Finally — summer’s over! It’s time for sweaters, boots, Starbucks’ signature fall drinks, and for those leaves to start falling. You could spend all fall hunched over your computer worrying about mid-terms, or you can get in touch with your seven-year-old self that took time to relish the changing leaf colors, the local pumpkin patches, and of course, the cooler weather.

Here are five things that you probably enjoyed during your childhood that you can still enjoy this fall. (Editor’s Note: especially if you add a little spiked apple cider.):

1. Go Apple Picking: Throw on some jeans, find a cardigan, and head to the nearest apple orchard. Now that fall is here, apple orchards should be open to the public. Not sure where the closest apple orchard is? Check out Pick Your Own for all the details of the farms and orchards near you. Not only will this get you outside to enjoy the nice fall weather, it will give you a reason to bake. Once you pick out those perfect apples, call your mom and ask for her apple pie recipe, make some caramel apples, or brew cider (feel free to add alcohol, of course). Baking isn’t your thing? Well, you know what they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and that can’t hurt either. Read More »

With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away, ‘tis the season for awesome TV, beautiful foliage, great hair days and—of course—seasonal gourds.

What better way is there to celebrate than with a delicious, Grandma-worthy pumpkin pie? This one looks, tastes and smells like the real thing and you’ll get it done (and impress your friends and family) in 5 steps:

You Will Need:

1 frozen 9″ pie crust

1 can of Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filler!)

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs

1 and a half teaspoons of cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. of ginger

3/4 tsp. of nutmeg Read More »

For some reason, spring earned this rep for being the season of love, with summer at a close second (and I think that Grease had a much heavier hand in that than the fact that it’s wedding season). Winter gets credit for hot chocolate and snuggling and sleigh rides (which is bullsh*t, because I have never seen the romantic side of frost bite, dry skin and goose bump-induced leg hair). But fall—sweet beautiful autumn – is where it’s at, people.

The sky is bluer than ever; the trees are gorgeously scarlet, olive and burnt sienna (a shout out to my fave Crayola!); cute boys are tackling each other, shirtless in the late afternoons all in the name of football. Your hair is looking f*cking awesome thanks to lower humidity levels. What better time to fall in love, or be in love?

Whether your just celebrating your fab relationship or enjoying the company of that cute guy you just met in Stats, take this fall semester to ‘fall’ in love with these seasonal date ideas. (Ok I’ll stop being obnoxiously cheesy now.) Read More »

I love the Fall in Michigan.

I love the way the leaves go from boring green to bright and beautiful reds, oranges and yellows. I love it when I can start to see my breath outside and I have to wrap one of my grandma’s homemade scarves around my neck. And I am absolutely obsessed with apple cider and donuts at the Cider Mill.

But as I sit here at 5:00 PM on a Monday and look out on a street that is pitch black, cold and dreary, I can’t help but feel the pangs of seasonal depression start to sink in. I don’t want to leave my house. I don’t want to leave my bed. I just want to sit, eat and watch TV.

It’s awful. And it explains why I always gain five pounds every winter. It also explains why there is a large and permanent butt print in my couch cushion. And why the guys at the Thai delivery place up the street know my name already.

So, this year I am trying everything I can to avoid my winter blues. In my quest not to retire to the couch (with a giant bag of Dark M&Ms) this winter I have been doing some research and have found some surefire ways to stay happy this winter:

Bring on the Light: One reason people get a little down in the dumps in the winter is because there is less sunlight during the day. Doctors agree that the best way to lift your sagging spirits is to simply get some more light: open the curtains as soon as you wake up, go for a walk, etc. Even a short amount of natural light (even on a cloudy day!) will put some pep in your step naturally.

Hit the Gym: One of the hardest things for me to do in the winter is get to the gym. Why go out in the cold to work out when I can cover my fat with oversized sweaters and sweatpants? Well, it turns out that getting exercise is one of the best ways to feel better on a dreary winter day. Those endorphins will get your body pumping and feeling great for hours to come. Bonus: a good workout will also warm you up! Read More »

For most people, Fall means three things: football, candy corn pumpkins (my absolute fav.) and midterms.

And for those of us not living in California, Texas, Florida or any place with a year round temperature of hot and hotter, Fall means crisp cold air, hot caramel apple cider and sweater season!

No?

Anyone?

Well, maybe no one else out there adores Fall as much as me because none of you have seen the fabulous new sweater trends taking over the (cold part of the) country as we speak. Heading back to school means torn up sweatshirts and stuffy sweater sets no more. With my pal Marc Jacobs on the loose setting trends and taking names, curling up on the couch with a warm beverage and a warmer sweater never looked so good.

Inspired by his Fall 2007 collection, designers from Vuitton to the people behind Forever 21 are upping the ante and going all out for Fall. What’s in store (literally!) for you this season?

Belted Sweaters: Nothing says cozy like an over-sized sweater. But, nothing says dowdy like an oversized sweater, either. So, what do we do to make it chic? Belt it! You get the best of both worlds – cozy glamour – for a walk to class or a day at the library. Throw in a sexy camisole and you have the perfect ensemble for a night out with the boy. Read More »