It's that time of the year again! The season of runny noses, brisk mornings and blanket layered nights. Well, not entirely, not if you live in a "seasonless" city like Los Angeles. How confusing it is to wake up in the sweater weather mindset only to then step outside into 80 degree heat while receiving a text about an upcoming beach trip. What about the chilly breeze? Where is the need for a cozy cable knit sweater? Where are the changing leaves?
Not here. But, fear not. Just because your city doesn't understand autumn doesn't mean you can't surround yourself with the Fall season spirit. Whether you're in LA like me or living in a place well aware of the seasons, below I have laid out a helpful How-to Guide to help get you inspired and ready to make this Fall the most festive one yet. Let's get started!
Home Decor
Adding autumn accents to your living space can go a long way when it comes to getting you ready for the Fall season. Some suggestions include:
1. Grab some seasonal candles. Nothing beats filling your home with the smell of pumpkin pie or apple cinnamon.
2. Swap the old for the new. Throw some seasonal pillows and blankets onto your beds and couches. These pillows can have cute Fall season sayings or be in the autumn color scheme (oranges, browns, jewel tones, etc.)
3. Hang up some cute, tasteful Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations. Be sure to check your local dollar or drugstore first to get the best deals. You'd be surprised what you can save on.
Below I've assembled a Pinterest board to give you a visual and some additional ideas. Be sure to check it out!
Follow Delancey Prince’s board LA Fall Home Decor Ideas 2015.
Music
Fashion
Time to dress for the part. If you're living in this LA heat go for some lightweight attire and utilize color choices. If you have to wear tanks and shorts, opt for deep autumn colors, jewel tones and brown shades. Black will always do too. Be sure to check out my Pinterest board below for ideas and even links to wear you can buy your next autumn piece. Whether you're aiming for a new seasonal closet or just one new piece of clothing, the change will make a big mental difference.
Follow Delancey Prince’s board LA Fall Fashion Ideas 2015.
Food
A warm Starbucks seasonal drink can be a little off-putting in this heat. And you may be wondering how Fall related foods can include anything but desserts and lattes. Well, fear not. You'd be surprised. My board below is full of ideas for every meal of the day. Expect recipes for decorative Halloween treats, soups, cocktails, breakfast, lunch, dinner and more.
Follow Delancey Prince’s board LA Fall Food Ideas 2015.
Activities
Be sure to add some of these to your weekend plans. Varying in cost, effort and time, all these activities are sure to help get you in the Fall spirit.
1. Visit a local pumpkin patch and have a pumpkin carving session. (During my freshman year of college, my friends I weren't allowed to carve so we painted ours together instead. Equally as effective.)
2. Visit some haunted houses! LA is great for this. From the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride to Queen Mary's Dark Harbor, there's an attraction for just about any nightmare you can think of. Also take a trip to some popular theme parks. Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm and Universal Studios always celebrate Halloween.
3. Take the time to host a "Friendsgiving." Invite the friend group over for dinner, have everyone make their favorite dishes, break out the wine and be thankful for one another.
4. Plan a movie night. It can be scary, sappy, indie, family friendly, whatever! Movie nights just always give me the cozy feelings. Or try jumping into a new TV/online series. (This autumn I've started binge watching the fourth season of American Horror Story on Netflix. My perception of clowns is now officially ruined.)
5. Tis the season to be grateful. Though I always try to make this my practice, the Fall season is a time when I pay special attention to counting my blessings. Keep a journal or list on your phone and record everything you realize you're thankful for as you go about your days. I use the Gratitude365 app on my smartphone. I highly recommend giving it a try.
6. If you're on social media, try following some autumn themed accounts. Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube have great Fall related material. (For example, I love watching Fall beauty hauls, Fall lookbooks and Fall cooking tutorials on YouTube during my free time!)
7. Change your desktop background to a Fall themed background. It's a little thing, but it can act as a great reminder. (This is mine currently!)
Phew. And there you have it, folks! An extensive guide to making this Fall as festive as ever, no matter where you live. Take that, LA. Happy Autumn to all and to all a good Fall!
