So I’m going to be totally lame and talk about the fact that I can not, for the life of me, believe that it’s October already?!

I mean seriously?!

How?!

When did that happen?!

Well according to the calendar I guess it happened 18 days ago but still . . . where has this year gone?!

October . . . already?!

I just can’t seem to wrap my head around it?!

And I’m not really sure how I feel about it?!

I mean Christmas is my all time fave but I’m having some mixed emotions because this time of year is when we usually take our annual Swanston Family Vaycay to our beloved home away from home, Denver, Colorado.

And as excited as I am to dig in and get all kinds of festive fun happening up in here I’m having a hard time because my heart is aching for fall. Cool crisp mornings, fresh mountain air and pumpkin spiced everything!!!!!

There is something truly magical about that humble looking, ombre’ beige, spice blend that not only tastes all kinds of incredible but it truly makes my heart all kinds of happy.

The smell alone has me feeling all of those warm, fuzzy Christmas-y feels!

Now, here in Australia for some reason we haven’t yet discovered the joy that is well, pumpkin spiced anything so what’s a girl to do when her heart aches for fall, and pumpkin spiced everything yet sadly there is no vaycay or pumpkin spiced anything on the cards?! Or is it in the cards!? Either way, it ain’t happening!

So what’s a girl to do?!

She gets creative in the kitchen and comes up with her own deliciously simple, quick and easy, healthy homemade {sugar free} pumpkin spice mix that’s what!

Problem, solved.

Well apart from the whole vacation thing but let’s not get into that!

Today’s recipe is one that is super quick and easy to prepare made with just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have tucked away in the back of your spice cabinet, ready and waiting, simply begging to be transformed into one purely magical, heart-warming spice blend.

Ahhh I love this spice mix so, SO much – it really is like a little jar of happiness.

Don’t you just love the way food, both taste and smell, has the ability to magically transport you to another time and another place and bring back the most incredible memories and feelings that are so strong, it’s as though you could almost reach out and hug them?!

Well that’s what this spice mix does for me?!

One smell and I am whisked away to my beloved home away from home, enjoying quality time with my nearest and dearest, holding a steaming cup of perfectly spiced coffee in my hands, feeling the cool crisp mountain air on the back of my neck as I gaze fondly at the most miraculous looking snow capped mountains you ever did see.

This healthy, homemade pumpkin spice mix brings together all those familiar, nostalgic tastes and smells that come to mind when I think of Christmas (and Thanksgiving and well just all things fall for my American friends).

Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and a pinch of cardamon – it’s chai spice meets gingerbread spice. . . doesn’t it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy even just reading that combination of spices all together in one delicious little sentence?!

The smell alone is enough to transport me to another time and another place where the air is crisp, the mountains are capped with snow and everything just seems to sparkle.

Wanna come?!

You totally can and I’d love to have you along for the ride

All you have to do is throw together a handful of spices and you’re ready to go!

Once you have your healthy, homemade pumpkin spice mix ready, your kitchen smells like heaven and you’re feeling all of those warm and fuzzy Christmas-type feels you’re on your way.

Simply add a pinch to your morning coffee or your post workout smoothie.

Stir some into some coconut or Greek style yogurt and have for a fun and festive twist on a much loved breakfast classic – like this ❤️

Bake yourself a sweet potato, slather it in almond butter and sprinkle over a little of your pumpkin spice mix and have yourself one seriously tasty snack – trust me on this, just try it! You can thank me later

Or, you could add a heaping teaspoon to this {paleo} banana bread, or these cupcakes, or these cookies, or this deliciously simple, perfectly roasted pumpkin for a sweet twist on a savory side dish . . .

All natural, quick and easy, deliciously simple, healthy, homemade, pumpkin spice mix . . . ♥

A little jar of heaven scented happiness to call your very own;

From my heart to yours, enjoy xo

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Question of the day –

What’s your favorite, warm and fuzzy food related, holiday flavor, scent or memory?

Feel free to share recipes, or links recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your healthy, homemade pumpkin spice mix (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to 🙂

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