THE PERFECT FALL!

Actually clean! Take the time to go beyond your usual cleaning routine and give your space a proper reset. Wipe down surfaces, vacuum or mop the floor, and make sure to disinfect any touch points (flu season!).

Change your bedding. Switching to warmer-toned sheets, cozy flannels, or a heavier comforter can make a big difference when nights start to get colder. Even just adding an extra blanket helps make your space look autumn-ready.

Get out the autumnal decor. You can buy decor or make it yourself (see below). It doesn't have to be too extra, either. A papier-mache pumpkin here, a leaf garland there...

Buy new candles and scents. Fall is the perfect time to go out and treat yourself to new candles. Search for scents like apple, pumpkin spice, or vanilla. If candles aren't your thing, try wax melts or even room spray.

Plan fall activities. Make a little bucket list of things you want to do this season. I made a bingo board, where if I complete one activity, I get to mark it off the board. This is really fun to do with friends..

Change your device's background. Since most of us use electronic devices quite often, I recommend going in and changing the background and screensavers to something more seasonal. As a certified Google Calendar addict, during the fall season, I love to go in and change the color scheme of my calendar to warmer tones.

Make a fall playlist. And last, but not least: the music! Honestly, making a playlist is one of the first things you should do. I have two fall Spotify playlists (#1 and #2), and they are really fun to listen to while doing the things listed above.

This season is one of the best for making memories. Wheather you're hanging out with friends or spending time on your own, Here are some ideas to fill your bucket lost with!

With Friends or Family

• Visit a pumpkin patch
• Go apple picking
• Have a scary movie marathon
• Hide and Seek in the dark
• Go on a hayride
• Visit a haunted house
• Go to a corn maze
• Have a fall photoshoot
• Go trick-or-treating

By Yourself (a lot of the things in the "friends and family" list can also be done on your own!)

• ​Start a fall journal
• Go on autumn hikes or walks
• ​Go on a fall shopping spree
• Have a read-a-thon
• Try different makeup routines
• Bake something seasonal
• Make themed playlists
• Have a movie night
• Have a self-care night
• Decorate your room

If you're looking for simple ways to make your space more cozier and personal, DIY crafts are the way to go. They don't need to be complicated or expensive. Just enjoy the process of making it and

Star (or any type of) Garlands. You can make these yourself... or you can just buy them off Amazon like I did after getting too frustrated. But it's really worth having one! They're really pretty and add a nice touch to your room. I bought stars, but you can do leaves, ghosts, miniature pumpkins, or anything you would like.

Leaf Pressing. I used to do these when I was little! If you have a journal or scrapbook, leaf pressing can add a really nice touch to certain pages, too. It's really easy to do and doesn't cost any money.

DIY blankets. I think this is my favorite so far. I love blankets and I practically collect them, so this is perfect for me. In my opinion, tie blankets are the easiest to make because they don't require any sewing or outside skills. They are also great gifts for family and friends!

DIY candles. I personally have never tried this before, but i love the idea of being able to control how strong i want in a candle to smell. Heavily scented candles give me awful headaches. . . You can also paint and decorate your candle to match the vibe you want.

Of course, always curate your own style! But I've put some tips for people who want to try a more cozy style for the autumn. If you like the ideas I provided below and want to look more into this kind of style, try searching up "Downtown Girl" on Pinterest for some outfit inspo.

Layer, layers, layers. Cardigans, oversized sweaters, denim jackets, and flannels are basically fall essentials. Instead of wearing each individually, try pairing them together and layering them on top of each other. Layering not only looks really cute, but it also keeps you warm as the weather begins to cool. I recommend getting a staple item, like my favorite brown leather jacket, and using it to layer with your other clothes.

Colors and textures. Aim for warm tones like wine red, burnt orange, forest green, and dark brown. In addition, fabrics like knit, wool, and plaid help make an outfit feel more autumnal. The best way to find original pieces is to go thrifting.

Shoes. Boots are a must. Personally, I've been loving the riding boots with leg warmers combo, but really any type of boots (combat, ankle, loafers) work great.

Accessories. Use scarves, leg warmers, headphones, and a tote bag to complete your look. If you want, switch to gold jewelry for a warmer.

Finishing touches. Try dark red or brown-toned lipsticks, neutral eyeshadow looks, or nails in colors like maroon, olive green, or chocolate brown. Even switching your perfume to something warmer (vanilla, cedar, amber) adds to the fall aesthetic.

There are obviously many more films and shows I can add to this list, but I wouldn't have enough space. If you would like to watch a few of these movies for free, check out my post titled Moyin's Marvelous Movie Notebook!

Gilmore Girls. I can't say how many times I had to watch and rewatch the first three episodes of this show. I just thought it was so boring. But trust me, once you get past those first couple of episodes, the plot actually gets really interesting. Even though most of the episodes don't take place in the fall, the whole show just has a comforting mood about it.

Fantastic Mr. Fox. This movie feels like fall in every way. Stop motion animations are my favorite type of animation, so I can proudly say that Fantastic Mr Fox has been one of my favorite movies since I was little.

Dead Poets Society. When I was in middle school, I had a really... well... interesting.. dark academia phase. It led to an obsession with this movie. Even though that phase has passed, this is still one of my all-time favorite movies, and I still cry at the end of it every time.

Twilight. As of when I'm writing this, all the Twilight movies are free on YouTube, which is dangerous because I'll probably binge them all at once. I'm really excited to watch it for the first time!

You've Got Mail. This movie is very "fall in New York" and I actually liked it more than When Harry Met Sally, a similar movie. 10/10 recommend.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. A classic! Short, cute, and very nostalgic.

In my opinion, one of the best ways to settle into the season is to bake something delicious. Even if you're not a good cook, buying pumpkin-flavored snacks or using a mix or dough can have the same effect. I enjoy using seasonal creamers for my coffee as well, on the rare days that I don't feel like going out and buying a drink. Here's a list of things to bake!

Pumpkin bread. Or really just anything pumpkin-flavored. It can be pumpkin bread, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin spiced cupcakes, or pumpkin pie. Or maybe just pumpkin itself? Do people do that? That's something I need to look up...

Cinnamon rolls. Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of cinnamon rolls, but I know most people enjoy them. I've never made these before, so I'm not sure about their difficulty level. If you want, you can always buy the kind you just put in a dish and pop in the oven for something quick and easy.

Those Pillsbury cookies. There is something about those specific cookies that gets anyone in the mood for the season. Not only do they come in really cute designs like ghosts or pumpkins, but they're easy to make and can be a nice break from all the cinnamon and pumpkin-flavored things.

Chocolate chip cookies! I've never met anyone who doesn't like this classic dessert. The best kind is the type where the cookie is perfectly crunchy on the outside, and chewy and warm on the inside.

Fudge/toffee. Ah yes. I think these desserts are completely worth getting stuck in your teeth. If you couldn't tell, I'm not very good at baking, which makes fudge and toffee perfect for me.