Fall Favorites

Last year, I wrote a post about my Christmas favorites. I had so much fun with it that I decided to repeat the idea! Each season, I am going to talk about my favorite things that have to do with that time of year – books, movies, music, foods, memories, you name it. Since fall is my favorite season, I thought it was as good a one as any to begin with.

Enjoy!

books.

The Scorpio Races! One of these days, I’m going to make November cakes. I swear. And then I’m going to reread the book, because I read it for the first and only time back in 2012 but I think about it every fall.

Also, for the last few years Rick Riordan has released a new book in October, so I’ve started to associate this time of year with something cool, new, and mythological to read.

Finally, there’s V for Vendetta by Alan Moore. While the movie reminds me of fall as well – since the fifth of November plays a major role in the story – the book is far better. I actually read it in November and I have a very vivid memory of how cold, wet, and dreary the night I devoured it was.

movies.

Since all of the Hunger Games movies but the first were released in the fall, I’ve come to associate them with that time of year. Although it’s been almost two years since the last movie came out, it still feels weird that there won’t be any more. (At least, not in the foreseeable future… any prequels/sequels notwithstanding.) I have some great memories of getting together with different friend groups over the years to watch each new movie on opening night! It gave me something to look forward to in November, which is otherwise a pretty uneventful month in my life.

tv.

Carmilla! Although there will be no more new seasons this fall, the movie will be released sometime later this year and I’m so so excited! I love this show to pieces and I’m really glad it aired when it did, because A) sometimes an episode would debut on my birthday (!) and B) it motivated me to work hard during the fall semesters because I’d tell myself that I could take a study break to watch Carmilla once I did half an hour of homework.

music.

I’ve been trying and trying to think of something with lyrics in it so I can include at least one thing that’ll be more #relatable for those of you who don’t listen to film scores, but I honestly can’t think of anything that just screams FALL to me. (I’ll probably think of something as soon as this post is published. Stay tuned.)

So… I’m going to go with some of my favorite scores by James Newton Howard. He composed the music for all of the Hunger Games movies, so every fall for the past few years I’ve had something lovely to add to my ever-changing, ever-expanding collections of writing music. I’m particularly fond of this album of arrangements by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

He also wrote the music for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which came out last November, so I associate that with this season as well. His music for each franchise is just similar enough to make me smile, yet different enough to find something new. Ahhhh it’s all so good.

food.

KSDAHGLADKHGLDSHGDSFGHL PIEEEEEE.

Apple pie is my favorite fall-ish variety, although pumpkin is great too: Since we basically only have it at Thanksgiving (and sometimes Christmas), it feels special. Speaking of Thanksgiving, my family also makes green bean casserole and even though we don’t limit it to that specific holiday dinner, it still makes me think of fall.

Can’t forget about Halloween candy! I’m a total candy corn fan… FIGHT ME. Also, those little pumpkin candies that taste like candy corn? They are divine.

But my real favorite are Kit-Kats. They were always my favorite thing to get trick-or-treating.

clothes.

I have this super comfy orange sweater that I pull out every fall because it reminds me of the changing colors of the leaves and is absolutely perfect to wear this time of year. It has three-quarter sleeves and is relatively lightweight, so it keeps me warm but not overheated since it isn’t as bulky as my winter sweaters.

Other than that, I do enjoy dressing up a little nicer than I normally do during the summer because school is back in session. I always feel more productive and motivated when I know I look good!

activities.

Back-to-school shopping, without a doubt. I mean, there isn’t much need to do it anymore since my brother and I accumulated so many notebooks, folders, mechanical pencils, et cetera over the years that now, in college, we’re essentially just using up the detritus of years past. But there are still textbooks to buy… and perhaps just one super cute notebook. If it’s on sale. You know.

I love back-to-school stuff in general. I love figuring out where my classes are, meeting my new professors, catching up with all the friends I didn’t see over the summer, and so on and so forth.

Also, apple-picking! I LOVE THE SCENT OF APPLES OK. I love munching on them while I fill up a bag. (I think last year I ate three before I finished picking?)

And raking leaves! Sooo much more fun than shoveling snow just a few months later. Jumping in ginormous leaf piles? The actual best.

memories.

Trick-or-treating, for a start. I haven’t done that in years, but I always enjoyed brainstorming costume ideas, actually making one, and coming home with soooo much candy. My mom sewed a super elaborate Snow White dress when I was in preschool (or was it kindergarten?) and it’s still one of my favorites.

Going to the pumpkin patch and carving jack-o’-lanterns. I’ve made some very clever designs over the years, if I do say so myself.

Since my birthday is September 22nd, many of my fall memories have something to do with that. Lately, that day has been stressful as I don’t like getting older, but I’m trying to deal with those Bad Feelings™ and enjoy that day for what it is. I also remember a number of joint birthday parties with my younger brother, since his birthday is just two weeks later!

Can’t forget NaNoWriMo: Although it’s been a few years since I did it, I look forward to it every year since my friends get so adorably excited talking about their writing projects.

I also have lovely lovely memories of binge-watching most of Carmilla season one on Thanksgiving Day 2014. In between helping my parents cook and tidying up the house before guests came over, I kept sneaking over to my laptop for another episode. So so good!

Finally, Hayley Kiyoko’s latest EP, Citrine, was released last September and I remember spending the following weekend listening to it and falling in love. So many warm fuzzy WLW feelings ahh! The music itself gives me more of a spring/summery feeling but I will always associate my first time through it with early fall.

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What are your fall favorites? Be sure to tell me in the comments below OR write your very own post about your favorite fall-related things! I don’t mind at all if you steal this idea; in fact it would make me super happy.