Happy October! With a blink of an eye, September was gone. The winds are picking up, and the leaves are changing color here in Michigan. To kick off one of my favorite months of the year, I am sharing 31 creative ways to romance every day in October. So without further ado, here is my 2023 October Bucket List.

1. Visit an apple orchard.
   
2. Make a pumpkin-themed treat.
   
3. Have a spooky movie marathon! Think thrillers, horror, or my personal favorite Halloween-themed movies. I’m excited to watch Hocus Pocus, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Practical Magic this month. Don’t forget the snacks!
   
4. Take a trip to a local pumpkin patch. Pick up loads of pumpkins, gourds, and mums to bring back home to decorate your porch, mantle, and table. I personally love stacking Cinderella pumpkins to create a whimsy display. My go-to pumpkin patch of choice is Blake’s.
   
5. Enjoy the cooler temperatures. Get outside and enjoy the cooler weather on your local hiking and biking trails.
   
6. Leaf Peep. Drive around town, head up north, and take in the beautiful colors of the leaves.
   
7. Visit a cider mill. Nothing screams October quiet like spiced hot apple cider and cinnamon sugar donuts.
   
8. Picnic. Have a fall picnic outside or in a truck bed under color-changed leaves.
   
9. New hobby. Pick up some knitting needles and make a scarf, take a learn-to-sew class, and look for a local cooking class. The change of the season is all about trying something new.
   
10. Corn maze. Take a moment for yourself and get lost in a corn maze. Bonus points if you find one you can adventure around at dark with a flashlight.
    
11. Theater. I personally am a huge Broadway fan, and attending shows is one of my favorite things to do when the weather gets cooler.
    
12. Library. Visit your local library and borrow new books to curl up and read next to a fireplace.
    
13. Friday the 13th. Paint your nails a moody color.
    
14. Out with the old. Go through your closet and donate things that no longer fit, are worn out or you’ll never wear them again.
    
15. Bonfire. Cool-weather bonfires under a starry sky with a fun charcuterie board.
    
16. Apples. Make an apple pie, caramel apples, apple crisp, apple dumplings…all things apple!
    
17. Antiquing. Go antiquing and see what goodies you can find.
    
18. Crockpot. Startup that crockpot and make some comforting soup or chili.
    
19. Shooting stars. Don’t forget to look up in the sky during the next few nights and watch the shooting stars jet across the sky.
    
20. Hallmark Channel. Countdown to Christmas has officially begun, and I am all for the holiday romance.
    
21. Michigan vs. Michigan State Football game. Whether you’re attending the game or hanging out at home. Enjoy tailgate snacks while you watch the game. I’m thinking of a stuffed potato bar, soft pretzels, and chili.
    
22. Halloween-themed dessert. I love making a fun novelty treat for each holiday.
    
23. Venture out and look at Halloween decorations. If you live in Michigan Tilson Street is a MUST!
    
24. Salad. Make a fun fall salad. I recently had one with spring mix, honey nut squash, pecans, chickpeas, cucumber, and honey dijon dressing.
    
25. Simmer pot. Sometimes I want a break from burning candles and like to fill a pot on the stove with water, orange slices, cinnamon, and clove to make my house smell like autumn.
    
26. Haunted. Visit a haunted house or somewhere that is said to have ghosts. The Whitney in Detroit has ghost tours.
    
27. Bread. Bake a homemade loaf of bread the aromas that will fill your house will amaze you.
    
28. Nail polish. Polish your nails a moody color.
    
29. Carve a pumpkin. I think a pumpkin-carving pizza party would be lots of fun.
    
30. Lotion. The weather is about to dry your skin out, so make sure you stock up on lotions.
    
31. Happy Halloween! Treat yourself to something today.