The Best of October & My Favorite Things

October has come and gone and I honestly got whiplash from it. Anyone else? In Texas this is one of my favorite times of year because the weather finally starts to cool off, leaves fall off the trees, and the air gets just the right amount of crisp to it.

With that comes a change in not only scenery, as we experience darker evenings and lighter mornings, but also a change in what we cook, the textiles we use, and getting ready for holiday guests or visitors.

Playing games as a family is a fave of ours and Quirkle is often our game of choice. It is such a fun game for all ages (6 and up) and grandparents really love it! You can see it in my grandparents gift guide here.

October always makes me reach for our coziest blankets, and I have rounded up my faves below. By far, the Lola blanket is the softest, most amazing blanket I have ever owned. The company was started after their mother, through years of living with breast cancer and enduring its treatments, found comfort in her soft, faux-fur blanket. While it is a bit spendy, if you are like me high quality blankets stay in your home and family for years and years. I have several blankets that I got in high school—let’s just say that was a few decades ago. 😉

October was also a time for me to start getting our guest room ready for the upcoming season of guests and visitors. I truly believe a guest room should feel like a home away from home. For this reason, I have added a few things to our guest room to try and make anyone staying here as cozy and welcome as possible.

First, I added a blanket to the end of the bed. This goes without saying, but having it at the end of the bed I think really makes it accessible. Also, keep a couple of extras in a closet or drawers in case you have really cold nights or cold sleepers. Cozy bedding is a given, and this includes a great pillow. I have rounded up and tested several pillows for you here. As for bedding, always use comfy sheets and a comforter or duvet.

Adding a luggage rack is also a great touch. It allows guests to put their bag or suitcase up where they don’t have to bend down or get on the floor to reach their belongings. It also allows more space to be freed up on the floor.

And lastly, but my personal favorite special touch—a coffee maker. I found the Keurig K-Mini on sale (still on sale online for 44% off) at Target so I grabbed it up. It comes in 6 colors too. If you have guests who are not coffee drinkers this is perfect! They make apple cider and hot chocolate k-cups! I had no idea until I bought this! And those adorable little face mugs are the icing on the cake.