Picture it…

Leaves falling. Cooler weather. Pumpkins and mums around every corner and on every porch. Families out walking through the neighborhood. Early sunsets.

Fall days are in full swing! And we could not be more thrilled!

A favorite way of enjoying autumn in Southeast Texas can be as simple as a day outside painting pumpkins with family and friends. Recently, a friend and I had a conversation about how it feels like opening our homes to others is becoming a lost art. Given the past couple of years, that is completely understandable. I cannot tell you how elated I am to start hosting family and friends in my home again. After a season of loss, we especially need the connection. Now is a perfect time to invite the family, your friends, kids’ friends, neighbors…just genuinely open your home to those you love. Maybe even think of those new friends you have been hoping to get to know more and create a beautifully sweet, simplistic time together.

Here are a few of our favorite budget-friendly ways to enjoy autumn in Southeast Texas with friends & family:

PAINTING PUMPKINS

Start by gathering a few supplies: paint or other desired media, cups of water, paintbrushes, and definitely some wet wipes. Everyone brings their own pumpkins, whether from a favorite pumpkin patch or grocery store (pro tip: check those H-E-B coupons). 

Get creative! Be silly! Relax and enjoy!

DIY FALL T-SHIRTS

Say a friend was inspired by a TikTok video, and a spur of the moment t-shirt making day plan was hatched. Head out and find the right size black t-shirts, gather up cute, seasonal wooden cutouts or large holiday stickers from a dollar or craft store . Pour bleach and a little water into a spray bottle. Grab a piece of cardboard to slide inside the shirt to keep from bleaching the back with the design. Decide how you would like your design arranged on the shirt. Finally, simply spray all around the design. Make matching shirts for the kids, sweet messages for friends, or seasonal shirts for the family!

HOST FRIENDS-GIVING

An all-out sit down meal, or host a potluck.  Or make it a mini version with a coffee tasting, or dessert bar.  Day or night. Decide on the best fit, and gather together. Take time to write down what each of you are thankful for this year. Throw in some card/board games or lawn games. Start a “giving plate” tradition. Anyone cooking can wear an apron, and others can write little notes to pin to or fill the pocket of the aprons. Talk, listen, and be present. There are countless ways to theme and tailor a Friendsgiving, and that time together will bless you in more ways than you imagine.

CARVE OUT TIME TO SLOW DOWN

While all of the engaging activities, enriching extra-curriculars, and beginnings of holiday traditions are a blast, there’s something to be said for the simple moments. This season always manages to remind me to take a quick breather, be present, and witness the year’s growth and changes around me. Our families grow and change right before our eyes, and yet it’s a constant shock and surprise. Time never slows, and change is ever-present. So, stop and take that friend out for coffee. Sit and read that book, preferably while curled up in your favorite blanket with a hot beverage. Run and play outside with the kids or the pets or just because it brings you joy.

Here’s to more days filled with family dinners, roasting s’mores with friends, painting pumpkins with the kids, swinging on the swing sets at the park, and anything else that slows our stride for a moment, inspires, and fills us with joy!

Happy Fall Y’all!  No matter if you prefer to go “all out” or be more minimalistic or budget-friendly, the goal is to carve out time together, create memories, relax, and play. So, during this season, what activities bring you and your family together? How do you make time to connect with others?