With September behind us, we have officially finished our first month of the semester. I don’t know about you, but the weeks before it gets cold for the winter are always my favorite time of the school year. To kick off this fall season, let’s round up our favorites for September!
clothing item/accessory
Perhaps my favorite part of the fall semester is getting to trade in my summer clothes for fall layers. I always find myself absolutely freezing in the campus buildings, so I religiously cycle through my favorite staple items. This year, I am prioritizing comfort over style more than ever, and have been living in oversized hoodies or cardigans instead of my (much cuter) summer clothes. I’m looking forward to pulling out my favorite sweaters once the weather gets a bit colder. Still, until then, I’ve been relying on other ways to spice up my fall outfits—whether it be by accessorizing or wearing a cute pair of shoes (I’ve been loving Adidas Gazelles).
Other favorites:
- Italian charm bracelets — Sienna
- Neutral alo sets — Kelly
- PURSES — Ava
- Low-rise Doc Martens — Emma
- Knit cardigan with scarf — Nina
- Mini skirts! — Lauren
- Off-the-shoulder sweaters — Jessie
Snack/food item
Every fall, I look forward to trying all the fun seasonal food items that appear at every grocery store around campus. As soon as I saw the first TikTok review of Trader Joe’s fall products, I started making a list of everything I needed to try. If there’s one thing about me, it’s that if there’s an apple or maple-flavored snack, I’m buying it. Apple-cider donuts are a must-have every year, but I’ve also been loving TJ’s maple & sea-salt popcorn.
Other favorites:
- Chia seed pudding — Sienna
- Starbucks jalapeño chicken pocket — Kelly
- White Cheddar Cheezitz — Ava
- TJ’s chocolate chip cookie dunkers — Emma
- Gluten-free pretzels — Lauren
- Chicken alfredo — Jessie
drink/sweet treat
I definitely don’t need an excuse to drink chai, but I feel like my chai consumption always seems to increase in the fall—maybe because I miss Saxby’s chai over the summer, and I’ve conditioned myself to go to class with my favorite drink as a motivation. This month, I’m looking forward to drinking way too much apple cider and not receiving weird looks from my roommates for drinking hot coffee.
Other favorites:
- Saxby’s chai cold brew — Sienna
- Iced cafe mocha — Kelly
- Diet Coke — Ava
- Iced caramel latte from La Prima — Emma
- Pumpkin cream chai — Nina
- Dirty chai with brown sugar — Lauren
- Pumpkin chai with oat milk — Jessie
beauty/skincare product
I remember the days when I used to wake up with enough time to put on makeup, but now I’m a senior and so busy that it feels like there’s always something more productive I could be doing. I’ve been relying on PanOxyl to reduce the time I spend on concealer, and at the very least, I can never leave the house without eyebrow gel. Here’s to hopefully getting used to my schedule and having time for eyeliner in October!
Other favorites:
- Rhode barrier butter — Sienna
- Trader Joe’s vanilla lip mask — Kelly
- Snail mucin — Ava
- Centella Hyalu-cica sleeping pack — Nina
- Good Molecules niacinamide — Lauren
song/album/artist
I listen to Fleetwood Mac year-round, but the coziness of fall always calls for a fitting soundtrack while walking to class. Notably, their song “Sisters of the Moon” puts me in the mood for Halloween and fall festivities, which I start to anticipate as soon as the semester begins and summer is officially over.
Other favorites:
- Paul McCartney — Sienna
- “Tit for Tat” by Tate McRae — Kelly
- Sincerely by Kali Uchis — Ava
- Wishbone by Conan Gray — Emma
- Olivia Dean — Lauren
- Man’s Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter — Jessie
Movie/tv show
Lately, I’ve been spending all my free time watching random shows with my roommates, ranging from Love Island Games to Netflix true-crime shows. I recently jumped on the Dancing with the Stars bandwagon (maybe because I saw Robert Irwin dancing on TikTok, but I’ll never tell) and have been absolutely hooked. I’ve never been happier to have night classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, because at least I’m free on Tuesdays for DWTS!
Other favorites:
- Pretty Little Liars — Sienna
- Gossip Girl — Kelly
- 10 Things I Hate About You — Ava
- Pop Star Academy: Katseye — Emma (I second this)
- Peacemaker — Lauren
- The Summer I Turned Pretty — Jessie
spot in pittsburgh
When I’m too busy to do practically anything fun, my compromise is to try out new coffee shops while studying. I love the ones that give you a mug when you order a hot drink, like De Fer in the Strip District. If you can’t tell, I love hot drinks, and this extends to food — I am always in the mood for soup or something with broth. My favorite food in the world is ramen, and fall gives me the perfect excuse to visit my favorite restaurant, The Ramen Bar in Squirrel Hill (also Emma’s pick, which means you have to trust us and try it yourself).
Other favorites:
- Georgie’s Corner Cafe — Sienna
- Redhawk Coffee Co. — Kelly
- Heat Check — Ava
- Kyo Matcha — Nina
- Neighborhood flea markets — Lauren
book or something fun
I haven’t had time to read this month, except for during an overnight shift at my hospital job. I read a book from cover to cover in one sitting (not literally, I had to get up to do my job sometimes), so it’s my default pick for the month. The book is called Old Enough by Haley Jakobson, and it was actually really cute! When I’m constantly reading for school, I need something lighthearted to read for fun.
Other favorites:
- Going on walks — Sienna
- Trying new restaurants — Kelly
- Journaling — Ava
- Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez — Emma
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins — Lauren
- Wild Card by Elsie Silver — Jessie
the little things
With the workload of the semester well underway, it’s important to take time for yourself to do what makes you happy, regardless of how silly it may seem. I broke my Switch earlier this month and haven’t been able to play Animal Crossing to wind down after a long day. I’ve been turning to other things, such as journaling or, to be completely honest, finishing assignments at the last minute before I go to bed.
Other favorites:
- New rec center — Kelly
- Facetiming my dog — Ava
That’s all for this month! October will bring a whole new set of favorites, but until then, maybe you can find something new to love from our roundup!