HAPPY OCTOBER! The last three months of the year are my favorite...it's the moooooosssssttt wonderful time of the yearrrrrrrr...and it's here! Yay! Here's some ideas for how to spend these magical 31 days.
1. Make a decision to finish the last 90 days of 2018 strong. Because ready or not, here we are.
2. Make a fall "must-do" lists. Listen. The last three months of the year? They fly. So write down the things you really want to do and make them a priority, or they might not (probably will not) happen.
3. If you haven't yet, get some fall candles. It doesn't have to be pumpkin or apple, just anything that makes you feel cozy when you light it.
4. Get your kid and / or pet a Halloween costume. Animal costumes will never not be funny to me. Jack and Gatsby both got dressed up in their costumes for months after Halloween was over.
5. Go to Trader Joe's and check out their vast selection of fall stuff. If you don't live near one, it's worth a road trip. They really shine this time of year. So. Much. Pumpkin.
6. Take your TJ finds on a picnic. Whenever it's cool enough to sit outside for five minutes without sweating (so, not here yet), I immediately think of picnics. There's something so nice about eating outside, no TV or distractions.
7. Make an "Autumn in New York" Station. I recommend this every year because it is just the best. Instant fall mood.
8. Have friends over for a fire. Make s'mores. It's fall's version of a cookout.
9. Go to a fair. Nothing says October like cotton candy and corn dogs.
10. Go to a pumpkin patch. Take all the pictures.
11. Sneak your pet into a pumpkin patch and take all the pictures. (Preferably in their costume).
12. Make caramel apples. PS: Does anyone know why this got labeled a fall thing? They're delicious!
13. Read a thriller. I read one every October...any recommendations for this month's choice?
14. Carve pumpkins. But don't leave them on the porch in the Florida heat, because they will rot and stain your concrete. Not that I know this, or anything.
15. Bake your favorite fall treats.
16. Make a list of people you'll be buying Christmas gifts for. Trust me, it's gonna sneak up on you. Put a list in your phone so when you see gifts or have ideas, you can write them down.
17. Take advantage of cooler nights (whenever they come) and open your windows. It's just refreshing and let fresh air in your house.
18. Get some mums for your front door. They're less than $10 at Home Depot and they brighten up any area.
19. Try a new soup recipe. I could eat soup for every meal any time, but fall makes me want soup allll the time.
20. Rent a carpet cleaner. This might not seem like an exciting thing, but it totally is (or maybe I'm just getting old). We got a carpet cleaner on super clearance a few months ago, and it is amazing how much cleaner my house feels when I use it. Trust me. Try it.
21. Go to Goodwill. I am constantly amazed by the nice things I find there.
22. Get a coffee frother. I've been using this one and it makes coffee so much better.
23. Go through your summer clothes and sell or donate ones you don't wear. It's freeing to have your closet limited to-wait for it-clothes you actually wear.
24. Have a scary movie night. If you're like me and cannot do scary movies, have a thriller movie night.
25. Spend more time outside. Going for walks, sitting and drinking coffee, whatever you like. Get more fresh air this month.
26. Get yourself a floppy hat. Or a beanie, or a scarf, or something that feels "fall-ish" and makes you happy when you wear it.
27. Try this almond toffee coffee. If you need a break from all the pumpkin flavors, this one is delicious.
28. Take some freakin' breaks. Seriously, we're heading into the busiest and most stressful (if you let it be) season of the year. Take care of yourself.
29. While you're taking a break, watch the sunrise or sunset. Don't forget how beautiful the world we live in is.
30. Stock up for trick-or-treaters. And yourself, let's be real.
31. Celebrate Halloween! Please send pictures of your pets and kids in their costumes, thank you very much.
How will you be spending October?
1. Make a fall bucket list. The next three months fly by faster than any other time of the year, so if there's something you know you for sure want to do, write it down!
2. Treat yourself to a pumpkin spice latte.
3. Then try to copy the recipe at home.
4. Watch the sunrise with a pumpkin coffee (or tea!).
5. Make an Autumn in New York station. There's something so nostalgically October about this one.
6. Have a bonfire. S'mores are strongly encouraged.
7. Make caramel apples.
8. Go to a fair or festival in your town. Fall is prime time for these!
9. Make an effort to be more positive in the way you speak. Especially when you're speaking about yourself. No more putting yourself down!
10. Read a thriller.
11. Make it a priority to reach out to your people.
12. Go apple picking.
13. Host a dinner party. Fancy or casual, you choose!
14. Work on being present. These months may fly by, but you can choose to be present and enjoy every moment, no matter where you are or what you're doing.
15. Visit a pumpkin patch. I cannot wait to take Jack back to the pumpkin patch this year.
16. Buy your pet a costume. Or at least go look at the pet costume section at Target.
17. Go thrifting and find the perfect chunky sweater.
18. Drive somewhere that really shows off in the fall. Colors colors colors!
19. Carve pumpkins.
20. Throw out all the weird bathroom stuff you keep, but don't use. Examples: halfway used old soap, old nail polish, the toothpaste that wasn't all the way gone, but you bought a new tube, etc.
21. Go to Trader Joe's. Always a favorite, but they seriously shine in the fall.
22. Listen to You Are a Bada** by Jen Sincero. It's like a pep-talk in your car. If you use this link you get two free books.
23. Spend an afternoon baking all the fall treats.
24. Try meditating.
25. Make a pumpkin pie smoothie.
26. Try some crockpot dinners.
27. Start thinking about resolutions/goals. What are some things you wish you were doing better at / were different right now?
28. Buy Halloween candy.
29. Make soup. I could live off of soup all fall long.
30. Bring someone a trick-or-treat basket filled with their favorite candy.
31. Celebrate Halloween!
How will you be spending your October?
