TOP 5 MOVIES FOR FALL LOVERS

Yes, we may be a week or so away from the "official" start of fall but because we are now over a week into September, I have let my fan girl flag fly (say that 10x fast).

Give me those shades of burnt orange, red and yellow. I've busted out my obligatory pumpkin and fall scented candles and am currently sitting in Starbucks, listening to my "afternoon acoustics" playlist while sipping my PSL.

I know that some of you just rolled your eyes. I embrace that and am totally ok with that.

As the temperature *slowly* drops and the days start getting shorter and shorter, I always have some go-to movies that call my name. Maybe it's the time of year these movies are filmed in or the sappy romantic themes that most of them carry but they always just sing to my little romantic heart as soon as September rolls around. I thought I would share my top 5 favorite fall movies....

Honestly, this list can probably extend to Christmas but whatevs.

1. You've Got Mail

A little Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in the fall & winter never hurt anyone. When dial up AOL was still a thing and about 6 years before anyone was writing on each other's "walls," Nora Ephron brought us another classic with two digital aged pen pals who just so happen to live in NYC and have a passion for books... le sigh.

Meg Ryan is the owner of the most adorable book store in Manhattan and Tom Hanks is Joe Fox from Fox Books (think Barnes & Noble). Rivals who don't know they're pen pals slowly falling for each other. Perfection. They casually stroll through central park, SoHo, down by the water, and past every other NYC landmark littered with falling autumn leaves and winter coziness. Also, ladened with copious amounts of coffee. It's the perfect movie to get you in the autumn mood!

Plus, Meg Ryan's character is basically living my dream. I too want a quaint book shop with cute season decorations and maybe even a shop cat (or Frenchie).

2. Sweet Home Alabama

Ok ya'll... who doesn't love a "return to your roots" movie? Also-- who doesn't love: Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, and/or McDreamy? I love everything about this movie. The return of the southern accent, the Coon dog, her fashion designer friends, his old truck, her parents, and of course, the South in autumn.

I love the South. All of it. However, I cannot ever live there. I would just wilt in the humidity. So, anytime I visit Georgia or Louisiana or South Carolina, I always go in late autumn. The trees have changed the weather is mild. It's so perfect.

This movie is also chalkfull of the most perfect one-liners that I use readily and/or hear all the time. How could we forget...

"Why would you wanna marry me, anyhow?"

"So I can kiss you anytime I want."

or

"You can't ride two horses with one ass, sugarbean."

or

"You have a baby... in a bar!"

or

"You can take the girl out of the honky tonk, but you can't take the honky tonk out of the girl."

It's perfect, you guys. Straight up perfect.

3. When Harry Met Sally

"I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts."

Another Nora Ephron movie featuring Meg Ryan-- I know, I know. In my defense, these two were the queens of rom-coms in the 80's and 90's.

This movie really doesn't need any introduction. It has great NYC fall and winter scenes, witty lines, Billy Crystal, Princess Leia and that classic diner scene.

4. Practical Magic

I sort of feel like this movie is a cult classic. It's not one of those that EVERYONE has seen but it deserves to be on this list-- and not only because it's about witches. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock put on a spook-tacular (see what I did there?) performance as sister witches raised by their eccentric aunts (Stockard Channing ftw) in a small town who face closed-minded neighbors and a curse that threatens to prevent them ever finding lasting love.

It's a good movie with some creepy scenes played out well by Nicole Kidman. She's pretty good at acting creepy, now that I think of it.

5. Harry Potter (all movies)

You had to have seen this coming, right? I am a classic HP nerd plus it's about witches and wizards. These are longer movies and there is a ton of them which makes it perfect for longer evenings.

Also, just an update, I have finished all but 2 books on my Summer Reading list. I read all the sequels plus one other book. Now I just need to finish the two I have left before Summer officially ends so I can start on these great movies!

What are some of your favorite movies to watch in autumn and winter?