by Ashley Dawson
ashley@louisville.com

The leaves have changed, the eighty-degree days have subsided and most people are probably even running the heat by now. Ladies and gentlemen, alas, Fall has arrived. Ask most people and they’ll tell you they adore this season but I feel rather conflicted about it. While there are aspects of Fall I enjoy, to me it represents the calm before the storm. So if we must hunker down, here are the top five ways to make our homes as cozy as possible.

5.) I like to feel comfortable in a t-shirt year round inside my home. This time of year that will mean stocking up on warm fuzzy throws.

4.) Being cozy is all about creating a mood and there’s nothing better for the job than the perfect music. For Fall I recomm/files/storyimages/Neil Young’s Harvest Moon or Van Morrison’s Moondance.

3.) There’s nothing more soothing after a day of facing the elements than a hot beverage. Cider or hot chocolate are both excellent choices and can be found in bulk at your favorite locally owned coffee shop.

2.) They say smell may be the sense most related to emotion and memory so if you’re lucky enough to have a fire place in your home get some hickory wood and take advantage of it. If you don’t have that luxury, candles can also be a great mood setter. Spree boutique on Bardstown road sells my favorite. Black Dog candles are made from soy, which causes it to burn slower and it’s scent to linger longer than regular wax candles. They make one called Hot Toddy that smells so good I’d eat it if I didn’t know better. Plus, the maker of the candle donates a dollar from every purchase to the Animal Care Society.

1.) Sometimes I need my space and prefer to be alone. But if we’re talking about the ultimate level of coziness then it really takes two to do the job.  A significant other or loved one of a different kind is the last piece of the puzzle. If nobody’s around a pet is a good substitute (preferably a dog or cat).  If only everyone in the world saw you the same way that a pet does!