Autumn is my favourite season but it has its ups and downs.

Some days it is crisp and glorious, bright sunshine and misty edges filled with wonder and toasted marshmallows.

Then other days it is dark and dank, foggy mornings bleeding into sodden afternoons and gloomy evenings of bad TV and cold feet.

This mishmash of characteristics is what I love but it does mean that you need to make an effort to enjoy it to the full – here are five of my current favourite things I think you need* to do this season.

*You probably don’t need to do them, but they might make you smile.

1. Go for a walk in Golden Hour

  In the hour before sunset on a clear Autumn day, magic happens. The sunlight takes on a golden hue that you just don’t get at any other time of year. It’s thick and syrupy and it touches the turning leaves on trees and edges each of them with fire. It makes everything look beautiful and it can be a little surreal at times – like you have stepped out of reality and into a painting. Get out there and go for a walk in it, it can make even the worst day better.

2. Buy a bar of Reindeer Rock soap from Lush!

Seriously, this is a new discovery for me this year and I have never been so enamoured with soap in my life. Not only is it pretty but the scent of lingon berry is perfect for Autumn. It is sweet but earthy and it lingers on your hands for ages after you use it. It smells like a walk in the forest in golden hour – I fear I am in love with a bar of soap.

3. New Pyjamas

Autumn is new pyjama season. It is the start of cosy evenings by the fire (if you are lucky enough to have one) and there are few things nicer than slipping into a nice new set of PJs. If you have spent the day feeling grey and miserable, perhaps even been drenched in a freezing downpour on the school run or after work, then new pyjamas will fix your day right up. I promise.

4. Hot Chocolate with cream and marshmallows

I’m not a hot drink kind of person but sometimes chilly Autumn days or evenings cry out for a good hot chocolate. I’m not talking watery instant gratification here, I’m talking proper hot chocolate. Made with all milk and topped off with cream and with fluffy marshmallows on the side. There is something about this indulgence that warms you from the inside out. Have a hot chocolate date with a friend and watch the rain lash down the windows whilst you set the world to rights, take your steaming mug outside and hug it whilst you read a chapter of a book or make one for everyone and enjoy them whilst you watch something on TV or play a board game together. Autumnal delight right there come rain or shine.

5. Jump in a puddle

I don’t care who you are, how old you are or whether or not you have small children – put your boots on, get out there in the rain and jump in a puddle. Then kick some leaves about and jump in another puddle. It’s a great stress buster, I always end up laughing and it is fun wether I’m doing it alone or with company. I went puddle jumping with my mum a year or two ago and it was hilarious and, of course, my kids love it so they’re always up for it. There is something freeing about the splosh and splatter of puddles beneath your feet and it makes you feel much better about the rain.

Plus rain makes all the leaves on the floor shiny and bright – all the more appealing to kick 😉

  
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I’m linking this post up to Michelle’s Share The Joy linky because it’s full of things that make me happy 🙂

I’m also linking it up to Just Another Linky, purely because I enjoyed writing it so much that I want people to read it 😉