Trends under $50: Pumpkins

I've always considered the appearance of large stacks of pumpkins in front of my neighborhood grocery store to be the signal that fall has truly arrived. Over the last few years, I've been working on ways to incorporate pumpkins into my fall decor without actually carving a jack-o'-lantern (the mess! The rotting produce on my porch when there's unexpected warm weather!). I've tried covering pumpkins in glitter and acrylic paint, both with a fair amount of success, but this year, I want to take the pumpkin theme to a new level.

I searched for "pumpkin" onsite, and among the playful orange accent chairs and the retro-chic orange sheets, I found a few literal interpretations of the holiday squash. I narrowed my search down to items under $50 and came up with a few things that could take me from Halloween to Thanksgiving dinner without a big budget.

From pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies to pumpkin spice lattes, this is the flavor of fall. A pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving staple, but baking it in a pumpkin-shaped pie pan will liven up the tradition. If you want to bake a trendier treat, try making whoopie pies in a pumpkin-shaped baking mold (read Andrea's post about the little cake sandwiches for a few tips). I would make pumpkin spice whoopie pies and fill them with cream cheese frosting. If you're not up for baking, light a pumpkin-pie soy candle enjoy the fragrance of baking without dirtying a pan.

To decorate with pumpkins in a way that won't limit you to Halloween, just look for pieces that don't feature jack-o'-lanterns. A set of pumpkin tea towels will make cleaning up after baking a little more fun. Let your guests know that they're welcome to celebrate the season with you by adding a pumpkin door mat and a harvest wreath to your front porch. A pumpkin candle holder would make an excellent centerpiece for your holiday feast.

Would you rather just open up a pumpkin ale or are you inspired to bring some pumpkin into your home this fall? Is there a decorative gourd you prefer?

Posted by Stephanie Petersen