10 Reasons to Love Fall — As Seen On CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin”
From creative Halloween costumes to chic boots, fragrant mulled cider, and tasty pumpkin-flavored desserts, there is so much to love about autumn. I stopped by CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” yesterday to chat about some of the reasons why I love autumn — and, in the process, suggest some great products that will get you into the spirit of the season. Make sure to watch the segment above and read on for more details on everything seen on air!
1. HALLOWEEN IS NEAR
We’re exactly a week away from Halloween, and that means fun and creative contests, plenty of candy, spooky haunted houses, scary movie marathons, and all things ghoulish and frightful (or just fanciful and imaginative). If you’re still hunting for the perfect costume, make sure to check out the amazing assortment available at Party City. They have choices for all you horror fanatics (please don’t come near me if you’re trying to embody Pennywise from IT as scary clowns are my kryptonite!), as well as costumes inspired by superheroes, video game characters, mythical creatures, historical figures, and popular TV shows and films like Stranger Things, Star Wars, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jurassic World, and The Addams Family.
They also have a ton of Disney-themed options for the whole family — among them the Mary Poppins Women’s Halloween Costume shown above ($44.99 at Party City stores and PartyCity.com), which is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! If your little girl loved this year’s live-action Aladdin film, she’ll feel like she’s ready to go on a magic carpet ride in the Princess Jasmine Children’s Costume ($39.99 at Party City stores and PartyCity.com), while your son can melt hearts with the Olaf Toddler Costume ($24.99 at Party City stores and Party City.com), which is super timely given that Frozen 2 will be opening soon. Even your pup can explore an alternate persona as a clandestine superhero in the Incredibles Dog Costume ($19.99 at Party City stores and PartyCity.com).
These are just some of my favorite costume picks, but make sure to visit Party City to peruse all of their offerings!
2. SCORE! IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON!
Take a cue from Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and do a spirited, high-stepping, celebratory dance because it’s officially football season!
If you’re having people over to watch the game, you can score a hostess touchdown with all these great Game Day Essentials available at Party City. You’ll find everything you need to transform your living room and dining area into a gridiron wonderland —including the Football Game Time Lunch Plates ($4.49 for 18 ct. pack) so you never have to worry about having to wash dishes (score!), and the Football Shot Glasses ($5.99 for 4 ct. pack), which are emblazoned with the words “First Down,” “Second Down,” or “Third Down,” so you can play your own drinking game while cheering your team on. Another great pick is the Game Time Grub Platter ($4.99 at PartyCity.com and Party City stores), which is ideal for serving sliders, potato skins, and chicken wings. But my absolute favorite is the Football Chips & Dip Kit (9.99 at PartyCity.com and Party City stores), which is comprised of a pigskin-themed bowl to hold crispy tortilla chips and 5 football-shaped bowls so you can serve some queso, guac, salsa verde, black bean dip, and more!
3. AUTUMNAL DECOR ACCENTS THAT MAKE YOUR HOME COZY AND INVITING
There are so many beautiful sights and smells come autumn. The changing foliage colors are hypnotizing. There are charming pumpkin patches and fun corn mazes everywhere. Bright sunflowers add a sunny optimism to gardens. The intoxicating smell of cinnamon, apple, pecan, pumpkin, ginger, and clove fill the air. It’s a magical time — and, with just a few clever décor touches, you can bring the feeling of autumn inside your home.
JCPenney has an amazing assortment of home decor accents so you can give your abode a fall makeover — among them the gorgeous JCPenney Home Sequin Pumpkin Rectangular Throw Pillow ($44 at JCPenney.com), which instantly evokes fall with its pumpkin motif and adds a touch of glamour through its jewel-toned sequin accents. For those who love the rusticity and nostalgia of farmhouse décor, meanwhile, I recommend picking up the JCPenney Home Wagon Serving Platter ($80 at JCPenney.com), which features an antique white-colored wooden base with the phrase “Hello Pumpkin” emblazoned across it and three compartments that perfectly accommodate a three-part serving ceramic plater.
4. BOURBON COCKTAILS THAT KEEP YOU WARM
When we think of summer cocktails, we picture fruity frozen Margaritas, Piña Coladas, and Daiquiris — preferably with quaint paper umbrella picks. When we think of autumn, however, we picture sipping on full-bodied, bourbon-based cocktails while sitting by the fireplace. There’s something so comforting about a great glass of bourbon, right? I personally love Four Roses Bourbon because it’s smooth and mellow with a long and soft finish. It’s great neat, on the rocks, or as the basis of a cocktail.
Whether you’re preparing an after-hours drink for yourself or whipping up a pitcher’s worth for a group of friends, I recommend trying out the easy-to-make Apple Rose cocktail. It’s beyond simple to make: just fill a highball glass with ice, pour in 1 1/2 ounces of Four Roses Original Bourbon and d1 ½ ounces of apple juice, then add 4 dashes of Angostura Bitters. You can then garnish with apple slices for an Insta-worthy result.
Check out this recipe and more at FourRosesBourbon.com
5. FOOTBALL WATCHING PIZZA PARTIES
Movies and popcorn may be a classic combination, but so is football and pizza! This Game Day, California Pizza Kitchen has you covered with its new Take and Bake pizzas. They’re hand-tossed and made fresh to order in-restaurant by CPK’s certified pizza chefs, so you can take them home and bake on your sown time. They’re also easy to prepare and even come with foolproof instructions: just set the oven to 450 degrees, pop the pizza in for 7-10 minutes and top it off with the fresh garnishes included. They will even throw in a branded pizza cutter so you can slice the pie like an expert. Available in each of CPK’s 20 pizza varieties — including the classic Marguerite, the popular Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, and the beloved Thai Chicken Pizza and California Veggie Pizza — these new Take and Bake Pizzas can be prepared on original hand-tossed dough or on CPK’s gluten-free, veggie-based Cauliflower Crust.
And get this: through October 31st, with every CPK order of $15 or more placed through GrubHub, you’ll receive a free Take and Bake Pizza and enjoy free delivery. Download the GrubHub app or visit GrubHub.com to enjoy this offer.
6. FALL CHEESE BOARDS
Sure, whatever the season, cheese platters are a mainstay in dinner parties, but the autumn iterations are so much tastier, featuring more complex and robust flavors. To update your cheese board or antipasto plate this season, make sure to incorporate meats that pair well with seasonal flavors like maple, cinnamon and honey (think ham, bacon, salami, and prosciutto), as well as seasonal fruits and veggies like figs, apples, cranberries, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and pomegranates. One great way to do so is by turning to Dalmatia Spreads.
For over 20 years, Dalmatia Spreads has been specializing in organic gourmet jams and fig products made using ingredients from the coastal region of Dalmatia, Croatia — among them figs, sour cherries, tangerines, apricots, and olives — that pair really well with cheese, bread, and crackers.
The original Dalmatia Fig Spread ($6.49 for 8.5 oz. jar at DalmatiaSpreads.com) is rich and full-bodied, while the Sour Cherry Spread ($6.99 for 8.5 oz jar at DalmatiaSpreads.com) is the perfect balance of tart and sweet, featuring cherries from the Pannonian Valley of Eastern Croatia. You can add a dollop of these spreads to your platter or work them onto your crostini recipes. For instance, you can take baguette slices, then top each one with grated gruyere cheese, a touch of the Original Fig Spread, some blue cheese crumbles, 2 tablespoons of honey and a touch of fresh rosemary.
Visit DalmatiaSpreads.com for more info.
7. COOKING AND BAKING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
The fondest memories are made when gathered around the table — and that’s especially true during the holidays . Not only does food taste better when eaten with our families, but preparing these dishes inevitably leads to plenty of laughter, singing, and dancing in the kitchen. You can make those holiday meals and desserts all the more flavorful and memorable, you can rely on premium spice brand Spice Islands.
To make the best-tasting cookies and gingerbread, baking enthusiasts will want to stock up on real vanilla extract — not imitation vanilla. Enter the Spice Islands Pure Vanilla Extract ($8.99 at HEB), which is 100% pure vanilla from hand-pollinated orchids. You can literally see, smell, and taste the difference!
Another must-have this season is the Spice Islands Cider Blend Mulling Kit ($7.49 at HEB). It features a blend of spices like warm Korintje cinnamon, allspice, cloves, anise, and sweet orange peel that you can infuse into your apple juice or apple cider. With this kit, you can create a mulled cider that’s yummy and comforting, and which will make your entire home fragrant and joyful.
8. YUMMY DESSERTS ABOUND
Pumpkin pie, apple crumble, creme brulee, pecan pie, sugar cookies, apple spice cake, gingerbread cookies, peppermint bark…The holiday season is heavenly for all of those with a sweet tooth. And while some of you talented readers may have baking skills that rival those of contestants on The Great British Baking Show, others (like me) can barely follow the directions on the back of a brownie mix box. If, like me, you feel more comfortable leaving the intricate baking projects to true professionals, fear not: Sara Lee’s amazing desserts will wow guests, and they require virtually no time or skill (yes!).
Sara Lee just unveiled its new Limited Edition New York Style Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake, which is just $4.99 at Walmart, HEB, and Randall’s. It’s made with real ingredients — real pumpkin, real cream cheese, and a special blend of cinnamon and spices, all baked into a graham cracker crust. And the best part? It doesn’t require an oven! You just put it in the microwave to thaw and it will be ready to serve in 20 seconds.
I also love taking the classic Sara Lee All-Butter Pound Cake ($4.99 at Walmart, HEB, and Randall’s) and giving it a makeover, elevating its flavor profile and presentation. One of my favorite things to do is to top the pound cake it with sautéed apple slices covered with cinnamon and sugar, then drizzle a bit of caramel sauce, and sprinkle a handful of chopped pecans.
You can also check out ready-to-bake options like the Southern Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and Dutch Apple Pie, each of which retails for $6.50.
9. STRUT-WORTHY BOOTS
Forget cozy sweaters! My favorite aspect of fall fashion is the boots! Whether they’re equestrian-inspired, fringe-adorned, cowboy-flavored, motorcycle punk, or sleek and dressy, a great pair of boots can make a whole outfit sing. If you’re looking to give your footwear collection a fall reboot, LifeStride has some great on-trend options that look and feel good. Yes, their boots are actually made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do! LifeStride specializes in shoes that are chic and polished but also comfortable enough to get you through the workday and beyond. Plus all LifeStride shoes are under $100, so they’re truly affordable.
Two of my favorite styles are the LifeStride Maltese Slouch Boots ($99.99 at LifeStride.com), which have an effortlessly cool vibe and are the epitome of versatility. The microsuede boots measure 14 inches in height and feature a 2 1/2″ heel. My true obsession, however, are the white Samara Booties (699.99 at LifeStride.com), which are so sleek and polished and have a fun Mod feel. The streamlined booties feature supple faux leather uppers, an almond-shaped toe, 2 3/4″ heels, and a metallic ornamental detail at the side.
10. MORNING WALKS AND JOGS
After months of waking up to 90-something temperatures, the cooler air in these autumn mornings makes our brisk walks and jogs so much more enjoyable! It’s also a great opportunity to commune with nature and take in the beautiful sight of reddish orange leaves.
You can make the most of these excursions with a great pair of shoes from RYKA’s fEMPOWER collection, which is comprised of walking shoes aimed at inspiring women to feel stronger. It’s the latest collection from RYKA, a brand that’s all about female empowerment, offering shoes made for women by women. Unlike other athletic brands that simply size down men’s shoes and bill them as women’s footwear, RYKA takes into account all the ways that a female foot differs from a male foot and engineers its shoes accordingly.
The fEMPOWER range is evidence of RYKA’s commitment to cutting-edge performance technology. The two shoes in the collection feature RE-ZORB responsive cushioning for impact protection and shock absorption, as well as anatomical insoles for arch and heel support. They also feature a breathable and comfortable stretch knit construction for a snug, sock-like feel. And, of course, they’re absolutely adorable!
Each pair retails for $88 at Ryka.com
