A New England Fall: In Season with Molly Madfis

There is a tree in the backyard of Molly Madfis’ coastal Connecticut home that turns red in August. Once the foliage changes, that’s when the magic happens: leaves scatter the ground, pumpkins appear on fences, and the air becomes crisp. The content creator and founder of the lifestyle blog Almost Makes Perfect moved from California to Madison, Connecticut a little over a year ago with her husband, Gideon, and their two children; son, Arlo 9, and daughter, Izzy 3. And the move from the West Coast had Molly brimming with anticipation at experiencing her first true autumn.

“Coming from a place with no seasons, I was so desperate to emulate the fall vibe in LA. Now that it’s real for me here, I’m so excited for warm memories to be made,” Molly said.

Whether it’s cozying up on the couch with her kids to watch a Halloween movie (popcorn is a must) or watching the rain fall from her living room window seat with a batch of pumpkin cardamom muffins in the oven, Molly loves everything that fall has to offer.

“Every morning I go outside and admire the changes in season—I love a rainy day here—and my kids and I will go for a walk around the neighborhood and look at the foliage or hunt for leaves,” said Molly, who considers herself an “artsy and incredibly extra” person. “We use the leaves and contact paper to make suncatchers. When the sunlight filters through the leaves it’s beautiful.

You’ll most likely find this self-proclaimed New-England-ophile spending the day at a pumpkin patch or harvest festival with her family, before she comes home to prep a hearty meal in the slow cooker for dinner.

“I’m definitely in a chunky sweater and cozy socks. I love to bring out wool blankets when it’s colder and light candles in cozy scents (I love woodsy cedary scents), she said of the initiation to the holiday season. “My husband says that’s when my lights come on and I am my truest most creative self. I’m inspired to craft, make décor, and bake this and cook that.”

 
We sat down with Molly to find out more about her life in a charming coastal town and why she feels it’s so important to celebrate moments big and small.

1800Flowers.com: Do you have a favorite fall trend?

Molly Madfis: I love Halloween so around that time, we do a spooky dinner by candlelight, and I decorate the table like crazy. We love to make jack-o-lantern shaped brown sugar pop tarts and a snack board that looks like a skeleton face. My kids love stuff like that.

18F: What is your go-to meal to prepare for your family?

MM: Chicken thighs, hands down. I have a very cozy way to prepare them—sauteed in my Dutch oven with shallots and then into the oven with pearled couscous underneath. The way the couscous cooks with the shallots and chicken on top of it—yum. I also love making a slaw or crunchy salad along with it.

18F: What is your favorite thing to bake/make with your kids?

MM: Galettes! We’ve been making them ever since my son was 3. You can even buy the pie dough from the store and make the filling (use any fall fruit you want) and assemble it with kids. It’s super easy.

18F: What’s your secret to easy entertaining/hosting?

MM: Being a host brings me true joy, and it always had since I was little. Always have wine stocked, snacks on hand, and have a candle burning. Put out what you love and give yourself permission to buy storebought anything or everything. If you feel overwhelmed ask people to bring stuff and make it a potluck. But if you bring something, I will put it on one of my platters! People remember taste and presentation.

18F: Can you walk us through your Thanksgiving table?

MM: I love having a meal with my family and setting a beautiful table. My stepdad taught me about ambiance, and it changed my life because of his lesson on that. Don’t save your good stuff for the more important occasions. I set the table with the French flatware, which was our wedding gift and like to invite nature inside—leaves, branches, pinecones, and fruit. I do love a floral arrangement, but also love simple branches in a vase, too. Lots of layers, natural elements always tons of candles and wine.

18F: What is your favorite Thanksgiving dessert?

MM: I love making a salted caramel pie (I actually won a bakeoff with it!). It’s easy and so much better than pumpkin, which I think is so overrated.

18F: What is your favorite way to spread joy around the holidays?

MM: My son and I love baking together, so we make a lot of cookie boxes. I try to give them out and spread joy and show my kids the meaning of the holidays. There is something so nice about just dropping a box of goodies outside someone’s house and texting them to check for a surprise.

18F: How do you instill the importance of grace and being thankful in your children?

MM: I try to model it all day, every day. At night we always do the rose and thorn of our day, and it puts everything perspective, what we’re grateful for. I am so thankful for our life and where we live and always remind them how lucky we are to be together.

18F: What's your secret for giving memorably/thoughtfully/beautifully?

MM: Giving with intention. I keep a note on my phone of gift ideas for people anytime inspiration strikes or if someone mentions something once in passing. It’s not about how much you spend or how big your gift is, but making someone feel seen and thought of and loved.

18F: What is your favorite thing to gift someone?

MM: I like to pair two small things together like a bottle of wine and a gorgeous corkscrew or salad servers and cloth napkins (I’ve been collecting them since I was 18!). Pairing two things make it seem so intentional and like you really went to more trouble and made it more special than something off the shelf.

18F: What hidden powers to flowers have?

MM: Flowers can just make an otherwise super ordinary day feel special and make someone feel loved and seen. During the shoot we were chatting with some of the guys and they said they’ve only heard of men receiving flowers at their funeral. I think that men would love to receive flowers because it’s so unexpected.

18F: In this season of your life, what do you find important about celebrating events/milestones big and small?

MM: Slowing down in general. We’re always checking a million things off a to-do list and never taking the time to appreciate the little moments that make life special. My MO in life is romanticizing everything—eat your salad that you made for lunch outside, listen to an audiobook while you’re cleaning, putout fresh flowers—just slow down and appreciate the quiet.

18F: What does 1800-Flowers.com epitomize to you?

MM: Celebrating big and small moments, the thoughtfulness, and what my content centers around—making everyday life feel special. Whether I’m hosting family or decorating for each season, I love sharing that and feel like it goes hand in hand with 1800-Flowers.com. Make the time you spend with people more intentional and go out of your way to have those moments.

Molly Madfis’ 1800-Flowers.com Picks

From what she decorates her home with to what she’s gifting to family and friends, Molly shares her top picks for giving and receiving.

What She Would Love to Get:

1. White Wine and Cheryl's Cookies Box | Harry & David: I’m on the white wine and cookie diet! But seriously — what is more fun than white wine and cookies showing up at your door? I personally love a good Sauvignon Blanc or a crisp orange variety.
2. Graceful Fall: I’m in love with this bouquet! Such beautiful colors and shapes, and it would look SO good on a holiday table. 
3. Halloween Delight: I love that this is Halloween-adjacent where it’s not overly themed.
4. Personalized Garden Tote & Tools - My Garden: This is such a gorgeous little garden tool tote! And it’s custom!

What She Can’t Wait to Gift:

1. Wellness Spa Beauty Kit: Whenever I’m not sure what to gift, a little spa kit is always a go-to! Just such a thoughtful way to show you care.
2. Custom Embroidered Carhartt Legacy 20-inch Gear Bag: I want to gift this to my husband and actually all the other guys in my life too. It’s such a handsome custom bag for their tools!
3. Monster Dipped Strawberries: My kids would absolutely loooove this. 
4. Ready to Serve Charcuterie Board | 1800Baskets.com: I love a ready to serve board because there’s no prep your loved one will have to do — they can just dig right in.