The Deep South Dirty: Fall Prep Tips

You will notice that their is no weekly menu this week on Deep South Sweets, and that is simply due to the fact that we are busy, busy, busy. The menu would read something like Mon: Leftovers, Tuesday: Sandwiches and rinse and repeat. When the dear husband has to go out of town and this girl has to work it is just a combo for nothingness in the food department.

Here in the South it is still feeling a lot like the summer, but you can still make the inside of your home feel festively fall. You know sort of the if they build it they will come mentality. These are in no certain order, but intended to help you find a few things you can do around your house to make fall more warm and cozy. Without further ado, here is a list of my random tips for fall prep.

• Pull your crock pot out to where it is easily accessible. Find 8-10 solid recipes that you enjoy in your crock pot and plan to cook at least one every week. Nothing says fall like coming home to the smell of a roast or soup cooking in the crock pot.
• Find cinnamon, pumpkin and vanilla candles. Even a home that is not spic-n-span can quickly become inviting with a warm, spicy scent.
• Toss comfy, plush throws over living room chairs and sofas. When the chilly breezes start blowing outside it is amazing to curl up under a blanket and read a good book.
• Make sure and stock your pantry with hot apple cider and hot cocoa mixes.
• Purchase a couple of different sized mums for your front porch. Don't be like me and buy them when it is crazy hot still or you will now be looking at dead mums on the front porch.
• Clean out that closet and make it ready for your fall/winter wardrobe. Don't simply pack away your summer clothes. Take the time to go through them and toss out what is unnecessary. If you did not wear it once this entire summer - toss it! I promise you that if you hang on to it saying to yourself "I'll wear it again someday," you won't. Toss, toss, toss it! Pass those clothes on to someone who truly will wear it again or Goodwill. Same goes for shoes, purses and accessories. Hanging on to things will only clutter up your closet. Do the same thing with the fall clothes you wore last year. If it was never worn during last fall/winter season, toss it!
• Wash your windows. This is a great thing to do once every season to get them bright and shiny. I recently tried the Windex Outdoor All-in-One Glass Cleaning Tool, and was very pleased with the results. It took all of 30 minutes to get the lower level windows clean, and saved a fortune from hiring someone. 
• Get out in your lawn and trim your hedges and bushes back. Have your pine straw and mulch refreshed. This is something I will be hiring someone to do for me. I do not mind doing the weekly lawn work myself, but these harder tasks I leave to the professionals.
• Lastly, pull out your fall decor from the attic and decorate! I love pumpkins and fall fruits on tables and in glass bowls. Different colored leaves are great to scatter along sideboards and tablescapes. Don't go overboard, but simply add a few accents here and there.

I know these are completely random, and I could go on and on. Take the time and find a few things to do around your house to get in the fall spirit. Leave a comment if you have something on your brain that you can add to the list - who knows - a few comments might entice me to do a fall favorites giveaway!

with Belles and Beauxs