Happy October

Tis’ the most wonderful time of the year. 

October, of course. 

If you’re anything like us here at The Sister Project, you patiently wait for this one month of the year which we all wish was much longer than just thirty-one days. 

What is it about October that has us feeling perhaps a bit more nostalgic, sublimely cozy, and dare I say, more present? 

The obvious answer here is that life post-summer has slowed down. School has officially been back in session for well over a month now and summer sports and activities have come to an end. Yet, only for a new schedule to start up again, but still, fall sports are just so dang cozy. 

You get to throw on that flannel or oversized sweatshirt and bring along a thermos of hot coffee while you cheer your kid on from the sidelines. 

Along with this change in pace comes this stunning shift in seasons where the days grow darker, the leaves go from vibrant green to a fiery red, and a candle’s flame flickers more often than not. 

And then there’s pumpkin spice. Whoever came up with this magical concoction of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. 

To go along with the vibes of autumn we have bonfires. One of my favorite fall experiences is when dusk starts to settle in and just as it does so, the smell of bonfires and fire pits fills the air. There is nothing quite like sitting around a fire with your favorite people sipping on a cold beer or glass of red wine, am I right?

And lastly, Halloween. Halloween night in the suburbs is hands down one of the best nights of the year. Neighbors fill each other’s homes and gather around bonfires while the kids run rampant and get insane off of too much candy. It’s a beautiful, spooky free-for-all that really helps end the month with a bang. 

Did you know the true origin of Halloween was a Gaelic festival called Samhain (pronounced: sa-win) that celebrated the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Legend has it that on all Hallow’s Eve the veil is at its thinnest, making it easier for spirits to pass through. Ok, I just sounded like a Sanderson Sister. 

What it all comes down to is that October is so dang hygge. What’s hygge? Oh, I’m so glad you asked. Hygge (pronounced “hue-gah” or “hoo-ga”) is a Danish word that can be loosely translated as “the art of cozy living”. And whether you know it or not, I can guarantee that you are, in fact, very much so hygge. 

If you live in the Midwest, you know you have to get down with cozy to enjoy the fall and get through the winter, which just so happens to be hygge’s time to shine, fall, and winter. 

Hygge is more than just being cozy though, it’s about making moments and living in the moment. Hygge is synonymous with spending time with people you love, creating an ambiance at home that is warm and welcoming, and also, finding time for yourself…perhaps one of the most important attributes of this lifestyle. 

Whether it’s taking walks in the forest preserve, waking up a touch earlier than everyone else in the household to enjoy a cup of coffee, your book, and a snuggle sesh with your pet, or carving out time to see your friends – hygge is also synonymous with self-care. 

It is most definitely a mindset that, if shifted just a bit, can help you embrace (and maybe even enjoy) some of the beauty in the seasonal changes we experience throughout the year along with the colder months ahead. 

We invite you to dive into hygge. Have a candle burning. Gather around the bonfire. Get out in the woods and listen to the leaves crunch under your feet and smell the aroma of autumn. Bake away and have soup simmering for a hungry household. Meditate in the crisp air. 

Hygge will most definitely not solve your problems, but it will make life a whole heck of a lot cozier and more mindful. 

Happy October.

Stay Cozy.

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