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Oh no biggie, it's just my favorite time of year! And before you start calling me "basic" (which by the way might be the dumbest phrase I've hear in a good while), Fall has been my favorite season longgggggggggg before Starbucks was even around much less making incredible Pumpkin Spice Lattes. But it's not just the pumpkin flavored everything or the over-sized comfy sweaters that I love, though they certainly make the list, it's the feeling of warmth and gratitude that this season brings.
Every season brings with it a certain emotion, a certain feeling, that makes that season complete. And Fall is certainly no different. Even Mr. Fitzgerald knew it when he wrote "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall". You'd think Springtime would be when everything starts over again, but not in my eyes. Maybe it's because the school year starts in the fall, football season kicks off, or because the leaves change my absolute favorite colors... whatever the reason I stopped questioning it long ago.
Now is the time for me to enjoy my favorite season, and just like I did this past spring and summer, I've put together a quick list of things I plan to do (and love every minute of) this fantastically fall season...
1. Go to a pumpkin patch. I realize this may seem obvious and is probably on everyone else's list, but you just really can't fully experience fall without a pumpkin... So why not trade your "let's just grab one of those pumpkins at the grocery store checkout" in for a WORLD of fun and go to a pumpkin patch. Grab your friends or kiddos and find a fun pumpkin patch to pick the best ones! And don't forget to do your research because some places also have a corn maze, apple picking, carnival rides and even haunted hayrides!!!!
2. Experience fall somewhere else, yeah you heard me! Go experience the shear BEAUTY that is fall in some other town or city!! Take a day-trip or the whole weekend and fully immerse yourself in someone else's fall. For you north easterners this might be easier (and probably way prettier) than it is for us west coasters... But California might surprise you, especially the more inland you go! But no matter where you are in the country, fall is a BEAUTIFUL time of year and people seem genuinely happy no matter where you go. So stop over at that random town a few towns over, go to the fall festival that's a couple hours north, you never know what fun adventure awaits just a few minutes away!!
3. Get my DIY on and make something new! One of my favorite things growing up was running outside to collect acorns then making some cool craft out of them! For y'all with kiddos there are a MILLION different things you could craft this fall (when all else fails, go for the hand-traced turkey bit, works every time) or make something for yourself! I'm in the process of DIY-ing a bench so we can enjoy some of those lovely fall nights on the roof as well as attempting some calligraphy with my favorite Anne of Green Gables quote, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers" PREACH Anne Shirley, preach! Some other great options are these, these, and definitely these!!!
4. Perfect a signature fall dish or dessert! Yes yes I am here by giving you the excuse to go pumpkin flavor crazy... If I'm being honest, possibly my favorite pumpkin/fall dessert is this little number a friend introduced me to in college (Meagan I am forever indebted to you). But this year I think I'm going outside the pumpkin bubble and am going to try and perfect my momma's Cincinnati Chili (hands down one of my all time favorite meals) or maybe try to make a new soup!! Fall foods are my favorite foods and I can't WAIT to try and make some new yummies!!
5. Start a new tradition and continue some old ones. This right here is probably the real reason fall is my favorite. I love the tradition of Thanksgiving as much as I love our family's traditional tailgate trips to Central Market for game-day. And don't even get me started on the tradition of Baylor Homecoming, only the best and greatest tradition in the history of tradition!! (...seriously though, our traditional Homecoming parade is in the Smithsonian...) Also my favorite tradition since moving to LA has been taking a road-trip with friends to a pumpkin patch up in the California mountains, complete with tomahawk throwing, archery competitions, apple picking, candle making, and the best pecan pie I've ever had in my life. I'm so glad we started this new tradition and I can't wait to go back next month!! What are some of your favorite fall traditions?
Optional: Jump in a pile of leaves because it's fall and we are still kids at heart ;)