{GDSL AT HOME} So my friends, it's here. The season of the pumpkin. We have the lattes, the candles, the flavor... It's a pretty popular fruit. I love this time of the year. I love the traditions that are created and carried through for the holidays and I have my mom (my extended family, really) to thank for that. My mom celebrates everything to the hilt and in me, she instilled that same sense of joy for celebration. My mom is not only an incredible gourmet cook (absolutely none of that talent was passed down to me, by the way) but she has kitchen goodies galore! She comes to my house and we will be cooking together and she's like "Okay, where's your lemon zester?" And I'm like "My what?" :) Needless to say, she buys me items from William Sonoma all of the time. I love this store and every single thing in it-- just walking in gets me so excited to cook something. I thought I would round up some of my favorite pumpkin items for this season here! Maybe you can buy them for yourself or maybe they would make the perfect gift but either way, I don't think you can go wrong!
Ruffioni Cookware: I became OBSESSED with these pieces a few years ago and decided to add to my collection little by little. I have a good set of All Clad pans but there is something about the copper and the gold accents in this collection that I fell in love with! They are pricey but they are something you will use all year long, for many years to come.
2. KitchenAid Mixer: This color though. I have a light pink one (side note: My kitchen accessories are all light pink! How much do you think the hubby loves this fact? :)) and I use it all the time (literally) but in this fabulous copper color? Oh mama! I can't justify the expense because I have one but if it (accidentally) "falls" off of the counter and breaks, you are looking at its replacement my friends!
3. Spiced Pumpkin Doughnut Mix: Seriously. Pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon. What more do I need to say? Ever since I had my daughter, my parents and my grandmother spend the night at our house on Christmas Eve so that we can wake up on Christmas morning and open presents together. We have the same meal every year for Christmas Eve, we go to church together and then in the morning, we drag ourselves out of bed, make doughnuts, we have coffee and we watch the tornado that occurs once my daughter starts laying into the piles under the tree!
4.Spiced Pecan Bread Mix: These quick breads are just perfect mixes because you usually add water and that's it! You are done! And does anything smell better than pumpkin bread baking (maybe topped with a little vanilla ice cream?) Not to me!
5. Botanical Pumpkin Tableware: I have been eyeballing these beauties for a while and last year, I bit the bullet and bought place settings for 8along with a bowl and a platter. I figure each year I will try to add to my collection and maybe throw in additional place settings in solid colors (like pumpkin!) to mix things up a little! I hosted Thanksgiving last year (I have a big family!) and my table, with these plates and candles and little (gold) wishbone place card holders was so pretty! I love a beautifully set table and I absolutely love the holidays. It is a priority to me to create holiday traditions for my daughter too, and maybe someday I will pass these along to her. Anyway, you really have to see them in person- they are gorgeous and heavy!
6. Pumpkin pie dish- come on! What is better to house that pumpkin pie that you/ Costco made? π It's gorgeous and festive and can be used so many ways during this fall season.
7. Pumpkin Paws- If there is chocolate and caramel involved, I don't really need to know anything else, do you? These are great to leave open around the house on Thanksgiving (people nibble them like crazy) or they make cute presents for your guests as they leave.
There's nothing like this time of the year-- and the best part to me is that I will spend so much time with my family. That in and of itself is priceless to me. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I cant wait for us to share our moments with each other! Happy day, lovely readers!