Your end-of-week scroll break. A cozy little catch-up full of links, loves, and things I can’t stop talking about.
It’s 60 degrees, my windows are open, jazz is on, and the dappled morning light is filtering through the trees. This can only mean one thing: Autumn is here.
Spooky season is my favorite time of year. I’ve been training for it since I was five, watching Halloweentown, dressing up, and hoarding mini pumpkin candles like they’re treasure. I love this in-between stretch before the holidays are in full swing, the one that feels completely open to possibility and magic.
Each year, I make a list of things to eat, read, and watch before the chaos of November and December hits. It’s my way of filling my cup, a cozy little anchor I can return to when the days speed up. This year, my list is escaping the Notes app and finding its way here, to share with you.
If you’re someone who loves the crunch of leaves underfoot, the sound of a simmering pot on the stove, and the first flicker of a candle at dusk, this one’s for you.
What to Eat
Grilled cheese + tomato bisque (preferably eaten on the couch under a blanket)
Pumpkin chocolate chip bread (the Trader Joe’s mix counts, I promise)
Maple lattes, apple cider, and anything spiced
Apple Cider Donuts
One “make it special” meal each week, something that feels like a ritual, not a rush
What to Read
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, soft magic, found family, autumn perfection
Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck, witchy, romantic, charmingly chaotic
We Love You, Bunny: by Mona Awad — the sequel (and pre-quel companion) to Bunny, dark academia meets surreal satire, perfect if you like your autumn reads with blistering wit and strange beauty
The Cloisters by Katy Hays, for your darker academia craving
You Again by Kate Goldbeck — sharp, funny, and full of modern-rom-com banter; a When Harry Met Sally-style story that’s equal parts tender and self-aware
Wreck by Catherine Newman (out October 28th) — heartfelt, wise, and full of the author’s trademark humor and humanity; a perfect early-fall release to cozy up with
Movies to Watch
You’ve Got Mail (obviously — the original cozy-season blueprint)
Practical Magic — the definition of sisterhood, cinnamon, and spells
The Lake House — melancholic, romantic, and inexplicably autumnal
The Nightmare Before Christmas — a perfect bridge between fall and winter
Julie & Julia — cozy kitchens, creative beginnings, butter
Candles to Burn
Pumpkin Clove (Nest) — classic, warm, and nostalgic
Autumn in the Park (Bath & Body Works) — the smell of crisp leaves and caramel apples
Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt — for the “fall, but elevated” vibe
Bonfire Nights (Target) — because not everything has to cost $50 to smell good
Things to Do at Home
Host a soup-swap night (everyone brings one pot, you all trade jars)
Start your morning with tea and a journal instead of your phone
Rearrange your bookshelf — make a “cozy reads” display
Make a fall playlist (bonus points for jazz and movie soundtracks)
Write a letter by hand — to someone else or to yourself
Things to Do in Fresno
Walk through Shinzen Garden at Woodward Park — the leaves turn earlier than you think
Visit Simonian Farms for pumpkins and nostalgia
Grab coffee at Kuppa Joy and stroll Fig Garden Village
Check out fall events at Gazebo Gardens or Fresno ArtHop
Drive up to Yosemite for a day trip — it’s peak magic right now
What I’m Buying, Eyeing & Trying
Merit Flush Balm in “Beverly Hills” — gives that perfect “I just came in from the cold” glow
Madewell Cable-Knit Cardigan — the sweater you’ll wear 100 times
Trader Joe’s Vanilla Pumpkin candle — $4.99 happiness
Osea Body Oil — for that spa-at-home moment post-bath
Pressed floral notecards — because cozy season is also correspondence season
Here’s to slow mornings, soups that simmer all day, and evenings that smell faintly of clove. Save this list, share it, or start your own, a tiny ritual to make Autumn feel like yours.
This time of year always feels like an invitation, to rest, to create, to remember that joy can be simple. However you spend your autumn, may it be full of small comforts, soft music, and moments that remind you: you’re already living the kind of season you used to dream about.
In Case You Missed It
The Second Act is an entirely reader-supported publication. 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!
Julie & Julia is a comfort watch! Good call there.