Willow in Winter

It’s hard not to think that 2020 has been a wasted year. The fact that it’s already September and I haven’t left my town since late December makes me feel like I’m trapped in my tiny flat in the city centre.

After cancelling all my plans and trips for the year, it felt like there was nothing to look forward to. I’ve spent Spring and Summer locked in my flat, refreshing Instagram and watching people have the time of their lives in countries where lockdown hasn’t been as long or strict as in England.

I usually don’t have much going on on my social life, just a few trips here and there, the occasional night out, cinema dates or Saturday mornings where I spend too much time in my local Waterstones. So at first I was fine staying at home and not doing any of these things, but four-months into lockdown, I started to feel like I had nothing exciting to do.

When you’re not excited about your job, and you’ve read every thriller available on Kindle, it’s easy to fall into a circle of depressingly staring out of the window channelling Bella Swan in New Moon, just watching the months go by. But Autumn is approaching, and if there’s one thing that excites my bored little cold heart, it’s cool air, grey days and seeing leaves turn all possible shades of orange and brown.

One of the reasons I started this blog was to stop being sad and depressed, and to start doing and writing about things that excite me. Enter my Autumn Bucket List. A list of small things that can be done during a pandemic, a strict lockdown and whatever else 2020 has planned for us, but still entertaining enough so that my life feels a bit less boring.

My Autumn 2020 Bucket List

• Try a new hot chocolate recipe 
  I’ve tried many hot chocolate recipes over the years, but I still haven’t found the best one. I want to make the ultimate hot chocolate.
• Carve a pumpkin 
  I do this every year, and it’s just a mess, I never choose the right pumpkin, but this year, I will do it right.
• Buy cosy scented autumn candles 
  There are so many options: Autumn Glow, Pumpkin Patch, Velvet Woods, Sweater Weather, Pumpkin Spice… It’s hard to find the right scent that will define your season.
• Visit a pumpkin patch 
  I’ve never done this before, and I’m so excited! I’ve found this pumpkin farm that’s only open in October, and it’s close to where I live https://www.pick-your-own-pumpkins.co.uk/.
• Host a Harry Potter marathon 
  I don’t think this one needs an explanation.
• Bake a pumpkin pie
  I’ve been saving this recipe since last year, and I’m excited to finally try it https://tasty.co/recipe/old-fashioned-pumpkin-pie.
• Add an autumn-themed embroidery on my favourite sweater
  I can spend days, sometimes weeks designing the perfect embroidery, and that helps me forget that I’m actually sad and I don’t have any plans for the future.
• Go on a nature hike to see the autumn foliage
  I love going out for a hike or just walking around parks, but doing that during autumn it’s ten times better because all the colours are so beautiful and the air feels much cleaner.
• Read three books set in autumn
  On my to-read list: The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox, Wilder Girls by Rory Power, and Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger.
• Watch three Halloween movies
  Practical Magic (1998) is one of my favourite movies, and I watch it every October. This year on my to-watch list I also have Scream (1996) and Dark Shadows (2012).
• Bake Halloween cookies
  And not just any cookies, Pinterest-worthy cookies, I want them to look like a blogger mum made them. I know that it will take me a few tries, but that’s all I aspire to do this October.
• DIY autumn decorations for the flat
  I’m so bored of staring at the same four white walls. I think some DIY autumny decor will help my flat look cosier.

So that’s my bucket list. I have from September 22nd to December 21st to complete it!