Our Fall Musts!

Today is the first full day of Fall! We’re hoping the weather will get a clue soon and head toward the cooler temperatures, but since we’re already dreaming of those days to come, we decided to share our Fall Musts with you today.

MUST EAT:

Candace: Baked baby pumpkins! (I understand it’s strange to have the words “baked” and “baby” right next to each other.) Vintage Press serves these each October, but my homemade version is delicious, too, as long as I’m up for the work. Also, I can’t resist candy corn!

Stephanie: Is there anything I shouldn’t eat this time of year?

MUST SEE TV:

Candace: Parks and Rec, the final season. If Visalia’s Parks and Rec Department looked like Leslie Knope’s, I’d want to work there.

Stephanie: Parenthood. It’s the last season and I am so sad it’s ending, but I am excited to see how everything wraps up.

MUST DO (FALL TRADITION):

Candace: Each year, my husband and I take a group of students from our church youth group to the local corn maze and have a competition to see who can complete it first. (Note: My group won the last two years, so I’m in it to win it.) I also love baking and sharing gingersnap cookies, especially since this recipe is amazing.

Stephanie: Traditions seem to be in full swing by this time of year. A few that I really love are taking family photos. Every year we book with Traci Farias, and every year I love the way they come out. We also get to escape to a friend’s cabin for a night away from our little ones and enjoy a meal created by all of our friends. It’s something both my husband and I always look forward to.

MUST SMELL (FALL SCENT):

Candace: I like a spicy citrusy scent for the fall, like Arancia by Traviata.

Stephanie: Gold Canyon’s Mulled Cider, my favorite candle of all time. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. I light it all throughout Fall and Winter.

MUST DRINK:

Candace: Salted Caramel Lattes, which I make at home. A shot of espresso, cream, and plenty of buttery caramel is all it takes. Oh and a dollop of whipped cream doesn’t hurt, either. (Here’s my favorite salted caramel sauce recipe, if you need one of your own.)

Stephanie: Hot Apple Cider from the crockpot – delicious with the bonus of making the whole house smell good! I use a container of apple juice, mulling spices, then slice oranges and stick whole cloves in the peel, throw those in with a few cinnamon sticks and let it brew for a few hours. Also, Peppermint Mochas from Starbucks. I love them year round, but I like to avoid heat stroke during the summer, so I usually only drink them when it’s cool outside!

MUST SEE MOVIE:

Candace: Somewhere during this season I pull out You’ve Got Mail. I’m not sure how this became my go-to feel good movie, but it is. “Don’t you just love New York in the fall?” Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) asks. Yes, I believe I do.

Stephanie: On Halloween we always watch Young Frankenstein. I absolutely hate any sort of suspenseful or horror movies, so if I were to choose another Halloween movie it would be Hocus Pocus- “amok amok amok!” In the theater I would like to see This is Where I Leave You. It looks great, and has some of my favorite actors/actresses.

MUST WEAR:

Candace: Anything plum or berry-hued, as I am loving these colors this season! (Just picked up this pretty berry lip stain.) Also, I’m excited about breaking out the scarves. Scarves make everything look fixed up.

Stephanie: Boots and sweaters! I can’t wait for the cool weather so I can start pulling out all of my baggy cozy clothes.

What are your Fall musts?