The first day of fall might have been September 22nd, but for anyone living in Florida (or any other place where the temps are still 85+) it might be difficult to get into the spirit. We can't walk outside and feel the crisp autumn air, watch the leaves change, or wear cozy sweaters and boots all day long like a lot of people can. So if you are wanting to get into a fall-state-of-mind, read on for a few easy ideas to help you pretend that it isn't still beach weather outside.
1. Autumn-ize your surroundings.
It only takes a little bit of money and effort to make your dorm/bedroom/house festive. For me, candles really make a difference. Just lighting a woodsy or pumpkin scented candle changes the entire atmosphere of a room and makes it just a bit more cozy. Add to the coziness by plugging in some fairy lights and throwing a few flannel blankets across the backs of chairs and on your bed. You can also redecorate your shelves a bit and add some pine cones, flowers, fake leaves, or anything that makes it feel a bit more seasonal. It's amazing how much of a difference a few decorations can make in your space.
2. Add some fall flair to your diet.
PSL's aside (because we already know how delicious those hug-in-a-mugs are) there are a lot of seasonal foods that you can make to help you get in the spirit. Now is the time to try your hand at cooking all of those strange looking squash you see scattered around the produce section of your local grocery store. My go-to is spaghetti squash. It is so easy to make and you can even cook it on the grill if you don't want the oven to heat your house up!
If you're more of a microwave-master-chef look up some recipes for some autumn mug cakes. Just toss a few ingredients in a coffee cup, throw it in the microwave, and within a minute or two you have a warm cake/brownie/cookie! Switching out some of the things that you eat can make it feel like a new season, even if it doesn't feel or look that way outside.
3. Wear what "fall clothing" you can.
It might not be a good idea to rock a cable knit sweater with your UGG's when it is 93 degrees outside, but there are some autumnesque clothing items that you can start to incorporate into your wardrobe. Wide-brim felt hats, beanies, thin scarfs, and leggings are all wearable even if the temperature outside is still a bit high. Even just switching up the colors of your clothes can make a difference. Take a break from the bright colors and patterns of summer and head towards the muted neutrals of fall like browns, dark greens, and greys. Sometimes little changes make the biggest impact!
Happy fall, y'all! Don't let the heat get you down!
