When you live in Florida, the first day of fall arrives and nothing changes. There are no leaves that turn red or yellow, and the temperature outside usually continues to hover in the 80’s and 90’s. This can be particularly hard for people who love fall and wish that Florida would show the signs of the season. Fortunately, there are tons of things you can do to bring the cozy feelings of fall into your life, even when the weather isn’t cooperating.
1. Wear darker colors.
Photo Credit: Andrew Robles
Floridians might not be able to bundle up in sweaters, but we can still warm up our wardrobes with color. Nowadays, a lot of fall clothing lines include short sleeve shirts and dresses that are perfect for people who live in the warmer regions of the country. Some of my favorite fall releases this year are from Luca and Grae.
2. Buy fall candles.
Photo Credit: Fabio Issao
Candles play a big role in my perception of the season. As soon as October rolls around, I like to burn candles that smell like pumpkin, cinnamon, or apples. My favorites are the three wick candles from Bath and Body Works. Regular price puts them at $24.50 each, but sale prices put them between $10 and $15 every couple of weeks.
3. Decorate.
Photo Credit: Christopher Jolly
Who doesn't love to decorate? There may not be any leaves falling off the trees outside, but you can still get an autumn effect inside your home using imitation leaves or flowers, plaid blankets, and pumpkins. Michael's has a great assortment of fall decorations, or you can try looking up a few DIY projects online.
4. Start baking.
Photo Credit: Taylor Grote
There's a reason they call it "holiday weight." Fall and winter are a great time to bake all of your favorite cookies, cakes, and cobblers. You can check out some of my favorite fall recipes here.
5. Visit Starbucks.
Photo Credit: Takahiro Sakamoto
The best part about all of the fall drinks at Starbucks is that they all come iced. Even in Florida, you can still enjoy a classic pumpkin spice latte or one of the new maple pecan lattes this fall.
6. Watch Halloween movies.
Photo Credit: Julia Raasch
There's no better way to make it feel like fall than snuggling up on the couch with a bag of popcorn and your favorite Halloween movie pulled up on Netflix. Even in 90-degree weather, "Nightmare Before Christmas" is a great movie.
7. Change your makeup look.
Photo Credit: Magdalena Ferreira Lamas
One way to make your transition from summer to fall is by changing your makeup. Fall is the perfect time of year to wear darker lip colors and winged eyeliner.
8. Visit a pumpkin patch.
Photo credit: Hamza El-Falah
Florida has its fair share of pumpkin patches to visit. Most churches and farmer's markets set one up every year. This is a list of pumpkin patches available to visit in Orlando, and this is an interactive website where you can search for pumpkin patches all across the state.