Getting into the spooky season spirit with Taylor!

Sept. 29 marked the first day of fall, which means we’re officially in the spooky season. This is my favorite time of year — pumpkin spice, the chilly breeze (well about as chilly as Southern California can get), the Halloween decor and so much more. I’ve always been in love with fall, so I make it a point every year to indulge in my favorite holiday as much as possible.

I’m not calling myself a spooky expert by no means, but I’ve managed to put together quite the fall itinerary over the years. From outings on a budget to going all out, here are the best ways for you to get into the spooky spirit this year. 

This is probably the easiest and cheapest option on this list. Sometimes you get so busy with life that you forget to actually enjoy the moment. Turning on your T.V. to watch a movie can be a quick and easy way to let yourself feel the fall vibes. If you’re a horror buff like me, you can find plenty of scary movies across Max, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Peacock. 

I’ve found that those particular streaming services have the best scary movie options, from classic slashers like “Halloween” (1978) to low-budget, indie horror films like “Terrifier” (2016). If you’re a bit of a scaredy-cat, then the Scary Movie franchise, “Practical Magic” (1998), “Hocus Pocus” (1993) or any of the nostalgic Disney Halloween movies on Disney Plus like “Twitches” (2005) or “Halloweentown” (1998) are the safe option for you, but still just as fun. 

If you start now, you’d be surprised just how many movies you can get through leading up to Halloween. Even putting a spooky movie on for background noise can fill your home with the Halloween spirit.

I also recommend baking fall treats like cinnamon rolls, pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies or brownies to pair with your spooky movie marathon. Nothing screams fall like the smell of baked goods filling your home while a Halloween movie plays on the T.V. with the fireplace crackling in the background. 

Of course, I have to knock out the most obvious one. Is it really fall if you don’t go to a pumpkin patch.

Luckily for us, Los Angeles County and its surrounding areas are home to some of the best pumpkin patches. Below is a list of the pumpkin patches I’ve been to and would happily recommend to others.

• La Verne Heritage Pumpkin Patch in La Verne, CA
• The Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival in Pomona, CA
• Frosty’s Forest Christmas Trees & Pumpkin Patch in Chino, CA

After you finish exploring the pumpkin patches, and hopefully taking some adorable fall pictures, it’s time to crank out your carving gear. I personally find my best pumpkin carving inspiration from Pinterest. I like to challenge myself to carve my pumpkins freehand, but you can always purchase carving stencils from Target, Michaels or Albertsons.

I have to mention the Carved at the Descano Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, CA. Sure, the Descano Gardens is not a pumpkin patch where you can purchase a pumpkin to take home and carve, and you will have to purchase tickets to attend, but it is absolutely an event worth attending.

Featuring a blend of pumpkin carvings and Halloween sculptures, Carved immerses you into the world of Halloween. The pumpkin carvings at this exhibit are so intricately detailed; A blend of beautiful art work and the essence of spooky season. In the middle of the exhibit, artists are seen carving pumpkins and drawing artwork in real time. I always love watching artists perform their craft. Each section within the gardens has its own unique concept. I’m so excited to see what this year’s Carved will look like.

Los Angeles is home to what I might consider the best horror-makeovers at theme parks and other locations. We have so many options to choose from:

• Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights
• The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
• Knott’s Scary Farm
• Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest
• Los Angeles Haunted Hayride

Each has their own creepy twist on jumpscares. Knott’s Scary Farm scare actors are known for their quirkiness and relentless in chasing you throughout the park. The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor thrusts you into a horror-themed celebration of fun and terror. Six Flags Fright Fest often hosts terrifying haunted houses based on big name horror movies like The Conjuring Franchise, a personal favorite of mine. Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights goes all out with the special effects to overwhelm your five senses and provide horrific scares. Finally, L.A.’s Haunted Hayride elevates the level of terror since the scare actors are allowed to get up close and personal with the guests. All are worth attending if you are looking for an adrenaline rush and eager to dive headfirst into the spooky season.

It’s time to switch out your summer wardrobe for your fall one. SoCal might not get the ideal fall weather, but you can still put on a stylish autumn look. I’m a bright-color-loving girly, but I will be trading in my pastel tops for more neutral tones to match the fall vibe. Chocolate brown and burgundy were fall staples last year and are already seemingly making a comeback this year in stores with dresses, sweaters and bodysuits.

I’m already predicting that uggs, as well as ugg dupes in my case, will be the perfect pairing with leggings and baggy sweaters. I’ve also been seeing sweatsuits return to the fashion limelight, something I’m rather happy about. There’s nothing cozier than pairing an oversized hoodie with matching sweats. No look is complete without accessorising, so some cute fall accessories to (pumpkin) spice up your look are brown handbags, neutral colored headbands, mocha or beige clogs, and linen scarfs.

Do you have any spooky season recommendations? Send them in to XSTSY Media at XSTSYMEDIA@gmail.com.

Taylor Moore can be reached at bytaylormoore@gmail.com.