Ahh, Autumn - HullaBailu
If you follow me on socials, you’ll know that my love, nay, adoration, of autumn is no secret. So it felt only right that now, mere days away from its arrival, I express such adoration with an ode to small businesses in the cosy times of crunchy leaves and cinnamon lattes.
Read on, for all of my non-negotiable comforts and critical hits of the incoming season 🍂
Hot drinks
Yes, I am your stereotypical British small business owner - I survive on Yorkshire tea, coffee, and fumes. The wonderful world of TTRPG/fantasy small business, however, has provided me with no end of options for my cosy drink cravings.
Coffee
Where my beloved caffeine is concerned, I have to mention the new, shiny, delicious coffee line from The Fey Portal. My personal favourite is the Unseelie Court, dark roasted beans - but Song of Rest is an incredibly solid decaf, and Seelie Court a beautiful medium roast. I got mine as whole beans and use a little hand grinder for my espresso machine, but you can choose to get them pre-ground for espresso, handy! What’s more, the beans are ethically and sustainably sourced from small family growers. 5 stars, all round 🌟
Tea
It wouldn’t be a hot drinks feature without mentioning the incomparable Lucky Leaf Teas now, would it? My personal favourite as of late has been the Artificer’s Assistant - Ari’s take on an Earl Grey. It’s got vanilla, it’s got caramel, it’s got bergamot, and when I tell you it is warm, comforting, and delicious. I particularly enjoy this one in a concentrate, with steamed milk and a touch of vanilla syrup (known as a London Fog, and beautiful when iced, too!) but it most certainly rivals my ol’ reliable Yorkshire teabag, and I cannot recommend it enough.
Hot chocolate
Now obviously the classic cosy drink of autumn is the humble hot chocolate - and I am so pleased to have found Undeath by Chocolate and created a lil cupboard stash of their flavours. Particularly autumn-appropriate is Boneyard Dirt - cinnamon flavoured, warm, toasty, and perfect in your favourite mug while you watch Gilmore Girls (or something else… don’t let me tell you what to do). These hot chocolate powders are plant-based, using coconut milk powder instead of dairy, making them a gorgeous treat for all! I heard they also have a new autumnal flavour release coming soon 👀
Hot drink vessels
What’s a hot drink without a cosy mug? I am a self confessed addict of hand-thrown ceramics and mugs are my weak spot. Just compiling this list was dangerous.
Next, some of the most joyful ceramics I’ve ever seen, from Hallo Ceramics. In particular, this short pumpkin mug is bold, bright, and perfect for your morning coffee. They also come in tall sizes for a classic cuppa or hot choccy! Hallo ceramics’ designs never fail to make me happy, with their bright colours, bold shapes, and stunning craftsmanship.
Finally on the mug front we have Phyllos Ceramics who puts tiny cute faces onto handmade, adorable mugs. Some are happy, some are grumpy, and someone needs to hold me back from creating a whole family of little mug faces who have names and personalities. I particularly enjoy the Haku mug because, uh, ghibli? Soot sprites? Duh.
Smellies (candles & wax melts)
If you’re telling me your autumn would be complete without a collection of warm and spicy candles to alternate through every waking moment, I simply say you are wrong.
This acorn baby candle is a collaboration between ChaosCurios and rachmakes yes, for one, features a tiny adorable acorn butt, but it is also wood sage & sea salt scented - it reminds me of driftwood and gosh, what a perfect, dreamy September scent.
Now, Rinkydink candles have yet to release their autumn collection (Aug 30th) so I am in fact featuring a summer collection scent. But, sweet rum & churros are actually very nostalgic autumn to me. More the churros than the rum, but this smell reminds me of travelling funfairs that tend to happen around September/October. I have this scent in wax melt form and they are cinnamonny and delicious and make me want churros every time.
I’ve really been in my wax melt era lately and I picked up some wax melts last year from Crueltyfreebykaren at a local vegan market. My personal favourite scent is coffee (mmmmm) which are currently unavailable, but the vanilla scent (and various berries) is also delectable. They’re fully vegan, made using soya wax, and they’re also really pretty, just not too pretty to melt and release their delightful smellies.
Wearables
Finally, and not because I’ve run out of features but because this blog has to end eventually, some cosies. Autumn is nothing if not for a warm, oversized sweater.
Cute dinosaur? Cute dinosaur with autumn leaves? Abso-frickin-loutley. Mini Geek Boutique design and make all their apparel and geeky accessories in-house, so you know the quality will always be superb. But this Autumn leaves dino hoodie? Gimme.
Hey look it’s meeeee because obviously my buy me dice & tell me I’m pretty sweater had to get a mention. Order it a size up for a soft, comfortable, and delightfully cosy fit. It’s embroidered in a pretty pastel pink over a rich chocolatey brown sweater, and everyone who has bought one has told me how cosy it is, so it’s undeniable really.
Colder weather is coming and RollForCreativity has got our hands covered with these stunning dragonscale fingerless gloves - perfect for when you’re chilly in the office, or you need your fingers free for crafting, drawing, or dice rolling. They’re also made custom, so you can choose your colour/s (or, get the fae dragon guardian bundle and get a pair of gloves and a matching dragon. Why wouldn’t you want that? 🐉)
Well, that concludes my shopping list for you upon Autumn’s arrival. Let’s not kid, though, there’ll probably be a part 2.