AUTUMN is upon us. It’s here and I am all over it. Fall is my favorite season. Well…fall, winter and spring (summer can take its oppressive heat and sunshine and go back to the hell from whence it came) but I still really, really, really love fall.
The temperature finally becomes tolerable. There’s a smell to the air that’s all its own, much like the crisp smell of winter just before a snowfall or the fresh, clean ozone and soil smell after a spring rain. As the leaves turn, so does the air and so does my mood. Have I mentioned I love fall?
The year of my divorce autumn completely passed me by. It was like I went to sleep and awoke to winter. I’m still not sure how that happened, but I vowed to never let it happen again. To ensure I stay true to my word I have put together a list (you know me and my lists…and my babbling…and my babbling lists) of must-do fall essentials.
FALL FROLICKS: MY TOP 10 LIST FOR AN AWESOME AUTUMN
1) PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES (shocking, I know). In case you haven’t heard the latte-licious news, Starbucks released the beloved Pumpkin Spiced Latte early this year (PSL’s to my fellow pumpkin spiced caf-fiends), which means I’m going to drink them until my blood turns to cinnamon and someone tries to turn me into a jack o’ lantern…or until my heart stops…whichever comes first.
:: SPACE GHOST – COFFEE ::
2) VISIT A CORN MAZE. I did this a few years ago with my ex-husband who insisted on using the map rather than trying to solve the puzzle. We were finished with the huge maze in 15 minutes – not quite what I had in mind. *pout* So I want to visit another corn maze, preferably at night (there are a few nighttime corn mazes around the country…hopefully there’s one near here) and this time? No map. Getting lost is half the fun, don’t you think?
3) EMBRACE MY INNER SHOPPING WHORE. It’s almost time for Halloween which can only mean one thing…serious shopping binges. Not only is it time to grab some good layering pieces, sweaters, coats, boots and over-the-knee socks (I love fall fashion) but it’s also time to hit Target, Michaels, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn and all points in between that carry the most badass and non-cheesy Halloween decorations (which are used for everyday home décor in my digs). I’m talking silver studded skulls, mercury glass bottles marked poison, phrenology busts, spiders, ghosts, skulls and witchy things galore. While my pocketbook might be sad, my eyes and soul are happy being surrounded by spooky and stunning odds and ends. Oh my, yes.
4) HAVE A PASSIONATE AFFAIR WITH THE TELEVISION. 13 Nights of Halloween on ABC Family. And of course any and all Halloween related viewing. Time to soak in my annual dose of haunted travel shows, scary movies, and Halloween specials. My only wish is that Disney would bring back the old school classic Disney Halloween Special. I lived for that special when I was a kid. *insert nostalgic sigh here*
:: Disney Halloween Special ::
5) DECLARE WEDNESDAYS AND SUNDAYS HOLY DAYS. While we’re on the topic of TV (I’m beginning to wonder if I might have a problem here…but honestly, it’s only a small handful of shows I’m addicted to and when I say addicted I mean I will cut a bitch if these beloved shows are in any way interrupted) it’s only a few weeks until October. What’s the big deal? Oh, it’s only the season premiers of American Horror Story (premiering Wednesday, October 8, on FX) and The Walking Dead (premiering Sunday, October 12, on AMC). Sideshow freaks and zombies. Be still my heart.
:: AMERICAN HORROR STORY TRAILER ::
:: THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 5 TRAILER ::
6) EMBRACE MY INNER (BUT DARK AND TWISTED) MARTHA STEWART. It’s baking time, bitches. True to form, pretty much the only thing I bake in the fall aside from the occasional apple pie is wall to wall pumpkin – pumpkin spiced muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice cookies, pumpkin pie. If it can be baked I’ll find a way to put pumpkin in it…which just gave me an idea. Expect a pumpkin based DIY or DIE later this fall (and no, it’s not another pumpkin facial. I told you I’ll put pumpkin in anything).
7) BUST OUT THE NEEDLES. I always put off knitting my winter sweaters, scarves and hats until…well…winter. Which is stupid because it’s already cold. This year? I’m busting out my bamboo babies and whipping out my handmade cuddly duds before the first snowfall. I realize this might not sound like frolicking to some of you, but knitting really is fun and relaxing…and I can do it while I watch my hundreds of Halloween shows. (And yes, those are ants on my sleeves. What do you expect from an Adam Ant fan?)
8) SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME WITH MOTHER NATURE. Fall is my favorite time to hike and get outside. The weather is perfect, the air smells so good, the first dead leaves crunch under your feet while the rest dance like flames on the treetops, the mountains ablaze with color. I’m going to take advantage of it this year…and of course my beloved camera will be in tow to document the brilliance all around me…and possibly transform it into something beautifully bleak.
9) ROAD TRIP. Every fall I have to make my annual pilgrimage to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for my checkup with my amazing oncologist Dr. Ross (I love him to bits. He’s a badass in the best kind of way). It’s usually a quick dash down and back (quick being an 8 hour (or more depending on traffic and weather) drive on some gorgeous back roads) with some quick but quality friend time worked into the mix. But this time I’m going to make the most of my yearly trek by taking a side trip. I’m going to hop on I-10 East and finally get my ass back to New Orleans to visit some of my dear friends that I haven’t seen in years. So look out, NOLA because I’m headed your way. It’s been entirely too long since I’ve walked your streets and felt your love. So I’ll see you (and my beloved friends) soon.
10) FALL FREEBIES. I haven’t made any free goodies for you in forever and I feel like crap about that so I’m going to make sure that I take the time to give back to you. I love you and this is one of the ways I can show you how much you mean to me…with some digital downloadable love. Wait. That sounds dirty, but you know what I mean. So keep your eyes peeled for some free autumnal awesomeness soon. It will happen. I promise. And since it’s Halloween season I’ll even go so far as to promise:
CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO DIE. POKE A NEEDLE IN MY EYE.
Yup. Because I’m THAT serious about taking care of you and giving back for all that you give to me. Okay. Sappy emotional moment over.
SO WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What are your plans for fall? Do you have any seasonal traditions? Come on and dish ‘em up. I want to know (so I can steal your ideas for myself…I know you guys are brilliant and do awesome stuff so can you blame me for wanting to horn in on the action? *wink*). Share your fun and fabulous fall ideas in the comments below. Until next time…
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: SOURCE UNKNOWN :: ONE DAY FROM LAST OCTOBER – ANKA ZHURAVLEVA :: PSL VIA HUFFINGTON POST :: CORN MAZE VIA HUFFINGTON POST (AGAIN) :: SKULL © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK :: AMERICAN HORROR STORY – FX :: THE WALKING DEAD – AMC :: PUMPKIN CUPCAKES WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM – MADE IN MEL’S KITCHEN :: ADAM ANT INSPIRED SWEATER DESIGNED BY ALLI WOODS FREDERICK © 2008 :: KEEPER OF SECRETS – AMY :: NEW ORLEANS – MUTI :: EYEBALL PINCUSHION ::
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