Being from the north, the one thing I hate about Florida is the lack of seasons. I miss the cool chill in the air. I miss the crunch of brightly colored leaves under my feet. I miss the smell of the fireplace. I stare longingly at the tweed pea coat in the back of my closet, hoping that one day I might wake up and it will miraculously be 40 degrees outside.
Nonetheless, I decided to go to school in the sunshine state and I am willing to give all that up to be able to drive 30 minutes to the beach. I still miss the changing seasons but it isn’t impossible to bring fall charm to Florida. Here I share with you my 10 essentials that will make you fall in love with this season.
Cinnamon Broomstick
You can’t walk into any Publix without the smell of cinnamon pummeling you in the face. That’s because of The One & Only ORIGINAL Cinnamon Broom. These tiny wooden brooms made with pure cinnamon oil will fill your apartment or dorm room with the cozy scent of cinnamon. I’ve had mine for about two and a half weeks and I can still smell it every time I walk in the door.
Glade® Maple Pumpkin Candle
If the smell of cinnamon isn’t your thing, this candle will engulf your room in the smell of pumpkin pie. I picked one of these up at Target the other day and it does not disappoint. The candle burns around thirty hours, and your roommates are sure to appreciate your purchase. It can be the perfect substitution or complement to your cinnamon broom!
Baking/Cooking
If the smell of fake pumpkin pie isn’t good enough for you, bake your own! Or make pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin anything you can think of. You can also use pumpkin in a variety of other dishes. Check out this pumpkin fondue or this pumpkin soup!
One of my favorite dishes to make in the fall is chili. It’s so nice to let it simmer on the stove and let the savory aroma fill my apartment. Chili is relatively easy to make and there is a type of chili perfect for every palette. Browse the web for a recipe that intrigues you and get cooking!
Cider
Cider is the eggnog of the fall season. When you’re not drinking a Pumpkin Spice Latte, enjoy a hot mug of cider on a cold afternoon. Cider is traditionally an alcoholic beverage; so if you are of age try either Strongbow or Woodchuck. While it is difficult to make your own apple cider without a juicer or a cider press, there are recipes out there that will inspire you to personalize your cider. Check out this pumpkin and apple cider cocktail or this spiced cider recipe for inspiration on how to turn that bottle of apple cider into deliciousness.
Pumpkins
This is a given. There are so many things you can do with pumpkins that it’s almost overwhelming. One of my favorite things I’ve seen this season is spray-painting pumpkins. Taking metallic paint and spray-painting patterns, faces, or even the entire pumpkin is a fresh new take on an old classic. Carving pumpkins is still an option for those of us with childhood nostalgia, but this can quickly get messy. A carved pumpkin will quickly rot in the Florida heat and humidity. But if you insist on carving a pumpkin, use the inside of the pumpkin to cook with! Bake the seeds and use everything else in a fresh pumpkin pie!
The Perfect Light Bulb
This might seem like a strange fall essential but if you’ve ever watched HGTV you know that lighting creates an atmosphere. And nothing says fall like a dimly lit room and flickering candles. You can create the warm glow that a fireplace gives off with just a simple light bulb switch. Pick up one of these vintage-inspired light bulbs from the closest hardware store; it fills my room with a cozy amber glow.
Decorations
My mother has boxes upon boxes full of decorations for each season and holiday. Each fall our home is covered in candles, pumpkins, scarecrows, and leaves. We buy hay bales with intentions only to decorate them. You don’t have to go all out to fill your apartment with fall charm. Head to your local craft store and gather up some supplies. There are always sales going and you will be able to find cute little knick-knacks to scatter around your apartment.
Sweaters
In Florida, we rarely have the chance to wear heavy sweaters. But having a sweater around just to throw on and off is perfect for fall when the weather is constantly changing. I have tons of sweaters that I rotate through each week. Some of my favorites that I’ve seen this season are this V-neck sweater from J.Crew and this oversized cardigan from Urban Outfitters.
Texture
Cooler weather lets you play around with heavier textures in your wardrobe. Mixing and matching pieces and layering is more fun when it isn’t blazing hot outside. Pair corduroy with denim, or wool with cotton. Mixing different materials will add depth to your fall looks that you can’t achieve during the summer. For inspiration check out this peplum top from Urban Outfitters and these corduroys from Forever 21.
Football
A fall season classic. Nothing says fall like tailgating and watching your favorite team. Having that fall chill in the air as you sit in the stands with your fellow classmates brings on strange feelings of nostalgia. A football game, or any sporting event, is a time where the entire student body connects to support their school. Don’t miss out on this experience this fall!
What are your favorite fall essentials? Tell us on the Her Campus UCF Facebook page!Â