“The weather just went from 90 to 55 like it saw a state trooper.” — Unknown
My little midwestern heart has been so excited about these cool crisp mornings. There is something so cozy about the start of fall in East Tennessee and since moving here, we have really settled into some sweet family traditions to help celebrate this gorgeous season. Below I’ve shared some of them:
1. Leaf walks
Take a walk to enjoy or even collect some fall leaves. Being out in nature is my favorite thing to do during the fall. After a scorching southern summer, chilly sweater weather fills my soul with joy. Some of our favorite spots to take in the colorful foliage are Maryville College Woods, Lakeshore Park, and the Townsend River Walk.
2. Make homemade fall decor 
Now that your kiddos have collected their favorite leaves, you can bring them home and decorate your house with them! In an attempt to decrease how much stuff we buy, our family has started to slowly make our home decor with sustainable materials. Don’t get me wrong; I absolutely still peruse HomeGoods once in a while, but there is something so special about making adornments for your home with your kiddos. We love to melt down some beeswax (or even some unscented votive candles) in a mini crockpot (we have a special craft crockpot that only gets used for wax) and dip the leaves in the wax to preserve the color. You can then take your wax-coated leaves and tie them to some twine or pretty cotton cord to hang around your home. Another fun homemade decor item are dried orange wreaths and garlands.
3. Fall feast with friends
The best thing about this chilly weather is being able to have my oven on to fill my home with warmth and yummy smells. We love having our friends over for fall feasts a few times a month. Usually, everyone brings their favorite fall treat to share and we play board games or have a bonfire. You can also carve pumpkins, do fall crafts, or even just sit on the porch and enjoy the beauty of fall.
