The Autumnal Equinox is near. On Sept. 22, autumn or fall officially starts. However, as we all know, here in South Florida, we do not get the fall season weather and benefits. Nevertheless, there are still ways that we can celebrate fall. So, here’s a quick guide on ways to celebrate fall in South Florida.
Fall Clothing
South Florida’s leaves may not turn red and orange, and it may be not drop below 70 degrees, but we can still transition our clothing for fall. One tip is to simply dress in fall colors. Wearing various shades of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns will help put you in the mood for fall without having to wear a sweater. However, if you want to wear a sweater to feel like it is fall and a full length sweater is too hot for you, then get a cropped one. Cropped sweaters are a good alternative to full length because you’re able to wear a sweater without making a thousand pounds of sweat. Another way is to invest in fall shoes and socks. Shoes like booties and flats are easier to wear in the South Florida heat because there are a variety of styles. They have open toed, backless and low cut designs. Fall socks are fun because there are millions of them in stores and it is a cute way to celebrate fall without overheating. Furthermore, layering is a great way to dress for fall. If it gets too hot, then it is easy to take a piece off, but it is just as easy to put a piece of clothing on.
Fall Food
If there is one thing that screams fall is food. Pumpkin and cinnamon drinks are a fall staple. So, stop by your local Starbucks and order yourself a PSL or one of the new drinks like the Salted Caramel Mocha. If you want to save some money, you can make your own like an Apple Cider Float. You can even try recreating Pinterest fall drinks like this 10 minute Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate. You will need:
11/2 cups of milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
A pinch of ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
A pinch sea salt
2 ounces of white chocolate (roughly chopped)
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, pumpkin and spices. Cook string constantly until just simmering. Remove from heat and add chocolate, but make sure to reserve some chocolate for garnish. Just before serving, top each mug with a generous mound of whipped cream, a few shavings of white chocolate, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.
In addition, fall treats are a great way to celebrate the season as well. Making leaf shaped and fall colored Rice Krispie treats are an easy and cheap way to make a fall treat. If Rice Krispies are not your thing, then another treat could be to make chocolate acorns. Chocolate acorns are Nilla wafers and chocolate chips put together by melted chocolate.
Fall Décor
Diffusers or plug-in air fresheners are a great way to make your dorm room smell like fall. Bath & Body Works have a whole line ranging from light and sweet to spicy and musk. If you want a more affordable option then try TJ MAXX or Ross who sell them for relatively cheap. Wreaths are a nice way to decorate outside your dorm room. Party City has a bunch and there 18 inch ones which only costs $5.99. Lights are an inexpensive way to make your room feel like fall. Amazon has a maple leaf fall garland for only $9.59 and they have other varieties as well. Decorative pumpkins are sold at several craft stores and most of the time are on sale.
Fall Events
Fall events are always going on in South Florida between September or November. Eventbrite is a great website to see the events going on in your area. For instance, there are three upcoming events in September and October. On Sept. 22, the Riverwalk Fall Festival is happening from 12 to 4 p.m. and it is free admission. There are two events being thrown in October. It is easy to celebrate fall in Florida, you just have to find them.
