Ignore the heat and get in the fall spirit

Ignore+the+heat+and+get+in+the+fall+spirit

Story by Savanna Pear, Staff Writer

Fall, arguably the most vibrant and enchanting season of the year, officially began on Sep. 22, 2016. If you didn’t look outside and notice the changing of the leaves and feel a slight chill in the air, don’t worry – that’s because neither of those things noticeably occurred. The fact of the matter is, South Florida is famous for its sunny beaches and sky-high Palm Trees, not its rolling pumpkin patches and beautiful birches. Many rejoice in skipping out on donning sweaters and clutching mugs for warmth during the latter half of the year, while others would love to take part in just a few fall festivities. While this may initially seem impossible here, if you’re willing to get a little creative, you’ll be celebrating just like a northerner in no time – kind of.

The cooler air outside may not be drastically noticeable, but there is a temperature drop that occurs a few weeks into fall. Once you begin to feel that refreshing breeze, don’t immediately reach for an item in your closet that will allow as much air to circulate as possible. Try wearing something a bit cozier, like a light sweater or some fuzzy boots. Switching up your everyday wardrobe will automatically make you feel more relaxed and comfortable, which makes getting into the fall spirit an easy initial transition. Once you look the part, it’s time to start eating like it. The simplest suggestion for an autumn treat is going out and purchasing some candy corn, and maybe putting it in a bowl to grab a handful on your way out the door. You could also brew up some apple cider, or get creative and look up recipes for baking all things pumpkin flavored. If you’re not afraid to be basic, reward yourself by strolling over to Starbucks and sipping on a Pumpkin Spice Latte, a decision that you won’t regret.

Now that you are both looking and eating like a dedicated follower of fall, you definitely deserve engaging in some entertaining festivities. When you think of Florida, farms aren’t usually the first image that come to mind. However, chances are quite high that there’s still a corn field somewhere nearby. If the owner has any respect for spectacular moonlit nights, they’ll have a corn maze cut and ready for enjoyment. These tricky labyrinths are fantastic at bringing groups of friends together for a good time, no matter how many times you get turned around. If this sort of activity doesn’t float your boat, you could always opt for the classic hang out option of roasting s’mores over a bonfire – or a chimney fire, or a hot stove, whatever gets the marshmallows gooey and the chocolate deliciously melted. And for those who want to put in the absolute minimum effort to enjoy fall, there’s always a wide variety of horror movies begging to be picked up off the shelves and screamed at while you’re wrapped in a blanket. You can also attend a football game and join the crowd of flannel-clad fans, or watch the recap on TV through CW’s Friday Night Rivals. No matter how you choose to celebrate this crisp and inspirational season, you’re guaranteed to enjoy yourself just a bit more when the scent of salty ocean waves and warm pumpkin pies mingle and drift through the air.

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