10 Ways to Feel Festive This Fall When You Live in a Warm Climate

1. Embrace Fall Home Decor

Decorating for fall is a big deal at our house. As soon as September 1st hits, my mom is putting up decorations. We drape leaves along the curtain rod on our sliding glass window, put pumpkins and a cute ceramic ghost on our coffee table, and even put decorations around our TV.

You could even get out a small, artificial Christmas tree and decorate it for fall with leaves, acorns, and‌ homemade garland in fall colors. I know people who decorate a tree for Halloween and have it up from September 1st through October 31st. There are all kinds of great ways to decorate the indoors for fall.

2. Carve a Pumpkin

Go to the pumpkin patch and get a pumpkin or several to carve. You can find all kinds of ideas, templates, and patterns online to light your creativity. You can save the pulp to bake with and roast the seeds to snack on.

3. Light a Candle

Candles are fantastic any time, but especially in the fall. It's a nice transition to go from floral and citrus scents to something different. Stores carry scents like leaves, sweet cinnamon pumpkin, warm apple pie, etc. Fall scents make your home feel warm and inviting. You can burn your candles traditionally, or if you live in an apartment where you can't burn them, you can get a candle warmer to set your candle on to melt. Most department stores sell warmers that use square candle molds, which you can also buy.

4. Bake a Fall Dessert

Nothing says fall like dessert, especially those with warm, fall flavors like cinnamon apple, caramel apple, pumpkin, or maple. Make some apple cider donuts or caramel apple cupcakes. Pumpkin bars with cream cheese are always delicious, and so are maple-glazed donuts. Add a cup of coffee with cream and sugar or hot tea to make it perfect.

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5. Wear Fall Colors and Earth Tones

Spruce up your wardrobe and wear some fall colors. Go online and research trending colors for the season. Think about what colors look good on you, and go find a fabulous new outfit. Don't forget to add in shoes, jewelry, and accessories to complete your ensemble.

6. Cook a Fall Meal

Dig out your recipes or go online and look for a cozy fall meal to cook. Think hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meals like meatloaf and mashed potatoes, chicken and dumplings, pot roast and vegetables in the crockpot, or a pot of chili.

Other ideas include tuna noodle casserole, beef enchiladas, broccoli cheese soup, baked spaghetti, or chicken pot pie. The possibilities are endless. These are the kinds of meals that warm you up on those chilly fall nights when it's raining and the temperatures have dropped, kind of like giving your stomach a hug.

7. Go on a Fall Adventure

Choose a town in your state you want to visit or even somewhere in the next state over and go on a fall adventure. Rent a cabin in the woods. Go to a fancy hotel and stay. It's always fun and exciting to get away and explore somewhere new.

Can't get away? No worries. In cities and towns where there are tourist places, most people that live there don't go. We simply get caught up in our lives or don't make the time. This is the perfect opportunity to go on a fall adventure and explore all the local and touristy nooks and crannies of your town.

Another kind of fall adventure you could go on is to go hiking somewhere you have never been or take a walk and enjoy the scenery in another part of town. So many times when we think about an "adventure," we think of this big, grandiose thing. But it doesn't have to be. Sometimes, the best places hide in our own surroundings.

8. Do Fall Activities

Fall has a plethora of fall activities. You can go to the orchard and the pumpkin patch. There are fall festivals like Oktoberfest and themed festivals like a pumpkin festival. Go apple picking. Get lost in a corn maze. Play a game of football in the backyard with family and friends. Have a camping adventure in the backyard.

Other ideas include going to the farmer's market, going through things that are in storage and donating items, visiting a petting zoo with your kids, making a scarecrow, or making s'mores. You can also make your kids' Halloween costumes (if they are participating in the holiday), take a bike ride, go to the high school football game on Friday night, or even start your Christmas shopping.

There are many activities to do in the fall that will appeal to kids, couples, and families. Start planning the rest of your weekends ahead so you miss nothing and have the best fall yet.

9. Change Your Makeup

See what's trending and change your makeup. It doesn't have to be your entire collection of cosmetics because‌ they aren't cheap. Instead, choose one or two new eyeliner shades or a new shade of lipstick or even a new foundation that you have been wanting to try.

You could even get a manicure and do a new nail polish shade or fancy decorations. Another idea is to get acrylic nails for a season to enjoy. Do your research, figure out what shades and looks are right for you, and treat yourself to a totally new or revamped look. For even more fun, go on a makeup hunt with your best friends.

10. Decorating Outside

Decorating outside is just as fun as it is inside, and there are so many ways to do it. You can keep things as simple as you want or make it as complex as you want. I have friends who decorate their front porches with a few items, and I know people who go all out, especially in the yard, for Halloween.

Current trends in outdoor decorations include using warm, earth tones, vintage pieces that have a "collected" feel, layered texturing in furniture and decor, more natural elements like wool, marble and wood, and also candles for soft lighting.

However, if these trends don't appeal to you, that's okay. You can always decorate more traditionally with wall or porch signs that welcome fall, such as "Welcome, Fall" or "Happy Fall, Ya'll." You can also have pumpkins everywhere or hang a fall leaf wreath on your door.

I've seen other people who love Halloween deck out their homes and yards. I've seen orange and purple lights on houses, giant skeletons in the yard, decorations flanking the sidewalk up to the house, and all kinds of other decorations in the yard. Where I used to live in Illinois, there was a house in a part of town that had two giant cast-iron dragons flanking the entrance to a mansion that breathed fire.

The bottom line is your place is your space, and you can decorate it any way you want to, no matter how big or small your budget is. The most important part is to have fun and stick to your favorite decor. Other people will appreciate your effort.

As you can see, even though you may live in a warmer climate, there are still lots of ways you can feel festive this fall season. So, hit the Hobby Lobby for those decorations. Go to the farmers' market to find the freshest produce for your apple-baked goods. Choose a template to carve into your pumpkin. Browse the makeup section and pick out some fresh colors to wear and a bottle or two of nail polish to spruce up those fingers. Go to the apple orchard, pumpkin patch, or high school football game. Whip up a warm, cozy culinary delight in the kitchen. You will feel more festive with each activity you do.

Overall, gather with friends and family and have fun. Warmer climates don't have to put a damper on your fall spirit, it's the same season no matter where you live. Plan some activities, enjoy the tastes and scents of the season, and make this fall the best autumn ever.