Preparing for Pumpkin Spice

It’s Not Just a Latte – It’s a Lifestyle

It’s August…

Which is practically September, but hotter.

And September is really just a monthlong housewarming party for October.

Before you know it, it’s Thanksgiving.

So honestly, even though it’s over 100 degrees outside and still technically the dog days of summer, we’re perfectly on time to celebrate Fall in full swing. 

Break out the pumpkin spice!!! (And the sweaters, and the scarves, and an unholy amount of cinnamon…)

Two Starts of Fall

Dunkin Donuts’ fall menu dropped August 19th.  Starbucks is slated to roll out the red carpet for pumpkin spice lattes on August 25th.  Grocery stores, home decor shops, and craft stores have all already rolled out their autumn inventories, from goodies to trinkets and everything in between.

If we’re being honest, so have we, over here at The Magnolia Company!  (Check out our Fall collection here.)

In America, at least, everyone is treated to what feels like two starts of the season: the actual equinoxes and solstices that calibrate our calendars, and the cultural start of the season bookmarked by an aesthetic change. 

Fall is a prime example!  According to the Gregorian calendar, fall officially begins on the equinox that occurs in late September.  This year, that date is September 22nd, and it usually occurs between September 21st and 23rd.  The equinox is one of the two days of the year where the day and night hours are equal.  The other equinox occurs between the 19th and 21st of March, marking the planetary start of spring.

You can’t argue with those dates; they’re tied to science – astronomy, to be precise. 

But, the lovers of all things pumpkin spice couldn’t care less about the official start of fall.  Culturally in America, fall begins somewhere around mid-August.  Take a scroll down your social media of choice, and you’ll find post after post boasting fall themed decor, recipes, outfit inspiration, and more… in August.  Ready or not, fall in the USA is here!

Strong Opinions

Few topics in this world are more divisive or polarizing than politics, religion, and philosophy, but the start of fall manages to take the cake all on its own.  Folks have STRONG opinions on when the seasons should be acknowledged.  The seasonal purists will defend to the beating of a dead horse the calendar commencement of autumn.  The pumpkin spice girlies, however, make a tasty case. 

Regardless of what side of the autumnal aisle you fall on (pun 100% intended), autumn is a welcome change from the visual fatigue of bright colors, citrus everything, and blistering, relentless summer heat.  When your autumn begins is and will always be up to you!

More than a Season  

Lovers of pumpkin spice lattes aren’t just coffee fiends.  They’re experts in balance. 

You see, fall signals the start of a new chapter.  For thousands of years of human history, we’ve acknowledged the different energies of different seasons of life. 

Winter

Winter, with its barren coldness and sparse resources, encourages you to rest, to conserve energy, and to hold gratitude for those you love and the things you’ve accomplished.  It’s a time of quiet reflection in all areas of life as you evaluate both the work you’ve done and the work ahead.  You’re busy, but it’s a different kind of busy.  After all, preparation is half of execution. 

Spring

Spring bursts at the seams with new life, and it leaves us feeling hopeful and optimistic. You plant seeds, both literal and metaphorical, during this time.  Everything is a little prettier, a little sweeter, and a little busier.  You’re testing out your preparations and strategies.  New Year’s resolutions?  You’re putting in the work now, and the novelty has you happy about it.  You’re a busy little bee!

Summer

Summer is a time of Work.  You make the most of the hopes, dreams, and sown seeds established during spring.  Summer shows you the fruits of your endeavors, and it requires that you tend to them to see them to completion.  It’s also a time of high energy: parties, backyard barbecues, travel.  You’re working hard while simultaneously finding yourself saying things like “I need a vacation from that vacation!”

Fall

Fall holds a special place in a lot of our hearts.  It’s a time of slowing down – the first of the year!  As you reap everything you’ve sown and tended to, you enjoy the comforts of your efforts while also acknowledging that you’re stillllll not quite done.  You’re in limbo, soaking up the last rays of enthusiastic sun and energy and bracing for the dead of winter.  Autumn allows you to savor the best of both worlds, and for once, they genuinely feel in balance with each other.  

So, before you turn your nose up at the pumpkin spice crowd, remember: they’re finding balance, instead of pressing into burnout.  A little treat now is what gives these folks the energy to see through all of the work they’ve done in spring and summer – these are the people who would NEVER be caught tripping at the finish line.  They just need a little special something to keep them moving along in the form of a treat, a little rest, and the excitement that comes with looking ahead. 

Embrace the Change

Change is always a bit intimidating.  You’re hardwired, biologically speaking, to prefer consistency.  Consistency is safe, predictable, and stable.  Your nervous system thrives here.  But, change is where growth happens, and it’s also inevitable.  Might as well learn to embrace it!

As you stare down the changing of the season from summer to autumn – regardless of whether you’re Team Equinox or Team Pumpkin Spice – there are a few things you can do to make the most of this time of year.

Slow Down

Slowing down doesn’t mean “stop.”  It’s simply nature’s yellow light (which some of you will assume means speed up… and for that, we recommend cutting back on the caffeine).  The natural world is winding down, gradually.  Leaves change and drop, animals get fat for hibernation, and the weather releases its deathgrip on triple digit temperatures. 

What can you do to release your deathgrip on some of your stressors? 

If there’s one thing that can come off of your schedule or off of your plate, allow it and dare yourself to not replace it with more work.  The hardest work of your year is over.  Let it – and yourself – relax.  In American capitalism, you’re told from an early age that productivity is a virtue, but all that accomplishes is exhaustion.  You are at your best for both yourself, your loved ones, and your work when you are rested. 

Embrace Family

The cooler months are often cause for gatherings of all kinds.  Those gatherings have a bit of chaos on their own, so before such ensues, can you carve out time to simply enjoy the presence of your loved ones?  This extends beyond your blood relations; your family is made of everyone you love and hold dear. 

Call your grandmother just because.

Shoot the breeze with your next door neighbor.

Grab coffee with a friend you haven’t seen in a while.  You could even get your pumpkin spice. 

Savor Every Minute

We’ve talked before about the present of being present.  Fall is an open invitation to put that into practice.  Take the scenic route home to admire the changing leaves.  Get up a little earlier to enjoy your coffee on the front stoop, rather than scarfing it down before rushing out the door.  Hold your loved ones a little longer in that hug goodbye after dinner. 

Pumpkin spice lattes are a microcosm of fall in more ways than one.  They invite you to take your time with every sip, to share them with friends and family, and to enjoy it while it lasts.  Isn’t that what this is all about?

This isn’t one big ad for pumpkin spice.

It’s a life lesson in a latte.  

How are you embracing and embodying autumn this year? However you celebrate it, our fall wreaths and decor are ready when you are.