7 Simple Ways I'm SAVORING FALL!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Guess what?

As of today, we are OFFICIALLY in the fall season 🙂 .

I have been pretending it’s fall since September 1st (and I know many of you have too!), but today it’s official.

In April, I shared 7 SIMPLE WAYS I’M SAVORING SPRING, so I thought we should do the same for fall!

Now, let’s pause just a minute so that I can remind you of a few things…

First, we all know that fall is my very favorite season, BUT I am honest enough to admit there are some things I don’t *love* as much as others.

If you missed my post on my TOP 5, BOTTOM 5 FALL THINGS, make sure you pop over there to see a few of my not so favorite things about my favorite season.

Second, I love the word “savor” because it requires one to have more intention than just “enjoying”. I have a handful of posts on SAVORING LIFE that you can also read.

I could have made this list 700 ways I’m savoring fall, but I decided to keep it short, specific, and manageable for me. These are just a few of the things I’m going to specifically lean in to between now and Christmas as I savor my favorite season.

I have mentioned this book already several times this season…

…but I just love it. It’s happy and positive and inspirational and filled with fall goodness. Well the author lives in New Zealand where…their fall looks quite the opposite of our fall.

She talks at length in the book about how she “fakes/pretends” she has a Northern Hemisphere fall because…why not? She doesn’t get the golden leaves, falling temps, pumpkin everything, Halloween-filled September, October and November that we do…so she fakes it. It makes her happy. It fills her with coziness. It connects her to the season even if her actual season looks/feels quite different. I think this is a lovely idea and one we can do too. It might be crazy warm right now in Texas, but if I intentionally savor a few things, my fall can feel extra magical too.

I saw this quote and loved it immediately…

…yes, yes, and YES.

So, let’s dive into our first official day of autumn with 7 SIMPLE WAYS I’M SAVORING FALL:

I’M GOING TO EMBRACE THE SCENTS OF THE SEASON

Yes and amen.

Is there any season more synonymous with smells than fall?

I don’t care how warm it is outside (we have had a freakishly warm September), if I’m in my house with a fall candle burning, it’s immediately 20 degrees cooler. Right now, I have my candle warmer melting an apple candle in my office and a pumpkin spiced candle burning on my kitchen island. My house smells like pumpkin spice which truly makes everything nice.

I don’t know about you, but for me, just lighting a fall candle makes the whole house instantly cozier.

Not only have I switched out all of my candles to warmer, spicier, woodsy versions, but I’ve changed my fragrances as well. Instead of spritzing myself with the salty/beachy scents I wear in the spring/summer, I’m wearing my lotions and perfumes in the woodsier versions I love in the fall and winter.

I’M STOPPING TO LOOK AT THE PUMPKINS

You know how some people stop and smell the roses? I am stopping and admiring the pumpkins.

I saw these on Monday at my local grocery store…

…and couldn’t get over how beautiful they were. When did pumpkins get even MORE amazing? I love a simple orange pumpkin, but I think it’s just so much fun to see these unique colors and shapes too. I am on a mission to really notice and appreciate pumpkins all season. Pumpkins on porches. Pumpkins in stores. Real pumpkins. Fake pumpkins. Pumpkins make me happy, so I don’t want to be too busy to notice them.

I’ve said many times before that my two main objectives here are to share Jesus and encourage adoption. I do kind of crack myself up though that 221 blog posts mention Jesus, 284 mention adoption, and 889 mention pumpkins. Bahahaha! I mean you have to laugh.

Jesus knows my heart…and He knows that I really love pumpkins.

I’M GOING TO INCLUDE FALL INGREDIENTS IN MY KITCHEN

I love to be in the kitchen all year long, but without a doubt, this is MY FAVORITE time of year to cook and bake.

Right now, all of my meal planning and menu making has to do with fall flavors. Give me all the pumpkin, maple, cinnamon, sweet potatoes, and apples. This fall, I’ve already made a few soups for dinner and a chili. My slow cooker is on my counter right this minute with tonight’s supper inside. I made a breakfast recipe over the weekend that was savory AND included a bit of cinnamon.

I always think fall and holiday recipes hold the most sentimental value. At least in our family, these are the recipes we turn to year after year. I even think going to the grocery store and Trader Joe’s is more fun this time of year. The endcaps are festive, the displays are super seasonal…it’s all good.

I’M ENJOYING MY FALL PALETTE

I keep my wardrobe pretty neutral. I like blacks, whites, creams, navys…and repeat. This time of year though, I love pulling out my olives, cranberries, browns, mustards, dark reds, hunter greens…all of those yummy fall colors. I love a plaid in the fall, a suede, corduroy, faux-leather, and any sort of layer.

If I had to “live” in one outfit the rest of my life, it would be a tank top and shorts…but I am always oh so happy come September to swap those staples and pull out my fall clothes.

I AM GOING TO WATCH ALL THE FALL SERIES AND MOVIES

I don’t care how many times I’ve seen Gilmore Girls or Friday Night Lights, they’re still fun to watch this time of year. I turned on a random Hallmark movie while I worked last week, and it was adorable and oh so fall. I am seeking out TV series and movies that give me fall vibes. While we made dinner on Sunday night, we had Runaway Bride on in the background instead of our norm like The Office or King of Queens. It’s such a little tweak and yet it really does give me that extra boost of fall happiness.

I AM GOING TO FIND SOME FALL SPOTS THIS SEASON

Hi, my name is Shay, and I am seeking out all the fall spots this season. Give me an Oktoberfest, a state fair, I want to visit town squares decorated with pumpkins, and any sort of carnival. I am making my plans based on which destinations give me the most “fall vibes”.

I AM MAKING MY HOME THE COZIEST RIGHT NOW (no matter the temp outside!)

I’m lighting candles, I put out extra throw blankets, I have fall decor sitting out, my mantles decorated, and I’ve added pillows with pumpkins on them. There is just something extra inviting about being at home (watching a fall movie!) with all the cozy things. If not now, when?!

We must savor these cozy fall weekends, early mornings, and dark(er!) evenings.

I have blog posts that you might also like including THE SIMPLE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT FALL and 22 KEYS TO MAKING FALL COZY too!