It’s been a long year and yet flown by at the same time. The best part of it being Fall is we’ve now hit the perfect opportunity for curling up under a blanket, drinking a hot cup of tea, and binging on Netflix with the pretense of its the ideal ‘fall activity’ [not that we haven’t been doing that since March].
In Colorado fall is a weird time of year the waffles between heavy snow and sixty degree weather, often in the same day. No matter what weather it is outside, staying cozy and relaxed is my prime concern.
Fall Comfort Tip 1: Wrap up with the perfect blanket
It doesn’t matter what the weather is like outside, I nearly always have a blanket with me. There’s just something comfortable about that extra layer of warmth, especially if the world is a bit unpredictable.
The Manolia Blanket from Teema Towel’s it’s perfect for enjoying the fall and matches any style of décor. At 94 inches wide two adults can enjoy watching tv with just enough warmth to be comfortable, or even enjoy an impromptu fall picnic under the leaves.
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Fall Comfort Tip 2: Swap out your bedding
Fall is the best time of year to swap over to a more breathable sheet set, allowing you to better regulate body heat without having to kick up the whole house temperature. I recently discovered bamboo sheets and I really love how easy they are to care for all while staying soft through multiple washes.
Sheets from Simply Organic Bamboo are made from 100% bamboo viscose making them entirely natural and sustainable. Comfort can be good for the environment as well!
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Fall Comfort Tip 3: Fix the perfect cup of tea
Tea is good any time of year but during the fall it just seems that much better. After a long day I like fixing up a hot cup of tea before bed and reading for a bit.
Organic India is tea that’s not just good for the soul, but also the body. Herbs have been used for centuries to promote natural detoxification and lowering stress. With a focus on leading the industry with organic products and healthy living Organic India is the ideal tea for making healthy changes this fall.
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Tulsi Sleep | Tulsi Masala Chia | Tulsi Cinnamon Rose
Fall Comfort Tip 4: Unwind with your favorite toys
Now that it feels like we are working from home for the long haul jazzing up the workspace is the perfect way to enjoy a fall change of pace for the whole family. Toys don’t have to be just for kids and productive fidget focus tools can help keep you on task during a long day of zoom meetings.
I’m a huge fan of supporting neighborhood toy stores and Beyond the Blackboard is my favorite Colorado toy store. Founded by teachers Beyond the Blackboard has educational toys and games for all ages. You can even ask them to pack up a goody box for all your office mates as a fun fall gift!
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Fall Comfort Tip 5: Decrease the Chemicals in your Home
With the windows closed and less opportunity to spend time outside, lowering the chemicals you are exposed to on a daily basis is a good goal for the fall months. Deodorant is the one chemical most of us apply on a daily basis, without fully understanding what placing those chemicals against our skin can do on a long term basis.
Pit Liquor is the solution to smelling fresh this fall, all without extra chemical and toxins. High-proof alcohol is less toxic than most other ingredients and it really works! Easy to spray on, you’ll be surprised how clean you’ll smell by the end of day. They even have a hand sanitizer solution, ensuring that you can be healthy and smell good at the same time.
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Fall Comfort Tip 6: Relax with Aroma Therapy
To say it’s been a stressful year is an understatement. I’m a huge fan of aromatherapy to help me relax and when the heater is on its hard to find a diffuser that can really keep up with the dry air being pumped into the house all day. Goddess Garden’s Aromamood bracelets are the perfect solution.
Designed with lavastones each bracelet captures essential oils and To say it’s been a stressful year is an understatement. I’m a huge fan of aromatherapy to help me relax and when the heater is on its hard to find a diffuser that can really keep up with the dry air being pumped into the house all day. Goddess Garden’s Aromamood bracelets are the perfect solution.
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Aromamood Bracelets | Essential Oils
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this content but did receive product samples to facilitate the writing of these reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With social distancing still in effect I know we are all equally bummed about the lack of travel adventures this summer. Since both Drew and I recently changed jobs we had been waiting for the summer to have enough vacation time built up to head somewhere fun. I’ve been craving a beach vacation but just because it’s not the cards right now, doesn’t mean that we can’t kick back and enjoy the summer anyways.
One of the best things about staycations is not having to worry about travel time. When we travel I always feel like I need an extra day to recover from jet lag or take care of laundry but with a staycation every day is a quality day not doing the 9-5 grind.
Backyard Stayation Tip 1: Enjoy a cold beverage
When its hot outside there is nothing better then a brisk drink. This summer I’ve been loving Cliffton Dry ciders. Light and fruit their wine style cider is perfect for enjoying on a hot day. With a low alcohol, low sugar, and low calorie you don’t end up feeling dehydrated after an afternoon in the sun.
Backyard Staycation Tip 2: Set up a paradise
It’s unusual for anyone in Colorado to have a traditional pool and not all communities have shared ones to enjoy. With the ongoing stay at home orders most HOAs who do have pools aren’t opening them this year. Luckily I was able to snag my Minnidip inflatable pool before ‘great pool shortage of 2020’ began.
Labor day weekend is the perfect time to kick back in your yard and enjoy some rays from your own personal pool. The ‘Stop and Smell the Rose’ pool is big enough for 2 adults and deep enough to be able to actually get under the water. I used a airbed pump to blow mine up and snagged a pool skimmer off amazon to keep it clean.
If you haven’t been able to find a pool this summer and still want to, take advantage of Target’s ‘notify me when we restock’ feature. I had set alerts on all the Minnidip designs and was able to get one within a couple of days!
Backyard Staycation Tip 3: Lounge in Style
I didn’t know how much I was going to love having a hammock until I added one to the yard last summer. Now it’s my favorite place to relax at the end of a long day. Perfect for reading a book or just listening to the crickets after dusk, a hammock made my staycation complete.
I wanted something that would comfortably fit on the patio but could be stored away during the winter so I picked up the Vivere Space Saving Hammock Stand. Complete with a carry bag it’s easy to put everything away for the winter and stable enough to hold a hammock with both Drew, two corgis, and myself.
For the actual hammock I needed something that would easily support us both, without getting discolored by the sun. The Cotton Rope Hammock from Yellow Leaf Hammocks was the perfect solution. Each Yellow Leaf Hammock is handwoven in Northern Thailand by artisans and even have a tag showing the name of the person who made your hammock.
Backyard Staycation Tip 4: Jazz up your outdoor decor
When the world is dreary bright colors is the perfect way to add some excitement into your life. I recently created a whole set of colorful DIY projects to add color and comfort to my patio using supplies from Fairfield World.
See the entire patio transformation and check out tutorials for DIY throw pillows and more on the full post!
Disclaimer: I received a sample of Cliffton Dry Cider to inspire this post. All photography and opinions are my own. Links to amazon are affiliate links and Rocky Mountain Bliss may receive financial support through your purchases at no additional cost to you.
One of my favorite things about our house is the backyard and each summer I’ve been adding more elements to make lounging on the porch a daily activity. We have a big stamped patio, which gives plenty of space for trying out new decor and makes spending as much time as I can outside, that much easier.
I worked with Fairfield World to update my patio with some fun crafts that are perfect for those new to sewing and I’m excited to be sharing their contest so you can have the chance to update your patio style as well! I’ll be sharing each project individually with step by step instructions over the next few days!
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We have a table and chairs, but most days I like sitting on the edge of the patio to play catch with the dogs. Colorado evenings are perfect for enjoying a summer picnic outside so I wanted to combine those two ideas and create a way to be more comfortable when seated on the patio.
Each seat used two round cushion pads stacked together to create a 2″ tall seat perfect for sitting on the ground.
For the big pillow I used a Fairfield World Weather Soft™ . Weather Soft™ pillow inserts are water repellent so if I forget it outside during a Colorado afternoon rainstorm I don’t have to worry about the filling getting musty.
Learn how to make this DIY Outdoor Pillow.
The dining tray is my favorite project from this set! While you don’t ‘need’ a tray to have a patio picnic it’s nice to lift everything off of the ground and the poly beads inside made it self leveling for use on the grass or inside later. This project used 6 lbs of weighted poly beads to fill the bottom.
We are lucky that Colorado isn’t humid, but after living in places that are I learned to LOVE Koozies. I used Solarize Insulating Liner to make this easy Wine Bottle Koozie, perfect for keeping white wine chilled while ‘chilling’. Sorry had to go there.
Now that my patio is all bright and comfortable I’m excited to share it with my furry friends, Rogue and Raven. The dogs are loving the cushions!
A few of my favorite bloggers are sharing their ideas for jazzing up your summer patio! Check out all their projects starting on Me and My Inklings and don’t forget to enter to win a gift pack to plan your patio party!
Disclaimer: I was provided with product samples from Fairfield World to inspire this post.
If you are new at sewing this DIY outdoor pillow is the perfect beginning project. I’m obsessed with throw pillows and love that it’s so easy to personalize your decor with fun fabric.
This fun print says ‘when you love everything you need, you love everything you have‘. I chose it because I love how bright it is and that the color really pops against the pool I’ve been lounging in all summer long.
For pillows you really want to use a home decor fabric. A bit more heavy duty these fabrics hold up well for regular use and can still be washed in the washing machine. Home decor fabric usually has a bit of texture as well, giving it more depth then you see in a standard cotton print.
You could easily sew this project by hand but a sewing machine will make sure you have really strong seams.
Start out by cutting out the fabric. I have a front side [the write and pink] and a backside [black]. To make sure that the pillow is really fluffy and the case is secure I am cutting out fabric the same size and the filler [in this instance 27″]. I used a Fairfield World Weather Soft™ insert.
Before starting to sew I ironed both sides to take out any seams or creases. Place the fabric right sides facing one another and sew around 3 of the edges with a 1/2 easing.
When sewing a pillow it’s important that each corner has a diagonal seam across the edge. I don’t know why, but its a magic trick so when you turn the case right side out the corners are sharp.
On the open edge, fold over the raw material and iron along the side. This is what will ensure a nice finished edge to the project. Place the pillow inside and sew across the open side with a 1/2″ ease. Finish the case by sewing all around the edge to create a nice finished look.
For more fun patio DIY projects head over to the Patio Party post! I am sharing the finished look and you can enter to win a prize pack from Fairfield world.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
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