If you don’t like the flavor of pumpkin, you’re pretty much counting the days for this season to end. Everywhere you turn, there are pumpkins and pumpkin-flavored products. Halloween is among us, which means there is an abundant amount of pumpkins everywhere!

My awareness of the pumpkin invasion began mid-August. Target was already selling pumpkin-scented hand and dish soap so I stocked up and stored them away. One day when I was washing the dishes, I smelled a pumpkin fragrance. WTF? It was only August. Who put the pumpkin-scented dish soap in the soap dispenser?! It actually annoyed me to smell Fall in August. The scent made my already short summer, even shorter. I was so bummed! Grumbling, I had to force myself from being annoyed to letting go in order to look for the blessing: I am so fortunate to have someone who was thoughtful and kind enough to help me!

Now that we’re in the full swing of the REAL pumpkin season (which again, is not in August), I was excited to pull out my pumpkin-scented stash to give them away as Halloween thoughtful pinches.

Another idea for a pumpkin-scented pinch is a candle. At my church fundraiser, I “won” a pumpkin spice chai candle as part of a yoga package that also included a yoga mat and a month’s membership. Since I don’t drink chai (due to the caffeine), smelling this is the next best thing. There is a wide variety of pumpkin-scented candles that are available at so many different stores. Pick up a candle or two for those who prefer to skip a Halloween candy treat; they will appreciate the insightfulness. My blog entry Sweet vs Sweet gives more ideas for items that are not candy sweet but instead, thoughtfully sweet. Or my blog entry Smell My Feet could help you find even more non-candy pinches.

Somebody (cough, Jay-Jay, cough) shipped another batch of thoughtful pinches to us today. I feel like the timing was so crazily perfect. How did she know I was writing about pumpkins?

While it’s all fine and dandy to buy gifts for others during this pumpkin season, please remember to pick up treats for yourself! You deserve a pumpkin scone, pumpkin donut, pumpkin and caramel cookie, piece of pumpkin pie or a pumpkin non-fat latte - the list of pumpkin products goes on and on. Just walk into any Trader Joe’s to see their display of pumpkin products. It blows my mind that manufacturers can use pumpkin as an ingredient in so many cool products these days.

Last but not least, we come to the most unique pumpkin-themed product that I have come across so far. Who wouldn’t pick up a packet of these just for the novelty of it?

You get my drift. The pumpkin invasion is ever-evolving! Next year there will be more new items that will top off 2018’s new pumpkin-themed products. And just like when the retail stores start playing Christmas music the day after Halloween, Target will probably start rolling out their pumpkin-themed items the day after the 4th of July. If that’s the case, I’m letting my whole household know - we will NOT use anything pumpkin-scented until October!

Pinches,

Barb

*trademark pending for pro description. Stay tuned!