The ULTIMATE October Bucket List
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It is moody, gloomy, breezy & rainy here in Utah. The leaves have started to change in the valley (and are already in full force in the canyons) and I have been snuggled in cozy leggings and sweatshirts all weekend long. It’s officially October, it’s officially fall, and it’s OFFICIALLY the best time of the year. I don’t know what it is exactly about the seasons changing, but it makes me feel so alive. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s not blazing hot outside, or maybe it’s the hint of Christmas cheer in the air. It might just be the fact that I’m a New Englander who always enjoyed the most perfect (and lengthy) falls and I feel like I need
Regardless, the combination of October and Autumn always makes me want to get up, get out, and do ALL the things. Especially this year, since I’m on the #last90days train and am doing my best to make the last 90 days of the year my very best days of the entire year. I don’t want to spend the month behind a computer screen or in front of the TV. I want to take advantage
And on a more serious note, October is the month that I celebrate my official remission date and I also mourn the loss of my dear friend and fellow cancer patient, Maddie. It’s usually a month full of conflicting emotions because I am so grateful to be another year in the clear and I’m also so sad and riddled with survivor’s guilt that I am here and Maddie isn’t. This year, however, I’m going to do my very best to live my best and most vibrant October – in honor of Maddie and in honor of myself. I don’t want to waste my second-chance life away, and I know Maddie doesn’t want me to, either. As hard as it can be at times, I’m going to do everything I can to live a vibrant life this October to prove to cancer that it will not win. It will not take me down. It will not destroy my joy.
So, I reached out to the Instagram Fam and asked them to give me their best October Activities and bucket-list ideas to help me compile the ULTIMATE October Bucket List. I want to be prepared so that on the days when the survivor’s guilt threatens to take me down and cancer feels like it has an upper hand, I’m prepared to fight.
So, thanks to the HTC Instagram Community for helping me compile this amazing list of October activities.
The ULTIMATE October Bucket List
Paint or Carve Pumpkins
Bake Muffins or Scones – I’ll admit, I haven’t baked in a longggg time, but I’m excited to make some seasonal muffins!
Take Doggos (or kiddos) on fall hikes to see changing leaves
Wear Wine-colored Lipstick – My favorite fall lipsticks are listed here, but I’ve got an updated post coming later this week.
Eat Potato Soup – Or chicken noodle or tomato or butternut squash soup. Or beef stew. Or curry. Or all of the above.
Watch a Scary Movie – I’m not a scary movie person, so I don’t have a lot of recommendations. Paranormal Activity kept me up for 6 months straight and I had to sleep with the lights on after watching Lights Out, but I do like thrillers (like the 6th Sense or the Babadook.)
Go Apple Picking at the Orchards
Go to some Corn or Straw Mazes
Go to the Pumpkin Patch & have a Picnic
Wear Sweatshirts – Currently loving this one from Mindie Mae’s and hoping this one comes back in stock in time for Halloween!
Have a Campfire and toast some marshmallows
Cuddle in blankets & Watch the rain – Literally what I did all weekend and it was a dream.
Splash in Puddles
Eat Candy Corn – I’ll be honest, not my favorite treat, but it’s not Halloween without a little taste of it.
Walk through Crunchy Leaves – We recently got a new harness for Teddy that has made taking him for walks an absolute dream. Will definitely be going for walks so I can intentionally walk in all the crunchy leaves. Nothing is more satisfactory
Eat ALL of the pumpkin spice flavored things – Shhh – may or may not have a post with all the best fall-flavored foods coming to HTC soon.
Foliage Drives – If you are in Utah, Big Cottonwood Canyon is literally in peak season right now. Take a drive up to Silver Lake and you’ll probably see a Moose while you’re at it.
Eat Apple Cider Donuts
Make Homemade Hot Cocoa – Dustin’s recipe for his home-made hot cocoa is here – and it’s literally the very best. Also, PSA – Costco has Torini’s giant bottles of flavored syrup for like 4 bucks right now. We love using the salted caramel, hazelnut, and pumpkin spice for our hot chocolate
Watch 31 Nights of Halloween on Freeform – Almost as good as Hallmark’s Christmas movies and will totally get you in the spooky mood.
Make a Haunted Gingerbread House – Trader Joe’s has Halloween Gingerbread House kits right now and they are super cute. Going to pick one up the next time I’m there!
Marathon Harry Potter & Have a Harry Potter Party – In case you are new here, Harry Potter is my everything and what I’ll be doing to celebrate my official 12 year remission anniversary!
Marathon Stranger Things (and cry that there isn’t a new season yet.)
Watch football – LET’S GO, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (#sorrynotsorry)
Take Cute Fall Photos – Did this last weekend with some of my best girlfriends in the canyons and I can’t wait to show you!
Watch Hocus Pocus!
Burn all the fall scented candles – My favorites from Bath & Body Works are Marshmallow Fireside, Toasted S’Mores, and Evening Hearth.
Do you have any other activities to add to our list? Let me know in the comments below!
