Yesterday, I went with my family to our local pumpkin farm. We rode a hay ride, navigated a corn maze, petted some farm animals, and of course, picked out a pumpkin. We’re a little bit late, (less than two weeks til Halloween), but we still made it on time. Of course, if you carved your pumpkin as soon as September hit, your Jack-O’-Lantern might be looking a little…sunken. Pumpkins rot pretty quickly once you scoop their guts out and expose them to air. To slow down that process and make your jack-o’-lanterns look fabulous through November 1^st, check out this post by Chrysa at Thrifty Jinxy for tips:

-Do NOT set jack-o’-lantern directly on cement steps. Place cardboard underneath it.

-Keep your pumpkin out of direct sunlight if possible

-Bring them inside if temps get below freezing.

-Prevent bacteria growth by rinsing inside and outside of pumpkin with a bleach/water solution, drying it, then smearing all cut surfaces with petroleum jelly.

Photo Credit: Paul Albertella 

Happy October, everyone! Temperatures are dropping, leaves are changing, and the air is crisper. Fall is my favorite season, and every time it rolls around it brings the temptation to spend all my money on décor. No matter how much I love Fall and Halloween, my frugal nature always keeps me from blowing my budget on decorations, when I feel that it could be used for something more useful. However, that doesn’t mean that your house has to be boring and devoid of celebration. For tips on decorating seasonally, but doing it on a shoestring budget, check out this post by Erin at How To Nest For Less:

-Check out dollar stores like Dollar General for seasonal items

-Faux flowers bring the colors of Fall into a room for much less

-Add colorful throw pillows for a big statement for little cost.

-DIY- make a Fall wreath, decorate pumpkins, and customize your own crafts.

Photo Credit: Le Living and Co 

Photo from Anthropologie