Happy happy Tuesday! It’s super dreary here in Chicago today and reminded me of the day my friends and I visited Dunn’s Cider Mill back in Kansas City a few years ago. Can’t say that I don’t enjoy this type of weather every now and then. It’s the perfect excuse to turn in early and cozy up with a good book!Last week I shared a round-up of pieces to get you thinking about your fall wardrobe and it got me way too excited about breaking out my sweaters and boots again! Never mind the fact that it was in the 80s here in Chicago over the weekend.

Part of me will be sad to see the carefree days of summer go and the other part will gladly welcome a little more structure in my day-to-day (read: less impromptu happy hours and more time for things like reading the stack of books that has been piling up and working on the bigger home projects I haven’t made time for in the whirlwind that was MayJuneJulyAugust). Always a little bittersweet, no?

I always like to take a look back at my past seasonal bucket lists (and my 101 in 1001 list!) to pull inspiration when I’m feeling stuck, but this time around I didn’t have any problem coming up with a list of things to do and people/places to see to make the most of the coming months.

So with that, my fall bucket list (in no particular order!):

Take a yoga inversions workshop – I’ve really come to love yoga (remember when I first started practicing regularly? It’s crazy to think about life before it. Yoga has really pushed me to grow mentally and has taught me so much about embracing where I’m at). I really want to challenge myself in new ways on my mat and saw Gina at Studio Three is hosting a 90-minute upside down playground workshop (read: a playful exploration of inversions – yes!) and I think it will be just the thing to get me outside of my comfort zone!

Spend a weekend in New York City – One of the questions I’m asked most often by you all is whether or not I plan to stay in Chicago and while I don’t have any plans to pick up and move anytime soon (and I never say never), I do have the itch to get a taste of the city that never sleeps. I still can’t believe I’ve never been to NYC and would love to spend a long weekend taking in the hustle and bustle. Not to mention, there are so many people from my online life I want to connect with while I’m there! I’m not sure if my current schedule will allow for some remote working, but I’m going to see what I can do to make it happen.

Volunteer with Off The Street Club – Last October I spent a Saturday morning at the Lincoln Park Zoo with my little friends at their fall event and I’m looking forward to doing it again this year! It’s been so long since I’ve spent a Third Thursday with them (they take the summer months off) so I’m looking forward to that starting back up again, too!

Get another tattoo – I’ve been toying with the idea of getting another tattoo, but don’t want to get one just to get one, ya know? Been there, done that (à la spring break down in Panama City Beach haha). I do know I want it to have something to do with my sign (I’m a Cancer!) and kinda sorta know where I’d like to get it, but that all depends on size and design. My sister and her boyfriend Long are both incredible artists so I shot them a text seeing what they could come up with!

Watch the Kansas City Chiefs play at Toons Bar and Grill – I really miss watching football on Saturday and Sundays (and by watching football I really mean grilling out and drinking adult beverages) at my friends Whitney and Keith’s house. I know Toons is a Chiefs bar and can’t wait to get a group of friends together one afternoon/evening for a game!

Go hiking out at Starved Rock State Park – The only thing I dislike about not having a car is the ability to pick up and go on the weekends for little excursions like this one. Escaping the city for a quiet day in nature with no real set plans sounds so so nice. If I remember right, this was on another bucket list of mine and the whole logistics thing was cause for it not happening so we will see what I can get worked out this time around.

Set a new PR in the half marathon – This was on my spring bucket list and I came so close to setting a new time for myself. Thinking back to that below freezing April morning, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever run another race again. Thankfully, all I needed was a little time to find my love for the sport again. I’m going to be running my 8th (!!) half marathon with the team at All Community Events for their Country Sole Half Marathon on October 20th and fingers crossed the weather plays nice!

Find the best apple cider donuts in the city – This will be on every fall bucket list of mine until the end of time. I’m not big on apple cider, but apple cider donuts? I’ll take three, please! Where’s your favorite in the city? I’d be remiss not to say that I would do questionable things for a warm one from the Louisburg Cider Mill back home. They’re the best I’ve ever had.

What’s on your fall bucket list? I’d love to hear!