You Don't Need A $70 Pumpkin Pillow To Have A Cozy Fall

I was in the middle of writing a “Cozy Fall Essentials” blog post, when I stopped myself and asked “why am I doing this?”

I was making a collage on Canva, and researching some cozy Fall items that I wanted to include in my list. I love decorating for Fall and Halloween, and find joy in sharing my decor, but it was the wording I used in the post that stopped me.

During my research, I was browsing the Pottery Barn website and came across a trio of plush sherpa pumpkin pillows in three different sizes. The smallest of the trio was priced at $42 CAD. I love the look of these pumpkins, however with three pets, I knew that in MY house, they would just turn into a scratching post for our cat Marty, or a chew toy for our beagle Jasper. Still, I wanted to include them for those of you who may have less chaotic living rooms.

As I was pasting them into my collage, I took a moment to let the price of these pumpkins really sink in. The middle pillow was $56 and the largest was $70. Why was I reccommending these to people? We’re in the middle of a housing crisis and battling inflation, but I was about to reccommend a $70 pillow?

I love Pottery Barn (unlike Pheobe Buffay IYKYK), and Anthropologie, but I can admit that the price points of these items are fairly steep. These are not items that should be listed in an “essentials” post.

Essentials are things like groceries, and quality time with family, being able to pay your rent, or afford your kid’s sports. You don’t need a $70 pumpkin pillow, and I don’t want to make anyone feel like they have to have it.

If you’re on TikTok, I KNOW you’ve seen the “viral ghost blanket” videos for Homesense/Marshalls/Winners, etc. One person decided that a certain couple of ghost blankets were going to be this year’s “viral” Fall blanket, and suddenly everyone wants the blanket. People spend hours and hours visiting these stores over the course of a couple of months looking for this blanket that they heard was “viral” and therefore in demand- AND if we are told something is in demand, it seems to ignite this animalistic need deep within us to have that particuar item.

I already have a ton of Halloween decor in the basement, and I really don’t need any more, and maybe you don’t either.

Here are some of my favourite things to make for a cozy Fall that aren’t a $70 pumpkin pillow:

• A pot of soup and homemade bread

• Records playing while I clean the house

• Watching Gilmore Girls, and Halloweentown

• Reading a book on the couch under a non viral blanket with a breeze blowing through the curtains

• A fall scented candle

• Visiting our local markets and pumpkin stands for homemade baked goods and seasonal veggies

• A hike through the forrest after the leaves change colour

• Mason playing outside while we rake the leaves

• Apple cider and hot chocolate

• Fall fairs at the apple orchard

• A picnic at the park

• Corn mazes and hayrides

Spend your time doing some of those things instead of going to the store every chance you get to search for a blanket you don’t actually want.

D