The changing leaves, the seasonal designer beverages, the warm, oversized sweaters – it’s all pretty great. Unless you live in a warm climate such as the Fort Worth area. With temps still hovering around the 70s and 80s, fall doesn’t exactly look like a Hallmark movie. So how can you savor the season while still applying sunscreen and wearing flip flops? With these helpful tips.
Embrace Mornings
During summer and fall, morning is generally the coolest and most enjoyable part of the day. Take advantage of the cooler temps by enjoying a cup of coffee al fresco, going for a walk, or simply waking up early to watch the sun rise.
Buy Seasonal Candles
Make your home smell like fall by grabbing some pumpkin spice, cinnamon, or apple-scented candles. Or bring a small pan of water to a boil, then drop a cinnamon stick and cloves into the water and let the warm, natural scent fill your home.
Get Baking
Use quintessential fall ingredients like pumpkin, squash, cinnamon, ginger, apples, caramel, and so on and bake to your heart’s content. Not a baker? Purchase an apple or pumpkin pie and heat it in the oven, then enjoy with a dollop of ice cream.
Play Holiday Music
Nothing says it’s the holiday season like Bing Crosby’s classic voice filling the air. You may not want to play an entire Christmas album on repeat, but a song here and there can trick your brain into thinking it truly is fall, and soon – winter.
Go on a Fall Adventure
Throw on a flannel shirt (with shorts, if needed) and head to the pumpkin patch, corn maze, or find any area with the promise of anything resembling foliage. Striking out? Wait until sunset, light the fire pit, and roast some marshmallows in your own back yard.
Embrace Earthy Tones, Patterns, and Textures
Whether it’s home décor or your wardrobe, choose warm, earthy tones like mustard, olive green, burnt orange, and camel. Snuggle up with a hounds-tooth blanket, add a buffalo plaid door mat, and wrap twinkly lights around a fall garland and drape it from your mantle or banister.
Cook an Autumnal Meal
Give your favorite meal an autumnal spin. Try pumpkin ravioli or risotto. Add apples, cranberries, and Gruyere to your salad. And for dessert, make an apple crumble and serve with maple walnut ice cream.
Prep Your Home for Cooler Weather
It may be hard to think about your heating system while your AC is still running, but scheduling an annual heating inspection now means greater flexibility in getting an appointment that’s convenient for you. Plus, during your annual inspection, one of our licensed HVAC technicians will inspect that all components are working properly and safely, and troubleshoot any minor issues that, if ignored too long, could result in system breakdown and costly emergency repairs. Contact Optimum Air today for preventive maintenance or any heating, cooling, or air quality need.