While we’re often sorry to see summer’s high-spirited spontaneity come to an end, the changing of the seasons—especially into fall—can put a new snap in our step as we enjoy a breath of fresh, brisk air. Beautiful sunny days lend themselves to the start of leaf-peeping season. Yes! We just got a shiver of delight at the thought that those breathtaking, vivid colors are on their way to spice up our plans and brighten our autumn weekends.
The transition into a new season is the perfect time to recenter and reset, especially after the joyful excesses of late summer. Re-establish a routine of healthy eating, exercise, and a good night's rest. It's also a great time to harvest some of the ease and freshness of summer to carry you though as the days get cooler and shorter. Take time to reflect and journal. Set some personal goals and encourage your family to do the same. Embrace outdoor activities with renewed energy as temperatures relax and the scenery transforms itself—one of nature's truly spectacular gifts, so make the most of it!
Labor Day — We all know this long weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, so make it extra special by planning one last barbecue. Nobody’s really ready to say goodbye to burgers and grilled summer veggies, so go all out and make this cook-out the season’s best.
Kentucky Derby — Time to get out your festive hats and make mint juleps! Normally this classic race falls in May, but this year we get to enliven fall right out of the gate by making the first Saturday in September one for the books!
Plan a fall foliage apéro or dinner — Celebrate your views of the season’s finery and the arrival of that crisp edge on the air with an outdoor gathering. Simmer up some spiced apple cider for sipping or pair your favorite full-bodied wine with a cheese and charcuterie board garnished with grape leaves, late-season grapes, and slices of pear. Take a look at our seasonal menu ideas for more inspiration to make a meal of it, and throw together an easy-as-pie apple crisp for a delicious ending.
Go apple picking and plan a fall picnic — Find a pick ur own orchard nearest to you and take advantage of a sunny autumn day to plan a family outing. In addition to whatever you improvise for a picnic, be sure to slice up some of those fresh-picked apples to pair with sharp cheddar and/or caramel sauce for dipping!
Visit a vineyard or cider shack — With fall colors hitting the vines as well, there’s no better time to expand your knowledge of the winemaking process and spend a joyous wine-country afternoon with friends. As a unique seasonal alternative, check your area for producers of hard cider, or scrumpy. Fun fact: up until Prohibition, Americans consumed more scrumpy than beer—anyone with a few apple trees could make their own! Today, artisanal producers are drawing on heirloom orchards in New England and beyond to bring this time-honored, complex, and quintessentially American beverage back into popularity, offering tastings, pairings, and tours. Here’s a look at one such cider shack—too cute to believe—in the Hudson Valley.
Whatever la Rentrée, as the return to the classroom is known in France, may look like for your family this year—this is a big moment for everyone, so let’s make it a joyous one!
Whether your children will be learning at home, participating in a hybrid school-home schedule, or back to school full time, a very important element of family life is having a school-week routine.
Establishing such a routine provides your child with structured time and guidelines to know when to focus on homework, which in turn allows for more flexible, unstructured fun time! Clear bedtimes and wakeup routines ensure that children will be well-rested, which is so important to learning and playtime alike.
An organized routine means less decision-making on the fly and lends itself to more meaningful family time at home. Teaching your children from a young age how to manage their time and keep track of their assignments and belongings is a valuable lesson that will follow them throughout their school career and beyond.
In addition, pay attention to signs of stress in your children, especially in light of this year’s many unusual circumstances and constraints, and help them learn how to recognize when they need a break and some self-care. Emphasize the importance of being present and enjoying downtime, educating them on strategies for relaxation and stress management. Recreational sports, playtime, meditation, journaling, and yoga are incredibly beneficial for children as well as their parents!
Back-to-school life hacks: keep hand wipes, disinfectant spray, kleenex, and clean masks in a kit in your car. Have a small garbage bag, snack sack, extra charger, additional school supplies and reading material handy in case there is downtime between practices and lessons or a wait at the orthodontist’s office :)
Prioritize time for family meals — This can be challenging to plan, with so many busy schedules up in the air, but sharing time at the table for meaningful conversation helps everyone feel connected and supported. In particular, starting the morning with a sense of positivity, gratefulness, and shared joy creates a supportive environment that everyone in the family can take with them throughout their day.
Plan weeknight meals ahead — To be sure your students are eating healthy foods, organize nutritious snacks so you’re prepared for that frenzied time between school, sports and activities, and the evening meal. Get your children involved in a simple theme night for dinner: Taco Tuesday or Make Your Own Pizza Friday, with a family movie to wind down together at the week’s end.
There’s no other moment of the year when nature is more generous. Summer’s produce overlaps with the harvest cornucopia of colors and flavors: corn, squash, tomatoes, broccoli, radishes, collard greens, kohlrabi, brussel sprouts, apples, and pears... Stretch your end-of-season tomatoes out to create our easy fresh tomato sauce for a simple weeknight supper. Serve our shaved brussel sprout and apple salad as a crunchy and satisfying side or add grilled chicken to make it the centerpiece of a weeknight supper or a fabulous luncheon with friends.
If this season has a star, it’s the apple—playing the role of healthy snack-bowl staple as well as leading roles and cameos in many dishes and desserts. The possibilities are endless, but one of our favorite ways to showcase this bright, crisp fruit is with our simple and delicious homemade applesauce! Pro tip: applesauce is a fantastic addition to yogurt for breakfast and makes a healthy snack, dessert, or seasonal addition to your cheese and charcuterie board.
See our September epicure for all of our new seasonal favorites!
Add autumnal accents to your outdoor planters with chrysanthemums, sedum, asters, cabbage, Russian sage, and ornamental grasses. Add an extra layer of warmth and freshness to your indoor (and outdoor) living spaces with our new soft throws and fall-inspired candles. Planning a seasonal gathering at home? Be sure to schedule an Inspiration Consultation so we can help you personalize a gathering that suits your space, your style, and the spirit of the season!
partager la joie is pleased to offer a new curated collection of stunning fall/winter jewelry by Joya. Their handmade pieces are truly jewelry you can feel good about, whether giving to a special someone or wearing it yourself. Joya had us with their name, which resonates in harmony with our own vision. We love the brand not only for the artisanal quality and beauty of their products, but especially for their mission, their thoughtful messaging, and their community engagement. partager la joie loves to partner with creatives who give back to the world, and Joya inspires us with their commitment to women supporting women worldwide.
’Tis the season of harvest celebrations so plan some family harvest time, whether it’s to an orchard, vineyard, your local farmer’s market, or even your own backyard vegetable garden—and come home with baskets and hearts full.
Transitions are always a time for taking stock, setting goals, and, especially in keeping with harvest season, expressing gratitude for where we’ve been and what we have. Take time to slow down, reflect, journal, and face forward into new routines, new stresses, new joys. Plan gatherings that focus on appreciating nature’s bounty and beauty. Find comfort and inspiration in the structure of daily life and in cozy, grounding traditions that bring the people you love together.
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