“Summerween” is an unofficial holiday celebrated during the summer. If you’ve made it past the Fourth of July, an excessive number of heat warnings and you’re ready for cooler weather – it could be time to bring out the Halloween decorations!
Though, for many, maximalist Halloween decorating may not align with their lifestyle. Below are a few ways to incorporate Summerween into your home.
Autumnal aroma
A way to get in the spirit is to infuse your home with calming fall scents. You can choose air fresheners, whether that be sprays or wall plug-ins, wax burners or warmers, scented candles or even essential oil diffusers.
Scent recommendations:
- Cashmere. It’s subtle, but bold. It features wood elements combined with notes of musk and the sweet touch of vanilla and florals.
- Maple leaf. What better way to fast forward to fall than to smell its warm, earthy foliage? This provides a balance of sweet and natural,
- Pumpkin pie. A classic holiday favorite gives hints of cinnamon with the mellow squash for a calming scent.
Seasonal hobbies
Indulging in fall-themed hobbies and media, whether it’s a new show, book or craft, can set the seasonal tone for your everyday routine.
Shows and movies
- For adults: “The Vampire Diaries,” “Twilight,” “Supernatural,” “The Gilmore Girls,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” or “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
- For children: “Over the Garden Wall,” “Twitches,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” or “Halloweentown”
Books
- For adults: “The Pumpkin Spice Café” (Laurie Gilmore), “Death by Pumpkin Spice” (Alex Erickson) or “Dark Harvest” (Norman Patridge)
- For children: “The Boxcar Children: The Pumpkin Head Mystery” (Gertrude Chandler Warner), “The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Creepy-Crawly Halloween” (Eric Carle) or “Bluey’s Halloween Mix-and-Match” (Penguin Young Readers)
Summerween snacks
- Jack-O-Lantern floats: Mix 1/2 cup cream soda with 1/2 cup orange soda and top with whip cream and sprinkles.
- Mummy hot dogs: Prepare as you normally would for pigs-in-a-blanket, but add indentions or cuts in the croissant dough before wrapping them around the hot dogs.
- Ghost s’mores: Bake a pan of brownies and once they’re cooked, line the top with graham crackers, chocolate syrup and marshmallows. Place into the oven again until marshmallows are golden brown.
Summerween doesn’t have to stop there! Have a night of activities such as carving watermelons as you would jack-o-lanterns, sharing spooky stories and making plans to visit a local pumpkin patch this fall!
