The arrival of fall is the moment of the year when we love to embrace the ease and comfort of being at home. Autumn light is our cue to find solace in the bright beautiful days and the peaceful cool nights. At plj we can’t choose our favorite fall month—we find something to treasure every time we turn the page on the calendar.

September brings a familiar back-to-school excitement—a sense of  new beginnings that stays with us whether we have students at home or not—the thrill of a change and the welcome relief of cooler autumn air. October marks a turning inward as the colors change and we begin embracing warmth, shelter, traditions, and connection. The colorful hues outside reach peak perfection and those crisp, cool days bring leaf peeping and foliage hikes, sweater weather, cozy fireside moments, apples and pear, hearty soups, and pumpkin treats both savory and sweet. November brings proper cold, and those chilly temperatures outside inspire gratitude for our indoor gatherings, the bounty of the harvest, and the cozy comfort of beloved traditions. At partager la joie we’re forever in love with Thanksgiving for the way it gives us occasion to pause, gather, and reconnect with family and friends over a much-anticipated meal. It’s a moment where we can express our gratitude by giving the gift of ourselves. 

Fall Happenings

Plan a Fall Outing — Speaking of apples, picnicking is breathtaking in autumn with beautiful foliage and delicious local apples in season. Visit a local orchard or vineyard and take advantage of the golden hue of fall to enjoy a lovely day with family and friends. Apple picking is one of our fall traditions, as are the applesauce (see the Fall Epicure), apple pies, and many favorite pastime treats that are sure to follow. Savor this season to gather your family and friends for a nature hike or maybe a hot air balloon adventure to enjoy the beautiful foliage. Pro tip: think ahead if you plan to send a holiday card with a family photo—there is no better moment for capturing magic moments with loved ones than autumn’s stunning backdrop.

Starry fireside nights — Although the days are getting shorter, the longer nights are spectacular. Grab a sweater and celebrate by hosting an outdoor fireside gathering with friends, welcoming the seasonal bliss with a candlelit dinner under a breathtaking starlit sky. Spruce up your outdoor space by adding details of warmth and comfort.  Fill outdoor containers with fall plantings, scatter soft, textured blankets and pillows to create a cozy feeling around your outdoor living space, hang string lights, and place lanterns and fall-scented candles on tables. Outdoor heaters or an outdoor fireplace is also a great idea if you’d like to extend your gathering time in nature. Make an autumn-inspired cocktail and serve warm, festive beverages to accompany a seasonal grazing snack, cheese, and charcuterie board—all that is needed for sharing joyous moments of connection with friends and family. Turn to our epicure for a list of delicious seasonal sips, and bites to make the most of a cozy fall evening.

Host a Tailgate Party — Fall means football season is in full swing—a great excuse to host a tailgate party or an ideal occasion to plan a game-day gathering at home. Decorate your outdoor space with your favorite team’s colors. Make banners, set up some lawn games, and encourage everyone to wear team attire.  Make plenty of festive snacks—mini sliders, wings, chili, nachos and assorted chips, veggies, and dips are spirited options. 

Oktoberfest — the vibrant festival famous for its Bavarian culture and filled with lots of  beer begins in mid September and runs for 16 to 18 days, ending the first Sunday in October.  Not going to Munich? Well, let us inspire you to create your own German themed celebration and host a gathering at home. An ideal festive spread to go with the fun: potato pancakes, soft pretzels (see the Fall Epicure), a crisp endive salad, and grilled bratwurst with a spicy mustard, all paired with a tasting flight of specialty beers served in mini glass mugs arranged on an olive-wood serving board. We love to serve warm German apple cake, too. 

Halloween — Get into the spirit and gather at home for warm cider, homemade pizzas, and some spirited snacks and sips to do some pumpkin carving, welcome trick-or-treaters or just celebrate the evening with a joyful farewell to the month of October. 

Holiday Happenings — It’s that time… when suddenly it’s not too early to start organizing plans for the holiday season. 

Design Notes

Set a Harvest Table

When we set an autumn table, mixing neutral textiles with natural fall elements creates a balanced base—a beautiful bowl with freshly picked apples, seasonal flowers, woven tableware and olive wood accessories create warmth and a metal tray with plenty of votives and candles give us that cozy vibe we’re after. Layering really is key—set the table basics and let your personal style shine through in the details by incorporating fall hues, patterns, and textures you love with your glassware, table linen choice, plates, and servingware. 

Look to your outdoor space for inspiration and bring in the elements of nature you like. Branches, greens, leaves, autumn blooms, wheat sheaves, and various ornamental pumpkins or other seasonal produce all give your design a signature flare. Use candles, mini lamps, and lanterns to create a relaxing ambience. 

A Seasonal Refresh

Autumn Style Edit 

A change in seasons offers the ideal  opportunity to edit our personal style and living spaces. This autumn, we are returning to the beauty of effortless classics. Seasonal styling—for both our wardrobes and our homes—begins with core essentials: a tailored blazer, a great pair of jeans, a buttery soft cashmere sweater, the perfect trench coat and an oversized cardigan designed to layer gracefully over dresses, pants or long skirts. The secret lies in pairing down to a foundation of versatile, timeless staples. From there styling is effortless—whether you layer a statement jacket, pull on a classic pair of boots or add a rich pop of autumn color with a leather bag, a silk scarf or a cute pair of Mary Janes.

A seasonal wardrobe change naturally motivates us to organize our closets. While it may not be everyone's favorite task, the reward is well worth the effort. Begin by removing items you no longer wear—remembering to donate gently used pieces—then arrange your remaining wardrobe by color. This process is surprisingly therapeutic, resulting in a visually pleasing closet that makes finding your favorite outfits effortless. Embracing simplicity by clearing clutter and returning to the basics offers a refreshing start, mirroring the cozy, welcoming feeling that autumn brings.

Autumn Wellness

Let Fall’s Golden Glow Inspire Us  

A new season brings reflection and inspires us to refresh our rhythm. Now that we’re grounded in our routines, let’s renew our connections with the people we care about. Find appreciation in the beauty in nature and the joy that comes when we spend time with our loved ones. Reach out to friends and family, schedule catch-ups, and plan gatherings for the weeks and months ahead. Remember, time tends to slip away from us—prioritize getting together now to ensure these special moments will happen. We’re sure you’ll be so happy you did. Keep in mind: well-being is a gift not only to ourselves, but to those who care about us, and modeling self-care for our loved ones is a powerful way to encourage a wellness-focused lifestyle for all of us.

Epicure

The autumn epicure thrives on a unique transition, savoring a landscape that bridges the abundance of two seasons. Late summer lingeringly offers its final gifts—peaches, plums, figs, blackberries, melons, sweet corn, zucchini, and an endless harvest of heirloom tomatoes. This is the moment to preserve the season. 

We’re making a simple rustic tomato sauce with those end-of-season tomatoes and blending a last batch of tomato gazpacho. We’re jarring peach jam,  making a peach pie, and flash-freezing peeled stone fruits ensures a taste of summer remains in our winter smoothies and morning muffins, while bundled garden herbs are stowed away for future broths.  For early autumn gatherings, roasted corn soup makes a beautiful focal point, balanced by crisp, shaved Brussels sprouts and apple salad—just the touch of fall we’re ready to embrace as the season starts to change.

Soon, the market tables shift, welcoming the joyful return of pumpkins, winter squash, and robust root vegetables. Pears and apples take center stage, accompanied by earthier notes of chestnuts, walnuts, and hazelnuts. The versatility of these fall fruits is endless, elevating everything from morning bowls to elegant desserts. A staple in our autumn kitchen is a classic, unsweetened homemade applesauce—perfect for folding into baking batters or stirred into yogurt. For effortless twilight gatherings, we simply pair tart apple slices with a sophisticated charcuterie board and a great bottle of wine. Above all, we celebrate the return of autumn with the season's first apple cobbler or crisp. Fall’s cooler air inspires us to warm up— filling the kitchen with the scent of hot spiced beverages, anchoring a menu dedicated to healthy, hearty, and deeply comforting seasonal dishes.

Here’s what’s on our menu this season:

Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup

Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding

Kale, Brussel Sprout, and Apple Salad

Autumn Roasted Vegetables

Pumpkin Energy Bites

Pasta e Fagioli

Soft Baked Pretzels

Personalized Pizzas

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sunday Roast

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

What We Love Most About Fall

With the changing of the seasons, we can’t get enough of the contentment and cozy feeling of being home. Autumn light is our cue to find solace in the bright beautiful days and the peaceful cool evenings that this month brings. It’s an opportunity to take comfort in the mindset that who we are is enough and that what matters most is the time we spend with the people we care about. 

Let’s focus our intentions on the simplicity of life and the joy in our everyday moments. Taking time to slow down to appreciate the beauty in harvest season reminds us to recognize the abundance in our lives and celebrate the love and connections in our families, friends, and communities. Join us in reflecting on the goodness this season offers and looking forward to the holiday season ahead with gratitude and kindness in our hearts.