Which is practically September, but hotter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And September is really just a monthlong housewarming party for October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you know it, it\u2019s Thanksgiving<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So honestly, even though it\u2019s over 100 degrees outside and still technically the dog days of summer, we\u2019re perfectly on time to celebrate Fall in full swing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Break out the pumpkin spice!!! (And the sweaters, and the scarves, and an unholy amount of cinnamon<\/a>\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dunkin Donuts\u2019 fall menu dropped August 19th. Starbucks is slated to roll out the red carpet for pumpkin spice lattes on August 25th. Grocery stores, home decor shops, and craft stores have all already rolled out their autumn inventories, from goodies to trinkets and everything in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If we\u2019re being honest, so have we, over here at The Magnolia Company! (Check out our Fall collection here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n In America, at least, everyone is treated to what feels like two starts of the season: the actual equinoxes and solstices that calibrate our calendars, and the cultural start of the season bookmarked by an aesthetic change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fall is a prime example! According to the Gregorian calendar, fall officially begins on the equinox that occurs in late September. This year, that date is September 22nd, and it usually occurs between September 21st and 23rd. The equinox is one of the two days of the year where the day and night hours are equal. The other equinox occurs between the 19th and 21st of March, marking the planetary start of spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can\u2019t argue with those dates; they\u2019re tied to science \u2013 astronomy, to be precise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, the lovers of all things pumpkin spice couldn\u2019t care less about the official start of fall. Culturally in America, fall begins somewhere around mid-August. Take a scroll down your social media of choice, and you\u2019ll find post after post boasting fall themed decor<\/a>, recipes, outfit inspiration, and more\u2026 in August. Ready or not, fall in the USA is here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Few topics in this world are more divisive or polarizing than politics, religion, and philosophy, but the start of fall manages to take the cake all on its own. Folks have STRONG opinions on when the seasons should be acknowledged. The seasonal purists will defend to the beating of a dead horse the calendar commencement of autumn. The pumpkin spice girlies, however, make a tasty case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of what side of the autumnal aisle you fall on (pun 100% intended), autumn is a welcome change from the visual fatigue of bright colors, citrus everything, and blistering, relentless summer heat. When your <\/em>autumn begins is and will always be up to you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lovers of pumpkin spice lattes aren\u2019t just coffee fiends. They\u2019re experts in balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You see, fall signals the start of a new chapter. For thousands of years of human history, we\u2019ve acknowledged the different energies of different seasons of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winter, with its barren coldness and sparse resources, encourages you to rest, to conserve energy, and to hold gratitude for those you love and the things you\u2019ve accomplished. It\u2019s a time of quiet reflection in all areas of life as you evaluate both the work you\u2019ve done and the work ahead. You\u2019re busy, but it\u2019s a different kind of busy. After all, preparation is half of execution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Spring bursts at the seams with new life, and it leaves us feeling hopeful and optimistic. You plant seeds, both literal and metaphorical, during this time. Everything is a little prettier, a little sweeter, and a little busier. You\u2019re testing out your preparations and strategies. New Year\u2019s resolutions? You\u2019re putting in the work now, and the novelty has you happy about it. You\u2019re a busy little bee!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Summer is a time of Work. You make the most of the hopes, dreams, and sown seeds established during spring. Summer shows you the fruits of your endeavors, and it requires that you tend to them to see them to completion. It\u2019s also a time of high energy: parties, backyard barbecues, travel. You\u2019re working hard while simultaneously finding yourself saying things like \u201cI need a vacation from that vacation!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fall holds a special place in a lot of our hearts. It\u2019s a time of slowing down<\/a> \u2013 the first of the year! As you reap everything you\u2019ve sown and tended to, you enjoy the comforts of your efforts while also acknowledging that you\u2019re stillllll not quite done. You\u2019re in limbo, soaking up the last rays of enthusiastic sun and energy and bracing for the dead of winter. Autumn allows you to savor the best of both worlds, and for once, they genuinely feel in balance with each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, before you turn your nose up at the pumpkin spice crowd, remember: they\u2019re finding balance, instead of pressing into burnout. A little treat now is what gives these folks the energy to see through all of the work they\u2019ve done in spring and summer \u2013 these are the people who would NEVER be caught tripping at the finish line. They just need a little special something to keep them moving along in the form of a treat, a little rest, and the excitement that comes with looking ahead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Change is always a bit intimidating. You\u2019re hardwired, biologically speaking, to prefer consistency. Consistency is safe, predictable, and stable. Your nervous system thrives <\/em>here. But, change is where growth happens, and it\u2019s also inevitable. Might as well learn to embrace it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you stare down the changing of the season from summer to autumn \u2013 regardless of whether you\u2019re Team Equinox or Team Pumpkin Spice \u2013 there are a few things you can do to make the most of this time of year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slowing down doesn\u2019t mean \u201cstop.\u201d It\u2019s simply nature\u2019s yellow light (which some of you will assume means speed up\u2026 and for that, we recommend cutting back on the caffeine). The natural world is winding down, gradually. Leaves change and drop, animals get fat for hibernation, and the weather releases its deathgrip on triple digit temperatures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What can you do to release your deathgrip on some of your stressors? <\/p>\n\n\n\n If there\u2019s one thing that can come off of your schedule or off of your plate, allow it and dare yourself to not replace it with more work. The hardest work of your year is over. Let it \u2013 and yourself \u2013 relax. In American capitalism, you\u2019re told from an early age that productivity is a virtue, but all that accomplishes is exhaustion. You are at your best for both yourself, your loved ones, and your work when you are rested. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The cooler months are often cause for gatherings of all kinds<\/a>. Those gatherings have a bit of chaos on their own, so before such ensues, can you carve out time to simply enjoy the presence of your loved ones? This extends beyond your blood relations; your family is made of everyone you love and hold dear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Call your grandmother just because.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shoot the breeze with your next door neighbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grab coffee with a friend you haven\u2019t seen in a while. You could even get your pumpkin spice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve talked before about the present of being present<\/a>. Fall is an open invitation to put that into practice. Take the scenic route home to admire the changing leaves<\/a>. Get up a little earlier to enjoy your coffee on the front stoop, rather than scarfing it down before rushing out the door. Hold your loved ones a little longer in that hug goodbye after dinner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pumpkin spice lattes are a microcosm of fall in more ways than one. They invite you to take your time with every sip, to share them with friends and family, and to enjoy it while it lasts. Isn\u2019t that what this is all about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn\u2019t one big ad for pumpkin spice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a life lesson in a latte. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How are you embracing and embodying autumn this year? However you celebrate it, our fall wreaths and decor<\/a> are ready when you are.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fall has two starts: the equinox, and the first pumpkin spice latte. Wherever you land in that debate, here’s why autumn feels the way it does, and a few simple ways to slow down and savor it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2862,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[77,1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t![\"Pinecone](\"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fall-porch-pinecone.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Two Starts of Fall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Strong Opinions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>More than a Season <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Winter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Spring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Summer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Fall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Embrace the Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Pumpkin](\"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pumpkin-lacquer.jpg\")
<\/a><\/a>Slow Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Embrace Family<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Savor Every Minute<\/h3>\n\n\n\n