The MOST MASSIVE Newsletter!
Book Club Questions, NEW Article, Livestream Q&A...and much more!
Why one MASSIVE newsletter this week?
Before we get into today’s newsletter, I wanted to explain why you’re getting one GIANT newsletter this week rather than two separate ones. Because there have been so many Jewish holidays this month, I simply didn’t have the time to send out my normal newsletter on Monday. So I thought I would combine Monday’s and Thursday’s newsletter into one GIANT edition that would go out today, on Friday.
Make sure to scroll all the way through - there is a ton of exclusive content just for you. I hope you enjoy it!
3 Ways To Celebrate The Fall Season
Fall is officially HERE. All of us who have been waiting not-so-patiently for September 22nd can unabashedly pull out all of our autumn decor and get our houses perfectly cozy for the coming season! And those of you who aren’t interested? Now, you have no excuse.
Well, I have become one of those people who absolutely adores the fall season, and I am so excited for cooler weather, warm sweaters, and pumpkin-spiced everything. (I say this as someone who used to be staunchly in the “summer is the best season” camp.) But…how do you make it feel like fall when it’s still 85 degrees outside? Trying to get cozy when it’s way too hot to put on a sweater just kills that autumnal vibe. I’m excited to share three easy ways to bring fall into your life…even if it’s still sunny and hot everywhere you go. So let’s do it!
Light candles. I lit a candle earlier today and my entire house smelled like cinnamon and cloves. When my husband walked in the door, he immediately commented on how good it smelled!
Nothing transports you more than smell, and the best way to set the stage for fall is to start lighting scented candles around your home. You can get scented candles pretty much anywhere - HomeGoods, Target, even the Dollar Tree! - and lighting them will immediately place you in a cozy state of mind.
Falls scents are so unique and specific that it’s easy to find a candle that you love and makes you feel autumnal. On top of that, candles are cozy simply because of the visual aspect! The soft light given off by candles, the warmth they exude, is the first step to getting in the mood for the new season.
Learn how to make a pumpkin spice latte…at home! I recently learned how to make a pumpkin spice latte easily and simply in the comfort of my own home and now I’m happy as a clam. I know some people prefer to go to Starbucks and get their PSL’s there, but I like to know exactly what goes into my drink and how much sugar I put in.
Learning how to make your own pumpkin spice latte can save you some money, but it will also engage another one of your senses - taste! Drinking a delicious warm beverage perfectly suited to fall will, once again, start convincing you that the new season is really, truly here.
So here’s my easy recipe for a pumpkin spice latte - feel free to change it up as you see fit!
3/4 cup of milk (whatever type you prefer - skim, whole, or milk alternatives)
1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin spice
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar or sugar substitute
1 or 2 shots of espresso
Mix together the first ingredients (if you like it foamy, use an electric frother). Then add the shot of espresso!
Go to a pumpkin patch. Is there anything more indicative of fall than a pumpkin patch? I really don’t think so. So going to a pumpkin patch - even if it’s hot outside - will start to get you in the spirit. Often, pumpkin patches have other activities set up, too, like hayrides or apple cider stands. That’s an additional part of the fun.
But picking up even just one pumpkin for the season and placing it on your front porch will give you a little added joy each time you drive up to your house. And when Halloween rolls around, you can go ahead and carve it!
How are you beginning to get into the fall spirit? Make sure to leave me a comment down below!
Book Club Questions: PERSUASION
Keep an eye out for Monday’s newsletter to help me schedule our book club livestream!
Why does Persuasion begin in autumn and finish around springtime?
What are the negative “feminine” traits that Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary exhibit? Positive? (Watch this video to understand what I mean by “feminine.”)
Whose marriage is most to be admired in the novel?
Lady Russell persuades Anne not to marry Captain Wentworth eight years before the events of the novel, and later encourages Anne to spend time with Sir Elliott. How is one to determine what advice to take from our mentors?
How would you describe Captain Wentworth? How does Austen convey his character in the novel?
How does Anne grow over the course of the novel?
What does each location in the novel represent? (Kellynch, Uppercross, Lyme, Bath)
Outside of a romantic novel, is Anne’s choice to stay alone if she can’t be with Captain Wentworth really “romantic?”
How did Austen’s impending death while writing Persuasion reflect in her writing?
What was YOUR favorite scene in the novel?
LIVESTREAM Q&A: Ask Me Your Questions!
Hello, classic crew premium subscribers! This WEDNESDAY (9/29) at 8 pm EST I’ll be doing my monthly livestream Q&A on YouTube - but I’ll only be answering questions from YOU, the people who have access to my exclusive content here on Substack.
If you have any questions for me, feel free to ask in the comments below! I love answering questions about dating and relationships, faith, and really just getting to know you all. And if you have any more personal questions that you would like to keep anonymous, send them to my email at askclassicallyabby@gmail.com.
Content Pitch Contest!
As a premium subscriber of the Classically Abby Substack newsletter, you get to pitch me YOUR ideas for videos I should make! Each month, I’ll choose one idea from you all to actually RECORD - and I’ll thank you personally for the suggestion. Just leave the name you’d like to be called at the end of your content pitch! Last week, I shared a video where I was “interviewed” by my subscribers which was pitched my premium subscriber Blaire - and it was a ton of fun.
If you would like to suggest a video but remain anonymous, feel free to email me at askclassicallyabby@gmail.com. I can’t wait to hear what you all would like to see!
Quote of the Week:
“Be so good they can’t ignore you.” - Steve Martin
What You Might Have Missed At Classically Abby…
Classic Style Inspo
One of my favorite hair hacks is represented in this photo right here! Whenever my hair is starting to look a bit oily, I’ll throw on one of these headbands that has some volume and voila! Everyone thinks my hair looks lovely. Because these headbands have so much height, it tricks the eye into thinking your hair has volume, too!
Things I’ve Been Loving: Knotted Headbands
Speaking of headbands, here’s a pack from Amazon that look remarkably similar to my own! And they are so affordable. These will make a great addition to your wardrobe for fall!
Welcome to Classically Abby!
I'm a wife, an opera singer, an entrepreneur, a YouTuber, and your guide to becoming the classic woman you've always wanted to be! Follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter to see how! And together, let's be classic.
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I love these ideas! My cousin and I have started a tradition of visiting an apple orchard every year. Between the fresh-picked apples, the apple cider, and the wonderful fall weather, it’s perfect! They even have a pumpkin patch 🎃
Hi Abby, per my note about the rebirth of opera/arts, listen to the closing interview in the most recent Live in HD Tosca and then the opening interview with Gelb. In response to Human Sin or Social Sin, the Scarpia is portrayed in a much more positive way. The book says that the demonization of the upper classes resulted in the death of the arts. As a node to this Zeffirelli in his last Trovatore (Verona) juxtaposes the count with a serpent.