September Bucket List
September can be a lovely transition month from summer to fall. This is the month of apple picking, cozy outfits, fall flavors (think cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice), and September produce. For those of us who love fall, the anticipation of baking pumpkin and apple desserts, wearing cozy fall sweaters, and waking up to crisp mornings is exciting! For those of us who aren’t quite ready to let summer go, there are still beautiful sun shiny days ahead. This is one of my favorite months because the humidity finally gives us a break here! This September bucket list focuses on ways to ease into the fall season with a mix of indoor, outdoor, and cozy activities. Happy September everyone!
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September Bucket List
- Happy first day of September! The first of each month is a great time to do a monthly reset (which can look different for everyone). A monthly reset means taking stock of the previous month and planning for the content one. This might look like filling out a monthly budget spreadsheet, (I got this cute budget template from Etsy), or coloring this monthly doodle planner, confirming travel plans, or setting up plans with others. Sometimes we think that we can do all these things without a list or calendar, but that’s when it can get overwhelming. Scheduling some time to plan the month helps so much!
- Talk a walk during the golden hour (before sunset) and notice the way the light illuminates everything in a softer, golden hue. Here in Illinois we have golden rod, black-eyed susans, asters, and mums. Their warm yellows, reds, oranges, and pinks look highlighted by the September sunlight.
- Attend an Oktoberfest event at a local brewery! Don’t let the name fool you, they’re held throughout September!
- Schedule a coffee date and get yourself a PSL (pumpkin spice latte) if that’s your thing or try a chai latte. Catch up with a friend and share how your summers went!
- Stock up your fall pantry with my 11 baking essentials list. Besides your staple pantry items like all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and soda, this list is focused on fall related ingredients. Many fall recipes call for ground spices, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, etc. This list will help you get prepared for fall bakes the next time you’re in the grocery store!
- Start watching your favorite fall show. Mine is Gilmore Girls because it’s nostalgic and set in the perfect New England town with plenty of fall scenes. There’s also lots of moody shows that seem to be more fitting for the colder, darker months. My moody list includes Outlander, A Discovery of Witches, Peaky Blinders, and The Crown. Some other shows that just seem “to fit” the mood of September are Virgin River, Downton Abbey, and Abbott Elementary. Find my full list of cozy TV shows and movies here!
- Today is a full moon which is also called the corn moon. Get outside to look and admire the beauty of our moon (hopefully it’s not cloudy!). It’s named corn moon because corn harvesting begins during early September in the Midwest, hence the name (Source: Farmers Almanac). Other names for the full moon are the autumn moon and harvest moon.
- Get a new fall candle. A woodsy or spicy smelling candle is a great addition to making your home feel ready for a cozy fall. I was gifted this candle which came from Etsy called Hello Fall and it seriously smells amazing and looks chic. If you’re not a fan of strong smells, try getting a beeswax candle from Honey Lake Bee Company on Etsy. I’ve purchased from them multiple times online and at farmers markets and given their candles as gifts!
- Create a fall playlist for when you’re studying/working/doing tasks or whenever you want to set the cozy mood. I share my playlist on Spotify called fall cafe vibes. It’s a jazzy playlist with songs like Autumn leaves by Nat King Cole, and Early Autumn sung by Ella Fitzgerald. This music always gets me into a mood equivalent of sitting in a cafe on a rainy fall day.
- Decorate your home for fall! A way to honor the shift in seasons is to decorate the home using natural decorations. Collect pinecones or other foliage to dry and use in vases. Add pampas grass into vases ranging from reds, tans, browns, and oranges. Hang a homemade fall wreath. Switch out dish towels, bedding, pillows, or placemats to fall colors. Last but not least, try hanging warm copper wire string lights. I’ve bought these three times in order to add more around the home! The warm light is cozy and a relief for the nervous system after a long day under harsh fluorescent lights.
- Explore a new cute town! September weather is great for exploring a new town or city because it’s started to cool off and that humidity is finally giving us a break! You don’t have to travel too far either. Make it a day trip, plan a weekend with friends, or a romantic weekend getaway.
- Bird migration happens each spring and fall. During your September walks, try heading to a forest preserve to listen and look for bird sounds that you may normally not think twice about. You don’t have to be a bird expert to get curious about the world around you. Bird watching has really become such a popular activity and it’s a great way to help you slow down and notice.
- Plan a dinner with friends. Try making a home cooked meal using fall ingredients like butternut squash, pumpkin, sage, or mushrooms. Break out that crockpot once again (a Midwest staple kitchen must have) and impress everyone with a warm and comforting meal.
- Get outside and enjoy the changing leaves. In some north parts of the country the leaves start changing in September! Here in Chicago there are signs of leaves changing, a mix of yellowing and green leaves hint that fall is here. Collect some newly fallen leaves to add to a homemade wreath or your tables center piece.
- Try my salted maple cold foam recipe. Maple seems to get overlooked during the fall months because flavors like pumpkin and apple take over. Maple has such a nice warmth and richness to it that really deserves its place as a fall flavor all on its own.
- Make your own sweet and salty fall inspired trail mix to have as a snack. Mix mini pretzels, caramel corn, peanuts, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, toasted pecans, and mini white or semi-sweet chocolate chips (these mini dark chocolate chips are my favorite when I have a chocolate craving).
- Go apple picking! Apples taste a million times better during apple season, especially when just picked from the tree. Here in Illinois, mid-September usually offers a great variety of apples and even Asian pears! You can make it a whole day event since some farms offer dining, bakeries, attractions, hayrides, and more. It’s also a great place to go on a date (in true Midwest fall style).
- Grab your reusable bag or this cute fresh & local tote and head to a farmers market. Seasons change brings new produce into the market. Look for apples, bell peppers, cabbage, eggplant, herbs, pumpkins, radishes, squash, and grapes. Just because the summer is winding down, doesn’t mean the local farmers markets are! I actually find that farmers markets during the fall can be a lot busier because of the beautiful weather!
- Bake my pumpkin bread recipe. I like to use the organic Trader Joe’s pumpkin or Libbys brand to make moist and delicious pumpkin bread. I use buttermilk as a secret ingredient that adds moisture and tenderness. Pumpkin bread is also very versatile! Add chopped walnuts on top, a scoop of chocolate chips into the batter, or use a toaster oven to warm a slice with a little butter.
- Try pumpkin or apple flavored items from the grocery store. My favorite place to shop for fall treats is at Trader Joe’s. If you follow me anywhere online then you know I’m always talking about them….Personally I quite enjoy that they have such a huge rotation of seasonal items. It makes it that much more special that the items only last during the season so we can have yummy treats to look forward to!
- Change out your wardrobe from summer to fall. Pack away those floral tops and summer skirts. Fold the shorts and place them either in a storage bin, up high in your closet, or wherever you have space. Like the shopping in season sentiment for bucket list #20, unpacking your seasonal clothes can be refreshing. They can almost feel like new again having not seen them since the last season. This clothing rotating method can actually cut down on how many new clothes you think you need to buy. When you have to unfold, hang, go through clothes, then you have a refresher of what you already own.
- Today is the first official day of fall or Mabon. Mabon is a pagan holiday that celebrates the Autumn equinox and a time of harvest, You can celebrate it yourself by doing whatever fall activity interests you. Bake a pumpkin loaf, make a fall inspired meal, talk a walk outside in nature, which a fall themed show or movie, burn a fall scented candle, or think about what you want to do during the new season. The list is really endless and comes down to what you feel represents fall the most.
- Go to a football game! Even if you’re not much of a sports fan it can still be lots of fun to attend a football game. The vibes in the stadium are always loud and exciting. The food smells and tastes good. Even though I’m not the biggest sports fan, going to watch a game in person is a lot more fun than on the TV.
- Start a fall puzzle. This adorable fall scene puzzle is a one way to take a break from screens. Working on a puzzle on a cold day when it’s warm inside is such a cozy atmosphere.
- Soup season is the best season! Seriously my household loves soup and there are endless recipes to try. Check out my Pinterest board with soup recipes that look so delicious!
- Try a fall simmer pot! A simmer pot simply means boiling water, turning it down to a simmer, and fruits, herbs, or spices. In sticking to the fall theme, try adding cinnamon sticks, a sliced apple, whole cloves, orange peels, star anise, ginger, etc. Check the simmer pot regularly and add more water as needed. We like to compost the ingredients after using them!
- Switch from an iced drink to a hot drink. Although I’m the kind of person that will drink an iced drink year-round 😄 Try swapping out your iced latte for a delightfully warm latte that warms you up on a blustery fall day. Instead of iced teas try a matcha latte or a breakfast tea latte. Find my homemade London fog latte recipe which uses earl grey tea and heated milk – so. good.
- Make salted caramel apple pie bars. These are the perfect subsistute when you don’t feel like following all the steps for an apple pipe. Tip: Go apple picking and use your freshly picked apples!
- National coffee day falls on September 29th every year! Check out your local cafes to see if they’re doing anything special or treat yourself to a cup.
- Start a new book series. Usually when fall rolls around I’m getting in the mood for a cozy mystery series. If you’re not familiar, cozy mysteries are a huge genre on there own and perfect for a easy to read mystery. Check out the Noodle Shop Mysteries by Vivien Chien or the Baker Street Mysteries by Valerie Burns. If you’re looking for something more romantic that just screams fall, try The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore or her other book The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore.
Transition months can be exciting with a feeling of something new. Changing leaves are refreshing for the eyes, crisp air relieves us from the summer heat, and new flavors gives us inspiration to bake. If going into the colder months isn’t as exciting (seasonal depression fears, I see you), try picking a few fall activities to plan which gives you things to look forward to. Finding your own routine in a new season can take time, so take care xx
This post is all about September bucket list ideas.
