One thing I want to start doing is romanticizing the seasons again. When my son was born, Daniel and I would come up with a bucket list for each season. It was one of our first family traditions. Now that my kids are growing up so fast and are starting to have their own interests, I want to reinstate the tradition, making a bucket list where we can all spend time together doing what we all love. First, I have to remind myself of what I enjoy and want to look forward to this Autumn. In a sense, this is my Autumn bucket list, but I like the idea of calling it my "Autumn Starter Pack!" Everything in this post will list out everything autumnal that I don't want to miss over the next couple of months. Let's get right into it!
For the Home
Autumn is already making herself known outside; everywhere I look I can see the leaves changing color, covering the ground like festive confetti. I enjoy decorating my living room and kitchen for the seasons, since those are the areas of the house we spend the most time in and that are guests will see. I like the more earthy tones for my home décor, including warm browns, deep greens, golden yellow, and pumpkin patch orange! Pumpkin scented candles are a must, too! Honestly, if my house doesn't smell like dessert, I don't want it to smell like anything at all! Basically anything at Hobby Lobby is my style as well, but this year I went for a few garlands of fall leaves, a tassel garland my mother made for me in my favorite Autumn colors, and a cute little pumpkin painting that reminded me of something you'd see in a little woodland cottage. I can't go overboard because there are little ones playing about, but that's fine with me. I have yet to do anything outdoors, but a few pumpkins and pots of mums are my usual go-to.
For the Family
A few of our traditional bucket list activities that we will never grow too old for include:
having a caramel apple party
visiting the pumpkin patch & apple orchard
hikes among the glorious autumn trees
trick or treating (only the girls are participating, but my son will come along to walk around with a thermos of hot chocolate!)
carve jack-o-lanterns or paint pumpkins
attend a Fall Festival
family photoshoot
Shows & Films
These are the things that get me in the mood for Autumn. They give me all the Autumn vibes regardless of the temperature outside.
Roswell / Gilmore Girls / Reign / Good Witch / The Worst Witch / The Vampire Diaries / So Weird / Are You Afraid of the Dark / Anne with An E
Casper / Practical Magic / The Haunted Mansion / Beetlejuice / The Corpse Bride / Coraline / The Twilight Saga / Harry Potter / Willow / Return to Oz / Sleepy Hollow / The Witches / Turner Classic Movies
Music for Autumn Vibes
Contemporary folk albums, like Jewel's Spirit, and alternative rock, like Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head is what I think Autumn sounds like. Music with even a hint of nostalgia reminds me of Autumn. Considered the season of death, it makes the music hit harder when the memories come flooding back. Avril Lavigne's Let Go album was on repeat for me during the Fall of my first year of high school. It always takes me back to those bus rides to and from school. Shakira's album Laundry Service got me through a lot of the awkwardness that was my 8th grade year. I would listen to the whole album to get to sleep, on the bus ride to school, and then back home again. My sister's friend let her borrow it and I was ecstatic the day my mom let me get it during a trip to Wal-Mart. While Autumn may not have inspired the artists when making those albums specifically, their music is one of those things that really bring back ancient feelings and memories for me. Just like how certain smells can take you back to a specific place and time, music does that for me.
September is right around the corner and Autumn will officially be upon us soon enough. I plan on enjoying every second of it!
