Peach Picking in the Summer, Pumpkin Picking in the Fall!

Are pumpkin patches a tradition that will ever get old? Probably not. As I’ve been getting older I realized that these are the kinds of traditions that I tend to cling to. Fall is my favorite time of the year and while listening to the rain hitting a window with a warm cup of coffee in my hands is nice, it’s definitely not enough! I have to be out doing something in order to feel like I’m really taking advantage of all the fun this time of year has to offer!

October is the time to carve pumpkins, incorporate a pumpkin flavor into every food possible, and getting stoked for Season 2 of Stranger Things! I don’t plan on missing out on any of it! And what better way to incorporate pumpkins into food than by going out and picking your very own pumpkin to bake? Sounds like a solid plan to me.

You can go to the store and buy as many cans of pumpkin puree as you want, but I love taking advantage of all the local farms and buying the real thing. It’s a lot more work to bake and puree your own pumpkin but the taste is way better!

Last week my mom and I took advantage of our day off and ventured out to Sauvie Island in search of some pumpkins. She was extra awesome and even took pictures for me!

I wouldn’t really classify this as an “outfit post” but I do wanna say a couple things about my clothes. The jeans are Levi’s 721 High Rise jeans (in Black Sheep) and this denim jacket is, hands down, my all time favorite item in my closet! Ever since I saw pictures of my mom and my aunts from the 80’s wearing their boyfriend’s denim jackets I wanted my own so badly! One day I was browsing through a tiny thrift store in Downtown Portland and, after examining a rack of men’s jackets, I found this vintage, Ralph Lauren, denim jacket.

One thing I will say is that I HATE denim jackets because they are so stiff. I love the way they look but I can’t handle a brand new denim jacket… Having one that is over 30 years old is awesome! It’s oversized and worn in so the fit is so relaxed. I love using it to add a bit of grunge to any outfit and it’s durable so what could be better for a day on the farm?

I love this scarf but I’m not really a scarf person… I actually bought it exactly 2 years ago. I was heading to London for Fall Break while I was studying abroad in Italy and I realized I didn’t own a scarf. I would be wandering around the city all day so I headed straight to Zara and bought this before my trip.

So maybe I was kind of being an overachiever when picking out my pumpkin…

This little guy was much easier to carry around!

After the pumpkin patch we headed over to the stands to find some perfect produce to bake with!

And now it’s time to bake all sorts of wonderful Fall treats! I made some zucchini bread this week, using this recipe, and up next is either gonna be some pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread… maybe both? I kind of want to try pumpkin scones too!

Luckily we got a pretty good sized pumpkin so I should have plenty to spare!

And of course the trip wasn’t complete without grabbing a bottle of hard cider! Because how many times can you go to the pumpkin patch with your mom and get buzzed afterwards?

What are you favorite October traditions? Let me know in the comments!