It’s October, which means it’s officially fall! Spooky season is upon us, ghosts and ghouls. I’m not sure about ya’ll, but I’m a fall girl. I thrive during these chilly months. There’s just something about the crisp breeze and the turning leaves. Since I’m so passionate about said season, I’ve decided to share some of my must do’s and must haves for Autumn.
Must Do’s:
First, you absolutely have to decorate for Halloween. As soon as October hit, my roomie and I hung bats around our room. We have a few glowing Jack-O-Lanterns, a glowing skeleton candle, and a candy bowl. You can’t forget the spooky candy bowl. Even if you can’t go all out, get some cute little spooktastic window decals. Witches on broomsticks, bats, old rickety houses surrounded by ghosts— you can never go wrong with these basic decorating ideas. It also just puts you in a festive mood.
Another must do is a corn maze. Go to a corn maze with your friends or family! You can make some wonderful memories screaming at the top of your lungs about something that totally won’t seem scary in the future. Last year, I went to a corn maze with my best friend, and I was reduced to tears over a clown laughing at me. Let me tell you, we giggle about it every time one of us happens to mention a corn maze or a haunted house.
One of the less important must do’s is dressing up. Though, I firmly believe that you have to dress up! That’s the fun of Halloween. Even if people say we’re too old to trick-or-treat once we hit high school, the opposite is true. We’re never too old to dress up and get some candy. You might receive a few odd looks or even be told no— but don’t let the haters get in the way of you having fun! No one is too old for Halloween. That’s like saying you’re too old to celebrate Christmas— you just don’t do that.
Another must do is apple picking. I know that it seems totally cliché, but it’s actually quite fun— as long as you like apples. If not, then you pick apples for no reason. Don’t go apple picking if you don’t like apples— you probably won’t have fun because you can’t eat any after you did the labor. Personally, I vote yes to this cute little pass time. I say that you should go apple picking because it’s another wonderful bonding experience. Apple picking allows you to spend quality time with the people you love. It’s also a great way to experience the goosebump-inducing fall air and crunchy fallen leaves. Bundled up in a sweater, walking through a beautiful orchard, sounds like bliss.
Another thing I absolutely love doing this time of year is going to a pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin. Normally, a pumpkin patch has hayrides so it’s kind of a two-for-one deal. You get to experience the patch and the hayride. The best part of the pumpkin is carving it. You can carve it into anything you’d like— the creative freedom of that is wonderful. Another amazing thing about buying a pumpkin is cooking the seeds after you carve said pumpkin. Baked pumpkin seeds, tossed in some Lawry’s seasoning salt, are so good. I could eat the seeds of a whole large pumpkin in one day. Not even. I really suggest trying it out if you haven’t already.
There’s one more activity I think everyone has to do during fall: watch some spooktacular movies. Spooky movies are an absolute must. “The Conjuring” is a popular one among my friends right now. Traditionally though, “Hocus Pocus,” “Harry Potter,” “HalloweenTown,” “Twitches”… there are so many movies that are seasonally wonderful. If you’re not quite in the Halloween spirit, “Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving” is another good one.
Must Haves:
Now for the must haves. Apple cider, whether it’s warmed up and seasoned with cinnamon, or cold and served over ice— you need apple cider. My roommate and I have some in our fridge, though I can’t say how long it will last. Apple cider is just another fall tradition. Are you really getting an authentic autumn experience if you aren’t sipping apple cider while watching some spooky movies? I think not. I guess you could also drink some warm milk, but that’s generally reserved for Christmas. Hot chocolate is also a valid option, but also leans towards the Christmas season.
A second must have is candy. Most people don’t like candy corn, but I’m a fan. They have a unique taste, and the little corn shape is also super adorable, so why not eat them? Some other candy classics are Reese’s— which are my favorite— Snickers, Cry Baby’s, Kit-Kats, Hershey Bars, Smarties, Sweet-Tarts, M&M’s, Sour Patch Kids… the list goes on. Really, any candy can be Halloween candy if you say it’s Halloween candy.
Candles, wall flowers, and scented soaps are also must-haves for me. Since we can’t have candles in the dorms, my roommate and I invested in some wallflowers. Best purchase we’ve made thus far. When I get home from a particularly long and aggravating class, I’m immediately enveloped by the wonderful scent of Leaves— a scent from Bath and Body Works— when I walk through the door. For those of you lucky enough to have candles in your room, I’m jealous. Those last longer. But also, try out the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. It’s heavenly. I could eat the hand soap we currently have in our bathroom— but I won’t because that would be strange.
Next on my list of must haves: fuzzy items of clothing. Sweaters and socks are it during this time of year. Being all bundled up and cozy, snacking on some delicious sweets while watching a festive movie, is a stress reliever if I’ve ever heard of one. If you need to wind down from college— whether you have a ton to do or you have nothing to do— you’re sure to feel better if you take a break and just relax into the wonders of this season. Goodness knows that I take advantage of this so-called relaxation session very often. I’m actually currently in the middle of a Harry Potter marathon. We’ve got some cider in the fridge, popcorn on a shelf, and cozy clothes all readied for our lazing session.
I know that there are so many other items to have and activities to do during this spooky season, but these few seem to make me the giddiest during this time of year. Hopefully, you’ll take advantage of my advice, have fun, and make some great memories. Have a spooktacular day, and stay warm ghosts and ghouls!