Fall is here!

Guys...it's COLD outside!  The leaves are falling in all colors and the chill in the air means football watching is more enjoyable and our hoodies feel much more comfortable. Have I mentioned boots?  Oh, I love boot season!  So, in celebration of it finally FEELING like fall, I thought I would list my top 10 fall things and see what some of my readers think are must-have or must-do for fall!

1. PUMPKINS.  Pumpkin everything.  Pie, muffins, anything baked.  I have a pumpkin muffin recipe and I add chocolate chips, because, well, chocolate is amazing!

2. GOOD EARTH TEA: Forget the pumpkin spice latte or whatever y'all spend too much money on.  This TEA is amazing.  It tastes like fall to me and I only drink it September through December, as weather allows.  No milk or sugar needed, it's perfect as is.

3. SOUP: I promise, not everything is about food, but this is the time of year to fatten up to keep warm for winter :) Chicken tortilla, chicken & wild rice, chili (I make it differently every single time, never following a recipe), kale & orzo minestrone (we add sausage too) are just some of our favorites. There's something about cooler weather that makes me pull out the chicken broth and get to work.

4. HEATED BLANKETS: Nothing beats a cold evening like a heated blanket.  We keep these near our couches for those cool nights when nothing else will do.  If you're a Costco member, these are on sale during the next few weeks so you can grab one there for $33.  Or have Amazon do it for you.  Variety of colors to match any decor! Just make sure you unplug before heading to bed!!

5. FOOTBALL:  I mean if you're talking NFL there's only one team worth discussing, which we all know as the Pittsburgh Steelers.  But college football is also enjoyable.  UK isn't much to watch most of the time but in PA we have several teams worth watching.  Eating some snacks curled up on a couch on a Saturday afternoon, maybe even with an electric blanket --- watching your favorite team.  Doesn't get much better than that.

6. CARVING PUMPKINS: My kids love using templates to make pumpkins beyond the typical jack-o-lantern faces.  We found these this year and love them.  My oldest did the spider and my youngest did the witch.  They turned out really well!

7. APPLE EVERYTHING: Not to be outdone by pumpkins, apples are another favorite food of mine.  Just plain, dipped in peanut butter, or cored & sliced and topped with nut butter, mini chocolate chips and granola.  Baked in pies, crisp, muffins. Slices infused into pork tenderloin.  Apple everything.

8. BONFIRES: Our new back yard has a homemade fire pit.  Last night in the cool air, we roasted giant marshmallows and made memories as a family.  The kids request this very often, even in the summer, but it's much better in the cool air to feel the warmth of a fire.  Plus it helps to burn up all the yard waste you don't want around.  Win Win Win!

9. LEAF PILES: Nothing makes you feel like a kid again as much as jumping into huge piles of leaves!  Just make sure you pick up after the dog first!  I'm not talking from experience or anything.... :X

10. HALLOWEEN/THANKSGIVING: The fall holidays far outdo the other holidays throughout the year.  One day just for candy and another for eating wonderful food all day long?  You definitely can't beat the fall holidays!

What are some of your favorite things about fall?

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