First Day of Fall

September 23rd is the first day of fall and that means a whole slew of things! Hopefully one of those things is colder weather. I live in southern California where we don’t have real seasons, but the temperature tends to drop a bit beginning in

the fall. It’s been warm recently but perhaps with the season beginning today, we’ll start to see the change. Among temperature drops, you may notice leaves changing color and falling from the trees as well as the sun setting earlier. People will start wearing scarves, boots and jackets and you may even see a few Halloween decorations creeping onto people porches. This is my favorite time of year and maybe yours too, so let’s find some really great activities to kick this fantastic season off!

Kids back to school? Give them an afternoon craft to keep their minds working without boring them to tears. Try a scarecrow made out of old clothes, straw and some paint. If your kids love Halloween, I suggest a Countdown Calendar or construction paper chain to let them know how many days are left until this spooky holiday. But Halloween may not be a favorite among your family, so this works well for Thanksgiving too!
Head to the local Farmer’s Market to pick up fresh vegetables and fruit that you will want to use in your kitchen or Fall decor.

Do some baking. Now that you’ve gone to the market to get what you’ll need, bake away. An apple pie does the trick and fills your home with smells and spices. I have already planned on baking a Pumpkin Bread that my husband craves all year long.
Buy some yummy smelling candles and set your home ablaze! Well, don’t really set the house on fire but lighting some pumpkin spice, cinnamon roll or autumn leaf candles will help you get in the Fall mood.
Change out your wardrobe. Grab the cold weather clothes and hang them up while you pull your summer tanks and shorts from the drawers.
Decorate the house. While you’re in the attic getting your warms coats and long pants out, be sure to pull your fall decorations out too. Setting this day aside to decorate your home will help you feel organized. Plus if you have children, this is a great way to spend some quality time together and give them a sense of family unity that they can carry onto their children.
Start a tradition. Any of these activities can be a tradition that you continue with your family. And traditions are a great way to teach your kids values. But if you don’t have kids, then a tradition will give you something special to look forward to.