Fall is my favorite. Pure and simple. I love the changing colors, pumpkin-EVERYTHING, the festive decor, and warm apple cider. Now that I’m married, it has been my mission to create new and festive traditions. You all have shared your ideas, I have brainstormed some of my own, and together I wrote about 7 fall favorites. These are just a few of many, but hopefully they will get those creative wheels spinning as you plan your fall schedule and priorities.
This piece, unlike some others, I want to be interactive. I want to hear your comments and thoughts on what makes fall special to you and your family! Fall is a time of community and warmth. So pull up a chair, grab a mug of that apple cider, and let’s dive in!
- Porch Décor
Colorful mums, round pumpkins, rustic signs—all make for the perfect “fall” look at your front door. If you’re like me and you’re on a budget, fun “extras” like porch décor are your worst enemy. They add up quickly. But it is possible to decorate tastefully with minimal expenses.
Guess how much I spent on my fall décor pictured here? Less than $6. I got the pumpkins for free leftover from a fall party (don’t throw décor away after parties, use it in other ways), my mother-in-law gave me the mum, and I made the sign myself. You DO NOT have to spend a lot of money to spruce up your door/porch space. Be creative. It’s so fun to come home to a festive front porch. Stay tuned for more DIY porch décor in my upcoming fundraising article.
- Pumpkin Treats
Our consumer culture has created a pumpkin version of EVERYTHING…it’s almost laughable. But I decided to capitalize on this and enjoy all the pumpkin treats that the season brings. I’m not a coffee person (I know…I’m crazy), but pumpkin lattes are especially important to this list. Pumpkin pie is a holiday tradition, but it is quickly being replaced by other delicious goodies.
A quick Pinterest search reveals hundreds of different treats, but here are some of my favorite: Pumpkin spice truffles, pumpkin pie fudge, pumpkin streusel coffee cake, and pumpkin spice cookies. The most fun part about these pumpkin treats is not the way they taste (although that is a DEFINITE win), it is the memories made with friends and family as you prepare them. I encourage you to try a new recipe this season!
- Fall Festivals
No matter what community you’re a part of or what church you attend, there is likely at least one “Fall Festival” or “Trunk or Treat” on your schedule’s horizon. Go to it! Not only do you get tons of free candy that you can stock up for the winter, but you also get to dress up, meet new people, and make memories with friends and families. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
- Fall Fashion
Speaking of dressing up…fall is a perfect time to make a fashion statement! Although I am far from a fashion expert, who doesn’t love a warm cardigan and adorable scarf? Every year, I get more and more excited to bring my boots back out.
Use the season as an opportunity to buy a few new items. Boutique shopping can be fun, but so can bargain shopping! Check out your local boutiques and Goodwills to compile the perfect autumn staples. Add an Anneli White Designs shirt in there and you have yourself a wardrobe!
- Weekend Getaways
Don’t stay home during these beautiful months. Venture somewhere new where you can see the leaves and the trees from a new perspective of vibrancy! Mason and I recently ventured to Chicago. The leaves were beautiful there! Fall hits earlier up north than it does in Kentucky. It was fun to get a taste of the season before returning to the bluegrass state.
Again, travel doesn’t have to be expensive. Stay with relatives, use gift cards, do all the free attractions first. You won’t realize how much you needed the getaway until you’re there.
- Operation Christmas Child Shopping
One of my favorite things to do in October and November is shop for Samaratin’s Purse Shoeboxes! That is a family tradition from my childhood that I continue today. I’m always giddy walking into the dollar store with a list in my hands and a mission in my heart. If you’ve ever put together a shoebox, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Before you spend all your extra money on fall fashion, set some aside to put together a box of essentials and other goodies for a child in need. Your contribution may be the only gift they’ve ever received, plus it is delivered along with the greatest story ever told: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Changing Leaves
You may look at this one and think, “Really, Marina? That one is kind of obvious.” And you would be right. But changing leaves are what make fall…FALL! Don’t get so caught up in the busyness of the season that you forget to sit down and take in the changing world around you.
Looking at the vibrant colors never ceases to amaze me—royal reds and valiant yellows, the wisp of the wind as they fall to my feet. Our God is AWESOME! He didn’t have to create fall, but he CHOSE to. The colors reveal His glory, the changing leaves reveal His faithfulness in bringing the new season. All of these fall favorites are fun, but none are so “fun” as recognizing the God that created them all.
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