Why autumn is my favourite season

While everyone else was basking in June and July's heatwave, I secretly couldn't wait for autumn to arrive.

The house was unbearably hot, the office was unbearably hot, the great outdoors was unbearably hot. Everywhere and everything was unbearably hot and I longed for the day when it would be cool enough to wear my tights and boots again.

August came along and decided to be its usual frizz-inducing hot and rainy self, so I was delighted when autumn finally announced itself.

Here are just a few reasons why autumn is my favourite season...



1. Memories 

I don't think summer will ever feel the same for me after the events of two years ago. The summer of 2016 was riddled with tests and uncertainty, and every summer since has brought back vivid memories of that horrible time. Once October arrives and autumn is in full swing, I instantly feel a little better.



2. The cooler weather 

I absolutely adore dry autumnal days. Cold, crisp and sunny days are far more enjoyable than a sweltering hot day, in my humble heatwave-hating opinion.

3. Ugg boots 

Following on from the previous point, autumn provides the ideal weather for my beloved collection of Ugg boots. Dry and cold is the perfect combination for these comfy beauties!

4. Wearing all the layers

Wrapping myself up in a big coat, jumper, hat, scarf and gloves makes me inexplicably happy. I feel a little incomplete in the summer without all my cosy layers and accessories, and autumn's cooler weather also means I've got more items to colour-coordinate. What's not to love?



5. Pretty trees 

I love autumn leaves, whether they're still attached to trees or if they've fallen on the ground. They're beautifully instagrammable, they make me smile, and they can brighten up the dullest of days.

6. Jessie's favourite season 

Autumn is also Jessie's favourite season. The summer is too hot for her as she's got such a thick fur coat, and I felt so terrible for her during the heatwave. She couldn't go for long walks and couldn't even get particularly cool at home, so she's in her element at this time of year.

7. Catching up with friends

I always seem to cram most of my meet ups with friends who don't live locally into the autumn. I caught up with Sarah, Liz and Fee last month and have got another few outings planned for this month, including the annual Christmas shopping trip with my university friends (which generally involves more eating than shopping).



8. Candles 

I light candles all year round, but I love bringing out the autumnal and Christmassy scents once October arrives. Is there anything better than lighting a cinnamon-scented candle and curling up on the sofa in your pyjamas with a hot chocolate and a good book?



9. Hot chocolate 

Talking of hot chocolate... I know I drink a lot of it all year round, but it feels like an extra special treat when I drink it during the autumn months. I had to stay away from hot chocolate during the heatwave which made me even more grumpy!

10. Christmas! 

Once autumn is here, I can officially start my Christmas shopping. Once I've started my Christmas shopping, it's only a matter of time until I can start sneakily adding Christmas touches to the house and digging out my Christmas jumpers. And now that Halloween is over and November is here, it really is nearly Christmas!

What's your favourite season? Are there any other autumnal fans out there? 

Twelve posts of Christmas #4 - Christmas candles

I can't believe I'm already on my fourth Christmas post... time is flying and there are only three sleeps to go!

I'm fairly obsessed with Yankee candles and they've got some lovely Christmas specialities, so I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you as part of my Christmas series.

I had a couple of Christmas candles from Neil this time last year and I saved Christmas Treats for the beginning of December. This candle is a little sweeter than the ones I usually buy but it smells lovely - a mouth-watering mixture of vanilla frosting and shortbread. These large candles always last us well over a month, and this one made the living room look extra cosy as well as making the house smell of food. This can never be a bad thing.

On to the next featured candle... Rainwashed Berry isn't strictly a Christmas candle but I always have a jar ready for the Christmas season. It's my absolute favourite Yankee candle and it's probably the strongest smelling candle of the lot. Although it's marketed as a burst of summer berries, I think the scent is better suited to the winter as it's so warm, cosy and inviting.

And lastly for this year, we bought ourselves the amazing Savour the Season a few months ago as soon as Asda started stocking the Christmas range. I can't even explain how good this candle smells. It's Christmas in a jar! It has a strong smell of cinnamon with a bit of cookie dough thrown in... a combination of two of my favourite scents. Coincidentally, it goes perfectly with a glass of mulled wine. 

We also bought a pretty tea light holder from the Yankee Candle shop in Bath last year which is brightening up our fireplace. It looks so pretty when coupled with our large Yankee Candle of choice - candles make every dark and dreary winter night a bit brighter!

What's your favourite Christmas candle?