FAMILY blog
B eing from Southern California, I love my
cut-off shorts and flip flops. But there’s
something to be said for boots, hats and
scarves. Not only is the look fashionable,
but unlike in warm California, they’re must-have
accessories for our chilly seasonal weather change.

And the upcoming season just happens to be my
absolute favorite: Fall.

One of the things I cherish most about this season
is our annual family trips to apple orchards and
pumpkin patches. Once upon a time, my family did
these outings in 80-degree weather wearing shorts
and flip flops. It just feels right now that the weather
(and attire!) fits the season.

Another reason to love fall is football. Honestly, I am
not much of a football fan myself, but my husband
is, and it comes with the package so I am OK with
that. There is something relaxing about hearing the
football game on in the house while the kids are
outside playing (not complaining about mosquito
bites) and I’m in the kitchen trying a new Pinterest
recipe. This sums up a typical autumn Sunday in my
house. Speaking of recipes, slow-cooked stews, pot pies,
hearty soups, roasts and casseroles are more reasons
to love fall. Plus, now the beer, coffee and desserts
are all pumpkin-flavored! What’s not to love about
that? And you can finally light up fall-scented
candles like “Sugar and Spice” and “Autumn in the
Park.” All these amazing fall scents are so cozy and
comforting. To top it off, how about the return of all your favorite
TV shows? I love to snuggle up in my favorite
blanket, put on a fire in the living room, light a
candle and hit play on my DVR. Pure bliss!
And how about the seasonal outdoor changes fall
brings? The trees are stunning and the ground is
6 October 2015 washingtonFAMILY.com
gleaming. The air is crisp and mornings are golden
and misty. Just hearing the word “fall,” brings to
mind images of brightly colored foliage. And who
can resist jumping in raked piles of those beautiful
leaves? It’s like a childhood rite of passage. (And the
photo-ops make for great Instagram posts!)
Last but not least, my absolute favorite thing about
fall is also my favorite holiday: Halloween. From
decorating to dressing up and trick-or-treating, I do it
all! With a 9-year-old and a 4-year-old at home, I do
not censor my Halloween décor one bit. I make sure
my kids know the monsters and skeletons displayed
all over the house are just for fun and not real. After
all, Halloween is supposed to be spooky. In my
house, that’s just the way it goes! Luckily, my kids
enjoy the eerie stuff just as much as I do.

This year we moved to a new neighborhood and I
volunteered to host our neighborhood’s first pre-
trick-or-treating block party in my front lawn. Let the
Pinterest mania begin! Themed snacks include blood-
spatter cookies, vampire-bite cupcakes and mini-
donut spiders. Spider-lit centerpieces, mummy jars
and a makeshift graveyard are just some of my ideas
for my horror-house in the making. I can’t wait!
After 90 days of summer, I always look forward to
fall. No matter what your fall favorites are, I wish
you fun times and warm memories. I’m off to try
some new recipes, jump in some leaves and scare up
some Halloween screams. Hurray for fall!
Pauline Ray
Advertising Executive
Washington FAMILY Magazine
pray@thefamilymagazine.com