Ahh, it’s finally here despite a brief heat wave. Autumn. New beginnings. It’s a welcomed break from the summer heat (or will be soon!) and preparation for the hibernation of the long, endless winter months. My favorite thing about fall – minus football – is how well everything from foods, to decorations and activities bring us all together.  Sometimes I find being  away from home during the fall the hardest.  My aunt and uncle own a small garden center where we all would hang out in the pumpkin patch, on hay bales and corn stalks while scaring all the little kids.

Here at Loyola, I don’t have a front door to decorate. I can’t hand out candy to neighborhood children. So what I have been doing is taking my apartment on my weekends and packing them with as much autumn fun as possible.  (My boyfriend is already exhausted.)

After a strong fall cleaning right before Parents’ Weekend I was able to turn my apartment in to Halloween and fall center with just a few quick and easy tricks.

First, I grabbed a few small mums from the Farmer’s Market. Normally I like the biggest potted mums there are – but keep in mind that mums like freezing cold weather, so not only is it still warm for them in early October, but they will be inside and also not getting the amount of sunlight they want. And regardless of how freezing our apartment is in the middle of October, it still won’t be prime mum weather. As long as the small ones are watered, they should last you about two weeks. The good news is you can buy mums up until Christmas so this is a great décor tip for well into November.

My next favorite tip for the fall is obviously pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins.  I already have set aside three Saturdays in October and November to go pumpkin and gourd picking. (Our favorite place is Jumbo’s in Middleton. 15 acres of pumpkins, hayrides and more!) Not only is carving pumpkins still as fun as when you were five, but they can make a perfect, simple yet elegant and appropriate centerpiece at your kitchen table or living room end table.

In addition to picking the pumpkins, I cook with them. The aroma just adds so much to our apartment.  Some other quick tips to discreet decorating is getting fall-shaped cookie cutter and baking appliances.  My favorite is from William Sonoma: a skeleton pancake maker. Not interested in spending big bucks? Don’t worry. Shop around for what you’re looking for; most likely Party City, Michael’s, Target and even CVS have cheaper, but just as good versions. Become the perfect host for the perfect price.

Finally, I encourage you to get up on the weekends and enjoy the beautiful weather and activities that come with the fall. Pumpkin picking, apple picking and even leaf peeping are all super fun and affordable ways to enjoy the fall. Missing real high school football? Check out some of the local high school and college games in the area!

Finally, if you’re looking for something spooky, check out all different types of haunted houses and cornfields right over the border in DC, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

It’s only a few weeks before we’re going to be drowning in cold snow and finals.  Take advantage, Loyola, and go “fall” out…inside and outside!