5 Things I Love About Fall

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by prAna. I was given compensation and product in exchange for my completely honest opinion. 

You might not know it by looking at the thermometer, but fall is here! The leaves on the trees are turning colors and falling on the ground. Pumpkin spice is everywhere. The football season is in full swing. Runners are talking about fall races and thumbholes!

While I love summer, I always look forward to fall. There's something about the change in seasons that sparks a change in me. I guess because summer is so short, we try to squeeze in as much as we can. With fall, life tends to slow down. There's just so much to love about fall!

1. Cooler temperatures mean easier runs! It's been really warm this fall, but the few cool mornings we've had have been a great reminder of how much easier running feels when the temperature drops. When it's 45-50 degrees in the morning, I feel as if I could run forever! The sun rises a little later and witnessing the sunrise never gets old.

2. Fall means comfort foods. I always look forward to the change in the dinner menu at our house with the arrival of cooler weather. Chili, soups, baked pasta dishes, and pot roast are some of the dishes I'm looking forward to!

3. Mother Nature puts on a show for many of us. It seems to happen overnight, but come September, the leaves on the trees turn up the volume to 11. Many of my running paths take me through forest preserves and I love witnessing the change of seasons. I also enjoy hearing the crunch of the leaves under my feet while I'm running.

4. Fall is fun! There are so many fun things associated with fall: apple picking, pumpkin carving, corn mazes, football games, bonfires, and Halloween. When the boys were little, our favorite thing to do was to go to the pumpkin farm where there were all kinds of activities. Have you ever seen a pumpkin chucker? My boys have long outgrown those days, but I'm still a fan of apple picking!

5. Long sleeves with thumbholes and jeans populate my wardrobe in the fall. prAna sent me 2 pairs of these Kara jeans and I am in love! I received pairs in denim and indigo. I have worn prAna pants in the past--in fact, I already own quite a few pairs of prAna corduroys and jeans. I love the way they look and fit. The Kara jeans are low-rise, which makes my tummy happy and they are stretchy, which makes my legs happy! The jeans can be cuffed or worn long. I love the way they fit and move with me. I'm a very active person and I don't want to be restricted by my clothing. I like to wear my prAna gear to work as well as for play. These jeans fit true to size.

prAna makes their clothing to accommodate an active lifestyle. Their designers actually test out the items themselves, based on their own activities! The clothes are made mindfully, using organic cotton and hemp, as well as other sustainable materials. prAna uses fair trade practices and gives back to communities all over the world. It's a nice feeling to know that I can wear fun, comfy clothes and still be a conscious consumer!

What do you like the most about fall? Do you own any prAna gear? The fall line is really amazing! I have a discount code if you want to purchase prAna gear at 15% off: MSF17WR. I'm looking forward to wearing my jeans all fall and through the winter. 

I'm linking up with Marcia, Erika, and Patti for Tuesdays on the Run and Nicole, Annemarie, and Jen for Wild Workout Wednesday!