18 Pumpkin Dioramas That Will *Slay* Your Halloween Decor

Ingredients

• 8 ounces white chocolate
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons chocolate vodka
• 10-12 gingersnap cookies, crushed

Instructions:

1. Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Add ¼ cup water. Microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Continue to microwave in 30-second intervals until completely melted.

2. Place the bowl in an ice bath. Using an electric mixer, beat the chocolate for 5-8 minutes until it begins to thicken.

3. Pour 1 cup whipping cream into a separate bowl. Beat with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes, or until soft peaks form. Add 1 cup pumpkin puree. Whisk to combine. Whisk the pumpkin puree into the chocolate mixture and set aside.

4. Beat the remaining 1 cup whipped cream in a separate bowl. Add 3 tablespoons chocolate vodka. Feel free to leave out the vodka if you prefer your whipped cream booze-free. Continue to mix until soft peaks form.

5. To assemble, spoon the pumpkin mousse into a dish. Top with whipped cream. Sprinkle gingersnap cookies on top. Enjoy!

Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Add ¼ cup water. Microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Continue to microwave in 30-second intervals until completely melted.

Place the bowl in an ice bath. Beat the chocolate for 5-8 minutes until it begins to thicken. Patience is key!

Pour 1 cup whipping cream into a separate bowl. Beat with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes, or until soft peaks form. Add 1 cup pumpkin puree. Whisk to combine.

Whisk the pumpkin puree into the chocolate mixture and set aside.

Beat the remaining 1 cup whipped cream in a separate bowl. Add 3 tablespoons chocolate vodka.

Spoon the pumpkin mousse into a dish. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle gingersnap cookies on top.

How easy was that? This light and airy mousse will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

Combine two of the better things in life: Pumpkin and chocolate for the ultimate fall treat. (via Brit + Co)

Your favorite childhood cookie gets a fall makeover. They're like snickerdoodles, blondies, and pumpkin bars all in one - yum. (via Averie Cooks)

No more fretting over which dessert you should bring to Thanksgiving with this two-in-one dessert. (via Delish Knowledge)

What makes these pumpkin bars the ultimate? They're made with a cake batter crust, a gooey pumpkin pie filling, a layer of cakey topping, and a blossom of whipped cream for good measure. (via Julies Eats and Treats)

If you're anything like us, the crumb topping is your favorite part. Do yourself a favor and make an extra batch to ensure there's enough. (via Lovely Little Kitchen)

Nutty browned butter and a vanilla espresso glaze? Sign me up! (via Half-Baked Harvest)

Upgrade your cheesecake by swapping gingersnaps in for the plain old graham crackers... it's flavor from the ground up. (via What Should I Make For...)

Protein-packed pumpkin quinoa bars will get your mornings off to a hearty, healthy start. (via Simply Quinoa)

If you're paleo and have a sweet tooth, the holidays can be torturous. But this year, you can indulge, thanks to this revamped recipe for chocolate chip pumpkin bars. (via Physical Kitchness)

These vegan and gluten-free bars are perfect for breakfast or just a yummy snack. (via A Virtual Vegan)

Pumpkin and banana bread combine to make a delicious bar you'll want all fall long. (via Kathryn's Kitchen Blog)

Take the stress out of baking cheesecake by serving it in humble-yet-delicious bar form instead. (via The First Year Blog)

Topped with toasted pecans, homemade salted caramel, and flaky sea salt, these bars are to die for. (via Barley & Sage)

These soft and chewy bars are drizzled with chocolate, making for an absolutely delicious treat. (via A Virtual Vegan)

These bars are healthy and delicious. Bonus points because they taste like a Starbucks drink! (via The Girl on Bloor)

Everything can benefit from a vanilla bean brown butter glaze topped over a classic dessert. (via Averie Cooks)

Baking tip: Stock up on pumpkin spice extract before the weather gets cool. You can use it in everything from these bars to your signature lattes. (via Food Faith Fitness)

Save the oven for your fall baking projects, and eat these no-bake vegan treats in the meantime. (via Eating Bird Food)

These bars are loaded up with chocolate, toffee, coconut, pecans, and of course - pumpkin! (via Chelsea's Messy Apron)

Keto dieters will be so excited when you bring a tray of these to the next potluck. (via Savory Tooth)

Keep yourself fueled up with the flavors of the season by packing this simple (and no-bake) snack in your bag. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

You can have dessert any time of day when it's chock-full of healthy whole wheat flour, oats, and flax seeds. (via A Kitchen Addiction)

This grain-free recipe is so easy and has no flour or grain. It's just almond butter and pumpkin holding it all together. (via The Roasted Root)

Slather on as much cream cheese frosting as you can handle, and get ready for paradise. (via Show Me The Yummy)

Robust gingerbread is tempered by a creamy pumpkin drizzle that you'll want to put on everything until springtime. (via Life With the Crust Cut Off)

Here's How Often You Should Cut Your Hair, According To Professionals

I’ll admit it — it had been eight months since my last haircut. My hair had lost its shape, my layers were nowhere to be found, and my ends were begging for mercy. Life got busy over the last few months and I was neglecting my haircare like never before.

My hairdresser could immediately see that I was beyond due for a cut and said I needed to get more taken off than I was hoping. I was definitely disappointed — I'd been working on growing out my hair for a while now, and it just felt like my hard work had completely gone to waste. He explained that getting consistent haircuts is the key to growing out healthy and strong hair, rather than letting it grow and grow until it eventually breaks. So let's dig into the top three things you can do to avoid this scenario!

1. Just Get The Dang Haircut

Also avoiding a haircut like I was? You might want to schedule one at your nearest salon. Like my stylist said, when you wait too long between trims like I did, you risk your hair becoming heavy, dull, and lifeless. When the hair is dry or even dead, it’s nearly impossible for it to hold a curl or style, essentially collapsing on you and taking on more and more heat damage all the while. I know the pain of spending time on a blowout only for it to fall minutes later — it’s the worst.

According to Jack, getting a haircut every 10-12 weeks is the best time frame or your ends will pay the price. Between blow-drying, curling, straightening, sun, and weather, our ends get dry and start to break without the proper care. Getting consistent haircuts allows hair to bounce back, shine, and perform the way we want in a healthy way.

2. Leave-In Conditioners Are Your Friend

His top piece of advice to keep your hair looking and feeling hydrated between trims? Invest in conditioning treatments. Jack swears by the Olaplex conditioning system, specifically the No 3 Hair Perfector. Made with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™, this conditioning treatment repairs and prevents damage in as little as three minutes. No 3 promises to reduce breakage and visibly strengthen hair, so it’s the perfect assistance to keep ends fresh between cuts. Another conditioning treatments I’ve used and loved for years is the Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, which is designed to restore moisture, elasticity, and shine to dry hair.

3. Switch Up Your Shampoos

Switching shampoos frequently is a pretty hot tip that I honestly hadn't thought of. Our hair gets used to the same products and grows tired of them, resulting in lackluster locks. Jack’s advice is to switch brands after finishing every bottle of shampoo to bring life back to your hair. Have two brands that you’re loyal to? Even switching back and forth between them after every bottle should make a big difference in your hair. I’m a huge fan of the R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo, which makes my hair look thick and full, as well as the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo, which is so hydrating and gives so much shine.

In the end, navigating your back-and-forth relationship with haircuts often feels like a rollercoaster ride between wanting that fresh look and cringing at the receipt. Luckily, by using conditioning treatments and switching up your products,, you can keep your locks healthy, shiny, and full of life between trims. But take a newly learned lesson out of my book: don't let your ends pay the price for procrastination and just book the haircut.