Everyone is rejoicing all over social media. I can’t hop on Facebook without seeing someone flaunting their pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin spice muffin or hugging a pumpkin. The apple picking pictures are killing me.
And I’m stuck over here in a tropical paradise!
Fall will never come to my little slice of heaven.
Ok, fine, I’ve got white sand beaches, turquoise waters and a coral reef just offshore. But I don’t have fall. As a girl from New England, it feels like I’m missing an essential part of myself. I grew up in the land of golden falls. That first hint of frost makes my heart race. When the leaves start to change from green to golds, reds,
That first hint of frost makes my heart skip a beat. When the leaves start to change from green to golds, reds, yellows and oranges, I fall in love with autumn all over again. The first bite of a crisp orchard-fresh apple is perfection.
Now I get none of that. It’s always lemonade and popsicle season for me. I’m ok with it when my hometown gets rocked by yet another blizzard. During pumpkin spice everything season, I get a little nostalgic and sad though.
Until I brought autumn to me!
Scentsational
The minute that September arrives, my house immediately changes fragrance. For the rest of the year, I’m more than happy to bask in the scent of ocean breezes or summer flowers.
Right now? Everything in my house is currently fall flavored. My wax burner has an apple pie a la mode brick in it and it’s going full blast. When I’m tired of that scent, I can swap over to the candles. In my personal stash, I’m loving everything pumpkin: pumpkin cinnamon roll, pumpkin pie, pumpkin farm (ok, I’m kidding) and of course pumpkin spice.
I might be a world away from picking a fresh gourd from a field, but you’d never know it once you step in my door.
DIY PSL
Even though I definitely have coffee chains here, they don’t carry my beloved pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin spice anything. Hey, it’s a different culture, so I can give that a pass. What I can’t do without is a PSL at least once a week. So I’ve found ways to make my own beverages at home.
If I’m rushed for time, I sprinkle a little bit of pumpkin spice directly into my coffee. This popular spice blend is available at every grocery store ever! Then I add a little warm milk and some sweetener.
For when I have some time on my hands, I DIY my own creamer blend. I like this recipe from Running with Spoons for a dairy-free, paleo friendly version.
Either way, throw some whipped cream on top of that cup of fall flavor!
Cook All the Food
The weather might still be screaming SUMMER but I’m over here getting my slow cooker on. I’m currently cranking out sweet breads, pies and muffins like my life depends on it. If you wanted a fresh apple berry pie with a brown sugar cinnamon glazed crust, head on over! Just bring some ice cream or caramel sauce.
Fall is also the best time to start eating all of the most comforting food. And I’m here for all of it. My monthly menu planner is full of meatballs, meatloaf, stews, roasted chicken and chili. It might seem a little crazy to dig into a steaming bowl of chili or load up on a hot chicken dinner when it’s still over 100℉ outside.
If it’s wrong to want to show my love with hot comfort foods, I just don’t want to be right. Plus, my spouse and preschooler are obsessed with meatballs.
Sweaters and Leggings??
I have to draw the line somewhere and this is it. Even though my heart is screaming to get all cozy in chunky knit sweaters, I would get heat stroke in minutes. Leggings would really just serve to make me sweat even more than I already do. Plus, they would make it hard to snorkel.
Instead, I’ll just binge watch some fall episodes of Gilmore Girls and watch You’ve Got Mail. That opening sequence? Heaven!
Whether you’re in the desert or at the beach, you can bring a little slice of autumn to your current duty station. Share your fav tips to make fall happen in the comments.
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Meg Flanagan
Meg is a military spouse, teacher, writer, and mom of two MilKids. She is an education blog and coaching/advocacy service focused on military families. Meg's mission is to help families understand and navigate the K-12 world. She provides timely posts, timeless advice, and personal assistance to families with school-aged children. You can find Meg online at megflanagan.com and @MegFlanaganEducation
Meg is a military spouse, teacher, writer, and mom of two MilKids. She is an education blog and coaching/advocacy service focused on military families. Meg's mission is to help families understand and navigate the K-12 world. She provides timely posts, timeless advice, and personal assistance to families with school-aged children.
You can find Meg online at megflanagan.com and @MegFlanaganEducation