As time continues to tick down in September and that Earth, Wind & Fire song plays, there’s only one thing on my mind: autumn. I get dressed all cute in a plaid skirt and a brown sweater, cozy with warm apple cider, and I go outside to live my college girl dreams, only to be instantly reminded that I live in Florida. Shorts and a brown tank top will have to do for now, but I yearn for those fall vibes. Well, if you’re like me, yearn no more: here are eight ways you can turn that fall frown into a hot girl fall!
- Coffee and Tea For Me
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Tallahassee has countless outstanding local spots for the ultimate coffee girl vibes. Grabbing a nice cold cup of coffee (even though we all wish for hot drinks, it’s not possible with this weather) and sitting down to work on some homework embraces that “It Girl Energy” we’re seeking. My personal favorites include Frother’s Daughter and Calvin’s Coffee House.
For starters, Frother’s Daughter envelopes that autumn vibe with their drinks. Every month they come out with new ones. Check out September’s new drinks before October arrives and the season brings even more spooky season treats.
My other personal favorite is Calvin’s Coffee House. While their drinks are good, they aren’t seasonal, but they’re right next to campus and host community events like open mic nights and even crafting events! I went to an open mic night last year, and I never felt more iconic than sitting there working on my own poetry, listening to indie artists sipping on a chai latte.
- Host a Dorm Bake-Off
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Now, I may be biased, but I make the best pumpkin cookies. Maybe I’m just the best baker (lies). Anyway, if you would like to contest that fact, then you should host your own fall bake-off. From pumpkin pastries to oatmeal crème pies, this is the season for those warm, freshly baked harvest treats. Why not get competitive with it? Plus, who doesn’t like wearing that title and having their dorms or apartments smelling like apples and cinnamon?
If you don’t know what to bake, well, feel free to check out this article for ideas! If none of those treats looked appealing, then look no further than Instagram or TikTok. That’s why you should get baking and feel like that Hallmark main character.
- Pumpkin Patches and Pinterest
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I know, I know, it’s a basic thing, but aren’t we all just a little bit basic sometimes? Plus, there are so many things to do with pumpkins! You can carve them, paint them, look up ideas on Pinterest. There are plenty of fun DIY ideas after you hit up the patch, so get creative. I’ve seen pumpkins turned into vases, candle holders, scary faces, etc. You could tie it in with the baking and bake some brown sugar pumpkin seeds.
Most pumpkin patches are just opening now. Some local churches host pumpkin patches to raise money, like Faith Presbyterian Church. If you want a little bit of a drive but that authentic cut-off-the-vine feel, I suggest Moccasin’s Grove.
- Scary Movie Marathons (or Not-So-Scary Movies)
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This isn’t the most creative, but some nights we just crave a “stay-in and be-cozy” vibe, especially in Autumn. If you want all those spooky vibes, I suggest heading to Five Below and grabbing their seasonal snacks there. They have all you need for the ultimate movie night, including glow-in-the-dark Sour Patch Kids. Furthermore, they have the best spooky and fall merch a girl could want. So, grab that Harry Potter blanket and snuggle in, because what’s more aesthetic than a good movie with a bowl of popcorn?
- Go Thrifting
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Okay, you’ve got activities, but what about clothes? Well, autumn is a whole season of warmth and coziness, and what’s more comfy than already lived-in clothes? That sounded much better in my head, but thrifted clothing gives the downtown fall girl vibes we’re craving, especially in Tallahassee, where most clothes here are basically your big sister’s old clothes.
Thus, head over to your local Goodwill or Railroad Square Thrift and enjoy a day shopping! I always need a little retail therapy to deal with the fall semester’s workload.
- Take a Hot Girl Walk (In a Park)
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The health grind for Halloween is real, and walks are great to get a mental load off. That’s why I suggest going on an adventure and taking a nice leisure stroll in one of Tallahassee’s many amazing parks. One popular option would be Lake Ella. It’s small and quaint but has phenomenal walking vibes. Plus, you can get a two-for-one on this list by stopping and grabbing coffee at Black Dog.
My favorite, however, is Lafayette Heritage Park. It might be a slight drive, but the vast trail and exploration really put me in a woodland gnome vibe. Plus, the canopy of trees is sure to block the hot sun and make you feel less hot while you still look hot.
- Costume Pictures
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This is more for those Type A girlies (no shade, Type B, I feel you), but if you got those costumes prepared, then go out and take the photos now! I mean, why wait until one night to wear it one time? Embrace the costume and take those hot girl photos now. You can then avoid all the waiting in front of aesthetic locations on campus and have the world’s best solo costume photos. Not to say you can’t take photos of that night, but why stress yourself out over that?
Also, if you don’t feel the costume vibe, then you can just take cute aesthetic autumn photos. My personal favorites are those ghost and pumpkin head photos, because c’mon, those non-face photos are mysterious and cool girl-coded. So, go out and find those picture-perfect spots now. Bonus points if the place can be associated with your costume!
- Be a Mysterious Library Girl
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Now it’s time to live in that Gilmore Girls, Laufey, iced coffee vibe and head to a bookshop. Find some good reads or music albums to envision and manifest what you want your autumn to be.
Whether it’s classics, psychological horror, or my favorite, rom-coms, Midtown Reader is sure to have something that’ll support your fancy. Plus, there’s a café inside, so you can once again knock two birds with one stone. Really, nothing screams more It Girl and Hot Girl Autumn than cozying in with a good book and a nice coffee. Like, yes, you are that girl.
So, don’t let the heat melt you. Go hit up the thrift store. Wear those clothes and pack a tote with a small pumpkin and paint markers, that book you just got, and those sweet treats you baked, then head over to Lake Ella and grab a cup of an iced pumpkin spice latte. Embrace knowing you are the Downtown girl we all want to be!
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