Curated Weekly

How I do love this time of year. October is a month steeped in quiet beauty where the rhythm of life gently slows, inviting us to savor its beauty with intention. There is elegance in this pause. In the ritual of steeping a fragrant tea or the evenings spent by candlelight cozied up to a good book. October calls us to cultivate warmth, not only in our homes, but in the way we move through our days too.

And speaking of a cozy October, next Monday through Wednesday I will be off for a small trip to New York City. There’s nothing quite like autumn in New York with the streets lined with golden leaves and every corner seems to glow beneath the amber hues of the early evenings. Park benches are filled with bundled up readers, coffee cups warm in hand, and brownstone stoops transform into quiet showcases of pumpkins and fall florals. Autumn seems to wrap the city in a kind of nostalgic warmth that’s both comforting and cozy. I am looking forward to this trip to one of my favorite cities and am also looking forward to sharing it with you here on the blog too. But for now, let us cozy into another Curated Weekly post to start the weekend.

MODERN CLASSIC FINDS

Now that autumn is truly upon us, I am starting off this week’s list with a cozy cable knit sweater from J. Crew. This sweater comes in four different colors and is a modern classic item for the fall/winter wardrobe. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option then J. Crew Factory also has a similar option here.

Thanksgiving is already just around the corner for those in the U.S. and if you are hosting and looking for some beautiful details to adorn the table, then look into these 4-Pack Gold Leaf Napkin Rings from Pottery barn. They would make timeless additions for any autumn table.

If you’ve been around the blog or Instagram for awhile then you may have noticed that I travel quite a bit. I am about to travel to New York as mentioned above and recently I have been looking into investing in a cosmetic/grooming case. Currently I use two small bags for travel, but I would like to invest in one for better organization and this Tropea Ivory Large Briefcase Cosmetics Case is currently on my list. I love the idea of being able to organize all of my beauty & grooming items into the smaller bags that I can then pack into the larger one with ease.

And speaking of bags, I love when I find one that is elegant, but is also visually interesting too. A bag that is like a work of art and an obvious modern classic and this Sculpted Metal Wristlet Bag from Madewell certainly caught my attention. This bag comes in many colors and I especially liked the Terrace Blue color. This would be such a great investment for when you want to elevate your look.

As a lady who loves a touch of whimsy, this Rifle Paper Co Artichoke Dish Towel is such a lovely kitchen linen for any home. Designed by Anna Bond who is the whimsical whirlwind behind Rifle Paper Co. and design studio whose heartfelt notecards and quirky journals has us smitten.

And simply because I love living by the seasons and also making lists/notes, I loved this Rifle Paper Co Seasonal Notepad for autumn too.

One day I am going to purchase this Pumpkin Mug with Lid from Le Creuset because every year I see it and love it and I just know that because it is stoneware that it would also keep my drink hotter for a longer time too.

BOOKS

Starting off this week’s books selection is the cozy mystery, In the Time of Five Pumpkins: No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency which was released on September 26th. In this newest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe takes on a number of perplexing situations, and while she tries to maintain her usual impartiality, it’s difficult when one of the cases involves someone so close to her heart.

A book that caught my attention while at Barnes & Noble this past weekend was The Cook and the Gardener: Recipes and Writings from France which was released this past April. With more than 240 recipes, organized by season, Hesser’s book puts the garden’s harvest at the center of cooking. These recipes are simple yet sublime, with accessible ingredients and vivid, helpful instructions. By bringing the kitchen closer to the garden, The Cook and the Gardener gives home cooks a new understanding of how to make meals from seasonal produce, whether it comes from the supermarket, the farmers market, or their own gardens.

Another charming food related book that I came across recently is The Secret in the Sauce: Kitchen Wisdom and Life Lessons from an Irish Cookery School, with Recipes which was released back in June. Part cooking memoir, part spiritual journey, this book speaks to anyone who has ever wondered if it’s too late to chase a dream, change careers, or find new meaning in life. Like the best recipes, it combines seemingly disparate ingredients into something wholly satisfying-proving that sometimes the real secret in the sauce is simply the courage to throw yourself into the pot.

Whether you are discovering Jane Austen for the first time or returning to her novels with fresh eyes, The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Novels is the perfect companion for curious readers, literature lovers and admirers of classic storytelling. This lively and accessible guide explores the people, politics and places that shaped Austen’s life and work. It features expert insight from bestselling author Helena Kelly alongside over 150 photographs, artworks and illustrations that bring her world vividly to life. 

MOVIES/TELEVISION/MEDIA

A cozy family drama/comedy will always make my list of movies to watch and The Family McMullen looks to be a good one to watch this season. Thirty years after Edward Burns’ The Brothers McMullen wowed audiences with its exploration of the lives and struggles of three Irish American brothers from New York, the family returns in the long-awaited follow-up, The Family McMullen. As with the original, The Family McMullen is an ensemble comedy written and directed by Burns. The new film tracks the romantic entanglements of a now 50something Barry McMullen and his 20something kids, as well as his brother Patrick and widowed sister-in-law Molly, who are also facing unexpected romantic hurdles. It’s slated to be in theaters for one day only on October 15th, but then it will surely be released on streaming soon after.

A cozy mystery is always the perfect watch for fall and Murder Before Evensong, which is on Acorn TV looks to be a cozy British watch. Canon Daniel Clement, a rector, finds himself entangled in a murder investigation after a cousin of the church’s patron is discovered with a fatal stab wound inflicted by secateurs, leading him to unravel the mystery.

In theaters this October (and on my list) is The Mastermind. In 1970, Mooney and two cohorts wander into a museum in broad daylight and steal four paintings. When holding onto the art proves more difficult than stealing them, Mooney is relegated to a life on the run.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Paris Fashion Week is an iconic event sure to make any fashion lover happy, but if you would rather just skim through the highlights instead, then here are The Defining Moments From Paris Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2026.

If you are a Princess Diana and/or a Jane Birken fan, then this was a fun article on The Night Jane Birkin Tried to Turn Princess Diana French.

There is nothing I love more than a cozy crockpot meal in fall or winter and The EveryGirl is sharing 20 Fall Crockpot Recipes to Cozy Up With This Season.

Mums are a perfect flower for the fall season and I often pick them up for my own home, so I enjoyed reading How to Pick the Best Mums at the Store for Blooms That Last All Season Long.

If you haven’t yet decorated for fall and are looking for some ideas, then here are 8 Simple Ways to Make Your Home Feel Like Fall Right Now.

I love visiting thrift and antique stores and if you do too then here is an interesting read on 6 Thrift Store Etiquette Rules Everyone Should Know.

Book recommendations are always appreciated and these 15 Cozy Fall Books You’ll Want To Snuggle Up With On The Couch gave me some great books to add to my TBR list.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

The first week of October has me cozying into fall as much as I can and looking forward to the leaves changing colors more and more each week. That’s why this week on the blog I wanted to start off the week with a post on slowing down and How Living Slow Encourages Us to Live Well. I also wanted to share a little peek into my home in sharing The Roll Top Desk That Made a Perfect Modern Classic Piece for Our Cozy Apartment. As mentioned above I will be off to New York next week, but don’t worry because I will have the usual blog posts ready to go while I am away. I hope you have a great weekend ahead and enjoy the posts from this past week one more time or even a first time, in case you missed it.