It’s finally October, and that’s exciting in so many different ways. As fall begins, the leaves are changing, I finally get to bring my Vermont flannel back into the rotation, and most importantly, Starbucks brings back drinks we’re all obsessed with like the pumpkin spice latte, white chocolate mocha and my favorite drink: the chestnut praline latte. But, despite all the amazing things that come with the new season, I always seem to feel mentally drained once fall rolls back around and I can’t help but feel down when it’s too cold to get out of bed in the morning. Since driving home to Vergennes, Vermont is too far for a normal weekend, I don’t get to go home until the beginning of December. It’s been about three months since I’ve gotten to experience the comfort of being in my hometown. So because of that, It’s around this time of the year when all I want to do is go home, sleep in my own bed, eat at my favorite places and see my family, friends and pets. It seems impossible to be productive when I’m in that place. This year, I knew I needed to find something that would help me conquer my homesickness and let me enjoy the positive things in my life.
Homesickness is a really common feeling, especially among college students. So, it’s super important that we all figure out healthy ways to deal with it, dare it creep in. I find comfort in the fact that I’m surrounded by people who are most-likely experiencing similar feelings, but that isn’t enough to truly help me cope with the heartache that comes with missing home. One method that has helped me immensely is to make a schedule. I went to Office Depot, bought a large desk calendar and wrote down my every assignment, meeting, exam and event for the entire school year. This new-found organization relieved some of my stress and made it easier to determine my priorities. Checking each responsibility off of my calendar as I complete them gives me a sense of accomplishment that powers me through each day. I’ve found that getting myself into a routine has really helped me, even when I’m really missing home. But, sticking to a routine hasn’t completely eliminated the emptiness I feel when I can’t stop thinking about going home, so I decided to try something else.
I was on my computer trying to brainstorm some methods to rejuvenate myself and something came to mind: the Homesick candles that you always see ads for on pretty much every social media platform. I always thought they seemed a bit cliché and I never really looked into them. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I finally decided to give them a try. Here’s what I have to say:
Everybody loves candles, but these candles are one of a kind. I love that they have a specific purpose and I am so glad that I finally decided to give them a try! While I can’t judge the other candles, I can say that this company did a fantastic job capturing the smells I grew up around in small-town Vermont that really provide me with some comfort. Vergennes is the smallest city in Vermont with a population of only about 2,500. Being raised in such a small city is something I’m very grateful for, mainly because of the amazing friendships and memories I’ve made along the way. The sense of support and community I feel when I go back home is nothing short of empowering. I can’t quite put into words the many things I love about Vermont, but this candle perfectly represents everything that reminds me of home. The description on the website describes the scent as, “Fall foliage and baked apples kissed with a touch of maple takes us back to the Green Mountain State. Fresh eucalyptus rounds out the body of the fragrance with spice notes of cinnamon, clove, and vanilla.” I don’t know about you, but that just sounds to die for. I had really high hopes for this candle and I definitely was not let down. When I got the candle in the mail, I wasted no time, took it out of the packaging, and lit it in my bedroom right away. I was instantly transported back to the times I spent baking with my grandparents, apple picking with my friends, and enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with my entire family. I am more than happy that I decided to look into this brand and that I finally found an Instagram ad that I wanted to click. I can definitely say that I will be buying this candle over and over to get me through the next couple of months. Now that I have this candle in my life, I feel ready to enjoy all that the new season has to offer!
You can get yours here: https://homesick.com/collections/state-candles