Category: Blog

Cell phones are becoming more and more advanced, which means bills are going up and up. Now everyone has a smart phone and data costs can drive your bill through the roof, so deciding on your cell phone provider is as important as ever. There are dozens of different options and although they may seem to be very similar, there are some differences that could make one provider better than another for you.

At&t

At&t is one of the giants of the mobile phone industry and has been providing cell phone service for over a decade. The size of at&t, and the other major providers, has it’s advantages and disadvantages. At&t is competitively priced with the other major carriers, but is still more expensive than cheaper options like Cricket and MetroPCS. However, At&t has the best (or 2nd depending on who you ask) coverage in America. You will almost never have an issue getting reception on your At&t phone. At&t has the largest selection of major cell phone brands on the market, so if you are someone who doesn’t just plan on getting the iPhone every few years, at&t could be the plan for you.

Verizon

Verizon, like At&t, is one of the largest cell phone service providers and has been around for years. Verizon is typically ranked first in coverage and near the top in every service category. With this level of service comes additional cost. Verizon is pretty much the most expensive cell phone service provider, depending on your specific needs. You will pay a few extra dollars a month with Verizon, but you can feel confident that you are getting the best cell phone service available.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile has always been the third wheel to At&t and Verizon. It is not quite as big as these 2 giants but is not far behind. The biggest advantage of using T-Mobile is the prices. It is cheaper, sometimes significantly, than the bigger competitors. With this saving comes a slight hit to your service quality. If you are in a big city or highly populated area, T-Mobile’s service is as good as it gets. But if you are in a more rural area or frequently visit one, you are going to have some problems with T-Mobile. T-Mobile has made the decision to sacrifice service in rural areas to provide the best prices possible, so if you live in an area with decent T-Mobile coverage it is definitely the way to go.

The Others

There are dozens of other options to choose from when selecting a cell phone service provider. The 3 above are the leaders, along with Sprint, and have been cemented in their positions for years. New, cheaper alternatives have recently started to flood the market like Cricket, MetroPCS, Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile and more. These alternatives are all similar in the sense that they undercut the price of the bigger brands by sacrificing service. They all cause little to no problems if you are in cities, but usually are not suitable for people outside the cities. They offer different payment models like pay-as-you-go and different plan structures that can provide big savings to a customer in the right situation. If you plan on using a provider outside of the top few, we recommend doing your research to ensure service will not be an issue.

All of these cell phone providers have different situations that they are suitable for. At the end of the day it really just depends on your personal needs. It is important to do extensive research before making your decision, especially since you are likely going to be locked into at least a year long contract.

To an outsider, your typical St. Patrick’s Day celebrations might look a little strange – shamrocks, the color green, leprechauns, and pots of gold. It’s all a little odd. However, those average St. Patrick’s Day symbols and traditions have nothing on these truly odd celebrations.

Dying the Chicago River Green

It’s one of the most well-known St. Patrick’s Day traditions. Each year, St. Patrick’s Day revellers take to Chicago’s downtown Loop area to dye the Chicago River–which cuts through the middle of the city–a deep, brilliant green. It’s a tradition that’s been going strong for more than 50 years, and it’s one that Chicagoans look forward to every time St. Patrick’s Day rolls around. The secret ingredient to the green dye? It’s actually a family-held secret, one that even the most dedicated event attendees don’t even know.

A Very Short St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Even if you live in a smallish city, your annual St. Patrick’s Day probably runs at least a few blocks. Not so in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where the magic lasts only one block. That’s right – Hot Springs’ Bridge Street, which runs a scant 98 feet long, is by some accounts the shortest street in the world, making it the perfect location for the world’s shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade. The actual event is as eclectic as its concept, with parade marchers dressed in wacky costumes and celebrities scheduled to host and perform.

Dublin for a Day

While you might think that Ireland’s capital, Dublin, goes big on St. Patrick’s Day, it might be New Dublin that takes the cake. If you haven’t heard of New Dublin, don’t be surprised, because it exists for only a day. Usually, the town is better known as New London, Wisconsin, but for one day each year (on, you guessed it, St. Patrick’s Day), the town becomes New Dublin, with locals dressed as leprechauns even changing the city sign! Along with the name change, the town celebrates with a parade, an Irish festival, and other small events throughout the city.

The World’s Biggest Shamrock

The shamrock, the three-leaf clover that’s come to symbolize Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day, is widely considered to be lucky. So, does that mean the bigger the shamrock, the greater the luck? Maybe that’s the logic in O’Neill, Nebraska, the “Irish capital of Nebraska,” where a ginormous, green, concrete shamrock adorns the intersection of 4th Street and Douglas, right in the middle of town. Apparently, the people of O’Neill are so serious about St. Patrick’s Day that they’re ready to celebrate it every day!

It’s Big in Japan

When you think about St. Patrick’s Day, you surely think of celebrations taking place in America, where there’s a large Irish population, and of course in Ireland. But did you know that the Japanese also celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Indeed, while you might not think it, Tokyo has hosted a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, complete with a parade and fun activities like face painting. Just goes to show that no matter where you go, people aren’t so different after all – especially when they’re celebrating something as fun as St. Patrick’s Day!

Jumping into your car to head to the grocery store? That is so last century. Nowadays, all it takes is the click of a button (or tap of a smartphone) to get your week’s groceries delivered to your door. Grocery delivery services are bigger than ever, but that also means there are a lot of competing services out there. How do they stack up against one another?

AmazonFresh

What doesn’t Amazon sell these days? The online shopping giant isn’t home to only TVs and books any longer – you can include food on its growing list of wares. AmazonFresh offers everything from non perishables to fresh foods like produce, raw meat, and bread, as well as products from local businesses that have partnered with the service. AmazonFresh, which is still rolling out throughout the United States, is available with an Amazon Prime subscription and an extra monthly subscription fee.

Instacart

Unlike the other popular grocery services, which group their products into categories such as fresh foods, dairy, and produce, Instacart groups its products by store. So, if there are certain products you like from one store, or you want your money to go to certain local businesses, this kind of organization can help you make those decisions. One other thing Instacart has been praised for is its site layout. Out of all the services, it provides one of the smoothest online grocery-buying experiences.

Peapod

While it might not have the same name recognition of Amazon, Peapod does have the distinction of being one of the longest-established grocery delivery services, and it was one of the first to make the jump to online. Just like the other grocery delivery services, Peapod has a good selection of food, drinks, and home items. One of its more interesting features lets you copy and paste your shopping list for quicker ordering. The biggest downside to Peapod, however, is its minimum order size. Every order must be at least $60. So, while this service might be good for getting your regular shopping down, it isn’t so great for ordering something on a whim.

Google Express

Google, like Amazon, is another big tech company looking to get into the grocery-delivery game. And, while Amazon has a lot of experience in shipping orders, this is the first time Google’s tried something quite like this. While their Express service is still somewhat new, it offers pretty good availability, meaning you’ll be able to get it in more places than other grocery delivery services. On the flip side, even though Google offers products from many partnering stores (kind of like Instacart), its selection of products doesn’t quite compare.

Schwan’s

It started as an ice cream company, and now it’s one of the biggest food delivery services out there. Schwan’s is a bit different from its competitors in that the products it offers are its own, and most of those products come frozen. This is actually a benefit, the company says, as freezing food doesn’t necessarily affect the quality, and you can prepare dinner much more quickly than if you were using raw foods. Schwan’s offers both meal ingredients, such as chicken breasts and green beans, and frozen meals already made.

Nowadays, we know February for Valentine’s Day and its distinction as the only month with 28 days. Interestingly, February isn’t 28 days long for no reason. In fact, it took a long time and a lot of effort to get the month that way. It’s easy to take February for granted, and after learning about its long and complex history, you’ll surely appreciate it even more!

No Months in a Roman Winter

The calendar we’re so used to these days–you know, the one that runs through January to December–is the Gregorian calendar, named after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it in 1852. The Gregorian calendar was based on the Julian calendar, named after Julius Caesar, which was in turn based on the Roman calendar. While the exact origins of the Roman calendar are still fuzzy, it’s believed that it was based off the lunar cycle. Oddly, the Roman calendar originally included only 10 months, March through December. Because there was no harvest during the winter, this time was deemed less important and no months were assigned to it.

King Numa Changes Things

We owe the existence of January and February to Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, who added them to the calendar sometime around 700 BC. He gave January 29 days, while Feburary got 28 days. The number 28 was considered unlucky by the Romans, and February was assigned 28 days because it was the month of purification. In fact, the month’s name comes from the Roman festival of purification, called Februa.

355 Days Don’t Make a Year

At this point, the Romans were looking at a year that was 355 days long. Naturally, this isn’t in tune with how our planet revolves around the sun, and as a consequence, the timing of the months was thrown off. To solve this, every few years the Romans would add a 13th month, called the Mensis Intercalaris, which was 27 days long and took place after February. While this helped round out the year, the extra month wasn’t always instated consistently (especially for political reasons), leading to confusion among the masses.

Julius Caesar to the Rescue

It took a few hundred years, until the reign of Julius Caesar, to get all the messiness of February and the rest of the months cleared up. Apparently, it took quite the effort to get the year back to “normal,” as Caesar hired great thinkers to come up with a solution to the Roman calendar. Eventually, the think tank decided on a calendar that’s very familiar to ours, with about 365 days and 12 months. However, one nearly-unbelievable side effect was that the year 46 BC had to be 445 days long!

Don’t Forget Leap Day

Of course, February isn’t always 28 days long. Part of the reason so many generations struggled to find an accurate calendar is because, as we know now, a year isn’t exactly 365 days long. Rather, it’s almost 365 and a quarter days long. The Julian calendar accounted for this by introducing an extra day in February every four years, but it was still off because the year isn’t exactly 365 and a quarter days long. Finally, with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, it was decided that leap days would occur almost every four years, with an exception if the year is divisible by 400. It’s a little confusing, but hey, it works!

It’s hard enough to stay in shape throughout the year, but wintertime makes this notoriously tricky routine even more difficult to keep up with. After all, who wants to brave the cold winds to travel to the gym, much less exercise outside? Despite the seeming unpleasantness of trying to stay in shape during the winter, it doesn’t have to be all that bad. In fact, it can less difficult than you thought, especially when keeping these practices in mind.

Have a Clear Goal in Mind

Staying motivated enough to exercise during the winter can seem like an uphill battle, and it’s definitely much harder when you aren’t quite sure what you should be doing or what kind of progress you’re making. Researchers have found that the key to a successful habit is ensuring that you choose a goal that is realistic, measurable, and as specific as possible. So, rather than telling yourself something like, “I’m going to stay fit during the winter,” try “I’m going to exercise for 30 minutes three times each week.”

Work Out With a Buddy

Is there someone in your life who would be willing to exercise regularly with you? Like most things in life, working out is a bit easier if you don’t go it alone. With the right workout buddy, you’ll have someone to motivate you, cheer you on, and get you exercising, even when you don’t especially feel like doing so. And hey, a little competition never hurt anyone – in fact, it might even do you a little good in this case.

Find an External Motivator

For some, trying to stick to the goal is enough to get them working out consistently. For others, though, having an endpoint in mind–and even having a workout partner–can still wear down after time. If this sounds like you, you might want to find some kind of other external motivating factor to get you through the entirety of winter (and beyond). For instance, you could set a nice reward for yourself if you complete your goal. Or, you could even consider hiring a fitness trainer. Not only would you be putting your own skin in the game, but you’d also have a professional who wouldn’t let you off easy.

Get Into the Routine You Enjoy

A common misconception about fitness is that it has to be unenjoyable. This doesn’t have to be the case! In fact, one of the secrets to a success fitness routine is finding the workouts that get you pumped and looking forward to the next session. So, whether your preferred activity is spending half an hour on the elliptical or going for a daily walk in the brisk weather, what matters is that you’re up and moving. And once you’ve made it a habit, you’ll find that it really isn’t always difficult to keep it up – even during the winter.

Focus on Your Other Areas of Health

While fitness is an important part of the health puzzle, there are other factors that affect your overall well-being, and this can be especially true in the colder months. Diet, of course, plays just as much a part in your health as exercising regularly. Eating natural foods that are high in vitamins, along with staying hydrated, will do a lot to make you feel great, even when the weather isn’t very agreeable. Also, go out of your way to get as much light exposure as you can to make up for the lack of sunlight that occurs in winter. A small investment in a bright lamp can be energizing, making it more likely you’ll get up and get active!

2016 was a pretty good year for movie fans. They got two Marvel films, a “Star Wars” movie, and a ton of other original, critically-acclaimed flicks. This year looks to be no different, with plenty of well-loved franchises returning, along with at least a few new stories. While there will definitely be a film for everyone, these are going to be the sure winners of 2017.  

Spider-Man: Homecoming

It’s the third–yes, third–iteration of superhero Spider-Man in 15 years, but this time may be the charm as its the first time the character will officially take part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That means other well-known Marvel characters, such as Iron Man, will be making appearances in the film. Besides the movie’s connection to the Marvel universe, it may stand well enough on its own, with tons of acclaimed actors taking part in the film. Not enough Marvel for you? 2017 will also see the releases of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “Thor: Ragnarok.”

Despicable Me 3

Let’s face it: you’re not going to watch “Despicable Me” for its deft filmmaking, but that’s OK. The franchise is good fun for the entire family, and this third outing seems to keep the sweet, colorful tone of the previous two films. Along with returning stars Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig, “Despicable Me 3” will also star Trey Parker, best known as one of the duo behind “South Park,” and, of course, the Minions. They’re never going away!

Dunkirk

If you’re not sure what you want to see at the cinema, a Christopher Nolan movie is always a safe bet. The mastermind behind mindbenders such as “Inception,” “Interstellar,” and the “Dark Knight” trilogy, Nolan returns with a seemingly straightforward World War II picture. “Dunkirk” tells the story of Allied soldiers forced to evacuate Dunkirk, France in 1940, near the beginning of the war. As with all Nolan movies, the cast is stunning, with Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and curiously, One Direction member Harry Styles all set to appear.

Blade Runner 2049

Among this year’s many remakes, reboots, and sequels, “Blade Runner 2049” is a little bit different. For one, it’s a straight-up sequel that comes 35 years after the original, which caused concern among fans of the original film. However, those fears were set aside when they learned rising-star director Denis Villeneuve would direct, bringing along cinematographer Roger Deakins and composer Johann Johannsson, both of whom collaborated with him on 2016’s sci-fi hit, “Arrival.” Add in returning star Harrison Ford and current Hollywood golden boy Ryan Gosling, and it’s looking like this is going to be a winner.

Star Wars: Episode VIII

It’s “Star Wars.” Does anything more need to be said? Right now, the movie’s being kept under tight, tight wraps – not even the film’s subtitle is known at the moment. All we know right now is that much of the cast introduced in 2015’s “The Force Awakens” will return, with director Rian Johnson at the helm. Johnson, while not a household name, has been the one behind critically-acclaimed films “Brick” and “Looper,” so critics are confident that the new installment is in good hands. It’s safe to say that audiences around the world will be feeling the Force with this one come the end of the year.

When it’s the holiday season, you know it’s the holiday season. Not only does the winter weather help bring on the holiday joy, but so do the decorations, parties, gifts, and music. Christmas music is in itself a big category, and there’s tons of it out there. If you’re in search of something holiday-appropriate to listen to, look no further than the most popular holiday albums of all time.

“Elvis’ Christmas Album” by Elvis Presley

50 million Elvis fans can’t be wrong, especially during Christmastime. Elvis Presley’s first Christmas album, released in 1957, is the best-selling holiday album ever, having sold 15 million records worldwide. Give this album a spin if you want to hear the King’s country-tinged take on Christmas standards like “Silent Night,” and perhaps his most famous, “Blue Christmas.”

“Miracles: The Holiday Album” by Kenny G

Yes, you read that correctly. Kenny G, the smooth jazz saxophonist, has lay to the claim of creating the second-best-selling Christmas album. While “Miracles: The Holiday Album” hasn’t receive the most critical acclaim–Entertainment Weekly gave it a C+–there’s obviously something about the soothing sounds of well-known Christmas songs that make this album good background music.    

“The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole

You know the song that starts with “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”? That’s called “The Christmas Song,” and the way you remember it is probably the one sung by Nat King Cole. While Cole got his start in music as a jazz pianist, his “The Christmas Song” album, full of luscious string arrangements, is a stone-cold holiday classic.

“Mannheim Steamroller Christmas” by Mannheim Steamroller

Some bands are rock bands. Some bands are country bands. Mannheim Steamroller, it’s safe to say, is a Christmas band. While this group has put out efforts that are more new age and less Christmas, most of their discography reflects the most wonderful time of the year. This album puts the focus on Christmas song classics of old, like “Deck the Halls” and “We Three Kings.”

“A Fresh Aire Christmas” by Mannheim Steamroller

One of the only groups to have multiple best-selling Christmas records, Mannheim Steamroller use “A Fresh Aire Christmas” to feature more of what they’re good at: holiday songs arranged with a focus on symphony strings, choirs, and electric keyboard. For this album, group leader Chip Davis surveyed fans to find the most-requested Christmas songs for the band to cover.

“Noel” by Josh Groban

All the best Christmas songs get the Josh Groban treatment on his 2007 album, “Noel.” Groban, a singer known for his deep, soaring baritone, offers his fairly traditional take on the Christmas classics, along with musical guests such as Faith Hill and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

“Merry Christmas” by Mariah Carey

When releasing a Christmas album, most musical artists are content to stick to the classics. Mariah Carey, on the other hand, offers up refreshingly original songs on her album, “Merry Christmas.” That includes the modern Christmas megahit, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which currently stands as the 11th best-selling single ever.

While it’s easier than ever to load up a playlist of Christmas songs, there’s still something to be said about the holiday record. If you need something to listen to while unwrapping your presents, or you just want something to help you get into the holiday spirit, these albums will surely not disappoint.

Christmas, perhaps more so than any other holiday, is an event full of tradition. With that, there’s no denying the Christmas tradition of putting up a flashy display of lights. From our Christmas trees to the outsides of our homes, the season is an excuse to string up as many lights as possible. Though you might have a modest set-up that you enjoy putting up and taking down every year, some take this tradition very seriously, even competitively, leading to some quite awesome displays. Here are a few of the standouts.

Chicago’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

The Magnificent Mile, which runs down Chicago’s downtown Michigan Avenue, is a tourist hotspot through the year. But, come Christmastime, the street transforms into a hub of bright lights, music, parades, and families getting together to celebrate the holidays. While the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival lasts only a weekend (in November, no less), it’s still worth visiting, as tons of people do every year.

Charleston’s Holiday Festival of Lights

Two million lights across three miles: there’s no denying that, if anything, the Holiday Festival of Lights in Charleston impresses by numbers alone. While most of the festival revolves around a driving tour, which lets you dazzle at the lights from the comfort of your vehicle, there are many other fun activities that visitors can take part in after parking their car, including carousel rides and a visit with Santa. Notable past displays include light models of lighthouses, ships, and even pineapples!

Las Vegas’ Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Las Vegas might be known for its glittery Sunset Strip, but you have travel a little outside the city to find the real Christmas magic. The Glittering Lights Festival takes place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but don’t let the location fool you – this impressive, calming drive-through attraction boasts millions of lights arranged into all sorts of shapes and sizes. Those aren’t all stationary displays either – the event is home to more than 400 animated exhibits, too.

Atlanta’s Garden Lights

A heavy snowfall is a rare occurrence in Atlanta, meaning that, when compared to other parts of the United States, the outdoor attractions are a bit more pleasant to take in. That definitely goes for the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the 30-acre plot of land located in the city’s Midtown area. While the park is pleasant enough to visit during the warmer months, it’s something else to see the garden’s botanical structures lit up with a colorful panoply of lights. The attractions don’t end at the lights either, with events like a reindog parade–which is exactly what it sounds like–bringing visitors back year after year.

Orlando’s Disney World

It’s Disney World… need anything more be said? Anyone would be happy to take a trip to the Magic Kingdom at any point during the year, but visiting during the world’s most popular theme park during the holiday season is an especially good time. Not only do visitors get to see the famous Disney castle adorned with white, icicle-like lights, but they also get to take part in many holiday-themed events, including an amazing fireworks display.

California might be known for its fertile wine lands, but the region is by no means the only place where wine grapes thrive. Believe it or not, Pennsylvania is home to an impressive amount of wineries, with plenty of offerings available near Breinigsville. Whether you’re looking to indulge your refined tastes or you need a crash course on wine tasting, head to one of these wineries to raise a toast to great wine.

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery

One of Breinigsville’s two wineries, Clover Hill is a family-run business that’s been supplying wine to the Lehigh Valley area for more than 30 years. Clover Hill offers up a variety of wines to taste, with multiple varieties of red, white, and sparkling wines. While you could go for something traditional–a pinot grigio or cabernet sauvignon, for instance–Clover Hill also has non-traditional wines for those feeling adventurous. Could you resist a chocolate cherry chambourcin or spiced apple wine? Don’t worry if you want to try them all, as tastings are free here.  

Vynecrest Winery

Breinigsville’s other winery, Vynecrest, has also been a long-time staple of the Lehigh Valley. Also like Clover Hill, it has a little over 20 wines to choose from, split among three categories of reds, whites, and fruit wines. If you’d like to try some of Vynecrest’s offerings, you can visit the wine-tasting room, named the Vyneskellar, which is located in a renovated barn. There, you’ll be able to nourish yourself with wine by the glass or bottle and some light appetizers, including locally-sourced cheese.

Pinnacle Ridge

Located in nearby Kutztown, Pinnacle Ridge has one thing in common with Vynecrest: its tasting room is located in a big, renovated barn. Of course, just like the many other wineries, you can find here a selection that includes a good number of reds and whites for you to try. What really sets Pinnacle Ridge apart, though, is its Open House Concert Series, which runs during the summer and includes live music and catering from food trucks.

Blue Mountain Vineyards

Visiting a winery often means that you not only get a good taste of some wines, but you also get a chance to see some sights. However, perhaps no other vineyard near Breinigsville has quite the surroundings that Blue Mountain Vineyards finds itself in. Blue Mountain’s vineyards are arranged in beautiful terraces next to a pond, all of which you can see from the winery’s enclosed porch. If you really take a liking to Blue Mountain’s offerings, you can join the wine club to have a bottle shipped to you every few weeks.

While these wineries are among the Breinigsville area’s best, they are by no means the only ones. Depending on how far you’re willing to travel, there are dozens more wineries that offer their own twists on the drink. If you’re curious to learn more about Pennsylvania’s many wineries, do yourself a favor and visit the Pennsylvania Winery Association’s website to find out about the state’s various wine regions and even plan a suggested wine trail excursion.

Summer is too hot, winter’s too cold, but fall… fall’s just right! For many people, autumn is the time of the year to take advantage of the outdoors before it gets too cold and snowy. Plus, there are tons of only-during-fall activities that aren’t to be missed out on, especially when you have some friends with you. Make sure you get these fall-friendly exercises before the first snowflake hits the ground.

Go Apple-Picking at the Orchard

Apple-picking is the quintessential fall-time activity for a group of friends. After all, who goes to pick apples by themselves? Even if it’s too late in the season to pick any apples, you’ll find that many orchards are open later into the season, offering plenty of other fun things to do, such as hayrides and corn mazes. So, put on your best flannel, get the team together, and go pick some apples!

Watch the Leaves Change

Fall is arguably the prettiest time of the year, and depending on the day, it can offer some of the most appealing weather for being outside. So, why not take the opportunity to go for a nice walk outside, or if you have the time, a walk? Perhaps you and your friends could bring some cameras and see who can come up with the best, most autumny photos. If you and your group are looking to really escape to nature, autumn is also a great time to go camping. You’ll be sure to see some great vistas when you’re a little ways away from civilization.

Have a Cozy Day In

With winter coming, you’ll probably be spending more time inside than usual. Still, if you’re feeling like having a lazy day, consider having a warm and cozy day indoors a little early this year. Brew up a batch of hot chocolate, put on your comfy clothes, get wrapped up in a blanket, and sit by the window to marvel at the beauty of autumn. There’s no shame in taking a little time to stop and smell the flowers – or in this case, stop and watch the leaves fall. And, it’s even better if you have some friends to share in the relaxation.

Cook Up Some Autumn-y Dishes

Every season has foods that are associated with it, but perhaps none as much as fall. Time to bust out the pumpkin and cinnamon for some cooking! Whether it’s a tasty, sugary treat or a DIY pumpkin spice latte, there are plenty of foods you and your friends can cook together to really rein in the season. The cooking part itself is sure to be fun, especially when you have some friends helping out with the labor and costs, but you also have the added benefit of being able to eat your results!

Whatever you choose to do for the fall season, make sure you get to it before it’s too late! It’s easy to pass things off as “maybe tomorrow” or “perhaps next week,” but it’ll be winter sooner than you know it. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing, because you’ll have plenty of winter activities to cross off a new list.