Getting Into the Halloween Spirit (Even If It’s Not Your Thing)

I mean…?? (image courtesy of Town & Country)

Confession: Halloween isn’t my favorite holiday, and I think the pumpkin spice hijacking of fall is an abomination. (Sorry.) But because I have little kids who are into dressing up and free candy, I can’t just bury my head in cookbooks until Thanksgiving.

If I’m going to do Halloween, I’m getting into the spirit my way. Here’s what I’m thinking:

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Paint a chinoiserie pumpkin. (Duh.)

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Introduce the kids to Harry Potter! The movies can be a little scary for some children, but the new illustrated book editions are perfectly accessible for younger audiences.

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It’s decorative wheat sheaf season, yo. I like to tie mine with a luscious green satin ribbon. Let pre-incarceration Martha Stewart show you how it’s done.

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The one exception to my pumpkin spice rule? Pumpkin bread, because unlike coffee, gum or potato chips, pumpkin bread is SUPPOSED to taste like pumpkin spice. I’m itching to try this new Smitten Kitchen version that’s crowned with a cinnamon and sugar crust. Yasssssss.

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Because it’s about time my kids learned that Troop Beverly Hills is EVERYTHING, this DIY Phyllis Nefler costume is totally speaking to me.