By Emily Brennan
It’s autumn! Everything is flavored with pumpkin spice, football season is in full swing, and the leaves have begun to change. The shift between late summer and fall happened so quickly that it was almost like a sneak attack, leaving me very little time to mourn the loss of warm weather, pool time, and my summer beverage list (anything with rum and a cocktail umbrella). I quickly began enjoying the comforts of autumn and I’ve devised a list of ways to help you fall in love with fall just like I have.
Buy new boots.
You need boots to wade through the piles of fallen leaves, keep your feet warm as the temperatures drop, and to give you a reason to buy adorable boot socks. I shirked some minor financial responsibilities and indulged in the purchase of a pair of Lucky Brand black zip booties. The woman who sold me these boots made a very compelling argument: “This is the time in your life to buy boots for yourself! One day you will have a husband, you will buy boots for him, then you have kids and you will buy boots for them. Today, you buy boots for you.” This woman works on commission, and now I work to pay for the boots she convinced me to buy. Even if you have a husband or children, consider buying yourself some boots this fall—they are practical.
Consume the flavors of fall.
Pumpkin spice, gingerbread, cinnamon, apple, and spiced vanilla are the flavors of the season. We have all just battled through swimsuit season and now it’s time to give the body what it wants, and my body wants carbs. There are so many quick and easy ways to integrate these flavors into your diet this fall. Recently, a coworker brought pumpkin spice muffins to work that were so delicious that I immediately went home and recreated them. The recipe is ridiculously easy:
- Spice cake box mix
- One 15oz can of pumpkin puree
- One applesauce snack container
- Chocolate chips
Mix all of the ingredients together, spoon the mixture into greased muffin tins, bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean. Also, consider putting some cream cheese frosting on the top. These are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast item or a great treat to send with the kids for their next school bake sale.
Go on a walk.
That little chill in the air is so refreshing; walking past all of the colorful leaves is the perfect way to get the blood flowing without it feeling like a forced work out. Take a cup of apple cider with you on your walk, once the snow starts to fall you’ll miss the opportunity to go out and enjoy the fresh air without bundling up in full winter garb.
Watch a football game.
A lot of women really enjoy football; I am not one of those women. However, I do like the atmosphere that football season creates: food, camaraderie, competitiveness, and booze. Get the girls together and head to a sports bar or tailgate, get some hot wings and either become enthralled in the game because you love it, or let the energy of all the impassioned fans at the party infuse your mood!
Pack up the summer supplies.
September is host to a few end-of-summer barbeques and trips to the lake. Utilizing those last few drops of summer sun is important as we change seasons, but now it’s time to accept the brilliance of the fall. Go through your summer clothes and donate anything you know you don’t need anymore and then box up the rest! This should be similar to a spring-cleaning, remember that you will probably receive some new things once the holidays hit and you should make room for those things. Sandals, shorts, summer dresses, beach towels, all need to be put into storage for their hibernation period. Don’t let the leftovers of the sandy months of summer clutter your home!
Find a corn maze.
Whether you have kids or you are just a child at heart, a corn maze is quite possibly one of the best fall activities to partake in. Spend the afternoon getting lost among the stalks of the year’s harvest.
The air is crisp, nature has burst into all new colors, and the holidays are right around the corner; embrace the season!
