College Diaries #4: the joys of autumn

After a month long hiatus, I have returned with November's college diary! In the third month of fall, I've been doing my best to enjoy every day and make the most of the season. I'll chronicle a little recap of the season thus far.

School:

The end of October marked the end of midterm. Lucky for me, none of my classes require tests for the midterm or final. Thank goodness because I am not the best tester. Instead I had essay questions and a presentation, much more my speed. Everything wrapped up well and now I'm in the final 5 weeks of class. I get myself quite overwhelmed with class, but do my best to re-ground myself. I've really been doing well this fall compared to spring and I've been proud of the work I've been producing. Being in classes within my major is so fulfilling and keep me motivated for the future. And my other classes ignite my curiosity in other topics as well.

October also brought Homecoming at school. I'm not a big football person, but it was fun to get into school spirit. We made homemade tshirts and spent the day with wonderful people we're building friendships with.

Apple Orchards:

One of my all time favorite fall activities is going to apple orchards. My roommates and I have made our way to 2 different ones this year. Our first one, I got fall baked goods and we dominated in the corn maze. It was however over 80 degrees outside, so we were absolutely baking and sweating. Because of this, we had an apple orchard sequel where Cecilia and I were able to show Katelyn the orchard of our hometown. This time, we actually got to wear our fall layers. We sampled grapes from the vineyard and walked through the orchard. Even pet some goats.

Fall walks:

I have been walking multiple days throughout the week. One of my favorite routes I've been taking is down the parkway of Summit Avenue and wrapping around to Grand Avenue. The wide parkway is a great way to be in the fall colors of the pretty trees while also seeing the grand houses of the city. These walks are a way for me to have alone time to practice mindfulness, get fresh air and sunlight, and move my body. These walks are one of the best things I've implemented into my week. I come back home feeling refreshed and more motivated. I intend to walk as much as I can until it becomes too bitterly cold to do so. As I write this, a walk with Cece will be happening in the next half hour.

Halloween:

Halloween decor!

Hocus Pocus costume!!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and the vibes of the season is something I always look forward to. My roommates and I decked out the house with Halloween decorations which added to the ambiance of the holiday. I watched my favorite Halloween movies, Hocus Pocus, and one of my all time favorite films, Practical Magic. If you haven't watched it, you have to drop everything right now and do so. The story and aesthetic are amazing and I could go on about the costuming as well. Closer to the holiday, I got into the spirit by going to Halloween parties with my friends. The top costume of the weekend was my roommates and I dressing up as the witches from Hocus Pocus. We have no idea how we are going to top this group costume next year.

Snow:

As Lorelai Gilmore would say, it smells like snow. On the actual day of Halloween, I woke up to the first snowfall of the year. I resisted the urge to listen to Christmas music until the clock struck midnight. Instead, I opted for All Too Well 10 Minute Version... "I still remember the first fall of snow, and how it glistened as it fell, I remember it all too well." The perfect choice for the weather. All the snow has melted now but the cold is lingering as well as the knowledge of more snow in the near future.

Now in November we're entering the end of fall and into the holidays with Thanksgiving coming up quickly. It's a gloomy gloomy month but I'm trying my best to persist in romanticizing my life. Until next month with another College Diary, I'll see you around with some fashion content.

<3 Lainey