Your end-of-week scroll break. A cozy little catch-up full of links, loves, and things I can’t stop talking about. A spark of inspiration you didn’t know you needed.
This week, I let myself press the reset button. After a string of busy workdays that left me creatively drained, I realized my weeknights had turned into a blur of soccer practices, quick turnarounds, and dinners eaten out of to-go containers on the bleachers. I leaned into survival mode. Burger bowls one night, taco bowls another, both easy to assemble, easy to pack, and surprisingly comforting when eaten under the field lights while cheering on Hudson.
The smell of freshly cut grass lingered in the cool evening air, and Josie crunched through her little snack bag beside me, happily drawing squiggles in the dirt with a stick while we waited for practice to wrap up. It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked. And still, I could feel my body craving a softer pace, a pause from the hustle.
Fall has always been my season for fresh notebooks, clean sheets, and gentle course-corrections. The reminder that you can start over anytime. So I carved out one day for a reset, stitching it together with small rituals that grounded me again.
My Fall Intentions
A reset day is one thing, but what I really want is to carry that energy into the whole season. Here are a few intentions I’m setting for myself this fall (with room for grace, of course):
Protect weekends for family. With two kids and a boyfriend, it’s tempting to fill every square inch of the calendar with playdates, errands, or projects. This fall, I want to keep weekends gentler. Saturdays for slow mornings and soccer games, Sundays for cozy meals together.
Spend less “empty energy.” I catch myself spiraling into research rabbit holes or tweaking things that don’t matter. This season, I want to redirect that energy into presence. Reading on the couch while Hudson builds with Legos, or sitting outside with Josie while she draws chalk rainbows.
Carve out real couple time. With full schedules and busy weeks, quality time with my boyfriend can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. I want to be intentional about planning one “just us” pocket each week, even if it’s something small like cooking dinner together.
Read what I already own. My to-be-read stacks are beginning to look like ambitious little skyscrapers. Before I add more, I want to work through the books I was so excited to bring home in the first place.
Do less, more deeply. Instead of scattering myself across too many commitments, I’m choosing to say no more often, so I can say yes to the things (and people) that matter. This might look like fewer evening plans, but more evenings that feel nourishing.
Basically, this fall is about simplifying, savoring, and slowing down.
3 Wardrobe Edits
The start of a season is the perfect excuse to reset your closet. Edit, donate, and maybe add one or two intentional pieces. (If you missed it, I shared my Fall Capsule Wardrobe last week
Here are three pieces worth considering this season:
Denim Chore Jacket → A laid-back layering piece that works with everything from dresses to denim.
Pointelle Wedge Sweater → Softly textured with a relaxed drape, perfect for crisp autumn mornings.
Lace-Trim Blouse → Feminine detail meets everyday wear, easy to dress up or down.
Shopper Tote → Spacious and sturdy enough for errands, markets, or your daily carryall.
Corduroy Belted Skirt → A timeless fall staple with structure and warmth in one piece.
Cozy Pullover Sweatshirt → Casual comfort you’ll reach for on repeat, from school runs to weekends.
Here are 15 nearly free ways to romanticize your fall weekends
Take a long neighborhood walk with no agenda. Just notice the first hints of leaves changing and the way the air feels different.
Host a “soup swap” with friends. Everyone brings a pot, and you trade freezer-friendly jars for later.
Make a fall playlist (or update the one from last year) and let it soundtrack your weekend chores.
Visit your local library and see what new fall releases just hit the shelves.
Bake something with apples. Even if it’s just cinnamon-sugar apple slices in the oven.
Have a backyard bonfire (or light a candle and crack the windows if you don’t have one).
Rearrange a corner of your home. Switch a blanket, stack some books, add a cozy lamp. Instant reset.
Pick up a seasonal bouquet. From the grocery store clearance bin and arrange it at home.
Journal outside for 20 minutes. Porch, balcony, or park bench. Bonus points for a warm drink.
Make popcorn and watch a nostalgic fall movie (think You’ve Got Mail or Dead Poets Society).
Check your local events calendar for free festivals or farmers markets, there’s almost always one.
Declutter one drawer or shelf and donate what you don’t need. Fresh season, fresh space.
Try a new hiking trail or just wander a familiar one slowly, noticing what’s changed since summer.
Read outside under a blanket until it gets too chilly.
Host a game night with whatever you already own (bonus: ask everyone to bring a fall snack).
Little shifts, simple pleasures, cozy rituals. These are the things that make fall weekends feel like something out of a Nancy Meyers movie, without spending a dime.
Which of these would you try this weekend?
The Second Act is an entirely reader-supported publication written and created by Danielle Wraith. Click here to subscribe or gift a friend a subscription here (if a friend sent you this —tell them thanks!). Anything you want covered? Questions? Reply with a comment below! You can also find me on Instagram. Please come say hi!