A Few of my Favorite Things

Although fall is not my favorite season, I can't help getting excited for a few of my favorite things that it brings along.  Fall fashions, the World Series, my birthday, and my favorite holiday - Thanksgiving, are all encompassed by colorful autumn leaves.  Plus, I'd be lying if I said I'm not excited to fire up my oven and crock pot and cook up some hearty comfort food.

So, on Sunday, with football serving as the background in my kitchen, I turned up the oven and made a family-favorite Shepherd's pie for dinner.  Looking around my summery kitchen, I realized that it was time to pack away my summer items - margarita themed decorative dishtowels, sandal-shaped wine glass holders, and my summery Vineyard candle.

Ahhh, candles.  Some women like decorations, or knick-knacks, but me, I collect candles.  Well, not collect, per se, but I accumulate them like a collection, or hoarding, whatever you want to call it.  Every time I find a new scent I just have to have, Vibrant Husband rolls his eyes and laughs, though I'm sure he considers it an unhealthy obsession.  Plus, it doesn't help that we have a Yankee Candle store in a five mile radius of our house.

While Vibrant Husband watched football, I scurried to my candle stash to find the perfect scent to replace my summery kitchen candle (oh yes, they're in every room of the house - but that's another story for another day).  After a little searching, I finally found my favorite fall scent...that is, until Halloween passes (which reminds me, I have the cutest little jack-o-lantern candle I need to take out!)

Yankee Candle's Autumn Leaves perfectly captures the subtle, though recognizable, aroma of a lovely fall day without being overbearing.

Research shows that scent is the sense most closely connected to memory, which in my case seems to be true.  A small whiff of my newly reinstated candle, combined with dinner in the oven, brought back many memories of past years.  Even though it's hard for me to say goodbye to summertime, it's hard not to be excited for the changes and memories to come this fall season.

What smells remind you of fall?  What are your favorite scents for the emerging fall season?

Photo Credit:

Autumn Leaves Large Jar Candle, $24.99 - Yankee Candle