Have I told you lately that autumn is my favorite season of the year? Cooler temperatures. Sweater weather. Suede boots. Colorful foliage. Halloween. Pumpkin spice ev.er.y.thing ev.er.y.where. Ok, I know, those ubiquitous sugary lattes are actually kind of ew – and btw, is there even actual pumpkin in there? Not my jam. Not on this list. So rejoice, fellow pumpkin lovers, and read on for nine fun and festive ways to get your pumpkin on – and nary a syrupy sippy cup in sight!
I’m a hardcore beauty product loyalist. I also have super sensitive skin, so I’m not really into trying new things all willy nilly and needing to nurse redness and breakouts on the regular. But, I was looking to treat myself to a few new things for my Birthday last month, and PTR had me at pumpkin, so… here we are. Firstly, when you open the lid, you can smell the pumpkin. I also love that this treatment is a three-in-one exfoliant, light alpha hydroxy acid peel, and polisher. It’s gentle on my skin, and my face felt smoother and softer after just one use. A fun treat for a self-care spa day or girls night in. And yup, there’s actual pumpkin in there.
No sugary syrups here, just black tea, pumpkin, sweet blackberry leaves, and a warming blend of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Fragrant yet mild, without the overpowering hit of artificial flavors. The perfect autumn afternoon cuppa. I adore Republic teas because their bags are staple-free, and they are the only certified gluten-free tea brand in the United States.
Pumpkin Plotlines
At Casa Kurt, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is must-see TV in October. After a year away from network television, fans of the Peanuts classic can once again watch without an AppleTV subscription, rental fee, or owned copy on disc. The Great Pumpkin will air on PBS stations this Sunday, 24 October. Check your local listings for times. For more family-friendly cartoon fun, there’s Spookley, the Square Pumpkin (airing on the Disney Channel this season and available on Netflix) and If You Give a Mouse a Pumpkin (free with Prime Video). If you prefer your pumpkin plotlines with a side of healthy competition and cash prizes, there’s Outrageous Pumpkins and Punkin Chunkin streaming on discovery+. Horror fans can get your pumpkin fix with the cult classic Pumpkinhead (airing with commercials this season on AMC and On Demand or available uncut for rent on Prime Video) and Carved, a Hulu exclusive short film.
Go all in with one shade – or sport a trendy yet tasteful ombre mani with all four of these autumn hues: creamy neutral, dusty apricot, terracotta orange, and cinnamon brown. This polish set also comes with a bottle of Olive & June’s proprietary salon-finish super glossy top coat. I am obsessed with O&J’s gorgeous polish colors, cruelty-free and 7-free formula, and long-lasting gel-like finish that’s easy to remove with a simple dip and swish in their acetone-free remover pot. Shop this link and save 20% off any mani system.
If you’re like me, your home must be filled with the delightful scent of pumpkin whilst you luxuriate in your pumpkin facial mask treatment, sipping your pumpkin spice tea with your perfectly pumpkin spice manicured hands, and watch some pumpkin programming on TV. Now, you could bake a yummy pumpkin pie every day – and I’ll be right over – or you could just light one of these candles. Every single one is paraffin/petroleum-free, phthalate-free, and dye-free (for your air quality and the environment); is handpoured by moi; and infuses the quintessential autumn scent into any room. Reader Exclusive Offer: Use coupon code ILOVEPUMPKIN to save 20% off any candle order totaling more than $50. Valid through 11:59pm EST 10/31/2021. Limit one use per customer.
Pumpkin Picking
Slip on your suede boots, pull on some cozy cashmere, and head out to your local patch. ‘Tis the season to pick a pumpkin. Many pick-your-own spots enhance the pumpkin fun with cider stands, hayrides, and if you’re lucky – maybe even a corn maze. I must give some #LocalLove to my personal fave Northern Virginia pumpkin purveyor: Cox Farms in Centreville. Their Fall Festival is an autumn date day tradition for me and the hubs, and a wheelbarrow load of their finest heirloom gourds graces our front porch every year.
Pumpkin Art
Ok, now that you’ve picked the perfect pumpkin, give it the personal touch. Carve a sweet or spooky jack-o-lantern face. Paint it. Decoupage it. Pin a fascinator to its stem and name it Pippa. Just have fun and make it your own.
I practically eat my weight in pumpkin pie every autumn, but I’m not exactly the world’s best pastry chef, so I leave those to the pros. However, this savory pumpkin dish is 100% my creation and combines three of my favorite things – pumpkin, pasta, and cheese.
Pumpkin Personality
Every pumpkin enthusiast needs a special personal item to show off your pumpkin pride. Maybe it’s a cozy pumpkin sweater – that you wear for a styled pumpkin patch photo shoot. A festive Staub pumpkin cocotte displayed on your stove. Our furbabies have their own catnip-filled plush pumpkin toys, and Dolly Bean (in the photo above) is nicknamed Pumpkin Spice because she’s an orange tabby. Also, she wanted her own Spice Girl name 😉 For me, it’s an oversized mug embossed with Pumpkin Spice Junkie that I found while scouring the shelves at Home Goods. Amazon has some super cute options, too. What’s your #PumpkinPersonality? Share a photo in the Sparked Living Facebook group or on Instagram.