November Bucket List
Happy November! Autumn seems to be flying by! During November, the days get shorter, darker, and colder. It can be hard to find things to do on these chilly days here in the midwest, but November is also filled with fall vibes, thanksgiving planning, soup/pie making, and a transition into the holiday season. To ease into November, I’m sharing 30 different ways to celebrate with wonder. It’s good to remind yourself that it’s okay to slow down once and awhile. This November bucket list is about spending time with loved ones, giving back to others, taking care of yourself, and finding peace among the chaotic pace of the holidays.
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November Bucket List
- Today is national cinnamon day! Cinnamon is a cozy fall flavor that warms you up and makes the house smell wonderful. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of your favorite fall drinks or get baking! Try my thin and chewy snickerdoodle cookie recipe which rolls balls of dough in cinnamon sugar. Yum!
- Start preparing your Thanksgiving menu. Browse recipes online or dig out your family favorites. This is also a good time to test out a recipe. In my family, we divide who is going to make each dish so that it’s not overwhelming for just one person. I always volunteer to make the pies (could you have guessed? 😅).
- Take pictures for your holiday card. I love getting cards in the mail so I thought it would be fun to send our own! I use Shutterfly and they have free templates so you don’t have to worry about design! I keep it simple since not everyone I know celebrates the holidays. I use greetings like “Happy Everything” or “Warmest Wishes” or ‘Here’s To The New Year!” I like to plan ahead since it takes time to take pictures, upload and pick the design, order the cards, and then address them and send them out. To make everything even easier, just use photos that you already have.
- Test out a pie recipe. Now’s the time to make that pie you’ve been eyeing or thinking about for Thanksgiving. Try my all butter pie crust recipe here! I’ve tested this recipe multiple times and use it for both sweet and savory fillings.
- Find an “owl prowl” through a forest preserve, botanical garden, or nature center! Follow a guide who teaches you how to spot an owl. Even though the nights can be chilly, if you bundle up (and bring hand warmers) it’s not bad. It’s a different perspective to get out into the forest at night! In the midwest, we have tons of forest preserves and opportunities to walk in nature. Make it a date and make hot chocolate after.
- Listen to some fall themed jazz inspired by the Peanuts movies! Growing up, we watched all the holiday peanuts movies and I still watch them each year. I’m a huge fan of playing relaxing music in the background while working, and this playlist is my favorite during October, November and December. It gives you that warm, nostalgic holiday feeling!
- Go stargazing at an observatory. Although the nights get cold, the sky is often clear and crisp to go stargazing! Find a dark area, a dark park, or an observatory. If you love the stars, this is such a great experience. Alan and I love learning about space, so we made this into a date night. We reserved a spot at a nearby observatory, ate dinner beforehand, and enjoyed this new stargazing experience.
- Cook a new soup recipe. During the colder months, eating a bowl of hot soup is so comforting. Check out these soup ideas on my soup Pinterest board!
- Find a new book to curl up with. There’s nothing better than finding a new captivating book, curling up under a blanket, and drinking a cup of tea when it’s cold outside. Some favorites during the month of November are The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Overstory by Richard Powers, and Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid.
- Honor Veterans day. Expressing gratitude to veterans in your life or community is a kind way to share your appreciation. Check out your local libraries who may have displays with more information on how to honor our veterans.
- Find your Thanksgiving outfit! Browse Pinterest for fall/Thanksgiving outfit ideas to help inspire you to pair pieces in your closet together in new ways. Or go shopping and make a fun day of it! This year I purchased a dress from The Loft and I can’t wait to wear it to dinner! It features pretty flowers and metallic detail against a dark color. I love to continue wearing floral patterns in the colder months if they have darker colors, long sleeves, and longer hem lines (otherwise it’s freezing!).
- Try setting aside time to journal about your day, your goals, or things you’re grateful for. Or try this daily gratitude journal. I love this journal because it has five questions per page that let you focus on being in the present and let you reflect on the day.
- Host friendsgiving and have everyone bring a dish! This is such a fun way to celebrate the holidays with friends. Skip the formal table settings or go all out and have fun getting dressed up, whatever your group decides. Friendsgiving lets you extend the holidays and create new traditions.
- Donate to a charity, a local food bank, or a cause that resonates with you. I donate to a rabbit rescue center in memory of my rabbit! There are so many ways that we can help each other, and this is one that has a special place in my heart.
- Visit a museum. Here in Chicago there’s many famous and wonderful museums to visit, but I also like to check out the lesser known museums. Look for ones in your area or if you want to try something new, search for temporary exhibits or “pop ups.” In past years there was a pop up for the show The Office and I also got to go to a Downton Abbey exhibit!
- Make a list of gift ideas for people you’d like to find gifts for. I actually have this list year round so whenever I see a gift idea, I try my best to write it down. This is also helpful for when you have to give a birthday gift. I find picking out the perfect gift can be stressful in-between all of the holiday event planning. Having a list can make it slightly easier!
- Watch cozy fall movies like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Check out my 31 cozy fall movies and TV shows list for more suggestions! Curl up on the couch, get some snacks, cozy up with a fleece blanket, and turn on warm string lights to create a soft and relaxing mood.
- Plan a whole day for shopping to get ahead on your Christmas gift list! Each year I say that I’ll start looking early for presents…and then I never do. If you exchange gifts then it’ll be helpful to set aside some time to shop! This can make it feel less overwhelming.
- Go out to get pie with friends or family. I started making it a tradition to meet up with friends to get a slice of pie. In my friend group, getting pie is not something we ever did, but since I found a bakery that serves delicious pie by the slice, I suggested this new tradition. A cup of tea or coffee and a slice of pie is a fun way to catch up with friends while celebrating the Thanksgiving month.
- Plan a self care day (or evening). It can feel almost impossible to find time to yourself especially if you plan the holidays, do the cooking, etc. It’s important to take some time for yourself to refresh. I like to prepare a hot bath, use a bath bomb, put on this shimmer body powder, wear a beautiful matching pajama set, watch a few episodes of a show, and get to bed early.
- Put together a simmer pot to make the house smell lovely and welcoming (great for when guests come over). A simmer pot is a pot filled with water, spices, herbs, or fruits that you bring to a boil and then simmer. It’s a natural alternative to lighting scented candles. It can simmer for a couple of hours and can be covered to use the next day (without fruit). When you’re done using, add the contents into a composter. We gifted this composter to my mom last year and it sits in the backyard and gets used all the time!
- Look for an advent calendar ahead of time so you can start opening it on the first of December. Advent calendars have really exploded in the last couple years, there seems to be an advent calendar for every interest! It’s also fun to gift advent calendars, which is what I want to do this year. For the candy lover, this 24 day advent calendar by Sugarfina has a great variety of candy and it’s so cute! For the person who loves spicy food, try this 12 day hot sauce advent calendar! I got myself the Pukka tea advent calendar last year and I enjoyed most of the flavors. Making myself a cup of tea every night also made me slow down and enjoy the evening.
- DIY a centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table! This article has tons of inspirational ideas for centerpieces! Go on a walk and collect natural things like leaves, pinecones, or stems. Arrange the items on a tray and add some candles and it’ll make the table look so pretty!
- Bundle up nice and warm and go for a hike. Depending on where you live it can already be freezing this time of year. If you wear the right clothing, hiking isn’t so bad on a sunny November day. We’re always outside throughout the warmer months and I start to miss the fresh air. It takes more effort to get ready but the feeling after a good walk is worth it!
- Make a vitamin C immunity boosting smoothie. During this time of year, I find I’m craving comforting, nutritious foods that to keep me healthy. Add all of the ingredients into a blender and process until smooth. Here’s some ingredient ideas: bananas, oranges, fresh peeled ginger, honey, lemon juice, mango, ice, orange juice, cranberry juice, or milk of choice.
- Set aside some time each day to work on completing a puzzle! Find one that has scenery or an image that you like and enjoy the process. It’s nice to take the time away from a screen and work on a problem solving activity! I bought this winter skating scene puzzle last year and it was challenging which is what I enjoy most about puzzles.
- Have a slow morning by making coffee or try making my matcha latte recipe at home. It can be near impossible to have enough time in the morning before work, but I challenge myself once a week to get up 20 minutes earlier, to make a drink and sip it peacefully before getting ready. The extra time does make more mornings feel a lot easier and less rushed.
- Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! I hope this day is filled with laughter, good food, and memories. Go around your table and share what everyone is thankful for, or reflect on the past year. This year I’m so thankful for the supportive people in my life, my health, and the opportunity to get up each morning and work towards my goals.
- Black Friday shopping is here! Look out for emails from your favorite stores for deals. It can be hectic to go into the stores, but many have the same deals online! If you do plan to go, it can help to plan which stores you want to visit beforehand and by going earlier in the day.
- Small business Saturday is such a great way to support your local businesses. Each year, my city creates a walkable guide to the small businesses. I love supporting my local businesses because it really makes a difference in the community! Plus, you can often find more unique gifts and lots of natural gifts like honey, soaps, and other easy to gift items.
I hope you have a wonderful November!
