Pumpkin Palooza

One of our favorite times of the year is Halloween. There is something magical about the imagination surrounded by the children frequently seen parading the streets. Personally I have run the gamut of possible costumes..ranging from Cinderella to a Pirate Queen. Now that I have my own children the holiday has taken on a new meaning.

The last costume party attended..yes, that is me..as a Pirate Queen. All hail Johnny Depp!

At our house we tend to have certain seasonal rituals. Before the start of school we make entirely too large pots of chocolate pudding. During the Christmas festivities we gather friends and decorate Gingerbread Houses. As the air cools and the leaves turn we pick up supplies for our Fun Fall Mix. It is basically a kid friendly (because candy is involved) Chex Mix. Always a hit, and never lasts long. While there are several things we do in order to celebrate the oncoming Halloween holiday one of our family’s favorite is the Pumpkin Palooza.

A sort of a scavenger hunt for the perfect pumpkins of all time. At the start of our venture we all believe that certainly the previous year’s pumpkins couldn’t possibly be out done. They were too perfect. For whatever reason they were chosen. We all have different reasons for why we pick our pumpkins. My husband prefers the taller, thin ones. I, myself like white pumpkins with noticeable handles. I always turn them into lovely little noses. The kids spend the evening trying to out do each other..and their preferences change as often as the wind. In celebration of the upcoming holiday, and preparation for the scavenger hunt to come I have created my own little Etsy Pumpkin Palooza for you.

I love this 1960′s Pumpkin colored and styled hat. It features a lovely array of colored leaves, pearlized autumn colored buttons and a green velvet stem..I mean ribbon. The hat was made by Su-Zan and is available in the HipVintageClothing shop for only $29.00. These ladies know their hats, so if you are in the market for one, add this shop as a favorite.

1960's Pumpkin colored hat available in the HipVintageClothing shop for $29.00.

With this one of a kind glass pendant you can carry your love of fall, pumpkins and the Halloween season with you everywhere. Designed and handcrafted by JewelrybyTara, you can snag this pendant for only $10.00. This shop offers an assortment of pendants, and we bet the shop owner would even be open to custom order suggestion too. One of the fashion crazes right now is layered necklaces. This pendant, or any other in this shop could take a layered necklace and make it a custom piece. Truly one of a kind, just like we all are. These unique little pendants would also make great gifts for the up and coming gift season.

Vintage Pumpkin Print pendant designed and handcrafted by JewelrybyTara for $10.00.

One of the best things about fall and winter weather are the vibrant plaid patterns. We are MAD about plaid. I found this 1970′s Pumpkin patch Plaid skirt and had to add it to my list. Available at a shop we recently highlighted this seller has it all. Again she is offering 20% off to all AlleyKat readers!! Simply input AlleyKat into the sellers notes when purchasing. Need tips on how to get spotted by AlleyKat’s? Talk to this seller..she has a knack for listing items and tagging them in ways that demand being seen. We love VintageDove and have asked her to stop by the blog sometime and post one for herself. Be on the watch for an upcoming VintageDove feature and see what vintage picks make her soar. In the meantime you can pick up this plaid skirt at her shop for $23.00.

1970's Pumpkin Patch Plaid skirt from VintageDove. Available for $23.00..but AlleyKat readers get an additional 20% OFF!!! Thanks VintageDove!

As much as I would like to say that I am the “always prepared” type, I don’t always make the cut. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have been caught wishing I had at least some crayons to occupy the kids. A candy bar for that extra little boost, and of course, an umbrella. If I had an umbrella like this, I wouldn’t even have to make the effort. I would happily parade it up and down the street in the sunlight as people walked by with glances of confusion. It’s okay, I know they would just be jealous. How could they not be?? Don’t let the rain keep you out of the pumpkin patch this year, pick this one of a kind umbrella up at Birdie1 for $42.00. Act fast and you can snag this umbrella or anything else in the Birdie1 shop with an additional 15% off. For AlleyKat readers only!! Kudos to this seller for such a great offer.

Unique Bone or Antler handle Pumpkin Umbrella. Available with Birdie1 for $42.00

If your area is anything like ours, the weather is constantly changing. What may start out as a 20 degree day could easily end up in the 80′s. I like to always be comfortable..being uncomfortable is not something I do well. In order to accommodate the constant temperature changes I like to layer. I found this pumpkin colored vest and had to share it with you. The knit based Vintage Esprit piece is available for only $10.00 with AngryKitty. A fellow feline and Etsian, we recently crossed paths with this seller and couldn’t help but follow her home. Lots of goodies await you in this Cathouse, make it a favorite today. Don’t worry, we haven’t caught this Kitty Angry yet..

Vintage Pumpkin Vest available with AngryKitty for only $10.00!!

Of course we can’t finish out the post without an honest to goodness pumpkin. I scoured the Etsy patches for just the right one, and this is my pick. This Corocraft pumpkin borach dates to the 1960′s. Corocraft being a long line of jewelry that extends back to the 1900′s. Several uses of the word were used to mark a piece, this one in particular being “Corocraft” was used post WWII. This perfectly grown pumpkin is available in the shop VintageForever for $25.00. This lovely shop owner has extended a 10% off total order, excluding shipping to any AlleyKat reader. Simply input AlleyKat in the sellers notes when purchasing. Thank you VintageForever!

Signed Corocraft Pumpkin broach from the 1960's. Available with VintageForever for $25.00. Offering 10% OFF of total order to all readers. Thanks!!!

It is dark, cold, and somewhat rainy here but I plan on bundling myself and the extended family up and heading to the pumpkin patch today. I’m not sure if I will find anything as elegant, and certainly not as vintage as what I have selected for you. I am not even sure that I will find one that competes with last year’s pick. We do love the hunt though, so off on a scavenger hunt we go.

Goodnight All

~Kat~