Usually by the end of summer, there are two kinds of people. The first kind is those that are still trying to hold onto every ounce of warm weather, and all things summer. The other kind is the ones that actively seek for anything pumpkin spice flavored, and dig out the flannels and baggy sweaters when they see one single leave turn a tint of red. I am one of those people. This post is all about the “fall feels” aka the comfy and joyful mood as we transition from sweaty dorm rooms to scary movies with the roomies.
1. Fall Festivities
You know how every single girl at this time of the year posts a picture on Instagram at an apple orchard or with a pumpkin? Or your snap stories are filled with those little Pillsbury sugar cookies with the pumpkin or ghost on them that you only eat once a year? This is exactly what I am talking about. As much as I understand that it’s mostly just to get the Instagram picture because those girls never come back holding any apples, I will admit that I am a sucker for “oh so basic” pictures like that. Fall justifies so many behaviors for me. For example, if it were any season other than fall and I saw a picture of someone holding an apple next to their face and smiling, or sitting on a pumpkin, I would strongly question their decision to post a smiley picture with produce. But in the fall? That is #goals. If it weren’t fall, jumping into a pit full of corn would be the last thing I would want to do. But in fall? Finding corn kernels in places they shouldn’t be would be my ideal day. Getting lost in a corn maze while a scarecrow chases after you is not exactly my idea of fun, but in the fall I would love to get lost for hours in corn (is this what Nebraskans feel like everyday?) Lastly, pumpkin spice everything. While I don’t actually take advantage of this because pumpkin spice dog treats, butter, Pringles, and gum sounds nasty, just the fact that I see pumpkin everywhere means it’s fall . Everything about fall is a stereotype (at least for college girls), and I am totally ok with that. That’s just what you do in college at this time of the year!
2. Fall Fashion
Finally, the time that I can wear the other 2/3 of my closet. I can’t really speak for guys on this one, but for us girls, being able to pull out the baggy sweaters, flannels, hoodies, and fuzzy socks are the reason we get up in the morning on those gray gloomy days. Fall typically has a comfy feel to it, or at least that is the stereotype that has been created for it. Fall fashion is all about simplicity. Simple earthy colors, leggings, sweatshirts, honestly nothing special, and that’s why I love it. Because fall has the reputation of “comfy and cute,” I can throw on a pair of leggings with a big sweatshirt or sweater, put my hair in a messy bun, and still be in style. Of course I don’t always just throw myself together, because fall is the beginning of vest season, scarf season, colored jeans season, and boots season- and I take full advantage of them all. Catch me wearing my banana jeans around campus! As much as I tell myself that I plan to dress cute every single day in college, I usually end up resorting to dressing for comfort anyways, hence why fall is my favorite season. Another reason I love fall? Guys in khakis is always a great sight.
3. The Weather
As depressing as it sounds, I love myself a brisk, cloudy fall day. Fall has a common trend of all things crisp. The air, fresh apples, and the dead leaves scattered around that a majority of us go out of our way to crunch just because the sound is so satisfying. Cloudy in my mind is the equivalent to cozy. When it’s a dreary day here on campus, I like to curl up in a fuzzy blanket and do something relaxing such as listening to music, read, or tune into Netflix. I don’t know if this is true for others, but when it is sunny out, I feel lazy and like I am not supposed to be cooped up in my room all comfy. With gloomy days, I have the permission from myself to do this. I’m weird like that, I know. Fall weather is also much better for life in the dorms because we no longer are dying of heat in our cubes for rooms. Being able to do laundry without breaking a sweat, or climb a flight of stairs, makes me feel much better about my athleticism! It’s also nice not feeling like I’m a hot burrito while being wrapped up in my hammock under the beating sun for hours.
4. Movies
This one runs along the lines of fall festivities, but this is definitely a thing. With Halloween being in the fall, that’s when all the Disney Channel classics turn back up, and all the scary movies come out. For all you 90s kids out there, don’t deny that Halloweentown was a childhood highlight. I remember back in elementary school, I would make sure all my homework was done because Halloweentown was coming on that night. Casper the friendly ghost was also a favorite of mine, as well as Twitches. Back then, scary movies for me were Hocus Pocus, and E.T. (it’s my brother’s fault that I’m still scared of that wrinkly dude to this day). Now, watching scary movies has become a part of the fall stereotype, therefore, one of the things I do only at this time of year and never any other time. I absolutely hate scary movies, and the thought of going to watch one on the big screen gives me the creeps just thinking about it. But watching them with someone who can “protect” me, aka hold their composure better than I can and remind me that a little ghost boy is not living in my wall, makes me like them.
5. Soup and Stuff
Soup, warm drinks, and fall go very well together, just because everyone seems to get sick here on campus at this time. Usually this is around the beginning of October for me, and you bet I reach for a can of chicken and stars! I swear the stars taste better than regular noodles. I honestly don’t know how this became a thing, but some of my friends here on campus refuse to eat soup or drink anything warm in the summer. Unfortunately, I have caught onto this. Fall means I get to eat soup and drink hot tea publicly again! I will admit, there is something more satisfying when having something warm during the fall rather than when it is hot out. My favorite is my mom’s vegetable soup that she makes for me every year, and I bring buckets of it back to college with me. So, if anyone would like a big ol’ bucket of soup this fall for when you get sick (not if, when), you know where to find me. Fall food is comfort food.
6. Feeling Feels
Studies have shown that people couple up the most in the fall. There is actually a name for this phenomenon: cuffing season. While this may sound strange, cuffing season is basically the time where individuals look for a partner to spend the long frigid months of winter with. In psychology, this fits perfectly into the evolutionary theory! These studies have shown that men are 15% more likely to be looking for something during this time, and women are 5% more interested in something long-term during this time. I highly believe that all the fall festivities contribute to this. Think about it, when scrolling on Instagram, there are way more cute couple pictures than any time of the year. It is so common to couples posting pictures at the orchard with the overused, cliché caption that their significant other is the apple of their eye. Looking through engagement pictures with the vibrant fall colors in the background is all I do on Facebook nowadays. Lastly, the chilly weather, and ability for girls to pretend they are scared while watching a scary movie and claim they need protection when they actually don’t is a perfect set-up for a cuddle session. Fall feels lead to feeling the feels.
7. Football
This is the point in my post where the guys (if any are reading) perk up a bit because it is the most not-basic and non-girly thing about this post. Football does not involve pumpkin spice, cuddling (tackling is pretty close though), rules about soup, smiling with apples, or banana colored jeans. We all know the Sundays are for church…and football. It really is the day of rest, except when it comes to screaming at the screen because someone just messed up their fantasy team. When I picture Sunday night football, besides Carrie Underwood, I can’t help but imagine your average guy wearing their favorite jersey, dad jeans, with hot wings in hand. I am pretty sure I’m not alone on this one though, right ladies? While I can’t say that I am a big football gal, I do like football season because that means hockey season is getting closer!
8. Bye Bye Bugs
I shouldn’t need to explain this one much. If you are one that enjoys getting stung by bees, and eaten alive by mosquitos, you are the one that has some explaining to do.
9. The Leaves
It may be called fall, but there is a reason fall can also be commonly referred to as autumn, and I definitely think it has to do with the changing of leaves. One of the prettiest sights all year is the prime time that the leaves are glowing red, yellow, and orange. I remember when I was in elementary school, I learned that when the Sumac starts to turn red, that means fall is coming. Little Lauren then learned to hate when the Sumac was red because that meant school was starting soon, but now, I enjoy it. I truly believe that God made the leaves do this just for our enjoyment, and to add to the already great place He created. It gives us something to look forward to every year. Leaves are by far the only thing I know that are THAT beautiful going through the process of death. Just because they are so vivid and pretty, I don’t even mind having to rake my whole yard!…ok maybe I mind a little. I feel bad for those who don’t have the privilege of experiencing a MN fall day, because waking up to a sight like that is the difference between a good day and a great day.
10. Halloween
You all probably knew this was coming. In case you didn’t know, Halloween takes place in the fall, and I’d say it is pretty significant in creating the fall culture. Halloween happens to be one of my favorite holidays for many reasons. One being all he traditions that my family does together. I loved going to Pahl’s market when I was little and trying to find a pumpkin that was small, had no bumps, stood up straight, didn’t have a weird stem on it, and had absolutely no dirt on it (picking one out took me an extremely long time as you can probably see). After that, I would draw the face that I wanted on my pumpkin for my dad to carve out because I couldn’t be trusted with sharp objects. I also made him scoop out the guts because they’re just gross. Other things I loved were helping my mom hang up the decorations around the house such as the pipe cleaner spiders on the stairs, the talking pumpkin, and the ghost I made in pre school which basically is a bunch of white paper squares glued onto a piece of paper in a formation that is the farthest away from resembling a ghost. Dressing up for trick or treating was always my favorite. Some past costumes were a butterfly, cat, witch, cowgirl, and of course, a gymnast. Currently, I love Halloween because I get to see all the kiddos dressed up in cute costumes. I will never be able to look at a baby dressed up as a pumpkin or lady bug and not want to instantly hold it. Seeing the kids trick or treat reminds me of how excited I got, and how my dad was the designated “dumper” with a bigger bag for when me and my brother’s buckets got full. The reaction kids have when they get candy brings me so much joy, it is basically the same as college students’ reactions when they hear about free food.
Being full swing into fall also means that we are knee-deep into the semester with the first round of tests and papers coming up, but all of these fall feels help with the stress a little bit. The transition from summer to fall is a lot better than fall to winter, which is why I appreciate all the little things that fall brings before we freeze our behinds off and wish we could step on just one more crunchy leaf. In the mean time, stop staring at your phone while on the way to class and actually look at how fantastic a MN fall is!
Have a great week, friends!
~Lauren
Life of Lauren 