For the love of a pumpkin
My Life-long Obsession with Pumpkin and Halloween Everything
Halloween is quite possibly my favorite holiday, but I realize it’s not for everyone: my husband hates it, my mother hates it, and my best friend hates it. So, I debated doing this Halloween-themed post out of concern for turning anyone off, but maybe there’s a hot tip here or a fellow Halloween fan who will keep this edit alive!
Let’s first talk pumpkins: I’ve loved pumpkin everything well before PSL was even a thing. I typically get a pumpkin pie for my November Birthday, and in 2003, I taught myself to make pumpkin Creme brûlée, which is relatively easy to make!
I used to make my roommates these amazing Pumpkin Bars from the BHG cookbook, and I make Ina’s Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart Recipe every year.
The first year I hosted Thanksgiving, I served pumpkin bisque in little carved-out pumpkins. You can imagine my delight when that was on the menu at my brother-in-law’s wedding.
In addition to the ingredient, I also love collecting the “Cucurbitaceae” wonder, so sharing my favorite pumpkin collectibles:
When I turned 40, my close friend gifted me this Simon Pearce glass pumpkin, and I still get thrills every year when I pull it out.
Since the squirrels of 2024 have completely crushed my porch pumpkins (and my October soul), I’m inclined to buy these “sheltered porch” pumpkins from Target.
Ballard makes a great chinoiserie pumpkin for a less rustic aesthetic, but also just stumbled upon this Mackenzie Childs toile gem. Then there are the velvet pumpkins - I remember the first time they launched, and I thought I had died and gone to pumpkin heaven. Oodles of them in different hues, spilling out of a rattan cornucopia like this, is never a bad idea! Mackenzie Childs makes a fun checkered and striped pumpkin for you blue and white lovers.
And for under $20, this 5” 4-pack from Amazon would be great to sprinkle around a dining table.
If I were to invest in a new pumpkin, nothing tops the Mrs Alice rattan family Mrs Alice rattan pumpkins
I could probably devote an entire post to pumpkin wear, but I’ll spare you and share a few fun Halloween pieces:
This country pumpkin sweater or this cute collared sweater for your little
Roller Rabbit pumpkin pjs , this fun sequined-pumpkin tee, this cashmere snake sweater cashmere snake sweater or skull sweater
A black velvet skull slipper , and yes please to these khakis with jack-olantern for him
Shifting gears to Halloween, if you do want to lean into some thrills and shrills decor, here’s what I’m loving: I’m currently obsessed with Target’s “Hyde and Eek boutique” (mainly for the name). I love these gold raven sculptures, these fun-colored skeleton hands, and these black candelabra.
This $10 velvet skeleton pumpkin is also outstanding
These skelton hand flutes are also fantastic
These black and orange Round Lurex Tinsel Placemats are a great tablescape base for $3 a piece. I like this spider web runner over any solid tablecloth. While these leopard plates aren’t technically Halloween, they’d work great with any black and orange decor and would be fun to use all winter! This LED-lit witch hat would make a great centerpiece.
If you’re NOT hosting, these witches broom stirring sticks would make a great hostess gift.
In closing, this is where my Halloween crazy comes out: are you kidding me with these animated brooms? They’re 50% off (probably for a good reason!) but a must for any Halloween gathering, IMO. I will be adding to cart!
If you made it this far, I thank you for indulging me and happy Pumpkin season!