Fall.

It is my utmost favorite time of year.

Last night with the windows open and cool breeze blowing in, I moved my sweaters to the front of my closet and replaced my shoe shelf full of summer wedges with fall boots. I loved waking up this morning and burrowing deeper into my blankets, somehow thinking this would make it easier to get out of bed.

I long for fall every year. And the funny thing about it is that I usually do not have the best track record with fall. Many of the most difficult times of my life have happened in the fall. Still, for some reason, I keep coming back for more.

So, I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite fall traditions old and new:

1. I watch You've Got Mail the first week of September every year. I swoon every time Tom Hanks tells Meg Ryan "I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils, if I knew your name and address."

2. I explore 8tracks for fall mixes. If you've never used 8tracks and love music, you've been missing out. (There's even a free app for your phone). Here are a few of my current fall playlists I'm hooked on: An ode to autumn; September Mix; Pumpkin Spice; Keep Your Head Up

3. I get way to excited for the Haddonfield Library public booksale (Sept. 21 & 22!!!!).

4. I drink pumpkin spice coffee. lots of it. mostly iced at first and then switch to hot when I can see my breathe outside more regularly. :) My other new favorite fall drink is having them add raspberry to my chai latte...it's heaven. i promise you.

5. I break out my eagles jersey....God willing, I'll be proud to wear it more this year...

6. I buy pumpkin beer, apple cider donuts, and pretty much anything else that tastes like fall. Because, why the heck not?

7. I start thinking about ways to give in November. I read this blog lately where the family does a different way of giving each week. I'd like to do that too this year.

8. I reflect, a lot, through journals or over huge mugs of tea over life at the moment...because for some reason, fall provides me with much more time to slow down and think.

May fall bring you time to reflect too. And may it bring you many beautiful and even unexpected changes to teach you, to help you grow, to strengthen you, to give you something to reflect on, and to bring you joy.