It's September. The temperatures are cooler, there’s a crisp bite of autumn in the air. The Labor Day bash is long gone. Kids are back at school and the beach towels are put away. Large racks of Halloween costumes are in every store and pumpkin spiced treats in every bakery and coffee shop. There's no denying it: autumn is here.

You may be sad about saying goodbye to summer with its sunshine and reading on beaches. But you shouldn’t worry about endings. This is just the beginning of a whole new, exciting season. And I’m here to help you plan your perfect autumn day. Leaves—Sweaters—Pumpkins—Cider! Who said anything about missing summer? 

Find Your Foliage 
When the leaves start turning, head out for a stroll in the woods. Kids will love crunching leaves underfoot. The colorful surroundings can be quite romantic with your significant other. Or just gather your friends and enjoy nature's best magic trick—autumn colors. Look for national forests or state parks that allow for meandering walks through the trees. Holding hands and drinking warm beverages from thermoses is optional, but encouraged.

Visit a Farm 
On your way out into nature, visit a local farm. Often, local growers will have stores on the premises where you can buy delicious seasonal produce and local delicacies like apple cider donuts. Do not miss out on the donuts. Select your squashes, root vegetables, leafy greens and shiny apples and you'll be ready to start planning a seasonal menu. Bonus points if local cheese is offered, which may be available for sampling. 

Pumpkin Picking 
Instead of choosing a pumpkin at your local grocery store, look for a farm that has a pumpkin patch! Not just for kids, pumpkin patches can be a great way for all ages to enjoy the season. There’s something special about picking your very own jack-o-lantern from the vine where it was grown in the field. Pick a pumpkin with no soft spots or blemishes and it might just last until it's time to be carved for Halloween. Bring it home to add a wonderful seasonal flair to your kitchen counter or dining room table. 

Seasonal Treats 
Nothing says fall like pumpkin pie, apple turnovers, cinnamon rolls and sugar cookies shaped like autumn leaves. Really get into the spirit by decorating your treats with powdered sugar sprinkled in fall shapes—stencils or cookie cutters will get you there. If you're not a baker you can even give store-bought desserts this treatment for a homemade touch. 

Brainstorm Your Halloween Costume 
No one ever really grows out of dressing up for the last day of October. Whether you want to display your wit, scare the pants off your friends, or don your slinkiest dress, make sure Halloween doesn't sneak up on you. Of course you can just put on some cat ears, but you're more creative than that! Really go all out. 'Tis the season. 

Dress the Part  
After months of tank tops and shorts, it's sweater weather. Grab something Fair Isle, pair it with some skinny jeans or corduroys and you're good to go. Or snuggle in a sweatshirt to show your school spirit. Don't forget seasonal socks to autumnify any outfit.  

Bonus: Fall Drinks For Grown-Ups  
Ever heard of a Stone Fence? It's whiskey or rum mixed with cider and some bitters, and it's delicious. What about some hot buttered rum, which, like all things is better because you added butter to it. Mulled wine is a classic that is simple to make—just simmer wine with whole spices wrapped in cheesecloth. You'll forget you ever needed an ice cube to enjoy your drink. 

So, you've packed your tasty fall goodies and maybe a beverage. You headed out to your favorite pumpkin patch, farm or nature trail and enjoyed the crisper weather. You maybe even went apple picking. When the conversation lulled, you planned those Halloween costumes, so you're all set for October. And you did it all in your coziest autumn gear.

Congratulations. You've successfully autumned. 

Michelle

How many articles and blogs about the Jewish High Holidays have you seen? You probably know everything about the apple and the honey, the round challah bread and the fasting. The internet, media and newspapers are saturated with information about the Jewish High Holidays, in particular the New Year—Rosh Hashanah. I’m rarely satisfied with what I read on the subject. I often feel the information is inaccurate or missing the ethical and spiritual part of Judaism.

The Jewish High Holidays consist of two major holidays: the New Year—Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement—Yom Kippur. It also includes the days that fall between these two holidays—all together 10 days that are called Days of Awe.

Judaism is a unique religion where confession is only given during the 10 days of the High Holidays, a time when a person can ask for forgiveness. It is a religion where sins between people are considered much more severe than sins between man and God. Yom Kippur, the main day of repentance, can absolve you of sins between man and God, but not for sins between man and his fellow man.

During Yom Kippur, Jews fast and pray for God's forgiveness for the transgressions they have made against God in the prior year. Sincere repentance is required, and once again, God can only forgive one for the sins one has committed against Him. This is why it is necessary for Jews to also seek the forgiveness of those people who they have wronged throughout the year. As you can imagine this is no small or easy task.

People often hurt others but rarely make the effort to make things right. Even though individuals want to become more righteous, they find it unbearably difficult to have to apologize to certain people.

According to Rabbi Shraga Simmons, Western society has a widespread aversion to apology. Whether somebody cuts another off in traffic, or destroys a marriage, admitting guilt is out of vogue. In fact, pop psychology has done all it can to remove the whole concept of guilt from our lexicon. It's much easier to rationalize our mistakes away. And it's unhealthy to feel guilt—suppress it, they say.

On one level, this suppression is unhealthy. Refusing to admit wrongs can be depressing and paralyzing. The regret stays inside and festers. On another level, this suppression is downright dangerous. Because when a man repeats an inappropriate act enough, he eventually comes to rationalize it as proper. The Nazi Himmler wrote that in his own personal experience with killing Jews, the turning point came when he was able to fall asleep at night without any guilt. He knew then that he'd crossed the point of no return.

It can be excruciatingly difficult for people to admit that they have done wrong. We excuse ourselves. We refuse to admit the truth. We shift blame. We deny the obvious. We excel at rationalizing. However, the person who wrenches from himself  the unpleasant truth that he has sinned, has performed a great and meaningful act. In other words a person needs to feel remorse and make amends to those he harmed.

Whether you are Jewish or not, why not take this time, during the Days of Awe, to make things right between you and someone you’ve wronged. Bring peace, harmony and respect into your relationships.

And from me to you, I ask you again to forgive me for any mistakes I’ve made during the last year. Any of you who I might have hurt or harmed, please know that I never meant to do so and that I am sorry.

As you pray and atone may you be blessed with all the good things of life.

!גמר חתימה טובה

Yours Truly,

Michelle

If you love reading but don’t have the funds to feed your book habit, there are a number of ways of acquiring books on the cheap. Here are a few tips and recommendations to help you on the way to book bargain heaven.

1.    It’s an obvious one, perhaps, but local libraries are often overlooked when it comes to books these days. Libraries are great resources for studying, research and information, but of course you can also borrow books for free—just remember to return them on time! Remember your excitement as a child when your mom said you could go to the library and choose any book you wanted? Guess what—you still can!

2.    Why not exchange books with friends and family? It’s a great way to socialize, as you have ready-made conversation starting point, discussing your thoughts and ideas about the book in question. Just remember to look after their books as if they were your own—and if you like to keep your own books in pristine condition this option might not be for you.

3.    Bookshops and publishers often have advance copies of books for reviewing purposes. If you have your own book blog or a review column in local media, why not try asking for a proof copy of a new title in exchange for a review. If you don’t ask you don’t get. This works more often than you would expect. There are also websites where you can request reading copies of books, but you will usually need to prove you are an active reviewer.

4.    Follow your favorite authors on social media. Some authors are very good at publicizing their own work, and will often give away copies of books in competitions or to reviewers. It’s certainly not a reliable way of acquiring books, but you might get lucky—and you may get exclusive news or information on the latest releases before the general public.

5.    Specialized second-hand bookshops are a book lover’s dream, often housed in quirky old buildings and bursting with unusual titles waiting to be discovered. Spend an hour or two browsing the shelves in your local used bookstore and you are bound to come away with a handful of great books.

8.    Finally, garage sales shouldn’t be underestimated when it comes to second hand books. You will often find them buried in a box—neglected and forgotten. But it definitely pays to rummage—fans of crime and thrillers, biographies and children’s books will have an abundance of choices. And you never know what other gems you will find—hunting them out is half the fun!

I hope you find this helpful.

Yours, Michelle