Thoughts: “I’ll show those cocky punks at Starbucks! I’ll make my own pumpkin spice latte – how tough can it be?!”
Afterthoughts: “…maybe this is something better left to trained, over-charging professionals…”
Construction Note: Instead of simply using hot water, I followed the alternate instructions on the side of the can and used hot milk in its place. For what it’s worth, this is normally how I make hot chocolate, too.
Flavor: Sort of pumpkin-y, but it pains me to admit that the $4 Starbucks creation was probably better … which surprised me because I thought with the whipped cream and cinnamon I really brought something worthy to the table! It was ok, but nothing spectacular.
Side Note: Shortly after spotting this product, I also found a Limited Edition Pumpkin-Flavored Coffee Mate coffee mix-in, too, but seeing as I’m not a coffee drinker, I figured I’d be better off going with this one instead.
Verdict: You win this battle, Starbucks, but thankfully since I don’t really drink coffee all that much anyways, it doesn’t really matter!

Epilogue: While I really couldn’t care less about coffee, per se, I have been known to be a bit of a sucker for hot chocolate. That said, I disappointingly have yet to find any pumpkin-flavored hot chocolate mix to try, so if you happen to come across some, please do e-mail me with where you found it and I’ll see if I can hunt down a sample of my own here in sunny Florida!

Yes, we do occasionally drink hot chocolate here in Florida – it’s not blazingly hot all year long…

In the Wind: Sometimes in times like these when it seems like all of the pumpkin-based foods to be purchased have been, all you can do is light a candle like this and take solace in the idea that new foodstuffs will eventually present themselves when the time is right. Until then, just sit back, relax, and take a deep breath as the soothing scents of pumpkin and assorted fall spices wafts through the air, whisking away your problems like leaves falling from a tree…
Buy Your Own At: Wal-Mart (air freshener section, not candle section)