October Bucket List
October is here already!? September really flew by! We’ve been celebrating the transition from summer to fall here at Midwest & Wonder. Do you ever think about all of the fall activities you want to plan but time just seems to slip away? Or maybe you want to find fall inspiration but don’t know where to begin? All of the planning and brainstorming is what inspired me to start monthly bucket lists and share them with you! October is full of pumpkins, colorful leaves, Halloween things, and cozy ideas you can do alone, with family, friends, or make it a cute date idea!
Read the October bucket list below to find 31 ways to celebrate October with wonder!
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October Bucket List
- Today is national pumpkin spice day! If a pumpkin spice latte is your thing, take the time to make one for yourself or go to your favorite cafe to pick one up. If lattes aren’t you thing, try baking my pumpkin loaf recipe. This recipe is versatile because you can add chocolate chips, walnuts, or sprinkle pepitas on top! There’s so many ways to make this quick bread to your liking. Or try easy my mini pumpkin cheesecake recipe that has a graham cracker base, creamy pumpkin cheesecake filling with lots of pumpkin spice.
- Now’s the time to start decorating your house or yard for fall or Halloween so you can enjoy it all month long! There are so many different fall and Halloween decorations out there for every style (pink Halloween anyone?). This year I love natural looking fall decor like these woven two-tone pumpkins. Make a fall wreath from leaves and pinecones that you find on your walks. Check out these incredibly adorable felt and wool animals! I want to collect them all! Other ideas are to decorate your front porch or balcony with pumpkins, a new doormat, or if you have kids, stick on some spooky gel clings on the windows.
- Plan to hang out with friends or family and reminisce about your summers. Meet at a brewery that has a relaxed vibe! There are tons of breweries around the Midwest that offer this laidback atmosphere. Or invite friends over and put out snacks and ask everyone to bring their favorite seasonal beers like pumpkin ale or apple ciders! Lots of grocery stores carry these limited edition options and it’s a fun way to celebrate the flavors of the new season.
- Plan a last minute weekend getaway to explore the beauty of changing fall colors. This can look different for everyone whether you go camping, stay at an inn, or a cabin! Some fun fall weekend getaway activities could be hiking to see the leaves, going on a winery tour, or going on a scenic drive. Check out this blog post from Midwest Living about 30 places to see the best fall leaves!
- Head to the farmers market! It’s so fun to see the fall harvest. Look out for peppers, pumpkins, squash, apples, pears, mushrooms, and so much more! If your farmers market has local honey, now is the time to stock up so you can add it to your teas during the upcoming winter season. You could also treat yourself to cut flowers or mums to add a porch display or bring some nature into the home.
- Find yourself a new autumn mug. On a slow weekend morning, make yourself or your loved one a latte in a cozy mug that celebrates the autumn season. You could also heat up some apple cider! It really feels like a treat to drink out of a pretty, carefully selected mug! Check out these beautiful mugs from this women owned small business on Etsy! I love drinking a matcha latte out of it while watching a cozy fall show. Or if you love pink Halloween, check out this cute white and pink ghost mug, I love the shiny glaze finish!
- Visit a pumpkin patch! This is a classic October activity in the Midwest, something we love to do every year. Plan a whole day with friends or family, or make it a cute date idea. If you’re near a u-pick farm, plan to go out into the field with a wheel barrel and select your own (this is my favorite way)! Find pumpkins of different sizes and colors to create a beautiful fall display on your porch or for carving jack o’ lanterns. If you see mini pumpkins or squash, make sure to grab some to create a cute display on your dining room table.
- Plan a self-care evening to wind down with a warm bubble bath and a book. As the weather gets cooler, it’s nice to take bubble baths and moisturize your skin! Try adding essential oils or try Lush’s bath bombs (I purchased their Halloween themed ones and they’re so cute and smell amazing), or try a luxurious body oil. My favorite is the L’occitane almond shower oil. It smells like sweet almond and makes my skin glow and feel so soft.
- Do a fall refresh! Go through your closet and pack up your summer clothes. Decide whether you really will wear that dress again or make a donation pile. Cleaning the closet for the colder seasons feels productive and creates space for you to see the clothes you really want to wear. Growing up we didn’t have much closet space, so we would rotate fall/winter and spring/summer clothes into boxes in the attic. Every fall, we’d go through the boxes and it was refreshing to see “new” clothes.
- Get outside and go for a hike with a friend or enjoy the sounds of nature by yourself. It’s lovely to be outside in the summer, but there’s a refreshing feeling of hiking through a forest preserve in the fall. The air is cooler, the leaves are changing, and you can feel them crunching under your feet (and less sweating is a plus 😅). If you like to slow down, look up at the trees around you to watch and listen to migratory birds. Check out the Merlin Bird app which picks up bird calls and helps you identify them – my favorite app ever!
- If you enjoy witchy themed things, then here is a list of small businesses that I’ve purchased from and LOVE! Treat yourself to some Halloween soaps and bath care items from Witchy Baby Soap. They have everything from astrology themed soaps and body butters to body oils, trinkets, and more. I love treating myself to new fall soaps and bath bombs! Check out Coco + Pine for cute fall apparel! If you like stickers and stationery, check out Unicorn Eclipse’s Halloween theme, their designs are adorable, and I’ve purchased from then several times.
- Get into the kitchen and bake an apple crumble pie! Sweet apple flavors, spices, buttery crust, and a nice texture from the crumble mixture sprinkled on top. It’s so tasty and your family and friends will be wanting more! If you’re really feeling the fall baking spirit, check out this plaid vintage style apron.
- If you’re a gardener make sure to plant bulbs for springtime. Oftentimes you can find bulb sales near you at farmers markets, garden supply stores, or botanical gardens. Last year, I signed myself up for some seed catalog lists and we decided to purchase online from Gurney’s. You can also plant bulbs in a pot! This was new to me, so I’m going to try it this fall!
- If you don’t like scary movies, plan a cute Halloween movie night! I’m personally not into scary movies, so I made this list of Halloween movies that aren’t too scary but still gets you feeling the Halloween vibe. I bought this large melamine star and moon serving bowl last year for popcorn which was a cute addition to our movie nights. If you want to celebrate with your bestie, get matching pumpkin slippers. You can also match your pajamas and use a cozy fleece blanket to curl up in!
- Carve pumpkins! If you’re looking for some artistic inspiration, just browse Pinterest and you’ll see tons of ideas. Don’t throw those pumpkin seeds away! Collect them in a bowl, wash and dry them. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177ºC) and spread the seeds on a baking sheet pan. Sprinkle some salt and olive oil and bake for about 10-14 minutes.
- Bake and decorate halloween desserts! It’s so fun to put edible candy eyes or Halloween sprinkles onto all your treats. See my collection of Halloween themed desserts for recipes and inspiration.
- Read all about the Salem witch trials! I’ve been really interested in this part of history lately and would love to visit Salem, Massachusetts one day. In the meantime, I recommend reading Six Women of Salem by Marilynne Roach for accounts on the lives of the accused women which is both heartbreaking and fascinating. It’s amazing to think how this infamous event from the 1600’s has influenced our literature like the famous literary work by Arthur Miller, The Crucible. You can also watch the 1996 movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder. It’s a great movie that will leave you thinking about this harrowing piece of history.
- Get a spooky manicure to celebrate the Halloween season! I’ve been loving press on nails from Etsy. This year I bought Halloween nails with a cat eye base and these ADORABLE Snoopy 3D pumpkin nails. You can also check out Ulta for the KISS brand like these cute ghost nails or glow in the dark stars and moons. I’ve had lots of success with the KISS brand as long as I prepare my nails before application. My tips are to cut your nails short, trim your cuticles and buff the nails. Make sure to wipe them with the alcohol wipe in the kit! Also, make sure to wear rubber gloves when washing dishes, etc. This helps extend their wear!
- Go on a scenic drive to look at the changing leaves! Bring some hot apple cider and play a relaxing fall playlist on Spotify while you enjoy the fall foliage.
- Get yourself a fashionable coat for fall! A nice coat can really elevate your entire outfit. Since it gets so cold here in Chicago, I have a closet full of coats. My favorite places to find coats are Nordstrom Rack (this is the kind of store where it won’t be there the next day so you have to buy it if you love it!). Just because the weather is getting cold, doesn’t mean we can’t look cute! This year I’m buying this shawl collar coat in a pretty brown color.
- If you’re a reader who enjoys witchy/fantasy, here are some of my top recommendations. For fiction: The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall, The Answer You Are Looking For Is Yes by Olivie Blake, and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. If you like non-fiction, there are so many books out there to check out! For now I’ll share three, and will write a more in-depth blog post with more! Kitchen Witch: Food, Folklore & Fairy Tale by Sarah Robinson, The Witch of the Forest’s Guide to Natural Magick by Lindsay Squire, and The Witch’s Book of Self-Care by Arin Murphy-Hiscock.
- Prepare a fall themed dinner. As the weather gets cooler, and nights get shorter, it’s okay to start taking time to unwind and embrace the season. Make a comfort meal like a hearty soup, a crock pot recipe, or a pot roast. The smells are amazing and will have your stomach rumbling.
- Find the perfect fall sweater. I’m always on the hunt to find a cute and comfortable fall sweater, and while there’s so many to choose from, my go-to everyday sweaters come from Madewell. They always have great basic sweaters with some unique styles mixed in!
- Make a fall or Halloween inspired drink! It can be non-alcoholic or alcoholic. Make dried citrus wheels to add as a garnish. Adding a garnish is a nice touch for someone who loves the little details (even if it’s for yourself)! I recently bought this witch’s brew Halloween cocktail mix and it’s delicious! It has flavors of blood orange and blackberry and has just the right amount of sweetness. For more drink ideas, check out the Witch Craft Cocktails recipe book that’s divided by each season. This book was gifted to me and I love it!
- Have you found your favorite jeans yet for the cold weather? It can be so hard to find the perfect pair and once you do, you can bet I buy them in multiple colors. Right now I love Hollister jeans because they have a regular and curvy fit. I’m 5’3 and can usually wear a small or size 4/6. Sometimes I find that regular jeans just don’t work on me. That’s why I love their curvy fit in my size. You may also have luck with Abercrombie jeans. Their curve love high rise 90’s relaxed jeans are my favorite style from them and I have multiple pairs. They fit nicely around the backside and have a baggy leg. They go so well with many different outfits!
- Bake apple cider or pumpkin donuts! Baked donuts are delicious and if you’ve never tried them, they’re a lot easier to make at home than frying.
- Find a witchy dress to wear to a party or just around town! This time of year feels a little more comfortable to branch out into unique styles. Maybe there’s a dress that you’ve always wanted to wear. I was recently introduced to Disturbia clothing and their pieces are cute! Other places to shop for witchy dresses are Dolls Kill and Nasty Gal.
- Change up your coffee by trying my salted maple cold foam recipe. During the fall apples and pumpkins get a lot of attention but maple is also delicious and should be a top fall flavor all on its own. It’s warmth and sweetness add the perfect balance to spiced drinks.
- Take a walk or drive around your neighborhood to see the Halloween decorations! Driving around the neighborhoods is a popular winter holiday experience but lately it seems like a lot of people have been going all out with Halloween lights! I love seeing the orange and purple lights and giant skeletons hanging around the neighborhood.
- Decorate a haunted gingerbread house! This is such a cute idea to do with friends, children, or a date. I did this with a group of friends and we voted for the best one. The winner got a bag of fall goodies!
- Visit haunted houses, scary roads (check out these Illinois haunted roads), haunted hayrides and more! Find something spooky in Illinois. You can search for haunted attractions in your state and there should be similar websites! If you live in the Illinois/Wisconsin area, check out Six Flags amusement park fright fest. Happy Halloween!
I hope you enjoy this time of year by taking time for yourself and finding time to connect with loved ones. Share this October bucket list with friends and family and enjoy it together!
