Fall Favorites. What do you love most about this season?

Wow, it’s officially fall! After an insanely hot and humid week following Labor Day (the “unofficial” start of fall, I’m told), we’ve actually been having fall weather in New York for a couple weeks now. I think.

You see, I don’t really know fall. For the past six years, I’ve spent the months from August to December (and often other months as well) in Phoenix, Arizona. Fall didn’t really exist there. We’d be sipping our pumpkin spice lattes in 100-degree weather. Double-digit temperatures and the end of the summer monsoon were reasons to celebrate. The leaves didn’t change, the temperatures didn’t dip low enough for sweaters and boots. We’d drive up to Prescott on day trips to experience “fall,” but it still wasn’t the same.

With that in mind, I do know that I love…

• Boots and sweaters. I’m excited to wear each of my sweaters more than once this season!
• Pumpkin pie. It’s the only dessert I’ll pick over my true love, cheesecake.
• My goofy Thanksgiving tradition.
• The colors! Orange is my favorite color so I’m ready to see the leaves change.

Help me out! What defines fall for you? I’m truly at a loss here!