October Bucket List
October! The official month of pumpkins, colorful leaves, and Halloween things. I’m a Libra, so October is kind of my favorite. I don’t know about you, but I always have a list of fall activities I want to do, and then suddenly time has flown by.
This bucket list is meant to inspire you in more ways then visiting a pumpkin patch (although that is on the list!). Our fall activities don’t always be grand to enjoy the season. This October bucket list is full of cozy ideas you can do alone, with family, friends, or turn ideas into cute dates.
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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 head to your favorite cafe. 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! Or try easy my mini pumpkin cheesecake recipe that has a graham cracker base, creamy pumpkin cheesecake filling with warm spices.
- It’s a great time to decorate your space for Halloween if that’s your thing! There’s Halloween decorations out there for every style (pink Halloween anyone?). I went the DIY route this October and made a pumpkin garland out of cardstock by following this video. I got all of the supplies at Michaels, and my favorite cardstock paper. Decorate your front porch or balcony with pumpkins, find a new doormat like this $5 haunted house mat, or stick spooky gel clings on your windows.
- Plan a hang out with friends to reminisce about your summers. Invite friends over, put out fall snacks, or order pizza! Ask everyone to bring their favorite seasonal beers like pumpkin ale or apple ciders! Or make a mocktail using Olipop crisp apple.
- Plan a last minute weekend getaway to explore the beauty of changing fall colors. This can look different for everyone depending on if you like to 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. If you’re in the Midwest, check out this blog post from Midwest Living about 30 places to see the best fall leaves!
- Head to the farmers market! It’s fun to see the local 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 cold days. You could also treat yourself to cut flowers or mums for your porch display.
- Find yourself a new autumn mug. A seasonal mug adds a little something special to your morning routine. It’s an easy way to bring some fall into your day without doing anything grand. I’ll be drinking my tea out of this pretty cream colored pumpkin mug.
- 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. Find pumpkins of different sizes and colors to create a beautiful fall display on your porch or pick the perfect orange pumpkin for carving jack o’ lanterns. If you see mini pumpkins or squash, make sure to grab some to create a natural display on your dining room table.
- Plan a self-care evening to wind down after a long day. A soothing warm bubble bath and a book has an instant calming effect. Make it fall themed by adding a Lush bath bomb (I purchased their Halloween themed ones and they’re so cute), 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 add it into a donation pile. Cleaning the closet for the colder seasons feels productive and you’ll see what you have before you go out to by more. Growing up, we didn’t have much closet space, so we would rotate fall/winter and spring/summer clothes. Every fall, we’d go through the boxes and it felt similarly to getting 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 beneath feet. If you slow down, look up at the trees around you to watch and listen for 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. If you like stickers and stationery, check out Unicorn Eclipse’s fall and Halloween theme adorable designs. I’ve purchased from then several times! I just purchased this 80’s vintage retro Halloween baby tee from this small Etsy shop!
- Get into the kitchen and bake some fall treats. The smell of an apple pie, or pumpkin muffins is mouthwatering. If you’re not sure where to begin, check out my 11 baking essentials for your fall pantry restock blog post. To make baking fall treats extra special, wear a stylish denim apron (this also make a great gift for the chef or baker in your life).
- 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 really feel the cute fall vibes, plan a movie night with your bestie and get matching pumpkin slippers. You can also match your pajamas and use a Snoopy sweater 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. Store in a glass jar.
- 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 maple leaf gold nails, and they’re very pretty. You can also check out Ulta and HomeGoods or TJMaxx. My tips are to cut your nails short, trim your cuticles and buff the nails. Make sure to wipe them with the alcohol wipe. Also, make sure to wear rubber gloves when washing dishes, etc. to help extend their wear.
- Go on a scenic drive to look at the changing leaves! Bring some hot apple cider and play my cozy 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. This year I finally found a faux oversized brown leather bomber jacket. I’m in love with it!
- 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 that means it’s soup season! A hearty soup, a crock pot recipe, or a pot roast are all comforting and make the house smell amazing.
- 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, I really like this cream curved sleeve sweater. It looks nice and with a skirt or jeans, creates an effortless fall outfit.
- Make a fall inspired drink. It can be non-alcoholic or alcoholic. To make it special, whether it’s for you or guests, make dried citrus wheels to add as garnish. Adding an extra touch is fun, and yes you should make it 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!
- Start a fall or Halloween themed puzzle! Puzzles are a great offline activity that challenges your brain and also helps to unwind after a long day.
- Get yourself an apple cider donut. I look forward to these every year, doesn’t matter if they have the cinnamon sugar or not, a cake-y apple donut just satisfies the fall craving.
- 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. Although it’s harvested in the spring, it’s warmth and depth remind me of fall. It adds a nice sweetness 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 around the neighborhood.
- Decorate a haunted gingerbread house! This is such a cute idea to decorate with friends, children, or a date. I did this with a group of friends and family and we voted for the best one. The winner can get a bag of fall goodies.
- Happy Halloween! Whether you’re staying home to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters, or going out to celebrate, have a safe and fun 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!
