Cool nights, warm coffee, sweaters, knit socks, football, leaf piles, blue jeans, blankets, and cozy couches are some of my favorite fall observations!
I love fall! Born in late-September, I am a fall baby. The cool, comfy vibes run through my blood. My middle name is Autumn, which was inspired by my mother’s love for fall! If Michigan is kind to us this year, we might be able to experience a little fall weather. As we settle into our second brisk, November weekend, I thought it would be fun to share my must-have books, clothes, drinks, movies, activities, and other traditions for the relaxing fall season!
My fall weekends consist of me tidying up my home, burning up my cabinet of wax melts, cracking the windows, and curling up on my couch with a good book and a hot cup of coffee. Reading is an escape for me year-round. As a content creator and story writer, it is relaxing to sit back and enjoy someone else’s world for a while. I get to experience a version of creativity sometimes entirely different from mine. I am currently re-reading one of my favorite books, Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell. This story revolves around a woman, Lucy Parker, whose world comes crashing down in one single day. On a whim, Lucy decides to play the lottery because she believes things could not possibly get any worse for her than they are now. The next morning, Lucy discovers that she’s won the lottery, and the next few hours, days, and weeks yield some of the most drastic changes in Lucy’s life. Besides the fact that the book has an initially intriguing plot, Whitney tailors this book to appeal to the “coming of age” audience — readers in their 20s and 30s. It’s a cozy, humorous story that keeps you guessing and entertained from beginning to end. Good Luck is just one of those books that make you feel good! The type of book you open, start reading, sit back and exhale deeply, and let out a cheerful and relaxed grin while reading. This book, coupled with the crisp, refreshing breeze, makes for a therapeutic, fall weekend. I’m a sucker for a good murder-mystery story! And although these are stories I indulge in regardless of the season, fall seems the most fitting. I’m always on the look for a new murder-mystery to read, and I recently discovered a new book at my campus bookstore that piqued my interest. The book, And Then There Were None, is written by Agatha Christie and has been hailed as nothing short of a masterpiece, so I thought it would be an excellent read for this chilly time of year!
I look forward to jumping into it this weekend.
The cool breeze welcomes sweaters and jeans. I love temperatures in the 50s and 60s, but I still leave the house prepared for a brisk day in my shawls, cardigans, and sweatshirts. One of my go-to sweaters to combat the cold weather is a beautiful, burgundy sweater from Forever 21. The sweater is a one size fits all top with a ruffled, swoop neck and droopy, mid-arm length sleeves. I feel very comfortable and secured when I wear this sweater. It goes marvelously with jeans, leggings, or business slacks. Another primary piece in my fall clothing collection is a long, flowy, slate-colored cardigan from Forever 21. This top is a little thin and does not protect from piercing cold wind gusts very well, but for moderately cool fall weather, it offers ample warmth without stripping me of any style points. This top wears well with jeans, casual and formal bottoms– even sweats!
Along with my trusty collection of Ugg boots, I also have a cluster of functional, fashionable footwear! I love the tall slouch boot trend! I recently acquired a soft, comfortable black pair to add to the purple pair I already own. The black pair of boots has become a staple in my wardrobe already this fall. These boots are mid-calf length and made of a soft, velvet-like material. These boots pair a lot better with the more formal attire I don in the office. I typically save my Uggs for weekend wear, unless there are considerable amounts of snow that I have to trek through on campus. Another boot that I have taken a liking to this season is a short, brown biker boot. I am a little late to this trend, but I recently found a pair of these boots that I like, and I was shocked at how comfortable they are! My motivation for purchasing these boots was rainy fall weather. I am more of a fabric boot advocate, so I desperately needed a pair that I didn’t mind getting a little wet or dirty. These boots rise just above the ankle and go great with denim or leather jackets, as well as jeans and leggings.
Typically, I don’t drink anything other than water, tea, and coffee, but there are some fun, festive beverages I make exceptions for during the Fall and Winter seasons. One beverage I must have is my hot chocolate — specifically the hot chocolate from Bob Evans. I don’t get to drink this hot chocolate very often, considering a stop at Bob Evans is not always feasible, but I do capitalize on the opportunity to pick a cup up when I’m in the area. Garnished with chocolate and caramel syrups upon request, Bob Evans offers a delectable bottomless hot chocolate beverage, and it is as rich, smooth, and satisfying as you could imagine. It is a dense hot chocolate though. So taking the beverage to-go ensures that you won’t upset your stomach later! Another of my staple beverages during the chillier seasons is the limited-time Peppermint White Hot Chocolate from Starbucks. I love any warm drink with peppermint! Peppermint has always been a symbol of Christmas and the wintertime, so drinking this delicious cocoa is almost a way of me celebrating the holidays. I don’t usually tolerate the outrageous lines that Starbucks always seems to have, but beverages like this hot chocolate remind me of why that is. This beverage is worth lining up for. My last drink of choice for the fall and winter seasons is a simple cup of hot coffee from Speedway! It may not sound like much on paper, but Speedway’s coffee bar is one of the most convenient and amazing things around. With so many coffee brews, coffee syrup flavors, coffee cream flavors, and multitudes of other toppings and add-ins, making coffee at Speedway can quickly become an art. There is no flavor of coffee I can’t achieve with all the options offered there. Not to mention, Speedway provides a large, 24-ounce cup for your coffee creation, which costs only $1.86. Yes, please!
One of my favorite films to watch around this time of year is The Holiday. The Holiday is a homey film that centers around the starkly opposite lives of two women in two different areas of the world. The two decide to swap houses for the holidays once they each reach their breaking points back at home. The film gives the holiday-time a nice cozy vibe and offers a very inspirational lesson that everyone should learn. I love a movie that can make me laugh, make me sad, and teach me things at the same time! Another program I cherish around the fall season is the TV series, Roseanne. There is something wonderful about the sense of family, love, joy, and security I feel when I watch Roseanne. This series featured an annual Halloween and Thanksgiving episode each season, which is a joy to watch every fall. I find myself drawn to comedies and romantic comedies during the fall and winter times. These types of stories add to the pleasantry of the season, and all we want is to feel happy, safe, and loved during the holidays.
I don’t force myself to engage in too many activities during the Fall or Winter, as surviving the holidays can sometimes be challenging enough! A few things I do during the season are taking trips to the cider mill, baking an assortment of treats, having a bonfire, going on nature hikes, and visiting some of the more festive stores and attractions in my area. Fall is the time to be cozy and comfy, so I take every opportunity I can to tuck under a warm blanket at home. But I need to get out from time to time, and these are some of the things I love to do when I get the inspiration!
Fall is not fall for me unless the things mentioned in this blog are present. To me, fall is more than a season, it’s a mood– it’s a feeling. Just like summer carries a more energetic and exciting vibe, fall offers us an excuse to be comfy, relaxed, and lazy! And although we all have our own traditions and interpretations of holiday rituals, fall is indisputably one of the most joyous times of the year.
Header photo courtesy of Randomness of Eden.