There was a chill in the air last night. As I set out for a run outside, I quickly swapped out my tank top for a thicker running shirt and was glad I did. Fall will be here before we know it!
As much as I would love to bask in summer weather and weekends by the water all year long, there is something about the fall season that takes over my heart. Ever since we moved up to Michigan, fall has become my favorite time of year for several reasons.
It’s cold enough to bundle up with a sweatshirt and accessories like scarves, hats, and boots, but warm enough to leave the winter coats at home. I love the autumn hues in the trees, and can’t ever get my fill on hot apple cider and donuts. Running becomes something I look forward to, and I have to actually try to break a sweat. It’s chilly enough to crack the windows and shut off the air conditioning. And, last but certainly not least, we finally get to break out the fall inspired scents and flavors. Hello, pumpkin everything!
With fall only weeks away, I thought it would help get us excited for the for it by sharing a To-Do list of sorts. You can see my previous Fall Bucket Lists here and here!
• roast pumpkin seeds
I roasted a batch of pumpkin seeds last year, but I don’t think I ever posted a picture or blogged about it. I’m pretty sure it’s because I did a great job burning them and then banned myself from the kitchen.
Don’t you just love roasted pumpkin seeds? If you ask me, it’s the best part about carving pumpkins. I’m looking forward to roasting and (hopefully) sharing variations of roasted pumpkin seeds on the blog this year!
• go apple picking
I finally went apple picking for the first time last year. It was neat to be able to go in and pick exactly what kind of apples I wanted right from the trees they grow on. Talk about fresh!
The mill we went to last year had everything a fall-loving girl could ask for including hot apple cider and donuts, apple picking, pumpkin picking, and even a corn maze! We’ll be back this year. No doubt.
• clean out all of the closets, one room at a time
Gah, isn’t this one that could be on everyone’s fall or spring time to-do list? We’ve already tackled the master bedroom, but there needs to be some serious organization and purging done to the rest of the closets in the house now. My goal is for us to hit one every other weekend!
• make hot apple cider
I’ve already enjoyed my first hot apple cider of the season, but I’d love to actually spice and make my own!
My mom was in town for Thanksgiving last year and pulled out the crockpot to heat up and spice cider we brought home from the cider mill. I’m thinking this needs to become a regular occurrence around here!
• have a scary movie marathon
I am a sucker for movies, especially when it’s chilly out. This will only solidify my grandma status, but one of my favorite things to do after a long or cold day outside is to change into sweats, bundle up in a blanket, and watch movies with a hot beverage. I also love scary movies. It’s hard for me to tear myself away from movie marathons when they appear back-to-back on television in the week leading up to Halloween. Who’s down for movies and popcorn?
• visit a haunted house
I hate to love haunted houses.
I hate them because I’m not a fan of being scared or jumped at, but I love them because I enjoy getting into the fall and Halloween holiday with a trip to haunted houses. I can’t ever be the one leading the group into the house, I have to hold onto someone the entire time, and I rush through as fast as I possibly can, but yet… I still continue to go to them.
One of the first things Scott and I did after we moved up to the Detroit area was visit one of the scariest haunted houses in America. We’ve also been to HalloWeekends at Cedar Point, and we have tickets to go again next weekend! I’m sure it will be interesting…
• try painting with a twist
There’s just something about the season of fall that brings out the crafty side of people. My biggest guess is the anticipation of the arrival of the holidays. Nobody has time for many DIY projects closer to the end of the year, so fall is the perfect time to make a new wreath for the front door or construct a new centerpiece for the kitchen counter.
This year I’m dying to finally try Painting with a Twist. Is there some kind of watercolor and wine inspired outing near you?
• make a new recipe with squash and/or pumpkin
It’s no secret that I’m a lover of all things pumpkin. This year, I’m hoping to master a few new recipes in the pumpkin and squash categories. Well, technically, pumpkins are squashes, but you get what I’m saying.
My favorites always include soup and baked goods!
• try a new fitness class
I’ve been stuck in my running and workouts at the gym routine for a while now. I miss taking barre and yoga classes, and I have wanted to get back to discovering new types of fitness classes in my area. There’s finally an Orange Theory Fitness near us! I think it’s time to test it out and see what all of the (orange) fuss is about.
• decorate a pumpkin
Whether it’s carving or decorating, I always try to do some kind of fall pumpkin-ing.
We carved one last year, but it turned into a fail that only lasted a couple of days before I had to get rid of it. I think it’s time to make a solid effort!
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Thanks for popping in to read about some of my favorite things about fall. I’ll see you later this afternoon!
Questions of the Morning
• Is the weather starting to cool off around you?
• What are some things on your to-do list this fall?
![[in our elementary school era] 🚌😭
Skyler did great walking into KINDERGARTEN with a big smile on his face this morning. I, however, was a bit of a mess on our walk home. 🥹
It’s wild how fast these 5 years with him have gone … 7 since we moved to NYC and into our apartment, dreaming of the day our kids would someday go to the *awesome* school right down our block. 🏫
That day is today, and I still don’t believe it — feeling allll of the emotions and thanking God for placing us here and for being able to trust His timing through the journey. 🫶🏼 #hbshinnyc
SO proud of you, SK - you are going to rock your first year at your “big boy school” - WE LOVE YOU !! 🩵👑](https://lifeinleggings.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
This post just lifted my spirits! I absolutely love fall and I need to do all the same things on your to-do list…like right now!! As a kid, my family (and extended family) used to do a yearly hay ride. You do the hayride out to a camp ground where you grill hotdogs and make s’mores…it is the best thing ever. We won’t have time for that this year (we’re getting married next month – life is crazy) but in the future, that’s a fall tradition I’d love to continue!
Elizabeth @ With Love, Elizabeth recently posted…Thankful Thursday: Fit friends, fall colors and freedom
Hay rides are fun! I went on one a few years ago and it was haunted… pretty creepy. I’d like to go on another one… maybe in the daytime 😉 Congrats on getting married! <3
I can’t wait for you to try Orangetheory and let me know what you think about it! As far as fall activities — pumpkin, evening walks and football season. That’s about it. Oh and yes to the wine and painting thing. We have one of those places just a couple minutes away and went with friends before — it was awesome. Dave and I have our side-by-side paintings hanging in the guest bathroom hahah!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted…Our final Maui explorations – Days 4 & 5
Yes! I’m hoping to get out there soon. PUMPKIN. Absolutely! I’m glad to hear you put your paintings to good use!
This is a great list! I am such a wuss about scary movies, I miss most of them because my hands are over my eyes!
The weather is starting to cool down here (Colorado) but only at night. When I get up it’s chilly so I bundle up in a cozy sweater, but by noon it’s 80 again and time for a wardrobe change!
Kelly recently posted…If you could go back in time…
Haha, I hide under my hands too… but mostly over gory parts. I can’t do blood! Oh I bet Colorado is beautiful right now!
ugh it is NOT cold here, or cooling down, or appear to ever cool down again ever. we’ve had highs of 100 the past week and there are no signs of cooling down!! i miss fall. I hate snow and winter, so I’m glad SoCal doesn’t have that, but man. Fall is the best!
Mary recently posted…One more thing-
I would definitely miss fall if I moved somewhere where it’s warm all year long. BUT, I’m pretty sure the constant sunshine would help comfort me! 😉
I am SO determined to go apple picking this year! I think I’ve gone once in my life, but the fact that I didn’t even get to a Farmer’s Market this summer makes me so sad and even more set on doing something for Fall produce!
Rebecca – Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Italian Chicken Meatballs & Sweet Potato Spaghetti
I love it! And I’m hoping to be able to go again this year. Farmers markets are great too, we need to make another trip out before they close for the season!
This is such a fun list. And I’ve never made apple cider in a crock pot but I can’t think of a better way to make the house smell amazing. I’m looking forward to trying that out!
Alexandra @ My Urban Family recently posted…Blogger Recognition Award
Ahhhh that smell is pretty great. I might just have to crack open the cider soon!
The weather has definitely cooled off to fall temperatures here. I do appreciate fall clothing but I’d rather summer stick around longer.
I’d be happy with another month of summer weather. Or, at least sunshine!
Last weekend it snowed up in the mountains here in Oregon! This Florida girl couldn’t believe it! This week it has warmed back up, which I am thankful for because I’m not sure I’m quite ready for cold weather yet! Reading your fall list made me super excited about fall though! I can’t wait to make a list of my own! I definitely want to go apple picking…have never been!
Lindsey recently posted…A Magical Visit to Paulina Falls and Lake
Your fall to-do list looks SO fun! You are inspiring me to make a list of my own 🙂
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen recently posted…Cucumber Olive-Pesto Roll Ups
We have a place near us very similar to Painting with a Twist and we LOVED doing it for a date night! We did a couple’s evening, so we each painted a part of one big picture, so like I painted the left side and my husband painted the right side. And YES to cleaning out the closets! I feel like I need to do this every month sometimes!
Sarah @ Sweet Miles recently posted…A Lakeside Babymoon at 34 Weeks
I am looking forward to the humidity being gone. Memphis has had a brutal summer, and it is hanging around!!!. I want to make a burlap wreath, make homemade Christmas gifts (no time like the present), get some super cute sweats and hoodies. Haunted houses and I don’t mesh at all. Not because I am scared, but because I have a “police instinct” and want to take out people coming after me. Have a great day
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Heather recently posted…Still going strong day 9, check out this bread!!!!
Such a fun To-Do list! I agree with you on everything except for the haunted house one. I am a huge wimp…
Heather@hungryforbalance recently posted…My September Goals Plus a Check in
Yesterday it was about 90degrees in pittsburgh, so not cooling off yet!! I love your fall list..sounds so perfect and cozy! I’ll have to steal some ideas for myself 🙂 I highly recommend paint and wine classes…I’ve done 4 of them and theyre so much fun!!
Gretchen // Gretchruns recently posted…Currently : September
I love roasting pumpkin seeds! And everything else on this list! Fall is the best!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul recently posted…A Summer Weekend In Kansas City
The weather where I am is most certainly not cooling off yet. But when it does and I give into fall, probably around middle of October, I also intend to go apple picking (a favorite activity of mine since childhood) and to bake up lots of apple cinnamon and pumpkin spice GF treats! And eat them with the edy’s seasonal pumpkin ice cream of course 🙂
renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…Thoughts on the Dumbo Double Dare
I love Painted With a Twist, it is such a good time, you’ll definitely have fun with it! I wish we had a real fall here in Florida, but what we do have I do enjoy. Decorating pumpkins and dressing up for Halloween parties are two of my favorites.
sarah recently posted…I’m a Sorority Girl!
I’m still trying to get used to the fact that (now that we have moved to Australia) spring has just sprung and its only going to get hotter and hotter as we go into summer! Halloween and Christmas in the sunshine and high heat… It’s going to be sooo odd!
But all these pumpkin posts are making me crave autumn and cinnamon spiced pumpkin everything!
There was a nip in the air a few days ago, but it warmed up again. You can definitely tell fall is near in the evenings. I am so looking forward to Fall runs!
Janelle @ WhollyHealthy recently posted…Camping Photos + Beach Bodyweight Abs Workout
I just LOVE fall!! And this list!! I’ve never tried roasting my own pumpkin seeds before, but I might steal that and add it to my list. ;p One of my favorite things about fall is trying new fall recipes. We had some perfect fall weather a few weeks ago and I made some delicious pumpkin scones.
Pumpkin scones sound delicious! I’m in the mood to try new soups and stews. Have a great week Whitney!