The reasons I love Fall are aplenty. The first evening you can turn off your air conditioner and sleep with the windows open, revisiting nightly cups of tea, cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice everything, the return of sweatpants, red wine in dimly lit bars, crockpot meals, blanket scarves, Upstate adventures for apple picking…the list goes on and on and this turn of the season from summer to Fall truly never gets old for me. 

This cozy, charming season has retained its appeal for the 11+ years I have lived on the East Coast now and I am so ready for its return.

My Fall Bucket List

Make my home smell amazing

Given my love of essentially everything Brooklinen does, I was of course excited when they shared that they are launching home fragrance! I have a friend in New York whose building always smells amazing when you walk in – so much so that I deemed it has a signature scent. And so this year I set out to have a signature scent for my home – and Brooklinen is helping me achieve that. 

Brooklinen’s new soy candles and scents are heavenly. They smell like the expensive hotel you love staying at but their price point is really affordable. (No more worrying about burning your favorite candle because it is expensive to replace!)

I’m a big believer in the power of scents and I love that the Brooklinen home fragrance pieces have items that allude to when you should use them and how you should feel. 

There are eight choices – everything from Rise which was designed to be like a morning shower (aka a gentle kick in the pants to get you going in the morning) featuring notes of sea salt and citrus to Interlude – encouraging you to take a break and cocoon yourself in amber and vanilla.

My personal favorites since I’ve been testing the new candles? Definitely Rise – it is so uplifting and yet calming at the same time. I have loved working at my desk with this candle lit.

And my other favorite for my living area is Restore. The name so perfectly captures the serene vibe it gives. It is like a pillowy, soothing bath for your nose thanks to rest-promoting scents of lavender, cedarwood, vanilla and musk. Perfect to light once you close your laptop for the day and are heading for a glass of wine and Netflix. Rise + Restore work beautifully together, too as I love having multiple candles lit at night.

And for my bedroom’s new signature scent? Interlude. This candle is like a cocoon of coziness. It has notes of amber and vanilla (but vanilla in the good way – not the overly sweet vanilla so many brands use). Every night I’ve been lighting this for wind down time before bed and it’s filled my bedroom with the coziest scents.

Each of the 8oz candles burn for 60 hours and have great throw so you actually smell their impact. Let me know what scent you end up ordering from the new collection! If you’re not sure what you may like, the brand has a fragrance quiz to help you find the perfect scent for you.

AND! You can use code meghandono for $20 off your Brooklinen purchase of $100 or more.

Revisit the Cloisters

It has been years since I have been back to the Cloisters and I love visiting in the Fall especially because the Hudson Riverbanks are covered in color foliage. 

See the Brooklyn Museum Virgil Abloh Exhibit

I have tickets later this month to see this exhibit that is getting great buzz. I’m planning for a fun dinner in the Prospect Heights neighborhood afterwards!

Watch The World Cup

I come from a big soccer family and over the years have loved getting into the World Cup so I was excited when my brother reminded me it is happening again this Fall! I plan to take in some games over the course of the tournament.

Take in Central Park at peak foliage

My busy schedule has prevented me from getting much Central Park time of late so I want to use some of my weekends at home this Fall to get up to the park and enjoy the colors as they chance – usually around late October, early November.

Spend time Upstate New York

I already have a weekend Upstate on the books to visit my friend Kate and she always plans the best activities! I want to visit a farm, drink apple cider and enjoy the landscape’s changing colors. It’s a favorite Fall getaway I always, always enjoy.

Fall Baking

When I bought my apartment my parents bought me my very first KitchenAid mixer as a housewarming present and I still haven’t been able to put it to use! I’m changing that this Fall and setting out to make pumpkin bread and apple crisp.

Go Apple Picking

I am so excited to already have some fun apple picking plans on the calendar with friends in October. It is one of my all time favorite Fall traditions!

Sunrise on the Brooklyn Bridge

During peak pandemic in 2020 I walked the Brooklyn Bridge countless times. The Brooklyn entrance of it is nearby my Brooklyn Heights home and it is an excursion that never gets old. It is particularly magical in the early morning hours as the sun rises and I want to set my alarm one morning to get back up there as the seasons change.

Watch Classic Movies

I love the nostalgia that comes along with the Fall season so I always watch favorite classic movies like When Harry Met Sally and You’ve Got Mail this time of year- on repeat.

Make a harvest-inspired meal

This season I want to head to the farmer’s market to see what’s in season and then cook a dinner totally inspired by Fall’s harvest.

Decorate my apartment with seasonal touches

I love the idea of bringing in seasonal touches to my apartment. I went a little nuts buying things at Crate & Barrel – I always love their seasonal decor – especially in Fall.

Make my favorite Fall cocktail

In 2020 one of my BFFs and I became hooked on these Ginger Apple Harvest Mules. They are so delicious and I can’t wait to bring it back into my weekend rotation.

. . .

What’s on your Fall bucket list this season? I would love to hear what you have planned!

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This post is in collaboration with Brooklinen. Thank you so much for supporting the brands I love to work with! You can see our last collaboration here.

[Carter Fish Photography]