Five Things to Share with Friends This Fall

As beautiful as fall is in New England, and it is stunning, I sometimes feel a pang of sadness as the temperatures begin to cool. I know I’ll miss some of the little things about the warm weather in the coming months, like leaving the house without a jacket, swimming outside and wearing sandals. Recent world events have also weighed down my mood lately, so I figured now is a perfect time to make note of some of the things we can share this fall with friends to lift our spirits.

Recipes: My family had three crab apple trees in our backyard when I was growing up. They were too sour to eat but our favorite thing to do with them in the fall when they were plentiful was to dice them up and cook them with a dash of cinnamon, vanilla and rum. Not only did this simple concoction taste like tart apple pie filling, it made the house smell wonderful. Check out some of the many apple recipes to make this fall and sample with your friends.

Walks in the woods and parks: Whether it’s a challenging hike or easy stroll, the crisp fall air and colorful scenery will leave you feeling refreshed and revived. Local parks, prairie paths and wooded areas can be great places to explore this time of year. If you’re having trouble finding the perfect spot, try checking out AllTrails.com.

Warm lattes: Nothing can warm your insides up like a toasty beverage on a cool day. If you like coffee, there’s no shortage of pumpkin spice lattes on offer this season. For tea drinkers, fall flavors abound, with Trader Joe’s offering both Harvest Blend and Pumpkin Spice Rooibos options. And recipes for non-coffee lattes for those looking for healthy alternatives are plentiful, like this non-coffee vanilla latte recipe from the Cleveland Clinic.

Shopping sprees: If it’s gear that makes you happy, grab a friend and head over to REI, EMS, LL Bean or your local outfitter to set you up for fall adventures. For foodies, many farmer’s markets continue well into the fall and even through the winter. Or, if you just need a fashionable new fall outfit, bring a friend with you to your favorite retailer for a second opinion and possibly a laugh along the way.

Hugs: Believe it or not, the health benefits of a warm embrace have been well-documented. Sometimes a friendly hug is all you need to boost your mood, and that’s true any time of year.