Why You Need a Fall Bucket List

Hello Fall!

I can't believe fall is already here, but let's be honest...I couldn't be more ready. Ready to start doing all the fall activities and fun things that happen this time of year. I'm a firm believer in and huge advocate for fall bucket lists; they inspire creativity, encourage socializing, and serve as a reminder to take in the beauty of nature around us.

It's that time of year again when I share my list with all of you. But I realized that I don't want this to just be a gathering of ideas. I want it to have merit, to be informative and to be a solid resource for you to utilize no matter your life's circumstances.

So my list includes things you can do with friends, with your spouse or by yourself. It includes activities you can do indoors and things you can do outdoors. This list has something for the food lover, the nature junkie, the book worm, the athlete, the baker and so much more! Yay for fall!

Put on your cutest rain boots and jump in some puddles!

This is one I'm dying to try! The simplicity and kid-like nature of this activity makes it all the more appealing to me. Set your cares aside and live in the moment. And look stylish while doing it by getting a cute pair of rain boots like these! (Here's a more affordable option as well!) Tip: have someone photograph your puddle jumping adventures so you can look back in years to come and remember the joy you felt and the happiness such a simple thing brought you!

Grab a cozy sweater and head to an orchard for apple picking!

The first time I went apple picking was at a local farm just outside of Boston. My husband and I went with a group of friends and it was so much fun! There's just something about being on a small farm in the countryside amongst the beautiful fall colors of New England that's good for the soul. Tip: pick a bunch of apples and go crazy making everything apple! French toast, cobblers, donuts, breads, the possibilities are endless. And if you have too much, it's a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors!

Snuggle up with your man on a hayride!

Don't miss a chance to cozy up to your guy under a perfect fall night while taking a good old fashioned hayride. There's something so simplistic, earthy and nostalgic about hayrides that makes them irreplaceable. Tip: grab some hot cocoa or apple cider before hopping on your ride!

Watch a football game under those Friday night lights!

I never knew just how sacred Friday nights were until I moved to Texas and learned about the tight knit football communities here. Fridays are for football in Texas and even those who don't have kids in high school attend games religiously. I mean, I loved the show Friday Night Lights and if it's anything like that here I imagine I'll be an avid fan soon enough! Tip: this is a good kid friendly event, so make a family night out of it!

Practice for Thanksgiving and make a pie!

I'm not exactly sure where Shawn and I will be for Thanksgiving this year, but I do know that I plan on making some homemade pies. And they have to be gluten free, so I better start practicing now. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to pies so give me all the apple and pumpkin (best pumpkin one is at Costco)! Tip: to make sure your pies are a hit before Thanksgiving, have a little pie tasting night with some girlfriends! They'll most likely be honest with you and give the best feedback. 

Grab some girlfriends and head to a street fair!

Crisp fall air, fun rides, good food and a sense of community. What more could you want? Tip: find one that has an eating contest of some sort! If you want to participate you get lots of food, if you want to observe you get lots of entertainment!

Host a bonfire!

This may be one of the easiest and least expensive ideas on the list! Call up some friends, buy some marshmallows and light a fire! Bonfires are a great way to sit around and socialize while staying warm on a cool autumn night. If you can have one on a beach under the stars...even better! Tip: get creative with your s'mores! Maybe spread some pumpkin pie mix on your graham cracker before adding the chocolate bar and marshmallow? Maybe use pumpkin spice marshmallows instead of the regular ones? So many options!

Serve those in need and volunteer at a food bank!

For our last three years in Boston, I volunteered at a local food bank every fall. The last time I took Shawn with me and we loved it! It's such a good cause, it's fun and you meet a bunch of new people. I never realized just how much of a need there really was in my community. Who knows how many people are in need in yours? Contact your local food bank and set something up, you won't regret it! Tip: get a big group together and go volunteer! More hands means more work done, but also more people to talk to and have a great experience with. Hit up a restaurant or grab some dessert after and let the good times keep rolling!

Go camping under the autumn stars!

Any fellow campers out there? I'm obsessed! I grew up camping in one of the most beautiful parts of the country...the Pacific Northwest. My family and I would go with good friends of ours for a couple weeks at a time. We camped on beaches, in the woods and we always had AMAZING food. Dutch oven everything! Some of my best childhood memories are summers spent camping with my family. I didn't really discover my love for fall camping until we moved to New England. The weather and the fall foliage are breathtaking...a different kind of beautiful than I was used to. Tip: find a weekend that works for you and go for at least two nights. It's SO much work to get gear, pack and set up camp for just one night.

Feeling crafty? Make a cute door wreath!

So I'm not a huge craft person. I want to be, but for some reason it's just not my thing. I'll make something for my home, but it's just a project here or there not really a seasonal or holiday craft. I don't know if that makes sense or not. But anyways, a few years ago I made a cute burlap wreath for my front door and realized that I can handle crafts in small amounts. And they usually have to be something neutral, low key and not super fake looking. Wow, I'm not explaining this very well. My point is that a door wreath is something simple and classy that can add a fun touch of fall to your home! Tip: do some searching on Pinterest to help you find a craft that is suitable for you, it's such a great resource!

Light a candle and take a bath for the ultimate relaxation!

Yes please! This one doesn't really need any further convincing or explaining right? Grab some bath bombs from Bath & Body Works (sweet cinnamon pumpkin is awesome) and soak up some R&R. Tip: just do it!

Grab your man, a warm blanket and a scary movie!
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a big scaredy cat! I used to watch scary movies a lot more in high school with big groups of friends, but since Shawn doesn't really like them either we don't watch many. If the movie isn't too gory or crazy and Shawn is there for me to snuggle with, I'm all in! Tip: have a big pillow handy that you can hide behind haha! What's the scariest movie you've ever seen?

Get some friends together and test your skills with a chili cook off!
Chili, cornbread and competition. Sounds like a fun night! There are so many amazing delicious variations of chili and it would be so fun to get together with friends and sample a few. It doesn't have to be cut throat, just a friendly competition for a simple prize! Keep it lighthearted! Tip: if you're hosting, make sure you offer sides and toppings that go with a variety of chilis.

Drink hot apple cider by the fire with a good book!
There's something about reading a book by a warm fire that makes it so much more magical! It's somehow easier to become lost in the story and absorbed in another world. Sounds crazy I know! Add a cup of hot cider and it's the perfect set up. Tip: the only way this scenario can get any better is if it's raining outside. That's like the ultimate cozy, fall day reading scenario! Speaking of reading...any good book recommendations?

Decorate your home with all things fall!
Since Shawn and I have been married we've only lived in apartments. We never had much space to decorate, let alone room to store decorations for every season. So I've learned to do small subtle things like fall candles, wreaths on the front door and scented hand soaps. I look forward to the day when we're in a home and I can go crazy. But for now I'm living vicariously through all of you! Tip: y'all should follow Amanda Marshall from Pardon Muah (@pardonmuahinsta) because she has the cutest home that's all decked out with everything fall! And she shares all of her resources so it's easy to mimic her adorable decor style.

Get outside and go to a corn maze!
Corn mazes are so fun and I feel like they're a staple fall activity, a must do. There's the classic, family friendly version or the haunted scare your pants off version. Which one do you prefer? Tip: if you choose the haunted version...make sure your reaction to someone scaring you is not to punch them in the face haha! I legit have almost done that. 

Go for a walk in the crisp autumn air and practice your photography!

The weather is perfect and the colors are breathtaking. What better time of year than fall to be outside taking in all that nature has to offer from behind a lens? Fine tune your photography skills by testing out new scenery, lighting and colors. Maybe jump in a pile of leaves or two while you're at it! Tip: Pinterest is a great source for photography tricks, camera settings and more so take a look at some pins before your little fall outing!

Pick pumpkins from a patch and carve them!

This is one of those activities that is great to do with your hubby, your kids or a group of friends! When I lived in Boston I went with some girlfriends to a pumpkin patch and we had a blast! There were so many pumpkins to choose from as well as hot apple cider donuts. Win win! Tip: take your time at the patch and walk around, look at all the pumpkins and don't be rushed. It's such a fun atmosphere so soak it in while you can!

Hat - Ross (similar)
Top - My Sister's Closet Boutique
Jeans - Primark (similar)
Boots - White Mountain Shoes
Bag - Charming Charlie (old)

Have a fall movie marathon!

If you're a sucker for a feel-good romance movie like me, you have to check out the cute fall movies that Hallmark Channel has! Tip: If you really are like me, you know that popcorn makes every movie better...so try out this delicious pumpkin spice popcorn recipe that I discovered last year. It's a sweet popcorn with a subtle pumpkin taste. Perfect!

Plan a weekend getaway to a bed & breakfast!

Escape from life's craziness and plan a romantic stay at a bed & breakfast in the mountains. Breathe in the fresh air, watch the leaves change colors and unplug from the world for a few days. Tip: New England is by far the most beautiful place on earth during fall! If possible, I suggest sneaking away to any of the states up there. New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine all have the cutest, most serene B&Bs ever!

Do a random act of kindness!

"Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world" Howard Zinn. I love that! Be the good you want to see in the world. I honestly believe that the people we help are not the only ones blessed by our service; we too are blessed! This time of year is perfect to help a neighbor rake leaves, drop off some baked goods to a friend or volunteer at a soup kitchen. Tip: the more you serve, the better you will feel. Too often we get caught up in our own world and focus so much on what's going wrong in our lives, that the best cure is to lose ourselves in service to someone else!

Happy Saturday and have a fabulous fall!

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