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I know I’m leaning into fall when I start gravitating towards thriller books (about to start this one, and my sister-in-law is reading and enjoying this!), watching horror movies (did anyone else see “Bodies Bodies Bodies”? It came out last year, but Mr. Magpie and I watched it last weekend and thought it was excellent — sort of edge-of-your-seat whodunnit with Gen Z flare; Clue with contemporary social commentary!), and burning fall candles (I have this, this, and this already queued up for the season). This weekend, I’m planning to make my yearly batch of iced pumpkin cookies. It’s a bit on the early side (I usually wait until October), but I can’t help myself.
A couple of finds to maximize fall hygge this autumn —
01. ADIRONDACK CHAIR // 02. HARNEY AND SONS CINNAMON TEA // 03. AFLORAL FAUX PLUM BRANCHES // 04. GINGER JAR // 05. WHAT TO EAT WITH WHAT YOU DRINK // 06. YETI MUG // 07. WINE TUMBLERS // 08. PLAID THROW PILLOW // 09. DECORATIVE MATCHES // 10. LINNEA BOURBON TABAC CANDLE // 11. TARGET BURL WOOD TRAY // 12. HOTEL LOBBY CANDLE // 13. CAVALLINI PAPERS PUZZLE // 14. AESOP HAND BALM // 15. LAKE PAJAMAS RELAX SET // 16. HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE // 17. THE WIFE BETWEEN US // 18. UGG TAZZ SLIPPERS (SELLING FAST) // 19. CHAPPYWRAP PLAID BLANKET // 20. SHEARLING SLIDES (MY BIRK LOOK FOR LESS) // 21. ORANGE AND ROSEMARY HAND SOAP // 22. TARGET CHAIR // 23. BEARABY WEIGHTED BLANKET
P.S. I saved a bunch of my favorite fall finds to my Amazon shop, too. Plus: 16 chic home decor finds, and some favorite kitchen gizmos of ours.
P.P.S. Some thoughts on the modern thriller as a genre.
P.P.P.S. On pursuing English as a major in college. (Not sure I’d advise? But can’t imagine my life any other way.)
I always like to exclusively read ~spooky reads~ in October. I’m a wimp when it comes to horror, so my choices tend to lean more mystery (The Murder of Roger Ackroyd) or Gothic (We Have Always Lived in the Castle). Sometimes I’ll read something more comic, too, for a change of pace (We Ride Upon Sticks was hilariously campy, and thinking I’ll finally start Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch this year). It’s become a fun little tradition with myself!
Oo love this tradition, and thank you so much for these recs!! SO fun! Love how you’ve carved out this little niche of joy for yourself 🙂
Also majored in English and would 100% advise anyone who loves reading/writing and being a student to do the same. Such a luxury (and a joy!) to have studied something I’m passionate about, and with a double major and/or minor(s), it’s possible to add on other areas of study, which I did do. After undergrad, I worked in finance, attended business school, and now work in tech at a company that values writing in an area of their business related to books. I have used my English degree literally every single day since graduating undergrad.
While I can imagine feeling differently about majoring in English if my job and educational history had been different after undergrad, I can also imagine a scenario in which I would have studied things I was far less passionate about or that didn’t come naturally to me, getting poor grades, and not having many opportunities post-undergrad as a result. All of that to say, as humans, we imagine that different past decisions would have resulted in us being in a better place now/in the future, but we very well could have been worse off if we didn’t do what we felt was best back then.
So interesting! And of course, we are always subconsciously working on writing a narrative that makes our decisions/actions/the unfolding of life make sense/hang together. For example, now, I see only a linear line from my beginnings to my now! Thanks for sharing these thoughts! xx
Yes to thrillers in the fall! I have Zero Days by Ruth Ware waiting for me at the library. I’ve been recommending The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths to everyone as a perfect October read.
Hi Stephanie! Zero Days was fun! Thanks for the Griffifths suggestion, too! Another Magpie just messaged to recommend “None of This Is True.” xx