5 Things WAY Better than Pumpkin Spice to Enjoy This Fall

reading time: 3 minutes

Pumpkin spice season – I mean autumn – is here. That means that everything everywhere becomes orange and smells of cinnamon and nutmeg. At least that’s how it feels. I saw these at the store the other day:

I really think it’s gone too far. Nothing against Pumpkin Spice Lattes, but there are so many things about fall that are way better. Take some time to embrace the season and try out these ideas:

Expand your fall palate.

There are so many flavors besides pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon that can bring autumn to your palate. It is harvest season after all! Grapes and apples are most flavorful this time of year and you can find lots of special varieties. Hit your local farmer’s market and seek out Honeycrisp, Northern Spy and Pink Lady apples for something special. Table grapes – which are different from wine grapes – are also harvested this time of year. Red flames, Thompson’s and Muscadine table grapes. Seriously – there is so much more that can bring the flavors of fall besides pumpkin spice. Try something new!
Take your own pictures of fall foliage.

The rush of pumpkin spice is just as much about color as it is about taste. When September hits, the grocery aisles are full of orange, tan and brown. See these colors in real life by taking your own pictures of fall foliage. Take the short cut to great photos by trying a fall foliage app and sharing your best on the #autumnleaves or #fallfoliage hashtags on Twitter or Instagram. Or if you’re in California, like I am, you can browse these tags and look wistfully at the changing colors. The best thing about taking your own photos? It gets you outside and they’re original!
Indulge in some new textures.

Fall is about feeling warm and cozy – so consider this purchase a form of self-care. Flannel sheet sets are a great addition to your bedding and are excellent to take out of dryer. Or get a new fall coat and feel warm and cozy anytime.
Spend one Sunday afternoon with a good movie and cider.

Life is about to get busy. October, November and December are packed with social events, year-end work deadlines and a general sense of busy. Take a Sunday afternoon now to unwind. Put in a movie you’ve been meaning to see but didn’t take the time to. Make some hot apple cider – or open a hard cider. Drink your beverage, enjoy your movie and take a breather before life gets coo-coo-bananas with year-end activity.
Smile more.

If pumpkin spice brings a smile to your face, great. If not, just commit to smiling more. Smiling can actually make you happier and who doesn’t need that? It stimulates your brain’s reward mechanisms even better than chocolate (hard to believe, I know). When you smile, it tells your brain to feel good and when your brain feels good you smile more. It’s a chain reaction worth starting this fall, even if you start it in your favorite chain coffee shop with pumpkin spice. I won’t judge.