The Boho Magazine Blog

It’s the last day of September, and I couldn’t be more content. It’s autumn! The seasons are shifting! And best of all, it’s almost October- the month of Halloween, cider, harvest festivals, beautiful leaves… you can’t beat it.

I used to think that fall was all about hunkering down, but this year, I’m learning that autumn season is all about getting out! Here are some fun activities to toss on your autumnal to-do list:

VISIT FARMERS MARKETS
So many delicious foods are in season- broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, oranges, leeks, sweet potatoes, lettuce… you might as well buy it at its freshest. Even if you don’t feel like buying fresh produce, it’s nice to visit farmer’s markets. They’re an excuse to slow down, enjoy the crisp fall weather, and indulge in some great people watching.

VISIT FARMS
Call me a late bloomer, but I had never been apple picking before. Boy was I missing out! Nothing tastes better than a freshly-picked apple. If you’re near an apple orchard, pay it a visit- or several. I picked as many apples as I could carry last weekend, and they’re already almost gone! Don’t know where to go? PickYourOwn.org can help you find a farm near you.

GO TO HARVEST FESTIVALS
Lots of local farms host fall harvest festivals, complete with corn mazes, hayrides, and pumpkin patches. I haven’t been to one since I was a kid, and I think it’s time to go back. Maybe you should too! Hey, if you’re in Utah, you can even die laughing in a corn maze of the Twilight nature- harharhar!

BAKE
I am a major fan of pumpkin pie. And sugar cookies (do you like the autumn batch I baked up?). And chocolatey sweets. Take that fresh produce you pick and purchase and whip up something delicious. Life may be chaotic, but when you’re smelling the warm aroma of baking pie, it’s difficult to fret about much of anything.

CELEBRATE
Nobody is too old for Halloween. Whether you host a party, trick-or-treat with your kids and family, or turn of all your lights and hide away from “those darn hooligans,” you can find a fun Halloween activity that suits you. Such as roasting pumpkin seeds. YUM.

No matter what you do this season, I hope you have a blast doing it. If you have any fun fall suggestions of your own, leave a comment to share it with the rest of us!

That’s right! Boho’s fall issue comes out on the 15th! Hurrah!
If you don’t already have a subscription, drop by your local bookstore and pick up a copy. This issue is the best yet. Enjoy!

Yay Fashion Week! I love the excitement, new designs, blossoming trends, enthusiastic buzz… it’s like a big ice cream sundae of aesthetics and innovation. Mmmm.

One can also expect a number of cool duds to result from the exercise, of course. One such article of clothing is “Not Just Another Tee.” As of today this limited edition designer tee by fashion icon Miguel Ardrover has become available at select Whole Foods markets nationwide. Hessnatur is behind the launch, which is intended reflect how clothing can be environmentally and socially responsible while still being stylish, accessible, and (at only $20) very affordable. A portion of the proceeds go to hessnatur’s Schoarship Program, so the shirt even does its part to eradicate poverty through education. Not bad, eh?

Anyhoo, enjoy Fashion Week! If you’re in New York, lucky you!!! If you’re elsewhere, like me… hit up those blogs!!!

Going green has never been so good. The newest trend in vacations is glamping- as in glamorous camping. Think sleeping under the stars, but with a nice clean shower tucked behind that grassy knoll and a helpful guide to set up the fire and s’mores. Mark Penn recently wrote about it in his Microtrends colum of the Wall Street Journal, and I’ve noticed it myself too.

Penn suggests the trend is in its early stages, but I bet a lot of Boho readers are familiar with the concept. After all, going green in style isn’t something we started yesterday! Pshaw! It’s in our blood!

Nevertheless, because eco-consciousness is on the rise, and because people are looking for local, reasonably-priced vacations, the Great Outdoors are more attractive than ever to America’s mainstream population. Consumers benefit from price savings and a chance to get close to nature without the hassle; nature benefits from increased awareness of her value and a growing number of businesses that protect her ecosystems rather than develop and exploit them.

I’m still a fan of roughing it, believe me, but I’m also excited about this growing movement. After all… sometimees we just need pampering, and now it’s easier than ever indulge in the most beautiful setting imaginable- nature.

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As a side note, I thought I’d share some cool glamping sites and directories with you- just in case you’re craving fresh air and relaxation as much as I do!

Go Glamping - A great luxury camping directory. Yurt, anyone?

Glamping Girl- An informative blog about luxury camping!

Canvas Chic- A beautiful getaway at Mille Etoiles in Southern France. For modern-day Marie Antoinettes.

Costanoa - An eco adventure resort on the California coastline. Spa included.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort - 30 minutes (by boat from Tofino, Canada) Their tents make my apartment look like a cardboard box.

It seems as though everyone I know is experiencing massive change in their lives. I’m constantly hearing about new jobs, cross-country moves, graduation, retirement… it strikes me as rather insane that so much is happening all at once, though I suppose that change is the one thing we can depend on, right?

Here’s my issue though: change is so stressful! So uncomfortable! So uncertain! And so much work!!! Ooooh, it makes me furious- or at least it did.

Just recently, I went backpacking with a bunch of friends, and at first I dreaded the trip- resented it even. We were to be wilderness camping, and had to drive way out into the mountains, then load all of our gear into canoes and paddle to an island in the middle of a lake. It seemed like so much work for a trip that was only to last two nights, and I wasn’t exactly thrilled about abandoning my internet connection and pillow top mattress for some wild place that I had never even seen. Nevertheless, we went, and when we got there I realized that it really was worth all the effort. For the fist time in ages, I could go rock climbing, paddling, and stargazing, and it struck me that I had really missed being outdoors.

Out on that lake, I learned that it really pays to accept change, not just because it’s inevitable, but because we really need it. So often, we get stuck in narrow ruts, focusing on limited, highly specialized activities, and completely ignoring the greater world around us. We also tend to forget about simple but essential elements that have been sidelined by our current careers and obsessions, like friends, family, relaxation, and nature. Now that I’ve embraced change, I have an easier time putting things in perspective, and I am more aware of what really matters to me. Yes, change is tough, but it makes us deeper, wiser, and stronger.

So if you’re like everyone else I know and are also seeing your fair share of change, don’t fret. It may be uncomfortable at times, but you’ll end up so much the better!