
Great post Melissa! I love your theme of contentment…it is really something to think about as we go about our daily living!! I have been looking for to your ’31 days’ since you announced it! Angie xo
Angie recently posted..My little world of brown & blue
Thanks Angie!
xo
Maybe if I PAINT Autumn it will make it feel more like Autumn than SUMMER… hmmmm
Fifi Flowers recently posted..Fifi paints for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Hmmm. Yes, Maybe that is the ultimate secret?
So I’ve never thought of Fall this way, in these words – but I have felt it this week as I’ve been nesting here at home and so happy to be doing it. Can’t wait for more from you!!
emily freeman recently posted..31 Days of Grace – prepare
I’ve always had a love of the fall season. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact I have an October birthday….hee, hee. Looking forward to reading along.
-h
Can’t wait to follow the next 31 days with you! I think I love fall as much as you do. I know you have been anticipating this time and I can’t wait to see what you will share with us.
Happy Autumn!
Denise
The Cottage Chick recently posted..Inspired By Yellow and Gray- a soothing pallete
I’m glad it’s the weekend tomorrow so I can come home from school and sit on my couch and read all these great posts! It’s starting to get cooler in Houston – just in time! And the humidity is even cooperating. It’s downright fallish!
Mabye a pumpkin spice latte in the morning…!
Happy fall, Melissa!
What a lovely message! I agree whole heartedly, even though I would have never guessed that a month ago. I was dreading the end of summer. But now that fall is here, I am loving my days indoors catching up on “house wifey” things. Is it just me, or does the pace of life slow down when fall arrives? My days seem much more peaceful and predictable lately.
.) You are right, the season is what we make it. We could complain about the shorter days and the muddy shoes that come into the house, but we can also appreciate all the time spent indoors together as a family. This is the time of year I dust off my hobbies that were forgotten over the summer. I find myself picking up more books too and reading more to my kids. Yes, fall won’t be nearly as bad as I thought it would be 
.
For the first time I let my 4 year old help me decorate the house and pick some pumpkins from the garden. (Now he’s already looking forward to decorating for Christmas
Lovely post. I think part of what makes Autumn so wonderful is that the cooler weather brings us back indoors a little more, causes us to bundle up a bit, and just makes everyone feel a little more cozy. Looking forward to the entire 31 days!
Dianne – Bunny Trails recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Metal Sculpture
You’re off to a splendid start, Melissa! I agree that Autumn is more than just black cats and crimson leaves…it’s a state of mind.
I’m very much looking forward to this series. I wanted to let you know how much I LOVE your banner. What a GREAT idea to change it with the seasons!
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Twitter: forloveorfunny
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I’m looking forward to reading you and the rest of the gals for the “31 Days” event!
Lynn from For Love or Funny recently posted..How to survive your 21st year of marriage
“I look at Autumn as a season of embracing the life I always dreamed I would have as a homemaker.”
Oh, that is so true and I never even knew it, this is the second post out of the 31 days to bring tears to my eyes.
I think this is my favorite post of yours, ever.
The Nester recently posted..31 Days To a Less Messy Nest
love. thank you.
I love this and I love you. Seems the 31 days is bringing out the best in all of us.
xoxo
Looking forward to your month of Autumal delights! Autumn is my favorite season of the year!!
Arlene recently posted..Happies
Beautiful, just beautiful. I love Autumn, and I want to be more content and I want to learn more from you. You are so inspiring, Melissa. Here’s to 30 more! xo
Sandy recently posted..1 Why Entertain- The People
You’ve done a wonderful job of welcoming us and drawing us right in to the excitement. Looking forward to all that you will share with us! Did you make a handy button for this series that one might share on her sidebar? Maybe I missed it!
Vee recently posted..A Roller Coaster Life
It’s finally begun! I can’t tell you how much I’ve looked forward to everyone’s 31 days series. And you’ve so perfectly captured how I’ve thought about fall without every really knowing it.
And I love that first picture. I just want to walk inside to sit by the roaring fireplace that I can only imagine is there!
Imperfect recently posted..Tomorrow We Run
I love that you changed your header for fall! That’s fun. This is one of my favorite seasons, too, so I’m looking forward to your series!
Julia recently posted..Fall Open House- Show Us How You Decorate!
I can’t wait to see what else you’ll be posting about this month. I love the new fall header. Very nice.
Carmen recently posted..Cute Little Owls
Great post. Looking forward to seeing Fall in all it’s glory through your eyes. I may not get the change of seasons like I did in GA but I still love it none the less. To me it represents home. I will come here to see all of the glorious colors.
Anita recently posted..Fall Junk
I see it! Now how could I have missed THAT?!
Vee recently posted..A Roller Coaster Life
I’m looking forward to this 31 day series, what a fabulous idea!
ashleyanderic.blogspot.com
Twitter: se7en_hoods
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Oh would you look at all those 31 days to visit – I am drooling in anticipation!!! No pressure but I really just can’t wait!!!
se7en recently posted..Se7en 1 is ONE!!!
Neeeeever thought of it that way. And that’s totally why autumn is my favorite season. I just never knew that was why. Can’t wait for the next 30 days!
Kendra recently posted..31 Days to an Inspired Table Day 1- Make a Choice then Make a List
Autumn is definitely the best season. As an amateur photographer there’s no better time to be inspired by nature than autumn. Especially since winter is coming and most of the colors will be gone, replaced by all-consuming white.
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Twitter: rebecca43c
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These are gorgeous pictures and a wonderful sentiment… Count me in!
great post…but you had me at the Martha Stewart image…
Your first paragraph really spoke to me. I am one of those who is waiting for something, not too sure what, but something before I embrace my home, my life as it is now. I am going to follow along (not like I don’t already) and use these 31 days to change that and embrace everything I have as it is, right here, right now!
Thank you for the inspiration.
Tracy O recently posted..Weight Watchers Wednesdayand fashion or lack of it
Thanks Tracy!
Thanks for the post Melissa!
Now is the time in Napa when they are reaping the harvest. The air is pungent with the fragrance of crushed grapes, there are festivals and parties galore, and everyone is talking about what crops excelled this year and which ones didn’t. I love the Fall!
Mary recently posted..H is for Harvest
Well, I’ve said it before, this season of the year motivates me to clean and get organized but I’ve never purposefully thought of it as my season of contentment before. That’s probably part of why I love Fall so much (because a well organized home sooths my soul like a long CD of melodious piano music) and now, thanks to you, I’ll be able to fully appreciate it as “nesting for contentment”. I can’t wait for the rest of the series! Thanks.
What an absolutely fabulous perspective of Autumn! I’ve never thought of it quite like that, but it’s the perfect expression of everything I love about this season. Well said! ~K
Kristin recently posted..Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins
I love your blog anyway but this message is amazing! It inspires me to strive to be content right here right now. I am so blessed but I keep letting life get in the way of being joyful. Have a blessed day!
Twitter: gardenhomeparty
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Melissa,
What a beautiful welcome! The images you have posted perfectly inspire the feelings you are speaking of. I concur and am ready for 31 days of fun and inspiration!
karen
Melissa, you did an amazing job welcoming us! Although I’ve only read you an incredibly short time, your posts always manage to go straight to my soul. I love autumn for all the reasons you mentioned here! Can’t wait to see what the other 30 days will hold.
Carin recently posted..Experimental Cooking
What a perfect post. You are so right, Autumn is a special season.
I’m with you! I loved the way you descrbed fall as a season of contentment…with what I have now. It’s hard because I’m in a new ‘season’ of my own life as a single mother of three – my divorce will be final this month. Life is oh-so-different from wha I imagined it would be. I’m praying that I’m overwhelmed by God’s ability and not my lacking. I plan to enjoy some ‘me’ time here!
Thank you!
Missy June recently posted..More fun in the Field
Looking forward to the rest of the Autumn season with you!
Stephanie recently posted..Fall Wedding Canvases
I love this! It’s my favorite time of year as well-looking forward to all the inspiration and ideas and cool things coming up about autumn.
Gina recently posted..Field Trip
This is such a lovely lovely post.. I simply admire you all who enjoy the fall season.. here in Dubai.. we dont have any such thing.. We live in summer most year long.. its just slightly better..
Beautifully written, Melissa! I can’t wait to read the next 30 days! And I’m really digging that picture with the zebra ottoman–I never would have thought of putting that there, but it looks amazing! Great photo choice.
Sarah Bohl recently posted..Etsy Finds- September Edition!
Oh fall, love it. Your post was perfect…guess I better get off my rump and do some fall nesting. =}
teresa recently posted..Nut Season 2010
I am SO with you girl! I love Autumn, it is so EXcITinG!!! I feel more invigorated than I have for many months. I love the long crunchy walks down by the river, the lovely blue sky and the cozy jacket that I have take along with me, just in case! I am looking forward to all that you have to offer! Don’t worry, I get updates on my own blog, daily of what is new, I won’t miss a one!
Hugs, Cindy
Living in the Pacific NW and being able to experiencing each season (though I’d really like to have more snow) has caused me to wonder what it would be like if I lived in a State where it was pretty much “summer” weather all year long. How would I adjust to the seasons when I can’t “see” the changes. I’m looking forward to this month!!
I also know for us, Fall is pretty busy because of soccer season and I feel as though I’m always running here and there. I need to learn to find the time to just relax and enjoy the season. I look forward to more soups (chili and cornbread tonight) but I don’t always look forward to shorter days. I love the changing of the leaves. I love being able to light yummy smelling candles.
Kirstin recently posted..A week of Fun- A week of Emotion
I am so excited to have found your wonderful blog. It is just the sort of place I feel comfortable in — simple, practical, realistic ways to love the space you’re in. I’ll be a regular visitor. Thank you for sharing your heart and home and ideas with us. I’m looking forward to 31 Days of Autumn Bliss and sent my daughter and DIL over to join in.
Jody
Jody recently posted..Back in the saddle again
What a wonderful sentiment… I totally concur with all your thoughts about this season of celebrating the abundance of our lives… I can’t wait to see what you share with us every day. Your blog is among my most favorite… You do “inspire” me… Thank you and happy autumn…
A great beginning! Autumn is my favorite time of year, so I’ve put your link into my rss feed. Don’t want to miss a single post. Cheers!
Elen recently posted..Ellis awesome…
Being present in the moment…” being ” now…I am guilty! Most of the time I am living in the future….Thankyou so much for reminding me to just STOP and be content. We don’t know what the next second may bring or even if we have one. I think one regret would always be not to be content with who and what and where we are at the present time…BTW – I LOVE EVERY PICTURE and I WANT those BOOTS:)
I’ll be here every day for the whole 31 days, Lord willing.
Have fun doing the 31 days to Autumn Bliss!
I got out my fall decor so that I could stop and feel it because living in southern California, fall just doesn’t really happen all at once. We see a little of it here and there on some of the trees as their leaves turn or even just fall off if we take the time to notice. It seems we are always driving somewhere and running late. We don’t really have the weather change at this time of year. So…thanks for encouraging me to slow down and embrace my home and life I have. I am enjoying my little bit of autumn inside my home.
Can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us! Connie
I have to tell you how excited I have been about this month’s posts by you. I can’t wait to hear and see what you have to share. You are one of my very favorite bloggers to read. I love your style, your sincerity and what I see of your heart. I’m along for the ride this month and beyond…
God bless.
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