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Halloween

Favorite Fall Traditions

favorite fall traditionssole-society-striped-bag

{Hunter boots (graphite gloss) / Striped bag}

So the past two days have been full of excitement around here.  It has been raining!  POURING rain!  Not a big deal for a lot of you I’m sure, but you should have seen everyone in my neck of the woods.  All smiles in rain boots and fall clothes.  Everyone was in such a good mood!  Aside from getting some much needed moisture, it FINALLY felt like fall!  We are all more than ready.  So to celebrate happy fall weather days (fingers crossed more are coming!) I thought I’d create a little round-up of our favorite fall traditions!  If you’ve been with me for a while you most likely know these traditions well.  We’ve been doing the same things every fall for years.  But that’s the best part about family traditions.  The same fun things to look forward to that signal a happy time of year and remind us of past memories made.  So without further rambling from me, here are our family’s favorite fall traditions!  Love this time of year.  :)

*affiliate links used
faux-fall-leaves

{DECORATE}

First is the obvious.  We decorate the house.  Since my kids are growing up in a city without major season changes I feel it is my duty to create the seasons for them!  At least that’s the excuse I tell my husband when I’ve spent too much money on wreaths and fake pumpkins.  ;)
fall-in-the-mudroom
My kids really do love it when I decorate for fall.  Our house feels like a cozy fall retreat at the end of what are often long, busy days.
chalkboard-thankful-sign
If you missed my fall house tour you can see it here!
halloween-picture-banner

{HALLOWEEN PICTURE BANNER}

fireplace pictures
For years I’ve displayed my kids’ past Halloween pictures in one way or another.  They love seeing all of the different costumes they’ve worn and how little they used to look.  The past two years I’ve just pinned them up on my fireplace mantel with clothespins.  Such an easy way to add some Halloween cheer.
halloween-books
{BASKET OF HALLOWEEN BOOKS}
basket-of-books
I keep all of our Halloween books put away until October when I set them all out in a basket in the family room.  My girls LOVED this when they were little and it’s so fun seeing my little boy enjoy this tradition just as much.
pottery-barn-striped-chair
When I share pictures of our “reading corner” on the blog it looks like this.
lounging in striped chair_edited-1
But this is how this chair usually looks.  Pillow tossed on the floor with one of my kids lounging in it with a book.  My little buddy has been hanging out here a lot lately enjoying his favorite Halloween books!  These are my kids’ tried and true favorites:
humbug-witch
HUMBUG WITCH
room-on-the-broom
ROOM ON THE BROOM
there-was-an-old-lady
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A BAT (we read this no less than 8 times today)
leonardo-the-terrible-monster
LEONARDO THE TERRIBLE MONSTER (not necessarily a Halloween book but we set out anything monster related and this is the cutest story!  One of our all time favorites!)
go away big green monster
GO AWAY BIG GREEN MONSTER 
monster at the end of this book
THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK
little old lady
LITTLE OLD LADY WHO WAS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING
the miss nelson collection
THE MISS NELSON COLLECTION
61c7kxola8L._SX496_BO1,204,203,200_
THE TEACHER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON
thanks-for-thanksgiving
THANKS FOR THANKSGIVING
favorite-fall-recipes
{FAVORITE FALL TREATS/RECIPES}
Another tradition is making these favorite family recipes each fall.  I usually try a few new things (fall is the only time of year I enjoy cooking!  Sort of.) but these four staples are what we all look forward to most!
applesause-chocolate-chip-cookies
APPLESAUCE COOKIES  SO so good.  Love them for breakfast with oj. :)
white-bean-soup
WHITE BEAN CHILI
banana-bread-muffins
BANANA BREAD MUFFINS
mexican-chalupas
MEXICAN CHALUPAS
pumpkin-bowl
And my kids’ favorite movie treat that they look forward to all year.  We take our favorite jack-o-lantern bowl.
halloween-treat
Fill it with popcorn, pretzels, fishy crackers, m&m’s, and candy corns.  Creating…
easy to make halloween treat for kids
an easy Halloween treat your kids will love.  ;)  This treat always makes me smile because it came to be one October many years ago when my girls wanted a “Halloween treat” to eat while they watch their Barbie movie.  I grabbed this bowl and tossed the treats I had on hand at our house all together.  Totally random!  It was such a huge hit and now they get excited to eat it every year.  We always have a “Halloween movie night” when we make this treat and watch some of our favorite Halloween movies.
halloween-bingo
{HALLOWEEN BINGO}
This Halloween Bingo game is a favorite every year.  I made it for the girls and I love watching them play it with their little brother this year.  I found these cards on-line and just put them on black  paper and laminated them.  If you google Halloween Bingo so many fun options come up!
pumpkin-patch
{PUMPKIN PATCH}
We take the kids to the same pumpkin patch every year.  It’s more like a small carnival with a few rows of pumpkins really, but they love it and we can’t let October pass us by without going.  :)
3-little-witches
{FALL TRIP}
We’ve also started a fun tradition of taking a quick weekend trip to SLC each fall to stay with my sister.  They have a witch festival that my kids adore and aside from spending time with family, I love to see all of the beautiful changing leaves!  I say this all the time but it’s so true.  Leaves on palm trees don’t change and this is the one time of year I would love to live somewhere else.  Just for a month or two.  :)  Our SLC trip gives us a quick fall fix!
modern-fall-entry-table
Speaking of visiting my sister every fall, last year I took some pictures of her beautiful modern home!  You can check out that post here.
geometric-wallpaper
Love her playroom!
craftsman-built-ins
{FALL DINNER PARTY}
So this is actually a new tradition I’m starting this year!  I want to have some friends over for a little fall dinner party.  Low key and simple – probably just soup and salad and dessert.  Or maybe my standbys – banana bread muffins and applesauce cookies.  To be determined.  :)
fall-tablescape
Sources: Yellow Stems, Terrarium Vase, Chargers, Pumpkin napkin rings, white napkins, Pumpkins – Home Goods, table and chairs – Restoration Hardware, Rug – West Elm.

So there you have it!  Our favorite fall traditions.  Such a fun time of year.

Does your family have a favorite fall tradition you all look forward to every year?  If you do I’d love to hear it!  There’s always room to add one more.

:)

xoxo, Erin
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23 thoughts on “Favorite Fall Traditions

  1. I love your home and fall decorations. So many ideas to try and replicate. And I am anxious to try some of your recipes. Our family has a few fall traditions ourselves…so it is neat to compare and see if we should add anything. :-> I really like the metal basket you have your halloween books in. Can you tell me where that came from? Thanks again for sharing your home and ideas with all of us!

  2. Thanks for sharing your family traditions. It’s so fun to revisit them. Your pictures are gorgeous. Adore the idea of a witch festival (as long as it is fun and cute and not scary). So happy for you guys that it has been a little rainy. Good for the earth and soul! I don’t remember seeing the post on applesauce cookies. Have bookmarked to try them. I think they would be a big hit here. Thanks! Have a great day. :)

    1. Oh you have to try them Jeanne! It’s a family recipe and they are SO good. Not to mention they make the house smell amazing. :) Thanks cutie! xo

  3. One of my most-favorite posts from you every year Erin!! I directly stole your popcorn mix and movie idea and my kids have loved it ever since. I also stole the books in a basket to pull out every year……on second thought, don’t come over to my house after your holiday posts or you might get worried about me. :) Love your simple family friendly ideas!

    1. Yea!! That makes me so happy you are using some of my ideas Lynnsey! Love it! I think a visit to your house would make my day. :) xo

  4. Love your blog! YOu motivated me to start some fall traditions. We have Christmas traditions but why not fall? In Wisconsin this time of year is beautiful!

    1. Thank you Christine! That makes me so happy! Wishing I could hop on a plane to Wisconsin today! Our rain stopped and it is too hot again. :(

  5. Erin,
    I love your banner of previous year’s halloween costumes…I’m definitely going to be borrowing that idea ;)
    It was so fun meeting you in person today!

  6. Hi Erin,
    Here in Canada, the trees turn amazing colors. You would just love it.
    We go apple picking. Our kids love climbing the trees. Which kids wouldn’t? If you can, try it.

  7. Hi Erin! Love all of these ideas!! I’ve used so many of your organizing tips over the years that I’ve got my family fooled into thinking I’m an organizing genius…please keep my secret…lol! :) Just curious where you found your magnolia wreath…it’s beautiful!

    1. Oh my word Michelle! That made me smile so big. :) Thanks cutie! That magnolia wreath is from The Magnolia Market! On-line shop by Chip and Jo from Fixer Upper. :) It’s their signature wreath. So fun right? Here is the link to their shop.. but I’m warning you. It’s dangerous! xo

      https://shop.magnoliahomes.net

  8. Loved this post! Fall is my favorite time of year!! I make mini pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, recipe from Libby’s. My family loves them and requires several batches throughout the season!!!! We do the “Phantom Ghost” treat exchange with our friends and neighbors. My kids love that. I just set up my hot cocoa station today, my son reminded me. We are in NJ so it’s time!!

    1. Thank you Susan! It’s such a fun time of year! Your mini pumpkin chocolate chip muffins sound amazing! YUM. My girls want a hot cocoa station again this year too and I need to get on that! It just needs to stop being 80 degrees around here so we can drink it.. ha! ;) Happy Fall! xo

  9. Love the Halloween photo idea! Stealing that! I always have our Christmas books and movies in baskets, but I never thought to do them for fall! Genius! And it’s made me want to get some Halloween books for my little baby. Little Blue Truck Halloween here I come! 🎃

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