Once we’ve endured a hot Texas summer and worn the elastic out of everyone’s swimsuits, it’s time to make the smooth and velvety transition into the cooler temperatures and warmer colors of fall.

Though the thermometer displays a summer number, never fear.

It’s going to get cooler soon. However, we can all spur it on just a little faster with a few tips and tricks.

Here are 15 ways to make it feel a little more like fall in Texas.

The aspens of Colorado – by Jeff Stovall (see more of his work on Instagram @jnstovall) 

1. Change the Sheets

Put a good soft set of knit or flannel sheets on your bed! Even if you wear your coolest, most breathable jammies under those warmer sheets, the texture of the fabric will lend itself to a snuggled-up fall feel, and fabulous cooler nights of restful sleep. I just love knit sheets in the fall! 

Photo courtesy Home Away

2. Knit a Beret

While you’re inside a little more, watching football, try knitting a beret! You might want to take a lesson first, though. Learn how to make this one at Hill Country Weavers, one of Austin’s finest yarn shops. My son told me there was a fellow barista at a coffee shop where he worked who knitted berets so fast, on slow days, that she could almost finish one during her shift.

Photo courtesy Hill Country Weavers

3. Wear a Vest

Here in Texas, we can nearly go all the way through winter without a coat! But that makes vests super fun to wear. 

Find cute vests like this one at Jane.com. (Tip: your millennial daughters love this website.)

4. Burn a Candle  

Let the fragrance of autumn in Austin permeate the whole house with this aromatic candle from Bath & Body Works. 

5. Pick a Pumpkin

Taking the grandkids for a fall trip to a pumpkin patch is an event to remember. Even if the weather is a little warm, a day outside, picking out pumpkins and riding a miniature train will usher in the fall season for s-u-r-e.

Photo by Katie Starr Photography

6. Bake a Cake

One of the first cakes I remember baking by myself was from a church cookbook in my mother’s stash. It was a simple recipe for Fresh Apple Cake, and I made it for years … until somehow I lost the recipe! Thankfully, I found this one on Pinterest, which is very close to the “original.”  When this cake is baking in your oven, the whole house takes on the flavor of fall.

7. Watch a Game 

Watching high school football and cheering from the stands will put you in the mood for all things fall like nothing else. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll even need a blanket! 

Photo courtesy Austin American Statesman

8. See Some Color

Texas may not have the foliage that you’ll find on the East Coast, but we definitely have some. Seven spots to see some beautiful Texas fall color can be found here. There’s time to see all of them before fall is gone! 

Photo courtesy www.tourtexas.com

9. Eat Pumpkin Pancakes 

Kerbey Lane Cafe is absolutely famous for their pumpkin pancakes with a cinnamon swirl. Seven locations in Austin make it (uh-oh!) very convenient to feed your punkin passion.

Photo courtesy Kerbey Lane Café on Facebook

10. Purchase a Planner

It definitely feels like fall when you purchase a new planner, write all the birthdays in it, and start, well, planning stuff.  And guess what?! Erin Condren, frontrunner in the world of spiral planners, will be opening a storefront at the Domain Northside – when? This fall.  (Update:  Erin Condren’s flagship store is at the Domain Northside now, and the store is amazing. Located at 11601 Rock Rose Avenue.)

11. Paint a Project

Since we live in an apartment, we don’t have any home projects to do (woot woot!), but fall is the perfect time to tackle a paint job around the house (if you live in one). However, if you plan on really getting jicky with it and painting the whole exterior, read this first.

12. Pop Some Corn

Caramel popcorn is the delicacy of fall, if you ask me. It’s super fun to make with the grandkids. It’s always a welcomed gift to take to your friends and neighbors or send back to school with your college student. And it’s perfect for a fall road trip. I just can’t think of any good reason NOT to enjoy some caramel popcorn this fall.

13. Buy New Jeans 

Summer is over, and even if it’s a little warm, it’s time to start wearing jeans. Men this season are wearing a lot of Mavis. Ladies – it’s a mixed bag, which – if you’re like me, is just the way you like it. Bring home a bag full of jeans to try on at home, then take back what doesn’t fit. (These men’s Zegna jeans are pretty pricey – unless you can find them at Nordstrom Rack.)

14. Decorate Your Space  

Whether you’re giving a whole room a fall-tastic look, or just adding a little something seasonal to your desk at work, change things up a little. Adding a fall flair with hues of orange and yellow gold will make both you and your space feel warm and cozy.

15. Pitch a Tent

Pack up the marshmallows and head to a beautiful Texas state park or natural area where you can enjoy coffee in the cool morning air and s’mores around the campfire at night. Oh, man, don’t get me started. I’m dying to go camping! 

There you have it – fifteen ways to usher in the season of back-to-school, changing leaves, and pumpkin flavored everything. Happy fall, y’all!

Encouraging everyday intentional adventure, after a good night’s sleep on some soft knit sheets, 

Other posts you might enjoy:

A Romantic Weekend in the Backwoods

Fall Day Trip to Brenham

How to Plan the Perfect Texas Day Trip