It’s time to fall back into the autumn. I’m always sad to see the summer fade away in the sunset. It ‘s hands down my favorite season of the year. Sunshine, picnics, and floating around on the lake with friends all comes to a screeching halt in the in a couple of weeks. But there is no need to dive head first into seasonal depression. Just for you summer lovers like myself I have jotted down a few tips to keep your head up and help you not only cope, but enjoy this fall season.

1. Pamper yourself. It is a good idea at the beginning of any season to hit that reset button and start fresh. For me this means booking a massage at one of my favorite places, Banya 5 Spa. After my massage I like to spend the afternoon soaking in the hot tub, taking the cold plunge and releasing tension in the steam and sauna rooms.
2. Don’t be a homebody! Set up quality time with a close group of friends. We have some dreary days ahead weather-wise and it tends to put us Seattleites a little on the anti-social side. The best thing to combat those feelings of solitude is to stay in the mix don’t let the party stop. Carve out some “standing friend time” at least every two weeks and hang out with the framily. Go to a show, take turns cooking dinner for one another, check out local dance, it doesn’t really matter, just do something with your peeps. Sometimes we forget, but we live in a pretty happening, artsy city. There is always something fun, and funky going on to keep us sane.
3. Change the décor around your home. Adjusting your surroundings keeps life fresh and new. It doesn’t need to be a huge change sometime the simple things make the biggest impact. Changing my room décor and bedding to fall colors is one of the small things I do to help keep me in the fall mood. For you it could mean swapping out art, changing your place settings or simply placing colored or scented candles around your home. We all need a little variety in our lives just find what works for you.
4. Halloween is not just for the kids anymore. The big kids have taken it over and it is now one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. Start planning your costume now. Don’t be that guy or gal who shows up to the party in the “slutty vagabond outfit” because you bought your costume at 7:30pm on Halloween night. Take some time and be creative, and make your own costume. There are sewing classes available, Stiches on Pike St. If you start now you will have time to make something creepily fabulous that will be the smash hit at all of the parties this year. And remember Halloween is on Friday this year so you can party down all night long.
5. Join a wine club. Need I say more? Vino Verite has a great collection of wine and a fabulous custom made monthly wine club.
6. Prepare for the next season. As much as this transition to fall can wear us down a bit I think most people feel the most stress during the winter holiday season. Take a little but of stress off yourself and start holiday shopping now while it’s still fun. Spreading the shopping over 3 months instead of four weeks will prevent you from having the big financial impact all at once. Most importantly you will be done with your shopping early and have more time to spend on the things that really matter like family and friends.
7. Just enjoy the now. Don’t live in the future or stay stuck in the past. Change is part of life and we can embrace and make the most of it, or resist it and stay in a constant rut. Stop and smell the crisp evening air, enjoy the rich beautiful fall colors, indulge in all of the pumpkin spice lattes, cookies, crackers, cake, potato chips, hamburgers, tacos, you can eat.
8. Last but not least, GO HAWKS! Get some really amazing Seahawks gear at Capitol Hill’s own Throwbacks.