For me, Fall is the best time of year. We start getting into the holidays, the air turns crisp and smells fresh, and the mountains get a brilliant splash of color from the changing leaves. So in honor of my favorite season, I thought I’d give some tips to help us live it up.
Get outside while you still can.
Winters in Utah can get pretty cold, so most people stay shut inside all day. And even if you’re an avid skier, you know that other outdoor activities don’t work as well with snow. Fall is the perfect reminder that warm weather won’t last forever, so take advantage of the last few weeks before the snow comes. Go on hikes! Soak in the gorgeous mountains all around us. I have loved going into the canyon and on short hikes recently with my family. Even on colder days, if you bundle up well, you’ll be fine—especially once you get your body moving. Another idea is to go to the park on a sunny afternoon to walk or throw a Frisbee or have a picnic dinner.
Have some fun.
I’m one who doesn’t like to over-schedule, but I still love hosting or attending some great Halloween parties. And make sure to dress up! There aren’t many opportunities in the year for putting on strange clothes and make-up, so make the most of it. You’ll feel like a kid again, which is a great thing. If you don’t know of any neighborhood parties or shindigs with friends, plan one yourself! And it can be simple—doughnuts and apple cider from the store would please me just fine! Then go to your local library and find some spooky movies (age appropriate) that your friends/family can choose from. It’ll be a hit.
Get kids involved in planning Halloween.
I recently read an article about a mom who was very overwhelmed with a number of things in her life around the time of Halloween. So she let her kids take over the holiday. They carved pumpkins for a whole afternoon (using the safe, mini knives) while she got some important things done. They got to put up the decorations and made some of their own, which of course they were delighted with. She pulled out their big box of dress-ups and they put together their own costumes, which they were also extremely excited about. She simply knew that she couldn’t do it all this year, but loved seeing how much her children enjoyed creating their own Halloween.
This beautiful autumn weather is calling your name! Get outside and get creative in making this a great season for you and your family.
