By Amanda Harding

Back to school shopping has never just been about school. There is something about fall runways and trends that inspire a need to shop in everyone, school enrollment status notwithstanding. This season can be summed up in one word: classic. From women to teens in lace and pearls to kids donning the perfect denim ensemble, this season is all about clothes that feel like home.

by Alyssa Wernham

Kids love them. Adults hate collecting them. It’s inevitable that as autumn arrives, so do falling leaves. As tedious as the task may be, raking leaves is an essential fall activity. If left undone, the leafy debris can make the perfect home for nasty mice and rodents. It can also be damaging to your lawn in the winter, creating a breeding ground for mold in your grass. Before grumbling about doing fall yard work, check out our list of leaf collection helpers, meant to make the task easier.

By Beth Kern

For Décor and Much More…

Show off these new leaf-shaped serving plates at your next dinner party. Available in four sizes, these plates can be used for every aspect of entertaining. The iridescent shine gives off the illusion that the leaves are changing colors. The gold back provides a barely-there, but stunning detail. Plate sizes range from pot roast-perfect to savvy salad. When you are not serving on them, they also make a great base for decor on your table. Each plate is sold separately so that you can mix and match to create the perfect combination for your needs. Prices range from $19 to $31 and can be found at GailGray Home Furnishings at the Promenade Shops in Center Valley. Be sure to check out all the other fall items GailGray carries to enhance your hosting skills.

A Warm Welcome

A seasonal wreath can bring warmth to the outside of your home in an instant. The flowers on this wreath from Distinctive Accents in Macungie blend nicely into its mix of green ivy. And you need not be shy about adding a wreath to the inside of your home, either. A large wreath looks beautiful on the wall just by itself. Small wreaths make perfect decorations on the back of doors or going up stairways. Acorns, berries, and orange leaves are also great wreath elements for the fall, so if this wreath doesn’t work with your décor, a custom design can be made to match your style and budget. Find this wreath at Distinctive Accents in Macungie, $128.99.

Little Packages

Small accents are sometimes the things that your houseguests will comment on the most when it comes to decor. These pumpkins, found at Stonewood Interiors in Emmaus, are sure to be scene-stealers in your home this fall. Add them to your favorite decorative dishes and jars, spread them over your coffee table, or use them in combination with your favorite fall candles as a centerpiece idea.
Ranging in size and color, these accents have incredible detail. Priced at $5.50 for a bag of about 100 pumpkins, they’re a real steal, as well! Your Stonewood Interiors associate will be happy to help you locate them in the store.

Form and Fun!

Don’t let a rainy fall day create tracks of wet leaves into your home. Guests can easily wipe their feet as they enter on these great interior door throw mats. Made of bamboo, these mats come in a variety of sizes and function beautifully with Country French themes and colors. Mats start at $25 and are available at Chickadees, 451 Main Street, Bethlehem, 610.868.5900.

Seasonal Scents

Fall is the favorite season of many because of the distinct scents associated with it. Capture those aromas in your home in an instant with this unique candle from Sweet Memories in Emmaus. Packaged in a vintage-look tin with a variety of Thanksgiving-themed labels, these candles are available in a variety of scents, including candy corn, pumpkin spice, and toasted pecans. The scents are light and fresh, not overpowering. You can put this candle out now and leave it out past Turkey Day. Other varieties of this candle are available for different seasons and holidays, as well. At the reasonable price of $12.99, you can easily splurge one for each season!